Every Friday, Mercy Hamilton visits the same supermarket, but her purpose isn’t to buy groceries. Instead, she shows a fading photo of a little girl to anyone who’ll look, pleading for help to find her missing daughter. Enter Erica Fielding, who is touched by Mercy’s story and agrees to assist. However, things take an unexpected turn. The police have no record of Mercy’s daughter, and there’s no evidence that the child ever existed. Who is the girl in the photo? And why is Erica drawn deeper into Mercy’s drama?

“The Girl in the Photo” is an unputdownable read that kept my heart pounding. Carrington masterfully weaves a web of mystery and suspense, leaving readers questioning everything they thought they knew. The twist at the end caught me off guard, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The characters are well-developed, and the tension builds steadily throughout the book.

I devoured this book! The mind blowing twist at the end I definitely didn't see coming. I screamed so loud!

Thank you Netgalley. What a ride!! This one drew me in from page one and did not let go. Very suspenseful storyline and relatable characters. Some parts I guessed but other threw me for a loop right until the end. Emotional parts to this story too. Overall a great read

This book was one I really had to power through unfortunately. The writing style was not for me and I did not find myself intrigued by the story.

I did manage to make it most of the way through the book, but was disappointed by the twist. It felt boring to me, which was a shame. I also did not feel attached enough to any of the characters to continue reading after the twist.

It's a shame but this book was not for me.

Where do I start, I was gripped by this story from the very start and it didnt let me go til the final page. The writing and character development make for an enthralling story you will struggle to forget and oh wow that ending

So many topics discussed in this book, and in a sensitive way. The characters were realistic. Told by multiple POV's ,I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I go back and forth on how to review this. I was hooked and wanted to know the truth. While at the same time I wanted to stop. I was angry because I knew the direction the answers were headed and as someone who has gone through what I assumed the book was going to imply I was not okay with it. Without trying to give spoilers people going through something like what the killer did is hard and I struggle with authors always implying that means that it turns them into judgmental killers. Maybe its just my opinion because I'm in it right now and down the road I won't have as of an emotional response. If you don't have a connection emotionally to what the author is implying here then I would say it was probably more of a 4 star read.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author, for a free copy of this book in exchange of my honest review. I enjoyed this mystery from beginning to end. I did not get confused or distracted with unnecessary side stories or characters. I was so intrigued from the beginning of the story, I could not wait how this would end. The reveal of what truly happened was shocking, unexpected and sad. Even though there were little details I did not understand while reading the story, after the reveal, I was able to connect all the dots. Fantastic mystery!

Prepare for sleepless nights as you embark on this spine-tingling journey, where every page turned had me holding my breath and fearing what might come next.

This book possesses an eerie quality, narrating the journey of a woman chronicling her experiences with in vitro fertilization (IVF) on the internet. Her path crosses with that of a distressed woman in a supermarket, who confides that her daughter has been abducted. The desperate mother seeks anyone who can offer assistance.

Narrated by Erica, the story initially portrays her in a challenging relationship with her spouse. This is set against her struggles with infertility, as well as her growing suspicion that her love for her husband is waning. When she encounters Mercy, a woman in need of someone to believe in her quest to find her missing child, Erica feels compelled to aid her. Despite the peculiar nature of their weekly meetings, their connection evolves into a source of mutual support.

Woven throughout the narrative are excerpts from online chat rooms discussing the missing child's case due to neglect. An alternate narrative is provided by a counselor, whose identity remains a mystery until the story's conclusion.

The book is skillfully composed, tackling themes of love, loss, mental health challenges, and grief. I am grateful to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a complete rollercoaster that had me hanging onto every word.

Dealing with the subject of bereavement, child abduction, mental health and fertility The girl in the photo had me guessing until the very end.

Erica Fielding is longing for a baby and appears to be following a path of IVF treatment. However, her marriage is falling apart and all is not at is seems. Shopping in the local Bateman’s store, on a Friday afternoon, she meets Mercy. Mercy informs her that her daughter is missing and that she needs help as no one is willing to help her. Reluctantly Erica agrees and finds herself drawn into a situation that she isn’t even sure truly exists.

I’ll admit that every theory I had when reading this book was wrong and for once I didn’t guess the twist. I was truly shocked by the ending and this rarely happens. A true thriller to the very end.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

With such a powerful description In knew that this was one thriller that would have me up at all hours to get it finished and man was I ever right there. The book starts out with a woman losing her child in a supermarket. Fast forward and now that same woman is desperate showing the child's photo to anyone at the store who will listen. That person who listens is now our main character Erica. Erica brushes off the interaction with the woman, however the woman's desperate pleas linger with her as she wonders what actually happened to this missing child. It is in that moment that Erica decides she needs to help this woman find her child. There were a lot of characters in this book and it seemed almost like each one had their own chapter. At first I didn't like it but once I got used to it I really enjoyed how it gave the reader that much more information on the plot and the characters internal feelings. This book was full of so many twists and turns that I couldn't bring myself to put it down and I liked how none of the were to obvious or glaring. This was a quick read for me however I think that was just because of how involved I got into the story line. This book had everything, amazing characters and a plot that I couldn't get enough of. Great read I don't think I will ever be able to read anything like this again because the concept of the plot was so unique. I'm so glad I was given the chance to read this book and I know that this is one that all thriller loves will enjoy. The ending had me amazed and it changed the entire situation of the book so much so that it almost deserves another read through once you know the twists. Everything that you think you know gets flipped and it was such a shake to the reader that I couldn't believe I never saw coming but at the same time was amazed. I will not be able to ever say anything even remotely negative about this book it was great.

This book. It has really played on my mind since I closed it. What a book. With the amount of books I read, it’s not often that a book stays with me and I cant stop thinking about it. So when a book messes with me like this, it’s a great sign!
I had so so so many theories. None were even close.
I was so convinced that Mercy had done something to her child.
The ending. It blew me away!
Anyone who has read this book and actually guessed the ending, fair play to you!
The book is told from different viewpoints and the chapters take the form of short, snappy chapters, making it even harder to put the book down
If work and sleep hadn’t have been needed, I would have read this book in one sitting. It is one of my favourite books of the year
Now off I go to read the authors back catalogue…..

This book was so good. It captured me from the beginning. And while reading I had no idea where this was going. This book portrayed many mental health issues which we usually avoid discussing, including the way people grieve after loss of a child and the way it affects a marriage. I was 100% not expecting the plot twist towards the end. Could not stop reading until I was done

My new favourite book by Sam Carrington!

I absolutely loved this book! Intrigued from the start and enthralled throughout, this is a fantastic page-turner!

It’s a normal Friday and Erica heads to the supermarket checkout to pay for her shopping. Before completing her purchase she is distracted by a frantic woman called Mercy who is looking for her missing daughter. A photo of the girl is shoved in Erica’s face, but before she has time to process the situation security remove Mercy from the store. They claim she’s a nuisance and turns up every Friday to pester the customers.

Erica doesn’t feel quite right about how the staff treat Mercy and some people say she is crazy and that there was no child, but something tells Erica she needs to help this woman!

This story is a twisty turny rollercoaster ride full of suspense. I raced through it in just 3 days and found it very hard to put down! Whilst I guessed one thing that happens in this story there was a lot that I did not see coming!

I love Sam’s style of writing, her stories always draw me in and have me hooked until the final page. This one is no exception and I think is a firm new favourite for me.

As well as being a fast-paced, suspenseful read there is also an emotional side to this story. It certainly broke my heart💔. For me, that is a perfect book, one that gives you all the feels!

Thank you to Sam Carrington, Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy of this fabulous book.

3.5 stars

The Girl in the Photo by Sam Carrington is a psychological thriller about a missing child.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Erica Fielding is grocery shopping, when a woman approaches her, holding out a picture of a little girl.  Mercy Hamilton begs Erica to help her find her missing daughter.  How can Erica refuse?

Apparently every Friday, Mercy returns to that same supermarket and asks people to help her find her daughter.  But no one helps, and as Erica gets dragged deeper into Mercy's story, she starts to wonder.  Something seems off with Mercy, and there doesn't seem to be any record of a child.

But Erica has her own problems.  She and her husband Jamie seem to be at odds.


My Opinions:
Up front -- at times I hated this book....and at other times I couldn't turn the pages fast enough.  It was compelling in a weird way.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like any of the characters, and that always makes for a long and difficult read.  If you can't cheer for anyone, why bother?  Early on I was worried that we may have an unreliable narrator....but which one?  I didn't know who to trust, as so much remained hidden.  This made the book interesting, and yet frustratingly slow.

This book is about the loss of a child, about grief, about mental health issues, and about someone coping with trauma.   It is a somewhat difficult and dark read.

It did have a couple of interesting twists, and although I had figured out the main one, the a second one had me very surprised.  The ending, too, was an OMG moment -- but not really in a good way.

If I could give this book 0 stars I would. In fact, I wish I had given in to the temptation and just marked this as a Did Not Finish, and moved on with my life. But I didn't. Anyway, now I'm forced to live with the time I wasted.

From the start, I knew there was something off about this story, and (if you subscribe to my blog you knew this was coming based on my whatcha reading post); however, it only got worse as I forced myself to read past the point I was proven right.

Most of this book was confusing (as it was meant to be), but well..... I really wish I could do this without spoilers, but I can't.

****SPOILER ALERT****



It was obvious from the beginning that Erica and Mercy were the same person. But here is the thing - this was NOT Dissociative identity disorder. To begin with, DID typically presents in YOUNGER people (so right off the bat Mercy appearing a year after the trauma is implausible at best), but those people who do have this disorder? Typically do not meet their alters in person once, much less have weekly "meetings" with them. Nor do they go on car rides with them. In fact, people who have been diagnosed with DID typically do not have licenses due to the potential problems that may occur if they disassociate.



****END SPOILER ALERT****


Usually, this is where I say the ending saved it, but this one? The letter at the end just made it worse. I was glad when it was over.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Thanks to netgallery for my early review Copy.

I was hooked from the moment I started this book. From the characters to the way it was written. Fantastic.