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Nora McTavish #1
Where They Lie
The murder of an influencer’s family exposes the disturbing secrets behind the facade in a haunting novel of suspense by Joe Hart, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Or Else . Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive―with a shocking Andrea did it. This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea? As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw―one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.
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First published May 1, 2023
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About the author
Joe Hart
52 books1,365 followersJoe Hart is the Edgar Award-winning and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen novels including The River Is Dark, Obscura, The Last Girl, and Or Else. His work has been optioned for film and translated into eight languages. He lives with his family in Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 587 reviews
March 28, 2024
Foster mother Kaylee Volk is unusual in the world of rescuing children. With a wealthy husband and an avid following through her YouTube vlog, she is the picture of perfection. From her startling good looks to the much desired commentary of how to raise one’s children, her following laps up her content that charts the day-to-day life of Kaylee’s foster kids, Bethany, Andrea, and Mason. That is, however, until one fateful day when the Volks’ private plane falls from the sky. Leaving only Kaylee alive to tell the tale, what she says is hard to hear. Despite their happy appearances, this wasn’t an accident. Andrea caused it.
For Nora McTavish, a devoted child protective services agent with a dark past herself, this news nearly brings her to her knees. After all, she had firsthand knowledge of Andrea and her troubles. Known to have behavior problems, Nora thought that she’d dealt with a recent situation cautiously but correctly. Could she have possibly missed something? What if the entire crash could have been avoided entirely? Determined to find out once and for all, Nora starts to investigate the Volks and their on-air perfection. The more she unearths, however, the more troubling secrets come to light. And as the puzzle finally comes together, she realizes the truth was far more alarming than she could have ever imagined.
Wowzers! Right from the start, Where They Lie had my attention. Thanks to a nail-biting prologue, the book quite literally began with a bang. From there, the storyline delivered in spades with ratcheting suspense and one heck of an emotional side plot that kept me flying through the pages. What hooked me the most, though, was undoubtably the ease at which the story unfolded.
The strongest piece to this quick, easy read, however, was easily Nora herself. Plagued by a trauma filled past, she went into the CPS to help kids living through a childhood much like her own. Strong and resilient, her character drew me in deep. Even better, however, were Nora’s thorough backstory and fully fleshed out persona. All together, it made for an enticing character arc that I look forward to following throughout the rest of the series.
The plot was simply sublime considering the short length of this crime fiction slash thriller mashup. Fast-paced and steeped in forebodinghandful of dynamite action-packed scenestrue-to-life climax and first-rate conclusion. Adding to the realism was the other subplot running alongside Nora’s investigation. Needless to say, it could’ve easily been pulled straight from real life.
All in all, I’m already on tenterhooks for what is to come in the next book telling Nora’s story. Yes, you read that right. This is just book one in what is sure to a riveting series. With a solid premise, straightforward answers, and enough red herrings to keep me in the dark, I’m already itching to read the ongoing trials of Nora McTavish in Never Come Back. So stay tuned, because that’s what is coming up next. And all things considered, I already have pretty high expectations. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: plane crash, removal of kids by CPS, child abuse, fatal gunshot, suicide, mention of: breaking and entering, domestic abuse
For Nora McTavish, a devoted child protective services agent with a dark past herself, this news nearly brings her to her knees. After all, she had firsthand knowledge of Andrea and her troubles. Known to have behavior problems, Nora thought that she’d dealt with a recent situation cautiously but correctly. Could she have possibly missed something? What if the entire crash could have been avoided entirely? Determined to find out once and for all, Nora starts to investigate the Volks and their on-air perfection. The more she unearths, however, the more troubling secrets come to light. And as the puzzle finally comes together, she realizes the truth was far more alarming than she could have ever imagined.
Wowzers! Right from the start, Where They Lie had my attention. Thanks to a nail-biting prologue, the book quite literally began with a bang. From there, the storyline delivered in spades with ratcheting suspense and one heck of an emotional side plot that kept me flying through the pages. What hooked me the most, though, was undoubtably the ease at which the story unfolded.
The strongest piece to this quick, easy read, however, was easily Nora herself. Plagued by a trauma filled past, she went into the CPS to help kids living through a childhood much like her own. Strong and resilient, her character drew me in deep. Even better, however, were Nora’s thorough backstory and fully fleshed out persona. All together, it made for an enticing character arc that I look forward to following throughout the rest of the series.
The plot was simply sublime considering the short length of this crime fiction slash thriller mashup. Fast-paced and steeped in forebodinghandful of dynamite action-packed scenestrue-to-life climax and first-rate conclusion. Adding to the realism was the other subplot running alongside Nora’s investigation. Needless to say, it could’ve easily been pulled straight from real life.
All in all, I’m already on tenterhooks for what is to come in the next book telling Nora’s story. Yes, you read that right. This is just book one in what is sure to a riveting series. With a solid premise, straightforward answers, and enough red herrings to keep me in the dark, I’m already itching to read the ongoing trials of Nora McTavish in Never Come Back. So stay tuned, because that’s what is coming up next. And all things considered, I already have pretty high expectations. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: plane crash, removal of kids by CPS, child abuse, fatal gunshot, suicide, mention of: breaking and entering, domestic abuse
April 14, 2023
Nora McTavish suffered a traumatic childhood. One that has caused severe survivors guilt due to the death of her older brother. Today she makes her living as an agent for child protective services to not only help assuage some of the guilt she has but to also help other children that are suffering.
"Everyone has something to fight for but not everyone has someone to fight for them."
Kaylee Volk is a vlogger and influencer. Her brand is her amazingly perfect family - her husband Josh and their three foster children, Andrea, Mason, and Bethany. One day, while taking a trip in their private plane, it crashes into the sea. Kaylee is the only survivor and she claims that it was Andrea that caused the crash.
Nora can't believe it. She's the one that placed Andrea in their care. Did she miss something? Was Andrea more disturbed than she believed her to be? Nora takes it upon herself to delve further into the Volks family dynamics and what she stumbles upon is far from perfection.
I have read two previous books by Hart and enjoyed them so when I saw this pop up on NetGalley I didn't hesitate to request it. Apparently this is the first book in a series starring Nora.
There's no doubt that Hart's a great writer but this story didn't really wow me at all. I had to suspend my disbelief right from the get go, some of the plotting seemed a little too convenient, and for a seasoned thriller reader like myself this was predictable. Nora's not unlikable but she's not likeable either. I remained completely indifferent about her the entire book so I can't say that I'm too eager to continue this series. I'm also growing tired of the influencer storyline. I just don't get curating your life for all to bare witness to. I love my privacy too much for that. The ending really beggars belief. 🙄
Thankfully this was a short book. I read 85% over the course of my work day yesterday and then finished up this morning. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. If you read a lot in the thriller genre then I'd say you can skip this one without fear of missing out. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
"Everyone has something to fight for but not everyone has someone to fight for them."
Kaylee Volk is a vlogger and influencer. Her brand is her amazingly perfect family - her husband Josh and their three foster children, Andrea, Mason, and Bethany. One day, while taking a trip in their private plane, it crashes into the sea. Kaylee is the only survivor and she claims that it was Andrea that caused the crash.
Nora can't believe it. She's the one that placed Andrea in their care. Did she miss something? Was Andrea more disturbed than she believed her to be? Nora takes it upon herself to delve further into the Volks family dynamics and what she stumbles upon is far from perfection.
I have read two previous books by Hart and enjoyed them so when I saw this pop up on NetGalley I didn't hesitate to request it. Apparently this is the first book in a series starring Nora.
There's no doubt that Hart's a great writer but this story didn't really wow me at all. I had to suspend my disbelief right from the get go, some of the plotting seemed a little too convenient, and for a seasoned thriller reader like myself this was predictable. Nora's not unlikable but she's not likeable either. I remained completely indifferent about her the entire book so I can't say that I'm too eager to continue this series. I'm also growing tired of the influencer storyline. I just don't get curating your life for all to bare witness to. I love my privacy too much for that. The ending really beggars belief. 🙄
Thankfully this was a short book. I read 85% over the course of my work day yesterday and then finished up this morning. I didn't hate it, I didn't love it. If you read a lot in the thriller genre then I'd say you can skip this one without fear of missing out. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
April 29, 2023
EXCERPT: Roger scrambled for his binoculars, which had fallen dangerously close to the boat's edge, and jammed them to his eyes.
The aircraft rose once more, a bird catching a powerful updraft, then it banked hard to the right and angled down irreversibly. It seemed to hang there for a split second, an image of its bulk suspended over the expanse of rough sea forever seared into Rogers's mind, before plummeting through a swath of rain into the ocean. A spume of water cascaded up silently in the distance and fell, the rough sea resuming its indifferent rolling.
ABOUT 'WHERE THEY LIE': Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive—with a shocking revelation: Andrea did it.
This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea?
As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw—one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.
MY THOUGHTS: When 'Where They Lie' is good, it's very, very good, but when it's not . . . it failed to keep my attention.
The beginning certainly grabbed my attention with a private jet crashing into the ocean, a child's terrified face pressed against a window.
Then, it's a bit of a seesaw ride. There's ups, and downs, and occasionally it gets stuck going nowhere. There were several places I skimmed pages until something caught my interest and I would start reading again.
I didn't find Nora particularly likeable or relatable, although I did admire her devotion to her charges.
There's a particularly good suspenseful section towards the end of the book that had me holding my breath and furiously flipping pages.
Where They Lie isn't a bad read, but neither is it anything special. Not special enough for me to want to continue with this series.
⭐⭐.7
#WhereTheyLie #NetGalley
I: @joe_hart_author @amazonpublishing
T: @AuthorJoeHart @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Joe Hart was born and raised in northern Minnesota, where he still resides today. He’s been writing horror and thriller fiction since he was nine years old. When he’s not writing, Joe enjoys reading, working out, watching movies with his family, and spending time outdoors.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Where They Lie by Joe Hart for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
The aircraft rose once more, a bird catching a powerful updraft, then it banked hard to the right and angled down irreversibly. It seemed to hang there for a split second, an image of its bulk suspended over the expanse of rough sea forever seared into Rogers's mind, before plummeting through a swath of rain into the ocean. A spume of water cascaded up silently in the distance and fell, the rough sea resuming its indifferent rolling.
ABOUT 'WHERE THEY LIE': Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive—with a shocking revelation: Andrea did it.
This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea?
As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw—one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.
MY THOUGHTS: When 'Where They Lie' is good, it's very, very good, but when it's not . . . it failed to keep my attention.
The beginning certainly grabbed my attention with a private jet crashing into the ocean, a child's terrified face pressed against a window.
Then, it's a bit of a seesaw ride. There's ups, and downs, and occasionally it gets stuck going nowhere. There were several places I skimmed pages until something caught my interest and I would start reading again.
I didn't find Nora particularly likeable or relatable, although I did admire her devotion to her charges.
There's a particularly good suspenseful section towards the end of the book that had me holding my breath and furiously flipping pages.
Where They Lie isn't a bad read, but neither is it anything special. Not special enough for me to want to continue with this series.
⭐⭐.7
#WhereTheyLie #NetGalley
I: @joe_hart_author @amazonpublishing
T: @AuthorJoeHart @AmazonPub
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #mystery #suspense
THE AUTHOR: Joe Hart was born and raised in northern Minnesota, where he still resides today. He’s been writing horror and thriller fiction since he was nine years old. When he’s not writing, Joe enjoys reading, working out, watching movies with his family, and spending time outdoors.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Where They Lie by Joe Hart for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 27, 2023
Social Worker/Investigator/Fighter-of-Rights
Whilst I enjoyed the story, it lacked a good plot and twist. The twist was small and fairly predictable. Not to spoil it but I was really glad with Nora's achievement in the epilogue because she's only a Social Worker but acting like a Police Detective and that kind of change her character a lot. Why would she be in that line of work but obviously yearning for something else?
With Nora's back story you can't help but admire her strength and courage to fight for the truth (apart from the above). She is compassionate but doesn't show it often. I'm hoping we get a bit more from Book 2 with a lot more thriller aspects.
Side note: Joe Hart is a really good writer, and while this is my first I will definitely be checking out this authors books in future.
Whilst I enjoyed the story, it lacked a good plot and twist. The twist was small and fairly predictable. Not to spoil it but I was really glad with Nora's achievement in the epilogue because she's only a Social Worker but acting like a Police Detective and that kind of change her character a lot. Why would she be in that line of work but obviously yearning for something else?
With Nora's back story you can't help but admire her strength and courage to fight for the truth (apart from the above). She is compassionate but doesn't show it often. I'm hoping we get a bit more from Book 2 with a lot more thriller aspects.
Side note: Joe Hart is a really good writer, and while this is my first I will definitely be checking out this authors books in future.
June 16, 2023
✈️✈️✈️✈️
Suspenseful read! Lots of dark family secrets.
“Where They Lie” is my first book by Joe Hart and also the beginning of the Nora McTavish series. Nora is an overly dedicated social worker who ended up in the system after an extremely tragic family event. Even with her unresolved trauma, she’s devoted to helping children.
She has helped place several children with the Volks, who are unable to have their own. Kaylee Volk is a popular influencer that has shown the public a “picture-perfect” family. But Kaylee is the only survivor when the family’s private plane crashes…and she points the blame at their oldest daughter, Andrea.
Since Andrea has always been troubled, everyone accepts this explanation except for Nora.
I was glued to the pages as Nora set on her own, unapproved investigation! Wow…the secrets she dug up on the Volk family were shocking.
This was a Kindle Unlimited book with Audio Narration that made my yard work fly by. I can’t wait for Book #2!
#WhereTheyLie #JoeHart #honestreview #kindleunlimited #audiobook #fosterfamily #planecrash #ThomasMercer #honestreview #thrillerfriendsunite #mysteryandthrills #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #justfinished #igbookreels #thriller #suspense #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #bookseries #NoraMcTavish
Suspenseful read! Lots of dark family secrets.
“Where They Lie” is my first book by Joe Hart and also the beginning of the Nora McTavish series. Nora is an overly dedicated social worker who ended up in the system after an extremely tragic family event. Even with her unresolved trauma, she’s devoted to helping children.
She has helped place several children with the Volks, who are unable to have their own. Kaylee Volk is a popular influencer that has shown the public a “picture-perfect” family. But Kaylee is the only survivor when the family’s private plane crashes…and she points the blame at their oldest daughter, Andrea.
Since Andrea has always been troubled, everyone accepts this explanation except for Nora.
I was glued to the pages as Nora set on her own, unapproved investigation! Wow…the secrets she dug up on the Volk family were shocking.
This was a Kindle Unlimited book with Audio Narration that made my yard work fly by. I can’t wait for Book #2!
#WhereTheyLie #JoeHart #honestreview #kindleunlimited #audiobook #fosterfamily #planecrash #ThomasMercer #honestreview #thrillerfriendsunite #mysteryandthrills #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #justfinished #igbookreels #thriller #suspense #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #bookseries #NoraMcTavish
April 19, 2023
Average
The author has done a good job in his writing style and story.
I did enjoy the story but for me it appeared just that, a good story. The story in it's entirety is nothing original but it does have a few thrilling moments.
The author has done a good job in his writing style and story.
I did enjoy the story but for me it appeared just that, a good story. The story in it's entirety is nothing original but it does have a few thrilling moments.
October 10, 2022
Excellent book!!
My first by this author but won't be my last!
An edge of my seat suspense thriller!
You won't see it coming!
I highly recommend!
My first by this author but won't be my last!
An edge of my seat suspense thriller!
You won't see it coming!
I highly recommend!
September 20, 2022
Review of “Where They Lie” by Joe Hart *Some Spoilers*
The Bad
- Weak World, Weak Characters
o Nothing was fully fleshed out
o The main character’s understanding of her trauma and motivations felt very surface level and did not add any intensity, gravity, or weight to her character
o Her backstory felt very haphazardly put together – the cohesion was lacking, the corporal ghost of her brother added nothing to the plot, and the entire subplot felt like trauma porn
o Speaking of characters that added nothing to the story, the little brother in the Volk family was only there to show that Andrea was a normal teen and that Justin had anger issues
o Julia and her son, Sam, showed a true depiction of what happens across the US and how people in DV situations need support and community to leave and start again. I loved these characters, but the problem is that they were irrelevant to the plot and did nothing to influence, change, or challenge our main character
- Weak Writing
o In the beginning, it felt very tell-not-show. The reader was spoon-fed what to think/interpret/glean from certain situations and scenes
o The main character, whose name evades me now (a sign of a weak character) felt unrealistic. She was definitely a Woman Written by a Man, if you catch my drift. Her emotions were felt and understood by her, but instead explained to the reader. Her interest in certain things and detachment from others was consistently and conveniently explained away by her previous trauma
o The setting was so unimportant and de-emphasized
- Unexplored Potential
o The rise and impact of family channels over the last decade is so interesting and worth diving into – the author barely acknowledges that it’s a part of the story other than using it as a story-telling technique in certain situations (in older books, these would be diary entries)
o This could’ve been an opportunity to dive into how family channels influence and effect the psyche of their children
o The dissociation between the public image of the Volks and their reality could’ve been utilized in a more powerful way that added weight to the story, but it falls short
The Good
- Well-Paced
o I don’t think the story rushed anything and I don’t think it spent an inordinate amount of time on anything either
o In the second half, the story chugged along at a good pace that kept the reader going and curious
- The (first) Twist
o Well-done, realistic, slightly unexpected but not without foundation
o Interesting and topical to the situation and the dangers of a predatory foster system
- The (second) Twist
o Also surprisingly enjoyed this. The moment that you think that the main character has succeeded is flipped on its head a moment later
o Realistic and shocking, but again, not without foundation that was well-laid in the beginning of the book
All in all, not the greatest read. Wouldn’t recommend but I didn’t hate my time with the book. I just think some more time and thought could be put into developing this into something great. 2/5 stars.
The Bad
- Weak World, Weak Characters
o Nothing was fully fleshed out
o The main character’s understanding of her trauma and motivations felt very surface level and did not add any intensity, gravity, or weight to her character
o Her backstory felt very haphazardly put together – the cohesion was lacking, the corporal ghost of her brother added nothing to the plot, and the entire subplot felt like trauma porn
o Speaking of characters that added nothing to the story, the little brother in the Volk family was only there to show that Andrea was a normal teen and that Justin had anger issues
o Julia and her son, Sam, showed a true depiction of what happens across the US and how people in DV situations need support and community to leave and start again. I loved these characters, but the problem is that they were irrelevant to the plot and did nothing to influence, change, or challenge our main character
- Weak Writing
o In the beginning, it felt very tell-not-show. The reader was spoon-fed what to think/interpret/glean from certain situations and scenes
o The main character, whose name evades me now (a sign of a weak character) felt unrealistic. She was definitely a Woman Written by a Man, if you catch my drift. Her emotions were felt and understood by her, but instead explained to the reader. Her interest in certain things and detachment from others was consistently and conveniently explained away by her previous trauma
o The setting was so unimportant and de-emphasized
- Unexplored Potential
o The rise and impact of family channels over the last decade is so interesting and worth diving into – the author barely acknowledges that it’s a part of the story other than using it as a story-telling technique in certain situations (in older books, these would be diary entries)
o This could’ve been an opportunity to dive into how family channels influence and effect the psyche of their children
o The dissociation between the public image of the Volks and their reality could’ve been utilized in a more powerful way that added weight to the story, but it falls short
The Good
- Well-Paced
o I don’t think the story rushed anything and I don’t think it spent an inordinate amount of time on anything either
o In the second half, the story chugged along at a good pace that kept the reader going and curious
- The (first) Twist
o Well-done, realistic, slightly unexpected but not without foundation
o Interesting and topical to the situation and the dangers of a predatory foster system
- The (second) Twist
o Also surprisingly enjoyed this. The moment that you think that the main character has succeeded is flipped on its head a moment later
o Realistic and shocking, but again, not without foundation that was well-laid in the beginning of the book
All in all, not the greatest read. Wouldn’t recommend but I didn’t hate my time with the book. I just think some more time and thought could be put into developing this into something great. 2/5 stars.
April 17, 2023
This was the most “woman-written-by-a-man” book I have ever read. She describes her boyfriend as “well-hung” which no woman has ever said in the history of women. She’s fiercely independent, which our writer takes to mean she does not want a man to cook or clean for her…..? Which, again, what woman is like “I draw the line at loading my dishwasher.” I feel like this writer kind of hates this woman that he has created, and it writing her as a caricature of what men think feminists are like.
Also. WILDLY predictable. I was skimming by the halfway mark and I still knew who did it and why they did it. I’m not sure if there are supposed to be any twists here? But there are none.
The thing that irked me the MOST about this book is that a random CPS worker - not a cop, not an FYI agent, not a private investigator - waltzes in and out of crime scenes, takes evidence, interviews everyone connected with a crime including celebrities and victims under intense security, and everyone is just delighted to talk to her and give her information. In what world? Likeeeee maybe the cops would want that evidence? Maybe the victims’ families would be confused as to why you’re asking them deeply personal questions, and also, how the hell you found their information in the first place?
This is so unrealistic and so dumb oh and ALSO - SPOILER AHEAD - why the fuck did she let the bad guy get away with everything at the end? Literally she’s like “anyway so I didn’t have that much evidence so I decided not to tell the police” oh okay glad you spent the entire book uncovering the mystery then. Good work, everyone. No notes.
Also. WILDLY predictable. I was skimming by the halfway mark and I still knew who did it and why they did it. I’m not sure if there are supposed to be any twists here? But there are none.
The thing that irked me the MOST about this book is that a random CPS worker - not a cop, not an FYI agent, not a private investigator - waltzes in and out of crime scenes, takes evidence, interviews everyone connected with a crime including celebrities and victims under intense security, and everyone is just delighted to talk to her and give her information. In what world? Likeeeee maybe the cops would want that evidence? Maybe the victims’ families would be confused as to why you’re asking them deeply personal questions, and also, how the hell you found their information in the first place?
This is so unrealistic and so dumb oh and ALSO - SPOILER AHEAD - why the fuck did she let the bad guy get away with everything at the end? Literally she’s like “anyway so I didn’t have that much evidence so I decided not to tell the police” oh okay glad you spent the entire book uncovering the mystery then. Good work, everyone. No notes.
April 27, 2023
This is the second book I have read by Joe Hart and I enjoyed it. Looks like it is the first book in his new Nora McTavish series, and I always like to get into a series at the start - not that I need another series to follow, but I'm putting this one on my list to watch for the next book.
Description:
Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive—with a shocking revelation: Andrea did it.
This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea?
As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw—one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.
My thoughts:
Not a bad beginning of a series. Nora McTavish is a social worker for child protection services. She has some issues from her past she has to deal with herself, but she tries to help others due to her past. I did like the character. The plot centered around Kaylee Volk who is an influencer, and the social media aspect here is currently relevant although I wouldn't like my life posted all over the place for just anyone to see. The loss of her family was tragic and the plot was interesting to follow. The ending was kind of unbelievable though.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 1, 2023.
Description:
Family is content for Kaylee Volk. Her vlogs celebrate a happy home with her husband and their three foster children, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Everything is perfect until the day the family’s private plane plummets into the ocean. Only Kaylee manages to survive—with a shocking revelation: Andrea did it.
This is particularly devastating for Nora McTavish, a child protective services agent who is already familiar with Andrea’s troubled history. Given Nora’s own traumatic childhood, how could she not have sensed the profound darkness festering within the girl? What did she miss? Could she have stopped Andrea?
As Kaylee struggles to cope with the crushing loss, Nora’s investigation begins. But her guilt soon turns to unease. Secret by secret, Nora pieces together a Volk family puzzle that’s more twisted than anyone saw—one far from the picture-perfect life Kaylee sold to the public. And the closer Nora looks, the more disturbing it gets.
My thoughts:
Not a bad beginning of a series. Nora McTavish is a social worker for child protection services. She has some issues from her past she has to deal with herself, but she tries to help others due to her past. I did like the character. The plot centered around Kaylee Volk who is an influencer, and the social media aspect here is currently relevant although I wouldn't like my life posted all over the place for just anyone to see. The loss of her family was tragic and the plot was interesting to follow. The ending was kind of unbelievable though.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 1, 2023.
April 4, 2023
I absolutely loved this book and I can't wait to read more about protagonist, Nora! In this one she's a social worker involved in family drama that involves a plane crash that killed husband, Justin and foster kids, Bethany, Mason, and Andrea but left the wife, Kaylee (a popular vlogger) alive. But as Nora digs deeper, she discovers many discrepancies even as she battles her own demons dealing with her own background and her flailing love life. To say this is a thrill ride would be an understatement as I feel like I've been holding my breath the whole time and only now can exhale! Just wow. I'm out of words!
February 1, 2023
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoHjaZvrPH4/
Last year, I discovered Or Else, a twisted thriller I enjoyed so much that I went back and read another 3 books from the author’s catalogue.
Where they lie is a character driven thriller.
Nora Mc Tavish is a child's protective services agent, and she gets involved in the family drama of one of her foster house family.
She feels like there’s something she just can’t put her fingers on for Kaylee and her family of three foster children and her husband. After the plane accident, everything shows to Andrea, the girl that seemed to attract trouble at any second. Because of her own past, I can see her why she is so driven to discover what happened and trying to protect Andrea till the last minute.
I can’t say that I didn’t have a crazy moment when I thought the husband had more to do with the accident in the beginning. But after halfway through, the plot thickens, and the story held me captive even more.
I loved how the bring to light that what happens behind the camera and closed doors, reality is way more heartbreaking.
I’m not the one to watch reality tv or follow influencers that post their picture perfect family and let you believe that life is so sparkly and wonderful. But I was captivated by Kaylee and her character. She is someone I wouldn’t want to have around me or my friends. The ending left me gasping because it was unbelievable how she pulled that stunt again after everything that happened. Some people have no conscience, remorse or guilt at all.
Whether you enjoy addictive thrillers or you are seeking a great family drama in this “sparkling, everything must be posted on social media society”, this book is unmissable.
Gripping, heartbreaking and a must read story.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
Last year, I discovered Or Else, a twisted thriller I enjoyed so much that I went back and read another 3 books from the author’s catalogue.
Where they lie is a character driven thriller.
Nora Mc Tavish is a child's protective services agent, and she gets involved in the family drama of one of her foster house family.
She feels like there’s something she just can’t put her fingers on for Kaylee and her family of three foster children and her husband. After the plane accident, everything shows to Andrea, the girl that seemed to attract trouble at any second. Because of her own past, I can see her why she is so driven to discover what happened and trying to protect Andrea till the last minute.
I can’t say that I didn’t have a crazy moment when I thought the husband had more to do with the accident in the beginning. But after halfway through, the plot thickens, and the story held me captive even more.
I loved how the bring to light that what happens behind the camera and closed doors, reality is way more heartbreaking.
I’m not the one to watch reality tv or follow influencers that post their picture perfect family and let you believe that life is so sparkly and wonderful. But I was captivated by Kaylee and her character. She is someone I wouldn’t want to have around me or my friends. The ending left me gasping because it was unbelievable how she pulled that stunt again after everything that happened. Some people have no conscience, remorse or guilt at all.
Whether you enjoy addictive thrillers or you are seeking a great family drama in this “sparkling, everything must be posted on social media society”, this book is unmissable.
Gripping, heartbreaking and a must read story.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
Read
July 10, 2023Where do I begin? Where They Lie by Joe Hart was not supposed to be my next review. I have a list a mile long of reads I am always excited to read and share my thoughts (as if they matter). Lately, I've been coming across titles that kinda just take hold of me and refuse to let go.
Where They Lie crashes onto the scene with a literal crash. Yes, pun intended. An unsuspecting sailing enthusiast, fearful of his choice to sail as a storm brews in the waters, is stunned by the (intentional?) crash of an aircraft.
Enter Nora McTavish. News of the private plane's "accident" leads Nora on a quest to understand what went wrong. As a child protective services agent, she's unable to look away from this tragedy. Unable to ignore the guilt she feels having brought this family together, Nora searches for the truth. Why did this family die and why was one of the foster children being blamed for the tragedy?
Before long, Nora's search for an answer puts her in danger.
Obviously! Or we wouldn't have this novel.
First of all, I enjoyed reading Hart's Where They Lie. It's a fast paced, quick read that grips readers that are forced to see where this thriller leads. Nora's narrative is impeccable and encompassing... as far as first person narratives go. No matter how intuitive our antagonist is, they leave a wake of thinly drawn characters along the way.
Nora is a complex, damaged character, who begrudgingly allows us pieces of her life. If anyone deserves their happy ever after, it is Nora. Yet, Hart offers the readers Kaylee Volk. Those who have read the book blurb know that she's a big deal in this plot.
Kaylee Volk, a social media influencer, chronicles her life as a foster parent to three teenagers ripped from their dangerous homes. After having won the foster kid's lottery, one of those teens are blamed for killing the entire family, except Kaylee.
Honestly, I only mention Kaylee because she, and her family are the catalyst that moves the story forward. What secrets are they hiding? Why would a young, rich, married couple insist on fostering teens? Why is death more enticing than keeping up the influencing charade?
Where They Lie was an interesting read that kept me interested even when I wasn't reading. But... my gripes are that the characters are as flat as the acting skills of your favorite influencer.
ALSO!
I'm not sure if this mattered to Hart but using the "influencer" trope will ultimately date this novel. Yes, this phenomenon of average people making a shi*load of money is beautiful, it's also not sustainable. Kaylee was exactly who/what I think of when I see "influencers". The cookie cutter image we all have in mind.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Where They Lie. Joe Hart is a solid fixture on my list of authors I must read if I'm in the mood to be hooked. A solid read but definitely not something that will stick with me for long. Since this seems to be the beginning of a series, I will definitely follow Nora and her subsequent novels.
Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley
Where They Lie crashes onto the scene with a literal crash. Yes, pun intended. An unsuspecting sailing enthusiast, fearful of his choice to sail as a storm brews in the waters, is stunned by the (intentional?) crash of an aircraft.
Enter Nora McTavish. News of the private plane's "accident" leads Nora on a quest to understand what went wrong. As a child protective services agent, she's unable to look away from this tragedy. Unable to ignore the guilt she feels having brought this family together, Nora searches for the truth. Why did this family die and why was one of the foster children being blamed for the tragedy?
Before long, Nora's search for an answer puts her in danger.
Obviously! Or we wouldn't have this novel.
First of all, I enjoyed reading Hart's Where They Lie. It's a fast paced, quick read that grips readers that are forced to see where this thriller leads. Nora's narrative is impeccable and encompassing... as far as first person narratives go. No matter how intuitive our antagonist is, they leave a wake of thinly drawn characters along the way.
Nora is a complex, damaged character, who begrudgingly allows us pieces of her life. If anyone deserves their happy ever after, it is Nora. Yet, Hart offers the readers Kaylee Volk. Those who have read the book blurb know that she's a big deal in this plot.
Kaylee Volk, a social media influencer, chronicles her life as a foster parent to three teenagers ripped from their dangerous homes. After having won the foster kid's lottery, one of those teens are blamed for killing the entire family, except Kaylee.
Honestly, I only mention Kaylee because she, and her family are the catalyst that moves the story forward. What secrets are they hiding? Why would a young, rich, married couple insist on fostering teens? Why is death more enticing than keeping up the influencing charade?
Where They Lie was an interesting read that kept me interested even when I wasn't reading. But... my gripes are that the characters are as flat as the acting skills of your favorite influencer.
ALSO!
I'm not sure if this mattered to Hart but using the "influencer" trope will ultimately date this novel. Yes, this phenomenon of average people making a shi*load of money is beautiful, it's also not sustainable. Kaylee was exactly who/what I think of when I see "influencers". The cookie cutter image we all have in mind.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Where They Lie. Joe Hart is a solid fixture on my list of authors I must read if I'm in the mood to be hooked. A solid read but definitely not something that will stick with me for long. Since this seems to be the beginning of a series, I will definitely follow Nora and her subsequent novels.
Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley
April 18, 2023
A fresh and modern take for a fiction/thriller. There were a lot of moving parts throughout the story, but it was easy to understand. It was a fully developed plot and I appreciated how much it felt like real life. The ending was a surprise I never saw coming! Typically when I have to wait until the last 10% to get the answers it feels like a long buildup for a mediocre resolution, but Where They Lie was perfectly executed.
ALSO, if you’re a Kindle girlie with Amazon Prime you HAVE to look up Amazon First Reads!! You can choose one of the Kindle books selected by Amazon editors for free. That’s how I found this book 😊
ALSO, if you’re a Kindle girlie with Amazon Prime you HAVE to look up Amazon First Reads!! You can choose one of the Kindle books selected by Amazon editors for free. That’s how I found this book 😊
September 28, 2022
Halloween 2022 Read #17
This novel started with a BANG! Then it plummets into heartbreak. Two chapters in and I'm in a whirlwind of suspense and distress. I'm a fan of Hart's but didn't expect so much intensity so quickly. Hooked pales.
"The voice was right. I’d made a mistake somewhere."
Nora is a CPS worker. Kaylee is an influencer showing off her family and their lifestyle on YouTube, including her three adopted kids. When on vacation the family's plane crashes, killing all but Kaylee, all fingers point to the oldest child. Andrea had a troubled history and a bad attitude . . .
I kept searching for other clues though. Andrea was the easy target, so naturally, it couldn't have been her. Her brother had some odd quirks that stuck out to me: kind, quiet, smart, bookish, overly tidy--signs of a budding serial killer. Then there was the husband. His reactions to things before the accident rubbed me the wrong way. And, of course, Kaylee. She had a muddled past of her own.
Nora takes on the task of figuring out the truth and it's a shocking end I never anticipated.
This novel started with a BANG! Then it plummets into heartbreak. Two chapters in and I'm in a whirlwind of suspense and distress. I'm a fan of Hart's but didn't expect so much intensity so quickly. Hooked pales.
"The voice was right. I’d made a mistake somewhere."
Nora is a CPS worker. Kaylee is an influencer showing off her family and their lifestyle on YouTube, including her three adopted kids. When on vacation the family's plane crashes, killing all but Kaylee, all fingers point to the oldest child. Andrea had a troubled history and a bad attitude . . .
I kept searching for other clues though. Andrea was the easy target, so naturally, it couldn't have been her. Her brother had some odd quirks that stuck out to me: kind, quiet, smart, bookish, overly tidy--signs of a budding serial killer. Then there was the husband. His reactions to things before the accident rubbed me the wrong way. And, of course, Kaylee. She had a muddled past of her own.
Nora takes on the task of figuring out the truth and it's a shocking end I never anticipated.
April 29, 2023
Where They Lie by Joe Hart is a psychological thriller and the first in a series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Nora McTavish is with the child protective services. Her own history of an abusive childhood makes her an ideal agent. She really cares about her clients.
When the Volk family's private plane crashes, Nora worries. She always thought there was something wrong in the family. Kaylee Volk (a vlogger), and her husband Justin (investment broker) have three foster children. Bethany, Mason, and Andrea. Nora had been called to the school when 17 year old Andrea beat up her younger brother, but both assured her everything was okay. She had followed up with the required instructions and plan to make sure nothing happened again. She never heard anything more from the family.
But now, Nora is concerned. What did she miss? Apparently someone saw a struggle in the cock-pit, and there was no MAYDAY call. Only Kaylee is alive, and she says Andrea crashed their plane.
Nora is determined to figure out what really happened to this family, even if she gets fired for trying.
Meanwhile, she is also trying to help another mother in need, and still dealing with her own traumatic past.
My Opinions:
This was a really amazing read. It was fast-paced, and well plotted, with a number of twists. It was hard to put down, and hence was a very fast read.
The book truly showed how rough some families have it, and was therefore rather depressing. It touched on children in foster care, mothers in abusive situations, and the fact that often children get the bad end of the stick.
I loved Nora from the start, and kept thinking she would make a great protagonist in a series. Much to my pleasure, I found out that this is indeed, going to be a series. Now I can't wait for the second book!
I am definitely going in search of other books by this author!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 9, 2023
Ooooh, my Kindle First offering that I selected this month. And what a good choice I made.....I SO enjoyed it. It held my interest all the way through. OK, the ending wasn't what I wanted it to be but if I wanted a particular conclusion then I should become a writer, and that ain't happening anytime this millennium !!
I am pleased the author is making this a series featuring Nora as I really like her. Also Stephen and Paul, too........great characters. Though I must admit to getting more than a tad sniffy every time we got to encounter Paul......I loved the inclusion of Merrill. He's very special indeed.
There are some really sad instances featured in this, I have to say. You wonder how some people survive the crap they get dealt in life (or don't, I guess).
Byron's tale of his first day on the job was heartbreaking, I have to say.....I also love the passage about time-giving. That is nice. The little mention of a wedding flower was also the undoing of me near the end, too !
There were a few errors but I read a book by him before and it had a LOT more so this was a great improvement so I won't gripe about it too much.
The odd missed comma, he writes Tomblike at one point and I'd assumed it was a product name till I realised he meant tomb-like !! He wrote the word tourniquetted and I had never heard of that but it may exist ? Queued not cued and treaded and not trodden, sock not socked and leaped not leapt (but I do believe these get through OK on Americans' bastardisation of the language) !! Same with ringer and not wringer. He repetitively wrote mace and not Mace, cliff jumping could do with a hyphen and this sentence lost a word (maybe spot or point), "I'd parked a dozen or so spaces away in a good vantage to take in the highway...." However, as I said, not really appalling presentation in the least.
I'm most definitely looking forward to the next in this series featuring Nora.
I am pleased the author is making this a series featuring Nora as I really like her. Also Stephen and Paul, too........great characters. Though I must admit to getting more than a tad sniffy every time we got to encounter Paul......I loved the inclusion of Merrill. He's very special indeed.
There are some really sad instances featured in this, I have to say. You wonder how some people survive the crap they get dealt in life (or don't, I guess).
Byron's tale of his first day on the job was heartbreaking, I have to say.....I also love the passage about time-giving. That is nice. The little mention of a wedding flower was also the undoing of me near the end, too !
There were a few errors but I read a book by him before and it had a LOT more so this was a great improvement so I won't gripe about it too much.
The odd missed comma, he writes Tomblike at one point and I'd assumed it was a product name till I realised he meant tomb-like !! He wrote the word tourniquetted and I had never heard of that but it may exist ? Queued not cued and treaded and not trodden, sock not socked and leaped not leapt (but I do believe these get through OK on Americans' bastardisation of the language) !! Same with ringer and not wringer. He repetitively wrote mace and not Mace, cliff jumping could do with a hyphen and this sentence lost a word (maybe spot or point), "I'd parked a dozen or so spaces away in a good vantage to take in the highway...." However, as I said, not really appalling presentation in the least.
I'm most definitely looking forward to the next in this series featuring Nora.
April 24, 2023
WHERE THEY LIE captured my interest from the start. I enjoyed getting to know Nora's character. As a Social Worker in child protective services, she saw some pretty terrible things. Nora's back story and flashbacks made me feel very sorry for her. I loved her determination to figure out what happened to the Volk family. Was the plane crash an accident or planned? Her feelings of guilt that she missed something going on with the children kept me tuned in until the final conclusion. I am happy to see there will be a second book out in April 2024, so I can continue with the Nora McTavish Series! Overall, this was a great thriller that I can recommend.
Thanks to Joe Hart, Thomas & Mercer, and TLC BOOK TOURS for having me on this tour.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Thanks to Joe Hart, Thomas & Mercer, and TLC BOOK TOURS for having me on this tour.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
May 25, 2023
I enjoyed this - instead of a detective book this was a nice change and I quite enjoyed myself. I called the end because I'm just that good but I wasn't mad at it.
October 21, 2023
Nora McTavish is a Child Protective Services investigator for a small town in the west coast. Part of her job is to place abused children with foster families. One of such families is in an airplane accident. Nora suspects foul play and decides to investigate. A very interesting book about Nora who along with her job has to deal with her own demons along with the failures of an antiquated child protection system.
April 2, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in Joe Hart's "Nora McTavish" series!
April 9, 2024
* 4.5 stars *
This one drew me in from the start and didn’t let go. Nora is a child protective services agent and has her own abusive and heartbreaking past. Working through her own grief gives her insight into helping foster children be homed into the best families.
When a family die in a plane crash with only one survivor, Nora is devastated to find out it is one of the families she had sent a child to.
Not only is this a very cleverly plotted thriller but it has an emotional edge that makes it both disturbing, and so very sad.
This one drew me in from the start and didn’t let go. Nora is a child protective services agent and has her own abusive and heartbreaking past. Working through her own grief gives her insight into helping foster children be homed into the best families.
When a family die in a plane crash with only one survivor, Nora is devastated to find out it is one of the families she had sent a child to.
Not only is this a very cleverly plotted thriller but it has an emotional edge that makes it both disturbing, and so very sad.
December 17, 2022
This is again a book I recieved the arc of and the only thing I knew about it going in, was that it‘s a thriller. Been reading a lot of them lately, probably because I feel like thrillers are perfect in the fall/winter time.
But that also means that I have a lot of experience with thrillers and personally am quite critical especially when it comes to plot twists. The story of this book had sooo much potential but sadly it lacked a little depth as well as the the plot twist was lacking since I figured it out early on. His writing is amazing and so easy to read but I would‘ve preferred if the book was longer and the characters had more depth. The story line felt a little rushed because of how short this book was. I‘ll probably give the author another try with another book, since I actually liked his writing and again this one had potential to be a really good thriller.
But that also means that I have a lot of experience with thrillers and personally am quite critical especially when it comes to plot twists. The story of this book had sooo much potential but sadly it lacked a little depth as well as the the plot twist was lacking since I figured it out early on. His writing is amazing and so easy to read but I would‘ve preferred if the book was longer and the characters had more depth. The story line felt a little rushed because of how short this book was. I‘ll probably give the author another try with another book, since I actually liked his writing and again this one had potential to be a really good thriller.
February 24, 2024
Where They Lie is an addictive bingeable thriller. As soon as I started reading I couldn't stop, if I didn't have to sleep I would've read this in one sitting. I was really hooked and needed to know all of this family's secrets.
I really enjoyed Nora with everything she's been through in her life and how she just wants to help others. She is also very flawed but in the end I found she redeemed herself. I loved that I didn't know who to trust.
Although some twists are highly predictable, for me it didn't ruin my reading experience. I really loved @joehart's writing style, it was so engaging and kept me hooked throughout the whole book.
I really enjoyed Nora with everything she's been through in her life and how she just wants to help others. She is also very flawed but in the end I found she redeemed herself. I loved that I didn't know who to trust.
Although some twists are highly predictable, for me it didn't ruin my reading experience. I really loved @joehart's writing style, it was so engaging and kept me hooked throughout the whole book.
March 27, 2023
This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and it is the 3rd book I have enjoyed! I really enjoyed the main character Nora. It looks like this will be the first in a series and I would definitely read on. The story was fast paced and interesting and had some surprises I didn't see coming. A recommended read!!
October 7, 2022
This was the first book I’ve read from Joe Hart. I wanted to love it, but it fell a bit short for me.
Nora is a CPS worker who is dedicated to helping kids get into safe homes. She has a personal connection to her job which sometimes helps her and sometimes hurts her. She can get too involved and doesn’t like asking for help. One of the cases she was involved in was a young couple who had fostered 3 kids, ranging from 18 to 9. Kaylee Volk, the foster mom, was a lifestyle influencer who posted YouTube videos of the family together as content. Her husband Justin was an heir to a billionaire company and they couldn’t have kids themselves, so they fostered children. Nora was involved with their case recently when one of the kids had bruises that were suspicious.
When an unfortunate tragedy occurs, leaving Kaylee to mourn her family, Nora can’t help but become involved again when Kaylee places blame on Andrea, the eldest of the foster children. Nora is trying to find answers by questioning Kaylee’s estranged siblings and Andrea’s friends and she steps onto a dangerous path when she ends up with a crucial piece of the puzzle. Someone wants to send her a message and have her put a stop to her search for the truth.
There are several other smaller storylines that Nora is involved with in the beginning and middle of the book that deal with her job as a CPS worker. I personally did not feel any attachment to Nora’s character and didn’t like how how she dealt with work, her relationships and family. Most of the book is Nora talking about her past family tragedy, her present struggles on top of searching for the truth of what happened to the Volk family. I was kind of surprised by the ending, but it wasn’t completely jaw dropping. I wasn’t a fan of the multiple storylines, but I did like reading the thriller parts! Overall, it was a decent thriller and I will read other books by this author.
Special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!!
Nora is a CPS worker who is dedicated to helping kids get into safe homes. She has a personal connection to her job which sometimes helps her and sometimes hurts her. She can get too involved and doesn’t like asking for help. One of the cases she was involved in was a young couple who had fostered 3 kids, ranging from 18 to 9. Kaylee Volk, the foster mom, was a lifestyle influencer who posted YouTube videos of the family together as content. Her husband Justin was an heir to a billionaire company and they couldn’t have kids themselves, so they fostered children. Nora was involved with their case recently when one of the kids had bruises that were suspicious.
When an unfortunate tragedy occurs, leaving Kaylee to mourn her family, Nora can’t help but become involved again when Kaylee places blame on Andrea, the eldest of the foster children. Nora is trying to find answers by questioning Kaylee’s estranged siblings and Andrea’s friends and she steps onto a dangerous path when she ends up with a crucial piece of the puzzle. Someone wants to send her a message and have her put a stop to her search for the truth.
There are several other smaller storylines that Nora is involved with in the beginning and middle of the book that deal with her job as a CPS worker. I personally did not feel any attachment to Nora’s character and didn’t like how how she dealt with work, her relationships and family. Most of the book is Nora talking about her past family tragedy, her present struggles on top of searching for the truth of what happened to the Volk family. I was kind of surprised by the ending, but it wasn’t completely jaw dropping. I wasn’t a fan of the multiple storylines, but I did like reading the thriller parts! Overall, it was a decent thriller and I will read other books by this author.
Special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!!
February 29, 2024
Nora is a child protective services agent with her own heartbreaking past. When the family of an influencster all die in a suspicious plane crash, Nora is devastated since she played a role in putting the family together.
As Nora digs in the accident, the truth is unveiled and it left me completely shocked and devastated.
Where They Lie is dark, disturbing and so very sad. In all the best ways. This one sill sit with you for a while and crush your soul a little bit.
Nora is a great character and I loved learning about her backstory, also heartbreaking.
It's the start of a new series and I'm excited to spend time with Nora again.
As Nora digs in the accident, the truth is unveiled and it left me completely shocked and devastated.
Where They Lie is dark, disturbing and so very sad. In all the best ways. This one sill sit with you for a while and crush your soul a little bit.
Nora is a great character and I loved learning about her backstory, also heartbreaking.
It's the start of a new series and I'm excited to spend time with Nora again.
August 1, 2023
Child protective services agent Nora McTavish experienced a traumatic childhood and now devotes her life to trying to help other kids in need in the CPS system. Social influencer Kaylee Vokel’s life seemed picture-perfect online. Kaylee and her family of five -- herself, husband, and three foster children -- head off on vacation with her husband piloting the plane. A boater sees the plane crash after witnessing a struggle in the cockpit and Kaylee is the only survivor. Kaylee asserts that their teen foster daughter was responsible for the crash, but Nora suspects there’s more to the story and investigates, despite being warned not to.
Some issues I had with this story:
• I found it strange that Kaylee and her husband had an 18 YO foster daughter when they were only 28 YO themselves. This seemed like a red flag for precisely the type of problem that occurred.
• Nora’s heavy drinking was constant, but I only caught one instance in which she waited a short while to sober up before driving. As a protagonist, I didn’t find Nora likable.
• Pegged as a thriller, this felt more like a mystery with Nora playing detective. That being the case, it had an extremely unsatisfying ending.
• I found this very predictable… the relevance of the teddy bear and its connection to the iPad was instantly obvious to me, but not to Nora. In fact, most of the plot was predictable.
This was fast-paced and easy-to-read, but at the end of the day disappointing.
Some issues I had with this story:
• I found it strange that Kaylee and her husband had an 18 YO foster daughter when they were only 28 YO themselves. This seemed like a red flag for precisely the type of problem that occurred.
• Nora’s heavy drinking was constant, but I only caught one instance in which she waited a short while to sober up before driving. As a protagonist, I didn’t find Nora likable.
• Pegged as a thriller, this felt more like a mystery with Nora playing detective. That being the case, it had an extremely unsatisfying ending.
• I found this very predictable… the relevance of the teddy bear and its connection to the iPad was instantly obvious to me, but not to Nora. In fact, most of the plot was predictable.
This was fast-paced and easy-to-read, but at the end of the day disappointing.
November 30, 2022
Though Nora's childhood holds some horrific events, it was refreshing to read a book where the main character isn't an anxiety, PTSD ridden mess.
The story was interesting and kept me guessing, unsuccessfully the whole way. I would certainly recommend this thriller.
Thank you Net Galley, publisher, and author for a copy.
The story was interesting and kept me guessing, unsuccessfully the whole way. I would certainly recommend this thriller.
Thank you Net Galley, publisher, and author for a copy.
October 3, 2022
2 stars
Nora McTavish, herself a childhood abuse survivor, is a burned out CPS (Child Protection Services) worker. What surprised me the most about this book is that I know how overworked these workers are, and I was shocked to see how much time Nora had to pursue her own agenda. Was she just blowing off her work load or what?
The Kaylee Volk character was self-delusional. She was far too busy trying to force reality into something that she wanted, rather than seeing it as it really was. Until it was too late, that is.
The book completely reveals that there is no perfect family. Sorry, Beaver. (For you old timers out there.). Kaylee tried to make her flawed family perfect, but there were too many secrets and the drama took over in the end.
Long story short, I didn’t like the characters in this story; not any of them. I don’t care for novels in which I cannot connect with at least one person in the story.
This is my first Joe Hart book, and I was disappointed. I am not sure if I will try another. I see he gets good reviews, so perhaps he just missed the proverbial boat on this one.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Nora McTavish, herself a childhood abuse survivor, is a burned out CPS (Child Protection Services) worker. What surprised me the most about this book is that I know how overworked these workers are, and I was shocked to see how much time Nora had to pursue her own agenda. Was she just blowing off her work load or what?
The Kaylee Volk character was self-delusional. She was far too busy trying to force reality into something that she wanted, rather than seeing it as it really was. Until it was too late, that is.
The book completely reveals that there is no perfect family. Sorry, Beaver. (For you old timers out there.). Kaylee tried to make her flawed family perfect, but there were too many secrets and the drama took over in the end.
Long story short, I didn’t like the characters in this story; not any of them. I don’t care for novels in which I cannot connect with at least one person in the story.
This is my first Joe Hart book, and I was disappointed. I am not sure if I will try another. I see he gets good reviews, so perhaps he just missed the proverbial boat on this one.
I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
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