4.5 stars rounded up

This book could go on my most unexpected reads list if I did that type of thing at the end of the year. I expected a thriller or suspenseful read when I picked this one up - what I didn't expect was to emotionally connect to this one like I did. In this book Rose has been estranged from her daughter for years, but when her daughter goes missing she instantly goes to try to help and find her. I can't say that I've ever experienced anything like that but I still really connected to Rose as both a woman and a mother. There are other reasons but those are personal and this is the internet. That being said, I was completely invested in Rose's search for her missing daughter. For her, it mattered the most that they found her safely. Her daughter was her focus and the other distractions (for example the rich family her daughter worked for) didn't matter to her. I understood that completely. I wanted Rose to not only find her daughter, but also to have that chance to maybe start building a relationship back with her. This book had me glued to the pages. In fact I finished it in just a couple of days because I couldn't stop reading. I thought the ending was solid and it left me excited to read more by this author.

Readers looking for a suspenseful read that sucks you in should pick this one up. It reminded me a bit of my reading experience with The Night Olivia Fell. I think that 4.5 stars feels right for this one and I'm rounding up. I'm leaving you with a quote that I saved. Also, a request if you've read anything else by Foster - which of her books should I read next? Do share!

"I think we can spend way too much time trying to figure out how we might have changed the world, or other people's lives, if we'd done things differently. We all go through crap, but it's still up to us to decide how it defines us."

I struggled to get into this book and didn’t really connect with the characters. It ultimately wasn’t a good fit for me.

Editor's note: This roundup is scheduled to publish in Georgia June 11 online and June 14 print in several newspapers. Will also publish in Mississippi and Alabama during the month in newspapers and magazines, timing up to local editors. Link below will be active June 11.

From new series starters (Michael Connelly’s “Nightshade”) to the tried-and-true (Kendra Elliot’s “Her First Mistake”) our beach bag is already overflowing, and what we offer here are just a few — OK, actually 25 — of the best beach reads published through the end of June. Later this season we’ll round out the list, but for now, find an old favorite, a debut thriller or just about anything in between — including a North Alabama favorite who you just might see dining at a Cullman restaurant.

“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man” (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A lovable Chinese tea shop owner stumbles upon a distressed, young woman — and a murder, the investigation of which she decides to serve up herself. With lots of tea and nosy charm, Vera tackles the project unasked as a “favor” to her (hoped for) future daughter-in-law. Sutanto mixes cozy mystery with smart humor and heartfelt moments.

“When She Was Gone” (Blackstone Publishing) by Sara Foster: When a young nanny working for one of Perth’s wealthiest families disappears, a tense investigation unravels the secrets of a seemingly perfect family, forcing everyone to confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers. And as expected from Blackstone Publishing, the story itself is packaged beautifully with subtle and tactile cover art: Buy the hardcover of this one.

“Follow Me” (Thomas & Mercer) by Elizabeth Rose Quinn: An eerie digital breadcrumb trail leads a tech-savvy woman into a web of deception and danger. Quinn crafts a smart, suspenseful mystery that taps into our modern fears of surveillance and online identity. “Heathers” meets “The Stepford Wives” in this tale of twin sisters.

“The Book That Held Her Heart” (Ace) by Mark Lawrence: In this final chapter of The Library Trilogy, a mysterious book bridges love, loss and literary magic in a haunting story that defies time and tests the bond between Livira and Evar — one that has never been more taut. Lawrence blends fantasy and emotion in this lyrical, genre-bending tale.

“The Great Pyramids: Collected Stories” (Arcade Publishing) by Frederick Barthelme: This sharp, wry collection captures small-town oddities, human longing and ironic twists with Barthelme’s signature minimalist flair. A masterclass in short fiction that’s both grounded and subtly surreal.

“The Boomerang” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Bailey: Big Pharma is on trial as Eli James, chief of staff to the president, attempts to rescue his daughter from a cancer diagnosis while simultaneously stumbling upon a cover up that could affect millions of lives — and more importantly to the bad guys, billions of dollars. Bailey keeps the thrills high and the emotional stakes higher. He also lives with his family in Huntsville — and has been know to visit Cullman County now and then. Let him know what you think of his latest if you see him around town.

“A Thousand Natural Shocks” (Blackstone Publishing) by Omar Hussain: A reporter fleeing his past while investigating a serial killer becomes entangled in a cult that promises a pill to erase his memory. The story turns to a test of time as dark secrets about the cult and the serial killer surface in an attempt to reconcile everything he’s learned with his past — before his memories evaporate.

