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Gone
The deeper into the past she digs, the higher the price she must pay for the truth.
It’s been ten years since Alison’s perfect world fell apart. Ten years since her son Sam disappeared while on a family holiday. Lost at sea, they said, his body never found. And even though her brother and sister were supposedly looking after the kids, Alison will always blame herself.
Caught in a spiralling web of all-consuming grief where the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Alison refuses to let go. So when her ex-husband seeks to have Sam officially pronounced dead, Alison embarks upon a desperate and harrowing quest to discover what really happened that day on the beach.
But is the truth worth losing what is left of her sanity?
It’s been ten years since Alison’s perfect world fell apart. Ten years since her son Sam disappeared while on a family holiday. Lost at sea, they said, his body never found. And even though her brother and sister were supposedly looking after the kids, Alison will always blame herself.
Caught in a spiralling web of all-consuming grief where the lines between reality and fantasy blur, Alison refuses to let go. So when her ex-husband seeks to have Sam officially pronounced dead, Alison embarks upon a desperate and harrowing quest to discover what really happened that day on the beach.
But is the truth worth losing what is left of her sanity?
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
509 people are currently reading
5273 people want to read
About the author
Dreda Say Mitchell
46 books520 followersHer Majesty, The Queen appointed Dreda an MBE in her 2020 New Year’s Honours’ List. Dreda scooped the CWA’s John Creasey Dagger in 2004, the first time a Black British author has received this honour. Dreda and Ryan write across the crime and mystery genre – psychological thrillers, gritty gangland crime and fast-paced action books Spare Room, their first psychological thriller was a #1 UK and US Amazon Bestseller. Dreda is one of twelve acclaimed and bestselling international female writers contributing to a new Miss Marple anthology. Dreda is a passionate campaigner and speaker on social issues and the arts. She has been a frequent guest on television and radio including BBC Breakfast,, Celebrity Pointless and Celebrity Eggheads, The Stephen Nolan Show, Front Row and Woman’s Hour. She has presented Radio 4’s flagship books programme, Open Book. Dreda was named one of Britain’s 50 Remarkable Women by Lady Geek in association with Nokia. She was the 2011 chair of the Theakston Harrogate Crime Fiction Festival. Dreda was born and raised in the East End of London where she continues to live. Dreda’s family are from the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada and her name is pronounced with a long ‘ee’ sound in the middle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 20, 2025
A good psychological thriller with no idea who to trust. Several slippery fish here. Good portrayal of grief too.
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March 23, 2025
There was a lot of mystery throughout this story and I honestly wasn't able to figure it out until getting closer to the end. I really appreciated the depiction of grief and how determined Alison was to find out the truth, years later. This book showed how differently grief can affect you.
I think this would've been a good book to actually sit down and physically read but I had the audio copy. The narrator, Eilidh Beaton, was great. Her tone and clarity were fantastic and made the experience really engaging. I really love when all of the characters feel suspicious and unreliable and I felt that way with this book.
There's not much that I didn't enjoy about this except maybe it felt a little slow around halfway in. It was very brief though and didn't prevent me from enjoying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
TW: child death, death, murder, death of parent, gaslighting, grief, infidelity, injury detail, violence, mental illness
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
I think this would've been a good book to actually sit down and physically read but I had the audio copy. The narrator, Eilidh Beaton, was great. Her tone and clarity were fantastic and made the experience really engaging. I really love when all of the characters feel suspicious and unreliable and I felt that way with this book.
There's not much that I didn't enjoy about this except maybe it felt a little slow around halfway in. It was very brief though and didn't prevent me from enjoying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
TW: child death, death, murder, death of parent, gaslighting, grief, infidelity, injury detail, violence, mental illness
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
May 4, 2025
I received a copy of this book to read as part of the readalong hosted by Tandem Collective UK in exchange for an honest review.
Gone is a stand-alone thriller-mystery about a missing boy and the quest to find out what really happened the day he disappeared.
Alisons life was ripped apart a decade ago when her young son Sam went missing and was later presumed dead by drowning. However, his body was never recovered.
When her ex-husband wants to have Sam officially declared deceased, it rips the whole event right open again, leaving Alison grappling with her mental health and desperation to find out what happened to her beloved son. Filled with suspicious characters, questionable events, and motives along with an unreliable main character in Alison, the tension mounts, and she eventually finds a thread to pull on to unravel the whole event...
I had no idea which direction this book was headed in but did have my suspicions about one person, which I was half correct with.
Gone is a stand-alone thriller-mystery about a missing boy and the quest to find out what really happened the day he disappeared.
