Book Review: Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin

CLEVER LITTLE THING
Helena Echlin

There is something terribly wrong with Stella. Stella is Charlotte's daughter. Charlotte is expecting her second child. She is pregnant and has an aversion to different types of foods, and different types of smells, and recently she has an aversion to her daughter.

Stella is peculiar. Bright beyond her years with a few aversions of her own, Stella isn’t always easy to handle. And when her babysitter/nanny dies Stella’s nature and affect seemingly change overnight. Where before she was stuck in her ways, obstinate and stubborn, she is now appeasing, flexible and forgiving.

Presumably easier to be around, it alarms Charlotte more than eases her. What could be the cause of Stella’s transformation? The answer to the question is far more nefarious than Charlotte realizes.

We get to explore the depths of Charlotte’s questioning, and we get to discover the answer alongside her. All in Helena Echlin’s CLEVER LITTLE THING. Coming tomorrow.

A little darker than I anticipated. A lot more fun than should be allowed. I enjoyed the time I spent reading CLEVER LITTLE THING. Charlotte is a wildly interesting character, her daughter more so. The writing is great and there is a bit of old-world styling that makes it feel like it is a folktale and not a contemporary thriller.

I recommend this title to those who enjoy Ashley Audrain’s writing and Sager’s popular release, THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE.

I am very surprised this is a debut, and I will check out what Echlin writes next.

Thanks to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Pamela Dorman Books for the advanced copy!

CLEVER LITTLE THING…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️