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Hush Little Baby
When she hears the baby crying, she knows she has to do something to keep it safe. To protect it from its terrible parents. Even though the father of the child is Melissa's own son...
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
240 pages, Hardcover
Published August 23, 2024
448 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Baker
24 books345 followersJ. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
August 27, 2024
It’s almost a running theme that I will say I think this new book is the best by this author….but again it is true
A harrowing tale indeed and am mentioning that spousal physical and psychological abuse and the effects of this are prominent in the book
Melissa is a complex character who has had more than an unenviable life and we meet her as she kidnaps a child,it is a eyebrow raising start and sets the tone for the rest of the book as we alternate between the 1970’s and present and read the disgusting time she had with Roger,her husband,outwardly affable and kind,a GP no less but behind closed doors he was evil…..there is no excuse for what Melissa has done but as a reader I did empathise and understand her thought processes
As the story progresses more drama happens to Melissa and the child she taken and things seem untenable….and I will stop there…….
Very emotive,I could feel Melissa’s anguish and pain and insecurity and wanted to help her,yep the author did a great job of realism and edginess and combined with a really good story made this a classically great thriller
A harrowing tale indeed and am mentioning that spousal physical and psychological abuse and the effects of this are prominent in the book
Melissa is a complex character who has had more than an unenviable life and we meet her as she kidnaps a child,it is a eyebrow raising start and sets the tone for the rest of the book as we alternate between the 1970’s and present and read the disgusting time she had with Roger,her husband,outwardly affable and kind,a GP no less but behind closed doors he was evil…..there is no excuse for what Melissa has done but as a reader I did empathise and understand her thought processes
As the story progresses more drama happens to Melissa and the child she taken and things seem untenable….and I will stop there…….
Very emotive,I could feel Melissa’s anguish and pain and insecurity and wanted to help her,yep the author did a great job of realism and edginess and combined with a really good story made this a classically great thriller
August 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Hush Little Baby by J. A. Baker. I quite enjoyed this book. The ending was a twist that I did not see coming! It was a little slow at times but an easy read. There was some repetitiveness but not as much as a book I recently read! A lot of emotions while reading this book, heartbreak, sadness, shock, grief. This book is worth picking up and giving it a go. I gave it a 4 star rating.
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July 25, 2024After reading 38%of this book I have given up. I can’t read any more about a baby crying! It’s repetitive and boring.
August 17, 2024
This book was just a whirlwind from start to finish, but not always in a good way. There were times where things would happen and I would want to not stop reading, then there were other times where things would happen and I would just roll my eyes and put my kindle down for a minute before I kept reading.
This book does explore domestic abuse (physical and mental) as well as death of loved ones, and how it can affect people and cause them to do things people would normally not do.
There are two timelines in this book, one sent in the present day, where Melissa, our main character, kidnaps a baby. But it's not just any baby, it is her son's baby that she believes is being treated terribly by her son and his wife. Once she kidnaps the baby, things just go off the rails from there. However, I do wish there was a little bit more excitement since this is a thriller book, rather than just the couple of scenes that were in here. Other times, during the care and illness of the baby, it was a bit repetitive. Baby is crying -> I tried my best to get him to stop -> He keeps crying -> I don't know what else to do and I am overwhelmed even though I just kidnapped this baby and did this to myself. The pace fluctuated between boring repetition and things being thrown at you within the span of a few pages so it was very hard to want to keep reading during the boring parts when I know that the writer is able to write scenes that are interesting and grab your attention.
In the second timeline, we go back to 1970, and we read about a family with a mother, Nancy, two kids, and a very abusive husband, who physically and psychologically abuses his wife, and also psychologically abuses his kids (except for one incident :(). I feel like this time line was very helpful with allowing the reader a glimpse into what may have affected Melissa's mental state, and what may have caused her to want to step in to save a baby that she thought was being abused.
Thank you to J.A. Baker and Boldwood Books for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
This book does explore domestic abuse (physical and mental) as well as death of loved ones, and how it can affect people and cause them to do things people would normally not do.
There are two timelines in this book, one sent in the present day, where Melissa, our main character, kidnaps a baby. But it's not just any baby, it is her son's baby that she believes is being treated terribly by her son and his wife. Once she kidnaps the baby, things just go off the rails from there. However, I do wish there was a little bit more excitement since this is a thriller book, rather than just the couple of scenes that were in here. Other times, during the care and illness of the baby, it was a bit repetitive. Baby is crying -> I tried my best to get him to stop -> He keeps crying -> I don't know what else to do and I am overwhelmed even though I just kidnapped this baby and did this to myself. The pace fluctuated between boring repetition and things being thrown at you within the span of a few pages so it was very hard to want to keep reading during the boring parts when I know that the writer is able to write scenes that are interesting and grab your attention.
In the second timeline, we go back to 1970, and we read about a family with a mother, Nancy, two kids, and a very abusive husband, who physically and psychologically abuses his wife, and also psychologically abuses his kids (except for one incident :(). I feel like this time line was very helpful with allowing the reader a glimpse into what may have affected Melissa's mental state, and what may have caused her to want to step in to save a baby that she thought was being abused.
Thank you to J.A. Baker and Boldwood Books for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.
August 18, 2024
This book grabs hold of a theme and runs with it to exhaustion. It explores the themes of domestic abuse across time periods. It would be a difficult theme to base a story on, and I can imagine JA Baker feeling as if she were walking on eggshells at times to get the balance right.
But it is also a difficult book to review because although the theme is important, I did struggle with the execution. Split into two timelines, we have a 1970 setting of awful mental and physical abuse. And in the present day, we have a grandmother who kidnaps her grandson because she believes the parents are neglectful. Both narratives are very much stream of consciousness writing. Out of the two narratives, I thought the past timeline was more powerful because the present timeline felt too convoluted and repetitive. I also found the voice in the present timeline very stilted. Emotional yes, but very stilted. And the repetitiveness of that voice worked against what I think the author intended for the reader to feel.
While I found the past narrative more compelling, it has a trope that is a pet peeve for me, and that's the child that acts way beyond their years. I get the reason why, but just make the child older in the story. Despite that, it's compelling. It's not an easy narrative to read, but it is compelling.
Above all this, the story does highlight one of the tragedies of the past period, that domestic abuse was often ignored or hidden from view, even by those who's job is to protect those who are vulnerable. If nothing else, the book shines a light on that period in time and hopefully will make people consider that awareness is sometimes the lifeline that somebody needs.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for a a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
But it is also a difficult book to review because although the theme is important, I did struggle with the execution. Split into two timelines, we have a 1970 setting of awful mental and physical abuse. And in the present day, we have a grandmother who kidnaps her grandson because she believes the parents are neglectful. Both narratives are very much stream of consciousness writing. Out of the two narratives, I thought the past timeline was more powerful because the present timeline felt too convoluted and repetitive. I also found the voice in the present timeline very stilted. Emotional yes, but very stilted. And the repetitiveness of that voice worked against what I think the author intended for the reader to feel.
While I found the past narrative more compelling, it has a trope that is a pet peeve for me, and that's the child that acts way beyond their years. I get the reason why, but just make the child older in the story. Despite that, it's compelling. It's not an easy narrative to read, but it is compelling.
Above all this, the story does highlight one of the tragedies of the past period, that domestic abuse was often ignored or hidden from view, even by those who's job is to protect those who are vulnerable. If nothing else, the book shines a light on that period in time and hopefully will make people consider that awareness is sometimes the lifeline that somebody needs.
Thanks to the author, the publisher, and to Netgalley for a a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2024
This story is told in two timelines. One takes place in the 70’s and tells the story of Nancy who is married to a well respected doctor. The community and his colleagues think the world of him. But Nancy knows better. Behind closed doors, her husband is abusive and Nancy and her daughter have to walk on egg shells around him. When things come to a head, Nancy’s infant son almost loses his life.
The other timeline is current day and is about Melissa. Melissa is apparently estranged from her grown son, blaming his wife for filling his head with nonsense. Melissa keeps a close eye on her son’s home and is distressed to hear constant shouting and yelling coming from the home especially since her infant grandson is forced to live in this environment. Melissa has had enough and takes matters into her own hands when she sees her grandson alone outside in his pram. Acting quickly, Melissa takes her grandson and takes off.
What happens to both families separated by decades? And what is their connection? Will either have a happy ending?
This was a three star read for me. The storyline with Melissa was rather repetitive portraying her as totally inept to handle a baby while the baby seemingly did nothing but cry insistently.
I love the author’s books however and will always jump at the opportunity to read her works!
The other timeline is current day and is about Melissa. Melissa is apparently estranged from her grown son, blaming his wife for filling his head with nonsense. Melissa keeps a close eye on her son’s home and is distressed to hear constant shouting and yelling coming from the home especially since her infant grandson is forced to live in this environment. Melissa has had enough and takes matters into her own hands when she sees her grandson alone outside in his pram. Acting quickly, Melissa takes her grandson and takes off.
What happens to both families separated by decades? And what is their connection? Will either have a happy ending?
This was a three star read for me. The storyline with Melissa was rather repetitive portraying her as totally inept to handle a baby while the baby seemingly did nothing but cry insistently.
I love the author’s books however and will always jump at the opportunity to read her works!
