Good Half Gone is a suspenseful book about a girl searching for any clues regarding her twin sister's disappearance many years prior. There are twists in the story that keep you guessing, and I feel like that was the most enjoyable part. The novel follows 2 timelines, the past, just prior to and after the disappearance, and the present where she is trying to find some closure and answers. I found the past timeline somewhat drug down the story some, and perhaps too much time was spent on her 'wrong leads'. Overall, I did enjoy the book, but the plot twist was a bit too far fetched for me, it did keep the book in my mind for a while.

In Good Half Gone, Iris's twin sister Piper was abducted by sex traffickers when the girls were 15. The police fumble the case, and all leads go cold. Several years later, Iris begins an internship at a mental hospital for the criminally insane and looks for answers about her sister's whereabouts.

Where to start with this book? It was like watching a bad car accident. The premise of the book was interesting enough, but the writing was absolutely awful - clunky and at times just weird ("It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Bouncer!").

There are so many plot holes and inconsistencies that it was hard to keep track, but here are some examples:
Iris has a 9 year old son, who is sometimes 8, and she is supposed to be 23 years old, except when she isn't. Her sister was abducted at age 15, so the math doesn't add up.

One of the patients killed his wife and daughter but later talks about his son

The timeline after Iris starts at the hospital makes no sense - she is still training and receiving facility tours weeks after she starts?

Iris goes on a dinner date, and her son is spending the night with a friend. She then goes home from the date and is greeted by her son and eats dinner

The portrayal of a mental health facility was so absurd and inaccurate that it almost felt like it was written by AI

Despite all of this, I was still entertained by this book until the very end, when the plot became so unrealistic, I actually laughed.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book

The premise of this novel was good, but the execution was lacking in certain parts. The big reveal honestly felt like a stretch and the random romance element felt unnecessary. There were also small things like storyline inconsistencies that were slightly annoying. I also felt like the dual timeline was a bit disjointed. Overall, it did keep me interested, though, so points for that. It was also pretty fast paced which I appreciated. This was my first Tarryn Fisher and I’m intrigued enough to try again.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Canada for this ARC. The minute you start reading, Good Half Gone, you will not be able to stop. It grabs you from the start and will not let go. Fantastic read!

Tarryn Fisher stands out as one of my favorite authors, known for crafting unique and gripping suspense thrillers. "Good One Gone" is no exception, offering a fresh and captivating storyline.

In the past, Iris witnessed the kidnapping of her twin sister, Piper, but her account was dismissed. Now, as Piper seeks answers about her sister's fate, she believes the key lies in the Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane. Iris secures an internship at the hospital, only to discover that things are far from what they seem.

This suspenseful thriller, "Good One Gone," takes readers on a dark and twisted journey. The eerie setting of the isolated island and the hospital intensifies the mood and suspense. The narrative is full of unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing. Iris, in her quest for her sister, becomes a character you can't help but love and empathize with. The ending, completely unforeseen, adds an extra layer of shock.

I love Tarryn Fisher books and the way she writes. This book was really good and interesting, but the plot was predictable and I’ve read other books that were similar. Would’ve loved a different approach, but overall, I give it a solid 4 stars.

Overall I did really enjoy this book and it kept me interested throughout. I think the author did a great job making readers feel invested in Piper’s story and how present life connects with everything. However the ending fell a bit flat for me as it was a bit predictable and parts were too over the top to make it believable. However I’d still recommend this as a more slow burn mystery/suspense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This story is about twin girls who were raised by their grandmother after her mother was unfit. One of the twins is abducted into a sex trafficking ring. The other twin dedicates her life to finding out what happened to her.

This book was a real page turner. The author did a great job giving us just enough to keep wanting to find out what happened. At the end, when all had been revealed, I was yelling at the characters for some of the choices they were so real in how they were described.

I thought some of the plot lines were a little over the top at times and seemed improbable. With that said, I read some other reviews where readers hated the story, but I disagree and would suggest that anyone who wants a good quick read, with mystery and lots of emotion to pick this one up.

A twin sister continues the search for her missing/likely dead sister. A mental hospital on an isolated island where staff is 'on' for 3 days. Iris has a plan which is slowly revealed. But this one has some major twists you won't see coming.

Tarryn has done it again! This book is full of so many twists and turns I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I admire Iris and her dedication and determination to finding out what happened to her sister all those years ago. I loved how the past chapters were effortlessly weaved into the present chapters, setting the tone for what was to be discovered at Shoal Island. Just like Fisher’s previous novels, I thought I had it all figured out and boy was I wrong. I highly suggest you add Good Half Gone to your TBR and pick it up as soon as it is released.

Fast paced and entertaining but the plot was quite similar to other books that I’ve read. The twists were predictable and I would of loved a more unique or wowing ending

Good Half Gone is told from Iris’ perspective from the past and the present. Iris in the past is left reeling after her twin sister, Piper, is kidnapped. When she reports the kidnapping to police, they do not believe her. Instead, accusing her and her sister of taking drugs and generally being bad kids. Things do not get better for Iris as her grandmother falls ill as they attempt to investigate the kidnapping themselves.

The present chapters follow Iris, her grandmother, and, now, her son as Iris continues investigating her sister’s kidnapping all while accepting a work-study at a psychiatric facility.

The past chapters are gut wrenching as Iris and her grandmother are forced to take matters in their own hands and investigate Piper’s kidnapping. Throughout these chapters, there’s an overwhelming sense of despair that permeates not only the characters, but the tone as well.

I connected with Iris immediately. She herself feels like the forgotten sister and the introvert to her sister’s lively social life. She’s fixated on the past and will stop at nothing to get answers and closure.

Tarryn Fisher’s writing is beautiful. The amount of quotes I saved is ridiculous. Fisher’s writing is poetic yet bleak as she paints Iris’ life pre- and post-kidnapping. Fisher’s imagery of emotions not only set the tone, but revealed important character information.

“You tended the garden of bitterness in silence. Eventually you started making your own assumptions about why they left. That’s when the garden really got to blooming. My garden was never dreary; on the contrary, my resentment was colorful, my anger bright and binding like a choking vine.”

In contrast, Fisher’s writing was also stark and real, which painted a harsher and more realistic view of emotion.

“You can’t go anywhere in prison without bumping into Jesus.”

Suddenly the ending hit like a wave as the story concluded and all was revealed. I did not see that ending coming. It was satisfying yet devastating.

Overall, Good Half Gone is easily Fisher’s strongest mystery/thriller novel yet. With twists and turns, beautiful writing, and compelling characters, Good Half Gone will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Wow! This was a thrilling read and was shocked by several revelations throughout the book. It was fast-paced enough that I was able to read it in a day. As a twin, this pulled at my heart strings

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to read an early digital copy of this book. I loved The Wives, and I was very excited to see that Tarryn Fisher had another new book coming out this year. As much as I wanted to love this one, I just couldn't get into it. One of my reading goals this year is to DNF books that I am not enjoying or that make reading feel like a chore. It looks like Tarryn may be a hit or miss author for me. I wasn't sure if it was just me that couldn't get into it, but after seeing a handful of people I follow on social media give it 2 stars, I knew it was time to set it aside. I'm sorry I didn't love this one, but I may try and come back to it at a later date.

Tarryn Fisher did NOT disappoint! I couldn't read this book fast enough to see how it ended. I thought I knew what was going on, but I couldn't have been further from the turth.

This was a good twisty thriller. I really liked the past and present aspects of this book. Some turns I did not see coming and I like the surprise. I think the ending was well done and tied up all loose ends so you didn’t get left thinks wtf now.

Had potential but fell flat for me. Seemed choppy and some parts were ridiculous. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

I usually love a book by Taryn Fisher. “ An Honest Lie,” was a tight, gripping, and fabulous read. One of my favorites of the year. So, of course, I was excited to receive this new novel, “Good Half Gone.”

Sadly, I was disappointed in this particular work. The premise was promising and sounded really good. Now, with most thrillers, a person needs to suspend disbelief, right? All well and good, except, here. I was way beyond my limit of suspending disbelief. As a result, it was not suspenseful or entertaining, IMO.

The characters were flat, and the switch from past to present was not solid. The ‘past, was well thought out and developed, but the ‘present’ was chopped, and felt stilted.

If this is your first Tarryn Fisher, novel, I urge you to pick up “An Honest Lie” or “The Wives” before passing judgment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher
Pub date: March 19, 2024

I loved the premise of this book and then parts of it but whoosh it took a deep dive into really out there.

As an RN – someone who worked in a state-run mental institution, and it was no picnic there - I really had to suspend my belief to follow through on this – and trust me, I’m good at that – easily entertained and all. But the storyline just really took a nose dive with the characters at Shoal Island Hospital. It kind of reminded me a bit of that movie with Leonardo Dicaprio - that I can’t remember the name of -only that was fictionally fiction.

It did wrap up nicely and didn’t leave me hanging; I appreciate that.

Sorry, this one just didn’t work for me.

3.5⭐️ This was an interesting story about twins- and 1 twin goes missing and hasn’t been found in almost a decade.

Her sister has not ever stopped looking for her. Even if she feels she’s no longer alive she must find out what happened to who- who happened to her. And who was involved.

This was a gripping story. It was a little slow to get into and didn’t pick up until the last 15% of the book.
I guessed the plot twist almost instantly when the plot revealed itself.

Overall it was still a good read. Lots of trigger warnings in here. So please be mindful.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.