LONG GONE - Alafair Burke

My review of LONG GONE is showing up here a little late because I was fortunate enough to be accepted as a reviewer for the new Shelf Awareness for Consumers and LONG GONE was my first review for them. It appeared in last Tuesday's edition as the Starred Review. I'm thrilled as I definitely felt it was a starred-worthy book. So, now with Shelf Awareness's permission, I am re-printing my review here. I hope you enjoy it.

First line: "Alice Humphrey knew the kiss would ruin everything."

In her first stand alone novel, Alafair Burke, author of 212 and Angel’s Tip, moves out of the law enforcement realm and into the experiences of a privileged young woman trying to make a name for herself without her family’s money or influence. When Alice Humphrey lands the job of her dreams, she quickly and painfully learns that appearances can be deceiving…and deadly.

Burke took a huge risk leaving the safety of an institution she knows intimately and a sub-genre she’s well versed in for a psychological thriller in the world of the arts. But her risk paid off in spades. Burke has continued to expand her skills with each novel and Long Gone is an exceptional exhibit of her overall writing prowess.

Long Gone deftly navigates between alternating points of view: male/female, teen/adult, detective/civilian, privileged/middle class. Every character has a dimension and richness befitting his/her role. The novel also displays one of Burke’s strengths regardless of what book she’s writing, the ability to bring New York City to life on the page.

In the thriller genre, more so than others, plot plays a vital role. Burke didn’t forget; she created a series of events containing social issues wrapped in well-timed plot twists that not only keep the reader on his/her toes, but quickly turning the pages to find the resolution.

Combine crisp dialogue, laced with Burke’s signature wit, lean prose infused with pop culture references and a pace that could earn Burke a citation for excessive speed and the result is Long Gone. Whether you’ve experienced Burke’s work before, Long Gone is a book you won’t want to miss.

Long Gone is available in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-061-99918-5) from Harper.

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