Alisons life was ripped apart a decade ago when her young son Sam went missing and was later presumed dead by drowning. However, his body was never recovered.
When her ex-husband wants to have Sam officially declared deceased, it rips the whole event right open again, leaving Alison grappling with her mental health and desperation to find out what happened to her beloved son. Filled with suspicious characters, questionable events, and motives along with an unreliable main character in Alison, the tension mounts, and she eventually finds a thread to pull on to unravel the whole event...
I had no idea which direction this book was headed in but did have my suspicions about one person, which I was half correct with.
May 29, 2025
Haunting story about a mother grieving for her son who was lost at sea. I usually dont like unreliable narrators, but in this instance, I genuinely felt for the main character and the different phases she goes through.
As heartbreaking as it was, the story was very well written.
As heartbreaking as it was, the story was very well written.
May 2, 2025
I was hooked from the first chapter! I love a book that dives right in and continues that pace throughout. This, is that book.
The short chapters, and of course the suspense kept me FULLY engaged and I could easily have read this in a day had I not been part of the readalong.
Poor Alice - as a mother myself (to a son called Sam) I could fully relate to her and I would absolutely expect to end up exactly where she is if this had happened to my child. But my, the unreliable narrator aspect kept me on my toes. I was second guessing all the way though. I loved her determination.
This book unravels what happened that fateful day on the beach bit by bit and I enjoyed the duel timeline.
I really like how the twist was revealed and how the ending wrapped everything up nicely.
There were small parts of the book that felt skimmed over and I would have liked more detail but that did not take away any enjoyment at all.
If you like thrillers with unreliable narrators that are fast paced and full of suspense I think you will enjoy this.
The short chapters, and of course the suspense kept me FULLY engaged and I could easily have read this in a day had I not been part of the readalong.
Poor Alice - as a mother myself (to a son called Sam) I could fully relate to her and I would absolutely expect to end up exactly where she is if this had happened to my child. But my, the unreliable narrator aspect kept me on my toes. I was second guessing all the way though. I loved her determination.
This book unravels what happened that fateful day on the beach bit by bit and I enjoyed the duel timeline.
I really like how the twist was revealed and how the ending wrapped everything up nicely.
There were small parts of the book that felt skimmed over and I would have liked more detail but that did not take away any enjoyment at all.
If you like thrillers with unreliable narrators that are fast paced and full of suspense I think you will enjoy this.
March 5, 2025
3.5
This was a true psyche thriller as I didn’t know what or who to believe. The narrator is very unreliable and all the other characters stink of suspicion.
I had sorted it out by the end, but enjoyed running around with the MC trying to find out the truth.
My main complaint, other than the book being a bit too long, is the maniacal confessional at the end. 🛑 it was particularly awful here as prior the author had done a great job of showing over confessing.
Thanks netgalley
SUMMARY: 10y ago, while on holiday with her siblings and their children, MC oldest son, Sam, 11 (?) was lost on the beach/in the ocean. After an exhaustive search the boy was presumed dead. The MC cannot accept this as his body wasn’t found. In the years since she’s had a mental breakdown, divorced, and become estranged from her siblings.
Now, her ex husband wants to have Sam legally declared dead. The MC wants to fight this but to do so, must present new evidence. This leads her to investigating / asking questions / finding out everyone has secrets and lied about day. For example, her sister was having an affair.
The story takes place “now” as the MC “investigates” and “then” the fateful day Sam was lost and all the events leading up to it.
By the end, the MC finds out what really happened to Sam.
This was a true psyche thriller as I didn’t know what or who to believe. The narrator is very unreliable and all the other characters stink of suspicion.
I had sorted it out by the end, but enjoyed running around with the MC trying to find out the truth.
My main complaint, other than the book being a bit too long, is the maniacal confessional at the end. 🛑 it was particularly awful here as prior the author had done a great job of showing over confessing.
Thanks netgalley
SUMMARY: 10y ago, while on holiday with her siblings and their children, MC oldest son, Sam, 11 (?) was lost on the beach/in the ocean. After an exhaustive search the boy was presumed dead. The MC cannot accept this as his body wasn’t found. In the years since she’s had a mental breakdown, divorced, and become estranged from her siblings.
Now, her ex husband wants to have Sam legally declared dead. The MC wants to fight this but to do so, must present new evidence. This leads her to investigating / asking questions / finding out everyone has secrets and lied about day. For example, her sister was having an affair.
The story takes place “now” as the MC “investigates” and “then” the fateful day Sam was lost and all the events leading up to it.
By the end, the MC finds out what really happened to Sam.
December 30, 2025
I loved this audiobook so much!! Mysterious with many unexpected twists.
Divorced and distanced from her younger son, Cain, Allison has gone through mental instability, emotional turmoil and extreme guilt over a traumatic event.
Sam, her oldest son, was swept out to sea and never found. But Allison always believed he would come back to her.
After 10 years, Marc, Allison’s ex-husband wants to officially declare Sam deceased so they can all finally move on. This ignites a relapse in Allison, who is insistent on finding out what really happened that day at the beach.
Her determination reveals shocking and unimaginable truths. Jaw dropping and mind blowing, I’m still reeling from what I just read!
I highly recommend reading or listening to this dark but intriguing story.
Rated 4.5 stars but rounded up.
Thank you to the authors, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing or this ALC.
Divorced and distanced from her younger son, Cain, Allison has gone through mental instability, emotional turmoil and extreme guilt over a traumatic event.
Sam, her oldest son, was swept out to sea and never found. But Allison always believed he would come back to her.
After 10 years, Marc, Allison’s ex-husband wants to officially declare Sam deceased so they can all finally move on. This ignites a relapse in Allison, who is insistent on finding out what really happened that day at the beach.
Her determination reveals shocking and unimaginable truths. Jaw dropping and mind blowing, I’m still reeling from what I just read!
I highly recommend reading or listening to this dark but intriguing story.
Rated 4.5 stars but rounded up.
Thank you to the authors, NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing or this ALC.
March 9, 2025
The story begins with grief stricken Alison, 10 yrs after a son had drown...Or was he simply missing? Her other son can't talk about it and her ex husband is trying to legally declare him dead. As his mom, she simply cannot do this without answers -- answers that she so desperately needed and tried to gain access to all of this time. So why was everyone around her so closed off about it?.
Her son's piano starts to play all by itself, people are whispering behind her back -- someone knows something.
Thankfully, there's help in the form of someone who couldn't let this case go -- something didn't sit right with him all of these years. What really happened is simply unimaginable! You kind of need to suspend belief here. The authors are great at creating suspicion all around.
Major pacing and dragging happens in the first half of this book -- I was at a 2.5 and nearly DNF'd. However, the back 1/4 really picked up and held my attention (finally), so I went to a 4.5. Overall, 3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
Her son's piano starts to play all by itself, people are whispering behind her back -- someone knows something.
Thankfully, there's help in the form of someone who couldn't let this case go -- something didn't sit right with him all of these years. What really happened is simply unimaginable! You kind of need to suspend belief here. The authors are great at creating suspicion all around.
Major pacing and dragging happens in the first half of this book -- I was at a 2.5 and nearly DNF'd. However, the back 1/4 really picked up and held my attention (finally), so I went to a 4.5. Overall, 3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
May 3, 2025
An emotional rollercoaster of a read. Ten years ago, Alison suffered a mother's worst nightmare when she left her two sons in the care of her brother at the beach, and returned to find her brother, her sister, her niece and only one of her sons. Sam was missing. The truth was never realised. Now her ex- husband wants to declare Sam officially dead, but Alison wants the truth. The lack of knowing has driven her to the brink of her sanity. Will the truth send her over the edge? A captivating read with chilling truths hidden beneath years of lies. #gone #dredasaymitchell #ryancarter #gonereadalong #tandemreadalong #TandemCollectiveUk #amazonpublishing @TandemCollectiveUk @AmazonPublishing #thrillsandchillsreaders
May 5, 2025
Damn, what a ride. This book had me gripped from the start. It had (in my opinion), a brilliant depiction of grief and the different ways it can affect people.
Also, I LOVE an unreliable narrator. TBH, so many of the characters were unhinged which I lowkey love. I honestly had no clue what to expect at the end. I also feel like this book was the perfect length - not too short and not too long.
Will definitely need to check out more of Dreda’s books!
I will say to definitely look at the TWs before this one, as it does focus on some tough topics.
Also, I LOVE an unreliable narrator. TBH, so many of the characters were unhinged which I lowkey love. I honestly had no clue what to expect at the end. I also feel like this book was the perfect length - not too short and not too long.
Will definitely need to check out more of Dreda’s books!
I will say to definitely look at the TWs before this one, as it does focus on some tough topics.
February 13, 2025
Ten years ago A!lison lost her son Sam in an apparent drowning accident while being watched by her brother.
His body was never recovered and now her ex husband wants to have him declared legally dead
as he prepares to emigrate to Australia with his new wife and family. Allison is frantic to prevent this
from happening: in her fragile mind state, no body means no death.
And the story takes off with suspense, and non stop action.
Allison's life is rife with anxiety and inability to connect with her surviving son, now a college student.
Overly active imagination and finding conspiracy all around her leads her on a quest to finally discover what really happened on the beach, the day that Sam was swept out to sea.
Good read.
His body was never recovered and now her ex husband wants to have him declared legally dead
as he prepares to emigrate to Australia with his new wife and family. Allison is frantic to prevent this
from happening: in her fragile mind state, no body means no death.
And the story takes off with suspense, and non stop action.
Allison's life is rife with anxiety and inability to connect with her surviving son, now a college student.
Overly active imagination and finding conspiracy all around her leads her on a quest to finally discover what really happened on the beach, the day that Sam was swept out to sea.
Good read.
February 16, 2025
Good but quite melodramatic, especially the description of kneeling at a grave, hand punched into the air, palm open, screaming your dead son's name and promising answers.
This isn't my first read by these authors and I'll likely go on to read more by them. This one, unfortunately, wasn't their best, because you do have to suspend disbelief quite a bit, with a dodgy solicitor; a retired FLO who supposedly never left this unremarkable case alone; a child psych who had reservations but didn't speak up; the tale having elements from only 10 years ago, in days of CCTV pretty much everywhere but in the areas where Sam went missing; a child with clear issues, and family dynamics that weren't really believable or explained. It's like the authors tried too hard with their pale-pink, not red, herrings and it didn't work. They didn't go into enough detail, not even in the epilogue where Kane's dad wasn't even mentioned. Sigh.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer, for my reading pleasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2025
The book itself was 3 stars for me, due to some pacing issues at the start, but the audiobook was closer to 4.
Premise - Ten years after Alison’s son, Sam, disappears on a holiday by the sea she’s battling her ex-husband to not have Sam declared dead. Her remaining son brings home an alt-punk girl, Rocky, from college at the same time and Alison starts to lose her grip on reality between her fervent search for answers regarding Sam’s disappearance and Rocky’s strange actions in the house.
This was such a fun story once it got going, but the pacing of the start felt off. I’m a fan of a slow burn, but for me the ‘burn’ part of that was more or less missing until around chapter 16.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Elisha Beaton, and she did a fantastic job. Her voice makes even murder cozy, but never lost the thrill. If you pick up this story, definitely go for the audiobook! And maybe listen to the first 15 chapters on 1.5-2x (after that it really does get very good).
Thanks, NetGalley and Brilliance Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Ten years after Alison’s son, Sam, disappears on a holiday by the sea she’s battling her ex-husband to not have Sam declared dead. Her remaining son brings home an alt-punk girl, Rocky, from college at the same time and Alison starts to lose her grip on reality between her fervent search for answers regarding Sam’s disappearance and Rocky’s strange actions in the house.
This was such a fun story once it got going, but the pacing of the start felt off. I’m a fan of a slow burn, but for me the ‘burn’ part of that was more or less missing until around chapter 16.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Elisha Beaton, and she did a fantastic job. Her voice makes even murder cozy, but never lost the thrill. If you pick up this story, definitely go for the audiobook! And maybe listen to the first 15 chapters on 1.5-2x (after that it really does get very good).
Thanks, NetGalley and Brilliance Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2025
This book gave me chills in the best way! 😱 It’s a deep dive into grief, guilt, and obsession, with plenty of twists that kept me guessing. The main character, Alison, is so relatable in her emotional turmoil as she fights to uncover the truth behind her son Sam’s disappearance ten years ago. I won’t spoil anything, but the suspense builds and builds until you can’t put it down.
What I loved: The storytelling shifts between the past and present, and it really makes you feel Alison’s desperation and confusion. The characters are layered and complex, making you question everyone’s motives. Plus, the writing is so immersive that it feels like you're right there with Alison, searching for answers. 🕵️♀️
That said, the pacing felt a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, which made it a bit of a challenge to stay fully hooked. But once the plot picks up, it’s hard to stop reading! I definitely recommend this to fans of dark thrillers with a psychological twist. 🌑
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion!
What I loved: The storytelling shifts between the past and present, and it really makes you feel Alison’s desperation and confusion. The characters are layered and complex, making you question everyone’s motives. Plus, the writing is so immersive that it feels like you're right there with Alison, searching for answers. 🕵️♀️
That said, the pacing felt a little slow at times, especially in the beginning, which made it a bit of a challenge to stay fully hooked. But once the plot picks up, it’s hard to stop reading! I definitely recommend this to fans of dark thrillers with a psychological twist. 🌑
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion!
May 19, 2025
Another fantastic readalong with the Tandem team for our Thrills & Chills Book Club, this time for the addictive Gone, which follows a mother's desperate search for the truth about her missing son.
This is either a trope you love or hate. For some, it's too painful to think about the unimaginable. For some sadists like me, I enjoy a thriller that explores the turmoil characters go through when experiencing a heartbreaking situation. It's something that immediately grips me!
So, for me, I was very quickly drawn into this story and Alison's grief. The characters are very well written, and you can easily feel the different emotions they are all going through. You feel Kane's pain, Simon's guilt, Alison's detachment from reality, and there's something about Olivia that makes you instantly hate her.
The book explores many thriller tropes. Some will feel a little predictable for super sleuths as we will have read them before, but I still found the ending a big surprise.
Overall, an engaging thriller with plenty of characters to suspect.
This is either a trope you love or hate. For some, it's too painful to think about the unimaginable. For some sadists like me, I enjoy a thriller that explores the turmoil characters go through when experiencing a heartbreaking situation. It's something that immediately grips me!
So, for me, I was very quickly drawn into this story and Alison's grief. The characters are very well written, and you can easily feel the different emotions they are all going through. You feel Kane's pain, Simon's guilt, Alison's detachment from reality, and there's something about Olivia that makes you instantly hate her.
The book explores many thriller tropes. Some will feel a little predictable for super sleuths as we will have read them before, but I still found the ending a big surprise.
Overall, an engaging thriller with plenty of characters to suspect.
March 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Gone by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
What would you do if your beloved son suddenly goes missing? Assumed to be swept away in the sea. Your own family were supposed to be watching him. But he’s just gone and something doesn’t add up. Ten years after her son vanished, Alison is still lost in her grief but has a sudden wake up call when she learns her ex husband wants to officially pronounce their son dead. She can’t let him go without knowing the truth of what happened that fateful day on the beach and she will stop at nothing to uncover the web of lies. I loved this audiobook, it gave me such true crime vibes and reminded me of some of the most famous cold cases like the disappearance of the Beaumont children and Madeline McCann. Thank you to the authors, Brilliance Audio Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook.
🎧 Gone by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter
Publication Date: March 25, 2025
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
What would you do if your beloved son suddenly goes missing? Assumed to be swept away in the sea. Your own family were supposed to be watching him. But he’s just gone and something doesn’t add up. Ten years after her son vanished, Alison is still lost in her grief but has a sudden wake up call when she learns her ex husband wants to officially pronounce their son dead. She can’t let him go without knowing the truth of what happened that fateful day on the beach and she will stop at nothing to uncover the web of lies. I loved this audiobook, it gave me such true crime vibes and reminded me of some of the most famous cold cases like the disappearance of the Beaumont children and Madeline McCann. Thank you to the authors, Brilliance Audio Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook.
March 16, 2025
Although a decade has passed since Alison's son Sam was apparently lost at sea, she has been unable come to terms with the loss in any way. And now events have conspired to force her into taking drastic action to find out what really happened to Sam. Because unlike her husband, who wants to have their son declared dead after all these years, Alison is not ready to let go of Sam yet...
The problem is, delving deeper into this particular can of worms risks setting in motion something that Alison cannot undo. And the price that she could potentially pay for the truth may well be far greater than she imagines...
This is a gripping story that gets its claws into the reader and never really lets go. But that's what Mitchell in particular is known for, and this latest offering does not disappoint. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The problem is, delving deeper into this particular can of worms risks setting in motion something that Alison cannot undo. And the price that she could potentially pay for the truth may well be far greater than she imagines...
This is a gripping story that gets its claws into the reader and never really lets go. But that's what Mitchell in particular is known for, and this latest offering does not disappoint. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 25, 2025
Brilliant writing as ever, as I've come to expect from this super talented author. It deals with a mother's grief in intricate detail and forces one to imagine what it must be like to go through losing a son, never knowing what happened to him and unable to find closure. Such a sensitive topic was handled very well, except it was a bit overdone. It took up a vast chunk of the novel, where I found myself wishing something else would happen i.e. something that brought you closer to the truth of untangling the mystery. In fact, main character, Alison, started to irritate me, mainly because I was screaming "what about your other son, the one who is also traumatised?" Although that did come out eventually. It was a slow burn, but a good book, ripe with sibling rivalry and intense jealousy, both of which appeared to be the cause of the tragedy. An enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion, albeit a sad one.
Read
May 10, 2025Case closed on our fourth Tandem Collective Thrills & Chills Book Club!
This time we were investigating Gone, which is a standalone thriller co-authored by husband and wife team Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter.
It’s been ten years since Alison’s son was swept out to sea. His body was never recovered, and now her ex-husband is filing to have him declared legally dead. This pushes Alison to revisit the events of that day and question everything she thought she knew.
This one felt like a classic popcorn thriller. If you’re a fan of the unreliable narrator trope, you’ll likely find a lot to enjoy here. While some elements of the plot stretched plausibility for me, the ending delivered a satisfying payoff.
This book resonated more strongly with others in the group, which made for some great discussion.
This time we were investigating Gone, which is a standalone thriller co-authored by husband and wife team Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter.
It’s been ten years since Alison’s son was swept out to sea. His body was never recovered, and now her ex-husband is filing to have him declared legally dead. This pushes Alison to revisit the events of that day and question everything she thought she knew.
This one felt like a classic popcorn thriller. If you’re a fan of the unreliable narrator trope, you’ll likely find a lot to enjoy here. While some elements of the plot stretched plausibility for me, the ending delivered a satisfying payoff.
This book resonated more strongly with others in the group, which made for some great discussion.
May 27, 2025
Gone by Dreda Say Mitchell; Ryan Carter
I just finished Gone by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter and here are my musings.
When Alison's son Sam is swept out to sea and the body never recovered... She never recovered either. It's been 10 years and the ghost of Sam still lingers.. She has questions no one wants to answer and Alison's obsession begins to claw it's way out.
Now this psychological thriller is loaded with family drama and while the pace was faily quick for the most part... Some parts slowed right off and that set the whole story askew for me and it took me a moment to get my story bearings back.
I did enjoy the storyline but it was a tad predictable in spots but all in all the story was hella intriguing and I thought the ending was absolutely wild!
I liked the writing and the narration was done really well.
Great book
4 stars
I just finished Gone by Dreda Say Mitchell and Ryan Carter and here are my musings.
When Alison's son Sam is swept out to sea and the body never recovered... She never recovered either. It's been 10 years and the ghost of Sam still lingers.. She has questions no one wants to answer and Alison's obsession begins to claw it's way out.
Now this psychological thriller is loaded with family drama and while the pace was faily quick for the most part... Some parts slowed right off and that set the whole story askew for me and it took me a moment to get my story bearings back.
I did enjoy the storyline but it was a tad predictable in spots but all in all the story was hella intriguing and I thought the ending was absolutely wild!
I liked the writing and the narration was done really well.
Great book
4 stars
June 16, 2025
I've not read anything by these authors before and had heard good reviews for this one so thought I'd give it a go!
Main character Alison lost her son Sam 10 years ago. Now her ex husband wants Sam declared dead and this brings back all Alison's emotions and trauma surrounding Sam's disappearance. Alison begins to investigate what really happened 10 years ago.
Whilst this was an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing, it didn't ever feel very believable to me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and whilst I enjoy an unreliable narrator, this felt a little all over the place to me.
The ending also felt very far-fetched to me and the book just left me with a bit of a disappointed feeling.
It was good enough to keep me reading but not enough to make me pick up another book by these authors.
Main character Alison lost her son Sam 10 years ago. Now her ex husband wants Sam declared dead and this brings back all Alison's emotions and trauma surrounding Sam's disappearance. Alison begins to investigate what really happened 10 years ago.
Whilst this was an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing, it didn't ever feel very believable to me. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and whilst I enjoy an unreliable narrator, this felt a little all over the place to me.
The ending also felt very far-fetched to me and the book just left me with a bit of a disappointed feeling.
It was good enough to keep me reading but not enough to make me pick up another book by these authors.
April 14, 2025
Everyone else is moving on but Allison still has questions on her son's death. After ten years, his father wants to have him legally declared dead, not just missing. But how can she bury the questions and start over like everyone is telling her. Allison's mental health is fragile. Without a clear picture of what happened that day, she cannot move forward. Dreda Mitchell does a skillful job of building the characters and the community they move through. The emotions Allison shows every time she thinks of Sam, touch a nerve in readers. The mmemories she picks through as she investigates one more time, leave no doubt taht she will succeed where others have failed. The story builds in layers as the memories unfold until "that day" releases the history that she needs.
May 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this novel, which I read as part of a readalong organised by the Tandem Collective.
It required a little bit of effort to suspend my disbelief in places, but I was well-rewarded for doing so - the book is a real page-turner and I raced ahead keen to know what main character Alison was going to find out next about her son who went missing ten years ago.
To be honest, I suspect it would have been easier to write if the space of time that had passed was only a couple of years - there were some pretty clever ways the authors found to introduce new evidence after a decade that could simply have cropped up in the final stages of a police investigation or that Alison could have found immediately after getting out of treatment for her grief-induced breakdown.
However, the authors chose to show us the impact on the family after they had all lived with feelings of guilt for a long, long time and that was very moving.
In short, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes twisty family thrillers. Trigger warnings, obviously, for missing children; violence against children; problematic alcohol and drug use; and psychopathy.
AD-PR Gifted.
It required a little bit of effort to suspend my disbelief in places, but I was well-rewarded for doing so - the book is a real page-turner and I raced ahead keen to know what main character Alison was going to find out next about her son who went missing ten years ago.
To be honest, I suspect it would have been easier to write if the space of time that had passed was only a couple of years - there were some pretty clever ways the authors found to introduce new evidence after a decade that could simply have cropped up in the final stages of a police investigation or that Alison could have found immediately after getting out of treatment for her grief-induced breakdown.
However, the authors chose to show us the impact on the family after they had all lived with feelings of guilt for a long, long time and that was very moving.
In short, I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who likes twisty family thrillers. Trigger warnings, obviously, for missing children; violence against children; problematic alcohol and drug use; and psychopathy.
AD-PR Gifted.
May 4, 2025
I was very lucky to read gone as part of tandemcollectiveuk read along on Instagram and it was fantastic and I recommend to any readers of thrillers and mysteries.
The story line and dual narrative in this book gripped me, and kept me wanting to read on (which eventually I did give in and read to the end ahead of schedule!)
Using a long time gap between the original event and Alison trying to work out what happened to her son Sam on that beach 10 years ago worked for me. So often crimes go unsolved for years and this depicted the turmoil and pain that families go through when living with an unsolved event.
Alison’s grief was evident and the impact that had on not only her but those around her was dramatic. The short chapters and twists and turns of uncovering more facts about what happened that day made me want to keep reading as I just needed to know.
There were some characters I despised in this book but I think that worked as it made you think that there was something in what Alison was saying. The ending was fitting of the story!
If you are a fan of missing person thrillers or thrillers with unexpected twists then I would highly recommend picking up Gone!
A 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!
The story line and dual narrative in this book gripped me, and kept me wanting to read on (which eventually I did give in and read to the end ahead of schedule!)
Using a long time gap between the original event and Alison trying to work out what happened to her son Sam on that beach 10 years ago worked for me. So often crimes go unsolved for years and this depicted the turmoil and pain that families go through when living with an unsolved event.
Alison’s grief was evident and the impact that had on not only her but those around her was dramatic. The short chapters and twists and turns of uncovering more facts about what happened that day made me want to keep reading as I just needed to know.
There were some characters I despised in this book but I think that worked as it made you think that there was something in what Alison was saying. The ending was fitting of the story!
If you are a fan of missing person thrillers or thrillers with unexpected twists then I would highly recommend picking up Gone!
A 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!
May 5, 2025
Read if you like:
-Missing Child
-Turmoil
-Opening scene will hook you
-Unreliable Narrator
-Family dynamics
Gone will hook you from the very scene, I couldn’t wait to see what the story would entail! Told from the MC an unreliable narrator centred around a missing child!
We follow various family members and their dynamics with each other! There is something about Olivia, I just instantly took a disliking to her!
I also loved the dual timelines jumping back and forth from past and present! As you really get more of an understanding of their family!
Gone is a story of guilt, grief, jealousy, heartbreak and a mother’s love and determination for truth! As a mum I understood her need to find the truth about what happened to her son Sam! But we see that this is not just about a mother it’s shows how everyone can be affected by such a horrific event!
Overall, a fairly fast paced thriller. With twists and turns perfectly placed. The ending was surprising, but I’m glad it brought closure to Alison!
-Missing Child
-Turmoil
-Opening scene will hook you
-Unreliable Narrator
-Family dynamics
Gone will hook you from the very scene, I couldn’t wait to see what the story would entail! Told from the MC an unreliable narrator centred around a missing child!
We follow various family members and their dynamics with each other! There is something about Olivia, I just instantly took a disliking to her!
I also loved the dual timelines jumping back and forth from past and present! As you really get more of an understanding of their family!
Gone is a story of guilt, grief, jealousy, heartbreak and a mother’s love and determination for truth! As a mum I understood her need to find the truth about what happened to her son Sam! But we see that this is not just about a mother it’s shows how everyone can be affected by such a horrific event!
Overall, a fairly fast paced thriller. With twists and turns perfectly placed. The ending was surprising, but I’m glad it brought closure to Alison!
May 2, 2025
If you want easy-reading, high drama, tension and plenty of twists then this is one for you. A good popcorn thriller that definitely has you guessing and wanting to read on.
For me however, it fell flat and didn’t deliver. I found the characters one-dimensional, things too far fetched and relying heavily on coincidence. For me it was all too unbelievable and had too many inconsistencies.
The plot has a lot of potential, and plenty of people have really enjoyed reading this, but it was just not for me. There was too much focus on the plot and not much else that was working for me. So unfortunately, a 2.5 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️ 💫
On another note, sometimes knowing a language very well that is being references in a book isn’t helpful. “Sleeping the sleep of the unjust” had me cringing 🫣 😬
For me however, it fell flat and didn’t deliver. I found the characters one-dimensional, things too far fetched and relying heavily on coincidence. For me it was all too unbelievable and had too many inconsistencies.
The plot has a lot of potential, and plenty of people have really enjoyed reading this, but it was just not for me. There was too much focus on the plot and not much else that was working for me. So unfortunately, a 2.5 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️ 💫
On another note, sometimes knowing a language very well that is being references in a book isn’t helpful. “Sleeping the sleep of the unjust” had me cringing 🫣 😬
February 25, 2025
Alison and Olivia are the daughters of a talented piano playing fisherman. He passed his ability on to his daughters, but only one got a scholarship.... and it broke the sisters' bond.
Alison's son, Sam disappears at the age of 11 during a family holiday, she has never got over the loss, and wants the truth about his disappearance.
I could not put this emotionally charged book down. I felt Alison's pain throughout the book.
Dark, emotional and twisty, this book will pull at the reader's heartstrings and the ending is definitely not predicatable.
An absolutely fabulous read. I recommend wholeheartedly.
Alison's son, Sam disappears at the age of 11 during a family holiday, she has never got over the loss, and wants the truth about his disappearance.
I could not put this emotionally charged book down. I felt Alison's pain throughout the book.
Dark, emotional and twisty, this book will pull at the reader's heartstrings and the ending is definitely not predicatable.
An absolutely fabulous read. I recommend wholeheartedly.
February 27, 2025
This was an utterly drak and emotional thriller. The story is about Allison, who lost her son at the age of 11 in a drowning. When her ex husband want to declare him legally dead, it brings out a lot of problems.
The story is told in the past and present point of view. Allison has had a lot of difficulties in her life. It shows how she handles some things. This was a medium-paced dark story and I really liked it. Never read from this author before, but it will certainly not be my last.
There is so much going on in this book, it has a lot of layers. The author has made a twisted puzzle, leaving you guessing.
Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey. I really recommend this one!
The story is told in the past and present point of view. Allison has had a lot of difficulties in her life. It shows how she handles some things. This was a medium-paced dark story and I really liked it. Never read from this author before, but it will certainly not be my last.
There is so much going on in this book, it has a lot of layers. The author has made a twisted puzzle, leaving you guessing.
Brace yourself for an unforgettable journey. I really recommend this one!
August 13, 2025
The lengths a mother will go to for their children is unlimited. The love between a child and their parent is a beautiful thing. This book was a page tuner, add in the twist and turns even better. The storyline was captivating and enticing. Just when you think you know what is happening, you become equally lost. My emotions were like a roller coaster ride. The way the authors wrote this book, makes you feel all the emotions Alison felt. Highly recommend for a quick heart felt, mystery and suspense read.
Thank you, NetGalley, the authors and the publisher, for the advance copy for an honest review.
Thank you, NetGalley, the authors and the publisher, for the advance copy for an honest review.
December 3, 2025
Gone is one of those books that keeps you up at night — literally and emotionally. As a parent, there’s nothing more terrifying than your child going missing, especially when you’re not there, and this story taps into that fear so vividly it almost hurts to read.
The grief is portrayed through different characters in such a raw, honest way, and watching the mother piece together what really happened is absolutely gripping. Every chapter pulls you deeper into her panic, her determination, and her unraveling sense of reality.
If you want a tense, emotional thriller that hits hard and keeps you turning pages, this one is a powerful read.
The grief is portrayed through different characters in such a raw, honest way, and watching the mother piece together what really happened is absolutely gripping. Every chapter pulls you deeper into her panic, her determination, and her unraveling sense of reality.
If you want a tense, emotional thriller that hits hard and keeps you turning pages, this one is a powerful read.
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