Dear Child
The twisty thriller that starts where others end
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4.3 • 182 Ratings
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- £2.99
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
You escaped. But he will never let you go.
Now a major Netflix series
A windowless shack in the woods. Lena's life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.
One day Lena manages to flee - but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called 'Lena', who disappeared without a trace over thirteen years ago. The police and Lena's family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle that doesn't quite seem to fit.
'Chilling, original and mesmerising. Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with' DAVID BALDACCI
'Couldn't put this book down, loved every minute' 5* READER REVIEW
'A peerless exercise in suspense' FINANCIAL TIMES
'So many twists and turns, you can barely catch your breath!' 5* READER REVIEW
'Will haunt you long after the last page' ALICE FEENEY
'A nail-biting page turner' 5* READER REVIEW
'Keeps you guessing' SUNDAY EXPRESS
'Addictive' 5* READER REVIEW
'Intelligent and original' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
'Loved everything about this book' 5* READER REVIEW
'Claustrophobic, terrifying and fiercely compelling' DAILY MAIL
'If you loved Room you will love this' 5* READER REVIEW
'Disturbingly good' LESLEY KARA
'Gripping, astounding, heart-pounding' 5* READER REVIEW
'Gripping, suspenseful and beautifully written' JO SPAIN
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Early in German author Hausmann's outstanding debut, a woman is hit by a car in a forest on the German-Czech border. The police believe the victim may be Lena Beck, a college student who disappeared in Munich 13 years earlier. After a search of the forest reveals a windowless cabin, a horrific story begins taking shape: Lena was abducted and forced to live in captivity while giving birth to a girl and a boy. When Lena's father, Matthias, arrives at the hospital to identify his daughter, however, he says it's not her. But the young girl with her the woman's alleged daughter looks exactly like a younger Lena. A DNA test confirms both children are, in fact, Matthias's grandchildren. As the traumatized woman and the two kids struggle to adapt to life outside of the cabin, Matthias vows to find out what happened to his daughter. The multiple points of view and numerous plot twists sustain the breakneck pacing, but the book's real power lies in the author's insightful and sensitive portrayal of the characters involved in the tragedy. This darkly disturbing thriller definitely marks Hausmann as a writer to watch.
Customer Reviews
Perfect amount of twists, read in one sitting
Herr Beck annoyed me but I think it was well-written annoyance. It served a purpose like most of the details in the story. Well done!
Great thriller
I couldn’t stop reading this it was great from the start. Kept you thinking all the way through. I read it in a day because I couldn’t put it down. Glad I purchased it.
Wow!!
Didn’t expect the ending at all!!