A mistake, clearly, to read this first in the series after a later title (the 7th!). It's left me wondering whether I would have given that book a more positive review if I'd read the two books in the correct order. However, on balance, I think not since the same strengths and weaknesses are present in both books. Starting with the strengths: the basic proposition of the expert psychotherapist who finds herself swept up in a criminal investigation is perfectly credible and offers many opportunities for plot development; 'Ms French' is able to develop suspense very skilfully, which makes the book hard to put down as a critical phase of the plot is reached; and descriptive text is sometimes very effective in creating atmosphere, location or mood. Less effective elements include inadequately developed characters, particularly the police officers who feature here; rather implausible storylines where the lead character is drawn into an active criminal investigation in a way that would be a dream opportunity for any defence lawyer; plot twists that stretch the reader's credulity (spoiler alert - surely someone would suspect the evil twin of taking the place of the brother who had been in therapy); and a concern that the lead character is - on the basis of reading two books in the series - exceptionally unfortunate to find herself an active key player, rather than an expert psychotherapist brought in to assist the investigation, in an unfolding crime drama in each book. Despite these reservations I enjoyed both books and feel that there is potential for less pot-boiler type offerings from this writing duo

I started reading this book because I got selected to review Sunday Morning Coming Down and Michael Joseph kindly gave me this book to start with.

I would have preferred to give this book 3 1/2 stars as opposed to 4, but I settled on 4 because it was better than OK, but it definiely had things that needed to be worked on. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. For me personally the book starts slow and builds up. I will admit that I developed a theory a little over half way through, and towards the end I stayed up half the night reading because I just wanted to know if I was right. The clever thing that Nicci French did so well <spoiler> was that I was so focused on whether I had guessed the twist was that I entirely missed the other one at the very end </spoiler>.

The character of Frieda Klein is interesting, she's aloof and a little standoffish and I don't often feel that you get a character who is so complex that I didn't find her instantly likeable. But at the same time I think that helped me like her more. The plot was intricate at times, but a bit to linear at others. I am intrigued as to where the books go next, or perhaps just where it ends, as the thought of reading another 6 books in this series is overwhelming (this is what happens when you come late to the party) but at the same time I'd be intrigued as to what happens to Dr. Klein.

Nicci French, who hasn't heard of this duo yet? Each book is a jewel and hard to lay down, also this book.
The story keeps you interested up until the last page, the last word. Sorry it was over...

I have loved and enjoyed Nicci French books for many years and I am never disappointed. Well done on yet another great success!

This is the first book in the Frieda Klein series and indeed the first book I have read by Nicci French. I read it to give me some background to the 7th book in the series, Sunday Morning Coming Down (which I'm just about to start).

I found Blue Monday very enjoyable. Frieda is a psychotherapist and is quite a complex character. She likes order and routine in her life and maintains boundaries between her work and personal life but also takes risks with what seems like little regard for her personal safety. Although slightly odd I liked her character.

I should say it did take me a little while to really get into the story of two child abductions many years apart. Initially I found the different threads a little bit confusing but after a slow-ish start (on my part) it all came together and I found the book quite hard to put down.

I'm not always the best at solving mysteries and crimes but I was on the right track with the twists in this one so I suppose for me it was slightly predictable. I still enjoyed the story as I liked the storytelling to get to the ending.

I'm looking forward to reading Sunday Morning Coming Down. I am hoping that some of the characters in Blue Monday will still be around.

I enjoyed this book
Good characters
Good story worth while taking the chance to read

I read the 6th book in this series first so I know some of the stuff I shouldn't know, stuff didn't shock me as it should've done.

Enjoyable read though as I like to see how series start and to follow the characters as they change and grow.

Brilliant. Another really good book by Nicci French. I was totally pulled into this book from the start. I read it in one sitting. I really wanted to know what happened. It is very well written and the plot is brilliant. This is really good crime writing. The characters are really believable and interesting. Want to sit now and read it again.

The first half of this book is full of seemingly unrelated people and events. Do not be put off! The level of tension increases from then on and in spite of some predictable occurrences, I enjoyed meeting the characters and completing the story.

Here in a twisted thriller we meet Freida Klein and all the characters who become her odd family. Enjoyed the story which had a few twists and turns for the characters and the reader.

"He'll probably be dead by now. I feel sorry for the poor bloody teacher who let him go. She's become a hate figure." Frieda didn't really hear what he was saying. She was scanning the story about Matthew Faraday who had slipped out of his Islington primary school unnoticed on a Friday afternoon and been last seen going towards a sweetshop a hundred yards or so away..."

This is the first book in this series where we meet Frieda Klein. She is a psychotherapist, with her own interesting history and thoughts. She leads a controlled life, one she is giving a try at sharing. The story takes place in London. When a 5 year old disappears, Frieda makes a connection to one of her patients. The man describes a child he sees in his dream that matches the missing child.

This book is a great set up and introduction into Frieda and her character. There are currently six more books after this one. As a fan of series, with criminal story lines, I look forward to seeing where this series takes us.

Frieda is reluctant to help the police? DCI Karlsson tries to appeal to her. A past similar crime reminds him of this one. Could Frieda help him unravel the puzzle? Leaving her carefully constructed world isn't easy for her. Is her patient responsible? What will she risk to find the answers? Suspense, and a few shocking surprises will keep you glued to this story. Is Matthew even still alive, or does a monster darken her office? Her personal issues, and her own changes, make Frieda an interesting character.

This first book drew me in so much, that I purchased the next five in the series, and have the seventh one lined up to read through Netgalley!

Thank you Nicci French, Netgalley and Penguin UK Publishers

Lost child story with a difference blending psychoanalysis with detective work. Brilliant writing but perhaps confusing to start with. Keep reading though this is well worth taking the time for the real story to develop.

What a great start to a series.
I really enjoyed this book because it was different than other crime novels. It had me gripped from the start and I found it difficult to put down. It is well written and I totally recommend it.

Thanks to Net Galley & Penguin Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. I'v read quite a few books by Nicki French but this is the 1st one I have read featuring Frieda Klein - wow ! Can't wait to read more
Frieda is a strong feisty character who does not take no far an answer. She is a psychoanalyst, single, and lives in London Her work is her life, she allows little time for family or personal relationships.
This story is based around Alan, one of her clients. A child has been abducted and Frieda has a sense that Alan knows something about it.
But does he? Frieda puts her professional ethics aside and goes to the police, she wins the respect and trust of the officer in charge and they work together. There was a similar case over twenty years ago and they believe the 2 cases to be linked.
There are many secrets in this story to be revealed, lots of surprises right until the end.
A brilliantly written suspense thriller, fast paced page turner which I highly recommend.

This story is about a psychologist who through one of her clients gets involved in two cases of missing children that are twenty years apart,

I am a huge fan of these authors normally but this book missed the mark for me. The story seemed to jump about quite a bit. In one paragraph you can be reading about one character and then quite suddenly in the next paragraph I will realise that I am reading about a different character entirely. The second half of the book was much better than the first half. I felt the ending was totally unrealistic but not entirely unexpected. I will not be reading anymore books in this series as I really didn't like the main character very much at all.

The first in the Frieda Klein series, this book introduces us to psychotherapist Frieda, who is at first a cold aloof character with a habit of walking the streets of London in the early hours. The subject matter of child abduction is disturbing but cleverly written and keeps the reader turning the pages till the end. And it really is a brilliant ending! This is an excellent police procedural/psychological thriller. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity of reading this book. I had read it years ago and rereading it reminded me just how good it was.

Sorry, could not finish this book! Thank you for approving me, but I felt that this book wasn't my cup of tea!

What a read! If I could award 6* I would have done! This book was almost like a Chinese puzzle with lots of little pieces which seemed unrelated but eventually all pulled together in the second half of the book. Initially this made it quite hard to get into but persevere because it is well worth it. The story opens onto the lives of a young family broken and turned upside down after their child goes missing. We move forward then in time to meet our main character, Frieda Kline, a middle aged professional single woman who works as a psychotherapist. She is an interesting character, who I think will work well in the planned series of books based around her. A patient is referred to her, Alan, who is depressed and very disturbed by feelings in which he describes as 'not myself'.
I don't want to spoil the plot for others but another child goes missing and Frieda is drawn into the case. I read the last half of this book in one afternoon and was totally blown away by the ending which I was unprepared for. I even woke up in the night and couldn't get the ending out of my head.
I will be eager to read the next book, Tuesday's Gone and hope it will be as well orchestrated as this one.

Wow what an absolutely brilliant book. I hardly ever give 5 stars to a first book in a series but this one really deserved it. I love the character of Frieda and cant wait to learn more about her, her family and the different patients she meets. Josef was my favourite, whenever he appeared he made me smile. In fact I loved all the characters even the baddies as Dean was so bad. I will have to get the rest of the books in this seties as I cannot wait to see what Frieda gets up to next. Will definetly highly recommend this book.

Well, let me just say from the outset that I loved it. A sure giveaway for me is when I look at the percentage of the book I have read and then have a confused reaction. Oh no! I have read 68% that means I have not very much to go and I don’t want it to end – even though I am desperate to know what happens. Such is Blue Monday.

Our hero is Frieda Klein a psychotherapist but do not think of a rational, bookish sort of therapist: here we have a rather closed-off personality who lives very much in her mind; who suffering from insomnia rises from her bed to walk the streets of London dismissive of danger but needing the solitude and exercise to set her mind free to think. Her family – a niece and a sister-in-law seem to be a burden to her one that she is keen to keep at arm’s length presumably because they intrude on her thinking.

Frieda becomes embroiled in an investigation into the disappearance of a five year old boy who is abducted. One of her clients describes a dream replicating this event and Frieda becomes concerned.

This is really, really well-written. Peopled with a host of characters that are well-drawn and believable (well maybe not Josef but then again I really like him). There are quite a lot of characters but is this a strategy to emphasise Frieda’s apparent aloofness, which just gets cast aside as she finds it necessary to relate and interact with the other characters? Which characters did I not like – well obviously the baddies but that is the rule, and maybe her sister-in-law but she does serve a purpose in the narrative, so…

I found Matthew’s contribution to the text unsettling particularly his description of the emergence of Simon. Really, really moving prose, so scary.

I can’t wait to read more about Frieda Klein. Thank you Ms French.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.