(Spoiler free)
By Stephanie Geary
Anna and Marco from the outside appear to be the perfect couple, with a lavish house, plenty of money and a beautiful baby girl. But that is far from accurate as we read further into the story.
We start at their next door neighbours house, where a party has been organised. Almost guilt-tripped into leaving her daughter Cora at home, Anna is forced to place a fake smile as she has a rubbish time watching her husband flirt with their brash, attractive hostess and feeling like a poor mother for leaving her daughter alone at home. Although they take turns checking on her, she still feels uneasy about the entire situation. When the time comes to return home, Anna almost runs the distance back despite the copious amount of alcohol consumed as she starts to feel distaste at herself for ‘abandoning’ her child. But all her fears are realised when she discovers that her daughter has been taken from her crib.
This book is a brilliant twist and turn story which leaves you wanting more with each page. There were times that I couldn’t put the book down (which isn’t easy with two little boys constantly wanting my attention) and it drew me in from the start. There were characters who I liked and then there were the characters who I didn’t. I was a fan of poor tortured Marco, the outsider of the family who had married for love into a wealthy, judgemental unit. And I was not a fan of Anna’s ‘father’ who is what can only be described as a ‘spoilt brat’.
On finishing this book I was very happy with how it ended; the story takes you through many twists and turns and each page leaves us asking, ‘what has happened to baby Cora?’
This was an amazing book by the very talented author Shari Lapena; I look forward to reading more from her.
I would give this 4/5 ⭐️
Leave a Reply