First, I am so thankful to Poisoned Pen Press, Dreamscape Media, Netgalley, and Ivar Leon Menger for granting me advanced digital, physical, and audio access to this twisty, translated thriller before it's set to publish on January 9, 2024.

What Mother Won't Tell Me is a story about two young kids who live on Northland, an island cast away from everything else and the rest of the world, but Boy and Juno don't know that. All they know is that they live on the island with their mother and father, who are protecting them from strangers who are planning to attack their island and take them away, but ultimately, that is just not true. What we have here is an excellent old-fashioned kidnapping/abducting tale, where the children have been gaslit for YEARS as they are raised by complete and utter strangers, hidden away from the rest of the world, and trapped.

When our book opens up, it's not long before Juno begins to find bizarre occurrences that distract her from her normal duties, cluing her in that something is amiss on their now-not-so-cozy island. Turns out the Italian government has been looking for her for years and they've sent one of their operatives abroad to gain intel and a plan on excavating these children from their imposters of parents.

I was on the edge of my seat as this tale was unfolding and almost lost my appetite at how realistic this story felt, for I feel we're always hearing of similar stories in the media when it comes to long-lost children.

Juno her brother Boy and her mom and dad are all happy living on an island tucked away from everyone else in the world. Juno however is getting older and more curious about the world around them and she doesn’t mean the island. Her mother hates discussing anything not having to do with their happy little family not her dead sister the strangers they fear… Not anything. The only visitor to the island is a man they call uncle O and he delivers the mail but when he comes Juno and Boy must hide. When her dad finally seems to give in and explains to Juno that he did something very bad because he felt guilty he testified against some bad people that is who the strangers are and why they want to kill him and his whole family. This seems to satisfy the teenager until the night she met one of the strangers. What he would have to say would change her opinion of her parents and calls her to change her mind about who she really should fear.. This was such a good book a really really good book and there is so much I am not putting in my review as to not ruin it for anyone else but trust me when I say if you love books about living a lie and finding out the duplicity of those your closes to in so many other good tropes the you’ll definitely love What Mother Won’t Tell Me, I couldn’t read this book fast enough it was so good so compelling intriguing captivating every good word I could think of that’s this book. If you love unraveling the mystery and love a good thriller then you’ll definitely enjoy this one. The only reason I am rating this book 4 stars is because Juno’s relationship with “the stranger “I found so suspect due to their ages but it truly is a minor point and really doesn’t change the agenda of the plot. I want to thank poison pen press and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This is a book that does a brilliant job of leading you to believe it's one thing, and turning out to be something else entirely. Apologies for almost my entire review being in a spoiler, but it's impossible to talk about this book without talking about the twist, and I DEFINITELY don't want to spoil that for anyone. So here's my spoiler-free review: this book was VERY GOOD.

<spoiler>From the beginning, I was certain that I was reading a fantasy novel. The touches of the real world were few and far between enough that the unfamiliar overpowered them, and I was fully convinced that we were somewhere else, where the politics and dynamics of the world were unfamiliar enough that there would be some kind of justification for the family's isolation. As the story went on though, layer by layer the fantasy fell away leaving a story of children whose lives were shaped by a heartbreaking situation.

The real-world inspiration from cases like Madeline McCann was clear, but the story manages to be distinctive enough in its own right to steer away from following real world events to a T. I didn't see the twist of the children's origins coming, and Juno/Elle's recontextualising of her life was brilliantly handled - her shifting memory of Ruth's death hit especially hard.

I will say, I wish the full reveal had come a little later in the book - I would have preferred a slow drip feed of hints leading up to the discovery than getting everything all at once, but that's an extremely minor nitpick in what is otherwise a brilliantly paced novel.</spoiler>

I also have to take my hat off to the translator - I forgot multiple times that I was reading a translation, and would get temporarily confused by my Goodreads recommendations suddenly all showing up in German. The book flows beautifully, which was a welcome joy.

All around, I loved this book. Highly recommended to fans of unsettling settings, journeys of discovery, and protagonists with unusual perspectives on life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a quick read for me! I don't feel like there was a major twist in this story, everything felt pretty laid out but I still like how quick paced it was. The character development was great and you really connect with Juno and Boy. I wish there was more information about Luca and what his motives were but overall I enjoyed this!

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book! The review will be "live" on my blog on January 3, 2024. I'll also post the review to Goodreads and highlight the book on Instagram.

Review:
I went into this one with a suspicion of what it was about and what had likely happened with the kids and then spent the entire time waiting for a twist to prove me wrong. The twist never came. While it was a good story, and I enjoyed it, there wasn't anything particularly fresh or exciting about it.

The story follows Juno, a young woman who has grown up on a remote island with only her parents and brother - simply known as Boy - for company. Their parents have warned them against ever leaving the island because there are dangerous men on the mainland, and Juno and Boy must never be seen. Once a week, an older man from the mainland comes to deliver the mail, and when he does, Juno and Boy must hide lest the old man see them and report back, putting everyone in danger. But as the siblings begin to question their existence and the motives of their parents, Juno soon realizes that the true danger may actually lie within the walls of her own home.

The book delves into themes of identity, trust, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their loved ones. Juno's constant fear of the Strangers adds a layer of suspense and tension, intended to make readers question who can be trusted. The exploration of the family dynamic and the motivations of the parents added complexity to the narrative, but the ultimate resolution fell slightly flat for me because, as I mentioned earlier, I went into this one with an idea of what was going on. So, while the atmosphere was creepy, the mystery surrounding the Strangers and the truth behind Mother and Father and the reasoning for the cabin didn't surprise me at all.

While I didn't feel the story held many surprises, I did like the characters. Juno is written with depth and complexity, and I found myself empathizing with her and Boy and wanted them to be okay. While the mystery around Mother and Father wasn't surprising, they are both strong characters and written in a way that you start out wanting to trust them. As Juno begins to unravel the truth, they become more menacing. Honestly, I felt the character of Mother was more complex than Father, and I would have liked a little more from him.

From the very beginning, the author sets an eerie and mysterious tone that borders on unsettling. The isolated setting of the cabin in the Nordland forests adds to the sense of claustrophobia and unease that permeates the story. The pacing was steady, with short chapters that kept me engaged. However, I kept holding out for a twist or something shocking to happen, and when it didn't, I was left wanting. Overall, I felt that the plot was predictable and lacked the unexpected twists and turns that I had anticipated. While the story was gripping and well-written, there was a lack of freshness and originality that prevented it from truly standing out for me.

Overall, this is a solid psychological thriller that offers a compelling story and well-crafted characters. While it may not revolutionize the genre, it does provide an entertaining read. I would recommend it to fans of psychological suspense.

3.75/4

I'm intrigued by dark family secrets and immediately wanted to read this one as soon as I read the title. What Mother Won't Tell Me is sixteen year old Juno's story. From the beginning, we're thrown into this seemingly ideal family - Mother, Father, Boy, and Juno. We quickly discover they're on an island. Again, I'm intrigued by this "off the grid" life they have. Then we discover Juno's family is hiding out from strangers who want to hurt them, and they've been on this island for twelve years.

I was instantly drawn into the story. Who are they hiding from? And why? What would make a family hide out on an island for such a long time?

Then we learn about the "seven Commandments" Juno and Boy must follow and the fact that even though they're surrounded by water, they've never been taught to swim. Things quickly go from interesting to bizarre to downright creepy.

If you're looking for an enthralling story to read over the weekend, What Mother Won't Tell Me is an easy choice. You're not gonna want to put this one down for things like cooking and other general adulting.

Read this if you like:
• Dark family secrets
• Psychological thrillers
• Translated books
• Books that can be read in a weekend

I loved this book. We put so much faith into the way our lives are and our parents guiding us in life. Juno and Boy live on an island but know they cant ever leave or be seen. Why? They dont know and have never been told. But when Juno starts questioning why things are the way they are, the secrets that the parents have build up on the island start crumbling. To get to the truth Juno will find out just how strong she is.

Juno lives on a remote island with her parents and brother, Boy. They survive independently from the rest of the world, which they are told is full of strangers who want to hurt them. On this island, the family hides and protects themselves. Juno has questions and when she meets a stranger who tells her that everything she’s known is wrong, Juno starts to question her parents motives. I enjoyed this one. It was a quick read that makes you wonder about how easily we believe things were told. Who you can trust and what the truth really is. I felt that Juno was relatable in her quest to discover her true last and Dave herself and Boy from the people she knows as her parents.

Fairly decent read but predictable and the ending was frustrating. Lots of filler and still there were open ends left dangling. Short and simple.

That was so good! Short, but kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I did not see the twists coming as I went in without remembering the blurb, so pretty much blind. It was so easy to get immersed and just live the story. Oh man what a story! Definitely recommend. Loved how well the MC was made as not knowing anything than what she had been taught. All the characters were good and felt real as did the surroundings they were in. Great story.

This is a fantastic book about child abuse and isolation. This poor girl has grown up on an island with only her parents and younger brother. She has never seen a cell phone or interacted with another human being outside her family. When the mail is dropped off her parents hide the children away and they all follow strict routines.
I like that the book doesn't reveal more information than what she would have otherwise. It is all completely her own perspective. It was brilliant.

I saw the cover of this book and instantly knew I had to read it. The thinness of the book also appealed to me as it's the time of the year where my attention span decreases when it comes to reading. I guessed the plot twist early on, but the story is captivating enough where you'll want to keep reading until the end.

Juno, her brother Boy, and her parents live a quiet life in the remote woods of Northland, minding their own business and separated from the "bad people" who live in Southland. Taught to live off the land and never venture past the shore, Juno has always been fascinated with what lay beyond. So when a stranger shows up in secret on their island, Juno's curiosity is sparked and she begins to question everything she was raised to believe.

Chilling, Fast-Paced, and an Easy read, this is a great novella for the winter.

This is very what you see is what you get. Juno lives on an isolated island with her parents and little brother with no contact to the outside world. She believes that bad people are after her family until she meets a stranger in the woods.

There are no crazy twists and turns, it's kind of just a basic thriller that I could totally see being a hit horror movie (yelling at the main character for bad decisions included).

Overall, I'm not wowed or anything, but it was a super quick read that kept me entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. What Mother Won’t Tell Me by Ivar Leon Menger will be released on January 9th, 2024.

Juno and Boy have lived their life secluded by Mother and Father, growing up in fear of the strangers. Until now, both Juno and Boy have gone along with this - after all, it is all they know. But when Juno begins to get curious, when she begins to have these dreams that feel like memories, she starts to grow suspicious of the life she lives with Mother, Father, and Boy. After all, why do none of the world based board games at their home - like RISK - not have Northland and Southland on them? At sixteen years old, Juno decides that she wants to know more about what is out there.

The premise of What Mother Won’t tell Me had me so curious. The books where you know something is off but you are going in blind just like the characters? I think those may be my favorite type of mystery/thriller books, so my hopes were high for this one. While the book did not live up to those high hopes, it wasn’t a bad story. I think my biggest criticism is the translation - I am sure that the words flow perfectly in the original language, but some of the writing after being translated feels clunky and awkward. Though, that is likely always going to be the case with a translation. My other criticism is how Juno is written. I don’t know how to explain it, but you can just tell she is a character, if that makes sense? Nothing about her - or any of the characters, for that matter - feel real, so empathizing with them is somewhat of a struggle.

Some good things about this book: it is short. At only 256 pages, What Mother Won’t Tell Me is a fast read. I was almost immediately drawn in and found myself having trouble putting the book down.

I personally think that this book would have earned a higher rating from myself if more of a backstory was given. Other than the dreams, why did Juno suddenly decide her life wasn’t right? What really prompted her change in behavior? Also - why was there even a ‘relationship’ storyline in this book? It felt out of place and didn’t really make sense to me. The book held my attention, but it could have been better.

This sounded like it might be interesting, but, to me, it was not. I'm sure some others will enjoy it and we did order a copy for the library. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

As I delved into Alvar Leon Menger's mysterious world in "What Mother Won't Tell Me," I found myself transported to the remote island of Nordland, shrouded in an air of secrecy and danger. The author crafts a tale that is both eerie and engaging, leaving readers hooked from the very beginning.

The protagonist, Juno, grows up in isolation, surrounded only by Mother, Father, and her little brother, Boy. The atmosphere is thick with fear, and the family lives under seven strict commandments to stay safe from the ominous Strangers lurking on the other side of the lake. This sense of foreboding sets the stage for a narrative that is as chilling as it is captivating.

From the outset, I could sense that something wasn't quite right, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the storyline. Menger masterfully weaves a web of uncertainty, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Juno's encounter with a Stranger sets off a chain of unsettling events.

The beauty of the narrative lies in its ability to make you question everything. As Juno navigates this increasingly threatening reality, the reader, much like the protagonist, starts to unravel the layers of secrets that have been meticulously concealed. The tension builds steadily, and the suspense is palpable, making it impossible to put the book down.

One of the strengths of Menger's writing is the skillful characterization. Juno's realization that she doesn't truly know her parents or herself adds a psychological depth to the story. The intricacies of family dynamics and the lengths Mother and Father will go to keep Juno to themselves evoke a mixture of sympathy and unease.

The remote setting of the cabin in the Nordland forests adds to the overall atmosphere of the book. It becomes a character in itself, enhancing the isolation and heightening the sense of impending danger. The author's vivid descriptions create a world that feels both haunting and enchanting.

In conclusion, "What Mother Won't Tell Me" is a gripping exploration of family secrets, isolation, and the lengths one would go to protect their own. Alvar Leon Menger crafts a tale that keeps you guessing until the very end, leaving you haunted by its eerie charm. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a touch of the supernatural, this is a must-read that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.

16 year old Juno lives on a remote island with her mum, dad a brother. Juno and Boy want to see what is on the other side of the island. But their mum and dad have told them that "Strangers" want them un-alived. That they are placed under witness protection...
Is this true? Will Juno unravel the truth?

I couldn't put the book down until I knew what and where the story was going. A perfect suspenseful, shocking and edge of your seat read. Book is written in 3 parts. Gripping from the first page.

I want to thank #NetGalley for giving me this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. #whatmotherwonttellme

Ivar Leon Menger's 'What Mother Won't Tell Me' weaves together elements from the thriller and horror genres, sprinkles in some post-apocolyptic vibes, and strains them all through a Black Mirror-esque twist resulting in an engrossing page turner that builds to a climax that forbids the reader from turning away until you reach the end. Menger's narrative talents start with crafting the remote and isolated setting for the book, and extend to the four primary characters, crafting vivid and believable personas that quickly draw the reader in, and coaxes an emotional investment.

As the story progresses, Menger builds a growing sense of tension and dread, perfectly pacing both the action and the plot reveals to keep the reader curious and anxious to find out what happens next. Menger's language and direct writing style keep the reader engaged and wanting to get to the next page, the next chapter, and the next plot twist.

Overall, 'What Mother Won't Tell Me' is a great read for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and horror stories. While some could argue that the main plot twist could have been guessed early on, Menger's talents overcome this criticism be keeping the reader engaged and curious about the ultimate outcome of the drama. Well worth reading, and because of the relatively shorter length and narrative drive, a quick read that will keep you entertained.

This was ok! It was suspenseful and kept me reading, as well as being short enough to go through in one sitting. The reveals weren't as thrilling as the buildup, though, which was disappointing.

What Mother Won't Tell Me is a thriller centred around a teenage girl named Juno who is hidden away on an island with her brother, Boy, Mother, and Father.
Juno was fed stories of the horrible strangers who were out to find and murder them all, however, things begin to unravel as Juno begins to push against the stories she has always been told.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The author did a good job developing Juno’s character and I found it suspenseful enough. There are some loose ends in the plot that we don't get to know (what was written in the note?) or understand how they happen (Why did they compare the blood on it to Lucas's DNA?)
This was a good suspenseful story, enough to make me hooked until the end although you can tell that it is a translation (sometimes the text doesn’t flow as it should, it felt like a direct translation).

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Twenty-seven minutes releases on January 9th, 2024! You can pre-order now on Amazon!