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Book Review of No Time for Goodbye

No Time for Goodbye
No Time for Goodbye
Author: Linwood Barclay
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
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Helpful Score: 4


Terry Archer is a high school English teacher enjoying his life with his wide Cynthia and their daughter Grace. Cynthia has a troubled past however which occasionally puts a strain on their marriage: when she was a teenager, her whole family (parents and brother) vanished one night, leaving Cynthia not knowing if they are dead or alive. In an effort to find answers, Cynthia and Terry decide to appear on an unsolved mysteries segment of a Dateline-like television program. As clues come in which could unravel the mystery of Cynthia's past, her marriage starts unraveling as well.

No Time for Goodbye is a fast-paced thriller that will appeal to fans of Harlen Coben: the plot takes some twists and turns and has a surprise ending, but there is not as much violence as in some of the Coben standalones. My only criticism is that the characters were not particularly well developed until the latter part of the book - this story is mostly plot and dialogue driven. That gripe is a minor one, as the pacing of this book makes it perfect for a plane ride or morning train commute.