Lucinda Berry writes some of the darkest, creepiest thrillers of them all. This is my fourth Berry novel and I was expecting another brutally realistic story - and i got a believable extreme one! A woman, kidnapped a dozen years ago, suddenly reappears and the world she left is upturned on her return. Plunged into her new world she and I were trapped all over again. Excellent, excellent, excellent.

A highly enjoyable novel. Enjoyed it very much. Excellent narrative and wonderful depiction of the characters. Highly recommended!

Three Stars.

I want to start by saying this is my third novel by Dr. Lucinda Berry and I absolutely LOOOVED The Perfect Child and Saving Noah. I have recommended both over and over to my friends in mental health and child welfare. When She Returned, was not on the same level as the two previous novels mentioned. This never grabbed me and was rather predictable.

I didn't feel any emotional connection or pull towards any of the situations in the book. I know this will be a delicious book for some people. I think I was expecting something more sinister.

I plan on reading anything Lucinda Berry writes next and will not even bother to read the back cover.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for an eARC of, When She Returned, in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book so much! It is my first book by this author, but now I am searching for more. I am so intrigued by the power cults and cult leaders have over people, and this book dove deep into that subject.

Abby’s mother vanished 11 years ago while on a shopping trip. There was no signs of a struggle, nothing missing from her abandoned car, and absolutely zero clues to her whereabouts.

Flash forward 11 years when “mom” shows up with a newborn baby, states away, begging for help. As the family tries to welcome her back in, she is having a hard time fitting back into a new world with her daughter, husband (and husband’s new wife). Everything seems a little “off” but what can be expected from someone who has been kidnapped for 11 years? Will they be able to live as a normal family again or will the long lasting effects of the trauma be too much to overcome?

I love, and have read all of Lucinda's books. i love how she tells a story, and she isn't shy about writing about anything dark.

This book was no exception. I was engrossed from the beginning.

The book is about Kate and Scott, married with a little girl named Abbi. Kate was a stay at home Mom, and began to feel restless, and wanted to return to work as Abbi was now 5. She was ready to embark on her career again, as a journalist, when she suddenly vanishes from a Target parking lot.
Scott of course was devastated, and was an excellent father to Abbi, but while attending a support group he meets Meredith and they end up getting married and all seems well. Until..... Kate suddenly returns 11 yrs after her disappearance. She is found at a gas station, in a horrible state with an infant. It is then, that their lives are turned upside down, and many secrets are revealed.
The book is told in multiple POV, from then to now. It was a thrilling read!!!
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Wow! I don’t know how anyone could not love this book! What I love about When She Returned is that it’s told in the present & past and from 3 different perspectives. The story kept me guessing the entire way. I felt so many emotions- fear, sadness, hope. What makes this book stand out to me is that it has to do with a cult; very fascinating!

Started out really good. I could not turn the pages fast enough , then it really went down hill fast. More and more parts got really boreing to the point I was just skimming. Then too much was happening that was totally unbeleiveable. The daughter Abby was the only character I liked. Others were not devolped enough. I really expected more from this author.

A long- missing woman retirement home too the loving arms of the daughter who barely remember her and the husband's who remarried after she been presumed dead . But the real story of where she was and why she came back is the heart of this well-told story

First of all I'd like to say that Lucinda Berry is one of my favorite authors at the moment, I've loved all of her books (maybe The perfect child wasn't a solid 5 stars to me but still I liked it) so pretty much I'd read anything by her without the need to know the synopsis. I trust her just like that. Whenever I read her stories I know that I'd need to have an open mind because she gives us this very hard topics to discuss, with gray characters doing what we think is unthinkable but at the same time she is so good at letting us know what these characters are feeling that you just feel for them. In this case the topic is about cults and how some people can just fell under some leader spell leaving everything for a belief including their families. This story is about a married woman who dissapears leaving behind a loving husband and a beautiful 5 years old girl and how they try to reconnect after years of thinking she was death. Her husband remarried and declared her missing wife death after a while and that's what it was really conflicting to me the fact that she had to returned to his now married husband, that's what I struggle the most to try to empathize with the new wife's character and their dinamic. I never was on her side even when she was right but I guess I always look her like the replacement wife and felt like she was trying to take control of the situation by making decisions that weren't hers to call. The husband was very naive and created a version of his wife that wasn't real and gave it to His daughter to share. Their daughter on the other hand just wanted to get to know her mother exactly this new version and I really liked her character. There is a lot of drama and the story is told from different perspectives which I really appreciatte, sometimes is told from the past and then jumps to the present. Like I said whenever reading a Lucinda Berry novel you have to prepare yourself to be more open minded and this ending is a great example for that because not everything is black or white and our perception of reality is always different from everybody else, especially when they have been secluded from our society. Cults fascinate me so I really really liked this story and as usual Lucinda's writing style was very engaging and keeps you entertained the whole book. Read it.

A woman who has been missing and presumed dead for 11 years returns and her family has to pick up the pieces. When She Returned is told from three different characters points of views and weaves a story between "then" and "now." This story explores domestic violence and the fear that can follow the victim.
Overall this story was pretty decent. The characters were well developed and the story kept moving. I wish there had been a little more drama that would have kept the pages moving faster, but it overall it was a good read and it gave insight into how people can be manipulated and have their strings pulled.

Berry does it again! A perfect psychological thriller with lies, secrets, shocking surprises and stories. I look forward to reading more from Lucinda Berry. Definitely recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this great book!

When She Returned was an interesting read. It was categorized as a thriller along with general fiction, which set my expectations going in. Unfortunately, I think the title would be best categorized as solely general fiction. There were maybe two pages that were thriller-esque and they didn’t pack a lasting punch.

In general, the story was more heart-wrenching and depressing than anything else. I thought the author did a wonderful job at maneuvering the family dynamics and working with that drama. Through the flipping narratives, the author was able to highlight how trauma can occur and how the resulting impact can evolve over time.

I didn’t love the piece, though I didn’t dislike it either. I felt like it was a good read overall. I couldn’t get over the name “Thad”.

A full review will be available on social media closer to the date of publication.

I really like the way this author writes. She knows how to tell a story. She creates very interesting characters, though not always likable. This was my second book by this author and I enjoyed this one even more than the first.

Three different perspectives that flip from past to present weave seamlessly to an explosive ending. Cults are fascinating to me. The fact that people can give up everything they know to follow someone who knows where is mind boggling. It makes me wonder their mindset and the persona of the leader and how dynamic they must be. This story does a good job of capturing how a person can be in a bit of a crisis, or feel stuck in a rut and then they are ripe for the picking.

I liked Meredith. She was the backbone and the one I felt the most sympathy for. Abbi is a child and understandably makes childish choices that have bad consequences. As for Scott and Kate, I’ll let you form your own opinions. A quick entertaining read, look forward to the next one!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for a review.

A woman gone missing for 11 years returns to her family with a baby in tow, and the puzzle pieces of her life unfold in flashbacks all leading to the burning question. What really happened to Kate Bennett?

As the reader, I really thought I figured it out. It seemed pretty straightforward, especially as Kate recounts her story. And, it's mesmerizing. At the center is a charismatic leader who Kate befriends while writing an article on his organization.

To Kate's husband, Scott, her return is miraculous. To Kate's daughter, Abbi, her return is an opportunity to reconnect with an almost mythical person. To Scott's new wife, Meredith, Kate's return is uncomfortable and unsettling.

Kate herself appears fragile, scarred, and yet tenacious. She has survived insurmountable odds, physical torture, and psychological manipulation. This profile reveals a lot about the person she has become.

Where this story really hits the high note is close to the end with a surprise twist that left me mouth agape. Say what?! The author did a good job of lulling me into believing one thing and then, wham!, mic drop. Well done!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #WhenSheReturned!

What a book! Amazing and intense! I could not put it down. Gripping and exciting. An unbelievable ending! Leaves you in suspense til the very end. Amazing writing.

This book has a refreshing intense storyline you don't see everyday. At first I didn't know if it was something I would like because it was out of the ordinary, but I really loved this book. When I was half way through I could not put it down, I had to know the end and wonder what I would do in that situation? The story is told out of the eyes of the missing female, the daughter and the new wife and it will hold you tight.

I loved Lucinda Berry's previous book and was excited to read this one, it didn't disappoint.

The premise is intriguing where we get to know that Kate Bennett had been missing for years, and assumed to have been abducted from a parking lot. She left behind a grieving and shocked husband Scott a a little girl Abbi.

After years of desperation, Scott remarried in an attempt to bring normality again to his life and that of his daughter. When Suddenly Kate reemerges with a little kid in tow. From therein a roller coaster of events and revelations come flooding.

The plot is narrated from different perspectives and alternates between "past" and "present" to shed more light on the characters and their behavior.

Although I did predict the ending, and some character behavior wasn't quite satisfying, yet I overall enjoyed the ride as it is an undemanding quick summer read.

I voluntarily reviewed this book through Netgalley, thanks to the publisher and the author.

I really liked this book- I wasn't sure about it when I started it.
The disappearance of a typical mom, out of nowhere and leaving everything behind has dogged both dad and daughter for over 10 years. They have had to learn to accept not knowing and moving forward with their lives.

Then, out of the blue, mom is back. Back with a baby, horrifying stories and some things that don't seem to add up.

The story is told from a few different perspectives, and over a span of time. As the different elements come together and the story unfolds, some unexpected things happen.

Stuff I didn't expect which made the story that much better.

Look forward to her next book-

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

This is a really good book that really grips and shocks as the story unfolds. The plot twists keep on coming so even when you think you've worked out what is happening, you really haven't. Absolutely brilliant book.