Long Gone: A Novel

“Long Gone is a tremendous novel, and Alafair Burke is one of the finest young crime writers working today.”
--Dennis Lehane, author of Moonlight Mile

Echoing the intensity of Harlan Coben’s Tell No One and the psychological depth of Laura Lippman’s What the Dead Know, Alafair Burke’s first stand-alone novel catapults her into the top ranks of modern suspense. In New York City’s cut-throat world of art, appearances can be deceiving—especially when art world newcomer Alice Humphrey becomes a suspect in a gruesome murder at a Chelsea gallery, and is thrown into a treacherous labyrinth of intrigue, crime, and conspiracy. Now, Alice must discover the truth behind the murder before the unsolved mystery claims her as its next victim.

What if everything you thought you knew turned out to be a lie?

After a layoff and months of struggling, Alice Humphrey finally lands her dream job managing a new art gallery in Manhattan's trendy Meatpacking District. According to Drew Campbell, the well-heeled corporate representative who hires her, the gallery is a passion project for its anonymous, wealthy, and eccentric owner. Her friends think it sounds too good to be true, but Alice sees an opportunity to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous father, an award-winning and controversial filmmaker.

Everything is perfect until the morning Alice arrives at work to find the gallery gone—the space stripped bare as if it had never been there—and Drew Campbell's dead body on the floor. Overnight, Alice's dream job has vanished, and she finds herself at the center of a police investigation, with the evidence mounting against her. The phone number Drew gave her links back to a disposable phone. The artist whose work she displayed doesn't seem to exist. And the dead man she claims is Drew has been identified as someone else.

When police discover ties between the gallery and a missing girl, Alice knows she's been set up. Now she has to prove it—a dangerous search for answers that will entangle her in a dark, high-tech criminal conspiracy and force her to unearth long-hidden secrets involving her own family . . . secrets that could cost Alice her life.

“Sensational…. Exciting…. Alice is a compelling heroine and the nightmare she finds herself dropped into is scary believable.” - Carole E. Barrowman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“Blistering…. As carefully plotted as a surgeon’s heart transplant…. [Burke] writes with style, class and precision; just try to guess the identity of the killer here. A-” - Les Roberts, Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Addictive…. Alafair Burke delivers her best book to date with her first stand-alone thriller…. A masterful read. Humphrey is an everywoman, and readers will care about what happens to her…. Compelling.” - Jeff Ayers, Associated Press

“I love when a writer is so intelligent and so good at her craft that she plots a story with intricate twists and turns, and deliberately scatters clues, like bits of bread seemingly meant to help lost children find their way out of the woods. . . . Long Gone . . . has everything that a great crime novel, thriller, mystery should have. Be warned, though that you should not pick it up if you have any commitments that will interfere with reading this book from first page to last, in one sitting.” - Sharon Hunt, New York Journal of Books

“A page-turner from a major talent.” - Harlan Coben, Summer Book Recommendations, Today Books

“Alafair Burke’s first standalone is an absolutely riveting must read—and the ending is a shocker you’ll never see coming.” - Lisa Scottoline, New York Times-bestselling author of Save Me

“A fun, compelling ride…. A plunging, winding course with plot twists flying at you as fast as a New York minute.” - Peggy McMullen, Oregonian

“If you’re looking for one book that you cannot put down this summer, it’s Long Gone by Alafair Burke…. This is a page turner, it’s unputdownable, it won’t disappoint you.” - John Searles, The Today Show

“Long Gone is a red-hot firecracker of a thriller with all the right stuff-perfect pacing, plotting, and suspense. If you already love Alafair Burke’s novels, buckle up for her best book ever. If you haven’t read her yet, the time is now.” - Lisa Unger, New York Times-bestselling author of Darkness My Old Friend

“Long Gone is the type of book that should come with a warning. It’s a compulsively readable, highly addictive story. The ending will leave you breathless.” - Karin Slaughter, New York Times-bestselling author of Fallen

“Fast-paced fun.” - People

“Burke’s first stand-alone novel is a chilling psychological thriller which weaves disparate characters together in a web of revenge, deceit and betrayal. This clever, twisting plot serves up numerous victims and numerous criminals—plus police who can’t be bothered with the truth.” - Romantic Times (4 ½ Stars)

“Long Gone is a tremendous novel, and Alafair Burke is one of the finest young crime writers working today.” - Dennis Lehane, New York Times-bestselling author of Moonlight Mile

“Alafair Burke understands the criminal mind. Long Gone is both an education and an entertainment of the first order. This is a very clever and very smart novel by a very clever and smart writer. The dialogue crackles, the plot is intriguing, and the pacing is perfect.” - Nelson DeMille, New York Times-bestselling author of The Lion