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The Unforeseen
Not yet published
Expected 15 Apr 26Some fears should be ignored. Others can’t be.
Lara has spent years trying to outrun her past, and experience has taught her to recognise danger. So when she becomes convinced her sister Hannah’s life is at risk, she knows she can’t ignore it. The sisters are about to reunite at a remote cottage for their mother’s fiftieth birthday, and Lara is certain something terrible is coming.
But Lara’s deepening anxieties only reawaken old tensions. With her young daughter watching on, she must navigate a maze of past trauma and doubts. And when relationships between the cottage guests begin to unravel, the sisters discover that some threats are all too real.
As autumn leaves fall and shadows lengthen, the line between protection and destruction begins to blur. Can Lara save her sister without destroying everything—and everyone—she loves?
Lara has spent years trying to outrun her past, and experience has taught her to recognise danger. So when she becomes convinced her sister Hannah’s life is at risk, she knows she can’t ignore it. The sisters are about to reunite at a remote cottage for their mother’s fiftieth birthday, and Lara is certain something terrible is coming.
But Lara’s deepening anxieties only reawaken old tensions. With her young daughter watching on, she must navigate a maze of past trauma and doubts. And when relationships between the cottage guests begin to unravel, the sisters discover that some threats are all too real.
As autumn leaves fall and shadows lengthen, the line between protection and destruction begins to blur. Can Lara save her sister without destroying everything—and everyone—she loves?
379 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 15, 2026
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 11, 2026
The Unforseen is a fast paced psychological thriller throwing you into not only mysterious back stories of the characters, but also difficult family dynamics and relationships. The first chapter throws you right into Lara’s emotional turmoil, sucking you in despite missing so many pieces of the puzzle.
I found the author did a great job of showing how family dynamics look different depending on who’s telling the story. Each character did have their own clear ideas of the how and why the family relationships came to be.
I did find the characters and their backstories to not be as cohesive as I’d like. Some things seemed random and a bit forced for the plot (i.e Lara freaking out about taking pictures of her daughter when she’s old enough that you’d think this would have already been talked about between family members). There were also some points that fell flat due to some phrasing and grammatical errors (i.e The detail’s in the devil). Lastly, sometimes the chapters were so short it seemed they just covered the same fears and concerns characters had instead of moving the book forward.
Overall, the book is a solid 3/5 with an interesting plot and story that are fun to follow. The twist at the end was great and I didn’t see it coming. The book is just missing the clean and final touches that make it a smooth read.
I found the author did a great job of showing how family dynamics look different depending on who’s telling the story. Each character did have their own clear ideas of the how and why the family relationships came to be.
I did find the characters and their backstories to not be as cohesive as I’d like. Some things seemed random and a bit forced for the plot (i.e Lara freaking out about taking pictures of her daughter when she’s old enough that you’d think this would have already been talked about between family members). There were also some points that fell flat due to some phrasing and grammatical errors (i.e The detail’s in the devil). Lastly, sometimes the chapters were so short it seemed they just covered the same fears and concerns characters had instead of moving the book forward.
Overall, the book is a solid 3/5 with an interesting plot and story that are fun to follow. The twist at the end was great and I didn’t see it coming. The book is just missing the clean and final touches that make it a smooth read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Unforeseen by Claire Ackroyd
This was a psychological thriller with family drama and past traumas. It was a medium-paced story that made you keep wondering when or if something was going to happen.
The main characters are sisters Lara and Hannah and the story alternates chapters from both points of view. Lara is an anxious individual that has dreams that leave her concerned for her sister’s safety. The sisters have not been in contact with one another until now. They go for a getaway with their mother for her 50th birthday. Also on the getaway is her mother’s friend and son Max as well as his current girlfriend.
The story had me wondering when the dream was going to happen. And if Lara’s past would have an effect. There was family drama and secrets that made you wonder which family member was the unhinged one.
At the end of the story, I had a suspicion that I was correct on. Don’t want to spoil it for you! You will have to read it for yourself. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I enjoyed the writing style and relatable anxiety and family drama. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in return for reading and review of #TheUnforeseen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The story takes place over 1 week with flashbacks to the long, and more recent, pasts scattered throughout. The narrative is split across the POV of both sisters, for the past as well as the present, and sometimes the point in time is presented from each viewpoint; I thought this made the story rather repetitive.
I felt as though the author could not decide whether to present a thriller or a fantasy / sci-fi story with frequent references to Hannah's visions and fears they inspired. The family / friends dynamics were realistic, along with the histories which led to this point but I thought other aspects of the novel were not, particularly Cassie's behaviours. Early references to people and events which might have been meant to build suspense were irritating as they remained unexplained for so long.
In all, I found the narrative style lacked suspense whilst making the story drag. I stuck with the book to the end, only to discover that the 'twist' was something I'd already guessed.
The story takes place over 1 week with flashbacks to the long, and more recent, pasts scattered throughout. The narrative is split across the POV of both sisters, for the past as well as the present, and sometimes the point in time is presented from each viewpoint; I thought this made the story rather repetitive.
I felt as though the author could not decide whether to present a thriller or a fantasy / sci-fi story with frequent references to Hannah's visions and fears they inspired. The family / friends dynamics were realistic, along with the histories which led to this point but I thought other aspects of the novel were not, particularly Cassie's behaviours. Early references to people and events which might have been meant to build suspense were irritating as they remained unexplained for so long.
In all, I found the narrative style lacked suspense whilst making the story drag. I stuck with the book to the end, only to discover that the 'twist' was something I'd already guessed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for sending me an advance review copy for my honest opinion.
Unfortunately this. was a DNF for me. I tried to stick with it for 100 pages but I was really struggling to connect with the characters. I didn’t like the way Hannah talked about Poppy’s struggle with her mental health and medication; the way she acted like Poppy’s struggle was an inconvenience. I know I DNF’ed and it might have gotten better, but it really irritated me to the point that I was no longer enjoying reading and had to put the book down for a bit.
I feel bad because I was given such a great opportunity to review an advanced copy. At the end of the day I read because I enjoy reading and this book was not letting me do that.
Unfortunately this. was a DNF for me. I tried to stick with it for 100 pages but I was really struggling to connect with the characters. I didn’t like the way Hannah talked about Poppy’s struggle with her mental health and medication; the way she acted like Poppy’s struggle was an inconvenience. I know I DNF’ed and it might have gotten better, but it really irritated me to the point that I was no longer enjoying reading and had to put the book down for a bit.
I feel bad because I was given such a great opportunity to review an advanced copy. At the end of the day I read because I enjoy reading and this book was not letting me do that.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
One of my favorite books of 2025/26 this 2nd book by Claire Ackroyd is as good as her 1st one, which was amazing.
Written from the viewpoint of 2 estranged sisters who get together again for their mother's 50th birthday, the tension ratchets up slowly but surely, until you cannot stop reading (even if your eyeballs are on the verge of popping out!) until the superb end.
This book blew my mind and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, books featuring flawed, but ultimately strong female characters, toxic relationships and an ending that makes your head spin.
One of my favorite books of 2025/26 this 2nd book by Claire Ackroyd is as good as her 1st one, which was amazing.
Written from the viewpoint of 2 estranged sisters who get together again for their mother's 50th birthday, the tension ratchets up slowly but surely, until you cannot stop reading (even if your eyeballs are on the verge of popping out!) until the superb end.
This book blew my mind and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, books featuring flawed, but ultimately strong female characters, toxic relationships and an ending that makes your head spin.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Claire Ackroyd’s The Unforeseen is a solid psychological thriller that nails atmosphere but stumbles on execution. The remote cottage setting creates a suitably claustrophobic vibe as Lara returns home to save her sister from a perceived threat, forcing old family traumas to the surface.
While the tension is high, the middle section drags, and some character motivations felt thin. It’s an engaging, quick read with a decent twist, but it lacks the depth needed to be truly memorable. Great for a weekend distraction, even if it doesn't quite reinvent the genre.
While the tension is high, the middle section drags, and some character motivations felt thin. It’s an engaging, quick read with a decent twist, but it lacks the depth needed to be truly memorable. Great for a weekend distraction, even if it doesn't quite reinvent the genre.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This family drama thriller kept me wanting to read page after page. I enjoyed the alternating POVs that allowed you to see the problems from different perspectives. I enjoyed Hannah’s perspective more than Lara’s. Sometimes in Lara’s perspectives it was hard to distinguish at first when she was talking about the past rather than the future. The twists at the end took me by surprise and really tied the story together very well. Thank you Net Galley for my advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinions and review:
This book isn't terrible, but connecting to and caring about the characters was a stretch for me. I strongly considered pushing through because the story is decent enough. However, I set it aside for a day and did not feel compelled to return to it, so it became clear this was a book I could place in the DNF pile without feeling like I was missing anything.
This book isn't terrible, but connecting to and caring about the characters was a stretch for me. I strongly considered pushing through because the story is decent enough. However, I set it aside for a day and did not feel compelled to return to it, so it became clear this was a book I could place in the DNF pile without feeling like I was missing anything.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews