★★★ 3.5 stars

Finding missing people is Matthew’s job...but this time it’s his own daughter who’s disappeared...

I was drawn into this story from very first page. Having followed each of Teresa Driscoll's thrillers in which Matthew features, I was keen to see where this one would take us. Usually he is on the periphery of each story as an investigator but this time he takes centre stage as his daughter suddenly goes missing.

The book opens up right away with Matthew's wife Sally in town shopping with their eight year old daughter Amelie before a birthday party that afternoon. Amelie sees a dress she wants to try but Sally, knowing how pressed for time they are, refuses promising they'll try it next time. Then as she is steering Amelie out of the dress shop, Sally's phone rings with bad news; she's done herself an injury and can't run the girls to the party - can Sally do it instead? After grabbing the details quickly, sure she's just been a few minutes, hangs up and turns to hurry Amelie along when she sees the space she had been just moments before empty.

Sally is frantic and begins running around calling for Amelie. Passersby notice her distress and begin searching along with her. Maybe Amelie went back to try on the dress but when she goes back to look for her in the dressing rooms, Amelie is not there. She is nowhere to be seen. She is frantic. Where is she? Has she just wandered off, impatient with waiting? Or has someone taken her baby girl?

The police are duly called by one of those helping Sally search as Sally phones Matthew who is currently seeing a new client. When he gets Sally's frantic message, he ends the meeting abruptly and races off to his wife's aid. He calls in a favour with his former colleague and friend DI Mel Sanders, now in Cornwall, and upon hearing the news, drops everything to head to Devon and head up the investigation into Amelie's disappearance.

Despite thorough searches and background checks into past threats made against Matthew, no trace of Amelie could be found. The CCTV behind the shop in which Sally and her daughter were was covered with a plastic bag. A prank or for nefarious purposes? Whatever CCTV there, Amelie could not be located on any of them. The police are stumped with no leads. And so the divers are brought in to search the nearby canal - just to rule it out. And instead find a body in its murky depths. But is it Amelie?

There is a lot going on in this tale as the search continues for the missing girl and police follow up the few leads they have...or search for clues for other potential leads. They look into Matthew's past cases as police officer and a private investigator to see if anyone bore him a grudge, besides the obvious they were quick to follow up. Usually Driscoll's books are thrillers as such with no real police investigation, except maybe Mel passing something on to Matthew for one of his PI cases. So in that way this was different as we did have a lot more police procedural.

I was fully invested until we got to Part Two. Then things started to go off piste a tad and I wondered how and why it all factored in. There was more to this side of the story that had me rolling my eyes - not so much in disbelief but sheer frustration in why must people lump religion with crazies? It happens, I know, but really it seems that it just makes a good scapegoat sometimes.

I had high hopes for this book given the different course it was taking Matthew on but the one it took us on was in some ways a little long-winded and I didn't care for the scapegoat material. I didn't even believe the reason behind the abduction - that was a little too far fetched. The finale was a little anti-climatic and the ending satisfactory enough. I'm a huge fan of her previous thrillers but a little disappointed in this one, in the end.

But in all, it was still a good read, just not one of Driscoll's best. I will, however, be looking out for more from her as it seems like it's been a while since I've read her.

I would like to thank #TeresaDriscoll, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #CloseYourEyes in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll — 3.5 stars

I’ve read a couple of Teresa Driscoll’s books before, so I went into Close Your Eyes with fairly high hopes. Sadly, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’d say it was OK — perfectly readable — but not brilliant.

The story itself started off promising, and there were moments when I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen next. But as things progressed, the plot began to feel a little far-fetched, with twists that stretched believability one too many times for my liking. I’m all for a good suspenseful read, but I do like it when things remain at least vaguely plausible.

One of my main struggles was with the characters. I found it hard to connect with them or really care about their fates. They didn’t feel particularly likeable or well-rounded, and I think that affected how invested I was in the story overall. I was hoping to be gripped, but instead found myself a bit detached.

That said, Driscoll’s writing style is easy to follow and pacy, which kept me going to the end. It’s the sort of book that would pass the time on a holiday or long train journey, but it won’t be one that sticks with me.

In short, an OK read if you’re after something light and twisty, but not one I’d be rushing to recommend.

An absolutely wild ride of a mystery novel.
I was hooked by this missing child story and couldn't put the book down at all!

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a solid 4 star thriller for me at first. It pulled me in and immediately grabbed my attention. I didn't like the second half as much, especially the resolution - the bad guy was a letdown in my opinion, but it was a decent, twisty thriller overall.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you netgalley for my ADC!
As someone who is a sucker for the missing people trope, this book hit all the right notes for me. Driscoll expertly weaves in elements of police procedural, which I also adore, enhancing the narrative's complexity.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of eight-year-old Amelie is as thick as it is compelling. Amidst a busy shopping trip with her mother, Amelie vanishes without a trace—no CCTV footage, no witnesses, leaving readers in a gripping state of uncertainty. The pace is nail-bitingly fast, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
Once Amelie's fate is revealed, the tension shifts from uncertain dread to a suspenseful race against time to understand the 'why' and to save her. This expertly crafted plot kept my interest to the very end. I’m giving it a solid 4-star rating for its engaging storytelling and relentless intrigue. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers and mysteries!

This is my first time reading Teresa Driscoll novel.
I'd say this one was okay for me.
it kept me wanting to read more

Really enjoyed this suspense novel of a child kidnapping.. I liked the breakdown of each persons point of view on a day by day investigation. When we found out who the culprit was, I could t figure out why this person was the kidnapper… that was the only thing that didn’t really flow properly and didn’t really seem like the guy was smart enough to do it. The writing itself was what kept me interested and I’ll look into reading other books by the author.

This was very engaging and kept my attention the whole time. I was truly so excited to see how it ended. But the ending is so so unbelievable! There is just no freaking way and I hate that I had to find out in the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll has an intriguing premise but ultimately falls short of delivering a gripping psychological thriller. The pacing is uneven, with the story dragging in places where tension should be building. The multiple perspectives feel disjointed rather than adding depth, making it difficult to connect with the characters.

Additionally, the plot twists are predictable, lacking the shock factor expected in a thriller of this nature. The protagonist’s decisions often feel frustratingly unrealistic, making it hard to stay engaged. While the novel attempts to create suspense, it relies too heavily on vague hints and unnecessary misdirection, leaving the reader more annoyed than intrigued.

I just checked my Goodreads and this is the 3rd book I've read by this author and my ratings were similar. I may just not have a taste for her writing style so please read yourself and decide.

Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll was a roller coaster book from start to finish, with so many twists and turns throughout that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. I just love Teresa Driscoll's writing style and all her books have been a 5 star read. This book was no different and I highly recommend it.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC.

While I enjoyed this one, there wasn't anything that really stuck out to me to make it stand out from my other reads. It was steady paced and started off immediately, but I believe if the reveal happened more towards the end and not about halfway through, I would have liked it more. It's hard for me to know the answers and then have to wait half the book for the characters to figure it out. The protagonists, however, were very likable, and I can see why this is a successful series. Overall, I liked this one enough and give it three stars.

Thank you, Netgalley, and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.

Close Your Eyes is a terrifying story for any parent as it deals with a missing child. I read Close Your Eyes in one sitting as I had to know if they would find the missing girl. Teresa Driscoll does a great job of providing the reader with various points of view and just enough information to make you read on for more! Sally is in town with her daughter, Amelie, and they're shopping for a birthday party. Amelie is 8 years old and doesn't want to leave a store because she wants to try on a green dress. Her mom is short with her as they're already running late for Amelie's ride to the party. She tells Amelie they have to go and that she can try it on next time.

Amelie is upset, but leaves with her mom. As they step outside they're still discussing the dress when Sally's phone rings. She tells Amelie she has to take it as it's the parent that's picking Amelie up. She tells Amelie to stay by the shop as she has to walk around to get a decent signal. She finds one and answers the call. The parent is not going to be able to pick up Amelie and a few other girls because she's ill. The call takes a bit longer than normal because the parent gives Sally the addresses of the other girls. Sally will now be picking them up and taking them to the party. When she gets off the phone, she turns to gather Amelie, but Amelie is not there. She looks around the area, calling for Amelie, but to no avail. She goes back in the dress shop thinking that Amelie might've gone back to try on the dress. She's not there. She goes to the coffee shop thinking Amelie will be sitting at a table, but again, she's not there. The panic starts to rise in Sally and she feels lightheaded. A few other people notice and try to help her locate Amelie.

When Amelie can't be located, one of the women calls the police and tells them what has happened. Sally decides it's time to call her husband, Matt, to let him know that Amelie is missing! Matt is a private investigator and is with a client when Sally calls. He helps others locate missing children so he's terrified when his own daughter is the missing child! He apologizes to his client, who is very upset that he's leaving. without helping her. Matt tells her he has a family emergency and will be in touch. Matt used to be a policeman and has many friends still on the force. He calls one of them and she promises to do everything she can to help. This book is nerve-racking and stressful. I found myself unable to put it down as I was trying to figure out who would take an 8 year old girl and get away without a trace! I thoroughly enjoyed Close Your Eyes and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. Get everything done before you start this book as your day will be taken over by this book. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of Close Your Eyes in exchange for a fair review. #CloseYourEyes

More of a slow burn but once this got going I couldn’t put it down, it’s full of twists & turns. I got to around 50% & thought I’d guessed the plot, I was completely wrong.

As always with Teresa Driscoll's books I felt immediately drawn in and the book kept me attention throughout with a fast pace and suspense

Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll is a heart-pounding psychological thriller.
This story had me gripped and intrigued throughout, as I wasn’t sure where the story was going, so eagerly needed to read more to find out. This thought provoking psychological thriller was full of mystery, intrigue and suspense.

I am a great fan of Teresa Driscoll and have read all of her amazing books

DI Melanie Sanders and PI Matthew Hill have their friendship put to the test when Matthew's daughter goes missing whilst out shopping with his wife. Mel cannot abandon her friend in his hour of need and arranges to get straight on the case to find her. Matthew who is so used to working with Mel and helping her to solve cases finds it extremely hard not to get involved and gets himself in hot water! Some surprises and wow moments along the way with a surprise ending
An unputdownable book.
If you haven't read any books previously by Teresa Driscoll you must....

Thank you to Teresa Driscoll, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

It's been a minute since I've read a book by Teresa Driscoll and I really have missed her writing. She has a way of drawing characters that are real and relatable in a quick amount of time, although, readers of all of her work will recognize the protagonist in Close Your Eyes, Matthew Hill, as a character who has popped in and out of Driscoll's books in the past. It was good to see him move the front of the story in this one.

Close your eyes is primarily about a child abduction but, as will all of Dricoll's stories, there are multiple story lines and layers as well as twists and turns throughout the book to keep your interest. The ending to this one is particularly well written.

I very much encourage readers, both those familiar with author or new, to read Close Your Eyes. It's a good one.

This book was an absolute blast to read and I finished it in just a day! I received a copy from Thomas and Mercer vis Netgalley and it was published today!

This is a heart-pounding psychological thriller that delves into every parent’s worst nightmare. When private investigator Matthew Hill’s eight-year-old daughter, Amelie, vanishes without a trace, his professional expertise offers little comfort in the face of personal devastation. As time slips away, the search for Amelie becomes increasingly desperate, and Matthew is haunted by a past threat from someone who vowed he’d one day feel the pain of losing a child.

Driscoll masterfully weaves suspense and emotion, exploring the raw fears of parents grappling with uncertainty. The story is both a gripping race against time and a poignant examination of guilt, loss, and resilience. With twists that keep readers guessing, Close Your Eyes is an unforgettable tale of love and survival.

Absolutely heart-wrenching but an expertly crafted thriller that keeps you on the edge!

5/5⭐️

A big thank you to NetGalley for granting me early access to Close Your Eyes! Close Your Eyes by Teresa Driscoll started off strong, and I was hooked for a good while. The plot is definitely intriguing—Matthew Hill, a private investigator, is thrust into the terrifying reality of having his own daughter go missing. However, as the story progressed, I couldn’t help but feel that it got weighed down by unnecessary details. There were parts that slowed the pace, making it hard to stay fully engaged at times. I also felt that the Olivia storyline didn’t quite mesh with Matthew’s, and it left me wanting a bit more connection between the two. It’s a bit like watching a CSI episode—there’s some drama, but not quite the level of intensity I was expecting, especially since the outcome felt a little predictable.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Teresa Driscoll. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

Private investigator Matthew Hill just got the call that no parent ever wants to get. His wife, Sally, was shopping with their 8-year-old daughter, Amelie, when she disappeared. His worst nightmare has come true – Matthew left the police force years ago when a woman blamed him for her son’s death and promised that one day he would feel her pain. Now the clock is ticking to find Amelie.

This was gripping from the very first page. We’ve all experienced that moment of incredible panic when our own child suddenly isn’t where they are supposed to be, but the world usually rights itself quickly. So you instantly relate to how Matthew and Sally feel. Plus there is added guilt, because Matthew always feared this day would come. I also liked the police investigator, Melanie, and how she desperately tried to do right for her friends, at a cost to her own personal life. These two are return characters from Driscoll’s previous novels, but all are totally stand alone as well. Couldn’t put this one down – can’t wait for more from this author!