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Little Boy Found
The thriller with the twists you'll never see coming! Perfect for fans of The Girl in the Ice and The Missing Ones.
When He Found His Little Boy, Nick Thought The Nightmare Was Over. . . It Was Only The Beginning.
One rainy morning, just after Nick drops off his young son Gabriel outside the crowded school gates, he has a minor collision with another car. The driver won't surrender his insurance details, so Nick photographs the licence plate. When he gets home, he enlarges the shot on his phone and spots something odd about the picture-Gabriel in the back seat, being driven away by a stranger. Nick needs to know what happened to his boy, but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him. Now, to discover the truth, he must relive the nightmare all over again...Be warned, this is not another missing child story: what happened to Nick and his son is far more shocking.
When He Found His Little Boy, Nick Thought The Nightmare Was Over. . . It Was Only The Beginning.
One rainy morning, just after Nick drops off his young son Gabriel outside the crowded school gates, he has a minor collision with another car. The driver won't surrender his insurance details, so Nick photographs the licence plate. When he gets home, he enlarges the shot on his phone and spots something odd about the picture-Gabriel in the back seat, being driven away by a stranger. Nick needs to know what happened to his boy, but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him. Now, to discover the truth, he must relive the nightmare all over again...Be warned, this is not another missing child story: what happened to Nick and his son is far more shocking.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 6, 2017
184 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
About the author
L.K. Fox
1 book10 followersL.K. Fox is the first pen name of multiple award-winning novelist Christopher Fowler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 16, 2017
This is a psychological thriller written by Christopher Fowler as LK Fox. I adore Fowler's Bryant and May series, not to mention some of his other offerings such as Spanky. This read is a more uneven experience for me. Whilst I loved aspects, such as Nick and Gabriel's interaction, and there are twists galore with all the ingredients that would comprise a psychological thriller, somehow it didn't grab my attention as Fowler's other works. Having said that, I still wanted to find out what was going on. This story is narrated through the perspectives of Nick and Ella. Nick is gay, and married to Ben whose young son from his first marriage, Gabriel, has minor aspects of Asperger's Syndrome. Ben is ambitious, and more distant with his son whilst Nick is much closer to Gabriel. Ella is a bright young teenager, who is isolated and remote from her peers, her mother is dead and her father has married a younger woman, Karen. She connects with neither her father or Karen.
Nick wakes late suffering from a heavy hangover, he is hurrying Gabriel up from his bed and get ready for school for which they are running late. It is pouring with rain, Nick drops off Gabriel, but scrapes his car with a BMW car whose driver is not interested in supplying insurance details. Nick takes a photo of the vehicle and licence plate. On returning home, he looks at the photograph more closely and discovers to his horror that Gabriel is in back of the car. We learn that the abduction of Gabriel is the least of Nick's problems as we become privy to what happened to Gabriel which is far worse. Nick is determined to find out who the abductor is, what motivated him and grows increasingly suspicious of those around him. Ella, like so many teen girls, is obsessed with an obscure band, and the lead singer, Ryder, in particular. There is a naivety about Ella, that is compounded by her loner status. She happens to meet Ryder, who notices her, but his jealous girlfriend, Baby, the bass player, throws a bottle at Ella which injures her. With romantic daydreams about Ryder and their future together, Ella manages to win a backstage audience with Ryder at a pub gig which leads to deadly and traumatic consequences.
This is a well written novel that shows how both the lives of Nick and Ella unravel. The characters of Nick, a horticultural therapist, and Ella are interesting but their development at times feels less than authentic. I do think it is a book well worth reading, and others might well disagree with me about the unevenness of the tale. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
Nick wakes late suffering from a heavy hangover, he is hurrying Gabriel up from his bed and get ready for school for which they are running late. It is pouring with rain, Nick drops off Gabriel, but scrapes his car with a BMW car whose driver is not interested in supplying insurance details. Nick takes a photo of the vehicle and licence plate. On returning home, he looks at the photograph more closely and discovers to his horror that Gabriel is in back of the car. We learn that the abduction of Gabriel is the least of Nick's problems as we become privy to what happened to Gabriel which is far worse. Nick is determined to find out who the abductor is, what motivated him and grows increasingly suspicious of those around him. Ella, like so many teen girls, is obsessed with an obscure band, and the lead singer, Ryder, in particular. There is a naivety about Ella, that is compounded by her loner status. She happens to meet Ryder, who notices her, but his jealous girlfriend, Baby, the bass player, throws a bottle at Ella which injures her. With romantic daydreams about Ryder and their future together, Ella manages to win a backstage audience with Ryder at a pub gig which leads to deadly and traumatic consequences.
This is a well written novel that shows how both the lives of Nick and Ella unravel. The characters of Nick, a horticultural therapist, and Ella are interesting but their development at times feels less than authentic. I do think it is a book well worth reading, and others might well disagree with me about the unevenness of the tale. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.
July 6, 2017
A slightly different take on the “child missing” concept much seen recently – a page turner that was actually rather predictable but great reading none the less.
We have two different anchors here, Nick, whose son goes missing (difficult to say too much about his portion of the tale without spoilers) and Ella (same applies!) The author does a great job of telling two very separate stories and then bringing them together to show how they intersect with each other – the writing has a strong, emotive edge especially within the relationship Nick has with his partner and with Gabriel and within the layers of Ella’s personality. Psychologically speaking this was clever and engaging – despite having worked out the basic resolution there were still things that surprised me and it was a fast paced, intriguing read.
I loved it for its different focus but if I had one bugbear I thought the final final part of it was overkill. For me the story ended in a much more subtle and satisfying way before, I guess, someone decided it needed more of a shock. We don’t always need a shock you know, sometimes less is more. However that is a subjective comment and doesn’t detract from the overall reading experience which was really good.
Recommended for fans of psychological drama. I hope the author tries his hand at it again away from his usual genre because this worked on a lot of levels and I’d be interested in what else he could come up with.
We have two different anchors here, Nick, whose son goes missing (difficult to say too much about his portion of the tale without spoilers) and Ella (same applies!) The author does a great job of telling two very separate stories and then bringing them together to show how they intersect with each other – the writing has a strong, emotive edge especially within the relationship Nick has with his partner and with Gabriel and within the layers of Ella’s personality. Psychologically speaking this was clever and engaging – despite having worked out the basic resolution there were still things that surprised me and it was a fast paced, intriguing read.
I loved it for its different focus but if I had one bugbear I thought the final final part of it was overkill. For me the story ended in a much more subtle and satisfying way before, I guess, someone decided it needed more of a shock. We don’t always need a shock you know, sometimes less is more. However that is a subjective comment and doesn’t detract from the overall reading experience which was really good.
Recommended for fans of psychological drama. I hope the author tries his hand at it again away from his usual genre because this worked on a lot of levels and I’d be interested in what else he could come up with.
August 15, 2017
Little Boy Found is a at times heart breaking story of families,relashionship,grief,obsession,lies,betrayals and mental illness and adds a different twist to the usual missing child mystery.
Nick`s nightmare begins on a normal rainy morning.He has just dropped his young son Gabriel off at school when outside the crowded school gates he has a minor collision with another car.The other driver won't surrender their insurance details so Nick takes a photo of the licence plate.After he gets home and enlarges the photo on his phone Nick is shocked when he sees Gabriel on the back seat,being driver away by the other driver.Nick needs to know what happened to his son but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him.Now to uncover the truth,he must relive the nightmare all over again.
Who had taken his innocent young son and why?
As well as following Nick`s desperate quest to find out the truth of what happened to Gabriel,we also follow the sad story of a teenager called Ella.To be honest for a while I enjoyed Nick`s parts a lot more than Ella`s and didn't understand where she fitted into Nick and Gabriel's story but then it became clear how her story connected to Nick`s and I began to enjoy both parts equally.
It's not a fast paced story but it does have some intense moments and a couple of jaw dropping twists that I honestly didn't see coming.I did think that at times the story relied on unrealistic coincidences to help move it forward and I felt that the epilogue was only there to add unneeded shock,the story could have been satisfactorily wrapped up a couple of pages earlier but thats just my opinion.
Many thanks to quercus books for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Nick`s nightmare begins on a normal rainy morning.He has just dropped his young son Gabriel off at school when outside the crowded school gates he has a minor collision with another car.The other driver won't surrender their insurance details so Nick takes a photo of the licence plate.After he gets home and enlarges the photo on his phone Nick is shocked when he sees Gabriel on the back seat,being driver away by the other driver.Nick needs to know what happened to his son but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him.Now to uncover the truth,he must relive the nightmare all over again.
Who had taken his innocent young son and why?
As well as following Nick`s desperate quest to find out the truth of what happened to Gabriel,we also follow the sad story of a teenager called Ella.To be honest for a while I enjoyed Nick`s parts a lot more than Ella`s and didn't understand where she fitted into Nick and Gabriel's story but then it became clear how her story connected to Nick`s and I began to enjoy both parts equally.
It's not a fast paced story but it does have some intense moments and a couple of jaw dropping twists that I honestly didn't see coming.I did think that at times the story relied on unrealistic coincidences to help move it forward and I felt that the epilogue was only there to add unneeded shock,the story could have been satisfactorily wrapped up a couple of pages earlier but thats just my opinion.
Many thanks to quercus books for an arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
July 17, 2017
5 Words: Family, guilt, blame, mystery, lost.
Straight away, I was a little thrown by the story. The narrators are wonderfully unreliable, especially at the start when you are getting to know them.
I do have to say that I wasn't expecting the two narratives, and it was very confusing at first, but I definitely appreciated Ella's perspective and timeline. I think at times I preferred it.
This was a nice mystery, a comfortable mix of predictable and surprising. I found that at the beginning I was very angry at how Ella and Nick were treated by the people around them. I really liked how the school showed sympathy to Nick and how over the years the attitude of the parents was the thing that slowly turned hostile - I could understand both sides, who would want the reminder on their doorstep?
This is a perfect ebook when you need a thriller.
Straight away, I was a little thrown by the story. The narrators are wonderfully unreliable, especially at the start when you are getting to know them.
I do have to say that I wasn't expecting the two narratives, and it was very confusing at first, but I definitely appreciated Ella's perspective and timeline. I think at times I preferred it.
This was a nice mystery, a comfortable mix of predictable and surprising. I found that at the beginning I was very angry at how Ella and Nick were treated by the people around them. I really liked how the school showed sympathy to Nick and how over the years the attitude of the parents was the thing that slowly turned hostile - I could understand both sides, who would want the reminder on their doorstep?
This is a perfect ebook when you need a thriller.
July 18, 2017
Little Boy Found is an ebook-only publication written by LK Fox, which is the pseudonym for Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May series. I must say I loved the look and sound of this novel from the moment I first heard about it, and I was dying to get my hands on a copy. This is one of the most intriguing books I have read in ages.
The book is told with two main characters. First there is Nick. Nick’s relationship with Ben has gone sour, but he still keeps a much better relationship with Ben’s son Gabriel. When Nick wakes up with a heavy hangover one morning, he rushes to do the school run but after dropping Gabriel off at school another car collides with his. The driver refuses to swap insurance details so Nick takes a photo of the licence plate only later to discover that there is a boy in the back of the car – and that boy is Gabriel.
The other main character is Ella. Ella is a teenage girl who has an obsession with a band and a particular person in that band, the lead singer, of course. A lot of teenage girls could probably relate to how desperate she is to meet her favourite band and how they consume her life. I know that when I was a teenager, music was a massive part of my life, and meeting bands was a highlight of my teenage years. But for Ella, things take a huge turn with massive consequences…
There’s no denying that both Nick and Ella are incredibly interesting characters with big stories to tell. Early on in the book it did feel like I was reading two different books at the same time because their stories felt alien to each other. I couldn’t see the connection. But things become clearer later on and the author well connects their stories together.
