Finding Grace

by K.L. Slater

This morning, my daughter sat right here, munching her breakfast, too excited to finish it. Now, she is missing.

The day after her ninth birthday, Lucie and Blake Sullivan agree, for the very first time, to let their daughter, Grace, make the four-minute walk back home alone from a friend’s house just down the street.

They joke with friends about hiding behind bushes to ensure she is safe. But the joke turns sour when Grace does not appear.

Despite the best efforts of the police and local community, Grace seems to have vanished into thin air. With hope fading fast, Lucie knows she can rely on her husband to support her through such dark times. That is until the day she makes a shocking discovery, hidden in Blake’s desk, and suddenly she begins to doubt everything she knew about the man she married.

But Lucie harbours a terrible secret of her own. One that she has never shared with anyone, even Blake …

And as the search for Grace reaches fever pitch, Lucie receives a terrifying message. If she is ever to see Grace again, Lucie has no choice but to face the past she tried hard to bury forever. And she must do it alone.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2019

About the author

Kim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

Reviews

[Sumit RK · Rating 4 out of 5]

The day after her ninth birthday, Lucie and Blake Sullivan agree, to let their daughter, Grace, make the four-minute walk back home alone from a friend’s house just down the street, for the very first time.

What starts as a joke turns into a nightmare, when Grace goes missing midway. Despite the best efforts of the police, Grace seems to have vanished into thin air. Soon Lucie discovers that Grace’s disappearance is more sinister than it looks and to find her, she has to face her long buried past.

The theme of a missing child has been done before a lot but what sets Finding Grace apart from the rest is the engaging writing style and the clever plot twists. The story pulls you right in and simply does not let go.

You get drawn into the story of Lucie's search for her daughter and the ever changing suspects. I loved how the author created a series of possible suspects, right from the start. Every time you think you have cracked the mystery, another twist changes the course of the story. The story feels a bit repetitive just before the end of the first half. But, overall the story is fast paced and has plenty of twists and turns.

The story really shines in the second half. The story seamlessly shifts between the past and the present which keeps you guessing about what will happen next in both the timelines. It’s like reading two stories at one, each with its own twists and each tied together by a common thread.

As an author of seven psychological crime thrillers, KL Slater is clearly a master of her craft. She maintains a fine balance between the thriller and an emotional story right till the end. This book was paced perfectly and the climax ties all the loose ends logically with a satisfying end. Overall, Finding Grace is an entertaining & absorbing thriller full of twists and turns.

Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author K.L. Slater and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to read this newest K.L. Slater psychological thriller. I'm a huge fan and really enjoy her writing style and the suspense and tension she delivers in each of her novels.

I must say that I am tiring of the "missing child" trope, but this story offers something more than the typical plot line. It is fast paced and sprinkled with hints of something lurking in the past lives of the family. I was easily drawn into Lucie and Blake's search for their daughter, Grace and trying to figure out the who, what, when, why and how. I was on the right track with a some, certainly not all.

There was another twist in the end that really was a surprise. Thank you, karma!

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. Book is out on Feb 14, 2019

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
Nine year old Grace wants only one thing! To walk from the house of her best friend Olivia back to her own home. Most importantly without her parents! That’s right, like a big girl! She’s nine now and determined to be treated with more responsibilities!

Against their better judgment Blake and Lucie agree. The caveat? Both fathers will keep watch from a discreet distance. Grace will never know.
Well, in theory that would normally be a fairly sound plan. That is until one of the fathers takes his eyes off her for just a moment. Now Grace has vanished!

As the police become more involved with the investigation, the motives for Grace’s disappearance come to light. Who has more secrets to keep?

This was the fourth book I’ve read from K.L. Slater. And while it was a good solid thriller, it wasn’t one of my favorites I’ve read of hers. Unfortunately I can’t elaborate on the ‘why’ without giving something away. So my friends, you’ll just have to read for yourself and see...

But that being said, I will still be reaching for her next release..

A buddy read with Susanne!❄️

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars.

A Twisted Mystery Suspense!

Grace is 9 years old the day she goes missing. She had convinced her parents that she wanted to walk home from her friend’s house that day. It was only a 5 minute walk and her friend Olivia’s father was supposed to watch her walk part of the way and her dad Blake was supposed to watch her come round the bend. Somewhere in between she went missing “just like that.”

Grace’s mom Lucie is beside herself. If only Lucie hadn’t said yes when her daughter insisted. Blake, Grace’s dad is a Councilman. Could his job be the reason Grace is missing? Turns out he’s been keeping secrets. Lucie has a few secrets of her own, things her husband knows nothing about. We all know what secrets can do to a family.. The question is, where is little Grace?

“Finding Grace” is K.L. Slater’s newest mystery suspense is quite compelling and twisted! It started out strong but petered out a little in the end as the storyline became a bit far-fetched. For those who like K.L. Slater, I think they will find this an enjoyable, easy read.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey. Glad we read this together. :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads on 1.27.19.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

an engaging thriller bursting with twists, secrets, lies, and questions!

This was so much more than a missing child story... although that part of the story will really make you think if you are a parent... when do you let your child walk somewhere on their own, whether it be school or a friends house? The little girl Grace in this story is nine and is begging her parents to allow her to walk from their house to her friends house down the street... I was really thinking about this when did I allow my children to walk somewhere on their own? My oldest two kids a boy and a girl are only 13 months apart so it was usually the two of them and I think I was more comfortable with them walking together... but I had a hard time letting my daughter walk alone even when she was 14, however I probably let her go up the street to her friends? Just last night my youngest who is now 16 asked me if he could walk to the gas station to purchase chips and it was dark out and I really did not want him to go, of course he told me that I let his older brother who is 22 go, also my 22-year-old doesn’t live at home anymore... anyways I even struggled with this last night and my kids are pretty grown.... i’m sure you all wanted to know this😉 anyways all this is to say it is hard to let go and give your children the freedom that they need to become capable responsible adults... BUT can you imagine if the first time you allowed your child to walk alone they were snatched? Welcome to Lucy and Blake’s world....

Blake is a councilman, Lucy is a stay at home mom, they live a nice comfortable life with their two adorable children Grace and baby Oscar... then one day they allow nine-year-old Grace to walk home alone from a friends and their lives are changed forever... as the investigation begins into the who? Why? How? The layers start peeling away from Blake and Lucy‘s so-called perfect lives... both these characters were hiding quite a few things from one another, so many secrets, so many lies, so many suspects....

K L Slater is truly a masterful storyteller! This book was paced perfectly, we kept being fed breadcrumbs of information... just enough to satisfy me and make me wanting more... I really enjoyed how the secrets were revealed, I liked trying to figure out what was going on... another well-crafted thriller from a brilliant author!

A compelling thriller that will mess with your head and make you think what would I have done? Twists, turns, secrets, lies, and a bit of a Darkside! Recommend!

🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head

I have a tale to tell
Sometimes it gets so hard to hide it well
I was not ready for the fall
Too blind to see the writing on the wall
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
I know where beauty lives
I've seen it once, I know the warm she gives
The light that you could never see
It shines inside, you can't take that from me
A man can tell a thousand lies
I've learned my lesson well
Hope I live to tell
The secret I have learned, 'till then
It will burn inside of me
The truth is never far behind
You kept it hidden well
If I live to tell
The secret I knew then
Will I ever have the chance again
If I ran away, I'd never have the strength
To go very far
How would…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IzAO9A9...

*** huge thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

There has been so many books flooding the “child missing” book market that I second guessed whether to read this or not.
But how could I pass this by. I reasoned with myself that this book was written by KL Slater whose books I’ve always enjoyed. Could I pass this one by without at least giving it a “go”?

I couldn’t.

I am so glad I read this as the book has so much to offer than a topic plot that’s been hashed to death over the last year or so.
This is so much more than Grace goes missing.

We all have to learn to allow our children to grow in confidence and independence.
We can’t ‘baby’ our children forever.

But was it too early to allow a nine year old girl to walk just a short distance down to her friends house?
Her father watched her go. The girls father the other end watched her arrive. Both doing this secretly
so that Grace wouldn’t know. But on her way back she never returns.


It’s not just based on the disappearance of Grace though and I was soon to find out more about Lucie the mom. The dad. Lucies friend Bev and her husband down the road.

There were many puzzling factors that kept me turning pages.

The dark side was brilliant! I loved this......a lot!

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: I think this might be my fault.

I've tried to be a good person all my life. I made one mistake, many years ago, but it wasn't my fault. Truly, I would never wish to harm another person.

Sometimes people find themselves in impossible situations. Sometimes you have to decide in a split second whether to do the right thing and go under, or fight to survive.

That's what I did. I made a decision to survive.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: This morning, my daughter sat right here, munching her breakfast, too excited to finish it. Now, she is missing.

The day after her ninth birthday, Lucie and Blake Sullivan agree, for the very first time, to let their daughter, Grace, make the four-minute walk back home alone from a friend’s house just down the street.

They joke with friends about hiding behind bushes to ensure she is safe. But the joke turns sour when Grace does not appear.

Despite the best efforts of the police and local community, Grace seems to have vanished into thin air. With hope fading fast, Lucie knows she can rely on her husband to support her through such dark times. That is until the day she makes a shocking discovery, hidden in Blake’s desk, and suddenly she begins to doubt everything she knew about the man she married.

But Lucie harbours a terrible secret of her own. One that she has never shared with anyone, even Blake …

And as the search for Grace reaches fever pitch, Lucie receives a terrifying message. If she is ever to see Grace again, Lucie has no choice but to face the past she tried hard to bury forever. And she must do it alone.

MY THOUGHTS: This is not, as the blurb assured me it would be, 'the most gripping psychological thriller you will read this year. Nor did I find the twist breathtaking. In fact, it was pretty predictable.

But putting aside my gripe with publishers who insist on overhyping books, Finding Grace was only a little better than average read for me. I have had a child go missing. Only for a couple of hours, but it was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. So I expected to be able to relate to the characters. Initially I did. But reasonably quickly I became disillusioned. Mostly they were flat. Except for Blake’s mother - cue Hyacinth Bouquet. Her, I could visualise and hear. Which is what I expect from the characters.

The story is told mainly from Lucie's perspective, over two timelines - now, with Grace missing, and before, detailing Lucie's life prior to Blake. There is the occasional brief chapter from an unknown person which, I believe, added nothing of value.

I seem to veer between three and five-star ratings for Slater's books. Finding Grace is,unfortunately, one of the former. It is not a bad read. I did not at any point consider abandoning it, but it was not a great read either.

😊😊😊

THE AUTHOR: Kim is the million-copy bestselling author of seven psychological crime thrillers. Her eighth thriller, FINDING GRACE, will be published 14th February 2019 and is now available for pre-order.

Kim's titles are also published in paperback by Sphere in the UK and Grand Central in the USA.

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected an impressive stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she gained literary agent representation and a book deal. As Kim says, ‘it was a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer. She has one daughter, two stepsons and lives with her husband in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Finding Grace by K. L. Slater for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This right here people is a perfect example of a psychological thriller. K.L. Slater had me wrapped around her finger with this one. I could do nothing else until I found out what happened to Grace.

It was only a five minute walk from the neighbor's house to Grace's home. How did she go missing? Better yet, how did nobody see her? A tight knit community like Violet Rd where everyone knows each other and not one person saw her?

My anxiety continued to rise and I literally felt my stomach knot up as facts about all the neighbors came to light. My suspicions were running awry as the character development grew. Everyone seemed to have something in their past or present that made them a suspect in my mind.

Then the bombshell of Lucie's past is revealed. Is she being made to pay for her prior mistakes? Is karma at work or is someone out to make her pay?

K.L. Slater is actually able to capture the psychological pain that Lucie is feeling and she transferred that to me. I felt like I was right alongside them searching for Grace. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she dropped another detail that blew my mind. If you want a book that you absolutely are not able to put down, that has shocking twists and one hell of an ending, this is it!!!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucie and Blake are the parents of nine year old Grace who has gone missing on her short walk home from her friend's house at the other end of their street. An adult was supposed to be posted at each end of the street, watching her at all times, but something went wrong and she disappeared in the few minutes she was out of sight. Both Lucie and Blake are hiding secrets from each other, one a recent secret and one a long hidden secret from the past, neither of them likely to have anything to do with Grace's disappearance. Or do they?

At first I thought, 'not another missing child mystery', but it turned out to be so much more than that. An engaging and well written psychological thriller with enough twists to keep me guessing to the end.

With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC to read.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you have a 9 year old daughter ( Grace ) and you agree to let her walk home from a neighbours house, after a trip to Alton Towers, you and Grace’s friends parents are watching but a chain of small events mean as she turns the bend In the road no one can actually see her, just for a minute....then shes gone...disappeared....into seemingly thin air...
Distraught parents ( Lucie and Blake ) then have to face this realisation and find out why she has gone
The first part of the book gives nothing away, there are hints and clues and you KNOW things are not as they seem, I felt a tense foreboding, it was palpable, I was almost anxious as little by little you realised there was more and more going to be discovered....cleverly woven together via the past past, the recent past and the present
As the book progressed you found out more and more and ( as an avid reader, been there, seen that 😃 ) cockily I thought I had it worked out...quite a few times, I hadnt!!....then the terrifying conclusion which again led me down one path to abruptly stop and turn 360^ as once again the author cleverly added more ‘twists’ to the tale
K.L.Slater writes books at an amazing rate, this being her 8th psychological thriller but the standard never slips and in fact I think this is one of my favourites
I have to mention 2 wonderful characters Nadine ( Lucies MIL) who I pictured kinda Joan Collinsey and was wonderful in her ( unwarranted ) cutting remarks and Barbara Charterhouse ( a local resident who actually plays a vital role in the end ) who was equally awesome in her twin tweeds and brusque manner!
A very easy to read and enjoy book which I read in 2 sittings and was unflawed in its suspense, story and characters
Brilliant
10/10 5 Stars

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent psychological thriller by author Kim Slater, how does she achieve such a consistently high standard of writing.

Lucie and Blake Sullivan allow their daughter Grace to make the short 4 minute walk back home from her best friend's house the day after her ninth birthday. The couple have agonised about agreeing to Grace's wish to walk alone so it is with great trepidation that they finally do. But Lucie and Blake's world is shattered when Grace fails to make it home, and despite police and the local communities best efforts Grace is nowhere to be found.
Lucie leans heavily on her husband for support, so when she makes a shocking discovery hidden in his desk she begins to doubt everything she knew about the man she married. But Blake is not the only one with secrets, Lucie has a terrible secret of her own and has never shared it with Blake.
With tensions mounting and the search for Grace getting nowhere Lucie receives a terrifying message. If she is ever to see Grace again, Lucie has no choice but to face the past she tried hard to bury forever. And she must do it alone.
When you read a KL Slater novel you can guarantee a fast paced plot, great characters and a story that builds up to an unbelievable crescendo. This one is no exception to the authors already impressive catalogue of novels that I enjoy. Keep them coming..

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Grace is the eighth psychological thriller, a fast-paced psychological thriller that will reel you in, from beginning to end by best-selling author K. L. Slater. This Even though it deals with another “missing child” plot, I am amazed at the high quality of writing, that she continues to achieve. I am a fan of her writing, and have read all of her books.

Lucie and Blake Sullivan’s daughter, Grace, had been on a trip to Alton Towers, with her best friend, Olivia and her parents, Bev and Mike, as a birthday treat for turning nine years old yesterday. Grace’s parents allow, for the very first time, to let their daughter, Grace, make the four-minute walk back home alone from a friend’s house just down the street.

But no sign of Grace…she doesn’t return. Every Parent’s nightmare!

Her parents are devastated! What if someone has taken her?

The police are notified and the search begins, but to no avail. Grace seems to have vanished into thin air.

But both Lucie and Blake have secrets they are keeping from each other. Lucie harbours a terrible secret of her own. One that she has never shared with anyone, even Blake …

Then Lucie receives a terrifying message. If she is ever to see Grace again, Lucie has no choice but to face the past she tried hard to bury forever. And she must do it alone.

This is a fast-paced plot, well-developed characters that builds to a high climax. I love the twist in the end that I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my digital copy.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I see a new psychological thriller from K.L. Slater I can’t help but do a little happy dance in my excitement anticipating a great read. Long time fans and new readers both will most likely enjoy this latest, Finding Grace as it’s another solid story from a great writer.

Lucie and Blake Sullivan are parents to nine year old Grace who like most children these days thinks she’s one step away from adulthood. Grace is adamant that she doesn’t need her parents walking her back and forth from her friends home, she’s nine already not two! After much bickering and back and forth Lucie and Blake finally agree to let her walk home on her own.

Despite having agreed to allowing Grace a bit of independence the parents of both girls have agreed to keep an eye out on Grace as she walks, hopefully without her noticing. Unfortunately the plan goes awry when Blake slips and falls hurting his ankle instead of taking up his post to watch for Grace and in the blink of an eye Grace goes missing.

Being very familiar with this author I know ahead of time that I would enjoy her writing and it wouldn’t take but a page turn or two to become engrossed in her new story. This is definitely one of those good psychological thrillers that has you questioning each character along the way as the story unfolds. Definitely still a fan after this latest read and can’t wait for the next as it will surely be full of twists and turns too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

A story that I read in one sitting, but the ending left me a bit dismayed.

As she states in the afterword of her latest novel, K.L Slater decided to tackle the question of when is the right time to give your child(ren) more independence and frame it around a missing child plot . For parents, Lucie and Blake, their nine year old daughter, Grace, finally wears them down and she makes the walk from a friend's house to her own home by herself. Unfortunately Grace never makes it home and a frantic police search ensues.

Similar to other books in this genre, both Lucie and Blake are hiding their share of secrets and Grace's life might be in grave danger, if they don't start talking.

So I felt the majority of the story was engaging , but as the "reveal" occurs and I reached the epilogue, I felt my ready to give 4 star slip into 2.5- 3 territory. To explicitly comment as to why I feel this way would be too massive of a SPOILER. Therefore I might not have enjoyed the outcome of this tale, but I certainly would read another K.L
Slater story.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Grace by K. L. Slater was a psychological thriller that I read in one day because I could not put it down.
After a day out with her friend Olivia and family for her ninth birthday Grace disappears on her way home. The police are called and there is a search to find her.
The book alternates between present day and Grace's mother Lucie's experiences at university many years before.
A story full of secrets and lies that has many twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of Finding Grace by K.L. Slater from NetGalley for my honest review.

Lucie and Blake Sullivan have two children. Grace, who is nine years old and Oscar who is just a baby.

Grace, just returned from an outing with her friend, Olivia, and her parents. Grace has decided that since she is nine years old, she should be allowed to walk home by herself. It is only a five minute walk home. They decide to let Grace walk home but they are going to watch her to make sure she is safe. What could go wrong? A quick glance at the phone and Grace never comes around the bend. She has vanished.

They call the police and a search is started. Night falls, but still no sign of Grace. Her parents are so worried and to make things worse, Grace is a diabetic.

Lucie, who is a nervous person all the time is worried but is also wondering if something from her past (16 years ago) is coming back to haunt her.

The story switches from past to present. From Lucie’s college days to the present time. What happened 16 years ago? Will Grace ever be found?

So many twists, so many secrets, but the past can't stay the past forever.

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Finding Grace’ has a good story as well as maintains the suspense right till the end. Life seems to be going well for Lucie & Blake – they are happily married with two kids and Blake has a great career in public life. However, one day their elder daughter Grace goes missing while walking home from a friend’s place which is just minutes away. It all happens in a flash, just about the time Grace would have been seen by Blake after a bend.

The police get involved very quickly, but as the hours pass, very little information emerges. It looks like someone is deliberately putting them through mental agony. Is it due to business dealings Blake has had, or something from Lucie’s past? It is difficult to discuss the story any more without introducing spoilers, hence, will stop here.

While the story is good, as is the suspense, there is a portion in between where it stalls just a little by focusing excessively on Lucie’s mental state. Some of the behaviours of the characters feels unnatural in parts. Nevertheless, the last portion ties all aspects of the story (past & present) logically, and the story ends very well.

This is the first book of KL Slater that I read, and liked the story as well as the tempo she maintains. I certainly look forward to reading more of her books, and certainly recommend this one!

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

I received a free ebook from Bookouture and NetGalley for an honest review.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie and Blake have suddenly found themselves living every parents worst nightmare. The day after their beloved daughter Grace's ninth birthday,they agreed to let her walk home from her best friend Olivia's house. It was only a five minute walk and they had a plan in place so they could observe her along the way. But despite all their careful planning,somewhere between the two houses, Grace completely vanished into thin air.

As the frantic search for Grace begins,we learn that many of the people in the families lives are hiding secrets including Lucie and Blake. Blake's is a present day secret but Lucie has been keeping hers since she ran away from university sixteen years ago. The story is voiced almost entirely by Lucie and flips back and forth between the present and the past. As I frantically turned the pages of this gripping,intense thriller,the author cleverly drew me into a false sense of security. I really thought I had it all worked out and then BLAM, she threw in a twist that took everything that I thought I knew,screwed those thoughts into a tiny ball and chucked them out of the window.

I love a book that plays with my emotions,I want to feel something about the characters and that is definitely what happened whilst I was reading this fast paced thriller. There was characters I liked,disliked,empathised with,changed my mind about and just plain gave me the creeps. Once I started reading this book,I didn't want to put it down,I was 100% hooked in from the first page right through to the breath taking,heart pounding conclusion. This is K.L.Slater at her best,her words flow with ease,drawing the reader into Lucie and Blake's world and living every minute of their nightmare and fear as time passed and there was still no trace of their beloved daughter. Absolutely amazing book,worth far more than five stars and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year. Very very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie and Blake Sullivan are facing a parent's worst nightmare. Grace has just turned 9 and begged to be allowed to walk home alone from her friend's house .. a 5-minute walk... with Blake watching in secret from this end and the friend's father watching from the other end.

And then everything went wrong .... The friend's father heard his wife calling him and he went back into the house. He neglected to see Grace finish this half of the walk. On the other end, Grace's dad got a text message that startled him and he fell and sprained his ankle. He never saw Grace.

Grace seems to have disappeared into thin air. There's no ransom note or phone call .. she's just ... gone.

Blake is Lucie's support as she slowly falls apart ... but then she finds something in her husband's office that has her wondering if she knows this man at all. But Lucie also has secrets of her own ... things that Blake does not know.

This is such well-written psychological thriller. Told mainly by Lucie, an anonymous voice speaks out every so often .. a voice from her past as Lucie recounts her college years. The main characters are solidly defined... as parents you can feel the terror, the stress, the worry about their daughter.

There are plenty of secondary characters ... the neighbor man next door that Lucie doesn't quite trust .... a friend who may or may not be having an affair with her husband .... her mother-in-law who seems to care more about what people will think rather than worry about her grand-daughter ... Lucie's father, who's always been a bit controlling.

But who would take Grace ... and why?

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of FINDING GRACE. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a massive fan of KL Slaters and was really happy to have the chance to read her latest book Finding Grace. In true Slater fashion there is always a lot of suspects, all of whom are hiding secrets from each other. Anybody could have been the guilty one. I love how her books are written and they are always a quick read for me, keeping me up late to finish them. This one was no different - you must read this book.

Grace has just turned 9 and is wanting a bit of independence. The day after her birthday she goes to Alton Towers with her best friend who lives 4 minutes down the road from Grace. On their return her parents allow her to walk home - but she does not make it. Immediately the police are called and the search is on to find Grace. Her parents Lucie and Blake both have secrets they are keeping from each other and they are really put to the test as the investigation continues. Her neighbours and friends all are under the spotlight. They will have to come clean and face their pasts in order to find their daughter.

A big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie and Blake are about to go through every parents worst nightmare when their eldest child goes missing. Within minutes of her going missing you can very much feel the tension starting to mount. It was almost unbearable at times, as hours go by and she still hasn’t been found.

I love how the author has you pointing the finger at so many people. I couldn’t make my mind up as to who could be behind Grace’s disappearance. Throw into the mix that there is something we don’t know about Lucie’s past and how that could feature in the present day, well the reader is in for one bumpy ride!

Finding Grace has plenty of twists and turns with some shocking outcomes. The suspense and tension literally jumps out from every page, keeping the reader alert and on edge throughout. An O to the M to the G of a read!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this author and it won’t be my last, after all I had purchased 13 books based on the blurb. Yeah.., silly me.

This book started very well.
It was so engaging that I read it in one sitting.
I enjoyed the writing and the book structure, although I wished that there were more than one POV.
The storyline is good, but a bit far-fetched, so take it as it is, a work of fiction.
The conclusion felt rushed, but then this book is not that big. It is definitely a fast read and I wasn’t bored at any moment. Unfortunately I did not feel the thrill that was promised.
I don’t like small coincidences or scenes where the villain feels the need to explain why it had to happen. But that’s me.
Overall it was a very easy and very entertaining read.

[Li'l Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freezing cold fingers unfurled at the bottom of my spine and commenced a slow crawl up each and every vertebrae.

I must’ve walked this route a thousand times with Grace , and at our nice easy pace, it’s never taken more than five or six minutes to get from Mike and Bev’s house to our own front door. Grace should have certainly at least reached the bend.
I get there, panting. I can visualise her surprised face as I bump into her… She’ll chastise me for checking up on her. I’m not a baby, Mum. I’m NINE now! Her new favourite phrase echoes in my head.
My eyes are clouded with fear as I round the bend, but I force myself to focus. To breathe.
There’s a woman walking a dog, a young mum with a toddler in a pushchair and a couple of teenage lads who’ve just hopped over the fence from the small park.
But I can see immediately that there is no sign of Grace.

********
Newly released February 14, 2019. Now Available! Highly recommended!

Finding Grace by K.L. Slater is a fast paced, chilling psychological thriller from cover to cover! If you like twisty, chilling reads, this one is for you!
The first book I read by K.L. Slater was Blink and it nearly did my nerves in! This was no exception, doing a proper job of jangling them up yet again! I never knew what I was in for around the next bend and was caught off guard every time! Silly of me for thinking I had it all worked out! I have many more of novels on my shelves and they are all on my list to read this year. I wonder what kind of shape my nervous system will be in by the time I'm done. But I can't wait to find out!


Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. Slater for my digital copy to read and review.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

After relentless pestering from nine year old Grace, mum Lucie finally agrees to let her walk the very short distance home from a friend’s house, with appropriate safeguards in place. It will be no surprise to readers that Grace promptly disappears. As the police investigate, the press hound Lucie and her husband, the public rushes to judgment and Lucie grows ever more desperate, a number of secrets are about to come to light...

Of course, missing child stories have been ten a penny lately, and this did feel a bit psychological-thriller-by-numbers at times (Mysterious Bad Thing in heroine’s past, gradually revealed in flashbacks: check). This particular Bad Thing was quite an original one, though, to be fair.

The story is very readable and generally well plotted, although in retrospect there are a few rather too convenient coincidences and a few things which don’t really make sense, unless I missed something. Why did Grace leave her backpack at Olivia’s? Why would she happily get in a car with someone who she last saw saying horrible things about her Mum? How incredibly coincidental that this person happened to be driving past at the exact and only moment that Grace was unobserved!

An enjoyable escapist read but nothing that will stick in my mind.

[Ken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This thriller starts off really strongly as parents Lucie and Blake Sullivan reluctantly agree to allow their nine year old daughter Grace to walk from her friend Olivia's home on her own.

After all the girls live on the same street and its been secretly agreed that both father's will watch her from a distance.

Ideal in practice though Blake who's constantly glued to his phone and inevitably distracted by an incoming text message so doesn't spot his daughter disappearance.

The book excels is raising the issues of children trying to push the boundaries of independence and if the parents were right to even allow her to take the journey solo in the first place.

Learning more about both parents background goes someway into introducing tension and allows the readers to form possible theories towards what happened that faithful day.

After a promising start of parent accountability and gossip, the reveal itself was always going to be slightly underwhelming.

[Angela Marsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I say this every time I read a book by KL Slater but I really think this is her best yet! The story follows Lucie and Blake when the unthinkable happens and their nine year old daughter disappears during a short walk home. From the very first page until the last I was holding my breath and constantly trying to guess where the author was leading me and I got it wrong every time.

The writing is as ever expertly slick as it teases the reader along from one twist to another right up until that final mind blowing revelation that left me open mouthed with shock.

The characters are completely relatable and I must confess to a soft spot for Blake's mother in law despite her constant put downs of Lucie as I thought she was brilliantly drawn.

Can not recommend this book highly enough but I'll warn you that once you start it you won't want to put it down.

[Angie Dokos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Some parts are predictable; there are a couple surprises. You want to just smack Lucy for being so naive. But overall, it was an enjoyable read.

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The day after her ninth birthday, Lucie and Blake Sullivan agree, for the very first time, to let their daughter, Grace, make the four-minute walk back home alone from her friend Olivia's house just down the street.

They joke with friends about hiding behind bushes to ensure she is safe. But the joke turns sour when Grace does not appear.

Despite the best efforts of the police and local community, Grace seems to have vanished into thin air. With hope fading fast, Lucie knows she can rely on her husband to support her through such dark times. That is until the day she makes a shocking discovery, hidden in Blake’s desk, and suddenly she begins to doubt everything she knew about the man she married.

But Lucie harbours a terrible secret of her own. One that she has never shared with anyone, even Blake.

And as the search for Grace reaches fever pitch, Lucie receives a terrifying message. If she is ever to see Grace again, Lucie has no choice but to face the past she tried hard to bury forever. And she must do it alone.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blake and Lucie Sullivan agree to let their daughter, Grace walk home from her friend’s house after visiting Altoona Park for her birthday treat. Grace has just turned nine years old and wants to feel like a big girl walking back home by herself. Grace’s friend lives on the same street just around the bend and both sets of parents agree to watch Grace walk home, but just for a few seconds she would be out of their sights as she goes around the bend. A few seconds is all it takes for Grace to go missing. Blake and Lucie face a parent’s worst nightmare when their daughter simply vanishes.But Grace’s disappearance kickstarts a catalyst of events that brings to light secrets that both Blake and Lucie are hiding from each other. Could Blake or Lucie truly be the reason why Grace has gone missing?

Wow! I can now see why K.L. Slater has such a huge following and fan base. Finding Grace is the first book I have read by this author and I can honestly say, it definitely will not be the last. I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the story and wondering what happened to Grace. Is she alive? Kidnapped? Held for ransom? All of these thoughts ran through my mind for the better half of the book and then little by little Slater inserts these little glimpses into the past which only made me squirm to read more. Slater intricately weaves the present and the past with such finesse that it was hard to put this book down. Slater just teases you with twist after twist and I must say, I was completely and utterly shocked. The twists were so brilliantly done and were so unique placed at just the right moments where it forces you to keep reading just so you can find out what happens next. I am now sad that the story has ended, but alas Slater has a nice backlog of books I will be wrapping my greedy little hands on very soon.

Blake and Lucie are such well written flawed characters that seem all too real. They are not portrayed as a picture perfect couple and I found that Slater really gives you a lot of insight to both characters which makes them relatable to where you can feel their pain and suffering. Lucie, I felt, really grows the most during the course of this book and in the processes learns what she is capable of both as a mother and as a woman. Besides Blake and Lucie, Slater has written a mother-in-law, Nadine, who could give Joan Crawford a run for her money. She is just awful! There are also a multitude of other people worked into the story that all seemed to have some kind of motive while partaking in some rather shady and sometimes creepy things. Slater definitely keeps you on your toes with her characters that's for sure.

Finding Grace blends a terrific psychological thriller with a story that could be ripped from the headlines, cleverly placed plot twists, and secrets galore that make this dazzling thriller an absolute gem in the genre. Well played and well deserving of 5 glorious stars!

[Natalia R · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars