EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE by Miranda Rijks
⭐️ rating: 7/10

read if you like:
🕵🏻 kidnapping
🏡 family dramas
💨 quick read thrillers

summary:
I binged this right after Freida McFadden’s new book, and for fans of her style, this book is for you! It’s about Eva and Samuel, a seemingly happy couple, living with their two children when Samuel goes missing after a night out with friends. Eva quickly discovers that he has been kidnapped by someone determined to do everything in their power to split the couple up. They communicate with Eva through Snapchat, delivering several “dares” that Eva has to complete in order for Samuel to live. While everyone around her is increasingly concerned about her erratic behavior, Eva is fighting for her husbands life while wondering — where is he, and who is he with?

The book alternates POV’s between Eva’s and the kidnappers, and moves quickly. I was a little creeped out by the kidnappers story, but I guess that’s the point? It’s hard to say a lot without spoiling anything, but I will say it was hard to see Eva get gaslit by all her friends and family while she refuses to tell them what’s going on with Samuel. They all assume she’s going crazy and no one bothers to give her the benefit of the doubt, which is frustrating to watch. The big reveal takes place halfway through the book, which is nice, and then there is a HUGE curveball at the end.

If you like quick reads with a shock factor, check out EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE. Thanks to Inkubator Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy. You can read this for yourself when it releases on July 14!

What a brilliant book this is, I think this has to be Miranda's best yet and I have read quite a few.

The storyline was exciting with great characters, a twisty read that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I had to stay up until midnight to finish it and what can I say about the fantastic ending, just brilliant with everything brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC which has to be another of one of my top ten reads for 2024.

Wow! Did not see that coming.
A crazy story with a crazy twist.

Great character build up and definitely one that will keep you interested in the storyline.

I’m so happy I stumbled across this author. She is a master storyteller and you will be happy you read her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
This was a knuckle bitter, tense and full.of surprises, with interesting characters. It's written alternatively by the wife and the lover and that works really well. Everyone thinks the poor wife is in need of a psychiatrist, but surely she's entitled to be super upset by having her loving husband end their marriage (by text!) to tell her he's met someone else and disappears.
Good read with quite a shocking twist.

Wow what a read! I am a big fan of Miranda Rijks and this did not disappoint.
Eva's husband is kidnapped and she is forced into never ending ridiculous stunts. Unable to allow the police or friends to help her i just kept thinking what the hell would i do in her position?
I read this far to quickly but i was sucked into the story from the start.
The ending was not what i expected at all.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.
This gets a huge five stars from me.

What a great thriller! I’m glad I got to read it. I’ll definitely recommend it to my fellow bookish friends!

Eva's husband, Samuel disappears after a night out with his friends.
She gets a text saying that he has met someone else, but she cannot believe it.
Then she gets texts saying that she has to complete a 'bucket list'.
She is desperate to save her husband from whoever has him.

I am a huge fan of Miranda Rijks books, and this one did not disappoint.
It was taut, and twisty and extremely suspenseful.
I recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Oh Holy Moses! Miranda Rijks knocks this one clean out of the park! So many fascinating levels in the story. The characters were so well done, I loved or love to hate each one of them. Packed with tension, twists and fabulous reveals. I’m just so disappointed the book had to end. Wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Do not let this gem pass you by.
Thank you NetGalley and Miranda Rijks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Has her husband really left her? Or is someone playing a deadly game? When Eva’s husband Samuel doesn’t come home from a boys’ night out, she thinks he’s sleeping off his hangover at a friend’s house. So she waits. And waits... Eventually, he sends her a text , he’s met someone else and needs a few days to get his head together. Eva is devastated. How could he do this? How could he do it to their children? She’d thought her marriage was rock solid. She tries to go on with her life as best she can. But then things take a truly bizarre turn! Good book!! When I saw this author I was like heck yeah!! This book was definitely worth reading! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, revenge, a crazy who done it and a few twists and turns! I was confused a bit with a character at times was it a girl or a boy??!! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

When Eva's husband Samuel doesn't come home after a night out with friends she's not too worried,just assumes that he's gone home with one of them after a heavy night. When she receives a text from him saying that he's met someone else she definitely does worry,then panics when she receives a further message showing a picture of him with a knife held to his neck. The sender tells Eva that if she doesn't follow their demands Samuel will die, if she reports the situation to the police he will die.
With ever more demanding and bizarre demands being made on her Eva's friends and family fear for her sanity,exactly what Samuel's captor is hoping.

A twisty and entertaining story,the ending will catch most readers napping. A quick and easy read that I read cover to cover in a few hours.

I have read several novels by Rijks, and loved them, BUT this is her best yet.

Eva’s family is tested when she gets a text message. Her husband Samuel went out late last night and did not show up by morning. This is very unusual for him. The message appears to be from a kidnapper and wants her to complete a bucket list to save her husband and children.

I love how this novel has alternating chapters with The Wife & The Lover. So many possibilities for the reasoning behind the kidnapping. After all, Eva is rich and her husband business is thriving.

The bucket list is very strange. It’s not your typical bucket list, which of course had me mind spinning at that the bizarre request.

This one will have you guessing the motives behind the abduction down to the last chapter.

If you looking for a crazy plot which will have you reading late past bedtime, THIS is the novel

Thank you Inkubator Books for the gifted eARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this, the pacing was good, main character's increasing stress and disorientation was palpable, and the other POV chapters were pretty fascinating. Made me gag at one point, and a few gasps. Can't really think what more to say without spoilers. Will very definitely be checking out more by this author, always nice to find a new thriller writer I enjoy, with plenty of back catalogue!

You assume your life is perfect, until it isnt
This is the first book I have read by Miranda Rijks and will definitely NOT be my last! I was hooked from the very beginning. The story had characters I found very relatable. I really enjoyed the suspense and being on the edge of my seat! I was completely enthralled with tbis book and I highly recommended reading it.

When Eva's husband samuel disappears and is revealed to be kidnapped eva struggles between following the kidnappers demands or telling the police. The kidnapper sends a list of demands to eva called the bucket list with each new demand crazier than the one before. Eva does everything in the list with concerns for samuel and her children's lives.

There is a lot of suspense in this novel and twist and turns until about halfway through you realize who the kidnapper is but eva is still unaware. Everything builds up to a great ending