Familiar Strangers

Familiar Strangers by Jackie Walsh is an exciting debut by a promising new author. This one pulled me in immediately, and then held on tight. Wow!

"I took you Becca. You're not my daughter." These are the chilling words that Rebecca Wall hears spoken by her mother, Nancy, who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer's. Could there be truth to these words, spoken in a moment of lucidity, or are they simply the confused ramblings of a woman in the final stages of a degenerative disease? Becca is not sure what to make of her mother's confession until she is questioned by police about a mysterious woman who has been reported missing, allegedly while searching for Becca. Could the two events be connected? Becca's life begins to unravel as she questions both the family, and the very identity, that she has always taken as a certainty.

This is a thrilling read that kept me guessing right up until the final reveal. Compulsively addictive, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to untangle the mystery that surrounds the long hidden secrets of the Wall family. This is an author that I will be keeping an eye out for in future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC.

Enjoyable and a fun read!

The story caught my eye from the moment I read the blurb, and I just knew I wanted to read this book. I was not let down and can recommend this to everyone!

This story had a completely unique storyline that is unlike any others I have read. And I have read a lot of books in this genre. It was intense and gripping and very well written. At times sad and over all hugely enjoyable. Recommend

Becca visits her mother in hospital. A mother who is now in the throws of dementia despite only being in her mid fifties and struggling even to do the simplest of tasks. In a moment of lucidity she tells Becca “you are not my daughter- I stole you” something she repeats. On getting home Becca is convinced that someone has been in her apartment however nothing is missing just a few things are different as to how she left them. A woman is on the news as being missing. When Becca is visited by the cops they ask her if she knows or has been contacted by Katie Collins, the woman on the news. Becca has no knowledge of her other than seeing her pictures on the TV. She apparently left a note for Becca to contact her. Why on earth would she be contacting her? I loved this and devoured it to the end. One of those I wanted to find out what happened but at the same time didn’t want it to end as I enjoyed it so much. Jackie is a new author to me but I shall certainly be on the lookout for more from her. A stunning piece of writing with the tension and drama you expect from a top psychological thriller. Very highly recommended.
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Wow, uncharacteristically I am very nearly speechless. I've just finished this novel and my head is still processing the events that unfolded within.

There are so many significant plot points and characters involved that you really are kept on the edge of your seat, right up until the very end.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading "Familiar Strangers" and I look forward to any future novels written by Jackie Walsh. Her writing style is so captivating, which makes it so much easier to get lost within the pages as the story is told.

This is one of the best debut novels I have ever read. It has so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. I read so many books that I can usually figure out what the t is going to be but I wasn't even close this time which made the story so much more interesting for me. I can't wait to read this authors next book. After reading this one I am a fan!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this incredible book.

This is like my worst nightmare come to life. This book took me on such a wild ride. I thought that the author did an amazing job writing this story. Becca woke up one morning and everything for her changed after a visit to her sick mothers. Truth's and lies never stay buried and when they are uncovered what is revealed can change lives. Thank you NetGalley.

Another new author for my reading list! Definitely a gripping read from start to finish and really well written.

Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A psychological thriller that piles on the suspense, but with an intensely unlikeable heroine. That fact alone doesn't make the book bad - not at all - but the narration was all over the place, and the plot had some fairly big holes. Overall, a quick read, although I did have problems caring enough about the story to finish it.

Goodreads review here (direct link didn't work): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2783894794

I finished this book about 15mins ago and my heart is still racing!!!!

I was almost a little hesitant to start this book as Alzheimer’s is one of my worst fears and I wasnt sure I could handle a story based around it, I am so glad I gave the book a chance. It's less about the disease and more about the mad web of lies and trouble one little action can have.

It is SUCH a good mystery book, a real page turner, I couldn't stop thinking about the book when I was working my way through it and its definitely a book I'll remember having read for a long time.

I'd mark it a 6 out of 5 if I could.

Wow. What a great, twisty book. Kept me guessing (and a few times yelling at my kindle) until the very end. It’s a who-dunit, wrapped in an adventure, with a mystery.

Thanks for the ARC to NetGalley.

Becca and Danny's mum has dementia. Danny is busy with his heavily pregnant wife Joanna so the visiting tends to fall to Becca and her dad these days. It's on one her solitary visits that Becca's mum Nancy turns to her and, looking deep into her eyes, tells her that she's not her mum; she took her. The moment passes quickly and despite Becca pressing her mum for further details she knows that she won't get any more information out of her. Becca leaves, shocked and upset, craving answers. Is what Nancy said true? If so, who else knows? What about Danny? And her dad?

When Becca gets home she finds out from the news channels that a woman has gone missing; her name is Katie Collins and looking at the news reports the woman looks uncannily like Becca. Then the police call, asking Becca questions about Katie. She truthfully tells them that she has no idea who Katie is or why Katie is allegedly looking for Becca.
Life is currently going down the pan for Becca - she's had an unfortunate liaison with her boss, who is now making threats if she tells anyone about their night together. Her brother is acting strange and her dad's neighbours Bert and Edith are struggling to cope with Edith's terminal diagnosis. Becca feels pulled in so many directions emotionally and the bombshell her mum has dropped couldn't have come at a worse time. What can she do to find out the truth - she can't ask her dad, the police seem to know something Becca doesn't so she can't say anything in case it incriminates her and anyone else she trusts enough to ask has more than enough on their plate already. Following her gut instincts Becca starts putting the evidence together herself to try to work things out, only to then discover that Katie Collins is dead, the victim of a violent death in a local park. Just when she thought her situation couldn't get any worse the police are questioning her again, this time it's a murder investigation.
The story comes together well in the last quarter of the book with answers to all the questions the reader has been mulling over from the start. The emotional turmoil Becca goes through from the moment her mum was admitted to Oakridge care facility are explored - the guilt of not being able to care for her at home, then the betrayal she feels with her mum's announcement, the confusion as to who she really is. And then the worry of being considered as part of a murder case all take their toll on Becca.
I enjoyed reading about the challenges facing the various characters, especially those other than the main character. Neighbour Bert in particular has an interesting role in the story and I would have liked Stephen Black to have had a stronger influence on proceedings - I felt he could have had a much bigger part in the story. There were opportunities to develop a few of the characters further which is why I wouldn't give this book the full 5 stars that I feel it could have achieved.

Just finished this debut novel and wow! It was excellent. This book is about the Becca who while visiting her mother who suffers from early onset of Alzheimers is told by her mother that she isn't her daughter - that she took her! Becca doesn't know what to believe. A series of events happens making Becca question if her whole life has been a lie. This book is very well written, has great characters and grabbed my attention and held it the entire time I was reading. I highly recommend that you add it to your TBR list when it publishes on May 22. Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As if Becca doesn’t have enough on her plate with her mother in a care home suffering with Alzheimer’s, the police turn up quizzing her about the disappearance of a woman who is a total stranger to Becca.

The story grabbed me right from the first page. I wanted to know if there was any truth in what Becca’s mum has said to her and like Becca, I was desperate for answers. As the story goes along the suspense was literally electrifying. I got more and more wrapped up in the story and couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I had to put it down to get on with real life.

Each character seems to bring something different to the story. They added even more intrigue making it one of those, just one more chapters, type of reads. It really is steeped with lies and secrets of which I couldn’t devour quick enough.

Familiar Strangers is packed to the brim with suspense that will have you hooked throughout. It will have you questioning and doubting everyone. It also held a few surprises in store making it even more compelling. This is one of those books you need to make sure you set some time aside for, as once you start it, you will not want to stop until you turn that very last page.

My thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

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

Thank you NetGalley!!

Becca Wall's mother was diagnosed is early-onset Alzheimer’s. Everyday, Becca loses a little more of the caring mother she knows. But one day, Becca's mom drops the bomb that she is NOT her real mother... and Becca's life is now falling to pieces.
At first, she plays it off as just another symptoms of the Alzheimer's... That is until the police show up asking her if she knows the whereabouts of a missing woman by the name of Katie Collins. Katie was last seen leaving her house after telling her husband she was going to look for Rebecca WAll.. But Becca has no idea who this Katie is.

Katie's body is soon discovered in a park near Becca's house. It appers SOMEONE knows the truth here, but who?!

Unique storyline, addicting read.

When you read the title of this book, you see that it's something that does not add up. How can a strangers be familiar I see you thinking (just as I did ;) ), but afterwards you will realize it is possible and in my opinion a perfect match to the content.
Becca, the main character does not know what is happening in her life and I love the way the author has created this character. She is all over the place which shows the reader cleary how she is feeling. You can describe it of course, but to me by doing it this way it makes it more real and you feel more connected to the story.
Once again I did not suspect the culprit at all. I had somebody totally different in my head. When an author can 'fool' me like this, it means she wrote a very good story.
I have to admit when the plot is revealed, the murderer has made a lot of not so clever decisions, Although clever enough to mislead the police. On the other hand those mistakes are,of course,  also the reason they were caught and no innocent people were put in jail.
The author has filled this story with lies, deceit and secrets. 4 stars.
Thank you, Jackie Walsh and Book On The Bright Side Publicity & Promo

In a rare lucid moment, Becca Wall’s Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother reveals that she is not Becca's mother. The revelation that she kidnapped a very young Becca at first seems like the product of a confused mind, but it quickly becomes clear that it is true. We also find out that a woman who was searching for Becca was murdered. You can see where this story is going at every turn, but somehow the way it all unfolds is well-enough paced to remain engaging. The problem is that the cast of characters is so small, and the possible motives so limited, that the twists are not surprising to a reasonably savvy reader. I subtracted a star for this reason even though the book held my interest.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance digital review copy.

Well done to the author on her debut novel. I thought this was a brilliant read.

Beccas mum has Alzheimer’s. When her mum randomly tells she’s not her daughter she’s devastated.
How can it me a lie when Becca has her birth certificate and photos of her when a baby?

When the police call looking for a missing woman Beccas life falls apart.

This is a well written story full of suspense. Great page turner that I highly recommend. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

Familiar Strangers is a really intriguing debut which really grabbed me from the first chapter.

I instantly warmed to Becca. She’s a little directionless, working in dead ends jobs, just living day to day. Her fragile world is sent into a tailspin when her mother, who is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s, says that she’s not her daughter, she took her as a baby.

On top of that she gets questioned about the disappearance of a woman called Katie Collins, who the police believe was looking for her. She sets about looking for answers, with a few questionable decisions along the way. But what will she do when she finds out the truth?

This is such a good psychological thriller, the right amount of mystery and interesting characters which had me really emotionally invested in what happened to them.

I will say I would have liked a little more from the ending, I felt there wasn’t enough of the aftermath of the killer reveal but of course that’s just me nitpicking.

I’d recommend Familiar Strangers to anyone who likes a quality psychological thriller with great pace and tension that doesn’t let up throughout.

Can’t wait to see what Jackie Walsh does next!

I loved the premise of the story, a mother with Alzheimer's in a nursing home suddenly uttering the words - You are not mine, I took you!! And the daughter Becca's world was absolutely shattered. On the other hand, an unknown woman was found murdered close to her home, and the cops started investigating her.

Jackie Walsh with her debut kept me enthralled for most of the book. I kept egging the main character to move faster. The pages of kindle sure did turn fast. I needed to know the secret of her birth, the life she had been living. Not a single thing seemed to foretell the story of her past. I liked seeing how she persevered to find clues since the truth was hidden in her mother's lost world.

In some ways I loved the way Becca's circumstances were described, she seemed trapped. Only the truth would release her from the prison of someone else's making. Searching for information about the dead woman brought her very close to the edge of the precipice where freefall was the only option. Walsh's writing brought out the desperation so clearly that I kept inspecting every line to get  an inkling about the past.

The book with its story kept me hooked for those 3 hours allowing me to escape into Becca's world with its familiar strangers.

Familiar Strangers by Jackie Walsh

Digging in the dirt and digging for dirt...that is pretty much what anchors this story of a woman who seems a bit lost while she deals with the slow death her mother faces dealing with Alzheimer’s Disease. It wasn’t easy liking Rebecca due to the choices she made throughout the story – choices that to me were destructive but also perhaps a cry for help. There is not enough about her life “before” to really know why she is in the jobs she has or why she has made the questionable choices she has made. She has an ill mother, aging father, brother and pregnant sister-in-law but no real friends or goals or aspirations that I could ascertain.

When she is approached by the police about a missing woman she wonders why. She wonders even more when the woman turns up dead and the police are still asking questions. The mystery of who Katie Collins is and why someone would want to kill her is what Rebecca begins to focus on. The question of motivation and all the rest is eventually sussed out but in the end Rebecca still remains a bit of an amorphous character to me and I wonder just what she will choose to do with her life in the future.

What I liked:
* Not really knowing till near the end who the killer was
* The plotting and pace
* The feeling of mystery and darkness
* Jeff – although I am not sure why he became involved in helping Rebecca

What I didn’t like: What I was supposed not to like...and that is as it should be

What I wondered about at the end:
* Rebecca – would have liked to know her better
* Where both Rebecca’s and Katie’s mothers were and why they were such lax parents
* And...a few other things

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley, Hera and BOTSB for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4 Stars

Becca is working two jobs to live in her apartment. Her mother has Alzheimers and is in a care facility. One day while visiting her mom tells her that she is not her daughter and that she took her. Her mom is mostly nonverbal so Becca cannot get anything else out of her mother. While this thought is running over and over through her head strange things start happening. A missing woman who was looking for her, the police asking questions, and she thinks someone has been in her apartment.

Becca does not know what is real and what is not. Her world is thrown into a tailspin and starts to one piece as a time fall apart. Did her mother take her? If so, how and why? Who else knew?

The book also touches on the loss a family feels when living with a family member with Alzheimers. There is a deep emotional loss between Becca and her mother.

This is a debut book by Jackie Walsh. It moves at nice pace and keeps the reader interested. I enjoyed this book and would de definitely read more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Hera for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date: May 20, 2019

OMG! Alzheimer’s is a terrible condition that robs people of their lives, leaving their family to grieve for their loss of that person way before they die. Becca had watched the mum that had loved her all her life slip away from her a little more every day with only rare moments of recognition. One of her mum’s moments of clarity took away everything real for Becca. Just five words, “You are not my daughter”. Then her mum was lost again in her own world. I felt like a tidal wave had hit me! I read it again, surely it was part of her mum’s illness.
When a woman goes missing Becca is drawn into another world of uncertainty. This book was really giving me an uneasiness that I don’t normally feel. I couldn’t help but put myself in Becca’s shoes but when I did the rush of emotions were so very overwhelming. What begins as a little digging into the past soon gets to a point of no return, so many times I wished her to stop and hold onto what she had.
What incredible characters there are in this story, that even now just won’t leave me alone. I absolutely loved the corkscrew of events that took me much deeper and much darker than I could have thought possible. I had a huge tissue moment that I don’t think I will ever forget. I didn’t want to put this book down and yet at times I felt that I needed to stop this nightmare swimming round in my mind. What a story!
Becca is an incredible character that feels so alive, every explosive emotion captured and transferred to me. This is a massive must read. Shocking! Devastating! Deadly and utterly mind-blowing!
I wish to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Rebecca Hall’s mum is in a care home, she has Alzheimer’s and her good days are now being overtaken by the bad ones. Some days she doesn’t recognise Becca at all and it’s heartbreaking….

On one of her lucid moments she tells Becca, ‘You’re not my daughter, I took s was just the dementia talking…..wasn’t it?…..

Shaken and upset, Becca returns home but feels someone has been in her apartment….but nothing is missing and even her neighbour, Jeff thinks she may be imagining it….

Watching TV she sees news of a missing woman, Katie Collins….why does she look familiar?

When Katie’s body is found, the police have questions for Becca, but she knows nothing and is left with many many questions…..her life begins to unravel, she doesn’t know who she is any more…

This is a mix of family drama and thriller and Jackie Walsh has written an empathetic description of the horrendous disease, that is Alzheimer’s (my own mother has this and I know how heartbreaking it is to see the person you know slowly disappear)..

The clever writing also makes you wonder just how far we would go to protect our children, it also shows how Becca’s life starts to fall apart, losing her job, her home and almost her sanity. A totally engrossing thriller, with many suspects that will keep you guessing right to the very end….I loved every minute and can recommend this unreservedly…

Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

What a ride! I never expected the ending. I had it figured out until those last few pagex! Such a twisty and suspenseful book!!

This is an intense gripping debut by a promising new author.

It has a unique story line, an engaging main character and a compulsively readable plot with unexpected twists and turns all the way till the big reveal.

Becca's world is about to be turned upside down when her mother who is suffering from early stages of Alzheimer's tells her that she is not her biological daughter. Things go from bad to worse when a woman mysteriously disappears while looking for Becca. What is the truth, who is the real mother, and does Becca herself know who she is?

Thanks Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Edge of your seat book! Keeps you guessing. Becca’s mother is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Becca, her father and brother Danny all are devastated by this. Nancy is in a care home. Becca visits her often taking care of her. One day Nancy drops a bomb telling her she’s not her daughter. Becca doesn’t believe it But then her life falls apart. Is it true or is it just rambling of a sick woman?

5☆ Enthralling, Twisty, Gripping, yet so very Poignant!

Wow this was a gripping psychological thriller with a very poignant storyline.

Rebecca's Mother has Alzheimer's and it's in the advanced stages.
At some point we all have encounters with this heart breaking and cruel condition.
My Auntie passed away 17months ago and she too had Alzheimer's so this was a particularly tough story to read.
But despite it being a tough read, it was so enthralling I was drawn in from the start!

Back to the story!

What what you do if your mother told you that she had taken you and you're not her daughter??
Bearing in mind Rebecca's Mother has Alzheimer's!
Well that's what happened to Rebecca.

Then things start to take a sinister turn.
Someone has been in Rebecca's flat.
The police are looking for Rebecca in question, of the disappearance of Katie Collins.
But who is Katie?
Why is she looking for Rebecca?
And why when she turns up dead is Rebecca the prime suspect?
Is there any connection to her Mother's mystery outburst?

So many juicy questions, so many thrilling twists!
Who to trust and who to believe.

The opening prologue was eerie and I loved it! I left me completely intrigued.

Familiar Strangers is cleverly written, and the twists and turns plotted perfectly!
It's gripping, pacy, enthralling, kept me on my toes, exciting, yet very emotional and had me tearing up.
I've not read a psychological thriller before that has evoked such strong emotional reactions, which is a big credit to Jackie Walsh.
The Characters are deeply flawed yet perfect for the storyline.

If you are looking for a psychological thriller with a poignant twist, that will keep you on your toes, yet will tug at your heart strings, and provides enthralling twists and turns then you will adore Familiar Strangers!

I can't wait to discover more from Jackie Walsh, she is definitely going on my to watch out for list!

Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side Tours and Hers Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Perfect psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend!

What a brilliant debut – I was completely gripped from beginning to end!

Becca’s Mum is in a care home suffering from early on-set Alzheimer’s and Becca visits her all the time. But one day her Mum suddenly blurts out that she’s not her daughter, and that she had taken her……The comment rocks Becca’s world but she’s convinced that’s not true.

The DI Turner starts questioning her about a woman called Katie Collins who has recently gone missing, and is apparently looking for her. Becca has no idea who this person is and why they would be looking for her but the Detective doesn’t appear to be convinced and keeps on at her….so she decides she must do some digging to find out why? Why would Katie be looking for her?

As Becca’s world collapses around her, an unbelievable tale unravels……..and the ending will blow you away!

This storyline is fantastic! You’re on this amazingly complicated, twisted journey with Becca as she tries to uncover the truth….but there are so many other things that happen along the way. I went through convinced it was one person, then another and only near the very end did I kind of change my mind and got it right!

There are so many twists and turns that you will want to keep reading, to find out what is actually happening! Who is Katie? Why is she looking for Becca? What do her family know? And where is Katie now?

The characters are fantastic, and the writing style is clear and easy to read and follow. This is an absolutely brilliant debut and I’m desperately looking forward to more from this author! She’s one to watch!

Familiar Strangers is a book in which Alzheimer's, a horrific disease, plays a substantial role and this makes it not only completely gripping but also very emotionally resonant too. A lot of what happens is believable and having had a close relative deteriorate and pass away due to complications of the disease I feel it is importantly portrayed in a realistic manner, treated sensitively and compassionately, and has been researched thoroughly. There are a decent amount of twists in the tale which take you by surprise and once you've picked it up the only time you'll be putting it down is when it's concluded.

Walsh is one of those writers who is adept at crafting a novel overflowing with suspense and one in which you don't know who to trust. It has you questioning everyone's intentions right from the beginning. I am amazed that this is a debut as it is a pretty excellent read with relatable characters, a solid plot and a plethora of red herrings and misdirection to keep you guessing. I look forward to her following novels. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.

𝒮𝓊𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓈𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓁. 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝓊𝓁𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒. 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑔𝓊𝒾𝓃𝑔.

Jackie Walsh’s debut was addictive, compelling, and suspenseful. Becca is 27 and hasn’t quite figured out what she wants to do with her life. Her loving mother suffers from early onset Alzheimer’s and it has obviously had a huge impact on Becca and her family. One day when Becca was visiting her mother at the care facility her mother tells her “you’re not my daughter, I took you.“ that’s it one lucid moment that might change everything. Becca doesn’t know what to think, but when a woman is murdered who had been looking for her, A complete stranger, she begins to wonder, was there some truth behind my mom’s words? And if so who am I?

This book had a bit of a whodunit vibe for me, the mystery of who killed Katie Collins (the stranger). Becca was a likable flawed character. Yes she made some questionable choices, but don’t we all? I also really liked how clever it was to have Becca’s mom Nancy make this major revelation, but never be able to explain it. There was a feeling of tension and urgency throughout the story that kept me frantically turning those pages. I felt for Becca, can’t even imagine thinking you aren’t who you think you are. I was really happy she had Jeff by her side throughout the book, and in my mind they end up getting together and living happily ever after.

This was a well told, well paste, compulsively readable story. And impressive debut and I am looking forward to seeing what is next from Jackie Walsh.

*** many thanks to Hera Books for my copy of this book ***

Familiar Strangers by Jackie Walsh is the story of Becca Wall. Becca's mother has onset early Alzheimer's, and she told Becca she was not her biological mother. Becca is determined to find the truth. The story moves at a fast pace and kept me guessing til the end with all the twists and turns! I recommend this book for mystery lovers.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Familiar Strangers is an excellent, page turner of a thriller. The prologue grabs you with it’s final line and from there it becomes a roller coaster ride.

Becca is written as a character who has friends and acquaintances, two jobs and a family who she sees regularly but still seems to live an almost lonely and solitary existence. Even from early on in the story we see Becca make some interesting and questionable decisions and as the plot moves forward this seems to continue. Jackie Walsh does an amazing job of projecting the main protagonist’s (Becca) emotions through her writing style. As the plot unravels, so does Becca and the writing becomes more frantic and paranoid – making sure you go through exactly the same emotions as Becca is feeling.

The plot itself is suspenseful and compulsive reading. The more you read the more suspicious everyone seems to be and the more paranoid you become. As Becca searched for answers regarding the murdered girl, I found it difficult to trust any character, making the narrative more intense as it moved forward. Small clues were given throughout the book but didn’t give anything away until everything fell into place and built into a climactic close.

Highly recommended for lovers of intense psychological thrillers.

A nail-biting chiller that will leave you breathless, Familiar Strangers is an outstanding tale where the pace never flags, the action never stops and the shocks come thick and fast. If you are a fan of Sophie Hannah and Paula Hawkins, then Jackie Walsh is a name you must add to your auto-buy list.

Nancy Wall was a loving and caring mother whom Becca absolutely adores. Nancy’s support of Becca was unconditional, so it was doubly heartbreaking when Nancy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and each day Becca loses yet another piece of the mother who means the world to her. When Nancy confesses that Becca was not her daughter, Becca initially dismisses this as yet another agonizing and devastating side effect of the cruel illness that has afflicted her mother. Becca only needs to look at her birth certificate and the family album to know that Nancy had given birth to her and gave her the best possible start in life. However, when the police arrive on her doorstep to question her about the whereabouts of a missing woman, Katie Collins, Becca’s life is turned upside down. Has her mother been lying to her all her life? Who is Katie Collins and what is her connection to Becca and her family?

Katie had disappeared after telling her family that she is leaving them to track down Rebecca Wall. But Becca has never heard of Katie and she doesn’t know what could possibly connect the two of them. Becca thinks that this is a case of mistaken identity, however, as she begins to investigate Katie Collins, Becca’s world comes tumbling down. Has she been fed nothing but lies and reared on deceit and manipulation? What is the truth? And why has it always been kept a secret from Becca?

As Becca begins to untangle this web of mystery and deception, she realizes that somebody knows the truth – and they will go to any lengths to ensure that it stays dead and buried…whatever it takes!

Familiar Strangers is domestic noir at its most fiendish and mesmerizing. Jackie Walsh certainly knows how to plumb the dark depths of the human soul and exposes with great style the vulnerabilities, frailties and fears that grab a hold of us in our most fragile moments. Familiar Strangers is a book that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end and have you on tenterhooks as you find yourself completely consumed by this intense, twisted and visceral psychological crime thriller.

A white-knuckle ride of a book that is hard to put down and ever harder to forget, Familiar Strangers heralds the arrival of a wonderful new talent in the field of domestic thrillers: Jackie Walsh.

This is one of those books where I was initially attracted to reading it because the cover looked so interesting. The power of a good book cover really worked here!

Becca Wall is a character you really can feel sympathy for. Her mother is in a care home suffering with Alzheimer’s and it must be so hard for her to diligently visit each week never knowing if she will remember who she is. When her mother drops the bombshell that she took Becca as a child, Becca isn’t sure whether this was part of her mothers Alzheimer’s or a rare moment of lucidity.

The second character of note here is Katie, who is looking for Becca, but Becca doesn’t know who Katie is, so why is she looking for her? The mystery of these two characters is at the heart of this story and slowly but surely Becca learns more information and starts to piece together why it is Katie has been looking for her.

This book had a few twists and turns and I spent most of the book thinking it was going to have a certain kind of ending only to be pleasantly surprised when the book took a different turn all together!

Alzheimers is a absolutely horrible condition that not only robs people of their memories and identities but also forces their loved ones to witness the slow,cruel deterioration of the person that they love. As I get older,it is a condition that terrifies me especially when I have moments when I struggle to remember the names of objects or how to spell a word. Alzheimers and identity crisis are themes that run parallel throughout this fast paced,heart string pulling,gripping thriller.

Rebecca Wall's mother Nancy is in a care home,slowly deteriorating due to Alzheimers. Nancy does still have some lucid moments and it is during one of these rare moments when she informs Rebecca that she is not actually Nancy's daughter,that Nancy had taken her. Rebecca is convinced that Nancy is confused because of the Alzheimers and vows to just ignore what her mother said and get on with her life. Only fate has more shocks planned for Rebecca Wall and she soon finds herself coming to the attention of the police. A young women Katie Collins has been reported missing by her husband after apparently telling him that she was going to find Rebecca Wall and despite Rebecca insisting that she has no idea who Katie was, the police are convinced that Rebecca knows more than she is admitting.

The story follows Rebecca as she somewhat reluctantly at first tries to uncover the truth about her parentage whilst struggling with her doubts,the constant questioning by the police and the mental deterioration of both her mother and her father. Neither Rebecca nor the reader has any idea who she can trust as she encounters untrustworthy characters,betrayals and uncovers shocking secrets and lies. Rebecca was a flawed,complex character who I had mixed feelings about as the story unfolded. Sometimes I felt sympathy for her whilst at other times,her behaviour and indecisiveness were frustrating and I just wanted to reach into my kindle,grab her by the shoulders and give her a good shaking.

Familiar Strangers is packed full of twists and turns,red herrings, keeps the reader guessing and frantically turning the pages. The author has written about how Alzheimers affects the lives of sufferers and their loved ones with sensitivity, compassion and with heart breaking realism. I couldn't put this enthralling thriller down and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future. Very very highly recommended.

Packed with suspense, Familiar Strangers was hard to put down. It was so twisty, it was kind of difficult to believe this was a debut novel. Becca adores her mom, is heartbroken at her early-onset Alzheimers, and then her mother, in a moment of lucidity, tells Becca, "I took you. You're not my daughter." Now, how was I supposed to stop reading after that announcement? There were enough twists and turns in the book that kept me turning page after page to get to the truth. Every time I had to put it down, I couldn't wait to get back to it.

I really don't think you'll be disappointed with this thriller.

This book whips along at a cracking pace as Becca finds herself at the middle of a murder mystery. I thought the premise was so intriguing - her mum telling her that she took her. Hmmm, tell me more! I found Becca a difficult person to relate to, although given her personal situation, with her mum suffering from early onset Alzheimer's, I can see why she was all over the place, but it all got a little frantic in parts and her decision-making was inconsistent to say the least!. Putting that aside, it's a great read as all the elements of this clever plot come together.

'I took you, Becca. You’re not my daughter.'

Becca's mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimers and every day Becca loses another part of her loving and caring mother who would always go out of her way for her one and only daughter. But one day, Nancy Wall speaks those shocking words which chill Becca to her very core. Suddenly, the world she thought she knew begins to fall apart.

Ah this book was fantastic. I thought I knew exactly where it was going but then it threw yet more at me. I love fast paced books and I've found myself reading slow burns recently so this was a brilliant and refreshing change - a well needed mix up!

Fans of The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us and T.M Logan will be LOVE this book. I whole hardheartedly recommend it. Do it. Read it.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Familiar Strangers
By Jackie Walsh

4 stars

Wonderfully written mystery that leaves the reader wanting more.

The story line flows well and engages the reader as clues are slowly leaked out. With twists and turns that do not reveal the killer until the last pages.

Nancy Wall confesses that Becca is not her child, Becca's world falls apart. Becca tells herself that the words are just a cruel symptom of Nancy’s illness; after all, she has her birth certificate, and pictures of herself as a newborn along with her Mom, Dad and older brother, Danny.

Becca tries to forget, to get on with on her life – until the day the police question her about the whereabouts of a missing woman, Katie Collins. Katie has disappeared without a trace, telling her husband that she is leaving to find Rebecca Wall. But Becca doesn’t know Katie, so it’s a case of mistaken identity – isn’t it?

A great read that will keep you guessing.

This title has been reviewed by This title was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an open and honest review.

#FamiliarStrangers #NetGalley

This is an excellent debut novel, gripping from the start and it wasn't until the end of the book that all the ends were tied up. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone

WOW! This is a GOOD book! Jackie Walsh brought the characters to life and gave them a fascinating back story. She kept the story moving quickly while still giving us enough mystery that we had to keep reading to see what happens next. This is what a good...no great...mystery is all about.
Becca's mother drops a bombshell on her. But her mother has Alzheimer, so was she just rambling or was she confessing? Becca can't ask her family questions, after all if she is not who she thinks she is, wouldn't they have been keeping the secret too? Who is this woman that the police are looking for? So much mystery so well written, you just have to keep reading to see where the story goes.

This book catch me right away. I was very glad I got a chance to read this book! I did not guess the ending. I loved all the suspense and I loved the ending I did not see coming. This was a great book! "This book was given to me for free at my request NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review."

For a debut novel. I thought this was a brilliant read. A well written story full of suspense. Great page turner that I highly recommend. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

‘I took you, Becca. You’re not my daughter.’

That one sentence can ruin your whole world, a world you believe to be true…. for your whole life…. but is it true? Or is the illness that Becca’s Mother is suffering from affecting her momory, playing tricks on her mind? Or is she speaking the truth?!

Poor Becca, as if she hasn’t got enough on her plat without her Mother saying those 8 tiny words, 8 tiny words that throw her life into chaos. I really felt for Becca, a mother in a care home, a Dad that doesn’t seem to be able to cope with the whole situation and a brother that I took an instant dislike to.

So much is going on and then everything collides, Im surprised she held it all together as long as she did!

I enjoyed how the author integrated all the characters into the story, and how she slowly pulled all the threads together. I was turning those pages deep into the night, the chapters are short so one chapter ended up leading to 7 before I put it down.

Its edgy, dark in places and has you thinking the whole way through. I had everyone down as a suspect and I so didn’t see the end coming!

I look forward to seeing what this author brings us next.