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The Other Boy
If you love twisty-turny ghostly psychological thrillers and heart-rending stories, make a big pot of coffee - you'll be up all night with THE OTHER BOY, the Richard and Judy Best Seller Finalist.
‘Unputdownable and heart-breaking. Not just a psychological thriller, not just a ghost story but so much more’. Birdie-Advance Copy Review
"This was beautifully written, as always. I expect nothing less from Andrea Hicks. This story is a revelation. By blending stunning writing with a heart-rending ghost story and a psychological twist she had me captured from the first moment." Advance Copy Review MW
* What secrets does the abandoned mill at Newton-Denham hold?
"They thought the future was in their own hands. They couldn’t have been more wrong”.
Sarah Anders and Dan Kenyon sell their beautiful city apartment and buy an old mill in rural England. Their dream of an idyllic life is shattered when a woman arrives at their new home with a five-year-old boy she says is Dan’s son whom they realise is on the autistic spectrum. Sarah knows nothing about Tobias, and from that moment everything changes.
When Sarah hears Tobias speaking fluently to someone when he's alone she recognises a name, one that devastates her and catapults her back twenty years. Memories she’d buried from a troubled childhood swiftly return to overwhelm her. When doubts creep in over what happened in the past and strange, frightening happenings at the mill shake her to her core, she begins to ask questions in the village about the murder of a child at the mill, and it's not welcome.
Unknown to Sarah, she isn’t the only one who fears the return of her memories, and suddenly she and five-year-old Tobias are in fear for their lives.
'It's the other boy in the basement,' said Tobias. 'The other boy telled me.'
‘Unputdownable and heart-breaking. Not just a psychological thriller, not just a ghost story but so much more’. Birdie-Advance Copy Review
"This was beautifully written, as always. I expect nothing less from Andrea Hicks. This story is a revelation. By blending stunning writing with a heart-rending ghost story and a psychological twist she had me captured from the first moment." Advance Copy Review MW
* What secrets does the abandoned mill at Newton-Denham hold?
"They thought the future was in their own hands. They couldn’t have been more wrong”.
Sarah Anders and Dan Kenyon sell their beautiful city apartment and buy an old mill in rural England. Their dream of an idyllic life is shattered when a woman arrives at their new home with a five-year-old boy she says is Dan’s son whom they realise is on the autistic spectrum. Sarah knows nothing about Tobias, and from that moment everything changes.
When Sarah hears Tobias speaking fluently to someone when he's alone she recognises a name, one that devastates her and catapults her back twenty years. Memories she’d buried from a troubled childhood swiftly return to overwhelm her. When doubts creep in over what happened in the past and strange, frightening happenings at the mill shake her to her core, she begins to ask questions in the village about the murder of a child at the mill, and it's not welcome.
Unknown to Sarah, she isn’t the only one who fears the return of her memories, and suddenly she and five-year-old Tobias are in fear for their lives.
'It's the other boy in the basement,' said Tobias. 'The other boy telled me.'
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2019
14 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Hicks
42 books46 followersWriting is my passion...along with soft furnishings and Jaffa cakes! I write the books I want to read; the stories that occupy my thoughts, seemingly at every moment. My hope is you will love my characters, and the stories I write about and want to read more. I'm always interested in hearing about your favourite characters and what you like to read.
Visit me at www.andreahicks-writer.com or contact me at info@andreahicks-writer.com I love connecting with my readers and other authors. Reading other authors and writing my books connects me to the world around me, giving me the opportunity to explore different situations, emotions, and even other countries.
Thank you for spending so much time with me
Love
Andrea xxx
Visit me at www.andreahicks-writer.com or contact me at info@andreahicks-writer.com I love connecting with my readers and other authors. Reading other authors and writing my books connects me to the world around me, giving me the opportunity to explore different situations, emotions, and even other countries.
Thank you for spending so much time with me
Love
Andrea xxx
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 21, 2019
Be prepared that when you start reading Andrea Hick's novel 'The Other Boy' that you won't want to put it down. I was so gripped by this ghostly story, that i was still reading at 2am in the morning and the alarm was set for 6.30am for work!
A couple Dan and Sarah buy an old mill and settle into renovating it, when their plans are interrupted by the arrival of Dan's old flame who leaves their 5 year old son Tobias on their doorstep. Tobias is autistic and does not speak much but he forms a fantastic bond with Sarah. He also starts communicating with an unseen child on the property. A series of events unfolds around Sarah's past, Tobias and the ghostly child.
The story is beautifully written with lots of twists and turns and perfect for readers who enjoy a good creepy ghost story.
A couple Dan and Sarah buy an old mill and settle into renovating it, when their plans are interrupted by the arrival of Dan's old flame who leaves their 5 year old son Tobias on their doorstep. Tobias is autistic and does not speak much but he forms a fantastic bond with Sarah. He also starts communicating with an unseen child on the property. A series of events unfolds around Sarah's past, Tobias and the ghostly child.
The story is beautifully written with lots of twists and turns and perfect for readers who enjoy a good creepy ghost story.
November 12, 2019
One to watch! This book absolutely blew me away. I got it for free, but I would have paid for it. I hope other people will give it a chance and see what a talented writer Andrea Hicks is! Although it was touted as a ghost story, it was so much more than that. There was mystery, intrigue, murder, twists, and a sweet family dynamic at the heart of it all. I cried several times while reading it. There were very few editorial errors, and they weren’t bothersome. I can definitely see this author making it big. Do yourself a favor and read this book now!
November 7, 2019
This was a spooky book! If you love ghost stories then this is for you. The village atmosphere is claustrophobic reflecting how people prefer to judge rather than emphasise with others. Sarah fights her way through though and finds the truth. The story deals with autism sensitively and its inclusion enhances the book. An all round great read - but maybe not late at night when you are alone ...
March 7, 2022
The Other Boy: Jagged Edge Psychological Thrillers, Book 1
Recorded by Andrea Hicks
Narrated by Lesley Dessalles
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book begins with a brief introduction set just before Christmas, in Newton Denham, Hampshire, 1999. A young schoolgirl is left in charge of her little brother, who disappears from their home and she is ultimately condemned by her parents and the neighbourhood.
The story progresses to 2018 and the lives of Sarah and Dan, a young couple, new to the locality of Newton Denham after the recent acquisition of an old mill. Together for over 6 years, content with their successful careers, they move to the country, opting out of the rat race although a commute is necessary for work. Their lives are comfortable, familiar, set on a path, each aware of what the future holds. Until an evening when a strange woman, acting hostile, arrives on the doorstep. Little did Sarah know how her life was drastically going to transform and not necessarily for the better.
This is a strong and strikingly written psychological thriller. I found Sarah to be a likeable character who becomes involuntarily implicated in a situation beyond her control. She deserves a medal for her level of control and how she deals with the situation thrust before her. The Other Boy will grip your senses and engage your mind with mixed emotions of lies, deception, mystery, and intrigue.
I have previously had the pleasure of listening to several audiobooks narrated by Lesley Dessalles. She has a remarkable talent for creating a sinister edge and her style contributes perfectly to complement Andrea Hicks’s writing.
“A lie by omission is still a lie”.
My overall thoughts on this book: Readers are in for a thrilling treat of interesting twists that lead down a deceptively thrilling rabbit hole. Every step keeps you guessing; each character encountered, a suspect. Just when you determine to have it all figured out, more information about the community arises along with facts concerning Sarah’s past. I travelled through many emotions from disbelief, fear, anger, culminating in tears, heartache and overwhelming love. Whether you read the book or listen to the audiobook, you won’t be disappointed.
Recorded by Andrea Hicks
Narrated by Lesley Dessalles
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book begins with a brief introduction set just before Christmas, in Newton Denham, Hampshire, 1999. A young schoolgirl is left in charge of her little brother, who disappears from their home and she is ultimately condemned by her parents and the neighbourhood.
The story progresses to 2018 and the lives of Sarah and Dan, a young couple, new to the locality of Newton Denham after the recent acquisition of an old mill. Together for over 6 years, content with their successful careers, they move to the country, opting out of the rat race although a commute is necessary for work. Their lives are comfortable, familiar, set on a path, each aware of what the future holds. Until an evening when a strange woman, acting hostile, arrives on the doorstep. Little did Sarah know how her life was drastically going to transform and not necessarily for the better.
This is a strong and strikingly written psychological thriller. I found Sarah to be a likeable character who becomes involuntarily implicated in a situation beyond her control. She deserves a medal for her level of control and how she deals with the situation thrust before her. The Other Boy will grip your senses and engage your mind with mixed emotions of lies, deception, mystery, and intrigue.
I have previously had the pleasure of listening to several audiobooks narrated by Lesley Dessalles. She has a remarkable talent for creating a sinister edge and her style contributes perfectly to complement Andrea Hicks’s writing.
“A lie by omission is still a lie”.
My overall thoughts on this book: Readers are in for a thrilling treat of interesting twists that lead down a deceptively thrilling rabbit hole. Every step keeps you guessing; each character encountered, a suspect. Just when you determine to have it all figured out, more information about the community arises along with facts concerning Sarah’s past. I travelled through many emotions from disbelief, fear, anger, culminating in tears, heartache and overwhelming love. Whether you read the book or listen to the audiobook, you won’t be disappointed.
June 14, 2022
Can't put down thriller
I just couldn't put this book down. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what was happening next. Its a little spooky and its quite the thriller also. This is my first book by this author but certainly not my last. So many twists and turns and hard to figure out but so worth it. Very well written. Great characters with tons of action all the way through.
I just couldn't put this book down. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what was happening next. Its a little spooky and its quite the thriller also. This is my first book by this author but certainly not my last. So many twists and turns and hard to figure out but so worth it. Very well written. Great characters with tons of action all the way through.
October 24, 2019
The Other Boy is an intense and heartwrenching psychological thriller. This is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be the last. This story is well written and captured my attention from the first page. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as the author weaves her magic with her words. The characters are well developed and the author handles the depiction of a child on the autism spectrum with understanding and sensitivity.
I cannot wait to read more books by this exceptional author.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
I cannot wait to read more books by this exceptional author.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
October 21, 2019
This is a really intense, scary crazy read. I loved this book and recommend this to all who love ghostly scary stories but I suggest you read it in the day time or with a strong protector who has your back. Heart-rending is an understatement!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 30, 2019
This is the first book I’ve ready from this author and it was a delightful read that has left me wanting more and looking forward to the next book in the series. Full of suspense that had me on the edge of my seat at times. I enjoy a good psychological mystery and I really enjoyed this book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this mystery, a spooky ghost with an emotional heart. It was an immersive and gripping read, where the reveal came at the perfect point in the plot. Also I felt the little boy who had special needs was genuinely and sensitively portrayed. By the end of the novel I really cared for the main character and her new family.
October 30, 2019
Good
This was a very good story. The more I read the more I wanted to read. A few parts I had a hard time keeping up with but it all came together in the end.
This was a very good story. The more I read the more I wanted to read. A few parts I had a hard time keeping up with but it all came together in the end.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews