Publication
New York : St. Martin's Press, 2018.
Collection
Call number
Fiction S
Physical description
390 p.; 25 cm
Status
Available
Call number
Description
"Nobody cuts deeper than family... Noah Alderman, a doctor and a widower, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie, and for the first time in a long time he and his son are happy. But their lives are turned upside down when Maggie's daughter Anna moves in with them. Anna is a gorgeous seventeen-year-old who balks at living under their rules though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that hint at the trouble that is brewing. Events take a deadly turn when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused of the crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her only daughter, but the realization that her daughter's murder was at the hands of a husband she loves. New information sends Maggie searching for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she could have ever imagined" --… (more)
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member pgchuis
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Maggie lost her baby daughter Anna to her French ex-husband after she suffered postpartum psychosis. 17 years later, out of the blue, Anna contacts her and within days has moved in with Maggie, her husband Noah and Noah's son Caleb.
It was an easy read, although it dragged a little for the first 75% before everything exploded at the end. To be honest I thought it was a bit of a mess in places: there was a whole sub-plot going on in the prison, which was violent and distracting from the main narrative. The first 75% was a sort of psychological suspense mystery and then the final quarter more of an adventure or crusade, the resolution of which depended entirely on the main villain making a full and extremely detailed confession.
I found a whole variety of things difficult to swallow:
SPOILERS
Maggie decided to take Anna into her home without discussing logistics with her husband first and arranged it all in the space of a few hours.
She was able to remove her from school without signing any paperwork.
Maggie loved Noah very much, but accepted the word of her daughter (a total stranger to her) over his.
Noah loved Maggie very much, but, having disagreed about parenting styles, he is tempted to have an affair.
Anna lied about Noah because he was going to make her change the terms of her trust - except that he had no power to do so and she could have just refused.
Maggie was allowed to go along on the rescue the trafficked girls mission with the police and FBI.
At the end, everything is just perfect and Maggie and Noah are more in love than ever...???
Maggie lost her baby daughter Anna to her French ex-husband after she suffered postpartum psychosis. 17 years later, out of the blue, Anna contacts her and within days has moved in with Maggie, her husband Noah and Noah's son Caleb.
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The novel opens with Noah about to hear the verdict at his trial for Anna's murder and then chapters from his perspective move backwards in time through the days of testimony, revealing that there may be more than one side to Anna. Intertwined with these are chapters from Maggie's perspective moving forwards in time, beginning with Anna's first contact. This form of narrative was not confusing exactly, but did lead to a certain amount of repetition and meant that the whole novel was infused with a depressing sense of fatality and malevolence.It was an easy read, although it dragged a little for the first 75% before everything exploded at the end. To be honest I thought it was a bit of a mess in places: there was a whole sub-plot going on in the prison, which was violent and distracting from the main narrative. The first 75% was a sort of psychological suspense mystery and then the final quarter more of an adventure or crusade, the resolution of which depended entirely on the main villain making a full and extremely detailed confession.
I found a whole variety of things difficult to swallow:
SPOILERS
Maggie decided to take Anna into her home without discussing logistics with her husband first and arranged it all in the space of a few hours.
She was able to remove her from school without signing any paperwork.
Maggie loved Noah very much, but accepted the word of her daughter (a total stranger to her) over his.
Noah loved Maggie very much, but, having disagreed about parenting styles, he is tempted to have an affair.
Anna lied about Noah because he was going to make her change the terms of her trust - except that he had no power to do so and she could have just refused.
Maggie was allowed to go along on the rescue the trafficked girls mission with the police and FBI.
At the end, everything is just perfect and Maggie and Noah are more in love than ever...???
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LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
Have you ever made a mistake in your life and desperately wished for a do-over? For 17 years Maggie Alderman has lived with regret over losing custody of her infant daughter Anna. But Anna’s father has died in a plane crash leaving her in a boarding school, and Anna now wants to come to live with
The days of what was once a loving happy family are over…after Anna came to live with them.
It quickly becomes apparent that Anna is quite the manipulator. She wants her stepfather out of the picture, and what Anna wants, Anna gets. I found it impossible to like Anna as she cunningly destroys the lives of Maggie and Noah, who out of love opened their home to her and completely accepted her.
The book alternates between Maggie’s chapters and Noah’s chapters. As the story opens Noah has been charged with first degree murder and awaits the jury’s verdict. Maggie’s storyline begins with the phone call from Anna wanting to reconnect with her mother.
The characters felt very real, the situation very credible. It tore at my heart watching Maggie and Noah being torn apart by this evil teenager. Yet in the midst of this, both Maggie and Noah sought to protect ten-year-old Caleb from the emotional upheaval the adults were dealing with.
Ms. Scottoline writes a couple of series, but her standalone books are my favorite. “After Anna” may well be her best book yet. With building suspense and unseen twists this book may result in sleep deprivation.
Thank you to Erica Martirano at St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy to read and review.
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Maggie, her husband Dr. Noah Alderman, and stepson Caleb. The days of what was once a loving happy family are over…after Anna came to live with them.
It quickly becomes apparent that Anna is quite the manipulator. She wants her stepfather out of the picture, and what Anna wants, Anna gets. I found it impossible to like Anna as she cunningly destroys the lives of Maggie and Noah, who out of love opened their home to her and completely accepted her.
The book alternates between Maggie’s chapters and Noah’s chapters. As the story opens Noah has been charged with first degree murder and awaits the jury’s verdict. Maggie’s storyline begins with the phone call from Anna wanting to reconnect with her mother.
The characters felt very real, the situation very credible. It tore at my heart watching Maggie and Noah being torn apart by this evil teenager. Yet in the midst of this, both Maggie and Noah sought to protect ten-year-old Caleb from the emotional upheaval the adults were dealing with.
Ms. Scottoline writes a couple of series, but her standalone books are my favorite. “After Anna” may well be her best book yet. With building suspense and unseen twists this book may result in sleep deprivation.
Thank you to Erica Martirano at St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy to read and review.
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LibraryThing member LisaSHarvey
After Anna
Lisa Scottoline
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER St. Martin’s Press
PUBLISHED April 10, 2018
A consuming and cleverly structured thriller, blending the story of before and after Anna.
SUMMARY
Maggie lost custody of her baby, Anna, when she was only six months old. The two
REVIEW
Have you every wanted something so much that you turn a blind eye to what you know and love. That’s what Maggie did. It’s so difficult to read about the implosion of a family. It’s a gut-wrenching story. One that has you scratching your head in wonder. What was Anna really after? There was nothing in Anna‘s character to like, she was a master at manipulation. And Maggie was at her most vulnerable.
Lisa Scottoline is a consummate storyteller, and this story pulses with angst and drama. The focus of each chapter alternates between Noah and Maggie. Noah’s initial chapters (after Anna) are told from the last day of the trial and move backwards in time. Maggie’s chapters (before Anna) start with that fateful phone call from Anna and move forward in time. When at last, the story lines converge in the later part of the book, the pacing abruptly changes. It’s fast and furious, and the twists and turns are insanely intense. Just remember to breathe. While some actions may seem implausible, it’s an adroit page-turning thriller. Lisa Scottoline fans can’t help but love After Anna. Thanks to Netgalley, St, Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lisa Scottoline
MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER St. Martin’s Press
PUBLISHED April 10, 2018
A consuming and cleverly structured thriller, blending the story of before and after Anna.
SUMMARY
Maggie lost custody of her baby, Anna, when she was only six months old. The two
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have not seen each other since, and now Anna is 17. Maggie had no choice but to move on, She’s found love again and is now happily married to Noah Alderman, a widower. Maggie adores Caleb, Noah’s son, and they have quite the perfect life. But everything changes when Maggie gets a call from Anna, who is now a high school student, parked in an elite boarding school in Maine. Once they meet, Anna surprisingly says wants to live with Maggie, and Maggie is beyond thrilled to have a second chance with Anna. But when Anna moves in with Maggie, Noah and Caleb chaos ensues. Anna refuses to follow the rules, makes demands and tensions mount. Within weeks of moving in, Anna is dead, she had been strangled. Noah, who found her body is now on trial for her murder. Maggie must not only face losing her daughter, but her husband as well. And then she gets another phone call. REVIEW
Have you every wanted something so much that you turn a blind eye to what you know and love. That’s what Maggie did. It’s so difficult to read about the implosion of a family. It’s a gut-wrenching story. One that has you scratching your head in wonder. What was Anna really after? There was nothing in Anna‘s character to like, she was a master at manipulation. And Maggie was at her most vulnerable.
Lisa Scottoline is a consummate storyteller, and this story pulses with angst and drama. The focus of each chapter alternates between Noah and Maggie. Noah’s initial chapters (after Anna) are told from the last day of the trial and move backwards in time. Maggie’s chapters (before Anna) start with that fateful phone call from Anna and move forward in time. When at last, the story lines converge in the later part of the book, the pacing abruptly changes. It’s fast and furious, and the twists and turns are insanely intense. Just remember to breathe. While some actions may seem implausible, it’s an adroit page-turning thriller. Lisa Scottoline fans can’t help but love After Anna. Thanks to Netgalley, St, Martin’s Press and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
I didn’t love this book and the fault probably lies more with my prejudices than with Ms. Scottoline’s latest foray into crime/drama/thriller.
The strength of the book is the structure and timeline of what ultimately happens to Noah Alderman, the protagonist. The “Before” and “After” and
The things I really didn’t like:
Manipulation – I dislike it in all its forms and this book is rife with it. Definitely my problem.
The dialog was simplistic and repetitive which struck a discordant note. Where was the important discussion of what was going on?
The behavior between the principal characters left me wondering about the dynamics in a relationship that purport to ascribe to trust and understanding.
The madcap “I’m gonna solve this” final portion of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC
The strength of the book is the structure and timeline of what ultimately happens to Noah Alderman, the protagonist. The “Before” and “After” and
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the unraveling of events was well written and tells an important story involving trust, belief, credibility, manipulation, and coincidental circumstances. The chapters told in the courtroom are edgy and excellent. There was a very brief reference to “‘confirmation bias ’ as applied to law enforcement” which was stunning in its brevity but tantamount in its complicity. The things I really didn’t like:
Manipulation – I dislike it in all its forms and this book is rife with it. Definitely my problem.
The dialog was simplistic and repetitive which struck a discordant note. Where was the important discussion of what was going on?
The behavior between the principal characters left me wondering about the dynamics in a relationship that purport to ascribe to trust and understanding.
The madcap “I’m gonna solve this” final portion of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC
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LibraryThing member debkrenzer
Love!!! Lisa Scottoline!! This time she has came up with one hell of a jawdropping plot twist. Wow, it's a good one.
While reading this book I was sensing an early irritation mode coming on shortly into the book. Little did I know that the irritation would hit nuclear proportions. Anna? Here's
To sum this book up for me, I spent the first half of this book miffed at this Anna character and the last half with my mouth open, jaw dropped.
Excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
While reading this book I was sensing an early irritation mode coming on shortly into the book. Little did I know that the irritation would hit nuclear proportions. Anna? Here's
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hoping Houston that Houston never gets hit by Hurricane Anna because that beatch is ferocious! We wouldn't stand a chance!To sum this book up for me, I spent the first half of this book miffed at this Anna character and the last half with my mouth open, jaw dropped.
Excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member PamV
This book started out as a real page turner. Somewhere/somehow it becomes derailed and then at the end everything is tied up so quickly that I almost can feel my head spinning.
With all that said, this was a good book and I did enjoy it.
My thanks to netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced
With all that said, this was a good book and I did enjoy it.
My thanks to netgalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced
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readers copy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Barb_H
I almost gave up on this book. The beginning was confusing and slow to grab my attention. However, it does pick up and I got so engrossed in the story and wanting to know what happened that I ended up staying up way past my usual bedtime to finish it. It has been quite awhile since a book has been
This was an ARC from NetGalley
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that gripping to keep me up most of the night just to see what happens next and how it all ends. I do recommend this book for fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. This was an ARC from NetGalley
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LibraryThing member suzanne5002
Maggie develops portpartum depression after having her daughter, Anna. She goes into therapy for her depression. During this time, her husband divorces her and goes to the courts for the custody of Anna.
Maggie remarries and is deeply with her new husband and his son.
Imagine Maggie's surprise, when
Things are going so well with this newly knit family. A few weeks later, it appears that Anna is trying to break up Maggie and Noah's family.
Noah tries to persuade Maggie that Anna is manipulative and abusive. Maggie is so enthralled with her daughter that she is beginning to think Noah is jealous of her step-daughter.
This book is a roller coaster of a ride. When I think I have everything figured out, another situation occurred. This is a stand-alone book and I loved every minute of it.
Maggie remarries and is deeply with her new husband and his son.
Imagine Maggie's surprise, when
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out of the blue and Seventeen years later, she receives a call from her daughter Anna. She brings Anna into her lie and cannot wait to reconnect with her. They had alot of living to catch up on.Things are going so well with this newly knit family. A few weeks later, it appears that Anna is trying to break up Maggie and Noah's family.
Noah tries to persuade Maggie that Anna is manipulative and abusive. Maggie is so enthralled with her daughter that she is beginning to think Noah is jealous of her step-daughter.
This book is a roller coaster of a ride. When I think I have everything figured out, another situation occurred. This is a stand-alone book and I loved every minute of it.
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LibraryThing member Madison_Fairbanks
After Anna by Lisa Scottoline
The bad seed spreads copiously.
A suspenseful and terrifying read about the callous way people often treat others. I am so grateful for my stable family and friends!
Compelling and satisfying. Read it. This is one of my favorite authors for an intriguing thrill ride.
I
The bad seed spreads copiously.
A suspenseful and terrifying read about the callous way people often treat others. I am so grateful for my stable family and friends!
Compelling and satisfying. Read it. This is one of my favorite authors for an intriguing thrill ride.
I
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received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I’ve also purchased a copy to gift. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
After Anna by Lisa Scottoline is a 2018 St. Martin’s Press publication.
Riveting courtroom drama, taut suspense, and emotional family drama-
When Maggie’s estranged seventeen- year old daughter, Anna, calls out of the blue, hoping to reconnect, Maggie is over the moon. As it turns out, Anna’s
But, things go awry almost immediately when Anna and Noah clash, exposing large cracks in the veneer of Maggies's perfect family. But, as tense as things have become between Maggie and Noah, as strained as their marriage has become, Maggie never could have imagined a day when her husband would stand trial for the murder of her only child. Did Noah cross a line with Anna? Did he murder her?
Lisa Scottoline is usually pretty solid, and I enjoy most of her books. But, I really found myself caught up on this one, more so than usual, probably because of the courtroom drama. I haven’t read any clever courtoom scenes, like this one, in so long I felt like I’d found an oasis in a desert. The trial was absolutely fantastic!!
The family drama is interwoven within all the legalese, as Noah recalls the events that led up to his arrest for Anna’s murder.
Although, it didn’t take long for me to figure out what was going on, at least to some extent, I still suspected anyone and everyone along the way of being complicit or involved in some way, which of course, is exactly the way I like it. However, the story almost careened too far off course, in the second half, putting all that carefully crafted momentum at risk. I had to suspend belief a little more than I would like to, but, at the end of the day, I think things evened out enough to give the book a strong finish.
The suspense is taut, not just from a criminal aspect, but from an emotional one, as well.
Relationships are always complex, and this book explores the ways a seemingly perfect marriage and family has vulnerabilities, and be hacked into just like with technology. One has to be on guard at all times for potential malware. Personality traits and certain tendencies can work for us or against us when we are thrown into bizarre, unimaginable circumstances.
Once everything was said and done, I think a few of these characters were much stronger after having faced this type of adversity. Prioritizing what is really important in life is something we can all strive for, but hopefully we won’t have to face such catastrophic challenges before we see the need to keep things in perspective.
Although the story has a few weak spots, one will have to overlook, because the legal aspects were so strong, because I cared about the characters, and because I loved the ending, and the message I gained from this story, I feel this is a strong and entertaining effort from LS.
Riveting courtroom drama, taut suspense, and emotional family drama-
When Maggie’s estranged seventeen- year old daughter, Anna, calls out of the blue, hoping to reconnect, Maggie is over the moon. As it turns out, Anna’s
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father has died, making Anna a very wealthy young woman, but she is utterly alone in the world. Maggie, of course, immediately invites Anna to move in with her and her new husband, Noah, and his son. Maggie would finally have the complete family she had always longed for. But, things go awry almost immediately when Anna and Noah clash, exposing large cracks in the veneer of Maggies's perfect family. But, as tense as things have become between Maggie and Noah, as strained as their marriage has become, Maggie never could have imagined a day when her husband would stand trial for the murder of her only child. Did Noah cross a line with Anna? Did he murder her?
Lisa Scottoline is usually pretty solid, and I enjoy most of her books. But, I really found myself caught up on this one, more so than usual, probably because of the courtroom drama. I haven’t read any clever courtoom scenes, like this one, in so long I felt like I’d found an oasis in a desert. The trial was absolutely fantastic!!
The family drama is interwoven within all the legalese, as Noah recalls the events that led up to his arrest for Anna’s murder.
Although, it didn’t take long for me to figure out what was going on, at least to some extent, I still suspected anyone and everyone along the way of being complicit or involved in some way, which of course, is exactly the way I like it. However, the story almost careened too far off course, in the second half, putting all that carefully crafted momentum at risk. I had to suspend belief a little more than I would like to, but, at the end of the day, I think things evened out enough to give the book a strong finish.
The suspense is taut, not just from a criminal aspect, but from an emotional one, as well.
Relationships are always complex, and this book explores the ways a seemingly perfect marriage and family has vulnerabilities, and be hacked into just like with technology. One has to be on guard at all times for potential malware. Personality traits and certain tendencies can work for us or against us when we are thrown into bizarre, unimaginable circumstances.
Once everything was said and done, I think a few of these characters were much stronger after having faced this type of adversity. Prioritizing what is really important in life is something we can all strive for, but hopefully we won’t have to face such catastrophic challenges before we see the need to keep things in perspective.
Although the story has a few weak spots, one will have to overlook, because the legal aspects were so strong, because I cared about the characters, and because I loved the ending, and the message I gained from this story, I feel this is a strong and entertaining effort from LS.
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LibraryThing member PattyLouise
Title...After Anna
Author...Lisa Scottoline
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Maggie has lived without her daughter Anna for almost 16 years. Post psychotic depression and an unbelievably cruel ex husband robbed her of her daughter. When they finally reconnect it is under almost unbelievable
My thoughts after reading this book...
This was one of those books that ended up being unputdownable! I could not stop reading it and literally finished it in a day.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the incredibly fast pace of this book. The writing...was addictive as well as clever. Characters...especially Anna...got under my skin. I strongly disliked Anna and couldn’t wait to find out what she was going to do next. Maggie seemed so vulnerable to anything Anna wanted...I just needed to shake her to wake her up! Noah...poor Noah...really paid the price for Anna’s actions.
What I did not love about this book...
If I had to choose something I didn’t totally love it might be the ending. It was just a little too neatly wrapped up for me but on the other hand...I don’t know what else I would have wanted.
Final thoughts...
Again...I could not put this book down. I also live near the settings where this book takes place. It was interesting to read about events occurring in familiar places.
Would this be a good choice for you...potential reader?
Readers who love a fast paced thriller with ups, downs and incredible action...will love this book.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
Author...Lisa Scottoline
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Maggie has lived without her daughter Anna for almost 16 years. Post psychotic depression and an unbelievably cruel ex husband robbed her of her daughter. When they finally reconnect it is under almost unbelievable
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circumstances. Anna seems jaded and cleverly cruel. Anna seems intent on destroying Maggie’s family which consists of her husband Noah and stepson Caleb. Anna seems especially focused on destroying Noah. My thoughts after reading this book...
This was one of those books that ended up being unputdownable! I could not stop reading it and literally finished it in a day.
What I loved about this book...
I loved the incredibly fast pace of this book. The writing...was addictive as well as clever. Characters...especially Anna...got under my skin. I strongly disliked Anna and couldn’t wait to find out what she was going to do next. Maggie seemed so vulnerable to anything Anna wanted...I just needed to shake her to wake her up! Noah...poor Noah...really paid the price for Anna’s actions.
What I did not love about this book...
If I had to choose something I didn’t totally love it might be the ending. It was just a little too neatly wrapped up for me but on the other hand...I don’t know what else I would have wanted.
Final thoughts...
Again...I could not put this book down. I also live near the settings where this book takes place. It was interesting to read about events occurring in familiar places.
Would this be a good choice for you...potential reader?
Readers who love a fast paced thriller with ups, downs and incredible action...will love this book.
I received an advance reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley and Amazon. It was my choice to read it and review it.
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LibraryThing member SilversReviews
Anna, Anna, Anna...she finally has come home to her mother, but what should have been a joyous occasion after seventeen years turns into a nightmare.
Anna and Maggie were apart for seventeen years. Maggie’s husband falsely accused her of abusing their infant daughter and took her away. Anna
Maggie had remarried and lived with her loving husband, Dr. Noah Alderman. Everyone accepted Anna into the family even though Anna balked at their rules.
AFTER ANNA takes us back and forth in time as we follow the trial that has Dr. Alderman fighting for his freedom, and we are taken back to the days BEFORE Anna's return and DURING Anna’s return home to her mother after seventeen years.
Anna had her mother believing everything she told her whether it was true or not, and Maggie was not believing anything her husband said about Anna.
I didn’t like Anna the moment I met her. Something just told me she was manipulative, cunning, and evil.
Ms. Scottoline has written another fantastic thriller filled with tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat along with characters that you will not like and some that you will want to tell to wake up and see what really is going on.
Everything was PERFECT until Anna arrived.
Do NOT miss reading this book. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Anna and Maggie were apart for seventeen years. Maggie’s husband falsely accused her of abusing their infant daughter and took her away. Anna
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connected with her mother after her father was killed in a plane crash.Maggie had remarried and lived with her loving husband, Dr. Noah Alderman. Everyone accepted Anna into the family even though Anna balked at their rules.
AFTER ANNA takes us back and forth in time as we follow the trial that has Dr. Alderman fighting for his freedom, and we are taken back to the days BEFORE Anna's return and DURING Anna’s return home to her mother after seventeen years.
Anna had her mother believing everything she told her whether it was true or not, and Maggie was not believing anything her husband said about Anna.
I didn’t like Anna the moment I met her. Something just told me she was manipulative, cunning, and evil.
Ms. Scottoline has written another fantastic thriller filled with tension that will keep you on the edge of your seat along with characters that you will not like and some that you will want to tell to wake up and see what really is going on.
Everything was PERFECT until Anna arrived.
Do NOT miss reading this book. 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member iadam
I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Another great domestic crime thriller from one of my all time favorite authors! Lisa Scottoline’s great storytelling ability shines in ‘After
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Anna.’ Wow! How can everything go so wrong in just a few weeks? This book is packed full of action and suspense with twists and turns. There is a twist at the end that I never saw coming, a real surprise. Couldn’t put it down. Maggie never gives up as she searches for the truth. So many dark secrets. Is this the work of a major manipulator? Wow, another extremely well written thriller by Lisa Scottoline with an amazing plot and excellent character development. ‘After Anna’ is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more from Lisa Scottoline in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a long time and have almost always really enjoyed her books so I went into this book expecting to love it. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. It was really just kind of okay for me. I had a really hard
I feel like Scottoline took a bit of a risk with how this story is laid out and I am not sure that it paid off at least for me. The book is told through 2 points of view and 2 different time lines. Noah's point of view starts at the end his trial for the murder of Anna and works its way backwards through time. Maggie's point of view begins with Anna's first contact with her since she was a baby and progresses towards the events leading to the trial. These two points of view move in opposite directions until they eventually come together. I feel that one of the reasons that I had such a hard time getting into the book was that I already knew that Anna was going to be killed and Noah was going to stand trial for the murder. I didn't know how those things would happen but some of the desire to find out what would happen next was lost simply because of how the story was laid out.
Eventually the two points of view meet up and start to follow the same basic timeline which really worked better for me. Some of that is achieved through Noah's memories while he sits in the courtroom during his trial. I think that some of the best parts of the book were the times that we would see an event from both Noah and Maggie's point of view.
I love a good plot twist. But I like for plot twists to be believable. I want them to be at least somewhat realistic. This book started taking twists and turns all over the place and most of them seemed way over the top. Instead of surprise over the turn in the story, I felt shocked that the story had become so implausible. The last part of the book spun in a whole new direction that seemed more odd than anything.
Despite my issues, I do enjoy Scottoline's writing and found this book to be very readable and I did like the book. I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one more than I did so I would encourage anyone drawn to the description to give the book a try. I do plan to read more from Lisa Scottoline in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
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time getting into this book and it actually took me an entire week to finish it which is a very long time for me to be reading a single book. Once I really got into the book a bit, I did find the story a bit more entertaining and was very curious how things would work out.I feel like Scottoline took a bit of a risk with how this story is laid out and I am not sure that it paid off at least for me. The book is told through 2 points of view and 2 different time lines. Noah's point of view starts at the end his trial for the murder of Anna and works its way backwards through time. Maggie's point of view begins with Anna's first contact with her since she was a baby and progresses towards the events leading to the trial. These two points of view move in opposite directions until they eventually come together. I feel that one of the reasons that I had such a hard time getting into the book was that I already knew that Anna was going to be killed and Noah was going to stand trial for the murder. I didn't know how those things would happen but some of the desire to find out what would happen next was lost simply because of how the story was laid out.
Eventually the two points of view meet up and start to follow the same basic timeline which really worked better for me. Some of that is achieved through Noah's memories while he sits in the courtroom during his trial. I think that some of the best parts of the book were the times that we would see an event from both Noah and Maggie's point of view.
I love a good plot twist. But I like for plot twists to be believable. I want them to be at least somewhat realistic. This book started taking twists and turns all over the place and most of them seemed way over the top. Instead of surprise over the turn in the story, I felt shocked that the story had become so implausible. The last part of the book spun in a whole new direction that seemed more odd than anything.
Despite my issues, I do enjoy Scottoline's writing and found this book to be very readable and I did like the book. I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one more than I did so I would encourage anyone drawn to the description to give the book a try. I do plan to read more from Lisa Scottoline in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member GrandmaCootie
No surprise, Lisa Scottoline has done it again. I pre-order all her books without fail so that I can have it in my hands the day it’s released, and I clear my calendar because I know I am going to want to read it straight through. No surprise again, After Anna had me riveted from first page to
We spend almost all of our time in the book with Noah, Maggie, Caleb and Anna. Except for Caleb, who’s 10 years old and what you see is what you get, you don’t know what the rest of them will be up to from one page to the next.
The format of the book is unique, but it works. Works very well, because the suspense starts on the first page and never lets up. After Anna is told from the alternating POVs of Noah and Maggie. Noah’s starts with the last day of the trial, just before the verdict comes in, and goes backwards in time. Maggie’s POV is Before. You learn a little more with each chapter about what happened, or supposedly happened, but I couldn’t decide who was telling the truth and who was the liar, who was the victim and who was the perpetrator, who might have an ulterior motive or a hidden past, and for a time I wondered if someone could be just plain crazy.
The story twists and turns and I had no idea what was coming. Total surprise right up to the end. After Anna is filled with emotion and thrills. Read it now: it will only take you a day or so because once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down until you reach the very satisfying ending.
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last.We spend almost all of our time in the book with Noah, Maggie, Caleb and Anna. Except for Caleb, who’s 10 years old and what you see is what you get, you don’t know what the rest of them will be up to from one page to the next.
The format of the book is unique, but it works. Works very well, because the suspense starts on the first page and never lets up. After Anna is told from the alternating POVs of Noah and Maggie. Noah’s starts with the last day of the trial, just before the verdict comes in, and goes backwards in time. Maggie’s POV is Before. You learn a little more with each chapter about what happened, or supposedly happened, but I couldn’t decide who was telling the truth and who was the liar, who was the victim and who was the perpetrator, who might have an ulterior motive or a hidden past, and for a time I wondered if someone could be just plain crazy.
The story twists and turns and I had no idea what was coming. Total surprise right up to the end. After Anna is filled with emotion and thrills. Read it now: it will only take you a day or so because once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down until you reach the very satisfying ending.
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LibraryThing member Charlotte_Lynn
You know when you read everything an author writes how you start to anticipate how the story will go. You know the authors writing style and think you can tell where she is going to take you? Yea, well this is a Lisa Scottoline thriller but it will take you down paths that are not in your comfort
After Anna is a psychological thriller that touches on mental illness, losing your parental rights, rape, and lies. So many lies… There were times that I could feel the story was off, some of the things happening just didn’t add up. There were times that I wasn’t sure if the character was telling the truth or a lie. The story kept me on my toes, kept me guessing, and kept me wondering where I would end up.
This was not my favorite Lisa Scottoline book but it was a book that I continue to think about even a few days after I have finished. The story has stuck with me, I told my mom about it, recommended it to a friend at work, and am excited to see what other’s will think about it.
I recommend picking up your own copy.
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zone and will make you question where you thought the story was going. After Anna is a psychological thriller that touches on mental illness, losing your parental rights, rape, and lies. So many lies… There were times that I could feel the story was off, some of the things happening just didn’t add up. There were times that I wasn’t sure if the character was telling the truth or a lie. The story kept me on my toes, kept me guessing, and kept me wondering where I would end up.
This was not my favorite Lisa Scottoline book but it was a book that I continue to think about even a few days after I have finished. The story has stuck with me, I told my mom about it, recommended it to a friend at work, and am excited to see what other’s will think about it.
I recommend picking up your own copy.
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LibraryThing member carole888fort
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of After Anna by Lisa Scottoline in exchange for an honest review. Although the author writes strong legal series, this standalone novel captures your attention from the beginning. Maggie and Noah have married, each for the second
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time. All appears well until Anna enters the picture. She is Maggie's teenage daughter, who was taken from her in infancy, by Maggie's then-husband who had her declared an unfit parent. When Anna's father dies suddenly, Maggie and Anna are reunited after years of estrangement. So far, so good. The rest you will need to read on your own. To tell you more would be a spoiler. This is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that does not let up. Each chapter is headed either by Maggie or Noah, before or after Anna. This is a very effective style of writing because it sheds light on both sides of the story. Read this book and you will be astounded. Predictable it is not. Show Less
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
The main character is Maggie, a woman we discover who had an infant girl but suffered from postpartum psychosis after her birth, resulting in divorce from her husband and loss of physical custody of the daughter. The father moved to France after selling his business making him extremely rich. He
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also put their daughter Anna in boarding school and did not allow Maggie any contact with her, not even a photo. As unrealistic as this situation is in today's world when the courts acknowledge this condition and that a child should maintain contact with both parents, even if supervised, we move on to even more unbelievable events. Maggie marries a pediatric doctor with a son with a learning disability. Life is perfect until Anna calls out of the blue. It seems dad and his new family all died in a plane crash, leaving Anna a wealthy young woman who wants to move back with her mother, despite not having seen her since she was an infant. Then when home she makes all sorts of allegations of sexual abuse by her new stepfather, resulting in prison for him after she is murdered, allegedly by him. Throw in the former girlfriend and pharmacy saleswoman that suddenly appeared at the trial, the coincidence that a poor girl from Anna's former school area looked enough like her to take her place and the fact that no one missed a number of missing girls until Anna was gone, and you get the picture. Then toss in extreme danger in prison for dad to amp up the end, which of course everything worked out. We never did find out who sent Anna the e-mail luring her to her death, but who cares? I found this book too much of a strain on credibility and wished I had not wasted my time reading it. Very disappointed. Show Less
LibraryThing member reemsf
Let me preface this by preparing you for all of the exclamation points I am using!
This book is definitely one of the most 'un-put-downable' books I have ever read! From the moment I started reading I just couldn't stop! When I had to stop, because life, I couldn't stop thinking about what was
The characters were amazing! Each one was a person I wanted to talk to, I had so many questions for them and I couldn't wait to read to get the information! Dr. Alderman is a pediatric allergist who is raising his son Caleb after his wife's death. He finds Maggie and is joyously finds that he and his son love her dearly. Now they are so happy together. Their little family of 3 is their happiness.
Maggie has a past. It's not so much a secret but she isn't proud of it. It makes her sad to think back and remember. Once her past catches up with her she finds that things might not be so bad but was that all wishful thinking.
As the days go by, it all falls apart very quickly. She finds herself in situations that she could never have even dreamed of . She is a mother on a mission to find the truth and it leads her into all sorts of mayhem.
This book is amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Wonderful!!
This book is definitely one of the most 'un-put-downable' books I have ever read! From the moment I started reading I just couldn't stop! When I had to stop, because life, I couldn't stop thinking about what was
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happening! Even now that I'm done, I'm certain this hangover will take a while to get overWThe characters were amazing! Each one was a person I wanted to talk to, I had so many questions for them and I couldn't wait to read to get the information! Dr. Alderman is a pediatric allergist who is raising his son Caleb after his wife's death. He finds Maggie and is joyously finds that he and his son love her dearly. Now they are so happy together. Their little family of 3 is their happiness.
Maggie has a past. It's not so much a secret but she isn't proud of it. It makes her sad to think back and remember. Once her past catches up with her she finds that things might not be so bad but was that all wishful thinking.
As the days go by, it all falls apart very quickly. She finds herself in situations that she could never have even dreamed of . She is a mother on a mission to find the truth and it leads her into all sorts of mayhem.
This book is amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! Wonderful!!
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LibraryThing member grumpydan
Maggie Ippoliti lost the custody of her daughter Anna almost seventeen years ago after neing diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. Her ex-husband moved to France and she hasn’t seen her daughter since. Now she is happily married to Dr. Noah Alderman, a widower and the father of a young boy. When
The story is told from both Maggie’s point of view when Anna moves in with them and Noah’s point of view during and after the trial. A fascinating concept and I was enthralled by the whole experience and realized things didn’t seem right. Adding to the mystery, was some thrills, but by the conclusion, everything seem to move too quickly and the resolution to manufactured. I loved 95% of the book. That last 5% ruined it for me unfortunately.
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Maggie’s ex-husband and family is killed in a plane crash, Anna comes to move in with her mother and family. Things begin to go from good to bad to worse for Noah as Anna accuses him of unspeakable things.The story is told from both Maggie’s point of view when Anna moves in with them and Noah’s point of view during and after the trial. A fascinating concept and I was enthralled by the whole experience and realized things didn’t seem right. Adding to the mystery, was some thrills, but by the conclusion, everything seem to move too quickly and the resolution to manufactured. I loved 95% of the book. That last 5% ruined it for me unfortunately.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Pediatric allergist Noah Alderman, a widower and single father, has found happiness in a second marriage with divorcée Maggie Ippolitti. She adores Noah’s son, Caleb, and they have a happy family despite Maggie’s sadness over not having seen her daughter since she was a baby. One day, Anna
But Anna is manipulative and pits Maggie against Noah; amid mounting tensions that threaten to destroy the family, Anna is murdered, devastating Maggie and sending Noah to prison for the crime. However, when Maggie realizes that something is amiss, she sets out to find the truth. Will it repair the damage to her fractured family or will she find even more heartbreak?
With complex, believable characters, the story spins out in moments of guilt and manipulation that create tension and keeps those pages turning. Anna is not particularly likable, Maggie is annoyingly naïve, and Noah makes some incredibly poor decisions, but the alternating chapters telling the story from Maggie’s perspective and from Noah’s perspective help to keep the suspense building. Far into the story, an unexpected plot twist changes everything readers thought they knew and turns the story in an entirely different direction.
Recommended.
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unexpectedly contacts her and, to Maggie’s delight, Anna wants to come live with her. Maggie is thrilled at the thought of a second chance to be a mother to her daughter.But Anna is manipulative and pits Maggie against Noah; amid mounting tensions that threaten to destroy the family, Anna is murdered, devastating Maggie and sending Noah to prison for the crime. However, when Maggie realizes that something is amiss, she sets out to find the truth. Will it repair the damage to her fractured family or will she find even more heartbreak?
With complex, believable characters, the story spins out in moments of guilt and manipulation that create tension and keeps those pages turning. Anna is not particularly likable, Maggie is annoyingly naïve, and Noah makes some incredibly poor decisions, but the alternating chapters telling the story from Maggie’s perspective and from Noah’s perspective help to keep the suspense building. Far into the story, an unexpected plot twist changes everything readers thought they knew and turns the story in an entirely different direction.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member niaomiya
Lisa Scottoline writes well, and in general I like her books. With this book, however, I found myself regularly annoyed at the protagonist’s naïveté.
Maggie is happily married to Noah and loving her family life with Noah’s 10-year-old son Caleb. The only thing missing from Maggie’s life is
What happens next is a frustrating game that Anna plays, where she presents one side to Maggie and a different side to Noah. And while all this is happening, the reader is wondering why.
The book jumps back and forth between Noah’s murder trial and the events leading up to it, starting with Anna’s phone call. I don’t have a problem with books that jump back and forth, but in this case it wasn’t necessary and I think detracted from the plot flow, especially since the trial chapters themselves went in random order.
Throw in a lot of last-minute plot points and characters in the last 1/3 of the book, leave a number of frustrating unresolved loose ends (the photo texted to Maggie, the text sent from Noah’s cell phone), and what you have is an unsatisfying mystery thriller. It wasn’t terrible; I do give it 3 stars for keeping me reading because I wanted to know the resolution. But the resolution was disappointingly uninspired.
Lisa Scottoline has done better than this. I hope her future books are back up at the higher quality that I have come to expect of her writing.
Maggie is happily married to Noah and loving her family life with Noah’s 10-year-old son Caleb. The only thing missing from Maggie’s life is
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her daughter Anna, whom she hasn’t seen since Anna was a baby. When Anna calls out of the blue wanting to have a relationship with Maggie, Maggie jumps all over it. She is thrilled. And she will do anything to make Anna happy and get Anna to believe that Maggie loves her and didn’t abandon her. And that includes believing everything that Anna says.What happens next is a frustrating game that Anna plays, where she presents one side to Maggie and a different side to Noah. And while all this is happening, the reader is wondering why.
The book jumps back and forth between Noah’s murder trial and the events leading up to it, starting with Anna’s phone call. I don’t have a problem with books that jump back and forth, but in this case it wasn’t necessary and I think detracted from the plot flow, especially since the trial chapters themselves went in random order.
Throw in a lot of last-minute plot points and characters in the last 1/3 of the book, leave a number of frustrating unresolved loose ends (the photo texted to Maggie, the text sent from Noah’s cell phone), and what you have is an unsatisfying mystery thriller. It wasn’t terrible; I do give it 3 stars for keeping me reading because I wanted to know the resolution. But the resolution was disappointingly uninspired.
Lisa Scottoline has done better than this. I hope her future books are back up at the higher quality that I have come to expect of her writing.
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LibraryThing member upstairsgirl
Just not that good. Plot was rushed and farfetched; dialogue was clunky. Not bad enough not to finish, but it was a chore.
LibraryThing member PaperDollLady
Interesting plot structure and courtroom scenes. However, for me, some things seemed implausible.
LibraryThing member rglossne
Maggie Ippoliti, married to widower Dr. Noah Alderman, stepmother to his young son, seems to have a near perfect life. What is missing is the daughter she was forced to give up as a result of severe post-partum psychosis, seventeen years ago. Her daughter, Anna, reaches out after the death of
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Maggie's ex-husband, and comes to live with the Aldermans in suburban Philadelphia. Anna is a disruptive force on the formerly stable Alderman household, and her murder lands Noah in jail, and sends Maggie on a search for the truth. Lots of twists and turns in this enjoyable thriller. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2018
ISBN
9781250099662
Other editions
After Anna by Lisa Scottoline (Paper Book)