This was an excellent novel. With brilliant main characters and a wonderful plot, this book is a real page turner. I would highly recommend this book.

Wow. This book. So good. Lorna is a child that teacher Claire takes a liking to. The relationship between them is nourished throughout the pages. Claire is protective of Lorna, whom is a bit shy. During the relationship between Lorna and Claire, a new character is introduced Marianne and another bond in a way is formed. What is the relationship between the three? The lead up to the ending is edge of your seat thrills. I never saw the ending coming. Awesome book for a read that will keep you reading until the last page. Thanks to NetGalley for the galley copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Last year was the year of romance. But this year, I am leaning towards it being the year for mysteries and thrillers because these books that I have been reading are GOOD!!! WOW. This one was yet another one I can add to my list of thrillers that I love. It's filled with everything I want in one... Lies, manipulation, and more lies. The characters, while not that likeable, make the story even better (and this is something I wouldn't normally feel). The plot is rich, the suspense is fantastic, and the ending left me extremely satisfied. Well done on this book, Frances Vick. I will certainly be looking for more of your novels in the future!

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and the story line was interesting and kept my attention all the way through to the end of the book. A solid 5 out of 5.

Though its plot is slightly improbable, this novel takes you on a ride with characters that I initially loved. Twists and revelations made for a change of heart on my part. Sensational ending was one I never saw coming.. I enjoyed the story and hated to see it end.

3 Stars.

Another book of two halves, the first half being quite slow going and very descriptive of Claire - her home life, teaching, her relationship with her mum.

Then we skip a year forward and we have Claire's strange investigation of a paedophile and then the implausible storyline of Claire, the supposed do-gooder, by the book teacher, who rescues Lorna.

The book massively improves at the cottage but for me it was too late really. And then we are introduced to Marrianne who randomly appears, but who somehow then becomes a key part of the story.

The characters were all unlikeable even the sub characters like Derek, and this may put some people off as it's hard to engage with a book when you aren't really rooting for any of them.

Then there's Lorna, I can't say much without spoilers but I thinks it's clear from the outset what is going on with her and the way it escalates so quickly at the end and with Marianne was a tad far fetched I think.

This book has a lot of 5 star reviews so maybe it's one of those that will divide people.

An OK read for me and I would read more by the author as I think her books will get better and better.

You have to read it to believe it. Really, this was my first book of 2017 and I am so glad I read it. This is one of those stories that will make you doubt everything you think you know. You never know who to believe or what is going to happen next, and you can feel something for each of the characters.

This book took me by surprise, completely. I like mysteries, but it is rare that I find one that is impossible to figure out. This book deals with many different themes, including loneliness, abuse, neglect, love and friendship and handles each of them with dignity.

The author's writing is not only clear and concise, but also feels personal. You can tell that she cares about the story she is telling. If you haven't had the chance to read this book yet, I recommend that you do so. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a complementary copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is easily one of the best thrillers I have ever read. There were so many shocking twists and turns that I just couldn't put this book down. I definitely recommend this book to any and every thriller lover. Definitely looking forward to more thrillers by Frances Vick!

having read this not sure what I think of it as it is very warped and deals with something very scary and hard reading.

it was okay but I didn't really like the book as much as I thought I would as it was a bit too horrible I what was happening

This book was nothing short of brilliant. I read it in a couple of hours. Full of tension and in places terror. An absolute cracker of a book.

Interesting plot idea but I pretty much figured out what was going on pretty early on-I didn't think it was that suspenseful.

I tried and tried but just couldn't get into this book. I'm about 30% into it and any real story line has yet to appear. I like he authors style of writing and it's very easy to read but there was nothing to keep me reading.

Creepy thriller, lots of twists including the last one!
Well written story of an apparently neglected child taken under her teachers wing. What started as concern develops into a bit of an obsession and a complicated relationship soon develops between Claire and Lorna. Through glimpses of the news and Lorna's strange behaviour, realisation daws for Claire (and this reader) that all is not what it seems. A second adult enters the fray and it's all rapidly down hill from there. Found the narrative dragged a bit in places - but at the same time didn't want to put it down! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance review copy

I really enjoyed this book, it's a different take on a psychological novel.
Claire is a teacher in a state school in London and wants to help and support a young pupil, Lorna Bell, who is from a dysfunctional family on the local estate. Lorna is pleased with the attention she gets from Claire and starts to tell her about the abuse she suffers at home from a family friend, and also her stepdad.
Claire then becomes embroiled in helping Lorna escape from her family, but, when they meet an enigmatic stranger called Marianne, it soon transpires that Lorna may not be telling the truth.
Claire comes across as a decent person who only has Lorna's interests at heart, and desperately wants to believe Lorna. It's only later that Claire worries about the repercussions of what she has done, and whether Lorna can be helped at all.
I will definitely be looking out for another novel from this author.

I enjoyed this book including the story line and the different characters. I kept changing my mind as it went through as to whether the outcome would be that she was "bad" or if it was all in the mind of others. Thought it was a good paced book and enjoyed the ambigiousness to some extent of the ending.

A compelling read. Shades of "The Bad Seed" and definitely enjoyed the idea of a psychological thriller involving a child as the antagonist. Claire had many layers, and the loneliness she lived with was her moving force to take to a child like Lauren and open herself to wanting to have a purpose in life. Well written.