Just What Kind of Mother Are You?

by Paula Daly

A searing and sinister thriller for readers who liked Gone Girl.

What if your best friend's child disappears? And it was all your fault.

A searing and sinister thriller for readers who liked Gone Girl.What if your best friend's child disappears? And it was all your fault. This is exactly what happens to Lisa Kallisto, overwhelmed working mother of three, one freezing December in the English Lake District. She takes her eye off the ball for just a moment and her whole world descends into the stuff of nightmares. Because, not only is thirteen-year-old Lucinda missing, and not only is it all Lisa's fault, but she's the second teenage girl to disappear within this small tightknit community over two weeks. The first girl turned up stripped bare, dumped on a busy high street, after suffering from a terrifying ordeal. 

Wracked with guilt over her mistake and after being publicly blamed by Lucinda's family, Lisa sets out to right the wrong. But as she begins peeling away the layers surrounding Lucinda's disappearance, Lisa learns that the small, posh, quiet town she lives in isn't what she thought it was, and her friends may not be who they appear, either.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Suspense, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

Paula Daly is the acclaimed author of six novels. Her work has been sold in sixteen countries, shortlisted for CWA Gold Dagger award, and developed for the ITV drama, DEEP WATER, starring Anna Friel. She was born in Lancashire and lives in the Lake District with her family.

Reviews

[Catherine Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best kinds of thrillers, in my humble opinion, are the ones where when you come to recommend them to others, you don't want to say much except 'You should read this' because the thrill is in the twist, and you don't want to give anything away.

This is my review: I sat down with this book at 5.30pm on a Friday evening intending to read a few pages before dinner and pick it back up again when I had some time. Instead I skipped dinner and everything else and stayed there, curled up on the sofa with it, until it got dark and I was forced to tear myself away from it and put on some lights. I read the entire thing in one sitting.

Only a few days pass in this novel, and we follow the characters closely as they move through them, so there's a real immediacy and urgency to the narrative. It really keeps you turning the pages. Also, every single character is fully formed—even the secondary characters in this book come in 3D. It's stereotype free. And it's all so possible. It's a tale of real people, living real lives, until one day, something goes horribly wrong.

And the ending is so, so clever.

I was actually thinking while I was reading it certain things about the blurb and the title, thinking that perhaps they were a bit misleading or a bit over eager on the part of the copywriter or editor to make this book into something it's not, but then when I got to the end I realized that no, they were perfect, the title especially.

Oooh, oh so clever! But I don't want to say anymore about it.

(Also, when I got to the end and read the author's note, I got a bit of a shock. At the beginning of this book, a mother with too much on her mind forgets to do one important thing, which allows a very bad thing to happen. Immediately a story I'd seen on Oprah came to mind: about a woman who had left her toddler in the back seat of her car all day while she was at work and the child died of heatstroke. She was supposed to drop the child off at daycare, but she'd so much going on and so much on her mind, she just forgot. When you first hear the story, you think 'That woman killed her child. She isn't fit to be a mother.' But after watching the interview, you understood how it happened, and you felt nothing but sympathy for her. And there, in the author note, is Daly saying she got the idea for this novel after watching that very same interview!)

I recommend this, and look forward to her next book.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine this scenario: Local girls are being abducted and assaulted. The most recent disappearance was your daughter's friend - a thirteen year old who was under your watch at the time - but you weren't paying attention. The million things you have to do in a day distracted you. A lost moment you can never redo, guilt-fed emotions that never leave, and a bunch of fingers (primarily your own) pointing straight at you.


Just What Kind of Mother Are You? is a psychological thriller/mystery novel written by Paula Daly. While reading, I almost lost track of who the author was. The writing style had a Liane Moriarty feel to it. It followed the characters rather than just the events, all with impressive layering and complexity. Ms. Moriarty is one of my favorite authors so that's a real compliment!

