Long Time Gone

By: Charlie Donlea

Narrated by: Vivienne Leheny

In this engrossing, masterfully twisting new thriller from the #1 internationally bestselling author, a forensics trainee learns through a DNA test that she mysteriously disappeared as a baby thirty years ago—and her life is still in danger …

When Dr. Sloan Hastings submits her DNA to an online genealogy site for a research assignment, her goal is to better understand the treasure-trove of genetic information contained on ancestry websites. Brilliant and driven, Sloan is embarking on a fellowship in forensic pathology, training under the renowned Dr. Livia Cutty.

Sloan has one reservation about involving herself in the experiment: she’s adopted. Grateful for a loving home, she’s never considered tracking down her biological parents. The results of her search are shocking. Sloan’s DNA profile suggests her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte,” who captured the nation’s attention when she mysteriously disappeared, along with her parents, in July 1995. Despite an exhaustive search, the family was never seen again, and no suspects were named in the case.

Sloan’s discovery leads her to the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada, the site of her disappearance. It also leads her to Sheriff Eric Stamos. The Margolis family’s influence and power permeate every corner of Harrison County, and Eric is convinced that in learning the truth about her past, Sloan can also help discover what happened to Eric’s father, who died under suspicious circumstances soon after he started investigating her disappearance.

Slowly, over the course of a stifling summer, Sloan begins getting to know her relatives. Though initially welcoming, the Margolis family is also mysterious and tight-lipped. Not everyone seems happy about Sloan’s return, or the questions she’s asking. And the more she and Eric learn, the more apparent it becomes that the answers they both seek are buried in a graveyard of Margolis family secrets that some will do anything to keep hidden—no matter who else has to die …

©2024 Charlie Donlea (P)2024 Recorded Books

Love all the tie ins!

I just recently started listening to this author, and I’m hooked! The same narrator does most if not all of his books and I love that it helps them all feel connected. Not to mention the “Easter eggs” in each of them with mentions and connections to other characters from other books! I love the little detail of that. Definitely worth a listen. - the story is great, lots of twists, per the usual. Highly recommend.

Excellent

Great story. Couldn’t stop listening. The 12 hours went by so quickly. Narrator was great too.

Great Narration

I liked the plot, kept me guessing who dun it. I also loved the narration, she did a fantastic job.

Characters

The story easy to read and kept you in suspense characters were interesting would like to see the ending extended.

What a ride!

4.5 Stars 🌟

I'm not sure where my review for this book went- but apparently it's gone. I'm going to try to remember what I can. I REALLY enjoyed this book and this was one of the early books by Mr. Donlea that I read that made me go out and try to find anything else that he had written - it was that good.

The story revolves around FMC Dr. Sloan Hastings who is brand new to her fellowship in forensic pathology. The program is under the direction of Dr. Livia Cutty (another great crossover character!) when she is informed that she will be focusing on the emergent trend of genetic forensics, so she submits her DNA to an online registry. Sloan also happens to have been adopted. This sets off an absolutely crazy set of circumstances when it is discovered that she is the "missing" baby that took the nation by storm 30 years ago when the baby “Baby Charlotte" was kidnapped and her parents killed. Her adoptive parents were as clueless as she was - as they thought that they legally adopted her. And so it begins.....

This book had everything - drama, action, betrayal...a CRAZY, hair-raising ending.

I think I read/listened to this in one sitting and was completely enraptured as I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Did I figure it out beforehand? Nope - not in the slightest and boy oh boy do I love it when that happens. I am not nearly surprised enough in the thriller genre and am thrilled when it does happen. This was definitely a winner.