This one was a little slower than I thought it might be but it did still keep my interest.
I think the characters were very well established and the storyline was good but I think it just lacked a little bit of suspense for me. It starts off strong when Cass comes back after missing for 3 years but without her sister Emma who disappeared on the same night. Before long you start to understand that everything Cass says is very calculated which made her extremely suspicious but you know that there still has to be some truth to her story. As the story unravels you learn so many things in the past that lead up to the disappearance but the ending did still catch me completely off guard.

I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers and I really liked this book! Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop!
Cass returns to her childhood home after a three year absence. Unlike a typical coming home novel, Cass is not returning after graduation or college, she has come after being kidnapped. Three years ago she and her older sister Emma disappeared into the night without a trace. When Cass returns without her sister, her only goal is have her sister found. She tells her story to Dr. Abby Winters, a forensic psychologist, who can see the inner workings of the girl's family including the emotional abuse at the hands of the girls' mother. The story is more than just runaway teens; it's a tale of betrayal, abuse and, ultimately, love.
The novel takes readers from the perspective of Cass to Dr. Winters, each view adding something to the story that the other character cannot. Cass gives us a first hand view of her family and what it's like to live with a narcissistic mother while Winter unravels the mystery sounding the teen's disappearance. The read anxiously tries to put the two together to get the real story of what happen not just the night the girls disappeared but what happened after that.
a riveting page turned, I finished it in two nights and was astounded by the twist hidden within the depths of the pages.

I did enjoy this book, I truly did but at some point it had a chance to blow up and be amazing but the author let the story fizzle out

Emma In The Night was not what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be your standard police thriller where you follow the lead detective around and follow the case from beginning to end. Instead, the reader is switched between Cass’s 1st person view of everything that is going on and what happened in the past and the 3rd person view of Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychiatrist working with Cass to find out exactly where she was the 3 years she was gone and most importantly….where Emma was.

I am not going to go into the book because I am afraid that if I do that, I will give something major away. I will say this: This book has more twists than a pretzel and each one of them was a surprise. So if you are going to read Emma In The Night, make sure you are in a comfy chair (or bed) because I guarantee that you will not be able to put this book down.

How many stars will I give Emma In The Night: 4

Why: Fast paced, well-written thriller that kept me wondering what was going to happen next

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Violence, sex and sexual situations and language

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I think my absolute love of psychological thrillers is pretty self-evident on the blog, but just in case you're new to my reviews it's important for you to know that dark and twisty tales with whodunnits and why'd-they-do-its are pretty much my favorite kind of read. What exactly that says about me I'm not too sure, but it's the truth, nonetheless. Unfortunately, it's very rare for me to read a book that takes me almost all the way to the end before I've got it all figured out and Emma in the Night managed to do just that.

Wendy Walker has a real talent for drawing you into the heart of each character and slowly feeding you puzzle piece by puzzle piece as you attempt to figure out just what happened to Cass and Emma, and where they've both been in the years that they've been missing. What enthralled me most about the book was that no single character was truly innocent, no one person perfect. I often talk about books being realistic, but in few cases is it really, truly so as is the case with Emma in the Night. I could not quit reading. I could not quit digging further into these girls' pasts and Cass' present until the shocking conclusions started coming together. This is a book for all ages that like a thrilling read, but it's also a book that will have you looking a little closer at your friends, your neighbors, and even your own family.

When I was surfing around on Goodreads, I noticed that there are some pretty mixed reviews for this one. Sometimes you just have to give it a try, so I did. And this is the first book that I have read from Wendy Walker and it certainly won’t be the last one.

We get the story in alternating point of views between Cass the youngest sister and Abigail Winters the forensic psychiatrist that was part of initial missing children case. Cass’ story unfolds over the first week after her arrival back home, so we get a piece here and a piece there of what happened during the time the girls were gone. Where they were, who was with them and what happened. Also Cass gives us the reader a glimpse into their home life before Emma and her went missing. As Cass tells her story, Abigail is trying to put it all together. I didn’t really know a lot about narcissistic personality disorder, so following along with Abigail gathering all the information, I was trying to figure it all out too. Sitting on the sidelines, it felt like I missing something, was there something more going on, was I missing something. So, I just couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Everything finally came together, I did sit and wonder to myself how I did I miss that!!! The ending was fantastic though….

Cass is a pretty strong girl, especially with everything she has been put through in her short life. There are a couple of side characters like her step brother that I wouldn’t knocking some sense into. Cass’s half bother Witt, was great though and her Dad too. This was one seriously dysfunctional family. Dr. Abigail Winters was pretty badass, her line of work would be amazing to do. Overall, the characters seem to be fairly complex but well developed in their own ways.

Psychological thrillers are something I have always enjoyed reading and this one delivered just that, but who knew it could be both a psychological thriller and have heartbreaking moments at the same time. I will be on the look out for some more books from Wendy Walker. Pick this one up! It is freaking amazing.

There is a lot about this story that I liked but much I didn't like. I felt it was repetitive and the timing and switching between characters was disruptive.

I received this book "Emma in the Night" from Netgalley for my honest review.

Emma and her sister Cass disappear one night. What has happened to them? Its been 3 years and out of the blue Cass returns but not Emma. Where has Cass been and what happened to Emma, why didn't she return also. Cass starts to tell everyone about those 3 lost years but is that what really happened? I thought this was a really good story and a page turner for me. I have not read the authors previous book All is Not Forgotten but I think I would like to.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this digital galley.

Mesmerizing. Fascinating. Engrossing. There are so many superlatives to describe this psychological thriller. Author Wendy Walker has written a story that changed with every scene to keep me on the edge of my chair and completely unable to predict the outcome. And throughout the narrative she seamlessly inserted information concerning narcissistic personality disorder for those of us who were unfamiliar with that diagnosis. Walker was also able to reinforce the knowledge that anyone outside a family unit cannot possibly know everything taking place within that family dynamic. What appeared to be a "perfect" family to those observing from outside was actually a battleground within.

Two teenage sisters go missing on the same night. Was it suicide? But if so, why? Were they kidnapped? Are they still alive? Three years after Emma and Cassandra Tanner went missing Cass came back. From the beginning of the story I was never sure exactly what was true and what was not. This is well written. The chapters alternate between Cass and Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychologist with the FBI. Abby has not been able to leave the case of the two Tanner girls behind and over the three years the inability of law enforcement to solve the case has been a heavy weight on her, even driving her to seek professional help herself. Now Cass is back and she keeps demanding that they find Emma.

As someone who had no previous information about this psychological disorder I have to say I found this book absolutely absorbing. Highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amazing how narcissism can permeate and change the dynamics of a whole family. So many twists to this story - it kept me guessing until the very end. I would certainly recommend this book. Thank you for my advance copy.

Sisters Emma and Cass have always clung to each other. One night, the teens go missing. The only clues are Emma's abandoned car and shoes on the beach. Cass, it seems, is simply gone without a trace. Did the girls drown? Were they together, or did something happen to each of them separately? The FBI investigates, but they get nowhere. Three years later, Cass suddenly arrives home under her own steam after escaping her captors. She tells of her ordeal in a series of incredible stories. Cass has just one goal: Bring Emma home.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Publishers, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a digital galley of Emma in the Night, and provide an unbiased review.

Wendy Walker's Emma in the Night is a smart and engaging psychological thriller with great twists and turns. The story centers around a Cass who disappears as a teen and returns a few years later with a story that peels like a big thick onion, layer by layer. Cass keeps you guessing about whether or not you can really believe her, and the cast of characters surrounding her makes you think dysfunctional doesn't even begin to explain it.

Wendy Walker writes smartly and coherently about the complex subject of narcissism. Her point of view about relationships is also well done in that none are perfect, but the strength of those bonds forgives many sins.

When reading this type of story, I reluctantly anticipate some ridiculous event that causes my eyes to come loose and roll to the back of my skull. It's genuinely pleasing to find an author who has taken the time and care to discipline their writing to stay of the path of believability. This story is well crafted and executed. Great writing is what draws me toward more from an author, and that is exactly what Emma in the Night accomplishes. I look forward reading more by Wendy Walker.

4.5 Stars!

Emma in the Night was an amazing psychological thriller with a gripping story that kept me guessing right until the very end!

Three years ago, sisters Cass and Emma vanished without a trace. Now, Cass has returned without Emma and her story centers on an island where the two were held captive. While Cass relays the details to the FBI so Emma can be found, Dr. Abby Winter realizes something about her story doesn’t add up. Abby examines the family’s history to find out what exactly happened three years ago and what is happening now.

The story picks up on the day Cass returns home and includes flashbacks throughout the book of before Cass and Emma disappeared and while they were on the island. In addition to Cass’s chapters, we also get chapters from Dr. Abby Winter, the forensic psychiatrist with the FBI. I really enjoyed getting to see both sides to the story, that of the victim and that of law enforcement. The opposing sides really helped with the pacing and gave you a better picture overall where things were headed with the story.

The Tanner/Martin family was fascinating and I was completely drawn in by this train wreck of a family. None of the relationships within this family are what you would consider normal, healthy relationships. The relationship between the sisters and their mother was the one that drew me in the most. The relationship Cass and Emma have with their mother causes their own relationship to change drastically over time.

I don’t want to say much about the mystery of Cass and Emma’s disappearance, but the storyline was really interesting. I loved getting to learn more about the island and how they came to be there as well as how Cass ultimately escaped. Plus, we get thrown for a few loops near the end which I felt were very well done.

My only complaint about this book is that the timeline sometimes confused me. Within a few pages you could go through all three timelines (before Cass and Emma disappeared, during the three years they were gone and when Cass returned home). At times I had difficulty telling which timeline Cass was talking about and I would be pulled out of the story while I tried to figure it out.

Overall, Emma in the Night was an amazing psychological thriller that kept me interested from start to finish. I will definitely be checking out future books by Wendy Walker and I plan to pick up her first thriller, All Is Not Forgotten sometime soon.

There are plenty of books out there that will tell you a predictable story in a predictable way, but Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is something altogether different. It's the kind of book you'll want to devour in one sitting, so compelling is the story, and it's one you'll be thinking about long after you turn the final page.

Seventeen-year-old Emma and fifteen-year old Cass disappear from their mother's home late one night, and the police are pretty sure they know what happened to Emma. Her car was found at a nearby beach and her shoes are fished out of the water. But there's no sign of Cass. It seems unlikely the sisters would have gone off together, since their mother swears they were in the midst of a horrendous argument earlier that evening. For three years, not a single sign of Cass can be found, until she shows up on her mother's doorstep with a harrowing story to tell.

Dr. Abigail Winter, a psychologist with the FBI, has never truly gotten over the disappearance of Cass and Emma Tanner. When the girls first went missing, she was willing to stake her entire career on their mother having something to do with whatever had happened to them. Something about her spoke to Abby, reminding her of her own troubled childhood, but was it possible Abby was allowing the ghosts of her past to influence her assessment of this case? Her superiors clearly thought so, and the case was left unsolved, but even three years later, Abby still thinks about the Tanner girls and the abuse she's almost certain they endured at their mother's hands.

When she receives news of Cass's sudden return, Abby is eager to talk to the girl; the FBI has many questions, and Abby has a few of her own as well. But Cass very obviously has a plan, one she'll reveal only in her own time. It's obvious to Abby that the mystery is far from solved, but will she uncover the truth before it's too late?

The story is told from the alternating points of view of Cass and Abby, and I found this narration style to be highly effective. Both characters tell us about past and present events, something I found super helpful as I tried to decipher the truth of what really happened to Cass and Emma.

Normally, I like to give potential readers a good idea of the direction a novel is going to take, but Emma in the Night has to be an exception to that rule. Part of what makes this novel so much fun to read is the author's way of revealing the truth in very tiny pieces. I could lay it all out for you… but that would ruin it for you, so just trust me when I tell you you're in for one very twisty ride. Ms. Walker has created a story filled with disturbing truths and characters who aren't at all who you think they are. She has taken the unreliable narrator trope to the next level here.

On several occasions, I was sure I had things figured out but I was wrong every time. The story went off in directions I could never have predicted, but it didn't come across as the least bit over the top. Sometimes, authors create endings that seem completely out of left field, and readers struggle to follow them, but that isn't the case here. Sure, I was surprised by the ending, but only because I didn't pick up on a few clues Ms. Walker had skilfully sprinkled throughout the early parts of the novel. Now that I know how the story ends, the clues seem obvious, but they certainly didn't as I was reading.

There are several fairly graphic scenes of abuse in the book that could prove upsetting for some readers. Cass and Emma come from a deeply troubled home where both physical and mental cruelty are quite commonplace. Personally, I found the mental manipulation was harder to deal with than the physical stuff, but I know that won't be the case for everyone.

Despite the scant information I've given you in this review, I hope everyone will give Emma in the Night a try. It's a great thriller, perfect to curl up with during a summer thunderstorm. Once you start it, I'm sure you won't want to put it down. I know I didn't.

Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K

This book is about two teen sisters who suddenly go missing, and their convoluted family. Only one girl returns and the book is all about finding Emma. If you are a fan of page-turner thrillers and mysteries, read this book!! It has been a long time since I've read a book where I could'nt turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens. There are so many twists and turns, and then when you think you've got it figured out there are even more twists and turns. I loved the psychological aspect of this book, with great insight into true narcissistic personality disorder. I will definitely be looking for more from this wonderful author!!

"We believe what we want to believe."

This was a common phrase used throughout this book, and I think it sums it up very well. This story takes place three years after sisters Cass and Emma Tanner going missing, on the day Cass returns without Emma. The story is told passively about events that happened before and during their disappearance with alternating POVs between Cass and Abby, a forensic psychiatrist assigned to the case.

It's clear from the beginning that Cass is an unreliable narrator from the very beginning of the book. Very early into the book, she narrates, "I had thought about how to tell them, how to explain it. There had been time, too much time, to construct the story in a way they would be able to comprehend. I had to find talent where none existed and tell this story in a way they would believe." Throughout the story, it's a constant struggle to figure out what parts of Cass's story are true, and which are fabrications to help make her story believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery. My biggest complaint was that everything was passive. I understand why, and it adds to the mystery of what really happened, but it also made the story difficult to get through at times. By passive, I mean very little of the story takes place in the present day of the story. Nearly everything in both Cass's and Abby's POVs are told in the past, but they are telling the story, so it's not even shown as a flashback. I think flashbacks would have given the story a little more action, and would have made it more interesting to read, as opposed to being told the events that occurred.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries. I still think that it was a good mystery, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what really happened.

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE:

One night, two sisters Emma and Cass disappeared into the night. Emma was 17-years-old at the time and Cass was 15-years old. Three years later, Cass shows up back at her mother and stepfather’s home without Emma.

Their parents had divorced several years earlier leaving their Dad, Owen Tanner, depressed about the break-up and about his wife Judy’s affair. Judy re-married Joe Martin, considering him more important and masculine than Owen.

Other prominent figures are Will, half-brother to the girls from Owen’s previous marriage and Hunter, their spoiled step-brother.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter has spent years trying to figure out the missing piece to the girls’ disappearance and is also somewhat of an expert on Narcissistic Personality Disorder. When her old colleague Leo contacts her to let her know Cass has returned, the two FBI agents set out to figure out what happened and why.

THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS:

After returning without Emma, Cass begins to share bits and pieces of her story slowly, almost like some teasing dance. She tells tales of her and Emma being taken to an island with a couple, Bill, and Lucy, that Emma had located to help her – Cass coming along wasn’t the plan. She recounts the years on the island and the one other person they ever saw being a man named Rick that brought them supplies by boat.

Their mother, Judy Martin, alternates between doting on Cass after her return and discounting her stories saying that she is crazy. The dad is trying to wrap his arms around everything and the step-dad is basically staying out of the way unless summoned by Judy or the FBI agents.

Abby Winter and her sister Meg grew up with a mother having Narcissistic Personality Disorder and based her doctoral thesis on the topic, therefore, she feels certain she sees the signs of the illness in Judy, as well as, the after-effects and coping skills in Cass and Emma (Emma based on stories on accounts from others).

Avoiding spoilers I will say this, Emma In The Night has several twists and surprises that made this an unbelievable suspense/thriller. As Cass says to the investigators early in the novel,

“WE BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE. WE BELIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO BELIEVE.”

Wendy Walker takes us from the return of one missing girl to a complete reveal of a very sick family. Abby suspected the answer lied within the family when the girls disappeared, but it’s only as Cass shares what happened to her that the puzzle pieces finally start coming together. Even when I thought everything had concluded, the author still surprised me at the very end.

Quite honestly, this was difficult to read at times because of Judy Martin’s character. One of her frequent statements as the girls were growing up was,

“AM I A GOOD MOTHER? THE BEST MOTHER YOU COULD EVER WANT?”

If you frequently read my blog posts, you are aware that I have serious mommy issues. I’ve tried to come to terms with it all and it’s actually a daily effort, despite today being the second anniversary of when I last had to see her. But some of the “Mommie Dearest” actions and statements throughout this novel made me cringe, as well as, seeing the evidence of how having a narcissistic parent affects someone’s life beyond childhood and into adulthood.

On the other hand, although I related to Abby’s observations of Judy and that a lot of the information is verifiable information about Narcissistic Personality Disorder, I also felt overwhelmed with it at times. About halfway through the novel, I felt like a great deal of Abby’s research into the disorder was being repeated without any benefit to the overall plot.

Otherwise, I have absolutely zero complaints or criticism regarding this novel. Wendy Walker has expertly woven an edge-of-your-seat thriller that promises several surprises along the way. This is definitely not a light, happy read, however, it was beautifully crafted and held my interest from beginning to end. Emma In The Night paints a disturbing picture of family, lies, greed, narcissism, neglect, and more. Sounds depressing I know, but it was a hell of a read that I absolutely recommend.

Any screenwriters reading this out there? This needs to be adapted to a movie asap!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emma in the Night
By Wendy Walker

Thank you to the publisher for providing a free Advance Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, but it won't be the last. I was pulled into the story from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. Cass and Emma disappeared when they are 15 and 17 respectively. No one seems to know where they are. Three years later Cass returns home alone. Where is Emma? Cass wants desperately for her sister to be found and brought home. The story is told from the viewpoints of each of the characters; Cassandra Tanner, Dr. Abigail Winter - Forensic Psychologist for the FBI, FBI Special Agent Leo Strauss, Mrs. Judy Martin - Cass and Emma's narcissistic mother, Owen Tanner, the girls' father. The characters and the plot are well-developed and kept me glued to the book until I finished it. I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Emma and Cass are teenage sisters who both suddenly vanish without a trace. There are no leads, no suspects and no sense of what may have happened to the girls, and the case goes cold. When Cass reappears alone, years later, an incredible and to some unbelievable story emerges detailing, according to Cass, not only how and why they disappeared, but also how Cass made it home without Emma. Her mother, an unlikeable woman who is potentially a narcissist doesn’t believe the story Cass relates and feels her daughter is mentally unstable. Two FBI agents who were originally on the case are called when Cass returns and they are determined to unravel the facts and uncover the truth.
The story was engrossing and I didn’t have a good theory about what had really happened until very close to the end. This is the first book I’ve read by Wendy Walker, but I’ll be checking to see what else she has written and looking forward to future books. I was fortunate to receive “Emma in the Night” when I had the luxury of some extended reading time and I didn’t put it down until the early hours of the morning when I was done. There were layer upon layer of details in this mystery and I was hooked from page one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Wendy Walker for the opportunity to read her latest book - it's wonderful!

I was a huge fan of her first book, All is Not Forgotten, and this latest will not disappoint. This is a very multi-layered book with lots of plot twists and secrets to be figured out. Emma and Cass are two sisters, trying to navigate a very dysfunctional family life. Their mom, Judy, is a narcissist who plays the girls off each other, craving love and attention. The parents divorce and Judy remarries, leaving more trouble in the wake with the addition of a stepfather and stepbrother.

One day, Emma and Cass disappear. Emma's car is found by the beach and it is presumed that she drowned, but Cass is nowhere to be found. Three years go by when Cass suddenly appears at home, desperate to tell her story to the FBI so that they can find Emma.

The story is told in alternating voices - Cass and Abby, an FBI agent who was on the case when the girls first disappeared. She has been haunted by their disappearance and the fact that her viewpoints weren't taken seriously.

I don't want to give any more away - you need to read this book!