“My Friends” (Atria Books) by Fredrik Backman: Backman returns with a moving meditation on friendship, aging, the quiet heroism of everyday people and a famous painting picturing an isolated moment of time of three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier. Tender, funny and unmistakably human, this is Backman’s most eloquent and lyrical story to date about how lives intersect in unknowable and unpredictable ways. An engaging read from the author of “A Man Called Ove.”

“The Language of the Birds” (Ballantine) by K.A. Merson: Arizona is no average teenager and when she finds a cryptic ransom note, she sets out to solve the riddles — and save her mother. Unwittingly, she becomes entangled in a worldwide treasure hunt that involves a centuries-old secret her father took to his grave. A quirky, surprising story soars in an introspective mystery.

“The Eternal Warrior” (Blackstone Publishing) by Ari Marmell: An immortal fighter who defies even death — an Eternal Warrior — is caught in a conflict that spans centuries, grappling with his past sins and the future of humanity in an attempt to reclaim everything that has slipped from his personal history. Marmell delivers epic fantasy with grit, heart and unrelenting pace.

“Nightshade” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly: Done with Bosch and Ballard, at least for now, Connelly’s new series starter centers on another one-name detective, Stilwell. Due to department politics, the Los Angeles County sheriff detective has been exiled to a low-level post on Catalina Island, where he promptly begins to ruffle local feathers as he unearths secrets the natives would rather keep to themselves. Hopefully Connelly’s flair for backstory and depth will surface in future offerings, but for now, our first meeting with Stilwell offers a familiar, fun summer read.

“Kaua’i Storm” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tori Eldridge: In the lush Hawaiian landscape, a repatriated national park ranger uncovers a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her two cousins. Unfortunately for her, it’s a mystery and investigation that neither the family, the locals nor the police truly want exposed. Eldridge blends action and cultural depth in a uniquely tropical thriller.

“Rockets’ Red Glare” (Blackstone Publishing) by William Webster and Dick Lochte: A high-octane political thriller unfolds against the backdrop of a potentially explosive Fourth of July. Lochte’s sharp storytelling and fast pacing make for a perfect July 4 holiday page-turner. The book is the first in a series with Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze. Reacher and Pickett fans will find common ground here.

“Written on the Dark” (Ace) by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay returns with an evocative, elegant historical fantasy set in a world where poetry, memory and fate collide. Centering on a tavern poet who must cater to both rogues and courtiers, Thierry Villar must also navigate churning political waters in a game of assassins and armies. Richly imagined and beautifully told storytelling.

“A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni: In book 11 of the Tracy Crosswhite series, a pair of cold cases stir ties to the murder of Tracy’s sister in the form of suspect Erik Schmidt. When Schmidt is freed due to an investigative error, the lives of her friends and family are under direct threat. Schmidt is a master of taunt and tease as he draws Tracy deeper into his dark world. Wonderful character building in this story and the sensitive drawing of Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum whose mannerisms echo those of Tracy’s murdered sister, is exceptionally done. One of Dugoni’s best works, the author brings in just enough backstory to both start the series here, and reward long-time readers with vintage Crosswhite.

“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” (Ballantine Books) by Martha Hall Kelly: In a story told through dual timelines, Kelly’s narrative is a personal ode to her mother’s heritage. Involving a contemporary mystery, set at Martha’s Vineyard, whose only answers will come from the past, the story taps a wartime romance set in 1942 — and a beach read written for today. Kelly is touring extensively for this book through the end of July. Meet up with her at marthahallkelly.com/events/.

“The Turn” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christopher Ransom: An heirloom, of sorts, following his father’s death sends Casey Sweet into his dad’s past — and a current country club where Casey might just have met the long-lost son he never knew he had. Written in the tradition of “Caddyshack,” Ransom’s new novel is an engaging summer break.

“The Afterlife Project” (Podium Publishing) by Tim Weed: Humanity is facing extinction. A group of scientists with the capability to send a test subject 10,000 years into the future. One of the last women on Earth capable of getting pregnant. All of this portends that the survival of humankind is at stake in a futuristic setting evoking the ills of today.

“It Takes a Psychic” (Berkley) by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: A psychic investigator — actually, a para-archeologist — with a flair for romance and the paranormal dives into a case filled with danger and sizzling chemistry. Castle delivers her signature mix of mystery charm in a story centering on a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. “It Takes a Psychic” is No. 18 in Castle’s A Harmony Novel series.

“The Ghostwriter” (Sourcebooks Landmark) by Julie Clark: An author’s past returns to haunt her in the form of a ghostwriting project undertaken for her estranged father. When the project turns out to be just another one of dad’s lies, writer Olivia Dumont is forced to confront her relationship with her father … and a web of family secrets.

“Stop All the Clocks” (Arcade) by Noah Kumin: Kumin’s debut is a meditative, poetic novel about time, grief and the modern-life moments that define us … in ones and zeroes. The death of a colleague and the collapse of her AI company send Mona Veigh’s life in directions not determined by any algorithm.

“Plays Well with Others” (Blackstone Publishing) by Lauren Myracle: A bout of social media betrayal forces Jake Nolan from her job, house and husband and into a receptive bungalow on Sweetwater Lane. There, she befriends those just like herself — people itching to act on entrenched thoughts of retaliation.

“Her First Mistake” (Montlake) by Kendra Elliot: Elliot has written nearly two dozen thrillers set in her home state of Oregon and this latest offering features a minor character from the Columbia River novels: Here, Deschutes County sheriff’s detective Noelle Marshall gets her own origin story. A cold case murder mystery, this is the tale that explains what happened to Marshall to make her the detective she is today, or at least what she becomes in later storylines. A fulfilling storyline delivers much more than backstory in a captivating summer read.

“Jill Is Not Happy” (Scarlet) by Kaira Rouda: In this darkly comic tale, Jill and Jack live an enviable life in South California and, as recent empty-nesters, an unbearable marriage. A road trip “to reconnect” is really a cat-and-mouse game unknown to each other as they unwittingly match their cunning to pull one in … and push the other over, the more-than-metaphorical ledge.

“The Farm House” (Poisoned Pen Press) by Chelsea Conradt: Looking for a fresh start after her mother dies, Emily Hauk and her husband depart for a farm in rural Nebraska. Learning nothing from centuries of thrillers (“The Amityville Horror,” anyone?), they should have asked why the asking price was so low. Unknown to them, everyone who has ever lived on this farm has died. The lure of the soil is compelling, though, as Emily digs into the mystery enveloping her new home.

Reach book reviewer Tom Mayer at tmayer@rn-t.com or tmayer132435@gmail.com.

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Louisa is the nanny for an incredibly wealthy family but when her and the 2 children she watches go missing, a massive search begins for them.

I absolutely LOVED this book and tore through it in a weekend. I loved the multi pov and seeing the contrast between the characters. I think this is the perfect summer read and the twists this book has had me at the edge of my seat. Definitely looking forward to reading more Sara Foster books!

Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia— and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children (from a very rich, powerful, influential family) in her care— Rose is asked to help bring Lou home. Were they kidnapped or did she run and take the kids with her— and why?
I really enjoyed this book! I will say it is a bit slow to start and felt like it took a while before any developments or breakthroughs in the case were made, I think some of this could have been trimmed a bit. I was still very intrigued about what happened and how events would develop. I liked both Lou and Rose as characters and I was rooting for them to survive and reconnect somehow. There are a lot of characters and a lot of moving parts so it was interesting to see how everything played out. Based on how the story is told, the twist is not too shocking but still packs a powerful punch. The final scenes are quite action-packed and satisfying after the slow build-up throughout the book. Overall, it is an excellent police procedural drama/suspenseful thriller and I would recommend it to others, especially for someone who likes this genre! Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Foster, and Blackstone Publishing for the gifted ARC. This is a voluntary and honest review.

This felt a little like coming in on the second book in a series, but we were caught up on the background quickly. If it was a series, I’d continue with it. Well paced and a little more character focused than a thriller typically is. I liked The story and layers. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook and print format.

Sara Foster’s "When She Was Gone" is a gripping psychological thriller that plunges listeners into a tangled web of family secrets, power struggles, and the desperate search for truth. The story follows former London police officer Rose Campbell, who is forced to confront her past when her estranged daughter, Lou, vanishes from a remote Australian beach—along with the two children she was nannying. As the investigation unfolds, layers of deception, privilege, and misogyny are revealed, and this is an addictive read / listen

Sophie Loughran’s narration plays a crucial role in amplifying the suspense and emotional depth of the novel. Her ability to shift between perspectives—whether embodying Rose’s quiet determination, DSS Mal Blackwood’s weary skepticism, or the chilling arrogance of the Fisher family—adds a compelling dimension to the storytelling.

Foster’s writing is sharp and evocative, weaving a narrative that is both intricate and deeply unsettling. The Australian setting is vividly rendered, from the isolated beach where Lou disappears to the suffocating wealth and influence of the Fisher family. The novel explores themes of parental guilt, systemic power imbalances, and the lengths people will go to protect their own. This is a 5 star mystery in print format, the audiobook format elevates it even further, making it a truly excellent psychological thriller and police procedural.

"When She Was Gone" is a masterfully crafted thriller that thrives in its audiobook format. The combination of Foster’s taut storytelling and Loughran’s compelling delivery makes for an unforgettable listening experience. Whether you’re drawn to psychological thrillers, police procedurals, or you enjoy audiobooks that elevate the tension through voice performance, this one is well worth your time.

Wow. This book is amazing. I felt so many different things while reading this story- fear, anxious, sad, angry, happy, hopeful. It was action packed and suspenseful; had me constantly turning the pages because I needed to know what was going to happen! The ending was very satisfying and left me with tears in my eyes. This is my first Sara Foster book, and it will definitely not be my last. I can not recommend this book enough!

I really enjoyed this book ! This is my very FIRST digital copy of a book so it took me a bit longer to read but I really became attached to Roses character. As a mom with 2 daughters I couldn’t even imagine having one of mine go missing ! This book kept me engaged, had me questioning everything, and the secrets and family lies were the best addition to this story.

Sara Foster is now an auto-buy author for me off this one book. It was so well written, the suspense was thick, and it kept me in the dark. I really had no idea where this story was going to go and any suspicion I had was wrong. This is the best kind of thriller!

A new author for me and I’m glad to have discovered her. The plot was unique and I enjoyed learning about the characters. The family dynamics are complicated by divorce, a dastardly father who lies to his daughter about her mom. A mother who missed years of her daughter’s life. Now that daughter is in danger and as a former police officer, and her mother, Rose has to help. The story takes place mostly in Australia. There is a good variety of characters from rich jerks, family members and the local police. Rose doesn’t sit back waiting for the police there to find her daughter and tension between them is taut. The plot kept me guessing and constantly changing my theories. I rooted for a Rose and a happy ending. I look forward to reading this author again. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing (via NetGalley) for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of “When She Was Gone” by Sara Foster. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

The intriguing premise grabbed me right away. Told in multiple POV’s, this psychological thriller is well paced and keeps you glued to the pages to the end. I would have liked to have seen more gasp worthy twists but I was still invested in what was happening. I felt for some of the characters and had no problem disliking the wealthy and very toxic Fisher family. This is a standalone novel but I could definitely see some of the characters returning for a series. While this is my first Sara Foster book, I’m interested in reading more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Actual rating: 3.75 stars

Super engaging and easy to read. Really liked all our main characters. I felt like it did lag at certain points and wanted a bit more action. Too much talking and not enough doing. There also wasn't a huge amount of suspense for a thriller/mystery, but it almost didn't matter as the dialogue was enough to keep it going. Overall, I thought the author did a great job at setting up the story and getting us invested in the characters and their motivations.

💜𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗘
𝔰𝔲𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔢𝔣𝔲𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔦𝔩𝔩𝔢𝔯
🗓️𝙿𝚞𝚋: 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟻
🤩𝕄𝕪 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 𝟜.𝟚𝟝 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤! ★★★★✫

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝...Was she taken or did she run? A mother who once walked away from her daughter may be the only one to find her now that she is missing…

🌻𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚢...This one had the best character development ever! 👌🙂So many things going on, but not confusing either…Rich people behaving badly, estranged parents, a nanny & kids vanished, a smidge of romance & that’s not even it…Lots going on in the best of ways. 🙌No boredom at all while reading this suspenseful thriller! 👏I loved how it wrapped up & I can’t wait to read more by this author ✍️

3.5 stars, rounded up
Although I think the reveal came a bit too soon, I was still gripped by this intriguing novel.

Former London police officer Rose Campbell went through a traumatic incident which left her divorced and estranged from her daughter Lou. Now Lou is a young adult and a nanny for a wealthy family in Australia. Rose gets notified that Lou and the two children she cares for are missing. Rose flies down to Australia to help with the investigation in any way she can, but also so she can show up for her daughter in a way she couldn't in the past. Police detective Mal Blackwood doesn't really want Rose's help, but he wants to find Lou and the children before it's too late.

This book had some deeper family dynamics than I was expecting. I really liked the parts that focused on Rose. I thought the parts with Mal and his wife and their issues drew away from the main storyline, and the fact that they let the rich people essentially run the show while keeping Rose completely out of the loop was very annoying to me.

Overall, I did like how everything turned out, although like I mentioned above, I thought we found out what happened to the missing people much too soon. I think it would have heightened the suspense to keep us in the dark for a longer period of time.

I did like this atmospheric read with complicated family dynamics. I will look for more from this author.

Amazing thrillers with multiple POV, lots of caracters development and full of twists. My first by Sara Foster and it won't be my last.

This was a gritty psychological thriller filled with characters that all had personal issues that crossed with the main investigation of a missing young woman and the two young children she nannied for.

We meet Rose, the estranged mother of the missing young woman who has a background in hostage negotiation and is contacted by her ex-husband to immediately fly from Britain to Australia to assist in their missing daughter's investigation. Then we have the lead detective, Blackwood, who's marriage is on the rocks as he's nearing retirement and this final investigation involves a coterie of failed marriage examples that trample his self esteem in his personal capacity.

Louisa is a wonderful nanny and cares deeply for the children she's responsible for. We don't get too much from her in the beginning but we do get a sense that she does not feel comfortable with the level of tension in the home with the children's parents. Soon after, her and the two young ones disappear off of the family's private beach and the team is called in to investigate.

I enjoyed the dynamic between Louisa and her estranged mother. Her mother, Rose, was in the Met as an officer helping with domestic abuse situations when a bad call got even worse and Rose lost her partner. Ultimately leading Rose into a therapy riddled existence where she struggled to care for Louisa as a child. Her husband left her and took her daughter, for the most part keeping them separated long into Louisa's adulthood. This is the foundation that Rose is working from when she's called in to help find her daughter. Not knowing anything about her really, but determined to help find her safe and have a chance at a relationship with her.

The other half of the story is from Blackwood's perspective as he looking at evidence and trying to figure out exactly how the young woman and two kids so mysteriously disappear off of a private beath. Did Louisa kidnap the kids and try to take them away from their tumultuous home or is something more sinister at work. He's a great detective throughout the entire novel and brings with him a classic investigator feel. Tough, gritty and a no BS kind of guy that wants to figure out the evidence and get everyone home safely.

I really enjoyed this one, but it did have some slow areas to it that felt a little too long. Some of the scenes just get carried out with a lot on introspection that would then lead me to feel estranged from the plot line at times. Overall though, well done and highly enjoyable!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Sara Foster. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australian-and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care-Rose is asked to help bring Lou home. Detective Senior Sargent Mal Blackwood is getting ready to retire when he is called in to head this last case. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and their multimillionaire grandfather is breathing hard down Blackwood's neck. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?

This was a fast-moving thriller, made even better with short chapters from many different POV, giving us insight into the characters. There was a lot of emotion in this book and all well-played - not too much, but enough that I was invested into the characters. I loved Mal, trying to do the best job possible while simultaneously trying to save his marriage; Ruth was driven to save domestic abuse victims and was trying so hard to do the right thing for her daughter. I couldn't put this one down and loved it!

A captivating thriller that will take you to the outback of Australia and have you questioning every person of interest along the way. If you ever doubted that money brings privilege, this is a book that will prove just that. Generations of wealth are targeted as a nanny and two kids go missing.

I enjoyed how the story was told from a select few POV, with some flashbacks that gradually tease out more information along the way. An eye-opening look on love of a mother, wealth, and family bonds.

Exciting from start to finish, When She Was Gone is guaranteed to bring to to exhilarating highs along the way, and will have you cheering for the underdog.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this arc in return for my honest review.

Pub Date: 01 April 2025

Lou takes the children she watches to the family’s private beach as she usually does, but this time they never come back; vanished in thin air. Her estranged mother comes to Australia to help the investigation.

This is a solid mystery where you will turn the pages fast to find out what happened! You’ll just have to know. We get to know the missing nanny a bit before she disappears, which helps to grab us into the mystery. There’s some ‘wealthy people behaving badly’ moments in this one. You gain more info slowly as the investigation goes on, but the end is action packed.

When She Was Gone comes out 4/1.