The Wrong Child

When three month old Max is abducted, his parents are thrown into every parent’s worst nightmare, even worse that their baby is unwell. Meanwhile baby Blaze is welcomed into the Star family, who will help to be raised by teenage sister Willow. Soon Willow realises that Blaze has become ill and makes her question everything.

I have read quite a few missing children novels now which can get samey, however this one seemed to have a unique twist so I wanted to read. After finishing I can say I am so glad that I picked it up as I loved it…. I would probably go as far as saying it is my favourite book I have read this year so far! The storyline is fast paced, dark and full of suspense. By the final full on action scenes I literally had my heart in my mouth. I was completely gripped to the pages and desperate to see what happened next.

What really made this story exceptional was the characters and their development. The characters were so intriguing. I have never felt myself get so worked up with a character’s actions before and felt so much empathy, which proves how well they have been created. I felt such a range of emotions reading this that by the end I felt like I needed to have a lie down.

The Wrong Child is a collaboration between M.J. Arlidge and Julia Crouch and they have proven to be a perfect pairing - I would love to read more of their joint offerings. I will definitely be recommending this crazy, complex thriller to everyone! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Written by M.J. Arlidge in collaboration with Julia Crouch The Wrong Child plays on every parent’s worst nightmare, child abduction! collaborations can sometimes feel disjointed and the reader can distinguish which author contributed to each chapter. But I’m thrilled to say that’s not the case here! The plot moves seamlessly between parents Sarah and Jake, whose 3- month-old son Max has been abducted. And travellers Jenna and Gary Starr and their daughter Willow who are celebrating baby Blaze becoming their fourth child.

Max has neonatal diabetes, and without regular treatment, he will die. This immediately gives the plot a sense of urgency. Sarah and Jenna are both mothers, but that’s where the similarities end! Jenna isn’t a character you will warm to. She’s manipulative, calculating, and a mass of contradictions. Her parenting skills leave a lot to be desired, but she’s fascinating. Sarah, on the other hand, pulls on the heartstrings and the authors lay bare her every emotion, guilt, anger, fear and heartbreak. I felt uncomfortable reading about the police, media and public perception of Sarah, especially how quick they were to judge, embellish and speculate. And don’t get me started on Sarah’s despicable Husband Jake, he made my blood boil!

Fifteen-year-old Willow has come to the age where she begins to question Jenna’s parenting skills and the
narrative she’s been spoon fed since she was a child. This leads to her making a shocking discovery. What is the truth about her family? And how far will they go to hide their deadly secret? As The Wrong Child progresses, there’s an impending sense of danger and escalating tension. Navigating complex themes such as identity, family, motherhood, and mental health. I found this book to be a cracking read and one I would highly recommend to those who enjoy a character driven thriller.

My review will be shared to my blog closer to publication date
Blog: https://thebookreviewcafe.wordpress.com/

It's every parent's worst nightmare - they turn their back for a second and their baby vanishes, seemingly into thin air. When this happens to Sarah, the whole world suspects her - was she abhorrent enough to kill her own child?

At a caravan park, a new member of the Star family is introduced - Blaze has been adopted after his mother could not cope with another child, so they stepped in to ensure Blaze has a good life. But when Blaze's older sister Willow discovers the truth about who Blaze could be, and that he may need urgent medical attention, she risks destroying the whole family to save one child.

As a huge fan of MJ Arlidge's books, I was very excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! The plot is very fast-moving and I enjoyed every second of reading it. 5*.

A fantastic story that really pulled me in. The characters were great, even those that should have been unlikeable were fascinating. I’d love a follow up to this book to revisit the characters and their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.