Gone: A Novel

Written by Chelsea Cain

Narrated by Heather Lind

Now a TV series starring Leven Rambin, Chris Noth, and Danny Pino, premiering on February 27th on WGN America!

From the critically acclaimed author of the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series, an “utterly exhilarating and emotionally rich” thriller that will have “your heart in your throat” (Megan Abbott, bestselling author of Dare Me).

Twenty-one-year-old Kick Lannigan is a survivor.

She can pick any lock, fire any weapon, throw any knife, and aim a punch at her opponent’s trachea. And when the enigmatic John Bishop shows up asking her to help him rescue missing kids, Kick has every reason to be wary. He appears to have access to limitless money, high-level contacts, and details of Kick’s background long kept sealed by the court. Yet everything he tells her about himself seems to be a lie.

Headstrong by nature, suspicious by circumstance, and a smart-ass by self-determination, Kick can’t help but see the writing on the wall: together, she and Bishop could make an unstoppable team, willing to do whatever it takes to see justice served…if they don’t kill each other first. For Kick, whose interest in child abduction is deeply personal, it’s a gamble worth taking.

Critically acclaimed as “excruciating…compelling” (Booklist, starred review) and “propulsive” (People), Gone is a high-octane and hard-hitting thriller you won’t be able to put down.

*Originally published as One Kick (Simon & Schuster, 2014)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Aug 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781442370029

Chelsea Cain

Chelsea Cain is the author of the New York Times bestselling Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her Portland-based thrillers have been published in twenty-four languages, recommended on the Today show, appeared in episodes of HBO’s True Blood and ABC’s Castle, and included in NPR’s list of the top 100 thrillers ever written. According to Booklist, “Popular entertainment just doesn’t get much better than this.” Visit her online at ChelseaCain.com.

Reviews for Gone

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One Kick by Chelsea Cain, is her latest book and the beginning of a very promising series featuring Kick Lannigan, due to be released in August, and well worth the wait. To understand Kick Lannigan more, one must understand her past and this is where the book excels in setting readers up not only for a suspense filled story, but also in introducing characters and background information to prepare for future books in the series. When Kathleen Lannigan was 6 years old she was abducted and not found for almost six more years, where she was returned to her family with PTSD and in need of a lot of therapy, and thanks to a very kind detective, she was introduced to martial arts as a form of therapy, and given back the power to never be victimized again, or so she hopes. Along with trying to rebuild her life, Kick must deal with her mother who craves media attention. When Kick is 21, well versed in many forms of martial arts and weaponry, she is approached by John Bishop who requests Kick’s help in finding two children who have gone missing, and while she is still mentally frail, she puts herself squarely in the path of danger, having the skills needed to help find the predator as well as the hopes of facing her own demons. Having read some of Cain’s previous works I am curious to see where the Lannigan series will lead. Considering One Kick is the first in the series, it is understandable that so much background information would be needed. While it sounds almost implausible that an abducted girl would become a young woman chasing down pedophiles, considering her PTSD and horrific ordeal, Cain makes the story work and the plot is rather ingenious. For those looking for a tidy ending, it will not be found here, Cain has left enough loose ends to make the reader crave more. I do recommend One Kick to those new to Cain’s books and to anyone who enjoys a fast paced suspense.

[librolindsay · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I'm sure part of my dislike was due to just not being all that interested in contemporary suspense (chose this to read for a Reader's Advisory class), but then there's the fact that there isn't much that's redeemable in this story. Is Kick supposed to be this great girl protagonist? I can get behind the fact that she's flawed (to put it lightly) yet supposedly bright and expertly trained in combat (not that I feel *any* better that there are people in this world like her armed to the teeth). But she's bested by Bishop IN EVERY SCENE. Seriously. He is always one step ahead of her. Even when you think Kick's finally got her shit together, she's just a damsel in distress. Why should you think a person kidnapped and toured around in child pornography circles in her youth will ever really get her shit together? You're right--you probably don't. The twists and turns in this book are only there to forward the plot, not to seem like they follow any logic to make you more empathetic to anyone or anything going on in this book. Unless you're into reading anything at all about child pornography and people gutting poor old dogs, which was, BTW, the only compelling part of the story because it was so completely miserable, I say nope nope nope nopedy nope.

