I was really shocked to find out that this is a debut novel as it is brilliant and Carpenter writes like this is her 10th book not 1st!

The book follows the story of 8 year old Grace who goes missing after school... 20 years after another little girl went missing in similar cicumstances.

The reader is taken on several story arcs - all of which converge towards a shocking conclussion. Carpenter weaves together the different strands so expertly that there are some totally unexpected twists.

Graces mum and dad, Emma and Mat, are devestated but are supported by Samantha, Emmas sister. However it soon becomes apparant that not everyone is being honest and cracks begin to appear in the tight family unit.

Elderly Maggie who has never recovered from when her granddaughter vanished 20 years ago and the subsequent suicide of her daughter is following Graces case with particular interest. Especially when she recognises a face in Graces family....

There are so many dimensions to this book - tragedy, suspense, action... all alongside well developed characters who appeal to the readers in so many ways.

This is a must read!

A kidnapping and a families living hell. Full of twists and turns this story will keep you guessing and waiting for the end.

I loved this psychological thriller. 99 Red Balloons is a clever, well-written debut novel that caught me up right from the very beginning. When asked to describe her novel in one sentence (by author/blogger Sam Carrington) author Elisabeth Carpenter says, ‘two girls go missing, decades apart, and family secrets are slowly revealed’. The story gallops effortlessly along with a large cast of very believable characters and great dialogue. Libby skilfully blends a number of different threads, each told from a different point of view. She led me totally astray – cleverly misleading me for most of the story. It’s a great ride – a skilful, suspenseful roller coaster of a book which left me breathless. Highly recommended if this is your genre.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.

This book is told with several different viewpoints, and an unnamed man, unnamed girl, Stephanie, and Maggie. The unnamed is a kidnapper, the unnamed girl has been kidnapped and Stephanie is the Aunt of a young girl that has just been kidnapped, and Maggie is the grandmother of young girl Zoe who was kidnapped in the 80s.

The story opens with the unnamed girl meeting a man outside a sweet shop and how he convinces her to go with him. It then switches to Stephanie who has just learned that her niece Grace has been kidnapped after walking home from school. Almost immediately you start to learn that Stephanie and her family have secrets.
Maggie begins to receive calls and flowers from an unknown person who tells her they have a surprise for her, but mainly she is shocked Grace has been kidnapped in the same manner as her granddaughter Zoe.

I can't tell you much more than that because it will spoil the story for you. I will say that I was a bit confused at first as to the alternative perspectives and who was who. For a longer time, I didn't understand why Stephanie had a part in this story, but I will say that this was engrossing and I was unable to put it down.

I had to know what was going to happen, and I was completely shocked when it was finally revealed who the unknown people were in those chapters. I guessed wrong several times as to who and how people fit into the story. I also must admit that I loved the inclusion of 99 Red Ballon, that is one of my favorite 80s songs and I love to hear it in German.

Before I started reading the book, I read that it had a major twist and I still didn't see it coming! That twist elevates it from a good read to a great read in my opinion.

Eight year old Grace gets abducted. Her family is understandably in pieces but while the police is searching for her, there soon appear cracks - why is her grandmother acting unusually and what is going on between Grace's parents or between her father Matt and her aunt Stephanie?

The story is narrated by aunt Stephanie, an older woman called Maggie, whose own granddaughter Zoe got abducted decades ago and a little girl. It's intriguing and you want to find out what happened to Grace and what is wrong with her family.

Once we know the plot twist I would have liked some more background on it. The book gives us enough for it all to make sense but we are left to piece it together ourselves. I also would have enjoyed a bit more detail at the end. Certainly worth a read though.

What a great debut book, it doesn't read like it is a first book at all.The story was much more complicated than I thought it would be so much going on and told from many different points of view it kept me on my toes reading it and trying to put it all together, in a good way.The pace was good and the characters were well written and well fleshed out .the whole book was a joy to read and for me marks the start of what I hope will be a very good career for this talented writer.I'm very impressed and can't wait for her next book.no spoilers but this book will not disappoint and I am grateful to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC to read and review.

So as well as a title that sends me back to my teenage years and memories of watching Top of the Pops, 99 Red Balloons has everything I look for in a psychological thriller – missing children, family secrets and a story that slowly comes together through the eyes of a number of characters, none of whom seem to be quite telling the truth.
And I got all that and more, with a book with plenty of twists, turns and red herrings plus a “wow” moment about two-thirds in that had me pause for a second so my brain could readjust and rethink everything I had read so far.  You’ve got to love those moments and it completely changed the book for me.  
Before that, I have to say that it was progressing quite nicely but not setting me on fire.  There wasn’t any particular reason for how I felt – it’s a well written book and the characters are well drawn (especially Maggie, who touched my heart a little because of the way her life had turned out) and I could feel the stress Emma and her family felt over the missing Grace and the tension rising as each day passed.
I think it’s because I thought I knew where it was going (I read a lot of these type of books after all).  Turns out I was wrong.  I had let the slow build at the beginning lull me into a false sense of security, of thinking I knew how everything would end up.  Days after reading it, I am still kicking myself for not figuring it out.  So, buyers beware, keep your eyes out for the clues I missed and enjoy the ride.  I know I did!

I received an ARC from NetGalley to read and review. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Elisabeth Carpenter, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

99 RED BALLOONS is a fantastic debut thriller. 99 RED BALLOONS follows the aftermath of child abduction. Emma and Matt are devastated when their daughter, Grace, is kidnapped outside a local candy store. Emma's sister, Samantha, helps the family cope with their loss, but she is hiding secrets that may come to light while the police investigate her niece's disappearance.

Maggie has also lost someone: her granddaughter, Zoe. Learning of Grace's abduction, Maggie relives the pain she went through, the longing she felt when Zoe was never seen again.

99 RED BALLOONS is told from multiple points of view. This is definitely a book you'll need to pay attention to, or it could become confusing. Carpenter writes in such a vivid way, making you feel like you are there with the characters, feeling what they feel, suffering when they suffer. But her exquisite prose is never overdone. This heart-pounding thriller is full of shocking twists that will leave you clutching the book until the very final page.

There is nothing like a four hour journey on a train when you have just started a new book that you can't wait to read! Absolutely loved this book, so well written, amazing characters and a story you want to uncover!!! Defiantly recommend!!!

This story is told from multiple points of view - Maggie, Stephanie and others in between, who are not specified. This made it a little disjointed and confusing. The secrets, twists and links between the characters were very slowly revealed - too slowly for me, and I lost interest. The characters were not particularly appealing or strong enough to make the reader sympathetic to their situations and ultimate fates. A couple of them were quite unpleasant. So this was a good premise but not entirely successful.

What a well written debut........

Two devastated families, both searching for their missing Daughters. The emotions, secrets and lies of the individuals involved in this situation gives you the background to an unexpected fascinating twist.

An unputdownable read.

Thank you Netgalley, Elizabeth Carpenter and Avon for allowing me to read and give my own unbiased review.

A great debut thriller by Elizabeth Carpenter about a school girl named Grace abducted from a sweet shop in England. She believed the man was sent to pick her up by her mom . It doesn't look good . The police aren't finding any clues . The family get together to support each other. Grace's parents , Emma and Matt , her aunt Stephanie and her 13 year old son Jamie , and the widowed grandmother. The Family Liasion Officer Flo and PC Nadia Sharma stays to assist Grace's family that are heartbroken. In another town in England a woman named Maggie is upset when she sees the news about Grace . Maggie's granddaughter Zoe was abducted 30 years ago . The loss destroyed the entire family. Maggie's son Scott turned into a drug addict , Maggie's husband Ron died from grief , Maggie's son inlaw David left to search for his daughter and Maggie's daughter Sarah committed suicide . We get the insight from all family members. We learn of Maggie's tragic story of her missing granddaughter, secrets and surprises. Great storyline! The book was hard to put down ! I couldn't wait to find out what happened to Grace and to Zoe ! I highly recommend this book if you like a good psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Avon Books for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Read from August 6, 2017 to August 6 , 2017
Publication date August 24 , 2017
Will post on Goodreads
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Two girls have gone missing, but decades apart. Eight year old Grace has gone missing from her local sweet shop and her mum Emma is frantic with worry. Although her family rallies around her, cracks soon start to appear and secrets are revealed.

Meanwhile Maggie Taylor sees Grace's picture in the paper. This adds deil to the fore of her obsession, with the first girl that went missing.

I loved 99 Red Balloons, drawn in from the very first chapter with plenty of twists and turns to keep me reading. This story is thoroughly riveting and the fact the chapters are written from different points of view adds an interesting twist. This is a great debut psychological thriller and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

This is exactly what I was looking for in a sychological thriller. This is my favourite genre and have been reading alot of them lately. Although I have found many enjoyable ones to get stuck into, they just haven't quite given me everything that I crave. 99 Balloons gave me everything I have been searching for and more.

