Shalini Boland is one of my favourite “go to” authors as I know that I will always get an involving family oriented storyline with a shocking twist. And The Other Daughter certainly delivers on all counts! My jaw was firmly planted on the floor throughout and although it’s never all about the twist for me, this one is a corker!

Nine years ago Rachel’s daughter was abducted whilst she sat having coffee with a friend and was never seen again. Fast forward and Rachel is living with Matt, her daughter Jess and son Charlie when she meets a mum in the school playground who has just moved to the area. They hit it off straight away but when Kate introduces Rachel to her 12 year old daughter Bella, Rachel is shocked you see that she is the image of her lost daughter Holly…

I really felt for Rachel who was obviously struggling to cope mentally with the lose of her daughter and meeting Kate seemed to be a catalyst for a further breakdown in her mental health. It became very uncomfortable at times to watch her determination to prove that Bella is her daughter as she was so tunnel visioned in her search for proof that it began to affect her relationships within her own family and friendship circle. But it was impossible not to feel sorry for her after all she had been through.

This was such an addictive and intriguing storyline that I read it from cover to cover in one single session, unable to put it down until I had squeezed every drop of tension from it that I could. The twists and turns towards the end need a lot of concentration so be warned! Another highly recommended book from Shalini Boland!

I have read all of Shalini Bolands books so far and loved them all. This one is an exception however. I have to say I cant give it my normal 5 stars that I've given the other books.
What I didn't like about the book:
1. The theme was not original. It was another child abduction story, I'm so tired of reading child abduction stories.
2. The middle of the book dragged. I felt it lacked something that kept the story from moving forward.
What I did like:
1. What Shalini Boland does well is adding uniqueness in her storyline so even though she chose a.common theme, she made the story itself unique.
2. Lots and lots of twists so there will definitely be a huge surprise for the reader at the end.
4/5 stars I give this book!
She is a good writer.

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

Two-and-a-half-year-old Holly is playing happily in a pink plastic playhouse, while her mother Rachel sips coffee and chats with a friend nearby. It should be an ordinary day for all of them. But, in the blink of an eye, it turns into every family’s worst nightmare.

Holly is taken by a stranger and never found.

Nine years later, Rachel is living a quiet life in Dorset. She’s tried to keep things together since the traumatic day when she lost her eldest daughter. She has a new family, a loving partner and her secrets are locked away in her painful past.

Until one afternoon when Rachel meets a new school parent Kate and her teenage daughter Bella. Rachel’s world is instantly turned upside down – she’s seen Bella before. She’d recognise that face anywhere – it’s her missing child.

And she will stop at nothing to get her back…

This book epitomises the scenario that every parent dreads; your child being abducted. We're all guilty of taking our eye off the ball, something distracts us and we turn away, in that split second our whole world can come crashing down around us and that's what happened to Rachel, when someone took Holly and she was never found. Fast forward nine years when she meets Kate and her daughter, Bella and Rachel is certain that this is, in fact, her daughter Holly.

The story is told over two timelines and two perspectives; Then by Catriona and Now by Rachel, the characters are believable and I was so sucked into Rachel's story that I found myself desperate for her to uncover the truth, I was right beside her on those pages living that hell with her, and just when I thought I knew where this was heading, came the twist, like a sucker punch to the gut, a holy WTF moment and I was completely floored. WOW!!! It is so cleverly plotted, depicting the desperation of a grieving mother and the lengths she will go to, to get to the truth and the consequences this could create. A fast paced read, full of suspense which I highly recommend.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Overall: 3/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5 Stars
Believability: 3/5 Stars
Personal Opinion: 3/5 Stars

Even with my category breakdowns, I'm having a hard time rating this. Please note that the little bit I mention may be considered a mild spoiler, though I'm trying to be as vague as possible.

I struggled through the bulk of this book with the main character's actions and choices in the circumstances as they were presented. So much of it just never rang true or as believable or realistic to me. If I had to rate this as it stood before the plot wraps up at the end of the book, this would have been incredibly low because of those issues.

The ending turned it all around. Things finally begin to work as you get to understand why those were issues, but I didn't get genuinely invested until that point. It was difficult to keep wanting to read that far without just giving up on the story as being on the ridiculous side. I could almost give category ratings to the beginning of the book and the end of the book because of how I felt about the different parts.

I am glad I stuck with it because, in the end the story was interesting. It was frustrating to get there, but it was good.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions stated are honest and my own.

WOW! WOW! WOW!

I read this is two days! I found it almost impossible not to turn to the end and find out what was really going on. The book is told using the point of view of a character from the past and one from the present, The author, Shalini Boland, has done an amazing job of making the main character, from the present, into someone I would cheer on and at other times cringe and feel alarmed for because I was afraid she was going to get in a lot of trouble. If you've ever silently screamed, "Oh no! Don't do that!" while reading a book, you understand what I mean. On the other hand, the character from the past is difficult to like.

This was was truly quite the roller coaster ride that twists, turns and screeches to an alarming conclusion. I loved it!

Wow.... What a fantastic book. I was hooked from the first page and it is a complete page turner.
The book is told in 2 timelines. The present day and when the child was abducted. The characters were likeable and realistic. The plot was well thought out and perfectly
The ending was a huge twist and something that I was not expecting. Brilliant ending.

Overall, this is an addictive psychological thriller. A highly recommended read.

A brilliant psychological thriller that keeps you gripped right to the very end. Shalini is very clever with the way she writes leaving you travelling on a rollercoaster of emotions as you read. It is a story of every parent’s nightmare when the unthinkable happens and your child is abducted. What do you do how do you carry on living for the sake of the rest of your family. Shalini has done it again with another fantastic read that you won’t want to put down until you’ve read the whole book. Highly recommended if you love this genre. Shalini is the Queen of psychological thrillers.

Rachel had her little daughter Holly taken from her one day and now 9 years later , she's living in a different city with her younger daughter Jess, her boyfriend and the son they got together. She left everything in the past and didn't even mention Holly to her boyfriend until one day she meets a new family that moved in their city and one of their daughters looks like exactly how her daughter Holly would look like today.

I really enjoyed this mystery thriller and kept me on my toes, wondering what was going on with all these then and now scenes. These flashbacks had me questioning everything though and the twist sadly was predictable for me. Maybe not to everyone, but it was for me. It didn't take much from my pleasure, but it didn't emmit the shock value it intended either.

Even though I'm a scaredy cat and I avoid thrillers and horror stories, this was definitely an easy one and I recommend it , especially if you're like me you have nothing to worry about :)

The Other Daughter is the second Shalini Boland book I have read and it certainly won't be the last! Rachel lives a quiet life in Dorset, with her daughter, son and loving boyfriend and has tried to put the past behind her. When a new family enrolls at school Rachel is startled to recognize her new friend Kate's daughter Bella. Except, when Rachel knew her-she was named Holly and was her daughter. Rachel's daughter Holly was taken at the age of 2 and desperate to start over after her daughter was never found and her relationship collapsed she did not share her past with her current friends and family.

Desperate to prove Bella is the missing Holly, Rachel tries to gather as much evidence as possible. With the story told in alternating timelines and a twist you won't see coming, The Other Daughter is another hit for Boland!

I have read and enjoyed other books by Boland in the past, so I was looking forward to her latest and this one really delivers!! It is a great thriller that really reels in the reader from the very start. It opens with a past abduction and alternates with a more immediate plot in the present, when Rachel meets a new family at the pick-up line for school and finds herself staring at a young girl that she recognizes as her own abducted daughter.

The past and present storylines present more and more secrets, making this one harder and harder to put down! With quick pacing, this page turner can easily be a one-sitting read! And though I did expect a twisting plot, I must admit to being truly shocked here. Sometimes big twist endings feel manipulative to the reader, but this one really never struck that chord with me. This is a genuinely absorbing and entertaining read that I really loved reading!

This would be a perfect book for a plane ride or any time that you know you can sit and read undisturbed for a while. I am looking forward more than ever now to catching up the past titles of Boland's that I have missed, as well as will be continuing to keep an eye out for her in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the other daughter by Shalini Borland. Her books are some of my favorite so I jumped at the chance to read this one. The thing about her books is the characters are a bit whiney but you get passed it because of all the amazing twists and turns her books throw at you. This was another heart pounding psychological thriller and I definitely recommend.

The Other Daughter
by Shalini Boland
Publication date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Bookouture
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description
Nine years ago her daughter was taken. And now she’s back.Two-and-a-half-year-old Holly is playing happily in a pink plastic playhouse, while her mother Rachel sips coffee and chats with a friend nearby. It should be an ordinary day for all of them. But, in the blink of an eye, it turns into every family’s worst nightmare.
Holly is taken by a stranger and never found.Nine years later, Rachel is living a quiet life in Dorset. She’s tried to keep things together since the traumatic day when she lost her eldest daughter. She has a new family, a loving partner and her secrets are locked away in her painful past.Until one afternoon when Rachel meets a new school parent Kate and her teenage daughter Bella. Rachel’s world is instantly turned upside down – she’s seen Bella before. She’d recognise that face anywhere – it’s her missing child.And she will stop at nothing to get her back…
😱📕📗MY REVIEW📘📙
Every book I have read by this author has been good. I knew when I started this book it would be good .......Wow , just Wow ! Shalini Boland just totally blew my mind away with The Other Daughter. From the very first page I was hooked. I started this book this morning and did not put it down til I reached the last page. Talk about a mind blowing twist ! The ending had me in total shock . I had to sit up and re read it because it totally blew my mind. This is one ending I did not see coming. I read these kinds of books everyday so to surprise me like this is very rare.The plot is really good, the characters are so real ,and the pace is perfect. If you have not read this yet , you definitely need to ! The other daughter is the best most shocking psychological thriller I have read this year . If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. I can't wait to read her next book ! Thank you netgalley, Bookouture and Shalini Bolan for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheOtherDaughter
#netgalley

Wow! I really thought I knew how it was going to end, but I ended up being surprised. As I read more and more thrillers it has gotten harder and harder for me not to guess the correct plot twist so this was a 5 star read for me. This is my 5th Shalini Boland book, and she never disappoints. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

I love a good Shalini Boland book- it really makes a nice change from thrillers that are all based around murders or police investigations.

What Shalini Boland offers in her books are more like a psychological thriller based around families or just the average Joe. There’s never anything ramped up or unbelievable about her characters. They really are just basic people. And for that reason I really feel like I can connect with her books. I’ve read most of her current novels and when I hammer out some free time I do plan to explore her back catalogue.

And in Shalini’s current book tells the tale of every parents worst nightmare. Rachel turns her back for a moment and someone takes her daughter.

The story is set in both present day and parts of the past.

In present day we’re in Rachel’s life, years after her daughter was taken. She’s moved on as well as she possibly can and now is settled down with her boyfriend Matt, her daughter from her previous marriage and Charlie her young son whom she has with Matt.

One day a new family appears on the school playground who have just moved to the countryside from London. And once Rachel sets eyes on one of the children she becomes convinced that the eldest child Bella is indeed her abducted daughter- Holly. And she will go to great lengths to prove it.

Then in the past we’re in the life of Catarina- the abductor- the woman who stole young Holly from the shopping centre play area while Rachel’s back was turned. On this side of the tale we learn what the reasons were for the abduction.

I really got sucked in to this story- the writing style is phenomenal as per usual and Shalini really knows how to keep you hooked to a story. And all the while you know that there is a twist coming- and you keep attempting to figure it out…..thinking back if there has been any hints or tips as to where this may lead….but honestly there was nothing!

So when the twist came- I was shocked! I could not believe it! I mean I’m not going to tell you what it is….but it’s a good one! And I’m usually one of those people who can spot the signs and predict where a story will lead- but this one blind sided me!

For me this was a 5* read and I cant wait to see what Shalini comes up with next!

Another great read from Shalini Boland.

Rachel’s daughter Holly was abducted 7 years ago from a shopping centre. Rachel has now moved on and made a new life for herself in a new area. Everything is great until a new family move to the area with an older daughter who looks exactly like Holly would now

A fast paced and quick read with a great twist - highly recommended

If you have been reading Shalini Boland’s books, you know that her stories are always engrossing, fast paced and have unexpected twists. This book is no different and keeps you hooked till the end, though not all aspects of the story tie up realistically.

Rachel works hard to bring balance to her life after her eldest daughter Holly is kidnapped. Her partner leaves her with a young toddler (Jess) to care for. Nine years later, she has a loving partner in Matt now, and they raise two kids – Jess & Charlie. The pains of the past return as she meets a new couple Shaun & Kate who move into the area with their three kids. Rachel feels their daughter Bella bears a striking resemblance to her lost daughter Holly.

While not entirely clear on how she should approach this, Rachel is determined to pursue this as she feels strongly drawn to Bella. She digs into Shaun & Kate’s backgrounds with vigour, determined to trace their story.

The story has you hooked and is a page turner from start to finish. It is also very well written and is a pleasure to read. Some aspects of the story are unrealistic though, not everything ties up cleanly and does detract from the impact at the end.

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

This one grabbed me from the get-go. Rachel's daughter Holly was kidnapped from a shopping mall nine years ago. You experience this from two perspectives: Rachel's in present day and the kidnapper's from back then. Now Rachel has a steady boyfriend and two kids. She has not told her boyfriend about the awful thing that happened in her past. This part really struck me as strange but the way Rachel tells it you almost understand why she just wanted to move on. As a mother, though, it was really hard to imagine myself moving on if my child was missing. The reader slowly gets parts of the kidnapping story through the perspective of the kidnapper. These sections were exciting as they slowly revealed details of the past. Rachel meets a new family in town and thinks they have her kidnapped daughter. She constantly does really dumb things but it is understandable because she thinks she will be rescuing her daughter from this family that she thinks kidnapped her daughter. There was a big twist near the end of the book. I did not see it coming but I'm still kind of questioning whether it works or not. If you like suspenseful thrillers with a twist I would recommend trying this book out to see what you think.

In the past I have read a few of Boland's books in the past, and was excited to get an advance copy of this book. I immediately devoured the book and could hardly put it down! There are twists and turns that you never expect. The characters are well written and you find yourself falling in love with them and rooting for them throughout the book. Great read, and one that I would recommend.

This is my first book by the author and it initially appealed to me because the plot sounded awesome!

I know there is an argument that psychological thrillers dont need in depth characters but I do believe they need some depth, for me this was the biggest issue when reading this book, it felt like a one dimensional sketch.

The page count is low therefore some meat could be put on these bones without it turning into a beast of a book, the ideas are brilliant but the execution is half hearted and it's so repetitive I found my mind drifting a fair bit.

However it is a total no effort short readable thriller so if that's your bag, this is your book.

2 stars from me.

Why is Shalini Boland not a household name? This is the 4th 5-star book from her that I have read and she is AMAZING!!! Mind-blowing plotlines and endings you never see coming! This one is no different! Is Bella Rachel's missing Holly? Yes, I had a few questions about the in between the abduction and now times, but that still did not take away from a GREAT read!!

A big THANK YOU to #NetGalley and @bookouture for this ARC!
#TheOtherDaughter