Amazon recommended this book as a monthly editor's pick, but I'm not sure why. I always pick up a book prepared to like it -- until I don't -- and I always read at least 30% before I abandon something. With this book I had to struggle to get to 30%. The premise is sound: a mother with narcissistic personality disorder destroys the lives of her children. My problem with the book is in a basic rule of fiction writing -- show, don't tell. Psychological thrillers unfold; they provide details that peel back the proverbial onion that is a character, revealing. This book slams the reader over the head with the mother's disorder by having a daughter simply tell the reader what happened. Unreliable narrator? I get that. What I personally believe this earnest writer needs to do is read such experts as Kate Atkinson, Nicci French, Louise Penny, Tana French. SHOW us the character in action; SHOW us the damage. Sadly, this was not the book for me. I simply didn't care what was going to happen.

I'm sorry to say I didn't really care for this book. The story could have been good, but all the characters were just unlikeable. Hard to empathize with the main character, cause didn't really like her either. Thank you to netgalley for the chance to read this. Wish I could be more positive, but supposed to give honest reviews.

Review:

This is told using dual narratives, it alternates between Cass who disappeared three years ago and shows up suddenly at home and also from Abby, the psychiatrist that has been working the case since Cass and her sister Emma vanished. I especially enjoyed the chapters from Abby’s point of view as a psychological insight fascinates me and there is much to explore in Cass and her complicated family. It chronicles the days immediately following Cass return as Abby and the FBI try to uncover where exactly Cass has been and where Emma is now. There are SO many questions and layers to this insane mystery, it’s a constant guessing game and then second guessing that had me on the edge of my seat.

While I liked the pacing and it definitely held my attention, the process of learning the details of Cass three year disappearance was sometimes painstakingly slow. Oddly enough, I was still totally captivated by this dark tale of a twisted family and their bizarre dynamics. It really was an intoxicating read for me, but if you don’t like your psychological thrillers with a heavy dose of psychology, this could be a frustrating read.

This is full of unlikable characters and unreliability, but each character was extremely well drawn. The writing was strong and smart and the plot was very well thought out and executed. While there were some twists early on, towards the end there were an onslaught of turns that left me reeling, I especially liked the ending. If you like thrillers with an insight into the human psyche, check this one out.

Three years earlier, the Tanner girls, older sister Emma and younger sister Cass, disappeared. Their car was found at the beach but no signs of the girls until the day Cass appears at her mother’s house saying they have to find Emma. The FBI are called in, the same agents who were there three years ago. Dr. Abby Winter has been totally taken over by the case because she believes the girls’ mother was a narcissist, just like her own mother. And there is no doubt she is as you turn every page. This is one screwed up family! When Cass tells the story of where they have been these past few years, more family secrets are revealed and a well laid plan starts to come to fruition. Where is Emma and will we ever get the truth?

Wow. Wow. Wow. This story unfolded like a those little Russian dolls. You know the ones I mean. A secret opened up and you said A-ha! But wait! There was another one and so on and so on. You knew there was something going on and you were pretty sure you knew what was what but you were wrong. Loved it. Great read full of twisty turns.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy Walker delivers an excellent psychological thriller with Emma in the Night. Told from differing viewpoints, Walker presents the story of two girls living with their narcissistic mother. As they approach adolescence and the teen years, they begin to learn what sets her off. Add in a stepfather who is attracted to one of the girls and his lustful teenage son and you have a recipe for disaster.

Both girls mysteriously disappear one night and are not found for three years, when Cass, the youngest sister, appears on her mother’s doorstep. As Cass recounts her past three years and begs the detectives to find Emma, her mother suggests she is mentally unstable.

Luckily for Cass, the forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Abby Winter, has studied narcissism in her work and within her own family. As Abby puts all the pieces together, combined with clues from Cass, she begins to uncover what really happened the night the girls disappeared.

This is a great story, with twists that many readers will not see coming.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book; I reviewed this one a little differently. Chelsea (from The Suspense is Thrilling Me) and I read this as a buddy read and then had a sort of "book club discussion" where we reviewed it.

I really enjoyed this novel. For me, it was a mix of Law and Order or CSI + thriller/suspense novel + unreliable narrator (think Gone Girl) = Emma in the Night. I honestly didn't know who I could trust and loved that we were left guessing almost until the end.

I found the relationship between Leo and Abby (the FBI investigators) to be somewhat awkward. I didn't like that he called her "kiddo," which seemed to be dismissive and undermining. This was somewhat off-putting to me, but their relationship seemed better towards the end. I only bring this up because I think it would have been preferable to have her male boss respect her as a colleague and peer as opposed to using a belittling (albeit affectionate) phrase to define his younger, female partner.

"...I made a theory for myself about the meaning of life. I decided that life would be about choosing things to make important even though they are not, and cannot ever be. I took this theory and i started to make a list of all the things I would choose to be important and that I would honor. I decided that I would measure myself against my list and whether I had been true to that list of important things."

I loved that we got a lot of character development from Cass during this story. You guess about her motives and her sanity the entire novel, but by the end, you feel like you know her. Cass saves herself and she has come to peace with the fact that she had to do some pretty awful things in order to do that. I like that she is unapologetic and strong. She is one of my favorite recent female protagonists. The story is also told from Abby's point of view, but for me, she took a bit of a backseat role and didn't develop as much. I would like to hear more from her (future book?).

Overall, I rate this 4/5 stars. Emma in the Night is a psychological suspense that will keep you guessing until the end. This book will get a lot of buzz, and it deserves it all. There is a lot to love about this fast read: family drama, an unreliable narrator, and an FBI investigation. I highly recommend this book for suspense/mystery lovers.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT, by Wendy Walker, is filled with drama, suspense, despair, disbelief, love, or could you call it obsession? And, out of control rage.
One of the stories that was discussed in the book was so full of sorrow, I was moved to tears. Then, as I read further, some of the stories described were very scary too. That made one think about the characters mental stability.
Why did the girls leave in the first place? Or DID they leave on their own? That twist of mystery will have the reader asking, Where could Emma be? Will she ever be found?
This part of the story puzzled me. With no watch and no phone, how did Cassandra find her way back home? And, another thing, why didn't Emma try to escape? Is she still alive? What could the reasoning be for not trying to escape? Deep suspense! Great skillful writing through the author there. Will Mrs. Martin believe what was told her?
Our story begins on the first day of Cassandra's return, and what she was about to unfold for everyone to hear. She began her story of how she and her sister disappeared three years earlier. But, will her stories hold any truth? Are there any hidden facts?
As our story develops, the suspense deepens. She was evil! Who was evil? Who were they talking about? Intriguing indeed!

This is the story of Cass and Emma, two sisters who went missing three years ago, then one day Cass turns up on her mother's doorstep without Emma, can the authorities find her with the information Cass gives them, is she telling them the truth and will they be able to bring her home where she belongs.

I read Wendy Walkers first book, All is not Forgotten, and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to reading this one. Whilst I found this one very intriguing and had to find out what had happened to the girls, I enjoyed her first book more.

I would like to thank St Martins Press for inviting me to read this book and will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

Cass vanished 3 years ago, along with her older sister Emma. She returns home to a bittersweet reunion as Emma remains missing. At first I compared this story to Elizabeth Smart’s abduction but similarities end early as Cass’s disturbing story begins to unroll. What led up to the fateful night of the girls’ disappearance, why did Cass came home, but not Emma?

Dr. Abby Walker, FBI forensic psychiatrist investigator arrives to interview Cass, gathering clues to help find Emma and the girls’ captors. I liked Abby’s character best, she was patient, kind and expert in her approach dealing with Cass’s trauma. She and Cass form a bond based in part on the personality disorder, pathological narcissism, that both of their mothers have.

Learning about narcissism was enlightening. Walker incorporates the disorder seamlessly into Cass’s mother’s character and the psychological consequences it has on her loved ones. Inserted in the bigger story are background snippets of scheming, seduction and dysfunction. I vacillated between believing and suspecting, continually theorizing. Oh, such lovely twisty-ness!
*will post to other online venues once book is published.

Best book I have read in a while. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Plot was fast paced and gripping

Cass and Emma Tanner mysteriously disappeared three years ago. Now, Cass is back, without Emma, and it's up to Dr Winter to find out what happened to the sisters on that fateful night...

In the sea of psychological thriller books that fail the deliver, Emma in the Night is a pleasant surprise. Amazing story, with a lot of interesting twists and turns, combined with a great insight into narcissistic personality disorder make for a great read.

I haven't read any of the Walker's books previously, so I must say that this was a very nice start. Emma in the night was impossible to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alternating points of view were a nice touch, and I enjoyed the little snippets (spoilers) of what's to come in the next chapter - writer's goal wasn't to merely keep you on the edge of your seat, it was also about getting the story out there. Characters were fairly likable, a lot of research has been put into this book and it's obvious from the moment you start reading it.
One small issue I had with this book - some of the side-stories and characters weren't as developed as you might want them to be, it felt a bit rushed at times.


Overall: 4.8/5, probably one of the best reads this summer

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Wendy Walker and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My full review has been posted on Goodreads. Such a riveting, suspenseful story...I was glued to the pages and just had to keep reading to know how it would end. Will definitely be reading her first book as soon as I can get my hands on a copy!

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller by Wendy Walker. It is riveting from the beginning and hard to put down. Some complex characters, some I liked and some I did not, especially Mrs. Martin, the narcissistic mother of Emma and Cass, and a very interesting story line that was not predictable at all and that kept me guessing. Although there were a couple of things I did figure out, the ending was a surprise and totally not what I expected. If you enjoy reading books with many twists and turns that will keep you captivated for hours, then definitely read Emma in the Night!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

As with All is Not Forgotten, Walker shows she understands the “psychological” part of psychological thrillers. There were enough twists and turns here to keep me satisfied… and ultimately, surprised by the final turn.

Emma and her younger sister Cass go missing in the middle of the night and 3 years later only one comes back. The beginning of the book has you hooked and you just can't wait to see where it takes you. Unfortunately, it really doesn't take you far. The book had great promise, it just failed to deliver.
You have an extreme case of a narcissistic mom, a simpering fool for a father, a pedophile step-dad and step-brother AND then the FBI woman who also had a narcissistic mother. I would have only given it only 2 stars, but I didn’t see the ending coming. I knew something funky was going on but I didn’t expect what happened.

This is like a 3.5 read. It goes fast, it's not entirely predictable, but it's not entirely unpredictable either. You can kind of figure out bits and pieces but I didn't completely piece together how it all fit.

The choice of narration was kind of odd; narrated in first person by Cass, Emma's sister, and third person following the forensic therapist, Abigail Winter. Cass's first person narration kind of took away from Abby, who you kind of really don't get a chance to know in the brief interludes that follow her part in the investigation. If the story had focused on either woman, it might have been stronger.

I enjoyed this so much more than her previous book, All Is Not Forgotten, which I had DNF'd. There is something that's keeping me from giving this 5 stars, but I did enjoy the ending very much.

I was thankful in receiving this book from NetGalley as I really enjoyed Wendy's previous book "All is not forgotten". I was also seeing alot of rave reviews about this book on Goodreads and had to get on the bandwagon. Not to mention sharing the same name as the main character. Mysteries and Sychological Thrillers and Suspense are my typical go too genres and this one certainly didn't disappoint. So many twist and turns to keep me hooked right up until the end. Great job, thoroughly enjoyable read, highly recommended.

Very interesting read. You have to feel for Cass & Emma as their mother seems bat crap crazy. This reminded me a little of Mommy Dearest without the wire hangers. The story was well told. I didn't really see the end coming. All in all it was a very good read.