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The Child cover art

The Child

By: Fiona Barton
Narrated by: Clare Corbett, Adjoa Andoh, Finty Williams, Fenella Woolgar, Steven Pacey
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Publisher's Summary

When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers, it's impossible to ignore.

For one woman it's a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her.

For another it's the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered.

And for a third, a journalist, it's the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth.

The Child's story will be told.

©2017 Fiona Barton (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Critic Reviews

Our members are our most important critics and this is what they have to say about the narrators of The Child....
Clare Corbett:
"The narration is excellent and I would say it is more like listening to a dramatisation than a reading." (Iris on The Widow)
"Clare Corbett is a fabulous narrator." (Chris on The Missing)
Adjoa Andoh:
"Honourable mention should go to the narrator who is *phenomenal*. Great dramatic performance AND she's very good at the many different international and regional accents, which is often such an irritation. Can't praise it highly (or articulately) enough." (Jo on The Power)
"The narration was the best I've ever heard on an audiobook. Wonderful." (Raine on The Power)
Finty Williams:
"Mention must also go to Finty Williams for some beautiful characterisation and a warm and textured performance." (Simon on The Girl with All the Gifts)
"I thought Finty Williams was perfect!" (Z. OConnor on The Girl Before)
Fenella Woolgar:
"The reading too is excellent, Fenella Woolgar added an extra dimension to what is an excellent novel. Her characterisation was superb, and her wonderful modulation kept me spellbound." (Pj on Life After Life)
Steven Pacey:
"It is beautifully read, with a wide range of distinctive character voices - another triumph for Steven Pacey!" (Jill on Let the Right One In)

What listeners say about The Child

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well drawn characters.

Starts out well and then gets a bit spongy in the middle, well worth persevering though as the main characters are so well written. I can normally pick the end, but not this time. Really enjoyed it, very satisfying and will listen to anything this Author writes.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good listening

Kept me interested but figured out the ending way earlier than the heroine. Still good listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start but so worth it

It took a while for the pieces to be laid out but their putting together was so interesting. I came to love the characters and when the twists came , I couldn't put it down. Well wtitten...well narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Kept me thinking ...

This book kept me thinking the whole way through. What's the link... I just couldn't guess it. Thoroughly enjoyed it to the end and the narration was excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

'Gripping'

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I admit I did guess the mystery before the end but somehow, it made me eager to finish to see if I was right! I loved the different characters and became really involved in the story. I even took the iphone to bed with me to listen to the end and woke up in the morning with the phone tucked under my chin and the earphones wrapped around my neck!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit too long but good

I do enjoy Fiona Barton’s writing but I find she drags the story out too much. 84 chapters!!

That said it’s a good story and the narration is fabulous.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Beautifully developed characters

Beautifully performed and a great "read", the only thing being that once you work it out, the story (and characters!) take their sweet time to do the same :)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Kim
  • 27-02-2018

Good but not riveting

The general storyline is very good but the fill in bits are a bit boring for me. Nice revelation at end of story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

captivating

it took a little while to get into but then i couldn't stop listening. great book. great twists

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I can’t believe a book this good is free!!!

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. The narrators were perfectly suited based on the story at that moment.
Anyone who is in to a suspense and unexpected twists and turns needs to add this to their library!!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.