Gone Again: A Jack Swyteck Novel

Browsing in "Books and Books" in Coral Gables, near the setting of this story when I came across an autographed copy of his book "A Death in Live Oak". Author is a South Florida attorney and instructor at U of Miami so I grabbed a copy for me and one for the friend I was joining for dinner who is also a South Florida attorney. Now Live Oak is a long way from Miami so I also grabbed this book in trade paperback so I could get a sense of how he handles South Florida and to become acquainted with his writing. (Always a sucker for local writers!)

At any rate, crisply written, interesting story and characters and solid linear flow of trying to save a murderer on death row whose date is rapidly approaching but the lawyer in this series decides to take up the cause when the victim's mother proclaims the man could not have done because she is getting calls from her daughter on her daughter's birthday each year! Naturally, the ex-husband who bailed when his wife became unhinged with grief thinks she is off her nut again and doesn't buy it.

Interesting tale as the facts unwind. Great lunchtime book!

disappears on her way to school. No surprise as to who did it but not for the reasons you think.
The more i read the less sympathy i had for Sashi. I understand Sashi had a difficult childhood but so did the children of war torn Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
As for the parents, Debra was in a very difficult position, loved her 3 children very much and wanted nothing but the best for them and Gavin well buddy life isn't all raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.

A good read my second Grippando novel but my one complaint, just like the first book, is that the chapters are too short. The dialogue gets into a nice rhythm then it ends and jumps to the next scene,

"Do you have any idea what's it like to have a kid like Sashi? A daughter who destroys your wife, your marriage, your other children?" -Gavin Burgette

If you are not already reading James Grippando and his top-notch legal thriller series featuring Miami trial attorney Jack Swyteck, then you have been missing out. His writing often calls to mind the early work of John Grisham and Scott Turow --- particularly in his depiction of courtroom drama and interplay. GONE AGAIN marks the 13th entry in the series and offers enough twists, turns and red herrings to keep it reading like a fine murder mystery. Essentially, this is a murder mystery --- or, more to the point, a mystery about a murder that may have never happened.

Sashi was the adopted daughter of Debra and Gavin Burgette. She came as a package deal as the Burgettes were initially interested in a young Russian orphan named Alexander, and they ended up giving a home to both him and his older teen sister. Sashi was a troubled young woman who often found herself in hot water at both school and home. As she got older, her indiscretions became far more serious, and the internet was the outlet she used to communicate with nefarious, older men.

One man she finds and later meets up with is Dylan Reeves. It turns out that Sashi allegedly disappeared on the way to school one morning. During a DUI stop, Reeves was pulled over the next night and an article of her clothing was found in his vehicle. There was a speedy trial, and the jury found the above-referenced evidence enough to convict him to a death sentence.

Now, in the present, Reeves finds himself just days away from execution. He has reached out to the Freedom Institute of Miami where Swyteck does pro bono work. Swyteck and his colleagues are seeking to obtain a stay of execution in the case. The reason behind this has nothing to do with cruel and unusual punishment or other anti-death penalty pleas but something far more interesting. It turns out that the now-divorced Burgettes have brought to light a startling development. Debra insists she has been receiving phone calls from the not-deceased Sashi, which have come on Sashi's birthday. Although no voice has been heard, Debra insists her daughter is alive.

This suspicion seems more than enough reason for Swyteck not only to fight for the stay of execution and Reeves’ release, but also for local law enforcement and the FBI to reopen Sashi’s missing person case. Of course, the prosecutor for the State insists that these phone calls are a hoax and there is no evidence to either free Reeves or waste time on a new investigation into Sashi's whereabouts.

The hard-nosed Judge Frederick is swayed to allow the case to proceed, and witnesses are called forth to discuss all the evidence --- or lack thereof --- pertaining to Sashi's whereabouts. It is here where GONE AGAIN is most effective as Grippando mixes in both flashback chapters about the Burgettes and the blistering courtroom hijinks.

What transpires next will have readers glued to their chairs. The action within and outside the court twists and turns with new revelations around every corner. The reasons behind the Burgettes’ divorce, in addition to the testimony of their oldest daughter, Aquinnah, prove to be eye-opening. Enough new evidence and suspects emerge, and the surprises Grippando has in store will catch even the most astute mystery fan off guard.

GONE AGAIN revives the legal thriller genre yet again and hopefully will earn Grippando some much-deserved new followers. Buckle up for a wild ride in the hot Miami sun, leave the top down and enjoy the breeze!

Reviewed by Ray Palen

But Grippando gripped this reader from beginning to end in "Gone Again". Some minor issues were

Can't an attorney engaged in intimate relationship with a client be disbarred?

Unsympathetic victim

Difficult to understand mother--Why would anyone want to ignore a healthy child in favor of such a problem one?

The term "rehoming"--Is this looking for alternative placement of another person, or a pigeon?

Somehow, I'm just not buying that a 15 year old adopted out of Russia at 14 is fit for pointe work in ballet. This takes years of training I'm just not seeing orphans receiving in that country.

Issues aside, this is one of Mr. Grippando's better Jack Swyteck novels since "Blood Money". I couldn't put it down wondering what became of the missing girl & which adoptive parent was more interested in alternative arrangements for her. Great job!

I had no idea that this book is part of a series; and book number #12 for that! I grabbed the book at the library, and you know how publishers are: they refuse to include that the book is part of a series on the cover. However, this one reads as a stand-alone. I didn't need any previous knowledge to get into this one. And I like it so much that I'm going to go back and read the first one. Yes sir!

What I liked is all that death row/who did/I'm innocent thing. But I especially liked that most of the story took place in court. I love that that "overruled/sustained" thing.

Story: Sashi is an adopted teen from Russia but she has a condition called RAD. Something like she can't get physically and emotionally close to anyone. Sashi is also a compulsive liar and trouble maker.

Now, this wealthy American couple who already have a teen decide to adopt Sashi and her brother. Well, Sashi made their lives a living hell.

One day Sashi vanishes, a man is found guilty, sentenced to death and that is where Jack comes in: trying to prove that the man is innocent and doesn't deserve to die.

So go ahead, skip all 11 previous books about Jack and just read this one. It is worth it.

Gone Again is the newest novel by James Grippando featuring main character Jack Swyteck, who is back at the Freedom Institute for the first time in many years. He gets embroiled in a death penalty case, one in which the suspect was convicted without the body of the alleged victim. Sashi Burgette's mom believes that her daughter is still alive, prompting her to ask for the assistance of the Freedom Institute. As Jack investigates, it becomes apparent that the original case was bungled, calling into question the validity of the conviction. Will Jack be able to figure out the truth before the appeals are exhausted?

As a fan of James Grippando, I was very glad to see Jack Swyteck as the main character once again. With a great plot that is well paced, Gone Again highlights the pitfalls of international adoptions and the extremes lengths that some might go through to make certain that their new families are perfect. I recommend reading the Jack Swyteck novels that have come before, as the nuances of his character are embedded within all of the books in which he is featured. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy curling up with a good legal thriller.

Jack Swyteck is back working out of the Freedom Institute to help them out financially by paying rent. He just happens to be the only one there when Debra Burgette shows up. Dylan Reeves is about to be put to death for raping and killing her daughter. The unusual thing about this is that she believes her daughter is still alive and they will be executing an innocent man. As Jack and the staff of the Freedom Institute investigate the case, they believe that he is innocent of the murder and take on the case. Meanwhile, Jack's wife Andie is in her 28th week of a pregnancy and is experiencing problems similar to what Jack's mother died of in child birth. As Jack and the Freedom Institute staff get more involved in the case of Reeves, everything becomes more and more complicated. Is Sashi alive? Who is calling Debra every year on Sashi's birthday? What is Gavin Burgette's involvement in all this? What is re-homing and were the Burgette's investigating and considering this? There are a lot of questions, but will the answers be found in time to save Dylan Reeves? Another great Swyteck story by James Grippando.

This was a lot better than the last book I read, Cash Landing. Instead of focusing on the bad guys, with the inevitable lousy payoff, the author went back to a great character with Jack Swyteck. I’ve always enjoyed those stories and this time was no exception.
With a nail-biting plot that never guaranteed the outcome, I had a great ride from the beginning to the end.
The writing was top-notch with solid third-person and no head-hopping. The narrative was brisk with no rambling exposition. My only real beef was that Jack’s sidekick, Theo, didn’t have a lot to do in this story. I would’ve liked to see him get a bit more action. However, we can’t have everything.
The plot twisted and turned and I never knew for sure what was going to happen right until the end. I had a great time and no real complaints. I closed the book with a smile on my face. Highly recommended.

Audiobook -
The book started out a little slow and continued to be wordy and slow throughout -for me.
The book did not keep my attention, I had to force myself to try to listen.
I like more action - so maybe it just preference.
I had invested some time listening to it, so roughly half way through I skipped to the last part of the book just to see how it ended.
I enjoyed some of the earlier Jack Swyteck Novels more than this one - Gone Again - but those were wordy as well.
The narrator was okay - but the book was so slow I don't suppose it was his fault.
I wouldn't recommend it if you have something better to listen to/read.

In an afterward Mr Grippando the author of this book, and the creator of Jack Swyteck an attorney practicing in Florida, indicates that he is sending Jack back into his literary roots. This is exactly what is done as Swyteck becomes involved with defending a prisoner on death row as he did in the first novel introducing him; "The Pardon"
Sashi Burgette, a young girl disappeared three years ago on her way to school. While a body was never found an ex con named Dylan Kyle was stopped for drunken driving shortly after the disappearance was reported. An article of Sashi's clothing was found in his vehicle and a police video of Kyle's drunken explanation of events provided enough circumstantial evidence for a jury to convict him of murder.
A few days prior to Kyle's execution Sashi's mother visits Swyteck who is doing pro bono work at the Freedom Institute and blurts out that she received a phone call from her daughter indicating that she is still alive. Jack, in the interest of justice being served jumps into the case in spite of the police indicating the call is a hoax, the death warrant already signed by the governor of Florida, and the state attorney declaring that the case is closed.
Grippando proceeds to grab the reader with twists and turns of the story that seemingly complicate events beyond any readily visible solution. And, at the same time Jack's wife, Andie Henning is about to have a baby. Andie works for the FBI normally doing undercover work. While still able to handle work prior to going on maternity leave Andie discovers some details related to the crime Jack is working on. She is not able to pass the information onto Jack due to constraints placed on what she can divulge, but does manage to provide some help to her husband.
The book is by any definition an all nighter as are the previous novels in the Swyteck series and certainly motivates readers to seek out the next in this series.

I haven't read many of James Grippando's books, but after reading Gone Again, I plan to read many more of them. As this is the author's 24th novel, I'm looking forward to lots of great reading. I found this book a compelling read and found myself eager to get back to the book again and again. That, to me, is an indication of a good book. I found myself caring about what would happen to the characters and the storyline and was definitely not able to predict what would happen. If you enjoy suspenseful legal thrillers, you'll enjoy this book.

Gone Again is an excellent legal thriller. Grippano manages to take a very over used topic--corporal punishment--and create an exciting plot with a very creative angle. Believable character and intense legal drama make the book a tough one to put down. I did not care for the ending, found it rather anti-climatic after a few hints that something big was yet to be revealed, but it did not detract from my overall enjoyment.

Excellent legal thriller that takes place in South Florida. This is the first James Grippando book that I've read and it was interesting all the way till the end. I especially enjoyed that it takes place in Miami and I was familiar with a lot of the places mentioned in the book, even if you don't live in Florida you will likely find it an engaging page turner. I'm happy to have found this author and going to start reading his novels from the beginning.

Just can't say much about it in a really good way--I really wanted to give it a high review but I can't.

Once the story got going I thought it would turn into a good one but it didn't, it is just riddled with repeat, repeat, repeat and the main part of the story takes place in the courtroom nearly all the way through and that got to be boring since it is just repeat over and over.

I didn't care much for any of the characters to even care what happened to them. The side story of Andie's pregnancy was another boring sideline, dealing with a serious problem with her pregnancy as it draws nearer and nearer just got tiresome with her whiny woe is me, then she goes back to work? Unbelievable!

I'll give it a weak 3 stars.

Do yourself a favor, listen to this book! Jonathan Davis is the best reader out there. I have a few favorite readers, but after Cane and Abe, and now, Gone Again, I am blown away with this reader. Every accent every person in the book, male or female, he is so convincing! The book was great, keeping you guessing till the very end. Grippando, along with Gregg Hurwitz are the best writers of true mysteries, edge of your seat books!!
Penny Kay

I enjoyed this legal thriller. It kept us readers on a real roller coaster ride. Like Jack, we can't tell who's telling the truth and who's not. People kept changing their stories. I liked Jack's and Andie's tender relationship. However, the ending let me down as it was hard to believe that the witness kept the story quiet for three years.

This story kept me interested. Grippando took the dysfunctional family to another level. I can actually visualize his landmark descriptives. I especially enjoy the connection between the FBI agent wife and defense attorney husband. Love the Swyteck series of books and all the characters. Wish it was made for the big screen.

I have read each and every book written by James Grippando. He is one of my very favorite writers. I love the Jack Swyteck series. This book really had me guessing until the end. I love a good page turner that sucks me in from the beginning and that is what I always get with this authors books. Thank you for another great one. I am looking forward to the next great Swyteck book.

Grippando's wonderful character, Jack Swyteck, is the kind of lawyer everyone wants on his side. A man of honor, his dealings with people has the reader pulling for him as he tirelessly fights for justice. All the characters are well written and the outcome is a real shocker. Hats off for another great story.

I have never read any of Grippando's work, but this was really good. The writing was top notch and it kept the readers interest all the way through. It is an anomaly in today's writing. I recommend this book.

The story was hard idea dealing with children and family tries, throw in a murder, disappearance. Legal stuff little more than I would like to read, however very good read, hardly wanted to put it down. Can't wait for his next book.

If you have read others by this author, then you will recognize the main characters. This was a good read but not great.

If you are looking for a good book to rewad I would go for it. Great? Then pass

This is my first James Grippando novel, and it won't be my last. I thought this was going to be the typical legal "thriller", but he writes with such nuance and detail, that it totally took me in and then delivered twists that show true imagination. The suspense will hook you, and keep you until the end. Glad to have found a new favorite character, and author!

This is a 5 star book! Always read Grippando books, but, there is only one problem....Not enough written. Please write more books as I have read most of your books and always have a difficult time doing anything else, once I start reading.
Why do I love your books? They have an intellectual, mystery, adventure, and the unexpected side but all seem to work out great by the end of the book.

I love the Jack Swyteck Series and this is the twelfth book in the series. Great page turner. It keep me in suspense because I had no idea what was coming and had to know. Once you start you can't put the book down...so many twists in the story. So looking forward to number 13! The series is definitely addicting. If you are looking for a legal suspense thriller series than this is definitely the books for you.

This is the second James Grippando novel, featuring Jack Swytech,that I've read and it will be my last.Jack is a lawyer who somehow gets sucked into taking cases that he doesn't really want and defending the most unlikable clients imaginable.To me,he is somewhat of a dufus who gets punched in the face a lot,or is threatened with a punch to the face,and he just lets it all happen! He also seems to have the knack of tripping and falling in the most ridiculous ways possible.Apparently the guy can't even make it out of a grocery store without tripping on something,falling and losing his wallet! The scenario was just plain silly as well as annoying.Another time,he got his legs tangled around a bar stool and down he went! With all the clumsiness and bloody noses that seem to be attached to him,I'm surprised he functions at all! Jack is just annoying.So is his side kick Theo, his wife Andie who,to me.seems like a huge B and his colleague Hannah who comes off as immature and unprofessional.I was very surprised with all the 4 and 5 star reviews these books have gotten,but to each their own.They're just not for me.

I am a huge fan of James Grippando and have read all of his novels and this is one of my favorites. I love the storyline, and it is very well written. I highly recommend Gone Again and all of his books.

I read many books at once. An old habit learned in school.
Usually I switch from book to book. But this one I read straight thru.
I am also an attorney and appreciation Jack s court room maneuver s.
Way to go. Swyteck.

It was highly irresponsible of the author to use a quack interpretation of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) that is entirely different from the actual condition. This phony RAD is used by a highly abusive fringe psychotherapy that claims all adopted and foster children are monsters. But RAD, as officially defined in the DSM-5, is characterized by a child being only very withdrawn. Thus, the author has unfortunately contributed to the vile myth that adopted children with RAD are dangerous and lack a conscience. He should have done better research preparing for this book.

I wouldn't have posted a review, but all of the 5 star reviews needed some balance.
This Jack Swyteck novel, involving his return to the Freedom Institute and their death sentence appeals, is a decent read, but nothing special.
It's an average quality narrative, with a predictable ending, and not nearly as entertaining as the first few in the series. The story meanders on repetitively, and you don't really care much for, or relate to the characters involved in the mystery. I found myself more interested in the resolution of his wife's pregnancy than the main story line.
There are something like 16 out of 18 five star reviews thus far for this average legal/crime thriller. The main problem here is that is when a truly above average or exceptional novel comes along down the road, a reviewer is unable to give it the superior rating it deserves relative to books of this caliber, e.g. "The Firm" or "Absolute Power", or the best Greg Iles or Dennis Lehane. Same league? Hardly.
18 reviews is, admittedly, a very small sample, but I can't help but wonder if the store vets any of the reviewers for friends, family, agents, publishers or reviewers for hire.

Mr. Grippando grabs you from the first words and away you go!! I have listened to ALL the Jack Swyteck novels and feel like they are people I know and keep up with. Jonathan Davis is one of my favorite narrators and he amazing with the different voices that you truly think five or six people are reading the book. GONE AGAIN, definitely got me since I was not expecting the twist, but James Grippando is a awesome writer and genuinely a nice person, all the legal details are spot on since he was trial lawyer for many years. I wait with anticipation for his next novel and click the pre-order button the minute it comes up. Truly entertaining and fast moving!