Pages: 390
Published: 4th June 2015
Genre: Psychological Thriller
What Is It About?
Professional photographer Tess has just moved to the United States with her American husband Greg, who had been offered a job as a leading paediatric surgeon in Boston. She is pregnant, and her son Joe, from a previous relationship, has moved with them.
Greg works long hours at the hospital and isn’t often there for Tess as she struggles to adapt to her new surroundings, and her new neighbours. But then doubts begin to surface about Greg’s past. Is he really who he says he is, and who is the woman sending him hate mail?
Tess is keen to know more about Greg’s traumatic childhood, but he is unwilling to do so because of the painful memories. However, Tess gradually makes a series of discoveries which suggest that Greg is lying to her, and grows more and more uneasy in his presence, despite her best efforts to be in denial.
With help from various sources, Tess uncovers more and more about her husband’s family history. Greg is evasive, and has an answer for everything, but the truth finally catches up with them in a thrilling unveiling of the facts.
Lucy Atkins reviews books for The Sunday Times, and has written features for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and magazines such as Red, Woman & Home, Psychologies and Grazia.
Lucy has also written several non fiction books, including the Amazon #1 parenting bestseller, First-Time Parent. Here latest novel, The Night Visitor, was released in 2017.
(Taken from Goodreads)
This is such a multi-layered story. There is so much happening in every chapter, but never at any stage does it get overwhelming. Atkins writes strongly and sensitively, going the extra mile to achieve outstanding characterisation, especially in the case of Tess and Greg.
She also successfully keeps the mystery going right up until the end, and even better, the reader is given the chance to work it out for themselves. Part of the answer is actually given away fairly early, but so much lies behind it that it’s impossible to draw any firm conclusions.
The plotline is fairly similar to some other books in the same genre, in that it concerns someone whose partner is concealing a dark past. But The Other Child has enough originality to stand out. When I got towards the end, I simply couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, so safe to say I really enjoyed this book!
The Night Visitor is heading straight on to my TBR list. Happy reading!
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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