Once Gone

A Riley Paige Mystery, Book 1

By: Blake Pierce

Narrated by: Elaine Wise

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Women are turning up dead on the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige.

Riley is on paid leave, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes onboard, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families and into the darkest canals of the killer's mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. In a frantic race against time, she finds herself pushed to her limit, her job on the line, her own family in danger, and her fragile psyche collapsing.

Yet once Riley Paige takes on a case, she will not quit. It obsesses her, leading her to the darkest corners of her own mind, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. After a series of unexpected twists, her instincts lead her to a shocking climax that even Riley could not have imagined.

©2016 Blake Pierce (P)2016 Blake Pierce

Decent Thriller

I'm noticing a trend in these FBI thrillers - female agents who are brilliant like no other, become damaged goods who have to work through their own trauma while saving the day. I've never read a thriller where a male agent was trying to solve a crime while recovering from serious trauma endured on the job. This aspect felt pretty cliched to me. That said, that didn't totally ruin the book for me and I was able to enjoy the suspense and action.

Elaine Wise did a great job with narration (I am partial to a British accent) but was not a good pick for this book. I kept forgetting that this story took place in the States! Overall, it wasn't bad but I wouldn't recommend it to friends.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Utterly implausible

What would have made Once Gone better?

Believable characters. Plausible situations.

What was most disappointing about Blake Pierce’s story?

The characters and plot could be generated by a really old computer program or a very stupid AI. The characters are stock and thinly drawn. People behave in a caricatured way. There way to much graphic violence.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Elaine Wise?

Someone who speaks with an american accent.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment.

Any additional comments?

I hate the detective in jeopardy plotline. And the continuing threat from an evil offstage character. YUCK.

What is with the British voice narrator

Is there a reason that this book set in America is narrated by a British voice? I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if it had an American narrator with American words or pronunciations

Great thriller!

Loved the story and the characters. it was an easy and quick read. Look forward to reading more in the series.

Main Character

The main character is hard to take in for me. She does not follow rules at all and always puts herself in danger. I don’t think she would stay a agent if she did this stuff over and over. I overall like the story and may listen to some more eventually to see how character develops. Was kinda strange accent for narration made me think this took place somewhere else.
On the fence about novels at this point
Like overall storyline

A must listen to book

the narrator's voice was really soothing to listen to. I felt immerse in the story, as if I was the character feeling and moving everything. I recommend this book for those who travel and need something to listen to :)

Confusing with the British accent

The narrator’s voice is lovely, but the British accent had me confused as to the setting for a while. I’m not used to the British saying, “Call 911” because they use “999”. Also “Yosemite”, as in the national park, was mispronounced as were a few other words.

British voice

Have a book read to you by a British voice you can’t even pronounce Yosemite correctly just turns me right off of the whole box couldn’t even finish it which is too bad because I think the story would’ve been pretty good

why the english accent!?!

story was good and i enjoyed it but if it is set in the US I expect not to hear a UK english accent telling the story. it made it hard to stay in the US terrains

couldn't even force myself to finish!

the story is based here in America including the FBI investigation, yet the narrator has a British accent with British mispronunciation! I tried to force myself to listen but that wasn't why I bought it! completely annoying

A great page turner!

A really good story that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat
I didnt know who had done it until the end which was great
The only criticism is that the main character can be a bit repetitive at times

Formulaic, silly, over-long.

Starts well and could have been a perfectly pleasant way to pass a flight. But became improbable, frustrating, and I finally had to skip my way to the end but even then couldn't quite be bothered to finish. An editor who removed the Marie subplot would have helped a little.