Long Time Gone

Author: Charlie Donlea
Genre: Mystery Thriller
344 pages
Publisher: Kensington, 2024

Synopsis
When Dr. Sloan Hastings submits her DNA to an online genealogy site for a research assignment, her goal is to better understand the treasure-trove of genetic information contained on ancestry websites. Brilliant and driven, Sloan is embarking on a fellowship in forensic pathology, training under the renowned Dr. Livia Cutty.

Sloan has one reservation about involving herself in the she’s adopted. Grateful for a loving home, she’s never considered tracking down her biological parents. The results of her search are shocking. Sloan’s DNA profile suggests her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte”, who captured the nation’s attention when she mysteriously disappeared, along with her parents, in July 1995. Despite an exhaustive search, the family was never seen again, and no suspects were named in the case.

Sloan’s discovery leads her to the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada, the site of her disappearance. It also leads her to Sheriff Eric Stamos. The Margolis family’s influence and power permeate every corner of Harrison County, and Eric is convinced that in learning the truth about her past, Sloan can also help discover what happened to Eric’s father, who died under suspicious circumstances soon after he started investigating the case her disappearance.

Slowly, over the course of a stifling summer, Sloan begins getting to know her relatives. Though initially welcoming, the Margolis family is also mysterious and tight-lipped. Not everyone seems happy about Sloan’s return, or the questions she’s asking. And the more she and Eric learn, the more apparent it becomes that the answers they both seek are buried in a graveyard of Margolis family secrets that some will do anything to keep hidden—no matter who else has to die…

My review
Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea is a mystery thriller that immediately captured my attention. The premise is compelling, blending forensic pathology, familial genealogy, a missing child, and a likable protagonist, setting the stage for a promising start. While the novel is a fast-paced read, I felt the storyline and characters lacked the depth needed to elevate it beyond an average thriller.

Although the plot occasionally felt a bit clunky and had some logical inconsistencies, I must admit I was entertained for the first 80% of the book. Unfortunately, the last 20% became increasingly far-fetched and the ending was too implausible to make sense.

I also found much of the text repetitive, whether at the beginning of certain chapters or within the characters’ dialogue. Some of the past and present chapters seemed to revisit the same information. Additionally, I was surprised by how simplistic the investigative, forensic, and genealogy details were, considering the inherent complexity of these subjects.

Long Time Gone had a compelling premise and I was excited to dive in. While I did enjoy the plot, I found some of the storyline repetitive, too simplistic, and the ending was completely unbelievable. Despite my critiques, I’m open to giving this author another chance. Perhaps it was just this particular novel that didn’t resonate with me.

My recommendation: skip it