Member Reviews

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for and arc in exchange for honest review.

Didn’t enjoy it, it was DNF after 1/3 of the way through.

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I sit on both sides of the fence with this one. At times I could not put it down and other times I felt a bit lost and not engaged . There is a lot going on in this book and the theme is a parent’s worst nightmare. I can’t imagine what that would be like but at times in this book I didn’t care for either of them. Other reviews suggest sticking around for the ending, which is why I stuck with it.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I love Imran Mahmood's books and was beyond excited to be one of the first to read this! As always, another home run! This book is every parents worst nightmares of their child missing. You will feel all the feels during this book! Do what ever you have to do in order to read this ASAP -- you will not be disappointed.

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I enjoyed this book and was left guessing what happened throughout. Worth it. I would definitely read another one by this writer.

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This was a heavy book dealing with something no parent should ever have to deal with. It started out very slow and I didn't really like Harry or Zara but I did like getting both of their viewpoints and in two different timelines. It is a very character driven legal thriller. I didn't really think any of the twists and turns were a surprise though. The last 25% picked up pace and the ending was good but predictible. This book did make me wonder what I would do if something happened to my child and what lengths I would go to for the truth and justice. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

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This is not a fast paced thriller it’s more of a domestic/legal thriller. The good includes the duel timelines, the handling of grief from different people, the prose. Everyone handles grief differently. Also, I read a review complaining about how they reacted to learning difficult things about Sophie. Parents can often put on blinders when it comes to their children. I did understand this. The things that weren’t as good… the pace, the characters, the ending. I feel this has great potential esp if Harry and Zara were more likeable and engaging. 3/5

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Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood is one of those stories that digs deep into your emotions while keeping you hooked with its twists and turns. The book follows Harry and Zara King, a couple whose 17-year-old daughter, Sophie, goes missing. As the police investigation stalls, their desperation grows, and they decide to take matters into their own hands. Though I'm not a parent, the pain and determination they felt were so vivid, I could feel it through every page.
I enjoy dual timelines and here the author weaves together the immediate aftermath of Sophie's disappearance with a murder trial a year later, and I liked the way these two threads come together. Every chapter left me questioning what I thought I knew, and by the time I reached the ending, I was completely floored.
The emotional depth of this book is what makes it so powerful. The raw grief, guilt, and obsession that consume Harry and Zara. It felt so real, and I couldn't help but feel for them, even when their decisions weren't always perfect. And the courtroom scenes? They were so well-written and tense, you could tell the author's legal background added a layer of authenticity.
This is not just a story about a missing girl's - it's about love, loss, and how far we're willing to go for the people we care about.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Ooooh, I gushed a lot about this one on Currently Reading. I loved the trial timeline mixed in with the mystery timeline and the way the stories came together. It was dark and twisty and artfully done.

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Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood is a peek inside the lives and minds of the parents of a missing teenager – and how far they will go to find her. When seventeen-year-old Sophie King disappears, everyone but her parents assumes she’s run away, leaving Harry and Zara desperate and alone.

Frustrated with the police getting nowhere, they start their own investigation—often separately—keeping secrets from each other that threaten to pull them apart. They soon zero in on a reclusive neighbor who refuses to engage with them, and their search quickly spirals into obsession.

The pace builds slowly, reflecting Harry and Zara’s slog through one day after another as their lives remain on hold in Sophie’s absence. Soon, the pace picks up, and Finding Sophie becomes unputdownable as it speeds toward a surprising conclusion.

If you’re a fan of family drama and domestic suspense, Finding Sophie is a worthwhile read.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Finding Sophie from Bantam and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Finding Sophie was such a fun mystery to dive into. In this, you are meeting Harry and Zara. They are parents to seventeen-year-old Sophie, who has disappeared after one of their arguments. Most of their neighborhood has dropped everything to help them in any way of finding her. It's just unfortunate that one of the neighbors, the guy who lives in 210, hasn't lifted a single finger. So, it's only fair to assume that they just keep imagining the overall worse due to this.

Throughout the book, we get both of their points of view and the murder trial. This book had it's fair share of suspense throughout it. So many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Now I'm not a parent, unless you count plants and pets, but the unknown seemed to be pretty unbearable. If I didn't see their pain, confusion, and stress from it all, I would only imagine the absolute worst.

In the end, I think the legal system in this book was interesting. I feel like I learned something new when it came to that, but also the mystery kept the pages flying by. Especially with the ending, because that was a good surprise. I definitely enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one by this author.

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"Finding Sophie" by Imran Mahmood is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the harrowing journey of two parents desperately searching for their missing daughter. Released on March 5, 2024, this novel has quickly garnered attention for its intense narrative and complex character development.
The story follows Harry and Zara King, whose 17-year-old daughter Sophie disappears without a trace. As the police investigation stalls, the desperate parents take matters into their own hands, leading to a taut and emotionally charged narrative. Mahmood skillfully alternates between the perspectives of Harry and Zara, offering insight into their individual grief and the strain on their relationship.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its dual timeline structure, shifting between the weeks following Sophie's disappearance and a murder trial a year later. This approach creates a palpable sense of suspense, keeping readers guessing about the true nature of Sophie's fate and the consequences of her parents' actions.
Mahmood's background as a barrister lends authenticity to the legal aspects of the story, particularly evident in the courtroom scenes. His writing style is praised for its intelligence and mesmerizing quality, drawing readers into the emotional turmoil of the characters.
The author excels at exploring the psychological impact of grief and desperation on the protagonists. The obsession with their uncooperative neighbor at number 210 becomes a focal point of the investigation, leading to increasingly questionable decisions by Harry and Zara.
While some readers found the pacing slow in the first half, many praised the novel's second half for its gripping courtroom drama and surprising revelations. The book's exploration of family dynamics, the nature of grief, and the lengths parents will go to for their children adds depth to what could have been a straightforward missing person story.
"Finding Sophie" is not just a thriller but a profound examination of parental love, grief, and the consequences of obsession. Mahmood's taut yet moving prose creates a compelling narrative that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page.
In conclusion, "Finding Sophie" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and domestic suspense. While it may require some patience in the early chapters, the payoff in the latter half makes it a worthwhile and engrossing read..

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Two parents, desperate to find their missing daughter, stand accused of murder. How far will they go to find the truth?

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I felt this book was pretty slow for me. As I got toward the end and figuring out what happened I become more interested.

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A chilling thriller that hooks you in!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy and the opportunity !

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I am admitting defeat with this one. I have tried it multiple times since before it published and I just can’t get into it. The parents read as the same character. I wanted more depth and emotions. I wanted to feel like I had to know what happened to Sophie, and for me, the urgency wasn’t there. I know this has been getting love and shoutouts and I’m so happy it’s found its readers.

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"Finding Sophie" is a heartfelt and emotionally resonant novel that explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth. The author crafts a beautiful story about self-discovery, with a protagonist who is both relatable and compelling. The writing is lyrical, and the pacing is steady, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the narrative. The emotional depth and complex relationships make the story truly captivating. While the plot is mostly strong, some moments feel predictable, and a few characters could have been more fully developed. Despite these minor flaws, "Finding Sophie" is a touching and memorable read that will stay with readers long after.

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How far would you go to find your missing teen? When 17-year-old Sophie goes missing, her parents do everything you're supposed to do when a child goes missing— then they do some things you're not supposed to do in order to move the case along. The story alternates perspectives, between Sophie's parents, and timelines, from the aftermath of Sophie's disappearance and a murder trial. This one twists and turns and you won't want to miss the surprise ending!

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I went back and forth with this book, sometimes I could not put it down and other times I felt a bit lost. There is a lot going on in this book, not just a missing child. We have a marriage on the rocks, the child's parents. How does one deal with a missing loved one? What would you do to get answers? Well- you don't really know that answer unless it happens to you. Other reviews suggest sticking around for the ending, so that is why I stuck around.

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On paper this could’ve worked for me but sadly it didn’t and I ended up putting it aside. I found it slow going and convoluted with confusing events and not enough excitement to keep me reading it.

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Finding Sophie is a domestic thriller surrounding the disappearance of a teenage girl in a quiet community. Seventeen year old Sophie has disappeared. The police have been involved, but six weeks later the family is no closer to finding out what has happened to their daughter than they were on day one. Zara and Harry, Sophie's parents, are convinced that they know who took their daughter and they're about to do anything they can to prove it. Told in alternating POVs of Zara and Harry and in dual timelines, this thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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