I love discovering new authors and this is a great first book for me from Cara Hunter. A fast paced storyline which I didn't want to put down but also didn't want it to finish! You can really relate to the characters and although it's a very sad story, unfortunately it's a story that is all too real in the world today. I would highly recommend this book.

This book was so engaging it hooks you from the first page right through to the end. Nothing is quite how it first appears. The only thing is certain is that daisy is missing. This book is one you certainly won't want to put down

Brilliant and really clever. Daisy Mason is missing and while searching for her the details of her home life are exposed bit by bit. This book is brilliantly written. The ending has me in shock which is what a good thriller should be like. The characters are really well described. Daisy's parents are not likeable people. I liked the way there was a social media feed in the book. Her parents were villainized by social media. I read this book in one sitting. The continual build up in the suspense is brilliant and I will probably read it again to see if there are any clues I missed the first time.

This is a really exciting read! Set in Oxford, this is the story of Daisy, an 8 year old girl who goes missing during a family barbecue. DI Adam Carver leads his team in the investigation. There are so many twists and turns which make this a real page turner. You are kept guessing right until the very last page! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.

This book was absolutely brilliant. I read it cover to cover in a matter of days as I was so intrigued about who the latest suspect was or a new theory. Each twist and turn was as believable as the last. The introduction of social media to report public opinion on the crime was genius as I can't wait to see the televised version as I'm quite sure it'll be snapped up.

This book dives you straight in and doesn't mess about.

A story about a little girl who goes missing. It mainly focuses on the police investigation as well as looking at what people are saying on social media, in this case Twitter. It's shocking (and incredibly relevant) how many people take to the internet to express their views and opinions and how quickly society can turn against the parent(s) in this situation. I thought Cara did this really well.

I will admit that I did see the twist coming BUT at about three quarters of the way through so it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

The only negative is that I didn't feel very connected to DI Fawley and thought the character was lacking somewhat although I'm sure this will come in future books in the series.

All in all I would definitely recommend this book as it was fast paced and kept me guessing ALMOST to the end!

Close to home

I love how this book is written! You are given little snippets of info through the book and you can decide for yourself what they mean before they are revealed maybe a chapter later.

The book is about an 8 year old girl, Daisy, who has gone missing it seems from her parents garden party. But no one saw her go ... There are lots of events that happen through the book to make you suspect someone new. It definitely kept me hooked wanting to find out the truth and even at the end it's the person you least expect! It's a great read and I would definitely recommend it. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read it.

The story starts at an after-school barbecue party with an ordinary family on an everyday estate. It is then discovered that Daisy, the daughter of the family (aged 8) has gone missing. You are led through a web of differing tales of possibly guilty people, the family being far from ‘ordinary’ - and your opinion changes rapidly as you progress through the story. You know you're being led, but it is highly addictive!

It's an easy read but the thing that put me off, and spoilt the flow was the constant 'Twitter' inserts. It made the book read like a magazine or newspaper story - perhaps that was intended? For me, I couldn't care less what trolls have to say about such a situation (or even supportive members of the public who can't know any details) and I would certainly avoid reading those opinions in real life in those circumstances - I don't want it 'invading' my book either! It interrupted the flow which was otherwise gripping and exciting.

Apart from that the story mounts in tension as you find out more and more about the central characters. You engage with them to a certain extent but I wanted to know more about DI Adam Fawley, DC Gislingham and DC Everett and felt that the few details we were given needed to be fleshed out a lot more - especially where they were 'extreme' family situations. Maybe the author did not want to write too taxing a book lengthwise for her targeted audience; but I'd have preferred to know more about them and the 'hows and whys ' (and cut the Twitter crap instead). To me, it was more like a crime solving ‘account' than a novel. Despite that, it was still entertaining and thrilling; but I felt it should have left me sadder, - I just didn’t feel very sympathetic towards any of the characters except maybe Leo.

Fascinating story that keeps you enthralled to the final chapter. Well written and highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have an ARC.

This book is the first in a new crime series featuring DI Adam Fawley.

8-year-old Daisy disappears from her home during a family party. As the investigation proceeds it is clear that the family is fairly dysfunctional. Her mother is cold and vain, her dad is a lying womaniser. Neither could confirm exactly when Daisy went missing and it seems clear quite quickly that both are hiding things.
I liked the format of the book it had flashbacks to earlier timelines this really helped us to understand Daisy and her relationship with her family. Another clever addition was the inclusion of social media feeds and the public reaction on the unfolding investigation. My only criticism is that as a mum of a 9-year-old Daisy seems far too old for 8, walking to and from school alone as well as taking herself to friends after school seems more like the actions of a 10-11-year-old. The final twist was very unexpected and clever, but I must say a little far fetched that I didn't 100% buy into it as a theory. That being said I am looking forward to the next instalment!

Gripping police procedural, so many twists and turns. Very cleverly written and what an ending! Brilliant.

Occasionally a book comes along that breaks the mold this is one such book. A whodunit but one that deals with some difficult issues that will have you guessing right up to the end. As a debut this is amazing and a real page turner.
I totally guarantee you will think one person did it then another and another.as the book progresses as the person that did it.
As the book progresses there is a clever use of flashbacks that end up opening up more clues and suspects!
The use of social media being scattered throughout and the way people use it to voice opinion (and how those opinions change) is amazingly well used and very much echoes the way opinions change and twist as the media reveals more and as people get pulled along by public opinion.
I can not recommend this book highly enough undoubtedly this will be the must read book of 2018 and would make a great TV Drama.

What a gripping book from the start. The opening was intriguing, although it later turned out that it was a red herring. I liked the use of flash backs.
I could not put this book down. I wanted to know what happened to Daisy, an 8 year old girl missing from a party. Very quickly it is revealed that she may not even have been at the party and the investigation is widened and the novel becomes more compelling. I liked DI Adam Fawley, felt he could have been developed more, as could the rest of his team. It would be good to explore their characters in future novels, if that is where this is going.
The twists were clever and the final Epilogue a surprise, even if the reader isn't entirely convinced by the verdict in the previous chapter.
It is clever in a novel that you find it compelling, despite not having sympathy for the victims, even an 8 year old child. Will be looking out for this author in future.

Really enjoyed this book despite disliking all the characters...although i think that was the idea! An ending that i didnt see coming but had me cheering. Would read more from this author

This is an excellent police procedural. It is very clear that the author knows what she a writing about.

During a party at the home of the Mason family their eight year old daughter, Daisy, goes missing. On the face of it, it is the story of a missing child and the hunt to find her. There are, however, deeper undercurrents. The narrator of the novel is Detective Inspector Adam Fawley and we see the other characters through his eyes. Barry Mason is the blustering, cocky father of Daisy and his wife, Sharon, seems more concerned about how she looks and is perceived by others, than in the search for Daisy. Leo is their insecure and troubled son.

What is new for me is the use the author makes of social media, Twitter and Facebook, the comments from which act as a Greek Chorus as events unfold. They demonstrate the snap judgements people will reach and the cruelty with which they are delivered on these forums (or fora if you prefer).

There are plenty of twists and turns in this very clever novel. I’m looking forward to the next in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

Great police procedural with a missing child. Clever use of flashbacks and different perspectives. Not convinced by the very last twist but enjoyed the book a lot.

I loved this book, the characters are so real! This is helped by the first person narratiive by the lead detective. Brilliantly plotted with many twists, especially loved the last one, even though at first I couldn't remember who the character was; which added to the surprise. Set in Oxford, but in the town rather than amongst the dreaming spires. A young girl goes missing at a party... Was she snatched or is it someone close to home? This book reworks this familiar premise brilliantly, with as many red herrings as a Christie.

A very promising start to a new crime series featuring DI Adam Fawley.

Not many books keep me guessing throughout and make me change my mind about the perpetrator quite so frequently as this one did although I found the police procedural side of things a little bland for my usual tastes.

I can see why the author would want to add excerpts of twitter feeds however in this instance they did not lend anything to the plot which was a shame.

I am looking forward to book two in anticipation of finding out more about the main police characters and seeing how they develop.

Thanks to Penguin Books UK for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story was good and many of the characters portrayed well however, the Police team characters remained two dimensional. The 'life tragedy' was at least to the male DI but neither developed his character or added to the plot. The construction of the book was problematic with poor clarity when the backstory section was over and the today story resumed. Despite all this criticism, I enjoyed the book which held me at a time when other books didn't .

A thoroughly enjoyable, complex crime novel with a very unexpected conclusion.