I felt such satisfaction after reading this book, also a little disappointed it was over. I had so much fun trying to guess the story and what would be unveiled next. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was way off base. This makes the story so exciting as I find it boring if you can figure out the whole plot yourself. Everything was thought out with such enthusiasm, great character and plots.

99 Balloons was a very enjoyable fast paced page turner and I would recommend this book to anyone.

Eight year old Grace had been begging her parents to start letting her walk home from school with her friends so when they finally begin to let her, she is delighted. Grace's mother, Emma, had at first followed her daughter and hid to keep an eye on her as she walked, but eventually let Grace make the trip on her own. And yep, you guessed it( the hairs stand up at the back of your neck as you experience though first person narrative how Grace is easily stolen by a stranger, pretending to be a family friend) Gracie won't be coming home that night. This is written in such a chilling and so well written innocent voice that makes you shocked, upset and horrified all at once.

Frantic with worry, her mother searches every where for her little girl and discovers the last place Grace was seen was in a sweetshop but there are no other clues as to her whereabouts. Soon the police and media are involved in the search for Grace, the media hungry for a sensational story and the police desperate to find the little girl. Enter ageing widow Maggie Sharples who sees Grace's image on the news and the story ramps up a notch. Grace's disappearance brings back memories of Maggie's own granddaughter who was kidnapped years before. For Maggie though, the face she sees on the television screen, is a bit too familiar to be a coincidence.
99 Red Balloons is a thriller that deals with every parent's worst nightmare: child abduction. The story expands to another level when the author cleverly and skilfully blends the past and present together. The overall plot is a genius idea and will certainly keep readers on the edge, particularly seeing as though there is a little girl's life on the line. The story is told with alternating point of view from various different characters throughout the book which is when I struggled to keep track and lost a little momentum at this point. Some chapters are from the family others from a lady watching the story unfold,(Maggie) and a little girl who had been taken but which one? By the time it all wrapped up it made sense but during the early pages and the middle there were a few times the voices within the chapters just weren't standing out enough to remember who was who and I found myself feeling frustrated when I had to go back and re-read or jolt myself out of the story as I tried to remember who was who.
In the end I decided to rate this book 4 stars. The suspense was enough to keep me reading, wanting to know how it would unfold, but I had to sometimes stop and remind myself who was who and what situation I was reading. I think the structure and flow could have been improved and the voices more distinctive or at least signposted more clearly for the reader. Overall, a great debut: good plot, good narrative and a good book club page turner that will give you goosebumps at times.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley, so thank you so much.

99 Red Balloons

A chillingly clever psychological thriller with a stomach-flipping twist



by Elisabeth Carpenter

Avon Books UK

Avon



General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 24 Aug 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of 99 Red Ballons through Avon Books UK and Netgalley:

Two girls go missing, decades apart. What if one of them were your daughter.

Eight year old Grace is last seen in a sweetshop. Emma (her Mother) is living a waking nightmare, but is there more to Grace's dissapearance than meets the eye?

Will emails sent between her husband and her sister shed new light? Why did it take so long for her Mother to join in the search?

Zoe went missing in 1986, and still has not been found, what happened to Zoe and what will happen to Grace?

Find out in 99 Red Ballons!

Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Thank you to 'NetGalley' and 'Avon Books' for giving me the chance to read and review an advanced reader's copy of "99 Red Balloons".

I've read quite a few psychological thrillers in the past few weeks and not one of them really satisfied me. I was missing shocking twists and the suspense in most of them. I really thought that I was too picky and that my standards were too high, and I guess that is slightly true, but I am also certain that I just haven't found the right psychological thriller for me yet. Until 99 Red Balloons.

Two girls go missing, decades apart. What would you do if one was your daughter?
When eight-year-old Grace goes missing from a sweetshop on the way home from school, her mother Emma is plunged into a nightmare. Her family rallies around, but as the police hunt begins, cracks begin to emerge.
What are the secret emails sent between Emma’s husband and her sister? Why does her mother take so long to join the search? And is Emma really as innocent as she seems?
Meanwhile, ageing widow Maggie Taylor sees Grace’s picture in the newspaper. It’s a photograph that jolts her from the pain of her existence into a spiralling obsession with another girl – the first girl who disappeared… (Source: Goodreads)

First of all, I absolutely love the cover and the title of the book. The title was actually what made me look into the book a little further, because what German wouldn't be intrigued with a title like "99 Red Balloons" (side note: the original title is "99 Luftballons" and translates as "99 Balloons", so there's actually no 'red' in the original title or the song. :) ). After reading the blurb, I was hooked: great cover, great title and a super exciting blurb.

It is really difficult for me to write this review because I don't want to say too much and spoil the story for you. But let me tell you this: The characters in this story have lots of secrets and they try their best to keep them hidden from everyone, even from the reader. It was really exciting to try and guess their secrets as well as what happened to Grace. But be aware: if you think you have solved the puzzle and found out a secret, then try again, because the chances are high that your puzzle piece won't fit.
The big plot twist of the story left my mouth hanging open from shock. Although I figured it out one chapter before the actual revelation (there was this one particular sentence that tipped me off), I couldn't believe I missed the signs in the previous chapters. I actually went back to the beginning to check, and I was right, there were small hints that I missed.
Although the pace of the story slowed down a bit in the end, it was still interesting to see how the characters dealt with the situation at hand. I especially enjoyed the ending of the book.

"99 Red Balloons" is actually Elisabeth Carpenter's debut novel but you wouldn't think that after reading this book. The story, the characters, the twists, everything was really well plotted and thought through. The short and quick chapters with alternating POV changes were a great way to convey the story to the reader and had me turning the pages quickly.

If you enjoy reading psychological thrillers with twists and turns at every corner, then Carpenter's debut novel is definitely the book for you.
"99 Red Balloons" releases in only a few short days on August 24th.

You and I in a little toy shop, buy a bag of balloons with... sorry, every time I see the cover of this novel, I can't help singing 99 Red Balloons. Guess I've given away that I am a child of the 1980s now!!

So erm, anyway... back to the novel. What can I say about 99 Red Balloons that won't give too much away? Hmmm. It is one of those novels that is really tricky to review without spoiling things for those who haven't yet had the pleasure of reading, but I will try.

Eight year old Grace is last seen in a sweet shop (that's sweet shop, not toy shop;)) moments before her disappearance. Her Mother Emma, had only just started letting her walk home from school with her friends, but was still keeping a watchful eye on her from a distance-the school only moments from their family home.

Now Stephanie, Emma's sister is trying to keep the family together as the Police begin their search, and their surveillance and scrutiny of the family - always the first to be suspected of wrong doing in such a case.

Meanwhile miles way Maggie Taylor is keeping a keen eye on the news. Poor Grace's disappearance brings back memories of her daughter Sarah's loss of her five year old Zoe, years and years before. There is nothing to link the cases, Zoe is presumed dead, though her body never found.

As Grace's family begin to fear that the worst had happened to them too, there is a sighting of Grace with a stranger that nobody recognises.... or so they say.

As the investigation deepens, some of the family members begin acting oddly, and as Stephanie tries to keep everyone sane, she begins to wonder if some people know more than they are letting on.

99 Red Balloons has some brilliant, yet flawed characters. It is a gripping read and comes highly recommended!

My husband told me "You shouldn't need a flow chart to read a book," but I did while reading this one because Ms. Carpenter did an amazing job of writing. She set a trap for her readers and I fell for it. Or perhaps she just let us make certain assumptions and didn't correct us. Either way, as the pieces to the disappearances fell into place, I needed to sketch it out so I could fit each character in their spot. In addition to the well written story, Ms. Carpenter did a terrific job of highlighting her characters and bringing their own stories, outside the tragedies, to light without detracting from the main story. I might not suggest this book for those times when you can't devote solid time to reading, but definitely worth taking the time to do so!

99 Red Balloons

This is a cracking debut novel; Elisabeth Carpenter has really hit the spot with a twisted psychological thriller that explores family ties and lies. The characters are strong and believable characters, the plotting is complex and skilful with pace and tension and she creates a real sense of creeping fear as the story unfolds.

It's the nightmare scenario of a missing child, she's vanished into thin air. As the disappearance is investigated, the family cracks start to show and it's clear that there are secrets and lies. But what's really going on? The narrative moves between viewpoints and the story of current events runs in tandem with another disappearance years earlier. The abduction has some parallels and the consequences were devastating.

I really enjoy a story that keeps you guessing and this one just keeps the surprises coming. The final twist blew me away and had me thinking after I'd finished the book. Certainly an author to watch. Loved this and my thanks to Avon, publisher, for a review copy via Netgalley