You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone

Deadly Ambition Series #3

by A.R. Torre

A neglected wife’s elaborate plan to save her troubled marriage takes a deadly turn in a riveting short story of psychological suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre.

Rachel has orchestrated the perfect plan to win back her husband’s attention. A bloody handprint. Signs of a struggle. And a disappearance staged by Rachel herself. He’ll follow the clues, rescue her, and feel needed again. But when Jake doesn’t come looking, Rachel realizes that their marriage has turned darker than she thought.

Genres: Short Stories, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Novella, Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2026

About the author

Hi there—welcome to my little corner of Goodreads! I'm AR Torre, and I write dark, twisty fiction that digs into the messiest parts of human nature. Whether it's psychological thrillers, domestic suspense, or stories about love gone dangerously wrong, my books tend to explore the line between good and evil—and what happens when people cross it.

You might know me from The Girl in 6E series, which follows a reclusive cam girl with violent urges, or my standalone domestic suspense novels that blend complex female leads with secrets, drama, and a few dead bodies. I’m drawn to morally gray characters, layered relationships, and plots that keep you flipping pages late into the night.

Outside of writing, I live in Key West, Florida, where I spend my days plotting murders (on paper), drinking (and roasting) coffee, and soaking up the sunshine. I’m also Alessandra Torre in my other author life, where I write romance.

Thanks for visiting—please follow me here on Goodreads where I read every single review. Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts (good or bad!) on my books. I sincerely appreciate the feedback and support.

Reviews

[Nancy]

3⭐️

Book three in the Amazon Deadly Ambition collection and, at 64 pages, it’s a bit longer than the first two.

A wife, desperate to win back her husband’s attention, stages her own disappearance hoping he’ll follow the clues and rescue her. What could possibly go wrong?

This wasn’t my favorite of the ones I’ve read so far, but it was still a quick, entertaining read and definitely much better than book one.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo)]

Gone girl-Gone Wrong

Rachel has orchestrated the perfect plan to win back her husband’s attention- A disappearance staged by Rachel herself.

He’ll follow the clues, rescue her, and be reminded about the things that made them fall in love.

But Jake doesn’t come looking- and by the second chapter-you will know why.

This entertaining short story alternates between Rachel and Jake’s first person POV’s.

It was my second favorite of the collection.

This is the third of six short stories from Amazon’s new “Deadly Ambition” collection-Original stories about greed, control, and the sinister side of making dreams come true.

Each can be read or listen to one at a time or in one Bingeable sitting-this one is about 64 pages.

Available now on Audible or to read if you have Amazon Prime.

[Wobilba]

“You’ll miss me when I’m gone” oh the irony 😂
I knew it was a gone girl situation I just didn’t expect it to be this wild.
Anyway loved it and wished it was a full length novel. Hopefully Alessandra will turn it into a novel someday 🤞🏾

[chantalsbookstuff]

Planning her disappearance to teach her husband a lesson, Rachel hopes it will change things in their marriage. When Jake walks in and notices some strange things, the question is, where is Rachel? My head whipped when I realised she was setting up the perfect crime scene, and as Jake walks in, his thoughts are that she shouldn’t be dead yet! Yep, the plot goes completely wrong, and it’s incredibly entertaining. I loved how deeply the characters were described because, for a short book, you really need to feel a connection with them. A great premise that is strong, solid, and very well executed.

[Thibault Busschots]

Rachel’s marriage is no longer what it used to be. But it’s okay. She’s got a plan.

She’s going to stage her own disappearance. Her husband is quickly going to come looking for her. He’ll follow the clues she’s going to leave behind. And their love for each other will be rekindled.

What could possibly go wrong?


Quite a good premise. Gripping from the get go. There are some strong twists. And the two main characters steal the show. It’s a short story, so the story doesn’t waste much time. It gives us all the basic information we need, and then quickly shifts gears. A bit too spicy at times for my personal taste. But, it’s still an entertaining and enjoyable read from start to finish.

[Nina (ninjasbooks)]

Spoilers coming up:

The main character was far to gullible. In addition, the plan she had for making her husband fall in love with her was so naive that I couldn’t believe her. Furthermore: an iPad submerged in water worked and made her able to contact the police, down in a well? And we never got to know why her best friend plotted to kill her either. I need motivation to believe a story. And then the icing on the cake: she met a new man soon after, without being skeptical at all. Wouldn’t she be at least a bit traumatized and afraid of getting into a new relationship so soon after a husband who tried to kill her?

[Emna]

This fucking stupid man had me seeing red. I'm not even joking. The rage was actually coursing through my veins💀Istg that he unlocked levels of anger I didn't know I was capable of feeling.The ending wasn't enough for me and it was far too merciful for my liking. That's all I'm going to say 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[Brooke]

The Deadly Ambitions collection has a lot to enjoy. Not a lot to love in Rachel and Jake's relationship, though. They are on the rocks. Rachel has a 'brilliant' idea to boost Jake as a hero by staging her own kidnapping and hiding at the bottom of a well with no way out. For all Rachel's wealth, she is lacking in brain cells.

She watches Jake from the secret cameras on her tablet in the dark well alone while Jake does not panic and go looking for her in spite of the signs of struggle. Instead she witnesses his betrayal with her best friend. And yet another huge betrayal. Jake is a very very bad person.

Hiring a hit man was a bit of a stretch, who does that, anyway? Overall, entertaining and twisty. Rachel now has the law on her side.

[Tonya]

This short story was clever and wickedly twisted. It kept me on the edge of my seat as the unpredictable, intriguing plot unfolded. The tension was high throughout this thought provoking tale. Highly recommend!

[Alya]

Thoughts
Oh wow this was GOLD! Love watching karma and plans backfire when it comes to men with weak personalities 😂 this author is one of my favourite thriller authors, I think I've only had one miss - otherwise her books are gripping and easy to get through, I definitely recommend her books and this read if you're looking for a short fast paced read that will have you hooked!

Plot Summary
Rachel has orchestrated the perfect plan to win back her husband’s attention. A bloody handprint. Signs of a struggle. A disappearance staged by Rachel herself. Jake will follow the clues, rescue her, and feel needed again, but when Jake doesn’t come looking, Rachel realises that their marriage has turned darker than she thought.

My Bookstagram

[Mai H.]

Get a prenup

[Jonetta]

the setup…
Rachel Redden is worried that husband Jake is losing his interest in her and their marriage so she devises a plan to “wake up” those dormant feelings. She stages their bedroom and bathroom to appear as if she’d been taken and then disappears. But as she waits to be “rescued,” things don’t even come close to going as planned.

the heart of the story…
Be careful what you wish for because Rachel’s marriage is in deeper trouble than she’d imagined. I thought her plan was a little nutty but even I wasn’t prepared for Jake’s reactions. As both reflect on their marriage, I thought she was in big trouble.

the narration…
Sarah Beth Goer and Eddie Lopez both sold me on their characters. They were also great storytellers, pacing this perfectly.

the bottom line…
This was an interesting story that starts in one direction and soon shifts into something darker, pulling me in quickly. I got a strong sense of both characters and was unsure how this would end, though I know what I wanted to happen. This short story reads like a bigger novel. Well done, Rachel.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy of the entire collection. All opinions are my own.)

[Maren’s Reads]

This short story was SOO fun start to finish. A.R. Torre packs a powerful punch in the form of one unhinged FMC named Rachel, a neglected wife who creates an elaborate plan to get her husband to notice her again. Sitting at only 64 pages, this is the perfect little pallet cleanser/slump buster.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the advanced copy.

[Casey Reads 🌸]

Love this author, so obviously I read this one first from the series! And I made the right choice!

This was a great short story full of suspense and multiple POVs. I was happy with the way everything ended too. 🖤

[Karla]

3.75 stars**

[STEPH]

Whoa. Short, twisty, powerful—and surprisingly sweet. Every character in this story got exactly what they deserved.

An orchestrated disappearance and a wife desperate for her husband to love her, to save her—it’s actually pretty sad, if you ask me.

I enjoyed this one. Nothing new or groundbreaking, but still a fun read.

[Alan (The Lone Librarian) Teder]

Missing but Not Gone
A review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook released on Kindle and Audio on April 1, 2026.

An affair, a side piece, an occasional one-night stand . . . While all of those would have hurt, I’d already been steeled for that reality for months now.
But this . . . this wasn’t just confirmation of a lost marriage. This was also the destruction of my closest friendship.

Saying too much here would be a spoiler. In brief, forgotten and forlorn wife Rachel sets up a fake kidnapping of herself in order to entice her wandering and wavering husband Jake into mounting a rescue which will hopefully rekindle their relationship.

Little does she know that not only is he not willing to follow the breadcrumbs of the trail which she laid out, but that he is actually hoping she will never be found.

Perhaps this was a bit predictable and thus in 3 to 3.5 star territory, but I had so much fun chasing down the soundtrack (see below) that I don't hesitate in bumping it up to 4 stars. Also in the hopes that I can keep the streak going in my reading of the Deadly Ambition series 😉.

Soundtrack
Based on the story title alone I knew the soundtrack had to be Cups (When I'm Gone) as performed by Anna Kendrick in the film Pitch Perfect (2012). You can watch the clip excerpt from the film on YouTube here and the extended music video version on YouTube here.

The updated Cups version is based on the original song When I'm Gone (1931) as recorded by The Carter Family which you can listen to on YouTube here. The "Cups" element was added by Lulu and the Lampshades in a video they posted on YouTube in 2009. You can see that version here. Both A.P. Carter (from The Carter Family) and Luisa Gerstein & Heloise Tunstall-Behrens (from Lulu and Lampshades) get the composer credit on the Pitch Perfect soundtrack.

Trivia and Links
Author A.R. Torre (the penname of Alessandra Torre) is a suspense and psychological thriller novelist whose most popular book (based on current GR ratings and reviews) is The Good Lie (2021). A.R. Torre's latest novel is The Missing Ones (published on April 15, 2026).

You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone is the 3rd of 6 stories in the Deadly Ambition anthology collection from Amazon Original Stories released on April 1, 2026. The promo for the collection reads:

What drives someone to keep reaching for all that glitters, no matter the price? It’s easy to believe that more is better: more acclaim, more control, more wealth. But when dreams are fueled by greed, they can quickly twist into nightmares. These six propulsive short stories explore what happens when the true cost of ambition comes due.

You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here and see the Deadly Ambition collection here (links goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).

[˚⟡˖ ࣪ desiree ˚⟡˖ ࣪]

my only complaint? it wasn’t long enough—I would’ve read a full-length novel of THIS in a heartbeat.

[Maliha]

So here’s the deal: Rachel Redden thinks faking her own disappearance will save her marriage. Yep, she literally stages a crime scene, blood, broken glass, abandoned phone and hides herself away, waiting for her husband Jake to freak out and realize how much he loves her. Except… plot twist: Jake is not panicking. He’s cheating with her best friend Jules and, oh yeah, plotting her actual murder.

What worked:
The premise is juicy.. very Gone Girl energy but with its own spin.

Rachel’s desperation feels raw and messy, which makes her flawed but relatable.

The claustrophobic tension of her being trapped while watching her life unravel is genuinely gripping.

What didn’t work:
Rachel’s plan is… let’s be real, kind of ridiculous. It’s hard to suspend disbelief when the setup feels contrived.

The pacing wobbles as some parts drag, others rush past emotional beats.

Secondary characters (like Detective Parks) are more cardboard than flesh, which weakens the impact.

The ending ties things up but doesn’t hit with the emotional punch you’d expect after all that buildup.

This is one of those thrillers you inhale in an hour or two, enjoy the ride, but don’t necessarily rave about afterward. It’s entertaining, it’s twisty, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

[Violet]

This is my first time reading anything by this author & I am excited to read more. I loved the multiple POVs, fast pacing, and the various twists. Overall the story was good, but I was hoping for a final sinister twist at the end.

3 ⭐️

[Bo.reads]

Another quick and engaging read from the Deadly Ambition collection, and this one was entertaining.

I really liked how much A.R. Torre packed into it, with the multiple perspectives and brief timeline moments helping piece everything together. The characters feel developed just enough to understand their motivations.

This one gets messy, at times frustrating, especially with characters you’ll love to hate. The ending was cheesier than I’d prefer, but still a solid wrap-up overall.

[Maddie]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Marianne]

You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone by A. R. Torre: worried that things with her husband have gone stale, Rachel sets up a faux kidnapping to save her marriage. It’s been elaborately planned, with hints and clues that will allow him to find and save her, which will surely make him feel important, and rekindle their love. Watching his progress via hidden cameras, she learns something disturbing, and her plan goes badly awry. Is this how it ends? Cleverly plotted.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.

[Teresa]

3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up

[Laur]

This was a quick listen with an interesting premise, but it wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

The story centers on a wife whose elaborate plan to save her failing marriage takes a very unexpected turn. While the suspense kept me listening, I found the characters’ decisions increasingly difficult to believe. The heavy focus on infidelity and sexual themes also wasn’t a great fit for my reading preferences.

The revenge angle added some tension, but by the end I felt the story relied more on shock value than on believable character development. As a short story, it moved quickly, but I was left wanting more depth and a more satisfying conclusion.

Overall, it was ok, but not one I’ll remember for very long.

3 Stars

[Melody McNamara]

I will read anything by A.R. Torre. This was a tense, fast-paced short story with a clever little twist. I just wish it were longer so we could get to know the characters a bit better. Part of the Deadly Ambition collection on Amazon.

[Celeste | bookrecs_by_celeste]

This was a fun, thrilling, and fast paced domestic thriller short story. It kept me engaged and interested the entire time - I would have loved it to be a full length book. This author is one of my favorite thriller writers so it’s no surprise I enjoyed her short story!

[Suzy]

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoy anything by Torre, so I hoped for a bit more, but it was decent for a short story!

[Mia Cobell]

3.25⭐️
This one wasn’t bad. An interesting concept and liked how it turned out.

Decent short read.

[Kayla_Wilson]

4.5 my favorite of the collection so far