The Other Child - Lucy Atkins

The Other Child is the second book I've read by Lucy Atkins and after reading the blurb I was really looking forward to reading it.

Tess has met leading paediatric heart surgeon Greg through her photography work and after a whirlwind romance Greg is offered his dream job back in his home country and Tess falls pregnant. Not wanting to leave her behind Greg proposes and Tess and her nine year old son, Joe, move to the suburbs of Boston.

Right from the outset unsettling things start to happen, noises that seem to be coming from within the house, standoffish neighbours and Tess can't shake the feeling that she is being watched. Greg always seems to be at work and is becoming more and more distant. It becomes apparent that Tess doesn't know as much about Greg as she first thought and when she starts to question his background he becomes very evasive.

I truly wanted to love this book but for me it fell short of the psychological thriller label it's been given. I didn't find myself engaging with the character of Tess as much as I wanted to and there were a few times throughout the book when she really frustrated me. She was too easily fobbed off with Greg's excuses for not wanting to open up about his past for my liking. Surely if someone had the questions Tess did she would have forced the issue more, especially considering her circumstances. I actually felt more for Greg's character and by the end the majority of my sympathy was with him.

I won't say don't read this book as it is an entertaining read but I will say that if you're looking for the type of story that will have you frantically turning the pages to find out what's coming next, this one doesn't really make the grade.

With kind thanks to NetGalley and publishers Quercus Books for the review copy.