I do like a book like this.
Throwing in some fairie folklore,the nasty sort that steal your babies,not all that tinkerbell nonsense.
Also throwing the reader into doubt as to if our main character is actually nuts,or there really is someone replacing her babies with changelings.
Logically she's just sleep deprived,possibly suffering from after birth trauma... I was fairly traumatised by some of the hospital stuff myself.
But near the end you have to stop and rethink.
I have to be honest,the whole flirty journalist seemed a pointless side story.... but not enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the book

Oh boy, this was one scary scenario. With echoes of Grimms Fairy Tales, ‘Little Darlings’ will probably give you sleepless nights along with the protagonist!

It’s the wee small hours of the morning on the maternity ward, and even though she’s exhausted, Lauren Tranter lies awake, already worrying about the responsibility of looking after her newborn twins Riley and Morgan - like any new mum she has concerns about her new role in life, keeping these little ones safe and well. Little does she know that her role as guardian will be challenged that very night, when she encounters a dirty, smelly disheveled woman who attempts to steal her babies. Lauren is convinced that she wasn’t dreaming, and slowly but surely she enters a nightmare world where she tries to impress on those around her that her children are in danger, but no-one believes her, not even her husband Patrick.

After a panicked phone call from Lauren to the police reporting the attempted abduction, hospital security guards are soon on the scene, but find Lauren locked in the bathroom with her babies and no sign of an intruder. She couldn’t have imagined it could she?

Eventually the case comes to the attention of Detective Jo Harper who starts to see some truth in what Lauren is saying, but this won’t be an easy case to crack, venturing off as it does into the realms of the supernatural!

This was a well written, though unsettling read, as it relies heavily on folklore and fairy tales of the darker kind. The author did an excellent job of portraying a post natal woman on the edge - very little sleep, a husband who shows no inclination to share responsibilities, and appears to care little about her well being. Add to that her fear that someone is out to steal her babies, and it’s not difficult to feel deep empathy with her. Though there was something of a slow start, it soon picks up pace and let me just say, it doesn’t get much creepier than this! Not something I’m likely to forget in a hurry!

Wow this book gave me the creeps and made me very glad i don't have children or are expecting. It's every mother worse nightmare to lose their children or nearly lose them. So many times when i was reading this i was convinced it was all in Laura's head only to change my mind a few pages later. This is definitely the kind of story which is going to stay with you for days and days after you finish the last page.

Wow. This book was so good. I can understand the suggestion this could become one of the most talked about books of 2019. It’s certainly up there in my best books read list.

Apparently screen rights have been acquired for the story too. It would make a brilliant TV drama or film, which ever it’s to become. I could possibly be tempted to watch, but for me nothing ever quite matches up to reading the book.

There is an excellent foreword from the author Melanie Golding to introduce the reader to some of the folklore behind her idea for the book and as you come to the beginning of each chapter there is a poem or small piece taken from related old fairy stories and folklore relating to Changelings.

I read the book description and anticipated a good psychological thriller. What I didn’t expect was for it to also be a police detective story. I’m not keen on them and never read them so at first I was a bit disappointed. However the female police detective Harper, who was central throughout the book was acting mostly in an unofficial capacity and was more emotionally involved. I grew to quite like her and a further book perhaps covering her back story would be really good.

I don’t want to say much more about the story as the book description says all a potential reader needs to know. The premise is that Lauren suffered a psychotic form of post natal distress and that would be the rational explanation. However I loved the ambiguity, there was always that doubt even at the end, was there something supernatural at play? It makes you wonder? I’d describe it in part as a psychological thriller as it really does play with your mind.

On the other hand looking at it as a story of a new mother of twins suffering what must be a frightening condition – Puerperal Psychosis, then my heart goes out to mothers who suffer this form of post natal illness and their families too, it must be incredibly distressing for all concerned.

All in all a tense, emotional read that kept me interested right from the first page to the last, with a set of really interesting characters and a fascinating subject.

This is a stunner of a book! I’d heard so much about this and I couldn’t wait to read it! Creepy as hell I loved it! Thank you for the chance to review it.

The premise of this book hooked me in before I even read the first page. A new mother of twins becomes convinced that someone is trying to steal her babies, but no one else believes her. Playing with sinister fairy tales and folklore, sleep deprivation and mental health, this book is creepy and a little too close for comfort. The mother, Lauren, is a character I rooted for. I think the experience of that newborn fog, where sleep is snatched and life becomes disjointed is well portrayed, as well as the isolation and feelings of failure. Her fear and confusion are palpable. I also liked Harper, the detective who is drawn to the case for her own personal reasons and who, like all good fictional detectives, isn't afraid to bend some rules to get to the truth. This is a well-paced story, which kept me turning the pages until the end...and has not helped the sense of unease I always feel around reservoirs!

Although this book was well written, mainly from Lauren, the mother of the twins, point of view, I just didn't seem to be able to get into it. The background of the policewoman, Jo, seemed superfluous to the storyline - although I understand that some of her past had a bearing on her present of course. I am not a mother myself, but I don't think this had any bearing on my enjoyment of the book.

I certainly questioned whether Lauren was experiencing Post Partum Delirium or whether she was, in actual fact a victim of 'changlings' - and I kept on guessing. I would have liked another chapter at the end to wrap the book up as it felt a bit unfinished to me.

All in all, I didn't hate it and I didn't love it, which was a shame as the premise of the story was excellent.

Wow what a book, i started it last night and almost had to carry on reading rather than sleep. It is a book which you don't want to read because it's too chilling and you also don't want to read it as you don't want it to end! This book captured me in the first two chapters. This morning I immediately picked it back up to keep reading. I'm thinking surely it can't be true, there is a simple explanation but no I'm drawn in again. Loving the characters and really love the determination of the police detective. The plot is brilliant and the twists leave you surprised and even chilled. You definitely won't want to stop reading, such a good book.
Totally a 5 star book. Highly recommended

A mother’s love and a fairytale of sickening proportions.
Excellent!


4/5

Wow I was blown away by this book. It’s gripping from the first page and full of twists and turns and some frankly horrible and scary old folklore and stories that will have you questioning what is going on at every step.

I really enjoyed reading this debut novel. I am so thankful to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read tin exchange for an honest review. Melanie Golding has done a really good job creating this debut novel. It was fantastically written, mainly from Lauren, the mother of the twins, point of view. As a mother myself, I identified with some of the post- pregnancy thoughts and feelings of exhaustion that Lauren experienced. You just can’t help but sympathise for her.

Little Darlings was inspired by dark fairy tales and atwin folk tales, frequently referring to tales of changelings; children that have been secretly substituted by fairies and elves during infancy. The storyline made me question whether Lauren was in fact having a psychotic break due to postnatal depression or if there was in fact a figure after her twin boys. I even thought I had guessed it, with Lauren having a split personality! This is a reason why I thoroughly enjoyed the book, that it kept me guessing right until the final chapter and didn’t give away too much too soon. I would have liked a ‘one year later’ type of chapter just to wrap up the novel entirely.

The storyline included Jo Harper as the reliable policewoman; it dipped into her past slightly, as well as looking at a blossoming romance. Although these were nice personal touches I am not completely sure the purpose.

If you’re looking for a twisty, creepy read, this is definitely a book for you. It is not too dark or disturbing but still provides an airy atmosphere. It is an enjoyable read, especially if you enjoy myths and folklore. I’ve included a link to twin folk tales at the end of this post if anyone is interested in further (creepy) reading materials,.

Little Darlings is available for pre-order now on amazon, released 2nd of May 2019.

This is one of my 2019 recommended reads. I have awarded Little Darlings 4 / 5 stars!

Little Darlings, Melanie Golding.

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult)

A fabulous read, but if like me you're easily spooked please don't read at night! Its not scary per se, but scary for the possibilities. Chillingly unsettling in its supernatural potential rather than chillingly terrifying.

When we first start, I wasn't enamored of Patrick, he says the right things but I didn't feel he really believed them. I felt he was selfish, and the further into the novel we got the more I disliked him. That's just a personal view, I'm not saying he was bad, irresponsible, or had anything to do at what had happened, but I just did not like him. Hearing events via Lauren made me feel sympathetic to her, and of course fully believe in what she is saying. Is she really seeing that though, it it really happening as she describes or is it some form of post natal depression or something similar?

All the way through the novel we get events through Lauren's eyes and then via other folk, showing maybe what she is seeing is the truth, or maybe she is imagining seeing things, and I veered from one thought to another, wondering just which one is right. Were the twins singing at just five weeks or was it her imagination? Its so cleverly done that as a reader I just didn't know.
Then there's Jess, the police officer, the history of events in the area, Natalie, so many possible explanations and the easiest one for Patrick, the hospital and the police is that she's imagining it brought on by stress, tiredness and possible health/child birth complications.

I tend to want definite answers and in this novel there isn't one. How could there be though when no-one really knows what did happen? Its a very ambiguous ending, just as I was believing one thing once more the temptation of another version being correct raises its head. Its not the ending I like, but it is the perfect ending to this story.

 Stars: Five, an amazing, brilliant debut novel, perfectly written, full of suspense and suggestions, leading reader one way then pulling them back the other. I really had no idea by the end which version of events was true. Chillingly suspenseful, and a thoroughly absorbing read.

ARC via Netgalley and Publishers

A real page turner hard to put down as you just want to know what happens!
A twisted tale based on an ancient fairytale. Quite disturbing to read at times but easily relatable.
A new mum of twin boys gets sucked into a world she doesn’t want to be in and the only way out is to do the unthinkable.
Not quite the happy ending I was hoping for and lots of unanswered questions remain.
Well written, full of suspense and drama.

I do love a story based around old myths, tales or legends so was very intrigued when I discovered Little Darlings is just that. I didn’t know much about the myth that this book explores: Changelings. It turns out there is much folklore about the idea of babies being stolen or switched just after birth. So your baby might physically look the same but actually have the soul of another baby, or be switched for a completely different baby – a fairy or some other creature. Pretty sinister, right? Quite a few of the chapters open with a selection of these tales to really help this theme cement in your mind and show just how creepy they are. An example: ‘The Nickert is a small gray person that lives in the water and has a great desire for human children. If they have not yet been baptised, he will steal them, leaving his own children in their place.’

These were the stories that inspired Melanie Golding to write this book and I have to say, she takes the mythology and weaves a brilliant contemporary tale. Lauren Tranter gives birth to twin boys, Morgan and Riley, but while recovering from the birth in hospital she is convinced that a woman has sneaked onto the maternity ward and is trying to swap her babies with Lauren’s. Once she leaves hospital, her fears don’t dissipate and things really ramp up when her babies are abducted.

Alongside Lauren, we have another lead female character, DS Joanna Harper; the detective working on Lauren’s baby abduction case. She is strong, likeable character who is the perfect reliable narrator contrast to Lauren’s unreliable one. This dual point-of-view while the plot reveals itself really keeps things exciting.

I often read Little Darlings (digitally on my phone) while rocking my baby to sleep in the evenings, which made the whole topic of babies being switched or stolen even more visceral, as it really is an indescribable fear. I was very impressed by how this novel captures the struggles of early motherhood – from the simple things of trying to pack a nappy bag and get babies ready to go for a walk to the massive, massive psychological change you go through when you become a mother. You need so much help and support in those early weeks, so it didn’t help matters that Lauren’s husband was basically a dick. His self-involved, churlish behaviour actually made me very angry and I felt for Lauren so much, ‘He didn’t care about her. He only cared about himself. Her heart sank, a dinghy with a bullet hole, and the boys felt it.’ Lauren is under a lot of pressure and what Little Darlings does so superbly is continuously ask the question: Is Lauren suffering from very real and scary postpartum psychosis or is something / someone really intent on stealing her babies?

Little Darlings is Melanie Golding’s debut novel and is a sharp, unsettling, creepy tale that had me questioning what was real or not the whole way through thanks to its clever structure and execution. It’s published in May 2019 and I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy!

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding is a thriller based in folklore. It was creepy and unsettling and kept me up late to finish it.
Lauren has just given birth to twin boys. She is woken up in hospital by a strange woman who tells her that she wants to swap her twin babies for hers. Lauren is able to get the woman out of the room and calls the police. Nobody believes Lauren and think that she was hallucinating because of the drugs the hospital had given her.
When she is discharged from hospital Lauren thinks she sees the woman outside her house and calls the police again but the only person to take her seriously is Detective Harper who decides she will look into this case. Then one day when Lauren is at the park she falls asleep and when she wakes the twins have gone. They are later found safely but Lauren is convinced they are not her boys.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of this book.

Read it one day. To be brutally honest I found it a little boring, the whole changeling thing has been done before but much better and far more creepier. Maybe my tolerance levels of being "creeped-out" is far more higher than others who have reviewed and felt it was creepy................

The perfect read for Halloween. This book had plenty of creepy moments but the characters brought a level of normality to the story too, I found it was well balanced between reality and the prickling of the supernatural.

The story starts with the birth of twins but unravels into a story of betrayal, hallucinations and fear. Who is this devious river woman? Is she real or a manifestation caused by puerperal psychosis? I loved the folk lore that was presented at the start of the chapters, this provided a fascinating insight into changelings and faeries and the stories shared by our ancestors. It added an extra layer of atmospheric tension to the story.

I am not usually a fan of supernatural stories but I’m still not entirely sure if this was one or not, very cleverly thought out!

I felt this book was a little slow to start but then the more I read the more I couldn't put it down. .
It's dark and chilling, so many questions!! Fantastic though, left me unsettled but I loved it! Recommended

I liked the way this book left me feeling that so much was unanswered, or rather that there were several possible answers. I don't want to leave spoilers but there are two questions I would love to ask. I enjoyed the possibility that this could be a psychiatric issue or a supernatural one. Liked the story and enjoyed all of the characters. Finished this yesterday and today I am still thinking about it. That's a great read when that happens. Will recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank goodness Melanie Golding gave up her previous careers to write this debut novel!

While I found this book a bit slow in the beginning, the pace picked up once more characters got introduced and the story began to unfold, leaving me unable to put it down.

Genuinely creepy and brilliantly written. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC. I would highly recommend this book.