Review: The Child by Fiona Barton

Kate Waters may have a huge story. In a world where digital reigns supreme and the drug of choice for public interest is gossip and celebrities, she feels the need to prove that good journalism is still possible. After her interest was piqued by a sliver of news concerning the discovery of a baby’s skeleton at a building site, Waters decides to investigate and learn how anyone in their right mind could discard a baby in such a manner. And she’s not the only one moved by the story. Angela, whose newborn infant disappeared years ago without a trace, hopes for possible closure and clings to the possibility of the baby being hers. Emma, who spent her childhood in the neighbourhood of the discovery, worries what else will be found when the baby’s story comes to light.

Waters dedicates her time and resources searching through the past, in an attempt to find the mother and the story behind the child. She soon realizes that the baby’s bones were not all that were buried – with them, secrets begin to emerge in a twisted web of lies that illustrate that the past is not always as clear cut as we think, and that some truths refuse to be buried.

There is a beautiful nostalgia in the world of The Child – set in the same universe as The Widow (Barton’s previous and equally excellent novel), it allows for a familiarity despite the new characters and incredible new plot. Perhaps her own past in journalism is the reason for Barton’s obvious and immense talent at story-telling, and certainly accounts for change of perspective of the media – here is a journalist who isn’t a total scumbag. Kate Waters is an excellent reporter, but she’s also deeply caring, craftily brilliant and absolutely relatable. It is impossible not to admire this character and cheer her on, editor and naysayers be damned.

I cannot level enough praise for The Child – from suspenseful story to unpredictable twist, with a dash of the macabre, it has it all, and I dare you to try pout it down once you’ve started (I certainly couldn’t have, even if I had wanted to). Five stars for The Child; get yourself a copy post haste.

The Child by Fiona Barton is published by Penguin Random House.