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DI Erica Swift #9
The Foundling
When an abandoned baby wrapped in a bloodied blanket is discovered by a dog walker, a frantic search is on to find the mother. This should be a simple case, but DI Erica Swift and her team quickly discover the blood isn't a genetic match to the baby. The finding raises more questions than answers. Is the bloodied blanket a cry for help, or a clue? The amount of blood is enough to cause Erica to fear for the safety of the mysterious victim and when an incident in the city is linked to a missing girl, the race is on to learn the truth. Get book nine in this heart-racing, British, police procedural crime series!
233 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2022
143 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
M.K. Farrar
40 books146 followersM K Farrar had penned more than ten novels of psychological noir and crime fiction. A British author, she lives in the countryside with her three children and a menagerie of rescue pets. When she’s not writing—which isn’t often—she balances out all the murder with baking and binge-watching shows on Netflix.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 26, 2022
First of all my appreciation to the publishers and Booksprout, for an ARC, in exchange for an honest review,
The Foundling is book 9 in the DI Erica Swift series, and somehow manages to go from strength to strength. I don't think there is a weak one amongst them.
`The subject matter in this one is a little disturbing, but is written in a way that is sympathetic and understanding. You may find yourself getting wound up as how mankind can treat others like this,
DI Swift and DS Turner work well together, in spite of, or because of their history. Further developments in this instalment.
As always the plot is tightly woven, and pulls you in away from the real world, as you are always trying to sneak a cheeky chapter whenever you can. Just don't do what I did and get so engrossed, that I forgot about a saucepan on the stove! Fortunately flames weren't too big! by the time I realised.
Do I really have to wait till December for book 10?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Foundling is book 9 in the DI Erica Swift series, and somehow manages to go from strength to strength. I don't think there is a weak one amongst them.
`The subject matter in this one is a little disturbing, but is written in a way that is sympathetic and understanding. You may find yourself getting wound up as how mankind can treat others like this,
DI Swift and DS Turner work well together, in spite of, or because of their history. Further developments in this instalment.
As always the plot is tightly woven, and pulls you in away from the real world, as you are always trying to sneak a cheeky chapter whenever you can. Just don't do what I did and get so engrossed, that I forgot about a saucepan on the stove! Fortunately flames weren't too big! by the time I realised.
Do I really have to wait till December for book 10?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2022
Book 9 of the DI Erica Swift series, this entire series goes from strength to strength, every time I’m like can Farrar out do herself and then I find myself having to bow down because it turns out she totally can.
In this instalment we have an abandoned baby wrapped in a blood-stained blanket in a park. A month-old beautiful baby who is healthy, so the question is whose blood is all over the blanket and where is the baby's mother? What they do learn though is the baby is from a local missing teen, so we know as of a month ago this girl was alive the question is where has she been for a year and is she still alive?
Well, I just loved this book firstly because I love Erica so that helps a lot but also this storyline was so crazy, I was very emotionally invested. In terms of Erica, I always love to catch up with her, where she currently is emotional especially with her single parenthood. Poppy is a legend all by herself and this book with such heavy topics it was really nice having her so she could break down some of the high tension especially as she is by far one of the funniest children in any series I’ve read. So being able to read more about Erica and her relationship with her daughter was just amazing, it is clear she still feels guilt over the fact her husband was killed whilst she was working and the amount of drama over the years that have been brought to her family because of her job. I was loving the fact that we got to spend time with Erica outside of the job, although she likely takes most of her work home. Plus, her growing relationship with Shawn is always great to read.
I found myself guessing the concert of this crime quite quickly but all the players however I had no idea It was a very strange crime for me as I felt myself rooting obviously for the victim/s as well as one of the criminals which made me feel a type of way, how could I truly feel sorry for them when the crimes were horrendous. but once you read this one you will get it, it isn't so cut and dry and that is what brought on the strange emotions. I really loved how Erica brought all her attention to the missing teen, her child, and her mother. It was interesting because how does everyone link together other than DNA? for the answer for that you will have to read the book....
