The opening of this book had me intrigued. But sadly it went a little downhill fast. I found this too slow paced. While the Laura side story kept taking me out of the story. Her parts always made me dislike her more. While I understood her trauma she still came across unlikeable with how she treated people, especially her husband.
By the time the story with Jenny picked up pace it was too late for me to care how it ended.

I have already reviewed this book but under a different author’s name. Please refer to that.
I think this may be because the first authors name isn’t as appealing as this. For some reason the author’s with initials are not. Although JK Rowling would disagree!

This is tense, gripping and completely addictive. I have felt as though I have been watching the events of this one play out. This is realistic and believable, guaranteed to send shivers down the spine of the reader.

This has been completely unpredictable and been a book I have devoured. I literally thought I had this figured out then BANG, a twist thrown in that completely pulls the floor from under you.

I enjoyed this quick read and I sped through it with intrigue. It was a unique perspective taken and I enjoyed reading through this story quite quickly. I did feel engrossed in the story and really didn’t want to put this down!

Dark, disturbing, harrowing at times, but very well written.
I had to put this down a few times as it got to me a bit and then I decided to read it and am glad I did, although I did feel really upset at times. A good book though.

This book is a psychological suspense thriller, a genre which is one of my favourites to read so I was excited to read this. It is told in three alternating viewpoints – Laura (the detective), Niamh (a Special Victims Garda and Laura’s friend) and Jenny, who is their suspect/victim.
I really enjoyed this one and it was a page turner of a book.
Quite a dark book but overall a good read.

A darkly compelling mystery, well written but a bit slow at times
Is Jennifer a victim or a perpetrator of violence? She is 14 years old and has been discovered covered in blood which is not her own plus her step father is missing.
She refuses to speak to the investigating officers, Laura and Niavh in anything but a fairytale which they must unravel.

I found this book to be quite dark and disturbing Psychological thriller. Throughout the storyline you are trying to decide if the suspect, Jenny is a victim or a murderer. But it had me intrigued and surprised with the ending.

This is a psychological suspense thriller, told in three alternating viewpoints – Laura (detective), Niamh (a Special Victims Garda and Laura’s friend) and Jenny, their suspect/victim.

The reader is kept in suspense throughout, just as much as the investigators, as to whether Jenny is a genuine victim or a calculating killer, but what is clear from the very beginning is that Laura is in serious trouble with her precarious mental health and this hits-too-close-to-home case can only make her spiral further. I felt mentally hoarse from the effort of my internal screaming at her to please tell someone and get some help!

And the plot definitely takes her to some dark places. In terms of triggers, there is domestic violence, child sex abuse, rape and post-partum depression/psychosis. Most of the plot happens inside the small room where Laura is – somewhat unprofessionally – interviewing Jenny, or in Jenny’s case a lot of the action happens inside her head, in the form of the myths and fairytales she uses to cope with the trauma of what has happened to her.

Dark and, at times, a little confusing in the timeline of what happened when and what is real or imagined, this story did keep me gripped throughout and had me thoroughly invested in, if not a happy ever after, at least the best possible outcome for all involved. Well… for most involved, anyway.

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I enjoyed the concept of this and the storyline kept me intrigued and kept my attention from start to finish

I thought this was a really well plotted mystery and I enjoyed the relationship between Laura and Niamh. Would definitely read more by the author.

This book was a very different read to normal, I think it’s fabulous the way Gill has portrayed the traumatised youngster and the description of the way this plays out.
It was very intriguing to see the way it played out and I liked the way it showed what some women have to go through with violence. The characters were all well written and had distinct voices and I thought it was a brilliant debut!

I enjoyed the concept of this and the storyline kept me intrigued and kept my attention from start to finish

I feel really bad as I really liked the premise but I just couldn’t get into this one at all. The MC drove me a little mad too with her control freak/over protective qualities. I did DNF as I just couldn’t get into the story but may revisit it again so will keep it on my kindle

Detective Shaw is going to have an interesting case, a 14-year-old victim of an assault. It is not an easy case. I enjoyed the author's style.

This is a truly intense and emotional read. The interview with the obviously traumatised young adult is recounted so vividly that the reader is completely engrossed and feels present in the room. That said, it’s a slow starter but worth persevering for. It’s skilled writing and I believe this author will go on and on.

My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a great thriller full of twists that kept me hooked til the shocking end!The main character was a bit annoying as she was useless but not bad enough to ruin the rest of the novel

Jenny is a teenager, who comes from a volatile home.
Her mum’s boyfriend Stuart is missing, and the police suspect Jenny of knowing more than she is letting on. Basically that’s where I got up to.

I managed to read a third of this book, I had to abandon it.
I stuck it out longer than I thought I would. On the surface the plot sounds intriguing, and novel. However, I just didn’t like they style - I’ve read a third of the book and quite literally nothing has happened.
Jenny is a unlikeable character, she didn’t resonate with me whatsoever.
The ‘child specialist police’ just seemed inept.
It was painful. I felt the story would go off on unrelated tangents, like the book needed padding out so waffle was inserted.

I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t.
When I’m reading a book I’m not keen on, it puts me off reading, and that frustrates me.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book, in return for an honest review

A very impressive debut novel, a psychological thriller about the abuse of a young girl . A bit slow to start, but once you get immersed in the story, it just carries you along. A hard hitting subject, that has some very harrowing content, but really well written. Thoroughly recommend it.

The synopsis for this book had me intrigued..
A 14 year old girl is being interviewed but not saying a word, her mother and brother are seriously injured in hospital and her abusive stepfather is missing. Is she a witness, a victim or a perpetrator?

Unfortunately there were more negatives to positives for me.

Firstly I just didn't like the main character Laura, she was just so bloosy annoying.

Told from the POVs of three characters; Laura, Niamh and Jenny. In all honesty I can't say I liked or related to any of them which is a major downer for me.

Secondly it just felt sooo slow. The first half of the book is mainly two detectives interviewing Jenny. By the time i got past this stage I was just left feeling irritated.

I begrudgingly finished but in all honesty wish I hadn't bothered.

Thanks to netgally and Penguin General UK for the ARC .