I enjoyed Wall of Silence, so I thought I may like this one as well. I thought Circle of Doubt would be more of a thriller, but instead found it to be a petty fiction women's drama book about a bunch of bad gossipy suburban people . It felt like a bunch of other books I've read before and I'm sure I will completely forget what this book was about. I gave it two stars because of the two twists toward the end, which I had already guessed were coming, but it was still made the book more enjoyable.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely a thriller that kept the suspense through its rapid pacing. Loved the use of several narrators as well as the inclusion of Facebook conversations between members of the exclusive Mums of Forest Grove. Emma and her husband Dele adopted a daughter, Isla, when she was two. They have recently relocated to the picturesque town of Forest Grove. Emma is experiencing awkwardness trying to fit in with the other mothers. Interactions between the moms was catty but also seemed very realistic. A new couple moves in and immediately Emma feels threatened, thinking that Tatjana eerily resembles Isla’s birth mother. And with that the idyllic life in Forest Grove is turned upside down. The Mums become involved and everything escalates. Secrets slowly are brought to light causing more drama. Kudos to Tracy Buchanan for keeping the tension high and the pacing tight. I totally enjoyed the suspense. Many thanks to Tracy Buchanan, Kindle Edition, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this recently published book. Looking forward to more from this author.

I loved the cover and wanted to love the book but I didn't. I could not connect to the characters and felt that I had read this plot before in many different ways.

I would still recommend this to thriller fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC.

Ever since Emma, Dele, and their adopted 10 year old daughter Isla moved to Forest Grove, Emma has always felt like an outsider with the other mothers. It doesn't help that she is shy, introverted and has a full-time job, which is frowned upon by some of the mothers. When a wealthy new family moves into the tight-knit community, Emma is shocked at how Tatjana strongly resembles Isla. Tatjana, her husband Lawrence, and their two young boys are quickly embraced by the residents. But all too soon strange, unnerving things begin to happen to Emma. She's convinced that Tatjana will do whatever is necessary to get Isla back. When Dele doubts her concerns and theories, Emma feels more alone than ever. With her sister Harriet's help she's determined to expose Tatjana, before she has the chance to expose Emma's deep, dark secret.

This is my first time reading this author's work and I really enjoyed this book. The small community of Forest Grove has it's shares of gossipers and a clique-y mother's group, which time and time again excludes and isolates Emma. She has her suspicions of Tatjana being Isla's birth mother but no one believes her. She's also dealing with mysterious rumors and issues with Isla's school making her look forgetful and a workaholic. This book was a page-turner for me with all the twists and turns. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Thank you Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

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.

I absolutely love that we got another Forest Grove read! I didn't immediately make the connection, but I really enjoyed 'Wall of Silence', and this one topped that! It doesn't continue on so both books can be read as standalones but I do hope Buchanan writes more! Developing the stories of characters we have already been introduced to is something that makes me very excited for further books!
Sinister events, scandal, juicy gossip, lies, a fast-moving plot, relatable characters, drama, clever writing, suspense, and plenty of twists and turns, what more could you want??
Can't wait for the next!

Convinced that the new woman in town is her adopted daughter Isla's birth mother trying to steal her back, Emma faces strange occurrences and increasing hostility from the crunchy mommy crowd in idyllic Forest Grove.

This book has a lot of wild twists that kept me guessing and was quite a fun read. I love the way the author set the stage in believable Forest Grove (apparently this is the second book set there, but it is not necessary to have read the first). Isla seemed like a sweet and adorable kid, and the other characters were well written too.

Note: I received a free eBook copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second books set in Forest Grove from Tracy Buchanan, however both are stand alone books. When Tat and Lawrence move to the forest community, Emma wonders if Tat is her adopted daughter's birth mother due to the similarities.
Is Emma being paranoid or is something there? Emma has struggled to fit in to the community in Forest Grove but Tat manages it so quickly and takes a shine to Isla.
There is a lot going on with the storylines of adoption, secrets and Emma's past to contend with but this is a nice easy read with a good twist at the end.

The blurb 'She thought she was the perfect mother—until the new neighbours moved in.

Emma and Dele’s dreams came true nine years ago when they adopted their daughter, Isla. It felt like fate, like they were meant to find each other, and now they’re living the life they always wanted. But then one day a new family moves into Forest Grove—and Emma can’t shake the chilling feeling that the wife looks just like Isla’s birth mother.
Emma tells herself that this sophisticated stranger can’t possibly be the troubled woman she remembers from the adoption. But as they get to know each other and it becomes clear that Tatjana has a special interest in Isla, her suspicions grow.
When small things start to go wrong and her parenting abilities are brought into question, Emma feels undermined, turning to her sister Harriet for support. But things only spiral further when secrets from her past suddenly resurface.
With rumours swirling, Emma begins to doubt herself. Could Tatjana be Isla’s birth mother? And, with everything that’s happening, is Emma the right person to be raising her daughter at all?'

This book was so good, really well written, great plot and interesting twists. I didn't guess the ending which is always great. I read this overnight, I just couldn't put it down........ in fact I enjoyed it so much I went ahead and purchased two more of the authors' books to enjoy!

I would like to say a huge thank you to Netgalley, Amazon UK and Lake Union Publishing and Tracy Buchanan for being kind enough to allow me to read an early copy of Circle of Doubt, I really enjoyed and appreciated it.

When Tatjana moves to town, Emma's life is turned on its side. While Tatjana befriends Emma, she seems overly interested in Emma's adopted daughter Isla. Emma suspects she is Jade, Isla's birth mother, but can't prove anything other than her gut feeling.

As things start to go wrong, Emma wonders if she is losing her mind or if Tatjana is behind a series of circumspect events.

What a great book. The kind that sucks you in and keeps you interested from page one! Despite thinking I knew who was behind it, I did not see the ending coming! Multiple twists that caught me by surprise. Read it in 24 hours because I just needed to know what happened. An interesting, unique, new storyline from the usual psychological thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this copy of Circle of Doubt by Tracey Buchanan.

Emma and her family may live in Forest Grove but Emma does not feel like she fits in with the other Forest Grove moms. Emma works, drives her daughter to school instead of walking and isn't big on socializing making her feel like the odd man out. When a new, glamorous neighbor takes interest in Emma she wonders if she's finally found someone who wants to be her friend. Is it friendship that her new neighbor is looking for or something more sinister?

I really enjoyed Circle of Doubt. The characters were very well written and it was easy to picture Forest Grove and it's citizens from the descriptions given. There were plenty of plot twists to keep you interested throughout the book. I really enjoyed the chapters that were written as threads from a private facebook group that were interspersed throughout the book. Those sections really added authenticity to the toxic relationships that the main character experienced with the other moms in Forest Grove. I liked Circle of Doubt so much that I just ordered the first book by Tracy Buchanan set in Forest Grove, Wall of Silence. If that's not an endorsement of a book, I don't know what it.

📣 Review 📣

⭐⭐⭐

Emma and Dele live with their adopted daughter Isla in a quiet village. When a new family moves into Forest Grove, Emma can't shake how similar the wife looks to Isla's birth mother. But this sophisticated, accomplished woman couldn't be the same person who was addicted to drugs? She turns to her sister Harriet for support when strange things happen and she starts to become undermined. Is this her birth mother? And will Emma's secret be unveiled?

My interest in the plot waned in the middle of this book; the residents of Forest Grove are some of the most unlikeable people - essentially nothing short of bullies. I know these people do exist in real life, but there seemed very little contrast. There was a few twists in this book, one of which I didnt see. The book also left questions unanswered (the picture Emma found...) that didn't make sense to the plot line.

Overall I did like this book, but it just left me wanting a little more. What the middle of the book lacked, the last few chapters made up for

Thanks to @netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

[b] The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review [/b]

3/5 Stars

Right, for those who want to read it: [b] DON'T READ THE BACK [/b]. I would recommend as some other reviewers have said, go into it as blind as possible. You will benefit from it from your reading experience.

Pro's: I liked the writing style, use of social media, and perspective from two characters. The plot twist took me by surprise, which they don't often do.

Cons: Characters sometimes felt a bit fake and undeep, The way racism was discussed and pointed out in this book felt almost a tad odd. I think that's the only way I could describe it. I would assume Emma and Dele, an interracial couple that used to live in London, would not talk about race and skin colors this way. Then again, that's my opinion, I have not seen any other reviewers comment on that, so it might just me that noticed that or found it odd.

Was a quick read, finished it in two days. So if you need something to pick up for a reading challenge, and you like a surprising plot twist, it can be the book for you!

Isla is the adopted child of Emma and Dele. They live together in an wonderful small town. Emma struggles to fit in with the other moms at Isla’s school, while Isla has no troubles making friends. When a new family moves to the town, it turns their lives upside down. There are several twists to this story. It was a good read!

This is a very good story with lots of twists, some of them being totally unexpected. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Emma and her husband, Dele move to a new neighborhood with their daughter, Isla. When a new neighbor moves in who looks exactly like Isla's birth mother, things get creepy. I just didn't enjoy and did not finish it. I thought the Facebook conversations were annoying and didn't need to be in the book at all.

I love domestic thrillers and this one is as good as they get! Emma and Dele thought their world was complete when they adopted their beautiful daughter. Isla. When a new family moves into the neighborhood and Emma thinks the lady looks like Isla's birth mother she tells herself that she is just being paranoid. But when odd things start happening she doesn't know what to believe. This is a great story with realistic characters and lots of twists and turns throughout. The ending is a big surprise and one you won't see coming.

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible arc for my honest review.

Thank you @ netgalley and @amazonpublishing UK for the early copy in exchange for my honest review. This was such an entertaining read!

Emma and Dele form a lovely little family with their adopted daughter Isla. She is their everything.
When they move from London to the small and scenic town of Forest Grove, it doesn't take Isla long to make friends at school. Unfortunately that doesn't count for her mother Emma. The fact that she is a working mother does not fit well with the other mums at the school yard who love to gossip and judge. Emma has always been insecure and is struggling to cope with all the prejudice around her. When a new family moves into town, Emma is startled to see that the woman shows a great resemblance to Isla's birth mother. And when the family shows a huge interest in Isla as well, Emma feels she's getting paranoid. But is she really or is something more sinister going on...

Loved the storyline. It's surprising and kept me guessing throughout. I flew through the pages and sympathized with the main character.
Looking forward to read more from this author.

This was my first thriller of the year and it was a great one! For the first 60% of the book, I thought I had it figured out and was starting to feel disappointed that it was so obvious...and then I was shocked at a twist that I had not seen coming. That to me is what makes a great thriller.

The book is told in dual perspectives, that of the main character, Emma, with snippets told from an unknown and dark perspective. The focus of the book is on a mother's insecurities - highlighted by the awful and tedious "mommy circle" of a small community. Personally, I could relate to Emma's feelings of dealing with the feelings of not quite fitting in to the "mommy circle" at school drop offs and pick ups, as I was that mom myself.

The judgments and pressures placed on young moms is something that just struck a chord for me, and the resulting second-guessing of ourselves that can come with that.

This is the story of a mom of an adopted daughter, juggling her love for her child and her fears that the child's biological parents may try to use her past against her. I won't say any more about the plot itself, as I do not want to give anything away, but trust me when I say that you may think you have it figured out but you probably don't.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I will definitely be reading more of this author's works.

Happy Publication Week! ( Jan. 5th)

This book was phenomenal! I think my thriller-loving heart will keep this one with me for a long time.

I read this in one day, because I just couldn’t put it down. I HAD to know what was going on!

“ ...I can’t tell you how frustrating it’s been to only be able to grasp at small pieces of you, when I ought to have you as a whole.”

Emma and Dele Okoro adopted Isla when she was almost two years old. She had a rough start at life after spending her first year with her mother who was addicted to drugs, followed by 6 months in foster care.

Emma, a social media consultant and Adele, a book store manager were able to give young Isla the comfortable and loving home that she so desperately needed in Forest Grove. A place that is “Home to Strong Branches and Deep Roots” and known as the “ Utopia of the woods.”

The people in this town, mothers especially, can be a bit snobby and Emma has found it hard to fit in , that is until she meets the new girl in town, a fashionista named TatJana “Tat” who extends an olive branch. A fashion designer is all Isla has ever wanted to be when she grows up, so she immediately takes a liking to her as well.

Tat and her architect husband,Lawrence Belafonte, are the ones that everyone’s been gossiping about. They are the family employing the gigantic red crane that is tearing apart the forest to lay down their newly constructed mansion.

The only problem with the friendship is that Tat looks JUST like Isla’s birth mother Jade Dixon and Emma begins to panic. How can’t her husband see this uncanny resemblance? TatJana is everything that Jade could have been if she had gotten her act together, and nine years later she very well could have.

This novel contains dual perspectives, one person who desperately wants Isla back, and another who is determined to keep her...and some of the threats get GOOD.

“What if i strode over to her right now and picked that log up by her feet and smashed her head in?”

“ ...Game over for your pretend parents.”

But, Emma’s past isn’t as perfect as it may seem, for she’s holding onto a debilitating secret— one that could cause her to lose her daughter.

A jaw-dropping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This one had a twist that I didn’t see coming at all, and one that I figured out only minutes before, and that’s really saying something!

Tracy Buchanan—You got me! I can’t wait to read more of your work.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing & Tracy Buchanan for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.

Spoilers below—BEWARE:

I didn’t give this book a full five stars because there were a few circumstances that I thought were a bit far-fetched, such as Emma not knowing that the drink was spiked at the Halloween party—she definitely would’ve tasted rum and vodka. Also, Emma not even using the bathroom after claiming to have been looking for it when she was caught in the Belafonte’s bedroom. It also bothered me that it mentioned that black people were hard to tell apart a few times in the story.