The Mother at Number 5

by Jill Childs

I told her my darkest secret. Then she moved next door…

Once you find our perfect little town nestled between the gorgeous hills, you never want to leave. My husband and I both grew up here and we knew there was nowhere better to raise our two sweet girls … But when the moving van pulls up, and a mother and daughter jump out, my blood runs cold.

I met the mother once on our summer holiday and I let slip a terrible secret, something no one here must ever know… Fear rushes through me as I remember that night, but I’m sure I never told her where we live. As if she can read my mind she leans in close and says, ‘Don’t worry, you’d had a few drinks. Your secret’s safe with me .’ But I don’t trust her – why has she moved to my street?

I try to warn my kind, loving husband to stay away, but he laughs me off and invites her into our lives. When she lets my precious daughter get hurt, she’s gone too far. I know she’s here to destroy my perfect life.

But the mother at number 5 has made a mistake. She has underestimated me ever since the night we met. And she has no idea what I’ll do to protect those I love and keep my secret safe…

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller from the USA Today bestseller about family secrets, guilt and lies. If you love The Girl on the Train , The Housemaid or Lisa Jewell, you will gasp out loud at the shocking twists!

What readers are saying about The Mother at Number 5 :

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Great!!!! Not one, not two but three twists at the end, 2 of them I did NOT see coming at all. Such a Fast read too, I Love when I can’t put a book down because I need to know what’s going on.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely LOVED this book!… Unreal … I devoured it in my breaks at work, while I was having my morning cuppa, in bed before falling asleep - I couldn’t put it down! ’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Wow , I am stunned! This book will shock and rattle you to the core!… I was putting it the pieces together, my mind scrambling, my jaw on the floor! ’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Oh my goodness what have I just read, absolutely brilliant … What a fantastic ending it couldn’t be better … I was hooked from the very first page until the last … I just loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Omg! I was blown away … This absolutely got under my skin… I was not able to put the book down . It literally made an hour on the treadmill feel like 3 minutes! Just perfect! I loved every second of it.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was completely hooked from the start , the suspense, the heartbreak!!… Utterly impossible to put down! ’ @becsbookscape

‘ Reeled me in from page 1 , I loved it… I devoured this book in a day , it’s that good!’ Goodreads reviewer

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Psychological

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 2023

About the author

Jill has always loved stories - real and imaginary. She's spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She's now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does.

Although she's covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she's found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home - in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ June 21, 2023
Page Count ~ 341
Audio length ~ 8 hours 52 minutes
Narrator ~ Charlie Norfolk
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ revenge, secrets, r@pe allegations, child molestation

Ros & Lotte are our main characters. They meet while on vacation, become neighbors and their young children attend school together.

Ros wonders what happened when she blacked out while drinking with Lotte. Did she say or do something to make Lotte track her down? I liked the flashbacks into Lotte's life that eventually tell us why she inserted herself into Ros's life.

Overall, not a particularly new plot, on the slower side with some predictability, but I'd give this author a go again.

Narration notes ~ she did a fine job, but why is there only 1 when there are 2 1st person characters?? She did not distinct her voice at all. And it was so slow that I had to listen at 3x.

*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

When trust is short lived

Audiobook

During her vacation, Ros becomes friends with Lottie. They have a wild night together, but when the vacation ends, Lottie mysteriously shows up in town with her daughter and settles down. This makes Ros nervous because she can't remember what happened on that wild night and what secrets she might have revealed to Lottie. Another storyline revolves around Ros's 8-year-old daughter Sophie, who has been misbehaving and hurting other children, including her 4-year-old sister.

At first, I wasn't sure if the plot would unfold smoothly. It jumped around a bit, and I found myself losing focus halfway through. The book was clearly building up to something significant, but the slow pace made me doubt if it would ever reach that point. I felt that Ros was unaware of what was happening with Sophie, which bothered me. The ending had a satisfying twist, although I had my suspicions about some aspects of it.

The narration was good and managed to hold my attention during the slower parts.

I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook.

[Jannelies · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Mother at Number 5 focuses on Lotte, the mother, and Ros, the neighbour just around the corner. They met during a short holiday in Spain and got drunk together one evening. Ros told Lotte a secret about herself and that’s what the book is all about. It’s a pity Ros cannot remember what the secret was – she was so drunk the night is lost in a blackout – or the book could have been somewhat more interesting. Now it is mainly filled with the two women shuttling their children to school and picking them up, and with panic attacks from Ros. All the while, two of the three children in the story seem to have a problem. It turns out that one of them has a really big problem, and the other somehow figures out how to be more happy.
The reason behind the problematic behaviour of one of the children is rather obvious from the beginning and it takes way too long before the child’s mother comes into action. For the rest there is a lot of drinking – how many books have I read lately with young mothers that do nothing but fussing over the children during the day, and get out and get drunk during the evening? It’s grating a bit on me. Somewhere there must be some nice, sensible women who do more that drinking and serving fries and fish fingers as an evening meal to their children.
I liked the blurb but the story fell short and didn’t meet my expectations.

Thanks to Boukooture and NetGalley for this digital review copy.

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: Ros hesitated. She didn't want to talk about it, not really. But they were such a long way from home, and she'd never see Lotte again and she seemed so interested, so genuinely willing to listen.

ABOUT 'THE MOTHER AT NUMBER 5': I told her my darkest secret. Then she moved next door…

Once you find our perfect little town nestled between the gorgeous hills, you never want to leave. My husband and I both grew up here and we knew there was nowhere better to raise our two sweet girls… But when the moving van pulls up, and a mother and daughter jump out, my blood runs cold.

I met the mother once on our summer holiday and I let slip a terrible secret, something no one here must ever know… Fear rushes through me as I remember that night, but I’m sure I never told her where we live. As if she can read my mind she leans in close and says, ‘Don’t worry, you’d had a few drinks. Your secret’s safe with me.’ But I don’t trust her – why has she moved to my street?

I try to warn my kind, loving husband to stay away, but he laughs me off and invites her into our lives. When she lets my precious daughter get hurt, she’s gone too far. I know she’s here to destroy my perfect life.

But the mother at number 5 has made a mistake. She has underestimated me ever since the night we met. And she has no idea what I’ll do to protect those I love and keep my secret safe…

MY THOUGHTS: I honestly don't think this is up to Jill Childs normal standard. An enjoyable read, but not as focused as it could be, plot-wise. I was losing interest at 50%, but then the action started to kick off. To be honest, it was almost too late by then and although interested to find out what was behind Ros's 'paranoia', why eight year old Sophie was acting out, and exactly what Lotte was up to, I never became fully invested in the storyline.

I know that part of my problem was that the characters weren't fleshed out enough for me to relate to them. Ros's character comes across as quite weak and anxious throughout; I kept wanting her to grow a backbone. Which she suddenly does. Very suddenly. Not that I blame her. I just wish she'd done it sooner.

It's also a tad repetitive in places, the characters repeatedly having the same conversations.

Not Jill Childs best book, but a decent enough read.

⭐⭐⭐.1

#TheMotheratNumber5 #NetGalley

I: #authorjillchilds @bookouture

T: @author_jill @bookouture

#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #mystery

THE AUTHOR: Jill has always loved stories - real and imaginary. She's spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She's now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does.

Although she's covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she's found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home - in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting thriller and the first book I’ve read by this author. While it wasn’t the most original or twisty thriller I’ve ever read I did enjoy it. I really liked the character of Ros, I especially like that she had more depth than the first glance would have you believe. The book is told in two perspectives Ros and Lotte (but it takes a minute to get io Lotte). The two women meet on vacation and have some fun Ros can barely remember, but when Ros gets home she finds Lotte has moved to her small town and is everywhere she turns. Ros is instantly on guard and worried and I didn’t love that part because of course her husband thinks she’s being silly and gaslights her to the end. I liked the story but I did figure out who did what. The ending was fun. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you find your perfect little town nestled between some gorgeous hills, you never want to leave. My husband and I both grew up here and we know there was nowhere better to raise our two sweet girls.... But when the moving van pulls up, a mother and daughter jump out, my blood runs cold. I met the mother once on our summer holidays and I let slip a terrible secret, something on one here should ever know.... Fear rushes through me as I remember that night, but I'm sure I never told her where we live. As if she can read my mind she leans in close and says, "Don't worry, you'd had a few drinks. You're secrets safe with me." But I don't trust her - why has she moved to my street.

The first half of the book the pace was on the slow side, but the second half the pace picked up and the story got do much better. There were parts that were quite predictable. This is a story about revenge. It's also a warning about being careful who you share your deepest darkest secrets with. The story centres on Ros who met Lotte while she was on vacation. The next thing Ros knows, Lottie has moved into a house around the corner. The characters are well developed, there's a couple of really good twists, and just enough drama to keep you interested.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #JillChilds for my ARC of #TheMotherAtNumber 5 in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks like so far, I’m an outlier, but I thought this book was pretty average. We start with a woman named Ros who is on vacation in Majorca with her family. One day, Lotte sits down next to her by the pool, and a vacation friendship is started.

On the last night of their trip, Lotte asks Ros to have a girls night out with her. Ros gets her husband to take care of their girls and plans to only have one drink. One drink turns into several, and Ros blacks out. She wakes up back with her family, with a horrible hangover and memories of telling a lot of secrets. Did she tell the most damning secret she has?

They head back to their small town in England, Ilkley, and the girls are heading to their first day of school when Ros hears someone calling her name. It’s Lotte, who has just moved next to their house and has enrolled her daughter at the same school as Ros’ kids. What is she doing there?? Why would she move across the country to be next to a woman she only knew for a couple days? What did Ros say to her during that drunken blackout?

This goes through the story of two women struggling for power, but the reader is left wondering why. I had about 50 pages left in the book, and I was waiting for the big secret to come out. I was basically given a sentence - I had to check to make sure I didn’t miss something, but no, the last 50 pages were an excerpt from another book. This book just ended, with a decent surprise that unfortunately was not expounded on enough.

I usually don’t care for books with abrupt endings, and that was true with this one. The whole story was just kind of mediocre; I didn’t care much about the characters or even the plot. An average three stars for this one.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Jill Childs, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 21, 2023.)

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly loved that this book was set mostly in Ilkley,having lived in Bradford as a teenager have many good memories of ‘up there’ and I think the this is the first time Ilkley has been the focus of a book I have read…..onto the story….
Lottie and Ros meet on holiday and have one of those nights out that Ros is relieved will ‘never get out’…..a drunken flirty night not at all in character for her night but one she can just about wince about and put behind her,safe in the knowledge the secrets she told Lottie will never be told…..that is until she hears Lottie’s voice again weeks later…..Turns out Lottie has moved to Ilkley,and has no intention at all of letting that night be a one off,she wants to be best friends and indeed has moved her life to be so…..but is she all she seems and are her intentions just OTT and a bit ‘odd’ or is there more to it…
A fabulous take on someone arriving in your life that you were pleased you would never see again but also a dark,murky tale with an ending that I think will surprise even prolific readers
Very readable,very shocking and very well written

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Revenge is sweet and not fattening."
Alfred Hitchcock

"The Mother at Number 5" is a book about revenge, revenge, and more revenge.

Unfortunately, even though I adore revenge books, this book failed to satisfy my sweet tooth.

WHY?
* SLOW START. The book's real action didn't begin until the 50% mark.
* PREDICTABLE. The author chose a popular premise and failed to give it her own spin.
* TOO LONG. I listened to the audiobook that easily could have been two hours shorter.
* AUDIOBOOK NARRATION ISSUES. The book unfolded from two POVs and, therefore, two narrators would have been preferred.

Narrator Charlie Norfolk's narration was uneven and, at times, her intonations were difficult to understand.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars rounded up.

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mother at Number 5 comes out June 21, 2023
*Be aware that this book may be a trigger for some

Have you ever shared a secret and immediately wished you could you could take it back? But once your secret is out, there is no taking it back and it takes on a life of it's own.

Ros and her family take a much needed vacation and befriends a single woman names Lotte. Lotte is beautiful, fun, and persistent. She eventually convinces Ros to join her for a girls night out before they head back home. They head out for a fun night and Lotte makes sure the drinks keep coming. Ros remembers Lotte pushing her to open up and spill her darkest secret after all how can it hurt, they won't ever see each other again. The next thing Ros knows she wakes up in her hotel room with the worst hangover and no idea how she got back. But she can't shake the sinking feeling that she may have shared a secret so bad that it will tear her world apart. Good thing she will never have to see her again. Except she does. This stranger moves to her town, puts her daughter in the same school and has even moved in a house down the street. Lotte knows her secret, but she doesn't know what Ros will be willing to do to protect it.

I really enjoyed how these characters developed slowly over the course of the story. I found myself relating to what Ros and that feeling you get when you've said too much or trusted the wrong person. But just when you think you have it figured out, this book reveals a little more that sends your head spinning, You won't want to put it down.

Thank you Netgalley for this book for an honest review.

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

While on vacation in Portuguese with her husband Adam Rose met a woman named Lottie. On the last night of Lotties vacation she guilts rose into going out with her. Something rose regrets soon after arriving and her new “friend“ wants to tell each other secrets. On first glance Rose thinks she really has no dirty secrets but when she wakes up the next morning she ponders over what happened. Lottie paid for all the cocktails and kept them coming. Her only consolation is that she’ll never see this woman again so when she arrives on the first day of school at the parents tea she is so surprised to see Lottie but when the woman leans over and says no worries, you had a lot to drink that night “Rose starts to worry. Little does Rose know this woman will infiltrate her life but ultimately she is the least of ROZES problems. When I say this podcast twist I do mean major life altering ground shaking twist. Ever since I read The First Wife by Jill Childs I knew I wanted to read more and have yet to be disappointed by any of her books but this one is a definite wow OMG read! I read the kindle book and listen to the audio in both are definite five star reads. Jill Childs is definitely going to be an author I follow because her books especially this one is an awesome great read! I love a book that even when you think you have figured out the ending the author has a surprise waiting in the wings and boy did she two of them that knocked my socks off… So good! I received this book from NetGalley and Bookoucher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vengeance leads to anger in this thrilling book by Jill Childs. It started off with an apparently innocent meeting while on vacation. They are Lotte and Ros and they got together one night for drinks. This does not end their new acquaintance. In fact, while out having drink after drink, Ros reveals a secret from her past that Lotte plans on using to her full advantage. Waking up the next morning in a hotel room with a banger of a hangover, Ros does not realize that her nightmare is just beginning.

Now neighbors with Lotte, their daughters now in the same school, they are bound to be tied together for a long time. Will Lotte exploit Ros's secret? While the story seemed to be based on revenge, long-held secrets and anger, I found myself truly shocked as all of the events surrounding Lotte and Ros unfolded. This was especially the case as the story often reflected Lotte's past and that in itself was quite intriguing. Other than wishing the ending was fleshed out a bit more, this was another good read by Jill Childs.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Kirsten Mattingly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five twisty turning stars for this one! The Mother At Number 5 is my favorite kind of book. It has a fast pace, relentless suspense, believable characters, and a whole bunch of shocking surprises.

The narrative takes place in present day England. We readers are introduced to two mothers, Roz and Lotte, who meet on vacation in Mallorca. Roz is married to Adam and they have two little girls. Lotte is a single mom of one girl. Lotte initiates a vacation friendship with Roz and the ladies have a wild night out clubbing together. Lotte flies home the next day and Roz, who is worried about what she might have said and done while she was in a drunken blackout, is relieved to think that she’ll never have to see Lotte again.

Then Lotte moves into a house around the corner from Roz and Adam.

That’s creepy enough, and soon it gets scarier as Lotte starts inserting herself into Roz and Adam’s life in every possible way. Roz’s intuition tells her Lotte has sinister motives, and gets frustrated when Adam dismisses her fears as “you’re being paranoid, again.” As the plot develops, we learn what Adam meant by “again” and we also discover Lotte’s true intentions.

I was gripped by every moment of this book! Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and domestic noir.

I’m grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this has some nice twisty bits that, unfortunately, come a little too late to completely save the book.

I can say that if you stick with it, you get past the 'toxic friend' triteness and discover that there is actually something very interesting behind everything.

I don't know that I was truly satisfied with the ending. It's a bit of a rushed "and here's what really happened" sort of thing, but I was definitely surprised by it.

I think I'd try the author again. They did manage to surprise me here.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay wow, I am stunned! This book will shock and rattle you to the core!

On a much needed vacation with her family, Ros meets a single mom named Lotte who seems like she has a lot going for her. She's there alone at the pool, sharing her fancy fruit with Ros, while her kid is at the daycare.

They cross paths a few more times at the resort and Lotte finally invites Ros out for drinks, a vacation girl's night. Ros's husband Adam will be pleased for her.

With the drinks flowing, they begin oversharing. At least Ros does.. she thinks?? She can't even remember! What happens on vacay stays on vacay! Who among us has not put the lampshade on while on vacation?

Until it didn't. As Ros got home and settled back into real life getting the kids back to school, she's finally over the holiday embarrassment. In walks Lotte! She just had to check this place out because her lease was up anyway! Ros can't help but feel like something more sinister is going on.

We know they both have secrets and as they become more entangled in each other's lives, they start to butt heads and the secrets are begging to come to the surface.. and it's WAY worse than what you're thinking.

This was good the whole way through but the final 10% was nuts! I was putting the pieces together, my mind scrambling, my jaw on the floor! This is my first of this author but won't be the last.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read, listen, and review! The narration was fantastic.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 


Review for 'The Mother At Number 5' by Jill Childs. 


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jill Childs, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous 


Publication date 21st June 2023. 


This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Mistress', ' Long Lost Girl' and 'I Let Him In' which I also recommend.



I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A completely unputdownable psychological thriller from the USA Today bestseller about family secrets, guilt and lies. If you love The Girl on the Train, The Housemaid or Lisa Jewell, you will gasp out loud at the shocking twists!' I am a huge fan of The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Jill Childs and if this is half as good as 'The Mistress', 'I Let Him In' and 'Long Lost Girl' it is guaranteed to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue, 58 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in Majorca, Spain 🇪🇦 and Ilkley, Bradford, North Yorkshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.


This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Ros and Lotte. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.  


'The Mother At Number 5' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Jill discusses/includes r@p3 allegations, death of a child and child molestation. 



OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!?!?! MIND BLOWN!!!! 


Another fantastic book from Jill with vivid descriptions which put you right in the picture. It really felt like Ros and Lotte were talking directly to me from across the table over a cup of tea. The synopsis and cover suit the book perfectly. 


The storyline is absolutely addictive and had me sucked in from the first page until the explosive ending. It is an action packed story about family, secrets, revenge, accusations, deceit, twists and much more. I couldn't stop listening to this book until early hours of the morning so if you pick this up I seriously advice you to clear your schedules!!! I would listen to it on the car, in the kitchen, on the school runs and every single chance I got to get lost in this page turning thriller. It is filled with suspense, secrets, family and a few humongous twists that I did not see coming. A huge well done to Jill on not just one but several bombshell!!! I would have never guessed either of the twists in a million years. Very rarely I am shocked by books having read so many but this absolutely had me a cracker and completely blew my mind. If you are fed up of guessing the ending by 50% then this one is for you!!! Ros is on a much needed family holiday in Majorca with her husband Adam and their daughters Bella and Sophie. When relaxing in the sun Ros gets talking to single mum Lotte who is enjoying some piece and quiet while her daughter Caitlyn who she has put in the Kids Club. They bump into each other a few more times and Ros agrees to have a girls night with Lotte. However, Ros has alot to drink and the morning after the night before she has no idea what happened, what she told Lotte or even if she did more than dance with men she met on the dancefloor! Soon enough their holiday comes to an end and Ros is looking forward to forgetting what she may have got up to and heading home. However, who does she bump into in the local cafe while having a meeting about the school but Lotte who just so happens to be Ros's new neighbour!!!! Lotte starts getting more and more involved in Ros's life and starts dropping hints that sound like threats. Is Lotte going to reveal what happened on their girls night out? What secrets is Ros hiding? Why does Adam think Ros is paranoid? Well, I can tell you now it's not anything like you are thinking!!! To find out you'll just have to grab your copy of this non stop thriller today!!! This book will keep you absolutely hooked and guessing throughout whilst on the edge of your seat whether your listening to it or reading it. The multi person narrative chapters are perfectly weaved together to slowly build up a picture but won't give anything away to allow you to guess too soon!! The ending was absolutely mind blowing me there was a never in a million years I would have guessed the bombshell that hit me in the last few pages !!! Another Huge Success by the extremely talented Jill Childs!!! It  is so hard to talk about it without giving anything away so I will just say if you want a book with twists you will NEVER see coming this one is for you!!! 


Do not start this until you have cleared your schedules as you won't be able to put it down!! 


This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Charlie Norfolk who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Charlie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jill but also to listening to more books narrated by Charlie!


The characters were all very well developed, strong, realistic and each seemingly hiding their own secrets. My heart went out to Ros because who hasn't had a few too many too drink at some point in their lives and then left panicking the next day as you have no idea what you said or did!!! I know I certainly have nd for this reason don't drink as often or as much anymore!!! This makes me have all the more empathy for Ros as it's made even worse by the fact that Lotte knows what went on but refuses just to tell her and starts making her life hell. Lotte is definitely an intriguing character that you get to discover more about as you go through the pages. This is one of those books that it is so hard to say how you feel bout them after reading as opinions change throughout and I don't want to risk giving anything away so I am going to have to leave it there and leave you make your own minds up when you grab your copy!!! Regardless of how you feel about any of them Jill's evocative writing skills ensures each of them, along with everything else going on, leaps out of the pages at the reader!!



A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Jill on one of the most shocking twists I have ever read and an absolutely addictive book!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success 🥂!!!


Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first three chapter of Jill's ''Gracie's Secret' which promises to be just as addictive as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!


Overall an addictive, page turning psychological thriller with bombshells you will never see coming!!! 


Genres covered in this novel include Urban Fiction, British & Irish Literature, Domestic Thriller, Vigilante Justice, Romance Sagas, Psychological Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Thriller And Mystery Adventures, Noir Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary British & Irish Literature, Contemporary Urban Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Family Life Fiction,  Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Noir Fiction, Womens Psychological, Crime Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction and Thriller amongst others.   



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, Melinda Leigh, Carol Wyer, Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot, T.M Logan,The Housemaid, The Family Across The Street, The Family Upstairs, The Girl On The Train, The Housemaid', DK Hood, Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni, Rachel Caine, The Widow, The Housewarming. and anyone after an addictive, gripping, must read page turner. 




341 pages/ 8 hours 52 minutes 



This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback and £16 in Audible via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 



Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 



Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 


 


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[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read was a wild ride. It centers on Ros, who meets a woman named Lotte on vacation. Ros drinks too much and tells Lotte a secret. Lo and behold, Lotte ends up moving to her small town and disrupting her life, though no one in Ros’s circle understands what the big deal is.

This was a fun mystery, where the reader gets some breadcrumbs as the story continues to help them understand Lotte’s history and true intentions. I felt sorry for poor Ros, who doesn’t get a lot of support from those around her. There are a couple big-time twists that I didn’t see coming, and the author tied up all the lose ends nicely. While I liked the storyline at the end, the actual lines written didn’t do it for me- I felt like the author was explaining something to the reader that didn’t need to be explained.

Overall, really good read that contained suspense and surprises throughout. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Charlie Norfolk’s narration of this book! It was clear and precise and easy to listen to for hours at a time! The story follows a woman who makes a friends on vacation only to realize that she may have given away secrets on a fun filled night spent together. The drama and chaos that ensues had me on the edge of my seat and I never saw what was coming until the very end! I really liked all of the characters and the snipers we got of Lotties backstory that helped put all the pieces together. If you like domestic/psychological thrillers you should check this book out!

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh snap! Another hidden gem by Bookouture.

I was actually not expecting a revenge story due to the synopsis but it definitely was a very welcome surprise.
'You Can't Hide' is a very predictable read and it reminds me a lot of the latest Liv Constantine book, 'The Senators Wife', in this sense that whatever you are thinking happened, happened; nonetheless, it's a well done and fun book so this factor didn't bother me at all.

I wouldn't really call it a popcorn thriller per se because it's well written, not OTT at all and it doesn't leave you with that feeling of craziness after finishing it.
Definitely will be checking out more of Childs's books!

[Silvie Klokgieter · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the moving van pulls up at number 5, a mother and daughter hop out. ‘Lovely to see you again,’ the mother says, giving me a knowing smile. ‘I’m so glad you told us about this lovely town’. As I take in her tanned arms and her neat dark bob, my blood runs cold with recognition. We met once on a summer holiday. I let slip a terrible secret, something no one here must ever know… but why has she moved to my street?

'The mother at number 5' revolves around Elise. She is on holiday with her husband and two daughters and gets to know the single Lotte there. She also has a daughter and it clicks almost immediately between these two women.

Then Lotte asks if Elise wants to go out for a drink with her. Elise says 'yes' and maybe she shouldn't have. In a drunken stupor, Elise tells Lotte her biggest secret. Elise is sorry, but realizes that after this evening she will never see Lotte again.

But once at home, she suddenly hears a familiar voice at her daughters' school. It's Lotte. What is she suddenly doing in her hometown and at her daughters' school? It soon turns out that Lotte lives almost in the same street as Elise. Elise doesn't trust Lotte and is afraid that her big secret will be revealed...

This story is slowly built up and you mainly read from Elise and Lotte. You read more about Lotte's past and I found this very interesting. The relationship between Elise and Lotte is also becoming clearer and you feel that something terrible is about to happen, because things are slowly getting out of hand.

I thought the story was slow, but well written and Lotte was a very interesting character. In the end, there is another very surprising plot and this made the story even better. 'The mother at number 5' was a beautiful story and actually quite emotional.

I want to say a big thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this review copy!

Rating: 3.5/4.0 ⭐️

[Mellissa Bushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the intricacies that went on here, from Ros and Lotte's wary circling of each other, to the seemingly sickly-sweet, butter-wouldn't-melt Adam.

I did not see the twist at the end (the website debacle) coming, but I should have, the signs were there. As for the other twist, well, I had an inkling. Suffice to say, I love nothing more than well-executed retribution. Revenge is sweet, as it should be in many cases. And yes, this is one of them.

So keep that aconite handy. After all, do you ever really know someone?

4 sparkly, well-deserved stars.

[Cassidy Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for this one! Check triggers if you need to. Maybe somewhat predictable, but def had some twists that I didn't see coming. Narration on the audiobook was great.

[Jo Oakins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, didn't see the last twist coming! Recommend this.

[Jill ~ Always Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Ros is on holiday with her husband, Adam, and their 2 daughter Sophie and Bella, she meets Lotte while lying by the pool. The ladies become ‘holiday friends’, assuming they won’t see each other again after the holiday. The ladies have a night on the town, and Lotte treats them both to non-stop cocktails. Ros wakes up the following morning with a heavy hangover (which was so well written I felt a throwback to my last hangover) and no recollection of what happened last night. This is relieved she won’t see Lotte again and she can forget about the blank spots in her memory, and can stop worrying about the dark secret she may have told…

Once she’s home, Ros is back into routine. She drops the girls off at school then her and some of the parents head to a local cafe for a catch up, and that’s where she bumps into Lotte! Ros instantly feels shock and surprise to find Lotte has moved into a house around the corner from her and becomes uncomfortable in her presence. Lotte become entwined in most aspects of her life over the next few weeks and Ros feels Lotte is up to something. Her husband, Adam, tells her she is being paranoid ‘like the last time’…

I absolutely LOVED this book! The characters were well written - you got to know them gradually without being overwhelmed with information. The action each character takes is understandable - I tend to find some characters in thrillers make the most ridiculous choices to create drama - this was different. The plot was slowly simmering away until it reached boiling point!

I love thrillers and get a kick out of guessing how it’s going to end, but this book ended in a way I absolutely did not see coming. It never crossed my mind throughout the whole book. Unreal.

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book. I devoured it in my breaks at work, while I was having my morning cuppa, in bed before falling asleep - I couldn’t put it down! 5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of The Mother At Number 5. Due for release next week - 21st of May! A must read for any fans of psychological thrillers!

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

You thought you’d escape...But then she moved to your street...

This is my first foray into Jill Childs and I thoroughly liked what I read. I'm a sucker for a good domestic suspense and THE MOTHER AT NUMBER 5 was all that and more. Filled with secrets, lies and cleverly woven deception, this thriller will have you turning the pages with the speed of light until the very end.

Ros is on holiday in Majorca with her husband Adam and their two daughters Sophie (8) and Bella (4). She is lounging by the pool one day when she strikes up a friendship with Lotte, single mum to Caitlyn who is also 4. Before leaving the Spanish island, Lotte invites Ros out for one last night in which they both let their hair down. So much so, Ros has no recollection of the night beyond the onslaught of cocktails and the hunky blonde she danced with. Still, after that holiday she won't ever see Lotte again so who cares what went on the night before? After all, what went on in Majorca stays in Majorca...right?

Back on terra firma and reality, Ros welcomes the familiarity of the school mums at the gates when dropping the girls off after their holiday. Feeling a little teary as it was four year old Bella's first foray through the doors and she hoped her big sister would look out for her, despite her sudden spiteful moodiness. She falls into step with the mums and her friends as they take their meeting to the nearby cafe to welcome new mums to the fold. It's as she's collecting her order that she hears the familiar voice she never thought she'd hear again. Lotte. >b>But they're no longer in Majorca. So what is she doing here?

It turns out that Lotte has not only enrolled her daughter in the same school as Ros' children, but she also lives in the street just around the corner. And Ros just knows Lotte is up to something. But what, she has no idea. She just has this uncomfortable sense that something wasn't right and that she didn't trust the woman. She tried voicing her concerns to Adam and to her friend Diana, both of whom thought she was imagining things and Lotte was just trying to fit in. After all, starting afresh in a new place as a single mum can't be easy. So why did she feel uneasy? And why did Lotte gloss over her past as if it was of no consequence? And when she asked for Ros' assistance to find a job, Ros discovers a few more untruths. So what is it that Lotte is hiding? And why?

As time passes, Ros can't help but feel something happened in Majorca that she can't recall. What exactly did she say to Lotte? I mean, the woman was pushing for the bare tell-all facts, wasn't she? What if Ros told her too much? No, she already knows she told her too much when she confided about Sophie's problems. But what if she told her the one secret Ros has never told anyone else? Surely she couldn't have been that stupid...or drunk...or was she?

What unfolds is an emotional tale of secrets and lies and a long buried past for one of them. Secrets unravel and as they do, lies are slowly uncovered and Ros finally learns the shocking truth...

There is twist after twist that is bound to shock you but I'd reached the halfway mark when I knew what was happening. Not all of it, I figured that out closer to the end, but that final twist I saw coming and wondered what Childs was going to do with it and how she was going to throw that into the story. But the most shocking secret will come with a trigger for some (but I can't say what as it is a spoiler). Just be aware that it is there. But wow! The final 10% of the book was a thrill ride to say the least. Everything is turned about and the reader is left wondering why. Until the penny drops as it did for me, or you reach the explanation.

I love a good domestic suspense and THE MOTHER AT NUMBER 5 did not disappoint and I will certainly be checking out more of Jill Childs in the future.

I would like to thank #JillChilds, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMotherAtNumber5 in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4

What I enjoyed:

-the narrator was easy to listen to, however I’m a person that listens to all audiobooks between 1.5 to 2x the speed because I can’t stand slow taking. (It’s the New England in me, I can’t help it.)
-the twist, when it finally got to it was bitter sweet and an oh crap type of moment. Pretty sure my favorite part was when Ros at the end was like let’s wait a moment. And I was thinking okay mama bear, I know what happened and I support you!
-the alliance that was friendly, turned to hate and then best friends at the end.

What I didn’t enjoy that much:
-slow build, the action didn’t start occurring until more than half way through.
-one of the main female leads was so revenge driven that it was hard to be empathetic towards her and even like her. She started off a bit strong, but once I learned the reason for her revenge, I felt.. meh. And she didn’t put her little one first. Which was the parallel between the two female leads.
-what happened to the little girl! (Im not going to add spoilers so that’s why I’m being so cryptic, but just know mama bear was ready!)


Overall, I liked the book, and would totally read another book by the author no questions asked and wouldn’t sway a reader from trying this book either! I finished it rather quickly so it definitely kept me interested enough, especially because I’m the type of person that just needs to know what happens as fast as possible.


Thank you to NetGalley and bookouture for the ALC!!

[Rheathebookwormdreamergirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got a free copy of this as an audiobook from NetGalley. This book was published on June 21st, 2023.

Overall, I was really let down by this book. I wanted to like it, I really did, but I wasn't impressed. I wonder if the narrator played a part in my disappointment with this book. It had such an interesting premise, but it just didn't do it for me. It was one of those books I actually considered DNFing it, but I forced myself to plow through a little bit more.

[Lin Perrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Ros is on holiday with her family when she meets Lottie. They quickly hit it off and go out for drinks one evening. Ros had too many drinks and can't remember anything. She is relieved when Lottie flies home with her daughter. Back home Ros is shocked when she discovers Lottie and her daughter have moved to a house nearby. It soon becomes clear Lottie wants to ruin Ros's life. Totally gripping from beginning to end.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mother At Number 5 is deliciously wicked with many twists and turns and an unexpected ending.
Ros is holidaying with her husband and two daughters.
There she meets the mysterious Lotte.
After waking up from a drunken fuelled night, Ros believes she told Lotte a dark secret.
Thinking she will never see Lotte again, Ros feels safe.
But some weeks later, Lotte arrives in Ros’s hometown.
Now living there with her daughter who she enrolled in the same school.
Is Lotte out to get Ros and her family or is Ros just being paranoid?
This book is very readable.
It’s riveting, engaging, compelling and surprising.
Great paced, addictive plot, flows well, interesting characters and one wild ride.
A tale that was so much more than I expected.
A mystery thriller with an ending that you won’t see coming.

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

When I first started listening to it I wasnt sure what was happening and how it was going to tie up, it was amazing how in the end it all tied up - I was thinking whilst listening how does this strand fit into the story and it fitted amazing - just like a little thread. This makes such a talented writer, so pleased that I found this author.

The narration really suited the story.

The ending oh wow.

I was given an advance copy of the audio book however the review is entirely my own.