Five Days Missing

Great book! This is the second book I’ve read by Caroline Corcoran and it did not disappoint! Rich, complex characters drive the story of a woman who disappears after giving birth to her daughter, leaving her husband to care for their daughter. Surrounded by close friends and his wife’s sister, he struggles with caring for the newborn and searching for his wife. Why did she leave? What does her best friend know, her sister, his best friend? What does he know? Told from alternating points of view, the tale unfolds. A slow burn to a satisfying ending.

I really enjoyed this book, it was twisty suspenseful and full of tension. I didnt know who to believe and it was so unpredictable that I didnt see the twists coming. The characters were all well written and believeable and it was a good storyline. I was hooked.

My first book read by Caroline Corcoran was The Baby Group back in 2020.
Which I totally got into. I was so excited to see a new novel by this author.

I personally thought this was an intriguing and interesting novel
Romilly, our main character was really well drawn and developed.
I couldn't help but fell bad for her I wanted to jump inside the story and help her.
The chapters are short and snappy which made the plot move along at a great pace and made getting to know the characters really easy.
The flow of the story was intense, it had me gripped right from the start. 
This story completely blew me away! Incredible... with so much depth and a mystery worth diving in to on every level!
A page turner, it kept me guessing until the very end!
I loved the description and detail in Caroline's writing.
Such a compelling and gripping thriller, which kept you wanting more and such a page turner such a great book!
Very well written psychological thriller that had me gripped from start to finish.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Avon and NetGalley Thank You for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!
I will post and tag on all my platforms closer to pub date!

He said...she said...believe what we will. This book was spellbinding at times...other times, the story moved slowly. The writer is an excellent story teller. Wait a minute. This book makes one believe it is nonfiction. THat is how great it is. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. I didn’t want to put it down. Red herrings...believable characters...I believed the lies and that is something I usually catch right away. The ending...just read it and see.

I adore this author. I was so excited to see this book I squealed. This is my new favourite (I say this with every new book).

This is completely engaging and will capture your attention from the very beginning. I have been constantly trying to guess where this was going but have been unsuccessful.

This is a fantastic read and I have no doubt will be a bestseller.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

10./10! Let's just start with the good news. And guess what? It's ALL good news! I recently barely slogged thru two disappointing books by NYT best selling authors, and so I was overjoyed to start Five Days Missing, and in the midst of Christmas Holidays, put off all I was able to, and whip thru this thriller and had me SHE DID IT, HE DID IT, SHE'S CRAZY, THEY BOTH ARE CRAZY. Wait, WHAT (in a wonderful way!). All the characters were well written, with believable forward faces and hidden faces. It possibly could have been tighter? Or perhaps I'm just impatient because I sped read the last four chapters at four a.m. (thinking I'd be able to get back to sleep if I read a little -HAHAHA).
Great job to Ms. Corcoran.
Thanks so much for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!

I found this book really enjoyable, full of twists and tastefully played on the postpartum psychosis or something else theme. The thrilling nature of the book kept me guessing throughout

This was really good! What’s the deal with Romilly? Is her story real or just her mind playing tricks on her? A line I love - when Loll is talking to her super stupid mother: “Her voice roll its eyes.” Great portrayal of friendship and family in a very emotional time. An author I will watch for!

Five Days Missing was a very good psychological thriller. What would make a mother disappear and leave her newborn baby moments after giving birth, and not telling her husband and family. This book kept me guessing and I couldn’t put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for my arc.

Absolutely loved this! Great characters, great storyline and plenty of twists, what more could you want?

Romilly and Marc have just had their baby, but instead of being in a happy bubble their worlds change in a second! Marc realises that Romilly is missing, but the baby is still there and explains she is at risk from Post Partum pyschosis, they need to find her and fast!

I'd highly recommend this book, it's a great read.

Absolutely flew through this book. The characters are so realistic an we'll written without being predictable or cliche. The plot had me guessing the whole way through. I love that it just when you think you cab out it aside and get some sleep...... it will literally just hook you again and again and again and have you up all night until you finish! Such an enjoyable read

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this thriller and had me guessing all the way through. Great storyline and would recommend to others.

A chilling tense unputdownable read.This author always draws me in her characters come alive I stayed up late racing through the pages.So twisted I could not figure out what the truth was.Highly recommend this author and all her books this one top of my list.#netgalley #avonbooksuk

This is my second book by Caroline Corcoran, I really enjoyed The Baby Group and this one didn't disappoint either. It was quite the page turner and a lot of chapters ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so I couldn't stop reading. I found it very intense and absolutely absorbing.

