Mummy's Boy

“No one can love a son like his mother…”
Trish lives with her husband Thomas and is celebrating their son Andrew’s birthday. She has made a cake (but slightly burnt it) and yet again is having “just a little drink to take the edge off”. Patricia herself had a troubled childhood with a cruel mother and a father that didn’t care and she has always been determined that her son wouldn't be brought up the same way. She sees herself as evil as that's what her mother always told her and that she wouldn't amount to anything and no one would want her. We get glimpses of Andrew as a child, some odd goings on and Patricia as a very caring albeit rather overbearing, controlling mother. Andrew walked out of their lives three years beforehand without a note or clue as to where he was going. There was a search for him and he was reported missing but absolutely nothing has come to light. We also get occasional chapters from “The Watcher” who knows the family well. This is rather a dark tale at times and anyone who has had a controlling parent may find it bringing back memories. That said I admired Andrew for what he did (I'm not giving anything away by saying that) and only wish that I too had made that step. An interesting read and a clever plot written very well.
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

A good, dark thriller that will stay with me for a long time. This family have a bunch of crazy secrets. A great book

An excellent book with twist after twist. Gripping from the start, and I loved the ending. Another great author to look out for

Mummy’s Boy is a dark and twisted domestic thriller that did not disappoint! You will love this one if you like dark thrills!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, I want to thank JA Andrews, Hera Books,NetGalley and BOTBSPublicity for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

WOW!!! JA Andrews has an incredible gift of writing psychological thrillers in the debut novel of Mummy’s Boy! I was just blown away by everything in this book and need to read more by this author. Needless to say I am an instant huge fan!!

Dedicated to my mother, Susan Barry, and to my sister, Sarah Parker. Two great mothers in their own right.

The cover on this book was so eerie and evil looking. I totally loved it!! You just knew by looking at this cover it was going to be a twisted book.

This book dealt with some serious issues that may trigger some readers. Mummy’s Boy dealt with suicide, alcoholism, physical abuse, runaways, stalkers, drug abuse, etc.

I loved this book from the prologue when she was so happy to have the baby and love just poured out for him. My heart just melted for Trish!

Then the book jumps to modern day and you learn Andrew ran away and never came home! For most of the book my heart ached for Trish. However, her true colors were revealed as you went deeper into the book. Oh the twists and turns in this book were shocking, mind blowing, and devastating for all of those involved!!

JA did an incredible job making her readers wondering what really happened to Andrew!! The suspense with that storyline was killing me.

The book goes from modern day to back in the day. You also have chapters that is from Trish’s perspective to Thomas’s.

A domestic noir with more than a touch of the psychological. A slow starter but then I was hooked. I had to find out Patricia's secret. I was gobsmacked!!!!! No one can love a son like his mother. But this mother is like no other. Abused both physically and mentally in her childhood how will she cope on becoming a parent???? I read this book in one sitting and finally turned the last page in the wee hours. Each chapter is given over to the father, mother or the son. We learn so much more and really fills in the storyline. This read had me sat on the edge of my seat, got my heart racing and at times chills. A tale of how a mind can unravel and I had a front row seat. A MUST READ and so highly recommended.
Thanks to Hera Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

The plot is a little slow moving but once you get into it it's Brilliant. It is well written & a good plot & the characters are credible with plenty of twists & turns also. I look forward to more books from this writer

I knew I wanted to read this book from the compelling title and the intriguing blurb. Especially being a mother myself to a seventeen year old boy.

The story alternates between Patricia, her husband Thomas and a mysterious character that is known to us as The Watcher. Obviously my heart rate upped a level at The Watcher chapters as I was on edge as to who this person is and why they want revenge.

The cast of characters is small and none are overly likeable. Thomas, I probably had the most empathy for as he has tried his best to be a good father and husband but is quite weak in character. Patricia, obviously to start with my heart went out to this woman who had no idea whether her beloved son was dead or alive. I couldn’t think of anything worse.

The more into the story I got, the less straight forward things seemed to be. Patricia is on a road of self destruct, depending on alcohol to get her through the days. The tension and mystery surrounding Andrew’s disappearance starts mounting, making the pace pick up and having me racing through the pages.

Mummy’s Boy is the authors debut novel and as debut’s go, this is a darn good one. It’s a dark and tense read, of which the author had no problem pulling me into the story and keeping me there. There are some nice little twists that gives the reader bursts of adrenaline rushes as they take them in. Highly recommended.

I was pleasantly surprised with this one! At first it took me awhile to get into it but then I gave it a chance and was so happy at the end. The suspense will pick up and y’all will be entertained!

I hard a difficult time getting into this book as it starts out a little slow but after I gave it some time I got really hooked and it turned out to be really good. It's a dark psychological thriller that should be read by anyone that loves this genre. Given the chance pick up this book and read it, I can guarantee you will love it.

I have absolutely adored this book. I haven’t been able to put it down. I have been kept on the edge of my seat.

Thanks netgalley for an early copy of this one. Promising start for a new author. Well plotted with developed characters. Decent pacing kept my interest with some twists. Can't wait to read more from J A Andrews!

Suspense and a sense of mystery dogged my steps, dread and fear filled my heart as I read the debut by author J A Andrews.

A family of three and the sun disappeared. It had been three years and the mother Patricia was slowly sinking into the world of alcohol. Father Thomas could only try to keep his wife stable until he was unsucceful. Luckily, they had a Watcher who was keeping an eye on that family… Secrets swirled around.

The story was easy to guess and as the author had peppered the prose with clues. The loving to obsessive nature of the mother beautifully evelved down the prose. Subtle hints were at play in the entire book in the first half of the story.

The second half was more about each secret being revealed with layers of the past and what really happened. I could feel slight pathos for all the characters as each steps of their past had led to the darkness of their mind to expand and surround and finally vanquish those they loved.

A good reveal of the human psyche and the dark abyss of self destruction was shown by the author. An entertaining tale over breakfast.

Andrew was a mummy’s boy
But he grew up and was a fat mummy’s boy
Then he was about 16 and he went missing from us
Thomas And Trish the parents of Andrew started to argue
Then the fact was that Andrew had someone to follow him
I had an ARC

Starting with the scene of the birth and the love that pours out of Patricia towards her newborn son you would think she would make the perfect mother. Don’t let that fool you as she soon begins the alcohol fuelled road to self destruction, it always starts with just one to take the edge off. At seventeen Andrew vanishes and with no note or body we are helpless to watch as Patricia unravels before our very eyes. This book is not just a thriller it is a very character driven book showing the collapse of a person who has made their child their life’s obsession and what happens when they are gone.

Told from the perspectives of the mother, father and the watcher, we learn there are many secrets at play behind Andrew’s disappearance. This is one dark read covering many sensitive subjects but the tension is palpable as each secret is revealed.

I loved the character of the watcher and her narration was by far my favourite. Who is she? How does she know so much about this family? So much to be revealed and trust me you will keep reading until you get the answers behind the mystery.

With some great twists and a few clues scattered throughout this is a great debut and I look forward to his next book.

This book made me wonder what my life would look like if mine had a Watcher. We all love our children, but the mother in this one.. good Lord! Where is her son and why would he leave such a “loving, committed” mum?? Trust me, you need to read the book to find out! If you like creepy characters, dark plots, and constant wondering as too who is telling the truth give this book a chance.

Three years have passed since Patricia Mullner's beloved seventeen year old son Andrew vanished without a trace. He didn't leave a note or say goodbye and no body has ever been found. Now she spends her days in a fog of heartache,alcohol and painkillers,crying to her husband Thomas about their lost son.

But Patricia is more than a grieving mother,she has a secret and lives in fear of Thomas ever learning the truth about her deception and leaving her,just like her son did despite everything she had done for him.

Little does she realise that her past actions are about to catch up with her because someone knows her secret,someone who is watching from the shadows and will stop at nothing to take revenge. Someone who's end game is Patricia's death.

The chapters of this domestic drama/mystery flip back and forth between Then and Now and are voiced from the alternating perspectives of Patricia and Thomas. Patricia was a complex,not very likeable character who had some serious issues that she constantly blamed on the abuse that she had suffered in the past from her parents,especially her evil,cruel mother. Patricia kept insisting that she would never repeat that abuse when it came to her own son but that was exactly what she had been doing. She reminded me so much of my own mother with her everything is about me,woe is me attitude and she definitely didn't have any redeemable qualities. Thomas reminded me of my own wonderful hubby,a man who stands by his marriage vows and supports his partner through the ups and downs of married life. Some people would probably label him a wimp for loving his wife so much that he stayed loyal to her despite her terrible behaviour but I just thought that made him more likeable. Their marriage was a perfect example of how one person can be completely oblivious of another person's behaviour despite the two people living under the same roof. And also how easy it is to pass judgement on someone,completely misread their behaviour and get so wrapped up in your own worries that you fail to comprehend that maybe there is a reason behind their behaviour. I felt so much sympathy for poor Andrew as we witnessed Patricia's controlling,manipulative behaviour,the question was,what had happened to him? Had Patricia snapped and murdered her beloved son? Had he simply finally had enough and ran away? Had he been abducted or murdered by a unknown stranger? And how did the mysterious watcher fit into the story?

This is a well written tale of manipulation,revenge,abuse,control and mental health that keeps the reader guessing,pulls at your heart strings and plays with your emotions. I will be honest and admit that it did take me a while to get into this book due to the plot containing some personal triggers. But once my mental state settled down,I found that it was a very enjoyable read. This is J A Andrews's debut story and I look forward to reading more of his books in the future.

This is a deliciously dark thriller that will have you gripped from the very beginning.  It's packed full of suspense and tension that will keep you reading until the very end.

The narrative is told through different perspectives which really gives the reader a fuller view of events. 

The novel opens with a chapter from Patricia bringing home her new baby and expressing the sheer joys of motherhood.  Fast forward about 20 years and Patricia is now morning the loss of her son, not knowing if he is dead or alive after his disappearance 3 years ago.  These early chapters are devastating, watching Patricia go through not knowing and seeing the impact of this on her marriage and mental health, had a big impact on myself as a reader.  I became very empathetic for her in these early chapters.  As the plot moves forward and we learn more about Patricia'a childhood and days as a mother and things become more distorted and unclear. 

Other chapters show Thomas's thoughts and we occasionally get a snippet from the mind of a unnamed stalker, someone who seems to harbour a very strong grudge against Patricia.  These chapters really change the tone of the novel and add a much darker element.  

I honestly couldn't put this down.  The plot picks up pace very quickly but reveals information in little dribbles in order to keep the suspense high.  It's a brilliant thriller and I highly recommend.

Mummy's Boy by J.A Andrews is a dark novel that I found at times scary and chilling, mainly because it is about people and what they are capable of. Andrew was seventeen when he went missing from his family home. His mother, Patricia mourns him daily, through the alcoholic, drug filled fog she exists in. Her long suffering husband, Thomas, is there like a rock just soaking her cries in as he has done for the past three years since their son went and never returned. Patricia plays her part as a grieving mother and believes herself totally, but, in the background of her mind she has a deep, dark secret she can only hope will never come to light! If it ever did, she know she would end up truly alone. What Patricia has yet to discover is, someone is out there, watching quietly taking their own time, knowing the terrible secret in Patricia past. Just waiting and waiting for their revenge,which, they hope, will be Patricia's death!
The story is told using a dual timeline, then and the present day and also from the perspectives of Patricia, Thomas and the watcher. The story unfolds and the tension grows as the secrets spill out, one by one. This is a debut novel and I would not have known at all! The characters were well developed, not one of them perfect and all, as everyone is full of complexities true to life. Such a good, psychological thriller, really kept me reading, if only to solve the mysteries within these people. Just like life, you never really know whats going on behond closed doors! Bringing delicate subjects to the fore manipulation,abuse,control and also mental health issues which are so much part of society, but never talked about. I must thank @HeraBooks, @BOTBSPublicity, @jasona1980and Netgalley for all alowing me to be included in this great book tour!

What would happen if the motor in your life disappears into thin air?
This is a disturbing read about a family and all their secrets; the 17-year-old Andrew has been missing for three years, and Patricia Mullner’s life will never be the same. She doesn’t know how to continue living without her son, her marriage is breaking out every day that passes without any new clues of their son and her days are full of alcohol and despair. Did Andrew disappear voluntarily or something much darker happened?
The story is told in first person between the parents of Andrew, sharing their thoughts and fears about what happened to Andrew, because something doesn’t feel right…
The reader will feel from the beginning that there’s something more about the story, Patricia seems obsessed with her son, she tries to say that everything was perfect and that there wasn’t any problem at all, but as an observer you can feel that there’s something she is not disclosing. At the same time we will read the thoughts of the father, his fears and hopes to re-connect with her wife while she doesn’t seem to notice him…
This had been a dark and gripping psychological thriller, the slow burning and fear will be present during all the story; the need to know about the truth and discover all the lies hidden in the past will make any reader addicted to the story. Because the Mummy’s Boy is not a sweet and lovely story, it is dark, twisted and ready to enter to your life. Are you prepared?

4☆ A Gripping Thriller, that will Hold Your Attention till the Very End!


Mummy's Boy is a gritty psychological thriller.

What would you do if your teenage child went missing?
Well that's the devastating situation Patricia and husband Thomas find themselves in.
Seventeen Year Old Andrew has disappeared, without a trace of evidence as to where or why he has gone. Has he been taken? Did he run away? Is he Alive?
No one knows.... or do they?

Patricia is beside herself with worry and as the minutes turn into days and days turn into weeks, they are still no closer to finding Andrew!
Time has passed with no leads or news. Patricia and Thomas are struggling to stay strong for each other. Patricia turns to alcohol to get her through her heartache whilst pushing Thomas further and further away!

But where is Andrew?.... and who is The Watcher?.... and why do they seek revenge?

Mummy's Boy is a debut novel and I have to say you wouldn't of known. It was really well written.
It was a gripping, slightly dark, domestic psychological thriller that is full of secrets, deceit, abuse, obsession and some well placed twists.
The characters were well developed, flawed and complex which fitted really well with the plot.
I quite liked the slower pace start it built tension nicely as the plot thickened.

Overall a gripping thriller, that will hold your attention till the very end! Enjoy!


Thank you to BOTBS Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

First I would like to say congratulations on JA Andrews on hid debut book Mummy's Boy. I loved the cover and the description so I was very excited to read.

Although I found the beginning to be a little too slow paced for me, I am glad I carried on reading, as Mummy's Boy is a dark, psychological thriller which was well written, the clues that were given, were well done and I was really intrigued to find out who the watcher was, no spoilers.

I will be keeping an eye out for more books by JA Andrews.

I read this book in about 2-3 hours. I couldn’t stop myself! Very shortly after starting, I told my son “I know who’s awful.” A little later, nope, not at all sure now.
This is a VERY twisted story! I can’t say too much because it’s sooo good, but wow!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thank the publisher for this opportunity..

I found this book a dark and tense read. Not my usual type of book. But i did enjoy it. I just had a lot of emotions after reading it. It was well written. Very dark

This was a brilliant debut and from the first page I was drawn into the complex life of Patricia. I can say that this book had everything I loved, Strong, complex characters that I both loved and hated, The tension of the story was kept all the way through and the unexpected twists for me came out of the blue and really kept me eager to pick up the book in any spare few minutes I had.

Tricia appeared to have it all, The perfect family. A lovely house in an idyllic village, she didn’t have to work as her husband worked all hours in his taxi to provide for her but Tricia is dealing with lots of demons and when her son disappears without a trace her world well and truly falls apart.

It’s been three long years since she last saw her son. Every year on his birthday she makes a birthday cake and slowly gets drunk on the Vodka. Thomas her husband is all too aware of his wife’s issues but is blinkered to the full severity of her drinking,

The story is told fromTrisha’s point of view as we learn about her childhood, her difficulties with her own parents and how these have shaped the person she is today and then from Thomas her husband who fills in the blanks. We also have a third person narrative that sneaks in occasionally and really throws the truths unto the air.

I don’t want to say too much about the actual storyline as it would be difficult not to give away any spoilers but I will say this is a fast paced, dark and twisty story. I am really looking forward to reading more of this authors’ work.

What a fun psychological thriller with well developed characters and a gripping plot! It is an amazing debut, I didn't even believe it was a first book!

A sinister and menacing thriller that explores every parent’s worst nightmare, J A Andrews’ Mummy’s Boy is a shocking, compulsive and twisted tale sure to chill readers to the bone and delight domestic noir readers everywhere.

The bottom had fallen out of Patricia Mulner’s world three years ago when her beloved seventeen year old son Andrew had vanished without a trace. Patricia had been completely and utterly shocked when her son disappeared off the face of the earth without leaving a note or saying goodbye. Patricia cannot shake off this feeling deep within her core that there is more to Andrew’s disappearance than meets the eye and with no body having ever been found, Patricia constantly wonders what happened to her boy. Grieving for a son who may not even be dead and absolutely broken by his disappearance, Patricia’s days are spent in a foggy haze of alcohol and heartbreak with only her husband Thomas to hear her cry about her missing boy.

Patricia and Thomas had a life and a family most people would have envied. Theirs was a world that from the outside looking in seemed absolutely perfect, but it turns out that Patricia’s past was not as perfect as she had made it out to be. Could it be that the past which she has tried so hard to bury has come back to haunt her in the shape of Andrew’s shocking disappearance? Are the two connected? Who has been watching Patricia from the shadows for all of this time? And who has waited this long to wreak this ultimate act of revenge? Can Patricia’s journey back into her past lead her into discovering what really happened to her son? Or will she spend the rest of her life wondering what happened to Andrew?

With more twists than a rollercoaster, Mummy’s Boy is a nerve-twisting and gut-wrenching thriller that is brilliantly plotted and so wonderfully layered readers will have absolutely no clue about what is going to happen next. J A Andrews knows how to ratchet up the tension and amp up the suspense and his twisted and terrifying narrative will have readers on the edge of their seats almost too scared to turn the pages.

A book that brilliantly plumbs the dark depths of the human soul, Mummy’s Boy is a jaw-droppingly good thriller from J A Andrews that is a must-read.

My thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

A bit of a slow start for me and I almost gave up on it. But, and I don't know why or how, it picked up and I then tore through it in no time.

A wonderful debut from the author (who I have just discovered is a man!) who gets into the heads of the protagonists so vividly and slowly peels back the layers to reveal the complex histories of the various characters.

I was totally gripped and surprised at the denouement.

A gripping book. Even though i had worked out the plot quite quick I wanted to see how it got there so I kept reading. I wasn’t disappointed it delivered a great read full of twists and turns that gave it a fast pace read. As the story unfolded and more details emerged it didn’t matter that i had guessed the main plot twist as it just added more and more meat to its bones. A page turner that will entertain and which any crime reader will enjoy.

5/5 Stars - Full of twists I didn’t see coming!

These days, it’s hard to come up with a book that really, truly surprises readers. But this one was full of little twists and turns that just blew me away!

The book doesn’t have a lot of action - instead the key to the story is the slow revelation of the past and what led to the current situation: where Patricia is deep in despair over losing Andrew, Thomas is ready to start over, and a mysterious figure known as “the Watcher” is ready to seek revenge. Things are slightly “off” from the beginning, but as the past is revealed, you get filled with this sense of horror and utter realization that things are MESSED. UP.

The characters are really well drawn and we get to see into their innermost thoughts, which was fun, since you’re not sure who to trust or who is telling the truth at first. And the author does a great job of just letting a character “slip in” a bombshell here and there - it’s really great fun for a thriller!

Anyone who likes psychological thrillers and/or slow-burn mysteries will really enjoy this book! I look forward to seeing more from this author!

This was an easy to read thriller that kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend. Interesting premise for a book....

Wow, this was a great thrill ride of a read, which definitely provided my much needed twists and turns, chills, and thrills! Kept my attention from page one and provide plenty of must wanted shocks! Highly, highly recommend to all those that love chilling, thrilling, shocking books!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number to review!

Mummy's boy by J.A. Andrews.
Patricia Mullner is trapped in a nightmare no parent should ever experience. Three years ago, 17-year-old son Andrew vanished without trace. There was no note, no goodbye and no body has ever been found, and now her days are spent in a fog of heartache and alcohol, crying to husband Thomas about their lost boy.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. I liked some of the characters. I was surprised. 4*.

This was a slightly dark psychological thriller. It was very well written and full of twists, turns, and surprises. You will be captivated until the end!
Many thanks to Hera Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is definitely a great psychological read!
Its also an unusual read, which is rare with so many on the market.

For once I didn't mind that I hated ALL the characters as it worked so well.

When it started I thought this is going to be heavy and hard going as Patricia was just so repulsive but then a chapter with The Watcher started and I loved it and literally could not put it down till the end!

Patricia is up there with well written hideous and despicable characters. I absolutely hated her. Hated Thomas too but not to the same extent. I enjoyed hating them though!

There isn't too much I can say without spoilers.. so I won't say much more....just read it.. ..its interesting, shocking and original!

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was brilliant and I believe it is the author's debut novel.
I enjoyed the dual perspectives because it was a story within a story within a story. There were twist, turns, paranoia, and lots of different emotions. As a mom myself, I had so many feelings while reading this. It had all the checkboxes of a strong psychological thriller. Unique, twisted and very well written.
Thank you for my free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.