What was this book? A child goes missing, years later an identical child appears on the doorstep

[DaisyDreaming]

It’s driving me mad! It was quite a popular book, up to about 20 years ago, maybe 10-20 years ago? A mystery written for adults. A child goes missing (I believe a girl) and the mum grieves. One day a child turns up who is almost identical turns up except years have passed so it can’t be her. I’m sure it ends with the school playground being dug up and a body found under a new building or something. Does it ring any bells?

Following, I'm sure I remember a book like this too.

No but it sounds good!

I don’t think this is the book you’re looking for, but The Deep End Of The Ocean by Jacqueline Mitchard has a similar-ish plot. Toddler Ben vanishes from a hotel, then 10 or so years later the mum spots a boy that looks just how Ben would look now. Not a mystery though, just about how they all cope with the situation.

Another similar ish one but more recent is *Haven’t They Grown’ by Sophie Hannah, where a woman sees a friend she hasn’t seen for ages and the woman is accompanied by two toddlers who look exactly the same as the toddlers she had 15 years ago. Again I don’t think that’s the one you’re looking for either though!

Is it tha one that was made into a film with Angelina Jolie? Changeling?

I can't think of the name of it, but there was a TV show about 10 years ago with a similarish plot. But she moved into an old haunted house? Can't even remember who was in it!

The Girl Who Came Back by Kerry Wilkinson?

Time Travellers Wife maybe but I can't remember the plot exactly. Only that the main character's name was Alba, which I thought was beautiful at the time.

Could it be a Lisa Jewell one where she meets a man that has a daughter that looks just like her daughter did at the same age? 🤔 I liked that book, can't remember the name

The Cuckoo Sister!

I don't know but it does sound good

Something with Fairytale in the title.

The Girls in the Red Coat?

*Girl

Ooh I don’t know but I’d like to read it! There was an actual case like this, where a boy went missing and the police ‘found’ him a short while later, everyone was happy he was home but mum knew it wasn’t him. She had to fight for ages to get people to believe her.

Second life of amy archer. It is quite good, although the portrayal of working class people in Manchester is dreadful!

It does sound familiar but my first thought was Jodi picoult. But almost like 2 if her books together

I have been listening to a podcast called Blackwater along similar lines.

I don’t know but it sounds like the film Flight of the Navigator 😊

Oh I actually might know this one, is it ‘Then she was gone’ by Lisa Jewell.

Les Revenants? It was a TV series though, not a book.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/149036.The_Boy_on_the_Bus

The boy on the bus Deborah Schupack
I enjoyed it a lot, has a similar premise

@Avarua

Time Travellers Wife maybe but I can't remember the plot exactly. Only that the main character's name was Alba, which I thought was beautiful at the time.

The Time Traveller's Wife is about a man who time travels and the relationship between him and his wife. Their daughter's name is Alba and she can time travel too.

It can't be these because they are recent, but it sounds a bit like 'Haven't they grown' by Sophie Hannah or 'Then She Was Gone' by Lisa Jewell - you might enjoy them if you like that sort of plot.

Once upon a river by Diane setterfield!? Although I think it is the dad who knows it isn't her.

@Theskullcupofdoom

I can't think of the name of it, but there was a TV show about 10 years ago with a similarish plot. But she moved into an old haunted house? Can't even remember who was in it!

I remember this. Now that will bug me!