Marybeth Whalen

Davy has been missing for over twenty years. The night he went missing changed the town of Wynotte, North Carolina, forever. Davy’s family has never fully recovered. But now, twenty years later, his jacket has been found.

Well, y’all! This story takes you on a ride! The only reason for the 4 star rating is the story slowed down a bit for me in the middle.

Thaddeus, Davy’s older brother, has so much guilt from the night he went missing and he blames himself…always has and always will. Makes no difference that he was just a child himself.

Then there is Gordon Swift. His life was ruined the night Davy went missing. He was accused of the crime. Is he innocent? He sued the police department over it! But is he innocent? You will have to read this to find out.

This story creates emotions you did not know you had! One minute I wanted to cry for the loss and the next minute I wanted to beat someone up!

Need a hauntingly, beautiful written tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.… (more)

Every parent's worst nightmare is to have their child disappear. This beautifully written novel dissects that experience for a family over a 20 years period. Everyone in the small North Carolina town knows the name Davy Malcor. He disappeared in a field in 1985 while playing with his brother and friends. He wandered off from the group and vanished into thin air. When his jacket is found 20 years after his disappearance in an old shed near where he was last seen, the cold case is opened again and the media descends on the small town and Davy's family.

This story is told in two timelines - the night that Davy disappeared and 20 years later when the cold case is re-opened. Davy was 11 years old when he went with his brother Thaddeus to hang out in a local field after dark. Their parents were on their way to a party and agreed that they could go out for a short period of time. When the older brother gets with his friends, he send Davy away. Davy is an embarrassment to him in his Marty McFly jacket that their mother made for him. Davy goes wandering around with a new friend and then he's alone and then he's gone. The police and the whole town searched for him but never found any clues. Twenty years after he went missing, his distinctive jacket was found in an abandoned building near where he was last seen. The police start a search in the area and the media who has followed the case for 20 years descends on the town. So much has changed in the family that Davy disappeared from. His parents are divorced but are still friends. His brother has become a famous author for a memoir that he wrote about his lost brother. But did he tell the whole truth or is he holding back on some important information.

This beautifully written novel looks at not only the family and how the disappearance of a child affected them but also looks at the effect on the small community as they pick up the pieces that remain and try to find hope and healing.… (more)

This is a story about grief and the roads not taken. The main characters each struggle with the guilt and “what if” scenario that would have resulted in a different outcome.

It’s early October and the Malcor family is getting ready for their weekend plans. The parents are going out and they have to make sure their three kids will be safe. A babysitter is coming to look after the youngest. TJ, the oldest is planning to go out and have a game night with his friends. Davy, the middle child is too old for a sitter, but too young to run around with his older brother.

They make a compromise and let Davy go to game night with TJ. Things don’t go down as anyone had planned and TJ soon realizes he can’t find TJ. The entire town ends up searching for Davy. Years pass. TJ writes a successful book about their experience and struggles to deal with his guilt over his missing brother.

What made me so sad about the story was that what happened to Davy hurt so many except the one responsible. TJ and his mother weren’t the only ones living for years with the guilt of that night. As the story builds, the family will learn the shocking truth and hopefully find a way to heal.

I would not recommend this to anyone who has lost a child or had a family member go missing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me to read an advance copy. I’m happy to give my honest review and recommend this to other readers.… (more)