Mijn enige zoon

by Samantha Hayes, Piet Verhagen (Translator)

Tv-presentator Carrie Kent krijgt een verontrustend telefoontje. Ze kan het haast niet geloven: heeft ze nou echt gehoord dat haar zoon Max op school is neergestoken? Ze haast zich naar het ziekenhuis, maar komt te laat: Max is dood.

Vanaf dat moment begint voor Carry een ware nachtmerrie. Het wordt haar levensdoel om te achterhalen wat er precies is gebeurd, maar niemand lijkt te willen getuigen. Ze zal zich moeten verdiepen in een haar onbekende wereld van angst en geweld. Wat kan dit alles te maken hebben met haar zoon? En wil ze het antwoord eigenlijk wel weten?

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary

429 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!

My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!


If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:

https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU

I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.

Happy reading!

Samantha xx

Reviews

[Rainbow Unicorn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed by a lot!

I have decided to expand on this, after much thought. This book had so much potential, the various elements ticked so many boxes and covered a whole range of education, cultural, social and economical issues, it could have been a brilliant book. But it just failed on so many levels, the jumping from person to person, scenario to scenario, past to present and back again, issue to issue... all so fast and poorly described and then onto the next "let me shock the readers scenario" just left me confused and more than a little frustrated. Trying to read, understand and appreciate this book was impossible.

[Annabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy stabbed.
A terrified Witness.
A mothers nightmare.

It is the story of a young boy who is fatally stabbed at the beginning of the book, and majority of the story is spent trying to uuncover the murderer. His mum Carrie Kent is a TV presentor who investigates other people's tragedy, and now that her son is the main topic, she is doing anything in her power to catch the killer. But as she gets closer and closer to finding the truth, she may rather not have found out at all.

I highly reccomend this book - to anyone! It is amazing, and will keep you reading for hours on end. It will stay on your mind long after you have finished, and will take you on a journey into the world of gangs, and fear.

[Sharon Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm never sure whether it's fair to star rate a book that you haven't finished, I guess there's always a chance the book get's better after you've stopped reading. However after 50 pages I simply didn't like this book and so it's getting one star! First couple of pages were really promising then it went rapidly downhill with very unlikeable characters that I felt absolutely nothing for except irritability, and I couldn't be bothered with it anymore. Very disappointing.

[Diane Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read other Samantha Hayes in the past, but this wasn't my favourite. It was a bit depressing and I found that it was dragging on a bit too long before it came to a conclusion.

Max, the son of Carrie Kent TV presenter, is found stabbed to death outside his school. I found her a bit irritating if truth be told...too much time for her job and not enough for her son. His father Brody, lives elsewhere. Max goes between the two parents but neither of them seem to have any clue what goes on in their sons life. Ultimately he is lonely until he meets up with Dayna, who seems to be a lot like him.

The tale drifts in and out of past and present laying the way to the final tragic outcome and the conclusion is possibly not what you would have predicted and if a little disappointing, not quite sure why.

[Sara Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot summery of this novel sounded very engaging. I really thought this would be a highly emotional and thrilling chase to catch the killer. But it was too long! The length of this novel killed the emotion. It got boring.

I felt angry at both of Max's parents for being so neglectful of their son and the bullying was a bit too much to believe. I also think the modern twist on the Romeo and Juliet story has been done too many times.

Disappointing.

[Ilse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een thriller zou ik het echt niet willen noemen, maar wat een goed opgebouwd verhaal ... Door afwisseling tussen heden en verleden, tussen Carrie, Dayna en Max, kom je stapsgewijs te weten wat er zich werkelijk heeft afgespeeld. Blij dat ik dit boek uit mijn "oude doos" heb opgevist!

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit verhaal zit goed ineen maar het is wat langdradig waardoor mijn aandacht verslapte. de pointe was geen verrassing en een thriller is het zeker niet. Al bij al 2 sterren

[Anke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Met veel plezier gelezen, alleen het einde was wat rommelig.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not a "happy" book, so if that is what you are looking for you had better look somewhere else. This book is rather a story of lives filled with pain, and bullying that goes beyond anything I have ever experienced in my own life. Set in the UK. Max spends some time at his mother's house in the upper class area and some time at his Dad's hovel of an apartment in what can only be classed as slums. His father is blind, and his mother is so busy with her job as a presenter on the television show "reality check" (think Jerry Springer). Max feels as if he is almost invisible to them. He left an exclusive boarding school because the other pupils bullied him to a point where he couldn't take it any longer. Neither of his parents had a clue what was going on. Max finally meets Dayna and has something wonderful in his life, but it is too good to be true and the bullies continue to wreak havoc. The end result - Max is killed - stabbed to death while Dayna looks on.

The story is told using flashbacks from the past both far and near. Max's parents consider themselves to be "jailed" and guilty of the crime of his death because there were times that if only they had been looking and listening they could have intervened.Or could they? English was the class that Dayna and Max liked the best, and they were studying Romeo and Juliet,that ill-fated couple. Was Max's death fated too?

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carrie Kent is mother to Max but more importantly in her eyes she is a chat show host which is a cross between Jeremy Kyle and Crimewatch. One day Max dies and the book revolves not only why he died but what was his life like before he died, Carrie needs to know because she hadn't a clue while he was alive. Carrie realises that she has become just like the guests on her show when she had always felt so superior to them, now their worlds have collided.

Neither of the two mothers in this book are characters I could remotely sympathise with and, unfortunately, they appeared very two dimensional tabloid creations. There are also so many threads that don't seem to go anywhere, I was sure that there would be some big relvelation around why Brody and Carrie divorced but this never really happens, there is one paragraph where the reader is left to assume that the marriage broke down for good but again there wasn't enough depth.

The story itself is good, there are elements that are realistic however the ending let it down as it was so unbelievable. The portrayal of Max and Dayna is thought provoking, they both felt themselves to be different from everyone else and both suffered because they weren't part of the crowd.

I preferred the three previous books by Sam Hayes but this one like those is an emotional tale, it just wasn't as convincing.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine son was stabbed outside a night club. He was very lucky to survive. He went through hell at the hosptial being stiched up and could not go home as he had an infection where he had to have his knife wound re stiched up again. It is very worrying Knife crime seems to be on the increase.
Someone Elses Son is a heart-breaking emotional thriller. Carrie Kent had worked in television for only three years. First of all as a news anchor woman and then as an assistant presenter on Crime Hits, a late night satellite production taiing the met as they make live arrest.
Carrie interviews a woman, Mrs Plummer, her son was stabbed repeatedly by a gang.
While Carrie is in the TV studio she gets a call from the hosptial. When Carrie arrives at the hosptial she is told that her son is dead, he had been stabbed within his school gates. A girl who was friends with Max at the school is interviewed by a detective but she claims she did not see who stabbed Max, and that she can not shred any information. I certainly recommend Someone Elses Son, even though this story is with no question extremely emotional and heart-breaking but it is very well written.

[Samantha Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the best book I have read, I got bored of it and struggled to finish it although I managed eventually. I couldn't see the point of including some of the characters in the book - Fiona, what was the point if her? Yes OK Brody needed an assistant but it seemed like we got a snippet of Fiona's story (she is in love with him) but no conclusion. Same with Dennis. Overall I was pretty disappointed with this book.

[Lynette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have enjoyed books by this author writing under "Samantha Hayes" and despite reviews telling me this is a great book I really did think it was just very average. Seemed to plod along and go nowhere fast. I knew there would have to be a twist at the end somewhere and felt like I was just waiting to hurry up and get there. Wouldn't put me off reading the author again, just felt like she has written better.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK , COULDNT PUT IT DOWN READ IT IN 4 DAYS. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. SAM MADE ME FEEL LIKE I KNEW THESE PEOPLE...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

FINALLY finished this, seem to have been reading it forever! It was well written but boy, did it drag on! It would have been much more enjoyable if it had been 100 pages shorter.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is well written and I really enjoyed parts other parts were totally depressing and the ending a little unrealistic.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping story, but the writing annoyed me; it seemed unnatural.

[Hans Brienesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a marvellous read this was. It could almost be a case study in teenage angst in cities. It details just what it is like to be just a little different from the mainstream, and the retribution dished out. It sees how the differences between the haves and have nots polarise societies. The masterstroke was the ability of the author to weave the whole tale into the threads of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' without all the direct comparisons that normally accompany this feat. A tale of children, a tale of parents and the eternal misunderstanding that goes on between. One thing I felt was that the last two or three pages, syrupy as they were should not have been included and the story finished just before them but they are there so nothing for it but to include them. A really, really great read. Five stars.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of Sam Hayes' books I've read, the first being Blood Ties. I enjoyed this book immensely but perhaps less so than Blood Ties mainly because it tended to drag a bit, but that was forgotten by the end of the book with a tense, gripping finish. Sam Hayes is a clever author who can merge a good plot with twists and turns and raw emotion, and a nail biting conclusion. This won't be the last book of hers I'll read.

[Esmee Roks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wauw! Ik wilde wat selectiever gaan zijn met 5 sterren geven en dit alleen doen als ik het boek echt heel goed vond. Ook al kwam ik de eerste pagina’s wat stroef op gang, toch heeft dit boek heeft me echt ontzettend verrast. Er waren meerdere verhaallijnen gaande die toch weer samen een geheel. Daarnaast maakte de wisseling tussen kortere en langere hoofdstukken het heel prettig om te lezen. Ik vind het echt een prachtig boek!

[des · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good. The moment I started reading this I didn't want to put it down because I just wanted to know what happened. The book goes between the past and the present and is told in different peoples perspectives. I think the story was good, emotional and not a cliche. The ending had me quite shook, I didn't expect it and I'm still quite, wtf over it. Definitely a good one!

[Marlieke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik las dit boek als e-book op m'n telefoon als ik geen mogelijkheid had om m'n fysieke boek te lezen en ik denk dat dat voor mij wel wat heeft afgedaan aan het verhaal. Ik las soms tijden niet en dan weer een paar bladzijden. Hierdoor kwam ik niet echt in het verhaal.

Het verhaal gaat over de zeer beroemde Carrie Kent wiens zoon Max vermoord wordt. Carrie doet er alles aan om te weten te komen wie de moordenaar is. Ondertussen krijg je flashbacks naar het leven van Max, maar ook naar het verleden van Carrie. Hierdoor krijg je een inkijkje in hoe Carrie is geworden wie ze is en zie je ook hoe de relatie tussen Max en zijn ouders was. Carrie is namelijk gescheiden van Max vader, Brody, die ook nog eens blind is.

Ik had wat moeite met de manier van schrijven en kwam niet echt in het verhaal. Dat zal deels komen door het feit dat ik het zo gefragmenteerd las, maar ergens miste ik ook de sympathie voor de personages. Ik kon er daarom niet echt inkomen.
Het verhaal was ook enigszins voorspelbaar en ik had vlot door wat er zou gaan gebeuren.

Al met al niet super, maar ook niet heel slecht. Mogelijk had ik er meer van gevonden als ik het in een stuk had gelezen.

[Lisa B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Lotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spannend boek, zeker een aanrader!

[marjorie broersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

boeiend boek, geschreven vanuit verschillende perspektieven. Hoe eenzaam kun je als tiener zijn en hoeveel liefdesleed kun je aan.

[Lizzy Appleby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read

Deals with some very tender subjects. Ultimately a good read, if rather heartbreaking. But I kept turning the pages as I needed to find out what happened.

[Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within thirty pages of reading Sam Hayes’s new novel “Someone Else’s Son” I knew I was in trouble – if ever trouble was a good thing, this was it! I don’t know why but I distinctly remember thinking that I was going to have problems reviewing this title without giving anything away.

With this in mind I decided that I would include (in the review) only information found on the book jacket and divulge no other secrets held deep within the covers – to spoil a book of this stature would not only be criminal but deny an emotional journey I’m certain readers will enjoy.

The term “emotional rollercoaster” is a phrase widely and often overused, yet here I am using it within a review for “Someone Else’s Son” – go figure!

Carrie Kent has it all. Money, trusted friends, a television career and a house in the country - nothing it appears can stop her. That is until one day when she receives a phone call informing her that her only son Max has been stabbed at school. Carrie, famed for her early morning chat show and guests of questionable repute, arrives at the hospital and is greeted with the sight of her ex-husband Brody, slumped in a chair – her world is about to crumble.

The only witness is a teenage girl who is terrified of a gang culture sweeping the neighbourhood. Refusing to talk, the police face an uphill struggle to bring closure to both parents and send those guilty of the crime to jail.

Carrie comes across as a self-assured woman, in the middle of a highly lucrative and successful career she knows what she wants and how to get it – a multi-millionaire, money is no object but when all is said and done, can it buy happiness?

In the early stages of the book I found it hard to relate to Carrie, certainly before tragedy struck, but once her son died her invincibility wavered and she became human, almost approachable in a way – softened isn’t the right description, perhaps a little more dependable on her friends and those close to her. She became more likable and less aloof – re analysing her key relationships with her son and ex-husband key to her moving on.

Full Review on my blog:-http://www.milorambles.com/2011/01/29...

[Michelle Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Hayes is already on my list of favourite authors, so although I was excited to get hold of an early copy of her latest book, I was nervous as to whether it would live up to expectations.

Thankfully it did. Sam’s books are probably best described as emotional thrillers – she says herself that she takes her characters and puts them in terrifying circumstances, and Someone Else’s Son certainly lives up to this.

Carrie Kent has built an extremely successful career hosting a morning chat show which puts people under the microscope, and under pressure. All the dysfunctional families she looks down on are on her show, as well as victims of crime. What she doesn’t expect though, is that instead of someone else, it becomes her experiencing tragedy.

Max and Dayna are two teenagers who don’t fit in. They live in a world of bullying and knife crime, and on Friday 29th April, Carrie’s world falls apart, as she’s informed her son, Max, has been stabbed, and is dead.

Throughout the course of the book, we are taken back and forth, experiencing life both before and after the stabbing. Max and Dayna’s relationship is explored, as well as the harsh world they live in. We also find out about the relationship Max’s parents had, and how it fell apart, as well as the lives they live now.

At the heart is the issue of the stabbing, how it happened, and who was involved. But surrounding this is the depth of the book – the various relationships and issues involved. It is a book of suspense, with the expected twists, but the key is the way Sam builds her characters. They are so believable, and I cared about each and every one by the end – which makes the suspense and thriller aspects mean more.

The first half of this book may be a little slower than thriller readers might expect, but it’s an important part as it allows Sam to introduce and explore her characters. It kept me reading because I wanted to know what would happen next, and by the end it was hard to put down.

Another highly recommended book from someone who remains on my favourite author list. :)

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest and say I had to make an effort to keep on with this book, because it didnt immediately grab me but I am glad I did - ultimately it was a very good read. Carrie is a chat show host - a female Jeremy Kyle who digs into the underbelly of society and exploits it for fame and gain. I found her extremely unlikeable (probably the point but you would have to ask the author!) and spent most of the first part of the story grimacing at the pages. We also learn about her son, and her ex husband amongst various other characters. When tragedy strikes at the heart of Carrie's family, I found myself intrigued to find out what it would do to her character. Would she gain a real insight into the people she exploits for her show and ultimately become a better person? That,for me, was one of the reasons I enjoyed the book - waiting to find out. The mystery element is there, who did what to who and why, and this is not fully revealed until the end, so if you are a lover of Crime fiction you should also enjoy it for this reason. Told in real time and flashback its cleverly done, although one little bugbear is that there are a few "scenes" if you like that seemed pointless, didnt add to the ambience of the tale, and were never referred to again. Overall though, this didnt interfere with my enjoyment - I thought it was very good and for me, was more about the characters than the mystery, I was far more interested to see what Carrie would do than I was in the resolution of the crime element of the novel. I will certainly be reading some more from this author in the future.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dit boek heb ik vorig uit een minibieb gehaald in La France. Toch was ik er nog niet aan toe gekomen om het boek ook daadwerkelijk te lezen. Dat werd wel eens tijd!

De enige zoon van TV presentactrice Carrie wordt vermoord. Geheel onduidelijk waarom dit gebeurd is en nu blijkt ook nog dat de enige getuige niks durft te zeggen.

Ik heb al eerder een boek gelezen van Samantha Hayes en ik was daar super enthousiast over! Ik keek er dan ook echt naar uit om in dit boek te gaan starten, want deze moest dan toch ook goed zijn?
Helaas was dat toch niet het geval. Het boek werd vertel vanuit verschillende perspectieven en dat maakte het in het begin zeer verwarrend, aangezien ik de link echt miste. Op den duur wordt deze wel duidelijk, maar toen was ik eigenlijk al te gefrustreerd. De personages zijn ook echt geen van allen leuk. Ik voelde geen enkele klik en het maakte me dus ook helemaal niet uit als we weer eens van perspectief gingen wisselen. Daarbij vond ik het verhaal saai, voorspelbaar en eigenlijk te lang duren.
Het was dat ik echt wilde weten hoe het afliep en hoopte op een enorme plottwist, anders had ik het boek echt aan de kant gegooid. Helaas kwam de plottwist niet en was het einde mwah.
Dit boek belandde dan ook linea recta in mijn eigen minibieb en heeft ondertussen een plaatsje gekregen bij iemand anders. Hopelijk kan diegene meer van dit boek genieten!