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DCI Tom Douglas #4
Stranger Child
From the author of number one bestseller, Sleep Tight.
One Dark Secret. One act of revenge.
When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.
Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie.
Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma's life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?
When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.
They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they're right.
One Dark Secret. One act of revenge.
When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.
Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie.
Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma's life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?
When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.
They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they're right.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2015
3234 people are currently reading
5046 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Abbott
50 books2,691 followersI was born and brought up in the north of England, and worked for many years as the managing director of an interactive media company. I wrote every day - everything from creative proposals to user manuals - but most exciting of all was writing interactive dramas - including for the Cluedo (Clue in the US) interactive games. I was fortunate enough to sell my company in 2000 and we moved to Italy where we bought and restored an old country house.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
I have published six full length novels and one novella, and my seventh Come a Little Closer is due for release in 2018. I now live on the beautiful island of Alderney in the Channel Islands, where I write full time.
Find out more on my website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,037 reviews
March 4, 2015
Those that follow my reviews, by now, you know I am so mean fisted with my 5 stars lol
It has to be a book that I can get my nose into, something that takes me right into the pages [as I am easily distracted!] well.......here it is! Here is the book I read after reading SLEEP TIGHT by the same author Rachel Abbott.
They are stand alone books, but, it was suggested by the author that I read SLEEP TIGHT first as they were some loose ends that are tied up in this book. I think YOU MUST read book one or you won't know what is what as regards something that happened in the previous book SLEEP TIGHT.
WOWIE can this author tell a tale. Both books combined would make an awesome thriller, I kid you not.
How would you feel if you had lost your wife in a freak car accident, the child at the back of the car went missing..........nowhere found at the accident scene.....what the heck!
Emma Joseph met David when he was a broken man and she helped piece him together again.
They now are married and have a young little baby son of their own.
Then......
A girl turns up in their kitchen........
what the hell.....
Its six years later, is this David's child????
I kid you not...
I really kid you not......120% I was into this book so deep that my family had to shout to make themselves heard. I so was fed up and got so annoyed when someone wanted to interrupt my reading this book STRANGER CHILD. His child is back.....
What now? Where had she been? Will all go well?
Emma has to get in touch with her old friend DCI Tom Douglas she needed help, besides, if this is his daughter, shouldn't the Police know? not to mention help for her.
The pit gets deeper, the birth of sinister things are born, and it grows and grows so much that you need to finish this book. I didn't just like this book I LOVED it.
I have so definitely found another author that 'floats my boat' [as they say] I need to read the other 2 books that she has written ASAP after I've cleared some of my waiting reviews.
Time just flies, so this authors books should come with a warning...
Set aside a day to read this WHEN ON YOUR OWN with NO interruptions, ignore the doorbell, take the phone of the hook, switch your mobile/cell phone off. Get that mug off of Amazon which says GO AWAY, I'M READING.
What a journey I've been on.
Thank you SO SO much Rachel Abbott for contacting me and allowing me to review. I've not done you a favour, you have done me one. AWESOME.
July 6, 2018
5 nail biting,
suspense filled stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book in two sittings; I just couldn’t stand not finishing it today! My face has been in this book for the majority of the day, and caused a complete disregard to everything else I had been planning to do today!
It’s a family story, a police procedural, criminal gang involvement, 2-3 broken family stories, murder, deception, cowardice, kidnapping, betrayal, stupidity, bank heist, extortion, creating and hacking into security systems, secrets within the deep dark web - all rolled into one interconnected story. The characters are all very well done and the beginning pages grab you in right away. Once you’re in, its action packed all the way to the end, and we end up with a cliffhanger or two to tease us on to the next.
This is a brand new author for me and I will definitely be reading her other books. It was another one of those random grabs off the shelf at the library and I couldn’t be more excited about my discovery.
I know there are more books (before and after) in this series and while this one was just fantastic as a stand-alone, I, once again, and shame on me, am reading them out of order! You all can laugh at me, but my goal is to just once in my lifetime, try and read a series in its correct order! 😜 why do I have trouble doing this???
suspense filled stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book in two sittings; I just couldn’t stand not finishing it today! My face has been in this book for the majority of the day, and caused a complete disregard to everything else I had been planning to do today!
It’s a family story, a police procedural, criminal gang involvement, 2-3 broken family stories, murder, deception, cowardice, kidnapping, betrayal, stupidity, bank heist, extortion, creating and hacking into security systems, secrets within the deep dark web - all rolled into one interconnected story. The characters are all very well done and the beginning pages grab you in right away. Once you’re in, its action packed all the way to the end, and we end up with a cliffhanger or two to tease us on to the next.
This is a brand new author for me and I will definitely be reading her other books. It was another one of those random grabs off the shelf at the library and I couldn’t be more excited about my discovery.
I know there are more books (before and after) in this series and while this one was just fantastic as a stand-alone, I, once again, and shame on me, am reading them out of order! You all can laugh at me, but my goal is to just once in my lifetime, try and read a series in its correct order! 😜 why do I have trouble doing this???
October 17, 2017
I had sworn off reading Rachel Abbott after the second in the Tom Douglas series, but I couldn't resist an el cheapo superbargain Audible & Kindle duo. For the 1st half I was glad to have broken my vow. Tho' I've overdosed on missing baby stories already, this one also includes another sure fire to give me the willies plot. Child goes missing & nothing is heard of her. Then, years later she turns up out of nowhere, but oh how changed, with a frightening new personality & no account of where she's been. But as I'd already discovered from earlier books, Rachel Abbott's technique of generating suspense too often consists simply of withholding information from the reader - hiding things we'd have observed if we'd actually been present, as well as introducing new characters, or information about the backstory, whenever the plot requires their presence. So whilst I sussed the big twist @ about halfway, I had no way of figuring what the character's motive could have been for doing something @ once so unnatural & so slimeballistically cruel. The second half of the book is much more thriller than mystery - will they find baby Ollie in time. Introducing a new character who almost literally returns from the dead. As for the lost girl who returned, we'll have to read the next book in the series to catch up with her, but tho' she was the most (only?) interesting character in the story, I'll not bother. Still, Rachel Abbott has a lot of admirers, & I'll not fault their taste. We go to fiction for different things. I like plots that are well constructed & where the author plays fair with the reader, so that we know everything we would have observed if we'd been on the scene. (For example, @ the very beginning a character receives a phone call & speaks the name of the caller aloud, but the reader is not told what she said. For me that's cheating.) I also doubted that there're spouses or fiancés who'd suddenly revealed their sleazy sides without warning & apparent motive. So for a reader who cares about artistic values & affecting relationships, this was another disappointment. But if you are simply looking for an exciting thriller plot, you might well enjoy this one; the price was right.
February 17, 2016
David doesn't only lose his wife in an auto accident, but his six-year daughter, Natasha, disappears from the car. He eventually remarries and has a son, Ollie, with his second wife, Emma.
Out of the blue, Natasha reappears, now aged 13. Where has she been and how did she get there? Natasha isn't talking. She's secretive and angry and has an agenda that no one suspects.
DCI Tom Douglas gets involved when Ollie goes missing after being taken for a walk by Natasha. Emma calls him on the sly as Natasha is adamant that police not be called. Emma, at one time, was engaged to Tom's brother who died several years ago.
This is a psychological thriller that touches all the emotions .... anger, surprise, compassion, indecision. The story entails little by little the life that Natasha has lived since she was taken as a young child. The reader gets to watch Emma struggle with the disappearance of her son and what she is prepared to do to get him back. David is tight-lipped ... he's trying to hold on to a secret he's kept from everyone.
The mystery is exquisite .. tension runs high. From page 1 to the finish, it's guaranteed to keep your interest, to keep you turning pages.
Out of the blue, Natasha reappears, now aged 13. Where has she been and how did she get there? Natasha isn't talking. She's secretive and angry and has an agenda that no one suspects.
DCI Tom Douglas gets involved when Ollie goes missing after being taken for a walk by Natasha. Emma calls him on the sly as Natasha is adamant that police not be called. Emma, at one time, was engaged to Tom's brother who died several years ago.
This is a psychological thriller that touches all the emotions .... anger, surprise, compassion, indecision. The story entails little by little the life that Natasha has lived since she was taken as a young child. The reader gets to watch Emma struggle with the disappearance of her son and what she is prepared to do to get him back. David is tight-lipped ... he's trying to hold on to a secret he's kept from everyone.
The mystery is exquisite .. tension runs high. From page 1 to the finish, it's guaranteed to keep your interest, to keep you turning pages.
October 26, 2016
4 estrellas y media en realidad. Me ha encantado
March 21, 2023
Perskaičiau jau penktą Rachel Abbott knygą. Šitas detektyvas/trileris labai patiko. 😊 Gal dėl to kad daug sužinojau apie inspektoriaus Tomo Daglaso brolį Džeka. Tikrai labai įtraukė. Tikiuosi, kad šitos istorijos tęsinys bus kitoje knygoje. 💖
Nes labai norėčiau laimingos pabaigos Natašai. 🙂
"Žmonės sako, kad negalima pasitikėti nepažįstamaisiais. Gal jie ir teisūs."
Nes labai norėčiau laimingos pabaigos Natašai. 🙂
"Žmonės sako, kad negalima pasitikėti nepažįstamaisiais. Gal jie ir teisūs."
February 24, 2015
Stranger Child is Rachel Abbott’s fourth book but rest assured, she hasn’t run out of good ideas yet.
Emma Joseph is married to David a successful man whose first wife, Caroline, died in a car accident six years before. Emma lives with the reminder of her beauty in a painting and the memories of the long years where she supported him with his grief because David didn’t just lose his wife in the accident before the emergency services arrived his six-year-old daughter, Natasha, disappeared, seemingly into thin air. Finally life is looking up and Emma and David have had baby Ollie and Emma is enjoying motherhood and then one day everything changes,
What would you do if you were at home gazing out of the kitchen window and suddenly you saw a pair of eyes behind you, watching you, in your own kitchen. At that moment everything changes for the Joseph family.
It doesn’t take long before Emma calls on her friend DCI Tom Douglas, who readers of Rachel Abbott’s previous books will remember. In my mind’s eye he is dashingly gorgeous and a thoroughly upright Police Officer who really cares about the victims in the cases he investigates. Anyway I digress, Emma soon realises that perhaps in this situation she shouldn’t have involved the Police as things get much, much worse.
I love a good psychological thriller and this one definitely has the thrill aspect at its heart assisted by the fast pace full of tension from the opening sentence. This is one of those books that I shelve under compulsive reading, I know from the start that I’m in for a treat and I just have to keep flicking the pages to see what delightful twist will present itself on the next page, to observe each character adapt as they accustom themselves to new pieces of information the events unfold. One of the things I love about Rebecca Abbott’s writing is that her characters feel realistic because they react like real people even in extraordinary situations, although there are several people in this book that I wouldn’t fancy meeting on a dark night, or even in broad daylight! As in the previous books Tom Douglas is working with Becky Robinson and it is lovely to have such a supportive working relationship within crime fiction and although we only ever get snippets of their personal lives it is clear that Tom is still struggling to come to terms with his elder brother’s death some years before.
The only complaint I have is that the short chapters that break up the 350+ pages meant that I felt like a child again as I murmured to myself, just one more chapter, at least a dozen times after I should have been fast asleep and saying to your colleagues that you’re tired because you read too much the night before didn’t really garner me much sympathy.
If you haven’t read any of Rachel Abbott’s earlier books in this series, you really should although each one can be comfortably be read as a stand-alone as no reference is made to previous cases so once you’re hooked you can start at the beginning.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for my honest review.
Emma Joseph is married to David a successful man whose first wife, Caroline, died in a car accident six years before. Emma lives with the reminder of her beauty in a painting and the memories of the long years where she supported him with his grief because David didn’t just lose his wife in the accident before the emergency services arrived his six-year-old daughter, Natasha, disappeared, seemingly into thin air. Finally life is looking up and Emma and David have had baby Ollie and Emma is enjoying motherhood and then one day everything changes,
What would you do if you were at home gazing out of the kitchen window and suddenly you saw a pair of eyes behind you, watching you, in your own kitchen. At that moment everything changes for the Joseph family.
It doesn’t take long before Emma calls on her friend DCI Tom Douglas, who readers of Rachel Abbott’s previous books will remember. In my mind’s eye he is dashingly gorgeous and a thoroughly upright Police Officer who really cares about the victims in the cases he investigates. Anyway I digress, Emma soon realises that perhaps in this situation she shouldn’t have involved the Police as things get much, much worse.
I love a good psychological thriller and this one definitely has the thrill aspect at its heart assisted by the fast pace full of tension from the opening sentence. This is one of those books that I shelve under compulsive reading, I know from the start that I’m in for a treat and I just have to keep flicking the pages to see what delightful twist will present itself on the next page, to observe each character adapt as they accustom themselves to new pieces of information the events unfold. One of the things I love about Rebecca Abbott’s writing is that her characters feel realistic because they react like real people even in extraordinary situations, although there are several people in this book that I wouldn’t fancy meeting on a dark night, or even in broad daylight! As in the previous books Tom Douglas is working with Becky Robinson and it is lovely to have such a supportive working relationship within crime fiction and although we only ever get snippets of their personal lives it is clear that Tom is still struggling to come to terms with his elder brother’s death some years before.
The only complaint I have is that the short chapters that break up the 350+ pages meant that I felt like a child again as I murmured to myself, just one more chapter, at least a dozen times after I should have been fast asleep and saying to your colleagues that you’re tired because you read too much the night before didn’t really garner me much sympathy.
If you haven’t read any of Rachel Abbott’s earlier books in this series, you really should although each one can be comfortably be read as a stand-alone as no reference is made to previous cases so once you’re hooked you can start at the beginning.
I was given a copy of this book by the author in return for my honest review.
October 3, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Nors šia serija iš pat pradžių labai nesižavėjau, tačiau dabar yra priešingai. Su kiekviena knyga autorė vis labiau tobulėjo ir didino mano susidomėjimą ja. Ši dalis - intriguojanti, skaudi, stebinanti, suteikianti vilties, nuvilianti - tiek daug jausmų sutilpo joje, ir tai dar ne visus išvardinau. Iš pat pradžių Tašos personažas kėlė per daug klausimų, buvo nelabai įtikinantis, tačiau verčiant puslapius ir sužinant vis daugiau detalių, abejonių kaip ir nebeliko. Tik gaila dėl pabaigos, ne tokios tikėjausi, norėjau jos laimingesnės, bet palikta vietos fantazijai ir ją pati galiu sau susikurti.
Nors šia serija iš pat pradžių labai nesižavėjau, tačiau dabar yra priešingai. Su kiekviena knyga autorė vis labiau tobulėjo ir didino mano susidomėjimą ja. Ši dalis - intriguojanti, skaudi, stebinanti, suteikianti vilties, nuvilianti - tiek daug jausmų sutilpo joje, ir tai dar ne visus išvardinau. Iš pat pradžių Tašos personažas kėlė per daug klausimų, buvo nelabai įtikinantis, tačiau verčiant puslapius ir sužinant vis daugiau detalių, abejonių kaip ir nebeliko. Tik gaila dėl pabaigos, ne tokios tikėjausi, norėjau jos laimingesnės, bet palikta vietos fantazijai ir ją pati galiu sau susikurti.
May 4, 2025
Ooh, that was so so good. The story grabbed me right from the start and I raced through the pages. Just couldn't put it down.
It's so well written, gripping, tense and full of twists and turns. I loved how well it flows between past and present and how the characters are all connected.
Stranger Child is book four in DCI Tom Douglas series and I'm in awe of Rachel Abbott and her writing. Can't wait to read more in the series.
It's so well written, gripping, tense and full of twists and turns. I loved how well it flows between past and present and how the characters are all connected.
Stranger Child is book four in DCI Tom Douglas series and I'm in awe of Rachel Abbott and her writing. Can't wait to read more in the series.
February 24, 2017
Iba a leer “Nowhere child”, pero vi que esta era como la antesala de la anterior, así que me bajé “Stranger child” y lo leí primero.
Me ha gustado principalmente el personaje de Tom Douglas, y creo que está bien descrito. El personaje de su hermano fallecido, Jack, también juega un papel determinante. En cuanto al argumento de la presente novela, creo que tiene los suficientes giros como para mantenerte intrigado. En general la trama está bien desarrollada, y creo que Rachel Abbott tiene potencial para convertirse en una muy buena escritora de thrillers.
Tras un breve descanso, leeré la siguiente, ya que el final, aunque resuelto en lo fundamental, queda abierto en cuanto al desenlace del personaje de Natasha. Espero que tampoco me defraude.
Me ha gustado principalmente el personaje de Tom Douglas, y creo que está bien descrito. El personaje de su hermano fallecido, Jack, también juega un papel determinante. En cuanto al argumento de la presente novela, creo que tiene los suficientes giros como para mantenerte intrigado. En general la trama está bien desarrollada, y creo que Rachel Abbott tiene potencial para convertirse en una muy buena escritora de thrillers.
Tras un breve descanso, leeré la siguiente, ya que el final, aunque resuelto en lo fundamental, queda abierto en cuanto al desenlace del personaje de Natasha. Espero que tampoco me defraude.
March 5, 2017
En realidad un 3,5.
Mi reseña: http://mislecturasderetos.blogspot.co...
Mi reseña: http://mislecturasderetos.blogspot.co...
February 19, 2018
Ahh... now we're on to the good stuff. Finally, in the Stranger Child we see more action from Tom Douglas... and to be honest, we see more action altogether. This novel read more like a series read should read in my opinion, we got to learn more about Tom and his past, in this novel, Tom is brought into the storyline more than he ever has in the past novels. We learn about his brother Jack and their relationship, which, coincidentally ties him to the victims in this case.
Emma Joseph met her husband, David, following a tragic accident that involved the loss of his first wife, and the mysterious disappearance of their six-year old daughter. At the time he was a broken man, but together, they move forward and as they say time heals all wounds. Years have past and they now have a good life together with a baby boy named Ollie.
When a strange young girl walks into their kitchen one afternoon unexpectedly Emma is not sure what to think. All she knows is that she has to protect her son, Ollie. She never imagined that this young woman standing in her kitchen would be her step-daughter, Natasha, finally coming home. Where has she been all this time, and how did she get here? Emma is skeptical, but David is overjoyed that his daughter has finally come home. Natasha, now thirteen, is detached and Emma finds it difficult to communicate with Natasha. She's convinced that Natasha is hiding something... but what, she's not sure of. Upon her return, Emma reaches out to an old friend, Tom Douglas, the brother of her former boyfriend, Jack Douglas, God rest his soul. Emma shares her uneasiness with Tom, but are her instincts correct?
As the story unfolds we get to learn a bit more about Tom's past and just how his brother Jack died. Emma knows more about that tragic day than previously revealed. In addition, it would seem that David's ex-wife also knew Jack? How is he involved?
Yes, the storyline for this one definitely worked better for me. There was enough suspense and intrigue. The characters were likable and well developed. We got to see more action and involvement from Tom this time. I felt more connected to him in this novel than I have in the past.
Now it's time to read on and check out Nowhere Child so I can find out what happens to Natasha!
Emma Joseph met her husband, David, following a tragic accident that involved the loss of his first wife, and the mysterious disappearance of their six-year old daughter. At the time he was a broken man, but together, they move forward and as they say time heals all wounds. Years have past and they now have a good life together with a baby boy named Ollie.
When a strange young girl walks into their kitchen one afternoon unexpectedly Emma is not sure what to think. All she knows is that she has to protect her son, Ollie. She never imagined that this young woman standing in her kitchen would be her step-daughter, Natasha, finally coming home. Where has she been all this time, and how did she get here? Emma is skeptical, but David is overjoyed that his daughter has finally come home. Natasha, now thirteen, is detached and Emma finds it difficult to communicate with Natasha. She's convinced that Natasha is hiding something... but what, she's not sure of. Upon her return, Emma reaches out to an old friend, Tom Douglas, the brother of her former boyfriend, Jack Douglas, God rest his soul. Emma shares her uneasiness with Tom, but are her instincts correct?
As the story unfolds we get to learn a bit more about Tom's past and just how his brother Jack died. Emma knows more about that tragic day than previously revealed. In addition, it would seem that David's ex-wife also knew Jack? How is he involved?
Yes, the storyline for this one definitely worked better for me. There was enough suspense and intrigue. The characters were likable and well developed. We got to see more action and involvement from Tom this time. I felt more connected to him in this novel than I have in the past.
Now it's time to read on and check out Nowhere Child so I can find out what happens to Natasha!
December 5, 2017
Listened to in audio format.
Stranger Child is book 4 in the DCI Tom Douglas series, I would say this has been the best story in the series so far.
The prologue starts with Caroline Joseph driving home from a party with her 6 year old daughter Natasha. Caroline receives a phone call while driving. The reader is only partial to one side of the conversation but Caroline says 'but why should I stop? Caroline loses control of the vehicle it spins and lands upside down. Caroline is killed instantly but Natasha is not in the vehicle when the ambulance arrives, her father and police desperately try to find Natasha with no success.
Six years later David is now married to Emma and they have a baby called Ollie. One morning Emma is in the kitchen when a teenage girl appears at Emma's side. At first s the girl is shocked by Emma and Ollie and cannot speak. When David arrives home she finds out the girl is Natasha.
Natasha is very secretive and refuses to say where she has been living for the past few years. She is angry with David and blames him for the accident that night which he denies. A couple of days later David lets Natasha take Ollie for a walk, she returns home without the baby. Natasha explains that Ollie is safe, he can come home once David has completed the kidnappers demand.
I don't want to discuss the plot any further and ruin the story. Stranger Child was a complex, fast paced storyline with a dark underbelly. I loved the characters in this book. At first I disliked the tough, feral Natasha but as her story came out I realised what her life had been like over the last 6 years. I also liked Stepmum Emma who was plucky and willing to do anything to get Olly back.
A lot of readers mentioned that the ending of the book is disappointing. I recommend you read the sequel Nowhere Child.
Stranger Child is book 4 in the DCI Tom Douglas series, I would say this has been the best story in the series so far.
The prologue starts with Caroline Joseph driving home from a party with her 6 year old daughter Natasha. Caroline receives a phone call while driving. The reader is only partial to one side of the conversation but Caroline says 'but why should I stop? Caroline loses control of the vehicle it spins and lands upside down. Caroline is killed instantly but Natasha is not in the vehicle when the ambulance arrives, her father and police desperately try to find Natasha with no success.
Six years later David is now married to Emma and they have a baby called Ollie. One morning Emma is in the kitchen when a teenage girl appears at Emma's side. At first s the girl is shocked by Emma and Ollie and cannot speak. When David arrives home she finds out the girl is Natasha.
Natasha is very secretive and refuses to say where she has been living for the past few years. She is angry with David and blames him for the accident that night which he denies. A couple of days later David lets Natasha take Ollie for a walk, she returns home without the baby. Natasha explains that Ollie is safe, he can come home once David has completed the kidnappers demand.
I don't want to discuss the plot any further and ruin the story. Stranger Child was a complex, fast paced storyline with a dark underbelly. I loved the characters in this book. At first I disliked the tough, feral Natasha but as her story came out I realised what her life had been like over the last 6 years. I also liked Stepmum Emma who was plucky and willing to do anything to get Olly back.
A lot of readers mentioned that the ending of the book is disappointing. I recommend you read the sequel Nowhere Child.
April 28, 2016
A surprisingly awesome thriller, deeply unsettling with a great twist. This is a fourth book of the detective series, however it doesn't feel like it - almost no spoilers, a cohesive plot from the beginning to the end. It keeps you awake at night and it makes your heart tremble. Impossible to put it down!
February 25, 2015
Abduction must be a parent’s worst nightmare. David doesn’t only lose his wife in an accident but his six year-old daughter disappears. He remarries and has a son with his second wife. Then, unbelievably, his daughter reappears, now aged thirteen. In this gripping and disturbing thriller we find out gradually what has happened to young Natasha over the intervening years. DCI Tom Douglas becomes involved when David’s second child is kidnapped and we watch as his mother, Emma, struggles with the decision to involve the police. We find out more about Tom’s late brother Jack and his relationships in this story, too.
Rachel Abbott’s plots are always complex but believable psychological thrillers and this is no exception. I found myself asking what I would do in this case and I honestly don’t know. A very gripping thriller indeed. I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in exchange for a review.
Rachel Abbott’s plots are always complex but believable psychological thrillers and this is no exception. I found myself asking what I would do in this case and I honestly don’t know. A very gripping thriller indeed. I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in exchange for a review.
August 23, 2018
Muy bueno!!!! Adictivo desde la primera página, no lo he podido soltar hasta saber qué le iba a pasar al pequeño Ollie. Lo único regular es que más a menos ya se sabe lo que pasa casi desde la mitad del libro, pero aún así me lo he pasado muy bien. Por favor, que tradizcan los demás libros de la serie, que quiero saber mas...
July 3, 2020
Nežinau kodėl, bet iki dabar vis dar nebuvau skaičiusi šios autorės knygų. Prisiminiau, jog jau senokai skaityklėje nusipirkta guli "Svetimas vaikas". Po kelių perskaitytų romanų, norėjosi kažko aštresnio, tad pasitaikė puiki proga perskaityti šią 🤗
Kuomet Karolinos Džozef vairuojamas automobilis įlekia į griovį ir apsiverčia ant stogo, niekas net nenumano, jog kartu su ja važiavo jos šešiametė dukra Nataša. Atvykus į įvykio vietą, automobilinė vaikiška kėdutė likusi tuščia.
Prabėgus kiek daugiau nei šešeriems metams po šios nelaimės, Tašos tėtis vedė antrą kartą ir sukūrė naują šeimą. Kartu su žmona Ema, jie susilaukė nuostabaus sūnaus - Olio.
Bet vieną dieną šeimos idilę sutrikdo į namus įžengusi nepažįstamoji.
Ema nebesijaučia saugi savo pačios namuose.. Į dienos šviesą iškyla vis daugiau klausimų.. Į kuriuos reikalingi atsakymai. O galiausiai Olis yra pagrobiamas..
Ema yra pasiryžusi bet kam, jog susigrąžintų savo sūnų.
Neturėjau kažkokių labai didelių lūkesčių šiai knygai. Tačiau jos anotacija mane labai sudomino, o ir Goodreads aukštas įvertinimas žadėjo puikų skaitinį. Tačiau likau truputėlį nusivylusi..
Knygos pradžia tikrai labai įtraukė, buvo įdomu skaityti, tačiau kuo toliau, tuo labiau susidomėjimas blėso.. Labai erzino Deivido personažas 🙈
Iš esmės knygą perskaičiau gana greitai, bet ji mano akimis buvo tik vidutinė. Tikiu, jog atsiras ir tokių skaitytojų, kam ji labai patiks 😉
Bet tikrai suteiksiu Rachel antrą šansą ir perskaitysiu dar vieną jos knygą.
Kuomet Karolinos Džozef vairuojamas automobilis įlekia į griovį ir apsiverčia ant stogo, niekas net nenumano, jog kartu su ja važiavo jos šešiametė dukra Nataša. Atvykus į įvykio vietą, automobilinė vaikiška kėdutė likusi tuščia.
Prabėgus kiek daugiau nei šešeriems metams po šios nelaimės, Tašos tėtis vedė antrą kartą ir sukūrė naują šeimą. Kartu su žmona Ema, jie susilaukė nuostabaus sūnaus - Olio.
Bet vieną dieną šeimos idilę sutrikdo į namus įžengusi nepažįstamoji.
Ema nebesijaučia saugi savo pačios namuose.. Į dienos šviesą iškyla vis daugiau klausimų.. Į kuriuos reikalingi atsakymai. O galiausiai Olis yra pagrobiamas..
Ema yra pasiryžusi bet kam, jog susigrąžintų savo sūnų.
Neturėjau kažkokių labai didelių lūkesčių šiai knygai. Tačiau jos anotacija mane labai sudomino, o ir Goodreads aukštas įvertinimas žadėjo puikų skaitinį. Tačiau likau truputėlį nusivylusi..
Knygos pradžia tikrai labai įtraukė, buvo įdomu skaityti, tačiau kuo toliau, tuo labiau susidomėjimas blėso.. Labai erzino Deivido personažas 🙈
Iš esmės knygą perskaičiau gana greitai, bet ji mano akimis buvo tik vidutinė. Tikiu, jog atsiras ir tokių skaitytojų, kam ji labai patiks 😉
Bet tikrai suteiksiu Rachel antrą šansą ir perskaitysiu dar vieną jos knygą.
November 2, 2023
Wow ir wow 🤩👍 super, negalejau atsitraukt. Idomi iki galo. Iskart ciumpu sekancia Abbott 🤩
July 11, 2018
Huge improvement on the previous book in the series as far as the writing is concerned. Parts of the plot require a willing suspension of disbelief. But overall, quite enjoyable.
May 1, 2020
"Svetimas vaikas" mano akį labiausiai patraukė dėl aukšto įvertinimo Goodreads platformoje (taip, tai man yra vienas iš svarbiausių kriterijų renkantis knygą, nieko negaliu sau padaryti). 4.19/5 už trilerį? Gerai, aš tikrai noriu jį perskaityti! Ir pradėjau pažintį su šia knyga absoliučiai nieko nežinodama apie siužetą. Oho, kokia tai gera mintis buvo.
Nenoriu per daug išpasakoti ir jums, tad paminėsiu tik kelias svarbiausias detales: Deivido žmona su dukra vieną vakarą nebegrįžta namo. Iš policijos vyras sužino, kad įvyko autoavarija - deja, bet žmona žuvo vietoje. Natūraliai kyla klausimas - o kaip dukrelė? Policija gūžčioja pečiais - jokio vaiko automobilyje nebuvo, atvykus policijos pareigūnams vaikiška kelioninė kėdutė atvykus automobilyje buvo tuščia.
Taigi, tą lemtingą naktį Karolina Džozef žūsta, o šešiametė dukrytė Nataša dingsta be žinios. Ir tik po šešerių metų, kai Deividas jau yra sukūręs kitą, laimingą šeimą ir augina mažą sūnų, į jo ramų gyvenimą atslenka praeities šešėliai. Vyras yra priverstas dar kartą pažvelgti į tą skaudų įvykį prieš šešerius metus, kuris, pasirodo, slepia labai daug paslapčių. Ar viskas, kas buvo sakoma žiniasklaidoje, yra tiesa, o gal iš tiesų niekuo negalima pasitikėti?
Man šios knygos skaitymas prilygo lyg leidimuisi nuo kalno gerąja prasme - pats geriausias šios knygos pliusas buvo tai, kad įtampa ir skaitytojo susidomėjimas yra kuriamas palaipsniui ir stabiliai išlaikomas, o veiksmas prasideda pirmuoju knygos puslapiu. Labai dažnai su trileriais būna taip, kad pusę knygos tu esi nežinioje, nieko nesupranti, o paskutinius 70 puslapių tiesiog ryji akimis, nes visa įdomiausia ir svarbiausia informacija yra sudėta ten. Nors pabaiga būna verta plojimų, didžiąją dalį knygos kartais net gali imti nuobodulys. Šioje knygoje buvo atvirkščiai - autorė labai stipriai pagavo mano dėmesį pačioje pradžioje, ir kadangi mažai žinojau apie siužetą, kiekvienas vingis buvo WOW - kaip? Kodėl? Ne! Su kiekvienu skyriumi ėmė vis labiau aiškėti, į kokį didžiulį melagysčių voratinklį yra įsisukę pagrindiniai veikėjai, ir taip norėjosi sužinoti, kaip viskas baigsis! Ir nors knygos pabaigoje šiek tiek tos įtampos išlaikymo man pritrūko, dedu labai didelį pliusą už realistišką istorijos pabaigą - ji tikrai nebuvo tokia, kokios galima tikėtis perskaičius pirmą skyrių.
Šis trileris su detektyviniais elementais yra vertas kiekvieno šio žanro mėgėjo dėmesio. Plius, kad knygoje taip pat aiškiai kalbama ir apie svarbias žmonių savybes bei šeimos narių santykius, o drąsos ir empatijos iš kai kurių veikėjų tikrai norėtųsi pasimokyti!
Nenoriu per daug išpasakoti ir jums, tad paminėsiu tik kelias svarbiausias detales: Deivido žmona su dukra vieną vakarą nebegrįžta namo. Iš policijos vyras sužino, kad įvyko autoavarija - deja, bet žmona žuvo vietoje. Natūraliai kyla klausimas - o kaip dukrelė? Policija gūžčioja pečiais - jokio vaiko automobilyje nebuvo, atvykus policijos pareigūnams vaikiška kelioninė kėdutė atvykus automobilyje buvo tuščia.
Taigi, tą lemtingą naktį Karolina Džozef žūsta, o šešiametė dukrytė Nataša dingsta be žinios. Ir tik po šešerių metų, kai Deividas jau yra sukūręs kitą, laimingą šeimą ir augina mažą sūnų, į jo ramų gyvenimą atslenka praeities šešėliai. Vyras yra priverstas dar kartą pažvelgti į tą skaudų įvykį prieš šešerius metus, kuris, pasirodo, slepia labai daug paslapčių. Ar viskas, kas buvo sakoma žiniasklaidoje, yra tiesa, o gal iš tiesų niekuo negalima pasitikėti?
Man šios knygos skaitymas prilygo lyg leidimuisi nuo kalno gerąja prasme - pats geriausias šios knygos pliusas buvo tai, kad įtampa ir skaitytojo susidomėjimas yra kuriamas palaipsniui ir stabiliai išlaikomas, o veiksmas prasideda pirmuoju knygos puslapiu. Labai dažnai su trileriais būna taip, kad pusę knygos tu esi nežinioje, nieko nesupranti, o paskutinius 70 puslapių tiesiog ryji akimis, nes visa įdomiausia ir svarbiausia informacija yra sudėta ten. Nors pabaiga būna verta plojimų, didžiąją dalį knygos kartais net gali imti nuobodulys. Šioje knygoje buvo atvirkščiai - autorė labai stipriai pagavo mano dėmesį pačioje pradžioje, ir kadangi mažai žinojau apie siužetą, kiekvienas vingis buvo WOW - kaip? Kodėl? Ne! Su kiekvienu skyriumi ėmė vis labiau aiškėti, į kokį didžiulį melagysčių voratinklį yra įsisukę pagrindiniai veikėjai, ir taip norėjosi sužinoti, kaip viskas baigsis! Ir nors knygos pabaigoje šiek tiek tos įtampos išlaikymo man pritrūko, dedu labai didelį pliusą už realistišką istorijos pabaigą - ji tikrai nebuvo tokia, kokios galima tikėtis perskaičius pirmą skyrių.
Šis trileris su detektyviniais elementais yra vertas kiekvieno šio žanro mėgėjo dėmesio. Plius, kad knygoje taip pat aiškiai kalbama ir apie svarbias žmonių savybes bei šeimos narių santykius, o drąsos ir empatijos iš kai kurių veikėjų tikrai norėtųsi pasimokyti!
March 4, 2017
Brilliant Read!
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last!
A great storyline, interesting characters and a cracking storyline with lots of twists & turns along the way.
It's a book that sucks you right in from the very first page and keeps you awake that extra hour by the bedside lamp to keep reading 'just one more chapter' to find out what's happening!
An easy, enjoyable read that keeps the reader guessing and this author doesn't let you down. It's in the genre of a good psychological thriller.
This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last!
A great storyline, interesting characters and a cracking storyline with lots of twists & turns along the way.
It's a book that sucks you right in from the very first page and keeps you awake that extra hour by the bedside lamp to keep reading 'just one more chapter' to find out what's happening!
An easy, enjoyable read that keeps the reader guessing and this author doesn't let you down. It's in the genre of a good psychological thriller.
May 13, 2016
Cốt truyện gây nhiều tò mò, diễn biến cũng khá hồi hộp và căng não, nhưng nhìn chung là hơi bị dễ đoán, với lại không có nhiều twists and turns gây xửng đực bẹt ngửa cho mình ^^ Dù sao cũng là một cuốn sách thriller hay ho, nếu có thể bỏ qua cho những lỗi dịch thuật và chính tả cứ vài trang lại xuất hiện.
February 13, 2015
Another gripping book by Rachel Abbott with enough twists and turns to make me dizzy. A great book and definitely recommend this
July 27, 2017
The first chapter drew me in but my interest in it quickly faded. I found it dragged on and that the culprit was obvious.
January 18, 2022
Labai teisingas trileris su gera pradžia, puikiai išlaikyta įtampa viso kūrinio metu ir gana netikėta pabaiga. Tikrai neprailgo.
April 26, 2018
When you finish a book in two days it has to be a five star, and it was! First Rachel Abbott book for me and won’t be the last. This was fast paced and kept me guessing right the way through, reminded me of a Harlan Coben book. Well through out, believable characters and a twisted plot, loved it.
June 8, 2023
Tomo Daglaso detektyvinė knygų serija tikrai įsimintina ir savita. Dažnai vidurį serijų išlenda kokia dalis kur, nu nelabai. O šioje serijoje taip atsitiko pradžioje. Labai bijojau ar ši serija grįš į aukštumas. O žinokit tikrai grįžo ir knygos tikrai nenuspėjamos.
Šį kart tiriamas jaunos mergaitės nužudymas ir jaunos mergaitės atsiradimas. Taša Džozef dingo prieš šešerius metus, o jos mama žuvo. Tačiau vieną dieną Taša išdygsta savo buvusių namų virtuvėje, kur šeimininkauja kita moteris. Tėvas sukūrė naują šeimą ir bando gyventi toliau.
Nenuostabu, kad mergaitės atsiradimas pažeria daugybę klausimų, bet dar daugiau jų kyla dėl pačios mergaitės elgiasio. Tašos pamotė Ema, kažkada draugavo su Tomo broliu Džeku, tad prašo jo pagalbos išsiaiškinti, kas šioje situacijoje blogai.
O šioje dalyje autorė pateikė perliukų ir nepavyko nuo knygos atsiplėšti, kol jų neišsiaiškinau. Labai daug įvykių autorė sujungė į vieną visumą, atsakyta į daug klausimų. Tikrai labai stipri dalis, kurioje netrūko nusikaltimo, meilės ir paslapčių.
Šį kart tiriamas jaunos mergaitės nužudymas ir jaunos mergaitės atsiradimas. Taša Džozef dingo prieš šešerius metus, o jos mama žuvo. Tačiau vieną dieną Taša išdygsta savo buvusių namų virtuvėje, kur šeimininkauja kita moteris. Tėvas sukūrė naują šeimą ir bando gyventi toliau.
Nenuostabu, kad mergaitės atsiradimas pažeria daugybę klausimų, bet dar daugiau jų kyla dėl pačios mergaitės elgiasio. Tašos pamotė Ema, kažkada draugavo su Tomo broliu Džeku, tad prašo jo pagalbos išsiaiškinti, kas šioje situacijoje blogai.
O šioje dalyje autorė pateikė perliukų ir nepavyko nuo knygos atsiplėšti, kol jų neišsiaiškinau. Labai daug įvykių autorė sujungė į vieną visumą, atsakyta į daug klausimų. Tikrai labai stipri dalis, kurioje netrūko nusikaltimo, meilės ir paslapčių.
June 28, 2015
Wow! What a pager-turner! I love books that keep me hooked to the point that I say to myself, "Just one more chapter before bed!"...and then I stay up way past!
Emma Joseph is a young mom with a grieving husband. Her husband, David, lost his first wife in an auto accident and his six year-old daughter disappears from the accident site. David, has lived with this tragedy for many years but he is starting to put his life back together with his new wife and young son, Ollie. But just as things start to get better, a stranger comes calling to pull them back into the horrors of the past.
This was very suspenseful novel that kept my heart in my throat the entire time. My only gripe was the abrupt ending that leaves you wondering if everything will really be okay. Hopefully, she is setting up for a sequel but it's not clear. Very good read.
Emma Joseph is a young mom with a grieving husband. Her husband, David, lost his first wife in an auto accident and his six year-old daughter disappears from the accident site. David, has lived with this tragedy for many years but he is starting to put his life back together with his new wife and young son, Ollie. But just as things start to get better, a stranger comes calling to pull them back into the horrors of the past.
This was very suspenseful novel that kept my heart in my throat the entire time. My only gripe was the abrupt ending that leaves you wondering if everything will really be okay. Hopefully, she is setting up for a sequel but it's not clear. Very good read.
July 1, 2015
Disappointing. Really enjoyed Rachel Abbott's first effort, but this just became ludicrous and laughable very quickly. Shame really, as it had potential, but too farfetched to even take remotely seriously.
February 19, 2018
What a ride ! The fourth DCI Tom Douglas thriller from master story teller and author Rachel Abbott, "Stranger Child", delivers with non stop heart palpitating suspense. Douglas is still in a relationship with Leonora "Leo" Harris, and still moping over the loss of his older brother Jack a couple of years back. This story opens six years prior with Mrs. Caroline Joseph and her six year old daughter Natasha traveling home one cold and icy night when their car comes upon another car blocking the roadway. Just as Caroline arrives at the blockage her cell phone rings and a man tells her to keep going. Stopping would be very dangerous. Caroline knows the voice but can't place it as she decides to go around blocking car. Caroline's car hits some black ice, hits a ditch and flips over. When the police arrive Caroline is dead and Natasha is nowhere to be found. Present day: Caroline's husband David is now married to Emma, and they have an infant son Ollie. One morning as Emma and Ollie are in the kitchen a strange dirty young girl walks into their house. Incredibly it"s a now 13 year old Natasha. A horrified Emma has a difficult time keeping things together. Although "Tasha" warns her parents about police involvement Emma calls DCI Tom Douglas. It seems Emma was brother Jack's fiance back at the time he died. Emma and Tom were somewhat close. What develops is a dark, intense and very complex web of intrigue. A crushing story of crime, pain, and child abuse that pulls on heartstrings. The life Tasha has been leading for the past six years breaks David and Emma into pieces as she's tells her tale of crime and gangster punishment. Then further destroying the Joseph's by taking Ollie and then giving him away to her own captors. Tom and DI Becky Robinson scramble to help find Ollie. However the bad guys Rory Slater, and his boss Finbar "Finn" McGuinness are already under investigation by "Titan"- The North West Regional Organized Crime Unit. Meaning Tom and Becky have to acquiesce to their plan. In a dizzying plot that moves at a blistering pace this one is difficult catching a breath between chapters. Author Rachel Abbott's unique and quirky characters give depth and feeling to this story. As the plot seems to circle back to previous years seeing this twisting conclusion is very surprising. This fourth DCI Tom Douglas book is far better than the three previous ones. (The first 3 books were 5 star excellent too !). At around 360 pages I read this thriller in about 48 hours time. Five stars out of a possible five stars for, "Stranger Child", from master story teller Rachel Abbott. (Should be a 6+ Star read !). Highly recommend this outstanding series. Check it out. A MUST for suspense thriller readers who want a pretty good ride in each book.
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