The Empty Nest: An unputdownably gripping psychological thriller

Sue Watson

Nov 2019 · Bookouture

About this ebook

‘Sometimes we can’t see what’s right in front of us, Kat. Everyone has secrets, even the people we love, the people we live with…’

Kat remembers the days when her only daughter Amy wouldn't leave her side. Amy was the baby who cried when you walked out of the room, the toddler who was too shy to speak to strangers, the small child who clung to Kat's legs in the school playground.

But now Amy is grown up, and Amy is gone – to university in a town several hours away. Kat's house – which once felt too full, too noisy, too busy – is deathly quiet, and Kat awaits the daily phone call to tell her that her beloved daughter is thriving and happy.

Until the day Amy doesn’t call, sending Kat into a panic. Her husband and friends say she’s being paranoid – surely Amy is just out, having fun? But Kat feels sure something is very wrong – she knows her daughter, and she would never just disappear.

As the hours turn into days, her fears are confirmed: Amy is missing. But there are secrets about her daughter that Kat doesn't know about yet. And the truth about Amy's whereabouts may be closer to home than Kat could ever imagine...

A gripping and suspenseful psychological thriller with more twists and turns than a rollercoaster and an ending that will blow readers’ minds. Fans of The Wife Between Us, The Girl Before and Gone Girl will be gripped by this unputdownable story about a mother’s obsessive love for her child.

Readers are loving The Empty Nest:

‘OMG… I couldn’t believe the ending and what truly happened to Kat’s daughter. There were so many twists and turns in this book but the ending blew my mind.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘Wow I never saw that ending!... A huge rollercoaster of events that will keep you enthralled right to the end!... Great read.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘A full on, straight into it thriller, with a banging twist and a satisfying end! A quickfire ever changing story of who has done what and why… It had me foxed and I got it completely wrong… So well written, full of drama and just a perfect read. 10/10.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What an amazing book. I couldn't put it down. Had my attention from start to finish… Just when I thought I had it figured out I was proven wrong.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘A compulsively readable mystery that kept me fully engrossed and turning pages long into the night. This is a twisty thriller that kept me guessing right up until the final page… Brilliantly executed… Thoroughly addictive.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

‘I was so gobsmacked… The Empty Nest is a story steeped in secrets and lies. The suspense and tension surrounding Amy’s disappearance builds up wonderfully and had me totally hooked, tearing through the pages to see just what had happened to her.’ By the Letter Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘An addictive, suspenseful thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish… This story is filled with lies, betrayal, and shocking secrets. The author does a wonderful job building the tension and the ending was clever and satisfying. I highly recommend this twisty thriller.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Sue Watson is an amazing storyteller… She perfectly wove together a web of lies, paranoia, deceit, and friendship that created a rollercoaster of a ride from start to finish. This really is such a compulsive read, building the tension and a brilliant ending… A real unputdownable book.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Keeps the reader guessing as to what happened.... Each time you think you know where the story is going, something changes… Very difficult to put down.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A brilliant addictive psychological thriller, full of twists and turns… It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout… Compulsive reading.’ NetGalley Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

Just read the sample and the most repetitive & redundant writing I've ever seen...don't know what these other readers are raving about.. the main character, (definitely dominates every word of dialogue) says the same thing over and over, just the same idea stated in fifty different ways..okay we get it.

The Empty Nest is one hell of a read. Gripped right from the start I was caught up in this story, that took me on a journey of a mother’s love for her daughter and how you should never question a mother’s instincts. If you like a psychological thriller that is chock full of mystery, suspense, intrigue with twists and turns, then this is the book for you! Sue has crafted a story that is tightly plotted and is extremely well written. There is no love stronger than a mother’s love for a child and when it is an only child in the case of Amy, this just intensifies these feelings more. When Kat is unable to reach Amy when she is meant to be coming home for a few days on a break from university, Kat automatically thinks the worse. She knows her daughter and she would never not call her mother to let her know that her plans have changed. What follows is a mother’s desperate search for her daughter while dealing with her husband Richard and Amy’s friends who all seem to be hiding something and may know what has happened to Amy. I must admit I did have mixed feeling’s for Kat’s character at the beginning. I found her to be too much to start with and at times I felt very claustrophobic and smothered when reading the first few chapters. As the story progressed though and we were given more insight into Amy’s background, it became much clearer why Kat was like this. Truth be told, I would much rather have a mother like Kat than one that took no interest in me at all. Her desperation and manic behaviour in trying to find out what has happened to Amy tore at the heartstrings and had me welling up many times. She has been very well written as have all the supporting characters which are a mix of likeable and unlikable ones. I always enjoy Sue’s writing style. It flows well and is fluid and engaging. Sue really knows how to get your attention from the get go and is a master at building tension, suspense and have you sitting on the edge of your seat as to where she is going to take the story. In this case you think you know, but in true Sue Watson fashion she throws in another twist which throws the playing field wide open again. I love how she does this. The Empty Nest is a thrilling read but also one that makes you think and see the other side of how a parent feels when their child leaves the nest. Unable to have children off my own, I guess this was something I never really thought about and now I can understand how my mum felt when I left home. She is very much like Kat but a more chilled version. We are extremely close and it made me put myself in her shoes and it really didn’t feel great. I would be completely lost without my mum and I appreciate her so much and love the relationship we share as mother and daughter. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review The Empty Nest which I highly recommend. Thank-you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sue Watson for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Empty Nest which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Slow, the first 10 chapters went no where, repetitive about Kat missing Amy. Last 2 chapters the book finally moved. Was very hard getting through it. I found myself getting irritated because of the slowness.