I just started Her Mother’s Lies by Rona Halsall and I am already hooked! This promises to be a book that will probably make me stay up extra late tonight so I can find out what happens. Sometimes I am reading late into the night and my eyes are blurring because I am so tired but I can’t stop reading! Does this happen to you too?

He was there for her first steps, for her first day of school. He helped her with her homework, and took her for ice cream at the weekends. And then, two days before her ninth birthday, Martha’s father walked out. She never knew what went wrong, but she and her mother Fran never saw or heard from him again.

Fifteen years later, frustrated in a life which consists of caring for an increasingly-ill Fran, and heartbroken after the death of a beloved friend, Martha decides she needs some answers, and she knows it’s time to track down the father who left them behind.

Except when she comes face-to-face with him for the first time in fifteen years, he tells her a brutal truth.

He isn’t her father. Her mother has been telling lies. And not just about who her real father is…

Oh, those evil, controlling, lying mothers!! Especially the ones who keep secrets! Really good writing plus a plot that keeps me intrigued, this is the best combination! Get this book on

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Her Mothers Lies Rona Halsall

She hasn't told you, has she.....and with these words Martha's world as she knows it starts to fall apart. Where do the lies begin and end.
I devoured this book in two days, picking it up any time I had a spare minute. I formed multiple theories as the book went on, I love a book that sends my brain into overdrive.
I could say I worked stuff out before it was confirmed, but this is only partly true as the correct answers were amount a few ideas that I had.
A great fast paced book that will keep you on your toes and wanting to read more.
Thank you to @netgalley Rona Halsall and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

Fantastic storyline. It progressed at a fast pace and had the feeling of a really tense and dark psychological thriller. I actually guessed the big twist around half way through and marvelled that I’d guessed such a fabulous twist! This didn’t spoil the story for me at all! A couple of other bits I guessed correctly to but as I progressed through the book I loved picking up all the little clues as the story continued and seeing I was correct.

Not only is this now my favourite Rona Halsall novel, it’s become one of my top five of the year!!

I’m finding it hard to put into words how good it was so if my comments above haven’t convinced you to read it l, maybe you just should!

I have to say this is my favourite of Rona Halsall’s novels. Also, if her future novels progress as the first four I’m very excited to read her next!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this ARC of Her Mother’s Lies

Where to even start with this absolutely stunning book. I have loved Rona's book from the very first. And was so excited to recieve this through netgalley. If only life didnt get in the way I think i would have read this in one sitting! Easily.

Rona's writing it getting better with each book that she so cleverly creates. She has this talent to pull you in straight away, and she doesn't let you go until that very last page.

She also achieves to create that sense of, 'I have this figured out', but within a page or two you question every single suspicion you just had. And she keeps you guessing, while giving you them couple of clues.

I could go on and on with praise for this book but i won't bore everyone. But all I will say is, READ IT and read it as soon as you can!

Want a book to read a few chapters at a time? This is not it. Want a page turning, thrilling book to get totally involved in? This is absolutely it.

Martha is twenty four years old and her life is about to change completely as everything she thinks she knows begins to disintegrate. Living on the bread line with her alcoholic mother in rural Cornwall wasn't how she imagined things would be when a new future was opened up before her only to be cruelly snatched away by situations far beyond her control.

In a book about friendship, the relationship between a child and their parents, and the gradual change of dynamic within a family, we see things from both Martha and her mother Fran's perspective and the two don't often agree. Add to that the gradual revelation of things other people decided Martha didn't need to know, lies and betrayal going deep into who she is, and her life is about to hurtle in directions she could never have imagined.

This is the fourth book by Rona Halsall I have had the pleasure of reading, and the best so far, elevating her into heady company with the best psychological thriller writers this country has to offer. The writing is tight, the outcome never clear until the very end, and the quality of the storytelling at the highest level, it is easily one of the best books I have read this year.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it highly to anyone who has read the previous books by this author, enjoys family based thrillers, or wants a book to get totally immersed in, this book ticks all the boxes.

Not bad is the mist accurate description I can afford this book. Entertaining enough, and written well enough to get me to the end. A decent read, that's about it,

Wow wow wow!! Rona has done it again! I recieved this book via Netgalley and had been so excited to start from the moment it was on my kindle. It was definitely worth the wait. I was hooked from the first page! This book gave me a whole mixture of emotions. Sadness, frustration, happiness. I admit, there were a few tears.

The story starts with Martha turning up at her estranged fathers house. The book instantly grips you in as the visit takes an unexpected turn. The story then goes back to 3 days earlier and we learn the events that lead up to their encounter.
I really liked the chapters being alternated between Martha and Fran. It was exciting to see the story being told from two perspectives and waiting for it all to come together.

There are so many twists throughout the book! A couple of my suspicions were right but there was always more added to them that left me absolutely shocked. Rona is brilliant at keeping us guessing and surprising her readers! She kept me guessing right until the very end.

I can't wait to read more by Rona! This is a very easy five stars from me. Highly recommended!

Fantastic did not see that ending comeing at all perfect ending for a fantastic book I love the book theme throughout and the fairytale ending it was so fitting

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been fortunate enough to have been able to read all of Rona's books through Netgalley and as soon as I read the first one, I was hooked! They always start off with a bang, and each one has interesting characters with emotion and flaws and plot lines with twists and turns, and this book was no exception. Her Mother's Lies is an interesting story, you will feel for Martha right from the beginning and want to know who is lying to her, and why... can't wait to see what you come up with next, Rona!

I received a free copy of HER MOTHER’S LIES by Rona Halsall in exchange for an honest review. Martha feels trapped. Her mother is a shut-in alcoholic who frequently steals what little money Martha makes to buy more booze. Martha wants a better life, but her controlling mother Fran thwarts any attempts Martha has to educate, to otherwise better herself, or to escape their isolated village. When Martha unexpectedly loses her job, her mother goes on a bender and ends up comatose in the hospital. Now, Martha must deal with Fran’s hospitalization while she also grieves the death of a beloved friend. Previously denied access to any information about their living situation, Martha begins to uncover the extent of her mother’s dishonest machinations. Martha learns her mother lied to her about how her father abandoned her and about how he no longer loved her while Fran actually kept in touch with him and regularly traded him updates about Martha for money. When Martha seeks out her father, the meeting doesn’t go as expected; the man she has always loved denounces her, and Martha lashes out. Martha turns to an internet friend for help and consolation, but the lies continue to unravel, and soon, Martha finds out her entire life is a lie.

I recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers involving family disfunction. The deceit was pervasive, and the truths were as bad or worse than the lies. Very twisty.

#HerMothersLies #NetGalley

I enjoyed this novel very much. The characters were extremely well drawn and sympathetic, and the story line was seamless. Highly reccomend this excellent book.

"Secrets and Lies "
My second Rona Halsall book and I'm happy to report that this is as good as what's gone before.
Her Mother's lies tells the story of three Mothers all with something to hide from there children that they will stop at nothing to hide the truth and keep a child safe.
The story starts with Martha going to visit her Father for the first time since he left mysteriously 15 years before and from this moment onwards the book never lets up, the lies and betrayal just keep coming.
All the characters that inhabit this world are well fleshed out especially Martha who's journey through the book is one of absolute heartbreak and how she just kept going without reaching for the bottle amazes me.
The story is a little slow as the tale of her mother's betrayal unfolds through out the book but this is no bad thing as all the characters get a chance to take the spotlight.
The writing is solid and the plot has a few twist and turns with a superbly clever twist ending that I never saw coming.
This was a solid 3 star review out of five but that final twist raised it up to well earned 4 star.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This book opens with a bang. Insane. What if your father left you 15 years ago and now that your mothers health is declining, you search for the one person you think can help only for him to tell you that the reason he left was because your mother lied about him being your father? Filled with betrayal. This book twists and turns, you wont know which way is up.

A dark and twisty read, full of secrets and intrigue. A well written novel, plenty of suspense and decent characters.

A good domestic thriller with some great twists. If you like family drama, secrets and lies then this is a must read.

Martha’s world pretty much hits rock bottom in more ways than one. Sadly things are about to get even worse.

My heart went out to Martha. The relationship she has with her mother is almost suffocating. In a way it’s like Martha is the adult and her mother is the daughter. She has had to put her life on hold to a certain extent and is having to forgo a lot of things that she wants to do to look after Fran.

This is a story steeped with lies and revelations. Boy when those revelations start coming out, there was no stopping them. One, I had to go back a page and re read it as I was in shock. This author sure knows how to pack a punch. Rocky Balboa has nothing on this particular author when it comes to knocking the breath out of me.

Her Mother’s Lies is a jaw dropping, heart stopping page turner of a read. It should come with a warning as I could feel my heart racing towards the end as the revelations came thick and fast. I can still fill the adrenaline now coursing through me just thinking about it. The author has smashed it again.

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Domestic thriller! Deceit, lies and addiction. This is what 24 year old Martha faces as she goes to meet (for first time in 15 years) her dad.

Job loss, sudden death, debt, and taking care of her alcoholic mother, all contribute to Martha's downward spiral.

An excellent domestic thriller with a fresh twist always ahead.

HIGHLY recommend!

Many Thanks to Bookouture & NetGalley for a brilliant read!