When the skeletal remains of a child are discovered on a building site, reporter Kate Waters, sensing a good story, is determined to gather as much information as she can in order to get exclusive copy for her newspaper. However, the case is complex and as the story progresses it just gets more and more detailed with lots of twists and turns. Told in four voices, we hear from Kate, Emma, Angela and Jude who all have stories to tell and my goodness what a complex web their stories uncover.

Both complex and fascinating , I really enjoyed all the twists and turns in the plot and found that I was constantly trying to second guess what was happening only to have the story veer off in a different direction. Suspenseful all the way through, with concise chapters which make for easy reading this is another great story from this talented writer.

The Child is the second book in the Kate Waters series but can be read as a standalone story.

The Child by Fiona Barton has an intriguing setup—a baby’s skeleton is found on a construction site, leading to a mystery that unearths old secrets. However, the book doesn’t quite deliver the punch readers may be expecting. The story that unfolds is predictable, and the twists feel tired and standard rather than genuine surprises. The characters, while interesting enough, still manage to come across as flat and don’t develop as much as many readers would expect.

Overall, it’s a decent read but doesn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re a fan of the genre, it might hold your attention for a bit, but it doesn’t stand out in the crowded field of thrillers.

The child by Fiona Barton.
Kate Walker series book 2.
When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it's impossible to ignore.For one woman, it's a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her.For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered.And for the third, a journalist, it's the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth.The Child's story will be told.
I really enjoyed this book. Brilliant read. 5*.

Omg talk about a roller coaster read wow this book kept me on the edge of my seat threw out I just couldn't put it down this writer keeps you hooked and once your hooked your not letting go I found this book thrilling the characters were fantastic and well thought out and the little clues all the way threw keep you guessing until the end this book stays with you long after you close the book this book is well worth the read I promise you wont be disappointed

I have to say that Ms Barton is on of my favourite authors, she writes a decent psychological thriller. If you decide to read this then make sure you have the time and quiet to dive right in there and lose yourself.


Read for an honest review. Thank you Ms Barton, Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers

Absolutely fantastic novel by Fiona Barton!! Really brilliantly written, great characters, thrilling plot... kept me turning the pages!!

A body of the newborn child buried decades ago is find. Might it be Alice, taken from the hospital some 40 years ago? But then, why there is more than one narrator? Which story or stories will the bones tell?

This is the second one in the Kate Waters series, yet it can be read as a standalone novel.

Most of this book is witty and intelligent (which is not the same and often you find the first quality without the other and vice versa!). I very much like the good psychological thriller and this one has that quality. This is a story well-built - and it is built for us slowly and from many angles. I love how the authoress works with the atmosphere and with the details - a clue here, a mention there. And the reader slowly and slowly makes - and changes - the story in their head (almost) till the end.
But the ending somehow breaks the quality of the story for me. There are final clues hidden till the end - and they might make for the wonderful ending. But the clues, while they might be good for any less quality novel, feel too forced, too easy for me. I was used to the smart process of the novel - and here, at the ending, I felt a bit played.

But now I very much want to read "The widow", previous works of the authoress, which is said to be smarter! I am quite curious!

I loved Fiona Barton's debut, The Widow, so I was keen to read her second book, The Child. With short, punchy chapters alternating between voices, The Child is a very quick read and difficult to put down. Even though I quite quickly worked out where the story was heading it didn't detract from my enjoyment.

I love the link to The Widow via Kate Waters, the journalist who has a nose for a good story. I particularly enjoyed reading how Kate worked and felt that she was a journalist with a heart who not only cares about getting a good story but she cares about the subject she is covering. It enables people to open up to Kate in a way that protects her integrity and shows journalism in a good light.

The other three voices belong to Emma, Jude and Angela. Emma is a young woman with a troubled past and a strange relationship with her mum, Jude. Meanwhile Angela is still reeling from the loss of her newborn daughter, Alice, stolen from her hospital room when Angela popped out for a shower. Angela is convinced that the bones of a baby found on a building site are those of her daughter, Alice, but nobody will listen to her except Kate. Kate thinks she's on to the story of the century until another mother claims that the bones belong to her baby. Just who's baby is it?

The Child is an easy, albeit slightly predictable, read that I devoured over a 24 hour period. It's not going to appeal to those readers who love a massive twist that they didn't see coming, however, it's a well-rounded emotional book that touches on some dark topics with subtlety and respect.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed the Widow so bought this book as soon as it was released. Luckily it didn't disappoint. It was a well-written and engaging thriller that ended with a bang.

Enjoyable enough but, as with The Widow, it lost me a few times during reading. I found the plot long and drawn out, more for padding than to add anything to the plot. The switching of characters points of view and timelines meant I couldn't develop any empathy with any of them. Not a fan I'm afraid.

I read Fiona Barton's debut novel 'The Widow' last year as it was selected for the Richard and Judy bookclub and I enjoyed it.  It was okay, I didn't expect the ending, but I wouldn't say that I loved it.  'The Child' however, blew me away.  I had no clue how the book would end but then was ridiculously frustrated for not working it out.  A thoroughly engaging story!

When I finished Ms Barton's first book, I couldn't wait to start this one, and I was not disappointed! The book was well written, and I honestly say I did not expect the twist towards the end of the book. Or more than a twist, an interesting reveal. Well done, can't wait for number 3!

An enjoyable thriller that started slow, but picked up to be a page turner worth reading.

Oh. My. God. This was GOOD. Switching narrative between four women to reveal the secret of a baby found buried after decades, this was not only taught and chilling, but emotionally fraught and involving as well. Throughout the book, I felt I got to know all the women – though I particularly liked Kate, a seasoned but ethical journalist. The first to pick up on the story, I liked how involved she became with the other women in this book, driving the narrative forward and allowing us to get to know them with empathy and sincerity. I kind of worked out the plot twist pages before it was revealed, but even then it came as a punch to the stomach and took my breath away. The Child isn’t just a thriller with a shocking secret, it’s about the long lasting effects of trauma on a person and their relationships. I thought it was fantastic.

The Child

Although I enjoyed Fiona Barton’s first novel, The Widow, I enjoyed The Child so much more!

The Child is told from four different perspectives and we find ourselves in a tangled web of secrets and lies. This is a highly emotional and gripping book with twists and turns that will keep you glued to the pages. Four stars from purplebookstand.

Multiple stories running parallel to one another until at some point they converge in an amazing, unpredictable way. This one absolutely lives up to that! It’s told from the POV of three separate women. You know they’re going to cross paths in some manner….you just don't know when or how. That's the beauty of this book! Kept me on my toes and in the dark throughout most. The atmosphere here is suspenseful, loaded with heavy emotions, and addictively readable. I couldn’t put it down. The short chapters really worked with this novel also!

Once again Fiona Barton produces a spectacular thriller. The characters were so well written. How she made the lives of 4 women intertwine was just amazing. I hated Angela and Jude. Everything about Jude made me want to slap her. But thats part of what made this book so good. I cant wait for the next book by Fiona Barton.

I just couldn't engage in this book. The characters seemed weak and confused. So sorry

Sometimes it pays to persevere with a novel. At first, I struggled with The Child, I couldn’t form an attachment to any of the narrators, even though the tale did intrigue me. But suddenly it grabbed me and I was hooked.
Kate, who is the journalist who featured in the authors previous book The Widow, is back and keen to get a story to attach to the child’s bones that were found on a building site. Along with a photographer and a trainee she starts to delve. The changing methods of journalism were demonstrated well, how online 24-hour news has had a significant impact on printed news and the affect that it has had on jobs.
The narrative switches between four narrators. One of them was Kate who I liked a lot more in this novel, she came across as much more compassionate and less of a newshound. Out of the other three, one was utterly repulsive. Cruel, selfish and bitter just about begins to cover it. I won’t reveal their name but will leave you to make your own mind up.
My favourite character was Joe, the trainee. I hadn’t expected him to be so trustworthy and keen to help and he was quite refreshing with his ability to charm those around him. I hope that both Kate and Joe will appear in future novels together.
It’s a different type of crime novel, it focuses more on how the media approach an investigation rather than the police and once I put aside my feelings towards journalism I enjoyed it.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received

Loved The Widow & The Child is just as gripping. Great holiday read