Synopsis

One year ago, Isabelle Drake’s life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to herβliterally.
Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasnβt slept in a year.
Isabelle’s entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she canβt go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcasterβbut his interest in Isabelle’s past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Masonβs disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust… including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.
Audiobook Review
6 stars!
Chilling, grippingβ¦
First Iβd like to praise the narrator Karissa Vacker who did an outstanding job narrating Isabelleβs story! The male and children voices were also very well done, making everything believable!
I wonβt give a lot of details as itβs a mystery and I donβt want to spoil your fun.
As the synopsis says, the action centers around Isabelleβs quest to find her son Mason who has been kidnapped one year ago while she and her husband, Ben were asleep.
No clue was left, just the window open and Masonβs stuffed dinosaur left behind in the mud.
The case went rapidly cold but Isabelle canβt let it go. She HAS to know what happened. She HAS to find her son.
Her husband grew tired of Isabelleβs obsession at collecting clues, developing theories and alsoβ¦lack of sleep. They are now separated.
Sleep was like another main character in the story.
The Isabelle from now hadnβt slept a whole night in one year! She has micro naps, small blackoutβ¦ and that made her an unreliable narrator because sleep deprivation can induce hallucinations.
So what is true that Isabelle sees and do?
And the Isabelle from her youth was a very deep sleeper. She sleepwalked a lot and that was also frightening to realize that she did a lot of things at night she had no recollection of having done come morning!
Isabelle is now growing desperate and thatβs why she accepts Waylenβs offer to feature in his true crime podcast. She feels heard, finally. But as the synopsis says, his interest in her past makes her reconsider her trust.
Thatβs all for the synopsis!
The book is told between past Isabelle, from her childhood as a senatorβs daughter and big sister to Margaret to present Isabelle in her search for her son Mason.
We also get a few chapters from Isabelle some eight years ago when she met her husband.
I had tons of theories about βwho did itβ and βwhat happenedβ throughout the book, evolving according to new revelations about Isabelle or her entourage.
This was completely mind boggling and entrancing.
Disheartening somehow too as we realize how in these βcrimesβ the mother is often considered as the usual suspect. Stacy Willingham developed some taboo topics about motherhood, going from depression to the permanent guilt of mothers who always think they never do enough, are good enough.
It was frightening and fascinating when we learn what people can do while sleepwalking! Some can even have conversations with other people or drive their car and donβt remember the day after!
And the part that was hard to read was what happened in Isabelleβs childhood. The narrator did such an amazing job impersonating Isabelle and her little sister Margaret that I had literal chills when the tension rose and that I just KNEW that something bad would happen!
All the time Stacy Willingham sent me on goose chase and I absolutely had no idea what truly happened until the big reveal.
The ending was satisfying but also β¦questionable in my opinion as there is a bad deed that still will remain unpunished. I wonβt elaborate more.
If you are an amateur of the genre, I totally recommend this one! That wonβt be my last from this author!
Thanks for reading!
Sophie

Yaaaas, this one was pretty insane! I was obsessed!
Same!!! I was franctically listening to it!
This one kept me guessing until the end too!
It was so so good!
I really need to read this. I’m fascinated by the idea that she barely slept in a year. How is that even possible?? Wonderful review, Sophie
That’s what I was wondering Tammy but read it and you’ll understand π
Ohhh, this sounds very intriguing and perfect for my tastes! Thank you so much for sharing π
You are so welcome!
It’s so frustrating when you wish something to be resolved but isn’t by the end of the book but this does sound like a must-read! Great review! π
It is an amazing read!
This sounds like one of those can’t-put-it-down stories. I’m seeing raves for this one everywhere I turn… glad to see it was such a hit for you!!
It certainly is one I couldn’t put down!