New York Times Bestselling Author

Book blurb

Bryden and Sam have thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condo, 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 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.

How can she have disappeared from her own home? And did she even leave the building at all?

With every minute that passes – and as questions swirl around their community – Bryden and Sam’s past seems a little less perfect, their luxury condo less safe, their friends, neighbours and relatives no longer quite so reliable . .

My thoughts

We are presented with a police procedural running alongside a psychological thriller. I enjoyed the police procedural element but felt that this was almost two books in one or maybe it was indecision as to what it was that meant I did struggle with it.

The premise of a woman, Bryden, disappearing seemingly into thin air and what actually happened was a sound one.

I along with my fellow book club really liked Alice and Dennis two of the characters, several felt they would like to read a book with them as the main characters. The social media elements with Lizzie were well written.

There was a fair bit to like in this book, so I understand why some folks will really like it but the length and some perhaps over complicated or unnecessary elements made this book feel long and whilst I did finish it She Didn’t See It Coming was not, ultimately, one for me.

Book: purchased

Previously read: The Couple Next Door

The Virtual Crime Book Club

The Virtual Crime Book Club is hosted by Rebecca Bradley, author of the D I Hannah Robbins and D I Claudia Nunn series as well as standalone novels.

Rebecca is a great host and often gets the authors to come along and chat with us. You can find out more on Rebecca’s website.

Warning!

You can watch the recorded meetings below. Be aware they may contain spoilers so, if you’re planning to read the book, it may be better not to watch them until you’ve done so.

https://youtube.com/@rebeccabradleyauthor

Please note that this month’s episode is not being shared.

Information

Published: Penguin | 9 April 2026 | ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1804994839 | ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1804994832 | 480 pages

Buy: Amazon | Penguin (links)

Author: Shari Lapena is the number one internationally bestselling author of ten stand-alone thrillers. Her debut thriller, The Couple Next Door, was a global phenomenon, selling over four million copies worldwide. It was named WHSmith’s Book of the Year in 2016 and became the UK’s No. 1 bestselling adult fiction title in 2017. Her recent novels include Everyone Here Is Lying and She Didn’t See It Coming. Shari’s thrillers have been Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers, and four have been selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club. A former lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes from a farm in Ontario. Her books are published in over forty territories, translated into dozens of languages, and optioned for film and television.

Facebook: /ShariLapena
Instagram: sharilapena