July 2, 2021

I was left with extremely mixed feelings about this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two-thirds of it.

The author took a unique premise and ran with it. The concept of a loved one going missing while on a trip and the worry that ensues is something that just about everyone can relate to.

I liked how the author balanced between Alanda trying to get through life wondering what was happening with Liam trying to understand his new life.

As always, I don’t want to say too much to give away plot points, so it’s going to get a little bit cagey from here on.

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I did not care for Katya. I felt sorry for her situation with her Uncle Otto, and there were some truly heartfelt moments as she dealt with all of that. Those were very well written and poignant.

However, once things changed within her…situation…I think she showed just how young and selfish she was. I did not like her choices. I thought that they erased everything that I originally felt about her, as her character was on display, and it wasn’t pretty.

In a way, the same could be said for Alanda. I saw what her “twist” was going to be a mile off, so that was not a surprise to me in any way. It seemed contrived, but in an odd way, it also seemed natural, because it would stand to reason somebody could get carried away with the slightest hint of attention and affection.

The last third of the book seemed like the author didn’t exactly know which way to go, so a lot was thrown out there. I suppose it was supposed to show that even what might seem clear cut isn’t necessarily so.

Once again, Katya is done no favors and ended up being unlikeable overall in my eyes. I was glad to be rid of her.

The book does a decent job of answering the question of whether or not people deserve second (or third) chances. And if they do – are those chances worth it?

Sometimes people do need to experience heartbreak and hardship in order to realize what matters the most. That came across loud and clear.

I did like how the author didn’t necessarily wrap everything up in a neat little bow. Life isn’t like that. There was a hint of a promise of something regrowing, but it wasn’t all sunshine and unicorns.

So, to sum up: the first two-thirds were great, and the last third was questionable. But overall, it was a stark look at the futures we make for ourselves and there was a healthy dose of realism throughout.

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Author Bio:
Over her twenty-year writing career, Louise Voss has published books via pretty much every publishing model there is, from deals with major traditional publishing houses (Transworld and HarperCollins), to digital (Thomas & Mercer and Bookouture) and self-publishing. In 2011, she and co-author Mark Edwards were the first UK indie-published authors to hit the No.1 spot on Amazon UK. Louise has written thirteen novels in total, seven solo and six co-written, across psychological thrillers, police procedurals, and contemporary fiction.

What a roller coaster of a read this one was!

From the opening podcast transcript to the closing thoughts on the bonds between a mother and her child, the author did a fantastic job of keeping the tension ratcheted through a compelling narrative.

At first, I didn’t know what to make of Esme. She seemed high-strung and very much like a helicopter parent. Some of her early reactions to co-workers and her son made me question her stability.

However, I could also see how her demeanor was vital to the other characters’ motivations.

That sentence makes sense in the context of the book.

I never really got a bead on Michelle at all. There were only a handful of scenes with her “in person” before other events occurred. After that, everything came from Esme’s point of view. This made it a little difficult to understand why Michelle did what she did.

Yep, speaking in riddles to avoid spoilers. That’s what you’ll get here.

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I did like how Justine’s actions were questionable. Was she looking to sabotage Esme because of Esme’s control of pretty much everything? Or was she actually trying to help Esme? Justine’s role in everything was explained quite satisfactorily.

Owen was a real piece of work – but once I “met” his mom, Brooke, I realized that there was no other way that he could have been. I did not see that whole plot thread coming at all, and that was a real jaw-dropper!

I did guess something about Simone early on, but as I mentioned, the author did a fantastic job of throwing just enough red herrings and twists in that I wasn’t sure if I was right or not until close to the end.

What I think I enjoyed most about the book was how Esme’s podcasts of interviews with Simone actually mirrored what Esme was experiencing in real life – and Esme only caught glimpses of it herself.

It’s difficult to see situations for what they really are when you’re smack dab in the middle of them. It sometimes takes outside perspective to shine a light on things.

I just now realized that Esme’s gut was telling her that all along. Wow…didn’t put that together while I was reading. Nicely done on that!

I also just realized that there more parallels between Esme/Zach, Brooke/Owen, and Simone/Andrew than I originally thought.

The power of a good book is that it plants enough seeds that you keep thinking and discovering aspects long after you have finished reading it.

I can’t say much more about this book without going into plot details, and I don’t want to do that, because it’s definitely one that you want to experience on your own, without spoilers.

If you are looking for a taut thriller that will keep you guessing, with some excellent observations on the lengths that mothers will go to in order to protect their sons, this should definitely be at the top of your list.

Facebook: KimLSlaterAuthor
Twitter: @KimLSlater

Author Bio:

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents but never made it off the slush pile. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.