I Took Her First

by Samantha Hayes

A child is missing. But I stole her first…

I sit little Mila down at my kitchen table with a glass of milk and a plate of cookies. She smiles shyly at me and I reach out to ruffle her hair.

Leaving her alone for a moment, I dash upstairs, closing my eyes as I take a deep breath. What have I done?

Mila isn’t my child. I should never have taken her home. But what choice did I have?

Painting a smile on my face, I head back down to the kitchen.

But when I reach the table, my blood turns to ice. The back door is open, and Mila is gone.

I need to find her. I need help. But who’s going to believe anything I say when I’m the one who took her first…?

A seriously twisty, addictive psychological thriller that will keep you awake flipping pages all night long. Perfect for anyone who devoured The Housemaid, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

About the author

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!

My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!


If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:

https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU

I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.

Happy reading!

Samantha xx

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ not sure, UK probably
Publication date ~ November 3, 2025
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 360 (p+ 62 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 23 minutes
Narrators ~ Sarah Durham, Harrie Dobby
POV ~ dual 1st, present tense & before chapters in the 3rd
Featuring ~ missing child, references to infertility and miscarriage, flashbacks, unreliable narrator

Hannah doesn't always make the best choices, with the first being her taking a child home from school when she wasn’t picked up on time. But then that child goes missing from her house and she’s off to the cops to report it, and essentially herself. The cops already know who Hannah is since she recently reported her husband, Rory, missing. Will the cops believe this is all a misunderstanding and she had the best intentions? She definitely gives off unreliable vibes.

Jodie (15) is Hannah's daughter and has got herself into a couple of scary situations. Ugh with these teens thinking they know what’s what, but I was happy how she handled herself when she needed to.

There are so many mysteries going on and I was intrigued by all of them. Some were obvious and some surprising. How they all intertwined worked well. Twists up the yang. Steadily paced with a few intense moments. I was very pleased with the ending.

Narration notes:
Thrilled there are 2, since it's a mother and daughter POV. Sarah did fine on her own, but man oh man, the tone for the men was not great. I don’t know what she was trying to do. If it was to make them sound uninterested in what she was saying then kudos for that. Harrie sounded age appropriate for a teenager.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Missing children, IVF, broken relationships, long-held secrets, and revenge combine to create a fast-paced twisted thriller that immediately pulled me in. Tensions are high as secrets are revealed in this rollercoaster ride of betrayal and deception. Sarah Durham and Harrie Dobby’s narration masterfully brings the characters to life adding intensity and emotion. Twisted, unpredictable, and entertaining describe this gripping story. The conclusion is chilling. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talking about all gas and no brakes! From the very beginning, referencing an incident from 24 years ago drew me in and I was immediately intrigued. How does the cat and mouse game end, when all of the key players are determined to get revenge. I mean the twists were nonstop and the level of deception had many many layers to unfold.

The super complex characters just added to the intensity. Hannah and Jodie completely stressed me out! Especially Jodie, she took the phrase bratty teenagers to new heights, which ultimately lead her to being in multiple dangerous situations.

Sarah Durham & Harrie Dobby did an amazing job with the narration in the audiobook. They both had the perfect tones to bring life to these characters. Especially in those tension filled moments!

Overall, a solid fast paced read, that I have no doubt fans of domestic thrillers would enjoy. I will definitely be digging more into Samantha Hayes catalogue & reading more of her work. Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an ALC & eARC.

Publication 🗓️ : 11.03.25

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

This thriller jumps straight into the action with fast-paced drama and tension from the very first chapter! It’s packed with twists and turns that keep the momentum going, and while there are several subplots to juggle, the constant intrigue makes for an engaging ride.

There are a few over-the-top moments that require a bit of suspended disbelief, but the main plot and character development create a strong core to anchor the story. Even though I didn’t fully connect with the characters, I remained invested—and just when I thought I had things figured out, the final twist completely shocked me! Even better, the audiobook narrators intensified the experience while keeping the POVs straight with their distinct, superb voices.

Overall, this is an exciting and entertaining thriller that keeps you hooked, delivers some great surprises, and makes for a compelling but quick listen!

** I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mother fails to show up for her 5-year-old daughter's afternoon school pick-up.

The daughter's teacher takes her home, only to have the little girl disappear from the teacher's kitchen.

What happened to the 5-year-old little girl?

Then the teacher's own daughter disappears.

What happened to the teacher's daughter?

Despite an intriguing premise and an explosive start, the book's execution fell short.

Emotional beats—particularly surrounding grief, infertility, divorce, and guilt—were handled unevenly and waaaay too melodramatically, interfering with the book's suspense element.

In addition, many of the twists felt forced, requiring a high suspension of disbelief.

I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Sarah Durham and Harrie Dobby.

Since the book unfolded from two POVs, the two narrators' outstanding performances significantly elevated the listening experience.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes. This is my third book by this author, and I have enjoyed each one. This one was fast paced and full of action. You never know what's coming next. So many twists! It was exciting and very entertaining. so very many sub-plots too. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I gave it a 4 star rating

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

Well, if this has been done before. I haven’t read it, kudos to the author for bringing me exactly what I’m always banging on about for a Donestic thriller, something a bit different.

Fast paced, rammed with twists and turns, suspended belief at times, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Solid character building, plot and storyline.

Fantastic narration.
Huge thanks to Bookouture audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Cydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

What? LOL

I Took Her First requires such a suspension of belief it's almost ridiculous, but I had fun! It's a fast-paced popcorn thriller that's predictable but messy and entertaining at every turn. The core of the story here is boy moms™️ need to be stopped and deprogrammed before it's too late for everyone else because OMG. I think Hayes did a good job unfolding the mystery because she believably leads the reader down one path and a very subtle detail was what clued me into what was actually going on. Some of the twists were twisted to the point of being nonsensical, and I think the villain here needed to be more believable in how they were executed because as it stands, they became an almost caricature-like depiction of a bad person, and they hurt the people they cared about for reasons that ultimately didn't make the most sense.

Also, a child was fully being neglected/abused here and it's never named that. Very yucky.

The narrator was excellent and did a wonderful job bringing the emotions and various characters to life!

Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

3 ⭐️

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favourite author whose books I never fail to enjoy,always very different and poignant

This story starts with the bizarre kidnapping of a kidnapped child,although kidnapping a strong word the child was still taken without anyone knowing and then kidnapped from where she was being ‘looked after’..the problem is no one will believe Hannah,lets face it it does sound a wild story…..and even stranger when the Police agree to do a welfare check and the child is found safe where she should be,

We then throughout the book and with various twists turns and more twists begin to find out what is happening and who is doing what but not until the end do we find out the whole sordid truth

At times I did have to take a second and think who was who and why but that’s no bad thing,I wanted to make sure I had got the characters and what they were up to correct

Really well written as always and different enough to get you thinking……all is never quite as it seems…..

[Nafisa]

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC. Excited to read this 🙂‍↕️

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh twisty, never saw that coming. Fantastic fantastic book. The ending was priceless I loved every bit of this book. Perfectly written with fabulous characters

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Samantha Hayes delivered an entertaining and twisted read! I liked the dramatic setup and how quickly the story pulled me into the mystery.

I Took Her First was about a woman who spotted a little girl alone in danger and made a split-second decision to take her home. The woman thought she was saving her. But minutes later the girl vanished from her kitchen, and she’s suddenly caught up in a frantic search for the child while hiding the fact that she “took her first.” The story unraveled the secrets linking them both and what really happened that night.

The story opened with a tense, gripping premise that drew me in right away. I enjoyed the twists and the steady sense of danger throughout, and the short chapters paired with the fast pace kept me eager to see how it all played out. On the downside, a few twists felt a bit far-fetched, and some of the supporting characters could have been more developed, which made it harder to fully connect with them. The pacing also dipped in the middle, dulling the tension during moments that should have felt more intense. Still, despite these critiques, I’d be happy to pick up more of Samantha Hayes’ books.

A big thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for an ARC in return for my opinion.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW - Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

WOW!!! If you're looking for a book that will have you questioning everything right up until the very last chapter, then this is the book!
The blurb instantly drew me in with the idea of a woman who takes a child home that isn’t hers, thinking she’s doing the right thing, only for that child to suddenly disappear. I listened to this one on audio and it was phenomenal. The narrator captured every bit of fear, confusion, and guilt so perfectly that I could feel the main character’s panic when she realised Mila was gone and the back door was open.
I’ve read a lot of thrillers, but this one honestly stands out as a favourite. I loved the dual timelines and how the flashbacks to the past slowly revealed what really happened and why. Every chapter added another piece to the puzzle, and just when I thought I had it figured out, everything shifted again.
The emotional layers and moral questions kept me thinking long after I finished. The ending left me completely stunned and genuinely impressed with how cleverly it all came together.
If you love twisty, emotional psychological thrillers that keep you hooked from start to finish, especially on audio, I Took Her First is an absolute must-listen!

[the arcane pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I Took Her First had an intriguing premise - a woman taking a child home, thinking she was doing the right thing, only for the child to vanish minutes later. I enjoyed the dual timelines and the way the flashbacks gradually revealed key details.

Hannah is a sympathetic protagonist, and I felt for her as she tried to navigate both the frantic search and the uncertainty of who to trust. The moral questions and emotional layers added some depth, and the fast-paced chapters kept me engaged for the most part.

However, despite these strengths, I struggled with a few elements. Some twists felt far-fetched, and the supporting characters could have been more fully developed, which made it harder to connect with them. I also though the previously fast pace dipped in the middle.

Overall, I found I Took Her First to be an entertaining read with some clever moments, but it fell short of being truly memorable. I would recommend it to fans of very twisty psychological thrillers.

Happy reading x

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I Took Her First is the latest psychological thriller by Samantha Hayes.
An opening chapter about a curious abduction sets the tone for the rest of the story.
Hannah arrives home with Mila, a child from preschool where she works.
She knows this is wrong but feels sorry for Mila who is left alone.
While upstairs grabbing something Mila is taken.
This sets off a chain of events that create havoc among those involved.
A slow burn domestic suburban drama full of secrets.
Samantha is usually a go to thriller writer unfortunately it’s not one of my favs.
It’s good and worth a read but I didn’t love it.
Took me awhile to get into the melodrama and I found the last 100 pages was the most interesting.
Overall it’s worth a gander and I do look forward to the next book by this author.

[Mel(issa) Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and the author for the ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review 🎧

The way my jaw was on the literal floor for the last twist I was in absolute shock and I giggled maniacally for like 5 minutes after!! This book was a good quick listen, the narrators were clear and concise and embodied their roles. With that said it this would be a take it or leave it for me, it had some predictable twists and a little cheesiness here and there. But it was a quick listen had all the checks of a good domestic thriller so I would say if your looking for something to get you out of a slump this would be a good one to pick up!

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine this: there’s a young child in the neighborhood, and you feel you have no other choice than to take them into your home—with the best intentions, of course. But then imagine what it would do to you when, just a few minutes later, the child seems to have vanished. Would you go to the police and report it, or would you hope no one saw what you did?

This is the situation Hannah finds herself in. Although she fears the consequences, she gathers her courage and reports it to the police. Unfortunately, they don’t seem particularly interested in her story—because to them, that’s all it is, just a story.

I felt a lot of compassion for Hannah. It’s crystal clear that someone is playing with her sanity, and after a while, even she doesn’t know whether she imagined everything. But she keeps fighting for what she believes in.

Meanwhile, we also get a detailed account of what happened in her past, and little by little, it becomes clear that there must be a connection somewhere. The question is—what connection?

Hannah does her best, but her efforts are not appreciated by the people who should be supporting her unconditionally. Still, she doesn’t give up, determined to dig all the way to the bottom. And honestly, there is a lot waiting at the bottom of that well…

It feels as though some twists even have twists of their own, and you’re constantly thrown from one surprise into the next. Brilliant! These are exactly the kinds of books I love to devour.

And then, just when you think all the secrets have been uncovered, the author delivers a stunning final chapter. I absolutely did not see this coming, and it felt like a giant cherry on top of a very delicious cake.

I enjoyed every single twist, and for that, this book deserves 5 stars.

