Nobody Heard a Thing

by Angela Henry

I was the only one there that day. I saw it all. I heard her cry.

It’s been twenty-five years since she vanished. Whoever took Brooke has walked free for all those years, watching the chaos as guilt consumed my life.

Now a documentary maker is digging into the cold case. They want to finally solve the mystery no one else could. But the person behind Brooke’s disappearance would do anything—even kill—to keep their secrets hidden.

And they know I’m the only witness…

An utterly compulsive psychological thriller that will delight fans of Karin Slaughter, The Housemaid and anything by Lisa Jewell.

Readers love Angela Henry’s

‘Holy moly!! What an unputdownable, scandalous, and shocking read… If this book is not on your radar, YOU’RE WELCOME, because it is now.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One hell of a ride… could easily be ranked up there with McFadden.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read… I devoured this book in less than 24 hours.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Literally a top-tier thriller book. I could not put this down. The suspense and intrigue were chef’s kiss… It really kept me turning the page to find out WTAF 😳 😂’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I binged it all in one Sunday… I’m awe-struck!!!! I’m gonna run to get her other work! Love it!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘SO TWISTY!!!! What just happened?!?! Thriller booktok is going to have a field day with this one.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Omg!!!!! This is one of the best books I have read all year. I could not put it down!!!!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart pounding… Definitely one of the best books this year.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘For the first time ever, I am using the word, “spectacular,” to describe a book... I am speechless right now.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book is apt to be one of the best thrillers of the year.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Ok wow!! This book is genuinely one of my favourites... not sure I’m gonna find something this jaw-dropping again for a while!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The twists and turns in this book are unbelievable... I absolutely could not put this book down.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh This BOOK!!! Read in one day.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely devoured this book. When I had to stop reading, all I could think about was getting back into the story.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my god!!! So good! I think I froze my kindle because I was trying to get to the next page so fast&l

Genres: Mystery Thriller

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 30, 2026

About the author

Angela Henry is an Amazon Charts bestselling and award-winning author of twisty mysteries, thrillers, and urban fantasy. A retired library reference specialist, she’s the author of the Kendra Clayton mystery series and the Xavier Knight series, as well as the thrillers The Perfect Affair, Her Pretty Lies, The Family Lies, and The Paris Secret. She also writes middle-grade fiction as Angie Kelly. Angela lives in Ohio with her husband and their spoiled Chiweenie, Gidget.

Reviews

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-five years ago, Ava Hammond saw her best friend Brooke get abducted after a fight at the playground. She was the only one who saw the man, the car and everything that happened; and she’s carried that guilt her whole life. Now, a documentary filmmaker named Lia Quinn wants to reopen the case and finally uncover the truth.

At the same time Ava agrees to participate, she also starts volunteer at a homeless shelter for women. There she meets a woman named Dana, someone with the same birthmark and the same stuffed toy Brooke once had… and suddenly, coincidence feels a little too convenient. From there,ofc, things spiral fast.

This book had twist after twist after twist; cult-ish vibes, lies, secrets, suspicious detectives, sketchy shelter workers, you name it. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story said nope! and went in a completely new direction. I ate it up.

My only tiny complaint is that toward the end, the pacing slowed down a bit. There’s a lot of background and information dumped all at once and I wish some of those reveals had been sprinkled throughout instead. But overall? This was crazy potatoes in the best possible way: engaging, twisty and super addictive.

Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4★) from me.

Ty NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the ARC.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 years ago Ava and her friend Brooke were playing in the local park. After a minor disagreement, Brooke runs off, only to be abducted and never seen again. Ava has lived with the guilt of this all these years. As the anniversary approaches, she is asked by a documentary producer for her background knowledge of Brooke, not the abduction itself but their friendship. Ava reluctantly agrees but this sets of a chain of events that will have everyone in the town reeling
This is a very good multi layered thriller, its the sort of book where you have to concentrate fully as you may miss certain clues. The ending certainly surprised me.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review: Angela Henry’s Nobody Heard A Thing.
Storm Publishing, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

This is one of those psychological thrillers that settles in quietly and then refuses to leave. From the opening pages, I was hooked by the chilling premise and the emotional weight carried by Ava, the sole witness to her childhood friend Brooke’s disappearance twenty five years ago. Being the only one who was there, the only one who heard her cry, has shaped Ava’s entire life, and that lingering guilt hums beneath every chapter.

When a documentary filmmaker decides to reopen the cold case, the story really begins to tighten its grip. I loved how this element was used as a catalyst, forcing buried memories and long guarded secrets back into the light. The tension builds steadily, and there’s a constant sense that someone is watching, waiting, and willing to do anything to keep the truth hidden. That quiet dread made this such a compulsive read for me.

Angela Henry excels at atmosphere. The pacing at the beginning is fast and engaging, with short chapters that made it far too easy to say “just one more.” Ava is a flawed but relatable character, juggling a strained marriage, motherhood, and a career built around helping others while never truly healing herself. Her internal struggle felt authentic, especially as the past begins to collide with the present in unsettling ways.

“This story proves that silence can be louder than any confession.”

The mystery itself is layered and twisty, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece together what really happened to Brooke. There were moments where I thought I had it figured out, only to be nudged in a different direction. While the final stretch leaned a bit more toward explanation than suspense, it didn’t undo the tension that came before it. I remained invested until the very last page, eager to see how all the threads would finally connect.

What stood out most for me was the emotional core of the story. This isn’t just about a disappearance, it’s about the long term consequences of trauma, survivor’s guilt, and the way unanswered questions can shape a life. Fans of character driven psychological thrillers will appreciate the balance between suspense and emotional depth.

Nobody Heard A Thing is a gripping, unsettling read that explores how far people will go to protect their secrets. It’s a strong addition to the psychological thriller genre and a book that will appeal to readers who enjoy cold cases, buried truths, and slow burning tension that creeps under your skin.

Star rating: ★★★★☆

#NobodyHeardAThing #AngelaHenry #StormPublishing #BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #MysteryThriller #ThrillerReads #WomensFiction #ARCReview #NetGalley #BookBlogger #Bookstagram

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Nobody Heard a Thing
Author: Angela Henry
Publisher: Storm Publications
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: January 30, 2026
My Rating: 4.4
Pages: 332

Twenty-five years ago when Ava Hammond and her best friend Brooklyn Peters were ten years old they loved to hang out at the Pleasant Street Park playground, Brooke was fun and adventuresome. However one day they had a bit of spat and Brooke pushed Ava, as Brooke went off Ava heard her talking to a man who asked if she wanted to see some puppies. The next things Ava saw was the man pushing Brooke into the back seat of a seat of a car. Next the car and Brooke both disappeared. Ava was the only one who was there who heard Brooke’s cries.

Brooke’s abduction has hunted Ava’s entire life.
Now Lia Quinn a filmmaker wants to do a documentary and reopen the cold case.
Story takes on a bit of twist when Ava volunteers at a homeless shelter for women and meets Dana who gives her the feeling she might be Brooke - has a birthmark on her shoulder which looks like the one Brooke had also has an old stuffed turtle named Willa What? However, Dana shows no reorganization of Ava. Hmmm
Something indeed is going on and I was glued to find out what!


I love psychological thrillers and additionally love to try to figure them out- first by suspecting everyone.
Yet I love when I am fooled. Yikes! I was totally fooled by this one.
It was GREAT!!!!

I am always interested in the author’s motivation for a story so the Author’s Notes’ are a must read for me. In ‘a Letter from the Author’ Ms. Henry tells the lives of missing girls get lost-slip through the cracks.
She things about and asks – Who were they? What was their backstory? And …..Who did they leave behind to mourn their loss?
Ms. Henry hopes this story sparks some much needed food for thought!

She did indeed. This was my fourth Angela Henry and I am looking forward to her next thriller!!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publications for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 30, 2026.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava's best friend, Brooke, was kidnapped right in front of her at a playground when they were ten years old. She never saw her again and has lived with guilt for the past 25 years because characters in these stories always carry too much guilt. Now Ava is on a leave of absence from her job with social services and has started volunteering with a women's shelter. There, she's drawn to a resident named Dana who reminds her so much of Brooke. Ava soon gets a bad feeling that there's more going on behind the scenes at this home than anyone suspects, and she's determined to get to the bottom of it. This time, no one will get away with hurting someone she cares about.

There are many characters and little plot lines that you can't imagine will ever come together, but somehow, they do. And just when you think the story is over, you realize the author isn't finished just yet. Some reveals weren't so surprising, but at least one caught me off guard, and I was like, whaaa? That's always appreciated, especially when you think everything has already been said and done.

One of the best things about this book is that the revenge is completely warranted. The last book I read left me irritated with the way the characters felt justified in committing criminal acts and blew it off as 'breaking a few rules.' And over situations that were nowhere near as terrible as what happened to some of the people in this story. And there were plenty of others who could have chosen to seek revenge, but didn't. Ava may have been too naive and trusting, but she was always optimistic, no matter what she faced. She could easily have been cynical or jaded from what she'd seen in her career. It's nice to see the hopeful and compassionate side of humanity represented, too.

[Zeynep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.


Two best friends. One missing for 25 years, and the other being the only one who witnessed her abduction, forced to live with the guilt every day. Now that a new film maker is in town and making a documentary about Brooke’s missing, long buried secrets begin to unravel, but how far would you go to keep your past hidden?


This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely be checking out more of her work. I loved the premise, so as soon as this ARC was in my hands, I started reading. This is a slow-burn mystery, but each chapter pulls you in and makes you want to read just one more. The slowly building suspense around every character, along with Ava and Evan’s realistic relationship, made me enjoy the writing even more. Ava was a very relatable character, not perfect, deeply affected by guilt, and often choosing with her heart rather than her mind.


This wasn’t just a mystery, it leaned heavily into the emotional impact of trauma and how it can affect everyone around it. On the mystery side, so many times I thought I got the plot twist and find the culprit, I was wrong. The ending was unpredictable and amazing!


Overall, this was a four-star read for me. I’d recommend it to readers who like slowburn thrillers with an emotional side.

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

Another fantastic read from Angela Henry! The story focuses on Ava, who was the only witness to her best friend's abduction, 25 years ago. Ava lives with constant guilt, which has a bigger impact on her life than she realises. Ava is approached to be interviewed for a documentary, that is looking into Brooke's disappearance but also telling the story of who Brooke was as a person, This is the catalyst that begins to open old wounds and Ava soon realises that she could be in serious danger.

The plot is seriously brilliant; I can't even bear to think of the planning that must have gone into getting so many layers built in, with twists that would never have occurred to me. and had me floored, over and over. The fast pace and tense, creepy undertone had me gripped and totally absorbed in the mystery. Ava is a great character, flawed, but likeable and relatable.

Ultimately, this is a clever psychological thriller, but I also enjoyed the emotional depth that the story held, both within the flashbacks to the past and in the way that Ava's unanswered questions impacted her life in the present day.. As the past and present began to collide, and the twists started to land, I couldn't put the book down!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Angela Henry and Storm for an ARC of this book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘Nobody Heard A Thing’ by Angela Henry, due to be published on 30 January 2026 by Storm Publishing.

A story told from multiple points of view, and shifted timelines.  Ava witnessed the abduction of her best friend Brooke when they were children, an event that has haunted her for her entire life, the ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’ leaving her desperate to know if Brooke is still alive.

Enter Lia who has funding for a documentary related to the abduction, who reaches out to Ava for her side of the story.

Alongside this, we are introduced to Dana, a mysterious lady who comes to stay at the shelter Ava is volunteering at, who bears striking similarities to Brooke, leaving Ava convinced she has found her long lost friend.

This is a fast paced, ever changing storyline, with twists, murder, secrets, lies and gaslighting. The ending was a surprise and was a good twist to the tale, with clues dotted about within the narrative, which you realise after reading. 

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

When two little girls are playing in the park, Ava becomes the sole witness to the kidnapping of her friend Brooke. And despite an apparently extensive investigation, the child is never located.

But more than two decades later, Ava still questions why what actually happened, happened. And when a documentary maker named Lia Quinn contacts her to interview her about that long ago incident, Ava finds that all kinds of strange things start happening...

This is a cleverly plotted and engaging story, offering plenty of red herrings alongside its twists, but it did feel as though at one point, it just got too difficult to keep track of everyone's roles and connections. Nevertheless, it is likely to be enjoyed by thriller readers, and gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off really strong, with a fast pace and an intriguing setup that pulled me in straight away. The twists kept me guessing, especially around what really happened to Brooke- and Ava’s guilt at being the one left behind added an emotional depth that worked well.

While the story held a lot of promise throughout, the final stretch didn’t quite match the tension built earlier on. The writing became more direct and explanatory, focusing on laying out events and who was involved rather than continuing the suspense-driven storytelling that made the beginning so compelling.

That said, I was still invested enough to see it through, and the mystery itself remained engaging- it just didn’t fully stick the landing for me in the way I’d hoped.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Nobody Heard a Thing by Angela Henry.

This was a gripping psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages. The story revisits a cold case from twenty five years ago, when a young girl, Brooke, vanished without a trace and was witnessed by her best friend. As the truth begins to surface, long buried secrets arise and cause danger for everyone involved.

The tension builds steadily, with enough twists and uncertainty to maintain momentum, and an inability to trust the narrative of some of the rich cast of characters kept me guessing.

A solid and compelling psychological thriller that delivers on tension and atmosphere, and one I enjoyed overall. A strong four star read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody Heard a Thing by Angela Henry is a gripping psychological thriller centered on a long-cold case disappearance that refuses to stay buried. Twenty-five years after Brooke vanished, the narrator—who was the only person present the day she disappeared—is forced to confront old guilt when a documentary maker reopens the case to find answers. As secrets unravel, long-buried truths and dangerous motives come to light, and those involved will do anything to keep the past hidden... anything!

Angela Henry delivers a tense, twisty mystery with emotional depth and suspenseful pacing. Fans of character-driven thrillers with unreliable narrators and dark secrets will find this an engrossing read that keeps you guessing until the end. It's worth the read!

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had previously read The Family Lies and Her Pretty Lies by this author – couldn’t wait to read this one!
It’s been twenty-five years since Ava’s friend, Brooke, vanished. Whoever took Brooke has walked free for all those years, watching the chaos as guilt consumed Ava’s life. Now a documentary maker is digging into the cold case. They want to finally solve the mystery no one else could. Will this put Ava in danger?
This one was a page-turner! I couldn’t put it down until I could see how all the characters were connected in the disappearance of Brooke – it did not disappoint! I recommend this author!

[Sarah Jane Higginbottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this expecting a fast thriller—and it delivered that—but what surprised me was how heavy it felt in the best way. This is a story about what happens when people stay silent, and how that silence can echo for years. Angela Henry does a great job weaving tension with emotion, and I found myself really invested in the characters, not just the mystery. The suspense builds steadily, the twists feel grounded, and the ending packs an emotional punch. A gripping, thoughtful read that goes beyond the usual crime thriller.

📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Angela Henry and Storm Publishing📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Michelle Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, author Angela Henry, and Storm Publishing for the ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

This was my first experience reading Angela Henry, and it proved to be an engaging introduction to her work.

The story unfolds at a steady pace, maintaining interest throughout with well placed twists that kept the plot moving forward.

The character development was particularly strong; the characters felt believable and well rounded, which added depth to the narrative.

The ending was satisfying and effective, neatly tying together the various threads of the story. Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishes January 20 2026

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody Heard A Thing by new to me author Angela Henry, published by Storm Publishing is a fast paced, complex thriller that starts out pretty strong.
Ava and Brooke were friends since childhood, but Brooke vanished many years ago. Ava became a social worker, has 12 year olds and a failing marriage with a distant husband.
When a journalist shows up determined to investigate Brooke's case all bets are off.
The book starts out strong but somehow fizzles out in the second half.
Don'r get me wrong, its a good read and a fantastic story,4 stars.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed Nobody Heard a Thing by Angela Henry. The book started off strong and was exciting, but then toward the middle, it got a bit slow and there were so many points of view, that I really had to make sure which chapter was in who’s perspective. I thought the storyline was good and I really wanted to find out what happened to Brooke. The ending was a surprise.

Overall, I thought this was a well thought-out story and I would recommend this book and read more by this author.

#NobodyHeardAThing #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, whoa! This book went in a direction I definitely didn't see coming. There was so much going on and trying to figure out how everyone was connected was enough to drive me batty! It's like one of those puzzles that you know clicks together, you just have to have the pieces in juuuuuust right. The twists keep on coming until everything clicks together....this was definitely a one sitting read for me! I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jennifer BB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody Heard a Thing by Angela Henry completely pulled me in—I read it in one day and couldn’t put it down. The story is gripping from the start, and the plot twist? Totally unexpected and incredibly well planned. Angela Henry knows exactly how to build tension and keep you guessing until the very end. If you love an enticing, smart mystery that keeps the pages turning, run—don’t walk—to your nearest bookseller and grab this one.

[Louise]

This book was busy.
At times it felt like "blink and you'll miss something important"
So don't blink 😃
Lots of strands that tied up nicely, and despite all the twists, I felt everything made sense.
Ava seemed a little bit too gullible really, but she was a decent lead character.
Quite fast paced, and enjoyable.

Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.

[ReadBoldlySis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me on an adventure with unexpected twists and turns. Each chapter pulled me deeper into a thrilling whirlwind of suspense and intrigue, leaving my heart pounding and my mind racing with anticipation. I found myself captivated by the gripping plot that unraveled with each tantalizing page I turned. The excitement was truly addictive!