In my opinion, this mystery/thriller had a strong women's fiction element incorporated in it. After all, far too many women can relate to feeling overwhelmed while balancing work, parenting, marriage/relationships, and self-care...all while trying to excel in each role. It's irrational and exhausting, and no doubt takes our attention away from other crucial areas. This novel speaks to this common concern as well as other important issues (which I can't reveal for fear of spoiling the mystery). All I can say is I truly cannot believe this is a debut novel. I was completely engaged and the twists and turns had me eager to find out how this story played out. The ONLY negative in my personal reading experience was the inclusion of a few snippets from the serial rapist's perspective. I realize the content was relatively mild compared to what it could have been but it was disturbing nonetheless.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, mysteries, family dramas, women's issues, crime investigations, and fairly dark suspense, then check out this novel and get ready to add another author to the top of your list. Enjoy!

My favorite quotes:
"It seems that every time I think a person has got things sorted, every time I think a person's got everything under control and is holding their life together in far better ways than I could ever hope to manage, they turn out to be taking antidepressants."

“I begin reading an article on a posh celebrity who lives in Bermuda. She's someone I've never heard of who's loosely connected to the royal family. She's all blonde hair and legs, late thirties. She's just had her first baby. “It's amazing”, she beams. “It's the most incredible thing. It's so beautiful. It's astonishing. There's so much love.” I shut the magazine with disgust, mentally dusting my hands. Just once, once I'd like to come across a new mother in a magazine who says, “I'm finding this really hard. It's not at all like I thought it would be. I don't think I'll be having another. And,” she says this next part sniffing into a hanky, “My husband's been next to useless. I thought he'd make a wonderful father, but well, he's leaving it all to me. He's been a complete dick actually.”


10/08/2015
I'm officially a Paula Daly follower!
Review to come.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula Daly has become a new favorite 'PURE ENJOYMENT' ....'go to' author!

Having recently read her book called "I Made A Mistake"...( her new release due out this
Sept....which is SOOOOOOOO GOOD), I was so excited to read more by this author.

Right from the start - with about 10 pages...comes a 'surprise'.. ( an OOPS)...'naughty-naughty'!
lol... I knew at that point... I was in for another fun roller coater ride.

The blurp is 'all' anyone needs to know-- so I'm not going to repeat the details - or repeat the names of characters- or give this story away. I knew 'nothing' about it...( I didn't even read the blurp)....and I say: GREAT FOR ME!
If you happen to trust an author....
Or....
Have a strong gut hunch....
Or....
Your friend says "they loved it".... ( and very often you guys enjoy many of the same books), ...
then I say... JUST READ IT.

GREAT MYSTERY...
Fast page turner...
Twists & twists & twists...
Surprises...
Secrets...
Tension...
Heartbreaking Plot...
Domestic thriller.....
Suspense builds....
You are soooo involved you don't want to put it down....
Until....
One more Bigger surprise!!!!

Paula Daly: if you EVER.... come speak in THE BAY AREA... I'd love to come hear you speak!
Thanks for the pure reading enjoyment - gift!!!

[Ruth Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only good thing I have to say about this book is that it's a quick, easy read.

I didn't like any of the characters. The story dragged at times. There were a lot of side issues that really had nothing to do with the story. And the whodunit was tossed in at the end like an after thought.

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Paula Daly's debut novel has much to recommend it. The writing style is engaging, the characters are well drawn, and she shifts well between the first and third person in her narrative. The problem, for me, was in the story itself. I did not find it at all suspenseful and the ending was woefully predictable, if not somewhat bizarre. In fact, the whole story was just not believable. Nor was the mystery solved by either the police or by the amateur sleuth. It just all came together through a single tip from the public, coincidence, and the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time. I might have rated it higher, given that it's a first novel, but the whole book came off as a preachy morality piece about the dangers inherent in being a working mother and the apparent impossibility of having a successful career and home life. The men in the story appeared to be exempt from any responsibility for their children and marriages, and the blame for failures in these areas was placed solely on the women. The whole thing just left a very bad taste.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2013 debut novel from Paula Daly was a page turner, but not because of the mysterious disappearance of a friend's teenage daughter. No, the true highlights of a Paula Daly story is how completely screwed up her characters are. Marital problems abound in this novel -affairs, divorce, suicide, bigamy. Not to mention a police detective obsessed by her breast size. Having read three books by the author, I am not sure what genre Paula Daly wants us to know her by. Mystery? Family drama? Whatever the case may be, I'll continue reading her books to find out.

