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Mother
Two Girls. One Chance.
When Lizzie's car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. And when she recovers from her injuries, she has to deal with the impact of that tragedy as well as the police investigation into it.
As Lizzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. Just what did happen on that remote country road? Who is responsible? And can the family get through this together...Or will the truth finally tear them apart?
A stunning, deeply emotional and beautifully realised cross between SOPHIE'S CHOICE and DAUGHTER.
When Lizzie's car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. And when she recovers from her injuries, she has to deal with the impact of that tragedy as well as the police investigation into it.
As Lizzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. Just what did happen on that remote country road? Who is responsible? And can the family get through this together...Or will the truth finally tear them apart?
A stunning, deeply emotional and beautifully realised cross between SOPHIE'S CHOICE and DAUGHTER.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2020
75 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Laura Jarratt
9 books246 followersLaura Jarratt was born in Salford in the 1970s, the decade fashion should really forget. She remains mentally scarred from the numerous childhood photos of her in very bad clothes, which she blames for her present aversion to having her picture taken. Despite being good at English, Classics and Modern Foreign Languages, she accidentally studied Microbiology at university and then went on to work in education. Laura escaped the city as soon as possible as she becomes claustrophobic if not surrounded by enough green. Concrete just does not do it for her.
She's lived throughout the UK but came home to the North West where she is currently owned by Henry, a ginger cat without a tail, who holds the family in thrall.
She's lived throughout the UK but came home to the North West where she is currently owned by Henry, a ginger cat without a tail, who holds the family in thrall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 8, 2021
When Lizzie's car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. When she recover from her injuries, she has todeal with the impact of that tragedy and the police inveatigation into it. As Lizzie and her family strugle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. Just what did happen on that remote country lane?
After crashing her car, Lizzie, the mother, has to choose which of her two daughters she will save. What a decision to have to make, We follow Lizzie and her family after the crash, trying to come to terms with with what had happened. To carry the responsibility for your daughter's death must be unbearable. The pace is fast in the quick read that's filled with twists. My only complaint is that there was a lot of repetitive dialogue. It was as if it was repeated just to bulk the story out. I found the ending good but a little emotional.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #IrionPublishingGroup and the author #LauraJarratt for my ARC #Mother in exchange for an honest review.
After crashing her car, Lizzie, the mother, has to choose which of her two daughters she will save. What a decision to have to make, We follow Lizzie and her family after the crash, trying to come to terms with with what had happened. To carry the responsibility for your daughter's death must be unbearable. The pace is fast in the quick read that's filled with twists. My only complaint is that there was a lot of repetitive dialogue. It was as if it was repeated just to bulk the story out. I found the ending good but a little emotional.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #IrionPublishingGroup and the author #LauraJarratt for my ARC #Mother in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lizzie is travelling back from a vacation with her two daughters when she faced an accident and is unable to save both girls. She had to choose one. After the accident she is drowning in guilt and facing amnesia, she can't remember what was the reason behind the accident. Police think Lizzie slept while driving and the whole amnesia is just coverup. Lizzie's whole family is shattered and struggling in a different way. This book is about how one accident can break all the relations.
After reading synopsis my expectations were so high but this book wasn't that good. Personally, I didn't like the story though I felt for characters the story was just meh for me. The pace of the story was slow and twists weren't enough to make me like it.
Lizzie is travelling back from a vacation with her two daughters when she faced an accident and is unable to save both girls. She had to choose one. After the accident she is drowning in guilt and facing amnesia, she can't remember what was the reason behind the accident. Police think Lizzie slept while driving and the whole amnesia is just coverup. Lizzie's whole family is shattered and struggling in a different way. This book is about how one accident can break all the relations.
After reading synopsis my expectations were so high but this book wasn't that good. Personally, I didn't like the story though I felt for characters the story was just meh for me. The pace of the story was slow and twists weren't enough to make me like it.
March 7, 2021
I’ve never read a story line quite like this one before. As a mother to two daughters myself to have to choose between which one of your daughters to save is just inconceivable.
The story doesn’t tell us which one has been saved initially and we learn that as the book goes on. What the story gives us though is a strong storyline of the mental grief & torture the family especially the mum Lizzie has to go through.
Not everything is as it seems as Lizzie and her husband Dan are both questioned in regards to the accident. Ripples in the marriage, questionable people from the past & lots I didn’t expect as I read this one.
The story doesn’t tell us which one has been saved initially and we learn that as the book goes on. What the story gives us though is a strong storyline of the mental grief & torture the family especially the mum Lizzie has to go through.
Not everything is as it seems as Lizzie and her husband Dan are both questioned in regards to the accident. Ripples in the marriage, questionable people from the past & lots I didn’t expect as I read this one.
March 18, 2021
Mother tells the tale of a woman having to make one of the most difficult choices ever - and the consequences of making that choice. It starts off at a great pace with an accident and drama causing you to struggle to put it down until you learn more. And then it takes you on an emotional ride of the after effects of "the choice" on both the Mother and the other family members. An emotional read with an unexpected ending.
March 22, 2021
I read this book as part of an Online Reading Group on Facebook alongside 75 other readers and we read the book in 3 parts over a period of 3 week.
Mother is a very emotional, thought-provoking tale which deeply affected me as a parent. Lizzie is a mother of 2 daughters and on her return trip from a holiday she has a car crash and is faced with the worst possible decision any parent could have to make.
Months after the horrific tragedy Lizzie is now being investigated by the police over the crash and is struggling to come to terms with her decision whilst seeing the rest of her family around her collapse in grief and guilt.
This is a very cleverly written story as the author takes the reader on a very twisty and highly emotional journey with Lizzie and the tension starts mounting when outside factors start to appear.
Overall, Mother will tug at your heartstrings, keep you glued to the pages and make you think about your own family.
Mother is a very emotional, thought-provoking tale which deeply affected me as a parent. Lizzie is a mother of 2 daughters and on her return trip from a holiday she has a car crash and is faced with the worst possible decision any parent could have to make.
Months after the horrific tragedy Lizzie is now being investigated by the police over the crash and is struggling to come to terms with her decision whilst seeing the rest of her family around her collapse in grief and guilt.
This is a very cleverly written story as the author takes the reader on a very twisty and highly emotional journey with Lizzie and the tension starts mounting when outside factors start to appear.
Overall, Mother will tug at your heartstrings, keep you glued to the pages and make you think about your own family.
February 12, 2021
I was immediately impressed with Laura's style of writing.
The tension gradually building. Pieces of information missing. We aren't initially aware of which daughter survived and beyond that, Lizzie's reasons for the choice that she made. It's all very heartbreaking, I just kept imagining how I'd feel if faced with the same situation.
How can you decide such a fate for somebody?
The fallout from that impossible choice seems inevitable.
Grief leads people to do and say things that they don't mean. Survivor's guilt for the chosen daughter. Overwhelming sorrow for the mother who had to choose, seeing her daughter, forever reminded of the decision she made. Then there's the husband who also feels deep sadness but is trying to be strong for his family
Beyond this horrific event, something more sinister lurks in the background.
Could it be that this wasn't some unlucky accident, instead that someone despised Lizzie so much that they purposefully caused her car to crash?
There are plenty of twists within this story as well as various elements, it isn't all about the crash, instead those smaller events that led up to that horrid choice.
This is an emotional read.
Family drama with grit.
The tension gradually building. Pieces of information missing. We aren't initially aware of which daughter survived and beyond that, Lizzie's reasons for the choice that she made. It's all very heartbreaking, I just kept imagining how I'd feel if faced with the same situation.
How can you decide such a fate for somebody?
The fallout from that impossible choice seems inevitable.
Grief leads people to do and say things that they don't mean. Survivor's guilt for the chosen daughter. Overwhelming sorrow for the mother who had to choose, seeing her daughter, forever reminded of the decision she made. Then there's the husband who also feels deep sadness but is trying to be strong for his family
Beyond this horrific event, something more sinister lurks in the background.
Could it be that this wasn't some unlucky accident, instead that someone despised Lizzie so much that they purposefully caused her car to crash?
There are plenty of twists within this story as well as various elements, it isn't all about the crash, instead those smaller events that led up to that horrid choice.
This is an emotional read.
Family drama with grit.
March 21, 2021
I was lucky enough to be chosen to read this book for free with The Book Club on Facebook . We read it in three parts (one a week ) , at times it was hard waiting for the next part to be released as it always finished on a cliff hanger.
I wasn’t sure where this book would take me but I was gripped and wanted to read more and more to see what happened .
Losing a child is difficult and unless you have been there you can’t understand the primal pain it causes or the scars it leaves behind !
This book is beautifully written and drags you and pushes you through a difficult topic with some truly magical life affirming moments.
I wasn’t sure where this book would take me but I was gripped and wanted to read more and more to see what happened .
Losing a child is difficult and unless you have been there you can’t understand the primal pain it causes or the scars it leaves behind !
This book is beautifully written and drags you and pushes you through a difficult topic with some truly magical life affirming moments.
March 2, 2021
Oh, my Goodness! For someone who is not fond of children, I have been reading quite a few books involving them, but I must say this one is very special. So special that it sparked a big conversation in the house! I love it when books make you feel but also think, really think, and you discover opinions can vary to the extreme. More on this later…
The book begins with quite a regular scene: a mother and two daughters ending their holiday with a trip to the village shop. The familiar setting was perfect to enable me to discover Lizzie, a woman for whom motherhood is everything (no, don’t worry, she never overdoes it!), and her very different girls: Becca and Portia. This opening was perfect to lure me into a sense of security. The narrative was precise and intriguing, even when describing the most mundane tasks.
Soon, however, all sense of safety left the pages. On their way back home, on a dark and empty road, Lizzie is blinded by lights, and the next seconds change her life forever.
I have no words strong enough to convey how immersive the author’s writing style is. I was in the car with Lizzie and the girls. I was in the lake. I was trapped by the water. I remember feeling panicky and anxious while reading, my knuckles white as my hands gripped the Kindle. Car crashes are terrible but imagine ending your trip in a lake! The shock, the cold, and… the terrible truth dawning on you. There is not enough time. Three went in, only two can get out.
To say I was shaken would be an understatement. If I thought I was diving into a nice thriller as I know them, I was wrong. The standard of the psychological exploration in Mother is outstanding. From that point on, the pages felt real: sometimes raw as papercuts, sometimes heart-wrenching, always, always putting words on feelings with such power, handling subjects such as grief with sensitivity.
What do you do when faced with an impossible choice? Lizzie can only save one of her children. But how do you choose which child deserves to live? The unfairness of the situation broke my heart and the desperation overwhelmed me. I was struck by it that I put the book down, went to my family, and asked them the question. How would you choose? How can you?! Answers were… direct, sincere, and we disagreed on a few things, such as the apparently evident solution: ‘choose the youngest!’ Thank you! I am the oldest child! You would let me die?! Jokes apart, it was thought-provoking and eye-opening to read about it and then share my thoughts on it with others. This was a brilliant surprise. I am a dog mama, not a kid mama, but I did my best to understand each point of view, and thanks to the amazing talent of Laura Jarratt, I was able to feel what a mother would feel.
The family is thrown into tragedy and there is no easy way out of it. Grief is a character in itself and it morphs into different shapes, hitting each character in a different way. Guilt is also around, hovering over the house like a dark cloud. What happened on this road? Why can’t Lizzie remember? Is the truth too much to bear? While the psychological element is present at all times, mystery suddenly blends in and adds another layer to Mother.
By the time this happened, I was already absolutely unable to tear myself away from the book and had formed different relationships with each protagonist. The threat pushing the family to its breaking point had my crime-lover brain run wild trying to figure out the who and why. Yet, the more I read, the clearer I saw that this thriller string of the plot was not just a tool to give chills to the story, but rather a magnificent way to take you on a terrible and yet somehow beautiful journey… I know, this is vague, but Mother is rich, so rich and it gives so much in terms of emotions and intrigue, that I prefer to keep some things quiet and let you experience it yourself.
Compulsive and fascinating, Mother is an astounding example of what’s best in psychological thrillers.
The book begins with quite a regular scene: a mother and two daughters ending their holiday with a trip to the village shop. The familiar setting was perfect to enable me to discover Lizzie, a woman for whom motherhood is everything (no, don’t worry, she never overdoes it!), and her very different girls: Becca and Portia. This opening was perfect to lure me into a sense of security. The narrative was precise and intriguing, even when describing the most mundane tasks.
