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lorrared's review
4.0
Again, another fast paced thriller from A A Chaudhuri.
This story begins with every parents worst nightmare, losing a child. It’s based around married couple Christine and Greg and their children Daniel and Ella. At the beginning of the story we find out that their first daughter Heidi was kidnapped when she was two years old and never found. Here we are over twenty years later and there are so many twists and turns to explain what’s happened since their marriage began and how they are at this point in their lives.
Told from multiple perspectives, it’s a very disturbing and twisted psychological thriller with a perfect plot twist at the end.
I’ve really enjoyed all A A Chaudhuri’s books and I’m looking forward to reading her new one out this year.
This story begins with every parents worst nightmare, losing a child. It’s based around married couple Christine and Greg and their children Daniel and Ella. At the beginning of the story we find out that their first daughter Heidi was kidnapped when she was two years old and never found. Here we are over twenty years later and there are so many twists and turns to explain what’s happened since their marriage began and how they are at this point in their lives.
Told from multiple perspectives, it’s a very disturbing and twisted psychological thriller with a perfect plot twist at the end.
I’ve really enjoyed all A A Chaudhuri’s books and I’m looking forward to reading her new one out this year.
esdeecarlson's review
2.0
**This book was provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.**
1.5 stars
There’s certainly a reader for this book, and I’m sure many people will love this dark and twisted thriller for what it is. I’ll try as best I can to articulate what this book has to offer and why it didn’t work for me.
The story takes place 23 years after a two-year-old child, Heidi, was kidnapped from her mother Christine. Now Christine receives a note alleging that Heidi is still alive, and implying she was kidnapped because of Christine’s moral failings—her affair with a married man.
I don’t find cheating a particularly interesting plot point, and the story focuses heavily on Christine’s past affair: her motivations, her guilt, her thoughts before and during and after. I started this book thinking the affair would be one of a series of twists and turns in a thriller, one of many potential social embarrassments and sins in the community dug up in the course of an investigation—but no, the story really lingers on this one singular affair as source of guilt and blame for Christine and central to baby Heidi’s kidnapping.
The story is conveyed through multiple POV narration chapters, which I think is a good choice for a thriller of this style; however, each chapter isn’t just a character’s inner thoughts and feelings, but is directed to “you,” the “you” being whatever other character our POV character is currently thinking about. I never quite got used to this and felt it was unnecessary, and also led to a great deal of extraneous, self-conscious narration on the part of the characters, as they explained themselves to the various “you”s. In my opinion, this bogged down the narrative and didn’t add anything of significance.
There is a dark and twisted kidnapping plot, and a variety of damaged personalities. I think this story will appeal to those who are interested in, or at least unbothered by, stories of infidelity and other, darker sexual taboos. It really isn’t a story about child abduction, but rather the story of the drawn-out psychological torture of a mother who blames herself for her child’s disappearance. If that sounds up your alley, then this is the book for you.
1.5 stars
There’s certainly a reader for this book, and I’m sure many people will love this dark and twisted thriller for what it is. I’ll try as best I can to articulate what this book has to offer and why it didn’t work for me.
The story takes place 23 years after a two-year-old child, Heidi, was kidnapped from her mother Christine. Now Christine receives a note alleging that Heidi is still alive, and implying she was kidnapped because of Christine’s moral failings—her affair with a married man.
I don’t find cheating a particularly interesting plot point, and the story focuses heavily on Christine’s past affair: her motivations, her guilt, her thoughts before and during and after. I started this book thinking the affair would be one of a series of twists and turns in a thriller, one of many potential social embarrassments and sins in the community dug up in the course of an investigation—but no, the story really lingers on this one singular affair as source of guilt and blame for Christine and central to baby Heidi’s kidnapping.
The story is conveyed through multiple POV narration chapters, which I think is a good choice for a thriller of this style; however, each chapter isn’t just a character’s inner thoughts and feelings, but is directed to “you,” the “you” being whatever other character our POV character is currently thinking about. I never quite got used to this and felt it was unnecessary, and also led to a great deal of extraneous, self-conscious narration on the part of the characters, as they explained themselves to the various “you”s. In my opinion, this bogged down the narrative and didn’t add anything of significance.
There is a dark and twisted kidnapping plot, and a variety of damaged personalities. I think this story will appeal to those who are interested in, or at least unbothered by, stories of infidelity and other, darker sexual taboos. It really isn’t a story about child abduction, but rather the story of the drawn-out psychological torture of a mother who blames herself for her child’s disappearance. If that sounds up your alley, then this is the book for you.
w0nderland4's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kaygee_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jesseknx's review
5.0
Christine’s daughter was taken 20+ Years ago and now she holds a note that says her daughter is alive. This story is full of unexpected twists and turns; a story I couldn’t put down until I found out who, what, where and why. Well written, intriguing and full of suspicion, this book is just the beginning for such a talented author - I can’t wait to read more of the author’s future work.
Thank you for allowing me to read an advanced copy
Thank you for allowing me to read an advanced copy
charlotte_louisee_'s review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
sconniff's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
There was way too much going on in this book and it was completely unbelievable. Predictable and messed up. I read many thrillers and this was something else - not in a good way.
lisam0183_bookworm's review against another edition
2.0
Twenty years ago, Christine took a call that she should have ignored and her daughter, Heidi, ended up kidnapped. Although her and her husband, Greg, had 2 other children, she couldn't bring herself to love them. Then a note comes through the door that says Heidi still alive.
Not one of the characters was likeable, they all had their own secrets and disliked each other, but pretending to like each other. It was quite a predictable story and I just didn't like it.
Not one of the characters was likeable, they all had their own secrets and disliked each other, but pretending to like each other. It was quite a predictable story and I just didn't like it.