I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Tess Stimson's *The Mother* is a gripping psychological thriller that is impossible to forget once read. The story is dark and deeply unsettling, with moments so disturbing that they will leave you questioning the boundaries of morality and human nature. The narrative delves into the complexities of motherhood, guilt, and obsession, creating an atmosphere of tension that keeps you hooked from start to finish. While the subject matter can be intense and harrowing at times, it’s this very darkness that makes the book so addictive. You find yourself unable to look away, compelled to read on despite the discomfort it evokes. Stimson's writing is sharp and immersive, drawing readers into the disturbing world she creates, while her portrayal of the characters, particularly the mother at the heart of the story, is both haunting and unforgettable. *The Mother* is a chilling read that lingers long after the final page.

Maddie and Lucas have 3 wonderful children and a happy marriage. Something horrible happens, and nothing is the same again. Great read, will read more in future.

I really enjoyed the book. Loved the story plot and twists. Approachable characters, realistic situations. Some descriptions or story „fillers” were tiny bit too long, but in overall - very good book and I’d read more by the author. Thank you, great job!

At first I didn't enjoy this book and stopped reading within the first 30% of the book. But recently I came back to it and I'm glad I did! I'll seek out more from this author.

Trusting anyone is hard - or it should be! trusting someone with your child even harder. This book covers life after a new born baby and are your memories yours or someone elses?


Thank you for the advance copy

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

Omg omg omg .......... this book was amazing I could not put it down I read every word on the edge of my seat I loved the story line, i loved the way the story just kept us guessing all the way threw I loved all the twists and turns and would defiantly recommend this book it was so believable and kept the reader engaged I love it

A very good psychological thriller that had me interested until the very end.! This is the first book I have read from this author and hope to read more.

A great captivating read. Grips you from the beginning.

The theme is off loss and grief and also how we do anything to protect the ones we love.

Picture of Innocence is part psychological thriller and part truly heartbreaking family drama. Tess Stimson's novel looks at grief and loss and how far we'd go to protect our loved ones.

An excellent, gripping read. One of the best psychological thrillers I've read for a while and a really great distraction during the past year. This book captivated me, and I can't wait to share it with friends!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Dark and addictive, this book explores the tragedy of losing a child and the emotional impact on the family left behind.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of Picture of Innocence!

Ok I’m going to start this review by saying don’t read any of the other reviews before actually reading the book!!! I usually browse through reviews to see what the majority consensus is and the first review I read for this book gave away a spoiler without actually stating it was a spoiler...

Ok, now for the book itself... I really enjoyed this book and the author’s writing. Maddie is a mother of three who feels like she’s losing her mind when the unthinkable happens. She starts doubting herself and her husband. She’s finding out secrets and thinks she’s going crazy! While the truth of what really happened isn’t a huge shock I’ll tell you what is... throughout the book you’ll read from Maddie’s point of view and then the point of view of Lydia. Lydia isn’t a character within Maddie’s POV so who is she?? The identity of Lydia, to me, was the most shocking twist. What she went through as a child is absolutely appalling and is really what made me want to read more, trying to figure out who Lydia really is.

This is a brilliant fast-paced thriller. The author, right from the opening paragraphs captures your attention and throws up twists to keep you guessing throughout the book.

Very well written and good fast pace certainly gets my vote! Highly recommended!

EXCERPT: I crawl back into bed and stare blindly up into the darkness. I won't sleep; not tonight, not for many nights to come. I doubt I'll ever sleep soundly again.

I start to shake. The adrenalin that brought me this far suddenly drains away and I begin to shiver so violently my muscles cramp. I press my fist against my mouth to still the chatter of my teeth. If I had anything left in my stomach, I would be sick again.

I've always thought of myself as a fundamentally good person. I'm not perfect, but I've spent a lifetime trying to do the right thing. I rescue spiders from the bath; I stop traffic to let a mother lead her row of ducklings across the road. A month ago I'd never have believed myself capable of killing a mouse, never mind another human being in cold blood.

But human nature had an infinite capacity to surprise.

We teach our children to fear dark alleys and strangers, but the real danger is much closer to home. You're more than twice as likely to be murdered by someone you love than by someone you've never met. If you're a child, it's nearer three times. If you want a reason to be scared, look in the mirror.

Evil doesn't have two horns and a tail. It's ordinary, just like me.

Those jealous husbands who bludgeon their wives to death, the women who smother their babies, the estranged fathers who lock their children in the car and connect the exhaust. Ordinary men and women, all of them.

Just like me.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: My name is Lydia. I’m 12 years old. I’m not an evil person, but I did something bad.

My name is Maddie. I’d never hurt my son. But can I be sure if I don’t remember?

With three children under ten, Maddie is struggling. On the outside, she’s a happy young mother, running a charity as well as a household. But inside, she’s exhausted. She knows she’s lucky to have to have a support network around her. Not just her loving husband, but her family and friends too.

But is Maddie putting her trust in the right people? Because when tragedy strikes, she is certain someone has hurt her child – and everyone is a suspect, including Maddie herself…

The women in this book are about to discover that looks can be deceiving… because anyone is capable of terrible things. Even the most innocent, even you.

This is the story of every mother’s worst fear. But it’s not a story you know… and nothing is what it seems.

MY THOUGHTS: I read Picture of Innocence in one sitting; horrified and appalled, I honestly felt like one of those people who stands around rubbernecking at an accident site. But I could not put this down. Chilling, twisty and addictive reading.

It is hard to say that I could enjoy a book that is as dark and disturbing as this - WARNING: there are plenty of triggers for those so affected - but I did. I could empathise with Maggie and her struggle with Noah, having had a baby who never slept and screamed with colic for hours on end. I was lucky. I also had a strong support network, but still I struggled.

And Lydia....oh, Lydia, what that child endured.

Know, going into this book, that you are heading for a train wreck. Be prepared for carnage. Be prepared to have your heart ripped out of your breast, to experience turmoil.

This book is not for the faint-hearted. I loved it.

5 stars

P.S. - this book appears to have renamed 'The Mother'.

THE AUTHOR: Writing as Tess Stimson, T J Stimson is the author of eleven novels, including top ten bestseller The Adultery Club, and two non-fiction books, which between them have been translated into dozens of languages.
A former journalist and reporter, Stimson was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Florida in 2002 and moved to the US. She now lives and works in Vermont with her husband Erik, their three children, and (at the last count) two cats, three fish, one gerbil and a large number of bats in the attic.
Picture of Innocence is T J Stimson's first foray into psychological thrillers.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Picture of innocence by T.J. Stimson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This and other reviews are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

Wow, couldn't put this book down! I changed my mind countless times about what has happened and the reveal floored me. I really didn't see it coming and it actually chilled me. The last line of the book was particularly chilling. Can't wait to read from the author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance ARC .

My only regret was that I left it so long to read this book. Three days later my heart still pounds when I think of this novel.

Maddie suffers from Post Natal Depression and is struggling to cope after the birth of her third child Noah. She is confused and having black-outs that her GP assures her is linked to the medication.

But Noah dies and Maddie finds herself under investigation for his death. She finds that she cannot trust herself, but it appears that she might not be able to trust her husband, Lucas either.

In the dual plotline we meet Lydia who does a very bad thing. Just who is Lydia and what link does she have to Maddie?

I had my hand over my mouth in parts of this story. I didn’t figure correctly who Lydia was and when I did it was a headshaking moment. I was also kept guessing on what happened to Noah until the end. And am still shocked.

If you enjoy dark, twisty thrillers then this one is for you, and it definitely deserves its 5 stars.

This book will have your heart racing and your mind captivated! Every time you think you know, you don't. All you think is true gets blasted to blitherins. This book is gripping and such a joy to read. One of those books you have a hard time putting down....because you just know how it will end. Or you thought you did.

This was a decent read, but not my favorite. It was a little too weird for my taste. I really just couldn't wrap my head around the concept of it. Good idea, just maybe not well rounded out enough for me.