This book really Played with my emotions! I was angry, confused then back to being angry but all in a good way because that meant I was totally engaged the whole way through.
This book really does bring the whole school gate mum clique to the forefront and the jealousy that comes with it. Being a mum and a teacher I see it from both sides and what made the book so engaging was that for the most it is really true to what goes on.
The book is fab you will be so angry with the main character but sympathetic with her too, what makes such a strong woman in her career so weak in a playground.
My only criticism was that the book goes back and forth and while I normally don’t mind that I didn’t enjoy it in this book.
Overall it was a great read one I definitely recommend and one with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Sadie has recently returned from the states with her daughter Robin. The main part of the novel deals with her difficulties in establishing her career as a barrister and settling her daughter into the prestigious private school she has a place at. Nightmare school gate mums make life very difficult until they realise that she was an old girl of the school herself and things change overnight. Then one of the girls becomes ill and things start to unravel both at home and work. No more about the plot as I don’t want to post spoilers. Suffice to say the ending really left me wondering about the whole thing. Well written (although in my arc I did have some grammatical and plot bloopers left by the editors). They didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book though so thanks to netgalley and publishers for the chance to read.

I’d been really looking forward to this as a massive Blood Orange fan, Sadie has given up her career as a barrister to embrace motherhood, marriage and a move to the states. But after her marriage collapses she returns to London with her daughter and restarts her career whilst juggling the very pushy mothers at the school she’s managed to enrol her daughter in.
Enjoyed the court case/ barrister side which felt authentic but the main story involving her daughter and the school mums clique just didn’t hang together for me. Having said that a perfect easy read which kept me turning the pages and that’s all we really want isn’t it? To be entertained.

Having absolutely loved and raved about Blood Orange, I was so excited to read the authors next book. So I'm really disappointed to not enjoy it. Like Blood Orange, there is a legal aspect to the plot which is a really interesting element (although unlike in BO, feels a bit...pointless?). Sadie as a protagonist is a really likeable character and you really feel for everything she's been through and continues to go through while being a really great mum to her daughter Robin. All the other characters though? I just did not care for them and the majority were frankly annoying. There are a few random subplots in the book (Sadie's husband, her inheritance) which added little to the story, if maybe a tiny bit of context for Sadie. I also found the alternative chapters from the future really frustrating and unnecessary to add. I would have preferred some flashbacks to Sadie as a child or maybe even from her life back in Amercia. There were a few 'twists' but they just fell flat. I don't think it helps either that the end was so rushed and it felt like a lot was casually brushed under the carpet. An ok read but certainly not what I would define as a 'thriller' and no way a contender for Blood Orange.

After being enthralled in Blood Orange it was only natural to want to read this one next. I got stuck in as soon as it was downloaded and couldn’t put it down. It is similar to Blood Orange in that it has the legal theme running through it. Very well researched in terms of legal information and knowledge.

This book kept me hooked till the last page

Astonishing book.
Hooked from first page to the last. Tells the story of Sadie and Robin who return to England after the failure of Sadie's marriage and the strange goings on at Robins new school
Leaves you with a sense of unease throughout where you suspect all is not what it seems but hard to work out who is the real culprit!
Interesting sections told in a narrative first person perspective make you read faster and add to the tension.
Will definitely be reading this author again

Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I haven't read "Blood Orange" so this is my first by Harriet Tyce, and the jury's out on whether I will read it.

This one started well, if a little confusingly but then developed into yet another story of a high-flying and successful professional woman who shows incredible self-doubt, naivety and frankly stupidity when dealing with her "enemies". I know that Sadie has been away from the workplace for some years and feels vulnerable but she allegedly has kept up her professional standing, quaifications and insurance, but is nonetheless unable to handle conflict of any sort. I think that weakens the respect that ordinarily I might have had for her.

Her situation regarding Andrew and her relationship with him both seem highly unlikely and given that this is why she finds herself in this situation, its a shame it wasn't elaborated and expanded upon.

Nevertheless I did enjoy the book although I found the final chapters a tad rushed; the big reveal was somewhat of a surprise but also I felt somewhat unclear and hazy..

Recommended but in a half-hearted manner I'm afraid.

When Sadie moves back to London, she's determined to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.
First, she needs to get her daughter settled into a new school - one of the most exclusive in town. Next, she's going to get back the high-flying criminal barrister career she sacrificed for marriage.
But the school doesn't welcome newcomers.

Firstly, thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for a prerelease e-book copy of this book.

Well I was expecting big things from Harriet Tyce’s new novel due to my love for Blood Orange and it did not disappoint. I read this book in a day. I just wanted to know all of the answers to my questions. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, it is definitely one to add to the pile.
I like how there is so many plots to keep up such as the trial, the situation between Sadie and her husband as well as the events at her daughter’s new school.

The gossipy group of elitist mothers had significant character development, to the point where you wondered about each of their story and suspected their motives.

This book similarly to Blood Orange has a legal focus which I absolutely love in a book and I loved following the trial throughout the book. The trial process was so detailed and you could see how Sadie was struggling with her similarities to the victim and her childhood. The Defendant’s family characters and defence teams were also developed well. It was almost like you forgot about the school and her child whilst reading the trial as the writing is so immersive.

I enjoyed how the book went backwards and forwards to when her child goes missing. It keeps it in the back of your mind when the book and the characters develop.
I would love to see these thrilling stories with a legal background keep coming! Harriet Tyce is becoming one of my favourite authors and I would definitely buy any book she releases! 5🌟 it is available to preorder on Amazon now!