Having read books by Shalini before, I knew to expect a fast-paced, twisty story and this was no different!
The story hooked me from the start with the opening narrative of a child abduction. With 'then & now' chapters, this is a brilliant story following the heartbreak of a Mum trying to move on from losing her eldest daughter 9 years previously, but then being giving a glimpse of a chance that she may have found her. It is definitely a page-turner and I can't tell you how much I absolutely love not seeing a twist coming, and this one stopped me in my tracks!

Rachel lives in Dorset with her partner and two children. One day at the school gate she does a double take. One of the other mothers older children is the double of Rachel’s Daughter Holly who was snatched nine years ago. She would know those green eyes anywhere. She was in a shopping centre having a coffee with a friend when it happened. The woman taking her, Catriona narrates some chapters whilst Rachel has the others. Rachel befriends the family to try and find out more about them and the daughter who is now called Bella. Shalini knows how to write psychological thrillers, all of her books have achieved 5 stars from me. A brilliant plot line that keeps you on the edge of your seat and characters that you quickly take to. This one however was slightly different- there was that moment when I read a couple of sentences and sat there with my mouth wide open (thank heavens I wasn’t in a public place!) I won’t spoil anything but OMG!!! How clever- wow! Wowo, wow wow! 5** and 10 if I could.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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Wow! This twisty psychological thriller captured my attention from the very beginning. It is every parent’s worst nightmare...an abduction of their child. It is reader friendly as well as character driven. You can feel Rachel’s pain and raw emotions. It was fast paced & full of intrigue.The twists & turns were fantastic.
I did not see the ending coming. A perfect psychological thriller! I read this one fast & stayed up to finish it before I went to sleep since I couldn't put it down. This is my first read by Shalini Boland and it wont be my last.
Thank you to Net Galley for a digital ARC and to the publisher Bookouture. I received this copy for an honest review.

Shalini Boland strikes again! Another dark twisty psychological thriller from the master herself. Nine years ago Rachel‘s eldest daughter Holly went missing while she was playing at a playground. Rachel only wasn’t paying attention for a few minutes and her daughter disappeared, never to be seen again... that is until now. While at the school pick up Rachel starts a conversation with a new mom Kate and then she sees Kates oldest daughter Bella and has the shock of her life. Bella is the spitting image of Rachel’sHolly’s missing daughter Holly. Convinced that this is her missing daughter, Rachel will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing to find the truth. Twists and turns, zigs and zags, and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out BAM! Not so fast!

Rachel was such a sympathetic character, I really felt for her. Some of her actions were a bit questionable and over the top, but I don’t know what I would do in the same situation. Her partner Matt was so supportive and understanding. Kate was also likable, you could tell she had something to hide, but I did not want to cast her as a kidnapper. All the kids added some levity and light to this dark story. This is one of those stories that keeps you guessing the entire time. I kept trying to puzzle it together and I just could not make all the pieces fit. You might need to stretch the bounds of believability in this one, but it is so worth it. A well told story with an ending that will leave your head spinning.

This book in emojis: 👩‍👧 🤔 🧩 🤯

*** Big thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

Every parent would agree this is their worst nightmare...their child goes missing. It happened to Rachel, nine long years ago but she remembers it like it was yesterday. Every single day she analyzes every little girl that would be around Holly's age, wouldn't you do the same? What if by chance you actually saw Holly again? Or what if she moved in to the same town as you...hiding in plain sight?

Wow! What a great premise this is, it had me locked in and hanging onto every word from the very first page. Shalini Boland is a must read author for me. I jumped at the chance to get my hands on her latest book and I was furiously flipping the pages with this one. It started out intense right from the start.

I was doubtful when Rachel thinks she has stumbled upon her daughter 9 years after she went missing. I began to really question her sanity, as she watched ( stalked) the new family in town. I cringed at her actions as she was digging for the truth...then I started to believe her. As the tension turned up and the evidence built up I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for a killer twist....and there it was!

We are allowed into the mind of someone that has been tortured with guilt and despair for nine years. She is absolutely desperate to find her daughter and will stop at nothing to find out the truth. A roller coaster ride all the way to the end.

Rachel’s daughter was taken from her 9 years ago. Just as she was starting to finally settle into a quite life a new family moves in with a daughter that looks just like her missing child. This masterfully twisted tale that has a jaw dropping ending releases tomorrow! #highlyrecommend to all! This fast paced, dark tale was a one sit read for me.

I love Shalini Boland’s books as they’ve always got a twist in store at some point in the story.
This one had me hooked from the first few pages and didn’t let go.
Rachel meets a new mum in the playground and discovers she has children the same age as hers so they hit it off. She then sees Kate’s oldest daughter and is shocked by what she sees.
Rachel had a daughter taken from her when she was a toddler and she is a dead ringer for Kate’s daughter, Bella.
Rachel is desperate to prove she’s her daughter but when Kate cuts off all contact, it gets harder and harder.
The story is told from two viewpoints, then and now, and I was desparate to know what happened in both time frames.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Shalini Boland for the chance to read this before it hits shelves later his month. This author always pulls me in quick and this was no exception. I was trying to figure out what was going on and then I thought I had it and BAM she hit me with the biggest twist I didn't see coming. I liked how it told you the story from Then and Now, it helped me try to piece it together. READ this book when it comes out!

Now this was a book!!! Shalini Boland got me again! Meet Rachel. 9 years ago the unthinkable happened. She took her eyes of her daughter for no more than a minute and then Holly was gone.

Fast forward, Rachel is living outside of London a much more laid back life with her partner Mike and the daughter she didn’t lose that day, Jess and her son Charlie who she had with Mike. She’s never shared her tragedy with anyone.

One day during school pick up, Rachel meets new Mom Kate. They all have children the same age and it seems like they will hit it off. Until Rachel notices Kate’s eldest daughter Bella. Bella is the spitting image of her beloved lost daughter Holly. Rachel knows she can’t rest until she can prove one way or the other that this other girl is in-fact the daughter she’s always hoped would come back to her.

Social thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for this fabulous ARC.

Let me start by saying that Shalini Boland is on my top 20 favorite authors! It was exciting to see she had a new book and I couldn't wait to start reading it!

Like always it is well written and really good! The storyline is interesting and well developed, the characters are strong, it's captivating.

A missing child is every parents' worst nightmare!

But... to be honest it isn't my favorite! I was into it from the start but then for a few chapters it felt like it was about going to school, picking the kids up, waiting to see your 'new friend' and 'her' kids, see if that kid you see is your missing child... getting to know your 'new friend' and 'her' kids... see who is who, what's going on...

It wasn't fast paced but yet not boring at all,.Shalini has a way to get you to feel for the characters and keep you turning the pages to see what's happening next, what's happened in the past, what's the connection.... ... ... you just want to know.

I liked it a lot and can't wait to read what Shalini Boland writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I didn't have a very open mind going into this book - I had expectations of a run of the mill story and a predicable plot but I was wrong!

Rachel lost her daughter, 7 years ago and now, she is sure that she has found her again, in the form of another school child, that is new to her town. The chapters alternate between now and then and eventually the stories catch up with each other. I was blown away by the characterisations in this book and the plot line did not disappoint. Shalini is a fantastic author and she surprised me yet again with this easy to read, relatable book.

You will fall for Rachel and you will want her to ease her pain so badly.

I loved this read!

This book is gripping and the character of Rachel is excellently formed. I really like the start of this book, lots of time is spent on how Rachel’s life if thrown into turmoil when she thinks her missing daughter is found.

What I am not so keen on is after the twist...which I guessed just before it was revealed. Although I guessed the twist it does not make sense. Or rather, as you read on you see it can make sense BUT this latter part of the story needs a huge amount of explanation but we get a mere few chapters. Maybe it is the social worker in me that finds this part more intriguing, that wants to know how this twist would impact on Jess, how would the real Jess and the real Rachel have been affected by the abduction and the reunification. What do Matt and Charlie do....

This is a good book but I feel the end is really only the very beginning of a very interesting story....I wish that one had been told.

When I saw Shalini Boland had a new book coming out I just knew I had to read it, didn’t even need to read the blurb as this is one of my go to authors. This latest book did not disappoint.

The story is about a mother, Rachel, who’s little girl is snatched from a shopping centre play area whilst she is having a coffee and chat with a friend. Rachel just takes her eyes away from her daughter for a minute or two and then she is gone.

Nine years later Rachel has a new husband and two children but she hasn’t stopped thinking about her missing daughter. Then one afternoon whilst picking up her children from school she meets Kate, a new Mum at the school. They get chatting and it seems as though they and their children are going to be the best of friends but then Rachel meets Kate’s eldest daughter. She is exactly like her missing daughter, so much so that it stops Rachel in her tracks. Can this really be her missing daughter from nine years ago ?

This book is absolutely brilliant and if you’ve read any of the authors previous books you will know that there is going to be some twists coming !! The writing is superb and will have you engrossed form the first few pages and if you are anything like me you will be trying to think of all the possible outcomes, although you just know you’ll never work it out.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

5 Thrilling Mystery Stars
THANK YOU for this engrossing story. Losing a child is the worst nightmare a parent can have. The fear is always there. This author took that Idea and ran with it. Every detail led you another important moment. Captured my mind and could put it down.

Oh my goodness, wow wow wow. I have just finished this 5 star whopper of a book and my brain is still digesting it as I type. I absolutely loved this book, and really got drawn in to Rachel's life and her pain at losing her daughter. It was so fast paced and full of intrigue that I really struggled to put it down, and when I had to I found myself thinking about it a lot! The twists and turns were fantastic and I absolutely did not see any of it coming. Brilliant. My first book by this author but certainly will not be my last.

This psychological thriller was a quick read that had me questioning the characters’ motives right up until the last page. I thought that the author did a good job of laying the groundwork for the reader to believe one thing while crafting a sub-story that was equally plausible. There were more than a few “Oh, no way” moments, and the big reveal did surprise me (that’s hard to do). For a more detailed review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of this book.

I always look forward to reading Shalini Boland's books because I know I am in for twists, turns and a real surprise ending. This book certainly did not disappoint. Catriona abducts a little girl from the shopping mall play area. Rachel, the mother of the abducted girl Holly, never gives up hoping she finds her alive. Rachel meets a new mum at school, Kate, who has two children the same age as Rachel's children, Amy and Kieran. Kate also has an older daughter Bella. When Rachel meets Bella, she is sure it is the daughter who was abducted years ago. The story is told in a new and now format with then being narrated by Catriona and now by Rachel. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of another great Shalini Boland book in exchange for an honest review.

And Breathe!!!!................My head is all over the Place!!!!

What a fantastic and cracking read the lastest book by Shalini Boland is. The Other Daughter was Just............WoW...........OMG.........Brilliant in every way. It had lots of twists and turns, it was fast pace throughout. It had fantastic engaging characters that all fitted in well with in the story and best of all......What a brilliant ending!!!! I didn't see that coming!
My head is all over the place.........Now this is a book I highly recommend! Especially as I could not put it down!

"Nine years ago her daughter was taken. And now she’s back"

Little Holly is two and a half and she is playing happily in a pink playhouse whilst her mum is chatting away with her friend nearby drinking coffee. Everything seems to be ok until Rachel goes and gets Holly.

Holly is no where to be found! Panic! Every parents worst nightmare has just begun!!!

Holly has been taken by a stranger!

Will her daughter Holly ever be found?

Nine years later, Rachel is living a new quiet life in Dorset. She is happy, she has a new family, and a loving partner. She is trying to keep a big secret that is safely locked away about her past. However, in the blink of an eye this secret is about to resurface again.

One afternoon Rachel meets a new parent called Kate, who was picking up her children at the local school. Rachels world is turned up side down when she see's Kates teenage daughter called Bella. She recognises that face anywhere.....It's her missing daughter Holly.

Rachel will stop at nothing to get her back…............Will Rachel Loose everything to get Holly Back!

What a book!!

This is the Sixth Book I have read By Shalini Boland and I can Honestly say she is my Favourite Psychological author. She surprises me every time when I open her books I become part of the story.

Massive Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

As parents, one of our worst nightmares would be to lose a child. I cannot even begin to imagine how much worse the pain would be to know that your child is gone just because you took your eye off her for a few minutes. Because, in reality, sometimes those few minutes are all it takes. 

The Other Daughter is about such a loss. This book is written from two different perspectives. That of Rachel Farnsborough, a mother of two whose first child, Holly, went missing when she was nearly three, abducted by a mysterious stranger in a hoodie. And that of Catriona Devon, the mysterious stranger in a hoodie who took Holly. Nine years after, Rachel has moved from where that tragic incident took place and is now living in a quiet town, Dorset, with her two children and boyfriend. One day, she goes to pick up her children from school and meets a new parent, Kate Morris and her own kids. However, as soon as Rachel lays eyes on Kate's eldest, Bella, she is convinced that Bella is her missing daughter. She is determined to prove it and get her daughter back.

This was my first book by Shalini Boland and I can safely say it would not be my last. This book was engrossing with an exceedingly surprising surprise ending which totally blew me away. When I first saw the blurb I hoped it would be as good as it sounded. I was not disappointed.

I found myself feeling so sorry for Rachel especially when I realized she had not told anybody in her new life about Holly's disappearance. She preferred to deal with the pain by herself. Matthew, her boyfriend and father of her last child, was extremely supportive of her when she told him but I couldn't help but feel that he was a bit much sometimes.

Writing from the different perspectives was a genius decision on the author's part. I was able to sympathize partly with Catriona even though what she did was horribly wrong. She was also a victim in her own way.

There was, however, one part of the book which got to me. When Rachel first told Matthew about Holly, he insisted she get counseling. That is something which is expected if you lose a child. Any parent would be traumatized and should get counseling. However, Rachel started asking him if he thought she was mentally unstable. There are people who are stable who go for counseling. Admitting you need help dealing with issues does not make you mentally unstable.

Violence: None
Sexual Content: None
Profanities: Very mild
Religious Themes: None

Teo and a half year old Holly was abducted from a shopping centre play area while her mother was talking to a friend.she was never found.

Nine years have went by since Holly's disappearance. Rachel meets a new mum at the school gates. They have just moved to the area from London. Rachel has led a quiet life in Dorset. No one, not even her boyfriend knew off her past, that her oldest daughter Holly had been abducted. When she walks Kate back to her car, she is shocked when she sees her eldest daughter, Bella. Bella is the mirror image off how Holly would look today. Rachel is convinced that Bella is her missing daughter. Rachel does everything in her power to try and find out the truth.

OMG Shalini Boland! You have messed with my head and my sleep! I had the intention to read a fee chapters before I went to sleep, ut i couldn't put the book down! This story is told in a duel timeline. The present day and from when Holly was abducted. We are told the story from Rachel and Cationas point of view. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Rachel, no one believed her. This book is tense, very well written, cleverly crafted and executed. I couldn't believe what Rachel got up to but I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. And WOW, I never saw that ending coming. Shalini Boland is one of my favourite authors. I highly recommend this page turning, gripping and shocking read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Shalini Boland for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.