Publishers Weekly
08/28/2017
Noah Sadler, a native-born British boy, and Abdi Mahad, a refugee from Somalia, become best friends at Medes College, a prestigious Bristol secondary school, in this engrossing novel from Macmillan (The Perfect Girl). Late one night, Noah and Abdi meet on the bank of the Feeder Canal, into which Noah falls. Det. Insp. Jim Clemo takes charge of the subsequent investigation to ascertain whether Abdi pushed Noah or it was an accident. Neither boy can give a version of what happened: Noah because he’s in an induced coma, and Abdi because he remains mute, either refusing to cooperate or deeply in shock. When crime reporter Emma Zhang, Jim’s former lover, hears of the incident, she seeks out Noah’s parents. Her reporting, however, threatens to inflame anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly by raising the suspicion that the police are holding back so as not to exacerbate racial tensions. Both Noah’s and Abdi’s families are forced to confront emotions and secrets buried over the years. The action builds to a shattering conclusion. Agent: Nelle Andrew, Peters, Fraser and Dunlop (U.K.). (Oct.)
From the Publisher
A mother and son spend an ordinary Sunday at a park near Londontown. Until the boy goes missing. Cue dramatic music. This read’s basically The Changeling meets an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit but set in the UK.” — The Skimm
“Gilly Macmillan introduces some smart variations on the [missing child] theme in her debut mystery...Macmillan enlivens the narrative with emails, newspaper headlines, passages from professional journals, even transcripts from Inspector Clemo’s sessions with a psychotherapist. But her best move is to include vicious blog posts that go viral.” — New York Times Book Review
Praise for The Perfect Girl: “Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.” — Real Simple magazine
“With tightly drawn characters, a fascinating storyline and absolutely exquisite narration, The Perfect Girl is sure to keep readers up all night. Gilly Macmillan proves once again to be a master of the written word and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors.” — Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Baby
“A wonderfully addictive book with virtuoso plotting and characters for anyone who loved Girl on the Train, it’s a must read.” — Rosamund Lupton
“As the suspenseful, serpentine tale unreels from the alternating perspectives of several key players, readers will be rooting for the resilient, resourceful Zoe all the way to the perfectly executed final twists.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PRAISE FOR THE PERFECT GIRL: “A compelling read for fans of psychological suspense.” — Library Journal review
“I DEVOURED The Perfect Girl. An incredible page turner with awesome characters and suspense. Bravo.” — Kate White, New York Times bestselling author
“Macmillan captivates readers with a story just as addictive as her first… [and] shines when exploring the intricacies of relationships… Fans of Tana French, Ruth Ware, and Gillian Flynn will become completely entrenched in the unfolding details.” — BookPage
“With lovely prose, depth of character and an intelligent narrative, Macmillan lifts the level of suspense with stiletto-like precision: a tiny graze here, a shallow cut there and, eventually, a thrust into the heart. At once profoundly unsettling and richly rewarding.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch
“A very clever, tautly plotted page turned from a terrific new writer” — Good Housekeeping
“Heart-in-the-mouth excitement from the start of this electrifyingly good debut…an absolute firecracker of a thriller that convinces and captivates from the word go. A must read.” — Sunday Mirror
“Macmillan peppers her debut with subtle red herrings and a variety of potential suspects, ratcheting up the tension slowly but oh so deliciously.” — Booklist
“Tightly focused and fast-paced. You won’t rest until you really know what happened.” — Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Guilty One
“One of the brightest debuts I have read this year a visceral, emotionally charged story….heart-wrenchingly well told and expertly constructed, this deserves to stay on the bestseller list until Christmas” — The Daily Mail
“This accomplished, intelligent debut should come with a warning it’s completely addictive. A nail-biting, sleep-depriving, brilliant read.” — Saskia Sarginson, author of The Twins
“An engaging debut.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Readers will have a tough time putting this one down. — Publishers Weekly
“A terrific debut” — Reader's Digest
“What an amazing, gripping, beautifully written debut. WHAT SHE KNEW kept me up late into the night (and scared the life out of me).” — Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author
“A nuanced, completely addictive debut.” — People
“This accomplished, intelligent debut should come with a warningit’s completely addictive. A nail-biting, sleep-depriving, brilliant read.” — Saskia Sarginson, author of The Twins
“Subtle, nuanced writing and a compelling, timely story taut with tension—Odd Child Out is a hugely satisfying and thrilling read. Highly recommended!” — Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
“”In this engrossing novel... the action builds to a shattering conclusion.” — Publishers Weekly
“Macmillan excels at getting into the minds of terrified, brokenhearted parents... This mix of police procedural and thriller will satisfy fans of the author’s previous work as well as those looking for something after Tana French.” — Booklist
“With characters who are sympathetic and believable, Macmillan’s latest will keep readers in suspense to the very end. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“The story is emotionally compelling and Macmillan nails the complexity of adolescent friendship…” — Kirkus Reviews
“This is a fascinating book focusing on the aftermath of the Somalian concentration camps and the effect it held on those who were involved… Macmillan changes the course of direction of the story several times, which makes for interesting reading. The characterizations are vivid and come alive on the page.” — RT BOOKReviews
“hard to put down the book... The storyline is intriguing, full of twists and turns, and readers will become fully invested in these characters, all of whom are interesting in their own right.” — Bookreporter.com
“[A] taut psychological thriller” — Birmingham magazine
“intricately worked out and impossible to put down” — Sullivan County Democrat
Mary Kubica
With tightly drawn characters, a fascinating storyline and absolutely exquisite narration, The Perfect Girl is sure to keep readers up all night. Gilly Macmillan proves once again to be a master of the written word and is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors.
Real Simple
Praise for The Perfect Girl: “Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.
New York Times Book Review
Gilly Macmillan introduces some smart variations on the [missing child] theme in her debut mystery...Macmillan enlivens the narrative with emails, newspaper headlines, passages from professional journals, even transcripts from Inspector Clemo’s sessions with a psychotherapist. But her best move is to include vicious blog posts that go viral.
BookPage
Macmillan captivates readers with a story just as addictive as her first… [and] shines when exploring the intricacies of relationships… Fans of Tana French, Ruth Ware, and Gillian Flynn will become completely entrenched in the unfolding details.
Kate White
I DEVOURED The Perfect Girl. An incredible page turner with awesome characters and suspense. Bravo.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
With lovely prose, depth of character and an intelligent narrative, Macmillan lifts the level of suspense with stiletto-like precision: a tiny graze here, a shallow cut there and, eventually, a thrust into the heart. At once profoundly unsettling and richly rewarding.
The Skimm
A mother and son spend an ordinary Sunday at a park near Londontown. Until the boy goes missing. Cue dramatic music. This read’s basically The Changeling meets an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit but set in the UK.
Rosamund Lupton
A wonderfully addictive book with virtuoso plotting and characters for anyone who loved Girl on the Train, it’s a must read.
People
A nuanced, completely addictive debut.
Saskia Sarginson
This accomplished, intelligent debut should come with a warning it’s completely addictive. A nail-biting, sleep-depriving, brilliant read.
Liane Moriarty
What an amazing, gripping, beautifully written debut. WHAT SHE KNEW kept me up late into the night (and scared the life out of me).
Booklist
Macmillan peppers her debut with subtle red herrings and a variety of potential suspects, ratcheting up the tension slowly but oh so deliciously.
Good Housekeeping
A very clever, tautly plotted page turned from a terrific new writer
Lisa Ballantyne
Tightly focused and fast-paced. You won’t rest until you really know what happened.
RT BOOKReviews
This is a fascinating book focusing on the aftermath of the Somalian concentration camps and the effect it held on those who were involved… Macmillan changes the course of direction of the story several times, which makes for interesting reading. The characterizations are vivid and come alive on the page.
Shari Lapena
Subtle, nuanced writing and a compelling, timely story taut with tension—Odd Child Out is a hugely satisfying and thrilling read. Highly recommended!”
Sullivan County Democrat
intricately worked out and impossible to put down
Reader's Digest
A terrific debut
Sunday Mirror
Heart-in-the-mouth excitement from the start of this electrifyingly good debut…an absolute firecracker of a thriller that convinces and captivates from the word go. A must read.
The Daily Mail
One of the brightest debuts I have read this year a visceral, emotionally charged story….heart-wrenchingly well told and expertly constructed, this deserves to stay on the bestseller list until Christmas
Bookreporter.com
hard to put down the book... The storyline is intriguing, full of twists and turns, and readers will become fully invested in these characters, all of whom are interesting in their own right.
Birmingham magazine
[A] taut psychological thriller
Booklist
Macmillan peppers her debut with subtle red herrings and a variety of potential suspects, ratcheting up the tension slowly but oh so deliciously.
Real Simple magazine
Praise for The Perfect Girl: “Gilly Macmillan (What She Knew) deftly explores the intricacies of relationships and the bonds that tie families all while ratcheting up the suspense in this page-turning thriller.
RT Book Reviews (top pick)
Macmillan’s magnificent debut delves into the emotional destruction wrought by Ben’s disappearance. No one is unaffected, and she draws out every inch of trauma suffered by all as they search for the boy. . . The culprit is truly a surprise under Macmillan’s clever pen.
Library Journal
★ 09/01/2017
Macmillan's third novel (after What She Knew and The Perfect Girl) reveals the story of the friendship between two 15-year-old boys and the issues each face through the police investigation into their involvement in what appears to be a tragic accident. Noah Sadler, an only child from a privileged family, is pulled from a canal with serious injuries while his Somali-born friend, Abdi Hasad, looks on. Brought in to investigate the matter, Det. Jim Clemo finds that it may not have been an accident and, with social tensions in Bristol already high and a reporter determined to use the story to ratchet them even higher, learning what really happened becomes increasingly urgent. VERDICT With characters who are sympathetic and believable, Macmillan's latest will keep readers in suspense to the very end. Highly recommended.—Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg