4.4 out of 5
10,797 global ratings
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From Danielle Steel, a powerful story about fighting for a chance at happiness—whatever the cost.
Charles Vincent seems to have it all—a beautiful wife, two successful children, and a well-paying career. Yet happiness remains out of reach. He is trapped in a loveless marriage and his job is simply a paycheck. But his life changes forever one night as he drives along the Normandy coast, heading to their lavish château for the weekend. In one terrifying moment, Charles falls asleep at the wheel and veers off the road, plunging thirty feet down the face of a rocky cliff.
Miraculously, Charles survives. After gathering the courage to climb to safety, he starts to walk—bruised, bloody, and desperate for help. In the dark of night, he happens upon a cabin where he meets the kind and beautiful Aude Saint-Martin. They have an instant connection, and as she nurses him back to health, Charles begins to discover the passion he’s been missing for so many years.
In the aftermath of the crash, Charles has a startling realization: He doesn’t have to go back. He could simply choose to disappear, to walk away from his old life. When his car is discovered, he’ll be presumed dead, washed away at sea. If he stays with Aude, he has a chance at a fuller, happier life that he didn’t know was possible. It all seems too good to resist. But Aude has secrets of her own, and before long their pasts catch up to them, threatening everything they have fought to build.
What would happen if you were given a chance to walk away from everything in your life and start over with a blank slate, and you had a split second to decide? In Without a Trace, Danielle Steel tells an irresistible story of the risks two people are willing to take in exchange for a chance at the life they’ve always wanted.
304 pages,
Kindle
Audiobook
Hardcover
Paperback
Audio CD
First published January 9, 2023
ISBN 9780593587850
Danielle Steel
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's most popular authors, with nearly a billion copies of her novels sold. Her recent many international bestsellers include Against All Odds, The Duchess and The Right Time. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.
Read more
R.Thomas
5
Love Danielle's books
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
I love her books. this is my second so far and am looking forward to read the rest of her novels. And love how her stories are appropriate if my daughter was to read it.
Jane (Arlington, VA movie-lover)
5
Without A Trace by Danielle Steel.
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
WOW!!! And WOW!!! This book & story is excellent and one of my favorites of Danielle Steel. She writes beautifully! This story is about a wonderful Parisian man who “dares” to have a second chance in life. He is kind, thoughtful and honest, but his wife is nothing like him. She is spoiled, self-centered, extremely materialistic & cares nothing about him = only what he can provide for HER …money wise and with a gift to her of an ocean-front chateau outside of Paris. On driving home late one night from his office to the chateau and falling asleep on a winding ocean cliff road, his car goes over a cliff and plunges 100 feet down into the ocean. He survives but doesn’t get help. He carefully climbs the rocky cliff back up to the road & walks awhile ‘til he reaches a cabin in the woods to ask for help. The young woman who answers the door is young, beautiful & kind. She invites him inside, and washes & treats his bloody wounds on his hands & face. He is blown away by her kindness & beauty, and after he explains his predicament and secretly admits to himself that he doesn’t want to rest, get help or get back to his home at the chateau where his wife is entertaining friends, he decides to stay with this lovely young woman that he is captivated with and, for a indeterminate amount of time he decides to fake his death and recover from his wounds & accident and hopes to learn more of this beautiful young woman who “took him in” and helped him recover & heal. There is a happy & romantic end to this wonderful story. 👍🏻😊
Read more
2 people found this helpful
Kindle Customer
5
Trills, spills and love
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
Danielle Steel has came through with another amazing read! It has smiles love and more a few frights . I am in awe of her story telling. And with this book, there is something to everyone. !
Jean Hettel
5
It makes you think about your own life!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
I Loved the suspense of what's next? Could I ever do the act of disappearing?
De
5
Quality and price
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
no comment
Sue Stevens
5
Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book moved fast and kept your interest. I read it in two days. I loved it. Another amazing novel
Patricia I. Raimondo
4
Easy Read
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
A very simple plot , lots of repetition & and a quick ending. It’s summer beach reading at its best.
mnmloveli
4
Solid, usual read by Danielle Steel
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
JAN 2023 : 4 STARS
DESCRIPTION: Charles Vincent seems to have it all—a beautiful wife, two successful children, and a well-paying career. Yet happiness remains out of reach. He is trapped in a loveless marriage and his job is simply a paycheck. But his life changes forever one night as he drives along the Normandy coast, Charles falls asleep at the wheel and veers off the road, plunging thirty feet down the face of a rocky cliff. Miraculously, Charles survives. After gathering the courage to climb to safety, he starts to walk—bruised, bloody, and desperate for help. In the dark of night, he happens upon a cabin where he meets the kind and beautiful Aude Saint-Martin. They have an instant connection as Aude nurses him back to health. Charles has a startling realization: He doesn’t have to go back. He could simply choose to disappear, to walk away from his old life. When his car is discovered, he’ll be presumed dead. It all seems too good to resist. But Aude has secrets of her own, and before long their pasts catch up to them, threatening everything they have fought to build.
REVIEW: As of this book, I’ve read 26 books by Mrs. Steel and have enjoyed everyone. Most received 4 Stars with some 3 Stars mixed in.
FIRST, I would never have bought this book if I knew it was o my 217 PAGES !!! To me, that’s a short story and not worth $14.99 ! JUST RIDICULOUS !!! I will definitely check page count on any book I buy going forward.
At 30% very descriptive and not much dialogue at all, but I know that’s Danielle’s writing style. Great plot which I would have loved to have read in a full length book.
Read more
15 people found this helpful
Jjspina
4
A story of starting over!
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
Without a Trace is a gripping story of a man beginning anew after a narrow escape with death. What is more important, having plenty of money without love or love without money? This is the question that the main protagonist, Charles Vincent, in this story must decide.
It appears that Charles has it all in his life, wealth, a family, and an important job. But is this enough for him? We see how much he is tormented by what he no longer has - love. When he nearly loses his life in a car accident, he decides to give up his old life and begin anew but this isn't a simple solution to his dilemma.
I enjoyed this book but found it full of redundancy about the feelings, situations, etc. of the characters and scenes. Evidently, the author felt compelled to keep reminding us of what was already relevant. I have read many of Steel's books but have not noticed this repetition in her previous work.
Read more
Laurel
3
Predictable storyline
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
I love this author’s books, but this storyline was predictable. So much so that I skipped sections of the book and just went to the end. Not one of her bests.
4.5
-
6,112
$11.37
4.5
-
8,615
$7.49
4.5
-
8,688
$9.99
4.6
-
4,461
$14.99
4.5
-
4,457
$14.99
4.6
-
7,861
$14.59
4.5
-
1,061
$14.99
4.2
-
100,022
$8.39
4.3
-
155,575
$6.33
4.6
-
140,302
$13.49
4.3
-
88,556
$9.59
4.4
-
94,890
$11.66
4.3
-
154,085
$2.99
4.3
-
143,196
$9.47
4.1
-
80,003
$13.48
4.3
-
54,062
$14.99
4.4
-
59,745
$16.19
4.2
-
107,613
$8.99
4.4
-
94,673
$8.53