The Replacement – Melanie Golding

Synopsis:

When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn’t take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn’t dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing connections between the two incidents start to surface, and suddenly it’s not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it’s too late…

Weaving together the trademark folklore inspiration that readers loved in Little Darlings, with the procedural narrative force of a brilliant mystery, this is the excellent and unnerving new novel from Melanie Golding.

Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

I read this on the plane back from holiday and it definitely kept me turning the pages — fast-paced, tense, and easy to get lost in. The story kicks off with two intriguing, seemingly unrelated incidents: a lost child reunited with her mother, and a man found alive in a bathtub under very strange circumstances. DS Harper’s investigation gradually ties the two threads together, and the suspense builds nicely throughout.

What threw me a little was the blend of genres. I went in expecting a straightforward crime or police procedural, but there’s a strong element of folklore woven into the mystery. While that mix will definitely appeal to readers who love something eerie and otherworldly in their thrillers, it’s not usually my thing, so I found myself a bit unsure how I felt about it overall.

Still, it’s well written, atmospheric, and the pacing makes it an engaging read — perfect for a flight or weekend escape. For me, it lands solidly in the middle: enjoyable, but not quite a favourite