A Gripping Puzzle with a Shocking Twist: A Review of Tarryn Fisher's "Good Half Gone"

Tarryn Fisher's "Good Half Gone" is a mind-bending thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. The story follows Iris Walsh, a woman haunted by the disappearance of her twin sister, Piper, years ago. Dismissed by the police, Iris takes matters into her own hands, landing a job at a remote island hospital for the criminally insane. Here, she hopes to find answers and maybe even the culprit behind her sister's abduction.

Fisher masterfully weaves a narrative that flips between the present day and the events leading up to Piper's disappearance. This dual timeline keeps the reader engaged, constantly questioning what they know and building suspense. The characters, particularly Iris, are well-developed, and their desperation and determination are palpable.

The book's strength lies in its unpredictable twists. Just when you think you've figured it out, Fisher throws in a curveball that sends you reeling. The ending itself is a satisfying payoff, but as you gave it 4 stars, it likely left you wanting more. This could be due to lingering questions or a desire for further exploration of the characters and their fates.

Overall, "Good Half Gone" is a thrilling ride that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. If you're looking for a psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming, this is a book you won't want to miss. However, be prepared for a conclusion that might leave you yearning for just a bit more closure.

It’s been years since I’ve read a Tarryn Fisher book and I was so excited to start this one! I loved it! It was full of suspense snd great twists - I would recommend it to any thriller reader.

Loved this! Tarryn does not disappoint and I am just floored with how this book went! The character depth and the story line was so well done. 100% recommend!

Tarryn Fisher's latest psychological thriller, "Good Half Gone," is a gripping and suspenseful tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The story follows Iris Walsh, a woman haunted by the disappearance of her twin sister, Piper, years ago. Desperate for answers and closure, Iris takes a job as an intern at the isolated Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her sister's fate.
Fisher's writing is atmospheric and engaging, drawing the reader into the complex web of secrets and lies that surround the Walsh sisters' disappearance. The author skillfully alternates between past and present, slowly revealing the layers of the mystery while keeping the reader guessing until the very end.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters. Iris is a flawed and relatable protagonist, driven by her need for answers and her guilt over her sister's disappearance. The supporting cast, including the patients and staff at Shoal Island Hospital, are equally complex and intriguing, each with their own secrets and agendas that add depth to the story.
The setting of the isolated hospital adds an extra layer of tension and suspense to the narrative. Fisher's vivid descriptions of the crumbling institution and the surrounding wilderness create a haunting backdrop for the unfolding events.
While some readers may find the ending a bit over-the-top, it is undeniably thrilling and unexpected. Fisher delivers a series of twists and turns that will leave readers reeling and questioning everything they thought they knew about the story.
Overall, "Good Half Gone" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, character-driven mystery. Tarryn Fisher has delivered a gripping and unforgettable tale that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned

More a mystery than a thriller, I couldn't get hooked on the twin story line of this one. The beginning was excellent and I was looking forward to 5 star read, but it fell flat.

I liked the concept of this book of a twin trying to find out more about the disappearance of her twin sister by getting an internship at the island hospital for the criminally insane. First the good: I liked the unique concept of this book and the spooky, isolated Alcatraz-type atmosphere of Shoal hospital.
What didn't work for me was that the middle of the book seemed slow to me, detailing Iris' day to day which often felt unnecessary. I also never connected with Iris, partly because I found it confusing that she seemed to dislike her sister and complain about her constantly, but then dedicated her life to finding out what happened to her. I also found the resolution of the story to be unsatisfyingly unrealistic and full of plot holes that were never cleared up. However, I could see how some would like this book and I would still be interested to read another book by this author.

I would like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley and Tarryn Fisher for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved the setting of this, an isolated island that houses a hospital for the criminally insane? Yes, please. The creepiness was giving. It started out strong.

I was so invested and wanted to know what happened to Piper, the twin that was taken. Iris has dedicated her life to finding her. She eventually tracks a lead and finds he was sentenced to Shoal Island Hospital for the criminally insane and Iris, wanting to see this through, takes a job there.

There was a significant lack of focus on the actual plot. It felt like a story I would tell before being medicated for adhd, hook you with a subject, take you on various other side stories filled with information you likely don't need, then suddenly remember I was telling a specific story and wrap that up. It was packed with minor details and most felt insignificant to the story. It was a very dry read for me and this was disappointing as I love Fisher as an author.

There was a big twist toward the end, I won't say that it was predictable but I did have a small inkling that it was heading in that general direction. While a little far fetched I think having questions once it was over caused it to fall a little flat for me.

