This can be a thriller/thriller that maintained my curiosity all through. It’s the first title I’ve learn by this writer, however I confess that I’ve one other of her earlier titles on my TBR. On the idea of this one, I’m now eager to learn it.

There gave the impression to be so much occurring at first. We meet the younger nanny, Louisa, who works for the mega-wealthy and extremely dysfunctional Fisher household. They’re all staying at a vacation dwelling on the seashore in Western Australia. Louisa takes her younger prices to the seashore within the early morning to maintain them occupied for an hour or so. The three 12 months outdated lady, Honey, has a favorite sport of hiding her blue teddy and getting Louisa to search out him. Louisa, dedicated to each Honey and her child brother Kai, performs alongside… When Honey clambers over a sand dune and screams, life takes a drastic and harmful flip for the trio.

When Louisa and the 2 youngsters fail to return from the seashore, occasions are set in movement. Solely Honey’s scruffy blue teddy named Valentine show that they have been ever there. DSS Blackwood is accountable for the case. Strain is excessive. The household are rich and highly effective. Additionally, Blackwood is nearing retirement and he’s desperately attempting to remain in his spouse’s good graces.

Louisa’s mom, Rose Campbell travels from England to search out her daughter. Rose and Louisa have been estranged for a few years, however Rose has by no means wavered in her love for the lady. Rose, a former policewoman with London’s MET, can be skilled in hostage negotiation. She has written a e-book on her experiences.

Blackwood, pondering Rose desires to hone in on his investigation, makes an attempt to maintain her at arm’s size. Little does he know that Rose is tenacious and at all times one step forward of him.

Because the lacking individuals investigation continues, the media are having a discipline day. Alongside the way in which, a number of lower than savoury Fisher household secrets and techniques come to mild.  Days cross with no signal of the nanny and her prices.

Advised by way of a number of views, Louisa, Rose Campbell, and DSS Blackwood, the suspense ramps up because the case appears to stall. Are the three nonetheless alive? Are they injured?

I completely loved this one. It was a riveting thriller that’s positive to be loved by followers of the style.

This assessment was written voluntarily and my ranking was on no account influenced by the truth that I acquired a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Blackstone Publishing by way of NetGalley. I’m tackling my NetGalley backlist one title at a time…

Publication date: April 1, 2025
Writer: Blackstone Publishing

ISBN: 9781094094052  ASIN: ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ B0DJG8HDL4 – 304 pages

Sara Foster is a critically acclaimed, bestselling fiction writer with a ardour for psychological suspense and a eager curiosity in exploring zeitgeist points and robust feminine characters in her nail-biting novels. Her newest, When She Was Gone (2025), begins when an au pair and two young children vanish from a distant Australian seashore, and is a race-against-time thriller, exploring themes round misogyny, wealth, energy and management.

Sara can be the writer of dystopian thriller The Hush and 7 extra bestselling novels. Two of her books have been optioned for tv, and You Don’t Know Me was tailored right into a chart-topping podcast sequence by Listnr. Sara has a PhD in artistic writing (finding out maternal representations in fiction) and lives in Perth, WA, together with her husband, two daughters, three cats, Luna the cavoodle and Sunny the bearded dragon.

Observe Sara on Substack at Story Issues (for readers) and The Resilient Writer (for writers). Or go to her web site: www.sarafoster.com.au