Very enjoyable read. I have enjoyed books by M J Arlidge before and this was another great read. Interesting characters and a satisfying conclusion. Recommended.

Since Annie and Grant split up things have been difficult between her and their teenage daughter Isla and Annie is worried about her. Then Annie receives a video of her crying at a funeral which appears to be Isla's, she doesn't know what to make of it as Isla is upstairs in her bedroom, but she runs up to check anyway, relieved to see she's alive and well. She soon realises the video is a deep fake and, after receiving a call from an unknown number, discovers that it will become a reality if she doesn't comply with their demands and she's not the only parent that's being blackmailed. They've been warned what will happen if they involve the police, so do they give them what they want or do they do a little detective work of their own?

Your Child Next is the third in a five project collaboration by M J Arlidge and other authors and this time it's the turn of Andy Maslen. I've read most of the Helen Grace series by Arlidge and the first in the Kat Ballantyne series by Maslen, so when I saw they were doing this one together I was looking forward to seeing how it would pan out. It's every parents nightmare, the thought that someone is out to harm your child and will do anything for money. It also highlights the harm that oversharing on social media can lead to. This story starts off right in the action with the video that Annie receives and just keeps on building throughout the book. It's a fast paced read that, at times, requires you to suspend belief at where it's all heading, but fiction wouldn't be fiction if it was always plausible now would it? This is a great read by Arlidge and Maslen that is seamlessly written and keeps you on the edge of your seat willing the parents to outsmart the blackmailers.

I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

I enjoyed this novel. It had plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Great characters.. Intriguing storyline. Enjoyed the style of writing. All round great book. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the third book I have read in this "series" of books that have been co-authored by MJ Arlidge and a selection of other authors. The first two introduced me to authors I had previously not read - Julia Crouch, and Stephanie Broadbribb - and I have added both to my ever growing TBR. This one does exactly the same with Andy Maslen, another prolific author with another more than healthy back catalogue... sigh!
More exciting that that though, and I will get on with my review in a bit, honest, but I had a look and see that there are 2 more such books expected this year with Lisa Hall (I love this author already) and Alex Khan (more to add to my tbh sigh) I blooming love this whole concept!
Right... We start with Annie who is struggling a bit since her husband left her. Her daughter Isla is also suffering and withdrawing into herself and Annie is scared she will lose her too. So it is with shock that Annie receives a video which appears to show her at a funeral, crying. A funeral that turns out to be that of Isla. Who is alive and upstairs from her, as she finds out when she races up and bursts in on her. Obviously the video is faked but who could have done such a thing and why...?
Long story short and it turns out that Annie is being blackmailed with the threat that Isla will suffer if she doesn't pay up. But, and it's no spoiler, it'll be a very short book if she just puts up and pays up, Annie is determined to fight back... but how?
Ooo this was a bit juicy and a breath of fresh air as it is a concept I haven't ever come close to coming across in any book I have read before. And it's actually quite a simple idea all told, but it is in the execution that this book really shines.
The characters are all very well drawn and all play their parts very well indeed. Plotting is excellent and very well executed. Pacing is good and matches the narrative all the way through. And with no additional waffle or padding, the book gets on with itself very well indeed. It's addictive, it's thrilling, hitting the ground running, holding me captive throughout, holding on and then spitting me out at the end wholly satisfied.
It also contains quite an important message wrt what we all share online in social media and the like. I myself have got a bit complacent in that regard, and I did have a bit of a think about what I use and how I use it, especially these days, and I don't have to spell out what I mean there!
All in all, a cracking book that I thoroughly recommend. I'm off now to add yet another author to my out of control TBR. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read most of M J Arlidge’s books but none by Andy Maslen. I wasn’t sure how I felt about a joint effort but I needn’t have worried. The premise of the story was very clever. The majority of the book was fast paced and you just kept wanting to read more. Loved it.

This is an enjoyable read and unfolds from several points of view with a focus on newly-divorced Annie and her anxious and vulnerable teenage daughter Isla and a newly-widowed Michael who is grappling with the death of his wife and grief of his stepson.

Michael discovers his wife had been paying money into a Cayman's bank account every month, and cancels the transfer, not realising she was paying a blackmailer and now his son's life is at risk. And the same blackmailer makes threats against Isla's life, forcing Annie to pay up... even though she cannot afford it.

Through fortuitous circumstances (made possible thanks to an unreliable thug hired by the blackmailer), Annie and Michael meet and decide to ferret out the perpetrators... not really realising who they're up against.

I liked that the authors introduce the pair quickly and get them playing offense instead of defense given one of the perpetrator/s is also a narrator so we already know what they're thinking and planning.

I enjoyed the cat and mouse game but the main thing I struggled with here was the lack of motivation or complete randomness with which the perpetrator/s choose victims. (And yes, there's a lesson here about how much of our lives we share online.)

I found myself taken aback with the callousness of those involved and wasn't sure there was enough background or backstory for us to completely understand that degree of socio/psychopathy.

That said, I whipped through this in a sitting keen to see how it played out.

3.5 stars

Annie receives a video of her daughter’s funeral. She rushes to check her daughter and upon finding her safe, deletes the offed in email. Not long and she’s getting a call from two people threatening to eliminate her daughter if she doesn’t pay up. She finds an alliance with another friend and they rush to try and protect their children.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The middle slowed down a bit but then picked back up in the end. I have to say that a lot of the book was unbelievable though. I was frustrated with the main character when she refused to get the clearly needed professional help.

A unique and gripping read!
The main character is Annie who is fiercely protective over her daughter Isla , especially since the break up of her marriage.
Isla is an anxious girl, but wants to do things like a teenage girls do such as clubbing and having a boyfriend so resents her mothers overbearing attitude.
Annie is sent a deep fake video of her crying at her daughter’s funeral , and rushes upstairs to check Isla is ok .
Who can have sent the video , and why are they asking for money in order to keep Isla safe?
Annie is a strong character and the story is an interesting read and it makes you think about how much information is shared online , and who could be looking at it .
I enjoy the work of both writers and together they make a formidable duo.
An excellent thriller!
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group.

This did not disappoint!!
I loved it especially as it was set close to where I live
Definitely a unique storyline with brilliant characters
Literally couldn’t put it down it was fantastic full review coming soon

This was a tense novel and worked well as something that kept the reader engaged. I was hooked from the first page and thought the characters worked overall in the story. M. J. Arlidge and Andy Maslen wrote this well and had that feel that I was looking for. It was a strong concept and had a scary concept.

I've read many of this author's books, but this is the first one I've read as a co-write with Andy Maslen. The book began well, with a good pace following the storyline of Annie and her daughter Isla. As the book went on however, it felt like the pace slowed and I found myself getting a little bored with the story. I did though liked how it was based in Birmingham, and could picture places as I read. For me, it wasn't the best from an author who I normally really like, and perhaps shows that it is co-written. It did have some enjoyable parts though with a good start and ending.

Im a big fan of M J Arlidge and have been enjoying his collaborations with other authors,I've not read anything by Andy Maslen, so I was eager to start reading this one.
A unique storyline that definitely makes you stop and think how much personal information can be shared on social media and just who is out there reading your inner thoughts.
It is an enjoyable psychological read with strong characters, especially the bad guys with loads of drama. Yes, some is a bit over the top, but isn't that what we need sometimes something to lose ourselves in for a few hours?
A recommended read with an unexpected ending.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC.

Raced through as my first read of 2025!

I know this is a book by both authors but I have to say it’s my favourite book by MJ Arlidge (and I’ve read all their books).

Fast paced thriller, good character building - no real twists but it didn’t need them.

Recommended!

This is a shocking and intense read that comes across realistic, making the events all the more terrifying. Annie is a strong, likeable character to follow and her love for her daughter Isla is clear. The other characters are good and all have their role to play. The plot is a bit far-fetched at times but I went with it and I enjoyed it. This is fast-paced and there are shocks and surprises along the way.
This is an intense read from Arlidge and Maslen.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy.

Your Child Next by M.J. Arlidge and Andy Maslen is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and psychological tension. Centering on two families who are thrust into turmoil as a mysterious figure demands a monthly payment to save their children’s lives, the story is a gripping exploration of desperation, fear, and the lengths parents will go to protect their children.

Arlidge and Maslen craft a narrative that hooks readers from the very beginning. The alternating perspectives of the two families create a layered and dynamic story, offering a deeper look into their struggles and the emotional weight of their choices. The fact that these families don’t know each other adds another layer of intrigue, as readers piece together how their paths might converge—or if they ever will.

The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ramping up the tension and pulling you deeper into the mystery. The authors excel at creating an atmosphere of dread, keeping you questioning who the perpetrator is and what their true motivations might be. The emotional stakes are high, and the characters’ raw vulnerability makes their plight all the more gripping.

This book is a testament to the talents of Arlidge and Maslen, whose seamless collaboration delivers a story that is both chilling and emotionally resonant. Your Child Next is a must-read for fans of suspense and psychological thrillers, and it will leave you eager to explore more from these talented authors.

I enjoyed the pace and was really into the story for most of the book, however as we got nearer to the end I found it got more and more unbelievable and silly so I wasn't a fan of the ending.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

This books reads as though the two authors found it highly entertaining to write this together. The result? A tale that’s enormous fun, provided you’re not too critical.
I found Your Child Next slightly flippant and a tad over-the-top. I know one’s supposed to suspend disbelief – this is fiction after all – but I found myself thinking ‘Really?’ every now and then as parents, Annie and Michael, rushed into insane situations to try and protect their children. That aside, the book is jam-packed with action, and the villains are immensely scary, making it a compelling read.
Above all, despite being a little improbable in parts, the story is a lesson to those that over-share on social media – you never know who is watching… From this point of view, it is scarily plausible.
There are some laugh out loud one-liners – and I really enjoyed the humour. Some of the characters were a little stereotypical – I sometimes wondered if the authors weren’t doing this a bit tongue-in-cheek as they marched out the desperate, homeless war vet or the feckless, unfaithful ex-husband now hooked up with a girl his daughter’s age.
The book is a result of publisher Orion’s new Crime Writers’ Room project led by screenwriter and author M. J. Arlidge, working in collaboration with writers Steph Broadribb, Julia Crouch, Lisa Hall, Alex Khan and Andy Maslen.

Annie’s daughter Isla is alive and well so when Annie receives a video of her crying at Isla’s funeral, she initially thinks that someone is playing a very cruel trick. Then she receives a call from a woman who knows far too much about her and Isla. Unless Annie pays her £1000 a month into an offshore account, Isla will be killed.
Despite being terrified, Annie can’t go to the police. The woman was very clear what would happen if she does. While Annie may be able to meet the first payment, she knows it’s not a long-term solution. If she is going to save her daughter she will need to take on the blackmailer, but who is it and just how much danger will she be putting them both in?
A gripping tale of how far a mother will go to protect her child, it’s fast paced, exhilarating and full of hold your breath moments.

This book had a fascinating blurb for me and reading it fully lived up to my hopes.
The story was very easy to read with the narrator seeming to change with most end of chapters so we could follow what the main players in this story were experiencing and doing about their situations. It was interesting to be able to also follow the villains of this piece, seeing who they were and a bit about their history and the why of what they are doing and why.
The cast of characters was quite diverse with each being well written for the role they have to play as events unfurled.
This was one of those books that was difficult to put down and very easy to pick up again as I was always wanting to know more of what was happening with everyone. I’m really enjoying the M.J. Arlidge collaborations and hope to read many more of them.

What lengths would you go through to protect your child.
I can't imagine someone sending me such a crazy video. It would mess me up for sure.