Cover Image: The Hidden Child

The Hidden Child

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Member Reviews

For someone who loves true crime ,I never once heard anything about this case ,and I tend to read , listen and watch a lot of true crime books, to shows and podcast. I don have to say that at first I was a bit confused about what was going on but that's on me since at this very moment I'm sick with a head cold but once I re started the book and started to read it as well as listing to it been read by text to speech on my Kindle ,I started to understand what was going on, And while the story is upsetting and emotional as well, all I could think was man these people was sick, and could there be more victims out there that was never found. As for the story it's the author did an amazing job bring both the story and the characters to live which in some cases is hard to do especially when it's based on a true crime ,I tend to find these types of stories hard to believe but this this one showed how far the author went in her research to bring not only the characters to live , and her story but also the victims themselves and the darkness's that was inside the killers. By the end of the book I was glad they got stopped but I was also sad because of what they did to their victims and mad that it took the police that long to catch them.

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I received an early copy of this book to review, and was excited to read it. I am somewhat familiar with the Moors Murders and heard that this book was loosely based upon them.

This book was not an easy read for me though. The content wasn’t difficult, it was just a chore to slog through. I found myself constantly looking at the status bar to see how much I’ve read, and how much I had to go.

The ending buttoned up much too neatly for any kind of plausibility, although it’s nice. I’m glad I finished the book but I wouldn’t recommend it to friends unfortunately. It just lacked suspense in my opinion.

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This is a story based on true facts around the crimes of serial killer Ian Brady and his girlfriend Myra. I did not know it was about them in the beginning. I was very young when it happened and because I don’t live in the UK, I did not really know much about what they did.

I first read the book and afterwards I went to look them up on Google. I disliked them both in the book, but when I saw their pictures, I am very happy I never met them. The look they have in their eyes really made my shiver.

Of course the author describes their character and it’s very clear they don’t have any grain of empathy in their bodies. Maybe, that’s not quite true. Myra loves her dogs, and Ian? Well, Ian only loves himself very, very much.

Most characters in the book were not very loveable or even likeable. There was one exception though. I loved Fred. I think he was the youngest, but the most mature and most honest person.

I enjoyed the story, but sometimes it was a bit too slow paced for me with too many descriptions.  4 stars

Thank you

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Inspired by the true crime story of the Moors murders, The Body On The Moors Rebecca Griffiths mixes fact and fiction together to create an unusual and original crime mystery. Against the backdrop of true events, young Kathy Openshaw vanishes when she’s left unattended in her mother’s car. Ronald owns the Black Fell Farm on the infamous Saddleworth Moor. The farm holds his darkest secrets which have laid buried for years. The couple’s stories intertwine with those of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, creating a tense fuelled mystery.

Brady and Hindley committed the most heinous crimes, so I admit I picked up this book with a great deal of trepidation. But I’m glad to say the story’s emphasis is more on Ronald and Connie, Kathy’s mother. Brady and Hindley feel more like peripheral characters, but never the less the authors’ portrayal of Hindley and Brady will send shivers down your spine. They add a genuine sense of menace to the overall plot. The Body On The Moor has an intriguing concept that’s well executed. The author has blended fact and fiction into a credible story that captures the reader’s imagination from the off.

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In this interesting book about six degrees of separation and lost chances, the reader is never sure which character their rooting for- Ronald or his brother, Kathy or her grandmother, or Connie? As the story progresses, we learn that we've been lead to make assumptions about each, and as we learn more about them, our trust in them changes. Soon it's worry that Kathy may be in a worse spot than before and that Ronald's brother will self-destruct, but will he? Things are never what they seem in this book about the lies we tell ourselves and others, and how they lead to lost chances and regrets. Don't pass up this page turner!

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This an extremely well written fact/fiction book that I personally have found difficult to review. I lived in the near vicinity to where these atrocities took place, actually knowing people involved in the case, atrocities that have stayed with many of us over a long period of time. Although the storyline is excellent, I found it hard to mix the fact with the fiction and it would have sat more comfortably with me if two of the main characters had not involved the real life murderers. However I have to review with an open mind and I think most people will really enjoy this book from this talented author. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

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A story based on a horrible true story of two cold blooded, sadistic murderers who tortured and killed
young people as they took pleasure in the killing and how the sudden disappearance of seven year old
girl triggered the hunt for not just her, but then all the people who had disappeared over the years in
this area without a trace.

Manchester 1965 an urban setting. Connie is a single mother, careless and indifferent to her daughter
Kathy. Kept inside a car while her mother and boyfriend are in a pub for hours on end Kathy opens the
door of the car and wanders towards the sound of lambs bleating inside a lorry. This is the beginning of
Kathy's adventure and disappearance.

Simultaneously Ronald and Tom two single men run a farm on the far moors. Isolated and desolate they
harbour a major secret of their own and for this reason eschew any company. The appearance of Kathy
on their farm like an apparition becomes the focus of Tom's life and even Ronald though he knows, he should
inform the authorities keeps Kathy protected and guarded as she obviously has been physically abused by
her mother.

Alongside these stories, is the one of Connie now bereft of her daughter, her partner chief suspect in
the missing girl and her world disintegrating into pathos and guilt. With the help of cheap whiskey and
Valium. Her friend Myra is suddenly totally different, crude and wicked and Myra's boyfriend Ian is even
more so. Connie was a naive, simple girl who could not read characters or behavior very well and who
accepted everything at face value.

The setting of the story alternating between urban Manchester and the isolated moors could not be more
of a contrast for this fast paced thriller. Some of the coincidences are too good to be true, but the
story holds your interest throughout.

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A gripping read and at times, incredibly tense. It has a slight edge to it given its roots in a true horrific story, but is a really good read,

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I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed the mix of fiction and reality, and I would recommend this book.

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I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did; I read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. The blend between fiction and true crime was well-executed and engaging. If you have not read about the Moors Murders, I suggest you go in blind as it will add to the suspense. I had a vague recollection of the case from a podcast I listen too, but not enough details were clear in my memory to interfere with the book.

Because of the brutal nature of the real criminal inspiration for this book, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to stomach the story, but the book is more about the fictional mystery than the details of the horrendous crimes committed by Brady and Hindley. It still comes with the trigger warning of child abuse, domestic violence, and murder.

I deducted one star only because I started to get impatient with the pace of the novel around the 50% mark (thats pretty normal dor me), and at times I felt the bouncing back between timelines a bit confusing.

This was my first book by Griffiths and I will be looking to read more

Thanks to Netgalley and bookouture for the free digital copy in exchange for a fair review.

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It is now in England 1965
And little Kathy Openshaw is in the car with her doll
Her mother Connie arranges to meet Myra and Ian
But when she gets back to the car she finds out that Kathy has gone
Where has she gone
I had an ARC

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Set in 1965 Manchester, England, a mystery unravels when Connie Openshaw comes back to her car to find that her young daughter, Kathy, has vanished. In an area with multiple other disappearances, Connie faces denial and harassment while coming to terms with her mistakes. Meanwhile, Ronald navigates running his solitary farm that holds dark secrets of his own. Connie and Ronald's lives are about to intersect in a disturbing and unforeseen way. Based on the Moor Murders, this is a thriller/historical fiction that will capture your attention throughout.

I did not read much into the background of this story before reading the book. I liked going in blind because I was unaware of any names or events. It felt very thrilling and I would recommend, unless you already know the background, to go in blind, too! Although the first chapter was very difficult for me to get through because the dialect is so different from the way I speak, it got easier to understand as it went along. Griffiths does a fantastic job of interweaving separate storylines and keeping you on your toes. I appreciated the twists and cliff hangers at the end of chapters that kept me wanting more.

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Secrets. .Everyone has them. Some are life changing. Some are deadly.

I am a huge true crime fan, and this novel by Rebecca Griffiths, is based on a true crime story from the 1960s...The Moors Murders. A truly engaging read...I couldn't wait to find out what the secrets were, and how things would shake out once they were revealed...and read it in one day. This was a quick read, told in mostly chronological order and by location., over a several month period. The location and characters were very well drawn; I felt as though I knew, and despised, many of the characters, and could feel the cold, damp, wide-openness of the moors. I would highly recommend this for those who are fans of true crime, mysteries, British crime, and family dramas.
Thanks to #NetGalley for a digital ARC of #TheBodyontheMoor The opinions expressed are my own.

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Secrets don’t always stay buried…

Read if you like:
Crime thrillers
True crime
Historical mysteries

I would call this book a slow burn mystery. I was so anxious to find out what happened to little Kathy. There are some twists that I absolutely couldn’t have guessed! This book is inspired by a true story which makes it even more haunting!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

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The story is inspired by the true life crime of the Moors murders and the author weaves chilling facts as well as fiction into her story.

Manchester 1965. Kathy Openshaw is left in the car with her dolly while her mum Connie and her boyfriend Fred drink with Myra and Ian. Myra questions Connie leaving her daughter in the car especially with the recent child murders. When Connie and Fred eventually leave the pub Kathy is gone and Connie is besides herself with worry.

Her mum, Kathy's gran is devastated and goes out leafletting in the local area. She bumps into an old friend, Ronald Cappleman who lives at the home farm on rural Saddleworth Moor with his brother, a one time boyfriend of hers.

Ronald gets a unexpected visitor and who are the weird couple who seem to like to spend time on his land? He's got secrets of his own and likes people to stay away. I found the story twisty and thought the author had portrayed the evil Myra and Ian well. I recommend it.

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The Body on the Moor by Rebecca Griffiths is based on a true story, the moor murders of the 1960s. This was an interesting read and was well written. Thanks to Netgalley for this arc.

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I found The Body on the Moor interesting and liked that it was inspired by a true crime. The story is written well and contains some good twists for an enjoyable read. The author did a good job bringing these events to life on the pages and weaving a strong plotline. I would read more of her books.

#TheBodyontheMoor #NetGalley

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A well written murder mystery that although entirely based on fiction is woven with some facts from the notorious moors murders.

A harrowing vivid engaging read that is disturbing in parts but you can't helped to be gripped a very talented author.

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Absolutely loved this twisty, cozy mystery. Well worth a read for the gorgeous settings and intriguing premise.

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3 stars
Not at all what I expected. I do feel there is a audience for this book. It is not for me. Thanks for the ARC of this book.

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