Wow, Carolyn Arnold truly outdid herself with this one; Save Her Life gripped me from the very first page and absolutely refused to let go. I was immediately pulled into Special Agent Sandra Vos's nightmare when her own daughter, Olivia, is abducted, forcing Sandra to navigate a terrifying twenty-four-hour deadline. The way Arnold blends Sandra's professional prowess with her raw, desperate maternal instincts is just masterful, making every decision she makes feel incredibly personal and high-stakes. The tension built relentlessly, with every ticking second palpable, making this unputdownable read that kept me on the edge of my seat, turning pages long into the night, desperate to see how much Sandra would have to sacrifice to bring Olivia home alive.

This book pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go. Save Her Life kicks off a high-stakes new series with nonstop tension, emotional depth, and a lead character I won’t forget anytime soon.

Special Agent Sandra Vos is a top FBI negotiator, but when her daughter Olivia is kidnapped, the rules go out the window. The case turns personal fast, and what follows is a gripping mix of procedural suspense and a mother’s desperate fight to save her child. The pacing is intense, especially once Sandra realizes how close to home the danger really is. I could feel the clock ticking right alongside her.

There were a few moments where the internal monologue slowed things down a bit, but overall I loved the blend of action and emotional stakes. Sandra is strong, flawed, and incredibly human. I also appreciated the audiobook narration from Kathryn Akin—she brought Sandra’s character to life exactly how I imagined her.

This is a strong start to a series that I’ll definitely continue. Perfect for fans of smart thrillers with heart.

Carolyn Arnold is one of my favourite authors, basically must read for me. Save Her Life was my first audiobook by Carolyn, still, it worked out so well.

The emotional and in-depth characters development built up the tension. I loved the relationship between the characters and especially the way Sandra negotiated. The narrator presented the story smoothly and excitedly.

Many thanks to NetGalley, publisher and the author for my copy.

First book in FBI agent Sarah Vos series. Good character development and back story. Kept me listening.

Carolyn Arnold’s *Save Her Life* is a gripping thriller that follows FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos as she faces the ultimate nightmare—negotiating a hostage situation while racing against time to save her kidnapped daughter. With relentless pacing, emotional depth, and expertly crafted suspense, Arnold keeps readers on edge as Sandra navigates impossible choices, blurring the lines between duty and desperation. Fans of high-stakes thrillers with strong female leads will find this novel both exhilarating and unforgettable.

Save Her Life is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that plunges listeners into a high-stakes race against time. Carolyn Arnold introduces Special Agent Sandra Vos, a seasoned FBI negotiator haunted by the tragic loss of her twin brother decades ago—an event that shaped her into a relentless protector.

When a hostage situation erupts at a local grocery store, Sandra’s world shatters further as her own teenage daughter, Olivia, is kidnapped. Torn between professional duty and maternal instinct, Sandra defies protocol and dives headfirst into a dangerous negotiation that tests her skills and her heart.

The audiobook delivers intense suspense and deep emotional resonance, with a narrator who captures Sandra’s strength and vulnerability flawlessly. Save Her Life is a powerful start to a series, perfect for fans of taut thrillers and complex, determined heroines. It keeps you hooked until the very last second.

The plot of the book wa good and the twists, turns and shocks held my internet. However overall the story failed for me with the huge unrealistic involvement the main character has with such a personal connection. Plus I didn’t feel like I was any more clear on the characters by the end of the listen.

I really like the Amanda Steele series so I was looking forward to getting into a new series by Carolyn Arnold. This is the first read in the Sandra Vos series. It started strong but all of a sudden it felt a little like a ‘How To’ Manual to hostage negotiation which I know the listener may not know much about but it was a lot and it nearly lost me completely. The timeline was off when it came to dates etc. It felt like the storyline was missing Arnolds usual twists and turns and the urge to keep listening. For me I felt like I missed a huge chunk of the story. The characters are well developed and really likeable. Even if I didn’t really care for the storyline I’d still be up for reading other books in the series. Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

2.5/5 🌟🌟/🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review #SaveHerLife

4.5 Stars: Save Her Life is the first book in a new series by Carolyn Arnold. Sandra Vos is an FBI hostage negotiator and one of the best. Her twin brother was killed in a kidnapping gone wrong, 30 years earlier, and was the reason she is in the role. After dropping her teenage daughter off at school, she gets a call about a hostage situation inside a pharmacy. She heads to the scene, ready to diffuse the situation and get all the hostages out alive. The head of the police team is ready to bring in the snipers, but Sandra is able to make contact and talk the man down. Before she leaves the scene, she gets word that her daughter has been taken and the person holding her has demands that must be met within 24 hours or she will die. Sandra doesn't trust anyone else to work the case, but her ex-husband shows up, and he is adamant to get involved, it is his daughter after all. Will they be able to rescue Olivia and meet the demands of the kidnapper?

With this being the first book in the series, we have to get to know the main characters. There was a bit more telling than normal in Carolyn Arnold's books, but I chalk it up to that. Sandra Vos is a great character. I liked the way she worked with the hostage taker at the pharmacy, her patience, gentle nature and intuition come into play. She is a great mom, and there is no way she will let her daughter die. The crime itself was a good one. It went back to her brother's murder and I enjoyed how the storyline twisted and turned. Sandra's husband is a "Rambo" type of agent, working around the world rescuing hostages, so has a very different approach to the crime. I hope we will see more of him in subsequent books as I would like to get to know him better. This story was very tense with Sandra breaking some of the rules to successfully bring the crime to an end. With an uncooperative prison official, a secret location she has to figure out, rules to follow and relatives that are reluctant to help, time ticks quickly and had me reading and listening at every opportunity. Doing a read/listen allowed me to finish this one in a day, and I am already looking for the next book in this series. Kathryn Akin is a narrator I don't believe I have listened to before, but I will not hesitate to listening to her work in the future. Her voices, tone, expression and pacing were spot on for this story. If you enjoy a crime thriller, then I recommend Save Her Life in whichever format you prefer.

Save Her Life (Sandra Vos Book 1)
by Carolyn Arnold
Narrated by Kathryn Akin

Rating-between 4/5, not very complex plot, but enjoyable listen

This is my first Carolyn Arnold book, but I guarantee that it won't be my last! Save Her Life is book 1 of the new Sandra Vos series. I really want to read book two after finishing this one. Sandra Vos is an FBI agent. After her brother was murdered 30 years ago, she testifies at the killer's parole hearing. After parole is once again denied, the wheels are put into motion, and Det. Vos' daughter is kidnapped. At first, she doesn't know the "why" behind her daughter's abduction. This quickly changes, and it's up to the Feds to figure out where Olivia, her daughter, is before they kill her.

This was a fast-paced, engaging story that will keep you listening until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and I'm really liking Sandra Vos' main character. Looking forward to reading more! Thanks so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to listen to and review this book!

Sandra Vos is a hostage negotiator for the FBI. She is called out when a young father takes some 40 hostages at a local grocery store in an attempt to get some medications that insurance has apparently denied coverage. The first third of the book introduces the reader to Sandra and her negotiating skills. And during these negotiations, she learns that her daughter, Olivia, has been kidnapped. She is torn between completing the first hostage situation and moving quickly to save her daughter. Is the kidnapping related to one of her earlier cases? What does the kidnapper want? These and many other questions are intertwined in an entertaining, fast-paced novel with plenty of tension (of course) and lots of plot twists.

Carolyn Arnold has apparently written a number of novels, but this is the first time I have read one. This is the first in a new series featuring Sandra Vos, and it is certainly a good start and I look forward to the next one.

Note: I “read” this book by listening to the audio version. As always, the narrator is critical and Kathryn Akin did a great job. My thanks to Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen and review the book.

This was my intro to this author and I am hooked. This was a dark, twisted, well written, creepy, dark, twisted, suspenseful story and I’m already looking forward to the next in this series. What won’t a mother do for her child? When push comes to shove, Special Agent Sandra Vos is willing to do any and everything she can to save her daughter. When her daughter is kidnapped and held hostage, she isn’t willing to step away and let others find her. She stays professional and keeps her head on straight even as things go FUBAR. We of course get the ending we are of course hoping for, but what a listen. It’s a well crafted dark story that is perfectly narrated.

Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold pulled me in right away with its mix of tight pacing and a strong lead in Special Agent Sandra Vos. She’s a crisis negotiator with a sharp edge, and the story gives her just enough personal weight—especially when the murder of a former colleague hits close to home.

I liked how the investigation feels grounded, with realistic FBI procedures and a decent sense of urgency, but it never drowns in jargon. The plot twists aren’t over-the-top, just smart and satisfying, and the short chapters kept me saying “just one more” until I’d finished the book in two sittings.

Save Her Life will have you hugging your kids longer. It's every parents worst fear, someone kidnapping your child. The twists are bendy, fast paced and just well written.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was a perfect match for this book. I’ve read several books by this author and I’m a big fan! I love her writing style- she pairs the nonstop action with emotion to really get a grip on the reader. Highly recommend this one and I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

I thoroughly enjoyed "Save Her Life"! It was gripping! It was thrilling! It instantly grabbed my attention and when I wasn't listening to it I was waiting for my chance to put it back on!

I think Sandra was a smart and well developed character and I look forward to continuing to follow her journey in the next book of the series!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Carolyn Arnold for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Save Her Life"!

As a lover of romantic suspense/mystery, with a heavy hand on the suspense and mystery and only a sprinkling of romance, I immediately requested this on NetGalley. I wouldn't consider this a romance, though. That said, there are relationships among the characters that feel real, authentic, and true to life. I will be keeping my eye on this series and reading the next releases immediately upon publication.

The pacing was exceptional. This is one of the few in the genre that I have read that starts off immediately with a high-tension scenario, which then leads logically into the primary conflict of the story. This initial conflict was perfect for us to learn the characters, the setting, and the world, and not get bored for one minute. Info dumping? Don't know her.

The audio was very well done, and I highly recommend that format if it is available to you. I listened to this over two days, it was perfect company for knitting, dog walking, and house cleaning.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy. All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Save her life
Author Carolyn Arnold
Narrator Kathryn Akin
First in a new series featuring Sandra Vos a FBI negotiator
The first part of the book features Sandra in charge of a hostage situation where a young man is holding several hostages in a grocery store , we learn that Sandra’s twin brother was killed several years earlier in an innocent victim in a hostage situation.
I did find this part very slow but the book did pick up pace when this situation is resolved only for Sandra to discover her teenage daughter had been kidnapped and Sandra tries to rescue her daughter.
I don’t think I would actively awaiting the publication of the next book , but equally I would be prepared to read more to see how the series progresses .

Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold and narrated by Kathryn Akin is the 1st book in the new FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos. and I loved it. It was a completely addictive and gripping FBI mystery thriller and my earphones in all day listening to it to the very end. Great start to a new series and I loved FBI Special Agent Sandra Vos, character especially as she was mentioned in Book 13 in the brilliant Detective Amanda Steele series - which I enjoyed reading. So, I was very happy Carolyn the author started a series about her! Well Done. . .

The narrator Kathryn Akin was excellent and bought it alive!

This was a solid start to a new series featuring Sandra, a tough and experienced hostage negotiator who’s been through the unimaginable—losing her brother in a past hostage situation. That trauma still echoes through her life and career, especially as she faces pressure from local authorities who clearly feel threatened by her FBI background. Despite all that, she keeps her cool and delivers the best outcome she can under tough circumstances.

Things really take a turn when Sandra’s daughter goes missing after skipping a tutoring session. At first, it seems like it could be a simple mix-up… until it becomes clear it’s something much more serious. As the search unfolds, Sandra is forced to confront people and choices from her past to figure out who might be out for revenge.

I listened to the audiobook version and found the story engaging overall, though I personally struggled a bit with the narrator’s voice—there were slight Canadian accent undertones that were a bit distracting at times. Still, the plot kept me interested, and I’m definitely curious to see where the next book takes Sandra in her career (and her personal life).

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.