An incredible journey can be joined in this book, as you accompany Viola on a journey of self-discovery and healing, as well as spine-tingling suspense, while she works to uncover the mystery of a missing person’s case that everyone else seems to have pushed from their minds. While struggling with the loss of her own child–a pain no parent should ever have to endure–Viola puts her own life on the line to help a woman with whom she has a special thing in common. As the tension mounted with each page, I found myself conflicted, not even sure whom I should be rooting for in some places. An exploration of one of the world’s most sensitive subjects, this book made me think about things in a way that I may not have otherwise.

BookChick blogger about the novel – A child made to order

This book is based on a subject many hope not to experience, but many do. How far would you go to have a healthy child. This book looks at this subject and unless you have been there many readers may not understand the desperation this book portrays and how close you can come to losing your mind. This is a very complex, controversial and heartbroken book. It is sensitively and carefully constructed and you need to read it with an open mind. It is a brilliant book well worth reading.

Mrs. Margaret Jelfs about the novel – A child made to order

A Child Made to Order is a well-paced thriller investigating fascinating ethical issues from a personal perspective. While it is well plotted and confidently written, I found Ryczko’s particular strength lay in characterisation. Whether a main or minor character, each character’s motivations and idiosyncrasies were extremely well thought-out, and delivered subtly to the reader. The question of genetically modifying children is a very interesting one, but it’s particularly interesting here because we get to see the issues as they affect individuals.  It’s a personal story, not a story about ethical issues. Viola’s personal connection to her investigation in particular makes the subject matter relatable. 

Anouska, Goodreads reviewer about the novel – A child made to order

The stories character development was good. The story believable! The twisting plot was a surprise! Good read! I loved it !!

Barbara B. (Amazon customer) about the novel – A child made to order

“A child made to order” is Piotr Ryczko’s first novel, although he has been writing screenplays and made a number of short films. What works well within the novel is the sensitive attention paid to the psychology of the main character and Viola’s inner journey. Without giving away too much, the protagonist, a succesful journalist, slowly lays her stable life in ruins, and her professional success in favour of an obsessive/destructive need for a child. The chaos which she wrecks upon herself and others is of such magnitude that we are left emotionally purged. Finally, leading us up to an ending which undermines everything Viola fought for.

I was engaged by the philosophical underpinnings of the book. The whole genetic engineering debate is a hot topic now. I am glad there are more stories willing to handle this matter in a more subtle and realistic way. This also carries over to another theme which the author has put in focus. It is the inner and outer struggle of infertile women. It was touching to see how being unwillingly childless impacts different women’s life. What are their struggles, and how far some are willing to go to give birth to a child.

Iif you like vulnerable, flawed characters, and true to life drama within a tightly constructed thriller plot, then this is a recommeded read. Viola’s investigation, the secrets, and the Scandinavian setting are all things quite similar to the Millenium trilogy. What the author adds to the mix is the moral debate of the gene therapies, a perceptive character study of a flawed woman, and how our our deep-seated needs can take control of our life.

Mrs. Eve Parish, Amazon reviewer about the novel – A child made to order

Gripping psychological suspense. Vlog 165th entry 2.9. 2014 Marianne suffers from mitochondrial disease. A baby could be born with nervous malfunction muscle dystrophy dementia. What makes this story heartbreaking it’s the loneliness moment in ones life is having so much love to give and then realising that it will never be yours to give. Marianne was a public figure she was a known personality in the blogosphere. Viola worked for one of the biggest newspapers as a Middle East correspondent. Stine’s daughter, Marianne had gone missing and Viola Voss offered to help find her. And why is the police about to blow wide open a fertility clinic ? A Child Made To Order is high up on the drama! (less)

IReadNovels book blogger about the novel – A child made to order

It’s that kind of books that leaves you with many intricate questions. The kind of questions which provoke you to look for an answer inside you. “What I would do in Viola’s place…?”; “Why did she behave like this?”; “Why did she make this decision…?” And so on…

This book is like a long journey in which nothing goes the way you expect. You feel lost. You want your answers. But the only thing you can do is to keep going. This existential anxiety that book evokes is, in my opinion, one of the big achievements of this book.

Another achievement is the creation of the main character – Viola. I imagine that most of readers – like me – were irritated and angry at her so many times. We got so involved in her story, her life, that we really wanted her to find some solutions!

If only it would be that easy… Her life is a mess and for the reader it is hard to bear it that way. We do not know how it happened, but suddenly we realized that we are inside the book’s reality, engaged with Viola’s problems, as if they were ours. That’s how this book gives us a real experience and as every experience it is sometimes painful, sometimes helps us to discover something new and important, sometimes it confronts us, and rarely gives us relief.

What is it that the book shows? What topics does it touch upon? What was for me very authentic and powerful was in what manner Viola behaved – her limitations, the structure of her personality. All the time she is struggling with herself. She tries to break through this (through her mother’s expectations, through memories of her son, through fears connected to her boyfriend Ronny) but instead of this, she is reproducing her destructive patterns, she is doing what she feels she has to do. Strong inner compulsion and conflict.

I see it as a strong image of a human being who is so much imprisoned in his or her defending mechanisms but still trying to find a place for free choices. To change something. To behave in a different way. And he/she is failing, but each time trying again….

The last thing I would like to stress: subject of women and motherhood.

In the book the main issue is the relationship between women and a child: Can women be fulfilled without a child? Can a mother give space to a child, to be separate? In Viola’s life mother’s love is controlling and ambivalent: mother attracts the child and then she pushes it away. Viola can never be herself, be accepted by her mother. At the same time nearly the only thing she desires is to be a mother. And she is not thinking about the relationship with the child she would be able to have. No, the child is simply an object of desire and as an object it has to be given to her. World created by Viola – in which no genuine relationship is possible – is really scary. It shows how people brought up in some structures try to liberate themselves, but they can never succeed. Their struggle is however an important one and worth seeing. In a way every one of us has this kind of life path. This book is about this struggle.

Sonia R., Amazon reviewer about the novel – A child made to order

I’m a big fan of this genre and this book doesn’t let me down. The suspense builds and flows in an engaging manner throughout and keeps you wanting to read on.  Ryczko is very good at portraying the characters with enough depth and flaws to make them feel believable.

Another thing Ryczko does well is to keep the story reined in enough to keep it on course. It could easily have gotten lost in the heartache of the characters and the morality aspects. As it is I feel he’s kept the balance just right.  The ending felt perhaps ever so slightly a little rushed to me, but that doens’t take away from the fact that I really enjoyed this first novel by Piotr Ryczko and I really look forward to more.

Cathrine Farsett, Amazon reviewer about the novel – A child made to order

Good book. Kept me glued. Didn’t wanna put it down. You can feel some of the struggles of the women. Great Reading

Sarah Watkins. (Amazon customer) about the novel – A child made to order

„A child made to order” is a suspense story, that keeps the reader on the edge of her seat. Author touches upon the problem of genetic engineering, skillfully interweaving it with childless women’s issues – exposing perfectly their feelings, fears and hopes at the same time. Great thriller, certainly one to recommend.

Emily. S. (Amazon customer) about the novel – A child made to order