Published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books on September 17, 2024
Genres: Fiction, General
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Nora Noone’s father, Liam, was many things to many people. To the public he was a self-made hotel magnate, whose luxury boutique hotels were among the most coveted destinations in the world. To his three ex-wives, he was a loving yet distant family man who managed to keep his finances—and his families—separate. But to Nora, her father was always a mystery—especially after his suspicious death at his cliffside home.
Though the authorities rule Liam's death accidental, Nora and her estranged brother, Sam, believe otherwise. As they form an uneasy alliance to unpack the mystery, they start putting together the pieces of their father’s past and uncover a family secret that changes everything.
With Laura Dave’s “signature blend of pulse-pounding suspense” (PEOPLE) and “trademark emotional heft” (The New York Post), The Night We Lost Him is a “propulsive” (Oprah Daily) must-read, with a heartbreaking final twist you’ll never see coming.
I had high hopes for The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave. After swallowing The Last Thing He Told Me whole, I couldn’t read Dave’s newest novel fast enough. It sounded intriguing enough. A successful father who supposedly committed suicide. A strained relationship between two half-siblings, who put aside their differences to investigate what happened to their father. The authorities, uncooperative, denying any foul play. The Night We Lost Him had all the components necessary to create a thrilling, suspenseful, emotional story; and yet…I didn’t like it. The story drags, and I didn’t like the characters. I’ve read worse novels in 2024, but I’ve also read a whole lot better.
The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave is slow. That’s coming from someone who reads epic fantasies. Sam and Nora traveled from one side of the country, seeking answers, but they hit roadblocks every step of the way. They find answers, but it turns out, they’re the only ones who never had them. I liked Nora, but Sam…was nails on a chalkboard. An entitled child with an attitude and pride. I admired his tenacity, but outside of that, I didn’t like him. In one scene, after almost missing a flight, he comments, “‘I’m just not used to flying commercial. And I forgot about, you know, leaving enough time for security.’” And, “‘I thought about flying us in the company jet, but I wanted you to know I’m a regular guy.’” These two statements stuck with me, even after I finished the novel. Nora had far more depth to her.
Nora’s journey throughout The Night We Lost Him kept me reading. What really happened with the father didn’t matter much to me at all, and when Dave revealed the twist, I felt closure. All the pieces connected, and though it made sense, it wasn’t satisfying. The book has an underlying theme of cheating in romantic relationships. One character’s relationship is comfortable and yet stagnant, and they cheat with someone on an emotional level and feel guilty about it. Another character has “one true love” but is never married to the person, always chasing after them. Okay, great, but really? Give me more. There must be more.
Laura Dave’s newest novel is not a thriller. It is not suspenseful. Do not be deceived. But it has a pretty good mystery, even if the 320 pages felt like 600. I didn’t hate it. I wasn’t left with my eyes rolling and scoffing at it. But The Night We Lost Him did not reach its full potential. I’ll read more of Laura Dave because of how much I liked The Last Thing He Told Me, but The Night We Lost Him really let me down.