Unusual story with good characters who kept it interesting. Not much to go on for D I Harper who struggles to join the dots. A good read.

Let me start off by saying that this book was a wild ride from the start. I was drawn in by the synopsis, which gave me the impression that this was your standard psychological thriller.

Little did I know, there was this folklore/fantasy twist to it that I really wasn’t expecting. I’m not sure how I feel about this unexpected turn of events - the folklore in question is interesting in itself, though I’m not convinced it works well in this kind of book, for me personally.

I’ve been struggling with a love/hate relationship in regards to multiple POVs and I’m really sorry to say that this one was just too confusing for me.

Plus points for this book include the characters who were well written and the length of the chapters kept me motivated to keep reading.

Overall I don’t think this book was really my cup of tea, to be honest and I don’t think I would’ve read it had I known there was folklore amalgamated into this. Folklore aside, I did enjoy the majority of the rest of the contents of this book.

I am giving The Replacement ⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5 stars because unfortunately I just did not enjoy this book as much as I think I would have without the folklore element, but I feel that those who enjoy a hybrid of crime/psychological thrillers and fantasy/folklore would thoroughly enjoy this.

The Replacement was absolutely brilliant and different from other books in the genre.
I was delighted that DS Joanna Harper was in this book, if you have read Little Darlings you will have already ‘met’ her.
I enjoyed the folklore being woven into the intense storyline.
It was quite a sinister read at some points, I was actually scared for the characters.
I think every question I had during the first half was answered by the end and it made for an edge-of-the-seat read, it captured me and didn’t let me go until the end.
A fabulous book, that thriller lovers will enjoy!

Leonie is found outside a seaside corner shop, on a cold winter’s evening. Social Services are called and arrive around the same time as a young woman who is claiming to be Leonie’s mother. Meanwhile, not too far away, DS Joanna Harper is called to the home of Gregor Franks, found in his bath with serious injuries, and close to death. How the two cases are connected is what DS Harper has to establish. However, the case will bring about a conflict of interest for Harper, a fact she chooses not to share with her team.

I was entertained throughout reading this, the book is quirky, original and interesting. The story does jump through the timeline a lot which can get confusing.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I am sorry but I just couldn't get into this book. After reading for 2 hours I had no idea what the story was about. It was jumping around. seemingly about different people but no obvious link.

I enjoyed mels last book and was really excited to read this. Was a good page Turner and I really enjoyed the folklore element to the book. I enjoyed seeing the characters and plot unfold!

Really enjoyed this. A good read, that kept my interest to the very end. Lots of twists and turns.

Like 'Little Darlings', in 'The Hidden' Ms Golding takes folklore and fairy tale and weaves her own story with a darkness at its core. Here it is Selkie mythology that underpins this story, the pace of which ebbs and flows just like the sea. Woven delicately into the ominous atmosphere of the book are supernatural elements that appear at exactly the right moments into what is part police procedural, part exploration of family loyalty, motherhood and the bond between mother and daughter.

Told in a dual timeline, one year apart, we meet Gregor, Ruby, Leonie, DS Joanne Harper and Constance. How they are all connected is slowly revealed, and characters that lured me in reveal their hidden natures. In this story there are some truly devious people and it is not just the Selkies that are more than they seem,

This is a fantastic book and one that will stay with me for some time. I eagerly await Ms Golding's next book, as I have added her to my list of 'must read' authors.

My thanks go to the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

Melanie Goulding adds a unique, folklorish twist to her procedural mysteries which make them fresh and intriguing reads. I enjoyed Little Darlings, and The Replacement features the same detective, this time trying to solve a case which has come very close to home. A seriously injured man, found in a bath full of water; a woman and child who have slipped the net and are trying to stay off the grid; and why was Constance so obsessed with finding her coat? The story was well paced, gripping and fantastical. I will definitely be looking out for more of this series and author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest views

I don't think I breathed properly throughout this brilliantly crafted thriller. So much tension and so many heart in mouth moments!! I loved how absorbed I was in the story.

Highly original and inspired by the folktale of The Mermaid Wife, it shouldn't really work as a thriller. And yet it does, and I really enjoyed the mystical element of the story.

The action centres around a missing woman and child, and a man found barely conscious in a bath. At first there doesn't appear to be a causal link, but it soon becomes apparent there is a lot more to the story than meets the eye.

This is by far one of the best psychological thrillers I've read and I was totally engrossed throughout.

This story is a psychological crime thriller with a modern folklore twisted around it about the legend of the selkies.
You may ask does that even work & yes it certainly does had me hooked all the way through.
It has a brilliant mix of suspense & mystery element to it that is completely engrossing.
So many twists & turns with so much tension & emotion throughout.
Wonderful characters & so well written I couldn't put it down.
Absolutely loved it & would definitely read more from this author.

This was my first book by Melanie Golding, and I loved her writing style.

A little girl is found by herself crying for her mother. At the same time, a man is discovered near death in his apartment. When DS Joanna Harper discovers a personal connection to both cases.

I was very surprised by how Melanie blended folklore into her mysteries. It was atmospheric, suspenseful and very enjoyable. I might be tempted to try Little Darlings next.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

#TheReplacement #NetGalley

‘This book is absolutely brilliant. A mix of a psychological thriller and the legend of selkies, it blends the two seamlessly. The characters were so well written I was completely absorbed. It's one of those books that means anything you read immediately after is always going to fall short. Highly recommended.

This was a combination of a police procedal and folk tale like nothing I have ever read before. Quite fun and I am glad that I have read it. Loved the way everything entertwined thoroughly recommend.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own

This novel starts with the discovery of a seemingly abandoned toddler and, separately, a seemingly dead man floating in a blood-infused bath. Gripped from the start by the storytelling and fascinating plot, it was a pleasure to read and I finished the novel very quickly. The unusual blend of detective novel, family drama and folklore was captivating, though personally I would have liked the folklore elements to be taken further and the crime-plot aspect, which became increasingly implausible and predictable, reduced. Overall, an atmospheric and gripping novel.

A little girl is abandoned by her mother on a seaside town street and a man is found bludgeoned in his bath. At first seemingly unconnected DS Joanna Harper must find the connection and uncover the truth, but is it too strange to be true?

I loved the mix of the suspense and mystery elements with the mythology of the Selkies; it was written in a very believable way that didn't feel forced or fake and brought a new layer of interest a mystery story. The twists and turns kept coming and I was hooked until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel

When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl's mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bath, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive

Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing truths start to come to light that connect the man to the mother and child, and suddenly it's not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it's too late

Many thanks to NetGalley and General Fiction UK for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review

A great read
Brilliant plot
Plenty of twists and turns
Will have you gripped from the start
Thanks NetGalley

The replacement by Melainie Golding.
Ds Harper Investigates the disappearance of a man and child. But they turn up. But is there something linking the man and the child and mother?
This was a very good read with good characters. Likeable story and plot. Hope there is more to come. 5*.

Thank you for providing me with a review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, some nice plot twists, would recommend....