About this item

In their holiday home, a stone’s throw from the beach, Elizabeth dials the police with trembling hands. ‘My little boy, he’s missing.’

Elizabeth is Joe’s foster mother, but she loves him like her own. The five-year-old, who adores superheroes and watching the birds outside, is the child she has dreamed of. As she looks into the garden, where he was playing just moments ago, her heart feels like it has been ripped from her chest.

She was meant to save Joe from his birth mother who almost harmed his chances at life. The woman who has been trying to desperately get him back.

She was meant to protect Joe from her husband. The man who, right now, lies to the police, saying he was making breakfast when Joe disappeared. Who squeezes her shoulder, ordering her to be quiet.

She was meant to look after Joe. They are just footsteps from the ocean, and little Joe can’t swim.

Then Joe’s tiny blue sandal is found in the water. If the worst has happened – the unimaginable – Elizabeth will never forgive herself. Because what if the secret she has been keeping for years, the guilt eating her alive, has somehow hurt her little boy?

It’s time to tell the truth – even if it means losing the child who is her whole world. Even if it could be the death of her.

A totally addictive, twist-packed psychological thriller about family secrets, a marriage on the edge, and the deadly line between love and hate. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Liane Moriarty and Freida McFadden.

See what readers are saying about The Foster Family:

‘My heart was in my mouth and I had tears in my eyes… Totally recommend.’ @sarahc_loves_reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant… I could not put it down. I ended up reading it in one sitting; so glad I didn’t have work or anything planned for the next day!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow, what a gripping and intense story!… My heart was pounding throughout. I found myself flying through the pages because I had to find out what was happening.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I cannot rate this book highly enough!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A page-turner from the get go!… Be prepared to lose sleep.A book you won't want to put down. Highly recommend!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Had me on the edge of my seat! I was hooked from the beginning and the emotional aspect of the book really tugged at my heartstrings, resulting in a few tears being shed near the end!’ Nicki’s Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Will keep you on the edge of the seat till the end!… An unputdownable page-turner… Will keep you up all night.’ Tropical Girl Reads Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Breathtaking… Keeps you constantly guessing… So unputdownable… This propulsive suspense novel grabs you by the heartstrings in the very first chapter and holds on tight until the very last page… This story is far more than a run-of-the-mill thriller… A cut above the rest in this genre… Highly recommended – you don’t want to miss this book! And then you’ll want to read everything else from this author too.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