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Gone
A missing girl ... a cold case ... a sister who won’t give up …
'I was there on the day Rebecca disappeared. I watched her hurry away. If I close my eyes I can still see her...'
When Rebecca Bundy fails to return home after the last day of school in 1984 her father reports her missing. But the teenager has run away before and recently she’s been bragging about going to Queensland, so the police tell the family to wait it out.
Days pass. Rumours swirl. A man seen loitering near the bus stop might have followed her. Was there something going on between Rebecca and a male teacher? What about the sheep farmer on Glen Lochan Road where she babysat? And why is her boyfriend, the rough cattle guy Bull Tennant, so sure something sinister has happened?
Then a shocking murder-suicide at a local farm diverts police attention and Rebecca’s disappearance all too quickly becomes a cold case.
But her younger sister Eliza has never forgotten, and for almost forty years she’s been looking for answers.
Once she kept Rebecca’s secrets. Now she’s ready to share her story . . .
'I was there on the day Rebecca disappeared. I watched her hurry away. If I close my eyes I can still see her...'
When Rebecca Bundy fails to return home after the last day of school in 1984 her father reports her missing. But the teenager has run away before and recently she’s been bragging about going to Queensland, so the police tell the family to wait it out.
Days pass. Rumours swirl. A man seen loitering near the bus stop might have followed her. Was there something going on between Rebecca and a male teacher? What about the sheep farmer on Glen Lochan Road where she babysat? And why is her boyfriend, the rough cattle guy Bull Tennant, so sure something sinister has happened?
Then a shocking murder-suicide at a local farm diverts police attention and Rebecca’s disappearance all too quickly becomes a cold case.
But her younger sister Eliza has never forgotten, and for almost forty years she’s been looking for answers.
Once she kept Rebecca’s secrets. Now she’s ready to share her story . . .
308 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2024
About the author
Glenna Thomson
4 books44 followersAfter a successful career in overseas aid, and as a senior executive with a global food company, Glenna and her husband spent almost twenty years living and working on their 500-acre cattle property in rural in north-east Victoria. During that time, they also owned and operated a commercial blueberry orchard. Glenna’s time in the country enables her to write authentically about life in the city as well as in remote locations. She and her husband now live in Melbourne. Glenna is also the author of Blueberry and Stella and Margie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
March 17, 2024
It was 1984 on the last day of school, when fourteen year old Eliza Bundy's older sister, Rebecca, disappeared, after a very public fight with their mother. Maryhill was a small country town in rural Victoria, and everyone knew everyone's business. It wasn't long before the fight and everything that followed was known by all. But it was a murder/suicide which happened two days after Rebecca's disappearance which took the police's resources. Gradually Rebecca was forgotten, but never by Eliza and her parents.
Eliza's mother's mental health suffered and she was never the same after that. Eliza's dad travelled to Queensland every year for six or so weeks, putting up posters, searching for his daughter. He continued this for twenty years. Meanwhile, Eliza finished her schooling and went to London. Her life continued, but she never forgot her sister. Would Eliza ever find the answers they so desperately searched for? Thirty eight years later, she was still doing all she could...
Gone is Aussie author Glenna Thomson's first foray into crime fiction and she's nailed it! I loved her previous work - Stella and Margie and Blueberry - both contemporary fiction, and Gone has cemented her as one of my favourite authors. Narrated by Eliza, it was exceptionally well done; she was talking to her readers, explaining her thought processes. I'm looking forward to what Ms Thomson has for us next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Eliza's mother's mental health suffered and she was never the same after that. Eliza's dad travelled to Queensland every year for six or so weeks, putting up posters, searching for his daughter. He continued this for twenty years. Meanwhile, Eliza finished her schooling and went to London. Her life continued, but she never forgot her sister. Would Eliza ever find the answers they so desperately searched for? Thirty eight years later, she was still doing all she could...
Gone is Aussie author Glenna Thomson's first foray into crime fiction and she's nailed it! I loved her previous work - Stella and Margie and Blueberry - both contemporary fiction, and Gone has cemented her as one of my favourite authors. Narrated by Eliza, it was exceptionally well done; she was talking to her readers, explaining her thought processes. I'm looking forward to what Ms Thomson has for us next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Penguin Random House AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2024
Gone is a family drama story that centres around the disappearance of the eldest daughter. For the majority of the story, the disappearance is merely a reference point with the real story being the aftermath and disintegration of the family unit left behind. Heavy on mental health issues, it’s a compelling story that captures the powerlessness and confusion of the left behind loved ones.
It’s the last day of school, 1984, Rebecca and Eliza Bundy are waiting with the other kids for the school bus to take them home. But before the bus arrives their mother roars to a stop, jumps out of her car and starts yelling abuse at Rebecca, accusing her of stealing money from her purse. The scene is very public, highly embarrassing and confronting for everyone. In anger, Rebecca storms off, never to be seen again.
The search for Rebecca is hampered by a few important but seemingly unrelated factors. One of her friends suggests she has been talking about taking off to Queensland, she’s been secretly seeing Bull Tennant against her parents wishes and then a murder-suicide of a local family sends the entire community into a frenzy. Expectations that Rebecca would come back home after she’d cooled down only start to falter when Christmas hits and there’s still no word.
She’s gone and all that’s left is the town gossip, her name besmirched by friends and acquaintances. Just another factor to make life virtually unbearable for the family.
This is a powerful, character driven mystery that provides deep insight into the impact a missing family member may cause. The rest of the Bundy family become the primary focus and we’re given an insider’s view of their life from the disappearance date onward for a further 38 years.
Eliza Bundy is the narrator of the story, firstly as a 14 year old in 1984 as she comes to terms with the disappearance of her older sister. Her feelings of loss, abandonment, her sense of feeling forgotten. She turns to bouts of self harm (cutting) and bulimia as attempts to cope with the emotional stress.
Diane Bundy, Eliza and Rebecca’s mother, has been fighting mental problems since Rebecca’s birth. Her medication usually keeps things under control but she tends to go off her meds which results in bouts of screaming and nervous depression that sends her to her bed and to the bottle. She’s becoming unhinged, confrontational and dependent on others to get through the day.
Maurie Bundy, Eliza’s father, is an orchard owner who grows fruit (apples, peaches etc.) is usually the glue who holds everyone together but is beginning to struggle to cope, overwhelmed by the full on adversity he’s facing. He’s taciturn to the point of frustration, clearly holding back information Eliza’s desperate to find out (and so was I, actually).
“Looking back it’s obvious how overwhelmed and burdened he was. The harvest was on. Mum was on medication. Rebecca’s reputation was in tatters, and by default our family’s was too. Everything seemed a mess with no obvious solution, except to slog it out, day after day. It wasn’t surprising then that Dad was unable to meet my needs, even if he was aware I had any.”
There is an overwhelming tone of bewilderment throughout the course of the story, not surprising considering the majority comes through the eyes of a 15 year old girl. She’s clearly affected by the loss of her sister and manages to sum it all up as a 50 year old woman when she tells someone, “The worst is the not knowing.”
Glenna Thomson paints an evocative picture of the distress and uncertainty facing a family rocked by a missing family member. It’s made even more poignant told from the 15 year old Eliza’s perspective as she deals with her own confusion as well as her parents' reactions which are often difficult to rationalise. The time progression as we move from 1984 to 2022 merely adds to the feeling of loss and regret as Eliza attempts to come to terms with the truth of what happened to Rebecca Bundy.
It’s the last day of school, 1984, Rebecca and Eliza Bundy are waiting with the other kids for the school bus to take them home. But before the bus arrives their mother roars to a stop, jumps out of her car and starts yelling abuse at Rebecca, accusing her of stealing money from her purse. The scene is very public, highly embarrassing and confronting for everyone. In anger, Rebecca storms off, never to be seen again.
The search for Rebecca is hampered by a few important but seemingly unrelated factors. One of her friends suggests she has been talking about taking off to Queensland, she’s been secretly seeing Bull Tennant against her parents wishes and then a murder-suicide of a local family sends the entire community into a frenzy. Expectations that Rebecca would come back home after she’d cooled down only start to falter when Christmas hits and there’s still no word.
She’s gone and all that’s left is the town gossip, her name besmirched by friends and acquaintances. Just another factor to make life virtually unbearable for the family.
This is a powerful, character driven mystery that provides deep insight into the impact a missing family member may cause. The rest of the Bundy family become the primary focus and we’re given an insider’s view of their life from the disappearance date onward for a further 38 years.
Eliza Bundy is the narrator of the story, firstly as a 14 year old in 1984 as she comes to terms with the disappearance of her older sister. Her feelings of loss, abandonment, her sense of feeling forgotten. She turns to bouts of self harm (cutting) and bulimia as attempts to cope with the emotional stress.
Diane Bundy, Eliza and Rebecca’s mother, has been fighting mental problems since Rebecca’s birth. Her medication usually keeps things under control but she tends to go off her meds which results in bouts of screaming and nervous depression that sends her to her bed and to the bottle. She’s becoming unhinged, confrontational and dependent on others to get through the day.
Maurie Bundy, Eliza’s father, is an orchard owner who grows fruit (apples, peaches etc.) is usually the glue who holds everyone together but is beginning to struggle to cope, overwhelmed by the full on adversity he’s facing. He’s taciturn to the point of frustration, clearly holding back information Eliza’s desperate to find out (and so was I, actually).
“Looking back it’s obvious how overwhelmed and burdened he was. The harvest was on. Mum was on medication. Rebecca’s reputation was in tatters, and by default our family’s was too. Everything seemed a mess with no obvious solution, except to slog it out, day after day. It wasn’t surprising then that Dad was unable to meet my needs, even if he was aware I had any.”
There is an overwhelming tone of bewilderment throughout the course of the story, not surprising considering the majority comes through the eyes of a 15 year old girl. She’s clearly affected by the loss of her sister and manages to sum it all up as a 50 year old woman when she tells someone, “The worst is the not knowing.”
Glenna Thomson paints an evocative picture of the distress and uncertainty facing a family rocked by a missing family member. It’s made even more poignant told from the 15 year old Eliza’s perspective as she deals with her own confusion as well as her parents' reactions which are often difficult to rationalise. The time progression as we move from 1984 to 2022 merely adds to the feeling of loss and regret as Eliza attempts to come to terms with the truth of what happened to Rebecca Bundy.
February 17, 2024
This book was outstanding. This is one of my favourite books of 2024. I think this is a book you should go in blind. I dont want to tell you too much. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Missing person , cold case, Rural Australia , 1980's timeline. All of these are things I love in a book . I havent stopped talking about or recommending this book. Highly recommend.
May 2, 2024
**3.5 stars**
Primarily set in 1984, the storyline centers around the disappearance of teenage girl Rebecca and the devastating effects on her family. Set from the perspective of Rebecca's younger sister Eliza, the narrative focuses on the aftermath of Rebecca's disappearance and the gradual falling-apart of the family. It quickly becomes clear their mother and father are not coping, albeit in very different ways. What made this one quite interesting was the context of Rebecca's disappearance and the potential connections to other dramas in the town; are they red herrings or in fact related...
Overall: an intriguing and compelling read.
Primarily set in 1984, the storyline centers around the disappearance of teenage girl Rebecca and the devastating effects on her family. Set from the perspective of Rebecca's younger sister Eliza, the narrative focuses on the aftermath of Rebecca's disappearance and the gradual falling-apart of the family. It quickly becomes clear their mother and father are not coping, albeit in very different ways. What made this one quite interesting was the context of Rebecca's disappearance and the potential connections to other dramas in the town; are they red herrings or in fact related...
Overall: an intriguing and compelling read.
March 31, 2024
“Not knowing what happened to her was like an incurable illness that didn’t have a name.”
Gone is the third novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. When she was seventeen, Rebecca Bundy disappeared. Her fourteen-year-old sister, Eliza watched her walk away after a very public and frankly, embarrassing, altercation with their mother, Diane over money missing from a purse. Her parents didn’t seem too concerned when she didn’t come home that night: they expected she would turn up when she’d cooled down, as she had a few weeks earlier.
When she didn’t return, they involved the police, who were at first dismissive then, soon after, distracted by the murder-suicide of a local farming family. For whom Rebecca used to babysit: was that relevant? Eliza had always found the husband, Jacob Healy, creepy…
Another creepy guy she considered was their orchard hand, but his alibi seemed to stand up. Gossip claimed that Rebecca was spending lunchtimes with her young, charismatic Maths teacher, something the man vehemently denied. And then there was the unfamiliar man with the black dog who seemed to be paying rather too close attention to that humiliating interaction between her mother and sister.
There was talk of Rebecca running off to Queensland, but Bull Tennant, the young man with whom she’d been forbidden to associate, maintained that this wasn’t her plan: they’d a firm agreement to meet the following morning. Eliza believed him, was convinced that he had nothing to do with Rebecca’s disappearance, and never faltered in that belief, even though Diane was sure he was involved.
A few things puzzled Eliza: would Rebecca have left wearing her school uniform? Not taken her best bra, her contraceptive pills, T-shirts and undies? And hard to believe that she didn’t ring home when the Healy family tragedy became national news. Or on Christmas Day.
But there was no-one to talk to about it: her mother took to her bed, and when she was awake, aware, snobbish Diane seemed more concerned about the gossip than Rebecca’s whereabouts. Eliza began to wonder if there had been a beauty hierarchy in their family, with their mother and Rebecca competing for the top spot.
Her father, never effusive, now withdrew even further: “I was going to him for a hug, but he stretched out his arms to keep me at a distance. Of all the things that happened in those confusing days and weeks, I remember his rejection as a marker. That moment when I understood I was alone, that my family had changed in a way I couldn’t make sense of.”
Thomson paints a graphic picture of a family falling apart as the frustration at the lack of resolution, the constant cycle of hope and despair, take their toll. The gossip about Rebecca’s association with these other men has Eliza wondering just how well she knew her sister, but her father reminds her “She’s not a stranger. She’s your sister and a victim of rumours and misunderstandings. Don’t ever forget that.”
Thomson expertly conveys the fourteen-year-old voice, the singular focus on herself, her confusion about how her parents react, how they deal with the worry, the grief, the uncertainty, and what she does to cope. The whole experience so overwhelming that even later in life “no matter where I was or what I was doing, happy, sad, getting on with things, Rebecca’s absence was profound.”
The stigma of mental illness also plays a part: the family’s determination to keep Diane’s condition under the radar fuels rumour about strange behaviour. Thomson gives the reader a plot with plenty of intrigue: even if readers deduce the answer to one small aspect of the story at the start, the slow reveal of the truth as Eliza puts the facts together will keep even the most astute reader guessing and the pages turning. Thomson’s marvellous descriptive prose enhances this powerful, gripping and thought-provoking read.
Gone is the third novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. When she was seventeen, Rebecca Bundy disappeared. Her fourteen-year-old sister, Eliza watched her walk away after a very public and frankly, embarrassing, altercation with their mother, Diane over money missing from a purse. Her parents didn’t seem too concerned when she didn’t come home that night: they expected she would turn up when she’d cooled down, as she had a few weeks earlier.
When she didn’t return, they involved the police, who were at first dismissive then, soon after, distracted by the murder-suicide of a local farming family. For whom Rebecca used to babysit: was that relevant? Eliza had always found the husband, Jacob Healy, creepy…
Another creepy guy she considered was their orchard hand, but his alibi seemed to stand up. Gossip claimed that Rebecca was spending lunchtimes with her young, charismatic Maths teacher, something the man vehemently denied. And then there was the unfamiliar man with the black dog who seemed to be paying rather too close attention to that humiliating interaction between her mother and sister.
There was talk of Rebecca running off to Queensland, but Bull Tennant, the young man with whom she’d been forbidden to associate, maintained that this wasn’t her plan: they’d a firm agreement to meet the following morning. Eliza believed him, was convinced that he had nothing to do with Rebecca’s disappearance, and never faltered in that belief, even though Diane was sure he was involved.
