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She Didn't See It Coming
When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins: can the detectives find her before it's too late?
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden—working from home that day—has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden—working from home that day—has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2025
5212 people are currently reading
130102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,835 reviews
October 11, 2025
Exactly what I love and expect from Shari Lapena! I had many theories and was still surprised by the end. Ate it up!
August 9, 2025
AUDIBLE REVIEW: She Didn’t See It Coming
Author: Shari Lapena
Narrator: January LaVoy (a favorite of mine!)
Listen for 9 hours 48 minutes at 1x or 6 hours 08 minutes at 1.6x speed
Th book opens with an OMINOUS prologue…
Six weeks prior, Bryden Frost is running late to pick up her 3 year old daughter Clara from preschool, when her phone pings with a text. Glancing down at her cell for just a moment is all it takes to cause her to rear end a brand new Tesla.
Now, she will be late for sure.
Fortunately, the Tesla’s driver, Derek, is calm and reasonable in addition to being extremely good looking..
NOW in the present day, a luxurious condo building becomes a potential crime scene when Bryden, completely fails to pick up her daughter.
When her husband Sam collects Clara from preschool instead and returns home, he finds his wife’s car in the underground parking garage, her laptop is open on the kitchen table, beside her cell phone and her keys in their usual place.
But Bryden is missing.
Detective Jayne Salter of the Albany Police Department is assigned the case, and since we actually have a competent, intelligent Detective for a change-a meticulous search of the property begins. As she interviews potential witnesses and suspects, six people fall under suspicion-3 Men and 3 Women:
The Men:
Bryden’s husband, Sam (always the first person Police will look at)
A neighbor, Henry Kemp who has been accused of assault in the Past
Derek Gardner, the driver of the Tesla
The Women:
Bryden’s sister, Lizzie
Bryden’s best friend, Paige
Alice-Derek’s wife
Shari Lapena is a master of domestic suspense and a natural storyteller! She always keeps her stories moving along at a fast pace, with short “just one more” chapters, and the narrative never lags. I suspected just about everyone at one time or another, as the surprising revelations kept causing me to change my mind, but eventually I narrowed it down to the three women.
But, I have been fooled before!
Did I get it right? Of course, I am not telling but I definitely had fun trying to solve this case with Mary Beth.
The last couple of sentences-chef’s kiss! We are left to imagine what might happen next but in a FUN way-not in a cliffhanger way!
I can’t wait for her next!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the AUDIBLE and written copies providing me with a satisfying, very entertaining immersive experience.
Author: Shari Lapena
Narrator: January LaVoy (a favorite of mine!)
Listen for 9 hours 48 minutes at 1x or 6 hours 08 minutes at 1.6x speed
Th book opens with an OMINOUS prologue…
Six weeks prior, Bryden Frost is running late to pick up her 3 year old daughter Clara from preschool, when her phone pings with a text. Glancing down at her cell for just a moment is all it takes to cause her to rear end a brand new Tesla.
Now, she will be late for sure.
Fortunately, the Tesla’s driver, Derek, is calm and reasonable in addition to being extremely good looking..
NOW in the present day, a luxurious condo building becomes a potential crime scene when Bryden, completely fails to pick up her daughter.
When her husband Sam collects Clara from preschool instead and returns home, he finds his wife’s car in the underground parking garage, her laptop is open on the kitchen table, beside her cell phone and her keys in their usual place.
But Bryden is missing.
Detective Jayne Salter of the Albany Police Department is assigned the case, and since we actually have a competent, intelligent Detective for a change-a meticulous search of the property begins. As she interviews potential witnesses and suspects, six people fall under suspicion-3 Men and 3 Women:
The Men:
Bryden’s husband, Sam (always the first person Police will look at)
A neighbor, Henry Kemp who has been accused of assault in the Past
Derek Gardner, the driver of the Tesla
The Women:
Bryden’s sister, Lizzie
Bryden’s best friend, Paige
Alice-Derek’s wife
Shari Lapena is a master of domestic suspense and a natural storyteller! She always keeps her stories moving along at a fast pace, with short “just one more” chapters, and the narrative never lags. I suspected just about everyone at one time or another, as the surprising revelations kept causing me to change my mind, but eventually I narrowed it down to the three women.
But, I have been fooled before!
Did I get it right? Of course, I am not telling but I definitely had fun trying to solve this case with Mary Beth.
The last couple of sentences-chef’s kiss! We are left to imagine what might happen next but in a FUN way-not in a cliffhanger way!
I can’t wait for her next!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Thank You to the Chandler Public Library for the loan of both the AUDIBLE and written copies providing me with a satisfying, very entertaining immersive experience.
July 23, 2025
QUEEN OF UNPUTDOWNABLE READS
She Didn’t See it Coming is about wife and mother Bryden Frost who one afternoon fails to pick her daughter up from daycare like she religiously does and vanishes into thin air. The police step in immediately and from family, friends and fellow neighbours everyone is a suspect and detective Jayne is going to get to the bottom of Bryden’s disappearance.
The tagline for the book was ‘She didn’t see it coming…. And neither will you. Wellll that’s not necessarily true, I did guess, but in Shari’s defense it was until over halfway through and all the red herrings she slapped me with was superb.
Shari is one of my favourite authors because her writing style will keep you rooted in the same spot for hours as if you don’t have responsibilities to be getting on with. The action and mystery is from the word go and the addictive short chapters and the way she ends each chapter has you unapologetically flipping the pages for more.
The story is about missing wife Bryden and we only get two chapters in her POV. I thought not having an emotional connection to the missing character would have me not caring what happened to her, but nope I WAS LOCKED IN! We need to contend with a lot of characters. I mean A LOT! In the words of DMX we have:
🎵BRYDEN, SAM, CLARA
JAYNE, MICHAEL, TOM
LIZZIE, DONNA, JIM
PAIGE, ANGELA, RAVI
TRACY, HENRY, KAYLY
DEREK, ALICE 🎵
The police procedural was addictive, and I was doing my own spider diagram trying to connect the dots. I enjoyed Detective Jayne’s character, and she was a no-nonsense detective who also had an eye for detail, and I loved her relationship with her understanding boyfriend. The other characters were suspicious and a lot of them very unlikeable in the ‘can’t stop’ reading about them way. There are two sub plots within the story which somewhat played a role in the current storyline but also navigated away from it. It was interesting reading about it but it also felt like there wasn’t any resolution with it.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Fast paced
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Locked Condominium mystery
➽ The Police Procedural
➽ Unlikeable Characters
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Ending was rushed
➽ Reveal wasn’t shocking
The ending was rushed but did have me giddy at the fast paced-ness of it all. Is it just me but does the final pages give a potential sequel or series vibe? Either way whatever Lapena writes I am reading. Don’t keep me waiting to long Shari!
4.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
My fave suburban thriller author is back with a new book!
The blurb on this is JUICY!
Ready to get my 'whodunnit' on!
💚🤍🖤
She Didn’t See it Coming is about wife and mother Bryden Frost who one afternoon fails to pick her daughter up from daycare like she religiously does and vanishes into thin air. The police step in immediately and from family, friends and fellow neighbours everyone is a suspect and detective Jayne is going to get to the bottom of Bryden’s disappearance.
The tagline for the book was ‘She didn’t see it coming…. And neither will you. Wellll that’s not necessarily true, I did guess, but in Shari’s defense it was until over halfway through and all the red herrings she slapped me with was superb.
Shari is one of my favourite authors because her writing style will keep you rooted in the same spot for hours as if you don’t have responsibilities to be getting on with. The action and mystery is from the word go and the addictive short chapters and the way she ends each chapter has you unapologetically flipping the pages for more.
The story is about missing wife Bryden and we only get two chapters in her POV. I thought not having an emotional connection to the missing character would have me not caring what happened to her, but nope I WAS LOCKED IN! We need to contend with a lot of characters. I mean A LOT! In the words of DMX we have:
🎵BRYDEN, SAM, CLARA
JAYNE, MICHAEL, TOM
LIZZIE, DONNA, JIM
PAIGE, ANGELA, RAVI
TRACY, HENRY, KAYLY
DEREK, ALICE 🎵
The police procedural was addictive, and I was doing my own spider diagram trying to connect the dots. I enjoyed Detective Jayne’s character, and she was a no-nonsense detective who also had an eye for detail, and I loved her relationship with her understanding boyfriend. The other characters were suspicious and a lot of them very unlikeable in the ‘can’t stop’ reading about them way. There are two sub plots within the story which somewhat played a role in the current storyline but also navigated away from it. It was interesting reading about it but it also felt like there wasn’t any resolution with it.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Fast paced
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Locked Condominium mystery
➽ The Police Procedural
➽ Unlikeable Characters
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Ending was rushed
➽ Reveal wasn’t shocking
The ending was rushed but did have me giddy at the fast paced-ness of it all. Is it just me but does the final pages give a potential sequel or series vibe? Either way whatever Lapena writes I am reading. Don’t keep me waiting to long Shari!
4.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
My fave suburban thriller author is back with a new book!
The blurb on this is JUICY!
Ready to get my 'whodunnit' on!
💚🤍🖤
July 30, 2025
I stayed up way too late on this one to finish and solve. This thriller hit all the highlights which I love about Shari Lapena's books. She sets the mood by giving the audience a heightened feeling of suspense, anticipation and all those twists. The book began with Bryden heading to her daughter's daycare late. Traffic is at a standstill when she glanced down at her phone because the daycare was calling her and rammed a Tesla in front of her causing extensive damage. The handsome driver takes her information down and will be in touch. She vows to pay him and leave it out of the insurance gamble. I was tense at this moment knowing we exchange information to strangers all the time.
The next time the daycare calls at a later day it is to her husband, Sam, because she never showed up to pick up their daughter and will not answer her phone. When he arrives at the luxurious condo, he sees her car in the parking garage, her phone and purse inside the condo.
When Det Jayne arrives with questions, the first suspect is the husband. Then it shifted to a guy in the condo building that has been accused of attacking a girl. At this point, there were several suspects, when it becomes a murder investigation. This is very engaging with each procedure I changed my mind. I had trust issues with most of the characters...cleverly done. Great job again, Shari Lapena! I absolutely love the cover...it says a lot! By that final page, you will realize she didn't see it coming.
Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The next time the daycare calls at a later day it is to her husband, Sam, because she never showed up to pick up their daughter and will not answer her phone. When he arrives at the luxurious condo, he sees her car in the parking garage, her phone and purse inside the condo.
When Det Jayne arrives with questions, the first suspect is the husband. Then it shifted to a guy in the condo building that has been accused of attacking a girl. At this point, there were several suspects, when it becomes a murder investigation. This is very engaging with each procedure I changed my mind. I had trust issues with most of the characters...cleverly done. Great job again, Shari Lapena! I absolutely love the cover...it says a lot! By that final page, you will realize she didn't see it coming.
Thank you NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 15, 2025
Audio version narrated by January LaVoy 🤩
Shari Lapena's newest novel kept me listening and questioning everyone/ everything happening!
Sam receives a call that his daughter wasn't picked up from daycare. His wife is ALWAYS there on time. Where is she? He knows this can't be good and when the situation escalates he calls the police to report his wife, Bryden, missing.
This was an addictive listen, I was easily pulled into the suspense and pointing fingers at multiple people. There were plenty of sketchy suspects, motives and all around whackadoodles! 😮
The ending was a bit abrupt with a sneaky little tidbit thrown in! I had to phone a friend ( or 2) to question something. 😂 But I must say I quite enjoyed it!
Out July 29, 2025
Shari Lapena's newest novel kept me listening and questioning everyone/ everything happening!
Sam receives a call that his daughter wasn't picked up from daycare. His wife is ALWAYS there on time. Where is she? He knows this can't be good and when the situation escalates he calls the police to report his wife, Bryden, missing.
This was an addictive listen, I was easily pulled into the suspense and pointing fingers at multiple people. There were plenty of sketchy suspects, motives and all around whackadoodles! 😮
The ending was a bit abrupt with a sneaky little tidbit thrown in! I had to phone a friend ( or 2) to question something. 😂 But I must say I quite enjoyed it!
Out July 29, 2025
August 28, 2025
5 suspenseful stars!
Shari Lapena’s best book yet!
Bryden is a loving wife and mother who vanishes from her home one afternoon. Police interview all residents of the condominium they live in along with all family members. As the detectives dig deeper, secrets are revealed that create more questions than answers.
I had an immediate connection to and investment in this story. There is something about this author being able to write domestic suspense that is so real and raw. I felt for the characters and situation and was hanging on every word. It had an edge-of-my-seat feel to the story from start to finish.
I love this authors writing because it pulls you in intensely but doesn’t use more words than needed. She gets right to the point and makes the reader care for the situation. Motherhood is a strong theme explored and I loved that angle. Loyalty is another layer to this twisty story that had me questioning everything.
This had a locked room mystery vibe with domestic thriller aspects. So many suspicious characters that I loved analyzing along with the detectives.
The detective partnership that leads the missing person investigation was excellent. I loved their characters and personal stories and everything they brought to the storyline. I would love to see another book featuring this detective duo!
This is my favourite book by this author! I have read all of them other than her previous one which I plan to start very soon! This story was tightly written, cleverly plotted, suspenseful and so much fun to experience as it unfolded. I highly recommend it to domestic suspense and thriller fans!
Shari Lapena’s best book yet!
Bryden is a loving wife and mother who vanishes from her home one afternoon. Police interview all residents of the condominium they live in along with all family members. As the detectives dig deeper, secrets are revealed that create more questions than answers.
I had an immediate connection to and investment in this story. There is something about this author being able to write domestic suspense that is so real and raw. I felt for the characters and situation and was hanging on every word. It had an edge-of-my-seat feel to the story from start to finish.
I love this authors writing because it pulls you in intensely but doesn’t use more words than needed. She gets right to the point and makes the reader care for the situation. Motherhood is a strong theme explored and I loved that angle. Loyalty is another layer to this twisty story that had me questioning everything.
This had a locked room mystery vibe with domestic thriller aspects. So many suspicious characters that I loved analyzing along with the detectives.
The detective partnership that leads the missing person investigation was excellent. I loved their characters and personal stories and everything they brought to the storyline. I would love to see another book featuring this detective duo!
This is my favourite book by this author! I have read all of them other than her previous one which I plan to start very soon! This story was tightly written, cleverly plotted, suspenseful and so much fun to experience as it unfolded. I highly recommend it to domestic suspense and thriller fans!
July 29, 2025
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Bingeable!
Shari LaPena’s latest thriller is cleverly plotted and unputdownable! I was sure I had this mystery solved, but I was wrong!
When Bryden unexpectedly goes missing without a trace while working from home, her family members, friends, and acquaintances are all questioned by the police. What happened to Bryden? How did she seemingly disappear from her own apartment? Everyone is a suspect and they are all hiding secrets.
This twisty domestic thriller kept me furiously flipping the pages. I couldn’t wait to see how this would play out! Shari LaPena is back with a stunner. My only criticism is that I think I had a better ending plotted in my head. Haha. I read too many thrillers!
Expected publication date: 7/29/25
Trigger warning: domestic abuse
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC of She Didn’t See It Coming in exchange for an honest review.
Bingeable!
Shari LaPena’s latest thriller is cleverly plotted and unputdownable! I was sure I had this mystery solved, but I was wrong!
When Bryden unexpectedly goes missing without a trace while working from home, her family members, friends, and acquaintances are all questioned by the police. What happened to Bryden? How did she seemingly disappear from her own apartment? Everyone is a suspect and they are all hiding secrets.
This twisty domestic thriller kept me furiously flipping the pages. I couldn’t wait to see how this would play out! Shari LaPena is back with a stunner. My only criticism is that I think I had a better ending plotted in my head. Haha. I read too many thrillers!
Expected publication date: 7/29/25
Trigger warning: domestic abuse
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC of She Didn’t See It Coming in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2025
Binge-worthy, suspenseful, and twisty in the extreme, She Didn’t See It Coming was yet about powerhouse of a novel from the unstoppable Shari Lapena. From the multiple POVs—all of whom were thoroughly suspicious—to the oodles of increasingly shocking secrets, I couldn’t put this book down and read it in only a matter of hours. After all, not only did it start and end with a bang, but the middle delivered a doozy of an investigation that showed the dark side of each of the suspects. Like a fly on the wall, I ate up every word until the twisted conclusion arrived on the scene. Cunning, well-timed, and completely plausible, it was a finale that left me with a Cheshire Cat-like grin.
As for the characters, they were mostly as unlikeable as they were suspect. From the missing woman’s husband to her incredibly odd sister, the idea that they could’ve played a part in her disappearance never strayed far from my thoughts. You see, this locked room mystery premise only had so many answers. Despite my initial inkling at who the bad guy was, however, a spate of red herrings kept me completely off balance. Was I right or wrong with my first guess? Well, I’m happy to report that I was able to pat myself on the back by the end, even if I almost thought I’d gotten it 100% wrong due to a last minute twist. Cheers, Ms. Lapena, on messing with my head.
All said and done, I absolutely loved this smart, original take on a missing persons thriller. With a police procedural edge alongside plenty of family drama, there was a bit of everything there for my fellow lovers of long-buried secrets, manipulative lies, and dastardly schemes. Composed of short, punchy chapters that had me reading far too late into the night, there wasn’t a thing that could’ve stopped me from finishing this book in one sitting. After all, it was both compelling and eerily true-to-life like an addictive true-crime series. So if you also love an onion-like plot complete with a tangled web of lies and half-truths, this is one book you need in your life. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden—working from home that day—has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all?
With every minute that passes—and as questions swirl around their community—Bryden and Sam’s past seems a little less perfect, their condominium less safe, their friends, neighbors and relatives no longer quite so reliable…
Thank you to Shari Lapena, Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 29, 2025
Content warning: missing person, infidelity, fatal hit-and-run accident, break and entering, mention of: domestic violence
As for the characters, they were mostly as unlikeable as they were suspect. From the missing woman’s husband to her incredibly odd sister, the idea that they could’ve played a part in her disappearance never strayed far from my thoughts. You see, this locked room mystery premise only had so many answers. Despite my initial inkling at who the bad guy was, however, a spate of red herrings kept me completely off balance. Was I right or wrong with my first guess? Well, I’m happy to report that I was able to pat myself on the back by the end, even if I almost thought I’d gotten it 100% wrong due to a last minute twist. Cheers, Ms. Lapena, on messing with my head.
All said and done, I absolutely loved this smart, original take on a missing persons thriller. With a police procedural edge alongside plenty of family drama, there was a bit of everything there for my fellow lovers of long-buried secrets, manipulative lies, and dastardly schemes. Composed of short, punchy chapters that had me reading far too late into the night, there wasn’t a thing that could’ve stopped me from finishing this book in one sitting. After all, it was both compelling and eerily true-to-life like an addictive true-crime series. So if you also love an onion-like plot complete with a tangled web of lies and half-truths, this is one book you need in your life. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden—working from home that day—has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all?
With every minute that passes—and as questions swirl around their community—Bryden and Sam’s past seems a little less perfect, their condominium less safe, their friends, neighbors and relatives no longer quite so reliable…
Thank you to Shari Lapena, Pamela Dorman Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 29, 2025
Content warning: missing person, infidelity, fatal hit-and-run accident, break and entering, mention of: domestic violence
August 10, 2025
It’s been three years since I’ve read a Shari Lapena novel. Quite some time. Everyone was raving about this one, so I had to see what I was missing. I’m always down for a great domestic thriller. However, I can be quite picky.
Bryden and Sam are a well-to-do married couple with a little girl. One day, Sam gets a call from their daughter’s daycare that Bryden hasn’t shown up to pick their child. After Sam arrives home with their daughter, he notices his wife’s car, cell phone and keys are all still there. But where is Bryden?
Video footage shows she never even left the building. And authorities immediately begin to focus on the husband. Did Sam murder his wife? Did she just run away undetected? If not Sam, then who would do such a thing?
Man, let me tell you that the beginning took off with a BANG! I was so locked into the story. I couldn’t put it down. Then, after the halfway point, it just took a different turn. I wasn’t excited for the way things unfolded. Ultimately, it was still an entertaining read.
I think I’m in the minority here. This novel had so much potential, and let me just say again, I’m highly picky with domestic thrillers. I’m always looking for a unique plot. Many others have really enjoyed this one, so, please read their reviews.
Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for the gorgeous gifted copy.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date - 7/29/25
Bryden and Sam are a well-to-do married couple with a little girl. One day, Sam gets a call from their daughter’s daycare that Bryden hasn’t shown up to pick their child. After Sam arrives home with their daughter, he notices his wife’s car, cell phone and keys are all still there. But where is Bryden?
Video footage shows she never even left the building. And authorities immediately begin to focus on the husband. Did Sam murder his wife? Did she just run away undetected? If not Sam, then who would do such a thing?
Man, let me tell you that the beginning took off with a BANG! I was so locked into the story. I couldn’t put it down. Then, after the halfway point, it just took a different turn. I wasn’t excited for the way things unfolded. Ultimately, it was still an entertaining read.
I think I’m in the minority here. This novel had so much potential, and let me just say again, I’m highly picky with domestic thrillers. I’m always looking for a unique plot. Many others have really enjoyed this one, so, please read their reviews.
Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for the gorgeous gifted copy.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date - 7/29/25
August 8, 2025
Pop the corn, friends! 🍿 Grab your favorite beverage to wash down the taste of all the red herrings that'll be thrown at you. Settle into a comfy spot and plan to stay up waaaaaay past your bedtime.
She didn't see it coming...and neither did I. 👀
August 19, 2025
Shari Lapena (always an auto-read, of course) truly is the queen of domestic suspense, crafting multiple defined characters while making you trust none of them! I suspected most, if not all, at some point.
Her short chapters and punchy writing style are fantastic. She packs a powerful narrative without fluff, yet still fleshes out characters and the storyline effectively.
I found the story genuinely interesting, enjoying both the main plot and its well-integrated subplots. Lapena excels at building a realistic, believable story that avoids feeling over-the-top. A truly gripping and grounded thriller!
Her short chapters and punchy writing style are fantastic. She packs a powerful narrative without fluff, yet still fleshes out characters and the storyline effectively.
I found the story genuinely interesting, enjoying both the main plot and its well-integrated subplots. Lapena excels at building a realistic, believable story that avoids feeling over-the-top. A truly gripping and grounded thriller!
September 14, 2025
3.5 stars —- Since this is the 9th book by Shari Lapena I have read, I have to admit that I am a big fan. Most of the books I’ve read of her’s I’ve enjoyed, but I always have a minor issue that keeps me from absolutely loving it. Once again there will be no major gushing after reading the latest Lapena novel, “She Didn’t See It Coming.” Although, once again, the story was well put together and entertaining, this one had a lot of idiosyncrasies and strange behavior that just felt unbelievable to me. The main plot line was once again good, as it begin with a woman going missing from her home without a trace. It soon becomes obvious that she has met with foul play and there are numerous suspects in her disappearance. The cast of characters is an interesting group with a husband, sister, a best friend and a possible lover and his wife as potential suspects. Once again Lapena writes from multiple perspectives as the reader gets a chance to observe what both the police and each of the suspects are thinking and doing. The behavior of some of the characters is at a minimum unrealistic and at the worst outright ridiculous. It definitely made it hard to predict “whodunnit’ because of the unusual behavior and background of each of the characters. Lapena writes in a very straightforward manner and the story never gets bogged down with thoughts and emotions. Therefore, I was never bored from beginning to end. I think that my biggest gripe was there was really nobody to root for in the book as everyone had so much past baggage and were acting so strange during the investigation, I wasn’t completely invested in the story. When the story finally came to a conclusion, I felt like Lapena had held back a lot of the information from one particular character to keep us guessing until the end. It definitely worked as I was unable to guess the villain. I would recommend this book as a straightforward murder mystery; just don’t expect to be too invested in the result.
August 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, especially everything leading up to the twist. The multiple points of view were done so well and gave a great look into both the investigation and what the family was going through. Fast paced, full of doubt and a good ending.
October 28, 2025
4/5
- This author has easily become one of my favorite authors for thrillers because they’re always so fast paced! If you want a thriller that you won’t want to put down, this is a great one!
- The audiobook for this one is SO GOOD and really brings the story to life! I listened on my way to and from Chicago. I rarely listen to audiobooks for an entire drive, but this was one that was too good to turn off.
- Will definitely be looking at the backlist from this author!
- This author has easily become one of my favorite authors for thrillers because they’re always so fast paced! If you want a thriller that you won’t want to put down, this is a great one!
- The audiobook for this one is SO GOOD and really brings the story to life! I listened on my way to and from Chicago. I rarely listen to audiobooks for an entire drive, but this was one that was too good to turn off.
- Will definitely be looking at the backlist from this author!
August 11, 2025
Gripping, shocking, dramatic, and hard to put down, Shari Lapena has once again dazzled me with She Didn't See It Coming!!! I listened to the audiobook and thought it was very nicely done. This is the 8th book that I have read by Shair Lepena and I always get excited when she has a new book coming out. That is because she never lets me down. She always delivers a well thought out, wonderfully written, gripping and shocking book. I love doing my own super sleuthing trying to figure out whodunit as I read one of her amazing books. I enjoyed how she keeps me guessing and keeps things interesting with her many twists and reveals!
When Bryden fails to pick up their daughter from daycare, Sam initially believes that time must have gotten away from her. He initially brushes it off but when his calls are not returned and she is not in their luxury apartment, he becomes alarmed and calls the police!
There were quite a few characters in this book, but it was very easy to keep track of them and not get confused as they are all fully fleshed out. As readers get to know more about them, it becomes evident that many should be on the suspect list. They range from the man Bryden got into a fender bender with, her sister who loves True crime and online forums, Bryden's best friend, Bryden's parents, a few neighbors, the detectives, etc. You get the picture. The police have their hands full and interviews to conduct. As the book progressed, I was certain I knew who was responsible but then Lapena threw in another whammy which got me going in the right direction. What a wild ride this book became.
Shari Lapena is a master at building tension, suspense, and dramatic twists. She throws in red herrings and misdirects readers all while building a realistic reveal.
She Didn't See It Coming was a riveting book which kept me on my toes and wanting more. I can't wait to read what Shari Lapena writes next!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
When Bryden fails to pick up their daughter from daycare, Sam initially believes that time must have gotten away from her. He initially brushes it off but when his calls are not returned and she is not in their luxury apartment, he becomes alarmed and calls the police!
There were quite a few characters in this book, but it was very easy to keep track of them and not get confused as they are all fully fleshed out. As readers get to know more about them, it becomes evident that many should be on the suspect list. They range from the man Bryden got into a fender bender with, her sister who loves True crime and online forums, Bryden's best friend, Bryden's parents, a few neighbors, the detectives, etc. You get the picture. The police have their hands full and interviews to conduct. As the book progressed, I was certain I knew who was responsible but then Lapena threw in another whammy which got me going in the right direction. What a wild ride this book became.
Shari Lapena is a master at building tension, suspense, and dramatic twists. She throws in red herrings and misdirects readers all while building a realistic reveal.
She Didn't See It Coming was a riveting book which kept me on my toes and wanting more. I can't wait to read what Shari Lapena writes next!
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 17, 2025
Gripping suspense, red herrings galore, & utterly unputdownable!
SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING by SHARI LAPENA is a stunning, twisty, and fast-paced domestic suspense thriller that had me completely hooked from beginning to end. Short, snappy chapters and clever red herrings kept me guessing and flipping those pages as fast as I possibly could. I love it when an author fills a book with misdirection yet keeps it all feeling believable to the story. Shari Lapena absolutely nailed it here.
The setup is deliciously eerie: a wife vanishes, her car still in the garage, her belongings left behind. It feels as if she simply walked out of her life. Because she disappeared from her own home in a luxury condominium, the story carries a strong locked-room suspense vibe that had me second-guessing everyone and hanging on every detail. That unsettling situation put me right in the centre of all the drama, shaking my head more than once at the characters’ secrets and choices.
💭 Mood reader moment: I already had this one on Libby, but the moment I saw that fractured, moody cover at the bookstore I could not resist. It was calling to me and I am so glad I listened to that pull. Also worth mentioning, this copy had the best book smell ever!
I wouldn’t say I was necessarily shocked by one of the reveals, but I absolutely enjoyed the journey, the juicy misdirection, and especially how it all wrapped up. The ending was gripping, dramatic, and completely satisfying.
I also thought it was pretty cool that I actually knew about a real-life case mentioned in the story. Usually I feel a little out of touch with those kinds of details, but this time I was right there, nodding along. It gave me that little thrill of recognition and made the story hit even closer.
Norma’s Stats
Cover: Moody and ominous, perfectly reflecting the tension, secrets, and the unsettling feeling of a disappearance happening right under your nose.
Title: Icy and ironic, captures the dread of the unexpected and the shock of hidden truths.
Writing/Prose: Razor-sharp, immersive, and suspenseful throughout. Canadian author 🇨🇦
Plot: Twisty, layered with misdirection, and utterly captivating, I loved following along and trying to piece everything together, figuring out a few little details along the way.
Ending: Gripping, dramatic, satisfying, and tied up perfectly, leaving every thread resolved yet lingering just enough to savour the story.
Overall: 4.5 ⭐️ Addictive, immersive, and thoroughly entertaining. A standout domestic suspense that delivered everything I wanted.
📖 Purchased by me, physical copy. Also enjoyed a bit on Libby for nighttime reading while hubby was asleep.
SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING by SHARI LAPENA is a stunning, twisty, and fast-paced domestic suspense thriller that had me completely hooked from beginning to end. Short, snappy chapters and clever red herrings kept me guessing and flipping those pages as fast as I possibly could. I love it when an author fills a book with misdirection yet keeps it all feeling believable to the story. Shari Lapena absolutely nailed it here.
The setup is deliciously eerie: a wife vanishes, her car still in the garage, her belongings left behind. It feels as if she simply walked out of her life. Because she disappeared from her own home in a luxury condominium, the story carries a strong locked-room suspense vibe that had me second-guessing everyone and hanging on every detail. That unsettling situation put me right in the centre of all the drama, shaking my head more than once at the characters’ secrets and choices.
💭 Mood reader moment: I already had this one on Libby, but the moment I saw that fractured, moody cover at the bookstore I could not resist. It was calling to me and I am so glad I listened to that pull. Also worth mentioning, this copy had the best book smell ever!
I wouldn’t say I was necessarily shocked by one of the reveals, but I absolutely enjoyed the journey, the juicy misdirection, and especially how it all wrapped up. The ending was gripping, dramatic, and completely satisfying.
I also thought it was pretty cool that I actually knew about a real-life case mentioned in the story. Usually I feel a little out of touch with those kinds of details, but this time I was right there, nodding along. It gave me that little thrill of recognition and made the story hit even closer.
Norma’s Stats
Cover: Moody and ominous, perfectly reflecting the tension, secrets, and the unsettling feeling of a disappearance happening right under your nose.
Title: Icy and ironic, captures the dread of the unexpected and the shock of hidden truths.
Writing/Prose: Razor-sharp, immersive, and suspenseful throughout. Canadian author 🇨🇦
Plot: Twisty, layered with misdirection, and utterly captivating, I loved following along and trying to piece everything together, figuring out a few little details along the way.
Ending: Gripping, dramatic, satisfying, and tied up perfectly, leaving every thread resolved yet lingering just enough to savour the story.
Overall: 4.5 ⭐️ Addictive, immersive, and thoroughly entertaining. A standout domestic suspense that delivered everything I wanted.
📖 Purchased by me, physical copy. Also enjoyed a bit on Libby for nighttime reading while hubby was asleep.
July 25, 2025
I’ll start with this: Shari Lapena can write. Her prose is clean, her pacing is sharp, and the pages fly by. That’s the only reason I made it to the end. But much like driving through a bland town with good roads, the journey was smooth but utterly forgettable.
Now, where do we begin with the disaster that is this story? The characters were all varying shades of insufferable. You’ve got the quintessential “perfect family”, the kind you know, without a doubt, are about to unravel like a cheap sweater. And of course, surprise surprise… infidelity! Groundbreaking. It’s 2025, and I swear if I read one more “twist” about a cheating spouse in a suburban marriage, I’ll combust.
Speaking of twists, there weren’t any. Unless you count the twist where I realised, halfway through, that the killer is exactly who I thought it was. No red herrings, no clever misdirection, just a half-hearted game of “look over there!” with some side characters so flat they could’ve been printed on rice paper. The attempts to divert attention felt like filler from someone who knew their plot was too thin to stretch to 300 pages.
There were no secrets that shocked, no skeletons in closets (unless you count the barely-there plot skeleton itself). The suspense? Nonexistent. The climax? Whimper, not bang. And by the final chapter, I wasn’t gripped, I was gritting my teeth, praying the big reveal would redeem the slog. It didn’t.
In the end, She Didn’t See It Coming is less a thriller and more a predictable soap opera in disguise. A disappointing read that left me annoyed I’d bothered to care. and I absolutely did see it coming. the irony.
One star and that’s solely for the smooth writing. The rest? Straight into the recycling bin of crime fiction clichés.
Now, where do we begin with the disaster that is this story? The characters were all varying shades of insufferable. You’ve got the quintessential “perfect family”, the kind you know, without a doubt, are about to unravel like a cheap sweater. And of course, surprise surprise… infidelity! Groundbreaking. It’s 2025, and I swear if I read one more “twist” about a cheating spouse in a suburban marriage, I’ll combust.
Speaking of twists, there weren’t any. Unless you count the twist where I realised, halfway through, that the killer is exactly who I thought it was. No red herrings, no clever misdirection, just a half-hearted game of “look over there!” with some side characters so flat they could’ve been printed on rice paper. The attempts to divert attention felt like filler from someone who knew their plot was too thin to stretch to 300 pages.
There were no secrets that shocked, no skeletons in closets (unless you count the barely-there plot skeleton itself). The suspense? Nonexistent. The climax? Whimper, not bang. And by the final chapter, I wasn’t gripped, I was gritting my teeth, praying the big reveal would redeem the slog. It didn’t.
In the end, She Didn’t See It Coming is less a thriller and more a predictable soap opera in disguise. A disappointing read that left me annoyed I’d bothered to care. and I absolutely did see it coming. the irony.
One star and that’s solely for the smooth writing. The rest? Straight into the recycling bin of crime fiction clichés.
August 18, 2025
Bryden and Sam have a wonderful marriage and a 3-year-old daughter. They have successful careers, supportive families & friends, as well as a luxury condo. What more could they want?
Until one day Bryden fails to show up to pick up their daughter from day care, apparently vanishing into thin air. Her car is in its designated space, her purse, phone, and car keys are in the condo.
Detective Jayne is assigned the case and we hear alternating perspectives, including hers, as well as her sister, her best friend, and the guy she had a fender bender with.
The plotting was page-turning, as there is no shortage of suspects and red herrings. I was eyeing all of them with suspicion. Few authors can pull this off as expertly as Shari Lapena.
Not only did the victim not see it coming, but neither did I. I rate according to genre and how reluctant I am
to put a book down (or take out my AirPods).
The audio was narrated by January LaVoy, always a treat!
Until one day Bryden fails to show up to pick up their daughter from day care, apparently vanishing into thin air. Her car is in its designated space, her purse, phone, and car keys are in the condo.
Detective Jayne is assigned the case and we hear alternating perspectives, including hers, as well as her sister, her best friend, and the guy she had a fender bender with.
The plotting was page-turning, as there is no shortage of suspects and red herrings. I was eyeing all of them with suspicion. Few authors can pull this off as expertly as Shari Lapena.
Not only did the victim not see it coming, but neither did I. I rate according to genre and how reluctant I am
to put a book down (or take out my AirPods).
The audio was narrated by January LaVoy, always a treat!
August 24, 2025
2.5 Stars
Just as a sidenote, I’m writing this review from Outlier Island. 🏝️👋
As a quick synopsis: Bryden has missed picking up her young daughter from daycare. Her husband, Sam picks up their daughter and discovers that Bryden is not at home either but her car, cell phone, keys and purse are. He calls a few of her friends and no one has seen her and it is determined the next course of action is to call the police.
The entire novel is about what happened to Bryden and is told from about 5 million different perspectives. I’m not even kidding. It continually bounced around between each point of view that I had a hard time remembering who was who except for a few key characters. There wasn’t enough time spent to fully get a good understanding of who these people were besides just characters in a novel. The writing style seemed very clipped. While that made for a quick read, it didn’t make for an engaging one.
I can honestly say this author definitely isn’t for me. I looked back at my other ratings for her previous novels, and I had actually written in one of my reviews that this wasn’t the author for me. I think I’m going to take my own advice and pass on future novels. As I said, I am definitely an outlier and there are tons of glowing reviews praising both the novel and the author’s previous books so please check them out.
Just as a sidenote, I’m writing this review from Outlier Island. 🏝️👋
As a quick synopsis: Bryden has missed picking up her young daughter from daycare. Her husband, Sam picks up their daughter and discovers that Bryden is not at home either but her car, cell phone, keys and purse are. He calls a few of her friends and no one has seen her and it is determined the next course of action is to call the police.
The entire novel is about what happened to Bryden and is told from about 5 million different perspectives. I’m not even kidding. It continually bounced around between each point of view that I had a hard time remembering who was who except for a few key characters. There wasn’t enough time spent to fully get a good understanding of who these people were besides just characters in a novel. The writing style seemed very clipped. While that made for a quick read, it didn’t make for an engaging one.
I can honestly say this author definitely isn’t for me. I looked back at my other ratings for her previous novels, and I had actually written in one of my reviews that this wasn’t the author for me. I think I’m going to take my own advice and pass on future novels. As I said, I am definitely an outlier and there are tons of glowing reviews praising both the novel and the author’s previous books so please check them out.
August 2, 2025
First things first - this book, as a whole, isn't bad, but I could not stand the ending & that's the most important part, right? There were so many interesting story lines that could've led somewhere that just...didn't. I feel like Lapena used the story lines as misdirection, which, fair enough, it's a mystery, but then just dropped them. The ending felt rushed & just like, "I know I've told you all about these people, but here's actually who did it." Like, huh?
July 29, 2025
4 Stars - I’ve read most all of Lapena’s work and don’t get me wrong this is a pretty good thriller and kept me engaged and I did not figure out the mystery. I also rather liked the lead police detective, Jayne Salter, and the procedural parts, but overall there were just too many characters to keep straight. I was also a bit taken aback at the somewhat abrupt ending & all the ‘red herrings” and secondary characters that were super intriguing but ultimately went nowhere. Perhaps this is a plan for a sequel?? 🤷🏻♀️ I’d certainly read it, LOL!
July 31, 2025
Welcome back, Shari Lapena!
After two recent lackluster releases, one of my favorite go-to authors exceeded my guarded expectations.
CHALLENGE:
I dare you to "See It Coming" in "She Didn't See It Coming".
Yes, this "What Happened to a Missing Mom?" book had sooo many unreliable narrators.
And more red herrings than an overstocked fish store.
From start to finish, it's unpredictable and unputdownable.
WHY NOT 5 STARS?
Too many random extraneous characters were arbitrarily inserted into the storyline.
Perhaps the author did this to heighten the uncertainty and suspense, but IMHO, this was not necessary.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by January LaVoy.
As always, January LaVoy's narration was outstanding.
4.5 stars
July 31, 2025
She Didn't See It Coming is a fast-paced, gripping thriller that masterfully maintains suspense from start to finish, keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very last page. The story explores how everyone carries secrets—some so deeply buried that even they struggle to reconcile their own truths.
Bryden Frost appears to live a happy, content life with her loving husband, Mark, and their six-year-old daughter, Lily, in a modern, bright condo overlooking downtown. One ordinary morning, while working from her home office, Bryden becomes distracted and forgets to pick up Lily from daycare, setting off a chain of events that rapidly spiral out of control. What initially seems like a missing persons case escalates into a complex murder investigation, with a growing list of potential suspects, including jealous neighbours, disgruntled colleagues, and family members with secrets and lies.
Detective Jayne Salter, known for her sharp intuition and relentless persistence, cuts through a tangled web of truths, lies, and half-truths to uncover the truth and get justice for Bryden. The author skillfully crafts numerous twists and red herrings, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the case. That made it hard for me to put the book down and had me reading late into the night. I had company at the cottage, so I hid in the boathouse to avoid being bothered. I even put up a sign “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK I’M READING”
While I didn't connect with all the characters, I recognize that this was an intentional choice to emphasize their flawed and layered personalities.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging summer beach read. The short, punchy chapters make it easy to devour quickly, and the compelling plot will keep you captivated from beginning to end.
Thank you, NetGalley, Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.
PRE-Read
While my husband napped, I dove into a book I couldn't put down. Lapena's masterful character development and engaging writing style, highlighted by short chapters, make each read incredibly swift and captivating. From the very first page, I was hooked! Detective Jayne Salter stands out as a remarkable character—relentless, fiercely independent, and unapologetically bold. She’s the kind of woman who refuses to tolerate any BS, and I’m fully behind her relentless pursuit of the truth about Bryden Frost. This is definitely my kind of story! Can’t wait to get to the conclusion!
Bryden Frost appears to live a happy, content life with her loving husband, Mark, and their six-year-old daughter, Lily, in a modern, bright condo overlooking downtown. One ordinary morning, while working from her home office, Bryden becomes distracted and forgets to pick up Lily from daycare, setting off a chain of events that rapidly spiral out of control. What initially seems like a missing persons case escalates into a complex murder investigation, with a growing list of potential suspects, including jealous neighbours, disgruntled colleagues, and family members with secrets and lies.
Detective Jayne Salter, known for her sharp intuition and relentless persistence, cuts through a tangled web of truths, lies, and half-truths to uncover the truth and get justice for Bryden. The author skillfully crafts numerous twists and red herrings, adding layers of complexity and intrigue to the case. That made it hard for me to put the book down and had me reading late into the night. I had company at the cottage, so I hid in the boathouse to avoid being bothered. I even put up a sign “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK I’M READING”
While I didn't connect with all the characters, I recognize that this was an intentional choice to emphasize their flawed and layered personalities.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an engaging summer beach read. The short, punchy chapters make it easy to devour quickly, and the compelling plot will keep you captivated from beginning to end.
Thank you, NetGalley, Doubleday Canada and Penguin Random House Canada, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was under no obligation to provide a review.
PRE-Read
While my husband napped, I dove into a book I couldn't put down. Lapena's masterful character development and engaging writing style, highlighted by short chapters, make each read incredibly swift and captivating. From the very first page, I was hooked! Detective Jayne Salter stands out as a remarkable character—relentless, fiercely independent, and unapologetically bold. She’s the kind of woman who refuses to tolerate any BS, and I’m fully behind her relentless pursuit of the truth about Bryden Frost. This is definitely my kind of story! Can’t wait to get to the conclusion!
October 11, 2025
I don’t choose Shari Lapena’s books, they choose me. I am under her spell, unable to resist, and She Didn’t See It Coming cast an enchantment that had me clicking the pages like my fingers were on fire.
What Lit My Mood
Bryden Frost has it all: a thriving career, a supportive husband, a daughter she adores, a loyal best friend, a loving family, and an apartment that practically drips with success. When Bryden vanishes, the mask cracks, secrets bubble up, and everyone around her becomes a suspect.
Shari Lapena is known for a few things: being a sorceress of suspense, writing utterly unputdownable stories, and crafting those irresistible “just one more chapter” reads. Now I can add another title to her magic, the queen of red herrings. And there are plenty here. Every character has secrets they’re desperate to hide, and I couldn’t rest until I knew them all.
Lapena lures us in with her usual blend of secrets and lies, but where she truly shines in this book is in the sheer number of suspects tied to Bryden’s so-called perfect life. Each one becomes its own red herring, keeping me on edge and second-guessing every turn.
Where My Mood Flickered
With so many red herrings and so much careful buildup, I was a little disappointed when the killer was finally unmasked. A few of those red herrings felt like they stretched a little too far. Still, the ending managed to satisfy me, and none of that could take away from the two brilliant characters who completely stole the show and that’s all I could think about.
Witchy Mood Reader Ratings
Absolute magic. Fully aligned with my mood. Couldn’t put it down.
Verdict
A must add to your altar and summon it anytime!!
The red herrings keep you guessing, but the two characters steal the story, and your sleep.
This was a buddy read with Lindsay!!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
What Lit My Mood
Bryden Frost has it all: a thriving career, a supportive husband, a daughter she adores, a loyal best friend, a loving family, and an apartment that practically drips with success. When Bryden vanishes, the mask cracks, secrets bubble up, and everyone around her becomes a suspect.
Shari Lapena is known for a few things: being a sorceress of suspense, writing utterly unputdownable stories, and crafting those irresistible “just one more chapter” reads. Now I can add another title to her magic, the queen of red herrings. And there are plenty here. Every character has secrets they’re desperate to hide, and I couldn’t rest until I knew them all.
Lapena lures us in with her usual blend of secrets and lies, but where she truly shines in this book is in the sheer number of suspects tied to Bryden’s so-called perfect life. Each one becomes its own red herring, keeping me on edge and second-guessing every turn.
Where My Mood Flickered
With so many red herrings and so much careful buildup, I was a little disappointed when the killer was finally unmasked. A few of those red herrings felt like they stretched a little too far. Still, the ending managed to satisfy me, and none of that could take away from the two brilliant characters who completely stole the show and that’s all I could think about.
Witchy Mood Reader Ratings
Absolute magic. Fully aligned with my mood. Couldn’t put it down.
Verdict
A must add to your altar and summon it anytime!!
The red herrings keep you guessing, but the two characters steal the story, and your sleep.
This was a buddy read with Lindsay!!
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley
September 9, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up.
Bryden and her husband Sam seem to have it all: a loving, stable marriage, an adorable young daughter, successful careers, and a luxury condo in an exclusive building. So when Bryden fails to pick up her daughter from daycare one day, all her possessions left behind at home and no signs of a struggle, detectives from the Albany Police Department fear the worst.
Enter Detective Jayne Salter, a refreshingly competent and effective investigator who quickly rules out the possibility of a random abduction. Instead, the circle of suspicion tightens around a number of people in Bryden’s immediate orbit. What unfolds is less a straightforward missing-persons case and more a locked-room-style psychological thriller, with a limited pool of shady suspects that kept me second-guessing until the very end.
Even once the mystery of Bryden’s disappearance is unraveled, author Shari Lapena keeps the tension high with clever misdirections and red herrings. The claustrophobic focus on a small suspect pool means everyone feels guilty at some point, which made for a compulsive, page-turning read.
I listened to the audiobook, which kept me happy and entertained on an otherwise miserable long run, so that alone warrants an appropriate rating in my opinion. Narrator January LoVoy is excellent as always and somehow managed to lend each character an individual and distinguishable voice while still expertly navigating the story as a whole.
Full of twists, a whole array of likely suspects, no shortage of dark secrets, and a story that never lets up, "She Never Saw It Coming" was captivating and often unexpected until the very last page. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already started hunting down Lapena’s backlist at my library.
Bryden and her husband Sam seem to have it all: a loving, stable marriage, an adorable young daughter, successful careers, and a luxury condo in an exclusive building. So when Bryden fails to pick up her daughter from daycare one day, all her possessions left behind at home and no signs of a struggle, detectives from the Albany Police Department fear the worst.
Enter Detective Jayne Salter, a refreshingly competent and effective investigator who quickly rules out the possibility of a random abduction. Instead, the circle of suspicion tightens around a number of people in Bryden’s immediate orbit. What unfolds is less a straightforward missing-persons case and more a locked-room-style psychological thriller, with a limited pool of shady suspects that kept me second-guessing until the very end.
Even once the mystery of Bryden’s disappearance is unraveled, author Shari Lapena keeps the tension high with clever misdirections and red herrings. The claustrophobic focus on a small suspect pool means everyone feels guilty at some point, which made for a compulsive, page-turning read.
I listened to the audiobook, which kept me happy and entertained on an otherwise miserable long run, so that alone warrants an appropriate rating in my opinion. Narrator January LoVoy is excellent as always and somehow managed to lend each character an individual and distinguishable voice while still expertly navigating the story as a whole.
Full of twists, a whole array of likely suspects, no shortage of dark secrets, and a story that never lets up, "She Never Saw It Coming" was captivating and often unexpected until the very last page. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve already started hunting down Lapena’s backlist at my library.
August 4, 2025
Usually I enjoy Shari Lapena’s books for a quick read. This one was quick, but the story was atrocious, the writing was juvenile, and the characters all felt flat.
Can someone please explain to me why Bryden’s mother was such a complete loon? Gosh the pearl clutching and overreacting was annoying. You immediately think your other daughter is on drugs? Because she is staying in her room doom scrolling online after her sister died. Lol. Really? And why did the author go out of her way to make it seem like if you’re interested in true crime you must be a mentally ill lunatic basement dweller? Hello? A domestic thriller novel is basically true crime adjacent… Also, I don’t understand why these parents (or at least the mother Donna, because the father barely existed as a character) are so shrill and frantic that their ADULT daughter wants to spend time alone after her sister died? The whole family dynamic felt weird and unrealistic. Also Bryden… really? What kind of a name is that.
There were also too many side characters in this story, who cares about the accused guy on the same floor? Why do I need to hear about his wife and her struggle to believe if her husband is innocent or guilty of his crime unrelated to this one (which was barely explored and felt tacked on). When the wife of the maybe rapist from the building, Tracy, was brought up again towards the end of the book, I had forgotten who she was. Why do I care about the clichéd “psychopath” Alice, and her lame tech bro husband? Are we really supposed to believe that there are two psychopaths in this story? Alice and her weak attempt to resemble a serial killer, and Paige, who was ultimately a psychopath trying to take the place of her best friend. I understand wanting to set up other potential suspects, but these characters needed to be fleshed out. They lacked substance, and felt one dimensional. If there are going to be 50 characters you need to make sure they are memorable.
The police and lawyers in this story were ridiculous. My lord. Has this author never spoken to a police officer, lawyer, or anyone involved in a criminal investigation in their life? Police do not act or speak like this…the police would not just forget to bring in a K-9 unit if it was needed, and they wouldn’t initiate a building wide man hunt for a missing adult woman 15 minutes after she went missing. The medical examiner wouldn’t be like oh ummm idk maybe this happened, *shrug* not sure though, maybe this.? Oh well…! Also, I am so sick of every story where people are interviewed by police making it seem like you are guilty or have something to hide when you ask for a lawyer during questioning. So irritating. Always have a lawyer people. But maybe not the lawyers in this story, who sat there like bumps on a log doing and saying nothing while their clients are being lambasted.
Because of the over abundance of characters, the weak character development, the cheap red herrings, and the general lack of understanding of police investigations, this story really fell flat. Things like the last minute secret drug addiction, the psycho “fatal attraction-esque” cheating best friend … snorefest…..too much nonsense not enough substance. Overall this story was irritating to read, despite being quick. I might think twice before reading another book by this author in the future.
Can someone please explain to me why Bryden’s mother was such a complete loon? Gosh the pearl clutching and overreacting was annoying. You immediately think your other daughter is on drugs? Because she is staying in her room doom scrolling online after her sister died. Lol. Really? And why did the author go out of her way to make it seem like if you’re interested in true crime you must be a mentally ill lunatic basement dweller? Hello? A domestic thriller novel is basically true crime adjacent… Also, I don’t understand why these parents (or at least the mother Donna, because the father barely existed as a character) are so shrill and frantic that their ADULT daughter wants to spend time alone after her sister died? The whole family dynamic felt weird and unrealistic. Also Bryden… really? What kind of a name is that.
There were also too many side characters in this story, who cares about the accused guy on the same floor? Why do I need to hear about his wife and her struggle to believe if her husband is innocent or guilty of his crime unrelated to this one (which was barely explored and felt tacked on). When the wife of the maybe rapist from the building, Tracy, was brought up again towards the end of the book, I had forgotten who she was. Why do I care about the clichéd “psychopath” Alice, and her lame tech bro husband? Are we really supposed to believe that there are two psychopaths in this story? Alice and her weak attempt to resemble a serial killer, and Paige, who was ultimately a psychopath trying to take the place of her best friend. I understand wanting to set up other potential suspects, but these characters needed to be fleshed out. They lacked substance, and felt one dimensional. If there are going to be 50 characters you need to make sure they are memorable.
The police and lawyers in this story were ridiculous. My lord. Has this author never spoken to a police officer, lawyer, or anyone involved in a criminal investigation in their life? Police do not act or speak like this…the police would not just forget to bring in a K-9 unit if it was needed, and they wouldn’t initiate a building wide man hunt for a missing adult woman 15 minutes after she went missing. The medical examiner wouldn’t be like oh ummm idk maybe this happened, *shrug* not sure though, maybe this.? Oh well…! Also, I am so sick of every story where people are interviewed by police making it seem like you are guilty or have something to hide when you ask for a lawyer during questioning. So irritating. Always have a lawyer people. But maybe not the lawyers in this story, who sat there like bumps on a log doing and saying nothing while their clients are being lambasted.
Because of the over abundance of characters, the weak character development, the cheap red herrings, and the general lack of understanding of police investigations, this story really fell flat. Things like the last minute secret drug addiction, the psycho “fatal attraction-esque” cheating best friend … snorefest…..too much nonsense not enough substance. Overall this story was irritating to read, despite being quick. I might think twice before reading another book by this author in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2025
Why is this rated so high? This is bottom of the barrel in the genre. Shari Lapena and Freida McFadden should become roommates so they can write shitty half assed “thrillers” together. “She Didn’t See It Coming and neither will you”. I beg to differ. This was basically a rewrite of “Everyone Here Is Lying” but with a dead body and instead of the husband beating his kid, he beat his wife.
July 1, 2025
Well... that was something I read... Right off the bat, the fact that the police goes in full searching/investigation mode when the woman has been missing for less 2 hours is unbelievable. If there had been some other clues that she was missing (like a room where a fight seems to have happened, a pool of blood or something, a suicide letter) other than she did noy pick up her daughter at daycare, maybe I would've bought it, but an adult won't be declared missing after less than 2 hours... I don't think even once did the detective entertain the idea that Bryden might've just up and left. Detectives always bring up that possibility, no matter how many times everyone in the "victim"'s entourage say she'd never do a think like that... Also, I find it very convenient (and by that, I mean overdone) that the CCTV system doesn't work in the garage. It's time for authors to find something else. When I read a Shari Lapina book, I expect a psychological, maybe a domestic thriller. This was a full on mystery/investigation. That was not what I was in the mood for so I was a bit let down. But further than that, there were too many characters that were way too detailed. And I felt like I was reading a first draft, something felt off the entire time and the story was a bit all over the place. On top of that, the ending was a dud, and very rushed and abrupt. I've read many fantastic reviews about this, so maybe it was just not for me. Or maybe if I went in with a different mindset when I was in the mood for a whodunit?
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 26, 2025
A superb domestic thriller that starts out as a missing person’s case but soon becomes a murder investigation. There are a host of possible suspects and each time you think you know who might have done it new evidence comes out that will change your mind. Detective Jayne Salter uses her instincts and intuition to get at the secrets that all of the main characters are hiding. Even after the murder was solved there were still a lot of secrets not addressed and there is an interesting last sentence from Detective Salter’s boyfriend who is a psychologist that leads me to believe this could be the start of a series.
August 25, 2025
Is there such a thing as a perfect marriage? Is what we see on the outside tell the real story of what was done on the inside behind those proverbial closed doors?
Bryden and Sam have the perfect marriage it seems until their secrets start to leak out under their closed door.
Bryden is missing and no one seems to know where she is. She disappeared without leaving a clue. Her sister, her best friend, her parents, her neighbor doesn't have an idea where Bryden has gone leaving her cell phone, purse, etc in her luxurious apartment she shares with Sam and Clara, their daughter.
Recently Bryden had a fender bender with quite an attractive man so the police are thinking that he just might be the "one". He and his wife are a tad shady but who knows as the finger of suspect fate seems to point to everyone in this well done twisty tale.
Everyone is hiding something and when Bryden is found the hunt increases and the secrets come spilling out.
An enjoyable whodunit that had me pointing fingers at just about all of the characters.
Bryden and Sam have the perfect marriage it seems until their secrets start to leak out under their closed door.
Bryden is missing and no one seems to know where she is. She disappeared without leaving a clue. Her sister, her best friend, her parents, her neighbor doesn't have an idea where Bryden has gone leaving her cell phone, purse, etc in her luxurious apartment she shares with Sam and Clara, their daughter.
Recently Bryden had a fender bender with quite an attractive man so the police are thinking that he just might be the "one". He and his wife are a tad shady but who knows as the finger of suspect fate seems to point to everyone in this well done twisty tale.
Everyone is hiding something and when Bryden is found the hunt increases and the secrets come spilling out.
An enjoyable whodunit that had me pointing fingers at just about all of the characters.
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