The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold

by Cate Holahan

A harrowing abduction becomes a tantalizing nationwide game in a twisty and ingenious novel of suspense by a USA Today bestselling author.

Alice Ingold has been kidnapped. Call the police. Alert the media. You can’t play this game without all the pieces.

Beautiful, blond, and immensely privileged, Alice Ingold is the perfect victim for a true-crime obsessed culture—and for a masked duo with a singular purpose. Instead of a demand for ransom, her captors have a riddle, and they’re inviting the entire country to solve it.

No one is more invested in the search than Alice’s parents: Catherine, a socialite with obscene generational wealth, and Brian, a visionary AI tech guru. But while Brian turns to machines to solve the problem, Catherine tries to crowdsource the solution, stopping at nothing to bring her daughter home. And America isn’t just watching the story unfold…it’s playing along. The nationwide scavenger hunt for Alice is on.

As an increasingly desperate Catherine strives to understand each new clue, a complex picture of the crime develops. Soon, everyone will see the kidnapping of Alice Ingold for what it is—and Alice won’t be the only one who will need saving.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Ebooks

347 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2025

About the author

Cate Holahan is a screenwriter and USA Today Bestselling author of psychological suspense books. Her sixth novel, The Darkness of Others, was published in 2022. She has had books named to Kirkus' Best Books of the Year and Book of the Month Club's official selections. Notable works include: One Little Secret, Lies She Told, The Widower's Wife.

Her film, Deadly Estate, was on Fox's Tubi in March, and her upcoming film, Dancers on the Darkside, will be coming out this year.

An award-winning journalist and former television producer, she has written for BusinessWeek, The Boston Globe, and The Record newspaper. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and dogs.

She has an MFA in dramatic writing from NYU's Tisch and graduated from Princeton University in 2002.

She is represented by Paula Munier at Talcott Notch Literary.

Reviews

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty, intense, and thought-provokingly realistic, The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold explored some truly damning themes, including the widening wealth disparity and the dangers of AI. Underneath the timely topics, however, was a ratcheting pace that deftly combined an intriguing domestic drama with a fast-paced tale of psychological suspense. Expertly weaving together dual POVs, the book started off with a bang as the protagonist was kidnapped right in front of our eyes. From there the middle took a slight dip in speed as we got into the prescient moral dilemmas surrounding tech and society, but it didn’t dissuade me in the least. Taking a hard look at our potential future, it made me really think while I ate up every word. It wasn’t, however, until the first big twist arrived on the scene that my jaw dropped in shock and my mind said “WTF?!” in the best possible way.

All said and done, despite a somewhat over-the-top first half, everything slotted perfectly into place once certain facts came into view. With high stakes, a despicable villain, and plenty of schemes, there was no end to the fun found within these pages. Adding to the pluses was the fact that even the “good guys” were various shades of morally gray. You see, the motives behind everyone’s actions were what made this book sing. From the serious themes to the dysfunctional family dynamics, there was a depth to this plot that I relished as I raced through the pages in under twenty-four hours. Shrewd, well-layered, and wholly original, it was a clever take on a kidnapping/serial killer premise. That being said, it wasn’t really a thriller. Seeming to be more focused on sending a much-needed message, it did a brilliant job at that all while also entertaining me to no end. Rating of 4 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

Alice Ingold has been kidnapped. Call the police. Alert the media. You can’t play this game without all the pieces.

Beautiful, blond, and immensely privileged, Alice Ingold is the perfect victim for a true-crime obsessed culture―and for a masked duo with a singular purpose. Instead of a demand for ransom, her captors have a riddle, and they’re inviting the entire country to solve it.

No one is more invested in the search than Alice’s parents: Catherine, a socialite with obscene generational wealth, and Brian, a visionary AI tech guru. But while Brian turns to machines to solve the problem, Catherine tries to crowdsource the solution, stopping at nothing to bring her daughter home. And America isn’t just watching the story unfold…it’s playing along. The nationwide scavenger hunt for Alice is on.

As an increasingly desperate Catherine strives to understand each new clue, a complex picture of the crime develops. Soon, everyone will see the kidnapping of Alice Ingold for what it is―and Alice won’t be the only one who will need saving.

Thank you to Cate Holahan, Thomas & Mercer, and MBC Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: November 1, 2025

Content warning: kidnapping, forced captivity, gun violence, blood

[Lydia Hephzibah]

DNF @ 42%

I'm just bored and I don't like the way this is written. So over the top and stylised, it doesn't work as a mystery/thriller.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cate Holahan has been a go-to author for me for many years. I usually love her plots, characters, and dramatic reveals. Unfortunately, the plot in this one didn't work at all for me. AI and corporate shenanigans overtook the connections between characters. I didn't care much for anyone, except maybe the mother. I struggled and found myself occasionally skimming. That said, the writing quality was great and the scenes on their own were interesting. But I'll definitely keep reading more from the author in the hopes she gets a little closer to her usual style.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 23, 2025.

3 stars

Alice Ingold, a student at UC Berkeley has been kidnapped. She is the immensely privileged daughter of Brian, a tech guru and Catherine, a shipping heiress. Instead of a ransom the kidnappers present a riddle and invite the world to help solve it to save Alice.

Well, I loved that premise, but it’s not quite that simple. One would have to have special knowledge about Brian’s company or the area around San Francisco to solve the riddles. Oh, a Brian could have been a bit less of a stereotypical villain. This ended pretty much ch the way I expected, but then there will be other reviews talking about the big twist, so, you know…..well, I guess you didn’t know.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Well, I try to avoid this happening as much as possible, but one of my Amazon First Reads selections was also one which I had received as an ARC.

The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold certainly seems inspired by the story of Patty Hearst, who was kidnapped and brainwashed by her captors in 1974. Like Hearst, Alice Inglod is the daughter of wealthy parents, and it appears at first glance that their fortune might be the motive. But the captors have a deeper message than that. The chapters are told from the perspectives of Alice and her mother, Catherine, over the six days that Alice is captured. There are some twists, and I do admit that if I hadn't been so tired last evening, I would probably have finished it in one sitting.

I give this a 3-star because I found it a little too easy to see where the storyline was headed. So, yes, there was some predictability to me. Cate Holahan made me empathetic to the feelings of Catherine, but I felt Alice was hard to like, and her chapters were not my favourite. Yes, I wanted her to fight for her freedom, but it was soon making me think she was some kind of secret superwoman with all the antics she got up to. Maybe that is a big part of why I kept thinking "something isn't jiving here."

To me, the real villain was Brian, Alice's dad. He was certainly a stereotypical capitalist who was more concerned with what his company had created than with any genuine concern for his only child. I don't condone violence, but I really think the police or even Catherine missed a real opportunity to make him disappear.

Overall, it did have the ingredients for me to keep flipping the pages, but it was missing some things for me to put it in the "really loved" division.


#TheKidnappingofAliceIngold #NetGalley
Publication Date 01/11/25
Goodreads Review 02/11/25

[booked.with.julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had such an intriguing premise. A kidnapping turned into a guessing game where the public gets involved in solving the crime. It’s creative and it’s different.
That said, while the concept hooked me early on, I found myself losing some momentum about halfway through. The pacing dipped a bit for me. Still, there were moments that had me needing to know what happened next.
Overall, a smart and layered thriller with a unique idea.

[Kimberly Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold, Cate Holahan builds a mystery around a vanished teen, a trail of riddles, and two parents unraveling in opposite directions. The alternating structure—part present-day hunt, part haunting diary—feels precise and unsettling, with a mid-book shift that lands like a jolt. Holahan threads in AI, surveillance, and the illusion of control with unnerving clarity to create a thriller that feels both one step ahead and too close for comfort.. Smart, original, and impossible to look away from.

[Amy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

AI scares

I think there is quite a bit of foreshadowing in this book about AI.... scary thought! This was a good read with some twists in it. Broke a few stereotypes, proved a few others.

[Watchdogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent kidnapping story but was overshadowed by the author's in-your-face message about the evils of AI. It's almost as if the author was conflicted about what to write about - a suspenseful kidnapping story or an essay warning us about the consequences of an AI driven world.

[Melissa DeLong-Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me start by saying ⭐️⭐️ = an overall likeable, fast read, nothing wrong that would make me tell others not to read this. But I do feel the blurb isn't the most aligned with the story that is told. The blurb sets you up for a thriller, but realistically it's more of a family-centered drama with suspense. I definitely enjoyed the pacing and read it quickly, but I would've liked the twists to be less obvious (Alice being the architect of the whole thing, her dad being actually evil – both of these felt obvious based on what was happening in the beginning stages of the story, and I usually don't figure anything out in advance).

*Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC!*

[Randi A · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has a marketing problem… if I knew it was some lengthy social commentary on the harms of AI, I would’ve skipped it. I get enough of that in the news. Not one character was sympathetic in this and Alice (or whatever her name is) acted like a petulant child. I would’ve given up on this had I not gotten a review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[William de_Rham · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold” is not a bad novel. But it could have been better. It seemed to me that the book concentrated more on conveying its political messages than delivering a story filled with suspense and characters we can care about.

University of California at Berkeley senior Alice Ingold is the 19-year-old daughter of tech titan Brian Ingold and his wife, “Boston Brahmin, old money” socialite Catherine Newhouse Ingold. Brian has been an absentee father far more devoted to running his company than spending time with his family. Catherine, very intelligent and highly capable in her own right, has dedicated the majority of her energies to raising Alice and has transferred the ambition she once had for herself onto her daughter’s shoulders. Shortly after an argument between mother and daughter, Alice is kidnapped.

There are many real-life and fictional stories about the kidnapping of children of the rich and renowned (e.g., the Lindbergh baby, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Patty Hearst, and John Paul Getty, III abductions and films like “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Ransom,” and “All the Money in the World.”) However, in those stories, the kidnappers wanted money. Here, the kidnappers want something else. That “something else” remains a mystery throughout most of the novel. Author Kate Holahan is quite skillful at keeping it under wraps. Indeed, the “something else” was a big part of what kept me turning the pages.

I also found some of what she had to say about modern tech and the problems it may pose insightful. They’re not original to her—I’ve read about them before. But taken together, they seem to pinpoint comprehensively some of the challenges society may face.

However, the book has its weaknesses. None of the characters are particularly likeable. Brian is a thoroughly narcissistic, dismissive sociopath, uninterested in anything other than his company and imprinting his vision for the future upon the world. His wife Catherine comes off as weak, all too willing to defer to her husband, not very self-aware, and very self-absorbed—at least until she has an epiphany about who Brian really is, at which point she does a complete 180 which, in and of itself, strains credulity seeing as they’ve been married for over 20 years. And Alice? She’s often tough and capable. But she’s also a schemer. She’s admirable at times, but not very likable.

Another weakness is that, from time to time, characters do or say things that seem out of character or not to make a lot of sense.

And the book is very repetitive. The same points are made over and over again, especially about characters and public policy regarding tech. Often, I thought: Okay! Okay! I get it. I got it 20 and 40 and 60 pages ago.

Nevertheless, I can see that there may be quite a large audience for this. Those inclined towards humanism and a progressive point of view may find much to agree with and enjoy.

[Jessica Buzzard · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazon Prime First Read choice this month....just bad. I can't believe they had this as an option :/

It doesn't really have much to do with the synopsis, and I wouldn't classify this as a thriller or as being suspenseful.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kidnapping with a twist: instead of a ransom demand, the kidnappers release a cryptic riddle as to the whereabouts of the victim, inviting the media to broadcast it and people to solve it. Alice Ingold is the 19 year old victim and the daughter of privilege. Her mother is an old money socialite, and her father a tech billionaire and owner of a revolutionary AI product. But the kidnapping takes a strange turn, and investigators are running in circles. The Kidnapping Of Alice Ingold has a promising start, and the book details hint at a crowdsourced-type hunt for Alice as the clues are released. However, the book takes a sharp turn and doesn’t really deliver on that anticipated premise, and turns into an anti-AI technology screed. While the story itself is not terrible, it’s definitely not what was expected by any stretch, and that was a huge disappointment, leaving the reader feeling fooled. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Ingold, daughter of an heiress and tech icon has been kidnapped. The kidnappers are sophisticated and send the FBI on a scavenger hunt throughout the country. They want everyone to know the dangers of AI and wealth disparity. I really enjoyed the dual perspective of the mother and daughter in this book. It was a fast read and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. At times the plot was a little too real considering what’s happening in this country since the inauguration. Also, every time I read Elons name in the book I became immediately nauseated. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Justine Bergholm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a thriller IMO

I really don't see this as a thriller. I was so bored reading it. If I wanted to read about AI I would have chosen a book about it, not a "thriller."

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice, daughter to a tech mogul father and an heiress multi-million dollar mother, has been kidnapped. Her mother, Catherine, will stop at nothing to get her daughter back. She will pay any ransom, break any law - anything to save her daughter.

This was a fun, twisty mystery. I did this as an audio and the narrator was great! I liked that we have Alice's POV as journal entries so we know what's happening as her mom, Catherine (the other POV) is searching for her. I liked Catherine - she was hard on her daughter but was truly a momma-bear - ready to run into fire for her daughter.

Even though I saw a few twists coming, the end was absolutely shocking. A great little mystery that kept me hooked. I enjoyed this one.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Cate Holahan’s books and this is another one that I really enjoyed. It opens with a bang and it grabbed my attention, nor did it ever let up until all was said and done. It is told in alternating POVs with diary entries interspersed and I liked this format a lot. There was an interesting twist towards the end that caught me off guard, elevated the intensity, and I was stunned by how it ended, in the best way. I flew through this one and enjoyed it the entire way through.

Thank you to MB Communications and Amazon Publishing #partner for the gifted copy to review.

[MANISH PATEL · Rating 1 out of 5]

All over the place, Unnecessarily complicated

I pushed myself to read this about half way through thinking ... the story revolves around kidnapping. But Noooooooo ..... the story is about outsourcing jobs, privilaged upbringing, global warming, and God knows what else !! I stopped reading and actually deleted the book even though it was free. There may be some rhyme or reason where all these branching off to all over the place makes sense and is enjoyable ... but I was looking for kidnapping story, not this.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 2 out of 5]

The opening scene started strong with the kidnapped setting the stage and explaining the events leading up to the kidnapping in the format of preparing the ransom note, however from there im afraid I lost interest.

It irritated me that the kidnap victim kept referring to her kidnapped as ghost face, we couldn’t have thought of anything else? I was also disinterested in the kidnapping events or the reasoning behind it and was just waiting for it to end 🤦🏼‍♀️

Sorry , another that just didn’t hit the mark for me.

Thank you for the gifted audiobook! Here is to better luck next time ..

[LP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

The description is quite misleading. There is no suspense, the entire country doesn't try to solve the clues, there is almost no talk of crowdsourcing. The plot is pretty much given away immediately so there's really nothing to solve. I really should have DNF'd this but instead I skimmed my way through the entire book. So much of it was a rant about AI and the tech talk mostly went over my head. Entirely unlikable and unreliable characters. Do not recommend.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ — and honestly, that was me being generous. I rounded up because this really felt like a me issue. I was just… bored. I kept zoning out and having to rewind because I’d get lost so easily. And it wasn’t the narration—they did a solid job. It was the prose. There just wasn’t anything for me to latch onto.

It was narrated by Caroline Hewitt and Emily Lawrence, both of whom delivered engaging performances. They just couldn’t create magic out of prose that didn’t work for me. Because the production itself was so well done, I nudged my rating up to 4⭐️ for the audio. I genuinely think the right reader may connect with this one in a totally different way.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this.

Like #sorrynotsorry but I didn't care about these characters at all.

Never got to the supposed twist at all.

I'm sure this will work wonderfully for others, but it just didn't work for me.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was… interesting. There’s a lot of currently relevant stuff packed into it with a lot of interesting and scary plot points related to AI and its pros and cons and if taking the human out of a lot of jobs/career fields/etc is a positive thing or a huge problem. There is discussion about billionaires and the wealth gap and the destruction of the middle class in America. It brings a lot of really important questions to light and felt very relevant to current society and events.

And yet somehow it was also incredibly boring. Somehow it felt about 100 pages longer than it was. Normally a “thriller” feels like a quick read, something engaging and easy to pass the time with. With this book somehow I’d read for an hour and check my page count only to realize I’d only read 30 pages? It was insane how long this took me to read.

I didn’t expect the plot twist, so that was fun and engaging at a time when it was desperately needed.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this gripping read by Cate Holahan, the reader is immersed in the gripping tale of the kidnapping of Alice Ingold and how she becomes the center of a nationwide true-crime obsession.

I'm a little embarrassed it took me this long to get around to reading this because as soon as I picked it up, I didn't put it down. As someone who watches true crime content, this was really up my alley, this story was written so well I could see this happening in today's world.

I think Catherine's dedication to finding her daughter was so well portrayed. I thought the plot of the public participating in this scavenger hunt for clues was so well thought out, because in today's world, a lot of people will try to be detectives in order to solve a crime.

Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

[Rye Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold. It was a quick read, and it held my attention, most of the time I was on the edge of my seat. The twist from the kidnapping to a treasure hunt was something I didn’t expect but overall, really enjoyed. I enjoyed meeting all the characters although I did feel like there was more monologue than needed to be. Because the kidnapping was high profile I would’ve liked more reaction from the public, but otherwise I thought this book was very well written and I enjoyed my time reading it. I give it 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mysteries and thrillers.

Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC of The Kidnapping of Alice Ingold through NetGalley.

[Hanna Enos · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this to be a lot more nuanced than it ended up being. the plot twist, if you can call it that with the Patricia Hearst quote at the start, took this from 3 to 2 stars. it was still enjoyable to read, but everything started being more surface level after that. i wouldnt not recommend it but i also wouldnt recommend it

[Cherylsusz · Rating 2 out of 5]

What editor allowed the use of the word quip so.many.times.??? I almost set it down because of that and should have. I felt like I was being lectured and didn't like the twist. Premise is cool but turns out lame.

[Malika Doucet · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting at the beginning but I found myself loosing momentum about halfway through. I had a hard time to finish it as I had no interest in it:/

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This audiobook was definitely a departure from my usual reads. The premise centered around AI and its impact on the current generation which initially intrigued me. I appreciated the attempt to explore such a timely and relevant topic. However, once the plot began to unfold, I realised this story might not be for me.

The narrative follows a wealthy heiress who is kidnapped, and the situation quickly spirals into a national media frenzy. While this setup could have led to a gripping thriller, I found the execution lacking. The tone felt oddly comedic at times, which clashed with the gravity of the subject matter. Instead of feeling suspense or empathy, I was often confused by the direction the story took. The characters, particularly Alice, didn’t resonate with me. Her rebellious arc felt more like a tantrum than a compelling fight.

A few elements I did enjoy:
• The integration of AI
• The dual narration added variety and helped distinguish perspectives.
• Fast-paced storytelling.

What didn't work:
• The premise didn’t land for me.
• The tone and delivery made it difficult to take the story seriously.
• I struggled to connect with the protagonist’s motivations.

Ratings Breakdown:
❥ Setting: 3⭐️
❥ Character Building: 2⭐️
❥ Writing Style: 2⭐️
❥ Message: 3⭐️
❥ Overall: 2⭐️

In the end, while this audiobook and story didn’t work for me, I can see it appealing to listeners who enjoy offbeat thrillers with a modern twist. If you’re in the mood for something fast, quirky, and a little over-the-top, this might be for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Cate Holahan for the advance audiobook copy. All thoughts are my own.

~JaNnA~