Mother Missing

‘Ruth Dugdall’s novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent’ Sophie Hannah She vanished without a trace. But someone knows exactly where she is. Bronte Lowe — single mother and the key witness to a local hit-and-run — disappears in broad daylight.

Probation officer Cate Austin is used to spotting lies. So when Adam, one of her offenders, starts raising red flags, she can’t ignore her instincts.

Meanwhile, Adam’s girlfriend Freya has just moved into his remote cliffside home, hoping for a fresh start. But something isn’t right. The closer she looks, the more she senses the house is hiding something — or someone.

As Bronte’s disappearance collides with Cate’s investigation, a web of secrets begins to unravel. When desperation takes over, how far will three women go to protect what they love?

Don't miss this gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Joy Ellis from award-winning, Kindle #1 bestselling author Ruth Dugdall. Readers LOVE the Cate Austin casefiles series: ‘This book is an absolute page turner, a fantastic psychological thriller with the perfect amount of suspense and emotion to captivate the reader’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Fantastic book, my heart was racing throughout’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I am struggling this review as it is so much better than my words can express and it stirred up so much in me, it's really a crime/psych thriller mix and it's done so well. I was immersed in this novel’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I was drawn into the book in the best way. It was way more than a thriller and really dug into parts of my soul' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'An ending that took my breath away and left my mind reeling!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

© 2026 HQ Digital (Audiobook): 9780008805616

Release date

Audiobook: 24 September 2026