Review: After She's Gone by Sheryl Browne

Print Length: 303 pages

Publisher: Death by Choc Lit (February 19, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: He’s killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do? 

There’s evil and then there’s Patrick Sullivan. A drug dealer, pimp and murderer, there are no depths to which Patrick would not sink, and Detective Inspector Matthew Adams has found this out in the most devastating way imaginable.

When Patrick’s brother is shot dead in a drug bust gone wrong, the bitter battle between the two men intensifies, and Matthew finds it increasingly difficult to hold the moral high ground. All he wants is to make the pimping scum suffer the way he did … the way Lily did.

But being at war with such a depraved individual means that it’s not just Matthew who’s in danger. Patrick has taken a lot from Matthew, but he hasn’t taken everything – and now he wants everything.

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

One thing I want to put out before I get into the heart of my review, as I know this fact may be a turn off to some readers. A child does die in the very beginning, and its every bit as heart wrenching as you would imagine. 

Also Keep in mind, this story does take place in the UK, so there are some slang words that non-UK readers might have a hard time figuring out (for example I didn't know a spiff was a marijuana cigarette). However, those instances were few and far between and did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. 

Those things having been said, this book was hard to put down! The author draws the reader in from the start, keeping you glued to the pages as you watch Patrick become completely unhinged while Matthew races against the clock to save his loved ones. Her characters were deeply complex, and I have to say that I admired the strength and character of his wife Rebecca. She has gone through so much in her marriage, from the loss of her daughter, and unborn child, to her husband distancing himself from her, but she not only remains strong and loyal, but she also opens her heart and her home when it is discovered Matthew has a niece living in a care home. Ashley was a nice addition to the story as well, giving the family another way to heal while overcoming her own personal traumas and demons. 

And as for Patrick? Well it was easy not to like him. In fact, it was easy to loathe him entirely. Not only is he without compassion or morals, but he is the very personification of evil. And what's worse? He doesn't have to resort to physical violence (although make no mistake, he does), but he also uses his own effective brand of psychological warfare that makes for an interesting experience. 

Overall, I am sure this story will appeal to those who enjoy a well written thriller novel. I can't wait to read more from this author! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                  After She's Gone is available from Amazon.com