She Treads Softly: Caller Unknown

Monday, January 26, 2026

Caller Unknown

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
2/24/26; 352 pages
William Morrow

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister is a highly recommended thriller following a mother and daughter during a series of disturbing events.

Simone arrives from the UK to Fort Davis in the Big Bend region of Texas where Lucy has been attending a vocal workshop. The plan is to spend time with her daughter Lucy on an enjoyable vacation before Lucy leaves home for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. Simone awakens the morning after their first night in the cabin they rented and finds all her luggage there but Lucy gone. Then she receives a message, caller unknown, on a cell phone left in Lucy's bed. She is instructed to not tell the police, go to a specific location, and be prepared to follow instructions if she wants to see her daughter again. She does receive a video with proof Lucy's still alive.

Simone calls her husband Damien who encourages her to call the police, but she declines, worried about Lucy's safety. Damien says he will be on a flight to the USA and Simone proceeds to follow the kidnapper's instructions. Instead of a ransom demand, Simone is given a task. Simone follows the instructions and this sets into motion a distressing encounter, morality choices, an arduous journey, and intense cat and mouse game.

This well-written thriller starts out at a sweeping, intense, nail-biting pace and then slows down as the situation changes. The sources threatening Simone and Lucy include humans but also the harsh environment as they are on the run. Along with the thriller plot line, the narrative also explores the close relationship/connection between mothers and daughters. The middle part of the novel becomes a thoughtful character study and examination of familiar relationships. The ending explodes back into action with surprising developments and twists. Take note that there are several times I had to set disbelief aside while reading.

The characters are all well-developed and intimately portrayed as complex individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The exploration of the connection between mothers and daughters, and the sacrifices mothers will make for their children is especially well done and compassionately depicted through thoughts and deeds throughout the narrative.

Caller Unknown is a great choice for those who enjoy thrillers which feature a mother and daughter encountering a tension-packed situation. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.