Some things you can never escape. I should know. I’ve been running away for fifteen years, and now I’m right back where I started… Skye Turner’s family fell apart the day her twin sister Ginny died. Everyone in their tiny community in the Scottish Highlands accepted it was an accident, but more than one person in town is haunted by a secret from that night…Skye left after the funeral, believing … night…
Skye left after the funeral, believing her mother blamed her for Ginny’s death. Skye should have taken care of Ginny, should have been there to stop her falling from the cliffs that night. Over the years, she’s barely spoken to her mother, until the day she receives a phone call asking her to return home.
As soon as Skye arrives in her childhood home, she knows something isn’t right. Her mother has kept the bedroom she shared with her sister like a shrine, Ginny’s clothes and diaries gathering dust, as though her mother thinks Ginny might come back. And there are whispers in town that Ginny wasn’t alone when she died.
Skye is desperate to find out the truth, but her mother just wants her family back together. As Skye begins to unravel everyone’s lies, she realises the truth might tear her family apart for good…
My Mother’s Silence is a twisty and emotional novel about the bonds between mothers and daughters, and what happens when we hide things from those we love the most. Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Liane Moriarty and Kerry Fisher will be gripped.
What readers are saying about My Mother’s Silence:
‘Lauren Westwood has smashed it out of the park with a roaring whack!!… This book affected me in a lot of ways… I was left with a pain deep inside me, pain of the unshed tears for the mother and daughter who had lost so much but found each other. I could write pages, but I have to stop here with a tear rolling down my cheek.’ Book reviews by Shalini, 5 stars
‘5/5 stars, without a doubt!… I found myself lost in the moment turning page after page, loving every moment of pure intrigue… mesmerizing… I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone interested in emotional women’s fiction; fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth will surely enjoy it!’ Misty’s Corner Reviews, 5 stars
‘Beautiful and emotional… A powerful read that will stay with you after you’ve put the book down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I loved this book… excellent writing style, wonderful characters and a terrific ending. Overall, a great read. Highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘The writing was so evocative in this novel and the Scottish highland scenery almost became another character. You become drawn in and invested in finding out the truth. A thoroughly enjoyable read with a wholly satisfying and beautifully hopeful ending.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘A story of love and loss and triumph over despair. I look forward to reading more by this author, she is really that good. I highly recommend this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Amazing! I loved it!… Looking forward to reading more books from this author.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Great storyline, strong characters. Love the Scottish details!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 starsmore
Fifteen years ago, Skye’s twin sister Ginny died in a suspicious drowning. Skye has no memory of that horrible night. But what she does remember is her mother blaming her for Ginny’s death. She left her rural Scottish village the next day and has never looked back. Now she’s back in her hometown to spend time with her sick mother and is determined to find out what really happened to her sister all those years ago. My Mother’s Silence is a gripping and emotional story about the impact a young woman’s death can have on a grieving family and a tight-knit community. It’s a story of lies, secrets, and the lengths some will go to to protect the people that they love. The plot was engaging and nicely paced. My heart broke for Skye and her family, and my desire to see her uncover the truth kept me turning the pages well into the night. Skye was a likable and well developed main character. But is she a reliable narrator? After all, she got into a pretty bad accident and doesn’t remember anything from that night. All she has are flashbacks which suggest that there is way more to the story than what was originally told to her by her boyfriend and his two cousins. I really liked how the truth slowly started to unravel and I was unable to guess the twist. The ending was very satisfying and bittersweet. I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, with its twists and turns and family secrets. Lovely setting, well drawn characters and a satisfying ending. A good read.
As psychological thrillers go, this belongs in the slow-build/reveal category. It is not particularly chilling as much as it is a story of family secrets and the consequences surrounding them. I liked the setting and thought the author did a great job of creating the small-town atmosphere. I also thought that Skye’s personality was very balanced and crucial for how she approached each new piece of information as she tried to piece her memories back together. This was a quick and intriguing read, and I would recommend it. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a complimentary, pre-release, digital ARC of the book.
Favorite Quotes:
‘What you got in there, lass?’ the driver says, bowing under the weight of my wheelie case… He sets my case on the pavement. ‘In my day, all we needed was a toothbrush and a change of knickers.’
I shut my eyes until the irrational sense of despair ebbs away. Regroup, start again. I’m good at making new starts. Not so good at making them last.
Somewhere in that deep, ever-changing water, there is a part of my sister: the atoms of her body, the life force that was Ginny.
She was like the child captured by fairies. There was a part of her that none of us could reach.
First rule of policing… No one wants to talk and everyone lies.
My Review:
This book was a stellar read! My Mother’s Silence was expertly plotted, shrewdly paced, and cunningly crafted from the first person POV of Skye, the sister who lived as opposed to her twin Ginny, who did not. The storylines were varied yet engaging and kept my interest keenly honed. I was immediately pulled into Skye’s vortex where I remained, absorbed, transfixed, and riveted to Ms. Westwood’s powerful and evocative arrangements of words. The writing was moody, swirling with atmosphere, lushly detailed, and densely packed with insightful observations and emotive inner musings. I was taut with tension with my shoulders near my ears and suspected each secondary character at some point in reading. I was unwilling to put my Kindle down and deeply resented any interruption to my perusal. Lauren Westwood has strong word voodoo and a lifelong fan… unless she starts writing about zombies – I just can’t do zombies.
My Mother’s Silence will reel you in and before you know it you are quickly turning the pages to see if Skye’s twin Ginny’s death years ago was accidental or not.
Skye has returned home to her small village after being gone since her sister’s death.
Years later, there is innuendo, secrets, half truths. Who can you believe.
Skye doesn’t know she has blocked out the tragedy but her Mother seems to be hiding something.
My Mother’s Silence is a good read, the characters are strong and you just have to know what happened !
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read Her Mother’s Silence.