Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllisterSynopsis “They Took Her Daughter. Now She’ll Break Every Rule to Get Her Back.

Simone’s holiday to Texas was meant to be some much needed bonding time with her teenage daughter, Lucy.

On their first night in the desert, Simone wakes to find Lucy missing and a mobile phone in her place. The phone rings: Lucy has been taken and, in order to get her back, Simone must commit a crime.

As Simone prepares to follow the kidnapper’s instructions, she feels certain that there is nothing she wouldn’t do to save Lucy. But becoming a wanted woman is just the start…”

My Review

I enjoyed this latest thriller from Gillian McAllister, one of my favourite authors.

The book is mostly told from Simone’s point of view, with occasional chapters from the kidnapper’s point of view, as well. I liked Simone and Lucy, but thought they made some very bad decisions along the way.

There was a shocking development early on, that I wasn’t expecting, that really ramped up the tension. The big twist came quite late in the book, and it left me somewhat confused, until I realised what was going on. I loved the big reveal as I hadn’t guessed who was behind it all, as I was so caught up in the tension! 

I’ve mentioned before that I love the way Gillian McAllister puts family dynamics and relationships at the heart of her books. She’s done that perfectly here with the story of the mother daughter relationship between Simone and Lucy. It’s definitely one of those books that made me wonder what I’d do if I was in the same situation.

Definitely recommended if you enjoy contemporary thrillers.

Thanks so much to Penguin Michael Joseph for my lovely paperback proof.