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When She Returned
One woman’s reappearance throws her family into turmoil, exposing dark secrets and the hidden, often devastating truth of family relationships.
Kate Bennett vanished from a parking lot eleven years ago, leaving behind her husband and young daughter. When she shows up at a Montana gas station, clutching an infant and screaming for help, investigators believe she may have been abducted by a cult.
Kate’s return flips her family’s world upside down—her husband is remarried, and her daughter barely remembers her. Kate herself doesn’t look or act like she did before.
While the family tries to help Kate reintegrate into society, they discover truths they’ve been hiding from each other about their own relationships. But they aren’t the only ones with secrets. As the family unravels what happened to Kate, a series of shocking revelations shows that Kate’s return is more sinister than any of them could have imagined.
Kate Bennett vanished from a parking lot eleven years ago, leaving behind her husband and young daughter. When she shows up at a Montana gas station, clutching an infant and screaming for help, investigators believe she may have been abducted by a cult.
Kate’s return flips her family’s world upside down—her husband is remarried, and her daughter barely remembers her. Kate herself doesn’t look or act like she did before.
While the family tries to help Kate reintegrate into society, they discover truths they’ve been hiding from each other about their own relationships. But they aren’t the only ones with secrets. As the family unravels what happened to Kate, a series of shocking revelations shows that Kate’s return is more sinister than any of them could have imagined.
297 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2019
18548 people are currently reading
124849 people want to read
About the author
Lucinda Berry
29 books21.2k followersUSA Today bestselling author Lucinda Berry is a former psychologist and leading researcher in childhood trauma. She’s written multiple bestsellers reaching millions of readers worldwide. Some of her bestselling works include The Perfect Child, Saving Noah, When She Returned, The Best of Friends, and Keep Your Friends Close. Her books have been optioned for film and translated into several languages.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
If Berry isn’t chasing after her son, you can find her running through Los Angeles, prepping for her next marathon. To hear about her upcoming releases and other author news, visit her on social media (@lucindaberryauthor) or sign up for her newsletter at https://lucindaberry.com.
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January 22, 2020I should have done my research before requesting this as I never would have if I had know it would involve a cult. Argh.
Seemingly intelligent woman, happily married mother of one, a reporter, out to investigate possible cult, meets leader and immediately agrees with whatever he says because what he says just makes sense.
You, my dear, are a moron.
Setting this one aside. No rating.
Seemingly intelligent woman, happily married mother of one, a reporter, out to investigate possible cult, meets leader and immediately agrees with whatever he says because what he says just makes sense.
You, my dear, are a moron.
Setting this one aside. No rating.
May 20, 2024
Enjoyed this a lot but damn it was SAD!! Cults are so fascinating to me, I was glued to this book. Also didn’t even expect a twist at the end but I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Definitely recommend!
October 5, 2025
4.5 🌟 this one went from zero to 100% and WOW once it got going…it was a wild ride!!!
July 14, 2019
Things have come undone.....
Lucinda Berry presents a storyline that has the feel of shifting sand under your feet. Can't quite get the balance of it all. Can't quite get a handle on those ships that set sail in these choppy waters.
Kate Bennett is a stay-at-home mother of five year old Abbi in Northern California. The "stay-at-home" portion seems to be driven by her husband, Scott. Kate longs to be back in her journalism lane free from what she perceives are deadend walls all day.
Her former boss calls with an assignment that gets the juices flowing once again. Kate is to interview the head of Love International which is based out of Pierce College. The organization focuses on helping college students who are battling opioid addiction. The interview with Ray Fischer seems to go well along with her boss' approval. It appears that Kate has her foot in the door once again.
But a few weeks later, Kate's car is found in a Target's parking lot. Her keys are in the ignition, handbag on the seat, and shopping bags in the trunk. Absolutely no sign of Kate.
Lucinda Berry fast forwards to eleven years later entitled "Now". Abbi is sixteen and Scott is remarried to a widow named Meredith who has two college aged sons. The quiet suburbia setting is in for a nightmare though. Kate shows up terrified at a gas station in Montana with a baby in tow. The upcoming weeks will find this disjointed family living under one roof trying to piece together Kate's missing years. Traumatized and anxious, Kate refuses to give much information under the scrutiny of the FBI and stress counseling. The chapters will revert to "Then" in which Kate's story slowly takes on a face.
One would think that we have a blockbuster here. Not so fast. What starts out as a high-interest storyline begins to sink under the weight of the "Then" aspect. Without giving away anything more, we have a grown woman acting like a teenage runaway. Everything is built on this premise with the end result falling apart like a Jenga game. So much unnecessary dialogue and elaborate explanations while in "Thenville". A shot of energy at the end was not enough to save this one for me. You may have an entirely different experience from mine. Check it out and see.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Lucinda Berry for the opportunity.
