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

3 stars

Alice Ingold, a student at UC Berkeley has been kidnapped. She is the immensely privileged daughter of Brian, a tech guru and Catherine, a shipping heiress. Instead of a ransom the kidnappers present a riddle and invite the world to help solve it to save Alice.

Well, I loved that premise, but it’s not quite that simple. One would have to have special knowledge about Brian’s company or the area around San Francisco to solve the riddles. Oh, a Brian could have been a bit less of a stereotypical villain. This ended pretty much ch the way I expected, but then there will be other reviews talking about the big twist, so, you know…..well, I guess you didn’t know.

"Geniuses often earn their titles because their brains work spectacularly well in specific areas, not because they do everything better than average."

Alice Ingold has been kidnapped, and now her parent(s) will stop at nothing to bring her home. This story has secrets and suspense, bringing in the reader to figure out why Alice was kidnapped and what was going to happen to her. Most importantly-will she make it out alive?

Alice, a wealthy, blonde, and privileged college student who attends Berkley becomes the perfect target for a kidnapping that is meant to expose the consequences of her father Brain's AI company, Zelos. This book is told in two perspectives- Alice, who is trapped in this unknown location trying everything in her power to escape, and her mother, Catherine, who is desperately searching for her daughter. While both view points give us insights on what is happening inside and outside of Alice's confinement- the pacing does eventually begin to drag. To also highlight, this story isn't just about Alice and her mother- it focuses on the impact of AI. Throughout this book I would find just lengthy passages about it and go into excessive detail.

Overall, the idea of the story has an interesting take and if you are looking for a fast-paced read The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold may be a good one to do just that. Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

Cate Holahan does a great job of exploring complex human motivations while keeping the reader on edge.
While not without its flaws, especially in character development and pacing, it maybe it is for other readers

I was excited about the approval mail I've got from netgalley to read "The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold" by Cate Holahan. My excitement was because of the description, it intrigued me.

This book is set to be released on the 25th of September of this year and is supposed to be a mystery / thriller. Whilst there was nothing really thrilling about it I have to say that in all honesty, it was kind of disappointing.

So, the overal idea of the story was cool. Let the public solve riddles to come closer to where your daughter has been held. But the riddles.. I guess I'm not that kind of genius to crack even a single one of them. If it where riddles that people could actually solve, it would keep the reader thinking, trying to solve them along with the story. Also, it wasn't really the public that came with the solutions now did they.. The father and his team had all the answers within a couple of pages, kind of takes away from the mystery. The story is not what I expected it to be, the ending was kind of nuts, but also kind of to be expected.

I feel kind of harsh writing this review, but I need to be honest.

2 stars from me.

The premise of this book sounded great to me but something about the execution just didn’t click on my end. I found it hard to root for any of the characters. I know this book will find the right audience with some. It is certainly a timely read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Wow!!! I loved this book!! It was fast past and kept me interested from the get go! Then before I knew it my jaw was on the jaw and I had to go back a few pages!!! Looking forward to more by this author!

This wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be.

This was more a book about family dynamics and how dangerous AI could be if in the wrong hands. I was looking forward to the puzzle aspect of the book and involving the public in finding Alice, but that was very minimal.

I don’t think I’d really classify this as a thriller either.

I liked the aspect of the journal entries alice wrote while she was kidnapped and the twist was good as well.

It was kind of slow and if you are super into AI you probably won’t like the opinions in this book. I’d say it’s pretty anti-AI and has a lot of commentary on wealth.

I think that the description was slightly misleading. There really isn’t a mystery and it’s not really a thriller either. Honestly it kind of felt like the author really hates AI and wanted an excuse to give all her opinions about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC.

#TheKidnappingOfAliceIngold #NetGalley
Cate Holahan’s The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a high-stakes thriller that masterfully blends true-crime obsession, social commentary, and a mind-bending mystery. With a unique premise—a nationwide scavenger hunt for a kidnapped girl—this novel hooks readers from the very first page and doesn’t let go.
Alice Ingold, a beautiful and privileged young woman, has been kidnapped. But instead of a ransom demand, her captors present a riddle, turning her abduction into a twisted game that the entire country is invited to solve. Her parents, Catherine and Brian, are desperate but take wildly different approaches to finding their daughter. Catherine, a wealthy socialite, turns to public opinion and crowdsourcing, leveraging media attention to spread awareness. Meanwhile, Brian, a brilliant AI tech entrepreneur, relies on algorithms and machine learning to crack the clues. As America becomes obsessed with Alice’s disappearance, the line between entertainment and real life blurs. But as Catherine pieces together the clues, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a kidnapping—it’s something far more sinister. The deeper she digs, the more shocking the revelations become. And Alice may not be the only one in danger.
Likes:-
1 A Unique, Timely Premise: The idea of a kidnapping turned into a public spectacle mirrors society’s obsession with true crime and social media justice. The nationwide scavenger hunt adds a fresh, interactive twist.
2 Complex Characters: Catherine and Brian offer contrasting perspectives, making for an engaging and emotionally charged narrative. Catherine’s desperation and Brian’s cold logic create an intriguing dynamic.
Dislikes :-
1 Some Predictable Twists: While the plot is gripping, a few twists may feel familiar to avid thriller readers.
2 Technology Jargon: Some of the AI-related explanations slow the pacing slightly, though they add realism to the story.
Overall :- The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a cleverly plotted, fast-paced thriller that keeps readers guessing while holding up a mirror to society’s obsession with true crime. If you love books that blend mystery with social commentary—think Gone Girl meets Black Mirror—this one’s for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me an advance copy.

2.75 /3⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Cate Hokahan and her publisher Thomas & Mercer. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the September 2025 release of 𝑇𝘩𝑒 𝐾𝘪𝑑𝘯𝑎𝘱𝑝𝘪𝑛𝘨 𝘰𝑓 𝐴𝘭𝑖𝘤𝑒 𝐼𝘯𝑔𝘰𝑙𝘥 in exchange for my honest review.

I love the cover. Well done on marketing. This started out interesting and unfortunately fizzled. Less thriller and more about wealth inequality and conspiracy surrounding AI corruption.

Was a bit heavy, lacked twists and just didn’t feel like a mystery/thriller. Felt like a big public scavenger hunt. It definitely showcased the impact of media coverage and the frenzy that ensues. It wasn’t my cup of tea.

Alice Ingold get kidnapped but instead of a ransom the captors lead the the police on and all of America on a chase. This is told from Alice and her mother's point of view which I liked. This book had a lot to do with AI which I do not like but I did like the talk about wealth inequality. This book was not quite what I thought it was going to be. I thought more thriller and less preachy.

A shocking abduction becomes a nationwide puzzle in this twisty thriller. Alice Ingold has vanished, but instead of a ransom, her masked captors present a cryptic riddle, turning her kidnapping into a public game. Her parents; wealthy socialite Catherine and tech mogul Brian, take opposing approaches to finding her. As the nation scrambles for answers, Catherine uncovers a far more sinister truth, one that puts more lives at risk, including her own. Cate Holahan’s The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold is a gripping thriller that turns an abduction into a nationwide puzzle. With sharp prose, shifting perspectives, and timely themes, Holahan’s immersive storytelling keeps readers hooked, delivering suspense, social commentary and unexpected twists.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this book for review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this book, with my honest review below.

While The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold has a very intriguing premise it turned into something more as a critique on AI and wealth inequality. Told in alternating viewpoints of Alice’s socialite mother, Catherine, and Alice herself (from diary entries), the story tracked all manner of happenings from their perspective.

Alice is the affluent daughter of billionaire Brian, who runs an AI company and more, and that’s what has made her a target of the kidnapping. Much like her diary the book is a thinly veiled look at the corruption that surrounds AI and Alice’s own ‘born on the right side’ privilege. I’ll admit, I was drawn to the book because of the thriller element so wasn’t necessarily on board for the rest, though it was well done and I’m sure would spur a few passionate conversations for those who were aware of what they were getting. As it stands I found it a bit weighty and the twists a little hollow.

Thankyou Thomas mercer & NetGalley for this arc copy.

This book displayed true meaning on the impact of a high profile kidnapping case can grip the public when it involves the stereotypical victim. I liked the duel pov from Alice and the mother, at times I would have liked to have read more on the impact from the public and sometimes the structure fell w little flat. However it does display good talking points especially with the world we are living in now it felt like it could be factual in some senses when the story started to unravel

Alice is extremely wealthy, is kidnapped, and everyone looks for her. That’s about all that fits with the misleading blurb of this story. Anyone expecting a dark mystery with creepy perpetrators and alpha-numeric clues that take time to puzzle over and solve will be sorely disappointed like I was. Alice also happens to be a college student and the clues are relevant only to her top percenter parents and the few with knowledge about her father’s company, Zelos. They are also solved within minutes and there’s no captivating mystery about them.

Everything in the story is about that company’s AI technology and what it means for the future of society. It’s a constant theme that just gets tiring after a while. And anyone that doesn’t agree with the view of the story is really not going to like it. I wouldn’t have read the book if I’d have known what it was actually about, and others are going to feel the same way. Nothing’s worse than being tricked into thinking it’s your favorite type of story and then finding out it’s completely different. Especially because I don’t care either way about the central theme! Stop marketing to the wrong readers because it’s only going to anger them and make them dislike the book even more.

It’s not fair to the author because I suppose for the type of story it was, it was entertaining and readers who enjoy those types of stories will appreciate it. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t.

I really enjoyed the first half of this story. The kidnapping of a billionaire’s daughter felt intriguing, and I very much enjoyed the multiple POV’s that were given. However, as line the second half of the story, I felt as if the plot became slightly sloppy and somewhat lackluster. We went from a clear exploration of wealth inequalities amongst various other complex themes to a treasure hunt that slowly started losing it’s steam. In the end though, it was an enjoyable read and I wholeheartedly enjoyed the stylized writing, satire, and complex themes.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this story in exchange for my review.

DNF @ 42%

I'm just bored and I don't like the way this is written. So over the top and stylised, it doesn't work as a mystery/thriller.

Alice Ingold, daughter of an heiress and tech icon has been kidnapped. The kidnappers are sophisticated and send the FBI on a scavenger hunt throughout the country. They want everyone to know the dangers of AI and wealth disparity. I really enjoyed the dual perspective of the mother and daughter in this book. It was a fast read and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. At times the plot was a little too real considering what’s happening in this country since the inauguration. Also, every time I read Elons name in the book I became immediately nauseated. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!