Please Help Me

by Gytha Lodge

A child desperately needs your help. But you're at a family resort, and you have no idea which child it is... The irresistible new psychological thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of She Lies in Wait

A teenager at an idyllic Greek holiday resort is shocked to receive an anonymous message. It claims to be from a kidnapped girl, trapped with a family that’s pretending to be her own.

Detective Amanda Coton just happens to be at the resort on holiday. She’s in the perfect position to help lead the rescue.

But with no way to identify the sender, or to lock down the sprawling resort, one wrong move could see the real victim spirited away, and vanish for good.

And that’s without worrying that the kind of person who’d kidnap a girl wouldn’t hesitate to kill to get away with it…

Genres: Thriller, Summer, Mystery

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2026

About the author

Gytha Lodge is a multi-award-winning playwright, novelist and writer for video games and screen. She is also a single parent who blogs about the ridiculousness of bringing up a mega-nerd small boy.

She has a profound addiction to tea, crosswords and awful puns. When not writing, she heads up a copywriting team at a global translation firm, where she generally tries to keep all the video-game writing to herself.

She studied English at Cambridge, where she became known quite quickly for her brand of twisty, dark yet entertaining drama. She later took the Creative Writing MA at UEA.

She has signed with Penguin Random House worldwide for the first three books in her crime series featuring DCI Jonah Sheens. She Lies in Wait will be released in January 2019 and can be preordered in the US and the UK here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/She-Lies-Wai...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...

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Reviews

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANGER ALERT! BANGER ALERT!

My dear Gytha Lodge, I don’t know how you do it! Twisty, fast-paced, and riveting beyond all comprehension, Please Help Me was the best combination of a police procedural and destination thriller that I could ever imagine. With a fly-on-the-wall feel taken from all sides thanks to a handful of well-written POVs and edge-of-your-seat plotting that had me on tenterhooks throughout, this was the exact kind of novel that I’d expect from my favorite author of all time. Already a massive fan due to Lodge’s DCI Jonah Sheens series, she kicked it up a notch yet again with this brilliant standalone novel. Nail-bitingly tense, perfectly paced, and with über-high stakes, I had a difficult time pulling myself away from the action. After all, even once the adrenaline-fueled climax came to an end, it was hard to determine whether there could ever be a truly good result to this messy, heartbreaking, true-to-life yet wonderfully dramatic situation. A page-turning read from beginning to end, there wasn’t a moment of downtime as I raced through the vivid and evocative scenes of this flawless *chef’s kiss* read.

The perfect summer thriller for any reader out there, I can’t fully explain how much I treasured this addictive, unputdownable novel. I mean, not only did the clever, attention-grabbing premise promise great things, but it came through on every angle one hundred percent. Just like in Lodge’s other books, though, the characters were the stars of the show. With an ensemble cast full of personality that all came together to create moments that ranged from side-eye-inducing suspicion to outright hatred and terror, I fell in love with them all one by one. My absolute favorite, though, was easily Sadie. A believable teen—warts and all—she had me emotionally invested from the very first chapter. Then again, I was also a massive fan of Amanda. A competent detective with a compassionate side, the dash of romance only made this book better. Ultimately, however, it was how the whole thing came together that made this a standout read. So if you’re a fan of either Andrea Mara or Gillian McAllister, grab this one now. You won’t want to miss out on this highly original novel. Rating of 5+ stars.

P.S. By the way, my dear Gytha…please oh please tell me that there’s going to be a sequel. After that tear-jerking conclusion, I’m crossing my fingers and toes that there’s going to be more about these characters in the future. I don’t know about all of your other readers, but I need more time with that fantastic set of detectives!

Read if you also can’t get enough of:
- Amateur sleuthing
- Books impossible to put down
- Memorable characters
- Vacation-gone-wrong vibes
- Multiple POVs
- Highly original plotting
- Comedic banter
- Believable relationships
- A dash of romance
- Crime-slash-destination thrillers
- Distinct voices
- Atmospheric settings
- Über-high stakes
- An adrenaline-fueled climax
- Multiple suspects
- Abduction-based storylines

SYNOPSIS:

It looked like the perfect getaway. A luxury resort with endless pools, a gorgeous golden beach, and a kids' club that is every parent's dream.

But for Amanda, a British detective in desperate need of a break with her young son, it soon becomes clear this isn’t going to be a holiday.

A girl has been sending anonymous messages to a teenager at the resort. She says her real name is Lara, that she was kidnapped from the UK, and that the family she's with are her abductors.

But the resort is full of families. The kidnappers could be any of them. If the police guess wrong, Lara could be whisked away, and never see her real family again.

When every family seems to be hiding something, can Amanda find the truth—and Lara—before it’s too late?

Thank you Gytha Lodge and Michael Joseph Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: July 23, 2026

Content warning: abduction, drowning, medical content, violence, murder, mention of: infidelity, trafficking, death of a child

[Cynth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my days! This was absolutely brilliant! What a different and interesting premise, a cry for help via airdrop, a girl needs help. How can teenager Sadie help? I loved the character of Amanda and truly hope that it will become a series. The setting of Cyprus was brilliant and the storyline was so gripping and tense. I didn’t know who to trust. Absolutely brilliant!

[sarahisreadingagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

Please Help Me by @gythalodge 🏖️

A missing child hidden in plain sight…
 
Sadie is holidaying with her family in Cyprus when she receives an anonymous message via AirDrop to say a girl has been kidnapped and needs help.
 
Amanda is on holiday with her son, Otis, and bumps into her ex-colleague-and-lover, Zak, who is working undercover on a case that Amanda soon gets pulled in to.
 
Now begins the game of cat and mouse, but it may be easier finding a needle in a haystack…
 
Gytha Lodge has only gone and done it again! This was an intense sun-soaked thriller that I devoured in just a few sittings.
 
Please Help Me is told from the POVs of our MC’s, Sadie and Amanda, with a few chapters narrated by the missing girl. The differing POVs worked brilliantly and really held my attention throughout. Sadie isn’t your typical teenager, and I really felt for her at times – her parents heavily relied on her to look after, and basically parent, her younger brother, but this didn’t stop her drive and determination to help the missing girl.
 
I felt that Amanda was stuck between a rock and a hard place – all she wanted to do was enjoy her holiday with her son albeit battling with her intrusive thoughts, but the pull of Zak and the missing person case were always on her mind. Amanda and Zak made a great pair, adding some humour into an emotionally heavy plot really lifted my spirits. I hope this isn’t the last we see of them.
 
Please Help Me is peppered with red herrings, fantastic twists, and some shady characters who make you question the books direction. The ending played out like a movie in my mind, and I thought it was brilliantly executed – so much I forgot to breathe at one point! – and came to a very satisfying conclusion.
 
This is definitely the book for you if you like a high-stake psychological thriller that features police procedural elements. Maybe it’s one you can read around the pool on holiday, but just keep an eye out for those AirDrops!

Happy publication day, Gytha!

[Heather Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one, great summer Read

[Amanda C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, I love a thriller set abroad and I liked the contrast between people relaxing and enjoying their holiday and a potential crime taking place in the background.

The story really held my interest and I changed my mind a few times about who the missing girl would turn out to be. The final chapters were exciting and I flew through them to see how it would all end.

The only slight drawback is that I would have liked physical descriptions of Amanda and Sadie, as I couldn't picture the main characters.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it. 4.5 stars rounded up.

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great premise and I enjoyed Amanda as a character. I did feel it dragged a little but the ending was a nice surprise and wrapped up nicely. Great setting too!

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read. While on holiday with her son, Detective Amanda Coton is asked to assist with a case: that of an abducted child. The information has come from a child, Sadie, who heard a child asking for help.

For me, it started slowly, but then suddenly the author decided to ramp up the pacing. There are various sides to this story: Amanda's involvement, her relationship with her son, and one of her colleagues. There is that of a young girl who has overheard the claim, he involvement as well as her own life and that of friends she has met while on holiday. While this sounds quite complex, the author did keep things on the straight and narrow, so it is only really now I am aware of how complex this book was.

The story struggled to gain momentum initially for me, but this actually mirrors the way the investigation is going: gathering information, getting to know who may be involved, so there is a lot of groundwork to cover. But then, when things start to move, they definitely take off.

This is a mystery, crime and thriller story of abduction, deception, red herrings and if you are a fan of family-based crime drama stories, then this is one you may be interested in. I would be happy to recommend it.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me hooked from the beginning to the end. A fast-paced thriller that had me on the edge of my seat to the very end.
Sadie is on holiday in Cyprus with her family. She overhears another girl in a cubicle next to her, alluding to the fact that she has been abducted.
Amanda is on holiday with her son Otis. She bumps into Zak with whom she worked on a case with a year previously. Zak is working undercover and soon pulls Amanda in to help.
This was a very engaging read.
There were quite a few plot twists that keep you guessing. Definitely some shady characters.
The end game was as hot as the weather, tense, and gripping.
There is definitely some chemistry between Zak and Amanda, and I'm wondering if there will be another book where they will work together again. I certainly hope so.
Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph/Penguin Random House for the invitation to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a really big fan of Gytha Lodge's Jonah Sheens series, so when I heard that she was releasing a standalone thriller this summer I was all over it. I am such a great judge of books I scare myself sometimes ... Please Help Me is packed with suspense, tension, brilliant characters, and the kind of perfect holiday setting that makes the shocks at the heart of the story all the more, well, for want of a better word, shocking in their execution. This is the kind of story that gripped me in the beginning, leaving a myriad questions swirling in my mind, and help me fast to the fast paced, high jeopardy ending. In short, this book was totally up my street and I am kind of hoping that this is not really the last we have seen of Amanda Coton.

Imagine the scene. You are a teenager on holiday in Cyprus, minding your own business, just trying to soak up some sun and avoid babysitting duties for your younger brother when, all of a sudden, someone drops into your messages with the essence of the book's titular plea, 'I need your help'. A mysterious messenger claiming to be the victim if abduction, seeking help to return home. The only problem is that aforementioned teenager, Sadie, has no clue who has sent the message and no idea how to help. Cue a complex undercover police investigation, a pair of star-crossed ex-lovers and a whole host of questions over just who in this vast ensemble cast may be the as yet masked abductor/abductee combo. The only certainty we have in the whole book is that it isn't Sadie or her brother, Jacob, and it is not Detective Inspector Amanda Coton or her son either, who, by a strange quirk of fate find themselves in the same resort and caught up in this whirlwind of an operation.

Now, the story may turn your mind to certain high profile child abduction cases from years gone by, but there is only a passing link in that there is a child out there whose fate is unknown to their parents. This is a very different kind of case with a very different spin on it. We know there is a person out there claiming to be a victim but there is little to no evidence that this is the case. More than that, there is a certain element of potential misdirection in that the police think they know who the victim may be, but ultimately lack the evidence. I like the way in which Gytha Lodge explores the link between Sadie and the victim, and how the pressure of acting as a go-between to draw out the truth from the potential victim starts to weigh on her. It felt authentic, that blend between a teenage girls obsessions, her determination to do the right thing, but also the fear that she just made things worse. I liked Sadie. Felt for her at times, ubt mostly admired her bravery as she found herself in such an unenviable position. Yes, she is your typical, extremely well observed, teenager, but she is also kind and compassionate, especially towards her brother, even if she can't always show it.

Amanda is another great character, and I loved the mixture of her concern for her son, her desire to stay incognito as far as her career went, but also the intrinsic fascination towards the case and the compulsion to get involved. She is not infallible, and as the story progresses we learn she has made some suspect choices, personally and professionally, some of which look to repeat themselves on her vacation too. But ultimately she is very likeable and I loved the drive that the author instils in her character and th wealth of possibilities that open up from the way in which he particular story ends. Could there be an encore for Amanda? I hope so.

Now there are many other characters who make this the perfect ensemble cast, all the kinds of personalities, good and bad, irritating and joyous, that you might expect to find in an exclusive holiday resort. Flirtatious resort staff, charismatic policemen, and mor ethan the odd wealthy idiot you love to hate. But the question of who could be a child abductor and who is the scared victim is the question that really does underpins every interaction and that had me second guessing the actions, and the motives of every person at nearly every turn. That might sound exhausting, and in the hands of the wrong writer it might have been. But Gytha Lodge has pieced this together very carefully,a nd whilst my focus, and suspicion, may have been switching back and forth, the subtle clues were there and, if looking carefully, possible to spot, but not so early as to ruin the ending.

And what an ending it was. Pacy, high stakes and with the kind if unexpected shocks that has you practically holding your breath wondering if there could possibly ever be a positive outcome. And the answer to that is, I suppose, yes and no. Depends on your point of view. It was a very satisfying conclusion as a reader but then with this kind of case it's hard to imagine there is any such thing as a perfect resolution. If you like a police linked suspense thriller, set in a very sunny climate, with a broad and superbly drawn cast of chaotic and eclectic characters, with a pulse pounding ending, then this is heartily recommended.

[bookster · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Sarah Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review - Please Help Me by Gytha Lodge
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the perfect holiday read for this summer!

If you found out one of the children at your hotel was actually a missing child but you didn’t know which one - what would you do?

A missing child, a holiday resort, and so many potential suspects!

I loved how this was written, with chapters from a couple of different characters point of view, and the plot builds up on all the people involved and I think I suspected everyone at one point or another - I loved guessing and trying to work it out.
The twists and drama that unfold in final few chapters had me absolutely gripped!

Thoroughly enjoyed this and definitely need to grab the other titles by this author that are sat on my self to read soon.

Please Help me is Out now - pop it in suitcase!

Thank you @netgalley and @gythalodge for sending me this.

#review #bookstagram #bookreview #books bookrecommendations

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read,

Well what else would a detective do on holiday get caught up in a case and as another twist a past love intrest turns up. But no spoilers so..... This story is more about what happens when Sadie gets a message from an unknown girl that's she's living with a family that abducted her a while back from her real parents, and she needs help!

There is plenty of action for twists and if your into a whodunit then this is for you. Amanda the holidaying detective is being torn in many directions but definitely a hero of this novel, plus a character that wins hearts. Sadie a teenager who got the help me message is another hero and will tug your heart strings at times.

So lots of emotion and story definitely a 5 star read in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it a well.

[Barbara Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another up all nighter

I love this author, every book she has written has had me gripped to the point where sleep and housework has to wait. This is another belter, well.done Gytha, keep them coming

[Melanie Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense psychological thriller set in a holiday resort. Perfect summer read!

14 year old Sadie is on holiday with her parents and younger brother when she receives an airdropped message that says ‘I need your help’. The message is from someone claiming to be kidnap victim Lara who is here with her kidnappers posing as her parents.

Wow, what a great hook! This completely drew me in and I was invested straight away.

Sadie is a totally believable teenage girl who is split between helping Lara and also enjoying her holiday and looking cool in front of her crush.

The other main character in the book is Amanda, a single mum on holiday with her young son. As a detective she is drawn into the Police operation to find out who Lara is before she disappears again or before her kidnappers take another child.

The story has you questioning everyone before the reveal which is really well executed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy.

[readingismy_happy_place · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! That was definitely intense!! I really really enjoyed this one!
I loved the uniqueness the setting, the characters, the plot!
I adored Amanda and would definitely love to read more about her! Maybe a series of her finding missing children pretty please.
This had everything I love in a good crime thriller kept me guessing till the very end with some brilliant twists

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Oh my, Gytha Lodge - what an absolute cracker of a book! A go to author of mine and yet again she has not disappointed. A tense and utterly gripping read with a highly original and clever plot. Rich in Cypriot atmosphere with a sense of urgency as the story unfolds. Amanda and Zak were great characters who added some humour to the dark storyline aided by two quite delightful children in Sadie and Otis. I do hope that Gytha brings back these wonderful characters as the ending does leave it open. A twisty frantic pace in the latter stages really does make this gripping and addictive
An absolutely perfect 5 star read for the summer

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Help Me by Gytha Lodge is a psychological thriller with so many twists and turns. I found at times i couldn’t read fast enough to keep up with all that was happening. A definite edge of your seat, page turner book, if that is even a phrase.
Amanda is on holiday with her son, Otis in a luxury resort, with pools and a kids club but there is a kidnapped girl, also in the resort but no-one knows who she is and there are plenty of families on holiday.
Amanda is a police officer and she ends up assisting the other English policeman and the Greek authorities to find the missing girl. A really good storyline, some great characters and a really good read.
Highly recommended

[Dogeared · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down because parts just felt a little hard to believe. It’s told from the perspectives of Amanda who’s a detective, and Sadie who’s a 14 year old girl who receives an airdropped message from an abducted girl. Part of me couldn’t really identify with families going on holiday only to dump their kids in activity groups all day long, or Sadie’s parents being so oblivious to their kids that Sadie ends up keeping more of a supervisory look out for her little brother than the grown ups. And the whole finale where two 14 year olds head off in pursuit of the danger and no one seems to have a problem with this…

There were some decent elements throughout, but overall I found it a bit implausible and that sadly spoiled it somewhat for me. Plenty of others have rated this 4 or 5 stars though, so I’m happy if I’m in the minority and others enjoy it more!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Saffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed some of the author’s previous novels and the premise of Please Help Me was good. Teenager Sadie is on an all inclusive holiday in Cyprus with her parents and younger brother when she receives an air drop message from a teenager asking for her help. Amanda is at the same holiday resort with her son and is soon drawn into the case when the police are alerted and she encounters her ex colleague Zak.

The story is told from the perspectives of Sadie and Amanda and initially started off well. I was intrigued by who was sending the messages to Sadie and loved the character of Amanda. I liked the dynamics between Amanda and Zak and Amanda’s son Otis is a strong and likeable character. I found Sadie’s perspective less interesting and found her family frustrating.

Initially the hunt for the mystery teenager was intriguing but the plot became a little repetitive and increasingly ridiculous. I also found the characterisation of the families under suspicion was weak. However this is a fast paced thriller so if you’re looking for a destination thriller that’s a little different this will keep you hooked. I’d love to see Amanda return in future novels.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC
3.5 stars.

[Sam “My Cosy Book Nook” · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've written before about how, even if you really want to enjoy something, it's a lot harder if your own physical or mental state hampers you from doing so. It's difficult, for instance, to get the best out of a Gillian McAllister novel if you're not feeling quite well enough to devote the concentration necessary to pick up on all of the fine and very clever details. It's pretty damn near impossible to enjoy anything on television if you're feeling stressed to the point where you can't bear to hear anyone else's voice.

However, I don't think that this is a point that I can exemplify any more strongly than now, having just finished reading Please Help Me by Gytha Lodge. Which I shall shortly explain.

Before I get to this, though, pause for a minute and look at that cover, which manages to be instantly eye-catching and then almost as instantly intriguing. Then read the blurb, which hopefully will hook you as strongly as it did me. I hope that helps you understand why I was so keen to start reading it, and why I so wanted to love it.

The problem was that I started reading it a couple of days before the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. To summarise this event as briefly as I can, it's every crime fiction reader's dream and if you're a fan of this genre at all and you haven't been, you must remedy that next year. It does mean though that reading existing books is something that simply doesn't happen for four full days; there just isn't the time to spare between events, book browsing and signings, catch-ups and first-time meets in the beer tent and sampling of the best that the festival's primary sponsor, Theakston's brewery, has to offer.

With that completed, and a day or two spent catching up on some much-needed sleep, I was ready to pick the book back up again. However, by this time I'd somehow managed to give myself tendinitis from picking something up off the floor under my desk at work, and as a result my attention was somewhat distracted from the book by my being in - and I'm sorry, but I can't think of another way to emphasise it enough - so much f******* pain.

