Wrong Girl Gone

by Audrey Wilson

It's late in the summer of 1989 and the body of twenty-two-year-old Joy Elliot Larson is about to be discovered on the bank of the Kawanee River.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

As a young mother living in her small hometown of Jasper, Mississippi, Joy lives paycheck to paycheck with her son, Jerry, and alcoholic husband, Carl. After enduring years of Carl’s abuse, Joy reaches her breaking point when she discovers a large stash of money he’s been keeping from her. With the encouragement of her twin sister, Joy takes the money, packs up Jerry, and goes on the run, determined to get as far away from Carl as possible. But Joy is not alone. Someone is following her. And it's only a matter of time before Joy will have to fight for her son… and her life.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2021

About the author

Audrey Wilson is an award-winning writer and the author of LANDING LIKE RAIN, ONLY HUMAN, and WRONG GIRL GONE. Her next book THE EVER END will be released by Bywater Books in August 2025. From screenplays and television pilots to short stories and novels, Audrey boasts an eclectic writing background. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Television Writing and Producing, she began her career, and has since produced nationally and internationally for PBS and National Geographic, as well as locally for WLS. In 2018, she received a regional Emmy nomination.

As much as Audrey enjoys getting behind a camera, she feels most at home when immersed in one of her fictional works. When she isn't writing, Audrey enjoys hiking, reading, and watching movies, from the earliest Charlie Chaplin picture to the latest indie film. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her partner and their rescued cats and dog, where she continues getting swept away in her writing on a nightly basis. To learn more about Audrey, visit www.AudreyWilsonAuthor.com.

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book. Seriously. Do you like books? Read this one. It's suspenseful and engaging and it makes time fly by. The characters are so well written that they feel like people you know. You can see bits and pieces of their personalities that come straight from your friends or family. The dialogue is natural and never forced or fake. The story will suck you in to the point where you forget everything around you because you need to know what happens next. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone trying to decide what to read next. You'll love it.

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best things about the Bookstagram community is just how much we all tend to support each other, and by virtue, those that we know. Dana @danafraedrich reached out about her friend, Audrey, whose debut novel, WRONG GIRL GONE, is right in the wheel house of books that I read. We all know how much I LOVE a good debut novel!

Wilson's novel speaks greatly on domestic violence and the somersaults of emotions women go through when in a less than desirable situation.... especially when a child is involved. While it may look like an easy decision on the outside, or maybe people just see and believe what they want to, the internal struggle never goes away. Joy is determined and when she finally does go... well, there's secrets other than her own she'll have to grapple with as she trudges along.

This is moderately paced and kept my interest from beginning to end. I do have one small gripe and that is when names are too similar - in this case, the two male adults that are prominent are Carl and Clay. Maybe it's my pea brain but I felt confused for a while in the back and forth on who was who. I know, I know, it's such a small thing but it has always irked me. I also felt that some things felt just a teeny bit amiss and I would've liked a tad more background to really engage with the characters. HOWEVER, as a debut novel, impressive!

I would absolutely pick up Wilson's next release. She's a delightful inspiration and I encourage you to pick this book up and indulge in your domestic suspense needs.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The plot of this book is heartbreaking and could be triggering for some readers.

Read full review in the 2022 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Sara Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️
I am a survivor of Domestic Abuse. Many people ask ‘Why didn’t you just leave’ this story answers that question and more. BUT Wrong Girl Gone is more than this. There are twists and turns, things I didn’t even see coming. I believe in strangers kindness In the real world too.

[Shannon Prokop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great suspense thriller. Thank you Audrey for shedding light on “Joy’s story” & unfortunately how common DV looks like. I would recommend this book to anyone! Great to meet you & have my book signed by you at the Bartlett Park District event 12/2024! Looking forward to reading ‘Only Human’, next!

[Samantha Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a definite must read thriller. I read this in one night, it has a fantastic message in it from Audrey. If you've gone through DV stuff, parts may be hard to read, at least for me it was. I don't want to give to much away and spoil this book, so I won't do that. It's got several turns and twists and you just have to read this!

[tina maisonette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me guessing I haven't read a book in a long time that I had no clue how it was going to end! Beautifully written and I really felt for the characters in the book! I would recommend it to anyone to read! I took my time reading it but in truth I could have devoured it in a couple of days!

[Sharon Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and felt deeply concerned for what was going to happen next in a way that I hadn't felt in a long time in a suspense novel. Audrey Wilson's writing is down to earth and unpretentious but the story is tightly written, easy to follow and leaves no plotholes behind!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often that you find a thriller with an emotional hook, well-developed characters, and an engrossing storyline. WRONG GIRL GONE draws you in from the first line and keeps you guessing until the end. The prose is tight and engaging, and the twist was one I never saw coming. I can't wait to see what the author comes out with next.

[Susan D’Amico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
I was impressed with the way the book was written; in that it left me wanting to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next! A great book from beginning to end. It grasped my attention immediately, and continued to do so until the end! Keeps the reader wanting to find out more. I will say there’s a part with the ‘white van’ that was exciting to read about. Kept me intrigued. Enjoy!

[Avanti Centrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is well-crafted, gut-clenching, heart-racing suspense.

[Helena Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!! I’m usually able to guess the ending but this story kept me guessing. Fast paced, keeps you engaged, certain parts made me a bit emotional, overall highly recommend!

[diannscollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twin Sisters on the Run

Who is chasing Kelly and Joy, twin sisters? One of them survives an attack, but the other has to figure out the motive for the killing in order to go on with her life.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolutely thrilling page-turner. I couldn't put the book down most of the the time (the exception was when I had to because of work). The characters are so well thought out, the domestic violence theme is handled with care, with unsettling realism. There were multiple moments when my jaw dropped as the story unfolded. Beautifully written narrative with an intriguing plot line that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Go read it!

[MrsB (Angi) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SOOOOO good!! Wish I could read it for the first time again!!
It does deal with domestic violence, so know that it may be triggering. It’s hard to find thrillers that leave you emotional, but this one definitely will. It was for sure edge of the seat reading in several scenes as well. So well written and the twists weren’t at all what I thought the twists would be. If you like Freida McFadden and Lucinda Berry, this book is definitely for you!

[Norma Lundstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of abuse, twin sisters, a young boy, and deceit and murder.

I couldn't put this book down, How Joy and Kelly, twin sisters lived a life with a father who moved away, and a mother who drank.

Joy marries Carl at 19, had her son Jerry, and lives an abusive life. She takes Carl and runs away and what happens next is a plot twist. Which twin is murdered, and why?

[Ashley Fracassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Domestic Violence trigger warning.

I read the little blurb and said okay sounds like a
book I would be interested in reading. Not knowing it was going to be as good as it was. Kept you guessing, kept you engaged. Character development was fantastic. 10/10. Will be reading more from this author for sure.

[KimMacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wrong Girl Gone by Audrey Wilson is a domestic crime thriller that captivates you from the very first page. This was a quick read that I easily devoured in less than a day. It has a twisted and trigger filled plot, so do make sure you check the trigger warnings if you have any.

The year is 1989 and Joy is living in an abusive marriage. She finally reaches her breaking point and decides to run with her son. As she navigates her escape, she realizes that she is being followed. She has no idea who is tailing her, but she turns to the only person she can rely on to help her. From here, things go south fast. Joy finds herself on the run for her life and ends up in the path of a mysterious stranger. As her paranoia goes into overdrive, she can't figure out who to trust and where to go.

This story definitely grabs your attention and doesn't let go until the very end. There are twists and turns, some more predictable than others, but it is still a well written and entertaining thriller. At times the story line jumped a little for me with not enough of an explanation, but I still really enjoyed it. If you love thrillers, definitely check this one out!

[Nicola . . · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, twisty and emotional thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The story follows Joy who lives with her young son and husband. Who we discover is abusive. With support from a friend Joy leaves with her son.
When fleeing she finds herself being followed, from there things get much worse for Joy and she finds herself fighting for her son and her life. With only a stranger to trust who has secrets of his own.
This is a read in one go book, the character of Joy is very well written and although she does make some questionable decisions it shows the power and abuser can have over their victims.
I enjoyed the ending and found it surprisingly emotional which is unusual for a thriller.
I dropped one star mainly because the title does give away one of the earlier twists but other than that it's a great, well paced thriller and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Wrong Girl Gone is a standalone that focuses on domestic violence however, it seems like there are some underlying themes in this book. So for mental health reasons, I suggest checking trigger warnings before reading.

This book grabbed me from page 1 and I couldn't stop until it was done! This was a great domestic thriller. The story follows a young mother named Joy who is fleeing from her husband with her 5 year old after enduring years of abuse. As she makes her journey to safety, she notices she's being followed but she's not sure by whom, or for what reason. Joy will soon be fighting for her life and her sons. This book was very well written. The story keeps you captivated. While I was able to predict one of the major plots in the story line very early on, it didn't take away from my reading experience at all. It was suspenseful and full of twists and turns. The characters were very well portrayed. While the story line does jump from present to dream world, it's very easy to follow and flows well.
I enjoyed this read so much and will be looking into more of Audrey Wilson's writings for future reads!

[Rynn Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was by far, amazing! As an author myself, I felt like I was learning what true, good storytelling looked like!
I read the bulk of it in one sitting and finished it in less than a day.
It is a perfect blend of mystery, thriller, and romance. This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
The one issue (which i won’t dox points for because it didn’t bother me enough) is that mid way through, it does change tenses from past to present.
The storytelling was phenomenal, and you truly fell in love with the characters. The author wanted to describe what the ins and outs of DV looks like, and show WHY it’s sometimes so hard to leave the monster. She portrayed that very well.
I give this book 5 ⭐️’s. I wish i could read this book for the first time all over again!

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I thought this was going to be a good book. I didn't expect it to be that good. Like I read the blurb and I was like yeah this is going to be good I'm going to like it. No it's totally different It's like I didn't want to put it down it took me just literally 4 hours to read this book. It is about domestic violence and the I want to say trials someone goes through to try to get through it.

I did not expect literally most of those twists that came in the book. It was like once one thing happened a domino effect happened with everything else and it just like opened your eyes. You were just like man I was thinking of that but shoot I didn't think it'd be that much! Like the domino effect was so big. Honestly this is such a good book please read it!

[lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

First if you have triggers heed the warnings. This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last. I loved it. What a tale Joy had to tell. This story had me hooked from page one till the end. It definitely was a roller coaster ride full of twists and turns. I love suspense, intrigue, angst and this book had it all. All of the characters were well written even the bad guys. I absolutely loved John what a wonderful friend. There were a lot of different emotions in this book and with the way this story was written you felt the emotions the characters were going through. I love that. You don't always have that in books and I love it when you do. I highly recommend this book it was so good. Can't wait for the next book by this author.

[Alexandria Towery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from the very first page doesn’t even begin to describe the grip this book had on me! If I could experience reading it again for the first time, I absolutely would. This novel redefines the term “page-turner” – I simply couldn’t put it down. Finding a follow-up read that matches its intensity will be challenging.

The story’s twists and turns are masterfully placed, keeping you guessing until the very end. Audrey Wilson’s writing style is reminiscent of Lucinda Berry’s, which is a huge compliment in itself. If thrillers are your thing, this is a must-read. Just a heads-up, though – there are some domestic violence triggers to be mindful of.

Highly recommend this 5-star read!

[Sydney Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a suspenseful one, I wanted to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen and why the things happening were happening. I didn’t expect the ending to be what it was at all. I knocked off a star because I did feel like it was a little long and there was a lot of unnecessary parts added in (all the dreams she was having were a bit weird) but overall super easy and good read. Very easy to visualize the characters, would make a good movie.

[Julie Angstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

what A Story—Hard to put down

Joy is married to Carl, her high school sweetheart. He drinks and gambles, and can be abusive. Of course, after the abusive behavior, he says he’s sorry. Joy decides to leave him, but was not able to take her son Jerry. She’s a twin—her identical twin Kim tells her she quit college. Then Kim is killed. Joy is devastated. She wants to take her son back and start over without Carl. Can she do it? Can she get Jerry?

[Leslie Monk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me interested, and wanting to keep reading. The characters were very interesting, and the storyline gave a little insight into what a life of domestic violence may feel like from the inside. Even better, I wasn’t expecting all of the details that came out in the end! Definitely worth reading!

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping tale of domestic violence, abuse and murder. It pulled me in from the first chapter and kept me on an emotional roller coaster ride. It’s full of deceit and suspense. The thrilling plot twist caught me by surprise. It’s a wonderfully developed story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[R.M. Demeester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... So good and kept me on my toes from beginning to end. The story is about Joy, a young mother who escapes her abusive husband with her son. I'd say this was emotionally gripping, with great characters and a great ending I didn't see coming. It is a must read. 5 stars.

[Jamie Lea (JmeLea) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat reading this one. Joy’s journey may have been fiction, but it felt very real. It was definitely a journey of up and down emotions. I love this book and I would recommend to everyone!!