Minka Kent is an author I look for, having read some of her previous books. This book is not full of action, but more of character development, and the story is different from others I’ve read. It focuses on three sisters who grew up in an abusive ultra-religious household. The oldest sister became rebellious, determined to escape, while the middle child cared for the much-younger sister and did her best to obey. It goes back and forth in time, and gives the point of view from the oldest and middle sisters. It does so smoothly, and not in a confusing way.

So many authors feel the need to have a grand twist, and I love a good twist, but only if they make sense and add to the story and aren’t there only for shock value. The twist in this book does make sense and adds to the plot. My one criticism would be that three characters have two-syllable names that start with a “C” and that got a little confusing when I had to put the book down for a couple days, then tried to get back into it. Making the names a little more different would’ve helped.

I can’t really put my finger on it but I really liked this book. It was hard reading about what Celia was put through, and heart wrenching when her plan to leave was foiled. I have to say I found it predictable and already knew what the twist was going to be. Well jokes on me. I was wrong. The twist was something I didn’t see coming. It was definitely an “ah ha” moment. Minka Kent has yet to write a bad book. I can’t wait for the next one!

Celia left home at 18 and never looked back. Now living a picture perfect life and recently reconnected with one of her sisters, she receives a note on her birthday that throws her in a tailspin. Told from multiple points of view and going between past/present the author describes the sisters childhood to the present. I enjoyed the multiple view points and felt it was a quick read. The twists weren’t as good as the authors previous books.

I really liked this. Different from other books. Three stars from me. Would recommend. Liking forward to more from this author

Gone Again reviews two POVs - Celia's and Genevieve's - two sisters that grew up in a very religious household that was strict and unloving. The POVs flip between past and present day for both characters. Celia left the family home after she turned 18 and hasn't gone back since, leaving her parents and two sisters without a word of where she was going. Genevieve found Celia 20 years later and rekindled her relationship with her sister, one that she had been longing since Celia was 14. After Celia's 40th birthday, she receives a disturbing note, one that makes her uneasy and sleepless. She finds herself driving around and then taking a train to Manhattan in the middle of the night. No one knows where she is or where she has gone off to; her sister Genevieve questioning all of her friends and Celia's husband. While Genevieve is continuing to keep in touch with the youngest sister, one that Celia has zero relationship with or zero interest in having one with.

The majority of the story is through Genevieve's POV since Celia has gone missing. I liked how the story went back and forth between time periods, giving the reader insight on what their childhood was like and how it has shaped their adulthood. I found that Genevieve was a bit overbearing and Celia was aloof. Her friends seem like they are not true friends and are just there for the status symbol. The story did keep the reader engaged because you knew where Celia was but the other characters didn't, so as it reader, you wanted to get the characters to find her. I felt some of the story was out of place or unnecessary, especially with her friend Isabel. The twist at the end was good, there was a huge lightbulb moment about 80% through where I thought I knew what happened and it turned out I was only halfway right. It wasn't my favorite Minka Kent book but it wasn't the worst. Easy read.

Gone Again by the amazing author Minka Kent, is set to be released in March 2023, and is an absolutely AMAZING, piece of work between three long lost sisters, and a set of Bible, thumin' parents, their cult, and their wayward child who chose to think for herself by leaving behind the only family she had by marrying the first proposal she received, thinking it was love at first sight: though in her case, she was lucky it actually was.

Ms. Kent is a genius at linking sibling minds, with or without a blood relation, (as that has no baring on the case), only how they were raised together, and what made the eldest sister pull away from her younger sisters and why did she choose to run away? Who hurt the eldest sister the day after her 40th birthday, after they were grown and had finally fled the coop? Was it her girl-friend who fell in love with her and kissed her finally, and said her her husband kept her on an extremely tight leash? Was it the hair dresser who knows everything about everyone, and finally got jealous because their girls trip got postponed; not realizing this was a result of her going missing? Could it be a sister that was jealous of her, and her life, for everything she has, instead of loving her for herself, because her sister wasn't afraid of after what she wanted in life, much like she should be. Was it a second sister the woman hadn't seen since she was a baby, and knew absolutely nothing about? The list of people who threatened her on her birthday is endless, and so is the list of people who attacked her later that day. Now, if only she can find out who indeed did the attack before she's left alone with her again and it's too late, and this time she's Gone Again, only for good.

This is only the second book I have read by Ms. Minka Kent, and I 100% cannot wait to see what she comes up with next. If any production studio were to pick up her books and make them into a movie, they would only be so lucky! These books are what Movie hollywood are all about!!

The storyline is certainly gripping. It is dark at times, especially in the sections that deal with the childhood trauma that the main character and her sisters went through. So if you are expecting a cozy mystery this is not it. The book is very good at transitions from past to present and back so the reader is clear where they are at. Overall a great read if you can get past the disturbing experiences that the protagonist experienced as a child.

Gone Again by M. Kent, published by Thomas & Mercer, is a full-length, stand-alone mystery thriller. This author never ceases to amaze me and GA is no exception.
I was sucked into the story right from the start, it was like hook, line and sinker, the story had me.
Celia is a 40 year old with a rough past. But now she has everything she ever dreamed of, a loving husband, a beautiful home, great friends. But on her birthday she recives a card that will change everything. Celia vanishes and only her sister Genevieve tries to put the puzzle pieces together.
GA is an intriguing, suspenseful read full of twists and unexpected turns that leave the reader guessing til the last page. This book goes to my re-read list for sure.

The book is written in two timelines; the past and the present of the main characters Celia and Genevieve. It shows us their difficult childhood and adolescence and the current result all seasoned with the disappearance of Celia.
It is a book that reads fast, the chapters are short and it hooks you. The ending was a bit disappointing after so much intrigue, it is resolved very quickly.
Still an interesting read and recommended for fans of the genre and Minka Kent.

It guts me to say this, as Minka Kent is such a wonderful author, but Gone Again just felt half-assed and predictable.

Gone Again is the story of Celia, Genevieve and Celeste; sisters by blood but virtual strangers since the day Celia ran away from home. Now twenty some odd years later she receives a cryptic message and runs away again leaving Genevieve to track her down.

There were so many storylines that were not followed through; who attacked Celia in NYC, why did she run away after reading the birthday message, the different paths Genevieve goes down after interviewing her friends all leading to nothing, there's of complaining Celia's disappearance hasn't been on the news then it finally is but it had no barring to the story or how she was actually found. There was just so much pointlessness to the entire story.

That being said, Ms. Kent still has a great way with words. She manages to draw the reader in and not let go until the final word. She just really missed the mark with this book.

Thank you to Minka Kent for an advanced copy for her novel. My opinion is my own.

Celia has vanished after her recent fortieth birthday. She had the typical big blowout attended by many friends and her adoring husband. No members of her family, though. She hasn't seen most of them in years. So it's a bit of a surprise when her sister, Genevieve, quickly becomes concerned and drops everything to find her sister. The reader is privy to part of what happens when Celia leaves at the beginning of the story, and then the narrative shifts to Genevieve's perspective and we no longer know what happened to Celia.

We see flashes back to when they were children, to witness the dynamic in their household as they were growing up. Their parents were horribly rigid and strict and the sisters reacted in opposite ways - Celia rebelling and Genevieve quietly obeying. Their sister, Celeste, was much younger and oblivious to the tension in the household. Their mother was cold and devoted more to her overbearing husband and Church than to her daughters. It's no wonder Celia left as soon as she could, leaving her sisters behind, in Genevieve's eyes. But in the current timeframe, the estrangement they lived with for years was dissipating, as Genevieve and her family moved close to Celia and her husband and tried to recover their sisterly bonds. Now, just when they've started growing closer, Celia is gone. Can Genevieve find her before she disappears for good?

This isn't just a mystery, it's also quite an emotional story. The bonds of sisterhood feature prominently, and they are the strongest familial ties in this book. It's sad but not surprising that all three sisters could grow up in the same house with the same parents, yet experience their childhoods in vastly different ways. No sister knew the whole truth of what was happening thanks to their evil father and indifferent mother. But the ending was so satisfying and shows that it is never too late for the truth to be revealed. I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Everyone has secrets, but sometimes those secrets come to light in a very unexpected way.

In this book, we meet Celia and Genevieve, two sisters from Florida. They grew up in a very strict and religious household with their mother, father, and their youngest sister, Celeste. Celia is the oldest, and she is the rebellious one. Genevieve is the middle child, who is the rule follower. Celeste is the apple of her father’s eye,

On the night of Celia’s 40th birthday, she is surrounded by her husband and her closest friends. She had an amazing night until she got home and open her presents, where she found a single note stating., “You don’t deserve any of this.” Who would write some thing like that? Completely consumed by her anxiety, Celia leaves her husband a note and then vanishes into the night.

Her sister, Genevieve then makes it her mission to find out what happened to Celia. She interviews, friends and former friends, hoping to find some clues. Did Celia leave and just disappear because she wanted to? Or is someone the cause of her disappearance? It could be anyone from Celia’s husband to her friends, or it could be a random act. Through her investigation, family secrets that Celia had tied to hide begin surfacing and they will never be the same.

This book is written as multiple POV and multiple timelines, which I think was a very interesting way to present this book. I really enjoyed that aspect. We get Celia’s point of you from the past and the present, as well as Genevieve’s point of view from the past and the present.

I did enjoy this book, however, I wish the climax would have been a little bit bigger. It left me feeling that the ending was a little bit rushed. I have read other books by Minka, Kent, and I have enjoyed them as well. I will continue reading her work.

TW: this Book mentions child abuse.

I would like to think NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and, of course, make a Kent for allowing me to read this book and exchange for an honest review.

Gone Again is the first book I've read and reviewed by Minka Kent, and I enjoyed this read enough that I will likely read her future books. The protagonist, Celia Guest, is wholly likeable and I empathized with her painful upbringing from rigid, fanatically religious and abusive parents. Her father, especially, is harsh beyond reason to his children and likely a sociopath. The book is well-written, and I found myself rooting for Celia throughout. Her happy marriage is hard won and gave me another reason to cheer for her.

This novel would have been a five-star read for me if the events surrounding the inciting incident were more convincing and Celia's motivations were more clearly stated. There are also middle chapters in Celia's sister Genevieve's POV that could have been stronger. Otherwise, this book was an entertaining read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will appear on Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I was SO excited to be able to read this novel, thank you so much to Minka Kent, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book had so many complex themes that fascinated me, woven into a psychological thriller - it not only left my heart racing, but left me with so many complex emotions.

Celia, Genevieve and Celeste grow up in an extremely religious household (and community), and seeing the contrast in their experiences was really jarring - this felt like a situation that could sadly be realistic and I related to the characters well, with a lot of empathy towards Genevieve throughout the novel.

This is another must-read from Minka Kent, I feel very fortunate to have read this! Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer (again!) for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts - you’ve got a masterpiece on your hands!!

5/5 stars ⭐️

Ok this book is fantastic. I am a huge fan of outing religious crimes and this did not dissappoint. Loved the two sisters POV and the dual timelines. Great suspense that keptme reading till the very end.

Gone Again by Minka Kent is a novel about the disappearance of Celia Guest, a woman who has seemingly everything but is still not content. The story is narrated by her sister Genevieve, who is estranged from her and tries to uncover the secrets of her past in order to find out what happened to her. I found the premise of the book to be very intriguing and was looking forward to reading more about Celia and her life.

The writing is blistering and emotive, and I couldn't help but feel utterly absorbed in the story.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with some of the execution of the novel. While I liked getting to know Celia and some of her backstory, I felt that many aspects of the plot were left unexplored or unresolved. For example, who assaulted Celia and took her purse and phone? Was it her sister? What happened to Isabel? What was the significance of the disturbing note she received on her birthday? Who wrote it? These are just a few of the questions that were not answered satisfactorily in my opinion.

Overall, Gone Again had potential but ultimately fell a bit short for me. I would give it 3 stars out of 5.

Minka Kent really tells a great story. I really enjoyed her newest book and so glad I was chosen to preview it. The ins and outs of the book were great. Highly recommend it.

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Another quick and thrilling read from Minka Kent. I thought the story was interesting although I thought the ending was a little rushed. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend Minka Kent!

I tend to shy away from suspense novels because I’ve associated with them being slow and I do not like slow. This novel was not slow at all and I’m seriously reconsidering some life choices!

This book is told from the point of views of Genevieve and her older sister Celia in both the past and present. The day after 40TH birthday Celia takes a trip to the City and doesn’t return. Genevieve sets out on a search for her sister and learns several huge truths along the way.

This one, just wow. It wasn’t a thriller but it still had a shocking reveal - it was just done more subtly than what I associate thrillers doing. Because of this book - I am going to give serious considerations to books labeled as suspense going forward instead of immediately discounting them. I loved how this story was so intertwined and the past and present storylines along with the different sisters perspectives. Huge thanks to @netgalley and the publisher Thomas & Mercer for an advanced e-ARC in exchange for this honest review. Strong 4 out of 5 stars from me! Check this one out March 7th of next year!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
This book is written in 2 timelines and features 3 sisters who are brought up to be strict Christians by a super strict, nasty father who metes out horrific punishments, especially to the oldest, rebelling daughter. She escapes home at 18, leaving the 2 younger ones behind. At 40 she's basically estranged from the family, but living a good, happily married life.
Then she disappears and her younger sister and husband desperately look for her.
This was a decent read with a surprising, but quite over-the-top ending that was mildly enjoyable.