I was hooked from the first line: “I killed a little boy today”. It sent shivers up my spine because these words are spoken by Chrissie, an eight year old child. She goes on to describe how she did it, and how she felt as the little boy “wriggled and kicked”. Afterwards she went to call for her best friend Linda.

Although I learned how awful Chrissie is, how horrible she can be to her friends, teachers, neighbours, her total lack of remorse, her pleasure at getting away with such outrageous behaviour, I couldn't help but feel so sad for her. She has a pitiful home life with a mother who literally can't stand her, an absent father whom she adores and gives her the one thing she treasures – a marble.

I don't know how she's managed it, but Nancy Tucker has captured Chrissie perfectly. Her speech, her mannerisms, her thoughts are so authentic it's mesmerising. Why did Chrissie murder a toddler? Was it her lack of nurturing? Was she the “bad seed” she'd obviously been told she was? How should we treat children who behave so differently from the way we expect them to?

Many of us are morbidly fascinated by child murderers, and I wonder if the author got her inspiration for this from the true case of Mary Bell who, at eleven years old, killed a little boy.

Later, we meet Julia and realise that this is the adult Chrissie, now back in society, with a new identity. Julia is learning to cope without the security and boundaries provided by the home she was sent to. She now has Molly, her six-year old daughter whom she obviously loves, but tries to keep emotionally distant, for fear of loving her too much only to have her taken away.

I had read this author's earlier book about her struggles with an eating disorder, and was impressed with her writing, but this – this is on another level and whilst it's a shocking subject, it's a compelling and fascinating read.

Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.

Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn't get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.

Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried - about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.

That's when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it's clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.

And it's time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?

Thank you for inviting me on the tour on this one. This was a book that I have been reading on a morning before I start work
Firstly, I must say that this book should come with a warning. It is seriously addictive. I have wanted to be late for work at times as I couldn’t put it down
The author tells the story through an 8 year old. Having the ability to write as an 8 year old and make the reader really think they are reading the narrative of an 8 year old is an amazing talent in itself.
I would urge readers to not be put off by the subject matter and give this book a go, you will be in for a treat!

Dark, disturbing and emotional. A child killing a child. However, as the story is told it is possible to feel empathy with this mixed up child. A dark read but cleverly written to provoke much emotion.

I honestly couldn’t get through this. Idk if it was the writing or what but it wasn’t for me. I
Will try at a later date and see what happens.

Chrissie is eight and she has a secret: she has just killed a boy. The feeling made her belly fizz like soda pop. Her playmates are tearful and their mothers are terrified, keeping them locked indoors. But Chrissie rules the roost -- she's the best at wall-walking, she knows how to get free candy, and now she has a feeling of power that she never gets at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer. Twenty years later, adult Chrissie is living in hiding under a changed name. A single mother, all she wants is for her daughter to have the childhood she herself was denied. That's why the threatening phone calls are so terrifying. People are looking for them, the past is catching up, and Chrissie fears losing the only thing in this world she cares about, her child.

The attention to detail describing specific scenes really made you feel like you were there watching it unfold. Harrowing and heartbreaking. 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.

It is a skilled author indeed who writes a book that has me so wholeheartedly involved, so utterly convinced that what I am reading is true and for me to be able to put myself in the character's shoes although they are not my size! Added to that the person that I was rooting for so wholeheartedly had committed a heinous crime and you can understand the awe I hold this debut writer in.

Chrissie is the main protagonist and for readers in the UK her character can easily be related to that of Mary Bell. This is the second book that I have read this year about child killers but this one looks behind the headlines and describes the life of Chrissie, the life of far too many children, and seeks to explain why and how these thankfully rare crimes may occur.

At the same time as a human there is an absolute abhorrence of the crime, the description of dead Stephen's howl of horror, her absolute grief from that day forward is absolutely heart-breaking too. I cried for many of the characters, good and bad with Linda taking the prize of the friend you would want in your corner!

I don't think I will forget this read in a hurry and while I suspect some readers will be turned off by the subject matter, it is one of the most powerful books I have read in a long while.

Thank you to Netgalley and Randomhouse UK for the ARC

From the first line, this book had me hooked.

“I killed a little boy today.”


I don't think any review could quite do this novel justice.

This novel is extremely thought provoking and emotive. I was never quite sure on how I felt for the main protagonist Chrissie but in the end I came back round to how I was feeling at the beginning, just incredibly sad.

The story itself isn't necessarily a happy one (quite disturbing in places) but by the end I was left with a sense of hope.

Although not for everyone, I think this a rather powerful piece of writing, one that will have you looking for the root of a problem rather.

Is a bad seed born bad or turned ugly by their surroundings and circumstances?

Devastating, heartbreaking, there is no sugar coating from the author in this tale which makes it all the more compelling.

The First Day of Spring is a book that will stick with you long after you've read it. An intense debut that i gripping from start to finish.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Chrissie is eight and has a secret: she has just killed a boy. The feeling made her belly fizz like soda pop. Her playmates are tearful and their mothers are terrified, keeping them locked indoors. But Chrissie rules the roost - she's the best at wall walking, she knows how to get free candy. Twenty years later, adult Chrissie is living in hiding under a changed name. A single mother, all she wants is for her daughter to have the childhood she was denied. But people are looking for them, the past is catching up.


all eight year old Chrissie wants is to be loved. Her mother doesn't want her and her father is in and out of prison.

This story will pull at your heartstrings and the story will stay in your mind long after you have finished it. The story goes back and forth between Chrissie , the girl and Julia, the adult. This is also quite a disturbing read. The storyline made me feel sick at times yet their was something intriguing about it and i couldn't put the book down. The book is descriptively written. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone and the author #NancyTucker for my ARC of #TheFirstDayOfSpring in exchange for an honest review.

"I killed a little boy and it gave me power. It gave me a warm feeling and I had a secret."

Fifteen years later the phone calls begin. Someone knows what she did. She cannot run and hide forever so perhaps she must face the truth.

Dark and disturbingly unique.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever been so emotionally conflicted when reading a book.

The main character as a child & as an adult isn’t likable, and obviously committed a heinous crime, but as the story progressed I found myself unable to remain in one particular viewpoint.

It’s heartbreaking from every single aspect.

Don’t let this put you off, it’s also written well (even if it’s not your ideal writing style, it adds to the overall poignancy)
The author portrays every aspect of the main character to a raw and brutal depth

I have to mention that although there are plenty of triggers, I’m pleased it wasn’t an ‘abuse’ book

Amazed this is the first work of fiction by this author, it’s wonderful- I would love to read more by her

Wow! How on earth can I do justice to this excellent novel? I honestly don’t know that I can, but here goes anyway.

8 year old Chrissie isn’t like most other kids, she’s mean, vicious, and extremely devious, and furthermore, she killed a little boy today!

To give a sense of what makes Chrissie tick, we have to look no further than home - she has an awful home life - a mostly absent father, feckless at best, who turns up intermittently after long intervals, but he doesn’t care about Chrissie (although she convinces herself that he does). Her mother shows no love for her daughter whatsoever, quite the opposite, she doesn’t even provide her with the basic necessities that make a good and loving mother. The cupboards are always bare, meaning Chrissie has to scrounge for food, or rely on invitations from ‘friends’ mothers to stay for meals, and if they don’t invite her, she invites herself, pushes her way into their homes, she feels no embarrassment - hunger sees to that. I actually use the term ‘friends’ lightly too, as nobody really likes her, because she’s so mean and scary, other than perhaps Linda, Chrissie likes Linda the best, though she still kicks, bullies, and belittles her. Chrissie just loves to have power over others - intimidation is the name of the game.

20 years later, after spending time detained in a Secure Children’s Home, Chrissie is living with a new identity and calling herself Julia. She now has a daughter, Molly, but when she starts receiving phone calls that could reveal her past, her worst fears of having Molly taken away from her may be about to be realised, and she feels real fear - possibly for the first time in her life.

Told in turn by 8 year old Chrissie, and 28 year old Julia, this is a stunning read. Though the subject matter is very dark and disturbing, there is also humour in the dialogue, as Chrissie is so outspoken with absolutely no filter, it makes no difference whether she’s talking to other kids or adults, they’re all treated with the same irreverence!

Along with the gripping storyline, the author has drawn such a vivid and chilling characterisation of Chrissie, that she actually feels real, and she’s certainly not a character I will forget in a hurry, and this Ms Tucker, is the highest compliment I can pay you. A powerful, distressing, haunting, but ultimately brilliant read, and so sensitively handled.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this

The book follows the life of Chrissie, an 8 year old child who takes the life of another innocent child. Chrissie seems to enjoy this callous act. But as it goes on we also delve into Chrissie’s home life and the issues surrounding that.

This story was extremely uncomfortable to read, but the way it was written was also excellent. You could really get into the mindset of Chrissie and kind of understand her and her thinking and processing. This is not something I would usually read, and this is definitely a hard hitting read that will stay with you for a long while after you’ve closed the book.

Although I struggle to know what the genre of this story is. I really enjoyed reading it. I read it in one sitting and I found the ending satisfying. I went into the story blind to what it was about and I highly recommend others do the same.

A heartbreaking, disturbing and gripping story. I was hooked since the first pages and my heart broke for the two stories.
The characters are well developed and realistic, the plot flows.
Not an easy read but surely an excellent story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Chrissie is 8 years old and she has just intentionally killed a young child. So starts The First Day of Spring, a harrowing story of how a child can be shaped by their upbringing, and how they can ultimately find a way to live again.
Chrissie lives in abject poverty with a mother who doesn’t really want her and doesn’t care for her and a father who is in and out of prison. She is constantly hungry, abandoned, and left to fend for herself. She has some help from the local community but her increasingly terrible behaviour means that anyone that could help turns their back on her. There is no excuse for the horrific act she carries out but she is so damaged that when she is ultimately found out, sentenced, and sent to a correctional home it is the only way that her future life might amount to something.
Nancy Tucker writes from her own experience of being in adolescent care for anorexia and her descriptions of Chrissie’s time in a Home are vivid and frightening.
The book intersects Chrissie’s story with that of her as a young woman, living under a new identity as Julia and with a child of her own. Her poignant struggle to keep Molly safe and to stop her becoming another Chrissie are heartbreaking yet ultimately uplifting as she searches for redemption.
This is an incredibly well written and thought provoking book. It’s not an easy read and shines an unwavering light on life in poverty and those children that aren’t recognised as needing help, whether by their community, their school or social services.
Thank you to #netgalley and #randomhouse for allowing me to review this ARC

To say The First Day of Spring is exceptional is an understatement. It’s extraordinary for a number of reasons; it’s a debut novel, it’s about a child killer for whom the reader feels empathy and the lyricism of the writing is in a class apart.

The basic story is simple. Chrissie strangles a child. The narrative is from her viewpoint during and after the murder and some years later as Julie, when she’s released an adult with a new identity and a child of her own. Right from the start , I felt echoes of the Mary Bell case, an infamous child murderer from the north east who killed and was later allowed to start a new life with a new identity. It’s a fascinating moral dilemma about the nature of justice, redemption, retribution and much more.

Nancy Tucker opens with an explanation about the voices and her background. As soon as you start reading or listening, you realise that each is very different. Chrissie is the child, living in abject poverty, unloved at home, disliked in school where she takes pleasure in being disruptive and spiteful. She’s hard, cruel and the world as seen through her eyes is graphic. Julie’s voice is more measured, but she’s fearful, haunted by the past and filled with insecurity. The two stories meld to perfection and this is a book filled with powerful imagery which makes it a pleasure to read. I have the book and audio version and the audio narration is superb. It brought everything to life and added to the depth of the characters. I can’t recommend this new voice enough; Nancy Tucker has hit the track running and there’ll be no stopping her.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

“I killed a boy today”
From the very beginning of this book I was gripped! The time shift viewpoints are such an interesting and unique way to tell such a harrowing story. The past and present stories of Chrissie/Julia combine to give an insight into the hows and whys behind a truly traumatic event. At its heart, this is a story of family relationships, and how they impact upon the lives and choices of those who are in negative situations and ultimately how redemption can be sought from the most devastating actions...

The plot of The First Day of Spring is extremely disturbing. It is a well written and compelling story of how Chrissie, a neglected and emotionally abused child, turned to murder. Not an easy subject to read about but Nancy Tucker splits the story well between Chrissie then and now as a young mum. Given the subject matter it seems wrong to say I enjoyed it but I found myself totally invested in Chrissie's life both as a child and adult.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this book.

Wow. A really difficult but amazing read. Chrissie is an 8 year old girl who commits a horrific crime, murder. The story is set between the past showing the murder, build up and after, and also combined with her life now. A really amazing perspective that is insightful. Really wonderfully written.

This is a challenging but rewarding read about Chrissie / Julia who as an 8 year old murdered a toddler. Based on that simple fact you’d expect Chrissie would evoke very negative emotions towards her but reading her story and understanding her childhood actually makes you incredibly sympathetic to her as a character. As an adult with the new identity of Julia she is a single mum to a five year old daughter and you can see how terrified she is of failing her daughter as her own mother badly failed her, she struggles with emotions and although she does love her daughter expressing it doesn’t come easily to her, she doubts her ability as a parent and fully expects to lose her daughter. This is written incredibly well, the characters of Chrissie and Julia are so well formed that you can understand their worlds from their perceptions and really put yourself in their heads, for a debut novel this is phenomenal.