The Staffymum's Book Nook: Sheryl Browne

Published: 7th April 2025

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Can I really trust the man I married?

I take a sip of coffee as I plan my day. My surgeon husband, Cole, slept at work last night, so I had to get the kids ready on my own, again. I can’t complain, though, I’ve loved him ever since we met, long before he became a famous surgeon and the papers started calling him the pride of the hospital.

Our latest family photo hangs on the kitchen wall and I remember that day so clearly. Cole screamed at me over nothing, then apologised saying he was stressed at work. My heart pounded with fear, but I plastered a smile on my face for the sake of my children.

Now, as my phone buzzes on the glossy white kitchen island, I read the message from a withheld number, and nothing could have prepared me for what it says. Your husband is planning to kill you…

You might think you know what I do next, but you’ll be wrong, because Cole isn’t the most dangerous person in this family…

You will be utterly addicted to this page-turning psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl, prepare to be hooked from the very first page!

MY THOUGHTS:

Perfect husband...or perfect liar?

You won't know who to trust in tense psychological thriller. Everyone is just a little bit mad, with the exception of the twins and Ellie.

Maddie has been married to successful and highly respected neurosurgeon Cole for 18 blissful years with three children Ellie (17) and twins Jayden and Lucas (6). But the nature of his profession sees him rarely spend a moment at home, always on call and working late at the hospital. Maddie is an agency nurse so she understands the demands of his work and that of the NHS, and its inadequacies. But lately Cole has seemed distracted, often angry. And Maddie begins to wonder - should she be scared of her husband?

When she begins to receive anonymous text messages - alluding to her husband not being where he says he is, that he is a liar and then that he is planning to kill her - Maddie first wonders who is behind the messages and then if there is any truth to them? As the messages continue, the intent is clear. Cole is having an affair and is planning to leave her for this woman...or do away with her, should he have to.

When Maddie first broached the subject with Cole, he dismissed the messages as a crackpot but suggested she take them to the police. Goodness knows why she never heeded that advice. Silly woman. Could have saved herself and her family a whole lot of bother. But no. Instead she took the bait and began to believe the messages and in the end threw Cole out.

Now there is a whole lot of crazy going on in this book. Even Ellie began a little deranged but in the end she was probably the only voice of reason present. The accusations, the threats, the bitchiness, the abuse, the tirades...OMG! drama central! Brimming with secrets, deception, tension and threats, I just wanted to slap the stupid out of everyone. For goodness' sake, Maddie was willing to believe an anonymous messenger over her husband of 18 years? She was willing to throw everything away on the word of some threatening messages? She wouldn't even give Cole the chance to defend himself and then when he finally humbled himself to confess what he had been keeping from her, she didn't believe him? Why not? What made the ludicrous ramblings of some delusional seem so rational over Cole's almost unlikely story? I say almost because I believed him at once. I believed him from the start. I didn't think he was guilty of anything that he was being accused of.

And the characters? Grade A crazy nutjobs, the lot of them. I didn't sympathise with Maddie at all. I thought she was unreasonable to not even give her husband, who she'd been married to for 18 years, some benefit of the doubt and listen to him without going off half cocked over the ramblings of the said delusional text messenger. I was frustrated beyond measure at her behaviour.

Another crazy read by Sheryl Browne that will leave you annoyed and a little irritated with the characters but satisfied with the end, all the same. As always, I wonder what she has in store for us next.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyLovingHusband in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sheryl Browne writes psychological thriller and edgy contemporary fiction. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Romantic Novelists’ Association and awarded a Red Ribbon by The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

When she's not writing Sheryl can usually be found messing about on the water in her little narrowboat, Aquaduck, which she says she can generally be found falling off and she admits to being a bit accident prone.

Sheryl lives in Worcestershire with her partner and a variety of disabled dogs, of whom she says "my furry-friends give me back much more than I could ever give them. I really wouldn’t be me without them." According to readers of her thrillers, she also apparently makes an excellent psychopath.

Social Media Links:

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PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Monday, 18 November 2024

REVIEW: One More Lie by Sheryl Browne

One More Lie by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 16th November 2024

Published: 18th November 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

On the last day of school, my friends and I gather on the beach to celebrate the long summer ahead. Sipping cans of warm cider and watching campfire embers dance into the inky sky, I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. Until a scream pierces the night. The next morning, we find shy newcomer Pippa on the beach, sandflies gathering on her lifeless body…

I told the police I didn’t see anything that night. I was young, scared, and full of guilt. I heard my friends telling the same story. It’s a lie that has haunted me ever since.

Now, twenty years later, on the anniversary of Pippa’s death, another one of our group is found dead. As we gather once again to say goodbye, I know it can’t be a coincidence. I look around at the tear-stained faces of my old school friends – people I thought I could trust – a protective hand on my growing belly. The police are asking questions again, and I have an impossible decision to make.

Do I tell one more lie, or confront my worst nightmare; that one of us is a killer, and one of us is next…

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will absolutely devour this page-turning psychological thriller. Prepare to be hooked from the very first page!

MY THOUGHTS:

A beach party, six friends and a long held secret...

Becky stands by her husband Richie's side as the coffin is lowered gently into the ground. This shouldn't have happened. It didn't have to happen. Jodie should be here with them, living her life, instead of gone forever taking with her to the grave her secrets. But it's standing at her friend's graveside that brings to mind another another memory of another funeral for another life cut short too soon.

Twelve years ago, Becky and her group of friends are celebrating the end of university when another young woman joins their fold. Pippa Moore sits on the outskirts of their circle just waiting and hoping to be included...to be accepted. But Pippa doesn't make friends easily. She's shy and awkward thus making her a target for ridicule, which is relentless. When Richie invites her up to dance Pippa can hardly believe her luck. He's the nicest, along with Becky, of the group and she has no problem dancing with him though her moves are unco-ordinated and awkward. But then one of the others of the group, Emelia, screeches at her, tormenting her laughingly, until Pippa feels all eyes on her. Humiliated, she runs off into the night, the laughter trailing behind her.

When her body is found the next morning, the group are sombre and silent, none of them revealing what they know. What happened to Pippa after she fled the party? Did someone meet up with her? Does one of them know what really happened? Who knows more than they're letting on?

Becky can't help but draw comparisons as she remembers the sombre event that was Becky's funeral and her distraught mother weeping buckets for the child that should never have gone before her. And now Jodie, who reportedly took her own life - why? Was the guilt of what happened all those years ago too much for her?

She herself can't seem to let go of the past as she ruminates over past events, driving each of her remaining friends crazy. Even dependable Richie is growing tired of her constant tirade of what happened to Pippa that he throws accusations at her in desperate frustration. And consumed with own guilt and emotions running high, Becky sees something she totally blows all out of proportion and accusations fly in all directions. And when push comes to shove, Becky wonders who can she really trust? At seven months pregnant, she thought she could trust Richie but now she's not so sure. And Emelia? Her insensitive tirade regarding Pippa at the funeral was totally out of line. The woman is so incredibly selfish and thinks only of herself, just as she did all those years ago when she relentlessly tormented Pippa.

And then as secrets begin to bubble to the surface, strange things start happening, making Becky question her sanity and Emelia hers. Someone knows what happened all those years ago and now they are coming back to make them pay. With two deaths down, who else must die to avenge Pippa's memory?

The story alternates between the past and the present primarily from Becky's narrative, peppered with Pippa (in the past), Emelia, Richie and Jack (in the present). Becky's is the only first person narrative whilst the others are third person and through each of them we witness the unravelling of relationships within this tight-knit group of friends. Betrayals, jealousy and suspicion fuel the constant drama of which there is plenty. The characters are deeply flawed, so much so they contrast each other vastly. Becky is anxious and passive-aggressive (particularly where Richie and Emelia are concerned) whilst Emelia is selfish and reckless. Richie is so mild he comes across as passive at times as his dependability comes into question whilst Tom is just as reckless as his wife.

Though the story was predictable for the most part, the final twist is one that will surprise readers, I'm sure. I was left with something of a feeling that not all was explained therefore leaving me with a few questions, but on the whole I was entertained with this tense and dramatic psychological drama.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OneMoreLie in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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Monday, 14 October 2024

REVIEW: Keep Me Safe by Sheryl Browne

Keep Me Safe by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Pscyhological thriller

Read: 13th October 2024

Published: 26th July 2024

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Our lies made us the perfect couple. But now our secrets will destroy us…

Alex and I have only been dating a few weeks, but already things are getting serious. With his dark hair and dark eyes, he’s my perfect match. And a real gentleman unlike my past relationships – he always treats me right: holding doors open, picking up the bill, and listening as I tell him everything about myself… Well, not everything. There are some things I must keep secret.

Alex believes we met by chance at a friend’s wedding, and I let him think that. I haven’t told him that I just came out of hospital, or that I met someone in there who shared his darkest secret. I know everything about him, but he knows nothing about the real me… Why I’m really here. And I need to keep it that way, or my plan will fall apart before it’s even begun.

The only problem is that I think someone’s on to me... I feel eyes on the back of my head as I leave the house where I live alone, but every time I turn around, no one is there. Is someone watching me? Or am I just being paranoid. I thought that this was the only path for me to be safe again, to keep my secrets buried forever, but maybe I’ve just walked into the biggest trap of all?

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and Gone Girl will absolutely love Keep Me Safe.

MY THOUGHTS:

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

I can hardly believe this is my 14th read by Sheryl Browne so needless to say she is one of my favourite authors. Her books always feature something different or out of the ordinary and I am always interested to see how she would spin each new idea.

Some of her books are stand out hands down five star reads and when I think of those, "The New Girlfriend" (my personal favourite) always comes to mind. Having said that, each new book has a lot to live up to knock that one out of the ballpark as it was phenomenal. Some have come close and yet not quite. But I digress...

This tale of secrets, lies and plenty of deceit centres on Lily, a woman with her own secrets, who sets out to lure the very eligible and good looking actor Alex Morgan into trusting her to his secrets. What she didn't envision was falling for him. And then when he shows a moment of aggression, Lily takes flight, fearing for her safety. Thus leading her down a rabbit hole of life on the run and looking over her shoulder.

A little drastic? OK, I though Lily was a tad melodramatic. And yet I could understand her fear, given what she had been through but in my honest opinion, I don't think Alex displayed any of the behaviour she was attributing to him and found her reasoning a little redundant.

Alex isn't stupid. He knows Lily is up to something and he suspects she just wants to fleece him - after all, isn't that what all women want with someone famous? But he is smart. He just doesn't apply those smarts all of the time and therefore ends up drawing his own conclusions which, while not entirely far from the truth, are completely off base. And then when he confronts her, he doesn't even give her the chance to have her say. That is a pet peeve of mine. How can you have an arguement/discussion when only one of you is doing the talking? And he does ALL the talking, despite him suggesting "they should talk". What that translates to is he has his say before she can refute his accusations because what he thinks must be the truth. Lily ends up leaving and fearing for her safety.

Both Lily and Alex are damaged. Both of them are the product of the environment in which they lived respectively, leaving them fearful and trusting no one. Their relationship (if you could call it that) was doomed from the start.

And so Lily disappears. Taking with her all her secrets and thensome. When Alex tracks her down some years later, nothing is as it seems.

We are given a whole host of suspects to choose from and I hovered between two due to the clues she had peppered throughout the story...but were they that or red herrings creating a clever smokescreen with her sleight of hand. While you look over there, you won't see what's happening over here. Did I have the right suspect? Or was she to surprise me with another? You'll have to read it to find out!

Another entertaining read from Sheryl, though I felt it was a little slow to start. But once Lily disappeared, things started to get more interesting. It was at this point (and beyond) I felt that the author would have probably been best to have the story unfold through the two timelines and then have them collide in a culminating climax. I feel that would have kept the pace moving throughout and not just the second part of the story. Dropping titbits as each timeline unfolded revealing to us just enough to whet our appetites before shifting to the alternate timeline would have kept us turning the pages even faster. That's just my opinion as I love that style.

Overall, an entertaining thriller that keeps us engaged throughout and tying all the loose ends up in the conclusion. And yet, in true Sheryl Browne style, leaving the reader to make what they will from the final words she imparts.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #KeepMeSafe in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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Thursday, 23 November 2023

REVIEW: We All Keep Secrets by Sheryl Browne

We All Keep Secrets by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Domestic suspense, Psychological thriller

Read: 23rd November 2023

Amazon

Published: 6th November 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I look into baby Fern’s crib, and my heart pounds. I’m her nanny, I was supposed to keep her safe. I hear the police downstairs, and the next words I hear make my legs buckle underneath me. ‘It was the nanny. She’s guilty’.

When I first walked into Jake and Megan’s immaculate home, I felt totally at ease. Sitting in the crisp white living room, they held hands and talked lovingly about their baby girl, Fern.

As the weeks passed, I began to think I’d made a mistake in taking the job. Jake was overly friendly from the start, watching my every move and always offering to drop me home, even though it was out of his way. And Megan seemed to take pleasure in telling me off in front of her husband, blaming me for things I hadn’t done.

The first time I heard the Haringtons arguing behind the door to their bedroom, I heard my name mentioned, and then they went silent. I should have left right there and then.

Now, as I stand accused of something terrible, my whole past is revealed and the Haringtons admit to knowing every detail about why I was sacked from my last job. We all have secrets, but little do they realise, I know theirs too…

With twist after twist, this is perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train. A gripping thriller you don’t want to miss!

MY THOUGHTS:

We all keep secrets...do we? Except in Jake and Megan's case they really didn't. They shouted them from the rooftops in a bid to outwit the other. This entire domestic debacle is a shouting match from start to finish. I don't know who's worse as they are both as bad as each other. And Ellie? She's a deluded fool. There were warning bells and red flags flashing all about that house and still she stayed. I would have run a mile.

It is hard to like any of the handful of characters in this very messy tale. Because none of them are likeable. And none of them are completely believable either. So who is telling the biggest whoppers of them all?

And then there are the children. Six year old Ollie and three month olf Fern, who becomes a tragic victim at the centre of this nightmare. Both who completely deserved better. And still Jake and Megan scream at other. In front of their children, in front of Ellie, in front of dinner guests. Have they no shame?

It's clear the marriage is in tatters and it's beyond me why either of them stayed. And yet it's a secret that keeps them bound to each other. That and the kids. But really? And was it all worth it? For one of them, probably; for the other, definitely not. The entire book was a cat and mouse game between them that I just wanted to bang their heads together and couldn't wait to escape their presence altogether. The pair of them were clearly toxic.

The first half of the book is told from unsuspecting Ellie's perspective before we move into the second half which alternates between Jake and Megan's inflammatory narratives, most of which retells the first half but from their perspective. And then we get a different insight into what was actually happening when Ellie opened the door to find Jake there or when she was walking down the stairs as Megan came storming in. While it did provide a few insights it wasn't all that enlightening because it was clear they were both nutters anyway.

And then there was the ending. I was disappointed in that and unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. I was hoping for a twist that was bound to shock or surprise (as Sheryl has been known to do) but none materialised and the epilogue simply left me frustrated and unsatisifed. I mean, what? After the build up and that's what happened?

The writing was skilful and it was was well-plotted. I just didn't warm to any of the characters and was left disappointed for an ending I stuck around for expecting better. Not a bad read but not one of her best either. But never fear...Sheryl is a skilled writer with a fantabulous library of thrillers under her belt so I know that while I may not enjoy every book, her next one will probably leave me breathless.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WeAllKeepSecrets in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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Tuesday, 6 June 2023

REVIEW: My Husband's House by Sheryl Browne

My Husband's House by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller

Read: 1st June 2023

Published: 5th June 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A new home. A loving wife. A secret that could kill…

With its peeling wallpaper and overgrown garden I know our new home isn’t perfect. But my husband Ben promises it’s the fresh start we need. I remind myself that he’s an amazing father to our two children, and that we have years of happy marriage behind us. He’s been distant for months but I’m desperate to believe the move will bring us back together.

When I meet our next-door neighbour Sara, I’m immediately relieved. She’s so welcoming and full of local gossip. But the moment she meets Ben I’m sure an angry frown flickers across her smiling face. Later he says I’m imagining things…

Why is my husband lying?

Then one night as I tuck our children into bed, the silence is broken by a knock on the front door. A stranger is standing on our doorstep. I turn to look at Ben’s face as he stares at her with unconcealed fury. Has he met this woman before? Nothing could prepare me for what she says:I know who you are. Get out of my house.

How well do I know the man I married? And by moving to this house, did I put my children’s lives in danger?

If you enjoyed reading The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Wife, you will love My Husband’s House. Gripping and totally addictive, you’ll be hooked from the first page.

MY THOUGHTS:

His dream home...her worst nightmare...and a secret that could kill...

Hold onto your hats - Sheryl Browne is back with a bang! I have read umpteen of her thrillers and she never fails to keep me guessing but has yet to hoodwink me...lol MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE is a different story of sorts in that it is more of a slow burn. But don't let that fool you because you are not bored during the build up. Oh no. Sheryl keeps us proper entertained with a little neighbourly spat here and there, a bit of sibling rivalry, some jealousy maybe, plenty of secrets, a few lies thrown in...and a whole lot of wondering what the hell was going on and where it was all going to lead.

Naomi and Ben have just moved into what they are sure will be their dream home. It's not perfect; the decor fairly dated; it's clearly in need of some love. But it's their's. And it's just the fresh start they need. Despite her looming superstitions, Naomi is looking forward to settling in here and making some new friends. One such opportunity comes along when a knock at the door reveals a smiling face. Sara lives next door with her two children, James and Ellie, of similar ages to her own Liam (9) and Maya (5). The two women fall into an easy friendship and Naomi is immediately relieved, desperately needing a friend to help her settle in.

Until she meets Ben. There's a flicker of something Naomi can't quite interpret on Sara's face but it seems from the very beginning, she doesn't warm to him. The question is...why? Ben is quick to dismiss her worries, saying she is imagining things. Baby brain, maybe? After all, she is six months pregnant. But no matter how much the two try to disguise it, it is clear they both harbour an obvious dislike for the other. But it's not just Sara. Her partner Paul doesn't seem to like him either. And when Joan, the elderly neighbour from across the street, meets him there's a sense of eeriness as the two glare at each other. Joan knows her husband. But from where? And it is clear that Ben recognises Joan. The darkened look he gave her is like one Naomi has never seen in her usually placid husband's eyes. Which begs the question as to why? And why is Ben lying to her?

Slowly but surely, Naomi's world begins to crumble leaving her wondering if they should have moved into this house to begin with. Particularly after she heard the disturbing history of the place. Her superstitious nature would have her believing all sorts from the creaking of the rocking chair that meant a ghost's spirit remains to the disturbing dreams she has of a child crying for help.

But when the startling truth is revealed nothing will prepare Naomi for the shock that is about to befall her as all the secrets and lies come bubbling to the surface.

So much drama and so much tragedy is woven into this tautly driven psychological thriller. It is thrilling, engaging and entertaining on so many levels and such an addictive read that was impossible to put down. It is one of Browne's best to date though it did leave a few unanswered questions at the end that I felt could have been clarified. Such as the drowning of the doll - I didn't understand that - nor the final pages of the book which I felt were unnecessary. But that aside, this is a five star read that is compelling and unputdownable.

Sheryl Browne, you've done it again!

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MyHusbandsHouse in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media Links:

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PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

Sunday, 11 December 2022

REVIEW: Her First Child by Sheryl Browne

Her First Child by Sheryl Browne

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Psychological drama, Suspense

Read: 10th December 2022

Audio links:

Published: 8th December 2022

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A perfect mother. A loving daughter. A secret that could destroy them both.

New mother Eve is overwhelmed with love for her baby son, Kai. As she swaddles him in a fluffy white blanket, she shudders at a memory of her own childhood. She hasn’t seen her heartless mother Lydia in years, and she hasn’t told a soul about what really happened the night her baby brother died in the squalid little house she grew up in…

When the phone rings in the dead of night, Eve’s heart pounds as she hears the voice at the other end. ‘Hello Mother’, she replies, an ice-cold chill creeping down her spine. She grips her son’s tiny frame close to her trembling chest as she reluctantly agrees to let her mother visit.

But when Eve has to make an emergency call from Kai’s bedroom early one morning, she curses herself for allowing her mother back into her perfect little family.

‘Kai was fine when I checked on him a few hours ago.’ Her mother says, breathlessly as she watches her daughter’s face change from fear to rage.

Why was Lydia in Kai’s bedroom during the night? And as Lydia pleads her innocence, could it be that she’s not the most dangerous mother in this family?

Fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife, will absolutely love this gripping and addictive thriller. Her First Child will have you hooked from the very first page!

MY THOUGHTS:

I can't believe this is my tenth book by the masterful Sheryl Browne! I knew from past experience that I was going to be in for an enjoyable ride...and I wasn't wrong. HER FIRST CHILD, at first glance, appears to be the usual domestic thriller trope but the further we get into the story, the more we discover that it is anything but. Browne loves to take diverse topics and build her cleverly woven tales around them, creating thrilling yet emotive plots that will keep readers turning the pages long into the night.

New mother Eve has the perfect life with her perfect husband, perfect home and perfect job as a GP. It's all she has ever wanted and more than she ever thought she deserved. Her son Kai is just two months old and Eve is understandably very protective of him...even moreso when her own mother Lydia arrives unannounced and rather unwelcome, bringing with her long forgotten memories of her horrific childhood and a past she prefers to keep buried. Her husband Dom can't understand Eve's behaviour but then she's never shared her past with him either...and he can't understand why she feels she can't confide in him. But the longer Lydia is here, the greater the risk she will let something slip. And Eve can't risk that...for her past, her childhood, is far too painful.

Eve's childhood was one of anger, abuse and fear. Her father was a controlling man who used coercive abuse to control her mother and by default controlling her also. Her mother's weapon was silence. She wouldn't speak to Eve, almost pretending she wasn't there. Her childhood home was not a happy one, filled with emotional and psychological abuse that she had to tiptoe around. And no one was there to love her or protect her...no one except Chloe. She was her only solace; her only friend. Chloe knew everything about her - all her secrets, her pain, her fear and her sadness - and still she remained.

But now Eve is an adult and Chloe is still her best friend, living just a few doors down with her husband Steve and two children. Neither woman is thrilled when Lydia arrives and when she is found in her son Kai's nursery, Eve is immediately suspicious. Whatever reason she is here for, Eve does not want her mother anywhere near her son. Ever. On that she is clear. Which only serves to confuse Dom even further. Why does Eve hate her mother so much? Why doesn't she want him near Kai? And why won't she tell him anything about her childhood? She refuses to talk to him so Dom can only draw his own conclusions...that she doesn't trust him enough. But is it really that simple?

And then he discovers Eve had a baby brother, Jacob, who died. But what he can't fathom is how. And no one - not Eve, not Chloe and not Lydia - will tell him. All Eve will say is that she doesn't want her mother anywhere near their son. Surely, that speaks for itself?

But like all domestic psychological thrillers, just when you think you have it all figured out and can see the reveal a mile away, along comes another twist and another and another which turns everything about-face and upside down that will leave you reeling with whiplash.

HER FIRST CHILD is filled with secrets, lies and trauma on a massive scale that you can really sympathise with. It tears at your heart that you just want to take the child, throw your arms around them and whisk them away to safety. But then we wouldn't have this story to tell, would we? I mean, this book has it all - family drama, bullying, coercive control, emotional and psychological abuse, jealousy, trauma, lies and oh so many secrets. And then there is the illnesses - real, imagined and mental - which just propels readers into a tangled web of lies, trauma and secrets.

The characters were well developed and mostly unlikeable, with Chloe being the top of my list. I really loathed her. She had this passive aggressive thing going and a secret jealousy for someone who was supposed to be her best friend...and then went on to count the ways. I just wanted to slap her into the middle of the next millennium. But each of them had their own level of awfulness to contribute.

There is definitely more than meets the eye in this tale of domestic suspense and psychological drama. Browne has peppered clues all the way through, drip-feeding us little by little and ending with a bit of a surprise twist, leaving readers wondering. It really does need you to think about it at the end...I was left scratching my head at first. I thought I had it figured out long before the reveal but then I questioned myself. And then it becomes clear...sort of. lol

I thoroughly enjoyed HER FIRST CHILD and all its nuances. It definitely left me wondering...maybe a little too much? But thank you Sheryl for clearing it up for me. I wasn't wrong after all.

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HerFirstChild in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Social Media Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.