Don't Answer The Phone
- Judith D Collins
- Mar 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 8
By: Miranda Rijks
ISBN: 9781837567157
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Publication Date: 03/08/2026
Format: e-book
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
She’s the woman of his dreams. He’s the monster from her nightmares.
When Daniella rescues elderly Peggy from a mugger on a Boston street, she expects nothing in return. But then she meets Peggy's son, Lucas—devastatingly handsome and utterly captivating. Unlike her distant husband Grant, Lucas sees her. Wants her.
Daniella can’t resist and they spend one reckless night together which she immediately regrets.
Too late, because Lucas doesn't just want Daniella. He needs her. And he's willing to destroy everything—and everyone—standing in his way.
Lucas plays the long game, worming his way into Daniella's life—befriending Grant, charming her twin daughters, inveigling his way into her family. Every time she turns around, he seems to be there.
As the depths of his obsession become clear, Daniella realizes she’s in a fight for her life. Because the family she tried to help is hiding something dark. Something deadly.
And she's already in too deep to escape.
Don’t Answer The Phone - the chilling psychological thriller from the best-selling author of One Little Mistake and The Visitors.
My Review
In Miranda Rijks, DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE, a seemingly simple act of kindness unravels into a chilling spiral of obsession, peril, and cunning manipulation.
This riveting psychological thriller weaves a tale that will ensnare your senses and keep you riveted to the pages, as the characters navigate a dark labyrinth of intentions and consequences that blur the lines between trust and betrayal.
Highlights...
The Act of Kindness:
In Boston, Daniella rescues an elderly woman named Peggy from a mugger.
The Meeting:
Daniella meets Peggy’s son, Lucas, who is captivating and handsome. Struggling with her distant husband Grant, Daniella gives in to attraction and spends one reckless night with Lucas.
Immediate Regret:
Daniella immediately regrets the affair, but Lucas is not willing to let go. He becomes obsessively fixated on her.
The Infiltration:
Lucas begins to "play the long game," systematically inserting himself into Daniella’s family life. He charms her twin daughters and even befriends her husband, Grant.
The Obsession Deepens:
As Lucas's behavior becomes increasingly stalkerish and creepy, Daniella realizes he is willing to destroy anyone who stands in his way.
Dark Family Secrets:
Daniella discovers that Peggy and Lucas are hiding a deadly secret, and she is already too deeply involved to escape.
The Climax:
As Daniella fights for her life and the safety of her family.
My thoughts...
Claustrophobic and unsettling, Lucas emerges as a deeply creepy figure who infiltrates not only Daniella's home but also her social circle, weaving a web of deceit and manipulation. The air is thick with an ever-present tension, a constant feeling that a single misstep could lead to an explosive confrontation.
Rijks masterfully maintains a pulse-pounding high-stakes suspense throughout the narrative, expertly layering twists that keep the reader on edge, and just when you think you've unraveled the mystery, the story takes a sharp turn, leaving you reeling.
Lucas embodies the archetype of a "skin-crawling" villain, characterized by his predatory patience and his calculated ability to dismantle Daniella's life from within. Unlike the typical "slasher" villain who lurks in the shadows, Lucas integrates himself seamlessly into Daniella’s daily existence. He methodically ingratiates himself with her husband, Grant, and her twin daughters, gradually establishing himself as an unsettling fixture within the very walls that should provide her sanctuary.
He uses his good looks and initial kindness—with his elderly mother—as a shield. This makes Daniella's attempts to push him away look irrational or cruel to her family, effectively gaslighting her within her own social circle.
In a calculated obsession, Lucas doesn't just want a relationship; he believes he needs Daniella. He plays the "long game," showing a level of strategic planning that makes him feel inescapable.
Beyond the stalking, he and his family harbor a deadly secret. By the time Daniella realizes the true extent of his darkness, she is already "too deep" to escape
Themes...
~Domestic Intimacy
~Manipulation
~Consequences of Deception
Recs...
If you enjoy the author's specific "fast-paced and twisty" style, readers of Don't Answer the Phone will enjoy these Miranda Rijks titles:
~The New Neighbour
~The Homemaker
~Forget Me Not
~I Want You Gone
Many thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: March 8, 2026
About the Author
Miranda Rijks is the bestselling author of 27 fast-paced psychological thrillers. You can download her FREE novella The Cheat, on her website mirandarijks . com. She also offers readers the chance to name characters in her books.
Miranda lives in Sussex, England, and when she’s not writing, she’s planning her next trip to The Alps, knitting obsessively, or getting distracted by her black Labrador.
Before turning to fiction, Miranda helped newbie entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses. In 2015, she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. This completely changed her life and when she recovered, she started writing full-time. WEBSITE
