When She Was Gone
by Sara Foster
You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app
1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Apr 01 2025 | Archive Date Apr 15 2025
Talking about this book? Use #WhenSheWasGone #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!
Description
Was she taken … or did she run?
The pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of You Don’t Know Me
Rose once walked away from her daughter. Now she may be the only one who can save her.
Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia—and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care—Rose is asked to help bring Lou home.
This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood’s illustrious career—and there’s a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and while their multimillionaire grandfather is breathing down Blackwood’s neck, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn’t know who he can trust.
Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter’s innocence, but how can she be sure of that when she’s no longer part of Lou’s life? Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers’ secrets, the investigation takes a dark turn. Shadows of the past gather around the Fishers, and Rose, and soon it’s clear that every hour is critical. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?
A Note From the Publisher
Marketing Plan
- National and regional reviews and author interviews
- Suspense-fiction buzz mailing
- Digital and print advertising campaign
- Bookseller and library show marketing
- Social media campaign
- Also available: The Hush, The Hidden Hours, and You Don’t Know Me
Available Editions
EDITION | Hardcover |
ISBN | 9781094094052 |
PRICE | $26.99 (USD) |
PAGES | 304 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
I was so happy to see Sara Foster has a new book coming out. I really enjoy her writing and was thrilled to read When She Was Gone early. I was hooked from the beginning on this gripping story with nuanced characters.
Rose's daughter has gone missing and she wasn't alone. She's the nanny of two very young children in Australia. These children belong to a very rich high profile family so there's even more pressure to find them as soon as possible. Rose's ex husband wants her to go and represent their daughter since he can't. Besides, she can also lend her expertise as a former London police officer.
The only problem is that Rose and Lou are estranged. Thanks to the ex husband who is a real piece of work. But Rose decides she's not going to let that stop her from doing everything she can to help find her. Rose is the heart of this story, I really liked her. She didn't let anyone try to keep her from doing whatever it took to find them.
The detective on the case didn't appreciate her doing her own investigating. He's close to retirement and under a lot of pressure to solve this case quickly. The patriarch of the family is doing his own things that the police would rather he didn't. But he's the type of guy that does things his way and doesn't respond to the word no.
The entire family is unlikable and the parents seem very suspicious. It's quite possible that Lou might have run to save the children from them. It's also likely one of the family's many enemies has taken them for revenge and/or ransom. There is a lot going on and as new details emerged, I was thoroughly invested.
I recommend When She Was Gone to those who like emotional meaningful mysteries. There's also a police procedural aspect that doesn't get bogged down with the details that I appreciated.
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Sara Foster is an amazing author. This book had all the makings of an amazing thriller. Multiple POVs, gut wrenching twists, and dark family secrets. I really hope she rights more, and there's a part two.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
This book was great, very engaging. It really kept you intrigued and interested in wanting to know what happened. It was really hard to put down. Great book by a great author can't wait for the next one
I have read several of Sara Foster’s books but I think this is the best so far. The climax was truly stomach churning with suspense and the plot was sophisticated. A very visual narrative with complex characters make this a great book for discussion. I could see a sequel from this. Looking forward to her next book!
A new favourite book from Sara Foster! What an addictive read When She Was Gone is. My biggest regret is not reading it when I had time to sit down and binge it in one go, I could very easily have done that. It is dark, full of despicable characters that you will love to hate, and full of heart ❤️
When a young nanny goes missing from the beach in front of her rich and famous employers holiday house it is a race to find her. Not only is Lou missing, but the 2 youngest children in her care. Did she take them and disappear or did someone take her. Her estranged mother flies over from the UK, a former police detective herself, and throws herself into finding her daughter, much to the displeasure of the local authorities.
The story is told from multiple points of view which keeps you hanging on each one until you return to them. It is suspenseful, it is emotional and it is fantastic!! Get this on your TBRs, out in April 1st.
Thanks so much to Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy to read.
Was she taken … or did she run? Rose once walked away from her daughter. Now she may be the only one who can save her. Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote beach in Western Australia and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care Rose is asked to help bring Lou home! Great read!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, kidnapping, a great who done it and a few wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
This is my first Sara Foster thriller, and it certainly won’t be my last. I loved the excellent character development and the short, multi-character POV chapters—even more than the central mystery of what happened to the nanny and kids, or the dark secrets the Fisher family harbors, giving off Australian Corleone vibes!
From the blurb, I expected an eccentric, forced partnership between Rose Campbell, an estranged ex-police officer turned bestselling author and domestic abuse consultant, and Mal Blackwood, a sharp, workaholic detective taking his last case before retirement due to health issues. However, as I began reading, I realized they each conduct their own investigations, with Blackwood determined to keep Rose from crossing his authority. Still, their separate searches for the truth converge in unexpected ways, revealing secrets and well-executed twists.
Early on, we meet Lou, the nanny caring for the wealthy Australian couple Kyle and Frannie’s two children, Honey and Kai. She reflects on their escalating arguments and how their home has become far from peaceful. While at the remote beach by the Fisher’s house in Kardanup, Perth, West Australia, Lou sees something threatening on the rocks while searching for Honey’s toy. Soon after, both Lou and the children go missing, leaving the Fisher family devastated. The head of the family, Jock Fisher, takes control, organizing a press conference. DSS Mal Blackwood is called in, despite it being his anniversary, to work with his colleague Angie on the case. As he interviews the Fisher family, he quickly realizes they’re hiding many skeletons in their closets.
Adding to the intrigue, Lou’s father, Henry, contacts his ex-wife, Rose Campbell. Years ago, Henry had done everything in his power to drive a wedge between Lou and Rose, including taking custody while Rose recovered from a colleague’s shooting and hiding letters Rose sent to their daughter. With the help of his second wife, Henry fed Lou lies that estranged her from Rose. However, after his lies were exposed during his third marriage, Henry faced the consequences. Lou moved to Australia to live with her brother Charlie, found a babysitting job with a wealthy family, and cut ties with Henry. Now that she’s missing, possibly implicated in the children’s disappearance, Rose, with her law enforcement expertise, is the only one who can help.
Rose quickly flies to Australia to assist in the investigation, although she’s still unsure what kind of person her once-moody teenage daughter has become. Despite being kept in the dark by the authorities, Rose is determined to uncover the truth, even if it means crossing lines and conducting her own investigation.
Overall, the character development is fantastic, and all the pieces of the mystery fit together perfectly. The pacing is engaging and well-balanced. I’ll definitely be reading more of Sara Foster’s books, and I highly recommend this one to crime thriller lovers!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this riveting thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.