I love the way that Farrar writes it's so free flowing with great details when required not too much though, she makes the details just so that you are able to picture yourself there, yet she doesn't over burden you with too much over descriptions, so I am always able to concentrate and place myself there. The crime as it is described so well, I could picture the room being described and I found I could truly relate to the victim/s. just such a talent to write as she does.
would I recommend? yes and yes again if you like crime and enjoy an English crime thriller then yes this is the one. just make sure you start with book 1 the eye thief before even picking up book 9, yes you can start here but I’ll be honest you will pick up book one straight away so cute out the emotional drama of knowing as soon as you finish you will be picking up book 1. so, I’m sure it wouldn't be a surprise if I tell you I shall be rating this book 5 stars.
thank you, Marissa Farrar, for the reviewers copy of The Foundling I loved it.
In this instalment we have an abandoned baby wrapped in a blood-stained blanket in a park. A month-old beautiful baby who is healthy, so the question is whose blood is all over the blanket and where is the baby's mother? What they do learn though is the baby is from a local missing teen, so we know as of a month ago this girl was alive the question is where has she been for a year and is she still alive?
Well, I just loved this book firstly because I love Erica so that helps a lot but also this storyline was so crazy, I was very emotionally invested. In terms of Erica, I always love to catch up with her, where she currently is emotional especially with her single parenthood. Poppy is a legend all by herself and this book with such heavy topics it was really nice having her so she could break down some of the high tension especially as she is by far one of the funniest children in any series I’ve read. So being able to read more about Erica and her relationship with her daughter was just amazing, it is clear she still feels guilt over the fact her husband was killed whilst she was working and the amount of drama over the years that have been brought to her family because of her job. I was loving the fact that we got to spend time with Erica outside of the job, although she likely takes most of her work home. Plus, her growing relationship with Shawn is always great to read.
I found myself guessing the concert of this crime quite quickly but all the players however I had no idea It was a very strange crime for me as I felt myself rooting obviously for the victim/s as well as one of the criminals which made me feel a type of way, how could I truly feel sorry for them when the crimes were horrendous. but once you read this one you will get it, it isn't so cut and dry and that is what brought on the strange emotions. I really loved how Erica brought all her attention to the missing teen, her child, and her mother. It was interesting because how does everyone link together other than DNA? for the answer for that you will have to read the book....
I love the way that Farrar writes it's so free flowing with great details when required not too much though, she makes the details just so that you are able to picture yourself there, yet she doesn't over burden you with too much over descriptions, so I am always able to concentrate and place myself there. The crime as it is described so well, I could picture the room being described and I found I could truly relate to the victim/s. just such a talent to write as she does.
would I recommend? yes and yes again if you like crime and enjoy an English crime thriller then yes this is the one. just make sure you start with book 1 the eye thief before even picking up book 9, yes you can start here but I’ll be honest you will pick up book one straight away so cute out the emotional drama of knowing as soon as you finish you will be picking up book 1. so, I’m sure it wouldn't be a surprise if I tell you I shall be rating this book 5 stars.
thank you, Marissa Farrar, for the reviewers copy of The Foundling I loved it.
May 27, 2022
This book kept me up all night!
What a fantastic read. I think this is the best in the series to date! Very fast paced, full of twists and turns, and a plot I've not ever seen before, that had me glued to my kindle from the first page!! Such a crazy ride, starting out with sadness and confusion, ending with some happiness and joy, but so much not answered! Just an absolute fantastic book!
What a fantastic read. I think this is the best in the series to date! Very fast paced, full of twists and turns, and a plot I've not ever seen before, that had me glued to my kindle from the first page!! Such a crazy ride, starting out with sadness and confusion, ending with some happiness and joy, but so much not answered! Just an absolute fantastic book!
June 12, 2022
This was a believable police procedural and an easy read and I spent an enjoyable afternoon reading it. I keep writing sentences and then it turns out to be a spoiler so delete it, so if you are a fan it will be for you. If not it is worth investigating this series and this can be read as a standalone.
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.
June 14, 2022
This is book nine of the DI Erica Swift Thriller series and this time DI Swift and her team are called to a strange case, of an abandoned baby found in the woods of a local park, wrapped in a bloody baby blanket. Their case doesn’t involve the month old baby boy, but the possible injury or death of whoever’s blood was on the blanket. They know the baby is not newborn, but whether it could be the mother’s blood or someone else’s is unclear. The baby was found by a woman walking her dog early in the morning and fortunately it hadn’t gotten too cold and been a danger to the baby after he was left there. There aren’t many clues as to the baby’s identity, nor much of any eyewitnesses who could lead them to find the person who dropped the baby off. Tests discover the blood isn’t the mother’s and the baby was uninjured, so now the mystery has deepened. The amount of blood on the blanket means they are looking for someone who was clearly badly injured, or is dead. But no body has been found.
When another missing person case is reported, it links the blood on the blanket to this missing person and a whole new can of worms is uncovered. A sixteen year old girl has been missing for a year and her mother has just done a re-inaction of her daughter’s last day before she disappeared. Her mother has suffered and didn’t deal with matters well straight after Ivy’s disappearance. When the baby is possibly linked to the missing teen, more questions than answers come up. Ivy clearly wasn’t pregnant when she was taken by someone, and was at least alive a month ago. Her mother now has new hope, but still wants her daughter found. The race is on to find those responsible and find her before something worse happens to her. DI Swift and DS Turner are not as close as they were and even her daughter Poppy has noticed that Shawn hasn’t been round as often. She won’t say that what they did was a mistake, but whilst she is in the position of being his boss, they can’t have any sort of relationship. Shawn is thinking of looking for a transfer, but she doesn’t want to lose him and not work with him every day. A tough choice, when her job was her whole life and she had already lost and given up so much because of it, but by the end of this case, she will be feeling differently.
The evil that men can do to women, all for a quick buck and for their own jollies, may become a tipping point for DI Swift and her career. Thankfully, her determination to check a possible crime scene thoroughly brings some relief for their case, but they have missed out on catching the main suspects and saving other young women who were being abused by these men. This is one case where they have had a partial resolution, but there is still more that she feels she and her team could have done. A touch of reality with not everything being solved in this case and parts of it still to continue being investigated and the bad guys found as well as the girls they took. A difficult storyline with parts which may trigger some readers, so be aware. Multiple threads of the story are followed at the same time, as the investigation starts with a foundling and a possible person in danger, you get to see what Ivy has ended up in the midst of, and you see the heartache of a mother missing her teenage daughter and shows the full depravity some people will go to, just to get their kicks and make money! A sad reflection of our world today. The author always manages to spin a web of mystery, human suffering and detailing the investigations the police undertake to solve their cases. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
When another missing person case is reported, it links the blood on the blanket to this missing person and a whole new can of worms is uncovered. A sixteen year old girl has been missing for a year and her mother has just done a re-inaction of her daughter’s last day before she disappeared. Her mother has suffered and didn’t deal with matters well straight after Ivy’s disappearance. When the baby is possibly linked to the missing teen, more questions than answers come up. Ivy clearly wasn’t pregnant when she was taken by someone, and was at least alive a month ago. Her mother now has new hope, but still wants her daughter found. The race is on to find those responsible and find her before something worse happens to her. DI Swift and DS Turner are not as close as they were and even her daughter Poppy has noticed that Shawn hasn’t been round as often. She won’t say that what they did was a mistake, but whilst she is in the position of being his boss, they can’t have any sort of relationship. Shawn is thinking of looking for a transfer, but she doesn’t want to lose him and not work with him every day. A tough choice, when her job was her whole life and she had already lost and given up so much because of it, but by the end of this case, she will be feeling differently.
