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The Cry
He's gone. And telling the truth won't bring him back...
When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world.
Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other.
Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?
The Cry is a dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.
When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world.
Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other.
Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?
The Cry is a dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
334 people are currently reading
4209 people want to read
About the author
Helen Fitzgerald
20 books346 followersHelen FitzGerald is the second youngest of thirteen children. She grew up in the small town of Kilmore, Victoria, Australia, and studied English and History at the University of Melbourne. Via India and London, Helen came to Glasgow University where she completed a Diploma and Masters in Social Work. She works part time as a criminal justice social worker in Glasgow. She's married to screenwriter Sergio Casci, and they have two children.
Follow her on twitter @fitzhelen
Follow her on twitter @fitzhelen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
May 20, 2019
The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald was a book that I have had on my kindle for the past couple of months but was advised to save it for my holiday as it is just the sort of book you want to read start and not stop until the end. And it was an excellent clever psychological thriller.
This is the story of a young couple who suffer every parent's worst nightmare with the disappearance of their baby. Lies rumours and guilt snowball causing the parents Joanna and Alistair to slowly turn against each other.
A book that captures your imagination, an easy read and a real page turner and the sort of book that keeps you wondering until the end. The perfect holiday read.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Wife Between Us
or
as it has the dark, twisted style to the story. It is well written with characters that are well developed.
I read this book in a day on holidays and look forward to checking out more of Helen Fitzgerald's books.
This is the story of a young couple who suffer every parent's worst nightmare with the disappearance of their baby. Lies rumours and guilt snowball causing the parents Joanna and Alistair to slowly turn against each other.
A book that captures your imagination, an easy read and a real page turner and the sort of book that keeps you wondering until the end. The perfect holiday read.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoyed The Wife Between Us
or
as it has the dark, twisted style to the story. It is well written with characters that are well developed.I read this book in a day on holidays and look forward to checking out more of Helen Fitzgerald's books.
August 23, 2023
I loved this, and heartily welcomed a five star read. It’s been an uncommon occurrence lately.
This book had all the good things. Well-paced, characters we got to know easily, and nothing was ‘told’. For a small book, events were quickly unfolding while each character was fully fleshed out. I mostly enjoy character driven novels, and this really satisfied all aspects.
A young couple on a flight from Glasgow to Melbourne, it’s a dreadful trip. The baby won’t settle, his dad is useless and his mum bereft as the crying refuses to cease. No one helps and everyone judges. This baby’s father is all for show, he is a liar, a shallow pretentious man. I loved the angst portrayed here, the feelings of a desperate mother and the harsh judgement of others unwilling to show kindness. It was done well, compelling and palpable. Desperate to change a dirty nappy in the airplane toilet, she finally manages to do this after waiting in line, standing in 'piss and filth' in her socks as she was too scattered to put on her shoes. We see a woman at the end of her tether. Then she forgets to use the toilet herself. No words wasted, I felt I was always there on the twisty tradjectory.
We also meet his prior family, as he walked out on them to be with his current partner. Both women come to know as the story goes along what a poor person he is, lacking integrity in making up for that in equal measure a grandiosity.
This newborn baby dies upon landing and the outside community chime in via tweets and blog posts (I listened to this, and the delivery of these medias worked well), his mother’s sanity declines outwardly the more she realises the lack of control she has of her own live, the way it has been relinquished to this awful man.
I cannot wait to watch the show on Stan, again, late to the party on this one but so very glad I got to it. Recommended to those who love a good thriller, but with deeper themes such as control in relationships, manipulation, moral dilemmas and mostly good people landing in murky waters.
I may have been slightly let down by the end, though I still happily rate at 5 stars.
I listened to this on the BorrowBox platform via my public library at 1.5 speed, with narration that was mostly good – excellent Scottish accent, less effective Aussie which sounded more South African. The words Geelong and Melbourne were not pronounced properly so this was a little distracting as they were common names.
This book had all the good things. Well-paced, characters we got to know easily, and nothing was ‘told’. For a small book, events were quickly unfolding while each character was fully fleshed out. I mostly enjoy character driven novels, and this really satisfied all aspects.
A young couple on a flight from Glasgow to Melbourne, it’s a dreadful trip. The baby won’t settle, his dad is useless and his mum bereft as the crying refuses to cease. No one helps and everyone judges. This baby’s father is all for show, he is a liar, a shallow pretentious man. I loved the angst portrayed here, the feelings of a desperate mother and the harsh judgement of others unwilling to show kindness. It was done well, compelling and palpable. Desperate to change a dirty nappy in the airplane toilet, she finally manages to do this after waiting in line, standing in 'piss and filth' in her socks as she was too scattered to put on her shoes. We see a woman at the end of her tether. Then she forgets to use the toilet herself. No words wasted, I felt I was always there on the twisty tradjectory.
We also meet his prior family, as he walked out on them to be with his current partner. Both women come to know as the story goes along what a poor person he is, lacking integrity in making up for that in equal measure a grandiosity.
This newborn baby dies upon landing and the outside community chime in via tweets and blog posts (I listened to this, and the delivery of these medias worked well), his mother’s sanity declines outwardly the more she realises the lack of control she has of her own live, the way it has been relinquished to this awful man.
I cannot wait to watch the show on Stan, again, late to the party on this one but so very glad I got to it. Recommended to those who love a good thriller, but with deeper themes such as control in relationships, manipulation, moral dilemmas and mostly good people landing in murky waters.
I may have been slightly let down by the end, though I still happily rate at 5 stars.
I listened to this on the BorrowBox platform via my public library at 1.5 speed, with narration that was mostly good – excellent Scottish accent, less effective Aussie which sounded more South African. The words Geelong and Melbourne were not pronounced properly so this was a little distracting as they were common names.
January 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It held my attention from beginning to end. I really had a hard time getting anything else done. Beautifully written with a captivating plot. A baby is gone missing is every parents worst nightmare. The main characters are so well developed. You can see how the manipulation plays out. So many twists and turns but not confusing at all. Right from the beginning with the scene in the airport I was pulled in and excited to keep reading.
I highly recommend this book!!!
I highly recommend this book!!!
October 30, 2013
Alistair and Joanna are on a flight from Glasgow to Australia with their nine week old baby boy Noah. Their plane trip is not only very long but it is unpleasant to say the least. Joanna has a terrible ear infection which causes her great pain and discomfort and baby Noah won't settle for most of the trip. Noah's endless crying and screaming starts to disturb the other passengers although his parents are doing their best to try and calm him down and yet nothing seems to be working.
Once they finally land in Australia they hire a rental car and head towards Geelong. During this trip things take a dramatic turn for the worst as Noah goes missing and there is nothing his mother or father can do to bring him back.
This is a compelling, gripping and at times disturbing read and it's also a story of guilt, lies, innocence and truth and one in which I really enjoyed. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
Once they finally land in Australia they hire a rental car and head towards Geelong. During this trip things take a dramatic turn for the worst as Noah goes missing and there is nothing his mother or father can do to bring him back.
This is a compelling, gripping and at times disturbing read and it's also a story of guilt, lies, innocence and truth and one in which I really enjoyed. I have no hesitation in recommending this book.
October 27, 2018
“A dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma” - a description that is music to my ears – sadly this book did not live up to its promise.
Joanna is the Other Woman, having enjoyed a lusty affair with Alistair, which precipitates his divorce from the beautiful Alexandra. After a rather fraught flight to Australia, during which Joanna was seen to lose patience with their baby, Noah, he “goes missing”, and so begins the cover up. Joanna, naturally, is grief-stricken but goes along with Alistair's wishes; he quickly immerses himself in the story he has fabricated, almost seeming to enjoy the drama. In the meantime he is also trying to gain custody of his daughter Chloe who, he claims, was kidnapped by Alexandra. He is a man who has to win, no matter what.
This novel is inhabited by characters who are one-dimensional and unlikeable, a plot so far-fetched, and often ridiculous dialogue, I wonder how I managed to finish it. The timeline, with chapters about each of the two women – Joanna and Alexandra – told on the same date makes for often very confusing reading, and for some strange reason Joanna's chapters are written in third person, whilst Alexandra's are first person. Would fourteen year old Chloe, who had never met her baby step brother, really spend so much time and effort in trying to find the missing baby of her estranged father and his new partner, a woman she hated with a passion? Hmmm – I doubt it. Alistair is a self-centred sleaze, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants - and the reason for his atrocious behaviour is all too apparent. I was hoping he would wander off into the Australian outback never to be seen again.
Why did we have to endure all those Twitter entries? Surelythe author could have found another, better, way of conveying gossip and rumour; I suppose this was to give the book a “modern” feel – to show how social media is used. It failed to impress, and in fact had me skipping through those sections.
A more appropriate title would be “The Lie” because this is really what the novel is about – not so much a missing baby, but the lie concerning his demise. This is one of those Lazy Afternoon reads, with too many loose ends, a see-through plot, irritating characters and the obligatory bad language thrown in for good measure and “realism”. A psychological thriller it certainly isn't. I wish I could say it was an enjoyable page-turner – it wasn't.
This does not encourage me to read anything else by this author.
Joanna is the Other Woman, having enjoyed a lusty affair with Alistair, which precipitates his divorce from the beautiful Alexandra. After a rather fraught flight to Australia, during which Joanna was seen to lose patience with their baby, Noah, he “goes missing”, and so begins the cover up. Joanna, naturally, is grief-stricken but goes along with Alistair's wishes; he quickly immerses himself in the story he has fabricated, almost seeming to enjoy the drama. In the meantime he is also trying to gain custody of his daughter Chloe who, he claims, was kidnapped by Alexandra. He is a man who has to win, no matter what.
This novel is inhabited by characters who are one-dimensional and unlikeable, a plot so far-fetched, and often ridiculous dialogue, I wonder how I managed to finish it. The timeline, with chapters about each of the two women – Joanna and Alexandra – told on the same date makes for often very confusing reading, and for some strange reason Joanna's chapters are written in third person, whilst Alexandra's are first person. Would fourteen year old Chloe, who had never met her baby step brother, really spend so much time and effort in trying to find the missing baby of her estranged father and his new partner, a woman she hated with a passion? Hmmm – I doubt it. Alistair is a self-centred sleaze, who will stop at nothing to get what he wants - and the reason for his atrocious behaviour is all too apparent. I was hoping he would wander off into the Australian outback never to be seen again.
Why did we have to endure all those Twitter entries? Surelythe author could have found another, better, way of conveying gossip and rumour; I suppose this was to give the book a “modern” feel – to show how social media is used. It failed to impress, and in fact had me skipping through those sections.
A more appropriate title would be “The Lie” because this is really what the novel is about – not so much a missing baby, but the lie concerning his demise. This is one of those Lazy Afternoon reads, with too many loose ends, a see-through plot, irritating characters and the obligatory bad language thrown in for good measure and “realism”. A psychological thriller it certainly isn't. I wish I could say it was an enjoyable page-turner – it wasn't.
This does not encourage me to read anything else by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2020
Another book I felt was really really good. I could not put it down. This is the best kind of book IMO. This author is a wonderful writer and I can't wait to read more of her books. I had so many feelings when I was reading this story. It is about a sad situation but I definitely identified with the main character, the woman who was telling the story. A couple are on a trip and their baby dies. What happens afterwards is crazy and you will never figure it out. She learns so much about herself and her life. She had been in therapy years before and could never figure out what the therapist was trying to tell her but after this situation she figure it out and her life got better. Loved this story, not the subject matter but the way it was told.
August 2, 2022
I really want to emphasise that The Cry isn’t just for thriller readers; anyone who likes ethical grey areas and/or the complexity of modern families will rip through it. It’s a dark, psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma, perfect for anyone who enjoys a story about good people doing bad things.
My full review of The Cry can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of The Cry can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
June 11, 2015
1.5 stars
Great premise but I didn't like the book, although I couldn't put it down.
The characters were not likeable at all, and the ending was horrible (to me).
The beginning was great, I had such expectations, and sympathized with Joanna, but as the plt began to unfold, just... nope.
Great premise but I didn't like the book, although I couldn't put it down.
The characters were not likeable at all, and the ending was horrible (to me).
The beginning was great, I had such expectations, and sympathized with Joanna, but as the plt began to unfold, just... nope.
August 20, 2014
The Cry by Helen Fitzgerald is a dark, disturbing tale of guilt, innocence, truth and lies which held me in thrall from start to finish.
This thrilling psychological drama delves into every parent's worst nightmare, nine week old Noah is gone and nothing his mother, Joanne, can do will bring him back to her. She wonders is she is being punished for her affair with Noah's father, Alistair, who was still married when she began seeing him, or for her impatience and anger with Noah's endless crying on the plane journey from London to Australia, but no matter the 'why', Joanna blames herself.
