Although And Then She Was Gone is the 6th novel in the Detective Jack Stratton series in the chronology of Jack’s life it is the only one that goes back to his late teen years. The other books in the series begin when Jack is age 26, a US Army veteran, and a young police detective. In this novel we meet the angelic Aunt Hattie who was Jacks foster mother from ages 7 to 11, and who even when Jack was 18 remained the guiding light in his life. His loving adoptive parents who adopted Jack at age 11 also play a key role. Some of Jack’s foster siblings also play a major role. The biggest role is played by Jack’s foster brother and best friend for life Chandler who joined the US Army with Jack and served in battle with him. The other people who play a large role in the series and appear in this novel are Chandler’s biological sister and Jack’s foster sister Michelle and an 11 year old girl named Alice who hated her name so much that she that she wanted to be called Replacement. In the other novels in the series which start 8 years after this novel Replacement effectively becomes co-protagonist with Jack.
And Then She Was Gone, a murder mystery that 18 year old Jack solves, was written well after the other 5 novels in the Jack Stratton mystery series. Although is rates 4 stars it is not nearly as good as the other five novels in the series. For those who have read the other five novels it demonstrates the strength of Chandler’s and Jack’s relationship as it also tells the story of the importance of the strength of Aunt Hattie to her many foster children. And, of course, it allows us to see 18 year old Jack and his interest even then fair play as he shows his hear of gold.
If I had read this novel first I’m unsure that I would have read the other five 5 star novels in the series. Luckily I read Girl Jacked first and then read the others in order written. Unfortunately And Then She Was Gone was the first novel in the series released in audio format.
Few crime mystery series have the impact of the Detective Jack Stratton series. Thanks to Christopher Greyson for writing it and to Andrew Tell for narrating the audio books in the series.