Creepy, strange, and intense, I found this to be quite the page turner. While not necessarily original in idea, it was executed well enough to keep the reader interested.

It was a little hard for me to put down Little Darlings. Author Melanie Golding does a phenomenal job of bringing this horrifying story to life. Being a fan of fairy tales and various fantastical creatures, I find changelings to be interesting yet terrifying creatures. The idea of having your child being swapped for a fairy right under your nose? Once you think of it, it’s a scary notion – the child you gave birth to is no longer your own.

That’s the story Golding brings and paints to life. She tells the tale of a woman who has that motherly instinct that her children are not her own. It sent literal chills throughout my body, thinking about it. I’ve heard Little Darlings is being turned into a film, and I have to say, I’m curious and excited to see how they will portray this story.

If a psychological thriller had a love child with a fairy tale, you’d get Little Darlings. I highly recommend this novel. It is undoubtedly an unforgettable tale. Little Darlings will be available on April 30, 2019.

I want to thank Crooked Lane Publishing for letting me review this excellent book!

This book is seriously creepy, creative and sad. I think it's a bit misleading that it has found its way to the mystery/thriller section when it is mostly a contemporary with elements (or suggestions) of magical realism. But either way, it's a moving, frightening, psychological portrait of new motherhood, set in the Peak District.

Little Darlings is inspired by the Welsh fairy tale A Brewery of Eggshells, about a woman with newborn twins who are swapped with changelings. Lauren Tranter has just given birth to two beautiful twin boys who quickly become her whole world. When a disheveled woman appears on the maternity ward and threatens to swap them with her own sons, she is rightfully terrified and will do anything to protect her babies.

Lauren is tired and stressed like all new mothers, but she knows the woman is real. Even though the doctors and the police and her husband keep telling her that she is seeing things, that she needs help, she knows the truth. When her babies go missing one day, a frantic search begins and they are quickly found, seemingly unharmed. But Lauren knows the truth about that, too - these babies are not the children she lost.

Everyone wants to dismiss her as mentally ill except Detective Sergeant Joanna Harper, who has her own reasons for believing Lauren. Against the wishes of her superiors, Harper opens her own investigation into what really happened.

I think the police procedural aspects are the weakest part of the novel. Little Darlings is at its strongest when hovering somewhere between a portrait of postpartum depression and a dark, sinister fairy tale. I can speak from experience when I say depression can be terrifying. And just like in this novel, you can never quite be sure what is a legitimate feeling and what is an exaggerated response brought on by your mental state; these two often overlap.

After my first child, I found myself crying uncontrollably. I was exhausted, confused and afraid of absolutely everything. On top of the hormonal crash that comes after giving birth, for most people there's also the pure terror of being wholly responsible for someone else's wellbeing for the first time in your life. Unless you were previously a carer, the emotional shift that comes with knowing the responsibility falls entirely on you changes you beyond belief.

I think this book captures all that. Maybe the woman is real and this is a dark fairy tale, and maybe she is not and this is just a book about a woman struggling with mental illness. But it actually doesn't matter that much. The fear - of getting it wrong, messing up, of losing your baby, of not being a good mother - all of that is very real. I found it highly effective.

Creepy and suspenseful. I enjoyed the book. It was out of my comfort zone but id recommend it kept me turning the page.

Received via NetGalley for review.

A wonderfully upsetting and chilling story about a woman who's newborn twins may or may not have been swapped out for unearthly creatures.

Lauren's tale is so frustrating - she seems to have no support from the hospital staff or her husband after a difficult birth and quickly becomes paranoid, seeing a dirty woman who threatened to switch their babies. Everyone believes this is some kind of post-partum psychosis of Lauren's and brushes it off, even as she becomes hermit-like and refuses to leave the house or let her sons out of her sight. When she does, they go missing. And when they are returned, they are changed. Reading about her isolation, frustration, and paranoia was incredibly tough, and I just wanted things to go right for her.

I loved that there wasn't really an easy explanation for what was happening; was there truly a malevolent spirit who was haunting her, or was it all in Lauren's mind? The ending is a gut-punch, and things are still uncertain.

Little Darlings was an engrossing read, reminiscent of a Grimm’s fairy tale. The book is a quick read and difficult to put down. Lauren is a new mother of twins and is convinced that someone is out to get her babies, but no one believes her. Told through alternating points of view between Lauren and the detective assigned to her case, the reader knows a bit of what’s to come from the opening vignette, but not the why. Overall, a scary read that I would definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Really good read, almost gothic in nature. Haven’t read any other of her works so will be interested in seeing more.

Ooo, this book was creepy and chilling as well as harrowing and heart-breaking! Bit emotionally spent at the end...
Lauren has just given birth to twin boys. Whilst still in hospital something creepy happens and she fears for her babies. So much so that she actually makes a 999 call whilst locked in the toilets. She believes that the woman she saw is coming for her sons; to replace them with changelings. But there is no sign of the woman and any further investigation is dropped before it even started. After all, Lauren has just given birth and is tired. She's probably just hallucinating. But things don't stop for Lauren when she gets home and she swears she sees the woman again. determined to keep her boys safe she never leaves the house until, one day, that fateful day, she does. She falls asleep and someone takes her boys. Frantic with worry; the police are called. And then they're found and returned. But Lauren's nightmare doesn't end and she's convinced that the two babies she got back aren't the ones she lost. They're not her babies. But, to get her own babies back she has to do the unthinkable. Can she trust her judgement to make that leap of faith or is everyone else right and she's just losing her mind...?
Oh my. This book was so gripping. I really felt for Lauren every step of the way. I also admired her for some of the things she did. Spoilers prevent me from mentioning detail but she was a tad canny and quite calculating. I've not had children so it's hard for me to imagine fully what she went through in this book but the author did a cracking job of describing the fear and anguish that I was quite scared for certain characters along the way, sometimes to the point of being slightly uncomfortable in a challenged way.
There was a small amount of padding. Some scenes didn't really progress the story or add much to character development but I guess they did allow a bit of respite for the reader in amongst all the harrowing scenes. I found some to be on the distracting side however.
And the ending when it came... well, I really didn't think we were going there! But it worked, it really did. Well, to a point - and you'll get what I mean by that when you read the book.
All in all, a good solid read that kept my attention nicely throughout and left me satisfied at the end. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Chilling and shockingly real.
Little Darlings is an exquisite combination of modern horror and psychological suspense.

Little Darlings is well-written and seamlessly blends dark fairy tales with a psychological thriller. I was constantly guessing as to whether Lauren was just imagining it all or if something sinister had happened to her babies. Lauren and Jo were both well-constructed characters as they presented two different and unique perspectives on the events that were occurring. I enjoyed the use of quotes and passages from fairy tales and folklore in the beginning of certain chapters as I feel they definitely added to the foreboding mood of the book. There were some minor characters and subplots that were probably not necessary as they detracted from the story a bit. I also think that Golding could have gone a little darker and more creepy, especially since old fairy tales and folklore were often quite dark and foreboding. But overall, quite an eerie atmospheric tale Golding created that held my attention.

An enjoyable yet creepy read!

What if you said someone tried to steal your babies? Would it make you sound paranoid or crazy? This is exactly what happens in Little Darlings. This is a deep thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. Highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book. From the description I thought it was right up my alley. A little suspense with some changelings mixed in. However, for most of the book I felt like I was forcing myself to read it. I didn’t like any of the characters. I hated the husband from the beginning. I got tired of the dual perspectives. Overall, the book was just ok to me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

A little mystery thriller a little dark horror, a lot of good reading. The author's skillful writing and magical descriptions had me hooked from the beginning and the plot was different from anything I have read before. The characters, for the most part, were well-written. The creepiest part for me is we have 1 year old twins ( shudder ). Giving this one a 4 star and daring you to pick it up!

This book reminded me a bit of Rosemarys baby. That is one of my favorite books. Little darlings is right there with it.
Difficult to put the book down. Edge of your seat scary. I identified with the main character The way she felt in the hospital after the birth.
I love this story. I want to hear more from this author. It’s just awesome. Thank you for giving me the chance to review it and read it first

When all fingers point to a new, first time mother losing her mind, even she begins to doubt it. There is a book that explains it all. Or is there? How did she come into possession of it. No one is claiming they gave it to her. Has the dark lore warped her hormone riddled mind? Or, is everything she saying the truth. She is hoping even a little is accurate, but even the police and her husband don't fully believe her. No one would conspire after such an ordinary young family...or would they? This was dark. Her doubts while dramatic, are feeling a mother can feel after the birth. She felt alone with the strange beings. No assistance from her husband. This was a wonderfully painful story written to the point touch felt the mothers despair. I felt it kept you guessing and then hit a certain word count or length and was wrapped a tad too quick. It's really my only knock on it. Or, maybe I like the sweet again drawn out more in the story. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this before the release in exchange of my non biased opinion.

Much creepier than your average tale of mothers losing babies, having them taken while they slept. This one had me wondering throughout whether Lauren was being haunted or whether she was losing it with lack of sleep and postpartum hormones. A really great and quick read with just the right amount of ghost tale.

Little Darlings A Novel by Melanie Golding
4 Stars
Genre – Horror/Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things.

A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley—to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies.

Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Review

First I would like to give a big Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

As a fan of horrors and thrillers I was really interested in reading this story based off the Synopsis that I read on the NetGalley Site. I like all things creepy, scary and just plain unnerving! This book provided me with all that and more.

Being a mother myself I can relate with every feeling and fear that Lauren experiences. From thinking "How am I to care for this life I have created", "Could I possibly love anything more", "I have to protect and nurture", "I can't take my eyes away for even a moment, must make sure all is well". Joining Lauren through those first frightening days of motherhood pulled me right back into the uncertainty of what to expect. Lauren experienced a truly horrific visit from someone she saw. Immediately starting motherhood with a unnerving fear and paranoia only she understood. The Author, Melanie Golding, does an amazing job of bringing you into the world and situation at hand. You feel the panic, the fear, the uncertainty. At times I was yelling at characters in the book "LISTEN TO HER AND HELP HER!" Only to be given more to second guess and doubt what I thought I knew.

I rated this book 4 stars , which to me is a high rating. The book did not WOW me therefor 5 stars was not appropriate rating for me! Excellent Horror/Thriller Vibe. A definite recommend. However a word of caution, if you are pregnant or have a new baby at home I might wait a bit to read. We moms are far to tired and over worked, especially after new babies to be drawn so well into a unnerving story as good as this one!


Jenn

What a creepy story! A little bit of folklore and dark fairytales makes this a dark thriller.

Being a brand new pair to twins is scary enough but when Lauren finds herself locked in the bathroom with her newborn boys, screaming for the stranger to get away and leave her alone. This starts a very slippery slope downhill. Is there really someone there or is it the lack of sleep and her mind playing tricks on her?

Keep reading and decide for yourself! Is there some truth to these fairytales we tell our children?

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding is a chilling, disturbing tale of a new mother, her babies, and an ancient myth that has terrified parents for centuries.
Following the long and painful birth of her twins, Lauren Tranter is immediately caught up in the constant feeding, changing, and care of her babies. Exhausted and wrung out mentally, she is devastated to realize her husband has no interest in helping her care for the twins and is overwhelmed by the amount of responsibility now placed solely on her shoulders. After a terrifying encounter with a woman at the hospital, Lauren is convinced her twins are in danger. Even after the police investigate and find nothing to back up Lauren’s claims, she remains steadfast in her belief that the unidentified woman is after her children.
Now at home, Lauren cuts off her family from the outside world. Refusing to leave the house and completely at the mercy of the babies feeding and sleep schedules, Lauren is exhausted and wrung out. Living on little sleep, bags of chips and cookies, and eventually going so far as to keep her and the babies locked in her bedroom, Lauren is locked in a cycle of fear and paranoia. Throughout all of this, her husband is only concerned with his own well being and offers criticism, but not help.
After a friend finally confronts Lauren about her behavior and lack of interaction with her friends, Lauren works up the courage to take the children on a playdate with the other mothers from her parenting classes. When Lauren suddenly finds herself waking up on a park bench and the infants nowhere in sight, she becomes hysterical. After the police become involved, dark secrets and betrayals come to light that will turn everyone’s lives upside down.
This book was absolutely mesmerizing! I was completely absorbed by every word on the page. Melanie Golding weaves a magical tale that could be read as horrifying supernatural tale and at the same time, be read as a critical take on the stress and pressure we put on new mothers. Patrick, Lauren’s husband, is the most worthless piece of trash. He is constantly thinking only of himself, offers no help to Lauren, and can’t tell his own kids apart. When someone finally takes an interest in Lauren’s health and wellbeing, he is instantly concerned about how it will impact him. Ugh. He’s horrible.
Alongside the story of Lauren, we also have the story of DS Joanna Harper who takes an interest in Lauren’s case and is convinced, even without solid evidence, that Lauren and the twins are in danger. She is a wonderfully written character that is full of flaws and is willing to break the rules if she feels it’s justified.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it for lovers of horror, dark fairytales, and suspense.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

An ominous and beautifully written fairy tale filled with touches of mythology and folklore. 

Two little darling twin boys and mother who loves them immensely.

Everything else I was reading took a backseat to this scrumptious tale. I just couldn't stop reading it. It has an addictive quality and the author's skillful writing and magical descriptions pulled me right into the heart of the story. And it does have heart!

The mom of newborn twins, Lauren's intense love for her boys shines throughout the book. She took me through many emotions and while she was surrounded by a cloud of mystery. I wanted to believe her. Real or imagined ? This is what I kept asking myself.

I also enjoyed the police-procedural side of the story. The clues, the investigation and a determined officer added to the tension and intrigue. An intoxicating and atmospheric journey.

Are these little darlings her babies?  

Blog review closer to publication.