What do you think?
Rate this book
Stop At Nothing
A mother's job is to keep her children safe.
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she'd done differently, but doesn't everyone feel that way?
Then Emma, her youngest, is attacked on her way home from a party, plunging them into a living nightmare which only gets worse when the man responsible is set free
But what if she fails?
So when Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
There's nothing she wouldn't do to make it right . . .
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she'd done differently, but doesn't everyone feel that way?
Then Emma, her youngest, is attacked on her way home from a party, plunging them into a living nightmare which only gets worse when the man responsible is set free
But what if she fails?
So when Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
There's nothing she wouldn't do to make it right . . .
432 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2019
55 people are currently reading
2082 people want to read
About the author
Tammy Cohen
23 books450 followersTammy Cohen (who was previously published under her formal name Tamar Cohen) is a freelance journalist. A late starter to fiction - and to other things besides - she has now written four novels. The Mistress's Revenge, The War of the Wives, and Someone Else's Wedding. The Broken was her first pyschological thriller, followed by Dying for Christmas. Her brand new hardback novel, First One Missing is out now.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
She lives in North London with her partner and three (nearly) grown children, plus one very badly behaved dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 248 reviews
July 4, 2019
This book just screamed out to be read with its dramatic red cover and its title “Stop At Nothing” it lured me like a moth to a flame.
Having read several of Tammy Cohen’s books,although I thought I knew from the blurb which direction this book may be going I know that this author is never predictable and will take me on a roller coaster of a ride!! And boy was I right.
This book was so bloody brilliant. Where do I start? First of all you had me gripped frantically turning the pages until sadly I got to the last addictive page and then I wanted to start it all over again.
Every parent wants to make sure their children are safe no matter what age they are. Just like wild animals protect their young, parents will stop at nothing to stop their children being hurt even if that means crossing the line!!
When Tess’s daughter is attacked coming home from a party on a bus, first she feels guilty for letting her come home alone and then she wants revenge when it seems the assailant will not be found guilty.
Tess is in a vulnerable state. She is going through a divorce, the menopause and falling out with her eldest daughter Rose. This is the straw that broke the camels back!! She is desperate to get justice for her daughter who she can see has been greatly affected since the attack and becomes obsessed with the assailant which sparks of a chain of disastrous events.
Would score this book more than 5 starts.
Loved the surprise twist at the end. I actually stood up and clapped when I read the ending which surprised the other passengers on the bus!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Having read several of Tammy Cohen’s books,although I thought I knew from the blurb which direction this book may be going I know that this author is never predictable and will take me on a roller coaster of a ride!! And boy was I right.
This book was so bloody brilliant. Where do I start? First of all you had me gripped frantically turning the pages until sadly I got to the last addictive page and then I wanted to start it all over again.
Every parent wants to make sure their children are safe no matter what age they are. Just like wild animals protect their young, parents will stop at nothing to stop their children being hurt even if that means crossing the line!!
When Tess’s daughter is attacked coming home from a party on a bus, first she feels guilty for letting her come home alone and then she wants revenge when it seems the assailant will not be found guilty.
Tess is in a vulnerable state. She is going through a divorce, the menopause and falling out with her eldest daughter Rose. This is the straw that broke the camels back!! She is desperate to get justice for her daughter who she can see has been greatly affected since the attack and becomes obsessed with the assailant which sparks of a chain of disastrous events.
Would score this book more than 5 starts.
Loved the surprise twist at the end. I actually stood up and clapped when I read the ending which surprised the other passengers on the bus!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
July 19, 2019
Isnt it weird when you finish a book having disliked every single character but still found it enjoyable? This is how I feel about this book.
I find in these kind of psychological thrillers the character depth is really minimal so my chances of bonding with them are already slim and these characters I just didnt like, I didnt care for them at all, if I'd met any of them in a cafe I'd move tables.
However I really liked the plot, it really was a page turner, I liked the two different perspectives even though it took me a while to figure out exactly who one of them was.
A solid three stars from me and I do have other books from the author on my kindle and I'll definitely be reading them soon.
I find in these kind of psychological thrillers the character depth is really minimal so my chances of bonding with them are already slim and these characters I just didnt like, I didnt care for them at all, if I'd met any of them in a cafe I'd move tables.
However I really liked the plot, it really was a page turner, I liked the two different perspectives even though it took me a while to figure out exactly who one of them was.
A solid three stars from me and I do have other books from the author on my kindle and I'll definitely be reading them soon.
July 16, 2019
Stop At Nothing by Tammy Cohen had all the makings of a great story - but it wasn't as good as I had expected. I have read and loved previous books from this author so I had high hopes for this new one - I was disappointed. I found that the main character was over the top and annoying. The story at times dragged and I found it hard to stay engaged. But in saying all that the story was good - however, I did work it all out quite early and I was sad to be correct. I was hoping for a twist that I had missed.
Tess is a single mother and tries her best to be a good mother to her girls. Her youngest, Emma is attacked on her way home from a party one night. She is terrified and retreats into herself. And then one day Tess see's Emmas attacker in their street, close to their home. From this point on Tess is out of control and does everything she can to protect her daughter from this man. - no matter what the cost, even though it puts them in danger.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Tess is a single mother and tries her best to be a good mother to her girls. Her youngest, Emma is attacked on her way home from a party one night. She is terrified and retreats into herself. And then one day Tess see's Emmas attacker in their street, close to their home. From this point on Tess is out of control and does everything she can to protect her daughter from this man. - no matter what the cost, even though it puts them in danger.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
July 18, 2019
What Tammy Cohen does extremely well is balancing an abundance of thrills and spills and enough emotional aspects to make the story relatable and grounded in reality. Her books are believable and stray from the usual tendency for crime writers to create the most far-fetched and nonsensical tale they can muster. Revolving around Tess, newly menopausal with a husband who has left her for another woman, we follow her on her journey. When her youngest daughter, Emma, is attacked Tess feels powerless and guilt that she couldn't have done anything about it. Tess's life is lacking in all meaning and she is completely lost with everything around her changing so drastically and so quickly.
I must admit that much of this is more women's fiction/chick-lit than a thriller; I would say the ratio is about 60:40 respectively, so if you prefer full-on thrilling stories this may not be the best fit. That said, it is well written, entertaining and I admired that the menopause, which is not regularly part of fictional tales, was an integral part of the plot. It's incredibly realistic and relatable with protagonist Tess being a very human character and one you simply can't help but get behind. Having had such terrible luck she deserves a break. Another fascinating fact is that this is based on Ms Cohen and her family and for some reason that made it all the more compelling to me. Recommended. Many thanks to Transworld Digital for an ARC.
I must admit that much of this is more women's fiction/chick-lit than a thriller; I would say the ratio is about 60:40 respectively, so if you prefer full-on thrilling stories this may not be the best fit. That said, it is well written, entertaining and I admired that the menopause, which is not regularly part of fictional tales, was an integral part of the plot. It's incredibly realistic and relatable with protagonist Tess being a very human character and one you simply can't help but get behind. Having had such terrible luck she deserves a break. Another fascinating fact is that this is based on Ms Cohen and her family and for some reason that made it all the more compelling to me. Recommended. Many thanks to Transworld Digital for an ARC.
December 15, 2019
STOP AT NOTHING is a contemporary thriller and domestic drama by best-selling author Tammy Cohen. This was a very addictive read, and one that you will not be able to put down.
Every parent wants to protect and keep their children safe at all costs.
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she’d done differently, but doesn’t everyone feel that way? Tess, a freelance journalist is under a lot of stress while going through a divorce, dealing with the effects of menopause, having two daughters, her youngest, Emma living at home with her, while her eldest daughter, Rose lives with her ex and new wife, after a falling out with her eldest daughter Rose.
When Tess’s daughter, Emma is attacked coming home alone from a party on a bus, first she feels guilty for letting her come home alone and then she wants revenge when it seems the assailant is set free.
The assailant had abducted her sixteen -year-old daughter, dragged her off the street and beat her up when she resisted.
But there was a witness…if Frances hadn’t driven past at the time of the attack…Frances had saved Emma’s life, and the family was so grateful for her action.
At the police station, Emma is shown a video showing nine different men and asked to watch it, and comment if she recognized the man who assaulted her. She thought she recognized one of them…number eight…but she couldn’t be completely sure, so she said nothing.
From then on, this nightmare gets worse. The detective in charge informs Tess that there are no further active lines of inquiry that they can pursue on the case. Both Emma and Tess are nervous and spend most of their time indoors, where they feel relatively safe, but always looking over their shoulder.
When Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. Tess takes on a vigilante behavior… to protect her daughter at any cost.
There’s nothing she wouldn’t do to make it right . . . but what if she makes it all worse?
Stop at Nothing is an engaging story, part thriller but mostly domestic drama, with relatable characters, dealing with difficult circumstances. A wonderful read and one which has a personal story behind it from the author.
Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, NetGalley and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
Every parent wants to protect and keep their children safe at all costs.
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she’d done differently, but doesn’t everyone feel that way? Tess, a freelance journalist is under a lot of stress while going through a divorce, dealing with the effects of menopause, having two daughters, her youngest, Emma living at home with her, while her eldest daughter, Rose lives with her ex and new wife, after a falling out with her eldest daughter Rose.
When Tess’s daughter, Emma is attacked coming home alone from a party on a bus, first she feels guilty for letting her come home alone and then she wants revenge when it seems the assailant is set free.
The assailant had abducted her sixteen -year-old daughter, dragged her off the street and beat her up when she resisted.
But there was a witness…if Frances hadn’t driven past at the time of the attack…Frances had saved Emma’s life, and the family was so grateful for her action.
At the police station, Emma is shown a video showing nine different men and asked to watch it, and comment if she recognized the man who assaulted her. She thought she recognized one of them…number eight…but she couldn’t be completely sure, so she said nothing.
From then on, this nightmare gets worse. The detective in charge informs Tess that there are no further active lines of inquiry that they can pursue on the case. Both Emma and Tess are nervous and spend most of their time indoors, where they feel relatively safe, but always looking over their shoulder.
When Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. Tess takes on a vigilante behavior… to protect her daughter at any cost.
There’s nothing she wouldn’t do to make it right . . . but what if she makes it all worse?
Stop at Nothing is an engaging story, part thriller but mostly domestic drama, with relatable characters, dealing with difficult circumstances. A wonderful read and one which has a personal story behind it from the author.
Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, NetGalley and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
December 15, 2019
It's the middle of the night. Tess hears someone banging on her front door. Groggy from a sleeping pill, it takes a moment or two for her to get to the door. Once opened, she see her teenage daughter, Emma, standing with another woman, a stranger.
When Emma and the woman tells her what has happened, Tess is beside herself. A man attacked Emma as she got off the bus .... hit her a couple of times .. and tried dragging her down a dark lane. The stranger was driving by and happened to see what was going on. She's the one that called the police.
Emma has become hesitant, almost fearing to leave her home. The man responsible released for lack of identity by Emma and her new-found friend. The police are apologetic, but there's nothing they can do without an eyewitness.
Tess thinks the worst is over .... but that all changes when Emma comes running home, terrified, after seeing the man who assaulted her. Is he following her? Planning on finishing what he started?
Blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
STOP AT NOTHING is well written, suspenseful, with characters that are deftly drawn. This was an emotional read, as it would be for any parent who will do anything and everything to protect their child.
Many thanks to the author / Transworld Books - Random House UK / Netgalley / The Book Club Reviewer Group (FB) for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 9, 2019
Perceptive & relevant look at how far a mother will go to protect their child but no thriller.
Despite Stop at Nothing being another hugely entertaining and very perceptive story, billing it as a thriller is a misclassification. In common with the other novels by Tammy Cohen that I have read it is well characterised and involving, but the novels direction and the major outcome, are pretty obvious from the off. However the dilemma of fifty-two-year-old protagonist Tessa Hopwood is both plausible and easy to empathise with, and when placed in the context of her current situation and the last two years of her life, easy to imagine its significance.
When Tess is woken from bed by a stranger knocking at her door in the early hours of the morning with the horrifying news that her fifteen-year-old daughter has been the victim of an assault and attempted abduction after getting off a bus, she feels impotent with rage and the last vestiges of her peace of mind are shattered. The assault on daughter Emma (‘Em’) was foiled by a vigilant passer-by just as Em’s assailant was trying to drag her off the path and into the woods. Indebted to Em’s saviour, the concern of Frances Gates is both appreciated and heartwarming, with Frances keen to keep in touch and check-in on Em’s recovery. As a live-in carer to her MS suffering mother, Frances’ fierce concern is ascribed to loneliness but soon she has latched on and become the main source of support for the Hopwood’s with Tess far too grateful to shake her off.
Consumed by anger, guilt-ridden at failing her youngest child after already alienating elder daughter, Rosie, Tess is desperate to take the necessary steps to ensure her daughter can walk the streets without fear. After a failed identity parade is followed just weeks later by a distraught Em returning home convinced she has seen the man who targeted her a few streets away, Tess decides the only course of action is to hound and shame the perpetrator out of the neighbourhood. With a heck of a lot more to her methods than simply the stalking via Facebook that so many of us are guilty of, Tess is relentless and reckless as Frances eggs her on.
With her husband of two decades having left her for another woman along with being made redundant from her job as a women’s magazine editor and fast finding interest in her submissions drying up, Tess has lost two of the things that she set so much store by. With a house move, hitting the menopause, an estrangement from her older daughter, Rosie, and her elderly parents both seriously infirm, the attack on Emma feels like the last straw and Tess’s feeling of powerless to protect her daughter feels palpable. Used to external validation and her role as a good mother and wife, Tess is desperate to take back some of the control and stop floundering against a tide which is fast submerging her.
Although the drama features more around Tess than victim Emma, Em’s characterisation is perfectly understated as she contains her fears, attempts to reassure her mother and slowly comes to terms with the assault whilst playing it down. Tess herself, whilst being sympathetic is also rather infuriating as she submits to her instincts and reflex responses without considering the consequences of her actions.
Although some of the turning points, the substance of the story itself and the real threat to the Hopwood family is rather too clear-cut it doesn’t detract from what is a highly plausible and concerning story Stop at Nothing is. Admittedly into the close when things become blindingly obvious and Tess takes some convincing, I would have appreciated having both the identity of the bad guy revealed earlier and a more reflective look at the aftermath. The pace is by no means breakneck as befitting a novel which is as much perceptive women’s fiction and family drama as thriller. Emotionally astute with an on point knowledge of the social media technology that makes so much of our lives public, Tammy Cohen has produced another thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking drama.
Every bit grounded in reality, Stop at Nothing might not be a thriller but it certainly proves a far more commendable and engrossing read than many a far-fetched psychological thriller.
Despite Stop at Nothing being another hugely entertaining and very perceptive story, billing it as a thriller is a misclassification. In common with the other novels by Tammy Cohen that I have read it is well characterised and involving, but the novels direction and the major outcome, are pretty obvious from the off. However the dilemma of fifty-two-year-old protagonist Tessa Hopwood is both plausible and easy to empathise with, and when placed in the context of her current situation and the last two years of her life, easy to imagine its significance.
When Tess is woken from bed by a stranger knocking at her door in the early hours of the morning with the horrifying news that her fifteen-year-old daughter has been the victim of an assault and attempted abduction after getting off a bus, she feels impotent with rage and the last vestiges of her peace of mind are shattered. The assault on daughter Emma (‘Em’) was foiled by a vigilant passer-by just as Em’s assailant was trying to drag her off the path and into the woods. Indebted to Em’s saviour, the concern of Frances Gates is both appreciated and heartwarming, with Frances keen to keep in touch and check-in on Em’s recovery. As a live-in carer to her MS suffering mother, Frances’ fierce concern is ascribed to loneliness but soon she has latched on and become the main source of support for the Hopwood’s with Tess far too grateful to shake her off.
Consumed by anger, guilt-ridden at failing her youngest child after already alienating elder daughter, Rosie, Tess is desperate to take the necessary steps to ensure her daughter can walk the streets without fear. After a failed identity parade is followed just weeks later by a distraught Em returning home convinced she has seen the man who targeted her a few streets away, Tess decides the only course of action is to hound and shame the perpetrator out of the neighbourhood. With a heck of a lot more to her methods than simply the stalking via Facebook that so many of us are guilty of, Tess is relentless and reckless as Frances eggs her on.
With her husband of two decades having left her for another woman along with being made redundant from her job as a women’s magazine editor and fast finding interest in her submissions drying up, Tess has lost two of the things that she set so much store by. With a house move, hitting the menopause, an estrangement from her older daughter, Rosie, and her elderly parents both seriously infirm, the attack on Emma feels like the last straw and Tess’s feeling of powerless to protect her daughter feels palpable. Used to external validation and her role as a good mother and wife, Tess is desperate to take back some of the control and stop floundering against a tide which is fast submerging her.
Although the drama features more around Tess than victim Emma, Em’s characterisation is perfectly understated as she contains her fears, attempts to reassure her mother and slowly comes to terms with the assault whilst playing it down. Tess herself, whilst being sympathetic is also rather infuriating as she submits to her instincts and reflex responses without considering the consequences of her actions.
Although some of the turning points, the substance of the story itself and the real threat to the Hopwood family is rather too clear-cut it doesn’t detract from what is a highly plausible and concerning story Stop at Nothing is. Admittedly into the close when things become blindingly obvious and Tess takes some convincing, I would have appreciated having both the identity of the bad guy revealed earlier and a more reflective look at the aftermath. The pace is by no means breakneck as befitting a novel which is as much perceptive women’s fiction and family drama as thriller. Emotionally astute with an on point knowledge of the social media technology that makes so much of our lives public, Tammy Cohen has produced another thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking drama.
Every bit grounded in reality, Stop at Nothing might not be a thriller but it certainly proves a far more commendable and engrossing read than many a far-fetched psychological thriller.
July 16, 2019
So, this took me the beat part of the day and was a good worthwhile effort, it was enjoyable...
However, if you read many psychological/thrilly types of books I think, as me, you will see the main twist of the book early on....this didnt spoil it for me, unless you count me thinking ‘oh for goodness sake its OBVIOUS’ and ‘ they’re behind you’ at regular intervals! 😂
The story revolves around Tess, newly menopausal and single and redundant and her 2 daughters,Tess just about copes and then her younger daughter is attacked.....the story then focuses on who is guilty of the attack...its so much more involved than than but to say much more would give hints!!
There is a sterling cast including a benign yet perfect ex hubby’s new girlfriend, old friends-some not as nice as they should be and Tessa’s parents-Mum with dementia and Dad with Diabetes ( some of Tess’s feelings towards both are very moving and heartfelt as is the descriptions of their illnesses )
The part Facebook/ Insta/home CCTV and spyware play in the story are as always chilling when you realise just what is accessible to people via these platforms
Beware that Tess is partial to clamminess and very regular spurts of adrenaline!
Insomnia features in the book and the reality of how this affects Tess is eye opening and really well described
This is my 2nd most ‘pressed the kindle button to see what a word means’ book of the year, some great words that have never heard of before
A short but unnecessary dig at ‘man spreading’ irritated me ( its our biology not anything else!! )
Anyway am rambling so will finish by saying a very well written, easy to enjoy and just keep on reading kinda book that even after I guessed what was to come still hit all the right spots
8.5/10 4.5 Stars
July 19, 2019
When Tessa’s teenage daughter Emma is attacked one night coming home after getting off a bus, saved only by a woman who happened to be passing at that moment, Tess’ life spirals out of control as she desperately tries to help her daughter recover from the ordeal. She is angry that the attacker is allowed to go free whilst Emma is scared and fearful; so she takes matters into her own hands. What she doesn’t foresee are the consequences.
It must be terrible to see your daughter suffering so much and not being able to help. Tess is not having the best of times herself and I did feel sympathy for her as she struggled with her feelings of guilt and anger. She’s going through the menopause, her husband has left her for another woman and her family is split. Her ageing parents are struggling to cope; she keeps an eye on them via ‘the Grannycam’ from her laptop. She is unemployed – the career in journalism she used to have and love has moved on and left her out of touch and feeling out of her depth. And now she has this to deal with. This man who has come into their lives and scared her daughter. She wants justice and revenge.
Tess is one of those woman who acts on impulse without thinking, particularly when tired and emotional, and there were times when I wanted to sit her down and say STOP. What on earth are you thinking. Her desire to see this man punished seemed to override any thoughts for what might follow and you just knew that things were not going to end well.
Throughout the book there is an increasing feeling that not everything is as it appears with the twists and unexpected events coming fast and furious as the story reaches its climax. There are occasional chapters from an unknown voice and I was going around in circles trying to figure out who this person was and how they fitted in. Stop at Nothing is an utterly gripping story of a mother trying to do her best in difficult circumstances but not always getting it right. Part psychological thriller/domestic drama – it’s an excellent read and one which has a personal story behind it from the author.
It must be terrible to see your daughter suffering so much and not being able to help. Tess is not having the best of times herself and I did feel sympathy for her as she struggled with her feelings of guilt and anger. She’s going through the menopause, her husband has left her for another woman and her family is split. Her ageing parents are struggling to cope; she keeps an eye on them via ‘the Grannycam’ from her laptop. She is unemployed – the career in journalism she used to have and love has moved on and left her out of touch and feeling out of her depth. And now she has this to deal with. This man who has come into their lives and scared her daughter. She wants justice and revenge.
Tess is one of those woman who acts on impulse without thinking, particularly when tired and emotional, and there were times when I wanted to sit her down and say STOP. What on earth are you thinking. Her desire to see this man punished seemed to override any thoughts for what might follow and you just knew that things were not going to end well.
Throughout the book there is an increasing feeling that not everything is as it appears with the twists and unexpected events coming fast and furious as the story reaches its climax. There are occasional chapters from an unknown voice and I was going around in circles trying to figure out who this person was and how they fitted in. Stop at Nothing is an utterly gripping story of a mother trying to do her best in difficult circumstances but not always getting it right. Part psychological thriller/domestic drama – it’s an excellent read and one which has a personal story behind it from the author.
July 9, 2019
Tammy Cohen is one of my favourite thriller authors and I was looking forward to reading her latest. Having finished, I must be honest and say it is not my favourite of her books, but it is one of her most personal – her reasons for writing it are at the end of the novel – and it is certainly very emotive.
Tess is asleep when a stranger brings back her daughter, Emma, sixteen, who was attacked after getting off a bus and walking home. Soon, she has a crying daughter, an unknown woman, Frances, who brought Emma home, and the police in her house. Before long, Tess is feeling powerless, and judged. Recently divorced, her career in women’s magazines damaged by the internet, and with her other daughter, Rosie, not currently living with them, she is vulnerable and horrified by what happened.
What follows is Tess’s attempts to make sense of what happened and to protect her daughter. This leads to her making some very, very bad decisions, which cause a bad situation to get much worse. I do not wish to give away the plot, so I will just say that it is full of twists and turns. Although you question Tess’s behaviour, as a mother, I completely understood her desire to protect her daughter, in the way she thought best and had a lot of sympathy with her and the situation she found herself in.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Tess is asleep when a stranger brings back her daughter, Emma, sixteen, who was attacked after getting off a bus and walking home. Soon, she has a crying daughter, an unknown woman, Frances, who brought Emma home, and the police in her house. Before long, Tess is feeling powerless, and judged. Recently divorced, her career in women’s magazines damaged by the internet, and with her other daughter, Rosie, not currently living with them, she is vulnerable and horrified by what happened.
What follows is Tess’s attempts to make sense of what happened and to protect her daughter. This leads to her making some very, very bad decisions, which cause a bad situation to get much worse. I do not wish to give away the plot, so I will just say that it is full of twists and turns. Although you question Tess’s behaviour, as a mother, I completely understood her desire to protect her daughter, in the way she thought best and had a lot of sympathy with her and the situation she found herself in.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
May 23, 2020
Tessa, who has been made redundant from her job, whose husband has left her for a richer woman with a bigger house, and one of her two daughters, Rosie, no longer lives with her. Emma is attacked by a man as she comes home from a party and is saved by Frances a passing motorist, who stops to help. Frances calls the police and takes Emma home. Neither Emma nor Frances can pick the attacker out from a video line up.
Tessa then fixates on one of men in the lineup, convinced he is the attacker. She takes matters into her own hands and harasses him by email, visiting his address and club where he DJs. Frances becomes more important to Emma and Tessa and joins in some of the harassment.
Tessa then fixates on one of men in the lineup, convinced he is the attacker. She takes matters into her own hands and harasses him by email, visiting his address and club where he DJs. Frances becomes more important to Emma and Tessa and joins in some of the harassment.
May 19, 2019
Oh we do so love a good psychological thriller and domestic drama and Tammy Cohen always writes the most addictive narratives, no different here with “Stop At Nothing” a book I devoured in short order.
Every parent knows, to some extent, that feeling of hopelessness when one of your children is hurting, especially when there is seemingly nothing you can do. That is the crisis facing main protagonist Tess, who makes extraordinarily awful but sympathetic choices after her daughter is hurt..
Stop At Nothing is a twisty and engaging read, an authentic story about trust and judgment, about impaired thinking when facing adversity and a lot about how you find out who your real friends are. It is about a mother’s tiger love and how what is on the surface rarely reflects the underneath…
Gripping and clever, one of those books that you lose a day with, I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
Excellent.
November 22, 2023
Really odd book, completely unexpected storyline based on the blurb but no twists and turns and saw the ending almost immediately. Read to the end as assuming based on a nearly 4* rating that there would be a big finale!!
Do not recommend
Book slump 2, Danielle 0
Do not recommend
Book slump 2, Danielle 0
July 15, 2019
There is no doubt in my mind that Tammy Cohen is one of the best writers of psychological thrillers and I was thrilled to be asked to take part in the blogtour for her latest book STOP AT NOTHING.
Once again the author has weaved a clever, gripping and twisty tale which captures the readers imagination and takes us on a journey full of fear, dread and tension. Tess is a divorced mother of 2 girls, struggling to cope with everything including her redundancy, the side effects of the menopause, her husband abandoning her, her eldest daughter refusing to speak to her and her aged parents living with dementia miles away.
When her 15 year old daughter Emma is attacked on the way home from a party Tess’ turbulent world is tipped upside and her “Mother’s Instinct” goes into overdrive to protect her family and get justice against the alleged attacker.
There were so many aspects and layers in this book which gave added depth in particular watching Tess’ parents dealing with her mothers dementia and her father struggling to be the full time carer but refusing to put her mum in a home; the anger and feelings of betrayal when her husband leaves her for another women; coping with the often embarrassing and difficult side effects of the menopause, the shame and desperation to reconnect with her eldest daughter and being made redundant from a job she adored after so many years. All these aspects made STOP AT NOTHING more than just the regular psychological thriller.
Throughout the book the reader experiences a sense of dread and we know something or someone isn’t quite what it seems, but I wasn’t able to put my finger on who or why until the end. Another cracking and twisty thriller from Tammy Cohen. Recommended.
Once again the author has weaved a clever, gripping and twisty tale which captures the readers imagination and takes us on a journey full of fear, dread and tension. Tess is a divorced mother of 2 girls, struggling to cope with everything including her redundancy, the side effects of the menopause, her husband abandoning her, her eldest daughter refusing to speak to her and her aged parents living with dementia miles away.
When her 15 year old daughter Emma is attacked on the way home from a party Tess’ turbulent world is tipped upside and her “Mother’s Instinct” goes into overdrive to protect her family and get justice against the alleged attacker.
There were so many aspects and layers in this book which gave added depth in particular watching Tess’ parents dealing with her mothers dementia and her father struggling to be the full time carer but refusing to put her mum in a home; the anger and feelings of betrayal when her husband leaves her for another women; coping with the often embarrassing and difficult side effects of the menopause, the shame and desperation to reconnect with her eldest daughter and being made redundant from a job she adored after so many years. All these aspects made STOP AT NOTHING more than just the regular psychological thriller.
Throughout the book the reader experiences a sense of dread and we know something or someone isn’t quite what it seems, but I wasn’t able to put my finger on who or why until the end. Another cracking and twisty thriller from Tammy Cohen. Recommended.
July 15, 2019
I always get excited when a new Tammy Cohen pops up and this time was no different. The book description promised a gripping story and that’s exactly what it is although it didn’t at all go the way I thought it would.
Tess’s teenage daughter, Emma, is the victim of an attack. Rocked to the core, things only get worse when her attacker is released, free to roam the streets. Like any mother, this does not sit well with Tessa but her attempts to somehow see justice served don’t go so well.
Stop At Nothing deals with a mother failing to keep her children safe and stopping at nothing to try and protect them from further harm in future. But consumed by guilt and struggling with insomnia, is Tessa thinking straight or is she becoming paranoid? While her actions are often completely understandable, I did sometimes have the urge to yell at her, to ask her to stop and think.
My suspicious nature rather quickly realised what was going on but I couldn’t at all think of why or how it would possibly end. Told through Tessa’s eyes, there are some moments when the reader is faced with some chapters written by an unknown character and I had a heck of a time trying to figure out who was writing those or how they even fit into everything.
Tammy Cohen’s books always make for compulsive reading, one of those where you look up from the page and hours have gone by. While this may not be my favourite by her, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I absolutely devoured it. This story about a mother’s love is gripping, well-paced and pretty cleverly done. I look forward to whatever Tammy Cohen comes up with next.
Tess’s teenage daughter, Emma, is the victim of an attack. Rocked to the core, things only get worse when her attacker is released, free to roam the streets. Like any mother, this does not sit well with Tessa but her attempts to somehow see justice served don’t go so well.
Stop At Nothing deals with a mother failing to keep her children safe and stopping at nothing to try and protect them from further harm in future. But consumed by guilt and struggling with insomnia, is Tessa thinking straight or is she becoming paranoid? While her actions are often completely understandable, I did sometimes have the urge to yell at her, to ask her to stop and think.
My suspicious nature rather quickly realised what was going on but I couldn’t at all think of why or how it would possibly end. Told through Tessa’s eyes, there are some moments when the reader is faced with some chapters written by an unknown character and I had a heck of a time trying to figure out who was writing those or how they even fit into everything.
Tammy Cohen’s books always make for compulsive reading, one of those where you look up from the page and hours have gone by. While this may not be my favourite by her, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I absolutely devoured it. This story about a mother’s love is gripping, well-paced and pretty cleverly done. I look forward to whatever Tammy Cohen comes up with next.
December 16, 2019
After not really connecting with “When She Was Bad”, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Tammy Cohen’s latest novel “Stop At Nothing” but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I became invested in the story and found it quite addictive. Although a slow burn and not really a thriller but more of a psychological domestic drama, this builds its pace slowly to a denouement I didn’t see coming. I did work out a lot of the story before the reveal but I enjoyed reading how it all pieced together and kept me turning the pages in anticipation of the conclusion.
The author has created some superb characters, Tess was a typical neurotic, over protective mother who at times did irk me but I liked Emma, her daughter but felt her character could have been a touch more developed. Detective Byrne was also very likeable and seemed very realistic.
This story covers many layers of themes; the menopause, divorce, dementia, caring for the elderly, grief, guilt, insomnia, parenting, social media fears and friendships and altogether these produced a very entertaining and down to earth story.
I understand the story was based loosely on a real life scenario the author experienced with her daughter and as a parent myself could relate to the feelings of protectiveness and the inability to help constructively. It’s a worry whenever your children go out at any age and to discover your daughter has been attacked and the culprit is possibly walking your local streets, would frustrate anybody. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our families and Tess proves this is her unending conquest to bring justice for the crime committed against her youngest daughter Emma.
“Stop at Nothing” is a very good read with decent protagonists and I’d happily recommend, just beware it is more of a domestic noir than a thriller.
4 stars
The author has created some superb characters, Tess was a typical neurotic, over protective mother who at times did irk me but I liked Emma, her daughter but felt her character could have been a touch more developed. Detective Byrne was also very likeable and seemed very realistic.
This story covers many layers of themes; the menopause, divorce, dementia, caring for the elderly, grief, guilt, insomnia, parenting, social media fears and friendships and altogether these produced a very entertaining and down to earth story.
I understand the story was based loosely on a real life scenario the author experienced with her daughter and as a parent myself could relate to the feelings of protectiveness and the inability to help constructively. It’s a worry whenever your children go out at any age and to discover your daughter has been attacked and the culprit is possibly walking your local streets, would frustrate anybody. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our families and Tess proves this is her unending conquest to bring justice for the crime committed against her youngest daughter Emma.
“Stop at Nothing” is a very good read with decent protagonists and I’d happily recommend, just beware it is more of a domestic noir than a thriller.
4 stars
February 8, 2020
I did enjoy this book but it didn’t hit me like I thought it would. I sort of guessed what was happening halfway through. However it still had more twists and turns to keep me interested. A solid 3 1/2 stars for me.
January 20, 2024
For the first few chapters I thought it was going to be a boring plot but I’m so glad I stuck with it because it gets intense!
September 16, 2020
Future readers I'd scrap the thriller classification for this book - whilst it absolutely is thrilling in places and packed with tension, for me it was more of a very tense family drama, a story of obsession, fear, love, loss and a mother's fight to bring her daughter's attacker to justice whilst struggling to see who was really on their side.
As always the writing is spot on and the plot is tense and despite being frequently frustrated by her actions I really felt for Jess who is still struggling from her divorce, still estranged from one of her daughters and as well as knowing more about the attacker I wanted to know what had caused her former life to crumble so badly.
Not a breakneck hide behind the cushion book but one that is totally absorbing and thoroughly entertaining!
As always the writing is spot on and the plot is tense and despite being frequently frustrated by her actions I really felt for Jess who is still struggling from her divorce, still estranged from one of her daughters and as well as knowing more about the attacker I wanted to know what had caused her former life to crumble so badly.
Not a breakneck hide behind the cushion book but one that is totally absorbing and thoroughly entertaining!
October 22, 2019
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Stop at Nothing is a gripping story which touches on a very important topic, It’s a suspenseful character development, exploring the need a parent feels to protect their child, and what this might lead to – with some surprises along the way!
When Tess’ daughter Emma is attacked on her way home one night, Tess is determined to do everything she can to help bring the attacker to justice. When they identify who they think the attacker was, but he’s still out on the streets, Tess becomes more and more obsessed with having him locked up behind bars so he can’t hurt her daughter anymore. Encouraged by Frances, a slightly older girl who saved Emma from further harm, Tess becomes more and more involved, meaning that alarm bells start to ring for the police; they make it clear that they want her to leave it to them to deal with, instead of taking things into her own hands.
As the reader, we see Tess’ determination cross the line into an obsession, and I could feel myself wanting to warn her – I knew she wasn’t doing herself any favours in the way she was behaving, but felt very sympathetic towards her regardless. In this way, Tess really is a conflicted character – she’s definitely behaved questionably in the past when dealing with the upsetting breakdown of her marriage, but there are some really interesting scenes where I felt like I really identified with Tess. I could see exactly why she was doing what she was doing – her frustration and anger at what Emma had gone through must be absolutely consuming – but from an outsider’s perspective I could also see why this would not show her in a great light with the police.
Some parts of the novel feel a bit slower than others, and I guessed some elements of the story from quite early on, but Stop at Nothing kept my attention throughout and I really wanted to see what would happen in the end. I won’t give much more away about the plot but I feel that Tammy Cohen has done a great job of making the reader see how easy it is to become obsessed with something (or someone), especially when it involves close family who might be in danger.
An absorbing, entertaining read with darker elements.
Many thanks to Transworld for providing a copy of this novel, on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
Stop at Nothing is a gripping story which touches on a very important topic, It’s a suspenseful character development, exploring the need a parent feels to protect their child, and what this might lead to – with some surprises along the way!
When Tess’ daughter Emma is attacked on her way home one night, Tess is determined to do everything she can to help bring the attacker to justice. When they identify who they think the attacker was, but he’s still out on the streets, Tess becomes more and more obsessed with having him locked up behind bars so he can’t hurt her daughter anymore. Encouraged by Frances, a slightly older girl who saved Emma from further harm, Tess becomes more and more involved, meaning that alarm bells start to ring for the police; they make it clear that they want her to leave it to them to deal with, instead of taking things into her own hands.
As the reader, we see Tess’ determination cross the line into an obsession, and I could feel myself wanting to warn her – I knew she wasn’t doing herself any favours in the way she was behaving, but felt very sympathetic towards her regardless. In this way, Tess really is a conflicted character – she’s definitely behaved questionably in the past when dealing with the upsetting breakdown of her marriage, but there are some really interesting scenes where I felt like I really identified with Tess. I could see exactly why she was doing what she was doing – her frustration and anger at what Emma had gone through must be absolutely consuming – but from an outsider’s perspective I could also see why this would not show her in a great light with the police.
Some parts of the novel feel a bit slower than others, and I guessed some elements of the story from quite early on, but Stop at Nothing kept my attention throughout and I really wanted to see what would happen in the end. I won’t give much more away about the plot but I feel that Tammy Cohen has done a great job of making the reader see how easy it is to become obsessed with something (or someone), especially when it involves close family who might be in danger.
An absorbing, entertaining read with darker elements.
Many thanks to Transworld for providing a copy of this novel, on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
December 3, 2019
A mother’s love was put to test. Daughter Rosie was attacked, she could not identify the attacker in the police lineup. But mom Tessa was convinced that it was a particular man and she became a stalker trying to get him to confess. Estranged from the elder daughter, she was determined to get justice for the younger.
My first book by author Tammy Cohen, the story gripped me like waves. The tension kept moving from high to low. Some of the mother’s reactions were simply over the top. But the tale was one of a twisted mind.
The author’s writing was suspenseful, the story was gripping. The plot had many turns on its way with many characters adding to the intrigue. Overall, it was a fun read.
My first book by author Tammy Cohen, the story gripped me like waves. The tension kept moving from high to low. Some of the mother’s reactions were simply over the top. But the tale was one of a twisted mind.
The author’s writing was suspenseful, the story was gripping. The plot had many turns on its way with many characters adding to the intrigue. Overall, it was a fun read.
July 19, 2019
When Tessa’s youngest daughter, Emma, is attacked on her way home from a party, the family are plunged into a living nightmare, which is only made worse when the man responsible is allowed to walk free. So when Tessa then sees the attacker in the street, not far from their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to keep her children safe, she may end up putting her family in far greater danger. There’s nothing Tessa wouldn’t do to keep her children safe, and to make things right, but what if she fails?
I had seen so many positive reviews for Stop At Nothing, and for the author, Tammy Cohen herself. Having not read any of her work, I decided to take the opportunity when I saw that Stop At Nothing was available to request on NetGalley. But if I’m honest, I was completely let down.
The story itself was extremely predictable. I saw the twist at the end coming from right near the start of the book, which made me lose interest straight away. I felt that it was dragged out way too much, and if it had been condensed down a little, it could have been a much better read. During the parts that I felt were dragging, I got a little bored, and uninterested, and I found that I was wishing for it to speed up a bit.
Tessa as the main protagonist was awful. She was not even slightly relatable because she was way too dramatic and unrealistic. As a mother myself, I appreciate that the need to protect your child comes above all, but a lot of Tessa’s actions throughout the story were completely over the top, and would never happen in reality. She was also extremely annoying, to the point where I wanted to grab her, shake her, and tell her to sort herself out!
I do feel that Emma was portrayed extremely well. The teenager who holds in her pain, and won’t talk to anyone about how she’s feeling, no matter how much it hurts. That is very realistic for teenage behaviour when dealing with something so awful, as much as we all wish it wasn’t.
There were parts to this story that I did enjoy reading, and the first few chapters in particular were actually very good. But I just couldn’t engross myself in this book as much as I was expecting to, which is a shame. I would still recommend giving the book a read, because not everyone will feel the same as I did, which is reflected in the amount of positive reviews it has. Stop At Nothing just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I give Stop At Nothing a 2/5 rating.
I had seen so many positive reviews for Stop At Nothing, and for the author, Tammy Cohen herself. Having not read any of her work, I decided to take the opportunity when I saw that Stop At Nothing was available to request on NetGalley. But if I’m honest, I was completely let down.
The story itself was extremely predictable. I saw the twist at the end coming from right near the start of the book, which made me lose interest straight away. I felt that it was dragged out way too much, and if it had been condensed down a little, it could have been a much better read. During the parts that I felt were dragging, I got a little bored, and uninterested, and I found that I was wishing for it to speed up a bit.
Tessa as the main protagonist was awful. She was not even slightly relatable because she was way too dramatic and unrealistic. As a mother myself, I appreciate that the need to protect your child comes above all, but a lot of Tessa’s actions throughout the story were completely over the top, and would never happen in reality. She was also extremely annoying, to the point where I wanted to grab her, shake her, and tell her to sort herself out!
I do feel that Emma was portrayed extremely well. The teenager who holds in her pain, and won’t talk to anyone about how she’s feeling, no matter how much it hurts. That is very realistic for teenage behaviour when dealing with something so awful, as much as we all wish it wasn’t.
There were parts to this story that I did enjoy reading, and the first few chapters in particular were actually very good. But I just couldn’t engross myself in this book as much as I was expecting to, which is a shame. I would still recommend giving the book a read, because not everyone will feel the same as I did, which is reflected in the amount of positive reviews it has. Stop At Nothing just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for my copy, in exchange for an honest review.
I give Stop At Nothing a 2/5 rating.
May 18, 2019
From the moment I read the blurb of this book I was utterly convinced I knew what direction it would take....to the extent that was I read reading it, I was trying to match up the words to where I thought it would go - right up until the moment I realised I was so far away from reality and was completely wrong!
Delighted to say I was wrong because as a result this book was far more gripping and twisty, and really did keep me on my toes.
This really is a book about the power of a mothers love - but at the same time just how fragile a mental state can be when masses of big life events all occur within a relatively short space of time.
Her younger daughter Emma has without a doubt been through and ordeal, although it could have been a whole lot worse, and you are thrown into the drama quite quickly. At the same time you glean that Tess has an older daughter who she seems to be distanced from and all I wanted to to was know why, which kept me turning the pages.
What really had me intrigued and got me thinking were the small chapters between chapters written italics in a rather creepy way - I must have changed my mind many many times as to who that voice was - and I'm still not completely sure I have pin pointed it.
This is a rather clever psychological drama, there isn't a body count, but there are police involved, its all from Tess's perspective and you really had a great insight into her mental state. I was quite happy to believe everything she says, so was quite happily being led down some dead ends.
Stop At Nothing started off by gripping me, and then as it progressed wouldn't loosen its hold, so I didn't put it down until I had finished it.
Another fabulous book from an author I love reading, definitely highly recommended.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Delighted to say I was wrong because as a result this book was far more gripping and twisty, and really did keep me on my toes.
This really is a book about the power of a mothers love - but at the same time just how fragile a mental state can be when masses of big life events all occur within a relatively short space of time.
Her younger daughter Emma has without a doubt been through and ordeal, although it could have been a whole lot worse, and you are thrown into the drama quite quickly. At the same time you glean that Tess has an older daughter who she seems to be distanced from and all I wanted to to was know why, which kept me turning the pages.
What really had me intrigued and got me thinking were the small chapters between chapters written italics in a rather creepy way - I must have changed my mind many many times as to who that voice was - and I'm still not completely sure I have pin pointed it.
This is a rather clever psychological drama, there isn't a body count, but there are police involved, its all from Tess's perspective and you really had a great insight into her mental state. I was quite happy to believe everything she says, so was quite happily being led down some dead ends.
Stop At Nothing started off by gripping me, and then as it progressed wouldn't loosen its hold, so I didn't put it down until I had finished it.
Another fabulous book from an author I love reading, definitely highly recommended.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 17, 2019
This is a good psychological thriller that had me racing through the pages.
Tess is devastated when her daughter is attacked coming home one night and wants the attacker to be punished.
When he seems to get away with it, Tess starts looking out for him and tries to intimidate him.
She is warned against this by the Police but her new friend Frances encourages her.
Frances stopped the attack so Tess and Emma are grateful to her but Tess’ friends are suspicious of her.
There is a lot of tension in this book as Tess becomes obsessed with the man who she believes is the person responsible for what happened.
This book is full of twists and turns and I really enjoyed the way the story was told.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Tess is devastated when her daughter is attacked coming home one night and wants the attacker to be punished.
When he seems to get away with it, Tess starts looking out for him and tries to intimidate him.
She is warned against this by the Police but her new friend Frances encourages her.
Frances stopped the attack so Tess and Emma are grateful to her but Tess’ friends are suspicious of her.
There is a lot of tension in this book as Tess becomes obsessed with the man who she believes is the person responsible for what happened.
This book is full of twists and turns and I really enjoyed the way the story was told.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 25, 2019
Time taken to read - 1 day
Pages - 384
Publisher - Transworld
Source - Netgalley
Blurb from Goodreads
A mother's job is to keep her children safe.
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she'd done differently, but doesn't everyone feel that way?
Then Emma, her youngest, is attacked on her way home from a party, plunging them into a living nightmare which only gets worse when the man responsible is set free
But what if she fails?
So when Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
There's nothing she wouldn't do to make it right . . .
My Review
As a parent you are always worried about your children, when your daughter is attacked you see danger on every corner. But what is the attacker is nearby, you are already a "failure" as a mother, have a divorce, your own problems, you cannot let anything happen to her again. And when your new friend agrees well sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands!
Oooh this book grips you pretty quickly because the attack happens pretty much at the beginning and everything that happens thereafter is because of it. Tess is struggling with her failed marriage, her other daughter isn't speaking to her and Tess just wants her family safe.
What follows is some really questionable behaviour, when you are scared for your kid, rational thinking goes out the window. One event kicks off so much you are reading parts of this with baited breath. Stalking, family, relationships, friendship are just some of the themes covered in this book. If you haven't read Cohen before you really should, this is a great book, standalone, gripping and keeps you going page after page to see where it all ends up. 4.5/5 for me this time, I think I maybe have a few of this author I haven't read yet I need to get them!
Pages - 384
Publisher - Transworld
Source - Netgalley
Blurb from Goodreads
A mother's job is to keep her children safe.
Tess has always tried to be a good mother. Of course, there are things she wishes she'd done differently, but doesn't everyone feel that way?
Then Emma, her youngest, is attacked on her way home from a party, plunging them into a living nightmare which only gets worse when the man responsible is set free
But what if she fails?
So when Tess sees the attacker in the street near their home, she is forced to take matters into her own hands. But blinded by her need to protect her daughter at any cost, might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
There's nothing she wouldn't do to make it right . . .
My Review
As a parent you are always worried about your children, when your daughter is attacked you see danger on every corner. But what is the attacker is nearby, you are already a "failure" as a mother, have a divorce, your own problems, you cannot let anything happen to her again. And when your new friend agrees well sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands!
Oooh this book grips you pretty quickly because the attack happens pretty much at the beginning and everything that happens thereafter is because of it. Tess is struggling with her failed marriage, her other daughter isn't speaking to her and Tess just wants her family safe.
What follows is some really questionable behaviour, when you are scared for your kid, rational thinking goes out the window. One event kicks off so much you are reading parts of this with baited breath. Stalking, family, relationships, friendship are just some of the themes covered in this book. If you haven't read Cohen before you really should, this is a great book, standalone, gripping and keeps you going page after page to see where it all ends up. 4.5/5 for me this time, I think I maybe have a few of this author I haven't read yet I need to get them!
December 15, 2019
This book was a bit of a surprise - wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. I did find Tess a little irritating at times but could understand her wanting to keep her daughter safe. She seemed to have had a rough time overall over the previous couple of years so was probably at a low point when the attack happened. I was suspicious of the internet snooping but then again I don't know anything about such things. Definitely suspicious about Frances and sussed the twist - but that did not detract from the rest of the story. Will read more by this author as this was a proper page turner. Thank you to TBC and to the author for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2019
Neurotic mother, desperate to atone for past errors, makes for an easy victim here. A gentle nudge, odd comments at the right time and a lot of carefully planned interventions. Before you know it, everyone around her thinks she’s falling apart.
The story begins with a young girl being attacked on her way home. Her mother is powerless and hates the fact that someone has got away with this. When her daughter fails to pick the suspect out of a line-up she’s advised to move on and get on with her life. The mother, unfortunately, can’t let it go and starts to tail the person she thinks is responsible. Egged on by Frances, the young woman who helped her daughter that night, our narrator gets more desperate to prove her point.
Lines are blurred left, right and centre. Slowly learning about her past means we come to be suspicious of our narrator and I did wonder quite where this would go.
However, there are sections throughout by a new voice that we gather will be important, and there are enough seeds of doubt sown to keep you waiting to see exactly where the twist will come.
Unfortunately, the main character was not presented sympathetically enough to really get my full support. She did some stupid things, and her reactions didn’t always seem to make sense. I don’t want to blame the victim, but her behaviour does bring about a fair amount of her troubles.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this in exchange for my thoughts. It felt predictable, which is a shame as the concept was intriguing.
The story begins with a young girl being attacked on her way home. Her mother is powerless and hates the fact that someone has got away with this. When her daughter fails to pick the suspect out of a line-up she’s advised to move on and get on with her life. The mother, unfortunately, can’t let it go and starts to tail the person she thinks is responsible. Egged on by Frances, the young woman who helped her daughter that night, our narrator gets more desperate to prove her point.
Lines are blurred left, right and centre. Slowly learning about her past means we come to be suspicious of our narrator and I did wonder quite where this would go.
However, there are sections throughout by a new voice that we gather will be important, and there are enough seeds of doubt sown to keep you waiting to see exactly where the twist will come.
Unfortunately, the main character was not presented sympathetically enough to really get my full support. She did some stupid things, and her reactions didn’t always seem to make sense. I don’t want to blame the victim, but her behaviour does bring about a fair amount of her troubles.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this in exchange for my thoughts. It felt predictable, which is a shame as the concept was intriguing.
July 29, 2019
Do you ever get the feeling that you must have done something really bad in a previous life or smashed every mirror in a mirror factory. Because all you ever seem to get is your bad luck and everyone else's as well. Recently Tess's life has seemed to be just one lot of bad luck after another, her husband left her for another woman,her eldest daughter is not talking to her. Her mother is suffering from dementia and Tess is worried that her father is struggling to cope and the situation is starting to affect his health.
Then one night,Tess's youngest daughter Emma is attacked on her way home from a party. Fortunately,a kindly,good Samaritan called Francis rescued Emma and brought her home.
Then,when Tess doesn't believe that things couldn't get any worse,the man who attacked Emma is set free and soon after Emma sees him on the street near their home.
Blinded by her need to protect her daughter,Tess is forced to take matters into her own hands. But in this taunt thriller where people are not who they appear to be,might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
This tightly plotted,compelling thriller is predominantly voiced by Tess,a complex character who at one time I would have thought was a annoying and frustrating individual. But now that I have had personal experience of how the menopause messes with your head,the confusion,the mood swings and anxiety,I couldn't help feeling a connection with her character. Being a parent myself,I felt a lot of admiration for her determination to get revenge and protect her daughter but there was also aspects of her character that I didn't like. The author's portrayal of teenage Emma was very realistic,the moods,her secretive behaviour,her snappy attitude when Tess tried to talk to her about the attack. She was a typical teenager but not the bratty type that normally appear in books and films. I could understand and sympathize with with Tess's anger and frustration at the inadequacies of the justice system. The antagonist was so clever and cunning that they were able to commit crimes without leaving any evidence therefore the police wouldn't believe anything that Tess was trying to tell them. This is a terrifying aspect of the stalking laws that has to be changed. There have been horrible true life stalking cases were victims of stalking have actually been accused of wasting police time,nothing has been done about the stalker who has then gone on to murder the victim. There are different versions of stalking and different types of stalkers,there are situations were watching people can be justified such as Tess having a camera in her parents home so she could make sure they were ok. But there is also situations were the reasons for the stalking are just sinister and creepy and so is the stalker. The antagonist in this novel was very creepy and gave me chills everytime they appeared in the story.
I loved this mesmerising,fast paced,page turner,it's extremely well written,packed full of twists and turns and had a jaw dropping twist that I definitely didn't see coming. The story flows nicely,drawing the reader into the author's character's fictional world. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last.In fact,I have actually just bought First One Missing on Amazon.
Many thanks to publishers Transworld Digital/ Penguin Random House and Tammy Cohen for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review and for the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour.
Then one night,Tess's youngest daughter Emma is attacked on her way home from a party. Fortunately,a kindly,good Samaritan called Francis rescued Emma and brought her home.
Then,when Tess doesn't believe that things couldn't get any worse,the man who attacked Emma is set free and soon after Emma sees him on the street near their home.
Blinded by her need to protect her daughter,Tess is forced to take matters into her own hands. But in this taunt thriller where people are not who they appear to be,might she end up putting her family in even greater danger?
This tightly plotted,compelling thriller is predominantly voiced by Tess,a complex character who at one time I would have thought was a annoying and frustrating individual. But now that I have had personal experience of how the menopause messes with your head,the confusion,the mood swings and anxiety,I couldn't help feeling a connection with her character. Being a parent myself,I felt a lot of admiration for her determination to get revenge and protect her daughter but there was also aspects of her character that I didn't like. The author's portrayal of teenage Emma was very realistic,the moods,her secretive behaviour,her snappy attitude when Tess tried to talk to her about the attack. She was a typical teenager but not the bratty type that normally appear in books and films. I could understand and sympathize with with Tess's anger and frustration at the inadequacies of the justice system. The antagonist was so clever and cunning that they were able to commit crimes without leaving any evidence therefore the police wouldn't believe anything that Tess was trying to tell them. This is a terrifying aspect of the stalking laws that has to be changed. There have been horrible true life stalking cases were victims of stalking have actually been accused of wasting police time,nothing has been done about the stalker who has then gone on to murder the victim. There are different versions of stalking and different types of stalkers,there are situations were watching people can be justified such as Tess having a camera in her parents home so she could make sure they were ok. But there is also situations were the reasons for the stalking are just sinister and creepy and so is the stalker. The antagonist in this novel was very creepy and gave me chills everytime they appeared in the story.
I loved this mesmerising,fast paced,page turner,it's extremely well written,packed full of twists and turns and had a jaw dropping twist that I definitely didn't see coming. The story flows nicely,drawing the reader into the author's character's fictional world. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last.In fact,I have actually just bought First One Missing on Amazon.
Many thanks to publishers Transworld Digital/ Penguin Random House and Tammy Cohen for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review and for the opportunity to take part in the Blog tour.
July 22, 2019
One of the scariest things about this book was the authors note at the end when she explained about her inspiration for this book-you will understand why when you read it! But what happens to Emma is every parents worst nightmare and Tammy Cohen does a fabulous job of exploring the choice of direction that Tess took following the attack on Emma.
To be honest, I didn’t particularly like Tess that much and can’t say I really understood the way that she acted but that’s probably due to her doing the polar opposite of what I would do in her situation. Although this storyline did make me think about whether you can really predict how you are going to react to a particular situation until you’re physically put in that situation yourself! Tess wasn’t having the best of time in her personal life even before what happened with Emma. She had discovered her husbands affair and was living with the consequences of that. Plus she was going through the menopause and I know from personal experience that this can cause major emotional issues and problems for many women. She was no longer at the top of her profession in a job she enjoyed and when she did get some work, things had moved on so quickly within her field that she struggled to adapt. But this still didn’t really excuse her over the top reaction to trying to persecute her daughters alleged attacker!
Tammy Cohen has written a gripping and scarily relevant book. The way she vividly portrays a menopausal woman on the edge was incredibly well handled and I’m thrilled that more women characters in fiction are being given a voice during such an unstable and often life changing period for them. The feeling of starting to slip away, becoming invisible to others (especially men!) is a very strange one and it’s quite possible that a reaction as extreme as the one Tess has could occur. I did become thoroughly engrossed in the plot details even though I was convinced that everything was not as it appeared and I was right!!
Stop at Nothing is another great read from this author who gives her readers a moral dilemma they can identify with and ask themselves the question “what would I do when faced with the same situation?” A mothers quest for justice is never going to be a straightforward one but I felt that Tammy Cohen gave Tess a great story to divide opinions but also to work through some very difficult emotions.
Definitely one to watch out for Tammy Cohen fans and will hopefully make her some new ones too!
To be honest, I didn’t particularly like Tess that much and can’t say I really understood the way that she acted but that’s probably due to her doing the polar opposite of what I would do in her situation. Although this storyline did make me think about whether you can really predict how you are going to react to a particular situation until you’re physically put in that situation yourself! Tess wasn’t having the best of time in her personal life even before what happened with Emma. She had discovered her husbands affair and was living with the consequences of that. Plus she was going through the menopause and I know from personal experience that this can cause major emotional issues and problems for many women. She was no longer at the top of her profession in a job she enjoyed and when she did get some work, things had moved on so quickly within her field that she struggled to adapt. But this still didn’t really excuse her over the top reaction to trying to persecute her daughters alleged attacker!
Tammy Cohen has written a gripping and scarily relevant book. The way she vividly portrays a menopausal woman on the edge was incredibly well handled and I’m thrilled that more women characters in fiction are being given a voice during such an unstable and often life changing period for them. The feeling of starting to slip away, becoming invisible to others (especially men!) is a very strange one and it’s quite possible that a reaction as extreme as the one Tess has could occur. I did become thoroughly engrossed in the plot details even though I was convinced that everything was not as it appeared and I was right!!
Stop at Nothing is another great read from this author who gives her readers a moral dilemma they can identify with and ask themselves the question “what would I do when faced with the same situation?” A mothers quest for justice is never going to be a straightforward one but I felt that Tammy Cohen gave Tess a great story to divide opinions but also to work through some very difficult emotions.
Definitely one to watch out for Tammy Cohen fans and will hopefully make her some new ones too!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 248 reviews