There’s something special about diving into a story before it hits the shelves, and I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy of this upcoming release. As always, I’ll be sharing my honest thoughts—what worked, what didn’t, and whether this book should be on your radar. If you love discovering new reads early, you’ll want to stick around for this one!
Title: Forever Gone
By: R'S' Hampton
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 366
Release Date: July 1st, 2025
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Summary from Goodreads:
A pulse-pounding suspense thriller about buried secrets, dangerous truths, and the price of justice.
Charleston real estate lawyer Lee Danforth has no interest in investigating the mismanagement of a local children’s ranch—until she hears the horrifying allegations of abuse and the South Carolina solicitor’s refusal to prosecute. Reluctantly drawn in, she soon realizes this case is far darker than financial fraud.
Lee has spent years burying the truth about her own seduction by Jack Marshall, the ranch’s late founder. But with an anonymous tipster feeding her damning evidence, she discovers Jack’s wife and son have embroiled the ranch in massive corruption and subjected the children to various trafficking schemes—and Jack’s death was no accident. The police do nothing as local girls disappear and another group of children is scheduled to be sold.
Pushing the solicitor for action risks exposing Lee’s past, threatening both her career and reputation. But staying silent means condemning more victims to an unthinkable fate. As the walls close in, she must protect herself or risk everything to bring down a powerful family.
Because some truths don’t just set you free—they can destroy you
Review:
Forever Gone is a dark and twisty suspense novel that tackles disturbing and timely topics with intensity. The premise is gripping. Buried abuse, corrupt power, and one woman’s personal reckoning as she risks everything to uncover the truth. R.S. Hampton crafts a layered mystery with high stakes and a chilling sense of urgency, especially surrounding the children’s ranch and its sinister secrets.
However, despite the strong concept, I personally struggled to connect with the characters. Lee Danforth’s emotional journey, while central to the story, felt somewhat distant at times, and the writing leaned dry in spots, particularly in the descriptive passages. While the plot kept me curious, it didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact I was hoping for. A solid read with an important message, but one that didn’t fully land for me.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
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