Thank you

[Kristy Chown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller was such a surprise — it didn’t follow any of the usual tropes or plotlines I’ve read before. I listened to the audiobook over a few days and really liked the pacing and how the story unfolded.

Usually with thrillers, I can figure out what’s going on pretty early, but not this time. The dual timeline between Hannah’s past and the present-day mystery of a missing child kept me totally hooked and guessing right until the end.

What I also loved was how layered the story felt — it touched on so many emotional themes like fertility struggles, loss, complicated family relationships, and what it means to move forward after heartbreak.

If you’re looking for a thriller that’s emotional, unpredictable, and keeps you on your toes, I’d definitely recommend this one.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

Someone stole her from me...but I stole her first...

When a mother fails to collect her 5 year old daughter from school one afternoon, school teacher Hannah Marlowe takes it upon herself to take the child home to safety. But within moments of arriving and Hannah leaving the room, little Mila is taken - again. And this time, no one knows where she has gone.

Hannah reports the disappearance to the police who wearily sigh at having to deal with the distraught woman once again. Because this is not the first time Hannah has fronted up to police to report suspicious goings on or the disappearance of her husband Rory. From disturbances to missing items to a suspicious car parked out front of her house to a husband who appears to have walked out on her, the police take what Hannah says with a very fine grain of salt. But Hannah is certain someone has taken Mila. The question is...who?

Then strange things begin happening to Hannah. Her car mysteriously picked up from the mechanics by a stranger claiming to have her permission. A dress collected from the dry cleaners who had the corresponding ticket. Items moved around her house, the scent of cigarette smoke when neither her nor her 15 year old daughter Jodie smoke. And a suspicious van parked out the front of her house and the school where she works that drives off as soon as she tries to approach it. Who is doing these things? And why?

And then her daughter disappears.

Suddenly Hannah is searching for Jodie and little Mila when no one appears to be concerned about their disappearances. Least of all the police. Until they arrive to arrest Hannah for the abduction of little Mila. Yes, she took her first but someone else took her again and that someone is the one the police should be looking for! Added to that, Hannah has a secret or two from her past that she would much prefer to remain buried.

And then Jodie's father turns up - after 15 years of radio silence. But with all that is happening, Hannah isn't sure who to trust anymore.

OK, so the premise was intriguing and the prologue was explosive. But then...what followed for the first half of the book was a confusing mess that was tangled beyond redemption. I was thoroughly confused and found trying to get my head around all the tangled pieces difficult to make any sense of and, while they did make some sort of sense in the end, the execution of it all fell short and was difficult to maintain interest in what was happening. It took me two weeks to read this when it should have taken no more than two days. I kept putting off going back to it because I felt it just too confusing and the twists that came felt forced. As most of the loose ends were tied up by the book's end, there were a few unanswered questions that I felt were inadequately explained. Like Fleur's abduction was a twist that felt way forced and its explanation was slightly tenuous to say the least. Though when things began coming together, it wasn't hard to work out what had happened.

BUT, having said that, I loved the ending. That was just way too good! Nice touch that saved what was unfortunately a long and drawn out confusing read that could have been made shorter. I love Samantha Hayes' thrillers and was excited to dive into this one but having just gone through major surgery myself, I found it difficult to concentrate on complex tales which may have hindered my perception of this one. It took me two weeks to wade through the first 35% of the book and the rest I devoured in a matter or hours. So it could well have been my inability to focus on complex tales that drew this one up short.

This is a hard one to rate and review because I do think my recovery hindered my perception so therefore it wouldn't be a totally accurate one. Especially given the fact I devoured the most half in a matter of hours and totally relished that explosive ending. I'll give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 as I feel I probably would have enjoyed it more had it not been for my recovery.

I would like to thank #SamanthaHayes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #IStoleHerFirst in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Took Her First by Samantha Hayes and narrated by Sarah Durham and Harrie Dobby Hannah has recently been left by her husband Rory, and the only father 15 year-old Jody ever knew. Hannah is at work on a Friday when once again she sees little Mila a child in her art class again being lasted leave she decides to bring her home and it is when they get there and she goes upstairs for a second and comes back that she sees Mila is gone. regardless of her getting in trouble she goes to the police station to tell them someone took little Mila but due to previous encounters with Hannah they treat her as if she is a head case and not someone seriously reporting a child being kidnapped. Her 15 year-old daughter Jody who doesn’t have many friends and is usually found in her room gaming has met a guy named shadow who turns out to be her long lost deadbeat dad Lewis and as soon as Louis shows up Jody goes missing also. Now there are many things that happen in between Mila going missing and Jody in the all twisty and original storytelling. I really like this authors books but I do fine her characters especially in this book make some of the most outlandish decisions ever when Jody gets blackmailed into doing something illegal because she got caught by two criminals hanging around an empty warehouse they tell her not to come back “or finger across the throat” else. Ohno when she runs away from home that’s exactly where she goes. That is just one example but I don’t want to bogg you down with negative things because this really is a twisty fun for those who don’t mind suspending belief to hear a really great story then you will definitely love this one. I always try to read the Kindle and listen to the audio but I found myself returning to the audio way more than the kindle version but then again I absolutely love these narrators especially sarah Durham. my review doesn’t even cover 1/10 of the storyline because Hannah has something she has been haunted by from her past her first real love and yet another missing child stolen embryos and so much more. There’s really no way to give a good summary and cover all the main points because there’s just too much this really is a pretty good book a lot of reviewers said Hannah and Jody were boring and although I didn’t find that I still only found them OK. If you’re looking for a thriller that will grab your attention then definitely check this out. #NetGalley, #BookoutureAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#SamanthaHayes, #ITookHerFirst,

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC.

I always find listening to books quite a different experience to reading them. This one’s a short listen — which is a bit of a shame. The opening pace is glacial, but the final acts hurtle by at rollercoaster speed. A little more time to breathe and reflect with the characters wouldn’t have gone amiss.

I’ve gone with 3.5 stars for the story, but the narration is a solid 5 stars – really well done.

It’s one of those stories that ambles along for 75% of its length and then explodes in the final stretch. Just when you think there can’t possibly be another twist, another one appears to test your suspension of disbelief. I’ll admit, I’d worked out most of them ahead of time, though the final page did manage to catch me off guard — and earned that extra half star. Some of the coincidences, however, did stretch things a little too far.

As for Hannah, our protagonist — we’re clearly meant to sympathise, and I mostly did, though she makes some daft choices. At the end of the day, however innocent the reasoning, Hannah did take somebody else’s child from school. It’s hard to believe anyone with their sanity intact would ride roughshod over safeguarding like that. It’s a storyteller’s prerogative, of course, to blur those truths for dramatic effect — but it did pull me out of the story a little.

Revenge and retribution seem to sit at the heart of the plot, and one of the antagonists left me conflicted: her actions were indefensible, but the trauma behind them was considerable. The police don’t come off terribly well — plenty of crimes seem to slip through the net — and I found myself wanting a few more perspectives. We get Hannah and her daughter Jodie, but glimpses from Natalie or Rory might have added depth at key moments.

Not flawless, but intriguing enough that I’d happily listen to more from Samantha Hayes.

[The Chapter Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Took Her First was a quick, twisty, and addictive domestic thriller that kept me guessing right up to the final reveal! Hannah has a LOT on her plate—her husband Rory has vanished without explanation, her teenage daughter Jodie is acting out in every possible way, strange incidents keep happening (like someone mysteriously picking up her car from the mechanic before she even arrives!), and heartbreaking infertility struggles weigh heavily on her every day. Then things spiral even further when Mila, a young girl from the after-school art club, is left behind—and Hannah does the responsible thing by taking her home—only for Mila to be taken from Hannah’s kitchen moments later.

On top of everything, Hannah still carries a devastating trauma from 24 years earlier when the baby she was babysitting—her friend’s daughter—disappeared and was never found. This past tragedy is woven through the narrative in gripping flashback chapters.

Told through dual POVs—Hannah and Jodie—along with chilling snippets from that night long ago, this story is fueled by secrets, lies, long-planned revenge, and the terrifying fear that history might be repeating itself. Samantha Hayes delivers tension and emotional complexity in equal measure, and the final twist was totally unpredictable in the best way.

If you love domestic thrillers where every character has something to hide, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! what a rollercoaster!
​The tension begins immediately as we meet a distraught Hannah, mother to 15-year-old Jodie, whose attempt to help a pupil backfires horrifically when the little girl vanishes from her kitchen. With the police offering no support, Hannah is forced into a terrifying search. Every mysterious event in Hannah's life is more confusing than the last.
​This is, quite simply, one of the most twisty, books you’ll ever read.
Its multi-layered characters and relentless shocks ensure you can’t predict what’s coming next.
As Hannah's dark past begins to catch up with her, the reader is left questioning everything. I devoured this novel in a single sitting, and the surprises kept on coming until an explosive, head-spinning ending that turned the entire narrative on its head.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my own opinion.

[Winter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to both narrators. The narration definitely made it easier to finish the book.

At first, I was hooked and wanted to know the answers to the mysteries and what was going on. I thought it was going to be some unreliable narrator with a creepy past mystery. Unfortunately, it wasn't the direction the book took. I didn't really like the characters and some things I couldn't get on board with like making a deadbeat father that was gone for fifteen years some sort of hero. While the first half of the book was entertaining I didn't like how everything came together.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

[Camilla Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

This book was actually so good, it jumped right into the plot and you’re literally thinking what is happening up (the good kind haha) up until the very end. I made a few guesses but I never would have thought the plot would have gone where it had gone!! Essentially the main character takes a child from one of her classes and she turns herself in saying that someone took her from her own kitchen. She had apparently gone to police several times so you’re left wondering if she did something evil or if she’s just a nut like what the police were thinking. I loved the POV from her and her own daughter too! The ending was also such a big plot twist like Frieda McFadden level, I really enjoyed it!!

[Kim Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book completely blew me away! I was hooked from the start, and I couldn't stop listening. The twists just kept coming, and when I thought I had figured it out, there another shocking twist. I loved the mix of tension, emotion and that eerie feeling of not know who to trust. It is fast-paced, addictive and totally unputdownable! Absolutely one of my favorite thrillers this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

This was just what I want from a thriller.

Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Twisty
✅Well written
✅Lots of baddies to hate on

Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕I really hate when teenagers in thrillers literally never listen to their parents and end up in huge trouble/ danger.

[Claudia Aikman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. There is ALOT going on. It was a little difficult to follow at times but not bad. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators are great. It definitely made it more enjoyable. I will read more from the author for sure. Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When young Mila is taken from Hannah's home, Hannah rushes to report the missing child to the police. However, this abduction is even more complicated because Mila isn't actually Hannah's child.. She took her first.

I think Samantha Hayes is one of those underrated authors that is excellent at rating a simple, fast-paced thriller full of twists. There are times the twists are a little over the top, but I have never been disappointed by anyone of her books. This one was no different. I was on my toes from start to finish, and honestly just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist was coming. The plot was so unique; I kept going back and forth on what the final explanation would be and was convinced I had it figured out, but I did not. I loved the ending as well, I thought it wrapped up perfectly.

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

A thriller that winds you up slowly and then refuses to let you breathe — in the best way.

This was a twisting, entertaining ride!!
Another thriller that gripped me from start to finish. It has that slow-burn setup where you can feel the tension building, and once it hits its stride, it absolutely takes off — twist after twist, revelation after revelation.

Full transparency: I usually spot twists in thrillers, and this one was no exception — but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I only figured out the first big reveal a few pages before it happened, and it was still a doozy. That moment was such a fun payoff and kept me glued through the end.

I also listened to the audiobook, and I’ve been really enjoying the thriller lineup from Bookouture Audio lately. Sarah Durham and Harrie Dobby delivered solid performances with strong pacing and tone. While Durham narrates most of the book, I appreciated the vocal shift for the male POV chapters — it gave the story a great rhythm and added depth.

I will say: the FMC does something objectively awful right out the gate — even if she thinks she means well — so she’s not the easiest to warm up to. But by the end, I was firmly rooting for her and fully invested in her outcome.

I’m absolutely looking forward to reading more from this author — this was a wild, engaging ride that scratched the thriller itch perfectly.

For thriller fans who love slow-burn tension, messy choices, and twists that deliver.

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.