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What Happened to Michael
When her five year old son, Michael, is kidnapped and murdered, Ann finds herself willing to do anything to find out the truth. Trapped in an unhappy marriage and burdened by the memories of her only son, she tries to piece together exactly what happened.
But when another child is taken, she realises she must confront her past and overcome her grief, in order to find out who is responsible and catch a killer…
But when another child is taken, she realises she must confront her past and overcome her grief, in order to find out who is responsible and catch a killer…
- GenresMystery
272 pages, ebook
Published April 15, 2018
11 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 5, 2018
Thank you to the author, N.F. Paupe, for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overall feelings - This is a very impressive debut effort. Well written and thrilling; fans of recent suspense releases will find a lot to enjoy here. In fact, I was glad I enjoyed this as it is not usually a genre I have a lot of luck with – it is very hit or miss for me on titles like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. (If Paupe had known this before she provided me a copy, she may not have trusted me quite so much to review it!) Interestingly enough, I am reading Then She Was Gone right now and it reminds me a lot of What Happened to Michael.
Story – Hard to discuss without spoilers. In each chapter, a little more of the mystery and its possible answers are revealed – that mystery of course being what happened to Michael. There is some time jumping to keep you on your toes and you might want to take some notes to help you try and figure out the solution before the author tells you.
Characters – Tragic/faulty heroes throughout this book. The main characters are not dislikeable, but they have faults and vices galore. This is interesting in that you cannot quickly fall in love with them. Instead, you just kind of feel bad for them and keep hoping they will get their s#!t together! In fact, alcohol is so much of a vice in this story, it is almost a character of its own.
Recommendation – If you like any of the recent popular thrillers you cannot go wrong with this book. Seriously – it is very well written and better than several others I have read. Do not let the fact that this is the author’s first effort dissuade you, she has done a great job! If you are a parent of small children, proceed cautiously – it may hit too close to home and be uncomfortable to read. But, it will certainly affect you more than those without kids. As a father of a 6 and 4 year old this one did hit me pretty hard!
Side note: Paupe was fantastic to communicate with. She is so nice and sincere. She was not all business – I think she is really excited to get this in the hands of the readers so that they don’t miss out. Because of this, I want everyone to give this a shot if possible and throw some support her way!
Overall feelings - This is a very impressive debut effort. Well written and thrilling; fans of recent suspense releases will find a lot to enjoy here. In fact, I was glad I enjoyed this as it is not usually a genre I have a lot of luck with – it is very hit or miss for me on titles like Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. (If Paupe had known this before she provided me a copy, she may not have trusted me quite so much to review it!) Interestingly enough, I am reading Then She Was Gone right now and it reminds me a lot of What Happened to Michael.
Story – Hard to discuss without spoilers. In each chapter, a little more of the mystery and its possible answers are revealed – that mystery of course being what happened to Michael. There is some time jumping to keep you on your toes and you might want to take some notes to help you try and figure out the solution before the author tells you.
Characters – Tragic/faulty heroes throughout this book. The main characters are not dislikeable, but they have faults and vices galore. This is interesting in that you cannot quickly fall in love with them. Instead, you just kind of feel bad for them and keep hoping they will get their s#!t together! In fact, alcohol is so much of a vice in this story, it is almost a character of its own.
Recommendation – If you like any of the recent popular thrillers you cannot go wrong with this book. Seriously – it is very well written and better than several others I have read. Do not let the fact that this is the author’s first effort dissuade you, she has done a great job! If you are a parent of small children, proceed cautiously – it may hit too close to home and be uncomfortable to read. But, it will certainly affect you more than those without kids. As a father of a 6 and 4 year old this one did hit me pretty hard!
Side note: Paupe was fantastic to communicate with. She is so nice and sincere. She was not all business – I think she is really excited to get this in the hands of the readers so that they don’t miss out. Because of this, I want everyone to give this a shot if possible and throw some support her way!
April 17, 2018
An emotional journey!
Where to start? I love a good thriller, in fact, of late, due to birthdays and Christmas, I have done nothing but read over the past few months: Before I go to Sleep, The Dry, The Girl Before, Gone Girl, etc., and I have to say that there are just so many books of this genre out there right now. Amazon recommended this one to me, and it slots in with the rest of my books rather nicely.
Without giving too much away, the story is about Ann, a woman who I think you either love or despise, depending on your views on people, and mothers in particular. I'm a fan. She's flawed, yes, but in an intriguing and at times endearing way. You feel sympathetic and sad throughout the book; you are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, as she deals with the heartbreak of losing her son, Michael. With the help of a Police Inspector, her sister and those closest to her, she eventually gets to the truth about what happened, and why.
It is certainly an emotional ride, and I found myself tearing up in many places, and for me, if you can make me cry, you have won me over. Above all, I think the book doesn't pretend to be something it isn’t, and unlike a lot of books that I have read recently, including The Girl Before, which I was incredibly disappointed with, this book is simple and to the point. It does not shy away from gory details, but it also connects with you on a personal level.
Lastly, as a mother myself, I really believe in the grief that Ann feels. It is clear the author has children of her own, and this came across in her heart-felt writing. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
Where to start? I love a good thriller, in fact, of late, due to birthdays and Christmas, I have done nothing but read over the past few months: Before I go to Sleep, The Dry, The Girl Before, Gone Girl, etc., and I have to say that there are just so many books of this genre out there right now. Amazon recommended this one to me, and it slots in with the rest of my books rather nicely.
Without giving too much away, the story is about Ann, a woman who I think you either love or despise, depending on your views on people, and mothers in particular. I'm a fan. She's flawed, yes, but in an intriguing and at times endearing way. You feel sympathetic and sad throughout the book; you are taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, as she deals with the heartbreak of losing her son, Michael. With the help of a Police Inspector, her sister and those closest to her, she eventually gets to the truth about what happened, and why.
It is certainly an emotional ride, and I found myself tearing up in many places, and for me, if you can make me cry, you have won me over. Above all, I think the book doesn't pretend to be something it isn’t, and unlike a lot of books that I have read recently, including The Girl Before, which I was incredibly disappointed with, this book is simple and to the point. It does not shy away from gory details, but it also connects with you on a personal level.
Lastly, as a mother myself, I really believe in the grief that Ann feels. It is clear the author has children of her own, and this came across in her heart-felt writing. I look forward to reading more work by this author.
April 30, 2018
I just could not put this book down and read it in two days. I fell in love with Ann as despite her flaws she has an amazing inner raw strength that pushed her to find out the truth about her beloved son. She had humour, determination and an amazing motherly love for her son. Yes, she had her vices but don't we all? And, if anything, it made me admire her more.
This book really absorbed me in, I felt like I was right there with all the characters, feeling the emotions. At times I cried with Ann, got angry for her, I even wanted to get drunk with her!
I shall be recommending this book to all.
This book really absorbed me in, I felt like I was right there with all the characters, feeling the emotions. At times I cried with Ann, got angry for her, I even wanted to get drunk with her!
I shall be recommending this book to all.
May 4, 2018
This is the story of Ann without an e, an alcoholic but fairly nice woman whose son is murdered. The premise alone was enough to entice me as I just LOVE this kind of thing. The story is well paced and original, I especially enjoyed the chapters with Paul Stone. The ending was a complete shock, even though on my second read through there are hints. My only criticism would be the time passing between chapters, I often felt the reader needed to know more about what had gone on during that month.
May 4, 2018
I'm not a mother yet, and this book makes me not want to have children, period! My husband calls me a wet blanket but seriously this book is so sad. I know its a thriller and I definitely found it thrilling but also really depressing and sad. Its one of those books that while I enjoyed, I have no intention of reading again
May 1, 2018
If you liked 'The Girl Before', 'The Dry', Behind Closed Doors' and 'The Girl on the Train', you will enjoy this one, although 'enjoy' is perhaps not the right word to use: the scenes in which Ann remembers Michael are poignant in the extreme, and I defy any mother (or father) to get through them without shedding a few tears. It is an emotional read, and deals unflinchingly with a variety of themes, which, I imagine, will make the novel appeal to a wider audience.
Written from Ann’s point of view, it deals with the disappearance of her young son, in mysterious circumstances, and her ensuing grief, and later, determination to find out what happened, when the police investigation seems to be going nowhere. Ann is troubled, and the story is told partly in flashbacks to sessions with her therapist.
The focus is on memory and the mind, rather than action, psychology, rather than plot, although there are enough plot twists to satisfy the most ardent aficionado of this genre, and the main one will take you completely by surprise.
I would say that the second two thirds of the novel are more gripping than the beginning, although once the pace picks up, there are some extremely well-written scenes and cameos, which move the action along nicely.
I was immediately struck by the strength of the characterisation: Alice, Karen, Dave, Jane, Paul, and Ann herself, in addition to some of the minor players ( Ann’s parents, Lee Haddison, George Young, Sue Haddison, Mrs. Cliff, and Mrs. Stevens), come across as credible, three-dimensional characters.
In addition, I found the setting very real, and the dialogue in the therapy sessions well-researched and credible.
Despite the subject matter being unremittingly bleak, there are occasional touches of humour in the writing, which serve to make finding out ‘what happened to Michael’ a more rewarding, and ultimately positive experience.
If you are a fan of murder mystery thrillers, with a hint of romance thrown in, I can thoroughly recommend it, even moreso as it is a first novel by this author. It would make an excellent film!
Written from Ann’s point of view, it deals with the disappearance of her young son, in mysterious circumstances, and her ensuing grief, and later, determination to find out what happened, when the police investigation seems to be going nowhere. Ann is troubled, and the story is told partly in flashbacks to sessions with her therapist.
The focus is on memory and the mind, rather than action, psychology, rather than plot, although there are enough plot twists to satisfy the most ardent aficionado of this genre, and the main one will take you completely by surprise.
I would say that the second two thirds of the novel are more gripping than the beginning, although once the pace picks up, there are some extremely well-written scenes and cameos, which move the action along nicely.
I was immediately struck by the strength of the characterisation: Alice, Karen, Dave, Jane, Paul, and Ann herself, in addition to some of the minor players ( Ann’s parents, Lee Haddison, George Young, Sue Haddison, Mrs. Cliff, and Mrs. Stevens), come across as credible, three-dimensional characters.
In addition, I found the setting very real, and the dialogue in the therapy sessions well-researched and credible.
Despite the subject matter being unremittingly bleak, there are occasional touches of humour in the writing, which serve to make finding out ‘what happened to Michael’ a more rewarding, and ultimately positive experience.
If you are a fan of murder mystery thrillers, with a hint of romance thrown in, I can thoroughly recommend it, even moreso as it is a first novel by this author. It would make an excellent film!
May 1, 2018
As a mother to three young children, I feel I don’t tend to get chance to start or indeed finish a novel unlesss it spans over a few months!!! However, after this book was recommended to me, I decided to order a paperback copy and try to make time to read after the kids bedtime. I finished it in 3 days!
Apart from finishing it in record time, to me the other signs of a good book are characters that you care about and their fate (check), a plot line that you can’t stop thinking about even when not reading it (check!) and a story that envokes emotions (check!), I actually blubbered like a baby when reading the epilogue!
This books deals with a wide range of issues from functioning alcoholism to the unthinkable grief of a mother who has lost her own child. The way the author narrates these issues and uses the characters to do so is both powerful and sympathetic to the story. N F Paupe also cleverly creates strong characters that will have all readers divided on their personal opinions of them. For example the main role of Ann has me completely split as to whether I actually like her or not! On one hand some of her lifestyle choices are fairly desperate but the love for her son and the inner strength she shows in her quest to find out what happened to him is commendable.
If you are a reader who likes books akin to Girl on a a Train, Gone Girl and Before I go to
Sleep then this is definitely one for you! It is the definition of a page turner and unlike the books just mentioned I guarantee you will not predict the twist in the plot line, I had to read it twice to double check the killer’s identity! Brilliant!
I look forward to the next installment from this talented author.
April 17, 2018
Left me wanting more!
I LOVED this book. From time to time, I stumble across an unknown author, usually self published, who it turns out has the talent of any modern published authors out there today. Some of them are crap, I agree, but others, like N F Paupe, write something that leaves you wanting more, and I certainly hope he/she plans to write a second novel; that I will most certainly be purchasing. Set in England, the action follows a woman who loses her son in tragic circumstances. She spends the next two years practically, following leads and trying to find out what happened to him. Simple enough. But it is amazing how the most simple story can affect you in such a big way. I loved the style of writing, the therapy sessions in particular were extremely believable and enjoyable. I loved the descriptions and passages involving her son: very emotional and sad. I loved all the characters especially her best friend, Karen, who you just want to go and get drunk with. The twists are excellent, and the final twist you simply do not see coming! My only criticism of the story would be that we don't find out exactly what happened to Michael, in my opinion. We know who did it and briefly how he died, but it left me feeling a little cheated, given the title. I wanted another chapter on exactly what happened to him etc. I wonder if anyone else felt this way about the book. That aside, for a self-published, first novel, I was extremely pleased with it, and am now avidly waiting for the next one.
I LOVED this book. From time to time, I stumble across an unknown author, usually self published, who it turns out has the talent of any modern published authors out there today. Some of them are crap, I agree, but others, like N F Paupe, write something that leaves you wanting more, and I certainly hope he/she plans to write a second novel; that I will most certainly be purchasing. Set in England, the action follows a woman who loses her son in tragic circumstances. She spends the next two years practically, following leads and trying to find out what happened to him. Simple enough. But it is amazing how the most simple story can affect you in such a big way. I loved the style of writing, the therapy sessions in particular were extremely believable and enjoyable. I loved the descriptions and passages involving her son: very emotional and sad. I loved all the characters especially her best friend, Karen, who you just want to go and get drunk with. The twists are excellent, and the final twist you simply do not see coming! My only criticism of the story would be that we don't find out exactly what happened to Michael, in my opinion. We know who did it and briefly how he died, but it left me feeling a little cheated, given the title. I wanted another chapter on exactly what happened to him etc. I wonder if anyone else felt this way about the book. That aside, for a self-published, first novel, I was extremely pleased with it, and am now avidly waiting for the next one.
June 1, 2018
Eva recommended that I read this novel. It is a deeply captivating suspense thriller. There is a lot of darkness contained in the book—masochism, alcoholism, pedophilia, kidnapping and murder. You’ll see some deeply flawed characters even amongst the good guys. Paupe superbly wove this novel so that you couldn’t put it down until you knew what happened to Michael.
April 30, 2018
Brilliant!
It was a really good plot to the story I kept thinking the killer were different people at certain times in the book kept me on the edge! Very emotional at the end
It was a really good plot to the story I kept thinking the killer were different people at certain times in the book kept me on the edge! Very emotional at the end
May 26, 2018
Fast paced thriller great twist, very emotional read, highly recommended
April 25, 2018
What a fabulous book. The content was captivating and the characters really drew you in. I Read this book in 2 days which is a record for me! If you like a thriller I can not recommend this anymore! And a few tears shed as well!
A must read for all thriller junkies!
A must read for all thriller junkies!
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February 22, 2021A fantastic debut novel!
I really loved this book. The character of Ann was a portrait of struggle and grief throughout. It was easy to empathise with her pain a
Me he
The character of Ann was a portrait of struggle and grief throughout. It was easy to empathise with her pain and suffering. I loved the ending and I am looking forward to reading more of N F Paula's work in the future (hopefully!). 5 stars: would highly recommend.
I really loved this book. The character of Ann was a portrait of struggle and grief throughout. It was easy to empathise with her pain a
Me he
The character of Ann was a portrait of struggle and grief throughout. It was easy to empathise with her pain and suffering. I loved the ending and I am looking forward to reading more of N F Paula's work in the future (hopefully!). 5 stars: would highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews