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Only Child
The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it.
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come that Kayla would be taken from them.
Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes someone has their daughter.
As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?
Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter.
And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again…
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come that Kayla would be taken from them.
Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes someone has their daughter.
As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them?
Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter.
And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again…
294 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2022
884 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Casey Kelleher
33 books356 followersCasey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Growing up she became an avid reader, loving in particular gritty crime thrillers and gangland books.
The Books
Standalone Psych Thrillers
The Perfect Guest
The Missing Mother
The Babysitter's Secret
MINE
I'll Never Tell
Only Child
The Babysitter's Secret
Gangland/crime thrillers
standalones
Bad Blood
The Taken
The Promise
Rotten to the Core
Rise and Fall
Heartless
Griffin Estate Trilogy
No Escape (book 1)
No Fear (book 2)
No Going Back (book 3)
The Byrne Trilogy
The Betrayed (Book 1)
The Broken (Book)
The Forgotten (Book 3)
For all offers and news on Casey's new releases, click the FOLLOW button on Casey's Amazon page, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Casey-Kelleh...
http://caseykelleher.co.uk
www.instagram.com/caseykelleher
http://facebook.com/officialcaseykell...
The Books
Standalone Psych Thrillers
The Perfect Guest
The Missing Mother
The Babysitter's Secret
MINE
I'll Never Tell
Only Child
The Babysitter's Secret
Gangland/crime thrillers
standalones
Bad Blood
The Taken
The Promise
Rotten to the Core
Rise and Fall
Heartless
Griffin Estate Trilogy
No Escape (book 1)
No Fear (book 2)
No Going Back (book 3)
The Byrne Trilogy
The Betrayed (Book 1)
The Broken (Book)
The Forgotten (Book 3)
For all offers and news on Casey's new releases, click the FOLLOW button on Casey's Amazon page, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Casey-Kelleh...
http://caseykelleher.co.uk
www.instagram.com/caseykelleher
http://facebook.com/officialcaseykell...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
September 14, 2022
I have read a couple of books of Casey Kelleher before and very much liked “I’ll Never tell”. I was looking forward to this one considering the early reviews were all good, but found it disappointing.
There are two sets of characters through which the story is told. Sherrie is the protective mother of 15-year-old Kayla. Kayla is close to her, as well as her dad Richard, who senses that Kayla is looking for more independence. Kayla is out with friends one evening and does not return home. Their distraught parents finally reach out to law enforcement the next morning. As hours turn to days, they grow more and more concerned. Could Richard’s past have anything to do with this? Tessa and Amelia are in a relationship and stay together. Tessa is getting over some traumatic incidents of her past, but the demons resurface as she sees someone she has known many years back.
The writing is very good, and there is an underlying tension through the book, keeping you hooked in anticipation as to what next. There are not too many characters in the story, and that keeps it simple. Nevertheless, the revelation frustrated me as it uncovers a pretty hackneyed and far-fetched plot & character motives.
I was taking a break from this genre but took this up based on the prior books I had read of the author.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
There are two sets of characters through which the story is told. Sherrie is the protective mother of 15-year-old Kayla. Kayla is close to her, as well as her dad Richard, who senses that Kayla is looking for more independence. Kayla is out with friends one evening and does not return home. Their distraught parents finally reach out to law enforcement the next morning. As hours turn to days, they grow more and more concerned. Could Richard’s past have anything to do with this? Tessa and Amelia are in a relationship and stay together. Tessa is getting over some traumatic incidents of her past, but the demons resurface as she sees someone she has known many years back.
The writing is very good, and there is an underlying tension through the book, keeping you hooked in anticipation as to what next. There are not too many characters in the story, and that keeps it simple. Nevertheless, the revelation frustrated me as it uncovers a pretty hackneyed and far-fetched plot & character motives.
I was taking a break from this genre but took this up based on the prior books I had read of the author.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a free electronic review copy.
October 9, 2022
I loved Kelleher's last book and couldn't wait for this one!
This book has several different threads to keep track of, and each of them are gripping and suspenseful as the reader tries to connect them all together!
I couldn't put this one down. It is a complex plot that needs some level of concentration to follow it entirely, but it's worth it. It is very clever, and intricately plotted.
I did figure some of the plot out, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all.
This is unputdownable, twists galore and definitely 'read in one sitting'.
Casey Kelleher is cementing her position in the thriller genre.
This book has several different threads to keep track of, and each of them are gripping and suspenseful as the reader tries to connect them all together!
I couldn't put this one down. It is a complex plot that needs some level of concentration to follow it entirely, but it's worth it. It is very clever, and intricately plotted.
I did figure some of the plot out, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all.
This is unputdownable, twists galore and definitely 'read in one sitting'.
Casey Kelleher is cementing her position in the thriller genre.
September 7, 2022
Only Child by Casey Kelleher is a very interesting whodunit. Filled with chilling deceit and intricate lies, this curvy story makes it tough to differentiate fact from red herrings. A number of plot twists were used by the author to keep the reader on their toes.
Synopsis:
Fifteen year old Kayla is missing. Did Kayla run away or was she kidnapped? Some very dark secrets appear to be hidden by Kayla's frantic parents. Will the secrets ever be revealed? Is Kayla ever meant to be found?
Only Child is definitely an interesting read with several distinct characters. The writing kept my curiosity piqued until the very last chapter. As with most psychological thrillers, it pushes the boundaries of realism, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. This mysterious quick read is a great way to kick off the fall season. I look forward to more books from Casey Kelleher.
Only Child by Casey Kelleher is available on October 7th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this thriller with me! I appreciate you!
#OnlyChild
Synopsis:
Fifteen year old Kayla is missing. Did Kayla run away or was she kidnapped? Some very dark secrets appear to be hidden by Kayla's frantic parents. Will the secrets ever be revealed? Is Kayla ever meant to be found?
Only Child is definitely an interesting read with several distinct characters. The writing kept my curiosity piqued until the very last chapter. As with most psychological thrillers, it pushes the boundaries of realism, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel. This mysterious quick read is a great way to kick off the fall season. I look forward to more books from Casey Kelleher.
Only Child by Casey Kelleher is available on October 7th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for sharing this thriller with me! I appreciate you!
#OnlyChild
October 6, 2022
This is your classic “I sat down to start this one and ended up finishing it” book. For a lot of the story, I had no idea where it was going, but I didn’t mind because it was written well and I was enjoying it. I’m not completely sure about the ending, but we’ll get there…
This is the story of two families: Tessa and Amelia, and a couple named Richard and Sherrie, and their daughter, Kayla. It isn’t until a few chapters in that I saw how they had anything to do with each other, and I didn’t figure most things out until I got past to the halfway mark. Even then, I didn’t get the ending totally right - this definitely had some twists!
Tess was kidnapped as a teenager, held against her will by a man she refers to as a monster. She escaped and lived, but he was never caught, and the resulting PTSD and anxiety about him finding her has left her emotionally crippled. She met her girlfriend, Amelia, and was able to climb out of that hole, but recent events have taken her back to a very dark place.
In the same town, Richard and his wife, Sherrie, seem to have a perfect marriage. They have a beautiful house, a beautiful daughter, the works - but they have fallen out of love and only stay together for their teenager, Kayla. When she goes missing, just as Tess did many years prior, their facade begins to crumble and their true colors come out.
Basically every character in this is an unreliable narrator, because of mental illness, drugs and alcohol, or a combination, but that didn’t matter. The story was engaging, intriguing and a great psychological thriller. The ending was a *tiny* bit cheesy and predictable, but that’s about my only complaint. I give this one a solid four stars, and recommend it as a quick, thrilling read.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Casey Kelleher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
This is the story of two families: Tessa and Amelia, and a couple named Richard and Sherrie, and their daughter, Kayla. It isn’t until a few chapters in that I saw how they had anything to do with each other, and I didn’t figure most things out until I got past to the halfway mark. Even then, I didn’t get the ending totally right - this definitely had some twists!
Tess was kidnapped as a teenager, held against her will by a man she refers to as a monster. She escaped and lived, but he was never caught, and the resulting PTSD and anxiety about him finding her has left her emotionally crippled. She met her girlfriend, Amelia, and was able to climb out of that hole, but recent events have taken her back to a very dark place.
In the same town, Richard and his wife, Sherrie, seem to have a perfect marriage. They have a beautiful house, a beautiful daughter, the works - but they have fallen out of love and only stay together for their teenager, Kayla. When she goes missing, just as Tess did many years prior, their facade begins to crumble and their true colors come out.
Basically every character in this is an unreliable narrator, because of mental illness, drugs and alcohol, or a combination, but that didn’t matter. The story was engaging, intriguing and a great psychological thriller. The ending was a *tiny* bit cheesy and predictable, but that’s about my only complaint. I give this one a solid four stars, and recommend it as a quick, thrilling read.
(Thank you to Bookouture, Casey Kelleher, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
October 3, 2022
Tessa and Amelia are a loving couple. Tessa aka Chef Surprise, is on her umpteenth attempt at baking Amelia a birthday cake and she has to run back out to the store for supplies. This is a lot for her because not too long ago she would be too anxious. Much to her surprise, she thinks she runs into the source of her previous anxiety.. she decides to follow him home.
On the fancier side of Hackney lives Richard, with his wife Sherrie and their angsty teen daughter Kayla. Sherrie is already overprotective but their senses are on high alert because someone has been watching them.
How are these two connected and who’s the bad guy here?? This leads down many different trails and kept my interest the entire time! Lots of juicy drama and layers to peel back.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
On the fancier side of Hackney lives Richard, with his wife Sherrie and their angsty teen daughter Kayla. Sherrie is already overprotective but their senses are on high alert because someone has been watching them.
How are these two connected and who’s the bad guy here?? This leads down many different trails and kept my interest the entire time! Lots of juicy drama and layers to peel back.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
October 7, 2022
When I saw the cover, then read the blurb, I had to read Only Child by Casey Kelleher. The story twisted and turned, just like my mind. Great job, Casey.
I have been reading more books with diverse characters and I am so happy that I have found new authors to keep an eye on. Casey Kelleher is one of them.
Some may say that Sherrie is a helicopter mom, but she does what she always does, makes things all better for her daughter, Kayla.
The resilience of youth is alive and well in Kayle. Things don’t keep her down for long.
I knew the villain early on, but I didn’t know what made him the villain. I know the victim, now it’s a matter of getting the details.
Panic attacks. Blackouts. PTSD.
The mins is an amazing organ that does its best to protect us when our lives becomes so overwhelming we can no longer cope. I love psychological thrillers and delving into the minds of the characters. Why they do what they do. We have some great ones here.
Well…I though I knew what was coming, but I was so wrong. I love when an author can surprise me and there were plenty of surprises to keep me glued to the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Only Child by Casey Kelleher.
I have been reading more books with diverse characters and I am so happy that I have found new authors to keep an eye on. Casey Kelleher is one of them.
Some may say that Sherrie is a helicopter mom, but she does what she always does, makes things all better for her daughter, Kayla.
The resilience of youth is alive and well in Kayle. Things don’t keep her down for long.
I knew the villain early on, but I didn’t know what made him the villain. I know the victim, now it’s a matter of getting the details.
Panic attacks. Blackouts. PTSD.
The mins is an amazing organ that does its best to protect us when our lives becomes so overwhelming we can no longer cope. I love psychological thrillers and delving into the minds of the characters. Why they do what they do. We have some great ones here.
Well…I though I knew what was coming, but I was so wrong. I love when an author can surprise me and there were plenty of surprises to keep me glued to the pages.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Only Child by Casey Kelleher.
August 23, 2023
Richard and Sherrie have a fifteen year old daughter called Kayla who they adore. When Kayla goes missing after a night out with friends, as hours turn to days the couple grow more concerned and are beside themselves.
Running parallel is a story about Tessa and her partner Amelia. It is revealed that Tessa has had a troubled past.
This is a gripping read. I was intrigued as to how Tessa's story would fit in with Sherrie and Richard's.
A beautifully written book, great storyline, intriguing characters and an ending that I did not see coming!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Running parallel is a story about Tessa and her partner Amelia. It is revealed that Tessa has had a troubled past.
This is a gripping read. I was intrigued as to how Tessa's story would fit in with Sherrie and Richard's.
A beautifully written book, great storyline, intriguing characters and an ending that I did not see coming!!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2022
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Casey Kelleher's tense domestic thriller ONLY CHILD.
This is my first foray into new-to-me author Casey Kelleher and wow! What an introduction! The plot had all the hallmarks I love in a good domestic suspense tale - intrigue, mystery, tension, gaslighting, mental illness, unreliable narratives and teenage angst thrown into the mix - what more could you want?
The story opens with a few short lines before jumping into the prologue which leaves us wondering where this tale is really going to end up. We are then thrown into the lives of two couples - Sherrie and Richard Goldman along with Tessa and Amelia. But who are these people to each other and just how are they connected?
In the London suburb of Hackney, Tessa lives happily with her partner Amelia...but her past continues to haunt her. Although what happened to her was many years ago, she still can't escape the terror she felt then that feels all to real now. While it is not clear at first what happened to Tessa, it is blindly obvious she suffers PTSD as a result. Her past experience left her understandably traumatised which now leads her to paranoid idealisations.
So when she's at the supermarket buying ingredients to bake Amelia a birthday cake (or at least attempt to), Tessa sees a face from her past. It's him. The man who destroyed her life and got away with it. Though he is so much older now she is sure it's him...and she follows him home at a safe distance. And then comes her second shock. He's only streets away from where she lives. And the third? He has a family - a wife and a daughter. How could he escape justice and go on to lead such a normal life? With a wife and family? How could he do what he did to her and get to have all this?
And so Tessa sits outside their house and watches...and waits...until she can get her revenge.
Sherrie and Richard and their 15 year old daughter Kayla have a somewhat normal life. They have a beautiful house in a wonderful area...but they have fallen out of love and only stay together for their daughter. Sherrie is a stay at home mother while Kayla does her best to push against the boundaries keeping her tied down, which is what any normal teenager does. But unlike other mothers, Sherrie is overprotective of her daughter, going as far as to hide her passport to prevent her from going to France with her classmates. This is not the first time Sherrie has prevented Kayla from other similar excursions but she has always come up with a ready excuse which Kayla never questioned. But as her mother, she is dutybound to protect Kayla...if only her daughter could see that.
And then Kayla goes missing after a night out with friends. And all of Sherrie's fears come bursting to the surface. This is exactly what she was afraid of; why she was so protective of Kayla; why she encased her in a maternal bubble...to keep her safe. You never knew who was out there. But now all of Richard's secrets are coming back to bite them. The time she learnt who he truly was. It was people like him she was protecting Kayla from...and now one of them has taken her!
Where is Kayla? Who has taken her? And why? Or did the girl simply run away from her overprotective mother? And why is Tessa so focused on a seemingly complete stranger?
The story unfolds through the alternating narratives of Tessa, Sherrie and Kayla - none of whom are entirely reliable. All of them have something to hide. But what exactly are they hiding? The race to uncover the truth is an addictive thrill ride one that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light.
There are twists at every turn that make this an unputdownable "one sitting" read that is both intriguing and entertaining. You think you know what's going on, you but you don't. I had a few suspects lined up and was surprised when one of them was the villain! Even a major plot twist I had suspected very early on I never thought would come to fruition but did! I was just taking stabs in the dark because I had no idea where this train wreck was heading at the time.
There are so many different tangents this tale could take but it held my interest throughout. So many juicy secrets and layers to peel back make this an intriguing mystery to unpick.
ONLY CHILD is a fast paced intriguing thrill ride from start to finish...and I enjoyed every minute of it!
I would like to thank #CaseyKelleher, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OnlyChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Casey Kelleher's tense domestic thriller ONLY CHILD.
This is my first foray into new-to-me author Casey Kelleher and wow! What an introduction! The plot had all the hallmarks I love in a good domestic suspense tale - intrigue, mystery, tension, gaslighting, mental illness, unreliable narratives and teenage angst thrown into the mix - what more could you want?
The story opens with a few short lines before jumping into the prologue which leaves us wondering where this tale is really going to end up. We are then thrown into the lives of two couples - Sherrie and Richard Goldman along with Tessa and Amelia. But who are these people to each other and just how are they connected?
In the London suburb of Hackney, Tessa lives happily with her partner Amelia...but her past continues to haunt her. Although what happened to her was many years ago, she still can't escape the terror she felt then that feels all to real now. While it is not clear at first what happened to Tessa, it is blindly obvious she suffers PTSD as a result. Her past experience left her understandably traumatised which now leads her to paranoid idealisations.
So when she's at the supermarket buying ingredients to bake Amelia a birthday cake (or at least attempt to), Tessa sees a face from her past. It's him. The man who destroyed her life and got away with it. Though he is so much older now she is sure it's him...and she follows him home at a safe distance. And then comes her second shock. He's only streets away from where she lives. And the third? He has a family - a wife and a daughter. How could he escape justice and go on to lead such a normal life? With a wife and family? How could he do what he did to her and get to have all this?
And so Tessa sits outside their house and watches...and waits...until she can get her revenge.
Sherrie and Richard and their 15 year old daughter Kayla have a somewhat normal life. They have a beautiful house in a wonderful area...but they have fallen out of love and only stay together for their daughter. Sherrie is a stay at home mother while Kayla does her best to push against the boundaries keeping her tied down, which is what any normal teenager does. But unlike other mothers, Sherrie is overprotective of her daughter, going as far as to hide her passport to prevent her from going to France with her classmates. This is not the first time Sherrie has prevented Kayla from other similar excursions but she has always come up with a ready excuse which Kayla never questioned. But as her mother, she is dutybound to protect Kayla...if only her daughter could see that.
And then Kayla goes missing after a night out with friends. And all of Sherrie's fears come bursting to the surface. This is exactly what she was afraid of; why she was so protective of Kayla; why she encased her in a maternal bubble...to keep her safe. You never knew who was out there. But now all of Richard's secrets are coming back to bite them. The time she learnt who he truly was. It was people like him she was protecting Kayla from...and now one of them has taken her!
Where is Kayla? Who has taken her? And why? Or did the girl simply run away from her overprotective mother? And why is Tessa so focused on a seemingly complete stranger?
The story unfolds through the alternating narratives of Tessa, Sherrie and Kayla - none of whom are entirely reliable. All of them have something to hide. But what exactly are they hiding? The race to uncover the truth is an addictive thrill ride one that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light.
There are twists at every turn that make this an unputdownable "one sitting" read that is both intriguing and entertaining. You think you know what's going on, you but you don't. I had a few suspects lined up and was surprised when one of them was the villain! Even a major plot twist I had suspected very early on I never thought would come to fruition but did! I was just taking stabs in the dark because I had no idea where this train wreck was heading at the time.
There are so many different tangents this tale could take but it held my interest throughout. So many juicy secrets and layers to peel back make this an intriguing mystery to unpick.
ONLY CHILD is a fast paced intriguing thrill ride from start to finish...and I enjoyed every minute of it!
I would like to thank #CaseyKelleher, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OnlyChild in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 14, 2022
The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it. Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.
