The Foster Child – Jenny Blackhurst

When child psychologist Imogen Reid takes on the case of 11-year-old Ellie Atkinson, she refuses to listen to warnings that the girl is dangerous.

Ellie was the only survivor of a fire that killed her family. Imogen is convinced she’s just a sad and angry child struggling to cope with her loss.

But Ellie’s foster parents and teachers are starting to fear her. When she gets upset, bad things seem to happen. And as Imogen gets closer to Ellie, she may be putting herself in danger…

My Review: This is Jenny Blackhurst’s third standalone psychological thriller so I was very excited to get the chance to read an advanced copy of The Foster Child – thanks to Netgalley and her publishers Headline.

As a huge fan of psychological thrillers it’s always a pleasure to read a story which is different to all the others and keeps you guessing throughout. Any book featuring a creepy, spooky and troubled child is guaranteed to make me turn the pages, bite my acrylic nails and double lock the windows and doors.

Imogen Reid is the psychologist who has returned to her childhood hometown after a serious incident regarding a child under her care in her previous job.  Full of remorse, guilt and determined to move on, her hometown of Gaunt brings nothing but unhappy and traumatic childhood memories.

Ellie is the 11 year old child whose family were killed in a house fire and is the “Foster Child”.  Alienated, teased and bullied by the children of the town because bad things seem to happen around Ellie especially when she gets upset.

This is a really atmospheric, spooky and tense thriller which creeped me out and kept me guessing until the final chapters.  Read this with the lights on and stay away from young girls chanting incantations.

About the Author: Jenny Blackhurst grew up in Shropshire where she still lives with her husband and children. Growing up she spent hours reading and talking about crime novels – writing her own seemed like a natural progression. This is her third novel.

You can read my interview with Jenny Blackhurst by clicking here

Read my reviews for How I Lost You and Before I Let You In

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