A mother daughter story that isn’t what you think it is.

I knew from the onset that things were not as they seemed. It was clear there was more going on between this duo than a simple life change. And honestly, I’d the story had ended up being about what I thought - I would have stopped reading since that particular thing is a sore spot for me.

But, there was more. A lot more.

I enjoyed the slow unraveling of the story and the two povs between mother and daughter. While a little slow at times, when it ramped up it was good.

I got annoyed with the mother most though. She wanted to protect her daughter, I get that, but she was annoying about it and jumps to some crazy conclusions that I don’t think the story supports.

If you like a bit of an unreliable narrator, a slowly unraveling mystery, some family drama, and a bit of suspense, this might be they perfect next read for you.

A note on the audiobook: The narrator was really great BUT I think the performance could have been higher h helped by either a second narrator or her doing something different with her voice. It was SO confusing to try and decipher between the two voices because they are exactly the same.

My rating: 3.8*
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up to 4

Before reading this check out trigger warnings as there is murder and sexual abuse of a child.

This is the story of Ruth, Catherine and James…I didn’t like any of them. Actually I sort of liked James but I don’t think I was supposed to like him.

I was interested in this one from start to finish but the characters kept getting muddled in my head.

I really liked unpacking the Alzheimer’s angle I in this one. I thought it was a clever was to move the story forward to its ultimate conclusion.

The ending was wrapped up nicely. I’m a fan of that because more often than not, I don’t like open ended books.

While it wasn’t my fav by this author, it was decent and I have no regrets. It think it’s worth a read.

I did the audiobook and Kate Mara was the narrator, she did a nice job with Gone Tonight.

Wow. This thriller was smart, fast-paced, and full of tension, twists and suspense. The mother-daughter dual POV had me on pins and needles as both tried to discover the others’ secrets.
It has always been just the two of them; Ruth and daughter Catherine. On the move, scraping to make ends meet, estranged from any relatives and a past Ruth refuses to share with her daughter. Now 24, Catherine is about to move to Boston to study to be a nurse at Johns Hopkins when her mother begins to deteriorate rapidly with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. However, when Ruth refuses treatments or interventions by the doctors, Catherine begins to suspect her mother might be faking her illness. Determined to discover the truth and learn more about her mother’s past, Catherine begins to hide her research from her mother. But will digging into the past and engaging in a dance of description put both of their lives in grave danger? What dangerous secrets is Ruth hiding from Catherine?
Narrator Kate Mara did a phenomenal job with both characters bringing their feelings and fears to life with a sense of urgency that had me on the edge of my seat while listening.
Listeners Will Enjoy:
Dual POV
Dual Timeline (flashbacks from the mother’s POV)
Short Chapters with a propulsive plot
Cat and Mouse Suspense
Unreliable but relatable narrators

Thank you the Macmillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review. I will post on my social channels closer to publication date.

Unbeknownst to her daughter Catherine, Ruth Sterling has deep secrets that she has kept hidden all of Catherine’s life. When Catherine decides to move away and make a life of her own, the truth comes tumbling out bit by bit with astonishing repercussions and both women’s lives are soon in grave danger. I thoroughly enjoyed this and did not anticipate the outcome. The narrator did a fantastic job of conveying the urgency of the plot and it was a pleasure to listen to this audiobook.

This was my first book by Sarah alone. It holds the same psychological, creepy, twisty buildup that I have come to associate with her and Greer's books.
I will say, and this is a me thing, I really do hate when thrillers use sexual assault as a plot point. This turned me off to the story pretty quickly but I did stick by it and finish it.
It wasn't a great fit for me but I can see how other readers who don't have the same triggers may find it really intriguing and fun to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy.

I just finished listening to this audio book 🎧and I’m trying to piece together all my thoughts. I feel like I’m having a hard time writing coherently all the emotions I had while listening to this book. I do want to applaud 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽 the author for an awesome book!! Thank you for taking me on this great thrill of a ride! The storyline intrigued me from the start, and there were so many twists that’s about halfway my jaw just dropped 🤯. I definitely did not see those coming! When I listened to the book at night, I found myself wanting to take cover because I was afraid to see shadows there, but I couldn’t stop listening! I felt scared, angry, sad, and joyful throughout the entire book. I’m so thankful I was able to listen to this advanced copy. Definitely a great read and I recommend it 💯! The audio version was done so well that I totally recommend the audio book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

I requested this book, as I have enjoyed other works by Sarah Pekkanen, that were co-authored alongside Greer Hendricks, such as The Wife Between Us.

I listened to the audio-book version narrated by actress, Kate Mara. Kate's voice was a little off putting to start, however, I became more and more accustomed to it.

I was intrigued by the story of a mother, and daughter with a somewhat close relationship, that involve secrets being hidden that could destroy their dynamic.

Very early in, I was able to guess one of the twists. As the story progresses, rather slowly, there are moments that are very interesting. I especially enjoyed the back and forth POV between Katherine, and Ruth.

Overall, I found the story pretty flat for its genre. There was not much of a thrill, nor major climatic event. I also struggled with the ending, and it defeats Ruth's whole perception of James.

I rated this 2.5/5 stars, and I wholeheartedly appreciate the audio-book ARC provided by the author, publisher, and Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.

Gone tonight has it all. Between the family trauma and illness the characters love each other but also clash as mother and daughter. But something bigger is at play, when we find out that the mother may be hiding dangerous secrets. I enjoyed how everything unfolded but wish it had been a bit more condensed. Good narrator.

Not sure this is my favorite by Sarah Pekkanen (one half of the Greer Hendrix duo) but still an enjoyable read. Also - the narrator was great!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC audibook of "Gone Tonight." It was different than anything else I have read in a long time. I enjoyed the narrator as well. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller.

Ruth Sterling is not herself. She is forgetting things, getting lost, and just, off.... her daughter, Catherine, just so happens to work in a memory wing at a care center. She recognizes the signs and knows Alzheimer's runs in her family. She is scared her mother is suffering from an early onset of the disease and that Catherine herself could potentially be next. They only have each other. So when her mother's memory seems to be getting worse, Catherine can no longer see herself moving to Baltimore to accept her recently offered position at John Hopkins. She needs to stay home and care for her mom while she still has her. She is determined to learn more about her mom's life and get to know who she was. She wants the stories, the history, and the ability to remember her mom in her entirety. Her mother, on the other hand, is not readily offering information. Ruth has secrets and things she doesn't want Catherine to uncover, and you will never guess why!

A mother & daughter thriller, completely original and different from anything else I have read! I really enjoyed this book! I enjoyed listening to Kate Mara narrate. I had no idea she did audiobooks, but she was fantastic. It was a little difficult at first to distinguish between the two main characters unless you're paying attention. Once you understand their storylines, it is easier to follow. It was a little bit slow as you get to know the setting and storyline, but once you understand it really gains momentum and keeps you engaged. It isn't one of those books with a bunch of twists and turns, it takes most of the book to see the big picture, but I promise it is worth listening to and or reading. I listened to this book in a day and a half but I could not stop! The story is told through two points of view and I really liked getting to know each character through their stories, seeing how they intertwine, and I especially liked learning more about Ruth's background and what brought her to where she is today. It all comes together in the end in a really good ending. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an original thriller!

I received an ARC audiobook from #Netgalley and #MacmillanAudio in exchange for an honest review. THANK YOU!

Catherine knows her mother, Ruth, better than anyone. Or does she? As for Ruth, how far would you go to protect your daughter…even from your own secrets?

This is a domestic suspense story with great atmosphere. I highly recommend it.

This was a very strong solo novel from the famed writing duo. The chapters were short which made for a propulsive read. I really loved how the mom and daughter kept secrets from each other, it just made the story so interesting and kept me guessing the whole way through.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I’m finding I do much better when I listen to character-driven stories rather than read them. Perhaps it's due to the fact that they can move a little slower in order to fully introduce the characters.

The POV is shared by daughter, Catherine, and her mother, Ruth, who are the main characters. There are no relatives involved since Ruth became pregnant with Catherine as a teenager and her parents basically disowned her. So the two have grown close, yet there are secrets. And questions are beginning to quietly work themselves into a questioning corner of Catherine’s mind. Are things really as they’ve been presented to her?

This was a book that took a little bit to draw me in, but the longer I listened the more I needed to know. Eventually, it had my full attention. The characters were well-developed and their emotions felt believable in each situation. I loved getting both sides of the story. 

My Concerns

This is a very small concern, but at times the narration was delivered without expression and in a little too much of a monotone. However, other times it was fine.

Also, in the beginning, it moved rather slowly, which I'm sure would have bothered me more if I'd been reading rather than listening.

Lastly, one aspect regarding Ruth's attitude didn't quite make sense until very near the end. (I won't say more, since I'm a person who thinks reading a synopsis is too much information!)

Final Thoughts

Though for the most part, the pacing worked for me, it might be a pretty slow start for book readers. However, I think both readers and listeners will find it original and enjoy that the suspense grows to a satisfying ending.

I definitely found the audiobook worth listening to, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

My thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book and post a review without any stipulations.

Ruth has been hiding her daughter Catherine from her past mistakes for her whole life. When Catherine wants to move to Baltimore for a nursing job at Johns Hopkins, Ruth pretends to have Alzheimer’s so that her daughter wouldn’t move because she fears whom she might encounter. Catherine works on a memory unit as an aide and quickly realizes her mother is faking her illness. When she tries to find out if her mother has lied about other things Catherine opens the Pandora’s box of the past. As usual Sarah Pekkanen provides a series of unexpected twists. The author uses alternating chapters to tell the story from both characters’ viewpoints. The narration was good. This book works well in the audio format. I enjoyed it and recommend it. Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC.

4-1/2 STARS ROUNDED TO 5

4-1/2 STARS ROUNDED TO 5

This exciting thriller written by the talented Sarah Pekkanen, was narrated by the equally talented, Kate Mara. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio (from St. Martin’s Press) for this advanced copy in return for my honest review. I LOVED THIS suspenseful novel!

This story features two female characters: a young woman, Catherine, who finished nursing school, and her quiet, secretive, overly-protective mom, Ruth. Catherine works for a memory care facility and Ruth is a hardworking, lower income, waitress who has recently shown signs of memory loss. They are the only family each other have. Recently Catherine has been thinking of moving to another city for a new career and doesn't understand the possible problems this may bring.

Ruth has always been very secretive about her past, her parents, where she came from, and anything about Catherine's biological father. Catherine realizes she better find out about the past before it's too late when her mom doesn't remember due to early onset Alzheimer's.

The author cleverly wrote the chapters alternating between the mom and daughter, while showcasing their very different viewpoints. It was edgy and thrilling to zip back and forth between what each woman was doing unbeknownst to the other. It worked as a great technique to build suspense and tension, and to keep you on the edge of your seat! If you're listening to this on audio, be sure to pay attention to the brief name announcement of "Catherine" or "Ruth" before each new chapter so you're aware of which woman is featured.

There were quite a few surprises along the way and as time went by, secondary characters were added, each adding dimension and interest to this novel. I highly recommend this new novel that will be out in August 2023!

Absolutely amazing, bingeworthy slow burn thriller. To say I love thrillers; especially domestic thrillers is an understatement. They are without a doubt my favorite genre. But.. it has to be done well. Gone Tonight will without a doubt be one of my favorites of the year and I will be recommending this to everyone I know. I loved the dual narration that went back and forth between mother and Daughter. Both were slightly unreliable but were also relatable which is not easy to accomplish but was done seamlessly by Pekkanen. First we have a Ruth, a young single mother who is keeping so many secrets, all in an effort to protect her daughter. Catherine is Ruth’s 24 year old daughter. She works as a nurse in a memory care unit and is tired of the secrets her mother has been keeping for years. Determined to find out what secrets her mother is hiding she sets out to uncover all the lies and ends up getting more than she bargained for. I was on the edge of my seat the entire last part of the book, wondering how in the world this was going to end. This is a must read for anyone who loves a good thriller.

All I need to say is “Wow!” The writing and narration was AMAZING! I loved the mother/daughter relationship, the tension, and the mystery. This is one of those books that you couldn’t wait to find out the mystery but you were sad for it to me over! This book is going to be a major hit this summer! This book needs to be on your TBR!

I listened to the audiobook and while Kate Mara is a new to me narrator, she did an amazing job! I highly recommend you try this book as an audiobook because you will not be disappointed!

Rating 4.5 stars but rounding up to 5 stars on Goodreads.

GONE TONIGHT by Sarah Pekkanen published august 2023. TRIGGERING ALERT. If you have aging parents who are going through Alzheimer’s. This is a hard book. Of a mother struggling with the diagnosis and the daughter who has to sacrifice her dreams

I would definitely classify this as a cat and mouse read. It was generally enjoyable but I would say an average 3 star mystery/ thriller. I didn’t love how the main gal connected with her father accidentally, I found it to be underwhelming. Especially once things started to unravel. I felt that him being able to locate them and find that connection too easy and therefore gave it 3 stars.
Thank you again netgalley!