Soon, however, all sense of safety left the pages. On their way back home, on a dark and empty road, Lizzie is blinded by lights, and the next seconds change her life forever.
I have no words strong enough to convey how immersive the author’s writing style is. I was in the car with Lizzie and the girls. I was in the lake. I was trapped by the water. I remember feeling panicky and anxious while reading, my knuckles white as my hands gripped the Kindle. Car crashes are terrible but imagine ending your trip in a lake! The shock, the cold, and… the terrible truth dawning on you. There is not enough time. Three went in, only two can get out.
To say I was shaken would be an understatement. If I thought I was diving into a nice thriller as I know them, I was wrong. The standard of the psychological exploration in Mother is outstanding. From that point on, the pages felt real: sometimes raw as papercuts, sometimes heart-wrenching, always, always putting words on feelings with such power, handling subjects such as grief with sensitivity.
What do you do when faced with an impossible choice? Lizzie can only save one of her children. But how do you choose which child deserves to live? The unfairness of the situation broke my heart and the desperation overwhelmed me. I was struck by it that I put the book down, went to my family, and asked them the question. How would you choose? How can you?! Answers were… direct, sincere, and we disagreed on a few things, such as the apparently evident solution: ‘choose the youngest!’ Thank you! I am the oldest child! You would let me die?! Jokes apart, it was thought-provoking and eye-opening to read about it and then share my thoughts on it with others. This was a brilliant surprise. I am a dog mama, not a kid mama, but I did my best to understand each point of view, and thanks to the amazing talent of Laura Jarratt, I was able to feel what a mother would feel.
The family is thrown into tragedy and there is no easy way out of it. Grief is a character in itself and it morphs into different shapes, hitting each character in a different way. Guilt is also around, hovering over the house like a dark cloud. What happened on this road? Why can’t Lizzie remember? Is the truth too much to bear? While the psychological element is present at all times, mystery suddenly blends in and adds another layer to Mother.
By the time this happened, I was already absolutely unable to tear myself away from the book and had formed different relationships with each protagonist. The threat pushing the family to its breaking point had my crime-lover brain run wild trying to figure out the who and why. Yet, the more I read, the clearer I saw that this thriller string of the plot was not just a tool to give chills to the story, but rather a magnificent way to take you on a terrible and yet somehow beautiful journey… I know, this is vague, but Mother is rich, so rich and it gives so much in terms of emotions and intrigue, that I prefer to keep some things quiet and let you experience it yourself.
Compulsive and fascinating, Mother is an astounding example of what’s best in psychological thrillers.
March 16, 2021
I read this book as part of a readalong with my book club and absolutely loved it. It’s a heartbreaking tale about a mother who has to choose which child to save after a serious accident and live with the consequences of her choice all whilst her family is falling apart around her and trying to piece together what actually happened the day her daughter died and are they still in danger. It’s an exciting read.
July 18, 2021
I am nearly finished this book can't put it down !!! Very good
September 3, 2022
I was completely obsessed with this book.
March 5, 2021
This is an interesting read, ostensibly about a car crash which leaves a mother choosing between her two daughters in the most extreme of circumstances, however, it is also a multi layered, dual narrative on what it means to be a parent.
Biological and adopted daughters , Portia and Becca are at the mercy of a flashpoint decision against unthinkable odds, and the aftermath of the crash is examined in close detail as mother, Lizzie, pulls herself to pieces trying to rationalise what she has done.
The return home from a holiday should be a joyous occasion, but for Lizzie she is dreading facing her husband,Dan, who insisted she should wait for him to drive her home. However, taking the chance to spend more 'me time' with her daughters, Lizzie drags out their idyllic stay and drives home herself. A curve taken at speed results in her car going over a cliff and a race against time to free herself in order to reach her daughters.
A decision made against the clock, in an isolated lake has massive repercussions as suspense mounts by the page , heading towards the reveal of which girl Lizzie saved.
But was this crash as instinctive and innocent as it sounds?
Both Lizzie and Dan are in positions as defence lawyers and barristers where there are plenty of people who would like to get revenge on what they might feel is the 'wrong' verdict.
As the forensic details build up a case for this not being a complete accident, the guilt and self reproach that Lizzie berates herself escalates . Dealing with the grief process as well as physical recuperation, let alone the circumstances under which she has lost one of her daughters becomes secondary to finding out exactly what happened and why.
Whilst Lizzie pulls herself apart in order to put herself back together again, she and Dan have to examine the deep cracks within their relationship as well as working towards an understanding of how culpable either, or both of them, is for their daughter's death.
The discussions around how, and why, Lizzie and Dan became parents is so painful to read, their pain jumps off the page which only makes their loss more potent and destructive. The answers to the what happened, and why, are nit clear cut and further explore whether our motivations to become parents are truly altruistic, or are driven by a society which values it's propagation more than the toll on individuals .
It's a really interesting book with lots of narrative twists and turns to keep the most keen eyed reader engaged, and it deals with trauma, child loss, infertility and mental health in an unflinching yet compassionate way .
Laura Jarratt is a new to me author, but I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
Biological and adopted daughters , Portia and Becca are at the mercy of a flashpoint decision against unthinkable odds, and the aftermath of the crash is examined in close detail as mother, Lizzie, pulls herself to pieces trying to rationalise what she has done.
The return home from a holiday should be a joyous occasion, but for Lizzie she is dreading facing her husband,Dan, who insisted she should wait for him to drive her home. However, taking the chance to spend more 'me time' with her daughters, Lizzie drags out their idyllic stay and drives home herself. A curve taken at speed results in her car going over a cliff and a race against time to free herself in order to reach her daughters.
A decision made against the clock, in an isolated lake has massive repercussions as suspense mounts by the page , heading towards the reveal of which girl Lizzie saved.
But was this crash as instinctive and innocent as it sounds?
Both Lizzie and Dan are in positions as defence lawyers and barristers where there are plenty of people who would like to get revenge on what they might feel is the 'wrong' verdict.
As the forensic details build up a case for this not being a complete accident, the guilt and self reproach that Lizzie berates herself escalates . Dealing with the grief process as well as physical recuperation, let alone the circumstances under which she has lost one of her daughters becomes secondary to finding out exactly what happened and why.
Whilst Lizzie pulls herself apart in order to put herself back together again, she and Dan have to examine the deep cracks within their relationship as well as working towards an understanding of how culpable either, or both of them, is for their daughter's death.
The discussions around how, and why, Lizzie and Dan became parents is so painful to read, their pain jumps off the page which only makes their loss more potent and destructive. The answers to the what happened, and why, are nit clear cut and further explore whether our motivations to become parents are truly altruistic, or are driven by a society which values it's propagation more than the toll on individuals .
It's a really interesting book with lots of narrative twists and turns to keep the most keen eyed reader engaged, and it deals with trauma, child loss, infertility and mental health in an unflinching yet compassionate way .
Laura Jarratt is a new to me author, but I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
June 29, 2023
Ko se Lizzie s hčerama vrača z dopusta, njihov avto zdrsi po pobočju in pristane v globoki reki. Lizzie je postavljena pred odločitev, zaradi katere se njeno življenje popolnoma obrne.
Odločitev. Krivda. Obup. Odločite. Krivda. Obup. In vprašanja. Vse to se, sicer po mojem mnenju, vleče. In vleče v eno in isto smer. Vmes namigovanje, besede druge osebe, zaradi katerih slutiš in pa tudi veš, da je za vsem dogajanjem nekaj več, a sem na žalost do nekje 230. strani kar poskušala z branjem, nato pa, bolj kot ne, precej preskakovalo, ker se mi je res vleklo in me nikakor ni prepričalo. A morda bo prav to široko razglabljanje o tej odločitvi, o krivdi, ki jo nosi Lizzie, o tem, kaj je prav ali bolje, kaj bi bilo prav, bolj všečno, pravzaprav sem v to prepričana. Je knjiga, ki sproža vprašanja, le da je prav vprašanj glavne protagonistke, ki se vrti v tem začaranem krogu, vseeno malce preveč.
Odločitev. Krivda. Obup. Odločite. Krivda. Obup. In vprašanja. Vse to se, sicer po mojem mnenju, vleče. In vleče v eno in isto smer. Vmes namigovanje, besede druge osebe, zaradi katerih slutiš in pa tudi veš, da je za vsem dogajanjem nekaj več, a sem na žalost do nekje 230. strani kar poskušala z branjem, nato pa, bolj kot ne, precej preskakovalo, ker se mi je res vleklo in me nikakor ni prepričalo. A morda bo prav to široko razglabljanje o tej odločitvi, o krivdi, ki jo nosi Lizzie, o tem, kaj je prav ali bolje, kaj bi bilo prav, bolj všečno, pravzaprav sem v to prepričana. Je knjiga, ki sproža vprašanja, le da je prav vprašanj glavne protagonistke, ki se vrti v tem začaranem krogu, vseeno malce preveč.
January 31, 2024
Not a great read
the police were so unrealistic, there was also some really uncomfortable lines about adoption and the ending was awful
the police were so unrealistic, there was also some really uncomfortable lines about adoption and the ending was awful
January 4, 2026
A gripping story from page 1 through to the end.
A raw tale of love, grief and forgiveness mixed with mystery/thriller vibes with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and engaged.
A raw tale of love, grief and forgiveness mixed with mystery/thriller vibes with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and engaged.
December 23, 2025
3.5⭐️ rating!
A powerfully emotive and gripping plot premise that I genuinely loved. For the most part, it’s a fast-paced read, beautifully written, rich in description and incredibly effective at portraying the raw, intense heart of the story. As a mother to two children myself, I found it impossible not to connect to the emotional stakes. How the mother was forced to choose between her children, I’ll never know! My heart broke even trying to comprehend it.
While the opening chapters gripped me instantly, the pacing did dip soon after- the narrative slowed and certain themes and moments began to feel a little too repetitive. There were also a few plot points that stretched realism for me; without venturing into spoilers, I feel the police response lacked the empathy and understanding you would expect in such a heartbreaking situation. Similarly, the ending, while impactful, felt a little too neat… circumstances like this wouldn’t resolve so cleanly or disappear on the word of one person.
Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read for my first book by this author! The way the story does a full circle leaves you with a warmth that stays long after you’ve turned the final page!~⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
A powerfully emotive and gripping plot premise that I genuinely loved. For the most part, it’s a fast-paced read, beautifully written, rich in description and incredibly effective at portraying the raw, intense heart of the story. As a mother to two children myself, I found it impossible not to connect to the emotional stakes. How the mother was forced to choose between her children, I’ll never know! My heart broke even trying to comprehend it.
While the opening chapters gripped me instantly, the pacing did dip soon after- the narrative slowed and certain themes and moments began to feel a little too repetitive. There were also a few plot points that stretched realism for me; without venturing into spoilers, I feel the police response lacked the empathy and understanding you would expect in such a heartbreaking situation. Similarly, the ending, while impactful, felt a little too neat… circumstances like this wouldn’t resolve so cleanly or disappear on the word of one person.
Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read for my first book by this author! The way the story does a full circle leaves you with a warmth that stays long after you’ve turned the final page!~⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
March 10, 2021
Once I picked up Mother I couldn't put it down! I was caught in its vice-like grip from the start and was only released (one numb bum later) when I turned the final page. It is so compelling that you can't help but be drawn into the story and be affected by the disturbing events within. My heart went out to every single character in the book and I wouldn't want to trade places with any of them.
Lizzie is faced with an unenviable dilemma when her car plunges into a lake with her two children in the backseat; she only has time to save one of her daughters. We don't know which one she chose for a few chapters but you can't help wondering which one it is. Dealing with both grief and guilt, Lizzie has a mountain of a recovery to climb and although she can't remember all of the details about the accident, something just doesn't add up. The police seem to be blinkered in their investigation so Lizzie and her husband, Dan rack their brains to see who might want to take revenge on them. As they are both barristers, they could have a long list!
There is so much to discover in this amazing book: which daughter survived, why Lizzie picked her and what really happened that night, to name but a few. I devoured every single page as if I'd been starved of books and felt so many emotions as the story unfolded. I was devastated, not just at the grief experienced from the death of a child but at the guilt each character felt: Dan thinks it wouldn't have happened if he had been there, Lizzie feels responsible for selecting a child to survive and one of her daughters has survivor's guilt.
Incredibly thought-provoking, completely devastating but terribly compelling, Mother really got under my skin as I lived and breathed with the characters. This would be an amazing book for book groups as you can't help wondering what you would have done in the same terrible circumstances. A wonderful book to remind you that time is so precious and to be grateful for every second you spend with your loved ones.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Lizzie is faced with an unenviable dilemma when her car plunges into a lake with her two children in the backseat; she only has time to save one of her daughters. We don't know which one she chose for a few chapters but you can't help wondering which one it is. Dealing with both grief and guilt, Lizzie has a mountain of a recovery to climb and although she can't remember all of the details about the accident, something just doesn't add up. The police seem to be blinkered in their investigation so Lizzie and her husband, Dan rack their brains to see who might want to take revenge on them. As they are both barristers, they could have a long list!
There is so much to discover in this amazing book: which daughter survived, why Lizzie picked her and what really happened that night, to name but a few. I devoured every single page as if I'd been starved of books and felt so many emotions as the story unfolded. I was devastated, not just at the grief experienced from the death of a child but at the guilt each character felt: Dan thinks it wouldn't have happened if he had been there, Lizzie feels responsible for selecting a child to survive and one of her daughters has survivor's guilt.
Incredibly thought-provoking, completely devastating but terribly compelling, Mother really got under my skin as I lived and breathed with the characters. This would be an amazing book for book groups as you can't help wondering what you would have done in the same terrible circumstances. A wonderful book to remind you that time is so precious and to be grateful for every second you spend with your loved ones.
I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 18, 2020
This is my first time reading a book by Laura Jarrett and it took me a little longer to read than usual. I kind of took notes as I went through the book to give you an idea of how I felt at the that time in the book.
I absolutely loved the very quick twist-this is that we are all going to possibly assume she saves the daughter we think she is most likely going to save by just reading those first few chapters.
I'm sure all of our thought processes will be different but this little shocker at the end of chapter 9 had me hooked! A very clever way to start a book out.
And without giving anything away I had chosen wrong to whom I'd thought. Shock horror! Around to the end of the next chapter..... Oh no the revelations do not stop at number 9.... Here comes another twist. Then they kind of stop dead. Dissapointing.
One problem I found was how the writing was laid out, other than the font there was no obvious separation of the person "watching" and the women narrating 'Lizzie', it was all written into the same chapter.
The whole middle of this book to me was pointless. Not alot of anything happened-but alot of words were printed.
Then we come to the end, great emotional ending had me captured for all of one chapter, then it all became a bit muddled and messy and again pointless dialogue.... The final chapter, mixed emotions.
I started off loving this book and it went kind of downhill from there and it couldn't keep me captivated. Final few chapters roped me back in and with the end in sight I managed to finish the book.
2.5/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
I absolutely loved the very quick twist-this is that we are all going to possibly assume she saves the daughter we think she is most likely going to save by just reading those first few chapters.
I'm sure all of our thought processes will be different but this little shocker at the end of chapter 9 had me hooked! A very clever way to start a book out.
And without giving anything away I had chosen wrong to whom I'd thought. Shock horror! Around to the end of the next chapter..... Oh no the revelations do not stop at number 9.... Here comes another twist. Then they kind of stop dead. Dissapointing.
One problem I found was how the writing was laid out, other than the font there was no obvious separation of the person "watching" and the women narrating 'Lizzie', it was all written into the same chapter.
The whole middle of this book to me was pointless. Not alot of anything happened-but alot of words were printed.
Then we come to the end, great emotional ending had me captured for all of one chapter, then it all became a bit muddled and messy and again pointless dialogue.... The final chapter, mixed emotions.
I started off loving this book and it went kind of downhill from there and it couldn't keep me captivated. Final few chapters roped me back in and with the end in sight I managed to finish the book.
2.5/5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.
March 19, 2021
This is one of the most heart wrenching books I’ve read!
I read this as part of a read a long where I received the book in 3 parts which worked really well with the way the book is written.
At the beginning we meet Lizzie a family lawyer with two daughters (one teenager and one little girl) her husband Dan who is a criminal lawyer.
From the very beginning we are dragged into heart racing constant fear as Lizzie’s car goes off the road into the river while driving her girls home from a weekend away in the country. With both girls unconscious in the back seat and her husband still at home working Lizzie has one snap second to decide which girl to pull out or they all die. A totally heartbreaking decision and any mothers worst nightmare.
There were parts which I had to reread due to not being able to see past my tears it was so emotional and as a mother I’ve had many sleepless nights about this storyline.
In past two we see more grief from Lizzie and Dan as they grow further apart while suffering from the death of one of their daughters the other daughter also grieving nobody wants to be in that house especially when the police turn up saying the brakes on the car were cut and thus somebody is to blame. But who could possibly go to those lengths?
Part three was very exciting and a rush to find out who was to blame and to determine how the family would continue living. I feel like the ending was perfect in the sense that it was all about a mother’s choice. I absolutely will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
I read this as part of a read a long where I received the book in 3 parts which worked really well with the way the book is written.
At the beginning we meet Lizzie a family lawyer with two daughters (one teenager and one little girl) her husband Dan who is a criminal lawyer.
From the very beginning we are dragged into heart racing constant fear as Lizzie’s car goes off the road into the river while driving her girls home from a weekend away in the country. With both girls unconscious in the back seat and her husband still at home working Lizzie has one snap second to decide which girl to pull out or they all die. A totally heartbreaking decision and any mothers worst nightmare.
There were parts which I had to reread due to not being able to see past my tears it was so emotional and as a mother I’ve had many sleepless nights about this storyline.
In past two we see more grief from Lizzie and Dan as they grow further apart while suffering from the death of one of their daughters the other daughter also grieving nobody wants to be in that house especially when the police turn up saying the brakes on the car were cut and thus somebody is to blame. But who could possibly go to those lengths?
Part three was very exciting and a rush to find out who was to blame and to determine how the family would continue living. I feel like the ending was perfect in the sense that it was all about a mother’s choice. I absolutely will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
July 20, 2021
This book is about a family consumed by grief and guilt, especially the Mother. Lizzie is driving home from a holiday with her two daughters, Portia and Becca. Due to work commitments Dan, her husband, had to stay at home. She is driving in the dark and in the pouring rain when she is blinded by lights and her car crashes into a lake. Lizzie realises that she can only save one of her daughters and has the heartbreaking decision to make as to which one. We learn that one of them is her biological daughter and one her adopted daughter and we feel her desperation at the decision she has to make. After thr crash Lizzie suffers from amnesia as the police investigate they become convinced that she must have fallen asleep at the wheel. Lizzie is certain that she didn’t but what really happened? We go through the guilt and torment of the family especially when they question whether it is someone from their past cases as they are both lawyers and the police uncover that Lizzie’s brakes had been cut. As the investigation progresses the pressure and stress build on Lizzie and Dan and their relationship. This is a book that had me gripped from the start. They mystery of what happened that night is gripping as we are taken on a roller coaster of a read with so many twists and turns which made a very thought provoking story. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 13, 2021
What would you do if you had to choose to save the lives of one of your daughters. This is every parents worst nightmare and one that Lizzie is forced to make in this outstanding book. When Lizzie car is run off the road, both her girls are unconscious and the car is rapidly sinking to the bottom of a lake. Lizzie can only save one child but which one will it be? I like how the author kept the reader hanging for a couple of chapters before revealing which child was saved and I couldn’t for the life of me guess who Lizzie chose to save.
When Lizzie is taken to hospital with her daughter it becomes clear that Lizzie has very little memory of what happened the day of that fatal crash. The police are saying one thing although Lizzie is convinced they are wrong but how can she be so sure when she has no memory of what actually happened.
As well as trying to come to terms with what happened both Lizzie and her husband Dan try to work out what happened that day and how it happened. I found this book really easy to read and there were so many twists and turns I had no idea how it would end up. I’ll defiantly be on the look out for more books by this author an unpredictable, emotional yet exciting read!
When Lizzie is taken to hospital with her daughter it becomes clear that Lizzie has very little memory of what happened the day of that fatal crash. The police are saying one thing although Lizzie is convinced they are wrong but how can she be so sure when she has no memory of what actually happened.
As well as trying to come to terms with what happened both Lizzie and her husband Dan try to work out what happened that day and how it happened. I found this book really easy to read and there were so many twists and turns I had no idea how it would end up. I’ll defiantly be on the look out for more books by this author an unpredictable, emotional yet exciting read!
February 18, 2021
“Everything is do is for my daughters. Everything.” Lizzie Fulton’s words begin Mother, an unputdownable story of loss, grief and the courage to go on.
While driving on a dark country road after a vacation, Lizzie’s car is run off the road. She careens into a pond and the vehicle sinks rapidly. Her two daughters are asleep in the back seat. As water fills the car, she only has time to save one girl. Who does she pick and why?
After she and her daughter recover, Lizzie and her husband Dan have understandable difficulty returning to their normal routines. Complicating this is the involvement of the police who have suspicions about the cause of the accident. Both Lizzie and Dan are lawyers. Could something or someone from their past be involved in this tragedy?
Mother is a raw, emotional read. Lizzie’s grief is palpable while Dan’s eats away at him. Both struggle with their relationship to each other and their surviving daughter. Mother is simply haunting. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Laura Jarratt for this ARC.
While driving on a dark country road after a vacation, Lizzie’s car is run off the road. She careens into a pond and the vehicle sinks rapidly. Her two daughters are asleep in the back seat. As water fills the car, she only has time to save one girl. Who does she pick and why?
After she and her daughter recover, Lizzie and her husband Dan have understandable difficulty returning to their normal routines. Complicating this is the involvement of the police who have suspicions about the cause of the accident. Both Lizzie and Dan are lawyers. Could something or someone from their past be involved in this tragedy?
Mother is a raw, emotional read. Lizzie’s grief is palpable while Dan’s eats away at him. Both struggle with their relationship to each other and their surviving daughter. Mother is simply haunting. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Laura Jarratt for this ARC.
June 3, 2021
“Everything is do is for my daughters. Everything.” Lizzie Fulton’s words begin Mother, an unputdownable story of loss, grief and the courage to go on.
While driving on a dark country road after a vacation, Lizzie’s car is run off the road. She careens into a pond and the vehicle sinks rapidly. Her two daughters are asleep in the back seat. As water fills the car, she only has time to save one girl. Who does she pick and why?
After she and her daughter recover, Lizzie and her husband Dan have understandable difficulty returning to their normal routines. Complicating this is the involvement of the police who have suspicions about the cause of the accident. Both Lizzie and Dan are lawyers. Could something or someone from their past be involved in this tragedy?
Mother is a raw, emotional read. Lizzie’s grief is palpable while Dan’s eats away at him. Both struggle with their relationship to each other and their surviving daughter. Mother is simply haunting. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Laura Jarratt for this ARC.
While driving on a dark country road after a vacation, Lizzie’s car is run off the road. She careens into a pond and the vehicle sinks rapidly. Her two daughters are asleep in the back seat. As water fills the car, she only has time to save one girl. Who does she pick and why?
After she and her daughter recover, Lizzie and her husband Dan have understandable difficulty returning to their normal routines. Complicating this is the involvement of the police who have suspicions about the cause of the accident. Both Lizzie and Dan are lawyers. Could something or someone from their past be involved in this tragedy?
Mother is a raw, emotional read. Lizzie’s grief is palpable while Dan’s eats away at him. Both struggle with their relationship to each other and their surviving daughter. Mother is simply haunting. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and Laura Jarratt for this ARC.
January 29, 2023
Outstanding. I don’t have children, but Mother is such a powerful novel. The attention to detail is top notch and the atmosphere is realistic yet.chilling and disconcerting.There are great visuals and the plot is truly heart wrenching.
I can’t imagine having to make a choice like this and how Lizzie must have felt. Her relationship with her husband Dan and their two daughters is excellently portrayed. The pacing is fast but each word is chosen so well and helps the story along. I can tell Laura Jarratt is a gifted author and I’ve found a new favourite author in her. I really want to get more of her books.
Thanks to Laura Jarratt and Orion Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 sparkling stars. I’d give it more if I could, I didn’t want it to end.
I can’t imagine having to make a choice like this and how Lizzie must have felt. Her relationship with her husband Dan and their two daughters is excellently portrayed. The pacing is fast but each word is chosen so well and helps the story along. I can tell Laura Jarratt is a gifted author and I’ve found a new favourite author in her. I really want to get more of her books.
Thanks to Laura Jarratt and Orion Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
5 sparkling stars. I’d give it more if I could, I didn’t want it to end.
September 14, 2020
Quite a thought provoked... you can only save one of your kids,so which do you choose,and how do you and the family cope with the guilt afterwards.
Especially as some of you feel you caused the death.
There were some very creepy moments in this book,knowing somebody ran them off the road and then was watching them.
I suspected all the nearest and dearest friends...
I enjoyed the family drama side of this book more than the confession and reason why I think. How each of the characters felt and how the family had lost it's dynamic with one very important part missing... But as a whole,the book was a good read.
Definitely recommending it to people.
Especially as some of you feel you caused the death.
There were some very creepy moments in this book,knowing somebody ran them off the road and then was watching them.
I suspected all the nearest and dearest friends...
I enjoyed the family drama side of this book more than the confession and reason why I think. How each of the characters felt and how the family had lost it's dynamic with one very important part missing... But as a whole,the book was a good read.
Definitely recommending it to people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2021
I went into this book knowing there is a car accident and the mum has to choose who to save. As you can see by the cover, this is a big part of the book right? No. That part is all done by the 10% mark. So less than 50 pages in you find out the choice and the reasons for it. So really, this is book is about the aftermath of a choice.
It was wrapped up so quickly I thought maybe we would see how it would unravel if the choice was reversed as well.
I think overall I expected more of the choice part, or the reveal to not come quite so quickly.
Themes of survivor guilt, ptsd, motherhood, adoption, losing a child.
It was wrapped up so quickly I thought maybe we would see how it would unravel if the choice was reversed as well.
I think overall I expected more of the choice part, or the reveal to not come quite so quickly.
Themes of survivor guilt, ptsd, motherhood, adoption, losing a child.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2022
Poignant
March 15, 2021
This is one of those ‘What if …?’ conversation starters. What if you’re driving down a dark, winding country road late at night with your two daughters asleep on the back seat, happy and content after a lovely week away from the stress of work and school. All of a sudden, something flashes into your peripheral vision, causing you to lose focus and you swerve off the road, onto the embankment, through the trees and you land up plunging into an icy lake. You manage to free yourself from your seatbelt, but as the car quickly sinks into the depths, you realise with absolute dread that you will only have time to rescue one of your daughters in the back! Which one will it be?
This is what happens to Lizzie and her daughters, sullen teenager Portia, and bright, sunny Becca, who’s the image of Lizzie herself. They’ve just spent a week away in the countryside and are on their way back home to husband and father Dan. After stopping off at a village shop, they’re back on the road, and Lizzie is eager to get home, but wondering if it might have been a mistake to have left so late, as now they’re travelling in the dark, the weather is awful, the rain is bucketing down and the roads are quite twisty and what do you know … there’s no phone signal out there, as it’s quite remote. The girls fall asleep in the back seat and Lizzie is driving along the quiet road. It seems like she’s the only car out there, but suddenly … she’s not quite sure … she sees something in the trees up ahead. Maybe something like a flash of light? She’s not really sure but she carries on driving. And then, suddenly, blinding lights are coming right at her and Lizzie has no choice but to swerve off the road. Before she knows it she’s lost all control of the car and she can’t seem to get the brakes to do what they’re meant to do. They’re crashing through trees and branches and it’s all happening at breakneck speed, until they land up in a lake and start sinking … fast!
Lizzie knows she is panicking and not thinking straight but she manages to get her seatbelt off. The water is freezing and a frightening clarity dawns on her: she is only going to have time to save one of the girls in the back of the car. There simply won’t be time to save them both! Instinct takes over. She really has no idea what she’s doing … or does she? She reaches back, unclasps one of the buckles on a seatbelt and grabs the girl she can get to, pulling her to the surface. She leaves her there, cold and unconscious, and tries to go back for the other one, but it is an impossible task. The lake is too deep and she has lost her bearings. She returns to the daughter she has rescued, knowing she did all she could do, knowing it wasn’t enough.
What really happened that night on the road and in the lake? That’s what the police want to know when they come calling. They don’t believe Lizzie when she says she can’t remember. They insist that she must have fallen asleep at the wheel, but she’s sure that’s not what happened. And which daughter did she save? Laura Jarratt does an excellent job stringing the reader along for a few chapters before she reveals the answer.
Is there a possibility that some external element, another party played a role in what happened on the road that night? Could there have been some sort of foul play? After all, both Lizzie and Dan are criminal lawyers so there’s a slim chance that someone may have been trying to get back at one of them for something … isn’t there? The tension builds throughout and one can almost feel the pain that this family is going through. Not only have they lost a child, but it seems they’re being accused of having done something, only they’re not quite sure what.
Lizzie, Dan and their surviving daughter all have to struggle through their grief in their own vastly different ways. They also need to try and lean on each other and remain united as a family in the face of all that’s thrown at them. Can they manage to remain a strong unit or will they crumble and be unable to cope with the barrage of accusations they’re faced with? And will Lizzie eventually remember what actually happened that night?
Laura Jarratt has created a tense, character driven, riveting story that will make you wonder what lengths you would go to in order to protect those you love, especially if you are a mother. What if you find yourself in an untenable situation? What then? This is a conversation starter that will probably leave you with even more questions than answers. You’ll certainly be left thinking about it long after you finish that last page. 4 stars from me.
This is what happens to Lizzie and her daughters, sullen teenager Portia, and bright, sunny Becca, who’s the image of Lizzie herself. They’ve just spent a week away in the countryside and are on their way back home to husband and father Dan. After stopping off at a village shop, they’re back on the road, and Lizzie is eager to get home, but wondering if it might have been a mistake to have left so late, as now they’re travelling in the dark, the weather is awful, the rain is bucketing down and the roads are quite twisty and what do you know … there’s no phone signal out there, as it’s quite remote. The girls fall asleep in the back seat and Lizzie is driving along the quiet road. It seems like she’s the only car out there, but suddenly … she’s not quite sure … she sees something in the trees up ahead. Maybe something like a flash of light? She’s not really sure but she carries on driving. And then, suddenly, blinding lights are coming right at her and Lizzie has no choice but to swerve off the road. Before she knows it she’s lost all control of the car and she can’t seem to get the brakes to do what they’re meant to do. They’re crashing through trees and branches and it’s all happening at breakneck speed, until they land up in a lake and start sinking … fast!
Lizzie knows she is panicking and not thinking straight but she manages to get her seatbelt off. The water is freezing and a frightening clarity dawns on her: she is only going to have time to save one of the girls in the back of the car. There simply won’t be time to save them both! Instinct takes over. She really has no idea what she’s doing … or does she? She reaches back, unclasps one of the buckles on a seatbelt and grabs the girl she can get to, pulling her to the surface. She leaves her there, cold and unconscious, and tries to go back for the other one, but it is an impossible task. The lake is too deep and she has lost her bearings. She returns to the daughter she has rescued, knowing she did all she could do, knowing it wasn’t enough.
What really happened that night on the road and in the lake? That’s what the police want to know when they come calling. They don’t believe Lizzie when she says she can’t remember. They insist that she must have fallen asleep at the wheel, but she’s sure that’s not what happened. And which daughter did she save? Laura Jarratt does an excellent job stringing the reader along for a few chapters before she reveals the answer.
Is there a possibility that some external element, another party played a role in what happened on the road that night? Could there have been some sort of foul play? After all, both Lizzie and Dan are criminal lawyers so there’s a slim chance that someone may have been trying to get back at one of them for something … isn’t there? The tension builds throughout and one can almost feel the pain that this family is going through. Not only have they lost a child, but it seems they’re being accused of having done something, only they’re not quite sure what.
Lizzie, Dan and their surviving daughter all have to struggle through their grief in their own vastly different ways. They also need to try and lean on each other and remain united as a family in the face of all that’s thrown at them. Can they manage to remain a strong unit or will they crumble and be unable to cope with the barrage of accusations they’re faced with? And will Lizzie eventually remember what actually happened that night?
Laura Jarratt has created a tense, character driven, riveting story that will make you wonder what lengths you would go to in order to protect those you love, especially if you are a mother. What if you find yourself in an untenable situation? What then? This is a conversation starter that will probably leave you with even more questions than answers. You’ll certainly be left thinking about it long after you finish that last page. 4 stars from me.
June 10, 2024
I would never have picked up this book of my own accord because the cover and general design is absolutely pants, but it was a book club read and here we are. The cover doesn’t do it justice because it’s actually a very good little thriller.
I was hooked pretty much immediately and by the end of it I literally couldn’t put it down. It’s a really good story with a hideous concept that was a strong and interesting (if uncomfortable) basis for the events within the book. Every time I found myself thinking “I really don’t see where this can go now”, it proved me wrong and took a turn to somewhere I didn’t expect.
I’m actually SO MAD at the publishers because I feel like the crappy cover meant I expected it to be a bit rubbish, so my expectations were tainted and that affected my overall enjoyment of the book. That is a bit (a lot) of a me problem, I know, but I want this book to be rereleased with the cover design it deserves - a blue-tinged photo of a car on a rainy night, headlights on and then the book title in bold, yellow lettering.
My gripes with the story were - it got a bit repetitive in the middle and the characters seemed to have personality transplants right at the end. I also did NOT like how the MC dealt with the conclusion of the mystery (no spoilers, just in case!) but I kinda got it, in an eye-rolling kind of way.
If you’re a thriller enthusiast, I would recommend it. If you like a thriller on occasion, I’d say there are better ones out there, but if this book fell on your lap it’s worth a read.
I was hooked pretty much immediately and by the end of it I literally couldn’t put it down. It’s a really good story with a hideous concept that was a strong and interesting (if uncomfortable) basis for the events within the book. Every time I found myself thinking “I really don’t see where this can go now”, it proved me wrong and took a turn to somewhere I didn’t expect.
I’m actually SO MAD at the publishers because I feel like the crappy cover meant I expected it to be a bit rubbish, so my expectations were tainted and that affected my overall enjoyment of the book. That is a bit (a lot) of a me problem, I know, but I want this book to be rereleased with the cover design it deserves - a blue-tinged photo of a car on a rainy night, headlights on and then the book title in bold, yellow lettering.
My gripes with the story were - it got a bit repetitive in the middle and the characters seemed to have personality transplants right at the end. I also did NOT like how the MC dealt with the conclusion of the mystery (no spoilers, just in case!) but I kinda got it, in an eye-rolling kind of way.
If you’re a thriller enthusiast, I would recommend it. If you like a thriller on occasion, I’d say there are better ones out there, but if this book fell on your lap it’s worth a read.
March 11, 2021
This is totally gripping.
Lizzie is a 45-year-old family law barrister and is married to Dan, who is a criminal law barrister. They have two children, Portia their moody teenager and 7-year-old "ray of sunshine" adopted daughter Becca.
After taking the children on a trip away to the Scottish Borders whilst Dan has to work, she has an accident and her car plunges into a lake. She is faced with the horrible realisation that she will not be able to save both children so she must choose.
As a mother of two children myself, I cannot comprehend being in that situation and it is very heartbreaking and thought provoking. The accident is written brilliantly and we don't find out which child has survived until further into the story.
The police look at Lizzie and question her as they think she has fallen asleep at the wheel but she cannot remember a thing. Both Lizzie and Dan have jobs in which they can make enemies easily. Was it someone else's fault?
This book really focuses on the heartbreaking reality of losing a child and the unbearable guilt of believing that it was your fault. It explores their relationships with each other and how the death affects Lizzie, Dan and the surviving child and their mentalities are described wonderfully.
I was completely gripped the whole way through and honestly did not know what was coming next. I feel like as soon as I got over one shock, I got another.
Lizzie is a 45-year-old family law barrister and is married to Dan, who is a criminal law barrister. They have two children, Portia their moody teenager and 7-year-old "ray of sunshine" adopted daughter Becca.
After taking the children on a trip away to the Scottish Borders whilst Dan has to work, she has an accident and her car plunges into a lake. She is faced with the horrible realisation that she will not be able to save both children so she must choose.
As a mother of two children myself, I cannot comprehend being in that situation and it is very heartbreaking and thought provoking. The accident is written brilliantly and we don't find out which child has survived until further into the story.
The police look at Lizzie and question her as they think she has fallen asleep at the wheel but she cannot remember a thing. Both Lizzie and Dan have jobs in which they can make enemies easily. Was it someone else's fault?
This book really focuses on the heartbreaking reality of losing a child and the unbearable guilt of believing that it was your fault. It explores their relationships with each other and how the death affects Lizzie, Dan and the surviving child and their mentalities are described wonderfully.
I was completely gripped the whole way through and honestly did not know what was coming next. I feel like as soon as I got over one shock, I got another.
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