Customer Reviews

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? (Unabridged)

I received a proof of 'Just What Kind of Mother Are You?' from Alison Barrow at Transworld Publishers. This is Paula Daly's debut novel and it is being published by Bantam Press on the 25th April 2013.

'Just What Kind of Mother Are You?' is set in the Lake District in Cumbria. A psychological thriller, this story is every mother's nightmare.

It's a freezing cold Tuesday morning and Christmas is fast approaching. Lisa Kallisto wakes up feeling even more tired than when she went to bed. Her life is so busy what with having three children and three pet dogs, plus working in an animal rescue centre. It's a wonder that she can cope! So when her best friend's 13-year-old daughter, Lucinda, goes missing Lisa feels that it's all her fault especially as she was meant to be staying over the previous night after school.

Lucinda is the second girl to have disappeared in the last fortnight. The first one was found on a busy high street in a bad way after having been raped. But will Lucinda be found? Will she be let go? Because if she isn't, Lisa knows she will never be able to forgive herself. As the search for Lucinda takes place Lisa is in for a big shock as she discovers that people are not always who they seem. It's a classic case of not knowing what goes on behind closed doors.

This novel was absolutely brilliant and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a bestseller. Gripping right from the start it just got better and better. There were so many revelations and I really didn't expect it to end the way it did. The author has really got into her characters minds and explored the different emotions. I also like the way the subject of unwanted or abandoned cats and dogs was included in the story especially as it's something that sadly happens all the time.

Whilst reading this story I could picture it being made into a two-part thriller for TV. I truly hope that one day this happens.

Paula Daly is the new voice in thriller writing. 'Just What Kind of Mother Are You?' is one of my favourite books of the year so far. I already can't wait for the next one to come out. Well done, Paula.

Worth every 5 stars given.

Read in 2 sittings, if sleep hadn't prevailed I would have devoured in one. An excellently executed character driven novel told from not just one prospective, the story offers so much more than the usual police driven saga's. Well plotted and perfectly paced, I was completely engaged throughout it never waned at anytime. A cracking good mystery/thriller, with a few giggles nicely placed.

Blindsided by the ending, kicked myself.

It is every parent's worst nightmare to imagine their child going missing. But what if your friend's child went missing, while you were supposed to be watching her? This horrifying premise is the basis for this debut novel by Paula Daly.

Lisa Kallisto loves her family. She's pulled a hundred different ways by her kids and her own job working in an animal shelter, and she's exhausted. She blames herself entirely when her daughter's friend Lucinda goes missing when she's meant to be at their house having a sleepover. How will Lucinda's parents treat her? Can she do anything? Was it her fault?

Lisa is an empathetic character. You feel for her, can see how it happened. Her efforts to face up to her perceived guilt are brave, she and her husband a likeable couple. It's a tense story. Not only do we follow Lisa, but the police investigation through the female detective in charge, and we see insights into the mind of the abducter of the girls. The tension mounts as we hope Lucinda is going to survive and be brought back home.

On top of this plot though, are other secrets that are gradually revealed, with twists and revelations right up until the last few pages. Hard to put down, it feels very real and threatening.

Not a light summer read, but it's quick and thrilling, twisty and captivating.

Lisa is run ragged. With a full time job and three school age children she can't even remember the list of ingredients, stuck to the fridge door, her daughter, Sally needs this morning for school. She is envious of Kate and her perfect lifestyle, with the big house and no financial need to work, she has the time to be the perfect mother. So when Kate's daughter is coming for a sleepover you'd think Lisa would remember, especially as there is a child abductor in the area. And then Kate's daughter goes missing.
A great mystery but this book is more about keeping up appearances and the reality hidden behind the mask of "having it all."
Some interesting social commentary and excellent characterisation. I wasn't completely surprised by the ending but a nice build up of suspense.
This is a debut novel and I'm interested in reading her follow up book.

I've looked forward to this book for a while as it took such a long time for the price to come down and the reviews were so good. Sadly it didn't live up to my expectations. As regular visitors to The Lakes and usually staying within a few miles of the setting, it was lovely to read about an area we know so well. The storyline however was disappointing. I didn't feel for any of the characters and the ending was very poor. Shame

this is a really great read with plenty of twists and turns along the way. Its a parent ultimate nightmare when their child goes missing but this puts a twist on this scenario when another family plays a part in this happening.
I have read quite a few of this theme lately but this really adds something new. The characters are well drawn and if this is a debut then im sure to expect great things from this author in the future.

The characters that i had sympathy for in this book were Joe and Sam because the only person that Lisa seemed to care the most about was Kate,it was Kate this and Kate that even after Joe found out about the major mistake that Lisa had made years before,she didnt seem like she was interested in sorting things out,it was all i have to go to see Kate, and poor Sam was just someone who was just in the background and was ignored most of the time.It came across like Kate and the animals that Lisa took care of were more important to Lisa that her own family,she didnt have time to sort out her families problems but she could rush around after Kate all the time.Yes it could have been that she felt guilty because Kate,s daughter had disappeared and it may or may not have been her fault but i felt that she came across as very selfish at times.
That said,i really enjoyed this book,it is one of the best books that i have read all year so far.I honestly could not put it down and read it in just over a day.I loved the fact that the police officers actually got on and the main detective Joanne did not spend the who book arguing with her boss which happens too often in thrillers these days.Like other reviewers i also felt that how the police found out who the kidnapper was could have been a bit more exciting but as a debut this as a very good book and i look forward to reading more by this author.

Unputdownable a lot of unexpected twists. Read this book in a day. Can really empathise with Lisa juggling her busy life. Highly recommended.

Best book I've read in ages! Could not put it down! Would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a great read.

this book is absolutely brilliant. I couldn't put it down. The author has an easy, compelling way of writing so that you feel that you know the main character yourself and are really involved in all the characters lives in the Lake District. I really, really recommend it. I have read so many books lately that have no real storyline or are good and then have an ending that you feel the author has lost interest themselves in the book, or books that I just haven't finished because I have completely lost interest.
This book is a million times better than any I have read in the past few years. Realistic homelife, drama, deceit, drama, everyday problems, believable characters, scenery, it's all here. I can't wait to read Paula Daly's next one. Excellent.