When a tiny skeleton is found buried at a worksite, it captures the attention of British journalist Kate Waters. Is it the missing baby of a young couple whose infant daughter disappeared from a hospital maternity ward many years ago? Or is this something else entirely? Kate investigates several different lines of inquiry, becoming entangled in the lives of several women who have secrets. But do they relate to the missing baby or is something else going on?
This is the second book in a series featuring Kate Waters, a British journalist. As I write this, I've already finished book #3, so this one's not as fresh in my mind. I think I did like this one better than book #1, and while Kate was not a particular likeable character in the first book, she grew on me a little more this time around. Fiona Barton does a good job intertwining stories and keeping the reader guessing, with somewhat of a surprise near the end. This author was on the edge of my radar, but after now reading two of her books, I'm impressed enough to want to read more. ( )

This is the first book I've read by Fiona Barton. And, yes, I read #2 in the series before reading #1.

I like the way the story was told - alternating between 4 different women and how their stories aligned. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed, especially the wrapping up of the Will and Al storyline(s).

This story focuses around the bones of a baby found during demolition of a home. Kate Waters is a journalist and is instantly intrigued and wants to follow the story of who was found at the site? As Kate starts investigating, she is drawn into a story that goes back almost 30 years and involves the residents that were living on that road at the time of the burial.

Suspense

I read "The Widow" when it came out and enjoyed it very much. This story was another great story. I
do not want to give anything away but just like "The Widow" there is surprise that you do not expect. Kate, Emma and Angela tell the story from different points. Kate is the reporter following a story that turns in much more than was thought. The author does a really good job weaving the story together. While part of the story does not seem possible, it has happened. Abduction of a newborn has happened. But the author puts an interesting story around it. I read this in 1 day. I hope the author writes another book with Kate as the reporter. ( )

An infant's skeleton is found buried in the back garden of a house being demolished. The story follows several women who have an interest in the mystery of the baby's identity and the circumstances that led to its burial: A still-grieving mother whose baby was snatched from the hospital's maternity ward; a troubled woman with a history of psychiatric problems who once lived in the house where the infant was buried; her mother with whom she still has a rocky relationship; an investigative reporter who is determined to solve the mystery and break the story.

The mystery is not entirely predictable, but I was really more interested in the characters as they were revealed. The only real clunker in this story is really unlikely plot twist where a rookie reporter finds out a key piece of information about forensics on Wikipedia that neither the forensic lab nor the police had even considered. Even I had that figured out well in advance.

Still, the story was compelling, and the characters well drawn, and the writing is good enough that I didn't really notice that one character's POV was written in the dreaded First-Person-Present-Tense until I was most of the way through the book.

Audiobook, borrowed from my public library, with an excellent performance by a cast of several.

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