No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson

No One Goes Alone Reviews

• 
  Regina

  I scratched my head a lot while listening to No One Goes Alone. It’s either because I’m confused or because I’m trying a new shampoo.
  
  No One Goes Alone has all the makings of a 5-star winner for me. Erik Larson, renowned author of narrative nonfiction modern classics like The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake, has written a ghost story - his first foray into fiction - that is being released only on audio. Hooray!!!
  
  But not so fast. Larson explains that he chose this audio-only approach because ghost stories are best told out loud. So then why is the audiobook so mundane? If you’re going all-in on that format, then go ALL IN! Why is there only one narrator, who misses the mark on voicing American accents and women? Why are there no sound effects? Why was I bored?
  
  I just don’t get it. Maybe if I had been captivated by the story itself I could have overlooked the flaccid production. Listeners follow the real William James as he and a team of paranormal researchers undertake a fictionalized investigation into strange occurrences on the Isle of Dorn in 1905. So it’s kind of a “locked island” mystery with ghostly elements that will appeal to fans of books like Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and maybe even Christie’s And Then There Were None.
  
  As much as I want to nudge my rating up to 3 stars, it was just ok for me and Goodreads tells me that makes it a 2. There are many positive reviews of this, so if you’re a Larson fan please do check those out. I’m just disappointed… and off to find a different shampoo.
  
  I received an advance listening copy from PRH Audio to listen to via Libro.fm. No One Goes Alone is now available.
  
  Blog:
  https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
• 
  Holly B (Catching up!)

  Audio Book / 7 hours 36 minutes
  
  3.5 STARS
  
  No One Goes Alone is Larson's first work of fiction. For me it was a historical, gothic, suspense story. It was more spooky than scary. I did enjoy it, but didn't love it.
  
  Some parts felt a little bit like an old-fashioned, Agatha Christie paced type of locked room mystery with Haunting of Hill House vibes (just in my opinion). The year is 1905 and the setting is a cottage on an isolated island with enormous cliffs and a stormy sea. The characters seemed like "real" people. It is dialogue heavy with lots of talk about the research the team has planned. They are investigating some strange disappearances. For me, the science/ research talk was too heavy handed which took away from the flow of the story (it gets technical). A lot goes on, and there are a lot of interesting characters.
  
  Expect a mild ghost story, a few intense moments, and a big dose of the unexplained.
  
  Julian Rhind-Tutt did a great job on narration. Recommend to fans of historical fiction, gothic settings and light mysteries/ mild ghost stories. Don't miss Larson's notes at the end of the audio.
  
  Thanks to PRH Audio (via Libro.fm.) for my review copy. Available as of Sept 28, 2021
  
  
• 
  Beata

  I really enjoyed this audiobook, perhaps the right time and mood? Mr Larson did just what I needed: he wrote an atmospheric book, with an intriguing mystery of disappearances that occur on a remote island, set the the beginning of the 20th century, not too scary but definitely generating the feelings of uneasiness and curiosity.
  OverDrive, thank you!
• 
  Larry

  Wasn’t sure I would finish. I love the author’s style and other books, but I found this ghost story really slow, and quite frankly, boring. In my mind, I envision the Sentinel ghost to look like Iron Maiden’s Eddie, so there’s that. To sum it up, my favorite part was the author’s notes at the end of the audiobook, which I found more interesting than anything I’d read prior.
• 
  Liz

  This audiobook just called out to me. I’ve always been a fan of Larson’s nonfiction books. And in college, I wrote a paper on the mystical experience, drawing heavily on William James’ book, The Varieties of Religious Experience.
  So, I was prepared to really enjoy this audiobook. (Larson has only made the story available as an audiobook because he says ghost stories are meant to be told.). But I just felt confused. I spent the first few hours wondering if I had missed something. Then I realized the fault definitely lay with the book, not with me. The story lacks a sense of continuity. The characters never felt fleshed out. And the story just came across as flat. I never felt any tingles of anxiety, didn’t really care who lived or died.
  I always say the mark of good historical fiction is the ability to slip in facts without delaying the progress of the story. Larson included lots of interesting facts but they totally waylaid the story. I can only hope Larson returns to the nonfiction he does so well.
  Julian Rind-Tutt was a lackluster narrator, although I don’t think any narrator could have helped this story.
  
• 
  Sheyla ✎

  Erik Larson does an only audio format of a locked-in island ghost story.
  
  Why?
  
  Because he believes ghost stories should be told out loud and I agree with that statement.
  
  What is No One Goes Alone about?
  
  A historical fiction novel set in the 1900s where the psychologist William James invites a group of people to the isle of Dorn to investigate the disappearance of a family. The group goes there to prove or disprove the possibility of the mystical.
  
  To mention a few, the group included William James, a psychologist as mentioned earlier. Adam Winter is an illusionist who is ready to debunk it all. Katherine is a woman who is there because she had seen a ghost as a child. Madeline works as a forensic pathologist while Beatrice is there as a records keeper. Josie Frost is the narrator of the story. Frost is the youngest in the group. He is an electrician who has knowledge of the newest technology of the time, the telegraph.
  
  This group must decide if what happened to the family who disappeared was an accident vs murder or was there something more nefarious at play?
  
  I would say that the story was ok for me. I was able to follow the characters well thanks to the narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt.
  
  The weird rodents, the cove, the cellar, the cliffs, and the surrounding water helped set the eerie and atmospheric setting. The ending felt rushed to me. I also felt like there was a missed opportunity between two characters and the epilogue was too gloomy.
  
  Cliffhanger: No
  
  3/5 Fangs
  
  A complimentary copy was provided by Random House AudioBook via Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
  
  
  MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It |
  Facebook |
  Twitter |
  Instagram
• 
  Terrie Robinson

  "No One Goes Alone" by Erik Larson is quick atmospheric listen with a creepy gothic feel!
  
  In 1905, American Psychologist William James leads a group of researchers who sail to the Isle of Dorn, in the North Atlantic, to investigate several mysterious disappearances. They plan to explore the only cottage on the island, which is also their base of operation, and the surrounding vegetation for an explanation to the disappearances.
  
  The setting is atmospheric and perfect for questionable happenings. Logic is weighed in heavily even as the events become more sinister and eerie. It's an interesting mix of real people, a fictitious island, and the logical versus the paranormal. The "creep-factor" is tangible here!
  
  The author believes ghost stories are best told aloud so his first attempt at fiction is only offered as an audiobook. I enjoyed the male narrator's British accent and his believable American accenting, but unfortunately his gender voicing for the female characters was confusing.
  
  Additionally, sound effects and dramatic music would have enhanced the listening experience. With historical fiction there needs to be more backstory and this was lacking for both the island and the characters. These were big misses for me!
  
  I enjoyed this story overall and do recommend it to those who enjoy a quick atmospheric listen with a creepy gothic feel. 3.5 stars!
  
  Thank you to PRH Audio and Erik Larson for a free copy of this audiobook via Libro.fm. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
• 
  Darla

  How many days of slowly increasing creepy occurrences will make our Dorn expedition realize the truth of the title? More than I thought was reasonable, that's for sure! This Audio Original (and first fiction offering by Larson) is a supreme tale of good vs. evil. The ending notes by Major Josiah Frost elevate the narrative from four stars to five. Want some thrills and chills in your autumn? This is the title for you. I still have goosebumps and I have been finished with the book at least a quarter of an hour ago. Well done, Erik Larson. You have given me two of my favorite reads for 2021.
  
  Thank you to PRH Audio and Libro for a complimentary copy of this new release. It was a treat!
• 
  Tracy

  Erik Larson's No One Goes Alone is a phenomenal ghost story full of historical information and fascinating complex characters.
  The terror crept up on me so slowly that when the horrors start occurring I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. What made it especially terrifying was the close atmospheric feel of the ship they were on and the intense, resentful, and highly contentions interactions between key characters - who were expected to be working as a professional and collaborative team.
  It ended in the blink of eye and I definitely plan on listening again.
  Julian Rhind-Tutt was the perfect choice as narrator. He was spot on with pace, accents and tone of voice - easily keeping me on the edge-of-my-seat for the duration, and making it frustratingly difficult to pause. Erik Laron reads his end notes which added much appreciated and educational additional takeaway information. Highly recommend.
• 
  Faith

  The author’s nonfiction is wonderful. Unfortunately, his first work of fiction is a tepid ghost story with an unoriginal premise. A bunch of people find themselves unable to escape from an inaccessible location and spooky things ensue. In this case, since the author likes history, many of the characters are real people, or have links to real people. One invented character kept mooning over one woman or another. It was really annoying. The author also thought it was a good idea to release this book in audio format only. I doubt that that was a good idea. The narrator, Julian Rhind-Tutt, was OK, but nothing special was done with the format itself that would make this book a “must listen”. I didn’t hate this novella, but I look forward to the author’s next nonfiction book.
• 
  Olivia (Stories For Coffee)

  Nothing happened.
• 
  Ellery Adams

  I enjoyed Mr. Larson's first foray into fiction. As ghost stories go, this one was unique because many of the characters were based on real people. They behaved and spoke like real people and I felt connected to them almost immediately. The pacing is quick - I finished the book in one sitting (it helped that I went on a long hike) and was eager to hear what would happen next. I was entertained from beginning to end, and the only thing preventing this from getting that all-important fifth star was the ending. It felt rushed and somewhat incomplete and I think an opportunity was missed there. If you're looking for a smart, clean, eerie read, you won't be disappointed with No One Goes Alone.
• 
  Alma Katsu

  If you've read any Larson, you know that his non-fiction is one step removed from fiction: he builds rich narrative stories, not mere compilations of dry historical fact. I loved Thunderstruck (maybe because I have a background in signals intelligence) and it's great to see this rich bit of history--the beginnings of the telegraph and wireless telegraphy--applied in another context. It was fascinating to see Erik Larson take his talent for historical research and storytelling to fiction.
  
  This story is great for anyone who enjoys mining for nuggets of real history in an engaging story.
• 
  Anima Miejska

  It was an interesting thought experiment, very well-done audio version, yet sadly nothing extraordinary...
• 
  Carol

  Libro.fm generously granted a free audio edition of No One Goes Alone. written by Erik Larson with narration by Julian Rhind-Tutt and Erik Larson, publisher, Random House Audio Book.
  
  It doesn't always work but I truly appreciate an author trying something new. New in this case is a divergence from non-fiction by one of my favorite authors. This is doubly hard for me to fathom as generally non-fiction writers stick with that genre. I knew what I was getting so what did I think? I could easily see his usual methodology of inspiration, research, plotting, and tight narrative that Larson is known for in this, his first toe dip into fiction.
  
  Often his non-fiction beginnings start with something he's read that sparks his curiosity enough to tell the tale. In an interview with Libro.fm, Erik explains that while researching Thunderstruck
  
  ”I came across a lot of tantalizing material about the Victorian-era obsession with ghosts and the afterlife, which led some of Britain’s greatest scientists and thinkers to join the Society for Psychical Research. I thought wouldn’t it be fun to try to bring some of this to life through fiction, and the result was No One Goes Alone. I like to think of it as a ghost story with footnotes, though fear not, it does not have a lot of little tiny numbers linked to a ponderous bibliography.” .
  
  I've no complaint with the finished product. There is much fact in the story, evident as I listened along but the source essay by Larson himself, noted some things I had missed in the truth of the tale.
  
  That Erik Larson can write is evident and though his non-fiction certainly has engulfed me, I feel he took a risk and perhaps found it gratifying to flesh out this book. Give it a go. I don't think you will be disappointed.
  
  Larson thought Julian Rhind-Tutt narrated well. With many British characters, Rhind-Tutt, a British actor/narrator, seemed to fit the story also bringing just the right amount of pauses, tone and suspense to carry out its ghostly theme.
  
• 
  Barbara K.

  The background on this is that Erik Larson, well-known for his non-fiction accounts of phenomena such as a devastating hurricane on the Texas coast (
  Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History), a serial killer at a World's Fair (
  The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America), and the race to develop wireless telegraphy (
  Thunderstruck) decided to write a ghost story set in roughly the same time as those three books, the turn of the 19th century. It would feature an investigation of possible paranormal activity by members of the Psychical Research Society, an actual organization begun some years earlier to either prove or debunk such events. Several of the members of the Society, including the eminent psychologist William James, would participate in this research, set on an isolated island that had been the location of a number of odd events.
  
  The story would be written in a style evocative of William's brother, the acclaimed novelist Henry James, and it would only be available in audio, since ghost stories are best told, rather than read.
  
  So how well did Larson fulfill these ambitions? Very well, to my ears. Listeners who are expecting a different kind of ghost story, one that doesn't feature all of these elements, may be disappointed. Indeed, the other two members of my RL book club weren't quite as taken with it as I was.
  
  Part of the problem, I think, is the challenge of having readers suspend disbelief, as is required for a good ghost story, and yet incorporate realistic investigative components. James and many of the others are able to find rational explanations for most of the occurrences the team encounters - but because of the personalities and predilections of the 7 individuals, a lack of candor disguises some experiences, masking some inexplicable qualities.
  
  The isolated island location is nicely rendered, and the tone of the book is truly reminiscent of Henry James' authorial style. With that said, enthusiasts of
  The Turn of the Screw may find that this suffers by comparison - but as much as I have always loved Turn, I was able to enjoy this on a different level. In a nod to today's preferences, 3 of the 7 characters are women, one a respected journalist and another a pathologist.
  
  Where I think this book really hits it out of the park is the narration, by Julian Rhind-Tutt. He is nothing short of brilliant, especially with William James' voice. All the other characters are British, and Rhind-Tutt seemingly effortlessly slips into the voice of an educated, elderly American suffering from heart disease. It was utterly convincing and added greatly to the authentic tone. This is one point where our group was in agreement. I'm not usually pre-disposed to select books based on the narrator, but after hearing Rhind-Tutt in
  The Master and Margarita and now this, I will definitely give a second consideration to any book he narrates.
  
  The book was all that I hoped it would be, with the concluding pages adding an extra frisson. 5 stars from me!
• 
  Abyssdancer (Hanging in there!)

  This was my first Audio book, only because Erik Larson, one of my favorite authors, wrote it and released it only as an audio book …
  
  This story is a creepy gothic haunted house story set during the end of the Victorian era about a group of researchers gathered together by William James (yes, that William James) to study supernatural phenomena at Dorn Cottage, which is located on an island off the coast of England … as the days pass, the haunting of the island becomes more pronounced, with the disappearance of their boat, the discovery of a young boy’s corpse, and the mystery of Josiah’s dysfunctional wireless telegraph machine … the culmination of the island’s demonic possession was exciting and suspenseful leading to the death of one of the characters, and a reunion with a lost loved one for another character …
  
  My experience of this book is mixed … I loved the characters in this story, especially Catherine, whose kindness toward Josiah, warmed my heart, because a lot of the time, the other characters kind of picked on Josiah … I also liked the tension between Josiah and Adam, who was invited to the cottage precisely because he is keen to differentiate a falsehood in the field of magical and psychical research … there was a strong chemistry between the characters, and the psychical phenomena became scarier as the story carried on
  
  However, I did not particularly like the voice of the narrator … his American accent for William James kind of sounded like a bad John Wayne impersonation (part of me kinda waited for him to say “pilgrim” at the end of his sentences) and he engaged in a weird breathlessness when reading the parts of the female characters … and I was disappointed in the epilogue … none of the characters particularly led any happy or satisfying ending, and there’s an unbelievable twist when it came to Josiah’s fate …
  
  But I would still recommend this audio book … there was a healthy balance between character development and plot twists, and the build-up of tension between the characters and the haunted island was rather thrilling …
• 
  Renee

  This book is audio-only (allegedly; we'll see) and is Erik Larson's first foray into fiction. However, as he regularly humanizes major historical figures and hypothesizes and extrapolates in his non-fiction books about how they must have been feeling, writing a fictional book based on a variety of factual surrounding events isn't such a stretch.
  
  This book is a ghost story. As the author's note at the end quotes from a psychologist in 1917, the problem with ghost stories is that they're either a story of pure creation or they're... just a hodgepodge mess. With that attitude, he writes of skeptics and scientists going to a mysterious place and attempting to debunk - or agree! - with the theories around it. What they then discover defies explanation for entirely different reasons.
  
  What I liked: I always enjoy when authors set up brief skeptic vs. believer moments and then they walk you through all the ways to believe or not believe, because it's fun to listen to the logical deconstruction. The fact and fiction are beautifully woven together - you'll end up searching for information about the cottage and the society - and some of them will be composites and some of them will be true, which makes the story more enjoyable. There's hints of romance - but it doesn't end in a predictable way. The character of Mrs. Northrup - I heart her and would listen to a historical re-telling of her backstory Mr. Larson! James Williams is a believable leader with the best one-liners: "I pledged a long time ago to never disagree with a woman armed with a gun."
  
  What I didn't like: This bit right here, is totally about me reading it and not something you might have a problem with, but... Josiah, our narrator, is borderline incapable of dealing with women and is kind of a whiney brat - and he's called out on it by his colleagues because he's the youngest of them all at thirty-something? Which... dude grow up! Maybe not knowing how to act around women was historically accurate but c'mon Mr. Larson. It's a ghost story. I think we can drop some of this accuracy. I want to be haunted by the atmospheric setting, not thinking that the next electrical engineer I meet is torn between saying "girl. pretty girl. smell good." and "why don't they like me and include me? It must be THE WOMEN THEY RUIN EVERYTHING." Man-Child, one day if you try very hard, you may become a Man-Man.
  
  This book contains: No swearing, no sex (though some flirtation and smooches and the bearing of ankles and calve muscles! Hold my metaphorical beer so that I may better clutch my metaphorical pearls!), a lot of drinking to settle ones nerves and over-drinking to compensate for one's feelings, tales of the supernatural, and some fun facts I didn't know about Mark Twain.
  
  
• 
  Sarah

  After reading the description, I was expecting a spooky ghost story, but what I got was a dull haunted house story with a side plot explaining how wireless telegraphy worked. The ending was exceptionally anticlimactic. Since this was an audiobook only, I was expecting a lot from the narration but it didn’t deliver either. The narrator made every character’s voice the same. It would have really benefited from multiple narrators and possibly some sound effects to liven things up.
• 
  Justin Hall

  Wow wow wow!
  Thanks sooo much for this early access from PRHAudio! As a huge fan of Larson non-fiction I was all too excited to read or listen to his first Audio only fiction novel!
  With all the feels of the greats like Jackson, Lovecraft and Henry James this book has an intense suspense and truly horror gold!
  Of course he creates his characters from actual people from the turn of the century and that gives the book even more dramatic effect. I know this is just coming out but I am going to be pining away for a cinematic version of this tale. I loved this book. Probably my favorite horror book this year. (I have read a lot)
  Anyway... Get this audio and feel free to chat with me about it!
• 
  Bon

  Wow. this was...not a great time. The brevity spared it a worse rating, but what the hell? All the women in this, first and foremost, felt like bland accessories to the plot, patronized and belittled by all the men. The narrator spent the first half of the book in a horny haze, his narration unable to go long without remarking upon a woman's build or appearance.
  
  The actual "ghost story" was bogged down by scientific drivel and a confusing explanation. Interdimensional timey-wimey hand-wavey things happened. I don't think I could sum this up if asked. Bleh.
  
  Larson should stick to nonfiction, in my opinion. 2.5 stars rounded down.
• 
  Claire

  Who doesn’t want to read a ghost story grounded in History? Larson is one of my fave writers of historical non-fiction, and this story shows us that he is just as adept at exploring the past through fiction. No One Goes Alone is spooky, atmospheric, and historically accurate. It’s beautifully produced in audio, building tension with expertise. A fun, engaging novel. If you love History and ghosts, this is for you.
• 
  Kasa Cotugno

  This was fun and the narrator was great, but I prefer his nonfiction works.
• 
  Laura

  This was *not* my jam.
  
  I read quite a few raving 5 star reviews of this prior to starting it… I am utterly baffled. I was SUPER bored the entire time… 7+ hours of practically nothing happening. I don’t even grasp how this is classified as a ghost story. Given that Larson chose to make this a audiobook ONLY release, you would think they would have gone all out with the recording. The British narrator put me to sleep. While he did do a good job with different voices for the different male characters, I would have greatly appreciated a female reading the multiple different female characters. Altogether there were zero suspenseful or scary/creepy moments in this. Hard pass.
• 
  Eugenia

  I was hoping for a spooky ghost tale, but I didn’t get one.
• 
  Jen

  Update, after talking to some fellow readers: consensus is that the issue wasn’t the format, it’s the story. So I’ve officially given it 1 star, which is generous.
  
  I don't even know what to say about this book. I was confused the whole time, I couldn't keep the characters straight, I had no idea what the mystery they were trying to solve was, nor what the resolution was! I almost DNF'ed at 91% done. That's how bad this was for me. However, I'm not giving this a star rating because as this was an audio-only book, it might have been partially the format. I struggle with audio in general, and add a story that just didn't interest me at all was a recipe for disaster from the start. If nothing else, it taught me that I need to be very selective with my audio choices, likely non-fiction only.
  
• 
  Lindsay

  Interesting. Larson’s first fiction book is an audio-only ghost story? I liked it, but it wasn’t as ghosty as I wanted. Think of this as 75% historical fiction (extremely well researched and technical historical fiction) and 25% ghost story.There are a few very intense spooky parts. But overall, I just liked this one but didn’t love it. It actually reminded me a lot of The Haunting of Hill House. Great Halloween read for anyone who scares easily, because this ghost story is on the mild side.
• 
  Linda

  I've read most of Mr Larsen's beautifully researched nonfiction books and loved every single one. This first attempt at fiction set in Victorian England is a tired formula attempt at a gothic historical thriller.
  My suggestion is read Isaac's Storm, Devil in the White City or Dead Wake (all historical nonfiction he's written) and pass on this book. 3 stars because he's one of my favorite authors and this book isn't horrible just ordinary.
• 
  Cynthia

  Erik Larson believes ghost stories are best told out loud. That is why you will not find a print copy of his first work of fiction. You can only follow this team of researchers to a remote island in 1905 where they’ll investigate inexplicable disappearances via audio, so you may need to make an exception if audiobooks aren’t normally your thing, especially if you want to witness some unsettling events! It’s out today (9/28/22) and it is a great companion to a cool fall evening!
  
  No One Goes Alone is exquisitely written. Larson skillfully created an atmosphere that felt very much like an old, ghostly tale to be told around a campfire. There were some wonderfully eerie vibes dispersed throughout, which held me captive until the end.
  
  I suppose I simply expected more from the conclusion. It mostly felt anticlimactic, although the the last few lines did revive the chilling atmosphere, letting it all linger as the story closed. I thought, however, with such a ghastly buildup, I’d be more frightened and satisfied by the climax.
  
  There is no denying that Erik Larson writes incredibly well. Since this was his first venture into fiction, I think the area where it failed me is quite forgivable. He did create a wholly immersive paranormal tale that may be better appreciated, as a whole, by other readers. I’m a rather avid scary story consumer, so it’s possible my expectations were too high. Regardless, I do hope he’ll continue to tuck pieces of fiction in between some of his nonfiction publications!
  
  I am immensely grateful to Penguin Random House Audio and Libro for my audio review copy.