Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,026 global ratings
5 star
65%
4 star
26%
3 star
6%
2 star
2%
1 star
1%
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Review this product

Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

SVG
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
My second book by this author, I read this book with bated breath. I was addicted to the story and couldn’t move from my couch until I got to the last page.

The investigation was thorough and detailed, and I could see the strength in Kate reflecting in every chapter. Her brilliant partnership with Detective Franco made me glad she had support in her corner. The writing made smooth inroads into darker alleys of society, with some jaw-dropping twists, and the last few chapters had me gripping my kindle so hard, that I was sure there would be permanent fingerprints on it.

Anni Taylor is one fantastic author whose first book made me excited, the second twisted, eagerly awaiting the third. It is simply one heck of a thriller!! A must-read!! Just a warning – once you start, you can’t stop!!
Read more
helen hamilton
5.0 out of 5 stars The lullaby man
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2020
Verified Purchase
Good book with a mystery on every page you turn. A women detective ends up solving the case of the missing teenager. Then the death of the school teacher. It all wraps up in a surprise ending.
Read more
Buzy_reading
5.0 out of 5 stars Birdie and Mr. Lullaby
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
The Lullaby Man is about Blue Mountain, Australia and all its secrets. Detective Kate Wakeland is back as a homicide detective working on another personal case this time with her daughter Abby. Kate joins Abby to her therapy sessions listening in as Abby recounts the events the took place ten years ago when she was fourteen. It here where Kate learns about an inappropriate relationship/crush with Abby’s scientist teacher.
After hearing Abby talk about her relationship with Layla and Emmet from ten years ago, Kate decides to reopen and investigate a cold case.
Kate struggles with balancing her career as a detective and being a mother. Raising a daughter as a homicide detective wasn’t easy, so when Abby began to withdraw from her Abby blamed the job. Kate later learns during Abby confessional sessions that Abby had dark secrets from her past.
Unfortunately, as a homicide detective her work followed her home. While she tried to separate her personal life from her work life it was difficult to do when her granddaughter was kidnapped a few years ago. Even though, the case was closed Kate recently learned that her daughter Kate held back a ten year long secret. Now Kate is once again faced with a personal police matter that affects her family.
Anni impressed me with her skills as a writer to combine Kate’s character as both a mother and detective. By opening this personal case with her daughters testimony during counseling sessions she was able to present her as both a concerned mother and a detective investigating a case. Brilliant work.
Over time Anni explores the secrets that have haunted Abby for ten years. It’s a great exercise in revealing Abby’s secrets. It feels safe and comfortable. I was very intrigued with the tree of memories exercise it seemed very helpful and promising.
The story was comprised of seven parts allocating the time line differently by these parts. I liked that Anni explained early on the significance of the title of her book.
The Lullaby Man is the second book in the Tallman’s Valley detective series with Kate the lead homicide detective. Kate is once again faced with family trauma this time with her daughter Kate and Kate’s friend Layla from ten years ago. The process for disclosing Kate’s secret is quite riveting. I enjoyed the therapy sessions of her recounting the events that led to her anger issues and disconnected period of time with her police mother.
The story is initially led by Abby’s secret which leads to the detective work of her mother. I quite liked the approach of solving an unknown cold case this way. Anni broadened my horizons with information that was unknown to me regarding reopening a case. Anni’s artistic skills enlightened me by including perspectives from all sides of reopening this case. This is something that has never been addressed in books I’ve read before. Smart tactic. Anni left much to ponder with her own questions regarding Kate’s thought process. Very clever. It certainly added suspicion.

Anni’s writing style improved in book 2. This book far exceeds book 1. This was a dialogue driven story with every circumstance leading to the cold case. Everything tied together well. The story transitioned well between chapters and I found the transitions of using the parts as a means to share the past memories and the present events very easy to read.
Anni’s investigative approach with Kate’s character was impressive. There wasn’t any police procedures or protocol rules instead Anni used an interesting tactic with Abby’s counseling session which led to the cold case.
If your thinking about reading The Lullaby Man you might want to read book one first. This book has crossover information that is pertinent from book 1. To better understand this book and the series reading them in order is preferable.
When Anni concluded the story and solved the case my mind was blown by all the unexpected twists and turns. Of course, I tried my hand at playing detective but failed. Each of my attempts were shot down leaving Anni the winner.
Read more
Margie
5.0 out of 5 stars Intense
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
What a page turner !!! Pouring over from her first book Stranger in the woods. I couldn’t put it down !! What goes on in a town, Them poor kids didn’t know better.
Read more
Irene L
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
The author is one of the best I’ve read, and I’m a voracious reader!
I’ve read another book already by the same author (whom I never read prior), and ordered a few others as well.
Read more
KSR
4.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed but just started reading the book
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Update to my original review of three stars. I still will not give this book five starts like I did One Last Child. But if you hang in there and get past the first few lukewarm chapters, the book takes off and Anni leads you on the same wild ride as the first book. You think you know the answer and then she weaves a totally different, but believable scenario, for you to ponder. I did enjoy this book overall and will continue to read her stories.

The first book in the series, One Last Child, was amazing. It grabbed you from the moment the booked started and had us guessing all the way through. She managed to create twists and turns that were believable, not out in left field. Maybe this book will get better. So far it too much sappy monologue between mother and daughter, blah, blah, blah. BUT as I said, the first book was really great so we will definitely give this ten chapters or so to see if it gets better. I will update this review if I have a change of heart.
Read more
Dee Cash
5.0 out of 5 stars A Dark Tale
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
When I started The Pulling Man I didn't realize I had already read the first book in the three book series by Anni Taylor. It had been some time and I read a lot. When the character Nola Hobson came into the picture I remembered her. It was odd because Nola was not the main character in the book by far.
The Lullaby Man started out as all mysteries or thrillers do to me. By the first few chapters I know who the "bad guys" are. Well with Lullaby Man I knew without a doubt. Boy did Anni Taylor fool me. One of the
deceivers I had thought about but discarded for the more obvious one to me. But the main "bad guy" had not even entered my mind. A writer who can fool an old, let's make that experienced, reader like me is a good and accomplished writer. Kudos, Anni Taylor. You are the first.
Read more
Anna
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark Thriller!
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2021
Verified Purchase
A daughter reveals an inappropriate relationship with her science teacher to her detective Mom. Infidelity, child abuse, hit and run and murder are a few of the "secrets" protected by the people in the town. The author explores the relationship between the Mom and daughter from both their perspectives and the influence of Mom being a detective. The author wove a complex story with interesting characters. The ending was a surprise with multiple twist and turns along the way. I like the way the Mom and her partner followed the clues. I thought the Mom would have been removed from the case due to conflict of interest.
Read more
See all reviews

Top reviews from other countries

Bertie
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing follow up to ‘One last child’
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2020
Verified Purchase
Oh dear. I was over the moon when I realised this had been published (under a different name to it originally being advertised as having). Having recently read ‘One last child’ I bought it immediately. But, unfortunately, it felt rushed, repetitive and unplanned.

The story line/outcome was so obvious that I wanted to ring Kate and Franco and scream at them to stop being so stupid. This also wasn’t helped by the character of Abby being even more irritating and unlikeable than in the first book of the series. Way too many mistakes added to the feeling of it being rushed and, in all honesty, you could just start the book around 85% in and read the same story in a lot less time.

I will be buying book 3 but not feeling particularly optimistic as I think it’s a fair given to the direction it will take.
Read more
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a book that has been well written. Hardly any typos's etc. I was hooked from page one. Even after a book full of red herrings I still didn't quite guess the end until the last few pages. A book I would recommend for anyone enjoying detective work and psychological thriller at the same time.
Read more
Cathy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Lullaby Man
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2020
Verified Purchase
A surprising and a great read. You never knew what was as going to happen, lots of twists and turns. I absolutely loved it
Read more
RFC
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
The plot had great potential but the main character was unconvincing. She was portrayed as a very experienced detective but came across as shallow and impulsive. The plot and final conclusion was too contorted to be in any way believable. The many “suspects” were not credible characters.
Read more
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Abuse is not ever fair
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
It’s hard to see through the eyes of a young abused child, and the knock on effect which has touched so many other vulnerable children and people - step by step I’m not sure I could be this strong
Read more
See all reviews