This book was creepy, addictive and gripping in all the best ways. Little Darlings is inspired by various folk tales about changelings ie; human children who are taken away after birth with malevolent fairies left in their place. This merging of reality and fairy tale made for such an original story which is a real page turner. Perhaps it's greatest skill, as it progressed is that you weren't sure whether to believe Laurens story or assume - as many characters in the novel do - that she is having a psychological breakdown. Either theory seems plausible at different moments and it's frightening to consider either option.

Given that I'm a fan of folk tales and creepy / horror stories in general, I feel like Little Darlings does a good job of incorporating just enough of this 'horror' aspect whilst still remaining firmly based in the real world. It takes every mothers worst nightmare; a threat to her newborns and turns it on it's head. I'm familiar with tales of changelings and fairies spiriting people away so it was interesting to see it in this context and I liked that each chapter had an excerpt from various folktales, which just added to the sinister atmosphere.

As well as the storyline itself being compelling, Lauren as the narrator was also a good choice. Lauren has just given birth and it wasn't exactly the easiest one, leaving her physically and mentally drained, with two newborns to think about. I found it sad but refreshingly realistic when she deals with the idea of not immediately being attached to her children the way other people seem to be. Postpartum depression or Psychosis is more openly discussed now so at first, Lauren wonders if this is what she is suffering from. I feel like this is an important representation of new motherhood and how different women can have different experiences and shouldn't be shamed for something they cannot control. While there is more education and awareness about these disorders, there is still a taboo surrounding it. There are so many expectations placed on women in general, and especially mothers so I feel like readers who have been through similar experiences may resonate strongly with this element of the story.

The things I felt didn't work as well were some of the side characters and storylines. Including Laurens husband Patrick, who I just really disliked as a character. He was aloof, secretive and just really indifferent to Laurens feelings which was super annoying. I also thought the inclusion of Jo Harper and the policing aspect was kind of dry and at times I felt like it could have been cut down, or the pace of the investigation picked up. I feel like this may be the start of a series featuring Jo Harper as the ending of Little Darlings leaves a few things open ended.

Overall, this was a unique and gripping read and I'm glad I read it. Although I'm unlikely to pick it up again, it was a solid one time read for me. I would recommend Little Darlings to readers who enjoy a good contemporary thriller with an original plot and an underlying message.

This book is remarkable, not so much because of the characters and plot, but because it is one of the best and most authentic depictions I’ve ever read of the surreal post-natal state many women find themselves after giving birth. A bit like how Piers Morgan’s boast of strapping on a labour simulator could never accurately match the full blown experience of childbirth, it’s rare to find a story which delves fully into what is a largely unspoken taboo. Namely that having a baby is not all balloons and cute clothes but instead- even for the most resilient of women- something of a horror show. Little Darlings uses that reality as a backdrop to a supernatural changeling story and for the most part it really works.

Melanie Golding deftly layers the changeling folklore into the postpartum experience and builds the suspense with just the right amount of creepy and persistent ambiguity. Even though I didn’t especially like most of the characters, it was hard not to have sympathy with Lauren, the mother of twins, as she navigates an increasingly dark path through motherhood. Had the entire story been told from her point of view I think it might have been too much but interspersing the narration with a fairly rational headed police procedural type character (Detective Harper) provided some balance. The pace is relatively brisk and I found once the story really got going it was very hard to put it down. The ending was satisfyingly memorable. All in all, I’d say perhaps not a read I’d necessarily recommend to a mother-to-be or new mother but on the whole a very enjoyable and well crafted tale.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where to start with this unusual thriller. It is a curious mix of folklore and medicine, seen from Lauren’s point of view, she is acting sanely to ensure her babies are safe. Seen from a medical perspective, she has mental health issues, most likely puerperal psychosis. The question is what do you believe, and even at the end of the story, I’m not sure.

This story resonates. In Victorian times any non-conformist behaviour was considered a mental aberration, many young women incarcerated in mental institutions, just because they had children out of wedlock. So perhaps, in this case, the truth lies somewhere in between the folklore and the medicine?

Intense and suspenseful, you are torn between Lauren’s anxiety and need to find her children, and the prospect that if she isn’t stopped innocents will suffer. It’s an intelligent thriller, with many layers and possibilities, and a poignant ending that makes you wonder, what if.

Lauren is an unreliable protagonist, but she is easy to empathise, even though part of you believes she may be dangerous. Harper is a complex character, a police detective, who is drawn to the case by her own history, and even though she finds answers, she is still not sure she’s discovered the truth. The cast of supporting characters are essential and give the story depth and diversion.

Prefacing each chapter with folklore concerning Changelings, the reader compares them with what is happening in the story, adding to its complexity.

This is a creepy, unsettling thriller, exploring the grey areas of mental health and the power of folklore, why did it originate, was it to explain why some mothers seemed to endanger their children, or is there a twisted truth, we don’t understand?

‘Little Darlings’ is disturbingly different.

I received a copy of this book from HQ - Harper Collins in return for an honest review.

Little Darlings was what I thought was going to be a thriller but turned out for me to be more supernatural which isn’t my favourite genre.
Lauren when we meet her has had a difficult birth resulting in twin boys, this should be a happy time although a tired time but we see Lauren develop postpartum depression and anxiety resulting in her believing a woman from the river has swapped babies or has she. This is where I fell out of love with this book as it moved towards folklore and changelings and didn’t fir me quite sit right in this story. The husband was a complete arse from beginning to end and didn’t add to my enjoyment at all.
It’s a pity really as when I read the blurb this was going to be right up my street but fell short due to the lack of suspense. I enjoyed the ambitious detective that had a very complicated personal life and had the husband worked out but the story didn’t fit together well enough.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Little Darlings is a creepy kind of thriller. From the opening page, all the way through, the supernatural is looming keeping the reading guessing about where the truth really lies. Melanie Golding does a very good job of combining police procedures with emotions underpinning the psychological aspect with the darkness of folktales. For the fan of the genre, it's certainly a must read.

I loved this book. Something so different. My only thing was I did not want it to end I wanted to know shat happened next. Lauren has given birth to twins but is immediately plunged into a world of fear after an unexpected visitor in the middle of the night to the maternity ward. What will happen to hear and the twins and who is going to believe her. Lauren isolates herself but will it be enough to protect her family

I really enjoyed this book. Highly absorbing. Was mother suffering from post partum depression,or had the babies really been swapped!

The best way to describe this book is a thriller with a Grimm fairytale twist .
I loved this story , I just wasn’t expecting the Grimm/folklore aspect so it took me a little time to accept this element in this type of thriller , more so as there is no mention in the description so it was a complete surprise . What starts as potential abduction develops into something much darker .Never sure if this is really happening or if Lauren is suffering from postnatal psychosis kept me intrigued throughout . An easy read as in the way it’s written and language used so I flew through it . I enjoyed this debut novel from Melanie Goulding. I would recommend if your looking for something different to your usual thrillers or you like folklore tales.
3.5 rounded up

This was a very different kind of thriller in my opinion and is definitely something new for fans of the genre.

The story revolves around Lauren Tranter a new mother who has just given birth to twins, one month into motherhood and her babies disappear and later returned, only Lauren doesn't believe that these are actually her children.

I was completely on the edge of my seat whilst reading this as I just needed to know what happened.
I also appreciated the slight dark, supernatural element of this book it added a creepy aspect to the story which I really liked.

In a nutshell I found this to be a super enjoyable read especially considering this was the authors first book. and I will certainly check out whatever she writes next.

I really enjoyed this book. It's one of those ones where you have to keep reading because you are desperate to find out what's going to happen. Just when you think you know what's happening there's a change and you are back to where you started. Not knowing anything and trying to guess. Really well written and loved most of the characters in this. Highly recommended

This book really wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was still good. Not amazing, but still good. It was an easy read and I was definitely intrigued. I found Amy a little bit annoying, but otherwise liked all of the characters. The storyline was well written, but there was nothing surprising and there was no twist. It was predictable and a bit uneventful. It was still a 3 star read for me because I found the genre interesting, but I won’t say why because it’s a potential spoiler. I would definitely read more from Melanie Golding, and I would recommend this book to people. I think I just didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would because it’s very different from what I was expecting. If you read this one, go into it with an open mind and you will definitely enjoy it.

This book as somewhat unnerving - I found the folklore element of the book quite creepy. The writing was really atmospheric and drew you in. Great read.

This book was just not for me. Too much fantasy for my liking. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Great synopsis, interesting read, really makes you think. Appeals to many. Definitely recommend you try it! So glad I did!

This is a very creepy and disturbing tale of a young woman who has given birth to twin boys. She is convinced someone tried to take the babies in hospital and is still trying to do so even though there wasn't any evidence to support this. I was never quite sure whether Lauren was suffering from psychosis or if there was a threat to her children. A very enjoyable if uncomfortable read at times.

Little Darlings is a genre I don’t usually read but I was drawn to the story especially as it was set in Sheffield which isn’t far from my home town. The main premise is the suspected kidnapping of identical twins. New mother Lauren Tranter is exhausted yet she knows what she saw that night in hospital room was real. Someone tried to take her babies but no one including the police seems to believe her. A month later and there’s another incident. The babies have disappeared and although they’re returned there’s something not quite right about them.

I found this book to be compulsive and although it wasn’t a massive page turner for me, I still found it compelling. It moved at a nice pace and was well written.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

I had heard so much about this book that made me want to read it and not want to read it so much that I was a bit apprehensive when I started it!

Anyone who has been a new Mum knows how emotionally drained and vulnerable you are after giving birth. Add in that the birth was also traumatic and to twins, and you will understand that Lauren is not in the best place when she starts to feel that her babies are under threat.

This book combines psychological thriller, police procedural with an added supernatural element and does it well.
Creepy, atmospheric and with an excellent cast of characters, this one is definitely a page turner and a brilliant debut.

Wow. What a novel. Had me hooked from the start. Loved the juxtaposition of the supernatural with the mundane day to day investigation that ran alongside. Kept me guessing right until the final pages

After giving birth to her twin boys, Lauren Tranter is exhausted, but when a woman tries to swap one of the babies, she knows she didn’t imagine it, but no one will believe her. Just a month later her babies disappear while she is out meeting friends, she knows this is linked to the incident at the hospital.

A terrifying scenario and if you’re a new mum this would probably give you a few sleepless nights.
This story is super twisted, creepy and completely gripping.

From the initial description, Little Darlings appeared to be a chilling thriller about a mother’s fear as she is convinced her newborn twins are in danger. Instead what you get is a creepy tale about changelings, folklore and mental health.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the realistic but heartbreaking look at postpartum depression/anxiety, a topic which I believe is not talked about often or openly enough. The author captured the raw and terrifying emotions experienced by Lauren in such a believable way that you couldn’t help but feel for her.
What I didn’t like was the folklore elements. Normally I’m a huge fan of fantasy and folklore but reading these parts left me confused about the type of book this was trying to be. Maybe the book was supposed to leave you feeling unsettled and confused and if that was the aim it certainly achieved that.

Initially I felt a connection to Lauren’s character as a mum of twins. The depiction of daily life with two little babies to care for was accurately portrayed. However I could not understand why she allowed her [insert swear word of your choice] husband to behave the way he did. What an absolute idiot of a man who did not deserve to have Lauren or the twins. He was obviously well written though because he constantly annoyed me!!

Unfortunately although the writing and pacing were good I wasn’t sold on the changeling element of the story. Instead of keeping me engrossed, it made me want to skip passed those parts to find out what was really going on. Was this all in Lauren’s head or was it really happening?

Overall this book missed the mark for me. Although I was initially interested to see how the baby snatching story played out in the end I was just left a little disappointed.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ My rating reflects how well the topic and subject matter was handled.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (HQ) for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.