A debut author from Llandrindod Wells has released her first novel, a psychological thriller exploring the darker side of motherhood, identity and survival.

Melissa Hawker has announced the publication of The Child Between Us, the first instalment in her planned Child Trilogy. The book centres on Em, a woman whose husband suddenly disappears, leaving her to hold her life together for the sake of her young daughter.

To the outside world, Em is the devoted wife and protective mother navigating a family crisis. But behind closed doors lies a far more unsettling truth - one that threatens to unravel everything she has carefully constructed.

The novel is told through a dual narrative structure - “Hers” and “His” - using present-day events alongside journal entries and prison letters to gradually reveal a story of secrets, obsession and control.

At its core, the book examines maternal instinct pushed to its limits, asking how far someone might go to protect what they believe is theirs.

Speaking about her debut, Melissa said: “This story explores the intensity of love and the lengths we go to protect it. It lives in the space where devotion becomes dangerous, and truth becomes something we choose to shape.”

As Book One of The Child Trilogy, The Child Between Us lays the foundation for a wider unfolding story in which buried truths refuse to stay hidden and every choice carries lasting consequences.

With an honours degree in psychology, Melissa draws on her academic background, personal experience and interest in the human mind to shape her writing, focusing on themes such as mental health, trauma, and the fragile line between truth and perception.

The Child Between Us is available now on Amazon in Kindle, paperback and hardback formats. To purchase or to find out more, visit: https://amzn.eu/d/0gpBv7mC