Overview

2017 Ned Kelly Award Best Crime Fiction shortlist 'A chilling novel of our time, with a truly shocking twist' Australian Women's Weekly When teenage bullying spirals out of control who is to blame? Blogger Lizzy's life is shiny, happy, normal. Two gorgeous children, a handsome husband, destiny under control. For her real-life alter-ego Beth, things are unravelling. Tensions simmer with her husband, mother-in-law, her own mother. Her daughters, once the objects of her existence, have moved into teenage-hood, their lives -­ at school, home and online - increasingly mysterious to her. Then a fellow student is callously bullied and the finger of blame pointed at one of Beth's girls. As an innocent child lies suspended between life and death, two families are forced to question everything they believe about their children, and the answers are terrifying. As unsettling as it is compelling, The Golden Child asks: how well can you know anyone in the digital age? A potent story with shades of The Party and Mary Kubica. Two families grapple with the tragic fallout of cyberbullying. PRAISE 'On par with the thought-provoking nature of Jodi Picoult's works, combined with the rapt storytelling style of Liane Moriarty, readers will finish the last page wanting more' Erin Holt, Booklist US 'The novel is cleverly constructed, the characters are extremely well-drawn, the use of social media as a plot device is very sophisticated, and the resolution is a genuine surprise' Judges' report, Ned Kelly Crime Awards, 2017 'This is domestic noir at its most intelligent and sharp' Sydney Morning Herald 'It takes 48 hours to pulse through Wendy James' rollercoaster 21st century story about parenting' Australian Women's Weekly 'an engaging and intimate read that will appeal to fans of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult, with nods to Lionel Shriver and Christos Tsiolkas' The Slap . . . 4 Stars' Books & Publishing 'This book is utterly brilliant' Nicola Moriarty' 'Brilliant. Such a clever plot, and such real characters, and so very, very well written' Danielle Hawkins

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9781460754566

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James makes her thrilling mark in women's fiction with this intense and chilling American debut, offering an in-depth look at motherhood and bullying.--Booklist, starred review A wonderful, unputdownable story by a great Australian author --Liane Moriarty, author of Big Little Lies The Golden Child by Wendy James is a next-level thriller that brims with dark surprises and unforgettable characters. Told with pitch-perfect pacing and unrelenting tension, James explores the darkest corners of the human heart in this bone-chilling must read novel of the year. Clear your calendar - you'll want to read this one straight through. --Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times best selling author of The Weight of Silence and Not a Sound Brilliant. Such a clever plot, and such real characters, and so very, very well written. --Danielle Hawkins, author of The Pretty Delicious Cafe What a fantastic read . . . another triumph. --Angela Savage, Books and Writing, ABC Radio This book is utterly brilliant. I just don't even know where to start with a review--it was compelling, it was tragic, it was clever, it was frightening, it was heartbreaking, it was shocking and it gave me shivers and it made me question myself as a parent. --Nicola Moriarty, author of The Fifth Letter, Goodreads This is domestic noir at its most intelligent and sharp --Sydney Morning Herald/The Age It takes 48 hours to pulse through Wendy James' rollercoaster 21st century about parenting --Australian Women's Weekly The suspense author's seventh novel, The Golden Child, deals with a conscientious mum's greatest fear --raising a bully in the digital age. --Who Weekly A gripping psychological thriller. --Courier-Mail This an engaging and intimate read . . . 4 Stars --Australian Bookseller and Publisher

"""James makes her thrilling mark in women's fiction with this intense and chilling American debut, offering an in-depth look at motherhood and bullying.--Booklist, starred review ""A wonderful, unputdownable story by a great Australian author""--Liane Moriarty, author of Big Little Lies ""The Golden Child by Wendy James is a next-level thriller that brims with dark surprises and unforgettable characters. Told with pitch-perfect pacing and unrelenting tension, James explores the darkest corners of the human heart in this bone-chilling must read novel of the year. Clear your calendar - you'll want to read this one straight through.""--Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times best selling author of The Weight of Silence and Not a Sound ""Brilliant. Such a clever plot, and such real characters, and so very, very well written."" --Danielle Hawkins, author of The Pretty Delicious Cafe ""What a fantastic read . . . another triumph."" --Angela Savage, Books and Writing, ABC Radio ""This book is utterly brilliant. I just don't even know where to start with a review--it was compelling, it was tragic, it was clever, it was frightening, it was heartbreaking, it was shocking and it gave me shivers and it made me question myself as a parent."" --Nicola Moriarty, author of The Fifth Letter, Goodreads ""This is domestic noir at its most intelligent and sharp""--Sydney Morning Herald/The Age ""It takes 48 hours to pulse through Wendy James' rollercoaster 21st century about parenting""--Australian Women's Weekly ""The suspense author's seventh novel, The Golden Child, deals with a conscientious mum's greatest fear --raising a bully in the digital age.""--Who Weekly ""A gripping psychological thriller.""--Courier-Mail ""This an engaging and intimate read . . . 4 Stars""--Australian Bookseller and Publisher"

Author Information

Wendy James is the celebrated author of eight novels, including the bestselling The Mistake and the compelling The Golden Child, which was shortlisted for the 2017 Ned Kelly Award for crime. Her debut novel, Out of the Silence, won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for first crime novel, and was shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's writing. Wendy works as an editor at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation and writes some of the sharpest and most topical domestic noir novels in the country.

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