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She's Not There
“I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
Caroline Shipley’s heart nearly stops when she hears those words from the voice on the other end of the phone. Instantly, she’s thrust fifteen years into the past, to a posh resort in Baja, Mexico—and the fateful night her world collapsed.
The trip is supposed to be a celebration. Caroline’s husband, Hunter, convinces her to leave their two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha, alone in their hotel suite while the couple enjoys an anniversary dinner in the restaurant downstairs. But returning afterward, Caroline and Hunter make a horrifying discovery: Two-year-old Samantha has vanished without a trace.
What follows are days, weeks, and years of anguish for Caroline. She’s tormented by media attention that has branded her a cold, incompetent mother, while she struggles to save her marriage. Caroline also has to deal with the demands of her needy elder daughter, Michelle, who is driven to cope in dangerous ways. Through it all, Caroline desperately clings to the hope that Samantha will someday be found—only to be stung again and again by cruel reality.
Plunged back into the still-raw heartbreak of her daughter’s disappearance, and the suspicions and inconsistencies surrounding a case long gone cold, Caroline doesn’t know whom or what to believe. The only thing she can be sure of is that someone is fiercely determined to hide the truth of what happened to Samantha.
Caroline Shipley’s heart nearly stops when she hears those words from the voice on the other end of the phone. Instantly, she’s thrust fifteen years into the past, to a posh resort in Baja, Mexico—and the fateful night her world collapsed.
The trip is supposed to be a celebration. Caroline’s husband, Hunter, convinces her to leave their two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha, alone in their hotel suite while the couple enjoys an anniversary dinner in the restaurant downstairs. But returning afterward, Caroline and Hunter make a horrifying discovery: Two-year-old Samantha has vanished without a trace.
What follows are days, weeks, and years of anguish for Caroline. She’s tormented by media attention that has branded her a cold, incompetent mother, while she struggles to save her marriage. Caroline also has to deal with the demands of her needy elder daughter, Michelle, who is driven to cope in dangerous ways. Through it all, Caroline desperately clings to the hope that Samantha will someday be found—only to be stung again and again by cruel reality.
Plunged back into the still-raw heartbreak of her daughter’s disappearance, and the suspicions and inconsistencies surrounding a case long gone cold, Caroline doesn’t know whom or what to believe. The only thing she can be sure of is that someone is fiercely determined to hide the truth of what happened to Samantha.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 23, 2016
903 people are currently reading
9086 people want to read
About the author
Joy Fielding
121 books2,196 followersJoy Fielding (née Tepperman; born March 18, 1945) is a Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,172 reviews
December 8, 2015
4.5 Stars
I have been a fan of Joy Fielding's books for many years. I have read all of her books and although I've enjoyed some more than others I'm never disappointed.
Needless to say I was very happy when I was I was approved by NetGalley to read her newest book, She's Not There. Once again I was not let down. I thought it was a great psychological suspense novel. I read it in two days but could easily have read it in one sitting if I had had the time.
Instantly after reading the blurb for She's Not There, I thought of Madeleine McCann. I have followed her story since her disappearance from Portugal in 2007. Although the story had many similarities at first, it was still an intriguing read on it's on. Reading about a child that has gone missing or any crime regarding a child can be upsetting but I was compelled to find out what happened.
Fifteen years ago, Carole Shipley was happily married with two young daughters. However, her happy life exploded after her daughter, Samantha is kidnapped while the family is on a trip to Mexico.
For years Carole suffers the torment of not knowing where her daughter or what happened to her. Her relationship with her other daughter Michelle has suffered as a consequence of the kidnapping. Her marriage falls apart under the stress. But she clings to the hope that one day her daughter will be returned to her.
The story is told from Carole's point of view and flows easily from past to present. It shows us a lot of what Carole goes through over the years. She is continually scrutinized and villainized by the media, frequently called a murderer when out in public and often let go from teaching jobs once they find out who she is. Her husband seems to be let off relatively easy by the media but she is constantly under attack.
Then fifteen years later she gets a call from a young woman...
“I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
This book really made me think of how I myself have judged people in similar situations. For example, when I first heard about Madeleine McCann and that she went missing while her parents were out having dinner (in a restaurant just outside the hotel). I thought to myself then and while reading this book that I would never leave my children alone like that. But it is so easy to say what I would or wouldn't do as I'm not in that position myself. And regardless no mother or father deserves to have their child taken from them for making a bad choice. In this instance a choice that had horrible consequences but still, show me a parent who has never made a mistake. Plus with media involvement who knows if we are ever being given the full story.
I found this book extremely emotional, at times hard to read but I was hooked. I even flipped back a time or two to see if I could figure things out. While I may have been right about some minor things I really wasn't even close in my guess to what happened.
I highly recommend this great read by Joy Fielding.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
I have been a fan of Joy Fielding's books for many years. I have read all of her books and although I've enjoyed some more than others I'm never disappointed.
Needless to say I was very happy when I was I was approved by NetGalley to read her newest book, She's Not There. Once again I was not let down. I thought it was a great psychological suspense novel. I read it in two days but could easily have read it in one sitting if I had had the time.
Instantly after reading the blurb for She's Not There, I thought of Madeleine McCann. I have followed her story since her disappearance from Portugal in 2007. Although the story had many similarities at first, it was still an intriguing read on it's on. Reading about a child that has gone missing or any crime regarding a child can be upsetting but I was compelled to find out what happened.
Fifteen years ago, Carole Shipley was happily married with two young daughters. However, her happy life exploded after her daughter, Samantha is kidnapped while the family is on a trip to Mexico.
For years Carole suffers the torment of not knowing where her daughter or what happened to her. Her relationship with her other daughter Michelle has suffered as a consequence of the kidnapping. Her marriage falls apart under the stress. But she clings to the hope that one day her daughter will be returned to her.
The story is told from Carole's point of view and flows easily from past to present. It shows us a lot of what Carole goes through over the years. She is continually scrutinized and villainized by the media, frequently called a murderer when out in public and often let go from teaching jobs once they find out who she is. Her husband seems to be let off relatively easy by the media but she is constantly under attack.
Then fifteen years later she gets a call from a young woman...
“I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
This book really made me think of how I myself have judged people in similar situations. For example, when I first heard about Madeleine McCann and that she went missing while her parents were out having dinner (in a restaurant just outside the hotel). I thought to myself then and while reading this book that I would never leave my children alone like that. But it is so easy to say what I would or wouldn't do as I'm not in that position myself. And regardless no mother or father deserves to have their child taken from them for making a bad choice. In this instance a choice that had horrible consequences but still, show me a parent who has never made a mistake. Plus with media involvement who knows if we are ever being given the full story.
I found this book extremely emotional, at times hard to read but I was hooked. I even flipped back a time or two to see if I could figure things out. While I may have been right about some minor things I really wasn't even close in my guess to what happened.
I highly recommend this great read by Joy Fielding.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
November 30, 2017
"She's Not There" was a very enjoyable read that was easy to follow and had a decent storyline which kept my attention from start to finish.
Being a parent myself, you never stop worrying about your children and the thought of them going missing is just devastating. So I truly felt for Caroline when she discovered Samantha wasn't in her crib upon checking on her. I imagine she must have felt her heart had been torn out, I would - having lost my youngest son for only a couple minutes many years ago in a shop that feeling of dread is sickening. With the story having resemblances to the tragic Madeline McCann mystery, whereby the child goes missing whilst the parents are dining with friends on a holiday resort, you begin to imagine what it must have been like for the family following her disappearance and this book focuses on the remaining sister in the story and the subsequent years that follow. I have no comments or judgement to make on Caroline and Hunter's decision to leave the children sleeping while they went out and it was interesting to see how they coped with this after Samantha's disappearance.
I did have a few issues with the characters right from the start, Samantha's sister Michelle was more than the average whinging kid and the Grandmother was quite infuriating in the way she treat Caroline. Hunter wasn't the doting Dad I'd have liked him to be, treasuring his beloved car's interior over allowing his kids a drink. As the years went by Michelle's attitude only got worse but one has to wonder how much that had to do with the events that unfolded when she was five and how emotionally scarred she was from her parents subsequent obsession with finding her sister and coping with their own emotional feelings.
All in all a very good read with an ending I thought befitting and I would happily recommend "She's Not There" by Joy Fielding to readers of all ages.
4 stars.
Being a parent myself, you never stop worrying about your children and the thought of them going missing is just devastating. So I truly felt for Caroline when she discovered Samantha wasn't in her crib upon checking on her. I imagine she must have felt her heart had been torn out, I would - having lost my youngest son for only a couple minutes many years ago in a shop that feeling of dread is sickening. With the story having resemblances to the tragic Madeline McCann mystery, whereby the child goes missing whilst the parents are dining with friends on a holiday resort, you begin to imagine what it must have been like for the family following her disappearance and this book focuses on the remaining sister in the story and the subsequent years that follow. I have no comments or judgement to make on Caroline and Hunter's decision to leave the children sleeping while they went out and it was interesting to see how they coped with this after Samantha's disappearance.
I did have a few issues with the characters right from the start, Samantha's sister Michelle was more than the average whinging kid and the Grandmother was quite infuriating in the way she treat Caroline. Hunter wasn't the doting Dad I'd have liked him to be, treasuring his beloved car's interior over allowing his kids a drink. As the years went by Michelle's attitude only got worse but one has to wonder how much that had to do with the events that unfolded when she was five and how emotionally scarred she was from her parents subsequent obsession with finding her sister and coping with their own emotional feelings.
All in all a very good read with an ending I thought befitting and I would happily recommend "She's Not There" by Joy Fielding to readers of all ages.
4 stars.
January 9, 2017
She’s Not There by Joy Fielding is a 2016 Ballantine publication.
Emotionally intense psychological thriller!
Fifteen years ago, Caroline and her husband, Hunter and their two children, join friends and family in Mexico to celebrate their anniversary.
When special plans are in jeopardy due to a babysitting problem, Hunter convinces Caroline to leave the children unattended so they can enjoy dinner together, she reluctantly agrees on the condition that they check on them often.
However, Caroline’s worst nightmare is realized with her two year old daughter, Samantha, is stolen away in the night.
Now, fifteen years later, Caroline and Hunter are divorced and their teenage daughter, Michelle, is troubled. Then out of the blue, Caroline receives a phone call from a girl who believes she may be Samantha. Is this a sick joke? A ploy for money? Or could this young girl really be Samantha?
The premise of this book mirrors the real life abduction of Madeline McCann, whose parents did exactly what Hunter and Caroline did while on vacation, by leaving their child unattended while they went out for dinner. So, you could say this was a ‘ripped from the headlines’ kind of story.
I thought the author did a great job of building suspense, while highlighting the emotional trauma the family dealt with after losing their daughter and the determination of a mother to never stop searching or believing her child could still be out there somewhere, even if everyone else has tried to move forward with their lives.
Any parent can empathize with Caroline and although Michelle is a real pain, and was very difficult to like, I often felt sorry for her, sensing she was in deep emotional pain.
There are plenty of suspects and plenty of possible motives, and although the plot is improbable, the story was still riveting and I found myself wrapped up in it despite its flaws.
So, in the end, I had to admit I liked the story, and was pleased with the outcome.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and will appeal to those enjoy light psychological thrillers.
3.5 stars
Emotionally intense psychological thriller!
Fifteen years ago, Caroline and her husband, Hunter and their two children, join friends and family in Mexico to celebrate their anniversary.
When special plans are in jeopardy due to a babysitting problem, Hunter convinces Caroline to leave the children unattended so they can enjoy dinner together, she reluctantly agrees on the condition that they check on them often.
However, Caroline’s worst nightmare is realized with her two year old daughter, Samantha, is stolen away in the night.
Now, fifteen years later, Caroline and Hunter are divorced and their teenage daughter, Michelle, is troubled. Then out of the blue, Caroline receives a phone call from a girl who believes she may be Samantha. Is this a sick joke? A ploy for money? Or could this young girl really be Samantha?
The premise of this book mirrors the real life abduction of Madeline McCann, whose parents did exactly what Hunter and Caroline did while on vacation, by leaving their child unattended while they went out for dinner. So, you could say this was a ‘ripped from the headlines’ kind of story.
I thought the author did a great job of building suspense, while highlighting the emotional trauma the family dealt with after losing their daughter and the determination of a mother to never stop searching or believing her child could still be out there somewhere, even if everyone else has tried to move forward with their lives.
Any parent can empathize with Caroline and although Michelle is a real pain, and was very difficult to like, I often felt sorry for her, sensing she was in deep emotional pain.
There are plenty of suspects and plenty of possible motives, and although the plot is improbable, the story was still riveting and I found myself wrapped up in it despite its flaws.
So, in the end, I had to admit I liked the story, and was pleased with the outcome.
Overall, this is an enjoyable read and will appeal to those enjoy light psychological thrillers.
3.5 stars
April 30, 2024
4.5 stars
First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
This was my first ever Joy Fielding book and it is definitely not my last! I can't believe I have not read any of her books before. I've certainly been missing out.
This book made me think of the Madeleine McCann case and I'm thinking the author may have got the idea for this book from it.
Hunter and Caroline Shipley's daughter was taken from her crib while they vacationed in Mexico for their wedding anniversary with friends. The book goes back and forth in time as Caroline recalls the incident. Now, 15 years later she receives a phone call from a girl who thinks she may be her daughter.
The story has some twists and keeps you guessing throughout with a few hints in between. It has some emotional and intense moments.
I highly recommend this book. The writing is good and the story compelling!
First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
This was my first ever Joy Fielding book and it is definitely not my last! I can't believe I have not read any of her books before. I've certainly been missing out.
This book made me think of the Madeleine McCann case and I'm thinking the author may have got the idea for this book from it.
Hunter and Caroline Shipley's daughter was taken from her crib while they vacationed in Mexico for their wedding anniversary with friends. The book goes back and forth in time as Caroline recalls the incident. Now, 15 years later she receives a phone call from a girl who thinks she may be her daughter.
The story has some twists and keeps you guessing throughout with a few hints in between. It has some emotional and intense moments.
I highly recommend this book. The writing is good and the story compelling!
January 15, 2016
*Many thanks to Netgalley for my copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review*
I'm just going to preface this by stating there must be something wrong with me. I have read 2 child abduction books in a row while having a 3 year old and a 7 month old at home. I think its officially time for a change of plot! ;)
I've only read one other book by Joy Fielding called The Wild Zone, and while I enjoyed it, there's no comparison as she has only grown more talented as a storyteller. Carole Shipley and her family are on vacation in Mexico when their daughter Samantha is abducted. After years of wonder and suffering at the lack of any leads, a young girl shows up claiming she thinks she is her missing daughter, Samantha. All in the midst of this, Carole is trying to care for her other daughter, Michelle, who has taken to coping with their family's grief in dangerous ways. Is Samantha the missing daughter they have been waiting to find all these years? Or is something else at work here?
While this book wasn't overly graphic in the sense of violence and gore, it was still disturbing and extremely emotional. I felt raw while following this family's unimaginable grief. As a parent, I know I have made plenty of mistakes that I have just been lucky enough nothing severe happened to either of my children. This book brought to light real life issues that many people struggle with on a daily basis and it forced me to check my attitude at the door while reading this story. I found my heart softening and truly feeling for these people, as we have heard this story so many times in the news in years past. This was a powerful read that I would highly recommend to those looking for a psychological thriller that is on the lighter side.
I'm just going to preface this by stating there must be something wrong with me. I have read 2 child abduction books in a row while having a 3 year old and a 7 month old at home. I think its officially time for a change of plot! ;)
I've only read one other book by Joy Fielding called The Wild Zone, and while I enjoyed it, there's no comparison as she has only grown more talented as a storyteller. Carole Shipley and her family are on vacation in Mexico when their daughter Samantha is abducted. After years of wonder and suffering at the lack of any leads, a young girl shows up claiming she thinks she is her missing daughter, Samantha. All in the midst of this, Carole is trying to care for her other daughter, Michelle, who has taken to coping with their family's grief in dangerous ways. Is Samantha the missing daughter they have been waiting to find all these years? Or is something else at work here?
While this book wasn't overly graphic in the sense of violence and gore, it was still disturbing and extremely emotional. I felt raw while following this family's unimaginable grief. As a parent, I know I have made plenty of mistakes that I have just been lucky enough nothing severe happened to either of my children. This book brought to light real life issues that many people struggle with on a daily basis and it forced me to check my attitude at the door while reading this story. I found my heart softening and truly feeling for these people, as we have heard this story so many times in the news in years past. This was a powerful read that I would highly recommend to those looking for a psychological thriller that is on the lighter side.
May 3, 2024
4.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological suspense
Publication date ~ February 23, 2016
Page Count ~ 358
Audio length ~ 10 hours 37 minutes
Narrator ~ Tanya Eby
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline (present and 15 years ago), kidnapping
I read this one back in 2016, but just popping in now with a short review.
I remember it having similarities to a true missing girl, Madeleine McCann. BTW in case you're wondering ~ she's been missing since 2007, there is someone is custody, but he's denies involvement.
A story of scrutiny ~ how could parents leave their young children alone in a hotel room while they wined and dined at a nearby restaurant.
A story of your other child ~ Michelle, the older daughter, that was spared and now has to live in the shadow of her missing sister.
Could this girl knocking on the door 15 years later really be Samantha finally finding her way home?
Fast paced emotional page turning goodness that I would probably still recommend today.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ psychological suspense
Publication date ~ February 23, 2016
Page Count ~ 358
Audio length ~ 10 hours 37 minutes
Narrator ~ Tanya Eby
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline (present and 15 years ago), kidnapping
I read this one back in 2016, but just popping in now with a short review.
I remember it having similarities to a true missing girl, Madeleine McCann. BTW in case you're wondering ~ she's been missing since 2007, there is someone is custody, but he's denies involvement.
A story of scrutiny ~ how could parents leave their young children alone in a hotel room while they wined and dined at a nearby restaurant.
A story of your other child ~ Michelle, the older daughter, that was spared and now has to live in the shadow of her missing sister.
Could this girl knocking on the door 15 years later really be Samantha finally finding her way home?
Fast paced emotional page turning goodness that I would probably still recommend today.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
March 5, 2016
OK. I'm playin' among the stars here. I was fullout ready to give this one a 4 star review. However, this would be a 3.5 if the category existed. (Reasons to follow)
"His answer was as direct, as forceful, as an arrow to the heart. You shouldn't have left your kids alone."
Caroline Shipley and her husband, Hunter, are celebrating their anniversary at a beautiful Mexican resort. But they are certainly not alone in their getaway. The Shipley's are accompanied by their two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha, and a gaggle of friends. Caroline and Hunter have made a pact to check on their two girls left alone in the hotel room as they dine with friends. A parent's thunderstruck nightmare results. Samantha has gone missing from her crib.
Fast-forward to fifteen years later and to the aftermath. Caroline and Hunter are no longer married and Michelle has grown into an abrasive young woman who is constantly lock-stepped in a battle of wills with her mother.
I applaud Joy Fielding for the ease of her writing and how effortlessly she drawns the reader into this heart-pounding spiral. We feel the anguish of this mother and we wish to put out a "cease and desist" order against the daughter, Michelle. A worthy writer, and Fielding is certainly in that category, uses her craft to make you rally behind certain characters and, at the same time, motivates you to roadblock others. Michelle was working on my last nerve.
We experience the story mainly through the character of Caroline. Perhaps the story could have been enhanced with the perspective of the different characters as well. It may have broadened the impact on all parties involved and added more depth. I sailed through this book on the southwinds of good story telling only to be landlocked at the end. Plausibility is a big factor for me. Yet, we readers, tend to forgive even a dissatisfactory ending if "the ride" is a good one. And this one was.
I have now had a tasty bite of Joy Fielding's work and will certainly be back for more.
"His answer was as direct, as forceful, as an arrow to the heart. You shouldn't have left your kids alone."
Caroline Shipley and her husband, Hunter, are celebrating their anniversary at a beautiful Mexican resort. But they are certainly not alone in their getaway. The Shipley's are accompanied by their two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha, and a gaggle of friends. Caroline and Hunter have made a pact to check on their two girls left alone in the hotel room as they dine with friends. A parent's thunderstruck nightmare results. Samantha has gone missing from her crib.
Fast-forward to fifteen years later and to the aftermath. Caroline and Hunter are no longer married and Michelle has grown into an abrasive young woman who is constantly lock-stepped in a battle of wills with her mother.
I applaud Joy Fielding for the ease of her writing and how effortlessly she drawns the reader into this heart-pounding spiral. We feel the anguish of this mother and we wish to put out a "cease and desist" order against the daughter, Michelle. A worthy writer, and Fielding is certainly in that category, uses her craft to make you rally behind certain characters and, at the same time, motivates you to roadblock others. Michelle was working on my last nerve.
We experience the story mainly through the character of Caroline. Perhaps the story could have been enhanced with the perspective of the different characters as well. It may have broadened the impact on all parties involved and added more depth. I sailed through this book on the southwinds of good story telling only to be landlocked at the end. Plausibility is a big factor for me. Yet, we readers, tend to forgive even a dissatisfactory ending if "the ride" is a good one. And this one was.
I have now had a tasty bite of Joy Fielding's work and will certainly be back for more.
February 22, 2018
A most enjoyable audio read. It was very edge of your seat stuff and I was happy to speed up my BorrowBox loan. This one had tinges of real life - happy (on the surface) couple, holidaying in a resort, child goes missing while said happy couple are dining with their 'happy' friends. This book did make you think of the real life news story, many times.
I loved to hate a lot of the characters, and this really did spur on the excitement of the read. The poor wife would have been happy on a holiday to celebrate her wedding anniversary just with her immediate family, but her husband (not so nice to put it blandly) bought along other family members and hangeroners. So many unpleasant men and women, mother-in-laws and nasty shallow so called friends.
A distraught mother being painted in a harsh light through the media for holding her head high and her back straight; while the busy husband goes back to work a week later is 'pained' and 'good looking' on the flip side. I struggled with the lack of despair in the days to follow the disappearance. I love when a character (or in this case the plural) are so horrendous that we just have to see what happens next.
Happy or sad ending for this little girl lost? What of the sister left behind that has struggled in the limelight for her whole life?
Good solid reading, recommended.
I loved to hate a lot of the characters, and this really did spur on the excitement of the read. The poor wife would have been happy on a holiday to celebrate her wedding anniversary just with her immediate family, but her husband (not so nice to put it blandly) bought along other family members and hangeroners. So many unpleasant men and women, mother-in-laws and nasty shallow so called friends.
A distraught mother being painted in a harsh light through the media for holding her head high and her back straight; while the busy husband goes back to work a week later is 'pained' and 'good looking' on the flip side. I struggled with the lack of despair in the days to follow the disappearance. I love when a character (or in this case the plural) are so horrendous that we just have to see what happens next.
Happy or sad ending for this little girl lost? What of the sister left behind that has struggled in the limelight for her whole life?
Good solid reading, recommended.
March 2, 2016
3.5 It was rather refreshing to read a suspense story without explicit violence or descriptive paragraphs of murder. Although somewhat light and not as tightly written as some this is a compulsively readable story. Kidnapped child, lightly based on the McCann kidnapping, a family in crisis, the journalists trying the mother in the press all made this a quick flowing story. Interesting characters, really wanted to see who done it and why. A few things didn't ring true for me but you can't have it all, this one came pretty close.
ARC from Netgalley.
ARC from Netgalley.
March 2, 2016
SHE’S NOT THERE by Joy Fielding is a light psychological thriller without any gore or violence, a nice change from what I normally read, but still packs a real emotional rollercoaster. This is the first book I have read by this author but it won’t be the last. A Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, just like me so that explains why I like her and her writing.
This is a fast-paced light psychological thriller, a child abduction story, told from the mother’s point of view, the devastating effects on her and her family, as they try to cope with this disaster. I found myself thinking about the case of Madeline McCann.
The chapter flip between present and past, with the story beginning in the present…
Fifteen years tomorrow would mark the disappearance of a couple’s two-year-old daughter, Samantha, while on vacation in Baja, Mexico, celebrating their anniversary.
Carole’s husband , Hunter convinced her to leave their two young daughters, Michelle and toddler, Samantha, alone in their hotel suite, while the couple went downstairs to the restaurant, for their anniversary dinner. But when they returned their two-year-old daughter was gone. It was the night their world fell apart!
But it was their anniversary…They had arranged for a sitter, but the sitter never showed up.
They had checked on their children every half hour, the husband being the last person to see Samantha.
The hotel room had been locked, but Carole had lost her keycard that afternoon?
The police had been notified, but believed the parents were responsible for her disappearance, but they had no proof to charge anyone.
Carole clings to the hope that Samantha will be found someday.
And now if their daughter was still alive …she would be seventeen.
And then Carole receives a phone call fifteen years later that brings her life to a standstill.
“I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
Carole doesn’t know whom or what to believe…but she has to find out the truth.
This was a powerful read that I would highly recommend to those looking for a light psychological thriller, with gripping characters told by an amazing storyteller.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books for my copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fast-paced light psychological thriller, a child abduction story, told from the mother’s point of view, the devastating effects on her and her family, as they try to cope with this disaster. I found myself thinking about the case of Madeline McCann.
The chapter flip between present and past, with the story beginning in the present…
Fifteen years tomorrow would mark the disappearance of a couple’s two-year-old daughter, Samantha, while on vacation in Baja, Mexico, celebrating their anniversary.
Carole’s husband , Hunter convinced her to leave their two young daughters, Michelle and toddler, Samantha, alone in their hotel suite, while the couple went downstairs to the restaurant, for their anniversary dinner. But when they returned their two-year-old daughter was gone. It was the night their world fell apart!
But it was their anniversary…They had arranged for a sitter, but the sitter never showed up.
They had checked on their children every half hour, the husband being the last person to see Samantha.
The hotel room had been locked, but Carole had lost her keycard that afternoon?
The police had been notified, but believed the parents were responsible for her disappearance, but they had no proof to charge anyone.
Carole clings to the hope that Samantha will be found someday.
And now if their daughter was still alive …she would be seventeen.
And then Carole receives a phone call fifteen years later that brings her life to a standstill.
“I think my real name is Samantha. I think I’m your daughter.”
Carole doesn’t know whom or what to believe…but she has to find out the truth.
This was a powerful read that I would highly recommend to those looking for a light psychological thriller, with gripping characters told by an amazing storyteller.
Many thanks to Ballantine Books for my copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2015
A few years ago I did a binge read of most of Joy Fielding's books. They're what I would describe as "psychological-thriller light". They are not my usual thing, but they suited my mood at the time. And then I hit a couple of particularly weak ones, and I lost interest. She's very prolific, so I think her efforts tend to be uneven. Last year, I read and enjoyed Someone Is Watching -- I thought Joy Fielding was back to form. And I liked She's Not There just as much. Be forewarned, if you have difficulty reading about child kidnapping, this is not for you. But if you can stomach books with that premise, this one works well. Clearly the story is modelled on the Madeleine McCann disappearance. Two year old Samantha is kidnaped from a hotel room in Mexico while her parents -- Caroline and Hunter -- are having dinner in the restaurant downstairs. Fifteen years later, a girl contacts Caroline saying that she thinks she's the missing daughter. The story is told from Caroline's point of view and moves back and forth in time between the kidnaping and its aftermath, and the the call from possible Samantha. It's not particularly deep or complicated, but it has a tight, tense, and fast moving plot. Caroline's reactions and emotions -- although sometimes frustrating and even cringe making, especially when it comes to dealing with her other daughter Michelle -- are recognizable. Fielding is a master at writing stories where all is not as it seems, and she does it again in She's Not There. Enough said! This will probably seem too light to some, but if you like the odd "psychological-thriller light", this might do the trick. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher to an opportunity to read an advance copy.
December 2, 2017
Upon reading the blurb, I instantly thought of the tragic true life kidnapping of Madeleine McCann, a three year old girl who vanished from the family's holiday apartment in Portugal whilst her parents were out to dinner at a nearby restaurant. This year marks the ten year anniversary of her disappearance. According to Google ( thanks Google :)), police have recorded thousands of potential sightings of Maddie since she went missing. I can only imagine what a roller coaster of an emotional ride her parents must go through each time they get their hopes up only to find them shattered with another false lead.
She's Not There revolves around Caroline and her husband Hunter, who were happily married, blessed with two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha. They had a good life and had reason to celebrate their ten year anniversary with friends at a holiday resort in Mexico. Events take a tragic and life-altering turn when Samantha is taken from their hotel suite whilst the children were left sleeping as their parents were downstairs celebrating their anniversary, agreeing to check on them every half-hour after the babysitter was strangely cancelled.
The story is told in the past and present from Caroline's point of view. Fifteen years have passed and Caroline is still suffering the torture of not knowing what happened to Samantha. When she receives a phone call from a teenage girl saying she thinks she may be Samantha, after seeing a press released sketch of what Samantha could likely look like on the fifteenth anniversary of her disappearance, dare Caroline get her hopes up again or is this yet another dead end?
Joy Fielding does an amazing job in placing the reader in the shoes of a family going through a tragedy such as this, depicting the daily struggles I had not even considered in such a situation: public scrutiny and judgment; harassment by the press particularly on each anniversary of the disappearance; leads that raise your hopes only to have them shattered once again; how relationships within the family suffer as a result.
But the author also does a brilliant job in making this story her own, with an array of characters, some that I really warmed up to and others that made me want to hit over the head, and a suspenseful storyline that had me hooked! Although I may have worked out some of the smaller things before the big reveal, I certainly was gobsmacked when the shocking truth finally came out about what really happened that fateful night fifteen years ago.
Well done to the author on creating this eye-opening, addictive and suspenseful read, it ticked all the right boxes for me! I will certainly be on the lookout for more by Joy Fielding.
Many thanks to the author, Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The pleasure was all mine.
She's Not There revolves around Caroline and her husband Hunter, who were happily married, blessed with two young daughters, Michelle and Samantha. They had a good life and had reason to celebrate their ten year anniversary with friends at a holiday resort in Mexico. Events take a tragic and life-altering turn when Samantha is taken from their hotel suite whilst the children were left sleeping as their parents were downstairs celebrating their anniversary, agreeing to check on them every half-hour after the babysitter was strangely cancelled.
The story is told in the past and present from Caroline's point of view. Fifteen years have passed and Caroline is still suffering the torture of not knowing what happened to Samantha. When she receives a phone call from a teenage girl saying she thinks she may be Samantha, after seeing a press released sketch of what Samantha could likely look like on the fifteenth anniversary of her disappearance, dare Caroline get her hopes up again or is this yet another dead end?
Joy Fielding does an amazing job in placing the reader in the shoes of a family going through a tragedy such as this, depicting the daily struggles I had not even considered in such a situation: public scrutiny and judgment; harassment by the press particularly on each anniversary of the disappearance; leads that raise your hopes only to have them shattered once again; how relationships within the family suffer as a result.
But the author also does a brilliant job in making this story her own, with an array of characters, some that I really warmed up to and others that made me want to hit over the head, and a suspenseful storyline that had me hooked! Although I may have worked out some of the smaller things before the big reveal, I certainly was gobsmacked when the shocking truth finally came out about what really happened that fateful night fifteen years ago.
Well done to the author on creating this eye-opening, addictive and suspenseful read, it ticked all the right boxes for me! I will certainly be on the lookout for more by Joy Fielding.
Many thanks to the author, Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The pleasure was all mine.
November 19, 2017
Basing a novel on a real life tragedy that has accounted for a wealth of headlines and proved so divisive as the disappearance of Madeleine McCann from Portugal in 2007 is undoubtedly a sticky wicket and mired with potential pitfalls. Firstly, from a UK perspective, the story has rarely been off the front pages and without meaning to be callous, the majority of the general public think that the handling of the investigation has proved an enormous waste of money. Indeed it is hard to justify how much of taxpayers money has been spent on one single investigation without any sign of significant progress. She’s Not There starts with a disconcertingly similar situation in the life of the Shipley family and hints at the answers being found dangerously close to home (which clearly translates to someone very closely connected to the family, narrows down potential suspects significantly and thereby puts a huge dampener on suspense generation). Thus prior to even opening the cover, potential readers have some idea of what it in store, for this is essentially Joy Fielding’s spin on the Madeleine McCann story with names, destinations and specifics changed and with her own fictional answers included and this is where, for me, things went a little awry.
The story opens with forty-six year old high school maths teacher, Caroline Shipley, facing the traumatic anniversary of her two-year-old toddler, Samantha, having disappeared from an upscale Mexican holiday resort and she knows what to expect: media excoriation for her “aloof” and “remote” manner, mutterings of irresponsibility parenting and a few days in the eye of the storm. Approaching this fifteen-year anniversary with familiar unease she receives a telephone call from a young girl by the name of Lili, who has suspicions that she could in fact be Samantha. As Fielding pinballs readers back to the Mexican vacation fifteen years ago she shows San Diego based lawyer Hunter Shipley surprising his wife, Caroline, on their tenth wedding anniversary and whisking her and their daughters, five-year old petulant, Michelle and toddler Samantha, away for a week’s holiday. The Shipley’s are joined by three other couples, including Caroline’s brother and favoured sibling, Steve, and his bickering wife, Becky and two sets of married friends. On the final night when the Shipley’s babysitter is somehow cancelled, Hunter convinces his wife that dining downstairs in sight of their hotel room and checking on the children frequently is sufficient. But when the unthinkable happens and Caroline returns to the room to find Samantha missing and Michelle sleeping soundly, a living nightmare begins. In the present day it is no surprise that the Shipley’s marriage which was floundering at the time has collapsed with Hunter recently newlywed and Caroline bearing the brunt of the scathing media comments and living in relative isolation. As a single parent, Caroline, is left at the mercy of Michelle, now a nineteen year old snarky little madam with a DUI and, on occasions, dripping with acidulous contempt for her mother. Already caught in a constant push-pull and clearly harmful relationship, the pairs acrimony has only been exacerbated by Michelle constantly feeling like the not so fantastic daughter who cannot live up to the memory of perfect toddler, Samantha.
Written entirely from the perspective of mother Caroline, who relives every moment of her life from that fateful day of the disappearance onwards, including her castigation at the hands of the media, the judgemental attitude of the Mexican police, Hunter’s swift return home right through to her struggle to secure another job. Joy Fielding impressed me immeasurably with the characterisation of both Caroline and Michelle particularly, whose perspective she conveyed vividly, despite never actually explicitly giving her a narrative voice. I found Caroline to be largely a sympathetic creation, plagued by her darkest fears, harshly treated by her vicious tongued mother, Mary, who likes to play her children off against each other, with Hunter largely unscathed by the media and hence it is no wonder that she appears so submissive. I was very much on board with Fielding’s understated emotional prose and the novel largely stays in realistic territory, despite my loathing for seedy Hunter, irresponsible brother, Steve and spiteful mother, Mary, who feel like pantomime villains! Thank goodness for Caroline’s best friend and manager of a local hospice, Peggy Banack, whose sensitive support felt authentic. As Lili heads to San Diego for a DNA test, Michelle remains as scornful as ever of her mother falling for another scam, but as Caroline starts to uncover a few aspects that cast that evening in Mexico in a very different light, all bets are off the table.
Whilst still an engaging and thought provoking read which illustrates the no less traumatic events that come after the nightmare disappearance of a child, She’s Not There is almost preternaturally lacking in suspense, largely because for the first two-thirds of the novel Fielding transitions back and forth, playing catch up to the present day. It is only in the final third that the novel remains in the present day with the exception of one flashback scene (where Caroline bizarrely visualises her own take on that night and the thoughts of all parties). In all honesty, the final one-hundred-pages of the novel were far too schmaltzy and contrived for my taste but after a decent two-thirds, I would never have stopped reading. I do suspect though that if the last one-hundred pages had been the first, I would have found She’s Not There a struggle to stick with it.
Despite neither finding this suspenseful and being disappointed with some of the saccharine scenes Fielding includes (the ‘genetic’ tell and repressed memories of Michelle for example), I found this an enjoyable light read that overall has made me reconsider my attitude to the McCann case. Most significantly, the novel has also imbued me with a level of sympathy for the children that are left behind, the ones that do not go missing and are often left to pick up the pieces. I would have appreciated narration from both Michelle and Lili along with mother Caroline for greater depth and a more complete picture on the devastating knock-on effects on a child’s disappearance, but as it stands She’s Not There is a decent read.
Prior to reading She’s Not There I had only read one of Joy Fielding’s books (See Jane Run) back in 1992 which I remembered enjoying hugely and although this novel did not set my mind racing or my heart pounding, I would happily read more of her work.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
The story opens with forty-six year old high school maths teacher, Caroline Shipley, facing the traumatic anniversary of her two-year-old toddler, Samantha, having disappeared from an upscale Mexican holiday resort and she knows what to expect: media excoriation for her “aloof” and “remote” manner, mutterings of irresponsibility parenting and a few days in the eye of the storm. Approaching this fifteen-year anniversary with familiar unease she receives a telephone call from a young girl by the name of Lili, who has suspicions that she could in fact be Samantha. As Fielding pinballs readers back to the Mexican vacation fifteen years ago she shows San Diego based lawyer Hunter Shipley surprising his wife, Caroline, on their tenth wedding anniversary and whisking her and their daughters, five-year old petulant, Michelle and toddler Samantha, away for a week’s holiday. The Shipley’s are joined by three other couples, including Caroline’s brother and favoured sibling, Steve, and his bickering wife, Becky and two sets of married friends. On the final night when the Shipley’s babysitter is somehow cancelled, Hunter convinces his wife that dining downstairs in sight of their hotel room and checking on the children frequently is sufficient. But when the unthinkable happens and Caroline returns to the room to find Samantha missing and Michelle sleeping soundly, a living nightmare begins. In the present day it is no surprise that the Shipley’s marriage which was floundering at the time has collapsed with Hunter recently newlywed and Caroline bearing the brunt of the scathing media comments and living in relative isolation. As a single parent, Caroline, is left at the mercy of Michelle, now a nineteen year old snarky little madam with a DUI and, on occasions, dripping with acidulous contempt for her mother. Already caught in a constant push-pull and clearly harmful relationship, the pairs acrimony has only been exacerbated by Michelle constantly feeling like the not so fantastic daughter who cannot live up to the memory of perfect toddler, Samantha.
Written entirely from the perspective of mother Caroline, who relives every moment of her life from that fateful day of the disappearance onwards, including her castigation at the hands of the media, the judgemental attitude of the Mexican police, Hunter’s swift return home right through to her struggle to secure another job. Joy Fielding impressed me immeasurably with the characterisation of both Caroline and Michelle particularly, whose perspective she conveyed vividly, despite never actually explicitly giving her a narrative voice. I found Caroline to be largely a sympathetic creation, plagued by her darkest fears, harshly treated by her vicious tongued mother, Mary, who likes to play her children off against each other, with Hunter largely unscathed by the media and hence it is no wonder that she appears so submissive. I was very much on board with Fielding’s understated emotional prose and the novel largely stays in realistic territory, despite my loathing for seedy Hunter, irresponsible brother, Steve and spiteful mother, Mary, who feel like pantomime villains! Thank goodness for Caroline’s best friend and manager of a local hospice, Peggy Banack, whose sensitive support felt authentic. As Lili heads to San Diego for a DNA test, Michelle remains as scornful as ever of her mother falling for another scam, but as Caroline starts to uncover a few aspects that cast that evening in Mexico in a very different light, all bets are off the table.
Whilst still an engaging and thought provoking read which illustrates the no less traumatic events that come after the nightmare disappearance of a child, She’s Not There is almost preternaturally lacking in suspense, largely because for the first two-thirds of the novel Fielding transitions back and forth, playing catch up to the present day. It is only in the final third that the novel remains in the present day with the exception of one flashback scene (where Caroline bizarrely visualises her own take on that night and the thoughts of all parties). In all honesty, the final one-hundred-pages of the novel were far too schmaltzy and contrived for my taste but after a decent two-thirds, I would never have stopped reading. I do suspect though that if the last one-hundred pages had been the first, I would have found She’s Not There a struggle to stick with it.
Despite neither finding this suspenseful and being disappointed with some of the saccharine scenes Fielding includes (the ‘genetic’ tell and repressed memories of Michelle for example), I found this an enjoyable light read that overall has made me reconsider my attitude to the McCann case. Most significantly, the novel has also imbued me with a level of sympathy for the children that are left behind, the ones that do not go missing and are often left to pick up the pieces. I would have appreciated narration from both Michelle and Lili along with mother Caroline for greater depth and a more complete picture on the devastating knock-on effects on a child’s disappearance, but as it stands She’s Not There is a decent read.
Prior to reading She’s Not There I had only read one of Joy Fielding’s books (See Jane Run) back in 1992 which I remembered enjoying hugely and although this novel did not set my mind racing or my heart pounding, I would happily read more of her work.
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 19, 2018
Children are precious. A parent’s love for their children is unparalleled, so when a child goes missing it destroys the lives of those parents who loved and cherished their offspring so dearly, and often captures the undivided attention of a whole country, or even the world.
Today is the 15th anniversary of Caroline Shipley's descent into hell. Her then 2-year-old daughter was abducted while her parents were in the dining hall of a resort. That night, she lost more than her daughter .... she lost her marriage, her career, was accused by the police of murdering her daughter. Samantha has never been found .. leaving Caroline in a perpetual limbo.
And then a telephone call ... a young female voice says ... I think I might be your missing daughter.
This well-written psychological mystery puts me in mind of Madeline McCann, a 3-year-old who went missing from a resort in 2007. She has never been found ... no ransom note was every received. And as is written in this book ... the parents were suspected of harming or murdering their own child.
This book is told mainly by Caroline... in the present day ...and from 15 years ago. When she receives the phone call, her first thought is ... it's a scam, someone looking for money, or just being mean. But is it? Or is it really her daughter?
The characters are stand-up, credible. I loved how the family interacted... mom, daughter, grandmother, brother, sister in law, ex-husband and his new family. Not every family grieves the same .. and in this instance, there's plenty of blame to spread around.
Many thanks to the author / Bonnier Zaffre / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3.5 stars
Today is the 15th anniversary of Caroline Shipley's descent into hell. Her then 2-year-old daughter was abducted while her parents were in the dining hall of a resort. That night, she lost more than her daughter .... she lost her marriage, her career, was accused by the police of murdering her daughter. Samantha has never been found .. leaving Caroline in a perpetual limbo.
And then a telephone call ... a young female voice says ... I think I might be your missing daughter.
This well-written psychological mystery puts me in mind of Madeline McCann, a 3-year-old who went missing from a resort in 2007. She has never been found ... no ransom note was every received. And as is written in this book ... the parents were suspected of harming or murdering their own child.
This book is told mainly by Caroline... in the present day ...and from 15 years ago. When she receives the phone call, her first thought is ... it's a scam, someone looking for money, or just being mean. But is it? Or is it really her daughter?
The characters are stand-up, credible. I loved how the family interacted... mom, daughter, grandmother, brother, sister in law, ex-husband and his new family. Not every family grieves the same .. and in this instance, there's plenty of blame to spread around.
Many thanks to the author / Bonnier Zaffre / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3.5 stars
November 1, 2017
She's Not There by Joy Fielding was a thriller that kept me engaged from the first page. A young child is kidnapped from the hotel room while on a family holiday. Fifteen years later a teenage girl contacts the family to say that she thinks she is the missing child. I found this book very moving and full on suspense. I could not put it down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2021
"For my taste something extravagant and linguistically simple, yet exciting - especially to the end."
March 5, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was quite good! I have read and enjoyed Joy Fielding in the past so I knew that I had a pretty good chance of enjoying this book as well. I have had a review copy for a while but for one reason or another never ended up actually picking it up. This is a story of a missing child so I knew that it might be a bit more emotional but when I saw that my library had a copy of the audiobook, I thought it was time to give this book a try. This book ended up being really hard to set aside because I just had to know what really happened to Samantha.
This book is told through several points in time. We see everything happening to Caroline and her family today and all those years ago during that fateful trip when Samantha disappeared. We do also see a few shorter scenes at different points during the fifteen years that have elapsed since the disappearance. I really thought that everything fit together very well and came together to tell a very sad tale.
I was completely invested in learning what happened all those years ago and felt really bad about everything that Caroline has been through over the years. Not only did Caroline lose her daughter, but she was also treated terribly by society. Everyone seemed to blame her for her daughter's disappearance. As the actual night that her daughter disappeared came together, my heart hurt for her. It didn't seem right that one bad decision should have such a devastating impact on her life.
The story that was set in the present was equally well done. I understood why Caroline had to find out if the girl on the other end of the phone could be her daughter. I did have some issues with her older daughter, Michelle. I couldn't understand why Caroline allowed her to have the control that she did and it got to be a bit much for me. I know that Michelle had also been through a lot and was dealing with things differently but Caroline, as her mother, should have stood up to her a bit more. Once everything was finally revealed, there were a few surprises.
Tanya Eby did a great job with the narration. I thought that she added a lot of emotion to the story and really brought the characters to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no problem listening to the book for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought it was a very well done and sometimes emotional mystery with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. I definitely plan to read more from Joy Fielding in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library via Overdrive.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I was totally caught up in the mystery and was eager to see how everything would work out. There were some parts of the book that were pretty easy to guess but I found a lot of surprises too. My heart went out to Caroline for everything she went through. Her relationship with her oldest daughter, Michelle, did drive me crazy for much of the book but I felt better about things by the end of the story. Tanya Eby did a great job with the narration and added a lot of emotion to the story.
This was quite good! I have read and enjoyed Joy Fielding in the past so I knew that I had a pretty good chance of enjoying this book as well. I have had a review copy for a while but for one reason or another never ended up actually picking it up. This is a story of a missing child so I knew that it might be a bit more emotional but when I saw that my library had a copy of the audiobook, I thought it was time to give this book a try. This book ended up being really hard to set aside because I just had to know what really happened to Samantha.
This book is told through several points in time. We see everything happening to Caroline and her family today and all those years ago during that fateful trip when Samantha disappeared. We do also see a few shorter scenes at different points during the fifteen years that have elapsed since the disappearance. I really thought that everything fit together very well and came together to tell a very sad tale.
I was completely invested in learning what happened all those years ago and felt really bad about everything that Caroline has been through over the years. Not only did Caroline lose her daughter, but she was also treated terribly by society. Everyone seemed to blame her for her daughter's disappearance. As the actual night that her daughter disappeared came together, my heart hurt for her. It didn't seem right that one bad decision should have such a devastating impact on her life.
The story that was set in the present was equally well done. I understood why Caroline had to find out if the girl on the other end of the phone could be her daughter. I did have some issues with her older daughter, Michelle. I couldn't understand why Caroline allowed her to have the control that she did and it got to be a bit much for me. I know that Michelle had also been through a lot and was dealing with things differently but Caroline, as her mother, should have stood up to her a bit more. Once everything was finally revealed, there were a few surprises.
Tanya Eby did a great job with the narration. I thought that she added a lot of emotion to the story and really brought the characters to life. I found her voice to be very pleasant and had no problem listening to the book for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought it was a very well done and sometimes emotional mystery with plenty of twists to keep things interesting. I definitely plan to read more from Joy Fielding in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from my local library via Overdrive.
Initial Thoughts
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I was totally caught up in the mystery and was eager to see how everything would work out. There were some parts of the book that were pretty easy to guess but I found a lot of surprises too. My heart went out to Caroline for everything she went through. Her relationship with her oldest daughter, Michelle, did drive me crazy for much of the book but I felt better about things by the end of the story. Tanya Eby did a great job with the narration and added a lot of emotion to the story.
April 30, 2018
3,75 Sterne
Die Geschichte war interessant und eigentllich auch recht spannend. Emotional wurde man meiner Meinung nach schon mtgenommen, weil die Autorin es wirklich gut geschafft hat die Gefühle rüber zu bringen, ABER ich habe mir bei der Thematik einfach gerne einen Spannungsbogen gewünscht, aber für mich war die Spannung und der Nervenkitzel ziemlich gleichbleibend, aber trotzdem ein gutes Buch.
Was mir auch gut gefallen hat war, dass die Charaktere nicht perfekt, sondern authetisch waren.
Die Geschichte war interessant und eigentllich auch recht spannend. Emotional wurde man meiner Meinung nach schon mtgenommen, weil die Autorin es wirklich gut geschafft hat die Gefühle rüber zu bringen, ABER ich habe mir bei der Thematik einfach gerne einen Spannungsbogen gewünscht, aber für mich war die Spannung und der Nervenkitzel ziemlich gleichbleibend, aber trotzdem ein gutes Buch.
Was mir auch gut gefallen hat war, dass die Charaktere nicht perfekt, sondern authetisch waren.
December 13, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last!
This is one of those slow burners that gently draws you in and then before you know it, it has got you hook, line and sinker, not allowing you to go anywhere until you get to the very end.
You can’t help but think of the Madeleine McCann case when it comes to this book. A couple having a meal with friends close by whilst the children are left in the hotel room unsupervised. The majority of people certainly hold the McCann’s responsible for her disappearance and to a certain extent in this story you could say the same. Seeing Caroline’s side of things though did have me feeling a whole load of empathy I didn’t expect to feel.
Caroline has drifted through life since her youngest daughters disappearance. Her marriage broke down soon after and her eldest daughter Michelle, their relationship is quite estranged to say the least.
Even though the story starts off with someone claiming to be the missing daughter, this story is more about what happened as the story flicks between present day and to the past when Samantha went missing. What I loved though is seeing the fragile relationship between Caroline and Michelle as we only tend to think about the parents when this sort of thing happens, but what about the other siblings.
Michelle was a character I really enjoyed. She has had to go through a lot, constantly living under her sister’s shadow, my heart really went out to her.
She’s Not There is a brilliant read. It lulls you into a false sense of security, dropping a few treats along the way, but like with a meal, my favourite part has to be, the dessert, or in this case the ending. Superb!
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
This is one of those slow burners that gently draws you in and then before you know it, it has got you hook, line and sinker, not allowing you to go anywhere until you get to the very end.
You can’t help but think of the Madeleine McCann case when it comes to this book. A couple having a meal with friends close by whilst the children are left in the hotel room unsupervised. The majority of people certainly hold the McCann’s responsible for her disappearance and to a certain extent in this story you could say the same. Seeing Caroline’s side of things though did have me feeling a whole load of empathy I didn’t expect to feel.
Caroline has drifted through life since her youngest daughters disappearance. Her marriage broke down soon after and her eldest daughter Michelle, their relationship is quite estranged to say the least.
Even though the story starts off with someone claiming to be the missing daughter, this story is more about what happened as the story flicks between present day and to the past when Samantha went missing. What I loved though is seeing the fragile relationship between Caroline and Michelle as we only tend to think about the parents when this sort of thing happens, but what about the other siblings.
Michelle was a character I really enjoyed. She has had to go through a lot, constantly living under her sister’s shadow, my heart really went out to her.
She’s Not There is a brilliant read. It lulls you into a false sense of security, dropping a few treats along the way, but like with a meal, my favourite part has to be, the dessert, or in this case the ending. Superb!
My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
November 27, 2019
3,5/5
“Quince años después de que su hija fuera robada de su cuna, Caroline estaba llorando porque aún había una sola verdad que importaba: Samantha ya no estaba.”
Ella no está es un buen thriller que te mantendrá enganchado hasta el final. Me esperaba más y no me ha terminado de sorprender, pero es muy ameno y muy entretenido.
-Reseña completa: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
“Quince años después de que su hija fuera robada de su cuna, Caroline estaba llorando porque aún había una sola verdad que importaba: Samantha ya no estaba.”
Ella no está es un buen thriller que te mantendrá enganchado hasta el final. Me esperaba más y no me ha terminado de sorprender, pero es muy ameno y muy entretenido.
-Reseña completa: http://addicionaloslibros.blogspot.co...
July 26, 2021
Una buena lectura para el verano, entretenida y que hace que quieras avanzar páginas para saber qué pasó. La recomiendo.
November 12, 2020
Way back in 2006 I read a novel called "The Deep End". A suspense tour de force, it caused me to become a fan of Joy Fielding.
"She's not there" is another solid suspense story which has disturbing similarities to the true case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. I'm not sure if the author used this case as a jumping off point for her novel, but it seems likely.
The story is told from two perspectives fifteen years apart. Caroline Shipley, her husband Hunter, and their two young daughters travel from San Diego to Rosarita, Mexico to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. Caroline thinks she will have a relaxing time with her husband but when she arrives she discovers that he has invited three other couples to help them celebrate. When on the final day of their vacation the babysitting service of the hotel says that their service was cancelled, Caroline goes along with her husband's suggestion that as the restaurant is within sight of their hotel room, they leave the girls alone and check on them periodically throughout the evening. He has an anniversary surprise planned and doesn't want Caroline to miss out. At the end of the evening, which for myriad reasons goes less than swimmingly, Caroline returns to the hotel room only to find that her youngest daughter, two year-old Samantha, has vanished.
Skip ahead fifteen years to the present. Samantha was never discovered and Caroline has borne the brunt of suspicion the whole time. She has lost her job as a math teacher on several occasions, her marriage has broken up, she has a tenuous and volatile relationship with her other daughter, Michelle. Each year on the anniversary of Samantha's disappearance, the press descends on the family with innuendo and the resurfacing of the family's pain. Tormented by guilt, Caroline blames herself for everything that happened.
When the papers revisit the Shipley's tragedy on the fifteenth anniversary of their daughter's disappearance, they include a drawing of how Samantha might look now. A young girl from Calgary, Alberta sees the paper and believes herself to be the missing girl. When she contacts Caroline, the family chide her for taking the girl seriously as many times over the last fifteen years they have faced scams and disappointment.
Essentially a novel of mothers and daughters, the story delves into Caroline's relationship with her remaining daughter who has always been needy, and not very loveable. Caroline fears that deep in her heart she loved the missing Samantha more than the present Michelle. The book also examines Caroline's relationship with her own mother, Mary, an unpleasant, miserable and judgmental woman who herself always favored Caroline's brother over her daughter.
Even though her plight was sympathetic, I found it hard to warm to Caroline's character. She seemed weak and her intense guilt made her dislike herself. If someone doesn't like themselves it is difficult for others to like them. I couldn't believe she was so naive that she couldn't see through her charming philanderer of a husband. Then, about half way through the book I began to understand her better, thus liking her more as the pages were turned. It was at this point that the novel gained momentum and didn't let up. The ending revealed an unexpected twist that I didn't see coming and I highly recommend this book to lovers of suspense novels.
Thanks to Penguin Random House via NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
This review was originally published on my blog: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/
"She's not there" is another solid suspense story which has disturbing similarities to the true case of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. I'm not sure if the author used this case as a jumping off point for her novel, but it seems likely.
The story is told from two perspectives fifteen years apart. Caroline Shipley, her husband Hunter, and their two young daughters travel from San Diego to Rosarita, Mexico to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. Caroline thinks she will have a relaxing time with her husband but when she arrives she discovers that he has invited three other couples to help them celebrate. When on the final day of their vacation the babysitting service of the hotel says that their service was cancelled, Caroline goes along with her husband's suggestion that as the restaurant is within sight of their hotel room, they leave the girls alone and check on them periodically throughout the evening. He has an anniversary surprise planned and doesn't want Caroline to miss out. At the end of the evening, which for myriad reasons goes less than swimmingly, Caroline returns to the hotel room only to find that her youngest daughter, two year-old Samantha, has vanished.
Skip ahead fifteen years to the present. Samantha was never discovered and Caroline has borne the brunt of suspicion the whole time. She has lost her job as a math teacher on several occasions, her marriage has broken up, she has a tenuous and volatile relationship with her other daughter, Michelle. Each year on the anniversary of Samantha's disappearance, the press descends on the family with innuendo and the resurfacing of the family's pain. Tormented by guilt, Caroline blames herself for everything that happened.
When the papers revisit the Shipley's tragedy on the fifteenth anniversary of their daughter's disappearance, they include a drawing of how Samantha might look now. A young girl from Calgary, Alberta sees the paper and believes herself to be the missing girl. When she contacts Caroline, the family chide her for taking the girl seriously as many times over the last fifteen years they have faced scams and disappointment.
Essentially a novel of mothers and daughters, the story delves into Caroline's relationship with her remaining daughter who has always been needy, and not very loveable. Caroline fears that deep in her heart she loved the missing Samantha more than the present Michelle. The book also examines Caroline's relationship with her own mother, Mary, an unpleasant, miserable and judgmental woman who herself always favored Caroline's brother over her daughter.
Even though her plight was sympathetic, I found it hard to warm to Caroline's character. She seemed weak and her intense guilt made her dislike herself. If someone doesn't like themselves it is difficult for others to like them. I couldn't believe she was so naive that she couldn't see through her charming philanderer of a husband. Then, about half way through the book I began to understand her better, thus liking her more as the pages were turned. It was at this point that the novel gained momentum and didn't let up. The ending revealed an unexpected twist that I didn't see coming and I highly recommend this book to lovers of suspense novels.
Thanks to Penguin Random House via NetGalley for providing me with a free digital ARC of the novel in exchange for my honest review.
This review was originally published on my blog: https://fictionophile.wordpress.com/
October 28, 2017
As the blurb said, a lost child, a phone call fifteen years later claiming to be the lost child, and then flashbacks along with the present and future repercussions. All this sounded great which made me request for the book.
This is my first Joy Fielding book, I have heard of her but haven't read any of her previous works. Hoping to lose myself in the book, I started the story with great enthusiasm.
The story starts well, there is the feeling of anticipation of how, when, why. The author has a great plot line with strong characters, but somewhere down the line, it falls short.
The mother, Caroline, who misses her baby every second in these fifteen years, should have brought out my sympathy but misses her mark. I just couldn't connect with her, I knew she was going through pain but could not feel her angst in the words. In spite of being a math teacher, I didn't think she was well versed with the ways of the world, she couldn't calculate the odds at any point of time. I never felt she stood up for herself, always being sorry, feeling sorry.
The elder daughter, Michelle, got short changed in the entire book. I felt bad for her and empathized with her plight. A stubborn clingy child, not liked much by the mother especially when the younger child was angelic, growing up to be a rude moody teenager whose good side sometimes peeks through the pages, but always covered by her ornery words. I liked the way the author has developed Michelle's character. A girl with a heart of gold but covering it with a blustery nature. She was an enigma.
I couldn't care less for the father in the entire book. He did have 2 families pre and post divorce, but he loved only one person - himself. His feelings for his lost daughter did not even come out, and I didn't know if it was deliberate. The rest of the characters play their part, go through the motions the author puts them through.
The only part in the book which excited me was the ending; it was unexpected and twisted. It came at a time when the book felt lacklustre. A book which read more like a family saga ended with a bang!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Zaffre and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
This is my first Joy Fielding book, I have heard of her but haven't read any of her previous works. Hoping to lose myself in the book, I started the story with great enthusiasm.
The story starts well, there is the feeling of anticipation of how, when, why. The author has a great plot line with strong characters, but somewhere down the line, it falls short.
The mother, Caroline, who misses her baby every second in these fifteen years, should have brought out my sympathy but misses her mark. I just couldn't connect with her, I knew she was going through pain but could not feel her angst in the words. In spite of being a math teacher, I didn't think she was well versed with the ways of the world, she couldn't calculate the odds at any point of time. I never felt she stood up for herself, always being sorry, feeling sorry.
The elder daughter, Michelle, got short changed in the entire book. I felt bad for her and empathized with her plight. A stubborn clingy child, not liked much by the mother especially when the younger child was angelic, growing up to be a rude moody teenager whose good side sometimes peeks through the pages, but always covered by her ornery words. I liked the way the author has developed Michelle's character. A girl with a heart of gold but covering it with a blustery nature. She was an enigma.
I couldn't care less for the father in the entire book. He did have 2 families pre and post divorce, but he loved only one person - himself. His feelings for his lost daughter did not even come out, and I didn't know if it was deliberate. The rest of the characters play their part, go through the motions the author puts them through.
The only part in the book which excited me was the ending; it was unexpected and twisted. It came at a time when the book felt lacklustre. A book which read more like a family saga ended with a bang!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Zaffre and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 8, 2018
I have been reading Joy Fielding's novels since I picked up Kiss Mommy Goodbye. I think I was in my mid-teens when I read this book for the first time. I remember the cover was very 1980s and I think I first picked it up because it was so terrible looking. I read the synopsis and it drew me - a divorced mother lets her children go away for the weekend with their father but soon realizes she may not see them again. I remember starting it on a Saturday morning and being sucked in for the rest of the day. I read a few more of her novels but it was in 2002 that I started back up with Fielding's books. I was in University at the time and had a day where my courses were 6 hours apart but not worth going back home. I would study but I needed a break where my mind needed some fun reading. I remember wandering the stacks of fiction and literature in awe of how many books I had not read...yet. (More about my University library wanderings in another post.)
I came upon an author I had not read in awhile...Joy Fielding. The books the library had did not have jacket covers for hardcovers. Often I picked a book based on title. I can't remember what book I started with but after finishing it I started to read everything written by Fielding I could get my hands on. I reread the ones I first read in my teens as I could not remember the details. Each book I read left an impression on me as Fielding is great with psychological suspense. Whispers and Lies is my favourite to date as it left me speechless for a few days. Then I got to The Wild Zone and I could not finish the novel without major skimming. I was left bewildered to the point I did not pick up another Fielding book for 5 years (2 books in between). I was afraid I had overdosed on Fielding and now my tolerance was not the same. Last year I took a deep breath and tried Fielding's new book, Someone is Watching and I enjoyed it but still lacked a little suspense for me. This year when I saw there was a new Fielding book I knew I had to try again...
SHE’S NOT THERE
Written by Joy Fielding
2016; Ballantine Books (386 Pages)
Genre: standalone, mystery, suspense, missing persons, psychological thriller
RATING: ★★★★
Caroline Shipley's husband, Hunter surprises her with an anniversary trip to Mexico with their two daughters, her brother and his wife, her best friend and her husband plus Hunter's business friend and his wife. When their babysitter does not show up Hunter talks Caroline into going to dinner anyway with them checking on their daughters every 30 minutes. As they have dinner in the hotel restaurant they take turns checking on the girls and when they head up for the night they relaize their baby daughter, Samantha is missing.
Fifteen years later...Caroline has suffered not just by losing her daughter and not knowing if she is even alive, but by having reporters hound her every year over the kidnapping. She has lost her husband, she can't seem to get through to her other daughter, she cannot trust people or make new friends. As she gears up for another year of reliving Samantha's disappearance she receives a phone call from a young girl who thinks she may be Samantha and leads Caroline to more questions. As everyone else tells her its a hoax she cannot help but explore the possibility her daughter is back even if it ruins her world further.
Wow, this book had me from the start and the emotional kick this novel has is intense. I have to admit this was a book I stayed up till 1am reading. I had to know if Lily was Samantha and what happened to Samantha either way. I am not a mother but I have nieces and nephews and my bestie is pregnant with a girl so the premise of this story is definitely one of my worst nightmares. And, having been lost a few times I understand that feeling of blind panic. Not that you need any experience as Fielding delivers on emotional and psychological aspect of this suspense thriller. She's Not There reminds me of a vintage Fielding novel and I am excited again...and the two books I missed in those 5 years are getting read this year, count on.
I think in the coming month I may do some reviews of Joy Fielding's books as I would recommend her novels to any mystery fan. And, she's Canadian (who also lives in Florida!) If you have read all of Joy Fielding's novels please try Mary Higgins Clark, Wendy Corsi Staub, Harlan Coben's standalone novels, Linwood Barclay's standalone novels and Carleen Thompson.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
I came upon an author I had not read in awhile...Joy Fielding. The books the library had did not have jacket covers for hardcovers. Often I picked a book based on title. I can't remember what book I started with but after finishing it I started to read everything written by Fielding I could get my hands on. I reread the ones I first read in my teens as I could not remember the details. Each book I read left an impression on me as Fielding is great with psychological suspense. Whispers and Lies is my favourite to date as it left me speechless for a few days. Then I got to The Wild Zone and I could not finish the novel without major skimming. I was left bewildered to the point I did not pick up another Fielding book for 5 years (2 books in between). I was afraid I had overdosed on Fielding and now my tolerance was not the same. Last year I took a deep breath and tried Fielding's new book, Someone is Watching and I enjoyed it but still lacked a little suspense for me. This year when I saw there was a new Fielding book I knew I had to try again...
SHE’S NOT THERE
Written by Joy Fielding
2016; Ballantine Books (386 Pages)
Genre: standalone, mystery, suspense, missing persons, psychological thriller
RATING: ★★★★
Caroline Shipley's husband, Hunter surprises her with an anniversary trip to Mexico with their two daughters, her brother and his wife, her best friend and her husband plus Hunter's business friend and his wife. When their babysitter does not show up Hunter talks Caroline into going to dinner anyway with them checking on their daughters every 30 minutes. As they have dinner in the hotel restaurant they take turns checking on the girls and when they head up for the night they relaize their baby daughter, Samantha is missing.
Fifteen years later...Caroline has suffered not just by losing her daughter and not knowing if she is even alive, but by having reporters hound her every year over the kidnapping. She has lost her husband, she can't seem to get through to her other daughter, she cannot trust people or make new friends. As she gears up for another year of reliving Samantha's disappearance she receives a phone call from a young girl who thinks she may be Samantha and leads Caroline to more questions. As everyone else tells her its a hoax she cannot help but explore the possibility her daughter is back even if it ruins her world further.
Wow, this book had me from the start and the emotional kick this novel has is intense. I have to admit this was a book I stayed up till 1am reading. I had to know if Lily was Samantha and what happened to Samantha either way. I am not a mother but I have nieces and nephews and my bestie is pregnant with a girl so the premise of this story is definitely one of my worst nightmares. And, having been lost a few times I understand that feeling of blind panic. Not that you need any experience as Fielding delivers on emotional and psychological aspect of this suspense thriller. She's Not There reminds me of a vintage Fielding novel and I am excited again...and the two books I missed in those 5 years are getting read this year, count on.
I think in the coming month I may do some reviews of Joy Fielding's books as I would recommend her novels to any mystery fan. And, she's Canadian (who also lives in Florida!) If you have read all of Joy Fielding's novels please try Mary Higgins Clark, Wendy Corsi Staub, Harlan Coben's standalone novels, Linwood Barclay's standalone novels and Carleen Thompson.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
December 14, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy. 3.5 stars
Caroline is still being targeted by the press 15 years after her toddler daughter vanished from their hotel room in a Mexican luxury resort. Obviously there are similarities to the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann.
The family has been torn apart by the disappearance, divorced and with a rebellious older daughter, Caroline is tortured by guilt and shame. When the phone rings and a girl claiming to be the missing Samantha it is all dredged up again.
As the story progresses and the full horror and betrayal unfolds Caroline is thrown into a maelstrom of emotions. This was an interesting read and I can't imagine the horror that a parent of a kidnapped child must feel.
This book held my attention and I wanted to find out the conclusion. However it didn't wow me and I found several of the characters lacking.
Caroline is still being targeted by the press 15 years after her toddler daughter vanished from their hotel room in a Mexican luxury resort. Obviously there are similarities to the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann.
The family has been torn apart by the disappearance, divorced and with a rebellious older daughter, Caroline is tortured by guilt and shame. When the phone rings and a girl claiming to be the missing Samantha it is all dredged up again.
As the story progresses and the full horror and betrayal unfolds Caroline is thrown into a maelstrom of emotions. This was an interesting read and I can't imagine the horror that a parent of a kidnapped child must feel.
This book held my attention and I wanted to find out the conclusion. However it didn't wow me and I found several of the characters lacking.
December 18, 2016
Joy Fielding writes light mysteries and most of them are very entertaining. Her latest had a good premise but it was also a let down for me because it lacked plausibility. I was not the perfect mother when my children were growing up but I always looked after their safety and would never have left them alone in a hotel or anywhere else.
I have to say no one but an irresponsible mother, and she was not, would leave her two small children in a hotel while going to dinner even if her husband did insist. She went from a loving caring mother to an "airhead" in a couple of pages. That's just asking for tragedy and it did happen when her youngest daughter, Samantha was kidnaped.
15 years later Caroline gets a mysterious call from a girl claiming to be Samantha. Caroline wants to believe she is but her surly daughter Michele gives her such a hard time Caroline begins to have doubts. Michele has been a whiny, mean, holy terror since she was very young and she’s even worse when she is older. She irritated me from the get go. Caroline turns into a pathetic milksop and lets Michele verbally abuse her instead of telling her daughter to shut up if she can’t be supportive.
I saw the theme of this novel more of a mother who crumbles under her daughter’s verbal abuse instead of a mystery. I kept waiting for Caroline to shout, ENOUGH ALREADY!!!, but she never did. Joy Fielding has written some really good crime/mystery dramas but unfortunately this is not one of them.
I have to say no one but an irresponsible mother, and she was not, would leave her two small children in a hotel while going to dinner even if her husband did insist. She went from a loving caring mother to an "airhead" in a couple of pages. That's just asking for tragedy and it did happen when her youngest daughter, Samantha was kidnaped.
15 years later Caroline gets a mysterious call from a girl claiming to be Samantha. Caroline wants to believe she is but her surly daughter Michele gives her such a hard time Caroline begins to have doubts. Michele has been a whiny, mean, holy terror since she was very young and she’s even worse when she is older. She irritated me from the get go. Caroline turns into a pathetic milksop and lets Michele verbally abuse her instead of telling her daughter to shut up if she can’t be supportive.
I saw the theme of this novel more of a mother who crumbles under her daughter’s verbal abuse instead of a mystery. I kept waiting for Caroline to shout, ENOUGH ALREADY!!!, but she never did. Joy Fielding has written some really good crime/mystery dramas but unfortunately this is not one of them.
February 23, 2016
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 Stars
Flashing back and forth from the present to fifteen years earlier, Joy Fielding takes you on a terrifying journey SHE’S NOT THERE, the nightmare of Caroline Shipley, an unsolved kidnapping of her infant daughter, Samantha—this year, could it possibly be her daughter calling.
Fifteen years earlier the family is on vacation to Mexico—The Grand Laguna Resort Hotel. Caroline and Hunter (an attorney) with daughters, five-year-old Michelle (very difficult), and Samantha two-years-old, sleeping silently in the toddler seat. They had selected this beautiful luxury hotel and spa as the perfect place to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
The hotel would provide an evening of baby sitting and children’s programs which meant they would have some much needed time for themselves. When they arrived it was a big surprise—their family and friends are in attendance. In a way she was disappointed, thinking she would have alone time with her husband.
Things were not turning out so well with the trip, proving less than stellar. A mix-up with the babysitter, feeling guilty leaving the kids alone, and her brother and sister in law’s bickering. She checks on the girls and they were fine, sleeping; however, when they returned for the evening, Samantha was gone—in Mexico, a strange place and her baby was nowhere to be found!
Michelle had always been jealous of her baby sister. Did she harm her-- first reaction?. She had left the kids in the room alone, due to the babysitter not showing up. Hunter told the hotel they checked on them every half hour. Now, Caroline is beside herself with guilt for leaving the girls alone in a strange hotel. Someone had taken her. She realizes she lost her key card earlier in the day. Hunter had insisted they leave the girls alone, and now she blames him. Except she was just as guilty for going along with it.
There of course was no mention of the fact Hunter left Mexico to return to his law practice in San Diego barely a week after Samantha’s disappearance. Their marriage was over. Her husband has moved on to a new life and family
Now, fifteen years later, their daughter was never found. A miserable life. Now divorced, the reporters call every year on her daughter’s anniversary of the kidnapping. She has to relive the nightmare. The years had not been good to her, haunted by the media, her grief, guilt, and everyone treated her like an outcast and a bad mother.
This year, it is not a reporter on the line. It is a young girl, who says she thinks she is her daughter. Could it be for real? Is it too much to get excited about? Is this her real daughter, and if so where has she been? She says her name is Lili, but she thinks her real name is Samantha.
As the truth slowly unfolds, things are closer to home than she could ever imagine. Everyone thinks she is crazy. However, as most kidnapping goes, it is always someone closer to home than you may think. The lengths people will go when they are desperate--the schemes, the unspeakable acts. A truly dysfunctional family.
A light suspense (not a thriller), more of a drama--- A mother's need for justice, a realistic account of how media can be ruthless, and people can misjudge. Not a lot of likable characters here, the intensity was missing, and not really pulled in-- with this crazy family. My first book by the author; however, look forward to reading more.
JDCMustReadBooks
Flashing back and forth from the present to fifteen years earlier, Joy Fielding takes you on a terrifying journey SHE’S NOT THERE, the nightmare of Caroline Shipley, an unsolved kidnapping of her infant daughter, Samantha—this year, could it possibly be her daughter calling.
Fifteen years earlier the family is on vacation to Mexico—The Grand Laguna Resort Hotel. Caroline and Hunter (an attorney) with daughters, five-year-old Michelle (very difficult), and Samantha two-years-old, sleeping silently in the toddler seat. They had selected this beautiful luxury hotel and spa as the perfect place to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary.
The hotel would provide an evening of baby sitting and children’s programs which meant they would have some much needed time for themselves. When they arrived it was a big surprise—their family and friends are in attendance. In a way she was disappointed, thinking she would have alone time with her husband.
Things were not turning out so well with the trip, proving less than stellar. A mix-up with the babysitter, feeling guilty leaving the kids alone, and her brother and sister in law’s bickering. She checks on the girls and they were fine, sleeping; however, when they returned for the evening, Samantha was gone—in Mexico, a strange place and her baby was nowhere to be found!
Michelle had always been jealous of her baby sister. Did she harm her-- first reaction?. She had left the kids in the room alone, due to the babysitter not showing up. Hunter told the hotel they checked on them every half hour. Now, Caroline is beside herself with guilt for leaving the girls alone in a strange hotel. Someone had taken her. She realizes she lost her key card earlier in the day. Hunter had insisted they leave the girls alone, and now she blames him. Except she was just as guilty for going along with it.
There of course was no mention of the fact Hunter left Mexico to return to his law practice in San Diego barely a week after Samantha’s disappearance. Their marriage was over. Her husband has moved on to a new life and family
Now, fifteen years later, their daughter was never found. A miserable life. Now divorced, the reporters call every year on her daughter’s anniversary of the kidnapping. She has to relive the nightmare. The years had not been good to her, haunted by the media, her grief, guilt, and everyone treated her like an outcast and a bad mother.
This year, it is not a reporter on the line. It is a young girl, who says she thinks she is her daughter. Could it be for real? Is it too much to get excited about? Is this her real daughter, and if so where has she been? She says her name is Lili, but she thinks her real name is Samantha.
As the truth slowly unfolds, things are closer to home than she could ever imagine. Everyone thinks she is crazy. However, as most kidnapping goes, it is always someone closer to home than you may think. The lengths people will go when they are desperate--the schemes, the unspeakable acts. A truly dysfunctional family.
A light suspense (not a thriller), more of a drama--- A mother's need for justice, a realistic account of how media can be ruthless, and people can misjudge. Not a lot of likable characters here, the intensity was missing, and not really pulled in-- with this crazy family. My first book by the author; however, look forward to reading more.
JDCMustReadBooks
February 24, 2016
This came out yesterday and I reviewed it back in November. For fellow Fielding fans...
This novel made me think about Madeleine McCann's disappearance. Carole Shipley is a wreck after her daughter disappears at a Mexican resort. Unlike her affable charming husband, she seems to be the one living under the cloud of suspicion and naturally blames herself. Years have died away and her relationship with her remaining daughter has been damaged from the horrific loss. Carole wants to show her daughter love, but any happiness feels like a betrayal to the lost one. The family is broken, and when a young woman calls claiming to be Samantha her world is once again in turmoil as she re-examines that horrific day and new truths come to light. Making matters worse, the media hounds her at the anniversary of her daughter's disappearance every year because 'The press wanted your blood.'
The dynamic between Carole's relationship with her daughter Michelle 'Micki' is an interesting take on how remaining children are victims too. Victims of being witness to their parent's guilt, grief and feeling partly to blame. Micki hasn't had her mother's full love nor attention since the tragic event; life seems to have stopped and a vast distance has kept the two from bonding. Not surprisingly, Micki resents the way her mother has shut down and instead spends more time with the father, who walked away unscathed- even starting a new life entirely. Micki too resents the possible 'scam' her desperate mother could be falling for. But what if the caller really is Samantha?
Whatever the outcome, they are all forced to sift through the remains of their family and confront everything that happened then and since. Some things have been kept from Carole that changes everything, especially how she has felt about herself in the aftermath.
As a reader, we can think about what sort of people the family could have been had this never happened. How different the bond between Micki and Carole if one could subtract the tragedy. And IF the stranger really is long lost Sam- how do you just pick up and move on or worse, if she is't- how do you let go and bury your hope that some day... some day you'll have answers. I know The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard addressed similar issues. But in that case, it was the mother who was responsible for the child at the time. Here, you introduce another environment entirely (Mexico) and adults having fun, taking turns checking on the children and somehow she steps away feeling at fault. Why is that?
Without giving things away, the story does make you think about how the media can misjudge someone and cast suspicion that is undeserved. Here Carole is living through any mother's nightmare to then be held in the court of public opinion that trails her for years. The fact that her husband is made of stuff that people find more appealing is terrifying when you dissect and apply it to real life. If I am the least charming in a group of suspects, right away I am the guilty party. This would be the book to spark interesting discussion. I liked it.
This novel made me think about Madeleine McCann's disappearance. Carole Shipley is a wreck after her daughter disappears at a Mexican resort. Unlike her affable charming husband, she seems to be the one living under the cloud of suspicion and naturally blames herself. Years have died away and her relationship with her remaining daughter has been damaged from the horrific loss. Carole wants to show her daughter love, but any happiness feels like a betrayal to the lost one. The family is broken, and when a young woman calls claiming to be Samantha her world is once again in turmoil as she re-examines that horrific day and new truths come to light. Making matters worse, the media hounds her at the anniversary of her daughter's disappearance every year because 'The press wanted your blood.'
The dynamic between Carole's relationship with her daughter Michelle 'Micki' is an interesting take on how remaining children are victims too. Victims of being witness to their parent's guilt, grief and feeling partly to blame. Micki hasn't had her mother's full love nor attention since the tragic event; life seems to have stopped and a vast distance has kept the two from bonding. Not surprisingly, Micki resents the way her mother has shut down and instead spends more time with the father, who walked away unscathed- even starting a new life entirely. Micki too resents the possible 'scam' her desperate mother could be falling for. But what if the caller really is Samantha?
Whatever the outcome, they are all forced to sift through the remains of their family and confront everything that happened then and since. Some things have been kept from Carole that changes everything, especially how she has felt about herself in the aftermath.
As a reader, we can think about what sort of people the family could have been had this never happened. How different the bond between Micki and Carole if one could subtract the tragedy. And IF the stranger really is long lost Sam- how do you just pick up and move on or worse, if she is't- how do you let go and bury your hope that some day... some day you'll have answers. I know The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard addressed similar issues. But in that case, it was the mother who was responsible for the child at the time. Here, you introduce another environment entirely (Mexico) and adults having fun, taking turns checking on the children and somehow she steps away feeling at fault. Why is that?
Without giving things away, the story does make you think about how the media can misjudge someone and cast suspicion that is undeserved. Here Carole is living through any mother's nightmare to then be held in the court of public opinion that trails her for years. The fact that her husband is made of stuff that people find more appealing is terrifying when you dissect and apply it to real life. If I am the least charming in a group of suspects, right away I am the guilty party. This would be the book to spark interesting discussion. I liked it.
December 15, 2015
I would actually give this book a 3.5 but I could barely put it down so I bumped it to 4. I received this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I saw another reviewer refer to it as a psychological light thriller and I think that's a perfect description. It is obviously based on the Madeline McCann case where the parents left their children unattended while they went to a dinner with friends at a restaurant while vacationing in Spain.
In this one, the parents leave their daughters alone in their hotel room while celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in Mexico, Their 2 year old daughter is gone when they return. The book ranges from that day to 15 years ago and years in between but it is easy to keep the time periods straight.
What is remarkable to me is that I kept reading while disliking the protagonist is so unlikable. By the time I finished I had no empathy for the mother at all. I disliked everything about her from her decisions to her relationships with family to her inability to handle anything with a clear head. I was finished with her when she shoved her remaining child away from her on the night of the kidnapping..
The remaining daughter is a mess , of course. Her mother and her brother are awful and she only has one friend, not surprising to me. Then one day she receives a call from a girl claiming to be her daughter fifteen years after the kidnapping.
There are twists and turns that kept me riveted and I was surprised at the ending. It's a nice, light read if you are looking for some escapism.
I saw another reviewer refer to it as a psychological light thriller and I think that's a perfect description. It is obviously based on the Madeline McCann case where the parents left their children unattended while they went to a dinner with friends at a restaurant while vacationing in Spain.
In this one, the parents leave their daughters alone in their hotel room while celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary in Mexico, Their 2 year old daughter is gone when they return. The book ranges from that day to 15 years ago and years in between but it is easy to keep the time periods straight.
What is remarkable to me is that I kept reading while disliking the protagonist is so unlikable. By the time I finished I had no empathy for the mother at all. I disliked everything about her from her decisions to her relationships with family to her inability to handle anything with a clear head. I was finished with her when she shoved her remaining child away from her on the night of the kidnapping..
The remaining daughter is a mess , of course. Her mother and her brother are awful and she only has one friend, not surprising to me. Then one day she receives a call from a girl claiming to be her daughter fifteen years after the kidnapping.
There are twists and turns that kept me riveted and I was surprised at the ending. It's a nice, light read if you are looking for some escapism.
February 2, 2023
El libro me ha gustado mucho y se lee muy fácilmente. Esto es de agradecer.
la historia está contada en 2 tiempos - pasado (hace 15 años, 10, 5 años) y el presente.
Hace 15 años, en México, una niña de dos años es secuestrada por alguien y desaparece. Vamos que es un drama y la forma de contarlo, me ha angustiado un montón. Están en México para celebrar el décimo aniversario de bodas junto con unos amigos. Una noche, dejan a las dos niñas solas en la habitación y la pequeña de dos años desaparece.
Recomiendo el libro.
la historia está contada en 2 tiempos - pasado (hace 15 años, 10, 5 años) y el presente.
Hace 15 años, en México, una niña de dos años es secuestrada por alguien y desaparece. Vamos que es un drama y la forma de contarlo, me ha angustiado un montón. Están en México para celebrar el décimo aniversario de bodas junto con unos amigos. Una noche, dejan a las dos niñas solas en la habitación y la pequeña de dos años desaparece.
Recomiendo el libro.
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