She’s the woman of his dreams. He’s the monster from her nightmares.
When Daniella rescues elderly Peggy from a mugger on a Boston street, she expects nothing in return. But then she meets Peggy's son, Lucas—devastatingly handsome and utterly captivating. Unlike her distant husband Grant, Lucas sees her. Wants her.
Daniella can’t resist and they spend one reckless night together which she immediately regrets.
Too late, because Lucas doesn't just want Daniella. He needs her. And he's willing to destroy everything—and everyone—standing in his way.
Lucas plays the long game, worming his way into Daniella's life—befriending Grant, charming her twin daughters, inveigling his way into her family. Every time she turns around, he seems to be there.
As the depths of his obsession become clear, Daniella realizes she’s in a fight for her life. Because the family she tried to help is hiding something dark. Something deadly.
Miranda Rijks is the author of 26 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and black Labrador.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
Don’t Answer the Phone by Miranda Rijks is a fast-paced psychological thriller that kept me turning the pages. The premise is unsettling and immediately pulls you in, and has an underlying sense of dread that builds steadily throughout the story. Rijks does a great job creating an atmosphere where you constantly feel on edge, questioning motives and wondering who can be trusted. The story moves quickly and is full of twists that kept things interesting, even when I thought I had it figured out. Some moments felt a bit predictable, and there were a few parts where I wanted a little more depth from the characters, but overall the suspense more than made up for it. If you’re looking for a gripping, easy-to-read thriller with plenty of tension and surprises, this one delivers. It’s not perfect, but it’s an entertaining and solid read that earns a strong 4 stars.
Can you say psychopath with a capital P? This book had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Miranda Rijks is a fave author of mine and I don’t even have to read what it’s about, I know it will be a great thriller. This was fast paced and addicting! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
PS Can we talk about how cute this pink telephone is on the cover???? I have a pink phone very similar to this that belonged to my 95 year old mother-in-law and I want to send a picture to Miranda!! 📞
If you’re a fan of this author, then get ready for the ride of your life!
Daniella rescues elderly Peggy from a mugger and meets her son, Lucas, who is strikingly handsome and charming. After a reckless night together, Daniella regrets her decision, but Lucas becomes obsessively determined to win her over, infiltrating her life and family. As his obsession intensifies, Daniella discovers that Peggy's family harbors dark secrets. Realizing she’s in a dangerous situation, she fights to escape Lucas's increasing control over her life.
The story unfolds through several points of view, including Daniella, Lucas, and Peggy, allowing you to connect with each character in real time. You’ll likely find yourself drawn to your favorites. Daniella is a relatable character who faces everyday struggles; Peggy is the beloved grandma we all know, with her quirks; and Lucas is probably that person in your life who seems to be lurking, watching you live your day-to-day. I found myself completely engrossed in this story—it was darker than I had anticipated. Let’s not overlook Bippie! I have a soft spot for dog characters who show up in the stories I read, and I really hope no one harms them. At least it’s great to see a happy ending for one character!
The events and behaviors were so vividly depicted that I could easily picture the challenges poor Daniella faced and the twisted mind of a stalker. And Peggy? She raised a real piece of work, but trust me, no spoilers here! It was hard to put this book down, especially as everything unraveled towards the end—let me tell you, it got extremely unhinged! The twists and final reveals were all surprises I never saw coming. Miranda is improving with each book she writes. The layers of lies and deception kept me hooked, like a book junkie craving their next fix. Kudos to her for that!
This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a gripping, dark read filled with complex characters—some you'll find yourself liking, while others you might want to steer clear of. If obsession, violence, and deep-rooted family trauma don’t scare you away, this story will grab your attention. There’s a saying in my country: “Pro dobrotu na zebrotu,” which loosely translates to “No good deed goes unpunished.” So, the next time you help someone, keep your guard up and weigh your options carefully, as that seemingly simple moment could change your life forever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll block a random old lady’s number that I helped—just to be safe! Ha!
Thank you, Inkubator Books and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A creepy, page-turning thriller that pulls you in from the first page. The story follows a woman whose reckless choice puts her – and her family – in serious danger.
I didn’t fully connect with every plot twist and wanted a bit more from the ending, but it was still a fun, tense read.
Perfect for fans of fast-paced, addictive thrillers like Freida McFadden.
Don’t Answer The Phone by Miranda Ridks, While riding her bike Daniela sees an elderly woman being robbed and beaten and intervenes and this is her introduction to poor elderly Peggy. Peggy is severely beaten, so when she begs Daniela to come to the hospital she can’t tell her no. This is where Daniela meets Peggy‘s son, the Uber handsome Lucas and feels a visceral attraction to him. Daniela is married to Grant with twin teenage daughters who she loves more than words but it seems when it comes to Grant she feels there’s a distance between them and they’re even going to couples counseling. While helping Peggy out with her beloved dog she sees Lucas on and off in one night she let it go too far and immediately regreted it. so when she tells Lucas she cannot see him anymore and what they did was a mistake he says that’s fine and acts like all is well but little does Daniela know Lucas is all in he’s broken up with his girlfriend despite she’s pregnant and all he wants to do is be with her he’s even willing to kill to have that chance. this was a really good edge of your seat read I only have two issues with the story when her best friend Leslie was all in love with Matt Daniela instantly had the feeling he was swarmy and the user so why every time she saw Lucas all she thought was he so handsome I am so attracted to him? also in the beginning the mom husband and three kids are in the backyard the baby is sleeping in the sleeper and the two older kids are playing I believe in the treehouse and she goes into answer the phone only to hear a scream and come out to see one of the children is dead and they insinuate you instantly knows who did it… My question is who is this family Peggy and her husband only had two kids so who was the first family? That is really bothering me it irritates me when I can’t figure something out. If you’re not bothered by such things this is an epic thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat especially when you think OMG what if that happened to me? I love this Author’s books and definitely recommend this one.#NedGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
This book follows Daniella, who thinks she’s simply doing the right thing when she rescues an elderly woman named Peggy from a mugger on the streets of Boston. But that one good deed pulls her into something far darker when she meets Peggy’s son, Lucas, who is magnetic and impossible to ignore. One reckless night changes everything. Lucas becomes obsessed, inserting himself into her life, her marriage to Grant, and even her relationship with her twin daughters, until Daniella realizes she may have opened the door to a nightmare she can’t close.
This was such an addictive, fast-moving psychological thriller. I flew through it because this author knows exactly how to crank up the tension and keep you on edge. Lucas is the kind of character who makes your skin crawl, not because he’s obvious about his ill intentions right away, but because of how easily he worms his way into every corner of Daniella’s world. The pacing is relentless, and I loved that constant feeling of dread, like something terrible was always hovering just out of sight.
This book really portrayed obsession in a realistic way. It was unsettling and genuinely gripping. A few moments will require you to suspend disbelief, but honestly, that only added to the wild, bingeable energy of the book. If you love thrillers where one mistake spirals into total psychological chaos, this is absolutely worth the ride. Many thanks to the author and Inkubator Books for this early copy that will publish March 8, 2026.
While this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read, it wasn't one of my favorites. The story was lacking in suspense and missing the cutthroat thrills that are typical from this author. It was very difficult for me to get past the unrealistic plot and poor choices made by Daniella. I must have shaken my head a thousand times while reading and thinking...why? With that being said, the character development was fantastic and made up for some of what the story was lacking. I enjoyed the twists at the end but feel that they came too late in their reveal to wow me. I think that there would have been a better time in the story for a few of those secrets to come to light but won't elaborate as to not give away any spoilers. This was still a good read and I would definitely recommend. I just can't say that I loved it.
Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Miranda Rijks, and Inkubator Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this novel.
While this was a solid read overall, it didn’t fully resonate with me. The pacing felt quite slow throughout, and at times the storyline struggled to maintain momentum, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged. The title doesn’t even remotely match the storyline.
That said, the portrayal of mental illness through Lucas’ character was handled thoughtfully and added meaningful depth to the narrative. His perspective brought an emotional layer to the story that stood out and felt authentic as perhaps bipolar or borderline personality disorder.
Although the ending provided closure, it lacked the impact I was hoping for and didn’t deliver the final twist or emotional punch that might have elevated the overall experience.
Overall, an okay read with some strong character work, but one that didn’t quite meet my expectations.
Don’t Answer the Phone completely pulled me in with its tense, fast-paced storyline. When Daniella rescues an elderly woman and becomes involved with her disturbingly charming son, Lucas, I could feel the danger building almost immediately. What starts as attraction quickly turns into obsession, and the threat to Daniella and her family feels uncomfortably real.
I especially appreciated how Miranda Rijks builds dread as Lucas slowly inserts himself deeper into Daniella’s life. The domestic setting made everything feel close to home, which added to the unease.
A few twists felt somewhat familiar to me as a seasoned thriller reader, but overall I found it gripping and hard to put down. This is a solid, suspenseful read that I would definitely recommend to fans of dark psychological dramas.
I really enjoyed this book. Id call this one a stalker thriller novel. Daniella helps an elderly woman who was beaten and robbed outside her house. She agrees to help the woman with her dog and meets her handsomely great looking son named Lucas but maybe being to nice was a mistake on her part.
Lucas is what I would call a little crazy! Lots of thrilling moments throughout the book and the plot twist and story just kept coming and coming.
I highly recommend this read. Plus the cover is super cute! #NetGalley #MirandaRijks #Don'tAnswerThePhone
This was a really quick, entertaining thriller. I read it in basically one sitting because the pacing is nonstop and it’s the kind of book where everything keeps getting worse.
Lucas is genuinely creepy, and the obsession element was done well. The tension builds fast and the last part had some solid twists that I didn’t fully see coming.
That said, a few moments felt a little over the top and I had trouble buying some of the decisions Daniella makes, which is why it wasn’t a full five stars for me.
Still, if you like fast, dark stalker thrillers with short chapters and lots of drama, this one is worth picking up.
This one is a creeping psychological thriller. One good deed turns into way too much attention… and it only gets darker from there.
Lucas is charming in a way that makes your skin crawl, and watching Daniella slowly realize she’s not safe anymore had me stressed the entire time. The tension builds quietly, the twists keep coming, and the unease never lets up.
Fast, addictive, and genuinely unsettling. If you like stalker thrillers that mess with your head instead of jump-scaring you — add this to your TBR 🖤📞
I discovered this author on Kindle Unlimited and I am so glad I did! I love all the books that I have read of hers so far. This was a great book, short chapters and a great element of suspense. I was suspicious of Peggy and Lucas from the beginning but then thought she’s just a friendly lonely older lady. I had a hard time putting it down -surprised by the ending! I also enjoyed that it was set in the USA! Great author and I look forward to her next thriller. Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Miranda Rijks for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed reading this book and when I got a quarter of the way in, I basically binged the rest of the book in one sitting. I had a lot of fun reading as I never knew what was coming next. I generally really enjoy stalker/obsession shows/movies/books so I was super excited to get a copy of this book. I loved how creepy and weird Lucas was and how the story moved with his actions. Overall, I really liked this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.
This was my first book by Rijks and it won't be my last. Just when it would seem I had it figured out, there would be a twists and turn that had me wanting to devour the book in one sitting. Lucas gave the typical creeper vibes and Daniella was no delicate flower that you felt sorry for. I was hooked from the beginning but did take off one star because the ending seemed a bit rushed and one of the relationships ended in pretty unimaginable way. Still a great read and I thank #netgalley #inkubatorbooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After Daniella rescues her elderly neighbor Peggy from muggers, the women quickly form a friendship. During a visit to Peggy’s house, Daniella meets Peggy’s son, Lucas. Peggy, having trouble in her marriage, is intrigued by Lucas. Fast forward. Lucas becomes obsessed with Peggy and start wrecking havoc on her life. A whole lot of mess ensues. I finished the book relatively quickly because it’s pretty short, however it did not keep me very engaged. It was okay.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Don’t Answer the Phone had me hooked from the first page! As a big fan of Miranda Rijks, I was THRILLED to receive an advance reader copy from Inkubator Books via NetGalley, and I devoured it in a day. The twists left me dizzy as I raced through this tense, gripping story of obsession and regret. I COULD NOT put it down, and I’m already looking forward to her next thriller!
This was kind of a cheesy expected storyline but still a very enjoyable read. The character development was spot on and definitely drew me in.
Daniella rescues a neighbor from a mugging then gets overly involved with the victims son. He turns out to be completely psychotic and turns her world upside down.
This was a great book, it was my first by this author and I was lucky enough to get an arc for it!
This was super fast paced, a very addictive read from the first page and a really enjoyable story. I really liked the writing style with this and how easy it was to follow while also being really difficult to put down, a great thriller! I can’t wait to read more from this author
an easy-to-read, fast-paced thriller with just the right amount of plot twists. lucas seriously got under my skin and pissed me off at times! there were a few moments that i found a little cheesy or predictable, but it was such a fun, bingeable read that i’d still definitely recommend. thanks netgalley for the arc!
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Inkubator Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars!
Perfect for readers who love domestic thrillers with short chapters to keep you locked in. I definitely felt my skin crawl from the MMC multiple times. I do wish the ending had been a little more exciting, however, this did the job of helping me out of a reading slump!
First, the name of the book has very little to do with anything, as names of books usually should.
Second, why are we glorifying cheating in marriages? It never works out, especially now the way that they were hoping it would in this book. Even if you regret the act afterwards, it still is NOT GOOD!!!!!
What a book to read. It was a page turner for sure I didn’t see half of stuff at the end of book coming out at all like what a family for sure . I’m glad that the married couple made it work out at the end of the book and the one person that was a huge issue is where he belongs at and I hope he get the help he need but I don’t think he will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
There's no intimacy, aka sex, in Daniella's marriage. She has a one-night stand which she regrets immediately. The other man, however, won't let go of her and stalks her. Things go from bad to worse.
ARC review: I loved this fast paced psychological thriller. An obsessive man with an extremely disturbing family history. Something so innocent turning into something so dark. Full of tension and completely gripping. I would definitely recommend.