A Christie-esque locked room mystery combined with a missing girl story... and a truly shocking twist.

I liked the setup of this mystery: a secluded resort, a killer on the lose with a limited number of possible suspects and a lot of red herrings.

For me though, there were a few problems. First, the two timelines ("then" and "now") were so similar in tone and characters that they were hard to tell apart. Also, I never really connected with the main character, Amelia, or the missing girl, Lark. Finally, this book does what a lot of books in this genre are trying to do lately: it just keeps coming at you with the shocking twists, without really providing much of a foundation or providing any space for the reader to legitimately guess what's coming, which for me is the most fun part - whether I get it right or not, I like to feel like I had a fair shot at guessing. In books like this, it always feels a little unfair when a twist comes out of nowhere. While some people like the shock (and I do at times too) I don't love it when the who or the why don't make a lot of sense with what I learned in the rest of the story.

Also, I feel like this book tried to take every trendy aspect of the current suspense genre and incorporate it in one book. Missing girl plus locked room plus secret identities and love affairs plus a mysterious masked man plus blackouts plus a lot more common tropes that I won't spoil is a lot for one book.

For whatever reason, even though it has a lot of elements I usually like, this story never grabbed me and pulled me in so I wasn't as invested in it as I could have been. I just felt like it was trying for too many plot points and twists at once. But I seem to be in the minority here, so check it out for yourself. I would say that this is best for you if you like very plot-driven, creative, incredibly twisty stories. The author is definitely talented, but it just wasn't my favorite in this crowded genre.

Thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley, and Amanda Brittany for the advance copy!

A good mystery with twists some predictable some unpredictable. Told through multiple POV and different timelines makes it a little confusing. The characters are shallow and could not be connected with, their actions beyond belief. The pace is good and maintained throughout. 4 stars

This was definitely a book of three halves, and I’m not talking about the three timelines. It got off to a really good start and had me turning pages, then it became a bit hectic and ever so slightly far fetched, and certainly too many cups of tea, but then the ending twisted right back round again. I had guessed who the ‘now’ was but not why. Overall a good 3.5 star. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for letting me review this book.

I enjoyed the book, but I found it dragged quite a bit in the middle. The ending was good, but it wasn't the easiest read. Sorry.

A red herring filled mystery worthy of Christie! Amelia is the main character who has had a bit of a rough year, her teenage sister Lark, goes missing, her mother dies of cancer and she loses a baby, understandably she needs a break.
She heads home to her father's place only to be met by his packed bags, he's heading back to Drummondale House in the Scottish highlands in hunt of his lost daughter. Reluctantly, Amelia joins him, her brother Thomas and his carer Maddie on the trip hoping they will find out what happened to Lark the year before.
More guests arrive as the weather turns, Rosamund and her step daughter Elise who were also there a year ago are also now trapped in the grounds. As creepy things start to happen Elise goes missing, very similar to Lark's disappearance the year before so the hunt is on to find her and hopefully Lark too.

The narration is told from two time points present day and a year ago flashing back to what happened when Lark disappeared, clues are thrown around like dolly mixtures which makes this an easy chill and read book or a concentrate to add all the clues up read. Although a little repetitive in the middle, (how many times do they go up that hill?) it is quick paced and very easy to read, there are a few well signposted flashbacks and a current voice to give hope that Lark is alive. I'm trying not to spoil it but there is a twist which comes a little out of left field.

Overall, a pacey mystery with plenty of red herrings and an interesting finale!

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the ARC

This was an interesting one for me rate, for a few reasons.

1. The ending actually surprised me on two separate occasions. I read so many books in this genre, like many of us do, that not many authors can shock me anymore...especially twice in one novel. Major kudos to Amanda Brittany! However, the twists had a bit of that 'left-field' quality which never sits well with me. They weren't completely over the top, but they were certainly sitting on the precipice.

2. The chapters, narrated entirely by Amelia but during two different time frames (one year ago and present day), were virtually indistinguishable. Both were set in the same place, during the same season...exactly one year apart, and with the very same characters. This tends to make stories a little messy, as it's sometimes hard to keep the individual threads straight. I found that to be the case here.

3. This is a minor gripe, but it irritated me nevertheless. If you and another person share one biological parent, that makes you half-siblings...NOT step-siblings. I hope that little annoyance is cleaned up in the final edits.

Overall, I'm giving this book 3 stars. I started at 4 stars due to being fooled by the twists...then deducted a half a star each for points two and three above.

Available August 28th!

**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and HQ Digital for my review copy.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of twists that keep you guessing throughout. There's lots going on in the story that makes it very difficult to figure out who the killer is which has been refreshing because I have figured out who the "bad guy" is in the vast majority of books I've read this year.

This is an action packed story. There is a lot happening and a lot of twists. My only gripe is that so much happens, the story starts to feel unbelievable.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

An excellent read, with a few rather unexpected twists in the tale. I was quite sure, on more than one occasion, that I knew who the killer was, but the red herrings kept me guessing.

I'm rather partial to the whole 'locked up in a snowbound spot' spate of stories that are coming out, and this is no exception. It was atmospheric (the masks, shudder!) and the characters likeable, for the most part.

Definitely going to give the next one a try.
Thanks to HQ, Amanda Brittany and Net Galley for my ARC.

This was a decent thriller, in the "locked room" style where the characters are trapped at a secluded resort where the potential villain pool is limited. It's centered primarily on Amelia, whose sister Lark disappeared a year ago at the same resort- since then, her mother died of cancer, she miscarried her baby, and broke up with her boyfriend. She is understandably an emotional wreck and ends up going back to the resort on the year anniversary of Lark's disappearance with her father, her brother, and her brother's caretaker to see if they can learn more about what happened. Others end up joining as well so it's a full reunion of the original group, and almost immediately, creepy things start happening again.

The story flips back and forth between the current time and a year ago, but it's easy to follow, as though both are told from Amelia's POV, one is first person and one is 3rd person. There were a lot of characters but I had no issues in keeping them all straight- most of the tertiary characters weren't fully developed but you learned enough to make them seem authentic.

There was some seriously creepy stuff throughout the book, though it did get a little repetitive at times. The twist at the end was genius and I wasn't even close to seeing it coming.

Overall, this was a fun read and I'd recommend to those who like mysteries and domestic thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

DNF at 25%,odd characters who make no sense, clunky writing and repetitive dialogue, not for me at all

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Wow, Loved this.
A new author to me I shall certainly be looking out for more - I was totally engrossed in this

I never add synopsis or spoilers, I think people need to explore the book themselves. This is the way I like to read

What I will say is I really enjoyed the dual timeline style of writing - it added to the pace and tension for me

Recommended

Nobody just disappears into thin air…
One year ago, Amelia Taylor’s sister, Lark, vanished without a trace from a family holiday in the Scottish Highlands.
The police are convinced that Lark was abducted, but with no new leads, the case has gone cold. Amelia is certain that the answer lies at the holiday cottage and retracing their steps might unearth a vital clue that could help make a breakthrough.
But during their second night at the cottage a shrill scream cuts through the darkness, just as it did a year ago, and a sense of dread engulfs everyone.
Another girl has vanished.
Leading the search, Amelia is convinced that both girls are alive, waiting to be found. But someone is determined to keep her from the truth at all costs…
Will Amelia be able to find her sister, or is she too about to find herself in danger?

This is my second Amanda Brittany novel and I enjoyed this one as much as I did the first one

The book is very tense and suspenseful. It has all the characteristics of a good psychological thriller.

I read a lot of this type of genre and sometimes they do become a bit “samey” But this ending blew me away.

I will be looking out for more by the author

We could all perhaps be excused for thinking that bookshop shelves are already overflowing with psychological thrillers and who needs more. Then, out of the blue, comes a novel like 'I Lie in Wait' and all those other books can be pushed to one side.
I read this book in a single sitting. The writing is remarkably compelling and the plot races along at a cracking pace. There's suspense aplenty and all the horror of a literary 'The Hills Have Eyes' in this story of a missing teenage girl and the consequences of her family returning one year later to try to find her.
There is such a clever twist in the denouement that I almost stood up to applaud the author. A tour-de-force.

Amelia is in her 30s and is an emotional wreck, she describes herself as a car crash.
Her younger sister Lark has been missing for a year, her mother died 7 months following Larks disappearance, she suffers a miscarriage and splits with her boyfriend. She hasn't had it easy.

She take a break from work and heads home to the Scottish Highlands to her father, Robert and her brother, Thomas, only to realise they are off on a road trip.

The anniversary of Larks disappearance is approaching and Robert has a feeling that something was missed when the disappearance was investigated. Robert, Amelia, Thomas and Thomas' carer (Thomas had an accident and is now wheelchair dependent), Maddie set off to Drummondale House.

The book alternates between the present day and a year previous when the family went on a holiday to Drummondale House.

As the search for Lark continues, tragedy strikes and someone disappears and two others are murdered and everyone is trapped as the snow has been falling.

Someone has been spotted wearing a mask in and around the Estate but no one knows or finds anything concrete.

I never suspected the killer but that twist at the end, that was something else. This story is brilliant. I devoured it in 24 hours.

I will definitely be reading more from Amanda Brittany.
Brilliant and well worth ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

<b>3.5 Stars</b>

This novel is a slow burn. You first learn of all the characters as they arrive at the rental cottages of Ruth and her son, Finn. The characters are not clearly drawn at this point, or any other, but with a limited pool of suspects this is not particularly surprising.

As the body count rises, the tension mounts, keeping the reader engrossed right to the end. What's more, I am delighted to say I didn't work out who was responsible - though I have to admit I found one element of the conclusion most improbable.

Unfortunately there is also one other niggle. I would have expected a remote hotel to be more prepared for bad weather and power cuts: plenty of oil for the lamps, supplies of non perishable food, a generator etc. But that's just me being picky as it did help ramp up the tension.

In spite of those faults I Lie in Wait gradually becomes a page turner and the ending was such a surprise I am still shaking my head. I would definitely read more by this author.

This Novel is about Amelia Taylor. Amelia hasn't had a very easy life. Her mom passed away from Cancer, Her younger sister Lark has disappeared out of thin air and Amelia miscarried her own child back in London. Amelia decided to surprise her dad and brother with a visit. But things are about to get even harder for Amelia if that's even possible. Will Amelia find her sister and get her life back in order?. Youll just have to read to find out.

This book was awesome!! I really liked it. Amanda Brittany did a very good job writing it. I was totally hooked once I started reading. I couldn't stop, I just needed to find out what happens next. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I love the suspense of the book and mystery. I also really enjoyed the short chapters, it was very easy to read and not confusing with the back and forth in time. My favourite character has to be Amelia. She's badass and never gave up. I really liked the setting of the book, Scotland is soo mysteries has it is. It was perfect.

I would like to say thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for giving me the chance to read and review this novel.

I highly recommend this novel to anything that loves mystery/ suspense in a book. this one totally has it.

I will totally be looking at other books from this author.

A must read, would not of guessed who in a million years!! Kept me enthralled from the very beginning to the bitter end. I highly recommend this book you will not be disappointed

I really enjoyed this book. A year ago, Amelia's sister Lark disappeared while on a family holiday in Scotland. The police assume she was abducted, but the case has now gone cold. When Amelia's father says he is going back to look for anything they might have missed, she decides to go with him. As the weather turns treacherous, another girl goes missing. This is a great story which has a number of twists you won't see coming. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Great story with twists and turns. Keeps you guessing throughout with a great twist at the end. The story has a mixture or murder mystery, disappearances, love and grief. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and looking forward to reading more