The Foster Mother

by N.F. Webber, Nicky Webber

A Psychological Thriller

There's a world of difference between a mother and a psychopath. But sometimes, it's hard to tell them apart...

When a young mother abandons her baby in a crowded park, Nora steps in to take her place. Little does Nora know that this act of kindness will plunge her into a chilling and twisted journey.

As Nora becomes deeply entangled in the life of the abandoned child, a series of dark secrets about the mother’s haunting past gradually come to light. The more Nora uncovers, the more she realises she has unwittingly entered a manipulative web of lies and deceit.

With complex characters, a narcissistic psychopath at the heart of it all, and a relentless plot filled with shocking twists and turns, The Foster Mother, is a heart-pounding, fast-paced psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Prepare for an exhilarating rollercoaster ride that challenges your perceptions of trust, love, and the depths of human darkness.

Perfect for fans of gripping psychological suspense novels like Verity, Home Before Dark, The Surrogate Mother, and The Locked Door. This pulse-pounding tale will leave you breathless. Immerse yourself in a story that delves into the depths of the human psyche, exploring the boundaries of maternal instinct, manipulation, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

The Foster Mother is an unputdownable, must-read for lovers of psychological thrillers, with a compelling narrative that will haunt you long after the final page is turned.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Psychological Thriller

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2023

About the author

This author also writes under Nicky Webber

Reviews

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book and it was a nice afternoon read. I am finding it a bit difficult to review this book without spoilers just yo say I was confused re brothers actions and my mind kept hoping elsewhere re the boy

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foster Mother is a gripping and profound psychological thriller that puts everything you perceive to be true and real on the back burner. The author does an amazing job of storytelling and keeps giving out small bread crumbs to the reader so that they will continue to stay engrossed in the book. I was worried that the premise of the book had been over done but I was wrong. The Characters are complex, well developed and flawed. This is full of twists and turns that will take you on one hell of a ride. This is one book that you DEFINITELY will want to read.

I was given an eArc copy to read for my unbiased and honest review

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this psychological thriller and would give it 3.5 stars. It held my interest and I wanted to find out what would happen to Nora and Liam and Valentina. I found Lucy’s character extreme and erratic, which is, I suppose, how I was supposed to see her. One thing that I didn’t like was that Quinn just dropped out of the book entirely. Overall, I thought it was a solid read and I would read other books by this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Keels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overview:

As a child Nora witnesses a case of child abuse in the family living next door. Ever since that day Nora has devoted her life to looking after sick children. Now as an adult Nora is being introduced to her brother’s new girlfriend, Lucy. She seems nice on first appearances but Lucy is not all she seems. When Lucy falls pregnant it’s clear she can’t look after the child properly and Nora steps in to foster the child and she’s about to find out just how dark Lucy is.

My Review:

The first half of this book had me absolutely gripped. There were some very dark chapters and I would advise a warning for anyone who is triggered by child loss or child abuse. But about half way to three quarters through I felt like the story lost its way. It seemed a little all over the place as to how the story was unfolding and I really didn’t connect with the ending at all. I won’t give any spoilers but what happened just didn’t seem relevant or well thought out.

Lucy’s character was written very well as a dark and twisted psychopath. However the other characters seemed to be really lacking in personality. I found Nora and Liam both quite bland.

This would have been a 4 (potentially 5) star rating from me if the second half had been as good as the first, but unfortunately that second half did let it down for me.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this free ARC. My honest review is being left voluntarily.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to BookSirens for the opportunity to preview this book. I enjoyed this psychological thriller. It was very entertaining and a quick read. It was able to hold my interest and I kept wanting to return to the book. I felt that the chapter titled Lucy (I think it was 36) was placed in the wrong order. I enjoyed the book and would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I would definitely recommend this book to others. Thanks Nicky Webber.

[Read Walk Repeat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had all the creepy psychopath vibes with characters that will have you double guessing how well you really know someone. Unfortunately, the execution was a bit of a miss for me. I found the plot fairly predictable and the dialog strained. I’m sure this will be a good book-fit for others, so if it sounds interesting, give it a try.

💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you like quick reads with characters you will love to hate
🔹 you like the use of multiple POVs
🔹 you like stories that answer most of your questions

A huge thanks to BookSirens, Media Publishers Limited, and Nicky Webber for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mrs Moa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[murder and mayhem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay y'all, this book just wasn't for me. I really don't like rating books one star keeping in mind the difficulties the authors have to go through but some books are just not meant for you and this one was one of them. At one point I really wanted to DNF but I kept going because I thought the ending would be better but now I'm regretting it big time 😭

It is a lot like "Verity" but the characters, the plot are all messed up. There is no actual storyline. It just follows the lives of some characters and the ending is so inconclusive as well.

