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Emma in the Night

Wendy Walker (Goodreads Author)

3.73 · Rating details · 25,137 ratings · 3,591 reviews

From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten comes a thriller about two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back...

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a ...more

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Hardcover, 308 pages

Published August 8th 2017 by St. Martin's Press

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Aug 07, 2017 Melissa rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley, run-the-other-way, not-for-me, suspense-mystery-thriller, 2017, too-much-hype

If you could see the look of disillusionment coloring my face right now—or were made privy to the number of times I rolled my eyes through this convoluted storyline or huffed in pure exasperation as I succumbed to page after page of pure messiness—you might have some idea that this book wasn’t a great fit for me. But you can’t and you weren't, so I guess I’ll just have to lay it all out with my thoughts instead. Yes, that’s right, once again, I’ve fallen victim to another overly-hyped "psycholog If you could see the look of disillusionment coloring my face right now—or were made privy to the number of times I rolled my eyes through this convoluted storyline or huffed in pure exasperation as I succumbed to page after page of pure messiness—you might have some idea that this book wasn’t a great fit for me. But you can’t and you weren't, so I guess I’ll just have to lay it all out with my thoughts instead. Yes, that’s right, once again, I’ve fallen victim to another overly-hyped "psychological thriller". What’s the deal? Am I just incredibly picky or with variety and exposure have I become more in tune with what works for me and what doesn’t? Or who knows, maybe it's a combination of both?

I’m not a reader that gave Wendy Walker's debut, All Is Not Forgotten, a chance. There was something about the synopsis that didn’t appeal to me and at this point, I’m thinking that was a very wise decision. After this book, I don’t feel like I connect with the author’s point of view or her writing style, to be quite honest. Just like everything else in life, reading is subjective and this just so happens to be one of those times that reader and writer weren’t a good fit.

One of my biggest pet peeves as a reader is being told what happens versus actually having the chance to experience what the characters are going through firsthand. So above all else, it was the fact that almost the entire book consisted of stories that Cass relayed to other people—rather than flashbacks, memories or scenes with actual dialogue that we could live through—that dragged this story down for me. What happened to show, not tell? When an author chooses to take the tell route it severs any chance this reader will forge an emotional connection to the storyline—be it the characters or the situations they find themselves in. It doesn't matter how much the author throws around the idea of some psychological disorder.

Now, to give Wendy Walker some credit, there is a reason behind the story being told in this manner, but it was so borderline mediocre, it didn’t make up for the incredibly messy, overly wordy and downright blah experience, I found it to be.

What happens when two teenage sisters disappear and only one resurfaces randomly, three years later, with an outlandish story and a plea to help find her sister? Well, I'll tell you—the author beats the reader over the head with the emotional turmoil this family endures as a result of a narcissistic mother. She explores the struggle that ensues for ultimate control and the importance of breaking that cycle, but honestly, I didn’t care. Ms. Walker failed to make me care about any of these people—not the mother, the daughters or even the broken detective with her own mommy issues. Again, throwing that disorder around and not really allowing us to fully experience the emotions that surround the psychosis firsthand, didn’t work for me.

Being the optimist I am, of course I held out hope the ending or the twist would somehow redeem the story for me, but no shocker that didn’t happen. Let’s be honest, it rarely does. I think I was too far gone at that point to find any sort of enjoyment in the outcome or even believe that anyone would go to those lengths when the facts could have been proven so easily. Trickery? I think not.

*Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jul 04, 2017 Deanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: my-favorites

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

This is the second book by Wendy Walker that I have read. I read ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN last year and loved it. I was really excited when I heard about EMMA IN THE NIGHT, but a part of me was worried that I wouldn't like it.

"The truth can evade us, hiding behind out blind spots, our preconceptions, 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 se ...more

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Jul 28, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey rated it really liked it

Recommended to Chelsea by: St. Martin's Press

Shelves: netgalley, from-publisher

Trying something a little different here guys. Sam and I wrote sort of a joint review; think book club discussion style. We chose questions for us each to answer that we felt covered what you need to know about the book going in, as well as our feelings toward the characters, plot, and author's previous books. I'm just going to post the link to my blog post as the formatting is very specific and won't translate well over to Goodreads. Don't worry; this isn't click bait intended to guide you away ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Kaceey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

I recently read Wendy Walker's previous book All Is Not Forgotten and loved it! When I saw she had a new release I was all in for another great read! Sadly, in my opinion, this one did not match the brilliance of the first.

Cass and Emma grew up in a blended family. After their parents divorced, Emma chose to stay with their mother, her new husband and son. Little sister Cass reluctantly tagged along. Their mother, always totally unpredictable with her affections, took great joy playing cruel gam ...more

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Aug 01, 2017 Meredith ( on Semi-Hiatus until February) rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Since GR seems to be fully functional (fingers crossed), I have finally posted my review!

Emma in the Night is a chilling psychological thriller about the stories people create in order to survive.

Sisters Emma and Cass had to endure their mother’s narcissistic personality throughout their childhood. As they begin to grow up, they come to recognize their mother’s dangerous nature. Older sister Emma shines; she is the one that everyone sees and wants a piece of. She is her mother’s greatest compet ...more

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Aug 16, 2017 Larry H rated it really liked it

I've remarked in previous reviews that much like they say in spy movies, my philosophy when reading thrillers is simple: trust no one . Any character that appears I immediately view as a possible suspect.

Of course, while that thought process makes it a little more difficult when reading, it helps me avoid being irritated when the resolution of a book includes a character who came totally out of the blue. Where Wendy Walker's crazy, twisty, yet surprisingly weighty new book, Emma in the Nig I've remarked in previous reviews that much like they say in spy movies, my philosophy when reading thrillers is simple: trust no one . Any character that appears I immediately view as a possible suspect.

Of course, while that thought process makes it a little more difficult when reading, it helps me avoid being irritated when the resolution of a book includes a character who came totally out of the blue. Where Wendy Walker's crazy, twisty, yet surprisingly weighty new book, Emma in the Night , was concerned, I may not have been ultimately surprised by everything, but Walker took me on quite a journey to get there, full of surprises and twists which kept me guessing.

One night, 15-year-old Cassandra Tanner and her older sister Emma disappeared. Emma's car was found on a beach, but there was never any trace of the girls. FBI forensic psychologist Abby Winter suspected there was more to the girls' disappearance that met the eye, but she couldn't convince her supervisors, and the case nearly destroyed her. But three years later, Cass has returned home without Emma, but she pleads desperately that they rescue her sister.

Cass' story is a harrowing one, of being kept captive on a remote island with Emma. She sacrificed a lot to get home, and is afraid her sister might not still be on the island, or even be alive once the FBI figures out where they've been held captive. Cass' return has also thrown her divorced parents into turmoil, as they are happy that Cass is back but they fear for Emma's safety, and they want to understand what happened to the girls three years ago.

But the more Cass tells, the more Abby wonders what the truth is. Her initial suspicions about all not being right in the household where the girls grew up returns with a vengeance, and Abby wonders what Cass is hiding, and whether she's trying to lead them somewhere, to someone, but is unable to say anything directly. These issues of narcissistic personality disorder are ones that Abby knows too well, and she wonders if her suspicions are true, or if she is being influenced by her own experiences.

"Not knowing, not seeing, being deceived—it makes you question everything you have come to trust. It makes you doubt your own judgment, and the truths you have come to believe in, which sometimes are so deeply embedded, you don't even know they're there, shaping your thoughts."

What happened the night that Emma and Cass disappeared? Where is Emma now? Was their disappearance random, or was it caused by, or the result of, something else in their lives? Is Cass hiding something? Time is running out, and the FBI must figure out the truth and bring Emma home before it's too late.

I liked Emma in the Night more than I thought I would. There was a brief period a little more than a quarter into the book where I worried one of the characters would be such a huge part of the plot that I didn't think I could stand it, but I persevered, and I'm glad I did. This is a book that isn't afraid to paint its characters as not entirely sympathetic, and you're not sure what to believe and you don't know which character to root for.

Walker does a great job unraveling the plot little by little, and while some of it seemed a little too predictable, there was still enough that kept me guessing. I've never read anything by her before, but I was impressed not only with the way she generated suspense, but the in-depth attention she paid to the depiction of narcissistic personality disorder. That is something that unfortunately I've experienced, and she was right on the money with that.

This wasn't a perfect book by any means, but I enjoyed it and couldn't stop reading. Definitely a good book for a last gasp at the beach, or to occupy you during a long trip or commute. I'll definitely need to read Walker's first book now!

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo.... ...more

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May 15, 2017 Susanne Strong rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, must-read

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’s story is far-fetched and is one her mother is unwilling 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’s story is far-fetched and is one her mother is unwilling to believe. Though Cass's 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 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 whose 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. ...more

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Jun 01, 2017 Norma rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss-approved

This was one of the hardest reviews for me to write.....I wish I would have loved this one more!

My absolute favorite genre or type of book to read is a psychological suspense/thriller novel as I am totally fascinated in the way that some people think, feel, or behave. I also like to challenge myself to see if I can figure out the why and who. EMMA IN THE NIGHT was an intriguing look at Narcissist Personality Disorder and how a family is ultimately affected by it.

Why I wanted to read this one This was one of the hardest reviews for me to write.....I wish I would have loved this one more!

My absolute favorite genre or type of book to read is a psychological suspense/thriller novel as I am totally fascinated in the way that some people think, feel, or behave. I also like to challenge myself to see if I can figure out the why and who. EMMA IN THE NIGHT was an intriguing look at Narcissist Personality Disorder and how a family is ultimately affected by it.

Why I wanted to read this one…….I was really excited and jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy of WENDY WALKER’S new book, EMMA IN THE NIGHT, as I ABSOLUTELY LOVED her previous novel, ALL IS NOT FORGOTTEN, and it was one of my favourite reads of 2016.

What it’s all about…...One night two teenage girls, Emma and her younger sister Cass go missing in the middle of the night and three years later one comes back and tells her story.

What happened then for just 3 stars…...I really tried to get involved in the storyline but it just didn’t happen for me. I don’t know if it was just because I couldn’t fully get into this story because there were quite a few distractions surrounding me while I was reading this, as I was away on vacation, or if it was just because I did get the feel of the novel early on and it started to get a little monotonous for me and just didn’t hold my interest like I would have liked.

EMMA IN THE NIGHT by WENDY WALKER is a disturbing, insightful, captivating, and a twisted psychological thriller that is filled with dysfunctional and manipulative characters.

WENDY WALKER delivers an extremely well-written read here with an interesting and unique storyline told from two different perspectives which focuses mainly on Cass and her story of what happened to her during those missing three years and Dr. Abby Winter who questions what really happened while searching for the still missing sister, Emma.

Overall, it was a mostly enjoyable, quick and easy read with a satisfying and neat ending. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Would recommend!

Publication date: August 8, 2017

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wendy Walker, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com

Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 Diane S ☔ rated it liked it

This is a difficult review for me to write, simply because I don't know if I can explain exactly how I felt about this book. So here goes. I applaud this author for trying different things, her first book and this one were a little different, covering physchological issues in an original way. In this one she tackles narcissistic personality disorder, and the mainstream effects on the family, but she turns it into an unsolved mystery.

I know someone who grew up with such a mother, saw the games p ...more

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May 28, 2017 Cheri rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, arc, maine, 2017, thriller, mystery

!! NOW AVAILABLE !!

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

”Emma in the Night” begins with these words, words that reach gently in and pull you into this story, never really letting go, delaying the inevitable until the final pages.

Last year I read Wendy Walker’s ”All is Not Forgotten,” which I also enjoyed up until the very end. Mysteries, Thrillers, Psychological Suspense are not my typical genre, but every once in a while, I can enjoy the ones which are ligh ...more

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May 23, 2017 Lindsay - Traveling Sisters Book Reviews rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

3.5 stars. This was a mysteriously suspenseful novel with an intriguing storyline and excellent narration.

After reading and LOVING Wendy Walker’s previous novel, All Is Not Forgotten, I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of her latest book. Once again, Walker does a fantastic job with narration! (The way AINF was narrated was brilliant and one of my favourite aspects of the book!) This story is told from multiple perspectives, focusing mainly on 18-year-old Cass who returns home after d ...more

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Jun 22, 2017 karen rated it liked it

Shelves: from-publisher-or-author

this is a psychological suspense novel about two sisters; fifteen-year-old cass and seventeen-year-old emma martin, who vanish one night from their affluent connecticut neighborhood. three years later, cass returns, ringing the doorbell of her old home, whereupon she is surrounded by family, police, doctors, the media, and dr. winter, the forensic psychologist who has been obsessed with their case since the girls disappeared, all wanting to know what happened that night and where emma is.

in a re ...more

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Jul 30, 2017 Linda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Surprise!

I must confess I only wanted to read "Emma In The Night," because a friend who majored in psychology had read it and thought the author did an impressive job of researching narcissistic personality disorder, which I've always wanted to have a more thorough knowledge of. Call me lucky, because another friend happened to win an advanced reader's copy and offered to lend it to me.

Since joining Goodreads, the psychological thriller and suspense genres have become two of my favorites, and I ...more

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Jul 26, 2017 j e w e l s rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-bejeweled

Emma and Cass have a strange relationship with their mother. For starters, they are required to call her Mrs. Martin, not mom. WHY? That will get your suspicious mind working overtime!

Mrs. Martin is a narcissistic, self-involved mother and she’s not the only weirdo in this dysfunctional family. The two sisters have an overprotective half-brother, a weepy-wimpy father, an out-of-control stepbrother and a stepfather that likes to cross personal boundaries within the family. WHEW! I’d run the hell Emma and Cass have a strange relationship with their mother. For starters, they are required to call her Mrs. Martin, not mom. WHY? That will get your suspicious mind working overtime!

Mrs. Martin is a narcissistic, self-involved mother and she’s not the only weirdo in this dysfunctional family. The two sisters have an overprotective half-brother, a weepy-wimpy father, an out-of-control stepbrother and a stepfather that likes to cross personal boundaries within the family. WHEW! I’d run the hell away from that house too!

When Cass returns home after she and her sister have been missing for three years, she is alone. What happened to Emma? The FBI are all over the case and continue to grill Cass with a forensic psychologist, Abby, leading the interviews. The entire story is told in alternating, somewhat confusing views: a first person narrative coming from Cass and a third person narrative from Abby. Coincidentally, Abby the expert, grew up with a sister, too, and their own mother was a textbook narcissist. She knows firsthand what Cass and Emma may have been dealing with at home. Too many coincidences for me I don't like when authors resort to using coincidences as a plot structure.

This is not as much of a suspense story as it is an overly long definition of the narcissistic personality type. I learned more than I ever thought I would about the disorder. For starters, the disorder has been overlooked by the courts when it is a woman suffering from it. And especially overlooked when that woman is a mother. Very interesting.

Normally I adore the psychological suspense genre. But, if I want to study a disorder, I will pick up my old psychology textbook. Please, SHOW me the actions and develop her character into a more layered person. Showing is so much more exciting to read than telling. A book that comes to mind for expertly portraying a maternal narcissist in action is , MOTHER, MOTHER by Karen Zalickas. A biting, memorable character if ever there was one.

This book has all my favorite elements in a mystery. A BEAUTIFUL, INTRIGUING COVER, the surprise ending, unreliable narrators, and a psychological disorder at the heart of the story. As much as I wanted to love it, the book fell flat for me. The pages did not turn fast and it was ultimately disappointing.

My mind was wandering during the long descriptions of the island that Cass gives the FBI upon her return home. She relates her experiences in a straight monotone manner (for a reason, as you will find out) and it just reads that way for most of the book. I was interested to find out what happened to Emma, but my gosh, it was a slow go.

Unfortunately, if you are looking for a suspenseful mystery OR an effective psychological study, this is not the book. Many thanks to the wonderful folks at NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. ...more

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Jul 24, 2017 Carol rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, read-2017, kindle, netgalley, published-2017

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 t

...more

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Aug 05, 2017 Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2017, sandy-s-reading-retreat, new-to-me-author, psychological-thriller, 3-star, sandy-s-ng-nirvana, netgalley-arc, 2-star

Extract: 'Abby had not forgotten the Tanner sisters. Not for one minute of one day. The facts of the investigation had lain dormant in the shadowed corners of her mind. But that was not the same as forgetting. They were with her, even after a year of being off the case. They were in her bones. In her flesh. She breathed them in and out with every breath. The missing girls. And the theory of the case that no one else would believe. '

THE BLURB: 'From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten Extract: 'Abby had not forgotten the Tanner sisters. Not for one minute of one day. The facts of the investigation had lain dormant in the shadowed corners of her mind. But that was not the same as forgetting. They were with her, even after a year of being off the case. They were in her bones. In her flesh. She breathed them in and out with every breath. The missing girls. And the theory of the case that no one else would believe. '

THE BLURB: 'From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten comes a thriller about two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back...

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.'

MY THOUGHTS: Following are two quotes from Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker which to me describe the problems I had with this book.

'A story is more than the recounting of events.' Yet this is exactly how the book is written, a simple recounting of the events.

'Her voice was steady, as if she were explaining a term paper she'd written in school.' Again to me, that is how the book read.

Imagine if you will, sitting down to a meal you have been looking forward to. It is your favorite meal. In front of you, it looks delicious. It smells wonderful. Yet, when you take a bite, it is bland. Occasionally you get a taste of the flavors that should be there, but overall the meal is tasteless, and you feel disappointed, cheated almost.

That sums up how I felt about Emma in the Night. It was bland. Disappointing. Flat.

I am a voracious reader. Yet it took me four days to chew my way through this book. One chapter at a time. Sometimes not even that. It was a tough read.

2.5 reluctant stars - the extra half star because the premise and promise of the plot was great. I just feel that the way it was written and delivered left a lot to be desired.

Thank you to St Martins Press via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page for an explanation of my ratings. This review is also published on my blog https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... ...more

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Dec 14, 2020 Jayme rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense

3.5 ⭐️

I can see a big difference between Wendy Walker’s most recent two psychological suspense books, “Don’t Look For Me” (2020) and “The Night Before” (2019) and the two that preceded them; “All Is Not Forgotten” (2016) and this one, “Emma in the Night” (2017).

The more recent two will definitely appeal to a wider audience as the books penned earlier are deeper, darker dives into the psyches of the Victims.

In “All Is Not Forgotten” it’s rape.

In “Emma in the Night”, it’s the damage that is done ...more

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Jul 28, 2017 Taryn rated it really liked it

Shelves: received-from-publisher, netgalley

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 preconceptions, our hungry hearts that long for quiet. Still, it is always there if we open our eyes and try to see it.

Three years ago, high-school senior Emma Tanner and her 15-year-old sister Cassandra went missing. Investigators had little evidence to go on; all they

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 preconceptions, our hungry hearts that long for quiet. Still, it is always there if we open our eyes and try to see it.

Three years ago, high-school senior Emma Tanner and her 15-year-old sister Cassandra went missing. Investigators had little evidence to go on; all they knew was that there were two missing girls and an abandoned car at the beach. The case went unsolved, but Cass has returned home, seemingly out of thin air. She insists that Emma is still out there and she knows how to find her.

FBI psychologist Dr. Abigail Winter was haunted by the Tanner case. During the course of the investigation, she began to see shades of her own narcissistic mother in Judy Martin. She believed that the girls' mother may have been involved in their disappearance, but no one else was receptive to her theory. The case brought some of her old traumas back to the surface. Could she have been letting her personal life cloud her perception? Cass's mysterious reappearance may finally let her get some closure.

"Everyone I could ever trust, everyone you could ever trust, could betray you. It doesn’t matter who they are or whether they mean to do it. Your friends. Your husband. Your wife. Your siblings. Your child. Even your parents. Some people just do it and they don’t care. They don’t think twice about it. But others do it and they justify it in their heads so you can’t even blame them. They have their reasons."

The mother's narcissism leads to an interesting dynamic between the sisters. Each girl developed their own unique way of coping. Growing up, their home was filled with constant hostility. There was little stability in their lives because the sisters never knew which version of their mother they would wake up to. They were both desperate for their mother's love and Mrs. Martin made them earn it. She always made snide comments to remind the girls of their place in the house. She couldn't stand for her daughters to become close and potentially form an alliance against her, so she set out to drive a wedge between them. Emma was one of the only people Cass could depend on, but she could also be extremely cruel, rubbing their mother's favoritism in Cass's face.

I think there are two types of people. Ones who have a scream inside them and ones who don’t. People who have a scream are too angry or too sad or laugh too hard, swear too much, use drugs or never sit still. Sometimes they sing at the top of their lungs with the windows rolled down. I don’t think people are born with it. I think other people put it inside you with the things they do to you, and say to you or the things you see them do or say to other people. And I don’t think you can get rid of it. If you don’t have a scream, you can’t understand.

Cassandra shares a name with a figure from Greek mythology, a princess of Troy who had "the gift of prophecy but the curse that her prophecies would never be believed." Cass shared that same burden during her parents' custody battle. She knew that living with her mother and stepfather would end badly for everyone involved, but she learned the hard way that "seeing the future is a worthless gift if you don't have the power to change it." Emma talked Cass into testifying against their mother, but in a cruel twist, Emma ended up siding with their mother. Mrs. Martin easily won custody of the girls and would never forgive Cass's betrayal. Cass lost her status in the home and Emma became the preferred daughter.

A story is more than the recounting of events. The events are the sketch, the outline, but it is the colors and the landscape and the medium and the artist’s hand that make it what it is in the end. I had to be a good artist. I had to find talent where none existed and this story in a way they would believe. I had to set aside my own feelings about the past. ... I had to be the person they wanted me to be.

The chapters alternate between Cass and Dr. Winter. Throughout the book, Cass reveals the events of the last three years. She insists that her mother is present to hear every detail. There’s something strange about the way Cass tells her story. The emotions she displays don't always match the events she's describing. Her demeanor is calm as she describes the last three years in horrifying detail. Her storytelling is very precise and polished. Sometimes Cass comes across like a child, but other times she seems wise beyond her years. Occasionally, Cass glances at Dr. Winter and there's a flicker of recognition between them. Dr. Winter begins to wonder if she needs to begin paying more attention to the things that aren't being said.

I read the first 40% in one sitting, but I had a hard time settling back into the story the next day. I think it's because all the different elements are jumbled together, regardless of whose chapter you're in: the search for Emma, Dr. Winter's backstory, the story Cass is telling the detectives, and the story she's telling the reader. Not being able to maintain that immersion is sometimes a dealbreaker for me, but Walker's writing still captivated me. I value a story where the author takes me from feeling one way about a character to feeling completely opposite by the end of the story. Despite the messed up things that went on in Cass's home, I found her demeanor a bit off-putting at first. There was a moment when I began understanding her behavior and motivations (right or wrong), and that's when this story started to worm its way into my heart.

There is evil in the world and that evil can dress up as love so convincingly that it blinds you to the truth.

Cass describes herself as "a bird on the battlefield." She spent her entire life being caught between forces much more powerful than herself. She's been let down by all the adults in her life. Anyone who listened to her was powerless to do anything. Cass has to be the person everyone wants her to be in order to get the people with power to finally listen to her. Could this be her one chance to finally be heard? Is she even telling the truth? Will the investigators find Emma in time? This stirring tale shows how easily our perceptions can be manipulated and how sometimes people have to be tricked into seeing the truth. Just like a narcissist has to create a perfect alter ego to protect themselves, sometimes we have to find ways to maintain the realities we've constructed to prevent our worldview from being shattered.

The more literary writing style of this book reminded me of Everything You Want Me to Be by Mindy Mejia. If you're looking for more books with narcissistic mothers, you might enjoy Mother, Mother by Koren Zailckas.

__________
I received this book for free from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. It will be available August 8, 2017. ...more

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Jun 13, 2017 Lou rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: psychology

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable novel from Wendy Walker and my first read by her. I do actually own a copy of All Is Not Forgotten - her first novel - but have, for some reason, neglected to read it. At the beginning I really was hesitant about the writing style; each chapter it jumped back and forth from the point of view of Cass and then back to the viewpoint of Dr. Abigail Winter - a forensic psychiatrist working on the Tanner's case. However, when I had reached the 25% read point I knew I was starting to get into it and in fact admired the unusual writing style for the uniqueness it brings to the book. I am hoping that when I go to read All Is Not Forgotten that it is written in the same style!

I would be more likely to describe the story as a family drama, deception plays a big part but there are also thriller elements to it as well as mystery. This family is extremely dysfunctional in most part owing to psychological issues a lot of the characters are suffering from. The psychological aspect of the novel greatly appealed to me having studied and read many books and articles relating to the subject. In particular, the book focuses in on narcissistic personality disorder, its causes, effects and how it can destroy entire families at a time unless the cycle is broken.

I enjoyed the family dynamic and the characters. I found it difficult to admire any of the characters due to them all being so unlikable but found them fascinating and wouldn't change a thing about them. They were well developed especially the main family members - Emma, Cass and Mrs Martin. This book is very much character driven in nature but has an engaging story to accompany the excellent person-centric features. I found EMMA IN THE NIGHT much more engaging than other novels based around the drama of family life and feel that all the different aspects of the story came together well to make a fabulously suspenseful read.

Inevitably, because of the type of book it is you find yourself guessing the plot twists and admittedly there were some of them in here that were a little predictable and that i had guessed before they actually occurred. That said, this did not reduce the joy I got out of this fantastic novel.

Highly recommended.

. ...more

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Jul 20, 2017 Carolyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, netgalley, psychological-thriller

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 describe 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 ...more

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May 17, 2017 Esil rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

What to say? What to say? I can see glaring flaws in Emma in the Night, but still it had me riveted. So 4 stars for readability, but I do understand lower ratings and negative reactions to this book. To my surprise, given the topic, I really liked Wendy Walker's previous book, All Is Not Forgotten, so I was happy to give her newest book a try. She knows how to put a complicated story together. She knows not to dumb down to her readers. After having disappeared for three years, 18 year old Cass c ...more

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May 18, 2017 Kristin (KC) - Traveling Sister marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-hold

Loved this author's last book!
*Arc kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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Aug 06, 2017 Sarah Joint rated it really liked it

This is not yet another "missing girl" story. This is a tale about a twisted family with a startling conclusion, a well-written story that'll have you questioning everything.

Two sisters have been missing for three years. Were they abducted? Did they drown on the beach where the car belonging to the older sister was found? Did they simply run away? No one knows... until the younger sister, Cass, fifteen when she vanished, reappears on her mother's porch as if she'd never been gone at all. Alo ...more

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Jun 20, 2017 Holly B rated it liked it

Shelves: a-bit-bored-with-it, read-in-2017, net-galley

Emma has vanished and hasn't been seen for 3 years.

I was really enjoying the beginning of the book and was interested in the premise (a kidnapping, a mystical abandoned island, secrets ), but then at about 50% the story seemed to repeat itself and the conversations were too in depth to keep my interest up!

It was like reading about an episode on Dr. Phil and then I was just bored. I just wanted the book to be more interesting!

In the end, we learn about Emma and find out about the motives for t ...more

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Jun 22, 2017 Carol (Bookaria) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017, fiction, mistery-thriller, top-2017, favorites, netgalley

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. Abb ...more

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Dec 16, 2020 DeAnn rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020

3.5 narcissist stars

This one is all about two missing sisters. The story picks up when Cass returns by herself 3 years after disappearing. Where is her older sister Emma and what was happening for those 3 years?

We get flashbacks of life for the sisters before they disappeared and then Cass is telling the story to her parents and the FBI. This is one dysfunctional family! I also enjoyed the perspective from the FBI forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter. She’s an expert on narcissism and the auth ...more

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Aug 22, 2017 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it it was ok

Shelves: arcs, super-meh, read-in-2017, mommy-issues, book-of-the-month-selection, whodunit

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Oh Wendy Walker . . . . . .

Boy oh boy did a certain pig head go into this with seriously high expectations after reading All Is Not Forgotten. It’s a bummer this one didn’t work so well.

Per usual, since this is a mystery/thriller not a lot can be said without potentially ruining someone else’s good time. The basics are three years ago Emma and her sister Cass disappeared in the night. Emma’s abandoned car, purse and keys were found ...more

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Sep 20, 2017 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: women-of-mystery-2017

Three years ago the Tanner sisters, fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma, vanished.

Emma's car, containing her purse and keys, was found at the beach - but all of Cass's personal belongings were still in the house. What could have happened?

FBI Agent Leo Strauss heads the investigation.....

.....assisted by forensic psychologist, Dr. Abby Winter.

Dr. Winter senses that's something's 'off' about the girls' family - especially the mother (Mrs. Martin).

The psychologist wants to look mor ...more

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Jul 25, 2019 Katie B rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2019, fiction, mystery

4.5 stars

I never quite know what I'm going to get with a Wendy Walker book, and I'm saying that as a compliment. The three books I have read by her have this unique feel to them although I can't put into words what makes them feel so special and different. She's just a good storyteller and this book is a wonderful example of that fact.

Fifteen-year-old Emma Tanner and her older sister, Cass, disappeared three years ago. Emma has now found her way back home and says she was held captive on an isla ...more

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Nov 21, 2017 Chelsea (chelseadolling reads) rated it it was amazing

This is my favorite thriller I’ve read all year. Simply fantastic. So twisted and gross and diabolical. I’m about it.

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About Wendy Walker

Wendy Walker

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Wendy Walker is the author of psychological suspense. Her novels have been translated into 23 foreign languages and have topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad. They have been featured on The Today Show, The Reese Witherspoon Book Club, and The Book of the Month Club and have been optioned for television and film.

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Quotes from Emma in the Night

“I think there are two types of people. Ones who have a scream inside them and ones who don’t.” — 18 likes

“Imagine the infant who one day cries and gets fed, and the next day cries and goes hungry. One day smiles and is kissed and hugged. The next day smiles and is ignored. This is what psychologists called 'preoccupied or unresolved attachment' with the primary caregiver--usually the mother. There was love one minute and disdain the next. Affection that was given in abundance for no reason and then taken away without cause. The child has no ability to predict or influence the behavior of the parent. The narcissist loves a child only as an extension of herself at first, and then as a loyal subject. So she will tend to the child only when it makes her feel good.” — 15 likes

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