The premise of this book sounded thrilling and reminded me a little bit of the movie, Double Jeopardy with Ashley Judd when I first read the description. R.J. Jacobs draws us into an interesting plot from the beginning with characters such as main character, Emily, a psychiatrist who battles bipolar disorder. Emily wakes up on a boat during a sailing trip with her boyfriend only to find him missing.
While the plot twists were engaging, I unfortunately didn't quite connect with the characters the way I wanted to. The story could have used a little more character development, and at times the plot was a little vague, but overall it was a fast-paced read and entertaining read.

I enjoyed the elements of mental health woven in alongside the mystery element of the story. It felt different from the usual books that I read, as it had a science/laboratory element to it but it is good to read something different. I was able to guess some of the 'twists' of the story but sometimes I think that comes from reading so many books. Good practice! However, I would be interested in reading future books by this author.

Psychological and well-written, this book drives the reader through from page to page. It’s a mystery that engages and grips.

he cover of this book caught my eye. Did someone drown? Is it about a swimmer? What is happening? And Then You Were Gone by R.J. Jacobs appeals to me thanks to an intriguing plot that combines mental illness with a mystery surrounding a death.

After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she’s got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees—wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift…and Paolo is gone.

A strong swimmer, there’s no way Paolo drowned, but Emily is at a loss for any other explanation. Where else could he have gone? And why? As the hours and days pass by, each moment marking Paolo’s disappearance, Emily’s hard-won stability begins to slip.

But when Emily uncovers evidence suggesting Paolo was murdered, the investigation throws her mania into overdrive, even as she becomes a person of interest in her own personal tragedy. To clear her name, Emily must find the truth—but can she hold onto her own sanity in the process?



I am anxious to read this and see how the author weaves bipolar disorder into a murder investigation. I like a flawed, potentially unreliable main character with issues that may complicate things. This one looks so good, I can’t wait to read it.

Due out in March 2019.

After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she's got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees - wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift... and Paolo is gone.

A strong swimmer, there's no way Paolo drowned, but Emily is at a loss for any other explanation. Where else could he have gone? And why? As the hours and days pass by, each moment marking Paolo's disappearance, Emily's hard-won stability begins to slip.

But when Emily uncovers evidence suggesting Paolo was murdered, the investigation throws her mania into overdrive, even as she becomes a person of interest in her own personal tragedy. To clear her name, Emily must find the truth - but can she hold onto her own sanity in the process?

This is a great example of a thriller or mystery that delivers on the promise of keeping you guessing. I would review this book and recommend it completely. It was a book I wanted to read in one sitting, but forced myself to span out my reading.

The characters felt pretty developed, the bits and pieces strung together well. The characters were crafted and I felt like I could relate to these characters in a way some of the other books I’ve read didn’t deliver on.

I felt like the first forty pages or so were fairly slow, but the pace picked up as the book progressed with several twists and turns. The formatting was also a strong and successful component as well.

And Then You Were Gone follows Emily as she comes to grip with the loss of her boyfriend, Paolo. After years of managing and controlling her bipolar disorder, this loss threatens to throw Emily completely off balance. She will not believe that Paolo could have drowned, and struggles to understand what could have happened until she discovers evidence that may suggest that there has been foul play. Emily fights to find the answers before she falls victim to her bipolar.
A great thriller/mystery that keeps you guess. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a good thriller/mystery!

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I would give this book 5 stars!!!
This book begged to be read in one setting but life has a way of not allowing that to happen. I think this is best book I’ve read in a long time.
The character of Emily was spot on. Her feelings on being bi-polar are explored during the story. Manic episodes are sometimes an issue when meds are nit taken and she explains her struggle throughout the story. By the end I think my heart was beating faster than normal as I related to her fear. Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who likes suspense and thrilling books

#And Then You Were Gone# NetGalley #

Thank you to NetGalley for a advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

I just finished reading this book by R. J. Jacobs and I absolutely loved it! I’ve always heard that you should write about what you know, and that is exactly what Mr. Jacobs has done and it shows in his writing. The setting is in Nashville, the plot involves psychology and of course, murder. Emily is a very likable character, although she is really pushing the boundaries on most of her interactions with other characters. She is bipolar and somewhat manic in all she does, but that is what makes her so likable. I failed to mention that there is also romance between Rachel and her boyfriend Paulo. He disappears from a yacht, and the police suspect she has murdered him. She spends the rest of the book trying to prove she is not guilty. Her sleuthing takes her through many venues and she is always a step ahead. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who was guilty of the murders. I must admit that I had two characters in mind and I was wrong on both. It does end well and all the loose strings are tied up. A pleasing ending. I was so into the book that I read it in one sitting. The author’s writing goes very smoothly and it is easy to read and keep up with. I hope there will be other future books from this author. A solid 5 stars.

This book was different and fun! There were lots of twists and turns. I thought the beginning was slow, but as i read on, all tied together. I love books that keep me up at night! Thanks netgalley for an a copy in exchange for honest review!

This book began as quite the page turner - they started us off with wondering what had happened to Paolo and progressed into us wondering what would happen next, which is a sign of a good novel, in my opinion. It held my attention and despite having somewhat predicted the ending by the halfway point, it didn't make me want to finish less.

The writing itself was also great, allowing me to picture each scene as if it were familiar to me. But mostly, I genuinely appreciated a mentally ill/unstable female lead portrayed in an accurate and honest, but not victim, sort of way. I looked up the author after reading and learned that he's a psychologist, which explains the accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder. Regardless, it's a great thing, as people typically misunderstand these disorders or see them as purely negative. In the story, while suffering, the main character is able to use her disorder to her advantage.

Overall the book was a page turner and definitely captivated my attention and I"ll certainly look for further works by this author in the future.

Nothing memorable. Nothing special... a decent writer but the story was predictable and nothing surprising....

At the start of this book I really didn’t know where it was going to go, how the plot would unfold and there’s no way I could have guessed how it ended. I was on the end of my seat through the last 15% of the book, I couldn’t read fast enough as everything came together for the ending. There was suspense, a little agony, some “why did you do that” thoughts ... all things that make for a good book. This was my first book by R. J. Jacobs and I throughly enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed Emily as a main character especially. With her character flaws and honesty, I found her endearing as we rooted her on to find out what happened to her boyfriend. Great read that kept me turning the pages and interested in all the bits and pieces.

I want to thank #netgalley for the ARC copy of this book. The book was ok, not great, not terrible. It's an easy read but in a way, a predictable story. You have Emily, who is Bi-polar and doesn't have a great memory. So, part of you thinks she could be the murderer but then you know it's too easy to make her the murderer, so easy plot line. With all the new thriller authors out there and all the really good twist in books like "Gone Girl" or "The Girl on The Train", this one just wasn't that great. I like to be surprised with endings I never see coming and this one just wasn't it. Fast little read, easy to follow, worth picking up for a quick escape! Enjoy it! Interested to see where R.J. Jacobs goes as an author.

This was a very enjoyable read it grabbed me from the second page, being on the lake with Paolo & Emily was thrilling the writer made you believe in her fear! The life of Emily and her quirks that the author made very believable you were on her side from the start through all her bumps ... (not wanting to spill 2 much) her fighting to find justice for Paolo the man she loves and trying to keep herself mentally on even ground was written very well working in pathology I believed her medical issues and the struggles she fought every day. I stayed up almost all nigh reading I could not wait to see what happened to Matt and continue to cheer for Emily through think and thin.The book kept you engaged throughout. I read 3-4 books a week and this was a wonderful first book. I can tell you poured your heart into this book and thank you for it. My only ? Is the flower delivery by 1:30 and then it states the closer Tommy can get to 10:00 on the dot the better lost me there lol
Thank You for writing a great thriller and allowing me the pleasure of reading it before published this is my first review for #netgalley so thanks .
Beverly E

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early review copy.

This book is full of intrigue and twists. A woman wakes up to discover her boyfriend has disappeared, and the police find her explanation of events questionable.

There was a lot going on in this story, it was meaty and mysterious. I found myself really rooting for the protagonist even though she made some questionable decisions! The writing was good, the story flowed nicely even with flashbacks thrown in, and the conclusion was satisfying. I really enjoyed it.

AND THEN YOU WERE GONE by R.L. Jacobs is a great suspense novel. I had never read any of Jacob's novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

Pretty dang good for a debut thriller. My gratitude to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this title which releases on March 13, 2019. Emily and her boyfriend, Paolo, spend a romantic evening on a rented boat. They have some wine, a little bread and cheese and Emily falls into a deep slumber. When she wakes up in the morning, Paolo is nowhere to be found. She has no idea what has happened to him. Eventually she figures out how to start the engine and drive the boat into the dock at the rental marina. The police are called and investigate the matter. Of course, the main suspect turns out to be Emily.

To make things worse, Emily has a bipolar diagnosis and works as a psychologist. When she’s targeted as “killing” her boyfriend, her boss doesn’t want her working anymore.

I didn’t predict the ending at all. I doubt that you will get it entirely right either, but don’t let that stop you from trying.

The story is electrifying, full of anxiety-producing twists and richly drawn characters. Hats off to R.J. Jacobs. On his bio, it says this is part of a series, and I have no idea how that will play out, because this book had everything wrapped up in a nice package with a fancy bow on top.

I got bored rapidly and didn't finish reading this book as the plot seemed too silly and Emily was boring constantly talking about her bipolar disorder.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC.
Emily, who suffers from bipolar disorder, is finally in a better place and happy to spend a weekend on a boat trip with her boyfriend Paolo. When Paolo mysteriously disappears and Emily is the police's main suspect, her mental state deteriorates again. Not a good situation to be in when you're desperately trying to find out what happened to the man you love.
As much as I wanted to like this book, I couldn't: I didn't find Emily a sympathetic character and giving her a mental disease seemed a bit of a cheap shot. The writing seemed all over the place and I won't be reading others by this author. However, judging by all the 5-star reviews, I am definitely in the minority, I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.