This is not yet another "missing girl" story. This is a tale about a twisted family with a startling conclusion, a well-written story that'll have you questioning everything.

Two sisters have been missing for three years. Were they abducted? Did they drown on the beach where the car belonging to the older sister was found? Did they simply run away? No one knows... until the younger sister, Cass, fifteen when she vanished, reappears on her mother's porch as if she'd never been gone at all. Alone.

Cass is beside herself. She insists that she's left Emma behind and they need to find her. She tells a story that sounds insane, but eventually there's evidence that backs her up. Apparently she'd been on an island, taken there by an older couple and not permitted to leave. She says that she was both treated as family and like a prisoner, and most disturbingly... Emma is still there.

Chapters alternate from the perspective of Cass and the calmer, more mature forensic psychiatrist on the case: Dr. Abby Winter. She'd become borderline obsessed with the case years ago and jumps at the opportunity to speak to the teenager she spent so much time trying to find. She spent a lot of time trying to figure out the family. Having experience with her own narcissistic mother, she's convinced Mrs. Martin, mother to the girls, suffers from the personality disorder as well. She identifies with Cass and Emma, but there's something that's bothering her as interviews with Cass continue.

This book features a lot of interesting yet disturbing themes that might still be rolling around in your head long after you put it down. It was actually a slow read for me, maybe because of that. Still an enjoyable book.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and St Martin's Press, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Emma in the Night is a psychological thriller from Wendy Walker, the bestselling author of All is not Forgotten. Three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns without her sister Emma. The novel is told in alternating points of view, between the views of Cass/Cassandra and Dr. Abby Winter, the forensic psychologist who'd been haunted by the girls' disappearance.

This was my first Wendy Walker novel, and she did not disappoint. I really enjoyed the dual point of view, which made for an interesting, face-paced read. I was drawn into the world Walker crafted and the dark, delusional world that is Cass's story. I also found Cass's mother to be an incredible fascinating character. Walker kept my interested until the very, breathtaking end. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great psychological thriller.

Emma in the Night wasn't at all what I expected and I wouldn't quite call it a thriller. When I read a thriller, I expect to be on the edge of my seat, dying to know what happens next. I was interested and the story was suspenseful, but the story was a bit slow and even dry at times. That said, it was oddly compelling and certainly disturbing.
Considering their parents and upbringing, Emma and Cass were almost doomed to be at a little messed up. In a not exactly successfully blended family, the only person that I found to be remotely normal was the oldest brother, Witt.
The story is not only twisted, but there are plenty of twists and turns as it progresses, which is something I look forward to in a psychological tale. I was left scratching my head at times with Cass' recounting of her time away as it seemed to become more and more convoluted. By the end, her motivations were made clear, but even now, as I ponder the story, I'm not exactly clear about the way she went about it all.
The biggest drawback for me was the switch in point of view. Throughout the book, we hear from two people, Cass and Dr. Abigail Winter. Cass' chapters are all in first person, while Abby's are in third. My first thought was that it was done to help show Cass' frame of mind during the seven days following her return home, but Abby's chapters also reveal her own thoughts about Cass and the family during that time. The switches from chapter to chapter took some getting used to and in all honesty, I found it to be more of a distraction than anything beneficial to the story.
Overall, Walker does have a unique writing style and the story had potential, but it just didn't quite live up to expectations. It's not a bad read, but turned out to be merely an okay one for me.

Wow, I thought this book was great!! I've been gobbling down psychological thrillers recently, and this one did not disappoint--and indeed, stood out from the pact! I was gripped, could not put the story down, and inhaled this book during my long flight home from Hawaii!

The entire story takes places over the course of a few days, and is told through two different and intriguing perspectives--the sister who returns home, and the FBI agent who never stopped wondering what happened to her and her sibling. I have to admit, a lot of times, I see the end of a book coming, but this one surprised me! I did NOT see that finale and I thought it was artfully crafted and wonderfully composed. The writing was magical, the back stories were rich and intricately woven into the main tale, and while none of the characters were particularly lovable (except Witt), I was engrossed in all of their tales.

I highly recommend!

**FYI, I got this from netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)

Every once in a while, a book comes along that you know you won't soon forget—a story that lingers long after the last line is read. For me, "Emma in the Night" is one such book. Upon reading the premise, I was immediately intrigued. And author Wendy Walker didn't disappoint. This book was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more! Enthralling and suspenseful, the story this author weaved held me captive from the very first page right up until the very end.

At ages 17 and 15, sisters Emma and Cass Turner, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Did these girls simply runaway to escape their dysfunctional home? Or did something far more nefarious come into play? Ultimately, circumstantial evidence leads authorities to presume that 17-year old Emma committed suicide. But when it comes to her younger sister Cass, they hit a dead end.

Three years after the girls’ mysterious disappearance, Cass returns without her sister, Emma, to tell a horrific tale. Following the leads given to them by Cass, the FBI is in hot pursuit of the still missing Emma. But its forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Abigail Winter, who reads more into the situation than what initially meets the eye. Working alongside her partner, FBI Special Agent Leo Strauss, Abby delves into this family’s darkest secrets to uncover truths some would rather have been left buried for good.

“Emma in the Night” is a disturbing glimpse into the lives of two teenage girls growing up in a home controlled by their narcissistic mother, while also detailing the events leading up to one very fateful night. Riddled with numerous twists and turns, “Emma in the Night” is a psychological thriller that makes for one helluva unique and gripping roller coaster ride for sure!

Three years ago, in the middle of the night, the Tanner sisters disappeared. The car belong to Emma, age seventeen, was found abandoned at the beach with all of her personal effects left behind. People would have assumed she walked into the ocean that night, if her younger sister Cass, age fifteen, hadn’t also vanished from home that night. Despite no trace of Cass being found in Emma’s car or links to tie the two together that night, officials have always believed that wherever they went, they went together.

Three years later, Cass has returned to her mother’s house without Emma. The story Cass tells of that night so long ago and the missing time between now and then, is one of kidnapping and the girls being held against their will on a mysterious island with a couple named Bill and Lucy. Cass shares that Emma was pregnant and found Bill and Lucy who had promised to give her and her child a better life. Emma was meant to vanish into the night three years ago alone, but Cass did what little sisters do and hid in her car to tag along.

Dr. Abby Winter, lead forensic psychologist for the original case is back to help track down Emma, along with her partner Leo. The current situation is clear, Cass is willing to share as much details as possible about the mysterious night of her disappearance, what happened with Bill and Lucy, and her daring escape. Dr. Winter pushes deeper into the life the Tanner sisters lived prior to their disappearance and uncovers a narcissistic mother at the core of their lives, who for years held them captive in a life of turmoil and drama. What really happened that night three years ago and where is Emma?

EMMA IN THE NIGHT is told from alternating perspectives between Cass Tanner and Dr. Abby Winter. The sections Cass retells center around her retelling of what happened between her disappearance and now. These portions, while meticulously detailed, also feel juvenile and filled with denial. Dr. Winter’s section on the other hand give us a glimpse into her research into families centering around narcissistic mothers, something she is all too familiar with from her personal life, and the connection she believes this has with the disappearance. As the novel continues, the story’s pass escalates as the team gets closer and closer to finding Emma. This is truly an edge of your grand unveiling in the last few chapters of the novel!

Three years ago sisters Emma and Cass disappeared from their home. Now, Cass has returned insisting that Emma must be found. FBI investigator Dr. Abby Winter and Leo Strauss were on the case when the girls originally disappeared and have been called back to lead the search for Emma. Cass has a wild story about the girls being taken in by an older couple and kept on an island. Her mother thinks she has lost her mind, Dr. Winter thinks her story is true but only to a point, Agent Strauss is keeping an open mind and considering all sides.

