In her first standalone 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 subgenre she's well versed in for a psychological thriller in the world of the arts. But her risk has paid off in spades. Burke has expanded her skills with each novel, and Long Gone is an exceptional exhibit of her 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 shows off one of Burke's strengths--regardless of what book she's writing, she brings New York City to life on the page.
Plot plays a vital role in the thriller genre, of course; Burke doesn't neglect action. She creates a series of events containing social issues wrapped in well-timed plot twists that keeps readers on their toes and quickly turning pages to get to the resolution.
Combine crisp dialogue, 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. --Jen Forbus, blogger at Jen's Book Thoughts