No Way Out by Fern Michaels

No Way Out Reviews

• 
  Brenda

  I was looking forward to a “gripping novel of suspense” but I soon found out that this book was more like a cozy mystery that I never really got into. It didn’t grip me.
  The story started out interesting enough with Ellie, a woman who doesn’t leave her home. I wanted to know why and what the event was that caused this. This kept me reading, in hopes of finding out soon. Then Colleen and Jackson were introduced to the story with Mitchel, the husband/father. This was a domestic abuse situation that escalated quickly in the chapter.
  
  As I was reading, waiting for some information to why Ellie was almost a recluse, it began to appear that the main character was really Colleen, not Ellie as the book's summary suggests. There wasn’t enough in the story about Ellie and her memory loss and what happened with her boyfriend.
  
  In addition, I found it hard to believe too many details about the characters and setting. The small town as described was just a bit too idyllic... it was too much like "Mayberry." Mitchel's reform happened too quick for it to be realistic. Colleen’s new romance was too fast. Hector, as a teenager, wouldn’t have time to do the amount of work that he is given credit for.
  
  The plot came to an end pretty quick and was anticlimactic with many situations working out for the positive so easily. No cliffhanger, no “wow” moment. I didn’t hate the book, I did finish it, but I felt like there was too much that was lacking.
  
  Thanks the NetGalley and Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
• 
  Erth

  No suspence. No thrill.
  I expected better from this author after having read many, many of her books. This bordered on boring and was one of those books that while I'm reading it my mind wanders and when I focus I noticed that I read a couple pages and have no idea what I read. It tries to build you up for this big ending and when you get to it the boyfriend gets to the front of her house, starts yelling, and then is taken away by the cops. That's it. I don't know why I finished this book to begin with other than the anticipation that maybe the ending would save the story...but no.
• 
  Susan

  Really enjoyed this one... the ending was so quick and rather anti climactic.
• 
  Cara

  I'm at a loss for words, No Way Out by Fern Michaels was so good! Fern Michaels has been on my author radar for a while now, and I will continue to read her books. No Way Out is a gripping suspense novel, and gave me the chills, I love when a book does that to me! My only disappointment was the ending happened so quick and nothing was explained as to what happened to the other families, but all in all I loved this story. I was hooked from the very beginning. This story truly touched my heart, and it will be a long time before I forget this story.
  
  Ellie Bowman barely remembers the incident that put her into a coma. When Ellie awoke at the hospital she was so confused as to what happened and why she was there. Ellie woke up with bruises all over her face. Ellie knew she needed to get away from her old life and recover in safety. Ellie moves to a rural town in Missouri where no body knows her, all her neighbors know her as the lady who never leaves her house. Ellie trusts no one except her business partner. Ellie's neighbor Colleen keeps trying to invite Ellie over for tea, but Ellie won't budge.
  
  Colleen Haywood, Ellie's neighbor gets into a domestic dispute with her drunk husband Mitchel one night, that one night Colleen decides she's had enough of Mitchel's behavior, Colleen wants to protect her son Jackson. Ellie has a dog named Buddy, who Jackson has quite adored and always pets him through the fence. I often found myself cheering on Ellie, Colleen, and Jackson. One day Ellie gets a call from her best friend Kara that Ellie's boyfriend Rick is back in town. No one has heard from Rick since before the incident, so why is he back now?
  
  Ellie has severe nightmares that play back to the night of the incident. Ellie wants to move forward with her life, but first she must find the courage to look into her past, no matter what she finds. Ellie and Colleen develop a friendship over the phone because Ellie won't go outside, Ellie has a high school student who gets her mail, does her shopping for her, and does all her gardening for her. My heart broke for Ellie and Colleen as well for everything they both have been through.
• 
  Jen

  I've never read Fern Michaels before, but I'd classify No Way Out as a cozy. It started out very interesting with a young woman who never left her house. I wanted to know why and what she was afraid of.
  A second thread involves a case of domestic abuse in the neighborhood.
  
  What could have been a really suspenseful read turned into a "everything works out in the end" sort of book. That's fine, but building so much suspense and curiosity and then having half the characters reform completely--makes the original suspense feel false.
  
  I didn't hate it, but it isn't really a genre I enjoy; however, it should appeal to those who are already fans of Fern Michaels.
  
