A completely unexpected mix of mystery and folklore, the Replacement is one of 2021 must read!
I am still haunted by the pictures the writing created in my mind and spellbound by the beauty of some of them. A powerful story of love which deserves every praise.

I was given an ARC of this story and I really enjoyed its mystery and intrigue.

It's a mix of crime thriller and the supernatural, which works perfectly for the story as a whole.

At first, the mystery was compelling - how could this be true, what was really going on? And then as things were revealed, the pace hastened, and wow, what was going to happen?

The characters were well-developed and certainly interesting - Constance was particularly intriguing. The relationship between Ruby and Jo brought out many issues including insecurity, love and sacrifice. I can't say much more so as not to give away the plot.

Sacrifice was a central theme to the story - no spoilers from me.

Well-written and great storytelling - I would recommend this to those who enjoy crime thrillers with a touch extra.

Let's get this out of the way. I love this book! I've never read a Melanie Golding book before, but my next read will definitely be her <em>Little Darlings</em>. Although I recognise that it will not be to everyone's taste, I loved the blend of the mystical/supernatural and the tension of the investigation in this book, which worked surprisingly well.<br>The character of Ruby was extremely well-drawn and I was completely convinced by her troubled feelings and her love for the child. Constance was more difficult to empathise with but perhaps, without spoilers, that was to be expected. None of the chapters were in her POV which helped to preserve the mystery surrounding her. Joanne was, perhaps, the most complicated character of all as she veered between her emotions and trying to maintain a professional attitude in the police investigation. The villain is suitably over-the-top, almost supernatural himself, so he gels neatly with the plot.<br>The musical references and the snippets of legends are interwoven beautifully and I never, at any time, felt a moment where I was lifted out of the story.
Other readers might find it a bt 'fey' and a little removed from the normal thriller, but I am sure many will love it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cracking read!
The balance between the traditional crime investigation of the body in the bath, along with social services involvement with a seemingly abandoned child is perfectly in harmony with the forays into the more mythical possibilities of the truth behind Constance and her relationships with Leonie, Ruby and Gregor.
Nothing is so overstated as to be evidently false or delusional and I liked the fact that the mystery is retained throughout the book with the absolute faith of Constance in her truth and the absolute skepticism of the authorities.

Wow, what a great book very reminiscent of a Joanne Harris.

I loved just about everything about The Replacement.

The way the story is told through the perspectives of the different characters and the way it goes back in time a few months is cleverly done without any confusion.

The balance of folklore is just perfect as is the character building.

One of those books you pick up and start reading and wonder where the last few hours have gone.

This is the 1st Melanie Golding book I have read but I have already ordered Little Darlings as I enjoyed this one so much.

This was a really great book, I ended up finishing this in just one sitting! It was a really interesting and engaging story, that I could not put down! I would definitely recommend this book in the coming winter months, it would be a perfect addition to a cosy winters night in, you won't regret it!

Loved this. I'm a fan of fiction that takes on something of mythology and I'm a fan of psychological thrillers so The Replacement was a pretty perfect book for me.

A girl gets lost but her mother isn't far behind her. Is she though? This is how this kicks off then the author takes you on a darkly imaginative journey which is at times beautiful and at other times horrifying. It is an enthralling tale that I was sad to leave behind me, one that was unpredictable, often strange but always addictive.

Difficult to describe without giving too much away but I highly recommend this edgy, gorgeous story.

Unfortunately, not for me. It's not the story but the style of writing. I understand the need for parallel story lines, but when both characters are jumping between time periods plus a few unrelated passages are thrown in for good measure, I just lose interest. The first time a gave up quite quickly but persevered the second time. For me the end wasn't worth the time invested. I'm sure many people will love this book, just not me.

I just adored this book it was everything I expected and more from the wonderful Melanie Golding whose first book Little Darlings I loved but this book just left me breathless. This is a magical tale full of folklore about the selkies but it’s also a lot more than that and impossible to describe without spoiling it
I went into it blind as when I requested the book I did so purely on the basis of the authors name and previous book and those two things were enough for me to know I was in for a real treat with this one.
The writing is superb and right from the start the book drew me into the story because this also has a very good mystery running parallel with the story of Constance, Ruby, DS Joanna Harper and of course Leonie…. damn it’s a brilliantly done book and so clever the way the stories intertwine!
I always know I have loved a book when I am sad at the end to finish and this is one of those I will miss the characters and being part of that story, I got lost in the words I forgot everything I was so immersed in what I was reading.
So if you want a beautiful , original story with an excellent mystery combined you have it all here in one terrific read so please don’t miss it !
Many thanks to Melanie Golding for another superb 5 star read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and HQ for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

A toddler called Leonie is found alone outside a shop at Christmastime. The police and social services are called but not long afterwards her mum turns up. Several miles away D.S Joanna Harper is dealing with a man found severely injured in a bathtub. The two events seem unconnected but are they?

I found this story to be too slow for me. A large part of this book deals with folklore and mysteries of the sea which I did not find interesting and didn’t really fully understand. We have a dual timeline which I always enjoy. Surprisingly the crime investigation was actually my favourite part of this book. I also really liked the characters of Joanna, Ruby and Leonie and they were the reason that I kept reading. In summary I enjoyed it overall but wish it didn’t have the folklore element to it.

I enjoyed reading this book. Good pace and a haunting quality to it.
Dropped a star because of the swearing though.
I’m not a fan of bad language.

I have to he honest, folklore will often put me off reading a book. However im glad this wasnt the case in this instance. A fast moving thriller with plenty of twists along the way. A small pinch of folklore which absolutly did not ruin the story line, leaving a real question mark of wonder at the end of the book.

Police are called out to a shop where a toddler appears to have been aband oned. Just as social care are about to intervene her mother turns up with a plausable story of how her daughter slipped her hand. Everybody is reassured by the facts and the child is released back to her mother...or is it?

A man is found with significant head injuries in a bath of water, barely alive but taken to hospital. Investigating officer joanna begins the wait to be able to question him as to what happened, if in deed he survives.

Outside of work, joanna is worried after her daughter disappears and is refusing to answer her phone.

As the case of the injured man progresses, it soon becomes clear that both cases are actually linked and furthermore joannas daughter seems to be tied into the picture. Joanna begins to break police rules as she desperatly fights against time to protect her family.

Fast moving, sensitive and enjoyable....highly recommend a rea

This was my first novel by Melanie Golding and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The book starts with a brilliant opening scene.....a young child walking into a shop alone only to be claimed twenty minutes later by her mother but not before the Police and Social Services arrive.

The woman manages to convince both that this was just a careless mistake and goes on her way with the child but we clearly know there is much more to this than meets the eye....

Across town a man barely survives a brutal attack and before long both incidents are linked together but why and how?

The story is told in a dual timeline, events which happened after the incidents as well as leading up to the incident itself and how it came to be....

This dual timeline works really well and keeps the reader keen to know both what happens next as well as trying to work out how things got to this stage...

There are also themes in this novel which I need to avoid to prevent any spoilers but themes of motherhood and the love of a child are apparent through the novel and it definitely tugs at the heartstrings of any parent.

Definitely worth reading and definitely an author I will look out for (as well as reading her previous novels)

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

When two year old Leonie is found alone outside a shop along the seafront, the local police and authorities are called. Ten minutes later, Constance comes rushing up to say Leonie had run off and she had been looking frantically for her - the authorities suitably satisfied they let mom and daughter go.
Several miles away, DS Jo Harper is called to the body of a man found floating in his bath tub but is still alive despite a serious head injury.

Two completely separate situations but as DS Harper starts to investigate it quickly becomes clear that the two cases are linked and possibly by a woman called Ruby - who happens to be related to Jo.

This is tale told from various perspectives - Jo Harper, Ruby and the injured man but they quickly become intricately interwoven that keeps the twists and turns coming whilst drawing you into the mystical folklore of Selkies. It will keep you turning the pages and and you not wanting to put the book down.

The Replacement by Melanie Golding.

I enjoyed this book which for me had an almost fairytale quality to it as well as a crime drama.
I could see it being made into a film. Fantastic characters, and a satisfying end.

I certainly don't want to give anything away in this review!
This book had me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed it just as much as 'Little Darlings' .
Again folklore was brought into the story, and it was an interestingly different story line.
Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the early copy, I feel privileged to read it.
I loved it, I'm sure it will be a chart topper.

I loved this book, it was dark, mysterious and beautiful. This is the second book by Melanie Golding that I have read and I enjoyed it as much as the first.

Her stories bring an element of folklore to them which have me captivated and wanting more. I cannot wait for another instalment from this author.

What a fantastic book! I loved the gripping crime story, but the underlying story of the selkie people added an extra depth. A well-written book which I found impossible to put down. I will definitely read more by this author.

I loved Melanie Golding's previous book, Little Darlings, so was equally excited to be given chance to read The Replacement, upon reading the blurb.
Oh, what a twisted, tangled web she has woven within this story!
A little child found alone.
A man found, left for dead, in a bathtub, miles away.
And two women, missing, who the police are desperate to speak to.
Seemingly distinct separate situations, however, inexplicably linked, as the police find out more and more. And what a joy to find a familiar character, within these pages, DI Joanne Harper, who ends up with stakes, far more personal, than in her last appearance, in Little Darlings.
Folklore and mythology, interspersed within a complicated criminal case... it sure kept my brain ticking over, the whole way through, and I more or less finished it within a day!
I was hooked!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

A little girl is found alone on the seafront at Cleethorpe. Minutes after the police are called a woman arrives claiming the child is hers. Fortunately for her, the social worker who has also been called is exhausted and burnt out enough to accept her story and she disappears back to Sheffield (or so she says). But soon police discover a link between a gravely injured man and the little girl and the hunt is on.

This is not a straightforward crime story. It links to folk tales of the Selkie (seal folk) who are thought to take on the appearance of seals. I loved this aspect of it. I also loved the way the characters developed, with them seeming to be one thing and then changing completely. It seemed a little rushed at the end but I did like the way it was left ambiguous, allowing the reader to make up their own mind about what happens next. A thoroughly good read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.