The Unheard by Nicci French

 

Tess feels like she is finally finding her way.  It's been a rough year since she and Jason split but she can't regret the partnership that gave her Poppy, her three year old.  Jason moved on quickly and has already married someone else.  Tess just met a man but its much too early to know if anything there will work out.  She likes their new house, has a job she likes and lots of great friends.  Things are looking up.

But then Poppy comes home from a weekend at Jason's house clingy and out of sorts.  She can't say if anything is wrong but brings home a picture all in black of someone falling from a great height.  Poppy starts wetting the bed again and to Tess's surprise, starts cursing, oaths far beyond a mild damn or hell.  What has happened?  Tess is sure something happened at Jason's house.

But no one else seems concerned.  She takes her concern to her friends, to a psychologist and finally to the police.  By now Tess is sure that Poppy witnessed a crime that she isn't old enough to describe.  Jason's new wife has a depressed brother who has moved in and Tess surely doesn't think he is someone she wants around Poppy.  Then she starts to find out more and more about Jason during their time together, things all her friends seemed to know but didn't tell her.  Can she find out what's going on before Poppy is hurt?

Nicci French is best known for the Frieda Klein series.  This novel is a standalone which will strike a chord with anyone forced to share custody with an ex-partner they have fallen out of love with.  Are concerns valid or just a reflection of the distaste left behind from a breakup?  Is there anything a parent isn't willing to do for their child?  This book is recommended for thriller readers.