This is very well written but it was a little slow and dark for me. I empathized too much with Adrian and not enough with some others. It’s definitely a flavor of its own that many will love but it was not one I enjoyed reading.

After Shed Gone is a dark psychological thriller about a mother and her child, a model and a reporter. All are connected through a missing persons case. This heart pounding, fast paced, tension packed read took me on such a journey. There are plenty of twists and turns and some dark and disturbing content. I kind of figure out one or two of the twists early on but it totally didn’t take the enjoyment out of it. This was my first read from Alex and I was honestly surprised with how much I enjoyed this read and I will be looking for more by him in the future.

Thanks you Head of Zeus and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

IT CAME AND DID WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO. HONDA CIVIC RELIABLE IN CONTEXT.

SYNOPSIS

Liv is a mysterious women who is suddenly kidnapped along with her autistic son Adrian. Anastasia is a Russian model who came and conquered the fashion scene in Milan before falling in love. Selma is a doggedly determined journalist who won't quit until she figured out what happened to Liv and her son and how this ties to the underbelly of the fashion world.

MY OPINION

Before you choose to pick up this book, I want to be very clear: This is Norwegian Nancy Drew starring Selma the journalist. Police? What's that? Selma runs the show here. The police are only good for sweeping in at the last second and locking up the baddies when Selma has had enough. Otherwise, Selma Drew is leading the investigation into Liv's disappearance and unearthing the truth about Milan's glamorous fashion world. If you can't yeet all logic and reasoning out the window for this book, then it is not for you.

Next, this is heavy on the storytelling. Anastasia's storyline covers her climb to the top of the European fashion world, which I found particularly interesting. But I can definitely see people being very bored by this. If you're looking to be swept away to the glamour and glitz of Milan and Southern Italy, then you will enjoy this book. If you're looking for straight up THRILLZ with a z, then this is not the one. This is a story as much as it is a mystery.

ANyways. I found this an enjoyable afternoon read. I'm obsessed with Europe because the food, art, history, and fashion is on point, so I enjoyed "travelling" to Norway, Russia, and Italy. I'm also into fashion (even though my closet is primarily white tees, light washed jeans and of course, pink ski masks) so following Anastasia's journey was fun too. I didn't really care for Selma Drew, but she was the knitter who brought all the threads together. Her relationship with Olaf or whatever tf his name is was whatever because I literally pictured him as a dorky bald old man who thick rimmed glasses who loves to wear bike shorts on the reg. But I digress...

An enjoyable lil read... but please read my review carefully before you pick this up and then come into my comments saying WOW THIS SHIT SUCKED YOU FOOLED ME!!!! (No one has ever done that because ya'll aren't animals but still lol...)

PROS AND CONS:

Pros: takes place in Europe, interesting look at the fashion industry, enjoyable, easy to digest read, has some edge to it if you require thrillz

Cons: requires extreme suspension of disbelief, romance is a lil cheesy but I have a piece of coal for a heart so take that as you will

The narrative alternates between the story of Adrian, Liv and Anastasia. It was a bit to confusing for me . I was touched by the strong mother-sun relationship between Adrian and his mom.
Thanks Netgalkey for this book.

This book was about the hundreds or maybe thousands of beautiful young women who flock to the world’s fashion capital, Milan, every year with the dream of making it as a model. And some do make it, but most, after a string of unsuccessful casting calls, become the playthings of rich, middle-aged, entitled men. It’s not so bad to start with - they get to go to lots of lovely parties, still get nice clothes and accessories but soon the laughter becomes more brittle and the eyes become harder. When the men tire of them they are quickly forced onto the drugs and into prostitution.

This story is told from the POV of three women and one boy. Liv Carlson was part of the modelling world in Milan but later succumbed to drug addiction and disappeared. She ends up living a reclusive life in Sandefjord, Norway, with her 9 year old, selectively mute, neuro-diverse son Adrian. Then she disappears!

Anastasia is a striking young Russian woman from Yekaterinburg who lived with her grandmother on a farm. She is head hunted for Georgio di Vincenzo’s modelling agency and does very well. Then Giorgio himself notices her and sweeps her off her feet. But she soon learns that there is a dark side to him and she is living in a gilded cage.

Selma Eriksen is an investigative journalist who has been researching the darker side of modelling in Milan and has a story to tell. But her editor pulls the plug. It is not his decision but the paper’s owner has spoken. Selma is reassigned to investigate the disappearance of Liv Carlson and her son. It all looks very straightforward until she learns that Liv was once part of Giorgio’s stable and she senses there is a bigger story to be told so she heads off to Italy.

Adrian is painfully shy and almost mute but he is a clever boy, loyal to his mother and very resourceful. So when he finds himself locked up in a place he doesn’t know, he waits and watches and plays the game. He wants to save his mother but he doesn’t even know where she is.

All these stories intersect in a most dramatic fashion. The book is gripping and very immersive. The women are strong and determined in the face of overpowering odds. But the medal for best character goes to young Adrian who fools them all. This story was heartbreaking at times. The casual cruelty of the entitled is obscene. I don’t know that I “enjoyed” it because of the subject matter but it is certainly a story that will stay with me. Kudos to the author for such an impactful book. I did pick where it was going pretty early although it didn’t really detract from my reading experience. Many thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Unsettling, gripping and glamorous. A timely psychological thriller about the danger of beauty, the lure of power, and the fierce love of a mother for her son. The opening is atmospheric and completely absorbing. Immersive, pacy and unputdownable. Like a chess game with multiple layers and complex characters, all leading to a shocking, explosive ending. Brilliantly plotted, with a crisp pace and constant surprises.

I’ve read others by Alex Dahl and really enjoyed this story. I caught the twist very shortly before the reveal which was well into the story. Would recommend.

I usually don’t care for thrillers set in Europe (I’m not familiar with their laws) but this was enjoyable. I loved the topics- wealth, modeling industry, excess. I was a bit confused 85 percent into the book because of the timeline. I didn’t realize 2 stories were being told from different time periods. Despite that, everything tied together and made sense at the end. I give this book 3.5 stars.

Captivating!

After She’d Gone is a dark psychological thriller about a mother and her child, a model, and a reporter. All are connected through a missing person’s case.

Liv and her son Adrian live a quiet life in Norway. Nine-year-old Adrian is neurodivergent, and as a result, he is bullied. Airplanes and his mother are his happy places, until he witnesses his mother's kidnapping.

Selma is an investigative reporter in Norway.

Anastasia is a model living in Milan and on the verge of becoming a star.

The narrative alternates between Adrian, Liv, Anastasia, and Selma's POVs. Their voices are unique, but Adrian’s chapters had my heart. Dahl captures his innocence, his fear, and his love for his mother. He is a lovely character.

All narratives come together to form a captivating and intriguing plot.

My main gripe is that when the storylines come together, the events are rushed and a little chaotic.

This heart-pounding, fast-paced, tension-packed read took me on a journey to Norway, Rome, Milan, and Russia. There are some twists and turns and some dark and disturbing content. I figured out the main twist early on, but it did not detract from my enjoyment.

After She’d Gone was my first read by Dahl. I went in with no expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. The characters are compelling, and the mystery behind Liv’s disappearance had me turning the pages. I can’t wait to read my by Dahl in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Told in first and third person, After She'd Gone is told in the perspectives of three very different women whose stories interconnect seamlessly. Not only that but it is told in first and third person. Author Alex Dahl's writing skills are unfathomable, her insight into human nature is brilliant and each word is organized with finesse. I cannot imagine transferring thoughts to paper with unsettling vividness, both haunting and beautiful . It is impossible to convey my thoughts lucidly as my mind has been blown to shreds!

Single deaf mother Liv lives in seclusion in Norway with her beloved nine-year-old son who is neurodivergent. Disabilities are written with lovely sensitivity. The unshakeable bond between mother and son is gorgeous, my favourite part of the book. Liv's life has not been easy, she tries to hide from her past but it catches up with her, causing physical and emotional agony to both her and sweet Adrian.

Selma is a noted journalist in Oslo who is disappointed to have an impassioned story of hers cut. She becomes involved in the case of her life as she researches the disappearance of a mother and her son and encounters dark criminal activity and secrets she did not see coming. Sins cast very long shadows.

Anastasia reluctantly leaves Russia for Milan for life as a model. Her initiation is incredibly difficult but she does what she feels she needs to do as she is financially strapped. She is revered and reviled and has what many would call the perfect life with loads of money, great beauty and is constantly in high demand. But her life is not as it appears on the outside. When money and material goods are stripped away a shell remains. All three women have secrets, regrets and hopes.

Engaging, engrossing, riveting and suspenseful do not even begin to cover it. Thriller readers ought to place this book at the top of their to read piles.

My sincere thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this memorable rollercoaster of a book, absolutely top notch and unmissable.

Great book by Alex here.
A riveting psychological thriller with twists and turns that had me engaged until the end.

You can tell how much Alex loves to travel with her vivid descriptions of architecture, scenery and daily life around the streets.


Very well written.

Best read sipping coffee with your legs dangling in the lake at your Villa.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Head Of Zeus for this ARC.

After She’d Gone by Alex Dahl is a dark thriller with heavy topics. This isn’t a fun, breezy story so strap in and buckle up for this ride! After She’d Gone features multiple points of view and the book features locations such as Russia, Norway, and Milan. The story is tense!

When you start reading this, you won’t want to stop and after you finish, you will be thinking of the characters.

PLOT:

Unsettling, gripping and glamorous. A timely psychological thriller about the danger of beauty, the lure of power, and the fierce love of a mother for her son.

Liv keeps a low profile in Sandefjord, Norway: she’s just another tired single mother, trying to make ends meet. She has never told her son about the secrets she carries or the life she lived before he was born. She will do anything to keep him safe.

Anastasia‘s life is transformed when she moves from Russia to Milan to work as a model. She’s rich. She’s desired. But there’s a dark side to the high-pressure catwalk shows; the sun-baked Italian palazzos; the drink-fuelled after-parties hosted by powerful men. Soon, she will do anything to escape.

Selma is a journalist in Oslo. She’s investigating scandals in the modeling industry, but can’t get her article published. Then a woman goes missing in Sandefjord. Now Selma is about to uncover the biggest story of her life…

Don’t miss this one! Out on August 18.

It is rare for an author, especially a crime writer, to become better with each book he/she writes and more than often we watch impressive debuts lacking an equivalent continuity, every trace of the initial spark gone forever. Alex Dahl, one of the most promising representatives of contemporary Norwegian crime fiction belongs to that limited breed of authors who work their way up in terms of honing their craft as time passes by, always delivering books that are superior to their predecessors. Dahl had demonstrated her skills early on in her debut novel, A Boy at the Door, a haunting piece of psychological suspense featuring a female protagonist who tries, futilely, to keep her past in the past and never allow it to alter her seemingly perfect family life. The novel was a commercial and critical success showcasing a sensitive author who has a profound insight for the complex inner state of a woman in a state of crisis. The realistic approach and the humane characterization marked the beginning of Dahl's accession to the elite of the genre's authors in Scandinavia alongside some of the most respected names in Norway such as those of Karin Fossum, Gunnar Staalesen, and Thomas Enger. Her next two novels, The Heart Keeper and Playdate solidified and further amplified her reputation among her peers, paving the way to her best work until now, Cabin Fever, a claustrophobic thriller brimming with symbolisms and employing some of the author's trademark tropes mainly regarding the challenges that modern women face as well as the burden of secrets and their devastating consequences to the individual and those around him. Dahl is a writer who has her ear down to the ground and feels the pulse of her era, reflecting her acumen on page.

After She'd Gone signals a departure from the usual themes explored by the author, as in this latest work (publication date: October 4, 2022) she turns her attention to the machinations of organized crime and the social blight of sex trafficking, the manipulation and subsequent victimization of vulnerable women by nefarious men who often are part of the aristocracy or members of the upper echelons of their society. I bet that Dahl made an extended research on the subject as her approach is honest, almost visceral, never shying away from the disturbing facts and imprinting them truthfully on her novel. Thus, you are in for a nasty storyline that involves some of the most abhorring characters you've ever encountered in a psychological thriller and some vivid descriptions of abominable acts. For those who will think that this is not Dahl's style and doubt the efficacy of her plotting, think again as in this book there is not a grain of canard or laziness in regards to the handling of the story. Even though, some may find the sex trafficking motif to be overly appalling, there is no one who would be justified to say that the author is not on top of her game, having complete supervision over every element that comprises this novel. It is a multi-faceted thriller as there are many narrators, one of them "speaks" in first-person, who win the reader's empathy through the well-rounded characterization, so much unlike the majority of the genre's outings that insist on the dull, cardboard-like character description. Dahl's uniqueness shines in the way she handles the perspective of Adrian, a nine-year-old child who suffers from a severe form of autism, thus his parts pose a double challenge: the first is to attempt to look at the world through the eyes of a little child, and the second one to depict on page the difficulties and confusion that accompany autism. Nevertheless, the author succeeds and introduces one of the most moving children characters in the genre that I've ever met.

Apart from Adrian, who is one of the four narrators of the story, the other three fictional storytellers are Liv, Adrian's mother, Selma, a recurring character whom we first met in Playdate, and Anastasia, a young Russian woman who leaves her homeland in order to become a top model in the fashion capital of Europe, Milan. Selma, who played a critical role during the Lucia Blix case that shocked the little town of Sandefjord some time ago, is an investigative reporter who writes an article on the death of a young model who is found somewhere in the coasts of Italy, discarded as an unwanted object by a cruel industry in which immorality is the preferred way of life. When her article is rejected by her superiors and remains unpublished, she revisits Sandefjord in order to investigate another case of disappearance, this time a woman and her child, Liv Carlson and her kid Adrian. The case is first dismissed by the local authorities as the mother is known to be suffering from some sort of mental disease and she has vanished before, but Selma, fierce and persistent, is determined not to leave a stone unturned in order to discover the whereabouts of the two missing persons. We, as the readers, are informed from the first chapters that both Liv and Adrian have been abducted by different perpetrators and for different reasons. In order to solve the riddle, Selma will have to dig deep and unearth secrets that will alter her whole perspective on the case.

At the same time, we follow Anastasia's journey from the Russian town of Yekaterinburg to the flashy streets of Milan as she is picked by a scouter who invites her to Italy to become involved in the high-stakes world of modelling. After the initial rush and enthusiasm, Anastasia finds herself drawn to a shady world of depraved men who buy girls to use them as sexual toys and she will have to rediscover the strength in her in order to overcome some severely traumatic experiences that mark her attempts at a new life. The Anastasia sub-story is the most disturbing one, as it is in her parts that the reader dives into the murky waters of false glamor and flashy nothingness. Some parts are particularly hard to stomach so beware and be ready for some level of crudity. The many different narrative threads become intertwined as the plot moves forward in a studied, even pacing and there are a lot of surprises that may change your assessment regarding some of the major characters. In After She'd Gone, Dahl excels in the art of plotting as she succeeds in a risky venture in a way reminiscent of the work of the giants of modern crime fiction such as Gunnar Staalesen or Jo Nesbo. It is definitely the author's most mature work to date and the most satisfying of the five novels written by her. When I finished Cabin Fever the previous summer, I remember myself thinking that this time Dahl set the bar too high and I was not sure if she would continue her upward course of progress. The final result made me chastise myself for not showing the proper trust to one of the most charismatic young crime writers out there.

This is not a part of a series, so there is no need for you to have read the author's previous work, nevertheless those who had will be in a better position to detect the nuances and appreciate Alex Dahl's improvement and dedication to her craft. For me, reading this novel felt like breathing oxygen after a long time being let down by mediocre crime stories originating from the Nordic countries. There is no excuse for a Nordic noir aficionado to be oblivious of Dahl's oeuvre, but if this is the case then After She'd Gone would be a perfect place to begin the formation of your liaison with the Norwegian author. Her latest novel scores highly in every aspect and I can't find a flaw, something concrete that I could point out as such. The mixing of narrative techniques and the fragmented narration by a multitude of character suits perfectly a somber story that will prompt you to think and feel differently about certain realities of the modern world. As a loyal fan of Alex Dahl's work, I can only wait for her next novel and hope that it will be out some time soon. I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher (Head of Zeus) for providing a free ARC of this title.

Unsettling, Atmospheric…
Liv and Anastasia. What exactly is the connection between these women in different parts of the world? Selma, a journalist in Oslo may well be about to find out as she investigates what is about to become her biggest story yet. With a perfectly crafted cast, well described backdrops and a keenly observed sense of time and place this intriguing tale is immersive from the off and successfully maintains an unsettling atmosphere throughout.

Wow. I’m glad I started this book during time off from work because I couldn’t put it down!

It is told from four points of view - three strong, impressive women and a young boy who is bullied because he is different (the author introduced me to a new term - neurodiverse.)

Liv is a single mom living in Norway. She does everything for her son, Adrian. They live a secretive life and she keeps him safe - but from what we aren’t told.

Norway is also home to Selma, who is a gutsy reporter who has recently helped to solve a high profile missing person case. So when another person goes missing, she is intrigued and begins investigating.

Anastasia is a beautiful Russian young lady who is spotted and offered a modeling contract in Italy. That’s where the action starts as we explore the dark underbelly of the modeling industry and what happens to young ladies trying to succeed.

This is my first book from Dahl, but I will definitely read her more. Her characters and settings are well-described and diverse. She doesn’t go overboard with metaphors, yet still manages to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. She’s a very good writer and leaves twists along the way. Great ending, as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for a copy of this book.

A thoroughly gripping murder mystery that I read breathlessly in 2 days. I couldn’t put it down. What a story! It’s almost a year to the day since I read my first Alex Dahl (‘Cabin Fever’), but this latest offering is even better. It’s a fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled ride that takes place mainly in Norway and Italy. There are multiple character threads and interestingly multiple POV modes of narration, plus plenty of twists and turns and an explosive, climactic ending.
Utterly engrossing. Try it – you won’t be disappointed!

My thanks to NetGalley and, as ever, Head of Zeus for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A deaf woman with a mute son goes missing. A journalist following the story breaks open the mystery to find much more to the story than first met the eye.

One isn't necessarily better than the other, and it's not always the case, but there is often something more urgent and frightening about a thriller that has some basis in real world events that involve human suffering. I'm thinking of something like Will Dean's The Last Thing to Burn, which had a case of people trafficking at the centre of it, and there's a similar kind of crime and human exploitation in Alex Dahl's After She'd Gone. Human trafficking can take many forms however and not all are obvious, even to the victim until it is too late. For some, they appear to have landed in a fairy-tale only for it to descend into a living hell with no escape.

That kind of crime may even be more frightening and contemporary in its concerns because it's dealing with young women being exploited and abused - and in some cases murdered - by members of a rich and exclusive set. Here we read about young beautiful women from Eastern countries who are being offered modelling careers, walking catwalks for designer brands, being jetted off to exotic locations for photo shoots and invited to exclusive parties. Few of them know what they are letting themselves in for, too dazzled by the extraordinary change of fortune of being dragged out of poverty in remote villages.

Selma - who was introduced by Dahl in her previous book Play Date - is a Norwegian journalist working on just such a story only to find it blocked from publication by the owners of the paper. There are clearly influential people who don't want something like this being reported, or perhaps there are concerns about litigation. Either way, the story is quashed and Selma is asked to cover an inquiry closer to home. It's a seemingly more mundane case of the disappearance of a deaf woman Liv and her nine-year-old autistic son Adrian, but there are strange elements to the disappearance, which seems more like an abduction. Selma might not have felt the need to dig too deeply into this but for the fact that she notices connections to the big fashion industry story she has been working on.

There are a few strands to After She'd Gone, all of which evidently converge, and do so quite dramatically and thrillingly. We get the insider perspective of the glamour and the horror of young women caught up in the modelling business from Anastasia, a young woman from central Russia who has been plucked from poverty and engaged to an Italian Prince. Evidently, there is going to be no fairy-tale ending, but there is growing surprise and horror at just how her story plays out. No less terrifying is the journey that Liv and Adrian undergo, and as far as Selma's investigation goes, time is clearly of the essence. Just how important and just how those stories intersect may not surprise everyone, but there are definitely some shocks along the way.

And, as I suggested, those shocks really hit home when you consider that they reflect the true lived experiences of many vulnerable young women. Alex Dahl - the author born in Oslo, half-American and half-Norwegian - succeeds not only in keeping the different international stands of After She'd Gone moving forward, each compelling in their own way, but the story manages to tap into the real human cost of exploitation, without falling into the trap of being exploitative itself. The author doesn't shy away from the true nature of the abuse that these women are subjected to, the traps they face and the often tragic outcome in what is a no less horrific form of human trafficking. This definitely gives the novel an edge of realism, which as it moves into more conventional thriller territory only intensifies what it at stake here.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this book more than her other books. Sex trafficking theme was very unique and engaging – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

3.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed Alex Dahls “The Boy at the Door” and this was no exception.

I liked the pace of the story and the development of the characters.

The storyline was a little predictable but didn’t deter me from finishing the novel as I was kept engaged waiting for the other shoe to drop!