"Emma in the Night" was an intense and enthralling read. We start the book with Cass, who alongside her sister Emma has been missing for three years. Cass makes it clear that she has a story to tell, and we know there is something more going on than what we see on the surface. Her sections are told in first person, as though she is also telling the story to us (in addition to the FBI, psychologists, and her family- and the version we get is deeper). Her view alternates with Abby Winter (told in the third person limited), a psychologist assigned to the case who became emotionally involved when the girls first disappeared, primarily because she has a personal connection- her mother had narcissistic personality disorder and she largely suspects that Cass and Emma's mother does as well (despite the doting/loving picture she presents to the world).

We receive a lot of insight into Cass and Emma's childhood as Cass reflects on key events from their childhood/adolescence, and we get a more objective view from Abby which confirms the breadth and extent to which these things could occur. Together, the two viewpoints complete the picture and keep you captivated, wondering what of Cass's story is real and what her goals are here. In the meantime, we see an in-depth character study of Cass and Emma's family, particularly their narcissistic mother. Although there is not the typical thriller context where events are actively happening and most of the discussion of events is of things that happened in the passed, the writing is absolutely gripping and impossible to put down- I wasn't intending to finish it in less than a day, but it was too hard to walk away without knowing what did happen to Emma.

The prose is beautifully written, transporting the reader to Cass and Emma's turbulent childhood. There is never a dull moment in the book- every chapter is filled to the brim with information and pieces of the larger puzzle. I think it is particularly poignant in the way it demonstrates their mother and her mental illness- with key stories from Cass and information about the disease through the psychologist. As a warning, there are mentions/descriptions (not extreme detail) of rape a few times for people who are sensitive/would like to know.

Overall, it's an extremely enthralling and fascinating psychological thriller and I highly recommend the read! Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Emma in the Night pulled me in right away. The psychology of the relationships between Emma, Cass, and their mother was so interesting. Every move every single person in that family made was political and had purpose. There are meanings behind everything and nothing is what it seems. The most subtle action could start a war.

Sometimes the foreshadowing came off in a cheesy way, maybe because it was so blatant - the author really just smacked you over the head with it - but I really enjoyed all the twists and turns. The plot was complex and I loved that it was told by a narrator who was actively trying to deceive everyone.

This is one of the best thrillers I've read this year, definitely the best 2017 thriller I've read so far!

A strange story told in a unique way. The approach of telling the story from the perspective of multiple characters kept it fresh and kept me guessing throughout. I definitely like this author's style and will seek out opportunities to read more by her. (just my opinion.)

Thank you NetGalley for letting me preview this book! It was amazing and so hard to put down. The story was so intricate and detailed without going off on a tangent. The writing was seamless! All the ends were tied up in the end. I'm such a big fan of psychological thrillers and this one is up there with some of my favorites. I also really liked that the squeamish bits were not exaggerated, but told with grace and dignity and not for shock value, but as away to explain the protagonist, Cass's story. I thought I would be disappointed that they didn't delve more into Abby's story, but in the end it was about her. She too was there to enhance Cass and give her an ally she could trust. This is a great book club read and I plan on getting this one one our club list. We could dissect and discuss this book too distraction! Thank you for the introduction.

Loved this book from page one. The constant dangling of possibilities by Dr. Winter, based on her own experiences, co-mingled with Cass's drip, drip, drip of details of her and Emma's 'hosts' and the island. Balancing past details of the family members with the surprising arrival of Cass and her story of the past three years, we the readers are held captive to what is truth and what is just misleading revenge. Great premise, real-life characters, with amazing insight into a young damaged girl's psyche.
Thanks to the author and St. Martins Press, as well as Netgalley.com for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Intriguing psychological mystery which leaves you wondering about the heroine's future.

I LOVE this kind of book! So many twists and turns and SO much drama, with a mystery to solve, too! Cass and Emma and their family was incredible dysfunctional, the kind of dysfunction that makes you grateful to your own family just being "weird" in comparison. I've read enough suspense/mystery books to have a general idea of how things are going to end up, but not with this book. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist came in that I didn't see happening! By the end my mind was blown, and I sincerely didn't see that ending at all! Fantastic book!

Fascinating (and rather timely) to read about the impact of Narcissistic Personality Disorder on a family. In this case, the mother of two girls, Cass and Emma, has the disorder, and the girls grow up never knowing if she will be kind or mean and understanding that they must always be showering her with praise and bolstering her huge ego. Emma, the older girl, is more successful at this strategy and consequently gets some attention and love, whereas Cass is ignored or . In fact, she is not allowed to call her mother "mom" but must call her "Mrs. Martin"!
One day both girls disappear, and three years later, Cass returns. The FBI's forensic psychiatrist, Dr Abbey Winter, who investigated the original case comes back to try and uncover the truth behind the girl's disappearance, and to find out what happened to Emma.
Told from the point of view of Cass, and Dr. Winter, the story alternates between the girl's childhood and the complicated story that Cass is telling of their disappearance. Delving into her own dysfunctional families past, Abbey Winter is sure that something is wrong with Cass's story.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Despite being half written in first person, I didn't feel that the characters were explored in a way that was enjoyable to the reader. Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators and the psychology aspect of narcissistic people may enjoy this one. It's what drew me to the novel, but unfortunately did not keep my attention.

A full review will be found at [a cup of tea and an armful of books] on July 10th.

Interesting.
That is the best word I could find to describe this read.
This book kept me going waiting for the 'moment'. It did come but left me surprised in relation to Emma.
Love books that I did not have totally figured out. A few breaks in logic. But what good is fiction without those breaks. A book I would recommend to all.

There's nothing like a good "mommy dearest" thriller to set my teeth on edge. Its a deeply satisfying moment when you realize you simply cannot put a book down because you have to KNOW how it comes out. That's the delight of a really well executed thriller.

This was excellent from start to finish and I'll happily recommend it to any fan of intricately plotted psychological thrillers. But what kept me turning the pages was my investment in the characters. I cared about Cass and Emma, I wanted to know that things would be okay for them.

What makes villains like those in "Emma in the Night" so frightening is how easy it is to imagine them in real life.
We're not dealing with Hannibal Lecter or Norman Bates here. These are mothers and fathers and sons and daughters who visit unspeakable horrors on each other as quickly as they shower love. Its unnerving but deeply compelling to watch that dance between torture and affection play out.

This was an excellent, excellent read by a very gifted author.

This a fantastic thriller that kept me enthralled and guessing until the very end.!

This is a great book for the summer. It has everything you want. A little suspense. A little mystery. The characters are interesting and compelling. This is a great insight into the mind of a narcissist and the effect it can have on one's child. So if you are looking for a good, quick read you won't do much better than this.

Three years ago Emma and her younger sister, Cassandra (Cass) disappeared from their upscale coastal town. Three years later Cass returns to her Mother and Stepfathers front door. But where is Emma? As Cass begins to fill in the gaps of the last three years to her family and FBI agents, Abigal Winter and Leo Strauss, Dr. Winter begins to wonder if everything is as it seems? Is Cass telling them what really happened to her and Emma?

Walker’s second novel takes us deep into the dynamics of a dysfunctional family and the results of those dysfunctions are Emma and Cass. I was really into this completely immersive, dark and twisted family; holding my breath until the final pages. Read this book!!

Special thanks to Wendy Walker, St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

RELEASE DATE: August 08, 2017

RATING: 4 Stars Definitely a book worth reading…

GENRE: Psychological Suspense

AUDIENCE: Fans of Gillian Flynn and Chevy Stevens should definitely pick this book up!

SERIES: Standalone


This book was beyond diabolical. We have two sisters who disappeared 3 years ago, and one suddenly returns to her mother’s door step. The returned sister, Cass, is adamant that her sister Emma is being held on an island somewhere in Maine. The how of Cass’s escape and return is revealed as the FBI digs through her memory for clues to find Emma before it’s too late.

Emma in the Night is told from two different perspectives, Dr. Abby Winters and Cass. Dr. Winters invested herself in the initial search for Emma and Cass three years ago, and is stunned that Cass has come back. Winters strong interest in the case stems from her belief that Cass and Emma’s mother had something to do with the girls’ disappearance. Cass shares her escape, her thoughts and fears for Emma, and what ultimately led to the sisters long absence from their family.

*Tremendous thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

First line: "<i>We believe what we want to believe.</i>"

That was a simply amazing novel. It had interesting characters, a fascinating plot, and several unexpected plot twists...what more could you ask for?

I would like to thank Netgalley for getting the chance to read this novel from an author who is new to me, but one I would like to read more of.

Cass Tanner disappears at age 15, along with her 17-year-old sister, Emma, not be seen, heard from, or discovered for three years. Cass reappears, alone, on the front doorstep of her mother's home with a carefully concocted story in hopes of finding her sister.

This novel went from what I thought would be quite straight forward, to being anything but that. I was surprised at every twist and turn that was presented to me. I was constantly thinking, trying to figure out what the next step could be.

I found this novel to be a page-turner, simply because it boggled my mind on several occasions. Despite being a short novel (less than 250 pages), it contains a story that is going to keep you mentally running right up until the end.

I'm apparently not a fan of women's psychological thrillers.

The book is well-written but the introspection and drama seems unrealistic.

Very interesting construction, portraying a horrifying family situation. Hard to put down.. I did not figure out the end in advance, and I appreciated that. (Sorry this is so brief--I will be buying this for our library and recommending the book.)

"We believe what we want to believe"

This is the premise of the book; a book that carefully lays bare the dysfunctional family ruled by the manipulative matriarch, Mrs Martin. Unlike Wendy Walker's previous novel, which I found to be overly graphic, "Emma in the Night" is restrained and getting to the truth of the story is rather like slowly peeling an onion, layer by layer.

As psychological thrillers go, this is up there with the best. Very much character driven the reader is never sure who to trust, and exactly what happened 3 years earlier when the sisters, Emma and Cass, go missing. It is evident that someone is lying, but who? The story is told from alternate viewpoints of Cass and the forensic psychologist, Dr Abigail Winter, who has a vested interest in the case.

It is a heartbreaking story, and very well written and researched.

Thanks go to the publishers St. Martin's Press and net galley for the arc in return for an honest review.