Clever Little Thing [Large Print]

by Helena Echlin

Book Overview

"Clever Little Thing taps into the heart of maternal fear and will shock you in the best way. This one will give you goose bumps." --Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins

"Sharp and unflinching--a perfectly unnerving story." --Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

A taut, powerful psychological thriller following a mother who must confront a sudden and terrifying change in her daughter after the abrupt death of their babysitter

Charlotte's daughter Stella is sensitive and brilliant, perhaps even a genius, but a recent change in her behavior has alarmed her mother. Following the sudden death of Stella's babysitter, Blanka, the once disruptive and anti-social child has become docile and agreeable. But what's unsettling is that she has begun to mirror Blanka's personality, from Blanka's repetitive phrases to her accent, to fierce cravings for Armenian meat stew after being raised a vegetarian.

Charlotte is pregnant with her second child, and depleted and sick with the pregnancy. She is convinced that Blanka herself is somehow responsible for Stella's transformation. But how could Blanka, dead, still be entwined in their lives? Has Blanka somehow possessed Stella? Has Stella become Blanka? As Charlotte becomes increasingly obsessed, she is sure that only she can save her daughter. . . even though it's soon clear that her husband believes this is all in Charlotte's head.

Helena Echlin's singular, chilling voice holds light to the blurred lines of diagnosis in children and to the vital power of maternal instinct. Kaleidoscopic and tense, pulse-pounding and genuinely creepy, and infused with shades of the supernatural, Clever Little Thing is an ode to motherhood and a nuanced critique of the caretaking industry, a page-turner that will haunt readers long after its epic, surprising finale.

• Format: Paperback
• Large Print: Yes
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593949064
• ISBN13: 9780593949061
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: Diversified Publishing
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Nicely creepy crazy!

This was a good book that definitely has you questioning whether Stella somehow has become possessed by Blanka, her old babysitter who recently died, or if Charlotte is unraveling slowly due to the difficulties of her second pregnancy. There is much evidence for both options and that leads to a creepy crazy story that I had to keep reading, so I could find out which because otherwise it was going to drive me crazy! I did enjoy reading this, especially when we find out what is actually going on and why the characters are acting the way they are. Very explosive climax complete with the reason why Charlotte is spending the first part of the book talking to a doctor (to prove she can leave and protect Stella from some unknown danger) and being "trapped" in a wellness clinic. So, good thrilling book and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to read and review.