[Sharon Bolton · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Sorry, Lisa,’ he said, ‘but this thing you’re suffering from. It’s just life.’

Lisa and Joe are an entirely normal couple living in the Lake District: overly-busy, continually struggling for money, inevitably, and tragically, juggling. At least Lisa is. She has three children, a full time job and a home to run.

Joe is a self-employed taxi driver. Importantly, this couple are not posh. But their lives nudge up against those who are, the much wealthier, more successful Kate and Guy. Kate is everything Lisa is not. Organised, competent, in control, stick-thin, beautifully dressed (we all know the type!) Theirs is the ‘perfect life’ that we ordinary mortals can only envy from afar. Surprisingly, Kate and Lisa are best friends. Until the day when Lisa is supposed to collect Kate’s daughter from school and forgets. The girl disappears.

In the run up to Christmas, an ice-bound community organizes search parties through the snow, most of them trying, with varying degrees of success, not to make their blame of Lisa too apparent.

I really enjoyed this book. The first person chapters were a joy to read. Lisa sparkles off the page, with a crisp, engaging voice, enviable self-awareness and a genuine sense of warmth. She’s the slightly batty, but ultimately good-as-gold best friend we’d all love to have (but not necessarily trust with our children).

The third person chapters, written from the POV of Detective Constable Joanne Aspinall were perfectly workmanlike, leading us through the police investigation and hunt for a serial rapist who most likely is responsible for the young girl’s abduction. But I found myself looking forward to them less. It was Lisa, and her near crippling sense of guilt, that fascinated me.

In her debut novel, Paula Daly has hit upon a theme that will resonate instantly with working mothers the length and breadth of the land. But for the grace of God, we could all walk in Lisa’s shoes.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an accomplished and confidently written novel that it was difficult to believe it was a debut.

What makes this novel so compelling is the knowledge that this scenario could happen to anybody – and just that one time you make a mistake could have such drastic consequences – as Lisa Kallisto discovered. Lisa is a busy mum of three, managing a struggling animal rescue home and overwhelmed with the stresses of daily life. As her 13 year old daughter Sally had been off school sick, Lisa had completely forgotten that Sally’s friend Lucinda was supposed to be having a sleepover at their house that night. Lucinda’s mother Kate didn’t collect her from school because she was meant to be with Sally. Lucinda goes missing!

This was a chilling read – made even more so because the person we believe to be the perpetrator of the crimes has their own voice throughout the book. We have no idea who it is but we see their preparations, their anticipation and then the disclosure that another child has gone missing.

The characters are just so well executed and realistic. I really felt for Lisa as the consequences of her mistake hit home and she had to deal with her feelings of anguish and guilt. Her husband Joe is supportive but you know that secretly he feels she is to blame too. Kate, Lucinda’s mother, is portrayed as a Superwoman who with one hand behind her back can manage a household and organise school fundraising without even breaking sweat. Then there is Alexa (Kate’s sister) with her superior attitude who really tears into Lisa and of course the detective investigating the crimes. DC Joanne Aspinall was a great character who I would love to see more of. She was so reassuringly normal; she doesn't care if she ruffles a few feathers to get answers and the banter between her and “Mad Aunt Jackie” with whom she lived added a touch of humour.

The tension and suspense was sustained throughout the book. There were many twists and turns and I was gripped right up to the end – to a conclusion that I wasn’t expecting and which shot my own theories right out of the water! This is an excellent thriller and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next novel by Paula Daly which is published soon - Keep Your Friends Close. I now have another author to add to my list of favourite thriller writers.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I nearly gave this 4 stars but I found the ending a bit weak, like the author was tired so just had to wrap it up quickly. So it's 3.5 star book for me.

Aside from that it's a good, easy to read book, I read it in a few hours travelling in a coach across England.

Young girls are going missing, one of those girls is Lisa's best friends daughter. The plot weaves around a few characters as suspicions are aroused and everybody starts to look a bit guilty at one point.

I think more grit and crime thrills - insights into the girls that were taken also would have been good to have. It was a book that seemed to lack that touch of darkness I was expecting around it all.

But hey, I've read worse books and it was entertaining and I didn't guess the ending though I found it too wishy washy. A good easy read that you can get through in one sitting.

Favourite character? Bluey the dog.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Lisa is an average mother. Working full-time at the local animal shelter to barely pay the bills while trying to raise three children and remain a decent wife. A miscommunication has one of her best friends thinking her daughter is spending the night at Lisa’s house when in reality she has gone missing. Lisa is now privately (and publicly) racked with guilt over being so caught up in her own life that she may have caused the end of someone else’s. However, when the doors to the missing girl’s mystery start opening, all sorts of skeletons come flying out.

I hate reviewing books that are just okay. If you’re looking for a mystery, this one is a new release by a first-time author. It has a few twists and turns so it is classified correctly as a “thriller”. On the other hand, I saw some of the twists coming and others I really didn’t care much about. None of the characters are likeable and the story drags a bit. Plus, the title and cover had me thinking it was a self-help book that had been filed in the wrong location until I read the book jacket. In the end, it was just a “meh” for me.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book to read to read by Random House via Net Galley.
This is the authors debut novel. You would not have known this as its expertly written, just like a pro.
I read the epilogue of how this story came about, I found it fascinating how an author can see or hear something, or in this case, watch something and the impact be so great that it tunes into a thought, then an idea then a book which came from fact but written as fiction. Truly fascinating.

Loved the entire book. It had me fooled, I really thought I knew what was going to happen, the ending was a shocker to me. Throughout reading this its left me sitting on the edge of my seat. The twist at the end was professional and I would rate this with any authors best seller. Fabulous.

I don't want to give spoilers as its not my style, read the blurb, but remember my review as its much much more than it seems.

I understand she is working on her next novel, well, I am in line for that one!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taut debut thriller that's hard to put down. Overwhelmed and distracted mom, Lisa, forgets that her daughter's 13-year-old friend, Lucinda, is supposed to be having a sleepover at their house. When Lisa and Lisa's mother realize Lucinda is missing, she has been gone for a day - and Lisa is at fault.

Suspenseful with an engaging cast of characters that will keep you turning the pages - I enjoyed it very much. I just wish the ending had been more believable; a bit of a let-down for me.

A 3.5 - rounding up to 4 for a fun read and a promising debut.

[Crystal Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? for me was just an average book. It's the sort of novel where there's nothing special about the characters. The writing is mediocre at best, and the plot is so-so. I was curious enough to want to know the outcome, but I won't remember much about this book a month from now.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title like "Just What Kind of Mother Are You?" I wondered what the mother did. So, of course, there's more than one mother in the cast of characters.

Lisa and Joe have a harried life with three kids, dogs, jobs, and the usual commitments. Lisa works in a pet rescue center, and that makes her more likeable, but I felt she had too much involvement in her best friend's life. She was also a little envious of the life her friend had. Then the daughter of Lisa's best friend disappears, Lisa is blamed and she feels guilty, and everything goes haywire.

I found this to be an enjoyable book, and it kept me wondering who, what, and why. I was surprised when I learned the answer to the title question.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick review for a somewhat quick read. "Just What Kind of Mother Are You" pretty much falls under my library's recommended literature similar to Gillian Flynn ' s "Gone Girl" but I'd picked it up for the overarching mystery and inspiration behind it. It kept me reading avidly to see where the disappearance would go, though I honestly predicted what would happen early on and who the villain (s) turned out to be. I found most of the characters to be insufferable to follow (save for the detective, who was more than apt to call out people - I liked reading her POV the most though it wasn't featured as often.)

I'll admit it was a read that kept me guessing in places, though. Audiobook was very well narrated and that factored into me enjoying the overall read, but I felt a bit underwhelmed by the dashed off ending and that it really didn't dig as much into the overarching issues behind Kate ' s experience and the disappearance of her child.

Overall: 3/5 stars

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just What Kind Of Mother Are You is Paula Daly's first novel. Believe me this novel just takes hold of you from the very first page, right up until the very last page. Paula Daly got the idea for her first novel after watching an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and being heartbroken by a woman's story. I recommend the novel Just What Kind Of Mother Are You to every reader.

Just What Kind Of Mother Are You I am certain that everyone will be talking about it with every reader wanting to read this. It deserves to be on the best sellers list. Paula Daly deserves high - flying awards. I just can't wait for Paula to have her next book published.

The story is set in the Lake District.

Married Lisa has three children with leading a hectic busy life style working in a an animal rescue centre.

Lisa is feeling guilty that her best friend kate her daughter Lucinda had ment to of stayed the night at Lisa's house with her daughter Sally.

But Lucinda has gone missing, she went to school but disappeared after school and has not been seen since.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 So many of us are over loaded, trying to get to our jobs, taking care of the house, husband, children and pets, just trying to make it through the day. It is so easy to identify with the character of Lisa, a woman trying to do it all and who occasionally slips up. In her case it causes a terrible incident, that she is blamed for not only by herself but by others in the town. I could really see this happening and so this novel seemed very realistic.

There are a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. This was good, quickly paced suspense novel with an interesting plot and very fascinating characters.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A top shelf, riveting and powerful debut novel, JUST WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU? by British author Paula Daly is a compelling novel—a read for every woman, living a harried lifestyle, trying to balance work, home, and family.

Filled with humor and emotion, this book will keep you turning into the night, for a mix of suspense, mystery, thriller, family drama, crime, and women’s fiction. Set in the Lake District, with economic hardship, and busy families, centered on two mothers of teenage girls.

Lisa and taxi driver husband, Joe live a hectic life, struggling financially, where Lisa tries to balance her stressing job managing the local dog shelter, a non-profit, even checking out the homes of animals to be placed, running her home, and juggling the kids.

When her daughter's friend Lucinda turns up missing after she was supposed to spend the night at Lisa's home, Lisa is wrecked with guilt and blame. Lucianda, the daughter of her friend Kate Riverty, is abducted and everyone thinks she should have paid more attention, pointing the finger at her. Now, it looks like the kidnapper, who has already abducted one other girl, is back at work, so Lisa begins her own investigation. She feels to blame so she begins working overtime trying to figure out the pieces of puzzle.

In addition, Joanne Aspinall, the investigator with the local police seems suspicious of the events. There is drama and suspense coming from every direction, not knowing who can be trusted. The lengths one mother will go in order to keep her family. As tragedy strikes, what comes next is shocking as nothing is as it appears—when ugly truths are uncovered.

I enjoyed the inspiration for the novel regarding an Oprah show of the busy mother forgetting her daughter in a hot car, which killed her. Lisa was a flawed and likable character, as she never feels like she is good enough and feels inferior next to her other friends—as most mother’s always striving for perfection. An exploration of friendship, motherhood, and the mystery of human relationships turned wrong, when the perfect house is not so perfect behind the façade.

Thriller and mystery lovers alike will devour, as well as fans of highly charged subjects, mixed with humor: JoJo Moyes, Liane Moriarty, Carla Buckley, Diane Chamberlain, Sarah Pekkanen, Amy Hatvany, and Jennifer Weiner will appreciate the humor and complexity!

The audiobook was outstanding, as the narrator, Laura Brattan offered an excellent performance, and found myself laughing out loud, at some of the one-liners. I wish more authors would use her, as could listen to her all day.

Well-developed characters, excellent plot planning, and fast-paced action, making for a winning debut of motherhood, friendship, and complex relationships. One of my favorite authors!

JCMustReadBooks

Be sure and add this one to your 2015 Must Read List: THE MISTAKE I MADE Coming 9/8/2015 (US). Scandalous!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your daughter's best friend disappears - she was supposed to be staying overnight at your house - everyone is blaming you including yourself. Lisa, the mother in question, harbors enough guilt for us all and you can certainly understand why.

It’s easy to identify with Lisa, a down to earth, just getting it done, no frills kind of gal. Her husband Joe is a hardworking taxicab driver and as a couple they’re making ends meet. Lisa, more than Joe feels the effects of their less than glamour life when up against friends, Kate and Guy. Kate particularly makes Lisa feel less than worthy, as Lisa sees Kate as an efficient, polished, organized, never a hair out of place kind of woman.

Imagine it again. Lisa’s daughter, Sally’s best friend Lucinda goes missing. Kate’s daughter. Lucinda is supposed to be staying at Lisa’s house. Guilty. Just what kind of mother are you? Read Paula Daly’s secret laden debut to find out.

[David Staniforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should have been a four star read, it’s a good story and the writing style is great for the most part, so why the three?

For one I didn’t really engage with the characters, finding them somewhat boring. Was that enough to downgrade to three? No!

I found it too easy to put down, and only picked it up if I had nothing better to do. In fact, I read and completed a different book halfway through reading this one. A book that just wouldn’t let go. Was that enough to downgrade to three? No!

I guessed where it was going just over half way through. Was that enough to downgrade to three? No!

So, why the three? The book was full of authorial asides that kept pulling me out of the narrative. For example:

“Molly said she had been taken to a bedsit and raped more than once by a man who spoke like the people from the Darling Buds of May.” Great! Nicely delivered. I have a clear idea of what the perpetrator sounds like.

However, the author immediately follows this with: “Molly’s mum was a fan of the series and watched the reruns on ITV3 on Sunday afternoons while Molly did her homework in front of the fire.” This isn’t necessary. It dragged me out of the story and I was instead thinking why has the author put this? To my mind it was the author thinking: ‘I’d best put in a reason why a young girl would know about the Darling Buds of May. I already know old TV programmes are repeated and don’t need the author to tell me.

This was probably the most prominent aside, but the narrative is riddled with them and it ruined my enjoyment of the book. Instead of being in the character’s head, I was constantly being dragged into the author’s head.

So, there you go, for me a clear 3* that should certainly have been 4*.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprise! Great story, spot on characters you could meet on the street - so real, plenty of twists and turns and background.

Lisa is struggling with balancing her life when her close friend's daughter goes missing - she was supposed to be at Lisa's for a sleepover -Lisa was told she wasnt coming by her own daughter but doesnt check with the other mother so she feels responsible. Lisa is publicly humiliated as she struggles to deal with this situation - until she starts to find little snippets of information that don't quite fit right.

Daly has created an extremely normal, and therefore very believable, character in Lisa. She doesnt always do or say the right things and can be a bit flashy and trashy but her heart's in the right place.

I listened to this on audio and the narrator was brilliant - she had Lisa down to a tee and helped with my enjoyment of the story.

Hope Ms Daly writes some more!

[Avi B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me totally engrossed from the beginning, I wanted to know what happened next so I was reading it whenever I had a spare moment. I really enjoy this authors style of writing. I can't wait for her to bring out another book! :)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough police crime thriller, somewhat lacking in direction and pace but overall entirely readable and not too demanding of its reader. Daly is known to write thrillers with a difference, often using unusual themes and/or storylines; her latest novel is no different.

When young girls start to go missing in mysterious circumstances in a very middle-class village in Cumbria, police are drafted in and search parties begin to form. Detective Joanne is leading the investigation to find the prime suspect, meanwhile local animal sanctuary owner Lisa is bereft when the child she is supposed to be responsible for - the child of her friend - is among the missing.

I thought Daly did an adequate job in her storytelling, the writing wasn't mindblowingly good, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless. There are plenty of red herrings floating around which reminded me of good old fashioned detective stories. Whilst I wouldn't exactly say I was thrilled by the book, I enjoyed the criminal investigation aspect.

I felt the last quarter of the book was rushed and didn't offer the reader the outcome they might expect. Once the story begins to conclude, its quite obvious what happened to the girl, and the reader may feel a bit deflated. Likewise, I felt the character of Joanne was under-developed and references to her 'mad' aunt and her painful oversized breasts wholly unnecessary. It was almost as if Daly was trying to reach her word count with too much detail.

Having read a few of Daly's books, I will continue to work my way through her novels, because I have enjoyed others significantly more than this one. It's not dreadful, but neither is it edge of your seat thrilling either.

