“Standing in front of the microwave, watching the pizza revolve and bubble, I wonder for the millionth time if he’ll leave me. He should have done years ago. I would have if I’d been in his place, having to deal with my stuff, my worries, on a daily basis. But he shows no sign of packing his bags. Instead he hovers over me like an anxious parent, protecting me from harm.”
The Child
By Fiona Barton
Published: June 2017
Source: Advance review copy
Kate Waters is journalist looking for the next big scoop when she reads about a recent construction site in London. While the workers were doing the renovations they find the skeletal remains of a baby. Immediately Kate wants to know more and thinks that this could be a big story.
With the help, or hindrance, of a new intern Kate meets with several of the construction workers and starts to piece together what could have happened to the baby. Â There are several other women who’ve read this story and who think they may know who the truth.
As Kate investigates the past of the building and tries to connect with the people that may have lived in the area or have children missing she encounters Angela. She is a homemaker who has lived with the guilt of having left her baby in her cot at the hospital while she took a shower. In that small instance while she left her alone her baby went missing.
There are alternating narratives which lead you down the path of different conclusions. I did not see how everything was going to come together until well into the story so I really liked being kept in suspense. I thought Kate was a believable character and liked how she came to rely on her intern and together they worked together to find the truth. A very enjoyable read.
I read the previous book by this author, The Wife, or maybe I listened to it. Anyway, I liked it well enough. I have this one on my actual shelf and plan to read it before long. Good to know it worked well for you, Iliana.
This one sounds interesting! I like the idea of different possible conclusions.
I liked The Widow but I didn’t love it. Somewhere online, I think I read that there is some kind of connection between that book and this (a small one?) but I’m entirely sold on it. Although, the fact that you’ve mentioned that you didn’t know where things were headed for a good while into the story, now that does make it sound more appealing!
It’s always good when a book keeps you in suspense to the very end! 🙂
I so often can see what direction a book is going from early on that it’s nice when that doesn’t happen! I have been wanting to read this one for awhile now, and am glad you enjoyed it, Iliana.
This sounds good and that snippet you shared sounds sad.
Kay – I also have that one and hope to get to it but probably will need a bit of a breather after this one.
Jenclair – It really did take me a while to figure out what was going on so I really appreciated that!
BuriedinPrint – I believe the main character makes an appearance in The Widow but not sure. I didn’t feel like I was lost so that’s good and tells me it would be fine read as a stand alone book.
Lark – I know right? I love it when a mystery can do that! 🙂
Literary Feline – I hope you’ll get a chance to check this one out. It’s not fast paced and can take a bit to get into but I liked it quite a bit.
Bookworm – There are definitely some sad situations and characters in this book but the end gives you some hope for the characters.
Ooh, this sounds interesting! I really like when a thriller manages to keep me in suspense and I’ve read a few were the ending seemed obvious lately.