Member Reviews
WHAT IS MINE is an extraordinarily gripping, twisted story about how far people will go to protect the ones they love. Butler masterfully plays with readers’ expectations, pulling the ground out from under your feet when you least expect it. This is a book you will want to reread the second you finish it, just to work out how she did it.
If you loved the movie PRISONERS, like I did, if you sat through that movie with your entire body tensed and riveted and on the verge of tears, then you're going to love WHAT IS MINE. I tore through this book in a day, and I don't want to spoil it, but this is Lyn Liao Butler at her best: twisty and heartfelt and scarily real.
Lyn Liao Butler delivers another five star read with What is Mine! I truly lost count of how many times I screamed “WHAT?” at this book! I love the unpredictable twists and turns! Just when you think you know…. Think again! Hope this gets all the recognition it deserves!! Well done!
I’m not sure if this is this author’s first book or if there are others because this was my first time reading her book. It was wonderful. I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading!
What is Mine is a suspenseful page-turner from the very beginning. The immeidate disappearance of Hope's nephew, Luca, whose mother recently died hooks you right into the story. This narrative delves into the journey of navigating obstacles and the drama at every turn shows how every event along the way shaped each character's life.
After her troubled younger sister Cassidy dies of a drug overdose, Hope Chen and her husband Shaun take in Cassidy's son, 9 year old Luca. Since Luca and Cassidy led a nomadic life, and the latter was estranged from their parents, it has been many years since Hope last saw Cassidy, when Luca was still a baby. She still doesn't know who Luca's father is.
Hope and Shaun have chosen not to have children of their own, so their own experience wrt parenting is fairly non-existent. But Hope is determined to do her best, because she feels that she let her sister down when Cassidy needed her the most.
But Hope has nothing to feel guilty for. She spent her much of her youth looking after Cassidy, who never got along with their uber-conservative Taiwanese-Chinese parents, unlike their "good daughter" Hope.
So Hope was devastated - and angry - when Cassidy disappeared with Luca, and refused to get back in touch. Even after Hope hired a private detective to track her down in Miami, Cassidy refused to relent.
And now, Luca has suddenly, inexplicably disappeared from their yard, and Hope is desperate to find him and bring him home. As desperate as the woman who has taken him away from his home with Hope and Shaun.
And if Hope feels that looking after Luka will gain her a measure of redemption for allowing the estrangement from the little sister she had loved so much, despite everything that went wrong, the woman who has taken Luca is also looking for redemption - and a miracle that will win her the lasting affection of a man who is the love of her life. In both cases, a nine-year-old boy holds the key to their happiness...
This is a well-written book and an easy read. It effortlessly retains the reader's attention as we struggle to figure out what is going on, gripped by the narrative of a missing boy and the secrets and obsessions that lie behind his disappearance. The idea behind this is quite original, and the book is definitely worth checking out if you like psychological thrillers.
What is Mine" is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that explores the intertwining lives of two desperate women in search of redemption and love.
The story revolves around Hope Chen, who, along with her husband, is raising her nine-year-old nephew, Luca, after the tragic death of his troubled mother. The disappearance of Luca and his dog sends Hope into a panic, as she desperately searches for the boy she has come to love as her own. Guilt-ridden and fearing the worst, Hope's determination to find Luca knows no bounds.
On the other side, there is a woman with dark secrets and a desperate desire to protect her marriage. Her actions lead to a collision course with Hope, setting the stage for a battle of wits, revenge, and the safety of a young boy caught in the crossfire.
The author masterfully crafts a narrative filled with tension and suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. The characters are well-developed, and their motivations and actions drive the plot forward.
"What is Mine" delves into themes of love, revenge, and the lengths people will go to protect what they hold dear. The novel keeps readers guessing with its unpredictable twists and turns, making it an engaging and thrilling read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with complex characters and a suspenseful plot, "What is Mine" is a book you won't want to miss.