In this explosive new thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson delves into the deep bond between two sisters and their shared dream that becomes a harrowing nightmare of madness, hatred and jealousy… Cassie Kramer and her younger sister, Allie, learned the hazards of fame long ago. Together, they’d survived the horror of a crazed fan who nearly killed their mother, former Hollywood actress Jenna Hughes. Still, Cassie moved to L.A., urging Allie to follow. As a team, they’d take the town by storm. But Allie, finally free of small-town Oregon, and just that little bit more beautiful, also proved to be more talented—and driven. Where Cassie got bit parts, Allie rose to stardom. But now her body double has been shot on the set of her latest movie—and Allie is missing. Police discover that the last call to Allie’s phone came from Cassie, though she has no recollection of making it. Instead of looking like a concerned relative, Cassie is starting to look like a suspect—the jealous sister who finally grew sick of playing a supporting role. As the tabloids go into a frenzy, Cassie ends up on a Portland psych ward. Is she just imagining the sinister figure who comes to her bedside, whispering about Allie—a visitor of whom there is no record? Is someone trying to help—or drive her mad? Convinced she’s the only one who can find Allie, Cassie checks herself out of the hospital. But a sudden slew of macabre murders— each victim masked with a likeness of a member of Cassie’s family—makes Cassie fear for her safety and her sanity. The only way to end the nightmare is to find out what really happened to Allie. And with each discovery, Cassie realizes that no one can be trusted to keep her safe—least of all herself…
Praise for AFTER SHE’S GONE
“Despite having endured plenty of sisterly squabbles, Cassie Kramer knows it’s up to her to find younger sister Allie when Allie suddenly goes missing from the film set of Dead Heat. Cassie and Allie, daughters of ’70s bombshell starlet Jenna Hughes, are both promising Hollywood actresses, but because Allie’s career skyrocketed past Cassie’s, causing a falling-out between the sisters, Cassie now—with the police suspecting murder—finds herself a person of interest. As other cast and crew members of Dead Heat are found dead, Cassie struggles to stay calm. With a history of institutionalization for psychosis, and an estranged, nearly ex-husband who is trying to win her back, Cassie has a lot at stake, which veteran genre author Jackson employs to generate near-constant suspense, weaving together disparate plot turns, directing a large cast of characters, and playing up movie-star egos and show-biz gossip to give the novel a vintage Hollywood feel. With moderate gore, a hint of romance, and many dynamic female characters, After She’s Gone is a sure bet for Jackson’s popular blend of women’s fiction and suspense. A mysterious new character in the epilogue suggests more to come.”
—Booklist
Jackson’s latest is a well-crafted story full of suspense that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With her skillful, vividly descriptive storytelling, Jackson brings us an intriguing plot with a strong yet flawed heroine at its center. With steady pacing, plenty of action and a few plot twists, Jackson’s thrill of a read will hook readers in.
Famous actress Allie Kramer has been missing for three weeks, and her older sister Cassie checks herself out of the psychiatric ward of the hospital she is in to find her. Considered a suspect in Allie’s case, she’s convinced Allie is alive. When Cassie’s friend is murdered, along with other women, the stakes get higher. Then Cassie becomes a suspect in the murders, all the while questioning her own mental state.
—Romantic Times