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The Story
She escaped the traffickers. Now the real chase begins.
When Vân throws herself into Stuart Henderson's car on an ordinary evening in Guildford, she drags him into a world he never knew existed: hidden networks, bought police officers, and men who make people disappear.
Now the men who owned her want her back. And they will hurt anyone who stands in their way.
Outmatched and unprepared, Stuart, his husband Martin, anxious IT consultant John, and sharp-tongued seventy-three-year-old Barbara refuse to abandon her. As the night spirals into violence, this unlikely group discovers that courage doesn't always look like heroism. Sometimes it simply looks like showing up when it matters.
Literary crime thrillerHuman traffickingFound family
If you're looking for a suspenseful book with a unique storyline, this is it!
The book alternates between the past, when Vân was traveling, and the present, when she attempted to escape. Vân's journey to Europe definitely gave Auschwitz vibes. I found Mai to be an annoying character. The way she treated her sister, even after Vân did everything in her power to protect her, was frustrating. It hurts my heart to know that …The book alternates between the past, when Vân was traveling, and the present, when she attempted to escape.
Vân's journey to Europe definitely gave Auschwitz vibes. I found Mai to be an annoying character. The way she treated her sister, even after Vân did everything in her power to protect her, was frustrating.
It hurts my heart to know that even though this is a work of fiction, there are actually trafficking rings active in the world today.
While I really wanted to give this book five stars, I just couldn't. The ending seemed really rushed, and there wasn't much closure. So much happened that was just left dangling.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Damaged, overloaded, and heading north through the October night. Five people bound together by secrets and fear, in search of something they hoped was hope.
When I started this, I thought I was reading a thriller about a small group of people stuffed into a Nissan Micra traveling from one dead end of a chase to the next dead end in an attempt to rescue a young woman from human trafficking. And I was… but there was so much more to the story. This isn’t …When I started this, I thought I was reading a thriller about a small group of people stuffed into a Nissan Micra traveling from one dead end of a chase to the next dead end in an attempt to rescue a young woman from human trafficking. And I was… but there was so much more to the story. This isn’t so much a story of two men trying to rescue a woman in need, it is more of a story of what people are willing to go through to protect family and to help a stranger in need. I’ve needed a little time to digest what I read. There should be content warnings for human trafficking, sexual assault/trauma, violence, and familial homophobia. However, I feel like this is done as respectfully as possible to the characters and to the reader.
This is a quick read. If you are in the mood for a thriller with lots of character growth and can stomach violence of nearly every form (not a criticism, just a warning for tender hearts), there is beautiful language and writing to be found within this. The chapters alternate between flashbacks of Vân’s life and how she came to be in London and to the present-day chase through London and Manchester. Though I’m a thriller groupie, I quickly became more interested in Vân’s story and relationships between Mrs. Patterson and her son and son-in-law than I was in the car chases and fights. I was constantly highlighting several passages because they were so poignant I didn’t want to forget them.
I’m not sure there is more to come for these characters in additional books. Even if there isn’t, it still feels enough. After all the gut-wrenching experiences and personal growth they all experienced, is it fair to ask more of them?
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book reminds me of a Lifetime movie - addicting, good pacing, fun, but a little over the top. And that's okay!
From the first page, Riddle dives right into the action with Van running to Stuart's car, begging for help. Does it seem a little far-fetched that someone would randomly help a stranger in the middle of the day who is being followed and not call the police? Yes. Is it fun and suspenseful and entertaining? Also yes! So, sure, this …From the first page, Riddle dives right into the action with Van running to Stuart's car, begging for help. Does it seem a little far-fetched that someone would randomly help a stranger in the middle of the day who is being followed and not call the police? Yes. Is it fun and suspenseful and entertaining? Also yes!
So, sure, this book is a little cheesy and unrealistic but don't let that turn you off. This one has heart, has a quick pace, and is impossible to put down! A bit of a content warning as it was a little darker than I expected, but it was still an entertaining story that makes me want to read more from this author. Thanks so much for the ARC!
Based on the subject of trafficking, it is difficult to say I enjoyed the story. That being said, this novel was very well written. Detailed but not graphic. Suspenseful and thought provoking.Based on the subject of trafficking, it is difficult to say I enjoyed the story. That being said, this novel was very well written. Detailed but not graphic. Suspenseful and thought provoking.
This is a novel with two plot lines that were so far apart I had to suspend belief that the two were connected. The current timeline following the chase of your Vietnamese woman who jumps in a car begging for help. Stuart, his husband Michael, Michael’s mother Barbara, the next-door neighbour John must run for their lives – in a …This is a novel with two plot lines that were so far apart I had to suspend belief that the two were connected.
The current timeline following the chase of your Vietnamese woman who jumps in a car begging for help. Stuart, his husband Michael, Michael’s mother Barbara, the next-door neighbour John must run for their lives – in a 40 year old Nissan Micra (who deserves her own credit). This was slapstick, trying to be funny but for me this plot line came through a bit 70s comedy. There was no real substance or reality about it.
The other plotline – Van’s timeline was the opposite. Dark, terrifying and very uncomfortable to read. It follows the horrific trade of human trafficking taking Van and her 16-year-old sister from Hoi Chi Min across land to the English Channel.
The ending left me unsatisfied and for me there were elements that were left unanswered. What was the last part of Mai’s story? Why did Van feel the need to protect her by keeping her innocent surely she needed to wake up and realise that all their lives were cheap and they needed to survive. The ending has left me unsatisfied which disappointed me – but this is still a decent read.
This thriller pulled me in fast with its dual timelines and intense pacing. I found myself much more connected to the past timeline - the way Vân’s story unfolded kept me emotionally invested and curious about how it all tied back to the present. That connection made the book hard to put down, even when parts of the writing pulled …This thriller pulled me in fast with its dual timelines and intense pacing. I found myself much more connected to the past timeline - the way Vân’s story unfolded kept me emotionally invested and curious about how it all tied back to the present. That connection made the book hard to put down, even when parts of the writing pulled me out of the flow.
One thing I noticed was Vân’s English in the present tense felt a bit fragmented and broken, while her past tense narration came through in more complete, smoother sentences. It was interesting, but at times it made the transitions feel uneven for me.
I also appreciated how the dual timelines revealed pieces of Vân’s past in ways that built tension and kept me guessing. While I loved the setup and momentum, I did feel the ending came a bit abruptly.
Overall, this is a gripping read if you enjoy psychological thrillers with layered timelines and emotional depth. I’ll definitely be thinking about this one for a while.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: twisty thrillers and character-driven mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an Ecopy in exchange for an honest review.
Human Trafficking FictionFound Family ThrillerLGBTQ+ ProtagonistsKitchen Sink Realism Meets Crime ThrillerRoad Trip ThrillerBritish Crime FictionDark Humour in Crime FictionVietnamese ProtagonistOrdinary People in Extraordinary Danger
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