Title: DISTRESS SIGNALS
Author: Catherine Ryan Howard
ISBN: 9781782398387
Publisher: Corvus
Pages: 352
Source: Private Copy
The day Adam Dunne’s girlfriend, Sarah, fails to return from a Barcelona business trip, his perfect life begins to fall apart. Days later, the arrival of her passport and a note that reads “I’m sorry–S” sets off real alarm bells. He vows to do whatever it takes to find her.
Adam is puzzled when he connects Sarah to a cruise ship called the Celebrate–and to a woman, Estelle, who disappeared from the same ship in eerily similar circumstances almost exactly a year before.
To get answers, Adam must confront some difficult truths about his relationship with Sarah. He must do things of which he never thought himself capable. And he must try to outwit a predator who seems to have found the perfect hunting ground …
Official Summary
18 November 2025
I have been working through Catherine Ryan Howard’s backlist, and this was the last book to read. There is no doubt, this one is my favourite book by Catherine Ryan Howard. The only other one that received a five-star rating from me was The Nothing Man.
Distress Signals is a brilliant modern suspense—sharp, gripping, and utterly impossible to put down. Catherine Ryan Howard delivers a thriller that feels fresh and frighteningly plausible, pulling you straight into a nightmare scenario that unfolds with precision and escalating tension.
Adam Dunne is an immediately compelling protagonist. When his girlfriend, Sarah, fails to return from her work trip, the unease sets in almost instantly. But it’s the arrival of her passport and that chilling note—“I’m sorry — S”—that sends the story rocketing into high-stakes territory. Howard expertly captures Adam’s panic and desperation, making every twist hit with emotional force.
The cruise ship setting is one of the book’s great elements. The Celebrate becomes the perfect hunting ground for a predator, and Howard uses its vastness and lawless international waters to create an atmosphere that is both exotic and deeply unsettling. The connection between Sarah and another woman, Estelle, who vanished under eerily similar circumstances a year earlier, adds an irresistible layer of mystery.
What really elevates this thriller is its intelligence. Adam’s investigation forces him to confront uncomfortable truths—about Sarah, about himself, and about the dangerous illusions we sometimes build around relationships. The pacing is flawless, the plotting is tight, and every revelation feels earned.
By the time the final pieces snap into place, you realise you’ve been holding your breath.
Distress Signals is dark, twisty, and completely unforgettable—a brilliant thriller that cements Catherine Ryan Howard as one of the genre’s most exciting voices. Highly recommended for anyone who loves atmospheric mysteries, morally complex characters, and edge-of-your-seat storytelling.
Also by Catherine Ryan Howard
BURN AFTER READING
The night Jack Smyth ran into flames in a desperate attempt to save his wife from their burning home, he was, tragically, too late – but hailed a hero. Until it emerged that Kate was dead long before the fire began.
Suspicion has stalked him ever since. After all, there’s no smoke without fire.
A year on, he’s signed a book deal. He wants to tell his side of the story, to prove his own innocence in print. He just needs someone to help him write it.
Emily has never ghostwritten anything before, but she knows what it’s like to live with a guilty secret. And she’s about to learn that there are some stories that should never be told…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Catherine Ryan Howard is an internationally bestselling crime writer from Cork, Ireland. Her debut novel, DISTRESS SIGNALS, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey/New Blood Dagger. THE LIAR’S GIRL (2018) was shortlisted for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. REWIND (2019) was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year and is currently being developed for screen by Clerkenwell Films (Misfits, Lovesick, The End of the F***ing World). THE NOTHING MAN was a no. 1 Irish Times bestseller and a no. 1 Kindle bestseller (UK) and was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Her latest novel, 56 DAYS, was published in August 2021. It is a thriller set in lockdown that Catherine wrote while she was in lockdown.
Prior to writing full-time, Catherine worked as a campsite courier in France and a front desk agent in Walt Disney World, Florida. She still wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.
I loved this book. Have you read all Catherine Ryan Howard’s books? Which one is your favourite? I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below. Until next time … Happy Reading!
