Don’t Say A Word

by A.L. Bird, Amy Bird

’A fast-paced, gripping thriller.’ B A Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Breakdown'Intense and brilliantly uncomfortable reading' Lisa Hall, bestselling author of Between You and Me

A happy child.

Every parent knows the world can be scary. Lawyer Jen Sutton knows it better than most. And she’ll go to any length to protect her son from what – and who – lies outside their front door.

A loving mother.

Some might say she’s being overprotective. But isn’t it a mother’s duty to protect her child from harm?

A family built on a lie.

Jen has kept her secrets safe. Until the postcard arrives, signed by the one person she hoped would never catch up with her… and her new case begins to feel a little too close to home.

One thing is Jen has been found.

Now, she faces a choice. Run, and lose everything? Or fight – and risk her son discovering the truth.

Don’t Say a Word is the electrifying new psychological thriller from A.L. Bird – perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor and Sue Fortin.

‘An absolutely jaw dropper and a must read for all.’ – Karen Whittard, Netgalley reviewer

‘Readers hear claim that, “This book will leaving you guessing until the end.” I am glad to say that, for once, the claim is true.’ – M Scott, Netgalley reviewer

‘Kept me up all night.‘ – Kathleen Johnson, Netgalley reviewer

‘The psychological tension ramps up to a plot twist that took me completely by surprise.’ – Avonna Kershey, Netgalley reviewer

‘Wow! A well deserved 5 stars, one of the best pyschological fiction books of this year so far!’ – Julia Beales, Netgalley reviewer

‘One you get towards the end you better hope you’re not needed for anything because you will find yourself glued until the last word.’ – Tara Sheehan, Netgalley reviewer

‘Impossible to put down.’ – Linda Strong, Netgalley reviewer

‘A pacy, action-packed, brilliantly plotted psychological thriller with one hell of a showdown. I absolutely loved it!’ – Diane Jeffrey, author of Those Who Lie

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2017

Reviews

[Dash fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5☆ A Gripping read that kept me hooked!

Don't say a word is full of suspense, intrigue, secrets, kept me guessing, it's gripping, an exciting chilling physiological thriller that kept me turning pages and made my hair stand on end!

Jen and her son Josh are living a lie! A secret life.
They appear to be hiding from someone but for what ever reason... it has got Jen very scared and unnerved her!
But when all that threatens to come crashing down around them... what is Jen to do?

Does she keep running or does she decide enough is enough and stays put?
All Jen has ever wanted to do is protect her Son no matter what the cost!

Jen is extremely protective of Josh. So much so she ends up in trouble a few times at work.

But Who is Jen hiding From?
Why is she terrified?
Is she really being too over protective or has she every reason to be?
Who can Jen really trust?

Don't say a word literally chilled me to the bone.
Although I thought I knew what was coming... I was in for plenty of shocks and twists!

I did find the flip flopping between Present day and Jens past memories a little confusing at times as they came randomly throughout the story.
Although I can completely see why they was written in this way as it gave the reader snippets of Jens past and why she acts the way she does.
Not giving the reader too much away. Keeping them guessing!

I did find the first several chapters to be a little confusing almost disjointed.
But once I got into the story it became clear it was about to get a whole lot better!

It's the little things that gave me goosebumps. The texts, the shop window. It was all building up a chilling atmospheric portrayal that something very bad was coming.

Don't say a word really is spine tingling good!
It packs a physiological punch that tormented my emotions and made me second guess my thoughts.
Be prepared to read long into the night as once you pick this book up you won't want to put it down!

The perfect read for those who love gripping physiological thrillers.

I received a free copy of this book from the Publisher, in which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Selene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing style, the weepy male lawyer still pining after his ex, and the barely interesting narrator made this a weak story for me. The narrator frequently addressed the reader in her thoughts, her POV was the only one featured, and this book was more dry than thrilling.

The upside? The flashback scenes were tastefully fused in, the editing was okay, and Chloe earned that ending! The epilogue was realistic, fitting, and thorough.

**ARC provided by HQ Digital via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

["Avonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all of my reviews at: http://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

4.5 Stars

A psychological suspense with not one, but two big plot twists which had me unable to put this book down until the very last page. DON'T SAY A WORD by A.L. Bird was an intense read.

(To avoid spoilers, this will be a short review.)

Jen Sutton is a lawyer who lives and breathes for her son, Josh. Over-protective to the extreme, but what is a mother to do when their lives are built on a lie? Jen’s past life is slowly revealed through internal dialogues and rants. Her reasons for her secretive life become increasingly clear as the psychological tension ramps up to a plot twist that took me completely by surprise.

Clear time for this one!

The true character of each character was revealed at the same pace as the plot, slowly working up to a break-neck pace. Every character had secrets and/or ulterior motives. The character development kept me reading even while some plotline developments in the story were a little unbelievable at times. For me, at times the writing feels somewhat choppy, but it also mirrors Jen’s internal panic and disintegration to a degree. The ending was a well written tie up of all the plot points and characters.

Thanks so much to Harper Collins UK HQ Digital and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen Sutton and her young son, Josh, have secrets. Jen only wants to protect her son. She knows what it is to live in terror day after day and she will do anything to keep him safe.

She has spent years pulling herself up the ladder of success. She's a Legal Executive and only her immediate supervisor knows part of her secrets.

But someone has found them and now she has a choice to make. Stay and fight for her new life .. or run ... again.

The story premise was a good one. however, the first couple of chapters felt somewhat disjointed to me ... a bit confusing. I am very glad I stuck with it because as the meat of the story appeared, it became impossible to put down.

The characters are carefully written ... and there are some who are not who they seem to be ... or are they exactly what she sees?

There are some major twists in the story that I never saw coming. The ending was quite surprising.

Many thanks to the author / HarperCollinsUK / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the start it’s obvious that Jen has a past that she is running away from. What that past is though we are not quite sure.

The main character that grabs me in this story is Josh, Jen’s son. I actually felt quite sorry for him. He hasn’t had a normal child hood due to his mother being over protective and not letting him out of her sight. She obviously has a reason for this but I really felt for him that he has missed out on so much. He is also quite grown up for his age in a lot of ways and I just wanted to give him a big cuddle.

The whole story felt quite frantic. Jen is just a woman possessed. She is consumed with people from her past and them finding her and her son and destroying all that she has. Due to Jen’s obsession with her past catching up with her it felt like quite a fast paced read. The author certainly has you racing through the pages.

Don’t Say A Word is a gripping read full of suspense and intrigue. The author seriously messed up my head and I felt like I had just stepped out of a whirl wind tunnel by the end. Readers will certainly be kept guessing as to what the out come could possibly be and with quite a few twists the author certainly did not disappoint.

My thanks to Harpercollins for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but one thing is for sure….its a damn good read! Whilst it builds the tension right from the start and, especially from the mid-way point I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough, the fact remains that I didn’t like Jen…..but maybe that was A.L. Bird’s intention all along?

Right from the outset it is clear that Jen lives on her nerves, always looking over her shoulder, paranoid that her past has finally caught up with her…..but what is she so afraid of?! The start of this book is confusing and disjointed as it’s told entirely from Jen’s point of view in her heightened emotive state therefore her thoughts are not pieced together logically. This is an extremely effective way of both conveying how anxious Jen is and beginning to build the tension.

Jen is living in Luton with her 10-year-old boy, Josh, who she is fiercely protective of to the verge of suffocating. Jen has a job at a local law practice but ensures that she is the one dropping off and picking Josh up from school every day. As the story unravels it becomes clear as to why Jen is as protective as she is.

Jen isn’t a meek and reserved victim of her past; she is extremely ballsy in the protection of Josh and her thoughts show that she does not and will not take any prisoners when it comes to him. I really liked Josh’s character who is, in his own way, protective of his mother and understanding of her anxiety and over-protectiveness despite not fully understanding why she is the way she is.

Don’t Say a Word is a fast past book with short snappy chapters (my personal favourite type of chapters!) yet from about the mid-way point, Bird takes it to another level. I could not read it fast enough (to the point where I was late to work in an attempt to finish it!).

I thorough enjoyed Bird’s first novel, The Good Mother but this is better – a relentless pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat through to the very end – at times I felt as anxious as Jen!

[Katherine Sunderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is truly psychologically chilling.

A L Bird grabbed me from the beginning - not just with the suggestion of danger to her son and the numerous clues and hints that there was something darker hiding between the pages that I needed to read on and uncover, but with her writing. Jen's narrative, told in first person, is jumpy, nervous, full of anxiety and panic. The most effective thing about this book is Jen's voice and the most effective thing in this novel is how convincing her fears, anxieties and constant state of high alert remain and dominate the pages. You cannot help but read this book without your heart leaping to your mouth and without holding your hand to your chest to regulate your own breathing. Jen's character is frightened, disturbed, fearful and desperate to keep her son safe. All of this is conveyed with palpable reality to the reader and the constant flip between always thinking the worst, and then the relief that this time there is no threat, is incredibly well handled and incredibly effective.

Jen is hiding from several characters from her past. Even though the actual details about what these people did to Jen and why she has to run are not revealed until much later, the reader quickly puts a few clues together and begins to build enough of a picture to understand what might have happened to Jen. This is of course made more explicit when she is presented with a case at work which deals with a woman facing a prison sentence for drugs and prostitution which appears to provoke an emotive response from Jen and a determination to 'save' this woman that goes beyond the call of duty.

It also puts her in danger and threatens to destroy the "life" she is working so hard to create for herself and her son.

The relationship between Jen and her ten year old son, Josh, is also very well captured. Jen is a devoted parent. Josh comes first, every single time. He is all that matters to Jen and they clearly have a very strong bond. Josh is also convincingly portrayed and he treads a good line as he sits on the cusp of still being young enough to indulge his mother's over protectiveness as well as beginning to need some answers. I liked how easy and close their relationship was and I think Bird's dialogue and interaction between Josh and Jen reflects a mother and son who have grown up without the help, support and friendship that most families develop within their local communities. It is only Jen and Josh - and this intensity, and Jen's fear of letting anyone else into their lives, is presented in a way which the reader understands and feels sympathy.

And despite all this back story that constantly hounds Jen, she is primarily a parent with a ten year old who also works. Her juggle between trying to be the best mum, remember everything for the school run, manage the household and also appear professional, committed and focused at work are well captured too. I think what I liked about Bird's prose was that it leapt off the page. It was so easy to be with Jen all the time and so easy to feel her rushing around, juggling everything, trying to stay focussed and constantly checking her watch, her phone, her shoulder that I was hooked and found that I could not put the book down.

The other thing that I loved about Don't Say A Word was the number of cliffhanger moments. Wow, Bird is relentless! There are so many brilliant, jaw dropping moments and there are so many scenes when you think the worst has happened, when you literally forget to breathe, when you are falling off the edge of your seat, when you can barely look that actually you almost miss the real threat and the real danger that is creeping up on Jen. So distracted is she too with seeing the worst every time the doorbell rings, every time she's held up a traffic light, every time someone asks her a tricky question, that she finds herself suddenly caught up in a much more life threatening situation and about to lose everything that she has fought so hard to keep.

I did wonder how reliable Jen was as a narrator and I did begin to suspect a few of the other characters as the novel plunged into the last third but I don't think this is a novel about guessing the twists. Yes, Bird can deliver them, yes there are several, yes I didn't see them all, yes she kept me guessing until the final pages and yes the twist pack a punch, but ultimately this is a novel about a mother, domestic abuse, drugs, the legal system and the agencies that aim to protect the vulnerable. This is a novel about a mother who has a secret past, a past that she is trying to escape and a past which threatens to catch up with her and force her to confront what really happened and what she is really running away from.

This is a fast paced novel. Jen's breathless narrative, her honest, raw voice is captivating and the dialogue between the characters spurs the action on as well as helping to develop three dimensional characters who feel real, authentic and help to reveal more about Jen as well as create more suspense, suspicion and tension in the plot. I liked the short chapters, the short sentences, the energy and the emotion that Bird creates.

I liked it all.

A L Bird's first novel The Good Mother made a huge impression on me and I was really excited to receive a proof copy of Don't Say A Word from the publishers. I was expecting a roller coaster of a ride with a few surprises and shocking twists along the way and that is exactly what I got. I was gripped by Don't Say A Word and Jen is a character who will stay with me for a long time. I will reread this book and I will be recommending it - to everyone!

If you want a compelling, realistic, highly believable, gritty, gripping read, then Don't Say A Word is the novel for you!

[Michelle Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oftentimes readers hear the claim that, "This book will leaving you guessing until the end."  I am glad to say that, for once, the claim is true!  Don't Say a Word is a twisting thriller that takes many unexpected turns and really does leave you guessing until the end.

I'll admit that I had a little trouble at the start.  The narrator's voice was difficult for me to follow.  I think this might have been because of certain British/U.S. differences in words and speech patterns.  However, once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down.  Every time I ended a chapter, I immediately had to find out what was going to happen next.

I loved Jen, the main character.  She was a little rough around the edges (there is a lot of swearing in this book), but she's a completely devoted mother.  She also makes the best choices, given her circumstances.  Her son, Josh, was a little moody at times, but what ten-year-old boy isn't?  Besides, his crankiness made him more realistic.

My emotions ran high when I read this.  At times, the book made me outraged.  Maybe it's because I'm a parent myself, but I couldn't stand some of the things that Jen went through.  Also, I was so angry at some of the characters in the book.  You know those movies that make you yell out loud at the screen because you get so upset?  Well, that's how it was for me in Don't Say a Word.

This is a fast-paced read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.  I highly recommend it.

Five out of five stars

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for the review copy.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This s a roller-coaster of a book! Full of secrets which slowly unfold keeping the reader on edge throughout.

The story revolves around Jen Sutton and her son Josh. It is fairly obvious from the very beginning that there is a back story - an event, or series of events. Revelations come throughout the book whilst the tale rattles on at a breakneck speed. All is explained by the final page - although it may not be the conclusion the reader either wants or expects. More than a few surprises lurk between the pages of this one.

This is the first novel by A. L. Bird which I have read, but she is certainly an author I shall look out for in the future. This is a very fast moving and plausible thriller with good characterisation - but a word of warning here, you may never, ever trust anyone again!

I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Payal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars for a book that had a lot of promise but petered out eventually on its promise of suspense. Jen seems like an overprotective mother, but it is also clear that she has good reasons. But when her past seems to be catching up with her, you know that it is not good news for her and her 10-year-old son Josh.
The set-up is brilliant -- the books takes off at a terrific pace and Jen's unease is palpable. The use of the present tense also adds to the immediacy of possible danger. However, as the story unravels, the suspense falls off and you guess long before the reveal why Jen is the way she is and what her big secret is.
There are SPOILERS below. Please skip to *** if you don't want to read them.

First of all, the witness protection reveal doesn't come as a surprise. Second, the fact that the Rhea Stevens case is a sham is patently obvious quite early. Third, for someone who has only had relationships with violent, abusive men (father, boyfriend), Jen's blind trust of Dan and even falling in love after 5 minutes is a bit hard to digest. Finally, and this might be my inability to understand the technicalities, I didn't understand why such an elaborate ruse had to be worked out to get her to confess. In the end, the confession did come under duress, so it wouldn't have been admissable in court anyway, would it?

***

One thing that I didn't understand is how Jen is able to trust Dan so easily. That part didn't feel authentic to me, or the fact that she felt she could trust Josh's safety to him despite her past. Overall, the book wasn't a total letdown because the end was believable.
(Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.)

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I guess. Wasn't crazy about this one. Mostly, I've just really had a problem liking the main female characters lately. They just all seem to be such whiny tittie babies. Ugh. This was just another one, of at least a dozen. I don't recommend this one.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't say a word by AL Bird.
Every parent knows the world can be scary. Lawyer Jen Sutton knows it better than most. And she’ll go to any length to protect her son from what – and who – lies outside their front door.A loving mother.Some might say she’s being over-protective. But isn’t it a mother’s duty to protect her child from harm?A family built on a lie.Jen has kept her secrets safe. Until the postcard arrives, signed by the one person she hoped would never catch up with her… and her new case begins to feel a little too close to home.One thing is clear: Jen has been found.Now, she faces a choice. Run, and lose everything? Or fight – and risk her son discovering the truth.
A really enjoyable read with great characters. I was shocked with what she did. But she would do anything to protect her child. Full of twists and plots. Bit slow to begin with then bam couldn't put it down. Highly recommended. 5*. Netgalley and harper Collins UK.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you. In a nutshell that is both the life motto and curse Jen lives by and with. She is convinced her past is right on her heels and ready to implode her new life. She is hiding from a vengeful, abusive ex, and someone who used to be both her closest confidante and her nemesis at the same time. Chloe is with Jen 24/7. In her head, on her mind and featuring in quite a few flashbacks. Jen feels as if she is hemmed in by the paranoia and the gut feeling that retribution is waiting just around the corner.

So when a case at work starts to ring a few alarm bells she puts it down to her heightened senses and her instincts. All she ever thinks of is her son and keeping him safe. These coincidences are exactly that, aren’t they? And that is precisely why Jen is always in a constant state of anxious apprehension. She knows the fear will always follow her around like a little black rain cloud.

There is a chapter in this book that really annoyed me, not from a plot point of view, but because it is the painful truth. The way some children fall through the system. The kids with no voice, the ones no one ever listens to, because they are invisible. Then the way the system or rather those enforcing the system, become nothing more than highly judgemental morality police. They judge based on ticked boxes, theoretical knowledge and false assumptions.

Be prepared for the kind of read that makes you query the characters, the truth and perhaps even the systems our society uses to keep our children safe. Whether we like it or not there is a level of indifference, which in turn explains why abuse and domestic violence are still so prevalent in the 21st century.

Sometimes I think Bird takes pleasure in screwing with our brains. Nothing is ever what it seems in her stories. The lines between the good and the bad guys are always skewed. Fifty shades of grey instead of clear black or white. The reader is often suddenly blind-sided by the unexpected twists and turns.

Don’t say a Word is a ride on the wild side with barely any space to take a breath and exhale. Bird combines her experience of the real world with her innate talent for creating fascinating reads.
*I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher for purposes of review.*

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was late picking my husband up finishing the last few pages - it really ramps up with the twists and reveals at the end.
The main character Jen is likable and I was glad that when she was having her inner monologues and rants, there was plenty of swearing and in keeping with how you would expect someone with her background to think and react.
However, the lengthy internally ramblings I found quite irritating after a while. It was uncomfortable reading the scattergun, quickfire panicky thoughts.
(Spoilers from this point on)
The reveal regarding Chloe did take me by surprise. I thought of everything I'd read and could see that all references to Chloe were vague enough for it to make sense. However, for me it meant that I didn't really get a sense of Jen's old life or buy into it. I had no sense of who Mick was. So come the finale, nothing seemed plausible regarding the Mick-Dan-Emma-Tim-Louise connection. Had the deception just involved Mick and Tim it would have made more sense. I can;t even remember now what Louise's link to the family was.
As for the ending, I was confused that Jen's Mum wasn't charged with any crime for stabbing Mick in the back, but Jen received 6 years for manslaughter... And surprised the author went down such a dark route rather than all charges dropped by pleading self-defence.
An enjoyable enough read (I loved Josh learning about Henry VIII!) and I would read more by this author.

(This review was based on a free copy provided to me by NetGalley)

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, and the publishers, for a free e-copy in return for my honest review.

This is of the genre where book starts near the end of the action, then flicks back to the lead up two weeks before. It’s been done before, but for this one it works well.

The narrator Jen also flits between her past and present. On the face of it Jen is a professional single mother to her 10 year old son Joshy. However, Jen is a hover mother, who will not let Joshy out of her sight. She lives an isolated life, and is definitely hiding from her past. She received odd texts and phone calls that disturb her, and sees faces in the crowd of people from her past that she knows can’t be there.

But Jen’s past catches up with her and Jen finds herself fighting for her own and Joshy’s life. At first I didn’t like Jen with her extreme hover mothering. But the tension builds up and you begin to understand why Jen is so paranoid she really is hiding from a terrible past. But, Jen is good at making decisions yet some of them are crazy. She trusts the wrong people, and after years of building up bridges and walls around her tiny family she throws it all away of a brand new romance. By mid-way I was reading at the same fast pace as the plot , and the tension really does build up.

No spoilers here. This is a great read, not without its flaws and head shaking of Oh You Stupid Woman! Really made me wonder would I have been any different if I was in her place.

[Angela Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't say a word will keep you on the edge of your seat, I read this in less than 24 hours as I could not put this down.
We start off with Jen who is the main character in this suspenseful thriller, it is told from the first person so you don't get to know what the other characters are thinking which made it more life like throughout for me. Jen is in witness protection for standing up against someone and helping to get them out away but the story runs a lot deeper than that but I won't spoil it and let you find out the ins and outs yourself. Even though Jen is in some kind of protection this doesn't stop her from being on her guard 24 hours a day keeping her son, josh, safe. Josh is ten years old and Jen will do anything for him, her paranoia is high all the time causing extra problems because of this. The story moves along a little slowly at first but this is just setting the scene really. Jen is asked to work on a secret case with another colleague at her place of work where she is a legal secretary/helper. From here the story moves fast and as secrets are revealed it leaves you putting everything you'd learnt before swept to the side to start afresh with the reality.
This was a fab read and can't wait to read more by A L Bird.
I would like to thank netgalley and HQ Digital, Harper Collins publishers for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Rainbowgardener · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely three stars. I liked it less and less as it went along. Billed as a psychological thriller, it seems to aspire to be one of those Lifetime TV movies, with the damsel in distress, living in constant fear, with lots of creepy things happening, some of which make her question herself and her sanity. It should have building up suspense until the climactic ending (a scene we have all seen in this kind of movie). But even though being a Lifetime movie is a fairly low bar to aspire to, Bird is just not a good enough writer to pull it off. She has the concepts, but not the atmospherics. She constantly tells not shows or let you feel it. The writing is straight forward and matter of fact and makes the leading lady come across as shallow. And she mentions the big secret past she is hiding / running from on pretty much every single page. This doesn't make it suspenseful, just annoying. And then the knight in shining armor is one of those romance novel types--handsome, nice, money, good taste, and falls completely in love with her in the course of one date that is interrupted early on. And the huge plot twist doesn't make you feel wow, I didn't see that coming. It feels like wow I couldn't possibly have seen that coming because the author has been lying to me all through the book.

[Candi - acrimereadersblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen is working as a legal secretary and devotes her life to looking after her son Josh. When she gets asked by her boss to help out on the case of Rhea Stevens she sees it as a good opportunity to further her career. However unfortunately it soon seems that the case is a little too close to home. When Jen receives cards from people in her past, she begins to fear both for herself and her son.

I very much enjoyed this novel. It’s obvious from the beginning that something has happened which makes Jen go into hiding. What this is becomes clear as the story unfolds, but there is a twist that I really didn’t see coming. I have to say it was this bit that really made the story stand out amongst others for me.

I really liked the ending and whilst I am not one for giving spoilers away I felt it made a nice realistic end to a novel rather than just the ending that people would want. I did feel that some of the actions of the main character of Jen weren’t really in keeping for a person who had been through what she had. I also felt that there were a few too many characters that were involved in the final ‘reveal’ which did make it a bit confusing but this was a very minor irritant.

I really enjoyed this story and would like to thank HQ publishers for my copy

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 - 4 stars

Jen has secrets that she is keeping from everyone including her 10 year old son Josh. But she is keeping these secrets to keep Josh safe. But then one day a postcard arrives and Jen knows that her secrets are about to come out. How far will she go to protect her son?

I really cannot say too much about this book because anything I say will spoil it. I will say I did not trust anyone in this book LOL

The books opens with Josh opening the door to the postman and bringing his mother a postcard, from the one person she didn't want to find them. Then the book jumps back in time 2 weeks with the events that lead up to the first chapter. I have to say the first few chapters did have me confused but then it picks up and man does it get good. As it got closer to the end I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happens.
Aside from the events that lead up to the present day we also get parts of memories from Jen's past to give hints as to what is going on. I did kind of figure out one thing. But other than that I was totally blown away by the whole outcome. And the ending WOW! did not see that coming. That was good.

[☘Tara Sheehan☘ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t quite decided how I feel yet. On the way hand it was great to read a thriller where I didn’t figure out every detail before the author started the reveals and one surprised me quite a bit to the point I had to reread some passages to see how I missed that coming.

One you get towards the end you better hope you’re not needed for anything because you will find yourself glued until the last word as the pace picks up crazy quick. I liked the characters, at least the decent ones, and not so much the bad ones which is always nice when you don’t end up feeling the reverse like I did with another book recently.

The character development mostly made sense especially as the past started filling out so the reader can truly understand the motivations and actions of everyone involved.

The only big negatives I found were a few plot devices I felt the author really wanted us to stretch our imaginations in believing that would happen in reality and some of character’s little internal monologues seemed to last forever.

[Ivory Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

How far will a mother go to protect her child? Jen Sutton is a lawyer at a local legal firm and single mother to young Josh. All mothers are protective of their children but Jen seems more fearful than most. Jen’s past holds the key to explain why she is so protective and fearful for her little boy.
Who is Chloe Brown, how is she connected to Jen and what threat if any, does she pose?
The authorities seemed quite patronising towards Jen and I wonder if they are like that in real life. I really admired how she managed to protect her son under very hard circumstances.
I think this author should be crowned Queen of psychological thrillers and her star blazes for this book with its emotionally charged atmosphere. All I can say is wow. What a ripper story and well worth every minute it took to read. The ending was absolutely stunning and top marks to A L Bird for making it that way.
A copy of the digital version of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley and the review is solely mine.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you A.L Bird (Amy) and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second A.L Bird novel and it will keep you guessing page after page to the very end, even though everything is right there in front of you.
Almost lawyer Jen Sutton and her son are hiding from someone, hiding from her past and the people she left behind. For 10 years Jen has rebuilt her life while constantly looking over her shoulder, waiting for the day she is finally found out. Then one morning the lawyer she works with asks her to help on a case. A life very similar to hers. Suddenly Jen's very controlled and ordered life starts to spiral out of control. Has she been discovered, have they finally found her? What will she do to protect her son from the life she left behind? Who can she trust?

[Monte Brogdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting and made me audibly shocked at least three times! I absolutely enjoyed it.

Jen Sutton is a lawyer and in Witness Protection with her young son Josh. When she starts working on a case involving a woman in prison and leaving behind a daughter, things start to spiral. The case has a scary similarity to her own past and as she starts to dig, she finds something that changes everything.

I received this ARC for an honest review, but I would recommend picking it up ASAP.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read as we meet Jen and her son josh, currently in witness protection working in a law firm. When a case comes in a little close to home, and Jen feeling very paranoid that her past is catching up with her, how will it all end? I enjoyed the storyline and whilst a few places were a little far fetched in the plot, I did guess part of the ending, but not all of it which was a nice surprise.

[Abigail (Abbie) Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really disappointed in this book. The Good Mother is one of the best books I've ever read so I couldn't wait for this one. Unfortunately it just didn't live up to the debut. I'm so sad. It's a good book but this author's first book was epic. It was a good read but in a poorer league to her first it pains me to say.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legal executive Jen and her young son, Josh, have secrets which makes Jen work harder to keep them safe.

But someone has found them and now she has a choice to make. Stay and fight for her new life or disappear again.

This was a solid read and good characters. Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Gaby (GNTxREADs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was absolutely gripped to this story and read it on a Sunday afternoon. Each chapter had a twist and turn. As I was reading the final chapters, everything happened all too quickly for my liking. Brilliant read but just squeezed into too few pages!

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off really enjoying this book however, the more obvious and implausible the story became the more I just wanted to be done with it. So if you can go into the story knowing that you may be able to enjoy it more than I did. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lisa-Jaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that kept me second guessing all the way through.

[Jamie Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising beginning

It kind of reminds me of reading a made for tv movie. Not ready for the big screens yet but it shows some promise.