While the folklore element, particularly the selkie myth, adds an intriguing psychological layer, this book ultimately didn't work for me. The story dragged on far too long, moving at a snail’s pace with very little happening to keep me engaged. Despite the promise of the plot, it never fully delivered, and I found the characters underdeveloped and, frankly, irritating.

The police procedural aspect was unrealistic, and though I enjoy supernatural or fantasy elements, they need to be executed well, which this wasn't. While some readers might appreciate the eerie, chilling atmosphere, I couldn't connect with it. Ultimately, I gave up before reaching the end, as it felt like it was going nowhere.

Despite its potential, this one missed the mark for me.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller with supernatural elements, which was quite different to anything I have been reading recently. I thought the folk tales about selkies fitted in well with the more usual domestic noir/psychological thriller elements, and it made for an intriguing and original story, which was paced well and had characters I found myself really caring about.

“The Replacement” by Melanie Golding is a haunting and atmospheric thriller that ensnared my imagination from the very first page. Let me share my personal and positive impressions of this captivating novel:

In a small seaside town, one dark December night, a little girl is found abandoned. The local authorities believe it’s an innocent case of a toddler running off, but there’s more to this mystery than meets the eye. Enter DS Joanna Harper, a character I’ve grown to love through Golding’s previous works. Harper’s headspace is a funny, cynical place, and being in it is a delight.

As Harper investigates what appears to be an attempted homicide, she uncovers a web of secrets. The discovery of children’s toys in the apartment of Gregor, a seemingly single man left for dead, raises questions. But it’s the revelation of Gregor’s secret family that adds layers of intrigue: his unusually silent daughter and his mentally unstable wife, Constance. Constance insists she is descended from the mythological Selkies, and she begs a young girl named Ruby to help her find the sealskin Gregor has hidden—a key to her return to her people.

Golding masterfully blends folklore-inspired elements with modern twists. The tension builds as Ruby’s involvement becomes clearer. Harper, torn between her career and her estranged daughter, chooses family—a powerful theme that resonates throughout the novel.

“The Replacement” is a bitingly unnerving story that explores motherhood, myth, and the shadows that linger in our lives. Golding’s powerful imagery and captivating characters make this book a gripping read. I eagerly await more tales from DS Joanna Harper’s world.

Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me at all. It was far too long (13hrs 🤦‍♀️) and it really moved at a snails pace with not much happening to keep the listener engaged. I can’t say I really cared for any of the characters. If anything I found them annoying. It felt like they could have done with more development. The storyline itself had promise but it just never got to that point. I found it unbelievable from the police procedural side to the Selkie portion of the storyline. I do like a supernatural/fantasy storyline but it really needs to be executed well. I really wanted to give up on this one but I was to far in an you know ‘unfinished business’ 🤷‍♀️. I was thankful when it came to an end.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheReplacement

A great book which is well written. It kept my interest from the beginning.
It is full of twists and was intriguing

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

These are two seemingly unrelated events.

But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing connections between the two incidents start to surface, and suddenly it’s not clear where the danger truly lies.

She must find out, and quickly.

Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it’s too late…

A gripping read.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Thank you Netgalley and HQ for an absolutely brilliant read.
One of the best books I have read this year and I don't know why I have waited so long to read this - can't blame the pandemic as I was working!
I want more by Melanie please.

This is the second book but can be read as a stand alone. It was an ok read but not my usual genre with the reference to the Folklore and Selkies.

I loved this book! If I knew it was a folklore story it probably would have put me off, but I so enjoyed this story.
Kept you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
A great read, thank you x

For some reason I got accepted for this book twice (since there is two book titles)

I had the audiobook for this. I found myself captivated throughout.
I was trying to figure out just what was going on. Is this supernatural? Is it not?
The mix of mythical selkies woven into this story adding another layer to try and figure out.
With multiple layers of this mystery I just couldn't figure out the direction that this was going to go. Which I loved. The unknown
I was on the end of my seat trying to work out where the story was going.

I loved the author's debut novel Little Darlings so was looking forward to reading The Replacement. I love police procedural novels and so for me some aspects of the novel worked and were enjoyable. However, the folklore aspect and introduction of selkies didn't work for me alongside the crime element. I like the author's writing style and was compelled enough to finish but this isn't a genre I can relate to or recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

It's my fault for not reading the summary of this book properly because if I had, I'd have come across the bit about the mythical / fairy tale aspects of the story and they wouldn't be so much of a surprise. That aside, the book wasn't that believable and I wasn't a huge fan of either of the main women. There were some gripping moments but they were few and far between, and I skipped over the mythical sections because I really didn't like the mix of myth and reality.

I didn't hate the book but I wouldn't be in a rush to read another book by Melanie Golding.

I loved this original mix of folklore and police procedural. It starts with a small child wandering alone and the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. However, only twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up. She’s panicked and distraught. but It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way. Just miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive. These are seemingly unrelated events, but as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing truths start to come to light. There’s a connection between the man and the mother and child, and suddenly it’s not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it’s too late…
I loved the way Golding mixed the legends of selkies with the investigation. This was recently done in The Blackhouse by Carole Johnstone. Golding does this in such a confident way that the reader doesn’t pause to wonder or disbelieve. We just go along with it, as we do with the east uses o.f magic realism. This touch of magic allows the writer to explore motherhood in a totally different way. It’s dark and evil in parts. I found my trust in some characters questioned. My sympathies wavered throughout as the writer wrong - footed me more than once. I loved the settings, particularly the coast of the Hebrides which felt wild, unknowable and ancient. By the ending I was so drawn in, that anything unexpected didn’t faze me at all. I was hooked on this book from beginning to end!

Really enjoyed this book and the folklore elements. Gripping and a struggle to put down. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

Great book ! A child is found alone, the local shopkeepers call the police and minutes later, the child's mother appears in a state of panic. Explanations are excepted and mother and daughter are reunited.

In another case a man is discovered in a bathtub injured but alive.

DS Harper the main protagonist investigates and connects the man to the mother and child, and the plot thickens.
Wont give too much away as the ending is a shocker.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.

Loved it, really good fast paced thriller full of twists and turns and had me racing through it to get to the end!! Will look out for more from the author…

A competent mystery with elements of mythology. I was not convinced by the character of DS Harper who kept going on wild goose chases to protect her sister\daughter. Thanks to netball and the publisher for the arc.

I have not read anything like The Replacement previously, and I was intrigued by the mythology aspect of this. However, I have concluded that this genre is not for me. Unfortunately, I found this element unrelatable and unrealistic, which doesn't work for my reading preferences.

The focus on the relationship between parents and their children appealed, and I found the writing style of this author to be gripping and curious. I did enjoy the duo timeline and the twists and turns of the plot. There were a few that were unforeseen, keeping me engaged and interested.

I will read more about this author in the future. However, this will be dependent on if there are any mythical components to these new books.