Mary TorjussenCritiques
Auteur de Gone Without a Trace
Critiques
Trigger Warning: sexual assault
Main character Hannah lives in the Wirral, comes back from a Conference and her boyfriend Matt has ran away, he has taken all proof of him ever being part of her life with him.
She is upset and determined to find him, she starts to make mistakes at work and gets suspended, She finds it hard to trust anyone, She has a friend she has known from School called Katie she still sees and an ex boyfriend called James who is now with Katie.
Hannah's Dad is also very overbearing.
Hannah thinks she might be pregnant makes her more determined to find Matt. She tracks him down to Manchester and he is with Katie there is a bit of a fight Katie falls off a balcony, Matt ends up in a coma.
Also someone is playing tricks on her she thinks it is Matt, but it turns out to be James her ex from when she was a teenager.
James confronts her he knows she is responsible for Katie's death and Matt in a coma, which he recovers from.
She goes to Prison for 2 and a half years when she gets out and first thing she does is look up Matt.
She is obsessed by him she has a terrible temper and used to beat him up.
Silly book.
This is definitely a page-turner. It opens with such an incredible question: How can someone completely disappear from your life? And did they do so willingly or should you immediately suspect foul play of some kind? Hannah feels like she might be losing her mind, and there's clearly good reason why she may feel that way. The complicated web of connections and the untangling of it that is the plot of this story will keep you wondering right through to the end of the book.
[This review is based on an advance review copy received from the publisher via the First to Read program.]
He's simply GONE - and without a single trace.
As you would, Hannah has questions. HOW can every trace of him disappear? What happened? Had he been planning this? Why? And so of course, as I would, she begins to search for clues, and the deeper she digs, the less sense some things begin to make. You will soon find yourself sucked into the mystery, even as you see her begin to fall apart.
And then the questions really start, because Torjussen has penned a cast of characters so disturbing and untrustworthy that you begin to wonder if there is more going on than you are aware of. (Of course there is.)
In fact, Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door, says: “Gone Without a Trace has one of the most interesting narrators I’ve ever come across.”
That is a statement that I will not refute. With Hannah, author Torjussen has crafted a fascinating character, because at first she seems like a woman who has it all together. As her obsession deepens, there were moments where I struggled with her manic and frenetic behavior and her obsession. There was a moment when I had to wonder if Matt had even existed (because that plot twist has come up a few times recently).
And I can't tell you any more, because that would mean spoilers and I don't do spoilers. Let's just say that the description of psychological suspense is quite apt and the book fits the bill nicely, because this has a few knife-edged twists that I did not see coming, and that take the story in a bit of a different direction, and you will either love it or hate it. I found it genius and....nope. No spoilers.
To be honest, this story is more twisted than I expected (and I hate even saying that much). Fans of The Girl on the Train or Gone Girl will LOVE this book.
I found this book totally engaging and full of twists and turns. It is a perfect example of "be careful what you wish for". While the plot was fairly predictable, it was a totally entertaining reading ride filled with love, jealousy, secrets, and plenty of manipulation.
We meet Ruby and Emma who take turns narrating this fast-paced novel. Their lives become intertwined and the drama ensues. I loved the alternating perspectives and the ability to look at these plotlines through differing lenses. I loved Torjuseen's writing style and the pacing of this book was perfect for a "quarantine read" that you can devour in an afternoon.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ruby gets herself a cheap apartment and looks for jobs. When Ruby thinks all is well, strange things start to happen to her. Someone is getting into her apartment and moving things around. She is being followed late at night.
Who is trying to make her life a misery? Is it her husband, her stepson, or someone else?
This story is told from different points of view, Ruby, and Emma, Harry's wife. The reader learns more about both marriages and the dynamics of each. This is a story that is both addictive and page-turning. I love a good psychological thriller and this one fits right in. I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to reading more by this author.
This book for me was just an average thriller. I liked the story and the story moved along steady. For me however I found the plot a little predictable and guessed easily who done what. There was a slight twist half way through which I didn't see coming.
The book was very easy to read but it had nothing new and there are other books out there along the same lines. Now wow factor with this one but an easy average read.
And then she meets Harry. They both make plans to leave their spouses and be together when something goes wrong and Ruby finds herself homeless and jobless. Soon after, strange things start happening and she thinks someone wishes her harm.
This was such a good book; the second that I have read by this author and both are 5 star for me. It is fast paced and has all the right elements for a psychological thriller and is really hard to put down. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Initially, Ruby is the first-person narrator; later, Emma, Harry’s wife, becomes a second first-person narrator. Having the perspective of both women develops character and explains motivations. And it is important for the reader to understand why they behave as they do. I certainly felt sympathy for Ruby; it is obvious that Tom has had such an effect on her that she doesn’t even know herself. For instance, when she first goes food shopping for herself, she picks up a box of cereal that she never liked but “Tom liked it and used to say there was no point in getting two different cereals, that they’d go stale.” She then wonders, “What should I buy? What did I actually like? My head started to hurt. I didn’t know. I just didn’t know what I liked. It hadn’t mattered what I liked.”
The women do not always behave in a credible fashion. Emma’s reaction to an unfaithful husband doesn’t seem realistic. Likewise, Ruby doesn’t freak out enough when bizarre things start happening to her; her reactions are definitely understated. And knowing what she does know about people, she should be able to figure out who is responsible for the strange and threatening events.
I liked the fact that Ruby proves to be a dynamic character. In many ways, she begins a journey of self-discovery when she leaves Tom. Gradually, she faces the truth about her relationships and gets to know herself. Her decisions at the end had me cheering. Emma too realizes her mistakes and shows personal growth.
There are coincidences which stretch credibility. Two chance meetings between women are especially problematic.
This book about lies and misperceptions is not flawless, but it provides an entertaining read. Certainly, character development is a positive element.
Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski)
In Gone Without a Trace by Mary Torjussen, lead protagonist Hannah Monroe's devastation over a shocking break up turns into an obsession.
Hannah's excitement about a possible promotion at work quickly turns to dismay when she returns home from a business meeting to find her boyfriend of four years, Matt Stone, has left her without warning. Not only has Matt disappeared, but he has erased every trace of him from her life. Frantic to find him in order to learn what prompted the split, Hannah is soon so obsessed with trying to track him down, she jeopardizes her job and begins to alienate her few friends. Before long, she is receiving strange texts and she also suspects someone has been inside her house. Hannah becomes convinced Matt is responsible for these strange occurrences although she lacks any evidence or even a logical reason that supports her theory.
Hannah is initially a sympathetic character and it is easy to understand her compulsion to try to understand why Matt would take such extreme measures after leaving her. According to Hannah, the two have been blissfully happy and Matt gave no indication he was thinking of ending their relationship. Her best friend Katie urges her to move forward and forget about Matt, but Hannah is certain if she finds Matt, he will move back home and they will live happily ever after.
However, after weeks pass and Hannah continues her downward spiral, it soon becomes apparent that she is not the most reliable of narrators. The glimpses of her distant relationship with her parents are a fairly good indication that she might have deeper issues than her missing boyfriend. Her friendship with Katie is also somewhat dysfunctional and there is an unhealthy jealousy between the women that leaves Hannah (and the reader) questioning her friend's motives. Hannah also has a somewhat complicated past with Katie's boyfriend James that adds another layer of uncertainty to the unfolding story.
While the initial reaction is sympathy for Hannah's plight, it does not take long to run out of patience for her growing obsession and increasingly irrational conviction that if she can just find Matt, their relationship will resume right where it left off. Once the shock over the way he left her wears off, curious minds will wonder what prompted Matt to break up with Hannah in such an extreme fashion. Equally fascinating is how quickly Hannah becomes fixated on finding Matt and how nothing seems to faze her as she jeopardizes her career and friendships as she single-mindedly focuses on finding someone who made it blatantly clear he was finished with her.
While the premise of Gone Without a Trace is quite unique, the story gets somewhat bogged down and repetitive as Hannah's obsession with finding Matt consumes her. The mystery behind Matt's behavior is initially what keeps readers engaged in the unfolding drama but readers might become impatient with the lack of details or new information about their relationship or the reasons for the break up. Mary Torjussen throws in a few plot twists at the novel's conclusion that are completely unexpected and an interesting epilogue offers an intriguing (and rather surprising) glimpse into Hannah's future.
Fifteen years ago, Gemma Brogan's life was forever altered at a party with her classmates just as she was about to go off to University. By the time she meets her now husband, Joe Brogan, she has finally moved past her demons and they are now settled into married life. Gemma owns a thriving real estate business and she puts in long hours so Joe can be a stay at home dad to their three year old son, Rory. Her life is shockingly upended following a dinner with prospective client, David Sanderson, who begins sending her harassing photos and threatening messages. With few memories from that night, Gemma is desperate to keep Joe from finding out she was less than truthful about how she spent her evening whilst she was at a business conference. When she uncovers stunning information about her stalker's identity, will Gemma stop him from ruining her life?
Gemma puts in long hours at her business which means little time to spend with Joe and Rory. She desperately misses her little boy, but with Joe not working and the downturn in the economy, she cannot afford to hire another employee. She loves Joe with all her heart, but Gemma is becoming resentful of being the family's sole breadwinner. Unfortunately, she risks losing her husband and her son if she reveals to him that someone is threatening her. One innocent lie about how she spent her evening during her business trip soon becomes a tangled web of mistruths as she tries to uncover the truth about David's identity.
The first half of the novel is written entirely from Gemma's perspective. Her exhaustion, frustration and fear are keenly felt as she tries to keep her life together. After she stumbles onto shocking information at about the halfway point, the novel then alternates between two points of view: Gemma's and one of her employees. She then discovers who is harassing her and why, but will the two of them take their discovery to the police before it is too late?
The Girl I Used to Be is a fast-paced and compelling mystery. Gemma is a well-drawn character and it is very easy to empathize with her as she tries to disentangle herself from this stunning turn of events. Although sharp-eyed readers will most likely zero in on a suspect fairly early, Mary Torjussen has a few clever plot twists that will keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. The novel's conclusion is just the teensiest bit predictable but this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of watching the perpetrator get exactly what they deserve for their despicable actions. An outstanding read that fans of the genre are sure to love.
There were some questions that I didn't feel were answered (why was she being sabotaged at work, what happened with her dad, etc.), but overall, it was a good read.
The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen
This book opens with Gemma and her good friends on the way to an end of the year celebration. Summer is starting and everyone will be going off to College after vacation. Inevitably there is too much alcohol consumed and Gemma finds herself in a life altering and horrible situation. The problem is while Gemma knows that she has been violated in the worst way, she feels guilty.
Fast forward to the present; Gemma is now married to Joe a stay at home Dad, has a young son and a successful real estate business. After a night away from home, a dinner with someone that she probably should never have had and too much wine, Gemma wakes up knowing that something might have happened but unfortunately she just cannot remember.
Hold on tight because the thrill ride started from that point on and just kept building. Someone is taunting Gemma with photos and threats, Gemma's life just seems to unravel as she tells lie after lie to her husband. This is an edge of your seat type of psychological thriller that I love to devour. This story drew me in with its unrelenting twists and turns into Gemma's past and present. I enjoyed every page of this intense and gripping book.
If you love a bit of a twist and a well written psychological thriller then you will enjoy this book. I liked the fact that it was told from different POV's . This author did a great job of character building.This review was originally posted on My Fiction Obsession
Many many thanks to NetGalley for approving me this awesome book!This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge
When Gemma Brogan gave birth to her son she and her husband agreed that he would be the one to stay at home and care for their child while she got her real estate business up and running.It is now four years later and Gemma is becoming resentful. Joe does not even pretend to look for work and with her being the only breadwinner, she puts in long hours. She is beginning to feel like an outsider in her family, especially when Rory wants daddy to do everything for him. When an out of town training event takes Gemma away she tells him she is looking forward to a quiet and restful evening with dinner in her room. When she calls home to talk to her son, she is upset because he is already in bed. Frustrated and hearing the happy sounds from the bar terrace below, she heads out of her room and runs into a client who invites her to dinner. The night led to a lot of talking and quite a few drinks which left Gemma kicking herself the next morning. Not only is she hungover, but she does not remember what happened after she got to her room. When she begins to receive messages, pictures and video, she realizes that something happened that she does not remember. Will the police be able to help her? Who is sending these things to her? What will happen to her marriage if Joe finds out?
As I read this story, I thought I had it figured out, then boom, something happened to change my mind. There were several twists and I could just see Gemma falling apart and not knowing where to turn. This story kept me guessing almost to the end. I felt for Gemma, she was a good person who did not seem to deserve what had happened to her in the past or the present. I really liked the ending. It tied up all the loose ends and was very satisfactory. The writing flowed smoothly, was descriptive and had me emotionally involved in this story. As the story progressed, it was hard to put it down. I will definitely look for more books by Mary Torjussen. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Edelweiss.
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Programme
I am reviewing the book 'Gone Without A Trace' by Mary Torjussen. When Hannah returns home one day to find her boyfriend, Matt, has not only upped and left her but also taken everything he owns, too; it's as if he never existed. Shocked, saddened and then angry at how he could have left her with no warning, in such a hars
h way, Hannah sets out to track him down to get the answers she deserves. Meanwhile, her life is crumbling around her and someone playing with her mind. If it's not Matt then who else would have it in for her? Here are my thoughts:
^^ Mary Torjussen has written a terrific book, with an increasingly popular 'forever-doomed female lead' I will never tire of. Ever.
^^ Written in first person point of view provides the author that element of emotional unreliability with the main character, who only tells you what she wants, or remembers. I love that, especially in a plot of this style.
^^ Hannah is a great character and one to really root for as her story unfolds with several heart-racing moments that will have you questioning your own reactions if this was happening to you. I mean, once you've read the book, come back and tell me, who is really to blame here?
^^ Equally brilliant (and I am sorry if I sound too gushy) is the ending, which was
just as it should be. Shocking, depressing with a hint of 'yeah, go girl!' Once you've read the book, you'll know what I mean about this plot trend (it's like a misshapen form of 'girl power' and I think this is why it works).
^^ Mary Torjussen makes writing a book appear so easy; evidence of her great writing skills.
^^ Gone Without A Trace, is an easy, yet complex, exciting book to read, and one I will not forget in a hurry.
^^ Although this is in a very similar style of many other 'Luckiest Girl Alive/Girl on a Train/Gone Girl' from-bad-to-worse-twisted-girl-plots of which I have read many and loved, this is equally good and one I'd put up in the bestsellers list for 2017. I can already see the film version in my mind and eagerly anticipate its arrival on screen. This is was drama is all about.
Overall:
Best book I've read lately. It's so fast-paced, tense, and intriguing, I felt totally worn out by the time I finished reading (whic
h was in about 2 days) and cannot wait to read more of Mary Torjussen's work. This was one emotional journey. What's next?
Hannah is a difficult person to like. At the beginning, I had sympathy for her but as she becomes more and more obsessed with finding Matt, I became impatient with her. She comes across as immature and self-absorbed. She always sees herself as the victim, even blaming a friend for dying in such a way that she has bad memories: “What had she done to me, leaving me with that memory of her?” Her behaviour is unrealistic as well. At the beginning, she is so focused on her career but then she sacrifices that career, friendships, and hygiene just to find someone who obviously does not want to be found?
There is a Gone Girl twist which, unfortunately, doesn’t work. After the great reveal, the reader should want to re-read the first part of the novel to see what he/she missed. I felt no such compulsion because it is obvious that the author cheated by withholding too much information. The one positive thing about the twist is that it touches on a subject seldom discussed in reality, much less in fiction. I just wish that it had been portrayed more realistically.
The premise is interesting, but the execution is weak. My interest was piqued but then the pace became so slow that my interest lagged. So much attention is paid to the steps Hannah takes, every little step she takes in her search. The reader suspects that something is wrong and may even form theories as to the truth but ceases to care when Hannah proves to be such a drama queen and when so much time is spent on her shallow, competitive relationship with her best friend Katie. The pace around the reveal picks up but then the book drags again as the author takes great pains to explain everything. On the other hand, what should have been portrayed in more detail (Hannah’s relationship with her parents) is glossed over.
The editor of this book did not do a good job. If the novel had been better structured, it would have maintained the reader’s interest and shed light on a topic that deserves more attention. As is, this book will leave my memory without a trace.
Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
An aura of menace is subtle but persistent, and I am wondering how far HE will go in her psychological torture.
I really don’t like Joe very much. I think he’s a bit lazy and selfish, though Anne needs to make her needs know. The longer you wait to solve a probe the less the other person understands why you feel the way you do. Communicate people! lol
Not sure what I was expecting, but the tangled web Mary Torjussen weaves makes it hard to put the book down. The damaged characters all have a special role to play and are pivotal to the story.
Twisted, mess with your mind, psychological thriller.
I won the book and voluntarily reviewed The Girl I Used To Be by Mary Torjussen.
On a business conference something happens that brings her whole world crashing down and her past arises to haunt her. And everything she once thought and believed is questioned.
I loved this book, it’s one enthralling thriller. There were some surprises, some things that I saw coming but this book kept me engaged beginning to end. I felt my emotions being drawn in as Gemma was put in an impossible situation that was going to explode with casualties while she was powerless to prevent it. A definite 5 star for me, I will be looking for more from this author.
It’s so hard to review this without revealing a major amount about the plot but this had me quickly turning the pages because author Mary Torjussen has crafted the perfect thriller whereby she has weaved a story from the character’s past into one in the present day, and while I was reading I felt Gemma’s anxiety - and fear - all the way through. It really was compulsive reading.
I will also personally disclose that the initiating incident that Gemma experiences, the one that she feels she must run from, and the one that is the cause of so much tragedy (revealed in part 2), is something that I personally went through myself. I only wish this sort of thing didn’t actually have to be something that becomes the basis of both adult and YA fiction, but (yes, this is my trigger warning), sexual assault happens, and will continue to be a part of fictional and non-fictional works. As women start to fight back by talking about it, as now it is very much a topic of our time (there’s a line in the book acknowledging that once upon a time, it wasn’t talked about so easily), it has become different when we read about it too.
This is actually the second book released this year that I have read with this similar sexual assault issue.
The book is thoroughly engaging to read and I liked the ‘two parts’ that it was separated into, with the massive twist. I don’t know what I’d change it to, but for some reason I have an issue with the title, although I understand the concept of how we look back at what we ‘used to be’, feeling like we have changed so much, or looking at what we were back then, but I want something else to grab people by. This book is so good and too clever for people to miss.
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[b: Gone Without A Trace|29758021|Gone Without A Trace|Mary Torjussen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1476006461s/29758021.jpg|50117325] by [a: Mary Torjussen|8280779|Mary Torjussen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png] was a twisted and unusual ride. The title gave me the impression it would be like other stories I have read and watched on television. It was not. The plot was unique and made me think of what happens to people in the witness protection program.
"Gone Without A Trace" was a delightful mystery that kept me in suspense nearly the whole read. The end of the novel made me ask myself, do we really ever know anyone?
Thank you for the adventure.