The Child
the clever, addictive, must-read Richard and Judy Book Club bestselling crime thriller
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4.3 • 242 Ratings
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- £2.99
Publisher Description
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, AND RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK
'Clever and compelling. You'll love The Child' Clare Mackintosh, author of LET ME LIE
When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it's impossible to ignore.
For one woman, it's a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her.
For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered.
And for the third, a journalist, it's the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth.
The Child's story will be told.
If you love Claire Douglas and Shari Lapena, you'll love The Child!
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'An engrossing, irresistible story about the coming to light of a long-buried secret. An absolutely fabulous read - I loved it!' Shari Lapena, author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR
'Tense, tantalising and ultimately very satisfying . . . definitely one of the year's must-reads' Lee Child
'A brilliant page-turner.' Closer
'This expertly executed thriller, full of gritty authentic detail, is made even better by a killer twist that will catch you off guard.' Sunday Mirror
Readers are gripped by The Child:
'A cleverly woven mystery thriller of loss, guilt, infatuation and long-held secrets, with sneaky twists and an ending that will take your breath away.' FIVE-STAR Review
'Brilliant. I was glued to this book the whole way through.' FIVE-STAR Review
'An outstanding read' FIVE-STAR Review
'I found myself reaching for it in the middle of the night, just to find out what happened next. I shall be reading more by Fiona Barton.' FIVE-STAR Review
'A wonderfully written book with a killer twist ending.' FIVE-STAR Review
Read Fiona Barton's other tantalising thrillers: THE WIDOW, THE SUSPECT, LOCAL GONE MISSING and TALKING TO STRANGERS.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Canny London tabloid reporter Kate Waters, the catalyst for Barton's devastating debut The Widow, returns in this strong if more subdued psychological thriller centering on a trio of women unknowingly linked by long-buried secrets about to be unearthed. Book editor Emma Simmonds has been battling for decades with depression, as has the single mother, Jude Massingham, who threw her out of the house when she was just 16. Former nurse Angela Irving has never gotten over the kidnapping of her newborn daughter from a maternity hospital 28 years earlier, a heartbreak worsened by police suspicion of her and her husband. Emma, Jude, and Angela are each riveted, for reasons that will only gradually emerge, by an item in a newspaper reporting the excavation of an infant's skeleton at an East London building site. Kate, who could really use another major scoop to help keep her job, is also drawn to the story. Readers patient with the relatively slow initial pace until the intertwining stories gain momentum will be rewarded with startling twists and a stunning, emotionally satisfying conclusion. Author tour.
Customer Reviews
The Child
I read this whilst waiting for my next book to arrive and frankly, started off in a some-
what disinterested state of mind, but carried on reading regardless.
Well, I can only say that I became more and more interested as each chapter passed, until I reached what I presumed was the end!…… but very much not so! I most truly didn’t figure everything out until it hit me in the face!!
Very, very good story….and so glad I did read it. Will have to look for other books by this author now!
Sweet child o mine
I was hooked on this book! I finished in within 2 days, much better than Barton's The Widow. I like how we follow 3-4 individuals who along the way all connect. Kate- for me - is my favourite Character and an interesting way to find out the mystery of who the child is than to follow a journalist.