Simone Seaborn travels to Texas for what is supposed to be a simple camping trip and long overdue mother daughter time with Lucy, her teenage daughter who dreams of becoming an actress. After a frustrating journey, they settle into their cabin for the night, only for Simone to wake the next morning to find Lucy gone. What follows is not a ransom demand but something far more unsettling. The kidnapper leaves strict instructions, starting with tell no one and absolutely not the police, and demands a series of tasks instead of money. From there, the story becomes a relentless cat and mouse chase that unfolds across harsh landscapes and impossible choices, delivering a tense and original thriller that never lets up and times its twists with precision.
This book hit close to home for me. My youngest just graduated college and the reality of an empty nest is settling in, which made Simone’s fear and devotion feel painfully real. Simone is shaped by a traumatic childhood, and motherhood is the one role she has always chosen with certainty and purpose. Her love for Lucy is fierce, uncompromising, and willing to cross lines most people would never consider. Is it over the top at times? Absolutely. Did I care? Not for a second. Gillian McAllister balances high stakes suspense with the emotional reckoning of a parent who would risk everything for their child, and she does it with confidence and control. This is sharp, intense, and emotionally charged storytelling, and readers should grab it immediately. McAllister remains an auto read author for me, no hesitation.
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