Thoughts on : The Child by Fiona Barton
The Child by Fiona Barton
Genre : Mystery
Stand alone
About the Book :
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.
My Thoughts :
First, I need to say I’ve been sick with a cold for the second time this month, so please forgive me if I get nonsensical or make some typos/mistakes (more than usual)! I’ll try to take it slow.
So. Last year I read The Widow by Fiona Barton, and while it had its flaws, it was a good page-turner that kept me guessing. I was happy to get a copy of The Child and hoped it would be similar – and it was!
First, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Kate, the journalist from The Widow, was returning. I had liked her character before and I was glad to know more about her. This book made her more nuanced, more human. And I really enjoyed the trainee she had with her! It added a touch of fun in a book that had quite dark themes.
Oh, and I should mention : no need to read The Widow before this one, though : while Kate mentions the previous story here and there, the book isn’t a sequel. It has its own story that starts and finishes within the front and back covers.
Other than Kate, we follow the story though the points of view of 3 other women. Why these women are part of the story is a mystery in itself, and I thought they made things more personal than if we’d only discovered the story through Kate’s investigation. I appreciated all three of their narrations and how they built together, like a puzzle.
As for the story, I enjoyed it. The pace was really good, and like in The Widow, the pages went by fast. The nature of the mystery and everything around it was quite dark, but with the chapters alternating from one woman to the other, I generally felt it wasn’t too heavy (still hard to read at times though, of course.) There were also plenty of surprises and twists along the way to keep things interesting.
My main gripe was that, toward the end, I felt things dragged towards the resolution. I think that readers who often read mysteries and thrillers will guess what’s coming easily, and so it may be frustrating when the characters don’t “get it”, you know?
Overall, I felt this was another solid mystery by Fiona Barton. There’s a good mix of investigation and character development, while also offering an interesting story. I think readers who enjoy The Widow will also appreciate this one!
Sounds like a winner! I hope you’re back to normal soon.