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The Guilty Mother
scorchingly good thriller’ Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me on Those Who Lie by Diane Jeffrey
WOULD YOU BELIEVE HER?
2013
Melissa Slade had it beauty, money, a successful husband and beautiful twin babies. But, in the blink of an eye, her perfect life became a nightmare – when she found herself on trial for the murder of her little girls.
PRESENT DAY
Jonathan Hunt covered the original Slade Babies' case for the local newspaper. Now that new evidence has come to light, Jon's boss wants him back on the story to uncover the truth.
With Melissa's appeal date looming, time is running out. And, as Jon gets drawn deeper into a case he’d wanted to forget, he starts to question Melissa's guilt.
Is Melissa manipulating Jon or telling him the truth? Is she a murderer, or the victim of a miscarriage of justice?
And if Melissa Slade is innocent, what really happened to Ellie and Amber Slade?
WOULD YOU BELIEVE HER?
2013
Melissa Slade had it beauty, money, a successful husband and beautiful twin babies. But, in the blink of an eye, her perfect life became a nightmare – when she found herself on trial for the murder of her little girls.
PRESENT DAY
Jonathan Hunt covered the original Slade Babies' case for the local newspaper. Now that new evidence has come to light, Jon's boss wants him back on the story to uncover the truth.
With Melissa's appeal date looming, time is running out. And, as Jon gets drawn deeper into a case he’d wanted to forget, he starts to question Melissa's guilt.
Is Melissa manipulating Jon or telling him the truth? Is she a murderer, or the victim of a miscarriage of justice?
And if Melissa Slade is innocent, what really happened to Ellie and Amber Slade?
360 pages
First published August 2, 2019
2004 people are currently reading
4068 people want to read
About the author
Diane Jeffrey
7 books287 followersDiane Jeffrey is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author.
She grew up in North Devon and Belfast in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.
She has written seven psychological thrillers, all published by HQ/HarperCollins.
THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane's third novel, was a USA Today bestseller.
Her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA.
THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, Diane's fifth psychological thriller, won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for the best ebook original novel.
THE CRIME WRITER is Diane's latest psychological thriller, published in March 2025 in ebook, paperback and audiobook.
Diane is an English teacher. When she's not teaching or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.
Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Author website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
Readers can also follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey
or on Instagram @dianefjeffrey
or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
or via her website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
She grew up in North Devon and Belfast in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.
She has written seven psychological thrillers, all published by HQ/HarperCollins.
THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane's third novel, was a USA Today bestseller.
Her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA.
THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, Diane's fifth psychological thriller, won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for the best ebook original novel.
THE CRIME WRITER is Diane's latest psychological thriller, published in March 2025 in ebook, paperback and audiobook.
Diane is an English teacher. When she's not teaching or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.
Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Author website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
Readers can also follow Diane on Twitter @dianefjeffrey
or on Instagram @dianefjeffrey
or on Facebook.com/dianejeffreyauthor
or via her website: https://www.dianejeffrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 391 reviews
September 24, 2019
Imagine having newborn twin daughters. Imagine one dies of cot death in the night. Now imagine, three weeks later, and your other twin daughter dies, supposedly, of cot death. What are the chances of tragedy striking the same family twice?
This seems all too coincidental to the authorities and Melissa Slade is sent to prison for life in the murder of baby Ella.
Melissa's first husband doesn't believe she would ever do such a thing and fights vigorously for her release. Meanwhile, her new husband and father to the girls, believes fully that his wife carried out the heinous act.
John and Kelly, local reporters, are requested to look into Melissa's case as, they believe, a miscarriage of justice has taken place when it's discovered that parts of the original toxicology report were missing. The information in that report likely would have exonerated Melissa of her charges. We follow along as Jon and Kelly investigate.
This was a slow burn but an interesting one. The entire time I was reading this I kept wavering back and forth as to Melissa's guilt or innocence. Then when a twist is revealed in the last 1/4 I thought: I KNEW IT! Fancy me the little detective but I was wrong. The truth is only revealed to you in those final pages and wow, just wow. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This seems all too coincidental to the authorities and Melissa Slade is sent to prison for life in the murder of baby Ella.
Melissa's first husband doesn't believe she would ever do such a thing and fights vigorously for her release. Meanwhile, her new husband and father to the girls, believes fully that his wife carried out the heinous act.
John and Kelly, local reporters, are requested to look into Melissa's case as, they believe, a miscarriage of justice has taken place when it's discovered that parts of the original toxicology report were missing. The information in that report likely would have exonerated Melissa of her charges. We follow along as Jon and Kelly investigate.
This was a slow burn but an interesting one. The entire time I was reading this I kept wavering back and forth as to Melissa's guilt or innocence. Then when a twist is revealed in the last 1/4 I thought: I KNEW IT! Fancy me the little detective but I was wrong. The truth is only revealed to you in those final pages and wow, just wow. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 25, 2019
4.75
This is one hell of a book. I’ve read lots of books with children going missing, killed, abducted but this is not that.
Don’t ignore this book if you like ‘edge of your seat’ reads.
Don’t miss this book if you are one who thinks they know the ending.
I got tied up in knots.
Did she? She didn’t!
She did.
She didn’t.
It was him, her, that one, no, the other one.
So you give birth to twins.
One dies, cot death. Shock, horror, grief and utter devastation.
Then the other twin dies.
Cot death?
But Mom Melissa is put into prison.
Did she kill her baby. Did she kill both babies?
The other characters surrounding this story are pretty believable. Some you like, some you don’t and some you will wonder about.
The complexity of this very finely woven story will spin your head around and around.
I’m so glad I got to read this book. This definitely is a memorable story and one on my top in this genre this year.
This is one hell of a book. I’ve read lots of books with children going missing, killed, abducted but this is not that.
Don’t ignore this book if you like ‘edge of your seat’ reads.
Don’t miss this book if you are one who thinks they know the ending.
I got tied up in knots.
Did she? She didn’t!
She did.
She didn’t.
It was him, her, that one, no, the other one.
So you give birth to twins.
One dies, cot death. Shock, horror, grief and utter devastation.
Then the other twin dies.
Cot death?
But Mom Melissa is put into prison.
Did she kill her baby. Did she kill both babies?
The other characters surrounding this story are pretty believable. Some you like, some you don’t and some you will wonder about.
The complexity of this very finely woven story will spin your head around and around.
I’m so glad I got to read this book. This definitely is a memorable story and one on my top in this genre this year.
July 22, 2019
4.5 stars!
What could be worse than finding one of your adorable twins, not breathing...a victim of Cot Death?
How about finding your second twin has suffered the same fate, a few weeks later?
In 2013, this is what happened to Melissa Slade.
But, when her second baby is found dead, the police question whether or not this could actually happen twice...and, if the coroner got it "wrong" the first time.
Present Day:
Jonathan Hunt covered the original Slade Babies case for the local newspaper. So when his new editor gets wind that Melissa has filed an APPEAL, she wants him back on the story to uncover the truth.
The only problem? He is reluctant to investigate this case for personal reasons.
Fortunately, his protégé , Kelly, IS interested, and starts doing some digging of her own.
Is Melissa Slade manipulating everyone...or has she been the Victim of a Miscarriage of Justice?
Pieces of this puzzle are revealed, chapter by chapter from the alternating perspectives of Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly and I enjoyed each perspective equally.
I found all three to be well developed, relatable characters and I was engaged with the story from the first page to the last. Never a desire to skim with this book. (despite long chapters!)
And, I had no idea if Melissa was guilty or innocent till the end.
Best of all (for me) all of the twists and revelations are plausible!
Although the subject matter is delicate there are no gruesome descriptions for those who feel they may be sensitive to this storyline.
This book was published in the U.K. under the title "The Appeal" but will be released in the U.S under the title “The Guilty Wife” on Aug. 2, 2019.
I had not read Diane Jeffrey's work prior to receiving this book, and I would like to thank the author, NetGalley and HQ Digital for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review.
I am definitely planning to go back and read her previous novels now that I have discovered her work!
What could be worse than finding one of your adorable twins, not breathing...a victim of Cot Death?
How about finding your second twin has suffered the same fate, a few weeks later?
In 2013, this is what happened to Melissa Slade.
But, when her second baby is found dead, the police question whether or not this could actually happen twice...and, if the coroner got it "wrong" the first time.
Present Day:
Jonathan Hunt covered the original Slade Babies case for the local newspaper. So when his new editor gets wind that Melissa has filed an APPEAL, she wants him back on the story to uncover the truth.
The only problem? He is reluctant to investigate this case for personal reasons.
Fortunately, his protégé , Kelly, IS interested, and starts doing some digging of her own.
Is Melissa Slade manipulating everyone...or has she been the Victim of a Miscarriage of Justice?
Pieces of this puzzle are revealed, chapter by chapter from the alternating perspectives of Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly and I enjoyed each perspective equally.
I found all three to be well developed, relatable characters and I was engaged with the story from the first page to the last. Never a desire to skim with this book. (despite long chapters!)
And, I had no idea if Melissa was guilty or innocent till the end.
Best of all (for me) all of the twists and revelations are plausible!
Although the subject matter is delicate there are no gruesome descriptions for those who feel they may be sensitive to this storyline.
This book was published in the U.K. under the title "The Appeal" but will be released in the U.S under the title “The Guilty Wife” on Aug. 2, 2019.
I had not read Diane Jeffrey's work prior to receiving this book, and I would like to thank the author, NetGalley and HQ Digital for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review.
I am definitely planning to go back and read her previous novels now that I have discovered her work!
June 13, 2019
Melissa lost one baby, not her fault
I believed her
Melissa lost another baby, again not her fault
I didnt believe her
And this sets the tone for this has she?/hasn’t she?, could she?, couldn’t she? book as your emotions, thoughts and ‘reckoning’ go left, right, back, forth and up and down
An extremely clever ‘keeps you on your toes’ psychological thriller where nothing is ‘cut and dried’ and even less is as you think you believe!
Melissa is either the biggest psychopathic child killer ever or the victim of something much more sinister
And now its her appeal, will the people who count believe her?, or will they be as baffled as we, the readers, are
The phrase ‘on the edge of your seat’ was made for this book, once started you wont want to finish until you know the outcome!
Tense and unpredictable, it is a story
full to the brim of drama, great characters, clever plot and sub and sub sub plots as this author does so well....I will leave her fate in your hands....but remember her life and future depends on her appeal......
10/10 5 Stars
NEW TITLE IS ‘ THE GUILTY MOTHER’
July 6, 2020
Audio 4. 25 Stars
Story....4.25 Stars
Story....4.25 Stars
October 9, 2019
I received a free e-copy of The Guilty Mother: Who Would you Believe by Diane Jeffrey from NetGalley for my honest review.
A twisted, thrilling read that kept me guessing until the very end!
Melissa, is sent to prison for the murder of her twin baby girls in 2013. But the question is, did she really do it?
Fast forward to 2018 and Journalist Jonathan Hunt. Jonathan covered Melissa’s case back in 2013. Now he is back on the same story because Melissa is granted an appeal. Maybe this time he can find out the truth behind the story.
A twisted, thrilling read that kept me guessing until the very end!
Melissa, is sent to prison for the murder of her twin baby girls in 2013. But the question is, did she really do it?
Fast forward to 2018 and Journalist Jonathan Hunt. Jonathan covered Melissa’s case back in 2013. Now he is back on the same story because Melissa is granted an appeal. Maybe this time he can find out the truth behind the story.
July 25, 2019
A gripping and well-written read that kept me up way past bedtime.
Melissa Slade is serving a life sentence for the murder of her baby daughter, Ellie. Evidence suggests that Ellie was smothered, unlike her twin sister, Amber, who - get this - died of SIDS only weeks earlier. Or rather, she presumably died of SIDS (cot death). Her little body was cremated, so it was impossible to conduct another autopsy to be 100% sure. A jury convicted Melissa of murder in Ellie's case, but decided they couldn't find her guilty beyond reasonable doubt for Amber's death.
Journalist Jonathan
Hunt covered Melissa's trial. He believes she is guilty and is far from pleased when his editor orders him to investigate the story again. New evidence has surfaced and Melissa has applied for an appeal. To add insult to injury, the case is too close for comfort and reopens wounds from his past.
Kelly, a junior reporter with a sad story of her own, helps Jonathan to investigate. Very soon they have more questions than they started with. Did Melissa kill both her daughters? Did she kill one of them, or has lightening struck twice? If she IS innocent, did one/both twins die of natural causes, or was there another murderer in the Slade house? Heaven knows, there are enough suspects!
I enjoyed experiencing the story from the perspective of three characters: Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly. All three were well-developed and relatable. Ms. Jeffrey has a smooth writing style that reads effortlessly. I will definitely read more of her work.
In summary: I enjoyed The Guilty Mother a lot and can recommend it to fans of psychological suspense. It is a slow-burn but delivers enough twists to keep the reader's attention.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Melissa Slade is serving a life sentence for the murder of her baby daughter, Ellie. Evidence suggests that Ellie was smothered, unlike her twin sister, Amber, who - get this - died of SIDS only weeks earlier. Or rather, she presumably died of SIDS (cot death). Her little body was cremated, so it was impossible to conduct another autopsy to be 100% sure. A jury convicted Melissa of murder in Ellie's case, but decided they couldn't find her guilty beyond reasonable doubt for Amber's death.
Journalist Jonathan
Hunt covered Melissa's trial. He believes she is guilty and is far from pleased when his editor orders him to investigate the story again. New evidence has surfaced and Melissa has applied for an appeal. To add insult to injury, the case is too close for comfort and reopens wounds from his past.
Kelly, a junior reporter with a sad story of her own, helps Jonathan to investigate. Very soon they have more questions than they started with. Did Melissa kill both her daughters? Did she kill one of them, or has lightening struck twice? If she IS innocent, did one/both twins die of natural causes, or was there another murderer in the Slade house? Heaven knows, there are enough suspects!
I enjoyed experiencing the story from the perspective of three characters: Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly. All three were well-developed and relatable. Ms. Jeffrey has a smooth writing style that reads effortlessly. I will definitely read more of her work.
In summary: I enjoyed The Guilty Mother a lot and can recommend it to fans of psychological suspense. It is a slow-burn but delivers enough twists to keep the reader's attention.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffery is the first book by this author that I have read, although I have others on my to be read shelf. The story covers some tough subjects although you do not get exact details.. Even still I struggled to get into this book in the beginning. Thankfully though it picked up and I was hooked. Every time you think you have figured this one out it turns another way which I loved.
in 2013 Melissa Slade was sent to prison for killing her own daughter. Only weeks before her twin baby girl was found dead in her cot - coat death. And then the same happens to the second twin - the police are not convinced and Melissa is arrested. Years later she is appealing her case and reporters Jonathon and Kelly are assigned the story. The more they dig the more confused they become... did Ellie die from cot death or did somebody in her family kill her - and why?
Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
in 2013 Melissa Slade was sent to prison for killing her own daughter. Only weeks before her twin baby girl was found dead in her cot - coat death. And then the same happens to the second twin - the police are not convinced and Melissa is arrested. Years later she is appealing her case and reporters Jonathon and Kelly are assigned the story. The more they dig the more confused they become... did Ellie die from cot death or did somebody in her family kill her - and why?
Thanks to HQ Digital and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
July 27, 2019
Unfortunately, I think this book felt like a standard slow-burn thriller. I found it went on longer than it needed to, but that's probably because I couldn't connect to the characters, the story, or the overall ambience of the book. In fact, I didn't feel as if there was an ambience at all; everything was flat, standard, and told-and-not-shown, leaving me to feel as if the story itself didn't have much personality to latch onto.
I might only feel this way because I read a lot of mystery/thrillers, and the concepts being pushed here are nothing that I haven't already seen before. However, don't let my review dissuade you; other people who don't read the genre as often might find this one worth enjoying.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy in exchange for a review.
I might only feel this way because I read a lot of mystery/thrillers, and the concepts being pushed here are nothing that I haven't already seen before. However, don't let my review dissuade you; other people who don't read the genre as often might find this one worth enjoying.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free e-copy in exchange for a review.
October 8, 2019
The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffery
Pub Date August 2, 2019
#harpercollins #netgalley
So I started this book in August but I ran into a problem with my kindle and couldn't finish it until I got it fixed. The Guilty Mother is a Noir Fiction, Legal Thriller.
Jon & Kelly are journalists investigating a case that was back in the public's eye. Melissa was convicted of killing her twin babies and is serving life in prison. Melissa's first husband has gotten the right people to look at the case again to prove that there's a Miscarriage Of Justice in her case.
The story follows Jon & Kelly's investigation and entries from Melissa diary.
This was a gripping page-turner and I loved the characters. And the shocking twist at the end was jaw-dropping.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you #netgalley for the free book in exchange for an honest review. Will be looking forward to reading He Will Find You by Diane Jeffery
Pub Date August 2, 2019
#harpercollins #netgalley
So I started this book in August but I ran into a problem with my kindle and couldn't finish it until I got it fixed. The Guilty Mother is a Noir Fiction, Legal Thriller.
Jon & Kelly are journalists investigating a case that was back in the public's eye. Melissa was convicted of killing her twin babies and is serving life in prison. Melissa's first husband has gotten the right people to look at the case again to prove that there's a Miscarriage Of Justice in her case.
The story follows Jon & Kelly's investigation and entries from Melissa diary.
This was a gripping page-turner and I loved the characters. And the shocking twist at the end was jaw-dropping.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you #netgalley for the free book in exchange for an honest review. Will be looking forward to reading He Will Find You by Diane Jeffery
July 25, 2019
The story flicks between a few of the characters but mainly Jonathan, a reporter and Melissa who is in prison charged with murder. I really felt for Melissa but to lose not one baby but two, well it is hard to comprehend and have to admit it does give cause for concern as the likely hood of two babies dying in a short time of each other due to natural causes, hard to get your head around.
There are quite a few characters in the story of which gives scope for more suspects including Melissa. Through the investigation by Jonathan and his side kick Kelly that he is giving some guidance to in helping her be a better reporter, more things come to light in the search for a good story to run in the paper.
I was constantly changing my mind as to who could be behind it and second guessing everyone and everything. I kept thinking I was getting close for the author to keep changing the goal posts. Kelly’s character I absolutely loved and whilst she might be a bit wet behind the ears, she shows that she will go far in a role as a reporter. I liked the natural working relationship between her and Jonathan and thought they worked really well together.
The Guilty Mother is packed full of lies and secrets. You never knew quite what next was going to be revealed which really keeps you on your toes and I ended up reading the book in one morning as I was totally held hostage by the story. The added bonus of a few twists really makes this a thrilling read. Perfect for fans of a good psychological thrillers.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
There are quite a few characters in the story of which gives scope for more suspects including Melissa. Through the investigation by Jonathan and his side kick Kelly that he is giving some guidance to in helping her be a better reporter, more things come to light in the search for a good story to run in the paper.
I was constantly changing my mind as to who could be behind it and second guessing everyone and everything. I kept thinking I was getting close for the author to keep changing the goal posts. Kelly’s character I absolutely loved and whilst she might be a bit wet behind the ears, she shows that she will go far in a role as a reporter. I liked the natural working relationship between her and Jonathan and thought they worked really well together.
The Guilty Mother is packed full of lies and secrets. You never knew quite what next was going to be revealed which really keeps you on your toes and I ended up reading the book in one morning as I was totally held hostage by the story. The added bonus of a few twists really makes this a thrilling read. Perfect for fans of a good psychological thrillers.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 13, 2020
This was a really gripping read for me, I really didn't know what to expect.
Everytime I thought I had worked it out I was wrong.
I couldn't have foreseen the ending!
There are alot of books of a similar type around at the moment and they can sometimes blend together and feel very alike. This wasn't like that, fortunately it stood out from the crowd.
I found it well written and easy to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Everytime I thought I had worked it out I was wrong.
I couldn't have foreseen the ending!
There are alot of books of a similar type around at the moment and they can sometimes blend together and feel very alike. This wasn't like that, fortunately it stood out from the crowd.
I found it well written and easy to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 3, 2019
Omg omg omg I don't know whether to laugh at the sheer brilliance of the thriller or cry at the pathos weaved in the storyline.
Melissa was in prison for killing her newborn baby.
One child died, it was ruled as cot death. Second too died in 3 weeks, it was MURDER.
She was tried and convicted until an appeal brought hope of her release. Journalist Jonathan and colleague Kelly soon got to investigating, and the truth revealed was simply soul-chilling.
My first book by Diane Jeffrey, and I have become a permanent fan of her writing. A mind blowing storyline, which had the excitement coursing through my veins, made it a delight to read. The plot twists had me going WOW after every few pages. AND THAT LAST CHAPTER TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. It was everything a thriller ought to be. My pulse skyrocketed. OMG. I simply couldn't believe what I had just read.
Told in multiple POV of the 2 journalists and mother Melissa, the characterization was realistic and with genuine emotions. Each of them had something happening in their personal lives which was triggered by Melissa's story. They were all trapped in this whirlpool where secrets had to be forgotten, changes had to be made, and revenge had to be taken and justified.
Diane Jeffery has made this book a rocking, absolutely unputdownable roller coaster of a ride where the dips were so low that they touched the darkness of a human psyche and the ups were so high that I was instantly dizzy. It was nothing short of sheer genius, a master storyteller who could make the heart thud with a single stroke of her pen. I was still trembling with the rush of adrenaline while writing this review. WOW
Melissa was in prison for killing her newborn baby.
One child died, it was ruled as cot death. Second too died in 3 weeks, it was MURDER.
She was tried and convicted until an appeal brought hope of her release. Journalist Jonathan and colleague Kelly soon got to investigating, and the truth revealed was simply soul-chilling.
My first book by Diane Jeffrey, and I have become a permanent fan of her writing. A mind blowing storyline, which had the excitement coursing through my veins, made it a delight to read. The plot twists had me going WOW after every few pages. AND THAT LAST CHAPTER TOOK MY BREATH AWAY. It was everything a thriller ought to be. My pulse skyrocketed. OMG. I simply couldn't believe what I had just read.
Told in multiple POV of the 2 journalists and mother Melissa, the characterization was realistic and with genuine emotions. Each of them had something happening in their personal lives which was triggered by Melissa's story. They were all trapped in this whirlpool where secrets had to be forgotten, changes had to be made, and revenge had to be taken and justified.
Diane Jeffery has made this book a rocking, absolutely unputdownable roller coaster of a ride where the dips were so low that they touched the darkness of a human psyche and the ups were so high that I was instantly dizzy. It was nothing short of sheer genius, a master storyteller who could make the heart thud with a single stroke of her pen. I was still trembling with the rush of adrenaline while writing this review. WOW
March 27, 2020
5 stars audio
4.5 stars story
4.5 stars story
July 26, 2019
I wish I could say that I really enjoyed this book, but I didn't. From the reviews listed already here, I thought I was going to be gripped or left "on the edge of my seat", but I wasn't. While, I understand the concept of this book... It just did not appeal to me as I was reading it. Melissa apparently was suffering from post partum depression, why didn't anyone reach out to her to get her some help after the birth of her twins? Her second husband, Michael, was a waste of air. If he had of given her just the tiniest bit of support with the twins, neither one of them would've died. I just couldn't get into this story. It bothered me tremendously and I'm left disappointed and wanting more from it. 3/5 stars from me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review for an honest opinion.
January 18, 2023
The Guilty Mother is a psychological thriller exploring the themes of infant death, guilt and miscarriages of justice.
The scenario revolves around the new mother, Melissa Slade. She goes through the worst nightmare when one of her newborn twin daughters dies of cot death then suddenly inexplicably the other dies just three weeks later presumably of cot death too. As the old saying goes, lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice. An investigation by the authorities ensues and Melissa is subsequently charged, tried and sent to prison for the murder of baby Ella. Melissa maintains her innocence but suffers horrendous abuse in prison, not only due to the nature of her crime but also because she is a police officer.
Her new husband and the grieving father of the twins has no doubt that Melissa killed one of the twins as she obviously was not coping well when they were born. In this part of the book, Diane really gets under the skin of the exhaustion new mothers feel. My friend had twins at the age of 45 and I can remember her clearly saying how hopeless she felt. Melissa’s first husband, however, is not convinced that she was capable of such an act and starts to fight for her release from prison.
Jon Hunt and Kelly, reporters with a local paper are asked to look into the circumstances of the case. They soon discover conflicting evidence and information including that parts of the toxicology report have mysteriously gone missing. They then start to gather more evidence that a miscarriage of Justine has taken place. However, Jon has personal issues preventing him from objectively seeing the case.
Although not a fast-moving novel Diane Jeffery cleverly keeps the twists and turns coming so you are constantly kept guessing. The twist at the end is shattering but is still dealt with some sympathy.
A really good and highly recommended read.
The scenario revolves around the new mother, Melissa Slade. She goes through the worst nightmare when one of her newborn twin daughters dies of cot death then suddenly inexplicably the other dies just three weeks later presumably of cot death too. As the old saying goes, lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice. An investigation by the authorities ensues and Melissa is subsequently charged, tried and sent to prison for the murder of baby Ella. Melissa maintains her innocence but suffers horrendous abuse in prison, not only due to the nature of her crime but also because she is a police officer.
Her new husband and the grieving father of the twins has no doubt that Melissa killed one of the twins as she obviously was not coping well when they were born. In this part of the book, Diane really gets under the skin of the exhaustion new mothers feel. My friend had twins at the age of 45 and I can remember her clearly saying how hopeless she felt. Melissa’s first husband, however, is not convinced that she was capable of such an act and starts to fight for her release from prison.
Jon Hunt and Kelly, reporters with a local paper are asked to look into the circumstances of the case. They soon discover conflicting evidence and information including that parts of the toxicology report have mysteriously gone missing. They then start to gather more evidence that a miscarriage of Justine has taken place. However, Jon has personal issues preventing him from objectively seeing the case.
Although not a fast-moving novel Diane Jeffery cleverly keeps the twists and turns coming so you are constantly kept guessing. The twist at the end is shattering but is still dealt with some sympathy.
A really good and highly recommended read.
August 7, 2019
Having read the authors previous two books and thoroughly enjoyed them, I had The Guilty Mother on preorder. Not only because of this authors fabulous skill of keeping me addicted to her books from the very first page but because the subject matter here is one that I have a very keen interest in. There was a very similar case local to me that I always followed with interest and believed in the accused woman’s innocence even though people told me I was being naive and easily led so it was very satisfying to be proved right. But if any of you remember that case, one of the biggest miscarriages if justice our country has ever seen, then you will know that there wasn’t a happy ending to that story even though the woman was eventually freed. How can anyone cope with being accused of murdering their children whilst dealing with the dreadful grief of losing a child or children at the same time? Diane Jeffrey does a brilliant job of keeping the essence of well known cases but giving this book her own twists and turns that keep you guessing throughout.
Melissa Slade is about to appeal her conviction for murder. Her time is prison has been horrendous due to the nature of her crime and also the fact she was a police officer. But she’s always remained adamant that she is innocent and now a report has come to light that supports her claims. Jon Hunt is the journalist who covered the original conviction and so his boss wants him on the case now as well. But Jon has his own personal problems that mean he struggles with particular aspects of the case and Melissa can be very convincing…
Jon was a great character and I really loved his involvement with Melissa’s case. His personal story was just as gripping as the story he was working on and the emotional pain caused by it inspired some relatable reactions in him to this case. He wasn’t on his own though as he had help from young reporter Kelly who was probably my most favourite character in the entire book and is one that needs ANOTHER book to herself for reasons that will become apparent! Melissa didn’t evoke the expected emotions in me, which was deliberate I’m sure, so that I was never really completely confident I was seeing the real her.
As a mum of twins myself, the author completely nails the feelings a new mum of twin babies has. It is EXHAUSTING and there are always “Judgy Judys” out there ready to examine every little thing you’re doing. And don’t get me started on the breastfeeding/bottle feeding thing! Due to those mums who stare disappointedly at bottle feeding mums whilst smugly breastfeeding, I cried for about 2 weeks when I had to give up breastfeeding my twins after 6 days convinced they would die from cot death! There is always some “well meaning” advice being given out from women who have absolutely no idea what you are going through and I now, in hindsight, find it very sad that motherhood is always some competition instead of the supportive “club” it should be. Anyway, the reason I mention this is because everyone seems to have an opinion on how Melissa is mothering her new arrivals and an even bigger opinion on whether or not she committed the heinous crime of infanticide but it isn’t until the case review that the right questions are finally asked. And the answers to those questions absolutely blew me away!
This is Diane Jeffrey’s best book by far and her writing style is perfectly matched to her subject matter here. She maintains a tension throughout the book so that the conclusions, when they finally arrive, are still shocking but delivered without any over sentimental judgements which kept the whole situation much more realistic I thought. She writes with compassion though and an understanding of issues surrounding families even though this is one of the most dysfunctional families I have read about recently!
I can highly recommend The Guilty Mother to all lovers of psychological thrillers. It’s brilliant!
Melissa Slade is about to appeal her conviction for murder. Her time is prison has been horrendous due to the nature of her crime and also the fact she was a police officer. But she’s always remained adamant that she is innocent and now a report has come to light that supports her claims. Jon Hunt is the journalist who covered the original conviction and so his boss wants him on the case now as well. But Jon has his own personal problems that mean he struggles with particular aspects of the case and Melissa can be very convincing…
Jon was a great character and I really loved his involvement with Melissa’s case. His personal story was just as gripping as the story he was working on and the emotional pain caused by it inspired some relatable reactions in him to this case. He wasn’t on his own though as he had help from young reporter Kelly who was probably my most favourite character in the entire book and is one that needs ANOTHER book to herself for reasons that will become apparent! Melissa didn’t evoke the expected emotions in me, which was deliberate I’m sure, so that I was never really completely confident I was seeing the real her.
As a mum of twins myself, the author completely nails the feelings a new mum of twin babies has. It is EXHAUSTING and there are always “Judgy Judys” out there ready to examine every little thing you’re doing. And don’t get me started on the breastfeeding/bottle feeding thing! Due to those mums who stare disappointedly at bottle feeding mums whilst smugly breastfeeding, I cried for about 2 weeks when I had to give up breastfeeding my twins after 6 days convinced they would die from cot death! There is always some “well meaning” advice being given out from women who have absolutely no idea what you are going through and I now, in hindsight, find it very sad that motherhood is always some competition instead of the supportive “club” it should be. Anyway, the reason I mention this is because everyone seems to have an opinion on how Melissa is mothering her new arrivals and an even bigger opinion on whether or not she committed the heinous crime of infanticide but it isn’t until the case review that the right questions are finally asked. And the answers to those questions absolutely blew me away!
This is Diane Jeffrey’s best book by far and her writing style is perfectly matched to her subject matter here. She maintains a tension throughout the book so that the conclusions, when they finally arrive, are still shocking but delivered without any over sentimental judgements which kept the whole situation much more realistic I thought. She writes with compassion though and an understanding of issues surrounding families even though this is one of the most dysfunctional families I have read about recently!
I can highly recommend The Guilty Mother to all lovers of psychological thrillers. It’s brilliant!
July 24, 2019
5-years ago, Melissa Slade’s infant daughter, Amber, tragically died in her crib. The police ruled it an accidental death, but when Amber’s twin, Ellie, died in a similar manner only weeks later, the police thought murder might be at play. And Melissa Slade was then charged with the murder of both her daughters—sending her to prison for life.
Now in present day, Jonathan, a local Bristol journalist, is tasked with his colleague, Kelly, to cover Melissa Slade’s appeal. Jonathan does not want to get involved with this case again for personal reasons, but his boss is gunning for him to uncover some information that could’ve been looked over 5-years previously.
So Jonathan and Kelly start doing some investigative journalism, talking to everyone who had anything to do with Melissa Slade and the deaths of Amber and Ellie. Some people maintain Melissa’s innocence, while others are convinced she’s a cold-blooded baby killer.
Jonathan is left wondering, was Melissa’s conviction a miscarriage or justice or is she trying to get away with the perfect crime?
The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffrey is a gripping crime thriller that had me invested from the very start. Although a little on the long side, the story kept my attention and I didn’t find myself getting bored. The story is told through 3 perspectives: Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly. Up until about the 85% mark, I had no idea whether or not Melissa was innocent. Diane Jeffrey did a great job playing both sides so I couldn’t guess the truth. I wish the big reveal had been more dramatic, adding a bigger shock value to it. But overall I’m impressed by this book and author and plan on reading more by Diane Jeffrey in the future. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and Diane Jeffrey for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Now in present day, Jonathan, a local Bristol journalist, is tasked with his colleague, Kelly, to cover Melissa Slade’s appeal. Jonathan does not want to get involved with this case again for personal reasons, but his boss is gunning for him to uncover some information that could’ve been looked over 5-years previously.
So Jonathan and Kelly start doing some investigative journalism, talking to everyone who had anything to do with Melissa Slade and the deaths of Amber and Ellie. Some people maintain Melissa’s innocence, while others are convinced she’s a cold-blooded baby killer.
Jonathan is left wondering, was Melissa’s conviction a miscarriage or justice or is she trying to get away with the perfect crime?
The Guilty Mother by Diane Jeffrey is a gripping crime thriller that had me invested from the very start. Although a little on the long side, the story kept my attention and I didn’t find myself getting bored. The story is told through 3 perspectives: Melissa, Jonathan and Kelly. Up until about the 85% mark, I had no idea whether or not Melissa was innocent. Diane Jeffrey did a great job playing both sides so I couldn’t guess the truth. I wish the big reveal had been more dramatic, adding a bigger shock value to it. But overall I’m impressed by this book and author and plan on reading more by Diane Jeffrey in the future. 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and Diane Jeffrey for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2019
I would not call this book a “keeps-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat’ thriller. For me it was more of a slow burner. The tension rises slowly and keeps you guessing. It is a well-written crime story about a woman who was convicted for murdering one of her twin baby daughters. Melissa is an enigma. It is hard to connect with her. The story is told from multiple POVs but mostly from Melisa and Jonathan, a journalist, who covers Melissa’s appeal together with his colleague Kelly.
Melissa got her twins with her second husband. Her pregnancy was unexpected. She has a son with her first husband and she was a devoted mother to him. But she feels unable to connect to her baby girls. When she finds one of them dead in her cot it seems clear that it was sudden infant death. Melissa is devastated and watches the other baby almost every minute. But when her second daughter dies the same way the police is getting suspicious. Is there really such bad luck then to lose two babies to Cot death?
The book keeps you guessing if Melissa tells us the truth. Is she or is she not guilty? What happened to the poor twins? There is also a lot about Jonathan’s private life and his own tragedy. The book is well written and I enjoyed reading it. It is a story about loss, grieve and secrets. The real mystery in this book was the relationship between Melissa and her second husband. What did she see in this twat?
If you like character driven stories with a lot of unexpected developments then this will be the right book for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Melissa got her twins with her second husband. Her pregnancy was unexpected. She has a son with her first husband and she was a devoted mother to him. But she feels unable to connect to her baby girls. When she finds one of them dead in her cot it seems clear that it was sudden infant death. Melissa is devastated and watches the other baby almost every minute. But when her second daughter dies the same way the police is getting suspicious. Is there really such bad luck then to lose two babies to Cot death?
The book keeps you guessing if Melissa tells us the truth. Is she or is she not guilty? What happened to the poor twins? There is also a lot about Jonathan’s private life and his own tragedy. The book is well written and I enjoyed reading it. It is a story about loss, grieve and secrets. The real mystery in this book was the relationship between Melissa and her second husband. What did she see in this twat?
If you like character driven stories with a lot of unexpected developments then this will be the right book for you.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 1, 2021
A standalone domestic/crime thriller involving a complicated case focusing on a woman in prison for the murder of her infant daughter.
Two reporters become interested in a campaign to free Melissa Slade and overturn her conviction, As they investigate those family members and other parties who were close to Melissa, they discover many secrets and lies. It seems that no one is exactly sure what happened in the family. One twin dead of cot death and the other apparently murdered. Is Melissa guilty?
This took awhile to build up tension because it was a bit of a slow burner as all the characters were introduced. I really enjoyed the duo of Jon and Kelly, the journalists, who adapted to the changing pieces of information as they were unearthed. The writing was good once I got on board with the changing points of view and the jumps in the timeline. Although the topic is Melissa Slade's guilt or innocence, the book focuses more on the many other discoveries made by the journalists and their own personal lives. I liked how it all came together and the conclusion wasn't a huge surprise, but it was a fitting end considering all that went on behind the scenes in the story.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Two reporters become interested in a campaign to free Melissa Slade and overturn her conviction, As they investigate those family members and other parties who were close to Melissa, they discover many secrets and lies. It seems that no one is exactly sure what happened in the family. One twin dead of cot death and the other apparently murdered. Is Melissa guilty?
This took awhile to build up tension because it was a bit of a slow burner as all the characters were introduced. I really enjoyed the duo of Jon and Kelly, the journalists, who adapted to the changing pieces of information as they were unearthed. The writing was good once I got on board with the changing points of view and the jumps in the timeline. Although the topic is Melissa Slade's guilt or innocence, the book focuses more on the many other discoveries made by the journalists and their own personal lives. I liked how it all came together and the conclusion wasn't a huge surprise, but it was a fitting end considering all that went on behind the scenes in the story.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.
July 31, 2019
This book was absolutely thrilling! I was on the edge of my seat desperate to find out what happened next for at least 90% of this book. There were so many amazing twists and turns that I never saw coming and so many different layers to the story.
We follow Jon and Kelly, two journalists who have been assigned to report on the appeal of Melissa Slade, a woman convicted of murdering her two baby daughters. Some new evidence has recently come to light which may quash the charges against Melissa.
In The Guilty Mother, we learn about Melissa and her family as well becoming familiar with Jon and Kelly’s lives. The character development in this book was just amazing - I felt like I knew them all personally, they were that realistic! I don’t want to say much more as I feel like anything else would be a spoiler, but there are so many different leads throughout this book and you really will be guessing right until the very end! The writing flowed well, the characters were amazing and the plot was totally gripping. Highly recommend - 5 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to HQ for sending me the ebook of this story in exchange for an honest review.
We follow Jon and Kelly, two journalists who have been assigned to report on the appeal of Melissa Slade, a woman convicted of murdering her two baby daughters. Some new evidence has recently come to light which may quash the charges against Melissa.
In The Guilty Mother, we learn about Melissa and her family as well becoming familiar with Jon and Kelly’s lives. The character development in this book was just amazing - I felt like I knew them all personally, they were that realistic! I don’t want to say much more as I feel like anything else would be a spoiler, but there are so many different leads throughout this book and you really will be guessing right until the very end! The writing flowed well, the characters were amazing and the plot was totally gripping. Highly recommend - 5 stars🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you to HQ for sending me the ebook of this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2020
This author is really not creative with names lmao
December 24, 2019
The Guilty Mother....by Diane Jeffrey
This is my first book I’ve read by this author..... from the first page I was hooked..... Melissa who is sentenced to life in prison for killing her infant daughter.....Jonathon a journalist who is covering Melissa’s appeal to get out of prison.... this book had me on a roller coaster ride and let me tell you that you think you know the true story....but you don’t!!!! And the final twist literally thrust a knife in my heart!!!! Definitely 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars!!! Bravo!!!
This is my first book I’ve read by this author..... from the first page I was hooked..... Melissa who is sentenced to life in prison for killing her infant daughter.....Jonathon a journalist who is covering Melissa’s appeal to get out of prison.... this book had me on a roller coaster ride and let me tell you that you think you know the true story....but you don’t!!!! And the final twist literally thrust a knife in my heart!!!! Definitely 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 stars!!! Bravo!!!
May 19, 2021
When Jon's boss asks him to cover the story of Melissa Slade's appeal, he is less than thrilled to be thrown back to the past that he's trying desperately to forget. He has no choice as he was the original reporter when she was on trial for killing her newborn twin girls, Amber and Ellie. As he and his assistant Kelly start questioning the people who knew her best, new evidence comes to light which may prove that Melissa may be innocent. And when they dig deeper into the family, they discover secrets that were never meant to be exposed...and someone will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
This was a page-turner for me and kept my interest. I was guessing all the way to the end. There were twists and surprises and I was wondering if certain people were faking to be helpful or if they were truly trying to help Melissa. So many other things were going on that were tied to the case. Taken from the POV's of Jon, Kelly, and Melissa, you see from their eyes whether they believe she killed the babies. Overall a great read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360/HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this book.
This was a page-turner for me and kept my interest. I was guessing all the way to the end. There were twists and surprises and I was wondering if certain people were faking to be helpful or if they were truly trying to help Melissa. So many other things were going on that were tied to the case. Taken from the POV's of Jon, Kelly, and Melissa, you see from their eyes whether they believe she killed the babies. Overall a great read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360/HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this book.
April 27, 2020
This was a very good thriller/mystery which kept me hooked right to the end! Two investigative journalist setting out to discover the truth and uncovering a whole host of hidden secrets and side stories.
The book had a slightly slow start but I soon became very invested!
I would recommend this!
The book had a slightly slow start but I soon became very invested!
I would recommend this!
July 25, 2019
"The Guilty Mother" is an engrossing thriller told from three points of view - Journalist Jonathan Hunt, Journalist Kelly Fox, and Melissa Slade, the mother in question. When a second tragedy occurs in the home of former police inspector Melissa Slade, she is sentenced to life in prison for murdering her daughter. After five years in prison, she has the chance of a new appeal. Jonathan Hart is assigned to look into the case and to have new reporter Kelly Fox work with him on the story. Jonathan is dealing with personal issues and at first is uninterested, but Kelly's enthusiasm as well as developments in the case, get his attention and soon he is invested in figuring out the real truth in this case.
This story moves back and forth between the past and present, but the timelines are clearly labeled and easy to follow. I connected with Jonathan immediately and liked him more and more as events from his past are revealed. I wasn't sure what to think about Kelly at first, but grew to like and respect her as the story progressed. My theories about the case and Melissa's innocence or guilt changed throughout the book as more information is given and plot twists occurred. At one point, I followed the clues and thought I had everything figured out, but there was so much more to the story than I thought. The juicy twists keep going in this thriller. It's clear Melissa is holding things back but not what those secrets are or what her motive is. Jonathan and Kelly make a great team in the way they research and report on the facts surrounding the investigation.
I didn't want to put the book down until I got to the end to find out what had happened and when everything is disclosed, it's a shock. Kelly Fox has a mystery of her own in her personal life. An expected person offers to help her at the end, but it's left open-ended. I would love to see a follow-up to this book featuring Kelly. I would give this book 4.5 stars and had no problems rounding that to 5 stars. Fans for Fiona Barton will enjoy this suspenseful book.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of HQ Digital. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
This story moves back and forth between the past and present, but the timelines are clearly labeled and easy to follow. I connected with Jonathan immediately and liked him more and more as events from his past are revealed. I wasn't sure what to think about Kelly at first, but grew to like and respect her as the story progressed. My theories about the case and Melissa's innocence or guilt changed throughout the book as more information is given and plot twists occurred. At one point, I followed the clues and thought I had everything figured out, but there was so much more to the story than I thought. The juicy twists keep going in this thriller. It's clear Melissa is holding things back but not what those secrets are or what her motive is. Jonathan and Kelly make a great team in the way they research and report on the facts surrounding the investigation.
I didn't want to put the book down until I got to the end to find out what had happened and when everything is disclosed, it's a shock. Kelly Fox has a mystery of her own in her personal life. An expected person offers to help her at the end, but it's left open-ended. I would love to see a follow-up to this book featuring Kelly. I would give this book 4.5 stars and had no problems rounding that to 5 stars. Fans for Fiona Barton will enjoy this suspenseful book.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of HQ Digital. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2019
This is my first time reading a book by this author. This fast paced, heart racing, suspense filled, mystery crime thriller will have you quickly flipping the pages.It is full of twists and turns. It is very well written and each character is really well developed. I felt like I was right there with them during every part of the story. It was so good i didn't want it to end. The guilty mother is a gripping psychological thriller that had me glued to the pages. I absolutely love love loved it !!!!This is one book you will not want to miss. I thoroughly enjoyed this different twist the author spun with this story. The ending omg it left me with my saying what ??????I am impatiently looking forward to reading many more of this authors books As always if you like the book you read please take the time to leave a review for the author in places like goodreads & Amazon. It does not have to be long. Just a few sentences saying you liked the book will do. Authors really appreciate every review they get ! Thank you to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review this amazing 5 star read for an honest review !
July 27, 2019
I am a huge fan of thrillers, but this one just didn’t make the cut. It was too predictable and you could see everything coming. I almost didn’t finish, but wanted to see if I was right....I was.
Melissa has the perfect marriage, older son and two perfect 3 mos twin babies. Until she doesn’t.
She struggles with depression and hires a nanny to help out. First, one of the twins died of apparent SIDS and then the other dies weeks later suspiciously.
Police arrest Melissa and a journalist Jonathan begins looking into the story. The web untangles and we eventually find out the truth.
Melissa has the perfect marriage, older son and two perfect 3 mos twin babies. Until she doesn’t.
She struggles with depression and hires a nanny to help out. First, one of the twins died of apparent SIDS and then the other dies weeks later suspiciously.
Police arrest Melissa and a journalist Jonathan begins looking into the story. The web untangles and we eventually find out the truth.
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