No Way Out

Written by Fern Michaels

Narrated by Susan Bennett

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels comes a brand-new novel that blends her rich, character-driven storytelling with a hint of suspense, as a reclusive young woman struggles to piece her life back together. …

Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When she awoke, filled with unease, all she knew for certain was that her boyfriend, Rick, was missing. She knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover
in safety. With the proceeds of a video game she helped develop, Ellie starts over in rural Missouri, working from her cottage and trusting no one except her friend and business partner.

Yet even in this quiet small town, it’s impossible to completely isolate herself. Especially when a curious eight-year-old boy, smitten with Ellie’s pup, stops by every day to talk to him over the fence. Little by little, Ellie is being drawn back
into the world through the neighbors and community around her, realizing that everyone has their own fears and obstacles to contend with.

But when Ellie hears that Rick has resurfaced, her nightmares return, and with them, small snippets of memory. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now? Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but
first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds there …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781705026656

Fern Michaels

New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels has a passion for romance, often with a dash of suspense and drama. It stems from her other joys in life—her family, animals, and historic home. She is usually found in South Carolina, where she is either tapping out stories on her computer, rescuing or supporting animal organizations, or dabbling in some kind of historical restoration.

Reviews for No Way Out

[Candi Casulli Jania · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This was the worst book I have ever listened to in my life. The writing was simplistic, conversations were boring (using gems like “doggy doo-doo”) and the ending was predictable and uninteresting. I kept waiting for a plot twist or something but it never came. Please don’t waste your time. Ugh .

[B4iwascrzy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The most well-written book I have read from this author, it is a personal preference, but I dont like "cutesy cozy mysteries" which typically comprises the fare of this author (even when she is writing about murderous vigilantes , and who doesn't live vicariously through those novels) I just prefer my characters a bit more hard-boiled. Excellent book that gave me (ultimately) some hope and good feelings during a personally challwnging time. Note to author & publisher: Some of the main characters (cop and his girlfriend , 90 year- old neighbor, temporary "shut in' and her game developing assistant , gardener and all around helper) could make a GREAT vigilante team for a new series going forward where they help domestic villance victims get away from their tormentors (and serve up justice in kind to the egomaniacal crazies that isn't the pat on the hand they would receive in reality). Vigilante justice is an easy seller in the US, where there is no truth in sentencing, as those sentenced to a "life sentence" are typically WALKING THE STREETS FREE IN UNDER 15 YEARS. As it is now, there is NO "TRUE" justice for survivors of crimes, just re-victimization by an overburdened court and jail system.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

No Way Out by Fern Michaels is not what I expected. I was looking forward to a riveting, suspenseful story. Unfortunately, No Way Out is not that type of book. It is reminiscent of a light cozy mystery or a women’s fiction story. This book lacks the suspense and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Ellie moves to the small town of Hibbing, Missouri on a quiet street where there are a variety of residents. We get to meet the various residents as the book progresses. I liked the residents of the lane with their various quirks. Colleen Haywood lives with her husband, Mitchel as well as her eight-year-old son, Jackson. Mitchel drinks too much and becomes abusive. Colleen, Mitchel, and Jackson seem to take up more of the book than Ellie. I liked how we get to see the neighbors helping each other. They are supportive, kind, and accepting. They never picked on Ellie or criticized her for not leaving her home. They accepted her for who she was which I thought was wonderful. I found the ending to be anticlimactic as well as too quick and smooth. There is an epilogue, but it felt incomplete. My favorite phrase from No Way Out is, “Even when you think there is no way out, if you try hard enough, you can usually find a way.” If you are looking for a light book to read by the pool or at the beach, then No Way Out is just the ticket.

[judiex · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After suffering a serious concussion which resulted in a coma and amnesia, Ellie Bowman realized she was in danger and had to find a safe location. Her boyfriend was missing and she decided to maintain telephone contact with her mother and a good friend. She told neither where she was going or what she was doing while she tried to remember what had happened.With a teenager in Missouri, she had been very much involved with video games and was able to use the money from that work to relocate and continue to work from home via the internet. The boy, Hector, lived in the same city and served as her contact with the world by taking care of her yard, shopping, and delivering rare messages. There were only five houses on her street. Ellen never left her house nor invited anyone inside. Her only companion was Buddy, a black Labrador retriever who became her first link to her neighbors. After two years, Jackson Haywood, an eight-year old neighbor, became tall enough to look over the fence and play with Buddy. His mother, Colleen, had invited Ellie for tea several times but all her invitations had been politely declined Ellie noticed him and decided to let him come into the yard. That became a daily routine that both the boy and dog looked forward to. . Eventually, Ellie became a bit more open and as she looked beyond her house, became aware of the lives of some of her neighbors. All of them were facing problems and opening up to their lives helped her discover her own.On the whole, NO WAY OUT offers a good quick read presenting interesting and unusual characters and situations. There are a couple unrealistic situations: I don’t think Hector would have been able to all the things he is credited for, e.g., landscaping Ellie’s yard, and there is one romantic relationship that moves too quickly. It’s also also a federal offence to put items into someone’s mailbox.This book was a Goodreads' Early Readers selection.