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Sandra Vos #1
Save Her Life
The tears fall down the girl’s pale face as she desperately tries to struggle free from the ties around her wrists. The only sound in the room other than her muffled cries is the ticking of a clock. Her mother has less than one hour to find her alive.
It’s been more than thirty years since Special Agent Sandra Vos’s twin brother was shot dead, an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. It devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.
After dropping her teenage daughter, Olivia, at school, Sandra is alerted to a potential hostage situation at her local grocery store and races to the scene. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands are met. The fate of dozens of lives rests in Sandra’s hands.
But as Sandra starts to make a breakthrough with the hostage taker, she receives a call that makes her blood run cold. Someone has taken Olivia, and their demand will push Sandra to her absolute limit. If it’s not met within twenty-four hours, she will never see her daughter again.
Sandra knows she should step aside, letting her team take over, but she doesn’t trust anyone else to bring Olivia home alive. Breaking every rule in the book, Sandra is ready to go into her most personal negotiation yet. But how much will she have to sacrifice to save her daughter?
A totally gripping new series which will have you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.
It’s been more than thirty years since Special Agent Sandra Vos’s twin brother was shot dead, an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. It devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.
After dropping her teenage daughter, Olivia, at school, Sandra is alerted to a potential hostage situation at her local grocery store and races to the scene. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands are met. The fate of dozens of lives rests in Sandra’s hands.
But as Sandra starts to make a breakthrough with the hostage taker, she receives a call that makes her blood run cold. Someone has taken Olivia, and their demand will push Sandra to her absolute limit. If it’s not met within twenty-four hours, she will never see her daughter again.
Sandra knows she should step aside, letting her team take over, but she doesn’t trust anyone else to bring Olivia home alive. Breaking every rule in the book, Sandra is ready to go into her most personal negotiation yet. But how much will she have to sacrifice to save her daughter?
A totally gripping new series which will have you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2025
679 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Arnold
76 books1,281 followersCAROLYN 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 nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 14, 2025
Heart-pounding suspense kept me fully engaged throughout
Save Her Life
by Carolyn Arnold. This is the first book in a new series featuring FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos. She was introduced in the thirteenth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series and I’m thrilled she now has her own series.
Sandra is alerted to a hostage situation at a local grocery store and races to the scene after the initial negotiator needs to leave. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone of the building until his demands are met. Later, she gets a call - Sandra’s teenage daughter Olivia didn’t show up for her violin lesson. The abductor makes demands that push Sandra to the limit. While she knows she should step aside, she only trusts herself to bring Olivia back alive.
Sandra is one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators. She remains calm in stressful situations, is empathetic, sets a high standard for herself, and has an infallible memory. She’s dating a Washington D. C. metro police department detective, Eric Birch. Eric is extremely supportive and understanding of Sandra and they both have high profile and stressful jobs. The other characters are well-developed, especially the antagonist, who is angry, hostile, and emotional.
As always, Arnold’s writing style quickly pulled me into the story. The plot is well-written and the character development was excellent, especially for the first book in a series. Readers also get chapters from the antagonist’s point of view which adds to the unsettling and disquieting feeling that something could go wrong at any time. The atmosphere and tension in this novel were fantastic. While the grocery store hostage situation with not rushed, it was a powerful and dramatic event. However, the abduction and attempted recovery of Olivia was a race against time. In both situations I was rapidly turning pages to see what would happen next. The story is part police investigation and part action thriller. It also does a great job of showing different approaches to hostage situations as well giving readers Sandra’s background that led her to her current job. Other themes include anger, impatience, greed, family, relationships, friendship, and much more.
Overall, this was suspenseful, thought-provoking, and action packed with compelling characters that kept me engaged throughout. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in both series.
Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
Sandra is alerted to a hostage situation at a local grocery store and races to the scene after the initial negotiator needs to leave. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone of the building until his demands are met. Later, she gets a call - Sandra’s teenage daughter Olivia didn’t show up for her violin lesson. The abductor makes demands that push Sandra to the limit. While she knows she should step aside, she only trusts herself to bring Olivia back alive.
Sandra is one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators. She remains calm in stressful situations, is empathetic, sets a high standard for herself, and has an infallible memory. She’s dating a Washington D. C. metro police department detective, Eric Birch. Eric is extremely supportive and understanding of Sandra and they both have high profile and stressful jobs. The other characters are well-developed, especially the antagonist, who is angry, hostile, and emotional.
As always, Arnold’s writing style quickly pulled me into the story. The plot is well-written and the character development was excellent, especially for the first book in a series. Readers also get chapters from the antagonist’s point of view which adds to the unsettling and disquieting feeling that something could go wrong at any time. The atmosphere and tension in this novel were fantastic. While the grocery store hostage situation with not rushed, it was a powerful and dramatic event. However, the abduction and attempted recovery of Olivia was a race against time. In both situations I was rapidly turning pages to see what would happen next. The story is part police investigation and part action thriller. It also does a great job of showing different approaches to hostage situations as well giving readers Sandra’s background that led her to her current job. Other themes include anger, impatience, greed, family, relationships, friendship, and much more.
Overall, this was suspenseful, thought-provoking, and action packed with compelling characters that kept me engaged throughout. If you enjoy thrillers, then look no further than this novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in both series.
Bookouture and Carolyn Arnold provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for May 27, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review is coming soon.
May 26, 2025
Gripping, shocking, thrilling, and intense, Save Her Life instantly grabbed my attention and never let go! Whew! I loved the tension, the suspense, the sense of danger and the pacing of this book. There was never a dull moment! I found this book to be a captivating page turner and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
Special Agent Sandra Vos is one of the FBI's top hostage negotiators. After dropping her daughter off at school, she reports to a hostage situation at a local grocery store. She is in the midst of doing what she does best when she is informed that Olivia, her daughter has been taken. She has twenty four hours to meet the kidnappers demands or lose her daughter forever. Talk about having a bad day. Sandra must walk a tightrope between being a special agent and being a mother who wants her child back. Plus, dealing with everyone else in her life.
Woohoo! This book was off the hook intense!!!! Man, this book put me and Sandra through the ringer and then some. This book had my heart beating and my fingers crossed hoping for the best possible outcome. I enjoyed Sandra Vos's character and felt for all she went through in this book.
This is the thrilling first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Ever read a book and wonder why you have never read a book by that author before? That is my experience with reading Save Her Life. I was constantly asking myself why I had not picked up a book by Carolyn Arnold previously. Save Her Life is so good!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Special Agent Sandra Vos is one of the FBI's top hostage negotiators. After dropping her daughter off at school, she reports to a hostage situation at a local grocery store. She is in the midst of doing what she does best when she is informed that Olivia, her daughter has been taken. She has twenty four hours to meet the kidnappers demands or lose her daughter forever. Talk about having a bad day. Sandra must walk a tightrope between being a special agent and being a mother who wants her child back. Plus, dealing with everyone else in her life.
Woohoo! This book was off the hook intense!!!! Man, this book put me and Sandra through the ringer and then some. This book had my heart beating and my fingers crossed hoping for the best possible outcome. I enjoyed Sandra Vos's character and felt for all she went through in this book.
This is the thrilling first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Ever read a book and wonder why you have never read a book by that author before? That is my experience with reading Save Her Life. I was constantly asking myself why I had not picked up a book by Carolyn Arnold previously. Save Her Life is so good!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 27, 2025
Wooden shoes, wooden head, wooden listen.
That quote was from a colleague kidding Sandra Vos about her name. Interestingly enough, it was her name that caught my attention and helped me decide to try this new series. Why? Vos is a Dutch name that I recognized from my hometown and since I have almost 100% Dutch ancestry, I was intrigued.
