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Tuesday, August 1, 2023

Review: Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

 

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen
Publication Date: August 1st 2023 by St. Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio
Pages: 352
Audio Book Length: 10hrs 9min
Narrator: Kate Mara
Source: Publishers
Rating: 
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:
Catherine is getting ready to move after finishing her degree in nursing when her mother, Ruth, starts exhibiting symptoms of early Alzheimer's. They have no other family support so the diagnosis would alter Catherine’s plans significantly. Catherine is prepared to stay when her mother’s behavior raises doubts and questions. Her mother has always been reluctant to share any details about her past, and now Catherine starts to wonder what exactly her mother is hiding.

Ruth has her own POV and right away we’re clued into why she won’t talk about the past.  Yet she persists in not sharing any of it with her daughter which leads to Catherine launching her own investigation.

Ruth was in a rock and a hard place and she's afraid the past is catching up with them. 

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!

4 Stars


Book Description:

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.


27 comments:

  1. It's fantastic when a story is so compelling that you cannot put it down.

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  2. Glad to hear that this one was a hit. The ones that leave you on the edge of your seat are always the best to read for sure.

    Great review

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  3. Ooh now I'm wondering what secrets Ruth has in her past. :)

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  4. Great review! I appreciate knowing your thoughts as I have considered this one. It's out today so I've missed being timely with a review but still might read it.

    Anne - Books of My Heart

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    1. It's hard to get to every book. I end up requesting from my library if I miss one. Hope you like it, Anne!

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  5. A mom with memory issues and a secret past? That's a good set up.

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  6. Wow, reading/listening straight through says a lot for the story. I love getting so hooked that I have to know what happens *now.*

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  7. I have another of Pekkanen's books on my TBR list; this one sounds equally good. I'm very curious as to what Ruth's past secret is.

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    1. I was eager to know to. I've enjoyed her writing as a duo with Greer Hendricks as well.

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  8. Oh, my. This sounds so intriguing. I would love to listen to this book.

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  9. This is one that is on my list. I even have an ARC of it, but I just haven't found the time to get around to reading it. I've enjoyed Pekkanen's co-authored thrillers, so I'm excited to read this one too.

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    1. Yes, I've enjoyed her co-authored books as well. It's hard to find the time to read all the books, right? Haha. Hope you like it when you get to it, Ethan! I look forward to your thoughts.

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  10. I've added this one to my TBR, based on you review. Definitely seems like a good one!

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    1. It was a really good story! I recommend The Golden Couple, which is my favorite by this author co-written with Greer Hendricks!

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  11. I really do need to try Pekkanen

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  12. Glad you enjoyed this as well. This was my first with the author and narrator.

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    1. It was my first time reading her as a solo author. I read and loved The Golden Couple by her with Greer Hendricks and the novella, The Getaway, narrated by Kate Mara as well. It's in the Audible Plus catalog and I recommend that one too.

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  13. Sounds intriguing. I never heard of the author before.

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  14. I'm very excited to read this and glad to hear it was a hit. I'm very curious about Ruth's secrets! I remember reading her book Skipping a Beat years ago and loving it.

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  15. I have a feeling that I would really like Sarah Pekkanen's books. I might have to give this one a try at some point.

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