It's always a little bittersweet finishing a book, especially a good one. And this is my first five-star read of the year. I wish I could remember where I heard about it it, but I suppose it doesn't matter. I can't say much about the intricate plot without spoiling it, so pardon the vague description that follows. The titular character is Bronte Bloom, the 10 year old daughter of a tiger mom, and the girl bears the enormous weight of her mother's expectations on her shoulders with increasing difficulty. One day, she just disappears, and the family (tiger mother, frustrated but impotent doctor father, father's daughter from a previous relationship, mother's son from same) starts to unravel. Throughout the story the narrative perspective shifts between various key characters, including the detective who is assigned to investigate Bronte's disappearance, and the transitions are very smooth, almost not noticeable, which is very hard to pull off. Eventually the disappearance leads into a murder investigation, and although the author drops several broad hints about the identity and motive of the killer, and I was pretty sure I had it pegged, it turned out I was wrong, and the conclusion comes a bit out of left field. It is this skillful weaving of the narrative, the distinct and well developed characters and the impulsively readable prose that allow me to give this one the full five stars. ( )

They forgot to mention on the cover that this is a murder mystery. ( )

The murder of a very controlling and nasty mother in a blended marriage. A real page turner and good story. I loved it! ( )

4.5 stars

The dysfunctional Bloom family takes center stage in Paula Daly's latest release, The Trophy Child, a gripping investigation into the disappearance of ten year old Bronte.

Following Bronte's disappearance on an outing with her sixteen year old stepsister, Verity, "tiger mom" Karen quickly alienates her family, the police and the public with her withering accusations and rude comments. Ignoring the woman as best as she can, Detective Sergeant Joanne Aspinall and her newly assigned partner Detective Sergeant Oliver Black continue their search for clues to Bronte's whereabouts. Joanne has no doubt that Verity's account of the day her little sister went missing is truthful but she cannot discount the teenager's recent troubles with her stepmother. Joanne is also keeping her personal connection to the girl's father, Noel, a secret from her boss and her partner. When Bronte eventually returns home unharmed and with a somewhat vague account of her whereabouts, the investigation reaches a dead end. However, Joanne and Oliver are soon back at the Bloom's when another person from the house goes missing. This investigation has a very different outcome than the previous one and Joanne has to take a hard look at everyone in the Bloom household, including Noel, Verity, Karen's son Ewan and Ewan's friend Dale. Will Joanne and Oliver uncover the truth about who is responsible for this latest disappearance?

Based on their outward appearance, the Bloom family seem to have everything going for them. Patriarch Noel is a successful GP with a lucrative practice whose second marriage to Karen seems to be happy. But beneath the surface, there is a high degree of dysfunction and no shortage of misery within the family. Noel drinks a little too much and works long hours, rarely interacting with his wife or children. Verity has recently gotten herself into a situation that involves weekly drug tests and counseling. Ewan is a slacker with little ambition and a fairly impressive pot habit. Bronte's schedule is so full of activities and tutors that the poor girl has no time just to be a child. Karen is an overbearing, ambitious and pushy mother who makes everyone's lives miserable. Everyone feels a great deal of sympathy for Bronte and they search tirelessly for her when she goes missing.

Following the second disappearance of someone from the Bloom home, Noel immediately contacts Joanne for assistance which raises a few eyebrows including Oliver's. The two detective sergeants are soon searching for clues but they are soon at a dead end. With very little evidence to go on, their investigation raises more questions than answers, but neither of them are quite ready to give up. While Joanne decides to take a second look at the circumstances of Bronte's disappearance, Oliver broadens his search and uncovers a vital clue that takes the case in a very shocking direction.

The Trophy Child is a riveting police procedural that fans of the genre do not want to miss. Paula Daly has chosen a disturbing parenting trend to focus on and with Karen Bloom, she has created a detestable character whose ambitions for her child border on abuse. The rest of the characters are realistically drawn with both positive and negative traits that are easy to relate to. The disappearances and subsequent investigations are compelling with plenty of red herrings and plot twists that will keep readers guessing right up until the novel's somewhat dramatic conclusion. An absolutely spellbinding mystery that is fast-paced and quite interesting. Highly recommend.
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Another really good page turner from Paula Daly ( )