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celtic67's review
5.0
Omg what a read!. I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.
This was was a superb read. You are kept guessing and when you think you have it sussed the proverbial curve ball is thrown.
Four friends Yvonne, Maxie, Anaya and Hazel discover that their friendship is less than perfect when Yvonne is badly beaten and left for dead in the school playground.
Into this situation comes Cece, who after her husband's promotion and keen to make friends meets Maxie, Anaya and Hazel at the school their children attend. She is made welcome by these three very different women.
Cece later finds that the police believe that her new friends may have had something to do with her attack and becomes a reluctant spy.
In trying to uncover the potential murderer we find that all the main characters have skeletons in their cupboards.
The writing is of a superb quality and all characters are well rounded. A plot driven book that will keep the reader turning the pages furiously and racing to a satisfying conclusion.
If you decide to pick up this book you will not be disappointed. Read it! Thanks to lovereading for the ARC.
This was was a superb read. You are kept guessing and when you think you have it sussed the proverbial curve ball is thrown.
Four friends Yvonne, Maxie, Anaya and Hazel discover that their friendship is less than perfect when Yvonne is badly beaten and left for dead in the school playground.
Into this situation comes Cece, who after her husband's promotion and keen to make friends meets Maxie, Anaya and Hazel at the school their children attend. She is made welcome by these three very different women.
Cece later finds that the police believe that her new friends may have had something to do with her attack and becomes a reluctant spy.
In trying to uncover the potential murderer we find that all the main characters have skeletons in their cupboards.
The writing is of a superb quality and all characters are well rounded. A plot driven book that will keep the reader turning the pages furiously and racing to a satisfying conclusion.
If you decide to pick up this book you will not be disappointed. Read it! Thanks to lovereading for the ARC.
alexia_15's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jusuwa's review against another edition
4.0
A juicy and fast-paced novel about a group of mothers in Brighton. Friendship, secrets, lies, betrayals and playground politics. Very entertaining!
fordec26's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lovely Dorothy I enjoyed this book but not as much as her later books. I struggles to read this from time to time as it's a hardback book 📖
electricele's review against another edition
4.0
Great mystery
TURNED PAGES LIKE IT WAS MY JOB, AMAZING
Loved it
TURNED PAGES LIKE IT WAS MY JOB, AMAZING
Loved it
ruthnessly's review against another edition
3.0
are dorothy koomson books great? yes
are they filled with fun characters, ridiculous mysteries, and do they sound a bit naff when you explain it but they're also fun as shit to read? yes
i luv you dorothy
are they filled with fun characters, ridiculous mysteries, and do they sound a bit naff when you explain it but they're also fun as shit to read? yes
i luv you dorothy
jules_writes's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed it, I loved all the secrets and hidden pasts.
I would definitely recommend it.
I would definitely recommend it.
remigves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alicemc25's review against another edition
3.0
I've read and enjoyed a Dorothy Koomson book before, and I thought this would be a fun read - which is was. A who-dunnit based around a private school and the parents that frequent the school gates... and it's obvious from the beginning that three friends know more than they are letting on.
The main character, Cece Solarin, is a wife and mother who has just moved to Brighton and her children have enrolled in the school. But despite its good reputation, Plummer Prep has recently become the scene of a violent crime; where a (mostly) well-liked parent, Yvonne, is found attacked and seriously injured outside the entrance. As Yvonne lies in a coma, Cece finds herself getting wrapped up in the investigation and with a group of friends who all have dark secrets to hide.
I love a good mystery, and being set around a group of mums at a private school was a bit different. I also love strong female friendships, and Koomson writes these so well, with lots of details about the women and their friendships which make them feel real. Cece, the main character, was excellent; smart and tough but really likeable, and going through her own crisis.
It did take me quite a while to stop getting confused between the women and their children / husbands. You get given a LOT of names quite early on, but I got there in the end. And although I never stopped getting confused about the jumping timeline (there are many flashbacks in this book, I think all the main characters have them), it didn't seem to matter too much in terms of overall understanding.
What did bother me a bit was the pace of the book. You know when you just want the whole thing to hurry up so you can find out who did it and be done? Yeah, that. I'll admit that the first time I tried to read this I gave up on 16%, as I felt like it was dragging. I then found myself waiting around without another book, so I picked it up again. I'm glad I did, because I did end up enjoying it - but I felt like it could have been about half the length and still told the story well.
Overall a good book, not as gripping or fast-paced as I would have liked, but had some really nice features. Strong female characters, friendship, lies, chilling secrets and manipulation.
The main character, Cece Solarin, is a wife and mother who has just moved to Brighton and her children have enrolled in the school. But despite its good reputation, Plummer Prep has recently become the scene of a violent crime; where a (mostly) well-liked parent, Yvonne, is found attacked and seriously injured outside the entrance. As Yvonne lies in a coma, Cece finds herself getting wrapped up in the investigation and with a group of friends who all have dark secrets to hide.
I love a good mystery, and being set around a group of mums at a private school was a bit different. I also love strong female friendships, and Koomson writes these so well, with lots of details about the women and their friendships which make them feel real. Cece, the main character, was excellent; smart and tough but really likeable, and going through her own crisis.
It did take me quite a while to stop getting confused between the women and their children / husbands. You get given a LOT of names quite early on, but I got there in the end. And although I never stopped getting confused about the jumping timeline (there are many flashbacks in this book, I think all the main characters have them), it didn't seem to matter too much in terms of overall understanding.
What did bother me a bit was the pace of the book. You know when you just want the whole thing to hurry up so you can find out who did it and be done? Yeah, that. I'll admit that the first time I tried to read this I gave up on 16%, as I felt like it was dragging. I then found myself waiting around without another book, so I picked it up again. I'm glad I did, because I did end up enjoying it - but I felt like it could have been about half the length and still told the story well.
Overall a good book, not as gripping or fast-paced as I would have liked, but had some really nice features. Strong female characters, friendship, lies, chilling secrets and manipulation.