St. Martin’s Press, March 14, 2017.
Four Stars
Eleven years ago, Lindsey Nash escaped from a
violent, abusive marriage with her young daughter Sophie. Under cover of night,
they snuck away from their family home while the abusive husband Andrew was
passed out drunk. At least, Lindsey thought he was passed out – until she found
out later that Andrew got behind the wheel of his car and killed a young woman
in a horrible accident while he attempted to hunt down Lindsey and Sophie.
Andrew went to jail, and Lindsey moved her daughter
to Dogwood Bay, an isolated – and fictitious – town on the west coast of
British Columbia. While it is only a short ferry ride from Vancouver, Lindsey
feels that they are far enough away from Andrew that he won’t be able to find
them upon his release from prison. However, she hasn’t counted on Sophie’s
curiosity about her absent father, and the lengths she will go to meet him.
Lindsey tried to protect her daughter by hiding many of the details of Andrew’s
abuse, but instead she put Sophie in danger by sugar-coating the relationship.
Suddenly, mysterious things begin happening in
Dogwood Bay. Lindsey’s home is invaded, but nothing is taken – instead, her
privacy is severely violated in ways that only Andrew would know to do.
Meanwhile, her new boyfriend Greg is almost run off the road, and vaguely
threatening gifts are left on her car. Andrew swears to Sophie that he is a
different man and he would do nothing to hurt his new relationship with his
daughter, but Lindsey is not convinced – she knows the depths of Andrew’s
obsession and how far he will go to control her. However, she also has her own
suspicions about Sophie’s new boyfriend Jared.
The novel moves between two time frames: the abuse
and fear of Lindsey’s marriage in the past, and the more immediate threat of
the present day. It also alternates between Lindsey and Sophie’s perspectives,
but it never becomes muddled – in fact, the short, sharp chapters add tension
to an already exciting plot. The first person present tense amps up the suspense,
although the perspective can seem unpolished at times. This is a quick read
with a slow build-up to the danger surrounding Lindsey and Sophie, and it
leaves you wondering how you could ever trust anyone, no matter how long you
have known them.
Never Let You
Go is clever and unexpected – like me, you might
guess who did it, but you will likely
not guess why. It is a testament to
the author’s talent that the “whodunit” is not the most important part of the
book – there is so much more depth and meaning underneath. If you are a fan of
Chevy Stevens, there is no doubt you will enjoy her latest book – not because
it is formulaic, but because she has a definite style that is sure to please
fans of her work once again.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press and
NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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