A teenager is shot dead in a gas station and another woman abducted. An investigation reveals that Katherine received anonymous threatening letters but who and why…?
Missing Before Daylight is the 10th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series. There are references to personal plotlines that have evolved over the series, but no spoilers about earlier crimes and culprits.
The book begins with the heartbreaking murder of a young woman. There is no apparent motive but Amanda Steele sees her former colleague Katherine being abducted by the killer when she watches the CCTV. Kat has been involved in solving many crimes and has made a lot of enemies so Amanda needs to discover who wanted revenge.
The book is written in the third person to show us the perspectives of the detectives, the victims and the perpetrators. The chapters are quite short so the pace of the plot rattles along speedily. Both of these features build the tension as we hope for Amanda and her team to find the truth as soon as possible.
The romantic tension between Amanda and Trent continues to shimmer almost uncomfortably. They are both in other relationships but cannot help the way that they feel about each other, even if they cannot fully admit it to themselves.
Missing Before Daylight is an entertaining crime thriller and police procedural.
She wakes surrounded by an inky black darkness and can barely breathe. A sack is covering her head, and her hands are tied behind her back. She desperately tries to struggle free as she hears footsteps walking toward her. She silently starts to cry as a chilling voice whispers “It’s time to pay for what you did…”
When Detective Amanda Steele is called to the murder scene of a young gas station clerk just before dawn, she assumes it must be a robbery gone tragically wrong. But when she discovers nothing has been stolen, she knows the motive must be far more personal.
Watching the security footage, Amanda is shocked to witness the cold-blooded killer not only shoot the clerk dead but abduct a customer. And her heart stops when she recognizes the customer as her former colleague, Katherine Graves. As Amanda breaks the news to Katherine’s heartbroken Aunt May, she vows to do whatever it takes to bring her niece home alive.
Desperate for a lead, Amanda and her partner, Trent, search Katherine’s home. Soon, they discover that despite no longer being with the police department, Katherine has a long list of very dangerous enemies. Enemies who have been sending her anonymous letters promising revenge.
The more Amanda digs into Katherine’s past, the longer her list of suspects becomes. But when May is sent a ransom demand and a picture of Katherine close to death, Amanda knows time is running out. With only hours left to find Katherine alive, Amanda is prepared to risk everything to keep her promise to May, even her own life…
A completely pulse-pounding and unputdownable crime thriller, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
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CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
Alana was deeply affected by the disappearance and subsequent death of a young girl. Now she advocates that everyone should have a binder packed full of information including fingerprints and passwords, to help police in the event of a person’s disappearance. She never expects that her best friend will rely on one to save her…
If I Go Missing is a psychological thriller set in America.
Alana lost touch with her former best friend Chloe and her husband Ray who Alana loved first. Then the couple move in next door and Alana is forced to confront the past. Chloe vanishes, leaving behind a binder of information that hints at Alana’s guilt for several crimes. Meanwhile a child at Alana’s school also disappears and her interest in the case sparks police concern.
The book is written from Alana’s first person perspective as she deals with events in the present day and reflects on the past as well. She has been keeping secrets from her husband and is pretending to have fertility issues to avoid telling him the truth. Meanwhile the arrival of Chloe and Ray back into her life causes emotional pain and confusion. This is then compounded by the disappearance of her pupil and friend in two apparently separate incidents. Her heart breaks as she reads Chloe’s diary and reconsiders her own memories of the past.
I didn’t find much of the book particularly credible but this didn’t affect my enjoyment as I was swept along on the rollercoaster of plot twists. Alana’s lies keep growing and spiral out of control. I liked the police detective and could empathise with his frustration and suspicion about Alana’s involvement in the two missing person cases as well as an accident in the past.
If I Go Missing is full of mystery and suspense but also emotion.
I close the binder I’ve been writing in, and walk into the living room. As I stare out of the window at your house next door, I think about all the things I stand to lose if someone comes for me. My handsome, loving husband, who has no idea what I’ve done. My family, who have supported me no matter what. This beautiful home near the ocean, where I thought I would be safe.
Everyone says that I’m paranoid, but I just think I’m prepared. My secrets have placed me in terrible danger.
So if the worst happens, this binder contains everything you’ll need to find me, hidden in a place only you could guess. You’ve always known me best of everyone, ever since we were girls. You’ll be able to put the pieces together and uncover the truth.
Only you can find me. But you’ll need to do it fast.
Because if you don’t, all your lies will come to light too…
From the no.1 Kindle and Amazon charts bestselling author of The Surgeon, comes an outrageously twisty and compelling psychological thriller that you simply won’t be able to put down! Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Gillian Flynn and Freida McFadden.
Author Bio:
Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they’re also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.
You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett’s relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you’ve followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.
Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that’s pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.
Whether you’re into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson’s, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni’s mysteries, Leslie’s got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.
Chief Maggie Riley discovers a body then moments later a young woman wanders out of the wood. Maggie begins an investigation into the death but becomes personally involved with Heather’s recovery from her shock as she finds out the truth about the teen’s awful home life. Meanwhile Maggie and her boyfriend Steve are both hiding secrets…
The Girl Who Lied is the first book in a new detective series set in America.
Maggie was a high flying detective until her little brother disappeared and she lost her family and career. She retreated to a small town where nobody knew her and was satisfied with the low profile crimes she faced. But a murder victim changes everything and Maggie is startled to find links between the dead man and her colleague as well as vulnerable Heather.
The book is written from multiple perspectives, some (Maggie, Steve and Heather) in the first person which provide an emotional pull towards these characters. Maggie and Steve have both been keeping secrets from each other about their pasts but now they need to be open and honest.
Heather’s character arc is hugely emotive and Maggie is forced to call in social services to deal with the child abuse and neglect that she discovers at their family home. Heather admits to a crime but Maggie believes that there are extenuating circumstances which diminish her culpability. The original murder case is not entirely straight forward and there are significant twists along the way.
The Girl Who Lied is a gripping crime and detective thriller with a strong emotional element. The next book in the series, Their Angel’s Cry is also available now (see blurb below) and I intend to read ASAP!
Rain hammers the earth and a vicious wind rattles the trees. Then lightning strikes, the flash illuminating a young girl staggering out of the woods, her brown eyes wide with fright, a silent scream on her lips…
There’s a storm approaching the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. As she desperately struggles to secure the evidence before the rain hits, Heather, a local teenage girl, emerges from the woods, shivering and unable to talk.
Maggie, once a high flying big-city detective, lost everything when her four-year-old brother went missing five years ago. Heart-broken, she’s never stopped searching for him: but now she is plunged back into the world she left behind.
The victim, Maggie discovers, knew secrets about everyone in isolated Coyote Cove. It seems there are more local suspects in this case than people she can rule out. And with Heather still traumatised, Maggie struggles to unravel her strange appearance at the crime scene. Until, following a faint, bloody trail deep into the forest, she’s horrified to unearth what the terrified girl’s been hiding…
But when Heather is kidnapped, the battle to identify the killer becomes a race to save an innocent girl’s life. And with the whole town terrified, Maggie is shocked to uncover that this twisted killer is much closer to home than she’d ever imagined. Battling her own demons and memories of her missing brother, how far will Maggie have to go to save Heather? Or will another innocent young life be lost forever…?
A totally addictive crime thriller packed with suspense. If you love Lisa Regan, Louise Penny and Melinda Leigh, you’ll love The Girl Who Lied.
Their Angel’s Cry:
The little dog trembles and whimpers, but refuses to move. Maggie reaches further into the undergrowth, trying to tempt it out. But as she moves closer, she sees something that stops her heart—a tiny, shivering baby, wrapped in a thin, pink blanket, saved only by its loyal protector.
There’s a ferocious storm heading toward the isolated town of Coyote Cove when Chief Maggie Riley gets the call every cop dreads. Three bodies have been found on Rattlesnake Mountain, half a day’s hike from civilization. And when Maggie finally reaches the site, exhausted and freezing, she discovers something even more terrifying—a tiny baby girl, kept alive only by the warmth of a small dog who refuses to leave her side.
As Maggie races the baby to safety, she wonders, why on earth the family risked hiking the mountain in this weather? Who were they and who could possibly have killed them?
A former detective, Maggie may be an experienced investigator, but she’s still an unwelcome newcomer. Battling town prejudice, her fears for the orphaned baby, and the increasingly dangerous weather, Maggie soon discovers the case is far more complicated than she could have imagined. The family is not who they seemed. The mother has never had a baby, there’s no link between them at all. So whose baby is it, and where are they now?
With Coyote Cove cut off by the storm, Maggie knows that wherever the killer is, they won’t be able to leave. Stuck in town with a murderer on the loose, Maggie must race to find them before anyone else gets hurt. But she hasn’t counted on the killer taking matters into their own hands, and going after Maggie first…
An utterly compelling and addictive crime thriller, perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, D.K. Hood and Lisa Regan.
Author Bio
With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity – she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She finds writing to be a much cleaner way to spend her time than the autopsy suite. Most days it smells better, too.
Her debut novel, the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, is the first of a five-book deal with publisher Bookouture.
Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies, and her story Lady Killer was a finalist for the 2021 Al Blanchard Award sponsored by the New England Crime Bake.
Detective Kay Sharp has to confront her past when her ex turns up accused of murdering her former best friend. Meanwhile her partner Elliot is investigating the seemingly random shooting of a teenager…
Missing Girl at Frozen Falls is the 5th book to feature Kay and her colleagues. There are personal threads of plot which continue from earlier books but no spoilers about the previous crimes.
Kay’s ex husband Brian is accused of murdering his fiance. He insists on spending time with Kay and reveals that he was cheating on her before and during their marriage with her best friend Rachel who then had his baby. Now Rachel has witnessed a crime and been shot dead at home but Brian is targeted by the police. Then Kay discovers that Rachel’s daughter Holly has disappeared…
Kay struggles with her emotions as she grieves for her former friend. Brian is so awful that I wonder why she fell for him in the first place let alone wants to help him now! She even puts her relationship with Elliot at risk as well as her career by pursuing an investigation out of her jurisdiction. Rachel’s missing daughter provides a tension and fear to the plot as we see her mistreated by those who abducted her.
Elliot’s case is also emotional. The victim has been through a lot in the last year with the death of her mother and the illness of her father. Her dad’s desperation really tugged at my heartstrings and I felt Elliot’s urgency to find justice and peace for the family.
Missing Girl at Frozen Falls is an engaging novel and I enjoyed the two cases being juggled by the lead detectives.
She lay in the frosted grass behind Frozen Falls. Her eyes were wide open, and the wind blew her hair, ash-blond locks reflecting the blue sky. Her face, beautiful even in death, was pale, as if the bitter cold from the mountain had drained the color from her cheeks.
On a crisp autumn day in the small town of Mount Chester, Detective Kay Sharp comes face-to-face with the past she has spent the last decade running from. Her ex-husband, Brian, has been accused of murder.
Seeing Brian brings a flood of painful memories—he betrayed her in the worst possible way. Yet despite her heartbreak, Kay is willing to put her career on the line to prove his innocence.
Brian is accused of killing Kay’s former best friend, Rachel—the woman he cheated on Kay with, getting her pregnant. The blood drains from Kay’s face; she received a voicemail from Rachel two days ago. “I hope you’ll forgive me,” she’d said, her voice fraught with tears. “I know I have no right, but I need you.” Kay’s stomach plummets. By the time she called back, Rachel was already dead. Could Brian really be the murderer?
Kay faces pressure from her crime team, who don’t want her working on an investigation so close to home. But she’s willing to risk everything—she vows to get justice for Rachel.
When Kay visit’s Rachel’s mother, she uncovers a heart-stopping discovery that makes the case even more critical: Rachel’s eight-year-old daughter, Holly, is missing. Could the little girl still be alive?
Up against the most complex—and most personal—case of her career, can she save precious Holly before it’s too late? And will Kay’s determination to find out the truth lead to justice—or be her undoing?
Thrillers don’t get more gripping than this! You’ll speed through this addictive, twist-filled page-turner with a racing heart. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio:
Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.
Her novels have a consistent presence in genre bestselling lists and a solid sales track record, with more than a million copies sold. Her bestselling series include the Detective Kay Sharp series, the Tess Winnett series, the Baxter & Holt series, and the Alex Hoffmann series.
Libby needs to re-evaluate her whole life when her 96 year old father is accused of being a Nazi war criminal. She starts from a position of denial but can’t challenge the evidence. How will her family survive this shocking revelation?
When We Were Innocent is a dual timeline book showing the present day in America and WW2 Germany/Sobibor.
I was completely gripped by this book. The premise is fascinating as a man, gentle and well loved, is accused of the worst of crimes. Libby is certain that her father could never be complicit in genocide but the evidence suggests the contrary. Her family is torn apart but the allegations yet her father remains silent and doesn’t deny or admit the charges.
Meanwhile we are shown Hans’ experience of the Sobibor extermination camp. His naivety at the function of the camp and the gradual shocking realisation is tragic. Hans is sickened by what he witnesses but tries to block it out due to fearing for his own safety and that of his sister.
The ethical and moral side to both timelines is fascinating and makes the reader wonder how they would cope in the same circumstances. Emotions are thoroughly explored and described which brings the characters and events to life. It is difficult to reconcile the image of the young or old Hans with the specific crime he is accused of and this builds tension as the book progresses.
When We Were Innocent is just such a good book. The plot and characters were absolutely perfect and I couldn’t put the book down!
Book Description:
You love your father with all your heart. But what if he’s not who you think he is? What if he’s kept an unforgiveable secret from you his whole life?
Libby Trent believes she knows the difference between right and wrong.
But everything changes when she finds out about a man named Hans Brenner, a Nazi who escaped Germany after the Second World War. A war criminal who has lived his whole life in hiding.
Because the man suspected of being Hans Brenner is Libby’s own beloved father.
The sweetest, gentlest man she knows. Who raised her alone, who lives in her family home. Who cares for and watches over Libby’s own children.
When Libby finds a secret box in her father’s bedroom, she knows it might contain evidence. But does she dare open it, if it could prove her father guilty of the most heinous crimes in history?
Because if she finds evidence, she won’t just have to choose between right and wrong, she’ll have to choose whether to betray her own father…
A totally heartbreaking and powerful story about a daughter’s impossible dilemma and the darkest of family secrets, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Amanda Prowse, and Diane Chamberlain.
Author Bio:
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
