“Heart-racing, twist-loaded, and impossible to put down, Coben and Witherspoon, a surprising dream team, deliver pure suspense with Gone Before Goodbye, a can’t-miss thriller that fans of smart, suspenseful, and emotionally charged fiction will devour in a single sitting.” — Ryan Steck, The Real Book Spy and Author of Gone Dark
(Note: This is a condensed version of a review posted to The Real Book Spy’s Substack. To stay up to speed on all things mystery & thriller, and to see the longer, but still spoiler-free version of this review, along with other additional exclusive content, please follow our Substack here.)
What happens when the reigning master of the double twist teams up with one of Hollywood’s most savvy storytellers, who happens also to be an Academy Award-winning actress? You get Gone Before Goodbye—a dark, electrifying powerhouse thriller that stands shoulder to shoulder with the very best books of the year.
Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon are the dream team nobody saw coming, but one that every thriller fan will soon be grateful for.
At the heart of their addictive story is Maggie McCabe, a brilliant Army combat surgeon whose life is shattered after a devastating personal tragedy and the loss of her medical license. Stripped of her purpose, she accepts a secretive job caring for a high-profile patient in an opulent, high-security setting. But when her mysterious patient vanishes under her watch, Maggie is forced into a deadly game of survival—hunted, betrayed, and unsure who she can trust, kicking off a relentless, high-stakes chase that grips from the first shocking turn and doesn’t let go until the final page.
Coben twists. Witherspoon power. Pure adrenaline.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine two writers melding better, as this duo just plain works. Coben, as always, is the architect of suspense—layering in whiplash-inducing twists that blindside you just when you think you’ve found your footing. He’s long been the undisputed master of the double twist, and he outdoes himself yet again here. But what makes this book so compelling is the fresh perspective Witherspoon brings. As one of the most influential tastemakers in publishing through her wildly popular book club, she clearly knows what readers crave. Her storytelling instincts—her ear for strong female leads, her eye for emotional depth, and her cinematic sense of pacing—blend seamlessly with Coben’s trademark style.
The result is a thriller that feels familiar in its taut suspense, yet strikingly original in its exploration of grief, resilience, and the blurred line between saving lives and losing your own. Maggie McCabe is one of Coben’s most complex heroines to date—sharp, wounded, and unforgettable—and you can feel Witherspoon’s hand in making her so authentic and layered.
Again, I can’t rave enough about how well this team-up works. In an age where famous names often pair for new stories, which typically fail to deliver and live up to the hype, Coben and Witherspoon prove themselves a powerhouse duo. He supplies the knockout twists; she ensures the emotional punch lands just as hard. Together, they’ve created the thriller event of the year.
Heart-racing, twist-loaded, and impossible to put down, Coben and Witherspoon, a surprising dream team, deliver pure suspense with Gone Before Goodbye, a can’t-miss thriller that fans of smart, suspenseful, and emotionally charged fiction will devour in a single sitting.
If you read one book this fall, make sure it’s this one.
Book Details
Author: Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon
Pages: 352 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1538774700
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: October 14, 2025
Praised as “One of the hardest working, most thoughtful, and fairest reviewers out there” by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, Ryan Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata). Steck also works full-time as a freelance editor in addition to running TRBS. He is the author of FIELDS OF FIRE, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Jack Carr says “will leave you speechless and begging for more,” LETHAL RANGE, OUT FOR BLOOD, GONE DARK, and TED BELL’S MONARCH. For more information, follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and BookBub. For even more content and book news, subscribe to The Real Book Spy Substack!
Has this guy ever reviewed a book that he didn’t think was amazing?
They can’t all be great, fangirl.
What a clown. Tens of thousands of books coming out, and you’re mad that I highlight the ones that I think are good?!
Count my reviews. Then factor in how many books actually come out that I DO NOT cover or review, and you’ll see how stupid your comment was. How does writing bad reviews help? You want to just get on here and tell people which books to avoid? The vast majority of books in today’s market aren’t for me, so I go the other way and help readers find the books that are good. Like when you go to a new restaurant, do you ask people “What’s not good there?” No, of course not. (Maybe you do, that sort of fits.) Normal people ask, “What’s good here?” That’s literally what I do. If a book isn’t for me, or I think it’s bad, I STOP reading it. I’m searching for the good ones, not trying to get on here and slam authors and trash their work. Sorry that approach doesn’t work for you, troll. LOL