Several people receive a birthday card, daring them to play 'the game'. Then they go missing..........

This is a gripping psychological thriller that bodes well for what I hope will be a series. The 2 private investigators work well together and the author's background as a Police psychologist is evident in the plot. I didn't lose interest at all throughout the book and it will definitely make me think twice about taking part in online quizzes!!!

A fast paced read that kept me turning the pages.......with the light on! 4.5 stars

Clever, pacy thriller


I really enjoyed this title. The description gripped my interest and I thought it had a clever premise. I don't want to give too much of a description for fear of giving the plot away but basically people start going missing after a receiving a birthday card saying "Happy First Birthday".

The story had me gripped from start to finish. The characters were interesting and all different and the writing was cleverly done with a few twists.

Very interesting in both its plot and main characters, but a little confusing in places. I'm really hoping this is going to be a series as I would like to see more of the two investigators.

A promising series opener which sadly faded towards the finish. 3/5 stars.

Gone is the opening installment of a new series which features an intriguing heroine. And Dr. Augusta Bloom comes as a breath of fresh air if you feel you’ve read about enough brilliant detectives with apparently obligatory issues with drink, drugs or family. The good doctor is instead a PhD psychologist, specialising in psychopathy, who collaborates with the police and, all in all, appears to be a fairly together individual who is still good at her job!

The set up and initial investigations are really well done. I was particularly pleased that it didn’t take long for our heroine to figure out what was going on and, even more shockingly, for the police to look at the blatant evidence in front of them and actually believe her, rather than (as in many other stories), saying she’s some sort of crackpot.

Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the last third of the book as much as the first two. I felt there was a lack of pay off from the set up. However, I do appreciate this is probably because, as a series opener, this book has to do a lot to put wheels in motion for future stories. Also, I didn’t find the big shock reveal at all shocking, which was a shame.

I think the most interesting aspect of the book was its nuanced view of psychopathy. Not all psychopaths or those with psychopathic traits are serial killers, but you should still watch your back around them!

Overall: An interesting and entertaining series opener which fell a little flat for me in the final act. I’ll be intertested to see where the series goes next.

What an interesting debut exploring the mindset of psychopaths as functioning members of society. The two main characters - Dr Augusta Bloom and Marcus Jameson - have an interesting partnership and their characters are well developed. The plot, though the time frame is a little confusing at first, is well developed and moves forward with speed. Hopefully this is the first in a series featuring these two characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Leona Deakin/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is quite a debut! A psychological thriller, this is a refreshingly different tale of two private detectives Dr Augusta Bloom and Marcus Jameson and how they endeavour to solve the mystery of a sinister ‘game’ which evidently causes several people to disappear on their birthday, having received an unsigned birthday card inviting them to risk playing ‘The Game.’ This appears to be the only connection linking the victims. But are they victims?

I was hooked right from the beginning of this story, The plot line jumps around somewhat but it is still easy enough to follow, and it certainly keeps up the momentum for the reader. I was pleasantly surprised to read such an engrossing thriller which did not find it necessary to include gory details of violence, bloody crime scenes and PMs. It just shows it can be done without detracting from the storyline.

This is a very clever premise, and the more I read, the more chilling it became. I will never take part in an online quiz again - just in case! I really hope there is a second book, as I found Bloom and Jameson to be interesting characters with potentially more layers to be revealed for each of them. I will look out for more of Leona Deakin’s work, she is definitely an author to watch in future.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy of this title. I really enjoyed it.

Lemons Deakin write a true thriller, is it based on real life? You are left thinking by the end that it might be we have all meet people who would suggest it might be after all.
Looking forward to next one in what surely must be a series of books

This is a absolutely addictive psychological thriller with plenty of twists and great characters. I loved the original themes, this is a genre that really seems to have been done to death recently. A must read.

Gone is a cracking debut thriller from Leona Deakin, a former police psychologist. It has a great pace with some early interspersed chapters that keep your interest and fit puzzle-like to the complete plot.
The main characters are engaging and believable and the whole crazy initial idea becomes creepily plausible linked to social media profiling and data harvesting.
I did guess the big reveal quite early on but because it was a clever, well-plotted thriller it kept me interested as to how things would play out.
A thriller highlight for December and I look forward to further books by the author.

Four people have gone missing, all linked by a card they received with the words "Your gift is the game: do you dare to play?" written inside.

Initially the police aren't too concerned. The people who are missing are all adults who appear to have left of their own free will and aren't classed as vulnerable. However, when psychologist Augusta Bloom digs deeper, she finds out something that the police should be very concerned about.

If Augusta is right, the game is much bigger than anyone could have guessed. And maybe they shouldn't be worrying about the people who are missing. Maybe they should be worrying about finding them...

This one had me gripped from the very beginning - such an interesting and original premise, and all the way through the book, I couldn't help but think that it would make for a brilliant Netflix series - the reveals are managed so well, and would lend themselves brilliantly to a weekly cliffhanger.

I loved the two main characters, Augusta Bloom, and her business partner, Marcus Jameson - both had their own personal demons and histories that affected how they each dealt with the case, and both were well developed and realistic characters. I won't say much about the premise and the various reveals as I don't want to spoil the surprises, but this one definitely kept me guessing. I've already spotted that there is a second book in this series forthcoming, and am really looking forward to reading it - I really enjoyed the world Leona Deakin created here, and can't wait to see more from these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, who provided me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an idea for a book!
Random people on their birthday are sent a card asking ‘dare you play’ and are given a web link to go to
And then they disappear
But then even though they are missing they are dangerous
Nothing seems to link them BUT psychotherapist Augusta Bloom and her partner ( ex Secret Service ) Marcus Jameson think different and are on a mission to find out just ‘what is going on’
I liked both of them, both quirky characters, unusual and interesting to get to know
Once a link is established ( wont say what it is ) there is a lot of information to read on the thing that links all those missing and its fascinating reading!
I loved the travelling in Yorkshire throughout the book ( lived in Bradford 10 years ) and loved the almost ‘over the garden fence’ type of narrative
The downer for me was the ‘twist’ that was apparent to me as soon as the person appeared in the book and I did question how the fab team of Bloom and Jameson didn’t also see it within a few seconds
Nonetheless no book is perfect and taking all things into account its a ballsy debut brimming with excitement and facts and a great theme running through it which was an enjoyable read
7.5/10
4 Stars

Oh my days! I knew that data gathering was a big thing but... well... I'm going to be thinking twice before I click that link in future. If you don't understand what I'm wittering on about, you will by the time you get to the end of this book. I can't explain, you know - spoilers!
Dr Augusta Bloom is both a psychologist and a private detective - a mix that actually fits quite well. One day, she is called by her colleague, and former Agent, Marcus to help with a missing person. Being an adult, the police aren't interested so she reluctantly agrees. Her interest is piqued when the details come out. They are heightened when, on further investigation, this appears not to be an isolated incident. Four people have disappeared on their birthdays, apparently lured by the contents of a birthday card left behind. Your Gift Is The Game - Dare To Play? As they delve further into the lives of the disappeared, things don't quite add up, and even escalate, and Augusta and Marcus slowly come to the realisation that maybe things are more widespread. But who is the puppet master? Who is pulling the strings... And, more importantly... What is their endgame?
For a book where I didn't really relate to or indeed like the two main characters, I actually had quite a ride reading it. The plot sustained me enough to carry on as I was both interested and intrigued as to where on earth it was taking me. I did guess a few things in advance but that's probably cos I eat, sleep and breathe this genre book and it takes a lot to pull the wool over my eyes these days. Even with a bit of prior knowledge (guesswork) I had no idea how on earth the author would weave it all together at the end and indeed what would happen.
Even though I didn't like Augusta or Marcus, they did rub along together quite well. A bit chalk and cheese but then, the best partnerships in books usually are! I believe this to be the start of a series and, now the main characters are introduced, it will be interesting to see where the author takes them next.
The psychological and sciency bits are well explained for the laymam without being patronising and it's evident that the author well knows her stuff in this regard. I did note a few things down for further reading and did learn quite a bit from the book too.
Pacing was a bit hit and miss throughout. It's hard to qualify here without giving up spoilers but, for me anyway, the book was a bit flat throughout. Maybe the action bits that were included along the way just didn't quite do it for me. And then when we got towards the ending, the whole thing went off like a rocket!
All that said, I was mostly satisfied at the book's conclusion and I will probably go on to read more of this series, if indeed it does continue as such. Maybe I'll warm more to Augusta given time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Scary but yet edge of your seat in some parts psychological crime thriller. They investigate the case where several people have disappeared, each leaving behind a creepy but yet mysterious birthday card

Absolutely chilling and fascinating portrait of psychopathy. Could not stop thinking about it long after the last page!

I'd heard lots of good things about Gone so was really looking forward to reading it. I wasn't disappointed in the slightest by either the storyline or the writing. The main characters are Dr. Augusta Bloom, a psychologist, and Marcus Jameson, former MI6, who work together as consultants. When the daughter of a friend goes missing Jameson's sister turns to them to help find her. What they don't know is that they're about to risk everything, including their lives.

I really enjoyed Gone, the psychology aspects were fascinating and the whole book was a page Turner. Well written and with plenty to hold your attention, it's definitely one to look out for. The only thing that let it down very slightly is that I guessed who the villain was, quite early on in the book. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story as whole though, and I very much hope that we get to see more of Bloom and Jameson.

A birthday card in inviting you to play a game results in the disappearance
of four people unconnected except for the birthday cards A psychological thriller involving a Psychologist who is also a Private investigator and serial killer Fast paced, this book had me hooked from the beginning

This thriller has an intriguing premise. Psychologist, Dr Augusta Bloom and ex-spy, Marcus Jameson, become involved in the investigation of a missing person – that of a friend of Jameson’s sister. Soon, the pair realise that at least four people have vanished in the same way; receiving a birthday card daring them to ‘play a game,’ before, literally, stepping out of their life and leaving behind jobs, children and family.

With an emphasis on social media (this book will really make you think twice about filling in online quizzes or surveys!), I found this is interesting twist on the usual disappearance meaning you have a victim. However, in the end, I did find this – not formulaic – but slightly obvious. The main plot twist was visible from a great distance, while Marcus was a little too hot headed and unsuspicious for an ex member of the secret service. We learn of Bloom’s demons and the background of her life.

Overall, this had potential. I believe that there is to be a second in the series and I would give it a try, but would hope for a little more difficulty in spotting the ending. Rated 3.5.

Gone is an interesting take on the psychopathic serial killer genre and as such it is a fascinating and enjoyable read. A dual strand runs through this book. The first is the story of Seraphine, a 12 year old child visiting a psychologist after stabbing a school caretaker with a sharpened pencil, which she justifies as self-defence because he was sexually preying on her school friend and she was in fear that he would harm her, too.

The second is a deadly game which has resulted in people going missing from their families and friends.

Dr. Augusta Bloom is a psychologist who often works with the police and her friend and business partner, Marcus Jameson, an ex -MI6 operative who has left the service with severe burn-out. They discover that each of the four missing people they are looking into has received a card in the post. Tese cards read ‘Happy first birthday’ and ‘Your gift is the game. Dare to play? ‘

Jameson is contacted by his sister, Claire, who has been looking after Jane, the daughter of Lana, an army officer who is one of the people who has gone missing.Claire has been looking after Jane while her mum is away on army manoeuvres, and who has now vanished.

Claire has done some investigating of her own and has discovered another three people who have also gone missing in similar circumstances.

As Bloom and Jameson start to look into Lana’s disappearance they find that these disappearances are more chilling than anyone first thought. This premise offers an intriguing start to a fast-paced and action fuelled psychological thriller which captured my imagination and held my attention well.

Well plotted and intriguing, Gone is a different approach to the psychological thriller genre and offers an interesting and novel take on an investigating duo.

Characterisation is fairly lightly drawn, but this is the start of a series, and character development may follow in future books. As the plot develops, it becomes clear that Bloom and Jameson have inextricable links to this case and their past history will have a bearing on how the revelations unfold.

Psychological profiling plays a key role in enabling the analytical Bloom to get to the truth of what has been happening and I really enjoyed this aspect of the book, although as we got towards the conclusion the denouement became a little more obvious and the action somewhat more requiring a leap of faith.

