"Gone Tonight" by Sarah Pekkanen presents a compelling mother-daughter dynamic steeped in secrets and trauma. The story unfolds through alternating perspectives, revealing the complexities of Ruth and Catherine's relationship as Catherine uncovers her mother's hidden past. While the narrative is engaging and filled with unexpected twists, it occasionally feels slow, which may test some readers' patience. The emotional depth and exploration of familial bonds are commendable, but the pacing detracts from the overall impact. Overall, it's a solid read that captivates but may leave some wanting more urgency in the plot development. 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Orion Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

It is difficult to describe the plot of this book spoiler-free. Gone Tonight centers around Ruth and Catherine, a mother and daughter who live together and have a fairly close bond. Catherine's world comes crashing down when Ruth reveals she might have Alzheimer's, ruining Catherine's plans to move away to a new city. But soon Catherine starts to suspect that Ruth is lying to her and it becomes clear that Ruth has additional reasons for not wanting Catherine to leave.

Gone Tonight is a thriller that sheds its skin many times and becomes many different things. It's a very interesting book and it is carried by the strength of the two main characters. Ruth in particular is well-written and could've honestly been a real person. I liked how I never knew where the book was going to go or what the characters intentions were fully. It's a hard balance to keep characters mysterious whilst not losing reader interest, but this book does it masterfully.

I did feel this book lost some of the steam near the end but I am not quite sure why. Perhaps the focus shifted a little too much off the main two leads and their psychological and interpersonal struggles were really what I was interested in. That isn't to say that the book ends badly and I was still invested throughout, but it became clear to me what was going to happen and it lost some of the magic as a result.

Overall, this is a solid thriller and one of the better examples of the genre. Pekkanen's solo work is just as gripping as her books with Greer Henderson, and if you enjoy cat-and-mouse style thrillers, then this is definitely worth checking out

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Gone Tonight Posed Many a Thought-Provoking Moral Question!

For all of Catherine Sterling’s life it has been just her and her mother Ruth – and as much as she loves her mother, now that she is twenty-four, Catherine is more than ready to accept an exciting new career opportunity in another city.

But over the past few weeks Ruth has been displaying some worrying health symptoms such as confusion and memory problems, which has Catherine reconsidering her decision to move away. Before it’s too late, Ruth has started writing in a notebook – inscribed to Catherine – sharing details from her past starting nearly twenty-five years ago, secrets so shocking that they will shatter Ruth and Catherine’s carefully concealed life.

Wow, Gone Tonight was a nail-biting, intense, disturbing, twisty read, which made me question what I would do if I was in Ruth’s situation. What I really liked about this psychological thriller was that it really made me think about how close is too close when it comes to the adult mother/daughter relationship.



SPOILER AHEAD

A part of me couldn’t help sympathising with Ruth’s fear and paranoia given Catherine’s double whammy genetic history. For a lot of the novel, I could understand Ruth wanting to protect Catherine, her worry that she was predisposed to her mum’s alcoholism and James’ violent behaviour, even though she was both smothering and lying to her daughter.

END OF SPOILER.



I thought Gone Tonight had a very unique beginning and setup and I was completely in the dark regarding where it was going for most of the book because anytime I thought I had things figured out the plot would go in a completely different direction.

While I really enjoyed the first half, I did find the rest of the book (well up until near the end anyway) a little slow and repetitive in places, and some of the situations a tad unbelievable and convenient. Not that I mind that too much in this type of thriller, as too few twists would be boring, and a certain amount of suspension of disbelief is required when reading domestic noir.

Anyway, I was always eager to find out what happened next, and I never considered not reading until the end (unlike the last two novels I’ve tried). All in all, a solid, suspenseful read.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group, and Sarah Pekkanen for the e-ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Overall, I found it to be a bit disappointing. It was easy to read, but there wasn't much excitement. The most interesting part of the plot was revealed early on, and even that wasn't that surprising. I kept reading hoping for something shocking to happen, but the story was predictable and kind of boring. The ending was also underwhelming. There was no real thrill or intrigue, and it left me feeling frustrated.

Told in alternating chapters from the pov of Ruth and her daughter Catherine. Personally, I loved the format. Short chapters, multiple povs, - my favourite way to read a mystery \ thriller.
However, for me, the story itself was rather slowgoing and a little far-fetched.
If Ruth spent 20 years running and hiding, surely it wouldn't be THAT easy for Catherine to discover her past secrets. Far too many coincidences for my liking...
I ask didn't particularly like either character, and we all knew what was gonna happen in the end.... No surprises there.

Told in alternating chapters from the pov of Ruth and her daughter Catherine. Personally, I loved the format. Short chapters, multiple povs - my favourite way to read a mystery/thriller.
However, for me the story itself was rather slowgoing and a little far-fetched?
If Ruth had spent 20-odd years running and hiding, surely it wouldn't be THAT easy for Catherine to discover her past secrets? Far too many coincidences for my liking....
I also didn't particularly like either character, and we all know what was going to happen in the end.... no surprises there.
Another book this year that just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book!
So well written with excellent characters, I loved them all, even the one I probably shouldn’t have. This story grabbed me from the start and had me racing through the pages, desperately wanting to find out what would happen next. It didn’t disappoint… The ending was superb.
I cannot wait for whatever Sarah Pekkanen writes next! If you love a dark, suspenseful, page turning thriller, get reading this wonderful book. I highly recommend it.
4.5 ⭐️

A gripping psychological thriller that explores the dangers of secrets and betrayal, with a twist-filled plot and a shocking final reveal.

Mother daughter relationships can be difficult but this one is just so beyond belief. It is a gripping and terrifying concept.

Predictable thriller, from one of my favourite suspense authors. I was disappointed there weren't any unexpected twists

Gone Tonight follows Ruth and Catherine, a mother-daughter duo, whose relationship is dysfunctional, overwhelming, and obsessive. It’s always been just the two of them against the world. But, as Catherine races against time to learn her mother’s secrets, Ruth must confront her own demons and navigate a web of lies and deception.

This was my first time reading a book by Sarah Pekkanen. It is a completely original story with complex and multi-dimensional characters. The pace is brisk, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. The story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of Catherine and Ruth, and the author does an excellent job of building tension and suspense.

While Gone Tonight is undeniably a thrilling read, it also explores the deeper themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the consequences of our actions. Overall, it is a gripping narrative and the intricate plot will keep you hooked until the very end!

Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!

First book I have read from this author and although overall I did enjoy the read and liked the storyline of mother and daughter I felt some parts were predictable. I did struggle to get through this one.

Having read several collaborative works by Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, my expectations were high for Gone Tonight, and I'm pleased to report that the novel delivered an enjoyable reading experience.

Catherine, the protagonist, grapples with the challenges of her mother's early dementia signs. As she endeavors to provide the necessary care for her ailing mother, Ruth, an unexpected dark secret unfolds. The narrative cleverly unravels this secret through Ruth's POV chapters and the intimate insights shared in her journal entries.

At the beginning, Gone Tonight may not appear to be a typical mystery thriller. However, the story takes a thrilling turn with a significant twist, effectively captivating my attention and compelling me to stay immersed. The dynamic between Ruth and Catherine is a strong element.

While the novel may not break new ground in terms of originality, its strength lies in its well-paced narrative and compelling character development.

Twisty! A mother’s love for her child and the extreme lengths she will go to, to keep them safe. In so many ways I could relate, given the world we live in today.

Where is the thrill in this thriller book?

1. This was an easy read but nothing remarkable happens throughout the book, no jaw-dropping twists, no intriguing turns; the 30% reveal was the highlight of the entire book and that was just average.

2. The reason I kept on frantically flipping the pages is to see if something crazy will happen next but it was all so predictable and kind of boring.

3. You'll have to suspend disbelief, like really chuck it out the window in order to enjoy this book.

4. The ending was so underwhelming, I was hoping for some thrill and intrigue but you know what they say about hope? It breeds eternal misery!

5. Also, now I'm craving Lasagna Pizza but yeah, this was not my cup of tea.

Stunning twists and a real exploration of a mother’s love for her child and the extreme lengths she will go to in order to keep her safe.

Having enjoyed her collaborations with Greer Hendricks, I was intrigued to read this. And much like her collabs, I was captivated by this mother-daughter story from start to finish. The plot is somewhat predictable, but each part cleverly tracks in a different direction despite ending up exactly where you thought. There were also a couple of good late twists. As well as parts, the telling also alternates between mother and daughter, Ruth and Catherine. Both have rich backstories and great character development but it was Ruth's chapters that really captivated me. A great read.

I had high expectations from the book from the Dedication itself. It was a quote from author Fennel Hudson, who has written a series of journals about leading a quiet life. The quote says, “Find a part of yourself hidden in the twilight.’
Interesting how a quote from such a journal should have inspired a plot like this.

Catherine and Ruth Sterling are the only family each knows. Their world is small and it’s about to get smaller. Because Ruth is beginning to forget; she is showing signs of dementia, and daughter Catherine, training to be a nurse, can see the symptoms. On the cusp of moving out to another city to pursue her dreams, she knows she can’t possibly leave her mother alone in this condition. And that’s exactly what Ruth wants: to prevent her daughter from leaving her side.
But Catherine has many questions and she’s old enough to rebel, to give up the itinerant life. Moving every few years, never making any friends, her mother constantly looking over her shoulder.
Now with time running out before her mother’s memories are completely gone, Catherine needs to know about her mother’s past, her family and the man she thinks of as her sperm donor.
The mother and daughter begin to try to deceive the other, the one to protect her daughter from the horrible secrets of her past, and the latter to ferret out those very secrets. Both are suspicious of each other, wary of each other’s secrets, but their love holds them together. Meanwhile, there’s a danger getting ever closer, hurtling towards them.

The book is written in the first person PoVs of Catherine and her mother, Ruth, in alternate chapters.
Speaking of women, Ruth says, "We vanish in the eyes of men when we hit our forties. We dive into roles like motherhood and our identities slip away. We disappear at the hands of predators. We’re conditioned to shrink, to drop weight, to take up less physical space in the world."
"Our brains form memories constantly from the second we wake until we fall asleep. But if the moment we mentally capture doesn’t interest with our attention, we lose the recollection forever. Emotional significance also helps move our memories into our longer-term stockpiles."
I appreciated the bits about Alzheimer’s Disease that the author inserted into the story.
The only issue for me was that for the greater part of the book, Ruth and Catherine are just dancing around each other. It’s frustrating for us. The secrets are revealed slowly, closer to the end, when the pace picks up.
My feelings towards both of them changed as the book progressed. The secret when it finally blows up is certainly huge, but I had serious questions about how Ruth managed her life, particularly when Catherine was a baby. It’s not as easy as the lack of detail has us believe.
Also, why couldn’t Ruth have told her daughter the secret? They would have understood each other better, and have been able to deal with it together.
But then we wouldn’t have had this delicious plot that managed to ratchet up the tension towards the end, and deliver on its promise.

An okay mystery story about a mother and daughter who have spent their time running away from something. With Catherine, the daughter, about to fly the nest, her mother tries to prevent that from happening. This is part domestic drama and part mystery, told from the two perspectives of mother and daughter - one hell bent on hiding past secrets and the other on a quest to expose them.

With thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy

This book completely blew me away! I haven't been this engrossed in a story for weeks.

Gone Tonight follows the lives of a mother and daughter, Ruth and Catherine, who will do anything to protect each other. With Ruth's suspected Alzheimer's and Catherine putting her life on hold to care for her, one lie threatens to tear them apart.

As Catherine digs deeper into her mother's past, she uncovers a web of lies and danger that puts their safety at risk. This page-turner kept me guessing until the very end. While the beginning was a bit slow, once the secrets started unraveling, it was a wild ride that I couldn't put down.

The dual perspectives and timelines added even more depth to the story; Ruth's journal entries not only provide insight into her character but also highlight who she truly is at her core.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for my free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.