The Mother's Mistake: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller cover art

The Mother's Mistake: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller

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The Mother's Mistake: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller

By: Ruth Heald
Narrated by: Tamsin Kennard
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About this listen

Everyone makes mistakes. But does everyone deserve to be forgiven?

She runs past the tinkling of children’s laughter that fills the park. Heart hammering, feet stinging, she reaches the riverbank, her breath catching in her throat. And then she sees...

Three years later.

Claire has everything she’s always wanted. A newborn baby. A doting husband by her side. A picturesque home in the countryside.

But behind closed doors, Claire’s life is falling apart. Her husband is barely ever home, she’s struggling to bond with her baby girl, and she swears that she is being watched in the remote, lonely cottage.

And when a threatening note is posted through her letterbox, saying she doesn’t deserve her daughter, it’s clear that someone knows about the terrible mistake that Claire made - someone won’t let her forget it. Three years ago, she would have known who to turn to. But now she no longer recognizes those closest to her or the person she’s become. Whom can she trust?

A chilling psychological thriller about a mother’s worst nightmare. Fans of K. L. Slater, Shalini Boland, and The Girl on the Train will love the twists, turns and gasp-worthy shocks of this stunning debut from Ruth Heald.

©2019 Ruth Heald (P)2019 Bookouture Fiction Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Exciting Heartfelt Scary Marriage

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All stars
Most relevant
Absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. I was glad of miserable weather so I could shut myself away and binge, I really didn’t want to talk to anyone or be interrupted.
The one and only criticism I have is , surely you can’t be an ex alcoholic or used to be an alcoholic ?
I shall definitely look out for more books by Ruth Heald

Best book I’ve listened to for ages!

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Listener received this title free

I loved this book. I was on the edge of my seat right from the very beginning trying to work out if this mother was going mad or if someone was really out to get her. I kept changing my mind and shouting at her to get out and run. I was not disappointed at all with this story and couldn’t wait to find out the conclusion.

Gripping story

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Really good story line but it just went on and on. Just felt really stretched out and there was a lot of repeated story lines. the main character was SO annoying!!!

Good story line but stretched out

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I came across Ruth’s books as I am a fan of Tamsin the narrator, another brilliant book. I couldn’t figure it out until the end which is rare! Would recommend

Another brilliant book

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Listener received this title free

I was hooked by this story from the first chapter.
Claire, Matt and their baby Olivia leave London for a fresh start in the country. They are staying in Matt’s deceased Grandmother’s cottage having been invited by Matt’s mother Ruth. Claire has been struggling to bond with her baby daughter and hopes that their new life in the country will help. What should have been a wonderful new beginning turned into a huge disappointment. When they arrived at the creepy cottage it was dirty, dusty and cluttered with the deceased woman’s belongings. Ruth promises to clear the house but never quite manages it despite letting herself in uninvited when ever she pleases. She is very critical of Claire and Matt seems incapable of standing up to his mother. This is not the warm welcoming family unit that Claire was expecting. Matt is setting up a new Vet practice and is rarely home, he spends far too much time with a colleague and when he is home he does not help with Olivia. Claire feels isolated and alone, she is struggling with post natal depression and receives no support from her husband or mother in law. She does make a local friend, Emma who soon becomes her only source of happiness.

But Claire once made a huge mistake and she is wracked with guilt. It is hinted at throughout the book and is finally revealed in the last few chapters. It was a relief to finally work out what had been going on! A great suspense story.

A Great Suspense Story

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