I don't wanna say more but this one was a major disappointment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily Kudlacik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a bit. While I found some parts were slow and I was able to guess most of the plot twists it was still a quick read for me and a book I’d overall recommend!

Thank you BookSirens and Nicky Webber for the ARC of The Foster Mother.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK… Wow… What did I just read? When we meet Nora Taylor she is entertaining her brother Quinn and his new girlfriend Lucy who is absolutely gorgeous. Although Nora loves her brother it makes her wonder why would this woman who looks like a runway model be interested in her regular ordinary brother But when strange things happen like the time Lucy poured boiling water on Norris hen, Nora blows it off. it was just an accident right? When the couple goes back home to Perth and she starts getting threatening phone calls she immediately thinks it’s her brothers girlfriend and when she changes her number and tells Quinn not to give it to Lucy the Calls stop. Nora is a pediatric nurse and just wants to get on with life when she start seeing the new doctor Liam Snyder she is over the moon but leery because she’s been hurt before. She soon learns however that Liam has been hurt before as well. So needless to say they are both optimistic but cautious. When Nora finds out her brother and Lucy have had a daughter named Valentina she is happy to be an aunt and can’t wait to meet the baby. What Nora doesn’t know is that not only will she meet a little Valentina but will be the one who saves her because before she knows it she is the foster mother to the little angel . Who knew demons could give birth to such precious babies but a demon is definitely what Lucy turns out to be this is one rip roaring thriller that has twist a pawn twist they referred to Lucy as Lucifer in the name certainly fits. There is so much more to this great story then the not so brief summary I have given and it is all OMG good and will leave your head spinning Nikki Webber has done an awesome job writing this book and I will definitely be down to read anything else she writes in the future. I want to thank story origin and Nikki Webber for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Great characters, great story idea, great thriller.
Loved the concept, but feel some things were rushed, while others were fast enough.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is honestly a tough one to review … It’s neither good nor bad.

It’s meant to be a psychological thriller and has some aspects of one, but the writing is weak and there are continuity issues, so the excitement just isn’t there.

It has a part that is absurdly dark and, I expect the author’s way of trying to show what a psycho someone was, but it didn’t really fit the rest of the book for me. It was obscene, and this is spoken as someone who loves dark reads—the darker the better. The thing is, this wasn’t a dark read, outside of this one part. (I won’t spoil but if you’ve already read it, I suspect you know.) That scene was just plain unhinged, but that character … ‘unhinged’ isn’t the word I’d use. I think she was supposed to be but she was mostly just painted as a master manipulator who, despite authorities knowing of many of her crimes, has managed to stay out of prison and off everyone’s radar, etc.

Things that I expect were intended to be twists were very much not, you could spot them coming a mile away.

It is heart wrenching at times, at least conceptually. It didn’t actually pull at my heart strings due to the poor writing, and just feeling generally disconnected.

I do think with stronger writing, this could be pretty epic. As it is, it reads more like a draft that still needs lots of polishing.

My rating, if forced to choose one, lies around the ‘2-star’ marking for “disappointing” on most platforms.

2 stars.

🎧 Audio:
Overall sound quality is professional. The narration, however, is awful. I was honestly shocked to discover that a real person is credited with this, as it sounded extremely robotic. Not for me.

[Gaylene May · Rating 5 out of 5]

The brand new gripping and sometimes shocking psychological thriller from the keyboard of NF Webber. This is a roller coaster read. Each time the story dips into scary the ante is upped.

The bond between a mother and her baby is the one thing that most of us think is unshakable; the one thing that sustains us through-out our lives; our mamma loves us and would protect us, no matter what. Even if we’ve done nothing yet but exist her love is guaranteed; it’s an unspoken law. Or, is it? Not if you’re the antagonist in this novel; Lucy is pure evil. How Valentina is born perfect and without flaws is a miracle. And if Valentina is to survive her mother’s ‘love’ she needs an Angel to be her safe place.

When Valentina’s father, Quinn - Nora’s brother, begs his sister to help him, Nora undertakes the role of ‘The Foster Mother’ and becomes that safe place for baby Valentina.

But no-one could predict the future or how evil Lucy really is. Or who or what she’ll destroy in her efforts to win at her mind games and life.

There is revulsion. There is heart. There are individual characters. There is love. And in the end there is triumph.

I received an ARC and am delighted to leave an honest review.

Highly recommend.

[Karen Voborny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Foster Mother
I found this book to be an engaging psychological thriller. The characters of Nora and Lucy were well developed, though I felt Quin and Liam needed more depth. The story’s captivating start effectively revealed Nurse Nora’s motivations for her chosen profession. As the plot progressed, Lucy’s character development particularly intrigued me. It's uncommon to get a glimpse into the psyche of a psychopath, understanding their motivations and actions.
As an experienced reader of psychological thrillers, I figured out the plot twists, but for those new to the genre, it might not be as predictable. The book also contains some well-crafted yet dark moments involving the treatment of children, which could be distressing to some readers. I felt that character development was somewhat lacking. Take Quin, for instance: he appeared to love his daughter deeply, but after giving his sister permission to become her foster mother, he essentially disappeared from the narrative. This doesn't seem consistent with the actions of a caring father.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it kept my interest.

[Nuris R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I want to begin by stating that this book should have trigger warnings for the topics of child loss and child abuse. Being a mother that has gone through child loss it was very hard to read chapter 4 of this novel. It was very descriptive and disturbing.

The first half of the book kept me engaged and excited to continue reading. Although, the second half of the book felt more like a long epilogue. The author continued to go through time jumps and it felt like the story was being sped up to reach the end.

The author did a good job of making Lucy a disturbing and evil character. I found myself shocked at her actions and thoughts. She was very twisted. The other characters lacked a little bit of life and felt like the supporting cast.

Overall, I felt it was an interesting plot and it was not a bad read.

[Miesha Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up. Solid 2.5 stars

I do not like how predictable this book is. It's also super choppy time frame wise. It randomly and suddenly jumps into the future without warning and no transitions. There really isn't any depth to any of the characters. The only part that is interesting is essentially being in the mind of a psychopath. Outside of that, it was frustrating to read. Nora is too trusting when she should be guarded and too guarded when she should be trusting. I can't describe it. She knows her sister in law is in the area and she does nothing to warn anyone or alert anyone so they are aware to be cautious.

Not believable. And the title of the book literally only pertains to the last few hours. Not really relevant to the main plot of the book. Which honestly, I'm not quite sure what it is.

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook from the author via Story Origin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Foster Mother was an enjoyable read, with an impending sense of danger for most of the book that kept me on edge and wanting to read on. As Nora gets to know Lucy, it's clear that she is not what she seems, but how far she will go was a shock. 

Spoilers ahead:

I inferred that Quinn ended up back in active addiction (as was his pattern) to explain his absence from his daughter's life. It's also hinted that Liam was probably the father to the 3yo boy, the timeline would make the most sense but we don't find out and it would have been interesting to see Liam deal with this.

I listened on 2x speed as the audiobook has a very slow narrator.

Only one thing that I felt impacted my rating - the ending felt a bit rushed and how Lucy escaped seemed very sudden and then over with just as quickly. 4 stars.

I received a free copy in return for an honest review.

[Rose Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I loved it from the minute I picked it up. I couldn't put it down. Nora was just too nice. At times I wanted to shake her not to listen to Lucy. As the secrets unraveled, it became harder and harder to put the book down. I wanted to know more about Lucy. However, I anticipated more with Liam. I thought there would have been a little more to his back story, but regardless, it was enough to keep me engaged and interested. I loved some of the twists and turns. Lucy was something else, but I fault Quinn too. He was an idiot. I don't want to say too much so I don't give anything away. I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator; Daniela Acitelli was really good. I did take me a bit to get used to her voice, but in the end, I enjoyed it. Highly recommend this book if you are in the mood for psychological thriller. You will love it.

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At twelve years old, Nora hears a baby's distressed crying and is forever haunted by her inability to help that child. As an adult, she becomes a pediatric nurse so that she can help many children in all kinds of distresses. When she begins to go out with Liam, a handsome young surgeon, she wonders if they have a future together. That is, until a new woman comes into her brother Quinn's life and changes everything Nora thought she knew about Quinn and Liam and herself. And just who is this woman named Lucy who dominates their lives. And what happens when Valentina is born? A must-read for twists and turns that the reader does not see coming.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kymberli Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but my 4 stars are based on the "other" theme, which reads like a romance (which I never read). It's well written and the characters are if not completely believable, at least filled out. Some of it was just over the top, but that doesn't make it a bad plot. The romance was off-putting, at least for me. I could not stand Nora, which is again, not a bad thing. The character was written so well I could actively dislike her. Question: left unresolved, what happened to Quinn? It took a bit until I realized the Lucy/Cindy POV. Anyway, well done and I'd definitely recommend it, primarily to someone who likes romances.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stephanie Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling ride with suspenseful twists and surprises! I read this book in one sitting because it was just that addictive…

Nora is a skilled pediatric surgical nurse living a happy single life, when her brother Quinn brings his new girlfriend, Lucy, to meet her. Something seems off about Lucy but Nora can’t quite put her finger on it…..until Lucy and Quinn have a child together. Then Lucy’s behaviors, and ultimately her true colors, begin to show.
Meanwhile, a new surgeon at Nora’s hospital captures her attention. But Nora and this hot new surgeon, Liam, both have dark past relationships. And now with Nora’s new issues with Lucy and Quinn, the dynamics are even more strained.

A great, gripping page turner! Highly recommend!

[deidra · Rating 4 out of 5]

so many times, one may hear horror stories of wee babes being abused and i always wonder why? what was going through their head? The Foster Mother by N.F. Webber is a fascinating look into the mind of a psychopath and what happens when she has a baby and the unfortunate souls who cross her path. N.F.Webber takes us to some very dark places, some horrible, twisted places in the human psyche and she does it quite well. my one complain is she didn't stick the ending. it felt rushed and unnecessary. and why did a main character go MIA when an excellent plot possibility had been set up for them?
but still, i highly recommend The Foster Mother. just don't eat anything while reading it. you'll thank me later.
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
.

[Melissa Pearl]

I had the pleasure of editing this book and the thing I loved most about it was the characters. Lucy was horrible and confusing and manic and complex and interesting. Watching the way she manipulated people, and getting right inside her head was awesome. N. F. Webber did a great of delving into the mind of a sociopath. And that was then contrasted beautifully by Nora—the good, kind, genuine nurse who you instantly wanted to root for.

From moments of heart-pounding tension and disgust to heart-melting scenes of beauty with Nora and the baby, and Nora and Liam, this book is a roller coaster of emotion.

A great read!

[Angelina Kalahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spine-chilling, enthralling psychological thriller.

What truly sets this book apart is the author's masterful storytelling. I found myself emersed in a haunting and atmospheric world, turning the pages feverishly as the tension built to a crescendo. The writing is evocative and powerful, capturing the intricate emotions of the characters and the dark ambience of the narrative.

"The Foster Mother" is an unputdownable masterpiece - a must-read for lovers of psychological thrillers. It's a triumph in the genre, and I eagerly await the author's next chilling masterpiece.

Highly recommended.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. Nora, who works in paediatrics after witnessing child abuse in her youth, has her world turned upside diwn when her brother Quinn introduces his girlfriend Lucy. They seem happy, but something doesn't sit quite right with Nora. What is going on behind closed doors and who is silently calling Nora? A thriller based on the author's own experience of fostering a five week old child. This book had intrigue and a lot of suspense. I did work out one of the plot twist early on, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this gripping tale

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Foster Mother is a page turner that will keep you on your toes during the first half, but slows down in the second half. It is a narrative that deeply examines the complexities of the human mind, the intricacies of manipulation, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. I enjoy reading books with psyche in them, because it highlights mental health that people may be fighting. This is a shorter book, so it makes for a nice afternoon read. For me, it was a good read! This is the first time I've heard of this author and I would like to read more! I received my copy from StoryOrgin and this is my honest voluntary review.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Foster Mother was an okay read. It was easy and quick to get through. However, it was predictable. I knew what was going to happen within the first 20-30% of the book.

None of the characters were particularly likable or dislikeable- they were just there. I would have liked to have learned more about each character. Would I recommend this book to anyone? Maybe someone on the very young adult side or a late teenager trying to get into the suspense or thriller genre.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out strong in setting up the background and storyline in the first half of the book. After that in the 2nd half, the storyline seemed to fizzle out and became fairly predictable. The ending just seemed to drag on unnecessary. This psychological thriller had maybe too strong of a start that didn't leave much of any place to go for the latter half of the story. It will engage the reader and entertain until the 2nd half which just seemed to lose its punch.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hanny Carmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book promises "shocking twists and turns" - there were a few twists and turns but they weren't that shocking.

From the beginning, it's very obvious what's going on, and I have to say I did not understand the book's disclaimer regarding foster parents and its relevance to the book.

Moreover, there seem to be gaps and jumps in the storyline, and at times these gaps were strange.

The narrator was okay but when there are several POVs, I prefer to have more than one narrator.

I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn Dignan · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first it was slow starting, then it started getting good and the build up was worth it. The character is so insanely narcissistic amongst many other things to say the least. This definitely will play games on one’s’ mind. Highly recommend.

The narrator did an amazing job it was easy to tell the difference between each character and that’s what I enjoyed. The emphasis and mood that she put in each area at the right time, I felt like I was there experiencing it firsthand.

I was given a free audio copy in exchange for an honest review.