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When You Looked Away

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Pub Date 9 Jul 2026 | Archive Date 12 Jul 2026


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Description

PRE-ORDER NOW! THE NEW DI STRATTON THRILLER FROM THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF BELIEVE


It’s every mother’s worst nightmare.
Your son is gone.
And everyone’s a suspect…


'Suspenseful and kept me guessing with a killer twist' 5***** Reader Review
'Brilliantly plotted...an intense, emotional read' 5***** Reader Review

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Laura is ready to start a new chapter.

Between her messy divorce with her ex-husband, and moving in with her new fiancé, her son Benjy and her successful writing career have been her only constants.

Until that fateful day. The afternoon starts like any other. Laura collects Benjy from school, then heads upstairs to write.

It’s not until the sun is setting that she realises the house is quiet. Too quiet.

It’s not until she sees the footprints in the garden that she knows something is terribly wrong.

One set is undeniably Benjy’s. It’s the other set that strikes fear in her heart – those of an adult.

Someone who took her son, right from under her nose…

DI Stratton is called to investigate. She must trust no one - and suspect everyone. Even Laura.

After all, doesn't her latest story follow a boy the same age as Benjy? One that takes a devastating turn...

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Why readers can't put When You Looked Away down!

'Captivated me immediately and held me until the very last word' 5***** reader review
'Really gripping and emotional...excellent' 5***** reader review
'Clever, chilling and chock full of intrigue, emotion and rawness' 5***** reader review
'The plotting and pacing is masterful, keeping the tension high throughout...I didn't guess the ending and was desperate to find out the truth. It's impossible to put down!' 5***** reader review

Why authors and reviewers LOVE S.M. Govett:

‘The very definition of a page turner’ Janice Hallett
‘A properly good, tense thriller which had me guessing until the end’ Jennie Godfrey
‘One of the finest crime stories of the year’ Daily Mail
‘A superior psychological thriller…gripping, clever and full of twists you won’t see coming’ Sarah Pinborough
‘An addictive domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and dialogue that will keep you up all night’ Abigail Dean
‘You won’t put it down once you start’ Prima

PRE-ORDER NOW! THE NEW DI STRATTON THRILLER FROM THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF BELIEVE


It’s every mother’s worst nightmare.
Your son is gone.
And everyone’s a suspect…


'Suspenseful and kept me...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780241765142
PRICE £16.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

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