And Then You Were Gone

Author: R.J Jacobs
Genre: Suspense
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
First Published: March 13, 2019
Opening Lines: "Paolo's black hair was everywhere in the wind, whipping against the Wayfarer sunglasses he always wore. He'd confessed once that he thought they made him look famous, or -- unable to find the word in English -- "Hollywood."

Book Description from GoodReads: For fans of B.A Paris and Alice Feeney comes a propulsive, twisting psychological thriller that asks, How can you save someone else if you can't save yourself?

Afteryearsoflearninghowtomanageherbipolardisorder,EmilyFirestonefinallyhasitundercontrol.Evenbetter,herlifeiscomingtogether:she’sgotagreatjob,herownplace,andaboyfriend,Paolo,whoadoresher.SowhenPaolosuggestsaweekendsailingtrip,Emilyagrees—wine,water,andthemansheloves?Whatcouldbebetter?ButwhenEmilywakesthemorningaftertheysetsail,theboatisstilladrift…andPaoloisgone.

Astrongswimmer,there’snowayPaolodrowned,butEmilyisatalossforanyotherexplanation.Whereelsecouldhehavegone?Andwhy?Asthehoursanddayspassby,eachmomentmarkingPaolo’sdisappearance,Emily’shard-wonstabilitybeginstoslip.

ButwhenEmilyuncoversevidencesuggestingPaolowasmurdered,theinvestigationthrowshermaniaintooverdrive,evenasshebecomesapersonofinterestinherownpersonaltragedy.Toclearhername,Emilymustfindthetruth—butcansheholdontoherownsanityintheprocess?
After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she’s got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees—wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift…and Paolo is gone.

A strong swimmer, there’s no way Paolo drowned, but Emily is at a loss for any other explanation. Where else could he have gone? And why? As the hours and days pass by, each moment marking Paolo’s disappearance, Emily’s hard-won stability begins to slip.

But when Emily uncovers evidence suggesting Paolo was murdered, the investigation throws her mania into overdrive, even as she becomes a person of interest in her own personal tragedy. To clear her name, Emily must find the truth—but can she hold onto her own sanity in the process?

My Rating: 2.5 stars

My Review: This debut suspense novel, written by R.J Jacobs - a psychologist by trade, brings readers into the mind of a person with mental illness as she tries to solve the mystery surrounding her missing boyfriend. 

This novel had the makings of a good suspense read but lacked in a few areas. Initially, I liked that the author put Emily's struggle with her bipolar disorder at the forefront of the story. But with readers only getting Emily's first-person narrative, the story soon became choppy with a plot that became more increasingly outlandish. 

Unfortunately, the story relied on the reader connecting to Emily, a character that just wasn't likable. I understood that Emily's impulsiveness was due to her bipolar disorder, but it felt like her mental illness took over the plot and was mainly there to provide an excuse for her being an unreliable narrator (a writing style that has been overdone in recent years). 

This debut thriller has a stunning cover and the interesting addition of mental illness, but unfortunately didn't deliver for me. It lacked focus, momentum and good twists resulting in a story that dragged in a few spots with a character that needed more depth. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.