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beccaand's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
merlin_reads's review against another edition
3.0
A nice, solid mystery.
Charlotte and Jocelyn have always been close - it's that sisterly bond everyone always talks about. But when one of Jocelyn's friends is murdered, Charlotte starts to think that maybe her sister isn't at a retreat at all, but has instead disappeared off the grid. Working with Max Cutler, a PI hired to look into the murder, Charlotte stumbles into a very deadly game of cat and mouse - only she's not sure which role is her sister.
This was my first book by Krentz and I found it enjoyable. It moved along at a good pace for a thriller and the premise seemed plausible. In the beginning of reading, I got a little jarred by the many POV's that popped up - it seemed there was a new one every chapter and that made it hard to grasp the characters so it took me a bit to really feel out Charlotte and Max, who were ultimately the main characters.
The breakdown of the mystery flowed well. Once you realize how all the pieces fit together you kind of get that AHA moment and then buckle down for the resolution. The one thing I had an issue with, or that rubbed me the wrong way, was the romance. I'm all for romance and can get behind the whole 'circumstances brought us together'. But what didn't sit well with me came in right before the end. I get that Charlotte and Max shared this insane experience together and I bought their connection, but that ending - talk about moving way too fast.
Overall, this was a good book. Perfect thriller for those cold winter nights. Grab a blanket, some tea, and curl up on the couch!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Charlotte and Jocelyn have always been close - it's that sisterly bond everyone always talks about. But when one of Jocelyn's friends is murdered, Charlotte starts to think that maybe her sister isn't at a retreat at all, but has instead disappeared off the grid. Working with Max Cutler, a PI hired to look into the murder, Charlotte stumbles into a very deadly game of cat and mouse - only she's not sure which role is her sister.
This was my first book by Krentz and I found it enjoyable. It moved along at a good pace for a thriller and the premise seemed plausible. In the beginning of reading, I got a little jarred by the many POV's that popped up - it seemed there was a new one every chapter and that made it hard to grasp the characters so it took me a bit to really feel out Charlotte and Max, who were ultimately the main characters.
The breakdown of the mystery flowed well. Once you realize how all the pieces fit together you kind of get that AHA moment and then buckle down for the resolution. The one thing I had an issue with, or that rubbed me the wrong way, was the romance. I'm all for romance and can get behind the whole 'circumstances brought us together'. But what didn't sit well with me came in right before the end. I get that Charlotte and Max shared this insane experience together and I bought their connection, but that ending - talk about moving way too fast.
Overall, this was a good book. Perfect thriller for those cold winter nights. Grab a blanket, some tea, and curl up on the couch!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
toucan's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
The beginning of the book didn't grab my attention. The whole book was lacking a certain excitement and thrill-of-the-chase that mysteries tend to have, and that you'd expect from a book filled with rape, murder and blackmail. Something about the way the book, and the dialogue in particular, was written was very flat, stiff and unnatural. There were little things like the fact that people and places were often referred to by their full names rather than being shortened over time as one would expect. There were also bigger problems, like everyone articulating exactly what they're thinking, feeling and planning/doing in such a clear and straight forward manner, like the author was afraid to leave the readers with any doubt or subtleties. Overall, the book felt like it was written by an AI - it gave me a slight uncanny valley feeling, and that made it really hard to get lost in the story.
I think due to the poor writing, the romance was not convincing or enthralling. I also don't think it was balanced well with the mystery - the author would insert these acts of romance without a realistic lead up to them after chunks of investigation, which made the acts and the relationship feel insincere. I wish the romance was either developed more consistently throughout the story or just left out entirely.
The mystery itself was fine, but I never got immersed mostly due to the writing. The characters always seemed to know what to do and who to talk to, even when it didn't make sense - for example detective Walsh was 100% believing and cooperative at all times and provided Max updates that he has no reason to give, and it's not clear how Max came to the conclusion that Nolan was Trey's half-brother .
From what I've read of the other reviews, all of Krentz's books are the same, so I will be giving them a miss.
I think due to the poor writing, the romance was not convincing or enthralling. I also don't think it was balanced well with the mystery - the author would insert these acts of romance without a realistic lead up to them after chunks of investigation, which made the acts and the relationship feel insincere. I wish the romance was either developed more consistently throughout the story or just left out entirely.
The mystery itself was fine, but I never got immersed mostly due to the writing. The characters always seemed to know what to do and who to talk to, even when it didn't make sense - for example detective Walsh was 100% believing and cooperative at all times and provided Max updates that he has no reason to give, and
From what I've read of the other reviews, all of Krentz's books are the same, so I will be giving them a miss.
rclz's review against another edition
4.0
Another romantic suspense, which I don't usually read, and this one with no tinges of PNR, but I've read a bunch of Krentz PNR and like the way she writes so what the heck. Good book with a good plot. Looking forward to the next one.
witandsin's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed for Wit and Sin
Charlotte Sawyer isn’t one to take risks. But her calm, orderly life is turned upside down when her stepsister, Jocelyn, disappears and Jocelyn’s best friend turns up dead. Desperate to find her sister, Charlotte teams up with Max Culter, a former profiler turned private investigator. What the two of them don’t know is that they’re about to stir up a hornet’s nest. For there are secrets buried well over a decade that are about to be turned up. Secrets someone will kill to protect.
When All the Girls Have Gone is a fast-paced romantic suspense that keeps me entertained every time I read it. Jayne Ann Krentz deftly twines together multiple players, motives, and storylines and the result is an engaging mystery I loved watching Charlotte and Max put together.
At the center of the book are Charlotte and Max, and they’re the reason I find myself coming back to this book. They’re smart, likeable, and their flaws endeared them to me as much as their strengths. Charlotte isn’t bold and she’s definitely not a risk-taker, but she’ll take on everything thrown at her with aplomb because she’s got a huge heart and won’t let the people she loves get hurt. Max has an equally big heart and he’s working to rebuild his life after his career as a profiler crashed and burned. Circumstances throw Charlotte and Max together, but the two of them make a great team from the start. Though they do fall in love incredibly quickly and their love story is understated, they fit one another so well that their slide into love just worked for me.
When All the Girls Have Gone leans more toward the suspense side of romantic suspense. A murder and a disappearance are only the beginning of the mystery. Murder, drugs, rape, and long-buried secrets all come to light and the result is a truly engaging mystery. I honestly don’t want to say much because it would spoil the fun of putting together the pieces alongside Charlotte and Max. This isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller, but Ms. Krentz definitely keeps things moving at a good pace and even during re-reads when I knew what was coming I would get sucked into the story. All in all, When All the Girls Have Gone is a truly satisfying romantic suspense and a great start to the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Charlotte Sawyer isn’t one to take risks. But her calm, orderly life is turned upside down when her stepsister, Jocelyn, disappears and Jocelyn’s best friend turns up dead. Desperate to find her sister, Charlotte teams up with Max Culter, a former profiler turned private investigator. What the two of them don’t know is that they’re about to stir up a hornet’s nest. For there are secrets buried well over a decade that are about to be turned up. Secrets someone will kill to protect.
When All the Girls Have Gone is a fast-paced romantic suspense that keeps me entertained every time I read it. Jayne Ann Krentz deftly twines together multiple players, motives, and storylines and the result is an engaging mystery I loved watching Charlotte and Max put together.
At the center of the book are Charlotte and Max, and they’re the reason I find myself coming back to this book. They’re smart, likeable, and their flaws endeared them to me as much as their strengths. Charlotte isn’t bold and she’s definitely not a risk-taker, but she’ll take on everything thrown at her with aplomb because she’s got a huge heart and won’t let the people she loves get hurt. Max has an equally big heart and he’s working to rebuild his life after his career as a profiler crashed and burned. Circumstances throw Charlotte and Max together, but the two of them make a great team from the start. Though they do fall in love incredibly quickly and their love story is understated, they fit one another so well that their slide into love just worked for me.
When All the Girls Have Gone leans more toward the suspense side of romantic suspense. A murder and a disappearance are only the beginning of the mystery. Murder, drugs, rape, and long-buried secrets all come to light and the result is a truly engaging mystery. I honestly don’t want to say much because it would spoil the fun of putting together the pieces alongside Charlotte and Max. This isn’t a pulse-pounding thriller, but Ms. Krentz definitely keeps things moving at a good pace and even during re-reads when I knew what was coming I would get sucked into the story. All in all, When All the Girls Have Gone is a truly satisfying romantic suspense and a great start to the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
nipomuki's review against another edition
3.0
She can still do it. In a way, or so it looks to me, Krentz is again and again telling a variation of the same story. She does it well and I generally like her main characters. So while there were no surprises in the romance or the plot structure, the mystery was, as I expected, quite convoluted for such a small cast. There is some comfort in knowing what you get, and Krentz does usually not disappoint.
tinasbooknook's review against another edition
4.0
Great start to a series. I had quite a few heart-pounding, edge-of-the-seat moments. And a few twists I had not foreseen. I really enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook.
gemini_love3's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the book for what it was: a quick and interesting mystery. It wasn't complicated and it had a good cast of characters. Enough of a thriller but not a very believable romantic plotline. The romance wasn't interesting but not distracting from the overall story. This is something I would recommend to someone to read on a long airplane ride or the beach.
cmccormack17's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75