Summary
In She Didn't See It Coming, Shari Lapena unravels a web of intrigue and lies surrounding the disappearance of Bryden Frost, a working mother who never arrived to pick up her young daughter from daycare. Suspicions and tensions quickly mount among Bryden’s husband, sister, neighbors, and best friend, who all have secrets to hide. Then, there’s the stranger who rear-ended Bryden’s car that morning. In this riveting domestic thriller, Lapena keeps readers gripped and guessing until the final shocking reveal.
Plot
She Didn't See It Coming revolves around the mysterious disappearance of 35-year-old Bryden Frost, a wife and mother in Albany, New York. On a typical work-from-home day, Bryden drops off her daughter, Clara, at daycare and returns to her condo. That evening, her husband, Sam, gets a call from the daycare that Bryden never arrived to pick up Clara. He rushes home to find Bryden’s car, purse, and phone in the apartment, but no sign of his wife. Panic sets in as family and friends realize that Bryden has gone missing. Leading the investigation, Detective Jayne Salter finds herself facing a classic locked-room mystery and a cast of suspects, each with their own motivations, fears, and demons.
Prominent among these is Sam, whose outward appearance of devoted husband and father hides his volatile character and a shocking betrayal. Other persons of interest include a neighbor previously accused of a violent crime, an alluring stranger who collided with Bryden’s car that morning, and Bryden’s best friend, Paige, who has her own dark secrets. To complicate matters, Bryden’s sister Lizzie becomes obsessed, launching a parallel investigation on social media. Everything becomes more intense when Bryden is no longer declared missing but murdered.
Through the interplay of these characters, all unreliable narrators, Shari Lapena masterfully explores the theme of deception—how it can erode the foundations of trust, compromise our moral compasses, and ultimately, lead to the unraveling of the lives we've so carefully constructed. When the killer is finally revealed, readers are left to grapple with the complexities of morality, the fragility of the human psyche, and the devastating impact of even the smallest of lies.
Themes
The corrosive power of deception
At the core of She Didn't See It Coming is an exploration of the ways in which deception can undermine the very fabric of our lives. Shari Lapena examines how the characters' web of lies, even those told with the best of intentions, can ultimately lead to the erosion of trust, the destruction of relationships, and the unraveling of carefully constructed identities. The novel’s tension is rooted in the contrast between the mundane—domestic routines, family dynamics, everyday frustrations—and the monstrous.
The impact of social media and on criminal investigations
In the novel, Lizzie launches a Facebook group, under an alias, devoted to finding her missing sister, and later to identifying Bryden’s killer. Spreading rumors, leaking information, and influencing public perception, Lizzie’s social media community reflects the danger of rogue investigations,, the hunger for attention, and the ease with which truth is distorted online.
The fragility of the human psyche
She Didn't See It Coming delves into the fragility of the human psyche, as the characters are forced to confront the consequences of their past actions, including substance abuse, infidelity, and domestic violence, and the toll it takes on their mental and emotional well-being. Lapena's skillful storytelling invites readers to consider the complex interplay between our outward personas and the turmoil that may be raging within.
Characters
Bryden Frost: A 35-year-old accountant, wife of Sam, and mother of Clara, whose mysterious disappearance sets the novel's events in motion.
Sam Frost: Bryden's husband, a successful portfolio manager struggling with stress, addiction, and anger issues. Outwardly devoted to Bryden, he is secretly abusive and unfaithful. He becomes the prime suspect in Bryden’s disappearance and eventual murder.
Paige Mason: Bryden’s longtime friend and godmother to her daughter, Clara. Ambitious and emotionally needy, Paige is secretly consumed by envy of Bryden’s seemingly ideal life.
Lizzie Houser: Bryden’s younger sister, who becomes obsessed with the case as an anonymous online sleuth.
Detective Jayne Salter: The investigator tasked with unraveling the mystery of Bryden's disappearance, who serves as the novel’s moral anchor.
Derek Gardner: The driver who rear-ended Bryden’s car on the morning of her disappearance, whose charm and mysterious past draw suspicion.
Angela Romano: Bryden’s friend and neighbor, a fellow mother who becomes a caretaker for Clara during the crisis.
Henry and Tracy Kemp: Other neighbors who have a history of scandal, who add to the atmosphere of suspicion and fear in the building from which Bryden vanished.
Quick facts
Published in 2025, She Didn't See It Coming is Shari Lapena's seventh work of domestic and psychological suspense.
Lapena's previous novels, including The Couple Next Door and An Unwanted Guest, have earned her critical acclaim and a dedicated global readership.
She Didn't See It Coming has been praised for its complex and multifaceted characters, as well as its ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
She Didn't See It Coming features several unreliable narrators.
The novel employs a classic locked-room mystery structure, delving into a disappearance in a sealed environment.
Lapena’s exploration of themes like deception, the fragility of the human psyche, and the possibility of redemption has drawn comparisons to the works of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.
About the author
Shari Lapena is an internationally bestselling Canadian author known for her psychological thrillers. She has gained a reputation for crafting works of suspense that explore the dark secrets lurking beneath seemingly perfect suburban lives, driven by complex characters and unreliable narrators. Characterized by short chapters, multiple perspectives, and unexpected twists, her novels include The Couple Next Door, An Unwanted Guest, and She Didn't See It Coming.
