SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING was another cleverly plotted book by expert author, Shari Lapena. A missing wife and several suspects. What’s not to like? The suspense is off the charts. I was unsure of who or what to believe throughout the entire book. I liked the detective aspect and how the plot flowed rather quickly. Be prepared for some crazy twists and turns. This is definitely a winner!

Many thanks to Penguin Group Viking Penguin and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.

First line: Bryden Frost is running late.

Summary: Bryden Frost has the perfect life. A loving husband, a luxury condo, a beautiful daughter and supportive friends but then one day she doesn’t show up to get her daughter from daycare. When her husband Sam comes home he finds her car, her wallet and no sign of foul play. It appears that she just vanished. As the police get involved pieces of their perfect life begin to fall apart. The police are now in a race against time to find her before it is too late.

My Thoughts: Several years ago I found Shari Lapena and really enjoyed her stories. She wrote good mysteries with lots of twists and turns. They felt fresh and intriguing. With this one I started out really liking the suspense of finding Bryden. I was invested in what happened because so much seemed off about the scenario but as the story kept on I slowly lost interest as I put the story together before the big reveal. I felt it was rather anti-climactic at the end.

In relation to the characters many of the people involved were horrible. As things are revealed there are lots of secrets in their pasts. It could easily have been multiple people for many reasons. Several parts of the plot seemed to be added just to have some filler because they did not seem to be resolved by the end. It was an okay story but definitely not my favorite of Lapena’s work.

A book with lots of twists and turns. A missing mother than turns into a murder investigation. There were lots of potential suspects but I was surprised at who did it.

Not the best Lapena. I love how fast-paced her books are and they're usually short reads. This is longer and we get so much detail about ALL the characters. It's just not necessary. All the characters are despicable except Bryden's (worst name) parents and the detective. I did not suspect the actual guilty party but by the end I was just ready to move on. This does have a kind of old school mystery feel which I enjoyed. I was desperate to learn who the killer was. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Bryden and Sam have the perfect life, two great careers, a beautiful condo, and a darling daughter. Their world is flipped upside down when Sam receives a call from their daughter's daycare, Bryden never picked her up. Arriving home, Sam finds a house in order and nothing amiss. There is no trace of Bryden. Police arrive on the scene and the building becomes a potential crime scene. The more players you meet, the more you begin to see the perfect facade is just a lie. Everyone has secrets to hide.

Shari Lapena is the queen of messy crime. She paints this picturesque life and story and then rips it apart piece by piece. The basic premise of the book has been done many of times, but Shari knows how to take an twist it on its head. Thank you Netgalley and Viking Penguin for the advanced copy of this.

She Didn't See It Coming definitely kept me reading, eager to see what the outcome would be. Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.

Shari Lapena’s She Didn’t See It Coming is a compelling page-turner that masterfully explores the secrets lurking behind seemingly perfect lives. When Bryden disappears from her luxurious condo, leaving behind her laptop, phone, and keys, the story immediately hooks you with its puzzling mystery. The narrative delves into the intricacies of Bryden and Sam's marriage, revealing that nothing is as flawless as it appears. Lapena deftly builds suspense through a series of twists and turns, making it difficult to predict what truly happened. The characters' relationships are layered with secrets, and as the investigation unfolds, the reader begins to question who can be trusted. The depiction of the upscale condo building adds a claustrophobic feel to the story, intensifying the sense of danger lurking just beneath the surface. While some plot points felt slightly predictable, the overall pacing and atmosphere kept me engaged throughout. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of how well we really know those closest to us — and how darkness can hide behind even the most polished facades. Overall, She Didn’t See It Coming is an entertaining and cleverly constructed domestic thriller well worth the read for fans of suspenseful mysteries with complex characters. A solid 4 stars!

A good read for me. I enjoy reading Shari Lapena's mystery books. I love adding them to my collection. I enjoyed this story and I'm sure readers will like it as well. Twisty joy ride for me. I enjoyed it. I can't reveal nothing sorry so please pick up a copy if you want to know what the story is about.

A rapid plot twisting thriller, tgat starts out as missing person case that soon bro es a murder investigation. Full of suspense, and as always a great read by Shari Lapena.

First and foremost, a GIANT thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the arc. When Shari Lapena’s new books come out, I never hesitate to order, and she never fails to disappoint. She Didn’t See It Coming was no exception. Did I think I had it figured out? YES. DID I HAVE IT FIGURED OUT?! Of course not. Lapena is the queen of twists, and this is one book you NEED to add to that TBR. :)

I usually enjoy Shari Lapena books.
I felt like this novel had too many suspects in the beginning. i would have preferred for the novel amd the plot to build and slowly unfurl list of suspects. I also found this novel to be a bit predictable in that Bryden was murdered early on and there was not a lot of suspense in this outcome.
I also did not really find any of these characters to be likeable, and that is an issue for me. If I do not care about the characters, I am not as invested in the storyline.

I really found the ending too open ended, , perhaps leaving this open to a sequel?
Normally I love Ms. Lapenàs books but this was my least favorite of hers so far.

Shari Lapena, a skilled thriller writer, masterfully weaves red herrings to keep the reader guessing and suspecting everyone. I found myself thoroughly engaged in the plot. The satisfying ending was exactly what I had hoped for.

Shari Lapena’s She Didn't See It Coming is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the end. When Bryden vanishes from her seemingly perfect life, everyone becomes a suspect-even those closest to her. Lapena’s signature style delivers plenty of secrets, and red herrings, and an interesting conclusion. While some characters could use more depth, the plot is undeniably addictive and perfect for fans of domestic suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars - The domestic suspense queen Lapena does it again!! While her latest “She Didn’t See it Coming” may not be my favorite of hers, it was a very serviceable domestic thriller about a missing persons case that develops into more. Where did wife & mom Bryden go & did someone take her?? TBH - the ending of this one was a bit of a let-down, but the story is quite readable & intriguing, kept me reading & quite engrossed and will look for the author’s next for sure! My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the advance reader’s copy - greatly appreciate the opportunity to read & review it!

Shari Lapena has written another twisted tale that quickly had me racing through the pages. Sam and Bryden had the picture perfect marriage with great jobs and a beautiful apartment. Bryden usually picks up her daughter from daycare until the one day she doesn’t! Sam picks up their daughter but when he returns home his wife is nowhere to be found. All her personal belongings are there except no Bryden. The author writes many twists and turns and possible suspects. Short chapters makes the book a fast easy read. I always enjoy her thrillers which aren’t too gritty and never disappoint! Loved the ending!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced eGalley of the book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#SheDidn’tSeeItComing #ShariLapena #NetGalley

Sometimes, the places you feel the safest may end up being the most dangerous. A husband and family are desperately searching for a missing mom but she never left her condo. Where could she be? Follow the twists and turns in this suspenseful thriller to its shocking conclusion.

Shari Lapena is one of THE best thriller queens on the market right now. She DIdn't See it Coming was another phenomenal addition to her fabulous roster. Can't wait for the next, as always!

Young mom, Bryden never shows up to pick up her daughter from daycare. Her distraught husband is a suspect, as it's usually the husband but was Bryden hiding something? There's a man in her building that has been accused of sex crimes in the past and her sister seems overly excited about the details of her Bryden's disappearance. The detectives are fed all sorts of misinformation and the list of suspects grows as everyone who is connected to Bryden each has their own shady pasts. Maybe more that one crime will be solved in the end. Love, betrayal and deception will twist and turn you and keep you up reading until way past your bedtime!

Loved this book, but it left a lot of unanswered questions. There was a whole plot point that wasn't tied up. Am I missing something? Were these characters in another book? I was left very confused.
It's a great thriller that is impossible to put down. I also really liked the author's deep dive into "armchair detectives." Very good insight into those online forums.
Great book, but ending left me confused.

This very entertaining murder mystery novel kept me interested the entire time with its faced pacing and cast of suspicious characters! Would recommend.