The evil that men can do to women, all for a quick buck and for their own jollies, may become a tipping point for DI Swift and her career. Thankfully, her determination to check a possible crime scene thoroughly brings some relief for their case, but they have missed out on catching the main suspects and saving other young women who were being abused by these men. This is one case where they have had a partial resolution, but there is still more that she feels she and her team could have done. A touch of reality with not everything being solved in this case and parts of it still to continue being investigated and the bad guys found as well as the girls they took. A difficult storyline with parts which may trigger some readers, so be aware. Multiple threads of the story are followed at the same time, as the investigation starts with a foundling and a possible person in danger, you get to see what Ivy has ended up in the midst of, and you see the heartache of a mother missing her teenage daughter and shows the full depravity some people will go to, just to get their kicks and make money! A sad reflection of our world today. The author always manages to spin a web of mystery, human suffering and detailing the investigations the police undertake to solve their cases. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
June 13, 2022
I have most books in the DI Erica Swift series and they always are great entertainment! The Foundling is a story full of interwoven searches for missing girls, full of action, and fast-paced writing. Once you start reading you just cannot let go, the story is so full of details that even Erika - the senior investigative detective - doubts her capacity to produce positive results and is drawn into depression. The book has a good ending but not a happy one. I'm looking forward to reading the next story in the series!.
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.
June 16, 2022
Author did a wonderful job of bringing a difficult topic to fiction.
To be honest, when I first figured out direction book ws headed I was about to abandon my read.
Glad I didn’t.
At intro Ivy a young typical teenager struggling for independence, walks home late in evening. Against better judgement of her mother.
Book takes unexpected twist with the murder of a thirty something man.
Because am not in habit of disclosing details- let’s just say that Ivy is met with circumstances that will change her life and her mums forever.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
To be honest, when I first figured out direction book ws headed I was about to abandon my read.
Glad I didn’t.
At intro Ivy a young typical teenager struggling for independence, walks home late in evening. Against better judgement of her mother.
Book takes unexpected twist with the murder of a thirty something man.
Because am not in habit of disclosing details- let’s just say that Ivy is met with circumstances that will change her life and her mums forever.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2022
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
June 17, 2022
When a baby is found abandoned in an East London park wrapped in a bloody blanket Di Erica Swift and her team are called in and things take a disturbing but mysterious turn filled with action, nail biting suspense, descriptive writing, and a page turning story that held my attention from beginning to end. The Foundling is book nine in the Di Erica Swift Thriller series and I look forward to reading the next book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
December 23, 2022
Great Read
I have read all the previous books in the series and read as each character develops.
The plots are good and loads of twists and turns
If you like crime novels you will enjoy these books
I have read all the previous books in the series and read as each character develops.
The plots are good and loads of twists and turns
If you like crime novels you will enjoy these books
March 18, 2023
Four stars rounded up! This is by far the best book in the series out of the three that I’ve read considering I DNFd one of them. The plot was set up pretty quickly, but I wasn’t expecting to pick up the way it did! It definitely can be read as a standalone if you’re looking for a quick read.
June 14, 2022
very good book
Fast paced , exiting, very emotional , sad and thrilling. One of MK Farrah’s better books. I can definitely recommend this book .
Fast paced , exiting, very emotional , sad and thrilling. One of MK Farrah’s better books. I can definitely recommend this book .
July 26, 2022
excellent
A very good and gripping story
It kept me wanting to keep reading. But sorry the story was un solved hope there’s a follow on
A very good and gripping story
It kept me wanting to keep reading. But sorry the story was un solved hope there’s a follow on
June 30, 2023
This was another good crime thriller with disturbing themes tackled well.
I liked the writing style and the British police drama. Good plot and characters.
Recommended.
I liked the writing style and the British police drama. Good plot and characters.
Recommended.
January 26, 2025
One of those books you don’t want to put down! An excellent story line which held my attention to the end!
July 1, 2025
I’m really hoping the rest of this crime is resolved in the next book. Incredibly gripping and well thought out plot.
September 15, 2025
FANTASTIC
An awesome read. I am a bit disappointed at the ending, I wish it had ended differently, I can't wait to read the next one.
An awesome read. I am a bit disappointed at the ending, I wish it had ended differently, I can't wait to read the next one.
May 28, 2022
Book: The Foundling (A DI Erica Swift Thriller Book 9)
Author: M.K. Farrar
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Tammy - Book Nook Nuts
REVIEW
I have been hooked from book 1 in this series and wowzers up to book 9 and it had me on pins and needles...Why? Because you just never know, when you think hope may be right there it's not.
