What do you think?
Rate this book
Gone Before
The disappearance of five-year-old Maya Duncan remains one of the most famous missing person cases in British history. She vanished without a trace. Until now…
Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems that mother and daughter are to be reunited at last. But when a shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they have begun to build, Kay commits suicide, leaving Phoebe riddled with guilt.
Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in danger.
Gone Before is an utterly addictive ‘ripped-from-the-headlines’ thriller that you will read in one breathless gulp. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and The Silent Patient.
Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems that mother and daughter are to be reunited at last. But when a shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they have begun to build, Kay commits suicide, leaving Phoebe riddled with guilt.
Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in danger.
Gone Before is an utterly addictive ‘ripped-from-the-headlines’ thriller that you will read in one breathless gulp. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and The Silent Patient.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2020
331 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 22, 2020
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The book is about Maya Duncan who went missing fifteen years ago aged five without any trace. Now a young woman known as Phoebe is convinced that she is the missing Maya and tracks down the woman she believes is her birth mother Kay Duncan.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it appears that mother and daughter are reunited but a shocking discovery halts all the celebrations. Kay commits suicide and Phoebe is left guilt ridden. Phoebe wants to uncover the truth to her past and her identity but discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her and a secret that could put her life in danger.
An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout. Good characters and a well paced plot making this a very good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The book is about Maya Duncan who went missing fifteen years ago aged five without any trace. Now a young woman known as Phoebe is convinced that she is the missing Maya and tracks down the woman she believes is her birth mother Kay Duncan.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it appears that mother and daughter are reunited but a shocking discovery halts all the celebrations. Kay commits suicide and Phoebe is left guilt ridden. Phoebe wants to uncover the truth to her past and her identity but discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her and a secret that could put her life in danger.
An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout. Good characters and a well paced plot making this a very good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it appears that mother and daughter are reunited but a shocking discovery halts all the celebrations. Kay commits suicide and Phoebe is left guilt ridden. Phoebe wants to uncover the truth to her past and her identity but discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her and a secret that could put her life in danger.
An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout. Good characters and a well paced plot making this a very good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The book is about Maya Duncan who went missing fifteen years ago aged five without any trace. Now a young woman known as Phoebe is convinced that she is the missing Maya and tracks down the woman she believes is her birth mother Kay Duncan.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it appears that mother and daughter are reunited but a shocking discovery halts all the celebrations. Kay commits suicide and Phoebe is left guilt ridden. Phoebe wants to uncover the truth to her past and her identity but discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her and a secret that could put her life in danger.
An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout. Good characters and a well paced plot making this a very good read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2020
Fifteen years after the abduction of Maya Dujcan, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan's door clutching a yellow rain hat with Maya's name stiched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan and that Kay is her mother. When Phoebe sees Kay the memories come flooding back. Butna shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they'd began to build.
This is a fast paced read that's captivating from the first few pages. There's quite a lot of characters but it's easy to follow. There's lots of twists to keep you guessing. The susoense builds throughout. The book has a great plotline. The story is addictive and can easily be read in one sitting..
I would like to thank #NetGalley,,#Bookouture and the author #SamHepburn for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Fifteen years after the abduction of Maya Duncan, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan's door clutching a yellow rain hat with Maya's name stiched on the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan and that Kay is her mother. When Phoebe sees Kay the memories come flooding back. But a shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they'd begun to build.
This is a fast paced read that's captivating from the first few pages. There's quite a lot of characters bit it's easy to follow. There's lots of twists to keep,you guessing. The suspense builds throughout. The bookmhas a great plotline. The story is addictive and can easily be read in one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #SamHepburn for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fast paced read that's captivating from the first few pages. There's quite a lot of characters but it's easy to follow. There's lots of twists to keep you guessing. The susoense builds throughout. The book has a great plotline. The story is addictive and can easily be read in one sitting..
I would like to thank #NetGalley,,#Bookouture and the author #SamHepburn for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Merged review:
Fifteen years after the abduction of Maya Duncan, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan's door clutching a yellow rain hat with Maya's name stiched on the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan and that Kay is her mother. When Phoebe sees Kay the memories come flooding back. But a shocking discovery shatters the fragile relationship they'd begun to build.
This is a fast paced read that's captivating from the first few pages. There's quite a lot of characters bit it's easy to follow. There's lots of twists to keep,you guessing. The suspense builds throughout. The bookmhas a great plotline. The story is addictive and can easily be read in one sitting.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #SamHepburn for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2020
I’m honestly not sure how best to review this book. It just felt like there was way too much going on, none of it felt realistic or plausible and yet, I apparently enjoyed it enough to give it three stars.
The first 20% of the book is basically everything that is listed in the synopsis. Phoebe shows up to Kay’s door believing herself to be Kay’s child that was abducted 15 years prior. It seems like mother/daughter will finally be able to have a life together and then something happens, and Kay kills herself. This is all within the first 20%. At this point, we get a whole crap load of exposition and frankly, a whole section of the book I wasn’t interested in at all and skimmed pretty hard-core. For roughly 40%. So here we are, up to 60% into the book and then all the sudden, BAM!! ALL the kitchen sinks! . At this point I’m like ‘this crazy train has fully gone of the rails’. At this point, it ultimately just became entertaining. I’m not sure if everything was thrown in to create red herrings, but honestly it just made it super obvious to me exactly what was going on and how the story was going to end, which, when I think about this, is still totally insane because there was so much going on and none of it was realistic.
In one part of this book, Phoebe buys a notebook so she can start writing down the things that she learns and finds out as she tries to put the pieces together. Again, there was just SO MUCH going on in this book, the reader could probably benefit from the same thing.
Ultimately, I decided to give this three-stars because I was invested in the first 20% and then the last 40% was just OTT fun, in my opinion. But I can’t give it more than that because it was so unbelievably unrealistic and they crime/mystery aspect of it was pretty easy to figure out (at least to me).
I think if you’re looking for something chill to read during the quarantine, this would probably be a good one. It wasn’t overtly dark (at least to me), and you do get a kind of an HEA, if that’s your thing.
Received via Netgalley. All opinions are expressly my own.
The first 20% of the book is basically everything that is listed in the synopsis. Phoebe shows up to Kay’s door believing herself to be Kay’s child that was abducted 15 years prior. It seems like mother/daughter will finally be able to have a life together and then something happens, and Kay kills herself. This is all within the first 20%. At this point, we get a whole crap load of exposition and frankly, a whole section of the book I wasn’t interested in at all and skimmed pretty hard-core. For roughly 40%. So here we are, up to 60% into the book and then all the sudden, BAM!! ALL the kitchen sinks! . At this point I’m like ‘this crazy train has fully gone of the rails’. At this point, it ultimately just became entertaining. I’m not sure if everything was thrown in to create red herrings, but honestly it just made it super obvious to me exactly what was going on and how the story was going to end, which, when I think about this, is still totally insane because there was so much going on and none of it was realistic.
In one part of this book, Phoebe buys a notebook so she can start writing down the things that she learns and finds out as she tries to put the pieces together. Again, there was just SO MUCH going on in this book, the reader could probably benefit from the same thing.
Ultimately, I decided to give this three-stars because I was invested in the first 20% and then the last 40% was just OTT fun, in my opinion. But I can’t give it more than that because it was so unbelievably unrealistic and they crime/mystery aspect of it was pretty easy to figure out (at least to me).
I think if you’re looking for something chill to read during the quarantine, this would probably be a good one. It wasn’t overtly dark (at least to me), and you do get a kind of an HEA, if that’s your thing.
Received via Netgalley. All opinions are expressly my own.
October 10, 2020
Those who know me, would understand how much a missing child arc would get to me. Here too, Maya Duncan went missing years ago and it took her mother Kay Duncan 7 hours to raise alarm. Now 15 years hence, Phoebe knocked on Kay’s door claiming to be the missing Maya. But a shocking discovery was followed by Kay committing suicide. It was all upto Phoebe to untangle the knots that her twisted her life.
My first book by author Sam Hepburn, the story started with a bang. I loved drumming up various possibilities of what could have happened. The author got my thriller-y senses tingling high as the scenarios kept mounting up. The suspense was raised to a pitch when Kay committed suicide and that left me shocked as Phoebe was left with no anchor and no truth to give her a identiy.
Where I would have lost hope, Phoebe was more determined and strong-willed. She didn’t lose hope. She used her resources to get hold of old history and truth was slowly unveiled. Therein lay my niggles too. The story went into cult and other aspects of Kay’s past which led to more characters, and I had to concentrate hard to keep them in line. Though the reveals were good, but the suspense went down as the crux of the matter was still – Who was Phoebe and what happened to Maya?
The writing was great, slightly staccato in places, but the red herrings, the closed alleys, and the hidden truths made the story pop out. The last few pages brought home the truths that I had already suspected, so the journey to reach it was worth the time spent in reading it.
Quite entertaining.
My first book by author Sam Hepburn, the story started with a bang. I loved drumming up various possibilities of what could have happened. The author got my thriller-y senses tingling high as the scenarios kept mounting up. The suspense was raised to a pitch when Kay committed suicide and that left me shocked as Phoebe was left with no anchor and no truth to give her a identiy.
Where I would have lost hope, Phoebe was more determined and strong-willed. She didn’t lose hope. She used her resources to get hold of old history and truth was slowly unveiled. Therein lay my niggles too. The story went into cult and other aspects of Kay’s past which led to more characters, and I had to concentrate hard to keep them in line. Though the reveals were good, but the suspense went down as the crux of the matter was still – Who was Phoebe and what happened to Maya?
The writing was great, slightly staccato in places, but the red herrings, the closed alleys, and the hidden truths made the story pop out. The last few pages brought home the truths that I had already suspected, so the journey to reach it was worth the time spent in reading it.
Quite entertaining.
October 8, 2020
Sam Hepburn returns with her sophomore thriller based around one of the most notorious child abductions in modern British history. It’s been fifteen years since five-year-old Maya Duncan disappeared. But when a young woman turns up at Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched in the back, it seems she might have come home at last. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother. When she sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems they are to be reunited at last. But when a shocking discovery leads to tragedy, Phoebe is left grief-stricken and riddled with guilt. Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in immense danger.
Gone Before is a compelling, mysterious and addictive read from start to finish and in many ways sounds a lot like a whole plethora of other domestic-based thrillers where a missing child is at the centre of the plot, but I thought it was written in such a way that it captured your attention from the outset, held onto it throughout and spun a yarn filled with exciting developments and chilling, twisty surprises better than some similar books. You soon learn that you should take everything the entire cast utters with a rather large pinch of salt in a story simply overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayal and duplicity, and although the role-call of characters is quite limited this allows the author to give plenty of attention to detail creating an engaging if wholly detestable cast in the process. It's pacy, compulsive and difficult to put down and there are some great, unexpected developments and surprises throughout. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Gone Before is a compelling, mysterious and addictive read from start to finish and in many ways sounds a lot like a whole plethora of other domestic-based thrillers where a missing child is at the centre of the plot, but I thought it was written in such a way that it captured your attention from the outset, held onto it throughout and spun a yarn filled with exciting developments and chilling, twisty surprises better than some similar books. You soon learn that you should take everything the entire cast utters with a rather large pinch of salt in a story simply overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayal and duplicity, and although the role-call of characters is quite limited this allows the author to give plenty of attention to detail creating an engaging if wholly detestable cast in the process. It's pacy, compulsive and difficult to put down and there are some great, unexpected developments and surprises throughout. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
August 4, 2020
Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems that mother and daughter are to be reunited at last. But a shocking DNA fail result shatters the fragile relationship they have begun to build, Kay commits suicide, leaving Phoebe riddled with guilt.
Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in danger.
This is an amazing psychological thriller that holds your attention right till the last page!
The plot is so well written and all the characters were great ,with each of them playing a significant role in the plot. I loved reading Phoebe's journey discovering who she really was.
There are so many twists in the plot that the suspense is maintained throughout and the revelation at the end was unexpected.
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
When Phoebe sees Kay, the memories come flooding back, and it seems that mother and daughter are to be reunited at last. But a shocking DNA fail result shatters the fragile relationship they have begun to build, Kay commits suicide, leaving Phoebe riddled with guilt.
Alone and unanchored, Phoebe travels to London to dig into Kay’s life, hoping to uncover the truth behind her own identity. But as she pieces together Kay’s past, Phoebe discovers a disturbing link to the woman who raised her, and a terrible secret that even now could put her life in danger.
This is an amazing psychological thriller that holds your attention right till the last page!
The plot is so well written and all the characters were great ,with each of them playing a significant role in the plot. I loved reading Phoebe's journey discovering who she really was.
There are so many twists in the plot that the suspense is maintained throughout and the revelation at the end was unexpected.
Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!
August 18, 2020
Gone Before by Sam Hepburn is the first novel I've read from this author, and I am certainly keen to read more. This story revolves around a missing person case and, for me, this alone is an instant hook. You will fly through this one as you navigate all of the twists and turns.
Maya Duncan vanished when she was only five years old, seemingly without a trace. Fast forward fifteen years and Phoebe, convinced that she is Maya, tracks down Kay Duncan, believing her to be the mother that she has longed for all of these missing years. When Phoebe begins to dig into Kay's life in London, she will discover a terrible secret that once again will put her life in jeopardy, and call into question everything she thought she knew.
This was a compelling premise, and I was certainly lured in by the intrigue surrounding the case of Maya Duncan, although I'm not certain that I was able to engage as emotionally with the story as I would have hoped. I am anxious to see what this author has in store for us next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Maya Duncan vanished when she was only five years old, seemingly without a trace. Fast forward fifteen years and Phoebe, convinced that she is Maya, tracks down Kay Duncan, believing her to be the mother that she has longed for all of these missing years. When Phoebe begins to dig into Kay's life in London, she will discover a terrible secret that once again will put her life in jeopardy, and call into question everything she thought she knew.
This was a compelling premise, and I was certainly lured in by the intrigue surrounding the case of Maya Duncan, although I'm not certain that I was able to engage as emotionally with the story as I would have hoped. I am anxious to see what this author has in store for us next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
November 12, 2020
Gone Before was a really good book before it got so very twisty it had me scratching my head. The story of Phoebe & Kay Duncan was gripping and I liked Phoebe the best. Phoebe was a well-balanced & appealing character. Roz too was a great character too & I loved her story as well! There were many moments in the book that felt very realistic & I loved the way she handled the shocks & twists that were thrown at her. The plot was very interesting to read & great until those twists started turning on themselves leaving me very confused. I get that it created an added sense of drama and probably repeated "aha!" moments for many, but it just left me feeling confused. Yet, I'm glad I read this one! The plot was something new & it was a good experience seeing it unfold. After the first few chapters, I felt invested in Phoebe's journey for the truth & the plot felt very compelling. I enjoyed the book, for the most part.
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture & Sam Hepburn for an arc!
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture & Sam Hepburn for an arc!
December 13, 2023
Definitely deserves 10++++ stars! Couldn't put this book down!
August 20, 2020
This is a twisty psychological thriller. It centers on Phoebe, who is told by the woman who raised her that she is actually Maya Duncan, a child who was abducted at 5 years old 15 years or so ago. This was a famous case so Phoebe had no trouble tracking down Maya's mother, Kay, to tell her who she really is. Nothing is that simple though, and these events lead to Kay's suicide and Phoebe desperate to find out the truth.
There were a good deal of surprises in this book, many that I pretty much figured out but couldn't exactly put the pieces together, which made for a satisfying read when it all started to click. I had minor frustration with Phoebe at points for not figuring out the things that I had solved more quickly. There was a point in the back end of the book where the twists got a little confusing, but the author did a good job of tying up all the loose ends and pulling it back together by the end. I also thought Phoebe was a likable character, flawed and believable.
Overall, I liked the book- while some of the things that happened were a tad predictable and others a tad confusing, I felt like there were some fun surprises, a decent mystery, and a likable main character. I'd recommend the book for those who enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers.
There were a good deal of surprises in this book, many that I pretty much figured out but couldn't exactly put the pieces together, which made for a satisfying read when it all started to click. I had minor frustration with Phoebe at points for not figuring out the things that I had solved more quickly. There was a point in the back end of the book where the twists got a little confusing, but the author did a good job of tying up all the loose ends and pulling it back together by the end. I also thought Phoebe was a likable character, flawed and believable.
Overall, I liked the book- while some of the things that happened were a tad predictable and others a tad confusing, I felt like there were some fun surprises, a decent mystery, and a likable main character. I'd recommend the book for those who enjoy mysteries and psychological thrillers.
October 11, 2020
This is a great psychological thriller.
Phoebe tracks down her real mum and shocks her when she turns up on her doorstep.
Kay calls David to see this girl claiming to be her daughter, and he suggests a DNA test. The test comes back as no match so Phoebe is told to leave.
She then hears that her Kay has died and this leads her on a dangerous path to find the truth.
I can’t say too much more about the story as I really don’t want to spoil it for you.
I worked out some of what was really going on but the last few chapters still held a few surprises for me.
I really liked Phoebe’s character and her determination to find the truth.
This is a great psychological thriller that definitely had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Phoebe tracks down her real mum and shocks her when she turns up on her doorstep.
Kay calls David to see this girl claiming to be her daughter, and he suggests a DNA test. The test comes back as no match so Phoebe is told to leave.
She then hears that her Kay has died and this leads her on a dangerous path to find the truth.
I can’t say too much more about the story as I really don’t want to spoil it for you.
I worked out some of what was really going on but the last few chapters still held a few surprises for me.
I really liked Phoebe’s character and her determination to find the truth.
This is a great psychological thriller that definitely had me hooked throughout.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 17, 2020
IDENTITY - condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is
Imagine discovering that everything that you thought you knew about yourself may be a lie. Our identities are a core part of our human make up and without them we are as lost as a baby bird trapped in a gust of wind. This gripping tale is the story of Phoebe, a young woman who's search for the truth uncovers a number of shocking revelations and a catalogue of lies,secrets, deceptions and manipulations that started before she was born.Phoebe had recently discovered that she had apparently been kidnapped at the age of five and that Roz the woman that she had grown up believing to be her mother had apparently been lying to her. Only after she uncovers where her alleged birth mother Kay and alleged step father David are living, turns up on their doorstep and agrees to a DNA test, the results are not what she expected. At first she is understandably upset,lost, bewildered and directionless but then a determination to uncover the truth about her past and true identity kicks in. Was she really the little five year old girl who mysteriously disappeared fifteen years ago? Had there been a mix up with the DNA results? Why had Roz apparently been lying to her? Phoebe was a feisty,stubborn,determined, very intelligent,flawed but likeable character who I couldn't help feeling a lot of sympathy for as the story unfolded and she gradually uncovered the truth and the shocking events that had happened in the past. Throughout her quest to uncover the truth, she encouraged danger and a mixed bag off diverse, vivid characters, some likeable, some not so likeable.One character in particular was particularly sinister and spine chillingly creepy.
This is a very well written,tightly plotted page turner that has a multitude of twists,keeps the reader guessing and has a genuinely unexpected conclusion. I really enjoyed this gripping,enthralling thriller and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
Imagine discovering that everything that you thought you knew about yourself may be a lie. Our identities are a core part of our human make up and without them we are as lost as a baby bird trapped in a gust of wind. This gripping tale is the story of Phoebe, a young woman who's search for the truth uncovers a number of shocking revelations and a catalogue of lies,secrets, deceptions and manipulations that started before she was born.Phoebe had recently discovered that she had apparently been kidnapped at the age of five and that Roz the woman that she had grown up believing to be her mother had apparently been lying to her. Only after she uncovers where her alleged birth mother Kay and alleged step father David are living, turns up on their doorstep and agrees to a DNA test, the results are not what she expected. At first she is understandably upset,lost, bewildered and directionless but then a determination to uncover the truth about her past and true identity kicks in. Was she really the little five year old girl who mysteriously disappeared fifteen years ago? Had there been a mix up with the DNA results? Why had Roz apparently been lying to her? Phoebe was a feisty,stubborn,determined, very intelligent,flawed but likeable character who I couldn't help feeling a lot of sympathy for as the story unfolded and she gradually uncovered the truth and the shocking events that had happened in the past. Throughout her quest to uncover the truth, she encouraged danger and a mixed bag off diverse, vivid characters, some likeable, some not so likeable.One character in particular was particularly sinister and spine chillingly creepy.
This is a very well written,tightly plotted page turner that has a multitude of twists,keeps the reader guessing and has a genuinely unexpected conclusion. I really enjoyed this gripping,enthralling thriller and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
October 13, 2020
Title: Gone Before Author: Sam Hepburn PUBLICATION DAY: Oct 12th 2020 Description: ‘My name is Phoebe Locklear. I think I’m your daughter.’ I rehearse the words as I walk up the path, clutching a faded old photograph of a little girl with thick dark hair. When I knock, the door opens, and there she is: the woman I believe is my mother. The woman whose five-year-old daughter disappeared fifteen years ago. Had I known what would happen next, would I have knocked on that door? Would I take back the lives I’ve destroyed? But now that I’ve started, there’s no going back. I can’t stop until I find out who I really am. Even if the truth could kill me. Twisty, addictive and utterly unputdownable, Gone Before asks what happens when your whole life turns out to be a lie. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and The Silent Patient. BLOG TOUR REVIEW Review for 'Gone Before' by Sam Hepburn. Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous Publication date 12th October 2020 This is the first book that I have read by this author. I was originally drawn to this book by its intriguing colourful cover and interesting sounding blurb. The fact that it states on Amazon that the book is perfect for fans of Mark Edwards also drew me in as I'm a big fan of his books. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book). This novel consists of a 35 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case! This book is written in first person perspective with the protagonist being Phoebe/Maya. I enjoy books written in first person perspective as as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. This book is based in Provence, France 🇫🇷 and London 🇬🇧.I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times. Wow!!! Well, Well, Well where to even start on this one??? An extremely well written book which reads very smoothly and has fantastic descriptions which really grip your imagination. I loved the newspaper headlines included to show the 'worlds' opinion on what was going on and thought they were placed perfectly and helped to see the bigger picture. I also enjoyed the flashbacks throughout that were well placed and again helped with the bigger picture. The storyline itself was quite unique and was absolutely gripping!! It kept me up until I could barely keep my eyes open and even then only had to call it a night knowing my kids would wake up in a few hours!!! Very fast paced and action packed it is rammed full with twists, turns, deceit, red herrings, love, loss, mystery and I could go on, everything you want in a psychological crime thriller. A true page turner that kept me guessing until the unexpected twist at the end!! The characters were all perfect for the storyline and I loved Phoebe/Maya's personality and strength, can't beat a strong female lead in a book!! They all seemed to have a mystery about them that made you continuously question myself while drawing me in. This book would make an absolutely gripping movie and I would love to read more about what happens next!! I am looking forward to reading more of this very talented authors books!! Overall an absolutely gripping psychological thriller which will keep you up late at night turning the pages and biting your nails!!! Genres covered include Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction and Psychological Fiction. I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as ANYONE looking for a good read with a fantastic twist you won't see coming. 312 pages. This book is 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews #GoneBefore #SamHepburn #Bookouture #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour @SamHepburn @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86 https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?... https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__... Author Bio: Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers. Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children. Author Social Media Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sam_Osman_Books FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SamHepburnAu... BUY LINKS: Amazon: https://geni.us/B08CW5398ZSocial Apple: http://ow.ly/vZFe50AxCta Kobo: http://ow.ly/HCyG50AxCru Google: http://ow.ly/qFIi50AxCv4
October 17, 2020
Maya Duncan disappeared when she was 5 years old and no one knew what happened to her.
Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.
Phoebe has a letter from, who she thought was her real mother. saying how she took Maya (Phoebe) 15 years ago. Phoebe now has to prove it. Then Kay commits suicide and Phoebe feels gulity.
Phoebe decides to find out the truth about Kay and then things start to unravel and she has memories of her childhood.
There are surprises and some twists. Some I saw coming and some I didn't.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC to review.
Fifteen years after the abduction, Phoebe knocks on Kay Duncan’s door, clutching a yellow rainhat with Maya’s name stitched into the back. Phoebe is convinced that she is Maya Duncan, and that the woman behind the door is her real mother.
Phoebe has a letter from, who she thought was her real mother. saying how she took Maya (Phoebe) 15 years ago. Phoebe now has to prove it. Then Kay commits suicide and Phoebe feels gulity.
Phoebe decides to find out the truth about Kay and then things start to unravel and she has memories of her childhood.
There are surprises and some twists. Some I saw coming and some I didn't.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC to review.
November 1, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc of Gone Before by Sam Hepburn.
4 star read- it was very well written, very enjoyable, hooking read. This follows Britains most famous missing person cases she ended up vanishing without a trace until now... An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout the whole thing... not gonna spoil what happens but you must read fro yourself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 star read- it was very well written, very enjoyable, hooking read. This follows Britains most famous missing person cases she ended up vanishing without a trace until now... An intriguing story with lots of twists that will keep you guessing throughout the whole thing... not gonna spoil what happens but you must read fro yourself.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 13, 2020
Exquisite. Perfect from start to finish. Addictive. Charged. Suspenseful. A masterpiece.
October 12, 2020
It took me a while to read this book and it’s not because it was not a good one. On the contrary…
It had a lot of things going on these last few days and that meant I had less time to read. It usually annoys me heaps but this time it was good. This story has so many twists and turns that on the one hand you need time to stop and think but on the other hand you want to rush and find out how it all will come together.
I would recommend to read at a slower pace and let everything sink in before you read the next part. In my opinion this is what this book needs or what you need to do as a reader. Of course, it’s all up to you how you do it, but this was my experience. 🙂
As I said before: lots of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning. I had to check sometimes whether mine was facing backwards or not. 😉
Take your time, let it sink in and you will be rewarded. It’s a complicated but great story. 5 stars.
Thank you, Sam Hepburn and Bookouture
It had a lot of things going on these last few days and that meant I had less time to read. It usually annoys me heaps but this time it was good. This story has so many twists and turns that on the one hand you need time to stop and think but on the other hand you want to rush and find out how it all will come together.
I would recommend to read at a slower pace and let everything sink in before you read the next part. In my opinion this is what this book needs or what you need to do as a reader. Of course, it’s all up to you how you do it, but this was my experience. 🙂
As I said before: lots of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning. I had to check sometimes whether mine was facing backwards or not. 😉
Take your time, let it sink in and you will be rewarded. It’s a complicated but great story. 5 stars.
Thank you, Sam Hepburn and Bookouture
October 8, 2020
Well this has been one rollercoaster of a story, I'm not kidding, twists and turns all over the place, not knowing whether your coming or going, if your upside down or right way up. I should probably state here that I mean these all in a good way.
This was one crazy story, had me sitting on the edge of my seat plenty. There were moments where you didn't know what to believe and as for that ending, well one word comes to mind, total mind f***. I was shocked come the end.
The whole story was brilliantly written and so very cleverly done. I'm in awe of how the author came up with such a mind blowing/shocking finish to the story.
Well think I'm just going to leave it at that and hopefully my review will tease readers enough to want to read this book themselves.
This was one crazy story, had me sitting on the edge of my seat plenty. There were moments where you didn't know what to believe and as for that ending, well one word comes to mind, total mind f***. I was shocked come the end.
The whole story was brilliantly written and so very cleverly done. I'm in awe of how the author came up with such a mind blowing/shocking finish to the story.
Well think I'm just going to leave it at that and hopefully my review will tease readers enough to want to read this book themselves.
October 13, 2020
My first by this author and it grabbed me right out of the gate. There are lots of twists and turns. Dense and tightly written, it was a good read.
October 12, 2020
Maya Duncan disappears at the age of 5.
15 years later and Phoebe knocks at Kay Duncan’s door, convinced that she is Kay’s long lost daughter. Phoebe, who has been brought up in Botswana, has a letter from Roz, giving details of the abduction. She found them after Roz died.
As Phoebe starts looking into Kay’s life, that’s when things start going drastically wrong.
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed her style of writing. I liked the characters and all the investigation work that linked up for Phoebe in the story. I found myself feeling sorry for Phoebe, alone in a foreign country and without the woman she had thought of as her mother for so long. I liked the twists in the story, there were certainly plenty of them! I will definitely be reading more from this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
15 years later and Phoebe knocks at Kay Duncan’s door, convinced that she is Kay’s long lost daughter. Phoebe, who has been brought up in Botswana, has a letter from Roz, giving details of the abduction. She found them after Roz died.
As Phoebe starts looking into Kay’s life, that’s when things start going drastically wrong.
This is a new author to me and I enjoyed her style of writing. I liked the characters and all the investigation work that linked up for Phoebe in the story. I found myself feeling sorry for Phoebe, alone in a foreign country and without the woman she had thought of as her mother for so long. I liked the twists in the story, there were certainly plenty of them! I will definitely be reading more from this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2020
Have you ever seen a trailer to a movie and been so excited to see it because the trailer has you on the edge of your seat with anticipation, only to be disappointed when you do get to see it because all the good parts were in the trailer and the movie left you wondering why you wasted your time? That is how I felt about this book. The description had me so excited, I was so happy to be picked for an ARC. I started reading it and it was interesting to start off with. But then it slowed down and was hard too follow at times. The end got better but not enough to redeem the time I felt I lost by dragging through the middle. I wouldn't recommend this book to those who like a fast paced page turner. I want to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 5, 2021
When I read the synopsis of this book I thought it sounded so interesting. It’s such an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, it fell short. It started off well but after Kay’s death it massively slows down with a lot of chapters just about how Phoebe is feeling. Then it gets bizarre. The middle has a side plot linked to the abduction but there’s so much going on (including two different cults) that it gets confusing and doesn’t really add anything to the story. The pace picked up at the end and everything is explained but it was a bit disappointing to find out I had already worked everything out. It was a bit of a chore to finish and I only did because I wanted to know what happened
I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 3, 2020
I just couldn’t wait for this book to finish, I was so close to just giving up - but I hate doing that - I am of the ‘I’ve started, so I’ll finish’ brigade. Sadly, just not my cup of tea. Convoluted storyline, far-fetched and not remotely gripping. I guessed the final outcome from about a third of the way in......granted not all the details but I had the ‘villain’ pegged very early on! Once again, this book had great reviews but simple not for me.
September 13, 2020
This is a 5 star book is a well plotted, stunningly written, fast paced thriller. Completely unpredictable. Every time I thought I knew where the book was taking me I was wrong and I couldn't put the book down.
January 3, 2021
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: Gone Before
Release Date: Available Now!!! (October 12, 2020)
Author: Sam Hepburn
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Sipping Synopsis: A kidnapping. 15 years later the kidnapped girl shows up on the doorstep. A reunion with secrets exposed. Mother commits suicide. Now all this is pretty much what you can get from the book blurb and makes up of about 50% of the book. The other 50%, while a part of the storyline, seems to take a sharp left and had me confused, a little uninterested, and made my head spin.
Final sipping thoughts: I could not figure out how I wanted to rate this book. The parts that had to do with what I thought the book was about (a mysterious child abduction) would have been rated a high 4. But the other hoopla that was added really took away from the story and did not add to it. I think the background that was added to make sense of the kidnapping could have been just that, a background story, but it ended up being a HUGE part that made me totally confused on who was who and what was what. Now with that said, the kidnapping story and the immediate details surrounding that was done really well and the twists were coming so fast that I think I got whiplash. Because of the twists in the last 30% of the book, I would recommend it-just know the middle part of the story may get a little confusing and a little off plot.
Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @GoneBefore
#GoneBefore #Bookouture #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers
Book: Gone Before
Release Date: Available Now!!! (October 12, 2020)
Author: Sam Hepburn
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Sipping Synopsis: A kidnapping. 15 years later the kidnapped girl shows up on the doorstep. A reunion with secrets exposed. Mother commits suicide. Now all this is pretty much what you can get from the book blurb and makes up of about 50% of the book. The other 50%, while a part of the storyline, seems to take a sharp left and had me confused, a little uninterested, and made my head spin.
Final sipping thoughts: I could not figure out how I wanted to rate this book. The parts that had to do with what I thought the book was about (a mysterious child abduction) would have been rated a high 4. But the other hoopla that was added really took away from the story and did not add to it. I think the background that was added to make sense of the kidnapping could have been just that, a background story, but it ended up being a HUGE part that made me totally confused on who was who and what was what. Now with that said, the kidnapping story and the immediate details surrounding that was done really well and the twists were coming so fast that I think I got whiplash. Because of the twists in the last 30% of the book, I would recommend it-just know the middle part of the story may get a little confusing and a little off plot.
Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @GoneBefore
#GoneBefore #Bookouture #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers
October 13, 2020
Women’s fiction/chick-lit w lorryload of melodrama & angst.
There are several excellent synopses by Goodreads reviewers, so I’ll go to the review. I’m a crime fiction fan, so I enjoyed the first 30% of this book—especially the intricate storyline and complex characters. The story darkened as the protagonist—I’ll call her Phoebe Locklear—began questioning strangers about her mothers—1) her birth mother, possibly; 2) her adopted mom; and 3) a kidnapper-mom? Soon the story slid down the rabbit hole, into an internal monologue swamp & angst-drenched melodrama. Here’s a short eye-roll of a ‘graph: “Misery slithers towards me, jaws pulled wide. I just want to let it swallow me up. I turn my head into the pillow and sob and sob . . .”
Even as Phoebe’s emotional guts are being turned inside out, she disengages her left brain and decides to renovate her house—which she lives in. Really? She wanted more stress? She boldly goes where she’s not wanted, presses strangers with questions, and makes waaaaay too many TSTL moves.
This book’s middle is a mess, because the author threw in just about every domestic fiction trope. Misogyny, child abuse, lies, runaways, underage rape, a quasi-religious cult, more lies, kidnapping, god-botherers, mistaken identity, DNA testing, murder, suicide, even more lies, blackmail, miscarriages, and yet another male-dominated cult. The messy-middle made the plot more predictable. The last 20% is a decent read, and the author attempts a sort of HEA ending. I enjoyed the beginning and liked the end, so 3 stars.
There are several excellent synopses by Goodreads reviewers, so I’ll go to the review. I’m a crime fiction fan, so I enjoyed the first 30% of this book—especially the intricate storyline and complex characters. The story darkened as the protagonist—I’ll call her Phoebe Locklear—began questioning strangers about her mothers—1) her birth mother, possibly; 2) her adopted mom; and 3) a kidnapper-mom? Soon the story slid down the rabbit hole, into an internal monologue swamp & angst-drenched melodrama. Here’s a short eye-roll of a ‘graph: “Misery slithers towards me, jaws pulled wide. I just want to let it swallow me up. I turn my head into the pillow and sob and sob . . .”
Even as Phoebe’s emotional guts are being turned inside out, she disengages her left brain and decides to renovate her house—which she lives in. Really? She wanted more stress? She boldly goes where she’s not wanted, presses strangers with questions, and makes waaaaay too many TSTL moves.
This book’s middle is a mess, because the author threw in just about every domestic fiction trope. Misogyny, child abuse, lies, runaways, underage rape, a quasi-religious cult, more lies, kidnapping, god-botherers, mistaken identity, DNA testing, murder, suicide, even more lies, blackmail, miscarriages, and yet another male-dominated cult. The messy-middle made the plot more predictable. The last 20% is a decent read, and the author attempts a sort of HEA ending. I enjoyed the beginning and liked the end, so 3 stars.
June 14, 2025
Gone Before immediately got my attention after reading the blurb and it is a book that I just had to read. When I started, I instantly got lost in its pages and was mesmerised by the story that Sam Hepburn has masterfully put together.
San Hepburn has crafted an emotional tale that really pulls on the heartstrings. It deals with a number of topics covering kidnapping, murder, suicide, abuse and rape just to name a few, which may be a trigger for some readers.
The story has been very well plotted and skilfully executed. It moves at a fast pace and flows very well. There is a lot going on and at times I was concerned as the pages flew by that there was going to be some loose ends, but I had nothing to worry about and everything wraps up as it should.
I enjoyed the characters in the book, who have all been very well written, but the stand out for me was definitely Phoebe. She is a great character that is not without flaws, but this is what makes her so relatable and believable.
Sam Hepburn is a new author to me and is one that will now be on my radar. She has a very unique style that I immediately connected with and the whole story has been beautifully written. Based on this, I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Gone Before is an excellent psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages. It is a rollercoaster ride that has a lot of twists and turns which makes for a very enjoyable read. It was a pleasure to read and review Gone Before which I recommend.
San Hepburn has crafted an emotional tale that really pulls on the heartstrings. It deals with a number of topics covering kidnapping, murder, suicide, abuse and rape just to name a few, which may be a trigger for some readers.
The story has been very well plotted and skilfully executed. It moves at a fast pace and flows very well. There is a lot going on and at times I was concerned as the pages flew by that there was going to be some loose ends, but I had nothing to worry about and everything wraps up as it should.
I enjoyed the characters in the book, who have all been very well written, but the stand out for me was definitely Phoebe. She is a great character that is not without flaws, but this is what makes her so relatable and believable.
Sam Hepburn is a new author to me and is one that will now be on my radar. She has a very unique style that I immediately connected with and the whole story has been beautifully written. Based on this, I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
Gone Before is an excellent psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages. It is a rollercoaster ride that has a lot of twists and turns which makes for a very enjoyable read. It was a pleasure to read and review Gone Before which I recommend.
August 10, 2020
When Phoebe’s foster mother, Roz, dies, she leaves a letter with some pretty incredible revelations. Phoebe, according to Roz, is really Maya Duncan, famously abducted from her wild-child mother, Kay, when she was just five years old. The case captured the attention of a nation - ever eager to condemn Kay for irresponsible parenting, if not child murder - but Maya was never found, and is generally believed to be dead.
Phoebe, who was raised by Roz on a Botswana nature reserve (I’d like to have seen a bit more of this, but I guess it’s not really part of the story) sets out for a reunion with her real mother - but as it turns out, that’s only the beginning of a story filled with twists and turns (and a dodgy cult. I love a dodgy cult.)
I really enjoyed Gone Before - it was one of those books which grabbed hold of me and whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was desperate to get back to it. The story is told by Phoebe and I liked her character- despite some crushing blows and being pretty much alone in the world, she is determined and resourceful. The plot does get quite complicated towards the end.
I do feel the book description gives a bit too much away - I like to know as little as possible when starting reading, but there’s a lot of information in there which I’d really rather not have known in advance, including a huge and game-changing thing that happens about a quarter of the way in.
A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Phoebe, who was raised by Roz on a Botswana nature reserve (I’d like to have seen a bit more of this, but I guess it’s not really part of the story) sets out for a reunion with her real mother - but as it turns out, that’s only the beginning of a story filled with twists and turns (and a dodgy cult. I love a dodgy cult.)
I really enjoyed Gone Before - it was one of those books which grabbed hold of me and whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was desperate to get back to it. The story is told by Phoebe and I liked her character- despite some crushing blows and being pretty much alone in the world, she is determined and resourceful. The plot does get quite complicated towards the end.
I do feel the book description gives a bit too much away - I like to know as little as possible when starting reading, but there’s a lot of information in there which I’d really rather not have known in advance, including a huge and game-changing thing that happens about a quarter of the way in.
A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
October 17, 2020
This is renowned young adult writer Sam Hepburn’s second adult thriller. The first, Her Perfect Life, was creepy and a real page-turner as is Gone Before.
Twenty-year-old Phoebe is the narrator. She has been brought up in Botswana by a woman she thought of as her mother. When she dies, she leaves a letter giving Phoebe a clue to her real identity. She now believes she is Maya, the five-year-old at the centre of a celebrity mystery who was either kidnapped or died in mysterious circumstances. She has to uncover her past to find her real mother and who she really is.
Her quest for the truth involves classic psychological thriller scenarios: identity theft, mysterious accidents, cults – both religious and messianistic – child abuse and new discoveries and contradictions at every turn, leaving you guessing right until the end.
It is intricately plotted and beautifully written – Hepburn manages to evoke the colours and heat of the South of France, the dingy council estates, the ordinary and extraordinary lives of the dramatis personae, the evilness of religious fanatics, all through the eyes of a (rather mature) 20-year-old who, at times, is as one would expect, rather impetuous and silly. But that is the nature of such books – when your inner voice is shouting, ‘Don’t do it!’ It simply adds to the mounting tension.
Gone Before is a perfect companion to lockdown times when you need something to envelop you totally and take your mind off things.
Twenty-year-old Phoebe is the narrator. She has been brought up in Botswana by a woman she thought of as her mother. When she dies, she leaves a letter giving Phoebe a clue to her real identity. She now believes she is Maya, the five-year-old at the centre of a celebrity mystery who was either kidnapped or died in mysterious circumstances. She has to uncover her past to find her real mother and who she really is.
Her quest for the truth involves classic psychological thriller scenarios: identity theft, mysterious accidents, cults – both religious and messianistic – child abuse and new discoveries and contradictions at every turn, leaving you guessing right until the end.
It is intricately plotted and beautifully written – Hepburn manages to evoke the colours and heat of the South of France, the dingy council estates, the ordinary and extraordinary lives of the dramatis personae, the evilness of religious fanatics, all through the eyes of a (rather mature) 20-year-old who, at times, is as one would expect, rather impetuous and silly. But that is the nature of such books – when your inner voice is shouting, ‘Don’t do it!’ It simply adds to the mounting tension.
Gone Before is a perfect companion to lockdown times when you need something to envelop you totally and take your mind off things.
October 22, 2020
Mind blown! I have just finished this book, and OMG! New fav author anyone? Sam Hepburn is a twisted genius. I usually pride myself on being pretty good at figuring out what’s going on fairly quickly but Sam keeps leading you one way only to dupe you and throw you another. There are so many brilliant twists and turns that by the end you are gasping for answers, so badly hooked you might result to murdering someone yourself, if they dare to interrupt you from the words on the page.
I don’t even know how to explain to you what this story is for fear of revealing anything I shouldn’t. So the short and simple reply is this is a book about a very determined girl, who’s desperate to know who she is, and he discovers so much more than she bargained for in the process.
If you love psychological thrillers, thrillers, family drama, or just reading in general, read this. This is the best book I have read in year and I will definitely be getting a hard copy, to go on my shelf’s as soon as it’s released.
I will also be devouring anything else that Sam writes. I so hope this is not her first book because I am not sure I can cope with waiting for another.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley, Sam Hepburn and her publishers for allowing me to read and advance copy. And please Sam, if this is your first and only book, hurry up and write more, I need way more of this in my life.
A definite must read!
I don’t even know how to explain to you what this story is for fear of revealing anything I shouldn’t. So the short and simple reply is this is a book about a very determined girl, who’s desperate to know who she is, and he discovers so much more than she bargained for in the process.
If you love psychological thrillers, thrillers, family drama, or just reading in general, read this. This is the best book I have read in year and I will definitely be getting a hard copy, to go on my shelf’s as soon as it’s released.
I will also be devouring anything else that Sam writes. I so hope this is not her first book because I am not sure I can cope with waiting for another.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to NetGalley, Sam Hepburn and her publishers for allowing me to read and advance copy. And please Sam, if this is your first and only book, hurry up and write more, I need way more of this in my life.
A definite must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews