The Boy

A Novel (Broussard and Fourcade, Book 2)

By: Tami Hoag

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 17 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a New York Times bestseller

An unfathomable loss or an unthinkable crime? #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag keeps you guessing in her most harrowing thriller yet.

When Detective Nick Fourcade enters the home of Genevieve Gauthier outside the sleepy town of Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, the bloody crime scene that awaits him is both the most brutal and the most confusing he's ever seen. Genevieve's seven-year-old son, KJ, has been murdered by an alleged intruder, yet Genevieve is alive and well. Meanwhile, Nick's wife, Detective Annie Broussard, sits with the grieving Genevieve. A mother herself, Annie understands the devastation this woman is going through, but as a detective she's troubled: Who would murder a child and leave the only witness behind?

When KJ's sometimes babysitter, twelve-year-old Nora Florette, is reported missing the very next day, the town fears a maniac is preying on their children. With pressure mounting from a tough, no-nonsense new sheriff, the media, and the parents of Bayou Breaux, Nick and Annie dig deep into the dual mysteries. Is someone from Genevieve's past or present responsible for the death of her son? Is Nora a victim, or something worse? Then everything changes when Genevieve’s past as a convicted criminal comes to light. Could she have killed her own child to free herself from the burden of motherhood, or is the loss of her beloved boy pushing her to the edge of insanity? Could she have something to do with the disappearance of Nora, or is the troubled teen the key to the murder? How far will Nick and Annie have to go to uncover the dark truth of the boy?

©2018 by Indelible Ink, Inc. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“[A] tightly plotted whodunnit . . . prepare to gasp."—People

“Thoughtful, character-driven . . . Hoag keeps the twists and turns coming all the way to the shocking conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly

“Hoag puts on quite the juggling act here, dazzling us with multiple theories about the boy’s murder, numerous potential suspects, and plot twists that keep us just slightly off-balance. A welcome return for a compelling investigative duo.”—Booklist

Excellent

As usual Tami Hoag has given her fans another roller coaster ride that will warm their hearts!

Great story!

I loved it and was completely surprised by the ending! I enjoyed the entire story!

Exciting ride with an excellent plot! Must read!

The Boy is well written, with great characters (some you will love, others you will hate), wonderful dialogue and plenty of plot twists. Hoag has penned an intriguing tale of murder and mystery, a harrowing thriller that captures your interest. I certainly found it to be a page turner and was enthralled from beginning to end.

This is Hoag’s second book featuring Annie Broussard and Nick Fourcade. You don’t need to read the first one to enjoy this, although I would recommend it since a great deal of character building, relationship building and backstory is contained in A Thin Dark Line.

An excellent police procedural ... The two detectives make for effective co-protagonists, and their up-and-down relationship keeps us interested while we’re following their progress through the mystery. Hoag does an excellent job of creating a convincing atmosphere suggestive of rural Louisiana’s French Triangle. The Boy is proof that this author continues to work hard at her craft ... a story well told, and Nick Fourcade and Annie Broussard are an investigative team you’ll eagerly come back to for more.

awesome story

I'm not a big fan of crime drama but Tami Hoag did it right. I was sorry to have it end.

Amazing!

I couldn’t stop listening. So many interesting characters & an unusual story. Hated for it to end.

Excellent Book

I have been reading Tami Hoag since the beginning of her career. All of her books have been great including this one. The title The Boy is very fitting because it is not just about the murder of the boy in the opening chapter but the lives of two other boys who are an essential part of the plot.

Lots of twists and turns!

Neat story with several great characters and a very interesting protagonist. A real good listen!

Holy. Cow.

This book is one of the most intense roller coasters I've been on all year. And it's been a LONG time since a book made me feel emotions so *intense*. Rage...true rage at the utterly crappy parenting in so many different people, utter heartbreak at suffering of the children involved in the plot, absolute love for Detective Nick Forcade for the level of sass and lack of fucks he has to give for incompetence. I laughed, I shed tears, I almost threw the book at several points. Yeah, I cannot recommend this book enough, I truly can't. There *should* be a trigger warning for child abuse, suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts. I had to stop at several points because of those.

suspenseful mystery

kept me up at night. the prose was excellent as was the story line. Loved the narrator

Wait for it!

If your the type of person who knows peoples physcies then you will get it too soon, but it’s good! I like this one of hers the best. Children are our weakness and our strength, everything for them and she nails this.