What do you think?
The Child We Handed Over
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2026
About the author
Melissa Hawker
2 books11 followersMelissa Hawker is a psychological thriller author living in the heart of Mid Wales with her wife.
With a lifelong fascination for the human mind, she draws on both personal experience and her academic background, holding an honours degree in psychology. Her work is shaped by a deep understanding of mental health, trauma, and the fragile line between truth and perception.
Melissa writes stories where control is an illusion, secrets refuse to stay buried, and the truth is never what it seems. Her characters don’t just face danger; they live inside it.
Because sometimes the darkest places aren’t out there… they’re already inside us.
With a lifelong fascination for the human mind, she draws on both personal experience and her academic background, holding an honours degree in psychology. Her work is shaped by a deep understanding of mental health, trauma, and the fragile line between truth and perception.
Melissa writes stories where control is an illusion, secrets refuse to stay buried, and the truth is never what it seems. Her characters don’t just face danger; they live inside it.
Because sometimes the darkest places aren’t out there… they’re already inside us.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 22, 2026
Melissa Hawker has done it again with this book.
If you’re looking for a thriller series that sucks you in and spits you back out, The Child Trilogy is another one to read.
We have his, hers and their POV, and an epilogue from an absolute wanker.
This book kicks off after the events of book 1.
Harrison isn’t looking for justice.
He’s looking for the truth, and he won’t stop until it’s his.
Em has spent years perfecting control. Every word rehearsed. Every emotion performed. Every lie sealed tight. But some truths don’t stay buried.
They rot. They spread.
They find their way back.
And as Harrison closes in, the cracks begin to show, and what’s hidden beneath is far more dangerous than either of them expected. Because when the truth finally surfaces…
It doesn’t set you free.
It destroys you.
And this book did exactly that to me. Part of me would love to just block the author, but I’m not that bad and I need to know what happens next. So instead I sent her a DM calling her a nasty bitch and that made me feel better.
Want to know the different emotions I experienced?
Happiness, anger, shock, dismay, anxiety and excitement.
This book had something else which I really enjoy in books. And that was some mixed media. We had some chapters which were in the form of diary entries, and that brought a whole other level of immersion into this world and characters.
I LOVE these sorts of thrillers and I don’t think i’ve ever rooted for a character in a thriller as much as I have in this series. The investment into this story is very real and I need Book 3 NOW.
The way melissa writes just immediately pulls you in and before you know it you’ve finished the book in a matter of hours.
Thriller readers, you need to keep your eyes on this author. She’s a dark horse that’s for sure!
If you’re looking for a thriller series that sucks you in and spits you back out, The Child Trilogy is another one to read.
We have his, hers and their POV, and an epilogue from an absolute wanker.
This book kicks off after the events of book 1.
Harrison isn’t looking for justice.
He’s looking for the truth, and he won’t stop until it’s his.
Em has spent years perfecting control. Every word rehearsed. Every emotion performed. Every lie sealed tight. But some truths don’t stay buried.
They rot. They spread.
They find their way back.
And as Harrison closes in, the cracks begin to show, and what’s hidden beneath is far more dangerous than either of them expected. Because when the truth finally surfaces…
It doesn’t set you free.
It destroys you.
And this book did exactly that to me. Part of me would love to just block the author, but I’m not that bad and I need to know what happens next. So instead I sent her a DM calling her a nasty bitch and that made me feel better.
Want to know the different emotions I experienced?
Happiness, anger, shock, dismay, anxiety and excitement.
This book had something else which I really enjoy in books. And that was some mixed media. We had some chapters which were in the form of diary entries, and that brought a whole other level of immersion into this world and characters.
I LOVE these sorts of thrillers and I don’t think i’ve ever rooted for a character in a thriller as much as I have in this series. The investment into this story is very real and I need Book 3 NOW.
The way melissa writes just immediately pulls you in and before you know it you’ve finished the book in a matter of hours.
Thriller readers, you need to keep your eyes on this author. She’s a dark horse that’s for sure!
September 2, 2026
I very kindly received an Advanced Reader Copy from Melissa, and my honest review is below:
Well..where do I even start. Her writing is still as immaculate as it was in the first book. Very unique, straight to the point but packed with emotion.
I expected it to be dark but I did not expect the story unfold the way it did. I was shook, mad, surprised, sad..the whole lot. I am beyond excited for book three to be released now because I just need to know how this trilogy will wrap up. It’s psychologically dark with thriller-y aspects.
There were a few bits in there that I thought was a little bit far fetched and unsure if those would happen in real life, but the book is extremely fast paced so in a way I can almost understand why she decided to write it the way she did.
If you’ve not yet read book 1, this is your sign!! Get ready for book 2’s release!! You won’t regret it!
Well..where do I even start. Her writing is still as immaculate as it was in the first book. Very unique, straight to the point but packed with emotion.
I expected it to be dark but I did not expect the story unfold the way it did. I was shook, mad, surprised, sad..the whole lot. I am beyond excited for book three to be released now because I just need to know how this trilogy will wrap up. It’s psychologically dark with thriller-y aspects.
There were a few bits in there that I thought was a little bit far fetched and unsure if those would happen in real life, but the book is extremely fast paced so in a way I can almost understand why she decided to write it the way she did.
If you’ve not yet read book 1, this is your sign!! Get ready for book 2’s release!! You won’t regret it!
August 12, 2026
ARC Read
A huge thank you to Melissa Hawker for the opportunity to read this advance copy!
Wow… what a rollercoaster! Continuing exactly where book one left off, this story dives straight in, and I was completely hooked from page one.
We follow Em and her “daughter” Flick, alongside Harrison, Flick’s biological dad. With multiple POVs, we get to see every side of the story and delve deep into the thoughts, lives and emotions of each character.
The control. The heartache. The suffering. The sadness. The revenge.
Every POV made me feel like I was right there in the story, experiencing everything alongside them. But at the same time, I was constantly questioning what I should actually be feeling and, more importantly, who I should be feeling it for!
This was a frickin’ amazing part two and an absolute page-turner. I need book three NOW! 😍
A huge thank you to Melissa Hawker for the opportunity to read this advance copy!
Wow… what a rollercoaster! Continuing exactly where book one left off, this story dives straight in, and I was completely hooked from page one.
We follow Em and her “daughter” Flick, alongside Harrison, Flick’s biological dad. With multiple POVs, we get to see every side of the story and delve deep into the thoughts, lives and emotions of each character.
The control. The heartache. The suffering. The sadness. The revenge.
Every POV made me feel like I was right there in the story, experiencing everything alongside them. But at the same time, I was constantly questioning what I should actually be feeling and, more importantly, who I should be feeling it for!
This was a frickin’ amazing part two and an absolute page-turner. I need book three NOW! 😍
September 9, 2026
Thank you very much to Melissa for allowing me to be on your ARC team.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but there were a few things that almost made it fall flat for me.
I really enjoy Melissas writing style, it is unique and draws you in and it’s very easy to read.
I felt the first 300 pages could have been cut down and more time spent around the last 100ish pages, especially regarding the ‘incident’ that happens near the end. There was not much build up, for me then there was no emotional impact of said event, which left it rather lacklustre and just like, oh that’s it. I’m not sure whether this is because I personally read a lot of dark books, but this event didn’t affect me how it did others. I also link into this, I know this is a book and it is fiction, however, in real life this would not happen. Schools now make welfare checks, especially on an absence that long and I just felt it almost felt, disjointed? Why go through all that effort (Harrison) to just then sit back and do nothing, it didn’t seem right.
In Flicks diary entries, some entries seemed to ‘old’ for a child of 11, then some were very childlike, it just struck me as rather odd.
There was just niggles like this for me which made not enjoy the book as much.
I did generally enjoy this and I’m intrigued to see where the story is now going to go.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but there were a few things that almost made it fall flat for me.
I really enjoy Melissas writing style, it is unique and draws you in and it’s very easy to read.
I felt the first 300 pages could have been cut down and more time spent around the last 100ish pages, especially regarding the ‘incident’ that happens near the end. There was not much build up, for me then there was no emotional impact of said event, which left it rather lacklustre and just like, oh that’s it. I’m not sure whether this is because I personally read a lot of dark books, but this event didn’t affect me how it did others. I also link into this, I know this is a book and it is fiction, however, in real life this would not happen. Schools now make welfare checks, especially on an absence that long and I just felt it almost felt, disjointed? Why go through all that effort (Harrison) to just then sit back and do nothing, it didn’t seem right.
In Flicks diary entries, some entries seemed to ‘old’ for a child of 11, then some were very childlike, it just struck me as rather odd.
There was just niggles like this for me which made not enjoy the book as much.
I did generally enjoy this and I’m intrigued to see where the story is now going to go.
October 2, 2026
Please tell me there will be a 3rd book 🤣
Absolutely devoured this book in just over 6 hours, what i didnt expect was to cry on a certain couple chapters, poor flick 😢. Please tell me there is going to be a 3rd book? I need to know if Harrison and em get their revenge for flick 🤔 xx
Absolutely devoured this book in just over 6 hours, what i didnt expect was to cry on a certain couple chapters, poor flick 😢. Please tell me there is going to be a 3rd book? I need to know if Harrison and em get their revenge for flick 🤔 xx
October 3, 2026
I need to collect my thoughts…I’m still in awe…I need to articulate my review well 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Child We Handed Over
Melissa Hawker
The Child Trilogy #2
Publication Date: 1 October 2026
ARC Review
The Child We Handed Over is the second instalment in Melissa Hawker’s The Child Trilogy, and after the events of the first book, I was incredibly curious to see where this story would go next.
This book takes everything established previously and turns up the tension. Harrison Edwards isn’t searching for justice anymore; he wants the truth, and his determination to uncover it creates an increasingly uncomfortable sense that everything is about to unravel.
Em is such a fascinating character to read. She has spent years controlling the narrative around her, carefully choosing her words, her emotions and the version of herself that other people are allowed to see. But maintaining that level of control becomes increasingly difficult when the past refuses to remain buried.
There is a wonderfully claustrophobic feeling running through this book. You can sense the cracks forming and know that eventually something has to give, but Melissa Hawker keeps you questioning exactly what will be revealed when it does.
The psychological element was one of my favourite aspects. This isn't simply about discovering what happened; it's about secrets, manipulation, consequences and what the truth can do to the people involved once it finally comes to light.
And that ending!
I genuinely thought I had things figured out, but I absolutely did not. Just when you think you understand where the story is heading, everything shifts. It leaves you with exactly the kind of ending a trilogy needs — one that makes you desperate to know what happens next.
Dark, tense and increasingly unsettling, The Child We Handed Over is a gripping continuation of The Child Trilogy. If you enjoyed the first book, you definitely won't want to miss this one.
Thank you to Melissa Hawker for providing me with an ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
#TheChildWeHandedOver #MelissaHawker #TheChildTrilogy #PsychologicalThriller #ARCReview
Melissa Hawker
The Child Trilogy #2
Publication Date: 1 October 2026
ARC Review
The Child We Handed Over is the second instalment in Melissa Hawker’s The Child Trilogy, and after the events of the first book, I was incredibly curious to see where this story would go next.
This book takes everything established previously and turns up the tension. Harrison Edwards isn’t searching for justice anymore; he wants the truth, and his determination to uncover it creates an increasingly uncomfortable sense that everything is about to unravel.
Em is such a fascinating character to read. She has spent years controlling the narrative around her, carefully choosing her words, her emotions and the version of herself that other people are allowed to see. But maintaining that level of control becomes increasingly difficult when the past refuses to remain buried.
There is a wonderfully claustrophobic feeling running through this book. You can sense the cracks forming and know that eventually something has to give, but Melissa Hawker keeps you questioning exactly what will be revealed when it does.
The psychological element was one of my favourite aspects. This isn't simply about discovering what happened; it's about secrets, manipulation, consequences and what the truth can do to the people involved once it finally comes to light.
And that ending!
I genuinely thought I had things figured out, but I absolutely did not. Just when you think you understand where the story is heading, everything shifts. It leaves you with exactly the kind of ending a trilogy needs — one that makes you desperate to know what happens next.
Dark, tense and increasingly unsettling, The Child We Handed Over is a gripping continuation of The Child Trilogy. If you enjoyed the first book, you definitely won't want to miss this one.
Thank you to Melissa Hawker for providing me with an ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
#TheChildWeHandedOver #MelissaHawker #TheChildTrilogy #PsychologicalThriller #ARCReview
Review of advance copy received from Author
5+ ⭐️
I will review soon. I need to lie down in a dark room and process first 😱😭🙈
Ok, I think I'm ready...
This is an ARC Review of The Child We Handed Over by Melissa Hawker. Release date, 1st October 2026.
Thank you so much to Melissa Hawker for having me on your ARC team! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
If you haven’t read book one, The Child Between Us, then you really, really should. It is absolutely BRILLIANT, and you won't want to miss a single second of this story.
This second installment in 'The Child Trilogy' dives straight into the action. We find Harrison looking for truth and answers, and he will not stop until he gets them. At the same time, we see how Em tries to hold things together with the same control and precision she has maintained since Flick was born. But deep, dark secrets have a way of catching up with you and nothing stays buried forever, no matter how well you think you've hidden it.
This book had me completely invested from the very first chapter. Every single spare moment I had, I was picking it up. The characters are fascinating and so perfectly written. I absolutely love Melissa's writing style. The clipped paragraphs and short chapters make the pages practically fly by.
What a talented author! Although, now that I've finished this installment, she is officially on my naughty list. The tears and the trauma she has caused! I am genuinely traumatised and now I need a lie down. I have the ultimate book hangover and I NEED book three immediately!
I will review soon. I need to lie down in a dark room and process first 😱😭🙈
Ok, I think I'm ready...
This is an ARC Review of The Child We Handed Over by Melissa Hawker. Release date, 1st October 2026.
Thank you so much to Melissa Hawker for having me on your ARC team! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
If you haven’t read book one, The Child Between Us, then you really, really should. It is absolutely BRILLIANT, and you won't want to miss a single second of this story.
This second installment in 'The Child Trilogy' dives straight into the action. We find Harrison looking for truth and answers, and he will not stop until he gets them. At the same time, we see how Em tries to hold things together with the same control and precision she has maintained since Flick was born. But deep, dark secrets have a way of catching up with you and nothing stays buried forever, no matter how well you think you've hidden it.
This book had me completely invested from the very first chapter. Every single spare moment I had, I was picking it up. The characters are fascinating and so perfectly written. I absolutely love Melissa's writing style. The clipped paragraphs and short chapters make the pages practically fly by.
What a talented author! Although, now that I've finished this installment, she is officially on my naughty list. The tears and the trauma she has caused! I am genuinely traumatised and now I need a lie down. I have the ultimate book hangover and I NEED book three immediately!
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you think the 1st book in this series was unhinged....... Well this is even more so
Following straight on from the 1st book in the series (The Child Between Us) this book offers more secrets, lies and twists. This sent me on a roller coaster I never imagined I'd be on
You question your own judgement, thoughts and feelings for the characters, and each POV has you changing your own opinions.
Again two Main POV's from Em and Harrison, however this also has and extra POV from Flick, in the form of her Diary. I loved the illustration touches, which kept reminding you that in the middle of all this chaos, was a innocent young girl, who is oblivious to everything going on. Who all she wanted to do was get excited for sleepovers, friends and the starting of a new school. Little does she know, that one day its all shattered.
I Absolutely inhaled this book. I was addicted to it from the 1st page, the writing style was fast paced, and kept you turning the page. I loved the twists and turns, even though I will never get over it..... EVER!!!
Following straight on from the 1st book in the series (The Child Between Us) this book offers more secrets, lies and twists. This sent me on a roller coaster I never imagined I'd be on
You question your own judgement, thoughts and feelings for the characters, and each POV has you changing your own opinions.
Again two Main POV's from Em and Harrison, however this also has and extra POV from Flick, in the form of her Diary. I loved the illustration touches, which kept reminding you that in the middle of all this chaos, was a innocent young girl, who is oblivious to everything going on. Who all she wanted to do was get excited for sleepovers, friends and the starting of a new school. Little does she know, that one day its all shattered.
I Absolutely inhaled this book. I was addicted to it from the 1st page, the writing style was fast paced, and kept you turning the page. I loved the twists and turns, even though I will never get over it..... EVER!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
Firstly I want to thank Melissa for allowing me on this ARC journey its been a wild ride!! Strap in because you are not ready!! (I wasn't either!!)
The child between us is book 2 in The Child Trilogy. I inhaled book one The child between us. This book i devoured once you pick up one of these books you can not put them down.
Melissa's writing styles is fast paced and the dual POVs Em and Harrisons and the diary entries from flick with the illustrations to go with them I loved!! I definitely went on an emotional roller coaster, lost in these pages, felt the love, loss, grief, the heartache. I love that just when I thought I knew where the story was taking me bam a new thread of the story !! The ending i wasn't ready and not sure im going to get over this book for a while to come!! We just need book 3 already !! An Epic ARC read!!
I received a ARC copy of this book from the author and leave this review voluntarily.
Firstly I want to thank Melissa for allowing me on this ARC journey its been a wild ride!! Strap in because you are not ready!! (I wasn't either!!)
The child between us is book 2 in The Child Trilogy. I inhaled book one The child between us. This book i devoured once you pick up one of these books you can not put them down.
Melissa's writing styles is fast paced and the dual POVs Em and Harrisons and the diary entries from flick with the illustrations to go with them I loved!! I definitely went on an emotional roller coaster, lost in these pages, felt the love, loss, grief, the heartache. I love that just when I thought I knew where the story was taking me bam a new thread of the story !! The ending i wasn't ready and not sure im going to get over this book for a while to come!! We just need book 3 already !! An Epic ARC read!!
I received a ARC copy of this book from the author and leave this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Melissa Hawker for sending me a physical ARC copy of ‘The Child We Hander Over’ book 2 in The Child Trilogy.
Oh wow!! 😮
I couldn’t put the book down I read it within 2 days!
The story is a fast pace, suspenseful and emotional thriller following The POV of the main characters. Em, Harrison and Flick’s diary entries.
I was not expecting the twist in the story at all! I honestly thought the story was going to go in a different direction. But I was wrong! Each page had you guessing what is going to happen next?
I cannot wait to read book 3 and find out how the trilogy concludes.
Oh wow!! 😮
I couldn’t put the book down I read it within 2 days!
The story is a fast pace, suspenseful and emotional thriller following The POV of the main characters. Em, Harrison and Flick’s diary entries.
I was not expecting the twist in the story at all! I honestly thought the story was going to go in a different direction. But I was wrong! Each page had you guessing what is going to happen next?
I cannot wait to read book 3 and find out how the trilogy concludes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Im honoured to have recieved this as an arc read from the author.
If I could rate this higher i would. This series just gets better.
I couldn't put this book down I had to know.... and my word it has broken me.
This book as 3 povs and it really makes the book awesome.
So many things left unanswered and so much more is going to happen in the 3rd book.
I will read anything melissa hawker writes in the future
If I could rate this higher i would. This series just gets better.
I couldn't put this book down I had to know.... and my word it has broken me.
This book as 3 povs and it really makes the book awesome.
So many things left unanswered and so much more is going to happen in the 3rd book.
I will read anything melissa hawker writes in the future
Review of advance copy received from Author
My heart is breaking and I'm struggling to think about anything else
An amazing second book to The child between us that I just couldn't put down. I need the next one as soon as possible and maybe some therapy 😂. A brilliant read if you like psychological thrillers that leave you needing more
An amazing second book to The child between us that I just couldn't put down. I need the next one as soon as possible and maybe some therapy 😂. A brilliant read if you like psychological thrillers that leave you needing more
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review- another 5* read from Melissa! Honoured to have got my hands on this before release certainly kept me wanting more… roll on book 3
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ARC review ⭐️
After LOVING book one I applied to be an ARC reader for book two and boy did Melissa deliver!
This book kept me on the edge the whole time, after the twists and turns of book one I had a good idea in my head of how this might play out and what was coming, WRONG!!
I gasped, I cried, I actually threw the book down in frustration and added Melissa Hawker to my list of least favourite people while simultaneously adding her to my favourite authors list. 🤷♀️ I'd say she achieved her goal of pulling me in because I'll be fighting to the front of the sign up sheet for the final book of this trilogy... I need closure Mel!!
Yes a few things are slightly unrealistic and wouldn't play out like that in real life, but this is fiction... things can be dramatic for the sake of a bloody good story. It didn't take away from the suspense and plot for me I just made a quite mental note and delve back in.
After LOVING book one I applied to be an ARC reader for book two and boy did Melissa deliver!
This book kept me on the edge the whole time, after the twists and turns of book one I had a good idea in my head of how this might play out and what was coming, WRONG!!
I gasped, I cried, I actually threw the book down in frustration and added Melissa Hawker to my list of least favourite people while simultaneously adding her to my favourite authors list. 🤷♀️ I'd say she achieved her goal of pulling me in because I'll be fighting to the front of the sign up sheet for the final book of this trilogy... I need closure Mel!!
Yes a few things are slightly unrealistic and wouldn't play out like that in real life, but this is fiction... things can be dramatic for the sake of a bloody good story. It didn't take away from the suspense and plot for me I just made a quite mental note and delve back in.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews