What do you think?
Rate this book
No Way Home
Lillie's idyllic life as a happy wife and mother is cut short when her beloved daughter Michele is found murdered, and Lillie must endure tremendous grief and the pain of a lengthy murder investigation. Reprint.
384 pages, Unknown Binding
First published June 1, 1989
240 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Patricia MacDonald
70 books553 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
April 19, 2024
A fairly intense family melodrama/thriller set in a small Tennessee town, No Way Home had its moments, but ultimately failed to do what thrillers need to do-- thrill. As a mystery thriller, it did not really succeed either; you knew the ending pretty much early on. One cover blurb proclaimed "A thriller that stirs the emotions as well as excites the senses." Hum.
Our main protagonist, Lillie, was born, raised and still lives in Cress County, Tennessee, married to a guy named Pink (old nickname) with two children. MacDonald sets the scene with a social event in town, introducing the cast. MacDonald also spends lots of time establishing the relationship between Lillie and her daughter Michele, who was born with congenital heart problems or something, but after lots of trials and tribulations (and surgery), she is now a typical teenager. If you read the cover blurb on the back, you know Michele will be murdered, an act that sets the stage for the rest of the novel. Who killed Michele? Why does the sheriff seem to put the murder on the back burner?
MacDonald also brings in some romance of a sort, when Michele's biological father Jordan, a successful soap opera actor, comes to town. It seems Lillie and Jordan had a thing, but shortly after sickly Michele was born, Jordan took off for his first acting gig and never really looked back. Now, however, after the murder of his only child, he is determined to find out who did it, along with Lillie. Oh the drama!
I might have rated this a bit higher, but I felt MacDonald tried a little too hard to invest this story with emotional content, having Lillie pushed and pulled in various directions. Excessive melodrama. That, and the ending you could see from a mile away. 2.5 stars, rounding down for the denouement.
Our main protagonist, Lillie, was born, raised and still lives in Cress County, Tennessee, married to a guy named Pink (old nickname) with two children. MacDonald sets the scene with a social event in town, introducing the cast. MacDonald also spends lots of time establishing the relationship between Lillie and her daughter Michele, who was born with congenital heart problems or something, but after lots of trials and tribulations (and surgery), she is now a typical teenager. If you read the cover blurb on the back, you know Michele will be murdered, an act that sets the stage for the rest of the novel. Who killed Michele? Why does the sheriff seem to put the murder on the back burner?
MacDonald also brings in some romance of a sort, when Michele's biological father Jordan, a successful soap opera actor, comes to town. It seems Lillie and Jordan had a thing, but shortly after sickly Michele was born, Jordan took off for his first acting gig and never really looked back. Now, however, after the murder of his only child, he is determined to find out who did it, along with Lillie. Oh the drama!
I might have rated this a bit higher, but I felt MacDonald tried a little too hard to invest this story with emotional content, having Lillie pushed and pulled in various directions. Excessive melodrama. That, and the ending you could see from a mile away. 2.5 stars, rounding down for the denouement.
July 21, 2015
Young Michelle is found dead after a party in her town. Her mother Lillie can't believe it, who would kill her sweet little girl? and why? She decides to look for answers. But something is wrong, people seem to hide things from her, even her husband and her son. This book, like other Patricia MacDonald's books is addicting, i m a slow reader and i finished it in three days because i needed to know what happened, and how the story is going to end. But i didn't give it a five stars because i think the author could give more details in the end, but i still find the end strong and satisfying. Good mystery.
February 15, 2022
"Χωρίς επιστροφή", εκδόσεις Plaza.
