The Child in the Photo

by Kerry Wilkinson

I stare at the newspaper article about a baby snatched from the back of a car thirty years ago, and wonder why someone would post it through my door. Looking closer, my blood freezes. The little girl in the photo has an unusual scar – just like mine. I’ve never met anyone with one like it. Is this stolen child… me?

Trembling with shock, I know I have to confront my mother. My parents got me through a horrific accident, helped me find a job I love teaching art, and even with buying my own house. But was it all built on lies?

She tells me the day I was born was the best day of her life, and I’m flooded with guilt for questioning her – but why do I catch her burning papers in the garden the next day?

Then I come home to find a woman sitting on my doorstep, covered in bruises and claiming she knows who abducted me. I don’t know if I can trust her – or if I’ll be the next to get hurt.

Because all the while, I’ve been hiding my own secret. Does whoever sent the article know what really happened the day of my accident? Desperate for the truth, I break into the house of my supposed kidnapper. Inside, I find a handwritten list of names. A shiver goes down my spine as I realise wasn’t the only child to be stolen.

Then I hear a key in the lock, and I know my life is in terrible danger…

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Adult

318 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2021

About the author

Recent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body

Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks

Find out more at: his website or Facebook

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope finds a newspaper clipping that was posted through her door. Intrigued, she looks at it and notices that the baby in the photo has the same exact scar as her. Hope has never seen another scar likes hers -ever. The article states that the baby was kidnapped from the backseat of a car thirty years ago. Naturally, Hope begins to wonder, could the baby in the photo be her?

When questioned, her mother tells her the day she was born was the happiest day of her life. That she is her child. She explains how Hope got the scar and tries to put Hope's worries to rest. But then she begins to act strangely, leading Hope to wonder if her mother is lying.

If that is not enough, Hope comes home to find a young woman sitting on her doorstep. The young woman tells her that she knows who Hope is and that she was in fact abducted. But can this woman be trusted?

Determined to learn the truth, Hope enlists her best friend Stephen to help her uncover the truth.

This book was a fast no-nonsense read which had me guessing and doing detective work alongside Hope to uncover the "truth" of her life. Readers only know what Hope knows and we learn things as she does. I appreciated that Wilkinson does not use a lot of filler in his books. He gets to the point without being overly descriptive or long winded. What a relief!

This book is not overly shocking. There are some clues and red herrings along the way. There were times when I wanted to yell at Hope "Did you not hear what she just asked you?" I saw some things coming but did not mind them in the least. This is enjoyable escapism reading.

Is there a mystery here? Yes! Will you figure things out? You may! Will you be shocked? I do not think so. But this book is not about "thrills" or "suspense." For me, this book was about the journey. It is about the truth. It is about secrets. It is about decisions. It is about family. It is about loss. It is about one photo that changed everything.

Even though this book is a bit predictable, it is also very enjoyable. I enjoyed the pace of this book. One could sit down and read this in one day. Again, HUGE props for not being overly descriptive or long winded. Wilkinson has also created a character in Hope that readers will root for. I enjoyed her relationship with Stephen and the support they show each other.

Enjoyable. Escapism. Engaging

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

[Kaceey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
I have been a huge Kerry Wilkinson fan. But lately… I’m not sure what happened?🤷🏻‍♀️. This is the second book in a row of his that I’ve just struggled to get through. This latest one took me close to a month to read! Yup…a month! And I finally just skimmed to the end just to finish.

The premise was great. Hope receives a newspaper clipping of a baby that went missing. Strangely enough that baby has the same scar on her ear as Hope. Is that photo of her? Could her parents have kidnapped her? Hope is determined to find the truth.

As good as that premise sounded (though not all that original) this book just never grabbed me. I never felt connected to Hope thus had a difficult time following her quest.

There are some great positive reviews for this book so please take a look at those when deciding on this book. I am definitely in the minority here.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope arrives home to discover a newspaper article has been left in her mailbox. It describes a kidnapping that took place 34 years ago—her exact age. The picture of the baby in the photo has an unusual shape to one ear that Hope has always been self-conscious about. When she questions her mother about the article, she begins acting cagey. I really enjoy all of Kerry Wilkinson’s books for the small-town English setting and the way they’re a good mix of psychological suspense and thriller. This was one of my favorites because the pacing was tight, the twists kept coming all the way to the end, and I honestly had no idea how things were going to turn out. A fun ride!

[Natalia R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hope is stunned when somebody sends her an old newspaper article about a baby that was stolen 34 years ago. Hope is 34 years old and has the same unique scar as the baby. Could she be the missing child and has her entire life been a lie?

I thought this was a quickly-paced family drama that kept me interested until the end but also fell a bit flat for me. I really enjoyed the premise. A cold case about a missing child, as a true crime fan, it was right up my alley, and I liked the author's fast-paced writing style. Where this book fell a bit flat for me was the plot itself. This book is marketed as a psychological thriller but there was nothing psychological or thrilling about it. This was a straightforward family drama. We find out pretty early on what happened to Hope and who were the culprits. The majority of the book is spent with Hope figuring out how she feels about the situation and her friendship with Stephen. There's no urgency or really anything at stake and I found myself a little bored of the story at times. It didn't help that I didn't feel very connected to Hope and was baffled by how trusting and naive she was. The story did get a little exciting towards the end but again nothing shocking was revealed since we already knew what happened and who was responsible. All in all, this wasn't a bad book by any means. I enjoyed the writing and the premise. I just don't think it should have been marketed as a psychological thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stare at the newspaper article about a baby snatched from the back of a car thirty years ago, and wonder why someone would post it through my door. Looking closer my blood freezes. The little girl in the photo has an unusual scar - just like mine. I've never met anyone with one like it. Is this stolen child me.

Hope comes home to discover a newspaper clipping from thirty years ago has been posted through her letterbox. It tells of a missing child who was stolen from a car when the mother was inside a shop. The baby has the same deformity as Hope.

Hope tries to figure out if her parents are who they say they are. The plotline is multi-layered with secrets and lies being slowly revealed. I loved the relationship Hope had with her best friend Stephen. There's also her elderly neighbour Mr Bonner who watches out for Hope and lets her know if anyone is hanging about. Eventually we get to the bottom of Hope's story and the truth is out. I liked that there was references to places we've been before in previous books.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #TheChildInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading Kerry Wilkinson novels, fast paced, interesting characters and totally addictive plots. This latest book is typical of his writing and I hadn’t read too many pages and I was already planning to change my plans so I could finish the book.

The lead character Hope is sent an old newspaper cutting about a young baby snatched from a car. On closer examination Hope notices that the little girl in the photo has the same scar as her and all at once her whole life is in doubt.

Everything Hope believed is now questioned and she is eager to confront the woman she calls mother, can this be a coincidence or has her life been built around lies. Her mother convinces Hope that it is purely a coincidence and all is well until she witnesses her mother acting suspiciously while burning papers in the garden. Who sent the newspaper article to Hope, who is her mother and what is the truth.

I enjoy Kerry Wilkinson’s writing, not overly complicated, good characters, fast paced and truly addictive plots.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in a day - the writing sucked me in.
Hope goes through her mail to find an envelope shoved through her slot - no return address, no stamp.
Inside is a delicate newsclip - an infant stolen from a mother's car. Hope wonders why it's in her mail when she notices the baby's ear - the top is missing. Just like hers.
Her mother denies it all. But Hope can't let it rest. With the help of her bestie, Stephen, Hope begins an adventure of intrigue.
Loved the characters.
Excellent build up to the end - though predictable, enjoyable.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but didn't love it. It was more of a drama than a mystery, and didn't really match (at least in my opinion) the synopsis. The story centers on Hope, who is mailed an article of a kidnapped child who she thinks could be her, despite the fact that she had previously no reason to believe that she wasn't the biological child of her parents. The rest of the book has Hope trying to figure out the truth, amongst a cast of potentially shady characters.

I wasn't really surprised at much of what happened in the book, though I am not sure the author expected me to be. Even without a ton of suspense, there were a few surprises and the pacing of the book was fast. I felt that the ending tied up loose ends nicely. My favorite thing about the book was the relationship between Hope and her bff, Stephen- it felt very authentic.

Overall, this was a very fast read and was interesting, but didn't pack too many surprises. I liked it (as I do all of Wilkinson's books) but it wasn't my favorite. I'd give it 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Child in the Photo by Kerry Wilkinson is touted as a psychological thriller, but I found it more like a family drama/mystery.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Hope Taylor receives a newspaper article in the mail.  It was from 34 years ago, and told the story of a 6-month old child that had been snatched from the car while the mother was in a store.  The picture of the little girl has the same scarred ear that Hope does.  Hope is 34.

When Hope shows the article to her mother, her mother insists that Hope is her daughter, and again tells her the story of her birth.  Hope is sure her mother is lying, and when a next-day visit finds her Mother burning papers in the backyard, she is sure.

Hope starts following the clues found in the article, and tracks down the woman who seems to be her birth mother.  A young woman shows up, covered in bruises and tells Hope that she is the one who sent the article, and that she knows the identity of her abductor.

Hope doesn't know who to believe.


My Opinions:   
Basically, this book is about family, about secrets, and about lies and greed.  There were a lot of twists in this, and some rather twisted people.

I have enjoyed every book I have read by this author.  They are always fast, entertaining reads with interesting characters, and addicting plots.  This was no different.  I was hooked from the first few pages.  Some of it was a little predictable, but no less enjoyable.

I really liked Hope and her best-friend Stephen.  They both seemed like normal down-to-earth people, who have a great friendship, and whom I wouldn't mind getting to know.  I loved her rather lonely, elderly neighbour who cares about Hope, and she about him.

Hope was rather too trusting, but seemed like a normal woman who just wanted answers.  She may have acted a little recklessly, but I couldn't really blame her.  However, I think referring to Hope's accident as "the bad thing" was rather inappropriate, and if it was meant to create mystery, it didn't.  It just didn't seem like a phrase that Hope would use.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book.



For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This starts right away with an old newspaper article about a kidnapped child 34 years ago. The woman that receives it starts to believe that she’s that child. From there we are met with a cast of characters that have a lot to hide. Who can Hope believe and trust? This was a page turner. Kerry is good at weaving a story together. Another good one from him.

[Jazz Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Child In The photo was so not what I expected, honestly it was better. Hope arrives home to a envelope that's been hand delivered and inside it is a newspaper clipping from 34 years ago saying how baby Jane was kidnapped at 6 months old, she reads and re reads it not making any sense of it until she sees in the photo the baby has a deformed ear identical to herself. On Hope's search to find the truth there is so much to contend with she also finds herself overwhelmed and has no idea who she can and can't trust anymore.

I really liked Hope as out protagonist, she honestly felt like any regular person that you could meet in tesco. She has money but doesn't splurge it, she has a charity for youth but doesn't act like a do gooder, she has a disability but it doesn't define her and honestly she just seems like a nice person. So I've read loads of adults finding out they've been snatched books and they all have a very similar line of who am I. But I felt this story was written much better. Of course there's a lot of self discovery and confusion but it's not the only focus.
Hope searching for answers I loved and I also loved her relationship with her mum whether or not they are blood related their relationship is special. I found the investigative side to this book really intriguing and although I could tell people were lying at points I struggled to work out what about.

Now Hope's story would be incomplete without Steven her best friend and would be husband if he weren't gau. The two of them are a laugh and yet serious. They have the kind of friendship that comes along once in a lifetime, if you have that person in your life you will get it. I felt Kerry Wilkinson did a great job at writing their relationship, as this book in essence is about relationships. She manages to highlight the complexities surrounding the different types of relationships.

There are a lot of secondary characters that play a big role in the book, but as to not spoil any anything I won't go into detail. I will say a line that Steven says it's better to hide a lie with the truth. I just loved that and it totally sums up a lot of this book.

The writing style is one of my favourites as it's in first person. I really enjoy learning information the same time as the protagonist. Although it's in first person Hope's dialogue isn't filled with loads of what she wants to say verses what she does, I have noticed how often writers do that so I appreciated that this happened only a few times. I enjoyed with the explanations that were given as well because it reads almost like a diary entry in certain parts. The author manages to convey serious and humour so well and often in the same sentence. It's so my type of funny as often it's things you should never say aloud and I loved the use of the friendship to convey these moments.

It's definately a psychological book not much thriller but it has you thinking throughout. Its written so well that honestly I didn't know who to trust and who to not so I stuck with Steven although I started doubting him at one point. Oh and the neighbour omg what a dream of a neighbour a concerned older gentlemen who just wants to play scrabble ha. I fell in love.

Would I recommend this book?

