Long Gone

Jun 22, 2011 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book surprised me. I didn't really know what to expect but I found myself engrossed. By the time a reasonable person goes to bed, I simply had to finish because I had absolutely no predictions for the end.

The story seemed convoluted with so many seemingly unrelated characters and sub-stories. Surprisingly, the author brought them all together by the end and I must admit, I was surprised by the characters I'd grown to trust, although I had some suspicions about one of them. I was disappoint...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Bibliophile rated it 3 of 5 stars

A nicely executed murder mystery set in NYC among the wealthy and cultured. It's suspenseful and there are no major plot holes, and that's all I ask from this genre. The heroine, 37-year-old Alice, is likeable enough, but a tad annoying with the strawberry skin and red hair and slanted nose. She's pretty, rich and well-educated, goes to bikram yoga and receives emotional support and great sex from a handsome guy who wants to be her boyfriend. When she runs into trouble, her famous movie director...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

Following a lay-off from the Metropolitan Museum Alice Humphrey jumps at a dream job of managing a gallery herself. The offer comes under somewhat unorthodox circumstances with somewhat unusual requests, but nothing that would outweigh taking the job. She discovers the person who offered her the job dead on the floor when she opens the gallery one morning and that single event changes her life forever. The reader learns more and more about her unusual life as she tries to exonerate herself of th...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Janebbooks rated it 4 of 5 stars

Murder in New York City...the greatest city in the world...

Michael Connelly reviews Alafair Burke's first standalone novel LONG GONE on the US Amazon product page. He relates a line from a Frank Sinatra song.."If I can make it here, I'll make it anywhere"...as an "anthem for a city and a state of mind." But Connelly, who makes the city of Los Angeles his own with his Harry Bosch novels, thinks that "writing a novel about the greatest city in the the world...would be an intimidating, even dauntin...more Murder in New York City...the greatest city in the world...

Michael Connelly reviews Alafair Burke's first standalone novel LONG GONE on the US Amazon product page. He relates a line from a Frank Sinatra song.."If I can make it here, I'll make it anywhere"...as an "anthem for a city and a state of mind." But Connelly, who makes the city of Los Angeles his own with his Harry Bosch novels, thinks that "writing a novel about the greatest city in the the world...would be an intimidating, even daunting challenge... "Not to Alafair Burke," he tells us, "With LONG GONE she makes the city her own. She takes New York with a knowing and confident hand, folding its teeming streets into character and plot in a story that is never less than gripping."

"At the center you have Alice Humphrey. She is the daughter of privilege in a city that doesn't pay much mind to that privilege. She's on her own and that is the beating heart of this book. Alice on her own.... A best heroine yet...she connects with us on so many levels. She is an everywoman cornered by forces she doesn't recognize or understand in a city with too many back alleys and secrets to ever know. She is from a family that holds secrets from her as well as the world. But no matter. She is relentless in her pursuit of the truth, whichever way it is finally told. And in that we connect to her, admire her, like her. We feel for Alice Humphrey and want to be there when she sees it all through...a character who is persistent in simply refusing to be a victim. Don't we all wish we were the same."

Now hold on, Connelly. I found 37-year old unemployed Alice Humphrey, former child actress and daughter of an Oscar-winning director, a bit sheltered and naive. According to Burke...Alice has "delayed-cord-cutting issues." But she is a persistent protagonist in refusing to become a victim after finding her new employer Drew Campbell, art collector to the rich and famous, murdered in a stripped art gallery. And she does discover, along with the reader, some not so priviledged city dwellers...pornographers imbedding images in gallery photos, philandering celebrities including her father, cougar-swindling cons, and several surprisingly sympathetic big-city lawyers and law enforcers.

Along the way...Burke gives us multiple glimpses of a busy, bustling city. She describes New Yorkers on crowded sidewalks of midtown Manhattan: "Cookie-cutter clones in dark suits. Street vendors pushing roasted peanuts and $3 belts. Meandering tourists staring up at the skyline, blissfully unaware of their shopping bags smacking other pedestrian in the thighs. Teenagers in flip-flops snapping cell-phone photos while they juggled two-quart buckets of soft drinks from fast food restaurants....a man with a broad grin wheeling a hand truck filled with bottled water down the loading ramp of a delivery truck double-parked..." (page 222)

She also gives us a fine murder mystery with no confusing red herrings and a fine twist at the end. A subplot about a missing teenager in New Jersey with connections to the Redemption of Christ Church seems unnecessary...but melds well with the primary plot through good storytelling, short chapters, and intriguing characters.

As Connelly mentions at the end of his review... "any writer will flat out tell you that the easier it looks the harder it is to get on the page. Alafair Burke makes this one look like a walk in the park. Frank Sinatra would certainly be proud. START SPREADING THE NEWS."(less)

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Nov 21, 2012 Phyllis Sommers rated it 3 of 5 stars

A compelling, fun read, that entertained me while on vacation. The story was intriguing and became a page-turner after building, albeit somewhat slowly, to that point.

Alice Humphrey is the grown daughter of renowned film producer, Frank and retired actress, Rose. After being out of work for a while, due to the weakened U.S. economy, Alice begins to gain renewed confidence as she is offered, and accepts, a new job, She is, in fact, so excited about the change in her "luck," that she doesn't quest...more A compelling, fun read, that entertained me while on vacation. The story was intriguing and became a page-turner after building, albeit somewhat slowly, to that point.

Alice Humphrey is the grown daughter of renowned film producer, Frank and retired actress, Rose. After being out of work for a while, due to the weakened U.S. economy, Alice begins to gain renewed confidence as she is offered, and accepts, a new job, She is, in fact, so excited about the change in her "luck," that she doesn't question the strange circumstances under which her new job offer is made: Shortly after meeting Drew Campbell at an art exhibit they were both attending, Drew asks Alice to manage the new art gallery he's about to establish for an anonymous, wealthy client. A touch skeptical at how quickly this was all happening, Alice, nevertheless, eagerly accepts the offer and immediately puts all her energy into getting things off to a successful start. It is in very short order, however, that Alice begins to question the owner's anonymity and an undercurrent of something "seedy" going on, of things being "not-quite right."

Within one month of the gallery opening, it is picketed by an evangelical preacher and his disciples. While this is going on, Drew Campbell is found shot-to-death inside the gallery, Alice finds herself framed for Drew's murder and for perpetrating several other illegalities connected to the gallery and to the artist whose work is being shown. Additionally, a young teenage girl, Becca, goes missing and the detective investigating her disappearance believes there might be a connection between the two events.

The weak link in this novel is an element of disjointedness between the various circumstances. I feel that the author threw in too many variables, so many that the profusion of different factors muddle the direction of the story. The events ultimately do reach a satisfying climax, but things seem a little convoluted because of a confusion of too many sub-plots, some of which seem to go nowhere. Still in all, a worthwhile "beach read," worthy of holding the reader's interest.(less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Wendy Kobylarz rated it 2 of 5 stars

As someone who's regularly enjoyed the Ellie Hatcher series, I found this stand-alone a great disappointment. Predictable, with a thread about a missing girl that feels irrelevant in the midst of the main plot. This thread is interesting, more so than the main story about a woman framed for a murder she didn't commit. But it's pointless, not suspenseful.

I had a lot of trouble feeling sympathy for Alice, the framed main character, and thought that she got out of her dilemma far too easily. The s...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm tempted to portray myself as smarmy (or sassy?) and simply write of this book: "The only thing 'long gone' was my interest," and leave it at that. But that's jerky, and not something I would appreciate reading about my own work. I am confused by the title, however...and that's only the start of the problems. The "subplot" involving a missing girl seemed to weigh down the main narrative mystery, rather than supporting it--or forwarding it in an interesting way. I think the author might secret...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Sheila DeChantal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alice Humphrey really could have it all. After all her father was the famous award winning director, Frank Humphrey. Alice knew that life wasn't for her and had insisted that she make it on her own. After months of struggling financially she can not believe her luck when while visiting an art gallery, she meets Drew Campbell who offers her a job as a new gallery manager. The owner who chooses to remain anonymous, will leave the details up to Alice, and it will be as though Alice owns the gallery...more Alice Humphrey really could have it all. After all her father was the famous award winning director, Frank Humphrey. Alice knew that life wasn't for her and had insisted that she make it on her own. After months of struggling financially she can not believe her luck when while visiting an art gallery, she meets Drew Campbell who offers her a job as a new gallery manager. The owner who chooses to remain anonymous, will leave the details up to Alice, and it will be as though Alice owns the gallery herself!

There is one tiny catch....

At the opening of this new gallery this mysterious owner wants only one artist to be featured and promoted. Once this artists run is up, Alice is open to choose any other artists to feature in the gallery. The artist Alice must represent has some pretty far our unpleasant art pieces. Alice just continues to remind herself that this is only for a time and then she can make the gallery more to her liking... and hey, the paychecks are coming in!

But a group of protesters against the art set Alice's nerves on edge, and then finding the gallery emptied to the bare bones and Drew's body in the gallery the morning after the protesters is impossible to wrap her mind around. Who would do such a thing?

When the police are involved, Alice soon discovers that Drew is not who he says he was. And now the art that was displayed and the gallery itself seem to be tied to a missing girl. When pictures turn up of a woman who looks like Alice in compromising acts, Alice knows she has been set up. To save herself from being put behind bars she has to get to the bottom of this twisted area of her life. Who is this girl and how is she tied to the gallery? As she works to find answers Alice begins to discover long hidden secrets within her own family - secrets that could get her killed.

Long Gone is definitely a page turner. There is no long drawn out front story to this book - instead we jump into the gallery job offer and things spiral into action from there, which I like it when a book gets to the point. I liked Alice, she felt real. I was surprised that the missing girl was not a bigger part of the story. While that story line hovers around the edges of the book, a small part about it in the beginning and then a few sprinkles throughout the read, it is really more about Alice.

For the rest of my review please check it out at: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/2012...(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Lloyd Lofthouse rated it 3 of 5 stars

When Alafair Burke's novels started to hit the stands in 2003, I was curious about her work since I was a fan of http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos..., her father, and have read most if not all of his work.

Then I discovered that writing seems to run in her family. Her cousin is Andre Dubus III, the author of "House of Sand and Fog"
Another fact that influenced my decision to read "Long Gone" was that Alafair's novels are known for their authenticity and often draw on real-legal cases and the...more When Alafair Burke's novels started to hit the stands in 2003, I was curious about her work since I was a fan of http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos..., her father, and have read most if not all of his work.

Then I discovered that writing seems to run in her family. Her cousin is Andre Dubus III, the author of "House of Sand and Fog"
Another fact that influenced my decision to read "Long Gone" was that Alafair's novels are known for their authenticity and often draw on real-legal cases and the author's experience as a deputy district attorney in Portland, Oregon.

However, at first, I found the beginning of "Long Gone" confusing.

I'm glad I kept reading. Once beyond that confusing beginning, it didn't take long before I was hooked. Since I read an uncorrected proof, the beginning may have been revised and fixed. At least I hope so.

Once into the story, the plot grows rich and complex with a lot to like.

In "Long Gone", we have the story of Alice Humphrey, a former child star and daughter of a big name director.

Alice, out of work but wanting to support herself, lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan's trendy Meatpacking District, which quickly turns into a nightmare reminding us to be careful what we wish for.

The nightmare starts when a cultish religious group shows up and boycotts the gallery claiming the artwork is child pornography. Next, Alice arrives at work to find the gallery stripped bare as if it had never existed—and Drew Campbell’s (the man who hired her) dead body left behind.

It turns out that the artist whose work was displayed doesn’t seem to exist. In addition, the dead man she claims is Drew has been identified as someone else.

The evidence points at Alice Humphrey, and overnight, she finds herself the center of police attention with nothing to prove her innocence.

When police discover ties between the gallery and a missing girl, Alice knows she has been set up and to stay out of jail she must prove it. Avoiding the police, Alice starts a dangerous search for answers that will entangle her in a criminal conspiracy and force her to unearth long-hidden secrets involving her family, which might cost Alice her life.
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Jan 06, 2012 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Received from NetGalley (requested by me)
Overall Rating 3.75
Character Rating 3.75
Thriller Rating 3.75

Note: This is the first time that I have read Alafair Burke and I was not disappointed at all. She is very creative and her story-telling abilities are fantastic.

What I Loved: Long Gone kept me on my toes from beginning to end. I was never quite sure where the story was going. It kind of reminded me of the first time I read Kiss the Girls and how all the characters wove together but not in obviou...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Marleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When, after months of unemployment, Alice Humphrey is offered the opportunity to manage an art gallery in New York it seems like a dream come true, even if she does have her doubt about the art she’s expected to display and sell, the artist who can’t be contacted and the anonymous person financing this opportunity.
Four weeks later, the dream turns into a nightmare when she walks into the gallery early one morning to find all the artwork gone and the man who hired her dead on the floor. And the n...more When, after months of unemployment, Alice Humphrey is offered the opportunity to manage an art gallery in New York it seems like a dream come true, even if she does have her doubt about the art she’s expected to display and sell, the artist who can’t be contacted and the anonymous person financing this opportunity.
Four weeks later, the dream turns into a nightmare when she walks into the gallery early one morning to find all the artwork gone and the man who hired her dead on the floor. And the nightmare becomes darker when all the evidence the police stumble across appears to point at her being the person who murdered him.
Certain of her innocence but unclear about who might want to frame her or why Alice has little choice but to start investigating the man who hired her, and everything else involved with the gallery.
She soon discovers that absolutely nothing was as it seemed such a short time ago, but nothing could have prepared her for the shocks that are still to come and the consequences they will have for the way she looks at herself, her family and her life.

This was a fascinating thriller.
I’m not usually a fan of stories in which you know from the start that the main character is innocent and has to find a way to prove that to the rest of the world, but in this book it really worked.
Alice is a realistic and lifelike character almost from the first page, and although I did at some times question how sensible her actions were, she never did anything that blatantly stupid or dangerous.
The story in this book has several angles and quite a few important characters besides Alice which means that the reader has to pay attention to the story and to who is doing what. But again, this is a positive because the author seems to assume that her readers have a certain level of intelligence.
The way the story unfolds makes sense, and yet I didn’t see any of the revelations coming, or when I did have some idea, didn’t see the full extent of them.
I really enjoyed this book, and am delighted that I already have another of Alafair Burke’s books ordered from the library.
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Oct 10, 2011 Gloria Feit rated it 4 of 5 stars

The author has written six previous novels, but this is her first standalone, so her familiar characters and themes do not apply. Nevertheless, she has demonstrated an ability to take an idea and run with it, in this case two separate themes with some common threads.

The main plot involves Alice Humphrey, daughter of a famous motion picture director and his Academy Award-winning wife. Somewhat estranged from her father, and wishing to demonstrate her independence, she presently is unemployed when...more

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Aug 17, 2011 James Thane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-fiction, suspense

Alice Humphrey is the daughter of a privileged family who is determined to make it on her own in the Big Apple. After being out of work for several months she has a chance meeting with Drew Campbell at an art exhibition. Campbell claims to represent a wealthy anonymous patron of the arts who wants to open a gallery, and Campbell believes that Alice, given her background, would be the perfect person to manage it. Alice accepts the offer and throws herself into the job, heart and soul.

Inevitably i...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it 4 of 5 stars

I recently read and reviewed my first Alafair Burke book - 212 - part of a series and really enjoyed it. Long Gone is Burke's latest book and it's a stand alone.

Alice Humphrey is determined not to rely on her father's money to support her any longer. After months of job searching, she jumps at the chance when Drew Campbell offers her a job managing a small art gallery. The owner is a bit eccentric, so she'll have to go with his decisions to show some controversial works. Her friends express doub...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Cheryl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Alice Humphrey has her dream job working at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. That is until she was laid off. One bright moment did come from Alice’s unemployment. She was offered a job working for Drew as the main art curator for a small, private museum in the meat packing district. Alice believes there has to be a catch and there is. The artist is really different. His art work is almost riding on the edge of being pornographic. Alice figures she can handle one crazy artist. Though, when...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Kathleen Hagen added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-audio-books, 2011-mysteries

Long Gone, by Alafair Burke, b-plus, Narrated by Tamara Marston, produced by Highbridge Audio Company, downloaded from audible.com.

Alice Humphrey is in her late thirties. She has never found her niche in life as an adult after having had a short life of fame as a child actor and also the daughter of a famous film producer. Then one night as she is viewing art at an exhibit, a man calling himself Drew Campbell comes up to her and offers her a dream job, to run her own art gallery with no interfer...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alice Humphrey’s chance meeting with Drew Campbell at first glance appears to be a lucky break. Alice is unemployed and Drew Campbell offers her a chance to run a gallery and be her own boss. Alice’s father is a famous Hollywood producer and Alice had starred in some roles as a child star. Alice harbors some bad feelings towards her father and this opportunity to do something exciting on her own without any help from her family is just too good to pass up.

Alice took Drew up on his offer and open...more Alice Humphrey’s chance meeting with Drew Campbell at first glance appears to be a lucky break. Alice is unemployed and Drew Campbell offers her a chance to run a gallery and be her own boss. Alice’s father is a famous Hollywood producer and Alice had starred in some roles as a child star. Alice harbors some bad feelings towards her father and this opportunity to do something exciting on her own without any help from her family is just too good to pass up.

Alice took Drew up on his offer and opened the Highline Gallery. Drew’s story was that his client was willing to finance the gallery with the provision that Hans Schuler, an artist his client had an interest in, would have a private showing at the gallery. Schuler’s art was anything but normal but Alice felt that she would be able to pick the art shown at the gallery once she got Schuler’s show out of the way. Schuler’s art did sell but it was more from on line orders that walk in customers. The artist had a gimmick of sending a jump drive of his art with each purchase. Alice’s friend Lily at first thought Drew Campbell was just blowing smoke and would never rent the space for the gallery but later encouraged Alice to accept the position. Alice had just gotten the opening over with when suddenly the Highline Gallery is being picketed by a fanatic church organization. The church declared that the art displayed in the gallery was actually child pornography.

Alice’s attempts to contact Drew Campbell or his investor were unsuccessful. Drew finally called Alice to meet him early in the morning at the gallery. Alice arrived at the gallery to find the door unlocked, the gallery empty and a dead body on the floor.

Alice is interviewed by the police and she feels that the police aren’t buying her story. To make matters worse when the police search the gallery premises they find the fingerprint of a young girl who has been reported missing by her mother.

As well as Alice’s story, Long Gone covers one police officer’s diligent search for the missing girl whose fingerprint is found in the gallery. An FBI agent discovers that he has a direct connection to the man who Alice knows as Drew Campbell. He feels Drew Campbell was responsible for the death of his sister. The police in charge of the murder investigation where Alice is a suspect feel they have found the guilty party and do not really want to investigate other options. Meanwhile Alice is frantic in her attempts to prove herself innocent.

This book is like a giant jigsaw puzzle and the author brings the pieces together in a way that makes the reader want to turn the pages faster and faster to see where the next piece will fit.
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Jun 18, 2011 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alice Humphrey has been out of work for way too long. When Drew Campbell approaches her about managing a new art gallery she jumps at the chance. The only stipulation is that she must display the art of the owners lover a few times a year, but then she will be free to choose which art is displayed. To Alice, this is a dream come true. Her problems begin when the lover of the owner will only correspond with her via email and text messages. To make matters worse, his “art” is very unconventional....more

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May 19, 2011 J.R. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thrillers

Out of work for too long a period and unwilling to continue accepting help from her father, a famous director, Alice Humphrey jumps at the chance for a dream job managing a new art gallery.

Drew Campbell, her benefactor is a smooth-talker who claims to represent an eccentric client who chooses to remain anonymous. The only catch in the offer is the gallery opening must feature a solo exhibit for a photographer alleged to be the owner’s current lover.

Despite reservations expressed by Lily, her bes...more

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May 18, 2011 Barbara Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars

I had never read anything by Alafair Burke. She has written two series of three books each. This one is a stand-alone, a suspense novel set in New York City.

The story is about Alice Humphrey, a former child star and daughter of a big name director. She has purposely gone on her own after learning that her father had had affairs, but is having a tough time since she lost her job at a museum. She was an art history major, so she is at the opening of an artist's show when she is approached by a han...more I had never read anything by Alafair Burke. She has written two series of three books each. This one is a stand-alone, a suspense novel set in New York City.

The story is about Alice Humphrey, a former child star and daughter of a big name director. She has purposely gone on her own after learning that her father had had affairs, but is having a tough time since she lost her job at a museum. She was an art history major, so she is at the opening of an artist's show when she is approached by a handsome man. They chat and when he learns about her art background, he offers her a job managing a new gallery. He says she would be required to show some "unconventional" photographs done by the owner's boy toy several times a year, but in between she could select the art for the gallery. The job sounds too good to be true, but at the end of the day she desperately needs work and decides to sign on. A few days later her boss, the handsome guy, asks her to meet him early at the gallery. She arrives to find the windows covered with brown paper and the gallery empty except for his quite dead body in a pool of blood. The prime suspect? Alice of course.

I had a problem with the beginning of this book. Several story lines are introduced in separate chapters, none of them seeming to have any relationship to the others. For instance, there is a missing 16 year old girl from New Jersey. What? Then there is Alice's brother who is a recovering drug addict. Several times I had to turn back to read again who a character was and what their story was. Of course everything eventually comes together and once you get into the book it becomes absorbing, if a little confusing.

I don't normally try to solve the mystery in a good book because I enjoy just going along for the ride. Surprise me. In Long Gone I don't think I could have solved it if I had tried. The convoluted twists and turns are beyond my imagination but always make sense. However, I think if I had time I would read the book again to see if my impression that there is a lack of foreshadowing is true. You may be a better puzzle solver than I am, or less gullible, but I would bet everyone will be shocked at the end.

I do recommend this book and this author. Burke has been a prosecutor and a police advisor. She lives in New York. All of this lends itself to sense of actually being in the city. For myself, I intend to find and read her two series, one about a NYPD detective, and the other about a Portland Deputy District Attorney. Happy reading. (less)

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May 12, 2011 marymurtz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Long gone is a tightly wound, superbly drawn out and thrillingly tense mystery surrounding Alice Humphrey, the daughter of an aging Hollywood actress and famous Oscar-winning director. Alice, determined to get along in the world without relying on her rich and famous parents, soon finds herself unemployed and at loose ends in New York, her degree in Art History clearly inadequate to pay bills.

So when a handsome stranger strikes up a conversation with her in a gallery and offers her a job, she c...more Long gone is a tightly wound, superbly drawn out and thrillingly tense mystery surrounding Alice Humphrey, the daughter of an aging Hollywood actress and famous Oscar-winning director. Alice, determined to get along in the world without relying on her rich and famous parents, soon finds herself unemployed and at loose ends in New York, her degree in Art History clearly inadequate to pay bills.

So when a handsome stranger strikes up a conversation with her in a gallery and offers her a job, she can scarcely believe her good fortune. Her friend Lily warns her that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Alice, however, plunges forward, given free reign as the manager of an edgy new gallery in the meatpacking district in Manhattan.

Her freedom in the gallery comes with only a few strings: she has to establish a major showing of the mediocre, pretentious and borderline lewd photography put forth by the lover of the gallery's shadowy investor. And she cannot have contact with her boss's boss, the investor whose money has made the gallery possible.

Within weeks, everything falls apart: the photography show is a terrible scandal because some of the subjects appear to be children. Protesters begin demonstrating in front of the gallery. Alice tries to handle the negative publicity, and when her boss, Drew, calls to arrange to meet her there she is relieved to finally have some support when they get together. But when she arrives at the gallery, it is empty - dark and completely stripped of all furnishings, artwork, computers...there is nothing there. Nothing except Drew's body, shot dead. And then Alice becomes a suspect and at every turn, the police's case against her appears more and more airtight.

"Long Gone" is a stressful and wonderfully crafted labyrinth of mistaken identity, family secrets, investigation and intrigue. When I initially read the book's summary, I rolled my eyes. I'm glad I gave this book a chance, because it was a terrific read!

Pre-release galley courtesy of the publisher: this book will be released June 21, 2011.(less)

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Mar 21, 2011 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Alafair Burke is a go-to author for me. Her heroines are generally intelligent and proactive and I appreciate that fact. In her new standalone, I thought she had a nice hook but that her protagonist was often a little more naive then she should have been - given her background.

The hook: Alice Humphrey has a MFA and has been without a job for almost a year. When a too good to believe opportunity appears, she jumps at the chance for a new start. At an art showing, Drew Campbell tells her that he h...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Mary Lou rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Long Gone by Alafair Burke is a good mystery with interesting characters, multiple plot lines, and enough red herrings to challenge thoughtful readers. At 349 pages, it’s not short, but it reads smoothly and well. Descriptive and realistic details enhance the story and having the end set in Portland is a fun bonus.

Murder, rape, betrayal, romance, justice, fate, and chance all show up.

Leading the characters is 37-year-old Alice Humphrey who appeared on TV as a child in a show with her mom, dad an...more Long Gone by Alafair Burke is a good mystery with interesting characters, multiple plot lines, and enough red herrings to challenge thoughtful readers. At 349 pages, it’s not short, but it reads smoothly and well. Descriptive and realistic details enhance the story and having the end set in Portland is a fun bonus.

Murder, rape, betrayal, romance, justice, fate, and chance all show up.

Leading the characters is 37-year-old Alice Humphrey who appeared on TV as a child in a show with her mom, dad and brother. Dad still acts, mom doesn’t, brother may have overcome his drug addiction, and Alice is unemployed but looking. A job for her managing a new art gallery sets the stage for murder and revelations about her father’s past that makes his current affairs seem fairly normal. Conservative Christian demonstrations in front of the gallery about what may be a minor in a pornographic photo introduce conservative Christian George Hardy, birth father of teenager Becca Stevenson who has disappeared. Jason Morhart, Detective Sergeant, Dover Police Department; Hank Beckman, FBI agent recently reprimanded for following a man he believed caused his sister’s death; Alice’s friends Lily and Jeff; and Arthur Conin, Alice’s father’s lawyer and long-time family friend, complete the main cast. Spoiler alert! Resolution next.

Alice is charged with murder, but cleared largely due to the diligence of Hank who recognizes Alice’s new boss as the man his sister dated before her death. Hank also sees a woman who can pass for Alice’s twin and realizes that the gallery deal is a set-up to get retribution against Alice’s father, who supposedly raped a teen and fathered her illegimate child. Actually, it turns out that Alice's birth father is Arthur Conin, who had an affair with Alice’s mom, which is why she tolerates her husband’s ongoing infidelity. He is the rapist and father of the young woman who is passing as Alice. Lily is in cahoots on the deal, having been the friend of the raped woman. Becca is a bystander, although she dates the gallery boss, too, and she kills herself after her father berates her about her behavior. Her mother and the police detective develop a relationship, as do Alice and Hank. Alice’s friend Jeff really wants children, Alice can’t have them, and the trauma of this case almost moves them into a relationship that would surely have failed. Alice moves to the Pacific Northwest to get away from it all, and Hank, who is fired, follows her.
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Jun 30, 2011 Sheila Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries-suspense-thrillers, adult-fiction

Though the job offer seems too good to be true, Alice Humphrey, unemployed for eight months, accepts a position managing a new art gallery in Manhattan. After the opening, she arrives at the gallery one morning to find the dead body of the good-looking, persuasive man who hired her. Soon it becomes obvious that she is the victim of an elaborate frame-up facilitated by social networking. Determined to clear her name and find the truth, Alice sets out to untangle the web of intrigue and deceit tha...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of "The Fugitive"

Recommended to Jennifer by: Alafair's dad!

Shelves: read-2012

A solid thriller that illustrates the age-old idea that if it seems "too good to be true," it probably isn't a good idea. Alice, the daughter of a famous Hollywood director, has spent years trying not to rely on the family name. After getting fired from her job at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alice spends months looking for work and is beginning to wonder what her next step can possibly be. A chance meeting with a gentleman at an art opening leads to what seems an amazing opportunity--the man...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Patti rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review-patti-s-picks, i-own-this-book, mystery, published-2011-read-in-2011, read-in-2011

Thanks to HarperCollins, I now have another author to read. They very kindly sent a review copy to me of Alafair Burke's Long Gone. And I'm hooked.

Long Gone is the story of Alice Humphrey, the 30-something unemployed daughter of a famous (and philandering) Hollywood director. At an art gallery one evening, she is offered a dream job of opening a gallery and running it herself. The hitch is that an undisclosed owner has taken an artist under his wing, and Alice must open the gallery with that art...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, read-in-2011

After spending a long time out of work, Alice Humphrey is pleasantly surprised when she's approached at an art show about running a new art gallery in New York City. At first, Alice believes it's too good to be true and her friends believe it's just an attempt by the handsome young man, Drew, to get her phone number. But it appears Drew's desire to have Alice run a gallery for a controversial artist is on the up and up. The opening is successful and Alice is excited about planning future shows f...more After spending a long time out of work, Alice Humphrey is pleasantly surprised when she's approached at an art show about running a new art gallery in New York City. At first, Alice believes it's too good to be true and her friends believe it's just an attempt by the handsome young man, Drew, to get her phone number. But it appears Drew's desire to have Alice run a gallery for a controversial artist is on the up and up. The opening is successful and Alice is excited about planning future shows from other artists.

Then things start to go horribly wrong. A group of protesters show up outside the gallery, saying the photographs being sold are exploiting underage minors. When Drew sets a meeting with Alice the next morning at the gallery, she arrives to find the gallery gutted and Drew murdered. Before long, Alice is in the prime suspect in the police investigation into the murder of Drew.

Adding to the layers of complication is the fact that Alice is the daughter of a Hollywood couple--her father an Oscar-winning director, her mother a former actress--and her brother struggles with a drug addiction. Throw into this mix an FBI agent who is obsessed with Drew and was following him despite being told to drop all contact with the man and you've got a story that barrels along at a crisp pace, never allowing the reader to get too comfortable with one interesting revelation before moving on to the next one.

"Long Gone" builds up a palatable sense of something more is going on here than meets the eye, especially in the early chapters. Alafair Burke weaves together several seemingly unconnected threads into a rich tapestry as we slowly discover dark secrets about everyone connected to Alice and the investigation into Drew's murder. And the novel even delivers a stern warning about being careful to monitor your digital footprint. The parties involved in setting up Alice take advantage of her lack of security on her social networking profile to set up events and even cast suspicion upon her.

And while the novel builds up a full head of steam for the first two-thirds of the story, the ending doesn't quite come together as neatly as I'd hoped. Burke puts all the pieces onto the board early enough that the ending doesn't feel like it's cheated or come too far out of left field. However, it's still not as satisfying or compelling as the set-up leading up to the dramatic revelations in the final section of the novel.

"Long Gone" was still intriguing enough that I'm planning to seek our more novels by Alafair Burke, though. (less)

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Jul 16, 2011 Tome rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Alice Humphrey, fiercely independent daughter of a movie tycoon, gets her dream job after months of searching. It all seems too good to be true, well, that’s because it is. When her manager is found dead in the gallery, in the midst of accusations of child pornography, Alice suddenly finds her life turned up side down and discovers years of deceit has led to her being the police’s number one suspect in her bosses death.

Alafair Burke’s latest offering starts slowly, and it did take me a while to...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Zelda rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Harlen Coben would love this book

This review appears on my blog zeldasreviews.wordpress.com.

What would you do if you landed your dream job, only to walk in one morning and find the place cleared out and your new boss dead on the floor? Alice Humphrey is offered the dream job of managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District. At first she feels like there must be a catch, but in the end the deal is too good to pass up, and she accepts. Of course, there are some conditions, and Alice soon realizes that her...more This review appears on my blog zeldasreviews.wordpress.com.

What would you do if you landed your dream job, only to walk in one morning and find the place cleared out and your new boss dead on the floor? Alice Humphrey is offered the dream job of managing a new art gallery in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District. At first she feels like there must be a catch, but in the end the deal is too good to pass up, and she accepts. Of course, there are some conditions, and Alice soon realizes that her new job will be slightly unconventional. To start with the artist she has to give preference to will only communicate with her via email and SMS. The other was that his work was controversial to put it mildly, and Alice had to feign interest and sell as much of his work as she could. Then there was the fact that she would only ever really deal with Drew Campbell, the man who offered her the job, and he wasn’t technically speaking her real boss. When she arrives at work one morning to find the gallery cleared out and Drew dead on the floor, she realizes that her friends were right, and that she must have been set up.

The story starts at a leisurely pace, but picks up speed once Alice finds herself in deep water. The slow pace in the beginning can be attributed to the fact that there are so many characters, plots and subplots to establish, and speeding things up would confuse the reader. It does, however, take a bit of patience, but you will be well rewarded for sticking with the slower start.

Alice Humphrey is headstrong, independent, and just a little too eager to prove that she can live without her father’s money. She soon realizes that her new job has more to do with her family than she realized, and in particular with one pivotal event in history that changed everything for them all. There are skeletons aplenty in the Humphrey closet, and all is not as it seems. There are so many twists and turns that, try as you might, you will still be left guessing right until the satisfying conclusion.

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Jul 28, 2011 Wendi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Long Gone
By Alafair Burke
Published by Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

When Alice Humphrey meets a handsome art dealer at a swanky gallery showing who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, her better instincts warn her its too good to be true. She should have listened. Unfortunately, her need for independence—and the fact that she’d been unemployed for far too long—outweighed her common sense.

Day one. It all started out innocuous enough; a wealthy beneficiary hires said art deale...more Long Gone
By Alafair Burke
Published by Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

When Alice Humphrey meets a handsome art dealer at a swanky gallery showing who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, her better instincts warn her its too good to be true. She should have listened. Unfortunately, her need for independence—and the fact that she’d been unemployed for far too long—outweighed her common sense.

Day one. It all started out innocuous enough; a wealthy beneficiary hires said art dealer to find a promising manager for an edgy new art gallery which will feature his newest lovers artwork. While not of her particular taste in art, she’s only required to feature the initial collection for three weeks. She can then select pieces from artists of her choosing. This she can live with, and so the Highline Gallery opening goes off without a hitch.

Day two. Apoplectic religious protesters converge on the gallery over Highline’s inexcusable promotion of child pornography. Were there child models in any of the tasteless photographs Alice had been instructed to include in the exhibit? Whether there were or not, the immediate media frenzy that resulted besieged not only Alice personally, but her family as well.

Day three. When Alice returns to the gallery early the next morning to get answers from her employer, she finds him murdered. Covered in his blood, she calls the police for help; and that’s when the story really begins. Murder, lies, false identities, a missing girl… Alice has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.

Long Gone is a fast-moving crime thriller that will keep you second-guessing every assumption Burke expertly manipulates you to make. With over 34 named persons introduced in rapid fire succession within the first several chapters its difficult to keep track of who is who and what you are meant to remember or not; a great technique in distraction and diversion. You can count me as a new fan.

I received this book free from HarperCollinsPublishers as part of their Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
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