Then He Was Gone

By: Isabel Booth

Narrators: E.J. Lavery, Ryan Duncan, Ray Conley

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ISBN: 9798892424691

Publisher:Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date: 02/24/2026

Format: Paperback

My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)

FEB 2026 MUST-READ BOOKS

Desperate parents search for their missing son in this tense thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Jennifer Hillier.

When attorney Elizabeth English and her husband, Paul, catch up to their energetic sons at the end of their hike, they expect to find the two boys waiting by their car. It’s been only minutes since Henry and Nick bolted ahead. But when Elizabeth and Paul emerge from the trail, Henry is gone, and all Nick says is that he saw a lone truck leaving the lot shortly after Henry went to the bathroom.

Gritty park ranger Hollis Monroe launches a massive search and teams up with a local detective to investigate the possibility that Henry was kidnapped. Elizabeth and Paul aren’t sure which is worse: their six-year-old lost in Rocky Mountain National Park or scared and bound in the back of a stranger’s pickup.

The search drives the couple to their breaking point, and secrets they have been keeping from each other are revealed for Henry’s sake. With every hour that passes, finding Henry becomes less likely, and Elizabeth becomes ferocious in her determination to make the impossible come true and find her son.

This nail-biting and unsettling thriller will leave readers breathlessly turning the page. Fans of Mary Kubica and Harlan Coben will love this new master of suspense.

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My Review

"Evidence Under Pressure"

Forensic Fiction: Dissecting 'Then He Was Gone'

Isabel Booth (the pen name for trial attorney Karen Jewell) applies a courtroom level of scrutiny to the "missing child" genre in THEN HE WAS GONE. The narrative is a masterclass in "privileged information," granting the reader access to the secrets Elizabeth and Paul are hiding from each other as the search for Henry intensifies.

The Case File (Summary)

Six-year-old Henry English vanishes in a mere 180-second window between a hiking trail and a parking lot in Rocky Mountain National Park. While his parents, Elizabeth and Paul, are only steps behind, Henry and his ten-year-old brother, Nick, run ahead. By the time the parents arrive, the car is empty. The only lead is Nick’s memory of a lone truck. The ensuing investigation, led by veteran Ranger Hollis Monroe, quickly pivots from a wilderness search to a forensic dismantling of a marriage built on high-stakes legal careers, hidden resentment, and a mother’s fragile sobriety.

The Forensic Vibe

Clinical, tense, and aggressive. This isn't a "soft" domestic noir; it’s a psychological procedural. The tone is sharp and precise, mirroring Elizabeth’s legal background. It feels less like a story and more like a cross-examination under the harsh light of the Colorado sun.

Strong Points: The "Evidence"

~The "Privileged Information" Device:

Booth grants the reader access to secrets the parents are keeping from each other, creating a relentless, stomach-churning tension.

~Nick’s Perspective:

The portrayal of the ten-year-old brother’s guilt and his descent into internet conspiracy theories is a raw, honest look at trauma.

~The Procedural Precision:

As a former trial attorney, Booth writes the "investigative" scenes with a technical accuracy that grounds the nightmare in reality.

The novel excels at depicting the "cross-examination" of a marriage, where the wilderness of the Rockies is matched only by the psychological wreckage within the family. It is a relentless, precisely paced look at how quickly a life can be dismantled when the truth finally takes the stand.

The Plot:

The story shifts between different character perspectives, showing how the same event is viewed through different lenses of guilt.

~Propulsive

~Fractured

~Twisty

The Atmosphere:

Even though much of the book is set in the vast Rocky Mountains, the emotional weight and the pressure on the family feel tight and suffocating. There is a constant, lingering sense of dread that something much worse than a simple disappearance is at play. The descriptions of the wilderness and Elizabeth’s raw grief are intense and deeply felt.

The Character Study:

Every character is driven by a frantic need, whether it’s finding Henry, protecting a secret, or solving the case to find

~Elizabeth English:

A "ferocious" attorney who treats the search for her son like a trial she refuses to lose, even as it threatens her sobriety.

~Paul English:

A poet living in his wife’s shadow; his deep-seated resentment of her career becomes a central "conflict of interest" in the search.

~Hollis Monroe: The "no-nonsense" former sheriff who serves as the moral and investigative compass.

Title Significance:

The title highlights the brevity of the tragedy. It focuses on that "gap of minutes"—the split second where a life of high-functioning normalcy is permanently severed from reality. It emphasizes the "now you see him, now you don't" nature of the trauma.

The Takeaway:

The most dangerous terrain isn't the wilderness; it’s the internal secrets we keep to "protect" our family. The book serves as a chilling reminder of how quickly a life can unspool when the truth finally takes the stand.

Recommendations:

Ideal for readers who enjoy psychological procedurals, domestic noir, and stories where the legalistic precision of the search is just as important as the emotional stakes.

A must-read for fans of high-stakes psychological thrillers and authors Rick Mofina, Lisa Scottoline, Wendy Walker, Michele Campbell, and Mary Kubica. The novel provides a devastating look at how a single moment of lost focus can unspool years of carefully constructed normalcy.

Verdict: 4/5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"A Sharp, Compelling Psychological Forensic Procedural Debut!"

Note: If you are looking for a comparison to Tim Johnston's "Descent" vs. "Then She Was Gone", Johnston's Descent is more lyrical with emotional haunting depth literary suspense; whereas Booth's "Then He Was Gone" handles a wilderness disappearance with clinical precision rather than poetic weight. Great for readers who want "legalistic grit" over "literary atmosphere."

Special thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 4 Stars

Pub Date: Feb 24, 2026

Feb Newsletter

Praise

“Then He Was Gone by Isabel Booth is a smashing debut! A family's worst nightmare, long-hidden secrets, real emotion, and surprises galore. Readers will be glued to the pages until the very end of this one.”

—David Bell, New York Times bestselling author of She's Gone

“Isabel Booth has crafted a gripping story of a family with secrets pushed to the edge. Then He Was Gone is a heart-wrenching thriller to the very last page.”

—Rick Mofina, USA Today bestselling author of One Second Away

“I could not put this book down! Great characters, compelling plot, and a pace that'll keep you turning pages late into the night. One of the top thrillers I've read this year!”

—Matthew Farrell, bestselling author of the Adler and Dwyer series

About the Author

A thrilling new voice in suspense.

Isabel Booth is the pen name of Karen Jewell, a former trial attorney and now a writer. She holds an undergraduate degree in English, a Master’s in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate degree. When she’s not writing she loves to read, travel, and cook dinner for friends. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband. WEBSITE