The One I Left Behind

By: Jennifer McMahon

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The summer of 1985 changes Reggie’s life. An awkward 13-year-old, she finds herself mixed up with the school outcasts. That same summer, a serial killer called Neptune begins kidnapping women. He leaves their severed hands on the police department steps and, five days later, displays their bodies around town. Just when Reggie needs her mother, Vera, the most, Vera’s hand is found on the steps. But after five days, there’s no body and Neptune disappears. Now, 25 years later, Reggie is a successful architect who has left her hometown and the horrific memories of that summer behind. But when she gets a call revealing that her mother has been found alive, Reggie must confront the ghosts of her past and find Neptune before he kills again.

©2013 Jennifer McMahon (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Taken in from the 1st sentence! Great Book!

What did you love best about The One I Left Behind?

Great flow! Interesting from the start, everything in the book had a purpose!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Regina. I loved hearing her view in 1985 and in 2010.

What about Julia Whelan’s performance did you like?

Everything. Julia is my fave narrator.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment when she learned about her mom, the feelings that go along with what you think you know, and the truth that is...can be very emotional.

One of the best in my library, thanks to Julia .

Julia Whelan is again the reason I bought this one. Whelan and Jennifer McMahon are perfectly paired. McMahon delivers a complexellent and suspenseful search for a devious serial killer. Whelan never disappoints - how does she do it? The precise and clarity of each and every character is a rare skill and she has that magic. The plot grabbed me from the very beginning and never let go. I was surprised throughout. Going back and forth in time (a good thing in this case) held my interest and I found it hard to take a break. Worth a cherished credit. Kudos to Whelan and McMahon! Thanks to Audible for making this sensational audiobook available. Epic, I say! EPIC, EPIC, EPIC!

✍🏻👏🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍🏻

Enjoyed It!

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the book. It kept my interest and kept me guessing. I was surprised with the ending. I would recommend it to a friend.

Loved the UNEXPECTED twists!

What made the experience of listening to The One I Left Behind the most enjoyable?

Just when you think you have it figured out Jennifer McMahon switches gears on you!

What does Julia Whelan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She is so many people all at once... very entertaining!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES.... but it's much to long I found myself listening to a few minutes here and there just to keep listening!

You never know what other people are thinking

Would you consider the audio edition of The One I Left Behind to be better than the print version?

Can't say only listened to the audio.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I was kept intrigued and interested.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes, although the male interpretations were kinda odd.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and No

Any additional comments?

A good story, had me guessing but it also left a lot of things hanging at the end.

Not predictable, nice listen

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Good "who done it" book. I didn't suspect the ending. This book will not be a re-listen but I enjoyed it once.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Very surprised by the twists, more than one.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first book by this author. I might listen to another one.

Do you think The One I Left Behind needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

This is a good stand alone book.

Any additional comments?

The narration is good and clear.

I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would!

While not great literature or anything, this is a good story with interesting characters and quite the mystery! It isn't a typical potboiler, nor is it a formula type mystery, it's just a well paced story that draws you in. I liked it.

The narration makes this book

I really liked this book. When I read the synopsis it sounded intriguing and the story was very well written and even better told. Jennifer McMahon lets you get to know the players and writes in a way that you can do that without getting bogged down. Julia Whelan does an exceptional job bringing all those characters to life with her fantastic performance, I didn't even cringe that much when she portrayed the male voices. So she made this for me. Think I might have bent the other way if someone else had read it. Its a good listen. Not a disappointment.

A great Who-dunit

It is rare that I don't have the villian all figured out by 2/3 of the way thru the book. But this story is so well written and I didn't have it figured out until the author wanted us to know. I love the way the story jumps from Reggie's childhood to adulthood to tell the story. I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a good mystery. But beware, there is some cursing in the book. But not enough to turn an average reader off.

Great book!

Engrossing right from the start, and to the very end. I totally enjoyed it. Highly recommended.