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The Child: From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a dark and explosive new thriller
When Isla Hanson's husband, Jerry, dies, leaving his entire estate to her, she knows she'll be set for life. But contrary to the belief of his wealthy friends and business associates, who all seem to think she was only ever interested in him for the money, Isla truly loved Jerry and struggles to imagine life without him.
With no children of her own, and no real family to speak of, Isla is grateful for the support of her best friend, Tia. But when a strange woman and child appear at the funeral, Isla's entire world is turned upside down, and she is shocked to learn that the loving husband she dedicated fifteen years of her life to might have been living a double-life all along.
With no children of her own, and no real family to speak of, Isla is grateful for the support of her best friend, Tia. But when a strange woman and child appear at the funeral, Isla's entire world is turned upside down, and she is shocked to learn that the loving husband she dedicated fifteen years of her life to might have been living a double-life all along.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 30, 2026
About the author
Mandasue Heller
39 books453 followersMandasue was born in Cheshire and moved to Manchester in 1982. She spent ten years living in the notorious Hulme Crescents which have since become the background to her novels. Not only is she a talented writer, but she has also sung in cabaret and rock groups, seventies soul cover bands and blues jam bands.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Isla Hanson's husband, Jerry, dies, leaving his entire estate to her, she knows she'll be set for life. But contrary to belief of his wealthy friends and business associates, who all seem to think she was only interested in him for his money, Isla truly loved Jerry and struggles to imagine life without him. With no children of her own, and no real family to speak of, Isla is grateful for the support of her best friend, Tia. But when a strange woman and child appear at the funeral, Isla's entire world is turned upside down, and she is shocked to learn that the loving husband she dedicated fifteen years of her life to might have been living a double-life all along.
Mandasue Heller is back with this fabulous read. You never quite know what you're going to get when you pick up a new book by the author, but you know you won't be disappointed.
Isla Hanson has just buried her husband Jerry when she and her best friend see a young woman with a small child looking through his flowers. When they approach her, she runs away. When Isla finds her outside her home, staring through the locked gates, once again she runs away.The girl is Melanie, and she has a son called Jacob. She eventually tells Isla that Jacob is her late husband Jerry's son. From this point on, the story escalates. We get lies, twists, and parts that were surprising along the way.
Published 30th July 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #MandasueHeller for my ARC of #TheChild In exchange for an honest review.
Mandasue Heller is back with this fabulous read. You never quite know what you're going to get when you pick up a new book by the author, but you know you won't be disappointed.
Isla Hanson has just buried her husband Jerry when she and her best friend see a young woman with a small child looking through his flowers. When they approach her, she runs away. When Isla finds her outside her home, staring through the locked gates, once again she runs away.The girl is Melanie, and she has a son called Jacob. She eventually tells Isla that Jacob is her late husband Jerry's son. From this point on, the story escalates. We get lies, twists, and parts that were surprising along the way.
Published 30th July 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup and the author #MandasueHeller for my ARC of #TheChild In exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Isla is living the dream – married to Jerry who is some years older and adores her. They live in a beautiful house and have plenty of money to keep them in a high standard of living. But Isla craves a child of her own the one thing that money can’t buy.
Isla resigns herself to never being a mother and having a family so she accepts that her companionable and loving relationship with Jerry is her future. Then Jerry dies unexpectedly, tearing Isla’s world apart and with it, the future she had readjusted herself to.
At Jerry’s funeral a young woman is lurking around outside with a small child whom she claims Jerry has fathered. The woman is seen again on numerous occasions, hanging around near Isla and outside her home. Melanie’s story seems fool-proof to Isla but it doesn’t sit well with her; she doesn’t believe her loving husband would have betrayed her, or is she remembering him too fondly through rose-tinted glasses?
Another fast-paced, gripping read from one of my favourite authors. It has an amazingly strong plot and lots of sub plots woven in which enhances the already thrilling story. I cannot recommend this book enough – absolutely brilliant.
Isla resigns herself to never being a mother and having a family so she accepts that her companionable and loving relationship with Jerry is her future. Then Jerry dies unexpectedly, tearing Isla’s world apart and with it, the future she had readjusted herself to.
At Jerry’s funeral a young woman is lurking around outside with a small child whom she claims Jerry has fathered. The woman is seen again on numerous occasions, hanging around near Isla and outside her home. Melanie’s story seems fool-proof to Isla but it doesn’t sit well with her; she doesn’t believe her loving husband would have betrayed her, or is she remembering him too fondly through rose-tinted glasses?
Another fast-paced, gripping read from one of my favourite authors. It has an amazingly strong plot and lots of sub plots woven in which enhances the already thrilling story. I cannot recommend this book enough – absolutely brilliant.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After her husband’s sudden death, Isla is left shattered but her grief quickly turns into confusion when secrets about his life begin to surface. When a young woman, Melanie, claims he loved her too and is the father of her child, Isla is forced to question everything she thought she knew about the man she married. As the stories shift and truths blur, Isla is left not knowing what or who
to believe.
Unable to have children herself, Isla finds unexpected hope in the child at the centre of it all, but this is far from a simple story of loss and healing. It’s a powerful tale of loyalty, unbreakable friendships, and the lies people tell for their own gain.
Mandasue Heller delivers another gripping read, full of emotion and well crafted twists. While I managed to guess a couple of turns, there was one that genuinely caught me off guard. Her storytelling kept me hooked from beginning to end and I finished it in a single day.
A heartfelt, and addictive read. If you’ve never picked up one of her books before, this is a great place to start.Highly recommended.
to believe.
Unable to have children herself, Isla finds unexpected hope in the child at the centre of it all, but this is far from a simple story of loss and healing. It’s a powerful tale of loyalty, unbreakable friendships, and the lies people tell for their own gain.
Mandasue Heller delivers another gripping read, full of emotion and well crafted twists. While I managed to guess a couple of turns, there was one that genuinely caught me off guard. Her storytelling kept me hooked from beginning to end and I finished it in a single day.
A heartfelt, and addictive read. If you’ve never picked up one of her books before, this is a great place to start.Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mandasue Heller is back and as one of my favourite ever authors going back 25 years or so and it’s always exciting when a new book is out
‘The Child’ is a family based drama where Isla’s perfect life suddenly changes, for the worse and everything she thought she knew begins to crumble
And then Melanie arrives on the scene, saying her son is Isla’s husbands…..and it doesn’t stop there as Isla’s life becomes more complex and decisions she makes will affect her life forever
It’s a fast page turner with many sub plots all leading to the roaring finale
And quite shocking part of it is too….left me reeling a bit
It’s great to have MSH back and doing what she does so perfectly, writing a superbly entertaining book, her ability to give us readers what we like/want hasn’t changed in 25 years and this book again shows us why
Loved it
‘The Child’ is a family based drama where Isla’s perfect life suddenly changes, for the worse and everything she thought she knew begins to crumble
And then Melanie arrives on the scene, saying her son is Isla’s husbands…..and it doesn’t stop there as Isla’s life becomes more complex and decisions she makes will affect her life forever
It’s a fast page turner with many sub plots all leading to the roaring finale
And quite shocking part of it is too….left me reeling a bit
It’s great to have MSH back and doing what she does so perfectly, writing a superbly entertaining book, her ability to give us readers what we like/want hasn’t changed in 25 years and this book again shows us why
Loved it
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Isla Hanson is left widowed and husband Jerry leaves her everything, and she is set for life.
Then Melanie turns up with her baby son Jacob, and taking pity on her Isla falls for all her lies.
What a superbly written book, that blew up all my emotions as I read.
With plenty of almighty twists that are not expected.
Its a cracking story.
Right to the very end.
Then Melanie turns up with her baby son Jacob, and taking pity on her Isla falls for all her lies.
What a superbly written book, that blew up all my emotions as I read.
With plenty of almighty twists that are not expected.
Its a cracking story.
Right to the very end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A terrific read..Isla husband dies suddenly and he has left her a fortune. They wanted children it did not happen for them.her friends supported her.during the funeral a strange woman with a child who is she?later finding out her husband knew her ,did they have an affair? Great read lots of twists&turns near the end..great author I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.
August 1, 2026
The child
I read it pretty quickly, enjoyed it, but not one of my favourites of hers. More predictable than some of her others
I read it pretty quickly, enjoyed it, but not one of my favourites of hers. More predictable than some of her others
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews