I glance over at Lou’s
house as I pull onto my drive, surprised that it is still in darkness. Lou and
the kids should have been home from school long ago. I should be preparing a
delicious meal for my children as they tell me about their day. But Lou’s car
is nowhere to be seen…
The night is drawing in and Lou has still not returned. I try not to panic, but
deep down I know something is wrong. Lou is the most dependable friend. Our
children are at the same school. We always help each other out, and she cares
for my two like only a mother can.
As a storm rages outside and local news reports tell everyone to stay indoors,
a feeling of deep dread starts to swell. Then the call comes. The police have
found Lou’s car, with my children’s schoolbags still inside along with Lou’s
phone. But they are nowhere to be seen.
Clutching my husband’s hands, willing our children to be found safe and sound,
I try to silence the voice inside my head. I’ve not been honest. I’m being punished for what happened all those
years ago.
And then I get Lou’s message and I know that if I want to see my children
again, I need to tell the truth to everyone I love.
What I don’t yet know is that Lou has been keeping her own dark secret. And
once the storm passes, nothing will ever be the same again.
A gripping and addictive psychological
suspense about dark obsession, intense motherly love and how far we will go to
protect those we love the most. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Adele Parks
and Sally Hepworth.
What did I think?
I listened to this book on audio.
This is a book full of secrets both old and new. A group of friends blown apart by a long held secret.
The only problem I have with audio books is that sometimes I get a bit confused with who is who - probably because the narrator is the same for all the characters whereas if I was reading it I unconsciously give the characters different voices. I think with this book in particular there wasn't enough difference in the narration for each character. Does that make sense?
I liked the way the chapters were set out following a timeline. The story is told from the points of view of each of the mothers along with the odd chapter from one of the missing children. Add to that a raging storm and the tension really ramps up.
This book grabbed my interest from the outset - it made me want to keep reading as I couldn't work out how the whole situation was going to resolve itself.
This was tense and twisty - and a mothers worst nightmare. Along with exploring who can you actually trust - your best friend? Your husband? A fab read.
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Author Bio:
Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast
of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a
Master’s in Journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than
reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and
recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in
London and returned to writing…fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We
Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s
Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic
houses with her husband and their son.
https://www.leahmercer.com/
https://www.instagram.com/leahmercerauthor/
https://twitter.com/LeahMercerBooks
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Buy Link:
Audio:
Listen to a sample here: https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-mother-next-door-by-leah-mercer-narrated-by-jasmine-blackborow
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