This was a bit of a mess, to be honest. It felt maybe sent out way too early in the editnig process or something.

There is just something about a multiple POV, multiple timeline book that just HOOKS me. My Darling Boy had exactly what I was looking for.

I don’t have any children of my own so I really enjoy books that look into the complexity of a parent and their emotions around their children. Helen Cooper did such an amazing job painting deeply realistic and emotional characters.

This was truly such a great psychological thriller - it was fast paced and well plotted. I’m looking forward to reading more of Helen Cooper’s books!

Thanks to the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Whoa!

I don’t think I was expectating…. “THAT”

My Darling Boy

But is he really?

My Darling Boy is a gripping psychological thriller that plunges readers into a close-knit English village shattered by a single act of violence. This is not just a whodunit; it's a chilling exploration of the complex bonds between mothers and sons, the corrosive power of long-held secrets, and the question of how far we'll go to protect the ones we love.

The story opens with a tragedy that irrevocably alters the lives of two best friends, Chrissy and Alice, and their sons, Leo and Robbie. A violent altercation leaves Robbie dead and Leo imprisoned for manslaughter. As Leo's parole date approaches, the village is rife with tension, and old wounds are ripped open. When Leo is released from prison but disappears before his mother can even take him home, the mystery deepens, and the reader is drawn into a dark and twisted web of deceit.

Cooper masterfully weaves a multi-layered narrative, shifting between past and present, and offering tantalizing glimpses into the minds of her complex characters. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that propels the reader forward, desperate to uncover the truth. The author expertly uses misdirection, leading the reader down a winding path of suspicion and intrigue. Just when you think you have it figured out, another shocking revelation turns everything on its head.

The characters in My Darling Boy are richly drawn and deeply human, flaws and all. Chrissy is a mother torn between her unwavering love for her son and the knowledge that he is capable of violence. Alice is consumed by grief and a thirst for revenge, her pain manifesting in increasingly disturbing ways. Even the supporting cast is vividly rendered, each with their own secrets and motivations that add to the mounting tension.

The climax of the novel is nothing short of breathtaking, with a Hitchcockian feel that will leave readers reeling. Cooper brings the various threads of the story together in a way that is both surprising and satisfying, delivering a final twist that is both shocking and emotionally charging.

My Darling Boy is a dark and compelling psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Helen Cooper has crafted a tale of suspense, with complex characters, a gripping plot, and a haunting exploration of the dark side of human nature. This is a must-read.

Check out this teaser :

What if mother doesn’t know best…?

In a close-knit English village, Chrissy and Alice were once best friends. So were their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until the night Leo killed Robbie with a single, devastating punch. Now Leo has gone to prison, Chrissy has lost her pub, and Alice has been pouring her anger into a twisted project . . .

As Leo’s parole date approaches, the villagers are incensed and fearful about the prospect of his return. But when Chrissy arrives to collect Leo from prison, he isn’t there. The staff tell her he has already been released, but nobody knows where he’s gone.

As the village closes ranks, Chrissy realizes her former friends are suspects in her son’s disappearance, not the least of which is still-bitter Alice. Is Leo being punished for what happened that terrible night? Or do the answers lie further back, in a dark past none of them wants to revisit?

I loved this book. The multiple points of view were wonderfully done and I loved not trusting anyone. Everyone had their secrets to hide and still do. There's definitely more to all of these characters than we were privy to learn during this book.

As a parent, I found this book to be tough to read at times. I can't imagine what it would be like to have been either one of these mothers. It would be horrific to lose a child. It would also be horrific to have your child go to jail for accidentally killing his friend and your friend's son. Unimaginable. A painful situation for sure and a solid plot for a book.

This book kept me intrigued. I knew there were mysteries at play and wanted to see how it would all play out. The author fed pieces of information a little bit at a time. As I started putting it all together, I really appreciated the author's cleverness. A few things were overdone but by and large, I thought the book was well done and a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved reading this book. While I can see where a single punch could happen between friends, this town took it to an extreme. However, I loved the dark theme, the overall feeling the book projects, and find it a perfect thriller for anyone looking for what to read next. I also love that it's one of the books you can stay up late reading and not fear!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Helen Cooper for the advanced copy of My Darling Boy.

This was a riveting mystery that read exactly like a TV show (in a good way). There were twists and turns and a group resolution at the end. I was totally into it from start to finish.

Great book for lovers of messy mysteries!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. This book had a whole lot of moving parts and pieces at all times that made my head spin! I never quite knew where it would end up but could follow along easily enough. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and how it jumped back and forth from the past to present. I would recommend if you like psychological thrillers with endings you’ll have trouble being able to figure out!

My Darling Boy is a tense, emotional thriller that dives deep into friendship, guilt, and revenge.

I absolutely loved this. It sucked me completely in from the very beginning. Told in multiple POV with scenes from the past. I couldn't put it down, So many twists, secrets and lies.

Alice and Christy were best friends, so naturally so we're their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until one New Years eve when Leo ends up murdering Robbie. Leo is sent to prison and is released two years early for good behavior. When his mom eagerly arrives at the prison to pick him up, Leo has been released early and no where to be found. Where is Leo and why did he kill Robbie?

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC.

Helen Cooper is still an auto-read author for me ever since I read her debut and loved it, but I have yet to find that magic again in her latest reads. MY DARLING BOY was a decent read, but I just never really connected with it like I had hoped.

I generally prefer first person for thrillers over third person, but if it's a well-written book and it works, I don't even notice when it's third person POV. This one stuck out to me, though. I got the two main characters/moms mixed up for a long time and who was whose mother. I don't know why it was confusing, but for some reason it was. They felt a little too similar and it just wasn't sticking in my head.

The plot was fine, but nothing too wild. There were some twists, but nothing too jaw-dropping. I think there were a few more things that could have been more suspenseful or developed to really pull readers into the plot a bit more. This just didn't have the magic for me, and that's okay! Still a find read, but this won't be anything memorable for me.

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book. Chrissy and Alice used to be best friends until Chrissy’s son Leo killed Alice’s son. Leo is convicted of manslaughter and getting out of jail but when Chrissy goes to get him he’s missing. The story unfolds between the characters and all the secrets they are keeping.

I absolutely loved this. I read The Couoke in the Photo and was excited to read another thriller by Helen Cooper. This sucked me in from the very beginning. Told in multiple POV with scenes from the past. I couldn't put it down until I found out their past's secrets at the end. So many twists, secrets and lies.
Alice and Christy were best friends, so naturally so we're their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until one New Years eve when Leo ends up murdering Robbie. Leo is sent to prison and is released two years early for good behavior. When his mom eagerly arrives at the prison to pick him up, Leo has been released early and no where to be found. Where is Leo and why did he kill Robbie?
I would definitely recommend.
Thanknyou Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC.

This was a great book. Family secrets surrounding a New Years Party make for a fun thriller . I couldn't put it down and it kept me interested the whole time. Highly recommend this book

Thank you Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this ARC.

My Darling Boy was an excellent thriller. Any book that hooks me in the first chapter gets a high score from me but this one also kept me intrigued. Chrissy and Alice are best friends until they are not. Their sons get into an argument and one of them ends up dead. Figuring out what really happened in that argument uncovers many secrets in everyone’s lives. The ending felt like a movie ending- but I still loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

In a small English village, Chrissy and Alice are tried and true friends and their sons have followed in their footsteps, but when a tragic event unfolds, Alice blames Chrissy and life is no longer the same for anyone. Chrissy has become an outcast and as her son is released from prison no one wants him back in the village. Little by little the story unfolds, but it takes too long and it just lacks the direction needed to make it the thriller it could have been. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This novel grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go, offering a raw, emotional journey that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

The story follows Rachel, a mother who is devastated by the loss of her son, Michael, and the aftermath of his death. The novel delves into Rachel’s attempt to make sense of the pain she feels and navigate a world without him. Through her eyes, we experience the intensity of grief—the overwhelming sadness, the feelings of helplessness, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of such a profound loss. Cooper’s portrayal of grief is achingly real, capturing the subtle nuances and stages of mourning with heartbreaking accuracy.

What makes *My Darling Boy* so powerful is the way it weaves past and present. As Rachel reflects on her relationship with Michael, we learn about their shared memories, their moments of joy, and the deep connection they had. These flashbacks add emotional depth, making the loss feel all the more poignant. Cooper’s prose is poetic and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the relationship between mother and child, as well as the complex feelings that arise when a loved one is gone.

The emotional complexity of the characters is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Rachel’s grief is not just about losing Michael, but about reconciling with the person she was before his death and the person she must become after. The secondary characters, including her husband and friends, add richness to the story, each representing different facets of grief and healing. The way Cooper handles these relationships—showing the ways in which grief brings people together and drives them apart—is both poignant and powerful.

While *My Darling Boy* is undoubtedly a heart-wrenching read, it is also a story of hope, resilience, and the way love endures even in the face of unimaginable loss. It’s about finding a way to move forward while still holding onto the memory of someone who meant the world to you. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers or a neatly wrapped ending, but instead reflects the messy, unpredictable nature of grief, and how we carry those we’ve lost with us in different ways.

If you're looking for a novel that will make you reflect on the nature of love, loss, and healing, *My Darling Boy* is a must-read—just be prepared for an emotional, unforgettable experience.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my gifted ARC

This was an okay thriller, nothing memorable though. It kept my attention enough, but it felt like it took a long time to read. I wasn’t reaching for my kindle constantly to finish it.

Chrissy and Alice are BFF’s, so naturally their sons, Robbie and Leo also became besties. One night, Leo pushed Robbie and Robbie ended up dying. Leo was incarcerated. On his release date, his mom goes to pick him up, only to find out he was released early. No one can find him, he hasn’t reported to his PO. Where did he go? Why did he kill Robbie? Who is the newest woman in the village who seems to insert herself into Chrissy and Alice’s life? What is the connection?

So initially this book had me hooked. But at some point i just felt like the plot wasn’t moving fast enough. I do appreciate the authors writing.

All these twists in this book! I know I definitely wouldn’t like any of these type of friends to find me, because EVERYONE had secrets! Leo was a bit whiny for me, but I guess that was to be expected. Overall this was a great book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book so much. I think the author did an amazing job laying out the story of how two families are torn apart by secrets from a new years eve party. I could not put it down, and I can't wait for more from this author. I recommend this to others because it was really good.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Penguin Group Putnam