EXCERPT: He had returned and was standing over me, smiling, like before. I calculated that I'd been his prisoner for just over half a day now, although my senses and my intellect were at odds over this. in the darkness time stood still. And yet I still felt just about okay, so couldn't have been here much longer, I was tired, and had a headache, which I interpreted as a sign of dehydration, but my brain was still functioning. Even if all it could offer me was: after two or three days without water, you'll be dead.

'Have you calmed down?'

I resisted the impulse to scream and just gave him a silent nod. 'Very good,' he said, then turned around and went to the door. I waited for the click of the light switch.

It didn't happen. The light stayed on. He even left the door slightly ajar when he went out.

Forgetting to breathe, I stared at the door, open. I tugged fitfully at my shackles, without taking my eyes off the door, the open door, just five or six strides away from me, beyond reach.I blinked away a few stupid tears. I wouldn't get very far in any case. He must be coming back soon; why else would he leave the light on and the door open? All I could do was wait.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: A windowless shack in the woods. Lena's life and that of her two children follows the rules set by their captor, the father: Meals, bathroom visits, study time are strictly scheduled and meticulously observed. He protects his family from the dangers lurking in the outside world and makes sure that his children will always have a mother to look after them.

One day Lena manages to flee - but the nightmare continues. It seems as if her tormentor wants to get back what belongs to him. And then there is the question whether she really is the woman called 'Lena', who disappeared without a trace 14 years ago. The police and Lena's family are all desperately trying to piece together a puzzle which doesn't quite seem to fit.

MY THOUGHTS: The synopsis of Dear Child by Romy Hausmann gives you absolutely no idea of the depth of horror and terror this woman, Lena, is facing. None whatsovever.

The story is told from three points of view - 'Lena', Hannah (the daughter), and Matthias (Lena's father). Sounds simple? It's not. Everyone has secrets, things that they won't reveal. And everyone lies.

I didn't love this book at the beginning. I felt slightly confused, (a deliberate ploy by the author I now think) and was wondering what all the fuss was about. I soon found out. I was a little over half way before I put this book down for the first time. And then only because I had to go to work. I read the second half after I got home last night, unable to go to sleep until I had finished in the early hours of this morning, and then unable to go to sleep anyway. I never guessed Lena's captor, although I suspected a number of people. Some of them more than once.

Decidedly creepy. Jump at any noise in the night, real or imagined, creepy.

I believe this is Hausmann's first book. She has written a psychological thriller that is both chilling and absorbing. And one that will have you glancing back over your shoulder, shivers running up your spine.

😱😱😱😱😱

#DearChild #NetGalley

'Love. It's all love. No matter how sick, distorted and misunderstood, it's still love. Love that spurs us on. That turns us into monsters, each in our own way.'

THE AUTHOR: How did I, a girl from rural Swabia with glasses and a big bum, end up in this business in the first place? The reason? Because nobody believed I could make it. But it was what I wanted. I wanted to be in a profession where I could meet people, listen to stories and retell them, and I wanted to make a success of my career.

I work at my old kitchen table. It's not unusual to see a raccoon on the terrace in the evenings, gorging on wine grapes. I do yoga, chop wood and grow vegetables in my greenhouse. And, of course, I talk about writing.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Dear Child by Romy Hausmann for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to mu Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on Sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

A young woman has escaped her captor's shack in the woods. The child with her insists that her name is Lena, and a young woman by that name did go missing - fourteen years before. Is this really her? Where has she been and who is the child?

First, as always with translated books; the quality of the translation. This is definitely one of the best ones. The language is smooth and even, if rather formal. I'm surprised that they still use Fraulein and Herr, but otherwise it's all fine.

This story is told by three unreliable narrators; the woman who may or may not be Lena, the young girl claiming to be her daughter, and Lena's father. None of them is entirely honest at any point, but I liked the daughter the best.

There are a couple of plot holes I can't see the answer to at the end, (how did the daughter recognise the grandfather is the major one) but overall this is an interesting, exciting thriller that I'm happy to recommend to other readers.

Billed as a cross between Room and Gone Girl, I would say that while I understand the comparison, that underplays the complexities of this thriller which is both unpredictable and compelling, and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. If you are looking for an unputdownable twisty read, then this is for you.

A woman is involved in a car accident and is taken to hospital, along with her daughter. The woman has been held captive with her two children in a cabin in the woods. Initially it appears she might be Lena, a young woman who went missing 13 years before but all is not what it seems. Told from the points of view of "Lena", her daughter Hannah and Lena's father Matthias, this is a harrowing story and the tension builds throughout. Beautifully written, and excellently translated, there are so many twists and turns that you are kept guessing as the book reaches its shocking climax.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked on this book from start to finish! The premise of being kept captive and forced to be a family is compelling enough but, with each character's viewpoint revealing a bit more of what really happened, a fantastic story develops. I can't wait for more books by this author.

I was worried I was offering up spoilers by saying Dear Child by Romy Hausmann very much reminded me of Room by Emma Donohue. And then I read the media release and discovered it’s promoted as 'Gone Girl meets Room'.

It certainly reminded me of Room - initially at least. Of course I've read other similar books as the theme of women / children in long-term captivity (having escaped) was pretty popular for a while. (And sadly it seemed fiction was mirroring what we were reading in the newspapers for a while.) 

Interestingly this book (originally written in German and set in a town near the Czech border) offers something slightly different, as we fairly quickly learn that many of the assumptions we make aren't—in fact—correct.

I was meant to only read a little of this but ended up reading it in a sitting. (And eating dinner very very late.)

I was hooked from the beginning as it gets off to an addictive (and bewildering) start. I adored 13yr old Hannah who escaped with Lena. We learn she has Aspergers and her head is full of amazing facts and information. She takes everything so literally and is so guilelessly honest that it's charming. Of course, she does have her secrets and—even as time goes on—she's reticent to share them, which doesn't make sense to those trying to help her.

We spend time with the freed Lena and her attempts to make sense of the world now, not to mention the circumstances of her escape. And she finds herself filled with an ongoing sense of trepidation despite the absence of any threat. 

And then there's Matthias, Lena's father. He's been counting the days since she disappeared and up to 4,993 days* when he gets news of a woman called Lena being hit by a car and hospitalised. Matthias and her wife (Lena's mother) Karin have practically given up on finding their daughter after over 13 years. They have hope but try not to voice it.

Of course they're even more shocked to discover the existence of Hannah, who looks identical to their daughter (at the same age) and then a grandson (Jonathan) as well.

It's really hard to comment much more on the plot without offering too many spoilers. Needless to say there are many many twists and unanswered questions as we progress. This book is far from predictable and in some ways there's an awkwardness that's really appealing. Everything unfolds in such a clunky way (the narrative, rather than the overall plot itself) that it makes it feel very realistic. Re-entering the world after being locked away is obviously going to be challenging but Hausmann offers up some surprising responses - particularly from Lena and Hannah. And of course then there's Matthias and Karin, trying to accept the 'new normal'.

I probably would have liked to understand Jonathan (Lena's son) more. He plays quite a small role, which is understandable, but made me wonder if his character was even required. Although perhaps he's meant to help us understand his sister.

Hausmann offers up a really clever book here. Although we've seen this story before, here we sometimes struggle to sympathise with those we should and can't quite pinpoint the source of our unease. And this means the pace and suspense continues to the very end.

Lots of twists and turns, An edge of your seat fantastic read. Although I felt that it started off a bit slow, the build up was gradual but once it kicked off I was unable to put it down.

