Review: Never Missing, Never Found by Amanda Panitch

A juicy thriller about a girl who returned from the missing. . . . Hand to fans of We Were Liars, Bone Gap, and Vanishing Girls.

Some choices change everything. Scarlett chose to run. And the consequences will be deadly.

 Stolen from her family as a young girl, Scarlett was lucky enough to eventually escape her captor. Now a teen, she's starting a summer job at an amusement park. There are cute boys, new friends, and the chance to finally have a normal life.

Her first day on the job, Scarlett is shocked to discover that a girl from the park has gone missing. Old memories come rushing back. And now as she meets her new coworkers, one of the girls seems strangely familiar. When Scarlett chose to run all those years ago, what did she set into motion? And when push comes to shove, how far will she go to uncover the truth . . . before it's too late?

Never Missing, Never Found is a hell of a ride. Twisted, dark, and just as crazy as the best soap opera, it continues Amanda Panitch's tradition of writing page turners. 

You'll either love or hate the story and the main character. After being kidnapped, Scarlett comes back home and has to adjust to her old life. Unable to do so, this sets a crazy turn of events. And by crazy I mean completely-out-of-your-mind turns that you'll never see coming. Panitch turns everything around and upside-down just when you think you know what's going on. Even though I loved the premise and the climax blindsided me, the ending wasn't strong enough. I'm not sure what I would change but I do know that the rest of the book deserved a stronger conclusion. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I read it very quickly. Amanda Panitch keeps pushing the envelope and I love that about her. I can't wait to read what she writes next. 

If you're looking for a psychological thriller, give this one a try! And while you're at it, pick up Damage Done because...why not?  

Blog Tour: Damage Done by Amanda Panitch {Review}

304 pages

Published: July 21st 2015 

Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers

Source: Publisher

Rating: 4/5

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: She has a new identity, a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Now that she’s Lucy Black, she's able to begin again. She's even getting used to the empty bedroom where her brother should be. And her fresh start has attracted the attention of one of the hottest guys in school, a boy who will do anything to protect her. But when someone much more dangerous also takes notice, Lucy's forced to confront the dark secrets she thought were safely left behind.

One thing is clear: The damage done can never be erased. It’s only just beginning. . . .

Damage Done is the YA equivalent of Gone Girl. It takes you on a horrific roller coaster ride from the beginning and it does not stop until the very last page.  

The plot draws you in even though everything about it can be labelled as "disturbing." I wasn't prepared for everything that happened in this book and, trust me, you won't be either.  The Creep Factor rises as the story progresses and this could be a turnoff to some readers. In my case, I was completely hooked but very creeped out at the same time. I love unreliable main characters so this was right up my alley. The author gives you pieces of the puzzle throughout the book, which keeps you at the edge of your seat. Once you figure it out, it becomes a story that you wish you didn't know because you're not likely to forget it. 

Even though the story is very heavy/dark/bonkers, the prose is gorgeous.  That darkness mixed with those little speckles of beauty is so rare and it kept me wanting more. It is equal parts terrifying and weird but the good plot, excellent storytelling, and complex characters make it very readable. 

This book is twisted, mysterious, and unforgettable. Damage Done is bold, which tells me that Amanda Panitch isn't afraid of complicated characters and strong themes. I'm very excited to see what she writes next. 

About the Author:

Amanda Panitch grew up next to an amusement park in New Jersey and went to college next to the White House in Washington, DC. Amanda now resides in New York City where she works in book publishing by day, writes by night, and lives under constant threat of being crushed beneath giant stacks of books. You can follow her on Twitter @AmandaPanitch, and visit her online at www.amandapanitch.com

RELEASE DAY SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY: THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

THE CHASE by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Bantam – Random House

On sale: February 25, 2014

978-0-345-54308-0

THE CHASE at your favorite retailers

Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling authors of The Heist, return in this action-packed, exciting adventure featuring master con artist Nicolas Fox and die-hard FBI agent Kate O’Hare. And this time around, things go from hot to nuclear when government secrets are on the line.

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare. Together they’ll go undercover to swindle and catch the world’s most wanted—and untouchable—criminals.

Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian, a crime that will torpedo U.S. relations with China if it ever becomes public. Nick and Kate must work under the radar—and against the clock—to devise a plan to steal the piece back. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew, including a flamboyant actor, a Geek Squad techie, and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad.

A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate from Washington, D.C., to Shanghai, from the highlands of Scotland to the underbelly of Montreal. But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

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ABOUT JANET EVANOVICH

Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the Lizzy and Diesel series, twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels and Trouble Maker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author, as well as the Fox and O’Hare series with co-author Lee Goldberg.

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ABOUT LEE GOLDBERG

Lee Goldberg is a screenwriter, TV producer, and the author of several books, includingKing City, The Walk, and the bestselling Monk series of mysteries. He has earned two Edgar Award nominations and was the 2012 recipient of the Poirot Award from Malice Domestic.

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