Diane’s Book Club chose Fiona Barton’s The Child for their July book. Diane decided she would listen to The Child since our Library had the audiobook version. At lunch time, Diane would set up the SONY boombox and load a CD from the audiobook. The unabridged edition has 9 discs (11 hours).
I was drawn into the story of a construction crew who discovers the bones of a child at the building site. Reporter Kate Waters investigates and wonders if this is the body of a baby that was taken from a hospital over 20 years ago. When the police run DNA tests, they determine the baby is related to the mother who had her baby taken from the hospital shortly after its birth decades ago.
Kate Waters has more than just this investigation upsetting her Life. Her son has dropped out of University and intends to travel around Thailand. Kate’s paper is cutting staff and she needs a Big Story to keep her job. And, as Kate’s follows the clues back into the events in the 1980s, the unraveling of the puzzles start to point to a surprising solution.
I don’t ordinarily read books like The Child, but this mystery kept me involved and…attentive. I was completely stunned by the ending! I bet you will be, too! GRADE: A
Well, it’s a surprise to see this here. Not only have I read it, I’ve read Barton’s other two novels featuring Kate Waters. It’s been a while so I don’t recall plot details, but you’re certainly right about the kick-ass ending. All three of the novels are pretty good, but this is the best of them. Quite a few very good British suspense novelists have emerged in the last few years. Ruth Ware has probably gotten the most attention. Another really good one is Clare Mackintosh. Her first novel, I LET YOU GO, is terrific.
Michael, I’ll check out I LET YOU GO. Diane and I plan to listen to the audiobook of THE SUSPECT by Fiona Barton soon.
I liked THE WIDOW, but I have not read Barton’s subsequent books. Onto the never-diminished tbr it goes!
Deb, Diane and I were riveted by the audiobook of THE CHILD. And, Diane’s Book Club liked it a lot, too!
It sounds like about half the books I read. I am very attractive to bones that need to be identified. Like on Masterpiece right now.
Patti, the whole DNA aspect of identifying bones and body parts has opened whole new plots for mysteries.
Patti, you should read (if you haven’t) Val McDermid’s Insp. Karen Pirie/Scottish Cold Case Squad series. Very good!
Jeff, I have some Val McDermid books on my READ REAL SOON stack.