The Boy That Never Was

(Paperback)

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Description

A beautiful, lyrical mystery that everyone will be talking about in 2014 The course of Harry and Robin's married life was set when their three-year-old son, Dillon, disappeared. Five years on, their lives are approaching a fragile normality. That is until the day Harry catches sight of his dead son in the midst of a Dublin crowd . . . Harry and Robin must embark on a journey that demands they reevaluate everything they believe to be true - the secrets each holds and the lies they have told - and one that will test their trust in each other to the limit.

Reviews

Genuinely surprising * Guardian *
Stunning -- Simon Mayo Radio 2 Book Club
I shot through this in one sitting. Like Gone Girl, it's told alternately by a husband and his wife. At the very beginning, something very shocking happens . . . It's the most gripping thing I've read for ages * Evening Standard *
A twist-filled page-turner * Closer *
A truly remarkable novel. The Boy That Never Was is a pitch-perfect balance of driving plot and honest, complex human emotion. Written in a captivating, lyrical style and brilliantly structured, the story grips your heart from the first pages and simply never lets go -- Jeffrey Deaver
Beautifully written, tense and twisty tale * Sunday Mirror *
Gripping from its dramatic opening chapter, this tense, unpredictable novel blends a thriller with an intimate family story to produce a most compelling read -- John Boyne
The Boy That Never Was is that powerful thing, a beautifully written mystery driven by its exploration of the characters' innermost hearts - of the inexorable ripples that loss sends out, and the terrible damage people can do to those they love most. Both as a crime novel and as an emotional journey, it's gripping stuff -- Tana French
This assured debut is equal parts thriller, mystery and fascinating psychological study * Irish Times *
Taut, smartly written, empathetic and at times unbearably tense . . . The Boy That Never Was hits the bullseye * Irish Independent *
A debut novel that will catch fire -- Nelson DeMille
A tense domestic thriller that is full of surprises * Irish Mail on Sunday *
One of those unique books that grips you from the start . . . climaxing in an unexpected and explosive twist that we simply didn't see coming. This isn't a relaxed read, but it is dramatic and thrilling * Irish Country Living *

Author Bio

Karen Perry lives in Ireland. Her latest novel, Girl Unknown, is published in June 2016 and follows Only We Know and the Sunday Times bestselling The Boy That Never Was which was selected for the Simon Mayo Radio 2 book club.