The sudden disappearance of a little girl is at the center of this fascinating story. Everybody is a suspect, and nobody is to be fully trusted! I absolutely loved it!

3.5 stars

The description of this book claims that My Little Girl is “A totally gripping psychological thriller full of shocking twists” and while I didn’t find that to be the case, this thriller was still an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable read.

My Little Girl tells the story of Jill, a grandmother who take her beloved granddaughter, Beatrice, to a fair. What should have been a lovely evening turns into a living nightmare when Beatrice goes missing. The reader then follows as the expected tensions, regrets, arguments and fears of the various characters unfold as they try to find the missing child.

The story is told from multiple points of view, and this certainly helped me engage more with the story. While I found this book predictable, I did not want to stop reading until the I had found out if my predictions would be correct.

Shalini Boland is a new to me author, and while this book didn’t bowl me over, it didn’t disappoint either. None of the characters were particularly likable but they felt very real and ordinary, like people I could know in everyday life. The book was well paced, and the dialogue flowed which made this an easy read.

Overall this was an easy, fast-paced but predictable thriller that I found entertaining and made me want to check out the author’s backlist.

Release date - 22nd April 2021 (available for pre-order now)

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love Shalini No land’s books. They always suck me in and this book was no different. This was a fast paced read that really makes you wonder how far you’d go to save your child. I definitely recommend reading this book!

Seven year old Beatrice disappeared at the fair while her grandmother was watching her. One minute she was there making faces in the mirrors with Millie and the next she was gone. Jill the grandmother has been beside herself since her disappearance.

Claire and Oliver have been married eight years. They’ve always been there for one another. Apart from now, when it really matters. They’ve been equal partners who support each other except now. This tragedy has turned their lives upside down. Claire no longer recognizes Oliver as the trusting and supporting man she married. This nightmare situation has pushed the Nolan family to their limits. It’s tested there resolve causing a rift in their marriage.

The story takes place in England. There’s a British vibe throughout the story with its verbiage and scenery. Shalini herself lives in Dorset, England, so the representation is accurate. I have been following and reading Shalini Boland’s work since before she started writing psychological thrillers. She is a USA best selling author having sold over a million copies. I’m always thrilled when I see a new psychological thriller release by Shalini. I’m always curious what a good writer can achieve with any concept by making it their own. It helps that it’s not your standard formulaic read. I’m sure some of you are thinking not another story about a missing girl, but this is more about guilt, jealousy, and secrets that are triggered by Beatrice’s disappearance. The focus is not on detective procedures it’s about uncovering the truths about these three characters lives during a traumatic time in their lives.

It isn’t only about the concept that scores high points it’s the writing voice of the author. I’m familiar with Shalini’s writing voice and I’ve grown accustomed to the way she tells a story and sometimes that’s more exciting than the storyline. This one didn’t grip me the same way some of her other books have, yet I still love to read Shalini’s writing style. Shalini chose three points of view. The point of these narratives is to entertain and engage my reader imagination. This book illustrates how three characters cope in different ways. There actions are a testament to how they react to traumatic situations. While the Nolan family tries to support each other they seem to be falling apart at the seems.

It’s this tragedy that defines the lives of these characters. The way they cope and react to this tragedy is very telling about the nature of these characters. It also allows room for forgiveness, support, and understanding. Shalini is a great writer illustrating these components. It’s not a fast pace read but it doesn’t require a fast pace. Slow and steady is what is needed.

Shalini's books always make me want to devour them and at the same time savour them and this one is no exception.

When 7 year old Beatrice goes missing on her Grandmother, Jill's, watch, things were bound to be complicated for the parents, Claire and Oliver Nolan. Add to the mix an ex wife who is still good friends with her ex Mother in law, a client with a seeming crush on Claire, a DIY addict neighbour, and a supposed child offender and one is left wondering who would kidnap a child. Or did Beatrice wander away? The story also shows how the couple cope with the tragedy and how in the end, the person responsible reveals the reason for committing such a horrible deed.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Shalini Boland for the ARC

This is the story of when Claire and Oliver’s 7 year old daughter, Beatrice, goes missing whilst on a outing to the fair with her grandmother. I didn’t find this as gripping as previous Shalini Boland books. I also felt that Claire didn’t seem to behave like a mother whose daughter was missing.. she seemed to go about her normal daily routine.

I love Shalini Boland and love that her books are almost always set in Dorset where I live. This, however was not her finest work! It was readable and enjoyable - but the characters were just too self involved and almost 1 dimensional!! As a mum of a 6 year old - I certainly wouldn’t have behaved the way Claire did - behaving most of the time like she had lost an earring! There just wasn’t the feeling of absolute gut wrenching despair I should be sensing! They just all bobbed along with their lives -!shopping, stopping for drinks and just not really fitting the picture of a family going through such a tragedy! I will wait in excitement for the next one - but this just left me feeling a bit flat!

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can not for the life of me figure out why Shalini Boland is not a household name for readers. I have loved every singe one of her books!

I think I had a general idea of who was behind the disappearance of Bea, but I still loved this book!

I did enjoy this book.
I thought it was a little slow in places but it wasn’t enough to stop me carry on reading.
When Claire’s daughter Bea goes missing whilst at a fair with her mother in law her whole world collapses around her.
Why was her husband Oliver not with their daughter like he promised? Why was she in the care of her mother in law Jill and why is Jill such good friends with Oliver’s first wife Laurel?
It’s every parents worst nightmare having a child missing. I can empathise with Claire who was determined to find her daughter. I’m doing so she discovers secrets, lies, jealousy and deception. That makes for an interesting read despite it being a little slow in places.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read this on a rainy afternoon and became pretty engrossed in the story right away. A novel of family and friendship come together when a child becomes missing. Who took her? Had me guessing until the final few chapters. Kept me entertained on an otherwise dreary day.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Shalini Boland always writes a great suspenseful story, and this one is no different. You will learn of an abduction of a child, and go through all of the ups and downs with the mom while trying to locate her child. The author gives plenty of suspects throughout the book. I will admit I was pretty certain who the abductor was, and in the end I was right, but you will have plenty to choose from!

A new discovered author for me recommended by a fellow reader.
A perfect family, The Nolans Mother Claire Father Oliver and their adored daughter Beatrice seven years old.
Grandma Jill Nolan has taking Beatrice and her friend Millie Jenson to the funfair, and answering a call on her mobile Beatrice is suddenly nowhere to be seen, is she playing hide and seek and wandered off, Jill is frantic and the police and fairground workers are looking in every hole and corner, and her parents are notified.
D.I Meena Khatri and D.S Tim Garrett are doing everything they can, A family torn apart their little girl is gone, and its looking like an abduction but who has taking her and why?
This book has it all, relationships, Friendships, who do you trust.
This book is so gripping, and becomes a mind blowing addictive story that is unputdownable.
You think you have found the guilty suspect then Wam Bam your mind is changed.
I will definitely be reading more of this authors work and be recommending her books to all readers. Absolutely brilliant with so many massive twists in every chapter.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My Little Girl by Shalini Boland is definitely an unputdownable thriller. Losing a child at a playground or fair is every mother's worst nightmare, and Shalini Boland heightens Claire's emotions as she suddenly becomes suspicious of everyone and everything around. Was her daughter kidnapped by her husband, her mother-in-law, or her husband's ex-wife? Past jealousies and emotions come out to play, but Claire is on the case. She won't let anything stop her from finding her daughter. I was very sympathetic to Claire's plight. Her emotions were raw as she investigates the people around her, and her part of the story was exciting. The story alternates between the points of view of Claire and Jill, her mother-in-law. Surprisingly, I found Jill's point of view to be equally compelling. While other novels with alternating points of view tend to bore me after a while, this book kept my attention from cover to cover. I finished it within a day because I couldn't put it down. Without spoiling anything, I will say that the ending wrapped up loose ends, and I was pleasantly surprised when I found out who the kidnapper was. Overall, I highly recommend this book for all fans of domestic thrillers.

Although this wasn’t my favorite of Shalini Boland’s books, I think the bar is just too high as some of my absolute favorite books are by her. This one was still good, sucked me in from the start and had me wanting to know what happened all the way through. Her way of writing makes you really feel like you’re in the characters heads and I don’t think it’s possible for her to write a bad book. That being said, this was the first book by her that I wasn’t exactly shocked by the ending and lacked the huge jaw dropping twist that the last page of her books usually delivers. Overall, would still recommend to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller but if you’re a first time Shalini Boland reader, I think some of her other books are way better.

Jill has taken her 7 year old granddaughter Beatrice (Bea) to the travelling fair, along with Bea’s friend Millie. They’re in the hall of mirrors having a great time, until Jill is distracted by a phone call from her ex daughter in law Laurel. Engrossed as she is with the call, she loses sight of the girls, they’d been flitting about from one mirror to another, but she immediately begins to panic, calling her granddaughter’s name, whereby a young woman offers to help her look for Bea and Millie. They eventually find Millie, but Bea isn’t with her, and Millie has no idea where she went.

Here’s the thing though, Bea’s Dad Oliver (Jill’s son) was supposed to take the girls to the fair, but because he was tired after a busy day, he let Jill take them instead. Big problem - Oliver didn’t tell his wife Claire, because she already thinks Jill isn’t up to looking after Bea, but with Claire going on a girls night out, Oliver saw no other option.

This is a truly compulsive, unpredictable read, that makes you ponder about the people around you, and their real motivations. With more red herrings than you can shake a fishing rod at, ‘My Little Girl’ will have you turning the pages with increasing speed until it’s all over - but is it?

This book started off right with a bang! Not even 2 chapters in, the girl goes missing. It’s a back and forth “where did she go? Did someone take her? The mother is kind of sketchy. Well, so is the grandma!” I had never read anything from this author before but I will definitely watch out for her future writings!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the ARC to review this!

Shalini Boland does it again! Great psychological thriller that has a great creep factor. So beautifully written and easy to read in one day! Loved the storyline and fabulous characters. Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love discovering new (to me) authors!!!

This was my first Shalini Boland book and Wow!

I was immediately drawn into the plot and the characters with it’s fast pace and heart-wrenching situation.

Jill takes her seven year old granddaughter Beatrice and Beatrice’s friend Mille to the fair. Beatrice’s dad Oliver (Jill’s son) was supposed to take Beatrice and her friend to the fair but at the last minute called his mom to take the duo instead.

While Jill and the girls are having fun in the House of Mirrors, Jill gets a phone call from her ex-daughter in-law, Lauren. She ignores the call but Lauren calls back and Jill answers because it could be something urgent. While on the phone with Lauren, Jill is distracted from the girls for a few moments and loses sight of them. She finds Mille but not Beatrice.

Beatrice has simply disappeared.

Jill becomes frantic, the police are called and Jill sits down to call her son to tell him that she lost his daughter.

Claire, Beatrice’s mother, was on a girls night out but she has to race to the fairgrounds to find out what happened and search for her daughter. Claire is none too happy with her husband for offloading the girls onto his mother, nor is she happy with Jill, as they have a somewhat strained relationship. Claire doesn't entirely trust Jill to care for Beatrice due to her scatterbrained-ness in her aging years.

The story is told through both Jill and Claire's eyes and I was drawn into the anxiety of each character as they frantically search for Beatrice. I empathized with both characters and found myself reading much later into the night for several nights and truth be told, at my desk at work.

This story will draw you in not only due to the circumstance and the characters but also as it explores love and jealousy and it will make you ask yourself, how well do you know the people around you, are they truly who they seem to be?
This book is out on April 22nd. I’d put this in your cart for a pre-order and definitely add it to your must read list!!

The fact that I didn't enjoy this very much is kind of on me. Missing child novels are so overdone and I'm truly tired of them, but I love Shalini Boland and thought maybe this one would bring something new to an oversaturated genre. I'm sorry to report that it didn't.

I did like the character of Jill and enjoyed reading her parts. I felt sorry for her and frustrated with her in equal measure and it's nice when a character conjures up strong feelings. The dad Oliver was kind of a non-character and given that his role in the story is so big it would have been nice if he'd been given a bit of personality, but we end the book not really knowing anything about him which is a shame.

There weren't enough suspects and after a process of elimination there is really only one person left that it could be, and it is. I don't go into books trying to guess the ending, so when I guess by accident I'm always a little disappointed.

I didn't completely hate the book as anything Shalini writes is always well written and will keep me reading, but it definitely wasn't my favourite of hers just because this plot has been done so many times before.

Seven-year-old Beatrice Nolan vanishes while on a trip to the fair with her grandmother Jill. Jill claims that she took her eyes off her granddaughter for a few seconds but is she telling the whole truth? Beatrice's mother Claire thought her husband Oliver was taking Beatrice to the fair and is furious that Oliver would allow his irresponsible mother to be left in charge of their little girl. From there, we follow the perspectives of Jill and Claire, with one of them being a slightly unreliable narrator.

We've all seen it on the news way too many times. The devastated look on the faces of parents whose children have vanished without a trace, pleading for their safe return and asking anyone with even the smallest amount of information to please come forward. This domestic thriller explores what a family goes through when the unthinkable happens: the search parties, the media scrutiny, the waiting, the stress, and the tension between family members. Strong characters, a couple of suspects, and plenty of suspense make this a solid thriller that will keep you on your toes. Not my favorite book by this author but still a very enjoyable and compelling read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.