I have mixed feelings about this one. I didn't realize it was part of a series before I started it, and although it is a stand alone story I find that I am not that big a fan of the main character Kate.

Emma on the other hand, was captivating. I felt a lot of sympathy for her.

Emma is a woman haunted by her past. She suffers bouts of anxiety and depression. Her husband knows this, accepts this, but does not know or pursue the reasons for it. He does know that she has a very strained relationship with her mother Jude, and that for many years they did not speak to each other. He doesn't know why. For the longest time in Emma's childhood it was just her and Jude, until she was sent away. Some women will do absolutely anything for their children, but not Jude. Jude is one of those women who just can't be without a man, no matter what. I loved hating Jude.
Then there is Angela and Nick, who decades ago, when their marriage was already in a turbulent state, lost a child. Their newborn baby Alice was whisked away out of Angela's hospital room, never to be seen again. The case has gone cold but not a day has gone by that Angela has not thought of her baby. My heart just ached for her.

When Angela hears that a tiny skeleton was unearthed at a construction site she is sure that it is her Alice.

Of course there is far more to this story as journalist Kate uncovers.

Now as spellbound as I was by Emma, I was just so bored with Kate. It was all I could do not to skip past those parts about her, and her son, and her annoying new trainee. Thankfully those parts were brief. Whenever the story focused on Kate it felt kind of like watching your favorite soap opera and you can't wait for it to get back to the characters with the more exciting parts and quit interrupting the storyline with the bits about people you aren't interested in.

What a great read. I'm sure this book will create quite a stir when it is released. I love stories that keep me guessing about what is really happening until the end - and this one does it wonderfully - and the trip getting to the truth is all enjoyable as well. The characters were well formed, all the clues were there, and yet I figured on a totally different outcome. I'll be eagerly awaiting Fiona Barton's next book - and I guess I have to go back and read her first one as well.

A thought-provoking look at how a single event can change a life forever. This book profoundly illustrates how grief influences choices made and how difficult it can be to leave the past behind. Highly recommend this book for bookclubs!

Even though Fiona Barton’s second thriller, The Child is written in the style of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, it is a wholly different type of novel altogether, and is, hands down, one of the best novels of the year. When the tiny skeleton of a baby is unearthed by construction workers doing renovations on Howard Street, and it is suspected that it may be the remains of Alice, who was kidnapped from a maternity hospital almost 40 years , previously, Kate Waters, a reporter, dives into the story as a human interest offering, having no idea how deep she will become involved as she interviews Alice’s mother, Angela, and later a younger woman named Emma, who insists it is her baby at the construction site, which she buried years later when she secretly gave birth at 14 years old. The three women form a bond and make the evolving psychological suspense come alive and seem real.

The Child should not be missed. Not only is there palpable suspense and intrigue, but the writing is excellent, the characters are well-developed, and the story is fascinating. Barton has outdone herself with this excellent novel, and readers will find that they want to immediately pick up everything she has written so far.

Although the novel isn’t particularly fast-moving, it will be read quickly because most readers will find that they cannot put it down. There is something in the novel that almost everyone can relate to, and the surprise ending will keep readers thinking about the book for weeks afterward. Fiona Barton is an author to watch – there is no doubt that she will be a celebrated best-selling author for years to come.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

The bones of a tiny baby are found buried under an urn. Nothing of notice, except to the mother of course.
This sets the storyline in this fantastic read. Totally enthralling and captivating. Lots of twists and turns and plenty of characters to love or hate.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Child.
A cleverly put together story. The Author should be proud.
5 Stars. Highly recommended.

This second novel by Barton will not disappoint those who loved The Widow! For fans of Mary Kubica, Ruth Ware and Claire MacIntosh, this is a gripping psychological mystery with a strong storyline and excellent character development. The story builds gradually and keeps you guessing until the end. The protagonist is a journalist rather than a detective which is a fresh and welcome departure from the usual formula. As a librarian, I will be recommending this at the top of my list this summer.

A London construction worker unearths the skeleton of a newborn and, as a result, sets in motion turmoil in the lives of three women: Angela, still unable to recover from the hospital abduction of her infant daughter twenty years ago, Emma, a troubled writer of celebrity biographies, and Kate, an ambitious reporter. The interaction of the three revolving around the discovery moves toward an ending that I did NOT see coming.

The Child was an easy read that kept me guessing but I thought it was rather drawn out. Kate was very resourceful so it made me wonder why the police were not. Emma was such a pitiful character and her 'mom', Jude just plain weird. The twist at the end made the book.

If I weren't already a huge Fiona Barton fan after reading "The Widow" (also a 5-star-worthy novel, IMHO), I sure would be after reading this one. Given that I have at somewhat of a life other than reading, I expected it would take a few days to wade through. In fact, it was so engrossing that I polished it off over just two days (granted, on one the only TV show worth watching was "Big Bang Theory" and on the second, I was so close to the end that I lugged my Kindle to bed to finish - something that happens once in a blue moon. But you get the point.

More than anything else, this is the story of three women, starting with Kate, a print journalist who needs a great news story to revive a career that's increasingly giving up ground to the newspaper's online reporters. Then there's Emma, a home-based book editor who's dragging a boatload of emotional baggage, including semi-estrangement from a seemingly uncaring mother. And finally, there's Angela, who is unable to come to grips with the loss of an infant in the early years of her marriage despite having a couple of other children and a saintworthy patient husband. Actually, I'll add a fourth woman; Emma's mother, Jude, plays a significant role here as well.

The story begins as a construction worker turns up the skeleton of a baby in the process of demolishing old buildings. Clearly, the infant was buried there years earlier, making identification a challenge. Ever the nosy reporter, Kate smells a big story, but the lack of available information means she'll have to do some digging of her own before she can get the major scoop she's hoping for.

Somehow, she convinces her reluctant editors that finding the bones is just the tip of the iceberg, and she - together with a newbie reporter who she's been ordered to take under her wing (a totally forgettable character who adds almost nothing to the story, I must say) - sets off to investigate on her own. That connects her to Angela, whose newborn baby was taken from the maternity hospital shortly after birth and never found. Needless to say, Angela is convinced that the bones belong to Alice, her stolen baby girl.

Kate then begins to explore the neighborhood where the bones were found, locating and interviewing some of the people who used to live there. It is then that she meets Emma, who grew up there - thus bringing the Kate-Angela-Emma triumvirate to full circle.

Anything that happened in that neighborhood from that point on will stay in that neighborhood as far as I'm concerned - divulging much else would be giving away too much. Little by little, the pieces come together as long-hidden secrets are revealed and the mystery of the bones is solved. Admittedly, the ending seems a little too pat (and with one exception, expected), but the whole thing was very entertaining and worthwhile nonetheless. Many thanks to the publisher (via NetGalley) for offering me an advance copy to read and review. Highly recommended!

Brilliant. Once again, the author knocks it out of the park. I love how the story is told by each character as they see it. It's a story that could be told on the evening news,that's how believable it is. It was just suspenseful enough to keep you guessing, but predictable enough to let you believe you know the answer. Definitely a great read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this fantastic book.

I devoured this book. It built up to an amazing end!! Just read this book already.

I must say, I enjoyed The Child much more than The Widow. Barton's writing and character development in this novel is spot on...

For the first third of the book and I not idea what was going on, or how it could all relate. Unfortunately, but about 60% into the book I had figured it out, although it did not take anything away from continuing to finish.

I loved Kate's character in the book from her need to succeed in the new age of reporting to her family life and dealing with her kids.

The relationship between Emma and Jude was so interesting to read, especially reading from both side. Although their relationship was messed up, I enjoyed that layer to the novel.

Would highly recommend this novel, a real page turner!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy...it still makes me so happy when I receive an acceptation email!

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review!

The Child brings back journalist Kate Waters, first seen in Fiona Barton’s The Widow. When a baby’s skeleton is found at a construction site, the lives of three women are affected. Kate Waters seizes the story and tries to figure out where the tiny body came from.



Delightfully British with well written characters, The Child is another treasure. Kate’s interaction with her coworkers are dead on, as Barton illustrates how print journalists must cope with 24 hour online news media. The women’s family dynamics are integral to the story; giving the reader the backstory slowly and tantalizingly. Each woman gets to tell her story – there are changing points of view throughout and we see firsthand what Kate, Emma, and Angela are going through. Emma’s mother, Jude, is also part of the dynamic. I found Jude to be annoying and narcissistic; she was easy to loathe. Emma and Angela were both dealing with their own mental issues as well, and at times all of the angst became overwhelming. That didn’t deter me from continuing to read – but at times I wished there was a bit less whining and a little more action.

Kate is an expert reporter, adept at the art of manipulation to get her story. As a matter of fact, almost every character manipulates someone in some way. Barton is a master of keeping a dark story hovering just above the despair line, tempering the distress with hope.

Some reviews have noted that the plot twists were easy to spot- not for me! I had a feeling that these women were going to be intertwined somehow (for plot purposes, of course), but could not predict what was going to happen until Barton gave the Big Reveal. I was appropriately shocked and enthralled. Everything came together in a satisfying way and I felt that there was room for Kate’s character to grow, possibly to be featured in another book.

Barton’s insight into the female psyche is peerless, and knows how to illustrate the seamy side of the human condition perfectly. I’ll be eagerly awaiting her next work.

An essential page turner. I got this book from Netgalley in return for a true review. Writer Fiona Barton has done an excellent job in creating a crime thriller which does not let the reader down in the slightest. You can not guess the twists in this one before they come. If you are passionate you will know what is coming only a chapter prior it does and not before. She has kept the ending precise, unlike the stories which lose their pace by the end. I would definitely recommend it to my closest, and to anyone asks for a compelling story. This makes me want to read The Widow, another creation of Fiona which has great reviews.

Spoilers:

I was thrilled when I read the part when Joe and Kate are talking about DNA. Before this part I was thinking to myself it would be awesome if DNA tests were, in fact, correct and I was on the edge when Joe said what he said about DNAs. Because I got the signal that the story building up in my head was this one. Genius author Fiona, even when you let your readers try and guess the ending, it is at the very end and it is so rewarding.

This novel is captivating from the first page. It takes the reader on an emotional odyssey with the many characters who interface with the back story of "the child". Excellent choice for a book club because of the many twists in this creative plot.

While I enjoyed The Child, I don't think it measured up to her previous book, The Widow. I had most of the resolution figured out before I was halfway through, and the mystery of a long-dead child just wasn't as riveting. It was definitely worth a read, though, and I'll keep getting excited about Fiona Barton's books!

This felt a little clunky with its pacing. Objectively, I could tell the writing was good, but it just felt like it did not flow. I also figured out the answers to just about everything fairly early (62% through the book, according to my Kindle), so there wasn't that much to look forward to after that. I did like all the main POV characters, except one, which gave me an added incentive to want her to be a villain. Anyway, I have to call it a "meh," but I still will buy it for my library.

This book is about how secrets can haunt you? The author keeps you guessing and weaves the reader into the main character s lives

Absolutely loved it. Highly recommend you read!! My first read by this author and definitely won't be my last.

I was immediately captivated by Fiona Barton’s new novel, The Child. Maybe you read her first novel, The Widow, which was one of my favorites from last year, now here’s an equally creepy and mysterious new novel for you. You will devour this one!

Here’s the synopsis:

As an old house is demolished in a gentrifying section of London, a workman discovers a tiny skeleton, buried for years. For journalist Kate Waters, it’s a story that deserves attention. She cobbles together a piece for her newspaper, but at a loss for answers, she can only pose a question: Who is the Building Site Baby?

As Kate investigates, she unearths connections to a crime that rocked the city decades earlier: A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in a local hospital and was never found. Her heartbroken parents were left devastated by the loss.

But there is more to the story, and Kate is drawn—house by house—into the pasts of the people who once lived in this neighborhood that has given up its greatest mystery. And she soon finds herself the keeper of unexpected secrets that erupt in the lives of three women—and torn between what she can and cannot tell…

I am eagerly awaiting Fiona’s next story!