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The Bad Mother cover art

The Bad Mother

By: Isabelle Grey
Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
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Summary

Recently divorced, Tessa Parker runs a successful B&B in a seaside town. During a surprise visit from Australia, a long-lost aunt lets slip a family secret that unsettles her fragile world. In shock, and feeling betrayed by her whole family, Tessa confides in her ex-husband just as he reveals he has a new woman in his life.

Struck unexpectedly by jealousy; balancing her own turmoil against the demands of parenting, Tessa tries to trace her birth father, with devastating results. Yet she fails to see how this is a crucial moment in her children's lives. If she gets things wrong, the consequences could be fatal.

©2013 Isabelle Grey (P)2013 WF Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"A moving novel, as a well as a convincing one, and it shows with great clarity how past crimes and well-meaning manipulation damage families for years afterwards" (N.J. Cooper, BookOxygen)

What listeners say about The Bad Mother

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Bad Ending?

Would you try another book written by Isabelle Grey or narrated by Charlotte Strevens?

Possibly not the author, but the reader was ok.

Would you ever listen to anything by Isabelle Grey again?

No, I probably wouldn't. Certainly, I would need to be drawn in.

Do you think The Bad Mother needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No i don't think that it needs a follow up book. It didn't end with my wanting to know more. Instead, it ended with me thinking how easily it had all been resolved and that maybe the author had lost interest too?

Any additional comments?

Try it and see what you think of it.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

irritating characters

I got this book because I like a detective series by the same author and was hoping for an emotional story with complex characters you can like or identify with. I was disappointed - the only characters I liked were Mitch and Hugo. I could not connect at all with the main character and found some of the others really annoying. This was probably not helped by the narrator, who used a really whiny voice for them. I finished the book, but was tempted to give up.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Disappointing :(

Sadly main character was 'wow is me' the story was annoying and rambled . I made it to the end - just!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting story, worth including in any library

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

It was a good book, not a fantastic book but good nonetheless. I kind of guessed what was going to happen but still wanted to listen to the end

Would you be willing to try another book from Isabelle Grey? Why or why not?

Possibly depending on the content

What three words best describe Charlotte Strevens’s voice?

Flexible, interesting and warm

Did The Bad Mother inspire you to do anything?

No

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Main character is frustrating but a good listen

If you could sum up The Bad Mother in three words, what would they be?

Overview of motherhood

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

At last the lead character has woken up and checked the facts and stopped being so insecure in her relationships

Which character – as performed by Charlotte Strevens – was your favourite?

Lauren

Any additional comments?

Unbelievable that in today's world any woman would be so insecure that she did not check the facts she was told by a known murderer.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • S
  • 25-07-15

Bad Mother

Not sure that the title really relates to the content, but it was a good listen. Down to earth and relevant to today

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not on a par with her wonderful detective novels

I purchased the book after thoroughly enjoying her series of detective novels but I struggled to get past the early chapters.
Such a wonderful writer that I normally seek out. I will continue to buy the crime novels.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good book but ...

... one of those that you are incredibly frustrated by the lead character. I found myself regularly thinking ‘oh for gods sake’ - I prefer a book with a strong lead character.

But saying that an interesting story and well performed.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The narrator was excellent.

A little hard to follow.at times. But the twist at the end was unexpected but an excellent way to finish it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A really good book

I loved this book, so many twists & turns & ups & downs of life.
Lauren was a bit load, but apart from that the narrator was so good.
I would definitely recommend this book, infact I already have.
Love Isobel Greys book, am on to the next.

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1 person found this helpful