Somewhere in Virginia, a woman is found dead, murdered in a bizarre manner. While the FBI, which has taken over the investigation, is at a loss, a serial maniac is increasingly kidnapping and killing his victims. Only one person is able to crack this difficult case: special agent Riley Paige. Riley took a break from work to recover from a confrontation with the killer from a previous case, and is still too weak for new tasks, which the FBI understands and does not press her too hard . Yet Riley decides to face her demons and enters the game. In her hunt for the killer, she meets a strange subculture of doll collectors, visits the homes of orphaned families, and plunges into the dark depths of the killer's mind. Peeling back layer after layer, Riley finds herself fighting a more twisted killer than she expected. In a mad race against time, she reaches her limit, puts her job on the line; her fragile psyche is breaking, and a threat hangs over her family. However, having taken up the investigation, Riley will not leave him so easily. It torments her, penetrates into the darkest corners of her soul, blurs the boundaries between hunter and prey. Events unfold in unexpected ways, and Riley's instincts lead her to shocking results she could never have imagined. A dark, intriguing psychological thriller, WHEN SHE'S GONE is the start of an exciting new series and the debut of a new favorite character, a book that will keep you turning the pages to the very night.