Yes I absolutely would it makes a change from the typical psychological thriller but yet fits in the genre. Also it takes a different take on the whole stolen at birth stories that are often super predictable. As always there's a bit of a twist but at that point it all slotted together for me and I still loved it. It's an easy read got through it in a day and have now purchased a few more books by Kerry Wilkinson as I just loved her style of writing. I rate 5 stars 🌟

Thanks to Netgalley, the author Kerry Wilkinson and publishers Bookature for the digital advanced copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My feelings about this book are mixed. On the one hand, it's an intriguing story - one with enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages of my Kindle all the way to the end. But the end? It happened so abruptly - and in my mind, incompletely, that I actually said out loud, "Wait - is that all there is, or did I miss something?"

But back to the beginning: Someone slips an old newspaper article to 34-year-old Hope Taylor about a baby girl who was taken from her mother three decades earlier. Nothing to get excited about, at least until Hope spots a very unique and unusual physical characteristic on the baby that she shares. Coincidence? Unlikely - but Hope loves her parents, who took good care of her, especially when she was in a bad accident. Her mother, when Hope confronts her, says all the right things; but the next day, Hope sees her burning papers in the garden and her reasons for doing so are less than satisfactory.

When she tells her good platonic friend, Stephen, what happened, he insists that they go meet the woman whose daughter was stolen all those years ago. They break in, and Hope finds evidence that this woman's baby wasn't the only one stolen back then. Later still, Hope returns and actually meets the mother, who is absolutely positive that Hope is her missing daughter - a daughter she wants back in her life. In the midst of all this, Stephen must deal with a personal incident that could have been deadly.

Still reeling, the only thing both Hope and Stephen are sure of is that they don't want to tell the police. And that was a turn-off for me, because I just couldn't buy their rationalizations for not doing so (although if Hope, in particular, had done so at that point I guess there wouldn't have been much of a story left). Then Hope gets a visitor who brings an even bigger surprise; and with that, I must stop and not give away anything more. Suffice it to say that trying to sort everything out becomes an emotional roller coaster - one on which it's next to impossible to see where the next turn will come and where it's going.

Most of what happens gets resolved, but not all; as I indicated at the beginning, I wasn't totally satisfied and felt that several loose ends never got tied up. But overall, there's plenty of action here that should keep most readers not wanting to put the book down (think: Summer's coming and a relaxing chaise on the beach with a good book is starting to sound great). I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kerry Wilkinson's addictive thriller THE CHILD IN THE PHOTO.

All the best lies are based on truth.

I always look forward to Kerry Wilkinson's books despite a couple of them not quite hitting the mark in the past. So upon reading the premise for his latest offering I had high hopes for it and yet THE CHILD IN THE PHOTO was not what I expected...it was so much better! I loved it and was thrilled to see Kerry back with a fast pace and a totally intriguing and addictive plot.

Arriving home one day, 34 year old Hope Taylor discovers a hand-delivered envelope containing only her name printed on the front and an aged newspaper clipping inside detailing a stolen baby from her mother's car some three decades ago. Perusing the article, Hope ponders why this has been slipped through her mailbox...until she takes a closer look at the pixellated photo. The child has an identical and unique physical characteristic to herself. So rare it could only mean one thing...the child in the photo is her.

Unable to make any sense of it, Hope confronts her mother who denies all knowledge reiterating the memories and the love they shared together. Her mum says all the right things but Hope can't let it go. Then the following day when she finds her mother burning papers in the back garden, Hope is immediately suspicious particularly when she has a perfectly good shredder to destroy any sensitive information. What is it that her mother didn't want her to discover? What is she hiding? Could the past 34 years of her life have been a lie?

When Hope shares her concerns with her best friend Stephen he surprises her by suggesting they make the two hour drive to meet the woman, Penny Craven, whose daughter was stolen all those years ago. But when they arrive at the pub where she works they discover that it is her day off. So instead they venture around the place to where the child was taken from but so much has changed in thirty four years they soon doubt they'll find anything of use. However, Hope returns the following day and meets Penny who upon recognising the ear deformity is immediately convinced that Hope is her stolen baby, Jane. Although she sympathises with the woman, Hope is unsure how she feels about this turn of events, particularly when Penny continues to call her Jane - a name that feels strange to her.

Upon returning home, Hope receives a desperate phone call from Stephen who had gone to meet date and fell victim to a cruel gay bashing instead. He is battered and bruised with cracked ribs and a concussion that could have been a whole lot worse but angrily grumbles when Hope insists they call the police. In dealing with his anger about the attack, Stephen seeks Hope's advice on how she dealt with her own anger after the tragic accident that left her with a partially amputated leg.

Then Hope returns home to a visitor who brings an even bigger surprise. Recognising her immediately as the woman in the red coat, Hope wonders why she has been following her. Is she the one who put the clipping through her letterbox? Does she know the truth about what happened? And, if so, why is she seeking her out now? Stephen is at once wary especially when he discovers Hope has invited the woman, Stella, to stay. They know nothing about this woman except that she is covered in bruises and claims to know who abducted the child in the photo. But what does she know really? And is she who she says she is? Or is it all just an elaborate lie?

Just when you thought you knew where the story is going, Kerry throws in twist after twist that propels you into a whole other universe, leaving you questioning what you thought you knew. The plot is so entirely engaging I simply could not put the book down and I feel that this has got to be one of the best books Kerry Wilkinson has delivered. It was everything I expected and so much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Hope and her bestie Stephen. Their banter is reminiscent of that which my husband and I share with one of our friends and it really adds another dimension to each of the characters. I loved their dialogue and they complemented each other well.

There are so few characters in this story and yet there is so much to it that adds such a complexity to it all. Hope and Stephen are pretty much the main characters with Stella joining them to share the spotlight. And although we meet Hope's mum Barbara, Penny, Stella's mum Nikki, the only other one to shine brighter than most is Hope's adorable elderly next door neighbour Mr Bonner who keeps a close fatherly eye out on her. He was sweet and adorable and I just loved him.

Another aspect that I loved in THE CHILD IN THE PHOTO was that Kerry drew on some of his past stories by linking them through the towns which featured in this one. Hope grew up in Elwood where her mother still lived in her childhood home and she made mention in her narrative about the only thing to happen there was a hit and run in which a child was killed the year before. That immediately rang a bell and upon investigation discovered that the reference was indeed made to Kerry's past thriller "The Child Across the Street" . When Hope mentioned she now lived in Macklebury, that too rung a bell as being the town in which Wilkinson's previous book "The Blame" was set. But when Stoneridge was also alluded to with a teenager who disappeared and returned a decade or so later, I recalled the very first book I read of Kerry's "The Girl Who Came Back" set in that very town. All localised places featured in this book are cleverly linked to previous thrillers. I thought that a clever touch.

Compelling and suspense-filled, THE CHILD IN THE PHOTO is very definitely a quick and easy read with a thoroughly addictive plot. Although the "truth" is alluded to very early on, the mystery deepens into complexities cleverly woven in intricate detail. I thoroughly enjoyed the build-up, the layering and the tension that took place throughout, as well as the quick short chapters I love, that I think this is by far one of Kerry's best yet!

The only thing I found irritating was the reference to "the bad thing" which to me sounded a little amateurish. Yet when revealed it was nothing to be ashamed of so found that reference to be a little pointless. But it was only such a very small aspect of the book that it wasn't worth detracting any stars from my rating.

Whether she is Hope or Jane, THE CHILD IN THE PHOTO is a definite page-turner with an addictive plot from beginning to end.

I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheChildInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, laid-back mystery. Easy to follow with great audio narration.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending let me down

I knew what was going on from the beginning. I hated Stella and Nikki and I honestly thought another person was involved that I had liked. But it was crazy. I hated how she treated her 'Mum' and just a bunch of stuff. Angel, Aki, chris, etc. All of them were shady. I didn't like this one as much as the others by this author but I totally couldn't put it down. This author is crazy good. Just wish the ending was better. I wanted more.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this thrilling read, one impossible to put down, I began reading how Hope discovers a mysterious newspaper clipping in the mailslot in her door. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that something was about to happen. The clipping contained a photo of a baby that was snatched when she was six months of age 34 years ago. Hope is 34 years of age. What is more is that the photo clearly shows that the infant has an unusual scar. Complely identical to the scar that Hope bears. These simply cannot be coincidences. When Hope confonts her mother, she gets a simple and what should be believable explanation about the scar Hope has.

But, it is not enough. She asks best friend Stephen to accompany her while she tries and look for whatever clues - or could it be lies - about her past and about that mysterious photo. If that is not enough, her mother suddenly does a strange thing - she burns papers in the garden. Does her mother have something to hide? Was Hope the abducted baby from all those years ago?

Hope's intense desire for answers causes her to take drastic actions. In so doing, she begins to unearth chilling clues that lead to abhorrent secrets, proof that she was indeed abducted - and that she was not the only one. This presents grave danger to Hope.

While this story explores Hope's past, it is also a story of friendship, and of trust. With regard to her friend Stephen, Hope has found a gem. It is the rock of friendship that just might be enough to carry Hope through this difficult search for the truth. Also, Hope had other issues, and it was these issues that showed her strength and vigor, despite obstacles that might have slowed another person down.

While Hope had someone she could trust in Stephen, other secondary characters floated into the story, proving that trust was something that had to be earned, especially when danger seemed close at bay. Factor in a twist that eases into the story and The Child in the Photo turned out to be a terrific page-turner, intriguing from beginning to end.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Syeda Sumayya Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone put a newspaper cutting from years ago about a stolen kid through her door. Something tells her that that stolen kid from the newspaper is actually her. She doesn’t know where to start looking for answers, who to trust, and who to confront.

Kerry Wilkinson has quickly become one of my favorite authors, I’ve only just started reading his books, and I want to seek out and read them all. Gripping, fast-paced, and super interesting, very on-brand really. I really like how his stories are straightforward, and no fuss, you don’t have to work all your brain cells to keep track of hundreds of characters and multiple plot lines! I just love his books, can’t put them down, and this was no different. The thing I like best is that there are simply no plot holes in this one, there were so many points where I thought this was just going to be ignored and not answered at all, but I just loved how even the smallest of the questions were answered, all actions well explained, and all emotions beautifully described! Did I mention I love his books?! 4.5 stars rounded off to 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely thrilling. An addictive pageturner. I couldn't put this one down. This author never disappoints, delivering a polished, clever, absolutely stunning read book after book, story after twisted, suspenseful, pacy story. This is one of his best and that's saying something. Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

*thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*


1 star.

This was a disappointment. I found the story to be lacking in so many ways. It was dull and read like there was no emotion in it. The description sounded really good but I was left feeling like, ok, is that it? If the story had a colour it would be grey.

I'm also wondering why this is in the Mystery/Thriller category. It was more a slow paced Women's fiction.

Unfortunately I can't even think of a positive thing to say about it.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving this 3.5 ⭐️. This was a mystery with lots of deception. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, another wrench is thrown in there. Hope seemed to be an ordinary person until you start to pull back her layers. She has to decide what or how she’ll process this information.
It started off very interesting but I wanted more. I felt like the author tried to hard to bring to a lot of stuff together only to talk about it one dimensionally. It wasn’t horrible I just thought it could of been better.
Thanks Bookouture via Netgalley.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and it kept my attention all the way through although I did guess before the end what the outcome was going to be. It didn't however spoil it for me.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make no secret of the fact that I am a huge fan of this author - both series and stand alones. There is something about his no nonsense style of writing that really gels with me. Along with his tight plotting, ability to pull the wool over my eyes all the time, are some of the best characters I have met. What starts out being quite a simple premise swiftly descends into more secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour as we struggle to figure out the truth. Little does Hope know that her world as she knows it is about to blow up before her eyes when she is sent a cutting from a newspaper. There's a picture of a child who was snatched. A child that, well, shares a certain deformity with Hope. A child who, judging by the dates, could well be her. But this is a child who was snatched. Who, on investigation, was never found. Hope has two loving parents and an extended family. None of it makes sense...? And so begins the voyage of discover that Hope never envisaged she would ever embark on. A voyage that will test her and, well, lets just say throw up more questions than answers along the way...
Wowsers. You think you have it all worked out. As I've already said, it seems a simple premise. But oh my days! This book delivers and delivers. And then some more! All delivered in the author's no nonsense style, fully of cracking life and character observations (10 out of 10 once again for people watching) and with absolutely no superfluous waffle or padding. Plotting is tight and well executed and had me on my toes throughout. It sucked me in from the very first page and help me captive throughout my time spent with it. Which was pretty much one sitting, breaking only for the necessary life stuff. And the ending when it came - whew! I skirted around a few things, I shouted at certain characters to "be careful" but I really didn't see that coming!
All in all, a cracking addition to an already well impressive back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you to the publishers at Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC of The Child in the Photo.

I requested The Child in the Photo after I saw it listed on Netgalley under the mystery/thriller section, my favorite genre. I was instantly interested. Cold cases, especially ones involving missing children, have always been of interest to me because I’m always holding out hope that the child will be found and reunited with their parents.

The Child in the Photo is about a missing child, but she doesn’t know that she is missing. Kidnapped at 6 months old, she’s been living with her mum and dad for the past 34 years of her life. While there were a few times she questioned the legitimacy of her blood connection to them, it isn’t until an old newspaper article is delivered to her door showcasing the missing child with a resemblance that can’t be mere coincidence.

I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the entire story. This read was fast paced and exciting. We see a lot of the English countryside during this story as well, which was interesting for me as an American who hasn’t traveled to Europe.

There are plenty of twists and turns in the story to keep you guessing at just what the endgame might be. I wasn’t entirely shocked by the ending, but I enjoyed the findings that were made in relation to Hope and her backstory.

I highly recommend this book if, like me, you enjoy stories about missing/found children, mysteries, and fast paced reads!

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Child in the Photo is a gripping suspense, that pulls you in from the start. Hope finds an old newspaper article in her mail one day about a baby that disappeared. The interesting aspect Hope and this baby share is that the tip of their ear is missing. This one detail turns this newspaper article into Hope's obsession.

Could she be this baby? What does this make her parents? All these questions and only this one article to go on. Leads Hope down a dark tunnel of who can she trust? Kerry Wilkinson has an amazing way of developing the characters, so you want to trust them. You will them to be trusting, and to be helping Hope uncover the truth. However, at some point during the book, I found each character to be completely untrustworthy and yelling at Hope to get away from them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the buildup and layering that took place until the final reveal of who did it and what they really wanted from Hope is revealed. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this thrill a minute book.

[Cinta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read this book prior to its publication. My opinion is 100% honest, unbiased, and my own.

When I read the blurb for this book, I was intrigued and felt that it could be a story I would like and enjoy. Well, my disappointment was huge after only five chapters. I don't like it when a synopsis misleads me, and this one did just that.

If the book promises me a big secret, I want to know about that secret. And if you say that someone's life is in danger, I want to see that reflected in the book. But the blurb and the book didn't have much to do with each other. That's a huge pet peeve of mine.

Apart from that, the story was predictable, boring, and not very believable. There were some details that didn't make sense to me and became plot holes.

Overall, very disappointed. So much that I can't and won't say anything else about this book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review My thoughts…

The Child In The Photo by Kerry Wilkinson

Description
I stare at the newspaper article about a baby snatched from the back of a car thirty years ago, and wonder why someone would post it through my door. Looking closer, my blood freezes. The little girl in the photo has an unusual scar – just like mine. I’ve never met anyone with one like it. Is this stolen child… me? 

Trembling with shock, I know I have to confront my mother. My parents got me through a horrific accident, helped me find a job I love, teaching art, and even with buying my own house. But was it all built on lies? 

She tells me the day I was born was the best day of her life, and I’m flooded with guilt for questioning her – but why do I catch her burning papers in the garden the next day? 

Then I come home to find a woman sitting on my doorstep, covered in bruises and claiming she knows who abducted me. I don’t know if I can trust her – or if I’ll be the next to get hurt. 

Because all the while, I’ve been hiding my own secret. Does whoever sent the article know what really happened the day of my accident? Desperate for the truth, I break into the house of my supposed kidnapper. Inside, I find a handwritten list of names. A shiver goes down my spine as I realise wasn’t the only child to be stolen.

Here’s what I thought of this book without spoilers. This is also my very first book by the Author and I definitely plan on reading more.

I was very engaged from the beginning of this book. Though at times it seem to lag more in the middle it totally picked up towards the mid middle to definitely the end of the book. The author had a Way of reeling the reader back in. I definitely was rooting for Hope and wanting her to get the answers that she’s so desperately needed. This book had its Jumpscares and definitely a mystery/thriller type of read which is what I love. I highly recommend this book and I definitely will not spoil the plot line. You’re in for a wild ride. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the best lies are based on truth

Kerry Wilkinson returns with this thrilling, unputdownable tale of identity, friendship, lies and deception that rockets along and has more plot twists and turns than a roller coaster.

The story is written entirely from the perspective of our main character Hope Taylor who is thirty - four and organises The Creators' Club at the local community centre with her best friend Stephen. Having broken up with her boyfriend Aki, Hope's life had settled into a bit of a routine, the highlights of her week being the two evenings of the week that she spent at the club. But, as in reality, the fickle finger of fate had decided that Hope's life was going too well for its liking and decides to throw a spanner into her life in the form of an envelope that contains a newspaper clipping. The article is about little Jane Craven who was only six months old when she was stolen from the back seat of her mother's car and subsequently vanished, without a trace. The photo of the baby is fuzzy, getting and grainy but despite having no idea who Jane or her mother Penny are, there is something about the article that to Hope feels familiar and yet also doesnt. When she looks more closely at the photo, she spots something that sends shock waves pulsing throughout her body, something that causes her to question everything that she was told about her past and confront the shocking possibility that the photo is actually one of Hope when she was a baby. She begins a search for answers that will result in her confronting some uncomfortable truths about her past, deception and lies from people she trusts and coming into contact with some very unscrupulous individuals.Who had sent Hope the article and what were the motives behind their actions?

I thought that Hope was a fantastic, very likeable character, I loved her sense of humour and her interactions with her loveable, elderly neighbour Mr Bonner who saw himself as her surrogate dad. Our pasts and identities are a very important part of who we are and I can't even imagine the conflicting emotions and feelings that would be caused by discovering that everything that you thought you knew about yourself could possibility be a pack of lies. I must admit that I thought Hope was rather naive in trusting the Stella character as quickly as she did but her actions could also be contributed to the events that were overshadowing her life. I also thought that Stephen was a wonderful character, I loved the interactions and banter between him and Hope. There was a scene in which the two friends were winding up some other characters that was really funny but the friend's actions backfired spectacularly for Stephen. They had a really close relationship and he appeared to be a really trustworthy individual but as all readers who love reading this genre know very well, people are not always who they appear to be. Was Stephen as trustworthy as he appeared to be or was Hope destined to be betrayed by her closest friend and confidante.

Omg, wow....just wow and wow again, I really really loved this captivating, fast paced, unputdownable page turner that had me hooked in and glued to my kindle from the first page. I would have read this addictive thriller in one sitting but my old eyes had other ideas. It's a gripping read that has a cast of realistic,diverse characters, some likeable,some not so likeable and packed full of twists and turns. I would give it many more than five stars if I could. This is Kerry Wilkinson at his very best,very very highly recommended and definitely going to be one of my favourite reads of this year.             

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do when you find a hand delivered envelope on your doormat containing a newspaper article dated more than 30 years ago? 

At first you might think, like Hope does, it's a mistake because it makes no sense to you. But when you take a closer look at the photo, you notice something you see when you look in the mirror...

Hope decides to get to the bottom of it, but she does not have a lot to start with. This does not stop her though and little by little, she uncovers all the hidden secrets and the scheming.

This is an interesting story with lots of intrigues. I loved the the way Hope interacted with her best friend. Their banter made me laugh. I found the connection with her elderly neighbour endearing. 

It's always so satisfying when people get what they deserve in the end. 5 stars

Thank you

[Kelly-Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok. It was a kindle deal so maybe I should have known better. The author had this annoying habit of ending almost every chapter with a “shocking“ cliffhanger which really started to get on my nerves. It felt gimmicky and therefore would take me out of the story. If an author has good storytelling and a compelling plot, they will not need to rely on that kind of manipulative tactic. Anyway, I probably won’t spend my time on any more books by this author.

I will give the author credit that there was zero profanity or sex in this book.

[DJO · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty lackluster thriller that failed to grab me and had me constantly questioning the unreality of everything that went down. Hope seemed a bit of a wet rag. She made lots of questionable decisions and never really made sense to me. The mystery itself was humdrum. It wasn’t really even a mystery, just a set of slightly intriguing circumstances that played out in a slow and meandering kind of way. The inclusion of a couple of subplots made no sense to me—Oliver the art student and Steven’s mugging. What did those even add to the story? Anyway, a pretty mundane head-scratcher of a novel.