As a single mom, it's always been just Ruth and her daughter, Catherine. When Catherine graduates college with plans to move away, Ruth will stop at nothing to keep her at home. Catherine has always believed her mother to be a generous, protective mother who has worked hard to give her everything she's needed but things begin to feel very off when the time to move draws near. Does Catherine really know her mom? Will she be able to figure out what Ruth is so adamant to hide about her past?

The narrator did a fabulous job on this one.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen explores the intricate dynamics between Catherine Sterling and her mother, Ruth. With Catherine's aspirations for independence conflicting with Ruth's desire to keep her close, their relationship is tested as a web of deception begins to expose long-held secrets and vulnerabilities.I found the premise of Gone Tonight intriguing, but it turned out to be a slow burn without much mystery, leaning more towards suspense. I found the pacing of the book to be extremely slow. The dual perspectives of Ruth and Catherine added depth, but I was more captivated by Ruth's narrative and the flashbacks to her high school days. Unfortunately, Catherine's perspective felt lacking and didn't contribute much to the overall story. I was disappointed that the author didn't delve deeper into a particular relationship in the flashbacks as it left some confusion regarding what goes in the present towards the end of the book. One of the characters felt severely underdeveloped and should have been explored further considering their importance in the book. Regarding the format, I wouldn't recommend the audiobook due to the single narrator reading both perspectives. It became confusing and distinct voices for each character would have been preferable. The narrator's voice was also monotonous which caused me to zone out from time to time so I ending up switching to the ebook. Reading the ebook enhanced the experience as the alternating chapters were clearly distinguished, making it easier to spot the clues leading to the conclusion. Considering my mixed feelings about this book and giving it three stars, this isn’t one I would recommend. However, if it's on your TBR, you may still give it a try.

Gone Tonight follows a mother-daughter duo, Ruth and Catherine, as they face the prospective changes to come in their life as Catherine nears her first move out on her own and Ruth as an aging woman on her own. It's empty-nester syndrome meets psychological thriller.

I will start with, I went into Gone Tonight blind and absolutely nothing I expected happen. I was entirely surprised from start to finish. This story is twisted and unique, a clever tale about the lengths we go to protect ourselves. Kate Mara is a fantastic narrator, her voice pulled me into the story quickly and I was able to properly track who was who with each chapter. Sarah Pekkanen, of course, is known for her standout thrillers with storylines that aren't the norm so I was excited about this one. It's definitely a different tale, Ruth does not want Catherine to go, but she also doesn't want her to know the truth. Ruth's been keeping secrets, secrets no one can find out about, secrets that could hurt Catherine emotionally and physically. Through Gone Tonight's shifting chapters perspectives and timeframes we get to know the real Ruth, the story behind her, and what she is so desperate for Catherine not to find out.

While the final twist is explosive and fantastic and comes with several little twists of its own, the overall story is slow. We are not given enough time and information to like Catherine and Ruth, yet somehow we are meant to be caught up in their storyline. I spent a lot of time feeling like, if only I liked you this would impact me more and what a stupid way to handle that. I just wanted them to mean more to me and I wanted them, particularly Catherine, to be smarter. It's a great read overall, I think people will enjoy the surprise of this one, but it didn't ultimately hit the nail for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this audiobook. This was a great book that caught and held my attention throughout. It was a great slow to unravel, twisty story. The narrator was excellent as well.

5 Star

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of crimes.” 🎵 Katherine and Ruth have a tenuous and symbiotic relationship that leads them to be forever intertwined. This book took me on a perilous journey to show our family members aren’t always who we think they are. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed Sarah’a writing. The best part of the whole book is the audio narration by Kate Mara. Truly a gifted actor and reader. Would love to listen to any future books she does…definitely recommend for a semi dark thriller that takes you on a ride!

This book was impeccably written. The clues and suspense throughout were booking and kept me guessing from page one. I love Sarah Pekkanens other reads but this might be my new favorite. The audio narration was done well and was enjoyable to listen to. I read the book & listened. Both types of reading were great! I will continue to recommend and read Sarah Pekkanens books. Fantastic job! 5 stars!

Thanks so much for the arc of this book!

I really enjoyed listening to this story. It begins with a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s. Catherine’s mother finds out her fate and this changes the course for them. It’s always been the two of them. Catherine begins to pay closer attention to her mom, her whereabouts and what she says. This begins to uncover so much of the past- all which was meant to stay buried. We learn who both women really are & what they’re capable of.

I liked how new twists kept arising throughout the book. This story shocked me a few times. The narrator did a great job keeping me on my toes. I recently lost a grandparent to Alzheimer’s so I began this story worried it would be upsetting. There was so much more to it though- so I wouldn’t let that deter anyone.

I have always enjoyed Pekkanen’s books when she coauthored with Greer Hendricks. So when I saw a new solo novel by her, Gone Tonight, I knew I had to add it to my TBR pile. I listened to the audiobook and was not disappointed!
This thriller is based off a mother and daughter relationship. Catherine thinks she knows her mother, Ruth, better than anyone. When Ruth was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, her daughter for goes her future plans, and stays to help her. As Catherine is sticking by her mother, she discovers she has not been honest about her past and may not be who she says she is.
I really liked this! It was a slow burn of a thriller but the writing kept me interested and engaged. I really enjoyed Catherine and Ruth’s characters and also enjoyed the timeline switching from present and past. There were some surprising twists, but overall, the ending fell a little short for me. 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy/audio of the book.

This was such an AMAZING book! This book was told in alternating perspectives of Ruth and Catherine. Ruth is a single mom and dotes on Catherine. However, she keeps all her details of her past life a secret and even after several attempts, Catherine is unable to figure out her mom's identity. The whole story is about Ruth trying to protect her 24 year old daughter, but how far will she go to protect her. How many lies will she tell? The book is divided into several acts and it seemed like every act revealed a new twist. What I thought this book was going to be about was quite the opposite of what it turned out to be. It was definitely a very fresh, unique story. I really wanted to read a thriller with something new, a storyline I have not read before or imagined. This one definitely exceeded my expectations. The narration was also done quite well, and I kept listening to it late at night. I would definitely recommend this book to all thriller lovers. I want to write more about the mother-daughter relationship and the characters, but I do not want to provide any spoilers for those who want to read this book. Have fun figuring out the story 🧐

I love a structured buddy read. When my Sleuth Crew chose this for our June buddy read, I figured we’d be in for great discussions! I was not disappointed! We had some wild theories but none of us were able to suss out all the twists and turns in this one!

Told in three parts, this mother and daughter story is full of deception at every turn. Catherine knows nothing of her mother’s sordid past and Rose will do everything in her power to keep it that way. And when I say everything…I mean it. Sarah Pekkanen proves yet again she knows how to write a nail-biting thriller full of break-neck twists that is sure to suck you in until you’ve consumed every page.

Kate Mara narrated this one impeccably. Her voice is infectious and made it very difficult for me to stick to our reading schedule.

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I honestly could not get thru this book. I gave it a hearty try but was confused with the back and for and his view from the mother. I think the audiobook needed to be different voices and that would help with the story.

This was nicely paced with well done narration. I enjoyed the storyline and characters and often wanted to keep listening instead of getting out of the car and going into work. A well done production of a well written book.

So, so good!!! What wouldn’t a mother do to protect her daughter? A mom on the run with many safeguards in place. This unfolded so nicely and was super twisty. I couldn’t stop listening! Kate Mara narrated this to perfection. Thank you @netgalley for the chance to review this book.

Thank you @stmartinspress for the complimentary ARC and @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary ALC.

I love Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s books so was looking forward to this solo novel.

Fun fact, my very first Instagram giveaway win was a copy of An Anonymous Girl, signed by Pekkanen. I think I had about 5 followers, they were all friends, and I still didn’t know bookstagram was a thing. I was so shocked cause I assumed someone with followers would win. I cherish that book!

Gone tonight was so much fun! Normally I like my thrillers to move at a breakneck pace, but this was more of a slow burn. I loved it! I relished the chapters told in alternating POV’S: Catherine trying to figure out her mother tiny clue by tiny clue, while Ruth revealed her truth to us in bits and pieces. The suspense was killing me, to the point that I checked Netgalley for the audio so I could continue listening when I couldn’t read. I did predict the ending and the twist which I was a bit bummed about. However!!! I was never 100% sure I was right, and I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

Kate Mara did an excellent job as narrator, but I equally enjoyed reading the physical book, so I highly recommend both.

A Mother and Daughter’s Story of Resolve and Resilience

SUMMARY
Ruth Sterling, 42, is exhausted every night when she comes home after her waitressing shift. She does it all for her daughter, Catherine, 24. It’s just the two of them, and Ruth has done and will do whatever it takes to keep Catherine safe. Catherine doesn’t understand why her mother is so secretive about her past, constantly changing apartments, and so controlling. Catherine is now a recent nursing school graduate and can’t wait to start her new job in a new city, all by herself.

But Ruth has recently been showing classic signs of dementia. The two visited a doctor who agreed with the diagnosis. Catherine, whose nursing specialty is dementia and Alzheimer’s, decides she will forgo her new job to stay and take care of her mom. Ruth seems to be going downhill rapidly. Maybe Catherine can get ahold of Ruth’s family to help, but her mother has told her nothing about her family or childhood. Catherine desperately wants to reach out to them to get some help. But Catherine’s secret research puts them both in the middle of the danger from her past that Ruth has been trying desperately to keep them away from.

REVIEW
GONE TONIGHT is a book about resolve and resilience. Ruth hides from her past, while Catherine tries to create her future. Ruth and Catherine are as close as a mother and daughter can be, but secrets still exist between them.

The book has a nice rhythm to it. The story is told from alternating points of view between Catherine and Ruth and skillfully delves into Ruth’s secret past as a cornerstone of the story. Author Sarah Pekkanen’s writing is intriguing and cleverly layered. She keeps your head in the story.

The story is memorable, showcasing a mother/daughter relationship and the incredible depth a mother will go to to protect her child and outrun her past. Ruth and Catherine’s characters were interesting. They propelled the narrative with perseverance, tenancy, and resilience.

Pekkanen has written eight contemporary fiction novels and co-authored four bestselling thrillers. The audiobook narrator Kate Mara’s performance and voice align with the story’s tone. Her delivery and her pacing is superb, and she keeps listeners engaged.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Publisher Macmillan Audio
Published August 1, 2023
Narrated Kate Marra
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

How well do we really know the people we think we know the most? Ruth and Catherine are a mother and daughter who are very close. But maybe there are some secrets between them that they’ve never known.

This was a compelling read that kept me going to see what would happen next. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration. Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the audiobook to review.

Catherine is about to start a job in a new city when she finds out her mother Ruth might be suffering from early onset Alzheimer's. When cracks in her story emerge, she discovers dangerous secrets about her mothers past and starts to question everything. This was super orginal comapred to a lot of mystery/thrillers I've read lately and I absolutely flew through it.

Thrilling novel from Sarah Pekkanen, normally part of the writing team with Gail Hendricks who've released countless page turners like the Wife Between Us.

Gone Tonight was written similarly to those, toggling between two POVs, Ruth who was a runaway teen mom now in her 40s and Catherine, her daughter now 24 years old working as a nurse in a retirement home. Catherine gets the job opportunity she's been waiting for at Johns Hopkins, but that would mean she'd have to move away from mother, the only parent and family she's known her whole life. When Ruth suddenly develops early onset Alzheimers, knowing what she knows about how this illness progress, Catherine decides she must decline this job opportunity to stay and care for her mother. When she starts to dig deeper into her mother's life, however, many things don't add up. She's then suspicious of her mother faking her illness in order to control her life and keep her close.... but why? The more she digs up, the more thrilling the story gets.

Despite a few questionable details in the Ruth chapters describing the past, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Well-paced and exciting story with great character development. Great exploration into the complicatedness of a mother-daughter relationship.

The audiobook was narrated by actress Kate Mara, who of course read fantastically throughout. A great, fun and cozy weekend read.

Big thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy.

I enjoyed this suspenseful drama from Sarah Pekkanen about a unique mother/daughter relationship.

Ruth Sterling was a teen mom who raised her daughter Catherine all alone. Her only goal in life has been to keep her daughter safe, and she is willing to do ANYTHING to make sure Catherine stays safe. When Catherine learns that her mother has been keeping some secrets, it leads her on a journey to find out the truth, not knowing the danger that lies ahead.

I listened to this on audiobook, and it was a super fast listen! I was surprised by how quickly I finished and how I stay engaged with the story from start to finish. The narrator is Kate Mara, and I thought the narration was fine but her tone is fairly monotone and not super engaging. But I thought it worked with the tone of the story and was not bothered by it.

This book is a great option if you want to read something entertaining and easy but also engaging and suspenseful!

Get ready to stay up half the night if you start reading this one! It’s a well-constructed thriller with lots of unexpected twists and two unforgettable main characters.

Ruth Sterling and her adult daughter Catherine are enmeshed in each other’s lives to an unhealthy degree, but there are good reasons for that. Ruth was a teenage single mom with no family support, and part of the novel is her memoir of how she earned enough money to support herself and her baby. It’s interesting reading.

The other part of the novel is in the present day, and alternates between Ruth’s and Catherine’s POV. Catherine is aware her Mom hides a lot of information about both her past and her present day activities, and she’s on a mission to discover her Mom’s secrets. She doesn’t anticipate that digging into Ruth’s past will be very dangerous for them both, and the suspense builds and builds as we readers see Catherine being oblivious to the information that Ruth is protecting her from.

The end of the novel was a little unsatisfying for me, but overall I really liked this book. Anyone who likes contemporary thrillers will women main characters would enjoy this book. I’m giving Gone Tonight a solid four stars.

I’m grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me both the eARC and the audiobook ARC of Gone Tonight.