A chilling, twisting thriller for readers of In a Dark, Dark Wood

Emily manages her bipolar disorder well enough to work as a moderately successful child psychologist, and is building a serious relationship with her boyfriend Paolo.
When he wants to take her on an overnight sailing trip, Emily knows her medication, generous amounts of wine, and her attraction to Paolo will help her deal with her aversion to the water and forget the fact that she can’t swim.
But after a romantic night, Emily wakes up on the sailboat, completely alone, drifting through the waves.
Her world is tuned upside down as she becomes a person of interest while grieving Paolo, never getting answers or closure to what happened to him. He was a strong swimmer, and she cannot believe he simply drowned. With her personal and professional life in shambles, Emily attempts to find out the truth and clear her name, discovering a deeper and more dangerous plot than she ever suspected. Fueled by her own mania, Emily questions her own judgment every step of the way.

R.J. Jacobs is a practicing psychologist in Nashville, focusing on a wide variety of clinical concerns. After completing a post-doctoral residency at Vanderbilt, he has taught Abnormal Psychology, presented at numerous conferences, and routinely performs PTSD evaluations for veterans. He lives with his wife Rebecca and their two children.

R.J. Jacobs' profile page

“Compelling, satisfying, and clever, this book has all the elements of a good mystery, plus a wonderfully complicated, flawed protagonist. And Then You Were Gone will keep you reading—and leave you wanting more!”

Wylene Dunbar, author of <em>My Life With Corpses</em>

“Cruel and compulsive, Jacobs has crafted a live-wire of a debut. Fever-pitch prose reveals the untrustworthy nature of our perceptions, and a taut, unflinching plot makes putting this book down absolutely impossible.”

P. J. Vernon, author of <em>When You Find Me</em>

“Unnerving and with a building sense of dread, And Then You Were Gone is a high-stakes, disorienting thrill ride.”

Sarah Bailey, international bestselling author of <em>The Dark Lake</em>

“R. J. Jacobs cleverly combines a tightly plotted thriller with a who-can-you-trust cast of characters in this sensational debut.”

Dawn Eastman, national bestselling author of <em>Unnatural Causes</em>

“A steep-dive roller coaster ride with an at-risk, sometimes unreliable heroine at the helm, one who is endangered but also dangerous. It’s hard to believe this gripping psychological thriller is by a debut author. Get on board but hang on!”

Karen Harper, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>Silent Scream</em>