'I absolutely LOVED this book.' Marian Keyes

Was she taken ... or did she run? The pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of You Don't Know Me

Longlisted for the Davitt Awards 2026

Shortlisted for the WA Premier's Book Awards 2026

Rose was torn away from her daughter. Now, is she the only one who can save her?

Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote Western Australian beach, and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care, Rose is asked to help bring Lou home. The police think Rose's insights will lead them to Lou, but they don't realise that Rose hardly knows her daughter anymore.

This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood's illustrious career, and there's a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and as their multimillionaire grandfather breathes down Blackwood's neck for results, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn't know who he can trust.

Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter's innocence, but how can she be sure of that when she's no longer part of Lou's life? Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers' secrets, the investigation takes a much darker turn. Shadows of the past gather around the Fishers and Rose, and soon it's clear that every hour is critical. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?

'I was gripped by When She Was Gone, I couldn't bear being away from it. The characterisation is top-notch: such interesting, flawed, nuanced people. And the plotting is excellent - I was guessing and guessing and getting it wrong. I absolutely LOVED this book.' Marian Keyes

'This assured, utterly absorbing novel will have you up late into the night, still turning pages. Sara Foster sensitively and persuasively renders both the banality and unique horror of violence against women and asks, how far would you be willing to go to save someone you love? This was an absolute highlight of my reading year.' Hayley Scrivenor

'Masterfully told, the stakes are high in this emotionally gripping and utterly unforgettable story. Don't plan on getting anything else done once you start reading!' Natasha Lester

'I was hooked from the first chapter: the characters were compelling, the pace was perfect and the ending was satisfying, with a few twists I didn't see coming. It's a read-in-one-gulp story (my favourite kind) that kept me guessing until the end.' Kayte Nunn

'When She Was Gone is a masterclass of suspense, an edge of your seat story that kept me up all night.' Dervla McTiernan

'A chilling family saga about power, privilege and revenge. Sara Foster at her spine-tingling best.' Tim Ayliffe

'I loved the premise before I even opened the book, and from then on, I was hooked. Sharp, compelling and clever, Sara's story of rich people behaving badly had me captivated until the final pages. Put it on your to-read list!' Ali Lowe, author of The Trivia Night

'The most propulsive thriller of the year. I challenge anyone to put it down once you've read the first page.' Tess Woods, author of The Venice Hotel

Praise for Sara Foster and her novels:

'Gripping and chilling all at once' Australian Women's Weekly

'A twisty, well-crafted thriller' West Australian