The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage

by Cathy Hayward

She thought she knew her family. One photograph proves she has been living a lie.

Joanne has always believed her mother died giving birth to her. It’s a painful truth, but one she’s accepted. Then, whilst sorting through old baby clothes, she finds a photograph tucked away in a box—her birth mother, smiling and very much alive, cradling a newborn in her arms.

As Joanne starts searching, the answers she gets only lead to more questions. Her journey takes her to Rose Cottage, where her mother once lived, and into a past filled with long-hidden secrets. Can she find out what really happened? What could be so terrible that her father has kept it from her for her whole life—and is she ready for the truth?

Revised Previously released as The Secret of the Brighton House, this edition of The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage includes editorial revisions.

311 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2026

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

A highly emotive and exceptionally well researched novel. Pregnant Joanne discovers that her mother didn’t die either in the way she’s been told or at the time she’s been told. Of course she goes on a truth seeking mission and the discovery’s she makes are heartbreaking. Definitely check the trigger warnings, but otherwise I highly recommend.

Huge thanks to Brilliance publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Catherine (catisbookedup) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly emotional story of a woman desperately trying to find answers to what happened to her birth mother when she uncovers the story her father had told her entire life that she had died in childbirth is not true. On the cusp of becoming a mother herself she goes on a journey to discover a mother she never knew.
A mystery coupled with a little talked about and uncommon condition some mothers develop. Told in a dual POV, Joanne in the present and Grace (her mother) in the past.
Please check trigger warnings as this is a very charged book portraying a very specific type of mental illness that wasn't treated properly at the time this was portrayed in the book and so female injustice in prevalent throughout. It also still Shocks me how taboo and naive women were about childbirth and motherhood. I know it happened but as a mother myself I just wanted to shake the women and wake them up! Ask the questions, don't be embarrassed, dont just accept things. I'm so glad in that respect I live in present day.
Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing and Cathy Hayward for providing me with a copy of the audiobook via NetGalley for review. The audio was perfection and made a difficult subject very accessible.

[Kim Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[Angie Brylowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC courtesy NetGalley

I loved this book, it hooked me from the beginning and kept hold of me.

Triggers -Pregnancy loss, infertility, postpartum depression

The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage goes back and forth from Joanne & Alex’s life in 2021 to Joanne’s mother’s Grace’s life in 1975.

Joanne is pregnant and is wanting to know more about her birth mom. Who she was as a person, what her life was like, and also what happened to her. Is her dad keeping secrets from her? Was he involved in Grace’s death in some way?

This story will take you on an adventure as you journey through the highs and lows of Grace’s life and will have you seeking answers and uncovering secrets right along with Joanne.

I couldn’t put this book down.

[Kerrie Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warning pregnancy loss, ivf, mental health

She thought she knew her family, but one photograph proves she has been living a lie and the truth she thought she knew was not the truth

Joanne has always believed her mother died during giving birth to her. It’s a painful truth but one she has always always accepted. Joanne and her husband Alex have struggled to have a child. Several miscarriages and difficulty getting pregnant Joan is finally passed the so-called danger zone With her final chance of IVF.

When her dad brings round the cot she used as a baby along with a box of old clothes little do either of them realise the truth will come out

While sorting through the box, Joanne discovers some photographs which show her mother cradling a newborn Joanne how is that possible when Joanna’s always been told her mother died in childbirth? When Joanne confronts her father he is still cagey, he claims she died a few days later when Joanne pushes for more information he states she died from a head injury however he does not seem to be telling the truth. Joanne decides to investigate further and as she does the truth begins to unravel.


I found this a really interesting read I felt for Joanne as she began to uncover the truth and she felt like her world was falling apart as everything she knew seemed to not be true. Who was her mother? What happened to her? And why was her father lying? Joanne begins a journey to find out the truth travelling down to Brighton. She begins to find family and friends of her mother and father from when she was a newborn. slowly the truth is revealed. But the question is, can Joanne cope with the truth?

There were some aspects of this story that I found extremely extremely far-fetched for example example finding medical records in an abandoned building however despite that I did enjoy listening to this story the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life

Told in alternative chapters of both Joanne now as she searches for the truth and her mother Grace in the past as things developed and the story unravelled I AM INTERESTED TO READ MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR AND THE NARRATOR HASDONE A FANTASTIC JOB. THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TOTHIS TITLE.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note to readers: This book was Previously released as The Secret of the Brighton House, this edition of The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage includes editorial revisions.

This has been an absolute pleasure to read, the story was captivating and well written throughout. Certainly kept me engaged and turning those pages quickly.

I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters within the two times lines, Grace and Mike in 1974/1975 and then Joanne and Alex in present day 2021. I do love a dual timeline story.

Some parts of the story were hard to read, some of the things that the characters had to go through especially Grace in the past or certain events that took place. I learnt a fair bit after having read this story.

I really did enjoy this story, the author clearly put a lot of thought and research into it. Cathy Hayward is still a relatively new author (and yes I have read both her first and second books, both of which I do recommend if you haven’t already read them) but I am excited to read her books in the future as and when they are published.

[Jayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book had an identity crisis. It makes it seem like a thriller- it isn't. It also isn't exactly an emotional familial book. It tries to be both at times, and neither works. This left me confused for half the book, not knowing what the purpose was.

[Jessica Dowling (jesslostinpages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Compelling Dual-Timeline Mystery Full of Secrets and Emotional Depth
Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐

The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage was my first book by Cathy Hayward, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable dual-timeline mystery!

Joanne has lived her whole life believing her mother died giving birth to her. But when she uncovers a photograph of her mother holding her as a baby alongside her father outside a mysterious cottage, her world is turned upside down. Determined to find the truth, Joanne sets out to investigate her past. Making her journey even more delicate, she is currently navigating a high-risk pregnancy at an advanced maternal age—her and her husband's final chance to have a baby of their own.

I really enjoyed going on this journey of discovery with Joanne. The web of secrets kept me guessing, and there were so many moments where I truly didn't know who she could trust—her husband, her father, or the stepmother who raised her. That tension made for a compelling read! The dual timeline alternating between Joanne's search in the present and her mother Grace's perspective in the past added great depth and context to the story.

Audiobook Note: The narrator did an amazing job bringing this story to life. She conveyed the emotional highs, lows, and intense fears so vividly that I could truly feel what the characters were experiencing. A great narration performance makes all the difference!

While I felt the plot was missing just a bit more punch—I expected a few more dramatic twists and turns than we got—overall, it was a solid, engaging mystery with a lot of heart. 4 out of 5 stars!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage is a gentle but gripping mystery that begins with a single photograph—one that shatters everything Joanne thought she knew about her past. Having grown up believing her mother died during childbirth, Joanne has built her life around that loss. But the image she finds tucked inside a box of baby clothes tells a very different story: her mother alive, smiling, holding her as a newborn.

That discovery sends Joanne on an emotional journey into a past carefully hidden from her. Each answer she uncovers only deepens the mystery, leading her to Rose Cottage—the place where her mother once lived, and where long‑buried secrets still linger in the walls and the memories of those who remain.

The novel balances warmth with tension beautifully. Joanne’s search is heartfelt and relatable, driven by a longing to understand where she came from and why her father kept the truth from her for so many years. The atmosphere around Rose Cottage is especially evocative, full of quiet clues, old hurts, and the sense that someone has gone to great lengths to keep the past sealed.

As the truth finally comes into focus, the emotional impact lands with real weight. It’s a story about identity, family, and the courage it takes to face the answers you think you want.

Heartfelt, absorbing, and full of tender suspense, The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage is a lovely, engaging read for anyone who enjoys mysteries rooted in family secrets and emotional discovery.

With thanks to Cathy Hayward, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanne has grown up believing her mum had died giving birth to her. After ten years of trying to fall pregnant Joanne and her husband have finally gone through IVF and are expecting a child. Both are excited until one day her father and his wife, who has raised Joanne, and has been the only mum Joanne knows, bring around a box of baby clothes. As Joanne sits going through the clothes at the bottoms of the box she finds a photo which shows her mother holding Joanne as a baby. How can this be if she died in childbirth? What really happened to her mum? When she tries to get answers from her father and her mam she is shut down. Leaving a rift between them.

This is a heartbreaking read, told from the point of view of Joanne and her mother Grace back in 1975. Joanne learns she has more family, but the hardest thing she finds out is what happened to her mother during labour giving birth to Joanne, how she was before the pregnancy and after.

This story covers puerperal psychosis and what it would be like for the person suffering it. However, that part is back in the seventies and thankfully things have improved from then. You really feel the pain that Grace goes through and the abuse she is subjected to is unimaginable to us today. Joanne learns a lot when she finds her late mums best friend and sisters. You understand how her father would want to protect Joanne from what had happened back when she was born. Not just her loss of a mother but his loss of his wife as he knew her.

The writing of emotions that each character goes through is written so well. The impact it had on each individual. A difficult story written sensitively. I went through post natal depression after giving birth to my third child, I had no control of the feelings I felt and it took a while before I got help. I went through all the motions of doing what I needed to do but there wasn’t that joy of giving birth. I was also at the birth of my daughter’s first child and saw her reaction to her son after he was born, she had had a traumatic birth and didn’t want to hold the baby. But I put it down to tiredness, and she was being sick. It crossed my mind how she was feeling but it wasn’t until months later after she saw a documentary on post natal depression that she sought help. But we are lucky that we have more understanding of it now, as well as medication to help through it.

Despite this being a heartbreaking read, it was very well written, the characters were all relatable, believable and likeable.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 Audio Review: Really enjoyed the narration for this one.

📝 Story Review: This was such a sad tragic story, but I was fully invested in it.

I enjoyed the dual timelines which enabled the reader to see things from the FMC’s mothers’ perspective years prior, as well as the FMC in present day as she begins to unravel the mystery of how her mother died and why her father lied about it. The FMC was definitely more forgiving than I would’ve been. - I will say that if you don’t wish for spoilers, maybe don’t look at the CW’s… but at the same time, this story has some content that could be extremely triggering for some readers…

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5/5

Tropes 👇

- Family Secrets
- Found Family
- Parental Loss
- Dual Timelines
- Preparing for Parenthood

CW’s 👇

- IVF
- Mention of numerous miscarriages
- Geriatric pregnancy
- PMT (premenstrual tension)
- Postpartum psychosis
- Attempted infanticide

Audio Release Date: July 15, 2026
Audio Run Time: 9 hrs, 16 mins
Narrated By: Lucy Rayner & Bronwen Price
Genre: Women’s Fiction
POV: Third Person; Dual

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage is a warm, loving and heartbreakingly sad novel that left me in tears.

The novel is set in two different timeframes, 1975 and 2021, and follows a mother and daughter, Grace and Joanne, as they navigate their respective pregnancies. The dual narrative is beautifully crafted, allowing me to experience both women's journeys. I found myself emotionally invested firstly with Joanne and later with her mother, Grace.

I felt the author realistically described the two timeframes, the differences in the way people were treated, the social, economic and societal norms and attitudes from both the women’s and men’s perspective were beautifully and devastatingly captured. I experienced both “ah ha” moments relating to my own experiences as well as the shock of what women went through decades ago. This novel tackles important concepts that should never be forgotten and reminds us to take care of our new mums.

I am very grateful to Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Ann Listen’s · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is described as women's fiction but it gave me the feels of horror without the gore.

Joanne has struggled with pregnancy and now she is expecting. As she is getting ready to meet her own baby she is reflecting back on her own mother whom died in child birth with her. She finds one photo of her mom holding her and it leads her down the rabbit hole to find out what really happened.

I have some mixed feelings on this book. It had me fully invested to figure out mystery but it was hyper focused on just the one mystery. It also gave me an intense uneasy feeling the entire time. Creepy feelings, uneasiness and periodic ghosts made me feel like this was a horror novel with sprinkles of body horror mixed in.

Personally, I don't believe in trigger warnings because I think books should arouse feelings but....if you are pregnant this book might not be enjoyable.

The narrator did an excellent job.

[Elaine Collingwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am not sure how to review this book, because I found it heartbreaking and emotional. The synopsis for this book indicated family secrets resulting from the fact that the main character’s Mother passed away in childbirth. However, I feel that the author (& publisher) should have included some trigger warnings with respect to the content because I feel that the “family secret” is something that could be very hard for some readers. If I had known what the book was truly about, I would not have selected this book to read and review.

That being said, I did read the entire book and my 3 star rating is because the book is very well written and is well researched.

Trigger warnings: Infertility, miscarriage, post partum psychosis

[Rachel Sargeant]

After a stressful and heartbreaking IVF journey, Joanne is finally expecting a baby. But mid pregnancy she discovers her mother, who she was told died in childbirth, lived on for a while after the birth.
The story, told from Joanne's viewpoint, follows her pregnancy anxieties as she gradually discovers the horrifying truth about her birth mother. Will she face the same problems as a new mother?
A second timeline is from her birth mother Grace's viewpoint in the weeks before and after Joanne's birth. There is much authentic-sounding description of mental illness as well as 1970s period detail.
A good novel to provoke bookclub discussion.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy. My review is my independent opinion.


Sent from Outlook for Android

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Cathy Hayward and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.

The story started off a bit slow but about halfway I got more interested in Grace's past and what led Joanne to her present situation.

If you read any classics regarding women's fiction Grace's story feels a bit like "The Yellow Wallpaper" but Grace has a little bit more going wrong.

The narrator made this novel really hard to enjoy. I don't mind any accent really when I listen to audiobooks but this narrator was very breathy and it felt like she was whispering which was very distracting and made me have to rewind a couple of times.

Overall, the story had some interesting bits but felt a bit predictable and slightly overdone as a narrative.

Decent read.

[Julissa Cantu · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I went into The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage expecting a thriller centered around long-buried family secrets, but what I found was a much more emotional and heartbreaking story than I anticipated.
I do wish the publisher had included content warnings, as this story explores some incredibly heavy topics. Readers may appreciate knowing in advance that the book includes themes of infertility, miscarriage, postpartum depression/psychosis, and child abuse.
Joanne wasn't always the easiest character to root for, but I still found myself invested in her journey and wanting her to finally get the answers she'd been searching for. While the mystery kept me turning the pages, what stayed with me most was the heartbreaking portrayal of postpartum depression and how little it was understood decades ago compared with today. The novel doesn't shy away from the devastating impact it can have on mothers and their families, and I appreciated the compassion and nuance with which those themes were explored.
If you're picking this up expecting a fast-paced thriller, you may be surprised like I was. It's much more of an emotional family drama wrapped in a mystery, and I think that's the best way to go into it.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is such an intense story. It is definitely emotional and pulls you through so many emotions. I do enjoy the dual timelines and storylines. This story is one that is deeply personal and some readers will feel seen in a new way. I do applaud this author for putting light on mothers and their struggles with birth and different experiences after birth. I also appreciate showing the different timelines concerning the medical/psychological community and great strides we as society have made where mothers are concerned. I would recommend this book to most people but would highly encourage readers to check their trigger warnings as it might be triggering to some readers. I did enjoy this author's writing and would like to read more from her.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Joanne has always been told that her mother Grace died giving birth to her, she feels the absence of her even more now that she is pregnant herself.

And then she comes across a picture which makes it clear that the version of the story that Joanne has been given may not be the full story. It may in fact be a total fabrication - but why would her father lie to her like that?

This book deals with some tough topics including infertility and postpartum depression. It wasn't really the kind of storyline that matches my taste, but I have no doubt it will find its readers.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Donna McCaul Thibodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanne and Alex have tried for years to have a baby, and their final try with IVF worked. Her parents sent over a box of baby clothes, and at the bottom, Joanne discovered some Polaroid pictures, of her mother, Grace, with her father and and with her. Mike, Joanne's father, had told her that Grace died in childbirth. What happened?
This was such a good book. It was very well written, and I liked the dual timeline of Grace and Joanne. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Highly recommended.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an early copy to listen to from NetGalley, which is always fun. I loved the back and forth between Grace in 1975 and Joanne in 2021. The story drew me in right from the start. The narrator was also really good. The secret that was being kept ended up being different from what I was expecting, although looking back there were clues definitely pointing that way. I like the title and the cover of the book. They both stood out to me and led me to read the description, which drew me in even more. Swearing is pretty minimal, which I also appreciated.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the Giveaway.

Warning: This book is extremely hard to put down. I was almost late for work because I was reading it.

I genuinely thought that Mike was the killer, so I did not see that plot twist coming at all. I also thought that history was going to repeat and that Alex was going to kill Joanne. So, imagine my surprise when none of that happened.

This book was very good, very well researched, and very emotional. I felt the frustration and fear of every person. This was such a good book, and I would definitely recommend it.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this ALC! This was such a tragic story! Check your triggers before going into it because it could be a difficult read/listen for some people. I really enjoyed it, and was so intrigued the whole time. I loved the dual timelines. One of the POVs was so heartbreaking. I thought it was incredibly well-written, and I'm very interested in reading more from this author. The narration was fantastic as well.

[Johanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings below:

Pregnancy, IVF, PND & worse

I'm not, and have no plans to be, a mother so cannot relate to any of these topics in the same way that most women can. I got given this book as a gift (by a man! What was he thinking apart from maybe the roses on the cover are pretty?) and had the synopsis been better, I'd not have read this. Apart from the serious topic I found the characters all annoying and skin-deep. The mystery wasn't even a mystery. A total meh book for me.

[Monique Tutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was good. There should be some trigger warnings for those who want to read the book, especially mothers. I found some parts hard to read, not because they were bad, but emotional. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but once we were more into the book, I didn't want to put it down and kept reading.

[Traceymw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seen this book advertised on kindle ,like the cover and decided to read it. I’ve not read anything from this author and I was not disappointed- what a lovely story - poignant to lots of people that have experienced what Joanne’s story was about .

Thoroughly enjoyed ( read in two days) and would thoroughly recommend

[Libby Reidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about a woman who suffers from postpartum pyschosis and her daughter who tries to find out the truth about what happened to her. A mother daughter relationship novel that might upset some readers. Very emotional story that will leave you in tears.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Missing Mother of Rose Cottage, by Cathy Hayward, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Joanne has been lied to her whole life, about her birth mother Grace. Poor Grace went through so much, This was a heavy read but a good one.

[Rach · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This is a story that follows pregnant Joanne, who has finally conceived on her last round of IVF, in her search for answers about her biological mother, Grace. Believing that Grace had died during childbirth, then finding a picture of her holding Joanne as a newborn, her investigation leads to some unexpected answers that could have repercussions in the present.

I love the cover and didn't mind the narrator, but unfortunately, this one didn’t do much for me. It explored the experience of first time motherhood, pregnancy and childbirth (amongst the family drama) well, but the mystery element didn’t quite pay off and felt a bit lacklustre. I don’t want to say too much in fear of spoiling something, but the way it approached mental illness also felt stigmatising. Perhaps for the time period it was set in, this is to be expected and was more appropriate. I struggled to connect with any of these characters, and the dual timeline over audio confused me a bit at the beginning, but I do think this would be easier to follow in physical format.

I think this book would appeal most to readers who enjoy classic, emotive stories and can relate more closely to the pregnancy/postpartum journey that played a predominant part in this plot.

Thank you very much to Brilliance Publishing, Cathy Hayward and NetGalley for an ALC to review. All opinions are my own.

[Margaret Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not the usual kind of book I read but I found it so compelling that I needed to see it to the end. That, in itself, makes a good book even if parts of it are challenging. It was so good to understand in the end. Thank you for a new dimension of life.