After Anna

Dr. Noah Alderman and Maggie Ippolitti have a happy marriage. It's a good life raising Noah's son, but Maggie hopes the day will come when she is reunited with her daughter..... Then Maggie gets a phone call that will change their lives forever. Her daughter Anna wants to meet with her! They meet near Anna's boarding school a few days later and Maggie is given the chance to be a mother to her daughter again. Noah is supportive and welcomes Anna into their loving home.
At first having Anna in their home is wonderful, but soon there are problems. The problems mount until their happy family breaks apart.
But there is so much more under the surface.
You won't be able to put this book down until the surprising end. Lisa Scottolini is truly a master storyteller!

Scottoline has delivered again. Another book filled with exciting characters, and twists and turns that will keep you guessing till the last page,
!

After Anna was a classic Lisa Scottoline book, in that it had a mesmerizing plot, complete with twists and turns that will keep you on your toes. I really enjoyed the way that the book toggled back and forth between the present setting and the past. I was not sure, throughout the entire book, how things were going to be resolved. I was definitely kept guessing until the very end. The plot twist at the end of the book had me wanting to look ahead to see how all was going to be resolved. I found the characters to be very likeable and intriguing. This book kept me reading all the way to the end, many times way past my bedtime. I highly recommend reading this book if you are a fan of mysteries, drama or women's fiction.

Buckle your seatbelt - you are in for a serious roller coaster with this one!!! I'm a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline and when I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, I couldn't wait to start it. It has everything that you could ask for in a gripping drama - lots of ups and downs and a total flip the script at the end that there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD that anyone could have seen coming!!! I don't think I could say anything else without accidentally letting out a secret or two (or ten) -- but DEF read it, sooooo worth the time!

A psychological thriller that will keep you intrigued up until the last page. I felt true empathy for Maggie and what she the emotions that she was experiencing with finding Anna again. I especially enjoyed how the story flashed back and forth from past to present. A great page turner! Happy Reading!

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy from NetGalley. After Anna does not disappoint! Lisa Scottoline once again pulls out the emotional feelings from her characters. The longing of a mother for that lost child. is felt through Maggie. Once again the author dives into critical issues that are increasing in today's society (will not disclose due to spoiler alert) that all parents hope they never have to experience. Very much would recommend this book. Thank you for the ability to have this opportunity.

Scottoline is one of my favorite authors and her stand alone novels, like this one are the reason for this favoritism. She has the wonderful ability to take the reader in one direction of thinking and then makes a sharp turn to completely throw you off the path. AFTER ANNA was a delightful read and I would highly recommend it to any one who loves suspense.

As is usual with a Lisa Scottoline book, you are drawn in from the very first page.

After Anna is told in alternating time frames and alternating points of view (Noah and Maggie) from before and after.

The story opens with Dr. Noah Alderman awaiting the decision of the jury after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of his stepdaughter, Anna, after she has reconnected with her mother, Noah’s wife Maggie. Maggie lost physical custody of Anna to her ex-husband Florian after experiencing postpartum psychosis. Nothing is as it seems and Maggie must decide who she believes. The reader learns from Maggie’s point of view everything that led up to the murder.

I really enjoyed this suspense filled mystery. There were several serious issues touched on in this book, but I feel like they were handled in such a way as to not make the reader feel squeamish.

“Maggie realized that life wouldn’t be as much fun if we knew where its treasures were hidden. Sometimes you had to search for them. Sometimes you had to fight for them. And sometimes, they were at your feet.”

I love Lisa Scottoline, especially her Rosato & Associates series. As far as her stand alone novels, they are hit or miss for me. "After Anna" was certainly a hit. I think this is her best stand-alone novel yet. I absolutely LOVE the way the story was told from two points of view and in a before/after narrative. I thought it might be confusing at first but loved how the story came together! Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book has made me late for work, late for dinner, kept my up past my bedtime. I am very grateful to NetGalley for allowing me access to this title before publication and I am excited to share it with the patrons at the library once it hits the shelves.

I was given this book early from netgalley for a review. I thought it was a great book with an unexpected ending.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. Lisa Scotttolline just never disappoints. This is a suspense, legal thriller, and gut wrencher all into one. Noah is in trial for the murder of his step daughter. However, Anna was not so innocent. This story played out so well and so compelling. I felt for both Maggie and Noah. This is a must read! Unputdownable!

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline is an intense thriller. A deadly journey where people have died and other may still die. A father wrongly accused of murdering his wife's daughter. He never killed anyone and the dead girl isn't who they originally thought she was. This family was torn apart and ruined. Only to be bounded together again once more. However, getting back together, will depend on timing. If they're too late the husband dies and so does the real daughter. But if timed right, they may just end of saving both. The FBI are involved after a therapist finds out that the young girl isn't the one matching in the newspaper. This whole time, the innocent have been trapped and tortured. I was filled with intrigue. This book kept me guessing. I was afraid of what the outcome would be. Lisa Scottoline has once again, written a title worthy of reading. Dramatic, frightening, and emotional...After Anna is a journey of survival and hope in a world of darkness. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

I love when a book throws me for a loop, and this one did.

The story starts off with the reader knowing that Noah is on trial for Anna's murder. We see glimpses of the past through Noah's eyes, then through Maggie's. My heart breaks for Maggie. She wants so much to have a relationship with her daughter. The death of her ex husband gives her the perfect opportunity.

I can totally believe a mother acting the way Maggie does. She not only wants a relationship with her daughter but she wants her husband and step son to embrace Anna with the same love and acceptance that she does.

This is one suspenseful read. You will not want to put it down.

Maggie remarries and is excited about starting a new life with a new family. Her husband of two years, Noah, is a successful doctor with a ten-year-old son. Things couldn’t be better, until her daughter, Anna, enters the picture. At first, Maggie is thrilled Anna wants to develop a relationship with her, but once she moves in things take a turn for the worse. Maggie and Noah’s lives are turned upside down. Anna is rebellious and not interested in following the rules. Shortly after moving in, she is found murdered, and Noah is charged.

The story switches back and forth between Maggie and Noah, and is filled with drama, manipulation, and murder. AFTER ANNA is a faced-paced, easy read that keeps the reader engaged, with intriguing real-to-life characters. This is an edge-of-your-seat read, with the breath-taking twists and turns at the end Scottoline is known for!

