One night 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. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn’t add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister’s return might just be the beginning of the crime.

My Thoughts: Emma in the Night was a story that began when Cassandra Tanner came home, three years after she and her sister Emma had disappeared. Jonathan and Judy Martin remained at the family home, and when Judy opened the door upon Cass’s knock, she didn’t seem to recognize her daughter. Or was she pretending?

Alternating narrators take us from the past to the present and back again, weaving together a tale of a narcissistic mother, a cruel stepfather and his equally cruel son, and two sisters who learned at an early age that love means playing tricks and resorting to emotional weapons. A bitter custody battle, a home that was a battleground, and uncertainty of one’s place in the world or in the family would create the kinds of scenarios that unfold in this novel.

Dr. Abigail (Abby) Winter and Leo Strauss are FBI agents tasked with interviewing Cass and her family. The stories Cass tells are interspersed with her reflections and thoughts about past events. She constructs a story that will capture the interest of the media and the agents…and then, at some point, the story starts unraveling as Abby realizes that some things about Cass’s tale feel contrived. They don’t quite add up.

I thought it was interesting that Cass referred to her mother as Mrs. Martin, even to her face. It was clear that there was no love lost between them, although Judy Martin, the mother, was good at putting a perfect face on things. Sometimes she could even fool her daughters, making them believe that she loved them. She definitely needed to “win” whatever battle they were playing, garnering all the attention from whoever happened to be in the room.

Very cleverly drawn, the characters felt real, while their actions had me wondering what to believe, even as I wanted everything to come together in a picture perfect way at the end.

Abby’s narratives were astute and it was clear that she had expertise with the narcissistic personality due to her own family life. Sometimes she worried that she wasn’t objective, but in the end, her assessment was spot on.

I liked how we slowly discovered the truth…and then were left with a bit of hope, along with some fear for the future. 5 stars.

***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

The subject of narcissism has held my interest for quite some time. I was curious of how the author would handle the topic. It starts out promising, but about a third of the way through the plot became predictable. Overall, it was an entertaining read, but I wanted more depth, layers, and nuance about this very interesting and timely about this topic.

Ah, all is not as it seems. Dysfunctional is definitely a good word to use to describe the family of 2 girls who go missing one night. When one returns to tell the horrors she and her sister have encountered, she has an unspoken motive for what pieces of her past she reveals. Twists, snags and an intriguing plot make this a fast and enjoyable read.

If you want a heart stopping, mystery with dark twists, this is it!
How do two sister's disappear for three years and then one reappears with the story, and mystery of where they were and her sister still is? Why?
Her Mother has moved on and so has the rest of the family and are almost upset to see her reappear after all this time
Whose to blame.
There is no way to predict what ensues as this story progresses and it kept me on my toes and kept my attention all the way through the chapters!

This book caught my attention with the first paragraph and did not let go. The characters are all intriguing, as is the story. The psychological thriller genre is one of my favorites, and this one goes on my Top 5 list. Highly recommended!

Emma and her sister Cass disappeared three years ago and when Emma returns alone she creates a tempest in a teapot. Some people aren't real happy she's back. the story started out very fast paced but slowed a little after the initial thrill of the story. As a psychologist attempts to help Emma return she finds the family is extremely dysfunctional and starts investigating why the girls disappeared in the first place. Good suspense and writing style.

Seventeen-year-old Emma and fifteen-year-old Cass Tanner are sisters. They are, like most siblings, close at times and not so close at other times. They are part of a merged but troubled family and depend upon each other. Cass looks up to Emma and wants to emulate her. She watches her closely and learns lessons about womanhood and how to make the most of her life.
One night the sisters disappear into thin air. Emma’s car and shoes are found on a nearby beach which is surrounded by a forest. There is no sign of either girl and their parents are baffled and upset. Has there been a crime, an accident or perhaps a suicide? Could it be that the girls had arranged to run away, helped by a third party? It’s a total mystery and the police investigation into the Tanner sisters’ disappearance is soon big news. However every clue leads to a blind alley and eventually there is no option but to wind down the search.
Three years later Cass returns home. She seems very relieved to be with her family. The investigation is reopened and the original team called in to interview Cass. She tells a detailed and sordid story of a kidnapping and forced imprisonment on a remote and distant island. She is very keen to cooperate with the search because, although she has miraculously escaped, her sister is still held captive. What she wants more than anything is to find Emma so they they can be happily reunited. But forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter finds some inconsistencies in her story and is determined to uncover the truth and to return Emma to her family.
‘Emma in the Night’ is Wendy Walker’s second novel. As soon as I heard about it I wanted to read it as I had enjoyed her debut novel 'All is not Forgotten', which I read and reviewed a few months ago. Both are psychological mystery stories centred on the family, but they are so very different. ‘Emma in the Night’ is a slow burner and very slow paced as gradually the story is built up and told and the truth is uncovered. The ending is punchy, exciting and meticulously planned. I did not foresee what would happen at all. I did not particularly like any of the main characters, especially the family members. They were driven by self importance, each with their own agenda and motives. The distance and coldness in the family was chilling and unsettling and the manipulation within the family seriously disturbing.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher HQ for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. I did find it hard to get into but I am pleased I persevered and read on because the finale made the story so much more interesting and meaningful. It’s a 5/10 from me.

Three years ago, sisters Emma and Cass disappeared one night, leaving no trace of where they’d gone—or why they left. Then Cass shows up at the family home, alone. She tells a story of kidnapping and being held on a mysterious island against her will, and is desperate for the police to find Emma.

But forensic psychologist Abby Winter sees holes in Cass’s story, and it will take delving into her own past to uncover the truth hidden behind a narcissistic mother who twisted the lives of her daughters until they no longer knew the truth. Only Abby can find Emma, because even Cass doesn’t know the true story.

Emma in the Night is not a happy family tale. Not in the least. Cass and Emma’s family is troubled, controlled by their narcissistic mother, an expert at twisting things to get what she wants. There are so many twists in this story! While I knew Cass wasn’t telling the whole truth—there are little signs of that—I had no idea what the truth actually was. The author does a great job of drawing the reader in and bringing them along for a ride filled with unexpected twists and turns.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I had heard so much about this book that I was looking forward to reading it. Sadly soon after starting it I found it to be very uncomfortable to read. The narcissistic mother made me angry and sick about the things she did to those around her that she claimed to love. This is the second book I've read lately where telling lies was a major factor of the story (the other was "The Lying Game" by Ruth Ware) that just did not live up to the hype I heard about them.

I so enjoyed Wendy Walker’s ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN. I was elated to read another book by this author. EMMA IN THE NIGHT is a story about two sisters. This story is also about narcissism and how it can affect a family.

Cass, 15, and her sister, 17, have been missing for three years. At age 18, Cass comes home and tells how she and her sister, Emma, were kidnapped and held on an island the whole time. For Cass the clock is ticking and she needs to convince everyone to find that island and capture the couple that held them and rescue Emma. For Dr. Abby Winters, Cass’ story doesn’t add up. Abby’s hunch along with the fact that Cass and Emma’s mother is a textbook narcissist convinces her that there is more to the story then Cass is telling.

I really enjoyed this psychological suspense. The story alternates between Abby and Cass’ POV and is told in alternate timelines. Cass does a lot of remembering her sister and the events that took place at the hands of her mother before she left, while she was gone, and now after she has come home. Cass chooses to live with her mother, who she un-affectionately calls Mrs.Martin, instead of her father which threw up big red flags for me right away. There she also faces a Mr.Martin and a shady step-brother.

Cass is really complicated character. I was riveted reading about Cass’ experiences in the hands of her kidnappers. That story alone would have been enough, but life is really tough for her at home as well. Cass uses counting as a mechanism to cope. Abby explains in detail how this counting probably saved her. Cass’ recounting her kidnappers really adds urgency for the reader as Emma is still there and in grave danger.

Abby plays a major role in this story, as her background is in personality disorders and more specifically narcissistic mothers. Her insight into the home of Mrs.Martin and her daughters is on point and her observations added to my enjoyment of this book. With Cass being gone so long and going through so much, bringing a forensic psychiatrist along with the FBI will only help with the investigation. It takes all these brilliant minds to see past the lies and get down to the truth which has long been buried.

There is much more to this story, but I don’t want to give away all the juicy details. This story is suspenseful and intelligent, but it wasn’t quite as good as ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN. I deducted a star only because I caught something early on, but only because this author’s other novel is still so fresh in my mind. I would still highly recommend this book. Once again this author sheds light on an important mental disorder that often goes undiagnosed. This is a story you need to read for yourself to appreciate.

The twists, the turns, loved it!

The challenging life of Cass. She is in a family that could define dysfunctional.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

This was a captivating story that held me from beginning to end. It kept me guessing! I love books that develop rich and interesting characters and this one did just that!

It is interesting to explore the idea of how deeply a parent can impact the personality and life of their child. (It's pretty frightening as a parent!) I also find the description of narcissistic personality disorder fascinating, although I'm not sure how accurate it was.

Overall a great read! Makes me want to read more by this author!

I'm fascinated by a psychological thriller that has unreliable narrator you never quite know who or what to believe, consequently I immediately find myself on “high alert” seeking out inconsistencies when I read a book that uses this form of narration. Two sisters Emma and Cass disappear without a trace leaving many questions answered, but then one day Cass returns and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter begins to unravel what happened to the sisters. Emma In The Night is an intriguing look at mental health, manipulation and how a family is ultimately affected.

Emma In The Night is a book filled with dysfunctional and manipulative characters so I found myself struggling to connect with the characters, now sometimes I find this isn't a problem and it can actually make a book more intriguing, but unfortunately I found most of the characters incredibly irritating as they all had traits that made them difficult to like or feel empathy for, so consequently this slightly distracted from my enjoyment of this book.


This isn’t an edge-of-your-seat hardcore thriller Emma In The Woods is very much character led, and so the pace of the book felt very slow at times. There is a strong focus on mental illness and narcissism which the author has obviously researched in great detail. If I'm honest I really enjoyed this book up until the half way mark, I found myself desperate to find out what happened to both girls that night, but a round this point I found the plot slightly predictable, and it very much turns into a case study of a dysfunctional family.

I have a feeling Emma In The Night is going to be one of those “marmite” books, and I can see why readers will rave about it, but unfortunately for me I found myself becoming detached from the characters and the plot which in the end meant that although it made for a good read I did struggle with it. As I said I'm sure there will be numerous readers who will love everything about this book, so I think this is one of those books I would recommend you read for yourself and make up your own mind, who knows you may just love it.
This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Imagine being raised by a narcissistic mother and how your life would be one of living with a person whose abnormal behavior was characterized by feelings of self importance, admiration and a total lack of concern or understanding for the feelings of others? This was the case for the sisters Cass and Emma. Cass is fifteen while Emma is seventeen, young girls setting out on their own unable to stand the life at home with their mother. After years of living this life, the sisters leave and three years later Cass returns sans Emma.

Cass tells a tale of intrigue, kidnapping, and betrayal as the sisters try to move forward, but is her story true? Enter into this story to puzzle out its veracity is the forensic psychologist Dr Abby Winter. She slowly unravels the mystery of Emma's whereabouts while Cass structures a tale of their lives since their disappearance that while convincing possess holes that Dr Winter is able to see eventually.

This book was a fine psychological thriller in which the author clearly makes the reader aware of what life is like living with someone who is a narcissist. While Cass is a unreliable narrator, one can see the effect that her mother has had upon her and her sister. Where is Emma and why does Cass need to return to a mother such as hers provides the basis of this tale.

Thank you to NetGally and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this novel.

This book paints a picture of a psychologically disturbed family, full of manipulation and influence, the mother exhibiting a narcissistic personality disorder. The story is disturbing, captivating, and twisted. The first chapter really grabs your attention and peaks your curiosity. The book starts in present day on the day Cassandra returns home after being missing for three years. The two sisters in the book vanished on the same day, but her older sister, Emma, is still missing. There is quite a bit of background and character development in this first chapter that lays the groundwork for this complex psychological thriller. The plot is peeled back methodically, interjecting key points with surgical precision. Foreshadowing and subtle clues throughout keep you turning the pages to discover what happened three years ago, what the sisters have been up to since then, and if they will ever find Emma.

Dr. Abigail Winter is the forensic psychologist from the FBI that was investigating the original disappearance case. Even though she was removed from the case a year prior, the details and circumstances of this case continued to haunt Abby. She is recalled to the case when Cassandra reappears. The chapters alternate between the points of view of Cassandra and Dr. Winter, exposing the thoughts and motives of each as the investigation unfolds. Dr. Winter's character is well developed through memories and internal reflection regarding her own mother and sister. As Cassandra recounts the goings on of the past three years, Dr. Winter and FBI agent Leo Strauss desperately try to piece together the puzzle. However, Dr. Winter cannot shake the feeling that Cassandra's story just does not add up, either something she has said or maybe something she has not said. The investigation leads to a very shocking yet satisfying conclusion.

I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense. I received this book as a free ARC from St. Martin's Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While this novel showed promise, it just took too long getting to where it was taking us. The story is told in alternating chapters by three very different characters. Kukafka does a wonderful job of fleshing out these characters, but unfortunately, I found their storylines to be on the boring side and just overall depressing.

Three years prior Cass and her older sister who she adored, Emma, had disappeared leaving investigators and the family clueless as to what happened to the girls. Was it a drowning? Kidnapping? Runaways? But now three years later Cass shows up on the doorstep of her mother and stepfather’s home safe but insisting that they must find and rescue Emma.

When investigators arrive including forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter Cass begins to tell a story of how she had followed Emma one night and the pair ended up on a mysterious islands as prisoners. Cass’ escape and her details lead to more questions leaving Abby with the feeling that things just aren’t adding up. As the holes begin to appear Abby is determined to find out just what happened to the girls all those years ago.

Emma in the Night is one of those thriller reads that had me hooked for the opening pages when we find out that one of the two girls has returned. Knowing she is back the book takes the reader back slowly but surely as we learn what had been happening over the course of the years. Told from the point of view of the victim and investigator you get both sides of where the investigation is leading.

I will admit for a while this one wasn’t looking as if it would be quite the five star read as the story unraveled. I had this sense of where the twists were taking us along the journey as we got to the answer of what had happened to Emma but then the author just kept going and adding on a few more twists and turns that ended me with completely loving the story. I’d definitely say check this one out to the thriller fans, it was a bit slow but even with my impatience I came away loving the book.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a wonderful, beautifully crafted book that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. It is a tale about narcissistic personality disorder and how it affects a wealthy mother and her teenage daughters. I never knew much about this particular disorder until the press was linking it to Donald Trump. A chapter into this story, I found myself researching it heavily and it made certain parts of the book much easier to understand. It is a horrible psychiatric illness that affects everyone in it's path and is utterly devastating.

In the story, a young teenage girl who has been missing for several years suddenly shows up at home telling a wild story about her still missing older sister, her sister's toddler and her own escape from a remote island off the coast of Maine where the young women had been held captive. The same FBI investigators come to help find the still missing older sister but much is not as it appears on the surface. Truth and fantasy are always in play in this story. No one seems to really understand just how evil Cass's mother really is nor just how mentally disturbed this woman is. The effects of the narcissistic disorder are easy to conceal and hard to see except by trained professionals. Children, lovers, spouses, friends are all used by such people to get what they want. This is an extremely interesting book that I was lucky enough to be able to read and review. It is a hard read in some ways because most of us never encounter a person with this illness and it is horrifying to think about the emotional damage that is inflicted upon innocent children and spouses along the way. Unfortunately, it is also highly believable and suddenly you realize it's there around us more than you thought but is very carefully, cunningly concealed. This is really a riveting book.

Emma in the Night is the second novel of author Wendy Walker's that I have read. Walker's first book, All is Not Forgotten, was a fabulous read. Emma in the Night is an excellent second novel. You won't be disappointed.

If you are looking for a psychological thriller filled with twists then Emma in the Night is for you. I knew there was always more to the story but I didn't predict what was going to happen at all. The Tanner sisters both disappeared three years ago. Only Cass returns. Where is Emma?

I don't want to give anything away. What a great book. Highly recommend for fans of thrillers. Great read!