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Original poster

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

99 replies

DaisyDreaming · 17/02/2022 04:34

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?

OP posts:
Worldwide2 · 17/02/2022 09:38

These are some good suggestions for books!

watchtheglitterdustswirl · 17/02/2022 10:13

The Snow Spider? Immediately rang bells for me.

watchtheglitterdustswirl · 17/02/2022 10:14

Although that is a children's book not an adults one. I read it in primary school probably 30 years ago!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
BrambleRoses · 17/02/2022 10:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

IntermittentParps · 17/02/2022 10:43

[quote rightsideoftheroad]@Avarua huh? The time travellers wife?! The clue's in the name.[/quote]
That's a bit snitty. 'Time travel' explains the subject matter, yes, but not the plot.

I think it's Then She Was Gone.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 17/02/2022 11:09

I don’t know what it was, but it sounds good.

Could someone please summarise the whole plot of the Sophie Hannah book so i don’t have to read it? Grin obviously with a big spoiler alert at the top of the post!

CrackerGal · 17/02/2022 11:21

Op is is any of these?
I want to read it now!

MrsVeryTired · 17/02/2022 11:32

Is it any of these OP?
Agree with others sounds good, just ordered the Amy Archer one Smile

MimiSunshine · 17/02/2022 11:38

Sounds like a book I read called ‘The Other Daughter’ Googling brings up a lot of books with that title but this is the one I read:

Twenty years ago, Melanie Stokes was abandoned in a Boston hospital, then adopted by a wealthy couple. Gifted with a loving family, Melanie has always considered herself lucky. Until tonight.

Tonight, a has-been reporter turns up investigating her past. Tonight the first note arrives, saying, "You Get What You Deserve." And tonight, Melanie has her first, horrifying vision of the past.

Melanie has no memory of her life before the adoption. Now someone wants to give it back, even if it includes the darkest nightmare the Stokes family ever faced: the murder of their first daughter in Texas. As Melanie desperately searches for her real identity, two seemingly unrelated events from the past will come together in a dangerous explosion of truth.

What was this book? A child goes missing, years later an identical child appears on the doorstep
CrackerGal · 17/02/2022 11:48

@MrsVeryTired

Is it any of these OP? Agree with others sounds good, just ordered the Amy Archer one Smile
Yes I've put a bunch on my amazon want list too, thanks ladies! I'm going to get my daughter the Snow Spider too.
Pinktops · 17/02/2022 11:48

Following

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 17/02/2022 11:54

A book I read recently that matches it is Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovic - Fifth or so book in the Peter Grant "Rivers of London" series.

Peter's a cop, there's a mystery he's sent to check out in rural somewherershire. A girl came back from a walk 'changed' years ago and has been living with the original's parents. In a bit of a twist the original girl is rescued but having been off for years growing up in fairyland she's not really the same girl they lost any more...

MrPenguinsPoppers · 17/02/2022 12:18

There are 2 books called 'The Other Daughter', second one is also a thriller by Shalini Boland:

Nine years ago her daughter was taken. And now she’s back.

Two-and-a-half-year-old Holly is playing happily in a pink plastic playhouse, while her mother Rachel sips coffee and chats with a friend nearby. It should be an ordinary day for all of them. But, in the blink of an eye, it turns into every family’s worst nightmare.

Holly is taken by a stranger and never found.

Nine years later, Rachel is living a quiet life in Dorset. She’s tried to keep things together since the traumatic day when she lost her eldest daughter. She has a new family, a loving partner and her secrets are locked away in her painful past.

Until one afternoon when Rachel meets a new school parent Kate and her teenage daughter Bella. Rachel’s world is instantly turned upside down – she’s seen Bella before. She’d recognise that face anywhere – it’s her missing child.

And she will stop at nothing to get her back…

Clawdy · 17/02/2022 12:35

Was just going to order the Amy Archer one then saw the spoiler above! Sad

NinjaQueen · 17/02/2022 12:42

That's my reading list sorted for awhile! Sorry can't help OP but glad I clicked the thread.

MsVanDeKamp · 17/02/2022 13:04

just ordered 6 books from amazon!

bilbodog · 17/02/2022 13:14

Avaru - i think you need to read the time travellers wife again! Henry was the main character and alba his daughter, eventually 🤣🤣

OnlyAFleshWound · 17/02/2022 13:15

The cuckoo sister or the snow spider

BrambleRoses · 17/02/2022 13:16

@Clawdy

Was just going to order the Amy Archer one then saw the spoiler above! Sad
Which spoiler? Mine isn’t a spoiler - it’s in the description of the book!
stuntbubbles · 17/02/2022 14:22

@FlossMoss

Haven't they Grown by Sophie Hannah is the worst book I've ever read.
😂😂😂 Clearly you’ve not read Jemima J by Jane Green because that is officially the worst book anyone has ever read.

Crossing the Sophie Hannah off my list but adding some others!

Clawdy · 17/02/2022 14:37

BrambleRoses sorry, didn't realise it was in the book description, I had a look on Amazon, and it didn't seem to mention reincarnation. It just doesn't sound as interesting now!

Cherrysoup · 17/02/2022 14:42

I’ve added some books to my phone. Thanks @DaisyDreaming for starting this thread!

LiveintheNow · 17/02/2022 14:53

Series Two of The Missing has a similar theme, missing girl turns up years later.

diddl · 17/02/2022 15:34

Can you remember anything else Op?

Any names, places?

Was the child the age they should have been when they came back or the age at which they disappeared?