Nowhere to Hide: Sandra Vos, Book 3

by Carolyn Arnold, Kathryn Akin (Narrator)

A completely binge-worthy and pulse-pounding FBI mystery thriller

He paced while keeping his eye on his hostages. They watched him back with their gazes fixed on each step he took. Locking eyes with the father in a home so luxurious, so unlike his own, he knew this was his only chance for justice after all these years. He’d stop at nothing to get it.

When a lone gunman takes an entire family hostage in a wealthy suburb, there is only one FBI negotiator he’ll engage with. Special Agent Sandra Vos hit the headlines for bringing a crisis incident at Founders Hospital to a close, but there’s no time to rest with a family’s life in her hands.

Arriving on the scene, Sandra discovers that Edward Hanson and his family are the hostages. Edward is the son of the late Timothy Hanson who left his entire fortune to his son. While it seems this may be all about money, the hostage taker makes a demand that is far more personal. Reopen an investigation into a fatal car accident from thirty-three years ago or he shoots the entire family. But how does this connect to the Hansons?

Sandra calls in her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, at the Metropolitan Police Department, and asks him to dig into the case. Eric works to untangle a web of lies which leads him straight to the heart of the police force. But can any of this help Sandra talk the hostage taker down and save the family? And how much will Eric need to sacrifice in the pursuit of the truth?

A completely addictive mystery thriller perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Published May 20, 2026

About the author

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has nearly thirty published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere To Hide by Carolyn Arnold is described as an unputdownable and pulse pounding thriller...and I totally agree. Carolyn Arnold has the ability to bring her characters to life, sharing their personal and professional lives, making them become real on the pages.

I am loving Sandra Vos, Carolyn Arnold's latest character to shine in her own series. She is fallible, yet always tries to do the right thing. She sacrifices her personal time to a crisis that could cost a man his life. He wants answers, and she wants to supply them.

I love when the peripheral characters stand out as well as the main characters. I wonder...will they appear in a later story? Could they possible have their own story? You can never be sure where the trail would lead, and I am open to traveling down the road with them.

Looking for a must read author? Carolyn Arnold has multiple series that are sure to entertain you for hours...and, if you are anything like me...trying to solve the mystery before she puts it out there for all to see.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to share Nowhere To Hide by Carolyn Arnold.

See more at http://www.fundinmental.com

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide by Carolyn Arnold is a Sandra Vos book, third in the series. Sandra is an FBI hostage negotiator who was called on a day she was supposed to be on vacation. The hostage taker was a man who had talked himself into the home of the very rich Hanson family. As it turns out, he didn’t want money, but rather, the reopening of his mother’s death, which he believed to have been a murder, thirty-three years earlier. While trying to talk him down, Sandra called her go-to homicide detective and boyfriend, Eric Birch. When he got started, what he found was so startling that he couldn’t stop. There were so many leads and none of them were in the original accident report. The problem was, one of the cops who was mentioned was Eric’s mentor. Sandra, meanwhile, was doing her best with Ryan Crawford. She had already gotten him to release the body guard and the man of the house, who had been wounded.

Sandra is a mid-forties woman who has a past. The story has exposed most of it and it simply makes her a figure to be admired. She is strong and capable, altogether an engaging character. He boyfriend, Eric, the homicide police detective is honorable and trusting. Both excellent characters. Even Ryan had requested her after he took the hostages because of how honorable she had been during a perviously televised negotiation. The plot was full of twists and turns and basically the story of a man who had learned how to threaten people and their loved ones in order to get what he wanted. It was excellent reading.

I was invited to read Nowhere to Hide by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #CarolynArnold #NowhereToHide

[Lori Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide is a book 3 in the Sandra Vos series by Carolyn Arnold. Sandra is on vacation when she gets a call asking her to come to a hostage situation. Sandra is a hostage negotiator for the FBI and just recently worked a big takeover at a hospital. When she arrives at the address given, with her team, it's a large home in a wealthy area. It's the home of Edward Hanson, his wife, and 2 kids. The Hanson's are very wealthy and known by everyone. When Sandra makes contact with the hostage taker, his demands are. not what she's expecting. Most ask for money, food, and a way to get away safely. This hostage taker wants the police to re-open a fatal car accident case from 33 years ago! If they don't do it, he will start shooting the Hanson's one by one. What in the world? How can a car accident from 33 years ago be connected to the Hanson family?

Will Sandra be able to convince the police to look into this cases with new eyes? Sandra asks her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, to help her do just that. When Eric starts looking into the file of the accident there are big parts missing! What have they stumbled onto? Will Sandra, Eric, and the team be able to get answers for the hostage taker before he starts shooting the Hanson family? This book is suspenseful and will keep you reading to get answers! I really enjoyed Nowhere to Hide and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. I love the Sandra Vos series and look forward to reading the next one. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Nowhere to Hide in exchange for a fair review.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nowhere to Hide, FBI negotiator Sandra Voss finds herself once again at the center of a storm. This time facing a man desperate for the justice his mother never received.

Nowhere to Hide pulled me in from the very first page and never eased up. Thirty-three years ago, Susan Crawford died in a tragic motor vehicle accident, leaving behind her five-year-old son, Ryan. Now, decades later, after his aunt’s passing, Ryan stumbles upon information that cracks everything wide open—and pushes him to take one of the richest families in the country hostage. His one demand? That FBI negotiator Sandra Voss be brought in and that his mother’s case finally be reopened so she can get the justice she was denied.

What made this story even more compelling is how it ties directly into the events of Every Last One. The way Sandra handled that situation clearly left a lasting impression, because Ryan refuses to speak to anyone else. That connection gave the entire setup so much more emotional weight and purpose.

The intensity in this book is constant. Every reveal lands hard, and the suspense builds beautifully as long-hidden truths start surfacing. I especially appreciated the role of the secondary characters, most notably Sandra’s significant other, Detective Eric Birch, who ended up being instrumental in piecing together what really happened all those years ago.

By the end, I cared about every single outcome, not just the hostage standoff itself but also Ryan’s fight to finally bring his mother’s story into the light. Nowhere to Hide is everything I want in a suspense read: gripping, emotional, and deeply satisfying.

Nowhere to Hide delivers tension, heart, and purpose in every chapter, and the way the pieces come together is as satisfying as it is emotional. This installment is a powerful, gripping read from start to finish.

This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide, the third novel in this fabulous series, is a tense, gripping, twist filled thriller that combines emotional depth with relentless suspense. With a compelling lead in Sandra Vos and a mystery tied to a 33 year old fatal accident, it delivers a satisfying, high stakes reading experience that fans of crime thrillers will love. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide is the third book in the Sandra Vos series. Special Agent Sandra Vos is an FBI agent where she is a top Hostage Negotiator. In this book, she is called to help at a hostage situation in Washington DC. Billionaire Edward Hanson and his family are being held in their own home with his body guard. A young man talks his way into their home, and is holding Edward, his wife and two children, as well as his bodyguard at gunpoint. He asks for the FBI agent who brought the crisis incident at Founders Hospital to a close. When she arrives the hostage taker asks them to reopen an investigation into the death of a woman in a car accident 33 years earlier. What does this have to do with the Hanson family? Working with the same hostage team she worked with on her last case as well as her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, they go back to reinvestigate the accident where Susan Crawford was killed. Will they be able to figure out what it is that the hostage taker, Ryan, wants them to find? Will they get the Hanson family out of this safely?

I enjoy a good mystery and with the main character being a hostage negotiator, it is a bit different from other series I enjoy. Sandra is a dedicated FBI special agent, who had a personal reason for doing her best in all situations. Her personality is such that she is able to calm the most irrational person to get them to listen and make better choices. Eric is also a very smart and intuitive police detective, who follows the leads and finds a lot of information. He is loyal to his fellow detectives, but is also a man of integrity and doesn't close his eyes to the evidence he finds. The rest of the team work well together, and piggyback off one another while finding information and following the evidence. This book has a new character, Police Officer Cindy Moore, who plays a huge role in this case. She is a woman who has great intuition, and acts on it. It appears that she will be promoted to detective and hopefully be in the next book. This story was fast paced, with short chapters that moved the story along quickly. This story has a lot of themes such as sexual harassment, using NDAs to break the law, the rich and powerful getting away with serious crimes, the Me Too movement, rape (in the past), corrupt police and more. This is a book that pulled me in from the first page and kept me reading until I finished. I highly recommend this book and series if you enjoy a crime thriller with a protagonist that has a different role than a police detective.

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just closed the final page of Nowhere to Hide, and I’m still feeling that satisfying mix of adrenaline and relief that only a really well executed thriller can deliver.
This third installment in the Sandra Vos series is every bit as gripping as the blurb promises completely unputdownable and genuinely pulse pounding.

The story opens with a lone gunman holding a wealthy family hostage in their luxurious suburban home. He’s calm, determined, and laser focused on one FBI negotiator…. Special Agent Sandra Vos.

What first appears to be a straightforward (if terrifying) hostage situation quickly reveals itself as something much more personal and layered.
The gunman’s demand isn’t simply money, it’s justice! He wants a thirty three year old fatal car accident investigation reopened, or the entire Hanson family pays the ultimate price!
The connection between this cold case and the wealthy victims isn’t obvious, and that slow burn mystery kept me hooked as the clock ticked! 😮

I really enjoyed how the author balances the high tension real time negotiation with a parallel investigative thread.
While Sandra works to build rapport and talk the gunman down, her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, digs into the old case. What he uncovers pulls back the curtain on lies, corruption, and secrets that reach deep inside the police force itself.
The dual perspectives create excellent momentum and raise the personal stakes for Sandra and Eric as a couple.

Sandra is a strong character, empathetic yet professional, skilled under pressure, and human enough to feel the weight of every decision. The supporting cast, including her family, adds warmth and depth without slowing the pace. The gunman himself is portrayed with believable intensity, you understand his pain and twisted sense of justice even while hoping Sandra can stop him from crossing the final line.

There are some genuine twists along the way, and the moral gray areas give the story extra weight.

If you’ve read the earlier books, you’ll appreciate the character continuity. If you haven’t, (like me) this one works well as a standalone entry too, the necessary background is woven in naturally. (It didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything)

Overall, Nowhere to Hide is a strong, satisfying thriller that blends intense tactical negotiation, cold case investigation, and personal drama.
Fans of strong female FBI protagonists and procedurals with heart will find a lot to love here.

I’m already eager to see what Sandra faces in the next book.

Highly recommended for a tense dramatic read. 👍🏻

🦋

4.5 ⭐

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking, gripping, thrilling, and pulse pounding. This book starts strongly when a man with a gun takes an entire family and he only wants to negotiate with Special Agent Sandra Vos. The gunman is not interested in money; he wants an old case about a fatal car crash reopened. He makes it clear if the case is not reopened and re-investigated; he will shoot the entire family. Like Special Agent Sandra Vos, questions swirled through my mind. Why was this particular family selected to be held hostage. What is their connection to the thirty-three-year-old fatal crash. Who is the gunman and what is his connection to the crash and to the family he selected. Sandra and her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, dig into the old case. They are up against the clock as time is ticking, and the gunman is getting antsy.

I enjoyed the tension and mystery in this book. I also enjoyed Sandra Vos. She thinks quickly on her feet, is intelligent, capable, and never backs down. She and Eric Birch make a great duo as both are keen investigators who will leave no stone unturned.

This book was gripping from the very beginning and secrets, lies, twists, and turns, make for a thrilling read. As the pieces began to fall into place, things become more dire for some and shocking for others,

This is the third book in the Sandra Vos series and can be read as a stand-alone novel. Having said that, the first two books in the series and fantastic and I highly recommend reading them as well.

As with the first two books in this series, I found Nowhere to Hide: A completely unputdownable and pulse-pounding FBI mystery thriller to be a well thought out and wonderfully written mystery thriller. I enjoyed the sense of danger and enjoyed the investigative work done by the agents. I always try to do my own super sleuthing while reading mysteries and while I did not solve the case, I loved how Carolyn Arnold brought everything together and left me satisfied and looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide opens with a pulse already racing, dropping the reader straight into a hostage situation that feels claustrophobic, tense, and heartbreakingly human. From the first page, there’s a sense of inevitability—years of buried pain rising to the surface, a man convinced this is his only chance at justice, and a family caught in the crossfire of a past they barely understand. It’s a gripping setup, but what makes the novel truly compelling is the emotional undercurrent running beneath every decision, every threat, every plea.

Special Agent Sandra Vos is the steady centre of the storm. She’s sharp, intuitive, and carrying the weight of her own recent triumph, yet there’s no time for reflection when another crisis demands her full attention. The author captures that delicate balance between professional composure and personal vulnerability so well, letting Sandra’s instincts guide the story without ever turning her into a caricature of the “tough negotiator.” She feels real—tired, determined, and painfully aware of what’s at stake.

The mystery deepens beautifully as the threads begin to tangle: a wealthy family with a legacy that doesn’t quite add up, a decades‑old car accident that refuses to stay buried, and a demand that feels far too personal to be about money alone. Calling in Detective Eric Birch adds another layer of tension, both emotional and procedural, as his investigation drags him into the darker corners of the police force. The novel handles their partnership with a quiet tenderness, even as the stakes rise and the cost of the truth becomes painfully clear.

What I loved most is how the story maintains its intensity without sacrificing character. Every revelation lands with emotional weight, every twist feels earned, and the pacing never loosens its grip. It’s a thriller that understands the power of motive—how old wounds fester, how grief reshapes people, how justice can become a dangerous obsession.

Taut, atmospheric, and deeply human, Nowhere to Hide is a gripping hostage‑negotiation thriller that keeps its heart beating right beneath the tension. A fantastic addition to the series and a story that lingers long after the final page.

With thanks to Carolyn Arnold, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Carolyn and NetGalley for allowing me to read Nowhere to Hide before the publication date.
This is the third book in the series and the reader is given more insight into the characters.
On a personal level, Sandra Vos is troubled. She and her brother Sam, spent time in a care home before being adopted by the Davenports.
This was not a happy time for the siblings. Now a woman who was in the same care home has reached out to Sandra and wants to meet her.
Does she want to risk opening those memories again?

On a professional level, although she is on a rest day, Vos is called to an ongoing incident.

A man has talked his way into the home of the wealthy Hanson family and taken them hostage.
He says that he will only talk to the negotiator who was in charge of the Founders Hospital incident a month earlier…… FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos.

He wants the truth to come out.
He demands that she reopens the investigation into the RTA 33 years ago in which his mother died.
Yet he wants to control the situation, making the police work for every single detail.

As Vos tries to get more information, she realises that he is highly volatile.
She also has to contend with Lt. Kreiger whose instincts are to breach the house asap.

Sandra asks for the help of Detective Eric Birch to access details about the RTA.
Birch discovers that the attending officers did not follow protocol and there are details missing from the police report. To make matters worse, one of the officers was a man for whom Birch has a high regard.

He enlists the help of Cindy Moore, an astute young officer who is keen to progress her career.

To the Hanson family, reputation is everything and the investigation is going to have serious repercussions for them.
The author has spun so many threads into this book, and that is only the start.
I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling third visit to Special Agent Sandra Vos of the MPD Crisis Negotiation Unit. If you haven’t read this series, you are missing out on extremely well-plotted mysteries with characters who have continued through the series. After her last case, Sandra is ready when a man who is holding a family at gunpoint, requests that she come to the scene. The man, Ryan, wants her to find out what happened to his mother, who was killed in a car accident thirty-three years ago. He doesn’t believe it was an accident; he believes that his mother was murdered. With the assistance of her team and law enforcement, including her significant other Detective Eric Birch, will they be able to find the information and files needed from so long ago? Ryan is holding the family of the man who he believes was responsible for his mother’s death and threatens to kill them one by one if she can’t prove that his mother was murdered. He is not asking for money, he wants the truth! As Sandra continues to gain his confidence, Eric is seeking the original report on the accident, but there are issues which leads him down a path that he doesn’t want to consider, but he has no choice. Sandra works to keep law enforcement from charging into the home, hoping to convince Ryan that they are making progress on what really happened to his mother and why. I couldn’t put this one down once I read the first pages! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special Agent Sandra Vos is facing yet another harrowing hostage situation. Still an unwilling celebrity after the Founders Hospital takeover, Sandra’s focus remains fixed on her latest case. As an FBI negotiator, she is once again dealing with terrified victims and a desperate hostage taker. This time, Edward Hanson and his family are being held at gunpoint.

