I loved the Mother/Daughter relationships in this book. I liked the past/present story lines as it gave us background on their lives.
There were many twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
Bonus, my hometown was randomly mentioned in the book!

I'm always intrigued by a mother daughter relationship and this story highlighted some of the wonderful characteristics of that dynamic and some of the rather manipulative dynamics of the ties between the two. While your heart goes out to the characters and the tough choices they face, you also get to experience some of the very manipulative ways this type of relationship can go. With each turn of the page you're not sure who to trust and who's version of the story will win out in the end. The choices that people make along the way, and reasons why the choices get made are a true highlight to this captivating tale. If you're looking for a great summer or beach read, or a book to take on your next travels, this is a great one as it's quick, not too serious, not too tense, but will keep you guessing to the end.

Catherine is ready to head out and tackle life on her own at her new apartment and new job in Baltimore. But when her mother, Ruth, starts showing signs of dementia, Catherine knows she can’t leave her. Ruth has given up everything for Catherine. She has raised her alone with no help from anyone. Catherine doesn’t know her dad and they have no family. Just as she is about to become so overwhelmed with the daunting task of caring for her mother a few things happen that make Catherine wonder if she knows her mother at all.

Told from a dual perspective, Catherine and Ruth tell the story of fear, deceit, and self preservation. This was a wild ride and I really enjoyed all of it! I was engaged from start to finish! I wouldn’t mind a sequel that follows up with Catherine!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

Overall this was a good read. Nothing earth shattering but it draws you in from the beginning and keeps you interested. I was fairly invested with the characters, they weren’t annoying and the pacing was decent. A few things felt over explained and a lot of filler like brushing teeth. The final twist was fairly predictable if you’re familiar with this genre. Overall would give this book 3.5-3.75ish out of 5.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Ruth Sterling has a secret - a big one. She has always been her daughter, Catherine's, biggest supporter and care giver. Catherine always believed that her father did not want her, so it has been Ruth and Catherine, two peas in a pod. However, Catherine is starting to realize that some details about her mom's past are not adding up. Add to this issue, her mom appears to have Alzheimer's type symptoms, but does she?

Gone tonight is a tale of back and forth in time deception and a mother's mission to protect her daughter, at all costs.

꧁༺ 𝓜𝔂 𝓞𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 ༻꧂

I once read a quote of truism that I never forgot. It appeared in a little book with other inspirational quotes that I found particularly commanding. It was the following:

"𝘈 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥'𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵-𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮. 𝘉𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘉𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵."

I discovered that quote in the summer of 1994. And while it is still unknown to me who uttered those words, I remain, even to this day, in complete awe of them. Indeed, the human conscience 𝘪𝘴 a powerful moral sense. And while many people fall into the category of the former—the ones who heed their conscience and seek to better themselves through the second chance of forgiveness—many more account for the latter, those who, for sport, do evil without fear of divine retribution. And their end is consistently the same: destruction and death—followed closely by Hades.

The characters who star in the (suspenseful) psychological thriller currently under review will serve as prime examples of individuals in those two groups representing both parts of a whole.

Dear reader? Shall we proceed?

꧁༺ 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓜𝓮 𝓐𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 ༻꧂

If the classic 1974 song, "You and Me Against the World," written by the legendary songwriting team of (Kenny) Ascher and (Paul) Williams—and recorded by the equally eminent Helen Reddy—could be the soundtrack for this intriguing work of fiction, it would fit our co-leading ladies, 42-year-old Ruth Sterling and her 24-year-old daughter Catherine to a T!

It would in the beginning, at least.

For twenty-four years, nothing in the world mattered to Ruth but Catherine. She and her only child were all Ruth cared about. And Ruth Sterling had a duty to protect them both—no matter what. Ruth Sterling, a desperate and distinctively troubled woman, risks life and limb to keep her dearest Catherine under her watchful eye—at all times, except for when the two women have to work their jobs. Even then, Ruth always knows Catherine's whereabouts, as the two Sterling women share the same phone plan with location access (for tracking purposes).
Ruth and Catherine are akin to "Lorelai Gilmore" and "Rory Gilmore"; the two women do everything together. They eat, sleep, and breathe one another. Additionally, they also share an email address and an Amazon account. And though they are members of the working-poor class, they survive together – no outsiders necessary. When one of them gets ill, the other gets ill. It's that simple. Ruth and Catherine Sterling are mother and daughter. And they jointly possess an unbreakable bond. Catherine is so attached to her mother that Ruth knows how emotionally crippling it will be for Catherine to learn that Ruth is in the early stages of the debilitating brain disorder, Alzheimer's disease.

𝘖𝘩, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦.

꧁༺ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓓𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓑𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓼 ༻꧂

• 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦

A tall, golden-haired beauty, Catherine is working toward her nursing degree specializing in geriatric medicine. She is employed part-time at the one-hundred-thousand-dollar-a-year assisted living facility, Sunrise Senior Living, and plans on moving to Baltimore, where she will attend the Johns Hopkins Hospital to prepare for a rewarding career in health care. Catherine has always focused on her professional aspirations, but now her attentiveness has shifted gears. Her beloved mother—and best friend—Ruth is sick, suffering from the early onset symptoms of Alzheimer's, an unfortunate hereditary condition, according to Ruth, whose own barbarous mother allegedly succumbed to the vicious effects of senile dementia.

Catherine knows—all too well from her patients on the Memory Wing at Sunrise Senior Living—the symptoms of her mother's cerebral defects and how significant those conditions are. And she will do whatever she can to care for her mother, even if it means putting her own life (and dreams) on hold. Baltimore can wait. The cable-ready apartment Catherine had lined up and ready to be lived in can wait. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, a gateway to a much (𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩) better life for Catherine, can wait. It can ALL wait! Her ailing mother needs her now more than ever. The younger Sterling woman can only feel her heart breaking in bits and pieces as she watches Ruth searching for her misplaced keys, storing eggs in the cabinet rather than the refrigerator, and referring to ice cubes as "water cubes." It's all too overwhelming for Catherine; she's having too hard a time digesting Ruth's declining memory lapses emotionally. She is thirsty for answers concerning her mother, and a visit with neurologist Dr. Alan Chen is just what they both need.
Ruth, although reluctantly, agrees to accompany Catherine to his office, and the communication between doctor and patient is going well until Dr. Chen insists that Ruth undergo a CT scan and lumbar puncture, together with a PET scan and MRI, to help him and his team better understand the root cause of her symptoms, which, according to Ruth, have been lingering for a while, much to Catherine's surprise.

𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

The dumbfounded Catherine, frantic to save and prolong her mother's life, is enthusiastic about the idea of a CT scan, but Ruth? Not so much. Ruth Sterling has no intention of laying still for any CT scans or lumbar punctures and creates a ton of excuses as to why she is so opposed to the procedures. Ruth—using her alleged family history of Alzheimer's as a justification for her disinterest—has no faith in any "miracle cure" that may stop, or at least slow down, the progression of her illness. And this also strikes Catherine as odd.

Why would her mother 𝘯𝘰𝘵 want to move a mountain or two to better her health? And why is her mother not being more transparent about her family and past? What else is Ruth hiding? Hmm, good questions... Good questions, indeed.

Not only does the curious Catherine intend to find answers to those nagging questions, but she is determined to learn more about her mother's past life—and those who were part of it. But will Catherine be able to handle the unpleasant truth—about her mommy, Ruth?

• 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩

Some people keep secrets, and some others keep 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴. And Ruth Mary Sterling is working hard to keep quite a few of those of emphasis from her darling daughter, Catherine. Ruth works as a waitress in a greasy-spoon diner just a city bus ride from where she and Catherine live in a humble two-bedroom apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. A former citizen of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Ruth had to abandon her hometown in haste after her life crashed into a brick wall during her high school days.
It was a long time ago, but memories of her past still haunt Ruth, a woman on the run for twenty-four years. She barely eats because she needs to be thinner than she once was. And though her hair was once glorious and lustrous and hung past her waist, the former Poms squad dancer had no choice but to cut it short – to look as average as possible. Put plainly, the present life Ruth Sterling lives is a lie. Ruth's driver's license is a fake; she can never utilize her given name or make her locality known in the system; she must remain under the radar and do everything in her power to protect Catherine. Ruth knows the truth. She stays abreast of her past in Lancaster and the people she once knew by searching for them on the Internet at her local library, stalking their social media feeds, and reading the local papers for any articles that might still mention her. Ruth reads the social media postings of her father and her beloved brother, Timmy. And then she searches for news about 𝘩𝘪𝘮, the only man she ever loved besides her father and brother, the one man she must 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 allow to find her and Catherine.

Ruth is a woman on the verge of having her mind completely obliterated by fear, worry, anxiety, and paranoia. Not Alzheimer's, but fear, worry, anxiety, and paranoia. Because you see, dear reader, Ruth Sterling has concocted a fantastical lie: Ruth made up the Alzheimer's disease tale to manipulate her only child, to keep Catherine right where she wants her. Ruth even studied a book about the mind-altering disease to study its symptoms and varied terminologies. That done, she went into character, selfishly playing her misleading role and picking apart the volatile emotions of an unsuspecting Catherine—who voluntarily bid a promising future in health care adieu all so that she could stay close to home and care for her sweet, poor, helpless, "ailing" mother.

On the other hand, Catherine doesn't know that her sweet, poor, helpless, and supposedly ailing mother, Ruth, is playing her like a master pianist seated at the artist's bench of a grand Steinway.

But is Ruth Sterling really that cruel, sadistic, and unconscionable? Or is there looming a more sinister threat to her precious Catherine?

꧁༺ 𝓒𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓜𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓚𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓨𝓸𝓾 ༻꧂

• 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦

Catherine is determined to come to a knowledge of the truth concerning Ruth, so she formulates a scheme to trick her mother into revealing more details about her past, going so far as to order a copy of 𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘔𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘔𝘰𝘮, a family tree journal from Amazon to set her plan in motion. Ruth is fully aware of the purchase (mother and daughter share an Amazon account, mind you) but says nothing; 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘮𝘦. But what Ruth is 𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 of is that Catherine, while snooping through her mother's personal effects, found Ruth's library card and intends to go sleuthing with it.

In time, the meddling Catherine will get the answers she didn't expect, setting her life on a savage collision course with mayhem.

• 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩

Keeping up her lying charade, Ruth has to be careful to remain in character. She feels guilty about deceiving Catherine—and for that reason, Ruth started a journal for her daughter to biograph her troubled past that led up to the present day—but her fear is of greater significance than her nudging conscience. Ruth cannot afford to let her guard down again like she did when she and Catherine shared their favorite meal for dinner, lasagna pizza. Ruth was desperate to throw Catherine a bone and allowed herself to reveal too much. She has to be more careful when she visits the local library to do her Internet trolling. Ruth has to keep abreast of the goings-on of those left behind so long ago. She needs to stay one step ahead of the parole board set to decide whether or not he's ready to be released, freed from his twenty-five-year sentence.

𝘏𝘦 did time while Ruth ran and hid. Her hands are just as bloody as his. Ruth knows that. And should the parole board grant his request to be released, he's going to hunt her and Catherine down—like the natural predator he is—and murder them both in cold blood, like the cold blood in which her Poms squad coach, the perverted pedophile, Daniel Franklin, was murdered all those years ago. Ruth used to worship him. He was her first love. But now he is her enemy, this devilish man from her past who torments her present and threatens her future—especially now. These thoughts trouble her mind as Ruth sits in the cozy confines of a public library, reading the varied news articles online.
According to published reports, James Bates won over the board at his parole hearing. He will soon be a free man. And just as Ruth has never forgotten him, James Bates has 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 forgotten his accomplice, Ruth. It's time to run again, and Ruth must get to Catherine fast. But she's too late, as her nosy daughter is already running, unknowingly, in the opposite direction—straight into the arms of a ferocious and angry psychopath whom her mother, Ruth, has only ever referred to as the "sperm donor."

