Julie's Review: Don't Go

Summary: Bestselling author Lisa Scottoline has thrilled millions with her emotionally-charged novels that feature strong women exploring the boundaries of family, justice, and love.   In Dont Go, she breaks new ground and delivers the story of a soldier who discovers what it means to be a man, a father, and ultimately, a hero. When Dr. Mike Scanlon is called to serve as an army doctor in Afghanistan, hes acutely aware of the dangers hell face and the hardships it will cause his wife Chloe and newborn baby.  And deep inside, he doesnt think of himself as a warrior, but a healer. However, in an ironic turn of events, as Mike operates on a wounded soldier in a war-torn country, Chloe dies at home in the suburbs, in an apparent household accident.  Devastated, he returns home to bury her, only to discover that the life he left behind has fallen apart.  His medical practice is in jeopardy, and he is a complete stranger to the only family he has left - his precious baby girl.  Worse, he learns a shocking secret that sends him into a downward spiral. Ultimately, Mike realizes that the most important battle of his life faces him on the home front and hell have to put it all on the line to save whats dearest to him - his family. Gripping, thrilling, and profoundly emotional, Don't Go is Lisa Scottoline at her finest. ~powells.com

Review: Lisa Scottoline is an author that my dad turned me onto years ago and she's still one of my go to authors. Her recent books have dealt with legal issues but that is more in the background than the foreground of her previous novels. While Don't Go wasn't what I expected, it was not a disappointment.

What I really liked about the novel was that we truly got a sense of Mike and the effects that war has on our soldiers, even if they aren't physically hurt. There are some very intense moments during the book especially when Mike is over in Afghanistan. I found myself holding my breath at times. Not only is there the emotional toil of re-entry for Mike when he comes home but he's still dealing with the death of his wife Chloe.

Since we are viewing all of this from Mike's point of view, it is very easy to empathize with him. He's a broken man who is trying to fix himself. He's not sure how to connect to his young daughter since he's been away for the majority of her short life. He's not sure how to move on from the death of his wife and the subsequent secrets he's learned about her.

This story is about family, love, loss and healing. Ms. Scottoline did an excellent job on telling the story of Mike. Of course there were times where I wanted to smack him but you could feel his pain through the pages.

If you are a fan of Ms. Scottoline, then this isn't one to miss. If you've never read her, then Don't Go is a good one to begin with too.

Final Take: 4/5

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for an ARC of the novel.