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The Girl in the Midnight Maze
All her mother left her was a clue to a family secret. But is it a mystery best left unsolved?
For decades Emma Bowen has hoped she and her mother, Margaret, might find a way back into each other’s lives. Even as a child, her strongest connection to her mother was a painting Margaret created before Emma was born, of a little girl lost in a maze. So when Margaret dies, gifting the painting to a total stranger, Emma is consumed by grief—for her mother, the little girl, and the relationship they never had.
Clearing out her mother’s seaside flat, Emma is faced with a mountain of possessions and paperwork from a life she knows so little about. When she discovers something that throws doubt over everything she’s ever been told about Margaret’s past, Emma must decide whether to pull at the thread of secrets and lies. Will the truth help her through her grief—or reveal a loss that runs deeper than she ever imagined?
Revised Previously published as The Girl in the Maze, this edition of The Girl in the Midnight Maze includes editorial revisions.
For decades Emma Bowen has hoped she and her mother, Margaret, might find a way back into each other’s lives. Even as a child, her strongest connection to her mother was a painting Margaret created before Emma was born, of a little girl lost in a maze. So when Margaret dies, gifting the painting to a total stranger, Emma is consumed by grief—for her mother, the little girl, and the relationship they never had.
Clearing out her mother’s seaside flat, Emma is faced with a mountain of possessions and paperwork from a life she knows so little about. When she discovers something that throws doubt over everything she’s ever been told about Margaret’s past, Emma must decide whether to pull at the thread of secrets and lies. Will the truth help her through her grief—or reveal a loss that runs deeper than she ever imagined?
Revised Previously published as The Girl in the Maze, this edition of The Girl in the Midnight Maze includes editorial revisions.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
1881 people are currently reading
7421 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Hayward
6 books90 followersI write historical fiction often set in dual timelines between the past and the present day. I love stories about family secrets and intrigue (think Kate Morton) which it why I write about them. My debut novel The Girl in the Maze comes out in autumn 2021
I trained as a journalist and edited a variety of trade publications, several of which were so niche they were featured on Have I Got News for You. I then moved into the world of PR and set up an award-winning communications agency Magenta Associates.
Devastated and inspired in equal measure by the death of my parents in quick succession, I completed The Creative Writing Programme with New Writing South out of which emerged my debut novel The Girl in the Maze about the experience of mothering and being mothered. It won Agora Books’ Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize 2020 and was longlisted for the Grindstone Literary Prize 2020 and Flash500 2020.
When I'm not writing (or reading) in my local library, I love pottering in second-hand bookshops, hiking with my husband and our Hungarian Vizsla and wild camping. I live in Brighton – sandwiched between the Downs and the sea – with my husband, three children, dog and two rescue cats – one of whom thinks he’s a dog.
You can buy The Girl in the Maze here: https://linktr.ee/cathyhayward
And you can find out more about my writing journey here: https://cathyhayward.co.uk
Please do get in touch and ask me a question. I read (and respond) to all my reviews and love chatting to readers.
I trained as a journalist and edited a variety of trade publications, several of which were so niche they were featured on Have I Got News for You. I then moved into the world of PR and set up an award-winning communications agency Magenta Associates.
Devastated and inspired in equal measure by the death of my parents in quick succession, I completed The Creative Writing Programme with New Writing South out of which emerged my debut novel The Girl in the Maze about the experience of mothering and being mothered. It won Agora Books’ Lost the Plot Work in Progress Prize 2020 and was longlisted for the Grindstone Literary Prize 2020 and Flash500 2020.
When I'm not writing (or reading) in my local library, I love pottering in second-hand bookshops, hiking with my husband and our Hungarian Vizsla and wild camping. I live in Brighton – sandwiched between the Downs and the sea – with my husband, three children, dog and two rescue cats – one of whom thinks he’s a dog.
You can buy The Girl in the Maze here: https://linktr.ee/cathyhayward
And you can find out more about my writing journey here: https://cathyhayward.co.uk
Please do get in touch and ask me a question. I read (and respond) to all my reviews and love chatting to readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
October 5, 2021
Is the past best left in the past even if we have questions? This is the conundrum facing Emma Bowen. Her mother Margaret has just died, they had a difficult relationship which Emma has never really understood. Contrary to the last, Margaret’s will is not as Emma expects and she is particularly upset that her mother’s painting The Girl in the Maze is bequeathed to a friend and not to Emma. Whilst clearing out Margaret’s flat Emma discovers letters between Margaret and her mother Betty which will lead to the uncovering of some very uncomfortable secrets. The story is told principally by Emma in 2019 and Betty from 1937.
This is a very compelling examination of complex relationships, some elements of which are deeply shocking and emotional and it looks at how all this affects family dynamics. There are difficult issues raised which some people will find tough to read as they are unquestionably traumatic. However, the author does a good job of letting the reader know exactly what is happening without being overly gratuitous. These secrets are buried deep for a number of reasons, some of which are psychological, some are to do with society’s judgement and attitudes of the time. The historical context of Betty’s and Margaret’s early stories are very well done and break your heart as parts of it are very harsh. One of the strongest elements centres around Margaret’s painting which she completes in late teenage. The symbolism of it is very powerful and those who gaze into it witness different emotions conveyed by the girl which is very clever.
Overall, this is a quality piece of writing, it’s very dark in places but it’s also very absorbing. The cover of the book is beautiful.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Agora Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Triggers - abortion, abuse, rape.
This is a very compelling examination of complex relationships, some elements of which are deeply shocking and emotional and it looks at how all this affects family dynamics. There are difficult issues raised which some people will find tough to read as they are unquestionably traumatic. However, the author does a good job of letting the reader know exactly what is happening without being overly gratuitous. These secrets are buried deep for a number of reasons, some of which are psychological, some are to do with society’s judgement and attitudes of the time. The historical context of Betty’s and Margaret’s early stories are very well done and break your heart as parts of it are very harsh. One of the strongest elements centres around Margaret’s painting which she completes in late teenage. The symbolism of it is very powerful and those who gaze into it witness different emotions conveyed by the girl which is very clever.
Overall, this is a quality piece of writing, it’s very dark in places but it’s also very absorbing. The cover of the book is beautiful.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Agora Books UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Triggers - abortion, abuse, rape.
October 24, 2021
This is a story about three generations of women and it examines societal attitudes towards women and how they comport themselves across the generations. Told principally from the POV of Betty from 1937 onwards and Emma, her granddaughter, in the present day.
Emma’s mother Margaret has just died and Emma is cleaning out her flat. The two had a difficult relationship and were not close for many years. Firstly, the contents of the will surprise Emma. It is not what she expected, particularly the gift of the painting The Girl in the Maze which Emma had always been intrigued by, to a friend of her mother’s rather than the family. She questions the elderly solicitor but he won’t say any more. As she is clearing out the house Emma finds some things, including some letters and a birth certificate which throw a different light onto her understanding of her mother. Again she seeks more information from the solicitor but he tells her that some things are best left in the past.
That is like a red rag to a bull for some people. When Emma finds out she has a sister, albeit one 22 years older than her, she is determined to track her down. In the process she learns some very unpleasant truths. Society’s attitude to unwed teenage mothers have certainly changed over the generations but when Margaret was born it was very much frowned upon and her mother, Betty, had a very difficult time of it until she married James who adopted Margaret as his own when was 3 years old. Yet Margaret also had a difficult path through life which, when Emma finally learns all there is to know about that, explains a lot about her mother’s behaviours.
One of the strong messages in the book is to engage with your family before it is too late. For me it is too late, even though I tried to learn more about some of my family’s history there was an element of secrecy. I vowed to be a lot more open with my own children and have a wonderful relationship with them as a result.
The painting is, I think, used as a device to illustrate that things are not always as they seem and that perception can vary according to who is doing the perceiving. This was a wonderful character study and the book was all about the characters who were richly portrayed. I did enjoy it but didn’t quite engage with it as I would have liked. Thanks to Netgalley and Agora Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
3.5 stars rounded down.
Emma’s mother Margaret has just died and Emma is cleaning out her flat. The two had a difficult relationship and were not close for many years. Firstly, the contents of the will surprise Emma. It is not what she expected, particularly the gift of the painting The Girl in the Maze which Emma had always been intrigued by, to a friend of her mother’s rather than the family. She questions the elderly solicitor but he won’t say any more. As she is clearing out the house Emma finds some things, including some letters and a birth certificate which throw a different light onto her understanding of her mother. Again she seeks more information from the solicitor but he tells her that some things are best left in the past.
That is like a red rag to a bull for some people. When Emma finds out she has a sister, albeit one 22 years older than her, she is determined to track her down. In the process she learns some very unpleasant truths. Society’s attitude to unwed teenage mothers have certainly changed over the generations but when Margaret was born it was very much frowned upon and her mother, Betty, had a very difficult time of it until she married James who adopted Margaret as his own when was 3 years old. Yet Margaret also had a difficult path through life which, when Emma finally learns all there is to know about that, explains a lot about her mother’s behaviours.
One of the strong messages in the book is to engage with your family before it is too late. For me it is too late, even though I tried to learn more about some of my family’s history there was an element of secrecy. I vowed to be a lot more open with my own children and have a wonderful relationship with them as a result.
The painting is, I think, used as a device to illustrate that things are not always as they seem and that perception can vary according to who is doing the perceiving. This was a wonderful character study and the book was all about the characters who were richly portrayed. I did enjoy it but didn’t quite engage with it as I would have liked. Thanks to Netgalley and Agora Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
3.5 stars rounded down.
February 16, 2025
This one left me heartsick.
I'm tired of reading this kinda stuff.
Intergenerational trauma, and a painting that doesn't really have much to do with the story other than being a clumsy symbol.
None of the characters did much for me - they're all pretty self-centred and make terrible choices.
The story was insanely long and drawn out for it's 300-odd pages.
By the end I was skimming to try and work out why it was still going.
Wasn't for me - I'm gonna need some fresh fantasy after this traumatic mess.
I'm tired of reading this kinda stuff.
Intergenerational trauma, and a painting that doesn't really have much to do with the story other than being a clumsy symbol.
None of the characters did much for me - they're all pretty self-centred and make terrible choices.
The story was insanely long and drawn out for it's 300-odd pages.
By the end I was skimming to try and work out why it was still going.
Wasn't for me - I'm gonna need some fresh fantasy after this traumatic mess.
November 4, 2021
You need quite a strong constitution for the opening chapters of this book and I think Hayward establishes this tone for the rest of the novel. Whilst the story is generally comfortable to read, the topics are quite harrowing as Hayward explores what it means to be a mother across three generations.
Regardless of whether you have children or not, this book will undoubtedly leave its mark. Emma, Margaret and Betty are all mothers yet, their paths through this role have been complicated by social expectations and strained family relationships. It’s no secret that Emma had zero relationship with her mother and, when sorting through her possessions following her death, it merely reiterates how little she knew the woman who raised her. Yet, it is from this that Emma starts to discover more about her mother’s past and how events shaped Margaret into the woman that Emma remembers. Covering three generations, Hayward illustrates how social standards influenced parenting, regardless of a mother’s love.
I found the symbolism of the painting to be particularly striking. There is a sort of mysticism surrounding this painting that was created by Margaret and it tears Emma apart when she discovers her mother has left it to someone outside of the family. As the plot develops, readers gain an awareness that this painting is symbolic to the struggles the women faced in this family as they navigated how to be the best mother, wife and daughter. It is a powerful image and I loved the significance that this painting (and title) has to the plot development.
There is a lot of sadness that runs through the novel and I was fascinated by the exploration of single mothers in the 1930s, the pressures of adoption and the mother-baby houses that existed. The concept of babies being literally torn from their mothers after just a few days is so harrowing but I liked how this had come full circle with Emma’s own family in present day. Sorting through her mother’s things, I think grief defines Emma’s actions and this element of the story will be particularly touching for those who have experienced something similar.
Although there are some heavy issues surrounding this tale, it is a powerful story about three women. It is difficult to not sympathise with Margaret once you know her background and Emma’s regrets are a lesson for us all: to build on relationships whilst we have the chance, not to let them fester in negativity.
With thanks to Agora books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Regardless of whether you have children or not, this book will undoubtedly leave its mark. Emma, Margaret and Betty are all mothers yet, their paths through this role have been complicated by social expectations and strained family relationships. It’s no secret that Emma had zero relationship with her mother and, when sorting through her possessions following her death, it merely reiterates how little she knew the woman who raised her. Yet, it is from this that Emma starts to discover more about her mother’s past and how events shaped Margaret into the woman that Emma remembers. Covering three generations, Hayward illustrates how social standards influenced parenting, regardless of a mother’s love.
I found the symbolism of the painting to be particularly striking. There is a sort of mysticism surrounding this painting that was created by Margaret and it tears Emma apart when she discovers her mother has left it to someone outside of the family. As the plot develops, readers gain an awareness that this painting is symbolic to the struggles the women faced in this family as they navigated how to be the best mother, wife and daughter. It is a powerful image and I loved the significance that this painting (and title) has to the plot development.
There is a lot of sadness that runs through the novel and I was fascinated by the exploration of single mothers in the 1930s, the pressures of adoption and the mother-baby houses that existed. The concept of babies being literally torn from their mothers after just a few days is so harrowing but I liked how this had come full circle with Emma’s own family in present day. Sorting through her mother’s things, I think grief defines Emma’s actions and this element of the story will be particularly touching for those who have experienced something similar.
Although there are some heavy issues surrounding this tale, it is a powerful story about three women. It is difficult to not sympathise with Margaret once you know her background and Emma’s regrets are a lesson for us all: to build on relationships whilst we have the chance, not to let them fester in negativity.
With thanks to Agora books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
Three women. Three generations. And a whole lot of emotions.
This is a book that will shock, disturb and unsettle you.
On one hand, there's a beauty to it, but wipe away the surface and there lies the ugliness of a raw and flawed relationship between mother and daughter.
I was taken to a dark place right form page one. It begins with a blunt, desperate situation where we see young Betty clawing her way out of deep trouble. Or trying to anyway.
The Girl In The Maze is a painting created by Emma's late mother, Margaret, and I think this is a fantastic undercurrent to run through the story as these women often find themselves in dead end situations and somewhat lost.
Betty, Margaret and Emma all share the same blood. But not until Margaret passes, does the truth of what happened back in the days when she painted the Maze, come out. The truth isn't pretty. It's vile. I was rooting for these women but was also frustrated at their tolerance.
A really honest, heart breaking, dark story that felt like it came straight from the heart.
I coped with it, many will need those trigger warnings.
This is a book that will shock, disturb and unsettle you.
On one hand, there's a beauty to it, but wipe away the surface and there lies the ugliness of a raw and flawed relationship between mother and daughter.
I was taken to a dark place right form page one. It begins with a blunt, desperate situation where we see young Betty clawing her way out of deep trouble. Or trying to anyway.
The Girl In The Maze is a painting created by Emma's late mother, Margaret, and I think this is a fantastic undercurrent to run through the story as these women often find themselves in dead end situations and somewhat lost.
Betty, Margaret and Emma all share the same blood. But not until Margaret passes, does the truth of what happened back in the days when she painted the Maze, come out. The truth isn't pretty. It's vile. I was rooting for these women but was also frustrated at their tolerance.
A really honest, heart breaking, dark story that felt like it came straight from the heart.
I coped with it, many will need those trigger warnings.
September 18, 2024
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Trigger Warning: Sexual assault of a minor
I am not in the majority of other readers when it comes to this book.
The Girl in the Midnight Maze is a story about three generation of woman from 1937, 1952 and 2019. Each chapter is from a different time and point of view from the woman of this family. First, Betty is jilted at the alter and discovers she is pregnant and in 1937 that was a huge no no that ostracized you everywhere you went. Betty loved her daughter deeply a decided to keep her instead of giving her up for adoption like most unmarried girls of that time. Next, Emma finds that after her mother, Margaret, passed she had several deep secrets that shaped the way she grew as a mother. Lastly, Margaret takes you through the deep secrets of her passed that influenced not only her future but her daughters as well.
About a quarter of the way through the book I was pretty certain I knew what the secrets were and what happened to Margaret. At that point honestly the book could have wrapped up and concluded. I felt like the last 75 percent was just content rambling and avoiding what happened to extend the book length. The book as a whole had a good plot but too much information that was dragged out. Also, I get Margaret did the Maze art piece when everything in her past was happening but it didn’t seem to fit into the overall story. It really felt forced and again repetitive. I was very close to not finishing but because this book had so many good reviews, I held out hope that there was something more shocking about to happen in the end.
Nothing else happened. Everything was confirmed that was alluded to in the earlier chapters.
Thank you NetGalley, Cathy Hayward and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC.
Trigger Warning: Sexual assault of a minor
I am not in the majority of other readers when it comes to this book.
The Girl in the Midnight Maze is a story about three generation of woman from 1937, 1952 and 2019. Each chapter is from a different time and point of view from the woman of this family. First, Betty is jilted at the alter and discovers she is pregnant and in 1937 that was a huge no no that ostracized you everywhere you went. Betty loved her daughter deeply a decided to keep her instead of giving her up for adoption like most unmarried girls of that time. Next, Emma finds that after her mother, Margaret, passed she had several deep secrets that shaped the way she grew as a mother. Lastly, Margaret takes you through the deep secrets of her passed that influenced not only her future but her daughters as well.
About a quarter of the way through the book I was pretty certain I knew what the secrets were and what happened to Margaret. At that point honestly the book could have wrapped up and concluded. I felt like the last 75 percent was just content rambling and avoiding what happened to extend the book length. The book as a whole had a good plot but too much information that was dragged out. Also, I get Margaret did the Maze art piece when everything in her past was happening but it didn’t seem to fit into the overall story. It really felt forced and again repetitive. I was very close to not finishing but because this book had so many good reviews, I held out hope that there was something more shocking about to happen in the end.
Nothing else happened. Everything was confirmed that was alluded to in the earlier chapters.
Thank you NetGalley, Cathy Hayward and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC.
August 7, 2024
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my personal opinions.
"Sometimes when you lose someone you didn't get along with, it's harder than when you lose someone you loved unequivocally. You realise you can never put it right"
The Girl in the Midnight Maze is an utterly poignant yet beautiful read, shedding light on the aspects of motherhood, family muddles, stereotypical expectations of society, deep-dark sensitive subject matters, and the burdensome decisions a woman has to make. Hayward has enticingly reflected upon mother-daughter relationships through dual POVs and multiple time switches which has been done effortlessly!!!
The painting never loses its significance throughout the entire book, which I view as an artistic way to describe the woman, one way or another trapped within the shackles and confinements of society and expectations, dilemmas, and regrets. It is the sense of relatability and resemblance to the girl and a mirror of their feelings in the maze that makes Emma, Libby, Betty, and Clare hear the echoes of the girl at night.
The book has led me to an intense book hangover and I'm certain I will not get over it soon, it was an assorted journey of emotions where, along with the eyes my heart bled for Margaret, the anguish I felt towards Betty (even though empathizing with her feeling as well) and the sadness I felt towards Elizabeth. From the very start, the story gets you hooked and captures your heart with an unrelenting grip.
(P.S. - I even cried while reading the Acknowledgments).
Publish Date: November 1 ,2024
"Sometimes when you lose someone you didn't get along with, it's harder than when you lose someone you loved unequivocally. You realise you can never put it right"
The Girl in the Midnight Maze is an utterly poignant yet beautiful read, shedding light on the aspects of motherhood, family muddles, stereotypical expectations of society, deep-dark sensitive subject matters, and the burdensome decisions a woman has to make. Hayward has enticingly reflected upon mother-daughter relationships through dual POVs and multiple time switches which has been done effortlessly!!!
The painting never loses its significance throughout the entire book, which I view as an artistic way to describe the woman, one way or another trapped within the shackles and confinements of society and expectations, dilemmas, and regrets. It is the sense of relatability and resemblance to the girl and a mirror of their feelings in the maze that makes Emma, Libby, Betty, and Clare hear the echoes of the girl at night.
The book has led me to an intense book hangover and I'm certain I will not get over it soon, it was an assorted journey of emotions where, along with the eyes my heart bled for Margaret, the anguish I felt towards Betty (even though empathizing with her feeling as well) and the sadness I felt towards Elizabeth. From the very start, the story gets you hooked and captures your heart with an unrelenting grip.
(P.S. - I even cried while reading the Acknowledgments).
Publish Date: November 1 ,2024
February 28, 2022
I throughly enjoyed this book. The first two chapters did manage to pull up some sad memories of my mum and sorting through her clothes and things after she died. But, once I got through those chapters the story held me all the way through. Some of it was a little shocking and sad but, on the whole this book was well written, well thought through and very enjoyable. You have got to stay with it but it does deliver.
January 22, 2025
My Initial Thoughts
This was a different kind of read but it pulls you in straight away. The multiple timelines took a little while to get used to but then added such depth and feelings into the story. It felt like you are watching everything the Emma discovered but as Betty and Margaret went through the pain and heartbreak as well.
Plot
The plot is very intense but it makes for an addictive read, unable to put down. The chapters being spilt up between the 3 main characters makes you want to carry on reading, you kind of feel like you are Emma, discovering untold history.
Characters
The characters portray how different things are in both historical and present times for women, and the difficulties that each one of them faced. I liked Emma right until the end where I just disagreed with a decision she made. I completely understood Margaret and how she was because of her own history. Although I felt for Betty by the end, her choices also hit home with not just the prejudice of how society expects women to conform but how she felt there was no escape, having a huge impact on Margaret and created the domino effect that all the women went through.
Recommend
I would maybe recommend this, as long as you check the trigger warnings. (I'd suggest Storygraph as they have the readers warnings)
The genre is historical fiction as this is set over multiple timelines from each women's POV. If you enjoy secrets being discovered from family history then you will enjoy this. It is extremely emotional.
(Please remember this my personal opinion)
Favourite Quotes
"I read an article once about family dysfunction. It described it as rolling from generation to generation like a fire in the woods, taking down everything in its path. It said that you need one person in one generation to have the courage to turn and face the flames. And that person will be the one to bring peace to their ancestors and spare the children who follow them, and their children."
Favourite Chapter/s
My favourite chapter was 42.
Summed up in one sentence
An emotional ride through devastating family history.
Overall Wrap up
I did enjoy this, I just wish I was more aware of the triggers before I started reading. This is a family history that just hits you hard as you follow Emma discover all that was hidden from her.
Stars.
3
Spice.
N/A
Book Information
The Girl In The Midnight Maze by Cathy Hayward.
Genre - Historical fiction.
Pages - 284 pages.
Tropes -
N/A
Available on Kindle Unlimited - Yes.
Available Formats - Kindle, paperback and audiobook.
Publishing Information - Published by Lake Union publishing on 1st November 2024.
Format in Which i Read - Paperback.
Where my copy come From - My own copy, read with Bookscape book club.
POVs - Emma, Betty and Margaret.
Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines - Set over multiple timelines.
1st or 3rd Person - 3rd person.
HEA, HFN or Cliffhanger - Happy ending.
Series or Standalone - Standalone.
Trigger Warnings - Yes, please check triggers as there is CA, SA, death, infertility, plus more.
February 22, 2025
Special thank you to Netgalley, Cathy Hayward, and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC of this incredible novel. I absolutely enjoyed this book from start to finish - the characters, the story line, the multiple POV, etc. I love how the author compared “The Girl in the Midnight Maze” to women being forced to conform to society’s expectations and timelines vs. seeking the courage, support and strength to live our lives to our own standards and wishes. I would highly recommend this novel. I enjoyed it so much that I have purchased a copy.
November 25, 2021
Trigger warning for abuse.
‘The girl in the maze’ is one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. The premise is so original and the characters are all so unflinchingly flawed, which adds such an honesty about how complicated family relationships can be.
After the death of her mother, Emma Bowen finds some private letters which could explain why their bond as mother and daughter was so strained from her childhood. The story unfolds over three generations and has a beautiful pace; I could see a few plotlines in the works before they happened but it didn’t take anything away from the impact that they had within the story itself.
I loved the use of the ‘girl in the maze’ painting at the centre of Emma’s childhood and they way it symbolises how several people can interpret a situation through very different eyes; the perfect way to describe the layered experiences of these women.
I enjoyed the pace and the appreciated delicate way Hayward handles very difficult themes throughout the book. I am not a huge domestic fiction reader but I enjoyed this one immensely because the way in which Emma learns of her family history is not a perfect linear emotion of shock or fury and that is so much more compelling to me. Emma and her mother and in turn her mother and grandmother had their own burdens which spilled into their relationships.However as Emma develops her own empathy and understanding she definitely changes from the beginning to the end which is wonderful to witness as a reader.
‘The girl in the maze’ is one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. The premise is so original and the characters are all so unflinchingly flawed, which adds such an honesty about how complicated family relationships can be.
After the death of her mother, Emma Bowen finds some private letters which could explain why their bond as mother and daughter was so strained from her childhood. The story unfolds over three generations and has a beautiful pace; I could see a few plotlines in the works before they happened but it didn’t take anything away from the impact that they had within the story itself.
I loved the use of the ‘girl in the maze’ painting at the centre of Emma’s childhood and they way it symbolises how several people can interpret a situation through very different eyes; the perfect way to describe the layered experiences of these women.
I enjoyed the pace and the appreciated delicate way Hayward handles very difficult themes throughout the book. I am not a huge domestic fiction reader but I enjoyed this one immensely because the way in which Emma learns of her family history is not a perfect linear emotion of shock or fury and that is so much more compelling to me. Emma and her mother and in turn her mother and grandmother had their own burdens which spilled into their relationships.However as Emma develops her own empathy and understanding she definitely changes from the beginning to the end which is wonderful to witness as a reader.
October 23, 2021
Emma Bowen has never had what you would call an easy or close relationship with her mother, a woman who rarely shared secrets or really spoke much about herself openly even to those she loved dearly, and towards the end of her life had little to no communication with the outside world, including Emma. Upon her mother’s death, Emma unearths an item which she cannot help but be drawn to as it could be the key to help her learn more about just why there was always such a vast distance between herself and her late mother, yet as she starts to learn more about just what sort of a woman her mother truly was through letters sent to her grandmother, Emma will discover that it wasn’t just herself that had difficulties with her mother.
This figure who Emma never really knew starts to become more rounded and real as she is like a moth drawn to a deadly flame, diving deeper into just what sort of life her mother lived but this comes at a cost as the more she finds, the more lost she feels and Emma must find the strength to carry on to unveil the secrets that lie hidden…..
Meanwhile other voices echo the events of times gone by as we hear from her mother and someone who only ever wanted to help but as Emma will learn, the past perhaps should stay where it is with the opening chapter plunging you in head first that instantly grips the reader and showcases the raw subject matter that lies ahead..
Emotional, engaging and shocking, this multifaceted story of love and regret makes for a truly original read!
This figure who Emma never really knew starts to become more rounded and real as she is like a moth drawn to a deadly flame, diving deeper into just what sort of life her mother lived but this comes at a cost as the more she finds, the more lost she feels and Emma must find the strength to carry on to unveil the secrets that lie hidden…..
Meanwhile other voices echo the events of times gone by as we hear from her mother and someone who only ever wanted to help but as Emma will learn, the past perhaps should stay where it is with the opening chapter plunging you in head first that instantly grips the reader and showcases the raw subject matter that lies ahead..
Emotional, engaging and shocking, this multifaceted story of love and regret makes for a truly original read!
August 9, 2021
A dark but fascinating look into motherhood and familial trauma from an extremely impressive new voice in women’s fiction. Hayward is a gorgeous writer – at times brutal, at times hopeful – and her voice is perfect for this dual-timeline historical fiction novel about the meaning of family, the meaning of motherhood, and how we move beyond our generational trauma. There’s something in here for you if you are a mother, have a mother, want to be a mother – whatever the case, you’ll be absolutely absorbed by this accomplished debut.
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October 6, 2021Thanks to Netgalley and the author for a copy of the book.
I had a hard time reading the first few pages of the book, but at the same time, the raw emotion and the horrid events drew me into the story. The Girl in the Maze is a very frank portrayal of a strained mother-daughter relationship. The story wasn't surprising, but it was nuanced and well-written. I particularly liked the parallels between Emma and her mother and Emma and her daughter and I would've liked to see more of that.
I had a hard time reading the first few pages of the book, but at the same time, the raw emotion and the horrid events drew me into the story. The Girl in the Maze is a very frank portrayal of a strained mother-daughter relationship. The story wasn't surprising, but it was nuanced and well-written. I particularly liked the parallels between Emma and her mother and Emma and her daughter and I would've liked to see more of that.
August 20, 2021
There is a lot of books out there currently about mothers,and it's no surprise.
It's a complicated relationship between mother and child.
As Emma clears out her mother's property after her death,she discovers things that she never knew.
I got completely pulled in by this one,the strained relationships,and current family dynamics and all.
A very enjoyable read.
It's a complicated relationship between mother and child.
As Emma clears out her mother's property after her death,she discovers things that she never knew.
I got completely pulled in by this one,the strained relationships,and current family dynamics and all.
A very enjoyable read.
September 13, 2021
I am ripped apart from this lovely story. 😍 I will be thinking of this book for a long time. ❤💫💫💫💫💫 Full review to come.
This book discusses teen pregnancies, abortions, relationships with mothers and long lost family. I started this book in the morning and read all they way into late night, it was the touching.
The beginning is very descriptive so beware if you do not have a hard stomach, however once that scene is over you will be thankful you stuck around. Its a story about multigenerational relationships with not only mothers, but also with partners.
Like a lot of families, the picture is not always perfect. I have been reading books that seem to have the same theme lately: someone in the family dies, the child has to come to clean up the peices and discovers secrets that the parent has tried to take to their grave. Once those secret's are exposed more drama unfolds.
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it if your looking for something that isnt your typical feel good book. This book felt more real and relatable and that gives me 5 stars in my book.
This book discusses teen pregnancies, abortions, relationships with mothers and long lost family. I started this book in the morning and read all they way into late night, it was the touching.
The beginning is very descriptive so beware if you do not have a hard stomach, however once that scene is over you will be thankful you stuck around. Its a story about multigenerational relationships with not only mothers, but also with partners.
Like a lot of families, the picture is not always perfect. I have been reading books that seem to have the same theme lately: someone in the family dies, the child has to come to clean up the peices and discovers secrets that the parent has tried to take to their grave. Once those secret's are exposed more drama unfolds.
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it if your looking for something that isnt your typical feel good book. This book felt more real and relatable and that gives me 5 stars in my book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2024
The Girl In The Midnight Maze by Kathy Hayward, when Emma is sitting down to dinner with her family her phone rings and she learned her mom has passed away. Although this is devastating to Emma it wasn’t because her and mom Margaret were close but because due to her mom‘s death they now never will be. Her death leaves Emma many surprises such as leaving her flat to Emma’sdaughter Libby who her and husband Nick always thought the mom disliked and not to their son Jason who she doted on. When all is said and done giving the house to 15-year-old Libby will be small potatoes. The book is told through Emma and her grandmother‘s POV Betty through betties POV it soon turns to Margaret’s POV when she gets older. Emma will uncover secrets and so much more in this Uber interesting story about family and how things were and how things are today. I noticed there’s another book by the author with the similarly named book The Girl In The Maze with the same characters and I would be interested to read it to see if it is the same book or not they don’t mention the paining in the other summery and I totally forgot to mention there was a paining that Emma loved that was given to her mom‘s friend Claire who helps her dig up family secrets. I love Claire by the way there were many times that I found Emma rude, but ultimately did like her I think sometimes an author can create a character that is so true to real life that you would like them through the good and the bad and I found that to be the case with this book. There is a part in the book with Margaret as a teenager that I found totally unbelievable but as it will give plot points away I am not going to put it in my review just know if you like a thrilling thriller about family secrets then you will definitely like this book. Most great mysteries has the MC getting an inheritance that comes with shocking surprises but Emma gets nothing and still gets devastating secrets from her mom‘s past and sees her mom in a whole new light.#NetGalley, #KathyHayward, #TheGirlInTheMidnightMaze,
October 4, 2021
Shocked. Angry. Disturbed. Disgusted. Heartbroken. These are just a few of the emotions that I experienced while reading this book. The Girl in the Maze tells the story of three generations of women who found themselves hurting each other more than helping each other. Maybe if they just listened, their lives would have turned out differently.
Some of the topics covered in The Girl in the Maze are betrayal, denial, family secrets, pedophilia, and rape. There were times when I put the book down because the chapter was too disturbing and upsetting to continue. Because of that, I will not go into the actual story. Instead, I will only write what I think of the author’s writing.
Cathy Hayward uses vivid imagery that takes the reader into Betty, Margaret and Emma’s worlds. Each generation faced its share of troubles and misunderstandings. The feelings of betrayal are so deep in The Girl in the Maze that it is almost impossible for the reader not to become just as angry as Margaret, or just as heartbroken and shocked as Emma.
When Emma’s mother Margaret dies, Emma discovers secrets that her mother wanted kept secret. When Margaret’s solicitor tells Emma to leave the past in the past, she does not listen. She only realizes why he gave her that advice after it is too late to turn back.
However, through digging into Margaret’s past, Emma gains a better understanding of her mother. Margaret, who Emma thought was just mad all the time, turns out to be so much more than Emma expected. Nonetheless, it was too late to make amends with her mother. Her mother was gone. She died alone with only her solicitor by her side. This is something Emma will always have to live with, along with the secrets Margaret did not want exposed. Emma now bears the burden of keeping her mother’s secrets and doing everything in her power to be there for her daughter and let her daughter know that she is loved always.
The Girl in the Maze is very well written. Cathy Hayward laments that her mother always encouraged her to write a book. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until her mother died that she actually did just that. According to the author, The Girl in the Maze was a kind of therapy that helped her deal with the difficult relationship she had with her own mother. I sincerely hope that The Girl in the Maze is just a fictional story with made-up circumstances and not an autobiographical reflection of what Cathy Hayward discovered after her mother died.
One thing I did take away from The Girl in the Maze is that children should not wait until their parents are dead to really get to know them. Listen to their stories. Learn their histories. Parents have so much to teach us. I am extremely blessed to have been raised in a home with unconditional love. Yes, we had our problems, but I never once doubted whether I was loved. Now that I am and adult, my mother and I are more like best friends. I ask about her childhood and want to know everything she can tell me. I did not do that with my father before he died. The stories of his family I must hear from others. As my children get older, I pray they will want to learn from the stories the adults in their lives can tell them. The Girl in the Maze reminded me of just how incredibly blessed I am. All families have stories. All families have secrets. Don’t wait until it is too late to discover those.
If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, please listen and call the abuse hotline in your country.
UK - For information on how you can help or get help, go to
Domestic abuse: how to get help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
USA – For information on how you can help or get help, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233),
text START to 88788, or visit www.thehotline.org to chat with someone online.
Some of the topics covered in The Girl in the Maze are betrayal, denial, family secrets, pedophilia, and rape. There were times when I put the book down because the chapter was too disturbing and upsetting to continue. Because of that, I will not go into the actual story. Instead, I will only write what I think of the author’s writing.
Cathy Hayward uses vivid imagery that takes the reader into Betty, Margaret and Emma’s worlds. Each generation faced its share of troubles and misunderstandings. The feelings of betrayal are so deep in The Girl in the Maze that it is almost impossible for the reader not to become just as angry as Margaret, or just as heartbroken and shocked as Emma.
When Emma’s mother Margaret dies, Emma discovers secrets that her mother wanted kept secret. When Margaret’s solicitor tells Emma to leave the past in the past, she does not listen. She only realizes why he gave her that advice after it is too late to turn back.
However, through digging into Margaret’s past, Emma gains a better understanding of her mother. Margaret, who Emma thought was just mad all the time, turns out to be so much more than Emma expected. Nonetheless, it was too late to make amends with her mother. Her mother was gone. She died alone with only her solicitor by her side. This is something Emma will always have to live with, along with the secrets Margaret did not want exposed. Emma now bears the burden of keeping her mother’s secrets and doing everything in her power to be there for her daughter and let her daughter know that she is loved always.
The Girl in the Maze is very well written. Cathy Hayward laments that her mother always encouraged her to write a book. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until her mother died that she actually did just that. According to the author, The Girl in the Maze was a kind of therapy that helped her deal with the difficult relationship she had with her own mother. I sincerely hope that The Girl in the Maze is just a fictional story with made-up circumstances and not an autobiographical reflection of what Cathy Hayward discovered after her mother died.
One thing I did take away from The Girl in the Maze is that children should not wait until their parents are dead to really get to know them. Listen to their stories. Learn their histories. Parents have so much to teach us. I am extremely blessed to have been raised in a home with unconditional love. Yes, we had our problems, but I never once doubted whether I was loved. Now that I am and adult, my mother and I are more like best friends. I ask about her childhood and want to know everything she can tell me. I did not do that with my father before he died. The stories of his family I must hear from others. As my children get older, I pray they will want to learn from the stories the adults in their lives can tell them. The Girl in the Maze reminded me of just how incredibly blessed I am. All families have stories. All families have secrets. Don’t wait until it is too late to discover those.
If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, please listen and call the abuse hotline in your country.
UK - For information on how you can help or get help, go to
Domestic abuse: how to get help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
USA – For information on how you can help or get help, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233),
text START to 88788, or visit www.thehotline.org to chat with someone online.
November 1, 2021
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
“𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲?” 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫.
“𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲?” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞. “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.”
Emma Bowen’s mother Margaret has passed away. She had always had her bouts of illness, her nerve problems, nothing that Emma really ever understood but the finality of the end is hard on Emma. After having lived with her mother’s inconsistent love, how is she meant to feel now? For a time, when Emma’s son was born, they were close but it was her daughter’s birth that set off a coldness in her mother. Once again, there was a wall between them. The two communicated but always with great difficulty. Her mother’s life before she met Emma’s father and gave birth to Emma is a mystery, and not one she much cared to inquire after when she was wrapped up in her own youth. She knows her mother left home when she was sixteen, attended art school at some point, even traveled to India but that’s it. Emma had never before been interested in her mother beyond the present. One solid memory though, a bright spot in Emma’s life is the painting of a girl in a maze that Margaret had created when she was just nineteen. It’s a painting she has always liked, been curious about since she was a little girl. Discovering from her mother’s solicitor that it is willed to Margaret’s friend Clare unsettles her. Worse, Clare’s support and friendship with her lonely mother makes Emma feel shamed for not being there at the end, but how could she explain the distance between them?
Betty (Emma’s grandmother) had Margaret when she was young, she knows better than anyone the mean struggle of trying to make a living, and the pain of being judged for the mistakes of youth. In 1937, such things were not accepted, girls like her shunned. Certainly, she wanted the world for Emma’s mom. Meeting a man who became a father to her little girl was a godsend. Jack loved her as his own, so what had Margaret bursting at the seams to move out when she was still a girl? Why did Betty and Margaret have little to no relationship once she grew up? Emma’s father once told her that Betty was simply more in love with her husband Jack than her own daughter. But could there be more to the story? When Emma is sorting through her mother’s things, she discovers life altering secrets that have been kept from everyone. She hadn’t really known her mother at all. Dates don’t add up, there are huge holes in time that aren’t accounted for. Where was her mother between moving out and going to art school? Why was Margaret barely functional as a wife, why did she find her sweet baby granddaughter unlovable? The pieces come together as the reader, alongside Emma, root through the past. Could it be her mother was cold because of her own torment? That she was carrying dark incidents no one should shoulder? Maybe Margaret was stronger than Emma knew? Maybe she did the best she could? That painting may tell a story.
It is about violation and the damage it leaves in its wake. It is also about silence and how bearing the unspeakable poisons the future. Sometimes, in spite of our best hopes, we cannot move past trauma, at the misfortune of those we love most. This was a hard book to digest, and it was terribly sad, mostly because Margaret is only understood after her death. A very heavy subject.
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Agora Books
“𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲?” 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫.
“𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐲?” 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥.
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞. “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐞, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.”
Emma Bowen’s mother Margaret has passed away. She had always had her bouts of illness, her nerve problems, nothing that Emma really ever understood but the finality of the end is hard on Emma. After having lived with her mother’s inconsistent love, how is she meant to feel now? For a time, when Emma’s son was born, they were close but it was her daughter’s birth that set off a coldness in her mother. Once again, there was a wall between them. The two communicated but always with great difficulty. Her mother’s life before she met Emma’s father and gave birth to Emma is a mystery, and not one she much cared to inquire after when she was wrapped up in her own youth. She knows her mother left home when she was sixteen, attended art school at some point, even traveled to India but that’s it. Emma had never before been interested in her mother beyond the present. One solid memory though, a bright spot in Emma’s life is the painting of a girl in a maze that Margaret had created when she was just nineteen. It’s a painting she has always liked, been curious about since she was a little girl. Discovering from her mother’s solicitor that it is willed to Margaret’s friend Clare unsettles her. Worse, Clare’s support and friendship with her lonely mother makes Emma feel shamed for not being there at the end, but how could she explain the distance between them?
Betty (Emma’s grandmother) had Margaret when she was young, she knows better than anyone the mean struggle of trying to make a living, and the pain of being judged for the mistakes of youth. In 1937, such things were not accepted, girls like her shunned. Certainly, she wanted the world for Emma’s mom. Meeting a man who became a father to her little girl was a godsend. Jack loved her as his own, so what had Margaret bursting at the seams to move out when she was still a girl? Why did Betty and Margaret have little to no relationship once she grew up? Emma’s father once told her that Betty was simply more in love with her husband Jack than her own daughter. But could there be more to the story? When Emma is sorting through her mother’s things, she discovers life altering secrets that have been kept from everyone. She hadn’t really known her mother at all. Dates don’t add up, there are huge holes in time that aren’t accounted for. Where was her mother between moving out and going to art school? Why was Margaret barely functional as a wife, why did she find her sweet baby granddaughter unlovable? The pieces come together as the reader, alongside Emma, root through the past. Could it be her mother was cold because of her own torment? That she was carrying dark incidents no one should shoulder? Maybe Margaret was stronger than Emma knew? Maybe she did the best she could? That painting may tell a story.
It is about violation and the damage it leaves in its wake. It is also about silence and how bearing the unspeakable poisons the future. Sometimes, in spite of our best hopes, we cannot move past trauma, at the misfortune of those we love most. This was a hard book to digest, and it was terribly sad, mostly because Margaret is only understood after her death. A very heavy subject.
Publication Date: October 28, 2021
Agora Books
November 2, 2021
I’m not sure if I’ve ever read a book with such a disturbing and emotional beginning, as we first meet Betty back in 1937 and are plunged into her world of pain and desperation. It’s a particularly brave decision for a debut novelist, with the real possibility that readers might choose not to read any further – but it’s only a taster for the stunning writing that follows.
This is the story of three women – Betty herself, her daughter Margaret, and Margaret’s daughter Emma in the present day. Margaret’s voice isn’t heard, but her life and the experiences that shaped her are very much the book’s focus. We join Emma as she’s clearing out her flat after her mother’s death – their relationship was never an easy one, and in the years beforehand they’d grown ever further apart and were rarely in contact any more. At her death, Margaret had very much put her affairs in order – with the assistance of her solicitor Graham Eals, who plainly has more knowledge of her life than he’s willing to reveal – and some of her decisions come as a considerable surprise. Finding a series of letters and the contents of a locked box, Emma begins a quest to discover her mother’s secrets, in an attempt to understand how they might have impacted their relationship and shaped her character.
This is a story about motherhood and the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, and of the way events and choices in the past impact on the present, examined and exposed with exceptional emotional depth in their telling. Some of the secrets of the past are exceptionally difficult to read, raw and painful – reflected in the painting of the book’s title, the child in anguish trapped in the maze – and the author’s writing is strong and assured, making you feel every moment of hurt and despair at your core.
There’s a stark difference between Emma’s own relationship with her husband and children and the complexities of the relationships experienced by the two previous generations, set firmly in their historical context but with a stunning emotional touch. The narrative moves seamlessly backwards and forwards in time – its construction is so cleverly done, and apparently effortless, with its progress relentless and compelling. This is a book that really makes you feel – to hurt, sympathise, rage against the many injustices, weep at the behaviour of others. At times, it’s a difficult book to read, its darker moments almost overwhelming in their intensity – but I found it quite impossible to set it aside, totally immersed in the lives of its characters.
I’ll struggle to forget this book – entirely stunning and original writing from an exceptionally gifted new author, and I recommend it without reservation.
This is the story of three women – Betty herself, her daughter Margaret, and Margaret’s daughter Emma in the present day. Margaret’s voice isn’t heard, but her life and the experiences that shaped her are very much the book’s focus. We join Emma as she’s clearing out her flat after her mother’s death – their relationship was never an easy one, and in the years beforehand they’d grown ever further apart and were rarely in contact any more. At her death, Margaret had very much put her affairs in order – with the assistance of her solicitor Graham Eals, who plainly has more knowledge of her life than he’s willing to reveal – and some of her decisions come as a considerable surprise. Finding a series of letters and the contents of a locked box, Emma begins a quest to discover her mother’s secrets, in an attempt to understand how they might have impacted their relationship and shaped her character.
This is a story about motherhood and the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, and of the way events and choices in the past impact on the present, examined and exposed with exceptional emotional depth in their telling. Some of the secrets of the past are exceptionally difficult to read, raw and painful – reflected in the painting of the book’s title, the child in anguish trapped in the maze – and the author’s writing is strong and assured, making you feel every moment of hurt and despair at your core.
There’s a stark difference between Emma’s own relationship with her husband and children and the complexities of the relationships experienced by the two previous generations, set firmly in their historical context but with a stunning emotional touch. The narrative moves seamlessly backwards and forwards in time – its construction is so cleverly done, and apparently effortless, with its progress relentless and compelling. This is a book that really makes you feel – to hurt, sympathise, rage against the many injustices, weep at the behaviour of others. At times, it’s a difficult book to read, its darker moments almost overwhelming in their intensity – but I found it quite impossible to set it aside, totally immersed in the lives of its characters.
I’ll struggle to forget this book – entirely stunning and original writing from an exceptionally gifted new author, and I recommend it without reservation.
November 4, 2021
The Girl in the Maze by Cathy Hayward was such a hard-hitting read! Several times through the book, I found myself closing my eyes and murmuring “No, no, no”. This was far from what I’d expected after reading the blurb but I’m not upset. Not one bit actually. Before I start on my review, I have to mention that this book can be rather triggering. The first few pages themselves left me shaking (also, I started reading on the commute to work and could only continue after work so the shakes persisted the whole day). So proceed only if you have the stomach for abortion, sexual abuse, and rape. Still, I was so glad that I read on because the entire story was worth it for me.
At the heart of the story is the theme of mothers and how their unseen lives impact their children, especially their daughters. How many of us take our mothers for granted? I am definitely guilty of doing so. It’s as if with age comes blinkers of self-confidence and self-righteousness, relegating mothers to a dusty shelf of have-bend. However, mothers are full human beings too. Whether or not our relationship with them growing up was good or rocky, they are women who have made many sacrifices to help us get to where we are today. Perhaps the very reason we see them as just mother, only in relation to ourselves, is because they have shrank themselves to accommodate our growth. Being a new mother myself, I can’t help but be a little more sympathetic to that struggle of putting on motherhood, whatever form it may take.
One thing that I noticed as I read this book was the use of conflicting accounts. We never truly get to hear Margaret’s voice, the mother in the center of the story. All we can learn about her is based on accounts from those around her, her daughter, mother, stepfather, and confidante. As expected, each person has quite a different view of Margaret. Yes, each view makes up who she is, but each is necessarily colored by themselves, so can we ever fully appreciate Margaret for who she is? Thematically, it makes sense because of how we may never understand our mothers beyond our own narrow views. Form-wise, it was something I appreciated as well. Can we ever know the truth of anything that happened? Each person experiences the same event differently, memory twists things, and we may or may not admit certain things to ourselves. Besides, the truth doesn’t always set one free, does it? This certainly is one of the times that I really appreciated the openness of a denouement. All in all, I really did like this book!
Diversity meter:
Strong female characters
At the heart of the story is the theme of mothers and how their unseen lives impact their children, especially their daughters. How many of us take our mothers for granted? I am definitely guilty of doing so. It’s as if with age comes blinkers of self-confidence and self-righteousness, relegating mothers to a dusty shelf of have-bend. However, mothers are full human beings too. Whether or not our relationship with them growing up was good or rocky, they are women who have made many sacrifices to help us get to where we are today. Perhaps the very reason we see them as just mother, only in relation to ourselves, is because they have shrank themselves to accommodate our growth. Being a new mother myself, I can’t help but be a little more sympathetic to that struggle of putting on motherhood, whatever form it may take.
One thing that I noticed as I read this book was the use of conflicting accounts. We never truly get to hear Margaret’s voice, the mother in the center of the story. All we can learn about her is based on accounts from those around her, her daughter, mother, stepfather, and confidante. As expected, each person has quite a different view of Margaret. Yes, each view makes up who she is, but each is necessarily colored by themselves, so can we ever fully appreciate Margaret for who she is? Thematically, it makes sense because of how we may never understand our mothers beyond our own narrow views. Form-wise, it was something I appreciated as well. Can we ever know the truth of anything that happened? Each person experiences the same event differently, memory twists things, and we may or may not admit certain things to ourselves. Besides, the truth doesn’t always set one free, does it? This certainly is one of the times that I really appreciated the openness of a denouement. All in all, I really did like this book!
Diversity meter:
Strong female characters
May 12, 2022
I’d like to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
I’m a huge lover of historical fiction and was not only drawn to the beautiful cover but the mystery surrounding the story.
The story flips between the present day and Margaret’s childhood. In the present day we have Emma’s narrative as she discovers a secret from her mother, Margaret’s’, past. We also learn more about the relationship, or lack of, between the mother and daughter. Emma has always struggled to be close to her mother and can’t understand why her mother doesn’t seem to have a maternal bone in her body. Throughout the story we see glimmers of Margaret’s affections but she still seems to hold everyone at arms length.
When flick back to Margaret’s childhood we see just what it was like for Betty, an unwed woman in the 1930’s and how she survived motherhood. She started out as a very strong character and I admired her bravery and willingness to step out of what society expected of her. Sadly, as the story went on my opinion of Betty started to dwindle and I found myself sympathising more and more with Margaret.
Interestingly we don’t actually get Margaret’s POV in the story, she remains a mystery and she is certainly a character that one could judge far too quickly. I very much enjoyed how the mystery unravelled and felt like I too went on this journey with Emma.
What struck me most was the turbulent relationship between the three women of this story. It wasn’t just Emma’s fraught relationship with Margaret but also Margaret’s relationship with her own mother, Betty. You could see history repeating itself with mistake after mistake being made between these women. They sacrificed so much of their motherly relationships and I can’t help but think that if they had just talked to each other then things would of been so much better.
This was a deeply moving story that showed mothering in a completely different light. Emotively written with engaging characters, this has a dark twist that I didn’t see coming!
I’m a huge lover of historical fiction and was not only drawn to the beautiful cover but the mystery surrounding the story.
The story flips between the present day and Margaret’s childhood. In the present day we have Emma’s narrative as she discovers a secret from her mother, Margaret’s’, past. We also learn more about the relationship, or lack of, between the mother and daughter. Emma has always struggled to be close to her mother and can’t understand why her mother doesn’t seem to have a maternal bone in her body. Throughout the story we see glimmers of Margaret’s affections but she still seems to hold everyone at arms length.
When flick back to Margaret’s childhood we see just what it was like for Betty, an unwed woman in the 1930’s and how she survived motherhood. She started out as a very strong character and I admired her bravery and willingness to step out of what society expected of her. Sadly, as the story went on my opinion of Betty started to dwindle and I found myself sympathising more and more with Margaret.
Interestingly we don’t actually get Margaret’s POV in the story, she remains a mystery and she is certainly a character that one could judge far too quickly. I very much enjoyed how the mystery unravelled and felt like I too went on this journey with Emma.
What struck me most was the turbulent relationship between the three women of this story. It wasn’t just Emma’s fraught relationship with Margaret but also Margaret’s relationship with her own mother, Betty. You could see history repeating itself with mistake after mistake being made between these women. They sacrificed so much of their motherly relationships and I can’t help but think that if they had just talked to each other then things would of been so much better.
This was a deeply moving story that showed mothering in a completely different light. Emotively written with engaging characters, this has a dark twist that I didn’t see coming!
August 10, 2021
The Girl In the Maze by Cathy Hayward
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Emma had a strained relationship with her mother ever since she was young. It all used to be great until one day in which it all change. Since then her relationship with her mother has been different. Now her mother has passed and one single birth certificate she discovers while cleaning out her deceased mother's house, unravels a mystery that she wasn't even aware existed.
Rating: This book is a hard read once you start to piece the story together. It's hard because it deals with sexual assault and the loss of children. It's hard because Cathy makes you feel connected to the characters, even though many of them have now passed or don't appear much in the story.
This book was a great read, it was hard but it was great. I couldn't put the book down, i needed more and just when I thought I had an answer Hayward completely blindsighted me with more information. It was a long book but it didn't feel long, i read it in 5 hours because I couldn't put it down.
The reason why I gave this book 4/5 is not because there was something wrong with the book, it's just that the heavy topics it had put me off a bit because it was hard to read. Also because even though I couldn't put this book down, there were some parts that read slow for me. But that's just me I've never been one for these kinds of books. I'm more of a quick paced fun read. Other then that it was a good book and i enjoyed reading it
TWs: Rape, Miscarriages, Abortions, death of parents
Rating: 4/5
Summary: Emma had a strained relationship with her mother ever since she was young. It all used to be great until one day in which it all change. Since then her relationship with her mother has been different. Now her mother has passed and one single birth certificate she discovers while cleaning out her deceased mother's house, unravels a mystery that she wasn't even aware existed.
Rating: This book is a hard read once you start to piece the story together. It's hard because it deals with sexual assault and the loss of children. It's hard because Cathy makes you feel connected to the characters, even though many of them have now passed or don't appear much in the story.
This book was a great read, it was hard but it was great. I couldn't put the book down, i needed more and just when I thought I had an answer Hayward completely blindsighted me with more information. It was a long book but it didn't feel long, i read it in 5 hours because I couldn't put it down.
The reason why I gave this book 4/5 is not because there was something wrong with the book, it's just that the heavy topics it had put me off a bit because it was hard to read. Also because even though I couldn't put this book down, there were some parts that read slow for me. But that's just me I've never been one for these kinds of books. I'm more of a quick paced fun read. Other then that it was a good book and i enjoyed reading it
TWs: Rape, Miscarriages, Abortions, death of parents
September 7, 2021
Some mother daughter relationships are fraught with so many roadblocks. Emma had rarely spoken to her mother over the last couple of years because it invariably became tense, rude and unforgivable things were said. The fact that her mother was a difficult woman was acknowledged by many, but her mother's animosity towards Emma's second child, her daughter Libby was unforgivable.
When her mother died, and Emma was left to clear her house and stuff, her will was enough in itself to be upsetting. She had changed her will one day before she died, leaving the flat to Libby - the grand daughter whom she refused to be courteous to during her life, and on further delving into papers and journals Emma discovers an entire new life her mother had. Something totally unknown, disturbing, and in hindsight accountable for her mother's distorted way of
living her life.
The story was alarming, very tense, very emotional, disturbing but an excellent read of hidden elements in a person's life and how eventually they do surface - intentionally or unintentionally. Some things seem like fate, some things should be left buried but are somehow dug up and then you cant put it back in the box neatly. It disrupts everything from that moment on. I did not feel that the facts that were buried, but were deliberately opened helped to bring about peace and happiness at least not very much.
The story is unusual. Disturbing but unusual.
When her mother died, and Emma was left to clear her house and stuff, her will was enough in itself to be upsetting. She had changed her will one day before she died, leaving the flat to Libby - the grand daughter whom she refused to be courteous to during her life, and on further delving into papers and journals Emma discovers an entire new life her mother had. Something totally unknown, disturbing, and in hindsight accountable for her mother's distorted way of
living her life.
The story was alarming, very tense, very emotional, disturbing but an excellent read of hidden elements in a person's life and how eventually they do surface - intentionally or unintentionally. Some things seem like fate, some things should be left buried but are somehow dug up and then you cant put it back in the box neatly. It disrupts everything from that moment on. I did not feel that the facts that were buried, but were deliberately opened helped to bring about peace and happiness at least not very much.
The story is unusual. Disturbing but unusual.
October 31, 2021
This is a beautiful story of how some things are just better left alone.
After her estranged mother Margaret’s death, Emma is clearing through her home when she discovers a birth certificate for a child Margaret had decades before her. But she’s never known of any sibling and needs to find out more - but as she asks if anyone knows anything, she’s warned to leave it alone. And as she reads through some letters she’s found between her mother and her grandmother Betty, it soon becomes clear that there was a very good reason her mother never mentioned anything…
If you love a real family saga with plenty of mystery and intrigue, then this is the book for you! I couldn’t read quickly enough to find out what the story behind the mysterious Margaret and her secrets was - although be warned that the reality is incredibly harrowing.
This is a beautifully written and compelling exploration of the scars which can be felt for generations, and the impact which one trauma years before can have on so many people that come after. It’s definitely an emotional and draining read at times, but it’s also hopeful and a look at how strong a mother’s love can be, and the lengths they will go to to protect their families.
After her estranged mother Margaret’s death, Emma is clearing through her home when she discovers a birth certificate for a child Margaret had decades before her. But she’s never known of any sibling and needs to find out more - but as she asks if anyone knows anything, she’s warned to leave it alone. And as she reads through some letters she’s found between her mother and her grandmother Betty, it soon becomes clear that there was a very good reason her mother never mentioned anything…
If you love a real family saga with plenty of mystery and intrigue, then this is the book for you! I couldn’t read quickly enough to find out what the story behind the mysterious Margaret and her secrets was - although be warned that the reality is incredibly harrowing.
This is a beautifully written and compelling exploration of the scars which can be felt for generations, and the impact which one trauma years before can have on so many people that come after. It’s definitely an emotional and draining read at times, but it’s also hopeful and a look at how strong a mother’s love can be, and the lengths they will go to to protect their families.
January 1, 2022
What an engrossing and accomplished debut novel! A layered family history highlighting how influential a mother can be, whether she is present or absent...
The first few chapters were brutal and heartbreaking to read, but formed a needed foundation for the rest of the novel.
This novel deftly explores the topic of motherhood in all its many guises and permutations. It also explores the intense complexity of parenthood and family relationships, and how we are all shaped by our childhood experiences.
The book puts a fictional slant on how society has changed over the years when it comes to children born out of wedlock. It tells of relationships forged - and relationships destroyed. It portrays the rift between what our parents' relationships were really like and how we view them as children. How we take our parents for granted until we are no longer able to do so...
"The Girl In The Maze" was an accomplished debut novel that I can highly recommend. I look forward to the author's next novel.
The first few chapters were brutal and heartbreaking to read, but formed a needed foundation for the rest of the novel.
This novel deftly explores the topic of motherhood in all its many guises and permutations. It also explores the intense complexity of parenthood and family relationships, and how we are all shaped by our childhood experiences.
The book puts a fictional slant on how society has changed over the years when it comes to children born out of wedlock. It tells of relationships forged - and relationships destroyed. It portrays the rift between what our parents' relationships were really like and how we view them as children. How we take our parents for granted until we are no longer able to do so...
"The Girl In The Maze" was an accomplished debut novel that I can highly recommend. I look forward to the author's next novel.
November 27, 2021
The Girl in the Maze is the debut novel of Cathy Hayward and it is so good! This is a story about three women - mothers and daughters - across generations. As the story unfolds, we see how events, circumstance and social mores shape and influence their relationships that reverberate through the decades.
The novel has a very intense start - be warned there are some triggers in the novel - and the reader is very quickly caught up in the lives of the characters. Told through the eyes of the various women, the novel is well-written, the plot is well-crafted and the storylines of the women are expertly interwoven. I was thoroughly caught up in the lives of these characters. I loved this heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story. A highly recommended read. The Girl in the Maze is out on October 28.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The novel has a very intense start - be warned there are some triggers in the novel - and the reader is very quickly caught up in the lives of the characters. Told through the eyes of the various women, the novel is well-written, the plot is well-crafted and the storylines of the women are expertly interwoven. I was thoroughly caught up in the lives of these characters. I loved this heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story. A highly recommended read. The Girl in the Maze is out on October 28.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2021
The Girl in the Maze is the debut novel of Cathy Hayward and it is so good! This is a story about three women - mothers and daughters - across generations. As the story unfolds, we see how events, circumstance and social mores shape and influence their relationships that reverberate through the decades.
The novel has a very intense start - be warned there are some triggers in the novel - and the reader is very quickly caught up in the lives of the characters. Told through the eyes of the various women, the novel is well-written, the plot is well-crafted and the storylines of the women are expertly interwoven. I was thoroughly caught up in the lives of these characters. I loved this heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story. A highly recommended read. The Girl in the Maze is out on October 28.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The novel has a very intense start - be warned there are some triggers in the novel - and the reader is very quickly caught up in the lives of the characters. Told through the eyes of the various women, the novel is well-written, the plot is well-crafted and the storylines of the women are expertly interwoven. I was thoroughly caught up in the lives of these characters. I loved this heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful story. A highly recommended read. The Girl in the Maze is out on October 28.
Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2024
**this was an arc received from NetGalley**
Let me just say wow. This was an amazing read. It was so real and raw and being told from 3 povs made it even more interesting. Betty, Margaret and Emma are grandmother, mother and daughter. With the story from their povs, it was interesting to see how a simple decision even as far back as 1937 would affect someone in 2019. The book touches on some uncomfortable and unfortunate but real topics, which were sad to read but interesting to see how the character made it through that adversity. There’s an aspect of found family which I loved, I think that was well written into the plot. This wasn’t a 5 star read for because it took me so long to finish. I felt like the poorly was taking forever to build up but once the author did that, the story went faster.
Let me just say wow. This was an amazing read. It was so real and raw and being told from 3 povs made it even more interesting. Betty, Margaret and Emma are grandmother, mother and daughter. With the story from their povs, it was interesting to see how a simple decision even as far back as 1937 would affect someone in 2019. The book touches on some uncomfortable and unfortunate but real topics, which were sad to read but interesting to see how the character made it through that adversity. There’s an aspect of found family which I loved, I think that was well written into the plot. This wasn’t a 5 star read for because it took me so long to finish. I felt like the poorly was taking forever to build up but once the author did that, the story went faster.
September 1, 2021
The Girl in the Maze
Decisions made long ago will affect your future – that’s the message of this unforgettable debut. The Girl in the Maze stayed with me long after I’d closed the book: it’s a multi-layered haunting history, powerful because it’s just so close to all of our lives.
The story moves fast, unpeeling the story of one woman’s difficult past in the wake of her mother’s death; in it we see motherhood in all its biological nakedness. Those difficult life decisions we were so sure we’d make? Be prepared for that certainty to be up for question given the prejudice of the past.
The Girl in the Maze makes you think, it makes you question, it makes you feel. More please from Cathy Hayward.
Decisions made long ago will affect your future – that’s the message of this unforgettable debut. The Girl in the Maze stayed with me long after I’d closed the book: it’s a multi-layered haunting history, powerful because it’s just so close to all of our lives.
The story moves fast, unpeeling the story of one woman’s difficult past in the wake of her mother’s death; in it we see motherhood in all its biological nakedness. Those difficult life decisions we were so sure we’d make? Be prepared for that certainty to be up for question given the prejudice of the past.
The Girl in the Maze makes you think, it makes you question, it makes you feel. More please from Cathy Hayward.
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