Quick Synopsis

When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets in this twisty, atmospheric thriller—from the author of the “poignant, riveting” (Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me) Everything We Didn’t Say.

Publisher’s Synopsis

Mother and daughter Charlie and Eva never sought social media fame, but when a stunning photo of Eva went viral, fame found them. Now, after more than two years documenting life on the road in their vintage Airstream trailer, the duo has temporarily settled on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Eva is happily finishing her senior year of high school and applying to college, but Charlie longs for the adventures they left behind.

When Eva goes missing less than a week before her graduation, it’s Charlie who is immediately suspected of foul play—not just by their fans, but also by the police and the FBI. As a fight about one more road trip comes to light, and the truth about their relationship is questioned, Charlie realizes the rosy facade they portrayed online hid a complicated and potentially dangerous reality. Now, to clear her name and find out what has happened to her daughter, she’ll have to confront her own role in Eva’s disappearance—and whether she knows her daughter at all.

Review

I discovered Nicole Baart when I received an advance copy of Everything We Didn’t Say in 2021. Ever since, I have been looking forward to her next book, and it is finally here!

The Long Way Back is a dynamic thriller about Charlie and her seventeen-year-old daughter Eva who for years have chronicled their travel adventures on a popular Instagram account. When Eva disappears from a boat in the middle of Lake Superior, their fans and the police think Charlie knows why. What begins as a suspenseful mystery turns into an action-packed thriller with twists you will not see coming.

The Long Way Back, told through Charlie and Eva’s perspectives interspersed with news articles, podcasts, and Instagram posts, explores close mother-daughter relationships as daughters become adults and what happens when you share your life online.

I was a little tentative going into the book knowing there was an influencer plotline, but I had faith in Nicole Baart’s ability to write a great thriller. Not only did I enjoy Baart’s construction of the influencer plotline, I found an original plot that took me by surprise. I will not share more about the story itself so you can also be delighted by its revelations. Just know you will never see where The Long Way Back goes.

I really enjoy Nicole Baart’s writing. Baart has an evocative way of storytelling that lends itself to crafting a storyline that feels deeper than your run-of-the-mill thriller. Plus, it is always refreshing to read a thriller that is well-written.

I would have preferred the characters to be further developed, but I recognize that it is difficult to maintain the mystery and suspense if we better understand the characters’ motives. Still, I think the way Baart chose to structure the book left room to know Charlie and Eva further.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Long Way Back. It is among the best thrillers I have read so far this year, and I definitely recommend it. Bearing with the slower start is rewarded on later in the story.

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