Tittle           : The Stolen Child

Author        : Emily Shiner

Pub Date    : September 11, 2022

Pages          : 263

My Rating   : ★★★

The Summary

Eliza leads a flawless existence. A lovely house, a very popular blog, a devoted spouse, and two wonderful kids.

In a pointless job, Bethany just about makes it. Her sole source of joy is reading Eliza's blog. She is obsessed with her and thinks they will always be best friends.

Eliza, however, doesn't need any more friends, especially not one as overbearing as Bethany. Eliza is concealing a family secret, therefore. One that, if ever exposed, would rock her entire world.

Angry and rejected, Bethany begins following Eliza. Bethany also learns Eliza's secret while keeping an eye on her every step and makes threats to reveal it.

But Eliza will go to any lengths to preserve her ideal life. Even if it means permanently getting rid of Bethany.

My Review

This novel will keep you turning the pages! While reading, I experience strong emotions, rage, and tension. It was quick to read and had a rapid pace.

Both of the primary characters are utterly mad and unbelievably repulsive. But I also realize that having nice characters isn't a requirement for a successful book. Instead, it concerns how the characters can be present in the story while still evolving and changing for the benefit of the readers.

The plot developed with good pacing that progressively gained momentum. Unfortunately, I wish I had known more about each character's backstory, and I felt that the execution at the conclusion could have been better.

The potential for this tale is endless. Even though the events are not totally true, they certainly capture your attention and pique your curiosity, which is one of the essential components of thrillers in my opinion.

This is still well worth reading if you can stomach it and are looking for a psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing an ARC in return for a honestly review.

My ratings score:

★★★★★ Fantastic! Made me go through a lot of emotions & the entire book is incredibly beautifully done! 

★★★★ Memorable! Despite its shortcomings, this book was incredible and taught us a lot. 

★★★ Good work! Nothing particularly remarkable, but still nice.

★★ Meh... Mediocre with great room for improvement.

★ Extremely Poor.