The author of If She Wakes returns with the story of "Leah," formerly Nina Morgan before she faked her own death in order to protect her family. After her husband dies in a car crash, she risks exposing herself to the dangerous forces of her past when she takes back her children, who believe she is "Aunt Leah" from a remote corner of Maine.
The story kicks off with an episode from the past that will not make total sense for a while until the present-day narrative starts filling in the puzzle pieces. This made the anticipation for the secrets that were to be revealed that much more satisfying as they worked their way into the plot ... A less effective author may have written himself into a corner [...] and wrapped up the book with an unbelievable plot twist or ending. That is not the case with Michael Koryta, who is a superb plotter. Never Far Away has a satisfying conclusion that allows Leah to live up to her promise that mothers are never far away.