Never to be Found by Jo Spain

Never to be Found is a great read.

I’d like to think I was the first to say that but I am not, everyone is talking about this book and the reason is very simple, it’s a really great read.

Jo Spain has written a proper old school thriller about a woman who makes people, who need to disappear, disappear. It’s called jōhatsu – our heroine Veronica Paige learnt about it in Japan but that’s all I can tell you about that. No spoilers. Bottom line, Veronica makes someone disappear that she probably should not have and now has to face the consequences. So far I am not doing this novel justice at all but if I tell you anything about it, I will ruin it entirely. There are so many twists anything I say might have you sniffing them out. Instead, I am going to tell you ten things I loved about this book and make it all about me….

Ten Things about Never to be Found

1. I believed ever word out of every characters mouth and I fancied all the boys, even the bold ones…..especially the bold ones.
2. Veronica could easily have been annoying and needy (she’s had a rough time of it in fairness) instead she is vulnerable and clever and has the coolest job ever notwithstanding the bad guys mentioned at number 1.
3. The sex scene that doesn’t feel like you need to read it from behind the couch but is fabulously sexy.
4. The description of the rat…..I’m not saying anything else about this just read it.
5. I genuinely could not put it down and I get distracted by the tinniest of things. I read it in two days when Ireland was in the middle of our meltdown. There’s a white mark in the crease of each arm from holding it in the sunshine. I put it down to replenish snacks but nobody else in the house ate.
6. I never claimed to be the sharpest nail in the tool bag but I’m not a complete fool however I didn’t see any of the twists coming. Some of the twists have twists and some of the twisty twists have twists. Can’t say anything else, I’m rubbish at keeping secrets.
7. The reference to CMAT, loved that. I hope she reads this book.
8. Reading it made me want to join a book club so I could read it again and talk about it over wine and cheese while secretly learning how to evaporate people (In the johatsu sense obviously).
9. I really cared about what happened to everyone, especially Veronica and Jonah (I was really rooting for him) I CANT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE ELSE.
10. I finished the book with a clear idea of who should play who in the series/movies. I’m going to start my own campaign. Just need to ensure Tom Hardy and Kerry Condon have their diaries clear.

Trust me, buy it, read it and if you think I am wrong you can throw papers in my garden. (I’m not and you won’t).

(c) Nora Mathers

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