The Stolen Child

by Jennie Felton

'One of the nation's favourite saga writers' Lancashire Post A powerful new saga from Jennie Felton in the grand tradition of Josephine Cox, Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Rosie Goodwin of l ove, loss, tragedy, drama, secrets and twists and turns . Will anyone believe her baby is gone? When Stella Swift is discovered holding a shard of broken glass near her newborn baby boy, fears that she might harm William result in her being taken to Catcombe - the local asylum. Although the regime is not as harsh as it once was, it's not somewhere that Tom wants to send his wife - but he has no choice. Turning to his kind-hearted sister-in-law Grace for help taking care of his other three children whilst he keeps working at the mine seems like the simplest solution until Stella is well - if only there wasn't the shared history between Tom and Grace... At first Catcombe seems to offer the respite Stella needs - until one day she becomes convinced that the baby the nurses have given to her is not William. Is Stella losing her mind? Or is it true that a mother will always know her own child? Don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter , Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs , Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret .

432 pages, Paperback

Published March 10, 2020

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother struggles after the birth of her new irn baby. Today it's called post natal depression. Years ago women were put into mental institutions like Catcombe. The treatment she received there was working, she was getting better, until a nurse swapped her baby for another one. A mother k ows herown child, but no one believed her, exect for another young nurse.

This is a heartbreaking story to read. What these women had to endure was terrible. It's well written and totally believable. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Headline and the author Jennie Felton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a heartwarming and heartbreaking book about Stella - a mother of 4 children who is suffering from perpetual fever which we now call postnatal depression. In the old days mothers like Stella were admitted to mental institutions for treatment and this is what happens to Stella. A number of unfortunate events occur after this and Stella is getting better but then rejects the baby again and says it is not hers.
You really have to read this book and find out what happens. I couldnt put it down.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. I was drawn into the story from the first page. Sadie has problems with her newborn son, William, he won't feed and he doesn't sleep for long before crying again. Sadie is tired, she's exhausted, why does William fall asleep while she is feeding him, then cries when he is laid in his crib?
I got a bit frustrated about half way through the book, but that was only because I had become involved in the story and wished that the situation could be resolved.

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Jennie's books, they are so easy to get into and I just have to keep reading. This was a difficult storyline to read about but it was a really good read. I really enjoyed it

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me recommended by my local library. I enjoyed it very much and will definitely be reading more from this author.

Stella is struggling to bond with her 4th child. Her husband finds her one night with a piece of broken glass in her hand shouting at the crying baby that she can’t take any more. Her doctor has her admitted to the local asylum. Stella appears to be making good progress until one day when she goes to feed her baby in the nursery she becomes hysterical and demanding that this is not her baby. Could her baby have been mixed up with another baby or is Stella becoming ill again?

[Emma Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gut wrenching story of a mother struggling with a newborn baby. In this day and age that illness this woman had is known as post natal depression. Back in those days if you had mental health problems you would be in an asylum like Catcombe. Through her treatment at catcombe asylum she was making progress until one of the nursery nurses swapped her baby with another. She had that motherly instinct that she knew the baby wasn’t hers. No one believed her apart from a young nurse called Florrie. I can imagine what the characters are going through.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of The Stolen Child by Jennie Felton in exchange for an honest review. The story is based around several characters. When Stella is taken to the asylum suffering from post natal depression Grace her sister moves in to look after the other children. Footie looks after the children in the nursery of the asylum and Rose is sent to the asylum after falling pregnant by her employer. I liked all the characters and enjoyed the book. I did feel towards the end it was a bit rushed and too much happened to create a 'happily ever after.' Other than that a great story.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son

A great book about a new mother suffering from what is these days called post natal depression but in those days the mother was put into an asylum and her baby was stolen a heartbreaking read .5 STARS

[Maria Zahra Brincat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this book so much, I could give it 6 stars if I could. Kept me hooked from the beginning, and I could feel so much for the main character, Stella. The story is beautifully well written. I will be seeking out more books by Jennie Felton.

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Book

This is a great book with a heart filled story. It's strange how lives keep changing as we go through it.

[Roberta Mckeirnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

So many different twists. Thoroughly enjoyable book. First time reading this author but won’t be last A great story to read

[tracey jane lavington]

Really enjoyed this book

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving book

[linda louisa tilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

Very long and drawn out...nearly gave up but needed to know what happened with Tom and Grace.
A nice read but not gripping.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, albeit slow moving. Thoughtfully written around the difficulties of post natal depression and domestic violence.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Amber Rush · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed to take me ages to read but was actually really good. the story starts with the a young woman struggling with breastfeeding her newborn ( unsure of the era) and eventually gets admitted into the local mental asylum, eventually she begins to accept her child but then when the children have been swapped she 'relapses'but ends up being the fact that she is in fact a woman and young woman trying her hardest. The mental asylum of Catecombe introduces us to Rose and her child Wallace who is the child who is eventually swapped. Talks of class divide well and the lack of support for unmarried mothers. whilst Stella ( the original motber) is in the asylum the sister is brought in to help with the other children but Stella's husband used to date the sister and so new feelings begin to develop. There seemed to be a lot of mini stories which was interesting. 3/5

[Roz Radmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stella Swift had her fourth child recently , but struggles to cope . Baby William does not want to feed and screams and screams when put back in his cot . She is desperate and at the end of her tether .When her husband finds her holding a jagged piece of glass over the baby he jumps to the obvious reason and calls the doctor at once . Now Stella and baby William are taken to Catcombe , the local asylum .
Tom asks his sister in law Grace to look after the other three children as he is a miner and has to work
She agrees to come until Stella is well again . Grace has misgivings however as she and Tom used to be a couple . Soon Stella seems to be improving , until one day she refuses to feed the baby when they bring him to her . She insists that this baby is not her son , William . Where is her baby ?
Has Stella suffered a setback ? Maybe there is something more sinister going on here !

[Mary Spicer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first saga in a long time. This is a lovely book that shows how things were for those in society who were living hand to mouth, and the things they do in desperation. A superb read and will be reading more by this author.

[Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

3.5 STARS