When She Was Gone - by Sara Foster

Book Synopsis

Was she taken ... or did she run?

The pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of You Don't Know Me

Rose was torn 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?

Review Quotes

"When She Was Gone is a relentless, simmering, eerie tale by Foster that keeps you guessing from start to finish and is a wonderful reminder of the lengths a parent will go to protect their child."

-- "What's Better Than Books?"

"When She Was Gone is a hard exploration into the negative fallout from male toxicity and misogyny. Sara Foster pulls no punches with these issues, resulting in a page-turning thriller that will have readers pondering all that is uncovered within."

-- "Bookreporter"

"When She Was Gone is an edge-of-your-seat thriller delivered in beach-read form. Its unsettling narrative paints the fragility of family ties in blinding technicolor, leaving the reader no choice but to confront the aspects of relationships that make them squirm."

-- "Fully-Booked"

"A deftly crafted, reader engaging, riveting read from cover to cover, When She Was Gone by author Sara Foster will hold a very special appeal to readers with an interest in tightly woven psychological suspense thrillers laced throughout with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists."

-- "Midwest Book Review"

"A gritty psychological thriller...Well done and highly enjoyable!"

-- "Adventures in Literature"

"Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers."

-- "The Cullman Times"

"The beauty of this book is that it only takes ten or fifteen pages before the reader is completely hooked on the characters and the premise...When She Was Gone is a terrific combination of procedural and psychological drama that captures the best elements."

-- "Great Mysteries & Thrillers"

"The characters are compelling and the pacing is masterful, with plenty of surprising twists thrown in...When She Was Gone is a gripping crime read, which often dips below the surface to reveal so much about power, love, and revenge without hitting the reader over the head. There is plenty for thoughtful readers as well as those who want crime entertainment."

-- "Sisters in Crime Australia"

"Told with a few POVs, this story is chilling, dark, and has a colourful, flawed, and very interesting array of characters--some you'll get behind and a family you'll love to hate...Bingeable and totally addictive."

-- "The Baking Bookworm"

"A visceral story that will draw you in, with drama so palpable, you feel like you are actually part of the investigation...I absolutely recommend this to those who love thrillers with strong female characters, both good and bad."

-- "Manhattan Book Review"

"I loved the premise before I even opened the book, and from then on, I was hooked. Sharp, compelling, and clever, Sara's story of rich people behaving badly had me captivated until the final pages. Put it on your to-read list!"

-- "Ali Lowe, author of The Trivia Night"

"I was gripped by When She Was Gone. I couldn't bear being away from it. The characterization is top notch: such interesting, flawed, nuanced people. And the plotting is excellent--I was guessing and guessing and getting it wrong. I absolutely loved this book."

-- "Marian Keyes, bestselling author of The Break and Grown Ups"

"Rose Campbell, a former London cop, knows a lot about violence and how it can tear us apart. When Rose's estranged daughter goes missing in Western Australia--with two children from the rich family she is nannying for--Rose will have to dig deep to uncover what really happened. This assured, utterly absorbing novel will have you up late into the night, still turning pages. Sara Foster sensitively and persuasively renders both the banality and the unique horror of violence against women and asks, How far would you be willing to go to save someone you love? This was an absolute highlight of my reading year."

-- "Hayley Scrivenor, internationally bestselling author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling"

"With Australia's rugged southwest as the perfect backdrop, Sara Foster gives us a searing tale of the dangers of capitalist greed and misogynistic power play all wrapped up in what I think might just be the most propulsive thriller of the year. It's pure genius to write a page-turner this stunning. I challenge anyone to put it down once you've read the first page."

-- "Tess Woods, bestselling author of The Venice Hotel"

"I was hooked from the first chapter: The characters were compelling, the pace was perfect, and the ending was satisfying, with a few twists I didn't see coming. It's a read-in-one-gulp story (my favorite kind) that kept me guessing until the end."

-- "Kayte Nunn, bestselling author of The Only Child "

"Foster is back! When She Was Gone is a master class of suspense, an edge-of-your-seat story that kept me up all night."

-- "Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of What Happened to Nina? and The Ruin"

"A thoroughly engaging novel, brimming with suspense. Foster writes with a unique compassion, exploring all sides of a terrible crime through complex, nuanced characters--her writing is intelligent and filled with heart. One of my favorite authors!"

-- "Rae Cairns, bestselling author of The Good Mother and Dying to Know"

"A chilling family saga about power, privilege, and revenge. Sara Foster at her spine-tingling best."

-- "Tim Ayliffe, author of Killer Traitor Spy and The Enemy Within "

"This was an incredibly fast-paced read. I felt like I was perched on the edge of a boat during a swift-water rescue, watching events unfold before my eyes in quick succession...Simple, unencumbered writing style. Nothing needless between the pages...Also: some heavy themes, handled with exquisite touch."

-- "Lisa Kusel, author of The Widow on Dwyer Court"

"Sara Foster has a unique ability to combine complicated, vulnerable, fascinating characters with riveting plots, and she excels at this in When She Was Gone. It's a thrilling race-against-the-clock mystery about the disappearance of two girls and their nanny--but it turns out that those investigating the case have secrets they'd rather keep hidden too. Masterfully told, the stakes are high in this emotionally gripping and utterly unforgettable story. Don't plan on getting anything else done once you start reading!"

-- "Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress"