Catherine has grown up with only her mother Ruth. Sudden moves and leaving behind friends has been the norm. Now in her 20s and beginning her nursing career, Catherine starts to question what she has always been told by her mother and secrets start to come out. While this mystery/thriller isn't jam-packed with action, it was a very enjoyable listen! I can't say I didn't see most of the twists coming, but I didn't even care. As Ruth and Catherine's stories unfold, we discover why Ruth has kept them on the move for 25 years and what she's been hiding from her past. But is there more to Catherine as well? And what really happened that fateful night all those years ago that triggered Ruth to run? Having read too many mediocre mysteries lately, Gone Tonight was a pleasant change of pace!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Ruth Sterling and her daughter Katherine live a frugal simple life. Ruth a waitress and Katherine a new nurse works at a Nursing Home for memory care. They are all each other has, their own little world. [Insert helicopter parent picture here] Ruth is "subtly" in control of her daughters life, but as the reader comes to find out, with reason.
The man that led "Ruth" to flee her former life is released from prison and wants his revenge....but there is more to the story.

Pekkanen had all the elements for a potentially exciting thriller. But..........
There was no twist what so ever, very straight forward. (I guess there was a small twist in the epilougue, but nothing that left me shocked) This was more like a "suspense" I felt like I was on edge the whole time awaiting the crecendo scene (which actually was not that exciting)
This book was a very slow burn, and Pekkannen went out of her way to over explain ordinary task:
-Ruth's "shopping" in target (okay girl, eat something other than granola bars please), and how she used the flashlight like her dad had, or the ball point bic pin from the front counter--honey I don't care, just give me some thrills please.
-I did appreciate her shoutout to one of my favorite mid 90's movies "Where the Heart Is"-
I was given the audio version of this book and I believe one thing that would have made this book a lot better is if the narrorator had used a different voice/accent for Ruth and Katherine. It was hard to distinguish the "tone" the author was trying to convey for each character. A different voice would have allowed me to connect with the characters better I believe.
-The other things that bothered me were; The day James is released he manages to escape his parol AND connect with Katherine...?? Very unbelievable

This book lacked the "wow" factor I was expecting. There was a lot of extra detail on unimportant things, yet the actual mystery/suspense part of the book was done on the surface level.

Maybe a beginner thriller reader would enjoy this one....but I am a "seasoned" thriller reader so I wasn't buying into this one.
I will for sure continue to read Pekkanen, I have enjoyed her other books.
Thank you Netgalley for this advanced copy read. I was not influenced or paid for this honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen.

I've previously enjoyed co-authored works by Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, so I thought I would like this book as well. It was a middle-of-the-road read/listed for me. Kate Mara did a wonderful job with the narration.

Ruth Sterling and her daughter Catherine have always been together - just the 2 of them. Ruth begins to show signs of <spoiler> Alzheimer's disease. Which I find completely unnecessary to the plot and ridiculous seeing as how Cathering works at a memory care facility. A little too on the nose, there. </spoiler> Catherine was supposed to move to start a new job, but because of Ruth's recent situation, Catherine is re-thinking her move and starts to discover new things about her mother. Little does Catherine know, that the further she keeps digging, the more dangerous things become for her and her mom.

I saw the ending coming from a mile away - the final 'twist' is very predictable. I do enjoy Pekannen's writing a flow, which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2.

How would it feel to learn your entire life is a lie?

Katherine has graduated from nursing school and secured a job at John Hopkins Hospital. As she begins her transition into adulthood, she can’t help but wonder why her mother has never disclosed much about her own childhood or the people to which Katherine is related.

Ruth did the best she could to raise Kathrine but a dark secret kept them moving from place to place and job to job. When Katherine raises questions about this style of living, Ruth closes up or makes up a lie. Her goal is simply to keep Katherine safe.

As this story progresses, the lies that Ruth so carefully constructed begin to slowly peel away. Since she can’t learn the truth from her mother, Katherine implements other ways to learn about Ruth’s past. But these tactics may put both of them in jeopardy.

This novel is intriguing, face paced and totally absorbing. It is a definitely a stay up all night to finish book. The characters are complex and change as each lie is shattered and truth takes its place. The book switches between Ruth and Katherine as narrators. This might confuse audio listeners on occasion but is not detrimental if the reader listens closely. The narrator is fantastic and perfect for this book.

I have enjoyed all of Sarah Pekkanen’s books. This one is outstanding, as usual. I preferred the audio version simply because the narrator brought the words to life.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Fear, excitement, concern, curiosity and joy! A book to be remembered!
Ruth sterling experiences trauma, injustice, retaliation, and a life of constant fear for her daughter, Catherine. Catherine senses deception about what her mother is experiencing and her own life. Alternating perspectives enable you to walk through their lives simultaneously.
The narrator, Kate Mara brings this story to life through vocal inflection, emotion, character depiction with a steady, comfortable pace.
Overall, I loved this book! It was a struggle to walk away for life’s duties. The end brings everything together.
I would recommend this book to all, but especially to suspense readers.
Thanks to Sarah Pakkanen and MacMillan Publishing for allowing to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

25 years ago Ruth disappeared from her home town and never went back; it has always just been her and her daughter, Catherine. She has worked in dinners and kept their identities quiet to keep people from her past finding them. But for Ruth the past few months have been rough as she is becoming more and more forgetful and an early onset Alzheimer diagnosis sends her and Catherine reeling. Catherine is about to transfer to John Hopkins to pursue her love of elder care but has to rethink her plans as her mother's own care takes precedence. Ruth is encouraged to begin writing in a journal to share her past but it begins to unravel secrets of her past, secrets that will change both of their lives forever.

I have been a very big fan of Sarah Pekkanen's work with co-author Greer Hendricks so I was excited to see read some of her own work. I enjoyed Pekkanen's writing style and the pacing of the novel. The story is told from the POV of both Catherine and Ruth which allows for a slow unravelling of the deceptions that has gripped their lives. As a thriller, the story itself is fine, not as exciting as I would have hoped. There were some plot holes and storylines that drop off and the ending twist was too predictable. Overall, it was good but not great.

I had the audio version read by actress Kate Mara who does an excellent job. She is easy to listen to and engaging. I would love to listen to more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook of Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen. I am a fan of her writing as well as the narration by Kate Mara. However, I find separate narrators for each character in an audiobook more engaging than the same narrator reading for more than one character as in this book. I think a different narrator for the Catherine character would have been ideal.

At first I was confused as to why this book was categorized as a mystery/thriller but then deceptions and past crime surfaces. Regardless, this book overall felt like a domestic/family drama more than a thriller to me.

First there was personal history and character development told from both Ruth’s and Catherine’s points of view. I at first enjoyed getting to know each character and learning about their respective backgrounds. 

25 years after first running from her life, Ruth begins a journal to account for her actions. These were my favorite parts of the story. I just did not feel as interested in Catherine’s experience as she learns of her mother’s past.
I found Catherine’s sleuthing chapters a bit slow, perhaps because I as the reader already knew what she was learning about her mother’s secrets.

Ultimately, this book for me lacked any sense of real suspense or danger. I found myself barely paying attention at the climax. I mostly loved hearing about Kate’s teenage runaway experience such as living in a Target.

Three stars.

3.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads

What lengths would you go to in order to protect the person you love most in the world?

Ruth Sterling has raised her daughter Catherine on her own; moving frequently and living paycheck to paycheck. Catherine thinks she knows nearly everything about her mother, that they have no secrets, but she's soon to find out that that isn't the case. So who IS Ruth? And why is she hiding it?

I enjoyed this story on audiobook. It kept me entertained and engaged on a road trip. The story flips back and forth between current day and Ruth's past. The pacing was slower than I expected. It has the thriller elements, but it also has a lot of Ruth and Catherine's relationship. I did find the shifts in their relationship compelling as Catherine learns more and Ruth tries to adapt. A big chunk of the reveal happened a lot earlier than I expected, which made the pacing for the rest of the book feel slower. The final resolution felt like it relied far too much on luck and the big reveal at the end was something I'd predicted so it lacked impact for me.

Overall this was an enjoyable, though only medium-paced, thriller. If you don't demand nearly constant big reveals, then this is a good option. The writing was solid despite the pacing.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I thought I had picked up the wrong audio when I started listening to Gone Tonight. Surely this lovely story about a daughter who was going to put her life on hold so she could spend more time with her mother, who had just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, couldn’t be the psychological thriller I expected from Sarah Pekkanen. There were a few hints that all may not be as it seemed. And then, there were bombshells. Suddenly it was an intense thriller that never let up. Gone Tonight is a true example of a slow burn that quickly becomes an inferno.

Gone Tonight is going to be in my top 10 reads of the year - it was sooo good! I loved the slow burn, dual perspective/timeline, and the mother-daughter relationship. There was depth and suspense in every chapter and scene, and the writing was spectacular. I would highly recommend this book.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen was a great slow-burn mystery. Interesting plot points and twisty secrets I enjoyed this book. I've always loved books by co-authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, and now I can't wait to see what Pekkanen publishes next. Fantastic audio and narration.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The narration by Kate Mara was fantastic and matched the main genial characters perfectly! The story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I finished quickly because I just needed to know what happened next! I really enjoyed the Mother’s/daughter dynamic and how it changes throughout the book. The glimpses into Ruth’s past also helped to show how they got to be where they are in the present. If you like psychological thrillers, don’t miss out on this one!

I wanted to love this but unfortunately it was just too slow for me. I still love this author and will read anything else they write but this one wasn’t for me.

*4.5 stars*

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen is a compelling and thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Told through alternating POVs of Catherine and Ruth, a mother and daughter duo, the story delves into their lives with surprising twists and a gripping plot. The dynamic between the mother and daughter trio adds depth to the story, and the plot twists leave a lasting impact. While the beginning of the book may have started off a bit slow, the pace quickly picks up, immersing you in a riveting narrative that demands your attention. Sarah Pekkanen skillfully weaves a web of suspense and surprises, leaving you guessing and eager to uncover the truth. The narrator, Kata Mara, maintained a monotone voice throughout the story, lacking the use of varied tones and inflections. This made it slightly challenging to differentiate between the alternating POVs. Gone Tonight still captured my imagination and I highly recommend it.

A very special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.

2.75 - 3 stars
I was very excited to read GONE TONIGHT after really enjoying all of Sarah Pekkanen's books as her writing duo with Greer Hendricks. I had really high hopes for this but it wasn't really my style.

I felt like GONE TONIGHT was much more suspense than thriller and it was more about the story of the mother/daughter relationship than it was the thrill and mystery of it all. If I had gone into the book thinking of it like that, I probably would have liked it more (but then again, I probably wouldn't pick it up if it didn't have the thriller aspect going for it).

The beginning was pretty slow for me with lots of set-up. I kept waiting for some good twists or more thrills but like I said, it was more about the relationships. There was a decent part the ending (after an unbelievable moment) and I just wish things had *leaned into it* more throughout the book rather than leaving some stuff for the end.

Sadly, I didn't love this but I can see where others might.

Audiobook notes: This audiobook was narrated by Kate Mara, who I've seen as an actress in various TV shows and movies. I was surprised with two first person female POVs that they chose to only have one narrator. I didn't love her narration but it was very confusing switching between chapters with only one female voices. I think this REALLY could have used two narrators and that would have helped a lot. It's not a big deal when a book is in third person but it makes a difference in first person.

The bond between a mother and daughter is a special one. It has been just Ruth and her daughter Catherine for years. Now that Catherine is ready to finally move into her own place with a new job in a new city, she finds her mother is showing signs of a debilitating disease. Can she really leave her? When her family kicked her out for getting pregnant at such a young age, it was Ruth who always made sure there was a roof over her head and food in her belly. But Ruth’s behavior seems a little suspect to Catherine, and she is intent on figuring out why her mom is determined to keep them together.

Ruth has a past, one she is not willing to divulge to her daughter. Of course its for her own protection. As Catherine begins to ask more and more pointed questions, Ruth begins to panic, thinking maybe she can open up to her daughter. The reader gets glimpses into the past as Ruth writes her story in a journal to give to Catherine. Ruth would do anything to protect her daughter. She knows Catherine is feeling a bit suffocated, but she can’t give her any more freedom. It’s for her own good.

Told in three acts, this thriller is a page-turner for sure. Just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don’t. Reading the alternating points of views, we find out just how dysfunctional this mother daughter duo really is. Their spiraling dissent is compulsively readable.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course the author Sarah Pekkanen for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Gone Tonight is out on August 1st. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance listener's copy in exchange for my review.

How far would you go to protect the person you love most in life?

Gone Tonight is the story of a mother and daughter, Ruth and Catherine, that begs another question: how well do you know the most important person in your life? I went into this book without knowing much except that I've enjoyed a few of the author's previous novels. I'm not going to reveal any more than the synopsis does.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. Narrator Kate Mara did a fine job and kept me listening. I completed it in 24 hours.
Sarah Pekkanen's slow burn story built suspense by revealing tidbits that had me thinking "wait, what?!" Chapters alternate between Ruth and Catherine's perspective.
All in all, I found Gone Tonight a riveting, suspenseful story. 4.5 stars

Warning: There is a scene that was difficult to listen to (sexual assault).

Overall, I would give this audiobook 3 1/2 to 4 stars, but I absolutely hated the narrator! I do not like Kate Mara at all, and her voice annoys me like nails down a chalkboard. I wanted to quit so many times, but I kept on. With that being said, it was a pretty good story I didn’t much care for the ending, it was left way to open.

How far would you go to protect your daughter and yourself? Would you trade your life to protect hers by creating a false identity and staying away from family and friends for many years?

For many of us that is exactly what we would do, and in the case of Ruth Sterling that is what she does, shielding her daughter, Catherine. As time moves on and Catherine grows, she starts to suspect her mother whose overwhelming protection amounts to stalking, to be not what she seems to be. Then again, Ruth seems to be suffering from the onset of Alzheimer's later connecting her more so to Catherine.

As the truth emerges, we find that Ruth is not the only one with hidden secrets and as both women are in eminent danger from a man newly paroled from prison, the true elements of Ruth's (Ava) behavior are now front and center. Will the women triumph or will what Ruth fears come to fruition as the former killer tracks them down for a deadly showdown.

This thriller had me guessing along with my book buddy, Jan, as to what was true amidst a carefully crafted web of lies.

Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this enjoyable thriller which publishes in August of 2023.

Ruth (mother) and Catherine (daughter) have always been very close. As Catherine prepares to leave for home for a new career, Ruth panics. She tells Catherine she has been diagnosed with alzheimers to get her to stay. Things aren't adding up for Catherine and as she begins looking into her mothers past, she realizes her whole life may be a lie.
I enjoyed the short chapters and two points of view. The narrator did a great job keeping me engaged to the audio. Parts were slow, but overall I enjoyed this book. Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.