Gone Tonight

‘23 - 5 STARS

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. No one can know Ruth's history. There is a reason why Ruth kept them moving every few years, and why she was ready--in a moment's notice--to be gone in the night. But danger is closing in. Is it coming from the outside, from Ruth's past? Is Ruth reaching a breaking point? Or is the danger coming from the darkness that may live in Catherine, herself?

REVIEW: Previous books by this author for me, which were all co-authored with Greer Hendricks, were The Golden Couple (‘22 - 4 Stars), You Are Not Alone (‘20 - 5 stars), An Anonymous Girl (‘19 - 4 Stars) and The Wife Between Us (‘18 - 3 Stars). I just realized she has lots of books out there on her own but I’ve never tried any. I guess it was time to jump-in!

Writing moves the tale along rapidly. During the first 10-15% I’m hoping the Alzheimer topic goes in a different direction. All the reviews speak more “thriller” and not “drama”; not wanting to read about illness or sadness. At 60% I’m enjoying every minute of this twisty thriller. Very original suspenseful plot for me with touches of mother/daughter emotional relationships. I wanted a little more from the ending but I enjoyed this “ride” so much, I didn’t let it change my 5-star rating!

One of the things I loved about this book was that the characters alternated chapters, which easily makes wanting to keep reading to find what happens next easier. It’s hard to say just one more chapter when you can’t complete the scenarios without reading on. I would read until my eyes wouldn’t allow me to anymore. The book itself kept me guessing, I speculated along the way but some things I was saying to myself “this woman is crazy!” And then yelling at the daughter for doing things she was messing up. The end was wrapped up nicely, I would definitely recommend this as your next read!

I liked this book because it was different. It's refreshing to read a new type of storyline. I really enjoyed how the author went through the steps it took for Ruth/Ava to stay safe. What it might look like to be a person who only had a small amount of money and how she went from that to an apartment. I loved the Target storyline. I could totally see myself walking around. She only took stuff she needed. All in all a really good book that I think will stay with me for some time. The only reason for the 4 stars is because there was some repetition that got to be a bit much. Would recommend.

Catherine knows her mother is lying. Ruth keeps her lies close to her heart- her sole purpose to keep Catherine safe.

This is a very unique story which is a relief from the basic overdone domestic thrillers. Told in a two person point of view, I was swept up bearing allegiance to mother then quickly bearing allegiance to daughter. Back and forth throughout this intense plot line.

Catherine is determined to find out why her mother has been lying for Catherine’s entire life. Should she hate her mom? Does she hate her mom? The truth needs to come out and Catherine needs to be the one to expose it. But what is the truth?

Ruth has been living for the sole purpose of keeping Catherine safe. Sure, she’s made mistakes with her relationship with her daughter, but it was for her own good, right? She cannot allow Catherine to EVER find out the truth and nothing will stop her in this quest.

Edge of my seat, need a beer to calm my nerves reading. As the story flips back and forth between these two women the intensity keeps building and building to a crashing, need another beer climax.

Read the book- you won’t be sorry!

I loved all the twists and turns in the story. The main character Ru.th, I found to be strong and brave. I understood why she did most of what she did. It's interesting the lengths of mother will go through to protect their child.

I was not as fond of Catherine who I felt was a bit of an ungrateful jerk. I understood her frustration, shock and disappointment but I still felt she was a little too judgmental for a person that had so much sacrifice for her.

This is my 1st book by this author and I thought she did a very nice job of giving every perspective and making it all so real. This was a winding story I enjoyed, I just would have liked a few more twists and turns but I can't wait to read more from her. I just felt that a few things were kind of predictable But as a whole What a great job.

Great suspense!

Catherine Sterling is a nurse. She has been working in a memory unit in a facility but now she is ready to move to Baltimore and start working at John Hopkins. Then, she starts noticing that her mother, Ruth Sterling is starting to have some memory issues. Shockingly she learned her grandmother had early-onset Alzheimer's. In the blink of an eye, her plans dissipate like smoke. She can't leave her mom this way, she has to stay and take care of her. As far as she can remember, Ruth has been there for her. They have been each other's support system.

Catherine is ready to give up her future when some incongruences start making her doubt what her mother has told her since she was a kid. Her mother is hiding things and Catherine must find out what is true and why is Ruth lying to her.

I liked how the story unfolded. The dual POV and the past and present timelines enriched the experience instead of making it difficult to follow. I liked both characters and I was scared of the outcome that was being foreshadowed.

The narrator, Kate Mara did a good job with both characters.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

This book was pretty good but I still do not understand WHY - Spoilerish Ruth would worry that James is coming after the daughter he didn't even know existed. Seems like Catherine would have been safer away from Ruth instead of with her. I could understand why he'd come after Ruth but made no sense why he would have anything against his daughter that he didn't even know he had.

The twist was one I figured out mid way through. Worth reading.