When You Looked Away
Will be published approx. on 9. July 2026
Book
Hardback
400 pages
978-0-241-76514-2 (ISBN)
Description
PRE-ORDER NOW! THE NEW DI STRATTON THRILLER FROM THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF BELIEVE
It's every mother's worst nightmare.
Your son is gone.
And everyone's a suspect...
'Suspenseful and kept me guessing with a killer twist' 5***** Reader Review
'Brilliantly plotted...an intense, emotional read' 5***** Reader Review
-----
Laura is ready to start a new chapter.
Between her messy divorce with her ex-husband, and moving in with her new fiance, her son Benjy and her successful writing career have been her only constants.
Until that fateful day. The afternoon starts like any other. Laura collects Benjy from school, then heads upstairs to write.
It's not until the sun is setting that she realises the house is quiet. Too quiet.
It's not until she sees the footprints in the garden that she knows something is terribly wrong.
One set is undeniably Benjy's. It's the other set that strikes fear in her heart - those of an adult.
Someone who took her son, right from under her nose...
DI Stratton is called to investigate. She must trust no one - and suspect everyone. Even Laura.
After all, doesn't her latest story follow a boy the same age as Benjy? One that takes a devastating turn...
-----
Why readers can't put When You Looked Away down!
'Captivated me immediately and held me until the very last word' 5***** reader review
'Really gripping and emotional...excellent' 5***** reader review
'Clever, chilling and chock full of intrigue, emotion and rawness' 5***** reader review
'The plotting and pacing is masterful, keeping the tension high throughout...I didn't guess the ending and was desperate to find out the truth. It's impossible to put down!' 5***** reader review
Why authors and reviewers LOVE S.M. Govett:
'The very definition of a page turner' Janice Hallett
'A properly good, tense thriller which had me guessing until the end' Jennie Godfrey
'One of the finest crime stories of the year' Daily Mail
'A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming' Sarah Pinborough
'An addictive domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and dialogue that will keep you up all night' Abigail Dean
'You won't put it down once you start' Prima
It's every mother's worst nightmare.
Your son is gone.
And everyone's a suspect...
'Suspenseful and kept me guessing with a killer twist' 5***** Reader Review
'Brilliantly plotted...an intense, emotional read' 5***** Reader Review
-----
Laura is ready to start a new chapter.
Between her messy divorce with her ex-husband, and moving in with her new fiance, her son Benjy and her successful writing career have been her only constants.
Until that fateful day. The afternoon starts like any other. Laura collects Benjy from school, then heads upstairs to write.
It's not until the sun is setting that she realises the house is quiet. Too quiet.
It's not until she sees the footprints in the garden that she knows something is terribly wrong.
One set is undeniably Benjy's. It's the other set that strikes fear in her heart - those of an adult.
Someone who took her son, right from under her nose...
DI Stratton is called to investigate. She must trust no one - and suspect everyone. Even Laura.
After all, doesn't her latest story follow a boy the same age as Benjy? One that takes a devastating turn...
-----
Why readers can't put When You Looked Away down!
'Captivated me immediately and held me until the very last word' 5***** reader review
'Really gripping and emotional...excellent' 5***** reader review
'Clever, chilling and chock full of intrigue, emotion and rawness' 5***** reader review
'The plotting and pacing is masterful, keeping the tension high throughout...I didn't guess the ending and was desperate to find out the truth. It's impossible to put down!' 5***** reader review
Why authors and reviewers LOVE S.M. Govett:
'The very definition of a page turner' Janice Hallett
'A properly good, tense thriller which had me guessing until the end' Jennie Godfrey
'One of the finest crime stories of the year' Daily Mail
'A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming' Sarah Pinborough
'An addictive domestic thriller with razor sharp writing and dialogue that will keep you up all night' Abigail Dean
'You won't put it down once you start' Prima
Reviews / Votes
Praise for S.M. Govett -- : The very definition of a page turner. A thought-provoking mystery, brimming with suspense...S.M. Govett is one to watch -- Janice Hallett Propulsive and provocative, taut and timely -- A.J. Finn A superior psychological thriller...gripping, clever and full of twists you won't see coming -- Sarah PinboroughMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight
604 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-241-76514-2 (9780241765142)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
S.M. Govett read Law at Trinity College, Oxford, before qualifying as a solicitor in the City. After realising that didn't suit her, she started tutoring before turning her hand to writing, which she discovered was her true calling. She has since authored several bestselling YA novels, including The Territory trilogy and We Go On Forever. She also co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film, T.I.M., which was the no. 1 film on Netflix upon release. Believe is her debut adult thriller.
She currently lives in London with her husband and three children.
She currently lives in London with her husband and three children.