The Face at the Window

by Ruby Speechley

They’re in your house.

They want your life.

And now, they have your baby.

To the world, I’m @HappyWife. Online, people only see my picture-perfect home, my handsome husband, Nick, and my beautiful baby, Thomas.

They don’t see the real Gemma Adams. They don’t see my past, the dark secrets I’m hiding in my marriage. They don’t see the fear I live in every single day.

But I know someone is watching me. And now, they’ve taken Thomas.

I just don’t know why.

But I’m going to stop at nothing to get my baby back.

Even if it destroys everything I’ve got to find him.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Mystery

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2021

About the author

Ruby Speechley is a psychological thriller writer. Her debut novel, Someone Else’s Baby, was published by Hera Books on 25 July 2019.

You can contact her on Twitter: @rubyspeechley, Facebook: ‘Ruby Speechley Author’ or via her website: rubyspeechley.com

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the world, I'm @HappyWife. Online, people only see my picture perfect home, my handsome husband, Nick, and my beautiful baby, Thomas. They don't see the real Gemma Adams. They don't see my past. the dark secrets I'm hiding in my marriage. They don't see the fear I live in every single day. But I know someone is watching me. And now they've taken Thomas. I will stop at nothing to get him back. Even if it destroys everything.

What an emotionally chilling read this is. Baby Thomas was taken by a girl who worked for Gemma.

I didn't like any of the characters and i felt the ending was a bit rushed. It did take me a few chapters to get into the book and then I was hooked. Filled with secrets and lies but it was also a bit predictable. The pace is fast in this suspense filled read. There's a lot going on in this book but it's still easy to follow.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #RubySpeechly for my ARC of #TheFaceAtTheWindow in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was just OK, though clearly I am in the minority. The story centers on Gemma, a young new mom whos 5 day old baby disappears, and Scarlett, who is having an affair with a married man. The book alternates between the 2 POVs. Though the story centers on the baby being abducted, there is a lot more going on here, and I didn't think the synopsis accurately portrayed what the book was really about. Spousal abuse is the thread that ties the stories together (this is not a spoiler- you find this out immediately) and the author does a good job describing the various ways this manifests itself across both women's stories.

The book is very fast-paced and mostly takes place over the course of a short period of time. That being said, I didn't feel like much of what happened was a surprise- it felt like it was roaring towards a conclusion that I clearly anticipated happening. Also, while Scarlett and Gemma have well-developed characters, I wish I could have learned more about their relationships with their parents and other friends, which were not built out as much. And lastly, the ending of the book also caused me to have to suspend my disbelief a bit.

Overall, a fast-paced read that held my interest but I didn't love it because I felt like the twists were predictable. I enjoyed the narration style with the POV bouncing back and forth from one character to another, and thought that the storyline was cleverly woven together, though. Sounds like most other reviews were more positive, so I think folks should give the book a chance. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very okay. I thought it was going to be a mommy blogger nightmare story and it isn't. She's just a mom with a business and a bad husband who's a groomer and abuser and someone kidnaps her baby for a particular reason.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gemma and Nick’s new baby has been taken by a girl who works for Gemma at her restaurant. Gemma is devastated and the police are doing everything they can to get the baby home.
Most of the characters in this book are despicable.
It’s a story about abuse, grooming, secrets and lies and I thought that the plot was predictable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bayan Sh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't a very enjoyable read for me for many reasons, unfortunately.

The characters were not at all likable or even a bit realistic, and the pace was super fast, although it was easy to catch up with what's going on, it felt like an emotionally thrilling book like this should have been a tiny bit slower in pace.

The writing style wasn't bad, it just felt a little bland. And I wasn't happy with the events at all, maybe as I am a mom..

I don't have much else to say, but this won't go into my recommended shelf anytime soon. I'll also note I could have DNFed this many times before even getting half way through and I'm upset I didn't because I didn't end up enjoying it all that much.

Thank you NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book!

[Susan Hampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When new mum Gemma is seen struggling with her shopping and baby at the tills, a familiar friendly face appears and offers to help. The young woman, suggests that she could take Thomas outside to wait for her. A grateful Gemma hands over her son and pays for her goods. When she goes outside, neither of them can be seen. It soon becomes clear, that Thomas, has been abducted by the young woman.

What a tremendous story this is. The opening chapter is only the tip of the iceberg of what is to come, as the story drops back a few weeks to fill in why things have become so dramatic. Most of the characters are not particularly likeable, and some you will change your opinion about as the story deepens and opens up. There are a lot of triggers in the story, for anyone that has to be careful with their reading choices.

I liked how the story developed and drew me in, often misleading me, not purposely but because the characters had to work things out themselves too. I believe how the author deals with these sensitive and delicate issues makes you look at how easy it is to be manipulated and not know, especially when the characters are at an impressionable age.

I liked how the author brought all these storylines together at the end. It is so much more than I thought it was going to be.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel deals with abuse, violence, control, deception, and lying. The main male character is absolutely vile. I clued in on the two story lines and made the connections. I didn’t really like any of the characters. I thought the ending was incongruent with the main body Of the story. The main focus had been on one plot but then all,of sudden, the author throws in a hurried conclusion. I just thought it seemed rushed and tacked on as an after thought. It was an ok read.
Thanks to Hera and NetGalley for the advance read.

[Karen Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Face At The Window is an emotional rollercoaster of a thriller with twists and turns that kept me hooked from page one. Littered with dark secrets and lies, and with a genuinely frightening male character, the sense of dread and fear are palpable. I was desperate to find out what would happen to Gemma, Scarlett and baby Thomas.
Many thanks to Ruby Speechley, and the publisher, Hera, for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my fourth book of Ruby’s and it reminded me of how impressed I was after reading the first one Someone else’s baby. Nothing is ever quite as it seems and she somehow manages to take a person’s worst fears and put them on the page in such a way that your heart is in your throat as you read it.

In this case Gemma, a new mum is queuing in the supermarket with a fractious baby when a friend/colleague offers to push him in the pram outside while she waits. Something most of us would do I’m sure, especially when it’s someone we know. But what happens next is every parents nightmare, she has disappeared with the baby and turned her mobile off…..

This is also the story of Scarlett, desperately wanting her mum to give her details of her father and whose boyfriend is a married man. These two stories alternate and show two very different women but what they have in common is what links them together.

This book covers a serious subject but it is handled with care and the author deftly shows how an image portrayed to others isn’t necessarily who that person really is. After all you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

With a building tension that will have you shouting at the pages, some despicable characters and a plot that has some well crafted twisty manoeuvres, this is another great thriller from Ruby Speechley.

[Sharada Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis -

Gemma seems to have a picture perfect life – a beautiful estate home, a wonderful husband and now a lovely new born baby. But she has some dark secrets hidden in her marriage and added to that she is being stalked. When her baby boy Thomas is abducted, Gemma has no choice but to confront her life & do whatever it takes.

Review -

The book is set in Bedford, UK, during the summer of 2018 and the narrative alternates between the POVs of Gemma in the present day and the days leading up to the abduction and Scarlett, the 21 year old who is having an affair with a married man.

The plot was very gripping with short chapters that kept me turning pages, wanting to know more with each turn of events. The writing was fast-paced, but lacked in character development, which I think is understandable since this is more of a plot driven novel.

The author very cleverly misleads us hiding things in plain sight and creating confusion initially. But I found some of the dialogues getting repetitive as the timelines merged Gemma and Scarlett’s perspectives.

The book involves a few triggers – domestic abuse and violence. The author connects the stories of the protagonists well, drawing similarities and patterns in their lives..

The ending however felt rushed, though the buildup was prolonged. Too many things seemed to happen and it felt as though the author was trying hard to create twists that can “wow” us. But sadly, it was quite predictable and I didn’t experience the “punching” effect.

But I really liked the writing style and will definitely read more by this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hera Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life of the two women is a nightmare. The first was taken by her child and the second was left by her boyfriend. They know each other, but one knows and the other does not. It’s a story of taking and giving. What we do for love and what we support for love. Everything is connected and all actions have consequences. Sonner or later, justice is found.

I liked the story and I was really interested in how things were going and how the things were revelt. The end is the heartbreaking, but fair.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hera Books for an ARC in echange of an honest review

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face at the Window is the first book I have read by author Ruby Speechley. I do have to say I was quite drawn into this tory as Speechley has a knack for keeping you hooked right from the start.

Gemma Adams’ five day old son has been kidnapped by Rosie, an employee at Gemma’s restaurant. But, who is Rosie exactly and why would she want to take baby Thomas?

This story is mostly plot driven and what at first might seem like an open and shut case and one easily figured out certainly leaves a lot of questions along the way. Is this kidnapping so cut and dry? Is this story so easy to be figured out within the first few chapters? Well, yes and no. I certainly thought I had it all figured out at the beginning and may have found myself a tad bit disappointed at first to have figured it out, but a few pages later all these different scenarios started hitting me at once that I felt like a conspiracy theorist. Did I really guess the entire plot or did Speechley just manipulate me into believing that was the case? Let’s just say Speechley got me on this one. Kudos on the trick! Now, I am totally invested while my mind is spinning trying to figure it all out.

The only two characters really fleshed out in this story are that of Gemma and Scarlett as the story is told through both POV’s in both before and after dual timelines. Did I necessarily like either of the two characters? Again, yes and no. There are definitely little hints throughout the story that had me going back and forth between like and dislike which made the story that much more interesting.

I would like to point out though that there is an underlying theme surrounding this story and could be a trigger for some readers. There is physical and emotional abuse, cheating, and manipulation. Triggers do not bother me, but may be an issue for some.

The Face at the Window is a fast paced story that pulls you in right from the start. I had trouble putting this book down! I raced to the finish line needing to know what happened and I am happy to say it did not disappoint.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover for this book definitely caught my eye. It has an unsettling synopsis and one that made me intrigued before I even started it.

Gemma is married to Nick, and everything about being a mum to Thomas is new. He’s only 5 days old and she is trying to do some shopping. When one of her employees spots her and offers to help, Gemma is only to happy to. After all she knows this person and trusts them!

This is a suspense novel that is told in differing timelines and from differing perspectives. It caught me initially but as I got to know the characters I was able to differentiate between them.

The author has woven a story that is about a missing baby. It does however have more to it the that, it does sound like I am down playing the severity of the baby, honestly I am not. The baby is the finale in some ways even though it’s at the beginning. The story that follows is the lead up to that climax and you get all the whys, who’s and where’s.

His was a story that definitely hooked me. Even though you will guess early who he who is going to about the journey that takes place between the characters.

This one was an addictive read as I was so curious. Took a route I didn’t expect and it was a route I enjoyed. This is one for readers who like mystery, intrigue and stories set in a domestic setting. I would happily recommend this book.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very twisty piece of thriller in its most parts, I had so much fun with this book. Clever writing kept me guessing, keeping me on my toes, as author Ruby Speechley hoodwinked me many a time in the subplots.

My mind whirled and swooped, even when I knew most facts, about how the subplots were going to be streamlined. The book gave me the most delicious joy while reading, never wanting it to end. Missing child is my most favorite trope. The pages turned as fast as my eyes could read.

But a few niggles popped up. The ending was too fast. The subplots should have been tied up neatly with a couple of twists, but a few more were introduced and linked. And domestic abuse became the core. Characters needed to be anchored well to their careers.

There was a new mini story at the end which could have made a brilliant book on its own. So I would say I enjoyed it and would read this author again.

One last question – Who was the face at the window?

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, unsettling story and every mother’s nightmare! The sense of dread was palpable throughout. The writing was solid, the characters fleshed out, most are unlikable and one is completely vile. TW for domestic abuse. Fans of BA Paris may enjoy this one. Thank you NetGalley, Hera Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available now

[Paige G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would've been a five star; the book kept me on the edge of my seat, I always wanted to find out what would happen next.

However, the ending would've been just fine without the twist.

All in all, I enjoyed the authors writing style and I would be interested in reading more from her!

[Barbara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Only thing is I felt the ending was rushed.

[Diane Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down. Loved it

[Tori 🧡 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but nothing too special. Great ending. Would give it more a 3.8. I kinda wish it was a little crazier with the plan towards the ending, but very happy for the compassion for Gemma tbh

[Kristen Dutkiewicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gemma has the handsome husband, the adorable new baby, Thomas, and a beautiful home. She should be a happy wife.

But no one knows the secrets in her marriage, and the hurt caused by her husband.

After her baby is taken, Gemma must ensure his safe return.

Told from alternating viewpoints, The Face at the Window has a captivating storyline. I was hooked and loved the concept behind it. However, there was certainly a fair share of unlikable characters and I felt like the ending did not meet the quality of the beginning of the book.

It was almost as if the main storyline took a sharp turn and got lost along the way.

I would still recommend this one to fans of thrillers, and overall, it was well-written. I just would have preferred a more relevant ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the surface, Gemma seems to have it all: an adoring husband, a successful Instagram business, and a healthy newborn son. But when Gemma's new baby is snatched by a girl she works with, it seems there are a whole line of secrets and lies waiting to be revealed, and that everything isn't as perfect as it seems...

While I liked the premise of this book, I found the execution lacking. The characters were barely fleshed out, and there was no nuance at all - the villains were almost caricatures of themselves, and the twists were very predictable. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is told by 2 POV's. Gemma and Scarlett.

You may like this book if you like books about :

* Social Media
* Teacher/Student relationships
* Identity/Background searches.

I really enjoyed Rubys writing style , it had my attention the whole way through. I will definately be reading more of her books.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A few nice photos of your house and they think they know you, that you must be living the perfect life. If only they knew."


Gemma and her husband Nick seem to have the ideal life: a happy marriage, picture-perfect home and a beautiful newborn baby. But behind the shiny image they portray to the outside world is something much darker. A life where Gemma lives in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing and Nick has all the control. 


Scarlett and her lover Cole are soulmates. As soon as his divorce is finalised they are going to be together properly. Forever. At least that’s what he’s promised her. So when he suddenly ends their relationship Scarlett is shocked, and determined to win back her man. But as she starts to think that he has in fact lied to her, her thoughts instead turn to revenge. Leading her to take drastic and shocking action to make him pay for what he did. 


This is one of those books that’s a bit like an iceberg: what you see at first is only a part of what is actually going on beneath the surface. Taut, tense and twisty, the author shifts seamlessly between timelines to slowly unveil the layers in the story, weaving them together to craft a complex and intricate thriller. And while there were some things that were easy to predict, there were so many unanswered questions, unexpected revelations and misdirection that it kept you on your toes and avoided feeling predictable. 


Gemma and Scarlett felt like they could be any young woman you know.  They are close in age but their lives couldn’t be more different, a contrast that is compelling. Gemma in particular was very likeable and reading her felt like I could have been reading about myself many years ago. I just wanted to help her break free of Nick’s grasp. Scarlett had her charms, but she also did a lot of messed up things in the name of revenge that disturbed me. But while the author doesn’t make excuses for her, she does show the reader her motivations, helping us to understand her behaviour. I found myself often empathising with her, even if I didn’t agree with what she was doing. Then there’s Nick; a vile, abusive man who made my stomach churn and blood boil. The author got the mix of charm and viciousness down to perfection so you could understand both how Gemma fell in love with him and why she was so scared. 


The author explores the topic of domestic violence and coercive control in a multitude of ways throughout this book. She looks at how people find themselves in these kinds of relationships, what it is like to live in a relationship dominated by escalating abuse and control, and the aftermath of abuse and what that means for those who survived. As a domestic abuse survivor I appreciated the honesty and sensitivity with which she wrote. It is clear that she has done her research and was so realistic that it did bring back memories of my own experience. But it is also a book that educates and makes you think, helping those who don’t have any experience of these kinds of situations to understand how easily anyone can find themselves trapped in that kind of life. I also liked that she showed the many facets of abuse and control and appreciated her note at the end with places to go to for help for those who need it. 


Unnerving, explosive and affecting, this was a gripping thriller that I’d recommend to fans of the genre. 

[whatemsreadingx · Rating 3 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING - Domestic violence. This topic is heavily featured in this story, so please be aware before searching out this book and reading my review.

This book was just not it for me, it didn't do anything wrong as such it just wasn't as good as I was expecting... Individual aspects of this story were brilliant, but as a whole book it just missed the mark. The Face At The Window was good, but it just wasn't good enough.

The plot could have worked so well, if the author just focused on the idea of a woman scorned and the baby being taken from his Mother, but it kind of drifted away from that as we got deeper into the story. To the point where I felt the ending could have been a completely different book, it added no value whatsoever to the rest of the story.

There was a point far earlier where the book where it could have naturally been concluded, that I thought would have made the book better.

I also guessed pretty much the entire basis for the plot within the first couple of chapters, it was glaringly obvious and I felt really disappointed by how easy it was to figure out where the story was headed.

I just wasn't intrigued by this book, in the way I thought I would be, but I think that comes from having guessed the basis of the story early on. If that was hidden better I think I would have felt differently.

The writing style did elevate my feelings towards this book though, the author clearly has a flair for building up the atmosphere and the tension. I did feel anxious reading this book, and it really pulled at my heartstrings when I thought about everything that Gemma was going through.

Plus,. the two POV did add an extra layer to the story that I enjoyed, it did prevent the book from becoming stagnant, which it could easily have done, given that in Gemma's POV there wasn't a lot going on.

Character wise, Gemma was possibly the only character that I warmed to throughout the story, she felt real and relatable. But the others, Nick especially, were just irritating and in Nick's case, downright dickheads. Because the book was split between two POV it did mean I didn't enjoy the book that much, as I found Scarlett's chapters to be far less enjoyable.

I thought that the author could have also introduced the minor characters more as well, we were left to fill in the gaps a lot with Becca (Gemma's friend) and Amy (Scarlett's friend). The author could have focused more on introducing them to the story than other aspects.

Especially as towards the end of the story it started to feel like it was two separate books, almost as if the author was trying to justify the way Scarlett behaved... It just felt like it didn't fit with the rest of the story, or the blurb for that matter.

I wanted so badly to love this book but I just couldn't. The writing of the main story was good, but with the whole plot being given away early in the story and annoying characters it definitely had areas to improve.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face at the Window is the first book by Ruby Speechley I’ve read, and now I definitely need to catch up on her previous books. This is a very fast paced read. I thought the plot was utterly compelling, although none of the characters are particularly very likeable. Ruby Speechely brings them to life so well, and they really drive the story forward.

Gemma is relieved when a young woman she thinks she can trust offers to look after her baby for a brief moment. It’ll only be for a few moments. But a brief moment is all it takes. Soon, her baby is nowhere to be found, and the nightmare begins. And she soon begins to understand that the woman who took her baby isn’t the woman she thought she knew.

I have read a few missing child novels, and I really liked Ruby Speechley's ideas in this one. It makes for a very chilling read, particularly when she begins to reveal what was happening in the run up to Gemma’s son being taken. We begin to understand why the kidnapper did what they did.

I struggled to warm to Gemma when Ruby first introduced her. She did seem self-centred at first, with her focus on her online presence. She is known as @HappyWife on Social Media, and this is something Gemma has to portray to the outside world. But things are very different to what she makes them out to be. The story is also told from the point of view of Scarlett. Scarlett is a young woman who we know is having an affair with a married man. I was really interested in Scarlett’s character. She is desperate to track down her birth father, who her mother refuses to talk about. Scarlett’s backstory, and the disappearance of Gemma’s baby, does mean a lot going on in this book, but for me, it’s what made it so tense. My opinions of each character kept changing, and they were very different at the end of the novel from what they were at the start.

I wanted to know what was going to happen, particularly to Gemma’s baby. I thought how Ruby Speechley revealed more of what was going on in her characters’ lives was done very well. It added extra layers to the story, and the reveals made the book all the more chilling. If you’re looking for an entertaining, utterly addictive psychological thriller, then you should definitely add The Face at the Window to your TBR pile.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and loved a couple of Ruby’s books now. I love the way in which she writes psychological thrillers that send a bit of a shiver down your spine. I read the synopsis for ‘The Face At The Window’ and it certainly sounded like my type of read. So without further ado, I dived straight in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Face At The Window’ but more about that in a bit.
I was drawn into this story from the moment I read the synopsis and as soon as I started to read the story itself then that was it. I found it extremely difficult to put my Kindle to one side for any length of time. The story intrigued me and I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen. I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered down the wrong path entirely. There were a couple of characters, to whom I took an instant dislike and I had to find out what happened to them. The pages turned at a fairly fast pace and I finished the book within the space of a day. I found ‘The Face At The Window’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The Face At The Window’ is extremely well written. Ruby has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. She grabs your attention from fairly early on and reels you into what proves to be a compelling story. In my opinion the story was perfectly paced. The story was a bit of a slow burn but the plot gained momentum as the story continued before ending in a tense and dramatic conclusion. Reading ‘The Face At The Window’ was a bit like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Face At The Window’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Ruby’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening to the story had me hooked straight away. It flicks from present day to weeks building up to events that are happening in the now. It also alternates between Gemma and another character. I won’t say too much as the less you know going into this, the better.

I think this story really showcases how people on the outside, due to social media, can totally get the wrong impression about other people’s lifestyles. No one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors and its so easy to portray to others through images that our lives seem perfect. Makes you realise to be careful about what you wish for and that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence as it were.

The storyline deals with manipulation, mental and physical abuse as well as grooming amongst other things. Plenty to keep the reader gripped to the pages to see how things will unfold. There is another thread that runs through the story of which had the story going off in a different direction than what I had expected, so will definitely keep you on your toes!

The Face at the Window was another engrossing read by the author that made it impossible to put down. I enjoyed the build up of tension, waiting for certain things to be out in the open and as to what consequences there would be for certain characters. If you love a book that will keep you turning those pages late into the night, can highly recommend.

My thanks to Hera Book for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Face at the Window is an emotional roller coaster of a thriller and makes for really uncomfortable reading. I always think if a story makes you squirm and flinch when reading, then it’s a story that needs telling and people need to hear – even if it isn’t pleasant. This novel did exactly that and as much as I enjoyed reading it, for me it raised a lot of other thoughts and feelings too.
The main theme for me is manipulation and abuse and the devastating and rippling impact this can have. To the outside world Gemma and Nick have a perfect life but things are rarely as they seem and there is so much more going on. Ruby Speechley does a fantastic job of creating a vile villain who makes your skin crawl and is so very frighteningly real (because these people do exist). My heart completely went out to Scarlett too.
Multiple narrators provide an interesting perspective on the events before and after Thomas’s disappearance. Events past and present are explored and throughout the book they build a more detailed picture of the various characters. The more that is revealed, the more things are explained and can be understood and the way I felt about different characters changed as this happened.
Short chapters and changes in narration made this a really pacey novel to read. I flew through it and couldn’t put it down. A brilliant thriller that addresses many themes and real-life issues and serves as a cautionary tale to not be too taken in by social media.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening of this book sets the scene for what is an intense and emotional roller-coaster. Gemma’s newborn baby is taken but why has she been targeted?

Gemma has a very carefully curated online life but, as is so often the case, not is all as it appears. Behind the façade lies a very unhappy woman, who is stuck in an abusive marriage. Her husband Nick is an awful character and as soon as their baby is taken you know how he is going to react. This makes for some very intense scenes so please be aware of this if it may trigger you.

The story is told from two points of view and from two timelines. Our other main character is Scarlett. She is struggling with unknowns from her past and a complicated situation in her present. The timelines work really well, we are discovering how events are playing out after the baby has been taken, interspersed with the days leading up to it. I loved putting the puzzle pieces together.

I would have loved to have seen a bit more from Gemma at the end. The book, to me, was crying out for an epilogue. The focus was very much on Scarlett, which made sense, I just had a stronger connection to Gemma’s character.

As a parent this is one of my worse nightmares, I could feel Gemma’s terror and desperation as clearly as if it was my own. Willing her to find the answers and discover where her baby was. This is a fast paced, chilling thriller which reminds us that nobody’s life is as perfect as they lead you to believe online.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Face At The Window' by Ruby Speechley that is an emotional thriller that makes you feel that you are on a rollercoaster. The author has created a story that is an uncomfortable and thought provoking read. Making such an impact like this is proof of a great author choosing a subject that isn't neccessarily pleasant but important.
We meet Gemma, married to Nick with a little boy, Thomas. To the outside world they have the perfect life but as we know things are rarely as they first appear and Ruby Speechley shows us just how different that life can be.
The story is told from multiple narratives which gives us a broad perspective on events from both before and after Thomas goes missing. As the events unfold we learn more about the characters which made me view them in a different light.
Ruby Speechley has created characters that are intended to bring a reaction. She has definitely managed that. They are all developed so well that one of them even gave me goose bumps, not a pleasant person at all.
A thriller that highlights manipulation, physical and mental abuse as well as grooming among other serious issues we deal with in todays world. A book that had me flipping the pages so fast I thought my kindle would short out! A gripping tale that is an engrossing read and one that I highly recommend.
Thanks to Sarah Hardy of Book On The Bright Side for my place on the tour, Hera Books and Netgalley for the copy of the book.