Ella Longsfield is travelling by train when she overhears two young men flirting with two teenage girls. She thinks nothing of it until she hears that the men are fresh out of prison, her maternal instincts become on high alert. But, just as Anna has decided to call for help, something stops her. The next day, one of the girls – Anna Ballard – has disappeared. No trace of evidence is uncovered and no suspects to tie them to the supposed abduction and possible murder of Anna Ballard.

Ella is wracked with guilt fearing that she is to blame for Anna’s disappearance, failing to do what she should have done that day on the train. Someone starts sending Ella letters to her… “I am watching you…” One year on and an appeal is brought to the attention of the general public. It becomes clear to the reader that Anna’s friend Sarah hasn’t been telling the whole truth about what happened that fateful night, nor have Anna’s parents as deeper secrets are uncovered. Who is responsible for Anna’s murder? Who knows where she is?

The themes explored in this book are harsh and bring light to real issues that happen in daily life. Themes include teenage abduction, physical violence and murder, all of these themes are central to the book. Mental illness and suicide is also explored throughout, particularly feelings towards guilt and trauma. Domestic violence is also explored in regards to physical and emotional abuse. Sex is also a central theme to the book and is threaded throughout. 

I read this book within three days as I just couldn’t put it down. The different points of view put across in this book added to the tension and suspense I felt overall for this book. I kept trying to guess who the killer was, it turns out all my guesses were totally wrong. The killer really was hidden until the end of the book and the possibility of another murder was imminent. 

This book was my first read of 2021 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to read more of Teresa Driscoll’s books again. Unlike some crime books this one doesn’t focus on the gory, blood side to the investigation but the aftermath and the effect it has on the family members and friends. I would recommend this book to all readers, new and old to the crime genre section of the book store.