I am loathe to give away any hint of the gripping twists and turns that awaits the reader in this engrossing novel. The plot is skillfully crafted to both reveal and conceal the truth and lies that surround baby Noah's fate. Nothing is ever quite as it seems and I couldn't help but race through the pages until The Cry reached its stunning conclusion.
The characters are complex, real but deeply flawed in the way we all are. How you feel about these people, Joanna, Alistair and Alexandra changes as facades begin to crack under the strain of uncertainty and secrets revealed.
Heartbreaking, shocking and utterly gripping The Cry has been added to my list of favourite novels for 2013.
November 12, 2018
This had me completely hooked straight from the first chapter, I just wanted to keep reading.
I’d first become aware of The Cry with the BBC adaptation starring Jenna Coleman, prior to reading I’d only knew the basic premise.
It’s the type of book that is really quite hard to review, as got don’t want to give anything away.
The story focuses on a parents worst nightmare as their 9 week old baby goes missing in a lonely roadside in Australia.
There’s so many great twists and the characters are so well written, I found that I was already halfway through within no time at all.
These are the types of books I love!
Definitely going to check out the series on iPlayer now.
I’d first become aware of The Cry with the BBC adaptation starring Jenna Coleman, prior to reading I’d only knew the basic premise.
It’s the type of book that is really quite hard to review, as got don’t want to give anything away.
The story focuses on a parents worst nightmare as their 9 week old baby goes missing in a lonely roadside in Australia.
There’s so many great twists and the characters are so well written, I found that I was already halfway through within no time at all.
These are the types of books I love!
Definitely going to check out the series on iPlayer now.
October 16, 2018
The Cry is a dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.
....so says the blurb.
No it's not. It's blatantly obvious what had happened, it's not dark and it's not gripping.
Gah.
....so says the blurb.
No it's not. It's blatantly obvious what had happened, it's not dark and it's not gripping.
Gah.
November 21, 2018
* https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Meet Joanna, Alistair and their baby boy Noah. When The Cry begins, the family embark on a long haul flight from Glasgow to Melbourne, Australia. However, this nightmare flight takes a turn for the worst when the family finally lands in Melbourne. Baby Noah goes missing. This is a divisive case that seems to baffle the police involved and it seems to draw out plenty of opinion from the public, as well as the media. The pressure is immense on the stressed parents, Joanna and Alistair, but happened to baby Noah?
I must admit the cover enticed me to select this book from my heavy review pile. To accompany the BBC television series based on The Cry, Faber an imprint of Allen and Unwin have republished this 2013 release. The cover features images of the cast of the small screen version of The Cry. Jenna Coleman, the British actress of Victoria fame, is situated at the centre of the front cover and she is a favourite actress of mine. I have been closely scrutinizing the ABC television guide here in Australia, as I am very interested in seeing how this BBC produced drama will hold up next to a book I completely devoured.
I simply sprinted through The Cry. Helen FitzGerald is a skilled storyteller and I loved my first experience of her writing. She places emphasis on the domestic forum and she leans towards psychological suspense. The chapters are short and concise, but they contain a hook so I found it virtually impossible to put this book down. The Cry will consume you and have you pondering the scenarios it presents. FitzGerald is deliberate in her approach to balance tension and high emotion with the raw facts of the situation. Expect your heart to be torn apart by the close of the novel, The Cry is this kind of book.
I immediately set up camp in Joanna’s field when I started to read The Cry. The stressful and harrowing plane scene had me reeling in despair. I just wanted to slap Alistair for his ignorance and the flight staff for their distinct lack of concern! With my loyalties set firmly on Joanna’s version of events, when the book flipped to include Alexandra, the ex –wife’s take on the events, l still felt empathy for Joanna. Alexandra’s perspective is like a hidden extra, adding an essential bonus sheet onto the proceedings. Likewise, the presence of Alistair’s mother and his daughter provides further substance to this complex tale. Finally, the law enforcement and extra support systems involved in Noah’s case are sculpted precisely by FitzGerald.
The themes covered in The Cry are fairly distressing, from anxiety, depression, blame, guilt, confusion, loss, sadness and justice. The cross in setting from Glasgow to Melbourne was presented well by Helen FitzGerald. There is further foreshadowing involved, when a bushfire threatens to take hold, adding to the heightened tension – filled atmosphere. FitzGerald is a clearly the queen of manipulation, she sets us up for a situation that we try to unpack with as much logic as we can, but she turns the axis so we feel disorientated. I admit to having absolutely no idea of where the ending was going to settle, but the closure FitzGerald presented was fitting.
This book and the accompanying series has had twitter in uproar. I think The Cry is a novel that will appeal to readers of any genre, it is that style of book. It will send you in a spin! The lasting reminder The Cry left me with was my new interest in Helen FitzGerald, I am really keen to explore more of her work.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Cry is book #140 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
Meet Joanna, Alistair and their baby boy Noah. When The Cry begins, the family embark on a long haul flight from Glasgow to Melbourne, Australia. However, this nightmare flight takes a turn for the worst when the family finally lands in Melbourne. Baby Noah goes missing. This is a divisive case that seems to baffle the police involved and it seems to draw out plenty of opinion from the public, as well as the media. The pressure is immense on the stressed parents, Joanna and Alistair, but happened to baby Noah?
I must admit the cover enticed me to select this book from my heavy review pile. To accompany the BBC television series based on The Cry, Faber an imprint of Allen and Unwin have republished this 2013 release. The cover features images of the cast of the small screen version of The Cry. Jenna Coleman, the British actress of Victoria fame, is situated at the centre of the front cover and she is a favourite actress of mine. I have been closely scrutinizing the ABC television guide here in Australia, as I am very interested in seeing how this BBC produced drama will hold up next to a book I completely devoured.
I simply sprinted through The Cry. Helen FitzGerald is a skilled storyteller and I loved my first experience of her writing. She places emphasis on the domestic forum and she leans towards psychological suspense. The chapters are short and concise, but they contain a hook so I found it virtually impossible to put this book down. The Cry will consume you and have you pondering the scenarios it presents. FitzGerald is deliberate in her approach to balance tension and high emotion with the raw facts of the situation. Expect your heart to be torn apart by the close of the novel, The Cry is this kind of book.
