When her child’s life is at stake, a mother will do anything to save him.Clara McNair is running out of time to save her son, James. When the two-year-old is diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, only an experimental treatment can save his life. She desperately needs money to pay for the surgery, but she’ll have to travel back to the site of her darkest memories to get it.Clara has escaped … it.
Clara has escaped the demons of her youth—or so she thinks. It’s been ten years since the mysterious disappearance of her parents. Widely suspected of murdering her mother and father, Clara fled west to start a new life. Now, a documentary film crew is offering cold, hard cash—enough to pay for James’s treatment—in exchange for the sordid secrets of her past.
With no other choice but to delve into a long-ago tragedy, Clara must unravel the lies surrounding that terrible night. Facing hostile gossip, Clara is fighting to clear her name and learn the truth about what really happened. But how far will she go into the dark to save her son—and herself?
NOTE: Books in the ‘Secrets of Suburbia’ Series can be read as standalones, but are linked by common themes of motherhood, suburbia not being as safe as you think, and how the perfect, sanitized version of life that people often show is far from the truth. Gripping stories with shocking twists just a click away.
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A Mother’s Lie
By JO Crow
What a great psychological thriller!!!
This book hooked me from the very beginning and kelpt me glued to the pages. Jo Crow took me on a very unexpected and enjoyable rollercoaster ride. There were twists and turns that kelpt me interested and guessing.I did figure out who the killer was early on but not why they wanted Clare dead. All of the Characters were well developed and right away, you are drawn in by them.The story moved at a good pace and was packed with action. Well-written and believable characters and lots of suspense ! Towards the end all questions are answered so you are not left hanging.This is my first read by this author but definitely not my last. I am hooked on her style. I read the whole thing in a day and half because I couldn’t stand to not know what was going to happen. This story is definitely unique and surprising….highly recommended! I can not wait to read her next book.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Relay Publishing for a free copy.
I was drawn to this book by the excerpt. A desperate mother trying to save her two year old son, who has a rare form of brain cancer.
Clara McNair returns to Hickory Hills, North Carolina to partake in a documentary surrounding the mysterious disappearance of her parents. At eighteen, Clara fled, leaving unanswered questions, and suspicions regarding her. Clara is only back to get money to pay for her son’s treatment, but the town’s people are not happy having her back. Then, Detective Tony Elkins shows up with some unexpected news. Someone isn’t happy that Clara is back, and she starts to become a target. Clara will have to confront many issues, but the biggest one is a long buried tragedy.
I enjoyed this thriller. It kept me guessing on who Clara could trust and the lengths a mother will go to save her child.
A Mother’s Lie is about a mother who must face her past in order to help her sick two year old son. James has been diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and Clara needs money. A documentary crew offers to pay for his treatments as long as Clara relives the tragedy of the disappearance of her parents from ten years ago. At that time. Clara was suspected of killing her parents, but the police had no evidence to prove it. At eighteen, she moved to Europe to start a new life.
With her return to Hickory Hills comes threats and gossip. Clara’s in danger and she doesn’t have many people to turn to who she trusts.
My one complaint is A Mother’s Lie reads like a screenplay laying out all the minute details. While these details might play out well onscreen they don’t work well on paper. These types of details overcrowded the story bogging it down.
The story takes place in Hickory Hills, North Carolina. The McNair’s owned a furniture store that thrived employing a good majority of its people. The furniture store was the glue holding this town together. This is a character driven story with an array of characters being introduced throughout. This is a slow percolating story with Clara hunting for answers while danger lurks in every corner. This was an entertaining read with some good suspense scenes. Overall it was okay. I was slightly disappointed with the big reveal. The way it played out was lackluster.
Easy read with a twist you didn’t expect
What a Mother won’t do for their child. Scary in a sense, but true!
thought good characters, easy to read and engrossing
I loved this book. It was hard to put it down!
I really enjoyed this book very much!
It was too slow moving for me.
Definitely worth reading !
Everywhere the protagonist Clair McNair goes she is met with anger and hatred. I found it difficult to understand why a town would be so aggressive towards a young mother. Clair has a young son with a rare disease that can only be treated with an experimental drug. The cost is very expensive and the only way to get enough money to afford the treatment is by doing a documentary about the death of her parents.
The local detective Elkins has concluded that she is the killer of her parents and his job is to prove it. He is vitriolic and has no compassion for a young woman who he “knows” has killed her parents. The killing was done in a particularly brutal manner. Remarkably, some of the bones show up behind a shed on her father’s property after she returns to town. It would seem the detective should have questioned this as the place the bones were found was thoroughly searched ten years ago.
Events continue to happen to Claire through the entire book that surely would have made a good detective question why. However, this author skillfully avoided the issue and let the detective doggedly pursue his pre-ascertained verdict.
Twists and turns build suspense throughout this tale. Jo Crow masterfully exposes a surprising end plot. Who was causing all of the turmoil and danger for Claire? Meanwhile, her son is getting sicker every day and she needs to rely upon her few friends to allow her to make the documentary to earn the money she needs.
A twist at the end is a classic maneuver totally unexpected! Read this well-crafted novel and discover the duplicity at the climax. The book builds tension and will not disappoint!
What an awesome, awesome book. Words fail me. Heartbreaking, yet full of joy.
Good read! Lots of different twists and turns!
I enjoyed this book. It is a story about a young mother, who with her very ill child, returns to her home town. She hopes to earn money, making a documentary regarding Her parents mysterious disappearance ten years earlier. The money is needed for a treatment for her young son. She is not welcomed by the citizens and strange things begin to happen. Deciding who to trust and trying to keep she and her son safe, makes for a good read.
Too much detail
A good read for those who like thrillers.
This book keeps you wondering. Great book for a hot day when you don’t want to go outside.
Good read with great unexpected cocludion.
This book dragged on and on with repeats of the same dialogue. I was so ready for action! Finally I gave up and quit reading it. We didn’t need to hear over and over how badly her son needed help. And strangely enough, all the time she left him with others who didn’t know him.
Enjoyed this book. Twists and turns. Will read this author again