Unlike her previous book, "The Secret Mother," I really struggled with this book.  The premise seemed captivating - a young mother, at a cafe with her friend chatting while her daughter plays nearby, finds just a few moments later that her daughter has been kidnapped.  The opposing viewpoints of the kidnapper and another young mother living in her new home, in a new town, with her new husband and additional child, begin as parallel POV's, but it became obvious early in the book that the other mother (Rachel) is the same aggrieved mother of the kidnapped daughter.  When Rachel believes that the new resident in her sleepy suburban town outside of London is the kidnapper of her child and sees the daughter she believes has been kidnapped, she goes into overdrive trying to verify her suspicions before involving law enforcement. And this is where the story SLOWS WAY DOWN.  There's so much literary real estate dedicated to her inner thoughts and scheming, I had to start skimming.  I felt like shaking the book and saying, "Get on with it already!"  I seriously sped-read through the bulk of the middle of the book until there was something worth reading (which clearly told me I was kinda done with this book).  When I got bored of the nonstop droning on about Rachel's suspicions and scheming, I found myself skimming other reviews to see if this book was even worth finishing (and there are plenty of glowing reviews!), so I powered through. Ultimately, the "twist" at the end, while a smidge surprising, felt a bit yawn-worthy.  More than anything, I just felt glad to be done with the book.  

I'm sorry to report that I found this book to be a big disappointment and that I won't be seeking out more work by this author.

I was so into this book that I read it in two days. I didn't want to put it down! Rachel meets her friend for coffee with her two young girls. She allows her older daughter three year old Holly to play in the play place while her younger daughter sleeps in the stroller. Minutes later, Rachel realizes Holly is missing.  The story jumps back and forth between Rachel and Catriona, the mentally unstable kidnapper during the "then" chapters. Fast forward about 7 or 8 years and Rachel is with a new guy that she has a son with. A new family moves into down and Rachel thinks their eldest daughter may be her kidnapped daughter. What lengths will she go to in order to get her daughter back?

halini Boland’s latest offering, The Other Daughter, focuses on every parent’s worst nightmare, the abduction of their child. But what do you do if you come face to face with that child years later as someone else’s daughter?

From the opening pages, Boland’s plot is fast-paced. We’re thrown into the action, immersed in mother Rachel’s horror when her two-year-old child, Holly, disappears in the blink of an eye, while they’re out at a local mall. Roll on nine years and Rachel’s managed to move on. She’s in a different loving relationship and has children and yet, of course, Holly is always there on her mind. Then one day, Holly seemingly is there as Bella, the daughter of a couple new to town. Or is she?

Through the plot and subplots, Boland asks her readers heartrending questions: what would they do if they were Rachel? How would they react? But at the heart of it all is whether Bella is in fact Holly. Or is it merely a case of mistaken identity? Wishful thinking on Rachel’s part so that she can get what she ultimately desires most, Holly back. Or is it something altogether more sinister?

A novel with several twists, with a few plot turns that are a little confusing, The Other Daughter is an extremely entertaining read. Definitely a page-turner.

This book had me gripped from the first chapter. Even better was the fact that the chapters were short enough that I could snatch a few minutes here and there in between jobs. 
The story opens with the child being led away from the Shopping centre by their hand. It then goes between the past and the present as the story progresses.
Rachel is now living in a sleepy town in Dorset with her partner Matt and two children.
After nine years she still doesn’t know whether her missing daughter is alive or dead. 
Rachel is now living in a sleepy town in Dorset with her partner Matt and two children.
Rachel meets a new mum at the School gates and becomes determined that Rachel’s eldest daughter Bella is in fact her missing daughter. Rachel becomes obsessed and goes to extreme lengths to prove to herself that Bella is her daughter.
Rachel’s obsession begins to cause problems in her relationship with her partner Matt. Things deepen as Rachel begins to lie, sneak around and be deceptive in her quest to get Bella back.
I was totally absorbed by the story and truly didn’t see the twist at the end coming.
There was scope for the loose ends to be tied up at the end of the story better. It was rather an abrupt ending but that is most probably how it was intended by the author.
This was the first book I have read by this author and would most definitely read any further books by her. 
Many thanks to Shalini Boland and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

This book enthralled me for 90% of it. I just wanted find out the outcome and couldn't help feel sorry for Rachel. However, after reading the last 10% I felt disappointed. It seemed a little far fetched to.
I would certainly recommend for the fact that the majority it did grab me.

A great story about a horrific kidnapping of a young girl, who the mother is sure she’s found 9 years later! Dark and gritty with gripping emotions that are heartbreaking as we watch a mother go through a parents worst nightmare.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author to allow me to get a free copy of this book for review. Ms. Boland is one of my favorite authors and I always look forward to reading her books. This story did not disappoint. She has the ability to make me want to read until the end and forget about everything else I have to do! Without giving anything away, the twist was so shocking, I stopped reading for a few seconds to recover and confirm I had not misread! I will give a book 5 stars if it shocks me so much and makes me gasp so loud that my husband has to ask me concerned if I'm ok lol. I'm now waiting impatiently for her next book, please hurry!

I enjoyed this page turning book. It was well written. Glad that I read it. Will be checking other books by this author.

I enjoyed this book, although I did find the plot a little far-fetched in places. I also had an idea of the ending half-way through. Nonetheless a great read. Recommended.

I love Shalini Boland and I always look forward to new releases with much anticipation !

The Other Daughter was amazing, I was absolutely engrossed in this and could not put it down !

A quick, basic premise is mum and two young daughters out for coffee with her friend and the oldest is abducted. Fast forward several years, Rachel is settled in Dorset and meets a new mum and her teen at school.  The resemblance to her missing daughter starts of a chain reaction of events that soon spiral out of control. Just as I got a grip of this, Shalini throws in a massive twist that sets the story of perfectly. 

I'm not saying anymore on the plot as I think it spoils it for others, but I really would recommend reading this book.
Shalini Boland is outstanding and knows how to draw you in, and keep you totally enthralled and absorbed.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the wonderful privilege of reviewing your arc.

Love all of Shalinis books and I loved this one too, she rarely disappoints and safe to say she didn’t this time. Fast paced and gripping it’s a treat to read one of hers as always, devoured it in one sitting and didn’t stop for breath!

6 stars

Shalini Boland does not disappoint. Whatever she writes I’ll pick it. This was another engaging, surprising, fast paced read.

I was hooked at the start and couldn’t put this one down. What a twisty ride this was. I was surprised by the ending and didn’t see it coming. You will be up all night reading this one. 
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rachel’s daughter is taken nine years ago while playing in an indoor playing area. 
Catrioni is unshevelled and dirty when she sees Holly and takes her.
Rachel decides to move and set up a new life
While taking her other two children to school she meets Kate whose eldest daughter Bella bears striking resemblance  to her daughter Holly . Rachel finds out that Kate and her family have come from London 
Rachel embarks on a mission to find out the truth that Bella is her missing daughter 
Good book
Thanks NetGalley

Whenever Shalini Boland publishes a new book, I am on board.They are always entertaining and she writes characters that feel quite real, places in situations that are out of the ordinary. At first I was sure I had The Other daughter all figured out at the halfway mark and was a little disappointed, but then quite a significant twist really surprised me and kept me on my toes! It's not my favorite of her books, but definitely entertaining and fast-paced. If you're looking for a clever, engaging mystery that isn't gory or too creepy, you might want to give this author a try!

Shalini Boland does not disappoint her readers in her latest novel, The Other Daughter!  It started off with the devastating kidnapping of a beautiful and beloved  little girl and follows duel storylines and points of view over a ten year period of time. 

Total misdirections and continuous twists and turns result in a complex story filled with fully developed characters that are hiding secrets and leading deceptive lives.  I highly recommend this book to those who love to not find out who the bad guys are until the last page!  Boy, was I fooled!!

I highly recommend this fast paced psychological thriller and give it five big stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A huge thank you to the talented author, Shalina Boland, to NetGalley, and to the publishers, Bookouture for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Other Daughter. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Rachel turned away and 3 year old Holly was never seen again. Nine years later, after starting her life with her boyfriend and two young children she sees a girl she thinks could be Holly. 

What follows is Rachel’s mission to get her daughter back. As always, Shalini’s books are a great read and this was no exception. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It was a very insightful novel, with a strong cast of characters. I enjoyed the story line very much and would definitely recommend this book.

Having read other books by the author, I was ready to be thrilled and chilled by the plot and I was not disappointed.  Boland hooked me from the first page with the moms in the playground and then Rachel’s child goes missing.  The author describes well the emotions of a parent whose child is abducted and does a very good job of explaining how Rachel is able to move on and has a new family in a country town instead of London where little Holly disappeared.  It is in this small town while waiting to meet her children after school that Rachel meets Kate, another school mom waiting for her teen-aged daughter.  This is where the story got a little woo-woo for me because Kate’s daughter Bella is a dead ringer for Rachel’s missing daughter Holly.  Once Rachel sees Bella, she is determined to prove that she is actually Holly and to get her back.  I didn’t the characters a lot in this book because the moms seemed too one-dimensional to me. On the other hand, I really liked Matt, Rachel’s boyfriend and the father of her two younger children.  Fans of short, quick-paced psychological thrillers will enjoy this book.  Be warned that there is a huge twist in this book, as I have found is true of all of Boland’s books and is one of the things that attracts me to her novels.

The Other Daughter begins with the abduction of a toddler. Horrific for any parent to endure or even imagine.
Years later, Rachel has accepted that her daughter is probably dead. But then a new family arrive in the local area and she is instantly convinced that their eldest daughter Bella is actually her lost girl.
Is Rachel desperately clinging to hope or are the girl’s family acting suspiciously…?
Shalini Boland had me hooked from the very first page. The scenario of the abduction is so realistic and terrible. A split second decision to chat to a friend instead of keeping your child in your line of sight for every second. Mum guilt at its worst.
The narrative structure of the book is divided into two parts, then and now. The then is the past, the events of the abduction as seen through Catriona, the abductor’s, eyes. The now is the present day as we see Rachel’s composure shattered by the sighting of the girl she believes may be her daughter.
This splitting of the plot is a really clever way to show us two viewpoints and help us to gain an understanding of the emotions underpinning the actions of the main women in the book. Whilst I may not agree with Catriona’s decision to snatch Holly, I can comprehend the devastation she faced in her own life that made her take such desperate action. Equally, Rachel’s despair and increasingly frantic behaviour is completely believable as she is finally hopeful of finding her daughter after so many years of loss.
The Other Daughter has an amazing twist right at the end that almost had me jumping out of my seat in astonishment, just like Shalini’s other books which I have also loved (The Marriage Betrayal and The Perfect Family)!