Thaks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
I would say that over the piece this was a very enjoyable read although there were a couple of sections where I felt that the entertainment value dropped a couple of gears.
Putting that aside, a decent book with a good story and no hesitation in recommending to anyone with an interest in reading this particular genre of publication

"Happy First Birthday."
Dr. Augusta Bloom, psycho!ogist, is reluctant!y drawn into the search for a missing woman by her partner, former secret services, Marcus Jameson. Lana, the mother of a girl his sister Claire looked after for periods of time whilst mum was away on army manoevres, had disappeared on her birthday. Never the most responsible of parents, Lana had done nothing like this before and teenage daughter Jane was worried. So was Claire, especially since the mother had gone missing on her birthday, leaving behind the only possible clue as to why - a 'Happy First Birthday' card with an invitation to play a game, and the message 'I dare you.' Investigation initially shows that three other people, a woman and two men, had also recently vanished after receiving similar cards. But what was the game and where (and why) had they gone?

The Opening chapters are dramatic, curious and quickly pull the reader into the story and the working persona of Dr.Bloom. The intriguing concept of people apparently voluntarily walking instantly away from their lives and the other people in them, without a word to anyone, merely at the invitation of a birthday card to play a game, immediate!y raises expectations for the reader: this is a plot unlike most others. The excitement carries the storyline well until some two thirds of the way through when, for this reader, it began to fall apart: not only did certain major (hidden) aspects become obvious, but they were still drawn ou, but the overall concept remained unexplained. Apologies, but it is not possible to go into specifics without major spoilers. What had begun as a clever idea and fascinating reading lost traction in the final chapters, as if the author hadn't quite worked out the overall basis for her story.

Gone, is the debut thriller of author, Leona Deakin, however, and as such a good first entry into the genre. Herself an occupational psychologist who previously worked with the West Yorkshire police, her observations on her protagonists must be given credence but the characterisation of most failed to fully lift them into the three dimensional living people world. And being constantly told how good a judge of character someone is, does not make it so.

An enjoyable and easy read which could have been so much better with a little more attention to detail and a fuller final resolution. A good first foray into the world of psychological thrillers, however, and worth reading for the opening scenes and b earlier mystery of the story.
My thanks to the publishers, through Netgalley, who, at my request, gifted me with a complimentary pre-release copy of Gone

It didn’t surprise me to learn that Leona Deakin is a psychologist as her debut novel Gone proves that. This is a taut, pacy thriller exploring the world of psychopaths and who doesn’t love a story about psychopaths? Shockingly I learnt that one in a hundred people exhibit those traits that typify a psychopath, demonstrating a complete lack of empathy and conscience. Criminal psychologist Dr Augusta Bloom and former spy Marcus Jameson make a pretty formidable duo who have banded together to solve mysteries. The story opens with a gruesome stabbing of a school caretaker by a pupil and Dr Bloom is called upon to talk to the 14 year old pupil. The storyline quickly escalates into a daring game which arrives via an invitation contained in a birthday card which reads ‘YOUR GIFT IS THE GAME. DARE TO PLAY?’ As the pair start to investigate, the number of people who have accepted the dare steadily rises and the police become involved but there is seemingly no pattern, apart from birthdays, and no motive. I hope this is not the last we hear of Bloom and Jameson though I found the latter’s amorous exploits rather unconvincing. Thanks to Penguin for the ARC.

Sensational. As debut novels go, they don’t get much stronger than this. An original and captivating premise. A psychologist and former spy are asked to investigate the disappearance of a diverse group of individuals, all of whom have suddenly disappeared from their lives, apparently having been invited to join a game by way of a mysterious birthday card. I don’t want to say any more about the plot as I don’t want to inadvertently include any spoilers. The flowing prose makes for a very engaging writing style and there is plenty of tension and action included. The psychology is clearly well-researched and delivered in a thought-provoking and informative way and the plot is crafted well, with reveals and subverted expectations but without illogical changes in characters’ behaviours and motivations. I will look out for more from Leona Deakin in due course.

