I totally chose this by the cover. Wanting a spooky season read; I see this and then the description and I was in. When She's Gone is my first novel by Frey. I enjoyed it. Taking place on Halloween, the novel takes place during the course of one night. Often going back and forth to a Halloween years' past when main Character Cora was kidnapped to now, when her daughter was also kidnapped. I did figure things out about 40% in but it was well put together

Cora Valentine’s life as a young, talented gymnast with a shot at the Olympics suddenly comes crashing down when she is kidnapped while celebrating Halloween with friends. The news headlines focusing on her as a victim rather than a talented athlete continue even after her safe return.
Cora’s life would never be the same. The newspapers and public hounded her not as the talented athlete she was but because she was a member of the Magnificent Eight.
Forced to leave her past behind her several years later the unthinkable happened one Halloween eve when her daughter was taken from her as they were enjoying the festivities together. The kidnapper’s terms were that Cora must kidnap another child if she wanted her daughter back.
Cora frantically searches for her daughter, fearing that her kidnapper, who has never been found, is still after her and has taken her child in revenge. A story that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Set in dual timelines, this is the story of Cora before and after her kidnapping as a teen. Just as she was set to become an Olympic gymnast, she was abducted on Halloween night and held until after the Olympic trials were over. Years later, on Halloween night, her 4-year old daughter is abducted.

I’m usually not a fan of dual timelines, but this one was written perfectly. It was easy to follow and kept the storyline moving flawlessly. This book is truly unputdownable and kept me guessing until the end. With the surprise ending, this book is compelling and intriguing. Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the eARC.

When She's Gone by the author of Don't Forget Me, published by Thomas & Mercer is a thriller that will leave the reader breathlessly craving more. Twisty and heart-wrenching, thius book is full of unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing till the last sentence.

Blurb: Cora Valentine has her whole life ahead of her. But when she’s kidnapped on Halloween, her name is splashed across headlines not as an athlete but as a victim. Not even her safe return changes that, especially since no one is caught.
Hounded by the public, Cora’s time as a missing girl and member of the Magnificent Eight leaves scars. Years later, when Cora has her own daughter, she’s determined to leave the past behind for a better life. Her daughter will never face those fears. And Cora will never face them again??
Clearly, whoever took her all those years ago isn’t done with her yet…but as long as they have her daughter, Cora’s not done either.

When She’s Gone
By: Rea Frey
Pub Date: January 14. 2025
This is my third book by this author and her books are always ones I gravitate too. I like that she writes in several genres.
This one rocked me to MY CORE! A mom with a child who goes missing while Trick-or-Treating. A parent’s worst nightmare when their child goes missing.
As a child Cora Valentine was kidnapped on Halloween and her name was all over the media. No one was ever convicted of her kidnapping.
Years later she is a parent and her daughter comes up missing on Halloween. What are the odds?
The story had me read from cover-to-cover because I had to find out if her daughter was found or where their disappearance connected. I was completely thrown for a loop at the ending.

I requested this book because last year I read 2 books by this author and I loved both (The Other Year and Don't Forget Me), but unfortunately this When She's Gone was sort of a 'miss' for me.
I still liked Frey's writing style and how she develops her characters, and I do like the kidnapping baby/child trope. And that trope is the main reason why I didn't love this book as much as I expected to. This time, I didn't feel engaged with the plot or how that trope was executed - maybe I'm getting done with that trope?, all I know is that I've read books with that trope that pleased me more.
Also, the conclusion was, in my opinion, very predictable - so that 'shocking' effect didn't happen to me.
It still was a fun time, and I certainly recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author before and enjoyed it. Or even to mystery readers who are 'new' to the kidnapping/missing child trope.

The synopsis of this book had me so intrigued and I thought this would be a perfect Halloween read and a great introduction for me to this author .

The first few chapters were very captivating and then quickly the fizzle came and I was uninterested.

I had high hopes for this one but this just wasn’t my cup of tea but just because it’s not my cup of tea doesn’t mean it’s not for you .

Read this if you like :
🫶🏼 Dual Timeline
🫶🏼 Small Town Settings
🫶🏼 Kidnapping Tropes
🫶🏼 Short Chapters
🫶🏼 YA Dialogue
🫶🏼 Far fetched story lines

The story is set over dual timelines and starts off with Cora on Halloween taking her little girl trick or treating through the town , but quickly things spiral out of control because she can’t find Lu-Lu anywhere and Cora is out of her mind !!

Cora is quickly transported back in time to when she was a teenager and how one tragic Halloween night turned into one of the most horrifying events of hear life ….and now it’s happening again .

Will Cora be able to live through this and see her daughter alive again or will this end tragically leaving Halloween night one never to be forgotten?

You need to read this for yourself if you think this is a book for you !

Thank you NetGalley , Thomas & Mercer and Rea Frey for this ARC!

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

When She’s Gone by Rea Frey is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the haunting aftermath of a kidnapping and the relentless pursuit of truth. Frey, known for her ability to weave suspense with deep emotional resonance, delivers a story that is heart-wrenching and unputdownable.

The novel centers around Cora Valentine, a young gymnast with Olympic dreams, whose life takes a dark turn when she is kidnapped on Halloween. The narrative spans three decades, exploring the long-lasting impact of this traumatic event on Cora and her family. Years later, when Cora’s own daughter disappears under eerily similar circumstances, she is forced to confront her past and unravel the mystery that has haunted her for years.

Frey’s writing is evocative and compelling, capturing the raw emotions of her characters with precision. The dual timelines are expertly handled, allowing readers to see the immediate aftermath of Cora’s kidnapping and the present-day investigation into her daughter’s disappearance. This structure adds depth to the story, highlighting the enduring effects of trauma and the complexities of memory.

One of the novel’s strengths is its exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. Cora’s determination to protect her daughter and uncover the truth is palpable, driving the narrative forward with relentless momentum. Frey skillfully portrays the psychological toll of the kidnapping on Cora, making her a deeply sympathetic and relatable protagonist.

The suspense in When She’s Gone is masterfully maintained, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Frey balances the tension with moments of introspection and emotional depth, creating a well-rounded and satisfying thriller. The supporting characters are also well-developed, adding layers to the story and enhancing the overall sense of mystery.

When She’s Gone is a standout thriller that combines psychological depth with a fast-paced plot. Rea Frey’s ability to create complex characters and maintain suspense makes this novel a must-read for fans of the genre. It’s a powerful exploration of trauma, resilience, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child.

3.5 stars. This was a run of the mill thriller. There was a lot going on, but not a lot about the plot was believable.

This one hurts! More so towards the end.

Cora Valentine’s life is a cautionary tale for the girls not to get kidnapped. She was one of the most promising gymnasts who would have surely get into the Olympics. However, the unexpected happened. She got rescued and years later her little daughter gets kidnapped. She knows for sure the person who’s behind this knows her history pretty well.

This is one such easy thrilling fast paced read which will keep you on your toes!

I like how the writing never made me feel like the book could have been written with lesser words. The length is perfect for the story.

The twist towards the end will make you believe there’s no one you can actually trust anymore. God, it hurts reading the ending.

I would say for the primary thriller readers, unlike me, would guess the twist. But they will enjoy how short and interesting the writing is.

A good one and I will recommend the book to the thriller beginners and occasional readers.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the ARC.