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The Other Mother
Looking for an unputdownable psychological thriller full of suspense? Then you'll love best-selling author, J.A. Baker's gripping new thriller The Other Mother.
Three troubled women. One deadly secret.
Lissy and her daughter, Rosie, live a quiet life in Yorkshire, however when events at Rosie’s school come to light, their peaceful existence is shattered
Meanwhile, middle-aged women Erica and Beverley appear to have perfect lives but behind closed doors things are not as they seem.
All three women are tied together by a dark past that goes back to their school days. A child was murdered and one of the women is to blame.
But is the person responsible for the child’s death the same person who was blamed for it all those years ago?
As secrets from their past begin to surface it becomes clear that someone has revenge in their sights…
J.A. Baker is the best-selling author of psych thrillers, Undercurrent and Her Dark Retreat. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Sister this book will have you hooked.
Three troubled women. One deadly secret.
Lissy and her daughter, Rosie, live a quiet life in Yorkshire, however when events at Rosie’s school come to light, their peaceful existence is shattered
Meanwhile, middle-aged women Erica and Beverley appear to have perfect lives but behind closed doors things are not as they seem.
All three women are tied together by a dark past that goes back to their school days. A child was murdered and one of the women is to blame.
But is the person responsible for the child’s death the same person who was blamed for it all those years ago?
As secrets from their past begin to surface it becomes clear that someone has revenge in their sights…
J.A. Baker is the best-selling author of psych thrillers, Undercurrent and Her Dark Retreat. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Sister this book will have you hooked.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2017
965 people are currently reading
1205 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Baker
24 books339 followersJ. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
May 10, 2023
What a fantastic reading journey this took me on. One of those great books you can lose yourself in for hours, steam was coming off my Kindle with the intense final chapters!
This book is brilliantly written in my humble opinion. J.A. Baker successfully builds up her range of complex, flawed characters really well whilst spinning a plot that keeps you on your toes.
This one will give you those great twisted surprises you love to have for sure!
The book explores the lives of three women, how their paths cross and how the past can flavour the present and the future rightly or wrongly. It builds up on each character, letting you form your own strong opinions about each one. Did I tell you that the twists are brilliant?
The plot starts out strong and steady and as the story unfolds it gets more intriguing and more and more questions were raised in my mind. By the latter chapters I was totally immersed, frantically flicking pages and stunned by the well-timed and I-didn’t-see-that-coming reveals! Awesome stuff!
J.A. Baker describes the world around her characters in sublime detail, not too much - but enough to draw you into sights, sounds, smells, places and feelings. It’s not always easy to do that with a novel. She is an author to watch - mark my words. With each book this is a lady who will go from strength to strength.
One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read.
Five huge stars for this thrilling, entertaining and brilliantly executed novel. Guaranteed to excite the fans of this genre. Loved it!
This book is brilliantly written in my humble opinion. J.A. Baker successfully builds up her range of complex, flawed characters really well whilst spinning a plot that keeps you on your toes.
This one will give you those great twisted surprises you love to have for sure!
The book explores the lives of three women, how their paths cross and how the past can flavour the present and the future rightly or wrongly. It builds up on each character, letting you form your own strong opinions about each one. Did I tell you that the twists are brilliant?
The plot starts out strong and steady and as the story unfolds it gets more intriguing and more and more questions were raised in my mind. By the latter chapters I was totally immersed, frantically flicking pages and stunned by the well-timed and I-didn’t-see-that-coming reveals! Awesome stuff!
J.A. Baker describes the world around her characters in sublime detail, not too much - but enough to draw you into sights, sounds, smells, places and feelings. It’s not always easy to do that with a novel. She is an author to watch - mark my words. With each book this is a lady who will go from strength to strength.
One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read.
Five huge stars for this thrilling, entertaining and brilliantly executed novel. Guaranteed to excite the fans of this genre. Loved it!
November 27, 2017
We have three remarkable women in this story that sure stand out, and all for different reasons, good or bad.
Something happened years ago when Lissy was younger, much younger. She now has a daughter of her own, Rosie.
Lissy has moved around a bit and Rosie is now at at new school.
But Rosie keeps getting into trouble.
Money going missing.
Bullying
Lissy can’t believe this of her daughter.
Then there is Erica. She seems to have the ideal life.
Beverley who seems to be getting on nicely with her life.
But the plot thickens. Something ties these three women together. Their past.
Murder.
I have to say that at the beginning I was working my brain in overdrive trying to keep up with the dates and times on each chapter. I managed it, and at 30% of my way through my brain clicked into place.
I found this to be a fab thriller, trying to work out what was what then the penny dropped and I was “aha”
You know when you get that light bulb moment and all the lights come on? That was me.
Great read.
I would definitely recommend this if you love a good thriller/crime.
Thank you to Bloodhounds who provided me with a copy.
Something happened years ago when Lissy was younger, much younger. She now has a daughter of her own, Rosie.
Lissy has moved around a bit and Rosie is now at at new school.
But Rosie keeps getting into trouble.
Money going missing.
Bullying
Lissy can’t believe this of her daughter.
Then there is Erica. She seems to have the ideal life.
Beverley who seems to be getting on nicely with her life.
But the plot thickens. Something ties these three women together. Their past.
Murder.
I have to say that at the beginning I was working my brain in overdrive trying to keep up with the dates and times on each chapter. I managed it, and at 30% of my way through my brain clicked into place.
I found this to be a fab thriller, trying to work out what was what then the penny dropped and I was “aha”
You know when you get that light bulb moment and all the lights come on? That was me.
Great read.
I would definitely recommend this if you love a good thriller/crime.
Thank you to Bloodhounds who provided me with a copy.
December 7, 2017
I’ve come to the conclusion that I quite enjoy it when a story starts backwards. When at the start of the book, you’re given a tiny clue as to what the ending might look like and you try to figure out the pieces of the puzzle. And then, in my case, get it completely wrong but that’s the fun part!
To that effect, the first chapter of The Other Mother, which I won’t talk about, already had me hooked. Now I must admit that a few of the chapters that followed had me a bit confused at first as I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but it was done in such a way that I just couldn’t stop reading. It didn’t take long for things to click and off I went on this thrilling ride. So if you find yourself struggling through those first pages, please don’t give up! It’s worth it!
This is one of those books that’s hard to talk about without giving anything away. The things that are happening in the present are very much rooted in events of the past and the author leaves you guessing for quite a while as to the identities of the characters involved. Three women are connected through the murder of a child. One of them was blamed for it but was that rightfully or not?
The Other Mother is incredibly gripping and the author even managed to almost make me sympathise with the “bad guys”. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a curveball I didn’t see coming at all. This is an intense, suspenseful and thrilling ride that will keep you guessing until the end!
To that effect, the first chapter of The Other Mother, which I won’t talk about, already had me hooked. Now I must admit that a few of the chapters that followed had me a bit confused at first as I wasn’t quite sure what was going on but it was done in such a way that I just couldn’t stop reading. It didn’t take long for things to click and off I went on this thrilling ride. So if you find yourself struggling through those first pages, please don’t give up! It’s worth it!
This is one of those books that’s hard to talk about without giving anything away. The things that are happening in the present are very much rooted in events of the past and the author leaves you guessing for quite a while as to the identities of the characters involved. Three women are connected through the murder of a child. One of them was blamed for it but was that rightfully or not?
The Other Mother is incredibly gripping and the author even managed to almost make me sympathise with the “bad guys”. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was a curveball I didn’t see coming at all. This is an intense, suspenseful and thrilling ride that will keep you guessing until the end!
May 8, 2023
I recently read a different book by this author, and was surprised to see they had another live book on NetGalley! This one was first published in 2017, but it is being republished this month. I didn’t read the original, so I can’t tell you what, if anything, changed.
There are many narratives running through this book, and in the beginning, it was a bit hard to keep track of. We have the narratives of Child A, Child B, Lissa and her daughter, Rosie, Beverley and Erica. It’s not until a way through that you realize two of those three women are Childs A & B - as minors would be called in a legal case. Long story short, some things happened years ago, and some people aren’t over it.
Basically this is a story of revenge, and it started off very slowly. The characters were all very vague in the beginning and I didn’t get even remotely interested in any of them until the halfway mark. This really started to pick up towards the end, and it was finished very well, but that slow start definitely affects my rating. 3.5 stars for this one.
(Thank you to Boldwood Books, J.A. Baker, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be rereleased on May 29, 2023.)
There are many narratives running through this book, and in the beginning, it was a bit hard to keep track of. We have the narratives of Child A, Child B, Lissa and her daughter, Rosie, Beverley and Erica. It’s not until a way through that you realize two of those three women are Childs A & B - as minors would be called in a legal case. Long story short, some things happened years ago, and some people aren’t over it.
Basically this is a story of revenge, and it started off very slowly. The characters were all very vague in the beginning and I didn’t get even remotely interested in any of them until the halfway mark. This really started to pick up towards the end, and it was finished very well, but that slow start definitely affects my rating. 3.5 stars for this one.
(Thank you to Boldwood Books, J.A. Baker, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be rereleased on May 29, 2023.)
December 5, 2017
The Other Mother is a story told in alternating chapters between the main characters. I have to admit it did take me a little while to get used to the alternating chapters and getting to know the characters but once I did I was gripped.
Lissy is having a hard time of it. Due to events from her past, she has moved herself and her daughter around which has caused some unsettling for Rosie who is finding it hard to adjust. A mother and daughter relationship can be a wonderful thing but it can also be one that at times can be quite fraught. Not only is Lissy having to deal with issues at Rosie's school, she is also trying to deal with knowing that she has been found again.
