All Who Wander by Joe Clifford delivered a dark psychological thriller set in New England that kept me reading into the wee hours. This suspenseful tale takes the reader back into the past as we deal with current day developments. An atmospheric tale perfect for a cold winter’s night.
by Joe Clifford
Genres: Suspense Thriller
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.
His wife Stephanie reveals she is unhappy in the marriage and takes their teenage son to visit her sister in PA. Brooke's former best friend, Aaron Reardon, still devastated from Brooke's disappearance, offers to help. And forever lurking in the background is Mike Rakowski, Brooke's ex, a possessive, abusive drug addict.
As Robert's world unravels, he revisits that night twenty-one years ago where everything went wrong, unearthing a horrible, bone-chilling secret.
I was looking for books for the HoHoHoRAT in November and wanted to read a winter setting read. You’ll remember I always choose at least one darker novel, like NOS42A, to enjoy during the readathon.
The author tells the story through two timelines and it was quite compelling. First we have Vermont, 1988 when Bobby’s sister Brooke Mulcahny disappears. She was a suspected runaway/abduction. The trail goes cold near Vermont, where her car was found abandoned. Her case was never closed and has been the subject of true crime stories. In this timeline, we get Brooke’s point of view on events leading up to her disappearance.
The second timeline takes place in the present twenty-one years after Brooke’s disappearance. Bobby, now called Robert, is a professor at a private Upstate New York University. He owns a home nearby with his wife and their son, Peter. Bobby was Brook’s half-sister, but he still cares for her father and spent years in therapy dealing with issues related to his childhood.
When a young woman named Lily approaches Robert, claiming to be his sister’s daughter, his world slowly unravels, and he investigates. Dark things happen in his home and cracks appear.
Clifford wove a tightly knit, compelling story with dark, twisted threads. The pacing and build up was well done and kept me guessing through both timelines. A perfect suspense thriller for a cold, snowy day!
Fans of crime fiction and psychological thrillers will enjoy this one. A few trigger warnings for those who prefer them: View Spoiler »
All Who Wander by Joe Clifford delivered a dark thriller. Available in Kindle Unlimited #BookReview Share on X*kindle unlimited
About Joe Clifford
Joe Clifford is the author of several books, including Junkie Love, the Jay Porter Thriller Series, Say My Name, All Who Wander, as well as editor of Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Stories Based on the Songs of Bruce Springsteen and others.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Katherine
This sounds really good and maybe loosely based on the Maura Murray story? Definitely adding it to my TBR.
Diana @ Book of Secrets
This sounds very good! I love snowy winter settings for thrillers.
Joe Clifford
Y’all gonna make me cry with these comments! You’re too kind! Thank you SO much!!
Joe Clifford
OMG! This is SO lovely! Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book!!
Kimberly
You’re very welcome.
ER LeVar
I’ve got such a fear of sliding off the road–so much ice in the winter where I’m from! Any book that starts this way is bound to have me tense, so I might need to pick it up. What’s winter without a chilly thriller to curl up with?
Kimberly
I hope you do. Perfect winter thriller.
Sophia Rose
I was hoping to fit this one in this winter. I’ve already enjoyed his debut thriller. Going on the growing library list. 🙂
Kimberly
Hehe.. yes you reviewed it here.
DEBBIE HAUPT
Clifford is a gem and this is going on my list thanks Kimberly
Kimberly
Good to know!
Anne - Books of My Heart
Great review! I’d probably enjoy this one.
Kimberly
Yes, I do believe you would.