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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
Nothing redeeming about this book. Just another one that made me feel ick. I always hope there is an ending that would make it worth my time, but sadly this was not one of them.
This was a cozy thriller set in the Lakes area of Great Britain. Lisa Kallisto, a struggling working mother, forgets her best friend's daughter for a sleepover, and the girl disappears.
Just What Kind of Mother Are You by Paula Daly is a suspenseful page-turner of a different kind. Daly takes an ordinary event and twists it into a morbid tale of guilt, deceit, and betrayal. A suspenseful thriller, Just What Kind of Mother Are You examines what happens when life gets overwhelming and how a seemingly inconsequential mistake can turn into a tragic event. It's hard to completely express all of my thoughts regarding this debut novel because I hate to be the one that leaves a spoiler. But, what I can say is that any book that keeps me up into the wee hours of the morning should be put on your must-read list. A lot of people are comparing this book to "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. It is certainly in the same genre, but this novel stands on its own – comparable to nothing, in my opinion, but itself.
Fantastic book with some really good twists in the plot that you just don't see coming. A definite page turner!
Inspired by the story of an American mother, who succumbing to the pressures of motherhood was responsible for the death of her child, Paula Daly has constructed a thought provoking and emotive debut that skilfully addresses the issues faced by women in juggling the demands of life, work and family. I found myself instantly engaged with the portrayal of Lisa, a married, working mother of three who appears to have been partly responsible for the sudden disappearance of a friend’s child, and the subsequent feelings of guilt and sense of betrayal that start to surround her. Lisa begins to doubt her own competence as a mother when she sets herself against her seemingly perfect friend Kate (whose daughter Lucinda has gone missing), and embarks on a course of action that not only exposes the weaknesses in her own marriage, but uncovers some very uncomfortable truths in this close knit community.
In order to avoid spoilers I will not dwell on the plot too much, as this is one of those books that as a reviewer it is difficult to review without giving away the most salient details and spoiling your enjoyment as readers. Suffice to say that with three girls going missing and being brutally attacked , the growing fear for the missing Lucinda, and the strain on the local community is perfectly detailed, and Daly ratchets up the tension as the book progresses. Daly deals nicely with the suspicions that arise in relation to both Lucinda’s family, and the pressure that builds on Lisa in relation to the central investigation, with more than a few twists along the way to maintain the reader’s interest, thankfully not relying on misplaced use of coincidences or other hackneyed plot devices. So overall a strong and engaging plot to keep the reader hooked- I can say no more!
There’s always a fear that by keeping control of a strong plot other aspects of a book may suffer but I was equally struck by the strong characterisation and the sense of place throughout the book. The book is set in the Lake District and Daly really brings to the reader’s attention, not only the wild natural beauty of this area but the very singular character of life within this community at the ebb and flow of the tourist trade and the inherent financial stresses for those native to the Lakes. Daly paints a picture of a claustrophobic social network with everyone knowing everyone’s business and how difficult it is to remain at arm’s reach from gossip and accusations. Despite Lisa’s reputation built on her sterling work at a local animal rescue centre, the tables are quickly turned on her as a wife and mother, when doubts arise as to her responsibility and involvement in, Lucinda’s disappearance(As an aside, I would applaud Daly’s depiction of the work of those involved in animal rescue and rehoming, presenting an accurate and sympathetic portrayal of these largely unsung, hardworking individuals and the demands of this all too necessary work) Lisa too begins to question the actions of those closest to her, and Daly depicts her as a woman close to the edge, as the seeds of supicion are cast around the whole community. The characterisation in relation to the female characters in particular is exceptionally well drawn, and Daly gets good leverage out of these very different women. Lisa, scatty but likeable; Kate organised and a ‘perfect’ mother; Kate’s sister Alexa, snobbish and cold, and my favourites, DC Joanne Aspinall, a competent but slightly insecure detective tasked with investigating Lucinda’s disappearance and her ‘mad’ aunt Jackie, a borderline alcoholic who thinks nothing of saying what most folk would left unsaid. A smorgasbord of determination, humour, petty insecurities, or downright malevolence is encapsaluted in these characters, and I loved the way that Daly manipulates our emotions throughout as the sheer doggedness or conversely, the less savoury aspects of these women’s characters, come to light over the course of the book. The male characters are a little less well-developed in my opinion, and there’s a little blip towards the end with Lisa’s husband Joe, but this is a minor niggle as I believe that it’s the women that carry the heft and drive the overall impetus of the book anyway, and Daly achieves this very successfully. An enjoyable debut, with many strong themes for discussion, that would also make this a great pick for bookgroups.
