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Rachel Abbott
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Stranger Child: the emotional thriller that keeps you guessing Kindle Edition

by Rachel Abbott (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 37,652 ratings
One dark secret. One act of revenge.

Tasha Joseph mysteriously vanished at the age of six, the night her mother Caroline‘s car veered off the road into a ditch. Caroline died instantly, but police attending the scene of the accident could find no trace of the little girl who had been sitting quietly on the back seat.

Six years later, Tasha’s bereft father has remarried and has started to build a new life with Emma and their beautiful baby son, Ollie. And then one day a stranger walks into their home and into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.

Emma’s life no longer feels secure. Does she know the truth about what really happened to Tasha and Caroline all those years ago? Why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?

But when a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend Detective Chief Inspector Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Soon a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.

They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they’re right.

A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller
Books in this series can be read in any order

*****

Praise for Stranger Child

‘Holds you hostage and is hard to put down until the end.' – Confessions of a reader

‘Rachel Abbott will keep you guessing long into the night and just as you think you’ve figured it out – think again!’ – Suspense Magazine

'Just when you think you’ve got it sussed, you’ll find yourself screeching in frustration at your foolishness.’ - Crime Fiction Lover

‘I loved this book! What I loved the most about this book was the plot. There are a few 'curve balls' in this story, which definitely kept me on my toes. I really could not put this down.’ - Debra's Book Cafe

‘An edgy thriller takes us to some very dark places; places where children and motherhood are not sacred. The reader can sink into the story straight away and is soon dumped into the disturbing world of crime and cruelty. The author’s use of the characters is brilliant; children, especially the younger ones, seem to ratchet up the emotional investment bringing more and more tension.’ - Goodreads reviewer

‘Set against the opposing realities of harsh, crime-ridden gangs and cosy, well-off, Middle-England families, Abbott seamlessly weaves three separate narratives together into one barn-stormer of a thriller. ...a well-rounded, and fulfilling novel, that still manages to keep you guessing right to the very end.’ - If These Books Could Talk, blog

Praise for Rachel Abbott

'Pure genius: A masterclass in the perfect thriller!’ – Love Books

‘I was left speechless in the first chapter and couldn’t put it down for hours. Rachel is amazing at building tension and keeping you turning page after page’ - Crime Book Club

‘Rachel Abbott is a master of intrigue, suspense, and mystery. Her stories are not tied up with a pretty bow at the end.’ - Goodreads reviewer ‘Abbott creates a tangled web of deception, secrets, and red herrings.’ – Booklist
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  1. Book 4 of 12
    Tom Douglas Thrillers
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    February 24, 2015
  6. File size
    3.1 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  1. ‘Procrastination, Tom.’ ‘Yes – I know. It’s the thief of time.’ Leo had given him a smug look. ‘I wasn’t going to say that – I was going to say makes easy things hard, hard things harder.’
    Highlighted by 223 Kindle readers
  2. It spoke of a level of hopelessness that was outside his comprehension. Even in the bleakest moments of his life he had managed to retain the hope that each day, things would get a little better.
    Highlighted by 215 Kindle readers
  3. Emma wondered not for the first time how silence could vary so much in pitch and tone. This silence held a high-pitched scream at its heart.
    Highlighted by 152 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Absorbing, complex and brilliantly planned, I loved this book. 10/10." Novelicious

"The characters are believable and the crimes credible. Contemporary issues, grief and desperation are well handled. The pace is good, the twists credible and it can easily be read as a stand alone. Enjoy." Crime Thriller Hound

"I was left speechless in the first chapter and couldn't put it down for hours. Rachel is amazing at building tension and keeping you turning page after page." Crime Book Club

"Stranger Child was the PERFECT thriller. I couldn't get enough of this shocking story." Bookaholic Confessions

"Ms. Abbott writes complex and yet very believable thrillers and this book was no exception. You will be on the edge of your seat constantly. 5 stars. A very strong thriller." Books, Reviews, Etc.

"Stranger Child is Rachel Abbott's fourth book but rest assured, she hasn't run out of good ideas yet. I love a good psychological thriller and this one definitely has the thrill aspect at its heart assisted by the fast pace full of tension from the opening sentence." Cleopatra Loves Books

"Prose is taut, wholly believable locations and a full cast bursting with engaging characters." Crime Fiction Lover

"I loved this book! What I loved the most about this book was the plot. There are a few 'curve balls' in this story, which definitely kept me on my toes. I really could not put this down." Debra's Book Cafe

"Set against the opposing realities of harsh, crime-ridden gangs and cosy, well-off, Middle-England families, Abbott seamlessly weaves three separate narratives together into one barn-stormer of a thriller. ...a well-rounded, and fulfilling novel, that still manages to keep you guessing right to the very end." If These Books Could Talk

About the Author

Rachel Abbott is a British author of psychological thrillers. Her first three self-published novels combined to sell over one million copies, and have all been bestsellers on Amazon's Kindle store. Her fourth novel, Stranger Child, was released on Kindle in February 2015 and paperback in May.
Born and raised in Manchester, Rachel trained as a systems analyst before launching her own interactive media company in the early 1980s. After selling her company in 2000, she moved to the Le Marche region of Italy.

When six-foot snowdrifts prevented her from leaving the house for a couple of weeks, she started writing and found she couldn't stop. Since then her debut thriller Only the Innocent has become an international bestseller, reaching the number one position in the Amazon charts both in the UK and US. This was followed by the number one bestselling novels The Back Road and Sleep Tight.

Rachel Abbott now lives in Alderney and writes full-time. Stranger Child is her fourth novel. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00T6MDXA2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Dot Publishing Ltd
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 12 ‏ : ‎ Tom Douglas Thrillers
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 37,652 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Abbott

Rachel Abbott

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Rachel Abbott's debut thriller, Only the Innocent, was an international bestseller, reaching the number one position in the Amazon charts both in the UK and US. This was followed by the number one bestselling novels The Back Road, Sleep Tight, Stranger Child, Nowhere Child (a short novel based on the characters from Stranger Child), Kill Me Again, The Sixth Window, Come a Little Closer, The Shape of Lies, Right Behind You and Close Your Eyes. The new thriller in the Tom Douglas series - No More Lies - was released in February 2023.

In 2018 Rachel released the first book in a new series - And So It Begins. This was followed by The Murder Game in 2020 (The Invitation in the US).

Rachel's novels have now been translated into over 20 languages and have sold over 5 million copies.

In 2015 Amazon celebrated the first five years of the Kindle in the UK, and announced that Rachel was the number one bestselling independent author over the five-year period. She was also placed fourteenth in the chart of all authors. Stranger Child was the most borrowed novel for the Kindle in the first half of 2015.

Rachel now lives in Alderney - a beautiful island off the coast of France - where she devotes her time to her love of writing fiction. For more information, see Rachel's website at www.rachel-abbott.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
37,652 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a compelling thriller with unexpected twists and turns, praising its well-written, fast-paced narrative. They appreciate the character development, particularly the interlinking of obscure characters, and describe it as a real page turner. While many customers say it's hard to put down, opinions on this aspect are mixed.

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581 customers mention "Readability"573 positive8 negative

Customers find the book fascinating and fun to read, with one describing it as a great page turner.

"...From page 1 to the finish, it's guaranteed to keep your interest, to keep you turning pages." Read more

"...Excellent experience!!" Read more

"Very good book. It brought to light the horrific problems of missing children. Very good story line . Rachel Abbott is an excellent writer." Read more

"...I don't want to give spoilers, but it is a fantastic novel. Pulls you in several directions, and it doesn't disappoint...." Read more

452 customers mention "Suspenseful"349 positive103 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, with its multi-layered plot and unexpected twists at the end, making it a compelling thriller.

"...No plot holes. I read the sequel as well, a short story to wrap up some loose ends. I would recommend both." Read more

"...I do not want to give away any of the developments in this intriguing novel...." Read more

"...The mystery is exquisite .. tension runs high. From page 1 to the finish, it's guaranteed to keep your interest, to keep you turning pages." Read more

"...This is a dark mystery taking us into child trafficking and criminal conspiracies...." Read more

133 customers mention "Writing quality"122 positive11 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well written and a super read from page one, with one customer noting how the pacing keeps readers engaged throughout the story.

"This was a solid read, interesting characters, and a detailed story with plenty of twists. No plot holes...." Read more

"...Very good story line . Rachel Abbott is an excellent writer." Read more

"...Started. I’m giving it 3 stars because I honestly feel the author did a lot of research and spent a lot of time making sure she knew what police and..." Read more

"Well written story with a rich, complex plot...." Read more

88 customers mention "Character development"77 positive11 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly its complex plots and interlinking of obscure characters.

"This was a solid read, interesting characters, and a detailed story with plenty of twists. No plot holes...." Read more

"...for the next one. Brit detective Tom Douglas is a fascinating character whose acquaintance I'd made in previous Abbott books...." Read more

"...plots I have ever been exposed to and still able to stay with the character development all the while, with all the curves continuously coming up..." Read more

"Such an amazing story line with some great characters and some not so great. A lot of dark secrets, deceit, gangs and so much suspense...." Read more

63 customers mention "Pacing"47 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a very fast-paced read that moves along quickly.

"...because I honestly feel the author did a lot of research and spent a lot of time making sure she knew what police and detectives would do and how..." Read more

"...is the 4th book of hers that I have read and every one kept me quickly turning the pages!!!..." Read more

"...I love how she keeps you off your seat. Nice and easy, quick read." Read more

"...Enjoyed the book although it dragged in places." Read more

23 customers mention "Page turner"23 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a real page turner, with one customer noting it's full of intensity.

"...He is so adorable that I wanted to reach into the book to squeeze his fat little cheeks...." Read more

"Wonderful and suspenseful story. A real page turner. Glad there's a small novella to really finish the story...." Read more

"I took me a while to get into this book, it was striking at the start but then drifted for a bit. Overall I really enjoyed it." Read more

"Some interesting twists and turn, and surprises. I enjoyed reading it." Read more

39 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"27 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's readability, with some finding it hard to put down and not tedious, while others disagree.

"...Child was a highly emotional read for me because it's so easy to put yourself in the character's place due to Ms. Abbot's excellent writing...." Read more

"...I love how she keeps you off your seat. Nice and easy, quick read." Read more

"...Stranger Child caught me from the first few pages. It was very hard to put it down and took me only a couple of days to read it...." Read more

"...It is well written and a book that is very difficult to put down...." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amanda Pelesky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story
    Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This was a solid read, interesting characters, and a detailed story with plenty of twists. No plot holes. I read the sequel as well, a short story to wrap up some loose ends. I would recommend both.
    Helpful
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  • Cyn Premo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and elegiac.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Rachel Abbot is one of those authors whom I discovered by accident, then was delighted that she had more than one book available.
    Now I am sad that there are not more than the four and a half I have already read, and I am waiting for the next one.
    Brit detective Tom Douglas is a fascinating character whose
    acquaintance I'd made in previous Abbott books. He knows he is far from perfect, but tends to be a bit hard on himself. The huge tragedy in his life thus far is the
    death of his brother Jack, which left Tom financially set but emotionally bereft. He is accompanied by assistant detective Becky, and they
    make a good team. They don't always agree, but they learn from each others' successes and mistakes. I also got a real sense that no matter how many atrocious crimes they witnessed or worked on solving, they never forget that the victims are human, part of families, beloved by
    someone.
    Emma and David Joseph share a home, mutual goals, and a delightful baby named Ollie. He is so adorable that I wanted to reach into the book to squeeze his fat little cheeks. Into this mini-utopia walks Tasha, David's daughter from his first marriage who disappeared six years ago
    following the vehicular accident that claimed her mother. No trace of her has been found, though David says he has left no stone unturned in his search for her.
    Emma tries to keep the girl calm, but there are some mighty stressful things going on in that blonde teenaged head. When David comes home, the reunion is reserved and not what one would expect from a father and his beloved lost daughter. Emma is puzzled, and her way of dealing with the girl's emotional distance is to encourage Tasha to connect with Ollie, who is pretty much irresistable. As seems to be the accepted paradigm in
    kidnapping fiction, the "NO POLICE" imperative is given by Tasha.
    I do not want to give away any of the developments in this intriguing novel. Suffice it to say that there are twists and turns that may surprise you, and there are characters you may love and some you may loathe. All in all, this a good mystery with a surprising ending, and though I
    wish it had been happily resolved, there is at least a feeling that some people got what they deserved. Highly recommended.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • booklover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Psychological Thriller At Its Best
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    David doesn't only lose his wife in an auto accident, but his six-year daughter, Natasha, disappears from the car. He eventually remarries and has a son, Ollie, with his second wife, Emma.

    Out of the blue, Natasha reappears, now aged 16. Where has she been and how did she get there? Natasha isn't talking. She's secretive and angry and has an agenda that no one suspects.

    DCI Tom Douglas gets involved when Ollie goes missing after being taken for a walk by Natasha. Emma calls him on the sly as Natasha is adamant that police not be called. Emma, at one time, was engaged to Tom's brother who died several years ago.

    This is a psychological thriller that touches all the emotions .... anger, surprise, compassion, indecision. The story entails little by little the life that Natasha has lived since she was taken as a young child. The reader gets to watch Emma struggle with the disappearance of her son and what she is prepared to do to get him back. David is tight-lipped ... he's trying to hold on to a secret he's kept from everyone.

    The mystery is exquisite .. tension runs high. From page 1 to the finish, it's guaranteed to keep your interest, to keep you turning pages.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Virginia Ann Boston
    5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you guessing
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I love she uses the same detective in several books. It's like hearing from an old friend. After years of not reading as much as I used to, I've found an author that keeps me guessing. I'm back to reading more!
    Helpful
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  • Cheryl B. Dale
    4.0 out of 5 stars GOOD READ
    Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    When a mother is killed in a car crash, her young daughter Natasha vanishes. Years later, the grieving widower remarries, and he and his new wife have a baby.

    In another location, a Detective Chief Inspector is assigned the case of a young girl found dead in the woods. She's about the right age as Natasha, and he tells the father the dead girl may be his daughter.

    Before the husband can tell his new wife about what's happening, she finds a stranger in her house: a young girl about the right age who says she's Natasha.

    Then the couple are cut off from the outside world as Natasha rips their land line off the wall and steals their cells. And when the baby goes missing...

    Natasha is in control, telling them they'll get the baby back if they do exactly what she says. The wife finds an old cell and uses it to contact the DCI, who is a personal friend, and he lands feet-first in the case. A lot more facts come out as the story progresses, each one leading to the next startling revelation.

    This is a dark mystery taking us into child trafficking and criminal conspiracies. I'm not a Gone Girl fan, but if you liked that dark story, you'll probably like this one. It kept me reading till I finished it.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • BridgetG
    3.0 out of 5 stars Meh
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting story idea that might have worked in the hand of another author. Unfortunately, here we are with overly long chapters, a contrived and convoluted plot, characters that remained so undeveloped they were little more than cardboard props. The vocabulary is too simple and limited which is odd as it reads like a young adult novel but has adult situations. The author makes a half hearted attempt to add color by giving two characters silly names - a forensics person called Jumbo and a woman named Leo.

    The plot was so wide open that before I was half way through, I knew the whole story. I got the entire who, what, why, when and where and that did not make me happy. Some mystery.

    I know some people are raving about this book. I don't get it. For me, it was meh. I give it three stars because I read the entire book and I appreciate the workman like effort.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alicia C.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Buen thriller, atrapante.
    Reviewed in Mexico on January 23, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Thriller atrapante con varios giros, atrapante. El final no me encantó.
    Report
  • Jean Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stranger Child
    Reviewed in Spain on February 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    A catastrophic road accident? Just before it happened, she received a phone call warning her not to sit
    The mother is killed. The child in the back seat disappears. The police could find no trace of her. Great Characterisation in the book from Rachel Abbot. Spellbinding. Highly Recommended.
    Report
  • AnneM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Palpitant !
    Reviewed in France on July 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent ! Impossible de poser ce livre quand on l'a commencé ... Intrigue bien ficelêe, bien documentée. Ce n'est pas la première fois que je constate qu'un e-book à 0,99€ peut être une vraie trouvaille et je souhaite à ces auteurs et à Rachel Abbot, tde parvenir au même succès que d'autres ont obtenu sans avoir -à mes yeux, le même talent ... A lire, sans hésitation !
    Report
  • Birgit
    5.0 out of 5 stars this author never disappoints.
    Reviewed in Australia on March 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Rachel Abbott is a talented writer, she has created another outstanding thriller. It was difficult to put the book down, I just wanted to keep reading till it was all resolved. The plot unfolds so quickly and the horrific experiences of both the young Natasha and the older Emma makes the story even more tense. Without giving too much away the novel deals with both the best and worse in humans. A great read.
    Report
  • Hume Cathrene Anne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great follow up to nowhere child.
    Reviewed in Italy on October 7, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    It was good to read how it all finished happily enough.
    But maybe not for everyone.
    Report

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