ARC Review
🎧 Format: Audiobook

Summary: The story follows Emmy and her boyfriend Charlie as they move into his inherited family farmhouse. Emmy is excited for a new start, but things take a dark turn when she finds a creepy message in the basement: *Sophie was here". And it looks to be written in blood. Sophie turns out to be Charlie’s childhood girlfriend who went missing. All of a sudden the message is gone, and that’s when Emmy's instincts kick in and she starts digging. What she finds is chilling. Some secrets are meant to stay buried, but Emmy is determined to uncover the truth.

Thoughts: This was my first book by Kathryn Croft, and wow, I am blown away. The suspense had me hooked, and I really enjoyed her writing style. I already added her other books to my TBR.

This book is full of twists. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong. The characters all have their own secrets, and it kept me second-guessing everyone. The pacing is slower, but it fits the story well and gives it time to build tension. The story also has a dual timeline that switches between the present with Emmy and the past with Sophie before she disappeared. That added a lot of suspense and gave the characters more depth.

There were definitely heart-pounding moments. But more than that, the emotional side of this story really got to me. It’s the kind of book that sticks with you. The secrets, the heartbreak, the things people never say out loud. This one made me think and feel, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves slow-burning thrillers with strong characters and haunting twists.

Great psychological thriller that keeps you listening with the surprises and twists. Well written and good narration. I enjoyed listening to it.

I’ve seen a lot of praise for Kathryn Croft’s books so was eager to give this a try.

Emmy and her boyfriend Charlie are excited to make a fresh start in the old family farm house he’s inherited. The house needs some renovation and Emmy uncovers some clues in the basement that lead her to suspect a dark past - ‘Sophie was here’…

I won’t go further into the plot, it’s original and told in past and present both featuring Charlie, his family and the pleasant countryside location. There are a few characters to keep track of.

Pay attention. After a slower paced start there are lots of twists, some took me by surprise, some were foreshadowed by certain details or omissions.

I liked the narrator, her relaxed and laid back flow made for easy listening.

I had high expectations due to the author’s reputation, I’ll say I thoroughly enjoyed it rather than being completely thrilled. If you like a lot of twists then this is well worth a read or a listen.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio

Sophie Was Here on audio was a delight. As a reader, knowing I’m going to leave a review once finished, I start the review in my head while reading. Initially I did not think this book was good because of all the criticisms I had regarding characters and plot. And then, voila, the ending made it all clear to me what author Kathryn Croft had done. What a clever writer.

This one features a new couple, a gifted home in need of renovation, a village with long time residents and a mystery about a missing teenager from long ago. I can’t say much more without spoiling, but I will tell you to give this one a read if you enjoy domestic thrillers and great beach reads.

I actually really liked this audiobook. It had plenty of twists and I didn't see the ending coming. I also enjoyed the narrator.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Gripping, twisty, and chilling until the very end!”

What if some secrets should never be uncovered? Sophie Was Here by Katheryn Croft is a tense, slow-burning psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. I had the chance to listen to an Advanced Listener’s Copy — huge thanks to Bookouture and Katheryn Croft for the early access ahead of its release on July 3rd!

Croft expertly weaves a story full of mystery, unreliable characters, and shocking twists. Just when you think you know what’s happening, the story shifts, keeping you guessing right up to the final reveal. The character of Sophie lingers long after the final chapter — haunting, elusive, unforgettable.

The narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the atmosphere to life — their performance added depth and tension, elevating the story even further. The pacing, emotion, and subtle shifts in tone kept me fully immersed throughout.

This is a must-listen for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers. Not quite a full five stars for me, but still an absolutely compelling and satisfying read. I’ll definitely be watching for whatever Katheryn Croft writes next.

4.5 rounded up for bingeability!

Premise - Emmy couldn’t be more excited to move to Forest Farm after her boyfriend, Charlie, inherits the family home from his parents. It’s in a charming little town and seems perfect for a young couple looking to have a family some day, so she can’t understand Charlie’s initial reluctance to move. But once they settle in, she discovers a message painted on a basement wall in what looks like old blood: ‘Sophie was here.’

Sophie turns out to be Charlie’s childhood girlfriend, who vanished without a trace on the cusp of high school graduation. Charlie downplays the relationship and is reluctant to speak about Sophie - and then he paints over the message without consulting her. Spidey senses activated, Emmy digs into the matter - but some secrets are deadly.

This was *so* hard to tear myself away from. The pacing is absolutely top notch, no slack anywhere. If you need to break a reading stall, look no further. This is the one.

I loved being in Emmy’s head, she’s a vivid, lifelike character. The voice was intimate and confessional (my favorite for thrillers).

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Naomi Frederick. I don’t think I’ve listened to any of her work before (though I might have) but she’s a delight to listen to. Her voice is soothing, charming, and British, perfect for a cozy feel (despite subject matter). She delivers a varied, high energy read.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release: July 3, 2025
Author: Kathryn Croft
Publisher: Bookoture

Rating: 4 ★ 

When she moves into Forest Farm, her boyfriend Charlie’s beautiful family estate, it seems like a dream come true. The spacious farmhouse is theirs—no questions asked—and with Charlie’s parents living nearby, it feels like a perfect fresh start. She believes she’s finally found a place to belong and a family to welcome her in, leaving her troubled past behind.
But it doesn’t take long for the cracks to show. The villagers whisper when she walks into the shop, and the local pub goes quiet as she and Charlie enter. She soon learns about Sophie, Charlie’s ex-girlfriend who mysteriously vanished at seventeen. Though Charlie claims he was away when it happened, his cold reaction when she brings it up sends a wave of unease through her.
One evening, while exploring the basement, she finds something disturbing: the words Sophie was here scratched into the wall.
Now she’s desperate for answers. What really happened to Sophie? And how well does she truly know the man she’s living with? Trapped in an isolated house and surrounded by a family she no longer trusts, she begins to fear that digging into the past could put her in danger too.
This book completely hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist would hit—and some of them truly left me stunned. The suspense builds perfectly throughout, keeping the pace tight and the tension high. It had that emotional punch too, breaking my heart at times and making me desperate to keep turning the pages.

Favorite Quote:
"Sophie's quote serves as a reminder that true transformation and liberation can only be achieved through the courageous act of embracing and understanding our own limitations and vulnerabilities."

Sophie Was Here is a true family affair thriller! Although the story starts relatively slow when it picks up it keeps you on edge right until the end!
The twists will give you whiplash! Just as you think you know …

Audio was great! Naomi Frederick’s is clear appealing to listen to.

I loved this book it was a slow up hill climb up a hill that and on the way down you rolled it was really good! I was on the edge of my sit, I wanted to know what happened to Sophie I was invested! new author to follow unlocked

What is it about mysteries that make background characters so unbearable? Ugh! I was suspicious of everyone 🤣 every time Charlie or his family opened their mouths I was yelling at them to shut up! I wasn't trusting ANYBODY!

There were some red herrings that threw me off at times, and in the end I was wrong with my guess, but it was a fun story and kept me entertained. The narrator was fantastic! I'll absolutely be revisiting this author's catalogue.

*Review given freely of my own volition. My opinion is not all that should be taken into account and readers should be aware that not all tastes are the same and my view may not be the norm. This statement made remains fact, regardless of how I obtained any copy.

Great audio on! It was an easy listen, with a brilliant narrator. The storyline kept my attention the entire time and I was guessing (incorrectly) who did it until the reveal. Solid 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture audio for allowing me to listen to this arc.

Kathryn Croft wrote a chilling, slow burn mystery. Prior to reading “Sophie Was Here”, I had not read any of Croft’s mystery-thrillers. Not sure why I hadn’t because I appreciate her writing style. Croft wrote her newest novel in a straightforward way with character centered dialogue, dual timelines, multiple perspectives, and a slow burn, mood driven pace.

“Sophie Was Here” told the story of Emmie and her boyfriend, Charlie. They moved into Charlie's family home, a beautiful farmhouse. As the story moved forward, Emmie found herself increasingly unsettled by the cold reception from the locals and Charlie's evasiveness about a previous resident named Sophie. As Emmie explored the house, she discovered a chilling message scratched into the basement wall: "Sophie was here”. This fueled Emmie’s growing unease and prompted her to uncover the truth about Sophie's disappearance.

What started out as a slow burn mystery turned into an immersive culmination. Despite the slower pace, I was most compelled to the underlying mystery of the disappearance of Sophie, the rich fabricated protagonist, and the intriguing mystery themes.

I really enjoyed following, Emmie, the main protagonist. She was a multi-layered and emotionally vulnerable character. Her psychological transformation and emotional state drove most of the tension throughout the story. Even though she was sensitive, Emme was also suspicious, courageous, and self reflective. From the first chapter to the last, Emmie’s evolution was evident. At the beginning, Emmie was determined to start fresh after having had experienced trauma or loss. I loved how her vulnerability and determination contributed to her transformation. Altogether, Emmie’s journey was a mix of emotional unraveling and psychological growth.

In addition to really liking Emmie’s persona, I also enjoyed the dual timeline structure that alternated between Emmie’s present-day perspective and Sophie’s flashbacks of her life before her disappearance. This enhanced the dialogue by building suspense through a parallel unfolding as well as deepening the characters insight and the themes of hidden truths.

Moreover, I really enjoyed the atmospheric plot. It was an intriguing, slow burn mystery that disclosed revelations and red herrings at precise times that had me continually questioning everyone.

Croft skillfully navigated captivating themes. The most prominent of the themes explored were deception, trust, and the haunting power of the past. The narrative probed how buried secrets within a family can unravel lives, such as Emme’s psychological unraveling and obsession with learning the truth about Sophie, the story scoured the emotional toll of isolation, the fragility of memory, and the fear that we may never truly know those closest to us. Even more, Croft’s story highlighted how our atmosphere can intensify vulnerability, creating a tense exploration of identity, intuition, and the consequences of confronting long-concealed truths.

Collectively, Kathryn Croft delivered a highly immersive and emotionally charged mystery. For those that like slow burn mysteries, unreliable characters, and atmospheric plots, I recommend reading “Sophie Was Here”.

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture Audio for an advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Kathryn Croft for the Audio Arc of Sophie Was Here.
Narrated by Naomi Frederick

I have been a long term fan of Kathryn's writing style, her character development and her twisty plot lines so I was delighted to be accepted for the audio of Sophie was here.

This was one twisty narrative in which it was very hard to trust anyone! Told in first person, we have our MFC Emmie ,who with her partner Charlie, are moving into Charlie's old family home. This farmhouse is massive and has been gifted to them both but has been empty for 20 yrs while his parents were in Dubai. On exploring the house, Emmie finds 2 messages engraved in the banister and the old door of the cellar. " Sophie Was Here " This sets Emmie on the path of detective as she wants to find out who was Sophie and why was these messages left.

This narrative is told on two timelines from the POV of Emmie in the present and the past leading up to what happened with Sophie. In the present we get introduced to Charlies family and a few friends and it's clear that while most are happy to see him back in his hometown, there is a few that are not. You will form theories and they may be right, or they maybe wrong. One thing is for certain, this book is such an engaging, speculative read in which I binged in a morning!

Naomi Fredrick who narrated this book did a brilliant job in keeping all the characters separate with her male and female voices. I did listen to this book at 1.5 x speed which is a personal preference to me. Naomi's voice is such a pleasure to listen to and ill be looking out for more books from Kathryn Croft and narrations from Naomi Fredrick.

4.5 stars for Storygraph. 4 stars for other review sites