{I've Been Reading} Little Darlings

Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

This has got to be one of the creepiest domestic thrillers I've ever read. The first pages perfectly capture how vulnerable and uncertain a new mother can feel, especially one without enough support. That's even before a strange woman appears in Lauren's hospital room, wanting to trade Lauren's newborn identical twin sons for the two miserable things in the stranger's basket. Lauren manages to lock herself and the twins in the bathroom and call for help, but when the authorities do arrive the hospital staff blames Lauren's fragile mental state.

A month later, after the twins are abducted but quickly returned, Lauren is unconvinced that the babies in the stroller are her own. They look like Morgan and Riley, but something is different. She  can no longer tell the two apart or recognize their cries. They behave differently. Their eyes have changed. Even her husband can see that, but it's explained away as the normal change in eye color that all newborns have.

Once Harper, a police officer looking into the incident at the hospital, was introduced my interest started to wane a bit. Lauren and her fears are fascinating, but Harper's presence pulled me away from what I loved most about the book. I wasn't interested in the detective's back story or personal life, but  I guess she was a necessary part of the plot.

Overall, I loved this one and highly recommend it if you're in the mood for a domestic thriller with the possibility of a supernatural element.

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links.