Review: The Baby I Stole - McGarvey Black

Review: The Baby I Stole - McGarvey Black - February 2024

There's something about a good thriller that just hits the spot when you're in the right mood, isn't there? I'd read one of McGarvey Black's books before and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when I found myself craving another page-turner, I reached for The Baby I Stole. The premise alone had me hooked from the first page: a woman desperate for a baby makes a split-second decision at the beach and comes home with someone else's child. What happens next? Well, that's where things get deliciously complicated.

Black certainly knows how to craft a compelling story. The setup is brilliant , you can feel the desperation radiating from our protagonist as she and her husband navigate the heartbreak of infertility and the agonizing wait to adopt. Then there's that moment at Rocky Point Beach when everything changes. Little Liam, with his red bow lips and chubby cheeks, becomes Jonah. And you're left wondering: what on earth happens when her husband walks through the door?

The twists involving Sasha, Liam/Jonah's mother, kept me guessing, and I absolutely loved the babysitter Eden's storyline- she brought such an intriguing dynamic to the whole mess. I'll admit, some of the reveals I saw coming (there were a few moments where I thought, "Aha! I knew it!"), but McGarvey Black still managed to surprise me, particularly with the twists surrounding Daniel. Those genuinely caught me off guard and added layers I hadn't anticipated.

My main gripe, though, is that the ending felt somewhat rushed. After all that tension and build-up, all those carefully planted threads, I wanted more time to sit with the resolution. It's like McGarvey Black had woven this intricate tapestry of secrets and lies, but then hurried through tying off the loose ends. I found myself wishing for just a bit more breathing room to fully absorb everything that had unfolded.

That said, The Baby I Stole is still an engaging read that kept me turning pages late into the night. McGarvey Black has a real talent for creating morally complex situations that make you question what you might do in impossible circumstances. While it didn't quite reach the heights of her previous work for me, it's definitely worth picking up if you're in the mood for a domestic thriller with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4q4DSV7