Another Mother Review

**Thank you to Bloodhound Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review. 4 stars!!! When I first got into this book, I was expecting a fast-paced psychological thriller but it turned out to be a bit different. The book is much slower paced but has enough tension to keep one's interest going. So, I would categorise this as more of a suspense/mystery story. Besides this, I did enjoy the novel a lot. I thought there were many aspects that made the story thrilling. Let me elaborate further. Firstly, I found the setting for the story to be charming, idyllic but at the same time had a foreboding undercurrent. I think by placing our characters in a sleepy English village really amped up the atmosphere in the novel. This juxtaposition with Lu's town life added richer detail and context to the plotline. I also loved the descriptions that the author gives of the village such as the bed and breakfast, the shops, scenery and so on. This made for a pretty immersive read and I could easily picture our characters walking down the streets and engaging with their surroundings. Secondly, I found Lu's character very likeable. I liked how she was independent and resourceful but also caring. I loved reading about her relationship with her parents and Adelaide. She was easily relatable as well. She's a girl who is trying to find herself after the death of her mother and her courage takes her in search of her birth mother, Mellyn. I found Lu decision making to be very level headed but you can see the emotional struggle she faces especially when she meets Mellyn. She tries to form a relationship with her and seeks to help her out when she realises she suffers from mental instability. I also liked how she pushes herself to be self-sufficient and makes a new life for herself. I especially enjoyed how she didn't make silly moves and actually listens to those around her even though at times it was hard. Mellyn, on the other hand, was very dramatic. I really liked how the author unraveled her character. From the outset, you can see how volatile she is. I loved reading the details of her reactions to situations. You never really knew what to expect but I liked how her psychosis played out. It had me on the edge of my seat. However, the only fault that I had with the story was how it was resolved. I found it quite unsatisfying, especially with all the built-up tension and lies. I would have preferred an explosive finish instead of it just pattering out like that. I felt it was a bit of a cop-out. Regardless of this, I found the characters well developed even the minor ones. I felt they gave the book much-needed dimension and helped support as well as round off the protagonists. Last but not least, I thought the writing style was seamless. The plot devices and reveals were shocking and that's what I look for in a mystery. The story progressed at a nice even pace and as a reader, you get entangled in the turmoil and chaos of the characters as long-buried secrets come tumbling out. At the heart of this story, it is about family, identity, love especially the relationship between a mother and daughter. The author does a good job exploring the effects of adoption from the point of view of a child and the process of finding one's roots. The addition of a sinister plotline gave the book a unique twist. So, all in all, an engaging read and I would recommend this book if you are looking for a novel with suspense and mystery but not one that's too intensive or heavy.

#mystery #suspense #adult #family #dysfunction #thriller #AmandaJames #lgbtq