I didn't like that it was a tad repetitive with the postpartum psychosis questioning and there was a tad too much back and forth with the internal dialogue...that got to be a bit much...but otherwise a near perfect domestic suspense that I read in one sitting, had a couple surprising twists I didn't see coming and I loved the ending of it too.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Avon Books UK and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Fast paced page turner, enjoyable, full of suspenseful moments, twist and turns.

Five Days Missing is the third book I've read by Caroline Corcoran ,an author whose psychological thrillers are always above the average in the genre.

Romilly Beach has just given birth to a baby daughter. Husband Marc is shocked and surprised when he arrives at the maternity unit the day after to find that Romilly has disappeared leaving the baby behind. Marc takes the baby home and with the help of sister-in-law Loll does his best to look after her with the couple's best friends Steffie and Adam offering moral support. Marc's theory is that Romilly is suffering from Post Partum Psychosis ,ignoring the theories of others, she's spotted getting on a plane to France and the search is on.

The story is told from the perspectives of the different characters with timelines jumping backwards and forwards so the reader has to pay attention. Is Romilly really suffering from Post Partum Psychosis or is there something very different going on? At times it feels as if no-one in this book is the person they initially appear to be,then Caroline Corcoran turns it all around and again just when the reader has formed their opinion.

I did feel the book got bogged down slightly at one point and Marc's banging on about Post Partum Psychosis grated after the umpteenth time but minor grumbles aside it's a clever and twisty tale that will keep you guessing right until the end.

Caroline Corcoran returns to the subject of motherhood in her latest psychological thriller Five Days Missing. Romilly Beach disappears from the maternity ward only hours after giving birth to her daughter, which given this should be the happiest day of her life makes no sense at all. What possible reasons could a woman have for abandoning her baby and how does she manage to leave the hospital empty handed without arousing the suspicion of the staff? It’s not until her husband Marc returns, having collected some essentials from home, that the alarm is raised. Shocked and bewildered, the only conclusion Marc can draw from this heartbreaking scene is that his wife is suffering from post partum psychosis, a condition that she was supposedly being monitored for. Surely that’s the easiest most obvious explanation because the very idea that something more sinister could have happened to Romilly doesn’t bear thinking about. It’s your job to decide what has prompted such drastic action and as you’d expect Caroline Corcoran doesn’t make it easy for you!

This psychological thriller grips you from the very first page, the prologue intense, traumatic and intriguing. Questions form thick and fast as you try to get a grip of the situation but there’s a long way to go before the truth will reveal itself. Although it struck me as odd that the police aren’t immediately involved, given her diagnosis, I liked the fact Caroline Corcoran ignores that angle and focuses on the individuals who know Romilly the best, looking to them to provide the answers instead. Surely between them they can figure out her current whereabouts and bring her back home where she belongs? I liked the way the author heads the chapters without using the characters actual names even though I couldn’t understand the reason behind this! Through the voices of The Husband, The Best Friend and eventually The Woman the short chapters detail both the ongoing search and snippets of Romilly and Marc’s relationship prior to her disappearance. The author divulges just enough to ensure your curiosity never wavers and by closing each chapter with a mini cliffhanger she keeps you on your toes, wanting more. This tactic works extremely well enabling the narrative to flow at a fast pace plus you don’t have time to get too comfortable with one voice. Fluctuating between perspectives guarantees your thoughts will be ricocheting all over the place. It’s impossible to decide whom you should trust or be wary of since there’s a secretive air hanging over these characters. You can’t help believing they’re all holding something back but why? A sense of foreboding accompanies you throughout the narrative, a feeling that deepens the further into Marc and Romilly’s world you travel.

The characterisation is spot on. You’re unable to grasp the true measure of these individuals because the author casts enough doubt in your mind as to their real motivations and intentions. Do you side with the loving, panic stricken husband literally left holding the baby, completely out his depth and reliant on Romilly’s sister Loll to guide him through the first days of parenthood or do you look elsewhere? Is Loll, divorced with two children of her own the loyal concerned sister she presents herself as or is she jealous of Romilly and Marc’s perfect life? What about her best friend, a woman who works side by side with Romilly day in day out at the cafe they run together? Is she privy to more than she’s willing or happy to disclose and if so has she shared these secrets with her partner who also happens to be friends with Marc? Finally how does Romilly and Loll’s mother fit into the picture, if at all?