Sandra Vos is a determined negotiator. She has perfected the art of convincing the Hostage Taker (HT) that she is on his/her side. The book begins with a tense hostage situation in a market. While the blow by blow is quite interesting, I found that at times Sandra is redundant on explaining to the reader why she is saying or acting in a certain way. If she were a man, I would accuse her of mansplaining.
The bulk of the book is an even more perilous case for Sandra's family with her daughter in danger. This was more showing and less talking. It was fascinating to see the team pursue the investigation and work against the clock to get Olivia back home.
I paired the DRC with an audio copy narrated expertly by Kathryn Akin -- she sounded just how I imagined Sandra Vos would sound. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the audio and digital ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
That quote was from a colleague kidding Sandra Vos about her name. Interestingly enough, it was her name that caught my attention and helped me decide to try this new series. Why? Vos is a Dutch name that I recognized from my hometown and since I have almost 100% Dutch ancestry, I was intrigued.
Sandra Vos is a determined negotiator. She has perfected the art of convincing the Hostage Taker (HT) that she is on his/her side. The book begins with a tense hostage situation in a market. While the blow by blow is quite interesting, I found that at times Sandra is redundant on explaining to the reader why she is saying or acting in a certain way. If she were a man, I would accuse her of mansplaining.
The bulk of the book is an even more perilous case for Sandra's family with her daughter in danger. This was more showing and less talking. It was fascinating to see the team pursue the investigation and work against the clock to get Olivia back home.
I paired the DRC with an audio copy narrated expertly by Kathryn Akin -- she sounded just how I imagined Sandra Vos would sound. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the audio and digital ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
I freaking love suspense novels, especially with law enforcement. It has been forever since I read one without a romance as well as a suspense plot though. Usually I need both to keep me invested (and I simply love romance), but this was really engaging and interesting. I was invested throughout the book and enjoyed it a lot.
It’s always more intense when a main character’s child is involved, and I loved exploring the MC’s struggle between reacting as a mom and staying professional through trauma. Sandra is a really badass main character; a crisis negotiator for the FBI. Although this isn’t a romance, she does have a lovely boyfriend/partner who supports her.
The narrator — Kathryn Akin — did a really good job with the story and all the emotional and suspenseful moments.
This works great as a standalones as there’s no cliffhanger or unsolved plot, but I might pick up the next one whenever it’s out anyway.
Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
FBI negotiator
Single mom
Teenage daughter
Crisis negotiation
Suspense
Divorced MC
Action
Mystery thriller
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Death of sibling (past, child murder)
Mention of parent deaths (past)
Parent with Alzheimer’s
Parent suicide (past, few details)
Hostage situation (unknown hostages)
Gun violence
POV chapter from intoxicated bad guy
Alcohol consumption
Death of hostage
MC’s teenage daughter abducted
Teenager held captive
Teenager drugged on page (chloroform)
Teenager injured on page (hit)
Side character murdered on page
Sexual harassment (forced to strip)
Suicide bombing — successful
Underage drinking
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Mystery thriller
Pairing: M/F
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 47
Series: Series, standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 348
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
I freaking love suspense novels, especially with law enforcement. It has been forever since I read one without a romance as well as a suspense plot though. Usually I need both to keep me invested (and I simply love romance), but this was really engaging and interesting. I was invested throughout the book and enjoyed it a lot.
It’s always more intense when a main character’s child is involved, and I loved exploring the MC’s struggle between reacting as a mom and staying professional through trauma. Sandra is a really badass main character; a crisis negotiator for the FBI. Although this isn’t a romance, she does have a lovely boyfriend/partner who supports her.
The narrator — Kathryn Akin — did a really good job with the story and all the emotional and suspenseful moments.
This works great as a standalones as there’s no cliffhanger or unsolved plot, but I might pick up the next one whenever it’s out anyway.
Thank you to NetGalley for this audio ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
FBI negotiator
Single mom
Teenage daughter
Crisis negotiation
Suspense
Divorced MC
Action
Mystery thriller
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Death of sibling (past, child murder)
Mention of parent deaths (past)
Parent with Alzheimer’s
Parent suicide (past, few details)
Hostage situation (unknown hostages)
Gun violence
POV chapter from intoxicated bad guy
Alcohol consumption
Death of hostage
MC’s teenage daughter abducted
Teenager held captive
Teenager drugged on page (chloroform)
Teenager injured on page (hit)
Side character murdered on page
Sexual harassment (forced to strip)
Suicide bombing — successful
Underage drinking
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Mystery thriller
Pairing: M/F
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: 47
Series: Series, standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 348
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
May 27, 2025
FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos’ brother was killed by a hostage taker more than thirty years ago, and the book opens with her testifying at his parole hearing. As she heads home, she is called to the scene of another hostage situation. As a skilled negotiator, her job is to diffuse the situation with as little collateral damage as possible. Finally able to relax, she is called to duty again, but this time it is personal. Someone has kidnapped her beloved daughter, Olivia, and she refuses to step aside as a crack FBI team races to save her.
This is the first in what looks to be an exciting new series by prolific writer Carolyn Arnold. I am fond of her other books, including the series featuring Amanda Steele and another with Madison Knight as the main character. The two storylines in Save Her Life are tense and suspenseful. Sandra Vos is a strong, capable, and likable protagonist, and her support team is equally appealing. Arnold does a good job of filling in the backstory of Amanda’s life. This book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. I read it in one day, not willing to put it down.
Now is the time for readers to get in on the ground floor of a new, exciting mystery thriller series with a strong female main character. I look forward to many more installments.
This is the first in what looks to be an exciting new series by prolific writer Carolyn Arnold. I am fond of her other books, including the series featuring Amanda Steele and another with Madison Knight as the main character. The two storylines in Save Her Life are tense and suspenseful. Sandra Vos is a strong, capable, and likable protagonist, and her support team is equally appealing. Arnold does a good job of filling in the backstory of Amanda’s life. This book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. I read it in one day, not willing to put it down.
Now is the time for readers to get in on the ground floor of a new, exciting mystery thriller series with a strong female main character. I look forward to many more installments.
May 27, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🎧
3.5 🌟
Save Her Life is the first instalment in a new detective series and we are introduced to FBI agent Sandra Vos just as she’s leaving the parole hearing for the man who murdered her brother, she’s barely got back to the car when she called in as negotiator on a hostage situation, as she’s wrapping up the scene, she received a call, it doesn’t take long to realise that this time, the case is personal.
I enjoyed that the author gave full descriptions of negotiation tactics without over simplifying or patronising. I enjoyed the character development and the history that makes Sandra the agent she is today, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next in the series.
Great narration by Kathryn Akin 🎧
Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
3.5 🌟
Save Her Life is the first instalment in a new detective series and we are introduced to FBI agent Sandra Vos just as she’s leaving the parole hearing for the man who murdered her brother, she’s barely got back to the car when she called in as negotiator on a hostage situation, as she’s wrapping up the scene, she received a call, it doesn’t take long to realise that this time, the case is personal.
I enjoyed that the author gave full descriptions of negotiation tactics without over simplifying or patronising. I enjoyed the character development and the history that makes Sandra the agent she is today, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next in the series.
Great narration by Kathryn Akin 🎧
Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
May 19, 2025
Carolyn Arnold is a must read author for me, so I am super excited to share the first book in her new series, Save Her Life (Sandra Vos #1).
If it turned out to be nothing, she’d look the fool.
I wonder how often someone has thought of that when something bad is coming their way.
Sandra Vos is part of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. When not in the field, she’s manhunting criminals. She keeps her family’s wealth a secret. She’s forty seven years old, not a youngster, and I kinda like that. When she is called into a hostage situation, it makes her a target. The villain wants her to suffer and will use her teenage daughter, Olivia, to force her cooperation.
Carolyn Arnold uses a Prologue to set the hook right out of the gate. That’s why I love prologues. I love stories that get my heart pounding, unable to put the book down and Save Her Life does that very well. And that ending…WOWZA…love it. I can hardly wait to see what Sandra Vos will have to deal with next.
I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
If it turned out to be nothing, she’d look the fool.
I wonder how often someone has thought of that when something bad is coming their way.
Sandra Vos is part of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. When not in the field, she’s manhunting criminals. She keeps her family’s wealth a secret. She’s forty seven years old, not a youngster, and I kinda like that. When she is called into a hostage situation, it makes her a target. The villain wants her to suffer and will use her teenage daughter, Olivia, to force her cooperation.
Carolyn Arnold uses a Prologue to set the hook right out of the gate. That’s why I love prologues. I love stories that get my heart pounding, unable to put the book down and Save Her Life does that very well. And that ending…WOWZA…love it. I can hardly wait to see what Sandra Vos will have to deal with next.
I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com
June 2, 2025
Save Her Life kicks off Carolyn Arnold’s brand-new series featuring Sandra Vos, an FBI negotiator and single mom. In this installment, Sandra, faces her toughest assignment, negotiating for the life of her child.
From page one, this gripping thriller doesn’t let go. Sandra Vos, a top FBI negotiator and single mom, takes the lead in Carolyn Arnold’s newest series. A hostage crisis forces Sandra to choose between duty and family. This isn’t just another case, it’s a fight for everything she holds dear.
What starts as a seemingly standard hostage negotiation suddenly turns into something way more personal for Sandra. One minute she’s handling a crisis at a local grocery store, and the next, one phone call turns her entire world upside-down. The stakes are high, and as the pressure mounts readers experience it right along with her.
Arnold delivers the perfect balance of action and emotion. You’ve got mounting deadlines, tense standoffs, and all the high-stakes drama you’d expect from an FBI investigation. There's also a deep personal layer that pulls you in even more. Sandra may be a top negotiator, but she’s a mom first. And when that part of her life gets dragged into the chaos, one is compelled to turning the pages to see how she handles it. It’s not just about solving the case—it’s about seeing how far a mother will go when everything’s on the line.
Amid the chaos, readers are given intimate glimpses into Sandra’s personal life. Her past and present—adding emotional weight to every decision she makes. Seeing aspects of the story unfold through the antagonist’s eyes adds an extra layer of suspense. This made every twist feel even more dangerous.
Save Her Life is not just a gripping crime fiction—it’s a tale of personal sacrifice, maternal instinct, and unshakable resolve. Carolyn Arnold has crafted a compelling series debut that blends heart-pounding tension with emotional depth. A compelling read. I can’t wait for the next installment!This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
From page one, this gripping thriller doesn’t let go. Sandra Vos, a top FBI negotiator and single mom, takes the lead in Carolyn Arnold’s newest series. A hostage crisis forces Sandra to choose between duty and family. This isn’t just another case, it’s a fight for everything she holds dear.
What starts as a seemingly standard hostage negotiation suddenly turns into something way more personal for Sandra. One minute she’s handling a crisis at a local grocery store, and the next, one phone call turns her entire world upside-down. The stakes are high, and as the pressure mounts readers experience it right along with her.
Arnold delivers the perfect balance of action and emotion. You’ve got mounting deadlines, tense standoffs, and all the high-stakes drama you’d expect from an FBI investigation. There's also a deep personal layer that pulls you in even more. Sandra may be a top negotiator, but she’s a mom first. And when that part of her life gets dragged into the chaos, one is compelled to turning the pages to see how she handles it. It’s not just about solving the case—it’s about seeing how far a mother will go when everything’s on the line.
Amid the chaos, readers are given intimate glimpses into Sandra’s personal life. Her past and present—adding emotional weight to every decision she makes. Seeing aspects of the story unfold through the antagonist’s eyes adds an extra layer of suspense. This made every twist feel even more dangerous.
Save Her Life is not just a gripping crime fiction—it’s a tale of personal sacrifice, maternal instinct, and unshakable resolve. Carolyn Arnold has crafted a compelling series debut that blends heart-pounding tension with emotional depth. A compelling read. I can’t wait for the next installment!This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
April 20, 2025
A great new thriller series featuring FBI agent Sandra Vos, a trained negotiator who intervenes in hostage situations.
In this book the reader gets to know a bit of her back story, how her teenage twin brother had been killed in this type of crime. The book starts with her negotiating with a hostage taker in a pharmacy which really serves to set the scene. The reader is able to see how negotiators work, using empathy and keeping a cool head in difficult situations.
However before she can celebrate the safe end of the siege she discovers that her own teenage daughter has been kidnapped and she is in a race against time to get her back with the added problem of having to face her own past demons along the way. The man who murdered her brother many years earlier.
This was a fast paced roller coaster of a read with a very strong female protagonist which I really liked. The setting was DC, a city I know well as my son lives there so I was able to picture some of the locations, particularly the Georgetown river front. The authors was very good at settling the scene.
It didn’t take me long to finish the book as it was easy to read and moved at a very quick pace. I certainly felt I wanted to read more about Sandra Vos and her team when I reached the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy.
In this book the reader gets to know a bit of her back story, how her teenage twin brother had been killed in this type of crime. The book starts with her negotiating with a hostage taker in a pharmacy which really serves to set the scene. The reader is able to see how negotiators work, using empathy and keeping a cool head in difficult situations.
However before she can celebrate the safe end of the siege she discovers that her own teenage daughter has been kidnapped and she is in a race against time to get her back with the added problem of having to face her own past demons along the way. The man who murdered her brother many years earlier.
This was a fast paced roller coaster of a read with a very strong female protagonist which I really liked. The setting was DC, a city I know well as my son lives there so I was able to picture some of the locations, particularly the Georgetown river front. The authors was very good at settling the scene.
It didn’t take me long to finish the book as it was easy to read and moved at a very quick pace. I certainly felt I wanted to read more about Sandra Vos and her team when I reached the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy.
April 22, 2025
Talented author Carolyn Arnold brings us the start of a new series with Save Her Life. FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos is a top-notch negotiator. Unfortunately, she will be pushed to the edge when her own daughter is kidnapped and the negotiation become quite personal. This gripping nail-biter was unputdownable. From great characters to a strong storyline, this book is the perfect thriller. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2025
Save Her Life was an excellent beginning to a new series, the Sandra Vos Series, written by Carolyn Arnold, one of the best storytellers I've ever read. I love reading Carolyn’s stories. I love how she tells a story, getting deep into a character's mine.
Save Her Life was a great introduction to this new series. I was drawn into Special Agent Sandra Vos' story from the first page. From the moment I start to read one of Carolyn’s stories, my own world disappears as I am pulled deep into the world that she has created. The mystery and suspense keep me hanging on page after page as I get lost in its world. I am mesmerized from the first word; I feel as if I am a part of it.
Save Her Life introduces us to Special Agent Sandra Vos and lets us know who she is. Sandra is a hostage negotiator. Save Her Life starts out with Sandra trying to save the lives of hostages by talking to the hostage taker. Sandra is trying to get the hostage taker to give up without hurting any of the hostage.
While Sandra is trying to save the lives of the hostage, she learns that her daughter, Olivia, is missing. Sandra only has a short amount of time to follow the orders of Olivia's kidnapper if she wants to see her daughter alive again.
Sandra must work fast if she is going to save her life. She may have to break every rule in the book to save her daughter. Why would someone take her daughter? Who would want to hurt Olivia? Is it someone from Sandra’s past? Or is it just a coincidence?
As always, I highly recommend Save Her Life to all thriller fans! Grab a copy of Save Her Life today!
Save Her Life was a great introduction to this new series. I was drawn into Special Agent Sandra Vos' story from the first page. From the moment I start to read one of Carolyn’s stories, my own world disappears as I am pulled deep into the world that she has created. The mystery and suspense keep me hanging on page after page as I get lost in its world. I am mesmerized from the first word; I feel as if I am a part of it.
Save Her Life introduces us to Special Agent Sandra Vos and lets us know who she is. Sandra is a hostage negotiator. Save Her Life starts out with Sandra trying to save the lives of hostages by talking to the hostage taker. Sandra is trying to get the hostage taker to give up without hurting any of the hostage.
While Sandra is trying to save the lives of the hostage, she learns that her daughter, Olivia, is missing. Sandra only has a short amount of time to follow the orders of Olivia's kidnapper if she wants to see her daughter alive again.
Sandra must work fast if she is going to save her life. She may have to break every rule in the book to save her daughter. Why would someone take her daughter? Who would want to hurt Olivia? Is it someone from Sandra’s past? Or is it just a coincidence?
As always, I highly recommend Save Her Life to all thriller fans! Grab a copy of Save Her Life today!
May 24, 2025
Oh my greatness! What an incredible action-packed book! @authorcarolynarnold had me on the edge of my seat straight from the first chapter. The different scenarios that we get included in all add up to the exhilarating epic conclusion of the debut novel. Sandra Vos is my new favourite FBI agent, a hostage negotiater, which is such a welcome change to just your normal familiar agent. She is a calm yet terrifying person with an incredible mind. I loved that Arnold set each scene for us in such detail, and we get to experience the inside of these hostage situations from the law's side. I have to give credit to @kathrynakin01 for her phenomenal narration skills! She knew exactly what to do and how to say it, which added so much value to the book. I felt the tension, I could hear the suspense and fear! The only negative thing I can say is why have I only now discovered Carolyn Arnold!! She has an impressive list of novels behind her name, and I am so excited to see what else she has for me! Guys, if you are looking for an action-packed, suspenseful female FBI series.... this is the one! I suggest you run to the shops right now, go on, go!!!
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 28, 2025
Special Agent Sandra Vos is an exceptional FBI agent known for her professionalism. She also has a strong bond with her daughter, Olivia. When Olivia goes missing, Sandra is determined to find her, putting aside her professionalism, often letting her emotional side take over.
Readers first met Sandra in the exceptional Amanda Steele series, and now she has her own series. Readers will likely be equally intrigued by this new series.
Sandra is certain that she will find Olivia. Her determination is fueled by the strong feeling that her daughter is not just missing but has been taken. Olivia’s safety is Sandra’s top priority, a relatable concern for any mother. However, as Sandra is one who has witnessed the worst that society has to offer feels utterly helpless with Olivia missing, the urgency and intensity of the book rise exponentially.
Listening to the expertly narrated audiobook was captivating. The side stories and their connections to the present were intriguing. I also enjoyed the setup of the Sandra Vos series and the character development. The alternating points of view from the kidnappers’ perspective added to the urgency of this compelling read by Carolyn Arnold.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Readers first met Sandra in the exceptional Amanda Steele series, and now she has her own series. Readers will likely be equally intrigued by this new series.
Sandra is certain that she will find Olivia. Her determination is fueled by the strong feeling that her daughter is not just missing but has been taken. Olivia’s safety is Sandra’s top priority, a relatable concern for any mother. However, as Sandra is one who has witnessed the worst that society has to offer feels utterly helpless with Olivia missing, the urgency and intensity of the book rise exponentially.
Listening to the expertly narrated audiobook was captivating. The side stories and their connections to the present were intriguing. I also enjoyed the setup of the Sandra Vos series and the character development. The alternating points of view from the kidnappers’ perspective added to the urgency of this compelling read by Carolyn Arnold.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 27, 2025
Sandra Vos is as cool as a cucumber as a hostage negotiator for the FBI.
She’s in a relationship with a DC cop and has a 16 year old daughter.
I loved this new series because I’m addicted to crime fiction and love series that portrays women in law enforcement.
I learned a lot about the acronyms and tactics while reading this book.
I also loved that Sandra held her own in a testosterone filled environment.
Can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.
She’s in a relationship with a DC cop and has a 16 year old daughter.
I loved this new series because I’m addicted to crime fiction and love series that portrays women in law enforcement.
I learned a lot about the acronyms and tactics while reading this book.
I also loved that Sandra held her own in a testosterone filled environment.
Can’t wait for the next one!
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy.
July 6, 2025
This was a fast, non stop action read. It was a solid start to a new series. I’m looking forward to see what’s next. This is my first read by this author but certainly not my last.
May 27, 2025
This was book one, in which will be a start of the Sandra Vos series, and it didn’t disappoint. She is one fierce mother who would go to the ends of the earth to find and protect her daughter. She’s so professional and calm, I’d have lost my mind. The characters were great, the piecing together of clues was great, all in all a great book. No spoilers. Narrator was great. Easy to understand and well spoken. 5 star!
April 5, 2025
Thanks to the author and NetGalley, I received this book for free prior to publication in an exchange for an honest review.
The main character in the book is Special Agent Sandra Vos who is a hostage negotiator with the FBI and the book starts with her attending a parole hearing of the man who had taken her brother hostage and killed years previously. Once she’s done there, already fraught and exhausted from giving victim impact testimony, she’s sent by her boss to take over negotiation from the local police at a hostage situation. We’re given an insight into Sandra’s character, having to enter that testosterone fuelled local police situation and be the FBI representative who takes over the main role from the police, negotiating with the hostage taker whilst also dealing (and negotiating!) with the gung-ho attitude of the senior police officer in attendance. It is clear that the author has researched the role of the hostage negotiator and this gives an air of credibility. After a time, the hostage situation is brought to an end and the reader has been shown Sandra is good at her job.
The book moves on to Sandra doing her paperwork in the office and discovering that her daughter has been abducted. For me, the book lost some credibility because it had Sandra and a supporting colleague running the investigation and subsequent negotiations however, I still very much enjoyed this book and found it to be very fast paced and entertaining. I appreciated that the main character is a strong female who has a supportive boss and is good at her job. I thought the length of the book was spot on and although a bit formulaic, it is a very good read.
To sum up, an entertaining, well written and constructed page turner. I look forward to the next instalment in what will no doubt be a very successful series.
The main character in the book is Special Agent Sandra Vos who is a hostage negotiator with the FBI and the book starts with her attending a parole hearing of the man who had taken her brother hostage and killed years previously. Once she’s done there, already fraught and exhausted from giving victim impact testimony, she’s sent by her boss to take over negotiation from the local police at a hostage situation. We’re given an insight into Sandra’s character, having to enter that testosterone fuelled local police situation and be the FBI representative who takes over the main role from the police, negotiating with the hostage taker whilst also dealing (and negotiating!) with the gung-ho attitude of the senior police officer in attendance. It is clear that the author has researched the role of the hostage negotiator and this gives an air of credibility. After a time, the hostage situation is brought to an end and the reader has been shown Sandra is good at her job.
The book moves on to Sandra doing her paperwork in the office and discovering that her daughter has been abducted. For me, the book lost some credibility because it had Sandra and a supporting colleague running the investigation and subsequent negotiations however, I still very much enjoyed this book and found it to be very fast paced and entertaining. I appreciated that the main character is a strong female who has a supportive boss and is good at her job. I thought the length of the book was spot on and although a bit formulaic, it is a very good read.
To sum up, an entertaining, well written and constructed page turner. I look forward to the next instalment in what will no doubt be a very successful series.
August 15, 2025
I am a true sucker for an amazing police procedural that packs in the suspense. This book did not disappoint. All of my favorite elements were present - tension-filled suspense, well-developed characters, twists, turns, and fast pacing.
Save Her Life is an electrifying and heart-pounding thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Carolyn Arnold masterfully introduces us to Sandra Vos, a smart, determined, and deeply human FBI agent whose instincts and courage make her instantly compelling. The pacing is relentless. Just when you think you’ve caught your breath, another twist hits and you’re pulled right back into the action.
The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Agent Sandra Vos is a fantastic protagonist—complex, intelligent, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. I couldn't help but to root for her as she navigates through a case that is extremely personal to her. What really stood out to me was the perfect balance between intense suspense and emotional depth. The stakes feel real, the danger is palpable, and yet there’s an underlying humanity to the characters that makes you genuinely care about what happens to them.
This is the kind of book you cannot put down. If you love police/FBI procedurals that are smart, tightly written, and full of unexpected turns, definitely read this one. Carolyn Arnold has a new fan in me, and I can’t wait to follow Sandra Vos on her next case.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for m honest thoughts.
Save Her Life is an electrifying and heart-pounding thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Carolyn Arnold masterfully introduces us to Sandra Vos, a smart, determined, and deeply human FBI agent whose instincts and courage make her instantly compelling. The pacing is relentless. Just when you think you’ve caught your breath, another twist hits and you’re pulled right back into the action.
The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Agent Sandra Vos is a fantastic protagonist—complex, intelligent, and relentless in her pursuit of the truth. I couldn't help but to root for her as she navigates through a case that is extremely personal to her. What really stood out to me was the perfect balance between intense suspense and emotional depth. The stakes feel real, the danger is palpable, and yet there’s an underlying humanity to the characters that makes you genuinely care about what happens to them.
This is the kind of book you cannot put down. If you love police/FBI procedurals that are smart, tightly written, and full of unexpected turns, definitely read this one. Carolyn Arnold has a new fan in me, and I can’t wait to follow Sandra Vos on her next case.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for m honest thoughts.
May 21, 2025
Title: Save Her Lifer
Series: A Sandra Vos Book #1
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Narrator: Kathryn Akin
Format: 🎧
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Mystery
Audiobook Pub Date May 27, 2025
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 346
Story starts with Special Agent Sandra Vos attending a parole hearing of Darrell Patton- a man who killed her fourteen old brother Sam an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. Darrell has been sentenced to serve fifty years- however after thirty years he is pleading release as he has learned his lesson and is a changed man. The brother’s death devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.
Sandra remains calm in stressful situations, is empathetic, sets a high standard for herself, and has an infallible memory. She’s dating a Washington D.C. metro police department detective, Eric Birch. Eric is extremely supportive and understanding of Sandra and they both have high profile and stressful jobs.
Sandra has a teenage daughter, Olivia. She dropped her off at school when she got a call from her boss regarding hostage situation nearby. A man has gun and is holding several people hostage at a local grocery store. He refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands is met.
Sandra is a good negotiator even though the local police would rather not have the FBI interfering.
Sandra is successful and the hostage taker does turn himself in.
Sandra is happy that it is over additional she gets a call that the parole Board did not grant Patton’s request.
Aww life is good.
However, the next day, Sandra gets a phone call from her daughter’s after school music teacher. Olivia has not shown up nor answers her sell. Sandra calls her best friend that yes they were together after school and Olivia left on time for her music lesson. Sandra asks if there was any reason why Olivia wouldn’t be answering her phone. Her friend thinks about the creepy guy who was watching them and gave a bad vibe. When Sandra finds out that a man has been release from prison that she helped capture.
Sandra is mow fearful Olivia, has been taken.
Next there is a demand that needs to be met within twenty-four hours, or she will never see her daughter again.
Story had me curious. I did like the info about Sandra’s home and personal life and I really liked the ending.
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 27, 2025.
Series: A Sandra Vos Book #1
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Narrator: Kathryn Akin
Format: 🎧
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Mystery
Audiobook Pub Date May 27, 2025
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 346
Story starts with Special Agent Sandra Vos attending a parole hearing of Darrell Patton- a man who killed her fourteen old brother Sam an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. Darrell has been sentenced to serve fifty years- however after thirty years he is pleading release as he has learned his lesson and is a changed man. The brother’s death devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.
Sandra remains calm in stressful situations, is empathetic, sets a high standard for herself, and has an infallible memory. She’s dating a Washington D.C. metro police department detective, Eric Birch. Eric is extremely supportive and understanding of Sandra and they both have high profile and stressful jobs.
Sandra has a teenage daughter, Olivia. She dropped her off at school when she got a call from her boss regarding hostage situation nearby. A man has gun and is holding several people hostage at a local grocery store. He refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands is met.
Sandra is a good negotiator even though the local police would rather not have the FBI interfering.
Sandra is successful and the hostage taker does turn himself in.
Sandra is happy that it is over additional she gets a call that the parole Board did not grant Patton’s request.
Aww life is good.
However, the next day, Sandra gets a phone call from her daughter’s after school music teacher. Olivia has not shown up nor answers her sell. Sandra calls her best friend that yes they were together after school and Olivia left on time for her music lesson. Sandra asks if there was any reason why Olivia wouldn’t be answering her phone. Her friend thinks about the creepy guy who was watching them and gave a bad vibe. When Sandra finds out that a man has been release from prison that she helped capture.
Sandra is mow fearful Olivia, has been taken.
Next there is a demand that needs to be met within twenty-four hours, or she will never see her daughter again.
Story had me curious. I did like the info about Sandra’s home and personal life and I really liked the ending.
Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 27, 2025.
May 30, 2025
4.5 Stars: Save Her Life is the first book in a new series by Carolyn Arnold. Sandra Vos is an FBI hostage negotiator and one of the best. Her twin brother was killed in a kidnapping gone wrong, 30 years earlier, and was the reason she is in the role. After dropping her teenage daughter off at school, she gets a call about a hostage situation inside a pharmacy. She heads to the scene, ready to diffuse the situation and get all the hostages out alive. The head of the police team is ready to bring in the snipers, but Sandra is able to make contact and talk the man down. Before she leaves the scene, she gets word that her daughter has been taken and the person holding her has demands that must be met within 24 hours or she will die. Sandra doesn't trust anyone else to work the case, but her ex-husband shows up, and he is adamant to get involved, it is his daughter after all. Will they be able to rescue Olivia and meet the demands of the kidnapper?
With this being the first book in the series, we have to get to know the main characters. There was a bit more telling than normal in Carolyn Arnold's books, but I chalk it up to that. Sandra Vos is a great character. I liked the way she worked with the hostage taker at the pharmacy, her patience, gentle nature and intuition come into play. She is a great mom, and there is no way she will let her daughter die. The crime itself was a good one. It went back to her brother's murder and I enjoyed how the storyline twisted and turned. Sandra's husband is a "Rambo" type of agent, working around the world rescuing hostages, so has a very different approach to the crime. I hope we will see more of him in subsequent books as I would like to get to know him better. This story was very tense with Sandra breaking some of the rules to successfully bring the crime to an end. With an uncooperative prison official, a secret location she has to figure out, rules to follow and relatives that are reluctant to help, time ticks quickly and had me reading and listening at every opportunity. Doing a read/listen allowed me to finish this one in a day, and I am already looking for the next book in this series. Kathryn Akin is a narrator I don't believe I have listened to before, but I will not hesitate to listening to her work in the future. Her voices, tone, expression and pacing were spot on for this story. If you enjoy a crime thriller, then I recommend Save Her Life in whichever format you prefer.
With this being the first book in the series, we have to get to know the main characters. There was a bit more telling than normal in Carolyn Arnold's books, but I chalk it up to that. Sandra Vos is a great character. I liked the way she worked with the hostage taker at the pharmacy, her patience, gentle nature and intuition come into play. She is a great mom, and there is no way she will let her daughter die. The crime itself was a good one. It went back to her brother's murder and I enjoyed how the storyline twisted and turned. Sandra's husband is a "Rambo" type of agent, working around the world rescuing hostages, so has a very different approach to the crime. I hope we will see more of him in subsequent books as I would like to get to know him better. This story was very tense with Sandra breaking some of the rules to successfully bring the crime to an end. With an uncooperative prison official, a secret location she has to figure out, rules to follow and relatives that are reluctant to help, time ticks quickly and had me reading and listening at every opportunity. Doing a read/listen allowed me to finish this one in a day, and I am already looking for the next book in this series. Kathryn Akin is a narrator I don't believe I have listened to before, but I will not hesitate to listening to her work in the future. Her voices, tone, expression and pacing were spot on for this story. If you enjoy a crime thriller, then I recommend Save Her Life in whichever format you prefer.
May 30, 2025
Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold is the first book in her new Sandra Vos series. We meet FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos, who is a long-tenured negotiator. On her way home from testifying at a parole hearing, Sandra gets a call to help at a store, where customers are being held hostage in a tense situation at a grocery store. Sandra is determined to convince the man holding them hostage to free them, but a few hostages were hurt. Sandra does all she can to get him to give up, but hours pass, until she finally gets him to give up.
While Sandra is back in the office filling out her paperwork, she discovers that someone has taken her daughter, Olivia. With help with the FBI team, they try to figure out who is behind the kidnapping. Sandra has a very little time to find a way to rescue Olivia, and when they narrow down the possible suspects, she recognizes who the kidnapper is. The man who she attended the parole, turns out to be one of his cronies, and he wants the gold that only the imprisoned person knows where it is. The kidnapper demands Sandra to find where the gold his, and if she doesn’t find it, he will kill her daughter.
Sandra knows she should let her team take over, but she is desperate and insists that she needs to trust only herself to bring Olivia home alive. Sandra finds herself trying to fill two roles as an investigator and a mother. The pressure rises, as he ex-husband, Nolan arrives to help; and the FBI team escalates as they get closer. She has to race against time to save Olivia, not losing sight of the ticking clock.
Safe Her Life was a tense, exciting, emotional story line, that kept me glued to my kindle. Sandra turned out to be a fantastic heroine, especially with her whole team cooperating and sympathizing with her. Her ex-husband nearer to the end, also helped to save Olivia. Safe Her Life was so very well written by Caroyln Arnold. I suggest you read Safe Her Life was a fantastic thriller.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
While Sandra is back in the office filling out her paperwork, she discovers that someone has taken her daughter, Olivia. With help with the FBI team, they try to figure out who is behind the kidnapping. Sandra has a very little time to find a way to rescue Olivia, and when they narrow down the possible suspects, she recognizes who the kidnapper is. The man who she attended the parole, turns out to be one of his cronies, and he wants the gold that only the imprisoned person knows where it is. The kidnapper demands Sandra to find where the gold his, and if she doesn’t find it, he will kill her daughter.
Sandra knows she should let her team take over, but she is desperate and insists that she needs to trust only herself to bring Olivia home alive. Sandra finds herself trying to fill two roles as an investigator and a mother. The pressure rises, as he ex-husband, Nolan arrives to help; and the FBI team escalates as they get closer. She has to race against time to save Olivia, not losing sight of the ticking clock.
Safe Her Life was a tense, exciting, emotional story line, that kept me glued to my kindle. Sandra turned out to be a fantastic heroine, especially with her whole team cooperating and sympathizing with her. Her ex-husband nearer to the end, also helped to save Olivia. Safe Her Life was so very well written by Caroyln Arnold. I suggest you read Safe Her Life was a fantastic thriller.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
May 18, 2025
Overall I enjoyed the story with some caveats.
This is the first book of a new FBI procedural from the author. It is well written, fast paced and engaging and if you like police procedurals it’ll be right up your alley.
While the plot fits into the thriller category but I’ll say that it’s “thriller light”. I think that’s my biggest critique in that there was no real tension build up
Without giving spoilers, there is a situation that would be tense, but you don’t feel that tension in the prose. You know how when you read a romance you know there is going to be a HEA so it’s just about reading how the author is going to make that happen? Well this was the “thriller” version of that. There wasn’t any time that I felt that there was actual danger.
One other issue from a developmental aspect is that an FBI agent with personal ties to a victim would never have the access to the case like our FMC had making it really far fetched.
I consumed the audio book on 2.5x speed. The narrator Kathryn Akin did a great job with the material and all the voices. She spoke on the slower more deliberate side of typical but it was fine and easily listenable at 1x speed. On the other hand it was easy to speed up and understand it easily at the 2.5x speed that I listened at.
This book comes out on May 27th 2025.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
This is the first book of a new FBI procedural from the author. It is well written, fast paced and engaging and if you like police procedurals it’ll be right up your alley.
While the plot fits into the thriller category but I’ll say that it’s “thriller light”. I think that’s my biggest critique in that there was no real tension build up
Without giving spoilers, there is a situation that would be tense, but you don’t feel that tension in the prose. You know how when you read a romance you know there is going to be a HEA so it’s just about reading how the author is going to make that happen? Well this was the “thriller” version of that. There wasn’t any time that I felt that there was actual danger.
One other issue from a developmental aspect is that an FBI agent with personal ties to a victim would never have the access to the case like our FMC had making it really far fetched.
I consumed the audio book on 2.5x speed. The narrator Kathryn Akin did a great job with the material and all the voices. She spoke on the slower more deliberate side of typical but it was fine and easily listenable at 1x speed. On the other hand it was easy to speed up and understand it easily at the 2.5x speed that I listened at.
This book comes out on May 27th 2025.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Bookouture Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
May 28, 2025
Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold introduces a new character, Sandra Vos, who is an FBI agent specializing in hostage negotiation. We meet her as she is testifying against the parole of the man who killed her twin brother, years earlier when they were fourteen. A hostage situation gone bad. On her way back to town she was called back to relieve a negotiator who had been working all day. She always tried to resolve things with no one getting hurt. Not everyone at the scene shared that desire, but she was able to end it peacefully. She returned to the office to write it up and got a phone call from her daughter’s violin teacher. Olivia had not arrived. That kicked Sandra into overdrive and her partner, as well. That was to follow was several sleepless nights and a lot of panic as they raced to get to Olivia before the nut job that had her lost his patience.
Excellent police procedural. With the full force of the FBI behind her, Sandra looked at the video of her being snatched and recognized the culprit, who was not at all who she thought it was. They jut had to find him, now. To do that she had to speak to her brother’s murderer, but she would do anything for Olivia. She called her ex-husband, who was in Turkey, despite the fact she worried how he would respond. He tended to go off half-cocked. Sandra had a supportive boyfriend, Eric, who was a police detective. They kept their relationship quiet because of their related jobs. He was always there and helped where he could. It was a stressful time and Arnold got on the stress to the page. She also gave us some interesting characters for the future. Vos is going to be a good character. I am looking forward to more.
I was invited to read Save Her Life by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #CarolynArnold #SaveHerLife
Excellent police procedural. With the full force of the FBI behind her, Sandra looked at the video of her being snatched and recognized the culprit, who was not at all who she thought it was. They jut had to find him, now. To do that she had to speak to her brother’s murderer, but she would do anything for Olivia. She called her ex-husband, who was in Turkey, despite the fact she worried how he would respond. He tended to go off half-cocked. Sandra had a supportive boyfriend, Eric, who was a police detective. They kept their relationship quiet because of their related jobs. He was always there and helped where he could. It was a stressful time and Arnold got on the stress to the page. She also gave us some interesting characters for the future. Vos is going to be a good character. I am looking forward to more.
I was invited to read Save Her Life by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #CarolynArnold #SaveHerLife
May 19, 2025
Sandra Vos is an FBI negotiator. When her own daughter is taken, she has to rely on her background and skills to get her backs safely.
First, disclaimer. I listened to the audiobook. This is one of the times it could have impacted my opinion.
The first portion of the book felt far too much like a course lecture on hostage negotiating. I get assuming your audience knows nothing, but this was taking it too far. I wonder if this would have come off the same way had I read it instead of listened. Regardless, it nearly lost me early on because of this. And it never quite recovered.
Next, there are timeline issues throughout. Some times literal dates, other times, more abstract. For example, Sandra's brother was murdered around the year 1990 (ages do not make sense and I swear it said 38 years once, then later 33. That could be my imagination, but regardless, the exact timeline was inconsistent). It is mentioned that the wife of the murderer had a corporate job that allowed her to work from home full time. While some work certainly could be done remotely, does anyone remember 1990? The internet was barely a thing and not in households. How would one do a corporate job fully from home in 1990? By fax? Lol. It just doesn't make sense. That is one example.
All of this overshadowed the story and I was disengaged from the lecture in the first third of the book.
Kathryn Akin narrates the audiobook. Pretty sure she is Canadian based on the way she pronounces a few words. Especially sorry. At least norther Wisconsin/Minnesota is not Canadian. Definitely didn't sound like she was from DC- where it is set.
I received an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
First, disclaimer. I listened to the audiobook. This is one of the times it could have impacted my opinion.
The first portion of the book felt far too much like a course lecture on hostage negotiating. I get assuming your audience knows nothing, but this was taking it too far. I wonder if this would have come off the same way had I read it instead of listened. Regardless, it nearly lost me early on because of this. And it never quite recovered.
Next, there are timeline issues throughout. Some times literal dates, other times, more abstract. For example, Sandra's brother was murdered around the year 1990 (ages do not make sense and I swear it said 38 years once, then later 33. That could be my imagination, but regardless, the exact timeline was inconsistent). It is mentioned that the wife of the murderer had a corporate job that allowed her to work from home full time. While some work certainly could be done remotely, does anyone remember 1990? The internet was barely a thing and not in households. How would one do a corporate job fully from home in 1990? By fax? Lol. It just doesn't make sense. That is one example.
All of this overshadowed the story and I was disengaged from the lecture in the first third of the book.
Kathryn Akin narrates the audiobook. Pretty sure she is Canadian based on the way she pronounces a few words. Especially sorry. At least norther Wisconsin/Minnesota is not Canadian. Definitely didn't sound like she was from DC- where it is set.
I received an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2025
Save Her Life
Sandra Vos #1
Carolyn Arnold
Special Agent Sandra Vos is a member of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Over thirty years ago Sandra’s twin brother was murdered. He was an innocent victim caught in a kidnapping gone wrong. The incident changed Sandra’s life; it is the reason she joined the FBI and became one of their most successful hostage negotiators. This tale begins with Sandra at a parole hearing for the man that shot her brother.
Sandra drove her teenage daughter to school. She is called to a possible hostage situation. A man in a grocery store has a gun; he refuses to allow anyone to leave the store until he gets his daughter’s medicine. As a hostage negotiator Sandra calmly talks to the HT. She is there for hours. As the HT surrenders, she receives a call, her daughter, Olivia, didn’t show up for her violin lesson. Olivia has been abducted. She has twenty-four hours to meet their demand. While Sandra knows she is too close to the case, and she should step down, but this is her daughter. Even knowing her daughter’s life is at stake she remained calm and allows her training to kick in.
I enjoyed listening to Save Her Life. I stayed glued to my tablet not wanting to miss a moment of the action. The character of 47-year-old Sandra is well developed. She is strong and calm although inside she was terrified. I look forward to learning more about her boyfriend. Her ex-husband was overconfident, egotistical and arrogant. I liked the way her team were there for her. The book had a feeling of tension. The grocery store hostage situation set the atmosphere. The story is told by the third person. The genre of this story is thriller, and suspense.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Sandra Vos #1
Carolyn Arnold
Special Agent Sandra Vos is a member of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. Over thirty years ago Sandra’s twin brother was murdered. He was an innocent victim caught in a kidnapping gone wrong. The incident changed Sandra’s life; it is the reason she joined the FBI and became one of their most successful hostage negotiators. This tale begins with Sandra at a parole hearing for the man that shot her brother.
Sandra drove her teenage daughter to school. She is called to a possible hostage situation. A man in a grocery store has a gun; he refuses to allow anyone to leave the store until he gets his daughter’s medicine. As a hostage negotiator Sandra calmly talks to the HT. She is there for hours. As the HT surrenders, she receives a call, her daughter, Olivia, didn’t show up for her violin lesson. Olivia has been abducted. She has twenty-four hours to meet their demand. While Sandra knows she is too close to the case, and she should step down, but this is her daughter. Even knowing her daughter’s life is at stake she remained calm and allows her training to kick in.
I enjoyed listening to Save Her Life. I stayed glued to my tablet not wanting to miss a moment of the action. The character of 47-year-old Sandra is well developed. She is strong and calm although inside she was terrified. I look forward to learning more about her boyfriend. Her ex-husband was overconfident, egotistical and arrogant. I liked the way her team were there for her. The book had a feeling of tension. The grocery store hostage situation set the atmosphere. The story is told by the third person. The genre of this story is thriller, and suspense.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
April 16, 2025
Sandra’s twin brother Sam was murdered when they were kids by Darrell who held Sam and a few others hostage. 33 years later Darrell was denied bail. Now as an adult, Sandra works as a negotiator for the FBI. Her job causes some people to want revenge against her and this results in the kidnapping of her daughter, Olivia. She has a limited amount of time to get the kidnappers what they want or her daughter’s life is on the line.
Gavin’s hostage situation was a great start to the story. Sandra being a negotiator that works on the case of her missing daughter made this story really interesting. She is an incredible negotiator and stops at nothing to save her daughter. I liked how the story was narrated by Sandra and the captors of Olivia. The story flowed smoothly. It was frightening not knowing whether the capture would hurt Olivia especially during his POV and reading his malicious thoughts.
There were a few things I didn’t like such as how multiple times throughout the story information that was already provided is repeated by the narrator of the story. The job titles of the characters that work in law enforcement were stated then the author has a detailed description of what that job is. Both of these things that are present in the story are redundant and unnecessary due to the reader being able to understand the first time something is explained and the characters job titles don’t really need to be explained in that much detail. Sandra’s relationship with Eric didn’t feel genuine and felt like a filler for the story that didn’t add much to the story. It was a bit unrealistic but still a good story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Gavin’s hostage situation was a great start to the story. Sandra being a negotiator that works on the case of her missing daughter made this story really interesting. She is an incredible negotiator and stops at nothing to save her daughter. I liked how the story was narrated by Sandra and the captors of Olivia. The story flowed smoothly. It was frightening not knowing whether the capture would hurt Olivia especially during his POV and reading his malicious thoughts.
There were a few things I didn’t like such as how multiple times throughout the story information that was already provided is repeated by the narrator of the story. The job titles of the characters that work in law enforcement were stated then the author has a detailed description of what that job is. Both of these things that are present in the story are redundant and unnecessary due to the reader being able to understand the first time something is explained and the characters job titles don’t really need to be explained in that much detail. Sandra’s relationship with Eric didn’t feel genuine and felt like a filler for the story that didn’t add much to the story. It was a bit unrealistic but still a good story.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2025
Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.
This is the first title in the new Sandra Vos series.
The prologue sets the scene, with a teenage girl being abducted from a busy street. How with people all around?
The main story begins 2 days earlier, where we are introduced to Sandra Vos, giving a statement as to why prisoner Darrell Patton should not be released early. Patton killed Sandra’s twin brother Sam over 30 years ago. Sandra is an FBI Special Agent with the Crisis Negotiation Unit, and she has barely got back from the hearing, when she is called into work to handle an armed hostage situation at a grocery store.
Its complicated and she’s treading on egg-shells as she attempts to negotiate a peaceful way out with the hostage taker.
Meanwhile we get flashbacks to when Sam died and updates on the verdict regarding Darrell Paton’s early release request. Is it granted or not? Plus Sandra’s home life is fleshed out, as we meet her teenage daughter Olivia, her adoptive mother who has dementia and her boyfriend Detective Eric Birch.
But then work and home collide, when Olivia goes missing en-route to her violin lesson. Her colleague Brice helps her search the area where Olivia’s phone last pinged, but all they find is the phone. Where is Olivia? Who has taken her and why? Can they find her in time?
I was soon hooked into this new series and didn’t want to put the book down.
My only tiny gripe is with having to guess what shorthand K-9 is, namely police dogs.
A compelling gripping tale. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in this series.
This is the first title in the new Sandra Vos series.
The prologue sets the scene, with a teenage girl being abducted from a busy street. How with people all around?
The main story begins 2 days earlier, where we are introduced to Sandra Vos, giving a statement as to why prisoner Darrell Patton should not be released early. Patton killed Sandra’s twin brother Sam over 30 years ago. Sandra is an FBI Special Agent with the Crisis Negotiation Unit, and she has barely got back from the hearing, when she is called into work to handle an armed hostage situation at a grocery store.
Its complicated and she’s treading on egg-shells as she attempts to negotiate a peaceful way out with the hostage taker.
Meanwhile we get flashbacks to when Sam died and updates on the verdict regarding Darrell Paton’s early release request. Is it granted or not? Plus Sandra’s home life is fleshed out, as we meet her teenage daughter Olivia, her adoptive mother who has dementia and her boyfriend Detective Eric Birch.
But then work and home collide, when Olivia goes missing en-route to her violin lesson. Her colleague Brice helps her search the area where Olivia’s phone last pinged, but all they find is the phone. Where is Olivia? Who has taken her and why? Can they find her in time?
I was soon hooked into this new series and didn’t want to put the book down.
My only tiny gripe is with having to guess what shorthand K-9 is, namely police dogs.
A compelling gripping tale. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in this series.
May 16, 2025
Well this is the first I’ve listened to / read from this author and I’ve just learned she has done a lot of work already. I find detective series genres either really enjoyable or just really don’t there is something just has to kinda fit and I’m pleased to say this one was fantastic….!
It’s the first in this series we meet Sandra Voss who is a very likeable FBI detective committed to her job and family and she chose her vocation due to her loss of her brother (you find this out in the very beginning so no real spoilers) Being a detective it’s inevitable she is going to come across some mix of various characters and she becomes a target herself she just has to figure out who and why so she can do what needs to be done…! I don’t want to reveal the story so this is all I will say but it’s definitely worth delving into, a little obvious yes maybe it’s sort of spoken throughout however the way the writing style is done the author manages to keep the interest there.
It’s fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that keep you invested from beginning to end the length of this in my opinion was absolutely perfect being broken down into a series as it is I can’t wait for the next one already!
Tho was well narrated and I found all characters easily distinguishable even found the distasteful ones just that so very well done indeed!
With huge thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for this ELC in return for an honest review. Wishing you best wishes for publication on 27th May 2025 📚🎧🙏🏽❤️
It’s the first in this series we meet Sandra Voss who is a very likeable FBI detective committed to her job and family and she chose her vocation due to her loss of her brother (you find this out in the very beginning so no real spoilers) Being a detective it’s inevitable she is going to come across some mix of various characters and she becomes a target herself she just has to figure out who and why so she can do what needs to be done…! I don’t want to reveal the story so this is all I will say but it’s definitely worth delving into, a little obvious yes maybe it’s sort of spoken throughout however the way the writing style is done the author manages to keep the interest there.
It’s fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that keep you invested from beginning to end the length of this in my opinion was absolutely perfect being broken down into a series as it is I can’t wait for the next one already!
Tho was well narrated and I found all characters easily distinguishable even found the distasteful ones just that so very well done indeed!
With huge thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for this ELC in return for an honest review. Wishing you best wishes for publication on 27th May 2025 📚🎧🙏🏽❤️
May 21, 2025
Sandra was a twin and then she wasn't and that loss continues to haunt her so many years later when she attends the parole hearing for the murderer. I couldn't help but wonder if you murderer would make another appearance as the story unfolded. It seemed so unrelated as Sandra's day off was interrupted to negotiate a hostage release. Sandra proved herself in both setting to be a tough and intelligent character well suited to lead a new story. The author also did a nice job of keeping the action rolling with so many disparate pieces that you had to wonder as I did what ultimately fit together with her daughter's kidnapping. As I read about Sandra, it also struck me how much sadness she had dealt with her whole life and then to face every parent's worst nightmare seemed to much. She seemed to get stronger with every obstacle she faced and that made her the perfect mama bear to find her daughter. It did seem a little unreal that she was allowed to be part of the investigation to find her daughter. In order to read and enjoy, you have to set that aside and just follow the tale with all the read herrings and possible suspects. Sandra is surrounded by a great group of friends and colleagues Her boyfriend is very supportive and a good match for her.
I have multiple books by Carolyn Arnold on my kindle but have not read them up to this point. That is something I am going to change. Her books are engaging and full of suspense and wonderful characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I have multiple books by Carolyn Arnold on my kindle but have not read them up to this point. That is something I am going to change. Her books are engaging and full of suspense and wonderful characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.
May 21, 2025
Sandra’s twin brother died 33 years ago. He was shot in a kidnap gone wrong. This incident was very hard for her family and it made her join the law enforcement. Now she is one of the most successful negotiators in the country.
Sandra gets a call for a job. There is a hostage taker and the police can’t get in contact so she is now going to try to deescalate the situation and get the hostages out safely. She was making a lot of progress with the hostages and the hostage taker but then she gets a call that changes everything.
Sandra’s daughter, Olivia, didn’t show up for her violin lesson, so her violin teacher called to ask where she was. Sandra called around but nobody saw her daughter today. It started to dawn on Sandra that her daughter Olivia was kidnapped. She shouldn’t work on this case but she couldn’t do nothing when her daughter was in danger. She is breaking all the rules and crossing lines she shouldn’t cross, all in the hope that she can find her daughter in time.
This book was very suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. The book was fast paced. There was always something happening or they found out something new.
This book was written in dual POV so you get the story from the side of Sandra and the person who took her daughter. This gave you both sides of the story.
I really liked Sandra’s character and how she grew as a person.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and the production was really great. I really liked the narrator and it was all very clear.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️: 4,1
Sandra gets a call for a job. There is a hostage taker and the police can’t get in contact so she is now going to try to deescalate the situation and get the hostages out safely. She was making a lot of progress with the hostages and the hostage taker but then she gets a call that changes everything.
Sandra’s daughter, Olivia, didn’t show up for her violin lesson, so her violin teacher called to ask where she was. Sandra called around but nobody saw her daughter today. It started to dawn on Sandra that her daughter Olivia was kidnapped. She shouldn’t work on this case but she couldn’t do nothing when her daughter was in danger. She is breaking all the rules and crossing lines she shouldn’t cross, all in the hope that she can find her daughter in time.
This book was very suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. The book was fast paced. There was always something happening or they found out something new.
This book was written in dual POV so you get the story from the side of Sandra and the person who took her daughter. This gave you both sides of the story.
I really liked Sandra’s character and how she grew as a person.
I listened to this book as an audiobook and the production was really great. I really liked the narrator and it was all very clear.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️: 4,1
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