This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Only a mother was a great book by one of favorite authors! I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end, and the twists throughout kept me glued to the book. Recommended.
TB

Only a mother was a great book, I really enjoyed it. The twists and turns throughout kept me hooked and I struggled to put it down it really was addictive.

ONLY A MOTHER....COULD BELIEVE HIM....COULD BURY THE TRUTH....COULD FORGIVE WHAT HE HAS DONE

Erica Wright hasn't needed to scrub 'MURDERER' off her house in over a year. Life is almost quiet again. Then her son, Craig is released from prison and she know the quiet is going to be broken.

Erica has always believed Craig was innocent - despite the lies she told for him years ago - but when he arrives home, she notices the changes in him. She doesn't recognise her son anymore.

So, when another girl goes missing, she starts to question everything. But how can a mother turn her back on her son? And, if she won't, then how far will she go to protect him?

Well, what do I say only that I didn't like it, I LOVED it. I was gripped from the first few lines of the book right through to the end where I couldn't swipe the pages quick enough. Craig was 17 when he was jailed for the rape and murder of a young girl but Erica has always defended her son and that continued while he was in prison, no matter who it was who said anything, whether it be friends, neighbours or strangers in the street. Twenty years later Craig is released from prison, he is now 37, no longer a boy but a man and Erica still tries to treat him like the 17 year old he was and you can tell that Craig is not too happy about this, it's very hard not to feel sorry for Erica. My heart went out to her and on occasions I would've loved to have given her a hug.

Then when another girl goes missing, people start talking and the whispers start again but will Erica continue to stick by and defend her son or will she turn her back on him?  Well you'll just have to pick up a copy and find out as I don't want to say anymore incase I might unintentionally spoil it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

A mother knows her child, right? Surly you would know if your son is capable of murder? And 17 years you stand by his side, defending him and waiting for him to come home from prison. But when he finally is home you begin to doubt everything you thought you knew. And then a new young girl is missing.
Brilliantly written story about a mother trying to survive in a small village after her son goes to jail. I really felt for Erica and started to dislike the people in this village. There was nobody helping her, standing up for her. I hope that I would know how to differentiate between mother and son. She didn't do something wrong. She only wanted to help her son and every parent should know that feeling. This book makes a very good reading material for discussion groups. Highly recommended!

Erica’s son Craig is about to be released from prison after serving seventeen years for the rape and murder of his girlfriend Lucy. Those long years have had an enormous effect on Erica, she’s suffered verbal and emotional abuse from her neighbours and the people of her town. Craig comes home and instantly he’s breaking his release rules by going out drinking, mixing with teenage girls and hanging out with criminals like his best mate Jason. As Craig’s behaviour becomes more erratic and troubling, it dawns on Erica that she’s scared of her son and that he’s like a stranger to her. She begins to wonder what he’s capable of and whether she’s been wrong all these years to believe that he was innocent.

I read this book very quickly as it had me hooked from the first page. The story is fast paced and brilliantly done with the author portraying the characters in a gritty but believable light.

Thank you to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my opinion.

I was absolutely gripped by this book and read it in one sitting at the weekend. Very believable characters and really enjoyed the narrative being largely confined to Erica (Craig's mum) and Luke (a local reporter). Lots of tension is built up through this and plenty of doubt cast. I wasn't sure who to believe until right near the end. Can't wait to read more from Elisabeth Carpenter!

Only A Mother is author Elizabeth Carpenter’s third book but it is the first one that I have read. I have heard a fair bit about her previous books, especially 99 Red Balloons which is a book on my tbr pile that I very much hope to read soon.

When I was given the opportunity to read Only A Mother I was quick to say yes, not only because of the author but also because the blurb sounded interesting. The idea that your child had committed an awful crime and was in prison isn’t a nice one, would you stand by them and visit them regularly, or would you step back from them, dissociating yourself from them and the crime that they have committed?

Erica stuck by her son, despite being made a social pariah and suffering regular abuse she stayed in her home that was a bus ride away from the prison that her son was kept in. She determinedly insisted that he was innocent, yet we also know that she has doubts, she knows that he lied to her but despite this, she insists that he would not be capable of hurting anyone.

Is she in denial? It certainly seems that she is and when Craig is finally released from prison she finds that her son is not the one who left her all those years ago, and for the first time she feels scared of him and starts to wonder just how well she knows her son.

When another girl goes missing everything explodes and the police are once again knocking at Erica’s door and she once again has to make the decision of whether to protect her son or face the possibility that he is not the person that she thought he was.

I really enjoyed Only A Mother, while it is quite a depressing read at times, there is also a lot of light and hope in the story. It certainly made me think about things and the people around me, and just how well do I know them?

This was a compelling read, if I wasn’t reading it then I was thinking about the book which is a sure sign of a great read.

I am sure that many people will enjoy Only A Mother by Elizabeth Carpenter, I know that I did and now I want to read her previous books even more than I did before.

This is the third book I have read by Elisabteh Carpenter and definitely her best. I love the character of Erica, and highly recommend this book

This is the story of Erica Wright, who has been dealing with the fallout since her son went to jail for the murder of a local girl. Erica has hardened herself to an extent-she has to because nobody has stuck with her and now she lives a very solitary life that's full of routine and loneliness. We also get the point of view of someone we feel we should be a little uncomfortable about and then we encounter Luke, a reporter that reported on the case when is happens and is out to get another story now. Luke seems honest and it gives us a fresh perspective. But back to Erica.

Erica's son is now coming out and you can't help but feel for her, everything has changed and yet this is her son, she needs to mother up and maintain some semblance of normality, even though she's not fully sure how she feels about him and since, as he returns she realises seventeen years in prison has changed her little boy. On top of this she keeps seeing the dead girl and doesn't know what to make of anything. I'll admit this isn't quite as much rollercoaster thriller as I'd heard it was, as there's times I had wished for more urgency, but saying that I most definitely had doubts over what was going to happen and was beyond compelled by the what would you do' and 'what should Erica do?' aspect to the book and will without a doubt be waiting (and going back to) more of Elisabeth Carpenter's books. Very much recommended. Thanks so much to Orion and Netgalley for this book in return for an honest review

Ratibng: 4.5/5

This latest Elisabeth Carpenter isn't your typical rollercoaster of a psychological thriller; it's quite different from her previous two excellent novels. But it is very very good, and the ride comes in thick and fast at the end.

Many new novelists become blasé after writing a few books, but Ms Carpenter has successfully avoided that trap, and unlike other authors where you feel as if they've just started churning out similar versions of previous books, she's taken her writing towards a slightly different style and pace.

An extremely readable and enjoyable tome, which after a point, you'll find hard to put down.

Oh My Days. This was a rollercoaster of a read. Absolutely loved it. Brilliant. Highly recommend. A well deserved five stars from me.

Brilliantly written, contains short chapters and fast paced. This was my last read for 2018 and it blew me away. I was well and truelly glued to this book. I think it would make a brilliant film. Just when you think you know all the characters and personalities… BOOM. NO. Flip that upside down… Very impressed.

I absolutely loved Ericas character. All her faith and trust she put into her son being not guilty. Everything she went through and faced for her son and to keep their home. I admire her. However, there are some nasty and bretraying characters in this book! Luke is a lovely character going above and beyond in his job and has a love for his family, loved his character too.

A must read from me. An author to keep your eye out for. I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future. Absolutely lost myself in this book.

Having read and enjoy 11 missed calls by Elizabeth Carpenter I was looking forward to reading her latest book .

A mother’s love and protection of her children is something I can relate to. I would do anything for my three sons but if I was faced with Ericas situation in this book I’m not sure how I would react.

Erica is Craig’s mother , he has been in prison for murder. Craig is due for release and although Erica is looking forward to his return she is also apprehensive about sharing her life with Craig, who has undoubtedly changed whilst in prison.

Ericas story is beautifully told. The anxiously and helpless she has felt since her son was convicted is heartbreaking. Her belief of his innocence is not shared by anyone in her neighbourhood and she has been the target of hate crime repeatedly. This has led to her being in her own prison , scared to leave her home to face the accusing faces of everyone around her.

Luke the newspaper reporter, Jason who is Luke’s childhood friend and his mother are all central to the story, and are wonderful characters.

I loved how the narrative of the killer had me guessing could it be Craig or not?? This novel centres on a mother’s worst fears . Can you protect your child? Is someone you have loved and cared for since birth be capable of evil? Can you trust your instincts?

The pages of this book turned quickly for me. Another brilliant book by Elizabeth Carpenter, original, intense and addictive I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this powerful book.

It is rare that a book tackles what happens after a murderer has been convicted. I don’t mean so much what is life like in prison for the perpetrator but what happens to the relatives, both those of the victim and those connected by blood to the killer.

Only a Mother really examines the aftermath of a crime and the ripples that it causes years after the murder was committed. Craig Wright was convicted of the murder of an eighteen year old girl when he was twenty and has been in prison for seventeen years, his mother has been in her own prison for the same amount of time, convinced of her son’s innocence she is now ready to welcome him home. Home is Preston and the locals have long memories and are an unforgiving bunch. Erica, his mother, is shunned in her home town, she travels to the next town to go shopping to avoid the stares, the taunts and attracting unwanted attention.
Luke is a reporter on the local newspaper, he is mentoring a youngster and is updating the locals on Craig’s impending release. Luke is at that point in his life when he feels the best is behind him and he’s following some diet with ‘points’ that makes him hungry! He’s thrilled when his article attracts lots of angry and sad faces, he’s getting recognition he hasn’t had for years.

Which neatly leads onto one key winner as far as I’m concerned is that this book is clearly written in the here and now. Erica has been on a prisoner’s family forum for so many years she’s become a moderator. Luke neatly gives his views on the millennials from his lofty middle-age and cleverly mimics the change in language of headlines over the years (we move to someone being spared jail in the early noughties to the more recent screaming headline ‘criminal caged for assault!’)

This is a tense book as despite the crime being firmly in the past, it hasn’t stayed there. In part because there was another murder very close in time to the one Craig was convicted of but he wasn’t charged as he had a watertight alibi. It is this fact that has Erica clinging to his innocence and perhaps the same that means the locals feel he has got away with another murder. Either way from a reader’s perspective, it is hard to warm to Craig although I did find myself having more sympathy for Erica. The book raises that dilemma – what would you do? At what point do you turn your back on your own flesh and blood? That’s not to say Erica doesn’t have her doubts when the fully grown large man is back under her roof and then another girl goes missing!
I found myself drawn into the small group of characters, the intensity of everyone searching for the truth but unsure where to find it. Erica’s furtive posting on the forum seeking the reassurance from her friends there that she is doing the right thing and of course she reflects, as mothers are wont to do, on the past – right back to the birth and what she could have done differently.

This was an insightful book that shone a light on a relatively neglected aspect of crime, the hurt that doesn’t fade and the need of some people to believe that all is not quite as it seems.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Random House UK for giving me a copy of Only a Mother ahead of publication on 27 December 2018. This unbiased review is my thanks to them and the author for such a thought-provoking read.

Only a Mother is an edgy, psychological thriller that keeps the reader emotionally taut and suspicious at the turn of every page.

Craig Wright has spent 17 years in jail for the rape and murder of 18-year-old Lucy Sharpe, and there is a cloud of suspicion hanging over him for the unsolved murder of another young woman at the time, Jenna Threlfall. Erica, his mother, has never doubted his innocence and has suffered at the hands of the local community all those years, with verbal abuse, alienation and attacks on her home. She even lost her best friend Denise and the pervasive feeling of isolation and loneliness are palpable. Her only interactions are with online group friends of relatives of guilty prisoners, and prison visits to see her son.

Old family secrets start unwinding in an already charged atmosphere and some run to the core of how their lives have played out. Craig has never known his father as Erica’s relationship with him was only a passing encounter and he was gone long before Craig was born. Erica had a difficult time with her own mother in a single parent family. Erica is a character so beautifully drawn that we naturally care deeply for her. She is the forgotten sufferer, maybe not as acute as the victim’s families, but as an innocent, she suffers the continuous abuse from other, and the belief her son is punished for something he didn’t do. We deeply sympathise with her as she has grown old, timid and detached.

I love the sharp punchy writing style that portrays a sense of tension and anxiety. There is a menacing atmosphere with the long-term threats that have been made from those that live in the area. When Craig is released he is no longer the same man and we are tempted into guessing what has caused the change – prison life, social rehabilitation, loss, guilt, frustration, or the unfairness of it all. When another girl goes missing, all the old accusations, suspicions, confusion and worry resurface. The reader is reminded that most criminals will re-offend within 6 months of being released. Just saying!

The suspicion of who the killer is falls on several characters. That mistrust of all the characters is so extremely well developed, as it creeps up on you as you progress through the story. If Craig is the killer, will he do it again? If he’s not the killer, will the real killer take advantage and kill again, framing Craig … again?

I found the story gripping and delivered at a pace that doesn’t allow you to draw breath. The writing style and craft are perfect for the suspense thriller genre and the plot was full of surprises that kept me guessing. Some shocking developments add to the realisation that core to this story is a cold-hearted, remorseless murderer, capable of killing anyone.

It was a sheer delight to read this book and one I wouldn’t hesitate to highly recommend. I would like to thank Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.

5☆ Gets Right Under Your Skin!
A Must Read for 2019!

Wow oh wow this is my first thriller of the year and Ohhh I Loved it!,
This is one of those books that gets under your skin and won't let go!

I'm not going to delve too much into the plot, as it's far too good to potentially give anything away!

What I will briefly say, is this is a compulsive read about a broken Mother (Erica), who puts all her faith, love and trust in her Son (Craig)
But the problem is her Son was convicted of a horrific rape and murder of a young girl.
He has served his time and now it's time to be released!

Erica has not only been tortured emotionally by the implications of what her Son has done. She is physically abused every day too, from the local community, so much so they endanger her life by setting fire to her letterbox on a regular basis.

Erica truly believes her Son is innocent.
Is he innocent?
I'll let you decide!

My heart literally broke for Erica, she was in so much turmoil, my heart went out to her.

Only A Mother has so many thrilling twists and turns, I found myself so enthralled I kept changing my mind on the truth.
This book seriously gets right under your skin.
It plays with your emotions, and sends you on a roller coaster of a ride.
The plot and characters kept me on the edge of my seat. The tension ramps up page by page until it's impossible to know who to trust.

Only a Mother is a Taut and Chilling Psychological Thriller / Murder Mystery, thats Tense, dark in all the right places, full of suspense, and complex characters.
Which makes for a sinister and satisfying read. A compelling page-turner i devoured it in two nights.

So would I recommend reading this..... without a doubt..... 100%..... YES!!!

Thank you to Orion Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Almost twenty years ago, Erica’s son, Craig, was convicted of the murder of a young girl. Erica has always believed in her son’s innocence but she was the only one. Friends and neighbours have stopped talking to her. She has often come home to graffiti on her front door or poop through the letterbox. Her life has basically come to a stand-still. Afraid to leave the house in daylight but determined not to leave her home, she’s pretty much a pariah in the community. Just when life finally seems to quieten down a little, Craig is released from prison.

His homecoming isn’t exactly all roses and sunshine, though. Craig is now 38 years old. A man, no longer a teenager. A man hardened by life in prison, on top of that. Erica barely recognises him, is possibly even slightly afraid of him. And when another young girl goes missing, she starts to question everything. Was she wrong about her son?

The question surrounding Craig’s guilt or innocence continues throughout the story and my loyalties kept shifting. Craig isn’t exactly a likeable character and does little to redeem himself. And even though it was hard not to sympathise with Erica, I couldn’t quite warm to her either. Faced with difficult decisions, how far will a mother go to protect her child? This is very much a “what would you do” scenario. It’s quite easy to judge Erica and her actions but I couldn’t at all decide what I would do if I were faced with a situation like this.

I did figure out what happened but the author did such a great job of keeping the story tense and suspenseful that that didn’t bother me at all. Apart from Erica and Craig, we also meet Luke. He’s a reporter for the local paper who is trying to figure out if Craig was responsible for another murder all those years ago. But with a family to take care of, is he putting them all in danger?

This character-driven psychological thriller is immensely thought-provoking. It’s not about the murders exactly, but more about how prison life affects those who are left behind. The impact a child’s conviction has on a mother isn’t a topic that’s often talked about. If you’re looking for a thrill a minute, this probably isn’t it. But if you enjoy reading about realistic and believable characters in tense and dramatic situations, then this will undoubtedly hook you from start to finish.

Oh gosh. I've been reading lots of books lately featuring parents and children of various ages. As the mother of two sons, I find I can often relate to the characters, dilemmas and heartache featured.

And this is one of these heart wrenching books - this one featuring Erica, and her son Craig.

Craig is being released from prison after serving seventeen years for the murder of a young woman. Erica is excited for his release, but apprehensive. Her life whilst he's been away has been miserable, although she has never let on to Craig. Her friends have deserted her, and local people ignore or abuse her. Craig's friend Jason is one of the few people who treat her decently. Erica has always believed that Craig is innocent, although some of her actions had me questioning that.

We also meet Luke, a local reporter, who is covering Craig's release and talking to key people involved. Although he might be too nice to be a journalist - he seems to be quite a gentle person with a good heart.

The story is told mainly from the viewpoints of Erica and Luke, although a mystery narrator features too. Both Erica and Luke come across as very real, flawed people. Erica, particularly, is beautifully described, as is her difficult life. She's fair been through the wringer, and I really felt for her.

This isn't a particularly fast moving book, but it is tense, particularly when another girl goes missing, and Erica begins to question everything she believes in. I did figure out what was going on before the end, but it didn't particularly spoil my enjoyment, because this is a character driven story. Yes, there is action, but this is about people and relationships, and particularly a mother and her love for son. I really cared about Erica, and worried for her throughout the book, was really invested in her. And that happened because she, and the story, were so well written.

Even though I ended up buying my own physical copy of this book to read, I still would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for also providing me with a copy to review.

This book follows Erica Wright, who hasn't needed to scrub 'MURDERER' off her house in over a year. Life is almost quiet again. Then her son, Craig, is released from prison, and she knows the quiet is going to be broken. Erica has always believed Craig was innocent - despite the lies she told for him years ago - but when he arrives home, she notices the changes in him. She doesn't recognise her son anymore. When another girl goes missing, she starts to question everything. But how can a mother turn her back on her son? And, if she won't, then how far will she go to protect him?

I just loved this author's first two books, '99 Red Balloons' and '11 Missed Calls', so as soon as this one was released, it immediately become the first book on my TBR list - Being my very first read of 2019! While this book wasn't quite as gripping as Elisabeth's debut, I still really enjoyed this one!
The plotline is gritty, fast-paced and thought-provoking, delivering a story that strongly pulls you in from the very first page with it's well-rounded, believeable well-written characters that certainly had me invested instantly. I'm not even a parent but Erica is a character who I very much felt sorry for the whole way through the book. A mother who will do anything for her son. Her need to protect Craig and her love for him rose off the pages and came across so strongly. And that fact that she has become a victim herself due to an unforgiving neighbourhood is quite upsetting.
With POV's from both Erica and Luke, a journalist who is trying to link Craig to a second girl's death, and an ending that may of been a tad predictable but is written brilliangly, 'Only a Mother' is yet another novel by the fantastic Elisabeth Carpenter that is a must read. If you haven't read her other two books, I STRONGLY recommend you put them at top of your TBR list!

An exploration of how much blind faith a mother should have in her son. Would she a better mother if she accepted his flaws and forgave him anyway? How far are we to blame for the sins of our children? A great book club novel. I knew in my heart I had the ending figured out from about a third of the way in but I was still gripped to see if I was right (I’m not even telling you that!) and found this to be a real page turner. I enjoyed the different narratives, especially the more sympathetic consideration of Erica through Luke’s eyes which I think really added to the story. There were lots of little subplots woven in to deepen the discussion which worked well. Pretty gripping really.