This was a fast and engaging read. Once again as with other books you did have to suspend belief at times but then again that is what is wonderful about reading, being taken to another world away from the realities of daily life. I worked out where this storyline was going early on but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast and engaging read. Once again as with other books you did have to suspend belief at times but then again that is what is wonderful about reading, being taken to another world away from the realities of daily life. I worked out where this storyline was going early on but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. Would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2022
Slippery Seals! 😳😯🤯
This one had so much potential and promise for me, but unfortunately I figured it all out early on in the novel. & that may be on me rather than the author. I will say that even though I already had it figured out super quick, I still very much enjoyed the entire ride that Kelleher paved with this plot. If I hadn't managed to figure it out, I would've been far more surprised and satisfied with this novel. Kelleher definitely knows how to throw you for a spin quite a few times and question each character and narrative that can leave you with doubt and unsure-ness. The tension is tight, the anxiety & fear is real, the dilemmas and insanity are in abundance. The twists are fun, enjoyable and definitely intriguing!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Sherrie and Richard adore their only daughter, Kayla, who will soon be sixteen. Like any teenage girl she's testing boundaries, limits and authority. But when Kayla doesn't come home from a night out with some friends, Sherrie's worst fear as a paranoid, helicopter parent are amplified. But you see, she has reasons. And those reasons threaten to be life-changing. Because Richard and Sherrie have been living a lie. A lie that could be deadly.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: October 7, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Autumn Leaves! 🍂
This one had so much potential and promise for me, but unfortunately I figured it all out early on in the novel. & that may be on me rather than the author. I will say that even though I already had it figured out super quick, I still very much enjoyed the entire ride that Kelleher paved with this plot. If I hadn't managed to figure it out, I would've been far more surprised and satisfied with this novel. Kelleher definitely knows how to throw you for a spin quite a few times and question each character and narrative that can leave you with doubt and unsure-ness. The tension is tight, the anxiety & fear is real, the dilemmas and insanity are in abundance. The twists are fun, enjoyable and definitely intriguing!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Sherrie and Richard adore their only daughter, Kayla, who will soon be sixteen. Like any teenage girl she's testing boundaries, limits and authority. But when Kayla doesn't come home from a night out with some friends, Sherrie's worst fear as a paranoid, helicopter parent are amplified. But you see, she has reasons. And those reasons threaten to be life-changing. Because Richard and Sherrie have been living a lie. A lie that could be deadly.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: October 7, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3 / 5 Autumn Leaves! 🍂
November 1, 2022
Only Child is a fantastic thriller that you won't be able to put down! I read this book in one day as it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going on! The book revolves around Sherrie, Richard, and their daughter Kayla in one storyline while also focusing on Tessa and Amelia in another storyline. Eventually, the two storylines overlap into one mind-blowing twist!
Sherrie is an overprotective mom that won't let Kayla do anything out of the ordinary. Sherrie wants her mom with her as much as possible so she goes to extremes to make that happen. Sherrie and Richard are in a loveless marriage, but both seem to love and want the best for their daughter Kayla. Tessa is a victim of a kidnapping when she was a teenager. She was kept in a dark room for months, but was able to escape. She suffers from PTSD because of what she went through back then, but her panic attacks are happening less and less since Amelia is her partner in life. Amelia is aware of Tessa's past and tries hard to help her overcome her fear and anxiety as the man who took Tessa was never caught.
One day Tessa is in the grocery store buying ingredients to bake Amelia's birthday cake. While in the store she locks eyes with a man and she knows instantly that even though he looks different after 15 years, it's him! The man that held her captive is walking around the grocery store without a care in the world! Tessa starts to panic. She rushes out of the store to her car and tries to get herself under control. She decides t wait for the man and follow him home. This book is high intensity and not for the faint of heart. Will Tessa confront the man? Where does he live? Does he have a family? Will Tessa's panic attacks return and get worse?
I love a book that keeps you on edge and Only Child does that and more! I can't recommend this book enough. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Only Child in exchange for a fair review. #OnlyChild #NetGalley
Sherrie is an overprotective mom that won't let Kayla do anything out of the ordinary. Sherrie wants her mom with her as much as possible so she goes to extremes to make that happen. Sherrie and Richard are in a loveless marriage, but both seem to love and want the best for their daughter Kayla. Tessa is a victim of a kidnapping when she was a teenager. She was kept in a dark room for months, but was able to escape. She suffers from PTSD because of what she went through back then, but her panic attacks are happening less and less since Amelia is her partner in life. Amelia is aware of Tessa's past and tries hard to help her overcome her fear and anxiety as the man who took Tessa was never caught.
One day Tessa is in the grocery store buying ingredients to bake Amelia's birthday cake. While in the store she locks eyes with a man and she knows instantly that even though he looks different after 15 years, it's him! The man that held her captive is walking around the grocery store without a care in the world! Tessa starts to panic. She rushes out of the store to her car and tries to get herself under control. She decides t wait for the man and follow him home. This book is high intensity and not for the faint of heart. Will Tessa confront the man? Where does he live? Does he have a family? Will Tessa's panic attacks return and get worse?
I love a book that keeps you on edge and Only Child does that and more! I can't recommend this book enough. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of Only Child in exchange for a fair review. #OnlyChild #NetGalley
October 3, 2023
What a wild story!
The twists and turns are crazy.
I couldn’t put this book down. Definitely recommend if you want a fast paced thriller.
The twists and turns are crazy.
I couldn’t put this book down. Definitely recommend if you want a fast paced thriller.
October 14, 2022
What a chilling opening couple of chapters. One four lines long that made me ask sooooo many questions quickly followed by a game of hide and seek that wasn’t so much fun. What have I let myself in for? One helluva a read, that’s what!!
I was very intriguing to know what happened to Tessa and how she fits in with Richard and his family. Her mental state made me apprehensive about her. How much of what was happening actually happened? What happened in those blackout periods? I really felt for Tessa, she was obviously petrified of something but I couldn’t fully trust her narrative.
My mind kept wandering back to the chilling game of hide and seek. Who was that??! As the story unfolded before me, I couldn’t settle on the identity of the young woman from the start. Fitting it into the story didn’t come until the finale when Kelleher revealed to me everything she’d been hinting at all along. And what a finale it is 🤯😱🤯😱
Don’t let that wholesome look the author portrays in her author pics fool you. Under that gorgeous exterior, is one twisted mind. Only Child is a prime example of this author’s dark imagination. She has created an unnerving thriller with a teen disappearance, family disruptions and historic trauma all melded together in such a way so this reader didn’t know who to trust. Loved it!!
I was very intriguing to know what happened to Tessa and how she fits in with Richard and his family. Her mental state made me apprehensive about her. How much of what was happening actually happened? What happened in those blackout periods? I really felt for Tessa, she was obviously petrified of something but I couldn’t fully trust her narrative.
My mind kept wandering back to the chilling game of hide and seek. Who was that??! As the story unfolded before me, I couldn’t settle on the identity of the young woman from the start. Fitting it into the story didn’t come until the finale when Kelleher revealed to me everything she’d been hinting at all along. And what a finale it is 🤯😱🤯😱
Don’t let that wholesome look the author portrays in her author pics fool you. Under that gorgeous exterior, is one twisted mind. Only Child is a prime example of this author’s dark imagination. She has created an unnerving thriller with a teen disappearance, family disruptions and historic trauma all melded together in such a way so this reader didn’t know who to trust. Loved it!!
September 1, 2022
Unputdownable standalone chilling and mind blowing read.
Hackney London, Tessa and her partner Amelia are happy together, Tessa's past needs to be forgotten easier said than done as we learn the full story.
When doing a normal shop at the supermarket she cannot believe it, It's him the man that destroyed her life and got away with it, much older now but she's not mistaking and follows him home to seek him out. he's only a stone throw away from where she lives.
Going by a different name Richard Goldman is living a comfortable life now with his wife Sherrie and their only child Kayla who they adore and are so protective. Tessa is watching and waiting she will get revenge.
I had to read on more and more it's one out standing book and oh wow it touched my button's big time, truly amazing twisted chapters right up to that brilliant twisted ending that I did not expect
Brilliant writing once again from Casey Kelleher that always sends shivers down my spine.
This book to me is a best seller in the making.
Hackney London, Tessa and her partner Amelia are happy together, Tessa's past needs to be forgotten easier said than done as we learn the full story.
When doing a normal shop at the supermarket she cannot believe it, It's him the man that destroyed her life and got away with it, much older now but she's not mistaking and follows him home to seek him out. he's only a stone throw away from where she lives.
Going by a different name Richard Goldman is living a comfortable life now with his wife Sherrie and their only child Kayla who they adore and are so protective. Tessa is watching and waiting she will get revenge.
I had to read on more and more it's one out standing book and oh wow it touched my button's big time, truly amazing twisted chapters right up to that brilliant twisted ending that I did not expect
Brilliant writing once again from Casey Kelleher that always sends shivers down my spine.
This book to me is a best seller in the making.
September 11, 2022
This book was pretty slow until the last 25%. I almost DNF’D it at 40% but I’m happy I stuck with it. The ending was pretty wild and not what I had guessed at all. If you want a slow burn thriller for a gloomy day, this is it!
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 2, 2022
This is a great psychological thriller.
We get to know Tessa and her partner Amelia and it’s clear Tessa has had a troubled past.
We then meet Sherrie, Richard and their daughter Kayla.
The chapters about each household are separate at first but then there’s a crossover which I wasn’t expecting.
This is a gripping story which had me questioning a couple of the characters. With the clever storytelling I was led one way but got it completely wrong!
This is a real page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
We get to know Tessa and her partner Amelia and it’s clear Tessa has had a troubled past.
We then meet Sherrie, Richard and their daughter Kayla.
The chapters about each household are separate at first but then there’s a crossover which I wasn’t expecting.
This is a gripping story which had me questioning a couple of the characters. With the clever storytelling I was led one way but got it completely wrong!
This is a real page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
November 9, 2022
Wow wow wow! What a book! Superb storytelling. A gripping, heart poundingly tense roller coaster of a read. Loved loved loved.
September 1, 2022
Holy crap.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Casey Kelleher does it again. Sherrie, Richard, and their daughter Kayla have a very normal life. They live in a very normal neighborhood. Sherrie is a very normal stay at home mom. And Kayla is a very normal angsty teenager. But when Kayla goes missing, their very normal lives may turn out to be anything but.
Tess and Amelia are pulled into the family's orbit when Tess swears Richard is the one who caused her PTSD. Only his name wasn't Richard. And Amelia doesn't believe her.
Their worlds collide in a page-turning thrill of a ride that will leave you speechless and more than a little surprised. Another can't miss thriller by Kelleher, this book shows just how far a mother will go to protect the ones she loves the most.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Casey Kelleher does it again. Sherrie, Richard, and their daughter Kayla have a very normal life. They live in a very normal neighborhood. Sherrie is a very normal stay at home mom. And Kayla is a very normal angsty teenager. But when Kayla goes missing, their very normal lives may turn out to be anything but.
Tess and Amelia are pulled into the family's orbit when Tess swears Richard is the one who caused her PTSD. Only his name wasn't Richard. And Amelia doesn't believe her.
Their worlds collide in a page-turning thrill of a ride that will leave you speechless and more than a little surprised. Another can't miss thriller by Kelleher, this book shows just how far a mother will go to protect the ones she loves the most.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 1, 2022
My Review:
Wow, wow, wow!!!!! I was hooked from the very first page. I couldn’t put this one down for the life of me. I read it in just a day. All of it was so good. Especially that ending that shocked me and took my breathe away. I couldn’t believe what I was even reading. I had to read it twice just to make sure I was reading it correctly. I was like what!!!!! This book had it all. Great characters, great story line, and of course my favorite a great ending. The characters were just the right amount devious while the plot kept me intrigued the whole time. Then that ending almost gave me a heart attack. There were so many twists and turns in this one. I couldn’t keep up. I’ve read this author before and she never disappoints. I can’t wait to read her next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wow, wow, wow!!!!! I was hooked from the very first page. I couldn’t put this one down for the life of me. I read it in just a day. All of it was so good. Especially that ending that shocked me and took my breathe away. I couldn’t believe what I was even reading. I had to read it twice just to make sure I was reading it correctly. I was like what!!!!! This book had it all. Great characters, great story line, and of course my favorite a great ending. The characters were just the right amount devious while the plot kept me intrigued the whole time. Then that ending almost gave me a heart attack. There were so many twists and turns in this one. I couldn’t keep up. I’ve read this author before and she never disappoints. I can’t wait to read her next book.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 25, 2022
I have mixed feelings on this one. The premise seemed interesting and I was really excited to read this book. sadly, it fell flat. The prologue really drew me in and had so much promise. There was tension in the book throughout which I do like but most of the characters felt extremely 2 dimensional and poorly developed. The ending was quite predictable as well. It seemed the author was trying to make TOO MUCH mystery and the backstory - the event that ruined Tessa’s life - wasn’t even revealed until after the 70% mark which was quite annoying since it was the motive for everything and made the story feel so dragged out.
The writing itself is good, not too descriptive, original (although far fetched) plot, realistic dialogue and tension throughout so I am going to round my rating up to a 3.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced reader ebook copy in exchange for my honest review
The writing itself is good, not too descriptive, original (although far fetched) plot, realistic dialogue and tension throughout so I am going to round my rating up to a 3.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an advanced reader ebook copy in exchange for my honest review
October 13, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Only Child' by Casey Kelleher.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Casey Kelleher, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 7th October 2022.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'No Going Back', 'No Fear' and 'I'll Never Tell' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud until the very last page. If you love Lisa Jewell, K.L. Slater and T.M. Logan, you’ll be obsessed with Only Child.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and K.L Slater so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Casey Kelleher and if this is half as good as 'No Fear', 'No Going Back' and 'I'll Never Tell' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 57 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is set in London 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited London lately so am definitely excited to see if I recognise any placed mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Sherri and Tessa. The benefits of third person perspective especially with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Wow!!!! What another absolute success Casey!! Absolutely LOVED it!!! Another very well written action packed psychological thriller that just kept on giving. The descriptions were excellent and the setting perfect for the storyline. The synopsis and cover worked well with the plot.
The storyline was absolutely ram packed with hair raising action which kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. The book was filled secrets, shock, suspense, tension and twists to keep you on your toes. It was also very realistic and would make an interesting and spine tingling movie if done right. I never would have guessed who was behind everything and what was really going on I thought I had it worked out and then BOOM came the huge twist!!! Nothing worse than guessing who did what when your not even half way through a book but there's no worry of that here. What an absolute shocker!!! The ending absolutely blew my mind!!! I was not expecting that AT ALL!! If your looking for a book with an explosive ending then you are in the right place!!! An absolutely unputdownable addictive page turner!!. Needless to say this would make an absolutely epic movie!!!
Clear your schedules before you even turn a single page on this epic psychological thriller as you will not be able to put it down!!
It is hard to say much about the characters without giving any of the storyline. The book throws you straight into the suspense and into a mystery with what Tessa's past is. I did feel so sorry for her having to live with something that was causing her so much pain and also obsession with Sherri and Richard. I thought Amelia was an absolute sweetheart sticking with her while she was going through it as many would walk away. My heart also went out to Sherri as it is hard as a mother to get the balance right between looking after your child and being overprotective. All of the characters were strong, realistic and sprung out of the pages of the book thanks to Casey's fantastic descriptions.
Another MASSIVE congratulations to Casey on yet another successful novel. You managed to have my heart racing and me on the edge of my seat throughout! I loved every part of it and was sad to see it come to an end. I hope your busy working on the next book!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors!!
Overall another fantastic, action packed, page turning, breathtaking must read with an explosive ending by the fantastic Casey!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Women's Popular Fiction and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, T.M Logan and anyone after an addictive psychological thriller.
319 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#OnlyChild #Bookouture #CaseyKelleher #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@CaseyKelleher @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__... A-R
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
Review for 'Only Child' by Casey Kelleher.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Casey Kelleher, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 7th October 2022.
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'No Going Back', 'No Fear' and 'I'll Never Tell' which I highly recommend.
I was originally drawn to this book by its colourful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you gasping out loud until the very last page. If you love Lisa Jewell, K.L. Slater and T.M. Logan, you’ll be obsessed with Only Child.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell and K.L Slater so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Casey Kelleher and if this is half as good as 'No Fear', 'No Going Back' and 'I'll Never Tell' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 57 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is set in London 🏴, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited London lately so am definitely excited to see if I recognise any placed mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonist being Sherri and Tessa. The benefits of third person perspective especially with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
Wow!!!! What another absolute success Casey!! Absolutely LOVED it!!! Another very well written action packed psychological thriller that just kept on giving. The descriptions were excellent and the setting perfect for the storyline. The synopsis and cover worked well with the plot.
The storyline was absolutely ram packed with hair raising action which kept me turning the pages while on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. The book was filled secrets, shock, suspense, tension and twists to keep you on your toes. It was also very realistic and would make an interesting and spine tingling movie if done right. I never would have guessed who was behind everything and what was really going on I thought I had it worked out and then BOOM came the huge twist!!! Nothing worse than guessing who did what when your not even half way through a book but there's no worry of that here. What an absolute shocker!!! The ending absolutely blew my mind!!! I was not expecting that AT ALL!! If your looking for a book with an explosive ending then you are in the right place!!! An absolutely unputdownable addictive page turner!!. Needless to say this would make an absolutely epic movie!!!
Clear your schedules before you even turn a single page on this epic psychological thriller as you will not be able to put it down!!
It is hard to say much about the characters without giving any of the storyline. The book throws you straight into the suspense and into a mystery with what Tessa's past is. I did feel so sorry for her having to live with something that was causing her so much pain and also obsession with Sherri and Richard. I thought Amelia was an absolute sweetheart sticking with her while she was going through it as many would walk away. My heart also went out to Sherri as it is hard as a mother to get the balance right between looking after your child and being overprotective. All of the characters were strong, realistic and sprung out of the pages of the book thanks to Casey's fantastic descriptions.
Another MASSIVE congratulations to Casey on yet another successful novel. You managed to have my heart racing and me on the edge of my seat throughout! I loved every part of it and was sad to see it come to an end. I hope your busy working on the next book!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors!!
Overall another fantastic, action packed, page turning, breathtaking must read with an explosive ending by the fantastic Casey!!!
Genres covered in this novel include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Women's Popular Fiction and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, T.M Logan and anyone after an addictive psychological thriller.
319 pages.
This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited and £8.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#OnlyChild #Bookouture #CaseyKelleher #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@CaseyKelleher @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__... A-R
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
October 16, 2022
If I remember correctly, it was about a decade ago that I first went scuba diving in the Farne Islands, off the north-eastern coast of England. I had been told to expect sightings of seals, but beyond that I didn't really know what to expect. I thought perhaps that if I were to catch a few passing glances I'd be doing well, and that if I was lucky enough to get a photograph that would be a good result.
My expectations were wrong. What no-one had conveyed is how playful and inquisitive seals are. Provided that they don't feel threatened by your presence - and if you let them come to you instead of chasing after them, they won't be - they love being around people. At least one of you will probably get a rub of a chin on your gloved hand, and a nibble on the fin attached to your foot. Imagine being under water with a 3-month old Labrador and you're about there. And photos? After two days I had a whole album.
It was a truly fantastic experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. But there's just one problem. Over the next 10 or so years, I've been back to the Farne Islands at least another six times and it's not that the diving hasn't been wonderful. It has. But because I now know what to expect, that initial thrill, that 'wow' has faded. It's a case of familiarity breeding ... not contempt, but maybe, I don't know ... maybe complacency.
This brings me to Casey Kelleher. I hadn't even heard of her prior to reading her last psychological thriller, 'I'll Never Tell' last year. Having read the blurb and seen some other readers' ratings, I'd go so far as to say that I had expected the book to be good. But not THAT good. It didn't blow my mind so much as shatter it.
So when 'Only Child' became available on Netgalley, I requested it with the enthusiasm of, well, a young Labrador at feeding time and devoured the book through to the end. After an explosive opening chapter, it tells the story of Sherrie, Richard and their teenage daughter Kayla in parallel to that of Tessa. Sherrie and Richard appear to have everything they had ever longed for, but is it just a mother's love that makes her so protective of Kayla? Or something else? Meanwhile, Tessa is clearly suffering from some form of mental illness, which causes her to even doubt her own narrative? But just how much of it is really unreliable?
It's really, beautifully written. It manages to be gripping, tense, sensitive and intricately plotted all at the same time. The truth seemed to be revealed gradually and I thought I had guessed it fairly early on ... but I hadn't. The real truth was far worse and ... for the sake of avoiding spoilers, just wow.
I felt something for each character, but want to give a special mention to the character of Tessa's partner Amelia who was probably my favourite of them all. Throughout everything that Tessa says, does, feels and goes through, Amelia is there to support and love her unconditionally. She's just the sort of person that Tessa needs, and that we probably all need.
If I had to nit-pick to the extent that I had to search for the nit with a fine tooth-comb and a magnifying glass, I'd stop my search on the character of Richard. It's a case of the one male main character being the weakest. This is something I've noticed with other female authors of psychological fiction and I don't know whether it's the way their minds naturally work or whether it's a conscious effort to please a readership that probably does consist mostly of women. But as a male reader, I can't help but wonder if it really does have to be this way?
My main problem though has probably less to do with the book than it does with me. Because I absolutely think that 'Only Child' is fantastic. But because I read it off the back of 'I'll Never Tell', I expected it to be fantastic. So after having finished it, I was delighted, thrilled, wowed. But I wasn't surprised. Which meant that even though I loved the book, I didn't feel that my mind had been blown to smithereens.
Obviously I'm not going to deduct a star for this, nor do I think that the author can help it. However, if this is your first time reading a book by Casey Kelleher, I really envy you.
My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 7th October. I have reviewed it voluntarily and honestly, and will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my personal blog.
My expectations were wrong. What no-one had conveyed is how playful and inquisitive seals are. Provided that they don't feel threatened by your presence - and if you let them come to you instead of chasing after them, they won't be - they love being around people. At least one of you will probably get a rub of a chin on your gloved hand, and a nibble on the fin attached to your foot. Imagine being under water with a 3-month old Labrador and you're about there. And photos? After two days I had a whole album.
It was a truly fantastic experience and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. But there's just one problem. Over the next 10 or so years, I've been back to the Farne Islands at least another six times and it's not that the diving hasn't been wonderful. It has. But because I now know what to expect, that initial thrill, that 'wow' has faded. It's a case of familiarity breeding ... not contempt, but maybe, I don't know ... maybe complacency.
This brings me to Casey Kelleher. I hadn't even heard of her prior to reading her last psychological thriller, 'I'll Never Tell' last year. Having read the blurb and seen some other readers' ratings, I'd go so far as to say that I had expected the book to be good. But not THAT good. It didn't blow my mind so much as shatter it.
So when 'Only Child' became available on Netgalley, I requested it with the enthusiasm of, well, a young Labrador at feeding time and devoured the book through to the end. After an explosive opening chapter, it tells the story of Sherrie, Richard and their teenage daughter Kayla in parallel to that of Tessa. Sherrie and Richard appear to have everything they had ever longed for, but is it just a mother's love that makes her so protective of Kayla? Or something else? Meanwhile, Tessa is clearly suffering from some form of mental illness, which causes her to even doubt her own narrative? But just how much of it is really unreliable?
It's really, beautifully written. It manages to be gripping, tense, sensitive and intricately plotted all at the same time. The truth seemed to be revealed gradually and I thought I had guessed it fairly early on ... but I hadn't. The real truth was far worse and ... for the sake of avoiding spoilers, just wow.
I felt something for each character, but want to give a special mention to the character of Tessa's partner Amelia who was probably my favourite of them all. Throughout everything that Tessa says, does, feels and goes through, Amelia is there to support and love her unconditionally. She's just the sort of person that Tessa needs, and that we probably all need.
If I had to nit-pick to the extent that I had to search for the nit with a fine tooth-comb and a magnifying glass, I'd stop my search on the character of Richard. It's a case of the one male main character being the weakest. This is something I've noticed with other female authors of psychological fiction and I don't know whether it's the way their minds naturally work or whether it's a conscious effort to please a readership that probably does consist mostly of women. But as a male reader, I can't help but wonder if it really does have to be this way?
My main problem though has probably less to do with the book than it does with me. Because I absolutely think that 'Only Child' is fantastic. But because I read it off the back of 'I'll Never Tell', I expected it to be fantastic. So after having finished it, I was delighted, thrilled, wowed. But I wasn't surprised. Which meant that even though I loved the book, I didn't feel that my mind had been blown to smithereens.
Obviously I'm not going to deduct a star for this, nor do I think that the author can help it. However, if this is your first time reading a book by Casey Kelleher, I really envy you.
My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 7th October. I have reviewed it voluntarily and honestly, and will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my personal blog.
September 4, 2022
Only Child
Author Casey Kelleher
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: October 7, 2022
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it. Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them. Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter. And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again
🔪🛑 MY REVIEW 🔪🛑
Wow what did I just read??? I have been in a book slump for so long that I forgot what it felt like to read a book that pulls you in and before u know it you turned the last page without ever putting the book down. Only Child is a expertly crafted story .The plot is suspenseful and thrilling at all times. It truly is a heart-pounding amazing very well written story. I loved it so much that i honestly never wanted it to end. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Finished it in one day. It is full of twists and turns. Each chapter ending in a way that you have to keep turning the pages. All of the characters are really well developed. One you will hate right from the start.
This is my first time ever reading one of Casey Kelleher's books. I definitely will be adding more of her books to my tbr list. I wish I could fly through the rest of my books that I am behind on reviews for the way I did this one. I would be caught up in no time.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free E -ARC copy of this book from netgalley prior to release. Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
#Onlychild #NetGalley
#Bookouture
#CaseyKelleher
Author Casey Kelleher
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication date: October 7, 2022
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description:
The police are here. The feeling of pure dread swirls in my stomach as a million scenarios start playing out in my head. My whole life I’ve expected something bad to happen to my daughter. It is as if part of me has been expecting it. As if I deserve it. Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes, their beautiful only daughter. They tried for so long to have her that she was even more precious when she arrived. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them.Then one day – just as Sherrie had dreaded – Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. In desperation, Sherrie and her husband Richard call Kayla’s friends. They scour the streets, their search becoming more and more frantic. Until the police arrive and deliver the shocking news, when their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.As Sherrie and Richard grill friends, family, and even each other, Sherrie starts to wonder, has the secret they’ve been hiding all these years finally caught up with them. Because Sherrie and Richard are living a lie. A lie so huge, so shocking, that it could destroy the one thing they hold most dear – their daughter. And if the truth comes out, their family will never be the same. But if it doesn’t, they will never see their precious girl again
🔪🛑 MY REVIEW 🔪🛑
Wow what did I just read??? I have been in a book slump for so long that I forgot what it felt like to read a book that pulls you in and before u know it you turned the last page without ever putting the book down. Only Child is a expertly crafted story .The plot is suspenseful and thrilling at all times. It truly is a heart-pounding amazing very well written story. I loved it so much that i honestly never wanted it to end. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. Finished it in one day. It is full of twists and turns. Each chapter ending in a way that you have to keep turning the pages. All of the characters are really well developed. One you will hate right from the start.
This is my first time ever reading one of Casey Kelleher's books. I definitely will be adding more of her books to my tbr list. I wish I could fly through the rest of my books that I am behind on reviews for the way I did this one. I would be caught up in no time.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free E -ARC copy of this book from netgalley prior to release. Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this interesting book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own. As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get !
#Onlychild #NetGalley
#Bookouture
#CaseyKelleher
September 20, 2022
Only Child started off with a promising and intriguing opening chapter, but I read LOTS and I mean LOTS of psychological thrillers, so I’m always looking for that one book that stands out from the crowd. It has to include those jaw dropping moments. It also has to feature at least one unstable character whose unreliable narration and behaviour are questionable. Luckily for me, Casey Kelleher incorporated all the elements I needed and more to make Only Child a throughly thrilling read.
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes. The longed-for child that they thought would never arrive. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them. Then one day, just as Sherrie had dreaded, Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. Their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.
The story is told from three POV, Sherrie, a fiercely protective mother whose unhealthy relationship with her daughter is controlling. Sherrie’s daughter Kayla, desperate to break free from her overbearing mother. And there’s Tessa, a woman whose horrific past is about to collide with her present. How are the three connected? It’s not for me to say! Read the book to find out! But the way the author draws the threads of the story together is just brilliant.
At one point, I thought the story was pushing the boundaries of realism, but that’s the beauty of fiction! The ability to stretch one’s imagination. The strength of this book is how Casey Kelleher deviously misdirects the reader at every given opportunity. I was feeling smug as I thought I had it all worked out, but I was WRONG! Which is always a plus in my book! Only Child is a dark and twisted tale of secrets, lies and revenge. I really enjoyed this one and would happily recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
Fifteen-year-old Kayla is the apple of her parents’ eyes. The longed-for child that they thought would never arrive. But deep down, her mother Sherrie has always been terrified that their worst fear would come true: that Kayla would be taken from them. Then one day, just as Sherrie had dreaded, Kayla fails to return home after a sleepover. Their worst nightmare comes true: someone has their daughter.
The story is told from three POV, Sherrie, a fiercely protective mother whose unhealthy relationship with her daughter is controlling. Sherrie’s daughter Kayla, desperate to break free from her overbearing mother. And there’s Tessa, a woman whose horrific past is about to collide with her present. How are the three connected? It’s not for me to say! Read the book to find out! But the way the author draws the threads of the story together is just brilliant.
At one point, I thought the story was pushing the boundaries of realism, but that’s the beauty of fiction! The ability to stretch one’s imagination. The strength of this book is how Casey Kelleher deviously misdirects the reader at every given opportunity. I was feeling smug as I thought I had it all worked out, but I was WRONG! Which is always a plus in my book! Only Child is a dark and twisted tale of secrets, lies and revenge. I really enjoyed this one and would happily recommend to fans of psychological thrillers.
February 25, 2024
Another excellent and highly entertaining read from Casey Kelleher, she never fails to captivate my attention.
So Only Child is a Psychological Thriller that literally has you on the edge of your seat in anticipation as to what might happen next, plenty of suspense and surprises in this story plot, which I have to say was really very well written.
It was a well thought out story, with four main characters, Sherrie, Richard, Kayla and Tessa, each of whom had their own story to tell. It wasn’t obvious immediately as to how Tessa fitted it with the other three characters to begin with, but even when it did become apparent, the story still had me guessing a fair bit as to how things would pan out and eventually end. As for that twist at the end, well I certainly didn’t see that one coming. Nicely done Casey.
So Only Child is a Psychological Thriller that literally has you on the edge of your seat in anticipation as to what might happen next, plenty of suspense and surprises in this story plot, which I have to say was really very well written.
It was a well thought out story, with four main characters, Sherrie, Richard, Kayla and Tessa, each of whom had their own story to tell. It wasn’t obvious immediately as to how Tessa fitted it with the other three characters to begin with, but even when it did become apparent, the story still had me guessing a fair bit as to how things would pan out and eventually end. As for that twist at the end, well I certainly didn’t see that one coming. Nicely done Casey.
September 11, 2022
this author has done it again a mind blowing addictive twisty story. that you will want to read until the end. Tessa lives with her. partner Amelia she is happy now but that has not always been for her. Tessa has demons as she was abducted many years ago buy the man she loved. Sherrie and Richard have a daughter Kayla. Sherrie is over protective of her daughter and will do anything for her to be at home. Tessa struggles in the outside world but she wants to make her partner a cake so she goes to the supermarket and when she comes out she sees him the man that took her all those years ok. Tessa has a panic attack. but will anyone believe her that she has found him as the police never did wont say no more but so good . and quite emotional
September 8, 2022
This was a very entertaining read, I could kind of see where it was heading from a few chapters i but it still had a few curve balls to toss my way as I approached the nicely twisty final reveals.
The characters were well written to make it easy to care about them and what was happening in their lives and although the storyline touched on some very dark areas, it was an enjoyable read that I barely put down from start to finish!
The characters were well written to make it easy to care about them and what was happening in their lives and although the storyline touched on some very dark areas, it was an enjoyable read that I barely put down from start to finish!
October 8, 2022
A book with a plotline that's so good cries out to be read in one sitting doesn't it? Yep, that's what happened to me with this one...
Only Child is an addictive, page turning psychological thriller, full of twists and turns with a cracker of an ending. It started a little slowly for me, but pace soon picked up and was all systems go!
Lies, deception and troubled pasts all have a habit of catching up with you in the end!
Highly engaging, compelling and well worth the read.
Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Only Child is an addictive, page turning psychological thriller, full of twists and turns with a cracker of an ending. It started a little slowly for me, but pace soon picked up and was all systems go!
Lies, deception and troubled pasts all have a habit of catching up with you in the end!
Highly engaging, compelling and well worth the read.
Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 8, 2022
I loved this book! It was suspenseful and captivating right from the start. I didn’t see the plot twist coming at all! Was wondering wtf was happening until the very last chapter. Loved it!
January 3, 2023
I'm rating this book 4 stars because it could have done without a few chapters. If it had not gone on and on and on ~ it wold have gotten 5 stars for sure.
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