The Birth Mother

by Wendy Clarke

How far will she go to get her child back?

I walk through the beautiful house, my hand lingering on the handrail of the polished mahogany staircase. Looking around the grand hallway, I can’t believe my luck at being here. If Rosemary knew who I was, she’d never have invited me in.

Ten years ago, she adopted my daughter. Gave her the life I never safety, stability, a normal childhood.

All I wanted to do was catch a glimpse of my precious girl, to check she was happy. I would only have stayed for a moment. I would never have done anything.

But as I spot Faith’s rich auburn hair and whisper a hello, Rosemary tells me she’s mute. She hasn’t said a word in almost a year.

And I know I cannot leave this house. Behind closed doors this perfect family is hiding dark secrets, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my daughter…

A heart-pounding and absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up into the early hours. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.

What readers are saying about Wendy

‘I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. I didn’t even realise I hadn’t eaten because I was too busy reading… so unpredictable that I just didn’t even know who I was anymore. I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘OMG!! WOW!!… OH YES!!!… a book that EVERYONE will be talking about!! I can see this being a bestseller… BOY. OH. BOY… Incredible read!!… Clear your schedule for this book!… Will suck you in like never before!… Mind-blowing… LOVED this book!’ Heidi Lynn Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Made me gasp out loud!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I LOVED THIS PHENOMENAL, GRIPPING BOOK. I raced through it, it consumed me in its pages… A shocking conclusion which left me gobsmacked… Brilliant… HOOKS YOU FROM THE START. LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘One word, brilliant!… I felt dizzy and loved every single minute… had me gripped from page one.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Holy heck!! I have no words for this book! It was twisted beyond measure! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Literally had me missing a heartbeat because I just couldn’t work out where this story was leading me… Had me hook, line and sinker ‘til the very end… My eyes were on stalks reading the last couple of pages. Wow.’ Echoes in an Empty Room, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A real rollercoaster… One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. I made my mind up many times, only to be proven wrong each time. The last 30 pages had me almost holding my breath.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Wendy Clarke has had over three hundred short stories published in national women’s magazines. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable she would eventually want to explore her darker side. What She Saw is her debut psychological thriller, published by Bookouture. Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

10 years ago, Becky gave up her daughter for adoption. Each year she awaits the annual update letter.. This year is especially important to her as she has just become a mother again to her baby son but she longs to get updated on her girl. As each day from the date she should’ve received the letter passes she gets a feeling of dread that she may never hear about her daughter again..
Feeling lonely, she reaches out to her mother‘s group to try and meet somebody else who might also be in need of a friend. Then she comes across the face of a woman she’s never been able to forget.. The woman who adopted her daughter. And has also just had a baby. Is she able to befriend this woman and actually get to see her daughter face-to-face?.
In meeting Rosemary will Becky get the answers she belongs for or will she be putting herself in into danger?
Initially this book was a slow start and I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters but after awhile the book became more interesting and you became more invested in the story

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book.
The Birth Mother by Wendy Clarke is a bit of a mixed bag. It starts off with a really gripping premise, alternating between "Then" and "Now" and shifting between Becky and Rosemary’s perspectives, which definitely kept me hooked initially. I found Becky very likable and it was easy to sympathize with her situation.
While the dual timelines kept me engaged early on, the middle of the book really started to drag and the pacing felt quite slow. The ending is where things got complicated. While the twist itself was definitely interesting and caught me off guard, it felt a little too messy and overly complex for its own good. There were several plot points that didn't quite add up, and some parts of the resolution just didn't make much sense. It’s a decent read if you want a mystery to pass the time, but it wasn't as tight as I was hoping for.

[Mya Joan Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Birth Mother by Wendy Clarke has a strong, emotional premise and thoughtfully explores themes of motherhood and difficult choices. Some moments are genuinely moving, but the pacing can be uneven and a few characters feel underdeveloped. It doesn’t always reach its full potential. Overall, a decent read with meaningful themes, but not entirely memorable

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a woman whose daughter was placed for adoption ten years ago and now after having another baby she is desperate to make contact with her daughter and will do anything to achieve this.
This story is written in duel timelines and I felt it was confusing at times.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.