I am a huge fan of the thriller genre, with the addition of listening to them often on audiobooks. I work from home so I have a lot of in-between time in which I can listen to audiobooks and do other work. The Mother at Number 5 was a total surprise. While the premise of a secret shared on a drunken night out with a total stranger is not necessarily new the execution was perfect. The ending was an absolute chef’s kiss. The narrator did a wonderful job of bringing the story and the characters together as well. Really enjoyed this read.

The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs

Ros's family went to a vacation in Majorca. Under this relaxing atmosphere, Ros made a new friend, her name is Lotte. Lotte invited Ros for a night drink and after a few drinks later, they started to have some deep talk. Lotte told Ros just shared with her the darkest secret and Lotte would keep it safe.

But later Ros was regret, because she could not remember what did she share with Lotte. Did she tell her that secret? The secret that should not slip it out. Ros found out Lotte even moved to her neighbourhood. Her daughter were Ros's daughter classmate. Ros reckoned these all were not coincidence. However Ros's husband Adam believed just her overthinking.

I found this thriller started in a slow pace. With another story line here, which was Ros's daughter Sophie hurting other children. It was a bit jumpy and confusing storyplot. The ending twist was surprising and I think I will give an overall 3 stars for this thriller.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Jill Childs for this reviewing opportunity.

Format: Audiobook
Pub date: June 21, 2023

This book follows the married couple Adam and Roz. In the beginning they meet Lottie on vacation and Roz reveals some family secrets to Lottie. They seem innocent but you’re not given all the information up front as the reader.

Shortly after Lottie shows up in their town, living around the corner and applying for a job at Adam’s practice. Roz is paranoid that Lottie has been stalking them and planning this since before meeting on holiday. Adam is more and more enraged by Roz’s accusations of Lottie until things turn really dire and Adam is out of a job.

This story is enthralling and keeps you hooked but I would advise reader discretion to those sensitive to SA and SA of a minor (nothing written in detail, simply stated as something that happened).

I enjoyed the femme fatale moments in this story and the moments of seeking true Justice.

This audio narrator did a nice job and was well suited for this book.

4 stars

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoture for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook

Honestly entertaining, but I struggled to focus probably because of the narration. I would say a definitely sufficient thriller. It wasn't bad but it wasn't gripping, too, FOR ME.

The ending left me hanging, it was kind of abrupt, like a cliff-hanger in a season finale for TV shows. It would either leave you excited or annoyed.

This is for the readers who like twists and turns, and enjoy the confusion and piecing a story back together.

Check TW before reading!

Thanks, Netgalley and Bookouture for the for the access to the audiobook!

The Mother at Number 5 was a great read! I finished it within 2 days! I loved the storyline and the character development. There wasn't over sharing with any info or long drawn out segments. Everything flowed just right. I love when a book isn't predictable and I didn't see the twists coming with this one! Such a good storyline and was happy with the ending! I definitely will be recommending this one to my fellow readers. I also am looking forward to reading more from the author! This was my first by her but definitely will not be my last.

Enticing from the first chapter and kept me guessing til the end! Finally a thriller that's drawn out and titillating all the way through with enough twists at the end to have you going, "Oh. My. Gosh. I have to read that again knowing what I now know!"

Charlie Norfolk's narration was fine, but the audiobook experience and comprehension would have been greatly enhanced by having two women read for the different POVs.

Hold on to your seats…you’re in for quite the ride!
Ros and Adam are an average couple. They live in England with their two young girls. They both work, and Ros rushes to pick up the girls and spend as much time as possible with them…every day.
They go on vacation to Majorca, and Ros meets this fascinating woman (Lottie) who sits right down next to her by the pool. They begin talking and form a sort of friendship. Lottie is a single Mom, or so she says, and asks Ros to join her for a night out on the town. Ros hesitates, but eventually gives in. She’s going to have only one drink and then go home. Instead she gets wasted…and thinks she told Lottie some deep dark secrets. No worries though. Lottie is going home the next day. They’ll never see each other again…
Fast forward to the first day of school for the girls, and someone is calling Ros’ name. Guess who just moved in? On their block?
The plot thickens. Lottie gets involved in their lives…but she has a hidden agenda…
Things start to go terribly wrong…and Lottie seems to be in the middle of it all!
Heart wrenching. Gripping. Hold on to your seat! And lots of twists and turns!
Loved this book! 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I love to get my jaw dropped when I read a story that really surprises me. This was the first one I read from the author but I've already put several of her biography on my TBR. This Thriller touched me, not only because of the fantastic twists, but also because it touches on very sensitive subjects (bullying, sexual abuse, and betrayals where you least expect it). all of this, is a perfect combination of harmony between the firmness of the writing and the fluidity of the story. I describe this book as highly addictive. This story begins on a holiday in Mallorca where two women meet and decide to have a drink together. so much booze is added to the mix that little remains in the mind. It would be just one night with a woman slhe would never see again, because it was her last day on
vacations. The problem is that when the holidays went over there's a new neighbor on the street... who could it be? positive point that enchanted me was the fact that the author does not underestimate the capacity of the reader. it tells without counting, and it is not necessary, the reader is able to perceive what is not said. As a negative point, I didn't find anything that I didn't like, unless I hope this Thriller is translated into Portuguese. thank you netgalley for the extraordinary opportunity to get to know this author and this story.

#themotheratnumberfive, #jillchilds, #gripingthriller

Starts off really well with some good twists and turns but I had to re-listen to the last 5 chapters and the epilogue a couple of to try and make sense of the ending and I still have a question unanswered which spoilt a good book for me

I listened to this one. The story line was upbeat and kept me thinking. It's from two women's POVs and it's two strong women, who aren't exactly getting along. It all pulls together in the end, with an added surprise that you never would have expected. It did somewhat leaving you wanting a little more from that surprise and it could have been expounded on a little bit more. Over all I enjoyed the book. The narration has an accent, I'm American. I had to change the reading speed from 2x to 1.5x and that was ok, I got to enjoy the story line longer. The narrator did a good job in changing between the two main characters. #TheMotheratNumber5 #NetGalley

Spoiler trigger warning:

Trigger warning: child sexual abuse.

This Audiobook had me gripped by chapter two! The plot I thought was going to be quite obvious and it was, Roz and Adam were on holiday abroad with their young daughters when they made freinds with a single mother, Lottie and her daughter. Roz on a drunken evening divulged a secret to Lottie. In normal circumstances it would not matter however a few months later, Roz bumped into Lottie, who, she had discovered had only moved into her village and around the corner from them! After a short while life took a different direction and boy there were a few twists and turns and gasps. I really enjoyed it. This was my first of Jill Childs books.
The narrator was good her voice was clear. Sadly I wish she had made her voice change more distinctively between the female characters. Sometimes I found myself rewinding, not sure if it was Roz or Lottie that was supposed to be speaking (the narrator does announce the name of the chapter) its just occasionally I missed it,
This was a really enjoyable audio with an unforeseeable ending. Both book and Audio a definite must.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutoure Audio fir an advanced copy for an honest review.

I think the characters were well crafted, though they did have a few flaws that made them hard to believe. However, minor suspension of disbelief due to the nature of the story itself makes the book plenty enjoyable.

The plot was a little predictable as well. I assumed as soon as it was revealed that Sophie was having accidents and outbursts that her father was abusing her. I guessed, as well, that the person Lottie had killed Charles, though that wasn't revealed until later.

Despite all of that, the climax was still gripping. I never would have guessed how Ros would respond to it all, and I certainly wouldn't have guessed that her best friend had something against her as well.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early. This book is about 2 women who meet on vacation, share a bunch of drinks and secrets, and then one of them shows up at the other's child's school with shady intentions. Ros is happily married to a man named Adam and they have 2 little girls. They're on vacation when she meets a single mom named Lotte. Lotte actively pursues a friendship with Ros so the 2 go out for a girls night and Lotte pushes Ros to share her deepest secrets. The next day Ros has a shady memory at best and tries to just write it off as what happens at the beach stays at the beach, but then Lotte shows up back home and has moved to her neighborhood. Lotte wants to infiltrate her life, but why? The pacing of this book was a little off at times. It started with a bang and then slowed down a little as we ventured into Lotte's back story. Then it picked back up in the end and was super fast. I think part of my problem is that I didn't really care about either of these characters. Both were very unreliable (there was something that happened in the past between Adam and Ros and Adam keeps referring to her bouts of paranoia) and thats not my favorite thing in books, but also I don't feel like we had a reason to sympathize with either of them. My other big complaint about this book is that I've read it before. This exact "twist" has been done multiple other times and once you've read it once, its glaringly obvious and a little boring to read. Furthermore, in the mad rush that is the ending, there are things revealed about 2 characters that felt really otu of left field and thrown in for shock factor. Overall this was fine, but nothing to write home about.

Wow, I couldn’t put this book down. It was such a well written crazy ride thriller. With twist and turns I didn’t see coming which is my favourite thing in a good book. I would recommend for anyone who loves a good thriller with a plot you don’t see coming.

I honestly DNF’d the book. To me the book didn’t thrill me as much as I would have like and just could not hold my interest. It would have been somewhat better if they used two different women to narrate the audiobook, but with it being the same lady you get lost with who’s point of view you’re listening too. I tried and listen till I was over half way, but it was hard to follow the story

I just reviewed The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs. #TheMotheratNumber5 #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL] I enjoyed this book. The narrator does a good job with it. It kept me guessing what was going to happen next.

It takes awhile for this book to pickup. I was being pulled in. However, by the author but by the narrator. I’m unsure if I would have continued if it wasn’t for her.
When you think you have the storyline figured out, you are a part of a full 180°. The women are strong and clever. They will do anything to protect their family. No matter who it is.

5 ⭐️ A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy of this book.

I lovvvvved it 🤩 Finished it in literally 2 sittings. And that ending WOW just twist after twist .

This was *so* good. WHat a fantastic plot - well paced throughout but didn't spoil the twist(s)!. Boody brilliant. I'm going to look up the rest of her books

This domestic thriller starts of with Ros and her family taking a vacation. By chance she gets to know Lotte. The two of them enjoy one night out before they part ways again. Well this night would be one to remember- or not? Ros can't exactly reconstruct all of it. She is not sure what really happened or if she really shared her best kept secret with Lotte. But as they won't see each other ever again it should not be that bad.
Even worse when, back home, she finds that Lotte moved in right next to Ros and her family. And she can't help but watch as their lives start to intermingle...
A very enjoyable read beautifully narrated by Charlie Norfolk!
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio for this advanced audio copy