Title: All Who Wander
Author: Joe Clifford
Publisher: Square Tire Books
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"All Who Wander" by Joe Clifford

My Sentiments:

All that is left to say is that 'All Who Wander' is a psychological thriller that will keep the reader turning the pages. This was quite a read of a dysfunctional family that was off the chart...on this 'haunting journey."

Be ready for a little bit of it all from a Vermont disappearance of two decades, secrets, and regrets of the past. This author gives the reader quite a read of a family with lots of trauma and the results from their past.
To understand this, we see the protagonist, Robert [Bobby] Kirby, half-brother, who will explore this family mess along with a horrible ending for him. However, some other lurking characters in the story gave me pause, such as Mike Rakowski, Aaron Reardon, and Brooke Mulchay.

You must pick up this read to see how this psychologically twisted mystery story will all emerge as it unravels. ( )

Robert’s sister, Brooke, has been missing for nearly 20 years. So, when a young lady shows up claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, Robert knows he must reopen old wounds and a past he is not ready to face.

This story kept me on my toes. I knew something was hinky about Robert/Bobby and the disappearance of his sister Brooke. And there is more than one issue with her disappearance, there are multiple issues. And this novel just keeps building and building and THEN…You will have to read this to find out! And trust me! It is worth your time!

I am a huge fan of this author. All of his books are just a little bit different than the usual thriller. And this one is right up there with it. Now, I did feel the ending is a bit abrupt. But, my understanding is…there is going to be a sequel…I AM HERE FOR IT!

Need a good domestic, psychological thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review. ( )

All Who Wander by Joe Clifford is that novel with enough unanswered questions to keep you reading even though you don't enjoy either the characters or the choices the writer takes to convey the nature of the characters.

It isn't that I didn't like the characters (though I guess, if that is how you want to phrase it, I didn't) since that doesn't make or break a novel for me. I think it was the ways in which Clifford chose to illustrate how depraved and dysfunctional these people are. I will stop just short of gratuitous in describing what types of scenes he chose, but I know that vile can be displayed with every bit as much impact without going for shock value, especially since it doesn't so much shock any more as just highlight a writer's deficiency in creativity.

That said, the bigger picture was (barely) enough to keep me wading through the muck (think unkept barn stall). I did want to know what happened even if the novel never actually made me feel invested in any of the characters. Like I said before, I don't have to like a character, but to never be given a reason to feel invested in their outcome leaves the story emptier in the middle, like the heart was removed but the body kept moving.

I don't know that I would recommend this to too many readers, maybe ones who simply enjoy vile people as entertainment.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )