I'm really not sure what to say about this book, I had moments where I really wasn't sure I liked it, but yet I couldn't seem to put it down. This book combined folklore and thriller genres, which shouldn't work but somehow did.

The replacement- Melanie Golding

I’m sorry I didn’t get to read this title and so it expired therefore I cannot give an accurate review. Sorry

Quite a different read with the varied scenes pulling me in all directions. The intense atmosphere added to the darker intriguing aura of the book. slightly slower paced, I liked how the secrets were revealed at the end, tying everything up in a neat bow. Enjoyed it.

What a creepy cover! This storyline had me gripped and I raced through it...well worth reading :) I can't wait to read more from this author!

The Replacement by Melanie Golding pulled me in quickly. A very deft mixture of folk lore and coercive control permeates the storyline. Characterisation is great with good development of all the main characters and those important to them. The emotional traumas and subsequent exploitation were well portrayed. The story moved seamlessly from normal life issues of loneliness, rejection and associated withdrawl to a sound crime thriller. The storyline was gripping and believable and kept me reading and hoping to the end. Four and a half stars

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the second book featuring DS Harper and I did find the references to the first one a little distracting so I didn't find it friendly as a stand alone (although I will be going back to read it as it's on my TBR pile)!

A young girl turns up alone in a shop. As the police arrive so does her mother and the two are happily re united and sent on their way. Elsewhere DS Harper is investigating the death of a man found in his bath tub. As events unfold and evidence is uncovered could the two events be connected even though they as so far away from each other? And is everyone who they claim to be?

The case soon takes a personnel turn for DS Harper when she finds a family member could be involved. As the race to find the mother and child intensifies will everyone involved come away unscathed.

I enjoyed this but found the folklore of the selkies a bit off putting. Also I wasn't convinced by DS Harper trying to cover up the family connection as I thought this would have been uncovered much sooner. All in all it was an enjoyable read and I will be visiting the first installment.

This is a great book with a compelling storyline. I read it in almost one sitting. It delves into relationships between parents and off spring, between friendships and how the past can shape the future.

This book was an interesting read. The switching of time lines and several people's take on things made this book a bit hard going.

Another darkly gorgeous tale entwining ancient myth with modern motherhood. Following the changeling theme of her previous book, Little Darlings, The Replacement explores the strange and wonderful idea of Selkies, seals who can strip themselves of their skin and adopt human form.

The novel opens with a two-year-old girl, Leonie, found alone in a seaside town. Just as the social services arrive, a woman, Ruby, swoops in, explaining she is Leonie's mother, and takes her home. Simultaneously, a man is discovered bludgeoned to death. As the police investigate, they realise the cases are linked - and that there are sinister forces at play. It's hard to write much more without giving things away, but it's a magical tale with dark undertones that kept me gripped.

My first book, that I have read by this author, absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended, and I will definitely read others written by this author!

A small child is found wandering alone, the mother turning up nearly half an hour later. She convinces the authorities the child ran off. Miles away a man's blood drips into the flat below, he's found floating in an overflowing bath. He should be dead. These things seem unrelated but DS Harper finds links that she soon realises she's disturbingly entangled in.

I worry when I read the second book from an author whose debut I loved so much. They usually disappoint to be honest. But this has very much lived up to Little Darlings. Melanie Golding has seamlessly blended a crime mystery with the supernatural and not for one moment looked like she was going to jump the shark! This kept me gripped for several hours and I very much look forward to more from this author.

This book is thrilling and a true page turner. The story is full of suspense and keeps you guessing.the twists and turns throughout were clever and not far fetched- this can sometimes befall a thriller. The characters were complex and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

An enjoyable book with a elements of thriller, folk story, friendship and drama, all rolled into one. Contains a few unexpected twists and turns which keep you guessing.

I loved Little Darlings so was looking forward to reading The Replacement. I have always loved myths and folklore so loved the way this was incorporated into the book.

This book was amazing. I really enjoyed the take on a standard thriller with a touch a fantasy thrown in. This book centres on a detective solving a crime and also the people that are involved in the crime. It was written very well, very descriptive and I enjoyed the different points of view. This had a bit of everything, friendship, family, deception, crime and lots more besides. At around the halfway point I really struggled to put it down it just kept getting better and better. It was really clever how this story crossed over I really enjoyed that. And also the Selkie and ocean part - this made such a refreshing change to the genre. This is my first book by this author but it won’t be my last - it was so good!

I'll admit this took me a while to get into, it's not my usual genre with the added mythical theme but once I got the hang of the characters (thankfully not many) and the storyline it really intrigued me.

This is a story that really picks up speed along the way and doesn't slow down until the end.

One of the things that really stood out to me was the underlying questioning of motherhood. How often do we know just who that woman was before she became a mother? What were her dreams, aspirations, demons and sins?

The characters are well executed and interesting, the setting feels real and believable and the added 'make believe' element really worked.

It's a blend of folklore and mystery that did feel compelling and made me want to carry on reading.

Thanks to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

Rounded down from around 4.5 stars ⭐️

The Replacement follows the intertwined lives of Ruby, Joanna, Constance and Gregor. Gregor is found badly injured in his flat. His wife Constance (who believes she is a selkie- a mythical creature) and neighbour Ruby are gone. Can Detective Joanna figure out what has happened and find her daughter Ruby.

Thrillers are my absolute favourite genre of novel, but at this point it’s tough to surprise me. This book was able to surprise and keep me enthralled! I absolutely loved the inclusion of folklore. I’ve never before read a thriller with folklore in, or any book with selkies! Some may find this part difficult to handle, it may seem too unbelievable. But I found Golding’s handling of the matter to be perfect and subtle.

I loved the depth of disparity of one character in particular. I was on the edge of my seat as the lengths they go to is unveiled. I also adored little Leonie, I just wanted to pick her up and give her a huge cuddle. This book questions societal stereotypes and perceptions of what it means to be a mother, and how mothers should act. I almost feel deflated now that it’s over because I want more! I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

I would recommend this to any thriller fans, as long as you don’t mind a touch of folklore. I want to thank Netgalley, HQ publishers and Melanie Golding for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.

The thriller part of this story is actually quite good, a man found injured in a locked bathroom, a lost child and a woman that enter the sea on a freezing night. There are more surprising twists and turns, which I won’t mention as I don’t want to spoil the book, but where the book lost my interest is in the folklore story about the selkies.. hence this book only gets 3 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for letting me review this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an usual premise in a mystery / thriller novel - using present day mixed with Selkie mythology, I'd never read anything like it. It has multiple perspectives (which I love!) and some different times leading up to the present - each chapter leaves you wanting to read the next. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing, it's thoroughly enjoyable and definitely a page turner.

I look forward to reading more of Melanie Golding's novels.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review</i>

The Replacement by Melanie Golding had me gripped right from the very start! An intriguing story with lots of twists and turns and the folklore element was truly fascinating! A thoroughly enjoyable read!