Lucinda Berry presents a storyline that has the feel of shifting sand under your feet. Can't quite get the balance of it all. Can't quite get a handle on those ships that set sail in these choppy waters.
Kate Bennett is a stay-at-home mother of five year old Abbi in Northern California. The "stay-at-home" portion seems to be driven by her husband, Scott. Kate longs to be back in her journalism lane free from what she perceives are deadend walls all day.
Her former boss calls with an assignment that gets the juices flowing once again. Kate is to interview the head of Love International which is based out of Pierce College. The organization focuses on helping college students who are battling opioid addiction. The interview with Ray Fischer seems to go well along with her boss' approval. It appears that Kate has her foot in the door once again.
But a few weeks later, Kate's car is found in a Target's parking lot. Her keys are in the ignition, handbag on the seat, and shopping bags in the trunk. Absolutely no sign of Kate.
Lucinda Berry fast forwards to eleven years later entitled "Now". Abbi is sixteen and Scott is remarried to a widow named Meredith who has two college aged sons. The quiet suburbia setting is in for a nightmare though. Kate shows up terrified at a gas station in Montana with a baby in tow. The upcoming weeks will find this disjointed family living under one roof trying to piece together Kate's missing years. Traumatized and anxious, Kate refuses to give much information under the scrutiny of the FBI and stress counseling. The chapters will revert to "Then" in which Kate's story slowly takes on a face.
One would think that we have a blockbuster here. Not so fast. What starts out as a high-interest storyline begins to sink under the weight of the "Then" aspect. Without giving away anything more, we have a grown woman acting like a teenage runaway. Everything is built on this premise with the end result falling apart like a Jenga game. So much unnecessary dialogue and elaborate explanations while in "Thenville". A shot of energy at the end was not enough to save this one for me. You may have an entirely different experience from mine. Check it out and see.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Lucinda Berry for the opportunity.
May 28, 2020
I read this book in between bouts of fever sleep, little food, and lots of NyQuil, so I might be a little skewed, but this was not a good book.
Kate vanishes from a Target parking lot and no one sees or hears from her for 11 years until she shows up in the middle of nowhere with a baby. Her husband and daughter, along with his new wife, bring Kate and her baby into their home while the FBI and police investigate. Multiple viewpoints and flip-flopping timelines. This has all of the ingredients, but didn’t quite pan out.
(Spoilers below)
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(Spoilers)
1. Why the fuck did no one investigate the cult she was initially reporting on and then clearly getting into by going on their weird retreats? NO ONE thought to check out the cult guy? NO ONE? Jesus H.
2. Maybe don’t let the person who ABANDONED YOU AND YOUR CHILD TO JOIN A CULT immediately back into your life, no questions asked. Maybe that person could stay at a hotel for a while and not IN YOUR DAMN HOUSE.
3. If someone is caught sneaking around and talking on the phone multiple times and then lies about it multiple times, MAYBE THEY ARE LYING and sneaky and should not be trusted - especially if they are (see item 2) a CULT MEMBER.
4. The Dean character was a creep - like waaaaaay too into the daughter.
5. Kate sucks.
6. Scott is a dummy.
Kate vanishes from a Target parking lot and no one sees or hears from her for 11 years until she shows up in the middle of nowhere with a baby. Her husband and daughter, along with his new wife, bring Kate and her baby into their home while the FBI and police investigate. Multiple viewpoints and flip-flopping timelines. This has all of the ingredients, but didn’t quite pan out.
(Spoilers below)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(Spoilers)
1. Why the fuck did no one investigate the cult she was initially reporting on and then clearly getting into by going on their weird retreats? NO ONE thought to check out the cult guy? NO ONE? Jesus H.
2. Maybe don’t let the person who ABANDONED YOU AND YOUR CHILD TO JOIN A CULT immediately back into your life, no questions asked. Maybe that person could stay at a hotel for a while and not IN YOUR DAMN HOUSE.
3. If someone is caught sneaking around and talking on the phone multiple times and then lies about it multiple times, MAYBE THEY ARE LYING and sneaky and should not be trusted - especially if they are (see item 2) a CULT MEMBER.
4. The Dean character was a creep - like waaaaaay too into the daughter.
5. Kate sucks.
6. Scott is a dummy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2024
★4 heart-racing stars!
☆What to Expect:
What are Scott and Abbi to do when the matriarch of their family, who up and vanished eleven years ago and thought to be dead, suddenly reappears at a Montana gas station with a newborn baby? As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear Kate Bennett was part of an extremist Christian cult. But now, Kate’s strange demeanor and actions have Meredith, Scott’s current wife, suspicious. Are they all truly able to trust her?
☆My Thoughts:
Slump? Slump who??? Idk who she is!!! 👋🏼 Thank you Lucinda Berry! This is my first book by this author, and I could not stop reading. It admittedly took me the longest time to guess where this thriller was going, as I spent a majority of the book completely fascinated by the cult chapters. All I’ll say is that some very serious choices are made in this cult, and they are nothing but disturbing 😱
The entire novel is less than 300 pages so I recommend to anyone needing a quick, crazy, page-turning read. It can be a tad predictable towards the end, but I promise it’s a wild ride worth experiencing. Immediately reading another book by this author, let’s get that heart racing again!
* ゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜*
Pre-review:
Need me a quick thriller…I feel a slump about to knock on my door 😬😬😬
☆What to Expect:
What are Scott and Abbi to do when the matriarch of their family, who up and vanished eleven years ago and thought to be dead, suddenly reappears at a Montana gas station with a newborn baby? As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear Kate Bennett was part of an extremist Christian cult. But now, Kate’s strange demeanor and actions have Meredith, Scott’s current wife, suspicious. Are they all truly able to trust her?
☆My Thoughts:
Slump? Slump who??? Idk who she is!!! 👋🏼 Thank you Lucinda Berry! This is my first book by this author, and I could not stop reading. It admittedly took me the longest time to guess where this thriller was going, as I spent a majority of the book completely fascinated by the cult chapters. All I’ll say is that some very serious choices are made in this cult, and they are nothing but disturbing 😱
The entire novel is less than 300 pages so I recommend to anyone needing a quick, crazy, page-turning read. It can be a tad predictable towards the end, but I promise it’s a wild ride worth experiencing. Immediately reading another book by this author, let’s get that heart racing again!
* ゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜*
Pre-review:
Need me a quick thriller…I feel a slump about to knock on my door 😬😬😬
August 12, 2020
“The problem with having a fairy-tale relationship story was how much other people were invested in keeping the fairy tale alive. It wasn’t just our story—it was everyone’s.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned
I have to go with the crowd here. I have read many reviews for this and most people did not seem to love it nor hate it and that is exactly how I feel.
So this book is about Kate who vanished without a trace 12 years ago from a target parking lot. Now, all these years later, Hubs has remarried and has mourned the loss of his former wife.
But guess what? She's back! And apparently she had been with a cult all these years. Kate has escaped, with a new baby in tow, seemingly lost and in emotional chaos. Her return triggers quite a reaction from all her family members from her daughter Abbi who is thrilled to Husband Scott to new wife Meredith.
This book goes back and forth from the here and now to the events leading up to, and beyond, Kate's vanishing.
On one hand, Kate seems to have been a prisoner all these years as her body shows terrible abuse. But Kate is robotic and clearly not able to speak in detail about what happened. She is also full of secrets and her return may not be the happy event her family thought it would be.
I enjoyed this book but only mildly. Part of the issue was the backstory. Again..will agree with ALL the skimmers. There seem to be a large number of GR reviewers who skimmed the backstory and I am one of them. I found it painful, gloomy and besides I wanted to know about the NOW, not the then.
This issue has popped up in so many reviews and I get it. If the whole book had been majority in the here and now, I'd most likely be rating this a five. It was fascinating. But I lost interest whenever it went back to the cult. I've read enough cult stories and it was just to much. I'd have liked more focus on the Kate here with us TODAY. Because I found that Kate fascinating.
I am mixed about Meredith. I get she felt thrown aside but honestly? She was acting jealous from the start and for crying out loud, the woman(Kate) was brutalized. I did not buy Meredith's reasons for acting the way she did. Just because she did not love her first husband is no reason to assume Scott would not welcome back Kate.
I disliked Kate because of just about everything but I also do not think she was mentally sound. Part of the issue is we don't know WHY Kate chose to leave. (Not a spoiler..you find out pretty early that Kate left voluntarily.) But I would have liked to know more about Kate to gain a better understanding of WHY. Not unrealistic though. I have heard that these stories have and do occur..and occur alot.
SPOILERS:
Loved Abbie. She was my favorite character. Loathed Kate at the end. Not surprised by the end either. Sad though. This book was very realistic. I have read about cults, seen films on them and come from a family of Therapists who have worked with them. Kate had severe Stockholm Syndrome but I really would have liked to know about her childhood, her early days with Scott and her current circumstances. I found the subject fascinating, the characters fascinating but the backstory just did not do it for me so I am giving this 3.5 stars.
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned
I have to go with the crowd here. I have read many reviews for this and most people did not seem to love it nor hate it and that is exactly how I feel.
So this book is about Kate who vanished without a trace 12 years ago from a target parking lot. Now, all these years later, Hubs has remarried and has mourned the loss of his former wife.
