**Book Review**
I have just finished this book in two days! Here is the blurb and my review below-
Four strangers are missing. Left at their last-known locations are birthday cards that read:
YOUR GIFT IS THE GAME.
DARE TO PLAY?
The police aren’t worried – it’s just a game. But the families are frantic. As psychologist and private detective Dr Augusta Bloom delves into the lives of the missing people, she finds something that binds them all.
And that something makes them very dangerous indeed.
As more disappearances are reported and new birthday cards uncovered, Dr Bloom races to unravel the mystery and find the missing people.
But what if, this time, they are the ones she should fear?
This book had me hooked from the moment I saw the front cover. Deakin’s style of writing flowed so effortlessly I felt like I couldn’t devour her words quick enough. I read it so fast because I had to see if my predictions for the story and it’s characters were correct, and I couldn’t wait to find out. Selfishly I wish the book was longer so it could delve deeper into this deadly game and the fate of the book’s many characters. I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Dr Augusta Bloom!
Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.
Definitely put this on your reading list, it’s available 9th of August on kindle and Ereaders . Available on the 3rd of October in paperback.
Would you read this book?

WHAT A FANTASTIC DEBUT THRILLER!!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for the preview of this book, and what a book it was!!
Have you ever read a book then wished for temporary amnesia so you could read it again? This is one of those books where I wished for such.
It starts with a birthday card inviting certain, seemingly random, people to “date to play” and the story from then on places the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride of pure unadulterated thrills, twists and turns.
The “players” go missing upon accepting the dare, but they haven’t been abducted, or kidnapped, they’ve actually disappeared willingly to join a group of like minded select people who are all functioning psycho’s, intent on having power over the “normal” people. The new recruits are given a series of challenges to gain entry into the psychotic group, and those that fail simply disappear. The characters tasked to infiltrate the group and bring them down are a psychologist and her ex secret service partner who are both unknowingly linked to the leader of the group.
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down, and when I absolutely had to, I was thinking about it. One of the best thrillers I’ve ever read which is a bold statement as I’ve read many, but is certainly worthy of such praise!! I will defiantly read a further book from this author who’s premise for this book was unique, thought provoking and all together possible if not probable. Please write another novel soon, I need the adrenaline rush!

Thanks to Netgalley for sharing a copy for review.

Well, I finished this book in a day, the fastest I have read a book all year which I think says a lot. This is despite the horrific formatting on the version I received, which meant I had to reread several sections more than once to figure out what was going on, and also despite the fact that I figured out the plot at about 40%. But it did keep me hooked to the end, with a caveat that I will get into below.

It is very clear from very early in that the author is an expert in psychology. She weaves the science quite well into the plot, and takes care to explain in basic language what it means so that even the least aware person can keep up. Second, the plot abounds with messages that ring true: for example the exhibitionism we tend to display on social media and how we use different forms differently. Clearly the author has a relevant message for today’s world of interconnected realities and its inherent dangers. The game itself was also quite intriguing a concept. The writing is excellent and the use of words is superb.

That said, there were a few things I didn’t really like which explains the rating. First was the pacing - the whole book felt quite flat to me, and I had a bit of difficulty getting excited or really thrilled. I find a god thriller is one that keeps me on the edge of my seat while I’m reading it, but I didn’t get that feeling with this novel. Second, the character of Marcus felt a bit odd to me - a spymaster who seems to lose all his skills at the first hint of a relationship. Third, I didn’t really feel a connection with Augusta even though she is the main character. I wasn’t sure exactly how to treat her in my mind - is she the “lonely spinster” type, the wiry elderly lady type, a Ms Marple level of super detective, or a Natasha Romanova type of deception artist? And finally, at the end, I understood the Why of the whole plot, but I didn’t really get the So What.

Overall, a commendable effort for a first novel. I enjoyed reading this book, and others might as well especially if you are looking for a fast read.

I was completely hooked after 'reading the very first page. A quality first novel and mystery thriller from a new author with hopefully the start of an interesting new crime fighting partnership to come.

I was disappointed with this book, as I had high hopes of it being a gripping thriller. The story is good, and clever, if a little silly, but the characters are a bit wooden, especially Marcus, and it was very easy to spot the "twist" from early on in the book, which made it rather dull. I probably wouldn't bother reading any more books by this author.

You know when you finish a book and just can't stop thinking about it for hours afterwards? Well Gone by Leona Deakin did that to me!

I love a thriller, it's a genre I've reviewed many times before but anything with a psychological element too and I am in so when I read the synopsis of Gone I knew it would be one for me. It's taken a missing person story and flipped it completely.

From the beginning I was captivated by the story and the characters. I was intrigued by Dr Augusta Bloom who despite seeming a little closed off at first, clearly had more about her than just her job and I also loved her friendship with colleague Marcus who almost seemed like the complete opposite to her. I warmed to them both quite quickly. Early on we are also introduced to a young girl called Seraphine who has been involved in a suspicious attack at her school. Augusta is the one to try and figure out Seraphine's involvement and question if there's more to her than she's letting on. This is sort of an underlying story throughout that at times was a little easy to forget about but it gets very interesting towards the end as things start to tie together!

Now onto the game itself which is what starts this whole thing going. What would you do if you received a dare on your birthday? It genuinely makes you question how you would react in that situation and makes you think about your own traits and what sort of person you are. It's so cleverly written and I just love how Leona has taken something that has been written about so many times before and completely switched it up. Despite having lots of characters involved and obviously lots of psychological chat which could have easily been too confusing, it actually flowed incredibly well and I was honestly addicted to it. I got vibes of the film Nerve throughout because of the game and then nearer the end it had a touch of Killing Eve about it which makes for an interesting but brilliant mix!

For a debut novel I think Leona Deakin has proved she's a force to be reckoned with. It's full of suspense, mysterious from the very start and she made me doubt every single character at one point! It touches on some really interesting topics like the impact of technology and social media too which gave me something to think about. I think it's easy to forget sometimes what we put out there can be found by anyone!

Gone has an excellent premise which has been executed extremely well, it's like nothing I've ever read before. I really hope this is the start of a series with characters Augusta, Marcus and Seraphine, I don't want their stories to be over just yet.

This was a gripping psychological thriller. Dr Augusta Bloom and her partner, Marcus Jameson, become involved in what starts as a missing person case. Then they discover more people have disappeared, on their birthday after receiving a card inviting them to participate in a 'game'.

From here the pace hots up, as they realise the 'game' has drawn in more people who have left their lives and not been seen since, and they try to determine what characteristics they share and why they won't come home, as well as tracing the missing woman linked to Jameson's family.

By half way through I was suspecting everyone of being psychopaths! Every new character is viewed with suspicion, as we are shown that psychopaths are not all serial killers, but are able to integrate into society and manipulate people and situations for their own gain.

Pacy, entertaining and keeps the reader guessing until the end, and even though I guessed the ringleader early on it did not spoil the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Black Swan for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been an avid thriller reader and have loved all the psychological thrillers that have become so popular but this book was the fist in a while that I was glued to at every available spare minute.
A game that nobody wants to play apart from a certain group of people who are selected because they all possess certain qualities, dangerous and powerful and impossible to track down.
I love a book that instantly gets your attention but isn’t shallow and predictable. This novel is modern and delves into a dark world but one that is not too far from our own, you could be living next door woe working with one of those people.
A great read I hope we see more of the main characters.

I really enjoyed this book. A clever, scary and all too possible idea for crime is happening without anyone being aware of it until a family friend raises the alarm.
The story tackles psychopaths and the possibilities of a person without emotional empathy, planning this crime. I found it interesting from a clinical point of view and adding the personality disorder to todays technical possibilities is scary indeed.
I did identify the protagonist after the timeline became clearer and I found the first few chapters rather confusing as there are several different target people. it wasn't clear that two timelines were running along together at first but as all this detail unravelled I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Recommended!

I loved this book, i was gripped right from the beginning! There are so many twists and turns that really do keep you guessing. Definitely worth a read!

My thanks to Leona Deakin, Random House and NetGalley for the ARC of GONE.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. This kind of story is right up my street. Love Augusta Bloom, and her sidekick, Marcus Jameson. This story kept me guessing. How long must it have taken the author to work out the twists and turns. Scary, psychological stuff. Hope there's more to come. Really loved it. 5 super stars.

Deakin’s debut thriller is an intriguing one: what happens when you bring a group of psychopaths together?
It sees psychologist Augusta Bloom and detective Marcus Jameson investigating the disappearance of a group of people who have one thing in common. But how will the detectives react when things start to get personal?
The novel is pacy and full of twists and this sometimes gets a bit confusing and plot develops at the expense of characterisation.
But on the whole it’s a refreshing take on the thriller, and an easy read and keeps you guessing til the end.
I’d recommend it if you like a twisty thriller. I suspect this will become a series based around the detectives as they’re strong characters who could easily be more developed.

This one hooked me in very quickly , I really enjoyed it and I loved the build up of events and the suspense. I really liked the pacing, it kept me guessing all the way till the end and it had a satisfying end too. I liked the style of writing , it was easy to get into and follow all the way through , I found it very engaging and exciting too. I really liked the main characters , Seraphine is brilliant, the wit and coldness made for such fun reading , someone I loved to hate and hated to love. Her connection and interactions with Dr Bloom I really loved.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Right up my street for a thriller! I couldn’t see what was coming at all, and that’s what I love. Such a great concept and plot; I didn’t want it to end.

What a riveting psychological thriller! I loved both the plot and characters and enjoyed this book immensely.

Psychologist Augusta Bloom and her investigative partner Marcus Jameson (who is ex MI6) usually work for the police or courts, assessing cases and appearing as expert witnesses. As a personal favour to Marcus's sister they investigate the disappearance of Lana, a neighbour and mother of a 16 year old girl. The case soon turns sinister when they discover that Lana's disappearance is one of many, and they find odd similarities between the personalities of the missing people. Great use is made of social media, especially those little quizzes that so many people take for fun (I'll never do one again!) and the tension builds as the case becomes very personal for Augusta.

I did guess a couple of the big plot twists, but this enhanced the reading experience as I desperately wanted to find out if I was right! A brilliant read and I am hoping for a sequel.

I have just finished this book, but on my Kindle it was called Mind Games. However, disregarding that and the time it has taken me to find it again, I have to say that I enjoyed it very much. It was a different story and one that had a rather fantastic plot, but nevertheless it really held my attention. I did feel that it rather broke down at the end and I felt that it was rather messy then.
A very good book.

Just when I thought I had had enough of psychological thrillers along comes Gone, the debut novel by Leona Deakin. And what's more it's a psychological thriller with real psychology in it.

When Lana, a single mother with PTSD disappears, private investigators Augusta Bloom and Marcus Jameson become involved in looking for her. It soon becomes apparent that she is not the only person to have disappeared after having received a birthday card with an invitation to play a game. But what is this game? As Bloom and Jameson investigate it becomes apparent that there is something very sinister behind all these disappearances.

The characters are well drawn in this novel. Bloom, a psychologist with a special interest in psychopathy comes across very well as does her partner Jameson, an ex MI6 operative. They were convincing characters, both realistic and likeable. I'm hoping this will be the first in a series as it was so good. I did spot the twist but this didn't in any way detract from ,my enjoyment of the book and I raced through it desperate to get to the end while not wanting it to end. A great read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This was a solid 4 star book for me, although during the first few chapters I wasn't convinced I would actually finish the book.

I found the first third of the book a little confusing, with the pace seeming a little rushed. However from there onwards I felt a lot more at ease with the story. The plot became a lot more gripping once the game became personal for Bloom and Jameson.

I would be lying if I said that I didn't guess the major character plot twist towards the end, but for me that doesn't really ever detract from my enjoyment of a book. In fact it usually makes me want to keep on reading to see if I had in fact seen all of the clues and hints along the way.

And the final line definitely leaves me wondering (and hoping) as to whether there is a sequel planned.......?

To begin with I couldn't find this book on my Kindle as it has a different title to that shown here. However that is not a review......
I really enjoyed this read. It is a true thriller with twists until the end which I had not bargained for and not thought out so all the better for it. I am not one to spell out the plot as I believe the 'blurb' writers do it better. However a few points to note..... The characters of Bloom and Jameson were strong and developed well through the writing....... the idea of using invitations with access to a web/internet/text input as a tool for evil is both up to date and interesting .... the pace was fast and at times confusing, so take your time when reading...... it left me wanting more so will there be a sequel?.

The novel has an interesting concept and is well structured but it is let down by its narrative voice. There is clear potential here but to move beyond the average there needs to be more showing that telling in the prose. We are given far too many- often superficial- details and background info at times that does not drive the plot or the characters. As a result of this overload, guessing the ending was quite easy. I was quite disappointed in this as the opening hook with the child, Seraphine, was intriguing.
I would read another book by the author as often good writers don’t start to really flourish until they have written a few novels.