This was an engrossing story that started the slightest bit slow to me but I quickly was unable to put down. Overall a tragic story of a family with too many secrets but the book was well written and I was compelled to keep going and figure out the truth.

Good book - kept me guessing, although you know something isn't right about the accounts given at the time of Sam's disappearance, it's hard to work out what.
Good characterisation and writing. I'll be reading more by these authors.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the dual timelines and feel that they really added depth to the characters. A very sad story and all along I was hoping for a miracle. Really illustrates how toxic sibling relationships can be as well.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. A grieving mother, demented by sadness, desperate to get to the truth about the death of her son.
Once she emerges from her cloud of distress, Alison begins to explore relationships within her family. Who was involved in Sam's disappearance / death?
Who is telling the truth?
Who can live with their guilt?
Is anyone who they seem?
There are one or two pacing issues, and a couple of instances of people behaving totally out of character, so four stars from me.
Thanks to Dreda Say Mitchell for an interesting read.

#Gone #NetGalley
Awesome.
The deeper into the past she digs, the higher the price she must pay for the truth.
It’s been ten years since Alison’s perfect world fell apart. Ten years since her son Sam disappeared while on a family holiday. Lost at sea, they said, his body never found. And even though her brother and sister were supposedly looking after the kids, Alison will always blame herself. Caught in a spiralling web of all-consuming grief where the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Alison refuses to let go. So when her ex-husband seeks to have Sam officially pronounced dead, Alison embarks upon a desperate and harrowing quest to discover what really happened that day on the beach.
But is the truth worth losing what is left of her sanity?
I loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me an advance copy.

This was definitely a raw and emotional psychological thriller. And I think you'd guess by the blurb just how hard hitting this book is going to be.
It's great at showing the grief the mum feels. As we swerve back and forwards in time it only adds to the tension. You both fear what's coming for this mum and fear for her afterwards as she spirals into deeper grief and obsession. She is convinced her son who disappeared all those years ago is still alive. And also can't come to terms with how she wasn't there looking after him when he vanished.
Is there something much darker going on in those involved?
I was suspicious of everyone in this book. The sister, the husband. Did her husband know something with the way he was pushing to have their son pronounced dead. Or just a dad needing to say goodbye. And her sister was meant to be watching their son...wasn't she?
A very heart jumping read. And a great portrayal of how a mum must feel in these circumstances.

Alison’s once idyllic existence was irrevocably altered a decade ago when her son, Sam, vanished during a family vacation, presumed to have drowned at sea. This tragedy enveloped her in a profound grief, exacerbated by overwhelming feelings of guilt and self-recrimination as her brother and sister were babysitting at the time of Sam’s disappearance. Alison is fervently determined to uncover the truth behind the day on the beach, convinced that Sam is not dead, as his body has yet to be found. The narrative initially, has a slow pace, but in the latter part of the novel, the pace picks up. I found Alison’s character well developed and I was really engaged with her. I liked how the novel adeptly moved between the past and the present, which allows one to fully experience the depth of Alison’s grief and desperation. As Alison delves deeper into the investigation, the search for the truth unveils disconcerting revelations regarding her loved ones, and the ones that were present with Sam. I was engaged in this story until the bitter end, and was surprised at the twists and turns, and ultimately the ending- the truth. Anyone interested in a good psychological thriller, will enjoy this title.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Gone’ written by Dreda Say Mitchell & Ryan Carter in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Alison’s son Sam disappeared ten years ago while on a family holiday and while she’s never been able to believe he’s gone, her ex-husband Mark will go to any lengths to have him pronounced dead.

‘Gone’ is the first book I’ve read by either of these authors and while initially I thought it was a book I’d enjoy with a promising plot and characters who sounded interesting, after the prologue it slowed down considerably and I quickly lost interest. I’ve no doubt it’s well written and will appeal to a lot of readers but I’m afraid I’m not one of them and struggled to get involved in the story for which I apologise.

A slow starting read that I had trouble getting into when it did pick up, it seemed very rushed, so no middle ground, really.
I've enjoyed the authors other books and for me, her gangland series of books are where she excels.
Sorry this was just not for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas &Mercer for the Arc.

Gone is a heart-wrenching journey through grief, obsession, and the search for truth. The book perfectly captures Alison’s spiraling descent as she struggles to hold onto the hope that her son Sam might still be alive, despite the years that have passed since his disappearance. Her pain and desperation are so palpable that I couldn’t help but feel for her as she delves deeper into the mystery of that day on the beach. The emotional intensity kept me hooked, and the lines between reality and fantasy created an eerie, disorienting atmosphere that added to the suspense. While I found some parts of the plot a bit predictable, the raw emotion and Alison’s relentless pursuit of answers made it a compelling read. Four stars for its deep emotional pull and the way it keeps you questioning what’s real until the very end.

Whilst I enjoyed the plot of the book, the flow seemed a little off. The start was extremely slow and it picked up in the middle but the end seemed fast and rushed. It just seemed a little off to me personally.

The actual plot was good, although some parts were predictable. I liked how it spoke about everyone’s grief and how it affected them and what their life was like afterwards.

Overall it was a good book.

This book was a rollercoaster with a seemingly unreliable narrator. However, the ending absolutely blew me away and I had so many emotions at the end of it. Wonderful book , well written and has a great storyline.

This is a really gripping if very emotional story. Definitely one to read in one sitting with a box of tissues to hand. It is obvious that there is more to Sam's disappearance than the story Alison was fed by those who should have been looking after him but the truth left me shocked to the core. It was such a massive twist, I could never have seen it coming. Definitely a 5 star read

Loved the dual timeline, loved the dark story line, loved the characters. Honestly enjoyed every aspect, full of suspense and twists that kept me guessing I loved it

This was an utterly drak and emotional thriller. The story is about Allison, who lost her son at the age of 11 in a drowning. When her ex husband want to declare him legally dead, it brings out a lot of problems.

The story is told in the past and present point of view. Allison has had a lot of difficulties in her life. It shows how she handles some things. This was a medium-paced dark story and I really liked it. Never read from this author before, but it will certainly not be my last.
There is so much going on in this book, it has a lot of layers. The author has made a twisted puzzle, leaving you guessing.
Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey. I really recommend this one!

Quite enjoyed this book but did take a while to get into it . I prefer dreada day Mitchell gangster books . Still worth a read though .

Alison and Olivia are the daughters of a talented piano playing fisherman. He passed his ability on to his daughters, but only one got a scholarship.... and it broke the sisters' bond.
Alison's son, Sam disappears at the age of 11 during a family holiday, she has never got over the loss, and wants the truth about his disappearance.

I could not put this emotionally charged book down. I felt Alison's pain throughout the book.
Dark, emotional and twisty, this book will pull at the reader's heartstrings and the ending is definitely not predicatable.

An absolutely fabulous read. I recommend wholeheartedly.

What would you do if your son was "missing"? Would you just believe they were dead. Or would you forever have hope that maybe, just maybe, what if......

It's been ten years since Sam died in an apparent drowning accident.

Alison has nebver got over the death of her son and now her ex husband wants to have him declared legally dead
He wants to move on with his new wife and family and has plans to move to Australia.

Allison needs closure too but is racked with anxiety and needs to know the true facts. Sams body has never been recovered so she doesnt quite believe he's dead.

This is a pacy and intense read, it is also quite tragic for all involved but are things as they seem..

I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to talk about with my fellow readers.

A great read which was sad at times, 10 years on will Alison ever find out what happened to Sam.

She can't have him declared dead until she finds out

We see her relationship with her family as the not knowing takles its toll

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this arc
4 stars