Τυχαία αγορά πριν ενάμιση χρόνο, τυχαία το είδα σε μια από τις ντάνες που έχω με διάφορα βιβλία τσέπης, αποφάσισα να το διαβάσω γιατί ήθελα ένα θρίλερ γραμμένο από γυναίκα συγγραφέα. Χμ, ούτε κρύο, ούτε ζέστη. Μέτρια πράγματα, η αλήθεια είναι. Η γραφή δεν με κέρδισε, δεν με συνεπήρε, μου φάνηκε κάπως γλυκανάλατη για τα γούστα μου, κάπως άχρωμη και μάλλον αδιάφορη, με πολλούς διαλόγους που δεν έπειθαν. Επίσης βρήκα τους χαρακτήρες αδιάφορους, όχι ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένους, και σίγουρα στην πλειοψηφία τους εκνευριστικούς. Όσο για την πλοκή, τρωγόταν, απλά κάποια πράγματα δεν με έπεισαν και τόσο, ενώ επίσης δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ένιωσα κάτι με τις όποιες ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις που συνάντησα, γιατί δεν με κέρδισε κανένας χαρακτήρας, οπότε τι με ένοιαζε η κατάληξή τους; Από την άλλη, μου άρεσε η ατμόσφαιρα και το σκηνικό της μικρής πόλης, ενώ επίσης είναι γεγονός ότι ήταν μια γρήγορη και ξεκούραστη ανάγνωση. Ας του βάλω χαριστικά πάνω από τη βάση.
Τυχαία αγορά πριν ενάμιση χρόνο, τυχαία το είδα σε μια από τις ντάνες που έχω με διάφορα βιβλία τσέπης, αποφάσισα να το διαβάσω γιατί ήθελα ένα θρίλερ γραμμένο από γυναίκα συγγραφέα. Χμ, ούτε κρύο, ούτε ζέστη. Μέτρια πράγματα, η αλήθεια είναι. Η γραφή δεν με κέρδισε, δεν με συνεπήρε, μου φάνηκε κάπως γλυκανάλατη για τα γούστα μου, κάπως άχρωμη και μάλλον αδιάφορη, με πολλούς διαλόγους που δεν έπειθαν. Επίσης βρήκα τους χαρακτήρες αδιάφορους, όχι ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένους, και σίγουρα στην πλειοψηφία τους εκνευριστικούς. Όσο για την πλοκή, τρωγόταν, απλά κάποια πράγματα δεν με έπεισαν και τόσο, ενώ επίσης δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ένιωσα κάτι με τις όποιες ανατροπές και εκπλήξεις που συνάντησα, γιατί δεν με κέρδισε κανένας χαρακτήρας, οπότε τι με ένοιαζε η κατάληξή τους; Από την άλλη, μου άρεσε η ατμόσφαιρα και το σκηνικό της μικρής πόλης, ενώ επίσης είναι γεγονός ότι ήταν μια γρήγορη και ξεκούραστη ανάγνωση. Ας του βάλω χαριστικά πάνω από τη βάση.
May 21, 2023
Un suspense vénéneux, dérangeant et implacable, qui fissure l'image de la parfaite famille recomposée... et de la pittoresque petite ville du Tennessee qui est le lieu du crime.
Grinçant et glaçant.
Grinçant et glaçant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2019
Après la fête des pères fondateurs,
on trouve le cadavre de jeune fille "Michèle" morte prés de pont,assassiner par une batte de basse Bal
Sa mère stupéfiante et tous les membres de comte pensent que le prisonnier évadé "Ronni" a commis le crime mais c'est pas vraie.
il a passé la nuit à la maison de sa maîtresse.
et là commence le jeu du puzzle.
qui a tué sa fille? le motif?.
la mère et le père" jordan" -ex-mari-ont forme un équipe de détective privé,et en ce basent à des indices minimes et même parfois dedain,comme la tentative de suicide de la petite amie de son fils,le peluche trouvé dans le tiroir de sa fille ,une photo trouvé dans le livre de" Tyler" l'ami de son fils,
dispute entre Lille -mére- et Pink le beau père.
c'est un vrai puzzle mysterieux que tu essayer de résoudre tout au long du roman
بعد حفلة الاباء .نجد جثة الشابة ميشال قرب الجسر
و قد ضربت بمضرب بايسبول .
الام الخائفة المتفاجئة و كل اهل الحي يظنون ان رينيه السجين الهارب هو من ارتكب الجريمة.
لكنه قضى االليلة في منزل عشيقته.و لم يرتكب الجريمة.
و من هنا يبدأ اللغز و يبدأ البحث.
21 mai 18.
on trouve le cadavre de jeune fille "Michèle" morte prés de pont,assassiner par une batte de basse Bal
Sa mère stupéfiante et tous les membres de comte pensent que le prisonnier évadé "Ronni" a commis le crime mais c'est pas vraie.
il a passé la nuit à la maison de sa maîtresse.
et là commence le jeu du puzzle.
qui a tué sa fille? le motif?.
la mère et le père" jordan" -ex-mari-ont forme un équipe de détective privé,et en ce basent à des indices minimes et même parfois dedain,comme la tentative de suicide de la petite amie de son fils,le peluche trouvé dans le tiroir de sa fille ,une photo trouvé dans le livre de" Tyler" l'ami de son fils,
dispute entre Lille -mére- et Pink le beau père.
c'est un vrai puzzle mysterieux que tu essayer de résoudre tout au long du roman
بعد حفلة الاباء .نجد جثة الشابة ميشال قرب الجسر
و قد ضربت بمضرب بايسبول .
الام الخائفة المتفاجئة و كل اهل الحي يظنون ان رينيه السجين الهارب هو من ارتكب الجريمة.
لكنه قضى االليلة في منزل عشيقته.و لم يرتكب الجريمة.
و من هنا يبدأ اللغز و يبدأ البحث.
21 mai 18.
January 3, 2020
Un thriller sympa, un peu prévisible, mais je pense que c'est voulu par l'auteure. Dans le sens ou le lecteur est sensé savoir qui a commis le meurtre alors que les protagonistes restent dans l'ignorance jusqu'au moment crucial. Ce qui m'a un petit peu irrité c'est que j'ai trouvé certaines réactions un peu trop dures à avaler et que l'auteure en faisait un peu trop. Pas mal sans plus.
August 10, 2023
An older book however had a good story.
August 12, 2024
Socorro que livro foi este... tou em choque
November 28, 2024
This was certainly a tense story, a psychological war within a family. Who is the killer?
Set in the American south some years ago, this had plenty of drama, alongside sexism, racism and a small town outlook.
The characters suited the plot, if not all likeable. The plot was a tangled Web, while the past reared its head amongst the present.
It was psychologically intriguing and engaged my interest throughout.
Recommended.
Set in the American south some years ago, this had plenty of drama, alongside sexism, racism and a small town outlook.
The characters suited the plot, if not all likeable. The plot was a tangled Web, while the past reared its head amongst the present.
It was psychologically intriguing and engaged my interest throughout.
Recommended.
July 24, 2016
No Way Home by Patricia MacDonald is a suspenseful tale set in modern-day fictional locations in Tennessee. The weather -tornado watch- sets the eerie tone from the beginning. Lillie and her daughter Michele battled since Michele's birth to save her life. Now she is a teenager glowing with robust health and beauty as they attend the town's Founders Day celebration. Lillie's husband Pink is her safe harbor, the second husband she accepted for a steady life after her passionate first love Jordan Hill abandoned wife and newborn daughter for a movie star career. Lillie's and Pink's son Grayson is a popular teen in school, good at sports, headed for a bright future. Pink is a real estate agent, always focused on making a good impression and working his contacts.
Lillie and Pink go home from the Founder's Day festivities, expecting Grayson and Michele to follow later. But Michele does not return home. She is found murdered. A recent prison escapee is initially assumed to be the murderer, but evidence suggests otherwise. Lillie's world is shattered by the loss of her daughter. She cannot celebrate Grayson's sports success as he and Pink do. Grayson appears to capitalize on Michele's death in his campaign for student council president, and Pink accuses Lillie of neglecting her son to focus on Michele. Jordan Hill is devastated at the loss of his daughter, and comes to town looking for answers. He is not welcome in town, where everyone remembers he left his wife and newborn critically ill daughter to chase fame and fortune in NYC. A black circuit preacher tries to inform Lillie or the sheriff that he saw Michele that night, and also saw a young man near where she was later found. Prejudice prevents his eyewitness account from being considered. A young teenager with a crush on Grayson is jilted by him for a newcomer to town, and attempts suicide. Lillie realizes she has not been close to her son for years, only Pink has a bond with Grayson. The sheriff suddenly leaves town to enroll his juvenile delinquent son in military school. Lillie discovers that Pink and Grayson have concealed from her what happened that night with Michele. She confronts Pink and leaves home. The real truth does not come out until another murder occurs, and another attempt to frame an innocent man. Lillie and the sheriff are faced with an awful choice. The story winds up to a violent confrontation and death. In the aftermath Lillie begins life again. This was a page-turner, can't-put-it-down read for me, the second time I've enjoyed a suspense novel by Patricia MacDonald (first one was The Unforgiven).
Lillie and Pink go home from the Founder's Day festivities, expecting Grayson and Michele to follow later. But Michele does not return home. She is found murdered. A recent prison escapee is initially assumed to be the murderer, but evidence suggests otherwise. Lillie's world is shattered by the loss of her daughter. She cannot celebrate Grayson's sports success as he and Pink do. Grayson appears to capitalize on Michele's death in his campaign for student council president, and Pink accuses Lillie of neglecting her son to focus on Michele. Jordan Hill is devastated at the loss of his daughter, and comes to town looking for answers. He is not welcome in town, where everyone remembers he left his wife and newborn critically ill daughter to chase fame and fortune in NYC. A black circuit preacher tries to inform Lillie or the sheriff that he saw Michele that night, and also saw a young man near where she was later found. Prejudice prevents his eyewitness account from being considered. A young teenager with a crush on Grayson is jilted by him for a newcomer to town, and attempts suicide. Lillie realizes she has not been close to her son for years, only Pink has a bond with Grayson. The sheriff suddenly leaves town to enroll his juvenile delinquent son in military school. Lillie discovers that Pink and Grayson have concealed from her what happened that night with Michele. She confronts Pink and leaves home. The real truth does not come out until another murder occurs, and another attempt to frame an innocent man. Lillie and the sheriff are faced with an awful choice. The story winds up to a violent confrontation and death. In the aftermath Lillie begins life again. This was a page-turner, can't-put-it-down read for me, the second time I've enjoyed a suspense novel by Patricia MacDonald (first one was The Unforgiven).
February 22, 2021
This book kept me guessing for awhile but I did figure it out about halfway through. It's a well written puzzle but a sad one.
April 10, 2019
Au cours d’une fête dans un village du Tennessee, une jeune fille, Michèle disparaît. Elle est retrouvée morte quelques heures plus tard. Personne n’a rien vu venir au cours de ce bal où même la mère, le beau-père et le frère de la jeune fille était présent, et les soupçons se portent tout de suite sur un homme, évadée d’une prison dont la famille vit dans le village. Dès lors, Lilie, la mère de Michèle va tout faire pour que le crime de sa fille soit puni, mais si elle y met de la ferveur, ce n’est pas le cas pour son compagnon et son fils. Ils semblent complètement détachés de ce drame qui vient de se produire. Très vite, Lilie finit par ne plus savoir vers qui se tourner, à qui faire confiance, et surtout savoir qui est l’assassin de sa fille ? Dans le village, les soupçons se pèsent les uns sur les autres, avec certaines personnes qui semblent être plus « protégés » que d’autres des soupçons.
J’ai apprécié une fois de plus, l’écriture de Patricia MacDonald, qui sait mener l’intrigue et le mystère d’une main de fer jusqu’au dénouement final qu’on attend avec impatience, même si parfois il demeure assez prévisible.
