Maggie and Noah are happily married. He was a widower with a young son with learning problems they are successfully handling. Maggie was a divorcee who had, because of post partum psychosis, lost custody of her infant daughter, Anna, to her ex-husband. Maggie receives a call from Anna, who is now 17, asking if they can meet. She agrees and researches her ex to learn that he and his new family have all died in a plane crash and left an estate of 50 million dollars. Maggie and Anna meet and agree that Anna can come and live with them in Pennsylvania and bring the girl home. The novel is written in a chapter for each person. Maggie’s tell the story of what happens during the time Anna lived with them. Noah’s tell the story of his trial for Anna’s murder. Both are fascinating and lead the reader to making his/her own conclusions. The ending was unexpected but well done. This is a stand alone for the author and not part of her previous series and is of the same quality as her other novels. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin Press for an ARC for an honest review.

I have read every book that I have found by Lisa Scottoline.
I need to search for 2 more that I have not been able to find yet.

Beginning with the AFTER= 7 months in jail waiting for trial, now that trial has been 10 days long
switch to BEFORE where they are a happy family of three
This story switches between BEFORE/AFTER

Maggie has severe guilt over Anna- after her birth, Maggie had extreme form of postpartum depression- postpartum psychosis and being admitted to hospital, her ex divorced her and took custody of Anna.
Now, Anna has reconnected - Maggie is overjoyed with this opportunity.
So much so that she becomes blind to signs around her.
Anna moves in and everything is before and after Anna
She disrupts and manipulates everything around them.

You go between Before & After deeper & deeper more & more is revealed.
You will not want to stop reading until the entire story is revealed.

I highly recommend this thriller of a read by Lisa Scottoline

The book started out slow but finally caught up with action. I never saw the imposter angle or the trafficking coming. Maggie lost custody of her daughter, Anna, after a bitter divorce. Anna’s father is killed in an airplane crash and Anna is left alone. She never really knew her mother but decided to get in contact with her mother. Maggie was excited to have her daughter move in with her, her husband, and son. But Maggie’s husband became disenchanted quickly. What was Anna trying to do to him? Must read to find out.

There's no denying that Lisa Scottoline writes a compelling, easy-to-read story. She is a storyteller - her style and voice(s) are strong and clear and crisp and very engaging. I really liked the format - the back-and-forth in time (separated into "before" and "after" segments for each narrative character) and setting was an interesting way to set the stage, and I liked that one story/narration ran backwards in time while the other ran forwards, it made for clever imagery as the secrets unfolded.

That's what I liked.

What I didn't like, and didn't altogether buy, was the actual plot and storyline. Parts of it were alright - a mother who lost her daughter and then got her back, only to lose her again; the difficulties in blended families; the secrets and lies that piled up one upon the next. But those concepts, while all interesting and suitable to the genre/mood, somehow felt a bit cobbled together, like piecework. There was never a moment when the book felt unreadable - I just occasionally found myself rolling my eyes after some new revelation required yet another suspension of disbelief, but I did it while still turning pages. That's a testament to Scottoline's skill as a best-seller writer. But come on - this was an incredibly detailed retelling/rehashing of multiple perspectives, and you just KNEW a Big Twisty Something was coming (because that's the type of book this is), but I suddenly realized the book was at 89% (I read it on kindle) and that BTS hadn't come yet. That's when I eye rolled in a big way, because I knew one of two things would happen (both of which I hate): either it would turn out to be a book where the revelation comes on the last page and you have to read the sequel to find out how your story ended OR it would rush-rush-rush through the end in a flurry of actions and explanations and impossible timeframes and no details that felt like somebody called "Pencils Down!" and the author had no choice but to scribble out the end, exam-speed-writing-style. This was the latter - and I was very disappointed by it, perhaps more so because I actually liked the idea and if it had been written in the same pacing and level of detail as the rest of the book, would probably have determined it to be a solid courtroom/family drama thriller combo... Instead the ending felt rushed, which made the book even more uneven, and resulted in three stars.

Takeaway: it's an easy book to read, there's a lot of juicy stuff going on, and the characters and action-level are, for the most part, exactly what you'd expect to find here. But I think the ending short-shafted the book as a whole...

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. A well written mystery where you can’t decide who is innocent and who is guilty. For me, I was sucked right into the story, but it hit a big lull in the middle. The final third of the book was like a rollercoaster with a surprising reveal.

6/5 stars
Another suspense filled thriller by Lisa Scottoline that I couldn't put down until I finished it!
Dr. Noah Alderman, his son Caleb, and wife Maggie Ippoliti are living life in harmony when Maggie gets a call from the daughter, Anna Desroches, she was forced to give up seventeen years before.
Anna manipulates everyone driving a wedge between Noah & Maggie with her lies.
The story is revealed in short chapters alternating between "Noah, After" and "Maggie, Before" each ending on a cliff hanger.
Maggie and her BFF Kathy Gallagher go on a search for the truth and the stakes are deadly.
Topics include postpartum psychoses, boarding schools and others I can't list without spoiling the plot.
A spring 2018 must read!!!

This stand alone novel by Lisa Scottoline is a superb domestic thriller. The first chapter grabs your attention and makes you keep turning the pages to see how the story unfolds. The chapters alternate characters, points of view, and points in time. The first chapter essentially starts near the end of the story, casting a dark tone for the novel ahead. From there the chapters alternate in an interesting format that keeps you engaged and guessing. Maggie's point of view tells how she and her daughter, Anna, reunite and how Anna comes to move in with her and Noah, her husband. Noah's point of view starts at the end of his trial and works backwards with each chapter. The dynamic this displays is fascinating as the story progresses.

The chapters flow well and complement each other with continuity and additional information or explanations. Scottoline masterfully weaves the storylines together. The tension is high throughout in this aptly titled book. The courtroom scenes are expertly written and the characters are well developed.

Manipulation and accusations tear the family apart and their lives are forever changed. There are chilling plot twists, but the major one near the end will blow you away.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from St. Martin's Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me guessing until the end. I like the way the author told the story through two different storylines-before Anna and after Anna. Dr. Noah Alderman is on trial for the murder of Anna, but did he really kill her? A great thriller that will keep you wondering until the end. I don't want to give the plot away. I will just tell you to read it-you will like it if you are a mystery fan!

After Anna is the latest from Lisa Scottoline. The story is about how Maggie is suddenly reunited with her teenage daughter Anna. Of course events take a tragic turn and Anna is murdered. Fans of the author will love it and I found it to be a page turner. My only criticism is about a somewhat abrupt ending. This reader would have like to see an additional chapter to blend and address any lingering trauma..

After Anna by [Scottoline, Lisa]

So on the one hand, it was extremely engaging. On the other hand, the plot, in retrospect, is a bit much.

Review copy provided by publisher.

I had difficulty with this story and would rate it 3.5 stars if possible.

I enjoyed the way the courtroom scenes told Noah's story in reverse and how Maggie's part of the story was told straightforwardly. It held my interest and I found myself wishing Maggie's part would quickly finish so I could get back to Noah's.

What I found difficult was the way that everything Anna said about her father being killed in a plane crash and pretty much whatever else was just taken at face value by Maggie. I understand being thrilled to see your child again after so many years, but there was no checking on anything and it was all done in a rush. Even after Anna moved in, Maggie took her word as gospel and put no limits on her. It was crazy and made me continually wonder what parent would just accept some of the bizarre stories without checking. Maybe it was just me?

Either way, this was an interesting story with an unexpected plot twist. There were again, some things that just made no sense near the end, especially with the police action. What happened would not have been allowed, but again maybe it's just me that thinks that.

I do think this was a good story and encourage people to read it yourselves to see how you feel about it. I appreciate that I was given an ARC by the publishers, the author and Netgalley. Thank you.

Another fabulous book by Lisa Scottoline. I read this book in 24 hours. It drew me in and didn't let go. Dr. Noah Alderman (a widower with a young son) and his wife Maggie (a divorcee), have a good life and happy marriage. When Maggie's daughter who she hasn't seen in 17 years calls out of the blue, Maggie is over the moon. Anna moves in and life as they knew it changed forever. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book. Deserves more than 5 stars.

One of my all time favourite authors. Ms. Scottoline writes another phenomenal novel. As pen is to pencil, so is this book to exhilarating.
Noah and Maggie are in for the ride of their lives. Maggie has just been invited to lunch with her estranged daughter, Anna. She is over the moon with anticipation. Then the bombshell....Anna wants to come live with them! The family couldn't be happier. Now Maggie can put the past of being labeled an unfit mother behind her. Everything is going great, until Dr. Noah starts putting the moves on his step-daughter. Before too long he finds himself in prison. With only his smarts and planning to keep him alive. Who is set on destroying his family, and why. Hang into your seats!! It's a WILD ride.
5 STARS

I love Lisa Scottoline but this just didn't hit the mark for me. The pace was slow and just didn't satisfy the mystery reader in me.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2273882736

I am a huge LS fan, since I live in Chester County, her books are always such thrill ride. She describes our area beautifully and shines light on some very scary situations that we may not know about. I find her to be one of the most devoted authors to her fans. Thank you NG for allowing me to read this book before it comes out.

This is the story of a woman who lost her infant child, Anna, in a divorce. Anna contacted her when she was 17. Her father had died and she wanted to reconnect with her mom. She immediately moved in with her mom, step-dad and step-brother. The story starts with the step-dad on trial for murdering Anna and alternates between the time of the trial and the events that led up to the murder.

This book caught my attention from the beginning, enough that I read it all in one day. However, the ending was good, but there was one part that I thought was implausible.

SPOILER ALERT. I doubt that anyone would kill her before she got her inheiratence even if they thought she was getting too big for her britches. They then lost the possibility of sharing any of the money. Also, the release from prison happened in lightning time. That doesn’t seem likely when I read about real cases in the news.

This was a good book and I recommend it. It had a good plot twist and is very readable.

A fast paced mystery novel around the murder of Anna. We move forward in time with mom Maggie starting from the time her daughter calls to establish a relationship her. Theyve been apart since Anna was 6 months old. At the same time we move backwards through the trail of husband and stepdad Noah, charged with Anna's murder. 

I enjoyed the book, though the ending felt a bit forced and the epilogue seemed very rushed.

We all have defining moments in our lives by which we measure time. Some are good… some not so much. Before marriage, after marriage; before children, after children; before a divorce, after a divorce; before the child you have not seen in almost 17 years returns to your life and after.

Maggie, Anna’s Mother, is estatic when Anna contacts her. She has not seen Anna since she was six months old. Not since she had a breakdown and was hospitalized; during which her husband returned to France with Anna. French courts, lies and her ex-husbands wealth kept Maggie from seeing Anna or even receiving a photograph all this time. After the death of Anna’s father, step-mother and step-brothers in a plane crash, she wanted to reconnect with her mother and soon moves in with her.

Soon, Maggie’s idyllic life with her husband, Noah, and 10-year-old step son Caleb begins to fall apart. Anna, now a multi-millionaire, spends lots of money without asking and stays out late without calling to let anyone know where she is. When no adults are watching, she mistreats Caleb. Soon, she begins to accuse Noah of inappropriate behavior and even files a Protection from Abuse against him.

But who do you believe? Who do you trust? Your husband of two years or your new found 17-year-old daughter? And where do you turn when that daughter turns up dead on the porch of your husband’s new rental house and all evidence points to him as the killer?

Lisa Scottoline’s novels are always, well-written, fast-paced and full of twists. “After Anna” was no exception.

Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Mystery
Cover: Great
Rating: 4 stars
Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!
#AfterAnna #NetGalley

I love the ride that Ms Scottoline takes us on in her books. This book had more twist and turns than a country road. Just when I think I have figured things out we take a hairpin turn. The characters are so believable that you think you are in the middle of the story with them. One thing I like about her books is she educates the reader about apraxia, postpartum psychosis and human trafficking. She weaves these topics effortlessly into the story. You won't be disappointed if you read this book. The only problem you will have is that you can't put it down.

Every second of this book is sheer brilliance. Evocative, gut wrenching, nail biting suspense. I have always loved Lisa Scottoline's books but this one is by FAR the best. The trial on both sides was easy to follow with the back story filtering in as needed. Every character has a key part to play from Anna, to Maggie, to Noah and all the others on the periphery. I never saw the twists coming and they were brilliant. I highly recommend this book.