Emma in the Night

Thrillers are a hot commodity on the publishing circuit right now, and I admit to being a huge fan. That said, there are some rather ho-hum books being passed off as thrillers. Have no fear, as, Emma in the Night is the genuine article. Three years ago, fifteen year old Cass Tanner and her seventeen year old sister just disappeared. When Cass returns three years later, she’s alone. She tells authorities she and her sister were kidnapped and held against their will on an island, but psychiatrist Abby Winter doesn’t believe Cass is telling the truth. Why would Cass lie, and where is Emma? Narrated by both Cass and Abby, readers learn quickly that Emma and Cass had a disturbing relationship with their narcissistic mother and with each other. A disturbing portrait of mental illness and creepy family secrets that may have led to murder. One to read with the lights on!

Emma in the Night is a story that will capture you from the very first chapter. The way Walker introduces the complicated relationship between Mrs. Martin and her children is done flawlessly. Her execution of the first chapter really sets the tones and captures your complete attention. Not many books have me hooked from a few pages and barely an introduction, but Walker sure as hell did.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a topic introduced from the very beginning of the story. This is my first time reading on the issue. If you are like me, you think a narcissist is someone all about me, me me. But Walker provided an in depth explanation of what a narcissist really is and how they can affect those around them. For me, page 63-66 hit home a little too much. For the first time in my 26 years, I understand my mother and what is wrong with her. Reading this novel was felt like déjà vu. My whole life, I have tried to understand what my mother’s malfunction was and Emma in the Night provided me an answer. It’s a strange feeling to find an answer in a story when you weren’t even looking. While the story isn’t meant to be life changing, it certainly will have a lasting effect on mine. I wouldn’t be surprised if this story touches other reads in the same way it did myself. While it was a bitter sweet experience, the read was very enjoyable.

I did have a rough time sometimes with the story jumping from current times to the story Cass was telling. Or chapter two with Abby, it jumps around a bit. But after you get going, the transitions become much smoother as you grow use to the style.

One of my favorite things about being a reader is that I have learned quite well to pick up on foreshadowing. I always share my guesses as to what will happen with someone, so I can proudly proclaim I guessed correct. Yeah….that wasn’t going to happen with this story. So many times, I was so sure and confident I knew what was happening. Turns out, I had no fricken clue. The whole story is full of twist and turns with no character which you fully trust. I found it very exciting.

Overall, I think this story could be something big in the year 2017.

Thanks NetGalley for the early read!

I loved, loved, loved this book. Wendy Walker is an amazing writer who tells complex and unexpected stories. The first book of hers i read established that and this one has only continued that. With so many twists and turns i never knew what was coming and finished it one night because i had to know what was happening next.

I'm fascinated by narcissism in its psychological disorder sense, not the "vain" way it's commonly used. It's a condition that leaves a legacy of abuse, so combined with the hook of this child who disappeared coming back, I couldn't wait to dive in.

I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to watch this story unwind. Cass is an unreliable narrator with an murky agenda that I couldn't wait to decipher. Like Abby, the forensic psychiatrist, I kept trying to sort the nuggets of truth from this spiderweb of a tale.

Heartbreaking, enthralling, and a definite must-read, if you enjoy getting lost in a thriller, you'll want to pick up Emma in the Night. I got an ARC so you'll have to wait until August 8, but trust me, the wait will be worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cass and Emma, close teenage sisters, disappear from their safe suburban town. Three years later Cass knocks on her mother's front door, frantic for help rescuing her sister. Cass recounts a grotesque tale of imprisonment. The original team assigned to her case, an older FBI agent and his doctor (psychiatrist) compatriot, descend on Cass to try to find her sister and give this tragedy a happy ending. But nothing can prepare those around Cass for the secrets she will divulge, both from during and before the kidnapping. Cass' return seems at first an end to the horror but it is merely the beginning.

Full disclosure: I did not like Wendy Walker's previous novel, "All is Not Forgotten." I disliked it so much, in fact, that I felt guilty picking up the ARC of "Emma in the Night" for an unbiased review. This novel is worlds apart from her previous. Sensitivity toward different personality disorders, particularly that of a borderline and a narcissist, allowed the characters to be so much more than their handicaps. The story reveals the impact these disorders have on those around them which is quite the difficult task to realistically convey. My only complaint was that the novel truly "showed it's research" which is to say that sometimes the exposition on psychiatric illness felt textbook-y and pasted in rather than natural. Walker was able to make this work by having the more clinical analysis delivered by the psychiatrist but she became (slightly) repetitive in her case diagnostics. The tale switches perspectives between Cass and her psychiatrist, both with their own unreliabilities and both very sympathetic. Beginning as a straightforward kidnapping tale this story develops into a full throttle psychological thriller. Hard to put down. Recommended.

I loved this book. I mean, REALLY loved this book! It's such an unusual approach to suspense. It takes a skilled writer to be able to handle the nuances of narcissistic personality disorder the way that Walker does, but it's a central theme of the book, with everything revolving round it, as deep dark secrets slowly unravel. A truly gripping read.

This was a one day read for me on my beach vacation. I don't think I moved all day. I was fascinated by the narcissistic personality disorder and it's impact on the children. Wow. The book was for me a deeper read, which means though I read in one sitting I didn't skim over any parts. I found it all gripping. What a dysfunctional family. The book says it has an unreliable narrator and I get why they say it, but I didn't find Cass to be unreliable. I really felt her as she told her story. A twist at the end yes, but overall not a shock considering the story. I don't want to say to much about the plot because it's worth your reading for yourself. This is a must read and will likely be a best seller when released. GREAT read. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to preview the manuscript.

Three years after she and her sister, 17 y old Emma, disappeared, Cass Tanner turns up on her mother's doorstep. The FBI had concluded that Emma had committed suicide and Cass, then aged 15, had run away but Cass has a very different tale to tell, one of abduction and enforced imprisonment. All she wants now is for the FBI to find Emma. She can describes perfectly the place they were held and the people who took them. But the FBI psychologist, Abby Winter, assigned to the case from the start has a feeling something is not right. She can't understand why Cass has come back home when her family is so dysfunctional, a mother who plays mind games and doesn't care much for her, a step father and step brother who have made the girls life difficult. Is Cass playing some sort of game with them all?

This is a story of obsession and jealousy, mental illness and not-so-blended families at war and ultimately of revenge. Written from alternating points of view of Abby and Cass, the past is gradually revealed as the FBI try to find Emma. The pace is good, gradually introducing the characters and revealing their relationships and then ramping up the tension once many of the secrets are revealed. I enjoyed the different approach and style of this suspenseful psychological thriller.

I pride myself in seeing most things coming. Well, this excellent story completely blindsided me. Cass and Emma disappeared on the same night. Maybe together. When Cass returns, alone, but saying that she's been with Emma all this time, Dr. Abby Winter from the FBI will have to unravel the plot and figure out what happened and where Emma is. This book also has the distinction of having one of the most horrible mothers ever imagined, based in the very real condition of clinical narcissism. Cass and Emma's Mom, Judy, is a monster. Yet, she is not turned into a caricature. None of the characters are. They are real and even their voices are distinctive. The propulsive story kept me reading and trying to figure out how it was all going to end. Believe me, you probably will also be surprised by the shocking twists in the story.

I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers and I really liked this book! Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop!
Cass returns to her childhood home after a three year absence. Unlike a typical coming home novel, Cass is not returning after graduation or college, she has come after being kidnapped. Three years ago she and her older sister Emma disappeared into the night without a trace. When Cass returns without her sister, her only goal is have her sister found. She tells her story to Dr. Abby Winters, a forensic psychologist, who can see the inner workings of the girl's family including the emotional abuse at the hands of the girls' mother. The story is more than just runaway teens; it's a tale of betrayal, abuse and, ultimately, love.
The novel takes readers from the perspective of Cass to Dr. Winters, each view adding something to the story that the other character cannot. Cass gives us a first hand view of her family and what it's like to live with a narcissistic mother while Winter unravels the mystery sounding the teen's disappearance. The read anxiously tries to put the two together to get the real story of what happen not just the night the girls disappeared but what happened after that.
a riveting page turned, I finished it in two nights and was astounded by the twist hidden within the depths of the pages.

I received this book "Emma in the Night" from Netgalley for my honest review.

Emma and her sister Cass disappear one night. What has happened to them? Its been 3 years and out of the blue Cass returns but not Emma. Where has Cass been and what happened to Emma, why didn't she return also. Cass starts to tell everyone about those 3 lost years but is that what really happened? I thought this was a really good story and a page turner for me. I have not read the authors previous book All is Not Forgotten but I think I would like to.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this digital galley.

Mesmerizing. Fascinating. Engrossing. There are so many superlatives to describe this psychological thriller. Author Wendy Walker has written a story that changed with every scene to keep me on the edge of my chair and completely unable to predict the outcome. And throughout the narrative she seamlessly inserted information concerning narcissistic personality disorder for those of us who were unfamiliar with that diagnosis. Walker was also able to reinforce the knowledge that anyone outside a family unit cannot possibly know everything taking place within that family dynamic. What appeared to be a "perfect" family to those observing from outside was actually a battleground within.

Two teenage sisters go missing on the same night. Was it suicide? But if so, why? Were they kidnapped? Are they still alive? Three years after Emma and Cassandra Tanner went missing Cass came back. From the beginning of the story I was never sure exactly what was true and what was not. This is well written. The chapters alternate between Cass and Dr. Abby Winter, a forensic psychologist with the FBI. Abby has not been able to leave the case of the two Tanner girls behind and over the three years the inability of law enforcement to solve the case has been a heavy weight on her, even driving her to seek professional help herself. Now Cass is back and she keeps demanding that they find Emma.

As someone who had no previous information about this psychological disorder I have to say I found this book absolutely absorbing. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Publishers, and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a digital galley of Emma in the Night, and provide an unbiased review.

Wendy Walker's Emma in the Night is a smart and engaging psychological thriller with great twists and turns. The story centers around a Cass who disappears as a teen and returns a few years later with a story that peels like a big thick onion, layer by layer. Cass keeps you guessing about whether or not you can really believe her, and the cast of characters surrounding her makes you think dysfunctional doesn't even begin to explain it.

Wendy Walker writes smartly and coherently about the complex subject of narcissism. Her point of view about relationships is also well done in that none are perfect, but the strength of those bonds forgives many sins.

When reading this type of story, I reluctantly anticipate some ridiculous event that causes my eyes to come loose and roll to the back of my skull. It's genuinely pleasing to find an author who has taken the time and care to discipline their writing to stay of the path of believability. This story is well crafted and executed. Great writing is what draws me toward more from an author, and that is exactly what Emma in the Night accomplishes. I look forward reading more by Wendy Walker.

There are plenty of books out there that will tell you a predictable story in a predictable way, but Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is something altogether different. It's the kind of book you'll want to devour in one sitting, so compelling is the story, and it's one you'll be thinking about long after you turn the final page.

Seventeen-year-old Emma and fifteen-year old Cass disappear from their mother's home late one night, and the police are pretty sure they know what happened to Emma. Her car was found at a nearby beach and her shoes are fished out of the water. But there's no sign of Cass. It seems unlikely the sisters would have gone off together, since their mother swears they were in the midst of a horrendous argument earlier that evening. For three years, not a single sign of Cass can be found, until she shows up on her mother's doorstep with a harrowing story to tell.

Dr. Abigail Winter, a psychologist with the FBI, has never truly gotten over the disappearance of Cass and Emma Tanner. When the girls first went missing, she was willing to stake her entire career on their mother having something to do with whatever had happened to them. Something about her spoke to Abby, reminding her of her own troubled childhood, but was it possible Abby was allowing the ghosts of her past to influence her assessment of this case? Her superiors clearly thought so, and the case was left unsolved, but even three years later, Abby still thinks about the Tanner girls and the abuse she's almost certain they endured at their mother's hands.

When she receives news of Cass's sudden return, Abby is eager to talk to the girl; the FBI has many questions, and Abby has a few of her own as well. But Cass very obviously has a plan, one she'll reveal only in her own time. It's obvious to Abby that the mystery is far from solved, but will she uncover the truth before it's too late?

The story is told from the alternating points of view of Cass and Abby, and I found this narration style to be highly effective. Both characters tell us about past and present events, something I found super helpful as I tried to decipher the truth of what really happened to Cass and Emma.

Normally, I like to give potential readers a good idea of the direction a novel is going to take, but Emma in the Night has to be an exception to that rule. Part of what makes this novel so much fun to read is the author's way of revealing the truth in very tiny pieces. I could lay it all out for you… but that would ruin it for you, so just trust me when I tell you you're in for one very twisty ride. Ms. Walker has created a story filled with disturbing truths and characters who aren't at all who you think they are. She has taken the unreliable narrator trope to the next level here.

On several occasions, I was sure I had things figured out but I was wrong every time. The story went off in directions I could never have predicted, but it didn't come across as the least bit over the top. Sometimes, authors create endings that seem completely out of left field, and readers struggle to follow them, but that isn't the case here. Sure, I was surprised by the ending, but only because I didn't pick up on a few clues Ms. Walker had skilfully sprinkled throughout the early parts of the novel. Now that I know how the story ends, the clues seem obvious, but they certainly didn't as I was reading.

There are several fairly graphic scenes of abuse in the book that could prove upsetting for some readers. Cass and Emma come from a deeply troubled home where both physical and mental cruelty are quite commonplace. Personally, I found the mental manipulation was harder to deal with than the physical stuff, but I know that won't be the case for everyone.

Despite the scant information I've given you in this review, I hope everyone will give Emma in the Night a try. It's a great thriller, perfect to curl up with during a summer thunderstorm. Once you start it, I'm sure you won't want to put it down. I know I didn't.

Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE:

One night, two sisters Emma and Cass disappeared into the night. Emma was 17-years-old at the time and Cass was 15-years old. Three years later, Cass shows up back at her mother and stepfather’s home without Emma.

Their parents had divorced several years earlier leaving their Dad, Owen Tanner, depressed about the break-up and about his wife Judy’s affair. Judy re-married Joe Martin, considering him more important and masculine than Owen.

Other prominent figures are Will, half-brother to the girls from Owen’s previous marriage and Hunter, their spoiled step-brother.

Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter has spent years trying to figure out the missing piece to the girls’ disappearance and is also somewhat of an expert on Narcissistic Personality Disorder. When her old colleague Leo contacts her to let her know Cass has returned, the two FBI agents set out to figure out what happened and why.

THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS:

After returning without Emma, Cass begins to share bits and pieces of her story slowly, almost like some teasing dance. She tells tales of her and Emma being taken to an island with a couple, Bill, and Lucy, that Emma had located to help her – Cass coming along wasn’t the plan. She recounts the years on the island and the one other person they ever saw being a man named Rick that brought them supplies by boat.

Their mother, Judy Martin, alternates between doting on Cass after her return and discounting her stories saying that she is crazy. The dad is trying to wrap his arms around everything and the step-dad is basically staying out of the way unless summoned by Judy or the FBI agents.

Abby Winter and her sister Meg grew up with a mother having Narcissistic Personality Disorder and based her doctoral thesis on the topic, therefore, she feels certain she sees the signs of the illness in Judy, as well as, the after-effects and coping skills in Cass and Emma (Emma based on stories on accounts from others).

Avoiding spoilers I will say this, Emma In The Night has several twists and surprises that made this an unbelievable suspense/thriller. As Cass says to the investigators early in the novel,

“WE BELIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO BELIEVE. WE BELIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO BELIEVE.”

Wendy Walker takes us from the return of one missing girl to a complete reveal of a very sick family. Abby suspected the answer lied within the family when the girls disappeared, but it’s only as Cass shares what happened to her that the puzzle pieces finally start coming together. Even when I thought everything had concluded, the author still surprised me at the very end.

Quite honestly, this was difficult to read at times because of Judy Martin’s character. One of her frequent statements as the girls were growing up was,

“AM I A GOOD MOTHER? THE BEST MOTHER YOU COULD EVER WANT?”

If you frequently read my blog posts, you are aware that I have serious mommy issues. I’ve tried to come to terms with it all and it’s actually a daily effort, despite today being the second anniversary of when I last had to see her. But some of the “Mommie Dearest” actions and statements throughout this novel made me cringe, as well as, seeing the evidence of how having a narcissistic parent affects someone’s life beyond childhood and into adulthood.

On the other hand, although I related to Abby’s observations of Judy and that a lot of the information is verifiable information about Narcissistic Personality Disorder, I also felt overwhelmed with it at times. About halfway through the novel, I felt like a great deal of Abby’s research into the disorder was being repeated without any benefit to the overall plot.

Otherwise, I have absolutely zero complaints or criticism regarding this novel. Wendy Walker has expertly woven an edge-of-your-seat thriller that promises several surprises along the way. This is definitely not a light, happy read, however, it was beautifully crafted and held my interest from beginning to end. Emma In The Night paints a disturbing picture of family, lies, greed, narcissism, neglect, and more. Sounds depressing I know, but it was a hell of a read that I absolutely recommend.

Any screenwriters reading this out there? This needs to be adapted to a movie asap!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Wendy Walker for the opportunity to read her latest book - it's wonderful!

I was a huge fan of her first book, All is Not Forgotten, and this latest will not disappoint. This is a very multi-layered book with lots of plot twists and secrets to be figured out. Emma and Cass are two sisters, trying to navigate a very dysfunctional family life. Their mom, Judy, is a narcissist who plays the girls off each other, craving love and attention. The parents divorce and Judy remarries, leaving more trouble in the wake with the addition of a stepfather and stepbrother.

One day, Emma and Cass disappear. Emma's car is found by the beach and it is presumed that she drowned, but Cass is nowhere to be found. Three years go by when Cass suddenly appears at home, desperate to tell her story to the FBI so that they can find Emma.

The story is told in alternating voices - Cass and Abby, an FBI agent who was on the case when the girls first disappeared. She has been haunted by their disappearance and the fact that her viewpoints weren't taken seriously.

I don't want to give any more away - you need to read this book!

This is one of the most spell binding psychological thrillers I've read in a bit!

Ms. Walker has told this story from the viewpoint of the victim, Cass, and Dr. Abigail Winter, a Forensic Psychologist with the FBI. And it works extremely well.

With a narcissist as a mother the Tanner girls never really stood a chance. If you don't know what a narcissist is, you will after reading this book!

The sorrow I felt for these girls and their poor father, who just did not know what he was getting himself in to by marrying Judy. When she cheats on him and divorces him to marry up, it just opens a new can of ugliness. There were no boundaries, the girls had no voice. 

When after three years Cass shows up at her family's doorstep, everyone is shocked, no one more than Dr.Winters, who knows first hand what it means to live with a narcissist.

As Cass says, People believe what they want to believe. And that is so true in this case and a lot of others. Easier to believe the pretty story. But this wasn't pretty but it was powerful. And the end? Did not see that coming at all!

Highly recommend this book! 

Netgalley/St.Martin's Press  August 08, 2017

This review will appear on the link below approx 1st August

Cassandra Tanner walked up to the front door of the house that had been her home until three years prior – it was 6am when she knocked. When her sleep tousled mother answered the door she didn’t recognise Cass – but when she said “it’s me, Cass” the roller coaster of emotional trauma began…

Cass and her big sister Emma had vanished three years ago – the FBI, local police, media and friends had all been involved in the search for them, to no avail. Cass’ return brought a story of kidnap and being held against their will; of being forced to stay on an island somewhere off the coast of Maine – and of Cass’ plans to escape. She was desperate for them to find Emma and beseeched the FBI and forensic psychiatrist Dr Abby Winter to search for the place they’d been held.

But Abby felt that something was wrong within the family – she knew the signs, having experienced them herself many years ago. Abby buried herself in Cass’ story; in the file from when the sisters had gone missing. What she was starting to uncover had her uneasy; she was convinced she was right, but her colleagues were sceptical. Would they find the isolated island and Emma? Would Abby get the results she hoped for? And would Cass eventually have her sister back?

Wow! Emma in the Night is another brilliant psychological thriller by Wendy Walker! Twists and turns litter this book; the plot is intense and the pace is blistering. I loved the author’s debut novel, All is Not Forgotten, and this one didn’t disappoint either! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read and review.

See my review on Goodreads :) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2021447256

MY REVIEW OF "EMMA IN THE NIGHT" BY Wendy Walker

 "Emma in the Night" by Wendy Walker is an extremely intense and intriguing mystery and thriller that will keep you on edge. I appreciate that the author discusses a Narcissistic Personality Disorder, and how it affects family relationships. It is also mentioned if the children of women with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder will develop the traits and symptoms of this. 

The characters are described as complex, complicated, disturbed and dysfunctional. Most of the characters could be suspect to any inappropriate actions.

Two teenage sisters disappear, and there is evidence of the older one's abandoned car by the water. It has been three years since the FBI and Police have investigated and there is no new information.

The younger sister suddenly appears after all this time. She claims she escaped and has to find the older sister, who is on an island.The FBI gets involved again. There are inconsistencies in her story, and the emotions in the surrounding family.

There are many twists and turns in this story, and the ending is not what I thought it would be. This was a dark, intense, captivating thriller and mystery and I would highly recommend this for book lovers of this genre. This is the first novel I have read by Wendy Walker and I look forward to reading more. I received this ARC from the publisher for my honest review.

I couldn't put this book down! The psychological aspects were highly interesting and I enjoyed all of the characters. There was a lot of intrigue in the plot, which kept me guessing.

When you get to nearly the end of a story, and realize it's been told inside out and a bit backwards; as you're looking down the telescope of events and all you can think is, "holy crap, that's brilliant!" you know you've got a good one!
Emma and her sister Cassandra's disappearance are central to the story, but the events leading up to, during and especially after, will blow your mind. This psychological thriller brings family dysfunction to a whole new level, and will leave your mind reeling.
"People believe what they want to believe," and you'll think you have bit and pieces figured out throughout the book, but you'd be wrong. I got to the end, with brand new eyes, and had the desire to reread the entire thing knowing what I knew now; that's the sign of a great book!

**Review will be published to blog on 06 Aug 2017 at 10:00AM EST**

I chose this book because:

How did Cass return? Why didn’t Emma? What happened?? Are the sisters the messed up ones or just one of them or is it the rest of the family or is it all of them? The blurb sort of reminds of S02E07 of Criminal Minds called “North Mammon,” in which three teenage girls are abducted but only two are returned to safety. It also reminded me of Good as Gone by Amy Gentry, in which a girl is kidnapped but returns to her family eight years later, and a lot of the book is spent wondering if the girl who returned is who she claims she is. I love my mysteries and thrillers!

Upon reading it:

The premise of Good as Gone seems similar to Emma in the Night, but in Emma in the Night, there is no doubt that the girl who returned is the girl she claims she is (Cass). Rather, we are left wondering about Emma. However, even though we know that the Cass who disappeared is the Cass who found her way back home, there seemed to be something off about Cass, maybe due to whatever happened over the course of her disappearance, maybe due to the way she was before her disappearance--you’ll have to read the book to find out! Even with this suspicion, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to feel off about Cass, such was the subtlety of it. I felt like she was concocting a story, and if I was correct with my suspicions, I wasn’t sure if her motives were for good reasons or not. Was she trying to steer us toward the truth or away from it?

The characters in this story were messed up, every one of them in their own way. But nobody sulked or felt bad for themself, which I liked. Instead, it was a constant power struggle between everyone, which certainly made for interesting drama. Everyone was playing everyone, but who came out on top?

At first I was impatient with this book. It began with Cass’ return and then went day by day after her return. Why couldn’t Cass just tell everyone where Emma was and/or what happened to her? I could do with the sob story afterward. Also I didn’t feel like we needed to know as much as we did about Dr. Abby Winter. But this mystery/thriller proved to be more nuanced than most I have read, and soon I figured there was a greater scheme and I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of it. There were reasons for everything and my complaints were put to rest. I even accepted that Dr. Winter’s insights about narcissism helped me better understand each of the characters, though I think I could have done without her personal story and just done with her authority on the subject, but I guess it’s more compelling with the personal story.

Speaking of which, I guess now is as good a time as any to say that this book switches between two perspectives, that of Cass’ and that of Dr. Winter’s. When it got to Dr. Winter’s parts, I was always wondering whether her insights about narcissism were the author’s attempt to to nudge the reader in the right direction or the wrong direction. This book kept me in suspense until the end! I was satisfied with the end of the book and so much was revealed and it was so hard for me to keep spoilers from this review!

Truly a psychological thriller, encompassing the concept of narcissistic mothers.

Everything comes neatly together in the end.

Thoroughly enjoyed. Thought bending, mind twisting, heart rending book.

"Emma in the Night" was an intense and enthralling read. We start the book with Cass, who alongside her sister Emma has been missing for three years. Cass makes it clear that she has a story to tell, and we know there is something more going on than what we see on the surface. Her sections are told in first person, as though she is also telling the story to us (in addition to the FBI, psychologists, and her family- and the version we get is deeper). Her view alternates with Abby Winter (told in the third person limited), a psychologist assigned to the case who became emotionally involved when the girls first disappeared, primarily because she has a personal connection- her mother had narcissistic personality disorder and she largely suspects that Cass and Emma's mother does as well (despite the doting/loving picture she presents to the world).

We receive a lot of insight into Cass and Emma's childhood as Cass reflects on key events from their childhood/adolescence, and we get a more objective view from Abby which confirms the breadth and extent to which these things could occur. Together, the two viewpoints complete the picture and keep you captivated, wondering what of Cass's story is real and what her goals are here. In the meantime, we see an in-depth character study of Cass and Emma's family, particularly their narcissistic mother. Although there is not the typical thriller context where events are actively happening and most of the discussion of events is of things that happened in the passed, the writing is absolutely gripping and impossible to put down- I wasn't intending to finish it in less than a day, but it was too hard to walk away without knowing what did happen to Emma.

The prose is beautifully written, transporting the reader to Cass and Emma's turbulent childhood. There is never a dull moment in the book- every chapter is filled to the brim with information and pieces of the larger puzzle. I think it is particularly poignant in the way it demonstrates their mother and her mental illness- with key stories from Cass and information about the disease through the psychologist. As a warning, there are mentions/descriptions (not extreme detail) of rape a few times for people who are sensitive/would like to know.

Overall, it's an extremely enthralling and fascinating psychological thriller and I highly recommend the read! Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

A strange story told in a unique way. The approach of telling the story from the perspective of multiple characters kept it fresh and kept me guessing throughout. I definitely like this author's style and will seek out opportunities to read more by her. (just my opinion.)

"Emma in the Night" is a psychological thriller that will remain in my thoughts for some time. The writing was spectacular. Truly unflawed. And the plot was beautifully crafted, intricate but believable. The characters were complex and disturbed and interacted beautifully. But what I cannot shake was the description of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) and the way it permeates throughout the characters and is a part of the ultimate fate. The way NPD is described at the end of chapter two - when Abby goes to her knees in the Yale library - this is *exactly* what it does feel like. So spot on. And so like the entire story. Thank you for sharing this novel.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me preview this book! It was amazing and so hard to put down. The story was so intricate and detailed without going off on a tangent. The writing was seamless! All the ends were tied up in the end. I'm such a big fan of psychological thrillers and this one is up there with some of my favorites. I also really liked that the squeamish bits were not exaggerated, but told with grace and dignity and not for shock value, but as away to explain the protagonist, Cass's story. I thought I would be disappointed that they didn't delve more into Abby's story, but in the end it was about her. She too was there to enhance Cass and give her an ally she could trust. This is a great book club read and I plan on getting this one one our club list. We could dissect and discuss this book too distraction! Thank you for the introduction.

I LOVE this kind of book! So many twists and turns and SO much drama, with a mystery to solve, too! Cass and Emma and their family was incredible dysfunctional, the kind of dysfunction that makes you grateful to your own family just being "weird" in comparison. I've read enough suspense/mystery books to have a general idea of how things are going to end up, but not with this book. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist came in that I didn't see happening! By the end my mind was blown, and I sincerely didn't see that ending at all! Fantastic book!

Fascinating (and rather timely) to read about the impact of Narcissistic Personality Disorder on a family. In this case, the mother of two girls, Cass and Emma, has the disorder, and the girls grow up never knowing if she will be kind or mean and understanding that they must always be showering her with praise and bolstering her huge ego. Emma, the older girl, is more successful at this strategy and consequently gets some attention and love, whereas Cass is ignored or . In fact, she is not allowed to call her mother "mom" but must call her "Mrs. Martin"!
One day both girls disappear, and three years later, Cass returns. The FBI's forensic psychiatrist, Dr Abbey Winter, who investigated the original case comes back to try and uncover the truth behind the girl's disappearance, and to find out what happened to Emma.
Told from the point of view of Cass, and Dr. Winter, the story alternates between the girl's childhood and the complicated story that Cass is telling of their disappearance. Delving into her own dysfunctional families past, Abbey Winter is sure that something is wrong with Cass's story.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting.
That is the best word I could find to describe this read.
This book kept me going waiting for the 'moment'. It did come but left me surprised in relation to Emma.
Love books that I did not have totally figured out. A few breaks in logic. But what good is fiction without those breaks. A book I would recommend to all.

First line: "<i>We believe what we want to believe.</i>"

That was a simply amazing novel. It had interesting characters, a fascinating plot, and several unexpected plot twists...what more could you ask for?

I would like to thank Netgalley for getting the chance to read this novel from an author who is new to me, but one I would like to read more of.

Cass Tanner disappears at age 15, along with her 17-year-old sister, Emma, not be seen, heard from, or discovered for three years. Cass reappears, alone, on the front doorstep of her mother's home with a carefully concocted story in hopes of finding her sister.

This novel went from what I thought would be quite straight forward, to being anything but that. I was surprised at every twist and turn that was presented to me. I was constantly thinking, trying to figure out what the next step could be.

I found this novel to be a page-turner, simply because it boggled my mind on several occasions. Despite being a short novel (less than 250 pages), it contains a story that is going to keep you mentally running right up until the end.

The Tanner sisters disappeared on a foggy night three years ago. Emma was seventeen-years-old and Cass was fifteen. Now three years later, Cass is back. Turning up on her mother's doorstep....alone.

When they disappeared, Emma's car was found at the beach, with her purse and keys inside. Her shoes were in the water. Assumptions were made. Almost everyone believed Emma was dead. But they couldn't figure out what happened to Cass. Emma would never have taken Cass with her to the beach. Plus none of Cass's things were missing. So where was she? Different people believed different things. Could it be a coincidence? One sister dead, the other a runaway? An abduction?


"Some people needed to believe I was dead because it was too hard to wonder"

The girl's mother tells the story of the night in question, which gives her the attention she thrives on. An apparent fight between Cass and Emma over a necklace then a car seen leaving later that night...

Social media, the girl's cells phones, and diaries didn't help at all. Everyone was at a loss.

What happened to the Tanner sisters?

We learn more about what life was like in the Tanner/Martin home. Dysfunctional would be one way of putting it. Daughters who craved attention from a mother who also craved attention, and for whom playing favorites was a game she perfected.


"Am I a good mother? The best mother you could ever want?"

For three years, Cass had imagined the moment see would see her mother again. But she was not at all prepared for the expression on her mother's face when she saw Cass on her front porch.

They take Cass inside, asking question after question, but Cass won't answer. Until finally.....

"We need the police!" "They have to find Emma! They have to find her!"

Dr. Abigail Winter (Abby) forensic psychologist is called in to consult along with the FBI. Abby knows this case inside out, it has eaten at her all these years. One those cases that buries itself deep under your skin. Abby could see things that others couldn't...or wouldn't. So when she hears the words "Cassandra Tanner came home", she's on her feet, ready to go in seconds.

Will she finally find out what happened the night the girls disappeared? Where has Cass been? Where is Emma? Is it possible that the theory Abby had about the case was correct? The theory that no one else believed?


"Find Emma!"

When Abby hears those words from Cassandra Tanner's mouth, time stands still. Emma is alive?

"The island." Cass said. "She's still on the island"

And with that, Cass begins telling them what happened. As she begins her story, everyone keeps asking her why they left in the first place. When she finally replies, her answer shocks them all.

As I mentioned before I was worried I wouldn't like this book as much as I liked the authors first novel. I shouldn't have worried as I REALLY enjoyed it.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT is not just a story about two missing girls. It's a story about love, obsession, loyalty, mental illness, secrets, jealousy, and even revenge.

The story is told from Cass and Abby's point of view. I think the book is well paced, and I couldn't wait to read what was going to happen next. This is one of those books that I wanted to talk about to everyone. I've always been interested in behavioral psychology and one of the main themes of the book is one I'm most interested in. I found it fascinating. Wendy Walker really knows her stuff. Intelligent and disturbing, I was completely engrossed in the psychological aspects of this story as well as the mystery itself.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT is definitely a book I won't soon forget. I'm two for two with Wendy Walker and I cannot wait for more!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

Upcoming book Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker is the sort of psychological novel that may rob you of sleep for a while.

Talk about a dysfunctional family! I had no idea that narcissistic behavior could create such complex and dangerous issues. The appearance of normality in the midst of abuse is truly frightening.

Highly recommended.

Hernández Novels Score: 4.5/5

First and foremost I want to thank St. Martin's Press for sending me a copy of Emma in the Night via NetGalley in return for an honest review. NetGalley recommended I read this novel, as I'm an avid thriller fan, and I was most definitely not disappointed. I can't even remember the last time I devoured a book this fast - I finished it in less than a week! From start to finish I could not put the book down. I never read at the gym, but you bet I sat on a bicycle and read. I never read during lunch at work, but you bet I read while I ate my homemade chicken fried rice. I never read when I get home from work, but you bet I laid down on that couch and kept reading every single word.

We are immediately immersed in Cass' world when she returns home after disappearing for three years. Cass disappeared with her sister Emma and is adamant that Emma must be found, immediately. With the help of the FBI, Cass begins to tell the story of where she's been for the last three years, how she got there, and what happened to her while she was gone. Cass narrates her own story, but we also get another perspective, Dr. Winter's, which is given to us from the third person. Dr. Winter has doubts about Cass' story, and Cass herself is the kind of narrator that tells us what's on the surface level, but never gives up her deepest thoughts to us. Is Cass' story real? Where is Emma? Why and how did they disappear? What does Judy Martin, their mother, have to do with all of this? I needed the answers immediately, so I kept reading and reading every spare moment I had.

What I really liked about the book:

– The entire story is so well thought-out. It must have taken Wendy a lot of work to figure out every piece of the story before constructing it so beautifully. I was amazed by the story-telling. At the end, I had no questions about what happened, and was only left pondering about the future of the characters.

– I really appreciated that every chapter changed the perspective of the story. As Cass would finish one part of her narrative, I immediately wanted to know how Dr. Winter felt about it and what her analysis was. How did she explain Cass' behavior? What did she notice that I didn't while I pictured Cass answering the FBI's questions?

– The psychology behind the story's premise is brilliant. The main focus of the story is on the mother-daughter relationship, one tarnished by a parent who suffers of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. What forces have created the monster within Judy Martin, the girl's Mom, and how does that monster play into the disappearance of the girls?

– Every single character was fully realized. I knew who every character was, why each stood out, and how each one thought and behaved. Wendy did a near-perfect job materializing each of her characters.

What I really didn’t like about the book:

– I was hooked every minute of this ride, but when I finally learned the truth behind the girl's disappearance, I was disappointed. I was disappointed because I felt that the wait was long, and exciting, but the pay off wasn't worth it. I had imagined something more exciting, more interesting, more out of this world. This is the only reason why Emma in the Night does not get a perfect star rating. However, the real bomb drops on you in the last two chapters, and Wendy drops it so nonchalantly that it took me a second to fully grasp the reality of it. My mind was blown!

I enjoyed Wendy's Emma in the Night so much that I am looking forward to reading her first thriller All is not Forgotten. I hope it's as good as this one! Emma in the Night will have you on the edge of your seat piecing this difficult puzzle together, wondering what is real and what isn't, what is truth and what isn't, and will, in the end, make you shed a tear of hope for the future of the characters you will learn to love. You absolutely must pre-order and read it immediately (when it debuts on August 8, 2017).

Thank you, Wendy, for your creativity and voice. I love a strong female writer, and I think I have found someone to be excited about. I look forward to checking out the rest of your previous work, and waiting anxiously for your future stories. You've got a new fan!

This psychological thriller kept my attention for 2 days, I couldn't wait to read it. I thought about it when I wasn't. Awesome sophomore read.

The first lines of this book grabbed me from the beginning. "We believe what we want to believe. We believe what we need to believe." These lines served as the guide to this crazy, twisting story. This book was interesting for me, because I minored is Psychology, the addition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder was very intriguing concept and I loved how it wove in and out of the plot of this novel all the way through to it's conclusion of the cycle breaking with Cass. The darkness and desires of the different characters also played a part in making this story a great drama.

I did feel the there was moments that were very redundant, but I believe that coincides with the book having an investigative tone with interviews and the like. It did not deter me from finishing the book.

Overall, I think the book was great and enjoyed it, It had all the pieces you would want in a psychological drama. I would recommend it to friends and family if I knew they enjoyed books like this.

RELEASE DATE: August 08, 2017

RATING: 4 Stars Definitely a book worth reading…

GENRE: Psychological Suspense

AUDIENCE: Fans of Gillian Flynn and Chevy Stevens should definitely pick this book up!

SERIES: Standalone


This book was beyond diabolical. We have two sisters who disappeared 3 years ago, and one suddenly returns to her mother’s door step. The returned sister, Cass, is adamant that her sister Emma is being held on an island somewhere in Maine. The how of Cass’s escape and return is revealed as the FBI digs through her memory for clues to find Emma before it’s too late.

Emma in the Night is told from two different perspectives, Dr. Abby Winters and Cass. Dr. Winters invested herself in the initial search for Emma and Cass three years ago, and is stunned that Cass has come back. Winters strong interest in the case stems from her belief that Cass and Emma’s mother had something to do with the girls’ disappearance. Cass shares her escape, her thoughts and fears for Emma, and what ultimately led to the sisters long absence from their family.

*Tremendous thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an ARC.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT is extraordinary. Two teenage sisters go missing. One returns home three years later, frantic to tell her story and make sure her sister is found as quickly as possible. The reason the sisters disappeared is a mystery, as is the elaborate psychological game Cass, the returned sister, is playing with everyone, especially her narcissistic monster of a mother. I gulped this book down as quickly as possible, my heart pounding the whole time. Walker's pacing is masterful, and the suspense she creates is overwhelming. Anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller will love this, perfect for fans of GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Books like these make me glad I have my degree and background in Psychology because I feel like I can enjoy them more. There is definitely a lot of clinical information and focus on psych disorders in this book as it’s a necessary plot point but I can see where someone who isn’t in love with the field of psychology like me can feel they got bogged down.
As you read through the story line it’s obvious the author had to put tremendous work into creating a detailed outline because her character development is meticulous in that the reader knows all the motivations, thoughts, and feelings without feeling lost as to what the characters are doing or why. Her character point of views add another dimension of interest so you get a fuller picture of where she’s trying to take this story.
If the reader plunges through those parts then midway her pace picks up and smoothed out to a great conclusion that makes it all end up being worthwhile. Books like these are what define the psych thriller genre.

This book is an absolute MUST READ!!! When I was only one chapter in, I knew I needed to buckle up because I had a feeling I was about to take a crazy ride. I was 100% correct with that prediction, Emma In the Night was fantastic!!!

Three years ago Cassandra and Emma Tanner mysteriously went missing. Being that Cass was 15 years old and Emma was 17 the case was highly publicized, but no one knew the case better than Dr. Abigail Winter. Abby is a forensic psychologist with the FBI and she dedicated several years to the Tanner sisters' case without any concrete answers. Then the unexpected happens, Cass returns home...alone!! Abby is called back on the case and this time she's determined to find out what happened to Cass and Emma-- and more importantly where is Emma and why didn't she return home with her sister!!! Certain circumstances that surrounded the case never sat right with Abby, but she couldn't prove her theories back then, now she's hellbent to see justice prevail!!

What a twisty and turny masterpiece this novel is!! If you love psychological thriller like I do, than this is the book for you!!! Wendy Walker created a storyline that is completely original and extremely well thought out. Beach read, mountain read, weekend read--heck anytime read, this book will consume you until the very last page! I cannot believe I haven't read Wendy Walker prior to reading Emma In the Night, but I can guarantee you I will remedy that ASAP! Emma In the Night is a 5+++ star novel that I can't recommend enough--go check it out!!

4.5 Stars* (rounded up).
Crazy, Hypnotic & Downright Staggering.

"Emma in the Night" captures your attention from the first sentence. We believe what we want to believe. We believe what we need to believe. From that moment on, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

Emma and Cass Tanner are sisters. Emma is 17, Cass, 15. One night they both disappear. No trace of them is found. Three years later however, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Cass’ story is far-fetched and is one her mother is unwilling to believe. Though Cass' mother, Mrs Martin isn't exactly the most reliable of characters.. then again, neither is Cass. Her story is however, investigated by the FBI, including Forensic Psychiatrist and Agent, Abby Winters, who specializes in personality disorders and specifically, narcissism. Dr. Winters uncovers much of Cass’s dysfunctional family history and also helps unravel many a mystery.

In her time away, Cass has become a grown up. She has a depth of character that defies her age and is no longer the naïve little girl her mother always thought of her as. And Cass sees things in Dr. Winters that no one else does. Whether this helps her or hurts her, is for you to find out for yourselves.

"Emma in the Night" is quite the Psychological Suspense novel. Wendy Walker has now written her second novel expertly intertwining with a mystery/suspense novel with a psychological thriller involving forensic psychiatry that stupefies its readers. Every second captivates. And through most of it, I was none the wiser. There were a few moments that I had figured out but for the most part this was a complicated and truly compelling novel and the characters were juxtaposed within it brilliantly.

Dr. Winters is an intricate and convoluted character whose thoughts and ideas I was excited to unlock. Cass is a tortured soul who's strength of character, brilliance and sheer fortitude had me glued to every word she uttered. And Emma's wickedness had me laughing during the most inappropriate of times. In the end, every phrase and every moment of this novel had me awaiting the stunning conclusion.

You might have thought it improbable for Wendy Walker to hit it out of the park again after her brilliant first novel, "All Is Not Forgotten" but I can tell you that SHE DID IT!! "Emma in the Night" is bright, brilliant, captivating & intricate. It weaves a web you don't want to get out of.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wendy Walker for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 5.15.17

*Will be published on Amazon on 8.8.17.

This has been by far my favorite thriller of this year! this was a book that was very hard to put down because I had to know what happened to both girls! I usually hate when thrillers have so many pieces to a puzzle that it starts to become frustrating instead of interesting this book was very smooth with the puzzle pieces and left me curious for more instead having frustration over it. I liked how I really thought I knew what had happened to the girls up until they find the island and I was thrown off course then Bam! the twist! it was so worth the wait and very clever on Casses part I did like the cover it was ok but the book was fantastic I almost feel bad for the other thriller books I will read because it will be very hard to top this one I highly recommend this book!

4.5 stars! I was hooked from the word go with this one. Two sisters go missing one night, and three years later one of them returns, alone. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Cass (the girl who has returned home) and Abby (who is with the FBI and on the case) we slowly uncover the truth about the night that the girls originally went missing.

This is SUCH a well written book. Right from the start, you know something is off with this family. And as the book goes on, you think you've worked out a twist - you think you know what's going to happen. But you're wrong - you couldn't be more wrong. The plot is extremely unpredictable.

The plot moves at a really nice pace, keeps you engaged - it's definitely a page turner - I didn't want to put it down! At times I found myself a little confused. (Sometimes Abby is called Dr Winters and sometimes Judy is called Mrs Watkins etc) but I realised about halfway through that this is completely intentional and it's the authors intention to make the reader feel completely lost within the story.

It's a pretty dark and twisted story - and I learnt a lot about Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I'll definitely be seeking out more books by Wendy Walker - if you enjoy psychological thrillers, don't miss out on this one!

Emma in the Night is even more captivating than the authors debut novel, All is not Forgotten, and that's saying a lot because that book was really GOOD! Lately, I have been disinterested in this genre because they all follow the same type of mystery with similar characters and similar endings. But this one has changed my mind and I now want to dive back into the genre at full force. This is a spectacular novel, told in a fantastic way (alternating POV's are the way to go in these types of books) with a gripping storyline and an even better ending. I can't wait for others to read this one. I would highly recommend it to many!

** full review to be posted online during release week**

Emma in the Night was an incredible read. It had me captivated from the first page and was nearly impossible to put down.
There are plenty of thrillers on the market right now but none that threw me through so many loops and made each chapter an adventure such as this one.
The plot in and of itself isn't necessarily a unique concept, but the way it was executed was beautiful and original. The characters were all intense and with each page you delved deeper into Emma or Judy or Abby's lives and development as the mystery of Emma unfolds.
The abuse mentioned in this book is one that isn't talked about very often, particularly in literature, so it was a nice peek into the issues and results of the type of abuse the girls suffer by their mother.
What I loved most about this novel was every time you think you know exactly what was going on/what happened, it kept proving you wrong. It changed what you thought you knew to be true throughout the entire novel, even after "the big reveal" of what actually happened.
I can't wait till this novel comes out, because I fully plan to buy a copy, as well as recommend it to friends and family!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and of course Wendy Walker for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I really enjoyed learning about narcissism while reading this story. Lots of suspense, interesting characters and plot. Highly recommended. I didn't want it to end.

Wendy Walker is the kind of thriller writer who seems to have been personally born to write books for me. I love the "psychological" part of psychological thrillers, and Walker's work provides just that. While the twist at the end of this one didn't grab me in quite the same way ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN, Walker's writing is gripping, fast-paced, and engaging. I'll read her next book immediately-- I'm officially a fan.

Emma in the Night is the newest story by Wendy Walker. The story goes back and forth in time and switches back and forth from two different points of view. Ms Walker has done an excellent job of merging it all together. Surprises and twists make this a page turner. I was given an early copy to review.

Emma in the Night is the story of two sisters, Emma and Cass, that went missing one night. The only thing found was Emma’s car left on the beach. Three years later, Cass returns with a story of an island where she and Emma were kept.

Emma in the Night is a spectacularly crafted mystery. Revealing just enough at each point to slowly unveil the truth of what happened. I was hugely impressed with how well Walker so carefully gives us progressively more information, but does not show her hand until the very end.

Be careful about reading this book in public places. I gasped, audibly, at the gym, coffee shops, in cars, and many other inappropriate places, where one should not gasp.

“It’s my turn now, my turn to be the lightening rod.”

Cassandra and Emma Tanner are sisters from a broken home. Three years ago they both vanished. A car left at the beach and shoes of one sister left at the water’s edge. The novel begins with Cass’s sudden return to her mother’s house on Sunday morning ….but without Emma. FBI Special Agent and psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winters interrogates the now 18 year old Cass about the story of their disappearance. All Cass can utter is “We must find Emma." It is here that the story is told of imprisonment and deception, and the story of escape. But something does not add up. Where is Emma?

The novel is recounted by Cass and Abby's alternating perspectives. The cunning narrative flows freely dealing with the complex subject of narcissism and social relationships. The characters are sophisticated and complex. Judy Martin is a narcissistic mother who self-interest is cringe-worthy. Cass is an unreliable narrator and beguiles her audience and you alongside. This psychological thriller will hook you from the first page and keep you wanting more at the end of every chapter. This is my first novel by Wendy Walker and it will not be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT WRITTEN BY WENDY WALKER

"We believe what we want to believe. We believe what we need to believe. Maybe there's no difference between wanting and needing. I don't know. What I do know is that the truth can evade us, hiding behind our blind spots, our preconception's, our hungry hearts that long for quiet. Still, it is always there if we open our eyes and try to see it. If we really try to see."

I really loved Wendy Walker's "All is Not Forgotten," that came out last year about a real drug that is being tested right now that gives you the ability to forget a serious trauma that you suffer. I don't know if clinical trials of the drug are being tested on soldiers who have been suffering with PTSD after experiencing horrific flashbacks after coming back from serving our country with PTSD or if is being tested on the mainstream population. Wendy Walker made it very clear that at the time her book was published that the trauma clinical testing of the pill to erase one's memory of an event was true and real. I also loved the unreliable narrator psychiatrist spin his tangled web and manipulate the other character's as if he were the puppet master and they were his puppets'.

Naturally when I learned that Wendy Walker's new book "Emma in the Night," was coming available I jumped at the chance to read it. I really loved "Emma in the Night," equally as well. I would have loved to give this one five stars, too, because the story and plot were both BRILLIANT! The reason I took off one star from making this a five star read was because, in my humble opinion, I had to suspend belief in a couple of scenes as I did not think two highly trained, skilled FBI agents would outright do a few things ethically speaking that they did towards the wind down of the book. Don't throw rotten tomatoes at me yet, because I didn't name what they did so I truly hope I didn't just ruin your reading experience by adding a spoiler.

Emma and Cassandra disappear one night taking no clothes, money or any of the kinds of things one might take if planning to go off the grid. Emma's car is left abandoned at the beach. Cass is fifteen and Emma is eighteen. Did the two sister's drown? Were they abducted? Gone. Missing. Without a trace of evidence to go on besides finding Emma's keys and purse and trace evidence of Cass's hair inside the car.

Dr. Abigail Winter, forensic psychologist who specializes in narcissistic personality disorder receives a telephone call on a Sunday morning from Special Agent Leo Strauss who worked the case of the missing Tanner girls three years ago with her. Abby had always thought Cass and Emma's mother, Mrs. Judy Martin, had an extreme case of narcissism and thought there was something off about the family. Her own mother suffered from narcissistic behavior to a lesser degree but deep inside her core she knew Mrs. Martin was a full blown narcissist and that she was hiding behind her stories about her family life and something still haunted her to this day about this case.

Leo tells Abby that Cass Tanner showed up at the Martin's that morning. Cass came home alone without Emma after three years of being missing. Leo tells Abby that she will be getting a call from the New Haven, Connecticut field office he just wanted to clear it with her first. Abby asks Leo what do they know and he say's Cass just showed up, took a shower and she is just resting until they can get there.

The narrative is told in that good old common device that many suspense/thrillers/psychological thrillers today use alternating chapter's with Cass's point of view with Dr. Abigail Winter's and it totally works in this novel masterly. Cass is now three years older and a bit of an unreliable narrator touched by the dysfunction of her parent's divorce, being the one that was pushed aside by Judy Martin's wedge she drove between Emma and Cass, by favoring Emma. Let me tell you about Judy Martin. She used to ask Emma and Cass if she was the prettiest girl they've ever seen when the girls were younger, Was Mrs. Martin the smartest woman they've ever known? Was she a good mother? The best mother they could ever want? When the girls were younger they would reply "yes, mother." At other times when Mrs. Martin was in a dark mood or thought that the world conspired against her or was cruel to her, for not seeing how special she was. The girls would would say together "You're the best mother in the whole wide world!" And they both believed it until they got to a certain age and Emma would whisper to Cass that none of that were true and when they were older they wouldn't need Mrs. Martin and they would have each other.

The dysfunction in the family touched everybody. Mr. Martin used to watch his son watch Emma as she grew more beautiful and an outward hard shell. Mrs. Martin used to watch Mr. Martin watch his son Hunter watch Emma. The author did a fantastic job fleshing out all of the character's to make this book a character study of all of the character's. They come to vivid life on the page as each one plays their role of the heartbreaking toxic effects they all have interacting with one another. Cass tells us herself how during the custody battle between the girls biological father Owen Tanner, how Emma sealed her fate as her mother's favorite by telling Cass to tell the court that she thought her and Emma should live with their father because he is sad. Cass gets rewarded by her mother telling her that she can never call her mother again. From now on Cass is told by her mother to call her Mrs. Martin.

Dr. Abigail Winter wanted Psychological testing done on the Martin's when the girls first went missing. Abby thought whatever happened to them. Emma and Cass that lured them from their home was an acute traumatic event. Chronic neglect, abuse, instability, dysfunction or the dark void of an unfulfilled need. The perpetrator found a way to satisfy that need, to give it what it craved. According to Owen, Cass and Emma's father said Judy was capable but she was not willing. She slept twelve hours every night, then watched reality TV and shopped for clothes all day. She would open a bottle of wine at five o'clock and finish it by ten when she went to bed, words slurring, that magnetic personality suddenly repulsive. Allegedly she told him that she had done her part by giving birth.

Abby remembers her thoughts on the drive over to the Martin's to talk to Cass and find out what really happened. She is thinking about how Judy had seduced Owen Tanner. Neglected her children. Had an affair with Mr. Martin at the country club. About the bitter custody fight. And about the toxic home Judy had made for her daughter's with Jonathan Martin and his son, Hunter. The voice of Cass Tanner four years before she disappeared telling them all that something was not right in that house--something with Emma and Jonathan Martin and Hunter. When Abby and Leo arrive at the Martin's house to interview Cass she tells them that they have to find Emma.

Cass tells Leo and Abby that the night that they left the house she was hiding in the backseat under a blanket while Emma drove out of the driveway and down the road. Emma who was a senior was angry when she discovered Cass in the car. Cass doesn't remember how far or how long Emma was driving but she remembers meeting a really nice couple named Lucy and Bill who hired a man named Rick to take them to an Island off of the Atlantic coast surrounded by Pine trees and woods where there is a wooden dock and a row boat. Cass goes on to say that Emma was pregnant and Lucy and Bill living on that Island were nice to Emma and Cass for a long time and that Cass could leave whenever she wanted to and that nobody was holding them against their will. That Cass just decided three years later that she wanted to come home so she left.

Something doesn't sound right to Abby and Leo about Cass's story. Forensics are called in, there is a media circus. Since Cass already took a shower forensics figures out from the sand and shale in Cass's shoes and since the Island was surrounded by Evergreen trees and the Atlantic Ocean Cass let's it slip that she bought her train ticket in Bristol or Portland Maine. There are too many to count small islets off the coast of Maine for the FBI to search them all in the first few days. Cass can't emphasize enough how important it is to find Emma and her baby. Of course as the days pass public records are searched the department of motor vehicles and of course Bill and Lucy don't show up in any town records in Maine of owning any Island or drivers licence or any public records because that wasn't their real name and they are living totally off the grid.

More days have passed since Cass's mysterious return and she tells Abby and Leo that after Emma has had her baby Bill and Lucy only let Emma see the baby for small intervals of time and Emma is free to leave anytime she wants but she can't take her baby so Emma won't leave. Cass recounts a story where Emma and Cass were going to leave but on the dock Bill grabbed Emma'a baby and held her over the freezing black Atlantic dangling by one leg and he threatened to drop the baby in the freezing currents. Emma jumped into the icy water off the dock and every time she tried to put her hands on the dock Bill would step on Emma's hands and grind his boot bloodying her fingers on her hand. Every time Emma would sink then swim the frozen temperatures of the air and icy water Bill would grind his boot bloodying Emma's hands again and again until Emma was finally pulled onto the wooden dock.

Cass said that after that they both pretended that they loved Bill and Lucy and for about a year Cass and Emma played pretend but Emma would not leave her baby so she stayed and Cass left with the intentions of going back with help to rescue Emma and her baby. By the time the FBI found Bill and Lucy's Island and surrounded the area they found the house abandoned. They found under one of the single bed's Emma's necklace taped underneath the bed frame. They found a book of lullabies a few meager baby items, some fat women's clothes, again a few scant items.

Abby and Leo wanted a picture of Emma from the Martin's of every single year of her life so a sketch artist could draw a very realistic portrait of Emma. Cass sat with a sketch artist and described Lucy and Bill. The FBI were hoping that with the help of the media Bill and Lucy being on the run with Emma and a baby were more likely to draw attention to themselves with the four of them. Still there are a few inconsistencies with Cass's story that bother Abby and Leo and they come up with an ingenious plan. The idea is one that happily I am delighted that I never had a clue what would shake loose from the trees.

I LOVED THIS WHOLE BOOK FROM COVER TO COVER. Excluding the one detail I mentioned above that I just don't believe two seasoned agents would risk their career over. It was so interesting and well written and clever. I think Wendy Walker has firmly established herself as a writer who understands what motivates the psychological dynamics to create subtle and full blown psychological disorders that are real and credible to keep the reader engaged. The reveal or the tell of this story is so CAPTIVATING that what Leo and Abby are able to unravel is like a fine symphony playing it's final instruments chords with the whole band coming to their STUNNING conclusion.

I wish so much that I didn't have to deduct a whole star. I put my whole heart and soul in writing this review. It is more detailed and I spent probably the most time I have ever spent writing a review ever. I am already sorry that I may have to wait a year or longer to see what Wendy Walker writes about next. I can't wait until she writes another book, I would read her grocery lists. Remarkable, memorable, addictive taut suspenseful in both plotting and characterization.
I highly recommend this one and am grateful to Net Galley, the enigmatic, talented Wendy Walker thank you the pleasure was all mine and to St. Martin's Publishing for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review. I am eternally grateful.


!

Yes! I love it. Cass and Emma disappear one night. One of the sisters shows back up. The story winds. Who is telling the truth? A wonderful tangle.

This is my second Wendy Walker novel and I am officially hooked! Both novels are some of my all time favs!

Do you know what it’s like growing up with a mother who has narcissistic personality disorder? Emma (17) and Cass (15) do, after years of suffering under the emotional and mental torture of their mother they finally decide to runaway.

At least that’s what Cass is telling authorities after having been missing for three years. She spins a tale of kidnapping, a baby, and her sister still being held captive against her will.

With the help of Dr. Abby Winter, who has a unique insight into the family dynamics coming from a family whose mother was also suffering from narcissistic personality disorder, she uncovers the narrative that isn’t being told, and all the horrid family secrets that everyone is trying to keep.

Fast paced suspense that had me falling asleep with this book on my face as I could not put it down! This is one of those rare occasions where you could go back and re-read and gain something entirely different, I know I plan on doing so!

EMMA IN THE NIGHT is a fascinating look at a dysfunctional family who has a mother with narcissistic personality disorder.Emma and Cass vie for mother Judy's love in this intense page turner. The plot twists will keep your mind working - don't think you've figured out all the answers! This one is a tough one.

Mystery aside (which I really enjoyed), I learned a lot about NPD. How amazing was that? I won't go into it except to say that I think everyone will get something out of this book. It's truly a mindbender.

Thanks so much to St. Martins Press for offering me this excellent novel to read. I highly recommend EMMA IN THE NIGHT to everyone who enjoys a great mystery/thriller.

*4.5 stars. I could NOT put this one down--the psychological drama between these characters is fascinating!

Cassandra and Emma Tanner disappeared from their home three years ago and now suddenly, Cass has reappeared on her mother's doorstep. She has a story to tell about being held on a remote island on Maine's rugged coast and is desperate for FBI authorities to find her sister.

The story is told from not only Cass's viewpoint, which is totally unreliable, but also from that of the FBI's Forensic Psychologist, Dr. Abigail Winter, who has been working the case with Special Agent Leo Strauss since the girls' disappearance was first reported.

As a young girl, Cassandra learned that her name comes from Greek mythology: "Cassandra had the gift of prophecy but the curse that her prophecies would never be believed." In her own short life, she has also learned that: "People believe what they want to believe."

Dr. Winter is an expert on narcissistic personality disorder and sees signs of that disorder in the behavior of the girls' mother. She has always believed the roots of this 'crime' lie in the family dynamics. Teens are frequently driven from their homes by dysfunction, abuse, neglect or instability. Are these girls the daughters of a mother with narcissism? This is something that Abby Winter has experienced in her own life and wrote her dissertation on in graduate school.

What is a narcissist? "In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter who was consumed by his own beauty and pride." He fell in love with his own reflection in a pool and "stared at himself until he died." A narcissist has a "grandiose sense of self-importance; fantasies of unlimited success, power, beauty, brilliance; requiring excessive admiration; elevated sense of entitlement; takes advantage of others to achieve their own ends; lacks empathy; unwilling to recognize or identify needs and feelings of others." Hmmm...sounds like someone we know who is always in the new these days, eh?

Cassandra's story unfolds over the next seven days as tests are done, drawings of suspects are made, and the search for the remote island begins. The reader always has the sense that there is a hidden agenda playing out here and that keeps one turning pages to see what will be revealed next. I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful novel and highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an arc of this new book.

Wow! This book has left me speechless. I did not see the ending coming. I was totally shocked by the twist. Everything is brilliantly and cleverly written. I was totally taken in by the version of events Cass tells. I believed the whole way through that Emma had to be found. This book is definitely worth reading. It is a fast paced thriller which has a brilliant ending and which led me in to thinking I knew where Emma was and then blindsiding me with the answer.

What a twisting psychological thriller, involving two sisters,Emma and Cass, their narcissistic mother and t heir lives growing up. One night both sisters disappear, no one has any knowledge of where they have gone. A couple years later Cass shows up at the family house, with a long story of both Emma and her living on an island with a couple. The FBI has been involved since the beginning , so the lead investigator and forensic psychiatrist are back to investigate. What follows is along tale of Emma having a child, living on the island and the take-over of the baby by the couple helping them. You won't be able to put this story down as you are wound like a clock, trying to figure out where the other sister is! Very entertaining right through the end! I received a copy of this book from Netgalley,and would like to thank them, Wendy Walker, the author, and publisher St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to give my thoughts.

"Emma in the Night" is a journey into the mind of an abused child, and her ultimate revenge on those responsible. I enjoyed this book immensely. The story is told from two POVs, Cassandra Tanner, whose narcissistic mother ruled over Cass and her sister Emma by a system of rewards and punishment designed to maintain her own feelings of self worth at any cost-and Abby Winter, a psycologist with the FBI, whose upbringing was similar to Cass's. The girls disappeared three years ago, but only Cass returned with a tale designed to bring about the return of her sister Emma. The ending was great, but it is the journey to the conclusion that makes this novel a page-turner!

Fantastic, thrilling and dark. Couldn't put it down.

Labelled a thriller, Emma In The Night crosses the YA boundary by depicting the disappearance of two girls and the return of one of them. As a combination of two of my favourite genres, I could tell from the first chapter that this book would be a winner. The story-line is embedded in my brain, making me wish I could write something just as good.

When Emma and Cass disappear, no one knows whether they were kidnapped, murdered or runaways. Three years later, Cass returns without her sister and tells a story of how they were held captive on an island. Psychologist Abby Winter doesn't think the story adds up but plays along to uncover the real truth.

Told from the perspectives of Cass and the psychologist on the case, Abby, there is a growing sense of tension that shifts between character to character. The cast of the book are the line-up and you as the reader have to point the finger at one of them with blame.

Emma In The Night is a reading experience like nothing else as it's told in a reflective past tense. Rather than the pacey present/immediate past tone of many thrillers, it looks back on the traumatic incidents from three years ago like a chilling bedtime story. In the same way, it is not told from the "main" character, Emma's, perspective. Cass is the quiet, overshadowed younger sister who's voice is muffled by Emma's drama. As Cass unravels the truth about what happened in the build up to the girls' disappearance, it becomes clear that she really was an active presence that no one ever saw before.

The family dynamics are all over the place, but I mean that in a good way. With step-fathers, divorced parents, step-brothers and a strange mother leave room for all sorts of chaos and behind the family facade, there is a lot of room for darkness.

Written in a compelling way with a bold story-line, I highly recommend picking up Emma In The Night. It's one you won't forget about in a hurry.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Wendy Walker for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book captivated me from beginning to end. Three years ago Emma (17) and her sister Cass (15) disappeared without a trace and left behind many unanswered questions: Did they drown? Are they alive? Have they been kidnapped? Questions nobody has the answer to until one day Cass returns and what happened is unraveled piece by piece.

This is a fascinating psychological thriller. It is told from the alternating points of view of Cass, the girl that reappeared; and from the FBI psychologist Dr. Abby Winter. Both characters are well-drawn and reveal the puzzle one piece at a time in an intriguing, carefully-crafted way.

Overall, I loved this book! It's brilliant and the author did an amazing job at creating and maintaining suspense throughout the novel. I also loved her previous novel All is Not Forgotten and this one is just as good if not even better. Highly recommend it!

Review posted on Goodreads, Blog and NetGalley

This psychological thriller is told from the alternating points of view of Cassandra, who was fifteen years old when she and her then-seventeen-year-old sister Emma disappeared, and Abby, the forensic psychologist who has been tormented by this case in the three years since the girls disappeared.

Now eighteen, the reader knows that Cass has some kind of hidden agenda when she returns home early one morning and tells her story to the FBI, but it’s not clear what until the end.

Abby has done research on narcissistic disorder because she and her own sister had a mother who suffered from it. In her studies, Abby looked at how daughters of narcissistic mothers either repeat the cycle or find ways to deal with it—some less healthy than others. No one wants to hear her theories about Jane, the girls’ mother, but when Cass returns and describes where she and Emma have been and why they couldn’t return earlier, Abby continues to read between the lines and refine her theories.

I thought this was a unique way to tell a story. It was a fast read and I wanted to learn whether the FBI could find Emma and what Cass’s full story was. The ending didn’t disappoint.

Emma in the Night is an edge of your seat thriller written in a style similar to Girl on the Train. Cass and Emma disappears for three years and then Cass returns home with a fantastical story. Dr. Winter fixates on Cass's mom narcissistic personality disorder and plays catch up as the whole story begins to unfold. Throughout the whole book, Cass draws you into her story but leaves you feeling that its not what really happened. The author weaves a story of smart lead characters following twists and turns to a surprising ending. I will be adding Wendy Walker to my must read authors. My voluntary review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

August 2017

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emma in the Night will take you on a suspenseful ride into the convoluted drama that narcissistic personality disorder can have on a family. There are parts of the book where it seems there's a lot of rambling and extraneous information filling space. As in a lot of psychological thrillers, these "ramblings" from a characters POV provide insight into their mental state.

The story begins with Cassandra, or Cass as they called her, narrating from her point of view. The first chapter is all it takes to draw you into the story which has elements of a psychological suspense novel. Just a hint of "crazy" here and there unraveling the mysterious disappearance of two sisters. From the beginning the story Cass is spinning seems so unbelievable until information she provides helps officials discover evidence to find Emma.

There always needs to be the voice of reason. In this case, the point of view of Dr Abigail Winters, Forensic Psychologist for the FBI, plays that part. She narrates part of the story as one of the initial investigators with Agent Leo Strauss when the Tanner girls disappeared three years ago. The facts about the sisters disappearance remained a mystery until Cass shows up one night on her mother's doorstep without her sister Emma.

The novel is well-written with chapters creating drama and suspense and then others slowly unwinding the tale to reveal just enough to keep you piqued. Since this is a genre I gravitate towards I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for one of my many theories to be exposed. This was far more convoluted than I could even imagine. I liked that I was able to discern who the unreliable characters were but their reasons were constantly evolving.

I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a great psychological suspense drama that captures you from beginning to end.

Emma In The Night tells the story of Cassandra and Emma Tanner who went missing three years ago. When Cass shows up at her mother’s house without Emma, it sends folks into a tailspin. One in particular who is Dr. Abigail Winter who was one of the FBI agents in charge of the investigation at the time of the initial disappearance and is now a forensic psychologist.

Where Is Emma? Where have they been? And why did they leave are just a few of the many questions we need answers to and those answers make this a compelling read for me. I had to slow my reading down because I was so caught up in the story and I didn’t want it to end. The book had some very unlikable characters like a step-brother for one and the mother. Author Wendy Walker presented them in a way that had me wanting to know more about them. I don’t know when I have read a story about a dysfunctional family that I WANTED to continue reading about as I did with this book.

Ms. Walker writes an excellent page turner and does a great job of showing the feelings, emotions, and actions of all the characters that I highly recommend. I also look forward to more books by Wendy Walker.

Another excellent book by Wendy Walker. I really liked how it was told from both Cass and Abby's point of view. Really good and interesting story.

Twists and turns, in the tradition of Defending Jacob. Exciting and compelling.

"We believe what we want to believe. We believe what we need to believe."

Emma and Cass Tanner are teenage sisters growing up in the home of their step-father, step-brother, and mother. Their mother is not the wonderful, doting, and caring woman that she believes that she is and that she portrays. She is a woman suffering from narcissistic personality disorder - a mother who torments her daughters and manipulates everyone around her. One night the girls both go missing with very little clues left of their whereabouts. Three years later, Cass returns without Emma, telling a detailed but far-fetched story of she and her sister being held captive on an island for the last three years, the island where Emma still remains.

This story begins with the day of Cass' return and alternates between Cass' point of view told in first person perspective, and Dr. Abby Winters' point of view told in third person limited perspective. Cass spends the next several days telling everything that happened to the sisters and every detail she can remember of where they were held captive and how she made her escape.

I could not put this book down. Being that I have a bachelor's degree in psychology, the extensive background information about narcissistic personality disorder, coupled with a such a well-developed character living with that disorder, had me hooked from the start. Wendy Walker takes you through a story that leaves you wanting to believe everything while questioning everything at the same time. The intense relationships within this family are multi-layered and revealed slowly, but completely in a story that left me reeling. Wendy Walker is a talented storyteller and this book is a contender for my favorite that I have read this year. I highly recommend 'Emma in the Night'.

This book is what I call a “Going to be late for workbook” as it’s impossible to put down. You want to read just a little bit longer - just a few more pages.

Cass and her sister disappear for three years when they are young teens and we follow the multi-layered tale from most of the family members point of view, including Cass’s and her sister Emma.

With parents, step-parents and step-siblings, this book is a hotchpotch of conflict and psychological warfare. Just how dysfunctional this family really gets clearer as you read on and I absolutely love a story where you cannot predict the ending.

Very well written. I’d be surprised if it doesn’t win an award.

I’ve never heard of Wendy Walker until now but I will be looking out for her future books.

Fatima

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Okay, so I'd like to begin by saying that Cassie Tanner is one of my all time favourite characters now and the worst part? I can't even tell you why without giving away spoilers. Let's just say that she's extremely clever and amazing and I'd just love to be in her head during the course of this book.

Emma in the Night which I was kindly sent by Netgalley follows the story of Cassie Tanner who returns to her family home after disappearing one night with her sister, Emma, three years previous. She returns with a story of kidnap and being held on a strange island with her sister until now, when she managed to escape. It is down to psychologist Abby Winter to delve into the world of not only Cassie, but her dysfunctional family. What really happened on that night three years ago? And more importantly, where is Emma?

The format of this book, considering it is a mystery thriller, is quite unlike any I've read for a while. Usually, we have the entire book building up to the end when the Big Reveal happens and until then, we are as clueless as the characters. However, Cassie returns home at the start of the novel and immediately tells her story. Although this was different and refreshing, the big info dumps about what happened did drag the story a little bit. The book switches between the POVs of Cassie and Abby Winter and it's interesting that the author chose these two characters. Despite hearing Cassie's voice, you never really know what's going on in her head and it's through Abby that we dissect the way she thinks.

The twists and turns within the Tanner family make these people one of the most dysfunctional family I've read about in a long time. If you have read Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, this book reminded me a lot of it in terms of family dynamics. I don't think any member of the family, (and it is a large and complicated family) is good or bad, everyone is morally grey and it's very interesting to read about, especially not knowing when the twists were going to happen. Finally a thriller that messed with my head!

Overall, this was exciting and different and has left me with a love for its main character, Cassie. I would definitely say this could fall into the psychological thriller category. The twist/Big Reveal just blew my mind and made me feel like I needed to immediately reread the book to see what I missed. Having a psychologist 'solve' the mystery rather than a detective was a really cool twist as it did allow us to understand what went on in our character's minds. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. It will definitely stay with me for a while.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT by Wendy Walker. A interesting and suspenseful psychological thriller. Learned much about the Narcissistic Personality disorder and very glad never to have met such a person. That one person has so much control, and so little empathy towards others, it is amazing that the Cass wasn't more damaged psychologically or Abby, for that matter.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

The premise of this novel was so well done. The lies, the twists, the craziness was written in a really captivating way. I kept thinking to myself how talented the author was to come up with such an intriguing plot. It was just one of those books that was quite complex yet easy to read. At different times you felt loathing and then fondness for the characters. And I learnt a lot about narcissism which was quite mind blowing.

'Emma in the Night' is fun and twisty and kept me guessing. It is well written and expertly paced with an interesting plot line. I wasn't sure what to make of Cass: was she lying about what happened? Was some of it the truth? Why would she lie? If she was lying, where had she been all this time? And where was Emma? This book kept me reading long into the night, wanting to read just one more page to find out what happened.

An enjoyable and worthwhile read. Recommended.

This is a great book for the summer. It has everything you want. A little suspense. A little mystery. The characters are interesting and compelling. This is a great insight into the mind of a narcissist and the effect it can have on one's child. So if you are looking for a good, quick read you won't do much better than this.

Three years ago Emma and her younger sister, Cassandra (Cass) disappeared from their upscale coastal town. Three years later Cass returns to her Mother and Stepfathers front door. But where is Emma? As Cass begins to fill in the gaps of the last three years to her family and FBI agents, Abigal Winter and Leo Strauss, Dr. Winter begins to wonder if everything is as it seems? Is Cass telling them what really happened to her and Emma?

Walker’s second novel takes us deep into the dynamics of a dysfunctional family and the results of those dysfunctions are Emma and Cass. I was really into this completely immersive, dark and twisted family; holding my breath until the final pages. Read this book!!

Special thanks to Wendy Walker, St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Very interesting construction, portraying a horrifying family situation. Hard to put down.. I did not figure out the end in advance, and I appreciated that. (Sorry this is so brief--I will be buying this for our library and recommending the book.)

I read this book while on vacation, a perfect book to keep me company during a long wait at the airport! I didn't mind the 2 hour delay at all! I found the book to be captivating and enjoyed the different perspectives. I thought the depth of the characters and the multi-layered plot to be interesting, yet not predictable and was quite stunned at the ending! If you're looking for a good psychological thriller then I recommend you pick this up!

Emma In The Night by Wendy Walker is a disturbing and twisted psychological thriller that is filled with dysfunctional and manipulative characters. This is the first book that I've read by Ms. Walker. Her previous book is now on the TBR pile. She has peaked my interest.

I was enjoying the book and was interested in the premise (a kidnapping, a mystical abandoned island, secrets ) but I started getting lost in the choppy dialogue. The story seemed to repeat itself and the conversations were too in depth to keep my interest. I found myself plodding through the pages. Having said that, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it for the psychological thrill.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Emma in the night is a psychological thriller about how toxic narcissistic behavior can be by Wendy Walker.

Cass and Emma , sisters , two years apart disappear one night and after a thorough search they are believed to be dead. But after three years Cass who is now eighteen years old returns to her mom and step-dad’s house with a far-fetched story about being held captive on an island in Maine by a childless couple. The FBI investigator Dr. Abby Winters and Agent Leo Strauss the investigators on the case before come back to interview Cass and to find Emma and her two-year-old daughter that are still being held captive by the couple. Thus, begins the race against time to find Emma and truth about what happened that fateful night three years ago.

I really enjoyed this book and was turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. Cass’s story is revealed in seven days and the suspense leads up to the satisfying climatic end. I would definitely recommend this novel to all suspense lovers and will definitely be looking for more books by Wendy Walker.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

There's nothing like a good "mommy dearest" thriller to set my teeth on edge. Its a deeply satisfying moment when you realize you simply cannot put a book down because you have to KNOW how it comes out. That's the delight of a really well executed thriller.

This was excellent from start to finish and I'll happily recommend it to any fan of intricately plotted psychological thrillers. But what kept me turning the pages was my investment in the characters. I cared about Cass and Emma, I wanted to know that things would be okay for them.

What makes villains like those in "Emma in the Night" so frightening is how easy it is to imagine them in real life.
We're not dealing with Hannibal Lecter or Norman Bates here. These are mothers and fathers and sons and daughters who visit unspeakable horrors on each other as quickly as they shower love. Its unnerving but deeply compelling to watch that dance between torture and affection play out.

This was an excellent, excellent read by a very gifted author.

Intriguing psychological mystery which leaves you wondering about the heroine's future.

Loved this book from page one. The constant dangling of possibilities by Dr. Winter, based on her own experiences, co-mingled with Cass's drip, drip, drip of details of her and Emma's 'hosts' and the island. Balancing past details of the family members with the surprising arrival of Cass and her story of the past three years, we the readers are held captive to what is truth and what is just misleading revenge. Great premise, real-life characters, with amazing insight into a young damaged girl's psyche.
Thanks to the author and St. Martins Press, as well as Netgalley.com for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book.

3 years ago Cass and Emma Tanner disappear. Cass returns home, Emma doesn't. What happened to the sisters? Who kidnapped them? And where is Emma? This was a great suspenseful thrilling book with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down until the end! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in return for honest review.

Emma in the Night is a psychological thriller that you will not be able to put down. Missing sisters, serious family dysfunction, and narcissistic personality disorder all feature in this well written novel. Fascinating characters and unpredictable twists you won't see coming.

Every time I thought I had this plot figured out I was wrong..Very concise storytelling..An enjoyable read

Emma in the Night, by Wendy Walker, Aug. 2017
Two teenage sisters, Cass, 15, and Emma, 17, vanish without a trace on the same night. Three years later, Cass returns home alone, frantic to rescue Emma before she is lost forever. The novel is told in the alternating voices of Cass (now 18) and Abby (Dr. Winters, the FBI forensic psychologist). Walker introduces readers to a memorable and uniquely dysfunctional family replete with a mother suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! Readers will be quickly caught in the web that Walker weaves. Highly recommended for all fans of psychological thrillers.

I really enjoyed this book ! Nothing like reading a book full of messed up, despicable people to make you feel so much better about yourself and what you have ! I kept thinking to myself " is she mad ?" it was hard to tell who was and who wasn't. Who's guilty? Who's Innocent ? Where is Emma ? Every time you think you have it figured out, you realize you were wrong ! Lots of twists and turns throughout the whole book. Very glad I chose this book! Hope you enjoy it !

One of the best mysteries this year! I was drawn to this book because of the cover and the strange title, I couldn't figure out what the story was about, even after reading the blurb and so, after reading the prologue, I was hooked! If you are a sucker for twisted family affairs, this is the book for you.

I liked the characters so much, each and every one had a back story and well-crafted motives. The timeline shifts from present to past all the time, but it is not difficult to follow. It adds to the dynamic of the storytelling and I enjoyed this as well.

The basic premise is very dark, narcissistic mother and her two daughters, who can be saved and can that cycle be broken? You will wonder about this throughout the book and still not be clear what the answer is in the end. I think that author did an amazing psychological research about this topic and I got a lot of information about NPD (Narcissistic personality disorder).

Exciting, enticing, mind-blowing!

I think my absolute love of psychological thrillers is pretty self-evident on the blog, but just in case you're new to my reviews it's important for you to know that dark and twisty tales with whodunnits and why'd-they-do-its are pretty much my favorite kind of read. What exactly that says about me I'm not too sure, but it's the truth, nonetheless. Unfortunately, it's very rare for me to read a book that takes me almost all the way to the end before I've got it all figured out and Emma in the Night managed to do just that.

Wendy Walker has a real talent for drawing you into the heart of each character and slowly feeding you puzzle piece by puzzle piece as you attempt to figure out just what happened to Cass and Emma, and where they've both been in the years that they've been missing. What enthralled me most about the book was that no single character was truly innocent, no one person perfect. I often talk about books being realistic, but in few cases is it really, truly so as is the case with Emma in the Night. I could not quit reading. I could not quit digging further into these girls' pasts and Cass' present until the shocking conclusions started coming together. This is a book for all ages that like a thrilling read, but it's also a book that will have you looking a little closer at your friends, your neighbors, and even your own family.

4.5 Stars!

Emma in the Night was an amazing psychological thriller with a gripping story that kept me guessing right until the very end!

Three years ago, sisters Cass and Emma vanished without a trace. Now, Cass has returned without Emma and her story centers on an island where the two were held captive. While Cass relays the details to the FBI so Emma can be found, Dr. Abby Winter realizes something about her story doesn’t add up. Abby examines the family’s history to find out what exactly happened three years ago and what is happening now.

The story picks up on the day Cass returns home and includes flashbacks throughout the book of before Cass and Emma disappeared and while they were on the island. In addition to Cass’s chapters, we also get chapters from Dr. Abby Winter, the forensic psychiatrist with the FBI. I really enjoyed getting to see both sides to the story, that of the victim and that of law enforcement. The opposing sides really helped with the pacing and gave you a better picture overall where things were headed with the story.

The Tanner/Martin family was fascinating and I was completely drawn in by this train wreck of a family. None of the relationships within this family are what you would consider normal, healthy relationships. The relationship between the sisters and their mother was the one that drew me in the most. The relationship Cass and Emma have with their mother causes their own relationship to change drastically over time.

I don’t want to say much about the mystery of Cass and Emma’s disappearance, but the storyline was really interesting. I loved getting to learn more about the island and how they came to be there as well as how Cass ultimately escaped. Plus, we get thrown for a few loops near the end which I felt were very well done.

My only complaint about this book is that the timeline sometimes confused me. Within a few pages you could go through all three timelines (before Cass and Emma disappeared, during the three years they were gone and when Cass returned home). At times I had difficulty telling which timeline Cass was talking about and I would be pulled out of the story while I tried to figure it out.

Overall, Emma in the Night was an amazing psychological thriller that kept me interested from start to finish. I will definitely be checking out future books by Wendy Walker and I plan to pick up her first thriller, All Is Not Forgotten sometime soon.

This book is about two teen sisters who suddenly go missing, and their convoluted family. Only one girl returns and the book is all about finding Emma. If you are a fan of page-turner thrillers and mysteries, read this book!! It has been a long time since I've read a book where I could'nt turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens. There are so many twists and turns, and then when you think you've got it figured out there are even more twists and turns. I loved the psychological aspect of this book, with great insight into true narcissistic personality disorder. I will definitely be looking for more from this wonderful author!!

"We believe what we want to believe."

This was a common phrase used throughout this book, and I think it sums it up very well. This story takes place three years after sisters Cass and Emma Tanner going missing, on the day Cass returns without Emma. The story is told passively about events that happened before and during their disappearance with alternating POVs between Cass and Abby, a forensic psychiatrist assigned to the case.

It's clear from the beginning that Cass is an unreliable narrator from the very beginning of the book. Very early into the book, she narrates, "I had thought about how to tell them, how to explain it. There had been time, too much time, to construct the story in a way they would be able to comprehend. I had to find talent where none existed and tell this story in a way they would believe." Throughout the story, it's a constant struggle to figure out what parts of Cass's story are true, and which are fabrications to help make her story believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery. My biggest complaint was that everything was passive. I understand why, and it adds to the mystery of what really happened, but it also made the story difficult to get through at times. By passive, I mean very little of the story takes place in the present day of the story. Nearly everything in both Cass's and Abby's POVs are told in the past, but they are telling the story, so it's not even shown as a flashback. I think flashbacks would have given the story a little more action, and would have made it more interesting to read, as opposed to being told the events that occurred.

Overall, I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries. I still think that it was a good mystery, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what really happened.

I know #WhatHappenedToEmma - do you?

This story was packed full of twists and turns and kept me guessing like any good psychological thriller would. I knew there would be some surprises along the way. I was happy to get swept up in this story. The characters are complex and the alternating viewpoints keep you off balance. Things are not always as they seem, and that is true for Emma in the Night. This is one of those stories I would love to see played out on the big (or little) screen. I'm keeping my review short so that there are no spoilers.

I received an early copy via SheSpeaks and NetGalley and I am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

Emma in the Night is one of the most twisted and disturbing psychological thrillers to has completely hold my interest this summer. If you’re a lover of psychological suspense, like your stories filled with drama and thrills, and insist they be intelligently crafted and extremely well-written, then look no further! An excellent and intelligent premise, a strongly driven plot, characters that are well-developed and range from intelligent, toxic, extremely unlikable, likable, and flawed all entwine to make this novel an exceptional read! This was my first Wendy Walker book, but it won’t be my last!

I was spellbound by the story of the two Tanner sisters, Emma and Cass, who vanished one night at the ages of 17 and 15. There had been no traces of either girl in the years since they had gone missing, so Emma was presumed dead since her car and purse were found abandoned at the beach and no one knew what happened to Cass, who had vanished without a trace. The FBI searched but failed to find anything although Dr. Abigail (Abby) Winter, FBI forensic psychiatrist suspected the Tanner household was highly dysfunctional, neglectful, and that Mrs. Martin, the girl’s mother was suffering from a pathological narcissistic personality disorder, which was the reason for the girl’s disappearances. Abby was never given a chance to pursue her theories though before the case was shut down.

The story really begins when Cass suddenly reappears on her mother’s doorstep three years later, very much alive…and alone. Cass’s reappearance instigates a reopening of the FBI investigation when all she can tell anyone, in the beginning, is they must find Emma! Emma is alive! This prompts Mrs. Martin to repeatedly tell everyone that Cass is suffering from mental delusions and needs a psychiatric evaluation. I immediately wondered what Mrs. Martin was hiding and why she wanted Cass to have mental delusions instead for Cass to be telling the truth. Why was the mother not more concerned about finding her oldest daughter alive?! This led me to suspect certain things and although I was wrong about a few suspicions, I was right about others, including the big reveal at the end. It was excellent fun to delve into the psyches of all these characters and see just how twisted and messed up so many of them were! Walker did an excellent job introducing so many disturbing psychological aspects to the story that it was brilliant. However, if you are not into behavioral or cognitive psychology like I am, then this might not be the book for you since it is heavy on a lot of these themes.

Cass tells her story in the first person POV, and it is not only a quite mysterious tale of where she has been but a horrific one of an emotionally abusive mother throughout her childhood. Cass is a strong young woman, but she is an unreliable narrator, which only made the story more captivating and enthralling! If you can’t trust the protagonist, then who do you trust? I certainly wasn’t sure what to believe as Cass told the FBI that they were held captive on an island, and she had only escaped with the promise to return for Emma. I’m not going to go into the details of how the sisters came to be on the island since that part is very integral to the later plot, and I think the reader needs to go into that part completely blind and without any ideas that will spoil the story! The reader needs to be shocked when Cass makes her big reveal about what happened the night they both disappeared because believe me, it is shocking!

What was horrible to read was Cass’s recollections of what it was like being raised in such a dysfunctional family where verbal and emotional abuse was the norm, fights between Emma and her mother were rampant, her mother gave and took her love like it was a prize to be won, and there was an unnatural interest in both Emma and Cass by their new stepbrother. It is these recollections that help convince the reader the girls ran away that night(but did they?) and were much better off far away. But if so, why did Cass reappear at all at her mother’s house three years later? Besides getting Emma off the island, what is she up to?

Dr. Winter reappears as the FBI investigation unfolds and her voice is the second POV in the story. She has the same feeling something is very wrong in the Martin/Tanner household that she had the first time she encountered Mrs. Martin. She herself is the daughter of a mother with narcissistic personality disorder, so she is all too familiar with the signs of a mother who must be placated by their children and told they are the best, most loved, most beautiful of all and are always in competition with their children. She sees all the signs as Cass placates her mother, always wants her around and is very docile towards her; yet, Abby is also reading signs that there is more to Cass’s actions than meets the eye just as there is so much more to what is really going on with the story Cass tells about her and Emma’s disappearance and her escape.

Emma in the Night was such an addictive read! I loved how it made me question what was real and what wasn’t since I love my suspense to be unpredictable! And the ending was more than shocking, it was intense and superb in every way! I highly recommend Wendy Walker’s newest novel if you want to read a satisfying family drama full of mystery, secrets, revenge, love, and hate. You can’t go wrong with what will be one of summer’s hottest psychological suspense hits!

**Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wendy Walker for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.**

4+ CRAZY STARS!

The Tanner sisters have been gone three years now......and no one knows why the teens left or where they are.....but I think you'll understand a bit of the WHY after you meet their CRAZY mixed-up family....especially Mother....and her moods.

Cassandra....who shockingly turns up out of the blue is emphatic.....they must find Emma!!!.....so FBI Special Agent Leo Strauss and Forensic Psychologist Dr. Abigail Winter are immediately called back in to work the case....to interview Cass....and to piece together what actually happened the night they disappeared.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT serves up a toxic mix of family members who each play an intricate part in a manipulative game of secrets and lies desperate to accommodate their own personal agenda.....AND just to make matters even more interesting, Dr. Abby reveals a few ghosts in her closet as well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful, beautifully crafted book that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. It is a tale about narcissistic personality disorder and how it affects a wealthy mother and her teenage daughters. I never knew much about this particular disorder until the press was linking it to Donald Trump. A chapter into this story, I found myself researching it heavily and it made certain parts of the book much easier to understand. It is a horrible psychiatric illness that affects everyone in it's path and is utterly devastating.

In the story, a young teenage girl who has been missing for several years suddenly shows up at home telling a wild story about her still missing older sister, her sister's toddler and her own escape from a remote island off the coast of Maine where the young women had been held captive. The same FBI investigators come to help find the still missing older sister but much is not as it appears on the surface. Truth and fantasy are always in play in this story. No one seems to really understand just how evil Cass's mother really is nor just how mentally disturbed this woman is. The effects of the narcissistic disorder are easy to conceal and hard to see except by trained professionals. Children, lovers, spouses, friends are all used by such people to get what they want. This is an extremely interesting book that I was lucky enough to be able to read and review. It is a hard read in some ways because most of us never encounter a person with this illness and it is horrifying to think about the emotional damage that is inflicted upon innocent children and spouses along the way. Unfortunately, it is also highly believable and suddenly you realize it's there around us more than you thought but is very carefully, cunningly concealed. This is really a riveting book.

This book paints a picture of a psychologically disturbed family, full of manipulation and influence, the mother exhibiting a narcissistic personality disorder. The story is disturbing, captivating, and twisted. The first chapter really grabs your attention and peaks your curiosity. The book starts in present day on the day Cassandra returns home after being missing for three years. The two sisters in the book vanished on the same day, but her older sister, Emma, is still missing. There is quite a bit of background and character development in this first chapter that lays the groundwork for this complex psychological thriller. The plot is peeled back methodically, interjecting key points with surgical precision. Foreshadowing and subtle clues throughout keep you turning the pages to discover what happened three years ago, what the sisters have been up to since then, and if they will ever find Emma.

Dr. Abigail Winter is the forensic psychologist from the FBI that was investigating the original disappearance case. Even though she was removed from the case a year prior, the details and circumstances of this case continued to haunt Abby. She is recalled to the case when Cassandra reappears. The chapters alternate between the points of view of Cassandra and Dr. Winter, exposing the thoughts and motives of each as the investigation unfolds. Dr. Winter's character is well developed through memories and internal reflection regarding her own mother and sister. As Cassandra recounts the goings on of the past three years, Dr. Winter and FBI agent Leo Strauss desperately try to piece together the puzzle. However, Dr. Winter cannot shake the feeling that Cassandra's story just does not add up, either something she has said or maybe something she has not said. The investigation leads to a very shocking yet satisfying conclusion.

I would recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense. I received this book as a free ARC from St. Martin's Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The twists, the turns, loved it!

Three years ago, sisters Emma and Cass disappeared one night, leaving no trace of where they’d gone—or why they left. Then Cass shows up at the family home, alone. She tells a story of kidnapping and being held on a mysterious island against her will, and is desperate for the police to find Emma.

But forensic psychologist Abby Winter sees holes in Cass’s story, and it will take delving into her own past to uncover the truth hidden behind a narcissistic mother who twisted the lives of her daughters until they no longer knew the truth. Only Abby can find Emma, because even Cass doesn’t know the true story.

Emma in the Night is not a happy family tale. Not in the least. Cass and Emma’s family is troubled, controlled by their narcissistic mother, an expert at twisting things to get what she wants. There are so many twists in this story! While I knew Cass wasn’t telling the whole truth—there are little signs of that—I had no idea what the truth actually was. The author does a great job of drawing the reader in and bringing them along for a ride filled with unexpected twists and turns.

(Galley provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)