There’s definitely an awful lot to think about as you’re forced to read in between the lines and your intuition will be put firmly to the test. The questions that arrived thick and fast in the beginning continue to weigh heavy on your mind as you grapple with the evidence laid before you. In true psychological thriller style this one has its roots firmly embedded in the past, the storyline growing darker by the minute. The more you scrabble around hunting for clues the more you fear for Romilly’s safety. Someone is manipulating the truth but who? The second half of the novel is especially tense and nerve wracking as a very different picture of her life from the one that’s been painted emerges. Here is the lightbulb moment. Shocked you will be, surprised maybe not so much but that’s only my opinion. There are moments towards the dramatic conclusion that will make your heart gallop so that all in all this becomes an edge of your seat read.

I absolutely loved Caroline Corcoran’s previous novel The Baby Group and can almost say the same about this one. Five Days Missing is well written and I found it to be a real page turner with a twist I didn’t see coming. However I often find myself in two minds about the way authors choose to shock and surprise their readers, particularly with their endings. They can either feel rushed, contrived or with a bit of luck just right. Although Caroline Corcoran ties the loose ends together neatly and in a wholly satisfying manner there was just this tiny niggling thought in the back of my mind which refused to go away. Were these actions entirely plausible? Even though there’s no getting away from the fact the end in this case justifies the means and this is fiction after all I still can’t decide! What I am 100% certain of is this; I will definitely be reading Caroline’s next book!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting and original theme sharing a very real condition called Post Partum Psychosis. What on earth would make a mother leave her new born baby? It was gripping and an excellent read with believable characters and unexpected twists and turns.

This is a dark and twisted tale and at times I didn’t know who to trust at all. It’s a phycological thriller about a mother who appears to walk out on her new born baby but turns into a delve into mental health issues and the truth that no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.

Five Days Missing was everything I could have wanted in a psychological thriller and much more. With complicated characters who all seemed to have something to hide, I had no idea who to trust or believe. The story is told from three points of view. The Husband, the Best Friend and The Woman, with a clear time line of events from the moment the woman goes missing having just given birth. Was it foul play, postpartum disease or an affair?
I had no idea how this story would end, but just as something seemed far too predictable, along came a twist. I was hooked.
This book kept me up long into the night and I even downloaded the Netgalley app to read on my walk to and from work and during lunch. I will be recommending this book and buying for friends.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Five days missing for an honest review.

Good grief - this one really keeps you guessing! The writing is exceptional, the characters are believable, and the story is dynamite. There are so many twists it makes you dizzy. I enjoyed every single word, and the ending is pure brilliance. Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

This was a very emotional and deep domestic thriller telling the story of a mother abandoning her baby for no apparent reason, throwing those around her into a state of turmoil.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review.

This book was a little different from other psychological thrillers I have read lately. The main characters were well written and believable. There were many twists and turns and I was never really sure what to believe and it kept me guessing until the end.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

Romilly Beach goes missing shortly after giving birth to her baby girl. Disappearing from her hospital room, her husband, Marc, can’t imagine where she could have gone. The very real possibility that she is experiencing post-partum psychosis causes him to panic and call Ro’s sister to begin their search for her. When he hears that someone has spotted her on a plane to France, he sends his best friend after her, to bring her home, and learn the truth about what would have prompted a brand-new mother to leave her newborn and husband behind. But there seems to be a lot more going on under the surface, that even Ro’s best friend doesn’t know about. Is Romilly really experiencing psychosis? Or is there something going on that is much more terrifying? Something that threatens her life and could have caused her to leave so mysteriously.

Honestly, it took me a few chapters to really get into this book. Caroline Corcoran’s writing reminds me of Teresa Driscoll, whose books also takes me a little while to get into. But once I was in the flow, the book became addictive! The ending was spot on to what I wanted to happen, and I loved the surprises at the end! Excellent book full of manipulation and second guessing the characters’ reliability. Told from multiple viewpoints, I loved that the reader gets to see different sides of interactions. Excellent storyline and satisfying ending!

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK, and Caroline Corcoran for allowing me to read this ARC, which was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Caroline Corcoran and the publisher for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

Five Days Missing is a fast-paced thriller about, Romilly, going missing on the day her baby is born. Her husband is convinced it's a case of post-partum psychosis, but her friends think differently.

It's told through the point of view of people close to her, and there is no reliable narrator. I particularly loved how the different POV's were labelled 'the husband' 'the best friend' etc. It made it feel more realistic and represents how the media and public would react to this case in real life, and how everyone involved is usually dehumanised and becomes a suspect.

I enjoyed Five Days Missing. You could tell that someone close to the protagonist was not what they claimed to be, and it was very interesting to try to figure out who was misrepresenting themselves.

I really enjoyed this book, I sank into the storyline from the very first page. I found the main characters very relatable and I loved the way the storyline unfolded with the twists and turns. The ending was superb. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to netgalley and Caroline Corcoran for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Thank You to the p[ublishers and Net Galley for an advance copy.
I found this to be quite an interesting read with the story told from the point of view of all the main characters.
One of the main themes in the story is about a postnatal mental condition that was previously unknown to me The relationships in a close social group are laid bare and for most of the book it is hard to see which characters representation of the facts is in fact true. Although there are various clues throughout the book there are also a few red herrings thrown into the mix. The ending is very interesting and left me a bit surprised.

http://www.hazelbutterfield.com/blog/2022/jan/reading-is-to-the-mind-what-exercise-is-to-the-body-joseph-addison/

5 Days Missing - Caroline Corcoran

What would make a new mother want to leave her new-born daughter and disappear for 5 days?

Sometimes we have to fight for what we think is ultimately important for our future, safety and our sanity. No matter how crazy that may make us look. But what if you’re consumed with an uncontrollable psychosis? When do we know how much to trust ourselves?

I read Caroline Corcoran’s book The Baby Group and loved it, so this was an easy choice. Again, set around having a baby, Romilly leaves her newborn in hospital just hours after her birth. Is it because she is suffering from Postpartum Psychosis as her mother did, or is there something more sinister going on?

While a little unbelievable (indeed, there is a better way to deal with things?), the plot is exciting and keeps you turning the pages well after bedtime. There are plenty of intrigues to hold your interest. We learn all about the days when Romilly is missing and when she is eventually found. Still, the focus on postpartum psychosis can get a bit much after a while. However, Corcoran certainly knows how to draw you in and make you want more; I couldn’t leave this book alone!

The characters are well-developed. We don’t get to find out about all of them, to begin with, some come into focus later in the book, but they are well drawn so that you don’t suspect that people aren’t quite as they seem to begin with. There are quite a few characters to keep up with, but it doesn’t get confusing, and some chapters are told from different points of view, which helps the story to unfold.

The ending was good and had a good twist that I hadn’t seen coming. I enjoyed this book a lot and would have given it more stars if it didn’t get just a bit tiring and feel a little unbelievable.

I really enjoyed this book, it was thrilling, suspenseful and gripping I didn't know who to trust and who was telling the truth has some great twists I didn't see coming very well written book It will keep you hooked till the end such a great read.

This book took me a little time to get into - then Wham - Totally hooked.
If you like plot twists then this is definitely one you should read.
This is the type of book once you are into it you have to keep reading - but be prepared to feel tense and totally gripped.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Five Days Missing’ written by Caroline Corcoran in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Within hours of giving birth to a beautiful daughter, Romilly vanishes from the maternity ward leaving her husband Marc and older sister Loll to take care of the baby. During her pregnancy Romilly has been monitored for postpartum psychosis which affected her mother so could that be the reason for her disappearance? The midwife says it’s impossible for Romilly to have left hospital without help but who could it be? Steffie, her friend and helper in their café, her partner Adam, or even Loll? Whatever the reason, Romilly needs to be brought home to take care of the baby Marc has named Fleur.

‘Five Days Missing’ is a thriller of hidden secrets with so many red herrings and twists and turns I was kept guessing all the way through. It’s cleverly written with a strong intricately woven plot that’s told through the eyes of The Husband, The Best Friend and The Woman, that’s taken me completely by surprise. A deep dark thriller that’s as involving as it is unpredictable.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a mystery/thriller about a new mum who disappears immediately after giving birth. I don't want to give too much of the plot away but I will tell you there's a fab twist. Like her previous novels, Caroline writes from the perspective of different characters. This (I think) is the first time she's taken on a male character's voice and I think she's done it incredibly well. She explores lots of themes like motherhood, friendship, familial relationships and post-partum mental health successfully weaving them into the body of the story. Highly recommend this book. And would love to see the BBC turn it into a drama. I think it would work really well on-screen.

Firstly, thank you for the ARC of this book.
I’m a big fan of thrillers especially ones like this. I found it rather predictable however that didn’t stop me enjoying it. It addressed the issue of post pregnancy psychological disorder well.
This was by first book by Caroline Corcoran but won’t be my last.

Strap yourself in and don't forget to breathe!

Reading Five Days Missing is like riding an old school fairground ride. There's are twists, there are turns, you're going one way and then you're flung in the other direction. You go up up up and then shoot back down.

The book centres around Romilly and husband Marc. Romilly has just had a baby, but disappears from the hospital leaving the baby behind. Where has gone? Why has she left? Why has she left the baby behind?

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, mainly Marc, but also Romilly's best friend, and latterly Romilly herself. Is Romilly suffering from post-partum psychosis? Or is there something else at play. The beauty of the writing is that you're never sure what the real truth is, you're led down a path by a certain character but then it switches and you question it. You'll find yourself shouting at the book at times, and definitely not wanting to put it down!

Five Days Missing is a brilliant thriller, but it's also more than that. It's about relationships, and trust, and love and parenting. It's an absolute cracker, that you'll want to read again and again.

Great book! Had such a great time reading this author. Thrilling, fast paced, well developed characters and the twists were not predictable. I didn’t know who to believe. I can’t wait to read more books by this author. Highly recommend this book.

I loved this book! Wow! So powerful, I raced through it in no time.

Five days missing is hard to review without giving away much of the storyline and twists along the way. However it is a must read. This story will drag you in and not let you go!

It deals with mental health and domestic abuse as well as childhood trauma and loss. The author deals with all of these things brilliantly using the characters to show you how impossible it can be to be in one of these situations. The author manages to show rounded characters for all the main parts, allowing us to understand some of what lead them all to act as they do, even if that in no way excuses their choices.

Complexities and the unnecessarily competitive nature of motherhood have appeared in a growing number of thrillers in recent years, and Caroline Corcoran's latest novel also fits into this subgenre of domestic thrillers. This is a cracker of a narrative: For five harrowing days, young mother Romilly is missing after leaving her baby daughter behind at hospital. Is she suffering from psychosis or is this her desperate way of drawing attention to an abusive and coercive relationship? Told alternatively from the points of view of Romilly, her husband Marc and her friend Steffie, it soon becomes clear that none of the narrators is particulary reliable, and that intimate secrets of Romilly's domestic set-up will be revealed. Fantastically written and perfectly paced, I devoured this thriller and will definitely be seeking out Caroline Corcoran's previous books. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for letting me have the free ARC that allowed me to write this honest and unbiased review.

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.

After reading some of the early reviews I wasn't sure if this book would be for me, well I'm glad I decided to read it, it's very cleverly written, loved the twist at the end.

I can’t remember the last time I read a book that was so full of tension. When Romilly disappears soon after giving birth, her husband Marc believes she is suffering from post partum depression. He takes the baby home and so begins five days of discovering the truth. Told from the perspectives Romilly, Marc and their closest family and friends, the truth slowly starts to reveal itself. Who is lying?

A roller-coaster of a book that will keep you on edge right to the end.

Five Days Missing centres on the main character Romilly and why she would up and leave a hospital, just a day after giving birth to her daughter. The book opens when her husband, Marc, finds her missing and immediately contacts her sister. Together they begin piecing together Romilly's last known movements and have accept that the most probably explanation is that she is suffering from post-partum psychosis, a condition she was being monitored for as her mother had suffered from it previously.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints and twists and turns, manipulating the reader and stretching the reliability of the narrators. Each time the ending appeared to be in sight there would be yet another waiver and something would change. The different viewpoints allow the reader to experience what each of the characters if feeling and (temporarily) bond with them.
Possibly the beginning of the book is a little slow as the scene is set, and sometimes over egged, but the pace ratchets up as the story gets going and the second half is definitely the more dynamic.
An easy read and very passable thriller.
With many thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an early copy in return for an honest review.

This is the story of Romilly who goes missing just hours after giving birth to her daughter. Her husband and sister are left to care for the baby and figure out why she’s gone and why.
There’s a family history of postpartum psychosis so this seems the most obvious cause but it’s a lot deeper than that.
A gripping narrative that tells the story from both sides. Looking at the relationships between Romilly and her own mum, her husband, her best friend and he sister.
But who is telling the truth and who is disillusioned?

A tale that will have you on tenterhooks !
Romilly has given birth to a baby girl -then disappears from the hospital hours later. No-one seems to know where she is . However as Post- Partum Psychosis runs in the family -this could explain her behaviour .
Her husband Marc is devastated -leaves the hospital with the baby and Romilly's sister Loll helping as much a she can .
But what would make a new mum leave her newborn ?

I couldn't put this down - Brilliant read

Thankyou NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

This is a wonderfully gripping thriller.
It pulled me in from the first page. I could not put it down and read it in one sitting.

I had not read any by this author before. I really enjoyed this book. The characters and plot were brilliant. A real page turner.

Romily has a beautiful life & just given birth to her baby daughter. Her doting husband turns up at the hospital with a balloon for the baby but his wife has disappeared with all her belongings. Where has she gone?
A great read, be careful you don’t start reading this at bedtime as you will be up all night!