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Silent Echo: A Novella
A grieving mother gets the shock of her life in this propulsive thriller from the bestselling author of Reese's Book Club pick
The Last Mrs. Parrish.
No parent should ever have to face the loss of their child . . .
A year after the tragic death of her four-year-old son, Charlotte Fleming is sleepwalking through life, trapped in a spiral of devastating grief. Then, she sees something online that jolts her her son, Sebastion, alive and well . . . in a stranger's social media post.
Charlotte desperately wants to believe that what she sees is real, that her son is out there somewhere waiting to be brought home. After all, Sebastion's body was never recovered from the accident that supposedly killed him. But what horrific circumstances could have led him to another child's birthday party halfway across the country?
Frantic to find out the truth, Charlotte obsessively looks for any indication the accident that took her son from her was not what it seemed. As she bypasses the police and uncovers red flag after red flag, she starts to suspect that something—or someone—nefarious is at play.
Charlotte's relationships with her husband and preteen daughter were already hanging by a thread, and now it's starting to feel like her sanity is too. But someone has abducted her son; she knows it. And she'll stop at nothing to get him back.
Praise for Liv Constantine
"Liv Constantine always delivers a twisty and addictive thriller like no other." —Jeneva Rose, New York Times– bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and You Shouldn't Have Come Here, on Don't Open Your Eyes
"Liv Constantine raises the bar high." —Mary Kubica, New York Times– bestselling author of The Other Mrs. and The Good Girl, on The Last Time I Saw You
"Constantine delivers psychological suspense that mesmerizes until the last page." —Lisa Unger, New York Times– bestselling author of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 and The New Couple in 5B, on The Wife Stalker
"Liv Constantine proves to be a master of domestic malice." —Riley Sager, New York Times– bestselling author of The House Across the Lake and Survive the Night, on The Senator's Wife
No parent should ever have to face the loss of their child . . .
A year after the tragic death of her four-year-old son, Charlotte Fleming is sleepwalking through life, trapped in a spiral of devastating grief. Then, she sees something online that jolts her her son, Sebastion, alive and well . . . in a stranger's social media post.
Charlotte desperately wants to believe that what she sees is real, that her son is out there somewhere waiting to be brought home. After all, Sebastion's body was never recovered from the accident that supposedly killed him. But what horrific circumstances could have led him to another child's birthday party halfway across the country?
Frantic to find out the truth, Charlotte obsessively looks for any indication the accident that took her son from her was not what it seemed. As she bypasses the police and uncovers red flag after red flag, she starts to suspect that something—or someone—nefarious is at play.
Charlotte's relationships with her husband and preteen daughter were already hanging by a thread, and now it's starting to feel like her sanity is too. But someone has abducted her son; she knows it. And she'll stop at nothing to get him back.
Praise for Liv Constantine
"Liv Constantine always delivers a twisty and addictive thriller like no other." —Jeneva Rose, New York Times– bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage and You Shouldn't Have Come Here, on Don't Open Your Eyes
"Liv Constantine raises the bar high." —Mary Kubica, New York Times– bestselling author of The Other Mrs. and The Good Girl, on The Last Time I Saw You
"Constantine delivers psychological suspense that mesmerizes until the last page." —Lisa Unger, New York Times– bestselling author of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 and The New Couple in 5B, on The Wife Stalker
"Liv Constantine proves to be a master of domestic malice." —Riley Sager, New York Times– bestselling author of The House Across the Lake and Survive the Night, on The Senator's Wife
Audible Audio
Published June 10, 2025
177 people are currently reading
779 people want to read
About the author
Liv Constantine
21 books10.9k followersLiv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times and international bestselling authors with millions of copies sold worldwide. Winners of the 2025 Silver Falchion awards for Best Book and Best Suspense, their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. Visit Liv at www.livconstantine.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 22, 2025
The title was the best thing about this. Other than that, a pretty average missing kid novel.
August 28, 2025
2,5 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
July 8, 2025
3.5 stars. This novella was a quick read by one of my go-to authors. No major twists or surprises but with enough suspense to hold my interest and keep me turning the pages.
July 19, 2025
I have been loving all of the newer pounding thriller novellas that Liv Constantine has been putting out. This one was very fast paced and kept me engrossed the entire time. I really loved the main character and her motherhood and love to protect and get justice for her son. I definitely recommended this one and it was great on audio.
June 7, 2025
Liv once again delivers a powerful punch in this short story. This story sets the premises for an amazing thriller from the absolute beginning, introducing grief, family drama, and complexities of marriage.
Charlotte is grieving the loss of her 4 year old son Sebastian, after he was presumed deceased after a terrible accident. Already rocky, her marriage to Eli has suffered even more since their loss. Coping the best she can, Charlotte has found new purpose when she spots Sebastian on a photo at a kids party. Determined to find her son, she stops at nothing & goes across the country on the search. She refuses to return home without him.
This super suspenseful read left me clinging to the pages as I was anxious to see how Charlotte & Sebastian’s story would conclude. The antagonist in this story had a level of delusion that should be studied & their narcissistic personality made them the perfect villain. It was so evident that danger was lurking but seeing the story unfold was a great experience! Liv has been one of my favorite authors for years now & still remains at the top.
I received a free copy of this book via Podium Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte is grieving the loss of her 4 year old son Sebastian, after he was presumed deceased after a terrible accident. Already rocky, her marriage to Eli has suffered even more since their loss. Coping the best she can, Charlotte has found new purpose when she spots Sebastian on a photo at a kids party. Determined to find her son, she stops at nothing & goes across the country on the search. She refuses to return home without him.
This super suspenseful read left me clinging to the pages as I was anxious to see how Charlotte & Sebastian’s story would conclude. The antagonist in this story had a level of delusion that should be studied & their narcissistic personality made them the perfect villain. It was so evident that danger was lurking but seeing the story unfold was a great experience! Liv has been one of my favorite authors for years now & still remains at the top.
I received a free copy of this book via Podium Team and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 27, 2025
These sisters know how to write all kinds of messed up characters.
September 21, 2025
Liv Constantine (favorite author) delivers a twisty, intriguing novella, SILENT ECHO, full of mystery and suspense, about a grieving mother who has lost her son; however, seeing a photo of a boy who looks like him on social media sends her on an unstoppable journey to find her son and no one will stop her.
About...
Every parent's worst nightmare. The loss of a child.
It has been almost a year since the tragic accident of Charlotte's four-year-old son, Sebastion. Her teen daughter, Harper and her husband, Eli, do not understand her grief and guilt. She refuses to change anything in his room, a poignant reflection of her enduring love and the loss that has left her heartbroken.
She has played out that horrific day in her mind hundreds of times, wondering how it could have gone differently. The what-ifs. A busy morning, trying to get out the door.
It was a school trip, a bus, and an accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. No survivors. Her son is gone. But his body was never recovered. He had a stomach ache that morning. What if she had kept him home even though she had work?
However, when she sees a social media post with a photo of a little boy who looks like her son Sebastian, she knows her son is alive in her heart, and she desperately has to find him, no matter what.
Could he possibly be alive?
Going over the events of the day, she wants the investigation reopened and puts on her sleuthing hat, and she will find her son her way and bring him home. Her husband is not as sure as she is, and there is the insurance policy and other secrets, but nothing can stop her.
His body was never recovered, and why would he be at another child's birthday party, cross-country?
Charlotte is obsessed, persistent, and determined to find out what is going on, and she will not rest until she finds her son. Who abducted her son? What happened that day? Was there someone else on the bus who took him, or did someone find him? She cannot wrap her mind around this.
My thoughts...
CAPTIVATING!
This could be a true crime story, which makes it all the more disturbing. Like something you would hear on a crime podcast or TV show. Why, how, and where? Rewinding to the events leading up to the accident.
Whether a full-length novel or a novella, you can count on the author to deliver a creative, sinister, scandalous twisty tale of secrets, marriage, family, and those troubled connected souls who are out to destroy from jealousy, mental health, childhood trauma, and other sinister obsessions with no thought to morals, right or wrong.
The author's captivating writing style keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the next twist.
When it comes to a child, watch out for the mama bear. She will put her safety at risk for the good of her child. There is always someone out there ready to steal your happiness, and I loved the twist.
School buses, young children, and a scary bridge create an atmospheric, chilling setting with all the sinister, evil vibes. I have always had a fear of bridges, and Florida has many of them (I have to cross daily). The author's vivid descriptions and twisty plot evoke intense emotional responses, drawing you in and keeping you glued to the pages.
Even the best-laid devious plans go wrong, and secrets are revealed in this jam-packed, suspenseful novella that will keep you turning or listening in one sitting.
Highly recommend the e-book and the audio narrated by Suzanne Elise Freeman (who has also narrated the Mrs. Parrish series), delivering a highly entertaining performance that brings the story to life.
A little gem!
I enjoyed SILENT ECHO, and it would have also made a great full-length novel. I purchased the e-book and audio.—It may have been short, but searing—from the queen of domestic/psychological thrillers.
Audio: 3 hrs 21 min
e-book: 127 pages
Be sure and check out her latest novel, DON'T OPEN YOUR EYES. The title itself is a warning, a command, and a mystery. 5 Stars.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 10, 2025
June 2025 Must-Read Books
June Newsletter
About...
Every parent's worst nightmare. The loss of a child.
It has been almost a year since the tragic accident of Charlotte's four-year-old son, Sebastion. Her teen daughter, Harper and her husband, Eli, do not understand her grief and guilt. She refuses to change anything in his room, a poignant reflection of her enduring love and the loss that has left her heartbroken.
She has played out that horrific day in her mind hundreds of times, wondering how it could have gone differently. The what-ifs. A busy morning, trying to get out the door.
It was a school trip, a bus, and an accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. No survivors. Her son is gone. But his body was never recovered. He had a stomach ache that morning. What if she had kept him home even though she had work?
However, when she sees a social media post with a photo of a little boy who looks like her son Sebastian, she knows her son is alive in her heart, and she desperately has to find him, no matter what.
Could he possibly be alive?
Going over the events of the day, she wants the investigation reopened and puts on her sleuthing hat, and she will find her son her way and bring him home. Her husband is not as sure as she is, and there is the insurance policy and other secrets, but nothing can stop her.
His body was never recovered, and why would he be at another child's birthday party, cross-country?
Charlotte is obsessed, persistent, and determined to find out what is going on, and she will not rest until she finds her son. Who abducted her son? What happened that day? Was there someone else on the bus who took him, or did someone find him? She cannot wrap her mind around this.
My thoughts...
CAPTIVATING!
This could be a true crime story, which makes it all the more disturbing. Like something you would hear on a crime podcast or TV show. Why, how, and where? Rewinding to the events leading up to the accident.
Whether a full-length novel or a novella, you can count on the author to deliver a creative, sinister, scandalous twisty tale of secrets, marriage, family, and those troubled connected souls who are out to destroy from jealousy, mental health, childhood trauma, and other sinister obsessions with no thought to morals, right or wrong.
The author's captivating writing style keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the next twist.
When it comes to a child, watch out for the mama bear. She will put her safety at risk for the good of her child. There is always someone out there ready to steal your happiness, and I loved the twist.
School buses, young children, and a scary bridge create an atmospheric, chilling setting with all the sinister, evil vibes. I have always had a fear of bridges, and Florida has many of them (I have to cross daily). The author's vivid descriptions and twisty plot evoke intense emotional responses, drawing you in and keeping you glued to the pages.
Even the best-laid devious plans go wrong, and secrets are revealed in this jam-packed, suspenseful novella that will keep you turning or listening in one sitting.
Highly recommend the e-book and the audio narrated by Suzanne Elise Freeman (who has also narrated the Mrs. Parrish series), delivering a highly entertaining performance that brings the story to life.
A little gem!
I enjoyed SILENT ECHO, and it would have also made a great full-length novel. I purchased the e-book and audio.—It may have been short, but searing—from the queen of domestic/psychological thrillers.
Audio: 3 hrs 21 min
e-book: 127 pages
Be sure and check out her latest novel, DON'T OPEN YOUR EYES. The title itself is a warning, a command, and a mystery. 5 Stars.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: June 10, 2025
June 2025 Must-Read Books
June Newsletter
January 24, 2026
3.5 rounded up. no wow factor that I was hoping for, but still a good novella. I like their writing style.
June 11, 2025
A Must Read
I love Liv Constantine's books and was so excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. So, so good. Highly recommend.
I love Liv Constantine's books and was so excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. So, so good. Highly recommend.
June 25, 2025
A year after the tragic death of her 4 year old son, Charlotte is on social media and sees a picture of a little boy. She believes this little boy to be her 4 year old son. She’s desperate to find the truth and she really believes this is her son. Her relationship with her husband and her daughter are hanging on by a thread. But she just has to see this through and see if this really is her son.
This may be only 127 pages, but this novella has it all. It’s full of suspense and it’s full of action. At first I really believed Eli, Charlotte’s husband, that their son was really gone. Then I was right along for the ride with Charlotte that maybe he was alive and abducted! I loved Charlotte’s tenacity and unwillingness to give up no matter what.
This novella was impossible to put down. I needed to read it now because I needed to know how it was all going to play out. It’s also easy to read this one in one sitting. But this novella just proves to me that an author can really fit in a complete story, with great detail, a great arc, and development and twists, and a great ending, and it doesn’t need to be this giant novel.
This is on KU, so check it out!
This may be only 127 pages, but this novella has it all. It’s full of suspense and it’s full of action. At first I really believed Eli, Charlotte’s husband, that their son was really gone. Then I was right along for the ride with Charlotte that maybe he was alive and abducted! I loved Charlotte’s tenacity and unwillingness to give up no matter what.
This novella was impossible to put down. I needed to read it now because I needed to know how it was all going to play out. It’s also easy to read this one in one sitting. But this novella just proves to me that an author can really fit in a complete story, with great detail, a great arc, and development and twists, and a great ending, and it doesn’t need to be this giant novel.
This is on KU, so check it out!
October 30, 2025
I was looking for something a little lighter after Girl In The Reflection and this was not that. I mean, it was— technically. It was short… a novella. But my god it was PACKED TO THE BRIM with crazy twists I never saw coming and the suspense was there from beginning to end. I don’t think I’ve read a book by Liv Constantine that I haven’t liked.
December 27, 2025
Just finished “Silent Echo”
I give it 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Very fast paced novella that I wanted to squeeze in before the end of the year, although I didn’t hit my reading challenge of 50 books, I will finish the year with 26 books read
I give it 5 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Very fast paced novella that I wanted to squeeze in before the end of the year, although I didn’t hit my reading challenge of 50 books, I will finish the year with 26 books read
June 11, 2025
Silent Echo by Liv Constantine
Publishing date - 06/10/25
Novella
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved it! Couldn’t put it down. The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
Publishing date - 06/10/25
Novella
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved it! Couldn’t put it down. The story is filled with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.
October 2, 2025
Silent Echo by Liv Constantine [ Lynne Constantine, L. C. Shaw] (2025)
127-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-124
Genre: Domestic Thriller, Novella
Featuring: Grieving Mother, Family Dynamics, Financial Troubles, Baltimore, Maryland; Preschool, Mom Guilt, Marital Issues, Florida, Disney World, Teen, Author's Links
Rating as a movie: R
Songs for the soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont
Books and Authors mentioned: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👨👩👧👦🌁🚍🪦👨👩👧
My thoughts:🔖Page 36 of 127 CHAPTER SEVEN - This better not be Misconception 2.0.
This was similar to Misconception but it was a better story. This may be the best Lynne Constantine book I've read so far, it did have a slow start.
Recommend to others: Sure, if you have KU and time to spare, it has a satisfying ending but it takes half the book to set it up.
Memorable Quotes: The heat rose to Charlotte’s face. “I don’t want your friends going in there. Do you understand? And you can tell Hayden that it’s none of her fucking business.” She couldn’t stop the words from flying from her mouth. She never used profanity in front of Harper. But she was furious at the thought of anyone going through her son’s things.
127-page Kindle Ebook story pages 7-124
Genre: Domestic Thriller, Novella
Featuring: Grieving Mother, Family Dynamics, Financial Troubles, Baltimore, Maryland; Preschool, Mom Guilt, Marital Issues, Florida, Disney World, Teen, Author's Links
Rating as a movie: R
Songs for the soundtrack: "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont
Books and Authors mentioned: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👨👩👧👦🌁🚍🪦👨👩👧
My thoughts:🔖Page 36 of 127 CHAPTER SEVEN - This better not be Misconception 2.0.
This was similar to Misconception but it was a better story. This may be the best Lynne Constantine book I've read so far, it did have a slow start.
Recommend to others: Sure, if you have KU and time to spare, it has a satisfying ending but it takes half the book to set it up.
Memorable Quotes: The heat rose to Charlotte’s face. “I don’t want your friends going in there. Do you understand? And you can tell Hayden that it’s none of her fucking business.” She couldn’t stop the words from flying from her mouth. She never used profanity in front of Harper. But she was furious at the thought of anyone going through her son’s things.
July 6, 2025
I’m convinced Liv Constantine can write a thriller at any length. This novella had so much happen in so few chapters. There’s still pieces of the story that I’d like to have had more of. The relationship, more about the history of the teacher. Liv’s always a must read and this one is no different!
June 11, 2025
Liv never disappoints! Great novella!
July 18, 2025
2.5 ⭐
June 24, 2025
Quick and intense read! I enjoyed every page. This book had the perfect amount of drama and details for a novella. The ending gave just enough closure where I wasn’t wanting more.
July 17, 2025
I Love Liv Constantine’s work so I was eager to jump into this one. The subject matter is sad, dealing with the loss of a child and handling grief while trying to maintain relationships with the family that is struggling with you. This wasn’t a twisty thriller as I am used to from this author but it did hold my interest and had me on the edge of my seat for the second half. This was a short novella but Constantine delivers a fully developed story with fascinating characters and a thrilling conclusion.
August 24, 2025
3 ⭐️ 📕 Would have loved to have seen this been a longer book! Good story line. Frustrated at the husband. And go mama go!!
June 21, 2025
4.5 stars!
Welcome to the nightmare of your life!
In the aftermath of losing her four-year-old son, Sebastion, in a tragic accident a year earlier, Charlotte Fleming is consumed by grief. Her world shifts when she discovers a social media post that appears to show Sebastion alive at a stranger's birthday party, reigniting her hope. Since Sebastion's body was never found, Charlotte becomes determined to uncover the truth, suspecting that the accident was not as it seemed. As she investigates, she discovers troubling signs that suggest foul play, while her relationships with her husband and daughter begin to fray under the strain. Convinced that her son has been abducted, Charlotte is willing to do whatever it takes to bring him home.
I absolutely love these short novellas; I believe every author should dive into this format. They’re snappy, suspenseful, and pack a punch in just a few pages! This particular book had me hooked from the very first sentence, and the main character was both likable and relatable. Charlotte finds herself in a predicament you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy—seriously, I can’t even begin to imagine her plight. The author masterfully captures the feelings of helplessness and exhaustion that come with such a dire situation.
I found it nearly impossible to put this book down; it was just so easy to read! Despite the twisted nature of the plot, the ending felt a bit understated and didn’t quite match the intensity of the rest of the story. I can’t help but think it could have used a little more oomph, but I still thoroughly enjoyed every page. On the other hand, you could not help but hope for a happy ending!
If you’re a fan of unexpected twists and gripping narratives with short chapters, this novella will definitely keep you entertained for the next few hours. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!
Thank you, Booksprout, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Welcome to the nightmare of your life!
In the aftermath of losing her four-year-old son, Sebastion, in a tragic accident a year earlier, Charlotte Fleming is consumed by grief. Her world shifts when she discovers a social media post that appears to show Sebastion alive at a stranger's birthday party, reigniting her hope. Since Sebastion's body was never found, Charlotte becomes determined to uncover the truth, suspecting that the accident was not as it seemed. As she investigates, she discovers troubling signs that suggest foul play, while her relationships with her husband and daughter begin to fray under the strain. Convinced that her son has been abducted, Charlotte is willing to do whatever it takes to bring him home.
I absolutely love these short novellas; I believe every author should dive into this format. They’re snappy, suspenseful, and pack a punch in just a few pages! This particular book had me hooked from the very first sentence, and the main character was both likable and relatable. Charlotte finds herself in a predicament you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy—seriously, I can’t even begin to imagine her plight. The author masterfully captures the feelings of helplessness and exhaustion that come with such a dire situation.
I found it nearly impossible to put this book down; it was just so easy to read! Despite the twisted nature of the plot, the ending felt a bit understated and didn’t quite match the intensity of the rest of the story. I can’t help but think it could have used a little more oomph, but I still thoroughly enjoyed every page. On the other hand, you could not help but hope for a happy ending!
If you’re a fan of unexpected twists and gripping narratives with short chapters, this novella will definitely keep you entertained for the next few hours. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next!
Thank you, Booksprout, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 11, 2025
Book was excellent. However predictable.
October 29, 2025
A fast paced novella!
November 28, 2025
If you have a few hours and like domestic thrillers would definitely recommend:)
December 3, 2025
*audiobook
December 12, 2025
A strange novella lacking in strong character development or suspense. I love this author’s work (typically) and found this one lacking. I felt very little investment in the outcome.
September 9, 2025
I read this on my Kindle on KU and could absolutely not believe how many grammatical errors and spelling errors there were in this book. I am hoping the print copy is different but it took everything in me to keep reading the whopping 127 pages.
Please someone fix this on KU. It was unbearable.
Outside of that, I enjoyed the plot. One hole was opened that should have been closed and was left vague but otherwise, I didn't mind it.
