This is a very clever mix of folklore, thriller and police procedural. The story slowly reveals its secrets, which are satisfyingly twisty. Great characters.

This was a slow burner for me, a book where I am not convinced I will keep going and suddenly I find I can’t put it down. The links between characters are quickly established, although we are drip-fed further information about their relationships as the book goes on.
When Ruby spots a beautiful man doing yoga by his window, she is instantly entranced, and when she bumps into him on a tram, she starts a conversation in the hope they can get to know each other better. He introduces Ruby to his daughter and her mentally ill mother, who believes she cannot leave to return to her home because he has her coat. Gradually we come to see that all is not what it seems.
This is part police procedural, part psychological thriller and part shape shifter in genre. A thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing book, which had me thinking long after lights out each night. Highly recommended.

A brilliant story. Nothing like I've ever read before. Dark, creepy and mysterious. Highly recommended xxx

The replacement was definitely not what I thought it would be, but I have to say I did enjoy it. Not only does it have a classic detective edge to it but there is also a mythological element to it which I wasn’t expecting, but some how it worked, and I really got swept along with all the characters, Melanie Golding has delivered another winner.

Very enjoyable read. Melanie Golding has produced a story with many twists and turns. Is it a Psychological thriller, is it a police procedural or is it a novel about difficult family relationships? I think it covers all three. I found it easy to believe all bar one of the characters in this book which has a thread based on ‘selkie’ folklore.

What a read. Totally gripped from first to last page. Ruby, a loner living in an apartment building meets the charismatic Gregor who lives in the block across from her. After seeing a woman in Gregor's window holding a child Ruth starts to question his interest. in her although he assures her that the child is his but him and Constance are no longer together. Gregor is handsome, charming and attentive but as time passes secrets, truths and .loyalties emerge all leading to danger and mis-trust.
This book is truly gripping and the reader is drawn into fantastically written folk-lore tale which is sinister and dark. Well done Melanie Golding for writing a really deep but heartfelt story of two very different women who are brought together from different worlds.

For me this book just didn’t do it. I found it really difficult to get into and quite slow until I was over halfway through it started to pick up some pace.
Some of it seemed a bit far fetched and some of it was interesting but it didn’t excite me.
The blurb didn’t live up to the hype for me unfortunately and I only finished it because I hate leaving a book unfinished but it did require some effort.

Sorry but this one was just not my cup of tea. Thought premise sounded good but the reality dis not live up to it. Too much folklore for me throughout.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I loved Melanie Golding's previous book and this one didn't disappoint either. It kept me gripped all the way through and was a heartbreaking read in parts. I loved the way the selkie myth was woven into the story. A spell=binding spooky thriller, perfect for the autumn.

This book just did absolutely nothing for me. I was a huge fan of Little Darlings a couple years back, but while this too contains some of the same magical realism elements, it wasn't as impactful. The protagonist was tough to like-- not in a complex, interesting way, but in a silly frustrating way. I will check out future books by Golding but couldn't get into this one. By the end, I was skimming just to finish.

This was a highly original thriller with a folklore twist that made for a unique and unusual read. Told primarily from the viewpoints of Ruby and her DS mum Joanna Harper we discover why their relationship is broken and the lengths Joanna will go to protect Ruby especially when she discovers she is caught up in a violent crime. Starting with a missing child whom Ruby claims as her own we follow the story both from that point and looking back at the peculiar relationship between Ruby and the child’s parents. What follows is a very twisty story which pushes Ruby’s incredulity and gets increasingly more disturbing as it unfolds. The characters are very complex and unpredictable and the storyline makes for compelling reading.

Thankyou to # netgalley for sending me a copy of this fantastic book to read
A wonderful compelling story starts with a little girl standing alone abandoned outside a shop the shop owner rings 999 but the mother turns up flustered and distraught that her child Leonie has wandered off again the social worker interviewed her but agrees no more intervention required and let’s them go it is after all right before Christmas.
Meanwhile Detective Jo Harper is pulling a man who they thought was dead but is still apparently alive out of a bathtub he has had the back of his head badly bashed in and their is a child’s cot in the apartment and they find cctv in the apartment of a woman leaving with a child who matches description of Leonie exactly
How are these two crimes related? Prepare yourselves for a fantastic read that takes you from past to present from folklore to real time policing I thought I had it all sorted but I was wrong !!

A magical mystery story of Scottish folklore and mythical sea creatures. It takes a bit to get into it but then it is really captivating. Who is Gregor and why is he living in such mysterious circumstances with Constance and Leonie. Who can you believe.

Really loved this book , it was such a different read from usual books I have read but from start to finish I didn’t want to leave it down , through out the whole book there was so many twists and turns and I love a book that does finish well and everything is explained at the end but still leaves a little bit of mystery and things you didn’t see unfolding. Would recommend this book for a really good read.

Loved this thriller and the folklore mixed through the book, the character development with several twists kept the story interesting. Would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc.

This is my first Melanie Golding novel. I really liked her style of writing and the way she built up her characters.
When a lost child walks into a shop the police and social services get involved. The childs mother soon turns up and claims the child but is it really the childs mother? This psychological thriller has some twists and turns which I always love in a book. There is also a fantasy element to the book involving 'selkies' which come from ancient folklore. I found this interesting too as I had no knowledge of these before. I also like the build up of the story of the tow 'sisters' relationship and how the family the dynamics had shaped their lives. There was also a horror aspect to the story which made it all the more exciting. I would definitely like to check out other books by Melanie Golding.

I absolutely loved this book! I really enjoyed the way the author weaved a folktale throughout the story, combining it with a modern day setting.

Part mythology, part mystery thriller, part police drama The replacement is the second book featuring DS Joanne Harper. I hadn't read her debut novel Little Darlings but easily managed to read this as a standalone. The story is told from multiple POV's, the past and now and is extremely fast paced keeping you hooked from the beginning. I won't repeat the blurb or add spoilers but I'm now going to read Little Darlings because I enjoyed this book immensely. Looking forward to more from the author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

After reading her first book Little Darlings which literally blew me away, I could not wait to read her latest. Wall I can say is that this author has done it again. A mixture of folklore and original crime. Hooked from the first to the last page. I was captivated with the whole storyline. Beautifully written, emotional and heartbraking. Full of twists and turns and packed to the rafters with tension and suspense. I have shouted at the characters, have been constantly holding my breath and willing a good outcome. This book deserves more than five stars and the way this author has the knack of merging these genres so seamlessly it makes the reader believe that anything is possible. Loved it!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A good storyline but I found it a bit slow going.
The story is based around a little girl called Leonie and her mum Constance. Leonie is found alone in the street and the story continues from there.