The Secret Mother Review

**Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. 5 stars!!! Omgosh!!! This book was one heck of a read. I think I finished it in one day. Now that's what I call a very quick read and on the plus side, the story was very engaging. So, I would have to warn you if you decide to read this one, be ready to set aside a couple of hours because you won't be able to put it down. The novel starts with a bang. The first chapter itself just reels you in. The MC Tessa Markham comes home to find a little boy in her kitchen. What unravels after this is a nightmare of sorts as she is accused as a child abductor. As a woman who is dealing with the loss of both her children, this latest incident causes her reputation to get smeared all over the media. On top of this, we catch a glimpse of her crumbling marriage. The author does a brilliant job of narrating Tessa's story. The novel captures her raw emotions, her fragile state of mind and one can easily relate to her motives as well as actions. As she tries to figure out what really is going on, she drudges up long-buried secrets and what she finds is shocking. The writing flows easily and structure of the book makes it fast-paced. There are twists and turns in every chapter which keeps the reader hooked. Not once was I bored and the revelations just left me shocked. The story focuses on loss, family, and motherhood especially the love for a child. The author also delves deep into the way the media portrays people when a crime has been committed. Additionally, how the general public tries to bring justice to such incidents. I also liked seeing the police procedural aspect introduced to the story which made it more believable and added more dimension. Overall, a fabulous read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

#adult #suspense #mystery #thriller #family #motherhood #crime #ShaliniBoland