Alex is having problems with her teenage son misbehaving and is worried that it is due to his genes. When she sees the news of a son murdering his father her blood runs cold. Is this someone she knows?

I liked the premise of this one and the nature vs nurture debate. The story kept me guessing and I wasn’t sure how it would all play out. I found it started strongly and the characters were interesting, however as the story progressed I found myself less invested and unable to connect fully, as the story felt long and a bit repetitive. Saying that, this is definitely a quick, easy read with twists, turns and an interesting storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

What a fantastic new book by Swatman

I couldn't put it down. Very easy to read and get engrossed in.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to review

Interested in a thrilling adventure? Check out No Son of Mine was a captivating book that will leave you wanting more!

This book was awesome
It was about a woman called Alex and her son about Milo
It was a book about something that was different and was a wonderful sense of wasted
I loved it
I had an ARC

Alex is very concerned when her fifteen year old son, Milo continuously gets into trouble at school. Her husband, Patrick, tries to convince her that the troublemaking and violence is not something passed down from her violent father.
Alex has not told Patrick that she has another son, Samuel, who she gave up for adoption. Samuel is arrested for the murder of his adoptive father, who was a bully.
Is bad blood inherited? Alex does all she can to find out.

An absorbing novel - truly unputdownable. There are secrets and many many lies in this family.
I thought I had the twist figured out, but was wrong.
Very tense in parts, and I read it in one sitting.

I recommend. 4/5 stars.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I really enjoyed the book. I’m fairly new to Net Galley so I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect as far as ARC books go but this one was a good read. It kept my interest and was good until the end.

A son off the rails storyline with an interesting plot.
Well written characters and on the whole enjoyable.
Did get a bit samey in places so i did flick through a bit.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Reminiscent of J P Pomare, this author knows how to take a family dynamic and mine it for gold. The interplay is fascinating and the mother’s thought processes and panic about her son make for gripping reading. The mystery itself also makes for a strong plot and, with the family drama overlaid, it’s a really complete and satisfying read.

A very entertaining book. A working mom and her friend play the part of investigators in this book and it keeps you guessing until the end.
Would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fast paced page turners. Look forward to reading more from this author.

C.L. Swatman’s No Son of Mine is a gripping exploration of family dynamics and secrets, set against a backdrop of betrayal and emotional turmoil. The story follows a woman’s struggle to reconnect with her estranged son, uncovering layers of deceit and unresolved trauma along the way. Swatman’s writing is sharp and engaging, with a compelling plot that keeps you guessing about the true nature of the characters’ relationships. While the narrative occasionally dips into melodrama, it’s an absorbing read with enough twists to make it a standout in the genre.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Letters of Evelyn Wright, a women's fiction book by Clare Swatman, released earlier this year. I was delighted to learn she had released the first of three thrillers written as CL Swatman. No Son of Man is a great debut in this genre.
Alex is devoted to her 15 year old son Milo and husband Philip. When Milo starts to go off the rails, she worries that it could be down to bad genes. This fear is compounded when she learns that the son she gave up for adoption at his birth when she was only 17 has been accused of murder. Is there really something genetically wrong with her family?
An excellent read, intriguing plot and great characters. Interesting to see a great author cross into this genre.
A brilliant read, I look forward to more books from from Clare in both women's fiction and thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When her fifteen-year-old son Milo goes off the rails, Alex Harding is terrified she's passed on her abusive father's "bad" genes. When she then makes the shocking discovery that her estranged son Samuel, who she gave up for adoption as a baby, has been accused of murder, she becomes even more convinced that nature not nurture is the cause. The only way Alex sees to help Milo is to get to know Samuel and understand the crime that he has been accused of. But it isn't long before Alex starts to wonder if she's made the biggest mistake of her life by inviting this man she barely knows into her family.

How was this story going to play out? I honestly had no idea. A tale of a mother with a quandary - she had two sons, one of them is adopted, the other has gone off the rails. How can she wind her youngest son in and get him back on track? She comes up with an idea, but is it the right one? We do get a bit of repetition from the mother, and some parts seem drawn out. The final twist is a good one. This is a quick and easy book to read.

Published 1st December 2024

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBools and the author #CLSwatman for my ARC of #NoSonOfMine in exchange for an honest review.

I was holding my breath for the whole last chapter. Was blown away with this book. I was so invested in every character. But still have so many questions? Such a good read.

No Son of Mine had me hooked from page one.
A story about a secret son and a murder? Sign me up.
However, there were a few long drawn out pieces of the books. The same repetitive dialogue of the main character wondering the same thing over and over. I also felt like the main character was choosing a long lost son over her entire family because she felt like she owed him something? Which was a bit unsettling as she had an entire family.

I enjoyed the plot twist, as I did not expect it until right before it happened.

Overall, a good 3/5 for me. Would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Started this book this morning and I couldn’t put it down! Loved all the twists and turns and I was convinced I knew only to be proven wrong again and again! Really recommend as
It pulled me in from the start!

This one didn't quite do it for me. I thought it would draw me in more but I found myself not really wanting to pick up the book as much as others. Overall it was alright but it wasn't my favorite.

Thank you, Boldwood Books, for the advance reading copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I was on edge the entire time once I started reading it. The characters are convincing and the writing is really good. Until the “twist” happened and it is so underwhelming or should I say it is not convincing at all considering this age?

I will not write much about the plot as this is a thriller and anything can be considered a spoiler.

Will be perfect for thriller beginners or if you’re looking for a quick, easy to read thrilling read.