This is very much a story about revenge as well as trying to move on with your life. Only problem is, can anyone out run their past? Obviously it wouldn't be a good thing for Lissy's past to get out and in a way it just seemed like she was trying to get through every day and not really living.
There is a certain amount of suspense through out this story which built throughout making it a tense and nail biting read. You just know at some point it is all going to come to ahead and I literally could not wait.
The Other Mother is a story that slowly draws you in and before you know it you're hooked. A definite must read for lovers of a good psychological thriller.
Lissy is having a hard time of it. Due to events from her past, she has moved herself and her daughter around which has caused some unsettling for Rosie who is finding it hard to adjust. A mother and daughter relationship can be a wonderful thing but it can also be one that at times can be quite fraught. Not only is Lissy having to deal with issues at Rosie's school, she is also trying to deal with knowing that she has been found again.
This is very much a story about revenge as well as trying to move on with your life. Only problem is, can anyone out run their past? Obviously it wouldn't be a good thing for Lissy's past to get out and in a way it just seemed like she was trying to get through every day and not really living.
There is a certain amount of suspense through out this story which built throughout making it a tense and nail biting read. You just know at some point it is all going to come to ahead and I literally could not wait.
The Other Mother is a story that slowly draws you in and before you know it you're hooked. A definite must read for lovers of a good psychological thriller.
March 12, 2018
Firstly, this is a too long plot. Extremely exceedingly frustratingly unbelievably slow-paced. All the thinkings, the feelings were overdone and they kept dragging on and on without the possibility of stopping. I mainly flipped the pages and I only needed to read a few words to understand the whole picture.
Secondly, I think the book is mainly focused on the emotions and feelings of the characters. We delved deeply into what each character thought, how they felt and how they were related to each other. To be honest, this is not a psychological thriller, just solely an adult fiction. No crucial events actually happened that could affect the changes in characters' behavior. There was purely emotions and thoughts.
Thirdly, there is just a big event occurring at the end of the book, and it unfortunately didn't excite me. It also was badly executed. No surprise, no shock. My feeling when reading this book could be imagined like a straight line as there was no twists or emphasized situations to highlight the personalities of the characters, or to make a climax.
And finally, I didn't like Rosie - Lissy's daughter. She was a rather inept and useless character in the whole character arc things. Erica was also useless, she did nothing that might have a big impact on Lissy and Beverley. In my opinion, Erica and Rosie could be completely obliterated from the story without upsetting significantly the main plot, which would certainly result in a better, shorter version of this book.
Secondly, I think the book is mainly focused on the emotions and feelings of the characters. We delved deeply into what each character thought, how they felt and how they were related to each other. To be honest, this is not a psychological thriller, just solely an adult fiction. No crucial events actually happened that could affect the changes in characters' behavior. There was purely emotions and thoughts.
Thirdly, there is just a big event occurring at the end of the book, and it unfortunately didn't excite me. It also was badly executed. No surprise, no shock. My feeling when reading this book could be imagined like a straight line as there was no twists or emphasized situations to highlight the personalities of the characters, or to make a climax.
And finally, I didn't like Rosie - Lissy's daughter. She was a rather inept and useless character in the whole character arc things. Erica was also useless, she did nothing that might have a big impact on Lissy and Beverley. In my opinion, Erica and Rosie could be completely obliterated from the story without upsetting significantly the main plot, which would certainly result in a better, shorter version of this book.
January 14, 2018
"I had a friend once and she let me down."
Child A has killed a small boy. Child B was the boy's sister. Child A and Child B were friends once... not anymore...
Decades have passed since that horrific episode destroyed two families, and now we meet Lissy, Beverley and Erica. Three adult women, three damaged individuals with a permanent simmering anger and a tragic childhood behind them. One is running away from her past, the others seeking revenge.
This is a great story with a brilliant twist I didn't see coming. Obviously one of the women is Child A, another is Child B, but who's the other? At the beginning it honestly took me a while to be hooked by the story, to understand what was happening and who's who, however, once each woman began to tell her own story and invade my imagination, I found myself intrigued, wanting to know these individuals more, find out what had actually happened, what was going to happen next, who was lying, who was saying the truth, and I found it difficult to put this book down. Amidst rising tension, I could feel their fear, their anger, their hurt, I could understand their need for revenge. These are disturbed individuals living 'normal' lives on the outside but harbouring shocking secrets on the inside.
The author's prose is beautiful and she weaves an interesting, clever, gripping plot, involving Lissy's daughter Rosie as well, that sees Child A and Child B moving towards a final face-to-face confrontation to set things straight once and for all. It's evident that prison wasn't good enough for Child B. She's still hurt and angry and she wants more, she wants to make Child A suffer, as she has suffered and in her own way. Will Child B see her plan through? Is she right in what she wants? Will Child A ever find peace without having to constantly look behind her back? What will happen when the two women finally set their eyes on each other again?
Well, this was another intriguing read by J.A. Baker, I really enjoyed it and find no trouble in recommending it. With thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
Child A has killed a small boy. Child B was the boy's sister. Child A and Child B were friends once... not anymore...
Decades have passed since that horrific episode destroyed two families, and now we meet Lissy, Beverley and Erica. Three adult women, three damaged individuals with a permanent simmering anger and a tragic childhood behind them. One is running away from her past, the others seeking revenge.
This is a great story with a brilliant twist I didn't see coming. Obviously one of the women is Child A, another is Child B, but who's the other? At the beginning it honestly took me a while to be hooked by the story, to understand what was happening and who's who, however, once each woman began to tell her own story and invade my imagination, I found myself intrigued, wanting to know these individuals more, find out what had actually happened, what was going to happen next, who was lying, who was saying the truth, and I found it difficult to put this book down. Amidst rising tension, I could feel their fear, their anger, their hurt, I could understand their need for revenge. These are disturbed individuals living 'normal' lives on the outside but harbouring shocking secrets on the inside.
The author's prose is beautiful and she weaves an interesting, clever, gripping plot, involving Lissy's daughter Rosie as well, that sees Child A and Child B moving towards a final face-to-face confrontation to set things straight once and for all. It's evident that prison wasn't good enough for Child B. She's still hurt and angry and she wants more, she wants to make Child A suffer, as she has suffered and in her own way. Will Child B see her plan through? Is she right in what she wants? Will Child A ever find peace without having to constantly look behind her back? What will happen when the two women finally set their eyes on each other again?
Well, this was another intriguing read by J.A. Baker, I really enjoyed it and find no trouble in recommending it. With thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review.
December 7, 2017
I love a book that can play with my mind and emotions to the point that I feel guilty for sympathising with the bad guy in the story. There had been the murder of a child in the past that connects three women when they were only children themselves. In the first few chapters the case is laid out, with references to the children being made as child A and child B, no names, as their identities had to be kept secret, being under age when a crime was committed.
As the story moves forward to present day it settles to be told in alternating chapters by the three women involved each outwardly leading very normal lives. What lays beneath the surface of each of them is very different. The past, no matter how well hidden, is never far away. It had destroyed all of their families to different degrees and made the chance of a normal life near darn impossible. Each carried their own demons of guilt in one way or another.
Hate can become all consuming with every wrong in your life been put down to that one incident and the only way to make things better is to even the score. Revenge soon becomes the only option if the past can finally be laid to rest.
I loved this story that began in a mystery as to who had played what part in the past, it was a little confusing to begin with but when in drops into place it really takes off. When each of them told of their part in past events it was a matter of picking out what was assumed and what was fact. Years later each of them had made a new life on a lie but things were going to change. What a super build up just brilliant couldn’t have been better.
As the story moves forward to present day it settles to be told in alternating chapters by the three women involved each outwardly leading very normal lives. What lays beneath the surface of each of them is very different. The past, no matter how well hidden, is never far away. It had destroyed all of their families to different degrees and made the chance of a normal life near darn impossible. Each carried their own demons of guilt in one way or another.
Hate can become all consuming with every wrong in your life been put down to that one incident and the only way to make things better is to even the score. Revenge soon becomes the only option if the past can finally be laid to rest.
I loved this story that began in a mystery as to who had played what part in the past, it was a little confusing to begin with but when in drops into place it really takes off. When each of them told of their part in past events it was a matter of picking out what was assumed and what was fact. Years later each of them had made a new life on a lie but things were going to change. What a super build up just brilliant couldn’t have been better.
December 8, 2017
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I really enjoyed this book, I loved the storytelling and the plot was so detailed I really didn't want to put it down and kept reading on in to the early hours until I'd finished it.
I enjoyed the different characters and how they interacted together to add an extra depth to the story, it was suspense filled and I loved not knowing where the book was going at times, plenty of twists and guessing as to what would happen and when.
I liked the layout of the book and the setting of the different chapters - an excellent psychological thriller - 5 stars from me, I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed this book, I loved the storytelling and the plot was so detailed I really didn't want to put it down and kept reading on in to the early hours until I'd finished it.
I enjoyed the different characters and how they interacted together to add an extra depth to the story, it was suspense filled and I loved not knowing where the book was going at times, plenty of twists and guessing as to what would happen and when.
I liked the layout of the book and the setting of the different chapters - an excellent psychological thriller - 5 stars from me, I really enjoyed it!
May 11, 2018
The Other Mother was just okay for me. A good read but not a ‘wow’ book in my opinion. I felt it was fairly predictable and left me feeling a dissatisfied. I think I have read too many 5 star books lately and may have expected more! 🤷♀️
June 18, 2018
Told from the points of view of three women, this took me a little while to get into until I had sussed out who was who and managed to cope with the switches between past and present. Once I had my brain in gear, the story got better and better. Highly entertaining and some pretty good twists.
I've been rather critical of Jan Cramer, the audio narrator, previously, this performance was her best yet. She coped admirably with portraying three different middle-aged females.
I've been rather critical of Jan Cramer, the audio narrator, previously, this performance was her best yet. She coped admirably with portraying three different middle-aged females.
May 31, 2023
I really struggled with this narrative. I thought the writing style was too prolonged and I did not get a sense of any tension or suspense. Furthermore, I found the characters all-too familiar and grappled with keeping the different identities separate.
There are some really dark moments in this story and Baker opens the story with a gripping and fraught scene. Moving in to the past, these chapters follow ‘Child A’ and ‘Child B’. It is only later in the story that it becomes clear whose identity these children belong to and how this shapes the present. These past timeframes were incredibly chilling and made for difficult reading.
In the present, the story is spread across three women and I felt these protagonists were too similar. They had a lot in common with one another and their circumstances had too many parallels. Whilst I started to gradually understand these women and their motives, it took a long time for me to properly identify them. It wasn’t until nearly halfway through the novel that I got to grips with this and by then my attention was starting to wane.
The ending was quite a surprise for me and not one I had anticipated. I liked how the storylines came together to merge until an (almost) thrilling conclusion. The way that the story is structured meant that Baker has revealed quite a lot of the answers; it was a bit of a task to not judge the characters for their more questionable actions. Despite this, I enjoyed how this ending was a bit of a revelation and wondered if Baker could have done more with the final chapter, perhaps adding a more sinister tone.
Overall, this is quite a dark thriller that felt convoluted and confusing. I think the writer would have benefitted from not introducing so many characters so soon at the start of the story. This would have helped me connect with the narrative and allowed me to immerse myself into it. As it stands, it felt quite a hard slog to get through and not one that was particularly suspenseful.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There are some really dark moments in this story and Baker opens the story with a gripping and fraught scene. Moving in to the past, these chapters follow ‘Child A’ and ‘Child B’. It is only later in the story that it becomes clear whose identity these children belong to and how this shapes the present. These past timeframes were incredibly chilling and made for difficult reading.
In the present, the story is spread across three women and I felt these protagonists were too similar. They had a lot in common with one another and their circumstances had too many parallels. Whilst I started to gradually understand these women and their motives, it took a long time for me to properly identify them. It wasn’t until nearly halfway through the novel that I got to grips with this and by then my attention was starting to wane.
The ending was quite a surprise for me and not one I had anticipated. I liked how the storylines came together to merge until an (almost) thrilling conclusion. The way that the story is structured meant that Baker has revealed quite a lot of the answers; it was a bit of a task to not judge the characters for their more questionable actions. Despite this, I enjoyed how this ending was a bit of a revelation and wondered if Baker could have done more with the final chapter, perhaps adding a more sinister tone.
Overall, this is quite a dark thriller that felt convoluted and confusing. I think the writer would have benefitted from not introducing so many characters so soon at the start of the story. This would have helped me connect with the narrative and allowed me to immerse myself into it. As it stands, it felt quite a hard slog to get through and not one that was particularly suspenseful.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2023
This is the second book I’ve read from this author. I did enjoy it - it is a slow burner and a bit confusing in the beginning between 5 POV’s which turns out to be just 3. I did struggle to keep up and had to rely on my notes to follow along.
Good story, complex characters and gains good pace towards the end. 3⭐️ read for me. Will absolutely read more from this author
Good story, complex characters and gains good pace towards the end. 3⭐️ read for me. Will absolutely read more from this author
December 5, 2017
I am loving the new covers that Bloodhound are bringing out with their new releases. I just want to go find out what the girl is thinking about, or needing help with.
Having devoured Judith's last two books I was excited to see she had a new psychological thriller coming out.
Baker sets the scene in a subtle way. Taking us through the eyes of the three protagonists and how their lives were, and are now.
I did find it took me a few chapters to settle in, as we hear from Child A, Child B and the women they are now, the chapters are given to us in headers, and easy to keep track. It did take me until 30% to really get comfortable with the storylines, although I was engrossed in the setting up of plots.
I have mentioned before that I do love an unreliable narrator, so I was delighted to find that I was thrown with my opinions throughout this read.
The points of view from the protagonists were easy to identify and I found them interesting on their own as well as how they interacted with each other, when the time came how they related to each other.
Baker lulls you in to an intriguing start, then slowly, slowly lays the tracks...then like a scratch you can't itch, you find the characters have got under your skin and you are involved with the who, what and how...Baker, clearly knows how to cast a line and then it hooks you in. gathering momentum nearer the finishing line you get.
A psychological thriller that when you finish you realise what a clever, clever read it is. Full of twists, suspense and intrigue, just the ingredients you need in a gripping psychological thriller.
Having devoured Judith's last two books I was excited to see she had a new psychological thriller coming out.
Baker sets the scene in a subtle way. Taking us through the eyes of the three protagonists and how their lives were, and are now.
I did find it took me a few chapters to settle in, as we hear from Child A, Child B and the women they are now, the chapters are given to us in headers, and easy to keep track. It did take me until 30% to really get comfortable with the storylines, although I was engrossed in the setting up of plots.
I have mentioned before that I do love an unreliable narrator, so I was delighted to find that I was thrown with my opinions throughout this read.
The points of view from the protagonists were easy to identify and I found them interesting on their own as well as how they interacted with each other, when the time came how they related to each other.
Baker lulls you in to an intriguing start, then slowly, slowly lays the tracks...then like a scratch you can't itch, you find the characters have got under your skin and you are involved with the who, what and how...Baker, clearly knows how to cast a line and then it hooks you in. gathering momentum nearer the finishing line you get.
A psychological thriller that when you finish you realise what a clever, clever read it is. Full of twists, suspense and intrigue, just the ingredients you need in a gripping psychological thriller.
December 6, 2017
The start is the hardest part to begin but its a necessity so I can come to the end.
There is never a truer saying, once I started The Other Mother the trepidation grew as I plundered the pages of my kindle, the more I accelerated the harder it was to stop, chapter after chapter until the story was told.
The Other Mother is the third of J.A Baker’s psychological thrillers, and beejeezus has it surpassed all expectations. I though nothing could beat her other two books but bloody hell I’m gobsmacked.
The flow of the plot seeped slowly through the chapters, gathering momentum before Wham it hits you in the face, your eyes dancing across the pages, the stealth of the very conundrum your trying to solve bouncing across your brain just out of reach no matter how much you try to grab for it.
Okay three characters, all women, one deadly secret, each and every thread building the characters are fraught with deceptive prowess, hidden agendas, a past, each one wishing to hide from, run from, but the past is catching up……… revenge, a dish best served cold.
There were several incidences where I held my breath uttering words like ‘OMG what’s that all about’, it was hilarious when even my hubby asked what I was reading that was making me so vocal, hahahaha.
Its so hard to abstain from revealing too much of The Other Mother, the plot is unquestionably about how much you would throw caution to the wind whilst being on the edge, clinging to the pages observing the past unfurrowing before my eyes. Can you find a way through, unravelling the detail that Judith has planted before you.
I’m not giving anything away, its too good to spoil, my advice to you is to go grab a copy, make yourself a drink, get settled and be prepared to lose a day or two, and file under the heading Read and Recover in a space in your head.
Well J.A Baker The Other Mother is phenomenal, I’m glad my pastime is reading, I hate to miss a great read, this blew me away.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and J.A. Baker for the advanced readers copy to read and review. Thanks also go to Sarah Hardy for a spanking great BlogBlitz, I can hardly contain myself for any future releases.
There is never a truer saying, once I started The Other Mother the trepidation grew as I plundered the pages of my kindle, the more I accelerated the harder it was to stop, chapter after chapter until the story was told.
The Other Mother is the third of J.A Baker’s psychological thrillers, and beejeezus has it surpassed all expectations. I though nothing could beat her other two books but bloody hell I’m gobsmacked.
The flow of the plot seeped slowly through the chapters, gathering momentum before Wham it hits you in the face, your eyes dancing across the pages, the stealth of the very conundrum your trying to solve bouncing across your brain just out of reach no matter how much you try to grab for it.
Okay three characters, all women, one deadly secret, each and every thread building the characters are fraught with deceptive prowess, hidden agendas, a past, each one wishing to hide from, run from, but the past is catching up……… revenge, a dish best served cold.
There were several incidences where I held my breath uttering words like ‘OMG what’s that all about’, it was hilarious when even my hubby asked what I was reading that was making me so vocal, hahahaha.
Its so hard to abstain from revealing too much of The Other Mother, the plot is unquestionably about how much you would throw caution to the wind whilst being on the edge, clinging to the pages observing the past unfurrowing before my eyes. Can you find a way through, unravelling the detail that Judith has planted before you.
I’m not giving anything away, its too good to spoil, my advice to you is to go grab a copy, make yourself a drink, get settled and be prepared to lose a day or two, and file under the heading Read and Recover in a space in your head.
Well J.A Baker The Other Mother is phenomenal, I’m glad my pastime is reading, I hate to miss a great read, this blew me away.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books and J.A. Baker for the advanced readers copy to read and review. Thanks also go to Sarah Hardy for a spanking great BlogBlitz, I can hardly contain myself for any future releases.
April 11, 2018
Attention grabbing thriller that kept me guessing
This book was really good and kept me wanting to read more. The book read very well. This book had me at the end of my seat.
This book was really good and kept me wanting to read more. The book read very well. This book had me at the end of my seat.
December 19, 2022
Great read! Kept me hooked from beginning to end!
December 5, 2017
Yet another new author and once again I am indebted to Bloodhound Books, for sending me an ARC of The Other Mother. This is an excellent book, well-written and exciting, and it tells the story of the deaths of young children from the point of view of several women involved directly or indirectly in the events. The only reason I have awarded four and not five stars is that it takes a while for the protagonists to be established and to work out how they are all involved. Once that is established, the story is engrossing and the twists and turns in the plot are fascinating. I look forward to further novels by JA Baker.
June 12, 2018
This one hits you unexpectedly form the side. When I started reading I was trying to figure out how all these characters fit together. Because everything seems a bit twisty, but trust me, they do.
I have to say that this is one of those books that keeps you turning the pages, trying desperately to fit the puzzle pieces together. I have to say I was in awe when I finally realized what it was all about.
Well written and well plotted I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this to all lovers of a good mess with your head psychological thriller. I would love to read more books by J.A. Baker.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for the opportunity to read and review this book
I have to say that this is one of those books that keeps you turning the pages, trying desperately to fit the puzzle pieces together. I have to say I was in awe when I finally realized what it was all about.
Well written and well plotted I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this to all lovers of a good mess with your head psychological thriller. I would love to read more books by J.A. Baker.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for the opportunity to read and review this book
June 20, 2023
This was a really addictive thriller that I struggled to put down. It felt like every chapter ended on a cliff hanger and I had to continue to know what happened next!
This follows three perspectives of three different women who are all connected by a tragedy that happened when they were teenagers. This is full of secrets, plots for revenge, and lots of twists. It’ll definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more by them.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This follows three perspectives of three different women who are all connected by a tragedy that happened when they were teenagers. This is full of secrets, plots for revenge, and lots of twists. It’ll definitely keep you on the edge of your seat!
This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait to read more by them.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2019
OMG!!!! This book was amazing!!!
At the start I was a little confused by all the characters. But the more I read, the more I understood. Doesn’t help that I have a toddler running around 😂. “Kid, mummy’s reading”......
Anyway, this book had me guessing the whole way through. Such a fabulously written story.
I can’t go too much into the details because it would give it all away. However, I will say it’s a thinker. Murder, revenge, lies, betrayal.
I can not recommend this novel enough!!!
At the start I was a little confused by all the characters. But the more I read, the more I understood. Doesn’t help that I have a toddler running around 😂. “Kid, mummy’s reading”......
Anyway, this book had me guessing the whole way through. Such a fabulously written story.
I can’t go too much into the details because it would give it all away. However, I will say it’s a thinker. Murder, revenge, lies, betrayal.
I can not recommend this novel enough!!!
March 14, 2018
Twister
What a tale twisting ride of suspense and horror. Definitely a nail biter of a read till the end. Brilliant
What a tale twisting ride of suspense and horror. Definitely a nail biter of a read till the end. Brilliant
December 6, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Holy mother of cheeseballs!!!! This book!!!!
I’ve got to be honest, at first I wasn’t too sure. I couldn’t seem to get myself comfortable in the storyline, whilst also finding myself frowning at the words on the page. Luckily that feeling didn’t last for too long as, in no time at all, I was reeled into the past, trying to work out the identities of multiple characters in the book. I was determined to find out what exactly happened all those years ago.
I can’t even surmise this book like I usually would, as I would unintentionally give something away!
‘The Other Mother’ is a story told from different viewpoints. Three main characters, three extremely complex situations, all with only one thing in common. The past. As I’ve said many times before, my detective skills are shocking. Well, it’s either that or the author is a brilliant storyteller and knows how to keep their readers guessing, and/or looking in the wrong direction. I’ll go with the latter as J.A.Baker is most certainly that type of author.
There were moments during the book where I couldn’t help but think ‘what the f……’, or ‘omg that poor…..’, or ‘what the HELL are they playing at?’. I felt empathy towards a couple of the characters in one scene, yet in the same breath I started to feel anger towards their actions as well. I couldn’t keep up with how quickly my reactions were changing in relation to this storyline. I truly was on high alert, AND on the edge of my seat for a good majority of the novel.
I would read this book all over again if I could! But, seeing as I know what happens, I don’t think a second reading would be as impressive, therefore I am extremely jealous of everyone who is going to be reading this book for the very first time!!!
‘The Other Mother’ is an intense, whirlwind of a book which I just could not put down. With fantastic storytelling from author, J.A.Baker, this book has enough oomph and guts to send shivers up your spine, goosebumps on your arms, whilst also leaving your mind in a complete and utter head funk. I could not have wished for anything better where ‘The Other Mother’ was concerned.
I am waiting with bated breath for another J.A.Baker novel – this author has definitely found a fan for life.
You have to go and buy this book. I really can’t recommend it enough!
Thanks BloodHoundBooks.
Holy mother of cheeseballs!!!! This book!!!!
I’ve got to be honest, at first I wasn’t too sure. I couldn’t seem to get myself comfortable in the storyline, whilst also finding myself frowning at the words on the page. Luckily that feeling didn’t last for too long as, in no time at all, I was reeled into the past, trying to work out the identities of multiple characters in the book. I was determined to find out what exactly happened all those years ago.
I can’t even surmise this book like I usually would, as I would unintentionally give something away!
‘The Other Mother’ is a story told from different viewpoints. Three main characters, three extremely complex situations, all with only one thing in common. The past. As I’ve said many times before, my detective skills are shocking. Well, it’s either that or the author is a brilliant storyteller and knows how to keep their readers guessing, and/or looking in the wrong direction. I’ll go with the latter as J.A.Baker is most certainly that type of author.
There were moments during the book where I couldn’t help but think ‘what the f……’, or ‘omg that poor…..’, or ‘what the HELL are they playing at?’. I felt empathy towards a couple of the characters in one scene, yet in the same breath I started to feel anger towards their actions as well. I couldn’t keep up with how quickly my reactions were changing in relation to this storyline. I truly was on high alert, AND on the edge of my seat for a good majority of the novel.
I would read this book all over again if I could! But, seeing as I know what happens, I don’t think a second reading would be as impressive, therefore I am extremely jealous of everyone who is going to be reading this book for the very first time!!!
‘The Other Mother’ is an intense, whirlwind of a book which I just could not put down. With fantastic storytelling from author, J.A.Baker, this book has enough oomph and guts to send shivers up your spine, goosebumps on your arms, whilst also leaving your mind in a complete and utter head funk. I could not have wished for anything better where ‘The Other Mother’ was concerned.
I am waiting with bated breath for another J.A.Baker novel – this author has definitely found a fan for life.
You have to go and buy this book. I really can’t recommend it enough!
Thanks BloodHoundBooks.
August 6, 2018
I suppose I had high expectations of this having loved ‘Her dark retreat’ and it seemed to start well. However, somewhere along the line my interest waned. I think the book was probably too long and there was some repetition as the story was told from the perspective of the three main characters. The jump from character to character was a bit disjointed too. As the booked neared the end I felt the storyline stretched credulity which was a shame as it started with such promise. An ok read and that’s about it. Sorry.
December 28, 2017
Cleverly thought out book and well written, really enjoyed reading the story from the different perspectives of the main characters
August 17, 2019
This book was pretty interesting and I liked the twist.
This book switches between multiple points of view and while I found it a little hard at first to follow who was who, to discern each individual voice for who and what it was, it did become easier as I went along and it didn't really take me long to get used to it at all.
I don't really have many complaints about this book. I thought the daughter, Rosie, was a little annoying but I don't think that's a detraction from the writing because I think that she's also very much a normal child of her age.
Sometimes I find books written by British authors to be rather dry, but this one wasn't that at all. It was fast-paced and interesting the whole way through with interesting characters and surprising twists and turns. I'm glad that I picked this one up.
This book switches between multiple points of view and while I found it a little hard at first to follow who was who, to discern each individual voice for who and what it was, it did become easier as I went along and it didn't really take me long to get used to it at all.
I don't really have many complaints about this book. I thought the daughter, Rosie, was a little annoying but I don't think that's a detraction from the writing because I think that she's also very much a normal child of her age.
Sometimes I find books written by British authors to be rather dry, but this one wasn't that at all. It was fast-paced and interesting the whole way through with interesting characters and surprising twists and turns. I'm glad that I picked this one up.
June 27, 2023
3.5 stars that I'm rounding up to 4 because I just read another JA Baker book prior to this one, and I kinda like her style. Child A is left alone by Child B to babysit Child B's baby brother (while she should have been doing it herself) and baby brother ends up dead. Flash forward to the adult years and you're given the story of two women, and it's pretty easy to determine who is who, but there is a third woman in the mix and the story begins to unfold. Many years later and lives are still in tatters and no one has been able to move on (although who could feasibly do so??) It all comes to a head with a somewhat twisty reveal. I think casual thriller readers who aren't expecting any new earth shattering plot devices will be very pleased.
November 30, 2017
Gripping and fraught! review to follow for the blog tour.
December 15, 2017
Gripping!
My mom would enjoy reading this book.
I couldn’t stop reading once I was at 75%.
I had to go to sleep, but I simply had to
know how it was going to end.
I would recommend this book to family
and friends.
My mom would enjoy reading this book.
I couldn’t stop reading once I was at 75%.
I had to go to sleep, but I simply had to
know how it was going to end.
I would recommend this book to family
and friends.
February 23, 2018
A fairly steady thriller, it just didn’t have me gripped
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews