In an Instant

Name: In an Instant
Price: 15.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798453973217

✍️ Hazel Holmes

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$15.99

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A detective mother hunts a kidnapper after finding a secret bunker of children.

The narrative centers on Mia, a dedicated single mother and detective. She faces a crisis when young girls vanish from local bookstores and libraries. Her efforts to protect her community lead to the discovery of a hidden bunker filled with children. While the public celebrates her as a hero, Mia knows the danger is not gone. New calls about missing children prove the predator is still active. The story tracks her relentless pursuit of justice while she manages her household responsibilities. Holmes portrays the exhaustion of balancing professional duty with maternal protection. The plot relies on the tension between perceived safety and ongoing threat.

Key Themes

single mother detective secret bunker discovery ongoing kidnappings

Literary Context

Published in 2021 by Independently Published, this work sits within the modern thriller genre. It reflects contemporary anxieties about child safety in public spaces like libraries and bookstores. The independent release highlights the current landscape of self-published horror and suspense fiction in the United States.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Gillian Flynn · Louise Penny · Tana French · Lisa Gardner

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798453973217

📝 Description: In an Instant

Hazel Holmes delivers a tense thriller in In an Instant, focusing on Mia, a single mother who works as a detective. The narrative begins with a series of kidnappings targeting young girls in bookstores and libraries, which sends shockwaves through her small town. Mia must balance her duties as an officer with the demands of raising her family alone while hunting a dangerous predator. Her investigation leads to the discovery of a secret bunker containing recovered children. Although she is hailed as a hero for saving the youngsters, Mia believes the case is finally closed. The story shifts when she receives calls reporting additional missing children. This recurring pattern suggests the threat has not ended, forcing her to confront a persistent danger that refuses to stay buried. This book suits readers who enjoy domestic suspense and police procedurals involving single parents. It may not appeal to those seeking extensive world-building or supernatural elements, as the focus remains tightly on Mia’s personal and professional struggle against a human threat.

💎 Our verdict on In an Instant

“

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Holmes delivers a tense narrative focusing on Mia, a detective mother hunting a predator after discovering a secret bunker of children. The book excels in portraying the exhaustion of balancing professional duty with maternal protection, creating palpable tension between perceived safety and ongoing threat. While it lacks supernatural elements or extensive world-building, its strength lies in the realistic depiction of single-parent struggles against human evil. This makes it an excellent choice for fans of domestic suspense who prefer grounded, psychological stakes over fantastical horror. The recurring pattern of missing children ensures the danger feels persistent and real. It is best suited for readers who enjoy police procedurals with a heavy emotional core and those interested in the intersection of law enforcement and family dynamics.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to intense domestic suspense and grounded police procedurals will find this book compelling. It offers a gritty look at the exhaustion of a single mother detective, making it ideal for those who appreciate character-driven narratives over supernatural spectacle. The tension between perceived safety and ongoing danger provides a steady, engaging pace for fans of psychological horror and true crime adjacent fiction who want to see justice pursued relentlessly. Those seeking tight focus on professional struggle rather than world-building will enjoy the realistic portrayal of maternal fear. It suits audiences who prefer human threats and emotional realism over fantastical elements, offering a relatable yet harrowing exploration of a mother’s fight to protect her community from unseen predators.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Holmes delivers a tense narrative focusing on Mia, a detective mother hunting a predator after discovering a secret bunker of children. The book excels in portraying the exhaustion of balancing professional duty with maternal protection, creating palpable tension between perceived safety and ongoing threat. While it lacks supernatural elements or extensive world-building, its strength lies in the realistic depiction of single-parent struggles against human evil. This makes it an excellent choice for fans of domestic suspense who prefer grounded, psychological stakes over fantastical horror. The recurring pattern of missing children ensures the danger feels persistent and real. It is best suited for readers who enjoy police procedurals with a heavy emotional core and those interested in the intersection of law enforcement and family dynamics.