In the land of cheap thrills and easy scares, atmospheric suspense novel Where He Left Me by Nicole Baart is elevated from other novels of its genre by its beautiful writing and skillful building of tension.
Sadie Sheridan’s new husband, Felix, vowed to never leave her. But then he doesn’t return from a work trip away from the couple’s temporary residence in isolated Hemlock House–his family homestead where the couple is focusing on respective projects while on sabbatical as professors.
Sadie soon finds that Felix hasn’t checked into his hotel, his phone is off, and no one else has heard from him. Meanwhile, a winter storm is moving in; and Sadie glimpses a pair of men on the security cameras installed on the edges of their isolated mountainside property. Are they hunters who have traveled off course, or could they have nefarious purposes?
With still no sign of Felix, Sadie hunkers down in Hemlock House to wait out the storm. But then she finds a pair of children hiding in an outside structure. Henry is nearly grown and fiercely protective of his younger brother Finn, who suffers from possibly pneumonia. Dealing with Henry is like dealing with a wounded wild animal–he’s unpredictable, tense, and violent–but Sadie feels obligated to allow the boys into her home. They might not make it through the night in these elements.
When the door slams shut behind the three, the tension ratchets up. Sadie is still petrified that Felix will never come home to her, Finn continues to worsen, and there’s also the mystery of from what (or who) the boys were trying to escape. They don’t trust her enough to be truthful, and Sadie and Henry are a mis-matched pair as they work to realize the same goals–to survive the storm and save the one they love.
Sadie soon realizes that Felix may not have shared all the dangers that lurk around Hemlock House. He may not have disclosed other things, either. All Sadie can do is try her best to find him and end this nightmare.
Baart unspools her story in two alternating timelines: during Felix’s courtship of Sadie and during Sadie’s adventure on the mountain. The former provides rich context to Sadie’s character and her reaction to her unexpected visitors. Sadie is not the warmest or most charismatic person, and she may have presented as unlikable had Baart not done such a wonderful job in developing her character. This development also shows what is at stake for Sadie if she loses Felix.
In present time–after Sadie has been left–the physicality of her struggle is clear from excellent use of a bitingly cold mountainside and drafty old house setting. As an academic and a wallflower, Sadie is truly out of her element in this terrifying situation of survival, especially considering her unexpected visitors. Sadie is not a socially adept–she may be mildly autistic, based on subtle clues–and the arrival of Henry and Finn presents a test more than the physical as they all try to survive. The way this is presented is powerfully realistic.
Quietly haunting and psychologically rich, Where He Left Me is a wonderful winter read for suspense fans who appreciate stellar writing.
Where He Left Me/Nicole Bart
Atria Books/Release Date: November 4, 2025
About the reviewer: A writer of dark comedy thrillers, Sarah Reida is currently seeking representation for her sophomore novel, Murder Boat. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
