This was one of those thrillers that wasn't bad, per se, but also didn't really hold my attention. I don't have any real complaints here, but I have nothing to tout that sets this apart from other similar thrillers. There are a lot of heavy themes with the central storyline focusing on pregnancy, so please check trigger warnings if you have topics you prefer to avoid. A valiant effort but unfortunately not very memorable.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was a wild read! This was my 1st book at Victoria Jenkins but will not be my last, I am adding their books to my TBR!

#TheMidwife
#NetGalley

Rating: 3.5

I was intrigued by the synopsis, but the actual story was not quite what I expected. It was a quick read domestic thriller that was a bit suspenseful. Thanks to NetGalley for an audio eArc.

What an exciting book. Had my on the edge of my seat all through it Exciting plot. Always guessing what’s going to happen next. Very well thought out and put together

The Midwife was a good read by Victoria Jenkins. Lauren is a single soon to be mom via IVF. She goes to Pinewood hospital where the bright yellow walls are plastered with posters of perfect families. She is surrounded by happy looking couples while she is alone. Her midwife Jackie introduces herself and she knows instantly that she's there to help. She has a feeling that they've met before, but she still instantly relaxes around her. Jackie calls her and invites her to an antenatal group and won't take no for an answer. She was promised there would be a big group, but when she gets there, there is only one other nervous looking mother. She turns to Jackie a lot as her due date approaches and ends up letting her talk her into delivering the baby at home. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

Lots of twists and turns, tons of atmosphere, dark pasts and people who aren't who you think they are. There were a lot of surprises in this book. The narrator was great in reading in the different voices. This book made me look forward to my walk and it was easy to get absorbed into it.

I usually love this author’s books, but it took me 3-4 times to really finally get into this particular audiobook. It was okay, it just fell a bit flat.

An audio I enjoyed but am finding hard to review. I liked the mystery, I listened to it over just more than a day - during running errands and then a 5 mile walk. It was interesting, trying to piece apart what was going on. But there was a lot of tough topics here - tied mainly around pregnancy - and I can see this being a tough read for anyone who has a tough time with topics around that.

So while I enjoyed the audio, I'm not sure this plot or story really stands out from others. It's a good story and I found myself really drawn in by the narrator, but I don't know that it will stay with me. For some time, I was definitely confused on who was on each side but it soon became clear and I did like the end. I didn't love it, I don't think it will stick with me, but I did enjoy it while I was listening.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

An addictive read with a great narration. Was full of great characters that I was invested in. Filled with twist and turns you will never see coming I would definitely recommend.

I'm not sure why this one took me nearly a month to finish because I did find it very entertaining, however it wasn't as gripping as I hoped. I did think the last 1/3 of the book really ramped up in drama and intrigue though. I thought the ending was great and very fitting. I did not see this playing out the way it did AT ALL so I was pleasantly surprised and shocked by the twist. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I definitely did not expect the ending of this book, there were parts that were relatively predictable, but otherwise it was pretty surprising. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook, the narrator had a very soothing voice.

A standard thriller which works for a reason. Who can you trust? Opinions shifting from chapter to chapter. Secrets being dangled and then revealed as the chapters unfold. The narrator did a good job of the different characters voices.

I feel like this story had so much potential, it just didn't quite work for me. The pacing felt slow and I couldn't connect with the characters. With that said I do think that the end came together well, I just wish that the rest of the story would of rose to its potential.

I was really looking forward to this book as I’ve read a few already by this author but I found it extremely slow to start with and a lot of threads to the storyline, in which I had to sometimes reread as it felt as though I’d missed something ! An ok
Read but not as good as others by this author

Overall the narrator was good, however, I did find the voice she used for ‘the midwife’ to be extremely annoying !!

This is one of those sit on the edge of your seat reads that makes you consider never letting anyone close to your baby bump/ baby!

I enjoyed this book but I did find it a bit slow at times. It all came together at the end though and I enjoyed the twist.

Nature granted Lauren a second chance on becoming a mother. This time, she will do everything it takes to protect her child. She is prepared for everything, except for her past to come and hunt her.

Overall, an ok read. I expected a gripping suspense but ended up with a light thriller version. I found it reasonably well-narrated, but unnecessarily long and predictable. Not a bad book, just not my type.

Thank you, NetGalley for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

A chilling story which makes you question whether you can trust anyone. Your midwife should be the person who has your best interests at heart, but what happens when they don't? Lauren is an older, single mum-to-be who has Jackie as her midwife. Jackie seems to go above and beyond to support Lauren through her pregnancy, but is this part of her job or is there an ulterior motive? A little slow to start, but once I delved further into the story, the characters and plot developed to be deeply unsettling, revealing dark secrets from the past which come back to haunt. This is one of those books where you can feel that there is something off but you are kept guessing until the big reveal at the end.

I listened to The Midwife' as an audiobook. I liked the narrator even though she came off as monotone, but I think that is the demeanor she was trying to achieve. Narrator, Anne-Marie Piazza does an excellent job of differentiating between character voices.
Lauren is an expectant single mother, who finds that her midwife really does go the extra mile. Lauren feels comfortable with midwife, Jackie, who offers a maternal and reassuring presence to Lauren, for whom life so far has been far from comfortable. Lauren experiences a bit of apprehension as to whether Midwife, Jackie's, treatment of her is 'normal. But since she is the ONLY one Lauren can turn to she shrugs it off and turns to Jackie when the going gets tough.

The book is narrated from the perspective of Lauren and also from Jackie, Jackie's narrative makes it clear she is in cahoots with a mysterious male character, and sinister intent may be afoot. But as to why, and what unfolds, this is a must read because you are going to want to find out. There are so many surprises in this book that I can’t even offer a summary.

I highly recommend this audiobook to readers/ listeners of the psychological fiction genre.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy for my honest opinions.

I had to persevere with this one as I found I wasn’t hooked, maybe it was the switching between character and slow pace but overall, it wasn’t time wasted. The narrator was good. I think I may have preferred the written version to the audio on this occasion. A solid 3/5