Chrissie is only 8 years old. But her parents neglect has left her self reliant, bolshy and at times almost feral....and now she has a secret, one that gives her power over the adults who look down at her for always been hungry and dirty. She's killed a little boy, right under their noses....

Julia is 28, a mother who does all she can to feed and clothe her daughter Mollie. But she lives in constant fear of been discovered for who she once was, of Molly been taken away.....

An emotional read, the writer somehow manages to get us to loathe and pity Chrissie in equal measures. Julia's guilt and fear is palpable in every sentence. I found myself close to tears several times.

I received the audio version of this from Netgalley, the narrator Kristin Atherton acts out every part excellently....sometimes a little too well though! Her rendition of a toddler who shouted all the time was a bit too good and had me reaching for the ibuprofen. It was like been back at soft play again!

An excellent debut that stands out from other psychological novels.

I really loved this audiobook! In this psychological thriller we follow Chrissie, a young girl who has just killed a little boy; and Julia, the new identity that Chrissie has been given 20-years later as she navigates adulthood as a single mother.

The depth to this book was stunning, and the writing style so intriguing. It really digs into the impact of parents upon their children, particularly mothers; the impact of incarceration of children and how they deal with returning back into the world. Jumping between the two time periods allows us to uncover what has happened bit by bit, and get to understand Chrissie better, but it never felt too slow or lost my interest.

Very interested to read more from Nancy Tucker.

Wow! Where to even start with this one. I was simply obsessed with The First Day of Spring. Every single part of this audiobook pleased me, the narration was amazing, the characters deep and interesting, the locations I could picture as if I was there. It’s hard to hate Chrissy, I knew I should have a deep loathing for her but I couldn’t help but warm to her as the book progressed. That’s what is so clever about this book, Nancy Tucker is a really clever writer- she clearly understands people and that really shows. Life isn’t always just black and white, sometimes things get muddled so why should a novel and a character not be exactly the same. There where parts of this book where I was horrified and not always by the obvious. A truly gripping read that I can’t wait to see everybody rave about as much as I have.

I’m afraid that once I start with the praise for this book I won’t be able to stop so I’m keeping a tight rein on myself. The narrator did a wonderful job which added to my enjoyment and the choice of narrator can make a huge difference.
The story is fascinating, chilling, amusing and for me totally un-put-downable. I loved it from the first page to the last with not a single point where I lost my enthrall ( I know that’s not a noun but it fits what I want to say). Nancy Tucker has a strange magical skill for making you sure the book just has to be based on her own experiences whilst knowing it can’t be. Shades of Shuggie Bain which I also loved. I greatly admire a writer who can make me completely believe i am hearing/reading the words of a child.
I hope this book is a huge hit and I won’t stop recommending it as often as I can.

Phooey. Where do I start?

I feel mixed up like I’ve something wrong with me!
This is one disturbing book.

The first sentence I was WHAT!
A quarter of the way through I was OH MY GOODNESS POOR LITTLE LOVE ( now that disturbed me) as I’ve got sympathy, understanding and raw empathy with this child who killed someone then as an adult whose hiding this secret.

This is a debut like no other in this subject matter that’s thrown me in circles and bashed me head first into a wall. My thoughts were all over the place.

Childhood is precious.
Yes I know it’s fiction, but could just as easily be fact.

Nancy Tucker is someone I’m keeping my eye on for future books.
I love books that impacts and this certainly did.

The audio is good. Listen to it on normal speed though for full effect.

The narrator did an excellent job, altering her voice slightly for each character without going over the top.
The story itself is extremely sad. A tale of emotional abuse and the consequences that are so far reaching.
Child Chrissy is not a likeable character. A jealous child who kills because she hates the attention given to another. However as the story unfolds you learn that she doesn’t realise death is forever as her father returned after she was told he was dead, as did Jesus. Chrissy is starved of food and attention and those that should have helped her didn’t.
Later in the book adult Chrissy has a child and struggles to hold it together and be a mother. The fear is that she is following in her own mother’s footsteps, or perhaps continuing along her childhood path.
I felt intensely sorry for child and adult Chrissy and so hoped for things to work out for her despite everything. I really loved this book.

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.

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?
Great read and audiobook was an added bonus. Recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**listened to the audio book, and read along with the e-book**

The premise of this book is completely up my street! As a teacher, I'm always fascinated by children committing crime - especially murder. The psychology of a young person, and what makes them commit murder really intrigues me in fiction and non-fiction alike.
Even though the premise was brilliant, I didn't overly enjoy this book.

I found the pacing to be very slow - which I find annoying in a crime/thriller book. I didn't find this book as engrossing as other thrillers, and I found the audio book hard to listen to to as I wasn't keen on the narrator and the accent.
I genuinely feel really gutted that I didn't like this book as it was a book I have been looking forward to reading since hearing about it last year!
I just felt like so much was promised within the blurb, but actually so little happened within the book. The pacing was too slow, and I didn't like the writing style.

It was OK - but just wasn't as good as I was hoping.