A Good and Happy Child

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

A brilliant debut novel - part psychological thriller, part literary horror story- think The Secret History meets The Exorcist George Davies has a problem- he can't bring himself to hold his newborn son. Desperate to save his dwindling marriage and redeem himself as a father and husband, George visits a therapist and begins to delve into the childhood memories that may be the root of his issues. Ten-year-old George, in the wake of his father's harrowing and unexpected death, is experiencing ominous visions - some friendly, others outright terrifying. Unable to control those visions, George starts to display erratic behaviour and eventually becomes violent. When a mysterious murder is ultimately revealed, the stakes are suddenly much higher for him and his family. Are the visions just the product of a grief-stricken child's overactive imagination Symptoms of mental illness Or is ten-year-old George possessed by a darker, more malevolent force

Reviews

Evans' story tingles with psychological suspense * Keith Donohue, author of The Stolen Child *
So incredibly scary and unnerving. Man, did this get under my skin in the very best way * Brad Metlzer *
This stunning novel marks the debut of a serious talent. Evans manages to take a familiar concept-the young child haunted by a demon invisible to others-and infuse it with psychological depth and riveting suspense... Evans subtly evokes terror and anxiety with effective understatement * Publishers Weekly *
This is the kind of novel that keeps respectable reviewers up until the small hours. Put it down if you can * The Times *
A psychological thriller that keeps the reader on edge until the last page... A haunting story of guilt, denial and the possibility of demonic possession * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *

Author Bio

Justin Evans has worked as a film scout for Paramount Pictures and in business development at the New York Times. He received an English degree from Columbia University and an MBA in finance from NYU. He lives in New York City. This is his first novel.