Vulnérable

by Sarah A. Denzil, Isabelle Wurth (Translator)

« Prends ma main, ma puce »

Fran la trouve près des balançoires. Une petite fille, Esther, pas plus de sept ans, seule au milieu de la nuit, sa jolie robe jaune démodée couverte de taches d'herbe et ses cheveux ébouriffés. Elle dit qu'elle attend « Père », ce qui paraît particulièrement étrange à Fran.

Après qu'Esther ait retrouvé sa famille, Fran ne peut s'empêcher de penser à cette enfant pieuse dont l'ami imaginaire est Dieu. L'intuition de Fran lui dit qu’il y a quelque chose qui cloche. Pourquoi Esther s’enfuit-elle encore de chez elle, et comment s'est-elle fait ce bleu sur la cuisse ?

Le mari de Fran l'avertit de ne pas trop s'investir, mais un matin, Esther et sa famille disparaissent. Où sont-ils partis ? Pourquoi ont-ils laissé leurs meubles dans leur ancienne location ?

Fran sait au fond d'elle-même que quelque chose de terrible va arriver à cette enfant, et elle ne peut pas rester sans rien faire. Quel qu'en soit le prix.

Après tout, elle l'avait trouvée. Mais peut-elle la sauver ?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Suspense

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2021

About the author

Sarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.

She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.

You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3

Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/

Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil

Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/

Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com

Reviews

[Sarah Denzil]

Little One was a lot of fun to write. When I wrote it in the latter half of 2020, I found diving into the Little One world to be great escapism.

I won't go into too much detail about what inspired this book, as I think it's more fun to go into a story without too many expectations. But I will tell you that I've been interested in some of the topics in this book for a very long time. A lot of the events are inspired by fact. And, trust me, the real events that inspired me, are much stranger than fiction!

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. Today is publication day and I'm so happy to be sharing it with you!

Best,

Sarah

[fleurette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great book. It hooked me from the very beginning.

I'm really surprised how I got to like Fran, the main character. I don't usually like such nosy women, but she is a surprisingly non-annoying heroine. There's something about Fran that makes me enjoy seeing the world through her eyes. I guess maybe it's about that little bit of self-awareness and self-censorship. Fran is aware that she should not interfere in the affairs of others and knows perfectly well what is at the basis of her decision to do so. Which doesn't mean she doesn't do some stupid things later on. Fran seems to trust her abilities too much, but this fits her character somehow. That's why it doesn't bother me at all.

That being said, the personality of Esther seems to me not very convincing for a seven-year-old girl. She is too mature for her age, too mature even for an exceptionally developed seven-year-old. Her thoughts resemble adults, she is a bit unnatural in her maturity. I think that her chapters, although very interesting and adding a lot to the plot, are the weakest point of the book from the point of view of character psychology. But I still genuinely enjoyed them.

The plot is very good. I like books where mystery appears in the very beginning. And here we are dealing with a potential mystery from the very first chapters. Although, if you think about it, not much happens in these first dozen or so chapters. But the atmosphere of mystery compensates for this brilliantly, and I was fully committed to the story right away. Therefore, I don't mind that the twist towards the end of the book was exactly as I predicted. Paradoxically, I think that I would be disappointed if my predictions were not confirmed. Anyway, it's more because I've read a lot of thrillers and know what to expect than some clear obviousness of this twist. It did not take away my enjoyment of reading this book at all.

I'm sure this is not my last book by this author. It was a very nice experience. I definitely recommend this book, especially to those who are already bored with serial killers, and even murder in general.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A jogger comes across a young girl alone in the park at 5.30 in the early morning. She is told that her daddy is coming to get her, when her mother rushes over to take her back home. So begins a connection of two different families and an eventful meeting that unleashes unforeseen consequences. The history and happenings from across the ocean are revealed. The tension builds in this psychological thriller to a dramatic climax thanks to the coincidental meeting that day. With good characters and illuminating narrative, this haunting tale comes with a four-star rating.

[ItzSmashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars Promising start, I was hooked from the beginning but as the plot expanded I struggled to buy in to leaps of logic and the final plot twist tainted the whole book for me. A new family move in to Frans small village. Concerned for the safety of there child, she gets to know them and is concerned about how the father treats them. But when that family leave without a trace , Fran follows them to America to discover they have ties to a dangerous extreme cult, can she save the child and her mum in time?

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fran discovered a seven year old girl alone in the dark while she was out for her early morning run. The girl is soon reunited with her mother. Fran makes friends with Ester and Mary but soon Fran gets concerned about their welfare. Then suddenly the family disappears. Fran is determined to find them.

Although the story is a bit predictable, it was also a very engaging read. Fran is still mourning the loss of her baby. The characters are intriguing and there's a few twists and turns in this steady paced book. I liked the authors writing style, it flowed seamlessly from chapter to chapter. There's a twist at the end that I never saw coming. The ending was satisfactory.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #VictoryEditingNetGalleyCoop and the author #SarahADenzil for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Vanessa Menezes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fran is on her routine early morning jog when she finds a little girl, no older than seven years old, by herself dressed in pretty but old-fashioned yellow dress, covered in grass stains and her hair disheveled. Her name is Esther and she says she's waiting for Father, and that strikes Fran as particularly odd.

After Esther is reunited with her mother, Mary, Fran can't stop thinking about this pious child whose imaginary friend is God. Fran's instincts tell her something is very wrong.

Soon, Fran gets close to Mary and Esther despite Fran's husband warnings not to get too close. But one morning, Esther and her family disappear. Where did they go? Why did they leave their furniture behind?

Fran knows in her gut that something terrible is going to happen to that child, and she can't stand by while it happens. No matter the cost.

This was quite an interesting read though it was easy to predict what was going on quite early in the story.

The narration and the characters are well written. Initially the plot was good but once the Whittaker family left and Fran began her investigation, it kind of became unrealistic. I couldn’t relate to Fran’s obsession and her dropping everything to travel to Arizona in search of Mary and Esther seemed slightly far-fetched.

However, the twists at the end were excellent and helped to bring it all together with a great ending.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!

[Dana-Adriana B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fan finds in the park, one morning, Esther and Fan think she is lost. But Esther is not lost, she is just looking for Father, which is misunderstood from the beginning. It is a lot of mysteries in this story and it was a pleasure to find the truth.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this book.

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

While on her routine morning jog Fran discovers a little girl standing next to a set of swings. When Fran speaks to her the girl tells Fran that her name is Esther and she is waiting for her Father who will come to get her.... who lives in Arizona. Concerned Fran is about to make a call to the police when a young woman comes running towards Esther, introducing herself as Mary Whitaker and Esther's mother. The Whitakers have newly shifted to the English village where Fran lives with her husband--a pious, conservative, mysterious family who prefer to keep to themselves. Fran tries to be friendly with Mary and her daughter but she can't ignore her growing concern that something is not right with the family. Then one day the Whitakers just pack up and leave and Fran guesses they have gone back to Arizona. Convinced that Mary and Esther are in danger, Fran decides to use her journalistic skills to track them down and finds out that her instincts are not only correct but the reality of the situation is far more dangerous.

The book is fast paced with short length chapters and I managed to finish this over 80 chapters book within a day. The chapters are all in Fran's POV but halfway through the book we get some flashback chapters (THEN) interspersed in Esther's POV. The smooth writing style of the author lets the narrative shift easily from past to present. There is a twist and the story ends on an ambiguous note in relation to Esther's eventual character development.

I received an e-Arc from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and the author Sarah A. Denzil via NetGalley.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That was a rollercoaster ride. I've got to say that from the synopsis you think this might be a missing child type thriller. It's not. The synopsis gives nothing away as to what this book is about. And if it gave any more details then it would spoil it (plus, who wants a review that regurgitates the synopsis?). With this in mind it is quite difficult to write a review without spoiling anything for those who have not yet read it.
The first half of the book was enjoyable but kind of plodded along, you really got to know Fran and build a relationship with her.
By the midway point I had an idea of where the story might be going and what some potential plot points could be but I was still unsure. My ideas of where the story might be going - completely wrong! Those potential plot points - nope!
You hi the midway point and this novel takes a turn and becomes an unputdownable, non-stop thrill ride. I absolutely loved the second half and cursed anybody who interrupted my reading time. It was all bam, bam, bam action and twisty, twist with plot twists. There is no way anyone hitting the half way mark would have predicted what was to come.
The final twist - SO GOOD!!! and so well written, completely believable and not just thrown in for shock value.
I will be looking up Sarah Denzil's other books and will definitely be buying more of her work in future.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah A. Denzil and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review.

[RedRedtheycallmeRed · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introvert/keep to myself type person, it was hard for me to wrap my head around Fran and her obsession with Mary and Esther. She just ingratiates herself into their lives after meeting them once! It's clear that it was a mistake for Fran to retire along with her older husband, she's still in her 40's and definitely needs some better hobbies.

When Mary's family moves quite suddenly, Fran is sure something is wrong, decides they've gone back to Arizona (unwillingly?) and FOLLOWS THEM THERE. At this point, I'm sure Fran is completely nuts, but from then on the story gets a whole lot more interesting. In addition to Fran's investigating, there are chapters from Esther's POV and I found her to be a very captivating character. The way the book ended makes me wonder if that's the last we'll see of Esther. I hope not.

There's a major twist at the end, and I was giving it considerable side eye at first, but it did make more sense as more was revealed. Did that make it believable? Absolutely not, but I enjoyed it anyway.

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me a lot of Alex Hart's 'Take Me Home' that I read in October. To be honest, it didn't really add much in my opinion to make it different.
I predicted the way the story was going fairly early but it was executed well, and I did get very uncomfortable reading the last hour of the book.
If I hadn't read the Hart book fairly recently, I think this book would have grabbed my attention and held onto it, much better.
The characters were likeable, although I was a little confused about Fran's developing obsession towards the Whittaker family. She just came across as interfering!
A good read overall, and I'm sure other readers will like it more.

[Tina B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars)

When Fran discovers Esther alone in the park, her only thought is to help the little girl return home safely. But when the mother Mary comes running up just moments later, Fran’s concern for the child turns to fear. Esther claims to be waiting on her father from Arizona who she believes is God. Mary explains it away as an imaginary friend, but Fran senses something’s badly wrong. Mary’s nothing more than a child herself. And both Mary and the little girl have suspicious bruises beneath their old-fashioned, homemade clothes. Suspecting Mary’s husband is controlling and abusive, Fran’s desperate to figure out what’s going on. Still grieving the death of her own child years before, Fran’s worry quickly turns into obsession. Fran can’t escape her gut feeling that Esther is in grave danger. When the family disappears, leaving all their belongings behind, Fran races to find them.

Chilling, dark, and disturbing, “Little One” by Sarah A. Denzil is an addicting, heart rending tale of child abuse and control. Brilliant character and plot development helps to create the feelings of eeriness and dread that permeate the book. Mary and Esther come off as creepy (and a little spooky) with their dress and behavior. You know what’s ahead must be bad. Fran seems rather one-dimensional, but it’s because her life is as lacking and flat as she appears to be. She’s lost her child. Her husband is only reluctantly supportive. Her life is rather empty. Until she meets Esther and Mary.

It’s hard to review “Little One” without spoiling the plot. Short chapters make it easy to blow through hundreds of pages in one sitting. The story unwinds at a steady pace, the tension and suspense growing and becoming more intense with every passing page. What Fran ultimately discovers will fill you with disgust and make it hard to keep reading, but you can’t look away. The things that happen to Esther and her mother occur in real life. As you read, you know how tragic the ending might be if Fran’s too late. But will she be? The ending will leave you thinking.

This book remained heavy on my mind for hours after I finished it. Even as Fran fought to save Mary and Esther from abuse, she caught herself getting partially sucked in by the man perpetrating it. Finding the emotional support and warmth she didn’t get at home, she would have become a victim too if she hadn’t already discovered the truth. Aside from being a compelling, stirring read, “Little One” by Sarah A. Denzil offers a commentary on how easily we can be led astray (and even into danger) when someone offers us the one thing they know we need most.

This book is a must read.

Thank you to Sarah A. Denzil and Victory Editing for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would I recommend the read: yes. Will you love it...debatable.

Denzil's writing is always fantastic and remains so in this novel. The characters show great development, and the plot keeps moving. My biggest issue was connected to protagonist Fran's over-the-top obsession with the Whittaker family. There were times when I thought this just would not happen. She seemed to be rather interfering! But persevere with the craziness as the twists at the end are well-worth your time.

An intriguing overall plot and outcome.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a run early morning, Fran found a child alone. Soon her mother came rushing down the path. But something felt off. Fran befriended her. Suddenly the child and her family vanished. Fran had to find out what happened to the child.

Having read Author Sarah Denzil’s works, I was excited, and it was completely justified. There was the right amount of intrigue for my interest to be spiked up. The writing was smooth, flowed well.

Fran drew my empathy; her reasons for searching for the strangers at any cost, bordered slightly on obsession, but I got it. She went to great lengths, even traveled wide and far, in search of them.

But… The onus here is on me. The topic the book delved into, once Fran got the clue, was not my favorite. In fact, I stay away from such topics in most books, nothing triggering, but not interesting to me.

I skim read those parts. And finally, there were two major twists, extremely shocking that perked me up. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had to think back to see if there were clues that I had missed.

All my love for the book was stored at the beginning and the end. At 99c/99p, I felt it was a good bargain.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an amazing read! The Little One by Sarah Denzil leaves nothing behind. Have ever had that guy feeling something isn't right but just can't put your finger on it?
In this book you have that feeling from beginning to end, she leaves us readers on the edge of our seat. What an amazing ride. This book was next impossible to put down. The writing flowed from chapter to chapter with ease you have no idea how far you have gotten without stopping. I would love to go into great detail about the story but I feel like it should be left up to the reader.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book to read for an honest review.

[Marie-Claude Gagné · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre excellent. J’ai été prise dans l’histoire dès le début. De bons rebondissements. Je vais définitivement lire d’autres livres de cette auteure.

Seul problème, mon édition avait une police de caractères microscopique.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ : Beaucoup aimé

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
There is a reason this author is an auto buy for me, and this book reinforces it. Brilliant. Just brilliant 👏

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich]

3.5 stars

Little One by Sarah A. Denzil is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Victory Editing, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

While out for her early morning run, Fran finds a child by the swings.  Esther is 7 years old, and wearing a rather old-fashioned hand-made dress.  She says she is waiting for Father.  When her mother appears, she tells Fran that they have just moved to the area, and the "Father" that Esther is waiting for is her imaginary friend, God.

Fran can't get Esther out of her mind, and tries to befriend the family.  This isn't easy, as Fran and her husband seem to be a little strange.  Esther is stranger.  Fran has never met such a dour young child.

When the family just disappears, Fran knows something is wrong.  She will do whatever she can to find them.  Fran's husband is not quite as open to this idea.


My Opinions:   

Okay, this was different, or it might just be me.  I am going to try and not judge too harshly, but when you don't like ANY of the characters, that is rough.  I found Fran to be very self-centered and over-bearing.  The rest were very weak-minded.  Esther was a nightmare (and her actions were far older than that of a seven year old).

I felt the book moved very slowly, and then, over half way in, it got quite good.  However, that is a little late for me.  Up to that point, I was barely interested.

As well, I found the first part of the book foreshadowed the Arizona happenings, and although I had suspicions, the final couple of twists did surprise me.


For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book and author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Joan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of eBook

Fran Cole, out for her regular early morning jog, finds a little girl standing near the swings. Her name is Esther; she tells Fran Father is coming. But, Esther informs her, Father lives in Arizona. Before Fran can respond to this, Esther’s mother arrives, breathless and worried and in search of the child.

Fran can’t keep from wondering [and worrying] about the child and her young mother. It isn’t long before Fran has invited Mary to come to choir, she’s friended Mary on Facebook, and she jogs past the Whitaker home.

Fran’s husband, Adrian, warns her about becoming so involved with the family, but Fran fails to heed his advice. And then, one day . . . without warning . . . they’re gone.

Fran is certain something terrible will happen to Esther and she vows to do everything possible to save her. But first, she’ll have to solve the mystery of the family’s disappearance.

The story has a continual undercurrent of tension, which keeps the reader on edge [and keeps the pages turning]. Readers are certain to agree with Fran’s assessment that there is something wrong in the family, but the unfolding story holds its secrets close, jealously guarding them, and revealing only bits and pieces to keep readers guessing.

Esther’s mother, Mary, seems quite vulnerable but completely devoted to her daughter. Esther is not a very likable child; readers are likely to find it difficult to relate to the little girl. And when the story focuses on her viewpoint, she certainly seems far older and wiser than the mere seven years she’s supposed to be . . . it’s a bit of a disconnect for the reader since the character’s thoughts and actions seldom typify those of a typical seven-year-old child.

Fran’s almost-immediate obsession with the Whitaker family is difficult to understand; dropping everything to travel to Arizona in search of the family is simply incomprehensible.

There’s a huge plot twist as the unfolding story approaches a particularly compelling situation . . . and the revelation is staggering. Totally out of left field, totally unpredicted; a massive surprise.

It also stretches the willing suspension of disbelief to the breaking point, leaving readers rolling their eyes in incredulity. After the obsession, the incomprehensible actions, and the cringe-worthy cult revelations, it’s just a bit too much to ask the reader to accept.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op
#LittleOne #NetGalley

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little One is a standalone psychological thriller from Sarah A. Denzil and follows Fran who has retired along with her older husband, Adrian. Fran is out jogging in the village one morning when she comes across a young girl in a pretty yellow dress with a Peter Pan collar, who says her name is Esther. The girl is standing next to the swings in the village park and is apparently waiting for her daddy to collect her. She tells Fran her dad lives in Arizona and Fran contemplates what to do next. Deciding to call the police, she takes her phone from the pocket of her running tights but then Esther's mum, Mary Whitaker arrives. Fran can't stop thinking about little Esther and Mary, and when Mary sends her a private message suggesting they meet, she is happy to do so. But her instincts are telling her that something is amiss, and when the Whitakers suddenly move to Arizona from the village of Leacroft, she decides to follow them.

After having read Little One I feel that I am completely indebted to Sarah A. Denzil! In addition to Fran's investigating, there were chapters from Esther's viewpoint. I enjoyed getting to know Fran in the first pages of the book, understanding her thought processes and learning about her backstory. Midway through, the momentum changed and I found myself on a tremendous rollercoaster ride. Sarah A. Denzil has drawn a great character in Fran and equally noteworthy is her portrayal of Esther. Mary and Esther both came across as creepy because of their unusual behaviour, helping to create a sense of eeriness and a tone of apprehension that permeates throughout. Fran's husband, Adrian is a reluctant supporter of her and her life lacks purpose and intention... until she meets Esther and Mary.

The short chapters made this an easy read and as the story unfolded the levels of tension and suspense intensified. The story immediately drew me in, held my attention, and kept me invested emotionally. Its stellar plot and the author's intricate detailing made this an addictive, heart-rending read. Masterfully crafted, Little One is fantastically compelling, culminating in a top-notch final twist. I really enjoyed this, my second novel by Sarah A. Denzil and I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Kian · Rating 1 out of 5]

The summary did its job in making the book seem interesting and creepy. Too bad the book didn't actually deliver. I thought I was in for something thrilling and that the summary described the set up -- not 50% of a very unthrilling book. The amount of time the author spent establishing why Fran would be obsessed with Mary and Esther (whom she barely seemed to like) made it read as if she knew how implausible her plot was but didn't want to change it. The result is a story that goes on and on and on without really arriving anywhere until only a stellar conclusion could save it from a one star rating. It did not have a stellar conclusion. It was so eyeroll-worthy I only stuck with it because I was so close to the end anyway. Sometimes it's tricky to rate books, but not this time. One star. Easily.

[Ted Duke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story started out interesting with main characters I liked and as the plot unfolded I felt invested in them. To me, the story dragged through a long middle on the way to a finale.

The highly improbable discovery of who Fran's husband really was ruined the story. I was about to delete the book from my Kindle but decided to finish it. Nothing after that point changed my mind.

Not recommended.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that ended somewhere very differently than I expected at the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers ARC for the opportunity to read this.

When Fran meets a young girl in old-fashioned clothes standing alone in the park while she’s out in her morning run she’s intrigued. That the girl and her very young mother, who very shortly afterwards turns up delighted to find her daughter, display finger tip shaped bruises is only one of the reasons Fran is intrigued. Having suffered her own family trauma Fran is drawn to the Whitakers, the father, mother and young daughter who have very recently moved to her small Derbyshire village.

There are hints that the Whitakers are hiding a secret. Is there something sinister or are they just misunderstood by people judging them for their different background. When the Whitakers disappear almost as suddenly as they first appeared in the village Fran is driven to track them down to find out if mother and daughter need rescuing. The journey takes her many miles as she finds links to an insular religious community in rural Arizona with an charismatic leader.

Looked at objectively the plot in the second half of this books is over the top, really stretching the boundaries of the reader’s credulity. It’s a tribute to the writing, and the slow character development which took place in the first half of the book, that it remains gripping.

A tense domestic thriller which at times felt like there was the potential for a darker almost supernatural explanation. The truth is dark, but still very human. Fran’s grief over the loss of a child years before, and her guilt for having engaged in gossip about the Whitakers which she fears may have driven them out, are the stories which hold this together.

A great read for a winter’s night when you can hug your own family close after reading.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a suspenseful story about a woman named Fran who becomes obsessed with a neighboring family after finding their runaway young girl in a park very early in the morning. She introduces herself to the family, who dress in an old fashioned manner and are traditionally conservative and religious. The mother looks to be barely in her twenties and the father is twice her age. Fran prides herself on acceptance of all different groups of people, but she can't help the feeling that something is just...off. Her husband, Adrian, understands her curiosity but tries to keep Fran from becoming too obsessed with this family that seem to be doing fine. After awhile, the family finds themselves scorned by the rest of the village for being the strange outsiders and they soon leave without a trace. Rather than letting it go, Fran becomes more obsessed than ever. Will discovering the truth about the family destroy her own?

Although at times the story moved a bit slow for me, I was drawn to many of the characters and the mystery of the pious family. There's quite a lot of introspection from Fran with many of the same repeated thoughts, which I know makes sense because of her obsessive nature. She has her own issues that she comes to terms with throughout the story, but I think more interspersed action at these times would help to keep the interest of the reader. The book heads in a different direction partway through and at that point it became more of a page turner for me. I can't say more because it's best not to give it away! And pay attention because there is an amazing twist towards the end of the story that came out of nowhere for me - I couldn't believe I never saw it coming! That's what I get for thinking I had it all figured out at that point. This author never lets me down!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley and Sarah A. Denzil for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


4 stars.


Ohhhh! I knew there was a reason why I liked this author. The story felt a bit slow to unfold but once it did...woah! It quickly went from a 3 star read to a 4 in an instant.

I admit, I was getting a bit bored with what seemed to be a story about a woman's obsession over a family. I couldn't see where the story was heading and didn't see it getting any more interesting. But ohh boy was I wrong! I will gladly say I was very very wrong because when I could see that there was definitely something going on and I was getting more interested, bam, a twist in the story was revealed and I could see the obsessed woman wasn't just an obsessed woman who had been transferring her traumas onto another. That she actually was onto something.

How the story ended wrapped it up nicely and I look back on it and realise o did enjoy that ride. Some things that hadn't made complete sense to me throughout the book, did by the end.

Can say that I would recommend this book and this author.

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐
Sarah A. Denzil is a fantastic story teller. If you loved this book I can not recommend Silent Child and Poison Orchids enough. (written with Anni Taylor who is also a great Australian author)

As far as Little One goes I was really into it for the first 40% then found it a little slow, but really appreciated the short chapters as it may it easier to get through.

[amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

do niecalej 1 polowy dosc nudna, ALE POTEM SIE TAK ROZKRECILA... latwy i przyjemny język, naprawdę polecam !!<3

[Caroline Dion · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'ai trouvé la deuxième moitié du livre plus intéressante. Je trouve le dénouement de la fin un peu gros quand même. Mais j'ai bien aimé ce livre!

[Kayl_may · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. Not exactly what I was expecting but a decent read. It went on in places but overall a great story, some good twists and satisfying ending.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sects/ cults is one of my favourite tropes in thrillers.

some thing(s) I liked:
✅well written
✅twisty
✅cults

some thing(s), not so much:
⭕yucky yucky yuck paedos