The First Day of Spring
Discover the year’s most page-turning thriller
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4.4 • 40 Ratings
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- £5.99
Publisher Description
* THE GUARDIAN 2021 BEST CRIME AND THRILLER PICK *
'An unforgettable narrative voice' Paula Hawkins
'A darkly dazzling debut . . . gripping' Lisa Jewell
'Gorgeously written' Pandora Sykes
'I loved this book' Clare Mackintosh
'Sharp-edged and highly discussable' Booklist
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'So that was all it took,' I thought. 'That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn't so much after all.'
Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.
Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn't get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.
Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried - about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.
That's when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it's clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.
And it's time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?
The gripping and dark book club debut with a compelling voice at its centre.
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'Perceptive and compassionate' Guardian
'A stunning debut' Washington Post
'Compelling . . . stunningly powerful' Grazia
'An extraordinary and heart-rending novel' Observer
'Compulsively readable' Ashley Audrain
'This is outstanding . . . so powerful' Tracy Fenton
'A gripping, unsettling debut novel' Abigail Dean
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Readers love The First Day of Spring . . .
***** 'A powerful, distressing, haunting, but ultimately brilliant read'
***** 'Such a heartbreaking and powerful psychological drama that will stay with me for a long time'
***** 'An incredible book'
***** 'A thought provoking, dark and compulsive read... Highly recommend'
***** 'You DO NOT want to miss The First Day of Spring!'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
British author Tucker (The Time in Between: A Memoir of Hunger and Hope) makes a spectacular fiction debut with this gripping novel about childhood pain and healing. Eight-year-old Chrissie Banks's father rarely comes home, while her mother dislikes her. Chrissie lies, steals, brags, and bullies other children in her working-class neighborhood to get the food and attention she craves. One day, she strangles a two-year-old boy, and no one suspects her of the crime. She loves the power her secret gives her, but as the police ignore her and interest in the boy's death fades, her desire to hurt another child mounts. Two decades later, Chrissie has become a single mother after her release from a detention home. Obsessed with caring for her five-year-old daughter, Molly, she panics when the social worker who supervises her parenting asks to see her after an accident results in a broken wrist for Molly. Terrified that Molly will be taken away, she considers flight and reckons anew with her past. The taut, meticulously observed narration, which alternates between Chrissie's youthful and adult perspectives, mines the dangers that childhood trauma causes both its victims and those around them. Fans of Lisa Jewell and smart psychological suspense will eagerly await Tucker's next.
Customer Reviews
I really enjoyed it
4⭐️
My first book by this author who is a clinical psychologist. It’s a psychological novel looking at the life of Chrissie, who killed aged 8.
It’s told in chapters from the POV of Chrissie and Julia. It really tugged on my heartstrings. We see her life as a child, and later as a mother. In amongst her deeds I felt there was a naivety and innocence. The writing style embraced that really well. She was neglected, lonely, and desperately needed to feel loved which was a big emotional tug. But she is also mean and manipulative and uncaring.
I couldn’t help but think how her life could have, should have been so different. It feels from her behaviour and speech patterns as though she is on the spectrum, even as an adult she comes across as child like, and has regimented behaviours.
I felt it started to lag and feel stagnated about half way. I didn’t feel that the reader is got any more in-depth knowledge or understanding of Chrissie.
I liked the ending.
Initially I thought this had potential to be a real WOW book, but it missed that mark for me. I really enjoyed it.
AMAZING
If you’re into true crime, you’ve probably heard about the Mary bell case. It’s kind of exactly the same as what’s occurring in the book. A little too identical to it be based on a true story. The book is self is great, a short read with chapters based on past and present. I highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I want more…
I adored this book!! The same way Chrissie needs more food,I need more books by this author. Both heartbreaking and funny at times. I had chuckled and cried by the end. I really didn’t want to leave the world of Chrissie,Julia,Molly and Mam. Just loved it.