Bryden and Sam are the perfect couple and have it all, including a cherished daughter. But appearances are deceptive and everyone is about to question whether this is true.

Sam receives a call at his office saying that Bryden has failed to collect their young daughter from childcare. When they both arrive home, her car is in the carpark but she is not home. All of her belongings are in place, as though she has simply walked out.

This was written in the author's signature style, with lots of secrets and hidden agendas and so many surprises! I did guess part of the reveal but some parts left me shocked. The characters were all so suspicious and you just knew they were hiding things. I love a missing woman story for some reason and this one had me hooked immediately. Another fabulous novel by the author.

A brilliant read that I just. couldn’t put down. There was always something happening, a lot of tension and intrigue and I just had to know what was going to happen next. What looks like a wife and mother with a perfect life goes missing so maybe it wasn’t so perfect after all. This book was so gripping I couldn’t read it fast enough. Read this book as you are in for a treat. I would give more than 5 stars if I could.

Shari Lapena delivers again with She Didn’t See It Coming—a tightly wound, fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with a strong emotional punch and a plot full of twists, this one should absolutely be on your radar.
The setup is every family's worst nightmare: Bryden, a successful woman and devoted mother, suddenly vanishes without a trace. No signs of struggle, no obvious motive, just… gone. Lapena paints the scene with chilling clarity—her phone, laptop, and keys are all exactly where they should be. Everything is in its place, except for Bryden.
What I love about Lapena’s writing is her ability to create this creeping sense of dread while keeping the narrative grounded and believable. The luxury condo setting only adds to the eerie atmosphere—polished, secure, and seemingly impenetrable, yet something sinister lurks behind closed doors.
As detectives unravel the case, secrets begin to surface, and the perfectly curated lives of Bryden and Sam start to crack. Every character is suspicious, every detail seems significant. I found myself second-guessing everyone, flipping back through pages to reread clues. Lapena masterfully keeps you in suspense, drip-feeding information just when you think you’ve got it figured out.
What sets She Didn’t See It Coming apart is that it’s not just about the mystery—it’s also about the emotional fallout. The tension between appearances and truth, the fragility of trust, and how well we really know those closest to us are all explored here. It's both a page-turner and a character study.
The ending? Absolutely satisfying. It left me stunned, unsettled, and, in true Lapena fashion, thinking about it long after I’d finished.
If you love a psychological thriller that balances plot twists with smart emotional insight, this one’s a must-read.

Shari has done it again! This book…wow! A dark and disturbing thriller that had me desperate to read just one more chapter. A cast of shady characters, a gripping story, everything I want from a book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

She Didn't See it Coming by Shari Lapena


What a fabulous read , the author at her best !
Bryden, a hard working women woman, a loving mother, a great wife has gone missing .
She seemed to have it all , loving husband , great home and a daughter she and her husband love . They have it all . Or so they ?
Loved this , full of intrigue and excitement and gasp out loud moments .
Five stars .

Shari Lapena never disappoints, but She Didn't See It Coming takes tension to the next level. The twist! Wham bam out of nowhere ... and it takes your breath away. An exceptionally exciting read.

A brilliant novel that's incredibly hard to put down because there's always something happening. The characters are well-developed, and the story is full of twists and turns. I love Shari Lapena’s books—I always know I'm in for a thrilling read, and this one definitely delivered. I absolutely loved every part of it.

Bryden and Sam seem to have it all—a loving family, a daughter, successful careers, and a lifestyle many would envy. But everything changes when Bryden fails to pick up their daughter from daycare, and Sam returns home to find her gone. It’s as if she vanished without a trace—surely she’ll be back soon, right? As the mystery unfolds and reality sets in, the cracks in their seemingly perfect life begin to show, revealing secrets and hidden truths.

I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. This is one of the best Shari Lapena books I’ve read. I’ll definitely be recommending it to everyone. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this fantastic book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I love Shari Lapena so I was really excited to read this and it didn’t disappoint! I was gripped from the first page and throughout! Highly recommend

The thing with any book by Shari Lapena is that you more or less know that you are guaranteed a treat in terms of gripping storytelling featuring unusual twists. And this book of hers is no exception!

In a story that explores what happens after Bryden, a young, beautiful mother and wife disappears in suspicious circumstances, the reader is held spellbound as her story unfold.

As the investigation deepens, it becomes increasingly clear how little we may know the people closest to us. From Bryden's sister to her best friend to her husband, as the people she encounters in her last days, there are unexpected sides to some of Lapena's characters.

Which ones? You will have to read to find out - and what an enjoyable time you are going to have in the process!

Bryden and Sam have it all, a wonderful daughter and fabulous life until Bryden vanishes.
Great read from this fabulous author.
Well written characters and a storyline full of twists and lies.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This is Shari Lapena at her absolute best, a well crafted and fast-paced read with short chapters told from different characters' perspectives.
We are lead down several different paths, and each one is navigated in such a way that you think you've solved it all but then you're left questioning yourself and made to rethink everything all over again as everyone is a suspect at some point.
A highly recommended read with a WOW ending that I LOVED.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the Arc.

Another brilliant book from Shari Lapena. This was really gripping and tense, and kept me guessing all the way through. Fantastic twists and turns, and what an ending! Loved it.

She didn't see it coming ... and neither did I!

Addictive, page turning, twisty, I literally couldn't put this book down and raced through it in 2 days.

Bryden is married to Sam and they seem to have it all - they are that perfect couple that everyone wants to be. Attractive, surrounded by friends, they both have successful careers and are living in a luxury apartment, with their beautiful daughter.

But then comes the phone call - Bryden hasn't picked their little girl up from daycare. Her car is in the garage, her phone, keys and wallet still at home, but she is nowhere to be seen, and has completely disappeared without a trace.

Fast paced and tightly plotted She Didn't See It Coming is a master class in thriller writing. The short chapters have you thinking - just one more, and keep the momentum running. It doesn't slow down and the tension is high throughout.

I loved the elements of true crime woven into the story, and the exploration of the online communities where anonymous users play detective and the pull that can have. I also really liked the Detective in charge of the case - a strong female lead who pulls no punches.

Everyone is a suspect and you don't know who to trust. Shari writes unreliable witnesses and unlikable characters brilliantly, and keeps you guessing right until the very end.

The ending is very neat and satisfying, pulling together all the little clues and sub twists perfectly.

The ideal book to pack in your suitcase and loose yourself in by the pool on your holidays. Or simply to enjoy sitting in sunshine wherever you may be this summer! Recommended - a must read for thriller fans.

I love Shari Lapena's books and this did not disappoint, kept me guessing until the very end, highly recommend!

I a big fan of this author and book did not disappoint a very gripping read. Bryden has it all a husband daughter good job s. Sam Bryden husband gets a call at work his wife not picked up their daughter from day care he gets home her bag phone all at home she just disappeared, Detective Jayne salter is on this case. won't say no more lies secrets deceit very gripping you think you worked it out but no

Outstanding…
Bryden, a career woman, a mother, a wife, has disappeared from her apartment - seemingly into thin air. The couple seem to have it all, successful jobs, a luxury condo and a beautiful three year old daughter. Where is Bryden? As the police investigation ratchets up, secrets and lies will out. This latest offering from this accomplished author is, as per usual, simply outstanding - whip smart plotting, an intense narrative and nigh on perfect character studies. Immersive and wholly, utterly compelling.

Bryden a loving mother, sister and wife disappears leaving her purse and phone behind and no one knows where she has gone. At first glance she seems to have it all but soon secrets come spilling out and nothing seems that perfect anymore.

Wow an amazing 5 star read from Shari Lapena that I couldn’t put down. The story was excellent and I just had no idea until the end what had happened as I doubted every suspect.

The ending was fantastic and just blew me away.
Thanks to NetGalley, Shari Lapena and Random House UK, Transworld publishers for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Bryden has it all - a great marriage, a beautiful daughter and a job she enjoys. Until one day she vanishes without a trace, leaving it all behind.

Just what has happened to Bryden and who knows more than they are letting on?

Another inspired and brilliant read from Shari, whose books just get better and better. An author I want to read more from!

Highly recommended.

From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked. I had a hard time putting it down. I even stayed up late reading and I thought I had the twist figured out but the author surprised me multiple times.

I’d highly recommend this book to anybody who loves thriller books especially ones that have twists that make you scream , “WHAT?!”

The story was a real good one, you didn’t know what was happening due to the twists making it so fast- paced I loved it!

I just LOVE books when they make you think, and then you change your mind on the characters. The ending was one word: WOW!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me!

Bryden and Sam appear to have it all: a loving family unit, a daughter, good jobs and a way of life for which so many would yearn. Until Bryden doesn’t collect their daughter from daycare and Sam comes home to realise his wife is missing. Like she’s simply walked out of their apartment, she’ll be back soon, won’t she? As the mystery deepens – and the reality hits home – it’s clear the shine on this perfect couple is dimming, with secrets and half truths coming to light. But will their friends, neighbours and closest family be on hand to help with what is to come? This bounced nicely between each character, whose reactions felt realistic, leaving the reader satisfyingly perplexed as to their real intentions. A snappy read.