January 4, 2026
Well written, the twists were unexpected and you really got to empathise with the main character in an odd situation. I would recommend. Better than the purge…
October 26, 2024
this was such a waste of time, there wasn't really any " breathtaking twists and
turns. " There was a somewhat twist towards the very end of end of the book, but i do think
some people could guess it. the only interesting part of this book was the flashback chapters to 1970. reading them was quite sad and did have me rooting for nancy the whole book, so it was a shame when them chapters ended. I only really kept reading because I had already gotten like ¼ way through and wanted to try and give it a chance to see if the pace quickened at any point (it didn't).
turns. " There was a somewhat twist towards the very end of end of the book, but i do think
some people could guess it. the only interesting part of this book was the flashback chapters to 1970. reading them was quite sad and did have me rooting for nancy the whole book, so it was a shame when them chapters ended. I only really kept reading because I had already gotten like ¼ way through and wanted to try and give it a chance to see if the pace quickened at any point (it didn't).
August 8, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of Hush Little Baby.
This book seemed pretty good right off the bat, our main character Melissa kidnaps her grandson because she believes he’s being neglected and would live a better life with her. We follow her as she’s on the run. We also get flashback chapters from 1970 following Nancy, and the abuse she endured.
I don’t know if it’s my choice of books recently, or if it’s just me but this book had so many descriptions we didn’t need. There is nothing wrong with being descriptive, but when it serves no purpose to the story then it feels irrelevant. There was also quite a bit of repetition that was totally unnecessary.
I very much enjoyed this in the beginning, it gripped my attention, it reads fast-paced. As the story progressed it kind of lost that pace and was hard to slug through at times. There was a twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting, resulting in my 3 star rating. Not sure I would consider this a thriller, but I found it enjoyable.
This book seemed pretty good right off the bat, our main character Melissa kidnaps her grandson because she believes he’s being neglected and would live a better life with her. We follow her as she’s on the run. We also get flashback chapters from 1970 following Nancy, and the abuse she endured.
I don’t know if it’s my choice of books recently, or if it’s just me but this book had so many descriptions we didn’t need. There is nothing wrong with being descriptive, but when it serves no purpose to the story then it feels irrelevant. There was also quite a bit of repetition that was totally unnecessary.
I very much enjoyed this in the beginning, it gripped my attention, it reads fast-paced. As the story progressed it kind of lost that pace and was hard to slug through at times. There was a twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting, resulting in my 3 star rating. Not sure I would consider this a thriller, but I found it enjoyable.
July 29, 2024
“Hush Little Baby” by J. A. Baker has an intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, building suspense effectively. However, the pacing is slow, and the characters often feel one-dimensional. Some plot twists seem contrived, making it a decent but not standout read for thriller fans. A solid, if somewhat forgettable, psychological thriller.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
August 28, 2024
When Melissa Crawford sees a baby being mistreated, she knows she has to do something about it. She can't let it happen again. Baby Gabriel is only four months old. He doesn't deserve the amount of neglect he's suffering at the hands of his parents, being shoved outside in his pram while they argue inside the house. They obviously don't want him, treating him like that. She does, though, and she's going to do them all a favor and take him. He'll be better off with her, she tells herself. She will love him like his parents don't. They will be happy.
Yet, starting their new life together doesn't go as easily as she thought it would. A hit-and-run accident as Melissa tries to make her getaway with Gabriel may upgrade her from a kidnapper to a murderer. Fearful of what she's done, she high tails it to the cabin she rented for them in the middle of nowhere, anxious to settle in and finally feel safe. But nothing is going as planned. She hasn't even unpacked when an unexpected guest shows up, waving a gun. Going on the run again, she's determined to get Gabriel to safety and start their new life. The cops are looking for her, but she doesn't care. She has to keep going. If they catch her, they will send her to prison. They won't understand that she's just a loving grandmother protecting her grandson from her son and his horrible wife.
Riveting, tense, and horrifying at times, "Hush Little Baby" by J.A. Baker is a steady-paced, emotional exploration of the effects of domestic violence and trauma as seen through the character Melissa. As a child, Melissa watched the severe beatings her mother suffered at the hands of her father. She remembers living in silence as to avoid any noise or word that would trigger him. Even though he left while she was still small, the trauma she suffered was there for life, lurking in the shadows and waiting to reappear. It appears early in the novel when her temper nearly gets the best of her with a fussy baby Gabriel (she reminds you of her father), and it stays front and center as she runs from the police.
"Hush Little Baby" is told through Melissa's first-person point-of-view (POV) in the present day and through her mother Nancy's third-person POV in 1970 when Melissa was a little girl. It's a little confusing at first, because it's not clear who Nancy is and why she's part of the story. But once it's revealed, it takes the book from good to enthralling. "Hush Little Baby" is filled with heart-in-your-throat twists and turns. However, it's also busting at the seams with emotion. There are enough gut punches to bring tears to your eyes at least a few times.
This book is brilliantly written and oh-so-addicting. The middle of the story seemed to go on a little longer than it should, but it gave me more time with Melissa, Gabriel, and Nancy -- and that's a win. Melissa's POV is both emotional and action-packed. Nancy's POV is written so well, it might traumatize you a little. "Hush Little Baby" grabs you by your attention span and doesn't let you go, but it's the final twist that will steal your breath from your chest as it breaks your heart and twists your tummy into knots. I read a lot of books. I've loved a lot of final twists. But this one? It broke me.
I have all the respect for author J.A. Baker. I don't know if she cried as she wrote this, but I need a new box of tissues after reading it. "Hush Little Baby" is the first book of hers that I've read, but it won't be the last.
Thank you to J.A. Baker, Boldwood Books, and Rachel's Random Resources for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Yet, starting their new life together doesn't go as easily as she thought it would. A hit-and-run accident as Melissa tries to make her getaway with Gabriel may upgrade her from a kidnapper to a murderer. Fearful of what she's done, she high tails it to the cabin she rented for them in the middle of nowhere, anxious to settle in and finally feel safe. But nothing is going as planned. She hasn't even unpacked when an unexpected guest shows up, waving a gun. Going on the run again, she's determined to get Gabriel to safety and start their new life. The cops are looking for her, but she doesn't care. She has to keep going. If they catch her, they will send her to prison. They won't understand that she's just a loving grandmother protecting her grandson from her son and his horrible wife.
Riveting, tense, and horrifying at times, "Hush Little Baby" by J.A. Baker is a steady-paced, emotional exploration of the effects of domestic violence and trauma as seen through the character Melissa. As a child, Melissa watched the severe beatings her mother suffered at the hands of her father. She remembers living in silence as to avoid any noise or word that would trigger him. Even though he left while she was still small, the trauma she suffered was there for life, lurking in the shadows and waiting to reappear. It appears early in the novel when her temper nearly gets the best of her with a fussy baby Gabriel (she reminds you of her father), and it stays front and center as she runs from the police.
"Hush Little Baby" is told through Melissa's first-person point-of-view (POV) in the present day and through her mother Nancy's third-person POV in 1970 when Melissa was a little girl. It's a little confusing at first, because it's not clear who Nancy is and why she's part of the story. But once it's revealed, it takes the book from good to enthralling. "Hush Little Baby" is filled with heart-in-your-throat twists and turns. However, it's also busting at the seams with emotion. There are enough gut punches to bring tears to your eyes at least a few times.
This book is brilliantly written and oh-so-addicting. The middle of the story seemed to go on a little longer than it should, but it gave me more time with Melissa, Gabriel, and Nancy -- and that's a win. Melissa's POV is both emotional and action-packed. Nancy's POV is written so well, it might traumatize you a little. "Hush Little Baby" grabs you by your attention span and doesn't let you go, but it's the final twist that will steal your breath from your chest as it breaks your heart and twists your tummy into knots. I read a lot of books. I've loved a lot of final twists. But this one? It broke me.
I have all the respect for author J.A. Baker. I don't know if she cried as she wrote this, but I need a new box of tissues after reading it. "Hush Little Baby" is the first book of hers that I've read, but it won't be the last.
Thank you to J.A. Baker, Boldwood Books, and Rachel's Random Resources for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
February 5, 2026
I really wanted to get through this, but listening to Hush Little Baby on audio was a struggle from start to finish. If my OCD allowed me to DNF books, this absolutely would have been one.
Melissa is clearly dealing with severe mental health issues and what appears to be a psychotic break, and while I understand that intellectually, I felt no emotional connection or sympathy for her. What the baby is put through made it extremely difficult to listen to, and I found myself detached rather than moved or invested.
Nancy’s chapters were easier to get through and offered some relief, but they weren’t enough to balance the overall experience. The pacing felt heavy, and as an audiobook especially, it just dragged in a way that made it hard to stay engaged.
I can appreciate what the author may have been trying to explore, but for me, this one just didn’t work. Overall, this was a no — and not a listening experience I’d recommend.
1⭐️
Melissa is clearly dealing with severe mental health issues and what appears to be a psychotic break, and while I understand that intellectually, I felt no emotional connection or sympathy for her. What the baby is put through made it extremely difficult to listen to, and I found myself detached rather than moved or invested.
Nancy’s chapters were easier to get through and offered some relief, but they weren’t enough to balance the overall experience. The pacing felt heavy, and as an audiobook especially, it just dragged in a way that made it hard to stay engaged.
I can appreciate what the author may have been trying to explore, but for me, this one just didn’t work. Overall, this was a no — and not a listening experience I’d recommend.
1⭐️
August 24, 2024
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.
The narrative switched between the present day, and 1970. I was drawn in from the beginning, and I sensed something that felt ominous, and made me feel uneasy. My feeling of unease motivated me to keep reading. I found Melissa an intriguing character, and initially, I questioned her motivations and intentions.
I've read books by this author before, and I found they had a clever way of creating a tense and chilling atmosphere. I felt very aware of Melissa's emotions and everything that went on around her, and found myself on tenterhooks.
This was an addictive nail-biter that thriller fans will enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
The narrative switched between the present day, and 1970. I was drawn in from the beginning, and I sensed something that felt ominous, and made me feel uneasy. My feeling of unease motivated me to keep reading. I found Melissa an intriguing character, and initially, I questioned her motivations and intentions.
I've read books by this author before, and I found they had a clever way of creating a tense and chilling atmosphere. I felt very aware of Melissa's emotions and everything that went on around her, and found myself on tenterhooks.
This was an addictive nail-biter that thriller fans will enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
August 11, 2024
4 ⭐️
when melissa kidnaps her grandson she will do anything to keep him safe. this psychological thriller takes us on the journey of melissa being on the run with her grandson to protect him. overall this was a good story and i enjoyed it- i was however a little annoyed with the constant crying. but, it did have some twists i didn't see coming.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
when melissa kidnaps her grandson she will do anything to keep him safe. this psychological thriller takes us on the journey of melissa being on the run with her grandson to protect him. overall this was a good story and i enjoyed it- i was however a little annoyed with the constant crying. but, it did have some twists i didn't see coming.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
September 7, 2024
Hush Little Baby by J A Baker is about Melissa Crawford in the book we get to POV‘s one is current day and the other is her as a child with her narcissistic abusive dad and loving mom and little brother little Georgie. When the book starts Melissa is watching a house with the baby on the porch sitting in a stroller while the parents are in the house doing other things and it is just a little more than Melissa can take. She plans to kidnap the child and she tells us all about her grandson Gabriel and her son, whose neglect is baffling to Melissa. She soon takes the baby and head to Scotland but before she can get out of town a horrible incident happens that if she wasn’t a criminal before she definitely is one now. In the other POV her mom Nancy is abused by her husband in their home they cannot make noise if they walk to loud their opening their self up for sencher, even opening and closing drawers must be done with stealth and quiet things that are acceptable one day will be punishable the next he is moody and has Nancy and little Melissa walking on eggshells daily. As the book continues current day Melissa and little Gabriel or in a dingy cottage in Scotland he has come down with a fever and if that would be all the problems she had that would be enough having kidnapped a baby who is deathly sick but oh no, there’s something that’s going to happen that changes the whole projection of the book. When everything comes to ahead it makes for one pretty shocking ending. I can honestly say this book is thrilling, heartbreaking, shocking with a sad but satisfying ending. I often mention most books I read by New authors when reviewing but not the case with this Author., I love J a Baker’s books and after reading this book despite a few eye rolling moments, such as bringing a baby with fever out on a cold day I definitely recommend this one. because I really and truly enjoyed it.#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks, #JABaker, #HushLittleBaby,
July 29, 2024
It's becoming all too common to see thrillers described with things like "shocking ending" or "jaw dropping twist" or something similar. Rarely am I shocked and I haven't had to pick my jaw up off the floor of late. But...the ending of this one really came as a surprise to me. This woman is so broken and delusional that you can't help but feel sorry for her. She goes way too far and you know deep down that something isn't right and there is more to this story, but I still did not see the ending coming. It was a really good storyline. The writing was a bit repetitive and there is a lot of crying baby, which is annoying and nerve jangling even just in hearing it described. I think this one is worth picking up if you want something that's a little different.
October 9, 2024
The thriller had a gripping plot, but the writing style detracted from my enjoyment. It was pretty distracting from any tension I should have felt. The overly descriptive language and use of outdated synonyms made the narrative feel cumbersome, disrupting the story's flow and pacing.
Thank you Boldwood Books for providing the book through netgalley all opinions are my own.
Thank you Boldwood Books for providing the book through netgalley all opinions are my own.
October 6, 2024
This author's books are hit or miss for me, and this was a huge miss. The past chapters, the Nancy ones, were stale. The abusive husband storylines have been done to death and are always the same. The current chapters, with Melissa, were incredibly boring and very repetitive. I slogged through it all only to reach a predictable ending. Derivative and cliched.
August 9, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to review this arc.
This was going to get a 2 star review but because of the ending, I'm giving it a 3.
My first problem. Melissa kidnaps her grandson because of neglect from his parents. Is it her son or daughter s son? That is not established till close to the end? Secondly, I have to agree with the other reviews. Too much description on her taking care of the baby and everything that she was doing. Could have been condensed. Third, I did not feel this was a psychological thriller but more of a family drama .
On a positive note, this was a quick read. I liked the 1970 pov because it established why Melissa was the way she was. Unfortunately I can't recommend this book.
This was going to get a 2 star review but because of the ending, I'm giving it a 3.
My first problem. Melissa kidnaps her grandson because of neglect from his parents. Is it her son or daughter s son? That is not established till close to the end? Secondly, I have to agree with the other reviews. Too much description on her taking care of the baby and everything that she was doing. Could have been condensed. Third, I did not feel this was a psychological thriller but more of a family drama .
On a positive note, this was a quick read. I liked the 1970 pov because it established why Melissa was the way she was. Unfortunately I can't recommend this book.
October 1, 2024
Sad to say this book was just not it for me. It was unbelievably repetitive. The author would add one new idea and then repeat the same story over and over. I almost DNF it quite a few times as I was sick of reading the same thing.
The 2 perspectives was well done. I enjoyed reading the 2 different time periods and this helped to develop the characters and explain why Melissa was doing what she did.
The premise was good just not well executed in my opinion.
2⭐️⭐️
The 2 perspectives was well done. I enjoyed reading the 2 different time periods and this helped to develop the characters and explain why Melissa was doing what she did.
The premise was good just not well executed in my opinion.
2⭐️⭐️
August 14, 2024
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I found it very repetitive, slow, and most of the time boring. There was nothing to hold my attention and keep me captivated.
Flipping backwards and forward between present and past was poorly executed, and the connection between Melissa as a child and an adult seemed an unnecessary addition to the storyline and offered little substance to the overall storyline.
Yes, it had a twist at the end, but it wasn't enough to save this book for me. It definitely didn't have what I would expect from a thriller.
Flipping backwards and forward between present and past was poorly executed, and the connection between Melissa as a child and an adult seemed an unnecessary addition to the storyline and offered little substance to the overall storyline.
Yes, it had a twist at the end, but it wasn't enough to save this book for me. It definitely didn't have what I would expect from a thriller.
September 1, 2024
Just no. This book was so depressing on many levels.
August 29, 2024
This book was a dark, emotional read and hard to get through! Let me start by saying **trigger warnings!!** This book is chock full of abuse, neglect, kidnapping, mental health issues, and several instances that nearly resulted in infant death. While I do enjoy a dark and twisty plot, I found this particular book challenging to read as a mother. I was slightly caught off guard with some of the darker abusive nature of the plot and had a hard time stomaching it at times.
I love a story that plays out in different perspectives and different timelines, especially when one woman’s history gives clues to the present day woman’s plight and especially when one of those women is breaking the law! Reading a story through the eyes of a “bad-guy” is always a fun alternative to your typical underdog-hero wins the day type of thriller. This book definitely had those edge-of-your-seat layers being revealed throughout, and while I couldn’t root for our main characters, I definitely kept turning those pages, needing to know how their stories ended.
That being said, I couldn’t relate to our two main characters and didn’t find myself clinging to any kind of hopeful outcome for either of them because in my opinion both women both put their selfish desires or selfish fears before the health of the children in their care, sometimes detrimentally so. As a mother, I just couldn’t empathize with them and their apathetic or erratic choices that led them into dangerous or, I’ll even say stupid, situations.
While the overall plot of this book was not my cup of tea, I am have seen plenty of great reviews from others who loved the dark traumatic tales between these pages!
I love a story that plays out in different perspectives and different timelines, especially when one woman’s history gives clues to the present day woman’s plight and especially when one of those women is breaking the law! Reading a story through the eyes of a “bad-guy” is always a fun alternative to your typical underdog-hero wins the day type of thriller. This book definitely had those edge-of-your-seat layers being revealed throughout, and while I couldn’t root for our main characters, I definitely kept turning those pages, needing to know how their stories ended.
That being said, I couldn’t relate to our two main characters and didn’t find myself clinging to any kind of hopeful outcome for either of them because in my opinion both women both put their selfish desires or selfish fears before the health of the children in their care, sometimes detrimentally so. As a mother, I just couldn’t empathize with them and their apathetic or erratic choices that led them into dangerous or, I’ll even say stupid, situations.
While the overall plot of this book was not my cup of tea, I am have seen plenty of great reviews from others who loved the dark traumatic tales between these pages!
September 29, 2024
Melissa Crawford thinks her son and daughter-in-law are neglecting her only grandchild. She feels like she must do something, so she sets a plan in motion to take him for herself. The plan should have been simple to execute., as they leave him outside alone quite a bit. Grab him and go is all it should take. Then a nosey neighbor gets involved and her well devised plans go down the drain. In her haste, she runs over the elderly neighbor, not knowing the outcome to much later. She then begins her life on the run, and each step makes it worse and worse. She didn't think of everything she would need for a baby less than a year old. She is older herself and lacks the energy and patience she once had when she raised her son. To top it off, the baby gets sick and armed intruders force their way into her hideout. She can't call for help or take her grandson to the hospital for fear of being found out. All she can do is run....
I was tempted to give this book three stars until I got to the end. I was shocked by the ending of the book, and it was. GOOD ending, so I had to bump it up to a four. I understand that repetitiveness is often used as critical tool in writing to signify a mental breakdown. There was just a bit too much of that in here, in my honest opinion. However, I think it was interesting that as she went deeper into her spiral, the more kept happening to her. It worked well as a "personification" to her state of sanity. I did like the multi-POV from Melissa's childhood (not instantly known but easy to guess). It showed a lot as to why she is the way she is. Overall, this was a good book!
Thank you to J.A Baker, NetGalley, and Boldwood for the ARC!
I was tempted to give this book three stars until I got to the end. I was shocked by the ending of the book, and it was. GOOD ending, so I had to bump it up to a four. I understand that repetitiveness is often used as critical tool in writing to signify a mental breakdown. There was just a bit too much of that in here, in my honest opinion. However, I think it was interesting that as she went deeper into her spiral, the more kept happening to her. It worked well as a "personification" to her state of sanity. I did like the multi-POV from Melissa's childhood (not instantly known but easy to guess). It showed a lot as to why she is the way she is. Overall, this was a good book!
Thank you to J.A Baker, NetGalley, and Boldwood for the ARC!
August 22, 2024
Hush Little Baby by J.A. Baker
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When she hears the baby crying, she knows she has to do something to keep it safe. To protect it from its terrible parents. Even though the father of the child is Melissa's own son...
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
My Opinion
Melissa kidnaps a baby and ends up having to go into hiding. This is the second book I have read by J.A. Baker and both have been entertaining. For a thriller I thought that Hush Little Baby had a relatively slow plot but the twists made up for it. If you are looking for something a bit different, then look no further.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
When she hears the baby crying, she knows she has to do something to keep it safe. To protect it from its terrible parents. Even though the father of the child is Melissa's own son...
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
My Opinion
Melissa kidnaps a baby and ends up having to go into hiding. This is the second book I have read by J.A. Baker and both have been entertaining. For a thriller I thought that Hush Little Baby had a relatively slow plot but the twists made up for it. If you are looking for something a bit different, then look no further.
Rating 4/5
September 7, 2024
When Melissa Crawford believes a baby to be in danger, one day she decides to take the baby away .But as Melissa is making her getaway she is involved in an accident. Fleeing the scene she decides to take little Gabriel to Rannoch Moore, a quiet spot in Scotland .But when Melissa gets there she knows this is not going to be as straightforward as she thought .The baby wont stop crying , he is not well , and the picture perfect cottage that she pictured in her mind is filthy , grotty , and this is just the beginning of her troubles. At the beginning of the 1970's Nancy is married to Roger , a doctor..Roger is popular with his colleagues, his patients seem to love him ..And on the outside looking in theirs is the perfect family, with a beautiful daughter , a cherubic little baby , George , and a lovely home .They hold the best dinner parties for miles But sometimes things are never quite as they seem .. Nancy could never have known on the day she married Roger what her life would be like ...Roger is abusive , both mentally and physically from the very beginning. There are wounds that never show on her body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds . And the domestic violence causes far more pain than the visual marks of bruises and scars .. Nancy has never spoken of her abuse or told a soul , apart from her sister ...Its like a secret , only the thing about secrets is they keep you in prison ...And once you share ...Whoosh there is no release ...5 stars Hush Little Baby is told in two timelines Its heartbreaking ...Cuts like a knife ...And one of the best Phychological Theillers I have read this year ...
August 12, 2025
HUSH LITTLE BABY By J.A. Baker
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller.
✔ The book was in two different timelines. So it gives you an insight on 'Why'. Many times while reading I felt a bit of an adrenaline rush because the story picks up. I liked the themes the book was based on. If I talk of the timelines in the book - the past timeline keeps you hooked.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ That all being said, I kind of found the book repetitive at times. And Melissa in the present timeline kind of irritated me while the whole running away with the baby. I normally read a book in one go, but this one took me time.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 3/5
Thank you, J.A. Baker and Boldwood Books , for a copy.
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...
But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.
Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?
😊What i liked -
✔ Mystery/Suspense/Psychological Thriller.
✔ The book was in two different timelines. So it gives you an insight on 'Why'. Many times while reading I felt a bit of an adrenaline rush because the story picks up. I liked the themes the book was based on. If I talk of the timelines in the book - the past timeline keeps you hooked.
🤔What could have been better -
✔ That all being said, I kind of found the book repetitive at times. And Melissa in the present timeline kind of irritated me while the whole running away with the baby. I normally read a book in one go, but this one took me time.
📚Who Should read :
👶Beginners
🕵️Thriller Lovers
📈My Rating : 3/5
Thank you, J.A. Baker and Boldwood Books , for a copy.
August 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me get a copy of the book.
‘Hush Little Baby’ follows two timelines and two different point of views. The present follows Melissa who feels like her grandson Gabriel is being neglected by his parents her son Robin and daughter -in-law Adele and also flashes back to the year 1970 to the point of view of Nancy. Follow Melissa as she runs with Gabriel and seems to hit bad luck at every turn. He becomes very ill and she battles with doing the right thing of taking him to a hospital or keeping them hidden.
She feels like she is doing the right thing and taking Gabriel away from a neglectful situation. The dual timelines added an interesting layer to the story, providing deeper context and background that influenced Melissa's actions in the present. Melissa's character is undoubtedly troubled and complex, which added to the tension, but the pacing made it difficult to stay fully engaged. I found myself wishing for more shocking twists and turns to keep the momentum going. It took me a few days to get through the book. The twist itself was very sad and made me feel sorry for her still didn’t make doing what she did right.
Overall, while 'Hush Little Baby' had an intriguing premise and complex characters, it didn't quite deliver the suspense I was hoping for. If you're a fan of dual timelines and character-driven stories, you might still find it worth a read.
‘Hush Little Baby’ follows two timelines and two different point of views. The present follows Melissa who feels like her grandson Gabriel is being neglected by his parents her son Robin and daughter -in-law Adele and also flashes back to the year 1970 to the point of view of Nancy. Follow Melissa as she runs with Gabriel and seems to hit bad luck at every turn. He becomes very ill and she battles with doing the right thing of taking him to a hospital or keeping them hidden.
She feels like she is doing the right thing and taking Gabriel away from a neglectful situation. The dual timelines added an interesting layer to the story, providing deeper context and background that influenced Melissa's actions in the present. Melissa's character is undoubtedly troubled and complex, which added to the tension, but the pacing made it difficult to stay fully engaged. I found myself wishing for more shocking twists and turns to keep the momentum going. It took me a few days to get through the book. The twist itself was very sad and made me feel sorry for her still didn’t make doing what she did right.
Overall, while 'Hush Little Baby' had an intriguing premise and complex characters, it didn't quite deliver the suspense I was hoping for. If you're a fan of dual timelines and character-driven stories, you might still find it worth a read.
January 9, 2025
*I've got this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
With this one I'll get straight to the point - it was awful. It is a good contender of a worst book I read in a while.
From the first pages I was destracted by unnecessery flowery writing style. It felt like author just opend a dictionary and decided to use most fancy/random seldom used words, just to be different from everybody else. It distracted from the plot, although there wasn't that much of a plot.
Also this book was beyond slow. Half of the book was copy - paste from the previous chapter. I event noted some sentences that were use word for word in few chapters in the row.
None of the characters had any redeaming qualities, most of the time I just was annoyed by them.
Some of the plot twists in this book were completely random and gave nothing to the story, it's like author felt herself, that writing same lines over and over again is a little bit excesive, so just put first thing that came to her mind just out of the blue.
From the middle of the book I started skipping paragraphs, sometimes even pages, because I just couldn't be bothered to read the same thing and doing that I haven't loosed much. I still could follow the story, I think that shows, that this bookd could have been much shorter - chunks of this story could have been edited out.
I don't think I will read other books by this author. Her writing style is definitely not my style.
With this one I'll get straight to the point - it was awful. It is a good contender of a worst book I read in a while.
From the first pages I was destracted by unnecessery flowery writing style. It felt like author just opend a dictionary and decided to use most fancy/random seldom used words, just to be different from everybody else. It distracted from the plot, although there wasn't that much of a plot.
Also this book was beyond slow. Half of the book was copy - paste from the previous chapter. I event noted some sentences that were use word for word in few chapters in the row.
None of the characters had any redeaming qualities, most of the time I just was annoyed by them.
Some of the plot twists in this book were completely random and gave nothing to the story, it's like author felt herself, that writing same lines over and over again is a little bit excesive, so just put first thing that came to her mind just out of the blue.
From the middle of the book I started skipping paragraphs, sometimes even pages, because I just couldn't be bothered to read the same thing and doing that I haven't loosed much. I still could follow the story, I think that shows, that this bookd could have been much shorter - chunks of this story could have been edited out.
I don't think I will read other books by this author. Her writing style is definitely not my style.
August 13, 2024
When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all. But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident that forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lie low and let the dust settle. Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone, but if she goes to prison, who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?
The pace is on the slow side, which could put some people off reading this book. The characters also felt a bit one-dimensional. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1970 where we get Nancy's point of view. And the present day, when Melissa takes her grandson away. We do get some repetition throughout the book. The story is told from Nancy and Melissa's perspectives. Nancy's story is about abuse from a well-respected man in the community. Everything starts going wrong as soon as Melissa takes baby Gabriel. This is an easy book to read.
Published 23rd August 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JABaker for my ARC of #HushLittleBaby in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is on the slow side, which could put some people off reading this book. The characters also felt a bit one-dimensional. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1970 where we get Nancy's point of view. And the present day, when Melissa takes her grandson away. We do get some repetition throughout the book. The story is told from Nancy and Melissa's perspectives. Nancy's story is about abuse from a well-respected man in the community. Everything starts going wrong as soon as Melissa takes baby Gabriel. This is an easy book to read.
Published 23rd August 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JABaker for my ARC of #HushLittleBaby in exchange for an honest review.
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