Firstly, thank you for the ARC of this book.
I’m a big fan of thrillers especially ones like this. I found it rather predictable however that didn’t stop me enjoying it. It addressed the issue of post pregnancy psychological disorder well.
This was by first book by Caroline Corcoran but won’t be my last.

Romilly goes missing shortly after giving birth to a baby girl. Her husband is distraught, thinking she has post-partum psychosis and sets out to try to find out what happened. He enlists her sister Lol and best friend Steffie to help him. Can he trust them though and can they trust him.

I had read and enjoyed the author's first book, The Baby Group, so was pleased to receive an ARC of this one. I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy it in the least. The plot is extremely thin and very repetitive, The characters ruminate endlessly about what might have happened and this quickly gets boring. I felt the need for some sort of sub plot to give more depth and interest to the story. The theme of the book is far from new and has been better done many, many times. Chapters are written from the point of view of The Husband, The Best Friend, The Woman. This affectation felt slightly pretentious, why not just give them their names? Marc, Steffie, Romilly. The voices of each character were not sufficiently distinct from the others. Overall, the story didn't merit a full length novel. It might have been better as a novella (why is this form so eschewed these days?) but as a novel it failed to hit the mark.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC.

Why would a woman disappear from the hospital just hours after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl?

Romilly Beach age-35, goes into labor and delivers a healthy baby girl. Hours later she abandons her daughter and husband. She leaves the hospital without a trace. Her husband Marc age-30, is beside himself with worry and grief. Is Romilly suffering from postpartum psychosis or is something much more sinister going on?

What I liked:
The characters are well developed and the book starts off with a huge mystery immediately grabbing your attention. The author plays with the reader's emotions making them question each situation. What happened? Who really is telling the truth? Which characters are reliable?

What I disliked:
The story was a bit repetitive. There is overuse of the postpartum psychosis theme. The plot has some tiny holes in it.

I read many thrillers. My expectations are pretty high when I review a new book. This one was enjoyable, but not quiet astounding. The beauty of reading a book is that we all have different opinions about what we like. Try it and let me know what you think. I would love your feedback. "Five Days Missing" is Caroline Corcoran's latest thriller set to be published February 17, 2022.

Thank you NeyGalley and Avon Books UK, for the honor of reviewing this e-book. I appreciate it very much.

Five Days Missing is the third book I've read by Caroline Corcoran ,an author whose psychological thrillers are always above the average in the genre.

Romilly Beach has just given birth to a baby daughter. Husband Marc is shocked and surprised when he arrives at the maternity unit the day after to find that Romilly has disappeared leaving the baby behind. Marc takes the baby home and with the help of sister-in-law Loll does his best to look after her with the couple's best friends Steffie and Adam offering moral support. Marc's theory is that Romilly is suffering from Post Partum Psychosis ,ignoring the theories of others, she's spotted getting on a plane to France and the search is on.

The story is told from the perspectives of the different characters with timelines jumping backwards and forwards so the reader has to pay attention. Is Romilly really suffering from Post Partum Psychosis or is there something very different going on? At times it feels as if no-one in this book is the person they initially appear to be,then Caroline Corcoran turns it all around and again just when the reader has formed their opinion.

I did feel the book got bogged down slightly at one point and Marc's banging on about Post Partum Psychosis grated after the umpteenth time but minor grumbles aside it's a clever and twisty tale that will keep you guessing right until the end.

I didn’t really care For this read. I was lost for a good portion of the book. The narrative jumped back and forth between several characters, which made it a bit confusing. What you think is the plot, isn’t really. I didn’t care for any of the characters in the book. This was one is a miss for me.

Rating: 2.0/5

As the accompanying blurb indicates, the central thread of the story relates to new mother, Romilly, who leaves her newly-born daughter and disappears. Is this a case of Romilly suffering from postpartum psychosis, as her own mother did? Or is her husband, Marc, using it as a convenient excuse to gaslight her in a coercive relationship?

If you weren't familiar with the term postpartum psychosis before you read this novel, you certainly will be by the time you have read just a few chapters. The description is used ad nauseum and becomes quite grating, very quickly! I appreciate that this condition plays a key part in the plotline, but surely, between them, the author and the editor could have found ways of making the point without having to make direct reference to it so mind-numbingly often!

With occasional minor exceptions, the narrative unfolds chronologically, which may well please readers who are averse to novels that have frequent switches in time frame. Events are described from the viewpoints of a number of different key characters. This is a mechanic that can work very effectively, if it is done well. In this instance - even though I have seen far worse examples - it was not handled especially brilliantly. The narrators didn't have particularly distinct voices and there were a number of occasions when I had to flick back a few pages to check which character was providing the account at that particular time.

The pace of the story in the first half of the book is on the slow side. I appreciate that the writer needs to set the scene, but it struck me as unnecessarily protracted. The second half moves along more briskly and is all the better for it. Even so, I never really felt the build-up of any great atmosphere or tension that a good psychological thriller requires.

If you, or somebody close to you, has been affected by the issues raised in the novel, or if you are looking for something that you can simply read and discard, then this may well hold some appeal. For anyone else, this really no more than okay and is pretty standard fare for the genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Caroline Corcoran returns to the subject of motherhood in her latest psychological thriller Five Days Missing. Romilly Beach disappears from the maternity ward only hours after giving birth to her daughter, which given this should be the happiest day of her life makes no sense at all. What possible reasons could a woman have for abandoning her baby and how does she manage to leave the hospital empty handed without arousing the suspicion of the staff? It’s not until her husband Marc returns, having collected some essentials from home, that the alarm is raised. Shocked and bewildered, the only conclusion Marc can draw from this heartbreaking scene is that his wife is suffering from post partum psychosis, a condition that she was supposedly being monitored for. Surely that’s the easiest most obvious explanation because the very idea that something more sinister could have happened to Romilly doesn’t bear thinking about. It’s your job to decide what has prompted such drastic action and as you’d expect Caroline Corcoran doesn’t make it easy for you!

This psychological thriller grips you from the very first page, the prologue intense, traumatic and intriguing. Questions form thick and fast as you try to get a grip of the situation but there’s a long way to go before the truth will reveal itself. Although it struck me as odd that the police aren’t immediately involved, given her diagnosis, I liked the fact Caroline Corcoran ignores that angle and focuses on the individuals who know Romilly the best, looking to them to provide the answers instead. Surely between them they can figure out her current whereabouts and bring her back home where she belongs? I liked the way the author heads the chapters without using the characters actual names even though I couldn’t understand the reason behind this! Through the voices of The Husband, The Best Friend and eventually The Woman the short chapters detail both the ongoing search and snippets of Romilly and Marc’s relationship prior to her disappearance. The author divulges just enough to ensure your curiosity never wavers and by closing each chapter with a mini cliffhanger she keeps you on your toes, wanting more. This tactic works extremely well enabling the narrative to flow at a fast pace plus you don’t have time to get too comfortable with one voice. Fluctuating between perspectives guarantees your thoughts will be ricocheting all over the place. It’s impossible to decide whom you should trust or be wary of since there’s a secretive air hanging over these characters. You can’t help believing they’re all holding something back but why? A sense of foreboding accompanies you throughout the narrative, a feeling that deepens the further into Marc and Romilly’s world you travel.

The characterisation is spot on. You’re unable to grasp the true measure of these individuals because the author casts enough doubt in your mind as to their real motivations and intentions. Do you side with the loving, panic stricken husband literally left holding the baby, completely out his depth and reliant on Romilly’s sister Loll to guide him through the first days of parenthood or do you look elsewhere? Is Loll, divorced with two children of her own the loyal concerned sister she presents herself as or is she jealous of Romilly and Marc’s perfect life? What about her best friend, a woman who works side by side with Romilly day in day out at the cafe they run together? Is she privy to more than she’s willing or happy to disclose and if so has she shared these secrets with her partner who also happens to be friends with Marc? Finally how does Romilly and Loll’s mother fit into the picture, if at all?

There’s definitely an awful lot to think about as you’re forced to read in between the lines and your intuition will be put firmly to the test. The questions that arrived thick and fast in the beginning continue to weigh heavy on your mind as you grapple with the evidence laid before you. In true psychological thriller style this one has its roots firmly embedded in the past, the storyline growing darker by the minute. The more you scrabble around hunting for clues the more you fear for Romilly’s safety. Someone is manipulating the truth but who? The second half of the novel is especially tense and nerve wracking as a very different picture of her life from the one that’s been painted emerges. Here is the lightbulb moment. Shocked you will be, surprised maybe not so much but that’s only my opinion. There are moments towards the dramatic conclusion that will make your heart gallop so that all in all this becomes an edge of your seat read.

I absolutely loved Caroline Corcoran’s previous novel The Baby Group and can almost say the same about this one. Five Days Missing is well written and I found it to be a real page turner with a twist I didn’t see coming. However I often find myself in two minds about the way authors choose to shock and surprise their readers, particularly with their endings. They can either feel rushed, contrived or with a bit of luck just right. Although Caroline Corcoran ties the loose ends together neatly and in a wholly satisfying manner there was just this tiny niggling thought in the back of my mind which refused to go away. Were these actions entirely plausible? Even though there’s no getting away from the fact the end in this case justifies the means and this is fiction after all I still can’t decide! What I am 100% certain of is this; I will definitely be reading Caroline’s next book!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much promise but unfortunately for me it did not deliver. A domestic thriller that was for me basically luke warm. The characters were flat and the storyline just did nothing for me. I found it hard going. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.

This was an interesting and original theme sharing a very real condition called Post Partum Psychosis. What on earth would make a mother leave her new born baby? It was gripping and an excellent read with believable characters and unexpected twists and turns.

This is a dark and twisted tale and at times I didn’t know who to trust at all. It’s a phycological thriller about a mother who appears to walk out on her new born baby but turns into a delve into mental health issues and the truth that no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.

Five Days Missing was everything I could have wanted in a psychological thriller and much more. With complicated characters who all seemed to have something to hide, I had no idea who to trust or believe. The story is told from three points of view. The Husband, the Best Friend and The Woman, with a clear time line of events from the moment the woman goes missing having just given birth. Was it foul play, postpartum disease or an affair?
I had no idea how this story would end, but just as something seemed far too predictable, along came a twist. I was hooked.
This book kept me up long into the night and I even downloaded the Netgalley app to read on my walk to and from work and during lunch. I will be recommending this book and buying for friends.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Five days missing for an honest review.

Good grief - this one really keeps you guessing! The writing is exceptional, the characters are believable, and the story is dynamite. There are so many twists it makes you dizzy. I enjoyed every single word, and the ending is pure brilliance. Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This was a very emotional and deep domestic thriller telling the story of a mother abandoning her baby for no apparent reason, throwing those around her into a state of turmoil.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

This book was a little different from other psychological thrillers I have read lately. The main characters were well written and believable. There were many twists and turns and I was never really sure what to believe and it kept me guessing until the end.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

Romilly Beach goes missing shortly after giving birth to her baby girl. Disappearing from her hospital room, her husband, Marc, can’t imagine where she could have gone. The very real possibility that she is experiencing post-partum psychosis causes him to panic and call Ro’s sister to begin their search for her. When he hears that someone has spotted her on a plane to France, he sends his best friend after her, to bring her home, and learn the truth about what would have prompted a brand-new mother to leave her newborn and husband behind. But there seems to be a lot more going on under the surface, that even Ro’s best friend doesn’t know about. Is Romilly really experiencing psychosis? Or is there something going on that is much more terrifying? Something that threatens her life and could have caused her to leave so mysteriously.

Honestly, it took me a few chapters to really get into this book. Caroline Corcoran’s writing reminds me of Teresa Driscoll, whose books also takes me a little while to get into. But once I was in the flow, the book became addictive! The ending was spot on to what I wanted to happen, and I loved the surprises at the end! Excellent book full of manipulation and second guessing the characters’ reliability. Told from multiple viewpoints, I loved that the reader gets to see different sides of interactions. Excellent storyline and satisfying ending!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Caroline Corcoran for allowing me to read this ARC, which was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

OK, I found the plot of the story really interesting. A woman, who after giving birth, leaves behind the baby and goes missing. The husband, Marc, the best friend and Romilly's family members are worried about her. The story tells in a span of five days and what happened afterwards.

I do like the plot of the story, but I found the first part of the story slightly boring. The tension in the story starts developing in the middle of the book and soon, it actually piqued my interest in the book. The writing was good but then I didn't find much of twists and turns you would normally expect in a thriller. The story is told from the perspectives of The Husband, Marc, The Best friend and finally the Woman, who is Romilly herself. So as a reader, it was interesting to get into the heads of these characters and see what each of the characters think. Then as a reader, you doubt if the woman, Romilly just ran away because she is suffering from depression or running away from her own husband.

Overall, this is an OK thriller--not much twists and turns, not a fast paced thriller but it was good. Worth 3 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Thank you to NetGalley, Caroline Corcoran and the publisher for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Five Days Missing is a fast-paced thriller about, Romilly, going missing on the day her baby is born. Her husband is convinced it's a case of post-partum psychosis, but her friends think differently.

It's told through the point of view of people close to her, and there is no reliable narrator. I particularly loved how the different POV's were labelled 'the husband' 'the best friend' etc. It made it feel more realistic and represents how the media and public would react to this case in real life, and how everyone involved is usually dehumanised and becomes a suspect.

I have been attempting to read more thrillers and this caught my fancy. It’s a domestic thriller with a basic premise. A woman (Romilly) goes missing from the hospital right after giving birth to her daughter. Mental illness? Illicit affair? Foul play? That we have to try and piece together as the plot progresses and gets narrated from multiple perspectives, each with their own secrets and agendas.
My biggest issue with the book is that it doesn’t cover any new ground. The dialogue and even how the characters interact with each other is very clunky and unnatural. There are some twists and some fun observations but nothing inspired enough to warrant any praise. A book I will likely forget reading by the end of the week.

[NetGalley ARC]

I really enjoyed this book, I sank into the storyline from the very first page. I found the main characters very relatable and I loved the way the storyline unfolded with the twists and turns. The ending was superb. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to netgalley and Caroline Corcoran for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

I enjoyed Five Days Missing. You could tell that someone close to the protagonist was not what they claimed to be, and it was very interesting to try to figure out who was misrepresenting themselves.