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The Final Child
A stunning psychological thriller from the author of After the Eclipse, for readers of Ruth Ware and S.K. Tremeyne.
Erin and her brother Alex were the last children abducted by 'the Father', a serial killer who only ever took pairs of siblings. She escaped, but her brother was never seen again. Traumatised, Erin couldn't remember anything about her ordeal, and the Father was never caught.
Eighteen years later, Erin has done her best to put the past behind her. But then she meets Harriet. Harriet's young cousins were the Father's first victims and, haunted by their deaths, she is writing a book about the disappearances and is desperate for an interview. At first, Erin wants nothing to do with her. But then she starts receiving sinister gifts, her house is broken into, and she can't shake the feeling that she's being watched. After all these years, Erin believed that the Father was gone, but now she begins to wonder if he was only waiting...
Erin and her brother Alex were the last children abducted by 'the Father', a serial killer who only ever took pairs of siblings. She escaped, but her brother was never seen again. Traumatised, Erin couldn't remember anything about her ordeal, and the Father was never caught.
Eighteen years later, Erin has done her best to put the past behind her. But then she meets Harriet. Harriet's young cousins were the Father's first victims and, haunted by their deaths, she is writing a book about the disappearances and is desperate for an interview. At first, Erin wants nothing to do with her. But then she starts receiving sinister gifts, her house is broken into, and she can't shake the feeling that she's being watched. After all these years, Erin believed that the Father was gone, but now she begins to wonder if he was only waiting...
447 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2021
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September 7, 2021
3.75 Stars. This book took a little time to get going but was worth it in the end. It seems like every book I have been reading lately has either been fantasy or such an emotional drama that I’m going through a box of tissues. While I love those types of books, I really needed to spice things up and go with something completely different, which The Finale Child was. This was a psychological thriller, crime-mystery, with sapphic characters. You can’t really get much different than what I have been reading so I was happy to have this ARC at the perfect time. This book was a bit dark, and the subject sad –a serial killer who kidnaps two siblings at once- but in the end it was a pretty exciting thriller.
The story stars two women, one who is writer and the cousin of the first victims taken, and the other woman is the last victim and only one to survive. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m not going to go into any of the storyline but I was happy about whom the mains were. So many times thriller and crime/mystery books star a private dick, police, FBI, or whatever, so I was happy that this was not the case in this book. A survivor and an author are not pros when is come to solving a crime so when the characters did something stupid, which they did a few times, you believe it more because they are not professionals.
When it came to the actually personalities of the characters, I found that I struggled a bit. I liked them enough, but I’m not sure if I connected to them as much as I wanted. I think the author character needed a bit more backstory, and at times I felt like the character voices needed to be more different. Even though the book clearly tells you whose POV we are in, sometimes I would still get mixed up. They were just missing a little bit of character development for my personal tastes.
There is a sapphic romance. It’s not a big part of the book, but it was there and it was alright. While there seems to be a decent amount of lesbian and bi women detectives in murder mysteries, there are not many sapphic characters in psychological thrillers so it was a very nice change. What it comes down to is that I would not read this book for the romance, but it was an enjoyable bonus to have.
I think my biggest issue with the book ended up being the length. This book was around 400 pages –as far as I can tell- and I think it could easily have been 350 instead. The first third of the book is just slow. Not enough happens and too many things just plod along. I will admit my attention was captured from the beginning because of the premise, but I kept yelling at the book to get moving. I think Dorricott really wanted to set the table for the whole story when all we really needed was a fork to dig in. I didn’t exactly notice when but I think it was around the 40% mark when I realized the book felt different. The pace had finally picked up and I was really absorbed into the story. The whole second half is very exciting and just seemed like one thing after another happened to keep me turning the pages. I’ve read some books lately that had the thriller tag but they fizzled out. This book turned into a real thriller in the second half.
I would recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers and crime/mysteries. While this book had a few issues and wasn’t perfect, it ended being a very entertaining read. There were some good twists and turns in this book. While I did guess some of them, others I missed which makes any mystery book more fun to read. This book does start off slow, but I found it to be worth the time put in since it was exciting in the end.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
The story stars two women, one who is writer and the cousin of the first victims taken, and the other woman is the last victim and only one to survive. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m not going to go into any of the storyline but I was happy about whom the mains were. So many times thriller and crime/mystery books star a private dick, police, FBI, or whatever, so I was happy that this was not the case in this book. A survivor and an author are not pros when is come to solving a crime so when the characters did something stupid, which they did a few times, you believe it more because they are not professionals.
When it came to the actually personalities of the characters, I found that I struggled a bit. I liked them enough, but I’m not sure if I connected to them as much as I wanted. I think the author character needed a bit more backstory, and at times I felt like the character voices needed to be more different. Even though the book clearly tells you whose POV we are in, sometimes I would still get mixed up. They were just missing a little bit of character development for my personal tastes.
There is a sapphic romance. It’s not a big part of the book, but it was there and it was alright. While there seems to be a decent amount of lesbian and bi women detectives in murder mysteries, there are not many sapphic characters in psychological thrillers so it was a very nice change. What it comes down to is that I would not read this book for the romance, but it was an enjoyable bonus to have.
I think my biggest issue with the book ended up being the length. This book was around 400 pages –as far as I can tell- and I think it could easily have been 350 instead. The first third of the book is just slow. Not enough happens and too many things just plod along. I will admit my attention was captured from the beginning because of the premise, but I kept yelling at the book to get moving. I think Dorricott really wanted to set the table for the whole story when all we really needed was a fork to dig in. I didn’t exactly notice when but I think it was around the 40% mark when I realized the book felt different. The pace had finally picked up and I was really absorbed into the story. The whole second half is very exciting and just seemed like one thing after another happened to keep me turning the pages. I’ve read some books lately that had the thriller tag but they fizzled out. This book turned into a real thriller in the second half.
I would recommend this book for fans of psychological thrillers and crime/mysteries. While this book had a few issues and wasn’t perfect, it ended being a very entertaining read. There were some good twists and turns in this book. While I did guess some of them, others I missed which makes any mystery book more fun to read. This book does start off slow, but I found it to be worth the time put in since it was exciting in the end.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
September 6, 2021
The Final Child is a terrifying, disturbing and compulsive standalone psychological thriller with an intriguing mystery at its centre, and Dorricott has somehow managed to give it the feel of a real-life true crime case despite it being fictional. Between the years 1994 and 1998, a brutal serial killer was on the loose in the English Midlands; he became known as The Father as his modus operandi was to abduct pairs of young siblings from their beds in the dead of night, and this became something that occurred as a spree every few years. We are introduced to Erin (formerly known as Jillian) who was kidnapped by The Father 18 years ago and was the only one out of his 14 victims to escape death at his cruel hand when she was found in dense woodland alive but bedraggled and confused. Unfortunately, she has been beset with fear, guilt and heartbreak ever since, and not only does the trauma of her time spent in captivity play on her mind, but so too does the fact that she was unable to save her brother, Alex, who was taken alongside her. They were the last 2 victims (of 7 pairs) of this sadistic madman before he dropped off the grid and never popped up again. What exactly stopped him from killing, and why?
Erin has no recollection of her time being held or even what happened to her during that time which could be seen as both a blessing and a curse, and only some of the deceased bodies of his victims were found with many having still never been recovered almost two decades later. Erin has worked tirelessly to separate and distance herself from the horror that happened even changing her name and appearance to try and move on. It's 2016 and Harriett Murphy whose cousins and 2 brothers were kidnapped and subsequently murdered by The Father, is penning a book about the disappearances and slayings to try and get to the bottom of them. While carrying out her research, she wants to interview Erin about her experiences despite her having little to no memory of what occurred, but Erin is reluctant even though she is really the only hope of anyone ever been brought to justice for these crimes as the only eyewitness. When someone breaks into Erin’s home and a short time later she begins receiving unsolicited gifts that are left both inside and outside her house, she naturally becomes petrified. Is this The Father coming back to finish the job before she can incriminate him or is it someone else entirely?
Either way, it's clear that someone is out for blood. This is a riveting, pulse-pounding and compulsively readable cold case thriller full of urgency and fraught with both danger and palpable suspense from the offset. Admittedly retrospectively investigating a gruesome crime spree that swiftly turned into a cold case all those years ago is not a new concept, however, I cannot stress enough just how much better Dorricott’s version is than many others from past experience; it's an astonishingly good yarn that is tautly plotted and scintillating to the point that I found it immensely difficult to put down. From the first few pages, it's deeply unsettling and the oppressive feeling of dread runs throughout the story creating an atmosphere in which the tension can be cut with a knife. It's rapid-fire paced, intensely compelling and thoroughly entertaining with superb characterisation and a conclusion that is not only explosive but earth-shattering, too. It also appears to give rise to the possibility of a sequel which I would certainly reach for. A creepy, engrossing and thought-provoking read I highly recommend.
Erin has no recollection of her time being held or even what happened to her during that time which could be seen as both a blessing and a curse, and only some of the deceased bodies of his victims were found with many having still never been recovered almost two decades later. Erin has worked tirelessly to separate and distance herself from the horror that happened even changing her name and appearance to try and move on. It's 2016 and Harriett Murphy whose cousins and 2 brothers were kidnapped and subsequently murdered by The Father, is penning a book about the disappearances and slayings to try and get to the bottom of them. While carrying out her research, she wants to interview Erin about her experiences despite her having little to no memory of what occurred, but Erin is reluctant even though she is really the only hope of anyone ever been brought to justice for these crimes as the only eyewitness. When someone breaks into Erin’s home and a short time later she begins receiving unsolicited gifts that are left both inside and outside her house, she naturally becomes petrified. Is this The Father coming back to finish the job before she can incriminate him or is it someone else entirely?
Either way, it's clear that someone is out for blood. This is a riveting, pulse-pounding and compulsively readable cold case thriller full of urgency and fraught with both danger and palpable suspense from the offset. Admittedly retrospectively investigating a gruesome crime spree that swiftly turned into a cold case all those years ago is not a new concept, however, I cannot stress enough just how much better Dorricott’s version is than many others from past experience; it's an astonishingly good yarn that is tautly plotted and scintillating to the point that I found it immensely difficult to put down. From the first few pages, it's deeply unsettling and the oppressive feeling of dread runs throughout the story creating an atmosphere in which the tension can be cut with a knife. It's rapid-fire paced, intensely compelling and thoroughly entertaining with superb characterisation and a conclusion that is not only explosive but earth-shattering, too. It also appears to give rise to the possibility of a sequel which I would certainly reach for. A creepy, engrossing and thought-provoking read I highly recommend.
September 6, 2021
this is a lot to process
read my full review on reads rainbow!
Rep: lesbian mcs
CWs: child death, child abduction, gore, amputation, violence, child abuse, past suicide
read my full review on reads rainbow!
Rep: lesbian mcs
CWs: child death, child abduction, gore, amputation, violence, child abuse, past suicide
August 2, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Final Child.
I'm always up for a serial killer mystery so I was excited when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Eighteen years ago, Erin escaped the clutches of a serial killer named The Father, leaving her older brother, Alex, behind.
Harriet is a reporter whose young cousins were the Father’s first victims. She is writing a book about the kidnapping and victims but is desperate for an interview with the only survivor.
Erin has no intention of revisiting her past and her grief over losing her brother; she's changed her name, her appearance and her mannerisms.
But when strange things begin to happen to her and victims' families, she believes The Father has returned and joins forces with Harriet to get to the truth. But the truth may cost both of their lives.
I liked Erin and Harriet; they were strong, resilient, relatable characters. I do wish they didn't drink so much.
Maybe I only noticed because I'm not a drinker though I'm not a teetotaler either.
I did wonder if maybe if one or both of them had a problem with alcohol or that's just what stressed out people do when they're freaked out: drink and then drink some more.
The writing was good but the story dragged, especially in the first half.
There was a lot of repetition, constant reminders that Erin felt unsafe and why would she since The Father is dead, rehashing the past, her lost memories and the flashbacks. At times, it read as filler.
This is never fully explained, why Erin believes The Father is dead. Why make such a huge assumption when there is no evidence to the contrary?
Just because the kidnappings stopped doesn't mean the perp is dead. But, Erin kept insisting he was and I felt that was childish and naive considering all she had been through.
For a novel about a serial killer, the pacing was slow, the tone lacked urgency and suspense. Overall, I was BORED and kept thinking, "Can we get on with it?"
Most of the time, Erin and Harriet were drinking and talking and drinking some more and thinking about their feelings for each other.
I'm not against romance in any story, but how does their relationship move the story forward?
Why can't they just be good friends and trust each other and look out for one another?
Not surprisingly, I guessed the twist at the end since I read a lot of books in this genre and the flashback scenes provided enough clues for me to make a determination.
This wasn't bad, but it was nowhere near as suspenseful and engaging as I hoped it would be.
I'm always up for a serial killer mystery so I was excited when my request was approved.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Eighteen years ago, Erin escaped the clutches of a serial killer named The Father, leaving her older brother, Alex, behind.
Harriet is a reporter whose young cousins were the Father’s first victims. She is writing a book about the kidnapping and victims but is desperate for an interview with the only survivor.
Erin has no intention of revisiting her past and her grief over losing her brother; she's changed her name, her appearance and her mannerisms.
But when strange things begin to happen to her and victims' families, she believes The Father has returned and joins forces with Harriet to get to the truth. But the truth may cost both of their lives.
I liked Erin and Harriet; they were strong, resilient, relatable characters. I do wish they didn't drink so much.
Maybe I only noticed because I'm not a drinker though I'm not a teetotaler either.
I did wonder if maybe if one or both of them had a problem with alcohol or that's just what stressed out people do when they're freaked out: drink and then drink some more.
The writing was good but the story dragged, especially in the first half.
There was a lot of repetition, constant reminders that Erin felt unsafe and why would she since The Father is dead, rehashing the past, her lost memories and the flashbacks. At times, it read as filler.
This is never fully explained, why Erin believes The Father is dead. Why make such a huge assumption when there is no evidence to the contrary?
Just because the kidnappings stopped doesn't mean the perp is dead. But, Erin kept insisting he was and I felt that was childish and naive considering all she had been through.
For a novel about a serial killer, the pacing was slow, the tone lacked urgency and suspense. Overall, I was BORED and kept thinking, "Can we get on with it?"
Most of the time, Erin and Harriet were drinking and talking and drinking some more and thinking about their feelings for each other.
I'm not against romance in any story, but how does their relationship move the story forward?
Why can't they just be good friends and trust each other and look out for one another?
Not surprisingly, I guessed the twist at the end since I read a lot of books in this genre and the flashback scenes provided enough clues for me to make a determination.
This wasn't bad, but it was nowhere near as suspenseful and engaging as I hoped it would be.
July 24, 2021
“The Father” kidnapped pairs of siblings, sometimes their bodies were found and sometimes they were never seen again. Except for Erin, she was the only child to escape from The Father. Years later Erin meets up with Harriet, the cousin of two victims of The Father, who has started her own investigation. While the two of them uncover more information about what happened to Erin as a kid she starts to think she’s being watched by someone…
I really enjoyed the concept of this story. The Father was an interesting villain and I liked all the different reveals of why he did what he did. People having to go back and solve a mystery from their past is something that I generally gravitate towards in thrillers. How the previous events impacted Erin, Harriet, and the families of all the victims seemed like it was handled really well. Sometimes in thrillers having the character have amnesia or repressed memories can feel like a cheap plot trick in order to have a reveal later on. But here I feel like it made sense because Erin went through something super traumatic as a young child.
I will say that the first half of the book felt extremely slow. It took me a long time to get through it. But once things started ramping up in the second half I started to fly through the story. The book switches back and forth between Erin and Harriet’s POVs, both told in first person, and pretty frequently I was getting confused as to which character I was reading from. Their voices sounded very similar and I didn’t have a really strong grasp on their individual characters. I think that led to me not feeling like there was a lot of chemistry between them when it came to their romance. I loved that there was a sapphic relationship at the heart of this story, but it wasn’t something that grabbed me by the heart.
Overall this was an enjoyable mystery/thriller, but I do feel like it was a bit too long.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story. The Father was an interesting villain and I liked all the different reveals of why he did what he did. People having to go back and solve a mystery from their past is something that I generally gravitate towards in thrillers. How the previous events impacted Erin, Harriet, and the families of all the victims seemed like it was handled really well. Sometimes in thrillers having the character have amnesia or repressed memories can feel like a cheap plot trick in order to have a reveal later on. But here I feel like it made sense because Erin went through something super traumatic as a young child.
I will say that the first half of the book felt extremely slow. It took me a long time to get through it. But once things started ramping up in the second half I started to fly through the story. The book switches back and forth between Erin and Harriet’s POVs, both told in first person, and pretty frequently I was getting confused as to which character I was reading from. Their voices sounded very similar and I didn’t have a really strong grasp on their individual characters. I think that led to me not feeling like there was a lot of chemistry between them when it came to their romance. I loved that there was a sapphic relationship at the heart of this story, but it wasn’t something that grabbed me by the heart.
Overall this was an enjoyable mystery/thriller, but I do feel like it was a bit too long.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2021
This was an interesting and sometimes tense read, focused on Erin (aka Jillian), who escaped a serial killer 18 years prior, and Harriet, a journalist whose cousins were victims of the same killer and who is now writing a book about the families left behind. The chapters alternate between Harriet's and Erin's POVs, and are also interspersed with a 3rd POV from an unknown character.
Though I rather liked both main characters, I did feel that the first half of the book was a bit repetitive. I think the author was trying to set the tone but I felt that this part of the book could have been tightened up a bit. As the 2nd half unfolded, the level of action amped up and the story became much faster-paced, culminating in a really interesting twist at the end. I was fascinated by the various things that led to the killings, but wish I could have gotten even more details as to what had happened to some of the characters to make them the way that they were.
Overall, interesting book in which the pace of the 2nd half made up for the slowness of the first half, and both main characters were developed pretty well. The storyline was interesting and the twist towards the end was well done. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Though I rather liked both main characters, I did feel that the first half of the book was a bit repetitive. I think the author was trying to set the tone but I felt that this part of the book could have been tightened up a bit. As the 2nd half unfolded, the level of action amped up and the story became much faster-paced, culminating in a really interesting twist at the end. I was fascinated by the various things that led to the killings, but wish I could have gotten even more details as to what had happened to some of the characters to make them the way that they were.
Overall, interesting book in which the pace of the 2nd half made up for the slowness of the first half, and both main characters were developed pretty well. The storyline was interesting and the twist towards the end was well done. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2021
Fran Dorricott is a bookseller and previous debut author. The Final Child is her second fiction novel and a serial killer noir. ‘The Father’ as he was called, abducted and killed siblings, except for Erin who managed to escape. Eighteen years later, she meets Harriet who is writing a book, as her cousins were the first pair of victims. Whilst each carries the impact of the harrowing crimes, circumstances occur that places each in danger and someone seems to be targeting them. Does ‘The Father’ have unfinished business? With a disjointed start that begins as a list of dates and children, the narrative is somewhat piecemeal thereafter and the tension fails to rise to any significant level, so only a two-and-a-half-star read rating. With thanks to Titan Books and the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes.
September 11, 2021
A huge thank you to Titan Books for the review copy and for including me in this blog tour.
Where to start talking about The Final Child? I read the synopsis and knew right away that I wanted to read it. Was I expecting it to be as terrifying as it was? Definitely not. The suspense really built up in this book. I could feel it getting more intense with each chapter. More questions kept popping in my head the more I read, I just couldn’t put this book down!
The concept of this book is very unique. I haven’t read that many thrillers but I knew this story would be one of a kind. I’ll be honest with you, I was terrified throughout most of this book. The concept itself is scary and I’m not easily scared when reading books but this did it. I could hear my heart beating in my ears and the same questions kept repeating in my head, what exactly is going on? The first half of the book was interesting if a little on the slow side but I knew it was building up to something big so I eagerly kept reading. I enjoyed that it was told from both Harriet and Erins points of view. It was nice to know what each of them was feeling and thinking, especially when they were apart. I do wish there had been more of a difference in their voices. At times I felt like I was reading from the same person and I got a little confused and had to check whose chapter I was reading.
I’ll admit, I was not expecting certain chapters here. I won’t say what I’m talking about to avoid ruining it for anyone but those took me by surprise! It was a nice change. The second half of the book was honestly terrifying. I was so scared about what would be revealed but I also really needed to know. I might have guessed at once of the reveals and finding out I was right was surprising, to say the least. I expected it but I also…didn’t? The last bit of the book was the wildest ride! I was so scared for both of our characters. The end left me with some serious questions. I was expecting closure but damn did the author freak me out with that one!
Highly recommend this for the thriller lovers out there! Especially if you’re looking to get scared in between all the guesswork. I truly enjoyed it (is enjoy the right word?) it kept me hooked for the longest time and that’s exactly what I was hoping it would do.
Where to start talking about The Final Child? I read the synopsis and knew right away that I wanted to read it. Was I expecting it to be as terrifying as it was? Definitely not. The suspense really built up in this book. I could feel it getting more intense with each chapter. More questions kept popping in my head the more I read, I just couldn’t put this book down!
The concept of this book is very unique. I haven’t read that many thrillers but I knew this story would be one of a kind. I’ll be honest with you, I was terrified throughout most of this book. The concept itself is scary and I’m not easily scared when reading books but this did it. I could hear my heart beating in my ears and the same questions kept repeating in my head, what exactly is going on? The first half of the book was interesting if a little on the slow side but I knew it was building up to something big so I eagerly kept reading. I enjoyed that it was told from both Harriet and Erins points of view. It was nice to know what each of them was feeling and thinking, especially when they were apart. I do wish there had been more of a difference in their voices. At times I felt like I was reading from the same person and I got a little confused and had to check whose chapter I was reading.
I’ll admit, I was not expecting certain chapters here. I won’t say what I’m talking about to avoid ruining it for anyone but those took me by surprise! It was a nice change. The second half of the book was honestly terrifying. I was so scared about what would be revealed but I also really needed to know. I might have guessed at once of the reveals and finding out I was right was surprising, to say the least. I expected it but I also…didn’t? The last bit of the book was the wildest ride! I was so scared for both of our characters. The end left me with some serious questions. I was expecting closure but damn did the author freak me out with that one!
Highly recommend this for the thriller lovers out there! Especially if you’re looking to get scared in between all the guesswork. I truly enjoyed it (is enjoy the right word?) it kept me hooked for the longest time and that’s exactly what I was hoping it would do.
August 9, 2021
This was my first novel by Fran Dorricott, and i thoroughly enjoyed it!
I found this book to be a bit tense at times but the plot was interesting and focused mainly on Erin , formerly Jillian, who 18 years ago escaped a serial killer and a journalist who had cousins also victims to the same killer. This novel has dual narration along with a third narrator that remains a mystery.
The characters were well described and I enjoyed each of them. The first half of the book started out slow and a bit repetitive but by the second half I was fully engrossed.
The plot twist at the end was definitely unforeseen and made everything come together. I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy thrillers.
I found this book to be a bit tense at times but the plot was interesting and focused mainly on Erin , formerly Jillian, who 18 years ago escaped a serial killer and a journalist who had cousins also victims to the same killer. This novel has dual narration along with a third narrator that remains a mystery.
The characters were well described and I enjoyed each of them. The first half of the book started out slow and a bit repetitive but by the second half I was fully engrossed.
The plot twist at the end was definitely unforeseen and made everything come together. I would highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy thrillers.
September 3, 2021
The Final Child is a tense, utterly gripping thriller by Fran Dorricott. I loved Fran’s debut when I read it a couple of years ago which meant her latest book jumped right to the top of my TBR pile. Fran Dorricott doesn’t shy away from the darkness in her writing. Years ago, a serial killer was targeting young siblings, abducting them from their rooms. The person responsible known as ‘The Father’ was never caught.
We are introduced to Erin and Harriet. Erin and her brother, Alex, were victims of a serial killer known as ‘The Father.’ She has tried to forget about what happened, but she soon finds the past calling to her. She’s contacted by Harriet, a journalist writing a book about the case. She is desperate for an interview with Erin. Erin only agrees to help when strange things start happening and she feels she must get to the bottom of what is going on. Has ‘The Father’ come back? Is he out to get Erin even after all these years?
The storyline was very tense, I think more so in the second half than in the first, though. I liked both Erin and Hannah. I could see how much of an impact the trauma of what happened in Erin’s childhood has had on her life. I wanted to know if the strange things that were happening to her now was related to what happened in her childhood. I did feel sorry for Erin. Although she has changed her identity, she was previously known as Jillian, she has never been able to escape what happened. Harriet also has a connection to the case. Her cousins were ‘The Father’s’ last victims, so she is invested in getting to the truth of what is going on as well. They are both very strong leads.
The tension continues to tick up a notch and there were some very tense final scenes as Erin and Harriet come to realise what is really going on. I was utterly gripped as I read the final devastating chapters. I could not put the book down until I had turned the final page and I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
The Final Child is a very dark book, but it captured my interest. I really enjoyed it. If you love dark and gripping crime thrillers, you should add this to your TBR pile. I highly recommend it.
We are introduced to Erin and Harriet. Erin and her brother, Alex, were victims of a serial killer known as ‘The Father.’ She has tried to forget about what happened, but she soon finds the past calling to her. She’s contacted by Harriet, a journalist writing a book about the case. She is desperate for an interview with Erin. Erin only agrees to help when strange things start happening and she feels she must get to the bottom of what is going on. Has ‘The Father’ come back? Is he out to get Erin even after all these years?
The storyline was very tense, I think more so in the second half than in the first, though. I liked both Erin and Hannah. I could see how much of an impact the trauma of what happened in Erin’s childhood has had on her life. I wanted to know if the strange things that were happening to her now was related to what happened in her childhood. I did feel sorry for Erin. Although she has changed her identity, she was previously known as Jillian, she has never been able to escape what happened. Harriet also has a connection to the case. Her cousins were ‘The Father’s’ last victims, so she is invested in getting to the truth of what is going on as well. They are both very strong leads.
The tension continues to tick up a notch and there were some very tense final scenes as Erin and Harriet come to realise what is really going on. I was utterly gripped as I read the final devastating chapters. I could not put the book down until I had turned the final page and I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
The Final Child is a very dark book, but it captured my interest. I really enjoyed it. If you love dark and gripping crime thrillers, you should add this to your TBR pile. I highly recommend it.
September 25, 2021
Creepy, fast paced and a twisted and well planned out plot. The only reason it took me 4 days to read is because I knew it would freak me out reading at night! Though I’m admittedly biased, HIGHLY recommend if you’re into mysteries, thrillers, or queer relationships.
January 12, 2022
i need more of Harriet and Erin’s story because i’m obsessed w them
July 26, 2025
god that ending i dont even know what to say. genuinly incredible.
September 30, 2021
The Final Child is a book that surprised me from the very first page. I guess I'm used to reading thriller books that aren't set within the UK, because as soon as I started reading this book and I was presented with a list of child abductions that took place around the area where I lived I had to take a moment to realise what I'd just read. From the first few pages I realised that this was not only going to be a book that felt more at home because it's a British murder mystery, but because I knew some of the places it was going to be happening in. I have to admit, it instantly won me over; and not once did Fran Dorricott let me down as the book went on.
The story of The Final Child follows two women, women who begin the story so closely connected even though they've never met before. Harriett is a former journalist who grew up hearing stories about how her cousins were taken by 'The Father', a serial kidnapper and killer of young siblings in the late 1990's. Having grown up knowing that her cousins young lives were brutally cut short, and seeing what this does to a family, Harriet has been working on a book about it.
Her book began as a way of her being able to process her own grief and issues with what happened, and slowly evolved into her wanting to tell the stories of not just her cousins, but all of the young victims of 'The Father'. Having seen how so many true crime fanatics and the press focus on the killer, often ignoring the victims, Harriet wanted to create something that celebrates and memorialises those who lost their lives to him.
Erin is one of 'The Father's' victims. The only child taken by him to ever be found alive. The final child. Having grown up being unable to remember what happened to her, but knowing that she and her brother were taken by a killer, and that her brother's body will probably never be found, Erin as tried to move, Alex, on with her life. She's tried to distance herself from her past as much as possible, changing her look, and even changing her name from Jilly to Erin.
One day, when visiting her mother, Erin meets Harriet, a young woman who has approached her mother wanting to learn more about her and Alex. At first she's pretty hostile towards Harriet, wanting nothing to do with this woman who seems to have barged into her life, wanting to drag up her past. However, strange things start to happen to Erin. She feels like she's being watched, and her house gets broken into. These incidents start to make her think of her past, and as such she agrees to speak to Harriet.
Together, the two young women begin to try to figure out what might have happened to 'The Father', if they're really dead, and if perhaps there were more victims of his out there. As their investigation begins to uncover new evidence it becomes clearer that someone's targeting Erin, and the two of them are now in danger. Could 'The Father' be back, or is this a deadly new stalker?
So often in stories where characters are looking into old cases, trying to figure out what really happened in the past, there's a lack of urgency to things. People get to spend a lot of time going from place to place, looking around at things, talking to person after person, putting the pieces of the mystery together as they see fit. The Last Child seems to buck this trend, however, as thanks to this shadowy figure that's messing with our two heroines there's a constant sense of danger lurking in the background. You're always waiting for something awful to happen, and it feels like Erin and Harriet have to find answers soon, before something terrible happens.
This sense of urgency and danger aren't just great for pacing and keeping the story story moving, but also as a way of pushing the relationship between the two leads. Over the course of the book we switch between narrators, and we get the chance to know Erin and Harriet quite well. At first, they seemed like the kinds of people who wouldn't really get along. Erin is closed off, afraid to let anyone in, and completely opposed to helping Harriet and her investigation; wanting nothing more than to just forget her past and live her life. Harriet also starts off feeling a bit self centred. She wants to finish her book, claiming that it's for all of the victims of 'The Father', but she keeps pushing at Erin, perhaps overstepping the mark a few times; and even refuses to think of her as Erin rather than Jillian, still thinking of her as the victim of 'The Father' rather than her own person.
But, this changes as the book goes on, and as the narrative keeps forcing the two of them together. Not only do they become friends, but it also very quickly becomes clear that there's something more to their feelings too. We learn very early on that Erin is attracted to women, but it isn't until she and Harriet begin to get close that we discover Harriet feels a similar attraction to her; though it does seem to be heavily implied that she's never been in any form of romantic situation with a woman before. What begins as a very strained relationship, where they're both keeping each other at arms length soon becomes this wonderful sapphic relationship where they're each trying to find the best way to be close to the other; and it was wonderful.
Perhaps it's simply down to the books I've been reading, but this might be the first time that a queer relationship has been given centre stage in a crime thriller book that I've read. And I loved it. Not only was it great to see two women being able to love each other, and come together during such an awful situation, but it made me smile every time they gingerly reached out to hold the others hand, or made to gently kiss the other, almost afraid of what might happen. It gave moments of tenderness and care in what might have otherwise been a brutal and unforgiving narrative.
Throughout the course off the book readers also get the chance to see things from the point of view of other characters, brief snippets that begin to shed light on what really happened in the past, and how things led to children being kidnapped and murdered. These moments were really interesting, and definitely expanded the narrative in interesting ways without giving too much away. There were a few times that these flashbacks, in conjunction with things happening in the present, really helped me as a reader to understand things, and I appreciated that Dorricott always held certain information back to keep the mystery going without it feeling forced. The stuff we learnt wasn't being intentionally vague or misleading to keep certain aspects as a surprise, which is an incredibly hard line to walk. But Dorricott did it expertly here.
There are some parts of the book that get very disturbing too, with death, torture, mutilation, and child harm being big parts of the book, but it never felt like any off it was being done in a way that was simply to gross out or disturb the reader purely for the sake of it. There are some awful things in this book, but it felt natural, it felt like something that no only is plausible, but something that you'd expect to see on a true crime television show. The book felt very grounded because of that, and there are times where it would make me think of real crimes and real killers because it felt so eerily familiar; and that was possibly the most disturbing aspect of the whole thing.
The Final Child is one of those books that I found hard to put down. It's a book where the narrative and the characters were so engrossing that I needed to keep reading to find out what happened next. I loved the people that inhabited the pages, I wanted them to be okay, and I'd love to read more about them, even if it's just their boring mundane lives. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did when I started, but it's easily become a firm favourite.
The story of The Final Child follows two women, women who begin the story so closely connected even though they've never met before. Harriett is a former journalist who grew up hearing stories about how her cousins were taken by 'The Father', a serial kidnapper and killer of young siblings in the late 1990's. Having grown up knowing that her cousins young lives were brutally cut short, and seeing what this does to a family, Harriet has been working on a book about it.
Her book began as a way of her being able to process her own grief and issues with what happened, and slowly evolved into her wanting to tell the stories of not just her cousins, but all of the young victims of 'The Father'. Having seen how so many true crime fanatics and the press focus on the killer, often ignoring the victims, Harriet wanted to create something that celebrates and memorialises those who lost their lives to him.
Erin is one of 'The Father's' victims. The only child taken by him to ever be found alive. The final child. Having grown up being unable to remember what happened to her, but knowing that she and her brother were taken by a killer, and that her brother's body will probably never be found, Erin as tried to move, Alex, on with her life. She's tried to distance herself from her past as much as possible, changing her look, and even changing her name from Jilly to Erin.
One day, when visiting her mother, Erin meets Harriet, a young woman who has approached her mother wanting to learn more about her and Alex. At first she's pretty hostile towards Harriet, wanting nothing to do with this woman who seems to have barged into her life, wanting to drag up her past. However, strange things start to happen to Erin. She feels like she's being watched, and her house gets broken into. These incidents start to make her think of her past, and as such she agrees to speak to Harriet.
Together, the two young women begin to try to figure out what might have happened to 'The Father', if they're really dead, and if perhaps there were more victims of his out there. As their investigation begins to uncover new evidence it becomes clearer that someone's targeting Erin, and the two of them are now in danger. Could 'The Father' be back, or is this a deadly new stalker?
So often in stories where characters are looking into old cases, trying to figure out what really happened in the past, there's a lack of urgency to things. People get to spend a lot of time going from place to place, looking around at things, talking to person after person, putting the pieces of the mystery together as they see fit. The Last Child seems to buck this trend, however, as thanks to this shadowy figure that's messing with our two heroines there's a constant sense of danger lurking in the background. You're always waiting for something awful to happen, and it feels like Erin and Harriet have to find answers soon, before something terrible happens.
This sense of urgency and danger aren't just great for pacing and keeping the story story moving, but also as a way of pushing the relationship between the two leads. Over the course of the book we switch between narrators, and we get the chance to know Erin and Harriet quite well. At first, they seemed like the kinds of people who wouldn't really get along. Erin is closed off, afraid to let anyone in, and completely opposed to helping Harriet and her investigation; wanting nothing more than to just forget her past and live her life. Harriet also starts off feeling a bit self centred. She wants to finish her book, claiming that it's for all of the victims of 'The Father', but she keeps pushing at Erin, perhaps overstepping the mark a few times; and even refuses to think of her as Erin rather than Jillian, still thinking of her as the victim of 'The Father' rather than her own person.
But, this changes as the book goes on, and as the narrative keeps forcing the two of them together. Not only do they become friends, but it also very quickly becomes clear that there's something more to their feelings too. We learn very early on that Erin is attracted to women, but it isn't until she and Harriet begin to get close that we discover Harriet feels a similar attraction to her; though it does seem to be heavily implied that she's never been in any form of romantic situation with a woman before. What begins as a very strained relationship, where they're both keeping each other at arms length soon becomes this wonderful sapphic relationship where they're each trying to find the best way to be close to the other; and it was wonderful.
Perhaps it's simply down to the books I've been reading, but this might be the first time that a queer relationship has been given centre stage in a crime thriller book that I've read. And I loved it. Not only was it great to see two women being able to love each other, and come together during such an awful situation, but it made me smile every time they gingerly reached out to hold the others hand, or made to gently kiss the other, almost afraid of what might happen. It gave moments of tenderness and care in what might have otherwise been a brutal and unforgiving narrative.
Throughout the course off the book readers also get the chance to see things from the point of view of other characters, brief snippets that begin to shed light on what really happened in the past, and how things led to children being kidnapped and murdered. These moments were really interesting, and definitely expanded the narrative in interesting ways without giving too much away. There were a few times that these flashbacks, in conjunction with things happening in the present, really helped me as a reader to understand things, and I appreciated that Dorricott always held certain information back to keep the mystery going without it feeling forced. The stuff we learnt wasn't being intentionally vague or misleading to keep certain aspects as a surprise, which is an incredibly hard line to walk. But Dorricott did it expertly here.
There are some parts of the book that get very disturbing too, with death, torture, mutilation, and child harm being big parts of the book, but it never felt like any off it was being done in a way that was simply to gross out or disturb the reader purely for the sake of it. There are some awful things in this book, but it felt natural, it felt like something that no only is plausible, but something that you'd expect to see on a true crime television show. The book felt very grounded because of that, and there are times where it would make me think of real crimes and real killers because it felt so eerily familiar; and that was possibly the most disturbing aspect of the whole thing.
The Final Child is one of those books that I found hard to put down. It's a book where the narrative and the characters were so engrossing that I needed to keep reading to find out what happened next. I loved the people that inhabited the pages, I wanted them to be okay, and I'd love to read more about them, even if it's just their boring mundane lives. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did when I started, but it's easily become a firm favourite.
August 26, 2021
8/26/2021 Full review tk at CriminalElement.com.
October 28, 2021
3,5 stars
This was good. Kinda predictable, but that didn't lower the creepy atmosphere the author managed to create. All in all a decent serial killer book.
This was good. Kinda predictable, but that didn't lower the creepy atmosphere the author managed to create. All in all a decent serial killer book.
September 7, 2025
Mediocre. I guess it was okay? Longer than it needed to be. But highly forgettable.
November 4, 2021
4 and a half stars for a solid thriller with a lesbian relationship and a sapphic + a lesbian main character
July 31, 2021
Always appreciate an ARC from NetGalley!
This is one of those books that I am not quite sure how I feel about it. I think I'll give it 3.5 stars.
It definitely kept me interested enough to keep reading it; I really liked how the story developed over the course of the book and how it went it a not (for lack of better term) straight forward direction. I enjoyed that the crime was not as simple as it could have been. Overall though I felt that the pacing was a little too even, and a little slow, and possibly a little longer than it needed to be. I liked how it ended though; I am a sucker for a thriller that has an open ending/is not all neatly tied up in a bow.
I really like Erin and Harriet, and I liked them together a lot. That character relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. I don't think I would buy this book, but I would read more by this author
This is one of those books that I am not quite sure how I feel about it. I think I'll give it 3.5 stars.
It definitely kept me interested enough to keep reading it; I really liked how the story developed over the course of the book and how it went it a not (for lack of better term) straight forward direction. I enjoyed that the crime was not as simple as it could have been. Overall though I felt that the pacing was a little too even, and a little slow, and possibly a little longer than it needed to be. I liked how it ended though; I am a sucker for a thriller that has an open ending/is not all neatly tied up in a bow.
I really like Erin and Harriet, and I liked them together a lot. That character relationship was one of my favorite parts of the book. I don't think I would buy this book, but I would read more by this author
October 15, 2021
A very well done thriller about Erin, the only survivor of The Father who abducted and killed several children and Harriet, who wants to write a book about the abductions. The book starts off rather slow, but due to the switching POV's it gives you a good insight in the characters of both ladies and the slow start ensures a solid base for a connection with the women when the pace picks up and leads to the rather gripping conclusion. There were some minor issues here and there that bothered me a little bit, but overall a very strong thriller with a nice sapphic romance thrown in there. I like to read thrillers and the added element of two women who fall in love isn't something I come across a lot in this genre, but it makes a difference since it's easier to relate to the person I am reading about. Fran Dorricott managed to have a good balance with the emphasis on the thriller aspect and the romance is there and is nicely done, but not something that takes up a big part of this book.
*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***
*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review ***
December 2, 2021
rep: lesbian m/c's, f/f romance
content warnings: death, child abduction, child abuse, violence, alcoholism
I'm a huge fan of Fran Dorricott's work since reading her first novel After the Eclipse, and I've been in such a huge reading slump pretty much all year, so I thought I would try and jump back into reading with a book I thought would be a guaranteed hit, and I was so right. The Final Child follows Harriet, who longs to finish her book into the disappearances of the children kidnapped by The Father, and Erin, one of The Father's victims - a survivor. The book follows the two as they delve into the mystery of who The Father is, and things start to get dangerous for the two. Like After the Eclipse, The Final Child was an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Both books are slow, and character-driven novels, which works brilliantly and Dorricott is very talented at creating a tense and dark atmosphere. Highly recommend.
content warnings: death, child abduction, child abuse, violence, alcoholism
I'm a huge fan of Fran Dorricott's work since reading her first novel After the Eclipse, and I've been in such a huge reading slump pretty much all year, so I thought I would try and jump back into reading with a book I thought would be a guaranteed hit, and I was so right. The Final Child follows Harriet, who longs to finish her book into the disappearances of the children kidnapped by The Father, and Erin, one of The Father's victims - a survivor. The book follows the two as they delve into the mystery of who The Father is, and things start to get dangerous for the two. Like After the Eclipse, The Final Child was an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Both books are slow, and character-driven novels, which works brilliantly and Dorricott is very talented at creating a tense and dark atmosphere. Highly recommend.
November 24, 2024
“The Father” is a legendary serial killer, he abducted sets of two children regularly over the space of a few terrifying years all around the English Midlands. All of the children were never seen alive again, apart from Jilly, a girl who managed to escape, leaving her brother Alex still held by the Father.
Now grown up and changed her name to Erin, Jilly tries to come to terms with the horrific events years ago and does her best to put it out of her mind, until someone breaks into her home and starts leaving strange objects and messages, other parents of the murdered children are also followed and receive creepy objects. Has the Father returned?
A fantastic psychological thriller that gives you a chill and keeps you guessing right up until the last page. I was totally addicted. Highly recommended!
Now grown up and changed her name to Erin, Jilly tries to come to terms with the horrific events years ago and does her best to put it out of her mind, until someone breaks into her home and starts leaving strange objects and messages, other parents of the murdered children are also followed and receive creepy objects. Has the Father returned?
A fantastic psychological thriller that gives you a chill and keeps you guessing right up until the last page. I was totally addicted. Highly recommended!
September 26, 2021
As a first time, new(ish) parent, this book scared the living crap out of me... but in a way that meant I couldn't put it down! Fran is a stunning writer, with a mind darker than anyone else I know, but tells a story in a way that the characters stay with you. The Final Child is a roller coaster of emotions, wrapped in layers of heartache and mystery that has you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. I found myself hanging onto every word and trying to decipher the clues as I read. Erin/Jillian was a brilliant character with a complex history that was drip fed as the chapters went on and I loved that not all the information came from her. I loved Harriet and her need to dig deeper, her desire to understand driving the story forward.
I cannot wait for Fran's next book!!
I cannot wait for Fran's next book!!
March 5, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOOOOK. I was surprised by the lesbian main character, in the best way. I love some solid LGBTQ references in a book, that don’t make the whole book about their sexuality. I thought each character was incredibly well written, and I loved the format of jumping between current day characters and then jumping into the past from a completely different persons perspective. It was dark, it was creepy, I didn’t guess what was actually happening until the very end (love a surprise plot twist) and there was a subtle romance plot line in there that I didn’t hate. Normally I don’t love when writers try to merge romance and thrillers but this one was done in a way that I just… loved. 10/10, I rented this from my library but I’m buying a copy just so I can have my own 😂
May 14, 2025
I was pretty dang invested in the mystery the whole time. I did start to put the pieces together about halfway through, but there was enough doubt to be unsure if I was right.
What I found interesting was the commentary on our society's obsession with true crime through the story of characters who had experienced it in their lives, either directly or indirectly.
My only qualm was the romance between the two leads. It didn't feel organic and I felt would have had more impact if they'd perhaps become close friends rather than romantic partners.
UPDATED 5/13/25: here's my full review on the Lesbrary https://lesbrary.com/the-final-child-...
What I found interesting was the commentary on our society's obsession with true crime through the story of characters who had experienced it in their lives, either directly or indirectly.
My only qualm was the romance between the two leads. It didn't feel organic and I felt would have had more impact if they'd perhaps become close friends rather than romantic partners.
UPDATED 5/13/25: here's my full review on the Lesbrary https://lesbrary.com/the-final-child-...
August 22, 2021
Children are abducted by a serial killer nicknamed “the Father” who only ever takes them in pairs. After the escape of Erin, one of a sibling pair the serial killer goes quiet but Erin never saw her brother again! Erin blocks out the events of that time due to the trauma but 18 years later it’s time to confront her past and with the help of Harriet, who’s cousins were victims of the same killer, they set out to uncover what happened. This is such an amazing read with so many unexpected twists and turns! I never saw the end coming!
August 22, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book. Fran did an amazing job of weaving together the past and the present, along with multiple point of views into a gripping story with several twists. Typically, I see a twist coming and I didn't see these twists coming at all! It all came together in an incredible way, and I really enjoyed the characters, plot, and the setting.
If you're looking for an intense mystery that will keep you guessing, grab a copy of The Final Child.
If you're looking for an intense mystery that will keep you guessing, grab a copy of The Final Child.
October 16, 2021
This is the first book I picked up since middle school that I started to read for fun. I wasn't expecting much but holly moley, it was extremely well written. The author was so clear with the visuals of the characters and the little imperfections that made them seem ever so human, and real. The storyline was really intricate and I enjoyed the super surprise ending. It was very very believable that something like that could happen in real life and I appreciate the true crime side of things.
January 19, 2026
4,75 - 5 stars
This is a lot to process...
It was disturbing, it had me guessing and it had me on my toes. I'm a slow reader but I went through it so fast and smoothly! It's also a bit different from the thrillers I've read before but I loved it so much more since you could connect with the characters. I also loved the chemistry and relationship between Erin and Hariett! The end was quiet emotional and left me with a feeling that I need to process for a while.
This is a lot to process...
It was disturbing, it had me guessing and it had me on my toes. I'm a slow reader but I went through it so fast and smoothly! It's also a bit different from the thrillers I've read before but I loved it so much more since you could connect with the characters. I also loved the chemistry and relationship between Erin and Hariett! The end was quiet emotional and left me with a feeling that I need to process for a while.
January 19, 2026
4,75 - 5 stars
This is a lot to process...
It was disturbing, it had me guessing and it had me on my toes. I'm a slow reader but I went through it so fast and smoothly! It's also a bit different from the thrillers I've read before but I loved it so much more since you could connect with the characters. I also loved the chemistry and relationship between Erin and Hariett! The end was quiet emotional and left me with a feeling that I need to process for a while.
This is a lot to process...
It was disturbing, it had me guessing and it had me on my toes. I'm a slow reader but I went through it so fast and smoothly! It's also a bit different from the thrillers I've read before but I loved it so much more since you could connect with the characters. I also loved the chemistry and relationship between Erin and Hariett! The end was quiet emotional and left me with a feeling that I need to process for a while.
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