Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Set in Manchester in the 60s during Ian Brady and Myra Hindley's era. Connie is frantic when her daughter Kathy goes missing. Local farmer Ronald is shocked when she turns up at his remote farm. She refuses to tell him her real name or where she lives. After meeting sinister Brady and Hindley on the moors Ronald knows he has to keep her safe. He and his brother name her Grace and look after her. Then Ronald finds out who she is after a visit to town. He knows he will have to return her to her family.

The Hidden Child AUDIO ( A Body on the Moor) by Rebecca Griffith was a wholly enjoyable listen, from the words to the reader. It takes place outside of Manchester, England and has several threads: a missing child, the lives of two middle-aged men living on the farm their parent left them, a mother's guilt, a murder from the past, and so much more. This was a cleverly plotted novel, full of angst, regret, and guilt. There were happier parts, though: a romance that should have been begins again, a little girl finds a home, and guilty parties are brought to justice. Ronald and his brother, Thomas, are farmers. Well, Ronald is. Thomas is mostly domestic. It works for them. One day Ronald comes a cross a sheep that has been shot dead; then, another, who has been shot but, not killed. He has to take care of that grim task himself. Then he discovers the couple that has been using his sheep as targets. They threaten him with their gun and make threats: "I know where you live." Ronald never shares this with Thomas, not wanting to upset him. At about this time, a little girl wanders down their lane, which is unlikely as they live so far into the country. She is cold, hungry, too thin, and has bruises on her body. Thomas and Ronald take her in and Thomas mothers her, listening to Ronald's admonitions that they must turn her in. Her name is Kathy but Thomas calls her Grace, after his mother.

This was a lovely book, with well-thought-out characters and a plot that wove around the threads of the story. It was all interconnected and well done. Ronald and Thomas had their own issues, unspoken, that had hovered over them for over twenty years. Connie had a child when she was 15 and was hardly prepared. She never wanted that little girl until she was gone. Connie's mother had lived with an abuser most of her adult life and was not sorry now that he was dead. Even Connie, as self-absorbed as she was, could see the difference. Connie's friends are a whole different level of self-absorbed, and it comes to tragedy. She can hardly believe it all as it unfolds.

Sarah Durham and Richard Burnip are the narrators and they were cast appropriately. Richard gave life to these two middle-aged bachelors who were nearly hermits. Better choices do not exist.

I was invited to listen to an e-ARC audio of The Hidden Child by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #bookoutre #rebeccagriffiths #thehiddenchild

Originally titled The Body on the Moor and changed to The Hidden Child. Why? I don't know. Both titles mean something different. I found the story as cumbersome as the titles.

The book is too long. There are sections that drone on and on, while other sections are rushed. I found myself stopping, thinking and relistening several times early on. I couldn't connect to the characters, only liked one, and she appeared late. There were too many things going on.

This miss is two-fold: The story is too busy and the narrative performances couldn't keep my attention. I forced myself to finish, and once the story ended, I was tired.

Thank you NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review The Hidden Child.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Hidden Child' by Rebecca Griffiths.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Rebecca Griffiths, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 24th February 2022.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Girl At My Door' which I highly recommend. This book was previously titled 'The Body On The Moor'.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Inspired by a real-life true crime story, this is an unforgettable and totally gripping mystery thriller perfect for fans of Gregg Olsen, Elly Griffiths and Found. ' I am a huge fan of Gregg Olsen so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Rebecca and if this is half as good as 'The Girl At My Door' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 55 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Yorkshire and Manchester, UK 🇬🇧.
The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually been to Manchester on several occasions so am intrigued to see if I can put names to places I have been.

This book is written third person perspective and the protagonists are Ronald and Connie.The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

'The Hidden Child' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Rebecca discusses/includes animal abuse, child abuse and murder of children.

When I first decided to read this book it was titled 'The Body On The Moor' before it was renamed 'The Hidden Child'. I must admit that even knowing the original title and reading the synopsis that I had no idea it was based on Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. These two are pretty well known for all the wrong reasons. I worked out that they were who the book was based on in the first page when 'Aunt Myra' was mentioned. The way Rebecca has written this book is very clever in the fact that she doesn't only focus on Myra and Ian but also on Connie, Ronald and Thomas as seperate storylines which weave together throughout the book. This book starts with Ronnie and his father and then moves onto Connie's daughter going missing which then leads into what Myra and Ian are getting up to. Although this book is based on fact it is important to remember that it is a fictional story and that many scenarios were created with the intention of making a story of all the events. I think Rebecca has done a fantastic job of doing this and it gives more of an insight into people who may have known Myra and Ian. I did struggle with the time changes and it took me a while to realise that the dates were going back and forth which did cause some confusion until I worked it out. The storyline is filled with abuse, murder, violence and crime but there is also family, love and romance involved. Myra and Ian are absolute despicable and vile creatures and what they did to them poor children was just unthinkable and then making it even worse by allowing the parents to suffer by not releasing details of where they buried them is just inhumane. My thoughts will always go out to Keith Bennett's family, the victim who was never found. What these sickos did to these children is a parents worse nightmare. Rebecca has written this book really well and has really shown what their personalities were like and how ruthless and heartless they were. One of the things I did notice is that she didn't focus on them too much and only as much as was necessary to tell the story. I am glad she did this as there are too many books out there that gives these scum the fame they do not deserve. I had mixed feelings towards Connie for a long time but, although I still think it is disgusting how she treated her child and left her in a car, I would not wish what Ian and Myra did to the children on any parents. I absolutely adored Ron and especially Thomas who were such genuine men who just fit themselves into a situation where the longer they were in it the deeper the hole they dug themselves. I'm pleased with how the book ended but I must admit I did feel that it was a bit rushed.

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

Congratulations Rebecca on a page turning success!!!

A must read for true crime lovers!

Overall a page turning psychological crime thriller based on a true story that will keep you turning the pages until late at night.

Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Thriller, Psychological Fiction and Crime Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Gregg Olsen and anyone interested in true crime.


361 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Griffiths grew up in mid-Wales and went on to gain a first class honours degree in English Literature.

After a successful business career in London, Dublin and Scotland, she returned to rural mid-Wales where she now lives with her husband, a prolific artist, four vampiric cats and pet sheep the size of sofas. (DHH Literary Agency)

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture Audio via Netgalley for providing an audio ARC of The Hidden Child by Rebecca Griffiths. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I was a bit dubious about this book as I knew the subject matter may be upsetting, however Rebecca Griffiths has done a wonderful job of combining the story of Connie, Ronald and his brother Thomas, with that of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Every time you think you know what is about to happen there’s another twist. The plot is so cleverly written and thought out and you are desperate to find out how the story is going to end. The author has captured the little details of the 60s perfectly and I found myself smiling at things I had forgotten from that time. She has obviously done her research when it comes to Brady & Hindley as I recalled details about the pair I had only vague memories of. The narrators, Richard Burnip and Sarah Durham deserve an award for the portrayal of the characters and for capturing the Yorkshire accent without turning it into a parody. A wonderful book which I thoroughly recommend. I look forward to delving in to other books by this author.

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"A child is missing. A secret is waiting to be found."

I was fascinated throughout the compelling storytelling of The Hidden Child by Rebecca Griffiths and blown away when I found out it was based on a true serial killing spree in 1965 England, known as The Saddleworth Moor Murders.

A young mother, with her priorities mixed up, leaves her little girl alone in the car to party with her boyfriend. When they get back her daughter is gone.

Local farmer Ronald finds a couple of his sheep shot and discovers a young couple on his land using his flock as shooting practice. He chases them away but not before they threatened him.

Then out of the blue he sees a bright red coat on a little girl just walking down the lane. He brings her home to keep her safe and figure out what to do with her. She has bruises on her, begs to stay on his farm, and his brother Thomas has become completely paternal towards the sweet girl obviously looking for refuge.

He knows he should call the police but then the secret he has kept hidden for decades might be found out and then his own life may come to an end!

Narrators Sarah Durham and Richard Burnip were outstanding not only acting out so many roles but doing so with such believable passion.

When the story began I thought someone else was the killer and I was gob smacked to realize I was so wrong where this intertwining plot was going and that made it even more compelling to experience. Kudos to the writer for connecting all the characters and even giving us a sweet long over due love story.

I highly recommend this audiobook for a murder mystery thriller popcorn night. True crime, historical fiction, and family drama fans will also enjoy this creative tale based on real people during a turbulent time.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The hidden child by Rebecca Griffiths.
Narrated by Sarah Durham, Richard Burnip.
Connie splashed through puddles, the rain slapping her face. Everywhere was tarmac and concrete, fog and drizzle, but no sign of her child. ‘Have you seen my daughter? Please, you must’ve seen her?’ Connie’s face crumpled, preparing to cry. But there wasn’t time for tears, she told herself, she had to find her child.
Manchester, England, 1965: In an instant Connie’s life has changed. She only left her daughter Kathy alone for a moment but that was enough for her to vanish without a trace. As Connie desperately searches for her, she has to put the news reports of other missing children to the back of her mind. She is determined to find her safe. She will bring her daughter home.
As local farmer Ronald listens to the news, he is shocked by what he hears. He has spent his life away from the spotlight, quietly tending to his farm. But when a young couple begin acting suspiciously on his land, he knows that trouble is about to reach his door.And then he sees her. A girl in a bright red coat who looks completely lost. Ronald knows he needs to help keep her safe and find her family. But on the wild and desolate farmland, Ronald has buried his own dark secret. Can he risk it coming to light to save her life?
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Great story and some characters. Twisty and tense. 5*.

This was a great mystery! Kept me guessing to the very end. Additionally, it’s a very quick read. Rebecca Griffiths has written, yet another, satisfying thriller.

I really appreciate the authors mixture of a true crime case with a fictional mystery. This was a very interesting story to listen. I do feel like the story was drawn out, it took me much longer to listen to than usual. I had an issue with the ending. I feel like it was a bit brushed over and unrealistic. I really did like the true crime content. Very interesting book and would like to read more like this in the future.

This story managed to hold my interest throughout and even though it mixes fact and fiction it never made me wonder which was which because the story was parallel to the truth and very cleverly done. As such, this was a 5-star read for me. The narration was excellent and added to the overall enjoyment. Recommended read!

The Hidden Child is such a good book that, when I sat down to write a review, I found myself listening, again, for hours, and being completely drawn in.
Rebecca Griffiths weaves together the stories of a middle-aged murderer, a single mom named Connie with dubious parenting skills, and her bright little girl who goes missing, The setting is a distant 1965 Manchester, England, which is gripped by the disappearances of several youngsters. The stakes jump exponentially when we learn that Connie's obnoxious best friend is named Myra, and that Myra's lover is called Ian--as in Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, the infamous Moors murderers. Building a novel with both historical details, and imagined ones is a kind of balancing act, and Griffiths integrates the stories seamlessly.
This is no straight up serial killer tale. Connie is forced to grow up very, very quickly (this is a young woman who shockingly nicknames her daughter "maggot"). And yet, unlikeable as she is, it's hard not to root for her. The same goes for our murderous shepherd. Griffith's portraits of Hindley and Brady are bone-chilling; they are repellent, but captivating, as witnessed through the eyes of the people around them. As arresting as the characters are, the plot is the thing. There are many threads, mostly involving secrets, shame, and betrayal, and they require attention to follow. Making the occasional note, or even picking up a digital copy for reference, might enhance your enjoyment and clarify any questions.
Deeply engaged readers may be taken by surprise by the abrupt change in tone of the novel's last chapter. It contains a considerable amount of exposition, covering the conclusion of a few of the important plot lines. While distracting, it by no means should keep readers from finding THE HIDDEN CHILD a thrilling, satisfying read.

This book was right up my murder and true crime-loving alley! The author does a great job laying out the characters and making you either like them or hate them. I wish I had eye-read this one instead of listening to the audio b/c of the number of characters involved. It was sometimes hard to figure out what was happening to whom. I love that there is a happy ending and that Connie finally grows up and becomes a better mother. But MAN did I hate her character for a while. I wanted to shake her and tell her to get her shit together and quit burying her head in the sand!

#TheHiddenChild
#NetGalley

4.5 stars.
I preferred the previous title. It attracted me to the audiobook.
I really enjoyed this story. The character development was outstanding. I felt for the brothers. The author succeeded in making these two men sympathetic characters.
The story was engrossing and complex without being confusing. I did wonder about the reference to 1965 at the beginning of some of the chapters. The importance of this seemed unclear to me, but maybe that was because I was listening to an audio version.
While the story was not exactly fast-paced, the author built atmosphere, tension, and mystery effectively. I was drawn into the story from the beginning.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Hidden Child by Rebecca Griffiths
Previously titled: Body on the Moor)

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Connie splashed through puddles, the rain slapping her face. Everywhere was tarmac and concrete, fog and drizzle, but no sign of her child. ‘Have you seen my daughter? Please, you must’ve seen her?’ Connie’s face crumpled, preparing to cry. But there wasn’t time for tears, she told herself, she had to find her child.

Manchester, England, 1965: In an instant Connie’s life has changed. She only left her daughter Kathy alone for a moment but that was enough for her to vanish without a trace. As Connie desperately searches for her, she has to put the news reports of other missing children to the back of her mind. She is determined to find her safe. She will bring her daughter home.

This is inspired by a true story - this is referenced quite early on with mentions of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. A blend of fact and fiction creating an unusual crime mystery. An intriguing concept but definitely not for the feint-hearted. A page-turner where the reader is privy to information on the whereabouts of Kathy quite early on.

Rating 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced audio copy of this book.
This is a fascinating story. It is a novelized version of a true crime that took place on the moors in 1965.
The book I read had the title The Body on the Moor.
When it started out, I had a hard time getting into it as all the characters are so unlikeable. So I went
on a google search and read about the real-life murders. The story, then, seemed very different. I began to
appreciate how Griffiths was able to weave her own story around the true-to-life characters that committed the crimes and also to imagine how these murderers got away with it in their own community.

The story is narrated by two people, Connie who has 'lost' her child, and Ronald who lives with his brother on the moor. A man and a woman do the narrating. I liked the man much better. His various 'voices' were believable and well done. The woman had Connie talk with such a whiny, grating voice and I wondered if I would have read it the same way. I really disliked Connie by the end of the book.

There is another made-up murder that takes place right at the beginning of the book and that murder plays a significant part in the book. I will say no more. If you like true crime novels, this is one that you will find very interesting. I look forward to more of Ms. Griffiths' books.

I liked the narration on this book. That’s always a bonus.
I hadn’t realised this book was about the Moors Murders and nearly put it away when I heard the names of Myra and Ian. I am not a fan of true crime as I feel guilty gaining entertainment from other people’s pain. However, after a bit of Googling, I realised that Cathy wasn’t a victim of the evil duo, so settled in to the tale.
Despite the horrific backdrop, I actually found this book heartwarming and would thoroughly recommend it to other readers.

First things first, a big thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture (Audio) for giving me the chance to review The Hidden Child (used to be named; The Body on the Moor).

After reading the synopsis I was intrigued. I was already vaguely familiar with the Moors Murders and quite like listening to a good true crime podcast. Unfortunately, this audiobook wasn’t my cup of tea.

The mixture of facts and fiction just felt off to me. I struggled to keep myself focused on the story and found the many different points of view quite confusing. Some parts of the book just felt like a struggle to get through. I enjoyed the narrators but I would recommend picking up a psychical copy if you want to read it.

This book takes you back in time to the era of Brady and hindley.
A young mother Connie is dating Fred. They leave her daughter in a car while they meet up with Myra and Ian in a Manchester pub. On their return Cathy is missing. Children over Manchester as being reported missing. Is Connie’s daughter another statistic.
Meanwhile a local farmer meets Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. They scare him but has he got something to hide too.
This book is a really interesting take on the Moors murders. I listened to the audiobook. The narrators brought the characters to life. I 2ould recoloured all.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an arc .

An excellent page turner, I liked how it didn't look to retell the story of the Moors Murders, but left Ian Brady and Myra Hindley as menacing, unpleasant presences on the margins of the story drifting into the lives of the main characters, it made the novel more unique and interesting as I wanted to find how the established facts of the case would fot around it.

I also enjoyed the split between Ronald's first person chapters and Connie's, it's a sign of a good read if you're frustrated in turn that you're going back to the other whilst being left on a mini-cliffhanger.

The audiobook narration was also very good.