A twisty tale that winds through what a mother will do to keep her daughter. Catherine has finished her nursing training and is ready to move when her mother decides she really needs her to stay. Ruth has the early signs of Alzheimer's and has been hiding it for months. This story is full of mystery and twists and turns and things are not always adding up. Will they figure out what is going on?

Two POVs. A mother-daughter duo. Secrets. Your standard domestic thriller?

I admit, I enjoyed the second half more than the first, and perhaps only because the twist wasn't very twisty. Secrets are sometimes secrets for a reason. The more you go digging into your mother's past, the more may be revealed that you don't actually want to know. Stay safe.

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

The story revolves around Ruth and her daughter Catherine, whose seemingly close relationship begins to unravel when long-buried secrets from Ruth’s past resurface. Pekkanen’s dual perspectives are brilliantly executed, offering a layered exploration of trust, deception, and survival. The tension builds steadily as revelations about Ruth’s mysterious past come to light, each twist more shocking than the last. With its tight pacing, emotionally complex characters, and a suspenseful plot that keeps you guessing, Gone Tonight is a gripping and deeply emotional ride that’s impossible to put down.

I’m a firm believer that all audiobooks should be read by actors. Kate Mara did an excellent job narrating this book. I found the mother and daughter characters to each being their own strengths to the story and I was riveted to the end.

Gone Tonight is an intense, mother-daughter thriller about secrets and survival. As Kat starts digging into her mother Ruth’s mysterious past, she uncovers shocking truths that put them both in danger. The dual perspectives add depth to the story, and the twists keep you guessing. A perfect read if you love family drama with high stakes!

Gone Tonight is a gripping exploration of secrets, deception, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. The story alternates between the perspectives of Ruth and her daughter, Catherine, revealing their intricate and often dysfunctional bond. Ruth, who has always kept a tight grip on Catherine, will go to any lengths to prevent her from leaving, while Catherine begins to unravel the truths about her mother’s past.

I enjoyed the alternating POVs. The novel’s strength lies in its exploration of hidden truths and the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love. While the concept of hidden secrets in relationships isn’t entirely new, Pekkanen brings a fresh approach, delivering unexpected twists and early reveals that keep the story moving at a fast pace. The suspense builds steadily, and while nothing feels drawn out, the surprises continue to hit hard, keeping you hooked until the final page. Gone Tonight is an engaging that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I read and listened to this one. Kate Mara was great as the narrator.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

I will read anything Sarah Pekkanen writes and I finished this one in one sitting. It was such a page turner with an incredibly gripping backstory. It really focuses on what it truly means to appreciate all the moments we get to share with those we love while still being a mindblowing thriller.

Catherine thinks she knows her mom, Ruth, but does she? This psychological thriller takes you on a ride to figure out what the truth actually is. With tons of twists and turns it leaves you wanting to read more. I listened to the audio and loved it. It kept my attention and the narration was clear. I listened on my usual 1.5 speed. I will read more from this author in the future!

Gone Tonight follows Ruth and her daughter Catherine, whose close relationship is strained as Catherine begins to uncover dark secrets about her mother’s past. Ruth has spent years running from a dangerous truth, and Catherine’s search for answers puts them both at risk. While the story has an intriguing premise, the pacing feels uneven, and the twists, though solid, don’t pack as much punch as expected. That said, Kate Mara’s incredible narration truly elevates the audiobook—her performance adds depth and emotion, making it a more immersive listening experience.

For every girl that has had a tremulous relationship with their mother and thought “what else could she do” I recommend reading this book. I love the spirit and the mystery of Gone Tonight. Would recommend for the unique plot and mild intensity.

Mother-Daughter Secrets Unraveled

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen is a gripping psychological thriller that revolves around a complex mother-daughter relationship. The story centers on Ruth Sterling, a single mother who has dedicated her life to her daughter, Catherine. Ruth, who had Catherine when she was just seventeen, has always been secretive about her past. The plot thickens when Ruth starts showing signs of early-onset Alzheimer's, leading Catherine to dig into her mother's mysterious past, only to uncover layers of secrets and lies that Ruth has meticulously kept hidden for years.

Gone Tonight is a compelling read that masterfully blends suspense with emotional depth. The strengths of the book lie in its well-developed characters and the intricate plot that keeps readers guessing until the end. However, some readers may find the pacing a bit slow initially, as the story takes its time to build up. Overall, Sarah Pekkanen delivers a thrilling and thought-provoking narrative that explores the complexities of family and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones.

For those who enjoy psychological thrillers with strong character dynamics, Gone Tonight is highly recommended.

I found this book to be quite average. The beginning was very promising and captured my attention immediately. I was genuinely looking forward to diving into the story. The plot was intriguing and had a lot of potential with its fresh ideas. However, as the story progressed, I felt like it became unnecessarily lengthy. There were sections that felt like filler material, which made it challenging to stay engaged. I believe that substantial parts of the book could have been trimmed down without losing the core plot. It's frustrating to encounter such excessive and unneeded content in an otherwise promising book.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When this book started, it didn’t seem like it was going to be a mystery/thriller. The story developed, we learned there was more to it than just a relationship between a mother and daughter. I liked the characters and the story moved pretty well. There were a couple of glaring errors where the author mentioned something that couldn’t have happened when the book was set, but otherwise a pretty decent read.

While I like the narrator as an actress, she seemed a little out of her element doing an audiobook. She didn’t emote quite as much as she should have and she didn’t change voices for characters. She has a nice voice though.

I really enjoyed the alternating POV’s between the two characters. The chapters were nice and short, which in turn kept me reading faster. However, while I enjoyed the story, I just wasn’t at the edge of my seat like I thought I would be. The twists and the outcome were rather predictable, and I didn’t find it that “thrilling”. This book really wasn't for me, but I really look forward to Pekkanen's books in the future.

Nothing is as it seems in a mother's desperate attempt to protect her daughter. This thrilling novel explores the consequences when long-held secrets begin to unravel, leading to a dangerous dance of deception between mother and daughter.
Catherine Sterling has always believed she knows her mother, Ruth Sterling, inside and out. Ruth is a quiet, hardworking woman who has dedicated her life to her daughter. Together, they have faced the world as a team. However, as Catherine prepares to embark on a new chapter in her life, Ruth becomes determined to prevent her from leaving home.
On the other hand, Ruth believes she knows her daughter, confident that Catherine would never rebel or question her mother's past. But as Ruth's desperate efforts to keep Catherine by her side start to expose cracks in her carefully constructed world, both mother and daughter find themselves entangled in a web of deception.
Ruth has a dark history that she has kept hidden, constantly moving from place to place and always ready to disappear at a moment's notice. The question arises: is the danger coming from Ruth's past, or is Ruth herself reaching a breaking point? Could the darkness lurking within Catherine be the source of the impending danger?
Sarah Pekkanen at the top of her game with her ability to build suspense while keeping you on the edge of your seat as you navigate the twists and turns of the story. Also drawing you into the complex dynamics between mother and daughter and the secrets they hold. Gone Tonight is a captivating and suspenseful thriller that will leave you guessing until the final pages.

Gone Tonight was an interesting mother-daughter story filled with secrets. Catherine is preparing to relocate for her dream job and her mother, Ruth, is working to prevent it at every turn. With the help of social media, Catherine is able to begin connecting the dots which ultimately leads to uncovering the secrets to the past her mother was working to keep buried.

Manipulation. Mother and daughter relationship. Unknown. This book was good to the last minute. It is what I would expect from this author. I have enjoyed other books by Pekkanen. The narrator was easy to listen to and I thought she does a nice job.

Catherine Sterling was raised by her mother Ruth. Ruth worked hard to raise her, but often had to move from one place to another. Now it seems it is Catherine's turn to take care of Ruth. Just as she is ready to take a job at a hospital out of town, and start her career as a nurse, things start happening. Catherine has worked in the memory care unit at a nursing home, so knows the signs of early onset dementia. She can't leave her, and turns down the job, but things aren't what they seem. Ruth has kept her background secret and as the story progresses, we learn about her past and why she has kept things secret for so long. The one thing she doesn't want is for Catherine to leave and go somewhere that she can't protect her. Catherine suspects that her mother is not being truthful and what she finds out, brings danger to their door.

Gone Tonight is a slow burn, building to it's crescendo brick by brick, keeping me wondering what Ruth was hiding. The story is told in alternating chapters with both Ruth's and Catherine's point of view. I was surprised to hear what happened in Ruth's past to bring her to this point and am shocked that she has survived and raised Catherine to be a wall-balanced young woman. I don't want to give anything else away, so will stop there. This was a well developed story with lots of twists that kept me listening well into the night. I was not expecting that ending, but it tied the story up nicely. I just wish it had moved a bit quicker. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Kate Mara. I don't think I have listened to any books she has narrated before, but I will not hesitate to listen to others. I enjoyed her voices, expression and tone that made this book even more taut and enjoyable. Trigger Warning: There is one scene of sexual assault.

I enjoyed this one. Twisty, turny and the narrator was great. I have read other books by this author and have yet to be disappointed. A good read!

Mother's Secrets

A story of a mother and daughter. The mother appears to be falling victim to Alzheimer's disease. Catherine fears what is happening to her mother. She is scheduled to take a position away from home but feels she must stay close to her mother...that is until she doubts her mother.

Ruth must keep her secret past secret from everyone, even her daughter. Her daughter must never find out about her father and the past her mother Ruth had with him. Ruth keeps her past hidden well until she doesn't .

Catherine researches her mother's past and finds things that might put both her mother and herself in danger.

A mystery, within a mystery and a good story. I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to Sarah Pekkanen for writing a great story, to MacMillan audio for publishing it, a great narration by Kate Mara and to NetGalley for providing me a copy to read and review.