"Thoughtfully engaging, this is a fascinating and provocative psychological thriller."
Full of intrigue ‘11 Missed Calls’ weaves separate intriguing strands into a taut fascinating tale of family drama. Anna’s mum Debbie disappeared 30 years ago when Anna was just a month old, she has spent her whole life wondering what became of her, then a strange letter arrives and Anna wants answers. Elisabeth Carpenter handles the story with care and attention, focusing on thoughts and feelings, where they can take you, what they can become. The past sets traps as the present slips forward. Two women tell their own story, each chapter headed by one of them, then another voice starts to speak, who is it? As information was revealed and thoughts became clearer, a number of questions still knocked at the door of my consciousness. Prodding, poking and shaking feelings ‘11 Missed Calls’ is a stimulating and thoughtful psychological thriller.
| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Reminiscent of Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, Elisabeth Carpenter’s novel 11 Missed Calls is a psychological tale spanning three decades, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and paranoia.
Reminiscent of Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, Elisabeth Carpenter’s novel 11 Missed Calls is a psychological tale spanning three decades, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and paranoia.
For Anna, the hunt for her mother Debbie, who vanished when she was just weeks old, has never faded. Whilst her family have seemingly moved on, she has always wondered what happened on that fateful night. When an email arrives, it throws the whole family, and Anna’s entire life, into turmoil, uncovering old wounds and creating new scars.
Carpenter creates a story filled with turns that makes even the savviest of thriller readers second-guess themselves. The character of Anna is relatable in that she isn’t pushed too far into madness, but rather just enough that you start to question your own reality.... Read Full Review
They receive an email reputedly from Debbie. Is she alive or is someone playing a hoax? This should be the start of a great tale.
The premise of this book was so good, but sadly this novel did not match up to it.
It was written in the first person. But to me as this story involved two time lines, this vehicle did not work for me.
It is the story of two women; Debbie who disappears on a holiday to Tenerife and at the start of the book is presumed dead. The other woman is Anna/Annie her daughter who has never known her mother. Her father is now married to Monica, Debbie's best friend. They receive an email reputedly from Debbie. Is she alive or is someone playing a hoax?
This should be the start of a great tale. But for me no. For various reasons. I found the first person narrative grating, I also thought the two characters of the women did not ring true.... Read Full Review
A clever thriller about a daughter's quest to discover the truth about her missing mother. Superb!
11 Missed Calls is a clever and original thriller about a daughter's quest to discover the truth about her missing mother. I really enjoyed this book and felt that the way that the story was divided into chapters from the viewpoints of mother & daughter added to the suspense. It is a testament to the author's skill that the reader's interest was maintained throughout the dual narratives - it made the book even more gripping.... Read Full Review
