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!

I thought this was fine. It had a lot of pieces of her vibes and the last thing he told me. I liked the ending and the characters were interesting enough. It just was meh.

This book! I was thinking about it all the time when I wasn't reading it. It starts out as a slow burn and reads like just about any other contemporary fiction novel...until we learn that we don't know the whole truth. From that point on, it's hard to put down and full of suspense and anticipation.

The story alternates in point of view between Ruth and Catherine, and the truth slowly begins to leak out as one actively seeks the truth and the other takes pains to hide it. This isn't your typical thriller - it can go long stretches without real action - but it's still a page turner.

I didn't love that the narrator didn't seem to change their voicing or cadence or anything when reading the two separate characters' points of view. This book would have been a great candidate for a two-person cast.

Thanks to NetGalley for early access to this book!

This was a FABULOUSLY narrated auto book - i really loved the narration.

They story itself was good - it didnt feel overly fresh or unique, but it was a compelling slow burn.

I found the twists rather predictable, but i still enjoyed the novel.

CONTENT - 3 STARS
NARRATION - 5 STARS

OVERALL - 4 STARS

Title: A Captivating Thriller That Leaves You Breathless

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review:

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen is an absolute triumph in the world of psychological thrillers. From the very first page, Pekkanen grabs hold of your attention and refuses to let go until the final, heart-pounding conclusion. This novel deserves nothing less than a solid five-star rating.

The story revolves around Catherine and her mother Ruth. Alternating view points bring many secrets to light.
What sets Gone Tonight apart from other thrillers is Pekkanen's ability to craft multi-dimensional characters who feel like real people with genuine emotions. Each chapter offers a glimpse into the minds and hearts of the characters, and their perspectives add layers of complexity to the story. I found myself deeply invested in their lives, anxiously turning the pages to discover what would happen next.

Pekkanen's writing style is impeccable, effortlessly blending vivid descriptions with taut dialogue that keeps the narrative flowing smoothly. Her attention to detail creates an atmosphere so palpable, I could almost feel the characters' anxiety and tension coursing through my veins. The pacing is flawless, building up the suspense with every twist and turn until it reaches a crescendo that left me breathless.

Moreover, the plot of Gone Tonight is expertly crafted, with meticulously placed clues and surprises that kept me guessing until the final revelation. Pekkanen skillfully weaves together different threads, exploring themes of trust, secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. The intricate web of deception and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters make this a thought-provoking and deeply satisfying read.

Gone Tonight is a tour de force that showcases Sarah Pekkanen's exceptional talent as a writer. With its well-drawn characters, gripping storyline, and impeccable pacing, this book is an absolute gem for fans of the thriller genre. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a riveting, page-turning experience that will leave you wanting more.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC

I received an audiobook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Catherine’s mother is showing signs of early onset dementia, and Catherine delves into Ruth’s background in order to help her stave off symptoms with memories. She discovers that neither she, nor Ruth, may really be who she’s believes they are.

Ok, I’ve read other reviews that call this a “slow burn” and I agree. It’s so slow that when it finally catches fire at the end it seems to resolve itself so fast that it feels rushed. The premise is cool, but boy, it dragged. Obviously others have really enjoyed it, but it just didn’t grab me like I had hoped it would.

I really enjoyed this book and the back and forth of mother and daughter. I wish the mom had been more honest when she became an adult. I also wasn’t sure who to believe at times.

I liked the book but it wasn't the best one I ever listened to. The narrators voice was a little monotone but the story was intriguing and had me interested the entire time.

This was just a fine book for me. There wasn’t anything that I was overly gasping at, just very middle of the road.

I LOVED this book and really enjoyed listening to it. The narrator had excellent pacing and was able to differentiate the voices of the two narrators without it feeling forced or overdone. She was good at portraying male voices as well and conveyed the internal feelings of the characters quite well.

The story was fast paced but not over the top action forward, which I appreciated. This thriller is more psychological in nature and while some familiar tropes were used, they were done in a new fresh manner. I enjoyed both POVs as well as the dual storyline and was surprised quite a few times. I didn’t want to stop listening and I devoured this audiobook quickly. A great listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advance listen. All opinions in this review are my own.

Ruth and Catherine, mother and daughter, have always been close. As Catherine’s career progresses and she accepts a job that would take her away from home, Ruth goes to great lengths to stop her. Catherine becomes suspicious and begins to look into Ruth’s past and uncovers what she has been hiding.

I have read a few of Sarah Pekkanen’s book that she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks, and this one is my favorite. I loved the dual POVs and was instantly interested in the backstory. When the past caught up to our mother-daughter duo I had to keep listening to find out what would happen next. I thought the ending was great, but parts were a little over the top. Overall it left me wanting more, which is never a bad thing!

I really enjoyed Kate Mara as the narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC.