Melanie “Mel” Douglas has experienced a hard-knock life. Abandoned as a baby and the product of children’s homes and foster families, she’s never known stability or ease. Now a struggling single mom to 12-year-old Kate, she’s on her own after years in an abusive marriage to Billy, who’s serving time for it. Her life only gets worse when one day she’s falsely accused of stealing from her workplace and let go. When her good friend, and fellow product of the foster system, Michael, encourages her to read a formal looking letter from a law office that he’d found in her trash - one she’d dismissed as a scam - she discovers that she’s been bequeathed a hotel and a large sum of money from an anonymous benefactor. According to terms of the will, everything is hers to keep, as long as she remodels and continues to operate the hotel and bar - and she allows one unnamed individual to maintain residence there. Eager to get away from Billy, who she suspects is out of prison, and not having any other real options, Mel and Kate start their new life in the charming seaside town of Halebury.

I’ll start with the positives. It’s an intriguing mystery, since it’s unknown who left this hotel and money to Mel and why - especially since she has no known family. Is this a good idea for Mel to agree to this inheritance? Is it too good to be true? That remains to be seen. I like her. She’s a survivor and I like her attitude. She’s also a great unreliable narrator. As for the other characters, they’re all interesting. There’s Nikki, the barmaid, Rose, the cook, and Tom, the hunky handyman, who’ve been taking care of the hotel. All of them seem pretty nice, but are clearly keeping secrets about the history of this place and have their suspicious moments. Can they be trusted?

As an aside here: WHAT for the love of everything is the fascination so many authors have with the hunky handyman trope??! Is there no other way to introduce an attractive man into a story involving a single female protagonist? 🙄 OK. Rant over. Back to the review ...

There’s also the mysterious, mildly creepy, completely silent resident in Room 12, the two Brays: Don and Nige, who send off major ominous vibes, and kind but suspicious hotel patron, Angus, to complete the messy stew of potential suspects when an alarming discovery is made and young Kate goes missing. Hayes does a good job of casting a suspicious light on virtually everyone, so you’re never sure who to believe. She also keeps the threat of Mel’s ex, Billy, present … is he out of prison? Has he been contacting their daughter behind her back? Is he going to make Mel pay for putting him in prison?

Now the “could be better” part. The story is largely predictable and the twists just aren’t very twisty. I could tell almost immediately who was up to no good and it was simply a matter of finding out the how and why. I didn’t mind it so much - it was still rewarding enough to find that part out, but it wasn’t particularly surprising. The big reveals just kind of happened without much build-up, so the excitement factor could have been higher. There are also aspects of the story that are just outright unbelievable, so you just have to go with it and move on.

Did it blow my socks off? No. Did I have fun reading it? Yes. It’s an engaging mother-daughter mystery and I really enjoyed seeing how Mel and Kate’s story played out.
WARNING: There are themes involving domestic violence, children and abuse that could be upsetting to some.


★★★ ½ (rounded up to 4)


Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is set for publication on January 5, 2021.

Always enjoy books from this Author. And this one did not disappoint. Great twists throughout the book keeping it intriguing and interesting. The ending I didnt see coming and was fantastic.

Thanks to the Author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release if this book.

I enjoyed this book but found it rather predictable. It centers on Mel, single mom to 12-year-old Kate, who is barely keeping it together financially until she is willed a hotel by an unnamed stranger. Mel is skeptical but really sees no other choice than to accept the inheritance. The hotel is outdated and not making money, and Mel throws herself into fixing it up. There are some weird things happening, though, from having to agree to allowing a mute woman named Sarah to stay in the hotel, to Mel's ne'er-do-well ex-husband potentially tracking them down, to odd things that happen in the weeks after they arrive.

The premise made the book seem suspenseful, but I really didn't think it was. I figured out the culprits and the reasoning behind pretty much every odd happening throughout the book. There was a big twist at the end that surprised me, but honestly it just made me feel sad and didn't add to or detract from the overall level of mystery in the story.

