Title: SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING
Author: Shari Lapena
ISBN: 9780857506191
Publisher: Randon House UK / Transworld Publishers
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins: can the detectives find her before it’s too late?
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden–working from home that day–has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment, her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
Official Summary
13 May 2025
Shari Lapena delivers again with She Didn’t See It Coming—a tightly wound, fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from the very first chapter. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with a strong emotional punch and a plot full of twists, this one should absolutely be on your radar.
The setup is every family’s worst nightmare: Bryden, a successful woman and devoted mother, suddenly vanishes without a trace. No signs of struggle, no obvious motive, just… gone. Lapena paints the scene with chilling clarity—her phone, laptop, and keys are all exactly where they should be. Everything is in its place, except for Bryden.
What I love about Lapena’s writing is her ability to create this creeping sense of dread while keeping the narrative grounded and believable. The luxury condo setting only adds to the eerie atmosphere—polished, secure, and seemingly impenetrable, yet something sinister lurks behind closed doors.
As detectives unravel the case, secrets begin to surface, and the perfectly curated lives of Bryden and Sam start to crack. Every character is suspicious, every detail seems significant. I found myself second-guessing everyone, flipping back through pages to reread clues. Lapena masterfully keeps you in suspense, drip-feeding information just when you think you’ve got it figured out.
What sets She Didn’t See It Coming apart is that it’s not just about the mystery—it’s also about the emotional fallout. The tension between appearances and truth, the fragility of trust, and how well we really know those closest to us are all explored here. It’s both a page-turner and a character study.
The ending? Absolutely satisfying. It left me stunned, unsettled, and, in true Lapena fashion, thinking about it long after I’d finished.
If you love a psychological thriller that balances plot twists with smart emotional insight, this one’s a must-read.
Also By Shari Lapena
THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR
You never know what’s happening on the other side of the wall.
Your neighbour told you that she didn’t want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn’t stand her crying.
Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You’ll have the baby monitor and you’ll take it in turns to go back every half hour.
Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race up the stairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She’s gone.
You’ve never had to call the police before. But now they’re in your home, and who knows what they’ll find there.
What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
SHARI LAPENA is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seven suspense novels including The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, Not a Happy Family, and Everyone Here is Lying.
A former lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes full time from a farm in Ontario, where she lives with her husband.
Her first thriller, The Couple Next Door, was a runaway global bestseller, selling 4 million copies worldwide. It was WHSmith’s “Book of the Year” in 2016 and the #1 Adult Fiction Title in the UK for 2017. All of Shari’s novels have been New York Times, UK Sunday Times, and Globe and Mail bestsellers. Three of her books have been Richard & Judy Book Club Picks. Her books have sold into forty territories around the world and have been optioned for film and TV.
She doesn’t want you to be able to put her books down.
A big thank you to Jennifer Porter for reaching out with this recommendation. I love Shari Lapena’s work and this one once again had me hooked from start to end. Are you a Shari Lapena fan? Which is your favourite book? I look forward to hearing from you, please leave a comment below. Until Next time… Happy Reading!
