The Girl with the Baby: A completely gripping and twisty page-turner

by Sam Vickery

She married my ex. She needs my help. But can I trust her?

I came to live in my run-down little cottage in this peaceful village ten years ago. I don’t let anyone into my home, I don’t tell anyone about the man I ran away from, and so far, I’ve kept myself safe. But then Jade and her baby girl appear at my garden gate.

Jade married Ryan when I left. Now her hands tremble like mine did, and her face is tired and worn like mine was. I look at the sweet little child cradled in her arms, realising she must be his daughter. In a quiet voice, Jade asks to stay, and I find myself letting her in.

Jade is the one person I can finally confide in, and as time passes, I expect us to grow close. But instead she sits in silence rocking her daughter, and sneaks around my house as if she’s looking for something…

I start to wonder if I’ve trusted the one woman I shouldn’t have. But, then again, perhaps she has come looking for safety in the place where she is most in danger. Because as I look at her sweet baby girl, I know, I can never let them leave…

Fans of Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult and Linda Green will be completely gripped by this jaw-dropping page-turner filled with heart-stopping twists.

What readers are saying about Sam

‘WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW… If I could rate this above 5, believe me I would!!… Wow… A true page-turner… The twists, the turns, had me holding my breath… HONESTLY the plot twist in this book you just won’t see it coming!!… Truly an amazing book!!’ whatsarahreads.x, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What an amazing unputdownable story! I started reading this book just before bed last night and the next thing I knew it was the early hours and I’d finished it. I couldn’t stop reading, I just had to know how it would end… My heart broke… I was on the edge of my seat… One that will stick with me forever!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow!!… Absolutely breathtaking and heart-stopping… Just completely blew me away… It sucked me in from page one.’ Bookworm 86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I can’t get over what I just read, my head is spinning, my mind is reeling, my heart is beating way too fast!… Completely gripping.’ live_love_read_review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow!… Fantastic in EVERY way!… Literally NO WAY of working out what’s actually happened until the end… Literally had me holding my breath and I just couldn’t stop reading until the end – I had to know!’ Sharon Valler, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow just wow!!! I’m gonna need a minute… absolutely amazing. Literally could not put this down – made me lose my mind!! I don’t have enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this… A must-read!’ Readingismy_happy_place, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I genuinely couldn’t put this down!… I didn’t see the twists coming…

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you’ve lived for years in a precarious situation that you barely managed to escape from, all you want is to build a quiet life somewhere and keep contact with the outside world to an absolute minimum. That works perfectly—until one day someone shows up on your doorstep, someone you would much rather send away as quickly as possible, but something holds you back. This person needs you, and because you recognize the signs, you open your door and let her in.

The obvious question is: was this the right decision, or the biggest mistake you could have made?
This is what Annie goes through. The presence of her guest brings back memories she would much prefer to keep locked away in a dark corner of her mind.

It soon becomes clear that the guest has a hidden agenda—something you, as a reader, may already suspect—but what exactly was the sinister plan? It was certainly not what I expected. And although the story may feel a bit quiet at times, the payoff is powerful. The tension builds slowly toward a climax that completely blew me away.

Some people truly possess a masterful mind. Unfortunately, they often use it for devious purposes instead of for things that could benefit others.

Annie has been through a lot, and I completely understand her behavior. I think I would want to crawl under a rock myself in her situation. That’s why I was so pleased with the growth and evolution she experiences throughout the story.

Sometimes you really can’t see a way out and fear—or even panic—takes over, but that doesn’t mean happiness can’t find you again.

I was deeply moved by Annie’s story and utterly repulsed by Jade’s.

Money may not buy happiness, but having no money at all can make you deeply unhappy—with all the consequences that come with it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and happily give it 4.5 stars.

Thank you.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Annie is living as a recluse in her childhood home after escaping from an abusive husband. She never goes out and relies on her neighbour to bring her groceries etc. Then one day a young woman with a baby appears and asks for Annie's help. Against her better judgement Annie lets her stay initially for a few days as she's convinced that Jade is the new wife of Annie's ex. The story is told from the two women's perspectives and it's clear that they both have secrets.
This is one of those books where you can't decide who is telling the truth and the twists keep coming, Although I did suspect who Jade was running away from I didn't expect the real reasons behind it and the ending was certainly a big surprise! A very enjoyable read.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Vickery's "The Girl with the Baby" delivers a tense psychological thriller centered on a reclusive woman in a quiet village who opens her isolated cottage to Jade, the new wife of her abusive ex, and her infant daughter. As bonds form amid shared trauma, subtle suspicions arise—Jade's furtive behaviour and unspoken secrets hint at deeper dangers lurking beneath the surface of their fragile alliance. Vickery masterfully builds domestic suspense, blending themes of trust, motherhood, and hidden pasts into a narrative that grips from the opening knock at the garden gate.

The story accelerates with heart-pounding twists, exploring how far one might go to protect a child while unraveling the layers of deception between the two women. The emotional depth and unforeseen revelations that challenge assumptions create a tense interest while reading. Vickery's prose captures the claustrophobic intimacy of rural isolation, making every shadowed corner feel alive with menace.

This page-turner earns its "completely gripping" tagline, with early buzz highlighting its unputdownable quality and jaw-dropping finale that lingers long after the last page. Ideal for fans of twisty women's fiction, it showcases Vickery's skill in crafting flawed, relatable protagonists whose choices propel a rollercoaster of empathy and shock. A standout debut in emotional suspense.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC.

[Bethany Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars and 0 peppers
While I am not new to the world of thrillers I am still very green. I do want to read more and I feel as though this book is a good introduction to the thriller genre. Not too much but just enough if you are getting your feet wet. I never put spoilers in my reviews and I won’t start now. The story follows Annie who is a simple girl who escaped a life of abuse and danger to live a simple life. She was able to live a quiet, peaceful albeit lonely life with no connections to the outside world. Now after years of being free we enter in Jade. She is a woman who is on the run with her baby in tow. Jade seeks refuge with Annie and though Annie is hesitant to let her in she does. Could letting this stranger in be the worst possible thing for Annie or the best thing that ever happened to her? Now with a thriller you never know which way the book will go and I can honestly say that out of all the outcomes I had come up with, none of them were even remotely lose to what actually happened. I love the character growth we see in Annie. That was so important and I wasn’t sure we as readers were going to get it so I am glad we did. Again if you are just starting out your journey with thrillers this would be a great first read. Well written and plot twist on dec. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[Jessica Risoldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl With the Baby by Sam Vickery
This was my first book by Sam Vickery and it did not disappoint. This book had me hooked on the prologue.
Annie was a woman that escaped an abusive husband that lived a secluded minimal lifestyle. Until one day Jade another woman with a newborn baby shows up at her house. Annie reluctant to let her in her home decides she needs to help this woman that she believes is the wife of her abusive ex. Annie struggles with reminders of her trauma and having this woman in her home that she can not fully trust. While Jade has some shady characteristics that make you question why she has showed up at Annie’s.
This book kept you guessing the entire time. The plot twist was perfect and was NOT what I was expecting. Annie struggles with overcoming her fear of trust. As the reader I was even questioning the character’s motives including her neighbor friend.
I would recommend this book. It was psychological suspense with a WOW ending! I will be reading other books by this author
Thank you #NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in return for reading and review of #TheGirlWithTheBaby

[The Chapter Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one — but a quick content note: if domestic violence is a trigger for you, you may want to skip it.

Annie lives a painfully isolated life in a tiny, remote village, doing everything she can to stay hidden from her abusive ex. When a young woman named Jade suddenly shows up at her door with a baby, Annie reluctantly allows her to stay, convinced Jade must be her ex’s new wife. But the longer these two women coexist under one roof, the clearer it becomes that neither of them is telling the full truth.

I love an unreliable narrator, and here we get two — both perspectives equally tense, slippery, and anxiety-inducing in the best way. The twists keep stacking, and I found myself genuinely worried for both Annie and Jade as the story unraveled.

Vickery does a phenomenal job portraying trauma, coercive control, motherhood, and the way identity can fracture under fear. I ended up reading this in a single sitting because I had to know where it was going — and the payoff was so satisfying!

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another BRILLIANT emotionally gripping thriller from Sam Vickery that, once again, had me absolutely hooked. Annie lives a solitary life until a young woman with a tiny baby comes to her door asking for help. Annie is terrified of letting anyone in, but she can't turn the baby away, despite how much it terrifies her.

Jade, the baby's mother, is difficult to read; there was something sinister about her, but I had no idea what - so intriguing - and as the two women danced around each other, neither quite trusting the other, there was a creepy and tense undertone running throughout.

Once the truth began to emerge, I could barely breathe! The huge, shocking twist was like a punch to the gut and the ensuing emotional ending was perfect! A fabulous read!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sam Vickery and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

[Michelle Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, author Sam Vickery, and Bookouture for the ARC and the opportunity to review this novel.

This domestic thriller unfolds at a slower pace, allowing tension to build gradually as the story progresses. While the premise initially felt somewhat unrealistic, the narrative ultimately comes together in a satisfying way. Overall, it’s an engaging read with a thoughtful payoff

Publishes January 2026

3⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you are running from Domestic Abuse and in hiding, what do you do when a woman with a newborn shows up on your doorstep asking for help?
Well you help her even if it goes against all your better judgment. I received this arc from the author for an honest review. I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for a good clean thriller. It keeps you engulfed in the story and wondering what happens next.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from this author. This time we meet a woman living In fear of her ex finding her again. When a young mum arrives at her door with a baby she is convinced that she is linked to her ex and that she has to help her but as the days pass she starts to question who is this woman she let into her home and is she in real danger. This is an edge of your seat read not to be missed!

[Tuwanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC and it was a good read. The main character was supposed to be portrayed as a closed book but opened up very quickly. I feel like she opened up to a person she knew wasn’t truthful about who they were and over shared. The ending was great and reminds me of a good lifetime movie ending. A lot of curveballs in the end. Overall this was a well written and easy to read book.

[Emily West · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book that had me questioning what was going on. I did find it dragged a little in the middle and I found the ending a bit random and rushed. If you like trying to work out a mystery then this is a relatively quick read that will provide you with a lot of paths to go down.

[Claire Turkington · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading this author and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed this book. A gripping, tense and twisty page turner. I couldn’t put it down.
It’s so well written. The authors writing is atmospheric and immersive with a steady build up of tension and unease. With plenty of twists to keep you guessing. The characters are complex and nuanced adding depth to the story.
Definitely recommend this one if you enjoy psychological thrillers.
With thanks to #NetGallery @bookouture for an arc of #TheGirlWithTheBaby in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 27 January 2026.