This is a fascinating twister of a story which relies heavily on the psychology of the people involved to unravel the truth. I immediately liked Cass but as the story moves forward I found her to be a very complicated character. The story line alternates between what’s happening today in terms of the search for Emma, and Cass’s remembering what has happened in the past. The whole story comes out in bits and pieces which kept me reading because I really wanted to know what had actually happened. The ending was a surprise. I found the story to be well written and worth the time. I recommend this one if you like mysteries and psychological twisters.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a rare "must finish, cannot put down" book. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it definitely held my attention, and while I thought I had an idea on what the outcome would be, I was totally blindsided by quite a few revelations. Really enjoyed the writing style.

4.5 stars

I thought I had this book figured out early on, boy was I wrong. I was able to predict one of the twists, but the other part turned out very different from what I had imagined. I loved the alternating narrative between Cass and Dr. Winter. Emma in the Night is a story of cat and mouse, but who is who? An unputdownable psychological thriller that examines one of the most twisted family dynamics imaginable. I'll definitely be adding more of Walker's books to my TBR.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is a twisted story about mothers and daughters. Cass and Emma are sisters and live with their mother, her new husband and his son. The girls were constant pawns in their mother’s twisted reality with her personality disorder. Then one night the girls disappear and three years later Cass reappears. Dr Abigail Winter a forensic psychiatrist with the FBI was one of the people on the case and not finding the girls was something she could never let go of.

Cass tells the story of what happened to Emma and Cass over a series of days to FBI. Abigail Winter tells the story of the investigation and her questions from the past and present. As the story goes back and forth between Cass and Abigail, pieces of the story are presented, leading to a conclusion that is just a shock to the system.

Emma in the night was a thriller with twists and turns, madness and mayhem and a crazy mother. I loved the characters with Cass and Abigail’s voices. I felt that Abigail in her role of knowledge and understanding explained Mrs. Martin’s personality disorder beautifully. I thought, Emma in the Night was a great read.

What a twisty book this was and so much fun to read. This was my first book by Wendy Walker and I really enjoyed it! Cass and Emma disappeared the same night three years ago but now Cass is back, Emma isn't, and Cass has a wild story to tell about where she has been the past three years. She desperately tells her story to her family and the FBI, begging them to find her sister. Told in alternating view points between Cass and the FBI's Forensic Psychologist Dr. Abigail Winter, the reader gets to see two interesting sides to the same story. Cass has a lot of issues she has faced in her childhood with her narcissistic mother, and her story leads the reader to think many different things as the details are slowly revealed. This was a good read, action packed and entertaining. Reminds me of the pace of Megan Miranda's books and I will definitely read more by this author!

This book has helped me to realize that psychological thrillers are something I like in theory, but rarely do they play out well on the page. The story inevitably reaches a point where I feel things are too incredible to be real, and it falls short. I think that this may be the one area where Hollywood trumps Bookville for me. These types of stories lend themselves better to screen than they do to page. Or maybe I’m just reading the wrong ones.

Emma in the Night was an interesting read, and I think it does better than most in maintaining the integrity of the story until the end. But there were parts of it that were predictable, and I found the doctor from the FBI who was working the case to be more interesting than anyone in the Tanner/Martin clan who were supposed to be the center of the plot. Parts of Emma in the Night read more like a case study than an actual story, and while those were the highlights of the book for me, it was a bit jarring when we returned to ‘story,’ and I just didn’t enjoy those parts as much, making the tempo of the story off. There was a definite Mommy Dearest feel here. It was disturbing and felt like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. I felt for the children in this story, and I was frustrated that the adults who could have stepped up for them never did. I’m not going to say anything more for fear of spoiling it for other readers, but I’ll just say while Emma in the Night was entertaining enough, it just didn’t blow me away.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is a highly recommended psychological thriller/mystery.

On one night both of the Tanner sisters disappeared. At that time Emma was seventeen and Cass fifteen. Now three years have passed and Cass has returned home, without Emma, and she is sharing an incredible story of what happened and begging her family, the police, FBI, etc. to find Emma. She says that three years ago the two girls were picked up from a beach on Long Island Sound by a couple who wanted to help Emma, who was pregnant. They were both subsequently held on a mysterious island in Maine and the couple took Emma's child as their own. Cass escaped and now she wants them to find the island where she was held and find Emma.

It's a bit more complicated than this because the two girls came from a dysfunctional family. Cass calls their mother, Judy, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Martin is a classic example of Narcissistic personality disorder. The FBI forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Abby Winter, knows about Narcissistic parents and identified Judy Martin as such three years ago when her girls were missing and she became a minor celebrity. She's back on the case with Special Agent Leo Strauss. It seems that Cass may be leaving things unsaid in her many interviews, trusting that Abby will be able to figure it all out, while making sure Mrs. Martin hears every word.

Chapters alternate between the point of view of Cass or Abby. Cass relates privately, to the reader, the story of her family, specifically her mother, and how Mrs. Martin's narcissism has poisoned her relationships and her choices have resulted in unstable parental support and put her daughters in compromising situations. Dr. Abby Winter has her own struggles and understands Narcissistic personalities, she is determined to uncover the clues and hints that she believes Cass is so carefully revealing to her.

The writing is good and Walker slowly reveals the girls background with their mother along with little clues about what may have happened. Cass's story is very compelling, especially because you know she is leaving something unsaid, that she has a plan, but you really don't have a clue what it could be. The character development is well done. Both Cass and Abby are complicated characters and Walker manages to capture this part of their personalities while exposing why they exhibit some of their traits. It all combines into a narrative that will hold your attention.

There were drawbacks. Clues were slow to come in Cass's interviews and the ending wasn't quite worth the wait for me. Additionally, parts of the narrative became too repetitious. This is almost a partial study of Narcissistic personality disorder in all of the background stories of Judy's behavior - the abuse heaped upon the girls because of her personality disorder and the men she married. Second is the girls behavior and reactions to everything. We hear almost too much of their past - what they were putting up with, doing, and fighting about - along with Cass's interviews. Solid 3.5 rounded up.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/08/emma-in-night.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2084219528

I had the pleasure of buddy reading this book with my friend and fellow blogger Sam of Clues and Reviews, and in doing so we thought it would be fun to craft a sort of joint review that reads discussion style to change things up a bit! We chose a few questions that are relevant to any book in an attempt to discuss some of our feelings on the story; the dueling answers will hopefully give you an insight into what our discussions are like whenever we read a book together and will showcase our similar and differing viewpoints on the same story. We’ll each close on our respective reviews with some individual thoughts on the book as a whole and would love to hear your thoughts below if you’ve read the novel as well!

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE STRUCTURE AND STYLE OF THE WRITING?

CHELS- Honestly I loved it! The alternating POV was a nice touch; it kept things fresh and forced me to pay attention while reading, rather than starting to skim. Each phrase held some importance to the overall big picture and I didn’t want to miss any of it. The sections from Cass after returning home are choppy, immature, and somewhat confusing; the fact that Walker chose to break these up with narrative from Abby, the psychologist assigned to the missing girls’ case, gave the reader pieces of structure, balance, and straight forward internal dialogue, which was a really nice touch.

SAM- Chelsea, you and I were absolutely on the same page with this one; since the novel is told between alternating chapters from Cass, one of the missing girls, and a forensic psychologist, Abby Wilder, parts felt totally jumbled. I know I messaged Chelsea right away and was like “uh, not sure if I like this” but by the end of the first half, I noticed how much I loved the narrative juxtaposition between the two characters; Abby was very clinical and specific in her narration, focusing on details and obsessing over the case. On the other hand, the chapters from the point of view of Cass were jumbled and confusing. She was one of the most unreliable narrators I have come across. This was so smart on the part of Walker, I truly felt as if I was gaining insight into two completely different mindsets and it made this book very special.

WHAT IS MOTIVATING THE ACTIONS OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY? WHAT DO THE SUB-CHARACTERS WANT FROM THE MAIN CHARACTER AND WHAT DOES THE MAIN CHARACTER WANT WITH THEM?

