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The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy
'Intriguing, compelling. Impossible to put down and irresistibly good' Liane Moriarty
No one is who they seem to be.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people.
Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it.
Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated.
Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made.
But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a gripping, impossible-to-put-down exploration of betrayal and revenge.
No one is who they seem to be.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people.
Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it.
Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated.
Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made.
But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a gripping, impossible-to-put-down exploration of betrayal and revenge.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2018
77 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
B.M. Carroll
5 books118 followersLibrarian Note: B.M. Carroll also writes under the name Ber Carroll.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
December 5, 2018
At the beginning, we are introduced to Sophie who is in a considerable amount of pain, we know the injuries are caused by her partner Aidan but not how.
Loved how you can’t help but feel sorry for poor Sophie, who finds everyday life a struggle with her injuries. She is intelligent, ambitious and resilient, but as we get to know her better, we discover she is not such a nice person after all. My sympathy’s soon waned!!
Sophie’s partner Aidan had left his wife Chloe and daughter Jazmin to be with Sophie, is it out of guilt or love for Sophie?
A book that keeps you gripped, loved how each chapter was a different character, this was a very clever way to slowly reveal the plot and to keep the tension building up!!
A must read book that will not disappoint. Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Loved how you can’t help but feel sorry for poor Sophie, who finds everyday life a struggle with her injuries. She is intelligent, ambitious and resilient, but as we get to know her better, we discover she is not such a nice person after all. My sympathy’s soon waned!!
Sophie’s partner Aidan had left his wife Chloe and daughter Jazmin to be with Sophie, is it out of guilt or love for Sophie?
A book that keeps you gripped, loved how each chapter was a different character, this was a very clever way to slowly reveal the plot and to keep the tension building up!!
A must read book that will not disappoint. Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
October 30, 2021
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is one of those stories that gets people's attention immediately. A gripping thriller with clever plot twists that you don’t want to put down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who is searching for their next thriller/mystery book to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who is searching for their next thriller/mystery book to read.
June 14, 2020
Oh this was such a great book.
It’s 400 pages but it seemed half that amount because of the pace it kept up. I turned my pages with “just another chapter” before I knew it.......
Sophie has injuries that’s for sure and from the beginning you don’t know how or why but you suspect.
I had full on sympathy for her and empathy until........
This is not just one plot twist it’s several.
So good.
So very good.
It’s 400 pages but it seemed half that amount because of the pace it kept up. I turned my pages with “just another chapter” before I knew it.......
Sophie has injuries that’s for sure and from the beginning you don’t know how or why but you suspect.
I had full on sympathy for her and empathy until........
This is not just one plot twist it’s several.
So good.
So very good.
October 1, 2019
Four and a half stars.
At the beginning of this book the reader is introduced to Sophie McCarthy who is in considerable pain as a result of something that happened to her nine months earlier. I was right there with Sophie, sympathising with her, knowing how hard it is to constantly live with pain. All the reader knows is her pain is due to Aiden, who she lives with but at this point the reader has no idea what exactly happened. What we do know is that her father, Richard holds Aiden responsible and is angry. Other characters are introduced chapter by chapter, including Chloe, Aiden’s estranged wife, Dee, Sophie’s mother, Hannah who works with Sophie and Jasmin, Aiden and Chloe’s nine year old daughter. Even before her parents separated Aiden and Chloe were having issues with Jasmin who refuses to stay in bed at night no matter what they try. Just hearing about the problems they experienced with Jasmin and the tactics they tried to get her to sleep left me exhausted. As the story moves along filling in aspects of all these characters’ lives and how they interact, the reader begins to see a whole other side of Sophie. When secrets are revealed, what will it mean for those in close contact to Sophie?
Despite some decidedly unlikable people I found this a gripping read as it explores the interactions between these characters and what lies beneath the surface of some behaviour. It also demonstrated how the behaviour and attitudes of one person can have a profound impact on others. I really liked the way the chapters are told from different characters and the way that built up the picture of what was going on. It was cleverly done.
Although it covers a lot of issues, the story is not issue driven but decidedly character driven. Towards the end the pace certainly picks up and had this reader frantically turning pages. An excellent read that had me gripped from start to finish.
At the beginning of this book the reader is introduced to Sophie McCarthy who is in considerable pain as a result of something that happened to her nine months earlier. I was right there with Sophie, sympathising with her, knowing how hard it is to constantly live with pain. All the reader knows is her pain is due to Aiden, who she lives with but at this point the reader has no idea what exactly happened. What we do know is that her father, Richard holds Aiden responsible and is angry. Other characters are introduced chapter by chapter, including Chloe, Aiden’s estranged wife, Dee, Sophie’s mother, Hannah who works with Sophie and Jasmin, Aiden and Chloe’s nine year old daughter. Even before her parents separated Aiden and Chloe were having issues with Jasmin who refuses to stay in bed at night no matter what they try. Just hearing about the problems they experienced with Jasmin and the tactics they tried to get her to sleep left me exhausted. As the story moves along filling in aspects of all these characters’ lives and how they interact, the reader begins to see a whole other side of Sophie. When secrets are revealed, what will it mean for those in close contact to Sophie?
Despite some decidedly unlikable people I found this a gripping read as it explores the interactions between these characters and what lies beneath the surface of some behaviour. It also demonstrated how the behaviour and attitudes of one person can have a profound impact on others. I really liked the way the chapters are told from different characters and the way that built up the picture of what was going on. It was cleverly done.
Although it covers a lot of issues, the story is not issue driven but decidedly character driven. Towards the end the pace certainly picks up and had this reader frantically turning pages. An excellent read that had me gripped from start to finish.
June 25, 2019
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You may or may not know that B.M. Carroll is the pen name taken by established author Ber Carroll. Ber is also close friends with global sensation and fellow writer Liane Moriarty, who has raved about The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy. Turns out Liane Moriarty’s opinion is completely justified, this is an amazing book and it easily earns a place as one of my favourite reads of the year.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy draws a complex line between what constitutes as being a victim and a bully. The lead, which this book is named after, treads a fine line between both these categories. A tragic accident and twist of fate debilitates Sophie, she is rendered incapable of performing simple everyday tasks. Once determined and full of ambition, Sophie is reduced to a quivering wreck who logs her nerve pain obsessively. But it isn’t all bad news for Sophie. The accident brings Aiden into her life, the same man who is at fault for what happened to her. It is a strange turn of events, but as Aiden eases his guilt by visiting Sophie in the hospital while she recovers, a relationship begins. However, the fallout from this devastating accident continues to have ripple effects on not only Sophie and Aiden, but their loved ones too. A vicious secret from the past also churns up fresh problems for Sophie McCarthy.
Firstly, I just want to breathe a big exclamation of WOW! This book was incredibly addictive and unputdownable. The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy was read in one sitting book, which is perhaps a testament to my enjoyment of this novel. The writing is stunning, the plot intricate and the characters are incredibly complex. This is what you want when you are looking for a good quality fiction novel and B.M. Carroll delivers.
I will begin with Sophie, the title character. Carroll’s representation of this complex main character is top notch, along with the side characters that inform the novel. Sophie is incredibly well drawn. I got an excellent feel for her thoughts, motivations and personality type. Carroll also withholds a little of Sophie’s character, so the sense of intrigue remains strong. The way in which Sophie is represented on the page also means that we pivot between feeling sympathy for her and downright disliking her!
Carroll’s solid characterisation skills extend to her secondary character base. This is aided by the shifting style of narration. Each chapter is narrated by a different character. This enables the reader to grasp Sophie’s character firmly and understand how Sophie looks through the eyes of others. Aiden is rendered very well, along with Aiden’s ex Chloe and his young daughter Jasmin. Also in on the action are Sophie’s parents and work colleagues. Although this may seem like there are a high number of narrators, the shifts are smooth, never jarring, so we slip easily into the action of each character.
Carroll incorporates plenty of themes within The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy. This contemporary fiction novel leans towards a domestic fiction, crossed with family drama title. Carroll offers an impressive snapshot into the world of mental health, ambition, compulsion, infidelity, infertility, loss, single parenthood, childhood learning difficulties and sleep disorders. She also shines an interesting light on the army world, through Aiden’s experiences. Carroll carefully examines the stress, anxiety, fatigue and the difficulties maintaining solid relationships.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a solid page turner and I found the pace relentless. My eyes were glued to the page and there were many moments where I felt that I was at the complete mercy of B.M. Carroll. The final turn of events and a secret from the past really did add the icing on the cake for this one.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy was a surprising read, full of twists (including an unexpected late one), turns and ambiguous characters. I appreciated the writing very much. I rated my first book by B.M. Carroll very highly, five out five stars. I’m very excited about the prospect of enjoying more writing by this talented storyteller that I am so pleased to have discovered!
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is book #89 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
You may or may not know that B.M. Carroll is the pen name taken by established author Ber Carroll. Ber is also close friends with global sensation and fellow writer Liane Moriarty, who has raved about The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy. Turns out Liane Moriarty’s opinion is completely justified, this is an amazing book and it easily earns a place as one of my favourite reads of the year.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy draws a complex line between what constitutes as being a victim and a bully. The lead, which this book is named after, treads a fine line between both these categories. A tragic accident and twist of fate debilitates Sophie, she is rendered incapable of performing simple everyday tasks. Once determined and full of ambition, Sophie is reduced to a quivering wreck who logs her nerve pain obsessively. But it isn’t all bad news for Sophie. The accident brings Aiden into her life, the same man who is at fault for what happened to her. It is a strange turn of events, but as Aiden eases his guilt by visiting Sophie in the hospital while she recovers, a relationship begins. However, the fallout from this devastating accident continues to have ripple effects on not only Sophie and Aiden, but their loved ones too. A vicious secret from the past also churns up fresh problems for Sophie McCarthy.
Firstly, I just want to breathe a big exclamation of WOW! This book was incredibly addictive and unputdownable. The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy was read in one sitting book, which is perhaps a testament to my enjoyment of this novel. The writing is stunning, the plot intricate and the characters are incredibly complex. This is what you want when you are looking for a good quality fiction novel and B.M. Carroll delivers.
I will begin with Sophie, the title character. Carroll’s representation of this complex main character is top notch, along with the side characters that inform the novel. Sophie is incredibly well drawn. I got an excellent feel for her thoughts, motivations and personality type. Carroll also withholds a little of Sophie’s character, so the sense of intrigue remains strong. The way in which Sophie is represented on the page also means that we pivot between feeling sympathy for her and downright disliking her!
Carroll’s solid characterisation skills extend to her secondary character base. This is aided by the shifting style of narration. Each chapter is narrated by a different character. This enables the reader to grasp Sophie’s character firmly and understand how Sophie looks through the eyes of others. Aiden is rendered very well, along with Aiden’s ex Chloe and his young daughter Jasmin. Also in on the action are Sophie’s parents and work colleagues. Although this may seem like there are a high number of narrators, the shifts are smooth, never jarring, so we slip easily into the action of each character.
Carroll incorporates plenty of themes within The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy. This contemporary fiction novel leans towards a domestic fiction, crossed with family drama title. Carroll offers an impressive snapshot into the world of mental health, ambition, compulsion, infidelity, infertility, loss, single parenthood, childhood learning difficulties and sleep disorders. She also shines an interesting light on the army world, through Aiden’s experiences. Carroll carefully examines the stress, anxiety, fatigue and the difficulties maintaining solid relationships.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a solid page turner and I found the pace relentless. My eyes were glued to the page and there were many moments where I felt that I was at the complete mercy of B.M. Carroll. The final turn of events and a secret from the past really did add the icing on the cake for this one.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy was a surprising read, full of twists (including an unexpected late one), turns and ambiguous characters. I appreciated the writing very much. I rated my first book by B.M. Carroll very highly, five out five stars. I’m very excited about the prospect of enjoying more writing by this talented storyteller that I am so pleased to have discovered!
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is book #89 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
February 24, 2020
Yes, I know this book got rave reviews and I agree it WAS eminently readable. But... we’ll get to that.
So we have: Sophie the driven perfectionist, currently struggling after a serious accident injured her terribly, she is still in constant pain; Jane who complains constantly at the office about Sophie’s, her boss, who apparently bullies her; Hannah who is newly widowed and new to the office, she needs the job and puts up with Sophie’s unreasonable demands; Aiden, poor Aiden the ex special forces now officer still in the services in a training capacity. He caused the accident that injured Sophie, feels terribly guilty, visits her and they fall in love and end up living together. Oh and Aiden’s hapless wife Chloe.
Honestly that’s it. Your views on these characters changes as bits of information are dribbled out but none of them are seriously likeable. Aiden is deluded by guilt and Chloe is just saccharine. Oops mustn’t forget the elephant in the room Aiden and Chloe’s daughter Jasmin who drives everybody nuts because she WON’T GO TO SLEEP. not a lot happened and in the end I just couldn’t work what the point of the book was. Three stars because it was very readable and well written but the story itself was just meh.
So we have: Sophie the driven perfectionist, currently struggling after a serious accident injured her terribly, she is still in constant pain; Jane who complains constantly at the office about Sophie’s, her boss, who apparently bullies her; Hannah who is newly widowed and new to the office, she needs the job and puts up with Sophie’s unreasonable demands; Aiden, poor Aiden the ex special forces now officer still in the services in a training capacity. He caused the accident that injured Sophie, feels terribly guilty, visits her and they fall in love and end up living together. Oh and Aiden’s hapless wife Chloe.
Honestly that’s it. Your views on these characters changes as bits of information are dribbled out but none of them are seriously likeable. Aiden is deluded by guilt and Chloe is just saccharine. Oops mustn’t forget the elephant in the room Aiden and Chloe’s daughter Jasmin who drives everybody nuts because she WON’T GO TO SLEEP. not a lot happened and in the end I just couldn’t work what the point of the book was. Three stars because it was very readable and well written but the story itself was just meh.
December 28, 2018
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy, Bam Carroll's eighth novel and the first to be written under her pen name B M Carroll, is a classic work of women's fiction with a plot built around some tried and tested tropes. Themes that often heavily feature in these type of family drama or domestic noir titles are present here, including secrets, lies, deceit, duplicity, revenge, and betrayal, and what this novel does do, it does with reasonable success. This toxic atmosphere runs throughout the entire length of the story and keeps you reading. With a concoction of secrets and lies, this results in an explosive cocktail of the Molotov variety.
Carroll's writing manages to pull you in very early on and keeps you in its grasp, hanging on her every word. The characters are complex, multi-faceted and true to life, and the plot turns out to be darker than I initially expected. Fans of Liane Moriarty will find a lot to like here as not only does it pack an emotional punch but it has some delicious psychological components to it too. An intriguing multi-narrative helps to build an intricate, suspenseful plot that will appeal to fans of women's fiction/chick lit, psychological thrillers and family/domestic drama alike.
Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC.
Carroll's writing manages to pull you in very early on and keeps you in its grasp, hanging on her every word. The characters are complex, multi-faceted and true to life, and the plot turns out to be darker than I initially expected. Fans of Liane Moriarty will find a lot to like here as not only does it pack an emotional punch but it has some delicious psychological components to it too. An intriguing multi-narrative helps to build an intricate, suspenseful plot that will appeal to fans of women's fiction/chick lit, psychological thrillers and family/domestic drama alike.
Many thanks to Penguin for an ARC.
June 8, 2018
I wasn’t sure what to expect from it, but The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a really fantastic read.
The eponymous Sophie isn’t a particularly nice person - in fact, she isn’t a nice person at all. At times, she’s horrifying.
But she’s also a victim - having sustained life-altering injuries in a car accident which was no fault of hers, and suffers chronic pain as a result.
We see Sophie both through her own eyes (“I’m exacting. I set high standards.”) and from the point of view of people around her - her parents Richard and Dee, her new boyfriend Aidan, his deserted wife Chloe and their nine-year-old daughter Jasmin, and Sophie’s new assistant at work, Hannah. While there are several viewpoints here and we move fairly rapidly between them, each voice is so distinct that I never became confused as to who was speaking.
There’s an awful lot in this book. A child with severe sleeping problems; the challenges of single parenthood; bullying at work; fertility issues. A lot of this I could personally relate to. The characterisation is excellent - Jasmin, the soccer playing nine-year-old, is particularly great, and her sleeping problems are portrayed with great empathy for both sides.
Sophie herself is not without her strengths - she’s tough, determined, ambitious and resilient, all excellent qualities to have in the situation she finds herself in. But it would be impossible to call her likeable. As a character study of a complicated and difficult personality, it works brilliantly, and is also a hugely enjoyable read, culminating in a genuinely and nerve-shreddingly dangerous situation for one character.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
The eponymous Sophie isn’t a particularly nice person - in fact, she isn’t a nice person at all. At times, she’s horrifying.
But she’s also a victim - having sustained life-altering injuries in a car accident which was no fault of hers, and suffers chronic pain as a result.
We see Sophie both through her own eyes (“I’m exacting. I set high standards.”) and from the point of view of people around her - her parents Richard and Dee, her new boyfriend Aidan, his deserted wife Chloe and their nine-year-old daughter Jasmin, and Sophie’s new assistant at work, Hannah. While there are several viewpoints here and we move fairly rapidly between them, each voice is so distinct that I never became confused as to who was speaking.
There’s an awful lot in this book. A child with severe sleeping problems; the challenges of single parenthood; bullying at work; fertility issues. A lot of this I could personally relate to. The characterisation is excellent - Jasmin, the soccer playing nine-year-old, is particularly great, and her sleeping problems are portrayed with great empathy for both sides.
Sophie herself is not without her strengths - she’s tough, determined, ambitious and resilient, all excellent qualities to have in the situation she finds herself in. But it would be impossible to call her likeable. As a character study of a complicated and difficult personality, it works brilliantly, and is also a hugely enjoyable read, culminating in a genuinely and nerve-shreddingly dangerous situation for one character.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
April 27, 2018
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a novel about pain, guilt and how a split second can change so many lives. The book is written from different points of view which can, in some stories, read in a choppy way, but here it works perfectly as the tale slowly but surely unravels. You need those different points of view to fully understand the domino effect one dreadful moment can have.
We are introduced to Sophie’s physical pain from the very start and it is implied in the first few pages that Aidan is responsible for her pain. This is written in such a way that it sucks you in leaving you intrigued to know what happened. I was hooked from a very early stage! We meet Robert, Sophie’s father, who is devastated by his talented daughter’s prospects being nipped in the bud so violently and is obsessed with Aidan being responsible for his girl’s demise.
To add even more complications to their lives Aidan and Sophie live together following him leaving his wife Chloe and daughter Jasmine for her. His wife is broken by his leaving and their daughter suffers with chronic sleep problems leaving Aidan even more full of guilt.
The cleverness of this book is that you feel your sympathies ought to lie with Sophie, given her horrific injuries and constant pain (the way her pain is depicted is crushingly real), but as the novel progresses it becomes more and more clear that she really isn’t that nice a person. I found my sympathies hastily moving on to other characters and a firm dislike for her settling in.
As always I don’t want to give too much away plot wise, I feel I have already said enough (hopefully not too much). What I will say is that I enjoyed this book a great deal. The ending was what I thought it would be but the means of getting to that ending were not! This is book with many layers, each character is dealing with their own demons and all of them are very believable and authentic. It is a great study of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and one I definitely recommend giving a read!
Thank you to #NetGalley for a forward copy of #TheMissingPiecesOfSophieMcCarthy in return for an honest review.
We are introduced to Sophie’s physical pain from the very start and it is implied in the first few pages that Aidan is responsible for her pain. This is written in such a way that it sucks you in leaving you intrigued to know what happened. I was hooked from a very early stage! We meet Robert, Sophie’s father, who is devastated by his talented daughter’s prospects being nipped in the bud so violently and is obsessed with Aidan being responsible for his girl’s demise.
To add even more complications to their lives Aidan and Sophie live together following him leaving his wife Chloe and daughter Jasmine for her. His wife is broken by his leaving and their daughter suffers with chronic sleep problems leaving Aidan even more full of guilt.
The cleverness of this book is that you feel your sympathies ought to lie with Sophie, given her horrific injuries and constant pain (the way her pain is depicted is crushingly real), but as the novel progresses it becomes more and more clear that she really isn’t that nice a person. I found my sympathies hastily moving on to other characters and a firm dislike for her settling in.
As always I don’t want to give too much away plot wise, I feel I have already said enough (hopefully not too much). What I will say is that I enjoyed this book a great deal. The ending was what I thought it would be but the means of getting to that ending were not! This is book with many layers, each character is dealing with their own demons and all of them are very believable and authentic. It is a great study of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances and one I definitely recommend giving a read!
Thank you to #NetGalley for a forward copy of #TheMissingPiecesOfSophieMcCarthy in return for an honest review.
March 23, 2018
#TheMissingPiecesOfSophieMcCarthy #NetGalley This was one of those books that I just wanted to keep reading just one more chapter! I'm not usually a fan of books where they flit between different people's perspective but this was just what was needed in this book to see the story unfold from each of the main characters. There were times when I didn't like the characters particularly Sophie and her dad but then I read the next chapter and had great sympathy for them and what they had been through - the art of a good story teller! A twist at the end with Richard that I didn't see coming. A great read!
June 19, 2018
I absolutely loved this book by BM Carroll that I received from Netgalley. It was like looking through a keyhole and seeing a different drama being carried out in each room of the house.
I really felt I knew these characters by the end of the book and now that I've finished it I am missing them, always a sign of a good book in my opinion.
I disliked Sophie from the outset so it was no surprise to find out what she was ultimately capable of. The rest of the characters were rather likeable although Dee and Jacob were never really fully developed.
Having worked for many years in a Primary school I did find Jazmin's reaction to her time in the bush a bit far fetched but it wasn't enough to irritate.
I was initially pleased to see Mental Health being portrayed in a realistic and, eventually, sympathetic manner but then Hannah's decision to keep information from the twins until their mid teens did somewhat jar.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about other people's dramas, or indeed, people watch.
I really felt I knew these characters by the end of the book and now that I've finished it I am missing them, always a sign of a good book in my opinion.
I disliked Sophie from the outset so it was no surprise to find out what she was ultimately capable of. The rest of the characters were rather likeable although Dee and Jacob were never really fully developed.
Having worked for many years in a Primary school I did find Jazmin's reaction to her time in the bush a bit far fetched but it wasn't enough to irritate.
I was initially pleased to see Mental Health being portrayed in a realistic and, eventually, sympathetic manner but then Hannah's decision to keep information from the twins until their mid teens did somewhat jar.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about other people's dramas, or indeed, people watch.
June 24, 2018
The missing pieces of Sophie McCarthy by B M Carroll.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people. Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it. Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated. Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made. But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
A very enjoyable read. Loved the story and the characters. With twists and turns. 5*.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people. Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it. Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated. Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made. But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
A very enjoyable read. Loved the story and the characters. With twists and turns. 5*.
November 18, 2023
What a cracker of a book.
Told from many POV's, this story has all the right elements for a psychological thriller that will have you wondering what is going to happen next. There are interesting characters, a number of backstories that are slowly revealed, and a gradually building sense of menace.
Sophie McCarthy is an achiever. Always has been, right from when she was born. Just ask her father Richard. He'll tell you.
Just don't ask Kristina Owens, or Hannah Evans, or Jane, or even Sophie's brother Jacob. They might tell you about the Sophie they know.
So well written, this book was hard to put down. I have read all of the author's thrillers and can say they are up there with my favourite thriller reads.
Told from many POV's, this story has all the right elements for a psychological thriller that will have you wondering what is going to happen next. There are interesting characters, a number of backstories that are slowly revealed, and a gradually building sense of menace.
Sophie McCarthy is an achiever. Always has been, right from when she was born. Just ask her father Richard. He'll tell you.
Just don't ask Kristina Owens, or Hannah Evans, or Jane, or even Sophie's brother Jacob. They might tell you about the Sophie they know.
So well written, this book was hard to put down. I have read all of the author's thrillers and can say they are up there with my favourite thriller reads.
September 29, 2018
Firstly I just want to say this is a brilliant book that you will be unable to put down. A story of love, determination, betrayal and so much more.
Sophie, is a determined, ambitious young lady, who finds her life turned upside down as a result of the actions of Aidan. Aidan, is an honourable family man with an army career. He will do anything he can to make things fight after a moments lapse in concentration which led to Sophie’s life changing forever.
Throughout the story we learn a lot more about Sophie and Aidan, plus their families. How will all of their life’s be changed by one moment in time ?
This book is a great story and you will not want to put it down until you find out how things turn out in the end. The book has a bit of everything ...... love, lies, betrayal, ambition, pain and so much more. Definitely needs to be added to your reading pile, right at the top,, one not to be missed.
Thank you to Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
Sophie, is a determined, ambitious young lady, who finds her life turned upside down as a result of the actions of Aidan. Aidan, is an honourable family man with an army career. He will do anything he can to make things fight after a moments lapse in concentration which led to Sophie’s life changing forever.
Throughout the story we learn a lot more about Sophie and Aidan, plus their families. How will all of their life’s be changed by one moment in time ?
This book is a great story and you will not want to put it down until you find out how things turn out in the end. The book has a bit of everything ...... love, lies, betrayal, ambition, pain and so much more. Definitely needs to be added to your reading pile, right at the top,, one not to be missed.
Thank you to Penguin UK, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
January 8, 2019
Absolutely loved this book... it was written from a different character perspective each chapter which really helped to convey how the characters lives were intertwined. A beautifully written novel about the ‘ domino effect ‘ a persons actions can create.
October 5, 2018
3.5 ⭐️
May 8, 2019
Loved this brilliant book
January 31, 2019
I would give this book a solid 3 stars. I wasn’t blown away by it it and I felt like I was expecting more. However it was an easy read. I did think the scenario was a little far fetched, but I suppose that’s fiction for you !
March 21, 2019
Told from a multi-narrative point of view, The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is a story of fate intervening to have a devastating impact on two families. Sophie has suffered life-changing injuries in a car accident caused by Aidan, a captain in the Australian army. His conscience compelling him to visit Sophie in the hospital, there is an attraction between them. What follows is a seemingly honourable man deserting his wife and child at a vulnerable time in their lives to become part of a couple with Sophie, whom he believes he has fallen in love with. Sophie is a determined, clever person who was at the top of her career. She is struggling with the constant pain she’s left in from her injuries. I sympathised, even admired her determination, but it soon became apparent that, at the core, Sophie is not a nice person. I wanted to know why, I wanted to delve in to her family dynamics, particularly the relationship between Sophie and her father, Richard, who is unable to accept that Aidan has become part of her life and wants justice for his daughter. What made Sophie the way she is? The book deals with some important issues many people will relate to: single parenthood, grief, bullying in the workplace, special needs and fertility problems. The overriding issue for me was that of obsession in a relationship. I’m not giving specifics for obvious reasons, but all of these issues were handled really well and sensitively. The characterisation is excellent. I found the children particularly relatable to. There was a moment where Aidan and his daughter, Jasmin, came together, which brought huge lump to my throat and delivered an extremely satisfying ending. If you love psychological thrillers with a healthy helping of domestic drama, I would highly recommend this book.
June 19, 2021
A basic quick and easy read. Not bad but rather predictable. All of the characters are horrible people but the most annoying thing is how obvious it is that the author thinks that anyone who doesn't like children is a monster.
January 3, 2019
Sophie is a successful, young woman however her healthy and busy life is ceased when she's involved in a car accident. After spending a huge amount of time at the hospital, her life consists now of pain. However, there is also a bright side to it - Sophie and the driver of the car, Aidan, who guilt - ridden has been visiting her in the hospital, fell in love. Aidan left his family, his wife Chloe and daughter Jasmin, to be with Sophie. But there are problems and troubles everywhere, and the court date for the accident is looming closer, and suddenly all involved in this family drama start to see that their lives are not as straight - forward as they've been thinking.
The author has created the main character in such a perfect way. You start reading the book feeling sympathy to Sophie McCarthy, adoring her in fact because of the way she's coping with her life now, seeing how much she has lost and how far she could go if it weren't for the accident that was absolutely not her fault. She's such a strong person, intelligent, ambitious and she truly knows what she wants. However, the more we read, the more we learn about Sophie and her past and the more we start to dislike her - I like such complex characters that are not too straightforward. It was fascinating to see how Sophie has seen herself and how the others have seen her - her parents Richard and Dee, and it's already remarkable how different the opinions of those two were. Then we have Aidan, his wife Chloe and the nine - year - old Jasmin, and Hannah and Jane, Sophie's assistants at work. Theoretically, with being tough, determined and ambitious, she had all the attributes of a great character. Practically, the way she used those qualities around people and in her life made her impossible to like. However, I think that the situation is not so obvious. Yes, Sophie wasn't a particularly nice person, she was, in fact, a bully, but on the other hand, wasn't she a victim as well? Not only because of the accident, but deeper, of her father's ambitions and the way he dotted on her? One thing is for sure, it was a great character study that is going to make you think.
All the other characters were as well multi - faceted and complex, with life challenging them more than necessary. They felt relatable and true to life. I was asking myself all the time if it was really love, or maybe guilt, on Aidan's side - though, to be honest, I think he was too straightforward and too honest to fake his feelings. So maybe it was not love but fascination, but whatever it was, he was honest.
I really liked the way the book was built. The chapters are told from different points of view and there is a group of characters that the story introduces us to but it was just the right number to keep the track of them easily. This way, it slowly and engagingly unravelled the plot, telling us the backgrounds stories, letting us to make up our mind on our own. It helped to built an intriguing, suspenseful story. There was a tension to this book, and this overwhelming feeling that something is going to happen - just the way I like it. I'll be honest, at the beginning I thought it is going to be totally different kind of read, the title made me think that perhaps it's going to be a gory thriller full of parts of body (yep, I know. My imagination) but it turned out into a relatively fast - paced and tense domestic noir psychological drama, war of nerves and race against time that I really enjoyed. BM Carroll has captured the atmosphere of uncertainty and toxicity, added some twists and turns that truly made me wonder, and well, yes, the plot is perhaps not new, focusing on things and events that we often come across in this type of books, but it truly well worked for me. There were secrets, drama, betrayal, revenge and innocent lives at stake and the author, with her way of writing, kept me firmly in her grasp.
"The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy" dealt with so many issues: fertility, single parenthood, guilt, bullying, but the one that hit me a lot were probably the severe sleeping problems Jasmin had. The descriptions of the way she felt, and how Chloe felt, the desperation, the not - knowing, were brilliant and heart - breaking. This was a complex read, full of many layers and it was great to be able to unpeel them all to eventually get to the end. Truly recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
January 11, 2019
This is the first of B. M. Carroll’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. The synopsis intrigued me and without further ado I dived straight in. After having finished the book, all I can say is ‘bloody hell what a read this is’. I absolutely loved reading ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ but more about that in a bit.
Whilst I was reading this book, my opinions of Sophie McCarthy kept changing throughout. To start with I really did feel for her because she was hurt during an incident and life is never going to be the same again. I guess I empathised with her a fair amount too because like her, I suffer with chronic pain and I have a fair idea about the impact it has on all areas of your life. That said Sophie does become a tad obsessional about her pain and her obsession rang little alarm bells for me. Sophie initially comes across as an okay sort of person but she is depressed because of what happened (& still is happening) to her. I could even understand why she might lash out at her nearest and dearest because the frustration at her limitations boils over. What I couldn’t understand is the way in which she treats her work colleagues. She is an absolute cowbag to them. She thinks nothing of dishing out reprimands in public, she speaks to them like they are dirt on her shoe and she really cracks the whip hard and piles the pressure onto her underlings and other colleagues. Honestly I could’ve slapped her around the chops a few dozen times with a wet fish for the way that she behaved. Overall I feel for her because of the pain that she claims to be in but on the other hand, her pain does not excuse her behaviour. People give her a certain amount of leeway but she uses that and abuses it.
Oh my goodness gracious me, ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ is one hell of an addictive and reasonably fast paced psychological thriller. The story starts off reasonably slow but I found that ok because it was setting the scene as it were. The story gathers pace and momentum fairly quickly. I was hooked on the book from the moment I began to read. The suspicious part of me thought that there was more to Sophie’s story than she was initially letting on and so it proved to be. I just suspect everybody and believe nobody. Reading this book became seriously addictive. I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. If I did have to put the book down for any reason, then I would count down the time until I could pick the book back up and get my next fix. I had to keep reading to see just what the truth about Sophie McCarthy was.
For me, ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ is superbly written. The author grabs your attention from the word go and she keeps you interested all the way through. The different chapters are written from the different points of views of the characters within the book. These chapters show the impact that Sophie and her actions have had on their own lives. Their chapters also explain how they fit into the overall story and describe the resentments and differences that are simmering away beneath the surface as it were.
In short, I absolutely loved reading ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. For me ;The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ has a bit of everything within its pages- there are twists and turns aplenty and there’s oodles of drama, intrigue, suspense, betrayal and romance . Believe you, me you will not regret picking the book up for yourselves. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be 5* out of 5*.
Whilst I was reading this book, my opinions of Sophie McCarthy kept changing throughout. To start with I really did feel for her because she was hurt during an incident and life is never going to be the same again. I guess I empathised with her a fair amount too because like her, I suffer with chronic pain and I have a fair idea about the impact it has on all areas of your life. That said Sophie does become a tad obsessional about her pain and her obsession rang little alarm bells for me. Sophie initially comes across as an okay sort of person but she is depressed because of what happened (& still is happening) to her. I could even understand why she might lash out at her nearest and dearest because the frustration at her limitations boils over. What I couldn’t understand is the way in which she treats her work colleagues. She is an absolute cowbag to them. She thinks nothing of dishing out reprimands in public, she speaks to them like they are dirt on her shoe and she really cracks the whip hard and piles the pressure onto her underlings and other colleagues. Honestly I could’ve slapped her around the chops a few dozen times with a wet fish for the way that she behaved. Overall I feel for her because of the pain that she claims to be in but on the other hand, her pain does not excuse her behaviour. People give her a certain amount of leeway but she uses that and abuses it.
Oh my goodness gracious me, ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ is one hell of an addictive and reasonably fast paced psychological thriller. The story starts off reasonably slow but I found that ok because it was setting the scene as it were. The story gathers pace and momentum fairly quickly. I was hooked on the book from the moment I began to read. The suspicious part of me thought that there was more to Sophie’s story than she was initially letting on and so it proved to be. I just suspect everybody and believe nobody. Reading this book became seriously addictive. I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. If I did have to put the book down for any reason, then I would count down the time until I could pick the book back up and get my next fix. I had to keep reading to see just what the truth about Sophie McCarthy was.
For me, ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ is superbly written. The author grabs your attention from the word go and she keeps you interested all the way through. The different chapters are written from the different points of views of the characters within the book. These chapters show the impact that Sophie and her actions have had on their own lives. Their chapters also explain how they fit into the overall story and describe the resentments and differences that are simmering away beneath the surface as it were.
In short, I absolutely loved reading ‘The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. For me ;The Missing Pieces Of Sophie McCarthy’ has a bit of everything within its pages- there are twists and turns aplenty and there’s oodles of drama, intrigue, suspense, betrayal and romance . Believe you, me you will not regret picking the book up for yourselves. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be 5* out of 5*.
September 30, 2018
Sophie's busy, healthy, successful life is destroyed when a couple on their way to a fertility clinic crash their car into hers. She now lives in constant pain but the accident led her to meeting the love of her life. She falls in love with the husband who was driving the car. Guilt-ridden he visits her in hospital and helps her out wherever he can until their relationship blossoms and he leaves his wife and child for her.
With the court date for the accident looming closer, everyone is on tender hooks.
Liane Moriarty loved this book and I can see why. I think fans of her books will really enjoy this story. As with Moriarty's books, there is a heavy twisted message at the end. Karma is a bitch.
I got this book in the post from Penguin 2 days ago and went in completely blind. I knew nothing about this book which I tend to like doing from time to time.
At first I definitely felt like it was more of a family drama than a thriller. It was very slow-paced but once things kicked off it went in full gear and I bloody loved it!
The main theme I got from this book was as to whether you can be both a bad person and a victim. This is the question with our main character in this story, Sophie. What is fascinating about this book is that it is told from multiple points of views so we see Sophie through not only other people but also through her own eyes. She's horrid through her own eyes where as others simply think the sun shines out her ass or she's the damn devil. She's a verrrry complex individual - all the better for the bones of a realistic, dark, gripping and great book!
As is with the main character, this book is very complex. There are SO many layers to it. There is cheating, fertility issues, childhood issues, mistakes, lies, consequences, guilt, shame... EVERYTHING wrapped up into one fabulous debut novel that I COULD. NOT. PUT. DOWN.
I loved the army theme and subtle Australian inclusions spread throughout the book. All of the chapters are bite size making it a really fast and easy read.
I think Jasmin is my favorite character which is funny as I usually don't really like children in books. If I am ever lucky enough to be a parent I hope I raise my children to be as bright as Jasmin is in this book... minus the sleeping problems!
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of this gorgeous book!
With the court date for the accident looming closer, everyone is on tender hooks.
Liane Moriarty loved this book and I can see why. I think fans of her books will really enjoy this story. As with Moriarty's books, there is a heavy twisted message at the end. Karma is a bitch.
I got this book in the post from Penguin 2 days ago and went in completely blind. I knew nothing about this book which I tend to like doing from time to time.
At first I definitely felt like it was more of a family drama than a thriller. It was very slow-paced but once things kicked off it went in full gear and I bloody loved it!
The main theme I got from this book was as to whether you can be both a bad person and a victim. This is the question with our main character in this story, Sophie. What is fascinating about this book is that it is told from multiple points of views so we see Sophie through not only other people but also through her own eyes. She's horrid through her own eyes where as others simply think the sun shines out her ass or she's the damn devil. She's a verrrry complex individual - all the better for the bones of a realistic, dark, gripping and great book!
As is with the main character, this book is very complex. There are SO many layers to it. There is cheating, fertility issues, childhood issues, mistakes, lies, consequences, guilt, shame... EVERYTHING wrapped up into one fabulous debut novel that I COULD. NOT. PUT. DOWN.
I loved the army theme and subtle Australian inclusions spread throughout the book. All of the chapters are bite size making it a really fast and easy read.
I think Jasmin is my favorite character which is funny as I usually don't really like children in books. If I am ever lucky enough to be a parent I hope I raise my children to be as bright as Jasmin is in this book... minus the sleeping problems!
Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending me a copy of this gorgeous book!
May 19, 2021
This book was awesome! I’ve read one other book by Ber Carroll and I absolutely loved it but she really knocked this one out of the park.
Extraordinary.
All characters were so interesting and some more complex than others. Sophie is one character I did not like at all…unpredictable, mean, selfish… her personality falls in the complex, scary, crazy category and possibly her fathers too.
The different view points and there were a few kept the book flowing with ease and with an atmosphere of excitement. I was drawn into the entanglements of these peoples lives, each connected to each other in some way.
Well written. Fast paced. Suspenseful.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is seriously worthwhile reading - you’ll not want to put it down until it’s finished!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2021: #27 - A book with something broken on the cover
Extraordinary.
All characters were so interesting and some more complex than others. Sophie is one character I did not like at all…unpredictable, mean, selfish… her personality falls in the complex, scary, crazy category and possibly her fathers too.
The different view points and there were a few kept the book flowing with ease and with an atmosphere of excitement. I was drawn into the entanglements of these peoples lives, each connected to each other in some way.
Well written. Fast paced. Suspenseful.
The Missing Pieces of Sophie McCarthy is seriously worthwhile reading - you’ll not want to put it down until it’s finished!
POPSUGAR Reading Challenge 2021: #27 - A book with something broken on the cover
June 24, 2018
The missing pieces of Sophie McCarthy by B M Carroll.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people. Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it. Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated. Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made. But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
A very enjoyable read. Loved the story and the characters. With twists and turns. 5*.
Sophie McCarthy is known for her determination, ambition and brilliance. She's tough, but only because she wants to get the best out of people. Aidan Ryan is strong, honourable, and a family man. He's tough too; the army requires it. Now Sophie's life is in ruins and Aidan is responsible. Her family wants to see him pay for what he did. His family is just as devastated. Aidan's prepared to sacrifice everything - including his marriage and his child - to fix the mess he's made. But Sophie, who is facing a lifetime of pain, is darker and much more complicated than she first appeared . . .
A very enjoyable read. Loved the story and the characters. With twists and turns. 5*.
September 23, 2019
The author really knows how to hold the reader even though this is not a crime book which,I must admit, from the title I expected it to be.
Each chapter was essentially a characters thoughts and how they were dealing with the aftermath of an event and the effect it has on all concerned.
This was definitely a page turner and although it is not my usual favourite genre of gritty crime/murder mysteries, it definitely kept me engrossed. Although the outcome was quite predictable the prose flowed so easily that I read it in 2 days, hardly putting it down.
Characters were easily identifiable even though there were quite a few of them.
If I can’t put a book down it deserves 5 stars.
Be open minded and give it a try.👍🏻
Each chapter was essentially a characters thoughts and how they were dealing with the aftermath of an event and the effect it has on all concerned.
This was definitely a page turner and although it is not my usual favourite genre of gritty crime/murder mysteries, it definitely kept me engrossed. Although the outcome was quite predictable the prose flowed so easily that I read it in 2 days, hardly putting it down.
Characters were easily identifiable even though there were quite a few of them.
If I can’t put a book down it deserves 5 stars.
Be open minded and give it a try.👍🏻
June 25, 2018
One of the things I really liked about this book is each chapter was told from a different view, as it switched back and forth between the main characters. All of them are quite likeable, although Sophie was a bit annoying with her fierce work expectations of her employees. It was easy to feel sympathetic toward her, however, after going through all she did after the car accident. She was also irritating with the way she felt toward Jasmin, Aidan and Cloe's young daughter. I did look forward to what would happen in the end as a result of the trial. I would love to read more by this author.
April 6, 2024
Enjoyable enough mystery/drama but the audio version using 7 narrators was quite flawed. Most jarring (or perplexing?) for this Australian story was the child’s “voice”, which for some bizarre reason was a Kiwi accent, despite her two Australian voiced parents.
And WHY is there seemingly no quality control/editing of audiobook narrations? In fact, I’m offering my services to assist with editing during the recordings- I will stop the narrators when they mispronounce words. Here’s a small sample:
“Shush” does not rhyme with hush, but should be pronounced “shoosh”
“Blithely” does not rhyme with “teeth-ly”
“Katoomba” -the double “o” is not as in “book” and
“Macabre” is not “mah-ka-bra”
And WHY is there seemingly no quality control/editing of audiobook narrations? In fact, I’m offering my services to assist with editing during the recordings- I will stop the narrators when they mispronounce words. Here’s a small sample:
“Shush” does not rhyme with hush, but should be pronounced “shoosh”
“Blithely” does not rhyme with “teeth-ly”
“Katoomba” -the double “o” is not as in “book” and
“Macabre” is not “mah-ka-bra”
March 23, 2019
An original and page turning story - very readable, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought Aidan’s character was a little stereotyped and lacked depth, and parts of the story were rather moralistic, but the author surprised with me with several twists and a great ending. Looking forward to reading more of her work.
December 19, 2018
Quite a good book, but I found it quite predictive in places. I worked out the ending about half way through. I really, really didn’t like the main character ! What a spoilt brat Sophie McCarthy turned out to be ! Loved all the other characters though, especially Chloe and Jasmine.
8/10
8/10
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