# Gone # Netgally
This is a extremely cleverly written book, by far one of the cleverest piece of writing I have read in sick a long long time. At first I must say I found it a bit of a slow start. Yet.when Marion wondered back and forth from the present to the last it became a completely different book. Overall it was a bit of a slow paced book, and I do have to say it worked out well. Despite it appearing a little on the slow side I couldn't put their book down. The intrigue gets its nooks really feel into YOU. I can not say in the same way some books do with excitement. Because that's not the case. It's about a family who in their own way are affected deeply by a accident. I became more and more intrigued with Marion. Her behaviour her selfishness. She actually thought some of her actions went unnoticed. Now wrong was she. I was probably just over 2 thirds of the book, when I became aware of such a a enormous twists that was coming.... I wasn't 100% sure it would be defiantly how I thought it would be. Yet you just know this massive twist will completely chang the entire book. The more I read I was almost certain it was going in the direction I tnought. However when it did come it was far far better than I had ever imagined. It cmplety was a knockout that no one could have seen coming at the begging. It's was beyond brillian, it's say beyond awesome, I can not put into words how cleverly it was designed to be written the was. I can not expect anyone to fully understand until you have read it. I really really encourage everyone to stick with the book. As I said at first it seems a little on the slow side you will soon be compelled with Marion. It's beyond intriguing it's deep with the final twist that you could not have anticipated at all......... I have to really admire Leona Deaking. and giving her a massive thank you. For such a ingenious storyline. Now I will say phenomenal. Although that doesent cover how good this book is .

A very unique story which is hard to do now. I found the first third a bit slow going and confusing but it stepped up a gear and became tense and hard to put down. I loved the northern location as I live there-made a change from London! A well researched and written book and I would definitely read more from the author.

I really liked this book, I kept reading all day long well into the night. It's set in the UK, which is a nice change from the usual thrillers set in America and I found the psychology element really well done and well explained. Te only think that was pretty obviously suspicious was Marcus's infatuation with a woman he just met, even though he was such an expert. The book kept my interest till the very end. Thank you Netgalley!

What an usual storyline and plot and a complete twist on the usual “missing persons” theme! This immediately drew me in and it did not disappoint! I will admit I guessed the twist and how the two stories linked but it felt like the second storyline from Blooms past was sort of forgotten about half way through and all of a sudden we stopped going back there and then how it entered back into the story seemed kind of thrown in. A few incidents seemed really rushed and ultimately pointless I.e. the part at the bridge and the ending seemed a bit far fetched and some questions were still unanswered but based on the ending, I’m not sure if this was deliberate. I really took to the two main characters though but would say I started to lose interest the further the book went on, whereas the beginning had me hooked!! It was still an ok read but for some reason the initial way it had me gripped, just didn’t last the distance

Absolutely brilliant book, well written and kept you guessing all the way through. Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller.

Have pondered for the best part of a day trying to decide what to write in this review and I was almost stumped. Decided in the end to just say that this is a fascinating book which is well worth the time for anyone fascinated by the way people's heads are wired. It is an enthralling tale that I read in two sittings. It should really have been three but with only a few percent of the book left to read at 01:00 in the morning during the second sitting, I just had to keep going to the last fullstop. Well worth my effort and yours as long as you please bear in mind this is a book that needs one's full attention and so is not, in my opinion, a book for the beach.

Omg, what an awesome debut novel-so much so I've just pre ordered the sequel which isn't out until 2020!
I have to admit I struggled to start with but there are so many twists and turns in this story it soon had me hooked! I couldn't put it down and am desperate to know what happens with Jameson and Bloom next!
I am local to Leeds so the locations really came to life but this was an added bonus which didn't distract from the book at all. I can't wait to get spreading the word about this awesome novel and author!

GONE Leona Deakin

People are going missing, nothing unusual in that, people go missing every day, but some of these people are being given a card with a message on it just before they disappear.

On the card is the message “Happy First Birthday. Dare To Play The Game” For some reason the Police aren’t linking the cases, and where they do, they deem the missing person to be old enough, and in good enough health, for them not to be seen as vulnerable.

Dr Augusta Bloom is a Psychologist who has teamed up with Ex MI6 officer Marcus Jameson to carry out independent investigations.

One of the woman that goes missing is related, in a tenuous way to Marcus, and he is asked to look into the case.

Between him and Dr Augusta they start to identify a worrying trend in the type of person that has gone missing after being invited to play the game.

But why are people being asked to play, and what is the end game.

As the two investigate secrets are uncovered which surprise everybody, and scare more than a few.

Can Dr Augusta, the shy almost introvert Psychologist, get into the mind of whoever is collecting these people. While she tries Marcus uses his investigative skills, and a few contacts from his Secret Service past to try to link all of victims.

The main part of this story is the hunt for the missing people, but what I found really intriguing was who was being invited to play the game, and the purpose they were asked to join in. It would not be a big leap of faith to see this happen in real life, and with frightening consequences.

A good read.

Pages: 384

People around the UK are receiving birthday cards daring them to join in the ‘game’, and then they appear to disappear. Working alongside the police is the couple Marcus Jameson and Dr Augusta Bloom are working frantically to work out what is going on. The pace of the novel really picks up, and it becomes a taut psychological thriller which really gripped me. I very much liked the two main characters, and I do hope that they become a regular fixture in the world of thrillers. A real page-turner.

Generally an OK book. It was exciting in parts and rather laborious in others. I found it a little bit confusing as we are introduced to a large number of characters very quickly and it was difficult to remember who was who. I also found it quite difficult, at times, to decide which person was talking.

It was an interesting premise, but rather long winded and sometimes unnecessarily. I liked the main characters and felt it could be the beginning of a series of books. Don't know whether this is the plan, but I would be interested in seeing how they develop.

Mixed feelings about the ending.

What a unique fascinating dual narrative that twists and turns with time. A thrilling puzzle, which has many mysterious moving pieces. Utterly thrilling!

This book has a little bit of everything- the mystery of the people who just up and disappear from their lives after receiving a strange anonymous card. Competitiveness, violence and psychopathy among the "players" of a very strange game, tension between the investigating police and the psychologist and a way of telling the story that keeps you just up to speed with the investigation without allowing you to jump ahead too much.
An excellent premise that is well written and easy to read.

Wow ...... this book was fabulous and I read it in 2 sittings on holiday. At first I was a little confused as there's lots of characters to remember but you soon realise who is who. The plot was intriguing and had several twists & turns right until the last chapter. Great debut novel that I'd highly recommend - haven't read anything that had so much detail. Loved it.

Psychological thrillers are becoming much more popular these days so an author has to really work at it to come up with one that stands out from the rest. This author has definitely succeeded with this book. Not only is the plot really original she has blended the psychological with a police procedural and come up with a really exciting story. I loved the way the very different personalities of the almost obsessive compulsive Augusta and the laid back Marcus managed to come together and bring out the best in both. I think the author has the makings of a brilliant series here and I will be eagerly looking out for more of her work. 10 out of 10

Review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon.

I really should have liked this more. It's a good thriller with an unusual twist. Strange messages and psychopaths abound. Unfortunately I found the characters wooden and so never really engaged with it all.
A pity as it is so original.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

There are many attractions to this book. One is that when you start,it grips your imagination very effectively. There are many reasons for this. The storyline is original and brilliantly conceived. The use of the dark web,psychologically damaged characters and believable lead characters is a compelling mix. Violence,deceit,love and betrayal are all there. The lead character,Dr Bloom is complicated and secretive. There is extensive use of psychological terminology but it is all explained and used to support a gripping tale. This book deserves success because it is different and modern.