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.

At this point, I'm going to read anything Joe Clifford writes. He's that good. Every. Single. Book...All Who Wander, had my complete attention from the first page. I kept having to make myself slow down so I could enjoy the pace of the story as it was written. I wanted to get to the next chapter to find out what was coming. lol! I thought the alternating past and present chapters especially worked well telling this story and keeping the readers interest. Another stellar book from Joe Clifford!

3.5, rounded up to 4.

This was truly a thriller that left me wondering, WTF! The disappearance of Brooke Mulcahy was very similar to that of Maura Murray. As someone who was very interested in that case, I liked seeing the parallels between the disappearance in the plot and the real-life case. I really like how the author didn't introduce too many new characters. The same characters from before and after Brooke's disappearance were built on and worked within the plot. I enjoyed seeing Robert through Brooke's eyes and vice versa as Robert, Brooke's younger half-brother, still struggles without having closure from Brooke's disappearance. Lily's character did bother me a little bit as her role within the plot is exposed. I was also shocked by the ending and found it really didn't fit the rest of the story. I think there needed to be some more building on the ending as well as the "resolution" of the story. The ending didn't leave me satisfied and left me with a lot more questions than answers.

All Who Wander by Joe Clifford is an interesting and gripping psychological thriller. I picked this book up because the description had me really intrigued, and I was not disappointed.

The author has a very nice writing style, which meant that I flew through this book and found it hard to put down right from the very beginning. The use of flashbacks can sometimes be confusing and make the story seem muddled, but in this case it worked very well. The glimpses into the past that the author offered us not only helped to build a sense of mystery and suspense, but also allowed us to get an insight into Brooke's character that we otherwise would have missed. Being able to see the past events unfolding from Brooke's point of view was a clever addition to this novel and helped the readers to slowly form a picture of what happened leading up to Brooke's disappearance as well as getting a look at Brooke's mental state during this time. Throughout this book, the author is constantly hiding information; offering just enough to keep us wanting more but withholding the crucial details to keep us guessing and engrossed by the web of mystery that Joe Clifford spins.

The characters in this book were incredibly well written, and the author clearly has a very good understanding of the human brain/mental health. Each character was psychological evaluated by the author, with each of their morals and values being questioned throughout the novel. The author makes some interesting commentary on guilt, shame, remorse, childhood trauma and much more, all through the way he depicts his characters. Bobby was a brilliant example of this. He was not particularly likeable both in the past and present, nut the more the story unfolded, the more we realised why he had turned out the way he had. From Brooke's past perspective, Bobby is a useless child who she resents strongly and, therefore, she is terribly horrible to him, which make us feel sorry for him and develop a dislike towards Brooke. However, this "useless child" is completely contrasted by the strong, intelligent and successful Bobby who we see in the present day. We assume that he has healed all his past issues due to the flashy exterior he shows the world, but as the story unfolds we realise that actually his childhood trauma has left him with many scars that he is unable to hide. The fact that Bobby also did some bad things as a child was a different, but interesting, addition to the story. He holds onto a lot of shame and guilt for what he has done and never truly works through this, so it sits with him all the way until adulthood. All of Bobby's buried emotions cause him to be in constant emotional turmoil and he bottles it all up until he finally explodes towards the end of the book. His character really shows just how important going to therapy and speaking to someone about these issues can be.

Brooke's character was also cleverly written. At most points throughout this novel, she did not come off as particularly likeable, yet I still ended up feeling desperately sorry for her and wishing the hardships she was facing away. Having grown up in a broken household where her mum has left to start a new life, Brooke holds a lot of abandonment issues that are clear in her relationships with men. The way she treats Bobby is cruel and unfair, but we can almost understand where the hatred is coming for as we empathise that it must be horrible for your own mother to run away and leave you for many years. Brooke's choice to keep dating bad guys who caused her nothing but trouble simply because the nice guys were "boring" was infuriating at times, but again is understandable as she has no experience with healthy relationships considering her mum and dad never had a particularly happy marriage. This is also showing how Brooke's childhood trauma is affecting her years later, as she only feels comfortable when living in chaos, as that is all she knows. Brooke's relationship with Mike was frustrating, as the reader just wants to scream at her that she could do better than him, but only adds to the suspense in this novel. When we are trying to figure out why/how Brooke disappeared, the author is very good at dropping hints that Mike may have been involved, which keeps us on the edge of our seat desperately trying to work out the facts right up until the end. All of the characters in this book were cleverly crafted, but particular appreciation has to go to the incredible way in which the author has dived into the mental health aspect of Brooke and Bobby, and even their father in a miniscule way.

The ending of this book was a little disappointing as I did work out in my head what had happened about halfway through, but I still enjoyed the outcome nonetheless. The author did a great job at throwing suspicion on each character for their involvement in Brooke's disappearance so that we didn't get a clear picture of what happened until the very last chapter. Overall, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this book, but it wasn't necessarily unique and was simply an enjoyable run of the mill mystery thriller novel. The psychological aspects of this book is what made it so enjoyable, and the commentary on mental health and childhood trauma was a very clever addition to the story as a whole. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an enjoyable read that will have your mind in overdrive and will keep you hooked from the first page until the last page.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Joe Clifford for the ARC.

What starts as a simple "girl goes missing" story becomes a complex and haunting family story that far surpasses a thriller. It wasn't a quick and easy read, but the characters will stay with me for a long time. This is the first book I've read by Joe Clifford, but it won't be the last.

Good book from Clifford. In 1998, teenager Brooke Mulcahy's car is found after a bad accident but Brooke is not in the car. 21 years later, her stepbrother, Robert, gets a visit from a young woman, claiming that not only did Brooke survive the accident but that she is Brooke's daughter. Not knowing what to believe and who to trust, Robert opens this old wound trying to find the truth. I felt that there was some unanswered questions at the end so hoping there might be a sequel. Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All Who Wander is a dark psychological thriller set in New England, by an author who is new to me. I received an invitation to read it from the publisher, and since I’m up to date with my NetGalley ARCs and thought the blurb sounded intriguing, decided to give it a go. I liked the writing and was drawn into the mystery, but ultimately was disappointed by the ending and didn’t like any of the characters.

Told in two timelines, this has 20 year old college dropout Brooke running away from her dysfunctional family and abusive boyfriend, only to crash her car during a snowstorm and disappear. Twenty two years later, her younger brother Robert is now a happily married professor of engineering, who has put his difficult childhood behind him and has just been awarded a prestigious prize. Then a young woman contacts him claiming to be Brooke’s daughter, and his life rapidly spirals out of control. As we alternate between their very different perspectives, the shocking reason behind Brooke’s fateful decision is revealed.

I enjoyed the writing, the tension and the twisty plot for most of this, which was why I was so disappointed by the “is that it?” ending which fails to wrap up most of the storyline and delivers some underwhelming twists. Neither Brooke nor Robert are remotely likeable - she steals drugs from dying patients and is horrible to her poor fat orphaned 14 year old brother Bobby, and he’s an arrogant judgemental knowitall. This wouldn’t matter if there was some kind of redemption in the plot, but it just leaves his fate unresolved. I also have an intense dislike of present tense narration which further put me off his chapters.

What I really didn’t like was the inclusion of a completely unnecessary episode of animal cruelty which is revealed to have been inflicted on Robert’s dog, although we don’t see it happening, and he does survive. Ironically Robert muses about Stephen King’s bemusement that he got more complaints from readers about hurting a fictional dog than any of the horrific things that he’s done to his human characters. When will authors learn? I’m sorry but if you have to put an apology for something in your afterword, maybe just go back and delete it? It wasn’t awful enough to stop me continuing the book, but it would put me off reading any more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Square Tire Books for the ARC. All Who Wander is available now.

As a native Vermonter the setting in New England, New York, Vermont & Massachusetts, was fun and the winter weather descriptions were pretty accurate! There is a lot of sadness (and trigger warnings) in this book, between drug use, parental issues (abandonment, abuse, death), abusive relationships and criminal activity, you wanted to root for the characters but none were overly likable. I enjoyed the alternating time line of past and present slowly bringing you to present day, it was a little slow, things didn't start to really pick up until around 75%. The alternating narrators brought a unique perspective as well. An interesting read and something for those who like a cold case disappearance to consider.
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Thank you NetGalley and Square Tire Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Intricately woven with unlikeable and troubled characters. Some were actually horrid people. I did not like this book because of the dreadful and sad and depraved lives of many involved in the story. Thank you Netgalley and Square Tire Books for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #AllWhoWander, #SquareTireBooks.

One snowy night in 1998, Brooke Mulcahy's car slides off the road in rural Vermont. Her car is discovered. She is not. Twenty-one years later, Robert Kirby, Brooke's stepbrother, is paid a visit from a young woman (Lily), claiming to be Brooke's daughter. Since a tumultuous upbringing, Robert, formerly known as "Bobby," has enjoyed considerable success. Now an esteemed professor at a private Upstate New York university, Robert has just received a significant NEH grant. After Lily's visit, Robert's life is upended.

This is a new author for me who I have never heard of before but had read some good reviews of his work so thought I would give it a try. This is quite a dark story where we are focused on two main characters, Robert who is still troubled over the disappearance of his stepsister Brooke and Brooke herself. Brooke has made some dubious decisions in her life and has not always associated with the best of people. This is the heart of the story which is told by these two POV's. Great characterization and a strong plot that really enhances the book and I felt the author did a great job of taking us into the heart of these people's lives. An enjoyable read, four stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dark and disturbing. Bobby's sister Brooke has gone missing in a snow storm. Bobby has been trying for years to piece together what happened. Bobby starts looking for answers when Brooke's supposed daughter shows up on his doorstep.

Wow! I was captivated by All Who Wonder. It's my first Joe Clifford, but definitely won't be my last. I feel like I've found a hidden gem (Clifford) and I'll be sharing/shouting his praise to my family and friends. You know an author is good when almost all of his characters are dysfunctional, yet you can either empathize with them or you actually love them. (Or is that a reflection of my crazy lol). In any event even the supporting cast in this novel are fleshed out and have purpose. For me the story is less about a daughter/half-sister who vanishes during a winter storm and more about Bobby discovering who he really was/is, and how his trauma really shaped his life. The story rings true in so many ways, notably in the dialogue, which is not as easy to do as one would think. Just as in real life people who had it together in youth don't always succeed. While those who were not expected to amount to anything, if not much, find a way to overcome and shine, function and even succeed. Kudos to Brooke for making it. The story left me a little wanting for Bobby to be okay. He still had a lot on his plate in the end, so I'm not sure. But bravo to Joe Clifford for a job well done.

Thank you NetGalley and Square Tire Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This book was a crazy adventure in dyslexic family dynamics. The story is about the disappearance of a young boy’s half sister and how he handles it for years to come. The story is full of twists and turns that will give you whiplash.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joe Cliffird for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

I received a complimentary electronic copy of this excellent title from Netgalley, author Joe Clifford, and Square Tire Books via Lisa at Swell Media on September 30, 2023. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read All Who Wander of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am always pleased to recommend Joe Clifford to friends and family. He writes a tight, compelling tale with personable characters who feel like friends in settings he can make you see.

Our protagonist, Brooke, is a very complicated and compelling character, one we would like to see thrive. She is at first her own worst enemy. Before long, we see that she is only what she was compelled to be, by circumstance and family pressure. and Bad Luck is her best friend. Bobby - Robert, too is a likable character created by his circumstances. They will both have your sympathy. They both need a lot more than that.

(2.5 stars)
I consumed All Who Wander by Joe Clifford very slowly by my standards. This was primarily because I found it a nasty book about a nasty man, Robert Kirby, who thought by throwing off his former name 'Bobby' he could avoid responsibility for his actions: "she knows all about us—how they sent me away, how doctors patched up my broken brain. We are better now."

Even before you understand the depths of his depravity, Robert has an ugly world view: "There is a natural competition in any marriage. When one shines, it's difficult for the other not to feel overshadowed." No wonder his wife leaves, particularly when Robert enjoys joking in that "as far as mid-life crises go, a sports car beats sleeping with one of my students" despite noting the joke receives "a deadpanned stare more often than it does a courtesy chuckle."

Bobby's ugliness is not lost on him either: "I am vindictive. If I have to pick sides in the Bible, I favour leaving the world blind." It colours the descriptions in the book, from landscapes to people: "Behind the abandoned mills and closed down factories, slow creeks trickled like a chunky, meaty gravy, feeding toxic pools that sludged beneath industrial slate skies." Unsurprisingly most of Bobby's venom is leveled at those of lower socioeconomic class: "I hate being judgemental, but the woman stinks. With every twitch, a nauseous wave of BO funk and sexual residue wafts over."

This contempt is presented as stemming from the way that Robert successfully climbed out of living hand-to-mouth sleeping in cars with his mother Connie, and became a tenured University professor. This was in no small part due to Connie's previous partner, someone he shows nothing but contempt for: "I don't know what he recalls from our brief time together, if he's skewed history and fabricated the sketch of a loving relationship." The author passes off the abusive behaviours in the book as being natural consequences of kids being deprived of love: "when we come from homes where love is hard to find, we fight for what little of it there is." As a kid who came from a loveless home, I resent everything about this premise.

The author's personal history with alcohol and other drugs infuses the book with a very visceral hatred of people who use drugs in this book: "his entire presence, from his gelatinous shapelessness to his collapsed cocaine nose and train whistle voice, reviled me". He is equally contemptuous of people who engage in sex work: "Maybe I've seen too many movies about drug addicts, watched to many episodes of Law & Order, so I'm left to assume in half an hour she'll be on her knees sucking dick for three-fourths of a Kit-Kat bar." Be cautious picking it up if those forms of stigma and discrimination annoy you as much as they annoy me.

It’s been 20 years since Brooke disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a half-brother and father she had didn’t really get along with. The book uses the now-and-then format to look at what happened leading up to Brooke’s disappearance twenty years prior, and the current time with how her half brother (they have a mutual mother) is dealing with her disappearance. The author did a great job with setting the scene and helping you visualize the story as it was unfolding. I certainly didn’t expect the twist at the end. The author didn’t leave it all tied up together in a nice package at the end, but gave you enough that you didn’t feel left hanging.

This was just too slow for me. Nothing happened and I completely lost interest. Just not my cup of tea.

So much better than I expected.

Highly recommended to everyone who enjoys a dark psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns making it a very gripping storyline. The case of Brooke's
disappearance since 1998 and how her half brother, Bobby, tries to find out what happened to her which haunts him every day for the last 20yrs. Brooke's family life was traumatic, sad, and brilliantly written of her younger days leading to her disappearance, by Joe Clifford

Thank you to net-galley

2 ⭐️⭐️. This review is going to be short because I don’t even know what to say…I just didn’t like this book. I hated all the characters. The storyline dragged on. Most of it was predictable and the parts that weren’t, were just meh. Just a bunch of messed up characters. Subject material contains sexual abuse, drug use, mental issues and animal abuse…all subjects that I don't care to read about. Sadly, I don't recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Square Tire Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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What a wonderful deep dark psychological thriller. All Who Wander is.
Twenty one years ago Bobby's half sister Brooke goes missing.
Her car is found on the side of the road after a heavy snow storm but there isnt any trace of Brooke.
Since that night Bobby has turned his life around and is now a Professor but night that comes back to haunt him when Lily turns up claiming to be Brooke's daughter!
Tales are unravelled and secrets are found but what really did happen to Brooke that night?
This book has some brilliant twists and turns and it was hard not to read it in one setting.