I enjoy reading books where I can really get to know the characters. I also enjoy becoming a fan and falling in love with a somewhat flawed character. People aren’t perfect, so as I read and got to know Emily, I came to appreciate her and her struggles with bipolar disorder. I felt pulled into her mania and desperation at times.

As the plot unfolds, the writing style gives enough clues to develop a theory about what may have happened, but the end is still a thrilling surprise. This makes for an excellent thriller novel. I didn’t want to put it down!

As much as I really enjoyed the first third of the book, once it turned out to be about bio-terrorism, I lost interest. The lead character, Emily, was well drawn (the others may have been overlooked--lacking background) but I had a hard time feeling for her. Overall, the story was well written and flowed pretty well, with some good descriptions, but there was nothing new and the ending was predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Exactly like a thrilling action movie !!

This is rad !! It was really like an action movie where it tells the story of this lady, Emily, who has bipolar disorder being suspected of the murder/disappearance of her boyfriend and she tries to take matters into her own hands to investigate what happened. Throughout the journey she is faced with challenges and dangers that could end her own life.

I appreciate how this book brings awareness about bipolar disorder. I actually checked it out to understand what it was. It must be frightening to not be in control of your thoughts and emotions. I now understand how they function and the difficulties they face, the recklessness and depression that takes over.

This book is packed with constant excitement and thrilling mysteries that leaves you trying to solve the case. Though the story was quite predictable, I enjoyed the writing style and detail to the plot. I actually kinda like the characters too. Their development was on point and the transition between the past and present were smooth.

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to spice up their reading journey.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to have a copy of this book to review through NetGalley.

It was a struggle to finish this book. Once I realized that it involved bioterrorism, of which I have no interest, I knew that it was going to be a tough read. It really should have been hinted at in the summary of the book so that readers would know it plays a large part in the plot.

The main character's bipolar disorder plays much too large of a part in this story, as well. It is incredible how much time and effort is taken to describe Emily's condition and her increasingly out of control thought processes and actions. Towards the end of the story, it even morphs into superhero-like powers which literally had me snorting out loud with disgust. How any person in that state could believably be a child psychologist was beyond me and certainly beyond any suspension of belief. I suppose the author felt that the paranoia and 'craziness' of her unmedicated condition would add to the thriller, as everyone seemed to think her behavior amounted to guilt. But it just didn't mesh for me and it took away any suspense in the story.

The characters were also all over the place. Emily's best friend, Allie, acted bizarrely trusting one moment and suspicious the next, back and forth in a nonsensical way. Cal, the best friend of her boyfriend that disappeared is described as aloof and untrusting of Emily, yet one short conversation between them and he's drawn right in to her chaos and willing to help. Sure. And the boyfriend himself is barely described enough to get any sort of sense as to why Emily was so in love with him and dedicated to finding out what happened.

I'm not sure if I would read more of this author - perhaps if it involved a completely different subject matter, and had at least one character I could empathize with. I would also be comfortable recommending the story, which I unfortunately cannot do with this one.

What a great mystery thriller. Full of so much suspense with lots of twists and turns! Excellent character development. Highly recommend And Then You Were Gone.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I'd seen it described as moving to slow but I found that the way the author describes how Emily's life derails and how her balance and stability slips with every new setback she encounters very interesting.
The book starts with Emily, a child psychiatrist suffering from bipolar disorder, and her boyfriend going on a short trip, sailing on a like. Right from the beginning Emily's discomfort starts because it turns out that she can't swim, but as her boyfriend is a very good swimmer there really shouldn't be a problem, right.
Wrong as it turns out, when next morning she finds herself alone on the boat and her lover is gone.

From that moment on, her world starts to crumble and her stability slips further and further, accelerated by the fact that she doesn't take her medicines and doesn't sleep for a couple of days.

I think that the description of the symptoms of the bipolar disorder really added to the suspense and I found the book an interesting psychological thriller, with a surprising, though not entirely unexpected end.

I thank Netgalley for the early reviewers copy, I enjoyed the book very much

I was immediately sucked into this book from page one and was torn between wanting to digest it in one sitting or spread it out to savor. I haven't been shy about how disappointed I've been with mystery/thrillers lately, but this one kept my interest the entire time. I was positively delighted to be surprised by the ending and was even more pleased to be satisfied by it. It's one thing to shock your readers, but it takes real talent to make it jive with the whole story and not make it an over-the-top gimick.

I  really enjoyed the unique cast of characters. The protagonist, Emily, has bipolar disorder, and she is constantly tested by horrendous events that could easily make her spiral out of control. The bipolar aspect was almost like another character in itself without being constantly shoved down your throat. It was presented in a thoughtful, subtle manner that is even more credible given the skillful writer's background in psychology.

There was also plenty of clever layering to this plot. Emily's boyfriend, Paolo, disappears out of the blue after a romantic night on a boat, but there is so much more going on than your basic missing person situation. I loved following along and learning how everything developed and connected.

Bottom line - Buy and read this book! It comes out in March, and/or you can check it out now on Netgalley. 5/5 stars

If you came with a warning label attached to you, what would it read?

This is a good storyline of a couple: Emily is a psychologist and Paulo is a medical researcher. They go on a romantic overnight sailing trip and I’m going to stop there at the risk of spoilers. Their livelihoods are a significant part of the story, which is a medical mystery but so much more. As the mystery unfolds, we are also in the personal world of Emily’s bipolar disorder. Written in first person by Emily, this is a very articulate and compassionate description of living daily with the nuances of bipolar disorder. This was a good, fast read. I enjoyed the movie references, and the Nashville setting, as the author lovingly described the area. I look forward to reading more from R.J. Jacobs! Recommended!!

It took a while for me to get into this book. However, I found the characters well drawn and the plot was convincing. The bi-polar condition was handled with sensitivity and care, and that is definitely a plus. Good story that will keep your attention until the end. Solid writing.

Emily Firestone is a child psychologist dating Paolo, a microbiologist. He is searching for a vaccine to cure HI-N24.
One beautiful day Paolo and Emily are going sailing and fishing overnight. Emily wakes up the next day and Paolo is gone. Her boyfriend is an excellent swimmer. Emily is not. Trapped in a boat, feeling frightened and sick she finally makes it to shore. After the police arrive she discovers she may be the main suspect.
There is something dark and sinister happening and Emily is determined to figure out what it is. She suspects it has something to do with the vaccine being tested in Paolo's lab. The lab that is run by Dr. Silver. She just is not sure what or where to look. Unfortunately because she suffers from Bipolar issues, no one believes her. Not even her best friend who works at the police station.
Titillating adventure! Psychological thriller! A real rollercoaster of a read! Excellent!

Emily Firestone is a successful child psychologist who has finally learned how to control her bipolar disorder. She is engaged, her career is flourishing and everything is going well until a weekend trip with her fiance, Paolo, changes the direction of her entire life. Now, Paolo is missing, two more people have been murdered and Emily is a suspect. Things are spiraling out of control quickly, and Emily does not have much time to figure out what happened to Paolo and the others before she is arrested, or murdered herself.

Jacobs does a great job portraying Emily's mania throughout the book. There is a major difference between controlled Emily in the beginning and unmedicated Emily towards the middle and end. It was a very suspenseful book, especially at the end which ultimately made me give this book four stars instead of three. Emily and Cal's characters were really well-developed, however some of the other characters like Paolo and Dr. Silver could have used some more detail. It was a little predictable, but overall a really good read.

And Then You Were Gone
by R.J. Jacobs
due March 13, 2019
Crooked Lane Books

Emily Firestone, a child psychologist in the Nashville area is feeling much better these days. Her struggles with bipolar and mania are under control, she enjoys her work and has a supportive boyfriend, Paolo. Things are looking up.
Paolo is a successful scientist from Argentina working on developing a vaccine for the deadly H1-N24 virus. He suggests they spend a day together on his boat when they both have the same day free.
A little wine. A little cuddling. A little fun. A little while later Emily awakes to find the boat adrift and Paolo gone.
They immediately suspect Emily is responsible for the murder.....but Emily insists its someone else.
Then another body is found, under suspicious circumstances that point to Emily as well.
But is Emily responsible??
Is her mind playing tricks on her??
Could Paolo's murder be related to his scientific studies??
Emily has to figure this out. Her freedom depends on it.

R.J. Jacobs successfully weaves a psychological thriller that takes the reader inside the emotions and feelings, the obsessions and mania of a bipolar mind. The frustration and struggle are true and accurate and done with a warm, touching and respectful understanding.

I loved this book! The mystery and intrigue are spellbinding and it's hard not to relate to Emily. The depiction of a positive role model for bipolar and mania and the murder mystery make this a book I will not forget. Look for this in May 2019!
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and #netgalley for this ARC.
#AndThenYouWereGone

This thriller grabbed me from the first page (too bad I don't have more time for reading) and there’s no way I could have guessed how it ended. I did not like much the main characters, but the plot was interesting.

Relatively easy to read. Was a fairly good storyline but was almost as if you could foretell what was going to happen next. The characters were interesting but lacked background. A good beach read .

This one was so so suspenseful and I found myself glued to the pages to find out what happened. The lead character was so well developed and you rooted for her even when she made choices that I might not have made if in the same situation. So well done!!

Wow! What a book! This is no doubt one of the best books that I have ever read! A gripping psychological thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride!

There's Emily dealing with her bipolar issues. She's also a suspect in her boyfriend Paolo's mysterious disappearance. Although Paolo's family is convinced that he's no more, Emily does not lose hope; she knows that he's somewhere out there.

The police suspect Emily. And when she finds Sandy's dead body, the police are now sure that she is somehow involved in the murder. Cal, Paolo's softball teammate and friend, initially blames Emily for Paolo's issues in life. But he decides to help her when he realizes that Emily is telling the truth about her non-involvement in the tragedy.

And in the middle of all this drama involving Sandy and Paolo, a mysterious murder in a remote town in Tennessee comes into the picture. This is followed by another incident, where the victim was allegedly set on fire by the perp but the victim survived. The victim names Matt, Paolo's colleague at the lab, as the perp. Sandy was also killed because she mentioned Matt's involvement in Paolo's disappearance. So what is Matt's involvement in these murders and Paolo's disappearance?

After a couple of twists and shocking incidents, Emily's life is like a roller-coaster ride! I absolutely loved R.J.Jacob's writing style. The author definitely knows how to keep his readers hooked on to the book till the end. The language is clear and concise. The story development is absolutely fantastic. The ending is superb and thrilling! There was a short twist in the end which made the story even more exciting.

And Then You Were Gone is a gripping and engaging page-turner and I highly recommend it to all those who love to read thrillers.

This book was a page turner for me! I loved The flawed main character, Emily. It kept me guessing until the end. This book left me wishing it didn’t it, but not wanting to put it down to get to the end. I would definitely recommend it!

And Then You Were Gone was excellent reading. I love it when an author weaves reality into a novel. Having a condition like bipolar does not stop the main character from having a normal, happy life. It has an effect on her life and how she lives it, but it is not the main focus.

Emily's wonderful, handsome, successful medical-researcher boyfriend disappears while on a sailing trip with her. She can't believe she has become a suspect. Knowing she did nothing to Paolo, Emily must find the truth herself (without getting killed)!

Thanks for the early review copy!

I picked this because of the interesting plot. It was a solid thriller. I recommend this book to fans of adult mysteries and thrillers.

Emily and her boyfriend plan a romantic sailing trip (this is the best setting, so I was immediately excited), but then things go terribly wrong (as they so often do in these books) and her boyfriend Paolo goes missing. It felt a bit like books I had already read, but it painted a really enjoyable scene in my imagination so I kept reading. It was slow and there could have been more character development, but I couldn't put it down at the same time so obviously it accomplished its goal!

This is a story whose main character struggles with bipolar disorder and is the "unreliable narrator" of the book, which can sometimes frustrate me. If you're not a fan of these narratives, steer clear of this one. She is a flawed character, and although I don't have bipolar disorder, I did find her shortcomings relatable.