I did enjoy the premise of the book.
The pacing was off at times which dragged out the story.
The main characters were annoying and the ending was poor

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Interesting premise, contrasting the different treatment of two different children, who go missing on the same day, with the newspaper editor still feeling responsible for those choices and their consequences 15 years later.

Well paced and well written to ensure the characters are completely dislikeable its a great read

Great thriller, kept me turning the pages and I would highly recommend to other people. Look forward to reading more by this author.

I don’t completely know where to start with this. It wasn’t what I expected at all, but that isn’t a bad thing. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t fully grip me until the very end. Huge marks to the author for not giving away anything! I did not guess who the antagonist was at all!

Thank you Quercus Books and NetGalley for this advanced copy and apologies for the delay in reviewing.
What a great debut by an author whose next book I would love to read.
I thought I had guessed what was happening but I was completely wrong. A good unpredictable storyline made it difficult to stop reading. Well written with good characters and an unexpected ending for me. I will be awaiting impatiently for Lisa Bradley's next book - definitely recommend !

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a gripping debut!
I thought I had guessed correctly what was happening. I was wrong! The fast-paced unpredictable, intense storyline made it very difficult for me to put this book down. I was hooked!
Skillfully written, excellently-developed characters, and a suspenseful dark premise with an ending I certainly didn't see coming, I will be awaiting impatiently for Lisa Bradley's next. A must-read!

This book has an intriguing and promising storyline from the start which draws you in.
The characters were realistic and had their own flaws and personalities, and the plot throughout was enjoyable and entertaining. I did however find the ending to be slightly disappointing, although I must add that overall this book is a fantastic read which I would certainly recommend to others.

This book started off with a bang but I found the ending was disappointing. I still liked it though and could connect with the characters. There is two different timelines past and present to keep you on your toes. I liked it.
Highly recommend.

.# Paper Dolls # Netgalley
Leah Wallis as finally got her dream job as editors of a regional newspaper. It’s something she’s worked so hard to achieve. A story of a young missing girl COPD in Hope who’s from a really good family. So Leah runs this on page one, also another young girl as gone missing Tilly who from the wrong side of the tracks a troubled background. A social housing estate although because of Tilly background she runs Tilly story in page 16 of the same paper. I know it’s only a novel but I was so immersed in the book I found I got annoyed with Leah running Tilly being missing on page 16 while Hope was run on page one. It struck me of how many times in true life that this must happen m, I know the police always put someone from the wrong side of the track, little consideration as they would a girl from what’ they call the right side of the track. They and newspapers throw everything into it and more if they ciukf. Yet take anyone missing from the wrong side it’s much slower abd treated so differently. It’s nit actually fair no young girl can help what dude if the track they were born into. Surely both girls should be given exactly the same.. However it’s a general misconception that a child born in the wrong side of the track society itself forms that opinion. We are really surrounded with authority that seems to care more based on where you are born and raised that seems to matter mostly. With this book that really hits hone of society pre judge people. So let’s be honest that’s exactly what society did with Tilly now years later Leah is questioned as to why Tilly only got a small mention cone back from that investigation. Then yes I do reverting it now it’s too late.

One mistake in 2003 caused havoc in the present due to the guilt it evoked. Author Lisa Bradley used this as the plot arc in writing a story enveloped in suspense and a sense of haunting.

Leah was the chief editor in 2003 and chose to portray the details of missing girls in her paper, one on the front page and the other several pages down, in a corner, based on tips from the police. But the problem was the girl on the front page was a white blonde and the one on the 7th was black. That disparity led to huge backlash.

In the present times, someone was using her guilt to stalk her with candles and paper dolls, cut out of newspaper. None, including husband Chris, believed her when she could feel someone catching up with her.

My first book by this author, I found it an easy read where moments and scenes felt familiar, yet there was an addictive feel to it. I wasn’t invested in the main character, but there was a vulnerability to her. I loved her dialogues with best friend and son. They were humorous and snappy.

The pace was erratic, I didn’t mind it as it gave me a chance to flip through pages faster. The ending was indeed a surprise, never expected it. Overall, it had its moments of intrigue.

This was a well written, thrill ride, but the ending was not my fav, so I can’t give the full 5 stars! Overall, I think it was done really well, the characters development helped me attach to the story more! Filled with thrills, chills, twists & turns, and shocks! As I mentioned the ending was a bit off, but I didn’t think it took away from the amazing parts of the story. I wouldn’t have known it was a debut, which is definitely a good thing! Definitely recommend to those looking for a fast paced ride full of thrills and chills, and of course shocks!

Will buzz it up, and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

I am officially awarding this my no*1 book of the year... I'd say so far but its gonna take alot to out do this one!

Entirely gripping I was on the edge of my seat from the prologue and didn't want to move a muscle until I'd turned the very last page.

I thought I had it all figured out numerous times throughout but each time Lisa Bradley threw a spanner in the works and threw me up in the air with it.

The characters were believable, extremely well written and most in all relatable! The actual character development was fantastic also.

I LOVED the storyline and plot, it's so nice to read a thriller that actually has a 'new' and unique plot. At times it took a chilly tone which really had me turning the pages even faster. The constant quite eerie undertone was so cleverly woven in you didn't actually realise until you took in a breathe you hadn't realised you'd been holding in.

I really enjoyed the authors writing style, you could feel the suspense, anxiousness and tension all the way through... I LOVED IT!

What more can I say without spoiling it for everyone... an AMAZING thriller with plenty of twists and turns that at times will leave your heart racing.

A huge 5*

Massive thanks to netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.

Well this book managed to keep me on the edge of my seat and I loved it! Thrillers are one of my favourite genres and this a great example of one. The author is a new one to me and I believe this is her first book. She is compared to C. L. Taylor and Lisa Jewell - two of my favourite authors - in the blurb so I expected great things and these comparisons were very much deserved.

There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the very end - I was sure I had sussed it on a number of occasions but I really hadn't! It was really chilling in parts and almost scary - but that kept me reading as I needed to know what was going to happen. The characters were very real and the book still provided some light hearted moments at times. I loved that the book tackled topical issues such as race and class, as it helped make it that much more realistic.

If you are a thriller fan you are going to really enjoy this one!

Loved this book - entirely gripping with believable and likeable characters. Great ending too - not what I expected at all.

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to read on netgalley. This is a debut book and the cover is striking.

Incredibly well written,tense and chilling.

Who can you trust? Are you being paranoid or is someone really watching you .

You can feel the anxiety and tension in her writing.written in alternate timelines so the reader gets a real sense of what happened then to make leah so nervous now.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Published 6th August

An amazing thriller with lots of unexpected twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next Lisa Bradley.
Thank you Lisa, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, it is one of those where you pray the book is as good as the synopsis; and it is!
I have never read this author before and really liked the writing style, the characters were very interesting and different, no bland boring characters here!
I loved Bunty, she made me laugh, although the whole book was pretty dark; the main character Leah feels she is being watched and stalked, weird and disturbing things happen but is she mentally ill or disturbed? Or are they really happening?
There are twists and turns, and I didn't expect the ending at all, a very absorbing read, great writing that grabs your attention, superb plot with really great characters, I will certainly seek out more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book and review.

I made it to 7 % on this book before the foul and offensive language got to much. I am not a prude but I am sorry there is no excuse to use the C word ever especially in a book written in this day and age. Definitely not a book for me.

Sixteen years ago Leah was the editor of the local newspaper. She made a decision that still haunts her today.

Leah is about to make a documentary for Netflix regarding the disappearance of two girls sixteen years ago. Instead of giving the girls equal exposure, the girl the paper highlighted was found the next day. The other girl has never been found. Leah is now being hounded by someone playing mind games with her.

The story is told in the past, sixteen years ago and the present day. The plot is interesting with unlikable characters. I did like the the relationship Leah had with her son and her best friend Bunty. The pace us slow but it does pick up in the second half. This is quite good for a debut novel.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author Lisa Bradley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.