Now this story is not only twisted, evil, suspense-filled, and gripping its a story that could be all too real in any state, city, or town and that adds to the creep factor intensely.
Erica didn't at first understand why she was even called onto this case until it was almost too late for everyone.
And just to let any know who wants to begin the series... Each book is a stand-alone and totally different twisted goodness.
M.K. Farrar
Author: M.K. Farrar
My Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by: Tammy - Book Nook Nuts
REVIEW
I have been hooked from book 1 in this series and wowzers up to book 9 and it had me on pins and needles...Why? Because you just never know, when you think hope may be right there it's not.
Now this story is not only twisted, evil, suspense-filled, and gripping its a story that could be all too real in any state, city, or town and that adds to the creep factor intensely.
Erica didn't at first understand why she was even called onto this case until it was almost too late for everyone.
And just to let any know who wants to begin the series... Each book is a stand-alone and totally different twisted goodness.
M.K. Farrar
June 13, 2022
An early morning dog walker was out before work when her dog disappeared into the bushes. She tried calling him but he refused to answer his name so she had to go looking for him. This was timed with a blood curling wail from the same direction. When she found him, she saw a bit of blood and thought for one second he had bitten the pile of rags he was standing over, then the rags moved and she got her dog to move and she saw a scrunched up tiny face: a baby! The covers the baby was in were covered in blood, so she unwrapped them to check the baby over but he seemed fine then she rang 999.
The police were sent with an ambulance and DI Erica Swift was tasked to attend. She wasn’t sure why she was asked to go there knowing that a baby was involved, not usually their remit. Then she saw the scene and realized it was possibly a kidnapping or abduction gone wrong with all the blood involved so possibly it did fall in her domain. The dog walker hadn’t seen anything but she asked the local police to do a house-to-house around the streets and they got a police dog to do a search from the blood scene to see where the culprit exited the park. They struck lucky as there was a witness who saw something about five am as she couldn’t sleep. She could describe some of the vehicle and a bit of the culprit and which direction he went in which was a big help. So they could check the ANPR. The baby was at the hospital and the blood brought it back to a girl who had gone missing a year earlier and meant the baby had some family in the area rather than having to go into care.
Did the girl go willingly or was she kidnapped? How did her baby end up in the park? Whose blood was on the covers?
This was a fantastic book to read, really held my attention as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was really well written and very descriptive. DI Erica Swift is a very good cop and I have read her books in the past which I have enjoyed, this time was no different. Definitely worth a read.
The police were sent with an ambulance and DI Erica Swift was tasked to attend. She wasn’t sure why she was asked to go there knowing that a baby was involved, not usually their remit. Then she saw the scene and realized it was possibly a kidnapping or abduction gone wrong with all the blood involved so possibly it did fall in her domain. The dog walker hadn’t seen anything but she asked the local police to do a house-to-house around the streets and they got a police dog to do a search from the blood scene to see where the culprit exited the park. They struck lucky as there was a witness who saw something about five am as she couldn’t sleep. She could describe some of the vehicle and a bit of the culprit and which direction he went in which was a big help. So they could check the ANPR. The baby was at the hospital and the blood brought it back to a girl who had gone missing a year earlier and meant the baby had some family in the area rather than having to go into care.
Did the girl go willingly or was she kidnapped? How did her baby end up in the park? Whose blood was on the covers?
This was a fantastic book to read, really held my attention as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. It was really well written and very descriptive. DI Erica Swift is a very good cop and I have read her books in the past which I have enjoyed, this time was no different. Definitely worth a read.
November 3, 2022
Excellent series, one of the best.
This series just gets better, definitely one of my favourites. This is such a sad, harrowing story with no winners as the consequences will keep on coming for years to come. The ending has left a lot of questions so I'm hoping this will be resolved in the next book which I can't wait to read.
This series just gets better, definitely one of my favourites. This is such a sad, harrowing story with no winners as the consequences will keep on coming for years to come. The ending has left a lot of questions so I'm hoping this will be resolved in the next book which I can't wait to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews