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螝伪位蠈 渭慰蠀 蟺伪喂未委
螝伪喂 慰谓蠈渭伪蟽蔚 蟿慰 蠁蠅蟼 螠苇蟻伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰 蟽魏慰蟿维未喂 蟿慰 慰谓蠈渭伪蟽蔚 螡蠉蠂蟿伪. 危伪谓 蟿慰谓 螛蔚蠈.
螠喂伪 魏伪位蠉尾伪 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 未维蟽慰蟼. 螚 味蠅萎 蟿畏蟼 螞苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 未蠉慰 蟺伪喂未喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 蠀蟺伪魏慰蠉蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪谓蠈谓蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪: 纬蔚蠉渭伪蟿伪, 蟿慰蠀伪位苇蟿伪, 渭蔚位苇蟿畏, 蠈位伪 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟽蟿畏蟻维 蟺蟻慰纬蟻伪渭渭伪蟿喂蟽渭苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蔚蟺喂渭苇位蔚喂伪. 韦慰 慰尉蠀纬蠈谓慰 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 苇谓伪 蟽蠉蟽蟿畏渭伪 蔚尉伪蔚蟻喂蟽渭慰蠉, 蟿慰 蠁伪纬畏蟿蠈 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 慰 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 慰 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蔚喂 蟿畏谓 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂维 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏喂谓未蠉谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚位位慰蠂蔚蠉慰蠀谓 芦蔚魏蔚委 苇尉蠅禄 魏伪喂 蔚尉伪蟽蠁伪位委味蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂维 蟿慰蠀, 纬蔚谓谓畏渭苇谓伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪喂蠂渭伪位蠅蟽委伪, 胃伪 苇蠂慰蠀谓 蟺维谓蟿伪 渭喂伪 渭畏蟿苇蟻伪 谓伪 蟿伪 蟺蟻慰蟽苇蠂蔚喂.
螠喂伪 渭苇蟻伪 畏 螞苇谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 谓伪 蟿慰 蟽魏维蟽蔚喂 渭蔚 苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂维 鈥� 伪位位维 慰 蔚蠁喂维位蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委味蔚蟿伪喂. 桅伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟺蠅蟼 慰 尾伪蟽伪谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 胃苇位蔚喂 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蠈,蟿喂 蟿慰蠀 伪谓萎魏蔚喂. 螝喂 苇蟺蔚喂蟿伪, 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪谓 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰 蠈蟿喂 畏 螞苇谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿喂 畏 螞苇谓伪, 畏 慰蟺慰委伪 蔚尉伪蠁伪谓委蟽蟿畏魏蔚 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 谓伪 伪蠁萎蟽蔚喂 委蠂谓畏 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 14 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪鈥� 螚 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭委伪 魏伪喂 畏 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂伪 蟿畏蟼 螞苇谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃慰蠉谓 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 谓伪 蔚谓蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿伪 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪味位 鈥� 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蠁伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蟿伪喂蟻喂维味慰蠀谓 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼鈥�
螠喂伪 魏伪位蠉尾伪 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 蟺伪蟻维胃蠀蟻伪 蟽蟿慰 未维蟽慰蟼. 螚 味蠅萎 蟿畏蟼 螞苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿蠅谓 未蠉慰 蟺伪喂未喂蠋谓 蟿畏蟼 蠀蟺伪魏慰蠉蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪谓蠈谓蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪: 纬蔚蠉渭伪蟿伪, 蟿慰蠀伪位苇蟿伪, 渭蔚位苇蟿畏, 蠈位伪 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蠀蟽蟿畏蟻维 蟺蟻慰纬蟻伪渭渭伪蟿喂蟽渭苇谓伪 魏伪喂 蟿畏蟻慰蠉谓蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蔚蟺喂渭苇位蔚喂伪. 韦慰 慰尉蠀纬蠈谓慰 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 苇谓伪 蟽蠉蟽蟿畏渭伪 蔚尉伪蔚蟻喂蟽渭慰蠉, 蟿慰 蠁伪纬畏蟿蠈 蟿慰 蟺伪蟻苇蠂蔚喂 慰 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪蟼 魏伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 慰 蟺伪蟿苇蟻伪蟼, 蟺慰蠀 蟺蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠉蔚喂 蟿畏谓 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂维 蟿慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏喂谓未蠉谓慰蠀蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚位位慰蠂蔚蠉慰蠀谓 芦蔚魏蔚委 苇尉蠅禄 魏伪喂 蔚尉伪蟽蠁伪位委味蔚喂 蠈蟿喂 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂维 蟿慰蠀, 纬蔚谓谓畏渭苇谓伪 蟽蟿畏谓 伪喂蠂渭伪位蠅蟽委伪, 胃伪 苇蠂慰蠀谓 蟺维谓蟿伪 渭喂伪 渭畏蟿苇蟻伪 谓伪 蟿伪 蟺蟻慰蟽苇蠂蔚喂.
螠喂伪 渭苇蟻伪 畏 螞苇谓伪 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻谓蔚喂 谓伪 蟿慰 蟽魏维蟽蔚喂 渭蔚 苇谓伪 伪蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟺伪喂未喂维 鈥� 伪位位维 慰 蔚蠁喂维位蟿畏蟼 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委味蔚蟿伪喂. 桅伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟺蠅蟼 慰 尾伪蟽伪谓喂蟽蟿萎蟼 蟿畏蟼 胃苇位蔚喂 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 蟺委蟽蠅 蠈,蟿喂 蟿慰蠀 伪谓萎魏蔚喂. 螝喂 苇蟺蔚喂蟿伪, 未蔚谓 蔚委谓伪喂 魏伪谓 蟽委纬慰蠀蟻慰 蠈蟿喂 畏 螞苇谓伪 蔚委谓伪喂 蟺蟻维纬渭伪蟿喂 畏 螞苇谓伪, 畏 慰蟺慰委伪 蔚尉伪蠁伪谓委蟽蟿畏魏蔚 蠂蠅蟻委蟼 谓伪 伪蠁萎蟽蔚喂 委蠂谓畏 蟺蟻喂谓 伪蟺蠈 14 蠂蟻蠈谓喂伪鈥� 螚 伪蟽蟿蠀谓慰渭委伪 魏伪喂 畏 慰喂魏慰纬苇谓蔚喂伪 蟿畏蟼 螞苇谓伪 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃慰蠉谓 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 谓伪 蔚谓蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿伪 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂伪 蟿慰蠀 蟺伪味位 鈥� 魏慰渭渭维蟿喂伪 蟺慰蠀 未蔚谓 蠁伪委谓蔚蟿伪喂 谓伪 蟿伪喂蟻喂维味慰蠀谓 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼鈥�
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
2,857 people are currently reading
59.1k people want to read
About the author
Romy Hausmann
19听books881听followersRomy Hausmann was born in the former GDR in 1981. At the age of twenty-four she became chief editor at a film production company in Munich. Since the birth of her son, Romy has been working as a freelancer in TV. DEAR CHILD is her thriller debut, and her second mind-bending thriller SLEEPLESS publishes in 2021. She lives with her family in a remote house in the woods near Stuttgart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,368 reviews
September 17, 2023
I鈥檓 just watching 鈥淟iebes Kind鈥� ( Dear Child) Netflix adaptation and it鈥檚 freaking amazing! Highly recommended!
After ten minutes long silence I started another ten minutes long ovation for this book! It鈥檚 brilliant, intense, dark, gripping, character-driven, shocking and also terrifying, nightmarish, high tension, scary, thought-provoking story with lots of twists, jaw dropping moments, extremely heart wrenching chapters and devilishly smart, stunning conclusion.
It is mostly quite fascinating mash up of Room and Wendy Walker鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 Look for me鈥�. The characters were well-developed, emotionally layered, flawed, keeping secrets for their own reasons. But as soon as you read the first chapter, you realize you鈥檙e trapped in this book: you cannot put down even though you gotta read so many disturbing, horrifying and stomach churning details, abuse and violence the characters are going to endure, but you resume your reading because you鈥檙e already in trance and you want to know what鈥檚 going to happen next, what kind of secrets all those narrators keep and what鈥檚 the truth behind the abduction of 23 years old Lena Beck.
Let鈥檚 take a look at the story-line: Lena Beck has been missing for 14 years ago and after a hit and run accident a woman with her little daughter Hannah is taken to the hospital might be connected with her case. Her daughter Hannah weirdly mentions about their residential situations: living in a windowless shack with her mother, father and her little brother. Her father is so strict about the rules and not to spend their times at the outside world (he鈥檚 a great protector against the lurking dangers of the woods.) Hannah鈥檚 quirky traits and sociopathic tendencies and calling her mother: 鈥淟ena鈥� raises the alarm bells. Could they have been trapped in that shackle for years? Could that man think their father also be their captor and were the children products of a violent rape?
As soon as Lena鈥檚 parents hear the news, they come to the hospital to identify the injured woman. As you may imagine their hope floats when they find out the woman is called 鈥淟ena鈥� by her daughter Hannah is not their missing girl.
Later the officers find out the patient at the hospital is Jasmin Grass who has also missing for four months. So if she鈥檚 not Lena why the daughter of real Lena calls her mother? Lena鈥檚 father Mattias who is also the third narrator of the story among with Hannah and Jasmin, still wants to get answers, looking for the support of the media even though he doesn鈥檛 approve the things they write about her daughter and he thinks Jasmin keeps big secrets and she knows what happened to her girl!
Especially the last third of the book: I scared to breathe, move, only my fingers function to touch my ipad to flip the pages, eyes glued to the screen, mouth agape, feeling like somebody kept punching me with those smart, twisted, shocking revelations and of course the pure honest, raw, stunning epilogue of Lena was outstanding.
Overall: Blazing, well-written, phenomenal five stars! I hope I鈥檒l find more translated works of the author sooner.
After ten minutes long silence I started another ten minutes long ovation for this book! It鈥檚 brilliant, intense, dark, gripping, character-driven, shocking and also terrifying, nightmarish, high tension, scary, thought-provoking story with lots of twists, jaw dropping moments, extremely heart wrenching chapters and devilishly smart, stunning conclusion.
It is mostly quite fascinating mash up of Room and Wendy Walker鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 Look for me鈥�. The characters were well-developed, emotionally layered, flawed, keeping secrets for their own reasons. But as soon as you read the first chapter, you realize you鈥檙e trapped in this book: you cannot put down even though you gotta read so many disturbing, horrifying and stomach churning details, abuse and violence the characters are going to endure, but you resume your reading because you鈥檙e already in trance and you want to know what鈥檚 going to happen next, what kind of secrets all those narrators keep and what鈥檚 the truth behind the abduction of 23 years old Lena Beck.
Let鈥檚 take a look at the story-line: Lena Beck has been missing for 14 years ago and after a hit and run accident a woman with her little daughter Hannah is taken to the hospital might be connected with her case. Her daughter Hannah weirdly mentions about their residential situations: living in a windowless shack with her mother, father and her little brother. Her father is so strict about the rules and not to spend their times at the outside world (he鈥檚 a great protector against the lurking dangers of the woods.) Hannah鈥檚 quirky traits and sociopathic tendencies and calling her mother: 鈥淟ena鈥� raises the alarm bells. Could they have been trapped in that shackle for years? Could that man think their father also be their captor and were the children products of a violent rape?
As soon as Lena鈥檚 parents hear the news, they come to the hospital to identify the injured woman. As you may imagine their hope floats when they find out the woman is called 鈥淟ena鈥� by her daughter Hannah is not their missing girl.
Later the officers find out the patient at the hospital is Jasmin Grass who has also missing for four months. So if she鈥檚 not Lena why the daughter of real Lena calls her mother? Lena鈥檚 father Mattias who is also the third narrator of the story among with Hannah and Jasmin, still wants to get answers, looking for the support of the media even though he doesn鈥檛 approve the things they write about her daughter and he thinks Jasmin keeps big secrets and she knows what happened to her girl!
Especially the last third of the book: I scared to breathe, move, only my fingers function to touch my ipad to flip the pages, eyes glued to the screen, mouth agape, feeling like somebody kept punching me with those smart, twisted, shocking revelations and of course the pure honest, raw, stunning epilogue of Lena was outstanding.
Overall: Blazing, well-written, phenomenal five stars! I hope I鈥檒l find more translated works of the author sooner.
July 26, 2020
Sick and Twisted
3.75 stars
Dear Child is a psychological thriller about a woman who is held in captivity in a cabin in the woods until she escapes.
13 years after disappearing after attending a college party, Lena is found. Having killed her captor, she is now safe. Her two children, Hannah and Jonathan, are rescued as well. However, Lena鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 add up, and it is clear that she is hiding something. Her children are also keeping deadly secrets. Even though they have physically escaped, they are mentally scarred.
The narrative is split between Mathias, Lena鈥檚 father; Hannah, Lena鈥檚 13-year-old daughter; and Lena. Hannah鈥檚 chapters take center stage in the beginning. It took me a bit to adjust to her voice, which is brimming with fact after fact after fact. I found her irksome and wanted her to shut up, but I eventually got used to her. The transitions between characters were jarring, but I think part of this was due to translation. Mathias constantly spouts off about this or that while constantly blaming others, which annoyed me. Hannah鈥檚 chapters felt like a caricature of a twisted little child. Lena鈥檚 chapters were the most interesting to read.
Dear Child is a dark and disturbing read. The pacing is fast, and each chapter reveals just a little bit more about what happened behind the walls of the creepy cabin. It鈥檚 not too graphic, but one can easily imagine the torture these characters suffered. I would describe this book as a combination of and . I didn鈥檛 love it, but I think part of it had to do with my dislike for the characters and other parts due to translation issues. I was completely thrown by the revelation of the bad guy--that got me good and bumped this up a notch. The ending is a bit chaotic and messy and left me with some questions. However, I always find plots like these intriguing and this one kept me turning the pages.
I received a free copy of Dear Child by Romy Haussman from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
Dear Child is a psychological thriller about a woman who is held in captivity in a cabin in the woods until she escapes.
13 years after disappearing after attending a college party, Lena is found. Having killed her captor, she is now safe. Her two children, Hannah and Jonathan, are rescued as well. However, Lena鈥檚 story doesn鈥檛 add up, and it is clear that she is hiding something. Her children are also keeping deadly secrets. Even though they have physically escaped, they are mentally scarred.
The narrative is split between Mathias, Lena鈥檚 father; Hannah, Lena鈥檚 13-year-old daughter; and Lena. Hannah鈥檚 chapters take center stage in the beginning. It took me a bit to adjust to her voice, which is brimming with fact after fact after fact. I found her irksome and wanted her to shut up, but I eventually got used to her. The transitions between characters were jarring, but I think part of this was due to translation. Mathias constantly spouts off about this or that while constantly blaming others, which annoyed me. Hannah鈥檚 chapters felt like a caricature of a twisted little child. Lena鈥檚 chapters were the most interesting to read.
Dear Child is a dark and disturbing read. The pacing is fast, and each chapter reveals just a little bit more about what happened behind the walls of the creepy cabin. It鈥檚 not too graphic, but one can easily imagine the torture these characters suffered. I would describe this book as a combination of and . I didn鈥檛 love it, but I think part of it had to do with my dislike for the characters and other parts due to translation issues. I was completely thrown by the revelation of the bad guy--that got me good and bumped this up a notch. The ending is a bit chaotic and messy and left me with some questions. However, I always find plots like these intriguing and this one kept me turning the pages.
I received a free copy of Dear Child by Romy Haussman from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2023
Qu茅 bonito es empezar el a帽o con un thriller sorprendente, de lo mejor que he le铆do del g茅nero en los 煤ltimos a帽os. Un libro en el que el amor enfermizo termina por convertirse en una pesadilla. Cap铆tulo cortos narrados por diferentes personajes, con muy buenos giros, se duda de todo y de todos. Una muy buena lectura.
September 3, 2024
Dear Child is a taut Psychological Thriller that will leave you scratching your head until the bitter end. Hausmann immediately drops the Reader into a fairly complicated human puzzle.
Although it can take some time to get your bearings, once the narrative really begins to unfold, it's completely intriguing.
The story is told from three main perspectives: a kidnapped woman, known as Lena, who has just escaped her captor; her daughter, Hannah; and Lena's father, Matthias, who has been searching for his daughter for the past 13-years.
From Lena and Hannah's perspectives, the scope of the hell they, along with Hannah's brother, Jonathan, have lived through begins to take shape. A cabin in the woods, the 'father' who controlled their every move and their total isolation.
After her dramatic escape, Lena is hit by a car and transported to the hospital, with Hannah in tow. It is there that the true depth of the mystery is exposed.
Is this woman really Lena? And if she's not, then who the heck is she?
This story is dark, twisted, sick, and intricate. Progressing through this story is like peeling back the layers of an onion; something stinks and at times you want to cry.
I thought this was so cleverly plotted. I had many theories; my head was spinning. It did not end how I expected and I really enjoyed the journey.
There were moments in the beginning where I was almost too confused, but once the puzzle started to come together, wow. It was chef's kiss.
The Epilogue was the delicious icing on the cake. It gave me that evil grin I love to have at the end of a story.
The most disturbing part of this was that it could really happen. There is nothing far-fetched about it. A cabin in the woods isn't suspicious in and of itself. You can really do anything you want behind those doors.
I highly recommend this for people who love tense and twisted stories. I believe this is the first Thriller this author has written and obviously it shows incredible promise.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Flatiron Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am definitely anxious to pick up more from Hausmann!
Although it can take some time to get your bearings, once the narrative really begins to unfold, it's completely intriguing.
The story is told from three main perspectives: a kidnapped woman, known as Lena, who has just escaped her captor; her daughter, Hannah; and Lena's father, Matthias, who has been searching for his daughter for the past 13-years.
From Lena and Hannah's perspectives, the scope of the hell they, along with Hannah's brother, Jonathan, have lived through begins to take shape. A cabin in the woods, the 'father' who controlled their every move and their total isolation.
After her dramatic escape, Lena is hit by a car and transported to the hospital, with Hannah in tow. It is there that the true depth of the mystery is exposed.
Is this woman really Lena? And if she's not, then who the heck is she?
This story is dark, twisted, sick, and intricate. Progressing through this story is like peeling back the layers of an onion; something stinks and at times you want to cry.
I thought this was so cleverly plotted. I had many theories; my head was spinning. It did not end how I expected and I really enjoyed the journey.
There were moments in the beginning where I was almost too confused, but once the puzzle started to come together, wow. It was chef's kiss.
The Epilogue was the delicious icing on the cake. It gave me that evil grin I love to have at the end of a story.
The most disturbing part of this was that it could really happen. There is nothing far-fetched about it. A cabin in the woods isn't suspicious in and of itself. You can really do anything you want behind those doors.
I highly recommend this for people who love tense and twisted stories. I believe this is the first Thriller this author has written and obviously it shows incredible promise.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Flatiron Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am definitely anxious to pick up more from Hausmann!
May 30, 2023
What a BRILLIANT book. I read so many psychological thrillers where I end up being disappointed, because I don鈥檛 鈥榖uy鈥� the plot. Some are simply too unrealistic and far-fetched. But I never thought that while reading dear child. The characters were well-crafted with the complexities of human beings perfectly captured.
It was an intense and thrilling read, and I was also surprised at the ending, a major plus.
It was an intense and thrilling read, and I was also surprised at the ending, a major plus.
March 26, 2021
鈥淟ove. It鈥檚 love. No matter how sick, distorted and misunderstood, it鈥檚 still love. Love that spurs us on. That turns us into monsters, each in our own way.鈥�
If I had to pick a quote from this book to summarize it, I鈥檇 say that鈥檚 the one. Romy Hausmann鈥檚 debut novel is a powerful look into the psychology of both love and trauma, and how it expresses itself uniquely through different people, sometimes in horrifying ways, and sometimes in healing ways.
The story is told in three narratives by 鈥楲ena鈥�, the victim of an abduction who is forced into a surrogate wife/mother role to the abductor and his two children, the abductor鈥檚 daughter, Hannah, and finally Matthias, Lena鈥檚 father. While that seems fairly straightforward, an accident happens that reveals that there鈥檚 more to 鈥楲ena鈥檚鈥� story than was first imagined, and the book follows the implications of these new discoveries on her life, the lives of Matthias and his wife Karen, who鈥檝e been searching for Lena for 13 years, and on Hannah and her brother Jonathan鈥檚 lives, among others.
This is one of those books with start to finish tension. There鈥檚 an intentional confusion to the story which never lets you get comfortable that everything will be OK, because every new reveal knocks you back down a little. You鈥檙e never sure who to trust, which adds a nice creepy, suspenseful feel to the story, and I truly didn鈥檛 see the revelation of the abductor鈥檚 identity coming. The characters are universally flawed in this story, so there鈥檚 not really a 鈥渇eel good鈥� character to latch onto, but I think that made everything more realistic. Trauma is messy, and so are these characters.
