digital arc was provided by Netgalley and the publisher

I kinda like the story, but the theme? Not so much.

Synopsis
Alice, the daughter of tech inventor Brian Ingold, was kidnapped. The kidnapper didn't ask for any ransom, but some riddles that baffled even the polices and FBI. Catherine, Alice's mom, didn't care what it take to get her daughter back and she might uncover things that might be the reason why Alice was kidnapped.

What I like and dislike
This isn't my first Cate Holahan book and I quite like her other book. The writing is solid, but something that I couldn't put prevent me from truly liking the book. Take Alice's conversation with her friends and her mother about (view spoiler) for example, it's coming so...performatively. A thing I read often on social medias. Not that it's wrong, I just don't think it's translated correctly in this form of writing. And so, it kinda turn me off. I think it'd better if I get the usual twist and causes, doesn't matter if it's silly, because this feels like a huge PSA but with a bad taste.
I don't really like the 3/4 part of the book, it does get interesting after something is uncovered tho and it picks up the pace and story to be a saving grace.

I liked the twist halfway through the story. I feel it started really strong, twist in the middle but the end was predictable . I would have liked a few more surprises.

Fantastic book! I would highly recommend both this book and other books by this author. Be sure to read this book!

The kidnapping of Alice Ingold has one of the most intriguing twists on a missing person case: the kidnappers want the media and the press to be involved. They can save Alice, but in order to do so they need to solve riddles written by the kidnappers.
As I was saying, such a good idea, but -unfortunately- badly executed: the riddles, an amazing tool capable of making the reader part of the story, weren’t as imagined. Also, the media taking part in the investigation would have been really cool to see, but all the riddles were solved by Alice’s father’s team, so this element too is actually not present. Today’s society, so morbidly obsessed with crime as a mere entertainment, would have been well represented by this mechanism, but we don’t get to see it.

Cate Holahan’s book wants the reader to be aware of the current problems with the fast development of tools such as Chat GPT, and The kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a really good critique of that. It shows the way we’re getting more and more comfortable using those new technologies, without ever questioning their ethics.

What I enjoyed: definitely the big plot twist, the double pov, Alice’s story told through a diary, the idea of using the media to resolve a mystery (but, as i said, badly executed), and the technology warning.
What I didn’t love: the writing style, especially Alice’s mother POV, and the characters, that didn’t feel real.

Overall, a really nice mystery that keeps you glued to the pages!

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Alice Ingold was born into a wealthy family. Her father, Brian, is a well-known tech genius who works with developing AI, and her mom is from a home with generational wealth. Alice is trying to be independent of her parents and is going to college while providing herself with an apartment in what her mom thinks is an unsafe neighborhood. After a visit from her mom, Alice gets kidnapped. Both parents get involved in the investigation, Brian thinks his AI software will help solve the case.

This starts off as a straightforward kidnapping mystery. It does develop into something more conspiracy-minded and is a change of pace from where it starts. It does talk about the pros and cons of using AI as a tool and how much of its use is beneficial. The book’s trajectory was decent, but I wasn’t impressed with the ending. I don’t feel the twists were all that twisty. The writing is solid, and this is a decent mystery/thriller, but it’s not terribly original. I would recommend this book if you’re in the mood for this trope.

The book was overall okay, nothing spectacular. It deals with AI and what happens when it is in the wrong hands. It was not what I expected based on the description which made me a bit disappointed but I have liked her other books so I will read more from Cate Halahan in the future.

The riddles were way too hard for me to solve and I just wasn’t fully invested in this, The concepts of AI also hit a little too close to home for me at times.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer for providing the copy of The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold by Cate Holahan. The story didn’t grab me right away and it’s probably unfair to compare it to The Darkness Of Others, which I adored from the very start. I didn’t think Alice’s diary was engaging, but the book got better as I learned more about what was going on. I’m not sure the book was really for me because it never really caught my interest, and I would have at least liked a fighting chance to solve the riddles! The big reveal at the end didn’t really surprise me, but it made sense. 3 stars

This book captured my attention from beginning to end. The dual perspectives were refreshing and even though I kind of guessed what was happening (and I am usually awful at guessing), it was still a captivating story. It included commentary on technology and other relevant societal issues that I could appreciate and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Wow. This book is definitely a must read. I feel like it is foreshadowing a world that I do not want to live in which can actually happen if no one reads this book. Its critical, its kept me on my toes and turning pages. The book is separated into two parts with part 1 containing Alice’s mothers view and Alice’s diary entries which was a unique perspective and helped the reader understand the storyline and the underlying motives. The book is very AI critical and should be read as part of classes in schools in my opinion. I highly enjoyed reading this story in a literary perspective, in a social perspective it made me afraid of what the world might become, especially with the currently situation in the United States where the book is set. Alice Ingold was relatable, although I’m not a rich heiress, and both her and her mother were characters I rooted for. Her mothers love was truly unconditional and I can just hope my mother loves me like Catherine Ingold-Newton loves Alice Ingold in here.


Goodread Review posted March 30
Instagram Post will be made March 31

The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold has one of those “hook-you-immediately” premises: a wealthy young woman is kidnapped, and instead of a ransom demand, her captors launch a national riddle-based scavenger hunt—turning a horrifying crime into a viral spectacle. The country is invited to play along, true crime-style, while Alice’s family scrambles to bring her home.

Told through alternating perspectives—Alice’s AI-obsessed tech mogul father, her socialite mother obsessed with image and media perception, and Alice herself—the story explores how wealth, technology, and public opinion intersect in the face of trauma. It’s part thriller, part social commentary, with shades of Black Mirror and a not-so-subtle dig at our culture’s obsession with spectacle and performative empathy.

The concept is fresh and unsettling in a really intriguing way. I loved the idea of a viral kidnapping case where solving riddles becomes national entertainment, and the book has a lot of fun critiquing how society responds to "perfect" victims. The dynamic between Alice’s parents is particularly sharp—two people reacting to the crisis in ways that reveal just as much about them as it does about the crime itself.

That said, the execution didn’t always live up to the setup. The riddles that were supposed to drive the narrative felt more like background noise, since most were cracked quickly by a team of AI experts off-page. That made it hard to feel engaged in the “game” element of the plot as a reader. And while Alice’s situation was compelling, her chapters didn’t give quite enough emotional depth for me to feel fully invested in her experience. I kept waiting for a stronger arc or more insight into her trauma, but it never totally arrived.

Still, it’s a fast, clever read that taps into so many timely themes—media sensationalism, the voyeurism of true crime fandom, and how privilege influences who gets believed (and saved). If you like your thrillers with a dash of satire and don’t mind a story that’s more idea-driven than emotionally immersive, The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a solid pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance reader’s copy!

This kept me in the edge of my seat very early on! The story was original enough to grab me by the throat basically! I loved it.

I really wanted to like this. The premise was interesting but the execution felt off. I think this just wasn’t the book for me but could well be someone’s !

I kept putting it down and not feeling compelled to pick it up again. I figured out some of the “twists” fairly early on but that said I wouldn’t call this a thriller to be honest.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you Cate Holahan, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: 09/23/25.

Alice Ingold is the “perfect victim”; a blonde, blue -eyed, white, cisgendered, stereotypically pretty, nepo-baby. So when Alice is kidnapped one September evening, with her kidnappers leaving riddles for her mother Catherine (a socialite who comes from generational wealth) and her father Brian (an visionary AI tech guru…who in some ways resembles another famous tech guru who’s been all over headlines lately). It sends them on a multi-state manhunt to uncover the clues as to who did this crime, what is their motive, and how do the Ingolds get Alice back home safe & sound?

*MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD…READ AT YOUR OWN RISK*


I really did enjoy the dual POV between Alice and her mother Catherine, it gave us viewpoints of the same crime from two different angles…and to me it felt like I was watching an action film play out. I also enjoyed the commentary about how technology and AI is taking over some jobs, and how generational wealth comes with privileges/luxury that the middle class doesn’t always get. The author made Alice someone you root for, someone you want to see make it out alive.

I will say, about 1/4 of the way in…I called one of the two plot twists that happen in Part 2. The book is split into two parts…or as I like to refer to them as “Act 1” & “Act 2”. The author does throw in some red herrings that make you think if you’ve figured out the twists or not, but after connecting the dots via my notes I was taking while reading…one plot twist became pretty clear that it was leading to that outcome.

That ending however! I get why the outcome happened the way it did…however I can still be upset about it. I think that the perpetrator(s) did not get nearly the amount of punishment deserved for the crime committed! I audibly was left with my mouth agape going “What The Fuck?!” as I drew onto the final page of “The Kidnapping Of Alice Ingold”. Job well done, Cate Holahan, you had me going through all the emotions with this one! 👏

#TheKidnappingOfAliceIngold #NetGalley

Engaging and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

Let me start by saying ⭐️⭐️ = an overall likeable, fast read, nothing wrong that would make me tell others not to read this. But I do feel the blurb isn't the most aligned with the story that is told. The blurb sets you up for a thriller, but realistically it's more of a family-centered drama with suspense. I definitely enjoyed the pacing and read it quickly, but I would've liked the twists to be less obvious (Alice being the architect of the whole thing, her dad being actually evil – both of these felt obvious based on what was happening in the beginning stages of the story, and I usually don't figure anything out in advance).

the kidnapping of alice ingold is thriller about the kidnapping of a tech billionaire's daughter and the ensuing scavenger hunt that happens when the kidnappers don't request a ransom, but instead send cryptic clues leading them across the country to try and save her.

the pros:
- it was a very fast read that kept me locked in.
- for once, i enjoyed a dual perspective.
- the whole plot concerning AI was scarily real considering the state of our country. it gave me some low key anxiety while reading.
- catherine felt like a real, relatable, fully fleshed out character. i felt for her the whole time.

cons:
- the dad turned into a whole cartoon supervillain at the end.
- once they talked about alice being a writer, it wasn't a huge leap to realizing she had something to do with the fake kidnapping, especially bc whoever did it would have had to have insider knowledge of zelos to pull it off.
- so with that said, the thriller element was kind of spoiled early on. the thing that kept me on the edge of my seat was more the anxiety about the state of AI in the real world than the actual kidnapping story.

Cate Holahan’s The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a gripping techno-thriller that delves into the dark side of artificial intelligence and the consequences of unchecked technological power. Blending high-stakes suspense with thought-provoking social commentary, Holahan delivers a chilling tale of wealth, influence, and the perils of AI overreach.

Alice Ingold, the daughter of a powerful tech billionaire, vanishes without a trace. Given her father’s empire—built on cutting-edge AI innovations—her disappearance quickly becomes a media sensation and a race against time. As investigators sift through digital footprints and AI-driven surveillance, it becomes clear that Alice’s kidnapping is more than just a ransom play; it’s a harrowing warning about the dangers of an interconnected world where technology knows more about us than we do.

Holahan masterfully constructs a world where artificial intelligence is both savior and villain, raising unsettling questions about privacy, free will, and the unintended consequences of technological ambition. The novel’s twists are razor-sharp, keeping readers on edge as they unravel a mystery that goes far beyond a simple abduction.

For fans of thrillers that blend cutting-edge tech with psychological suspense, The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a must-read. Holahan delivers a thought-provoking page-turner that lingers long after the final chapter.

Absolutely loved the novel and will look up the author to buy her other books. The plot twist caught me unawares and I'm normally pretty savvy catching onto a red herring.
I would've liked some more character involvement for the mother and would've loved for the epilogue to be a bit more in depth.

I found ‘The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold’ an interesting read in that I thought it was a straightforward kidnapping/ high profile race-against-time type thriller but it ended up being a story about something else entirely.
I appreciated the way Holahan brought the topics of conversation right up to date by asking the big questions about what quantifies wealth and power in today’s society, although by the end it felt like it lacked the punch needed for the final twists.
Personally I feel like Alice could have been developed more as a narrator, from the off set she is the perfect ‘victim’ a rich, white, college educated young woman who will gain a lot of media attention for her kidnappers. Although for me she didn’t really come into her own in the way it would have kept my interest throughout her ordeal, I wanted her to become validated in the way she overcomes those against her but that never really comes to fruition.
Also as the kidnapping is motivated in creating a media frenzy and to trigger conversation about the overuse of AI and the way it can be manipulated by the most wealthy and elite, I wanted Catherine’s narrated chapters to display this national debate a lot more.
I think this had a great set up and plenty of twists along the way but there was something lacking in the delivery for it becoming the gripping thriller I wanted it to be.
3.75 stars