The Missing Child

by A.J. Carter

Has she finally come home?

Fifteen years after the disappearance of ten-year-old Ellie Beckett devastated the town of East Plain, Tess Winters arrives as the new housekeeper for the Beckett family - a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to their missing daughter.

Though Tess claims she's just looking for work, her presence in the grief-stricken household awakens long-buried secrets. As Ellie's mother's hostility intensifies and suspicions of a sinister plot emerge, Tess must unravel the truth behind the vanishing before she becomes the next to disappear.

Genres: Thriller

450 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2025

About the author

AJ Carter is a psychological thriller author from Bristol, England. His first book, The Family Secret, is praised by critics around the world, and he continues to regularly deliver suspenseful novels you can’t put down.

Sign up to his mailing list today and be the first to hear about upcoming releases and hot new deals for existing books. You’ll also receive a FREE digital copy of The Couple Downstairs – an unputdownable domestic thriller you won’t find anywhere else in the world: https://BookHip.com/WAXFLLP

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just wanted to say didn’t care for this to dragged out story could have been shorter.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

a lot of repetition. kinda boring til about 60%. took too long to get to the point/get interesting. the end of the plot was good, but it continues another chapter or two beyond where it should've ended and ruined it.

[Mrs. Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The missing child

I was not impressed with this book, sadly. There was a lot of procrastinating, from the author, going over the same things, already said, too many times, and it made the story last twice as long as it would have done without the unecessary reiterated parts. I could often skip a few paragraphs and still be able to follow the tale because it had got no further ahead from what was last being said. Too laboured over each bit, too much description in parts.

I, personally found the plot hard to believe, too, I mean, why would the protagonist put herself in danger, over and over again if she knew she would probably be in danger!

In reference to the title, I actually spent the whole book believing Tess was really Ellie and had hidden her true identity for years, and that it would be revealed in time, however the truth was more boring, sorry to say.

There was hardly any excitement, and heart-stopping moments, for me it wasn't a page turner to see what happened next, it was more a race to the end to see if it would get better, to see if anything exciting would materialise, and to skip the many boring bits.
Sorry to AJ Carter.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you want to know about how to clean a house or about sunlight through windows this is the book for you !!! A thriller that could have been written in a short story

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Tess who has taken a job with the Becketts……the couple whose daughter went missing 15 years ago….she needs a fresh start and it seems the ideal job, but is she who she says she is? And more to the point are The Becketts who they say they are? Respected GP and grieving Mum?

Tess soon finds out Margot is virulently against Tess being in her home and will stop at nothing to ‘get her out’

But, of course, all 3 have secrets, all 3 are not as they seem and all 3 are playing a dangerous game

A genuinely ‘wonder what is going on here!?’ read where we know things are not as they appear and you have to keep reading the story as it is building to the reveals and then….well then the reveals and the truth are out and so is the shock….

Once again the author has written a compelling enjoyable and exciting thriller

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this author, but this book was boring. Rather than addictive I struggled to finish it. It seemed like they just said the same thing a hundred different ways. I never did "feel" anything for the protagonist and the dead child's mother was not only inconsistent, but also unbelievable. I might have enjoyed it if it were about 100 pages shorter.

[cheri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know why I continued reading until the end. So slow and boring

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very entertaining book from this author.

[Phyllis Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very suspenseful and intense story with a shocking reveal. When a girl arrives for a job as a housekeeper her lady of the house takes an immediate dislike to her. The townspeople all look at her and begin whispering about her. She is a lookalike for the girl that went missing 15 years prior and never been found. Her mother keeps her old bedroom as a shrine and forbids the housekeeper to ever enter that room. What is the big secret about the missing child everyone in the town wants to know, as you will as the story evolves. It's quite an unexpected ending you won't see coming. I highly recommend the book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I considered this book to be more of a mystery than a psychological thriller, as I tried to figure it out.
"Fifteen years after the disappearance of ten-year-old Ellie Beckett devastated the town of East Plain, Tess Winters arrives as the new housekeeper for the Beckett family - a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to their missing daughter.
Though Tess claims she's just looking for work, her presence in the grief-stricken household awakens long-buried secrets. As Ellie's mother's hostility intensifies and suspicions of a sinister plot emerge, Tess must unravel the truth behind the vanishing before she becomes the next to disappear." synopsis copied

[Faith Broadbent · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought because it had 4.17 stars it would be good... wrong.

I think I read that she was an employee and just a house cleaner about 100 times. There were also inconsistencies throughout the book with time. The author had written "X event happened that day" and then the next sub chapter said "the next evening we had dinner" (so thats the next day right?) and then followed it with "after yesterday's event..." but surely that was now 2 days ago? There were a few more, but that was the most obvious.

The plot felt flat and didn't really go anywhere...

[Ashkara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tess Winters begins her employment as a housekeeper for Victor and his wife Margot. The only problem is that Tess is the exact image of their daughter Ellie who had vanished 15 years before, right down to the scar on her hand.
Things turn dangerous and violent in the household with Tess’s appearance causing a spiral of emotions for her employers.
I found the book to be an okay read. I kept expecting some twists to spring up, even until the end.
The reason for Ellie’s death was a bit lame and confusing. It was okay.

[Charissa Packham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last book I read by this writer was kind of dissapointing, but this book I could not put down!

The whole time it left me guessing what was happening - I kind of knew that a certain person knew more than he let on.

Sometimes it was a bit slow, but that didnt stop me from reading.

Did I expect another twist in the end? 100 %, was the ending satisying? Also, yes!

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

I enjoyed this story.

It was a quick read that kept a good pace and was interesting throughput.

I enjoy the way this author develops characters enough for the reader to feel connected, but not overwhelmed...it's a fine balance and this writer know how to do it.

[Jackie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One question?

I don’t understand Collins why he was there to begin with why he was basically corrupt. I guess I could’ve missed the explanation somewhere but if I did, I’m sorry. Otherwise he’s the one thing that didn’t make any sense. And otherwise great story that kept me reading page by page to figure out what why who and when.

[Donna DuVal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns in this book you will be on the edge of your seat every time you turn a page.

As the caption says an utterly addictive psychological thriller for the shocking twist. You will not believe what went on 15 years ago and continues to go on up to this reading. Tess is very smart and came to her decisions on her own. Blood sisters forever. Even after death.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

too long and drawn out.

This book dragged on for ages, I kept wanting it to just wrap up and end. Some parts were very redundant and the book could have been half as long and still made its point, with its blah ending. I’ve read AJ Carter before and this is the first book of his that I didn’t enjoy.

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent psychological thriller. It grabbed me and drew me in right away….couldn’t put it down! The suspense was gripping. The twists and turns were like riding a roller coaster. And the twist at the end….chef’s kiss

[Autumn Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome book by AJ Carter!

Tess starts an in home housekeeping job and her new employers are keeping secrets. As the story unfolds, everyone's true colors and secrets come out.

Such a great thriller!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing Child

I absolutely enjoyed this book. It had some unexpected twists. Really enjoying this author. I definitely recommend it.

Two more words required. Nope!

[Sue Linsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book but with a totally lacklustre ending.
If the book has carried on with the brilliance it started and continued with it would have been 5 stars, no question.
But the ending was like a damp squib. Such a shame, hence 4 stars.

[Patricia Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stor

A very good book. This one kept me guessing and second guessing myself. I read this one pretty fast couldn’t put it down.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. You think you know, but you don’t!

[Valerie Lacross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling Phycological Thriller, strong characters
(Margot is evil) Tess knows secrets & has a story to tell, if she lives long enough! Good book

[Angela Halbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

bad

I read the same exact chapter 19+ times. This was one of the worst books I’ve read in years. I don’t like writing reviews at all but this one felt necessary.

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had good potential but very underwhelming :(

[Dale Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

not for me

Just drawn out. Completely surprised but unhappy with the ending.
Sorry. It just was not an interesting story for me. Rather silly.

[I. Crocker · Rating 2 out of 5]

a slow read

I did read it all but kept wondering when the action would begin. After it did, the novel dribbled on for chapters.

[trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

No no no,not for me,bland,slow,ripetitive and also not a storyline that is credibile.This is my second book by this Author I will maybe tra one more just to see if he is able to draw me in.

[Erin Martz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. This one was a good read. But felt really repetitive and slow. It took till about 50-60% to really get going. Plot was good. Twist was good. But felt like a slow burn to me.