  NetGalley/Kensington Books
  
  Cozy. March 30, 2021. Print length: 322 pages.
• 
  Mary Lynn

  This is the first Fern Michaels book I have read, and it will be the last. Written at about a fourth grade reading level, the two dimensional characters are all of average or below average intelligence. Story events are rehashed in conversations in case you missed information the first, second, or third time it was conveyed. A purportedly smart woman with a magnificent backyard isn’t smart enough to teach her dog to poop in a specific place, thus effectively ruining the whole yard. The child is portrayed as a moron. The unexplainable behavior of the mother-in-law is commented on over and over. No way would Colleen ever have married her drunken, smoking, violent husband (Who is now supposedly going to change his life for the better.)I would recommend reading this book if you are feeling rather brain dead and don’t want to do much thinking.
• 
  Cindy

  Many thanks to Kensington Press for the complimentary copy of Fern Michael’s “No Way Out”. I want to say that my response to this book would have been totally different had it not been marketed as a thriller.
  There is no way that I can spin a positive review of this book. It is a mediocre attempt for a mystery much less a thriller. Promoted as a “gripping novel of suspense” on Amazon, this story fails to connect on all levels. I am sure that I would have a different opinion of the story had it been advertised as a “feel-good” neighborhood tale but for me, there was no suspense in this story.
  We are introduced to Ellie, a reclusive, “tech geek”, “techno whiz”, gamer, and computer support person who finds companionship in her dog, Buddy, and cat, Percy. She has not been out of her house in 2 years and has created a fortress to rival Fort Knox. When the reason for her fear is disclosed, well…let us just say it is much ado about nothing. Based on the story, I felt like it was an overblown response to the situation.
  Ellie can maintain her lifestyle, thanks to the help of Hector. Hector is a high school student that Ellie met through online gaming. Because of Hector, Ellie moved to Hibbing, MO from NYC. Hector runs all Ellie’s errands, maintains the exterior of Ellie’s house, and has created and maintains a garden to rival those in “Southern Living.” His character is beyond unbelievable.
  Ellie’s neighbor is Colleen. Colleen is married to Mitchell. Mitchell has become a chain-smoking, wandering husband who comes home drunk and is borderline abusive. One night, he crosses the line and Colleen calls the police. Based on this one incident, Colleen is fearful for her life and the life of her son, Jackson. She installs a state-of-the-art security system and purchases a Taser from the too good to be true police officer who comes to her rescue.
  Colleen’s young son, Jackson, who spends hours each day playing with Ellie’s dog Buddy never misbehaves despite all the turmoil in his life. Jackson uses terms like “swell” and “yippee.” He comes across as a child of the ’50s, not the 2020s.
  We are also introduced to the rest of the neighbors as the story unfolds. One thread remains constant and that is everyone is just too good and overcomes any flaws in a short time and with minimal struggle.
  The language used is in this book is so outdated. I have listed a few examples but there are many more. The book tone is also very 1050’s. The biggest complaint is nothing exciting really happens in this book; even the scene where Mitchell is abusive is lack-luster.
  There are instances where certain phrases are used repeatedly. We read several times about how Ellie is sure that Hector has cleaned the yard so that Buddy and Jackson do not get in the dog poop.
  I have not read Fern Michael’s other works, but they must be better for her to be such a successful writer. If you are looking for a gentle mystery, then check out Rita Mae Brown or Sofie Kelly.
• 
  Kristina

  No Way Out by Fern Michaels is not what I expected. I was looking forward to a riveting, suspenseful story. Unfortunately, No Way Out is not that type of book. It is reminiscent of a light cozy mystery or a women’s fiction story. This book lacks the suspense and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Ellie moves to the small town of Hibbing, Missouri on a quiet street where there are a variety of residents. We get to meet the various residents as the book progresses. I liked the residents of the lane with their various quirks. Colleen Haywood lives with her husband, Mitchel as well as her eight-year-old son, Jackson. Mitchel drinks too much and becomes abusive. Colleen, Mitchel, and Jackson seem to take up more of the book than Ellie. I liked how we get to see the neighbors helping each other. They are supportive, kind, and accepting. They never picked on Ellie or criticized her for not leaving her home. They accepted her for who she was which I thought was wonderful. I found the ending to be anticlimactic as well as too quick and smooth. There is an epilogue, but it felt incomplete. My favorite phrase from No Way Out is, “Even when you think there is no way out, if you try hard enough, you can usually find a way.” If you are looking for a light book to read by the pool or at the beach, then No Way Out is just the ticket.
• 
  Bridget

  Ellie Bowman moves to a quiet street, Birchwood Lane, in the small town of Hibbing, Missouri where there are a variety of residents. As the story progresses the reader gets to meet many of them with their various quirks and habits. Colleen Haywood lives with her drinker husband, Mitchel as well as her eight-year-old son, Jackson. Ellie, a young recluse, has lived on the street for two years but had never been seen outside by any of her neighbours, nor Hector who helps with gardening and shopping. Her story captivated me and kept me interested, wanting to know what happened to cause her reclusive behaviour. I thoroughly enjoyed this compelling tale of abuse, small-town politics and community life. Highly recommended.
  
  I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
• 
  Robyn

  NO WAY OUT by Fern Michales
  
  Meh! It was a good enough read, I guess. I hung on because I kept waiting for the magic to happen, so it wasn't a thriller or a mystery. I thought it was just a drama about family or neighborhood.
  
  Essentially it was about neighbor women who both have safety issues in their life based on domestic violence, remembered and not remembered. The best thing about the book was the tech stuff and the dog. It is a good enough read, but you should reserve your expectations.
  
  3 stars
  
  Happy Reading
• 
  Julie - One Book More

  Ellie lives a sequestered and protected life. She never leaves her house and lives in constant fear. The only problem is, Ellie doesn’t know why. Suffering from amnesia, Ellie knows her life is in danger, but her memories are vague. Until she figures out the mystery behind her head injury, hospitalization, and subsequent memory loss, she won’t leave her well-protected home or see the people she loves most. Most importantly, she is hiding from her ex Rick, who took off after Ellie’s hospitalization.
  
  Ellie spends much of her time observing the day-to-day lives of her neighbors, but she never interacts with them until a young neighborhood boy named Jackson develops a bond with Ellie’s dog. Slowly, Ellie begins to long for friends, interaction, and a sense of belonging, and she finds a friend in Jackson’s mother Colleen, who is going through trials and tribulations of her own.
  
  However, when Rick reappears, Ellie’s nightmares and migraines return. Determined to understand his role in her injury, Ellie uses her technological skills to find answers. Can Ellie face her past and find out what happened to her? Can she trust her neighbors and friends to help her reenter the world?
  
  The strength of this novel lies in the character development. There are many characters in the story, and they are all well-developed. You really get the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of all of the people who live on Ellie’s street as well as a few who don’t. That being said, there are a lot of characters to follow, and I didn’t feel invested in too many of them.
  
  Much of the story focuses on Ellie’s day-to-day life, as well as the lives of her neighbors. Ellie’s neighbors are an eclectic mix and include an elderly man who lives alone, a teacher and her young son who are victims of abuse, a new family who has just moved in, and a couple who frequently travels. All of these characters influence Ellie’s life, especially Jackson and his mother Colleen.
  
  The relationship between Ellie’s dog Buddy and Jackson is very sweet. I think seeing the daily interactions between Jackson and Buddy propels Ellie to open herself up to others again. Slowly, Ellie warms to the idea of connecting with her neighbors. However, fear of the unknown, especially in regards to her accident, limits her. Colleen and Jackson also need some support, and find it in Ellie, much to the surprise of all of their neighbors.
  
  I did like the messages about the power of supportive neighbors, trusting yourself, embracing friendship, starting over, and reaching out to others when you need help. However, the story is slow-building and slow-paced. I felt like not much happened for much of the story. It progressed so slowly, and then everything wrapped up very quickly and a little too smoothly. Colleen’s abusive, alcoholic husband, his toxic mother, Ellie’s amnesia, and the reason she doesn’t leave her house are all resolved so easily that it felt anti-climactic. I felt like the entire book was a big build-up, but it didn’t really build up to much, and I was left disappointed.
  
  I think people who enjoy women’s fiction and Fern Michaels might enjoy this book, but it wasn’t my favorite by the author. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Eve

  Domestic Thriller / Women's Fiction / Contemporary
  Publication date : March 30, 2021
  
  Ellie is a reclusive “tech geek”. She has adopted a dog and a cat who keep her company. Ellie is suffering from amnesia due to the brain injury. She has no recollection of the accident but she fears she's still in danger, so she keep to herself and never leave her home. What happened to her? What she's running away from?
  
  Synopsis sounded interesting but this story has too many characters to follow. Author constantly jump from one character to another character, then drop them and choose someone else to follow.
  Not fan of fragmented narratives!
  
  "A Gripping Novel of Suspense" also not true as not much happen for much of the story. With so many characters, their backstories, there wasn't much time to build tension. suspense and develop protagonist. Not even sure who the protagonist was. If it was Ellie, then she was more in the backround than in the front, then everything was suddenly resolved and the story ended. Perhaps I had too high expectations but this story was dissapointingly boring and tepid for me.
• 
  Cindy Tebo

  I received a free copy from Kensington books and was asked to give an honest review. I have never read anything by author, Fern Michaels, before.
  
  If you are looking for a true thriller, this book is definitely not it. There is an element of mystery as to why Ellie, one of the main characters, refuses to come out of the house. The only sections where any action takes place is during a scene of domestic violence and toward the end of the book when Ellie's ex-boyfriend hunts her down.
  
  This is more of a feel good novel about redemption where all the major characters go through a transformation. However, I found a number of flaws in the novel which affected how I rated it.
  
  For instance, Ellie is reading the news about the pandemic and other things going on in the world. Yet, there is no mention of anyone wearing a mask. No one is practicing social distancing anywhere in the novel. Jackson, a young boy in the story, goes to school every day and never has to stay home to do his lessons on the computer. I feel it would have been better not to mention the pandemic at all unless the author intends to be consistent with the details. If something doesn't add to your story, don't include it.
  
  Another example is a scene that takes place at a restaurant in Hibbing, MO. The server is described as popping gum and wiggling her hips to impress Mitchel with whom she had an affair. First, every restaurant I've been to during the pandemic, the servers were wearing masks even if the patrons were not. And that's when indoor dining was allowed. For many months, only takeout was permitted. Second, I've worked in restaurants during my high school and college years--we were not allowed to chew gum on the floor. This "waitress" stereotype from the 50's and 60's or from some comedy show didn't work for me. And if you are not going to work in details about how the pandemic alters people's routines, it's best not to mention this happened during the pandemic.
  
  The author also kept repeating certain words like creep and creepy, sometimes on the same page. Another example was "auburn hair." I just read that a paragraph or two ago and she repeats it again. I felt like I was reading a rough draft instead of a polished novel.
  
  Fern Michaels is a best-selling author. If you're like me and this is your first time reading her books, I recommend starting with Michaels' best seller before reading this novel.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Nancy

  Received a free copy from a giveaway and thought I was going to be in for a treat based on the book description. Aside from proofreading and editing, what this book really needs is an updated description. “Ellie” is more of a secondary character and not the story’s protagonist. That role belongs to Colleen. This book reads more like an author’s first attempt at writing a novel. I was shocked to see that she has written well over 100 and is on the NYT best sellers list.
• 
  renee

  Not her best book
  
  I wonder if Fern Michaels was the author of this book. Its not her usual writing and I've been reading her books for years and have always been an avid fan.
  This was a lukewarm mediocre book that lacked Fern Michaels usual personality, style and grace. Not at all like any of her other books.
  
• 
  Creston Mapes

  First book by Fern. From the other reviews I've read, her big fans said this book did not reach up to her potential. Some questioned whether she even wrote it. I see the potential in the writing, but this was a simplistic, repetitive read. And it came to an almost unthinkably abrupt ending. I plan to give some of her earlier books a try.
• 
  Kelly Novorita

  I wish I could get back the 8 days I spent reading this book for it to abruptly end out of the blue! I think someone must have had a vacation planned...never again
• 
  Alex Curtis

  I've read 3 Fern Michaels books.. and they weren't very good.. the ending was so quick and rather anti climactic.. I will add a trigger warning because it deals with domestic abuse.
  
  
• 
  Linda Munro

  The book was good, but the resolution and ending was to quick.
  
  Two years ago, Ellie Bowman awoke from a coma with no recollection of what had occurred. Her boyfriend had disappeared without a word, without a trace. Could he have been responsible for the accident that had left her in a coma?
  
  Using the proceeds from the sale of a video game, Ellie moved to a rural community where she has not since left her house. Things are about to change for Ellie, a curious eight-year-old boy has befriended her dog, and Ellie decides to allow him to come into the yard. Little by little she becomes more active in the community, without stepping foot from her home.
  
  Now Rock, the missing boyfriend had resurfaced, and the nightmares that had haunted her upon awakening from the coma have returned. This time, the nightmares serve as a means to service as a guide for her memory of the incident. Now, in order to calm her fears of Rick coming to end her life, Ellie must push forward allowing people into her life once again.
• 
  Angela Austin

  Great read! Haven’t read one of her books in a long time but definitely a page turner!
• 
  Yvonne

  A different type of book for me, but I liked it.
• 
  CL

  Good read
  
  It has a enough of a backstory to keep you interested and is a take back your life story. Feel good storyline.
• 
  Dun's

  The book starts off okay, centering on the main character who lives in a small town and lives in an almost complete isolation. The synopsis says suspense, but I have to disagree. The writing style and dialogues are very descriptive. There is not much happening and the ending is abrupt.
  
  First time reading Fern Michaels. Thank you for the e-copy I received from the Goodreads giveaway.
• 
  Cassie S

  Absolutely nothing happens. I read through to the end thinking something interesting might eventually happen; it doesn’t.
  
  The main character is supposed to be a computer expert, but is written by someone who appears to know almost nothing about computers, making all of the “hacking” scenes unbelievable and dull.
  
  The characters are not interesting and do not have unique voices, which makes the dialogue awkward. I almost stopped reading when the child character literally says “jeepers”, an extremely weird and dated trope, then immediately returns to speaking like a boring adult.
• 
  Gail Miller

  Very disappointing read. No real suspense, certainly not gripping. Too much time spent on irrelevant story lines. Lackluster ending. I rarely feel like I wasted my time on a book... but I wasted my time on this book.