Indeed, twenty-five years is a 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 for one to do (𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥) 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 for a 𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 it took two, not one, to commit.

꧁༺ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 (𝓕𝓪𝓽𝓪𝓵) 𝓕𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓡𝓮𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓷 ༻꧂

𝐈𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐀—
𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐀.

Her eyes are a striking shade of pale blue—just like his. She's his daughter, the daughter he never knew. And he now has the advantage as he watches her from under his baseball cap. He knows who she is, thanks to Facebook. She's a beauty, and of that, he's proud. He's a proud poppa. His daughter is beautiful – but she's also gullible. He reads her well as he scans her from his table at the old hangout of his and her mother, Pizza Piazzo. Catherine. Nice name. She came to find out more about her fugitive mother, the same one who left him to take the fall for that murder all those years ago.

𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵. 𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵. 𝘙𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦; 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴—𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘏𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘷𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴—𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 (𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺) 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴; 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘺; 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘑𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯.

And with that, dear reader, the ill-fated family reunion between Mama, Poppa, and their little cub gets underway—leading to the long-awaited morbid death of one.
And here, we ask, Is there such a thing as the perfect murder? Who is the REAL monster? Who is the one unfazed by their seared human conscience? The one that can kill another human being so mercilessly and not bat an eye—just go about life as if all they did was swat a fly.

꧁༺ 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓭𝓾𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓸-𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 ༻꧂

While Ruth, Catherine, and James Bates shine in their top-billing, those who co-star alongside them render performances just as memorable. They include the following:

• Mateo Morales plays his part as a kind, patient, and hard-working man given to the adoration of his two children, Ruth (née Ava Morales) and Timmy.

• Timmy Morales shines in his quiet role as Ruth's younger brother and the apple of her eye. Timmy's words are few, but his presence on these pages is voluminous.

• Brittany Davis—Ruth's former best friend turned worst enemy—is a cruel, lying witch, a typical mean girl, a-a-a-a-nasty stuck-up tramp, a skank, and a snobbish cheerleader, who real-life actress Allie DeBerry would play the crap out of were this a made-for-TV film.

• Melanie is a waitress and supposedly good friend of Ruth. Catherine and Melanie join forces to keep tabs on Ruth, but Ruth Sterling? Ruth Mary Sterling wasn't born yesterday.

• Tin is a wonderful—and understanding—woman and Catherine's supervisor at Sunrise Senior Living. While not too prominent in this fictional script, Tin still has a speaking role and plays her bit part well.

• Rosie is a special kind of rose, a beautiful soul on whom Ruth, her former Poms squad teammate, could always count, even during their high school years. And her role on these pages doesn't go without notice.

• Ethan, the tattooed vodkaholic and whorish bartender, co-stars as Catherine's first love and the rotten, worm-filled apple of Ruth's suspicious eye.

• George and June Campbell co-star in this tale as the delightful older couple who adore Catherine as if she's their granddaughter. The pair would do anything for Catherine within their means. But George and June—ol’ gullible George and June—on account of Catherine, are about to fall prey to the rage of a fire-breathing dragon.

꧁༺ 𝓜𝔂 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 ༻꧂

Sarah Pekkanen's 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is a clutching psychological thriller overflowing with thrills, suspense, deception, humor, and warm sentiment.

Concerning the subject of Alzheimer's disease and its many debilitating factors, Pekkanen's research here is so thorough that she should be assigned an ORCID iD.
The author slam-dunks her plot on these pages, her pen brilliantly composing a tale of flawless rivet and shattering revelations.

Exposing an array of spiritual nemeses common to humans, from fear, worry, doubt, anxiety, and paranoia to emotional dependency, neediness, pride, lying and denying, hate, anger, and the inhuman murderous spirit, Pekkanen crafts her fast-paced, short-chaptered tale, narrated in the dual viewpoints of Ruth and Catherine, throughout three acts of edge-of-your-seat entertainment. And once again, she impressed me—with her silky-smooth writing style.

Of course, there are always cons, especially with uncorrected galley proofs that haven't completed the editing stage before publication. But with 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, I encountered only a few minor typos that paled in comparison to Pekkanen's applaudable storytelling, her technique with character development, and her fascinating way with words. Aside from a blemish or two, I could see her vision. And I enjoyed it.

I laughed out loud and cried; I felt the heavy chill of suspense and cried some more. At one point, I had to remove my reading glasses to keep the teardrops off their lenses. I was genuinely intrigued by the storyline of 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, although its conclusion felt slightly rushed.

Tales about the bonding between mothers and daughters—especially those taking on the difficult trials of life head-on while realizing they're all each other have in the face of a threat—tend to set me on an emotional roller-coaster. And this one was a real tear-jerker at times.

Sarah Pekkanen's latest effort, 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, is a winner with me, which is unsurprising as I have yet to be disappointed with her gift of writing. It is a tale that I would go out of my way to recommend to fans of psychological thrillers that embody a dark soul and a sinister mind. Kudos, Ms. Pekkanen. You have done it again.

Five...homicidal stars.


𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐑’𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: It is a pleasure to thank St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy of 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵—via NetGalley—for my reading pleasure.

Analysis of 𝘎𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 by Sarah Pekkanen is courtesy of Literary Criticism by Cat Ellington for The Arts©.

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐄: The reference to the fictional characters “Lorelai Gilmore” and “Rory Gilmore” is from the Warner Bros. Television, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, and Hofflund/Polone TV series “The Gilmore Girls” (2000-2007)

This one kept me guessing! The premise is a troubling mother-daughter dynamic. It reminded me a bit of “Rose Gold” but with a twist. I was annoyed with the mother and vowed to not make my kids ever feel like they have to be with me over living their lives!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Sarah Pekkanen for free e-ARC of Gone Tonight
in return of my honest review.

"Gone Tonight" offers a gripping premise centered around Ruth Sterling, a mother shaped by her traumatic past and her desperate attempts to protect her daughter, Catherine. The story kicks off with Ruth's harrowing escape from an abusive home as a teenager, setting the stage for a life defined by survival instincts and a refusal to let anyone get too close. The intensity of Ruth's character and her overprotective nature creates a compelling dynamic that pulls readers in.

The pacing of the novel is undoubtedly fast, and the tension builds effectively as the narrative unfolds. Ruth's deep-seated fears about losing Catherine, now a grown woman eager for independence, lead to a fascinating exploration of their relationship. The mother-daughter bond is central to the story, and the secrets they each harbor create a palpable sense of suspense.

However, while the novel delivers on intensity and maintains a brisk momentum, it ultimately falls short of being truly memorable. The twists and turns, although engaging, feel somewhat predictable, and the characters lack the depth that could elevate the story beyond its premise. The emotional stakes are present, but they often feel overshadowed by the plot's rapid progression, leaving little room for deeper character exploration or emotional resonance.

While "Gone Tonight" is certainly an entertaining read, with its propulsive narrative and moments of genuine tension, it doesn’t quite reach the level of a "brilliantly layered" or "emotionally thrilling powerhouse" as advertised. It’s a solid choice for those looking for a quick, intense read, but readers seeking a more profound exploration of character and theme may find it lacking. Overall, it was an okay read—fast-paced and intense, but ultimately nothing special.

This fast paced thriller keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I couldn’t put it down. Catherine doesn’t know her mother at all. But the perfect life beings to unravel when her mother’s secrets start to come to light.

Thank you St Martins Press and netgalley for an arc

What would you do if you found out your mother wasn’t who you thought they were? What would you do to find out the truth. I enjoy this read. It alternates from past to present.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen was an excellent book!

How far would you go to keep your only child safe? Throughout this book we find out what one mother gives up to protect her only child. This book has everything from lying and deceit to love and sacrifices. Never letting anyone get too close and moving from city to city, we have a slow burning thriller that alternates perspectives between mother and daughter, which will lead you to the truth of what made this mother go so far to protect the ones she loves, even when her daughter tries to reveal the truth.

I enjoyed this book, as I always do with those written by Sarah Pekkanen. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

Catherine thought she would start a new chapter in a new city but suddenly her mom Ruth started to show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. When Catherine noticed that one thing isn’t adding up in her mom’s story she starts to unravel more and more details. What Ruth is really hiding from her daughter?

It was a great thriller which gave some crumbs of information that let me figure out some parts and surprised me with the rest. I liked that this book made me think I know the characters but at the same time made me guess what will they do and who they really are.

I have read a couple of books by the author duo, but this is my first from Pekkanen alone. I liked this. It did feel a little slow and very reminiscent of other stories in the genre. I would recommend it if you are getting into domestic thrillers. I think the overall twist could have been a bit more shocking, but it was good overall.

This was awesome!!! I loved how the point of views went back and forth between Mom and daughter, one questioning why, and the other justifying it. It had great pacing and tension, and the twists were amazing! 4 stars.

Ruth and her daughter Catherine are inseparable. It’s always been just the two of them. Moving from city to city, never allowing anyone else to get too close.

Now Catherine is in her twenties, and spreading her wings, embarking on a separate career path. And Ruth is starting to panic. She must keep them together. At what lengths will Ruth go - to keep her grip on her daughter, and the past hidden?

But the tighter Ruth holds on, the more Catherine questions the reason why!

Told in the present and past, we learn what led up to Ruth’s obsession with maintaining secrecy. The question is…Is it justified? Well…I’m certainly not going to spill the beans. You’ll have to read this book to find out!

Wow! Sarah Pekkanen writes a gripping, suspenseful read that will keep you reading late into the night! I was captivated from the first page to the last!

Definitely one of my top thriller reads for this year!

Sarah Pekkanen is always a sure bet for a great novel and this was no exception! I loved the alternating chapters between mother and daughter. The story is told so captivatingly and the twists dropped my jaw and popped my eyes!

I read a few books this author co-authored and really enjoyed them. They were the same genre so I had a good feeling I would have a great time reading this one.

I was so glad this book was written in dual points of view. Catherine’s taking place fully in the current time line and Ruth’s in both past and present.

I feel that this book unfolded in great pacing. I think we found out exactly what we needed to, when the author revealed it. I really loved this story and found it very unique.

This was a great read. I love the writing style, and I was sucked in from the beginning. Sarah is an amazing storyteller.

I found the pace and plot easy to follow and binge read. I personally love multiple POV so this helped keep my interest. The mother daughter relationship was described well and I enjoyed seeing both sides instead of just one perspective.

My only issue with this was some believability. I don't want to spoil the whole book, but I did find the ending a bit unbelievable. I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and will definitely pick up anything Sarah Pekkanen writes!

I enjoyed following Ruth and Catherine's separate storylines, even though I saw the end coming from about 25% of the way through the book. This was a quick beachy thriller, though it was a bit longer than it needed to be.

I enjoyed the alternating POVs between the mother daughter characters. I guessed pretty early on about a certain twist in the book, but even with guessing early it still set up for the rest of the storyline. I don’t think this book is clsssified as a thriller, but more a drama book. There were times where the book did feel a little slow and drawn out and I wish the characters were a bit more likable.