Please someone fix this on KU. It was unbearable.
Outside of that, I enjoyed the plot. One hole was opened that should have been closed and was left vague but otherwise, I didn't mind it.
November 30, 2025
In this story, we have the standard suburban, family of four a boy and a girl with married parents. The father was a high wage earner who was involved in a shady business deal that cost him his income and reputation. Charlotte Fleming, his wife, had to step up and return to work to maintain their lifestyle which included sending their four year-old son, Sebastian, to a $50,000 a year preschool. (What! My four year university tuition 35 years ago cost 10% of that!)
The preschool teacher, a woman in her 20s, was overly fond of Sebastian. The teacher takes her 12 preschoolers on a bus trip including Sebastian who complained of feeling sick.
His mother sent him to school despite her son bring unwell because she had an important business meeting to attend that she couldn’t afford to cancel and she had no one else to care for him.
During the bus ride Sebastian complains of being sick. He and his teacher leave the bus to seek care for him. An accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge plunges the bus into the water and all aboard are assumed dead which gives the teacher an opportunity to fulfill her lifelong desire to be a parent.
She kidnaps Sebastian, convinces him that she was his new Mommy. They moved to Florida from Washington DC and assumed new identities. To avoid detection Sebastian is home schooled.
Charlotte knows in her bones that against all odds her son is alive. And one day in a Facebook posting of a children’s birthday party she spots him. Nobody believes her but she goes in search of him anyway.
Was her son actually alive or in her grief about his loss was she chasing a mirage?
This is a suspenseful brief read with plenty of twists and turns.
The preschool teacher, a woman in her 20s, was overly fond of Sebastian. The teacher takes her 12 preschoolers on a bus trip including Sebastian who complained of feeling sick.
His mother sent him to school despite her son bring unwell because she had an important business meeting to attend that she couldn’t afford to cancel and she had no one else to care for him.
During the bus ride Sebastian complains of being sick. He and his teacher leave the bus to seek care for him. An accident on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge plunges the bus into the water and all aboard are assumed dead which gives the teacher an opportunity to fulfill her lifelong desire to be a parent.
She kidnaps Sebastian, convinces him that she was his new Mommy. They moved to Florida from Washington DC and assumed new identities. To avoid detection Sebastian is home schooled.
Charlotte knows in her bones that against all odds her son is alive. And one day in a Facebook posting of a children’s birthday party she spots him. Nobody believes her but she goes in search of him anyway.
Was her son actually alive or in her grief about his loss was she chasing a mirage?
This is a suspenseful brief read with plenty of twists and turns.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2026
The book is a quick read with 150 pages and takes you through the journey of a mother Charlotte who is grieving the death of her son in a school bus incident. its been harldy a year that has passed after the incident when Charlotte is still grieving (because you can never finish grieving) and is hardly functioning in her life, whereas her husband and elder daughter seemed to have moved on in their respective lives which enrages her further.
Anyways on the nagging of her husband and to come out of her grief slump, where she has to come out of it so that she can take care of her daughter who deserves a mother, Charlotte starts work again and suddenly on browing social media comes acriss a photograph where she sees her son -ALIVE.
The photo is being dismissed by everyone and it is being blamed on her mother hormones, but she knows that her maternal instinct cannot be wrong so wihtout informing anyone, Charlotte starts investigation on her own and starts contacting the school, obituaries and finds some strange things like the teacher's death never accounted for. Here on beguns a chase between the mother and the kidnapper who has taken Charlottes son and gone on a run. She has poisoned the mind of the boy and adopted as her own.
How does Charlotte be able to get to her son and rescue him from the clutches of an obsessed lady is the remaining part of the book and it had its moments. A good short read.
Anyways on the nagging of her husband and to come out of her grief slump, where she has to come out of it so that she can take care of her daughter who deserves a mother, Charlotte starts work again and suddenly on browing social media comes acriss a photograph where she sees her son -ALIVE.
The photo is being dismissed by everyone and it is being blamed on her mother hormones, but she knows that her maternal instinct cannot be wrong so wihtout informing anyone, Charlotte starts investigation on her own and starts contacting the school, obituaries and finds some strange things like the teacher's death never accounted for. Here on beguns a chase between the mother and the kidnapper who has taken Charlottes son and gone on a run. She has poisoned the mind of the boy and adopted as her own.
How does Charlotte be able to get to her son and rescue him from the clutches of an obsessed lady is the remaining part of the book and it had its moments. A good short read.
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