The Next Woman

by Caroline Corcoran

Lily knows every inch of Aurora Island—she came here to disappear.

Hidden away, a mile off the mainland, it’s a paradise of beautiful beaches and picture-postcard villages. The perfect place to reinvent yourself. To keep secrets buried.

But this summer, women are vanishing—in a chilling alphabetical pattern. First Alice. Then Beccy. Then Corinne. Each disappearance more mysterious than the last, leaving no trace behind.

As panic builds on the island, a hit true-crime podcast seizes on the story. Its magnetic host, Ross, arrives with questions, charm, and an agenda no one can quite pin down.

For Lily, each new disappearance brings her letter closer. And on Aurora, where some come to hide and others vanish without a trace, time is running out—one woman at a time…

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Thriller

333 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2026

Reviews

[Victoria (storieswithtorie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this one so badly because the premise is so good. A killer targeting women alphabetically on a secluded island? Say less. I was in.

But… this just didn’t hit the way I needed it to.

The pacing felt slow almost the entire time, and I kept waiting for that moment where everything clicks and you can’t put it down. It never really came. The idea behind the story is genuinely strong, but the execution just felt a little flat and drawn out for me.

There were moments where I was interested, but not enough to feel fully invested or on edge like I want to be with a thriller. I should’ve been flying through this and instead I was kind of… pushing through it.

Overall, it’s not bad, just not memorable. A solid concept that didn’t fully deliver.

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Women start to disappear on a remote island in alphabetical order. First Alice, then Becky, and next Corinne. Lily has come to this island to start over and keep secrets buried but as the mystery intensifies with each letter than disappears, she waits for L to be next. A big podcaster, Ross, decides to make this story his next big thing and arrives to see what he can find out. Ross and Lily talk about the cases as each letter is announced as missing.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting and unique! I love a good one by one thriller and was immediately drawn in. The story was paced well but it felt like realistically, all of this could not happen on the timeline in the book so it felt very unrealistic and unfinished. I didn’t feel like we got any of the actual answers I was looking for.

Once Ross was introduced, I lost a lot of interest. I just couldn’t get behind his character for some reason and found him very off putting. He just didn’t make sense in this for some reason and completely took me out of the story unfortunately. I did like some of the twists but ultimately, this just wasn’t for me. I can see how it would be for someone else!

Kitty Kelly did a great job with these characters and creating a level of suspense and drama needed for a story like this!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Caroline Corcoran, and Brilliance Publishing for providing this free ALC. This audio published on March 16th. This is my honest review!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Next Woman is told through two alternating first-person narratives, Lily and Zadie, which is one of the book’s strongest choices. Hearing the story directly from both women gives the book a sense of balance. Lily’s voice stood out to me immediately. Every time her cake making was mentioned, I genuinely felt like I wanted to bake one myself.
The idea behind the book is strong, and while it doesn’t try to overcomplicate itself, it delivers what it sets out to do.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A full goodreads review due to my lack of attendance at book club 🤓

Loool what an odd book!! So much to say

So much of the story fell flat and just wasn’t realistic.

Lily bigs up this huge disaster she is escaping from to the point where I could only presume she’d murdered someone and is being hunted down, only to find out she actually just had sex on tv? The tv show sounded like an exact replica of Love Island, and while i get the point the author was making about the treatment of women in shows like that, it just didn’t feel like the big deal it was made out to be. Also her real name being Natasha just made me picture her going from some flirty Russian lady (who also randomly won a baking competition??) to granola girl Lily in hiking boots and it was all just a bit random and unbelievable

The obsession with Ross as a dodgy bloke from big city Manchester, particularly towards the end, was just so overdone it was obvious he actually had nothing to do with the disappearances. Numerous references to his bright socks became wearing. We all love a funky sock. Why would you create a podcast investigating disappearing women if you were the one taking them? U didnt pull the wool over my eyes Caroline.

The only person I started to suspect was Lily’s older neighbour Derek, god love him, particularly when he was paddling in the sea and Zadie had a nice convo with his wife from the shore. And when he had a nice time at the party. Clearly I was way off.

Then these flipping disappearing women who appear to take no measures to protect themselves when their letter is coming up. If I knew my letter was coming up you wouldn’t see me for weeks so how is Zadie forgetting to get a lift home from the party and running home on dark country roads towards the end of the book just cos she was too busy taking the bins out? Then a man invites her round to his house on the day a Z girl is expected to be taken and she just willingly goes ‘for the alphabet women’. Come onnn

I also kept wondering where is the police! presence! Are they even arsed? Does Aurora island have police other than the approx. two officers we hear from approx. two times? There is no sense of urgency and the only authority on the matter is podcast Ross who all the main characters are suspicious of, but who was the only one who did anything useful to find them.

The revelation that this is all done as some sort of climate protest and a documentary is gonna be released is actually laughable. Kidnapping and traumatising women and their families does not seem the way to go to get world leaders on side. I think any sane person interested in the wellbeing of the planet may agree. Minnie introduced at the final hour as the woman behind it all was again just very random, even more random that her husband is the man Lily slept with on tv. Like ok? As you wish

Somehow I was actually reasonably gripped for most of this book although it did feel quite slow, and then the actual answers at the end all came very fast and were quite underdeveloped. I still don’t really get what happened in the 26 sheds? What were the women doing while they were being held hostage? Making posters for the next climate protest? I have no idea but what a ride!!!

[Zara Dal · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5

This was such an addictive, fast-paced read that completely pulled me in from the start. The short, snappy chapters, combined with the rising tension and ever-increasing stakes, made it incredibly hard to put down.

The premise alone is so compelling and instantly chilling. Women are disappearing from the picturesque Aurora Island in alphabetical order with the addition of a true-crime podcast following the case adding another layer of intrigue. Ross as the host definitely had me questioning everything… coincidence, or something far more sinister?

Told in two parts through the perspectives of Lily and Zadie, both waiting to see if they’ll become the next “Alphabet Women,” the sense of dread is constant and so well done. I loved the mix of narrative styles too—the podcast elements alongside the first-person POVs made the story feel immersive and dynamic.

For me, where it fell slightly short was the ending. The buildup was incredibly strong—tense, gripping, and full of anticipation—but the resolution didn’t quite land in the same way. It was definitely unexpected, but felt a little less believable than I’d hoped, which took away slightly from an otherwise brilliant read. That said, it did tie everything together neatly.

Overall, this is a tense, clever and highly bingeable thriller that keeps you guessing throughout—definitely one I’d recommend to fans of twisty, fast-paced reads

[Tracie Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aurora Island. A place to escape, a place you'll fall in love with ..... until.....

Lily escaped to Aurora to hide, to blend in and make a new life. One night her best friend Alice mysteriously disappears, then Beccy and next Corinne..... the fact that they are disappearing in alphabetical order makes this read incredibly chilling.

Panic on the Island builds, women are advised to walk with buddies, to lock their doors and to not be out alone. The fear spills from the pages of the book through Caroline's fantastic writing. What would you do? Would you stay?

As Lily's comes closer we learn more about her life on the Island, but we dont kniw why she fled there.

Ross, the magnetic podcast host appears on Aurora just as the disappearances begin .... do we need to be suspicious of him? He certainly has a hidden agenda. But Lily seems to trust him, her work colleague Zadie certainly doesn't. Abd then Lily disappears.

But this doesn't follow the pattern, she disappears on N .......

The second part of the book follows Zadie and her quest for the truth. I was hooked from the start and devoured this #thrillersandchillerbookclub read over a couple of days. The reveal at the end was absolutely out of nowhere and my jaw dropped.

I adored this read. At a tricky time it has given me a great distraction as I too was trying to solve the mystery of the Alphabet ladies. I'm normally pretty good at spotting the clues, however on this occasion ... I was so far from being right!!!!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

So imagine local women were disappearing in alphabetical order, how far down the alphabet would it get before you were terrified?

In The Next Woman by Caroline Corcoran, we’re on Aurora Island. Tiny. Remote. And women are vanishing in alphabetical order, Alice, Beccy, Corinne, something is very wrong.

Lily came here to disappear herself (huge red flag), and as each woman goes missing, the tension only grows. You just have to know who’s behind it and why.

Then there’s Ross, the true crime podcaster who arrives at the worst possible moment. Suspicious? Of course. But you never quite know if he’s untrustworthy or just has bad timing.

What really stuck with me though was the fear running through the island. Not just general fear but that awful, creeping dread of knowing your letter is coming. And the moral tension of it… because for you to stay safe, someone else has to go first. It’s such a horrible concept and it’s done so well.

I’m not usually an audiobook person, but I had to listen while working because I couldn’t stop. Naturally, I hit one of the tensest moments just as my cat attacked the recycling. I’m not ashamed to say I screamed like I was the next victim.

And the reveal? Totally out of left field. Far-fetched? Sure. Did I care? Not even a little. It’s chaotic, dark, and compulsively readable.

Original, tense, and weirdly addictive, you’ll race through it whether you plan to or not.

[aina · Rating 3 out of 5]

very fun little mystery. loved the setting of Aurora Island, i want to move there!! very interesting concept for the mystery however the pace was a bit too quick for me, would have loved 100 more pages honestly. really liked the two characters we follow. overall it was kinda giving equinox which was fun!

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

3.75⭐️

I’ll admit this one initially caught my attention because one of the characters is named Corinne… and, well, I’m only human.

Once I started the audiobook, I ended up listening to the whole thing in one sitting while getting things done in the kitchen. The story moves along at a good pace overall, though there was a bit of a lull midway through, which is why I didn’t rate it higher. That said, the first and third acts are particularly strong and really keep the momentum going.

The mystery of what’s actually happening on the island is compelling and will likely keep most readers engaged as they try to piece everything together. I did find that I didn’t always feel the level of suspense I expected when each person was taken, but it didn’t take away too much from the overall experience.

I especially loved the island setting and the idea of a group of people choosing to step away from the chaos of the outside world in favor of a simpler life. Honestly, it sounded pretty amazing.

Kitty Kelly did a fabulous job with the narration. With the shifting perspectives and multiple characters, she made the story easy to follow by giving each voice its own distinct feel. She also has a lovely British accent that I could happily listen to all day. Even when I sped the audiobook up to 2x, I had no trouble understanding her at all. At the normal speed it does feel a bit slow, but that’s clearly intentional—she uses her pacing and tone to build the mood and atmosphere. Thankfully, it’s easy to adjust to whatever speed works best for you.

If you’re looking for an engaging thriller that keeps your brain working as you try to solve the mystery, this is a solid pick.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[Christina C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Next Woman by Caroline Corcoran centers around a chilling premise…a murderer on Aurora Island who targets women based on the first letter of their names, earning the nickname “the Alphabet Killer.” The concept itself is intriguing and had a lot of potential.

Unfortunately, despite the strong idea, I struggled to fully engage with the story. The pacing felt slow, and the plot dragged in places, which made it hard to stay invested. While the mystery was interesting in theory, it didn’t quite hold my attention the way I’d hoped.

Overall, it’s an okay thriller with a creative concept, but it didn’t fully deliver for me.

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily knows every inch of Aurora Island—she came here to disappear. Hidden away, a mile off the mainland, it’s a paradise of beautiful beaches and picture-postcard villages. The perfect place to reinvent yourself. To keep secrets buried. But this summer, women are vanishing, in a chilling alphabetical pattern. First Alice. Then Beccy. Then Corinne. Each disappearance more mysterious than the last, leaving no trace behind. As panic builds on the island, a hit true-crime podcast seizes on the story. Its magnetic host, Ross, arrives with questions, charm, and an agenda no one can quite pin down. For Lily, each new disappearance brings her letter closer. And on Aurora, where some come to hide and others vanish without a trace, time is running out—one woman at a time…

I always enjoy Caroline’s writing and this latest title was no exception, I was enthralled from the start and read this in just a few hours by the pool.

The premise of women going missing in alphabetical order was very intriguing, especially when it was unclear if they were alive or dead, the suspense and tension remained throughout.

It was also very clever how the story began being told from Lily’s POV before swapping to Zadie in the second half - the reasons for this become clear and it was executed perfectly.

It becomes evident early on that a secret is being kept by one of the characters, aside from the main missing women storyline, this culminates in a twisty conclusion I really wasn’t expecting. The location of an isolated island also really fed into the suspense and isolation element of the narrative.

Another enjoyable read from Caroline and already looking forward to the next one🙂

[Sophie Lyman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Aurora Island, hidden away, a mile off the mainland, it’s the perfect place to reinvent yourself and where Lily came to disappear. This summer, women are vanishing in a chilling alphabetical pattern. First Alice. Then Becky. Then Corinne. Each disappearance more mysterious than the last, leaving no trace behind. As panic builds on the island, Ross, host of a true crime podcast arrives, keen to report on the story, his agenda not quite clear. Each disappearance brings Lily’s letter closer, and with time running out, is she able to help those women, whilst simultaneously keeping herself hidden?
It’s quite a hard book to really delve into reviewing without spoiling so it will be brief. I really enjoyed the suspense in this book. You never quite knew what was going to happen, every time I thought I’d cracked what was going on, there was something else to completely throw me off the scent. Lily’s story is really interesting and her secret is definitely not what I was expecting. The book also has some great social commentary throughout, which felt very relevant.
The only thing I didn’t like so much was the ending, it felt really far fetched and weird compared to the rest of the book, it just didn’t fit for me which was a bit disappointing as I was struggling to put the book down the whole way through. That being said, I liked Corcoran’s style of writing and would still recommend, you might really enjoy the ending, where I didn’t.

[moonshines library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to the island of Aurora where people go to reinvent themselves.. Lily moved to the island to escape her past. She has made friends and has tried to make herself as invisible as she can until her best friend Alice disappears followed by more women in an alphabetical order. Ross a journalist podcaster comes to the island to report on the disappearances and Lily decides to help despite her fear in order to try and find her friend.

I liked how the story was in chapters of the alphabet relating to the women that disappear and the writing style is great, very fast paced. I would have given this 5 stars if not for the ending as it didn’t quite live up to the rest of the book but still a fantastic read.

[Kim McFall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. This was an interesting whodunit that kept me guessing until the very end. As usual, I was completely wrong.

I did like the multiple pov and the podcast feature. This is a solid 3 star listen.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for letting me listen to this ALC!

[Miss E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t my usual genre to read however i did enjoy it. The setting was perfect for the story and the podcast element made it very interesting and relevant for today. The writing was engaging and easy to read. The only reason this book lost a star from me was because i think the ending wasn’t what i was expecting but i will leave that where it is so i don’t spoil it for anyone. Would recommend.

[Jenny Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the idea behind the book was really good, and I liked the A, B, C, D etc chapters. I couldn’t see the end coming and it felt a bit disconnected - it seemed like a lot of effort to go to for the cause, and not really linked to it? I’d ideally rate the book 3.5.

[Karm Barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was enjoyable. I thought I had it figured out but boy was I wrong. That ending was wild. I’ll read this author again.

[Emma Sommerville · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a book ever made me want to change my name. Then it’s this one. Fast paced from the get go and had me at the edge of my seat through it.

[Macy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the concept for this book and was really wondering where it was gonna go. The twist was definitely original. That said, I did find it a bit slow in some parts but then it was a little rushed at the end I felt. I did like the characters though and found them quite realistic and funny.

[Cleo Cosens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Went into this with an open mind. When it comes to thrillers, I’m open to things being unrealistic and not always fully fleshed out. Possibly as a pre-empt to disappointment 🤣 I enjoyed the plot. Super easy read. I couldn’t guess the twist and I’m glad but the twist…wasn’t twisting lol. They made certain characters a bit too obvious as suspects and kind of played to certain tropes to “put you off” the actual person behind the alphabet women, which imo felt too blatant. The twist was creative but meh. The last chapter was both short and long (if that makes sense) - overall it was an enjoyable journey but yeah, it was an ok read!

[ThrillersDoodles · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve switched to bulleted reviews to more succinctly capture my thoughts.


* needless repetition
* rushed plot; women go missing at an alarming rate with no explanation of how they went missing
* ridiculous plot and I’m shaking my head hard while mouthing wtf
* really irritated at how much time I just spent getting through this
* no discernible character development

First Reaction or Impression:
My attention is waning.

Character Connection/ Development:
I’m not drawn to any of them early on.
Probably more repelled by the MC and Ross than anything.

Level of hooked after first 3 chapters:
I’ll carry on because it’s an ARC but I’m not drawn into the story.
Still pushing through this. It’s not writing I’m enjoying. (55%). No better by the end.

What to expect:
- [x] Dual pov
- [x] Single timeline
- [x] Twist if you call it that
Trope(s): missing women

Flow and Pacing:
- [x] Slow
- [x] Bored
- [x] Flabbergasted

Recommend:
Ummm, no.

Advance reader copy received via NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer/Amazon UK.

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

My Rating: 1.5 stars out of 5

A remote island accessible only by ferry. An island that is sometimes completely cut off from the mainland due to bad weather. An island where everyone knows everyone, and yet somehow, women are being abducted in what appears to be broad daylight without anyone noticing. What could possibly go wrong?

Apparently, everything.

To begin with, instead of traditional chapter numbers, each chapter is labeled with a letter of the alphabet, each one corresponding to the woman who will eventually be taken. It’s an interesting concept in theory, but in execution, it completely fell flat. For a book where women are disappearing with alarming frequency (sometimes only days apart) there was absolutely no sense of urgency. While the chapters themselves were short, but they lacked the tension that I expected from a novel like this. Instead of feeling dread build with each disappearance, we are simply told by Ross, who is on the island to record a podcast, that another girl has gone missing. And that’s… pretty much it.

You see, after being mentioned, those women are largely forgotten. They exist only as abstract ideas rather than real people. Even the police seem strangely indifferent, appearing only when the plot requires them to and disappearing just as quickly. While I understand that giving all if the missing women their own points of view would have been excessive, it would have made a world of difference to see at least a few of them in the moments leading up to their abductions, or better yet, to see things from their perspective while they were being held. That would have created real tension. Real fear. Instead, it was just a repetitive cycle of being told someone else had vanished, with no emotional weight attached to it.

And then we get to Part II, which somehow manages to make things worse.

Much of this section suffers from the same problem: we are told that important things are happening, but we never actually feel the impact of them. Lily’s so-called “big secret,” which had been built up through her constant paranoia in Part I, turned out to be incredibly underwhelming. After all that buildup, I expected something shocking, something that would reframe everything we thought we knew. Instead, it barely registered.

Zadie’s perspective was equally frustrating. Rather than adding meaningful depth to the story, her narrative became bogged down by her love life, which felt entirely irrelevant given the circumstances. Her personality didn’t help matters either. Her constant back-and-forth of not trusting Ross, not liking them, but still choosing to engage with him anyway quickly became tiresome. And when she realized she was next, it never occurred to her to leave a note for her partner, warn someone, or even attempt to protect herself in any meaningful way before she went off by herself. The lack of basic self-preservation made it incredibly difficult to take her seriously.

And then there’s the ending.

Without giving away spoilers, all I can say is… seriously?

After everything; the disappearances, the supposed mystery, that is the direction the author chose to take? It wasn’t just underwhelming. It was outright ridiculous. Not to mention deeply unrealistic. Instead of feeling satisfied or even shocked, I was left feeling like I had wasted my time. And that, more than anything else, is the most disappointing part.

This was a premise with enormous potential. An isolated island. A string of disappearances. A community cut off from the outside world. It should have been tense, atmospheric, and impossible to put down.

Instead, it was forgettable.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s nothing quite like fleeing to a remote island to escape your past, find your inner peace, and maybe get alphabetically kidnapped. In The Next Woman, Caroline Corcoran asks, “What if your name determined how soon you get snatched?” and honestly, I support the creativity, even if it’s a little unhinged. Aurora Island is giving cozy seaside vibes meets casual serial killer, and Lily, our emotionally barricaded main character, is just trying to vibe and bake things while the alphabet closes in like a passive-aggressive calendar reminder.

First Alice goes missing. Then Beccy. Then Corinne. And suddenly, Lily, whose name starts with L, is feeling that mid-alphabet pressure. Women are vanishing in a very specific order, and this island is somehow still functioning like it’s just a slightly weird summer. Like, ma’am. That’s three bodies deep. Maybe cancel the ferry and start locking doors?

Then Ross rolls in. He’s a podcaster. He’s charming. And obviously he’s suspicious, because no man with a podcast is ever just “here to help.” Ross is here to cover the case, stir things up, and possibly flirt his way into secrets. Whether that’s investigative journalism or just emotional manipulation with a Blue Yeti mic is... unclear. He’s got chemistry with Lily, kind of? Maybe? It’s a vibe, but also maybe a red flag with wi-fi.

And then, surprise, Lily disappears. Just... off the board. Which feels illegal, since L is very much not next. Suddenly we’re with Zadie, Lily’s younger employee, who picks up the story like she’s been waiting to go full podcast-host hunter all along. Zadie is sharp, messy, emotionally overloaded, and trying to solve a mystery while spiraling just enough to keep things interesting. She suspects Ross. She suspects everyone. She's not wrong.

Here’s the thing: the concept is strong. Like, Criminal Minds meets Harper's Island An isolated island, a true crime podcast feeding public hysteria, and an alphabetical murder plot? That’s some high-concept thriller bait, and it works. It makes you want to see where it’s going. But the pacing doesn’t keep up. Reviewers weren’t lying. It drags. The tension should be ramping up with every letter, but instead, it kind of ambles along, like even the killer is getting bored waiting for the next vowel.

Lily’s backstory? It gets hinted at. A lot. Like, a lot. And when we finally get there, it doesn’t fully deliver the emotional payoff it needed to justify the amount of buildup it hogged. Same with the big twist. It’s not bad. It’s just... fine. You nod. You close the book. You forget most of it by lunch.

But Zadie? Zadie tries. And she deserves a medal, or maybe just a nap and a therapist who won’t ghost her. She carried the second half of the book on pure spite and stubbornness, and I respect that hustle.

This is a solid 3-star read. It’s not a disaster, it’s not amazing, but it is the kind of book you finish and think, “Yeah, that could be a decent limited series starring some British actor you’ve only seen in moody police dramas.” The vibes are there. The execution just needed more teeth.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me More Afraid of the Alphabet Than Ever Before

Huge thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the ARC. You absolute enablers of my alphabet-based anxiety. I came for the seaside suspense, stayed for the podcast drama, and left mildly afraid of the letter L. Bless you for fueling my chaos.

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lily’s best friend, Alice, disappeared on her birthday. Living on Aurora Island, there are so many places you can disappear to. The police are unable to find Alice. Then a woman called Becca disappears and then Corinne. They are termed the Alphabet Women, as it increasingly becomes obvious that someone is kidnapping the women in alphabetical order, one women for each letter of the alphabet. An office manager at the Aurora Island Eco Wellness Retreat, Lily lives in fear of being taken when L comes around.
Ross, a journalist from Manchester, comes over to the island to start a podcast that would help find the missing women and stop the nightmare. He convinces Lily to help produce his podcast and to offer her local knowledge. And all along, the danger is inching closer. The police are at their wits’ end.
Then L comes around, and Lily is safe, as another woman is taken. Has Lily escaped or are her secrets about to catch up with her?

The story is written in the 1st person present tense PoV of Lily first, and then, once she disappears, we get the 1st person present tense PoV of Zadie. The chapters are named after letters.

WHAT I LIKED: The chapters move fast. The chapter named M was dripping with tension. The point where Lily disappears is the high point of the book.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: After that, it’s downhill, and we stop caring about the missing women.

I found the resolution very disappointing, bland and downright silly. The execution was flat. The reason why 26 women were kidnapped was unbelievable in a very underwhelming way.

Lily’s backstory doesn’t hit us with the force that the author intends it to. The mystery turns out to be related to her past, but in a most incidental way.

It is very annoying when a character, supposedly key, is introduced at the 87% mark. Even Lily’s dad, Duncan, was introduced at the close of the story, without Lily ever mentioning a word about him.

We never get answers to how the kidnappings actually take place, which is something we need considering the suspense that has been built.

The last chapter, the actual tying up of the loose ends, should have been summarised by a 3rd person omniscient narrator. In podcast format, the information was annoying with Ross appearing to be some kind of a know-it-all.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME: For the bulk of the story, we have no idea what the police are doing.

There are some diversity token characters put in just because. These are Radhika, Anushka and Jameela. They have no role to play.

ALL SAID AND DONE: A good premise, with a very tepid mystery attached.

(I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of writing this review. Thanks to the author and publisher. I read the book on NetGalley.)

[Alanis Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC. This book has a genuinely cool and intriguing concept: women going missing alphabetically, which was enough to keep me turning pages just to see who would disappear next and where the sequence would stop.

Technically, it’s well-written and very easy to get into. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully live up to the premise. The story relied heavily on telling rather than showing, and much of the tension felt underdeveloped. Both narrators, Lily and Zadie, were frustrating to follow. Lily in particular repeatedly referenced Jake’s anxiety (clearly her own) and her own “shady past” without offering meaningful insight or payoff. I really wish the author had explored her past in depth and shown how it shaped her, rather than simply stating that it did.

The characterization overall felt thin, as we didn’t get to learn much about anyone beyond the central mystery. At times, the plot became repetitive and even boring, with chapters largely revolving around waiting for the next woman to go missing. Ross being positioned as a suspect made little sense to me, which made Zadie’s one-track obsession with him especially irritating — something I say as a Gen Z reader myself.

In the end, while the concept was compelling enough to hold my interest, the lack of character development, frustrating narration, and repetitive structure kept this from being as impactful as it could have been.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to express my gratitude to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable read that kept me captivated from start to finish.

The premise is both unique and unsettling: women are mysteriously disappearing on a remote island, and the chilling twist is that they vanish in alphabetical order. There is a constant sense of peril throughout the book that kept me turning the pages. The author masterfully crafts an atmosphere where trust is a luxury, and everyone seems to harbor dark secrets. This intrigue had me second-guessing every character's motives, making it difficult to discern who, if anyone, could be relied upon.

What I truly appreciated was how the author skillfully weaves these secrets into the fabric of the story. With each revelation, I found myself piecing together the puzzle of the women's disappearances, yet the connections remained elusive until the very end. I entered the final chapters with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, unsure of how the author would wrap up such a complex plot.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ending—it tied together all the loose threads and provided a satisfying conclusion that rewarded my investment in the story. The twists were clever and unexpected.

In summary, this book is a great choice for fans of psychological thrillers and mystery novels. I highly recommend it!

[Londyn Strandquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Next Woman by Caroline Corcoran follows a chilling premise: a killer on Aurora Island targeting women in alphabetical order, earning the nickname “the Alphabet Killer.” It’s a unique idea that immediately grabbed my attention.

I especially enjoyed the island setting and the concept of a group of people choosing to live a quieter, simpler life away from the chaos of the outside world. The central mystery was interesting enough to keep me listening, curious about who might vanish next and how the pattern would play out.

That said, the story didn’t fully deliver on its potential for me. The pacing often felt slow and uneven, and the suspense I expected with each disappearance never quite reached the level I hoped for. The narrative also relied a lot on telling rather than showing, and the characters felt somewhat underdeveloped. I found Lily and Zadie frustrating to follow at times, and parts of the plot started to feel repetitive.

I listened to the audiobook and thought Kitty Kelly did a great job with the narration. She gave each character a distinct voice, which made the shifting perspectives easy to follow, and she was very pleasant to listen to.

Overall, this had an intriguing concept and an engaging setting, but the pacing and character development kept it from being as impactful as I expected.

[Stephanie Toedter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of mysterious serial kidnappings taking place on a small island in the UK had me intrigued from the start. The Alphabet Women was such a creative way to base the kidnappings order of the disappearing women. Without giving any spoilers, I can easily say the point of view used by the writer was also a creative way to read through the storyline. The mystery of who all was involved and trying to guess what was next made this book a fast read for me! I wanted to continue reading into the night, because I needed to know the who and why. The only reason I did four stars instead of five is there was so much description of what the characters saw, what was being seen through out the small town, and then the end came with lack of description. I would have liked a few chapters on each of the main characters feelings, a bit more on how Lily’s past made her feel as this all played out, and how Alice now handled the change in her family. I really liked the characters, and to complete their story after the mystery was solved would have made this a five star for me.
#TheNextWoman #NetGalley

[Jenae Gilchrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of The Next Woman by Caroline Corcoran.

This was a tense, unsettling domestic thriller that taps into a very real, creeping fear; the idea that someone could quietly step into your life and start taking pieces of it from the inside out. Corcoran does an excellent job building atmosphere and unease, making even ordinary moments feel charged and slightly off. The story unfolds at a steady pace, layering suspicion, doubt, and psychological tension in a way that kept me turning pages.

I especially appreciated how the novel explores themes of identity, comparison, and how easily women are pitted against one another, sometimes without even realizing it. The characters felt grounded and believable, and the emotional stakes were just as compelling as the mystery itself. While this isn’t a nonstop action thriller, the slow burn works in its favor, allowing the dread to build naturally.

Fans of psychological and domestic suspense who enjoy subtle twists, mounting tension, and character-driven storytelling will likely find The Next Woman a satisfying and thought-provoking read.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The A-Z of Terror! ​Caroline Corcoran delivers a chilling psychological puzzle where the scenic coast of Britain becomes a hunting ground.
When women on Aurora Island island start vanishing in alphabetical order, a quiet retreat turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
What was once a refuge for Lily, who is desperate to outrun her own history, quickly dissolves into a nightmare, with the island’s close-knit community fractured and everyone under suspicion. It's a chilling premise that elevates this story above standard thrillers. ​
Corcoran’s vivid descriptions make the coastal setting feel like a character itself, evolving from a rugged sanctuary into a claustrophobic trap. As the alphabet nears then passes each woman’s initial, the psychological tension ramps up.
The two-part structure keeps the pacing steady, leading to a totally unexpected ending that's tied up as neatly as a box of Lily's homemade cakes wrapped in a bow.
For thriller fans seeking a unique, atmospheric mystery that defies prediction, this is a must read.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC. This is my own opinion.