Terrific, truly a one-sitting read so be warned and allow space for it to be so. Zoe and Ollie adopt baby Evie, the unwanted child of a drug addict, father unknown. Premature, incubated and fighting for her life, the tiny bundle is adored. Five years later the couple have an unexpected, naturally conceived son. They have now moved to a small town on the edge of the West Yorkshire moor. Wild and beautiful, it inspires Zoe's work for she is an artist with an exhibition looming. Ollie is an ambitious workaholic accountant in line for a company partnership. Zoe, like a lot of mothers with young children, finds life fraught and has a problem juggling kids, now seven and two, and art. A fellow artist from her gallery becomes over attentive just as Evie becomes secretive and stroppy. She is hiding notes and presents from her 'real father'. Naturally, as the title suggests, she is abducted but prior to that, tragedy strikes the family and the whole pace of the novel changes gear. From about page 150 to the end (313 pp) and the unexpected climax you really will find it difficult to put this down. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Zoe and Ollie Morley tried for years to have a baby and couldn't. They turned to adoption and their dreams came true when they were approved to adopt a little girl from birth. They named her Evie.
Seven years later, the family has moved to Yorkshire and grown in number: a wonderful surprise in the form of baby Ben. As a working mum it's not easy for Zoe, but life is good. But then Evie begins to receive letters and gifts. The sender claims to be her birth father. He has been looking for his daughter. And now he is coming to take her back...
'The Stolen Child captivated me, terrified me and left me deeply moved.' -- Holly Seddon
'Gut-wrenching... The Stolen Child succeeds as both a fast-paced thriller and a haunting tale of a fragile family.' -- Peter Swanson
'This story grips to the very last page as it explores every parent's worst nightmare... I couldn't put it down.' -- Amanda Jennings
'Beautiful terse writing and the build to the shattering climax is palpable.' -- Peter James
'A powerful and compelling story about the lengths a mother will go to to protect her child... I found myself wondering what I would have done in that situation and the ending had me holding my breath.' C.L. Taylor on Bone by Bone
'I could not stop reading - I literally raced to the end... the story spirals towards an ending that is both unexpected and deeply satisfying. Sanjida is such a wonderful, assured writer. Luana Lewis on Bone by Bone A page turner.' Jane Shemilt on Bone by Bone
Author
About Sanjida Kay
Sanjida Kay is a writer and broadcaster. She lives in Bristol with her daughter and husband. Bone by Bone was her first thriller.