A mother drowning in guilt, a family torn apart by grief, and a stranded car in the wake of a New England hurricane set the stage for Walker’s suspenseful novel. Don’t Look For Me provides the perfect balance of mystery and suspense without being too graphic or terrifying.
After a tragic accident tore her family apart, Molly Clarke has shouldered the burden of holding them all together until it’s just too much. Her car is deserted by a gas station and a note explaining her disappearance is found at a casino in the next town. Everyone chalks it up to another woman who simply wants to start a new life. Everyone but her daughter Nichole.
Walker manages to weave the intricacies of family dynamics and difficult relationships into a gripping tale of mystery and survival. I listened to the audio book in two days, fascinated by the characters themselves as much as the plot. I found Walker’s characters both relatable and complex, intrigued by what they would do and how they would handle the various events that transpired along the way.
The story switches between two perspectives, giving the reader insight into both Molly and Nichole’s perspectives, with Walker withholding just enough information to leave a final, unexpected twist. As much as I enjoy trying to guess the end before it’s revealed, I admit defeat and concede the point to Walker.
I appreciated how the novel was suspenseful but not terrifying and gripping but not graphic. My only criticism is that the ending felt a little abrupt and the bow tied around it seemed too pressed and smoothed in relation to the authenticity of the characters and their experiences. Overall, I really enjoyed the read and thought it was an easy and entertaining listening experience.
Personal rating: 7/10
Recommend? Yes
Re-read? Not likely
Time: 1:30