Distress Signals - Softcover

"This exceptionally well-crafted and compelling read is very highly recommended for both personal reading lists and community library general fiction collections."

"[Howard] writes with complete command of language, plot, and the thriller genre."

"[A] solid first novel...Life and death aboard a cruise ship prove very mysterious indeed."

"Brimming with suspense and plot twists you'll never see coming."

"Alan Smyth narrated Adam's confusion, desperation, and determination brilliantly. Bronson Pinchot and Suzanne Toren narrate the dual story line that keeps you just as invested as the major story going on to the heartbreaking end. A superb listen."

"An exhilarating debut thriller from a hugely talented author. Distress Signals is fast-paced, twisty, and an absolute joy to read."

"A gripping, smart, and fast-moving read...[that will] immerse you in the fascinating world of cruise ships and the mysterious, perfect crimes committed at sea. The compelling mystery at the heart of this debut novel is engrossing, and Catherine Howard's clever plotting makes this a terrific debut."

"Pacey, suspenseful, and intriguing...[A] top-class, page-turning read. Catherine Ryan Howard is an astonishing new voice in thriller writing."

"I loved this book, it hooked from the beginning and didn't let go. It was so easy to read, I finished it within a day of starting it. The pace was really good as it kept the story constantly moving along. The characters felt real and so did the situation. It kept me guessing and had me coming up with different theories as to what was going on. It's not a dark thriller, unless of course you are a regular cruise goer with a vivid imagination. I thoroughly recommend it to thriller/mystery lovers and will definitely be looking out for the author's next book."

"Atmospheric, character driven, and cleverly plotted, Distress Signals had me hooked from the very start and captivated me until the final reveal. I loved the setting, which added a claustrophobic feel to the story, and threw Adam an extra curveball when his back was already up against the wall and his world as he knew it had gone up in flames. Adam's despair was tangible on every page, adding that emotional connection that kept me reading much too late into the night."

A debut thriller that channels Gone Girl, from the newest writer to watch, Catherine Ryan Howard

The day Adam Dunne's girlfriend, Sarah, fails to return from a Barcelona business trip, his perfect life begins to fall apart. Days later, the arrival of her passport and a note that reads "I'm sorry--S" sets off real alarm bells. He vows to do whatever it takes to find her.

Adam is puzzled when he connects Sarah to a cruise ship called the Celebrate--and to a woman, Estelle, who disappeared from the same ship in eerily similar circumstances almost exactly a year before.

To get answers, Adam must confront some difficult truths about his relationship with Sarah. He must do things of which he never thought himself capable. And he must try to outwit a predator who seems to have found the perfect hunting ground.