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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.5 stars.
Dear Child by Romy Hausmann is an unnerving mystery set in Germany.
Lena Beck went missing thirteen years earlier and her father Mathias has never given up hoping she will be found. So when his old friend Chief Inspector Gerd Brühling calls to tell him a woman matching her description has been discovered, he and his wife Karin rush to the hospital. The woman was struck by a hit and run driver and she is in serious condition and unable to talk. It is her young daughter Hannah who identifies her as her mother, Lena, but the girl does not give up much information.
Gerd's hopes are soon dashed as he immediately realizes she is not his Lena. The police immediately begin searching the area where Lena was picked up by the ambulance. Finally locating a cabin nestled deep within the wood, they discover a shocking surprise. Hannah's brother Jonathan is discovered along with an unrecognizable body that is presumed to be the children's father and Lena's kidnapper. Who is the injured woman and is she the key to Mathias finding out what happened to his daughter?
Mathias is difficult to feel much empathy for as he bulldozes ahead regardless of the consequences. He is angry the police failed to find Lena although they lacked evidence or leads. Mathias is equally furious at how the current investigation is unfolding. So, once again, he is again jeopardizing the case with his ill-thought out, impulsive decisions. How will he react if this current search for his daughter fails to yield results?
Hannah is a very smart girl and she seems well-adjusted in spite of her years of living within the confines of the windowless cabin. She will answer questions up to a point, but she does not provide much information about her life with her parents. Although she is now free, Hannah still adheres to the rules her father has instilled in her, Jonathan and their mother.
Lena is clearly traumatized and once released from the hospital, she remains locked inside a place she feels safe. She does not follow through with therapy and she is struggling to cope with her memories and fear. Lena is grateful her friend Kirsten shows up to take care of her but she continues to resist any efforts to get counseling or talk to the police. What, if anything is behind Lena's continued resistance to providing details that might lead to the identity of the kidnapper and give Matthias the answers he desperately needs?
Dear Child is a riveting mystery that seamlessly switches between Hannah, Mathias, and Lena's points of view. The storyline is well-developed and incredibly engrossing. The characters are interesting yet sometimes very frustrating as they hold their secrets close. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Romy Hausmann brings this suspense-laden mystery to a stunning conclusion. Highly recommend to fans of the genre.
Dear Child by Romy Hausmann is an unnerving mystery set in Germany.
Lena Beck went missing thirteen years earlier and her father Mathias has never given up hoping she will be found. So when his old friend Chief Inspector Gerd Brühling calls to tell him a woman matching her description has been discovered, he and his wife Karin rush to the hospital. The woman was struck by a hit and run driver and she is in serious condition and unable to talk. It is her young daughter Hannah who identifies her as her mother, Lena, but the girl does not give up much information.
Gerd's hopes are soon dashed as he immediately realizes she is not his Lena. The police immediately begin searching the area where Lena was picked up by the ambulance. Finally locating a cabin nestled deep within the wood, they discover a shocking surprise. Hannah's brother Jonathan is discovered along with an unrecognizable body that is presumed to be the children's father and Lena's kidnapper. Who is the injured woman and is she the key to Mathias finding out what happened to his daughter?
Mathias is difficult to feel much empathy for as he bulldozes ahead regardless of the consequences. He is angry the police failed to find Lena although they lacked evidence or leads. Mathias is equally furious at how the current investigation is unfolding. So, once again, he is again jeopardizing the case with his ill-thought out, impulsive decisions. How will he react if this current search for his daughter fails to yield results?
Hannah is a very smart girl and she seems well-adjusted in spite of her years of living within the confines of the windowless cabin. She will answer questions up to a point, but she does not provide much information about her life with her parents. Although she is now free, Hannah still adheres to the rules her father has instilled in her, Jonathan and their mother.
Lena is clearly traumatized and once released from the hospital, she remains locked inside a place she feels safe. She does not follow through with therapy and she is struggling to cope with her memories and fear. Lena is grateful her friend Kirsten shows up to take care of her but she continues to resist any efforts to get counseling or talk to the police. What, if anything is behind Lena's continued resistance to providing details that might lead to the identity of the kidnapper and give Matthias the answers he desperately needs?
Dear Child is a riveting mystery that seamlessly switches between Hannah, Mathias, and Lena's points of view. The storyline is well-developed and incredibly engrossing. The characters are interesting yet sometimes very frustrating as they hold their secrets close. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Romy Hausmann brings this suspense-laden mystery to a stunning conclusion. Highly recommend to fans of the genre.
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
With the Netflix adaptation premiering next week, I thought I'd read the original source material before watching it.
It's safe to say that while I didn't hate or vehemently dislike the novel, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up liking the miniseries more - but that's TBD.
Dear Child is not a terrible novel, but it is a typical, tropey thriller. For better or worse.
For better, the premise and plot were both intriguing, mysterious and engaging. Hausmann's prose was not only appropriate for the story, but her prose keeps you hooked and dying ti know more. But that's where the positives end.
For worse, the plot structure, specifically the third act and the ending were abysmal, resorting to an extremely fast pace as Hausmann - in typical, tropey thriller fashion - leaves in till the end to wrap everything up and reveal all the answers, instead of gradually doing so throughout the novel or, at least dropping some bombshells and revelations here and there.
By far though, my biggest issue with the novel is: Matthias. A character who we should be rooting for, a character who we should never wholly dislike or want to fail. Yet, despite empathising and sympathising with him, I found Matthias to be an extremely infuriating, problematic character. Well in need of a reality check and wake-up-call. Especially from the either characters, specifically Karin - who was atrociously underdeveloped!
Unfortunately, like other similar thrillers, themes aren't developed and/or prioritised enough in order to add greater depth, substance and meaning to the novel's plot, world, and characters.
Though, while I did read Dear Child rapidly as it was enjoyable to read at the beginning, but as the story progressed, it's quality and my enjoyment nosedived. They'll be many people who love this novel - and that's fine -, but for those looking for more original, meaningful and remarkable reads...well, this isn't it.
It's safe to say that while I didn't hate or vehemently dislike the novel, I wouldn't be surprised if I end up liking the miniseries more - but that's TBD.
Dear Child is not a terrible novel, but it is a typical, tropey thriller. For better or worse.
For better, the premise and plot were both intriguing, mysterious and engaging. Hausmann's prose was not only appropriate for the story, but her prose keeps you hooked and dying ti know more. But that's where the positives end.
For worse, the plot structure, specifically the third act and the ending were abysmal, resorting to an extremely fast pace as Hausmann - in typical, tropey thriller fashion - leaves in till the end to wrap everything up and reveal all the answers, instead of gradually doing so throughout the novel or, at least dropping some bombshells and revelations here and there.
By far though, my biggest issue with the novel is: Matthias. A character who we should be rooting for, a character who we should never wholly dislike or want to fail. Yet, despite empathising and sympathising with him, I found Matthias to be an extremely infuriating, problematic character. Well in need of a reality check and wake-up-call. Especially from the either characters, specifically Karin - who was atrociously underdeveloped!
Unfortunately, like other similar thrillers, themes aren't developed and/or prioritised enough in order to add greater depth, substance and meaning to the novel's plot, world, and characters.
Though, while I did read Dear Child rapidly as it was enjoyable to read at the beginning, but as the story progressed, it's quality and my enjoyment nosedived. They'll be many people who love this novel - and that's fine -, but for those looking for more original, meaningful and remarkable reads...well, this isn't it.
dark
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Rape, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Child death
This book was verynintense. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading it.
A very twisted book indeed. I found the writing very unique, and the POV was from 4 characters. Lena, Jasmine, Hannah and Lena's father Matthias. From paragraph to paragraph, you get different POVs. It took me a bit to get into this style of writing, but I loved this intense story.
Warning. There are trigger warnings in this book such as rape, imprisonment, physical abuse, and murder!
A very twisted book indeed. I found the writing very unique, and the POV was from 4 characters. Lena, Jasmine, Hannah and Lena's father Matthias. From paragraph to paragraph, you get different POVs. It took me a bit to get into this style of writing, but I loved this intense story.
Warning. There are trigger warnings in this book such as rape, imprisonment, physical abuse, and murder!
I got annoyed every time I had to pause my reading. I wanted to devour it.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No