[#1]

Received my book The child who by Simon Lelic, i have just finished reading and i really enjoyed it, it took a couple of chapters to really grip me but i was hooked! I thought the book would be about the killing and hunt for the killer but it's more about the lawyer who chooses to represent the killer and the ripple effect of this on his life, it wasn't just the victims family and the killers family whos lives were change forever but the lawyers to, a person often overlooked when things like this happen.

I'm so glad it had a good ending for them.

[#2]

Received my book The child who by Simon Lelic, i have just finished reading and i really enjoyed it, it took a couple of chapters to really grip me but i was hooked! I thought the book would be about the killing and hunt for the killer but it's more about the lawyer who chooses to represent the killer and the ripple effect of this on his life, it wasn't just the victims family and the killers family whos lives were change forever but the lawyers to, a person often overlooked when things like this happen.

I'm so glad it had a good ending for them.

[#3]

I loved this book. I honestly wasnt sure when I first read the back of it what I would think but I loved it. It kind of reminded me a bit of Jodi Picoult who I love as the book makes you think and ask yourself alot of difficult questons.

I have been sick the last few days and even though I was ill I couldnt put this book down as I had to know what happened. I loved the story it was exciting and heart breaking at the same time and there were no obvious good and bad guys just a sad story of a messed up kid and a horrible action that sets off a chain reaction in everyone he touches.

Im passing this book on to my mum to read but cant recommend it enough.

[#4]

Can't agree more with the previous two posts.

I must admit, on initial inspection I thought it was going to be a fairly basic crime/thriller but as I got deeper into the story, there were so many different themes and questions raised.

I think the author was very clever in giving personal insights into each individual character - including the killer - so that you could empathise with pretty much all of them.

Did anyone else feel huge sympathy for the killer? And would you feel the same level of sympathy if your child had been the victim?

Interesting...

[#5]

I felt alot of sympathy for the killer which surprised me. If it was real life and I had more of an attachment to the sotry mind I could see why people would feel the other way but I was upset by the outcome.

[#6]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Brilliantly written, well crafted characters and incredibly thought provoking and heart rendering.

I did have sympathy for the killer, he is just a child and a victim too, but clearly needed to face justice for his crime, but not the justice dished out in the end

[#7]

It was a tragic story - I agree.

And it certainly made me re-think some of the responses I have had in the past to news stories about hideous crimes.

I suppose it's too easy to forget that there is a human story behind every action, no matter how despicable it appears to be.

[#8]

I loved the way the book was written. I could not put it down. 

From the start I began to imagine what different path' the story might take, but I did not expect this ending. Did anyone else?

Like others I felt sympathy for the killer and the events leading up to him killing. The way all the perspectives where shown, the killers ordeal, the victims and her family's ordeal and the ordeal of the family with a missing child. This may help people to get a rounder view on event. I could not help but make comparisons to past real events of child killers. The book cleverly used the publics emotions displayed in the real cases and the perception of young offenders institutions held. 

I enjoyed seeing the story from the two narratives of Megan and Leo. I could identify with Leo at times  as I have worked with young offenders before and have some inside. 

Looking forward to the next book

[#9]

Really interesting that you have experience of working with young offenders.

How close does the portrayal of Leo and Daniel's relationship come to your experiences?

PS: the new books are in the pipeline - should be ready for sign-ups very soon (will keep you posted).

[#10]

This is a book which will stay with you for a long time. It questions who the real victims are in a crime. A child killer will always be reviled, but a child killing another child is comsidered truly evil. This book looks at how the lawyer and his entire family are punished through his job defending the killer. The whole nature or nurture question runs throughout the book. I could not put this book down and I am now keen to read other books by the same writer. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

[#11]

Hi 

I worked only with young offenders with regards to minor issue. Personally, yes, I see a lot of similarities in the relationship between Leo and Daniel and that feeling of "If I don't care, who will" sense that a lot of "carer's" have. I always felt strongly that I needed to advocate for my clients. And yes, I have had plenty of negative reactions when parents / guardians felt they should have the right to decide what happens - but I was employed to look after the best interest of my clients and that often differed from the best interest of the parents / guardians. Although I have to make clear that I did not work with children, I worked with 16+ young adults with learning disabilities. It is not easy to advocate for someone's right when you get continous negative reactions from others and it can effect your personal life a lot. You do need a partner who understands that you work with human beings and their wellbeing and it's not a job that you stop at 5.00 pm and re-start next morning, you do take it home with you as your mind can at times not switch off when you try to find possible solutions. 

May I ask, will there be electronic / kindle versions be available for the next book? It would be much cheaper and more economical option.