In Too Deep By Samantha Hayes

I love Samantha Hayes’ thrillers. And her In Too Deep did not disappoint me as I was deeply hooked from the opening pages.

In Too Deep by Samantha Hayes

The premise of In Too Deep is great. One Saturday morning, Rick went out to the shop for a newspaper but never returned. Rick’s disappearance was the second trauma to befall this family. A couple of years earlier, Rick’s son Jacob was killed in a hit and run and the driver was never found.

Months later, Rick’s wife Gina and daughter Hannah are still trying to come to terms with his sudden disappearance. Gina is consumed with guilt, blame and confusion. Hannah is frustrated by her mother’s emotional fragility and is burdened with her own guilt and secrets which she wants to keep hidden from her mum.

Out of the blue, Gina receives a phone call from a hotel. Apparently Rick had secretly booked a romantic week away before he vanished. Hoping to uncover some clues to the disappearance of Rick, Hannah and Gina decide to go on the hotel break Rick has booked. Susan, the hotel owner, appears to be very friendly and kind but Gina has a gut feeling there’s a darker side to her.

The novel alternates between Hannah and Gina’s narratives. It soon becomes clear that both of them are capable of deception. Gina is so emotionally vulnerable it also leaves her open to exploitation and delusion.

The ending is chilling and it leaves me wondering what will happen. This is a gripping novel that completely fulfils the criteria for a psychological thriller. It skilfully builds tension and pulls you in so deep that you wish you can finish it in one sitting.