NO GOOD-BYES Book Reviews

If You Think You Have It Figured Out, Read This Book!

Reviewed by: Anon

I ordered and read the entire E-Book this afternoon. I only took breaks to 'powder my nose', lol! 

There was so much more information included in this book than you can read anywhere else. The book is easy to read and very well compiled. This book does not try to influence what conclusion you should come to having this information, and I like that aspect. 

This book is well worth the read, especially by people who just know they have this disappearance all figured out!

May God Bless Gianni and Little Joey. The adults in this family were old enough to make their own decisions (whether good or bad), but these two little guys weren't. Their little lives were irrevocably changed forever that fateful day/night.

Great book, Rick Baker. 

Read In One Sitting–Book Delivers As Promised

Reviewed by:  Janice M.

I read the e-book; NO GOOD-BYES by Rick Baker.  As promised, Rick sheds some new light on this missing family and he does a great job of conveying very pertinent information that adds some pieces to puzzle of this case.  He does this with respect and allows the reader to formulate their own opinions.

 This book is worth reading and I promise you will have more to wonder about after reading it.  You will have a glimpse of Summer’s personality that is very unflattering, to say the least. 

After reading the book in one sitting, my head is spinning with more questions than I had before.  Kudos to Rick Baker for offering a $25,000 reward in this case and I hope and pray for answers to come soon.

Bravo! The Author did a fantastic job! 

Excellent Presentation That Allows Readers To Draw Own Conclusions
Reviewed by: Rudy MattPI

I started reading NO GOOD-BYES 3:03am and finished at 6:04am. I can honestly say that this is the first book I've ever read and completed in my life. I am dazed and shocked that I just read a 230 page book in three hours, and in one sitting. 

You did an amazing job Mr. Rick. This was the best compilation of information I've ever seen in my life regarding a story. You didn't insult anyone, didn't accuse anyone, you simply compiled information and facts and presented them professionally & respectfully and raised questions.

I hope everyone who goes back and forth about this case reads this book. Mr. Rick puts everything in an easy to read, uncontroversial and factual format that will allow the reader to draw their own conclusions on what may have happened.

I am a zombie now and going to sleep, but thanks for that Mr. Rick and your book NO-GOOD-BYES. You are a great guy and anyone that talks negative about this book should be ashamed of themselves. I hope that when the loonies read this they will see that your only mission was to inform and help find two innocent kids, not to "discredit" anyone or make a "personal gain".

Well done my man!

Now I Understand Why The Author Is So Passionate About This Case
Reviewed by: Sara I

NO GOOD-BYES is extremely well written and organized and quite a feat considering how much "info" the author had to consider. Well done!

The feeling I have now about the events that led to the disappearance and certain people's behavior directly afterwards, is a mix of disbelief and disgust and I understand why Rick Baker felt so passionate about writing the book. 

Brother, Mother + D's behavior and the timing of the loan mod stuff particularly stood out to me. I also found McGyver's comments about the week before the disappearance gave good insight and i started to wonder is Summer was building up to "something" - whatever that may be. 

Let's hope NO GOOD-BYES is enough to get people talking so this case can finally be solved and hopefully the innocents involved are all ok.

Kudos To The Author For His Hard and Excellent Work 

Reviewed by: Piya Pangsapa

I just finished reading NO GOOD-BYES, the e-book edition. I would have rather ordered the hard copy, as I am 'old-school' and prefer to read a book physically flipping through pages rather than on a computer screen. However, I had no choice because I live and work overseas, plus having learned that the e-book would be released before the hardback, I just couldn't resist! 

First, huge KUDOS to Rick Baker on all his hard and excellent work on this true mystery, which, remarkably, remains a mystery in spite of all that he has uncovered. 

I would like to believe that the McStays, the boys especially, are alive and well, with the last two 'confirmed' sightings. 

I liked the very strange and curious event in Southport concerning the surveillance video. I wondered if Mr. Hill actually saw footage of the video in daylight, and that it suddenly changed to night when you were viewing it with him? The surveillance video he actually watched just two hours earlier was completely different from what he had seen. More mystery.

I was also curious as to why LE did not follow up on so many leads and whether they are hiding anything, or are really biding their time. I guess we will never really know until the truth does come out. 

I do hope that the release of this book gives us all some answers and I sure recommend it to everyone!

An Captivating Book That Brings New Understanding to The Case
Reviewed by: Jennifer Bowerman

I have to admit that I have two separate reviews – one on the author's writing style and one on material and/or the case itself.  

Mr. Baker has a nice writing style that’s easy to read and easy to understand. Some writers try to make every page the crescendo of the book or try to show you how smart they are by using words you have to look up in a dictionary to understand (and they probably just had a thesaurus next to them when they wrote it).  Mr. Baker tells the “story” without mudding up the waters. I use that term loosely as we all know this is not a story, it's very real. Baker's personal investigation and dedication is clearly reflected in how well he explains the family and the mystery by bringing attention to the numerous strange occurrences and inconsistencies of the case. He sheds light, not always good light but light nonetheless, on those who are the key stakeholders and have the power to make a difference with this case. I pray that it finally opens the eyes of some of those stakeholders, media and law enforcement included.

Mr. Baker was very respectful of Patrick McStay as well as Summer's mother and sister. While I still find it odd that they did not do more or are not doing more still.  For example, when Susan says "Summer won't need these where she's at" – why didn’t they march right down to Dugal's office and tell him exactly what Mike and Susan were doing and what Susan had said?

Mr. Baker hits the nail on the head on page 11. His words here are a clear indication of what to me is the heart of the case - the various family members are not reacting in a way that mainstream society would consider "normal."

This leads me to my questions/observations about the facts of the case:

I'm on the fence regarding the details of Summer's past.  Do I think it's completely relevant to the situation at hand?  I'm not sure. There are things in all of our pasts that aren't pretty, and there's a good chance that these things are not an accurate reflection of the person we are today.  

Yes, from what I’ve read I do believe she had some issues to deal with and she probably needed to see a mental health professional.  But given her holistic view of the world, I'm not at all surprised she turned to the natural supplement Anger-ese as an alternative to being over medicated by an overly eager psychiatrist.  Was she a danger to herself or others?  There’s a possibility given the level of anger she reaches so quickly in emails and texts to various people in comparison to the situations.  

Who knows, maybe she overreacted for whatever reason when Joey came home that night of February 4th and ultimately attacked him.  Even if it was a fatal attack, it doesn’t explain the actions of the family afterwards.  

What would they have to gain by covering up the murder of their brother and son, especially if they didn’t even like Summer. Maybe Mike walked in and saw what Summer had done and then attacked her – whether out of anger for what she did to Joey or because he saw a financial opportunity for himself.  Which could help explain Susan’s subsequent actions as well as statements to Summer’s family – she was a mother trying to save her only living son.  But unfortunately that doesn’t explain where the boys are.  And I honestly can’t type what role they might have had in this scenario.

Did Summer and Mike plan this together?  Mr. Baker didn’t show any communication between the two of them and since we don’t know where he was between February 4th and February 13th, we can jump to a theory that puts them in this thing together. Did he arrange for the trooper to be parked where it was?  Did he walk across the border with Summer to give the appearance of it being Joey?  On the video one of the little boys turns to a larger man walking nearby for whatever reason, curiosity or conversation.  Did Mike have help with the entire set up to get Summer out of the country?

There are a few things that really caught my attention, mainly the activity on February 8th and 9th.  Animal Control places a notice on the door dated February 8th.  It’s also stated that they left food or fed the dogs.  Chase Merritt also claims to have been there on February 8th and he too says he fed the dogs.  If Chase was there first and fed them as well as left the shed open for shelter, then why did Animal Control feed them?  And what did the Animal Control notice state?

If, however, Animal Control had been to the house first did Chase see the Animal Control notice on the door?  If he did then why didn’t he go to the authorities or the family immediately after leaving the house?  And if the dogs were fed by Animal Control then why did Chase feel the need to feed them again?

The other thing that surprised me was the statement about how Vick was sick when Summer was living with him (page 136 in an email response from Joey to Summer).  It’s likely just a simple coincidence, but it struck me as odd considering Joey’s recent health complaints.  Maybe Summer’s a black widow that happened upon Joey before she completed her plan with Vick?  But it still doesn’t explain why Mike and Susan acted the way they did.

There are two prime editing mistakes that caught my attention that will hopefully be corrected in the revision. The first is on page 9: “…on the evening of February 4, 2012, an entire family of four vanished from their Southern California home.” This should be 2010, which all readers will no doubt understand. But an editing error just the same. 

Another point is page 102, fourth paragraph; “Yet when McGyver had been at the house just two days earlier on Wednesday night, there were no eggs on the counter or any eyeglasses.” In the context of the page/chapter, I think you meant two days later?

Mr. Baker has done a great job exploring the family and their various backgrounds as well as explaining the inconsistencies and odd actions of the various players in this tragedy.  

He has asked some difficult questions but was respectful of the people involved, namely Patrick McStay and Summer's sister and mother.

I recommend NO GOOD-BYES to all who have followed, or are beginning to now follow this mystery.

A Fascinating Glimpse Into This Case

Reviewed by: Kim Thompson

This is the first book that has been published about the McStay Family who went missing from Southern California in February of 2010.

Having heard of the disappearance on national news when it occurred, I soon became captivated by this family’s story. I was delighted to learn that a book was being written on the subject and hoped to learn a few new details in the process.

Author Rick Baker has interviewed associates and others close to the case and has travelled around the country in an attempt to shed light on this compelling mystery. 

Baker brings to light several likely scenarios and gives readers plenty of food for thought by way of his investigation which highlights interactions between family members and acquaintances conducted both before and after the family’s disappearance. I was absolutely stunned by some of the revelations presented in this book.

Far from solving the mystery, Baker’s book raises more questions than it answers. It is a fascinating glimpse into the background of a case that has gained the public interest and concern for three years. I greatly recommend this book to those who have followed the case from the beginning and to those who appreciate a real-life mystery as well.

Compelling and Will Leave You on The Edge of Your Seat

Reviewed by: Lorene Seman

February 4, 2013 marks the third anniversary of the mysterious disappearance of the Joseph and Summer McStay family from their home in Fallbrook, California. It appears that they just walked away. For 3 years (1,095 days), there has been no confirmed sighting of the family.  

In No Good-Byes, Rick Baker does a thorough job of documenting his investigation regarding circumstances leading up to the disappearance and the speculative actions of people close to the family after the disappearance.  

No Good-Byes reveals never-before released information which contradicts incorrect information provided by Mike McStay and law enforcement.  This information includes what really occurred regarding Joey McStay’s bank accounts with riveting documentation. There is evidence that the house was staged.  

Mr. Baker’s investigative journalism provides insight into who stood to gain from Joey’s disappearance. Lies are exposed. More of Summer’s quirkiness is revealed.  

While law enforcement seems to be treating this case as a voluntary disappearance, there is much evidence to suggest that something more sinister happened to the family and that people close to the family may be responsible. 

Mr. Baker provides shocking information about Joey’s employee, Dan Kavanaugh. He reveals the astonishing and questionable actions of Joey’s brother, Mike McStay, in the days and months following the disappearance. It is evident that Mike McStay knows more about the family’s disappearance than he is revealing; a family of four doesn’t just disappear without assistance from someone. 

No Good-Byes is a well-written and compelling read that will leave you on the edge of your seat.  Hopefully, this book will raise awareness regarding the missing McStay family and assist in locating the family.

Do you have a review?  Email it me to me and I'll post here. rglennbaker@mac.com.