Sometimes I pick up a book expecting one thing but getting something totally different. That is the case with The Favorite Child, a new psych thriller from Cathryn Grant.
A common trope in psych thriller books is that a child is at the center of the story – one way or another. In this case, the favorite child is actually an adult. That was one of the first differences. But to be fair, that’s obvious from the blurb.
Second, the story is strong, but the characters are weak. More on that in a minute.
Annie is spending a few weeks with her family. She knows something feels off. But she chalks it up to being pregnant. When one of her sisters goes missing, Annie seems to be the only one who cares.
And therein is part of my issue with the book.
There is good tension. The first half drags a little bit but then picks up as events start to fall into place and Annie gets closer to discovering the truth. It is the very definition of a slow-burn psych thriller.
The problem is that Annie isn’t very likable, and her family is absolutely horrid. Nobody else seems to care that Sunday (the sister) is missing. And they’re not very nice to Annie either.
Honestly, the “hysterical pregnant woman” attitude was extremely off-putting. I’m sure it is meant to be. But I just couldn’t find anything redeeming about, well…any of them. It is kind of strange to actively root against characters that I think I am supposed to be rooting for.
At any rate, as I mentioned, the second half of the book picks up, and the last quarter especially is good. The author really saved the best for last in this one.
I’ve liked other books by Cathryn Grant better than The Favorite Child. This one was okay. But I will still look for the next psych thriller from her.
Instagram: cathryngrant_fiction/
Twitter: CathrynGrant/
Author Bio
Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.
When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.