That being said, I liked Mel and thought she had chutzpah- she was smart and driven and worked hard, and her relationship with her daughter Kate felt authentic. She was flawed but in a believable way. There was also a feel-good aspect to the story that I enjoyed- I read the whole book in just a few hours.

So overall, if you are looking for a creepy and atmospheric mystery, this is probably not the book for you, but if you are looking for a story with a likeable protagonist that will make you feel good at the end, I think you'll enjoy this read. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Published: January 5, 2021
Bookouture
Mystery & Thrillers

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Hayes left school at 16, avoided university instead opting to work various jobs. She spent time living in Australia and the US before she became a crime writer. She has written over ten novels, and she isn’t slowing down. Known for her suspenseful build-ups and bold characters, Samantha Hayes creates stories that are impossible to put down.

“Nah.”

This is my second Samantha Hayes book; I read The Happy Couple earlier this year. I appreciate Samantha Hayes's writing style and her world-building. She writes intricate plots filled with twists and turns you don’t see coming.

Mel hasn’t had an easy life. She was abandoned as a baby, in a luggage rack on the train, and was brought up as a foster child. Never having solid roots, Mel knows that when she has her daughter, she will do anything for her. So she works hard, goes without, and scrapes by. Having escaped an abusive relationship with Billy, the father of her beloved daughter Kate, Mel lives in constant fear that he will turn back up and punish her for the things he feels she did. When Mel gets a random letter from a solicitor telling her she’s been left a hefty inheritance, a large sum of cash, and a motel, at first, Mel thinks it’s a scam. Her trusted childhood friend convinces her to check it out, to discover it's real. Just like that, all of Mel’s financial woes are behind her, and she gets to start fresh. All she has to do is renovate the motel she was left, make it profitable, and allow the mysterious and silent woman called Sarah to continue living there.

With so many secrets to be revealed and more twists and turns than you could anticipate, Single Mother is a fast-paced, intense story. The characters all have their secrets that slowly get uncovered as the plot thickens, and as the truth comes out... the bodies start to pile up.

Can Mel genuinely start over and find happiness for herself and Kate in their little seaside town? Will the motel truly belong to them? Will the past come back and destroy everything Mel had worked diligently to build?

As Kate starts to thrive in their new home, and as Mel starts to think she could give her heart to local contractor Tom, something is uncovered in the back garden during renovations that are sure to bring Mel’s past and present crashing together.

This was a pretty good book. I enjoyed the build-up, and I enjoyed the big plot twists. The characters were well developed, and their backstories were well thought out. The description of the town and the motel were vivid and easy to visualize. This was a fast-paced story that kept my attention until the very end.

The biggest twist for me was the final twist in the last few paragraphs... redemption and justice are tricky when taken. Secrets won’t stay silent, and voices will be heard. The biggest question is, will Mel and Kate survive the Moreton Inn, or will this be more than they bargained for?

The idea for this novel came partly from Samantha’s own experiences and the questions she asked herself thinking about where she had been and the ‘what ifs’ that she pondered about. These factors have inspired her to write this new novel. I really enjoyed the story and was quickly absorbed by her vivid storytelling and descriptions of the characters and the settings.
The story itself starts with single mother Mel and Kate’s life together in their small flat above a fish and chip shop. Mel is a carer by profession but her boss has some unresolved issues with her which makes Mel very unhappy. She is so poor that she sometimes has to miss a meal so that she can feed her daughter. She is a hard worker and the care home residents like her but it seems that is not enough. To make matters worse Kate is in a low mood because she is being bullied at school. She will not allow her mother to speak to either her teacher or the Headteacher, fast in her belief it will make things even worse for her. When Mel is unfairly dismissed from her job she is confused but most of all she sees only a very bleak future.
Then Mel receives a letter from a solicitor in Exeter telling her that she has been left a hotel and a large amount of cash. He will not divulge the name of her deceased benefactor. She has no family as she was abandoned on a train when she was a new-born and spent all of her life in care. She doesn’t know anyone who owns a hotel and feels suspicious about the letter. A close friend persuades her to follow up the information she has already received and when she does she finds that the letter is a genuine bequest. She is flabbergasted to put it mildly, but soon she and Kate travel down to the seaside to view the Moreten Inn, which is just outside a lovely little town near Lyme Regis. She verifies that the hotel is definitely hers as long as she upgrades the hotel and lets one of the residents stay in her forever home in the hotel. So starts new beginnings for Kate and Mel and they both take to it like ducks to water. Kate loves her new school and Mel feels secure for the first time in her life. But all is not what is seems to be and soon unpleasant things start to happen.
Then her beloved daughter goes missing. This is the story of a mother and daughter battling against jealousy, deceit, a jail bird, compulsive liars and even worse, a dangerous, weird, deranged and angry person determined to get their hands on the Moreten Inn. What happens next will chill you to the bone. Know this: you will never know who is genuine, who tells the truth, who can be relied on or who is evil and out to get Mel. You’re in for more twists and turns, red herrings, more evil shocks than you can predict and that you’ll be glued to the pages of this novel right until the very last sentence.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley and in return for an honest review. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. I thought this novel was very good indeed. The plot was interesting, complex and uniquely twisty. The writing was engaging and this author really understands what the reader wants from a novel within the genre of Psychological Thrillers. 4.5* review.

Samantha Hayes is back! Mel (Melanie) Douglas is the single mother of 12 year old Kate. They live in a small rundown flat and money is tight. Mel receives a solicitor’s letter about a potential inheritance. At first she thinks it’s a scam, but when she loses her low wage job she thinks again and contacts the solicitor who informs her that the inheritance is genuine. She is bequeathed a guest hotel, the Moreton Inn, on the coast near Lyme Regis and a significant sum of money to renovate it. The solicitor cannot tell her who left her this bounty though as he doesn’t know. The donor wished to remain anonymous. There is one stipulation, there is a permanent resident who is to remain in place!

On top of her money worries Mel is nervous about her ex, Billy, who has just been released from jail. He has abused her in the past and she is scared of him finding her again. So it’s a no-brainer and Mel and Kate head off to their new home and settle in. Mel is soon enjoying the hard work of bringing the solid but very dated inn into the modern era. There is also the stirrings of romance between Mel and Tom - a handyman/contractor working on the hotel extension. But the peace is not to last. The first paying guest is not who he claims to be and she thinks Billy has already tracked her down. Kate and her new friend, Chloe, make a shocking discovery and Mel has reason to be suspicious of Tom too. But it’s when Kate disappears that Mel’s world falls apart. She is convinced Billy has taken her and wants to ride off to the rescue straight away. Oh oh, that’s not a good idea!

It’s an interesting cast of characters. Mel has had some hard knocks in life and is quite cynical and very feisty (which I loved) and Kate is such a good kid. Unfortunately Mel doesn’t know who to trust as the mysteries surrounding the history and previous owner of the hotel deepen. The permanent resident, Miss Sarah, is an enigma. She doesn’t utter a word and is very reserved. You get the impression early that she has suffered something terrible, but I’m not telling. Suffice it to say the hotel has a dark history. This was a fun and heartwarming story, a bit fantastical but within the realms of plausibility. Some surprising and not so surprising twists round out what was an enjoyable reading experience. I can recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a psychological thriller or romantic suspense (the romance was not a big element, phew). My thanks go to Netgalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for making available a copy of this book for review. My opinions Are my own.

I hate to say anything negative about books, as I know the author puts their heart and soul into writing. But. This book just didn't work for me. I cant overly put my finger on why.

I adore Samantha Hayes books usually, but I felt there was just something missing from this one.

I was really looking forward to this book so when I received an ARC I was excited to get started.
The Single Mother is the story of Mel, as a baby she was abandoned on a train and doesn’t have any family. She is now a single Mum to her daughter Kate who was born in to an abusive relationship Mel had escaped.......
I was hooked from the beginning. This book kept my interest as there was always questions that needed answering. As soon as you figure out one twist you get hit with another. As for the ending? I figured part of it out but not the final part that left me shocked! There seemed to be so many little parts of the story that eventually comes together in to, what I think, is a really good book.
It was only after I had finished the book I realised I have read some of Samantha Hayes other books and she is definitely one to watch.
Thank you to the publisher, author and NerGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

For me this was definitely a book of two halves. Up until around the 40% mark, I just couldn't get into it. There was a lot of boring prose about hotel renovations and nothing of interest seemed to be happening.

After this point, the book suddenly picked up pace and I couldn't put it down! The plot was actually very clever and though there were hints all the way through, I didn't manage to piece them together until the end. And what an ending!

Overall I did really enjoy this book, but the pacing was definitely off, I was even tempted to DNF it in the beginning because I was never excited to pick it up. I'm very glad I didn't now because the second half of the book was brilliant.

Mel is a single mother to her daughter Kate, Struggling to make ends meet, she lives in fear of her abusive ex getting out of prison.
When, to her surprise, she inherits a run-down hotel from an anonymous person, it seems like a good solution to her problems and an opportunity to start a new life.
However, the inheritance comes with a couple of conditions; she can never sell the hotel, and she has to allow a mysterious mute woman to live there rent-free for the rest of her life.

As a great fan of Samantha Hayes, I requested this book without even reading the blurb, and I'm happy to say that I wasn't disappointed.
Yet again, the author delivers a great, unputdownable novel.
This was a gripping and fast-paced read that had me madly turning the pages.
The story is a little far-fetched, but it's nothing that can't be overlooked as you're racing through it to find out the secrets hidden within the hotel's walls.
The twist was unexpected, and the final revelation was a cherry on top.
Highly recommend it.

This is one book you will not be able to put down. Mel is a single mum, just trying to get by raising her daughter Katie. When she she is fired from her job as a caregiver, she has zero idea what she will do, who will hire her? She was accused of theft! She knows she didn't do it. She receives an unexpected letter in the mail, but she has been so screwed over in life she doesn't trust anyone, even though the letter looks legit. The letter is from a reputable law firm, she has just inherited a large sum of money and a old hotel, but it comes with conditions, an old woman must reside there.

Hayes takes you on so many twists and turns, just when you think you have figured it out, think again.

Very strong writing, with one character in particular. Read to find out!

4.5 Stars.

Another fantastic book by Samantha Hayes. While I liked her first two books better, this was a great read so full of twists and turns. Cannot wait to recommend this new one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

This is the first book I have read by this author so wasn’t sure what to expect. It was a great read! A single mother struggling to make ends meet comes into an inheritance that’s she sceptical about but goes with it to better her and her daughters lives. There was plenty of twists and turns to keep me gripped just wanting to know what would happen next. A really good book which I would recommend. I look forward to the next book.

I tried to take my time with this book but found it a very addictive read.
Mel - a single mum to Kate - is a hardworking carer who has to scrape every penny she has together to try to keep their heads above water. Overdue bills, lack of food shopping, relying on charity shop finds to clothe themselves Mel is struggling. Tragically Mel also suffered an abusive ex (Kate’s dad) and was abandoned on a train as a baby and brought up in foster homes. She has one friend and confidant - Michael - who also was brought up in care.
Mel sacked from her job for theft thinks she has failed her daughter and worries for their future until a letter lands on her doorstep - a letter stating she is to inherit not only a large sum of money but also a hotel. Thing we’re looking up! Even with strict instructions on how the property was to be updated, it couldn’t be sold and the strange demand that she was to allow an unknown lady to continue to live there free with meals etc all included Mel jumped at the opportunity to better their lives.
This book is full of tragedy, loss, hope, love and discoveries - both good and bad. I loved Mel as the main character - I am full of admiration of how fierce a mother she truly is - doing all she can to help her daughter and keep her safe. The characters were all written really well, you learn more with every page.
Overall I give this book 5⭐️ there’s not much I would change. I was surprised with the twists and one I really didn’t see coming which for me is rare! Fantastic read and highly recommended.

Classic psychological thriller set in a spooky run down motel - Single mom Mel is just doing the best she can, trying to out run her past and give her daughter a better life.... So of course when a life changing inheritance falls into her lap she takes advantage of the opportunity despite the strange stipulations attached because what could go wrong?

I love a good a plot twist, and this book delivered several. Some were a little far fetched but I feel like everything was wrapped up and explained nicely in the end.
I particularly liked the final twist, it gave me Rose dropping the diamond into the ocean at the end of Titanic vibes. Well played!

Big thanks NetGalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for an ARC to review!

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Life is not a bowl of cherries for single mother Mel and her daughter Kate. Struggling financially, trying to make ends meet after escaping her violent ex Billy and unable to prevent Kate from being bullied at school, Mel is not having an easy time. Getting fired from her job as a carer at The Cedars is the final nail in the coffin. When an unexpected letter lands through her letterbox, claiming Mel is due an inheritance, this cynical woman initially believes it’s a scam, reluctant to see it as a sign that her bad luck could be about to change. With nothing left to lose, Mel swaps life on the breadline in Birmingham for a life as owner of Moreton Inn hotel located in a small seaside village near Lyme Regis. Viewing this as a chance to escape the past and provide a better future for her daughter, Mel wholeheartedly embraces her change of circumstances. Will Mel and Kate be welcome amongst the villagers having received a mixed reception? Why is there a mysterious atmosphere in this run down hotel and can Mel turn it into a thriving business with or without the locals support? In doing so what secrets might she uncover that will have relevance to her own background? These are just some of the intriguing questions that occupied my thoughts as I read the opening pages and beyond.

Prepare to meet some odd, dubious and damaged characters in a storyline where new beginnings collide with sorrowful pasts and the shadow of Billy casts a gloom and unease over Mel that she finds impossible to shake off. A forlorn and haunting air hangs over this neglected hotel, with secrets hidden within its walls that will finally see the light of day the deeper (literally) Mel digs into the history of the place and its previous owner. Expect more than a handful surprises, some more chilling than others as you endeavour to make sense of Mel’s new life. Trust is a recurrent theme throughout the narrative, in the sense Mel can never be sure whom to trust. Should she trust the words of her friends over the words of relative strangers? Exactly who is friend and who is foe?

When discussing characters there are plenty of shady ones and in particular one vile specimen of a human being you will LOATHE. Like Mel, I had trust issues with quite a few of them. You need to sift the bad from the good and that’s no easy task given there are more than a few rotten eggs! The locals vary in terms of their friendliness so that I found myself silently urging Mel to watch her back. You’ve got to feel sorry for Mel, desperately in need of a change in fortune, to find herself in this challenging, unfamiliar environment. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire! However from cutting a more cynical figure at the beginning, her move seems to transform her into the complete opposite, a woman who is most gullible and naive. Given her background I found this change in character difficult to comprehend. Moreton Inn itself has a ghostly/creepy vibe from the outset, not helped by the presence of the long term Miss Haversham type resident, a character who certainly adds to the mystery and intrigue surrounding Mel’s new adventure into the unknown. I did struggle at times with the credibility of some of the behaviour of the characters, which for me is the main downfall of this psychological thriller. If you can suspend belief for the duration of the book then I think you will find it more enjoyable.

Which leads me onto my overall opinion of the plot line. There’s a great deal going on, with the author throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the mix so that you can be guaranteed of twist after twist after twist, some of which seem to defy all sense of logic and others, such as the brilliant ending where you’ll think OMG I didn’t see that coming! I’m a contrary soul; sometimes I’m not bothered when situations appear to be contrived or scenarios feel implausible and yet on other occasions I am. Sadly, this time around my thoughts and feelings fall into the later camp. My enjoyment came in peaks and troughs, since the storyline starts well, then dips, then picks up momentum, diving downwards once again until the explosive finish. I was excited to read this thriller having previously enjoyed Date Night earlier in the year, believing it to be worthy of four stars but with Single Mother I’m in a quandary! For ease of read (and I did find this difficult to put down) it deserves 5 stars. For credibility maybe only 3 stars and for overall reading experience possibly 3.5 stars. On balance I have settled for 3.5. Whilst in many ways I’d place this thriller in the mediocre bracket I do think the ending went some way to improving my general impression of the book. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Single mother Mel working as carer, lives with teenage daughter Kate. She has to work hard to make ends meet. She was sacked from the job with the accusation of stealing money from the old man she was caring for.

An unexpected and mysterious inheritance of a seaside inn in Dorset and a windfall land on her lap. This comes with mystifying stipulations. Seeing this as a godsend opportunity, she uproots her life to Dorset, thus setting a chain of events in motion which puts her family in the path of danger from all sides.

This was my first Hayes book, and will be looking forward to her books. This was a compelling, hard to put it down book which forced me to finish in one sitting as I couldn’t wait to find out who was the mysterious benefactor, how Mel related to them, how they found her. Hayes' beautiful writing hooked from the first page itself. This book is an addictive psychological thriller full of mysteries.

Hayes throws twist after twist when I thought it all wrapped up nicely, she expertly throws another one. There are many twists, turns, shocks, and I didn’t know whom to trust, who was telling the truth. Hayes presents two kinds of mothers, where one is like a lioness who fiercely protects cubs, on the other end, who puts their children's life in danger.

My heart went out to one particular character for all the suffering they had gone through from the people who were supposed to protect them. These parts were distressing and gut-wrenching to read and made me furious. Strongly connected with Mel's protectiveness and optimism despite going through a rough patch.

All in all, I strongly recommend this chilling, utterly engrossing, and refreshing read with full of suspense.

Thank you Bookouture for giving me an opportunity to read this.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for allowing me to read this Arc.
I absolutely loved Single Mother. Full of twists and turns throughout. I've read all of Samantha's books and loved every one of them. Single Mother didn't disappoint. And that twist at the end.....Wow!!!! Can't wait for the next one.

#SingleMother #NetGalley
Thanks NetGalley, Bookouture and Samantha Hayes for an ARC to review.
I read Date Night and The Happy Couple before and loved them, Samantha's writing style is engaging.
A single mother Mel struggles to make ends meet for her and her 12 years old daughter Kate after escaping an abusive marriage. Her little life consists of her daughter, her job and her lifetime friend Michael. Or does it?
A mysterious letter, a setup at work and the knowledge that her ex is out of prison pushes Mel to accept an out of the blue inheritance, taking into consideration that she was a foster kid who knew nothing about her family.
In a small seaside hotel, Mel begins a new chapter of her life surrounded by a peculiar group of locals including a one particular resident she seems to have inherited with the hotel.
An engaging, full of plot twists thriller that will keep you fully hooked till the end.
I loved Mel's character as she wasn't that typical damsel in distress who kept whining about fate's bad dealt hand, she stood up for herself and her daughter turning to a true mama bear when any danger approaches her daughter or the ones she cares about. She doesn't hold a grudge, she can forgive and change opinion when she understands.

I loved this book it was filled with loads of twists some I could see coming but mostly I was taken by surprise and I love that. A typical psychological thriller it was as addictive as hell and I read it in just over a day and I have to say I couldn’t put it down and that’s due to the wonderful writing of Samatha Hayes who again will I’m sure have another winner and so she should !!
The storyline is excellent we have single mother Mel who gets a strange letter from a solicitor informing her of an inheritance although there are some weird conditions and Mel also has no idea as to who would leave her a hotel and money, it all seems like a dream come true but maybe not all is quite what it seems !
From then on we are plunged into mystery and suspense and a fine cast of characters, occasionally I felt things in the book were a little too easy but it never spoiled the read for me and I’m sure all good mystery thriller addicts will love this as much as I did.
My thanks to Samantha Hayes, NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.