Bingeable!

Shari LaPena’s latest thriller is cleverly plotted and unputdownable! I was sure I had this mystery solved, but I was wrong!

When Bryden unexpectedly goes missing without a trace while working from home, her family members, friends, and acquaintances are all questioned by the police. What happened to Bryden? How did she seemingly disappear from her own apartment? Everyone is a suspect and they are all hiding secrets.

This twisty domestic thriller kept me furiously flipping the pages. I couldn’t wait to see how this would play out! Shari LaPena is back with a stunner. My only criticism is that I think I had a better ending plotted in my head. Haha. I read too many thrillers!

Expected publication date: 7/29/25

Trigger warning: domestic abuse

4.5/5 stars rounded down

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for the ARC of She Didn’t See It Coming in exchange for an honest review.

As with most of Lapena’s work, I liked it but didn’t totally love it. Of course that did not stop me from wanting to read another of her books. Her work is always solid, if flawed sometimes. This is a pretty standard whodunnit mystery with a lot of possible suspects. I appreciated her including so many options as it kept me wanting to know the outcome. It did seem however that she included almost too much background information on the supplementary characters that was almost unnecessary. My biggest hang up on this was the ending- I didn’t really like the end result of who was responsible. Ultimately I feel like with the characters she developed, things could have been more creative. I still feel like it’s still worth reading overall if you like an investigative mystery.

3.75/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Pamela Dorman Books for the advanced reading copy!

This book had 5 stars written alllll over it.... until that ending! I'm still giving it almost 4 stars - because I was hooked from start to finish - but I'm so disappointed by the ending it almost ruined the whole book for me.

I LOVED the plotting of this book! The way we got information in a similar way as the detective was so fun. We were led to believe everything was perfect, just like her, until it wasn't. Shari Lapena really is the queen of domestic suspense and paranoia.

There were lots of characters and storylines going on, plus Shari Lapena's classic style of giving us an "in" to everyone's heads. This could be confusing at times -- especially at first -- but it didn't distract me from the overall story.

That being said, with all of these different storylines came so much misdirection and so many red herrings. I thought this was gearing up to have a totally mind-blowing and explosive ending, but it fell completely flat. So much of the book became pointless when we got to the end -- what a waste!!

While I did still enjoy the process of reading this book, the end definitely left me wanting more.

Classic edge-of-your-seat Lapena storytelling. I couldn’t put this down until I had to sleep or go to work. I seriously doubted everyone but the parents at times and loved the detective’s personal life angle. Such a fantastic read!

Thank you, publisher and NetGalley for the early copy.

I have read several books by Shari Lapena and would categorize them as a great popcorn, vacation, palate cleanser thrillers and this was no different. The good thing is that I always get exactly what I expect from these books.
This story was smartly crafted, and I loved the detective POVs the most. The story and twists were great but my biggest issue were all the side stories. I’m not sure we needed them, and when we circled back to them I already moved on and even forgot who these people are and why do we even care about them. I wish the story didn’t diverge into secondary POVs and was a little bit tighter.

I am a sucker for a good thriller and Shari Lapema is consistently solid so I was excited when I had the opportunity to read the #arc of her newest book (comes out Jul 29).

Bryden lives a blessed life with her husband Sam and 3 yo daughter Clara in Albany NY. One day, Sam gets a call that Bryden didn’t show up to get their daughter from daycare. He arrives home and she is nowhere to be found - but her laptop and phone are in the condo. What happened to Bryden and who is responsible?? It was a smidge predictable- Lapena sets is up so that there are plenty of possible suspects. I figured it out before the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

This is a fast read - good for all mystery / thriller lovers - perfect for fans of Freida McFadden or Lisa Jewell.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a big fan of Shari Lapena's work in the past, but her last couple of books lost me a bit. This won me back! Fast paced, inventive. A great thriller.

Frida and Gabriel are siblings in the sense that they both grew up together in the same cult. Twenty years later they’re free from it and on a luxury resort vacation when a woman is found dead. Gabriel was talking to her, but couldn’t have anything to do with it….right?

I liked this one! It’s hard to compare with The Quiet Tenant because that one to me was a heart-pounding thriller while Our Last Resort was more of a slow burn mystery. I really liked all the chapters set in the past in the cult, more than the present day storyline. I’ll still read anything this author puts out in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I read this while I was on vacation in Paris and looked forward to getting into bed to dig back into it each night, which speaks volumes for how engaging it was! I always love how unfrivolous (is that a word?) Lapena's writing is -- she gets right in there, tells a twisty, disturbing story, blows your mind a few times, and gets out with zero nonsense. I think I liked this one even more than What Have You Done (which I risked reading on a Kindle in a pool on another vacation). I have several of her books in my queue, waiting for my next trip because her books are always perfect travel reads! Existing Lapena fans will love this, and new readers are in for a treat!

It’s always the husband, right? When Bryden doesn’t pick her daughter up from daycare and seemingly goes missing all signs point to her husband Sam. But everyone claims they had a rock solid marriage and were very happy. So where is she? She wouldn’t just walk out and leave her purse, phone and most importantly, her daughter. Not everything is as it seems. Secrets will be revealed.

Lapena always spins the best stories out of the most simple premises. This is no different. Missing woman. Who did it? So many suspects. So much finger pointing. Never who you think might be guilty,

Another good one by Shari Lapena. I had it narrowed down to two suspects and I was correct in my guesses but still a good read. 4/5 🌟

Twisty and suspenseful! If you've enjoyed Lapena's previous works, you won't be disappointed. I read this in 24 hours!

She Didn't See It Coming is an absolute page-turner from start to finish. Shari Lapena once again proves herself a master of suspense, delivering a tightly woven plot full of twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the final pages. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would veer in another direction—each surprise more thrilling than the last.

The pacing was perfect, the characters were compelling, and the tension was relentless. I loved every aspect of this book and couldn't put it down. I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know who enjoys a smart, gripping thriller. Another masterpiece by Shari Lapena!

SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING is another reason why Shari Lapena remains as one of my all time favorite thriller authors! The QUEEN of domestic thrillers is back with another banger of a read! I read this in one day and easily could have read it in one sitting if I’d had the time. I was hooked in from the very beginning as always and it kept me intrigued and guessing throughout. I thought I had it all figured out but in true Lapena fashion I totally did not! It was full of twists and turns that will keep you engrossed and on your toes. As always, another easy 5 star read for me and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Ms. Lapena! Absolutely pick up a copy of this one or preorder now, you will not be disappointed!

Thank you so much to Pamela Dorman books and NetGalley for the early digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. Bryden and her husband live a very nice life in a Condo outside of Albany, NY. Bryden mysteriously disappears on a day she is working from home. Where is she? When her body is found in the cellar of the complex, the suspect list contains a man she had a car accident with, her husband, her sister, a neighbor with a previous run in with the law, and her best friend. In the course of the story, there are two additional mysteries that unfold around the car accident man and the neighbor. Lots of twists and turns, suspenseful, but not scary. Recommend!

When Bryden goes missing, she leaves no trace. After the police are called, it seems like everyone in her life might have a motive. Is it the husband? The sister? The best friend? Or the guy down the hall with a dubious past? The story had twists and turns and was an enjoyable read.

I have read a couple of this author’s books and this one was right up there on top, had me guessing at each page. I really enjoyed the turns and spins this book had that kept your interest in it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #ShariLapena #SheDidntSeeItComing #NetGalley

Oh. My. Gosh. The secrets on top of twists on top of madness! This book was truly a long, twisty road of suspense to an ending that I did not see coming. A quick read because I absolutely had to know what I missed and what was going to happen because I had my own theories blown up page after page. All the stars!

When a woman goes missing after working from home all day, no one is spared from scrutiny. Told from many perspectives, everyone has their say. Fans of domestic expense might enjoy this.

Do you love: Twists? Suspense? Red Herrings? Then you are going to love She Didn’t See It Coming by Shari Lapena. First of all, I have to say I am partial to this author, and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her (though I still have a few more to go).

This was a suspenseful, domestic soap opera book about a missing person’s case, and I loved every minute of it. Through short chapters and different character scenes, Lapena creates a fast-paced domestic thriller full of secrets and twists. A page-turner that keeps you guessing what happened to Bryden, who you can trust, and that everything is not what it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin for the ARC.
Expected Publication Date: July 29, 2025

#SheDidntSeeItComing #NetGalley