Gillian McAllister goes from strength to strength with her third book - a courtroom drama featuring a woman accused of killing her sister's 8 week old baby. Told from the point of view of both sisters, interspersed with comments from characters involved in the case, such as the judge, a social worker etc the reader has little doubt, with the seemingly irrefutable evidence being presented by the prosecution, how the trial will end. But all is not as it seems and I did guess the ending way before we got there, To me it seemed obvious, no matter how many red herrings were thrown in the course of the story. A gripping and emotional read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review No Further Questions.

Another winner from this author. One of the years MUST READS for any fan of this genre. Twisty and gripping throughout - a well deserved 5 stars.

‘No Further Questions’ by Gillian Mcallister published by Penguin UK Michael Joseph on Oct 24th

A very interesting idea, and sad, where 2 sisters tell the narrative of events leading up to and then including the trial for murder of their 8 week old daughter/neice....Martha, the Mum has Becky, her Sister, nannying ( as she is running a refugee centre in Koz!!) !,and leaves her overnight, just the once, that night the baby dies....it is ruled as a possible murder by means of smothering...but is it? Becky swears shes innocent...Martha wants to believe her....someone is lying...but who??
I mainly enjoyed it, not sure enjoy is the right word but...at times it did get a bit repetitive and Martha and Becky are both pretty unlikeable in their own ways, as are their partners and other characters who come in and out of the book ( as witnesses, again told as ‘on the night’ and then present day at the trial )
Some of the medical detail is harrowing and lengthy but I guess needed for the story
This is not a feel good book with even the occasional light moment, it is a full on psychological dark thriller dealing with a terrible death of a young baby
I guessed the outcome about 50% through
As a concept it is brilliant but at times there was something distant about the book and cold but then again so is the subject matter
Some of the descriptive writing of normal day to day things we all do is brilliant and the research that must have gone into the book is vast
A chilling read and one that will definitely stay with you, not a book you will finish and move onto the next without it ‘being in the back of your mind......
7.5/10

This is a real rollercoaster of a read.
One minute you’re thinking Becky did it and the next you think she’s innocent.
Martha asks her sister, Becky to be her Nanny, and thinks it’s working well. When she has to go on a work trip to Kos and her husband is away too they ask Becky to have Layla.
Layla suffers from reflux and is a very vocal baby and we learn from the chapters told by Becky that she can’t cope with all the crying.
What you have to decide though is did she kill her or was it an accident....
The story unfolds at a steady pace and I loved the way small snippets of information were revealed as the chapters progressed.
The story is mainly set in the court room with flashbacks to the night in question and at times it’s hard hitting, especially if you’re a parent.
I loved the ‘no further questions’ comments in the court room and think this is a great title for this book.
I highly recommend this book if you want to read a gripping thriller which will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Excellent courtroom drama which focuses on two sisters. Martha has left her 8 week old baby Layla in the care of her sister Becky, who is now on trial for Layla's murder. The trial comes almost a year after Layla's death and with the evidence of the witnesses, we slowly find out what exactly happened. The sisters had been extremely close but it soon becomes apparent there has been jealousy and resentment brewing between them that has never before been acknowledged.
I read this book in a matter of hours as I just had to find out what happened to Layla! The book is very well written, and I love how it tackles the way society judges people for their actions without any firm evidence. The characters are extremely well drawn and realistic and I could feel my anxiety levels rising every time Layla kept crying for no obvious reason! I would definitely recommend this book.

Another cracking book from McAllister.
This is a fast paced, exciting court room drama, Becky is on trial for murder, the murder of her sisters baby she was supposed to be caring for.
The story jumps straight into the trial and the events are drip fed to the reader throughout the book.
This is a great read, exciting, and the sensitive subject matter was handled really well.
Highly recommend, and I look forward to the next.

As with the author's debut this is a great story. It is cleverly written and well laid out to keep you guessing what might have happened, and feeling for all the character's involved.

Highly recommend for those who like to be kept guessing and enjoy twists and turns.

Oh my what a book l love a legal storyline but this is so much more it’s a story of two Sisters on different paths with such a sad twist that should but doesn’t break them. I liked Becky then she frustrated me l didn’t like Martha at all but then l felt such compassion for her a roller coaster of emotions. Would l recommend this book - all day long - l now hunting more from this Author

I have read Gillian McAllister’s novels before and the fact that this was a brilliant read came as no surprise.

‘No Further Questions’ follows the court case of Becky, who is on trial for the murder of her sister, Martha’s, baby. Martha appears to have it all, a luxury flat overlooking the sea, attentive husband, brilliant career in charity work and now a baby, Layla.

Martha hires Becky as her nanny as her career takes her overseas. Layla is only eight weeks old and Becky finds Layla dead one morning. Initially believed to be an accidental death it is finally decided that it is murder and Becky is arrested and stands trial, as she appears to have ben the only person in the house at that time. Becky swears she didn’t kill her niece. Martha wants to believe her.

The delicate subject matter is handled with care and consideration and it is written so that each of the main characters is followed at different times. There are numerous sub plots and all is not as it seems between the sisters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin UK – Michael Joseph and Gillian McAllister for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Excellent Read. Highly recommended.

Gillian McAllister never lets me down! This was such a good premise - as always with Gillian's books, I found myself constantly stressing about what on earth I would do in that situation!

Oh what a read! Becky is on trial for a murder. The murder of her sisters baby whilst in her care. She had been employed as her nanny and the evidence shows that Layla died between 8pm and 9pm at night. Becky didn’t report it until the next morning. The defence is cot death. Martha (the baby’s mother) finds it hard to believe that her sister could kill Layla. She has lost her daughter, is she about to lose her sister too? Cleverly told, this is a courtroom drama with so much more to envigle you into the pages. This is told between various characters as the case proceeds. What to think? One minute you think one outcome and then change your mind and then do the same again. A well researched and astutely thought out plot. A twist at the end. A drama and a nightmare to test your emotions. The technicalities of the case although well explained will test your brain as to which way you feel. I had a sneaking suspicion but not until around 85% of the way through and it didn’t spoil it in the least as I couldn’t figure out the evidence. One to make you think and one to enjoy.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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How would you feel if your sister is on trial for the murder of your baby?? Story opens with the trial of Becky who was a child minder to her sister Martha's baby Layla. Layla died in Becky's care, was it an accident or was it murder? Becky is arrested. Martha is unsure of her sister's guilt. What actually happened is unfolded during the course of the story as we hear from both witnesses for the defence and prosecution. The strain causes friction between Martha's husband, Scott as well as her parents. Well characterised and the tense court scenes makes this a page turner.

This is the second book by Gillian that I've read, and I will continue to do this in future!
The book features the death of a baby girl, and who killed her.
The jumping between different characters, between the present and the past was a bit confusing at the start, but I liked it later on - it made me see everything from a different perspective each time. I did not suspect the ending at all, until almost the ending. (no spoilers I promise!)
Well done and recommended.

After reading the previous books by the author I had high hopes for this book but was left quite disappointed, The premise of the book was quite exciting but the book failed to live up to this. The layout left me quite muddled at times and the twist was extremely obvious very early on.

A perfectly plotted brilliantly addictive courtroom drama which puts two sisters at odds with each other and has a strong emotional core running through it that makes you quite teary, especially if you are a parent.

A strong mystery element is secondary really to the human drama playing out on the page it is beautifully insightful and stabs you in the heart for all the right reasons.

This author gets better with every passing book. Definitely in the top few writers doing clever, compelling and original psychological thrillers today. 

Fuller review near publication but quite definitely Highly Recommended.

This is the third novel by Gillian McAllister that I've read. I found the others to be well written but with unlikeable protagonists and I almost didn't request this one. I'm glad I did though. The story is one of two sisters, one of them is accused of killing the other's baby. A horrific thought. The story is presented through the trial of the accused sister, Becky and narrated by her and Martha, baby Layla's mother. In between their narratives we are given the points of view of the various witnesses who are called. This is very effective, it allows the action to be shown rather than told about and I really liked hearing their voices. The novel is skilfully written and Martha's point of view especially is very well done. She loves her sister and wants to believe she is innocent but as she listens to the ever more damning evidence she is plagued by doubts. She knew Becky had a temper but is shocked by what she hears about her sister. Could she be guilty after all? Interspersed with this is her own guilt - if she hadn't gone away for two nights... But what I really liked is the examination of what it is like to be a mother, how everyone assumes that the mother has full responsibility for parenting. Martha's lovely husband, Scott consoles her by telling her he is equally (if not more) to blame. He too was away but it is Martha who everyone thinks should have been there. This is brutally honest about the difficulties of looking after babies, the frustration and yes, rejection that you can feel when all your attempts to soothe a crying baby fail. It won't be for everyone as the subject matter is so hard but I loved it. And full marks for an ending that is believable. A terrific read.

This is the third book by Gillian McAllister. Honestly I cant remember how I found the books, but when the writing makes you feel like your spending time with an old friend its easy to forget that this is only number three! ( it might also be because at one part the book refers to somewhere as “Malory Towers for dogs” which I read two days after a frantic hunt for the perfect kennels for our pups, so I completely related)
‘No further questions’ is the tragic story of sisters, Becky and Martha, separated by tragedy that makes everyone question what really happened. The book is based in the court room, where we are learning what happened to Baby Layla, and who is to blame for her not being here anymore.
We learn that Martha has always wanted to help others, its her nature. When she has the opportunity for her own charity she grabs it with both hands. Having a new baby makes this challenging; she doesn’t want to miss opportunities to help people who have nothing and no one else. Her younger sister Becky feels less fortunate, with one son and now separated from the father she feels that Martha judges her a little. She’s struggling with her job and feels that she is the lesser sister. When Martha offers her a job as Laylas nanny she sees the opportunity to get her life back on track.
As we hear the witness statements we also learn that person’s memories from that day, what they really thought but wont say, or aren’t asked on the stand. One of the narratives is from the Judge, which I really liked, it felt like an insight into their ways, how they deal with things, and how you can easily take your work home with you.
Layla was in Beckys care when she died, but after confessing to having had a few drinks she maintains her Innocence even though she doesn’t remember. She didn’t hurt Layla. She would remember that surely? Yes the crying was getting to her but not to that extent. Her son was so easy in comparison.
I’ll admit I had a suspicion who I thought had done it. (Early on I made the assumption someone had to have intentionally or accidentally killed Layla) I quickly dismissed the idea because we knew they couldn’t have, even thought it was a lightbulb moment when I thought it. As we went through the witness statements and versions of the truth it was obvious something wasn’t quite right, and people knew it. Did Becky really do it? Was it Marc her ex? Who else might have been there?
The family are torn by the trial, Becky and Martha aren’t allowed to communicate. Becky is living with their parents, and her son is living with his dad. It’s an all-consuming topic and really they just need closure.
I really enjoyed the book, I wasn’t surprised at how it happened, but that’s more because it felt like a natural explanation and completely believable.

I loved this book and was engrossed for the whole read. The characters were interesting and very likeable. The drama was well staged and the obvious anguish the sisters parents must have been going through was underplayed to perfection.
I could so easily have given five stars but for one weak point close to the end but I hate spoilers in reviews so I cannot say what. I will however highly recommend this book as a great read that is very hard to put down.
I wish there was a four and a half stars really!!

Great keep you on the seat of your chair good! Couldn't put this one down. Was great from start to finish.


Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book.

Excellent book, started reading in the afternoon and couldn't put it down till finished! I work in court, I am a mother and a sister, so this book caught my attention straight from the first page! Highly recommend!