A Different Kind of Gone by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Book Review

Publication Date: 05th Dec 2023

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Social Drama 

 3 Stars (outliner opinion) 

One Liner: Deals with important themes but gets too preachy

Norma Gallagher is the only woman in the Search and Rescue Team in Sloot, a small town in Utah and Arizona. She prefers to keep to herself and loves her two dogs and the horse the best. 

When Norma finds the nineteen-year-old Jill Moss after she is reported missing, she is forced to do something she would never otherwise do. When Jill is terrified about her boyfriend Jake, Norma helps her go back to her parents in California. 

Five years later, the disappearance of Jill Moss hasn’t died yet and becomes a hot topic when Jake is arrested for another crime and Jill’s murder. The public and media are busy with what they do. Norma has to yet again make a decision that could affect many lives, including her own. 

The story comes in Norma’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts:

I like how the author deals with different issues in her books and was excited to read this one. The blurb reveals quite a lot (around 40%), though it does manage to keep certain things a secret. 

The pacing is decent, but dips in the middle. The book has some bits of ‘mystery’ but is not a mystery read. It’s a social drama about domestic abuse, repeating toxic cycles, guilt, shame, public judgment, issues in the legal system, trial by media, general bias, et al. 

Norma, Jill, and Wanda are the main characters, while Betty has a great supporting role (she is my favorite). Jill and Wanda are young and act their age. Their portrayal is quite realistic and believable. 

The characters change as the story progresses, though Norma takes the longest time. Despite her annoying me, I am glad she lowers the walls and finds people to call her own. 

Norma is an interesting character. As a woman in her late 50s (and early 60s after the time jump), she is snarky, blunt, and a touch-me-not. Her backstory provides the reason for her attitude and approach to life. However, she is not heartless. In fact, it’s the opposite. Still, I couldn’t always stand her opinions. I’m a minority here, but I don’t particularly like the comparison between bank robbery and domestic abuse. A robber and an abuser are different people. The reasons and goals are different. 

The book deals with important themes, but with Norma coming on too strong about her opinions, the vital messages lose their impact. 

 

There’s a list of book club discussion questions at the end, which I appreciate. As you can see, the book offers a lot to talk about. 

To summarize, A Different Kind of Gone has much to offer about moral issues, justice, and relationships. Like it or not, the content will make you think, and I cannot rate it longer than 3 stars. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #ADifferentKindofGone