Title: Gone By Morning by Michele Weinstat Miller
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: C+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
New York City in June is no joke–and as a wave of violence engulfs the sweltering city, an even greater danger looms in this riveting thriller for fans of Iris Johansen and Tess Gerritsen.
As the heat rises on a New York summer, a suicide bomb set off in a Times Square subway station nearly claims the life of 68-year-old ex-madam Kathleen. Then a woman is brutally murdered, her body dumped on a marshy beach in Queens. The woman, Sharon, was last seen by 26-year-old Emily–a Deputy Press Officer working at City Hall–getting into a car in front of the building where she and Kathleen both live in far upper Manhattan.
Emily requests an autopsy report from the Chief of the NYPD, but she doesn’t realize the gravity of using her position to gain information. Things turn deadly when a bomb is planted in her building, gutting it with a raging fireball. Kathleen, Emily, and Emily’s two-year-old daughter, Skye, barely escape with their lives.
Could Kathleen’s criminal history be at the heart of the violence? If Emily can’t help her, Kathleen could spend the rest of her life in prison. And when Emily discovers a shocking connection between herself and Kathleen, the stakes become impossibly high.
By the time Emily realizes she’s in grave danger, it may be too late. She’s beyond the reach of the cops, of City Hall, of her family…and a killer is closing in fast.
Review:
Gone By Morning by Michele Weinstat Miller is an intriguing mystery.
Sixty-eight-year-old Kathleen Harris is a former madam who barely escapes a subway bombing. She is surprised when, notafter the bombing, she is contacted by one of her former call girls, Sharon Williams. They have not been in contact for several years, so she cannot imagine why she asked for the meeting. Kathleen is later concerned when Sharon fails to show up at her apartment. Although Sharon is later found murdered, Kathleen is aware the police will not put much effort into finding her killer.
Twenty-six-year-old Emily Silverman and her two-year-old daughter Skye live in the same apartment building as Kathleen. She and Kathleen are also friends and unbeknownst to Emily, there is a deeper connection between them. Emily works as a Deputy Press Secretary for Mayor Derek Sullivan and Kathleen asks her to see if she can out more information about the investigation into Sharon’s murder. They quickly deduce Sharon’s death is not a priority and they put themselves in danger after their decision to look into her murder on their own.
Gone By Morning is an engaging mystery with a multi-layered plot. The characters are well-developed with fascinating backstories. Emily and Kathleen’s search for answers about Sharon’s murder takes a very shocking turn. Chapters from the bomber’s point of view provide insight into his somewhat devious motive for his crime. The chapters from the villain’s perspective are a rather melodramatic. The storyline is well written but the pacing is somewhat slow although it eventually gains speed. Michele Weinstat Miller brings this suspenseful mystery to a satisfactory conclusion but the last chapter raises some interesting questions.
