First installment in a new mystery thriller series.

Special Agent Sandra Vos is a hostage negotiator for the FBI. She’s divorced and has a teenaged daughter, Olivia, and an ex who works for the Hostage Rescue team against counterterrorism. The beginning of the week finds Sandra trying to talk down a man who has holed up with a bunch of customers in a pharmacy. Then she has to attend a parole hearing for a man who killed her twin brother 30 years ago. The week gets worse when 16-year-old Olivia is kidnapped.

I had a hard time with this book. I feel like there’s no way Sandra would have been so involved in a case involving her own daughter. There were many parts of the book where I felt like I was reading a primer on negotiation and many parts of the story got bogged down by dialogue that didn’t advance the plot. I never got attached to any of the characters who were all very one dimensional. The action proceeded as expected and the ending was predictable. I don’t think I will read any further installments in this new series.

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Kathryn Akin, did an OK job but most of the voices sounded way too much alike. This could have benefited with a larger cast or at least a male voice as there were many male characters.

A new series for Carolyn Arnold. I was excited to pick this one up. Those of you that have been awhile know how much I love female law enforcement books.

Yes, this book is about the hostages and the kidnapping of Olivia, Sandra’s daughter. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see if Olivia would get home safely. But it’s so much more than that. Carolyn makes Sandra such a relatable character. We see her as she deals with the recurring trauma of losing her brother at a young age. We see her as a daughter to a mother with dementia. We see her as a single mom, and divorcee. And we see her as an FBI Special Agent. There are so many layers to Sandra.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

Arnold has done it again - a gripping tale with high stakes, and a mother’s dilemma that will have your heart in your throat. Sandra is an amazing woman, and in her shoes, I can honestly say I’d find it difficult to step aside as well if my daughter was taken. Getting to see things from the opposition’s side of view only heightened the tension we feel, and really tightened that twisting feeling in your gut, and got your heart racing even faster. The story moves along at a quick pace, and you’ll find it very hard to stop reading once you start, so make sure you set aside time to read this before diving in! With unforgettable characters and an opening that grabs you from the start, this is one thriller you don’t want to miss!

Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold introduces a new character, Sandra Vos, who is an FBI agent specializing in hostage negotiation. We meet her as she is testifying against the parole of the man who killed her twin brother, years earlier when they were fourteen. A hostage situation gone bad. On her way back to town she was called back to relieve a negotiator who had been working all day. She always tried to resolve things with no one getting hurt. Not everyone at the scene shared that desire, but she was able to end it peacefully. She returned to the office to write it up and got a phone call from her daughter’s violin teacher. Olivia had not arrived. That kicked Sandra into overdrive and her partner, as well. That was to follow was several sleepless nights and a lot of panic as they raced to get to Olivia before the nut job that had her lost his patience.

Excellent police procedural. With the full force of the FBI behind her, Sandra looked at the video of her being snatched and recognized the culprit, who was not at all who she thought it was. They jut had to find him, now. To do that she had to speak to her brother’s murderer, but she would do anything for Olivia. She called her ex-husband, who was in Turkey, despite the fact she worried how he would respond. He tended to go off half-cocked. Sandra had a supportive boyfriend, Eric, who was a police detective. They kept their relationship quiet because of their related jobs. He was always there and helped where he could. It was a stressful time and Arnold got on the stress to the page. She also gave us some interesting characters for the future. Vos is going to be a good character. I am looking forward to more.

I was invited to read Save Her Life by Bookoutre. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #CarolynArnold #SaveHerLife

Special Agent Sandra Vos is an exceptional FBI agent known for her professionalism. She also has a strong bond with her daughter, Olivia. When Olivia goes missing, Sandra is determined to find her, putting aside her professionalism, often letting her emotional side take over.

Readers first met Sandra in the exceptional Amanda Steele series, and now she has her own series. Readers will likely be equally intrigued by this new series.

Sandra is certain that she will find Olivia. Her determination is fueled by the strong feeling that her daughter is not just missing but has been taken. Olivia’s safety is Sandra’s top priority, a relatable concern for any mother. However, as Sandra is one who has witnessed the worst that society has to offer feels utterly helpless with Olivia missing, the urgency and intensity of the book rise exponentially.

Listening to the expertly narrated audiobook was captivating. The side stories and their connections to the present were intriguing. I also enjoyed the setup of the Sandra Vos series and the character development. The alternating points of view from the kidnappers’ perspective added to the urgency of this compelling read by Carolyn Arnold.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Save Her Life.

Sandra Vos is a FBI hostage negotiator and she is testifying in a parole hearing for the man who killed her twin brother. She makes sure he will stay behind bars. But when her teenage daughter Olivia is abducted she vows to do whatever it takes to get her back.

I liked certain aspects of this book but there was a lot going on and it was very overly descriptive which made the story drag.

Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the first title in the new Sandra Vos series.

The prologue sets the scene, with a teenage girl being abducted from a busy street. How with people all around?

The main story begins 2 days earlier, where we are introduced to Sandra Vos, giving a statement as to why prisoner Darrell Patton should not be released early. Patton killed Sandra’s twin brother Sam over 30 years ago. Sandra is an FBI Special Agent with the Crisis Negotiation Unit, and she has barely got back from the hearing, when she is called into work to handle an armed hostage situation at a grocery store.

Its complicated and she’s treading on egg-shells as she attempts to negotiate a peaceful way out with the hostage taker.

Meanwhile we get flashbacks to when Sam died and updates on the verdict regarding Darrell Paton’s early release request. Is it granted or not? Plus Sandra’s home life is fleshed out, as we meet her teenage daughter Olivia, her adoptive mother who has dementia and her boyfriend Detective Eric Birch.

But then work and home collide, when Olivia goes missing en-route to her violin lesson. Her colleague Brice helps her search the area where Olivia’s phone last pinged, but all they find is the phone. Where is Olivia? Who has taken her and why? Can they find her in time?

I was soon hooked into this new series and didn’t want to put the book down.

My only tiny gripe is with having to guess what shorthand K-9 is, namely police dogs.

A compelling gripping tale. I’m really looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Intense suspense and heartwarming main character! Carolyn Arnold is setting the stage for so much good suspense to come with the first book in her Sandra Vos series. I loved Sandra and can't wait to see more. Her backstory is well developed and gives the reader a strong inclination to like the things that drive her to take down the bad guys. Her private life is intriguing with a teen daughter to raise, an ex-husband she has to make nice with and a boyfriend she doesn't advertise. The twists in the story made for lots of danger and excitement. I'm hooked!

This new series by Carolyn Arnold will take over your life from the beginning pages and not let go until you finish it. So, plan to read and do nothing else once you start it.

Sandra Vos is a top negotiator for the FBI. She has a unique ability to put the hostage taker at ease by making him or her feel that she truly understands their feelings. Her main goal is to prevent death and/or injury to anyone, including the hostage taker. This is very personal for Sandra because she lost her twin brother many years go in a hostage standoff. This is one of the many things that make her so good at her job.

Her skills are about to be truly tested. When she receives a chilling phone call that no parent wants to receive. Someone has taken her daughter, Olivia. Negotiating the release of perfect strangers is one thing, but negotiating the release of her own daughter is quite another. This will bring back every memory of that fateful day she lost her brother.

The tension is palpable and chilling at the same time. This book was part police procedural/mystery/thriller which made it even more interesting. It had the best of all of those types of books. Sandra Vos was made of pure steel. She is a very interesting character, and I look forward to reading more about her in future books. You can never go wrong with a book by this author, as she knows how to pull the reader into the story so that you feel as if you have lived there for a little while.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This kicks off with a powerful setup: FBI negotiator Sandra Vos finds herself at the center of a tense hostage crisis—only to learn that her own daughter has been kidnapped at the same time. The emotional intensity is undeniable, and the plot offers plenty of suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages.

Sandra is a compelling character shaped by past trauma, and the story does a good job showing the emotional weight she carries. The personal stakes are sky-high, and that adds depth to the action. However, the pacing dragged at times, especially in the middle, and I found myself wishing things would move along a bit faster.

One major sticking point for me was plausibility. It strained belief that Sandra would be allowed to remain in charge of a case so intimately connected to her own family. While it made for an emotionally charged story, it also felt unrealistic from a procedural standpoint.

Still, if you’re willing to suspend some disbelief, this is a tense, emotionally driven thriller that delivers on character and suspense. Not perfect, but definitely worth a read.

This fast paced suspense ride grabs you from the beginning. Before I knew it a few hours had passed and I was at the end. I love Sandra. She's different from other female FBI characters I have read. I will be looking forward to the next book.

As the first in the series, I wonder how many of my issues stemmed from the fact that we are getting the background and set-up for the rest of the series. But I struggled to get into the meat of this story and found the beginning particularly slow moving. There were a lot of details in hostage negotiations, and it felt a bit tedious. I do appreciate that this is a different approach for a crime/police procedural, taking the perspective of a hostage negotiator. Once I read deeper into the story, I got hooked into the mystery and felt pulled along. I'm curious where the story will lead! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Sandra Vos is as cool as a cucumber as a hostage negotiator for the FBI.
She’s in a relationship with a DC cop and has a 16 year old daughter.
I loved this new series because I’m addicted to crime fiction and love series that portrays women in law enforcement.
I learned a lot about the acronyms and tactics while reading this book.
I also loved that Sandra held her own in a testosterone filled environment.
Can’t wait for the next one!

A new series by Carolyn Arnold? Yes please!
Save Her Life is book one in the Sandra Vos series by Carolyn Arnold.
A compelling and addictive FBI mystery thriller story.
The characters were engaging and the plot was intriguing. The writing was fluid and the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
The book had some great twists and was hard to put down.
Arnold takes her fans on a journey filled with mystery, suspense and shocking moments.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Wooden shoes, wooden head, wooden listen.

That quote was from a colleague kidding Sandra Vos about her name. Interestingly enough, it was her name that caught my attention and helped me decide to try this new series. Why? Vos is a Dutch name that I recognized from my hometown and since I have almost 100% Dutch ancestry, I was intrigued.

Sandra Vos is a determined negotiator. She has perfected the art of convincing the Hostage Taker (HT) that she is on his/her side. The book begins with a tense hostage situation in a market. While the blow by blow is quite interesting, I found that at times Sandra is redundant on explaining to the reader why she is saying or acting in a certain way. If she were a man, I would accuse her of mansplaining.

The bulk of the book is an even more perilous case for Sandra's family with her daughter in danger. This was more showing and less talking. It was fascinating to see the team pursue the investigation and work against the clock to get Olivia back home.

I paired the DRC with an audio copy narrated expertly by Kathryn Akin -- she sounded just how I imagined Sandra Vos would sound. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the audio and digital ARCs in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Save Her Life: A completely addictive and gripping FBI mystery thriller (Sandra Vos Book 1)

Torn between a mom and a cop

FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos is no stranger to the high-stakes world of hostage negotiation. As a survivor herself, Sandra carries her twin brother’s memory with her to every tense scene. Her goal is to ensure that nobody endures the same pain her and her family suffered at the hands of her brother’s murderer. But when her daughter is kidnapped in broad day light, Sandra does not want to take a back seat. As a negotiator, she knows exactly what to do and what not to do, but as a mother all bets are off. In her line of work, the list of people with the motive to strike out at her in this manner is long. But who? And with Olivia’s father flying in to assist, Vos needs to walk a razor thin line to remain on the case. As tensions rise and the suspect becomes bolder in their demands, Vos must put her mother’s instinct into a box and rely on her training if she does not want to lose another person precious to her.

Carolyn Arnold returns to Prince William County with an all-new cast of characters with Save Her Life the first in the Sandra Vos series. Vos, who cameoed in the opening scenes of Hidden Angels, returns in her own series and Arnold hits the ground running with the suspense and thriller factor. While the setting and the area may be the same, all things are new as Arnold explores the Metro PD and FBI involvement in this newest case involving a perpetrator who is as opportunistic as they are sadistic. Preying on a mother’s instinct to protect her child, Vos is pushed to her limit and her training is tested up until the very end. But like her predecessors in past novels by this author, Sandra Vos is not one to be taken lightly. Arnold excels in creating female leads who are strong, fierce and formidable and Sandra Vos is no exception. Vos’ family structure is also a bit of a departure from previous female leads, which opens avenues in future installments to be explored. And while I am hoping for a Sandra Vos/Amanda Steele collaboration case in the future, time will only tell. In the meantime, I am looking forward to getting better acquainted with this strong, humble and fierce new agent in future novels.

If you are already a fan of Carolyn Arnold, you are in for a treat with this fast paced, nail-biter of an introduction to this new series. If you are new to Arnold and her catalogue buckle up as this is a wild ride that will pull on our heart strings and keep you reading long into the night.
Full disclosure: I was provided a Netgalley copy of this title by the author or their authorized agent, however, have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own. Save Her Life is scheduled for a May 27,2025 release

Gripping, shocking, thrilling, and intense, Save Her Life instantly grabbed my attention and never let go! Whew! I loved the tension, the suspense, the sense of danger and the pacing of this book. There was never a dull moment! I found this book to be a captivating page turner and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Special Agent Sandra Vos is one of the FBI's top hostage negotiators. After dropping her daughter off at school, she reports to a hostage situation at a local grocery store. She is in the midst of doing what she does best when she is informed that Olivia, her daughter has been taken. She has twenty four hours to meet the kidnappers demands or lose her daughter forever. Talk about having a bad day. Sandra must walk a tightrope between being a special agent and being a mother who wants her child back. Plus, dealing with everyone else in her life.

Woohoo! This book was off the hook intense!!!! Man, this book put me and Sandra through the ringer and then some. This book had my heart beating and my fingers crossed hoping for the best possible outcome. I enjoyed Sandra Vos's character and felt for all she went through in this book.

This is the thrilling first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Ever read a book and wonder why you have never read a book by that author before? That is my experience with reading Save Her Life. I was constantly asking myself why I had not picked up a book by Carolyn Arnold previously. Save Her Life is so good!

FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos’ brother was killed by a hostage taker more than thirty years ago, and the book opens with her testifying at his parole hearing. As she heads home, she is called to the scene of another hostage situation. As a skilled negotiator, her job is to diffuse the situation with as little collateral damage as possible. Finally able to relax, she is called to duty again, but this time it is personal. Someone has kidnapped her beloved daughter, Olivia, and she refuses to step aside as a crack FBI team races to save her.

This is the first in what looks to be an exciting new series by prolific writer Carolyn Arnold. I am fond of her other books, including the series featuring Amanda Steele and another with Madison Knight as the main character. The two storylines in Save Her Life are tense and suspenseful. Sandra Vos is a strong, capable, and likable protagonist, and her support team is equally appealing. Arnold does a good job of filling in the backstory of Amanda’s life. This book drew me in and wouldn’t let go. I read it in one day, not willing to put it down.

Now is the time for readers to get in on the ground floor of a new, exciting mystery thriller series with a strong female main character. I look forward to many more installments.

Sandra is leaving a parole hearing where she deposed against the early release of the man who killed her twin brother, when she's called to work on a negotiation where there are several hostages in a small shop. There's a step by step description on how the work is done and how different law enforcement officers view the hold up which proves to be really interesting for the reader. Everything is fine till the moment she realizes that her daughter is missing and later on, that she was in fact kidnapped. Sandra will do anything to have her daughter back, up to an including, to negotiate with the man who killed her brother. Save Her Life has a good plot, the characters are well developed and keep a positive promise for the books that'll come.
I thank Ms. Arnold, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I soon got into the story and had to keep reading until late in the night . The female lead worked well and kept me engaged. I liked the dynamic with the ex-husband.

All in all a really good start to the series and looking forward to seeing how this develops