Nevertheless, this is a strong start to a potentially exciting new investigative pairing and I would happily read another book with these two protagonists.

Verdict: A chilling and gripping psychological thriller with real potential for a future series.

Four strangers are missing and each of them have one thing in common, they disappeared on their birthday. They also received a card the day they disappeared saying 'Your gift is the game. Dare to play?'. The police think its all a game. But when psychologist, Augusta Bloom and her colleague, Marcus Jameson become involved when the case becomes personal, they think it's more than a game and lives may be in danger.

Great psychological thriller. It took me a few chapters to get into but then I was sucked in. The twists and turns I only saw just before they happened so it kept me guessing all the way though. I did find the concept of the 'game' a bit far fetched but it is, at the end of the day, a fiction book.. Overall a good read and I would recommend it.

How well you know someone is sometimes our biggest fear. We all know the stories of those people who are ‘quiet and keep themselves to themselves’ who eventually turned out to be something a lot nastier. How many of those people are out there? In Leona Deakin’s intriguing thriller Gone this idea is explored setting up a new detective duo versus a very dangerous and unusual set of adversaries.

A brilliant teenage girl named Seraphina attacks a teacher with a pencil with cool precision; a young mother named Lana receives an unexpected birthday card offering her a chance of a game to play. These weirdly connected events start a tale that uncovers that a group of people have all mysteriously vanished over the last few months. But Lana’s appearance leaving her young daughter to her own devices means that Marcus Jameson former secret service agent and his colleague the brilliant but aloof Dr August Bloom are asked to investigate. A respected pair of private detectives and consultants who specialise in unusual cases they find that the disappeared all share very disturbing traits – double lives; ruthlessness, selfishness and Bloom gets worried that someone very dangerous has started an unusual recruitment process. In turn it appears the mastermind behind it all has decided that it’s a perfect time to settle the scores with Bloom from long ago.

What I really liked in this story is the hyper-reality that Deakin creates. This is a high concept thriller with a great hook. Four apparently random strangers all get a mysterious card that triggers their disappearance. The fun begins when we see that the people are all known to have other sides to their personalities that are extremely worrying. What on earth is going on? Deakin throws in the dark web; personality profiling and a group that really enjoy playing dangerous games with real people for high stakes even at the expense of the lives of others and it feels to fit the world here. It’s a glamorous fast paced thriller with a lot of people in jeopardy.

Into this we have a new duo of investigators in the form of Bloom and Jamieson. The concept here is more Bloom as the brain able to analyse humans and their motives while Jameson is more the physical prowess as well as able to adopt other identifies and accents at will. They’re very compelling competent characters as we see they both themselves are nursing old secrets that this case triggers. Interestingly Deakin has opted not to show this as their first case and instead we have a duo that over five years has already gained a lot of respect and contacts within the UK police. On the one hand this avoids the trap of creating another origin story, but it does mean we are coming in cold to the two. They seem instantly accepted and obeyed by everyone and when we do get the o share their secrets it seems strange that for five years, they’ve managed not to know much about each other. I really liked their dynamic and there is a touch of Holmes and Watson in their approach ; they clearly need each other to be successful but they are solving cases with a more psychological rather than forensic approach. It’s suitable their nemesis then seems evenly matched with team that can play to the strengths and weaknesses of both so that it feels an evenly matched battle across the UK.

The one issue I had was that possibly as this is looking to set up a new crime series there is perhaps too much being explained at once in order to set the foundations for the series. Certain facts get repeated several times to labour a point and sometimes it’s exposition heavy as secrets get told at suitable moments. Despite this Deakin weaves several plot lines together cleverly and often in surprising ways. When it is at top speed these issues can be easily forgiven as it feels right and there is another set-piece; rescue or revelation to uncover around the corner.

I think this feels a promising start to what I hope is an interesting crime series with two unusual lead investigators. Hopefully now that the world and central premise is created the future instalments can breathe a little and just focus on keeping the thriller flowing at its best and Deakin feels an author to keep an eye out for. If you fancy some unusual deduction and a nice dose of worrying about who you should trust, then this would be a fun winter read.