Postcards from Berlin: A Novel

by Margaret Leroy

Catriona Lydgate is a housewife with two children and an adoring husband. But beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect life are the dark secrets of the past she's tried to forget. Disturbing postcards begin arriving in the mail; she is recognized by a man who knew her from her past-an avalanche of small moments that will threaten everything she thought was real. When her youngest daughter falls ill with a mysterious illness, the doctors and even her husband suspect that she is deliberately making her child sick.As her marriage unravels, she comes dangerously close to the edge-and to losing everything that she loves-as the past she has fought so hard to bury becomes her witness and prosecutor.This is a haunting, heartbreaking novel-domestic fiction at its very finest.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

I grew up in the New Forest. As a child I wrote elaborate fantasy stories that I never showed to anyone. But around age 12 I stopped writing, and didn't start again till my mid-twenties.

(from the Biography page of her website)

I went to Oxford to study music, at St. Hilda's College. In my twenties I tried all sorts of things - music therapy, play-leading with children with disabilities, work in a toy shop, teaching. I also got married - and divorced. Finally I found work I really enjoyed, as a social worker: I qualified at Leicester University, and worked in psychiatry and then in child protection. It's a reviled profession but I found it fascinating: though, intriguingly, in my writing social workers are more likely to be villains than heroes. Around this time I met Mick, who is now my husband - and I started writing again. I became a full-time(ish) writer after our younger daughter was born.

Reviews

[Vicki_cosy.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been looking out for this book for a while now, after really enjoying The Drowning Girl written by the same author, Margaret Leroy.

The Perfect Mother tells the story of Cat and her eight year old daughter, Daisy. When Daisy's flu like symptoms carry on for weeks, worsening rather than improving, no-one is quite sure what is wrong. Doubt begins to be cast at Cat herself and whether it is her who is in fact responsible for Daisy's illness. But Cat is also hiding secrets of her own disturbing childhood from the specialist.

This was a completely engrossing book, and one I could not put down. There is something so completely compelling about Margaret Leroy's books that has me whizzing through the pages and eager to know what's going to happen.

Cat is a fantastic character, on one hand I found her so easy to relate to as a mother, and got completely involved and indignant at her treatment. On the other, there was doubt in my mind as to whether she is actually what she seems, and that feeling is drawn out right until the conclusion. I also found the whole situation a scary possibility in real life, and all the while was thinking 'what if it was me?'

It's an easy read, but an un-put-downable one too, that will have you completely caught up and pondering the power authority has over us, when anything we say can be twisted and used against us. I started this on a two hour train ride and don't think I looked up once. In fact I was disappointed to reach my destination and put the book away! I didn't enjoy it quite as much as The Drowning Girl but still thought it was a great read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book though my reading was slow

[Beth DuFault · Rating 2 out of 5]

After loving "The Soldier's Wife", I was anxious to read another Margaret Leroy novel. "Postcards from Berlin" was somewhat of a disappointment for me. I like Leroy's writing style a lot but I thought Cat was an insufferable character. I had a hard time feeling sympathy for her and I know I should have given her sad childhood. Many parts of the story were repetitive and drawn-out. The most compelling part of the story was the ending and her trip to Berlin to see her mother. I also wanted to learn more about what happened between her and Fergal. Overall, the story was really just a downer.

[Glenda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I "think" I liked this book ... the author really kept me turning the pages. This is about a mother who is accused of some pretty bad stuff because her 8 year old daughter has been ill for weeks ... with what the doctors don't know. The woman's life unravels when the past she is trying to escape comes back to haunt her ... she has to fight to keep her daughter and expose her past. Her husband even turns against her. This is really a touching story. It is a thriller, an examination of parenting and a love story all rolled into one. The author makes you realize that "all is not perfect."

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I understood why this book has two titles: “The Perfect Mother” and “Postcards from Berlin” – I think the first one is the most appropriate.

I enjoyed the story, but one thing bothered me: the way the doctors completely dismissed the mother and practically jumped on the verdict of Munchausen by Proxy. It was like a flash-diagnosis made on the fly with no real consideration of the facts. It felt like they just concluded it overnight and the story lost a bit of credibility for me at that point.

Perhaps the author evoked this on purpose so we could feel as stunned and bamboozled as the mother? Maybe. I just found it too fast to be believable.

[Msdot · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the story of this novel, but I wasn't that keen of the way it was written. On the cover it says "Margaret Leroy writes like a dream". I felt the opposite.. i felt like the author came up with descriptions of the surroundings unnecessarily just to make her story longer. It was really boring to read (I skimmed read most of it). The only reason why I gave two stars was because I liked the story enough and enjoyed the ending.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was dissapointed with this book, it had a weird ending and didnt dig into the main character's past which I thought was very important in the story line, its left me feeling there were lots of empty spaces in the story that could have been filled.

[Yuliia Zadnipriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Моя первая неадаптированная книга на английском. Идельный выбор! Читать и понимать было легко, хотя вначале я как-будто сквозь лес продиралась, но потом втянулась и читала, как на родном языке:)

Ребенок заболел. Его мать, обеспокоенная его состоянием, счастливая женщина, у которой есть все, о чем она мечтает, обращается за помощью к врачу. После просмотра и идеальных анализов девочку отправляют в игровую комнату, а маму оставляют в кабинете врача. И тут посыпались вопросы: "Вы ничего не хотите еще сказать? Ваш ребенок счастлив? Может, дело в психосоматике? Может, дело в том, что девочка несчастна?". И тут чтобы женщина не ответила, все будет против нее: ее обвинят в гиперопеке, в том, что она, будучи одержимой своим ребенком, сознательно гробит его здоровье. Все играет против нее: ее слова, ее внимательность, ее пылкое желание найти физиолическую причину состояния дочери, а не психическую. А самое главное - это ее прошлое. Прошлое без матери, без детства, в детском доме, который оставил гнустные воспонинания. Это все настолько ухудшает ситуацию, что возникает угроза вмешательства органов опеки.

А дальше было много рефлексии, самокопания и размышлений. Обретение новой матери. Открытые истиной причины болезни девочки. Интересная книга, интересный сюжет, легко читается и оставляет приятный осадок в душе. Отличное чтение на английском! И знакомство с новым автором.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had an abrupt and disappointing ending. I was thoroughly enjoying it, couldn't put it down. I had about 70 pages left, went to bed but was so eager to finish that I got back up and completed it. But what a letdown. Granted, there were some odd things throughout. (For instance, Catriona and Fergal. What? Where did that come from?) But it was still a good story. It's just that I expected more. Because NONE of the professionals, or really anyone except Catriona, would take Daisy's illness seriously, I assumed there would be a cool plot twist. But no. She was sick, but with something manageable, and Mom was right all along. Dull. And the husband--really? If his daughter was pale and unable to eat or function normally for months, would he be so dismissive? And the mysterious postcards were pretty much nothing. So ultimately I was really frustrated with the mundane ending. Could have been so much better and more creative.

[Gurpreet Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Perfect Mother by Margaret Leroy

It was a interesting and a different story. I simply didn't like the way doctors completely dismissed the mother and practically jumped on the verdict of Munchausen by Proxy, how could they??
Descriptions of the surroundings given in he book was interesting at first but there were way too much of that in the book. Catriona as a character has developed so much throughout the story and I liked her being strong and standing for what she believed, from being dependent to confident. Her husband Richard was such a unlikable character.

But it was an engrossing book. Liked it and enjoyed it.

[Kianne Werrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but there was so much that could have been gone into, expanded on and filled in the empty gaps.
Twice there were mistakes made - after going into Daisy's room where she was watching tv, Cat switched the tv on and left Daisy to watch it. Also she went into her studio, leaving the light off, when trying to look out the window the light reflected too much on it.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the book was okay. I was interested in seeing how the plot would play out after reading the synopsis but I felt kind of let down. In my opinion the book felt dragged out with not much happening until the last few chapters, even then it wasn’t a satisfying ending for me.

[Alyson Seighman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It was a deep, multi-layered story of a mother’s true love for her daughter. I found the story wrapped up beautifully after winding through a tough battle of a mom needing to be heard.

[Vivienne Strauss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this down - at times it was stressful going as I started to think the narrator somewhat unreliable as I was drawn into her paranoia.

[Georgia Dentel · Rating 2 out of 5]

wasn't really crazy about this book

[Kelly Mannion · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Not gripping but i still wanted to know what happened next. Too many things were left unexplained for me to feel completely satisfied.

[Jennifer Grimm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anticlimactic - it really could’ve been a good a book. It left me disappointed

[Julianne O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. This one was so slow. It tried to be a thriller, but the pacing was off and the reveals/twists were somewhat dull. The ending was terrible. I really should have given up, but I'm stubborn.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I realize I am happy: my body fluid and easy with the wine, my room hospitable, beautiful, this man with the Irish lilt in his voice approving of my picture; this is easy, this is how it should be."

Catriona Lydate, her husband Richard and their daughters Sinead and Daisy are entertaining a group of Christmas carolers in their home, when she meets Fergal. Fergal is very interested in one of Cat's paintings and straight off he's encouraging her work. The carolers include her best friend, Nicky, who is an artsy new-age type. The others are people she mostly knows through their children, such as Natalie's mother. She's feeling good about her family and her home, though there does seem to be some hints at things to come, such as when she tells us that her husband Richard is chatting with a young girl who is the age that Catriona was when Richard "chose" her. From all outside appearances, one would think that Catriona Lydgate has always known a life of privilege. And as she looks around at her home filled with the Christmas carolers, she tells us it is a home that "any woman might look at now in that greedy, appraising way." And then Fergal asks, "I know you, don't I?" and Catriona confesses to us that this brings out a fear in her that lays a cold hand on her heart.

My whole review is here:
http://mostlyfiction.com/contemp/lero...

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Margaret Leroy book I have read and I will no doubt read another. It's always interesting to discover a new author.
This story of Catriona and her daughter Daisy who comes down with flu like symptoms that hang on and on, had me turning pages.But when she takes Daisy to the doctors and is referred to specialistt and psychiatrist who believe there is more going on, you are left wondering. It seems the more she tries to get help for Daisy, the worse things become as no-one believes her version of what is wrong, especially when they find out about her background which she has tried to hide.
It's an interesting picture of how words and situations can be twisted by clever people. I enjoyed it, though I admit I found some of Cat's decisions hard to fathom. And the ending to me was too abrupt. It felt a bit like the author got sick of the story and just wanted to tie it up in a hurry. So three stars could have been more but for the ending and those points I mentioned.

[Thart2002 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Catriona had a troubled childhood. Her mother couldn't cope and sent her to live in an institution while she struggled to get her act together. The institution in which Catriona lived was run by an abusive man who know how to hit children so it wouldn't show. Catriona's past is something she has chosen to put behind her, to keep secret, from all except her husband. Cat's past comes in to play when her daughter Daisy becomes ill and doesn't respond to treatment. Doctor's suspect Munchausens's Syndome by Proxy.

This story is a bit of a thriller and I was eagerly to find out what happened next. I rated the book a 2 simply because I absolutely hated the ending. I can't tell you why or it would ruin the story, the reading of the novel for you. I would rate it 3 at least but the ending was such a disappointment to me I don't want to confuse myself and feel like I need to read another of Margaret Leroy's novels.

[Jessica D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book after reading the jacket because it sounded like a scenario that I went through with my daughter a few years ago. As I read through (quickly since I couldn't put it down) I was amazed at the comparisons I saw in the main characters story and mine. Unbelieving doctors, an unsupportive partner and an air of disbelief from friends and family are all things I encountered in my real-life experience. The way Margaret Leroy captures Catriona's emotions throughout the book was wonderful. It was amazing to read about another experience that mirrored mine in so many ways even though it was fictional. Although I was surprised by the outcome, (expecting it to be more sinister in nature) I think the underlying theme of a mother on a lonely mission to help her child is a great encouragement to those like me who have faced similar situations.

[Mellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and it was pretty riveting. The main character, Catonia, is a mother to eight-year-old Daisy. When Daisy becomes ill and never seems to get better, Cat faces a frustrating and seemingly uphill battle against her husband, the doctors who suspect her of child abuse, and her own sad and rocky past. The author does a good job of giving the reader all the information as they need to know it; in this way she keeps the narrative compelling so that you want to read on and cannot wait to find out all the details. A few times I tried to guess the outcome of certain situations, but the author did a good job of developing the plot well enough that I was continually surprised by the turns it took.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a page turner. I enjoyed it with reservations. I liked the main character Catriona, less and les as the story unfolded. I found it difficult to forgive the stupid way that she handled the whole thing even given her difficult past. I wanted to shake her more than once. Mind you I also wanted to shake Dr McGuire and that awful pyschiatrist. I liked the resolution and the fact that justice was done but hated the ending. Never end a book with a dream, it's such a cop out. No matter what people say I don't think that dreams reveal anything deeply hidden in our pysche and am simply not interested in this stuff.
A good story with a really stupid ending.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I understood why this book has two titles: “The Perfect Mother” and “Postcards from Berlin” – I think the first one is the most appropriate.

I enjoyed the story, but one thing bothered me: the way the doctors completely dismissed the mother and practically jumped on the verdict of Munchausen by Proxy. It was like a flash-diagnosis made on the fly with no real consideration of the facts. It felt like they just concluded it overnight and the story lost a bit of credibility for me at that point.

Perhaps the author evoked this on purpose so we could feel as stunned and bamboozled as the mother? Maybe. I just found it too fast to be believable.

[Sallyann Van leeuwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catriona has a sick child. Daisy has been sick since she had the flu, unable to eat, too sick to go to school. Catriona visits many doctors who don't seem to take her seriously, give her this medicine, try this food etc. but Daisy is too sick to eat and retches up the medicine. Doctors start looking at potential ppsychological reasons, troubles in the home, or Munchausen by proxy syndrome, which starts to put the focus on catriona and her past, something she is desperate to avoid...

An interesting book of a mothers desperation to find care for her daughter and how the system views her. Ending was too abrupt and I was a little disappointed after loving The Drowning Girl so much!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept waiting for something to happen,.... then the book came to an end. I empathize with Catriona's frustration at having no one share her concerns for Daisy, not even Richard, her good-for-nothing husband. That she's suspected and almost flat out accused of harming her daughter, yet she fights (even if it's in an escapist's way) is pretty admirable,- seeing that he comes out as the helpless typical trophy wife kind. At least she doesn't just wring her hands and mourn about it. Reminds me of the famous saying: 'A woman is like a tea bag; You never know her strength till she's in hot water'.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated how this jumped right into the novel as if we were already supposed to know the characters and be familiar with their lives. There was absolutely no character development- I still don't even know how old sinead is. This was a pretty far fetched story even though I'm sure it could really happen but it made no sense why the doctors made such a huge jump to abuse. There was way too much detail about the boring day to day stuff that you don't care about and so much left out of the relationships and then a ton of unanswered questions at the end. The only thing the author was truly able to capture was the fear and frustration Catriona felt throughout the process.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved The Drowning Girl and was really looking forward to reading this one by the same author. Sadly, I found it a bit disappointing - there's none of the slightly supernatural elements of the other book, this is the straight telling of a mother with a sick child and the consequences of an accusation of Munchausens By Proxy. Perhaps I lack the mother gene that would have made this one "live" for me, but I didn't find Catriona particularly sympathetic and I found it a bit of a non-story. Easy enough read, but never really gripped me.

[Nutty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great pictures painted. The rythm could have been a bit more alert, but maybe it was intentional, it kind of set a type of mood for the whole book. I loved her descriptions and comparisons and hung on every word towards the end. The ending felt natural, normal, even if it entailed a loss, a change. There's a type of beautiful resignation in the tone of the book that I think belongs to the author rather than the character, but it was fit for the story also.
All in all, lovely book with a good story inside.