Good

This was a good, but not very original and there were a few parts that didn't flow very well for me.

Deputy Frankie Gray returns from several years living in Australia to help her mom get a former Catholic home for unwed mothers turned into a bed a bed and breakfast/inn. The story alternates between 1949/50 and 2013. The earlier story concerns one of the young mothers and the unfair treatment she received from her family, the nuns at the home, and society in general. The later story has Frankie re-connecting with the teen daughter she left to go work in Australia while trying to investigate a murder that happened in the nursing home housing Frankie's grandmother. Oh, and a charming small Washington island community, potential best friend, mysterious new boss, and, of course, a handsome man that is interested in Frankie as she is in him.

There were lots of set up for twists, but no twists. The book seems to be posed for being the first (I think it is the first) of a Frankie Gray series. That is the only reason I can think of all of the untied ends. Or maybe it is just like real life.

This was a fascinating book. There are a lot of characters and a lot of names, but the author did well making everyone distinct, memorable, and well-developed. The mystery was interesting and while it was neatly wrapped up in the end it didn’t feel unrealistic or overwrought. Frankie is extremely relatable and the author was able to create strong female characters who don’t fall into stereotypes, especially what you see in crime fiction tropes. My only gripe is there were a couple of throwaway revelations not relevant to the main plot that seemed kind of forced and the end. Specifically, the revelation about Emma Riley seemed random. Also the revelation about Frankie’s last case in Australia was oddly timed (both in when it was shared in the book as she was searching for her daughter and also it didn’t seem like it was necessary to explain).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Note: There is a SPOILER ahead.

Based on the first line of the description, “almost every graduating class had a girl who disappeared,” and that the book was listed as a mystery/thriller, my expectation was for a “taut, clever whodunit.” Unfortunately, the plot line proved to be thin without a whole lot of mystery or thrills making this a mediocre read.

The story revolves around Fairmile, a Catholic home for unwed mothers in the 1940’s and 50’s located on an island in Puget Sound. The characters include Frankie, an ex-cop who left her previous position in Australia to return to the U.S. and reconnect with her daughter, Izzy, after a five-year absence. Frankie’s mother, Diana, has purchased Fairmile, is renovating it as a bed and breakfast, and Frankie and Izzy will be spending the summer there. But when a retired nun is found murdered in the island’s nursing home and a tiny skeleton is discovered in Fairmile’s backyard, Frankie has questions and seeks the answers.

The plot lacked substance and was predictable from the beginning. The characters, while developed, were totally unappealing. Frankie is the main character, who left her daughter with her ex-husband and went to work in Australia. Throughout the book, she is trying to convince herself that she did the right thing, even though it is apparent she feels guilty (but we saw each other for vacations and holidays, that counts, right?). Frankie is supposed to be reconnecting with her daughter in the summer, and will be joining the police force in September. But she just can’t stay out of the murder investigation, and seems to think no one else is capable of solving the crime. SPOILER: When Frankie finds out her grandmother was one of the unwed mothers at Fairmile, she confronts her mother, demanding to know why she wasn’t told as she feels she “deserves” to know. But does she? Isn’t her grandmother’s secret one for her to share? And if her mother knew, why is she obligated to tell her daughter? I was also troubled by Frankie finding a register with the names of the unwed mothers. While the register used aliases, Frankie wanted to find out who the women were. Why? How many lives would she affect with that knowledge being disseminated?

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A thrilling piece of historical fiction centered around a Home for Unwed Mothers in the 1950s and present day. Could not put it down! Set in on the isolated coast of Washington, a crime committed in the past threatens the lives and bond between three generations of women. A chilling glimpse into an unfortunate part of the Catholic church's history. Highly recommend! #netgalley #goodreads #theonlychild #kaytenunn

Wow, this book was incredible!
I really enjoyed the dual timeline and the characters in the story. It's definitely more of a historical thriller than psychological, but it was just such a good story.

Parts of this novel are harrowing and tense; others are heartbreaking. The story is told in two timelines. In 2013, Frankie returns home to Orcades Island to help her mother restore an old building that was once a place to hide away pregnant teens and turn it to a hotel. More important is Frankie’s goal of spending time with her daughter, Izzy. Because Frankie’s demanding career took her to Australia for five years, she let her ex take care of Izzy. Now that she’s back and will soon take a less demanding job on the normally sleepy island, she hopes she can better reconnect with her daughter. However, the island gets considerably less sleepy when a dead body of an elderly nun is found under suspicious circumstances, and, not long after that, the dead body of an infant on the property that her mother is turning into a hotel.

It's also told in 1949/1950, from the point of view of Brigid, who “got herself in trouble,” (as if teenage girls got themselves pregnant). She’s shunned in shame into the abusive hands of the nuns at Fairmile Island, where they will do everything in their power to deliver the resulting baby to a married Catholic couple who can’t have children of their own and aren’t horrible sinners like Brigid and the other girls. This is a fictional story based on the true events of one-and-a-half million babies given up for adoption between 1945 and 1973—it’s not that these babies were unwanted necessarily (although many would have been avoided if girls had better agency and knowledge), but that they were essentially stolen from young mothers who were forced into it.

As you can imagine, parts are hard to read, especially since for much of our country, abortions are becoming dangerous, expensive, and difficult to get as it was in Brigid’s time, and this situation could get even worse and more backwards, with even more disregard to the physical challenges of pregnancy, not to mention all the other things that go with it.

I liked Frankie in particular. She was flawed but believably likeable. This is a good read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the novel, which RELEASES SEPTEMBER 1, 2022.




READING PROGRESS

The Only Child is an enthralling story told in two timelines set in Washington State, 1949-early 1950s and 2013. Mother-and-baby homes for young "fallen" pregnant women and their newborns to be adopted out were run by the Catholic Church. These girls were shunned and shipped off by their families who cared more about their reputation than their daughters' and grandchildren's welfare. Not only were the girls confused and frightened but the nuns sometimes treated them cruelly.

In 1949 Brigid is sixteen and pregnant and sent to the Fairmile which is hidden from view and adds to her humiliation. She knows nothing about what to expect at the home and during pregnancy and delivery. She meets and befriends other young girls. They are assigned tasks and are cared for until delivery and adoption. But inevitably, the young mothers fall in love with their unborn babies and bond even more when they are born. However, they are led to believe adoption is their only option...how can they possibly afford to care for a baby as a single mother? Goings-on at the Fairmile are secretive and disturbing, adding darkness to the story. Sometimes girls and their babies even disappear.

In 2013 Frankie leaves her life in Australia and returns to Washington where her young teenage daughter Izzy moves in with her for the summer. Frankie spends time with her mother and grandmother as well and discovers a plethora of secrets from her family's past, one which beautifully ties into the 1949 timeline. But when a tiny skeleton is found and a suspicious death takes place at her grandmother's care home secrets unravel and the past comes to light in unexpected ways. Additionally, Izzy goes missing. Another young girl disappears.

The parallels between the characters are fascinating. Though the story is predictable, it is more than a mystery to me and more of a look at human nature and what it means to truly love.

Historical Fiction readers in particular would enjoy this. I would not categorize The Only Child as a Thriller as I saw mentioned elsewhere, though it does indeed contain an element of mystery. Do be sure to read the author's interesting notes on the subject including statistics of women who had to give up their babies in such circumstances and the toll it took on them.

My sincere thank you to Penzler Publishers and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wonderful book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Only Child.

A plot with a timely premise considering abortion rights right now, the narrative is split between two timelines:

The past where a teenage girl's indiscretion forces her family to place her in a home to give birth to her illegitimate child and to protect the family's reputation; and the present where a former city cop cop has relocated to a small island, helping her mother restore a grand home to a B&B and reconnect with her teenage daughter.

When the death of an elderly resident at an assisted living facility is deemed suspicious, Frankie begins an informal investigation of her own and discovers dark secrets behind the home her mother is restoring.

Soon, Frankie will learn that someone does not like her poking around, and the cost of finding the truth may jeopardize the people she loves.

I really enjoyed the writing and the dual timelines; the descriptions of the girls at the baby and mother home , the myriad of emotions Brigid struggled with keeping her baby and wanting to return to school and continue her education;

In the present day, Frankie is struggling with guilt at not having spent enough time with her daughter as she pursued a career in law enforcement, and trying to understand her daughter and her role as mother and parent.

I did feel the plot was predictable, realizing early on that Frankie's grandmother was one of the teen mothers, and the death of the former nun was retribution for past misdeeds.

I liked how the author brought to light about the dark truths about these mother and baby homes.

I absolutely loved this book!
This was such a unique premise that was so well executed.

Having grown up in the catholic church, I think the nuns and the secrecy and shame aspects were so well touched on. I loved the multigenerational women and their interrelationships in the book.
Every storyline was captivating and I did not want this book to end.
Just twisty enough to keep you entertained, while rooting for the good guys and being in on the secrets. The writing and the scenery was all done beautifully.

More a historical mystery then thriller, The Only Child features a dual timeline in both 1949 Seattle and 2013.
In the 40's a 16 year old pregnant teen arrives at a home run by the Church on an island in the Puget Sound. In 2013, we meet Frankie Gay, a former cop vacationing with her family at the same spot (now a Inn) with her daughter. Frankie is present when a former nun from the home is discovered along with a baby sized skeleton nearby. Frankie has to work against the clock to discover what is happening and is faced with some of her own family secrets. If you like historical based mysteries and slow burn thrillers, this book is for you!
#PenzlerBooks #TheOnlyChild #KatyeNunn #NetGalley

This is a dual-timeline novel centered on a property in Puget Sound. In 1949, a young unmarried woman named Brigid Ryan is “in the family way” and is sent to Fairmile, a home for unwed mothers run by nuns. In 2013, Frankie Gray has moved to the area after accepting a new police chief job on the island. She also intends to have lots of family time. Her mother, Diana, is renovating Fairmile to be a bed and breakfast, and her grandmother, Ingrid, lives in a nearby assisted living facility. Moreover, her teenage daughter Izzy is coming to stay for the summer. Past and present collide when one of the people in the assisted living facility dies in suspicious circumstances and a small skeleton is found on the Fairmile grounds. Both mysteries are tied together. The real strength of this book isn’t so much the mystery aspect of it, but the way the author using present events to draw you in and then uncovers the horrors of Fairmile when it was a home for unwed mothers. The abuse and cruelty suffered by these poor girls is eye-opening and food for thought given recent events in the wake of the recent Supreme Court ruling.

This book really captures your heart and you can't stop reading. Based on the facts of some baby adoptions the story leads the reader into the life of a girl in the 1940s who surprisingly finds herself pregnant. Of course her parents are dismayed by her sinfulness and she is sent to a mother and baby home far away from her home. The story details actions and attitudes from that time. So much grief! As an only child who was born in 1945 and was adopted, I was really interested in the premise of the book. I really liked everything about this book! A great read!!

A great book! Another new author to me and I love finding new ppl to read! I can’t wait for more books for this author! Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

Kayte Nunn presents an intriguing mystery whose dual timelines center on Fairmile, once a maternity home, or home for unwed mothers as they once were known. In the late 1940s, a teenage girl becomes pregnant and is sent away to Fairmile on an isolated island in the Pacific Northwest. The nuns that operate the home are brutal, and nearly all of the young women are coerced into giving up their children for adoption. In 2013, Frankie Gray has just moved to Fairmile from Australia to try and reconnect with own daughter, Izzy, before starting a new job as the island's deputy sheriff. Frankie's mother Diana is renovating Fairmile as a bed-and-breakfast, and Diana's mother Ingrid resides in a nearby assisted living facility. When a body is discovered on the grounds of Fairmile during renovations, Frankie begins to investigate the history of the house in an attempt to solve the decades-old death. But someone out there doesn't want the truth uncovered and will stop at nothing to protect Fairmile's secrets.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…I love this book…I could not put this book down…this is historical fiction at its best…well researched and written by a talented and gifted author…I want a paper copy to reread… the characters are real life people…this reads like nonfiction…how true the facts of the times…the story moves quickly to a satisfying ending for the protagonist but not for all involved…I do not like books that have ,more than one timeline, but it was well done in this book…I cannot say enough good things about this historical novel…I hope the author writes more like this…if I could give this book more than five stars, I would.

This book was incredible. The book bounced back and forth from the late 40s early 50s to present day. Frankie Gray is a police detective who has recently moved from abroad to be closer to her mother grandmother and teenage daughter. When a former nun/patient in Frankie’s grandmothers nursing facility is found dead, she looks into the matter. Frankie’s mother recently purchased an old rundown building called The Fairmile Inn.
It was once used as a home run by the Nuns for pregnant women In 1940’s and 50’s. Brigid Ryan is 16 years old when she is sent to Fairmile. She disappeared with her baby and was never seen again. We end up finding that the things that the girls who were sent to this home went through were harsh and cruel, not only from the nuns running the house but the fact that they were sent there by their families for numerous reasons in the first place.. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I loved it!

#netgalley

As I was reading this book, I mistakenly thought it was being marketed as a mystery/thriller, and I was a little confused. I feel much better about it now, after re-checking to see it bucketed in general/historical fiction!

This story is told in two different time periods (1949 and 2013), but in the same place. I found the characters to be decently compelling for the length of this book — it’s hard for me to really get invested in under four hours, but I liked them! I also enjoyed the details and descriptions that allowed me to really visualize the mood of the island.

I will say that all of the “mystery” was easy for me to figure out in advance, and that’s fine, it didn’t really take away from the story. I am a bit confused about a lack of closure on Sara, though? I guess that’s just up to the reader? Unclear. Or maybe I missed something.

Overall, an enjoyable short read that touches on current themes (if you’re in the US especially). Thank you to Kayte Nunn,Penzler Publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

Wow. What an intriguing book given the timing of the change in the medical rights of women this week.

Frankie moves home to help her mother turn an abandoned pregnant woman’s home into something with less of a dark history. She ends up finding that the things that the girls who were sent to this home went through were harsh and cruel, not only from the nuns running the house but the fact that they were sent there by their families for numerous reasons in the first place.

The beginning of the book started out a little slow for me but once I had a chance to really sit down and start reading, I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and give my own honest review of The Only Child.

DNF - Had the writing style been different I might have had better luck with this book. Within the first couple of chapters this book began to resemble plots that I have come upon before & combined with the excessive detail / background information / for all of Frankie's actions, I realized that this was not a book for me. I'm certain that it will find its way into the hands of readers who are not as familiar with the genres as I am & that will fully appreciate the story for all it has to offer.

Frankie Gray is an ex-police detective who has given up her career abroad for life in a small town to be close to her mother and grandmother. Frankie’s teenage daughter, Izzy, is coming for a summer visit and she’s looking forward to reconnecting.

When a former nun/patient in Frankie’s grandmothers nursing facility is found dead, she feels compelled to look into the matter.

Frankie’s mother recently purchased an old rundown building and is creating a boutique hotel called The Fairmile Inn
It was once used as a home run by the Catholic Church for disgraced women. In 1949, sixteen year old Brigid Ryan was sent to Fairmile. She disappeared with her baby and was never seen again.

During renovation, a small skeleton is found on the property. Soon after, Izzy goes missing and Frankie frantically searches for her. Who is keeping secrets and will Frankie find the killer and save her daughter?

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed the story. I look forward to continuing the series.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.