[Mary Kubica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll preface this by saying I love suspense novels more than all other genres. They are my absolute favorite. The kind of book that once you begin, you simply cannot put down. You HAVE to know what happens. JUST WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU? was exactly that. The premise of an overwhelmed mother dropping the ball just once, and all the backlash that comes from that one oversight (albeit a large one), is something many of us mothers can relate to, or at least sympathize with. Paula Daly sweeps the reader off their feet and into the mystery of missing 13-year-old girls, as our main character, Lisa, and Detective Constable Aspinall try to discover what has become of them, particularly the case of Lucinda Riverty, a young girl who went missing while on Lisa's watch. The novel is filled with mystery and tension, as well as the necessities of everyday life as they relate to marriages, friendships and families. I read this book in about 48 hours (though I would have loved to read it in one sitting as others have done, but unfortunately, real life didn't let that happen), and found myself sneaking in a chapter here and a chapter there whenever I could. The ending is meticulous - and left me completely speechless once I'd finished the novel.

I'd give this book six stars if I could! A MUST READ!! Thank you Paula for an amazing debut.

[Loes Dissel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping thriller. I couldn't put this book down, so I read it in one sitting.

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Castillo is your typical harassed mother, juggling children, work and along with the other day to day chores that need to be attended to. When Linda’s daughter Sally is ill and off school, Linda forgets to tell Kate Riverty that her daughter Lucinda won’t be able to stay over as planned. With the sleepover cancelled without warning the consequences are high because Lucinda goes missing and no-one realises until she doesn’t turn up at school the next day.

This is a heart-stopping start to what is one of the most accomplished of all the psychological thrillers I have read this year. What makes it so powerful is that it is only too believable. Linda is a well-rounded, flawed, but only in the way we all are, mother. Kate on the other-hand is a highly organised mother who can’t understand the laxity shown by lesser mortals after all she has two high-achieving children, she is involved on school committees and throws dinner parties for the worthy and the good; Kate was only invited once and soon dismissed when it became clear that she didn’t belong.

The search is led by DC Joanne Aspinall who is a highly likeable and practical woman, someone who knows what life is all about and her interactions with all the other characters were some of my favourite parts. Meanwhile with the sting of being publicly blamed for Lucinda’s disappearance, and fearing even her husband blames her, Kate starts her own investigation determined to help find out what happened to Lucinda. The tale is interspersed with some truly creepy thoughts from a man who is interested in young girls while the main narrative is shared between DC Aspinall and Kate Riverty.

This is one of those books I really couldn’t put down, even better the ending wasn’t a disappointment which is always a danger after such a terrific build-up.

So to sum up, a devastatingly good plot, perfect timing to create the upmost tensions and characters that you believe in, results a book that no one who loves a good psychological thriller should miss.

I thoroughly recommend this and Paula Daly’s second novel Keep Your Friends Close if you like books that make you question what you would do in the same situation.

[ReadsSometimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. That was a book and a half. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this from beginning to end. It never stopped with pace, clear, believable characters and a brilliant story-line. This is the first book I've read by Paula Daly and I will certainly be reading more. It's been on my TBR pile for a while. The little gems that pile holds. Highly recommended.

[Susan Maldrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by a close friend--a true kindred spirit. Normally I'm not a mystery reader but looking for something different I was curious to what this read was about, I was not disappointed! My main complaint with this book is that it hooked me to read just one more page, then another to find out the answers-- really cuts into ones sleep time. It's great to find a book that lets you escape and Paula Daly delivered. The writing was not flawless but the storyline was so compelling any minor error didn't slow me down-which normally it would. I would recommend this book mystery lover or not.

[Christine Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book. I'm so frustrated with this book. It was quite good, actually, most likely a four star read, until the last 50 pages or so. Yes, fellow readers, I found the ending of this "mystery" so disappointing that it lost 2 whole stars. I'm not going to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet, but I will say that for me it was anticlimactic. All that build up, all that back story, and then a limp noodle of an ending. Ugh, it's like the author couldn't figure out how to do the big dramatic conclusion, so she just threw this ending in there to be done with it. Not impressed.