There is a big undercurrent of power dynamics in this story. An abductor exerting his will over his victim, a grieving father fashioning a future path for he and his wife, regardless of her opinions on it, children who鈥檝e never questioned their obedience to their father, and conversely, the power of victims to survive their circumstances. Everyone is holding onto whatever control they have over their situations, whether fair to the people around them or not. Love takes on a distorted form that each character justifies in their own way. There were a few characters I had a difficult time with (I鈥檓 looking at you Matthias), but by the end, when all was revealed, I could at least understand all of them enough to feel sympathetic.
It鈥檚 not a fast-paced book, but it kept me completely invested. If you like a psychological thriller heavy on the psychology, this is a great one. I鈥檒l definitely be watching for more from this author.
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄 陆 (rounded up to 5)
If I had to pick a quote from this book to summarize it, I鈥檇 say that鈥檚 the one. Romy Hausmann鈥檚 debut novel is a powerful look into the psychology of both love and trauma, and how it expresses itself uniquely through different people, sometimes in horrifying ways, and sometimes in healing ways.
The story is told in three narratives by 鈥楲ena鈥�, the victim of an abduction who is forced into a surrogate wife/mother role to the abductor and his two children, the abductor鈥檚 daughter, Hannah, and finally Matthias, Lena鈥檚 father. While that seems fairly straightforward, an accident happens that reveals that there鈥檚 more to 鈥楲ena鈥檚鈥� story than was first imagined, and the book follows the implications of these new discoveries on her life, the lives of Matthias and his wife Karen, who鈥檝e been searching for Lena for 13 years, and on Hannah and her brother Jonathan鈥檚 lives, among others.
This is one of those books with start to finish tension. There鈥檚 an intentional confusion to the story which never lets you get comfortable that everything will be OK, because every new reveal knocks you back down a little. You鈥檙e never sure who to trust, which adds a nice creepy, suspenseful feel to the story, and I truly didn鈥檛 see the revelation of the abductor鈥檚 identity coming. The characters are universally flawed in this story, so there鈥檚 not really a 鈥渇eel good鈥� character to latch onto, but I think that made everything more realistic. Trauma is messy, and so are these characters.
There is a big undercurrent of power dynamics in this story. An abductor exerting his will over his victim, a grieving father fashioning a future path for he and his wife, regardless of her opinions on it, children who鈥檝e never questioned their obedience to their father, and conversely, the power of victims to survive their circumstances. Everyone is holding onto whatever control they have over their situations, whether fair to the people around them or not. Love takes on a distorted form that each character justifies in their own way. There were a few characters I had a difficult time with (I鈥檓 looking at you Matthias), but by the end, when all was revealed, I could at least understand all of them enough to feel sympathetic.
It鈥檚 not a fast-paced book, but it kept me completely invested. If you like a psychological thriller heavy on the psychology, this is a great one. I鈥檒l definitely be watching for more from this author.
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄 陆 (rounded up to 5)
May 20, 2020
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.
馃槺馃槺馃槺馃槺馃槺
#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 欧宝娱乐.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
'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.
馃槺馃槺馃槺馃槺馃槺
#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 欧宝娱乐.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
January 8, 2021
鈥�5013 days鈥� that鈥檚 how long I spent looking for my daughter鈥�
What a deep, dark, read.
Lena has been missing for 13 years. So long in fact, that she鈥檚 had two children while being held captive by a madman.
When the opportunity presents itself, it鈥檚 time for 鈥楲ena鈥� to run! Unfortunately, she runs directly into the path of a passing car and ends up in the hospital.
The first words she manages to utter鈥�
鈥淟ena...my name is Lena 鈥�
But is it really her? And why won鈥檛 the children tell the authorities what was going on in their so called home?
Told through the eyes of Lena鈥檚 father, 'Lena', and the eldest child.
I listened to the audio version and all the narrators did a superb job bringing their characters to life. Allowing you to feel the pain, the fear and even the indifference from the child.
Not sure how I missed this book originally, but grateful to the many fantastic reviews that led me to pick this one up. Thank-you friends!
Posted to:
Highly recommend the 馃帶 version.
What a deep, dark, read.
Lena has been missing for 13 years. So long in fact, that she鈥檚 had two children while being held captive by a madman.
When the opportunity presents itself, it鈥檚 time for 鈥楲ena鈥� to run! Unfortunately, she runs directly into the path of a passing car and ends up in the hospital.
The first words she manages to utter鈥�
鈥淟ena...my name is Lena 鈥�
But is it really her? And why won鈥檛 the children tell the authorities what was going on in their so called home?
Told through the eyes of Lena鈥檚 father, 'Lena', and the eldest child.
I listened to the audio version and all the narrators did a superb job bringing their characters to life. Allowing you to feel the pain, the fear and even the indifference from the child.
Not sure how I missed this book originally, but grateful to the many fantastic reviews that led me to pick this one up. Thank-you friends!
Posted to:
Highly recommend the 馃帶 version.
July 12, 2022
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 3.5/5 | Ending: le sigh/5
THE PLOT
Lena's been missing for 14 years when she re-appears, but wait, it's not her but some other chick Jasmine who was kidnapped as a stand-in for Lena. Told from the POV of Jasmine, Lena's daughter Hannah, and Lena's father Matthias, we find out what really happened in the cabin.
MY OPINION
Tbh my writing, plot, ending ratings make no sense because how did I end up with 4 stars?? Sometimes even my own math does not math, but hey, I have two arts degrees! Anyways.
I gave this 4 stars because the creepy vibes were there. I was so hyped at the beginning because it was VERY juicy. Hannah's POV was incredibly well-written; a masterclass in showing not telling. You can clearly see how her upbringing impacted her thought process and her unique way of seeing the world around her. I cackled when she was thinking about how Sister Ruth was a grade A dummy. #mood
Tbh... Matthias' POV could go. We didn't get anything out of him except that he's in a toxic relationship with the media and low key obsessed with his daughter (or is that just how parents love their kids?) It was Jasmine and Hannah who drove the story toward its Criminal Minds ass ending, so I vote Matthias off the island.
A fair warning, this is a translated book, so while for the most part it is solid, there is some confusing aspects. Also, originally Lena's flashbacks were italicized, but then the editor said fuck it and you had scenes jumping back and forth without an indication. I love my European writers and this definitely had all the trademarks of their unique writing style, so if that isn't for you... NEXT!!!!
SPOILERS SO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AGGRESSIVELY
I rated the ending "le sigh" because the big reveal of why and how was disappointing and contrived. So after doing the most with all the chains and handcuffs and whatnot, he let her go free because Hannah said so? This didn't make sense. Someone with that level of control issues definitely would've dragged her by the hair back to the cabin and slapped an extra handcuff on her to the bed just to be safe. He certainly would not have be like, ok, you get a 3 days head start but IMA FIND YOU!!!! What???
PROS AND CONS
Pros: beginning was JUICY AF, Hannah's POV was perfectly written, Jasmine's POV provided insight into a traumatized mindset, translation was top tier
Cons: lots of timeline jumping within the same scene without indication, some confusion around the relationship between Kirsten and Jasmine (maybe a translation thing? I thought they were BFFs but they're definitely BFFs++), ending was doing the most, Matthias' POV was pointless
THE PLOT
Lena's been missing for 14 years when she re-appears, but wait, it's not her but some other chick Jasmine who was kidnapped as a stand-in for Lena. Told from the POV of Jasmine, Lena's daughter Hannah, and Lena's father Matthias, we find out what really happened in the cabin.
MY OPINION
Tbh my writing, plot, ending ratings make no sense because how did I end up with 4 stars?? Sometimes even my own math does not math, but hey, I have two arts degrees! Anyways.
I gave this 4 stars because the creepy vibes were there. I was so hyped at the beginning because it was VERY juicy. Hannah's POV was incredibly well-written; a masterclass in showing not telling. You can clearly see how her upbringing impacted her thought process and her unique way of seeing the world around her. I cackled when she was thinking about how Sister Ruth was a grade A dummy. #mood
Tbh... Matthias' POV could go. We didn't get anything out of him except that he's in a toxic relationship with the media and low key obsessed with his daughter (or is that just how parents love their kids?) It was Jasmine and Hannah who drove the story toward its Criminal Minds ass ending, so I vote Matthias off the island.
A fair warning, this is a translated book, so while for the most part it is solid, there is some confusing aspects. Also, originally Lena's flashbacks were italicized, but then the editor said fuck it and you had scenes jumping back and forth without an indication. I love my European writers and this definitely had all the trademarks of their unique writing style, so if that isn't for you... NEXT!!!!
SPOILERS SO SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM AGGRESSIVELY
I rated the ending "le sigh" because the big reveal of why and how was disappointing and contrived. So after doing the most with all the chains and handcuffs and whatnot, he let her go free because Hannah said so? This didn't make sense. Someone with that level of control issues definitely would've dragged her by the hair back to the cabin and slapped an extra handcuff on her to the bed just to be safe. He certainly would not have be like, ok, you get a 3 days head start but IMA FIND YOU!!!! What???
PROS AND CONS
Pros: beginning was JUICY AF, Hannah's POV was perfectly written, Jasmine's POV provided insight into a traumatized mindset, translation was top tier
Cons: lots of timeline jumping within the same scene without indication, some confusion around the relationship between Kirsten and Jasmine (maybe a translation thing? I thought they were BFFs but they're definitely BFFs++), ending was doing the most, Matthias' POV was pointless
July 1, 2020
What a gripping plot! A real page turner that is disturbingly dark, twisted and unputdownable. Finally a phycological thriller that made for compelling reading.
Dear child is a novel by German author Romy Haussmann . A family held captive by their father who rules his household with scheduled bathroom times, locked doors, and protects his family from the outside world until they manage to escape his obsessive world . But the night mare just begins for Lena and her family as the police try to piece together a puzzle that leads to more questions than answers.
An accomplished thriller, fast paced dark and disturbing. A quick read that I just couldn鈥檛 put down. Exactly how I like my thrillers.
I love books like this, exciting and twisty and this one had me guessing right to the end. There are a couple of elements of the story that were a wee bit contrived but its a phycological thriller and for me one of the better ones I have read in a long time.
I listened to this novel on audible and the narration was excellent. A quick and entertaining read and perfect for summer reading.
TBH I would have walked past this one in a book shop and never thought to pick it purely on it鈥檚 cover. I get the cover now that I have read it. I would have missed out on a really good book if this hadn鈥檛 been recommended by a friend . 馃槉
I think readers who enjoyed books like may well enjoy this one.
Dear child is a novel by German author Romy Haussmann . A family held captive by their father who rules his household with scheduled bathroom times, locked doors, and protects his family from the outside world until they manage to escape his obsessive world . But the night mare just begins for Lena and her family as the police try to piece together a puzzle that leads to more questions than answers.
An accomplished thriller, fast paced dark and disturbing. A quick read that I just couldn鈥檛 put down. Exactly how I like my thrillers.
I love books like this, exciting and twisty and this one had me guessing right to the end. There are a couple of elements of the story that were a wee bit contrived but its a phycological thriller and for me one of the better ones I have read in a long time.
I listened to this novel on audible and the narration was excellent. A quick and entertaining read and perfect for summer reading.
TBH I would have walked past this one in a book shop and never thought to pick it purely on it鈥檚 cover. I get the cover now that I have read it. I would have missed out on a really good book if this hadn鈥檛 been recommended by a friend . 馃槉
I think readers who enjoyed books like may well enjoy this one.
October 7, 2020
What the WHAAAAA!!!!!!???????
Shortest Summary Ever: Lena has been held hostage along with her 2 children. One night the unthinkable happens - she鈥檚 free, only to wind up in hospital, hit by a car. What happened, who is she, and is the nightmare truly over?
Thoughts: I鈥檓 never going anywhere again. Nope. Nope. Nope. Never. Agoraphobia is my jam. Yup. (Fetal position).
Good God what did I just read? Something that scared every bajeezer out of me! Every. Last, One. (Crossing myself ten times, clutching a rosary... and I鈥檓 not Catholic). Ok - this is going to make me a weirdo (and I鈥檓 ok with that) but this book is all about a whack-job kidnapper psycho and DANG it freaked me out. Like snuggling-my-dog freaked out. Like make-this-into-a-movie freaked out. AND I LOVED IT. Lol! ThankGod this is fiction (please please please stay fiction).
I鈥檓 one of those reviewers who likes the sick and twisted ever since I reveled in Montresor taking his good ol鈥� buddy Fortunato for a little walk to sample some wine (deliciously devious, insert mu-hu-wah- hahaha laugh.) But when there鈥檚 no revenge and it鈥檚 plain, pure evil? Scarier than anything.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Mystery/Horror
Recommend to: 9 out of 10 heebie jeebies so read it if you love to get those goosebumps!
Not recommended to: If you鈥檙e not into psychos and the women they stalk.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review.
Shortest Summary Ever: Lena has been held hostage along with her 2 children. One night the unthinkable happens - she鈥檚 free, only to wind up in hospital, hit by a car. What happened, who is she, and is the nightmare truly over?
Thoughts: I鈥檓 never going anywhere again. Nope. Nope. Nope. Never. Agoraphobia is my jam. Yup. (Fetal position).
Good God what did I just read? Something that scared every bajeezer out of me! Every. Last, One. (Crossing myself ten times, clutching a rosary... and I鈥檓 not Catholic). Ok - this is going to make me a weirdo (and I鈥檓 ok with that) but this book is all about a whack-job kidnapper psycho and DANG it freaked me out. Like snuggling-my-dog freaked out. Like make-this-into-a-movie freaked out. AND I LOVED IT. Lol! ThankGod this is fiction (please please please stay fiction).
I鈥檓 one of those reviewers who likes the sick and twisted ever since I reveled in Montresor taking his good ol鈥� buddy Fortunato for a little walk to sample some wine (deliciously devious, insert mu-hu-wah- hahaha laugh.) But when there鈥檚 no revenge and it鈥檚 plain, pure evil? Scarier than anything.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
Genre: Mystery/Horror
Recommend to: 9 out of 10 heebie jeebies so read it if you love to get those goosebumps!
Not recommended to: If you鈥檙e not into psychos and the women they stalk.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review.
June 1, 2022
鈥淲here there鈥檚 feeling鈥攅ven if it鈥檚 pain鈥攖here鈥檚 life that can be recovered.鈥�
Matthias and Karin Beck's daughter, Lena has been missing for 13 years with absolutely no leads or clues as to what happened to her the night she disappeared. Then one night they get a call telling them that a woman matching their daughters description has been found and is a patient in a hospital a few hours away. But when they get to the hospital, is this really the case or is this just the start of another chapter of their ongoing nightmare?
Dear Child for me was a dark read and unlike most thrillers, I didn't feel it added gruesome details just for the sake of it. This book had all the perfect thriller aspects. There was intrigue, mystery, a few jump moments but never anything scary, and lots of piecing together and slowly figuring out what was going on. It's definitely a slower paced book, so if you like jam packed, fast paced thrillers this might not be for you. Overall, the book was well done and intriguing enough to keep me turning pages, each chapter reveals new information and raises more questions.
The ending though, I wanted so much more. It was flat and felt a bit thrown together and random. I don鈥檛 do half stars but if I did this would be a 3.5.
I read this for my book clubs May pick.
Matthias and Karin Beck's daughter, Lena has been missing for 13 years with absolutely no leads or clues as to what happened to her the night she disappeared. Then one night they get a call telling them that a woman matching their daughters description has been found and is a patient in a hospital a few hours away. But when they get to the hospital, is this really the case or is this just the start of another chapter of their ongoing nightmare?
Dear Child for me was a dark read and unlike most thrillers, I didn't feel it added gruesome details just for the sake of it. This book had all the perfect thriller aspects. There was intrigue, mystery, a few jump moments but never anything scary, and lots of piecing together and slowly figuring out what was going on. It's definitely a slower paced book, so if you like jam packed, fast paced thrillers this might not be for you. Overall, the book was well done and intriguing enough to keep me turning pages, each chapter reveals new information and raises more questions.
The ending though, I wanted so much more. It was flat and felt a bit thrown together and random. I don鈥檛 do half stars but if I did this would be a 3.5.
I read this for my book clubs May pick.
June 16, 2022
3,5/5
February 7, 2020
4-5 stars rounded up.
This is a shocking and gripping story of abduction and captivity which goes beyond this to look at the effect of the trauma on the victims and their families. A young woman is injured when she is hit by a car, she is taken to hospital accompanied by a strange child Hannah, who says that she is the victims daughter and that the woman鈥檚 name is Lena. Is this Lena Beck who has been missing for thirteen years? Her mother Karin and father Matthias full of hope, rush to the hospital near the Czech border to identify the injured woman. Unfortunately their hopes are dashed as the woman is not Lena and proves to be Jasmin Grass who has been missing for four months and the story she tells police chills you to the bone. Her evidence leads them to an isolated cabin deep in the heart of some woods where another child, deeply traumatised Jonathan is found along with a dead body. Why does Hannah claim Lena is her mother? Why does she say that Jasmin鈥檚 name is Lena? The truth is a long time coming and is more twisty than you can imagine. The story is told in alternate storylines by Hannah, Lena/Jasmin and Matthias alternating with extracts from newspapers in particular Bayerisches Tagblatt.
One of the most praiseworthy aspects is how Romy Hausman explores the psychology behind a trauma like abduction. Each of the victims reacts differently. Jasmin suffers nightmares, shuts herself off, can鈥檛 eat and so on. Jonathan becomes almost mute the damage is so deep. Hannah is composed, almost robotic and lacks empathy and emotion. Matthias is a puzzle and you have sympathy but I can鈥檛 say he鈥檚 likeable. He uses the media to keep Lena鈥檚 story in the headlines which is understandable but then becomes apoplectic when he doesn鈥檛 like what they print. The role of the media in a story like this is examined too especially the lengths that journalists will go to to get a story and an angle.
This book is very well written with a good, gripping plot. It鈥檚 dark, scary, makes you ask many questions and has a lot of surprising and dramatic twists and turns. The end is good and feels right. Overall, a very good novel which intrigues throughout and is translated well. Recommended for fans of this genre.
This is a shocking and gripping story of abduction and captivity which goes beyond this to look at the effect of the trauma on the victims and their families. A young woman is injured when she is hit by a car, she is taken to hospital accompanied by a strange child Hannah, who says that she is the victims daughter and that the woman鈥檚 name is Lena. Is this Lena Beck who has been missing for thirteen years? Her mother Karin and father Matthias full of hope, rush to the hospital near the Czech border to identify the injured woman. Unfortunately their hopes are dashed as the woman is not Lena and proves to be Jasmin Grass who has been missing for four months and the story she tells police chills you to the bone. Her evidence leads them to an isolated cabin deep in the heart of some woods where another child, deeply traumatised Jonathan is found along with a dead body. Why does Hannah claim Lena is her mother? Why does she say that Jasmin鈥檚 name is Lena? The truth is a long time coming and is more twisty than you can imagine. The story is told in alternate storylines by Hannah, Lena/Jasmin and Matthias alternating with extracts from newspapers in particular Bayerisches Tagblatt.
One of the most praiseworthy aspects is how Romy Hausman explores the psychology behind a trauma like abduction. Each of the victims reacts differently. Jasmin suffers nightmares, shuts herself off, can鈥檛 eat and so on. Jonathan becomes almost mute the damage is so deep. Hannah is composed, almost robotic and lacks empathy and emotion. Matthias is a puzzle and you have sympathy but I can鈥檛 say he鈥檚 likeable. He uses the media to keep Lena鈥檚 story in the headlines which is understandable but then becomes apoplectic when he doesn鈥檛 like what they print. The role of the media in a story like this is examined too especially the lengths that journalists will go to to get a story and an angle.
This book is very well written with a good, gripping plot. It鈥檚 dark, scary, makes you ask many questions and has a lot of surprising and dramatic twists and turns. The end is good and feels right. Overall, a very good novel which intrigues throughout and is translated well. Recommended for fans of this genre.
April 5, 2019
Wow. Der beste Thriller, den ich in j眉ngster Zeit gelesen habe. Mein Jahreshighlight bisher.
'Liebes Kind' hat einfach alles: eine hochemotionale Story, dreidimensionale Charaktere, greifbare Spannung und ein poetischer, genialer Schreibstil.
Manche Thriller sind einfach nur auf den Schock-Faktor aus und wollen einen erschrecken. Doch 'Liebes Kind' verpackt eine so erschreckende Story tief in der menschlichen Psyche, illustriert sie mit Hilfe von verschiedenen Perspektiven und geht unter die Haut wie kein zweiter Thriller mit solch einer Thematik.
Ich bin einfach begeistert.
Ich ordne meine Gedanken und werde noch mal bei YouTube berichten.
'Liebes Kind' hat einfach alles: eine hochemotionale Story, dreidimensionale Charaktere, greifbare Spannung und ein poetischer, genialer Schreibstil.
Manche Thriller sind einfach nur auf den Schock-Faktor aus und wollen einen erschrecken. Doch 'Liebes Kind' verpackt eine so erschreckende Story tief in der menschlichen Psyche, illustriert sie mit Hilfe von verschiedenen Perspektiven und geht unter die Haut wie kein zweiter Thriller mit solch einer Thematik.
Ich bin einfach begeistert.
Ich ordne meine Gedanken und werde noch mal bei YouTube berichten.
February 27, 2023
Para la lectura conjunta de este mes, Devoradora de libros ha acertado de pleno escogiendo esta novela.
Para ambas ha supuesto un no parar de leer hasta saber el final.
Nos ha parecido una lectura de lo m谩s adictiva, donde se nos van revelando los hechos con cuentagotas.
A ritmo de thriller nos va envolviendo en una tensi贸n psicol贸gica que va in crescendo a cada p谩gina.
Veremos las secuelas que tiene el secuestro en la protagonista. Y seremos part铆cipes de cada trauma que puebla su mente y la de sus seres queridos.
Tambi茅n habr谩 tiempo para, a modo de denuncia, sacar a relucir lo sensacionalistas que pueden llegar a ser ciertos medios de comunicaci贸n y el da帽o que provocan, introduciendo peque帽os extractos de noticias diseminados a lo largo de la narraci贸n que hacen la lectura m谩s amena si cabe.
A modo de inciso, comentar que la sinopsis contiene un gran spoiler as铆 que si no se lee mejor. Como en todo buen thriller, mejor ir a ciegas y sorprendernos a cada vuelta de p谩gina.
La novela inicia con la puesta en escena de la desaparici贸n de una joven; Lena Beck, quien lleva desaparecida la friolera de catorce a帽os. Catorce a帽os durante los cuales sus padres han vivido todo un infierno. De no saber qu茅 ha sido de tu hija, 驴estar谩 viva y cautiva a manos de alg煤n s谩dico?, 驴muerta hecha pedazos en alg煤n bosque perdido?, 驴v铆ctima de la trata de blancas?.
Todo son preguntas sin respuesta para esos desesperados padres.
No puedo ni imaginar tal dolor.
Hasta que una noche reciben una llamada, esa llamada que tanto ansiaban.
Una mujer cuya descripci贸n concuerda con Lena, ha sido atropellada en una zona boscosa cerca de la frontera checa, est谩 grave y no est谩 sola...
A trav茅s de tres narradores en primera persona se nos ir谩 revelando la verdadera historia tras este secuestro.
Conoceremos a Lena, y su tormentoso d铆a a d铆a en esa caba帽a sin ventanas y con un aparato que les provee del aire que necesitan para vivir.
A Matthias, el padre de Lena, que vive un infierno junto con su mujer Karin al no saber a煤n quien es el responsable del secuestro de su 煤nica hija y el paradero de esta.
Y a la peque帽a Hannah, que no conoce otra cosa que la vida tras esas fr铆as paredes. Una vida regida por estrictas normas y horarios hasta para ir al ba帽o.
Desde perspectivas y tiempos diferentes (pasado y presente), la autora consigue dotar a la novela de una gran tensi贸n, de mostrarnos las terribles secuelas y la esperanza que se agarra como un clavo ardiendo al coraz贸n de esos padres, de la inocencia de Hannah y su forma de interpretar el mundo al no tener m谩s referencias que los libros que su padre le dispensa.
La autora juega muy inteligentemente con el lector, aportando sutiles giros en la trama, dej谩ndote con la miel en los labios al finalizar cada cap铆tulo, y con la boca abierta al llegar al final.
Es en definitiva, una novela desgarradora sobre los peligros del amor enfermizo y todo lo que puede desatar si no se contiene.
Terrible. Y muy real 馃挃
馃彋"Quien quiere huir no tiene tiempo para una larga historia. Quien tiene algo que perder se guarda para s铆 las cosas inconfesables."
馃彋"As铆 es el amor. Por muy enfermizo, retorcido y mal entendido que sea, sigue siendo amor. El amor que nos impulsa. Que nos convierte en monstruos, a cada uno a su manera."
馃摉 Pr贸xima lectura:
"La puerta" - Manel Loureiro.
馃摎馃挅
Para ambas ha supuesto un no parar de leer hasta saber el final.
Nos ha parecido una lectura de lo m谩s adictiva, donde se nos van revelando los hechos con cuentagotas.
A ritmo de thriller nos va envolviendo en una tensi贸n psicol贸gica que va in crescendo a cada p谩gina.
Veremos las secuelas que tiene el secuestro en la protagonista. Y seremos part铆cipes de cada trauma que puebla su mente y la de sus seres queridos.
Tambi茅n habr谩 tiempo para, a modo de denuncia, sacar a relucir lo sensacionalistas que pueden llegar a ser ciertos medios de comunicaci贸n y el da帽o que provocan, introduciendo peque帽os extractos de noticias diseminados a lo largo de la narraci贸n que hacen la lectura m谩s amena si cabe.
A modo de inciso, comentar que la sinopsis contiene un gran spoiler as铆 que si no se lee mejor. Como en todo buen thriller, mejor ir a ciegas y sorprendernos a cada vuelta de p谩gina.
La novela inicia con la puesta en escena de la desaparici贸n de una joven; Lena Beck, quien lleva desaparecida la friolera de catorce a帽os. Catorce a帽os durante los cuales sus padres han vivido todo un infierno. De no saber qu茅 ha sido de tu hija, 驴estar谩 viva y cautiva a manos de alg煤n s谩dico?, 驴muerta hecha pedazos en alg煤n bosque perdido?, 驴v铆ctima de la trata de blancas?.
Todo son preguntas sin respuesta para esos desesperados padres.
No puedo ni imaginar tal dolor.
Hasta que una noche reciben una llamada, esa llamada que tanto ansiaban.
Una mujer cuya descripci贸n concuerda con Lena, ha sido atropellada en una zona boscosa cerca de la frontera checa, est谩 grave y no est谩 sola...
A trav茅s de tres narradores en primera persona se nos ir谩 revelando la verdadera historia tras este secuestro.
Conoceremos a Lena, y su tormentoso d铆a a d铆a en esa caba帽a sin ventanas y con un aparato que les provee del aire que necesitan para vivir.
A Matthias, el padre de Lena, que vive un infierno junto con su mujer Karin al no saber a煤n quien es el responsable del secuestro de su 煤nica hija y el paradero de esta.
Y a la peque帽a Hannah, que no conoce otra cosa que la vida tras esas fr铆as paredes. Una vida regida por estrictas normas y horarios hasta para ir al ba帽o.
Desde perspectivas y tiempos diferentes (pasado y presente), la autora consigue dotar a la novela de una gran tensi贸n, de mostrarnos las terribles secuelas y la esperanza que se agarra como un clavo ardiendo al coraz贸n de esos padres, de la inocencia de Hannah y su forma de interpretar el mundo al no tener m谩s referencias que los libros que su padre le dispensa.
La autora juega muy inteligentemente con el lector, aportando sutiles giros en la trama, dej谩ndote con la miel en los labios al finalizar cada cap铆tulo, y con la boca abierta al llegar al final.
Es en definitiva, una novela desgarradora sobre los peligros del amor enfermizo y todo lo que puede desatar si no se contiene.
Terrible. Y muy real 馃挃
馃彋"Quien quiere huir no tiene tiempo para una larga historia. Quien tiene algo que perder se guarda para s铆 las cosas inconfesables."
馃彋"As铆 es el amor. Por muy enfermizo, retorcido y mal entendido que sea, sigue siendo amor. El amor que nos impulsa. Que nos convierte en monstruos, a cada uno a su manera."
馃摉 Pr贸xima lectura:
"La puerta" - Manel Loureiro.
馃摎馃挅
February 8, 2021
This certainly had some twists and curves I didn鈥檛 see coming.
An abduction that happens 14 years ago to then 23 year old, Lena. Then another woman is found after missing for 4 months who calls herself Lena and looks a bit like her, but is not her. 2 children born in captivity. An escape.
A father who faithfully believes he will find his daughter in the 14 years she鈥檚 been gone.
It made me think of my own 22 year old daughter who is leaving again to further her education this coming fall. A reminder I need to invest in some brass knuckles for her so she can protect herself from any nuts out there.
An entertaining English debut.
4 solid 猸愶笍
An abduction that happens 14 years ago to then 23 year old, Lena. Then another woman is found after missing for 4 months who calls herself Lena and looks a bit like her, but is not her. 2 children born in captivity. An escape.
A father who faithfully believes he will find his daughter in the 14 years she鈥檚 been gone.
It made me think of my own 22 year old daughter who is leaving again to further her education this coming fall. A reminder I need to invest in some brass knuckles for her so she can protect herself from any nuts out there.
An entertaining English debut.
4 solid 猸愶笍
January 24, 2023
Me ha deslumbrado. Es una novela tremendamente adictiva de comienzo a fin.
En realidad 4.5鈽� pero lo redondeo a las cinco estrellas por el disfrute y apego
Aunque me he cogido casi todos los giros de trama porque no hay nada que me hubiera sorprendido es una lectura demencial y adictiva que no dura nada. Y por si fuera poco los tres personajes principales que narran esta enfermiza y perturbadora histiria est谩n muy bien construidos psicol贸gicamente. Narrado a tres voces: una mujer secuestrada, su hija y el padre de la primera. V铆ctimas conectadas por el perpetrador que no querr谩s parar de leer. A m铆 me result贸 imposible no pensar en seguir leyendo y sentir tensi贸n todo el rato. Recomendad铆simo.
Ahora s铆, la trama va sobre una madre y dos hijos viven encerrados hasta que esta escapa con su hija, tiene un accidente y luego a trav茅s de su punto de vista y el de la peque帽a se alcanza a avistar un caso enfermizo, abusivo y perturbador que rodea a una familia que ha vivido recluida en una caba帽a donde el padre los ha mantenido cautivos y los mantiene regidos bajo una serie de reglas con mano dura.
Este libro me ha mantenido en vilo por medio de sus cap铆tulos cortos y por lo tremendo que es la trama que si bien me record贸 desde el inicio a La habitaci贸n (novela de Emma Donoghue), ambas no se parecen en pr谩cticamente nada solo comparten un poco la premisa. Este es m谩s duro y escalofriante que el otro.
Aqu铆, por medio de "Lena" iremos rememorando poco a poco los d铆as pasados en esa caba帽a con su secuestrador y sus hijos y cr茅anme que la angustia que he sentido en varias escenas por ella han sido brutales. Su crisis de identidad, su estr茅s postraum谩tico, su trauma, su desconfianza y su posterior regresi贸n de los hechos la hacen el mejor personaje construido psicol贸gicamente para m铆.
El punto de vista de Hannah, la ni帽a peque帽a es igual de curioso y extra帽o, de una naturaleza que tira al mal ya que resulta alarmante la manera en que los hechos ocurridos y el entorno en el que se ha criado y desarrollado (cuatro paredes, sin ventanas y con la puerta cerrada) le llevan a normalizar de manera abismal los comportamientos que all铆 se llevan a cabo. Tiene much铆sima ambig眉edad moral y un retorcido significado del amor y la familia en el que tambi茅n se ir谩n juntando las piezas que reconstruyen el caso principal.
Quiz谩s la tercera perspectiva es la que menos me ha gustado porque sigue a Matthias (padre de Lena) y nos muestra un poco lo que es vivir bajo la constante zozobra de tener a un ser querido desaparecido, adem谩s de los medios de comunicaci贸n acosandote y manipulando la informaci贸n. Sin duda alguna tambi茅n juega un papel fundamental en el caso y sirve para agregar m谩s tensi贸n ya que nos desprende de lo que nos interesa: los puntos de vista de las otras dos protagonistas y principales afectadas.
Cinco estrellas porque no quer铆a dejar de leer hasta desenrollar todo el man铆 y sacar lo que hab铆a debajo de la alfombra. Si al comienzo estaba expectante, de mitad hacia adelante me com铆a las u帽as queriendo saber todo y principalmente la identidad del secuestrador. As铆 que s铆, vale la pena, por lo estremecedor e inquietante, hay escenas muy bien logradas aunque el enfrentamiento final no me gust贸 por lo r谩pido que se desencadena tiene un ep铆logo que para m铆 rrecompensa por lo impresionante y cierra bien todos los cabos.
En realidad 4.5鈽� pero lo redondeo a las cinco estrellas por el disfrute y apego
Aunque me he cogido casi todos los giros de trama porque no hay nada que me hubiera sorprendido es una lectura demencial y adictiva que no dura nada. Y por si fuera poco los tres personajes principales que narran esta enfermiza y perturbadora histiria est谩n muy bien construidos psicol贸gicamente. Narrado a tres voces: una mujer secuestrada, su hija y el padre de la primera. V铆ctimas conectadas por el perpetrador que no querr谩s parar de leer. A m铆 me result贸 imposible no pensar en seguir leyendo y sentir tensi贸n todo el rato. Recomendad铆simo.
Ahora s铆, la trama va sobre una madre y dos hijos viven encerrados hasta que esta escapa con su hija, tiene un accidente y luego a trav茅s de su punto de vista y el de la peque帽a se alcanza a avistar un caso enfermizo, abusivo y perturbador que rodea a una familia que ha vivido recluida en una caba帽a donde el padre los ha mantenido cautivos y los mantiene regidos bajo una serie de reglas con mano dura.
Este libro me ha mantenido en vilo por medio de sus cap铆tulos cortos y por lo tremendo que es la trama que si bien me record贸 desde el inicio a La habitaci贸n (novela de Emma Donoghue), ambas no se parecen en pr谩cticamente nada solo comparten un poco la premisa. Este es m谩s duro y escalofriante que el otro.
Aqu铆, por medio de "Lena" iremos rememorando poco a poco los d铆as pasados en esa caba帽a con su secuestrador y sus hijos y cr茅anme que la angustia que he sentido en varias escenas por ella han sido brutales. Su crisis de identidad, su estr茅s postraum谩tico, su trauma, su desconfianza y su posterior regresi贸n de los hechos la hacen el mejor personaje construido psicol贸gicamente para m铆.
El punto de vista de Hannah, la ni帽a peque帽a es igual de curioso y extra帽o, de una naturaleza que tira al mal ya que resulta alarmante la manera en que los hechos ocurridos y el entorno en el que se ha criado y desarrollado (cuatro paredes, sin ventanas y con la puerta cerrada) le llevan a normalizar de manera abismal los comportamientos que all铆 se llevan a cabo. Tiene much铆sima ambig眉edad moral y un retorcido significado del amor y la familia en el que tambi茅n se ir谩n juntando las piezas que reconstruyen el caso principal.
Quiz谩s la tercera perspectiva es la que menos me ha gustado porque sigue a Matthias (padre de Lena) y nos muestra un poco lo que es vivir bajo la constante zozobra de tener a un ser querido desaparecido, adem谩s de los medios de comunicaci贸n acosandote y manipulando la informaci贸n. Sin duda alguna tambi茅n juega un papel fundamental en el caso y sirve para agregar m谩s tensi贸n ya que nos desprende de lo que nos interesa: los puntos de vista de las otras dos protagonistas y principales afectadas.
Cinco estrellas porque no quer铆a dejar de leer hasta desenrollar todo el man铆 y sacar lo que hab铆a debajo de la alfombra. Si al comienzo estaba expectante, de mitad hacia adelante me com铆a las u帽as queriendo saber todo y principalmente la identidad del secuestrador. As铆 que s铆, vale la pena, por lo estremecedor e inquietante, hay escenas muy bien logradas aunque el enfrentamiento final no me gust贸 por lo r谩pido que se desencadena tiene un ep铆logo que para m铆 rrecompensa por lo impresionante y cierra bien todos los cabos.
January 30, 2021
Madre m铆a, qu茅 brutalidad de libro.
A mis favoritos de cabeza.
A mis favoritos de cabeza.
January 20, 2021
Dear Child - Romy Hausmann
Well that was twisty and just all kinds of... wrong!
This is a hard one to review without giving anything away but I will try. A woman escapes captivity only to hit by a car on the first road she come to. The driver is shocked but calls an ambulance immediately. As they head to the hospital the paramedics ask her name and a child鈥檚 voice says 鈥淟ena, her name is Lena鈥�. But it鈥檚 not! And how did Hannah end up in the ambulance with her?
In the hospital the woman, whose real name is Jasmin Grass, doesn鈥檛 say much while she tries to work out what is going on and how to answer the questions posed by the police. It seems that Lena is another young woman who disappeared 13 years ago never to be seen again. Lena鈥檚 parents, Matthias and Karin Beck, rush to the hospital as their police officer friend tells them a woman, who could be Lena, has been brought in. Even through the injuries Matthias sees immediately that she is not Lena, but he also sees the child Hannah who is the spitting image of Lena.
The story is told from the POV of Jasmin, Matthias and Hannah. Hannah (13 years old) is a strange, almost robotic child - highly intelligent but emotionally quite blank. Jasmin describes the cabin she was held in, with the children, how she bashed her captor鈥檚 head with a heavy snow globe and fled. And Hannah tells authorities that Jonathan, her younger brother (11 years old) is still at the cabin - cleaning up the blood. Yikes, is that weird or what? Matthias is not very likeable, yes he is a grieving father but a lot of his behaviours are wrong and unhelpful.
As the story progresses nothing is quite what is seems. Each of the major characters is processing their trauma differently, and this is an issue the author handled very well. It is a good reminder that trauma responses can and do vary. Nevertheless, there was always something a bit odd about Hannah. Jasmin was left as a bundle of nerves not being able to trust anyone. Then the anonymous notes started...
It got quite nerve shredding as the thing that Jasmin feared most seemed about to happen. But how could it be? Of course everyone is hiding something and when the truth does finally come out the answer is both surprising and shocking! It doesn鈥檛 happen often but I was quite uncomfortable at times while reading this. Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Romy Hausmann for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.
Well that was twisty and just all kinds of... wrong!
This is a hard one to review without giving anything away but I will try. A woman escapes captivity only to hit by a car on the first road she come to. The driver is shocked but calls an ambulance immediately. As they head to the hospital the paramedics ask her name and a child鈥檚 voice says 鈥淟ena, her name is Lena鈥�. But it鈥檚 not! And how did Hannah end up in the ambulance with her?
In the hospital the woman, whose real name is Jasmin Grass, doesn鈥檛 say much while she tries to work out what is going on and how to answer the questions posed by the police. It seems that Lena is another young woman who disappeared 13 years ago never to be seen again. Lena鈥檚 parents, Matthias and Karin Beck, rush to the hospital as their police officer friend tells them a woman, who could be Lena, has been brought in. Even through the injuries Matthias sees immediately that she is not Lena, but he also sees the child Hannah who is the spitting image of Lena.
The story is told from the POV of Jasmin, Matthias and Hannah. Hannah (13 years old) is a strange, almost robotic child - highly intelligent but emotionally quite blank. Jasmin describes the cabin she was held in, with the children, how she bashed her captor鈥檚 head with a heavy snow globe and fled. And Hannah tells authorities that Jonathan, her younger brother (11 years old) is still at the cabin - cleaning up the blood. Yikes, is that weird or what? Matthias is not very likeable, yes he is a grieving father but a lot of his behaviours are wrong and unhelpful.
As the story progresses nothing is quite what is seems. Each of the major characters is processing their trauma differently, and this is an issue the author handled very well. It is a good reminder that trauma responses can and do vary. Nevertheless, there was always something a bit odd about Hannah. Jasmin was left as a bundle of nerves not being able to trust anyone. Then the anonymous notes started...
It got quite nerve shredding as the thing that Jasmin feared most seemed about to happen. But how could it be? Of course everyone is hiding something and when the truth does finally come out the answer is both surprising and shocking! It doesn鈥檛 happen often but I was quite uncomfortable at times while reading this. Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Romy Hausmann for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.
March 20, 2021
鈥淓l primer d铆a pierdo la noci贸n del tiempo, la dignidad y una muela. A cambio, ahora tengo dos hijos y una gata. No recuerdo c贸mo se llaman, salvo la gata, la Se帽orita Tinky.鈥�
Con un comienzo as铆, Mi dulce ni帽a (2019), de la alemana Romy Hausmann (1981-), ya ha captado toda tu atenci贸n. Si a continuaci贸n aparece un personaje magn茅tico que te seduce por su originalidad (una ni帽a llamada Hanna) y si, apenas le铆da la cuarta parte del texto, ya te ha regalado dos giros inesperados, creo que ya puedes tener claro que est谩s inmerso en una novela que no vas a poder abandonar y solo aciertas a cruzar los dedos para desear que mantenga ese nivel inicial.
Aunque la parte central no es tan impactante, contin煤a generando sorpresas que ampl铆an a煤n m谩s la intriga, sin que seas capaz de adivinar a donde te va a conducir la historia ni su resoluci贸n. Porque no es hasta la parte final donde Mi dulce ni帽a vuelve a ser como una traca de fuegos artificiales, llena de golpes de efecto y en la que se cierran adecuadamente todos los cabos sueltos.
El tema (la familia que vive secuestrada por el padre) no es nuevo (me viene a la memoria la estupenda La habitaci贸n, Emma Donoghue), pero la historia no se reduce al mundo dom茅stico, sino a la vida de los personajes implicados, las investigaciones, las relaciones psicol贸gicas e incluso se atreve con las posibles causas. Encuentro mucho de negra n贸rdica en ese an谩lisis de la retorcida mente humana.
鈥淎s铆 es el amor. Por muy enfermizo, retorcido y mal entendido que sea, sigue siendo amor. El amor que nos impulsa. Que nos convierte en monstruos, a cada uno a su manera.鈥�
Si lo que buscas en una novela negra es intriga y un ritmo imparable, Mi dulce ni帽a cumple con creces esta funci贸n, porque, adem谩s del argumento y de una trama bien elaborada, la autora recurre sin complejos a todos los recursos posibles para conseguirlo: m谩s acci贸n que descripci贸n, abundante di谩logo, frases cortas, un uso complejo de las m煤ltiples voces, cambio de perspectivas, cliffhangers (estoy cansado ya de este burdo recurso), avance constante, personajes que siembran dudas, informaci贸n muy bien dosificada, pistas ambiguas bien planteadas, varios plots twists, etc.
En general suelo resistirme a conceder cinco estrellas y a煤n m谩s en novelas de g茅nero negro, con excesivas similitudes, pero Romy Hausmann ha conseguido no darme ni un momento de reposo, y, definitivamente, no me he podido resistir al placer de los giros argumentales (plot twists) por los que siento verdadero debilidad.
CONSEJO: 隆No le谩is la sinopsis! La mayor sorpresa de la novela la airean sin ning煤n pudor. 隆Es rid铆culo!
Con un comienzo as铆, Mi dulce ni帽a (2019), de la alemana Romy Hausmann (1981-), ya ha captado toda tu atenci贸n. Si a continuaci贸n aparece un personaje magn茅tico que te seduce por su originalidad (una ni帽a llamada Hanna) y si, apenas le铆da la cuarta parte del texto, ya te ha regalado dos giros inesperados, creo que ya puedes tener claro que est谩s inmerso en una novela que no vas a poder abandonar y solo aciertas a cruzar los dedos para desear que mantenga ese nivel inicial.
Aunque la parte central no es tan impactante, contin煤a generando sorpresas que ampl铆an a煤n m谩s la intriga, sin que seas capaz de adivinar a donde te va a conducir la historia ni su resoluci贸n. Porque no es hasta la parte final donde Mi dulce ni帽a vuelve a ser como una traca de fuegos artificiales, llena de golpes de efecto y en la que se cierran adecuadamente todos los cabos sueltos.
El tema (la familia que vive secuestrada por el padre) no es nuevo (me viene a la memoria la estupenda La habitaci贸n, Emma Donoghue), pero la historia no se reduce al mundo dom茅stico, sino a la vida de los personajes implicados, las investigaciones, las relaciones psicol贸gicas e incluso se atreve con las posibles causas. Encuentro mucho de negra n贸rdica en ese an谩lisis de la retorcida mente humana.
鈥淎s铆 es el amor. Por muy enfermizo, retorcido y mal entendido que sea, sigue siendo amor. El amor que nos impulsa. Que nos convierte en monstruos, a cada uno a su manera.鈥�
Si lo que buscas en una novela negra es intriga y un ritmo imparable, Mi dulce ni帽a cumple con creces esta funci贸n, porque, adem谩s del argumento y de una trama bien elaborada, la autora recurre sin complejos a todos los recursos posibles para conseguirlo: m谩s acci贸n que descripci贸n, abundante di谩logo, frases cortas, un uso complejo de las m煤ltiples voces, cambio de perspectivas, cliffhangers (estoy cansado ya de este burdo recurso), avance constante, personajes que siembran dudas, informaci贸n muy bien dosificada, pistas ambiguas bien planteadas, varios plots twists, etc.
En general suelo resistirme a conceder cinco estrellas y a煤n m谩s en novelas de g茅nero negro, con excesivas similitudes, pero Romy Hausmann ha conseguido no darme ni un momento de reposo, y, definitivamente, no me he podido resistir al placer de los giros argumentales (plot twists) por los que siento verdadero debilidad.
CONSEJO: 隆No le谩is la sinopsis! La mayor sorpresa de la novela la airean sin ning煤n pudor. 隆Es rid铆culo!
July 29, 2020
This book is one of the better psychological thrillers I have read in the last few years. It's dark and disturbing and I couldn't help but be engrossed in the story.
No doubt some comparisons can be made to the book Room by Emma Donoghue. You have a captivity plot and one of the narrators of the story is a child. However, don't skip this book just because you have read Room. Despite a few similarities Dear Child goes off in its own direction and I certainly didn't feel like I read the same book twice.
This story works well in my opinion because there are 3 narrators and they each bring something unique to the table. While the story moves forward in the present day, you slowly get pieces of the puzzle in regards to the captivity. (And yes, I am being vague on purpose. I had forgotten the publisher synopsis when I started this one and I was surprised a few times near the beginning of the book. If you don't mind going in blind, do it for this book as it makes for a better reading experience.)
The only slight criticism I have is there is a specific part of the ending I found confusing. I actually had to go back a little bit and reread and thankfully it did make sense the 2nd time around. I like what the author came up with but I think it could have been executed better.
Definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a creepy, page turning type read.
I received a free ARC of Dear Child by Romy Hausmann from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review. #readinginsidersclub
No doubt some comparisons can be made to the book Room by Emma Donoghue. You have a captivity plot and one of the narrators of the story is a child. However, don't skip this book just because you have read Room. Despite a few similarities Dear Child goes off in its own direction and I certainly didn't feel like I read the same book twice.
This story works well in my opinion because there are 3 narrators and they each bring something unique to the table. While the story moves forward in the present day, you slowly get pieces of the puzzle in regards to the captivity. (And yes, I am being vague on purpose. I had forgotten the publisher synopsis when I started this one and I was surprised a few times near the beginning of the book. If you don't mind going in blind, do it for this book as it makes for a better reading experience.)
The only slight criticism I have is there is a specific part of the ending I found confusing. I actually had to go back a little bit and reread and thankfully it did make sense the 2nd time around. I like what the author came up with but I think it could have been executed better.
Definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a creepy, page turning type read.
I received a free ARC of Dear Child by Romy Hausmann from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review. #readinginsidersclub
November 27, 2022
Had a hard time reading this book. Omg. The world is indeed a cruel place.
This is a story of Lena, a young woman who went missing 13 years ago, an odd little girl and a father who鈥檚 been searching for his daughter. How are these people connected? What happened to Lena?
Dark and menacing. One of those books that would probably make you feel uncomfortable and troubled. This will make you think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable.
So cruel and twisted. My heart broke for the main characters and their torment. I didn鈥檛 care about the twists and the revelations, I cared about how this extremely upset me in the end. Damn. It was good, yet antagonising at the same time.
This is a story of Lena, a young woman who went missing 13 years ago, an odd little girl and a father who鈥檚 been searching for his daughter. How are these people connected? What happened to Lena?
Dark and menacing. One of those books that would probably make you feel uncomfortable and troubled. This will make you think the unthinkable and imagine the unimaginable.
So cruel and twisted. My heart broke for the main characters and their torment. I didn鈥檛 care about the twists and the revelations, I cared about how this extremely upset me in the end. Damn. It was good, yet antagonising at the same time.
November 27, 2020
4.25, rounded down!! What a great debut novel this was. To start with, this story takes place in southern Germany (Bavaria), which is where I was born and raised until I was 12 years old, so that immediately had me intrigued. Also, anything to do with creepy children intrigues me, so that was another plus. Let's just say that one of our young protagonists, Hannah, definitely met my creepiness expectations! The story was very dark and frighteningly realistic or at least plausible, to me. It gave me the creeps throughout, and a few of the more vivid flashback scenes really got to me! I was able to imagine myself in our protagonist's place, and cringed multiple times! Overall this is a story about a 23-year-old college student who disappears inexplicably one night walking home after a party. What happened to her? I totally got the 'Room,' vibe while reading this, and even more so I felt this book read similar to the BBC series The Missing, with a few distinct differences. There was a fantastic twist in the storyline in the first part, that afterwards had me hooked! I wasn't sure where the story was going at that point and if there was an unreliable narrator situation or a few other possible scenarios crossed my mind, but I definitely did not anticipate the ending that we got and felt it really came completely out of left field, and I appreciated that. Without giving much away, this book gives us something it's similar predecessors didn't, in that it attempted to provide the WHY this happened, going so deep as to even make the reader reflect what they might be capable of were they to experience the events and circumstances our antagonist did.. what are we really capable of when put through the ringer beyond a certain point? I thought this book explored that pretty well! If I had to point out any issues with this novel it might just be the similarities it had to the before mentioned series, and I did listen to this partially on audiobook, which had British, rather than German, accented voices for our characters, so I struggled with that, but overall this novel has me really thrilled to see what else this author will release. I'm definitely a new fan!
September 16, 2023
Una caba帽a sin ventanas en medio del bosque. La vida de Lena y sus dos hijos sigue reglas estrictas: los horarios para comer, ir al ba帽o o estudiar se respetan a rajatabla. El ox铆geno les llega a trav茅s de un 芦aparato de circulaci贸n禄.
El padre provee a la familia de alimentos, los protege de los peligros del mundo exterior, se ocupa de que sus hijos siempre tengan una madre.
Pero un d铆a consiguen escapar... y es entonces cuando empieza la verdadera pesadilla..
Muy bueno. Y eso que el thriller psicol贸gico no es mi fuerte o favorito en el g茅nero. Todo lo contrario no consiguen gustarme.
Supongo que la longitud de este libro adem谩s de mi inter茅s por la trama ha ayudado.
Todo parece indicar que el secuestrador quiere recuperar lo que es suyo. Thriller emocionalmente impactante tanto como profundamente conmovedor, Romy Hausmann va desplegando l铆nea a l铆nea el panorama de un horror que sobrepasa toda capacidad de imaginaci贸n.
Una historia brillante, intensa, retorcida, muy oscura, dura e impulsada en su crudeza por los personajes. Impactante y tambi茅n aterradora, mantiene tensi贸n, la sospecha, el desear saber pasa a ser una necesidad aterradora.
Al final cuando terminas y cierras el libro te invita a la reflexi贸n. Tiene varios giros con momentos que a mi me han sorprendido.
Qu茅 pu帽etera conclusi贸n tan inteligente e interesante.
Hay una expectaci贸n e incertidumbre creada por la confusi贸n en la historia que nunca te permite sentirte sobre terreno seguro tanto en lo que piensas y menos a煤n en qui茅n conf铆as. Es bastante sorprendente no ver venir las cosas y bastante terror铆fico...
Personajes que cobran vida tan defectuosos y realistas como s贸lo el ser humano puede ser.
Y me quedo con el libro antes que con la serie que he visto (no entera, no me llama).
Extremadamente recomendable..鉁嶏笍馃帺
El padre provee a la familia de alimentos, los protege de los peligros del mundo exterior, se ocupa de que sus hijos siempre tengan una madre.
Pero un d铆a consiguen escapar... y es entonces cuando empieza la verdadera pesadilla..
Muy bueno. Y eso que el thriller psicol贸gico no es mi fuerte o favorito en el g茅nero. Todo lo contrario no consiguen gustarme.
Supongo que la longitud de este libro adem谩s de mi inter茅s por la trama ha ayudado.
Todo parece indicar que el secuestrador quiere recuperar lo que es suyo. Thriller emocionalmente impactante tanto como profundamente conmovedor, Romy Hausmann va desplegando l铆nea a l铆nea el panorama de un horror que sobrepasa toda capacidad de imaginaci贸n.
Una historia brillante, intensa, retorcida, muy oscura, dura e impulsada en su crudeza por los personajes. Impactante y tambi茅n aterradora, mantiene tensi贸n, la sospecha, el desear saber pasa a ser una necesidad aterradora.
Al final cuando terminas y cierras el libro te invita a la reflexi贸n. Tiene varios giros con momentos que a mi me han sorprendido.
Qu茅 pu帽etera conclusi贸n tan inteligente e interesante.
Hay una expectaci贸n e incertidumbre creada por la confusi贸n en la historia que nunca te permite sentirte sobre terreno seguro tanto en lo que piensas y menos a煤n en qui茅n conf铆as. Es bastante sorprendente no ver venir las cosas y bastante terror铆fico...
Personajes que cobran vida tan defectuosos y realistas como s贸lo el ser humano puede ser.
Y me quedo con el libro antes que con la serie que he visto (no entera, no me llama).
Extremadamente recomendable..鉁嶏笍馃帺
April 13, 2020
When a woman called Lena is in a hit and run accident and is taken to hospital with her daughter Hannah, a tale of abduction and captivity in a cabin in the woods emerges. The police think the woman may be Lena Beck who was kidnapped fourteen years before and summon Lena's parents to the hospital to identify her. This may sound like a familiar theme - a controlling monster of a man, a woman abducted and hidden in a remote location, children born and kept locked indoors - but nothing is as it seems making for a dark and chilling tale.
The events are told from three points of view. That of the woman called Lena, Hannah and Lena's father Matthias, who has never given up looking for her, as the police try to unravel the story and identify the abductor. All three have secrets and no one is telling the truth, least of all Hannah who is a very strange, eerie little girl. A very atmospheric and compelling thriller! 4.5鈽�
With thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
The events are told from three points of view. That of the woman called Lena, Hannah and Lena's father Matthias, who has never given up looking for her, as the police try to unravel the story and identify the abductor. All three have secrets and no one is telling the truth, least of all Hannah who is a very strange, eerie little girl. A very atmospheric and compelling thriller! 4.5鈽�
With thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
August 21, 2024
5/5 鉁║nsettling, complex and yet still plausible!
There鈥檚 a limited series based on the book 馃じ馃従鈥嶁檧锔�! A must-watch for me 馃泲锔忦煒�.
There鈥檚 a limited series based on the book 馃じ馃従鈥嶁檧锔�! A must-watch for me 馃泲锔忦煒�.
March 9, 2023
4'5 / 5
Me ha encantado. Me parece un librazo.
Tiene una trama que te engancha cosa mala, interesante, con ese toque de misterio y suspense.
Personajes cre铆bles.
La historia est谩 contada por sus distintos protagonistas, narrada en primera persona.
Lo 煤nico que hace que no le de un 10 (le pongo un 9 sobre 10) es Matthias, que me ha ca铆do fatal. Es el 煤nico personaje que no he soportado por sus actos.
Leedlo, como poco tendr茅is un rato de puro enganche. Y si os gusta tendr茅is mucho m谩s.
Me ha encantado. Me parece un librazo.
Tiene una trama que te engancha cosa mala, interesante, con ese toque de misterio y suspense.
Personajes cre铆bles.
La historia est谩 contada por sus distintos protagonistas, narrada en primera persona.
Lo 煤nico que hace que no le de un 10 (le pongo un 9 sobre 10) es Matthias, que me ha ca铆do fatal. Es el 煤nico personaje que no he soportado por sus actos.
Leedlo, como poco tendr茅is un rato de puro enganche. Y si os gusta tendr茅is mucho m谩s.
February 15, 2022
3.5/5 Estrellas
Adictividad: 5 estrellas, pocos libros me han generado 煤ltimamente tal nivel de enganche.
Originalidad de la historia: 4 estrellas (ha habido casos reales 煤ltimamente que, aunque parezca incre铆ble, se asemejan bastante a lo que aqu铆 se cuenta, caso Fritzl o monstruo de Amnstetten). La crueldad y la locura humanas no tiene l铆mites.
Desarrollo de la historia: 4 estrellas. El primer tercio te engancha de forma incre铆ble y luego pierde un poco de fuelle. La narraci贸n es en primera persona, en boca de los principales personajes de la trama. Es 谩gil y atrapante, pero a a larga acaba cansando un poco, ya que a veces visualizamos una escena desde el punto de vista de varios de los personajes. Estas escenas son muy cinematogr谩ficas, contribuyen a clarificar la historia, pero a mi me ha resultado un poco agotador.
Psicolog铆a de los personajes: 3 estrellas. Aqu铆 es donde el libro me ha dejado un poco m谩s descontento. Estamos ante un libro en el que el desarrollo psicol贸gico de los personajes es fundamental. La respuesta de los mismos a las situaciones espantosas que est谩n viviendo es fundamental para poder entender y justificar los derroteros que toma la historia. El abuelo y la madre muy bien, el secuestrador regular, pero no me creo para nada el papel de los ni帽os en la trama. Por m谩s vueltas que le doy, no acaba de convencer, ni su actitud hacia la "madre" (el que haya le铆do el libro entender谩 las comillas), ni hacia el padre, ni con los m茅dicos, ni con los abuelos......estr茅s post-traum谩tico si, s铆ndrome de Estocolmo tambi茅n, pero la maldad tipo Damien, no me cuadra...o igual es s贸lo necesidad de protecci贸n y amor. A ver qu茅 os parece a vosotros.
Dicho esto, no podr谩s encontrar lectura m谩s absorbente y que te haga pasar un mejor mal rato.
Recomendable.
Adictividad: 5 estrellas, pocos libros me han generado 煤ltimamente tal nivel de enganche.
Originalidad de la historia: 4 estrellas (ha habido casos reales 煤ltimamente que, aunque parezca incre铆ble, se asemejan bastante a lo que aqu铆 se cuenta, caso Fritzl o monstruo de Amnstetten). La crueldad y la locura humanas no tiene l铆mites.
Desarrollo de la historia: 4 estrellas. El primer tercio te engancha de forma incre铆ble y luego pierde un poco de fuelle. La narraci贸n es en primera persona, en boca de los principales personajes de la trama. Es 谩gil y atrapante, pero a a larga acaba cansando un poco, ya que a veces visualizamos una escena desde el punto de vista de varios de los personajes. Estas escenas son muy cinematogr谩ficas, contribuyen a clarificar la historia, pero a mi me ha resultado un poco agotador.
Psicolog铆a de los personajes: 3 estrellas. Aqu铆 es donde el libro me ha dejado un poco m谩s descontento. Estamos ante un libro en el que el desarrollo psicol贸gico de los personajes es fundamental. La respuesta de los mismos a las situaciones espantosas que est谩n viviendo es fundamental para poder entender y justificar los derroteros que toma la historia. El abuelo y la madre muy bien, el secuestrador regular, pero no me creo para nada el papel de los ni帽os en la trama. Por m谩s vueltas que le doy, no acaba de convencer, ni su actitud hacia la "madre" (el que haya le铆do el libro entender谩 las comillas), ni hacia el padre, ni con los m茅dicos, ni con los abuelos......estr茅s post-traum谩tico si, s铆ndrome de Estocolmo tambi茅n, pero la maldad tipo Damien, no me cuadra...o igual es s贸lo necesidad de protecci贸n y amor. A ver qu茅 os parece a vosotros.
Dicho esto, no podr谩s encontrar lectura m谩s absorbente y que te haga pasar un mejor mal rato.
Recomendable.
February 11, 2020
Student Lena Beck went missing 14 years ago in Munich after going to a party. When a young woman is bought into hospital after a hit and run accident, the child Hannah she is with calls her mommy and says she is called Lena, they live in a cabin in the woods with her brother Jonathon and their dad.
Lena鈥檚 dad has never given up looking for his daughter and pesters the police for more information, he is hopeful that Lena is still alive. The suspense builds as he rushes to the hospital only to find out the injured woman is not Lena.
I鈥檓 not normally a fan of kidnapped themed books, but this one drew me in straightaway and kept me captive until the end. Told from 3 people鈥檚 points of view it keeps you guessing with lots of reveals and red herrings along the way.
A thrilling book with a surprising ending. I will look out for this authors next book with great anticipation!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Lena鈥檚 dad has never given up looking for his daughter and pesters the police for more information, he is hopeful that Lena is still alive. The suspense builds as he rushes to the hospital only to find out the injured woman is not Lena.
I鈥檓 not normally a fan of kidnapped themed books, but this one drew me in straightaway and kept me captive until the end. Told from 3 people鈥檚 points of view it keeps you guessing with lots of reveals and red herrings along the way.
A thrilling book with a surprising ending. I will look out for this authors next book with great anticipation!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
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