Sandra soon discovers that the motive behind the standoff is far more surprising than expected. Somehow, it is connected to a hit-and-run accident that occurred more than three decades earlier. The hostage taker is seeking justice, and Sandra hopes that by uncovering his identity and helping him find closure, she can save the lives of those trapped inside.

With nonstop tension that never lets up, Nowhere to Hide is an excellent addition to the Sandra Vos series. Carolyn Arnold delivers a compelling story filled with dramatic twists and characters readers cannot help but root for as the mystery unfolds. More than just an engaging thriller, the novel also deepens the ongoing character development within the series.

As the third book in the series, this is the perfect opportunity to pick up books one and two and read them in order. While Nowhere to Hide can certainly be enjoyed as a standalone, there is meaningful continuity that enriches the experience and leaves readers eager for book four.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the third title in the Sandra Vos series, but works fine as a stand-alone read.

The prologue is set 33 years ago, detailing a car crash. Sounds like an accident, but with this being a thriller, I’m immediately wondering if it is sinister.

We then move to the present day, where the hostage-taker manages to gain access to billionaire Edward Hanson’s home and has the entire family including children plus a security guy at gunpoint.

And apparently he is only prepared to talk to the lead negotiator from the well-publicised recent local hospital hostage situation, namely FBI special agent Sandra Vos. He demands that Sandra reopen the Susan Crawford case, who they quickly determine died in a fatal car crash, 33 years ago, the link to the prologue. Susan’s 5 year old son Ryan was critically injured. Is Ryan the hostage taker? And if so, why now? Is it linked to either of the recent deaths of Ryan’s aunt Teresa and Edward’s father, Timothy Hanson?

Sandra requests the help of Detective Eric Birch, who is also her boyfriend. Eric struggles to find any routine evidence on the incident in the police files. Where is it?

Each snippet draws the reader more and more into this gripping page turner. So what is the link to the cold case? How will things pan out?

Sandra’s personal life is also woven into the story-line giving another strand to the tale.

A thrilling read indeed, which I couldn’t put down.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes have never been higher as Special Agent Sandra Vos faces a tense hostage situation in Nowhere to Hide Book 3 by Carolyn Arnold. The author created a story filled with suspense, emotion, and a deep sense of urgency. The plot centers around a lone gunman who takes the Hanson family hostage, and it was interesting to see how the various layers of the story unfold. I liked the different perspectives with Detective Eric Birch and Officer Cindy Moore. The backstory involves the hostage taker’s demand to reopen a decades-old investigation that drives the tension. Once again, Sandra Vos shines as a strong, determined protagonist whose skills as a negotiator are put to the ultimate test. The author's writing is crisp and engaging, with well-developed characters that kept me invested in their fates. The pacing is handled well, with moments of heart-pounding action interspersed with moments of reflection and personal struggle. There were times when it slowed down a bit.

Overall, Nowhere to Hide is a thrilling, well-crafted mystery that delves into themes of family, sacrifice, and the quest for truth. It’s a good read for fans of crime fiction who enjoy a mix of drama and suspense. The author delivered a captivating story. I would recommend this book and this series.

#NowheretoHide #NetGalley @bookouture

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a lone gunman takes an entire family hostage in a wealthy suburb, there is only one FBI negotiator he’ll engage with. Special Agent Sandra Vos hit the headlines for bringing a crisis incident at Founders Hospital to a close, but there’s no time to rest with a family’s life in her hands. Arriving on the scene, Sandra discovers that Edward Hanson and his family are the hostages. Edward is the son of the late Timothy Hanson who left his entire fortune to his son. While it seems this may be all about money, the hostage taker makes a demand that is far more personal. Reopen an investigation into a fatal car accident from thirty-three years ago or he shoots the entire family. Sandra calls in her boyfriend, Detective Eric Birch, at the Metropolitan Police Department, and asks him to dig into the case.
The third book in the series & whilst it’s easily read on its own I feel I’m now getting to know Sandra. Another well written page turner, I found it hard to put down. The pace is very good, although it starts slowly & the pace gradually ramps up. There’s plenty of tension & suspense, also a cold case needs to be reopened. I thoroughly enjoyed & look forward to more in the series, especially as a thread was left open
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that I am officially addicted to this series. FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos is my hero. She is a hostage negotiator with nerves of steel, but she also has such compassion while digging into the why of a situation instead of making assumptions. She is cool, calm, collected and always one step ahead in the game of hostage taker and negotiator. When others on site want to go charging in by force, she is patient and the voice of reason.

This intricately plotted story will reveal some of the darkest parts of humanity as the story swells off of the page and will leave you with distaste and sadness at an unnecessary loss of human life because someone wanted their depraved behavior to stay buried.

Though this is a hostage situation which takes place almost the entire time in one place, the story never got stale as others outside the ropes of the hostage situation, including my other favorite character in this series, Detective Eric Birch, dug into a decades old car crash that was ruled an accident.

There is a desperate need for truth and justice, and as the layers of secrets are peeled back one step at a time, I was shocked and sad at the same time, with a side of revulsion.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sandra Vos receives a message asking her to handle a hostage situation, she doesn’t hesitate for a moment. The other plans she had made are immediately put on hold. This takes priority. People are counting on her expertise, and a team is assembled to work together towards a solution.

She must approach the situation with the utmost care, because one wrong word could cause the hostage-taker to spiral, with all the consequences that entails.

Not everyone has the angelic patience that she possesses. Some colleagues would rather end the situation as quickly as possible and storm in to overpower the hostage-taker, but that too can go terribly wrong.

So they all need to sit down together and use the information gathered by other teams to achieve a result with as few casualties as possible.

It doesn’t take long before shocking events come to light. Now the challenge is to get the suspects to confess everything so that justice can be served. Easier said than done, but with enough leverage and the right approach, all the puzzle pieces fall neatly into place.

Money, abuse of power, and intimidation lead to a heartbreaking story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I’m already looking forward to the next book, because I have a feeling it will be another knockout.
5 stars.

Thank you.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in Carolyn Arnold’s new series featuring FBI hostage negotiator Sandra Vos. On her day off, Sandra is called to a hostage situation at the request of the perpetrator who has taken a wealthy, influential family hostage. His demand is that the death of his mother thirty three years ago be re investigated. She died when her car hit a pole and it was ruled an accident. However, when one hostage is shot, and anomalies in the case are uncovered, Sandra is thrust into a high-stakes situation to diffuse the crisis.

Carolyn Arnold is one of my go-to authors. With over thirty books spanning six series and diverse genres, including strong police procedurals, cozy mysteries, and adventure novels, she’s a master of suspenseful storytelling.

With its intriguing plot, escalating tension, and gradually revealed secrets, I found myself utterly captivated by this book until the very end. Sandra is a strong, capable and likable protagonist, and her support team is equally appealing.

This is another great Arnold series.While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, readers new to the series may find themselves motivated to revisit the previous two installments to fully immerse themselves in Sandra Vos’s world.


Thanks to @Netgalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Sandra at her adopted mother when she receives a call requesting her assistance for a hostage situation, she tells them she is on vacation, but learns that the HT will only speak to her. On arriving at the scene she discovers that the HT wants a death that happened 33 years earlier reopened. She later learns that the Hostage Taker(HT), Ryan, was the son of the woman that was killed in the auto accident. The case is reopened and Brick, Sandra's boyfriend and a detective with the MPD, is assigned to investigate.

Read along and follow the actions that Sandra takes as she tries to get Ryan to surrender, learn what information is developed during the investigation and what it leads to at the end. Discover why Ryan took the family as hostages and how the investigation disclosed a coverup of the auto accident as well as find out who was all involved. Read how Sandrs was called once more to another situation and how it is related to the earlier hostage situation.

This is another grate story in the series and worth the read, don't miss out!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following the Sandra Vos books from the beginning - she is a negotiator for the FBI and the first two books were very enjoyable.
In this one, Sandra is called to negotiate with a hostage taker who is holding a rich family in their mansion-the Hansons - mother, father and two children.
As Sandra speaks to the man holding them it becomes clear that his actions are rooted in the past and he wants a wrong righted by the police.
Sandra’s partner Eric begins to investigate the 33 year old case where he discovers that some people he personally knows are involved.
I really liked the way this novel moved at a fast pace and it was particularly interesting to see how Sandra’s mind worked when she was negotiating. The psychology of how she was able to get the outcome she wanted was fascinating. I’m sure the author has done a lot of research to achieve this level of authenticity.
I definitely recommend “Nowhere to Hide” and the previous two books in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

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

Another superb instalment in this series. Sandra Vos is an FBI hostage negotiator and she is becoming known for being the best in the business.

When a wealthy family is taken hostage in their home, the hostage taker is very clear about two things: it's not about money, and he will only speak to the hostage negotiator who handled a recent incident at a local hospital - and that's Sandra.

The hostage taker won't give any reason for what he is doing, insisting that if Sandra reopen a cold case investigation, that the answers will all be there. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters who are unofficially, but quickly becoming, "Sandra's team", and with the need to reopen an old case, Eric ,a police detective and Sandra's boyfriend has a big part in this story and he is a fantastic character, along with a young police officer who aspires to be a detective.

The plot is multi-faceted and twisty and Carolyn Arnold's immersive writing had me gripped right from the off. Loved it!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Carolyn Arnold and Bookouture, for an ARC of this book.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Vos, excellent FBI hostage negotiator, is back! I am absolutely hooked on this series and the approach that each book takes with a case. I feel like we get to ride on Sandra's shoulder and experience it first-hand. The details of the case are vivid and put all of your senses on alert.

This case was immediately one that gets the blood pumping through your body! We get to feel the pain of a man who feels he's been the victim of an egregious injustice. Ryan doesn't want money -- just the right thing done -- or the hostage situation he's put a family he holds responsible for the tragedy is going to start going south!

Sandra's significant other, Detective Eric Birch, works the case along her side and he has to start looking at some routes that he's not sure he's going to like. But both Sandra and Eric know this is all a part of the job. This is where Arnold shines with storytelling. I was enthralled by the twists of the case and worked hard to try and piece everything together -- but she is a master at pushing me to really think outside the box!

This is another shelf-worthy series that I know I'll love from start to finish!

[Jan Fore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere To Hide
Carolyn Arnold
May 20, 2026

Readers start out by hearing about the thirty-three year old case of a woman and her five year old son injured in a winter storm accident. As we are introduced to the present day we find Sandra Vos, FBI agent working the case of a man arriving at the mansion home of Edward Hanson and his family. He soon pulls his weapon and tells them to surrender phones and remain in the room. As the story continues we find many questions as to why and how this man needed to harass the Hanson family.
Nowhere to Hide will be published on May 20, 2026 by Bookouture. I was able to read and review Arnold’s latest book via NetGalley.
Throughout the investigation detectives for the Washington DC Metropolitan police department try to uncover the reason for Ryan Crawford’s hold over the Hanson family. Arnold’s story is great suspense. Enjoy this 3rd sequel to the Sandro Vos series.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book and what a book it is....

third book in this brilliant series about sandra vos fbi negotiator and this story is so gripping you wont be able to put it down

vos gets a call that she is needed at a scene even though she has requested time off to spend it with her family.... but vos goes to the scene....

a very rich and powerful are being held captive and the reasons as of yet arent known only that the perp wants to only speak to vos...

the perp demands that vos investigates a 33 year old crime, its a hit and run with the driver dying at the wheel... and until its reopened and they find the answers he wants he isnt talking...

and as vos starts the ball rolling nobody is expecting what they are about to find out....

ohh man this series just gets better and better.... who needs sleep.... i cant wait for the next book in this brilliant series

[Laura R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra is supposed to be off work but when the hostage taker (HT) insists on talking to her, she has no choice but to show up to work. She makes contact with him and discovers that what the HT wants is for a cold case to be reopened. And who better to handle that than Detective Eric Birch.

There is plenty of family drama, suspense, danger, and corruption as this story progresses. At times the HT seems to be unhinged, other times rational. The case he wants reopened and investigated is from over 30 years ago, and the hard copy of the file is missing.

So Sandra has to use all her skills to negotiate with the HT while Eric is dogged in following what few clues there are. We also get to know Office Cindy Moore who has passed the detective's exam and is eager to prove herself. This story had me turning the pages to see what would be revealed next and if the hostage situation would be resolved without any deaths.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long enjoyed the Amanda Steele series that this author writes and now I am enjoying the Sandra Vos series as well, even though the main character has a different kind of job etc.

Sandra has a long-awaited week off work, however, she is called in to a hostage situation because the hostage taker asked for her specifically. So, she felt obliged to go. Lucky for her, she has a good team to work with but trying to untangle all the various threads involved in the situation is tricky.

I can't even imagine what it would be like to be a hostage negotiator - to be honest, I don't think my nerves could handle it!

It is fortunate that Sandra is very good at her job but there were certainly some things about this case that raised my eyebrows more than once.

This was a solid book in this genre and I am looking forward to continuing the series.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere to Hide is a very good read full of tension and suspense. Vos is called into work as an FBI negotiator when a man takes a family hostage insisting he wants the truth to be known and an old case to be reopened. I really enjoyed this book. The authors writing is engaging, the story flows well and has a plot line that is all to believeable. The main character is likeable and I enjoyed the snippets the author gives about her home and personal life. The mix of hostage negotiations alongside an old police investigation really works well here and makes for a very entertaining read. I really liked the unexpected and open thread and hope this is followed up in the next book.

If you like crime thrillers then this is for you and I'd recommend it. You are best to read the series in order to know Vos from the beginning.

4 stars

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention grabbing intrigue from start to finish! Arnold is a master at nabbing a reader's attention quickly and holding onto it throughout a tense standoff. I want to see more of a personal touch of more hands on time with Sandra and her boyfriend Eric, daughter Olivia and mom Margo going forward in the series, but the angst of a good case is already taken care of in each book. The case in this book is quick to heat up and was developed well. Major corruption is uncovered as it all plays out and we get to see if the key players will be taken down or not, no matter how personal it feels to some.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a hostage storyline with a great team behind the scenes trying to dive into the background and talk the perpetrator down.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to see what thrilling, tangled web awaited in this latest Sandra Vos mystery/thriller, and I got so much more than I expected. Watching Sandra and Eric work together to try and solve a decades old case and free a family safely made for a captivating story. Arnold has a way of bringing all her characters to life, and they’re complex, not perfect. It’s hard to hate the “bad” guys at times because they feel so human, instead of over the top villainous. I got so wrapped up in the story, and invested in Ryan’s tragic story and wanting to see how everything unfold that I blew through this in one day. (Seriously, set aside time, grab your favorite drink and snack and get cozy)! While you don’t have to read the earlier books in the series, you’ll have a better understanding of Sandra and Eric and their dynamic if you do.

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Vos is a negotiator for the FBI and a really good one at that. After the excellent job she did in the negotiations for The Founders Hospital (book 2) she is specifically requested for this job by the Hostage taker (HT). HT wants what seems to be an open and shut car accident reopened or he will kill the entire Hanson family who are well known billionaires.

Sandra is calm under pressure and really good at making you think she's on your side. She has a way with words but it is genuine. She does want to help and with the least loss of life possible. I really like her.

This story was really tense and you could feel the lives on the line all the way through. I had no idea what the HT was going to do next or how this was all going to pan out.

If you love a crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and up all night then this is for you