In the aftermath of an acrimonious divorce, Annie is already worried about her fifteen year old daughter Isla. But worry turns to fear when she is blackmailed for a thousand pounds a month to keep her daughter alive. She can’t go to the police so can she track down the blackmailers herself…?
Your Child Next is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Annie is sent a fake video of her daughter’s funeral with a warning to pay up or her death will become reality. Michael is grieving for his late wife and notices a standing order for £1000 going to an account in the Cayman Islands. He swiftly cancels it and then his son is targeted by a hit and run driver. Coincidence? Annie thinks not and tries to convince Michael of the danger he and his son are facing. Together they try to track down the blackmailers to protect their own families and potentially others.
Poor Annie has a terrible ex. Grant really pushed my buttons and didn’t have a single redeeming feature. His attitude is so unhelpful while Annie is in crisis and panicking about Isla’s safety. Isla herself is also not helping the situation by following simple instructions to keep her safe. I liked the way that the authors showed the parent and teen perspectives as I remember the frustration at wanting more independence but now as a mum I understand the worry!
The chapters are quite short and the plot rattles along quickly with some shocking events. I really enjoyed the book overall although it did stretch my disbelief to breaking point. The ‘baddies’ are just so bad (even though we are made aware of their tragic personal history). Or maybe I am too trusting in human nature to believe in such villainous characters!
Your Child Next is a tense, dramatic and engaging thriller.
Book blurb:
THEY’VE FAKED YOUR CHILD’S DEATH. AND IF YOU DON’T GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT, THEY’LL MAKE IT A REALITY.
Things have been difficult for Annie since her husband left; her teenage daughter, Isla, has become a ghost of her former self. Annie’s terrified that Isla might do something desperate, and she’ll lose her, too. So when Annie receives a video of herself crying at Isla’s funeral, her blood runs cold.
Confused and horrified, Annie races upstairs to check on Isla, who is alive and well. The video has been faked. But who sent it and what do they want?
One dark truth soon becomes clear: Annie is the latest in a string of parents being blackmailed, and Isla will be killed if Annie goes to the police or if she fails to give the sender what they want. Annie has a deadly choice: comply with the demands, or try to unmask the dangerous criminal.
Your Child Next is a thrilling and unputdownable novel that asks you how far you’d go to protect the ones you love. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Steve Cavanagh
