Nearly Gone

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Author(s)

Elle Cosimano

Publisher

Kathy Dawson Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

March 25, 2014

ISBN

0803739265

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Bones meets Fringe in a big, dark, scary, brilliantly-plotted urban thriller that will leave you guessing until the very end.

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother's job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone's skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn't trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her.

Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn't figure it all out soon—she'll be next.

Editor reviews

4 reviews

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.5(2)

Characters

4.5(2)

Writing Style

4.5(2)

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Crazy, Dangerous, Spicy Page-turner

May 03, 2014

Overall rating

4.7

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Once I started, I couldn't put it down. This is my favorite mystery/thriller of the year, last year, the year before. . .Okay, so I don't really read mysteries, but now I want to! NEARLY GONE is still one of my favorite books of the year so far, in any genre.

The characters were great. Nearly, who goes by Leigh, is a complicated girl with a lot of issues. I respect girls with issues, and I really respect Leigh. Once she meets Reece Whelan, the hottie badass who may or may not be trying to put her in jail for murder, it was over. I was hooked. That boy is so complex, multifaceted, and endearing. He is a boy with issues, and he deals with those issues in so many good ways. Not only that, he falls for Leigh really fast. Then he does everything he can to protect her. I really liked that about this book. Leigh is a tough girl who can stand up for herself. Despite that, there is so much crazy dangerous stuff going down she still needs a bad boy to keep her safe!

The mystery-thriller plot is really well done. Fans of murder mysteries, TV shows like Bones, NCIS, Dexter, and CSI will definitely love this story. I had no idea who the murderer was until the very end! The author will keep you guessing, keep you turning those pages, and you'll love every minute of it.

Some readers might not like the paranormal aspect - Leigh's "tasting" feelings/thoughts/emotions. I thought it was well done and added something different to the story. A weird paranormal spice thrown over the murder mystery. Maybe not your cup of tea, but I think it might actually bring in a lot of readers who wouldn't normally pick up a thriller.

I did have one little issue with the plot. Leigh didn't seem to feel much remorse or guilt for her classmates' deaths. There could be a lot of reasons for this, but I still think the story would have benefited from Leigh showing some more guilt once the victims' identities are made perfectly clear. I won't say why, because I don't want to spoil anything, but still - it had to be noted that the girl doesn't really seem to feel bad about it. Just a little bit strange.

Overall, NEARLY GONE is a well-written murder mystery with great characters and a lot of intensity. If you're looking for a new paranormal romance, a page-turning mystery, or a book about hard life issues, this is the book for you.

Eden Grey Top 50 Reviewer 171 reviews

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Nearly Gone

March 14, 2014 (Updated: March 14, 2014)

Overall rating

4.3

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One of my favorite genres to read has to be thrillers and mysteries. NEARLY GONE is both these with a math/science twist.

What worked: The mystery behind who was plotting the murders and why they seem to point toward Nearly had me wondering. I liked that when the final reveal came it took me by surprise. The math and science part of the mystery was very intriguing. Loved how clues were woven into personal ads and how they all added up. Once the bodies started piling up, I couldn't put this book down! I had to see if my suspect had in fact done the deed. (It wasn't!) Great pacing, action, and suspense that kept me turning the pages.

I liked Nearly who is a nerdy, smart teen who's only way out of her trailer park home is to get a scholarship. The competition between her and her friend Anh were convincing. I also liked Reece, the 'bad' boy who seems to be everywhere and has a connection to Nearly. One huge plus is how the author gives Reece some vulnerabilities so he doesn't come off as a creep. I could see why Nearly might be attracted to him.

Big kuddos for the riddles that lead Nearly to the victims. Very unique and not easy to solve. Well, not for me that is! Love that!

What I had issues with: The beginning was a tad bit slow. I also didn't really 'get' the paranormal aspect and think the story could have done okay with it. The math and science were enough to give this book an added edge. The paranormal part only was confusing and I really don't think it was addressed at the end.

Dark, engaging, with an unique twist on 'who done it' that kept me wanting more.

Kim Baccellia, Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 889 reviews

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User reviews

3 reviews

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.3(3)

Characters

4.3(3)

Writing Style

4.7(3)

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Gripping!

October 04, 2021

Overall rating

5.0

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Nearly Gone was a gripping mystery thriller with many twists and turns and intrigue.
Nearly is a talented high school student trying to make a better life for herself. But when a serial killer starts killing her classmates, Nearly might be the only one to figure it out or become the next victim.
The characters were really interesting. Nearly was smart and practical and she can also know someone's emotions just by touching them. Jeremy was a great friend while Reece was a real mystery. And with so many other great characters who might just be killer, everyone's a suspect.
The plot was fast-paced and truly exciting.I could not put it down!
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers.

Fay Tannerr Top 50 Reviewer 243 reviews

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Pretty good

June 10, 2015

Overall rating

3.3

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I went into this one thinking I was going to LOVE it but in the end I only just liked it. I mostly liked the protagonist but her romantic interest rubbed me the wrong way and the mystery was only so so. I wanted to scream at Nearly to stop acting like an idiot at some points and get help from someone. People were dropping like flies and she was kinda just standing there. Although this one wasn't completely for me, I do think some other will LOVE it.

Jane Gates Top 500 Reviewer 14 reviews

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Nearly Gone Review

May 03, 2014

Overall rating

5.0

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Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano was an AMAZING read. I loved, loved, loved it! The science nerdy references made me all giddy inside, and the mystery kept me guessing the entire time. If you figure out who the killer is before Nearly, let me know. I will be shocked and will want to bow down in your awesomeness.

Nearly Gone is a YA mystery/thriller with a bit of a science and paranormal twist. It’s up to Nearly to solve the mystery. As things escalate, all the clues point to her as the killer.

I loved Nearly, even though she did annoy me at times. She was a bit reckless at times running into danger, and I think she was a bit too trusting. Gosh, I wanted to yell at her asking “what are you doing?!?” so many times. However, she was just a high schooler, and everything she did, she did with a good heart. So I really can’t be mad or dislike her. Plus I adored her nerdy-ness. She really reminded me of some of my fellow science classmates that are super smart but lacked some common sense. Yeah, that was Nearly at times.

For all of the other characters and for everything you see, be skeptical. Don’t easily judge anyone. Seriously. I’m still frustrated that I didn’t figure out the connection with some of the clues. Like Nearly, I over thought the problem. Happens to all the good scientists.

Should you read Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano? YES! I highly suggest it. I’m giving it 5 stars! I can’t wait for the sequel. Supposedly there’s an internship in a forensic lab. How awesome is that?!? This seriously appeals to me in so many ways, and I think even non-science nerds will love it!

One note before I finish this review. Don’t expect Nearly Gone to be 100% realistic. Everything that happened worked well, in my opinion. Elle Cosimano did a fantastic job making me believe in the story and the characters. However, not everything will translate into real life. Yes, the setting is contemporary and in present day Washington, D.C. metro area, but that doesn’t mean it has to be realistic to no fault. Just keep that in mind, as I think you should with all fiction anyways.