Title: They’re Gone by E.A. Barres
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 312 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Two women’s husbands are murdered on the same night in the same way–and their investigation uncovers a terrifying connection.
Two men from vastly different backgrounds are murdered one after another on the same night, in the same fashion with two bullet wounds: one in the head, another in the heart. The two slayings sends their wives on a desperate search for answers–and a desperate attempt to save their families’ lives.
Grief takes a heavy toll on northern Virginia freelance editor Deb Linh Thomas when she learns of her husband’s murder. And utter dismay sets in when, just a week after the funeral, she discovers that he had been the subject of an FBI investigation after withdrawing a large sum of money from their shared accounts.
Elsewhere, Baltimore bartender Cessy Castillo is less bereft when her abusive husband, ex-cop Hector Ramirez, is killed. But it turns out that he was deep in hock–and now Cessy’s expected to pay up.
Deb and the FBI agent assigned to her case start digging into her husband’s murder and learn that he had been the target of criminals. As Deb and Cessy join forces to learn the truth, their investigation reveals an ever-darker web of clues, but if they’re not careful, they may just end up like their husbands.
Review:
They’re Gone by E.A. Barres is a gritty mystery that is quite intriguing.
Deb Linh Thomas wakes up to discover her husband Grant did not come home the night before. Unfortunately two policemen show up at her door with the news that Grant has been murdered. The police believe his death is part of a recent string of unsolved killings. Deb is still reeling from her husband’s death when an FBI agent informs her of the shocking details of why he was targeted. Stunned, she keeps this information from their nineteen year old daughter Kim. But as Deb soon discovers, the truth can only be concealed for so long when they are targeted by Grant’s killers.
Bartender Cessy Castillo is not at all devastated by the news her husband Hector Rodriguez has been murdered. After he began regularly abusing her, she can barely remember the man she fell in love with. Cessy has an idea that Hector was involved in something shady before his death. When two men show up demanding she repay her deceased husband’s outstanding loan, Cessy does not have the cash to give to them. While trying to uncover the truth about what Hector was involved with, she discovers shocking pictures. Cessy plans to use the photos as leverage to escape the thugs who are hounding her.
Cessy ends her estrangement with her brother Chris once she realizes how far in over her head she is. Once he arrives in town, their paths cross Deb’s in the most unlikely set of circumstances. Realizing their husbands’ deaths share more in common that the date they were both murdered, Deb, Chris and Cessy work together to bring down a shocking prostitution and blackmail ring. After deciding they need more help, will the police believe their bizarre story?
They’re Gone is an action-packed mystery with a diverse set of characters. The storyline is well-executed but some of the secondary cast members are a bit one dimensional. With plenty of chilling twists and turns, E.A. Barres brings this brilliant woman-power mystery to an exciting conclusion. Fans of the genre will enjoy this engaging mystery.
