A Child in the Storm

by Emily Gunnis

A cry in the dark. A missing mother. A lifetime's search for the truth...

The gripping new novel from the bestselling author is a tense and moving story of cruel separation, shocking betrayal and the triumph of love.

1983. Pregnant at seventeen and turned out by her parents, Felicity finds refuge at the women's peace camp at Greenham Common. But when the camp is raided by police and the women arrested, Felicity goes into labour in a cell and her baby is taken away.

2024. Serving time behind bars, Emma is haunted by the night her careless actions caused a tragic accident and left her alone in the world. When her new cell mate Amanda shows her kindness, Emma doesn't think twice about sharing all her secrets, but who can she trust?

Adele steps into a nightmare when her daughter vanishes on her way home from school. When the police start to ask questions about her family, Adele is shocked to discover a hidden trail of lies. But can she unravel the secret that will lead to her missing daughter - before it's too late...

Your favourite authors are gripped by Emily Gunnis's pulse-pounding

'Utterly gripping, taut and powerful. An emotionally charged, compulsive, moving novel Adele Parks
'Fast paced, brilliantly plotted and desperately sad at times - all hallmarks of a bestseller' Lesley Pearse
'Compelling, twisty, heart-wrenching... A novel that stays with you. I was gripped' Sophie Kinsella

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Hello everyone,

Thank you for checking out my author page. Even writing this is a dream come true for me.

I’ve wanted to be a published author since my mother, Penny Vincenzi, got her first book deal, when she and I would walk and talk about everything plots and stories together.

Fast forward thirty years and I have discovered it is slightly more difficult than she made it look. But still, I got there eventually, because it is in my blood, and also, because I have always existed, slightly, in a world of my own, and reading and writing books allows me to make a living from that. I still remember my eleven-year-old self, a little at odds with the world, sitting on the cold parquet floor of St Lawrence Junior School utterly gripped as Mr Thomas read us all Boy by Roald Dahl.

After graduating in Journalism in 1997 I began writing scripts and had two episodes of BBC Doctors commissioned, but I wasn’t keen on all the endless drafts and input from Script Editors and Producers. So, while I worked as a PA at the BBC and the Daily Mirror newspaper I learned as much as I could about storytelling until it all became fodder for my debut novel, The Girl in the Letter.

I really hope you enjoy it, and my follow-up novel which I am busy researching as we speak. I live in Brighton, Sussex, with my husband Steve, an architect, and my two crazy, beautiful girls, Grace and Eleanor. We read a lot of Julia Donaldson and Roald Dahl, in between walking Merlin our whippet on the beach but when I’ve got a deadline I rely on their tablets rather a lot and feel incredibly guilty most of the time.

If you’d like to get in touch, please do visit me on Twitter @EmilyGunnis and Instagram @emilygunnis.

And if you’re really stuck for something to do, feel free to review my book. I would love to know what you think.

Keep reading!

Love Emily x

Reviews

[Jayne Southern · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken by the description, I expected to enjoy this book rather more. The storyline and connections are great, but it lacked pace (for me) and the tension was altogether too comfortable to fulfil the promise of a thriller. The descriptions of Greenham Common and the atmosphere and determination of the women made for good reading.

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed reading this book. This is my first book from this author. I’m definitely won’t be my last.

1983; pregnant at 17 and turned out by her family. Felicity finds refuge at the women’s peace camp at Greenham common. But when the camp is rated by the police and the women arrested Felicity goes into labour in a cell she returns home to her family shortly after an awake one morning to find her baby gone.

2024; serving time behind bars, Emma is haunted by the night reckless actions caused a tragic accident and left her alone in the world when her new soulmate Amanda shows her kindness. Emma doesn’t think twice about sharing all her secrets but who can she trust?

That same year Adele steps into a nightmare when her daughter vanishes on her way home from school when the police start to ask questions about her family a daily shocked to discover a hidden trail of lies but can she unravel the secret that will lead to her missing daughter before it’s too late.

This story is told from four different perspectives the past and the present and from several characters perspectives I found the characters interesting and the storyline kept me engaged.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Emily Gunnis—she does drama and unsolved-mystery storylines so well.

This novel is multi-layered and told from four different perspectives. It’s fast-paced and had me constantly trying to think ahead to solve the mystery.

While I do think some of her other storylines offer more character depth than this one, it was still a really enjoyable and engaging read. Happy Reading 🩷📚🩷

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot

Blurb

1983. Pregnant at seventeen and turned out by her parents, Felicity finds refuge at the women's peace camp at Greenham Common. But when the camp is raided by police and the women arrested, Felicity goes into labour in a cell and her baby is taken away.

2024. Serving time behind bars, Emma is haunted by the night her careless actions caused a tragic accident and left her alone in the world. When her new cell mate Amanda shows her kindness, Emma doesn't think twice about sharing all her secrets, but who can she trust?

Adele steps into a nightmare when her daughter vanishes on her way home from school. When the police start to ask questions about her family, Adele is shocked to discover a hidden trail of lies. But can she unravel the secret that will lead to her missing daughter - before it's too late...

[Loraine]

Thanks to Emily and NetGalley for allowing me to read A Child in the Storm before the publication date.
It is a real page turner.
I can’t improve on the synopsis and won’t even try, so no spoilers from me.

Emily has woven a story in which she gradually reveals details about 4 generations of women, each of whom have each been influenced by their families and the culture of their time, only to influence the next generation, although not always in a good way.

Initial impressions of the characters can be misleading, until gradually, more information about their history is revealed.
Emily is a master of writing stories which are very balanced, showing a depth of understanding of the characters and their situation, leaving the reader to decide whether you agree or otherwise.
Having read the acknowledgements, it is obvious that she does a lot of research when writing.

The book starts in 1983, whilst the Cold War continues to threaten every life on the planet.
The Doomsday Clock was set at 2 minutes before midnight.
Out of interest, today, the Doomsday Clock is set at 89 seconds before midnight.

Has the world learned nothing in all those years?

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Emily Gunnis, and I was not disappointed. It was a fast paced, dual.period, dual narrated and emotion-fueled novel that really captured my attention.

The author has developed the characters really well, and I loved how they all showed growth after their experiences. I really felt for Emma, from her upbringing to where she found herself later in life, so I was glad she got a good ending and that she could finally heal.

It was rather tense in places, and although I did guess what had happened with Sophia, it didn't take away any enjoyment as there was so much more to the plot.

It's a great read, so I'll definitely be looking out for more by Emily Gunnis.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Emily’s books but this one is something very special and definitely her best so far! Brilliant!

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young girl, Felicity, is made pregnant by her parents' friend but is thrown out ather than supported. She finds herself welcomed by the Greenham Common women who are protesting about US cruise missiles being kept in UK.
Later the baby is found on the steps of a local church. Here is a tie pin, an envelope with money in, addressed to Emma which is the name her adopted parents called her.
In the present, Felicity's grand daughter, Sophie, goes missing on the walk home from school. She has been having friendship issues and is nervous about walking g home alone but on this day, her parents are unable to walk her home due to work.
As the police try and find her, it becomes apparent that there are a lot of secrets which may impact on who and why Sophie has been kidnapped.
I really loved this tale. I connected with the main characters and what happened to them. I remember the Greenham Common women's protests at the time and the story really explained why these ordinary women felt compelled to protest in a peaceful way. I agree with the author, that history should remember them more and their role in the Cold War peace process.

[Susan Tietjen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply emotional

The author's notes echo my own feelings. I am both an American and old enough to have been Emma"s mother, and I remember nothing of these historical events. What incredible dedication the women of that protest showed. The characters in the book suffered so greatly, and the plot was intricate. Poor Emma, who'd done nothing wrong and yet inherited so much suffering and mayhem that her life seemed nearly wasted. Her mother was a shining jewel, ready to love her the way she should have been loved, but the obstacles to their happiness seemed insurmountable and even dangerous. Thank you, Emily Guinness, for opening an American woman's eyes to a part of history and women's suffering that are even more dramatic than what I've endured in my own life. A book worth reading with care. I did give 4 stars because the "language barrier" and my determination to understand the British viewpoint was a challenge for me. It may not be so for others. I'm still wanting to meet Emma whose character is the same age as my youngest daughter.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1983 Felicity (Fliss) is pregnant by a friend of her parents. Once they discover her pregnancy her family disown her. She finds herself drawn to Greenham Common where women are protesting about US Cruise Missiles being based in the UK. Unfortunately she is arrested and her baby is born while she's in prison and subsequently taken without her knowledge and left at a local church.
In 2024 Felicity's granddaughter Sophia goes missing on her way to school. Also in 2024 Emma is nearing the end of a long prison sentence for inadvertently causing a fire which killed ker father, Moved to an Open Prison for her final months she is befriended by her cell mate who isn't quite as nice as she first appears. Told in two timelines, 1983 and 2024, the connection between the three women becomes apparent. I enjoyed the book though did find it very slow in parts and also rather far fetched at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book.

[Mark Dare · Rating 2 out of 5]

it's 2.5, rounded up for me. I had experiences of wondering whether I'd misread at times....I'm pretty certain I didn't and that there were a couple of written errors, including a continuity error. This ruins a book for me and I'm forever looking out for more. In general though I just found the writing style confused and in need of a quick check by an editor...such a shame as the story was not bad. To be fair, this was an ARC although I've encountered these error types very rarely over the last 5/6 years.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read a book by this author. I enjoyed the story but I had guessed the outcome half way through and so I was just waiting for it to be told I. The story rather than being hooked into wondering what happens next.
The Greenham Common parts of the story were very factual and interesting especially as I was only 14 at the time and have no recollection of this happing at all.
I thought the ending was a little predictable and I would have liked to see a different ending.
On the whole, I enjoyed the book and would read another by this author.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid read by this author, which I knew I would enjoy. Told over different timelines, the book weaves the female characters together to create a fast paced, tense story. I remember hearing about Greenham Common growing up but I didn’t really fully understand the significance at the time, so it was interesting to read what actually happened there. I highly recommend this book and the other books from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for letting me read and review this book.

[Gill Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story's backdrop of the Greenham Common protests. I'd known about them at the time but it was fascinating to imagine what conditions were like for those involved. Emily Gunnis really makes us empathise with the women who gave up their lives to make a better future for their children, and the police who had to manage their actions in spite of personal misgivings. This was a compelling and poweful read which kept me enthralled from the first to last page.

[juanita dodd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stormy Read

It took.me a long time to read this book due to.it going back and forth with the time line. I couldn't remember who was who or what was going on with each character. There were too many characters, I had to keep going back to reread what happened to who. I finally finished the book. Even the ending was confusing.

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story was ok but I figured it out pretty easily. Would like to know more about the ‘why’ for Alex but it was an easy read really.

[Jean Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay!

[Sharron Tennant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long await for the 5th book and has been well worth the wait. thanks for the escapism 😊

[Louisa Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off really promising and totally lost its way half way through. It the was boring, predictable and I couldn’t wait to finish it!

[Lizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I think this is my least favourite book by Emily Gunnis so far.
It was a bit predictable, and I found it easy to put down.

[Beth Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!

My first book by Emily Gunnis. I couldn't put it d
own. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and I still didn't figure it out. Looking forward to reading more by Ms Gunnis

[Nikki Hurd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get into.
But a great book. Worth the read

[Carlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book piissseddd me offffff, or rather, one specific character pissed me off. I really enjoyed the story, with the emotional background story of the Greenham Common nuclear protests. It helped really connect to the characters and appreciate them more. The name of the book I found quite fitting as well as the ending, nothing too far fetched or hard to believe, all in all a good book.

[Stefani Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is so intriguing and the description of the story drew me in. Yet, I found this story lackluster. It was difficult for me to stay focused on the plot and didn't feel for the characters like I thought I would.

I, also, found the multiple scenarios and characters that eventually tied together were far fetched.

If you enjoy crime related stories with some twists and turns, you will like this. It wasn't the book for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Headline, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lorraine Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Child in the Storm by Emily Gunnis is an emotional, multi-layered novel that intertwines the lives of four women across two timelines. As the story unfolds, their experiences gradually connect in ways that reveal the hidden costs of political activism and personal loss.

Much of the novel is set against the backdrop of Greenham Common in the 1980s — a vivid and meticulously researched setting that anchors the story in real historical events. Gunnis captures the tension, idealism, and hardship of the women’s peace protests with empathy and precision. The descriptions of camp life, the bonds between the protestors, and the challenges they faced give the novel real depth and authenticity. It’s clear a great deal of care went into portraying the atmosphere and significance of this period.

The characters are well-drawn and believable, each woman distinct in voice and motivation. Gunnis excels at showing how trauma and hope echo through generations, and how choices made decades earlier can still shape lives in the present. The emotional resonance between the timelines is one of the book’s strengths.

That said, the pacing can feel uneven. The narrative occasionally lingers too long on emotional reflection or repeated moments of introspection, which slows the momentum, especially in the middle sections. However, those slower passages do add emotional weight and give the story time to breathe, so whether that’s a flaw or a feature may depend on personal taste.

Overall, A Child in the Storm is a moving, thoughtful novel about women’s courage and the long shadows of history. It balances personal drama with historical insight and demonstrates emotionally rich storytelling with a strong sense of time and place. While the pacing might not suit those looking for a fast-moving plot, its emotional depth and historical detail make it a rewarding and memorable read.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful just Wonderful.
A book that comes to life as you keep reading.
My emotions were all over they all came out, heartbreaking tears of laughter and real tears falling.
This is one very emotional book,
Showing the hard times in all the characters.
Truly lovely read from this true writer.
Amazing, I loved it.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Emily Gunnis' books and for me this is her best yet!

A brilliant, fast paced, gripping page turner with a dual timeline. The present, when twelve year old Sophia goes missing along with the family dog, and some forty plus years earlier when women set up camp at Greenham Common to protest against the US airbase being used as a site for American guided nuclear missiles. Full of emotive description about the hardship of the women and their indefatigable desire to change public opinion about the need to ban mid-range nuclear missiles. I remember Greenham Common being in the news however it is only now I realise the enormity of the sacrifices these women made, definitely due to the author's diligent research.

The character development of Felicity is outstanding, the young Fliss and the present day Felicity initially seemingly poles apart. The mental anguish of the past affecting her ability to form a relationship with her younger daughter is so emotive. Family secrets, heartbreak, hope, desperation, intrigue and interesting characters 'A Child in the Storm' has it all. To award a book five stars I need to ask myself if I will recall the characters, plot, intrigue and my emotions when reading, simply by seeing the book's cover. All boxes ticked!

Much gratitude to NetGalley and Headline Books for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dual timeline,
I really enjoyed this book about betrayal and love.
I was completely absorbed to the end.
Great read.

[Sue Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the 80s women were protesting against nuclear weapons arriving on Greenham common no one was listening so they made the common home. The police and council were raiding the camp daily removing tents and food trying to make it impossible for the women to stay, but they hadn't banked on the determination of them to stop the weapons. WPC Rachel Rees was tasked with arresting them and transporting them to Newbury police station, she was close to the end of her shift with 12 women in her vehicle when she was handed a unwanted baby Emma who had been left on the vicarage steps with £1000 and a tie pin. Forty years later and Emma is in prison for killing her adopted father. So begins a complicated story involving a missing girl Sophie, her parents, grandmother and great grandfather who is rather wealthy. This book had me hooked and the history at the end was really interesting I had just had my second child in 1982 and obviously had baby brain because Greenham didn't register with me and everything these women were trying to achieve especially as some of them were mothers. Highly recommend and looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Karen Cuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible book — I was completely absorbed from beginning to end. The story unfolds across two timelines: in 1983, we follow 17-year-old Felicity, pregnant and terrified after being thrown out of her home. The cruel irony is that the father of her child is a political ally of her own father. In 2024, we meet Adele, trapped in an emotionally and financially abusive marriage, whose world shatters when her daughter goes missing. Then there’s Emma, serving time in prison after a tragic fire she started that claimed her adoptive father’s life. At first, these stories seem separate, but Emily Gunnis ties them together beautifully, showing the connections piece by piece. The novel deals with tough themes — abandonment, pregnancy, adoption — but it does so with care. Some of my favourite moments were Felicity’s time at Greenham Common, where she found solidarity, activism, and a sense of belonging even as her pregnancy advanced. This is a moving, layered story about resilience, loss, and survival, and it will stay with me for a long time. Thanks to TBC Reviewer Group and author for the opportunity to read and review.