Character development is something I thought the author did really well. It is also something hard to talk about for spoilers sake, but I will say this was probably my favourite thing about the book – seeing how the characters change and are impacted by certain circumstances. I was definitely drawn, at first, to Nick’s side of the story a lot more than Ella’s, but soon the author had me obsessing over them both.
There were parts of this book I struggled with though. This book is billed to be unpredictable but yet once I worked out the connection between Nick and Ella, I found it anything but. I don’t necessarily mind when a book isn’t predictable but Little Boy Found was lacking in other things for me too. One thing I loved about the sound of this book was how it was a different take on a missing child story. This was a big reason why the book appealed to me so much, but despite this being a big mystery novel, it lacked believability, something which is a big thing to me when reading psychological novels. Why that genre appeals to me is because the books tend to mess with my mind a lot and leave me unable to think about anything else as the situations within are so plausible. Whilst this book did mess with my mind, it was in a completely different way as I spent a lot of time either trying to work out what was happening or trying to imagine any of it happening and I didn’t manage well at doing either of them.
Despite how I felt about many aspects of this book, I was still drawn to it and never even considered stopping until I had reached the end and found out what was going to happen to these characters. I found so many parts of this book fascinating and it is 100% a book you will feel the need to discuss with other readers as there are so many talking points. Sadly, though, I didn’t love this book like I wanted to.
The book is told with two main characters. First there is Nick. Nick’s relationship with Ben has gone sour, but he still keeps a much better relationship with Ben’s son Gabriel. When Nick wakes up with a heavy hangover one morning, he rushes to do the school run but after dropping Gabriel off at school another car collides with his. The driver refuses to swap insurance details so Nick takes a photo of the licence plate only later to discover that there is a boy in the back of the car – and that boy is Gabriel.
The other main character is Ella. Ella is a teenage girl who has an obsession with a band and a particular person in that band, the lead singer, of course. A lot of teenage girls could probably relate to how desperate she is to meet her favourite band and how they consume her life. I know that when I was a teenager, music was a massive part of my life, and meeting bands was a highlight of my teenage years. But for Ella, things take a huge turn with massive consequences…
There’s no denying that both Nick and Ella are incredibly interesting characters with big stories to tell. Early on in the book it did feel like I was reading two different books at the same time because their stories felt alien to each other. I couldn’t see the connection. But things become clearer later on and the author well connects their stories together.
Character development is something I thought the author did really well. It is also something hard to talk about for spoilers sake, but I will say this was probably my favourite thing about the book – seeing how the characters change and are impacted by certain circumstances. I was definitely drawn, at first, to Nick’s side of the story a lot more than Ella’s, but soon the author had me obsessing over them both.
There were parts of this book I struggled with though. This book is billed to be unpredictable but yet once I worked out the connection between Nick and Ella, I found it anything but. I don’t necessarily mind when a book isn’t predictable but Little Boy Found was lacking in other things for me too. One thing I loved about the sound of this book was how it was a different take on a missing child story. This was a big reason why the book appealed to me so much, but despite this being a big mystery novel, it lacked believability, something which is a big thing to me when reading psychological novels. Why that genre appeals to me is because the books tend to mess with my mind a lot and leave me unable to think about anything else as the situations within are so plausible. Whilst this book did mess with my mind, it was in a completely different way as I spent a lot of time either trying to work out what was happening or trying to imagine any of it happening and I didn’t manage well at doing either of them.
Despite how I felt about many aspects of this book, I was still drawn to it and never even considered stopping until I had reached the end and found out what was going to happen to these characters. I found so many parts of this book fascinating and it is 100% a book you will feel the need to discuss with other readers as there are so many talking points. Sadly, though, I didn’t love this book like I wanted to.
July 7, 2017
I was totally taken by the blurb of "Little Boy Found", and let's be honest, the cover is also incredibly eye - catching and heart - breaking at the same time. I haven't read any books by LK Fox who is, in fact, Christopher Fowler, but maybe this is why I so wanted to read this novel, and I started it as soon as it landed on my kindle, with great expectations, hoping for a story that will blow me away.
But guys, you know, it is complicated. This book has it all that a good psychological thriller needs but somehow, it just didn't work for me. It made me lukewarm, I was not as engaged and to be honest, the most acclaimed twists didn't blow me away and I didn't feel the tension as much as I'd like to. I felt confused at the beginning, with the characters appearing in the story and it seemed they have nothing in common, that they are random people, and I was wondering where this book is going to take us. Told through the perspectives of Nick and Ella, it eventually slowly starts to unwind and we learn about the connections between the characters. And the ending didn't sit with me. I think that if it ended a few pages earlier, it would be much better for the whole story - but it's just my opinion.
Yes, I did want to find out what has happened and discovering the truth truly broke my heart. There were some twists in this story but sooner rather than later I found myself guessing their outcome. Yes, I kept reading, out of stubbornness and hoping that something really huge is coming, but the story stayed on the same steady level. You know, it bothers me a little, the fact that I can't put my finger on what was it that didn't sit with me so much.
So please, do not get me wrong. It was brilliantly written and it had tons of potential and I am incredibly sad that it didn't work for me as much as I was hoping for. Nevertheless, I still do think this book is worth reading as it shows a really different perspective on the "child missing" concept to other books. So yes, I am truly torn about this novel but even with my reservations I think it is worth recommending - it is dark, it is different to all other thrillers and mysteries and it is interesting, and I hope you're going to find it captivating.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
July 9, 2017
It's not something that I usually comment on, but I have to say that I love the cover of this book - the colours work so well together and the blurry boy reaching out from behind the glass gives me goosebumps...more so now that I have read the book. So what's it all about?
Nick drops his son off at school and bumps into another car. The driver isn't very forthcoming and leaves the scene before details are swapped, luckily Nick manages to snap a picture of the car reg on his phone. When he enlarges the picture, he can't believe what he sees - his son Gabriel in the back of the car. How can that be? He's just dropped him off at school, but when he rings the school Garbiel's name is not on the register. Nick's mind is in turmoil as he tries to make sense of what has gone on.
Meanwhile we encounter another story, that of Ella who is infatuated with Ryder, the lead singer of a band. Ella would do anything to meet Ryder but when her dream comes true it rapidly turns into a nightmare. What on earth does this have to do with Nick's story? A-ha! Even my suspicious mind couldn't work this one out and, although it seems quite unrealistic, it was still a pretty good storyline.
Little Boy Found is quite a page turner and although you hope for a happy ending, you do fear that it may not happen. Nick's life is put completely under the microscope and his history is revealed, warts and all...some of it I guessed and other bits of it, I didn't. I did get a surprise at the end but with so many unhinged characters, I did feel as if anything could happen!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Nick drops his son off at school and bumps into another car. The driver isn't very forthcoming and leaves the scene before details are swapped, luckily Nick manages to snap a picture of the car reg on his phone. When he enlarges the picture, he can't believe what he sees - his son Gabriel in the back of the car. How can that be? He's just dropped him off at school, but when he rings the school Garbiel's name is not on the register. Nick's mind is in turmoil as he tries to make sense of what has gone on.
Meanwhile we encounter another story, that of Ella who is infatuated with Ryder, the lead singer of a band. Ella would do anything to meet Ryder but when her dream comes true it rapidly turns into a nightmare. What on earth does this have to do with Nick's story? A-ha! Even my suspicious mind couldn't work this one out and, although it seems quite unrealistic, it was still a pretty good storyline.
Little Boy Found is quite a page turner and although you hope for a happy ending, you do fear that it may not happen. Nick's life is put completely under the microscope and his history is revealed, warts and all...some of it I guessed and other bits of it, I didn't. I did get a surprise at the end but with so many unhinged characters, I did feel as if anything could happen!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
September 3, 2017
The twists were predictable (at least they were to me), and although this author is not new to writing, he is new to this genre which was sadly obvious.
I liked the plot and it had a lot of potential but it just didn't hit the mark for me. It felt stilted.
I'm not sure whether or not I would read future books by this author, but sadly I won't be recommending it.
Thanks to Quercus Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the plot and it had a lot of potential but it just didn't hit the mark for me. It felt stilted.
I'm not sure whether or not I would read future books by this author, but sadly I won't be recommending it.
Thanks to Quercus Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2017
"Heavy going"
I found this one heavy going. The device of switching characters between chapters can be useful in brief episodes, to heighten tension, or explain a plot shift, but I was fed up with it by halfway. You would have to be pretty dumb not to work out the connections between the seemingly unrelated story lines. This would have been a very strange book if the denouement didn't confirm our first guess in the second chapter. When the obvious was revealed, the ending that followed then seemed like an attempt to sensationalize something that in essence was mundane in this modern world.
I found this one heavy going. The device of switching characters between chapters can be useful in brief episodes, to heighten tension, or explain a plot shift, but I was fed up with it by halfway. You would have to be pretty dumb not to work out the connections between the seemingly unrelated story lines. This would have been a very strange book if the denouement didn't confirm our first guess in the second chapter. When the obvious was revealed, the ending that followed then seemed like an attempt to sensationalize something that in essence was mundane in this modern world.
July 30, 2017
Your worst nightmare as a parent, in a split second your boy goes missing and there are no clues!
This was a rollercoaster of a story, twisting and turning, with things coming from every angle. It really kept me guessing all the way through and I didn't guess what was happening til right near the end and that's unusual for me!
Nick and Ella are both very mixed up characters, leaving you confused and concerned about both of them. They have both been through devastating experiences and are struggling to cope.
I recommend anyone who likes a psychological thriller to give this one a go!
This was a rollercoaster of a story, twisting and turning, with things coming from every angle. It really kept me guessing all the way through and I didn't guess what was happening til right near the end and that's unusual for me!
Nick and Ella are both very mixed up characters, leaving you confused and concerned about both of them. They have both been through devastating experiences and are struggling to cope.
I recommend anyone who likes a psychological thriller to give this one a go!
October 19, 2017
THEY THOUGHT THE NIGHTMARE WAS OVER . . . IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
It was a morning just like any other: Nick drops off his son off at the school gates like he usually does. But then he has a minor collision with another car, and this sets off a chain of events that makes Nick question EVERYTHING he thought he knew.
Be warned, this is not another missing child story. Nicks finds his son, and the truth is far more shocking.
‘Christopher Fowler is an award-winning novelist who would make a good serial killer.’ – Time Out
This is the first book written by L K Fox who usually goes by Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May series. I’ve not read any of his works before now. However I’m glad I snapped up this bargain for the kindle. This isn’t your typical missing child book, and there have been a few lately haven’t there! This is a psychological thriller with added twists an just when you’re thinking nothing more could possibly be uncovered… there it is!
The story is narrated from two points of view, Nick’s and Ella’s. Nick is married to Ben and is a second father to Gabriel, Ben’s son from his first marriage. Ella is a young teenager who becomes pregnant. We follow Nick and Ella through their stories, finally finding out towards the end what binds them together so intricately. I read this quickly because I was gripped, there was no end to the descriptive bits, ups and downs and general page turners. I would definitely suggest that if you like Sophie Hannah and Paula Hawkins then this is a great read for you.
This story is brilliant, unique, clever and FULL of drama. Read it now and ignore all the spoiler
It was a morning just like any other: Nick drops off his son off at the school gates like he usually does. But then he has a minor collision with another car, and this sets off a chain of events that makes Nick question EVERYTHING he thought he knew.
Be warned, this is not another missing child story. Nicks finds his son, and the truth is far more shocking.
‘Christopher Fowler is an award-winning novelist who would make a good serial killer.’ – Time Out
This is the first book written by L K Fox who usually goes by Christopher Fowler, author of the Bryant and May series. I’ve not read any of his works before now. However I’m glad I snapped up this bargain for the kindle. This isn’t your typical missing child book, and there have been a few lately haven’t there! This is a psychological thriller with added twists an just when you’re thinking nothing more could possibly be uncovered… there it is!
The story is narrated from two points of view, Nick’s and Ella’s. Nick is married to Ben and is a second father to Gabriel, Ben’s son from his first marriage. Ella is a young teenager who becomes pregnant. We follow Nick and Ella through their stories, finally finding out towards the end what binds them together so intricately. I read this quickly because I was gripped, there was no end to the descriptive bits, ups and downs and general page turners. I would definitely suggest that if you like Sophie Hannah and Paula Hawkins then this is a great read for you.
This story is brilliant, unique, clever and FULL of drama. Read it now and ignore all the spoiler
September 11, 2017
Little boy found by l k fox.
One rainy morning, just after Nick drops off his young son Gabriel outside the crowded school gates, he has a minor collision with another car. The driver won't surrender his insurance details, so Nick photographs the licence plate. When he gets home, he enlarges the shot on his phone and spots something odd about the picture - Gabriel in the back seat, being driven away by a stranger. Nick needs to know what happened to his boy, but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him. Now, to discover the truth, he must relive the nightmare all over again...Be warned, this is not another missing child story: what happened to Nick and his son is far more shocking.
OMG. What a twister of a read. Didn't want to put it down. 5*. I was shocked with the ending. A must read. Highly recommended. Netgalley and quercus books.
One rainy morning, just after Nick drops off his young son Gabriel outside the crowded school gates, he has a minor collision with another car. The driver won't surrender his insurance details, so Nick photographs the licence plate. When he gets home, he enlarges the shot on his phone and spots something odd about the picture - Gabriel in the back seat, being driven away by a stranger. Nick needs to know what happened to his boy, but losing Gabriel turns out to be far less terrible than the shock of finding him. Now, to discover the truth, he must relive the nightmare all over again...Be warned, this is not another missing child story: what happened to Nick and his son is far more shocking.
OMG. What a twister of a read. Didn't want to put it down. 5*. I was shocked with the ending. A must read. Highly recommended. Netgalley and quercus books.
July 10, 2017
Little Boy Found tells the story through of a missing little boy, relayed through the eyes of teenage Ella and her teenaged way of thinking, and adult Nick, the father of missing Gabriel. At first I found this concept a little confusing, and the alternating chapters with Ella seemed out of place - the prose from Ella's account seemed so unrelated to what Nick was telling us, that I had to actually go back and re-read the previous chapters to see if it made sense. This happened for the first quarter of the book, however eventually you come to see how the lives of both Ella and Nick are relevant to the story, at which point the story gathers pace and starts presenting the reader with lots of questions to keep them reading on.
Some parts were rather predictable, but to balance this out nicely there were quite a few bits of that plot that took me by surprise. On the whole, I feel this was a really good mystery, and what really made this work was the alternating chapters from Nick and Ella. It just goes to show how important it is to persevere with a book, as the writing style that initially put me off turned out to be the what actually made the book for me. My main criticism of Little Boy Found however, is that the way the story came together at the end all seemed largely very unrealistic, and as a realist I find it difficult to enjoy reading things when I am imagining that is is unlikely that they could ever happen.
On the whole, this was a good well-rounded mystery with enough intrigue to propel the reader to the end, if at times a touch unbelievable.
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
Some parts were rather predictable, but to balance this out nicely there were quite a few bits of that plot that took me by surprise. On the whole, I feel this was a really good mystery, and what really made this work was the alternating chapters from Nick and Ella. It just goes to show how important it is to persevere with a book, as the writing style that initially put me off turned out to be the what actually made the book for me. My main criticism of Little Boy Found however, is that the way the story came together at the end all seemed largely very unrealistic, and as a realist I find it difficult to enjoy reading things when I am imagining that is is unlikely that they could ever happen.
On the whole, this was a good well-rounded mystery with enough intrigue to propel the reader to the end, if at times a touch unbelievable.
(Thanks to NetGalley for this copy).
August 27, 2017
Good book
Good book told from point of view of two major characters Nick and Ella. At first I was wondering who Ella was and what she had to do with anything as her story seemed so far attached from Nick and his family. However as the story develops it becomes clear who she is. I won't say as that would spoil the story. What I will say is this Nick is married to Ben these two men are raising Ben son Gabriel together Gabriel mother died when he was baby. They both have good jobs Gabriel is happy but different from other children as he has autistic like traits and some people have issues about two men raising a child. However they are happy until the day of Gabriel's 7 birthday. Nick drops his son at the school gate they are running late and just make it before final bell. Gabriel however never makes it inside he simply vanishes then Nick story picks up one year later and we go on a journey with Nick and Ella to find out what happened and why. We find out that Gabriel was found but finding him was not the end of the nightmare. There are some big twists some obvious some not. What is Ben hiding ?? The big twist near the end i did not see coming to be honest there were some bits that where far to much of a coincidence and a bit unbelievable but over all good book that I read in a few hours. However the ending was a big disappointment and I felt did great disservice to Ella
Good book told from point of view of two major characters Nick and Ella. At first I was wondering who Ella was and what she had to do with anything as her story seemed so far attached from Nick and his family. However as the story develops it becomes clear who she is. I won't say as that would spoil the story. What I will say is this Nick is married to Ben these two men are raising Ben son Gabriel together Gabriel mother died when he was baby. They both have good jobs Gabriel is happy but different from other children as he has autistic like traits and some people have issues about two men raising a child. However they are happy until the day of Gabriel's 7 birthday. Nick drops his son at the school gate they are running late and just make it before final bell. Gabriel however never makes it inside he simply vanishes then Nick story picks up one year later and we go on a journey with Nick and Ella to find out what happened and why. We find out that Gabriel was found but finding him was not the end of the nightmare. There are some big twists some obvious some not. What is Ben hiding ?? The big twist near the end i did not see coming to be honest there were some bits that where far to much of a coincidence and a bit unbelievable but over all good book that I read in a few hours. However the ending was a big disappointment and I felt did great disservice to Ella
August 13, 2018
LITTLE BOY FOUND is a slightly different take on the "missing child" story and a real page turner. I wasn't sure what to make of it at the beginning especially with the shift in stories and completely unrelated characters in the alternating chapters, but I was soon hooked by the end of the "third" chapter (Nick's second chapter). So what is it all about then?
First we meet Nick, who is married to Ben with a 6 year old son from Ben's first marriage. Nick adores Gabriel and despite his own souring relationship with Ben, Nick continues a much better relationship with Gabriel. When he wakes with hangover one morning, Nick rushes Gabriel off to school and is involved in a minor collision with another car. The driver refuses to stop or give his insurance details so Nick whips out his mobile phone and snaps a photo of the licence plate as it leaves the car park. Upon returning home, Nick endeavours to find the elusive driver and uploads the photo to his laptop for a better look of the plate. Upon enlarging the image on the screen he can't believe what he sees - his son Gabriel in the back of the car with his hand pressed up against the window. As he has just dropped him off, Nick rings the school to be told Gabriel's name is not on the register. He tries to tell Ben his concerns but Ben doesn't listen or believe him. What ensues is Nick's desperate search for answers and a whole chain of events that seem to unravel as Nick tries to make sense of what is going on.
Meanwhile in a seemingly unrelated story we meet Ella, a lonely teenager infatuated with a musician of a Z-grade band named Ryder and hopelessly dreams of a happily ever after with him. When Ella wins a backstage pass to meet the band, her dream rapidly becomes a nightmare as things take a dramatic turn with massive consequences. Feeling more alone and desperate than ever, longing for her mother and estranged from her father, Ella takes matters into her own hands setting in motion a course of events that once undertaken can never be undone.
So how does this relate to Nick and his quest for answers? While I couldn't see the significance at first, it didn't take long for me to work out just how Ella's story collides with Nick's - well, one part of it anyway. And it wasn't long before I suspected where Ben really fit in as well - something of a secret he hadn't told Nick about. What I didn't see coming was who Nick really was!
At first it seems Nick's story is far more interesting than Ella's obsession over a musician, but soon her's becomes moreso as Nick's unravels into a series of confusing events in his quest for answers. Despite this, both stories had me quickly turning the pages to find out more and watch with baited breath as both their worlds finally collide.
LITTLE BOY FOUND is an interesting concept that started off at an even gait with the end result being a fast-paced thrill ride that kept me reading long into the night until the very last page. The story is intense on both sides with some jaw dropping twists that made for a thrilling read. While the whole concept may be a little unrealistic, it's these stories that truly make for fascinating and thrilling reads beyond any doubt.
I have seen others comment on the Epilogue adding an unnecessary shock whilst the story could have satisfactorily wrapped up before that. This is true, but...I think the Epilogue was a solid touch to end the story. I didn't see it coming which made it even better but on the whole, given the events that lead to this point and the journey the characters took to get there, I think it was indeed a gratifying ending considering the circumstances. Without giving anything away, I believe anyone in that situation themselves would very probably feel it to be the only end appropriate.
LITTLE BOY FOUND is brilliantly written and I highly recommend it for any fan of the psychological thriller genre. It is dark, clever and unique to other thrillers but incredibly intriguing and well worth devouring.
First we meet Nick, who is married to Ben with a 6 year old son from Ben's first marriage. Nick adores Gabriel and despite his own souring relationship with Ben, Nick continues a much better relationship with Gabriel. When he wakes with hangover one morning, Nick rushes Gabriel off to school and is involved in a minor collision with another car. The driver refuses to stop or give his insurance details so Nick whips out his mobile phone and snaps a photo of the licence plate as it leaves the car park. Upon returning home, Nick endeavours to find the elusive driver and uploads the photo to his laptop for a better look of the plate. Upon enlarging the image on the screen he can't believe what he sees - his son Gabriel in the back of the car with his hand pressed up against the window. As he has just dropped him off, Nick rings the school to be told Gabriel's name is not on the register. He tries to tell Ben his concerns but Ben doesn't listen or believe him. What ensues is Nick's desperate search for answers and a whole chain of events that seem to unravel as Nick tries to make sense of what is going on.
Meanwhile in a seemingly unrelated story we meet Ella, a lonely teenager infatuated with a musician of a Z-grade band named Ryder and hopelessly dreams of a happily ever after with him. When Ella wins a backstage pass to meet the band, her dream rapidly becomes a nightmare as things take a dramatic turn with massive consequences. Feeling more alone and desperate than ever, longing for her mother and estranged from her father, Ella takes matters into her own hands setting in motion a course of events that once undertaken can never be undone.
So how does this relate to Nick and his quest for answers? While I couldn't see the significance at first, it didn't take long for me to work out just how Ella's story collides with Nick's - well, one part of it anyway. And it wasn't long before I suspected where Ben really fit in as well - something of a secret he hadn't told Nick about. What I didn't see coming was who Nick really was!
At first it seems Nick's story is far more interesting than Ella's obsession over a musician, but soon her's becomes moreso as Nick's unravels into a series of confusing events in his quest for answers. Despite this, both stories had me quickly turning the pages to find out more and watch with baited breath as both their worlds finally collide.
LITTLE BOY FOUND is an interesting concept that started off at an even gait with the end result being a fast-paced thrill ride that kept me reading long into the night until the very last page. The story is intense on both sides with some jaw dropping twists that made for a thrilling read. While the whole concept may be a little unrealistic, it's these stories that truly make for fascinating and thrilling reads beyond any doubt.
I have seen others comment on the Epilogue adding an unnecessary shock whilst the story could have satisfactorily wrapped up before that. This is true, but...I think the Epilogue was a solid touch to end the story. I didn't see it coming which made it even better but on the whole, given the events that lead to this point and the journey the characters took to get there, I think it was indeed a gratifying ending considering the circumstances. Without giving anything away, I believe anyone in that situation themselves would very probably feel it to be the only end appropriate.
LITTLE BOY FOUND is brilliantly written and I highly recommend it for any fan of the psychological thriller genre. It is dark, clever and unique to other thrillers but incredibly intriguing and well worth devouring.
September 15, 2018
Wow! Clever plot and slick way to bring it all together
When I first started reading "Little Boy Found" I thought it would just be another murder mystery but I soon found myself engrossed in the story.
Author L K Fox did a masterful job of developing the two main characters, Nick and Ella, as well as weaving their individual stories into a cohesive plot.
I never reveal plot details so as not to spoil it for other readers but I will say I'm pleased it wasn't overloaded with graphic sex and violence, or profanity and obscenity for that matter.
The compelling storyline that switched back and forth between Nick and Ella makes the reader wonder what the connection is to the disappearance of little Gabriel. Slowly, cleverly, the author weaves an intricate tale that comes to a surprising climax but with a real twist at the end.
I've read a lot of books in this genre, and I'm pretty good at figuring out plots, but I must admit I was pretty much in the dark throughout most of this one. I did figure out one of the twists well into the story but the ending totally surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Little Boy Found" and highly recommend it. I also liked the author's writing style and definitely will read more of his books.
Read on and enjoy this winding, surprising tale.
When I first started reading "Little Boy Found" I thought it would just be another murder mystery but I soon found myself engrossed in the story.
Author L K Fox did a masterful job of developing the two main characters, Nick and Ella, as well as weaving their individual stories into a cohesive plot.
I never reveal plot details so as not to spoil it for other readers but I will say I'm pleased it wasn't overloaded with graphic sex and violence, or profanity and obscenity for that matter.
The compelling storyline that switched back and forth between Nick and Ella makes the reader wonder what the connection is to the disappearance of little Gabriel. Slowly, cleverly, the author weaves an intricate tale that comes to a surprising climax but with a real twist at the end.
I've read a lot of books in this genre, and I'm pretty good at figuring out plots, but I must admit I was pretty much in the dark throughout most of this one. I did figure out one of the twists well into the story but the ending totally surprised me.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Little Boy Found" and highly recommend it. I also liked the author's writing style and definitely will read more of his books.
Read on and enjoy this winding, surprising tale.
October 23, 2017
I loved the idea of the book, the blurb sounded fantastic however this book was completely different to what I was expecting. I didn't feel there was anything psychological about it which is what it's being marketed as. To me it felt more like a drama.
Nick has awoken hungover and late to drop his boy Gabriel off at school so he rushes to get him ready. At school it's chaos with cars everywhere trying to drop their kids off. Gabriel jumps out and Nick drives off but crashes into another car. He takes a photo of this other car and when he gets home he notices something odd about the photo... Gabriel is in the back of the other car.
Ella is a teenager who is obsessed with an unknown band and more importantly obsessed with one of the band members, Ryder. She struggles to get on with her new stepmother so finds comfort in the songs by the band.
We alternate between these two characters who seem to have nothing in common but as we dive deeper it all becomes clear. I didn't gel with either of the main characters and towards the middle there seemed to be too much going on and at times I was a little lost/bored.
Lots of people have loved it though looking at the reviews. It just wasn't one for me unfortunately.
Nick has awoken hungover and late to drop his boy Gabriel off at school so he rushes to get him ready. At school it's chaos with cars everywhere trying to drop their kids off. Gabriel jumps out and Nick drives off but crashes into another car. He takes a photo of this other car and when he gets home he notices something odd about the photo... Gabriel is in the back of the other car.
Ella is a teenager who is obsessed with an unknown band and more importantly obsessed with one of the band members, Ryder. She struggles to get on with her new stepmother so finds comfort in the songs by the band.
We alternate between these two characters who seem to have nothing in common but as we dive deeper it all becomes clear. I didn't gel with either of the main characters and towards the middle there seemed to be too much going on and at times I was a little lost/bored.
Lots of people have loved it though looking at the reviews. It just wasn't one for me unfortunately.
July 12, 2017
Little Boy Found
by LK Fox
Quercus Books
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 06 Jul 2017
I am reviewing a copy of Little Boy Found through Quercia Books and Netgalley:
Nick thought finding his little boy meant his nightmare was over, little could he know it had just begun.
Nick dropped his son off at school one day, and ended up in a minor collision with another car, the other driver won't surrender his insurance details so he takes a picture of the license plate, but when he gets home and enlarges the photo he realizes Gabriel was in the back seat being driven away.
Nick had been drinking the night before, and people do not believe Gabriel was really taken. Gabriel was found dead. A year after it was ruled an accident will they find differently.
What really happened to Gabriel? Was it murder or accidental?
Find out in Little Boy Found!
Five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 13, 2017
I really wanted to like this book - written by Christopher Fowler under a pseudonym - as his Bryant & May books are some of my all-time favourites and never disappoint. So it's with a heavy heart that I have to admit Little Boy Found just didn't do it for me. The concept had huge potential - a missing child that links two apparently disparate characters - but there were just too many 'convenient' plot twists and implausible coincidences at every turn. The writing style seemed surprisingly clunky for such an accomplished author and the voice of Ella, the teenaged girl, just didn't ring true. The final twist took suspension of disbelief too far, and left me disappointedly waiting for the next Bryant & May book instead.
December 31, 2021
I finished the book, because I was interested to see where it was going so yes it piqued my curiosity at times, however I was disappointed overall. It felt like the story was written following a template on how to write thrillers as in put a twist here, a surprise there etc, and when there were gaps in the story they were quickly filled in at the end in an almost lazy kind of way - like it made sense, kind of, but not really. It was all just too far fetched, it was hard to get into the story and its characters because just as you started to there was a rupture in the narrative that took me out of the book flipping back at pages checking if I’d missed something because it was all just a bit silly to be honest… sorry but that was my experience…
July 19, 2017
This was a rollercoaster of a read, one which I thoroughly enjoyed. It tells the story of a missing boy told from two central characters. Nick, who cannot recover from the abduction of his son and Ella, a troubled teenager. It is told in alternating chapters, eventually the connection between them is revealed. I must admit the story was a bit confusing at times but there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me enthralled. Would recommend Little Boy Found to lovers of psychological thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 11, 2017
Nick is late taking Gabriel to school. Having seen Gabriel to the gates he jumps in his car and bumps another one. The driver doesn’t get out and so Ben quickly takes pictures. When he gets home he enlarges the pictures and sees Gabriel in the back seat. Ella has a crush on the lead singer of a band. When she wins a raffle to meet him backstage, things are not what she dreamed they would be. This is an unusual book. I won’t say too much as I don’t want to give anything away but prepare for twists and turns when you least expect them. Well described characters that are likable from the start. How do the two main ones connect?A cleverly thought out interesting premise.
February 15, 2018
This book was way to far -fetched to be believable or enjoyable. I felt like I was constantly thinking "Ah..come on!" or "you've got to be kidding". I get that it was fiction, but my preference is for a good story that is believable, or mostly believable. The story wasn't even really that good. It started well, and I had high hopes, but it dwindled quickly.
The characters were all rather fickle, with multiple personality traits. They changed constantly and were inconsistent in their words and actions. Not that they needed to be predictable, but they, like the story, were "all over the map". Not sure I will read any more by this author.
The characters were all rather fickle, with multiple personality traits. They changed constantly and were inconsistent in their words and actions. Not that they needed to be predictable, but they, like the story, were "all over the map". Not sure I will read any more by this author.
March 12, 2018
When his son is reported missing after being dropped of at school, both Nick and the police start asking questions. Yes he got distracted after having a bump with another car, but he's sure he saw him going through the school door-so where is he now? Wanting answers, the more Nick digs the more he learns not only what happened that day, but the lead up to it.
This is a fabulous read and I loved the fact you had no idea of what would happen next. They certainly weren't joking in the blurb when they said this thriller is full of twists you are not looking for.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book which gets five stars from me. This is my honest and unbiased review
This is a fabulous read and I loved the fact you had no idea of what would happen next. They certainly weren't joking in the blurb when they said this thriller is full of twists you are not looking for.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book which gets five stars from me. This is my honest and unbiased review
August 13, 2017
Interesting
I read the amazon kindle version. It was a good read and great storyline and read in just a few days but one thing bothers about reading books on amazon kindle is that I spot mistakes, for example: Gabriel's dead ex wife; onnstage; and at one point Ella referred to Buck as Ray when she had never referred to him as that previously. This isn't the first book where I've noticed these simple errors. Whoever edits these books really needs extra training or the author needs to get a professional in.
I read the amazon kindle version. It was a good read and great storyline and read in just a few days but one thing bothers about reading books on amazon kindle is that I spot mistakes, for example: Gabriel's dead ex wife; onnstage; and at one point Ella referred to Buck as Ray when she had never referred to him as that previously. This isn't the first book where I've noticed these simple errors. Whoever edits these books really needs extra training or the author needs to get a professional in.
February 26, 2018
I read the first chapter of this book and then put it down, not sure if I would ever read the rest. Three months later I persevered and within pages was unable to put it down. The story is told through the two very different lives of Nick and Ella, both of whom appear to be searching for lost sons yet don't seem to know each other. The book is filled with little twists and though you are sure the two lives must converge at some point, I certainly wasn't ready for the final page! Worth a read if you have an hour or two to fill.
July 22, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this careful crafted, psychological thriller. From the moment I began to the final page, I really had no ounce of a clue as to where it may end.
I loved the ride you embark upon, from Nicks version to Ellas. It twists and turns until your head spins! What happened to Gabriel? Are you brave enough to find it? By the final page, you'll be just as shocked as I was.
First class.
I loved the ride you embark upon, from Nicks version to Ellas. It twists and turns until your head spins! What happened to Gabriel? Are you brave enough to find it? By the final page, you'll be just as shocked as I was.
First class.
September 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, it was a very emotive and thus powerful story imo. I agree with another reviewer about the ending being more of a shock...but on the other hand...makes sense given the state if mind of the character in question. I'm happy the story didn't focus on the graphic aspects too much of the missing child- I wd have found it impossible to read. definitely a story worth reading, very sad overall.
November 18, 2017
Hard to stick with
This was not a novel I liked, but I had to find out the end. Nick and Ben's son disappeared from his school and later was found dead. Ella had a baby at age 15, the result of being raped by a local rock band member. Both stories converge to a surprising resolution.
This was not a novel I liked, but I had to find out the end. Nick and Ben's son disappeared from his school and later was found dead. Ella had a baby at age 15, the result of being raped by a local rock band member. Both stories converge to a surprising resolution.
December 27, 2017
Compelling &complex.
If you like a really good thriller that with
will keep you reading faster and faster, and never guessing the climax, this book is for you. A very uncommon story line with interesting characters that really got me. I have to think about the last page for a while.
If you like a really good thriller that with
will keep you reading faster and faster, and never guessing the climax, this book is for you. A very uncommon story line with interesting characters that really got me. I have to think about the last page for a while.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews