DI Dan Riley and his Team. are on the case finding the facts of a murdered child, Helen and her housekeeper have a lot in common but where does that similarity end and where does truth step in.

This is an emotive read and one where I felt for the main character.. Parenthood is hard for everyone at times and the author has told the story in such a way where the reader can identify, sympathise and when the tiwsts and turns start it just blows your mind.

At first I didn;t know where the story would finish but I did guess early one. This did not spoil my reading time.

I loved it

There's always a worry when we read a series that the characters will stale and become predictable, but that is not the case with the eighth installment of DCI Dan Riley! While copper Dan Riley is as smart, compassionate, and driven to seek justice as ever, we also get to see the growth of the character. Dan Riley is more than just a detective. He's a husband and a father. We often read the struggles of motherhood, but in this series, Anna-Lou Weatherly explores the struggles of fatherhood. Which is refreshing. Instead of the stereotypical father putting his job ahead of his family, we get to see a male character seeking to balance being good at both jobs: policing and parenthood.

In a story that requires you to ask yourself (especially if you're a parent) repeatedly, "What would I do to protect my child?"How far would I go to protect my child from a deadly mistake?" There is a risk of boredom from redundancy. Instead, the reader is drawn into becoming the parent(s), desparately hoping that just this once DCI Dan Riley will fail to solve the case. What would you do if your child died? What would you do if your child was murdered? How far would you go to protect your child's life and quality of life? What is more important: your humanity and character, or your child?

Usually, psychological thrillers don't leave me contemplating my own choices, but this book did. I highly recommend this book!

This is a slow burner but it's worth sticking with. The author creates suspense and tension well, and mananges to throw in some unsuspecting twists too. I enjoyed this novel and will look out for more from Anna-Lou.

I have read all books from this author but for me this was her best yet.

The characters were well described and I just love reading about DI Dan Riley and his Team.

I found it to be a fast paced thriller read which kept me on the edge of my seat with a great ending, just brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Detective Dan Riley, we meet again following you and Lucy on the hunt of a killer once more.

A good mother does everything in her power to protect her child even if she has to cross a line she would normally never cross. She has to choose between a rock and a hard place and she picks the only thing she believes will bring the outcome she wants and hopes for.

Not every mother is a good one though. There are the ones putting themselves first and by doing so throwing their child under the bus.

This is the story about two mothers, but what kind of mothers are they...?

Lying, cheating, blackmail are a few of the ingredients of this delicious book. Some people see these as normal things is life. Others only use them as a last resort.

I admire Dan for colouring outside of the boxes. Not because he wants to be a rebel per se, but because his gut feeling tells him he is on the right track. He does not step down, but keeps on believing his instincts.

Fantastic book. I loved it. 5 stars

Thank you

Not what I expected and it moves kind of slow. This is my third book by this author. Stick with it. It gradually picks up pace.