Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by A Daily Rhythm.
Today’s spotlight is on my current read, The Cry, by Helen Fitzgerald.
Intro: 13 February
It was the fault of airport security.
At airport security, Joanna’s nine-week-old baby boy was screaming. Her partner was busy taking off his trainers. A stocky uniformed woman was saying: ‘Can’t take these.’
‘What?’ Joanna asked, her newborn gnawing at her T-shirt through his howls.
‘These liquids. The bottles are more than a hundred millilitres. If you need more for the flight, you’ve got to have proof. Do you have something in writing?’
‘No.’
‘In that case, I’ll have to dispose of them.’
‘But you can’t. It’s Calpol—paracetamol—for the baby, and antibiotics. I’ve got an ear infection. And, look, they’re not full.’
‘Can I help?’ a freshly scanned and shoeless Alistair offered.
‘We’ll have to throw these out,’ the security woman repeated.
‘I told you about the hundred-millilitre rule, Joanna.’
‘Did you?’ Probably. She couldn’t remember.
***
Teaser: It was the fault of airport security.
If Joanna hadn’t gone back, if she hadn’t bought two small, clear hundred-millilitre bottles from Boots, if she hadn’t poured liquids into each while kneeling on the floor in front of WH Snith, if she hadn’t waited in the queue for another hour while her breasts ached: if she hadn’t done any of these things, then she would still have her baby. (1%)
***
Blurb: When a baby goes missing on a lonely roadside in Australia, it sets off a police investigation that will become a media sensation and dinner-table talk across the world.
Lies, rumours and guilt snowball, causing the parents, Joanna and Alistair, to slowly turn against each other.
Finally Joanna starts thinking the unthinkable: could the truth be even more terrible than she suspected? And what will it take to make things right?
Perfect for fans of Julia Crouch, Sophie Hannah and Laura Lippman, The Cry was widely acclaimed as one of the best psychological thrillers of the year. There’s a gripping moral dilemma at its heart and characters who will keep you guessing on every page.
***
What do you think? Do these excerpts grab you? Would you keep on reading?
***
Oh no!! She lost the baby at the airport!
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I’m not sure…the story is going back and forth in time right now, but it’s not going to be a good ending, I don’t think. Thanks for stopping by, Sonia.
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This sounds like a story that would be difficult to read! I’m not sure I could stand to read about a baby being lost or kidnapped. I’m looking forward to your review.
My Tuesday post features The Chair.
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Yes, I think it will be difficult, Sandra…I hope I can manage it! Thanks for stopping by.
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As you know I really rated this book highly but it is one disturbing read, one that I read a while back that I haven’t forgotten! Here is my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/first-chapter-first-paragraph-june-9/
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Yes, sometimes the most disturbing reads stay with us…as do disturbing shows or movies. Thanks for stopping by, Cleopatra.
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I like the intro as well as the cover. But — I’m don’t think this is for me, based on what I’ve read from other reviews.
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Thanks for visiting, Margot, and we can’t read everything, especially if we don’t think it’s for us.
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Given that the comments call it “disturbing” I think it’s not for me.
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Thanks for visiting, Suzie….
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Ugh, what a horrible situation. I have zero desire to read this, I have to say, mostly because of the subject matter. Can’t emotionally handle missing children stories. Too much of an emotional drain. Real life is sad enough without reading about this kind of thing in fiction too.
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I guess that I always hope the missing children will be found….we shall see, in this one. Thanks for visiting, Nikki.
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Probably a little too “disturbing” for me, but I hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks, JoAnn….and I am already wondering if I should read it! LOL
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I’d have to read a little more to decide. I’m not quite sure this one is for me.
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The snippets don’t tell us much, do they? Thanks for stopping by, Candace.
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The whole airport security nightmare is the reason we take drivable trips these days. I am curious for more Laurel. Hope it’s a good one.
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Yes, I hate airport security, and I understand it, but I think they carry it too far. Thanks for stopping by, Diane.
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Wow. I am definitely intrigued. I would want to find out what happens next. Thanks for sharing and I’m off to see about this book.
