Gone Before Goodbye

I liked the book and it held my attention throughout. There were definitely some twists and turns I didn’t anticipate. At one point, Maggie’s escapades were somewhat overhyped and unbelievable, but overall a good thriller.The ending was a surprise and there were several unanswered questions my book club teased out during discussion; ie,who was the doctor in the baseball cap? How long prior to end of the book had Porkchop killed Trace? Was it the entire time he was missing? Who was using Trace’s phone to send texts to Nadia? I saw Harlem Coben and Reese Witherspoon ona talk show and they seemed to genuinely have enjoyed collaborating this book.

Combat surgeons - mystery

Good book…. Wish it had a better ending but it was a good storyline.

This book captivated me early on…. And did not spot the griefbot! There were so many ways it could go … a top read!

Maggie McCabe, a once-renowned Army combat surgeon, loses her medical license after a series of personal and professional tragedies, sending her life into a downward spiral. When a former colleague offers her a secretive, high-stakes medical job caring for an ultra-wealthy and mysterious patient, Maggie accepts out of desperation. But when the patient suddenly disappears while under her care, Maggie finds herself on the run—and forced to uncover the truth before she becomes the next person to vanish. The storytelling talent of Harlan Coben is clearly present in this suspenseful thriller. The novel is well written, fast-paced, and filled with twists that keep the reader guessing throughout. One question that lingered for me involves the AI version of Marc. How does AI Marc seem to possess the memories of the real, deceased Marc—such as knowing Charles Lockwood’s phone number, something that would not realistically exist in a digital footprint? It’s an intriguing idea, but at times it stretches believability. Maggie herself occasionally comes across as somewhat naïve about how the world works. The various nefarious events that unfold repeatedly seem to catch her off guard, which can feel a bit unrealistic considering everything she experiences. One thing the book does particularly well is maintaining suspense. Even when I was about 85% of the way through the story, I still had no clear idea how everything would ultimately resolve. The detailed medical descriptions appear intended to add authenticity, but at times the medical jargon becomes excessive, with lengthy explanations of surgical procedures that slow the pacing. The characters are generally well developed, and although Maggie’s occasional naivety can be frustrating, you still find yourself caring about what happens to her. While this was an enjoyable read, it did not quite measure up to some of Coben’s previous novels. I’m not sure whether this is due to the involvement of a co-author or simply a story that didn’t feel quite as strong as his earlier work. Despite these issues, the novel succeeds not only as a suspenseful thriller but also as a story about love, loss, and grief. Those emotional themes add depth and give the story resonance beyond the mystery itself. ⭐ 3 stars — A suspenseful story with strong twists, but the heavy medical detail and comparison to Coben’s earlier work kept it from reaching the same level.