The Replacement by Melanie Golding is a slow burn, intriguing thriller inspired by Selkie folklore. Whilst I found it a little strange at first it did give a refreshing feel to the thriller genre.

I did find it a little slow to start and was constantly wondering what on earth was going on and where it was going but around the halfway mark I was addicted and really enjoyed the second half of the story.

I thought the characters were really strong in this book and really liked a lot of them, even when they made terrible decisions. And the bad guy is a real bad guy! I really enjoyed the ending and the realistic epilogue too.

This is definitely one I'd recommend if you're looking for a thriller with a side of mythology and I'm looking forward to reading Golding's previous book, Little Darlings which I've had on my kindle for far too long!

Well written and dark crime thriller.

I loved the setting and this gives the book a stand out eery and powerful feeling.

The themes throughout are well handled and weave together well.

Do you like your thrillers interwoven with some folklore? Then you’re going to love The Replacement by Melanie Golding. This book is so good at blending the line between reality and myth, so you’re questioning if characters are deluded or if we’re witnessing something a little special. And that’s what gives The Replacement its charm.

The Replacement is set in the modern day, primarily in Cleethorpes and Northern England, but one of our lead characters, Constance, claims to be a Roane, or Selkie. From Scottish folklore, a Selkie is a seal woman who needs her seal-fur coat to be able to go back into the sea and, in Constance’s case, return to her Scottish island home.

So how did Constance lose her coat? Well… she met a man called Gregor who definitely isn’t all he first seems. Gregor and Constance have a young daughter, Leonie but she has never left the small flat she was born in as her birth wasn’t declared and due to Constance’s claim to be not quite human, Gregor keeps them under close watch.

He befriends a woman who lives in the block of flats opposite, Ruby. He trusts Ruby to help Constance look after Leonie, so they all soon become good friends and Ruby develops a maternal bond with Leonie. She provides the presence that Constance finds difficult, as she yearns to be somewhere else.

Ruby soon realises things are a little strange and events cumulate in Ruby seemingly kidnapping Leonie on a cold winter’s night… all with Constance’s blessing.

The police are soon on the case and DS Joanna Harper is our lead detective. The thing is, as the clues reveal themselves, Joanna realises that she has a very close connection to the main suspect, Ruby…

I enjoyed how within the fast-paced thriller plot, the idea of motherhood is explored through the three women in this story too. From reluctance to estrangement, longing and protectiveness, they all have a unique approach that really shapes who they are as characters.

Along with the cracking main plot, I really wasn’t expecting the second storyline around Gregor and that really added to the excitement too!

Little Darlings was the first book I read by Melanie Golding, which also wove myths into its narrative – changelings that time – and the emotive and atmospheric tone that I loved there is also present here. The Replacement is a little more in thriller territory, with a high octane finish that meant I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

The Replacement by Melanie Golding
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. However, 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 bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Instead, 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 connects 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.
The Replacement is an original mixture of the Selkie
legend, Police procedures and psychological thriller.
The story gradually reveals its satisfyingly twisty secrets. In addition, the author created great characters.
It is a fascinating, enjoyable, engaging book I am happy to recommend.
I want to thank NetGalley, HQ and author Melanie Golding for a pre-publication copy to review.

The Replacement

Joanna has a complicated life. Things with her family are strained, her sister is ignoring her & she is dedicated to her job as a police detective.
Ruby is a bit lost. She spends her nights awake playing her violin and her days sleeping. She is lonely. Her only friend Sam lives incommunicado on a canal boat. Then she meets Gregor - equally socially awkward as Ruby and she feels she’s found a kindred spirit.
Constance is agoraphobic. She can’t leave her flat. Which means neither can her toddler Leonie. Constance believes she belongs to a community of Selkies (seal people) and she longs to return to the sea.
Gregor is security conscious, nocturnal and ultimately a bit of an odd fish. He has also just been found in a bath with his head smashed in.
I wasn’t aware of the folklore edge to this book when I started reading it, and usually anything a bit far fetched isn’t my cup of tea. But I actually really, really liked this book. The story was full of twists that kept me guessing, characters as skeptical as I was and some lovely scene setting. Just bought the author’s first novel as I enjoyed this so much.

(Also published as "The Hidden")

A woman living a solitary life finds connection with a man living in the apartment block overlooking hers. Everything is not as it seems though, and Ruby finds herself tangled up with his secret wife and child who seem to have an unnatural connection to the sea.

This book so seamlessly weaves in the mythological elements into its regular mystery it was thoroughly enjoyable. It was so subtly woven in you could almost miss it, or doubt yourself for catching it at all-much the way something like that might present in the world around us. So that was really well done.
The overall mystery then, was full of twists and turns, and had me enthralled throughout. Golding built a lot of intrigue into the plot and its various characters, with rotating POVs and timelines.
The back and forth between past and present helped keep the narrative moving and prevented it from dragging despite a long build-up and focus on charaters' past actions that led them to where they are in the 'present'.
The twists just kept on coming and even the ones I thought I had seen coming had a little bit extra to keep me on my toes.

A perfect dark and brooding read for winter nights with just the right balance of twisted human nature and uncanny mythology.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

One dark December night, in a small seaside town, a little girl is found abandoned. When her mother finally arrives, authorities release the pair, believing it to be an innocent case of a toddler running off.
Gregor, a seemingly single man, is found bludgeoned and left for dead in his apartment, but the discovery of children’s toys raises more questions than answers.
Every night, Ruby gazes into Gregor’s apartment, leading to the discovery of his secret family: his unusually silent daughter and his mentally unstable wife, Constance, who insists that she is descended from the mythological Selkies. She begs Ruby to aid in finding the sealskin that Gregor has hidden from her, making it impossible to return to her people.
DS Joanna Harper’s investigation into Gregor’s assault leads her to CCTV footage of the mother-daughter pair from town. Harper realizes she knows the woman almost as well as she knows herself: it’s her estranged daughter, Ruby. No matter the depth of Ruby’s involvement, she knows she will choose her daughter over her career.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

DS Joanna Harper is called in to investigate when a man is found close to death in his bathtub. It is unclear whether this is a suicide attempt or attempted murder. During the investigation, she discovers a link to what seemed like a straightforward incident with a child who had run off from her mother at the seaside. As the pieces fall into place, it becomes clear that something much more sinister is behind this series of events...and it looks like the truth is closer to home than Joanna wants to admit.

When I read the synopsis for The Replacement, it sounded like the typical type of thriller mixed with police procedural that I normally enjoy. However, as I started reading, it didn't take long before I realised that this story was much more unusual and the questions began to arise as to whether Constance was descended from the mythological Selkies.

The use of folklore in contemporary thrillers is probably my favourite trope, and The Replacement is a perfect example of how to blur the lines between supernatural occurrences and reality. I spent the majority of the book wondering what was real and what wasn't... how much of what was happening could be explained by logic, thinking about the characters' mental and psychological state of mind or whether I should suspend my belief and go with the possibility that this mysterious being might actually be real.

Even though this might sound bizarre, it was written so convincingly that I was completely blasé about the fact that this character might have been living proof of a mythical legend. The darkness and the tension shone through and created a truly atmospheric and surprising narrative. Perfect for fans of Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley, The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths or The Seven Doors by Agnes Ravatn.

I jumped at the chance to read this as I loved Little Darlings by the same author, despite reading it a couple of years ago, it’s still a book I often recommend – creepy, unusual and unique and the same can be said for this, although perhaps less on the creepy side and more full of suspense and thrills.

This is a thriller which keeps you on the edge, reading late into the night. There were things I didn’t expect, then pieces gradually dropped into place, which explained them more. I enjoyed the details of the crime investigation and the police officers themselves who were involved; the facts and the pace of the case and the way it developed and evolved kept me hooked.

When we meet the first characters I made some assumptions but, changed my feelings the more I read and the more I knew. I loved the character of Ruby, she always surprised me and grew on me so much. I liked how as the story developed around her my view of her changed so much.

There are elements of this which could come across as strange but, when you read it it does all fall into place and I like the way the author lets us interpret things as we want to depending on how you look at them.

I’m not sure that I’d have picked this up to read if it were by an author unknown to me, if I knew about the unusual folklore inspiration but, what I enjoyed the most is that I just didn’t know where this storyline would go and it’s because of this creativity that I let myself go and found myself completely captivated. I enjoy a book where I have absolutely no idea what will happen!

An unusual crime and folklore combination which works, despite sounding an odd mix. Unexpected but, completely gripping and original.

I should have guessed that things wouldn’t be what they seem but, I’ll be more ready next time, Melanie Golding, and I can’t wait!

A twisty noir that weaves legend and reality into a compelling tale that menaces and mystifies. The relationships are complex and form the basis of this story that defies belief. The protagonists are easy to empathise with, and this keeps you turning the pages. The chapters are pacy and absorbing. An authentic police investigation conducted against a network of strong emotional bonds and powerful unseen forces makes this story appealing on many levels.

Strong female relationships, mystery and myth deliver an addictive reading experience.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Folklore? Check.
Selkies? Check.
Amazing writing? Check.
Did I love it? CHECK.

The start of the book sees a little girl being found by the police in a seaside town after being abandoned, a woman, Ruby, claiming to be the girl’s mother arrives and tells the police that her daughter ran off and she had been looking for her. The police at the scene decide to let the two of them go without any further questioning… but was the women really the girl’s mother?

Detective Joanna Harper is called to a crime scene where a man, Gregor, is near death in his bath, but the strange thing of it all is that the bedroom is filled with children’s toys but there’s no child in sight. Where did the child go? Could it be the little girl that was found abandoned in the seaside town? Joanna seems to think so.

Ruby strikes up a friendship with her neighbour Gregor. Gregor lives with his daughter Leoni, and his ex Constance, and Gregor tells Ruby that Constance is agoraphobic and they’re only together because of Leoni. The more time Ruby spends around Leoni and Constance, the more Ruby things that Gregor might not be who he says he is… so exactly who is Gregor?

Why did Ruby pretend to be Leoni’s mother? Why did Constance and Leoni leave the house? Who tried to kill Gregor and why!?

What an absolutely fantastic book, I love books that involve Folklore but I hadn’t really read all that many with Selkies involved, this book thankfully changed that for me. This was a bit of a slow burn but not necessarily in a bad way as the story kept me gripped throughout, I think it was a personal preference for me to have had things happen quicker than they did, but only because I always want to know what’s going to happen and I’m impatient…

Melanie Golding has wowed me again with her new novel.
I must admit I took a long time to get immersed into this book and in all honesty I nearly put it aside on several occasions in the beginning. Trying to pinpoint why and it may be that there were several people and instances revealed early and all seemingly unrelated, so I was trying to get my head around that. But at a point about 1/4 of the way in things changed, it all clicked and the pace significantly changed for me.
Once again the author has written something completely different from your usual psychological thriller. Interspersed with folklore of Selkies, I found this fascinating and once I was involved it certainly kept me on my toes.
I’m so glad I kept reading and I think this author will become and auto read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read

Two seemingly unconnected incidents at the start stumble upon some horrifying situations. A book with so many twists and unexpected outcomes. The folklore element fascinated me. So unusual but totally gripping. I wanted the book to last forever.

I really enjoyed this book. Just when you think you have a handle on it, the story changes and you think “ah ok, I know where this is going” only to find it changes again. Great plot, the story flows well. Definitely recommend this one, thank you #netgalley

2.5 stars. I really struggled with book unfortunately. It just did not keep my interest, I found it confusing and did not really like any of the characters. The folklore theme just didn’t interest me. Sorry

I’ve enjoyed other books by the author and knew I had to read this without even reading the blurb. I have a fondness for books about selkie and the like. There’s something I find really appealing about them. I didn’t even know the book would include elements of myth, legend and folklore until I started to get into it. This is nothing like any book I’ve red before featuring similar myths and I was impressed by the way the author blended folklore and a thriller. I didn’t want to stop reading. This is original and well written.

I enjoyed Little Darlings when I read it a couple of years ago. I described it as creepy and chilling, harrowing and heartbreaking - and I think I can re-use that description for this book too.
We start with a little girl lost in a seaside town. The Police are called but not long after they arrive, so does the mother, claiming she's a bit of a runner and dashed off when she took her eye off her for a moment. The authorities, already pretty stretched, let the pair go on their way, without digging too deep into them.
Meanwhile a man is found in a bathtub. It appears that he has been hit and left for dead. But who he is and what happens baffles the police. Specifically Joanna Harper, who has more issues when there's a connection to her estranged daughter Ruby. But the man is lying in hospital unconscious so she isn't getting any answers there. There is however evidence of a child having lived there.
And so begins a fantastical, magical story, the bones of which I am going to leave you to discover at your own leisure, and as the author intended.
I was a step ahead in this book as I am familiar with the Selkies. Wonderful mythological creatures who are definitely worth finding out more about after you've finished the book. I was captivated by the way the author wove this into the rest of the book with the police trying to figure out the attack on the man. The inclusion of Ruby and Joanna's dilemma did flummox me a bit as it threatened her very being, as well as her job, but the author did manage to rein it in and bring it to a mostly satisfying conclusion. Not sure what fallout Joanna will have in the next book but I'mm quite interested in finding out.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book, kept me on the edge of my seat and was so happy with the outcome. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book. 😀

I really enjoyed this authors last book, so was looking forward to reading this one.

When a little girl wanders into a shop alone on the Cleethorpes seafront, the shopkeeper calls the police. Not long after they arrive, the little girls frantic mum turns up claiming the little girl is just a bit of an escape artist and had ran away from her again, the police consult social services and agree to let her go.
Elsewhere, DS Joanna Harper is investigating the case of a man being beaten and left for dead in a flat, but something doesn't seem right. When links start to come up between the two cases, Joanna uncovers a secret that may jeopardise the entire case.

Told across two timelines and from two separate character perspectives, this takes a little bit of concentrating, but it is very well-written and fans of this authors previous book, Little Darlings, may recognise DS Harper. It was nice to revisit and get a bit more of her story. I also enjoyed the addition of the mythical selkies and although it can make it feel a little far fetched at times if you don't necessarily believe in that kind of folklore, it gives it a very atmospheric and mysterious feel that really suited the story. I flew through this book in just over a day as it was so easy to read and I really wanted to know what was going to happen!

Recomended!

This was my first book by this author and read very good reviews of her books.
The blurb sounded exciting and I loved the first 25% of the books. Unfortunately it became repetitive and the elements that sounded so interesting were absent.
It's not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine