Synopsis
When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl's mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.
Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.
Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing connections between the two incidents start to surface, and suddenly it's not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it's too late.
Weaving together the trademark folklore inspiration that readers loved in Little Darlings, with the procedural narrative force of a brilliant mystery, this is the excellent and unnerving new novel from Melanie Golding.
Publisher information
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008293765
- Number of pages: 432
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 27 mm
- Weight: 280g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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Enjoyable and different
4+
A young child is left on her own in Cleethorpes, her mother Constance Douglas is missing but Ruby Harper is her Replacement. An overflowing bath leaks ... READ MORE
Different type of story
This book is brilliant, I was hard put to stop reading and do anything else, but now I have finished I am bereft.
Really well plotted with great character... READ MORE
A Mesmerising Read
What an absolute page-turner! I just couldn't put it down. This is Melanie Golding’s second book and The Hidden is another atmospheric thriller. It wasn't ... READ MORE
A modern tale combing with an old traditional myth, intriguing
Myths and legends not being my usual fare, I was unsure as to whether I would enjoy this, but I loved it. A modern tale of an old, much forgotten, traditio... READ MORE
An interesting read.
Oh my what an interesting book. This is a DS Joanna Harper murder mystery - seemingly with no murder - just a good try. The story goes into the myth/lege... READ MORE
A tense thriller with a touch of folklore
Rounded down from around 4.5 stars ⭐️
The Replacement follows the intertwined lives of Ruby, Joanna, Constance and Gregor. Gregor is found badly injured ... READ MORE
Folklore and police procedural wasn't a good mix for me
This is a well written book and I can understand the beauty of the underlying story of Constance, Unfortunately for me though the mix of folktale and polic... READ MORE
A good read
Really loved this book , it was such a different read from usual books I have read but from start to finish I didn’t want to leave it down , through out th... READ MORE
Excellent crime thriller/police procedural with folkloric elements
My thanks to HQ for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Replacement’ by Melanie Golding in exchange for an honest review. I complemented my reading with my own c... READ MORE
Folklore thriller
This was a highly original thriller with a folklore twist that made for a unique and unusual read. Told primarily from the viewpoints of Ruby and her DS mu... READ MORE
Atmospheric page turner!
Loved this book. Very different and believable. It really is a page turner! A very good read.
There is a lot happening in this story.
Folklore fantasies, psychopathic killers and family struggles. Although each story line was great in isolation, and perhaps could have worked well in a few... READ MORE
The Replacement by Melanie Golding
The Replacement by Melanie Golding is another book about the selkies and a mysterious male. Joanna and Ruby play a major part in the story. Joanna as the o... READ MORE
Not for me!
I’d like to thank H.Q. and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Replacement’ by Melanie Golding in exchange for my honest and unbiased revi... READ MORE
A perfect balance of folklore and modern mystery
Wow, what a great book very reminiscent of a Joanne Harris.
I loved just about everything about The Replacement.
The way the story is told through the pe... READ MORE
Haunting and addictive.
Loved this. I'm a fan of fiction that takes on something of mythology and I'm a fan of psychological thrillers so The Replacement was a pretty perfect book... READ MORE
An Intriguing Mystery With A Bit Of Folklore
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
One dark December night, in a small seaside town, a little girl is found abandoned. When her mother arrives twenty frantic minut... READ MORE
A very good read
A small girl, Leonie, is found alone outside a convenience shop. While Social Services are dealing with the case, a woman arrives and convinces the social ... READ MORE
Some heart stopping moments!
Following the success of Little Darlings, Melanie Golding brings us another psychological thriller that again includes a little folklore, this time involvi... READ MORE
Brilliant read
When DS Harper is tasked to investigate an attempted murder of a man called Gregor little did she know that Ruby her relative could be involved.
And what ... READ MORE
A wonderful thrill ride of horror and fable
This is my first Melanie Golding novel. I really liked her style of writing and the way she built up her characters.
When a lost child walks into a shop t... READ MORE
Great read!
I loved Melanie Golding's previous book, Little Darlings, so was equally excited to be given chance to read The Replacement, upon reading the blurb.
Oh, w... READ MORE
Folk tale crossed with police procedural magic!
I absolutely loved this book. A really brilliant mixture of a police unvestigation of an attempted murder with a folk story interwoven throughout The mixtu... READ MORE
Enjoyed this a lot!
Part mythology, part mystery thriller, part police drama The replacement is the second book featuring DS Joanne Harper. I hadn't read her debut novel Littl... READ MORE
The Replacement
I enjoyed Little Darlings when I read it a couple of years ago. I described it as creepy and chilling, harrowing and heartbreaking - and I think I can re-u... READ MORE
With folklore weaved into this gripping, edge of your seat thriller, I flew through the pages.
I read the authors first book Little darlings published back in 2019 so was really excited to learn there was a new book coming out, again with old folklor... READ MORE
Loved it
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ for the electronic copy.
This is a really well-written, creepy and twisty psychological thriller. In mid-December... READ MORE
Must read
This was my first novel by Melanie Golding and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The book starts with a brilliant opening scene.....a young child walkin... READ MORE
A great read
I really enjoyed this book. Just when you think you have a handle on it, the story changes and you think “ah ok, I know where this is going” only to find i... READ MORE
Not to everyone's taste, but I loved it!
Let's get this out of the way. I love this book! I've never read a Melanie Golding book before, but my next read will definitely be her Little Darlings. Al... READ MORE
Original!
I really enjoyed this psychological thriller with supernatural elements, which was quite different to anything I have been reading recently. I thought the ... READ MORE