A few things puzzled Eliza: would Rebecca have left wearing her school uniform? Not taken her best bra, her contraceptive pills, T-shirts and undies? And hard to believe that she didn’t ring home when the Healy family tragedy became national news. Or on Christmas Day.
But there was no-one to talk to about it: her mother took to her bed, and when she was awake, aware, snobbish Diane seemed more concerned about the gossip than Rebecca’s whereabouts. Eliza began to wonder if there had been a beauty hierarchy in their family, with their mother and Rebecca competing for the top spot.
Her father, never effusive, now withdrew even further: “I was going to him for a hug, but he stretched out his arms to keep me at a distance. Of all the things that happened in those confusing days and weeks, I remember his rejection as a marker. That moment when I understood I was alone, that my family had changed in a way I couldn’t make sense of.”
Thomson paints a graphic picture of a family falling apart as the frustration at the lack of resolution, the constant cycle of hope and despair, take their toll. The gossip about Rebecca’s association with these other men has Eliza wondering just how well she knew her sister, but her father reminds her “She’s not a stranger. She’s your sister and a victim of rumours and misunderstandings. Don’t ever forget that.”
Thomson expertly conveys the fourteen-year-old voice, the singular focus on herself, her confusion about how her parents react, how they deal with the worry, the grief, the uncertainty, and what she does to cope. The whole experience so overwhelming that even later in life “no matter where I was or what I was doing, happy, sad, getting on with things, Rebecca’s absence was profound.”
The stigma of mental illness also plays a part: the family’s determination to keep Diane’s condition under the radar fuels rumour about strange behaviour. Thomson gives the reader a plot with plenty of intrigue: even if readers deduce the answer to one small aspect of the story at the start, the slow reveal of the truth as Eliza puts the facts together will keep even the most astute reader guessing and the pages turning. Thomson’s marvellous descriptive prose enhances this powerful, gripping and thought-provoking read.
May 2, 2024
“Not knowing what happened to her was like an incurable illness that didn’t have a name.”
Gone is the third novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. The audio version is narrated by Jennifer Rani. When she was seventeen, Rebecca Bundy disappeared. Her fourteen-year-old sister, Eliza watched her walk away after a very public and frankly, embarrassing, altercation with their mother, Diane over money missing from a purse. Her parents didn’t seem too concerned when she didn’t come home that night: they expected she would turn up when she’d cooled down, as she had a few weeks earlier.
When she didn’t return, they involved the police, who were at first dismissive then, soon after, distracted by the murder-suicide of a local farming family. For whom Rebecca used to babysit: was that relevant? Eliza had always found the husband, Jacob Healy, creepy…
Another creepy guy she considered was their orchard hand, but his alibi seemed to stand up. Gossip claimed that Rebecca was spending lunchtimes with her young, charismatic Maths teacher, something the man vehemently denied. And then there was the unfamiliar man with the black dog who seemed to be paying rather too close attention to that humiliating interaction between her mother and sister.
There was talk of Rebecca running off to Queensland, but Bull Tennant, the young man with whom she’d been forbidden to associate, maintained that this wasn’t her plan: they’d a firm agreement to meet the following morning. Eliza believed him, was convinced that he had nothing to do with Rebecca’s disappearance, and never faltered in that belief, even though Diane was sure he was involved.
A few things puzzled Eliza: would Rebecca have left wearing her school uniform? Not taken her best bra, her contraceptive pills, T-shirts and undies? And hard to believe that she didn’t ring home when the Healy family tragedy became national news. Or on Christmas Day.
But there was no-one to talk to about it: her mother took to her bed, and when she was awake, aware, snobbish Diane seemed more concerned about the gossip than Rebecca’s whereabouts. Eliza began to wonder if there had been a beauty hierarchy in their family, with their mother and Rebecca competing for the top spot.
Her father, never effusive, now withdrew even further: “I was going to him for a hug, but he stretched out his arms to keep me at a distance. Of all the things that happened in those confusing days and weeks, I remember his rejection as a marker. That moment when I understood I was alone, that my family had changed in a way I couldn’t make sense of.”
Thomson paints a graphic picture of a family falling apart as the frustration at the lack of resolution, the constant cycle of hope and despair, take their toll. The gossip about Rebecca’s association with these other men has Eliza wondering just how well she knew her sister, but her father reminds her “She’s not a stranger. She’s your sister and a victim of rumours and misunderstandings. Don’t ever forget that.”
Thomson expertly conveys the fourteen-year-old voice, the singular focus on herself, her confusion about how her parents react, how they deal with the worry, the grief, the uncertainty, and what she does to cope. The whole experience so overwhelming that even later in life “no matter where I was or what I was doing, happy, sad, getting on with things, Rebecca’s absence was profound.”
The stigma of mental illness also plays a part: the family’s determination to keep Diane’s condition under the radar fuels rumour about strange behaviour. Thomson gives the reader a plot with plenty of intrigue: even if readers deduce the answer to one small aspect of the story at the start, the slow reveal of the truth as Eliza puts the facts together will keep even the most astute reader guessing and the pages turning. Thomson’s marvellous descriptive prose enhances this powerful, gripping and thought-provoking read.
Gone is the third novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. The audio version is narrated by Jennifer Rani. When she was seventeen, Rebecca Bundy disappeared. Her fourteen-year-old sister, Eliza watched her walk away after a very public and frankly, embarrassing, altercation with their mother, Diane over money missing from a purse. Her parents didn’t seem too concerned when she didn’t come home that night: they expected she would turn up when she’d cooled down, as she had a few weeks earlier.
When she didn’t return, they involved the police, who were at first dismissive then, soon after, distracted by the murder-suicide of a local farming family. For whom Rebecca used to babysit: was that relevant? Eliza had always found the husband, Jacob Healy, creepy…
Another creepy guy she considered was their orchard hand, but his alibi seemed to stand up. Gossip claimed that Rebecca was spending lunchtimes with her young, charismatic Maths teacher, something the man vehemently denied. And then there was the unfamiliar man with the black dog who seemed to be paying rather too close attention to that humiliating interaction between her mother and sister.
There was talk of Rebecca running off to Queensland, but Bull Tennant, the young man with whom she’d been forbidden to associate, maintained that this wasn’t her plan: they’d a firm agreement to meet the following morning. Eliza believed him, was convinced that he had nothing to do with Rebecca’s disappearance, and never faltered in that belief, even though Diane was sure he was involved.
A few things puzzled Eliza: would Rebecca have left wearing her school uniform? Not taken her best bra, her contraceptive pills, T-shirts and undies? And hard to believe that she didn’t ring home when the Healy family tragedy became national news. Or on Christmas Day.
But there was no-one to talk to about it: her mother took to her bed, and when she was awake, aware, snobbish Diane seemed more concerned about the gossip than Rebecca’s whereabouts. Eliza began to wonder if there had been a beauty hierarchy in their family, with their mother and Rebecca competing for the top spot.
Her father, never effusive, now withdrew even further: “I was going to him for a hug, but he stretched out his arms to keep me at a distance. Of all the things that happened in those confusing days and weeks, I remember his rejection as a marker. That moment when I understood I was alone, that my family had changed in a way I couldn’t make sense of.”
Thomson paints a graphic picture of a family falling apart as the frustration at the lack of resolution, the constant cycle of hope and despair, take their toll. The gossip about Rebecca’s association with these other men has Eliza wondering just how well she knew her sister, but her father reminds her “She’s not a stranger. She’s your sister and a victim of rumours and misunderstandings. Don’t ever forget that.”
Thomson expertly conveys the fourteen-year-old voice, the singular focus on herself, her confusion about how her parents react, how they deal with the worry, the grief, the uncertainty, and what she does to cope. The whole experience so overwhelming that even later in life “no matter where I was or what I was doing, happy, sad, getting on with things, Rebecca’s absence was profound.”
The stigma of mental illness also plays a part: the family’s determination to keep Diane’s condition under the radar fuels rumour about strange behaviour. Thomson gives the reader a plot with plenty of intrigue: even if readers deduce the answer to one small aspect of the story at the start, the slow reveal of the truth as Eliza puts the facts together will keep even the most astute reader guessing and the pages turning. Thomson’s marvellous descriptive prose enhances this powerful, gripping and thought-provoking read.
April 17, 2024
It was the week before Christmas in 1984 that seventeen-year-old Rebecca Bundy went missing. Two days after she went missing Jacob Healy, a local sheep farmer did something so horrendous that would have the local community in total shock and disbelief.
The Healy investigation took its toll not only on the community but also on the local police resources. It meant that the disappearance of Rebecca Bundy quickly became a cold case. Rebecca’s sister Eliza was determined to find out where and what had happened to her sister, but as weeks turned into months then months turned into years it was looking more and more unlikely she was going to find Rebecca. The disappearance of a child or anyone has a big impact on the family and friends and the Bundy family were experiencing this daily. Thirty-eight years had passed since Rebecca had disappeared and the Bundy family never gave up hope in getting answers.
Gone by Aussie author Glenna Thomas was a brilliant read from start to finish. Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
The Healy investigation took its toll not only on the community but also on the local police resources. It meant that the disappearance of Rebecca Bundy quickly became a cold case. Rebecca’s sister Eliza was determined to find out where and what had happened to her sister, but as weeks turned into months then months turned into years it was looking more and more unlikely she was going to find Rebecca. The disappearance of a child or anyone has a big impact on the family and friends and the Bundy family were experiencing this daily. Thirty-eight years had passed since Rebecca had disappeared and the Bundy family never gave up hope in getting answers.
Gone by Aussie author Glenna Thomas was a brilliant read from start to finish. Can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
March 2, 2024
On the last day of school, shortly before Christmas 1984, seventeen year old Rebecca Bundy was seen publicly arguing with her mother. This would be the last ever confirmed sighting of the teen, for she never returned home that day.
In the days before her disappearance, Rebecca was bragging about going to Queensland with her best friend. It's because of this statement that the police told her parents to wait it out. That Rebecca needed to cool down and return when she was ready.
Because the family lives in a small Victorian country community, the rumours swirl. Rebecca's reputation is left in tatters, and by association, so is the family's.
Then, a murder suicide at a local farm diverts police attention. Quite soon, Rebecca's disappearance becomes a cold case.
So, whatever happened to Rebecca Bundy? Was her secret boyfriend involved? All the blame is aimed at him. Or did Rebecca run off with her maths teacher? And exactly who was the suspicious stranger loitering about during the argument? We have to consider the connection between Rebecca and the murder suicide as well. Or... Is it possible that she actually did pack up and leave that afternoon and find a way to Queensland after all?
Her sister Eliza never gave up hope. For nearly forty years, she's been seeking answers. Now, on a rare visit home, she's finally going to be told the truth. And it'll be something so unfathomable that never crossed her mind during all those years.
It hurt reading Gone. It really hurt. The Bundy's anguish was laid out bare for all to see. Instead of banding together, this family unit crumbled, leaving a vulnerable young Eliza to pick up the pieces. Gosh, she was only fourteen at the time and had to watch her mother fall into deep depression and self medicate with booze. Her dad was incapable of helping, becoming too obsessed with locating his daughter. It's little wonder Eliza went off the rails herself until she was able to finally escape the mountain.
This was unlike any other missing person story I've ever read. I got lost with the sensation of becoming involved with a true life cold case. If this was a documentary or podcast, it would've piqued my curiosity and gained my attention.
I can see why Gone is getting rave reviews!
5 🌟
In the days before her disappearance, Rebecca was bragging about going to Queensland with her best friend. It's because of this statement that the police told her parents to wait it out. That Rebecca needed to cool down and return when she was ready.
Because the family lives in a small Victorian country community, the rumours swirl. Rebecca's reputation is left in tatters, and by association, so is the family's.
Then, a murder suicide at a local farm diverts police attention. Quite soon, Rebecca's disappearance becomes a cold case.
So, whatever happened to Rebecca Bundy? Was her secret boyfriend involved? All the blame is aimed at him. Or did Rebecca run off with her maths teacher? And exactly who was the suspicious stranger loitering about during the argument? We have to consider the connection between Rebecca and the murder suicide as well. Or... Is it possible that she actually did pack up and leave that afternoon and find a way to Queensland after all?
Her sister Eliza never gave up hope. For nearly forty years, she's been seeking answers. Now, on a rare visit home, she's finally going to be told the truth. And it'll be something so unfathomable that never crossed her mind during all those years.
It hurt reading Gone. It really hurt. The Bundy's anguish was laid out bare for all to see. Instead of banding together, this family unit crumbled, leaving a vulnerable young Eliza to pick up the pieces. Gosh, she was only fourteen at the time and had to watch her mother fall into deep depression and self medicate with booze. Her dad was incapable of helping, becoming too obsessed with locating his daughter. It's little wonder Eliza went off the rails herself until she was able to finally escape the mountain.
This was unlike any other missing person story I've ever read. I got lost with the sensation of becoming involved with a true life cold case. If this was a documentary or podcast, it would've piqued my curiosity and gained my attention.
I can see why Gone is getting rave reviews!
5 🌟
July 24, 2024
Really enjoyed this one, small Australian town setting, 2 sisters. One goes missing, her father and sister search for years to uncover what happened to Rebecca.
I really enjoyed the intricate family drama as it all unfolded. I really felt for Eliza and was invested to find out what happened. Solid 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed the intricate family drama as it all unfolded. I really felt for Eliza and was invested to find out what happened. Solid 4.5 stars
September 30, 2024
Ooft that was good. It was bloody good.
I was invested from the very first page.
Told from the POV of Eliza, the younger sister of Rebecca, who mysteriously goes missing a few days before Christmas in 1984. Eliza never forgets her sister and lives with the knowledge that they just don't know what happened to her. Did Rebecca run away? Did something more sinister happen to her?
This story, infused with grief and the emptiness of never knowing what truly happened has devastating and long-term effects on Eliza, her parents as well as others that were in their lives.
Her mother had always been convinced that Rebecca's secret boyfriend Bull knows more than he is letting on.
Her father travels the same route from Victoria to Queensland every year for more than twenty years hoping that the possible sightings might actually be Rebecca.
The angst and raw trauma of this family is heartbreaking to read. The twist in this story, while unsettling, is tragic and only adds to the complexity of their situation.
I highly recommend this book and it is engrossing and very well written.
I was invested from the very first page.
Told from the POV of Eliza, the younger sister of Rebecca, who mysteriously goes missing a few days before Christmas in 1984. Eliza never forgets her sister and lives with the knowledge that they just don't know what happened to her. Did Rebecca run away? Did something more sinister happen to her?
This story, infused with grief and the emptiness of never knowing what truly happened has devastating and long-term effects on Eliza, her parents as well as others that were in their lives.
Her mother had always been convinced that Rebecca's secret boyfriend Bull knows more than he is letting on.
Her father travels the same route from Victoria to Queensland every year for more than twenty years hoping that the possible sightings might actually be Rebecca.
The angst and raw trauma of this family is heartbreaking to read. The twist in this story, while unsettling, is tragic and only adds to the complexity of their situation.
I highly recommend this book and it is engrossing and very well written.
June 18, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🌾Inner Melbourne-based author of Blueberry and Stella and Margie Glenna Thomson is back with a new novel. Gone offers the reader a meditation on a heartbreaking crime involving the disappearance of a teenage girl. Set in a small country town in Australia, Thomson rips open a wound filled with uncertainty, rumour, mental anguish, devastating loss and ineffective police work.
🌾In 1984, Rebecca Bundy vanishes from her rural Victorian home town. Fingers are pointed at more than one suspect being involved in this disappearance. But as time goes on the case goes cold, the police turn their attention to other matters in the local area. One person who refuses to give up in the search is the victim's younger sister Eliza. Decades on, Eliza devotes her time and energy to finding out what happened to her beloved older sister. Gone is as much a tale about a shocking disappearance and crime as it is a narrative on the nature of loss when grief limbo is involved.
🌾A story inspired by the author’s direct research into the problems associated with ambiguous loss, Gone draws on the vital hinge points raised by The Missed Foundation and a podcast titled What’s Missing to weave a heartbreaking read. Glenna Thomson has made a smooth transition to the crime genre after penning two previous family drama-based books. Gone still draws on Thomson’s strength and understanding in the issues and raw emotions that impact families when high stress situations are involved. I found Thomson’s third novel to be insightful, poised, reflective, and authentic. I think this novel will touch those who have lost a family member and those who have been directly involved in a case of the same nature as the young girl featured in the narrative. It was the heartbreak experienced by Rebecca’s parents and the relentless pursuit of the truth but Eliza that pulled me into Gone. I hope it does with you too.
🙏Thank you to the team at @penguinbooksaus for the gifted copy.
🌟🌟🌟🌟4 stars
📣Out now!
🌾Inner Melbourne-based author of Blueberry and Stella and Margie Glenna Thomson is back with a new novel. Gone offers the reader a meditation on a heartbreaking crime involving the disappearance of a teenage girl. Set in a small country town in Australia, Thomson rips open a wound filled with uncertainty, rumour, mental anguish, devastating loss and ineffective police work.
🌾In 1984, Rebecca Bundy vanishes from her rural Victorian home town. Fingers are pointed at more than one suspect being involved in this disappearance. But as time goes on the case goes cold, the police turn their attention to other matters in the local area. One person who refuses to give up in the search is the victim's younger sister Eliza. Decades on, Eliza devotes her time and energy to finding out what happened to her beloved older sister. Gone is as much a tale about a shocking disappearance and crime as it is a narrative on the nature of loss when grief limbo is involved.
🌾A story inspired by the author’s direct research into the problems associated with ambiguous loss, Gone draws on the vital hinge points raised by The Missed Foundation and a podcast titled What’s Missing to weave a heartbreaking read. Glenna Thomson has made a smooth transition to the crime genre after penning two previous family drama-based books. Gone still draws on Thomson’s strength and understanding in the issues and raw emotions that impact families when high stress situations are involved. I found Thomson’s third novel to be insightful, poised, reflective, and authentic. I think this novel will touch those who have lost a family member and those who have been directly involved in a case of the same nature as the young girl featured in the narrative. It was the heartbreak experienced by Rebecca’s parents and the relentless pursuit of the truth but Eliza that pulled me into Gone. I hope it does with you too.
🙏Thank you to the team at @penguinbooksaus for the gifted copy.
🌟🌟🌟🌟4 stars
📣Out now!
March 11, 2024
Review to come
March 23, 2024
Started out strong, but the ending dropped this to a 3 and a half star read.
January 29, 2024
This novel is about a missing persons case but more than that, it shines a light on the family left in the aftermath of tragedy and the ways in which they process and grieve such an ambiguous loss. In a society that often looks at the true crime genre as ‘entertainment’, Gone refocuses that attention to the lived experiences of the community directly affected and the rifts it causes in their worlds. This was a very gripping story and I found the family dynamics complex and fascinating.
June 22, 2024
once again, had the potential to be a great book. great characters and sense of setting and atmosphere. loved the authors style. but how on earth can you consider that a good ending? anticlimactic. bland. and disappointing. would have been a 5 star if the twist was actually good. so so so disappointing
February 29, 2024
A bit of a yawn.. I did not get into this book at all.
February 26, 2024
Thank you Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Family units are governed by love, loyalty and all endure some element of dysfunction.
The disappearance of a teenage girl triggers a series of events and defines the emotionally stability of her family.
Eliza lived in the shadow of her sister until she disappeared.
Life became tumultuously fractured and her home life crumbled.
Self harm, self validation and determination to find out what happened shaped the rest of her youth.
The search for clues and answers guided her through adulthood years.
A marriage and move to Scotland no barrier.
Aging parents with health debilitations and an emotional gap with her mother adding pressures and their own turmoils.
The truth always emerges but does it make murky waters clearer?
I was invested and intrigued in this story from page one, it was atmospheric, well written and made the reader yearn for more.
The small community setting in country Victoria, the exploration of family dynamics and relationship intricacies were nailed and the path to the end was not predictable.
Family units are governed by love, loyalty and all endure some element of dysfunction.
The disappearance of a teenage girl triggers a series of events and defines the emotionally stability of her family.
Eliza lived in the shadow of her sister until she disappeared.
Life became tumultuously fractured and her home life crumbled.
Self harm, self validation and determination to find out what happened shaped the rest of her youth.
The search for clues and answers guided her through adulthood years.
A marriage and move to Scotland no barrier.
Aging parents with health debilitations and an emotional gap with her mother adding pressures and their own turmoils.
The truth always emerges but does it make murky waters clearer?
I was invested and intrigued in this story from page one, it was atmospheric, well written and made the reader yearn for more.
The small community setting in country Victoria, the exploration of family dynamics and relationship intricacies were nailed and the path to the end was not predictable.
May 19, 2024
Started off slow and the ending made me regret even starting it.
May 30, 2024
This is a calmly unravelled read that you'll consume compulsively. It's also confident enough not to convey all the answers, which is consistent with the knowingless-ness of a missing persons case.
June 3, 2024
This is a thought provoking book about a family dealing with ambiguous loss. The characters felt real and it was interesting to follow their journey as the years went by. I also found the discussion questions and the end of the book helpful.
February 18, 2026
Dnf 44%. The story looks interesting, but the writing is a little tiring.
May 21, 2024
I thought this was a very well crafted and really solid read, one that's proved a great page-turner over the last few days.
The style of the book felt unusually original. I liked the first person retelling, spaced over the four decades. I liked that every now and then the narrative would break the rules. For example: Eliza would be chatting with someone and then add that 'this would be the last time I'd see her for thirty seven years.' Things like that.
The characters are very well done, realistic, frighteningly-so - particularly the girls' mother, but her father too. I like the way everybody ages in the book, even Bull, except Rebecca.
One thing I would like to know is why the father never properly hugged Eliza after Rebecca went missing. What was that about?
The style of the book felt unusually original. I liked the first person retelling, spaced over the four decades. I liked that every now and then the narrative would break the rules. For example: Eliza would be chatting with someone and then add that 'this would be the last time I'd see her for thirty seven years.' Things like that.
The characters are very well done, realistic, frighteningly-so - particularly the girls' mother, but her father too. I like the way everybody ages in the book, even Bull, except Rebecca.
One thing I would like to know is why the father never properly hugged Eliza after Rebecca went missing. What was that about?
February 11, 2024
Firstly I just loved the writing style.
I needed to know what happened. Each chapter had me wanting more, but then when it looked like I was going to finish the book I wanted to slow down as I didn’t want to finish it. It was a gripping crime story that had me hooked.
This story, being told by the sister of the missing girl, was a great start. I felt like it was me experiencing the years of uncertainty with her.
A truly fabulous book. Loved it.
I needed to know what happened. Each chapter had me wanting more, but then when it looked like I was going to finish the book I wanted to slow down as I didn’t want to finish it. It was a gripping crime story that had me hooked.
This story, being told by the sister of the missing girl, was a great start. I felt like it was me experiencing the years of uncertainty with her.
A truly fabulous book. Loved it.
February 1, 2024
Absolutely sensational read. Gripping from start to finish! Whilst it is a thriller and keeps you engaged from page 1, Glenna masterfully explores the human element of a family in strife. A gripping and immersive experience for anyone seeking a riveting journey set in the beautiful Australian countryside. I cannot wait to read it a second time!
April 23, 2025
Rounded up from a 3.5. Really gripping start and interesting character study. Kind of dropped off once she grows up but managed to stick the landing, even though it was such an obvious twist.
June 28, 2026
Gone is an excellent Australian crime mystery thriller by Glenna Thompson. In 1984, a young family was involved in a murder-suicide, and the community and law enforcement forgot the disappearance of Rebecca Bundy. One person never forgot, and years later, Elisa Bundy wanted answers; she returned to Australia from Scotland to find them. However, Elisa Bundy did not expect what she found out would change her life forever. Readers of Gone will continue to follow Elisa Bundy to find out what happens.
Reading this book, I learnt about living in rural Victoria. I also started thinking about the issues families face when they do not know where their loved ones are and the importance of closure. I like the way Glenna Thompson highlights the role of social media in missing person cases.
I am pleased to have read Gone. Glenna Thompson is another fantastic Australian crime writer, and her writing style ensured that I engaged with this book from the first page. I like the way she portrayed her characters and their interactions. Gone was well-written and researched by Glenna Thompson. I felt part of the book's plot because of the way Glenna Thompson described its setting.
I recommend this book.
Reading this book, I learnt about living in rural Victoria. I also started thinking about the issues families face when they do not know where their loved ones are and the importance of closure. I like the way Glenna Thompson highlights the role of social media in missing person cases.
I am pleased to have read Gone. Glenna Thompson is another fantastic Australian crime writer, and her writing style ensured that I engaged with this book from the first page. I like the way she portrayed her characters and their interactions. Gone was well-written and researched by Glenna Thompson. I felt part of the book's plot because of the way Glenna Thompson described its setting.
I recommend this book.
March 12, 2024
Utterly compelling and unputdownable this novel is set in country Victoria and is told in the first person by Eliza Bundy. The story begins in 1984 when Eliza is fourteen years old; on the last day of the school year her sister, Rebecca, aged 17, mysteriously disappears. Their mother is adamant that Rebecca’s boyfriend is responsible but there is no conclusive evidence and he always maintains his innocence. The first half of the book concentrates on fourteen year old Eliza and her perceptions of friends and family. Over the years Eliza continues to seek answers with everything coming to a head in 2023. Eliza’s mother comes across as harsh and domineering whereas her father does not stand up to her very much is rather ineffectual. Issues such as mental illness, alcoholism, self-harm, small town gossip and innuendo are all touched upon. Atmospheric and gripping this is an enthralling read.
September 29, 2025
I didn't expect to love this so much. Glenna Thomson draws you in quickly and paints her characters so thickly that you feel like you know them yourself. I felt the grief the family felt. Each member of the family had their own personal struggle, adapting to the changes that happened along the way. Can't wait to see what else Glenna Thomas has written.
February 15, 2024
What an awesome story. The who done it will keep you guessing to the very end. I could not put this book down. It is gripping and suspenseful and in no way typical. A fantastic read and highly recommend.
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