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Thanks, Kay, we shall find out how everything unfolds….glad you could stop by.
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The intro was just ok to me, and the teaser didn’t reel me in…until the last 7 words. Those words totally hooked me. I want to know what happened to her baby!
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Yes, they reeled me in, too, Vicki, and gave me a chill. Thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks for sharing this new-to-me book. It sounds like my kind of read.
My Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/06/first-chapter-first-paragraph-109.html
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Thanks for visiting, Catherine, and I hope to enjoy it!
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That opening actually made me feel some anxiety and so sorry for that poor woman! LOL I’d still have to keep reading. This looks really good!
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Yes, it definitely brought out my anxiety, too, Monica….thanks for stopping by.
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Oh God, imagine if something like this happened to you? It sounds absolutely heart-breaking and I feel very bad for Joanna. Although I am curious about this more horrible truth that she is fearing! Thanks for sharing 🙂 I hope you have a great week!
My Tuesday post
Juli @ Universe in Words
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I am holding my breath as I read, Juli….thanks for stopping by!
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Missing children–ack! I hate books like this and yet I love them too. This sounds like it could be an intense read.
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I know what you mean, Wendy…I love/hate them, too!
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I’m already holding my breath!
intense .
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yay – this site posted my comment! worth the try 🙂
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Good for you, Sharon! Thanks for stopping by!
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This sounds absolutely heart-rending! I’m not sure I could bear it.
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I am poised to cry a lot, Margaret….thanks for stopping by.
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Ok… most everyone else said it was too disturbing to read and too intense, and yet….I’m kind of different I guess, lol, because my eyes widened as I read and I thought, yes, I have to read this and find out what happens! Plus, it’s set in Australia, which makes it intriguing to me. Thanks for highlighting it.
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Yes, the setting and the intensity will keep me reading, too, Rita…no matter how it turns out!
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Just added this one to my TBR! Sounds great!
Thanks for stopping by!
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Thanks for stopping by, Kim…this one is not for the faint-hearted, but I can’t wait to see what happens.
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Did the father do it? How horrible.
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I’m leaning toward him, Alice Audrey…can’t stand him!
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Yikes! A lost baby? Oh no…
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Thanks for stopping by, Melissa.
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This sounds pretty intense. I’d have to sandwich it between lighter reads for sure. Thanks for stopping by mine for the Stephanie Plum book. http://wp.me/pZnGI-nr
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Oh, definitely, Dagny…my next one will be light.
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Lots of regrets- I hope it has a happy ending
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I wish it would have a happy ending, but maybe there will be justice, at least. Thanks for stopping by, Greg.
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This sounds like an awesome read! Thanks so much for sharing. Will be adding to my reading list.
sherry @ fundinmental
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Thanks for stopping by, Sherry….
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Oooh – this one looks good! But also terrifying as a mom to young children!
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Oh, so terrifying….thanks for stopping by, Sarah.
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This sounds very intriguing.
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Thanks, Mary Ann….
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If only, if only. I have a terrible feeling someone snatched her baby. This will be a gut wrenching read for me but yes, I’d like to read more!
My TT – http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/06/09/teaser-tuesdays-118-grizzly-trade/
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What actually happens leaves some major questions that I suspect will be unanswered until the end. Thanks for stopping by, Laura.
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Sounds very intense, and I can’t wait to find out what you thought!
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Thanks, Nise, and I would have finished it this afternoon, except my granddaughter graduated high school tonight and we celebrated afterwards, too, so I’m just getting home.
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Sounds intriguing. I would want to keep reading.
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Yes, good for you, Yvonne. Thanks for stopping by.
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This sounds terrifying to me. I’m sure it’s an intense read, but I don’t know if I could hang with it. Plays too much on my mommy fears. 🙂
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It is definitely pretty frightening, Denise…thanks for stopping by.
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Oh my, Laurel-Rain! I would probably be almost too scared to read this one! I get too involved when I read stories about children disappearing!
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Thanks for stopping by, Lexxie….the book aroused so many emotions in me that I wanted to take action against some of the characters. And yes, the topic was definitely hard to handle.
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