The Lost Child by Emily Gunnis #Review #Giveaway

The Lost Child by Emily Gunnis is published on April 16th by Headline Review. I am delighted to have a giveaway with the chance to win a paperback copy of the book. (UK only) Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post. 
 

Some novels hold you in their spell and never let you go...

A tragic death. A missing baby. A long-kept secret... 

1960. Thirteen-year-old Rebecca and her mother live in fear of Rebecca's father's violent temper.  As a storm batters Seaview Cottage one night, Rebecca hears a visitor at the door and an argument ensues.  By the time the police arrive, the visitor has fled and both Rebecca's parents are dead.  No one believes Rebecca's story that she heard a stranger downstairs...

2014. Iris, a journalist, is sent to cover the story of a new mother on the run with her desperately ill baby, as the police race against time to find them. When the trail leads back to Seaview Cottage, the childhood home of Iris's own mother, Rebecca, Iris must unravel the events of the night Rebecca is desperate to forget for Seaview Cottage to give up its secrets. To find the truth she must follow in her mother’s footsteps.

 

This is the heart-wrenching new novel from the author of the international bestseller The Girl in the Letter, Emily Gunnis. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Kathryn Hughes The Lost Child is a twisting, nailbiting novel of a decades-old murder and a shocking secret. 

My Thoughts

Covering a period of 50 years, we get to follow several generations and slowly piece together their complicated history. There are some serious issues under the surface around post natal depression and motherhood, domestic violence and post traumatic syndrome as a result of experiences at war. 

    It was very interesting to read Emily Gunnis' thoughts on the inspiration for the story, which she prefaces the book with. Past generations' attitudes around insanity and the possibly inappropriate committal of individuals to asylums for significant periods of their lives are also pivotal to the story. There are some cruel and shocking secrets which come to light. I enjoyed the changes in perspective. Appearances can be deceptive in this book but it is well plotted with all the loose ends neatly tied up by the end. 

In short: A thought provoking and moving thriller which does not disappoint. 

About the Author

Emily Gunnis previously worked in TV drama and lives in Brighton with her young family. She is one of the four daughters of Sunday Times bestselling author Penny Vincenzi. This is her second novel. 

You can follow Emily here: Twitter   |  Amazon Author Page 

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks to Emily Gunnis, Headline Review and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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                                                                         Giveaway (UK only)

To win a paperback copy of The Lost Child, just Follow and Retweet the pinned Tweet at @bookslifethings and good luck!

 Closing Date is 4th April 2020 and there is one winner.

*Terms and Conditions – UK only.  The winner will be selected at random via Tweetdraw from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.