Thrilling novel that kept me reading well into the night. The narrator was unreliable so you were never sure if you believed what was going on or not

I read this book in 2 sittings, I loved the story and it captured me from the first to last page.
The characters were well drawn and engaging , I would not hesitate to recommend this book.

Whilst I did enjoy this book, I was somewhat confused by the title assuming the plot line would lead us down a different route. The book is well written and an enjoyable read.

This is a novel that really got under my skin. Cat Lupo suffered psychosis around her first pregnancy so when a devastating secret about her husband is revealed, it gradually leads to people close to her questioning her state of mind. I loved this novel. It was interesting to be unsure whether Cat was ill again or whether she was right to be so paranoid about what was going on with this child that has turned up in their lives. The tension in this book really did reach that point where I was literally on the edge of my seat reading as fast as I could because I simply had to know how things were going to turn out. If you’ve not already read this, I highly recommend it. I’m already eagerly anticipating what Mel McGrath writes next!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, at first I thought it was going to be similar to others I had read but it wasn't. I was riveted from the beginning and read it in one day.

Brilliant book and a well deserved 5 stars.

This is the sort of book to read when your own family gets too much and we all know that season is fast approaching!

There is a knock at Cat Winter’s door in the middle of the night, going through the possibilities of which family member has had a disaster requiring such an action Cat is wrong-footed when she realises the young child, about the same age as her own daughter Freya, who stands pale and unspeaking, is actually her husband Tom’s daughter. Yes, not the news you really want especially as Ruby’s mother has been found dead and there is no-one else to take her.

Firstly I’m so pleased that the author has a sense of humour about this scenario.

As Tom spoke I couldn’t help thinking just how bloody old and worn and unoriginal the story sounded, a clapped-out tale of a faithless husband led on by some mysterious femme fatale. If you saw it on TV, you’d reach for the remote. This wasn’t us. This wasn’t who we were meant to be. So how was it that it was what we had become?

Her assurance that this was a somewhat overused storyline led me to believe that there was far more on offer, and boy there was. Ruby is a beautiful child but Cat simply can’t relate to her and becomes increasingly anxious about the way she interacts with Freya. This might sound overly dramatic but we know that Cat had some illness that led her to be admitted to a psych ward during her pregnancy so that explains part of her anxiety, the other part is explained by the work Cat does as child psychologist with damaged children, she’s seen the worst that they offer and fears poor Ruby has some kind of personality disorder.

Tom Winter I quickly surmised was not the man you’d want by your side when dealing with life’s daily battles and since he seems to protect Ruby at Freya’s expense the tension in the book quickly mounts and battle lines are firmly drawn.

This is one of those books that you settle down to and enjoy the ride, I don’t usually like the children in my fiction, certainly not ones who are yet to reach their teens reeking of malevolence, but Ruby does but her actions are enacted relatively subtlety and in a way that is age-appropriate which made it all a bit easier to swallow. With new revelations or more the pieces fitting together as Cat digs deep to find out where all the secrets are buried whilst simultaneously trying to keep her own daughter out of Ruby’s clutches this is a fast-paced read.

Although this book begs the question ‘What would I do?’ I didn’t feel with this one that I could realistically enter the game because in my world Tom would pack his and his daughter’s bags and go and deal with whatever seeds he had sown (literally) on his own but that didn’t stop this being a very entertaining way to spend a cold and wintery day.

I was fortunate enough to receive a proof copy of Give Me the Child from the publishers HQ and this unbiased review is my thanks to them.

"Do we get the children we deserve?"

So, do we get the children that we deserve? An interesting question and one that is at the centre of this chilling story. This is so much more than just a psychological thriller, it is 'grip-lit' at its finest, with secrets and lies a plenty. However, in Give Me The Child, the author cleverly and shockingly explores how those lies can impact on children, especially when it is a child who is being forced to lie.

Back to the start then. Dr Cat Lupo and her husband Tom appear, on the surface to have it all. She's a neuro-psychiatrist, working with troubled children whilst Tom stays at home to look after eleven-year old Freya whilst working on designing a complex computer game. For a time, they were known as 'Couple Number One'; attending the best parties and mixing with the elite, until Cat made a huge mistake at work. Coupled with an episode of post-natal psychosis, this is when their life changed and their marriage became stale and unexciting.

Cat would dearly love another child but Tom is not keen. When, early one morning, there is a knock on the door and a small girl arrives, Cat's world shatters. It seems that the girl, Ruby Winter, is Tom's illegitimate daughter, conceived whilst Cat was in the psychiatric ward.

As Cat tries to accept Ruby Winter, she also becomes frightened, and soon begins to fear for her own daughter's safety. This is her story, told in her words against the backdrop of violence on the streets of London which turn to riots and chaos in the city.

Mel McGrath is a clever and astute author who keeps her readers on the edge throughout this compelling and addictive thriller. I was struck by the similarities between the turbulence in Cat's mind and life and the escalating violence in the city, it is very cleverly done and adds depth to the story. The portrayal of Cat's mental illness and how she is perceived because of it is both frightening and frustrating, yet incredibly realistic. It is clear that the author has researched the subject of adolescent mental health issues thoroughly, and there is a constant air of authenticity within the plot, the narrative and the characters.

Give Me The Child has such an original premise, it is complex and full of twists. The characterisation is perfectly done and the riot-torn London setting is superb. This is not just a dark and delicious thriller, it is a book that raises serious questions. It is a story th
at will make the reader think about that question: 'Do we get the children we deserve?'

Give Me The Child

From the first chapter I was well and truly hooked, I finished the book in two sittings!
It's an absorbing and clever psychological that well really does mess with your psyche!!
Full of deceit, manipulation, secrets and lies, Give Me The Child is not to be missed! Five stars from purplebookstand!

I was lucky to be provided with an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is the first book I've read by Mel McGrath - but definitely won't be the last.  Give Me The Child is a standalone psychological thriller that starts with an OOMPH and continues until the very last page.  I don't want to give anything away in my review except to say that if you enjoy twisted, twisty tales with creepy and violent kids, cheating husbands and a dysfunctional family that makes MINE look like The Waltons then you should absolutely read this book.

The story is narrated through Cat Lupo, a neuro-psychiatrist, working with troubled children who has a husband, Tom and an 11 year old daughter Freya.  When the doorbell rings in the middle of the night and an unknown child is brought into their lives her world is turned upside down.  Coupled with her history of mental illness, she begins to question everything and everyone around her.

This is a fast-paced, page turner which kept me guessing throughout.  It was incredibly atmospheric, set during violent riots in Brixton and a flurry of teenage stabbings I could literally taste the fear and panic in London.  A fab book - read it soon!

As insinuated in the title, 'Give Me The Child' is a gripping, fast-paced book, It kept me reading well into the wee hours of the night as I could not put it down. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a tightly plotted multi-layered story. It is very cleverly written and I was thinking about it long after I finished reading the last page.

I've not read anything by this author before and boy have I missed out! Right from the very beginning this book gripped me through so many twists and turns it was impossible to predict where the book was going next and that was great it was just so unlike anything I've ever read before absolutely fascinating and captivating I read it in two sittings, I could barely put it down fantastic book I can't wait now to reach out and find as many other books by the author as I can. brilliant!

An enjoyable read with twist and turns. Hard to read at times due to the medical terminology. A story of a family that at first seems 'normal' but soon turns into a story that at times seems unrealistic and unbelievable. Having said that the book is definitely worth a read for anyone who likes this genre.

Give me the child is a chilling story that keeps you turning the pages.
The story is set amid the riots in Tottenham, London 2011 and gives another dimension.
Caitlin is married to Tom, they have a daughter, Freya, who is eleven. They are the perfect family until one late night there is a knock on their front door, Caitlin thinks it's to do with Toms I'll father but is shocked to find a young girl by the name of Ruby Winter, with the police. They claim Tom is her father to which he admits to a one night stand, Ruby Winters mother has died from carbon monoxide poisoning and has nowhere else to go.
Caitlin throughout this seemed to keep exceptionally calm about this betrayal to which I don't think I would have done. Whereas Mel McGrath has done a really good job with Ruby Winter as throughout the book she is always named in her full title giving you the sense of an aloof child, knows exactly what she wants and how to get it with a eerie edge to her. The story twists and turns and it appears Ruby is harming and threatening Freya but Tom won't have anything to say against Ruby and here the story really turns up a few notches.
This was a suspenseful read with some good writing but it did at times get a bit too medical but I could overlook that as the storyline was so good.
I would like to thank netgalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

This turned out an unexpected surprise to me as when I saw the title and read the blurb I thought I had the story pretty much in the bag, give or take. But, it was much more than I expected.

This is one hell of a dysfunctional family.

Cat is a child psychologist which comes in handy within her family life.
She is married to Tom. They have one child, Freya and at first seemingly look and sound like the average family.

The author soon makes us aware of splits, lies and secrets very early on in the book, but as a reader we are not sure where this will lead us.

Cat has always wanted another child, but she wasn't quite expecting the way it happened.

I won't broaden out more on the story and events or I will spoil it for you.
I will explain though that all is not what it seems and the 'winds of time can change' most dramatically.

Cat is under severe pressure to keep Freya safe and away from harm, but does she succeed?

I can't begin to imagine Cats emotional rolling feelings at the discovery of her husbands infidelity let alone having to house his 'love child' half sister of Freya.

But Ruby is no meek and mild mouse of a girl, there are some underlining issues for sure.
A remarkable impacting story that will keep you turning pages and the ending was just perfect.


My thanks to HQ for providing me with my advance copy

I enjoyed reading this book and appreciate the considerable amount of research that the author must have had to do. The menace of Ruby and the situation Cat found herself in was very well defined. I really disliked Tom from the beginning and had worked out that he had had something to do with Lilly's death which is why this wasn't a 5 star read for me.

Imagine a knock on the door in the middle of the night, and you find your husband's child stood on the door step, a child you had no idea even existed until that moment, well that's pretty much the premise for Give Me A Child. Oh my what a tangled and gripping read this book turned out to be, with unreliable narrators and a dysfunctional family at the centre of this well constructed plot, prepare yourself for a hell of a ride. I do love an unreliable narrator as you are never quite sure what to believe, so I feel I'm always reading such books on an uneven keel, never sure where the author is leading you which I personally enjoy when reading a book.

Mel McGrath has created an array of dysfunctional characters some more likeable that others, but what an intriguing bunch, firstly there's Cat a mother who suffered with mental health issues whilst pregnant, Ruby a child who really unsettled me, she appears to have an aura of malevolence radiating from her which made her a very creepy character. I'm not going to rehash the plot details as all you need to know is in the book description, but Give Me The Child certainly made for a highly original read.

As Cat tries to accept Ruby into her life things take a sinister turn, and it's not long before she begins to fear for her own daughters safety, but have recent events made Cat unstable, or is there something much more frightening taking place? The author expertly weaves her magic, it’s a tale of families, lies, secrets and mental health although they are familiar and often used subjects in this genre, the author has presented the reader with an highly original and gripping plot, which made for a compelling read.

I could say so much more about this book but in doing so I would be at risk of giving away spoilers, what I will say is it's a book with many layers, full of malice and intrigue and utterly terrifying as you are never quite sure where the plot is heading or what's going to happen next. Give Me The Child is very much character led so if you like a fast paced read, this book may not be for you. If like me you enjoy a book that's taut with tension and makes for unsettling read then look no further, Give Me The Child is a book I would highly recommend

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

What a wonderful book; seemingly a long time in development, but all the better for the wait.
I stumbled across MJ McGrath through her High Artic novels set in the Canadian claimed Ellesmere Island. I have always loved her writing and the Inuit detective, Edie Kiglatuk was a delight. The three mysteries have a great sense of place and I wasn't surprised to learn Mel had been there to experience the place for herself.
That she would renage on a trading deal and go off exploring without a guide as a consequence, with just a vegtable peeler for protection is also no surprise. she writes with clarity and insight and has the ability to bring places alive and make historical events real and within one's own understanding.
Give me the child is a book from a closer to home perspective. It is set in London and brings the capital alive like few books I have read. Clearly the writer is at home in her own familiar surroundings and has produced a novel worthy of the current psychological trend in thrillers where family relationships rarely reflect the people you thought you knew.
However, I feel the delays in the novel's creation may be more complicated as the environment was so well known to this London girl. Some of her work promoting other female authors may have left Mel unable to concentrate on her own projects but I think the book itself was harder to write than most and perhaps reveals more of the author's own personality and inner self. At its heart is the tag of a mental health illness that once given is so difficult to live with and find validation apart from that label.
I loved these insights into mental health conditions and how they are used in this story to undermine a young professional woman and place her almost overnight without support or the means to protect her daughter.
I loved the sense of running; the heartbeat of the city and the observations of its rioting when her own situation was unravelling. The book as lots of domestic settings which once a stranger is introduced into the mix the unexpected happens. I loved the character of Cat, her doubts and failings but her strength and love for those who are vulnerable which transform her work and her selfless love to her child.
The story brilliantly brings simple events together and it is good for the plot that secrets are hidden and masked from the reader as well as Cat in her struggle to understand Ruby and her relationship to Freya. At no time does the novel allow you to rest and cruise in your reading once the doorbell rings on the perfect family home of Tom and Cat Walsh.
"People find different ways to unhook themselves from their pain. I of all people know that. Some get drunk, either to forget or give them whatever it is they need to punch out at the first unwitting passer-by; others take drugs, hurt themselves or have sex with strangers."
Clearly Melanie McGrath is a talented writer and the book is not completely auto-biographical as she clearly denied an Artic guide his desired trade. She is evidently at the height of her profession and I hope it is not too long before another book comes to publication.
The author has entered a congested market of familial thrillers and risen to the top; most others will now pale into insignificance and be seen as the inferior products they are. If you have time for one book this summer take this one with you - seriously it is that good.

Ooooo, this was a good one and a totally unexpected one at that! I was gripped throughout this tightly controlled storyline that wouldn’t give me any more clues than it had to and had me gasping out loud at some of the twists when I did finally work out where it was going!

When Cat has a young girl in need turn up on her doorstep one night she thinks that maybe Ruby could be the addition to her family that she has been waiting for. But after discovering some shocking facts about Ruby Winter, her husband Tom and daughter Freya both take to this child in need and it’s left to Cat to be the one who starts to wonder about their new houseguest once strange things start to happen. But Cat has a history that makes her a rather unreliable narrator and her job also makes her liable to look for psychopathic tendencies in children so is she seeing things that just aren’t there?

I read this in just one sitting (no kids so made the most of it!!) as it gradually gripped me until there was no way I was putting this book down! It had something special, an unusually intelligent and well developed storyline that worked it’s magic on the reader making this a psychological thriller worth grabbing with both hands. And for a change it was the kids not the adults who gave me the creeps here! Although not knowing who to trust made me feel incredibly uncomfortable at times and that only got worse the more we found out about those kids! The adults weren’t much better though and both Cat and Tom wound me up right from the start. Tom’s behaviour, especially in the days after Ruby arrived, made me so angry!

This book was a breath of fresh air to me, taking a popular genre and twisting it until it snapped! A tense and traumatic read at times but one definitely worth your time.

A massive thank you to HQ for allowing to be on tour with Mel McGarth and Give me the child.

I absolutely loved this book, and was not able to put it down. From the opening chapter the twists starts and a massive bombshell is dropped on what seems the ideal couple...

This book was a pleasure to read and I would certainly recommend it 4 star from me