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Rip Current

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What happened to Catherine Salt?July, 2009. The Salt family is on holiday in Florida. The holiday is a welcome break for both bestselling thriller novelist Catherine Salt, and her husband, doctor Aiden Salt. Their daughter, eleven year old Vanessa Salt is thrilled that her parents finally have the time to relax and spend more time with her.

On a slightly windy day, the family is at the beach. Vanessa has brought a book, and Aiden is relaxing on his beach towel.

After a while, Catherine wants to go for a walk on the beach. "I'll be right back", she tells her husband and daughter before she sets out.

But Catherine Salt doesn't come back. Vanessa and Aiden search for her on the beach and in the house. But Catherine is gone. Vanished in thin air.

In 2024 Vanessa is all grown up and works as an investigative reporter in the true crime section. Nobody knows her real identity as the daughter of the thriller novelist who went missing. But that is about to change.

As the fifteen year anniversary of Catherine's disappearance approaches, Vanessa's boss announces that the newspaper will be doing a deep dive into the case. Unwilling to let someone else write about her mother, Vanessa decides to take charge of the columns herself, and starts hunting for the truth about what happened to her mother that windy day on the beach.

But unraveling the mystery about her mother's disappearance sends Vanessa on a tumultuous journey through truth and lies, and not everyone wants her to find out what happened to Catherine...

In 2009, Catherine discovers that she is being betrayed by someone close to her. And if there is something Catherine Salt doesn't tolerate, it's being betrayed. Determined to put things right, Catherine concots an elaborate plan that'll get her exactly what she wants.

Because Catherine Salt doesn't just get revenge. She gets even.

663 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2024

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Emma Thingsted

11 books45 followers

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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Profile Image for Camila Dalles.
Author 1 book3 followers
October 10, 2024
I've tried several times to think if I have ever read something as delightfully twisted as this book, and my book-brain section was completely blank.
The plot twists in this book alone made my jaw drop so many times that it hurt.
This is undoubtedly one of the best thrillers I have read this year. Catherine Salt is by far my favorite twisted character, and I swear she has rented a triplex in my mind and is currently living there rent-free.
This book is truly amazing.
It doesn't take many pages for this book to hook you. Since I read Chathy's first POV I was so intrigued by her that I nearly jumped chapters just so I could read her again.
But I didn't, and here is why you shouldn't either.

Catherine Salt
I have never been in love with Evil until I found you.
Catherine Salt is a thriller author who first suspects, then confirms, that her dear husband is cheating on her. She is the kind of writer who gets lost in her stories, and by the time she emerges from her latest thriller back into reality, she discovers that her husband is no longer playing the same game she is.
Aiden has strayed, and Catherine does not like to be left behind.
She then decides that two can play at the cheating game. Assuming the identity of Jackeline Malpas, Cathy meets her husband's mistress and sets in motion a plan to seduce her. Little does this woman know that seducing another woman can be quite fun, and feelings can emerge—for better or worse. But the best part of this wicked plan is that Cathy decides to turn her revenge into something more. After all, why not humiliate your cheating husband by sleeping with his mistress and making it publicly known that he lost his mistress to his wife?
Of all the great revenge plots, this is by far my favorite.
Cathy's chapters flow with such ease that I didn't even realize how quickly I went through them.

Vanessa Salt
The child who lost her mother, tormented by the words "I'll be right back."
As an adult, Vanessa delves into the truth of what happened to Catherine Salt, retracing her steps and seeking out people from their past to piece together what happened that day on the beach 15 years ago. As her investigation unfolds, Vanessa leaves a trail of deaths in her wake, keeping us on the edge of our seats, wondering if she’ll be the next victim or if she’ll finally uncover the answers to the mystery.
I won’t lie, Vanessa’s chapters are a bit slow, but I promise it all makes sense once you reach the third part of the book. So just bear with her, because her investigation is only the tip of an iceberg, one with a tragedy worthy of the Titanic.
Who is the ship and who is the iceberg? That’s for you to decide.
I already have my answer.

Aiden
You deserved it.
I have no sympathy for you, in fact, you lived free for far too long and I can only hope that you were tormented every night of your life.

Tessa
My darling you surprised me the most.
Thank you for playing the game like a good girl.


Thank you so much to the author for providing me with this ARC. This was truly a brilliant story and I feel very privileged for the opportunity to read it before the release .
Profile Image for WaveBrave.
32 reviews
December 22, 2024
Edgy. Unique. Shocking. Endearing. Brilliant.
It was the BEST wlw book I read this year.

Evil has never been so sexy!


Profile Image for Jay.
102 reviews9 followers
July 24, 2025
10/5

Rip Current is one of the most unique sapphic stories I’ve read so far. It is wickedly beautiful. In one word... it’s Outstanding. The way this story is written is just mind-blowing. The plot twists, the character development, and the epilogue... my oh my, the epilogue... this is by far the best I’ve read in recent times. I’m going to remember it for a very long time.

Catherine Salt is the most conniving, wicked fictional character I’ve come across. The word wicked deserves a new entry in the dictionary... and that entry should be Catherine Salt. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned... indeed... and Catherine proves that perfectly.

Vanessa Salt, the grieving daughter... her character is written to perfection. Though some readers might find the pacing a bit slow as Vanessa tries to uncover her mother’s disappearance.

Aiden Salt... oh man... he was no match for his wife's intelligence. The battle of wits between Aiden and Catherine was completely one-sided... Catherine was miles ahead.

Tessa Darlington... oh my God, what a revelation she is. Catherine may have taken centre stage... but it’s Tessa who leaves you awestruck at the very end. Readers are left scratching their heads, wondering... who’s more wicked? If there were ever a duel between Cathey and Tessa, I’d put my money on Tessa any day. She’s the perfect match for Catherine’s wicked mind.

Now, if I have to nitpick... I’d say the ending felt a little too convenient for my liking. Catherine seemed to have everything fall into place just a bit too easily.

This book is deliciously wicked... and the devil has never been so sexy.

Profile Image for Brittany T.
283 reviews15 followers
October 29, 2024
I really liked this book, it was long but was very good. The plot and how it played out was magnificent. The length in which Vanessa goes through to cover her mom's case and all the plot twist, it was a great read. Would definitely recommend if you don't mind a bit of a chunky book 😉
2 reviews
July 28, 2025
I really enjoyed the story. I do wish it had been edited for grammar- that was a bit distracting at times.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews

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