Un bon roman donc que je vous conseille si comme moi, vous êtes amateurs de romans thrillers/policiers !
https://celitteratureofficiel.wordpre...
J’ai apprécié une fois de plus, l’écriture de Patricia MacDonald, qui sait mener l’intrigue et le mystère d’une main de fer jusqu’au dénouement final qu’on attend avec impatience, même si parfois il demeure assez prévisible.
Un bon roman donc que je vous conseille si comme moi, vous êtes amateurs de romans thrillers/policiers !
https://celitteratureofficiel.wordpre...
December 18, 2025
Slow start (I almost put it down, but I never NOT like to finish a book). Glad I kept at it as it became much more interesting with a few twists and turns that kept me intrigued and wanting to find out what happens.
I did find the plot a bit unrealistic as I couldn't believe that Lillie (the Mom) would put up with the husband and son's attitude towards her.
Also, I kept waiting on a chapter about the daughter's illness that kept the Mom from relating to the rest of her family. The illness was pretty much glossed over, but it was a defining issue in the Mom's psychological makeup.
Was a fast read, and would recommend it to those that like a twist for the reveal. There were many layers to all these characters!
I did find the plot a bit unrealistic as I couldn't believe that Lillie (the Mom) would put up with the husband and son's attitude towards her.
Also, I kept waiting on a chapter about the daughter's illness that kept the Mom from relating to the rest of her family. The illness was pretty much glossed over, but it was a defining issue in the Mom's psychological makeup.
Was a fast read, and would recommend it to those that like a twist for the reveal. There were many layers to all these characters!
July 13, 2024
Decent book. I guessed early on who did it but stayed interested enough to keep reading. I thought the ending could have been a little more detailed. An epilogue would’ve been great.
I rated it a little lower because i didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable. I wasn’t able to really identify or invest in any of them.
Maybe it’s a southern thing but I was shocked at how spineless the main character was at times. And I found her family selfish and unlikable. The rest of the characters were pretty superficial, none of them really “fleshed out”.
I wouldn’t call this a “MUST read” but I also don’t feel like it was a waste of time.
I rated it a little lower because i didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable. I wasn’t able to really identify or invest in any of them.
Maybe it’s a southern thing but I was shocked at how spineless the main character was at times. And I found her family selfish and unlikable. The rest of the characters were pretty superficial, none of them really “fleshed out”.
I wouldn’t call this a “MUST read” but I also don’t feel like it was a waste of time.
July 20, 2024
Lillie’s teenaged daughter is murdered. Distraught, she attempts to find the killer with the help of the girl’s father, her first husband. She’s frustrated that her present husband and their teenage son Grayson do not show more upset about the murder.
Anyone who has read these kinds of thrillers can probably figure out who the murderer is early in the book. Why the murder took place though remains a mystery almost to the end.
The book is a page turner, but a little repetitious and too long. I would have given this novel 4 stars except that the ending is abrupt. The killer is found. End of story.
Anyone who has read these kinds of thrillers can probably figure out who the murderer is early in the book. Why the murder took place though remains a mystery almost to the end.
The book is a page turner, but a little repetitious and too long. I would have given this novel 4 stars except that the ending is abrupt. The killer is found. End of story.
August 24, 2025
pretty good!
very slow moving throughout the whole book, so it didn’t feel very thriller to me as much as a slow burn through this murder mystery.
I hate to say though this is murder mystery book #365 where I didn’t figure out who the killer is before the end. I’m quite bad at that and these authors are dang good.
the family aspect was what stood out to me the most. Lillith’s push and pull between focusing on “new” family versus “old” family and her emotions regarding them was very interesting. I felt like I was being gaslit along with lillith myself and was getting very angry.
very slow moving throughout the whole book, so it didn’t feel very thriller to me as much as a slow burn through this murder mystery.
I hate to say though this is murder mystery book #365 where I didn’t figure out who the killer is before the end. I’m quite bad at that and these authors are dang good.
the family aspect was what stood out to me the most. Lillith’s push and pull between focusing on “new” family versus “old” family and her emotions regarding them was very interesting. I felt like I was being gaslit along with lillith myself and was getting very angry.
July 27, 2023
Beautifully Written
Set in a small town with nothing much going on other than small town day to day matters. The pace is even, concerns local, people know one another. And slowly, steadily, it begins to fall apart, and the reader begins to think the unthinkable. A happy family, safe and contented in rural Tennessee fall into a nightmare that just keeps getting worse. The start is deceptively slow, but gains momentum and the book becomes a page turner that you can't put down.
Set in a small town with nothing much going on other than small town day to day matters. The pace is even, concerns local, people know one another. And slowly, steadily, it begins to fall apart, and the reader begins to think the unthinkable. A happy family, safe and contented in rural Tennessee fall into a nightmare that just keeps getting worse. The start is deceptively slow, but gains momentum and the book becomes a page turner that you can't put down.
September 7, 2024
Not a bad book. I figured pretty early on that one of the characters as a psychopath and no one else knew it. Michelle is found dead after a festival in town, her mother Lillie is devasted but determined to find out who did this and make them pay. Unfortunately for Lillie the finding out will destroy her family. Of course there is the ex husband turned movie start who comes back to help find his daughter's murderer and reunite with his ex?
February 24, 2025
I’ve tried to write this review three times now so I’m annoyed.
Lillie has a happy life with her two children and her terrible second husband.
Her daughter is murdered and then the book kind of falls apart.
A lot of the story is blindingly obvious, the characters aren’t at all likeable and it’s all very convenient. Didn’t really enjoy this one. Sorry, original review was much more in depth, but it disappeared.
Lillie has a happy life with her two children and her terrible second husband.
Her daughter is murdered and then the book kind of falls apart.
A lot of the story is blindingly obvious, the characters aren’t at all likeable and it’s all very convenient. Didn’t really enjoy this one. Sorry, original review was much more in depth, but it disappeared.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2017
Für mich war es das zweite Buch dieser Autorin und es hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Sie hat einen angenehmen Schreibstil, der einen nicht mehr los lässt.
Obwohl ich geahnt habe, wer der Täter ist, hat es mich doch irgendwie geschockt, wie kaltblütig er in Wirklichkeit ist. Für mich war es ein spannender Krimi.
Obwohl ich geahnt habe, wer der Täter ist, hat es mich doch irgendwie geschockt, wie kaltblütig er in Wirklichkeit ist. Für mich war es ein spannender Krimi.
February 22, 2022
This book is a page turner and for me it was almost impossible to put it down. I'll not give it 5 stars because it was easier to discover who really was the killer, nevertheless I couldn't stop reading just to confirm it! Highly recommend it to everyone that enjoys a psychological thriller.
April 17, 2025
Very slow to start, picked up speed and interest at 50% maintained till the end. Family murder saga, a typical "who done it", not groundbreaking but I enjoyed the character building. Not anything I would recommend.
June 21, 2017
A teenage girl living in Tennessee is murdered on Founder's Day. While her mom wants to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder, those close to her don't want her to...
April 25, 2021
3.5 stars
This book sucked me in and kept me reading until the end.
This book sucked me in and kept me reading until the end.
August 15, 2022
3 - 3 1/2
March 3, 2024
Great murder mystery book but just wish the ending was a bit more definite
January 28, 2025
Compelling
Good characters first-class plot developing slowly drawing you in keeping you guessing and turning the pages to the very end thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
Good characters first-class plot developing slowly drawing you in keeping you guessing and turning the pages to the very end thoroughly enjoyed reading this book
September 1, 2025
round up to 4.5 stars.
July 3, 2025
I’m quite surprised this has such a high score (4.03) on Goodreads - I’ve read many thrillers that beat this one. The mum irritated me, she puts up with too much nonsense from her partner and clearly loves her daughter more than her son. It was ok…
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews