Gone Before: A twisty and completely gripping psychological thriller

Sam Hepburn

Oct 2020 · Bookouture

4.6

5 reviews

Ebook

350

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

‘Twist after twist!... I loved this. Kept me going through the early hours of a sleepless night.’ I’m Reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘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.

Addictive, nail-biting and utterly unputdownable, Gone Before asks what happens when your whole life turns out to be a lie. Perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Gone Girl and The Silent Patient.

What readers are saying about Gone Before:

‘Absolutely fantastic… both gripping and addictive… I absolutely loved how unpredictable this was and the author definitely kept me guessing. A definite five star read.’ Little Miss Book Lover 87 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow!... This book kept me captivated, and I had to finish it in one go… The twists and turns just made me crave for more, and the suspense was too much for me to simply stop reading the book.’ The World is Ours to Read ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Moly!!! Sam Hepburn can WRITE! Gone Before kept me so gripped from the first page right through to the last… loved every minute of it! I loved the character development. I loved not knowing who to trust… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Definite 5 stars from me!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘After the first two chapters I was hooked! 60% through I was enchanted. This is one of those suspenseful, addictive stories that has to be read in one sitting.’ Netgalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Exquisite. Perfect from start to finish. Addictive. Charged. Suspenseful. A masterpiece. Highly recommend this to everyone. Five stars are not enough. One of the best thrillers I have ever read.' Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a 5 star book… well plotted, stunningly written, fast paced… 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.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘From the first chapter I just knew I was going to love this twisty thriller. This is a must read for fans of psychological thriller books.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is the first book I've read from this author and I can't wait to read more. A psychological thriller full of twist. Stunningly written, fast paced, addictive from start to finish.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a terrific book! Took my interest from page 1 and I read it in a day, really well written and a fab page turner!’ Netgalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Caught my attention from the first page and all I wanted to do was keep reading to the end… Sam Hepburn is a new author for me and I definitely will be checking out more by her.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An intensely emotional domestic thriller with many twists and turns… Superbly plotted, this novel will have you alternatively rooting for Phoebe and for Kay. Definitely a novel that I shall recommend and pass on to my friends!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Grabbed hold of me and whenever I wasn’t reading it, I was desperate to get back to it. A great read which I thoroughly enjoyed.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Great book, loved all the twists and turns. Certainly kept me up at night trying to race towards the end.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

4.6

5 reviews

Marnie Harrison

October 13, 2020

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.

Vanessa Menezes

October 20, 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!

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