
Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read.
The cover and blurb for this book really had me hooked. The story started out with a bang and captivated my attention. When we got to around 30% my intrigue and the plot really slowed down. That is not to say I didn't enjoy it, but there was a real shift in the pacing.
The ending felt a little rushed to me and didn't really explain much of what happened for me. I felt like I missed a few pages and arrived at the destination, without any clue how I got there.
The story does raise some reflective thinking ideas on parenting and how one would act in a similar situation. I also really respect the way that Jo was shown to parent her child who was autistic and being very understanding of his quirks in a sensitive way.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think others will enjoy it. But don't go into it expecting fast pace and twists galore. Think slow burn who did it style.

Engaging from the starting gripping story nice plot but become boring in alot of time on between
Btw I really enjoyed it thanks for approving the arc of this book

This is the first book I’ve read by Liz Lawler and I did enjoy it. I will definitely be looking into reading more, i enjoyed the length of the chapters and found they worked well with the pacing on the story- however the pacing did seem to slow down in the middle of the book. The points of view from each character were interesting and the balance of highlighting the mental struggle of a parent having lost their child was very well written and sad. Overall I would definitely recommend giving this book a go!

This started so strong—creepy, emotional, and totally had me questioning what was real. A missing kid + CCTV that says he was never there?
The middle got a bit messy with too many characters and plot threads to keep straight, but I was still invested. The writing pulled me in, and the ending actually surprised me. Not perfect, but a solid, twisty read. I’d try more from this author for sure.
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

I found this book a bit tricky to follow with all the characters and found myself searching the names of characters to remember certain plot points as I was getting confused. I didn't expect the twist at the end or the reasoning behind it so that brought the book up a bit. Rating it 4 stars instead of 5 as I think some characters were thrown in as red herrings that could have been removed and the twist would haave still been unexpected.

Again I requested this book having not heard of the author do this review is completely unbiased. I have to say i will definitely be reading Liz’s other books. This was brilliant, it had me completely hooked from the beginning, lots of secrets and twists. I highly recommend this.

When Jo's lttle boy goes missing from his swimming session no one seems to have to seen him go..
But things take a turn when Police disocver that Sam has not been seen with mother at that time.
Jo's life isn't a happy one, her husband pays no attention and her marriage is not a happy one, the neighbours seem obssessed with Jo and her situation but are not helping.
This is a fabulous read. of course there are many secrets and as the story unfolds it gets quite dramatic.
A pacy and terrific read.. pack it in your beach bag..

The synopsis of this book sounded very intriguing but unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy this much. The beginning starts off interesting but then the pace slows to a crawl. There is nothing wrong with a slow burn story but I did not not have enough interest in the characters to get through the slow parts. I think this could make a great short story but I didn’t think there was enough here for a whole novel.
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Liz Lawler for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

'Nobody Saw Him' is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that begins with an intriguing mystery but gradually becomes more complex and, at times, difficult to follow. The story centers on Jo, a mother whose young son, Sam, mysteriously disappears at the Beckley House pool while she's briefly away using the restroom. Jo's world is shattered when no one—neither the staff nor the police—can find Sam, and CCTV footage reveals an even more disturbing truth: Jo was alone the entire time, suggesting Sam never even entered the building.
As Jo desperately searches for answers, the narrative delves into her fractured relationship with her husband Pete, whose indifference and emotionally detached behavior only heighten her sense of isolation and guilt. While Jo is frantic, Pete seems focused on other matters, adding to the emotional tension and drawing a sharp contrast between their reactions.
The book’s pacing fluctuates, with the first part drawing you in, only to slow down significantly as the plot unfolds. The introduction of numerous characters—police officers, friends of the Howells, and a mysterious elderly woman—along with multiple subplots involving missing and dead children, makes the narrative harder to follow. It can be difficult to keep track of who’s who and what exactly is happening, especially when the writing veers into very lengthy inner monologues.
Despite these pacing issues, the writing is immersive and atmospheric, and the emotional depth of the characters shines through. Jo’s internal struggle and sense of despair are vividly portrayed, and the differences in her and Pete’s attitudes towards the disappearance make for a compelling dynamic. Though the story is at times slow and muddled, the twists near the end add an exciting layer to the narrative.
Overall, this was my first experience with this author, and it was a decent read, even with its flaws. The mystery and character development were enough to keep me somewhat engaged, though the pacing could be improved. For fans of slow-burn, character-driven thrillers, this will likely be a satisfying read. I’m rating it 3.25 stars, but I can see why others might rate it higher.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

3 🌟 Thank you to the publisher for sending me the ARC via Netgalley! This thriller explores the story of a child who goes missing while under the care of his mother. This story discusses some complex family dynamics & the seemingly endless faults of classism & family legacies. I found the novel to be okay, as I didn’t find all the characters well developed and the ending felt a bit lackluster for me. I would feel more inclined to recommend to someone newer to thrillers rather than a more seasoned thriller reader

Gripping and emotionally intense. Nobody Saw Him pulls you into every parent’s nightmare—and then turns it completely upside down. The tension builds fast, and the twists don’t let up. I was constantly second-guessing what was real, what was imagined, and what dark secrets were hiding just beneath the surface.
The pacing is relentless, and the emotional stakes are high. While a few plot points felt a little far-fetched, the ride was totally worth it. A solid four stars for a thriller that kept me flipping pages long past bedtime.

Nobody Saw Him is a deeply disturbing psychological thriller with so many twists that you'll be dizzy by the end. There is so much deception and so many lies that it's hard to keep them all straight.
Jo takes her son Sam to the pool for a day of fun. She has him wait on the bench near their changing room while she uses the bathroom. When she comes out, Sam is gone. As the search progresses, many layers of secrets are uncovered, and we are left with more questions than answers.
This is a tension filled story that grips you from the start. It is fast-paced and easy to get caught up in. I loved peeling back the layers one by one to see what each one held. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

Whilst I enjoyed the plot of this book, the pacing felt wrong to me.. it went fast then extremely slow then fast again.
It’s a classic who done it book, it did have me guessing till the end.
Overall a good book

I absolutely enjoyes reading this. Will definitely be recommending. Kept me really hooked I'll love to reread again

This was a gripping thriller with a compelling storyline and plenty of potential. The opening drew me in straight away, but I found the pacing dipped in the middle, making it feel like a bit of a slow burn at times. Some parts were slightly confusing, which disrupted the flow for me.
That said, the characters were well-written, and the twists kept me guessing right through to the end — exactly what you’d hope for in a thriller. While it wasn’t as fast-paced as I’d have liked, it was still an enjoyable read overall. I’d definitely be interested in reading more from Liz Lawler in the future.

Tense, dark and every adults worst nightmare! It was well written and had some good twists. Os set the tension and that undertone of fear and anxiety we'll but it was just too slow a burn for me personally. I didn't connect with any of the characters, even though they were well established and brought to life. It's definitely worth a read for any fans of police procedural or domestic noirs

This one is a good story overall with in my opinion a shocking twist but it was just very slow.
I was confused most of the time, not knowing what was real and what had really happened.
I still don’t really understand the why but that’s okay.
If you’re into slow burn thrillers then this is for you

The Beckley House is a grand estate where the Howells live. James is a barrister, his wife Claire a socialite, and they have two young daughters, Phoebe and Lottie. They have a lot of staff, but the guest house is taken by a family they took in. Jo helps watch the girls, along with her five-year-old, Sam. Her husband Pete is a fireman, and is out of town at a conference the day that Jo decides to take Sam swimming.
The mother and son get to the pool and go to the changing rooms - Jo had to use the toilet, so she told Sam to stay on a bench right by their room. When she came out a minute or two later, he was gone. Nobody had seen him, the staff searched the whole area and he was nowhere to be found. After the police show up, Jo is forced to go home, without her son, and without her husband. Soon, the police are back, to tell her they’ve gone through the CCTV cameras, and Sam was never there. The videos show Jo walking alone, getting out of the car alone, coming inside alone. How is this possible?
The disappearance obviously is breaking her, but so are the police, who don’t believe a word she says. This is all the very beginning of the book, but soon we get a lot of characters: several officers, friends of the Howells, and an elderly woman who lives alone. We also get snippets about other missing and/or dead children, which is where the story took a twist for me. It became confusing keeping so many people straight, and whose children are or were missing, even though I was taking notes. The main detective is also called DC Morgan, which is the name of a detective in another English book series I’ve read - that didn’t help the confusion.
The beginning of this book was great, but I felt like it became too drawn-out and slow over time. The ending had several twists, and though this story was slightly muddled, I still enjoyed the read. If you love slow-burn, cozy mysteries, you’ll probably enjoy this book more than I did, and will probably rate it higher. From me, it’s getting 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book tour! “Nobody Saw Him” will be released on June 2, 2025.)

Nobody Saw Him by Liz Lawler is an interesting, twisty read that keeps you guessing. The plot moved a little slow for me, It's intense initially, however, I didn't feel connected to the characters. Still, the characters are layered and flawed in a real way. It’s dark, emotional, and almost held my attention until the end.. Perfect if you like thrillers that mess with your head a little. A good read if you like a slower pace with a ton of detail and tea.

My first book from this author and it was an excellent read. Great story, good pacing, and kept me engaged throughout. Jo is visiting a swimming pool with her son Sam when he goes missing. Frantically as she searches she begins to doubt herself. Because Jo has a history with a child in her care. But her new employers stand by her and help her & her husband as they navigate this nightmare. But what is her husband hiding? What are her employers hiding? A great insight into the work of FLO’s within the police force too. Highly recommended