The Missing Mother by Casey Kelleher
Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense
Read: 30th January 2024
Published: 5th February 2024
★★★★ 4 stars
DESCRIPTION:
I place my tiny, newborn baby in the box. A ‘safe haven’, they call it, for unwanted babies. She’ll be warm, someone will find her soon. She’ll be cared for. But not by me. I will always want her, but I can never be her mother. And she can never know why.
Jenna has never truly known who she is or where she came from. Abandoned as a baby, she grew up with a caring adopted family, and never felt the need to know more about her birth parents. Until one night, nearly thirty years later, when she sees a desperate young woman tearfully kiss her little baby, put it gently down in a safe haven box, and walk away.
In that moment, Jenna’s mind starts to race. Who could abandon their child like that, and why? She may never find her own parents, but Jenna is determined to uncover the truth behind this baby’s missing mother. Because Jenna has a terrible feeling that she knows who the mother is, and what happened…
As Jenna digs deeper she uncovers something – someone – far more dangerous than she ever feared. And the secrets they’re hiding are much bigger than just one night, just one woman, just one baby. But what Jenna hasn’t realised is that they know what she’s doing and they are watching her. Whatever the cost, they’ll do anything to keep Jenna from revealing the truth…
This utterly addictive psychological thriller will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Claire McGowan.
MY THOUGHTS:
The only way to stay safe...is to stay hidden...
Well that wasn't what I expected. I mean that in a good way. I thought this would be another missing baby/mother thriller but oh no, this was so much more. The only let down was the main character and the fact she was a journalist. I find them parasitic scourges of society feeding off the misfortune of others and had it not been for that aspect I may have enjoyed it more. BUT...it is a key element of the story, so all is forgiven.
They call is "safely surrendered". A safe box provided by a charity which women who find themselves in impossible situations where they find themselves unable to care for their babies, can safely surrender them in these boxes where they are quickly collected and in the care of social services. The mother has a right to anonymity and will not be sought or vilified for her decision.
Journalist Jenna receives a tip off that a baby has been left at the local fire station, the first locality in the UK to trial the safe box. Eager for a scoop, Jenna is quick to gather as much information and a photograph of the hours old baby before social services swoop in. She calls her boss with the news and he is eager to publish the story highlighting the trial without treading on the charity's toes by going public with it. After all, it's a human interest story...isn't it?
But deep down, Jenna fears for the mother. That she may need help and feel she cannot reach out. She's hoping her story will encourage the woman to come forward. But she has no idea of the rabbit warren she is going down...or what she will uncover.
Scared and alone, Evie can't believe it when she sees her baby girl's photo in the paper the following morning. After everything she went through, the hiding, the secrecy, the torment...all to keep her little girl safe and this journalist bandies her photo around in the local paper which is soon picked up by the nationals. Fearing for her safety, she is terrified what this means for her now that this has become public knowledge. Despite the assurances that her anonymity is guaranteed, the nation is soon searching for "the missing mother". What will happen to her and her baby girl when they catch up with her? Or worst still...if "he" does?
This was an intriguing read from start to finish despite the irritating journalist aspect. I kept turning the pages wanting to know if I was right in my assumptions. My first guess was too obvious but my second was spot on!
The story unfolds through both Jenna and Evie's eyes and the two threads are carefully interwoven leading to a thrilling nail-biting finish.
I would like to thank #CaseyKelleher, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMissingMother in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up their three children together with my husband, she penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that Casey could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time.
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