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Andee Lawrence #1
Behind Closed Doors
The powerful new novel about how life can change course in a heartbeat. From the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of Never Say Goodbye.
When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night it looks at first as though she's run away from home.
Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she's taken a bag full of clothes.
As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide.
For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie's disappearance than teenage rebellion.
But is the past clouding her judgment, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie's family, would ever want to face?
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2014
218 people are currently reading
1632 people want to read
About the author
Susan Lewis
67 books1,203 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
August 4, 2014
An intriguing and emotional read this one, the tale of a missing schoolgirl which throws up all sorts of underlying issues within a community and the police officer responsible for finding out what happened to her.
A wonderful mix of family drama and mystery, this is a gripping tale – mostly, I think, because of the emotional resonance this case has for Andrea Lawrence, our main protagonist, who’s sister went missing years before and was never found…her thoughts and feelings as she attempts to find Sophie add a fascinating depth to a tale often told.
There is some beautiful writing here that breathes life into a community who have lost one of their own – and gives a real insight into the hidden turmoil that can lurk just beneath a seemingly idyllic place. Add to that a realistic and sometimes pragmatic look at the secrets that can lurk “behind closed doors” and you have a terrifically constructed tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.
I’ve been blessed recently with many great reads within this genre – this one is excellent, I always find the best ones are absolutely character driven and not necessarily focussed entirely on the one event – Susan Lewis pulls many threads together to tell many stories of different lives here, and it is cleverly done and very moving.
This may be my first novel from this author but it will definitely not be my last.
Happy Reading Folks!
A wonderful mix of family drama and mystery, this is a gripping tale – mostly, I think, because of the emotional resonance this case has for Andrea Lawrence, our main protagonist, who’s sister went missing years before and was never found…her thoughts and feelings as she attempts to find Sophie add a fascinating depth to a tale often told.
There is some beautiful writing here that breathes life into a community who have lost one of their own – and gives a real insight into the hidden turmoil that can lurk just beneath a seemingly idyllic place. Add to that a realistic and sometimes pragmatic look at the secrets that can lurk “behind closed doors” and you have a terrifically constructed tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.
I’ve been blessed recently with many great reads within this genre – this one is excellent, I always find the best ones are absolutely character driven and not necessarily focussed entirely on the one event – Susan Lewis pulls many threads together to tell many stories of different lives here, and it is cleverly done and very moving.
This may be my first novel from this author but it will definitely not be my last.
Happy Reading Folks!
August 25, 2014
Fourteen year old Sophie Monroe has gone missing following a row with her parents and DS Andrea Lawrence must lead the case investigating her vanishing, despite the fact that it has rekindled the most traumatic events ever to happen to her own family, events that have haunted them all and never been far from their minds. Her sister Penny went missing 20 years ago, and the family never knew her fate. Is Andee going to be able to investigate this new disappearance objectively, or is she going to be too close emotionally?
The story is set in Kesterly, a seaside resort in the west country and centred around the holiday resort where Sophie lived with her family and from which she went missing. We get to meet some of the characters who worked on the resort and I particularly liked Suzi, a woman with a tragic past and one whose back story could really have filled its own book.
I really liked Andrea herself, or Andee as she is nicknamed. A single mother with two teenage children of her own, I especially liked the balance between the police procedural part of the story and her personal life. Whilst dealing with this case, the toughest of her career, she also has a family bereavement and has to juggle her families’ needs in that respect with her work. The bereavement will also bring her ex Martin home, an added complication at a time when she is just starting to date again herself.
The plotline is quite complex, with plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me interested right to the end when the author pulled all the strands together for an ending that tied up all the loose ends quite nicely. In fact, the ending was quite emotional and moving, it certainly gave me a couple of lumps in the throat. To sum up, a very good police procedural with a main character who I really liked, that is well worth a read.
The story is set in Kesterly, a seaside resort in the west country and centred around the holiday resort where Sophie lived with her family and from which she went missing. We get to meet some of the characters who worked on the resort and I particularly liked Suzi, a woman with a tragic past and one whose back story could really have filled its own book.
I really liked Andrea herself, or Andee as she is nicknamed. A single mother with two teenage children of her own, I especially liked the balance between the police procedural part of the story and her personal life. Whilst dealing with this case, the toughest of her career, she also has a family bereavement and has to juggle her families’ needs in that respect with her work. The bereavement will also bring her ex Martin home, an added complication at a time when she is just starting to date again herself.
The plotline is quite complex, with plenty of twists and turns along the way that kept me interested right to the end when the author pulled all the strands together for an ending that tied up all the loose ends quite nicely. In fact, the ending was quite emotional and moving, it certainly gave me a couple of lumps in the throat. To sum up, a very good police procedural with a main character who I really liked, that is well worth a read.
November 5, 2017
Could be a potential Book
Another book which i read with the same title but also a little too high expectations
To be honest, this book was developing well until the revelation. I was looking through other reviews to find one which could resonate with me but to no avail. It could be due to the little reviews. Nonetheless, i was trying to find a connection to how the murderer was discovered. In no way could i have guessed it by instincts or through the plot revelation. To confirm this, i flipped back to the chapter and re-read again. I still could not decipher how the murderer was found.
Otherwise, this story could have been a 5* star book with such a big mystery.
Another book which i read with the same title but also a little too high expectations
To be honest, this book was developing well until the revelation. I was looking through other reviews to find one which could resonate with me but to no avail. It could be due to the little reviews. Nonetheless, i was trying to find a connection to how the murderer was discovered. In no way could i have guessed it by instincts or through the plot revelation. To confirm this, i flipped back to the chapter and re-read again. I still could not decipher how the murderer was found.
Otherwise, this story could have been a 5* star book with such a big mystery.
June 13, 2020
Must admit, I thought that this was going to be a tale of 'nothingness'.... But it wasn't, it was engaging, despite being an easy book to read. Crime, relationships and thought provoking.
March 10, 2015
Spoiler Alert!!
Ok so this was the first book I have read by this author and it wasn't bad. Having recently read the similarly themed 'Daughter' by Jane Shemilt, which was a debut novel and then this which is the authors 33rd novel, I have to say 'Daughter' was infinitely better.
My main annoyances with this novel have nothing to do with main story which in itself was fairly good and kept me turning the pages. My main dislike stems from the character of Martin. Firstly he leaves his wife and family for a assumed better life and then comes crawling back when the grass isn't greener. His wife in the instance is Andee who is the main character of this novel as a detective investigating the case of a missing girl, who after being left high and dry by her awful husband starts a new life and starts seeing a new man. For a strong female character to take back her simpering husband was a disappointing end. My second problem with this book is the way everyone treated Martins new girlfriend. The author really drove the point home that unless someone is the mother/father of your child there not worth bothering with and this was reflected in the way the supposedly nice characters in the book treated Bridgette (Martins new girlfriend) going so far as to ban her from a family funeral and making her unwelcome while they played happy families. Not only this but Martin then tries it on with Andee behind Brigettes back confirming him to be the lowlife I originally suspected. Now I know this was far from the main story of this book and to be fair the main story was well handled, I just couldn't get passed these issues and they really affected how I felt about Andee, Martin and their families (especially the two grandmothers). I think a better end would have been for Andee to have risked a new life with her new interest and built on the independance portayed by her character. All in all not a bad read but I doubt I will be rushing to pick up any more novels by this author.
Ok so this was the first book I have read by this author and it wasn't bad. Having recently read the similarly themed 'Daughter' by Jane Shemilt, which was a debut novel and then this which is the authors 33rd novel, I have to say 'Daughter' was infinitely better.
My main annoyances with this novel have nothing to do with main story which in itself was fairly good and kept me turning the pages. My main dislike stems from the character of Martin. Firstly he leaves his wife and family for a assumed better life and then comes crawling back when the grass isn't greener. His wife in the instance is Andee who is the main character of this novel as a detective investigating the case of a missing girl, who after being left high and dry by her awful husband starts a new life and starts seeing a new man. For a strong female character to take back her simpering husband was a disappointing end. My second problem with this book is the way everyone treated Martins new girlfriend. The author really drove the point home that unless someone is the mother/father of your child there not worth bothering with and this was reflected in the way the supposedly nice characters in the book treated Bridgette (Martins new girlfriend) going so far as to ban her from a family funeral and making her unwelcome while they played happy families. Not only this but Martin then tries it on with Andee behind Brigettes back confirming him to be the lowlife I originally suspected. Now I know this was far from the main story of this book and to be fair the main story was well handled, I just couldn't get passed these issues and they really affected how I felt about Andee, Martin and their families (especially the two grandmothers). I think a better end would have been for Andee to have risked a new life with her new interest and built on the independance portayed by her character. All in all not a bad read but I doubt I will be rushing to pick up any more novels by this author.
January 18, 2024
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 382
Publisher - Arrow
Source - Bought
Blurb from Amazon
Don't miss this powerful and suspenseful novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of One Minute Later.
When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night, it looks at first as though she’s run away from home.
Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she’s taken a bag full of clothes.
As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide.
For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie’s disappearance than teenage rebellion.
But is the past clouding her judgement, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie’s family, would ever want to face?
My Review
Sophie is fourteen, living in a caravan style holiday place, seeking attention from boys/men to make up for the lack of attention at home. After a huge row with her stepmom Sophie goes missing, initially felt to be one of her stunts but as time goes on it seems it may not just be a teen acting out, is Sophie in danger? D S Andrea Lawrence is on the case and maybe a little clouded due to having her own sister go missing years ago. Can she remain impartial to get to the bottom of it and find Sophie?
Set in a smallish town, holiday homes/caravans style setting where lots of people have many secrets as the case becomes serious and the cops start digging it seems everyone has something to hide. Focusing on some shady characters, offences relating to under age girls, cover ups, lies, secrets, families, family pressure. It is a melting pot of gossip, scandal and shocking people who seem more interested in their own issues than a young girl going missing.
I think Lewis does well to weave a web of characters, often shady or at least make you question them. Page turner, riveting especially from a nosey stance because you want to know what is going on, what they are hiding and most importantly where is Sophie and can we get her back safetly, 4/5.
Pages - 382
Publisher - Arrow
Source - Bought
Blurb from Amazon
Don't miss this powerful and suspenseful novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of One Minute Later.
When fourteen-year-old Sophie Monroe suddenly vanishes one night, it looks at first as though she’s run away from home.
Her computer and mobile phone have gone, and she’s taken a bag full of clothes.
As the police investigation unfolds a wealth of secrets from the surrounding community start coming to light. And it seems everyone has something to hide.
For Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence, the case is a painful reminder of the tragedy that tore her family apart over twenty years ago. She is convinced there is more to Sophie’s disappearance than teenage rebellion.
But is the past clouding her judgement, preventing her from seeing a truth that neither she, nor Sophie’s family, would ever want to face?
My Review
Sophie is fourteen, living in a caravan style holiday place, seeking attention from boys/men to make up for the lack of attention at home. After a huge row with her stepmom Sophie goes missing, initially felt to be one of her stunts but as time goes on it seems it may not just be a teen acting out, is Sophie in danger? D S Andrea Lawrence is on the case and maybe a little clouded due to having her own sister go missing years ago. Can she remain impartial to get to the bottom of it and find Sophie?
Set in a smallish town, holiday homes/caravans style setting where lots of people have many secrets as the case becomes serious and the cops start digging it seems everyone has something to hide. Focusing on some shady characters, offences relating to under age girls, cover ups, lies, secrets, families, family pressure. It is a melting pot of gossip, scandal and shocking people who seem more interested in their own issues than a young girl going missing.
I think Lewis does well to weave a web of characters, often shady or at least make you question them. Page turner, riveting especially from a nosey stance because you want to know what is going on, what they are hiding and most importantly where is Sophie and can we get her back safetly, 4/5.
January 16, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Ballantine via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 20th 2015.
This is a genre that I do not typically gravitate towards. I don't know why as I generally always enjoy it when I do read it however I tend to prioritise other genres first. Perhaps it is time to change that as I may be missing some really good reads.