In order to avoid spoilers I will not dwell on the plot too much, as this is one of those books that as a reviewer it is difficult to review without giving away the most salient details and spoiling your enjoyment as readers. Suffice to say that with three girls going missing and being brutally attacked , the growing fear for the missing Lucinda, and the strain on the local community is perfectly detailed, and Daly ratchets up the tension as the book progresses. Daly deals nicely with the suspicions that arise in relation to both Lucinda’s family, and the pressure that builds on Lisa in relation to the central investigation, with more than a few twists along the way to maintain the reader’s interest, thankfully not relying on misplaced use of coincidences or other hackneyed plot devices. So overall a strong and engaging plot to keep the reader hooked- I can say no more!
There’s always a fear that by keeping control of a strong plot other aspects of a book may suffer but I was equally struck by the strong characterisation and the sense of place throughout the book. The book is set in the Lake District and Daly really brings to the reader’s attention, not only the wild natural beauty of this area but the very singular character of life within this community at the ebb and flow of the tourist trade and the inherent financial stresses for those native to the Lakes. Daly paints a picture of a claustrophobic social network with everyone knowing everyone’s business and how difficult it is to remain at arm’s reach from gossip and accusations. Despite Lisa’s reputation built on her sterling work at a local animal rescue centre, the tables are quickly turned on her as a wife and mother, when doubts arise as to her responsibility and involvement in, Lucinda’s disappearance(As an aside, I would applaud Daly’s depiction of the work of those involved in animal rescue and rehoming, presenting an accurate and sympathetic portrayal of these largely unsung, hardworking individuals and the demands of this all too necessary work) Lisa too begins to question the actions of those closest to her, and Daly depicts her as a woman close to the edge, as the seeds of supicion are cast around the whole community. The characterisation in relation to the female characters in particular is exceptionally well drawn, and Daly gets good leverage out of these very different women. Lisa, scatty but likeable; Kate organised and a ‘perfect’ mother; Kate’s sister Alexa, snobbish and cold, and my favourites, DC Joanne Aspinall, a competent but slightly insecure detective tasked with investigating Lucinda’s disappearance and her ‘mad’ aunt Jackie, a borderline alcoholic who thinks nothing of saying what most folk would left unsaid. A smorgasbord of determination, humour, petty insecurities, or downright malevolence is encapsaluted in these characters, and I loved the way that Daly manipulates our emotions throughout as the sheer doggedness or conversely, the less savoury aspects of these women’s characters, come to light over the course of the book. The male characters are a little less well-developed in my opinion, and there’s a little blip towards the end with Lisa’s husband Joe, but this is a minor niggle as I believe that it’s the women that carry the heft and drive the overall impetus of the book anyway, and Daly achieves this very successfully. An enjoyable debut, with many strong themes for discussion, that would also make this a great pick for bookgroups.
This is a definite page turner and I flew through this book in no time. It hooks the reader very slowly but surely. I must be honest though, I found the big reveal to be a little bit of a let down when the suspense had been so marvelously built throughout the book. Having said that though, it is still a reveal and I didn't see it coming. I also found some of the events a little bit unbelievable. For example, at some stage during the book an affair is disclosed and I've never read about a partner taking the disclosure quite so calmly and lovingly...especially when the marriage is allegedly strong. But, these things are minor and they don't detract significantly from the book. It's a very good read and I recommend it.
I could really identify with the main character in this novel (a harried, working mother trying to juggle way too many responsibilities) so I was quickly engrossed in the story. It was a suspenseful, interesting read, even if the ending was little improbable.
Book Review
Title: Just What Kind of Mother Are You?
Author: Paula Daly
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Family
Rating: ****
Review: Lisa Kallisto is an over-worked, under paid, harried mother of three with a full time job caring for unwanted pets whilst running a family home. Her husband, Joe, works as a self-employed taxi driver, and like most people, they spend their days juggling their responsibilities and trying to make ends meet. But their everyday chaotic lives screech to a halt when Lisa overlooks something, and the end result is that a child goes missing. Not her child, but her best friend’s daughter, she disappears on Lisa’s watch
If you like psychological thrillers, then Just What Kind of Mother are You? is a novel you should take notice of. It’s a great read just for enjoyment’s sake (Daly will keep you hooked from beginning to end), but it’s also incredibly thought-provoking. The author balances well between the thriller storyline and introspection and personal development of the characters. This means it’s multifaceted and will intrigue the reader on multiple levels.
Lisa is an incredibly sympathetic character in Just What Kind of Mother are You? There are times the reader wants to shake her because it’s clear she’s overwhelmed and needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. As a result, she makes mistakes in her parenting and misses things that, as a mother, she really shouldn’t. However, the reader can’t judge her because it’s understandable; being a working mother is difficult. And when it comes to stress, we’ve all been there. Set in the Lake District in the run up to Christmas, the community arranges search parties in the frozen landscape whilst Lisa desperately tries to make things right. As the festive season approaches, Lisa begins investigating and in doing so, peels away the layers of her town and closest friends and discovers the secrets and dark truths that lurk beneath.
The twist (or at least, the first one)? Sally and Lucinda were supposed to have a sleepover the night prior, but in the whirlwind Lisa knows as life she forgot to call Kate to tell her Sally wasn’t going to be going into school that day. Sleepover off, but do you know where your daughter is? As the search rages on, we learn about the lives of the several families in this small England town, how they intertwine and the secrets they all withhold.
As a result, the reader becomes completely involved with Lisa’s storyline, and when Lucinda goes missing, they can feel her pain, her anger at herself, her disbelief that this could have happened on her watch. She feels responsible—and it’s easy to see why—yet it’s not her fault. The title of the book applies on different levels; readers will be continually revaluating what it means as the novel progresses. There’s also a parallel storyline in Just What Kind of Mother are You: the fact that other girls have gone missing, and the personal story of the woman investigating these crimes. Daly ties these multiple plotlines together very well. It’s well-written, gripping, and provides a lot of discussion points, making this a perfect book club pick for the fall.
It’s almost impossible, if you have a heart of any size, to not get wrapped up right away in Lisa Kallisto’s plight—the overwhelmed parent with a marital secret, too much work, too many pets, three kids, not enough time and not enough money. On the other side of things is Kate (Lisa’s friend, the mom in the neighbourhood that everyone simultaneously is in love with, jealous of, and secretly hates a little bit). The action kicks off when Sally (Lisa’s daughter) calls to inform her mom that Lucinda (Kate’s daughter and Sally’s pal) has gone missing.
But I loved this book. It’s a page turner from the start and one that I struggled to put down. The characters are simply wonderful, totally identifiable and full of snappy dialogue. The narrative shifts between first person and third person, between that of Lisa Kallisto and Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall as she works on the case. It gives the book a rapid pace and a real sense of urgency grips the reader with little time for idyll words.
The story is told from three perspectives, which while strange on a technical narrative level, is necessary for the furthering of the plot. Of course, you get Lisa’s first person account of what’s going on. You also get, just frequently enough to wet your whistle, a perfectly creepy and vague third person account from the perp. Finally, there are third person chapters detailing Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall and the steps taken by the police. And despite all of these enjoyable elements some of my favourite parts of the book were the small asides where Daly took time to consider the minutia of life many authors (myself including) tend to forget. And you know what, you could forgive that in a book spanning only a few days in a harrowing search to find an abducted young girl. Quick paragraphs about how much Lisa’s sons love the Super Mario Brothers or the two female admins at the police station giggling over Christmas decorations in the office keep things from being suffocating heavy, even though that’s all you want the further you get into the story. Perhaps Daly’s greatest feat with this book, despite my internal (and ignorant) issues, is the title. The book’s about a child being abducted, so the answer to the question, “Just what kind of mother are you?” seems fairly obvious, wouldn’t you say?
The combination made the book a complete joy to read. The change in narrative kept me enthralled as the plot unfolded and took me to the very edge of my seat, keeping me gripped right to the very end. But it is the overall theme of this book that resonates most with me, as a working mother myself, with a busy family and home life I found myself sympathizing with Lisa more than once and as desperate as her to find a resolution. I imagine we might well see this on the screen at some point in the future.
Title: Just What Kind of Mother Are You?
Author: Paula Daly
Genre: Mystery/Crime/Family
Rating: ****
Review: Lisa Kallisto is an over-worked, under paid, harried mother of three with a full time job caring for unwanted pets whilst running a family home. Her husband, Joe, works as a self-employed taxi driver, and like most people, they spend their days juggling their responsibilities and trying to make ends meet. But their everyday chaotic lives screech to a halt when Lisa overlooks something, and the end result is that a child goes missing. Not her child, but her best friend’s daughter, she disappears on Lisa’s watch
If you like psychological thrillers, then Just What Kind of Mother are You? is a novel you should take notice of. It’s a great read just for enjoyment’s sake (Daly will keep you hooked from beginning to end), but it’s also incredibly thought-provoking. The author balances well between the thriller storyline and introspection and personal development of the characters. This means it’s multifaceted and will intrigue the reader on multiple levels.
Lisa is an incredibly sympathetic character in Just What Kind of Mother are You? There are times the reader wants to shake her because it’s clear she’s overwhelmed and needs help but doesn’t know how to ask for it. As a result, she makes mistakes in her parenting and misses things that, as a mother, she really shouldn’t. However, the reader can’t judge her because it’s understandable; being a working mother is difficult. And when it comes to stress, we’ve all been there. Set in the Lake District in the run up to Christmas, the community arranges search parties in the frozen landscape whilst Lisa desperately tries to make things right. As the festive season approaches, Lisa begins investigating and in doing so, peels away the layers of her town and closest friends and discovers the secrets and dark truths that lurk beneath.
The twist (or at least, the first one)? Sally and Lucinda were supposed to have a sleepover the night prior, but in the whirlwind Lisa knows as life she forgot to call Kate to tell her Sally wasn’t going to be going into school that day. Sleepover off, but do you know where your daughter is? As the search rages on, we learn about the lives of the several families in this small England town, how they intertwine and the secrets they all withhold.
As a result, the reader becomes completely involved with Lisa’s storyline, and when Lucinda goes missing, they can feel her pain, her anger at herself, her disbelief that this could have happened on her watch. She feels responsible—and it’s easy to see why—yet it’s not her fault. The title of the book applies on different levels; readers will be continually revaluating what it means as the novel progresses. There’s also a parallel storyline in Just What Kind of Mother are You: the fact that other girls have gone missing, and the personal story of the woman investigating these crimes. Daly ties these multiple plotlines together very well. It’s well-written, gripping, and provides a lot of discussion points, making this a perfect book club pick for the fall.
It’s almost impossible, if you have a heart of any size, to not get wrapped up right away in Lisa Kallisto’s plight—the overwhelmed parent with a marital secret, too much work, too many pets, three kids, not enough time and not enough money. On the other side of things is Kate (Lisa’s friend, the mom in the neighbourhood that everyone simultaneously is in love with, jealous of, and secretly hates a little bit). The action kicks off when Sally (Lisa’s daughter) calls to inform her mom that Lucinda (Kate’s daughter and Sally’s pal) has gone missing.
But I loved this book. It’s a page turner from the start and one that I struggled to put down. The characters are simply wonderful, totally identifiable and full of snappy dialogue. The narrative shifts between first person and third person, between that of Lisa Kallisto and Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall as she works on the case. It gives the book a rapid pace and a real sense of urgency grips the reader with little time for idyll words.
The story is told from three perspectives, which while strange on a technical narrative level, is necessary for the furthering of the plot. Of course, you get Lisa’s first person account of what’s going on. You also get, just frequently enough to wet your whistle, a perfectly creepy and vague third person account from the perp. Finally, there are third person chapters detailing Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall and the steps taken by the police. And despite all of these enjoyable elements some of my favourite parts of the book were the small asides where Daly took time to consider the minutia of life many authors (myself including) tend to forget. And you know what, you could forgive that in a book spanning only a few days in a harrowing search to find an abducted young girl. Quick paragraphs about how much Lisa’s sons love the Super Mario Brothers or the two female admins at the police station giggling over Christmas decorations in the office keep things from being suffocating heavy, even though that’s all you want the further you get into the story. Perhaps Daly’s greatest feat with this book, despite my internal (and ignorant) issues, is the title. The book’s about a child being abducted, so the answer to the question, “Just what kind of mother are you?” seems fairly obvious, wouldn’t you say?
The combination made the book a complete joy to read. The change in narrative kept me enthralled as the plot unfolded and took me to the very edge of my seat, keeping me gripped right to the very end. But it is the overall theme of this book that resonates most with me, as a working mother myself, with a busy family and home life I found myself sympathizing with Lisa more than once and as desperate as her to find a resolution. I imagine we might well see this on the screen at some point in the future.
I got this book via bookcrossing. Thank you, J4shaw!
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12636612/
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12636612/
This book was only mildly suspenseful and certainly not fiendishly addictive, as claimed by the Guardian on the book's front cover.
It had enough appeal to keep me reading, but the ending was disappointing. An anti climax as everything just neatly feel into place. I had also started to suspect how it was going to end earlier than I imagine I was supposed to.
The characters weren't particularly appealing either. Lisa starts off as a character who would develop well. As a busy mum myself, her earlier dialogue and witty observations on life struck a chord and even made me laugh out loud. But as the story continued she sounded like a broken record! Yes, I get it. You're rushed off your feet. You're tired. You're feeling inadequate. I get it.
The writing style too was very simplistic. And there were far too many instances of the author going off on a tangent. Half way through the book I just started to skim read. That said I think the story had the potential to have been even better and I can imagine that Paula Daly will probably get better as she continues to write more books.
It had enough appeal to keep me reading, but the ending was disappointing. An anti climax as everything just neatly feel into place. I had also started to suspect how it was going to end earlier than I imagine I was supposed to.
The characters weren't particularly appealing either. Lisa starts off as a character who would develop well. As a busy mum myself, her earlier dialogue and witty observations on life struck a chord and even made me laugh out loud. But as the story continued she sounded like a broken record! Yes, I get it. You're rushed off your feet. You're tired. You're feeling inadequate. I get it.
The writing style too was very simplistic. And there were far too many instances of the author going off on a tangent. Half way through the book I just started to skim read. That said I think the story had the potential to have been even better and I can imagine that Paula Daly will probably get better as she continues to write more books.