Reading the first few chapters of this book before accepting an invitation to meet my sister-in-law at a local park was a big mistake. What I should have done was devoted a whole day to simply binge-reading it. It's a domestic thriller that really, really thrills, and once you've picked it up, putting it down again is something that's so hard as to be almost painful.

It's every parent, grandparent or guardian's worst nightmare. Jill was delighted to be taking her granddaughter Beatrice to the fun fair with a school friend. And with Beatrice's mother Claire thinking that Jill is scatty, and not necessarily to be trusted with the care of a young child, this is an opportunity for Jill to redeem herself. But whilst she is distracted, ever so briefly, by a phone call, Beatrice vanishes.

The next few chapters , told alternately in the first person by Jill and Claire, passed in almost a blur as I devoured them frantically, feeling every piece of their fear and anguish as they try and answer the police's questions and consent to having their homes searched, whilst hoping desperately for news of Beatrice. I kept expecting the next chapter to either be told from the point of view of the abductor, or to describe where Beatrice had been hidden. But this didn't come. Which was great, because it added to the tension.

It also meant that when I did finally read something written by the abductor, which gives the reader a clue as to whether or not Beatrice is alive and well - no spoilers here - I almost felt deflated. Because from then on, the reader knows something that the main characters don't, and the book continues along a path followed by many other crime and psychological thrillers without really bringing anything new to the party.

However, just because it's mostly been done before is not to say that it hasn't been done extremely well this time round. It's a well-paced and absolutely riveting read. I enjoyed the developing relationship between Claire and Jill, both of whom were able to stop themselves from blaming each other and put the need to find the child first. I found both characters to be believable and likeable. And unlike some other reviewers, I liked the epilogue to the book, which hints that actually, the story might not be over yet ...

My only criticisms are small and niggly. There are two points in the story at which the plot twists based on chance meetings by two main characters. Once such meeting I could have accepted as a coincidence, but two seemed a bit far-fetched. I guessed the abductor about half-way through the book - though with a fairly small number of characters, and given that I guessed several other possibilities as well, that isn't really saying very much. I thought that the reason for the abduction, whilst not unbelievable, was just that little bit less believable than the chapters which led up to it. And finally there's the point that there are no fewer than three women who can't stop themselves from loving Oliver, even if they are no longer in a relationship with him, and the break-ups appear not to have been his fault. Is this normal? It's certainly something that's never happened to me.

But that really is about it, and all of these points are outweighed by the very fact that I kept picking the book up at every possible opportunity, even to the point of waking up early this morning so that I could finish it before work. So if you want something to distract you from a day of chores you'd rather not do, this is the book for you. And if having to put it down makes you feel more bitter about meeting your relations than it should, well, that's your problem.

My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, which I will post on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

Do you ever finish an book and worry about starting the next one because it won’t be as amazing as the one you just finished? Yeah this book was that good.

As a mom of a young daughter this book got me. As a parent I think one of our biggest fears is what if our child just disappears? Well for Claire and Ollie this happens, while their daughter is being watched by Ollies mom. Even better Ollie bowed out and asked his mom behind Claire’s back! What?!?! Surely there is a reason a mother wouldn’t want her daughters grandmother alone with her only grandchild? Yup, dear grandma is a scatter brain and hasn’t had the best reputation when it comes to watching her.
Sigh, oh Ollie how could you?

What follows is an amazing twisting story told through the lens of Claire and Jill, the grandma. This book might seem predictable but it’s anything but! This book is what I look for in a thriller, it hit the mark for me and will go down as one of my favorite books this year.

Special thanks to @netgalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for allowing me access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Claire Nolan is living every mother's worst nightmare. Her 7 year old daughter, Beatrice, has disappeared. Claire's mother in law, Jill, had taken Beatrice and a friend to the fair and lost sight of her in a house of mirrors. Why was Jill with the girls when Claire's husband, Oliver, was supposed to have taken them? Why is Oliver suddenly acting strange and distant. Why is Jill still so close with Laurel, Oliver's ex-wife? Where is Beatrice?
This book just wasn't as thrilling as I expected it to be. There were interesting parts, but nothing really kept me enthralled. I didn't care for any of the characters. It was a good story, and I appreciated how everything wrapped up at the end. It just didn't have the excitement I was looking for.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review this book.

A new author for me and one I will be looking for again. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

Beatrice is 7, an only child/grandchild and much loved by her parents and grandmother Jill. When her dad Oliver is too tired to take Beatrice and her friend to the fair, Jill is only too happy to step in- bit just to help out, but because she thinks her daughter in law doesn’t trust her to keep Bea safe. When Jill is distracted by her phone in the hall of mirrors and briefly takes her eyes off the girls, she is distraught to find that only Bea’s friend can be found and that her granddaughter is nowhere to be seen...
What follows is a tense story as the family have to deal with Bea being missing. Who is responsible and why?
The story kept me guessing right until the big reveal. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys a twisty thriller.

Oh my, another WOW book by Author Shalini Boland! This book was definitely hard to put down with all the things going on in it! Granny Jill Nolan takes her granddaughter, Beatrice and Bea's friend, Millie, to the fair as a favor to her son, Oliver. While in the room of mirrors, Jill gets a phone call from her ex-daughter-in-law, Laurel which she dismisses. When Laurel calls again, she takes the call. In the instant that she took her eyes away from the girls to answer the phone, Beatrice disappears. Lots of suspects emerge as the days pass and I was not sure who the actual guilty party was until the very end. This book will definitely keep you wondering and guessing.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this page turner that I really enjoyed in exchange for an honest review.

My Little Girl gripped me from the first page. Imagine you're a grandma taking your 7-year-old granddaughter to the fair and she goes missing. To top it off, you aren't even supposed to be alone with her because you've been deemed scatty and unreliable. It's then told from grandma's and mom's POV. Unfortunately, that's where it all fell apart for me. I've never read a more empathetic, calm mother of a kidnapped child I've ever read. She made me want to throw my kindle on more than one occasion. Get mad lady!!! Go find your daughter!! UGH. Then, grandma Jill just made me sleepy. She didn't do much of anything except get in trouble and make things worse. The story has a lot of repetition. It's like you're on a hamster wheel and I just wanted off. The highlights are the one-page glimpses into the kidnapper that are spread throughout the story. It's the bit of excitement they throw your way. I will continue to pick up this author and hope for the next 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

As many other reviews have said, I agree that the missing child storyline has been overplayed. However, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to read a Shalini Boland book as she hasn’t done me wrong so far. So against my better judgement regarding the subject matter, I requested this book and got stuck in.
I was very disappointed, though and should have overlooked this one. There just wasn’t enough meat to the story. We spend approximately 75% of the book watching the parents and Jill’s reactions to Beatrice being missing. The story is slow and plods along. There are teeny tidbits to keep you interested, but I think they would have been better being a little more in your face. They were too subtle, and there just wasn’t enough excitement. Maybe if we had seen things from Oliver’s perspective, it might have changed the book’s whole dynamic.
The character’s actions are often questionable, and I wanted to bang my head against my kindle on more than one occasion. I know Jill is meant to be scatty, but her behaviour is just sleepy and made me feel really lethargic. Claire’s attitude was similar, hours of time would pass by, and she’d still be in the house doing nothing. I was just bored.
We only see things from Claire and Jill’s perspective, apart from at the beginning of each new day, where we are given an insight into the abductor’s mind. I think these one-page chapters were the best part of the whole book; at least with them, there was a little malevolence other than just the other character plodding on and not doing much.
The story’s outcome was very predictable, and I had guessed the perpetrator as soon as we were introduced to them. There are no major twists or surprises, and the lead up to discovering what had happened to Beatrice was just too easy and a little bit twee. So, overall a really disappointing read. I seem to be in the minority with my view, and I’m sorry it just didn’t grip me. I wanted more from another abduction story. Something unique and interesting but this, unfortunately, in my opinion, was just generic.

Granny takes 7 year old Bea off to the funfair and the child goes missing. Who has taken her and why? Can her parents get her back?

This is the usual easy-read family relationship mystery from this author, with added M&S sandwiches and a variety of references to Christchurch in Hampshire (or is it Dorset)

Pretty much what I expected. A pacy read, a few twists and all the loose ends tied up.

Thank to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a fair review.

Seven year old Beatrice goes missing while at a trip to the fair with her grandmother. The police are called and it’s a race against time to find the little girl. Her parents are desperate to get her back alive and well.
A story about revenge, jealousy, secrets and lies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a typical read by Shalini Boland , very fast paced and entertaining with plenty of suspects and red herrings .
Claire is devastated to here that her daughter has gone missing whilst at the fair with her mother in law . The fact that Oliver her husband was supposed to be taking her and a friend makes Claire even more infuriated , she has not much time for her in law and does not really trust her with Bea . A feeling that seemingly is correct .
As the investigation gains momentum everyone at one point seems to be a suspect , including their next door neighbour and Olivers ex wife Laurel , Claire really does not know who she can trust including her husband .
I did work out who the culprit was early on in the book but that certainly did not spoil my enjoyment
Great Read as always . Thank You

I love Shalini Boland's work but I have to admit that I found this one a bit predictable. I figured out pretty early on what had happened to Beatrice, maybe I've just read too many books of this type. Either way I still thought it was a very enjoyable read. There were some really strong characters, some more likable than others and a couple just downright weird. If I had a missing child and my neighbour continued to drill and do diy I think I'd be up on a murder charge pretty sharpish.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. It was gripping and I raced to finish it. The characters are all well written and your heart aches for Jill when she looses her grandchild at the fair. It's a great read tgatvwill keep you guessing to the end,

This book was another hit from the author. A fast read that was filled with a good deal of mystery and suspense. The author kept the reader turning the pages trying to figure out who the abductor was. This is a book which I would recommend to others.

First of all this is an author that doesn't disappoint. I've read all of her previous books and loved them just as much as I loved this one. Get ready for a fast thrilling read full of plot twists that will definitely keep you reading "just one more chapter"!!! Overall fantastic book 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read by author Shalini Boland, I love her writing style, from the very first page I am absorbed and want to carry on reading. Excellent characters, plenty of suspense and lots of twists and surprises.

Claire Nolan’s world is turned upside down when she receives a phone call telling her that her seven-year-old daughter Beatrice has gone missing on a trip to the local fair. Her mother-in-law Jill was looking after Beatrice but the little girl disappeared in the hall of mirrors and, an hour later, she still can’t be found.

Claire rushes to the fairground to discover police officers everywhere and the reality starts to sink in. She needs answers, where was her husband, why wasn’t he with Beatrice as arranged, how could mother in law Jill let this happen. Something just doesn’t add up and Claire starts to suspect those closest to her.

I love the simplicity of Shalini Boland’s writing and the consistently high standard she achieves book after book. A great mix of characters and suspects, plenty of suspense and surprises make this a very entertaining read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A twisted psychological thriller that I couldn't put down. What mother wouldn't go to the ends of the earth to get her child back? Jill, little seven year old Beatrice's grandmother, took Beatrice and a friend to the local fair. Claire, Beatrice's mother was going out with friends that day and Oliver the father was to take Beatrice and her friend to the fair. Oliver was busy with work so at the last minute he asked his mother Jill to take the children to the fair. Claire and Jill had a very rocky relationship. Claire didn't trust Jill with Beatrice because in the past Jill was not very responsible. So you can imagine how Claire felt when Beatrice went missing under Jill's watch at the fair. Beatrice's disappearance created an atmosphere of distrust and blame among everyone close to the family and uncovered many secrets. The ending was a jaw dropper! I would highly recommend this book and all of Shalini Boland's books, they never disappoint.

My Little Girl - Shalini Boland

Every family's worst nightmare.

Grandmother Jill takes her seven year old granddaughter Beatrice to the travelling fair. Jill gets distracted by a phone call and Beatrice goes missing.

So begins this involving character driven domestic thriller.

Told through the perspectives of Jill the grandmother, and Claire the daughter-in-law (and mother of Beatrice) we see the aftermath of a missing child in detail: the search parties, the press intrusion, the blame and recriminations, the stresses and strains on all the family members.

It's a bit of a slow burn, but the tension does creep up steadily and satisfyingly. The grandmother and daughter-in-law dynamic is original and works very well. The plotting and characterisation both worked for me too.

The reveal jarred with me, seeming very unlikely, that and the early slow pace were my main issues.

Overall I found it very engaging rather than compelling, but I would definitely consider reading more by this author, and would recommend if you are happy with a more sedate pace. I would rate it 3.5*, or 4* if you like slow burners, 3* if you don't.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture.

This was an easy to read, hard to put down kind of book. It grabbed my attention from the first page and left me trying to guess and then doubting and guessing again who took Bea until the reveal. I loved the end and can’t wait to read more from this author!

I was a bit thorn about even reading this book or not, because I have learned that this subject is not something I click with. I have a hard time liking books with missing children and their overprotective mothers. The reason why I decided to overlook this was because Shalini Boland. I don't think I need to explain that one.

I am happy I read this book. Shalini is such a talented author that she can get me hooked on pretty much anything she writes (Shalini, what does your to do list look like... :D). This book was no exception. I think the strength for someone like me who is a bit sceptical about reading books about this subject is that it was written from several points of views, not just the mother's.

The characters were quirky enough that I wanted to find out more about their flaws and thoughts. I ended up reading the book in one go, because it simply grabbed me in that spooky way that I just wanted to see where the book will lead me. I did figure out quite soon who the culprit was, because to me there were no other options. It is not my favourite Boland, but definitely worth a read.

My Little Girl by Shalini Boland. Family drama with a little girl kidnapped during a outing with her grandmother. New word learned, scatty (scatterbrained) which was used to describe Jill, the grandmother to Bea. Claire and Oliver were hard to related to and had difficulty in understanding some of their actions/decisions. An entertaining read.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.