The Stepmother
Represented by:
Sophie Gorell Barnes
Category:
psychological thriller
Publisher:
Hodder
Publication date:
September 24, 2026
Foreign rights controlled by:
MBA
Foreign rights sold:
LPA
It starts like all the other days. Sarah arrives at the school gate to bring her stepchildren, Izzy and Patrick home.
But today, the twins don’t come running.
Apparently, their father, Mike, took them hours earlier and now his phone goes straight to voicemail. When Sarah goes to the police, she’s told that as she and Mike were never married, she has no rights. There is nothing they can do.
A text arrives from Mike: Don’t go home. It’s not safe.
What or who is he running from? Where has he taken their children?
And how far will Sarah go to bring her family home before it’s too late?
Reviews
NetGalley Reviews
'Had more twists than a corkscrew there was always another twist or piece of action that kept my attention. A truly fantastic book!... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, holding my breath until the nail-biting finale. A must read for psychological thriller fans!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Talk about a whirlwind of a plot! It's fast-paced and most definitely thrilling... A twisty, twisty tale that just rolls with the punches! As it unfolded I was almost inhaling the book!... Fabulous read!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Absolutely amazing and I read this over the course of a day as I could not put it down! What a book! This story was one that kept me turning page after page... 5 stars amazing!!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Gripping, emotionally charged thriller that hooks you from the very first page and refuses to let go... The pacing is sharp and addictive, with short, tense chapters that make it almost impossible to put down. Just when you think you have a grasp on what's happening, another twist pulls you deeper into the mystery' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Absolutely gripping from the very first page, this is a thriller that wastes no time throwing you straight into every parent's worst nightmare... Just when you think you've figured things out, another twist pulls the rug from under you... Dark, twisty, and full of suspense, this is a binge-worthy thriller that keeps you guessing right until the final pages' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Grabbed me by the collar in the prologue and said, you're not sleeping tonight. And it was absolutely right... I was completely hooked' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The tension builds brilliantly, and the action never lets up, which kept me completely hooked from start to finish... The twists were genuinely unexpected' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Gripping psychological thriller with strong emotional depth and plenty of suspense... Fantastic' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'An action-packed plot... Gripping is an understatement... The kind of book you start, then barely put down until you reach the shocking and unexpected conclusion. A fabulous psychological thriller that fully deserves five stars' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Other publications by Sheila Bugler
Click on book titles to view full details including rights information.
