#BookReview ~ The Perfect Mother by Caroline Mitchell

– Two Very Quirky Characters May Want More Than Her Baby –

Publisher’s Synopsis

Roz is young, penniless and pregnant. All she wants is to be the perfect mother to her child, but the more she thinks about her own chaotic upbringing, the more certain she is that the best life for her baby is as far away as possible from her hometown in Ireland.

Determined to do the right thing, Roz joins an elite adoption service and can’t believe her luck. Within days she is jetting to New York to meet a celebrity power couple desperate for a child of their own. Sheridan and Daniel are wealthy and glamorous—everything Roz isn’t. Her baby will never go hungry and will have every opportunity for the perfect life. But soon after Roz moves into their plush basement suite, she starts to suspect that something darker lurks beneath the glossy surface of their home.

When Roz discovers she isn’t the first person to move in with the couple, and that the previous woman disappeared, alarm bells start ringing. As the clock ticks down to her due date, Roz realizes her unborn baby may be the only thing keeping her alive, and that despite her best intentions, she has walked them both into the perfect nightmare…

My thanks to #NetGalley for a review copy of #ThePerfectMother. This review is based totally on my feelings and reaction to the story.

• Title: The Perfect Mother
  • Author: Caroline Mitchell
  • Category: Psychological Thriller
  • Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (January 14, 2020)
  • Paperback: 367 pages

My Thoughts

Caroline Mitchell’s last two books were wonderful. Truth and Lies and The Secret Child quickly elevated Mitchell to one of my favorite authors.

When I began reading The Perfect Mother I wasn’t disappointed. The story caught my interest almost immediately and ran with it. It was a book that I couldn’t put down since I was so nervous about what was happening to Roz, the protagonist.

However, as I read on it became pretty far fetched. A little bit of that is just fine. I figure it’s a thriller and I shouldn’t over-analyze everything.

So with a bit of concern, I continued to hurriedly flip the pages to see what was going to happen to dear naive Roz. I couldn’t imagine how it was going to end.

Unfortunately, I was so right. I could never have imagined the ending, which was a total letdown. One part was completely unexpected since nothing at all led up to the conclusion. (I know I’m being vague, but I don’t want to give away too much.)

That said, Caroline Mitchell is still right up at the top of my favorites, she just missed the mark with this story.

My Concerns

The ending was abrupt and part of it was a complete surprise. There were no ah-ha moments because nothing led up to the reveal.

What I Liked Best

Mitchell’s writing is very good and the first part of the book totally captured my interest.

About The Author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018. Over a million books sold.

Caroline originates from Ireland and now lives with her family in a village on the coast of Essex. A former police detective, she has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. She now writes full time.

Caroline writes psychological and crime thrillers. The most recent, Silent Victim reached No.1 in the Amazon charts in the UK, USA and Australia and was the winner of the Reader’s Favourite Awards in the psychological thriller category. It has been described as ‘brilliantly gripping and deliciously creepy’.

Set in Notting Hill, London, her new DI Amy Winter thriller series, Truth and Lies and The Secret Child are published by Thomas & Mercer.

You can follow Caroline on Twitter at @Caroline_Writes and www.Facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor or www.caroline-writes.com

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