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Philip Cox
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She's Not Coming Home Kindle Edition

by Philip Cox (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 out of 5 stars 603 ratings
Suppose your wife leaves work but never arrives home; you call, only to find nobody there has heard of her. If she doesn’t work there, where has she been going? Matthew Gibbons thought he had it all – a house in a leafy Boston suburb, his wife Ruth and a beautiful son. But when one evening, after texting him ‘leaving now’, she doesn’t arrive home, and the staff at her office say they have no Ruth Gibbons working there, he sees his whole life collapse around him. What could have made Ruth walk away from her home and her family? When Matt tries to piece together his wife’s life, he finds he never really knew the woman he married, the woman who apparently died in a car crash three years earlier… What some readers said: “The story captured me from the beginning and refused to let go.” (Amazon Super Customer) “Amazing story that keeps you going until you’re finished with the whole book.” (arkiebornforever) “This was such a good suspenseful story, and had a great surprise ending, could not put the book down. Well written and love a story that ends in a way you never expected.” (Nancy Garrett) “…read it in one sitting as I couldn’t wait to know the outcome.” (Smorbes) “I would recommend this book to any one who likes a good story.” (Greg)
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  1. Print length
    422 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    13 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    3.3 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

About the Author

Philip Cox lives in Hertfordshire, England with his wife and two daughters. He had a long career in banking, reaching the post of Branch Manager, until 2009, when he took a break from financial services to be a stay-at-home father. Between changing diapers/nappies he wrote 'After the Rain', which was published in 2011. 'Waterloo Sunset' was published early the following year. 'She's Not Coming Home is his latest book.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009US94U0
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 13 Jan. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.3 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 422 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 603 ratings

About the author

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Philip Cox

Philip Cox

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Philip Cox was born and raised in the UK seaside city of Southend on Sea, which lies forty miles east of London. After graduating from High School, he began a career in UK Banking and Financial Services, and spent the next decades working his way through the ranks, finally becoming a Branch Manager of a major UK bank.

Philip left banking after the birth of his first child to be a stay-at-home father, and it was during this time that, in between changing diapers/nappies, he began to write his first novel, ‘After the Rain’.

Now having written fifteen books, he is based in Hertfordshire, some twenty miles north of London, with his wife, two daughters, and three cats.

During his spare time (what spare time there is between school runs and writing!), Philip enjoys indulging his interest in Model Railroading/Railways.

He is tall and slim, has a few grey hairs, and wishes he could get to the gym more often.

 

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
603 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the book's storyline with its several twists that keep them guessing, and find it a decent page turner that's hard to put down. The writing quality receives mixed feedback, with some finding it well written while others note typos, and customers disagree on the character development. Moreover, the journey details are criticized for being too many detailed route descriptions, and customers disagree on whether the book holds their attention.

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StorylineReadabilityPacingWriting qualityCharacter developmentInterestJourney details
101 customers mention ‘Storyline’72 positive29 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of this book, describing it as a decent page-turning thriller that keeps readers in suspense from beginning to end with its twists and turns.

"...But I can forgive the author this as I absolutely loved his storytelling!..." Read more

"Very enjoyable fast paced read. The working of the plot was good...." Read more

"...I loved the fact that this book didn't have any complicated weird twists but almost and "old fashioned" Mystery book, but just updated to..." Read more

"...I also thought it was quite unrealistic how no one seemed that bothered Ruth had gone missing, not even her own husband who continues going to work..." Read more

72 customers mention ‘Readability’72 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable, describing it as a decent page turner that kept them engaged.

"Very enjoyable fast paced read. The working of the plot was good...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book, and was keen to see how the story resolved itself...." Read more

"...Actually I thought it was rather an interesting take on the usual missing person type of story...." Read more

"This book is just OK. For me it started well, but never quite got "I cannot stop reading this book"-kind of exciting...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Pacing’7 positive3 negative

Customers praise the book's pacing, finding it engaging and easy to follow, with one customer noting it's hard to put down.

"Really enjoyed this book holds your attention from the beginning fast paced no unnecessary drivel Believable characters Would have git a five star..." Read more

"A nice easy read, quick to get in to and a pretty good ending...." Read more

"I was captured from the first page, good beginning and bit weak in the middle then recovered at the end...." Read more

"Fantastic book couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting. The characters are really good and I didn't want it to end." Read more

51 customers mention ‘Writing quality’27 positive24 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it well written and an easy read, while others report numerous spelling inaccuracies and typos.

"...This didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment. Good writing that draws you in well." Read more

"...At times the author also goes into too much detail when it is unnecessary, for example describing in detail his car journey which no one really..." Read more

"...Nathan confusion and frustration is very well described in the book, what do you tell a small child when the mum goes missing?..." Read more

"...times - the detailed repetition of who ate what and when, and the poor editing, I didn't find it unduly mundane or flat...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Character development’7 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them really good while others describe them as two-dimensional.

"...think there is merit to this story and just enough interest to make connection with the main characters, in fact I managed to hide in the bedroom..." Read more

"...directions in it which really seemed to drag on and were superflous to the story...." Read more

"...Matt and Weber's characters are likeable but otherwise I didn't warm to any of the other characters...." Read more

"...attention from the beginning fast paced no unnecessary drivel Believable characters Would have git a five star rating but found a few points towards..." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Interest’4 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's interest, with some finding it engaging while others describe it as boring.

"...Then there was the boring repetetive filler - the book could have been edited by at least a third if you cut out all the long boring descriptions of..." Read more

"...Good writing that draws you in well." Read more

"like all other reviewers part of the book was sometimes boring I enjoyed the not knowing what could possibly have happened to ruth the missing wife..." Read more

"Really enjoyed this book holds your attention from the beginning fast paced no unnecessary drivel Believable characters Would have git a five star..." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Journey details’0 positive16 negative

Customers find the journey details in the book excessive and tedious, with multiple customers noting that there are too many detailed route descriptions.

"...editing at times would be a good Idea as some of the driving instructions seemed a bit long, but not so bad that it destroys the plot...." Read more

"...One slight criticism I have is over the excessive description of the journeys in the car, after a while it felt like I was reading Google Maps..." Read more

"...The ending felt really flat, nothing exciting and I was a little disappointed by it. It was a free download when I got it...." Read more

"...to at least 75%,it seemed as though some parts there was a lot of useless info,especially routes taken as I didn't feel as though it added to the..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Jojomaman
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good "unputdownable" read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I must start by saying that I too noticed a couple of little typos in this novel so it isn't perfect yet eg the instead of them and "sing" instead of the word "sign" which threw me a bit! But I can forgive the author this as I absolutely loved his storytelling! I am sure my heart rate increased especially as it lead up to the end of the book and I really couldn't put it down. I was lucky enough to have a free download of "She's not coming home" and I had nothing to lose by downloading it but I would happily have paid £1.99 for it if I had known how much I would enjoy it. I now have the authors other 2 books on my wishlist to take on holiday with me. I do hope these will have been proof read again as it must be very frustrating for the author as I am sure he would gain more 5* reviews if this was perfected.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Claire I will read anything once.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, well written.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Very enjoyable fast paced read. The working of the plot was good. I held back one star for the fact that for me the reveal at the end wasn't quite right it was all a bit too well sorted , some of the reasons for why what happened were told rather quickly. This didn't take away too much from my overall enjoyment. Good writing that draws you in well.
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  • emhams
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quite mundane
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This book follows Matt who is searching for his wife Ruth after she goes missig one evening after work. The book only begins to get going about half way through. In the first half of the book I was really bored and could have skipped most of it and wouldn't have missed anything. I also found that I didn't much care for Ruth and wasn't actually bothered whether Matt found her or not. I would have preferred it if I had the chance to get to know Ruth a bit more so I could actually sympathise with her family when she went missing. At times the author also goes into too much detail when it is unnecessary, for example describing in detail his car journey which no one really cares about. I also thought it was quite unrealistic how no one seemed that bothered Ruth had gone missing, not even her own husband who continues going to work each day.The ending was underwhelming and I was quite dissapointed. I downloaded the book for free on the kindle but if I had paid for it I would have been dissapointed.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Mette Kristiansen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, what a pageturner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    The books starts by the author very briefly introduces us to the normal day routine of the Gibbons family. After the introduction Ruth goes missing and Nathan her husband attempts to solve the Mystery while at the same time keeping up with his job and caring for his young son. Nathan confusion and frustration is very well described in the book, what do you tell a small child when the mum goes missing?

    I loved the fact that this book didn't have any complicated weird twists but almost and "old fashioned" Mystery book, but just updated to contain the gadgets of the time. From the beginning you get a feeling for who are the good people and whom are bad without it being to straight forward.

    A bit more editing at times would be a good Idea as some of the driving instructions seemed a bit long, but not so bad that it destroys the plot.

    Finally a book that actually ends.. No need for the reader to guess as what comes next/what happens, the author has made sure the books ends with no loose ends....
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  • XOGM
    4.0 out of 5 stars Started better than it finished
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book, and was keen to see how the story resolved itself. Unfortunately for me the resolution was slightly disappointing, although maybe I simply hadn't picked up the clues along the way.

    One slight criticism I have is over the excessive description of the journeys in the car, after a while it felt like I was reading Google Maps directions. I imagine this was to give a sense of distance, or place, or possibly the commitment of the main protagonist to his search, but as someone not from that part of the world, and because there were no reference points I could easily relate to, this felt like a way of meeting the contractual liability to write a given number of words. For me, a stronger editor could have pruned these passages down to allow the action to flow more.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Radiojock
    5.0 out of 5 stars A shivery tale
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 September 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    What would you do if your wife didn't come home from work one night? How do you explain her lack of presence to your young son? What do you do when people in the company she works for tell you they've never heard of her, and that the number you've got on your phone doesn't connect you to the place; yet another number will? Matt has to tread very carefully as he deals with his wife's disappearance, and Nathan's questions. Ruth's friend isn't much help either. Her husband Ryan doesn't realise he's being duped, too.

    The details are long in being fleshed out but the story has no lack for that. It turns out to be a very strange tale in the end, and one which Detective Weber seems to become very personally involved in; which causes him more problems than he'd like.

    Loads of twists and turns all the way through make this a gripping read. As they all say, I couldn't put it down. Read this story in one day. It's that good.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Aurora
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quite enjoyed it despite the author's best efforts
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 March 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Whilst I have to agree with the other reviewers who commented on the endless detail of journeys - I almost felt I was reading a transcript of Google Street View at times - the detailed repetition of who ate what and when, and the poor editing, I didn't find it unduly mundane or flat. Actually I thought it was rather an interesting take on the usual missing person type of story. I don't like to go into too much detail in reviews as people either want to read the story for th emselves or they don't want to at all, so I am not going to give a synopsis, but I was rather pleased with the way the story ended. Yes some of it was a bit obvious but not the whole ending. I think there is merit to this story and just enough interest to make connection with the main characters, in fact I managed to hide in the bedroom hoping that the family would think I was doing something productive until I got it finished.

    I was surprised that the author is British rather than American as I wouldn't have imagined anyone who hadn't grown up there would be so obssesive about describing the journeys in minute detail.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Vog46
    3.0 out of 5 stars She's not coming home
    Reviewed in Italy on 10 October 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    It's OK, but I do wonder how many women can relate to this situation, probably quite a few. I found it a little bland and difficult to relate to; too many things fell 'nicely into place' at the right time and life isn't always like that! But then this is fiction!
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  • arrowboy
    3.0 out of 5 stars Spannende Idee aber mit großen Schwächen
    Reviewed in Germany on 13 June 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Der Anfang ist packend: Eine Ehefrau und Mutter verschwindet eines Tages auf ihrem Nachhauseweg. Arbeitskollegen von ihr verwickeln sich in Widersprüche, das Auto des Ehemanns wird geklaut, die Freundin reagiert erstaunlich unterkühlt und je mehr der Ehemann versucht dem Geheimnis auf die Spur zu kommen, desto verwirrender werden seine Funde. Wer war seine Ehefrau überhaupt?

    So weit so gut und spannend. Leider hat die Geschichte Logiklöcher, groß genug um einen Bus durchzusteuern. Allem voran: Wieso arbeitet der Ehemann nicht besser mit der Polizei zusammen? Das Argument, dass er selber verdächtigt wird, zieht nicht, da die Polizei an ihm als Verdächtigen genauso viel Interesse zu haben scheint, wie an seiner verschwundenen Frau. Man stellt zwar fest, dass es unterschiedliche Geschichten gibt, was die Beschäftigung der Ehefrau bei einem Chemiekonzern betrifft, aber niemand hakt nach, fragt weitere Mitarbeiter oder überprüft die Kollegen. Bei einem Schuhgeschäft würde ein solches Desinteresse Sinn machen, aber wenn jemand, der für die Kontrolle chemischer Produkte zuständig ist, mysteriös verschwindet und der Chef seltsam reagiert, dann wäre eine kleine Hintergrunduntersuchung vielleicht angebracht.
    Es interessiert auch niemanden, dass die Verschwundene die Geburtsurkunde einer anderen Frau in ihrem Haus versteckt hat, dass die verstorbenen Eltern der Verschwundenen von niemandem gekannt wurden (auch nicht von der besten Freundin, die eigentlich schon Freundin gewesen sein müsste, als ein Elternteil noch lebte, auch wenn sie das später verleugnet) oder wer den geklauten Wagen letztendlich in New York geparkt hatte. Auch scheinen keine Warnlichter anzugehen, nachdem auch noch der kleine Sohn entführt wird.

    Es bleibt dem Ehemann überlassen, sich mit diesen Fragen zu beschäftigen, Spuren hinterher zu jagen und die Ergebnisse sehr sporadisch mit einem einzigen Polizisten zu teilen. Und es entzieht sich meinem Verständnis, weshalb er lieber selber losbrettert, seinen Sohn zurück zu holen, als die Polizei über die identität des Kidnappers aufzuklären und sie zumindest an der Jagd beteiligt.
    Erst als er seine letzten Erkenntnisse mit dem Polizisten teil, kommt die Sache endlich ins Rollen. Wobei die Lösung des Rätsels für meinen Geschmack zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen ist.
    Alles in allem nett und größtenteils flüssig geschrieben (wobei auch mir die genauen Weg- und U-Bahnbeschreibungen etwas auf den Senkel gingen), aber einen Großteil der Zeit fragte ich mich bloß "warum macht der Idiot das?" bzw. "wieso macht der Idiot das nicht?". Ein 5-Sterne-Krimi sieht anders aus!
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  • Bonnie Weber
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 4 September 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I found it very Emotional, and was completely taken by the end.
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  • Cathy Taylor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super!
    Reviewed in France on 22 June 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Presque parfait. Un suspense palpitant, bien construit. L'action est centrée sur Boston, que l'auteur connaît bien, sans nul doute.
    Bonne lecture pour le vacances... ou même pour la rentrée.
    Report
  • Anthony Mitchell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Page-Turning Suspense
    Reviewed in the United States on 4 July 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is quite a little page turner. I read it in two days. The story really holds you and the twists and turns are aplenty. I'd definitely recommend to this book to any thriller fan. The characters are well developed and the straight-forward style is refreshing in that you don't have to wade through any heavy description to get what is going on. Mr. Cox did a fine job here and I'd like to read more of his work.
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