The Hidden Child cover art

The Hidden Child

Patrik Hedström and Erica Falck, Book 5

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The Hidden Child

By: Camilla Läckberg
Narrated by: Eamonn Riley
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About this listen

Worldwide bestseller Camilla Lackberg weaves together another brilliant contemporary psychological thriller with the chilling struggle of a young woman facing the darkest chapter of Europe's past…

Crime writer Erica Falck is shocked to discover an old Nazi medal among her late mother's belongings. Inspired to dig deep into her past, she visits a retired history teacher for answers. Two days later, he’s dead.

Detective Patrik Hedström is on paternity leave. But his wife’s enquiries appear to have set off a chain of murders and he’s finding it hard to keep out of the investigation.

A terrible secret from the darkest days of World War II is coming to light – and their families’ histories are right at the heart of it.

©2011 Camilla Lackberg (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Crime Thrillers Fiction Genre Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Crime Thriller Marriage Military War

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Critic reviews

"Läckberg is an expert at mixing scenes of domestic cosiness with blood-curdling horror… a must for white-knuckle junkies." ( Guardian)
"Läckberg is particularly good at portraying the claustrophobia of a small community in which everyone knows everyone else and the police may well be friends with killers." ( The Times)
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The actual story line/plot is very good - mystery until the last few chapter but the writting of the book I feel was very poor/childish. The little girl at a year old in the book is doing things no 1 year old would actual do/be able to do and the conversations and how one of the main characters goes off the wall at nothing was very unrealistic I thought which spoilt the book.

Poor read

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was extremely well crafted and brilliantly narrated. Unlike some other translations and adaptations from Swedish novels, this has been very well done and the narration brings the characters to life in a way that allows the listener to easily empathise with them. I would recommend this book without reservation.

The Hidden Child

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I think the book started quite well and I was hooked listening, but it didn't take long before the style of the writing become incredibly dreary. It's so old fashioned and simple in it's style, like the essays you wrote in college. If I didn't know better I would have thought this was an amateur writer. The dialogue was so predictable! The narrator also used a lot of the same voices for several characters - all male characters sound like they belong in the 60s. The story however, does get better and it's worth listening to the end. But I won't be choosing more books from this author.

Old fashion cliché

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Disliked the book, only story I could not continue to listen to all the way to the end.. The reader did not have a voice that enhanced the story either making it quite hard to concentrate. I normally become immersed by the books that I purchase on audible.

poor listen

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I have read other Camilla Lackberg books and enjoyed each one. Enjoyed the narrative and the characters are really interesting. I also feel it has a good twist to it and I was sad to come to the end. I really enjoyed hearing about the day to day activities and would recommend.

Excellent read Couldnt let it go

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I have read, heard and seen a great many Scandinavian works. Most are outstanding consequently I was disappointed with this stories. Far too much domestic trivia, a shallow plot spread over silly events ... baby sitting and sitters, husband and wife arguments, what and how to feed the child. When important facts eventually come along you know full well they will be absorbed between the numbing cotton wool of household arrangements. The lead detective is rather a spineless excuse for a man and policemen... making pathetic excuses to avoid the wrath of his wife's tongue.
The story ambles along without either strength or conviction.

Slow and dreary

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A mystery - how can Carole (previous reviewer) give this book 5 stars, yet say she couldn't bother to finish it.
I understand the sentiment and do wonder if this book, rather than being under 'crime' should be recommended as a reader for first year sociology students majoring on dysfunctional families on modern Scandinavia, or a useful resource for those researching present day neo-facism - 'crime' happens, but it is a very small part of what's going on.
And there is something curiously stilted or dated about some of the writing or characterisation, though to what degree this is a function of the narration is difficult to tell, but I recently listend to Sjowall and Wahloo's first book, written in the 60's, and aspects of The Hidden Child feel like they pre-date that
I stuck it for the whole 17 hours - who knows, perhaps the abridged version is a better bet, and if someone can give me a good reason for listening to another Lackberg, please do, because otherwise I won't

Crime Novel or Sociology primer ?

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I felt well be truly lectured on pregnancy and childbirth as if the author had to get it all of her own chest. It needed a strong editor to cut the overblown story down. Much of the book does nothing to advance the plot. As for the narrator he is one of the worst. I have listened to him on a few of lackbergs boos now and I still don't like his work. Sorry.

Far too much chick stuff

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