SAM- This is a question that I feel lies at the core of the book. There are so many moving pieces to the puzzle in this story; the sisters, the mother, the other family members. Everyone plays a part and I felt a constant struggle the whole time I was reading this novel; I really didn’t like any of these characters. They all felt unreliable and like they had their own interests at heart. Like you said, there is a whole plethora of shady business unfolding between the pages and it seems like a giant power struggle is at the core. I felt like the whole story was completely character centric. I don’t know about you Chels, but I felt like the “mystery” was sort of overshadowed by these amazing characters. Walker could have done pretty much whatever to the plot, it could have been a trip to the grocery story, and I still would have wanted to watch these character relationships unfold.

CHELS- HAH! That is the million dollar question, right? I think Sam nailed it above when she mentioned both the unlikable characters and how they overshadowed the mystery in a good way. I can’t say much, as I’m treading a minefield of spoilers, but I will say that there are ulterior motives scattered throughout the novel. Each character wants something from another, but I think what stands out most is the depiction of a massive, all-consuming power struggle going on between every character in the girls’ families. There are a plethora of deplorable characters here, and each one seems to want to have control over the others. It’s interesting, as the reader has pre-conceived notions in the beginning stages of the story, to see how these unravel into new conclusions by the final page.

WHAT WERE THE DYNAMICS OF “POWER” BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS? HOW DID THAT PLAY A FACTOR IN THEIR INTERACTIONS?

SAM- I think Walker did something really amazing in this book by using NPD as a vessel to discuss power/female power. If you watch any Criminal Minds or read any crime book, Narcissistic Personality Disorder is discussed ALL. THE. TIME. so it was cool to see her bring something that is normally catalogued in the “serial killer realm” and apply it to a sort of “everyday” situation. Really, power is at the core of the novel. Power over relationships, power over perception, power over situations so I think it continuously affected the characters and their interactions.

CHELS- This entire book was a narrative on power dynamics and how they are exchanged through a series of events, some large and some small. If you’ve read anything about this story at all, chances are you’ve seen that Narcissistic Personality Disorder (or NPD) plays a huge role in this book. We see this disease in it’s purest, most evil form; Walker takes us on ride giving us full access to the many levels of “messed up” that this disorder causes, not just for the individual with the diagnosis, but also the entire family surrounded. Can a narcissist ever be cured, or will they only continue to get worse over time? Will the offspring of said narcissist develop the disorder as well? If so, can the cycle ever be broken? All of these questions were addressed in the story, as well as a nice unravelling of the balance of family power while being shifted in multiple scenarios.

HOW HAVE THE CHARACTERS CHANGED BY THE END OF THE BOOK?

CHELS- Oh Boy. I think it would be easier (and much faster) to tell you all the ways they DIDN’T change. All joking aside, one of the things I loved about this book was the fact that it remained character driven while keeping a steady heap of suspense and intrigue in the mix. The heart of this story was character based, but it was never boring, slow, or dull. I’d like to think of it as light on action but heavy in the suspense department. I can’t say much about the transformation of all the characters, but my view and knowledge of them had completely shifted from beginning to end. Sam and I had a few pieces figured out here and there, but for me at least, I was pretty taken aback by the big reveal. The most fun part of a buddy read is discussing theories and guesses with each other, and we had a couple of guesses that were close and similar but were the result of different outcomes.

SAM- BAHAHA for real. The characters remained pretty steadfast throughout I would say. Like Chelsea said, we had a whole bunch of theories surrounding the characters and what we thought and where we thought the plot would go and Walker was able to surprise us!

HAVE YOU READ ANY OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR? WERE THEY COMPARABLE TO YOUR ENJOYMENT TO THIS ONE?

CHELS- I read the author’s previous novel ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN last year and loved it! I felt both novels were on par with each other; I’m at the point that I’ll read anything she comes out with next!

SAM- I didn’t even put two and two together that EMMA IN THE NIGHT was the sophomore novel by Wendy Walker. Last summer I was seeing ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN pretty much EVERYWHERE. I bought it and it has been sitting on my shelf ever since. I am actually glad that I went into this one blind and without any knowledge of her previous work because I do find that I am a harsher critic when I read an author’s second novel! Now that I have read EMMA IN THE NIGHT, I do know for sure that I’ll be going back to read ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN ASAP because I loved her writing style!

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As you can tell, we really enjoyed this one! Between the flawed characters and an intriguing mystery, I don’t think you can ask for much more in a summer read. Highly recommended to those who enjoyed All Is Not Forgotten; if you’re new to Wendy Walker I would suggest reading either of these books first as you really can’t go wrong here. Have you read Emma In The Night already? How did you find it?

I thought I had this book figured out, and fell into believing the story Cass, the main character, was giving. I did not see the twist coming, and loved how it unraveled itself throughout the last half of the book. The story moved at such a quick pace, I kept turning and didn't realize I had come to the end.

The narration switches between Cass, a young girl back from being gone for several years, and Dr. Abby Winter, a psychologist that worked on Cass's missing persons case three years prior. Cass and Abby have a lot in common, and I like how their characters were written.

“We believe what we want to believe. We believe what we need to believe. Maybe there’s no difference between wanting and needing. I don’t know. What I do know is that the truth can evade us, hiding behind our blind spots, our preconceptions, our hungry hearts that long for quiet. Still it is always there if we open our eyes and try to see it.” Well I can say, believe the buzz surrounding this book. I tore through this story in less than 24 hours… IT IS CRAZY. (And I mean that in the best possible way)! Emma in the Night centers around Emma and Cass Tanner, the two daughters of Judy Tanner who is one of the most twisted mother characters I have read in a while. Three years ago, the girls disappeared without a trace and no one has seen or heard from them since. Now, on a dark night Judy opens the door to find Cass standing there, telling a tale of betrayal and kidnapping that is almost unbelievable. Dr. Abby Winter, the forensic psychologist who has worked the girls case since their abduction, is not quite convinced of Cass’s story. Every one is at Cass’s mercy, as she slowly unravels where they have been and where she believes Emma to still be. No one is what they seem in this bizarre and manipulative family and my mouth dropped open on more than one occasion. Shocking, riveting, and at times unfathomable, Emma In the Night is a book that you will be thinking about long after you turn the last page. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is an absolutely magnetic story. What a plot! It kept drawing me in with the author's perfect timing and meticulous switching from scene to scene with emotional dialogue and thoughts from separate characters.. Cass is an unforgettable character. Each chapter invited me to the next. I could not put it down.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. I give this book 3/5. The story is about sisters Cass and Emma who has a narcissistic mother. When 3 years ago both girls disappear and three years later only one returns. FBI are clueless to know, what happened the girls. The FBI is contacted as Cass wants them to find out and bring home Emma. The story then tells us of what happened to both girls while they have been away. But, the Psychiatrist that is linked to the case reckons things don't add up.

I did like this book but, unfortunately this book didn't wow me. Not like other thrillers I have read. It tells of Cass her life before her disappearance. Like her mother her narcissistic tendencies. If you don't like books about the mind then this book isn't for you.

After reading and loving "All Is Not Forgotten" by Wendy Walker last year I couldn't wait for her next novel.
"Emma In The Night" is an incredibly twisted psychological thriller and I loved it! I could not put this book down.
This is the story of two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back.
One night 3 years ago, 15 year old Cass and 17 year old Emma Tanner disappear. Three years later Cass returns without Emma. Her story is one of being kidnapped and held on a mysterious island.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter delves deep into this dysfunctional family to uncover a life of betrayal, abuse and a dominating narcissistic parent.
Nothing is as it seems leading to a genuinely surprising ending!
Kudos to Wendy Walker for her intensive research and informative description of narcissism.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great book. An amazing psychological suspense book. The writing is very detailed. It's the story of two sisters who have been missing for three years. One returns home and then the search is on to find the other sister. As the girl tells her story we learn more and more about the dynamics of their family before the girls go missing. It's an intense ride. I highly recommend it. I link all my reviews to my twitter, FB, instgram, blog, and Goodreads