The Shadow Child

Rachel Hancox

From Shelf: 2022 Reads

Cath and Jim are a happily married couple whose lives are completely upended when their teenage daughter, Emma, walks out and never contacts them again.

Can you ever escape from the shadows of your past?'Weaves a beautiful, tense and compelling tale of relationships, of secrets, loss and grief, but ultimately of the power of love. I couldn't put it down!' Sam Blake'The narrative is multi-layered and bound by emotional integrity.' Candis'A compelling story of love, relationships, and the grief of two families suffering traumatic losses.' Peterborough Evening Telegraph_____________________________Eighteen-year-old Emma has loving parents and a promising future ahead of her.So why, one morning, does she leave home without a trace?Her parents, Cath and Jim, are devastated. They have no idea why Emma left, where she is - or even whether she is still alive.A year later, Cath and Jim are still tormented by the unanswered questions Emma left behind, and clinging desperately to the hope of finding her.Meanwhile, tantalisingly close to home, Emma is also struggling with her new existence - and with the trauma that shattered her life.For all of them, reconciliation seems an impossible dream. Does the way forward lie in facing up to the secrets of the past - secrets that have been hidden for years?Secrets that have the power to heal them, or to destroy their family forever ..._____________________________BLOGGERS LOVE THE SHADOW CHILD...'I couldn't put it down!' Sam Blake 'A well-written story covering loss, grief (in many forms), adultery and murder.' The Sleepy Reader 'Make sure you have plenty of tissues nearby, you are going to need them.' Bunnys Pause 'An engaging and emotional read with well-developed characters thrown into an unimaginable situation.' Duvet Dwellers 'A touching and engaging read.' Sharon Beyond the Books 'A compelling, complex book about the twisting paths of life, loss and hope.' Bookmarks and Stages 'A wonderful, heartfelt book that all mothers will be able to identify with.' Cookie Biscuit 'A compelling debut about the complexities and nuances that make us human.' Emma's Biblio Treasures 'Beautifully written and I can't recommend it enough, it's just so brilliant!' Two Ladies and a Book 'I loved this book.' Varietats 'Overall I thought this was an excellent read, and one I couldn't put down!' Books Cats Etc 'In a time when our mental health is the focus point and trying to get people to talk, this book just hits that point home.' Bestie Books and Brews 'I just couldn't put this down and I really didn't want it to end.' A Cottage Full of Books 'It's original, engaging and very absorbing I highly recommend you read this book!' Gemzy9 'It kept me turning the pages as I was drawn into all their lives.' LibcReads 'Tantalising, thought-provoking, rich with survival, heartache and the possessiveness secrets hold over their owner.' Lost in her Bookland 'The characters all have sorrow and secrets to hide, yet Hancox weaves their lives together in a very clever way that shows the skill of her writing.' Paradise is a Library 'At times whilst reading you nearly have to close your eyes and try to grasp where this story is taking you in terms of emotion.' Book Reviews for U 'A book full of emotion, and a really great read.' Curling up with a coffee 'An immersive read that weaves a magical spell on readers that will keep them entranced and on the edge of their seats until the very last page.' Bookish Jottings 'A truly lovely story that I would absolutely recommend.' Kim's Reading Adventure 'I loved the way the book forces perspective by looking at the situation from different points of view, and the ending is a real tearjerker.' Sarah Wood