Oh my goodness. German author Ivan Leon Menger’s translation What Mother Won’t Tell Me just about did me in. The times that I have felt genuine fear for a character are few and far between, but Menger’s pulse-pounding thriller had me white-knuckling my steering wheel every day as I listened to this book on my commute.

What Mother Won’t Tell Me follows an isolated family who live all alone on an island in the middle of a lake in “Nordland.” The book’s narrator Juno is coming of age and is starting to ask questions as to how her family came to live on this remote island in the middle of nowhere, much to her parents’ dismay. Her parents’ answers are never satisfactory, with vague references to “strangers” who want to do them harm. When Juno, alongside her younger brother “Boy,” start to look into their parents’ lives and secrets, they uncover more than they bargained for … and then everything comes to a tumultuous head when Juno is spotted by one of these said “strangers,” putting everyone’s lives at risk.

Do you ever read a book that you hate to put down? That was What Mother’s Won’t Tell Me for me. Conveying genuine emotion and the perils of danger, What Mother Won’t Tell Me is a propulsive thriller that just won’t back down. This novel is relentless in its pursuit of trepidation and anguish. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the course of this book, quite literally afraid to learn what was to happen next.

To say I enjoyed a story such as What Mother Won’t Tell Me just doesn’t feel right due to the content of this book; however, I did find it to be thoroughly engaging and compelling. It is tautly wrapped and expertly written, driving forth both compassion and terror as it barrels forward toward its chilling conclusion.

Recommended to fans of Kimi Cunningham Grant’s These Silent Woods.

<i>Thanks for the ARC</i>

It took me a while to want to read this book, and I thought it was alright. It didn't seem like that terrifying of a thriller, and maybe that's because of the translation aspect, but it felt telegraphed and like I knew what was coming. The parents didn't get the development to be especially sinister early on. Overall I didn't hate it.

This book is a suspenseful Nordic thriller with a folk tale twist about a young girl and her younger brother living in isolation on an island, supposedly for their protection. The protagonist yearns to explore the outside world, but her parents discourage her. But not for the children's protection.

A thriller that tugs at the heart even as it keeps readers turning the pages, the story hints at commentary about how vulnerable, but resilient, children can be.

Highly recommended.

This book was a trip! Totally not what I was expecting but i was pleasantly surprised. Very fast paced and wild.

Overall, this was a pretty easy, quick read. Nothing about this will stand out to me over time, but it was enjoyable and had a very interesting dynamic to explore between each character.

- Some of the abuse could be upsetting to some, but it was mild in description, which I think added to the ominous tone of the book.
- Juno was an interesting character to follow and experience life through the eyes of. Especially knowing that we are uncovering truths along with her.
- The story is set up in a way that introduces us to this troubling family dynamic with a mysterious way of living their lives in remote isolation. This builds with each interaction between characters.
- The names are a great indicator that something is amiss. Mother, Father, and Boy (the brother) do not suggest that we will get too much information from them - except for Boy later on.
- The romance was a little odd to me? Juno just doesn't understand complex feelings because of her stunted upbringing, but Luca's introduction throws everything into chaos.
- A few of the descriptions of Juno as a 15 year old were a little weird coming from a male author. Not too terrible - I've definitely read worse - but not my favorite.

Was this book too predictable? Could it have been marketed differently? Was it the lack of connection to the characters?

This is a read that had a great thriller premise to me, but that ultimately struggled to pull me in. I found that I knew exactly where the book was headed - between the title, description, and immediate suspiciousness of the characters - almost immediately after beginning. I think part of my struggle is that I kept seeing this book described as a mystery, but with it’s obvious plot line (at least to me) I feel may have enjoyed it more if it had been described differently - and family thriller, an isolated island thriller, a kidnapping thriller, I’m not sure exactly what, but not a mystery.

What I felt was well done in this book though was the main characters’ naïveté to their situation and the world around them. To me, it was done in a way that was believable and entirely unsettling.

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of this book.

REVIEW: What Mother Won’t Tell Me ⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5)

I went into What Mother Won’t Tell Me pretty blind. I knew it was a thriller of sorts, but otherwise, I didn’t know much. I’m very glad that I did!

What Mother Won’t Tell Me was a very fast-paced and short read. From beginning to end, everything was on edge. This book was so good at building up suspense and wanting to know what would happen. At a certain point in the book, I just had to keep going because there was no stopping. The main character, Juno, is 15 but seems much older by the end of the book. She had so much character development throughout the story that really helped bring out her character.

There were a few things that I wasn’t a big fan of. First, I felt that since the book's pace was so fast, there wasn’t as much time for plot development. There were a lot of details that seemed to be lacking. In particular, I would have loved a little more background on the mother. There were little traces here and there, but not enough for this interesting character. I also wished this was from a dual point of view. Juno’s point of view was fine, but it would have made this book more intriguing with other characters' points of view as well, especially because they would be very different from one another.

Overall, I enjoyed What Mother Won’t Tell Me. It was very suspenseful, and I just wanted to know more. A few details should have made it in this book, but it was still enjoyable.

Thank you, Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"What Mother Won't Tell Me"

Deep in the forests of Nordland, on a remote island, Juno has lived in almost complete isolation since early childhood. Her only companions are Mother, Father, and her little brother, Boy. They live under seven strict commandments, constantly fearing the Strangers who seek revenge on their family. But when Juno is spotted by one of these Strangers, her life takes a dangerous turn. Secrets unravel, and Juno begins to question everything she knows about her parents and herself.

"What Mother Won't Tell Me" is a haunting psychological thriller that blends elements of Hansel & Gretel with modern-day paranoia. Menger weaves a web of suspense, keeping readers on edge from start to finish. The eerie atmosphere of the remote island, the oppressive rules, and the enigmatic family dynamics create a chilling backdrop.

Juno, our sympathetic narrator, grapples with curiosity and defiance. Her relentless pursuit of truth leads her down a treacherous path, and the tension escalates with each revelation. Menger masterfully builds suspense, hinting at dark secrets that threaten to consume Juno and her family.

While the plot follows familiar thriller tropes, Menger's beautiful prose and page-turning pace elevate the story. The author's ability to evoke both empathy and fear in readers is commendable. The novel's climax delivers a gut-punch, leaving us questioning the true nature of family bonds.

However, there's a caveat: "What Mother Won't Tell Me" lacks complete originality. It treads familiar ground, drawing inspiration from classic fairy tales and psychological thrillers. Yet, despite this, it remains a compelling read. If you enjoy Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn, this book will captivate you.

Ivar Leon Menger's debut English novel offers suspense, mystery, and a touch of darkness. While it doesn't revolutionize the genre, it provides an entertaining journey into the heart of family secrets.

A haunting tale of isolation and secrets. I was kept guessing until the very end.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

So tense and atmospheric. I felt myself gasping and I truly couldn’t put this down. So well written and I had this book on my mind for days after finishing it.

Fifteen-year-old Juno lives with her parents and brother on a secluded island in Northland. Juno doesn't remember ever leaving the island, and only one visitor is allowed, but Juno and her brother Boy must not be seen. Juno asks a question about the countries in Risk during their weekly family board game play, and her mother's reaction convinces Juno that her parents aren't telling the truth about the world outside their isolated home.

I finished this book in 24 hours, which is a rarity. The mystery was compelling, and Juno's loneliness and longing for more than her tiny life were palpable. Mother's controlling personality put me on edge, and I felt for Juno as she unraveled the family secrets. This novel was originally written in German, and at times the translation was a bit awkward, but it's still a page-turner that thriller fans will appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was an ok book. It was a little hard to follow and it felt more of a YA novel than an adult.

Didn’t enjoy this one very much. This is sold as adult but the MC is 16 and it feels very YA. Also I have a hard time reading a 16 year old girl written by a man

A teenage girl's life is turned upside down when she finds out information of her family's past that changes everything and makes the secluded life she's known a whole lot bigger. I liked our main character, Juno, and felt for her as she's going through this journey of discovery and betrayal. The climax at the end was crazy and one of the best parts of the story. Overall, though, it was just OK. The characters were likable and the action was good, however it left me wanting to know just a little bit more. It was a short read, perfect for people trying to find a book to add to their reading goal or get out of a reading slump.

This is a very tense and suspenseful thriller. It kept my attention the whole time, being very tense at times and making me continue to read to know what would happen next.

Read this if you enjoy horror, thrillers, isolation, islands, domestic horror, dysfunctional families, remote settings.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a silly book. It takes place on an island where a family lives in hiding (from what is not clear until near the end of the book). The two children (one a 16 year old girl) have been raised with no real sense of the world and have been brought up to fear all of the world other than their homestead. The 16 year old main character is naive because of her upbringing and has the seemingly inborn ability to make the wrong choices. Her poor choices are the engine behind the plot of the book -- to the extent that it makes any sense at all it is because of the girl's naivete. Of course, she is 16, hormones are raging, and when a young man sneaks onto the island in the dead of night, she falls in love with him immediately and does more stupid things.

As the tension ramps up near the end of the book, events become ever more unbelievable. The book reads like a young adult book, although it is not classified as such. The best that can be said for it is that it moved quickly and didn't take up a lot of my time.

This is a very tense and suspenseful thriller. It was a quick read, which I appreciate. Yet, the shorter length did not take away from the plot or the details. The writing had me so anxious about what was going to happen. The suspense increases as the story develops throughout the book. I found myself emotionally attached to the main character and her brother, and I was rooting for them. There were great twists and turns and I enjoyed the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Read this in one sitting! Juno and her brother Boy have lived on the island with their mother and father for almost as long as they can remember, and they are constantly warned to stay vigilant for the strangers off island who will kill them if they learn of their existence. But after meeting one of those strangers, Juno begins to question her life on the island and the secrets her parents are hiding. So good! I would have liked it to be a little longer and delved into more info about Mother and Father, but it was very well done and kept me reading.

BOOK: WHAT MOTHER WON'T TELL ME
AUTHOR: IVAR LEON MENGER
PUB DATE: 09 JAN 2023
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REVIEW- 3.8 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book was fast-paced and easy to read. I liked it, but I wanted more. Juno was an amazing character, and I enjoyed reading her POV. Mother and Father were amazing gaslighters. They made Juno and Boy believe all sort of strange fantasy terms, and I applaud their imagination even if it was used for evil. I liked all the new terms the kids believed until they were kids no more. I loved the author's writing, description of scenes, and settings, it was well done.
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I liked this book, but I didn't really like the abrupt ending, and I wanted a more detailed ending, and I didn't get it. I still had a lot of questions that went unanswered, and it left me dissatisfied. I'd have liked it better if the book had a dual POV, with 'then' and 'now' timelines. It would have made me understand the characters and the 'why'
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I enjoyed this book, and I read it easily. It was good and I'd recommend it.
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This was great! Its atmospheric and sucks you in. The characters are well written. I would recommend this! Special Thank you to Ivan Leon Menger, Jamie Bullock, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.