It was a good book but the solution to the mystery wasn't much of a mystery since it was presented at the very start and the ending was rather odd. I guess what's important here is what happen in between those two events. Frankly the story left me with an uneasy feeling. The story has some unexpected twists that will leave you wondering and thinking long after finishing the book. I had to stop and remember that the book was written in 1980 and this author has since written books that were much more intriguing. I absolutely love her ghost stories. Overall, this was a quick read that was worth the time. ( )

It was a fairly good story even if you could figure out what was going to occur early on. I really liked the character of David but became a little frustrated with Kathi and her insecurities. The ending was also rather odd but I have read other books by this author that also had odd endings so maybe that is just one of her trademarks. The reader does get pulled into the story and you have to continue to read to see how it all will turn out. ( )

The Stepchild is a suspense novel by Joanne Fluke. Kathi Ellison is a student at University of California in Berkley and is secretly living with her boyfriend, David. She has yet to tell her parents because she knows they will not approve. Plus, it would not look good if word got out during her father’s U.S. Senate campaign. Kathi has recently started experiencing severe migraines and strange dreams. Then she starts going into trances where her voice and handwriting change. When Kathi comes out of the trance, she remembers nothing about it. Memories start coming to Kathi, but they do not belong to her. Kathi is remembering the childhood of a little girl named Sherri Walker. What is happening to her? Kathi is afraid to tell anyone even her boyfriend. David has noticed her strange behavior, but he cannot get Kathi to confide in him (or seek professional help). Who is Sherri Walker and what happened to her? Kathi starts having nightmares. Things are spiraling out of control. Kathi needs to figure out what is happening to her. But will she like the answers when she finds them?

The Stepchild was easy to read and has a good pace (I am trying to start with the positive attributes). I discovered after I started reading The Stepchild, that is not a newly written novel (the publisher should be disclosed that it is a republished novel). It is easy to tell by the number of cigarettes people smoke, Kathi living with a man was not appropriate and the availability of payphones (I have not seen a payphone in years). The author (or editor) should have updated the book. I thought the story was predictable. I knew how the story would play out after reading the prologue. My rating for The Stepchild 2 out of 5 stars. The ending felt incomplete, abrupt and unsatisfying (and strange). One item (a big one) was never addressed (regarding David and Kathi). I kept hoping for a good twist, a ghost, or that Kathi had a mental illness (schizophrenia). The story is supposed to be scary, but it does not come through (I was bored). I do want to mention that there are intimate relations between Kathi and David are vividly described. The Stepchild was just not the right story for me. ( )

Joanne Fluke is probably best known for her Hannah Swensen Mysteries which is a 20+ book series and many titles have been made into Hallmark Movies. However she has also written many standalone novels that show she can cross the boundary from quaint Hallmark Mystery types into those kind of stories that will make your skin crawl and keep you up at night.

The Stepchild was originally published back in 1980 before modern technology which is evident in her story but I’ve also noticed in even her current books she has a tendency to write her stories and/or characters in a way that has something of an anti-tech bent to them. Makes me wonder if Fluke herself doesn’t like cell phones, internet, computers, etc.

Beyond it being hard for a millennial to connect with there is a decent edge of psychological suspense that will hold the interest especially as the terror ramps up for the main character. It’s fairly fast paced and intriguing so it’s not hard to blow through.

I like Fluke even when I get irritated with the anti-tech bent in her books and some of the clichés because they’re always easy to read and interesting so you get a break from the stress of the world. I have yet to read anything by her I wouldn’t recommend. ( )