The Favorite Child – Cathryn Grant
I stumbled across this one on Goodreads, and I’m so glad I gave it a go. Some of the recommendations are not always good ones, but this is one I would pick up in any bookstore or put it in my amazon basket. It’s a book that grips you from the start and there are elements that I’m sure there are aspects within the family too that feel familiar for all readers – although not on the same level of The Ledger family!
From the start, we get Annie’s perspective and the ‘dreams’ she has when she visits the family home along with her siblings; Jake, Sunday and Collette. One gripe I do have with this book is the name Sunday. It may seem minor, but at times it gets confusing within the narrative and just seems absurd as the other siblings have ‘regular’ names. But we move on. All families have some sort of dysfunctional dynamic, but The Ledger’s are on another level. From suppressing jealousy, ignoring cruel antics, clear favouritism and coercive behaviour, the family display it all.
Grant writes the characters in such a way that as a reader, I felt she doesn’t want them to be likeable. They give the impression of being close knit unit, but they’re harbouring deep, dark secrets that threaten the lives of Annie and her unborn baby girl. Albeit unlikable, Grant has ensured that we find them intriguing enough to continue reading. Annie cannot fathom why her parents and siblings are not at all worried when Sunday disappears. Sunday has always been the gifted, favoured child so surely her parents would be panicked at her disappearance?
It isn’t the perfect novel, some parts are predictable, but the ending is fantastic. I didn’t find it was rushed nor contrived. There are certain elements that I found uncomfortable such as the continuous touching of Annie’s bump – as a mother, I find it and the way her husband doesn’t support her claims or back her up extremely cringe-worthy. The gothic atmosphere created by the landscape adds to the tension but also feels somewhat claustrophobic.
As Annie digs further into the family’s backgrounds, she realises how sinister her family is and discovers more than she ever bargained for. This is a brilliant psychological thriller and reminds me of some B.A. Paris books, and I would give it a solid 4 stars.
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