It's therefore entirely possible that I'm judging the first half of the book unfairly. I did feel though that, whilst the main character of Sadie and her relationship with her parents and younger brother were nicely-portrayed, and that the chapters in which she featured were well-paced, it seemed overall to be a bit draggy and disjointed. There's not a lot of physical description, which meant that I couldn't see the setting of the Cypriot holiday resort in my mind as clearly as I'd have liked, and also occasionally left me struggling to differentiate between what is quite a large number of characters.

I rather felt the same way about the complicated, baggage-ridden relationship between DI Amanda Coton - on the scene for a much-needed holiday with her young son, but unable to refuse a request to involve herself professionally in the case of a suspected abducted young girl - and her colleague Zak. Its portrayal is both plausible and sensitive. But at the same time, I wondered where Gytha Lodge was trying to go with it, and wondering, really, if I would care either way.

However ...

This morning, with some prescription-strength anti-inflammatory tables finally starting to do their thing, I devoured the second half of the book in a single sitting. And, holy moly, I loved it.

My attention was instantly grabbed and hooked as, through the eyes of one character, I started to fear for the life of another. And as our stress levels increased, both the character's and my thoughts became increasingly frantic as we wondered just who else might be in danger.

Not so frantic, however, that I didn't notice just how cleverly written this book is, as well as emotionally tense. The plot, far from being as complicated or as disjointed as I had initially felt it to be, makes perfect sense by the finish. I realised just how important the setting was to the storyline, just how inspirational the choosing of a teenage girl and an adult mother of a young child as the main characters had been and just how wonderfully, and realistically conveyed their thoughts and behaviours were.

If I have a criticism of the ending, it's that I thought the final two chapters might - just might - have been better presented the opposite way round, in order that the typically forgotten character is remembered after the more expected - though still beautiful - ending, rather than before. But this is only the very tiniest of quibbles.

Overall though, I'm faced with a problem. Because I genuinely don't know whether the issue is that the book takes a little too long to find its stride, or whether it's me that's made the difference. Yes, I could go back and read the early chapters again but that's still not the same as reading them for the first time, without knowing what is about to follow.

I'm therefore settling on a 4-star rating for now. But I'm going to take the unusual step of asking other reviewers to give me a steer. Please let me know what you think: would I have enjoyed the beginning of Please Help Me more if I'd waited until today before starting it? Or is it really a book of two halves?

My thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published by Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House on 23rd July.

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please Help Me is a great book to take on holiday. Set in Southern Cyprus, it starts with Amanda, a British detective and single parent, who is taking a much-needed break with her young son, Otis, at an idyllic luxury resort. Their resort has beautiful pools, a pristine beach and a kids club, everything a stressed parent needs to unwind.

Sadie is on holiday there with her parents and brother. Her relationship with her parents is strained. She feels that they don’t understand her, and that they rely on her far too much to look after her younger brother. She has made one friend, in Portia, a teenager who seems to have everything, money, good looks and bags of confidence.
Sadie is lounging in the sun one day when she gets a message on her phone in the form of an air drop. The message is anonymous and is a cry for help. In the message, from a girl who says her name is Lara, the sender claims that she is with people who claim to be her parents but are not, and that she is an abductee.

Sadie reacts with a mixture of curiosity, concern and uncertainty. She wants to help this unknown girl, but knows that she has to persuade her parents to contact the police which they do. The police obviously want to keep their presence undercover as they look at the families in the resort to try and work out who this girl might be.

Zak is an experienced UK police officer, part of the Rapid Support unit in London. He is also known to Amanda, who previously worked on secondment with him. So, Amanda is perfectly placed to work with Zak and the Greek police as their undercover agent on the ground, alongside Zak. Though she desperately needs the downtime, Amanda can’t ignore the call to help this girl.

From their files, the police know of a child named Lara who was abducted in the UK, and so are taking this seriously, and have identified three sets of parents in the resort who may be the abductors. The police want Sadie to try and identify the girl by continuing to message her, but are otherwise careful to shield her from the investigation, to protect her. Sadie, however, has other ideas.

As events unfold, her relationship with her family highlights the difficulties that can arise when parents underestimate the emotional intelligence of their children or fail to appreciate the pressures they are experiencing. Sadie often finds herself navigating situations that the adults around her either do not fully understand or cannot see from her perspective.

Gytha Lodge layers her clues, and around every corner she puts a ensuring there is new revelation. The tension builds as Amanda and Zak try to identify which family might be connected to Lara. The pool of suspects is constantly shifting. Marital tensions, parenting challenges, hidden resentments and long-buried secrets all contribute to an atmosphere in which nobody appears entirely trustworthy.

The plot is twisty, and Lodge revels in wrongfooting us. She plays with perception, encouraging us to decide which of the three families might be the key suspects. It is this constant sense of uncertainty that keeps you compulsively turning the pages.
I liked the way Gytha Lodge placed Sadie and Portia at the heart of the story. Although the novel is propelled by Zak and Amanda’s investigation into the identity of the girl claiming to be an abductee, it is Sadie and Portia’s experiences and vulnerabilities that make the novel.

Through them, Lodge explores the relationship between teenagers and their families. Both girls are at an age where they are beginning to establish their own identities and independence, but they are still children. She captures this transitional stage well, showing how young people can be both perceptive and naïve, confident and insecure, at the same time.

Sadie and Portia’s decisions, observations and relationships contribute to the mystery. They notice things that adults overlook, reflecting a recurring theme that young people are frequently more aware of family tensions and hidden truths than their parents realise.

As with many of the families at the resort, what the tourists staying there see is often very different from the reality behind closed doors. The novel examines issues of trust, communication and control. Lodge explores how children and teenagers may conceal important information from adults, not necessarily out of rebellion but because they fear not being believed or understood.

Verdict: Please Help Me is an escapist read, full of tension and high drama, with more than a touch of romance thrown in. Perfect for the beach, it kept me turning the pages, even though the plot is sometimes a little far-fetched.

[bookedupnurse · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘She’d hoped somehow to get a strong sense about one of these girls being Lara. But she could equally believe it was all of them and none of them, all at once’.

A beautiful Cypriot resort, The Kiro’s, should be the perfect getaway. Endless pos, gorgeous golden beach and a kids’ club that is every parent’s dream. British detective Amanda is on holiday with her young son, Otis. After dropping him at kids club, she notices a familiar figure in the hotel lobby, her former flame, Zak. He is a RS7 officer - dealing with rapid support and COBRA cases. She soon realises he is here on business … what would he be doing in a luxury resort in Cyprus? It soon becomes clear this isn’t going to be any kind of break for her and work calls …

Fourteen year old Sadie is on her annual family holiday. She is tired of the mundane and looking for some excitement … maybe something that could make her stand out from the other girls around the pool. But when she begins to receive anonymous airdrop messages from another teenager girls within the resort asking for help, she realises this isn’t the kind of drama she wanted. The messages says her name is Lara and she was abducted in the auk many years before. But the hotel is full of families and the kidnappers could be any of the parents at the poolside, hiding in plain sight …

The girl is regretting her messages almost immediately. If her ‘mum’ and ‘dad’ find out what she has told Sadie, they will be livid and will get rid of her. Freedom is the most important thing to them, not her. To save herself, she must put on the show of her life until they are safely away from this holiday and back to their ‘normal’ life … but it’s too late. An investigation has begun …

If the police guess wrong, they could spook the girls abductors and she could disappear forever, never seeing her real family again. When every family seems to be hiding a secret, can Amanda find the truth - and missing Lara - before it’s too late?

A fabulous, addictive summer read with plenty of suspects, suspense and sunshine! I loved the characters of Amanda, Otis and Zak and although an annoying teenager at times, Sadie was great too. The humour between Amanda, Otis and Zak as well as the relationship between Sadie and her little brother are perfect dilution for breaking up the tension of this style of story. I loved the setting of Cyprus which has clearly been so well researched and made this even more atmospheric and the all inclusive resort style working made this feel claustrophobic which was perfect! CL also creates a perfect split between the investigation and human/emotional element of this story, with neither lacking.

A tense, twisty dark thriller, that had me on the edge of my seat trying to work out which family the missing girl could be a part of. Lots of red herrings and drama throughout the book threw me off who the culprits could be and the ending was greatly satisfying, albeit dramatic! There are a few parts that could have been cut down and without them, the story would still have been great! Highly recommend ⭐️

Thank you to NetGallery, Michael Joseph for Penguin Random House and Gytha Lodge for the ARC of this book.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I have only read two of Gytha's novels before, and I own one more, but she's already becoming a go-to author for stunning thrillers. And yet I must admit, this was a bit touch and go for me.

It took longer to grab me than I was expecting. It's not a bad opening, but it is quite slow. Overall, I found the pacing to be a bit off. Some bits were faster and some slower but overall I think there were elements that could have been trimmed down to make it read faster but not skimp on the story. It definitely did pick up about 40% through.

I did like the contrast between the investigation side of it and the emotional family side of it. I thought that was interesting.

There is one subplot I didn't feel was necessary and that's this almost lust between a young teenager and a slightly older female lifeguard. I won't say any more for fear of spoilers, but it felt awkward to read in a kind of "can we stop talking about this" kind of thing. It felt forced into a story that didn't need it.

I know thrillers aren't meant to be real. They'd be too scary if they were. But this one felt a bit too out of reach to fully lose myself in. It was hard to believe in. I don't care how implausible a pot might be, but it has to work as a whole in context and I didn't find that this did.

I did like the inclusion of having a teenager as one of the narrators. We read books, and especially thrillers, from the POV of adults, but children think differently so to have that alongside the adult POV was clever.

I like Amanda and I like her working relationships, but I have to admit she, oh and the other policeman, were probably the only adults I really liked. The other adults annoyed me a bit too much, and most of the child characters were surplus to requirements. I felt there were too many background characters that had no real impact.

I still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. I think it's not possible to dislike a Gytha lodge novel. There were some good elements and she's always so good at catching me by surprise. But I wasn't as taken with it as I wanted. There were too many elements that didn't gel with me. Having said that, the second half was a vast improvement and stopped this review being a poor rating. If you're like me and aren't sure about the start, then I do advise sticking with it because the payoff is well done.

For everything I've said, I did finish it in less than a day so it had to be doing something right.

I do seem to be in the minority here and that's absolutely fine. I would rather people enjoy it than not, so it's lovely to see that other people are really getting something from it.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest book by one of my go-to authors whose books I never hesitate to pounce on as soon as I can. And, what a book!
We start with Amanda who is on holiday with her young son. They are at a luxury resort and she is making the most of the kids club which is giving her welcome time to herself. Respite from her UK Detective job. But her peace is about to be shattered as it appears that one of the other children at the resort is actually a kidnap victim who has reached out by airdrop messages to Sadie, another young girl who is holidaying with her family at the same resort. She says she was Lara and that she was taken from her family in the UK a few years since. To Amada's abject horror, the kidnap specialist detective they send in from the UK to investigate is someone she knows all too well and someone she is really not wanting to see after their recent history together...
And so begins a bit of a race against time, cat and mouse game in which Zak and Amanda try to work out who the kidnapped girl messaging Sadie could be. Abd how they might bring her to safety. There are several candidates and they have intriguing ways to try and narrow them down, whilst at the same time, trying to work out the previous identity of the girl before she was taken. It's all a bit convoluted and interconnected but oh so well plotted and executed.
Yes... I have a few niggles. A few things that don't make sense. A few things that I feel the cops could have done to narrow things down quicker and easier, but where would the fun be in that. We'd lose all the tense emotional build-up and the cracking showdown ending and I am happy to suck up my niggles and go with the flow...
I also loved the two main characters - Amanda and Zak - and I feel they might have more to give in future stories. I also loved Otis, Amanda's son, what a lovely dude he was :)
And the setting, despite the danger, had me hankering for a summer holiday. Not that I need to get away for some decent weather but we only have a stony beach near me, and I want me some sand...
All in all, another winner from another favourite author. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kiros, a holiday resort in Cyprus, sunshine, swimming pools, a kids club, activities and happy families. A paradise, that is until teenager Sadie receives an AirDrop message asking for help, that the parents she’s with aren’t her real parents. What to do? After talking to her parents, Sadie does the only thing she possibly could and the police are informed. This brings police officer Zak from Rapid Support in London to work undercover in the resort, to holiday maker and detective Amanda‘s shock as the two have worked together previously. Who is the girl who asks please help me… can they identify her before she goes back home? It’s a race against time, putting the spotlight on several vacationing families.

This is another absolutely cracking thriller from Gytha Lodge, as I along with Zak and Amanda, try to figure out who the girl is who has asked for help and who the parents are. There are plenty of suspects to occupy the mind and my suspicions fit back and forth. Although it’s a dark tale, I love the light relief of some humorous banter between Zak and Amanda, with the addition of adorable Otis, Amanda’s son, which is an added bonus. He’s an absolute breath of fresh air. There’s plenty of chemistry between the two adults which has me with my fingers crossed!

Amidst the lighter moments the anxiety levels ramp up especially from Sadie who, bless her, takes it all very seriously and genuinely wants to help. It becomes a tense, twisty rollercoaster which pulls on the emotional heart strings, with some heart sinking moments too. The ending is so suspenseful, it’s tension fuelled and very dramatic with jaw dropping scenes.

This is a very good atmospheric thriller which utilises locations on fabulous Cyprus to perfection. It’s a fast paced, never a dull moment read and the ultimate ending is a tear jerker.

I do hope to read more of Zak, Amanda and Otis in the future as they’re far too good characters to be consigned to a one off.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess the best place to start here is I really like Gytha Lodge's writing in general. A quick check says this is the seventh mystery book I've read from her and I've enjoyed them all, which is a pretty impressive track record really. The thing is, they're really good mysteries, but they're really understated. The stories really get driven more by the characters than the mystery itself, of course you're following along thinking about it all, but it's more a framework for the characters to shine. For example, here we really focus on Sadie, a teenage girl on holiday with her family, and Amanda, a detective on holiday with her son. And they spend most of the book trying to find a kidnapped girl. And I was more invested in them than I was in reveal of the mystery.

I mean I wanted to know, of course, I had theories, but they were more passing thoughts as I was paying more attention to what was happening on each page there and then. Some of the theories even held true, to degrees... See, this is the understated part that just hits a sweet spot for me. When a story is so character led I tend to assume the reveal will be more straightforward. They can be surprising and unexpected still, but I don't expect umpteen twists. One or two at a most. And these straightforward solutions can be enjoyable, I've also read twists and turns that seemed added just for the sake of confusion and that can fall flat. Yet here, we manage to have a tangled web of everyday characters, a surprising amount with some unexpected secret and some bizarre place in the whole plot that either becomes a red herring or dampens down an earlier one, and it all just fits neatly together. It's a rare fusion that just makes me happy. Of all these books this one feels the one I should struggle most to connect with the characters, yet I was here for all of them yet again.

If you love a good mystery, you'll be happy. If you don't care about a mystery but want good characters, you'll be happy. If you want a mystery where the detectives have depth then dive right in. The thing about being so understated is it's also just really good.

[Rachel Sargeant]

Bored teenager Sadie is on holiday with her parents and little brother in Cyprus when she receives a message on her phone from a girl who says she is at the resort with a couple who are not her parents although they pretend to be. Sadie’s parents notify the UK police.
Also staying at the resort is Amanda, a detective inspector on holiday with her nine-year-old son. When she sees Zak – an ex-colleague and one-time love interest – arrive at reception, she senses he’s undercover on a case.
The UK police have identified three girls at the resort who could be Lara Dean who was snatched as a four-year-old and has been missing for ten years. Zak asks Sadie to befriend the three girls and enlists Amanda’s help with getting to know the parents.
As Sadie, Zak and Amanda get close to their targets, they discover alarming and confusing information about each family. Rather than narrowing their options, they notice suspicious behaviour in all three sets of parents, plus in other guests and hotel staff. (Quite frankly, everyone at the resort had a cavalier attitude to childcare…) Is the girl’s message a hoax, or is the person at risk someone else entirely?
This is a well-written, exciting and tense page-turner with some nice turns along the way. I loved the chapters from Sadie’s perspective. This teenage character is sardonic and stroppy yet also kind-hearted and determined to find the missing girl.
I’ve read many thrillers from the viewpoint of the victim, perpetrator or parent, but this is the first time I’ve read one where we don’t know who the victim is. And not only has the author come up with a new angle on the captivity novel, but she also does something different with the destination thriller genre. I like a drunken, murderous hen party as much as the next reader, but it is good to see Cyprus depicted in a fresh storyline. And the author has cleverly left the way open for Amanda to work on more cases in the future. A great new series inbound, perhaps?
This is an independent review of an early copy. I thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, tense, and quietly unsettling—this is one of those psychological thrillers that hooks you within a few pages and refuses to let go.

Please Help Me takes the idyllic holiday‑from‑heaven setup and quickly twists it into something claustrophobic and thrilling. Amanda, a British detective just trying to take a well‑earned break with her young son, finds herself pulled into a nightmare when a teenager receives a message from a girl claiming to have been kidnapped and hidden in plain sight at the very resort where they’re all staying.

What makes this story so compelling is how ordinary everything appears on the surface. The endless pools, the golden beach, the smiling families—it all becomes the perfect camouflage. With every chapter, the resort feels less like a paradise and more like a trap, and the tension comes not just from the mystery itself but from the unsettling realisation that anyone could be involved.

Amanda is a fantastic lead—warm, capable, and human. Her internal tug‑of‑war between needing rest and being unable to walk away from a child in danger adds emotional depth to the tension. As she navigates a maze of half‑truths, secrets, and suspiciously perfect holidaymakers, the sense of urgency builds beautifully. And the stakes feel incredibly real: one wrong move, one mistaken assumption, and Lara could vanish forever.

The pacing is sharp and addictive, with short chapters that make you think “just one more” until suddenly it’s the middle of the night. The author threads misdirection expertly, offering just enough clues to keep you guessing without ever feeling manipulated. And the final reveals land with real impact—clever, chilling, and deeply satisfying.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers that blend emotional heart with high‑stakes suspense, Please Help Me is an absolute winner. It’s atmospheric, tightly plotted, and impossible to put down.

With thanks to Gytha Lodge, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda, a British detective, is in desperate need of a break, so books a holiday to Cyprus with her son Otis. Whilst there it becomes clear this isn’t going to be the holiday she envisioned, when she finds out a teenager at the resort has received an anonymous message, from another child there claiming to be kidnapped. But with the resort full of families, the abductors could be anyone. Will Amanda be able to discover the truth?

I have enjoyed the Jonah Sheens series I have read by this author, so was excited to see she had this standalone novel coming out. Even more so when I saw the synopsis, as it sounded highly compelling and unique. I also felt drawn to the bold cover. The mystery element started soon into the story and remained throughout, I was constantly trying to work out where it was going and never knew who to trust. Also being someone who loves a destination thriller, this ended up fitting this genre well and I liked the rich, atmospheric setting.

The author did a great job at building some well developed characters, with substance and chemistry, who the reader can feel a connection with. I felt as invested in their own personal perils, as much as I did to the overall mystery. I found the pacing to be up and down, however by the half way point I was gripped to the pages, especially once the excellent twists and turns started, as well as the action packed final scenes.

This ended up being one of my favourites by this author and I am really hoping it will become the start of a new series - I can’t wait to find out! This is one I will be recommending, especially to those looking for a clever, twisty destination thriller, with strong characters and an original concept. 4.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.