In 1949 on remote Orcades Island, a pregnant sixteen-year-old arrives at Fairmile, a Catholic-run home for "fallen women"—only to vanish before the snow melts. Fast-forward to 2013: former detective Frankie Gray arrives on the island to reconnect with her teenage daughter and help her mother convert Fairmile into a boutique inn. But when a nun dies under suspicious circumstances and a tiny skeleton is unearthed in the grounds, Frankie sets out to uncover what truly happened, risking her family’s safety and stirring buried secrets. Dual narratives unfold across decades, weaving themes of shame, motherhood, and redemption into a haunting thriller.

Reviews

“A deeply moving look at a past when women's reproductive rights were denied … a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story that resonates in today’s world.”
— Susan Wiggs

“Richly drawn characters, masterful storytelling, and a slowly unraveling mystery kept me on the edge of my seat, right up until the satisfying ending.”
— Karen McQuestion

“A taut, clever whodunit … Kayte Nunn keeps the stakes high and the characters compelling, making for a fast, fresh, engrossing historical mystery!”
— Kate Quinn

Book Title: The Only Child
Book Genre: Historical Mystery, Dual-Timeline Thriller
ISBN: 9781398709775
Pages: 320
Publishing Date: February 16, 2023
Publisher: Orion