Super Short Summary

The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer details the abduction of eight-year-old Carmel from a storytelling festival by an older man pretending to be her grandfather. Switching between Carmel's and her mother Beth's viewpoints, it explores the psychological impact on both as Carmel is taken to the U.S. by the kidnapper who believes she has healing powers. Themes of identity, grief, and familial bonds underpin this suspenseful tale. The novel includes child abduction and emotional trauma.