The Good Children

by Kate Wilhelm

When they move to a new home in Oregon, the McNair family know they're where they belong. But when tragedy strikes the family, the children face the prospect of being separated by the state. Rather than being sent to different foster homes, the four children decide to lie. And it's a big lie. The sort of deceit that can hold a family together or tear it apart . . .

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Horror, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Kate Wilhelm’s first short story, “The Pint-Sized Genie” was published in Fantastic Stories in 1956. Her first novel, MORE BITTER THAN DEATH, a mystery, was published in 1963. Over the span of her career, her writing has crossed over the genres of science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy and magical realism, psychological suspense, mimetic, comic, and family sagas, a multimedia stage production, and radio plays. She returned to writing mysteries in 1990 with the acclaimed Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Leidl Mysteries and the Barbara Holloway series of legal thrillers.

Wilhelm’s works have been adapted for television and movies in numerous countries; her novels and stories have been translated to more than a dozen languages. She has contributed to Quark, Orbit,  Magazine of Fantasy and ScienceFiction, Locus, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine,  Fantastic, Omni, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Redbook, and Cosmopolitan.

Kate Wilhelm is the widow of acclaimed science fiction author and editor, Damon Knight (1922-2002), with whom she founded the Clarion Writers’ Workshop and the Milford Writers’ Conference, described in her 2005 non-fiction work, STORYTELLER. They lectured together at universities across three continents; Kate has continued to offer interviews, talks, and monthly workshops.

Kate Wilhelm has received two Hugo awards, three Nebulas, as well as Jupiter, Locus, Spotted Owl, Prix Apollo, Kristen Lohman awards, among others. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2009, Kate was the recipient of one of the first Solstice Awards presented by the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) in recognition of her contributions to the field of science fiction. 

Kate’s highly popular Barbara Holloway mysteries, set in Eugene, Oregon, opened with Death Qualified in 1990. Mirror, Mirror, released in 2017, is the series’ 14th novel.

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Good Children" is one of those books that starts off with a lot of promise - dark family secrets, unsettling atmosphere, and kids forced to grow up too quickly - but then falls face-down way before the end.

Wilhelm sets up a chilling premise: what happens when children are left to fend for themselves after tragedy, and how far they’ll go to protect each other.

I liked the eerie tone and the way the story slowly peeled back layers of mystery. The characters felt believable enough, especially the siblings, though sometimes their choices stretched plausibility. The pacing, however, was uneven. Some sections dragged while others rushed through big revelations. By the end, I wasn’t entirely satisfied; the resolution felt a bit abrupt and didn’t quite deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for.

Overall, it’s a solid read if you enjoy psychological suspense with a gothic edge, but it didn’t fully stick the landing for me. Not bad, not great, just somewhere in the middle.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe that each story is better than the last but it is true. This one is an astonishing tale. Part of me says "no way" and yet, why not? It might be a huge stretch of the truth but the suspense factor makes it a compelling read and the ending is satisfying. That is a five star read for me.

I listened to this book narrated by Carrington MacDuffie.

[Sandy Gamradt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ended too soon, I wanted more! I wanted to know what happened to the children after they grew up. This was a book I didn't want to put down!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The four McNair children have spent most of their childhood moving around (father’s job). Ironically, just as they settle in rural Oregon, their father dies and soon after that, their mother does as well. Educated from the cradle to distrust the social services system, the children (eldest almost 16) decide to bury their mother and go it on their own. With the help of a young and sympathetic lawyer (who doesn’t know their secret) we follow them through the next eight years of their lives. Excellent in parts.

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beyond amazing. Where has this author been all my life, and why have I never read any of her books before? I want to talk about all the thoughts I had while reading it, but that would mean spoilers, and I hate spoilers.

It was described to me as a "kids on their own" story, which is something practically everyone likes, so naturally I wanted to read it. But there is so much more to this book. The elaborate plans these kids carried out, the ideas they discussed, their talents and brilliance and resourcefulness are all fascinating.

It was amazing; not only a wonderful story, but thought-provoking and surprising in a way I didn't expect. A previous reader had left a note in this used copy: "Not a happy book, but an absorbing one.". I agree, but would add that it is also not a scary book or a depressing book, but one that leaves you with hope, as well as some questions to ponder.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With their parents dead and gone, their father killed on his job and their mother dead from what was believed to be a broken heart, the McNair children, Kevin, age 18, Amy age 17, Liz, age 14, and Brian, age 9, all underage when their mother died, raised themselves honoring the promise they made to their mother to never have a funeral or a repast after her death. When their mother died, the Children buried her in the backyard.

Kevin and Amy now old enough to go off to college and with thoughts of living away from the family’s home, realize their predicament. They hold a family meeting to decide just how to do that without being arrested for not contacting law enforcement about their mother’s death.

The four siblings overcame adversity with commonsense and sticking together. What was unfortunate was that they had no one to confide in. What helped them was their dad teaching them how to see the world from a philosophical viewpoint.

The Good Children was one of my favorite Kate Wilhelm books. The characters development was among the best I’ve read. The story was believable and creditable. The flow of the story was exceptional and there wasn’t a lull in any point of the book and though The Good Children was a work of fiction, somehow it felt like the work of personal experience.

The Good Children had the best ending I’ve ever read in a work of fiction and Carrington MacDuffie did an extraordinary job in interpreting the personalities and moods of the characters. The Good Children is a book that you will not want to put down!

[Joi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good. I enjoyed it so much ... I didn't expect to. I listened to it on audio and at first the voice sounded so creepy but I eventually got used to it. I enjoyed this book immensely. I didn't fall in love with it, which is why it's only a 4 star but I do recommend it to others.

[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Kate Wilhelm and one of her older ones, but several heart pumping times in this story. Maybe a little far fetched but that's what a "suspense novel" is all about, right?

[MaryJane Kibbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took about 3 days to read (listen) this book, I didn’t log it in to Goodreads till I had already finished it - I really enjoyed this book - loved how the one sister loved her little brother and would stop at nothing to make sure he was ok even though he drove her crazy - i didn’t want the book to end.

[Evelyn Doyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished it, so it's already done a lot better than other books I didn't enjoy. I won't say it was bad—such an accusation needs to have a rational; a technical basis—but the style simply wasn't to my taste. It's a lethargic narrative that, I imagine, is very a unusual style for a 'horror story'.

The premise sounded exciting, but the execution really wasn't. No excitement, no suspense, no quickened pace. I saw another reviewer state the book as short, but I haven't seen a bound copy. I listened to an audio version, which at over eight hours was plenty long enough for me, especially considering its lack of engagement.

I won't be revisiting this author's work.

[Kathleen Hagen]

reasonably well for a few years, but then the children are getting older. Kevin and Amy both have ambitious college plans. They would like to sell the house and settle the two younger children, Liz and Brian, somewhere so they can go on with their lives. But Liz and Brian remain in the house. Then some terrifying things take place bringing them closer to the truth about their mother’s death. But will the truth set them free, or bind them together forever? Very good book. Carrington MacDuffie is the consummate professional narrator and does this book proud.

[Ramona Jennex]

Read
I am finding this hard to "rate". The concept of the story was good but the overall execution of it was rather scattered. I didn't get the sense of a coherent story and I was left with questions at the end- but not in a good way. (Sometimes it is fine to leave a story with questions to ponder.) The narrator even commented she was unable to answer the question to what actually happened to cause her mother's passing.
I did note it is classified as "horror " but I felt there was a fuzzy line between "spirits" and "mental illness" which the author did not clarify.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, a gothic tale about insular children living on their own without parents SOUNDED good. It just didn't come together for me, somehow. I don't know. Not enough tension, the ending was a major letdown, and I just didn't buy it, basically. I wouldn't have finished (I'm such a quitter if I don't love a book) except it's a quick, short read, and I hoped there might be a crazy ending to make it worth it. No such luck.

[Barbara Boudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I listened to the audio book while driving, and literally would sit int he car when I got home to finish the chapters. The book really hooked you in - was written in a style that was believable for the age of the writer, kept your interest. It was believable because the story centered around siblings taking care of each other, and the deep dark secrets that siblings can keep with each other. Great read.

[Bonnie Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very quick, easy read. It begins well - Wilhelm is very good at creating a setting that is subtly disorientating and ominous from the start. But about half-way through it felt as if she lost interest in her characters and story. It rather plodded on to a pretty conventional ending that I found unrealistic and dissatisfying.

[Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete waste of time reading this book. At the outset, it is barely interesting enough to keep me reading, and then about the last third of the book, it feels like you're reading a different book ... total derail. Unfortunately, by that point, there is no point in tossing the book away. Plotlines are too far-fetched; actions taken are unbelievable; and most unforgiving, the psychiatric treatment as presented feels more like something from the 1800s rather than modern times. Serious regrets here about reading this. And oh yeah, I experienced no sense of suspense and tension.

[Suzanne Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read! A family that has moved place to place finally settles down and buys a house. Then an accident kills Dad. Mom is bereft. Then Mom is found face down under an apple tree when she was trying to pick the apples at the top. Four kids alone. Mom was raised in foster care and has filled their heads with stories. So they bury her in the back and commence to pretend that she is still there. How long can that continue? Can they ever truly bury her? Are they ever able to sell the property? And what about the youngest son - Brian insists Mother never left.

[Renny Barcelos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel. The suspense is slowly built, through Liz's narrative. As the children all come to age, one after one, we get to see how one decision impacts every single aspect of their lives--some of them are way more impacted than others.

Through it all I really liked to witness bond straighten under pressure instead of weaken. Even if by the end some secrets remained just for part of them.

Liz and Brian's closeness was beautiful to follow.

[Adreana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book it’s self was good. The characters were incredibly enthralling. It was a little more slow moving then I would like, but that also added a lot of detail. Not yet sure if I would read another book from this author.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Kate Wilhelm is a born storyteller.

I am so not fond of ghost stories, which are usually dumb and dreadful, full of characters you'd just as soon see the ghosts devour.

But this is a story about real people with real problems ... and ghosts. Most excellent.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of her better novels. When a father dies and leaves his wife and kids well off, she makes them promise to not let them go into the system. So when she dies, they hide her body, and pretend she's still alive. But it seems to be tougher on one of the kids.

[Cirrus Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Da habe ich das Buch doch glatt an einem Tag "weggeatmet".

Eine wirklich bewegende Geschichte über eine einzigartige Familie, die einen von der ersten Seite an in ihren Bann zieht. Für mein Gefühl gab es keine unnötigen Längen, was die Lektüre sehr angenehm machte.

[Ashley Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧 Audio

2.5/3 ⭐️

I felt like this book has loose ends not tied up. I also felt like it was kind of all over the place is some chapters and then super boring in others. Just not my normal vibe but also not a horrible book.

[Tomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is full of twists and turns. The ending is not what is even remotely expected. The reader is left wondering what the genre the book is actually classifed as. You will find yourself wrapped up in the story.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5 stars. The story line was interesting, the characters were well drawn, and it kept me engaged.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio production of this because I couldn't find it in print in the library. Thoroughly enjoyed it, totally gripping. Highly recommend it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down. Wilhelm’s prose is lucid and clear, and laden with just enough foreshadowing to let you know that disaster is around the bend.

Highly enjoyable and quite recommended.

[Jimmacc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept thinking “this is not my kinda book”, but I kept reading. Really nice job of pacing. Ending works, but leaves a lot unresolved. Reader was very good (audio version).

[Chandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't as suspenseful as I was expecting, but the style was refreshingly different.

[Rosalind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book. Very good! Kept me interested the entire time!