Gone, by Mo Hayder

I recently reviewed The Devil of Nanking, by Mo Hayder, which I loved. Gone is a bit different, it is part of a series featuring Jack Caffery, a murder detective; however it is great as a standalone book as well. I really liked it. Hayder is a great writer of thrillers. She keeps you on edge all the way, and you honestly don't know who's done it until the very end. Her books are scary. In Gone, a car is stolen with a girl sitting in the back. What initially looks like a car jacking turns out to be a kidnap… and this won't be the last one. As we witness another car jack and another kidnap, our hearts keep sinking. To be honest, it's hard to read the book without flinching. I liked the plot, it's clever, and it is a great page turner. What also makes it special is the back stories of the different characters, which are interwoven with the main plot. Unlike with some other crime novels, these back stories all sound true and fascinating – none of the characters is either black or white, and I liked that. Another interesting point is that in spite of Jack Caffery being the lead protagonist, he does not solve the riddle all by himself, there is a real team behind, and Jack is more like a music director. The victims also play a big role in the story, and I found that great. As for Hayder's writing, it's precise, evocative, and exactly what is needed for the story. It's truly good writing. If you're after a great thriller to keep you on your toes, this is the one!

My blogging friend Niki-Ann has written a great review of Gone as well. You can read it here.