Dear Child is hands down the best thriller of the year so far and the fact that it is Hausmann’s debut is incredible. Lena and her two children have been held captive in a secluded cabin in the woods for what feels like a lifetime. However, she has been working up the courage to try and escape and planning it in her head should an opportunity arise. The day arrives and she makes her break for freedom but is inexplicably involved in a car accident. Luckily, Lena and her daughter are rushed to hospital where she feels dazed and amazed that she managed to escape her seemingly hellish captivity; maybe now they will be able to live again rather than merely existing. The authorities are swiftly brought in to investigate and are directed to the isolated cabin where they discover Lena’s offer child and their abductor who is dead. As they contact the family they are excited to be able to bring some closure given Lena has been missing for fourteen years. But it's immediately clear that the family are wary and are adamant that this isn't their long lost daughter... If so, who is the imposter and what could she possibly gain from this?

It's not often a thriller writer comes along and makes me so excited that I am literally giddy with anticipation for what comes next; that's how addictive, compulsively readable and completely unputdownable this is. This is a wild, complex and convoluted story that keeps demands you to stay alert as to keep up with the various interwoven strands to the superb plot. I don't want to say too much as this is one of those where it is easy to provide spoilers inadvertently and I’d recommend going in blind, as I did, to experience the most enjoyment. There is plenty of exploration of the different ways in which people cope with trauma, in this case the kidnapping, and I found it intriguing as to the multitude of coping mechanisms used by all the different characters. With so many secrets, lies, betrayals and duplicity when the reveals begin you start to turn the pages faster and faster in a bid to discover the truth. When everything was eventually laid bare I was gobsmacked. A must-read for thriller fans, this comes highly recommended. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

My first novel by Romy Hausmann was pretty impressive to say the least. It is a shocking story of abduction and captivity, encompassing the effects of these traumas on the victims themselves and their families.

A young woman is hit by a car and taken to hospital accompanied by a child called Hannah, who claims that the injured woman is Lena, her mother. But is she missing person Lena Beck who mysteriously disappeared thirteen years ago? The detective from the original investigation into Lena’s disappearance contacts The Beck's, Lena’s parents Matthias and Karin, to advise them that Lena might be the accident victim. Unfortunately for the Beck's, their hopes that Lena has returned are dashed as the woman turns out to be Jasmin Grass who has been missing for 4 months as she proceeds to tell the police the chilling tale of her recent whereabouts. Her evidence leads them to an isolated cabin deep in the heart of the woods where Jonathan, another child deeply traumatised, is found along with a dead body...

This thriller début is told in alternating segments by Hannah, Lena/Jasmin and Matthias dotted with extracts from newspapers. All three of the narrators, Lena/Jasmin, Hannah and Matthias, are well-drawn and have suffered psychological trauma that has impacted on them in different ways. Their diverse perspectives gel to create a taut, cleverly woven, multi-layered and suspenseful story. Well translated, the ending was fulfilling and I'm pleased to have read this mesmerising, nightmarish story.

Dear Child is very highly recommended and I will be looking out for more by Romy Hausmann in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

A creepy little tale with creepy little kids, the premise really pulled me in. From the start you’re doubting Lena’s story of surviving the horror of he cabin - did it all happen or did she make it all up? Hausmann does a great job of misdirecting you with various developments in the plot that don’t really add up - until the big reveal. And fair credit to Hausmann, I really did not see that reveal coming!! I’ll be looking out for more books by her.

My thanks to Quercus Books for the invitation to receive an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Dear Child’ by Romy Hausmann in exchange for an honest review. It was originally published in Germany and translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch.

This isn’t an easy book to summarise and I am also wary of accidental spoilers. ‘Dear Child’ is set in Germany. In an isolated windowless shack in the woods, Lena and her two children lives are strictly regulated by their father/captor. One day Lena manages to flee with 13-year old Hannah. She is forced to leave 11-year old Jonathan behind. However, when she reaches a road, she is hit by a car, though is taken to a nearby hospital.

Once she gains consciousness, she is able to direct police to the cabin where they find Jonathan and the dead body of the man that she had struck with a snow globe before making her escape with Hannah.

Okay, that would make a short ‘Room’-like story. However, the question of whether ‘Lena’ actually is the woman who disappeared over thirteen years ago soon emerges. The police and Lena’s family are all desperate to piece together this puzzle.

The narrative is told from the viewpoints of the woman known as Lena, Lena’s dad, and Hannah.

I have to admit that I didn’t take to this story at first as I found it rather slow and the continual cycling between points of view rather confusing.

Yet I persevered and I am glad that I did as it soon shaped up into a twisty treat that had me on the edge of my seat eagerly awaiting the next revelation.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Lena Beck went missing 13 years ago on her way home from a party. Her father Mattias, has never given up hope and has been convincing police and press alike to remember his daughter and keep searching.

A woman is rushed to emergency after a hit and run that is calling herself Lena. She is accompanied by her daughter Hannah. Mattias and his wife Karin rush to the hospital only to be disappointed to discover it is not Lena. Then they catch sight of Hannah and she is the spitting image of their daughter.

The story of Lena and Hannah emerge and it is a dark twisted story of abuse that makes you want to cry at the psychological damage this abductor has caused.

Twists and turns and an ending I never saw coming!

#netGalley #DearChild #RomyHausmann @QuercusBooks

Wowee! This one messed up psychological thriller!

Reminiscent of Emma Donoghue’s Room and Caroline Kepnes’ You, Dear Child evokes a sense of unease and foreboding right from the get-go. The paradox of this story is that it is both at once difficult to put down, and disturbing to read in large sittings.

Told through the eyes of three main characters: A grieving father, an abducted woman, and a young girl, they soon begin to find that not only are they connected to a woman known as Lena, but each also holds a part of the key to unlocking the mystery behind her disappearance 14 years ago.

It’s a compellingly dark novel about the physical and psychological pitfalls of captivity, survival, and never giving up hope.

Thank you to Rome Hausmann, Quercus Book, and NetGalley for inviting me to read an arc of this eerie book in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping and bleak story that I liked even if it's totally of my comfort zone.
I liked the plot, full of twists and turns, the bleak atmosphere and the suspense, the well thought and interesting cast of characters.
I was surprise by the ending and I liked it.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
A good read, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This an absolutely fantastic book! The plot and character development are brilliant. The plot really picks up pace towards the end and I was reading furiously eager to find out the truth! As the book builds to its climax, I was on edge and almost a bit scared as characters were brought together for the ultimate showdown.
I couldn't put this down and read it in just short of 48 hours. Extremely well written and with a plot that is horrifying but so, so good.
Can't recommend enough... 5 huge stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, Romy Hausman and Quercus Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favourite book of 2020 so far! This is a must read for Thriller fans. Dark and disturbing. Kept me guessing all the way through. Great tension building and perfectly paced. Wow, wow wow. Couldn't put it down. Read it already

I love to be totally surprised by books and this is exactly what Dear Child delivers – one after the other after the other.
I never read the blurb just before starting a book, and stay well clear of all reviews (which I then devour after I’ve finished and reviewed it – mostly to see if other book bloggers and readers felt the same way I did).
The surprises are why I loved Dear Child so much. Author Romy Hausmann dished up one unexpected revelation after another, each one leaving me more gob smacked and breathless than the one before. For once, I thought the tagline was spot on: The twisty thriller that starts where others end.
Adding to my enjoyment was that I read a pre-publication eBook from the publisher, with no contents list nor page numbering. That meant I had no idea how long the book was. Each time I thought the story had just about wrapped up I was hit with another twist from completely left-field which opened up a whole new set of possibilities.
Dear Child is the story of Lena, a young woman who is abducted and kept prisoner in a cabin in an isolated, forested part of Germany near the Czech border. After 13 years she finally escapes her captor’s clutches, but runs straight out onto a road and is seriously injured. She ends up, with her daughter Hannah, in hospital. The two of them prove to be highly unreliable witnesses, however, setting the scene for this story of half-truths, unimaginable horrors, highly disturbing revelations and some seriously creepy, heart-stopping moments.
I found Dear Child a fascinating study of how this horrific crime affected everyone involved, particularly Lena’s children, brought up as they were without any contact with the outside world, and her parents who suffered not knowing her fate for 13 years.
I was more and more hooked as I gradually came to learn the truth of really what happened in that cabin.
I recommend you listen to Romy Hausmann introducing her book on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRGPK7QKFR4). Here she explains she was born in the former GDR and thus grew up in a country that traps its people behind a huge wall and a lot of fences. “When you grow up like this, freedom is the main topic in your daily life,” she explains.
Translator Jamie Bulloch does a great job of translating Dear Child from the original German.
I leave the last words to David Baldacci, who described the book as, 'A chilling, original and mesmerizing work. Hausmann is a force to be reckoned with. You can't stop reading.'

A chilling and thrilling story that would not stop twisting!!

“Dear Child” by Romy Hausmann is a chilling and thrilling story that may sound like a one you have read before but believe me this one has so many twists, you will not believe it!! The story is set outside Munich near the Czech border and begins with a road traffic accident following the escape of the main character Lena who has been held captive in a cabin in the woods during which time she has given birth to two children. From this point on, very little turns out to be as it appears. Lena’s children are taken care of in an institution while she recovers in hospital; the police carry out their investigation into the circumstances of her abduction and the pursuit of her captor whilst the local newspaper reports on her dramatic escape and rehabilitation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was very well written (and brilliantly translated). I particularly liked the use of different characters’ points of view which made the story zing along with me thinking ‘just one more chapter...’ only to get to the end of that chapter and want to read the next person’s story. It was an unusual take on the normal abduction story, told with great empathy and suspense. What is interesting as an aside, is the fact that although the story is set in Germany, it could just as easily be in the UK or America. It’s a universal plot by a new voice. I’ll be looking out for more by Romy Haussmann.

This book has everything. It’s intriguing, dark, horrifying, gripping and just so clever. The plotting and pacing is superb and it will be a book that I can see myself recommending again and again.

Thirteen years ago Lena Beck vanished without a trace. When, out of the blue, she turns up in hospital having apparently escaped from her captor’s windowless shack in the woods, her father is overjoyed and immediately jumps in his car to go and see her. But when he arrives nothing is as he first thought. And who is this little girl that is accompanying her..?

Marketed as the thriller that begins where others end, this book pulled me in almost immediately through its unique style and unreliable narration. The different threads of story revealed teasingly piece by tiny piece meant that I didn’t have a clue what was going on but I was desperate to find out!! The story flits between several points of view including Matthias’, Lena Beck’s father and Hannah’s, the little girl that has apparently been held captive by the same man.

I got definite Room vibes from this one (a book I also loved), through Hannah’s sections. What I thought was particularly well-explored was the impact of trauma on a victim and their friends and family. Each character in the book that had been affected either directly or indirectly by the by abduction reacted in a different way, something that was dealt with very thoughtfully.

I absolutely did not manage to guess the ending but I did very much enjoy it and thought it made for a mostly plausible and satisfying resolution. If you enjoyed Room or like a dark, intriguing thriller then I would definitely recommend you give Dear Child a try.

This translation from German is so much more than a book about an abducted woman who escapes her abductee. The tale is original, captivating and complex.
Lena Becks disappeared from Munich 13 years earlier and her parents, Karin and Matthias, have looked for her ever since. The difference between their concept of their daughter and how she becomes described in the newspapers is fascinating in its disparity.
Lena's escape with her eldest child is the start of a wholly different story with so much trauma being experienced by the different characters portrayed in the book. The truth is not always told which is quite understandable considering the secluded life lead by Lena and the children.
This was a fascinating story, very well told, with characters severely traumatised by their experiences.
I hope there will be more translations published by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Romy Hausmann/Quercus Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.