I immediately set up camp in Joanna’s field when I started to read The Cry. The stressful and harrowing plane scene had me reeling in despair. I just wanted to slap Alistair for his ignorance and the flight staff for their distinct lack of concern! With my loyalties set firmly on Joanna’s version of events, when the book flipped to include Alexandra, the ex –wife’s take on the events, l still felt empathy for Joanna. Alexandra’s perspective is like a hidden extra, adding an essential bonus sheet onto the proceedings. Likewise, the presence of Alistair’s mother and his daughter provides further substance to this complex tale. Finally, the law enforcement and extra support systems involved in Noah’s case are sculpted precisely by FitzGerald.
The themes covered in The Cry are fairly distressing, from anxiety, depression, blame, guilt, confusion, loss, sadness and justice. The cross in setting from Glasgow to Melbourne was presented well by Helen FitzGerald. There is further foreshadowing involved, when a bushfire threatens to take hold, adding to the heightened tension – filled atmosphere. FitzGerald is a clearly the queen of manipulation, she sets us up for a situation that we try to unpack with as much logic as we can, but she turns the axis so we feel disorientated. I admit to having absolutely no idea of where the ending was going to settle, but the closure FitzGerald presented was fitting.
This book and the accompanying series has had twitter in uproar. I think The Cry is a novel that will appeal to readers of any genre, it is that style of book. It will send you in a spin! The lasting reminder The Cry left me with was my new interest in Helen FitzGerald, I am really keen to explore more of her work.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Cry is book #140 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
August 22, 2014
i didn't like this book at all.
First of all, the characters were REALLY annoying/selfish/self-centered. the only bearable one was Chloe (daughter of Alistair and Alexandra) the book also narrated from the different point of views from the characters. and personally i felt that there was no rhyme or reason to it. what was the point of narrating the story from Alexandra's point of view besides the fact that she's the ex-wife who got cheated on? it didn't contribute much to the plot. and also it doesn't explain why Chloe was so obsessed in the kidnapping of Noah when she so clearly detested Joanna and Alistair for ruining the family. I thought there might be an ulterior motive behind it but turns out there was none.
While i get that the main theme of the book is about lies and toxic relationships etc., .
I did finish the entire book but i did not feel satisfied as i received no closure from the ending.
First of all, the characters were REALLY annoying/selfish/self-centered. the only bearable one was Chloe (daughter of Alistair and Alexandra) the book also narrated from the different point of views from the characters. and personally i felt that there was no rhyme or reason to it. what was the point of narrating the story from Alexandra's point of view besides the fact that she's the ex-wife who got cheated on? it didn't contribute much to the plot. and also it doesn't explain why Chloe was so obsessed in the kidnapping of Noah when she so clearly detested Joanna and Alistair for ruining the family. I thought there might be an ulterior motive behind it but turns out there was none.
While i get that the main theme of the book is about lies and toxic relationships etc., .
I did finish the entire book but i did not feel satisfied as i received no closure from the ending.
January 31, 2014
THE CRY is going to be very hard to review because the reader gets to know most of the secret very early on but it would spoil it to mention it to someone who hasn’t read it. What I CAN say though is that a baby goes missing. The story starts before the baby is reported missing and takes the reader behind the events leading up to the reporting and the subsequent events that follow. Clear as mud? Well you will just have to read it for yourself.
The story opens as Joanna, Alistair and their newborn son, Noah, leave the UK for a long haul flight to Melbourne, Australia, so Alistair can attend a custody hearing for his daughter from a previous marriage. Joanna is ill and Noah will not stop crying; while Alistair sleeps blissfully for most of the flight Joanna is at her wits end getting no help for the air staff and nothing other than grumblings from the other passengers. Joanne does get a bit of sleep towards the end of the flight and they all get into a rental car and drive south of Melbourne to Alistair’s mothers place. The story switches to the ex-wife, Alexandra, and daughter Chloe. Alex sees internet breaking news reports that baby Noah has gone missing – taken from the back of the rental car as Joanna and Alistair stop at a small grocery shop and leave the baby in the back of the car. There is a huge hunt for the missing child, and the usual trial by media that we come to expect nowadays. In fact Helen Fitzgerald has done an amazing job over portraying the role of media and how what is being said in the public domain differs from what is actually happen, for instance, Joanna is poker faced and without emotion because she is doped up on valium not cold and heartless. So not only do Noah’s parents go through the hell of losing their child, they have the horror of media saturation to tend with. Everyone has an opinion as to what happened, and everyone feels that it is their God-given right to express it without any thought as to the impact of their words.
THE CRY is very good, it is distressing, it is a study on manipulation and guilt and I just wanted to slap Alistair, what a horrible, horrible character he was – but he is spin doctor for a political party so using the media and manipulating people and events is what comes naturally to him. But while he seems to grow stronger in the crisis Joanna descends into hell and loses all sense of reality. The reader can feel the tension build and just knows that something has to give – and it does. Once the climax has been reached though there can be healing although how a parent can come back from that is anyone’s guess. The story is told mostly from either Joanna’s or Alexandra’s points of view and while the reader thinks they know what is going on there is a twist that I had never even thought of that triggers climax. A definite psychological thriller set in an average family, which makes so scarily plausible.
The story opens as Joanna, Alistair and their newborn son, Noah, leave the UK for a long haul flight to Melbourne, Australia, so Alistair can attend a custody hearing for his daughter from a previous marriage. Joanna is ill and Noah will not stop crying; while Alistair sleeps blissfully for most of the flight Joanna is at her wits end getting no help for the air staff and nothing other than grumblings from the other passengers. Joanne does get a bit of sleep towards the end of the flight and they all get into a rental car and drive south of Melbourne to Alistair’s mothers place. The story switches to the ex-wife, Alexandra, and daughter Chloe. Alex sees internet breaking news reports that baby Noah has gone missing – taken from the back of the rental car as Joanna and Alistair stop at a small grocery shop and leave the baby in the back of the car. There is a huge hunt for the missing child, and the usual trial by media that we come to expect nowadays. In fact Helen Fitzgerald has done an amazing job over portraying the role of media and how what is being said in the public domain differs from what is actually happen, for instance, Joanna is poker faced and without emotion because she is doped up on valium not cold and heartless. So not only do Noah’s parents go through the hell of losing their child, they have the horror of media saturation to tend with. Everyone has an opinion as to what happened, and everyone feels that it is their God-given right to express it without any thought as to the impact of their words.
THE CRY is very good, it is distressing, it is a study on manipulation and guilt and I just wanted to slap Alistair, what a horrible, horrible character he was – but he is spin doctor for a political party so using the media and manipulating people and events is what comes naturally to him. But while he seems to grow stronger in the crisis Joanna descends into hell and loses all sense of reality. The reader can feel the tension build and just knows that something has to give – and it does. Once the climax has been reached though there can be healing although how a parent can come back from that is anyone’s guess. The story is told mostly from either Joanna’s or Alexandra’s points of view and while the reader thinks they know what is going on there is a twist that I had never even thought of that triggers climax. A definite psychological thriller set in an average family, which makes so scarily plausible.
August 16, 2013
Coming September from Faber & Faber
Thank you kindly to Helen Fitzgerald and the Publisher for the advance copy of this novel.
Baby Noah goes missing from a roadside in Australia and the media attention is intense and extreme. Battling their loss and the attention, Noah’s parents Alistair and Joanna slowly start to fall apart. As the search heads ever closer to the truth of what happened to Noah, the blame game begins…
I’m not sure how best to describe “The Cry”. The blurb calls it a “psychological thriller” and yes I suppose it is in a way. But I have to say I read it more as a family drama – the characterisation is pure and oh so realistic and Ms Fitzgerald has used real life to great effect – we have all seen on the news many high profile missing children cases where first sympathy abounds then suspicion begins…and how social media can play such a huge role in the pressure put upon parents and the police in these situations. What she has done is put a human face on it – the public can’t see what goes on behind closed doors when the 24/7 news cycle goes mad but in this fictional story thats exactly what we get. Brilliantly done.
Timeslips are used to great effect – we see Joanna and Alistair’s journey with Noah from leaving Scotland, on various legs of the flight to Australia, at the same time hints and teasers about what is actually going on now. As the strands come together the whole picture emerges…in a fascinating way. There is no real attempt at hiding secrets here – although what you see may not always be what you get – its very much about the emotion behind the mask and how you can never know what really goes on in someone elses head. As Joanna heads further and further into what could almost be called insanity, you will feel for her…and for those around her.
Its an amazing book to be sure. I have read some fantastic books lately, this has been a terrific year for terrific novels – yet I sense that this is the one that will stay with me for a long time. Beautifully written, characters you will relate to and feel for and a story that could so easily be truth you should certainly not miss this one. Cry? Oh yes. Indeed I did.
Happy Reading Folks!
Thank you kindly to Helen Fitzgerald and the Publisher for the advance copy of this novel.
Baby Noah goes missing from a roadside in Australia and the media attention is intense and extreme. Battling their loss and the attention, Noah’s parents Alistair and Joanna slowly start to fall apart. As the search heads ever closer to the truth of what happened to Noah, the blame game begins…
I’m not sure how best to describe “The Cry”. The blurb calls it a “psychological thriller” and yes I suppose it is in a way. But I have to say I read it more as a family drama – the characterisation is pure and oh so realistic and Ms Fitzgerald has used real life to great effect – we have all seen on the news many high profile missing children cases where first sympathy abounds then suspicion begins…and how social media can play such a huge role in the pressure put upon parents and the police in these situations. What she has done is put a human face on it – the public can’t see what goes on behind closed doors when the 24/7 news cycle goes mad but in this fictional story thats exactly what we get. Brilliantly done.
Timeslips are used to great effect – we see Joanna and Alistair’s journey with Noah from leaving Scotland, on various legs of the flight to Australia, at the same time hints and teasers about what is actually going on now. As the strands come together the whole picture emerges…in a fascinating way. There is no real attempt at hiding secrets here – although what you see may not always be what you get – its very much about the emotion behind the mask and how you can never know what really goes on in someone elses head. As Joanna heads further and further into what could almost be called insanity, you will feel for her…and for those around her.
Its an amazing book to be sure. I have read some fantastic books lately, this has been a terrific year for terrific novels – yet I sense that this is the one that will stay with me for a long time. Beautifully written, characters you will relate to and feel for and a story that could so easily be truth you should certainly not miss this one. Cry? Oh yes. Indeed I did.
Happy Reading Folks!
November 6, 2015
This was my second book in a row with heart breaking story lines, after finishing We Need to talk about Kevin. This is a completely different story but is just as in-depth, with hook after hook pulling you in. It is a little like the new genre of books like Gone Girl at the beginning, where you are not sure if you like any of the characters. I enjoyed the style of writing and if you think you can cope with the subject matter, the disappearance of a baby. This is a dark psychological thriller, which involves the characters response to guilt, rumours, devastation, lies and manipulation. I was on board from the very first scene and enjoyed it all.
June 25, 2020
Bit ću iskrena i reći da mi je mučno što se trebam osvrnuti na ovaj „mračni psihološki triler, u čijem je središtu priče teška i uzbudljiva moralna dilema likova, zbog kojih će vam se sa svakom novom pročitanom stranicom otvarati nova pitanja i nedoumice“. Ovo pod navodnicima nisu moje riječi, već one sklepane na brzinu koje vas moraju natjerati da kupite ovaj roman.
A mučno mi je, ne samo iz razloga što se radi o još jednom djelu s otmicom djeteta, već zbog cijele priče koja je apsolutno neuvjerljiva, a likovi takvi da ih (oprosti mi, Bože) poželiš sve staviti na kup, politi benzinom i zapaliti. To dokazuje i sam početak romana u stilu „brigo moja, pređi na drugoga“: „Bila je to krivnja aerodromskog osiguranja“. Da, najlakše je krivnju svaliti na drugoga. Ni stil ne oduševljava, prejednostavan je, monoton i često tjera na ponovno čitanje određenih dijelova jer nisi siguran (u dijalozima) tko je točno što rekao.
Kod psiholoških trilera je inače teško pisati osvrt jer bi se vrlo lako moglo otkriti previše. Stoga će ovaj osvrt izgledati kao hrpica mojih misli, zapisanih onako kako su navirale.
Da, bebe plaču, pogotovo dojenčad, jedino što je malo naporno kada se to događa na 21-osatnom letu do Melbournea. Reći ćete da sam cinična, ali ova duda s naslovnice nikad nije bila ponuđena malom Noah, kako bi ga bar na kratko zavarala. Onda kad naše „zvijezde“ slete na australsko tlo, nastaje „drama“. Mali Noah nestaje... Dok čitamo, otkrivat ćemo kako i zašto i zbog koga. Što sam dalje napredovala s romanom, likovi su mi sve više išli na živce. Mali Noah je sve više blijedio, a ostatak ekipe se natjecao tko će više biti u prvom planu. Toliko sebičnih likova na hrpi... Antipatični tata Alistair, ništa više simpatična mama Joanna, naporna bivša Alistairova supruga Alexandra, njihova kći Chloe... popis je dug.
Sam kraj mi je u redu, zbog Alistaira, tek toliko da znate da ima i nešto pozitivno u cijeloj ovoj zavrzlami.
Otkrivši da je BBC snimio četverodijelnu mini-seriju, odlučila sam pogledati ju, u nadi da će mi popraviti dojam. To mi je uspjelo kod „Oštrih predmeta“ Gillian Flynn – Amy Adams i Patricia Clarkson su skroz spasile moj loš dojam o pročitanom. Ovdje se to nije dogodilo, sve je ostalo isto kao i kod romana (sa sitnijim izmjenama, radi „filmičnosti“, naravno). Svi ti likovi poput čovječjih ribica, jedva vidljivi i bolno dosadni. Imala sam osjećaj da gledam 44 epizode umjesto samo neznatne 4 epizodice. I da se zna – „Nestala“ Gillian Flynn mi je još uvijek vrh, koje se odmah sjetim kad mi netko spomene psihološki triler.
E, da, znate li vi koja normalna majka, koja je tek rodila, kupuje tampone, helouuuuuuuuuuu!!! Pa da, naravno da ne.
I za kraj jedan lijepi citat (ne mo'š bilivit, što bi rekao Rene B.):
„Ne možeš graditi sreću na tuđoj boli.“
Eto, moja noćna mora je završila, što se pisanja tiče. Sad moram opet posegnuti za jednim dobrim dječjim romanom, kako bih isprala gorak okus koji mi je ovaj ostavio.
https://svijetfilma.eu/recenzija-knji...
A mučno mi je, ne samo iz razloga što se radi o još jednom djelu s otmicom djeteta, već zbog cijele priče koja je apsolutno neuvjerljiva, a likovi takvi da ih (oprosti mi, Bože) poželiš sve staviti na kup, politi benzinom i zapaliti. To dokazuje i sam početak romana u stilu „brigo moja, pređi na drugoga“: „Bila je to krivnja aerodromskog osiguranja“. Da, najlakše je krivnju svaliti na drugoga. Ni stil ne oduševljava, prejednostavan je, monoton i često tjera na ponovno čitanje određenih dijelova jer nisi siguran (u dijalozima) tko je točno što rekao.
Kod psiholoških trilera je inače teško pisati osvrt jer bi se vrlo lako moglo otkriti previše. Stoga će ovaj osvrt izgledati kao hrpica mojih misli, zapisanih onako kako su navirale.
Da, bebe plaču, pogotovo dojenčad, jedino što je malo naporno kada se to događa na 21-osatnom letu do Melbournea. Reći ćete da sam cinična, ali ova duda s naslovnice nikad nije bila ponuđena malom Noah, kako bi ga bar na kratko zavarala. Onda kad naše „zvijezde“ slete na australsko tlo, nastaje „drama“. Mali Noah nestaje... Dok čitamo, otkrivat ćemo kako i zašto i zbog koga. Što sam dalje napredovala s romanom, likovi su mi sve više išli na živce. Mali Noah je sve više blijedio, a ostatak ekipe se natjecao tko će više biti u prvom planu. Toliko sebičnih likova na hrpi... Antipatični tata Alistair, ništa više simpatična mama Joanna, naporna bivša Alistairova supruga Alexandra, njihova kći Chloe... popis je dug.
Sam kraj mi je u redu, zbog Alistaira, tek toliko da znate da ima i nešto pozitivno u cijeloj ovoj zavrzlami.
Otkrivši da je BBC snimio četverodijelnu mini-seriju, odlučila sam pogledati ju, u nadi da će mi popraviti dojam. To mi je uspjelo kod „Oštrih predmeta“ Gillian Flynn – Amy Adams i Patricia Clarkson su skroz spasile moj loš dojam o pročitanom. Ovdje se to nije dogodilo, sve je ostalo isto kao i kod romana (sa sitnijim izmjenama, radi „filmičnosti“, naravno). Svi ti likovi poput čovječjih ribica, jedva vidljivi i bolno dosadni. Imala sam osjećaj da gledam 44 epizode umjesto samo neznatne 4 epizodice. I da se zna – „Nestala“ Gillian Flynn mi je još uvijek vrh, koje se odmah sjetim kad mi netko spomene psihološki triler.
E, da, znate li vi koja normalna majka, koja je tek rodila, kupuje tampone, helouuuuuuuuuuu!!! Pa da, naravno da ne.
I za kraj jedan lijepi citat (ne mo'š bilivit, što bi rekao Rene B.):
„Ne možeš graditi sreću na tuđoj boli.“
Eto, moja noćna mora je završila, što se pisanja tiče. Sad moram opet posegnuti za jednim dobrim dječjim romanom, kako bih isprala gorak okus koji mi je ovaj ostavio.
https://svijetfilma.eu/recenzija-knji...
September 21, 2013
If you've read Helen Fitzgerald before, you know that her plots can take off in totally unexpected directions, although the twists are actually well-prepared & very logical. But you find you're not reading the book you thought you were. That's true in The Cry. We expect Joanna's story will be like Lindy Chamberlain's or Kate McCann's - Joanna receives a sympathy letter at one point that looks to be written by Kate McCann - but we find that things are quite different.
I'll not write about the ending, so won't use a spoiler alert, but let me just say that I'm glad Joanna finally asserts herself. Like Krissie in Dead Lovely, Joanna was apparently reared Catholic but didn't pay enough attention in religion class & much of her anguish, as well as her acquiescence to her partner Alistair's hare-brained scheme to pretend the dead infant Noah was abducted results from a badly formed conscience. Of course any mother would feel immensely guilty if she thought she'd killed her child by mixing up his meds, but Joamma ought eventually to have realised that at worst it was just she had very bad luck & told the police what they really did. I got very tired of Joanna's moaning about how she 'killed her baby' and wanted to scream 'Just tell the truth!'
Joanna is a typical Helen Fitzgerald main character, weak, vacillating, off the wall, but very likable. He partner Alistair is a minor league politician, utterly sleazy (a pleonasm in the case of politicians?) & totally narcissistic (definitely a pleonasm). But the other characters are well-drawn, Alex, Alistair's ex is another very likable off the wall type - bit of a drinking problem but you can't blame her, & I just loved Chloe, their teen-aged daughter whom the sleazy Alistair is trying to regain custody of. Chloe is brave, independent, assertive, & I'm only sorry we don't see even more of her.
The Cry is not laugh out loud funny like Dead Lovely or as bizarre as The Devil's Staircase, but I found it unputdownable.
I'll not write about the ending, so won't use a spoiler alert, but let me just say that I'm glad Joanna finally asserts herself. Like Krissie in Dead Lovely, Joanna was apparently reared Catholic but didn't pay enough attention in religion class & much of her anguish, as well as her acquiescence to her partner Alistair's hare-brained scheme to pretend the dead infant Noah was abducted results from a badly formed conscience. Of course any mother would feel immensely guilty if she thought she'd killed her child by mixing up his meds, but Joamma ought eventually to have realised that at worst it was just she had very bad luck & told the police what they really did. I got very tired of Joanna's moaning about how she 'killed her baby' and wanted to scream 'Just tell the truth!'
Joanna is a typical Helen Fitzgerald main character, weak, vacillating, off the wall, but very likable. He partner Alistair is a minor league politician, utterly sleazy (a pleonasm in the case of politicians?) & totally narcissistic (definitely a pleonasm). But the other characters are well-drawn, Alex, Alistair's ex is another very likable off the wall type - bit of a drinking problem but you can't blame her, & I just loved Chloe, their teen-aged daughter whom the sleazy Alistair is trying to regain custody of. Chloe is brave, independent, assertive, & I'm only sorry we don't see even more of her.
The Cry is not laugh out loud funny like Dead Lovely or as bizarre as The Devil's Staircase, but I found it unputdownable.
November 11, 2018
‘There was a long silence before she said: “This is wrong. I’m not going to do it.” Alistair sat on the bed beside her and held her hand. “We lost our son. We don’t deserve to lose everything else as well. It’s not wrong. We’re not hurting anyone.”’
The Cry was a fantastic read. It’s the type of thriller that lets you think you know what’s happening until one innocent remark sees everything that came before turned on its head. With themes of guilt, grief, self-doubt, depression, and postnatal depression, it’s a concise novel that covers a lot of ground with precision and empathy. I liked and felt varying degrees of sympathy for both of the female protagonists, Joanna and Alexandra, and a whole lot of disdain for Alistair, a man who takes master manipulator to a whole new level.
‘She was going mad. She needed more than antidepressants. The line that connected her to him stuck to her like a shadow, stretching, holding her, then banging her off to her next position.’
The Cry has been re-released as a TV tie-in edition to accompany its adaptation into 4-part BBC drama, to air also on the ABC here in Australia. I am keen to see how this story pans out on the small screen. If it remains true to the novel, it is bound to be emotionally turbulent and utterly gripping.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Cry for review.
The Cry was a fantastic read. It’s the type of thriller that lets you think you know what’s happening until one innocent remark sees everything that came before turned on its head. With themes of guilt, grief, self-doubt, depression, and postnatal depression, it’s a concise novel that covers a lot of ground with precision and empathy. I liked and felt varying degrees of sympathy for both of the female protagonists, Joanna and Alexandra, and a whole lot of disdain for Alistair, a man who takes master manipulator to a whole new level.
‘She was going mad. She needed more than antidepressants. The line that connected her to him stuck to her like a shadow, stretching, holding her, then banging her off to her next position.’
The Cry has been re-released as a TV tie-in edition to accompany its adaptation into 4-part BBC drama, to air also on the ABC here in Australia. I am keen to see how this story pans out on the small screen. If it remains true to the novel, it is bound to be emotionally turbulent and utterly gripping.
Thanks is extended to Allen and Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Cry for review.
October 6, 2018
Having watched the first episode of the TV series based on this book (with the same title) I am so glad I read the novel first, otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue as to what was going on.
So far, the script seems pretty much faithful to the original story which is a relief ( though seeing the baby cry so much on the screen made it far more distressing than reading about it, which was painful enough).
However, Fitzgerald is a first-class writer and this is a stunning debut psychological thriller, if you can detach yourself emotionally long enough to appreciate it.
So far, the script seems pretty much faithful to the original story which is a relief ( though seeing the baby cry so much on the screen made it far more distressing than reading about it, which was painful enough).
However, Fitzgerald is a first-class writer and this is a stunning debut psychological thriller, if you can detach yourself emotionally long enough to appreciate it.
March 18, 2020
This book became really popular in Australia after it was adapted into a tv mini series. I never got around to watching the adaptation. Also, somehow considering its publicity, I managed to avoid spoilers of what it was even about. Therefore, I read the book only knowing the bare basics - that The Cry was a mystery/thriller, set in Australia, and the disappearance of a baby was involved. And now I'm thinking that is all I actually should reveal about the plot as I think the less you know, the more enjoyable the book will be.
Well, I will say the mystery/thriller part was great. I thought it was all pretty realistic and, although the twist was obvious (or at least it’s one I’m sure every reader will be hoping for), it was nicely revealed. The pacing of the book seemed perfect with a great balance of the timelines and flashbacks.
It is set in Australia and I loved that part of the book. Fitzgerald managed to depict everything well. The isolation and the sprawling landscape, and the absolute foreignness of the country for someone who's freshly arrived.
The disappearance of a baby is involved. There’s more to the mystery/thriller plot than just this though. I will say there’s probably a lot of people who would think about the Lindy Chamberlain case whilst reading The Cry but there’s enough differences and originality that I wasn’t constantly comparing the two cases. One big similarity would be trial by media or, for The Cry's fictional case, the more updated trial by social media.
The book is written from the point of view of Joanna and Alexandra. Joanna is the baby's mother and Alexandra is the father's ex wife. I think I liked both characters equally. They both had a unique voice and I didn’t find their thoughts became similar at all (which I’ve found the case with another couple of dual point of view thrillers).
I listened to the audioversion and the English narrator did a pretty good job, considering how she had to often read out ridiculous passages of tweets and swap between Scottish and Australian accents. Although, I must admit my jaw tightened every time she pronounced Geelong or Melbourne. Would it have been that difficult for an Australian to let her know the correct way of saying these cities? It did become super annoying, especially when she had to say the place names repeatedly.
On a less grumpy note, I now want to watch the tv series. I checked the cast and saw that Asher Keddie played Alexandra and I can picture this so easily. Sounds perfect casting.
I really enjoyed this book overall. It’s nice to not be let down by a hyped book. I would easily recommend it.
4 ½ out of 5
Well, I will say the mystery/thriller part was great. I thought it was all pretty realistic and, although the twist was obvious (or at least it’s one I’m sure every reader will be hoping for), it was nicely revealed. The pacing of the book seemed perfect with a great balance of the timelines and flashbacks.
It is set in Australia and I loved that part of the book. Fitzgerald managed to depict everything well. The isolation and the sprawling landscape, and the absolute foreignness of the country for someone who's freshly arrived.
The disappearance of a baby is involved. There’s more to the mystery/thriller plot than just this though. I will say there’s probably a lot of people who would think about the Lindy Chamberlain case whilst reading The Cry but there’s enough differences and originality that I wasn’t constantly comparing the two cases. One big similarity would be trial by media or, for The Cry's fictional case, the more updated trial by social media.
The book is written from the point of view of Joanna and Alexandra. Joanna is the baby's mother and Alexandra is the father's ex wife. I think I liked both characters equally. They both had a unique voice and I didn’t find their thoughts became similar at all (which I’ve found the case with another couple of dual point of view thrillers).
I listened to the audioversion and the English narrator did a pretty good job, considering how she had to often read out ridiculous passages of tweets and swap between Scottish and Australian accents. Although, I must admit my jaw tightened every time she pronounced Geelong or Melbourne. Would it have been that difficult for an Australian to let her know the correct way of saying these cities? It did become super annoying, especially when she had to say the place names repeatedly.
On a less grumpy note, I now want to watch the tv series. I checked the cast and saw that Asher Keddie played Alexandra and I can picture this so easily. Sounds perfect casting.
I really enjoyed this book overall. It’s nice to not be let down by a hyped book. I would easily recommend it.
4 ½ out of 5
June 26, 2020
Negdje izmedu tri i cetiri. Nije me ni najmanje smetalaa cinjenica da se sve zna na pocetku, vise manje, ali opet me nije toliko zaintrigirao jer me dosta toga i nerviralo u svim tim odnosima pa sam se na taj aspekt usredotocila
April 13, 2020
Još jedna priča o nestaloj bebi, ali malo "drugačija" pa time i zanimljiva... Ali, bolje nemojte čitati, ako ste baš jako osjetljivi na djecu.
June 26, 2021
4 ⭐ za obrnutu radnju i maštovitost.
March 9, 2025
Really enjoyed this quick read. I can see why it was made into a tv program
Alastair and his wife cover up the death of their child but she is not happy to do this and is railroaded. This follows the journey and brings his ex wife into it too
Alastair and his wife cover up the death of their child but she is not happy to do this and is railroaded. This follows the journey and brings his ex wife into it too
August 2, 2018
This story starts out in Glasgow but is mainly set in Melbourne, Australia. The reader comes face-to-face with deception, selfishness, narcissism, frustration, being a new mother and all the emotions that come with that, mistrust, secrets, lies, anger, hopelessness, denial and revelations that will leave your jaw on the floor!
WOW 😱 Talk about an OMFG opening! I wondered what in the world was going on and then BOOM! The tension could be felt from the onset and from there it just increased, leaving me no choice but to sit and read until the end! It started in one direction but as each layer was peeled, I was left thinking WTAF? (in the best possible way!) This was an emotive and absolutely riveting read, and I imagine that for anyone who has children – this topic would be difficult to take in objectively. I thought this was a well written novel, both sensitive and explosive in all the right places. It’s no surprise that it has been optioned for tv – I can’t wait!
The narrative and characters were OH-SO-GOOD! Believable and fascinating as their lives unravel. Joanna – my heart broke for her, even though I just wanted to shake her at times. Manipulated by her husband, Alistair who cared for no one but himself. I hated him … but I was supposed to … a brilliant character who evoked both passion and disgust by his behaviour. Alexandra (ex wife) was another awesome character. For the most part, I liked her – could understand her actions but also needed her to be strong for her daughter. I love when characters do that to me!
I could go on about the characters, but I think as readers we each pick our favourites – so I won’t go on about my thoughts. Instead, read it yourself and tell me what YOU think 😉
Would I recommend this book? 🤔 Chilling, intense and absolutely addictive – you bet your sweet arse I would! Make sure you grab a copy today!
WOW 😱 Talk about an OMFG opening! I wondered what in the world was going on and then BOOM! The tension could be felt from the onset and from there it just increased, leaving me no choice but to sit and read until the end! It started in one direction but as each layer was peeled, I was left thinking WTAF? (in the best possible way!) This was an emotive and absolutely riveting read, and I imagine that for anyone who has children – this topic would be difficult to take in objectively. I thought this was a well written novel, both sensitive and explosive in all the right places. It’s no surprise that it has been optioned for tv – I can’t wait!
The narrative and characters were OH-SO-GOOD! Believable and fascinating as their lives unravel. Joanna – my heart broke for her, even though I just wanted to shake her at times. Manipulated by her husband, Alistair who cared for no one but himself. I hated him … but I was supposed to … a brilliant character who evoked both passion and disgust by his behaviour. Alexandra (ex wife) was another awesome character. For the most part, I liked her – could understand her actions but also needed her to be strong for her daughter. I love when characters do that to me!
I could go on about the characters, but I think as readers we each pick our favourites – so I won’t go on about my thoughts. Instead, read it yourself and tell me what YOU think 😉
Would I recommend this book? 🤔 Chilling, intense and absolutely addictive – you bet your sweet arse I would! Make sure you grab a copy today!
October 22, 2018
Description: When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world. Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other. Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?The Cry is a dark psychological thriller with a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.
September 27, 2014
This was the first novel by Helen Fitzgerald that I've read, and I'll definitely be back for more. 'The Cry' is a tense psychological thriller that delivers twists and turns, satisfying the reader right to the end. Some aspects were odd, like why a minor character was written in a first person stream of consciousness mode when the third person was used for the protagonist. That didn't quite work for me. The punctuation errors sprinkled throughout the narrative also grated. Minor gripes aside, this was a great read. Helen Fitzgerald has a quirky writing style that I enjoyed, and 'The Cry' contains a great character in Alistair Robertson, a conscience-free narcissist who lies shamelessly to get what he wants. I don't think many people will be disappointed by this novel.
April 27, 2019
3.5* This book is really unsettling but intriguing. The structure wasn't what I expected, as the reader isn't really kept in the dark but rather is kind of in on the secret and knows what Joanna knows. The switching perspectives and fast paced plot progression kept me interested and this was definitely a "one sitting" kind of book as I just wanted to know how it would all end.
March 2, 2014
I could not even bring myself to skim to the end "to find out what happened". I found the writing amateurish and the characters universally depressing. Blah blah blah.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews