Title: CALLER UNKNOWN
Author: GILLIAN MCALLISTER
ISBN: 9780241648063
Publisher: Penguin / Micheal Joseph
Pages: 376
Source: Private Copy
‘Your children are only ever on loan to you…’
Simone’s holiday with her teenage daughter was meant to be some much-needed bonding time before Lucy leaves home.
But on the first night of the trip, in a cabin in the desert, Simone wakes to find Lucy missing and a mobile phone in her place. The phone rings and the voice on the other end issues a shocking demand: Don’t tell the police. Come to this location. Be prepared to do a deal…
When she tells her husband, Damien, back home in England, he insists that she call the police. But Simone feels certain that there is nothing she wouldn’t do to save her daughter. Even if that means shattering her life as she knows it…
Official Summary
09 September 2026
I had high expectations for this one, and it certainly did not disappoint! I have only read a few of Gillian McAllister’s books so far, but I am already looking forward to getting to the others on my TBR.
This story centres strongly on the mother-daughter relationship and explores just how difficult it can be for a parent to let go once their child has grown up.
Simone would do anything for her daughter, Lucy. So when she wakes up one morning and discovers that Lucy has been kidnapped, there is nothing she wouldn’t do to get her child back. If following the kidnapper’s instructions is what it takes to bring Lucy home safely, then Simone is prepared to do exactly that.
What follows is a gripping story about a mother who pushes herself far beyond her comfort zone to ensure the safe return of her daughter. She is willing to break any law and cross any line, as long as it means keeping Lucy safe and getting her home.
McAllister quickly sets the stage for an engrossing thriller that you just know you won’t be able to put down. From there, the tension continues to build as Simone and Lucy find themselves on the run. The final twist was a real surprise—I certainly didn’t see that coming!
Throughout the story, Simone struggles with letting go of Lucy. When she looks at her daughter, she still sees the little girl who needed her, and she cannot imagine a future where Lucy isn’t close by and relying on her every day. As the story develops, however, Simone begins to understand that part of being a good mother is knowing when to let go. As parents, we are expected not only to love and protect our children, but also to make sacrifices and sometimes put their needs ahead of our own.
While this is undoubtedly a fast-paced kidnapping thriller, it also explores the emotional complexities of the mother-child bond. That added depth made the story so much more than simply an action-packed race to save Lucy.
This was a gripping and emotional read that kept me turning the pages. I would highly recommend it and, after this one, I certainly cannot wait to read more of Gillian McAllister’s books.
Also By Gillian McAllister
EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH
Do you ever check your partner’s phone? Should you? Are you prepared for the consequences? Everything but the Truth is Gillian McAllister’s stunning breakthrough thriller about deceit, betrayal and one woman’s compulsive need to uncover the truth.
It all started with the email. Rachel didn’t even mean to look. She loves Jack and she’s pregnant with their child. She trusts him. But now she’s seen it, she can’t undo that moment. Or the chain of events it has set in motion. Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn’t Rachel have a right to know the truth at any cost?
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Gillian McAllister has been writing for as long as she can remember. She graduated with an English degree before working as a lawyer. She lives in Birmingham, where she now writes full-time. She is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Everything But the Truth, Anything You Do Say, No Further Questions, The Evidence Against You, How To Disappear and the Richard & Judy Book Club pick That Night. She is also the creator and co-host of the popular Honest Authors podcast.
Thank you for visiting the blog. September is already proving to be a busy month on the blog. I have so many awesome books to share with you. It seems every book I read at the moment leaves me adding a few more to the TBR pile. Until next time… Happy Reading!
