Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this one.

This was a quick read, riddled with neighborhood drama. It was fine, and met it's purpose though isn't one that will stick with me long term.

Told from alternating perspectives, we learn about the lives and of Victoria and Lisa. Late one night, Victoria's husband is killed in a hit and run and then just days later the police arrive to arrest family friend Lisa for the murder. Did Lisa kill him? If so why, he was like an uncle to her kids.

A book that tugs at the heartstrings and makes you wonder how you'd react in similar circumstances. I thought the ending was a bit predictable but still enjoyed the book.

Lisa and Mike’s neighbor Russell has been killed in a hit-and-run accident. One night while having dinner with their two teenaged children, the police knock on their door and Lisa is arrested. Did she kill Russell? If it was an accident, why didn’t she report it?

In this latest book by Sam Vickery, nothing is as it seems. In fact, secrets and lies abound. Will the truth be revealed if indeed Lisa is guilty? Then there is Victoria, Russell’s wife. Is she the grieving widow? Well, she plays an important role as well.

What an intense read with surprising twists, sad drama and trauma, and more! Just when it seemed that I had figured things out and if there was a probable motive, I found myself quite stunned. Loved this book and can’t wait to read her next book.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Guilty Mother is a fast paced story full of secrets and lies. There were enough twists to keep me guessing and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Sam Vickery's THE GUILTY MOTHER is an emotionally felt, dark, twisty domestic thriller of two couples, friends, and neighbors. Two women with huge secrets. A victim. A protective mother. A MURDER. How far will they go to protect their own?

Heartfelt, gripping, intense, and binge-worthy! From an array of emotions—jealousy, envy, longing, obsession, abuse, betrayal, blackmail, secrets, love, belonging, and revenge.

Lisa and Mike Grey have lived across the street from Victoria and Russell Fox on Dragonfly Close for seventeen years. They are friends and have had many great times in their backyards with BBQs, drinks, dinners, and laughs. Lisa's kids even call Victoria 'Auntie.'

Told from POVs Lisa and Victoria. Then and now, we slowly learn their secrets and how far they will go to protect them.

The doorbell rings, and DS McCormac is arresting Lisa Grey on suspicion of causing the death of Russell Fox for dangerous driving.

Their friend had been killed in a car accident (hit and run) the previous weekend. Lisa was in total shock when she realized, sitting in the back seat of the police car she might never be home again.

Russell had been dressed in black, drunk, walking along the road in the middle of the night. How could Lisa, Victoria's closest friend for twenty years, be behind a jail cell for the murder of her husband?

Lisa was funny, clever, beautiful, and the perfect wife. She is the mother of two wonderful teenagers, Holly and Jack.

Russell was controlling, abusive, and demanding. He wanted a wife who was always around and went nowhere without him. He did not want her working. Victoria is a victim, but will she turn into a monster?

Lisa cannot stop thinking about the last time she and Russell met secretly and the argument. Lisa refuses to cooperate with the police.

Lisa's car was missing that evening. Everyone is shocked. Victoria doesn't believe her friend could be guilty; there must be some terrible mistake, but then she changes.

Later Lisa is charged with MURDER. Does this make Victoria happy getting all cozy with Mike? Lisa must warn Mike. Someone on Dragonfly Close is getting away with murder… the question is, who?

And how far are they willing to go to keep their terrible secret safe?

The dark secrets and layers are unraveled in the lives of both couples. Victoria often envied Lisa, and she wanted what she had. Cracks in a marriage are revealed.

What will a mother do to protect her child? How far will she go? What goes on behind closed doors? Nothing is as it appears.

As the story moves along, we learn more and more. It becomes obvious one woman wants what she cannot have. Lisa had the perfect family.

She will manipulate everyone around her to get it.
The other will stop at nothing to protect and fight for what is hers.
Even if it means lying and betraying those close to her.

It gets exciting and intense around 59% to the satisfying ending, when things change with jaw-dropping surprises—a captivating tale of lies and deceit that unfolds piece by devastating piece.

My first book by author Sam Vickery and I was impressed. I look forward to reading more. I enjoyed her writing style told with emotion and compassion, blended with suspense. A yummy thriller! Riveting suspense, surprising revelations, and smooth writing.

I love the front cover and the way the book is laid out with the POVs marked with titles of chapters and then and now— for fans of authors BA Paris and Kimberly Belle.

Lisa was my favorite character and was rooting to the end for her! Russell was one evil man and Victoria, even though a victim was not very nice with her manipulation and bribery. I enjoy thrillers with heart.

THE GUILTY MOTHER is both heartbreaking and thrilling at the same time.

Thanks to #Bookouture for a gifted eARC via #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 25, 2023
April 2023 Must-Read Books

I have read a few books from this author and enjoyed most of them, but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.

It is a fast paced and exciting novel with a gripping plot. Told from the povs of Lisa and Victoria, the book kept me hooked till the end. With unreliable narrators and a twisted storyline, I was left guessing as to who the real culprit, till the very end. The characters are layered and made me both like and hate them at the same time. Victoria did get on my nerves more than I would have liked but I could understand the cause of her behaviour. Deeply moving, this is a well executed psychological thriller that is a must read.

Told from Lisa and Victoria’s perspectives, one arrested on suspicion of murder, the other widowed and looking for that perfect family life, whilst playing her own detective on who killed her husband. Many secrets, but will they come out in the wash?…

A slow burner but overall good read, you get to a certain point then don’t want to put the book down.

This book was great! I couldn’t put it down! We meet Russell and Victoria who are neighbors of Mike and Lisa. The door bell rings and chills run through Lisa as she’s arrested for the Murder of Russell. But did she do it? She doesn’t think the cops would be believe her. I know I wasn’t sure who did it. I was not expecting the ending. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Sam!Thank you Bookouture, Sam Vickery and Netgalley for the ARC!

A interesting dark psychological thriller that had me all mixed up and thoroughly intrigued.
The story starts off strong with a mysterious hit and run.
So many secrets being withheld.
So much drama and intrigue.
What will a mother do to protect her child?
If you are in the mood to read an intense domestic thriller, The Guilty Mother is the book you should pick up.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me my first book to review!

This book did not have me engaged at any point other than the very end when the whole confrontation was going on. I didn’t really expect the “twist” but wasn’t very shocked by it. I felt it had way too much dialogue with no action to go with it and the ending was so abrupt. I do think the story itself had promise and enjoyed the epilogue as it wasn’t really the ending anyone would hope for, but also can understand. TW: rape, murder.

Bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/readswithcab/

Thankyou to netgalley for allowing me to read this book before publishing

It really wasn't for me. I couldn't get past 10% of the book without giving up. I felt like it didn't draw me in at all

I enjoyed The Guilty Mother. I enjoyed the characters and how they developed. I was not expecting the ending and I feel that it kept me guessing throughout the story. I definitely recommend this book.

Domestic thriller with lots of red herrings to keep you guessing.
Fast paced in some places, more steady in others.
Loved this story, kept me on suspense and wanting to know more and to keep reading.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Guilty Mother’ by Sam Vickery in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

As Lisa and Mike sit around their table with their children Jack and Holly enjoying a perfectly cooked roast dinner, the police arrive to arrest Lisa for causing the death of their neighbour Russell Fox by dangerous driving. As Lisa is interviewed she refuses to comment and is released pending further investigation, but the second time she’s arrested and charged with murder and she knows that this time she needs to give them her alibi so they know she couldn’t possibly have been involved in Russell’s death.

I’ve enjoyed every novel I’ve read by this author and ‘The Guilty Mother’ is no exception. The story is narrated in alternate chapters by Lisa and Russell’s wife Victoria who throughout her marriage has had to endure his malicious comments and controlling behaviour. I’ve been totally involved from page one as more is revealed of these perfectly described characters, and tensions increase as Lisa is kept locked in a cell until it’s obvious she’s keeping secrets, and it seems she’s not the only one! I’ve felt a warmth towards Lisa, Mike and the children but although I found it easy to dislike Victoria I couldn’t help but sympathise with her for how she’d been treated throughout her marriage by Russell and his family. This novel has been brilliantly written with a depth that pulls at the heartstrings, and I can recommend it without reservation.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Taking off my favourite stripped apron to sit down for our family evening meal, I know something is wrong the moment the doorbell rings. A chill runs through me as the police officer places handcuffs around my wrists and I see my husbands shocked face. They're arresting me for murder. We've been best friends with Victoria and Russell since they first moved to Dragonfly Close. My children call her Auntie Vic. We spend long summer evenings together, laughing, chatting and sharing everything. Now I'm accused of murdering Russell.

The pace kept fluctuating between slow and steady. It's also predictable in places, but none of that spoiled by enjoyment of the book. The evidence mounts up against Lisa making her responsible for Russell's murder. The story is told from Lisa and Victoria's perspectives. I was pulled in from the beginning and there's plenty of twist and turns. I think this is one of those books where the less you know before reading is the best option. All I will say is - I was shocked by the last twist.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SamVickery for my ARC of #TheGuiltyMother in exchange for an honest review.

I tried really hard to get into this book and after 3 or 4 attempts at reading it I couldn't get to even 50%.

Vickery’s book focuses on jealousy of one woman, Victoria, who covets another woman’s, Lisa, life. Lisa has a family and a devoted husband. The story gets complicated when Victoria assumes that Lisa is having an affair with her husband. The book was predictable, and as the story continued I came to detest Victoria, rather than feel sorry for her. Even the end, which I assume was to be a twist, was expected and not at all a surprise. It is a quick read, but it didn’t have me on the edge of my seat, or completely shocked by the twist at the end. I think students wouldn’t identify with the older protagonists.

4.5 stars that I'm rounding up to 5 because they're my stars and I can do what I want with them!!! This was quite the pulse pounding psychological family drama thriller starring Lisa, a mama bear, her loving husband Mike, and their two older teenage children. Add in across the street neighbors Victoria (who needs enemies when you have Victoria for a neighbor) and her husband, Russell, who was recently killed in a hit and run accident?? Well, let me just say that I would gladly sign up to take turn at the wheel of the car that killed him and back up and do it again a few times just for good measure. Lisa has been arrested for Russell's murder and soon secrets are revealed left and right, motives are examined, and the result is a book I could barely put down.

3.5 stars rounded up.
This is the first book I have read by this author but definitely won’t be the last.

The book starts out at a family dinner where there is a knock at the door and Lisa, the mother is placed under arrest for murder. Russell’s body has been found on the side of the road and Lisa is arrested for his murder but she claims her innocence and Russell’s wife, Victoria believes her.

This book is told from two POV - Lisa and Victoria. I found this book very enjoyable and there was a it a ton of timeline jumping. At points of the book I found myself hating Victoria for her choices and needed to remind myself she to is suffering from Russell’s anger. This book makes you think how far would you go for your kids - Lisa will go
To the ends of the Earth for hers. I throughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to others.

Thank you NetGallery for providing me with an ARC of the Guilty Mother in return for an honest review.