I really enjoyed this slow burn mystery. Following Catherine and her mother Ruth as the truth starts to unravel, and with it, their possible safety, was captivating and kept me turning the page.
I have been a fan of the Greer Hendricks-Sarah Pekkanen combo team, and I'm really happy to have had such a good time reading one of Sarah Pekkanen's solo projects.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy.

“How far would you go to protect the person you love most in the world?”

I’ve loved Pekkanen’s coauthored books with Greee Hendricks, so it only makes sense that I’d love her solo work! 💕

SECRETS & TWISTS GALORE 🔥 As decades of secrets between mother and daughter start to unravel (across dual timelines and POVs 🤌🏻), you’ll keep guessing who you can trust/believe until the very end.

Not only were the twists shocking, but they also made sense, both for the characters and the story.

Some reviewers found it slower paced, which was not my experience. I was on the edge of my seat, heart racing, especially in the final third 🤯

After co-authoring 4 thrillers with Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen is flying solo with her latest book, Gone Tonight. My hopes were high she would take me on an interesting reading journey, and she did not disappoint. The psychological aspects of the story were fascinating.

For all of Catherine Sterling's life it's just been her and her mother, Ruth. Wanting a brighter future, Catherine is gearing up to move out of town for a new job. Ruth is desperate to keep her daughter by her side. Very, very desperate.

The pacing is great with the chapters alternating between Catherine and Ruth. The story works well because you are watching everything unfold and getting insight into both characters. This thriller isn't dependent on crazy twists and turns but there were some surprising developments along the way. A book worth picking up if you enjoy this genre and are looking for a good weekend or vacation read.

The story doesn't get exciting until about 45 percent in, at which point I was hooked. Ruth and Catherine are a dysfunctional mother/daughter, but someone's not sharing the playbook. I liked the dual perspectives and the use of journal entries to tell the story. I thought there were some plot weaknesses, but they were resolved in the end. I'd love a sequel.

Loved the twists. Poses the question of how well do you actually know someone. I know shes cowritten before, but this is a great debut novel from Sarah. Can't wait to read her next solo book!

This was an interesting mystery-thriller. There wasn't really much "thriller" involved. It was more about learning the mom's history and figuring out why certain things were happening. I enjoy this type of story, where it's a mystery until the end, then there's the thriller moments. I don't want to say too much and spoil anything for anyone, but I will say that these characters probably won't be your favorite people.

My personal preference would have been to leave off one or two the "twists" at the very end, but that seems to be something many people enjoy so I may be in the minority on that.

Overall, I thought it was a good story and I wanted to know what was happening or would happen, so I am going with 4 stars.

This summer has been so abundant with amazing new releases in thriller genre. But this novel in particularl stands out because it explores so deeply the mother-daughter relationship and probes at how far a mother is willing to go to protect her child.

The story alternates between two POVs, one of Ruth Sterling, the mother, and one of Catherine, her twenty-four year old daughter. This story has a peculiar quality to lead you through the maze of assumptions about mother's motives and character. But as Ruth shares about her past, bit by bit, you begin to realize that things are not what they seem, and that the reasons for Ruth's actions lie much deeper. What seemed to look like an obsessive mother's behavior or mental illness, turns out to be as terrifying as the primal fear and survival instinct.

Catherine is so clever to see right through her mother, and I was impressed at how quickly she begins to unravel the deception carefully constructed around her. The ending gave me some Natural Born Killer vibes, and I felt a hint of disappointment in Catherine's character. I wanted so badly for her to be good!

What a great action and psychological thriller! Unique premise and terrific execution makes this a must-read.

All parents have secrets.  But the ones Ruth's keeping from Catherine are unlike those of your usual mother.  Ruth's secrets keep the darkness away, keeps her fighting for her life and her safety, as well as that of her daughter.  However, what will she do when those secrets slowly start to unravel?

Catherine Sterling thinks she's an ordinary woman with an ordinary mom.  But when Catherine is on the verge of moving away and starting her own life, everything starts to come undone, exposing everything she'd known to be a lie.  I was impressed with how well Catherine seemed to handle everything she discovered about her mom's past.  While she did make a few questionable decisions, I know I would have had a meltdown before I got even half as far as Catherine did.  

While I completely understand why Ruth went to the lengths that she did, I'm not sure I agree with all of her actions.  Some the things she did in both the past and the present were a bit implausible or even overreactions to the situation.  Despite her sometimes extreme measures, I could relate to Ruth's desire and drive to keep her daughter safe.  Who wouldn't do everything in their power to keep their child safe?

Full of twists and unexpected revelations, Gone Tonight is an exciting and engaging story about family, secrets, and what happens when the truth comes out.  Catherine and Ruth are both likable and unlikable at varying moments in the story, which only intrigued me more.  I needed to know which side was their real one. 

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors.  When she pairs with her writing partner, Greer Hendricks, the stories are always twisty and engaging.  Her solo work is no different.  This is my first of her solo efforts, but it holds up to the same expectation of suspense and dark secrets waiting to be unveiled.  I'm excited to see what she does next!

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen's books, especially the stories that she created with Greer Hendricks. Those are among the best thrillers I've read. Gone Tonight it right up there with them.

The story is told in the alternating voices of Catherine and her mother, Ruth. So the reader gets both sides of the story, a story that doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. Why did they always move so much, why has it only been the two of them for as long as Catherine can remember, why is her mother doing the things she is doing right now that don't make any sense?

As Ruth pours out her past in a journal for Catherine to read someday, the reader starts to understand Ruth and what her life was like. And it explains so much. But is it all as it seems? Or is it just Ruth's version of the truth? At times, I wasn't sure what to believe.
I loved Gone Tonight, with all the drama, intensity, and twists. If you are a lover of thrillers, you are going to love this one. It will keep you one the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end.

With twists that I never saw coming and revelations that were surprising, this story of a mother and daughter’s relationship is so much more. It’s a mystery wrapped up in a family drama with secrets that are methodically revealed and in such an enticing way that I could not help but continue to read. The two points of view, Ruth and her daughter, made the story completely engaging. I wanted to know what both of them were keeping hidden from the other and why there is such a feeling of apprehension and anticipation as I read. I enjoyed the plot which was a slow burn but definitely burning hot as the story progressed. The characters were not totally reliable narrators since I didn’t know who was hiding what and why, but they were relatable and so well-developed that I felt that I needed to advise them at times. This book is so worth reading just to get to the ending! All I can say is that this novel had me enthralled and ready to discuss it when I got to the end.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complementary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

3.5 stars rounded up

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed a number of Sarah Pekkanen’s books that she cowrote with Greer Hendricks, so I was really excited to see a solo book from Pekkanen and give it a try. Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.

I expected this to be more of a psychological thriller based on the synopsis I read of it at the time, back in maybe March or April. I just checked the Goodreads synopsis again, and it seems it has been changed to better fit was the book is actually about, which is a good thing. Of course I have no way of checking if it was ever actually changed and if I’m making this all up in my head, but I remember finishing this and thinking to myself “this isn’t at all what I was expecting” due to the synopsis. But maybe I’m crazy, who knows!

Instead of a psychological thriller like I was expecting and wanting, it was more like a slightly lower-stakes (and not quite as good) Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter.

My going in with completely different expectations is part of what made me struggle to like this one, I think. I wanted the mother’s potential Alzheimer’s to play a more significant role in the plot, but that ended up not being the case. I can’t say much due to spoilers, but it was misleading. It makes sense with the rest of the plot, but it was too heavily leaned into in the original synopsis that I’m sure I read.

I was really into this in the beginning, until I saw that the story was going in a completely different direction. We’re also misled in a couple others ways, as is usual for a thriller, but in a way that I didn’t think added to the story, provided any real twists or thrills, or kept me hooked.

Now having said all of that, I don’t actually think this was a bad book. I read it in just a few days and it flowed easily enough. I didn’t hate any of the characters, and I was still generally interested in what was going to happen in the end. As I said before, I think my main issue was that I had certain expectations that went unanswered and the actual plot of the book just wasn’t one I was all that interested in, especially after having read such a similar story (Pieces of Her) less than a year prior.

The current synopsis is a much better indicator as to what to expect from this book and if it peaks your interest, then you’ll most likely enjoy this one!

What a ride! This book started off slow with character intros about Ruth and Catherine but once bits of the past were revealed, there was no stopping! Ruth and Catherine had a special mother-daughter relationship-it was just the two of them with no other family. The book alternates between these two in dual timelines. Each chapter builds upon the past to the present full of suspense!

I thoroughly enjoyed this storyline with the shocking moments of the past that led to their way of life. I admire Ruth’s adamant desire to protect Catherine from the truth as well as Catherine’s insistent search into her mother’s secrets. This will definitely be in my top ten reads of 2023!

Ahhhh I have been so eager to read this book and it was just a good as I was hoping!

This is a book where having dual point of views really helped propel the storyline and suspense forward. Each perspective revealed just enough information where you weren't sure EXACTLY what was happening or what was the truth and so you had to keep reading to learn more. I saw one review describe it as a domestic cat and mouse game and that is exactly what it felt like at times. Probably my favorite part of the story was the way Ruth's past was woven into the story. I appreciate that her situation was JUST unique enough where I wasn't disappointed by it's reveal. That is always going to get bonus points from me as an avid reader of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Gone Tonight had me on the edge of my seat as the story unfolded both from Ruth’s perspective as she details the past and reacts to Catherine suspicions, and all the discoveries Catherine was making! I enjoyed this mother/daughter dynamic! This is one I was happy I made time to listen straight through as I had to know how it all turned out! There were parts I could predict, but also some surprises, especially at the end.

I alternately read an e-copy and listened to the audio version narrated by the actress Kate Mara. I’ve listened to her in the past and enjoyed her performance, as I did here. She has a pleasant voice that keeps you hooked. I will say that this was more like her reading the story than acting out the different voices, so there wasn’t any big change between characters. This wasn’t an issue because each chapter is labeled as either coming from Catherine or Ruth’s POV. I listened at my usual 1.5x and sometimes 1.75x normal speed. I’d recommend either version!

I became a fan of Sara Pekkanen when I heard her and her writing partner speak at the Indianapolis Book and Author Luncheon in 2018 when they introduced THE WIFE BETWEEN US. GONE TONIGHT is riveting with alternating chapters between Ruth, the mother who left her family and hometown when she became an out-of-wedlock mother who raised Catherine on her own. Her daughter, Catherine has just graduated with a nursing degree and is set to move to Baltimore and work at John Hopkins. Ruth has been forgetting a lot lately and they discover she has early onset dementia.
GONE TONIGHT is a riveting, fast paced tale. This reader did have difficulty at first having experienced my father’s and grandfather’s dementia. I think this is Pekkanen’s best book yet. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

Sarah Pekkanen delivers another thriller and is quickly becoming a favorite author. Gone Tonight is written from two POVs with a mother/ daughter’s opposing viewpoints. This is a captivating story that will leave the reader anxiously reading until the end of the book. I highly recommend this book.

I flew through this book!! So good!! I couldn't help but be engrossed in this story. I just needed to know what was going to happen. Also, I listened to the audiobook in addition to reading along with the egalley, and the audiobook was so nicely done. I really enjoyed the narrator. Great read! Highly recommend!!

*Thank you @macmillanaudio and @stmartinspress for the #gifted audiobook and egalley in exchange for an honest review.*

4.5 stars!! I've loved Sarah Pekkanen's books that she wrote with Greer Hendrix. This was my first solo book by her, and YES YES YES! I cannot wait to read more! This was thrilling, mysterious, and nerve-racking. So good!!!

Catherine is ready to begin her life as a nurse at John's Hopkins Hospital. Her plans are derailed, however, when her mom, Ruth, starts to exhibit symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Catherine decides that she needs to stay close to her mom in order to spend as much time with her as possible before the disease takes her mother's mind. However, she starts to notice that her mother is also exhibiting other odd symptoms and seemingly only when she's around Catherine. Slowly Catherine realizes that she may not know her mother as well as she thinks and starts to peel back her mother's shady past, which proves to be darker than Catherine could imagine.

My only reason for not giving this 5 stars is that the end felt a little anti-climatic to me. I was gripped from the beginning and loved the entire story, but the ending was just little flat.

However, I loved the dual POVs told from both Ruth and Catherine's points of view. I think it helped get the full spectrum of the story that Sarah was trying to tell. There was good talk of Alzheimer's disease, as well as other mental health problems that I don't think are mentioned enough (I don't want to mention specifics as it may be spoilers).

There were enough twists to keep you guessing as to what would happen next with this mother/daughter duo. I also loved the underlying nature vs. nurture discussion. Does our biology really shape who we become or can outside circumstance change our future?

Thank you thank you thank you to #Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC of this book! All opinions are my own!!!

Congratulations Sarah Pekkanen! Gone Tonight is sure to become the thriller of the year. I honestly could not put it down and it definitely kept me entranced and reading “just one more chapter” for hours. Ruth and her daughter Catherine have been inseparable for Catherine’s entire life. They only have each other and have moved frequently over the years. Catherine is now planning on starting her own life independently when Ruth seemingly becomes a victim of early onset Alzheimer’s.
The story is told by Ruth and Catherine, moving between the past and the present seamlessly and very successfully. Each revelation from the past brings understanding of the pair’s present. Cracks begin to form in their relationship.
Full of tension and suspense Gone Tonight is a captivating read that ultimately focuses on the theory that a mother will do anything to protect her child. Will a child do the same to protect its mother?
Many many thanks to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the absolute pleasure of reading an arc of this engrossing read, published today. I definitely see a screenplay in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, wonderfully narrated by Kate Mara - 5 stars!

After finishing school, Catherine is set to begin her dream nursing job in Baltimore, when she discovers that her mother, Ruth, is suffering from Alzheimer's. She changes her plans and continues working at the nursing home nearby so she can help her mom. Ruth and Catherine have moved so many times and Ruth is estranged from her family. Catherine has no real clue about her past, and with Ruth's memory failing, becomes obsessed with finding more information about her past.

The story spools out in the past and present timelines and alternates between the POV of Ruth and Catherine. And wow - the twists and surprises kept coming! I started reading the digital copy but switched to the audio so I could continue listening all the time. I don't want to give anything away - it was so deliciously creepy and surprising in all the best ways - a great read!