I found this story really interesting with just enough teasers and possible suspects to keep you guessing. Add to that you really don't know what the suspects have done. Did Sophie run away? Was she abducted? Even worse could she be dead? I liked the aspect of not knowing what happened to Sophie and this added to the intrigue I progressed through the story.
The main character in Andee was also a strong one. With a no nonsense exterior and a vulnerable interior. The fact that the case hit close to home for her as she battled the similarities and the ghosts of her sister Penny who had gone missing years before and the remaining questions as a result. A personal life in turmoil was the icing on the cake.
Without divulging too many details this was a story with an interesting cast of characters and enough sub-plots to keep it moving. Was everything connected or were the plots individual of each other? You will have to read to find out! If I have to add some criticism is that the story seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. I would have like to have read more of the actions of the Poynter family and their activities.
If you enjoy a good who done it without a complex writing style then I would recommend this story. I enjoyed it.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Ballantine via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 20th 2015.
This is a genre that I do not typically gravitate towards. I don't know why as I generally always enjoy it when I do read it however I tend to prioritise other genres first. Perhaps it is time to change that as I may be missing some really good reads.
I found this story really interesting with just enough teasers and possible suspects to keep you guessing. Add to that you really don't know what the suspects have done. Did Sophie run away? Was she abducted? Even worse could she be dead? I liked the aspect of not knowing what happened to Sophie and this added to the intrigue I progressed through the story.
The main character in Andee was also a strong one. With a no nonsense exterior and a vulnerable interior. The fact that the case hit close to home for her as she battled the similarities and the ghosts of her sister Penny who had gone missing years before and the remaining questions as a result. A personal life in turmoil was the icing on the cake.
Without divulging too many details this was a story with an interesting cast of characters and enough sub-plots to keep it moving. Was everything connected or were the plots individual of each other? You will have to read to find out! If I have to add some criticism is that the story seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. I would have like to have read more of the actions of the Poynter family and their activities.
If you enjoy a good who done it without a complex writing style then I would recommend this story. I enjoyed it.
December 9, 2018
This was the second book I read by Susan Lewis. While I quite like her style and I enjoyed the book there were some things that I did not like at all..
First of all - what is with all the police abbreviations?? I did not understand half of them and even googled one and still could not find a meaning of it. Was reading on kindle and highlighting it did not help either..
I was really interested in the story line but it was like once you got to 80% it all went downhill. Finished the book and told my partner what disappointed me, briefly explained the story and he just said - it's like the author gave up on the story by the end. And I thought - exactly!!!
While you could assume what happened to Sophie it was never really explained which was disappointing and to top it all up the detective made a decision regarding her personal life which was really disappointing so I feel like there was no real sense of ending. I really enjoyed it till about 80% through.
I loved "The Girl who came back" though so will give the next book a go. Just please no abbreviations!
First of all - what is with all the police abbreviations?? I did not understand half of them and even googled one and still could not find a meaning of it. Was reading on kindle and highlighting it did not help either..
I was really interested in the story line but it was like once you got to 80% it all went downhill. Finished the book and told my partner what disappointed me, briefly explained the story and he just said - it's like the author gave up on the story by the end. And I thought - exactly!!!
While you could assume what happened to Sophie it was never really explained which was disappointing and to top it all up the detective made a decision regarding her personal life which was really disappointing so I feel like there was no real sense of ending. I really enjoyed it till about 80% through.
I loved "The Girl who came back" though so will give the next book a go. Just please no abbreviations!
August 8, 2014
A 14 year old girl goes missing from a caravan park complex. The detective in charge also lost her sister at the same age - and she never turned up. She is determined to find this 14 year old and save her family the heartache that she's gone through over the years.
As they start to investigate more threads unravel and you begin to wonder what could have happened to Sophie.
There are background family issues with the detective and the normal teenage strife surrounding the girl who is missing.
It was a real page turner- and I'm so grateful to Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.
As they start to investigate more threads unravel and you begin to wonder what could have happened to Sophie.
There are background family issues with the detective and the normal teenage strife surrounding the girl who is missing.
It was a real page turner- and I'm so grateful to Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for a review.
October 28, 2022
I thought the style of writing was awful so thought I didn’t want to put up with it when there’s better books out there. Shame, as the author so-say lives 2 miles from me, and I like to support locals.
May 9, 2022
Words can’t explain how heart wrenching and emotional this book was! Literally couldn’t put it down! Please please read this book! Susan Lewis is unstoppable!
December 13, 2022
Round up to 4.5 stars.
August 19, 2025
Very enjoyable.
January 19, 2015
4.5 stars.
Fans of police procedurals do not want to miss Susan Lewis's newest release Behind Closed Doors. With a very intriguing mystery and an outstanding cast of characters, it is an absolutely riveting novel that is impossible to put down.
Detective Sergeant Andrea "Andee" Lawrence comes face to face with her unresolved and traumatic past when fourteen year old Sophie Monroe is reported missing. While investigating Sophie's case, Andee is haunted by the memories of her sister Penny's disappearance twenty years earlier. With Penny's fate still unknown, Andee does everything in her power to uncover the truth about what happened to Sophie, but can she maintain her objectivity during such an emotionally volatile investigation?
Andee is a single mother of two teenagers who has recently moved back to the town where she and Penny vacationed with their grandparents every summer. Devastated after her twenty year relationship with her children's father ended, Andee has finally started a new relationship when a family crisis brings her ex back into her life. Trying to juggle both her professional and personal lives is quite challenging and Andee is also plagued with doubts that her judgment is clouded by her unsettling memories of Penny's case and the impact of her disappearance on her family.
Although readers only see a brief glimpse of Sophie, her presence is keenly felt throughout the entire novel and it is impossible not to feel a connection to her. She is a very sympathetic character and her back story is incredibly heartbreaking. Her reactions to all of the changes in her life are sadly all too real in today's world and it is very easy to understand the reasons behind her (misguided) choices.
The mystery element is positively brilliant and there are numerous plot twists that effectively keep the truth about what happened to Sophie obscured for most of the story. While Andee's investigation uncovers a fairly long list of suspects and possible motives for Sophie's disappearance, none of the clues lead to definitive answer for what happened to the missing teen.
Behind Closed Doors is a completely captivating read with a richly developed cast of characters and a complex storyline. It is an emotionally compelling novel that has plenty of depth and substance and a plot is all too frighteningly realistic. Susan Lewis brings the story to a very unexpected and poignant conclusion that is quite moving. An excellent mystery that fans of the genre are going to love.
Fans of police procedurals do not want to miss Susan Lewis's newest release Behind Closed Doors. With a very intriguing mystery and an outstanding cast of characters, it is an absolutely riveting novel that is impossible to put down.
Detective Sergeant Andrea "Andee" Lawrence comes face to face with her unresolved and traumatic past when fourteen year old Sophie Monroe is reported missing. While investigating Sophie's case, Andee is haunted by the memories of her sister Penny's disappearance twenty years earlier. With Penny's fate still unknown, Andee does everything in her power to uncover the truth about what happened to Sophie, but can she maintain her objectivity during such an emotionally volatile investigation?
Andee is a single mother of two teenagers who has recently moved back to the town where she and Penny vacationed with their grandparents every summer. Devastated after her twenty year relationship with her children's father ended, Andee has finally started a new relationship when a family crisis brings her ex back into her life. Trying to juggle both her professional and personal lives is quite challenging and Andee is also plagued with doubts that her judgment is clouded by her unsettling memories of Penny's case and the impact of her disappearance on her family.
Although readers only see a brief glimpse of Sophie, her presence is keenly felt throughout the entire novel and it is impossible not to feel a connection to her. She is a very sympathetic character and her back story is incredibly heartbreaking. Her reactions to all of the changes in her life are sadly all too real in today's world and it is very easy to understand the reasons behind her (misguided) choices.
The mystery element is positively brilliant and there are numerous plot twists that effectively keep the truth about what happened to Sophie obscured for most of the story. While Andee's investigation uncovers a fairly long list of suspects and possible motives for Sophie's disappearance, none of the clues lead to definitive answer for what happened to the missing teen.
Behind Closed Doors is a completely captivating read with a richly developed cast of characters and a complex storyline. It is an emotionally compelling novel that has plenty of depth and substance and a plot is all too frighteningly realistic. Susan Lewis brings the story to a very unexpected and poignant conclusion that is quite moving. An excellent mystery that fans of the genre are going to love.
June 23, 2015
I am a fan if Susan Lewis and am rarely disappointed. This latest book didn’t disappoint me, but it felt like there was something missing. The one thing I really loved was the Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence. She had her own experience with missing persons and it makes her such an interesting character as her past inevitably affects her future. The story becomes quite involved quite quickly as the 14 year old Sophie Monroe goes missing. The parents are distraught and the police move quickly to try and establish if she has run away of her own choice.
The storyline was certainly engaging and like I say the lead character was great, but the whole time I was reading it I felt like there was something I just couldn’t connect with. Having said that, it was still an incredibly good read, I guess I just have high expectations from this long time and reassuringly good author. There were parts where I felt like things were dragging and I wasn’t as engaged as I normally would be.
Overall, an interesting and enjoyable read but not one of Susan Lewis best. I think when you buy an SL book you know you are in for a great story, but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The storyline was certainly engaging and like I say the lead character was great, but the whole time I was reading it I felt like there was something I just couldn’t connect with. Having said that, it was still an incredibly good read, I guess I just have high expectations from this long time and reassuringly good author. There were parts where I felt like things were dragging and I wasn’t as engaged as I normally would be.
Overall, an interesting and enjoyable read but not one of Susan Lewis best. I think when you buy an SL book you know you are in for a great story, but this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
May 17, 2015
Found this to be a really thought provoking book. The story is underpinned by the real life issues of missing persons and the ripple effect this has on families and communities.
The story stayed in my thoughts for the time it took me to read it and beyond.
The story stayed in my thoughts for the time it took me to read it and beyond.
August 10, 2015
This is the first book I have read by Susan Lewis and I was pleasantly surprised. Really good writing, an easy read but utterly gripping I will be reading more from this author.
February 7, 2015
When 14 year old Sophie Monroe goes missing DI Andee Laurence is determined to find her. NTMA and very hard to put down.
Thank you First Reads.
Thank you First Reads.
March 14, 2016
http://noemptyshelveshere.blogspot.co...
Another great book from Susan Lewis.
Much enjoyed with few twists and turns throughout.
Another great book from Susan Lewis.
Much enjoyed with few twists and turns throughout.
October 14, 2016
Good read
September 5, 2019
Absolutely brilliant well written it has me in tears
May 12, 2020
This book was a nice read. It starts with a typical argument a teenager can have with her parents, feeling unloved and angry. The surroundings Sophie is growing up in, aren't the best one can have in the start of life. It does well portray what effect the bad combination of surroundings and bad influences can have on an uncertain, depressed young teenage girl.
I've read this book in a short time, because it is gripping and fast-paced. It is not a nail-biting thriller in the style of Scandinavian thrillers, but a good murder-mystery being solved in somewhat more familiar surroundings.
I've read this book in a short time, because it is gripping and fast-paced. It is not a nail-biting thriller in the style of Scandinavian thrillers, but a good murder-mystery being solved in somewhat more familiar surroundings.
January 12, 2025
I've had this downloaded for an age but a friend mentioned the author on one of his podcasts and I looked her up and realised !! Although, the first thing I noticed on her Amazon book page is that apparently she shares it with some chancer of a religious nutcase ! I tweeted to let her know his bio has somehow got plonked onto her page but at time of writing it remains. I'd lose my mind with Amazon if that was me !!
It was a great story and I'll be getting more of the series for sure...I just wait till the price comes down a bit is all.
I must say, from what we encountered of young Sophie, I would've been relieved she'd disappeared !! Then we read of Somalian girls enslaved by Iranians....all in the UK. You can't make it up, can you ? This country's going to the dogs !! Andee did get my back up a little as she wasn't too impressed her ex had got himself a new woman.....but SHE had herself a new chap before Martin got his new one so that reeked of double-standards to me and put me off her a little.
I did spot some errors, hence the knock-down in stars. She writes inquiries not enquiries, though sometimes she got it right.....and there are quite a few missed-off question marks. Then Kesterly Bay was written thus, then amended to bay later on. I didn't know what Polsars were so googled and it is PolSA so no wonder !! She missed the apostrophe off Ladies' (which so many authors do) and missed the word not from a sentence later on which changed the whole meaning of the sentence !!! A proofreader ought to have spotted that !
This aside, I have a few of hers in my wishlist so will be reading more by her this coming year, no doubt. Oh, and I wished she'd kept the cover I bought as it is way nicer than some of the ensuing ones, I thought !
It was a great story and I'll be getting more of the series for sure...I just wait till the price comes down a bit is all.
I must say, from what we encountered of young Sophie, I would've been relieved she'd disappeared !! Then we read of Somalian girls enslaved by Iranians....all in the UK. You can't make it up, can you ? This country's going to the dogs !! Andee did get my back up a little as she wasn't too impressed her ex had got himself a new woman.....but SHE had herself a new chap before Martin got his new one so that reeked of double-standards to me and put me off her a little.
I did spot some errors, hence the knock-down in stars. She writes inquiries not enquiries, though sometimes she got it right.....and there are quite a few missed-off question marks. Then Kesterly Bay was written thus, then amended to bay later on. I didn't know what Polsars were so googled and it is PolSA so no wonder !! She missed the apostrophe off Ladies' (which so many authors do) and missed the word not from a sentence later on which changed the whole meaning of the sentence !!! A proofreader ought to have spotted that !
This aside, I have a few of hers in my wishlist so will be reading more by her this coming year, no doubt. Oh, and I wished she'd kept the cover I bought as it is way nicer than some of the ensuing ones, I thought !
March 31, 2020
Detective Sergeant Andrea Lawrence has been handed the case of a missing fourteen year old girl and she cannot help by reflect upon her own past. Andrea's sister vanished years before, never to be spotted again. Sophie Monroe has not been seen since an explosive fight with her stepmother and father more than a week ago. As Detective Sergeant Lawrence digs deeper into the disappearance, it becomes apparent that there is more to the story than meets the eye.
The biggest issue that I had with Behind Closed Doors was that the story was transparent. The conclusion was quite evident, so I was interested in seeing how the author wrapped and tied the story together. There were holes in the plot, especially regarding the investigation. Detective Sergeant Lawrence takes big leaps at the end, but her investigative process is just barely mentioned. The author does not do enough to bring the characters to life, especially Sophie, so it was hard to become invested in the story. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Behind Closed Doors to other readers.
I won a copy of Behind Closed Doors during a Goodreads Giveaway. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
The biggest issue that I had with Behind Closed Doors was that the story was transparent. The conclusion was quite evident, so I was interested in seeing how the author wrapped and tied the story together. There were holes in the plot, especially regarding the investigation. Detective Sergeant Lawrence takes big leaps at the end, but her investigative process is just barely mentioned. The author does not do enough to bring the characters to life, especially Sophie, so it was hard to become invested in the story. For these reasons, I would be hesitant to recommend Behind Closed Doors to other readers.
I won a copy of Behind Closed Doors during a Goodreads Giveaway. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
June 19, 2021
I was reluctant to start reading this book after I bought it thinking it was non-fiction, but it is in fact fictional. However, I am not disappointed that I did start reading it, in fact I started reading it and it took me less than 3 days to finish it. I couldn’t put it down!
It’s a great book from start to end. There are many characters involved, which sometimes gets confusing, but you get to know all of the characters so well that you are able to follow each bit of the story line with ease.
This book takes a different approach in which it follows the case of a missing teenager from a detectives perspective, a detective who herself has dealt with similar circumstances. And it shows the effects it has on not only the family but on the effects it has on the detectives in a case such as a missing persons case. It also shows you how everyone has secrets they’re hiding, even if they seem like they don’t.
It’s definitely a gripping read and one I would definitely recommend.
It’s a great book from start to end. There are many characters involved, which sometimes gets confusing, but you get to know all of the characters so well that you are able to follow each bit of the story line with ease.
This book takes a different approach in which it follows the case of a missing teenager from a detectives perspective, a detective who herself has dealt with similar circumstances. And it shows the effects it has on not only the family but on the effects it has on the detectives in a case such as a missing persons case. It also shows you how everyone has secrets they’re hiding, even if they seem like they don’t.
It’s definitely a gripping read and one I would definitely recommend.
April 29, 2018
Spoiler Alert!!
This left me in tears. Why does it take the loss of someone’s life to have the love he/she was seeking for all his life? Sophie appeared for couple of pages in the beginning and was significantly present by her absence throughout the whole book.
Susan Lewis writes from the heart directing her words to be received by the reader’s heart.. spinning her story about disappearance of a 14 years old Sophie she raises awareness about lots of alarming issues facing our lives nowadays that should be taken dead seriously
Children need to be sure they are loved and cared for no matter what is happening in our hectic lives
An excellent book
This left me in tears. Why does it take the loss of someone’s life to have the love he/she was seeking for all his life? Sophie appeared for couple of pages in the beginning and was significantly present by her absence throughout the whole book.
Susan Lewis writes from the heart directing her words to be received by the reader’s heart.. spinning her story about disappearance of a 14 years old Sophie she raises awareness about lots of alarming issues facing our lives nowadays that should be taken dead seriously
Children need to be sure they are loved and cared for no matter what is happening in our hectic lives
An excellent book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2021
For a second hand book I knew nothing about, this one really surprised me. It’s the first I’ve read of the author and the cover didn’t strike me as the type of book I would usually pick up, but you know what they say…. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
The main character Andy is a policewoman investigating the disappearance of a missing teenager. The case is very close to her heart due to her own sister going missing many years before. It turns out the missing teenager isn’t the only thing going on in the town and as secrets are revealed, we finally find out what happened to our missing teenager.
A really easy read and interesting all throughout.
The main character Andy is a policewoman investigating the disappearance of a missing teenager. The case is very close to her heart due to her own sister going missing many years before. It turns out the missing teenager isn’t the only thing going on in the town and as secrets are revealed, we finally find out what happened to our missing teenager.
A really easy read and interesting all throughout.
August 29, 2023
This is the first book n the series of Detective Andee Lawrence.
A really well written and gripping story about missing teenager Sophie Monroe. Detective Lawrence is the lead investigator on the case, but with her own devastating memories of loss creeping to the fore she struggles to focus.
The author succeeded in keeping me guessing throughout the book by introducing believable characters and crimes as links to Sophie's disappearance.
Recommended reading for those who enjoy a good detective story. I will definitely continue with the series and seek out other novels written by Susan Lewis.
October 28, 2021
It was a good book
Suspenseful but a bit of a tiring read if I'm being honest. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting twists and throughout the book there are moments where I was like 'omg what happens next?', but overall, it was a slow book. Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read and I loved Andee's character and storyline. I could really visualize and imagine her life and felt for her.
I would read more of Susan's books in the future. One of the books that caught my eye was 'Too close to home', so let's see!
Suspenseful but a bit of a tiring read if I'm being honest. Don't get me wrong, there are some interesting twists and throughout the book there are moments where I was like 'omg what happens next?', but overall, it was a slow book. Nonetheless, it was still an enjoyable read and I loved Andee's character and storyline. I could really visualize and imagine her life and felt for her.
I would read more of Susan's books in the future. One of the books that caught my eye was 'Too close to home', so let's see!
April 20, 2021
I’m not sure how to rate this book. It was compelling - I started in yesterday, and finished it this morning. Did I like it? Did I enjoy reading it? I don’t think so. I feel heavy and tired out from reading it. A young girl missing, families torn apart. Suspicions everywhere. Grief over family losses and broken families. The ending was supposed to be hopeful, looking forward, but it wasn’t for me.
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