Lisa Scottoline has hit a home run with "After Anna". This one twists and turns more than a mountain trail. Noah Alderman, a widowed doctor, has a comfortable life with his second wife, Maggie. And then Anna shows up. The joys of a mother-daughter reunion and the horrors of a trial gone bad unite to make "After Anna" a spellbinding novel. This one reads like a combination of John Grisham and Jodi Picoult at their best.

This book was amazing. I enjoyed the way the author kept you in suspense the entire book. It was a true page turner. Maggie was so happy to have her daughter Anna back that she failed to see through Anna's facade. Her husband Noah was a true good guy who suffered. I appreciate the way the author wove you through the time however it was a little difficult in the beginning to go back and forth in time. I did really enjoy this book and would recommend it to my friends!

After Anna – Lisa Scottoline

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Margaret (Maggie) Alderman has a good life – she’s blissfully married to the love of her life, Dr. Noah Alderman, and is Mom to his sweet young son, Caleb. But Maggie longs to find her daughter – a daughter that was taken from her by her estranged ex-husband after Maggie struggled with post-partum depression shortly after her birth.

Maggie receives a call one day, seemingly out of the blue – her daughter Anna is attending a prestigious private school in Maine and wants to meet her. As Maggie rushes to Anna’s side, she also learns that Anna’s father has been killed in a plane crash with the rest of his family overseas. Impulsively Anna decides to leave school and come home to live with Maggie, Noah & Caleb.

Soon, things begin to happen. Caleb seems at odds with his new sister Anna, and Anna seems to have difficulty adjusting to a new family and rules. She soon accuses Noah of molestation, tearing the family apart. Then, Anna winds up dead at Noah’s apartment and he is arrested for her murder, all while protesting his innocence.

The book opens with Noah standing trial for Anna’s murder, and each chapter details events that occurred ‘before’ and ‘after’ Anna, from various points of view, moves quickly, and then culminates in a discovery, and then an ending that you’ll never see coming!!

Lisa Scottoline is one of those authors whose books I’ll pick up and read immediately! I’m never disappointed, and this novel is no exception! A great read!

Lisa Scottoline's latest is her best book yet. It's a riveting read that is superb. The plot is like a mountain road, full of curves and twists and leaves one guessing. The narrative is fast paced and things are revealed that readers won't see coming. It also has a very satisfying ending. Don't miss this one.

Scottoline at her finest; After reading her every one of her books since she 1st published Everywhere that Mary Went in the early 90s, I think that After Anna is her best book yet! I was blown away! Highly recommended!! Full review to come here and on my blog closer to publication date.

Another Lisa Scottoline winner. Loved the story, and the way it was organized present, past, present, past, etc.
A real page turner that keeps you guessing until the end. Highly Recommended.

I couldn't wait to dig into this one and get lost in a Lisa Scottoline story! It did not disappoint...I don't want to give anything way because it's a bit of a shocker.

I will admit the story starts a little confusing, jumping timelines, but it works overall. It really gives you a feel for the whole story even though one character is further in the past than the other for parts of it. Ms. Scottoline brings the story together beautifully and it's a must read for suspense readers.

I have read all your books and you do not disappoint as usual. What a thriller, did not expect the ending of the book, it was a page turner, shocking ending. Loved it and recommend it.
Thank you netgalley and Lisa Scottoline for the opportunity.

I LOVE Lisa Scottoline and this book didn't disappoint!!! I devoured this nail biting Thriller in one sitting. Can't wait to see what Scottoline delivers next!

Have been a Scottoline fan from the start and once again, her stand-alone thriller After Anna did not disappoint. She touches on some almost taboo topics, like post partum depression and human trafficking, much like her other stand alones. After Anna earns a solid 4.5 stars from me - I would have awarded 5 stars, but the twists at the end came so quickly that I did not really absorb them and had to go back to reread a little. A few more pages in the final chapters or introducing the jaw-dropping "what just happened" a little earlier would benefit the readers. Such a complete and satisfying read - I definitely recommend After Anna for your Spring Break reading!

Good fast paced book. Had read several books by this author and have enjoyed them all. Highly recommend.

I love Lisa and her writing but honestly this one was a bit confusing. I was at a pretty good pace reading until things got weird then I kind of just stopped in my tracks and skipped to the end. Once I saw the ending however I retraced my steps a little bit to find out how. It was just one of those stories that gets you drawn in but then little roadblocks are tossed at you which make you thoroughly confused and wanting more explanation. Maybe that is just me though! Definitely one to read though if you like those stop you in your tracks twist books that leave you guessing but also toy with your emotions!

Shocking, riveting, brilliant edge of your seat reading.The story and the characters were well developed. It is a great thriller.

I love Lisa scottoline! Her books never cease to amaze and keep you guessing.

Scottoline does it again with so many twists & turns and bombshell of an ending. She truly never disappoints.

Maggie and Noah are happily married. He was a widower with a young son with learning problems they are successfully handling. Maggie was a divorcee who had, because of post partum psychosis, lost custody of her infant daughter, Anna, to her ex-husband. Maggie receives a call from Anna, who is now 17, asking if they can meet. She agrees and researches her ex to learn that he and his new family have all died in a plane crash and left an estate of 50 million dollars. Maggie and Anna meet and agree that Anna can come and live with them in Pennsylvania and bring the girl home. The novel is written in a chapter for each person. Maggie’s tell the story of what happens during the time Anna lived with them. Noah’s tell the story of his trial for Anna’s murder. Both are fascinating and lead the reader to making his/her own conclusions. The ending was unexpected but well done. This is a stand alone for the author and not part of her previous series and is of the same quality as her other novels. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin Press for an ARC for an honest review.

I have read every book that I have found by Lisa Scottoline.
I need to search for 2 more that I have not been able to find yet.

Beginning with the AFTER= 7 months in jail waiting for trial, now that trial has been 10 days long
switch to BEFORE where they are a happy family of three
This story switches between BEFORE/AFTER

Maggie has severe guilt over Anna- after her birth, Maggie had extreme form of postpartum depression- postpartum psychosis and being admitted to hospital, her ex divorced her and took custody of Anna.
Now, Anna has reconnected - Maggie is overjoyed with this opportunity.
So much so that she becomes blind to signs around her.
Anna moves in and everything is before and after Anna
She disrupts and manipulates everything around them.

You go between Before & After deeper & deeper more & more is revealed.
You will not want to stop reading until the entire story is revealed.

I highly recommend this thriller of a read by Lisa Scottoline

6/5 stars
Another suspense filled thriller by Lisa Scottoline that I couldn't put down until I finished it!
Dr. Noah Alderman, his son Caleb, and wife Maggie Ippoliti are living life in harmony when Maggie gets a call from the daughter, Anna Desroches, she was forced to give up seventeen years before.
Anna manipulates everyone driving a wedge between Noah & Maggie with her lies.
The story is revealed in short chapters alternating between "Noah, After" and "Maggie, Before" each ending on a cliff hanger.
Maggie and her BFF Kathy Gallagher go on a search for the truth and the stakes are deadly.
Topics include postpartum psychoses, boarding schools and others I can't list without spoiling the plot.
A spring 2018 must read!!!

This stand alone novel by Lisa Scottoline is a superb domestic thriller. The first chapter grabs your attention and makes you keep turning the pages to see how the story unfolds. The chapters alternate characters, points of view, and points in time. The first chapter essentially starts near the end of the story, casting a dark tone for the novel ahead. From there the chapters alternate in an interesting format that keeps you engaged and guessing. Maggie's point of view tells how she and her daughter, Anna, reunite and how Anna comes to move in with her and Noah, her husband. Noah's point of view starts at the end of his trial and works backwards with each chapter. The dynamic this displays is fascinating as the story progresses.

The chapters flow well and complement each other with continuity and additional information or explanations. Scottoline masterfully weaves the storylines together. The tension is high throughout in this aptly titled book. The courtroom scenes are expertly written and the characters are well developed.

Manipulation and accusations tear the family apart and their lives are forever changed. There are chilling plot twists, but the major one near the end will blow you away.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from St. Martin's Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me guessing until the end. I like the way the author told the story through two different storylines-before Anna and after Anna. Dr. Noah Alderman is on trial for the murder of Anna, but did he really kill her? A great thriller that will keep you wondering until the end. I don't want to give the plot away. I will just tell you to read it-you will like it if you are a mystery fan!

Shocking, riveting, brilliant edge of your seat reading.
Suburban mom, Maggie, has almost everything. A wonderful husband and a step-son she adores. When Maggie's long, lost daughter Anna reaches out it seems as if life is perfect. What happens to this perfect family when Anna moves in and the unthinkable happens, will take readers on a nail biting journey full of twists and turns to discover what happens after Anna.
Brilliant and original this is Scottoline at her best, a master at her craft. Sure to rocket to the top of the bestsellers list.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Another fabulous book by Lisa Scottoline. I read this book in 24 hours. It drew me in and didn't let go. Dr. Noah Alderman (a widower with a young son) and his wife Maggie (a divorcee), have a good life and happy marriage. When Maggie's daughter who she hasn't seen in 17 years calls out of the blue, Maggie is over the moon. Anna moves in and life as they knew it changed forever. Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book. Deserves more than 5 stars.

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 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.

One of my all time favourite authors. Ms. Scottoline writes another phenomenal novel. As pen is to pencil, so is this book to exhilarating.
Noah and Maggie are in for the ride of their lives. Maggie has just been invited to lunch with her estranged daughter, Anna. She is over the moon with anticipation. Then the bombshell....Anna wants to come live with them! The family couldn't be happier. Now Maggie can put the past of being labeled an unfit mother behind her. Everything is going great, until Dr. Noah starts putting the moves on his step-daughter. Before too long he finds himself in prison. With only his smarts and planning to keep him alive. Who is set on destroying his family, and why. Hang into your seats!! It's a WILD ride.
5 STARS

There are few words to describe the writing talents of Lisa Scottoline, but amazing, superb and masterful are just a few that come to mind. In her latest emotional thrill ride, she introduces the reader to Dr. Noah Alderman, his son Caleb, his wife Maggie and her daughter Anna. The story is written in a back and forth style of before the death of Anna and after the death of Anna in which Dr. Alderman stands accused of her murder. This carefully woven tapestry of words explores family dynamics, lies, and the damage that we all have the capability of inflicting upon each other. Ms. Scottoline pulls the reader in with her words but somehow she taps into everyone’s thought process by making us ask “What would we have done differently?” I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

We all have defining moments in our lives by which we measure time. Some are good… some not so much. Before marriage, after marriage; before children, after children; before a divorce, after a divorce; before the child you have not seen in almost 17 years returns to your life and after.

Maggie, Anna’s Mother, is estatic when Anna contacts her. She has not seen Anna since she was six months old. Not since she had a breakdown and was hospitalized; during which her husband returned to France with Anna. French courts, lies and her ex-husbands wealth kept Maggie from seeing Anna or even receiving a photograph all this time. After the death of Anna’s father, step-mother and step-brothers in a plane crash, she wanted to reconnect with her mother and soon moves in with her.

Soon, Maggie’s idyllic life with her husband, Noah, and 10-year-old step son Caleb begins to fall apart. Anna, now a multi-millionaire, spends lots of money without asking and stays out late without calling to let anyone know where she is. When no adults are watching, she mistreats Caleb. Soon, she begins to accuse Noah of inappropriate behavior and even files a Protection from Abuse against him.

But who do you believe? Who do you trust? Your husband of two years or your new found 17-year-old daughter? And where do you turn when that daughter turns up dead on the porch of your husband’s new rental house and all evidence points to him as the killer?

Lisa Scottoline’s novels are always, well-written, fast-paced and full of twists. “After Anna” was no exception.

Publication Date: April 10, 2018
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Mystery
Cover: Great
Rating: 4 stars
Source: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read this great book!
#AfterAnna #NetGalley

I love the ride that Ms Scottoline takes us on in her books. This book had more twist and turns than a country road. Just when I think I have figured things out we take a hairpin turn. The characters are so believable that you think you are in the middle of the story with them. One thing I like about her books is she educates the reader about apraxia, postpartum psychosis and human trafficking. She weaves these topics effortlessly into the story. You won't be disappointed if you read this book. The only problem you will have is that you can't put it down.

Every second of this book is sheer brilliance. Evocative, gut wrenching, nail biting suspense. I have always loved Lisa Scottoline's books but this one is by FAR the best. The trial on both sides was easy to follow with the back story filtering in as needed. Every character has a key part to play from Anna, to Maggie, to Noah and all the others on the periphery. I never saw the twists coming and they were brilliant. I highly recommend this book.

This novel was part legal thriller, part heartbreaking family/contemporary fiction. I heard very little about this novel prior to starting it because lets be honest - Lisa Scottoline could write the same word over and over for 100 pages and I would read it. I was happy to see that the novel was partially set in a court room because I love to see Lisa from the legal angle.

This novel was a few stories coming together: a story of a Mother and Daughter reunion - Maggie who has guilt from being a mother who lost her daughter at a young age and Anna - a lonely teen girl who is lost in may parts of her life. Secondly is the story of Maggie and Noah. Noah is Maggie's second chance. He is a doting husband and perfect. But how much of that is a façade and what happens when perfection is truly on the face value. Pasts and mistrusts that were in affect prior to the marriage come to light when Maggie has to question Noah. Theres the story of friendship and sisterhood. And the main story of Anna's Murder.

I read this novel over the course of a few days and felt myself sneaking pages at work and waking up early to get some reading in beforehand. I didn't want it to end.

Now, I have read everything Lisa has previously written. One criticism Ive had of her previous novels is that her endings tend to be OVER THE TOP. sometimes they cheapen the wonderful writing that was the rest of the novel. And while I loved those other novels I was PLEASANTLY surprised that this ending was tame. It added to the novel instead of taking away

FAR AND AWAY Lisa's best yet

Many thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story as I have any book I've read by Ms. Scottoline. This one has lots of suspense and surprises that keeps the pages turning. It is told in two alternating voices, Maggie and her husband Noah.

Maggie and Noah have a wonderful marriage. Noah has a young son, Caleb who lived with Maggie and Noah. Maggie has a teenage daughter, Anna who Maggie has not seen since Anna was only 6 months old. When out of the blue Maggie is contacted by Anna, she jumps at the opportunity to have Anna back in her life. She makes preparations to bring her home and merge Anna into their cozy family unit. The plot starts to thicken and the twists and turns begin as Anna tries to fit into the family.

The story takes a turn I couldn't have guessed at. I did feel that the ending was quite rushed. The reader would have been more fulfilled after all the drama and build up if the story didn't end so abruptly. It all wraps up in only a few pages.

I really liked the characters Noah, Caleb, Tom and Kathy. I wasn't thrilled with Maggie, I kept thinking I wonder if she'll get a second chance with Noah and I didn't take to Anna since I never knew where she was coming from.

All in all a great book. I really enjoyed it. Keep up the great writing Ms. Scottoline!

Lisa is one of the sweetest people and she writes fantastic books. I loved this book. This book gets you in the heart and I could not stop reading because I wanted to see how it ended. I love all of her books

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of AFTER ANNA is exchange for my honest review.***

Unputdownable.

For Maggie, finally reunited with her daughter Anna, seventeen years after she was forced to give up custody, her life is finally complete. Eighteen days later, Maggie’s husband Noah stands accused of Anna’s murder.

AFTER ANNA is Lisa Scottoline’s best work yet. Admittedly, I’ve enjoyed some of her novels more than others. While the name Scottoline always guarantees a well constructed novel, I’m not always as enthralled as AFTER ANNA grabbed me and didn’t let go.

Noah and Maggie, whose third person points of view alternated chapters, were both complex and flawed characters. Noah’s cockiness and impulse reactivity do him no favors, while Maggie’s hopeful naïveté is her downfall, and responsible for much of the drama than unfolds.

I hesitate to say too much about the plot of AFTER ANNA, for fear of spoiling one word. I wasn’t in love with the timeline, telling the trial from day ten backwards to the first day. Switching time frames, once fresh and innovative, almost feels gimmicky now. Still Scottoline’s magnetic writing is engaging, page-turning, crisp and near perfection.

AFTER ANNA felt predictable until the verdict and jaw dropping fallout.

AFTER ANNA is a guaranteed best seller, will be a book club favorite and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s optioned into a big screen blockbuster. It’s that good. Be among the first to read AFTER ANNA so you don’t miss any of the discussion.

I read this book in one day. The reader is taken into the courtroom and I think that was a very innovative way for the author to tell the reader the story. There is a big twist at the end of the book. The author also makes us aware of current social issues that we should be aware of.

There was life before Anna, and there was life after Anna. There was a happy marriage, then there was distrust and heartbreak. And it all fell apart, after Anna.

Lisa Scottoline's After Anna is a riveting story of the destruction of a marriage, innocent imprisonment, and a mother's deep love.

Noah and Maggie have created a happy life together, both having overcome past tragedy. Maggie's postpartum mental state led to her being institutionalized, her husband divorcing her, taking sole custody of their infant daughter. Noah lost his wife and raised his son alone until falling for Maggie. They are truly happy together.

Maggie is ecstatic when her daughter Anna, now seventeen, contacts her. With the death of her father and step-mother, Anna wants Maggie in her life and asks to be taken in. Noah is supportive. They will be a happy blended family.

Maggie is desperate to make up for failing Anna as an infant, and Anna uses that guilt to manipulate her. Noah insists that Anna follow house rules and parental guidance. Anna is not pleased.

Everything goes wrong. Anna accuses Noah of sexual advances and takes out a restraining order. And when Anna turns up dead, Noah is the prime suspect and is convicted of her murder. Maggie is devastated and preparing to sue for divorce when she is contacted by Anna's school therapist and everything Maggie thought she knew is turned upside down.

The novel is told in two time lines, Noah and Maggie before Anna's arrival and leading up to her death, and Noah on trial and in prison 'after Anna.'

It is an entertaining read that I didn't want to put down. As usual, Scottoline delivers a novel with suspense, human interest, and a twist of contemporary social concerns, with lots of courtroom and legal scenes.

I received a free e-book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Scottoline wrote an incredible story. this is a heart-wrenching story with amazing characters..
From start to finish, I never put it down. She never loses your attention. Wonderful read.and one of her best

Lisa Scottoline is so darn good. I've enjoyed every single one of her books. From the very first pages until the last word she keeps you guessing. And this one is no exception.
Maggie has a happy life. Her handsome husband, Noah, is a successful doctor. She adores her stepson Caleb. Together the three of them are living the American dream. There's just one piece missing for Maggie. She has a daughter, Anna, who she hasn't seen since she was a baby. But now Anna is back in her life and everything seems perfect. Until it's not so perfect anymore.
Things begin to quickly go wrong. However, it goes from bad to the absolute worst when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused of the crime. Did he or didn't he? And what was going on with Anna in the weeks leading up to her death? These are the questions that Maggie is faced with as she tries to cope with the loss of Anna while at the same time Noah is on trial for his life.
Besides the fact that the author is simply brilliant, I loved the way this one was written. Noah's story begins with the conclusion of his trial and works its way backwards. We hear Maggie's story going forward from the time she's reunited with Anna. The two collide in a dramatic finish when Noah's fate is revealed. Grab this one and be ready for quite a ride!

Maggie lost custody of her daughter Anna due to postpartum psychosis 17 years ago. She is overjoyed to finally be reunited with Anna. Now Anna is living with Maggie and her husband Noah and Noah’s son Caleb. Everything should be perfect.

The first part of this book alternates between Noah’s trial for murdering Anna and the events that led up to the trial. This is a great psychological thriller with a twist part way thru the book that caught me completely by surprise. I can’t say more or I will spoil it for the reader. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I have always enjoyed the books Lisa Scottoline has written. This one is hard to set down because the mystery regarding Anna’s death keeps the reader wondering. Well written and I enjoyed the style of back and forth of now only characters but time as well. Good book that brings up an important subject.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of Before Anna.
Told from different views this psychological thriller will keep you guessing throughout the whole story.
With a lot of twists it kept me on the edge of my seat and even had a shocking twist at the end!

After Anna is another great novel by Lisa Scottoline . Courtroom drama, muder, family drama and a surprise twist that you won't see coming this book is why Scottoline is one of my favorite authors

Noah and Maggie, both had previous marriages but found each other and were happy. Noah had a son who thought of Maggie as his mother. Maggie had a daughter who she hadn’t seen since she was 6 months old when her husband declared her unfit.
One day out of the blue Maggie’s daughter calls her and asks to meet her for dinner. Maggie finds out her daughter is so unhappy, wants to drop out of school and move in with her. Which she does.
And this is when trouble starts.
Anna accuses Noah of horrible things and then is found murdered. Noah is arrested and crazy things come out. Did Maggie know the man she married or didn’t she???.

I am a huge Lisa Scottoline fan..... this book did NOT disappoint. I was hooked from the first page.....I wasn’t sure at first about the format going back and forth between Maggie’s story and the court case but of course Lisa scottoline wrote it in a way that it completely made sense. I won’t say to much as to not give anything away but I did NOT see that twist coming at all,,,,,,

I really enjoyed this book - I actually read it in 2 nights. The characters were fully developed and you were able to understand their reasons for making some of their choices. I did not expect the ending which is a good thing because it keeps you guessing. I would definitely reckoned this book. One of Scottlone’s best.

Grabbed me from the first page and never let go. A unique approach that tells the story in two parallel perspectives one starting from the present and working backwards and one starting in the past and working forward. So many twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. A real page-turner!

I received an arc through NetGalley.
I have to admit it took me a little while to get in the flow of this book. But once I did it was really good. I enjoyed the suspense and the many twists and turns. Would definitely recommend this book.

“After Anna” by Lisa Scottoline

Sometimes a mother’s love blinds her from the larger picture, of the red flags, of issues which may seem small but become bigger; sometimes it is too late to notice, to reconcile, to turn life back right side up.

Sometimes a mother’s love is so full of hope and promise that they are unable to see when all hope is gone and if you try to pick up the pieces of your life you are not sure what fits where or what makes sense anymore.

Can a daughter one hasn’t seen for almost 17 years and known for a week, be such a master manipulator that no one is truly able to see and know her true personality? Her end game? Her extreme excitement at finally meeting that parent as if no time has ever gone by with no hesitation?

Can the joy of a mother having her child back in her life after over a decade blind her from seeing the larger picture? At what point do you take her side? Make her the priority? Make excuses so that she will feel loved and supported when what that parent is actually allowing is her teenage daughter to have all the control and yet not have the realization that she does? When does ones marriage take more or less precedence over a child you just met? How often does what we believe we see or think blind us from what we truly should be seeing (the real picture)?

In “After Anna,” the reader gets the multiple views of the life of Noah and Maggie and young Noah before Anna arrived, the meeting Maggie has with Anna that results with her moving in with them, life with her in the house, and life after her death. We get to see how each persons behavior and beliefs change, adapt, enable and view situations from different angles and points of view. We begin to see the bigger picture and question how things could change so drastically with the addition of one child, whose behavior is undermining and manipulative in such a subtle manner that most don’t see it or make excuses for it. We see a marriage that was strong and stable fall apart in a span of a week or so. We see lives ruined and put on the line. We see the ways ones words and behavior can be twisted and turned and used against them and interpreted in so many ways finding the truth is often hard for anyone to discern.

What we do see are the lives each character led before and after Anna moved in with Noah, Maggie and Caleb. Lives that are twisted and turned in so many ways no one knows which way is right side up and moving in the correct direction.

But when Maggie receives astonishing news it will flip their world all over again...

Lisa Scottoline has written another masterpiece. Her characters are always so well portrayed and relatable. Her storyline never leaves the reader with questions at the end...but definitely takes them on a roller coaster ride throughout. Honest, captivating and realistic are just a few descriptive which come to mind when reading her novels. This one is no different and didn’t disappoint.

Rating: 4.8
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed reading this book. The format of each chapter (after Anna or before Anna) was very helpful. The story and the characters were well developed. It is a great thriller. I had a hard time putting the book down because I had to know what happened. The ending was quite a surprise.

This is one of those book that you can't put down. Maggie finally reunites with her only child just have her household turned upside down. The book kept me guessing and the twist at the end was nothing I expected.

Lisa has done it again! What a nailbiter...a rollercoaster, twisting, FANTASTIC read! It kept me in suspense and was full of the usual complex, well developed characters that Lisa creates. I loved this one.

Lisa Scottoline knocks it out of the park again! I got started and couldn’t put this book down. The characters all seem to have some minor flaw, but which one is going to completely shatter while you watch?
Maggie and her husband Noah have managed to build a happy little home out of the broken pieces that are left of each of their previous lives. Noah and his son Caleb are recovering from the loss of their wife and mom who died of cancer. Maggie lives with the regret of losing custody of her daughter 17 years earlier due to a mental psychosis that developed after giving birth to Anna. Maggie’s ex-husband took her far away and never allowed Maggie a glimpse of the daughter Anna became.
This all changes suddenly when Anna contacts Maggie and asks to meet. Maggie also learns that Anna’s father and his new family have all died in a plane crash. In a whirlwind of quick decisions, Maggie offers Anna a home with her and her family, a chance to have the daughter she thought she had lost for life.
Almost immediately tension develops between the once happy members of Maggie and Noah’s household. In almost breakneck speed, Anna and Noah get into a huge legal wrangling and the only solution is for Noah to quickly move out. Its mind boggling for Noah; before Anna everything had been going so smoothly. But after Anna arrived? It’s awful, the false claims, lack of trust, lost confidence. Then it gets even worse. Anna is found dead on Noah’s apartment steps.
Written from the viewpoint of Noah’s current time in the courtroom interspersed with the history of events that got him there, it’s a tangled plot and an increasingly interesting chain of events. Don’t plan to read a short bit and go to bed; it won’t work! It didn’t for me; I HAD to know is Noah all he’s presenting himself to be? And why did Anna have such vengeful ulterior motives?
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)

This book was AMAZING! One of the best books I have read in a very long time. It held my attention from the beginning until the end and was extremely well written. I had NO Idea it would end the way it did. I made the mistake of starting to read it before bed.... I didn't get to sleep until 5 and then got up at 6. I was really surprised with the ending. Maggie is newly married with a new step son and couldn't be happier. Not many of her friends know that she has a daughter whom she has not seen since she was a baby. Her ex husband was given full custody after Maggie was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. Her daughter is now 17 years old and her father and his new family have all been killed in a plane accident. Maggie brings Anna back to live with her new family. She can't begin to imagine how the new few months will unfold.
**I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in return I am giving my personal review of the book.**

So stinkin' good! Lisa Scottoline is queen of the twists and turns, and I really didn't see this one coming. Warning: Don't pick up this book unless you have enough time to finish-you won't want to put it down.

It’s been 17 years since Maggie left her daughter Anna with her ex. Now, happily remarried to Noah, she welcomes her teenage daughter back with open arms. It’s not long before tensions in the household reach a boiling point with Anna accusing Noah of molesting her. Maggie refuses to believe Noah when he calls the teen a liar and throws him out of their house. But Anna is not the sweet, innocent girl who Maggie believes she is, and when Anna is murdered, Noah is quickly accused and arrested. Following Noah’s account of the trial and Maggie’s story of the events leading up to it, this is a story that will leave you gasping. I simply couldn’t put it down, one of the most riveting reads of the new year

Lisa Scottoline is a very special author and I am a long time fan. I absolutely could not put down this book. Although similar plots have been used in other books, none nearly as twisty and interesting as this one.

What starts as a simple story of a reunion between a mother and her estranged child becomes a story of evil, murder and manipulation. Lots of elements including the trial of the man caught up in the middle of all this, Dr Noah Alderman, keep the reader spellbound. The plot opens during Noah’s murder trial and the author skillfully takes us back through his trial and the events which lead up to it

Though the reader guesses that all is not what it seems, we still anxiously move towards the elegant conclusion which weaves all the loose strands together. I thoroughly enjoyed this! Always looking forward to the next Lisa Scottoline book!

Another blockbuster from the author. I find her stand alone books much better than her series and this book was no exception. The story unfolded in a basic predictable fashion. But....I knew this author would not settle for basic. The intrigue developed toward the end which left me with a few surprises. The only criticism I had of the book was that the ending was too 'cute'.

Noah Alderman has a thriving medical practice, is married to the lovely, Maggie Ippolitti, who has become a mother to his young son, Caleb. Living the suburban dream, all is close to perfect when Maggie receives a phone call from the daughter she hasn't seen since she was a baby. After Anna's birth, Maggie suffered from postpartum psychosis and her then-husband, highly successful Florian Desroches, took advantage of Maggie's illness to obtain physical custody of Anna. Maggie is overjoyed to hear from Anna that she is unhappy at her boarding school and is willing to come and live with Noah and Maggie. Discovering that Anna is an heiress and not used to rules and being part of a family, is an adjustment for all of them especially Noah. In a very short time, their lives are turned upside down, Noah is accused of murder and Maggie doesn't know who to believe. Maggie and her best friend Kathy are determined to learn the truth about Anna and what happened to Anna's missing friends.
Scottoline never disappoints! I enjoy her fast-paced writing style and in this case having heard her speak at Barned and Noble, I can just imagine Lisa sitting down and breathlessly telling this story. Reading one of her books is like seeing a friend that you haven't seen in awhile and picking up where you left off and time stands still. Told in the alternating voices of Maggie and Noah, I didn't want to stop reading until I discovered what really happened.

A thrilling tale and a timely topic. Don't want to spoil the ending, but it could be taken right from today's headline. As a bonus it's a tale with many.turns.
Lisa Scottoline has done it again!

Full review to be published online in mid April.

AFTER ANNA is a change of pace for Lisa Scottoline, well known for her lawyer drama series. Here, the author has dipped her toe into the arena of the 'Domestic Drama'; and has done quite a nice job of it. Maggie had her daughter taken away from her by her husband due to a diagnosis of postpartum psychosis. Seventeen years later, that daughter reaches out to her. The story is told through flashbacks to times both before and after Maggie's daughter, Anna, came into their lives. Anna is not at all what Maggie expects, and immediately begins causing problems in her life and marriage. It is not long before Anna is murdered, an event that finds Maggie's current husband Noah on trial for her murder.

AFTER ANNA is a nice twisty, turny domestic drama in the vein of Harlan Coben. Lisa Scottoline has made a well written and quite interesting turn into a new genre. AFTER ANNA is a standalone read.

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline is the heartbreaking story of a mother that lost custody her infant daughter by no fault of her own.
Suddenly after 17 years a young woman that claims to be her daughter calls her,
This is the story with twists and horrific turns, but an oh, so satisfying ending!

Don't want to post spoilers, but let's just say that I didn't see the end of this one coming.

This is a fabulous book! "After Anna" is a prime example of why Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors. Her writing flows easily from beginning to end. The characters are believable and so well developed that I can clearly picture them in my mind.

Noah Alderman and his young son Caleb are happy that Maggie Ippoliti came into their lives. They are once again a happy family. Maggie loved Noah and Caleb but she yearned to be reunited with her daughter Anna who was only 6 months old when she saw her last. Almost 17 years later she thought her prayers had been answered when Anna contacted her after the death of her father and his new family when their private airplane crashed. Maggie was overwhelmed with joy to find out Anna wanted to come live with them.

If this was a fairytale, everyone would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, Anna had something else in mind.

A very compelling suspense filled read from beginning to end. I was gobsmacked at the end when all was revealed. What a plot twist!

Dr. Noah Alderman is on trial for his life, accused of murdering his stepdaughter. Her father fought ruthlessly for custody of baby Anna as a power play after Maggie suffered the relatively unknown, but common, postpartum psychosis. With his recent death, Anna reaches out to the mother she wants to know. She enters the family, which includes Noah’s 10-year-old son Caleb, with a fortune from her father and an attitude of entitlement. Her accusations of molestation against Noah rend Maggie’s heart. Though circumstantial evidence points to Noah as Anna’s killer, Maggie retains a sliver of hope, not quite able to believe he is capable of such an atrocity. A phone call with shocking news sets Maggie on an investigation that may possibly free Noah and return him to her.

Told in alternating timelines, moving back in time through Noah’s trial, while Maggie’s story moves forward from the initial contact with Anna, the stories come together after the trial, with the reader learning information along with the characters. In true Scottoline fashion, the reader is kept guessing who did what until the perspective-shifting bombshell, and the action fast forwards. Un-put-down-able!

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley of this fantastic novel from one of my favorite authors.

I posted this review on my website, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, and B&N.

Lisa Scottoline does it again! After Anna is a book filled with mystery and twists that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. Told from alternating points of view (Noah's and Maggie's) we hear two different accounts of what happened based on each characters interaction with Anna. Each chapter gives just enough information, but still holds back enough to keep the mystery of what actually happened. The ending will be something you wouldn't have guessed on your own. My only wish is that we could have heard an account from Anna's view.

I want to say first of all,that I love Lisa Scottolines books; this is not the first book of hers I have read ; and it won’t be the last ; she writes amazing stories that have such intriguing characters and storylines that could be ripped off of today’s newspaper headlines .This is a psychological thriller that doesn’t let go until the very end of the story.; it highly recommend this story .

Maggie hasn't seen her daughter, Anna, since the baby girl was six months old. She lost custody of Anna and has tried to keep in contact, but Anna never responded to any card and gifts she sent. Now, seventeen years later, Anna calls Maggie and wants to meet her. Things move quickly after their long overdue reunion. Soon Anna has moved in with Maggie, her husband Noah, and his son Caleb, and their lives will never be the same again.

I am a longtime fan of Scottoline's Rosato and DiNunzio series and loved this standalone thriller. Scottoline's legal expertise is still an important part of the novel and Maggie has a wonderful friend who is her sounding board and voice of reason throughout the book. Maggie isn't perfect, but is a sympathetic character from the very beginning. The story is told in the third person with alternating points of view both "before" and "after" Anna moved in with Maggie, Noah, and Caleb. The difference between the joy and promise of the "before" chapters and the tragedy that unfolds in the "after" chapters is heartbreaking.

The book is extremely suspenseful and I hated when I had to put it down. I was kept guessing as to the truth about allegations made by Anna and the story's major twist isn't just surprising - it is truly shocking. The ending is satisfying, but somewhat rushed. I would have liked to have seen more of the things at the end play out instead of being touched on in the epilogue. In spite of that, I still love and highly recommend "After Anna."

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of St. Martin's. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Another can’t put down, let me read one more chapter, fantastic work from Lisa Scottoline! Not only did After Anna provide great courtroom drama, but also enough suspense to make me breathless. This was a family drama played out when Noah is arrested for the death of his newly found step-daughter. The chapters alternate between before Anna’s death and after. This made the story unravel perfectly with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. I can’t say enough without giving away any more of this thrilling and entertaining story. It’s a Must read!
Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I love books by Lisa Scottoline! The ones I have read by her often have situations that could have come out of most recent newspaper stories. Since she had a legal career,, she is knowledgeable about courtroom proceedings and therefore has the ability to write about them in a way that is believable and understandable.

Once more, she tackles a rather difficult subject: did the accused man, Noah, kill his stepdaughter, Anna? I found myself on a bit of a roller coaster ride, not sure if he did or not as the book progressed. Anna’s father had custody of her until she was 17 and he died in an accident. At that time, Anna came to live with her mom, Maggie, and Noah. The story is told from alternating points of view: Maggie’s and Noah’s. All the little details that Lisa adds, really make her books come to life. From conversations, descriptions, actions and the written word, I always feel that this author does an excellent job with characterization. I also have to add that I really love the Italian characters that show up in her books!

This book also included lots of moments that made me read so fast, I was flying through the pages. Then it slides home in an explosive and totally believable ending that neatly wraps up every loose end. I finished this in a bit over 24 hours. I can say it was one of the most pleasurable waits for a refrigerator repair person ever!

Like so many other books by Lisa Scottoline, I have to give it five stars. After reading it, you’ll understand why.

Lisa Scottoline writes another excellent book. If you love psychological thrillers, this is a must read. I love how Scottoline wrote the book intertwining his and her viewpoints from present and past perspectives. I loved, empathized, disliked, and loved again the characters. There were plenty of twists in this story that will keep the reader guessing how this story will end. I highly recommend this book.

I pretty much never stop loving Lisa Scottoline. Her strong female characters always encourage me to read, and the thrill of working through a crime alongside her characters keeps me turning pages, no matter the novel.

This one is not part of the Rosato and DiNunzio series, but it's not any less great for being a standalone. The story is told from two perspectives - Maggie and Noah - a husband and wife who are entangled in a murder trial. Maggie's estranged daughter Anna calls her up and wants to give Maggie a chance to be a mom - something Maggie has been dying to have happen for nearly 17 years. She brings Anna home, and instead of all living happily ever after, Anna ends up murdered and Noah accused of the crime. Thus begins Maggie's quest to find out the truth about what happened to Anna, what changed her husband, and if she can keep her family together.

Maggie is another example of Scottoline's trademark strong female protagonists, doing whatever it takes to protect her family and to find the truth. The switching POV kept me interested, and the changes between Before Anna's murder and After filled in a lot of the blanks. Overall, the way it was written played a large role in how much I loved this book. I definitely recommend!

After Anna is a terrific suspense. The plot has many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. I love Lisa Scottoline's books and this book was no exception. I highly recommend.

I just finished an advance copy of After Anna, Lisa Scottoline's upcoming April 10th release.
Another great read by an author I have grown to love! I finished this one in just over two days.
This is the story of a family and how they handle the remergence of young Anna into the family life. So many twists and turns, this book had me on the edge of my seat!
I would absolutely recommend this one!

#AfterAnna #NetGalley
**I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Better wait until you have plenty of time to start this because you want be able to put it down. No one got fed at my house while I was reading lol. The ending floored me. This author is brilliant! And whatever you do, don’t peak at the ending. It will ruin it.
Imagine having you baby taken from you because of post partum. Your husband divorces you and you’re not allowed to see your child. The one day when that child is in high school, she calls you and wants to meet. You have a second chance. She moves in with you and you new husband who has a young son himself from a previous marriage. It’s like the perfect family you always dreamed of. And then things start taking a strange turn. This is what happened to Maggie and her family. Her husband is suddenly on trial for a murder he may not have committed, or did he? The murder of Anna, Maggie’s daughter. But how well does Maggie know her daughter? I can’t stress how thrilling this book was. Now I want to read it over again. I envy those of you who are going to read it the first time.

Lisa Scottoline has done it again, with the psychological thriller "After Anna".
The story is simultaneously told in both before and after narratives, effectively keeping readers on the edge of their seat at all times. The character development is masterful, I was so "sucked in" I couldn't put it down until I finished! HIGHLY recommend this to all who love a very well written psychological thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of After Anna by Lisa Scottoline that I read and reviewed.
I had mixed feelings about this book overall but in the end I ended up enjoying it because the author took a turn I did not see coming and I was like "Oh wow what a way to end the book."
I found it interesting that the book was told in two perspectives looking back on what happened but you don't get to hear from Anna and I think that is what was hard for me to deal with.
Overall, this was an interesting book when you get use to the style and it does have a few twist that makes it even more exciting. I am giving After Anna four out of five stars.

There is a reason why Lisa Scottoline’s novels are so popular. They are fast paced, full of drama and holy crap moments. There’s always surprise, suspense, and questionable motives. “After Anna” promises to be topsy turvy ride from the beginning to the end and I highly recommend it!

Maggie and her new husband Noah have a great marriage and she loves his son, Caleb as if she were her own. Maggie’s only regret is that she doesn’t have a relationship with her daughter, Anna. Her ex was given sole custody years ago. But a sudden tragedy causes Maggie and Anna to be reunited and finally they can all be a real family.

Almost immediately the drama and tension within the household ensues. Guilt can be a powerful manipulator. Maggie is trying to make up for the years without her beloved daughter, all the while her 17-year-old is making wreaking havoc on the family dynamic refusing to follow the rules and then she makes stunning accusations against her stepfather.

Someone’s lying and the disruption within the household is causing friction, doubt and is driving a huge wedge between Noah & Maggie. How do you choose between family? When Anna is found dead and Noah is charged with the murder, the storyline seems so clear.

I received an advance review copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Don’t even have the words for this phenomenal book.. the twists and turns kept me riveted to this book. This book was no different than her other books, amazing. Don’t want to give away the story in case someone reads this that will have the book.

After Anna was brilliantly written by Lisa Scottoline. Maggie and Noah are a couple in love that have a family tragedy destroy their loving marriage and peaceful existence. After Anna tells the story of Maggie, a mom who has not had any contact with her daughter for 16 years and Noah, Maggie's husband, a respected doctor who is accused of murdering Maggie's only daughter. After Anna is full of twists and turns that one can not see coming, turning the pages faster as you root for Noah and hope that Maggie finally gets her happy ending.

Ok so this book is a complete twisty book. You think everything is fine then WHAM! you get knocked out of the world. You start out with a father, his son, & his new wife (previous wife passed away). Then you find out that the new wife has a daughter that she had to give up when the daughter was three years old into the custody of her father who promptly dropped her off at her grandparents & then to boarding schools. Well, fast forward in time till the girl is 17 and her father dies in a plane crash. So Anna (the daughter) contacts Maggie (her mother) to talk about coming and living with Noah (the father) and the son (Caleb). Maggie agrees and then once Anna is there everything starts going crazy. Anna is not acting like Maggie was told by Anna's therapist and previous schools. Anna makes accusations against Noah and then to put it frankly everything hits the fan when Anna is found dead at Noah's home.

The books flips back and forth between "before Anna" and "after Anna" so you do need to pay attention to know which time period you are reading. Even with the flipping between times, which normally annoys me, kept you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going on. Who killed Anna? Is this really Anna? Or is it someone else? Or is someone trying to make Maggie think she is losing her mind? You do find out though by the time you do you are sitting there thinking there is not enough pages left in this book for it to close all the story lines, but then you let out a big WOOSH! and happy that they have been closed and you know what has happened.

If you like a thriller/mystery novel then I think you will enjoy reading this novel. I enjoyed it very much, so much I read the entire thing in one night (normally try to spread it out over two nights). This book, honestly, shocked me with the twists it made and that is not normal. So congrats to Lisa Scottoline, she pulled one on me.

Lisa Scottoline's new novel, AFTER ANNA, is exceptional in its grasp of parental love and angst. Maggie Ippoliti suffered the loss of parental custody when her daughter, Anna, was just a baby. Now, seventeen years later, and happily remarried to Noah Alderman and the step-mother of his son, Caleb, she welcomes the surprise return of her daughter. Maggie couldn't be happier,
however Life shortly turns into a nightmare when Anna is found dead, and Noah stands trial for her murder.

I didn't ever believe that Noah was guilty of the things he was accused of, by Anna and then by the prosecutor. The real suspense, written so well, comes in the alternating chapters of Noah's trial and incarceration and Maggie's life before and after the murder. LS leaves intriguing bread crumbs that I eagerly followed, not wanting it to end before I fell asleep. AFTER ANNA is a novel for lovers of mystery and suspense. The book also deals with the frightening aspect of teens who have been lured away from their families when they are at a vulnerable adolescent age.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

STRONGLY recommend! This was my first ever Lisa Scottoline book, believe it or not! Was so happy that I was immediately hooked because after my previous read I really needed something to suck me right in. AFTER ANNA did just that. I can't wait to browse Lisa's other books and hope to soon delve into another. I love how much time was spent in the courtroom - and that Scottoline did an amazing job of making everything easily understandable. I loved the plot, thought both points of view - Maggie (then) and Noah (now) were realistic. I thought Scottoline's most impressive talent that shone through in this book was Anna's character. Just knowing the way women can be - and adding the simplest of undertones, the reader feels passionately about this character. I don't want to say too much. I also was satisfied with how the story played out. My ONLY complaint was the prosecutor in Noah's case, Linda. This woman was not believable to me, but I have a feeling not every reader will feel the same as me.

I love the way Lisa Scottoline weaves a well-plotted story. When Maggie finds her long-lost daughter, it couldn't be more perfect...or could it? I identified with the character of Maggie and never stopped rooting for Noah. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and would highly recommend it.