If They'd Only Known

by Susan Leon

A missing child. A fractured family. A truth buried in time.
TJ “Jack” Kelly was just a teenager when eight-year-old Marla Ferguson—the sister of his high school sweetheart Shannon—was kidnapped, leaving her twin brother injured and her family shattered. When the case went cold, guilt, anger, and unanswered questions drove everyone apart—including Jack, whose dream of becoming a police officer was forged in the aftermath of Marla’s disappearance.
Nineteen years later Jack, now a homicide detective, returns to his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, when another young girl—a dead ringer for Marla—is found raped and murdered. As the killer begins to taunt the police and the Ferguson family, he must confront long-buried secrets, resurfacing resentments, and a past that refuses to stay buried. Jack and his partner Tony Caruso race to uncover the truth before more girls are killed—perhaps even the woman Jack has never stopped loving.
If They’d Only Known is a haunting cold case crime novel about trauma, memory, and the devastating ripple effects of violence. For the reader who loves stories that explore what tragedy leaves behind not just who committed the crime.

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2026

Reviews

[Jena Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up far too late reading this one because I had to know what happened next.

At its heart, If They’d Only Known isn’t just about solving a cold case—it’s about the people left behind. The grief, guilt, and fractured relationships felt so real that I became completely invested in the characters and their journey. The mystery kept the pages turning, but it was the emotional impact that stayed with me long after I finished.

If you enjoy crime fiction that’s as much about the human cost of tragedy as it is about catching the killer, I highly recommend this one.

[K Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intense but cathartic. As a survivor of childhood trauma, at first, I didn’t think I could finish it. It was too real, too disturbing, too vivid. After reading a bit, I would then dream about it that night. I have never dreamed about a book before. A friend of mine who had already read it told me to hold on, skip ahead when I needed to, that the real story was about the families. It still took a while to allow myself to be immersed in it. Once I did, though, I finished in one sitting. I raced through it so quickly that I will have to re-read it to catch the things I missed in my haste. Here’s the thing - I had thought I was long past the events of 60 years ago, but this book proved otherwise. Reading it turned out to be a healing and cathartic experience. I recommend this book to everyone, but especially to survivors. It will be an extremely difficult read at times, but for me, it was worth it for the easing of buried pain.

[Candace Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Leon has crafted a riveting story about a family’s search for answers and the way a horrific crime affects every member and ripples out into the community. A story about a child’s abduction and murder isn’t an easy read, but I was swept up in the characters’ emotional journeys in the aftermath and over the next twenty years. The book is both a riveting cold-case investigation and a gripping psychological study that will keep you reading long into the night. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented storyteller.

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a gripping cold case, If They’d Only Known is an unforgettable story about the people left behind.

This book hooked me from the very first chapters and kept me reading far later into the night than I intended. Yes, it’s a compelling cold-case mystery, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next, but what really makes this novel stand out is its heart.

Rather than focusing solely on the crime, Susan Leon explores the lasting impact a child’s disappearance has on everyone left behind. The grief, guilt, fractured relationships, and unanswered questions feel incredibly real, making the characters easy to connect with and impossible not to root for. I found myself riding an emotional roller coaster right alongside them.

The investigation unfolds at a steady pace, revealing new pieces of the puzzle while never losing sight of the human story at its center. By the time the truth came to light, I was completely invested in the outcome. The mystery is satisfying, the emotional payoff is well earned, and the resolution ties everything together beautifully.

If you enjoy crime fiction with strong characters, genuine emotion, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning, I highly recommend If They’d Only Known. It’s a five-star read that reminds us the greatest stories aren’t just about solving the crime—they’re about healing the lives it changed forever.

[Frank Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

You like a good crime thriller? A psychological thriller? An examination of the impact on a family following the abduction of a youngest child? A police procedural? This book has all of that and more.
Set mostly in Canada, it covers a twenty year period between the mid nineteen sixties and eighties and also deals with the effects of war on the mental health of survivors.
If that sounds like a heavy load for an easily read novel to carry, don't, please, be put off. I first encountered the book when I was invited to beta read it back in January this year. Now that it has been published I am pleased to see that it is much improved, with all of the suggestions I made dealt with. You will find it gripping in the way that only the best of thrillers do. As a debut it is remarkable.
I have no hesitation in recommending it. The complexity of the plot with its many twists and turns as the villain's past and the details of his crimes are revealed reminds me of a Scandinavian 'noir' thriller such as Anders de la Motte's “Rites of Spring”.
The crime fighting duo of Jack Kelly and Tony Caruso are well developed, beginning from when they meet in police training college. I understand that there is more to come featuring these two. Jack's direct involvement with the family at the centre of “If They'd Only Known” is bound to have a lasting impact on his future career and I look forward to discovering how Ms Leon handles that.

[Maggie Graham]

If They’d Only Known
By Susan Leon

This is not an easy read. The story revolves around a serial rapist/murderer of young girls who is active over a period of 20-odd years.

That said, the main thrust of the novel centres on the effects of those murders on the families of the victims. Set in a small Canadian town between the mid-60s and the mid-80s, it’s the sort of place where everyone knows everyone’s business, or thinks they do. There are rumours. There is gossip. Miscommunication is rife, as is suspicion.

When the first child disappears, it is treated as an isolated case. By the time the third child is murdered, they have a description of the victims: all are female, all are about the same age, all are redheads. All have been sexually assaulted. Since the assaults are so spread out over time, this is when they conclude that there’s a single perpetrator. They can’t even guess when the next incident will occur. They are certain that there will be another.

The story is told from the POVs of the characters, each clearly identified, often with a date, following the time line. This allows the reader to get inside their heads and understand them to a degree.

There isn’t a happy ending. However, at the very end, there is a hint of an inkling of an intimation that things might be looking up for two of the characters. Maybe.

While I’m not generally a fan of murder mysteries, this one was thoroughly satisfying.

[Rily Arke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself completely drawn into If They’d Only Known from the very beginning. What starts as a compelling cold-case investigation soon becomes something much deeper—a story about the lasting effects of loss, unanswered questions, and the lives forever changed by a child’s disappearance.

What I enjoyed most was how much I came to care about the characters. Their grief, hopes, regrets, and determination all felt genuine, so I became just as invested in their emotional journey as I was in discovering the truth. More than once I told myself, “Just one more chapter,” only to realise another hour had disappeared.

The mystery is cleverly constructed, with enough twists to keep me guessing, but it never overshadows the human story at its heart. Susan Leon strikes an excellent balance between suspense and emotion, making the ending both satisfying and moving.

If you’re looking for crime fiction with believable characters, real emotional depth, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning, I’d thoroughly recommend If They’d Only Known. It’s a memorable read, and I’ll certainly be looking out for more books by Susan Leon.

[Amelia Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

If They’d Only Known is a gripping cold-case mystery that goes far beyond simply asking who committed the crime. Through TJ “Jack” Kelly’s return to Thunder Bay, the disappearance of Marla Ferguson and a disturbing new murder become deeply connected, forcing Jack to confront the guilt, memories, and relationships that have shaped his life.
What stood out to me most was the way the story explores trauma, buried secrets, fractured families, and the lasting ripple effects of violence. Jack’s connection to Shannon and the Ferguson family makes the investigation deeply personal, while the connection between the old case and the new murder creates an unsettling sense that the past has never truly been buried.
A haunting and emotionally layered crime novel about what tragedy leaves behind,not just who committed the crime, but how its consequences continue to shape everyone left behind.

[Helen Spiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

If They’d Only Known sounds like a gripping crime thriller filled with suspense, buried secrets, and emotional depth. Susan Leon weaves together a haunting mystery that explores how tragedy can shape lives long after the event. I appreciate the compelling premise and the focus on uncovering painful truths while seeking justice. A powerful and intriguing story that showcases the author’s talent for crime fiction.

[Liisa Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It was a suspenseful page-turner that kept me saying, 'just one more chapter, ' until way past my bedtime. After a horrific, unsolved crime, Leon masterfully follows those affected over the next two decades in a story about trauma, endurance, and the long road to justice. I highly recommend this fantastic, unputdownable read.

[Ernie Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading and within minutes i was hooked! I had to know what the next chapter was going to hold. A page turner and emotional experience

[Vera Basilone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and Gripping

If you enjoy character driven crime fiction with believable detectives, strong, emotional, storytelling, and a mystery that keeps you engaged from beginning to end, I highly recommend this book. I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.

[Sarah Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book- even though it sometimes made me yell at the page because I got so invested in the characters. Definitely worth reading.

[Aranka · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

A really good start but there was a lot of telling instead of showing, and story went on tangents it didn’t need too. This felt more like a first draft.