She Didn't See It Coming

I have read every book written by this author and although I think she initially gained her popularity with The Couple Next Door, the touch of black humor in most of her later books, including this one, appealed to me more. TCND was dark but very cleverly contrived. I think I've loved everything else that she's written more, especially over the past few years. Lapena manages to pick a starting point that catches your interest right off the bat, and then she slowly folds in mystery and uncertainty until anyone and everyone is a plausible suspect. I believed that any one of the characters (except the victim’s parents and police detectives) could have committed the murder.

And hahahaha, I generally eschew epilogues, but dang if I didn't show more want to know what became of that whacky couple, Tesla driver Derek and his psychopath wife Alice. Everything else was resolved by the ending, but who knows what mischief they might get up to next. I would love a sequel or prequel with these two characters (double-entendre intended). Their aloof kookiness reminded me a little of Samantha Downing’s, My Lovely Wife. show less

Bryden and Sam Frost have the kind of life that looks perfect from the outside — thriving careers, a luxury condo in Albany, New York, a cherished three-year-old daughter Clara, good friends, and they're even trying for a second baby. Then one afternoon Bryden fails to pick up Clara from daycare. When Sam comes home to investigate, everything is exactly where it should be — her laptop open, her phone on the table, her keys in the hall, her car in the garage. No signs of struggle. No signs she ever left. The building is essentially a locked room mystery — how does a woman vanish from her own apartment without anyone seeing her leave? Detective Jayne Salter leads the investigation, which quickly uncovers that every person in show more Bryden's orbit is hiding something. Jealous sister Lizzie, who has always resented Bryden. Best friend Paige, a little too entangled in the Frost household. Husband Sam, prone to violent outbursts. Neighbor Derek Gardner, charming but with a troubling past involving assault allegations. Bryden's body is eventually found stuffed in a suitcase in the building's storage lockers. Lapena at her most classic — short punchy chapters, multiple POVs, closed circle of suspects.

[May contain spoilers]
The killer is Alice — a younger woman who had been secretly involved with an older man named Richard, and who also killed her own mother. She's cool, calculated, embedded in the community in a way nobody suspects. The motive connects to the web of secrets Bryden had stumbled onto. The ending has a distinctly unsettling final note — Alice has already introduced herself to Jayne Salter's boyfriend Michael, suggesting she's positioning herself for her next move. Whether that's a loose end or a setup for a sequel is deliberately left open. Lapena's jealous sister subplot involving Lizzie running a Facebook true-crime group under an alias to find her sister adds a sharp commentary on amateur online sleuthing.
What I think: This is Lapena doing what Lapena does — slick, fast, propulsive, perfect for a long flight or a day at the beach. The locked room premise is clever, the closed circle of suspects is tight, and the twist is genuinely surprising to most readers. It won't break you like Wally Lamb but it'll keep you furiously turning pages. Some readers found the twist guessable, others genuinely didn't see it coming. show less

Shari Lapena has done it again with her latest domestic suspense thriller; she's serving up secrets like a dysfunctional family lasagna—layered and messy! If you're into thrillers where everyone seems to have something to hide, "She Didn’t See It Coming" is definitely a must-read. And don't sleep on the audiobook—it's an absolute gem.

Major props to January LaVoy for her narration! She breathes life into these flawed characters with such finesse that you can't help but get sucked into the drama. Her delivery amps up the tension. Once you hit play, you won't want to stop—it’s a binge-worthy ride!

The story kicks off when Bryden, a seemingly ordinary mom, mysteriously disappears, turning her condo building into a crime scene. show more Everyone looks guilty, and everyone has a secret to hide: show less

A closed circle psychological and domestic thriller showcasing the thin line between public personas and private rot.

Sam and Bryden Frost live in a luxury condominium with their 3-year-old daughter, Clara. Their outwardly perfect life explodes when Bryden vanishes from their home in the middle of a work day. When Sam receives the call that Bryden has failed to pick up Clara from daycare, it's the beginning of the end for them all. Nothing on security cameras throughout the building. Bryden's phone and purse are still there. No signs of an altercation. No evidence that this is anything other than a woman walking out of her own free will. But, yet.

Detective Jane Salter is the pragmatic, meticulous investigator who must weed through show more conflicting stories and sort out multiple suspects who are increasingly unhinged. There's no shortage of red herrings but the final twists and revelations are genuinely chilling.

This was fast paced and kept me guessing and I couldn't put it down so read it all in one sitting. The short chapters and the alternating points of view kept me on my toes and fully invested. The addition of the metaplot involving a true crime Facebook group that Lizzie (Bryden's sister) is obsessed with added another fun dimension showing how tragedy is often consumed as entertainment. I was convinced I knew what had happened. Alas.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator is the absolutely amazing January LaVoy. She provides a distinct vocal range for the various characters and makes them come alive creating a fully immersive production. Her dramatic flair is spot on. I'm always so impressed with her performance and talent which definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. show less

**Audiobook Review ** PRHA **
Shari Lapena has done it again with her latest domestic suspense thriller; she's serving up secrets like a dysfunctional family lasagna—layered and messy! If you're into thrillers where everyone seems to have something to hide, "She Didn’t See It Coming" is definitely a must-read. And don't sleep on the audiobook—it's an absolute gem.

Major props to January LaVoy for her narration! She breathes life into these flawed characters with such finesse that you can't help but get sucked into the drama. Her delivery amps up the tension. Once you hit play, you won't want to stop—it’s a binge-worthy ride!

The story kicks off when Bryden, a seemingly ordinary mom, mysteriously disappears, turning her condo show more building into a crime scene. Everyone looks guilty, and everyone has a secret to hide:
🔍 Bryden Frost – the center of the storm and our missing person.
🔍 Sam Frost – the grieving husband or the ultimate cold-blooded liar? Just wait until you see what’s in his suitcase.
🔍 Derek – our mysterious Tesla driver who’s got “affair” written all over him.
🔍 Lizzie – the sister with a flair for secrets and some seriously questionable choices.
🔍 Paige – the best friend who’s super protective and knows more than she lets on to the police.

That’s not even scratching the surface! With so many red herrings flying around, my head was spinning, and I was questioning everyone! Get ready for some twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for providing a gifted copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

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PRHA * January La Voy * Shari Lapena * Audiobook Addict * MIA Mom show less

Definitely a good "whodunnit" that keeps you on your toes! This was a solid thriller that excelled at the "shell game"—every time I felt certain I had the culprit pegged, a new piece of information would drop that sent me spiraling toward a completely different theory.

What Worked for Me:
The Theories: The plot is incredibly well-structured in terms of suspense. The theories presented felt believable, which made the constant second-guessing very effective.

The Multi-POV Approach: This was probably my favorite aspect. Getting the perspectives of not just the immediate family, but the friends, neighbors, and even the media added so much depth. It painted a vivid picture of how a single incident ripples through an entire community.

The show more Commentary on Sleuthing: It was fascinating to see the "good and bad" sides of the media and the rise of amateur online sleuths. It felt very relevant to our current true-crime-obsessed culture.

The Challenges:
Difficult Characters: I have to mention that the mother in this story was particularly grating. Her segments were tough to get through, though I suppose that speaks to Lapena's ability to write a character that truly gets under your skin.

The Ending: After so many wild and intricate theories, the final reveal felt a bit... simple. While it’s arguably more "realistic" that the truth is straightforward, it felt a little too typical for a thriller that had been so complex up until that point.

Final Thoughts:
I really wish we had been given an epilogue. After being so invested in all these different viewpoints, I felt left in the dark about the aftermath. I’m still wondering:

What is the long-term fate of the daughter and her custody?

Does the father finally address his addiction and step up?

Does the sister finally walk away from her online sleuthing?

How did everyone process the reality of what actually happened?

It’s a gripping read that I would definitely recommend to fans of domestic suspense, but be prepared for a few lingering questions once you turn the final page! show less

When Sam gets a call from his daughter's daycare saying that her Mum hasn't collected her he is worried. When he gets home Bryden is missing and there is no clue as to where she is. Sam find himself under suspicion and his life starts to fall apart. However there is another suspect, a man who Bryden ran into in her car, he is rich and has secrets, as does his wife. Now it is up to the police to try and find out what has happened to Bryden.
I hadn't read a Lapena book before but have read so many glowing reviews that I thought I'd try this. Now I know that I've been missing out! This is a cleverly plotted story with multiple suspects, each of whose motivations and back stories are revealed slowly. The narrative twists and turns so the show more reader does not know which protagonist is guilty. In the end it makes sense and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. show less