Member Reviews
The synopsis of this book got me gripped as soon as I had read it. I loved how much the author had put in his knowledge of the legal system - it’s one of my gripes with crime stories and it not being believable about police/legal procedures. I did find it drawn out in places but in others incredibly twisty! I will look out for more from this author.
This struck a chord with me. The love you feel for a child and the fear of what could happen. There was a great set of characters and the relationships between characters were especially well written and drew me in.
I know I'm guaranteed a book of the highest calibre whenever I read something by Imran Mahmood but Finding Sophie affected me particularly deeply. I felt such a connection to it, perhaps partly because I have three daughters and the youngest is 16, but I think mostly because it is just so beautifully written. This is an intense, gripping psychological thriller but it's also a searing exploration of heartrending uncertainty and grief.
Sophie is already missing at the start of the book, which opens in Courtroom Three of the Old Bailey. We don't know who is facing trial or why but as their barrister advises them on how to act, their sense of fearful disbelief is obvious. The identity of this character is kept from us until later, which means the impact upon finally realising who the first-person narrator is becomes so much more affecting. The pacing, structure and perceptive, penetrating characterisation is superb throughout the novel, as the narrative, which is told from the alternating perspectives of Sophie's parents, Harry and Zara, gradually lays bare the devastation wrought on them in the months following her disappearance.
To lose a child is obviously agonising but to not know whether they are alive or dead is unspeakably heartbreaking. From Harry's inability to even say his daughter's name to himself, to Zara's physical deterioration a reflection of her psychological anguish, Imran Mahmood's portrait of a couple who, in losing their daughter, have also lost themselves and each other, is movingly compassionate yet acutely honest. As their marriage crumbles and haunted by the mistakes they made as parents, they are obsessed with trying to discover what happened to Sophie, but unable to truly communicate or to seek solace with one another. Finding Sophie feels so viscerally believable because they are such complicated, flawed characters and as frustrating or extreme as their behaviour becomes at times, they are so utterly convincing. Who wouldn't do everything in their power to locate their child? Who wouldn't attempt to knock on every door or question every person who might hold the key to uncovering the truth?
It's the mystery behind one of their neighbour's doors which goads Harry and Zara to the point of insanity as Imran Mahmood heightens the sense of tension to almost unbearable levels at times. Meanwhile, Harry is also driven to seek help from an unlikely source and Zara strives to find out the unvarnished truth about their teenage daughter from her friends, amidst unsettling revelations about their own tumultuous relationship with her. As their secrets cause this small family to become more like strangers, the multi-layered, complex storyline is by turns shocking, suspenseful and profoundly harrowing.
The truth is eventually revealed but not before the later courtroom scenes which are, of course, ingrained with authenticity thanks to Imran Mahmood's own experience as a barrister. While obviously a work of fiction, the convincing portrayal of a puzzling, sensitive case is mesmerising. Although a decision is eventually reached, the thought-provoking exploration of justice juxtaposed against questions of guilt and culpability is fascinating.
Compulsively twisty, beautifully empathetic and an achingly raw mystery; reading Finding Sophie means being put through an emotional wringer but it is absolutely worth it – what an exceptional book this is!
Getting nowhere with this one. Slow and dull with unsympathetic lead characters. The court case is intriguing but again is so drawn out that even the charge is not made clear. I’m not even bothered how this story will resolve.
A very frustrating DNF.
I enjoyed Finding Sophie - it was twisty and kept me guessing for a lot of the book. It did feel a little slow and heavy-handed in places but on the whole it was a novel that kept me gripped all the way through. I liked that the narrators were unreliable so it made me feel like I couldn't quite get a grip of how everything was going to play out. I would recommend this one and I definitely want to read more from the author in the future.
Imran Mahmood writes tense, gripping and twisty thriller. This one is a ense, gripping and twisty thriller that kept me hooked and on the edge.
Well plotted, excellent storytelling, fast paced
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Another first for me and what a powerful read it was! This is a brilliant standalone crime thriller.
This book starts as a slow burn, setting the story out and bringing the well-developed characters to life in this heart-breaking situation. Alternating narrators give the reader a well-rounded view of the emotional turmoil facing Harry and Zara, the parents of a missing child. There are also chapters from a court hearing, to create a bit of intrigue, wondering who is there and what for.
Imran Mahmood puts his excellent legal expertise to great effect in this book, which shows quite a conundrum in the legal system!
The story covers several issues with understanding and empathy: grief, guilt, parenting and behavioural issues to mention just a few. The torment of the parents is desperate and heartfelt.
This was a book that kept me captivated, a truly excellent read!
Another very well written and suspenseful novel from a fantastic author.
Part mystery, part crime procedural, part character study, told separately from the perspectives of Sophie's parents as they try to find their daughter and somehow cope with her disappearance, and exploring their anguish, grief and desperation as they become increasingly fixated on a reclusive neighbour.
Finding Sophie
Slow to start for me but once started I was hooked. The parents frustrations at not being able to get answers quickly about their missing daughter jumped off the page and resonated with me as a parent. Very well written legal thriller. Very tense and emotional.
Will definitely be reading more by this author.
Finding Sophie is a novel that explores a families anguish and desperation when they awake to their only daughter missing
The book was for the most, very character driven. The book is told through the alternative points of view of Harry and Zara, Sophie’s parents. The raw emotion and grief is so well written. I could feel the emptiness and the life being sucked from the parents.
I particularly enjoyed the court scenes and how the author used the court scene to bring it to an end
The book is full of mystery as to what has happened to Sophie. Whilst the parents embark on their journey for revenge the author plants so many red herrings throughout the book, which I am a bit annoyed I didn’t pick up on!
The ending was not as expected and it is still sitting with me whether or not the truth was really unveiled.
The book is thought provoking and takes an ethical topic into the hands of the court. I really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading more by the author
"Thriller" is a genre that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, and this definitely delivers. From the very first page, the tension is palpable, and the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, making it difficult to put the book down.
The characters are well-developed and the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing as to who can be trusted and who is hiding something. The pacing is spot-on, with just the right amount of action and suspense to keep the reader engaged. The writing style is gripping and evocative, making it easy to visualise the scenes and feel the emotions of the characters.
The author's attention to detail and ability to create a believable world adds to the overall experience of the book. Overall, this is an excellent example of the thriller genre. It's a page-turner that will keep readers guessing until the very end and is sure to satisfy fans of the genre.
Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good suspenseful read.
This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.
3.5/5.
It's definitely tense, and twisty, but I found the unreliable narratives a bit heavy handed, which was a bit disappointing. It's gripping, but I didn't really engage with that characters as much as I'd expect- possibly because they were hiding/not revealing so much that I didn't get a strong sense of individuals.
I've really enjoyed reading books by Imran Mahmood before so I was really pleased to have the opportunity to read and review Finding Sophie. It doesn't disappoint: it's fast paced, full of tension and has plenty of unexpected moments. I was totally gripped right from the beginning scene, set in a courtroom, right until the end, as I tried to work out what had happened and how we had got there.
The chapters in Finding Sophie are fairly short and they are alternately written from the perspectives of Harry and Zara. I liked that this helped me to learn more about the characters, particularly as they both deal with Sophie's disappearance in different ways. It also increases the tension towards the end as we discover what happened.
Imran Mahmood is a criminal barrister and his knowledge of the legal system shines through not just this novel, but everything he writes. I love the way he is able to make what I'm told is quite a lengthy and laborious process appear interesting and gripping. I also found it interesting to learn more about legal processes.
Finding Sophie is absolutely full of twists and turns that kept me fascinated until the end. Although I did guess a few of the twists, there were many more that eluded me and these were brilliantly executed.
I am looking forward to reading much more of this author's work!
Sophie king has been missing for the past 17 years and her parents Harry and Zara are bereft. Both struggling to deal with the loss of their daughter in different ways but they have suspicions that their oddball neighbour could be involved. The police have long since given up as there’s been no new leads, can the parents take it upon themselves to find out what happened to Sophie?
I really enjoyed this one, I’m a huge fan of Imran’s and this book was no different for me. Typical Imran style, a slow burner but when it gets going it really does!! Wow!! Brilliant!
I really enjoyed this book!
A thoughtful novel about the consequences of a crime and the lengths people will go to to find the truth.
Mahmood writes beautifully while maintaining a compelling narrative full of nuance.
Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was very slow. Sophie is missing and most of the book deals with her parents grief. Alongside is a court case unfolding. I found the book jumped a lot and I did get confused at points. However all these comments aside, I wanted to keep reading it. My first book by this author.
I really enjoyed this book. 17 year old Sophie King has gone missing. After 6 weeks the police have no leads and her parents, Harry and Zara, are frantic. They have spoken to all the neighbours in the local area, but they become increasingly suspicious of one man who refuses to even answer the door. They become more and more convinced that this man knows something, but how far will they go to get the answers they're looking for? This is a real page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.
The is the first Imran Mahmood book I have read and I really enjoyed it. Sophie King, aged 17, went out one night and never came home. Her parents Harry and Zara are beside themself with grief and worry. They are desperate to find Sophie and have her back home where she belongs.
Zara continues to make preparations for Sophie’s 18th birthday as it keeps her busy and stops her from sinking even further into herself. She has been prescribed Valium and she can’t eat - she is barely functioning.
Harry can’t even say Sophie’s name out loud. He turns their loft into an office space where he keeps track of everywhere he has looked and everyone he has spoken to in his search for Sophie.
They have spoken to everyone who lives on their street and the surrounding streets apart from the occupant of number 210 as nobody ever answers the door. This convinces Harry that the person in this house is involved in Sophie’s disappearance. Harry needs to get into the house or at least speak to the person who lives there.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Harry and Zara are both teachers and living a normal life with their 17 year old daughter Sophie until she goes missing. Over the next few weeks they canvas everyone in the neighbourhood to see if anyone knows anything. Frustrated by the police response, the pair focus on one man who has not spoken to them. Convinced he knows something the parents decide that they need to take things into their own hands to get answers.
This book has had amazing reviews and the further I read, the further I was finding a disconnect between my enjoyment and that of other readers. I found this book way too intense and unbelievable, particularly with regards to the ending.
Imran Mahmood is a storyteller unlike any other. Finding Sophie is gripping, addictive and guaranteed to be among the best of 2024.
Finding Sophie is a storyline we all dread- a missing child. Told from the dual perspectives of her parents, Zara and Harry we are taken on a rollercoaster of a journey. I particularly loved the dual perspective as it meant that we were able to really get to know the characters deeper, understanding their thoughts and emotions.
Mahmood is able to make you, as a reader feel the grief and raw emotion of the characters. This for me is the sign of a highly talented author. I was completely caught up in the events of this one. My heart was with Zara and Harry, I wanted those around them to do more to find Sophie.
Once I delved between the covers of this one, I very quickly became unwilling to put this down and devoured this in just 24hours. I was on edge throughout and unable to predict where this would go.
Mahmood is brilliant. I was transported by Finding Sophie. I felt as though I was watching this play out ahead of me. This book is definitely suspenseful. I adored every moment of this book and found myself trying to make (unsuccessful) predictions.
The characters in this are brilliant. I was pulled in and on the journey with them. My heart was with them and I was fully invested in them Finding Sophie.
This is quite possibly my favourite book by Mahmood to date. It’s engaging and perfectly paced till the end. I love how unpredictable this is and absolutely cannot wait to read more by Mahmood.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book. This is brilliant from beginning to end and highly addictive. This is a definite for the TBR. Missing this, means missing out on a real gem.