The new son, p.1
The New Son, page 1
THE NEW SON
IAIN MAITLAND
Published by Inkubator Books
www.inkubatorbooks.com
Copyright © 2024 by Iain Maitland
ISBN (eBook) 978-1-83756-356-2
ISBN (Paperback) 978-1-83756-357-9
ISBN (Hardback) 978-1-83756-358-6
Iain Maitland has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
THE NEW SON is a work of fiction. People, places, events, and situations are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
CONTENTS
Inkubator Books
Praise For Iain Maitland’s Books
Prologue
I. The Reckoning
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
II. Truths Or Lies
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
III. The Unravelling
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Epilogue
Inkubator Newsletter
About the Author
THE GIRL DOWNSTAIRS
Acknowledgments
Author’s Notes
Also by Iain Maitland
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The Soulmate:
“We all hope that one day we might find our soulmate. Or do we? After reading Iain Maitland’s latest brilliant spine-chilling thriller, you may think twice …” Barbara Nadel
“My favourite book so far this year. Kept me on the edge of my seat and I finished it in a few hours. Highly recommend this book and I have added all of Iain’s other books to my reading list. 5☆” Netgalley Reviewer
“One of the best dark-thriller-with-a-dash-of-comedy books I have read for a long time. I could not move away from this book and devoured it in a couple of sittings. Brilliant storyline and fabulous characters.” Netgalley Reviewer
“… the first novel I’ve read by this author and I immediately added others to my list upon finishing this. The author certainly excels at writing characters you hope get what is coming to them!” Netgalley Reviewer
“… a phenomenal first introduction to [Iain Maitland’s] work … I loved this book … and was completely invested … I could not wait to turn each page …” Netgalley Reviewer
“The author has created an appallingly real character here and being inside her head makes for a chilling experience as a reader. The story is fast paced and gripping.” Netgalley Reviewer
“A superb example of the genre, I read this one late into the night and would heartily recommend [it] to anyone who loves a suspenseful thriller, that will mess with your mind and make you re-evaluate every platonic hug!” Read and Rated
The Perfect Husband:
“Heartrending and macabre, The Perfect Husband delves deep inside a decidedly imperfect mind.” Barbara Nadel
“… had me second-guessing the whole way through … A well-deserved 5 stars.” Booksprout Reviewer
“… a fast-paced book with lots of tension and suspense. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy a good domestic thriller. This one checks all the boxes.” Netgalley Reviewer
“I held my breath until the very last page.” Booksprout Reviewer
“An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller … An extraordinary story, expertly crafted, combined with the psychological aspects lead to a spectacular finale. More than worthy of five stars.” Netgalley Reviewer
“… had me holding my breath often. The ending was not what I was expecting at all.” Goodreads Reviewer
“A fantastic thriller which will keep you flipping through those pages as fast as you can to see what happens. Loved the twist at the end, which made it more credible. I highly recommend this one!” Netgalley Reviewer
The Girl Downstairs:
“No one does uncanny like Iain Maitland. The Girl Downstairs, a tale of poignant grief, explodes into unimaginable horror.” Barbara Nadel
“The Girl Downstairs is a very well-written book, so well that I’ve finished it and am wanting more. I need more! This is one of those books that sits with you for a while after you read it. It definitely plays with your head! Excellent read!” The Book Booth
“I did enjoy this book. I really wasn’t expecting that. Read in one sitting. Brilliant.” Sue Loves to Read
“The themes in The Girl Downstairs are those that are crucial to today’s society. Homelessness, identity, the need for love and shelter, family, addiction, mental health and assumptions and expectations are so sensitively presented. Iain Maitland forces his reader to confront aspects of life we’d rather ignore so that I genuinely feel altered by reading The Girl Downstairs.” Linda’s Book Bag
The Wickham Market Murder:
“A well-crafted murder mystery, weaving a family saga with engaging protagonists and a clever twist.” Thomas Waugh
“If you like TV shows such as Murdoch Mysteries, Midsomer Murders or Father Brown, this book is a perfect one to read. The characters and writing are described well, and it feels very easy to read, to get into and follow.” Steph Louise On Instagram
“I really enjoyed the plot and the pace, it was easy to follow, and I was fascinated to see how they might solve this case without clear-cut evidence. What was even better is that the story really highlighted justice, or rather injustice at times, and how difficult it would be to solve some cases.” David’s Book Blurb
“… the dramatic climax. It’s a shocker. I really enjoyed this book and hope to see our intrepid duo again soon.” Lynda’s Book Reviews and News
“I won’t say too much, but it’s engaging and gripping right to the end. The pacing is perfectly matched to the story; it speeds headlong like a high-speed train from the first page until you are closing the last.” Chicks, Rogues and Scandals
The Scribbler:
“One seriously weird killer and an engaging cop-partnership dynamic. Exciting.” Sunday Times
“I feel like I have just made one of the greatest discoveries on earth … What a mind this author has … a fantastic … dark, gripping, creepy and tense read.” A Lover of Books Blog
“The Scribbler is a slow-burning, tense and downright creepy thriller.” Suze Reviews
“A creepy read with an explosive ending, I was engrossed from start to finish.” Jera’s Jamboree
“Brilliantly creepy.” Scots Magazine
“The Scribbler is well-paced, engaging and punctuated by … unexpected humour, leading to a compelling and incredibly satisfying crime read. Highly recommended.” Raven Crime Reads
Mr Todd’s Reckoning:
“Splendidly creepy.” Geoffrey Wansell, Daily Mail
“Iain Maitland has pulled off a masterstroke. Combining the ingenuity of an Agatha Christie, the horror of Rillington Place and the wit of the best of British, the story keeps you on your toes, fills you with dread and makes you laugh out loud.” Martin Carr, AbbottVision
“Maitland conjures madness from the inside, looking out … a brave book.” Jeff Noon, Spectator
“Truly scary … a fabulous dive into the mind of a classic, self-justifying psychopath … A fantastic book.” Barbara Nadel
“Iain Maitland’s Mr Todd lures us into his moral abyss. The banality of evil … drip feeds us its shockingly tense story of unending horror … Riveting, terrifying.” Paul Ritter
“Superbly crafted … spellbinding and gripping … brilliantly observed … The setting of an ordinary two-bedroomed bungalow in suburbia is genius …” Linda Hill, Linda’s Book Blog
Sweet William:
“A breathless journey through fear and love that explores how interdependent those two extreme emotions are.” Ewan Morrison
“A dark, rocket-paced thriller.” Jon Wise, Sunday Sport
“Taut, darkly humorous and heartbreaking, with an unforgettable narrator, Sweet William packs a real emotional punch.” Lisa Gray, Daily Record
“A compassionate novel imbued with a deep knowledge of mental health issues … Tense and insightful … A heart-stopping thriller with a powerful denouement.” Paul Burke, Nudge Books
Out of the Madhouse:
“An excellent exploration of the phenomenology of mental illness and its wider impact.” Joshua Fletcher, psychotherapist
“I love this book; profoundly moving, beautifully written … incredibly important … wonderfully hopeful.” James Withey, Founder, The Recovery Letters project
“Confronts the shocking bleakness of mental illness head on.” Charlie Mortimer, author, Dear Lupin
“The overriding ingredients … are the warmth of his connections, … and the power of communication.” Dr Nihara Krause, Stem4 Founder & CEO
Dear Michael, Love Dad:
“A wonderfully entertaining and moving book, with lessons for every parent.” Daily Mail
“A moving read – honest
“Raising the issue of men’s mental health is important, and Dear Michael, Love Dad is to be praised for that … [a] loving and well-meant mix of letters and commentary.” Daily Express
“By turns acidly funny, exasperating and poignant, painting a moving portrait both of mental illness and of a father in denial. But paternal love … shines through.” Caroline Sanderson, Sunday Express
The Old Man, His Dog & Their Longest Journey:
“An utterly compelling and intriguing story of a man, in late middle age, confronting his personal demons by walking out of his home one day without word, warning or explanation. Very funny in some places, unspeakably poignant and sad in others. A philosophical and moving tale for our times.” Charlie Mortimer, Dear Lupin
“A tender and thoughtful novel exploring the bond between man and man’s best friend … sincere and evocative …” Michael Simkins, Actor & Author
“This is one of those beautiful stories that you want to keep reading and find out what happens, but at the same time you don’t, in case, it makes you cry! I could talk forever about this heartfelt story, the topics it covers are emotional, relatable and very carefully done. The book is just amazing and one that I will always remember!” The Bookish Hermit
“Wow, this book really hits you right in the feels! One minute you are laughing at some silly social blunder Ian has made and the next you are sobbing over some pretty heart wrenching memories. The Old man, His Dog, and Their Longest Journey is such a poignant tale about the fragility of mental health and also life itself. It is beautifully written and I love Bernard so much.” Gemma Best, Amazon Reviewer.
PROLOGUE
Hi everyone! I’m Nina. 35. I live in Trimley St Martin with my partner, Gary, and his daughter, Chloe! I work in insurance administration in Ipswich.
Idon’t mention I lost my baby six weeks ago and am signed off work indefinitely, at least through this long, hot summer.
I sit looking at what I’ve written on my computer screen. I’m not certain what to put or how to phrase it. I want to sound happy and friendly. I’ve used exclamation marks, but wonder if maybe they seem a bit forced.
It’s a Facebook page for mums and families in Felixstowe, the nearest local town here in Suffolk. I want to be part of the group. It’s a sort of Mumsnet, I suppose, offering help and support to each other, possibly get-togethers too. I hope so. That would be nice.
I wanted a baby. So, so much. I think, at some stage, we will try again. But I feel so old. I know thirty-five is not, really. It gets harder to conceive though as you get towards forty.
My friends from school all seemed to have children in their early twenties. And, what with one thing and another, I have lost touch with them, even though most of us still live locally. We sometimes smile when passing each other in town. That’s about it.
I do have friends, of course. At work. We go out now and then, for something to eat, and there is always a big do in early December. I should be back at work well before then. I don’t have a best friend, though. Someone to talk to. I wish I did.
I remove the two exclamation marks and look again at what I’ve written, wondering how it might read to a stranger. Better, I think.
There is a knock at the front door. A simple tap-tap with the knocker. I am at the computer in a front bedroom – the box room – of my four-bed detached house and can stand up and lean forward at the window to see who it is.
I do it carefully, though – downstairs, the living room has horizontal blinds and thick curtains, so it’s easier to look out without being seen. Up here, we just have curtains, so I can be seen by anyone looking upwards.
The porch roof obscures a full view. All I can really see are long legs in a pair of jeans and two feet in white trainers. An Amazon delivery driver, I’m guessing. He can leave whatever it is on the doorstep and take a photo as proof of delivery.
Gary, my partner, is my best friend, of course. He is what my parents would have called ‘a man’s man’. He was, still is, my window cleaner. We got talking one day six months or so ago when I was off work with anxiety. One thing led to another. We had not been together long when I fell pregnant. He then moved in with Chloe, from his previous marriage to Gemma. We are planning to marry next year. And to try for another baby after that. Gary wants to be a father to a boy. A ‘mini-me’, he says.
I have had a chequered love life, to be honest, going right back to my first boyfriend, Ryan, when I was fifteen. My parents, who were religious, did not approve of him and all that happened between us. I have had some tough times since. I don’t want to think about them now. Or Ryan. I’ve never got over him, truth be told. The love of my life.
It is strange to think that Gary’s daughter, Chloe, my stepdaughter I suppose, is not much older now, at sixteen, than I was when I was with Ryan. She seems much more grown-up than I was at that age. She is feisty. She misses her mum, who lives with a car sales executive over in Ipswich. Gary hates him, but tries to disguise it. He says I must cut Chloe some slack, and I do as far as I can. She hates me, though, because I am not her mother.
There is another tap-tap at the front door. I stand up and look down again and can see the same legs and feet of whoever it is waiting there.
I look around the close of eight houses, almost identical detached homes, and note there is no Amazon van, nor the postwoman’s red trolley. I don’t know who it is.
It’s probably a teenager going door-to-door, selling tea towels and dusters and polish. I have had them here before. At the start of every summer, really. I will ignore him, and he will leave soon enough.
Going back to my computer screen, I am happy with what I have written so far. I think I will add another paragraph, though, and I sit back, thinking what to put. I want to sound nice and jolly more than anything else. I haven’t been on social media for ever such a while. I must get back into the swing of things.
I don’t want to appear sad or desperate, going back over my life and everything that has happened. I’m not a victim. I’ve always been able to keep the bad stuff deep down inside me. I’m my own worst enemy sometimes.
Hesitating for ever such a while, I then write:
It would be lovely to make new friends.
I read it three times and then press ‘send’ before I change my mind. I turn off the computer and head downstairs.
As I get to the bottom of the stairs, turning into the hallway, I jump in surprise. Through the frosted glass of the front door, I can see the outline of the teenager still standing there.
I had thought he had gone. I am irritated by his persistence. But then I think, maybe he needs to sell something to earn himself enough to eat and drink today. I will buy something. A tea towel or two.
I open the door and see him standing there, this slim boy in a black tee shirt, faded blue jeans and white trainers. He has fine, brown hair. There is something about this handsome, blue-eyed boy that …
“Nina Bolitho?” he asks, in a clear and distinctive voice. He’s from Essex, I can tell.
“Ye–” I answer, my voice cracking as I know in that instant. I just know.
“I’m Alex,” he says. “Your son.” He steps forward to catch me as I feel myself falling backwards.
PART I
THE RECKONING
1
MONDAY, 3 JULY, EARLY AFTERNOON
Ilie here dazed on the sofa in the living room. I feel as though I have had some sort of funny turn. I am disoriented and dizzy.
It all comes rushing back. The teenager at my door. Alex. My beautiful son.
I struggle and sit up. He is in an armchair opposite, just sitting and watching me. He is a nice-looking boy – young man, really. I burst into tears and sit here shaking.
It’s not like me, this. I am usually such a strong person. Try to be, anyway. I have carried the weight of the world on my shoulders for so long.
