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katiewhocanread's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Miscarriage, Islamophobia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Vomit, Animal death, Violence, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
bookworm89's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beckys_book_blog's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Great snappy chapters and dark, tense reading. I found this a gripping, unputdownable book that I would recommend if you enjoy a good psychological thriller.
Some trigger warnings: abuse, racist behaviour and bullying.
I found this quite hard to read in places with a daughter that is only a bit younger. This story is told from the perspectives of three mothers and I found all three very believable characters.
I enjoyed the way the three main characters were built up in the first part of the book and the reader was introduced to each of their lives before the child goes missing.
It was hard to predict which of the characters actually knew more about the abduction as secrets were gradually revealed. I think I suspected everyone at some point in the story!
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fab new author.
Some trigger warnings: abuse, racist behaviour and bullying.
I found this quite hard to read in places with a daughter that is only a bit younger. This story is told from the perspectives of three mothers and I found all three very believable characters.
I enjoyed the way the three main characters were built up in the first part of the book and the reader was introduced to each of their lives before the child goes missing.
It was hard to predict which of the characters actually knew more about the abduction as secrets were gradually revealed. I think I suspected everyone at some point in the story!
I will definitely be looking out for more books by this fab new author.
bound4travel's review
4.0
This thriller is set in a small town in Devon, England. At the center are three mothers, none of whom are close with one another. Naomi is a life-long local, striving f0r a perfect life. Aleema has married a local and moved back with him to take care of his mother, but as an "outsider" and a Muslim, she is not accepted despite her best efforts. Finally, Kelly is another outsider who is on the run from a traumatic past and trying her best to keep her distance from everyone else in town.
At the heart of this story is a child that goes missing, putting the entire community on red alert. What gave this thriller a fresh new perspective was the the exploration offered on how trauma impacts individuals, mother-son relationships, and being an "outsider" in a small town. Fast-paced, but not all action with no substance, I really liked this one.
At the heart of this story is a child that goes missing, putting the entire community on red alert. What gave this thriller a fresh new perspective was the the exploration offered on how trauma impacts individuals, mother-son relationships, and being an "outsider" in a small town. Fast-paced, but not all action with no substance, I really liked this one.
kitmdp's review against another edition
3.0
Little Rumours
by Bryony Pearce
3 stars
Three mothers live in a small village called Exton Cross. Naomi has always lived in the village her whole life, Aleema moved down with her husband Noah to take care of her mother-in-law after a stroke. Kelly is new in town. She is under witness protection as her husband was convicted of murder.
Feeling like the odd ones out Kelly stays to herself afraid to get close to anyone and Aleema just can't stand any of the other mothers around. After Aleemas daughter goes missing stuff comes to light and it takes trusting one another to find her daughter.
This book was okay for me it took too long for me to get into it it just felt like it dragged a bit in the beginning once I got halfway through then it picked up.
I enjoyed how they showed three different POVs I couldn't stand Naomi but I like Aleema and Kelly.
Thank you, Net Galley and Avon books
by Bryony Pearce
3 stars
Three mothers live in a small village called Exton Cross. Naomi has always lived in the village her whole life, Aleema moved down with her husband Noah to take care of her mother-in-law after a stroke. Kelly is new in town. She is under witness protection as her husband was convicted of murder.
Feeling like the odd ones out Kelly stays to herself afraid to get close to anyone and Aleema just can't stand any of the other mothers around. After Aleemas daughter goes missing stuff comes to light and it takes trusting one another to find her daughter.
This book was okay for me it took too long for me to get into it it just felt like it dragged a bit in the beginning once I got halfway through then it picked up.
I enjoyed how they showed three different POVs I couldn't stand Naomi but I like Aleema and Kelly.
Thank you, Net Galley and Avon books
linkallyson's review
4.0
This one kept me on my toes and though I did guess the ending pretty early on, I was impressed with the way the author made me question what I thought I knew. I would definitely recommend this to thriller lovers.
mrsbookburnee's review
4.0
Well, this needs to be turned into a film… NOW!!!
I was instantly hooked, not only by the plot but the characters too, who we was given the full background on.
My mind was racing with trying to figure out what the heck was happening! I had so many different theories running about my brain.
I loved how the adults all had their own secrets and worries but had to come together to solve the situation.
The ending was fantastic and I loved how all the characters stories came together.
I was instantly hooked, not only by the plot but the characters too, who we was given the full background on.
My mind was racing with trying to figure out what the heck was happening! I had so many different theories running about my brain.
I loved how the adults all had their own secrets and worries but had to come together to solve the situation.
The ending was fantastic and I loved how all the characters stories came together.
readwithcatriona's review
2.0
AD-PR PRODUCT
Thank you so much to Avon Books for sending me this finished copy in exchange for a review
Synopsis:
In the small town of Exton Cross, everyone knows each other and all of their business. However, three women have managed to keep their secrets. But when a child goes missing, the secrets will soon come to light in order to find where the child is.
Opinion:
This was an okay read but to be honest I guessed some of the ending pretty early on.
It had an interesting sub plot of Joe and his father and how Kelly has been struggling to cope with what happened. I didn’t particularly like how everyone was so quick to judge Joe and assume he inherited his father’s psychosis and murderous behaviour.
One thing that definitely disappointed me was the ignorance of the language used to describe Aleema. The author allows one of the characters to call her the P word and I just found it so unnecessary and vile. The way her culture was portrayed was more like the author thought to throw it in as an afterthought.
I also thought the synopsis was a little misleading because I only really identified 2 secrets that were revealed and only one of the women who’s POV we see actually had a secret.
Overall, it was an okay read but I just found the plot to be dragging with characters who weren’t fully developed which made it hard to warm to them ✨
Thank you so much to Avon Books for sending me this finished copy in exchange for a review
Synopsis:
In the small town of Exton Cross, everyone knows each other and all of their business. However, three women have managed to keep their secrets. But when a child goes missing, the secrets will soon come to light in order to find where the child is.
Opinion:
This was an okay read but to be honest I guessed some of the ending pretty early on.
It had an interesting sub plot of Joe and his father and how Kelly has been struggling to cope with what happened. I didn’t particularly like how everyone was so quick to judge Joe and assume he inherited his father’s psychosis and murderous behaviour.
One thing that definitely disappointed me was the ignorance of the language used to describe Aleema. The author allows one of the characters to call her the P word and I just found it so unnecessary and vile. The way her culture was portrayed was more like the author thought to throw it in as an afterthought.
I also thought the synopsis was a little misleading because I only really identified 2 secrets that were revealed and only one of the women who’s POV we see actually had a secret.
Overall, it was an okay read but I just found the plot to be dragging with characters who weren’t fully developed which made it hard to warm to them ✨
memull17's review
4.0
When a child goes missing, members of the village start to unravel and point fingers at each other. One woman and her son become the prime targets of the community outrage once their past is revealed. Are they only guilty of having a dark past or are they connected to the missing child?
It took a few chapters to get into this story but once you got a feel for the multiple narrators and their perspectives on the events the story picked up considerably. Each viewpoint is very different and just goes to show that there is always something missing or overlooked that can cloud your judgement. The pacing of this book is really important to the story as you see the narrators unravel the story intensifies keeping the reader engaged and wondering if they will find the missing child soon.
Thank you @netgalley and publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
It took a few chapters to get into this story but once you got a feel for the multiple narrators and their perspectives on the events the story picked up considerably. Each viewpoint is very different and just goes to show that there is always something missing or overlooked that can cloud your judgement. The pacing of this book is really important to the story as you see the narrators unravel the story intensifies keeping the reader engaged and wondering if they will find the missing child soon.
Thank you @netgalley and publishers for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
aubgurl's review
3.0
Everyone in Exton Cross has secrets. But for three women, their secrets cross and involve a missing child. Will the child be found in time?
This story is told from the point of view if three different women who bring three big secrets to the story, yet they are all woven together and the ultimate goal is to find the child.
I struggled getting through the 25% of this book. It seemed a little slow. But Once the child went missing, the action really picked up. You could feel the mother’s grief and anguish through the screen. And just when you think you’ve figured out what has happened to the child, something else happens that will blow you off course.
I would rate this book a 3.5 star review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This story is told from the point of view if three different women who bring three big secrets to the story, yet they are all woven together and the ultimate goal is to find the child.
I struggled getting through the 25% of this book. It seemed a little slow. But Once the child went missing, the action really picked up. You could feel the mother’s grief and anguish through the screen. And just when you think you’ve figured out what has happened to the child, something else happens that will blow you off course.
I would rate this book a 3.5 star review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.