Seventeen years ago, four year old Betsy Blake disappeared. She was never found. Now, her father Gordon is in hospital awaiting surgery. His odds of surviving aren’t exactly great. Gordon’s biggest fear is dying on the operating table, not knowing what happened to his daughter. So he hires a private investigator, Lenny Moon, who has exactly five hours to find out whatever happened to Betsy Blake. Can Lenny achieve what police have failed to do? I was tormented and sweaty thinking what and how Gordon and Lenny will find the answers. And the supporting characters did their best to keep me worried throughout. The writing – amazing! The pace – amazing! The structure – amazing! The characters – amazing! The twists and turns – amazing! The final reveal – amazing! The intelligence behind writing this book – AMAZING! Irish author David B. Lyons was raised in Dublin where his 2019 mystery, Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake, takes place. A little girl named Betsy had been kidnapped 17 years before at age 4 and has been missing ever since.

David B. Lyon’s previous book, Midday, was one of the most surprising books I read last year. So when I was approached to read his next book, I didn’t hesitate, fully expecting another clever and tense plot and that is exactly what I got! Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola. I took to Lenny. He had a simplicity about him that was endearing. Ok he was after the reward but he also had Gordon’s best interest at heart. Gordon you felt for being in such a predicament but he had had seventeen years to do this. The Nurse Elaine doing her utmost to try and keep Gordon’s heart suitable for surgery whilst all the time the search is ongoing. I won’t give anything away other than to say prepare for the unexpected. I should have seen that coming!! Clever, brilliant, gripping. 5* all the way.At one point I thought I got the answer and the author immediately debunked it, as if he could read my mind! Then I was presented with a conclusion I wasn’t satisfied with. And with just a couple of chapters left, I couldn’t help but wonder how the book will end. What happened to Betsy? Lenny did all this for nothing? I read all this for nothing? I couldn’t fathom the fact that David just wrote another mind blowing book! I was on the edge the whole time, reading and thinking and trying to piece it together but I failed so miserably and I AM HAPPY ABOUT IT! Every chapter is charged with tension, and the last sentences of each of them are such great read-on prompts. I was glued to my kindle for two complete days. I couldn’t help myself but continue reading it.

I really enjoyed the fact that apart from the child in the story none of the characters were likeable people especially our protagonist Gordon. This I think is a truer reflection of real life, people are complex and not necessarily likeable and you see this really reflected in the story.The story increases in speed and intensity as Gordon Blake’s operation approaches and time for Lenny and Betsy is running out, then it becomes completely unbearable. OMG, these words just sizzled. I so wanted Gordan to pull through as I had grown so very fond of this man and yet the house would be life-changing for Lenny Moon and his complicated family. But most of all what of Betsy? This is one mind-blowing story where you need to read to find out ………………………. Whatever Happened to Betsy Blake? Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.

The chapters come in alternating heartbreak of a guilt-ridden father that took his eye from his 4-year-old child playing in the street just for a second, then she was gone, to a terrified Betsy telling how she had been playing when a man put his hand over her mouth and whisked her away in his car and into his cellar. Some 17 years had passed and Gordan Blake is now in hospital waiting for an operation where he only has a 50% survival rate and he was no nearer to finding out who had taken her. As far as everyone else is concerned the case is closed. As the story opens, Betsy Blakes’ father, Gordon, is about to undergo dangerous heart surgery in five hours, a surgery he might not survive. Gordon never stopped believing his daughter is still alive, so from his hospital bed he desperately hires a local private investigator named Lenny Moon to find her in what may be the last five hours of his life.