Gone Before Goodbye is a suspense thriller co-authored by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben, published in October 2025, which became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller.
Synopsis
The novel follows Maggie McCabe, a highly skilled and renowned Army combat surgeon who has lost everything after a series of devastating tragedies: her husband (a brilliant surgeon) is murdered overseas, her mother passes away, and her partner and friend goes missing. Following these events, Maggie’s medical license is revoked after a surgery goes horribly wrong, leaving her without purpose but not without her nerve or passion.
At her lowest point, Maggie is thrown a lifeline by a former colleague—an elite plastic surgeon whose anonymous, ultra-wealthy clientele demand the best care money can buy and absolute discretion. Desperate and recruited for a substantial sum, Maggie is hired to perform surgeries for billionaires halfway across the globe.
Sequestered in an environment of unspeakable opulence and cutting-edge technology, one of the world’s most mysterious men requires unconventional medical assistance. As one of the few surgeons in the world skilled enough for this job, Maggie enters his realm and fulfills her end of the agreement.
However, when the patient suddenly disappears while still under her care, Maggie must become a fugitive herself—or she will be the next one who is gone before goodbye.
The story becomes a harrowing search for the truth that could expose a conspiracy woven throughout the exclusive world of the global ultra-elite—but at an unfathomable cost to Maggie herself.
Witherspoon wanted to create a heroine who could stand alongside action heroes like James Bond and Jason Bourne, with the novel following Maggie as she navigates an international conspiracy involving spies and deception while confronting serious personal problems.
Richard says
I found this story a little confusing as it switched back and forth from writing about the characters in the story and then switching back to the story, the plot, itself. There should have been better integration of character interplay and development into the plot to keep readers better focussed on the central story.
Harlan Coben is an excellent story teller as can be attested from watching any of his NETFLIX series. Each of them is engaging and entertaining. This made me think the book would be the same. It was close to how the TV series felt, much suspense and ominous incidents. I would recommend the book for those latter features.
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