Twisty turns that are expected from Tarryn Fisher. I enjoyed the main character's perspective from past and present as she tried to uncover what happened to her twin sister. The pacing at the beginning and end were good - a little slow at times in the middle but came together at the end for a fun read.

I’m a huge fan of Tarryn Fisher’s creepy thrillers. The Wives is the book the got me out of a five year reading slump and brought me to where I am now in my reading. So when I saw this book I was so excited! She did not disappoint, of course.

Our MC Iris watched her twin sister being kidnapped right in front of her and believes that she was then trafficked and killed. She is met with lackluster support from the police department and makes it her mission to find out what happened, eventually working her way to an internship on Shoal Island which houses a prison for the criminally insane. Iris believes that her sister’s killer is imprisoned there.

The first 25% had me hooked. I loved getting the twins’ backstory and trying to figure out what happened. The final 20% was INSANE. A little unrealistic but still incredible and worthwhile. The middle was a sloooooooow burn. But, when I finished and knowing the twists going back over the slow parts I realized all the Easter eggs that were dropped so it was still worth it.

3.5

Thank you to Graydon House, HTP, and Tarryn Fisher for the review copy. These thoughts are my own.

I can honestly say that the plot twist was something I did not expect. Tarryn Fisher kept me guessing throughout the whole book. This book is definitely up there with her book, The Wives.

Thank you to NetGalley, HTP/Graydon House & Tarryn Fisher for a digital galley of Good Half Gone in exchange for an honest review.

I know so many people are fans of Tarryn Fisher, but this is the third novel of hers that I have read that was just BLAH.

In a nutshell: Iris’s twin sister Piper was abducted as a teen & the case has gone cold. Iris has been obsessively searching for her all the way into adulthood. She now has a criminal psychology degree so she takes a job as an intern at a psychiatric hospital where her search has led her. Of course, as is the stigma of all psychiatric hospitals in books, it is not at all on the up & up & Iris has to figure out what is going on.

I feel like I’ve read stories similar to this before so the concept was not original. I don’t mind recycled plots as long as they are done well. This one was not. It wasn’t bad, per se. It just wasn’t good either. Completely forgettable.

It started out great (roughly the first 20%) & the ending was fairly ok (roughly the last 15%), but it’s the meat of it in the middle that epically failed. It was not suspenseful or eerie, which you would hope to get out of a book primarily set in a sinister psychiatric hospital (Freida McFadden can give excellent tips on how to achieve this eerie atmosphere). And it moved too slowly, to the point of being boring. At only 304 pages, this was a fairly short book, but it dragged on like a 500-page book.

I am rating it down the middle at 3-Stars, but I feel I’m being a bit generous. After this one, I likely won’t give this author another shot, unfortunately.

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher is a mystery thriller about your worst nightmare, if you are a twin that is.


About the plot
Iris and Piper Welsh are twins that could not be any more different. In high school Piper was the “It girl” and Iris was her shadow.

One day Piper convinces Iris to go to the movies with some boys, but little did Iris know, that would be the last day she would be with her twin.

From that day Iris and her grandmother seem to be the only ones to care that Piper was taken. After multiple visits to Police and investigators, plus the putting up of missing persons posters, the case turns cold.

Iris though, never gave up. Her need to find her sisters and get answers fuels her for years and years. So much so, that she is now interning at a mental institution prison. All her own searching lead her to this moment, she wants answers and will do anything to find out what happened to her sister Piper that dreaded day.


My thoughts
Good Half Gone has a lot of elements I enjoy in mystery thrillers. The main mystery of “one of the twins” gone missing is the thread that carries the plot. It may be that I am used to thrillers that juggle multiple plots and elements. I think there are accompanying elements adding to the mystery, yes. But I also think this is one of Fisher’s weaker thrillers. I am so used to her gritty, dark, and edgy writing, so it may be my bias. I am used to feeling way more in her novels as well. Good Half Gone feels a little lackluster against her previous works. I needed more emotionally from the story. The story felt stagnant and like daily updates to Iris’s daily routines. Iris has lots of hardships that make her admirable as to how she perseveres, but she also feels flat as a character.

I do recommend for cozy thriller fans, as the lower stakes in here were not anxiety inducing. The mystery of Good Half Gone is also easy to invest in, my curiosity to find out the final “truth” was the main force in my reading experience.

I love Tarryn Fisher but unfortunately this story didn't grip me the way that many of her others did. Maybe I was just in the wrong mood for this kind of story but I found it a bit slow and couldn't really connect with the characters. I did appreciate the good twist at the end!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for this ARC to read and give my honest review.

This one started off so strong for me. I love the storyline and the pace of it, but it sort of fizzled out. I feel like there was a lot of plot lines coming in that wasn't as relevant to the main storyline. For me it took away from what I was looking for. Maybe it was the back and forth with the twin sisters and that kind of made it tricky for me. I was hoping for more of a thriller vibe with how it started and it was definitely more mystery. I will say though however the twist that did happen I was not expecting and was pleasantly surprised. Still an enjoyable read!

When we meet Iris Walsh we are dropped into the scariest moment of her life alongside her- her twin sister, Piper, has just been abducted from a movie theater and Iris is trying desperately to get help, to make her voice heard and understood, to try navigate a situation with only one stark, concrete truth.
Her sister is gone and nobody knows where to find her.
This struggle to be heard continues throughout the story as we volley between the past and the present along with Iris, her frustration at times so palpable it hurts, as is the masterful way that Fisher, the queen of domestic suspense, shows us how adept she is, as well, at capturing the painful nuance of a person trying to do right by a missing loved one, while also battling with the ambiguous grief and love behind continuing to fight for them when everyone else has stopped.
How can Iris stop?
She is living with the overwhelming guilt of being spared the same fate as her other half.
As all of Fisher's books tend to be, this one is fast moving and gripping, the turns tight and well-executed, and the final twist so shocking that you will never see it coming.

Amidst the mixed reviews surrounding "Good Half Gone" by Taryn Fisher, I found myself firmly in the camp of adoration. This book captivated me from the very beginning with its intriguing storyline, and I was hooked until the final page.

Fisher's narrative prowess shines through as she deftly navigates complex themes and characters, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with each twist and turn. The layers of suspense and mystery had me eagerly turning pages, desperate to uncover the truth behind every enigma.

However, I must offer a word of caution regarding the audiobook version of the book. While the story itself is enthralling, the audio rendition may not do it justice and was just not good. I highly recommend opting for a physical or digital copy instead to fully immerse yourself in Fisher's compelling tale.

In conclusion, "Good Half Gone" is a riveting read that I wholeheartedly recommend to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. Taryn Fisher has crafted a gripping story that lingers in the mind long after the final page, and it's an experience not to be missed.

Very good story, I loved it! I almost had it all figured out but there was a little more that I wasn't expecting.

Thank you Harlequin for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Iris Walsh has a twin sister who is kidnapped right in front of her at the movies when they went together. No one will believe her! When Iris reports her sister missing to the police, they question the validity of the situation, suggesting that her sister may have simply run off.
The book is structured across two distinct time periods: the time when Piper goes missing and nine years into the future, where Iris is caring for her son while also holding down a job and going to school.

This is the kind of book you can breeze through in an afternoon, constantly questioning where the story is headed. I was particularly intrigued by the backstory and curious to see where the author would take us on this winding, adventurous journey.
Overall, I found this book quite enjoyable. In fact, I liked it even more than 'The Wrong Family.' I didn't expect to be as engaged as I was. While I was able to anticipate some of the twists, I remained unsure of how everything would come together. It was a thrilling ride on a speedy roller coaster.

Colleen Hoover's quote about this book is dead on accurate. I had no idea where Good Half Gone was going to go, especially when I found myself nearly done with the book, and still not sure how Fisher was going to wrap it up. I was worried the end of the story was going to feel rushed, but man was I wrong.

Good Half Gone follows Iris, who is on the hunt to find out what happened to her twin sister 8 years ago. After chasing her own leads for years, she lands an internship at a psychiatric hospital that houses dangerous criminals on Shoal Island.

I really enjoyed the story. I liked Iris' character and her determination. My only complaint about the book is that there were times I felt like it would speed up a bit, before it slowed down a tiny bit (not in a bad way, it was just slower.) But the end of the book 100% made up for that.

I recommend Good Half Gone!

Thank you Graydon House and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my third novel from Tarryn Fisher. It was not my favorite of her novels. The novel centers on Iris, the surviving twin, her sister Piper was kidnapped when they were teens. Iris is focused on finding information about what happened to her sister after she was taken. This leads Iris to the Shoal Island Center for the Criminally Insane. The book is told through alternating narratives between the past and the future in Iris's voice. While I liked the premise and the alternating timeline, I found the story slow at times and hard to really grab my interest. At times I would read a few pages and have to go back and wonder what I had just read. Not as gripping as some of her other novels. I did find the setting of Shoal Island interesting and engaging, as well as some of the flashback scenes. It was just sort of blah for me most of the time.