Just What Kind Of Mother Are You? - Paula Daly
Published: 25/04/23
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 320
The back cover of this book held a quote from Elizabeth Haynes stating that this book was ‘the definition of a page turner – the sort of book that causes you to lose half a day without even noticing.’ That is completely true. This really was a page-turner, I literally couldn’t stop reading this book because I was so desperate to find out what was going to happen. I read this in one afternoon and I challenge you to read it any slower! I promise that once this is in your hands, you won’t put it down until you’ve turned the last page.
Just What Kind of Mother Are You is based around an impossibly difficult premise. What would you do if your best friend’s daughter went missing and it was all your fault? This is what Lisa is facing. Lisa is a busy working mum and, like many women, finds it hard to keep track of every single thing that needs to be done. So when her daughter rings her from the school bus and says that her friend Lucinda didn’t get on, it suddenly dawns on Lisa that it is all her fault.
Paula has you gripped from the very start; her writing style is simple yet effective. She tells you what you need to know without filling it with fluffy detail and futile words; just how I like it. This novel gets straight to the point very quickly which leaves you hanging on Paula’s every word as you race to piece together what happens before it’s revealed. I literally had no idea what would be the outcome of this book and I was genuinely surprised by what happened. I wouldn’t have been able to predict it at all!
The story is told through the lives of two characters. Lisa, the mother and Joanne, the police officer working on the case. These two characters were really well developed, I felt like I almost knew them personally. Lisa’s husband Joe was an interesting character and I loved how he protected his wife as much as he could. Lucinda’s father, Guy, (Lucinda is the young girl that goes missing) is a rather shady, shifty character and I didn’t know what to make of him from the very beginning. His story is a very interesting one and will have you wondering whether you should trust him or not.
Half way through the book I flicked to the back to read about the author and see what other books she had written; I was excited to read her back catalogue. It wasn’t until I saw the words ‘debut author’ that I gasped. This has to be one of the best debuts EVER! I felt like I was reading the work of a well established, prolific thriller author but was strangely happy that this was only Paula’s debut. I think we have a LOT of years to come with amazing books from this author and I am already desperate for her to write another one!
If you loved books like Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson or Until You’re Mine by Samantha Hayes or Close My Eyes by Sophie Mackenzie then I am certain that you will love this book too. I would seriously recommend you give this author a go. She really is a star!
I think the only tiny thing that stopped this from being a 10/10 was the ending; I would have loved a tiny bit more about the characters and what they were doing but it was only a tiny tiny thing so don’t let that put you off picking up this book!
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 320
The back cover of this book held a quote from Elizabeth Haynes stating that this book was ‘the definition of a page turner – the sort of book that causes you to lose half a day without even noticing.’ That is completely true. This really was a page-turner, I literally couldn’t stop reading this book because I was so desperate to find out what was going to happen. I read this in one afternoon and I challenge you to read it any slower! I promise that once this is in your hands, you won’t put it down until you’ve turned the last page.
Just What Kind of Mother Are You is based around an impossibly difficult premise. What would you do if your best friend’s daughter went missing and it was all your fault? This is what Lisa is facing. Lisa is a busy working mum and, like many women, finds it hard to keep track of every single thing that needs to be done. So when her daughter rings her from the school bus and says that her friend Lucinda didn’t get on, it suddenly dawns on Lisa that it is all her fault.
Paula has you gripped from the very start; her writing style is simple yet effective. She tells you what you need to know without filling it with fluffy detail and futile words; just how I like it. This novel gets straight to the point very quickly which leaves you hanging on Paula’s every word as you race to piece together what happens before it’s revealed. I literally had no idea what would be the outcome of this book and I was genuinely surprised by what happened. I wouldn’t have been able to predict it at all!
The story is told through the lives of two characters. Lisa, the mother and Joanne, the police officer working on the case. These two characters were really well developed, I felt like I almost knew them personally. Lisa’s husband Joe was an interesting character and I loved how he protected his wife as much as he could. Lucinda’s father, Guy, (Lucinda is the young girl that goes missing) is a rather shady, shifty character and I didn’t know what to make of him from the very beginning. His story is a very interesting one and will have you wondering whether you should trust him or not.
Half way through the book I flicked to the back to read about the author and see what other books she had written; I was excited to read her back catalogue. It wasn’t until I saw the words ‘debut author’ that I gasped. This has to be one of the best debuts EVER! I felt like I was reading the work of a well established, prolific thriller author but was strangely happy that this was only Paula’s debut. I think we have a LOT of years to come with amazing books from this author and I am already desperate for her to write another one!
If you loved books like Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson or Until You’re Mine by Samantha Hayes or Close My Eyes by Sophie Mackenzie then I am certain that you will love this book too. I would seriously recommend you give this author a go. She really is a star!
I think the only tiny thing that stopped this from being a 10/10 was the ending; I would have loved a tiny bit more about the characters and what they were doing but it was only a tiny tiny thing so don’t let that put you off picking up this book!
Laura