Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Didn't grab me.

This was fairly enjoyable but thrillers are sometimes difficult for me. It was a good read but I don’t think this is a groundbreaking thriller.

3.5 stars

The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs is an addictive psychological thriller that explores family secrets, guilt, and deception. It has a very captivating premise. However, while it has its gripping moments, the overall plot can feel somewhat predictable, limiting the element of surprise.
The story revolves around a couple's tranquility being shattered when a mother and daughter move in next door. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the protagonist begins questioning her neighbor's motives and the origins of a dark secret that she inadvertently shared. What follows is a suspenseful journey filled with fear and paranoia.
Childs skillfully captures the protagonist's mounting emotions, immersing readers in her turmoil. The author's writing style is engaging and allows for easy immersion in the story.
However, where The Mother at Number 5 falls slightly short is in its predictability. The plot's trajectory becomes evident early on, leaving minimal room for surprising twists and turns. While this may not deter those who prefer a straightforward narrative, it does reduce the element of suspense for those seeking a more unpredictable thriller.
Nevertheless, the story balances predictability with moments of tension and revelations that keep readers entertained. Childs effectively delves into character development, making the protagonist relatable and multidimensional.
In summary, The Mother at Number 5 is an engaging psychological thriller that will captivate fans of the genre. While the predictable nature of the plot may hinder the suspense for some readers, Childs' adept storytelling and well-developed characters make it a worthwhile read. If you enjoy delving into shadowy secrets and complex family dynamics, this book should be on your radar.
A copy of the book was provided to me by NetGalley and Bookouture Audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was so gripping! I loved the dual perspectives between Lottie and Ros because it added to the suspense throughout the book. I was dying to know what Lottie was looking to get revenge for the longest time and was shocked by that revelation. The big reveal about Adam was something I had seen coming, but it was still shocking all the same.

Ros first met Lottie during a family vacation and they became friends. However, things took a strange turn when Lottie announced that she would be moving in next door. Ros starts to suspect that Lottie has a hidden agenda, especially since Ros shared a secret with her during a drunken night out. With the secret now hanging in the air between them, Ros feels threatened by Lottie. To protect her family, Ros needs to make a move and she is ready to do whatever it takes to win this game of chess.

"The Mother at Number 5" is a phenomenal psychological thriller that has many unexpected twists and turns, making it a fast and captivating read. The book had great character development and intriguing secrets behind it. Although there were a few slow parts in the plot, overall it was entertaining and kept me engaged until the end. It's safe to say that Jill Childs has gained a new fan!

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

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Ros is on holiday with her family when she meets Lottie. They quickly hit it off and go out for drinks one evening. Ros had too many drinks and can’t remember a thing. She is relieved when Lottie flies home with her daughter. Back home Ros is shocked when she discovers Lottie and her daughter have moved to a house nearby. It soon becomes clear Lottie wants to ruin Ros’s life. Totally gripping from beginning to end.

This is a medium paced thriller. While I found the story to be a but predictable, I really enjoyed going along for the ride as secrets are revealed. There are some twists in this story and the characters are well written. Something about this story just grabbed my attention and kept me turning the page.

I really enjoyed the audio book.

The Mother At Number 5
By Jill Child’s

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

I am a fan of Jill Child’s writing and this story did not disappoint.
When you are on vacation, having a good time, drinking maybe a touch too much and you confide in a stranger you think, “I will never see this person again in my life”, until that moving van pulls up and your life changes forever. How did she end up here? Will she tell my secrets? Is she after me?
I really enjoyed listening to this story, thank you.

This is an interesting idea for an up-to-date psychological thriller. I loved the fact it began on a holiday as it makes it a good summer read. There are twists and turns which keep you on your toes but I did feel it was somewhat drawn out and could have been improved by cutting down some of the middle section to and fro conversations. The characters are good although I didn’t feel that Adam was depicted quite correctly early on to match the later revelations.

This was an interesting thriller and the first book I’ve read by this author. While it wasn’t the most original or twisty thriller I’ve ever read I did enjoy it. I really liked the character of Ros, I especially like that she had more depth than the first glance would have you believe. The book is told in two perspectives Ros and Lotte (but it takes a minute to get io Lotte). The two women meet on vacation and have some fun Ros can barely remember, but when Ros gets home she finds Lotte has moved to her small town and is everywhere she turns. Ros is instantly on guard and worried and I didn’t love that part because of course her husband thinks she’s being silly and gaslights her to the end. I liked the story but I did figure out who did what. The ending was fun. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up. I read most of this on kindle because the audiobook narrator wasn’t my favorite.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller, which is about a woman called Ros who goes on holiday to Majorca and meets a woman called Lottie, who then just happens to turn up living near her when she goes back home. They become friends, but Ros is suspicious of Lottie, as Lottie just always seems to be around her and her family. What does Lottie want with her and why is she always hanging around her?

This is a good book, with a great narrator. Highly enjoyable and recommended.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

Disturbing deception leading to a nightmare conundrum which eventually pulls apart lives with tragic consequences. Loved it!

This one definitely kept me on my toes-- so many twists and turns that I definitely did not see coming.

3,5 stars rounded up thanks to the great narration!

The story had me intrigues right from the start, but it was a little slow burn. It didn't move quite as fast as I would have liked to start with, but by the end there were twists that I had not seen coming.

I quite liked the main character Ross, but I didn't love her. As for Lottie.... I did not like her. Whatever her reasons were for needing revenge and targeting Ross and her family, she did not sit right with me. I guess she wasn't meant to. The story had me worried about Ross, her family and her marriage if they would survive Lottie being in it and gave me a tummy ache at times, but it did not keep me up listening past my bedtime or desperate to get back to the story.

All in all a good psychological thriller and I would not hesitate to try more of Jill's stories.

I listened to the audio of this book and enjoyed the story line, characters, and plot. Maybe it was just the audio but sometimes I felt like I was getting distracted from the book while listening. Overall, this was a good book! I did not see the ending coming either.

Oh what a thriller! One of my favourite so far! Absolutely giving thrills ! Would love to see it adapted at the cinemas! Don’t think you know what the plot twists will be, you’ll be surprised !

I really liked the premise of this book! It kept me guessing the whole time. It he narrator was awesome!

I’m giving this book 3 stars because This book was a bit average for me but the narrator in the audiobook kept me invested even though the beginning half of the book was a bit slow.
There was a twist at the end of the book but I feel it fell a little bit flat but it was a good book.

Emotions throughout the book-
Shock
Anger
Sad

I received this audiobook free with NetGalley & I just want to thank them so much for this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

While vacationing in Mallorca with her family, Ros meets Lottie, a vivacious single mother, at the pool and after a few cocktails decide to have a girls night out. She wakes up the next morning but can not remember much from the night before or how much she confessed to this stranger. Thinking she would never see the woman again her concerns went away until bumping into Lottie on the first day of school to find out their daughters not only share a classroom, she has also moved in across the street. Ros becomes more and more anxious as Lottie infiltrates her life, but what does this woman want and why is she here?

This slow burn thriller is told from the POV of both Ros and Lottie with flashbacks bringing the characters around. I would say the story overall was just okay. While I liked the premise of someone Ros met on holiday was now disturbing her life, but found the plot moved too slow and the characters were somewhat hollow. I saw most of the twist end coming and didn't care that much when I finally got to it. I thought the daughter's storyline was a distraction and with little to do with the main plot, just made me mad at Ros for not paying attention to the obvious signs from the beginning. It is a good enough thriller I just wanted more.
I had the audio version narrated by Charlie Norfolk who was easy to listen to and did a good job. I was surprised by the choice not to use two narrators or do a voice change up for the different characters.

3.5 stars rounded up

Ros and Lotte meet while on vacation and have a wild night out. Back at home Ros sees that Lottie and her daughter have moved into her neighbourhood. Ros is completely ill-at ease by this sudden coincidence - she also can’t recall the events of their drunken night out and has a sense or foreboding.

While Ros tries to unravel what her new neighbour is about, there is also something up with her 8-year-old daughter who is misbehaving and showing unusual signs of cruelty.

This started off with a bang for me, and while I had no idea what direction we were going in, I was happy to go along on the ride. By the midway point I was starting to lose engagement and felt it became a little slow. That said it definitely picked up to a reasonably satisfying ending and a twist I didn’t see coming.

I loved the narration and while I may have lost a little focus part way through, I was invested enough to read until the big reveal.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for an ALC 🎧

Review up on Goodreads. Instagram story will be added soon.