Caveat: The audio version is pretty alright. The reader (Heather Lind) does a great job at conveying the hollow psyches of all the characters--considering they've all been through some sort of major trauma, yeah, the hollowness is appropriate.

[thomaspluck · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

If only abuse turned you into a superhero. She had to give him her kidney at the end. Just felt exploitive of victims and explosions every few pages didn't make it thrilling, it got boring.

[melrailey-412132 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What feels like ages ago, I read the first two books in Chelsea Cain's Archie Sheridan series. And what I remembered about them was being freaked out by the serial killer. When I saw that she was starting a new series, I decided to give the audiobook a try knowing how much I had enjoyed the others. Chelsea Cain still has it. I was rooting for Kick and dying to understand her train of thought and little idiosyncrasies. And when it turns out that the current kidnappings are related to her kidnapping, I loved watching her figure everything out and chase down the kidnappers. And the story did get freaky and scary at times. I loved that. Oh and I'm dying to learn what Bishop's angle is.

[dougbaker · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having enjoyed Chelsea Cain's Archie Sheridan/Grethcen Powell series I looked forward to reading her new novel One Kick. And while I wasn't disappointed, it didn't have quite the same impact or strong character building has her previous novels.

The story centers around Kick Lannigan who was kidnapped at the age of six and held in captivity for five years before being freed. Unfortunately her abductors were part of a child pornography ring and she was not only abused but films were made of her proliferated across the Internet.

We find Kick, now a 21 year old woman, both a very strong character but at the same time very vulnerable. She has developed herself into a serious martial artist, an expert in guns and other deadly weapons, as well as breaking and entering and getting out of handcuffs and other restraints. She vows to never let herself be hurt again. But of course there are still emotional scars that run deep, making her a powerful and sympathetic character.

As we learn about Kick's past and present another child goes missing with similar trademarks of her abduction, suggesting it may be part of the same ring. She is offered a chance to help find the missing child that she ultimately just can't turn down.

The rest of the novel is a harrowing chase to find the missing child that finds Kick teamed up with a mysterious stranger named Bishop who works for an arms dealer. She has to relive her past to help find the missing child.

She even goes to the state infirmary where her abductor is dying of kidney failure trying to get information that might help locate the missing child and hopefully bust up the ring. Here we see an odd scene that shows she has a twisted emotional connection with the man who abused her for so many years.

Kick Lannigan is a very well-drawn and compelling character but the others, with the possible exception of Frank the FBI agent who saved her, were borderline cliché. And while I mostly enjoyed One Kick, the plot and the Bishop character really stretched credibility and my willingness to suspend disbelief. Nevertheless, I will definitely be looking forward to the next novel in the series.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Chelsea Cain writes about the evilist of charactets and in such a way that you do not want to put the book down. Kick (Kit) Lannigan was abducted as a young child and forced into making pornography. The "Beth" movies are still very actively traded online. Thtough flasbacks we learn her story. Bishop recruits her to help find a missing boy that he believes was abducted by somene she knew during that time. Her "brother" James is an important part of her life and the solving of the crime. A very strong character who I hope we meet again.

[thursbest · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read this in a day, definitely a book you won't put down.

[dorie.craig · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kidnapped at age 6 by a child pornographer, Kick is brainwashed before being recovered by chance at age 11. She became an emancipated minor after her birth mother turned 'mother of an abducted child' into a career with books and TV spots. By age 21 Kick has learned just about every self-defense technique there is. She is approached by a man who appears to be a soldier of fortune who wants her assistance in recovering an abducted child. I really enjoyed this book and read it almost within 24 hours, which is unusual for me. The main character Kick is intriguing, complex and sympathetic. I was a little less impressed with the character of John Bishop, who frequently came across as somewhat of a dick. But overall I really enjoyed it and am excited to read the next book in the series. 4.5 stars

[banjo123 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a mystery/thriller set in Portland, Oregon. (hooray!) Kick Lannigan is a former victim of child abduction, and child abuse. As an adult, she suffers with the psychological aftermath. She is a crack shot and lock-picker, and would like to rescue other abducted children. It's disturbing, without being too graphic, well-written and plotted.

[empressreece · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really great new series! I read all of the Gretchen Lowell series and they were fabulous! This is totally different but still good. The main character, Kick, her appearance and bad habits, leave something to be desired though but I guess that makes it all the more real. Looking forward to the 2nd book...

[monkeypats · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a good book for its genre, something of an action thriller novel. It is not great literature by any means, but I really wanted to know what was going to happen next and would read another book in the series. My main problems were that the leading man was a bit predictable and the main character ignores the fact that he's a complete ass most of the book. I'm still waiting for her to take control and actually outsmart him or tell him off. Also, when in her head, the main character is a smart, well-trained woman, but then she does idiotic things fairly often. Seriously, balance out the idiotic with her doing some intelligent things and getting ahead of him occasionally.

[electablue · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received an early peek at this one from the publisher via Netgalley. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down! The main character, Kit "Kick" Lanigan was an interesting character and has a lot of potential as the centerpiece of this new series. Kick is such a strong main character, but deeply flawed after her 5 years living with the family that had abducted her. She reminds me a bit of Lisbeth Salander in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books, but these are rated more PG-13 than those. I highly recommend it and predict a lot of people will be reading it when it comes out in August.

[olivermagnus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One Kick introduces 21 year old Kick Lannigan. When she was six she was kidnapped and rescued by the FBI five years later. The abduction has left Kick constantly on guard. She fills her free time working to sharpen her preparedness skills whether that means lock-picking, muscle-strengthening, or practicing an ability to extricate herself from handcuffs. Kick may have been rescued, but the sordid story of her kidnapping and imprisonment remains alive and there's no escaping the frustration and rage Kick battles with.

She lives in an apartment above her brother, James, a cyber-genius with a taste for patterns, algorithms, travel posters, and inspirational quotes. On Kick’s own wall hangs a Rand McNally map, dotted with pushpins, on which she tracks lost, missing, and kidnapped kids. Then, despite all her vigilance, her home is breached by a mysterious man named John Bishop, who turns out to be an ex-arms dealer with mysterious friends in high places. Both Kick and Bishop are anxious to rescue a recently kidnapped child named Adam Rice. Kick and Bishop make an uneasy team and I'm curious if they continue their relationship in the next book of the series.

I enjoyed the first four books in the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell series and there's a similarity here. Both Kick and Archie have suffered traumatic events that make them incapable of having normal relationships. I feel like the last two Archie/Gretchen books were redundant versions of the first four. Since this is Book One of a new series I will definitely plan to read the next one and see if the author can develop Kick into a more fully developed character and not just a female version of Archie.

[jodeneg-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Took a while to get into it. I think part of that was the reader since I listened to it on cd. I like the premise
of the story and part of me thinks it could have been even better if Chelsea had gone into more of the stolen children line but it worked. I think it was a little rushed. Could have spent more time on the history of the kids.

[shequiltz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kick is a young woman who was abducted as a child, held captive for years by a child pornographer and eventually rescued and returned to her family. While she was held, she eventually bonded with her captors and began to think of them as her parents. Ten years later she is still struggling mightily with all that happened then and since. A mysterious man, Bisop, enters her life and enlists her aid in trying to locate a missing boy. The plot is complicated as present day events connect to her past life.I would have given this a higher rating but the book ended strangely and quickly. Maybe a setup for a second book? It is a compelling story and I do recommend it.

[ginahill_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Five stars mainly because I never wanted to put the book down from the moment I started reading it. Very few books keep my attention so thoroughly. It isn't great literature but the characters are well drawn and the dialog is spot on. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[revliz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Do not read this as a bedtime book. Fascinating. Creepy. Excellent. I want to know what comes next.

[mlake_22 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is not an easy subject to read about but so well done I couldn't put it down. Kick is interesting and dark and broken and loving in her own way. I can't wait for more.

[caitemaire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For me, this book did not get off to the best start. Kick, our heroine, seemed so over the top, so unreal. We get it. She is fierce, surrounded by the armor she has built to protect her from her horrible, horrible childhood. But ever word out of her mouth was a Warrior Woman stereotype.Still, soon I was hooked. Either her angry mind rants calmed down or I got used to them. And then the story picked up..and up..and up, racing to a exciting and surprising end. Yrs, I will be reading the next in the series when it comes out.But the three legged dog. What happen to the three legged dog?

[zzshupinga · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kick Lannigan is a survivor. Always has been, always will be. Abducted at the age of six in broad daylight and vanished without a trace. Everyone, even her own family, assumed the worst. And then, six years later she was found. Trying to recover from PTSD the detective that rescued her suggested she learn to fight...and that made all of the difference. Marksmanship, martial arts, boxing, archery, knife throwing and more Kick excelled at all of them and vowed she would never be a victim again. Fast forward nine years and Kick is making it. She’s got quirks and still struggles with people wanting to talk to her, but she’s making it. And then...two children are abducted in the same month in a manner all to similar to Kick and everything starts to crash. But a strange man named Bishop comes to her and convinces her that her experiences can help rescue the missing. She takes up the challenge, but the past may just be rearing its ugly head, and things long since buried, might be coming back. Only Kick knows if she’ll survive this epic tale. OK if you’re looking for a fun book, something with lights and bright colors...go back and reread the description. Then add in that Kick was sexually abused when she was kidnapped (multiple times.) Yeah...this book is a wee bit dark and hard to read at times. But holy crap is this a great suspense story, one that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In the same vein as the Lincoln Rhyme novels, Chelsea Cain gives us a strong female character that has been abused, victimized, and rises above it to start making the world take notice of her other than that she was kidnapped. Kick becomes a survivor, one that has broken away from her mother, fights, kicks ass, and is looking to help others survive as well. Cain’s writing is powerful and she gives us a character that we can admire, cringe at, cheer on, and everything else all at the same time. And Kick isn’t the only character. Bishop, James, even Mel, the man that abducted Kick, are well rounded characters that blur the lines about what is right and what is wrong, and what you would do for those that you care about.This is the first book I’ve read of Chelsea Cain’s and it won’t be the last. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.ARC provided by NetGalley

[agarcia85257 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One Kick by Chelsea Cain is a departure from her Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell thrillers and Cain proves that she can create another powerfully character driven novel in One Kick."...Kick hesitated. She knew how this went. But she couldn't stop herself. Kick opened the police scanner app on her phone, picked her backpack off the bathroom floor, and headed for the door, the loaded Glock still in her sweatshirt. Whenever they had traveled, Mel put her under a blanket on the floor of the backseat and switched the vehicle plates out for fake dealer ones. The dealer plates were harder to read, and produced little information, so patrol cops often didn't bother running them. It's not like she thought she'd find the car. This was something that none of her shrinks ever seemed to understand. Kick knew exactly how futile it was. She knew she'd drive up and down the interstate until she was exhausted, and stay up half the night refreshing her browser, sorting through every detail, hunting for anything familiar. She knew that the kid was probably already dead and that when the police did find the body, it would feel like a part of Kick had died too. That's how this went. How it always went. Penance wasn't supposed to be fun..."Kick Lannigan, kidnapped at the age of six and forced into child pornography, became instantly famous and the face of child abduction. Five years later, she is rescued by the FBI in a raid that had nothing got do with her abduction. But in one moment, Kick now called Beth, does something on the orders of her abductor/father that seals the fate of thousands of other lost children.Since then, she has searched for missing children, training herself physically and emotionally but with little success. Estranged from her mother who keeps Kick alive in American culture through writing books and giving interviews, has made a small fortune on the abduction of her daughter. Kick lives with her dog Monster and her friend James, another child abducted and abused.Until another child is taken and wealthy but mysterious John Bishop finds her and offers her a proposition. With his money and his connections, together, they search for the missing children and the pedophiles who have taken them. Their goal, to bring down the network that uses these children for sex and pornography. A chance for Kick, to undo the moment when she did so much harm to those who were victimized just like her.Chelsea Cain is a terrific writer. If you have not read any of her Gretchen Lowell novels you are really missing something. If Hannibal Lector was a statuesque gorgeous blonde model, he still wouldn't be half of what Gretchen Lowell is. Archie Sheridan as head of the task force responsible for catching Gretchen is an equally compelling character. Lovesick and self destructive he hunts Gretchen yet never is able to hold her for long. I bring up these characters to give you an idea how well Chelsea Cain creates her characters. She does more than breathe life into them. She empowers them with an added dimension that cannot be held by the written page. They are very real and very much flawed as they are heroic.She has done it again with Kick Lannigan. Molested and trafficked as a child, Kick's road to recovery and redemption is both successful and a horrible failure. She is still devoted to the man who took her and used her. The only father she can remember. Her mother, who has turned her abduction into her own fifthteen minutes of fame is even more disturbing than the rapists and pornographers who did her so much damage. Incredibly powerful characters.Which brings me to the one complaint I have about this book. With such real characters how do we relate to John Bishop? An enigmatic, rich arms dealer who in James Bondesque manner hunts down pedophiles. Placed next to the rest of the characters in the book, Bishop seems unreal and cartoonist. Perhaps in future novels he will be more grounded but here, in the first Kick novel, he seems more fantasy than reality and that has the power to draw you out of the novel. Thankfully the rest of the characters are written expertly enough to make up for it.The story for One Kick is good, not great, the mystery is good, not great, but Kick Lannigan is awesome. This first novel is more it seems as an introduction of Kick Lannigan than a stand alone tale of its own. Its the pilot episode and it will only get better.Another good read from Chelsea Cain!

[thehistorychic · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened for Review (Simon & Schuster)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.25Character Rating: 3.75Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: One Kick by Chelsea Cain was a fascinating look at a subject matter that isn't broached much in fiction. I really enjoyed it! I would say the 2nd half of the story was stronger than the first half so stick with it. I hope there is more in the series and that we learn more about these characters.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Heather Lind / Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins Heather Lind did a pretty good job with the pacing, storytelling, and suspense in this story. I felt she made the story come alive.Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, Done Reviews

[voracious_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kick Lannigan was 6 years old when she was kidnapped and used as part of a child pornography ring. Over the years she was held, she developed a father-like relationship with her kidnapper, who taught her to fight, pick locks, and escape if needed in the future. After she was rescued at age 12 during an FBI raid, Kick went through years of therapy but still remained obsessively vigilant about potential threats in her environment, as well as confused about her relationship with her kidnapper. As a young adult, Kick is sought out by a private investigator, who is intent on finding other lost children involved in the child pornography circuit. Kick also is driven to find these children but is reluctant to trust anyone, particularly the man "Bishop" who is clearly dishonest about his identity. As the two seek out those still involved in trafficking young children, Kick uses her past memories to guide them to locations and secret places to get closer to the missing kids. This is the first in a new series by this author. Overall, I enjoyed this book, which was fast-paced and suspenseful. I thought Kick's experience of unresolved PTSD was relatively realistic, although her obsessions were repetitively described at times. I also enjoyed her unusual relationship with Bishop and he added needed humor to the story. However, Bishop's over-the-top wealth and Kick's constant physical distress (fainting, getting attacked, etc.) led their dynamic to resemble Edward and Bella from "Twilight" or perhaps the more recent Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey "50 Shades of Grey" type of relationship. Perhaps in the next story, Kick will have more control over herself and be less in need of constant rescue? Otherwise, the book was fairly enjoyable, if not somewhat predictable, as these serial thrillers/romances tend to be.

[judithdcollins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ONE KICK (Kick Lannigan #1) by Chelsea Cain brings a compelling new heroine, Kit “Kick” Lannigan, the first in this new exciting and compelling thriller series.

Kit was kidnapped at age six, by a child pornography ring when she was six, and held captive for five years until the FBI rescued her. Being held in captivity, has taken its emotional toll, on damaged, twenty-one year old Kick; however, she has turned into a fighting machine.

Still struggling with psychological baggage, she's dedicated herself to martial arts and marksmanship. Before she was thirteen, Kick learned marksmanship, martial arts, boxing, archery, and knife throwing. She excelled at every one, vowing she would never be victimized again.

Living in Portland, OR, and quite obsessed with child abductions and now the disappearance of Adam and Mia, triggering the guilt in the role she once played, ensuring the anonymity of a vast ring of child pornographers.

When a wealthy former gun dealer, working with the FBI, drops into Kick's life and demands that she go with him to the site of the latest abduction, she fiercely resists. She knows she has to help with all her skills and insight, to help find the two children; yet, little does Kick know this case will lead her back to her terrifying past.

Her mother, who wrote a best-seller about her daughter's abduction, is still milking the story as an expert on TV. Kick returns to places she was held as "Beth," and her confrontation with her abductor exposes a horribly complicated relationship.

Her strange relationship with John Bishop adds intrigue, and dynamic together as well as the other secondary characters. Fast–paced, painful, emotional, challenging, full of tension, twists and turns, and a kick ass main protagonist, taking readers to dark places of child porn rings, for a suspenseful quest of justice and redemption— to the compelling conclusion.

This was my first book by Cain and looking forward to the next in the series! I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Heather Lind, for a nice overall performance.

[bookappeal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Chelsea Cain may never create another character as thrilling as Gretchen Lowell or sympathetic as Archie Sheridan, but Kick Lannigan's history is unique for a leading character and Cain crafts a compelling plot out of it. Kick is 21 years old and sometimes her thoughts and actions don't quite fit - she often overestimates her abilities - but by giving Kick such an unusual upbringing, the author can take some liberties. How *would* a person act after experiencing what Kick has survived? As a young, damaged, but tough heroine, she will grab the hearts of many readers. Fast-paced thriller that is obviously the start of a new series for Cain.

[carolee888 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One Kick by Chelsea Cain is the beginning of a new series. That is good because I am hungry for more. This is a true page turner! Kit Lannigan, get kidnapped when she is only 6 years old. She was given a different name and taught how to pick locks by her new dad. Homeschooled and taught to hide when the FBI or police come, she is finally rescued when she is eleven. By then, she could only remember her former name as Kick. She was exposed so much publicly and her mother even wrote a book about her being kidnapped. Her relationship with her mother soured as her mother made a career of appearing on talk shows and making the kidnapping even more public.Kick never wanted to be so vulnerable ever again so she learned to be great a shooting her Glock, expanded her lock picking knowledge, became a martial arts student, a knife thrower and star thrower and was definitely not a people person. She had no use for a security system put in by her mother because she was so well trained in self-defense. She followed with her brother James the abductions on the news, there were two in the same month. A mysterious, Bishop, man broke into her apartment and she agrees to help with rescuing the two kidnapped victims. Bishop’s background is slowly revealed while Kick has flashbacks to key us in on what happened during her six years of captivity. Kick is the most interesting character of the book. She really does not get along with people but her heart goes out to her dog, Monster and for James. I am not used to reading a story with so much violence but I don’t think the story could have been told without it. The story is told vividly and will never bore you. If you like dark thrillers, you will enjoy this one.

[karynmilk · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It was a little too much for me.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After turning the final page of the sixth Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan thriller (Let Me Go), I wondered if there could be anything in the future for these characters. For me, this series seemed to have run its course. Well, Chelsea Cain has unleashed a new character on readers. Her new book, One Kick is the first in a new series featuring Kick Lannigan. What a great character name eh? Kick was kidnapped as a six year old and famously rescued when she was eleven. The years spent in captivity shaped her path - and her personality. She's tough as nails, but vulnerable, fearsome, yet fearful. And she has a goal - to prey on those that prey on children. A wealthy man named John Bishop, approaches Kick to help him find two local missing kids. There's a chance they could still be alive - and Bishop believes Kick has the key to finding them locked in her past. But who is Bishop really? And what is his agenda? Cain writes great kick *** characters. Lannigan is definitely one of those, but with a wounded side that makes us fear for her as she wades into danger. One Kick introduces us to Lannigan, lets us get to know her and sets the tone and the background for the next in the series. One Kick has a resolution, but the last few pages are a kicker (sorry, couldn't resist) that will leave readers with the same questions Lannigan has. I 'll be watching for the next book. Cain's books are not for the faint of heart. There are disturbing themes, descriptions and language. Those looking for a dark thriller will absolutely find it in One Kick.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One Kick is the start of a new action packed series for suspense/thriller writer Chelsea Cain who is best known for her popular Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series.When the FBI raided an isolated farmhouse they were shocked to discover twelve year old Kathleen Lannigan, abducted six years earlier from outside her home, who destroyed their case against her abusers with a push of a button. Ten years later, ‘Kick’ as she insists she be called, is still struggling with the legacy of fear, shame and emotional trauma inflicted by her captors, and is desperate to find a way to redeem herself. Despite mastering skills in martial arts and marksmanship, amongst other things, to ensure she will never again be a victim, Kick feels useless, until a stranger breaks into her apartment and asks for her help. Bishop is hunting the pedophiles behind the recent abduction of two children and believes she is his best chance at finding them. Kick can’t refuse, but saving them may cost her everything.With plenty of tension, convincing emotion and harrowing scenes, One Kick is a page turning thriller from the first page. The plot is fairly simple, but holds together well, anchored by Cain’s strong protagonist, Kick.Kick is a survivor, and to be admired for all she has endured and battled to overcome, but she is damaged. She is all but estranged from her family, resists authority and is obsessed with abduction cases, though at a loss as to how to make a difference. She has never fully resolved her relationship with her abductor, Mel, and is overly attached to her aging dog, Monster. The story places Kick in circumstances that challenge her psychologically, forcing her to confront her dark past and it is impossible not to feel for her and hope that she will triumph. My only niggle with her character is that much emphasis is placed on her finely honed physical skills but when she needs to use them, they all but fail her.Bishop is a fairly stereotypical character for the thriller genre – tough, enigmatic and ruggedly handsome, though not entirely infallible. His motivations for the hunt are revealed gradually, though his benefactor, who provides the money and resources needed to follow the clues from Seattle to San Diego, remains a shadowy figure.Kick’s experiences as ‘Beth’ are never really articulated but what is implied is horribly confronting, and may be a trigger for some readers. Cain also exposes some of the sickening details of pedophile rings who rely on a network of safe houses, false identification and anonymous computer networks to procure and trade children while protecting their dirty secret. It makes for disturbing reading.One Kick is a solid thriller with a strong protagonist and a storyline that is both confronting and exciting. I’m eager to see how the series and its characters will develop.

[chatty_cathie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved Chelsea's new book - Kick is a tough cookie and makes for very interesting reading.