But guess what? She's back! And apparently she had been with a cult all these years. Kate has escaped, with a new baby in tow, seemingly lost and in emotional chaos. Her return triggers quite a reaction from all her family members from her daughter Abbi who is thrilled to Husband Scott to new wife Meredith.
This book goes back and forth from the here and now to the events leading up to, and beyond, Kate's vanishing.
On one hand, Kate seems to have been a prisoner all these years as her body shows terrible abuse. But Kate is robotic and clearly not able to speak in detail about what happened. She is also full of secrets and her return may not be the happy event her family thought it would be.
I enjoyed this book but only mildly. Part of the issue was the backstory. Again..will agree with ALL the skimmers. There seem to be a large number of GR reviewers who skimmed the backstory and I am one of them. I found it painful, gloomy and besides I wanted to know about the NOW, not the then.
This issue has popped up in so many reviews and I get it. If the whole book had been majority in the here and now, I'd most likely be rating this a five. It was fascinating. But I lost interest whenever it went back to the cult. I've read enough cult stories and it was just to much. I'd have liked more focus on the Kate here with us TODAY. Because I found that Kate fascinating.
I am mixed about Meredith. I get she felt thrown aside but honestly? She was acting jealous from the start and for crying out loud, the woman(Kate) was brutalized. I did not buy Meredith's reasons for acting the way she did. Just because she did not love her first husband is no reason to assume Scott would not welcome back Kate.
I disliked Kate because of just about everything but I also do not think she was mentally sound. Part of the issue is we don't know WHY Kate chose to leave. (Not a spoiler..you find out pretty early that Kate left voluntarily.) But I would have liked to know more about Kate to gain a better understanding of WHY. Not unrealistic though. I have heard that these stories have and do occur..and occur alot.
SPOILERS:
Loved Abbie. She was my favorite character. Loathed Kate at the end. Not surprised by the end either. Sad though. This book was very realistic. I have read about cults, seen films on them and come from a family of Therapists who have worked with them. Kate had severe Stockholm Syndrome but I really would have liked to know about her childhood, her early days with Scott and her current circumstances. I found the subject fascinating, the characters fascinating but the backstory just did not do it for me so I am giving this 3.5 stars.
September 19, 2022
Edit: I wasn't going to write a full review, but I still haven't recovered the brain cells I lost while reading this, and I'm angry about it. This book broke me in the worst way possible. Idk if I can even read anymore. This is 100% about to be the most brutal review I've ever written. I'm sorry.
Here's a list of what I found awful (and if you liked this book, yay! I'm super happy for you because that's what makes reading awesome, so please take my anger with a grain of salt.). Points 8-12 are separate spoilers, so read at your own risk. Sorry in advance that these are so unhinged:
1. EVERY SINGLE ADULT IN THIS BOOK WAS DUMBER THAN THE NEXT. This woman just walks back into your life after being in a cult for a decade? BETTER LET HER LIVE IN YOUR HOME, AMIRITE???
2. The daughter wanting to go live with her mother after not knowing her and constantly saying she's uncomfortable around her, and she's nervous.....? But she's somehow down to live in a motel with mom??? AND HER FATHER WAS WILLING TO LET THAT HAPPEN?????
3. The ending was awful and unfulfilling.
4. The writing. You expect me to believe this gruesome cult is full of people trying to procreate violently, but the phrases "private parts" and "lay with" are used?? That was a big disconnect for me.
5. You mean to tell me the FBI never once investigated this weird cult in relation to Kate's disappearance???
6. You mean to ALSO tell me that they abandoned her case just a few days after she returned?????? I guess this one shouldn't be as shocking, considering how terrible they were when she initially disappeared.
7. Meredith sucked, but my girl was right. If I were her, I would've left my husband as soon as he said "she's still my wife" in reference to Kate. Absolutely tf not.
In conclusion, wtf.
I’m sorry. I just do not understand the hype behind this one.
This wasn't a thriller, I was not on the edge of my seat, and I was fuming at the halfway point when nothing of consequence happened. Nothing happens until the end, and it all made me angry. This is the only book I've read this year where I cannot understand the 5-star ratings--readers, please blink twice if you need help (I'm totally just kidding--I'm glad this book has a market and I honestly wish I would've fit into it. I'm glad people liked it, and I'm sad I was on the opposite end of the spectrum). 🙃
Here's a list of what I found awful (and if you liked this book, yay! I'm super happy for you because that's what makes reading awesome, so please take my anger with a grain of salt.). Points 8-12 are separate spoilers, so read at your own risk. Sorry in advance that these are so unhinged:
1. EVERY SINGLE ADULT IN THIS BOOK WAS DUMBER THAN THE NEXT. This woman just walks back into your life after being in a cult for a decade? BETTER LET HER LIVE IN YOUR HOME, AMIRITE???
2. The daughter wanting to go live with her mother after not knowing her and constantly saying she's uncomfortable around her, and she's nervous.....? But she's somehow down to live in a motel with mom??? AND HER FATHER WAS WILLING TO LET THAT HAPPEN?????
3. The ending was awful and unfulfilling.
4. The writing. You expect me to believe this gruesome cult is full of people trying to procreate violently, but the phrases "private parts" and "lay with" are used?? That was a big disconnect for me.
5. You mean to tell me the FBI never once investigated this weird cult in relation to Kate's disappearance???
6. You mean to ALSO tell me that they abandoned her case just a few days after she returned?????? I guess this one shouldn't be as shocking, considering how terrible they were when she initially disappeared.
7. Meredith sucked, but my girl was right. If I were her, I would've left my husband as soon as he said "she's still my wife" in reference to Kate. Absolutely tf not.
In conclusion, wtf.
I’m sorry. I just do not understand the hype behind this one.
This wasn't a thriller, I was not on the edge of my seat, and I was fuming at the halfway point when nothing of consequence happened. Nothing happens until the end, and it all made me angry. This is the only book I've read this year where I cannot understand the 5-star ratings--readers, please blink twice if you need help (I'm totally just kidding--I'm glad this book has a market and I honestly wish I would've fit into it. I'm glad people liked it, and I'm sad I was on the opposite end of the spectrum). 🙃
July 31, 2022
i was literally reading this book like “how could this book make me shocked” and then i got to the “twist” and was GAGGED
April 14, 2020
Kate Bennett seems to have it all. A happy marriage, a loving husband (and childhood sweetheart) Scott, a five year old healthy and happy daughter Abbie and a career as an investigative journalist which she is excited to get back to. But one day Kate just disappears from a supermarket's parking lot without a trace.
Eleven years later, Scott and Abbie have finally moved on with their lives when Kate suddenly reappears with a 7 month old baby. Abbie is now 16 years old with a very vague memory of her mother and Scott has remarried another woman Meredith. Kate does not seem even a slight shadow of her former self; she is severely malnourished and looks psychologically traumatised. While Scott, Abbie and Meredith try to figure out how to re-integrate Kate back into their lives, the police investigate and find out that Kate might have left her family and life on her own free will to join the cult she was investigating and whose leader she had interviewed 11 years ago. Meredith seems to have doubts about Kate and as the police continue with their investigation, it seems like Kate's return could be far more dangerous than anyone expected.
This book shows the extent of the devious power and influence a cult can hold and have, even on seemingly educated and intelligent people, to make them give up the sanity of their lives to embrace the insanity of a cult.
My thanks to Netgally, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author Lucinda Berry for the e-Arc of the book. I apologise for putting up the review late.
Rating: 3.5*
Eleven years later, Scott and Abbie have finally moved on with their lives when Kate suddenly reappears with a 7 month old baby. Abbie is now 16 years old with a very vague memory of her mother and Scott has remarried another woman Meredith. Kate does not seem even a slight shadow of her former self; she is severely malnourished and looks psychologically traumatised. While Scott, Abbie and Meredith try to figure out how to re-integrate Kate back into their lives, the police investigate and find out that Kate might have left her family and life on her own free will to join the cult she was investigating and whose leader she had interviewed 11 years ago. Meredith seems to have doubts about Kate and as the police continue with their investigation, it seems like Kate's return could be far more dangerous than anyone expected.
This book shows the extent of the devious power and influence a cult can hold and have, even on seemingly educated and intelligent people, to make them give up the sanity of their lives to embrace the insanity of a cult.
My thanks to Netgally, the publisher Thomas and Mercer and the author Lucinda Berry for the e-Arc of the book. I apologise for putting up the review late.
Rating: 3.5*
October 21, 2019
Fast and Furious!
Kate disappears from a parking lot 11 years ago
Her hubby and daughter are devastated
Eventually Scott remarries and him, his new wife Meredith and his daughter Abbi have a new life but they never forget Kate
And then, one day, she appears, with a baby
Where has she been? Who took her and why?
I’m not going to say the answer to any of the questions but its a fascinating and very dark story and extremely well researched, thought out, presented and written and scarily believable
The adjustment to all their lives is massive and things start to spin out of control
But then, the ultimate blindside, had me gasping out loud and ok will use the word ‘twist’ happens and its a raw, evil and shocking one
Its brilliant
At times brutal, other times gentle this book is dramatic and sinister and above all else very very readable
10/10
5 Stars
March 12, 2020
Well, this definitely wasn't what I was expecting after reading The Perfect Child, a far superior novel by Lucinda Berry
.
I loved that book. When She Returned...not so much. Don't get me wrong. This is very well-written, and if you're looking for a character study examining the effects of losing a loved one to a cult (or how incredibly smart people fall into such a destructive trap), this is definitely a story you'll love. I just couldn't really connect with any of the characters, and both books I've read by this author included incredibly annoying, totally duh-headed males protagonists. Beyond that, I think I was simply expecting something a little more grisly. I needed something more grisly. What I got was flat, and not even remotely shocking.
The timeline was wonky. For example, Kate, a journalist, used the internet to research Ray for her story...but later, upon her return, acts as though she's never heard of it before. And she was supposedly gone for 11 years, but the sections of the story told from her POV most definitely did not cover 11 years. The whole story was anti-climatic...and predictable. I won't say more for fear of spoilers, but from the moment Kate arrived home, I suspected how things would play out, and I was correct...which sucks.
Overall...I'm feeling pretty "meh" about this novel.
**Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for my candid review.
I loved that book. When She Returned...not so much. Don't get me wrong. This is very well-written, and if you're looking for a character study examining the effects of losing a loved one to a cult (or how incredibly smart people fall into such a destructive trap), this is definitely a story you'll love. I just couldn't really connect with any of the characters, and both books I've read by this author included incredibly annoying, totally duh-headed males protagonists. Beyond that, I think I was simply expecting something a little more grisly. I needed something more grisly. What I got was flat, and not even remotely shocking.
The timeline was wonky. For example, Kate, a journalist, used the internet to research Ray for her story...but later, upon her return, acts as though she's never heard of it before. And she was supposedly gone for 11 years, but the sections of the story told from her POV most definitely did not cover 11 years. The whole story was anti-climatic...and predictable. I won't say more for fear of spoilers, but from the moment Kate arrived home, I suspected how things would play out, and I was correct...which sucks.
Overall...I'm feeling pretty "meh" about this novel.
**Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for my candid review.
February 17, 2022
Kate Bennett was abducted from a parking lot eleven years ago. She is found in Montana holding a baby, refusing to say where she’s been. The FBI believes she was taken by a cult. After eleven years, her husband has remarried. The five-year-old she left behind is now sixteen. Abbi is eager to reconnect with her mom. Meredith, Scott’s new wife, is trying to be understanding, up unto a point. But there’s something odd about Kate’s behavior…
I found the relationship angles of this interesting. The cult stuff was interesting to a point, although I found myself skimming the “then” sections after a while. There were aspects to the police investigation that felt really improbable. This was a quick read that I would call more of a family drama than a psychological thriller as there really aren’t any twists.
I found the relationship angles of this interesting. The cult stuff was interesting to a point, although I found myself skimming the “then” sections after a while. There were aspects to the police investigation that felt really improbable. This was a quick read that I would call more of a family drama than a psychological thriller as there really aren’t any twists.
October 14, 2019
11-years ago wife and mother, Kate Bennett disappeared in California without a trace. After months turned into years, her husband, Scott and her daughter, Abbi were forced to move on with their lives. Abbi is now 16 and barely remembers her mom. Scott has since remarried another widow named Meredith, brought together by their shared grief.
Now unexpectedly, Kate is found at a gas station in Montana, a 7-week old baby on her hip. Severely malnourished, clearly beaten and psychologically traumatized, Kate is baffling both doctors and police. Scott never expected to see his first wife again and when she reappears out of the blue, their life is thrown completely upside down.
The police start investigating what happened to Kate. And when they start to look into her disappearance, they learn she left her family of her own volition and joined a cult. Scott thought he knew his childhood sweetheart, but it becomes clear that he never really knew his wife after all.
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry kept me hooked from the very start. Not only do I love stories about missing people, but I’m very intrigued by cults. So when this story delved into what it was like to be in a cult, I found myself unable to put this book down. Previously I read The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry and I’m happy to say I loved this book just as much. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lucinda Berry for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now unexpectedly, Kate is found at a gas station in Montana, a 7-week old baby on her hip. Severely malnourished, clearly beaten and psychologically traumatized, Kate is baffling both doctors and police. Scott never expected to see his first wife again and when she reappears out of the blue, their life is thrown completely upside down.
The police start investigating what happened to Kate. And when they start to look into her disappearance, they learn she left her family of her own volition and joined a cult. Scott thought he knew his childhood sweetheart, but it becomes clear that he never really knew his wife after all.
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry kept me hooked from the very start. Not only do I love stories about missing people, but I’m very intrigued by cults. So when this story delved into what it was like to be in a cult, I found myself unable to put this book down. Previously I read The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry and I’m happy to say I loved this book just as much. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Lucinda Berry for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2021
Two stars is generous. Wife goes missing but hey let's NOT look at that cult she is involved with. Stupid characters, stupid story line and stupid me for wasting my time.
October 24, 2019
Wow--that's exactly the way a psychological thriller should be. Kept me guessing what exactly was going on the entire way through, and what a ride that was. Lots of surprises, and I had a difficult time putting it down (I know it sounds cliche, but it's the truth!)
The narrative moves quickly and we get points of view from three characters in the past and present. It sounds like too much, but the flow works well and makes complete sense, each of the characters has a distinctive voice and it's easy to keep them straight.
The entire thing, while really out there, is actually believable. I've read enough about cults to feel like the story is really authentic, and the characters act in ways that might seem totally bonkers, but it seems very real.
The premise of someone missing and then returned is intriguing in itself, and the writer does an excellent job at conveying the story. Well done, I will read more of her work in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The narrative moves quickly and we get points of view from three characters in the past and present. It sounds like too much, but the flow works well and makes complete sense, each of the characters has a distinctive voice and it's easy to keep them straight.
The entire thing, while really out there, is actually believable. I've read enough about cults to feel like the story is really authentic, and the characters act in ways that might seem totally bonkers, but it seems very real.
The premise of someone missing and then returned is intriguing in itself, and the writer does an excellent job at conveying the story. Well done, I will read more of her work in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
May 7, 2022
I LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK. It was my first Lucinda Berry, but it was intriguing and interesting and I loved the different cast of characters and trying to figure out where the story was going. Highly recommend, now I just have to figure out what Lucinda Berry book to read next.
February 20, 2022
Interesting book with several twists. The ending didn't do it for me though; I was left disappointed. The rest of the book was decent though, I would give it 3.5 stars.
September 8, 2024
Audio: 4 stars
Plot: 4 stars
Woah, this was kinda terrifying and heartbreaking. Cults are actually so creepy to me.
Plot: 4 stars
Woah, this was kinda terrifying and heartbreaking. Cults are actually so creepy to me.
May 16, 2024
4/5 ⭐️
- I’ve read three books by this author and I think this one might be my favorite. It felt so realistic and I could really picture myself within the story. Initially I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the story because there wasn’t a lot of dialogue, but the pacing was perfect and I found myself not wanting to put this book down.
- I really enjoyed the past and present timeline because I feel like I really got a glimpse into how people get into a cult and why they stay. I love a good thriller where I also feel like I’m learning about something unfamiliar to me and this one hit the nail on the head.
- Lucinda Berry is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors because her books never disappoint!
- I’ve read three books by this author and I think this one might be my favorite. It felt so realistic and I could really picture myself within the story. Initially I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the story because there wasn’t a lot of dialogue, but the pacing was perfect and I found myself not wanting to put this book down.
- I really enjoyed the past and present timeline because I feel like I really got a glimpse into how people get into a cult and why they stay. I love a good thriller where I also feel like I’m learning about something unfamiliar to me and this one hit the nail on the head.
- Lucinda Berry is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors because her books never disappoint!
September 6, 2024
3.75/5 ⭐️ My first book by this author and it was pretty good. The beginning was very slow and the cult aspect was pretty disturbing but I pushed on. It was enjoyable but I was expecting to love it more than I did.
May 31, 2020
3.75 Stars
June 27, 2025
if i could put this book in jail, i would.
July 15, 2020
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and it was very well-performed. It’s a very different kind of “missing woman” story where the woman comes back years later and had to re-integrate with her family, including her husband’s new wife. I don’t want to spoil too much why she went missing but you can find it in some of the other reviews. It was a very compelling, creepy story in ways I didn’t expect. You got to hear the story through the voices of the missing woman, her daughter, and the new wife of the husband she disappeared from years before. The subject matter of the reason for her disappearance is something of a surprise and not something I usually choose to read about, but I thought it was well-done here. A solid and entertaining audiobook choice for your commute, chores or relaxing at home.
December 27, 2022
3 Stars
When She Returned is about a reporter who is going to investigate a cult. She abandons her lovely family and her good life and goes with them. A bit unbelievable, I can’t imagine how someone can get brainwashed to accept all those things. Another thing is I don’t count this story as a mystery/thriller. There wasn’t really any mystery to solve and I’m not really into cult-ish stories to be thrilled. I should all I did like its writing to read till the end. But I wouldn’t say I liked the ending either. I wasn’t satisfied with it. Told in multiple POV, 1st person, it can be read as a standalone. Overall, it was an ok read, and I hope you enjoy it more than me!
Thanks to Lucinda Berry, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
When She Returned is about a reporter who is going to investigate a cult. She abandons her lovely family and her good life and goes with them. A bit unbelievable, I can’t imagine how someone can get brainwashed to accept all those things. Another thing is I don’t count this story as a mystery/thriller. There wasn’t really any mystery to solve and I’m not really into cult-ish stories to be thrilled. I should all I did like its writing to read till the end. But I wouldn’t say I liked the ending either. I wasn’t satisfied with it. Told in multiple POV, 1st person, it can be read as a standalone. Overall, it was an ok read, and I hope you enjoy it more than me!
Thanks to Lucinda Berry, Netgalley, and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2021
I have become a huge Lucinda Berry fan, and this book was no exception. Interesting premise, and like always the psychological insight in the content she covers, is obviously well-researched. I could feel the emotions as if I was there myself, understanding better how living in a cult possibly is.
July 2, 2020
Audio 5 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
September 19, 2019
This book has a refreshing intense storyline you don't see everyday. At first I didn't know if it was something I would like because it was out of the ordinary, but I really loved this book. When I was half way through I could not put it down, I had to know the end and wonder what I would do in that situation? The story is told out of the eyes of the missing female, the daughter and the new wife and it will hold you tight.
This is a ARC from the publisher, which I got for a honest review.
This is a ARC from the publisher, which I got for a honest review.
June 17, 2025
Audiobook
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry had me absolutely gagged. Like… cults? Real-life people falling for that? Wild. My jaw on the floor.
It’s always fascinating (and lowkey terrifying) how these manipulations go down.
My book ratings for LB books-
Keep Your Friends Close- 4 Stars
When She Returned- 4 Stars
The Best Of Friends- 1 Star
When She Returned by Lucinda Berry had me absolutely gagged. Like… cults? Real-life people falling for that? Wild. My jaw on the floor.
It’s always fascinating (and lowkey terrifying) how these manipulations go down.
My book ratings for LB books-
Keep Your Friends Close- 4 Stars
When She Returned- 4 Stars
The Best Of Friends- 1 Star
July 2, 2021
Slightly spoilerish
After eleven years missing, Kate returns home with a newborn baby. Her husband Scott, now married to Meredith, wants the old Kate back. Abbi, only five when her mom disappeared, just wants to know her mother. The mystery of Kate’s missing eleven years haunts everyone.
I didn’t enjoy WHEN SHE RETURNED as much as most of Lucinda Berry’s novels. Of the three narrators, Abbi was the only one I enjoyed. Vulnerable, yet strong, the teen loved and supported her mother unconditionally. I empathized with Meredith, but not her tactics. She was in such a difficult position, but waffling between martyr and jealous suspicion didn’t work for me. Kate’s chapters show how she ended up where she was and why she stayed. I understand the psychology of Stockholm Syndrome, cults and brainwashing, but couldn’t connect with her. If she has received more comprehensive psychological counseling aimed at her healing rather then the police/FBI investigation the outcome might have been better.
I did not enjoy Kate’s Then chapters and the descriptions of abuse in the cult and skimmed over some of that. While necessary to understanding the circumstances and not gratuitous, I’m familiar enough with what goes on that I didn’t need the specifics.
I hated the ending of the book, not just plot-wise, but the abruptness. When I’m expecting more and turn the page to find the story is over, the book feels incomplete.
WHEN SHE RETURNED isn’t a bad book. I like Berry’s word building, she’s quite readable. The story just didn’t work for me.
After eleven years missing, Kate returns home with a newborn baby. Her husband Scott, now married to Meredith, wants the old Kate back. Abbi, only five when her mom disappeared, just wants to know her mother. The mystery of Kate’s missing eleven years haunts everyone.
I didn’t enjoy WHEN SHE RETURNED as much as most of Lucinda Berry’s novels. Of the three narrators, Abbi was the only one I enjoyed. Vulnerable, yet strong, the teen loved and supported her mother unconditionally. I empathized with Meredith, but not her tactics. She was in such a difficult position, but waffling between martyr and jealous suspicion didn’t work for me. Kate’s chapters show how she ended up where she was and why she stayed. I understand the psychology of Stockholm Syndrome, cults and brainwashing, but couldn’t connect with her. If she has received more comprehensive psychological counseling aimed at her healing rather then the police/FBI investigation the outcome might have been better.
I did not enjoy Kate’s Then chapters and the descriptions of abuse in the cult and skimmed over some of that. While necessary to understanding the circumstances and not gratuitous, I’m familiar enough with what goes on that I didn’t need the specifics.
I hated the ending of the book, not just plot-wise, but the abruptness. When I’m expecting more and turn the page to find the story is over, the book feels incomplete.
WHEN SHE RETURNED isn’t a bad book. I like Berry’s word building, she’s quite readable. The story just didn’t work for me.
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