Title: The Perfect Mother
Author: Caroline Mitchell
Narrator: Alana Kerr Collins, Christina Traister
Published: January 2020, Brilliance Audio
Length: 10 hours 55 minutes
Source: Publisher
Summary:
She thought they wanted her baby. But they won’t stop there.
Roz is young, penniless and pregnant. All she wants is to be the
perfect mother to her child, but the more she thinks about her own
chaotic upbringing, the more certain she is that the best life for her
baby is as far away as possible from her hometown in Ireland.
Determined
to do the right thing, Roz joins an elite adoption service and can’t
believe her luck. Within days she is jetting to New York to meet a
celebrity power couple desperate for a child of their own. Sheridan and
Daniel are wealthy and glamorous—everything Roz isn’t. Her baby will
never go hungry, and will have every opportunity for the perfect life.
But soon after Roz moves into their plush basement suite, she starts to
suspect that something darker lurks beneath the glossy surface of their
home.
When Roz discovers she isn’t the first person to move in
with the couple, and that the previous woman has never been seen since,
alarm bells start ringing. As the clock ticks down to her due date, Roz
realizes her unborn baby may be the only thing keeping her alive, and
that despite her best intentions, she has walked them both into the
perfect nightmare…
My thoughts: I’ve been a fan of Caroline Mitchell’s police procedurals for a while and I’ve loved her stand-alones as well so I knew I was in for a treat with this newest stand alone and I was absolutely right. This was as twisted and crazy as I’ve come to expect from this talented author and I was captivated by the story from start to finish!
One thing I have come to expect from Caroline Mitchell is that she gives you a story you will not be expecting. This is one wild, crazy ride and it was more twisted than even I could have imagined. It’s dark and disturbing and you find yourself completely invested in what is happening with Roz. As soon as she arrived in NY and set foot in that apartment, I got this funny feeling and from that point on, I was on pins and needles until the very end.
I love that I had such a reaction to this book. It’s told in alternating points of view, mainly from Roz and Sheridan’s view points, but occasionally from other characters as well. As the story progresses, the tension slowly builds and you can’t help but get wrapped up, wondering just how everything is going to end up. This one definitely gets your heart beating fast for sure, as there were times I felt things were headed one way, only for a twist to come along and switch courses. This book will definitely keep you guessing as to where it is heading and I loved that.
This is an emotionally charged book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It’s an addictive read that once you start, you will have a hard time putting down and I love the diabolical cleverness that this author brings to the table each and every time. I am such a fan of Caroline Mitchell’s writing and this book just confirms that.
Audio thoughts: I listened to this book and what a treat it was. I was totally captivated by the voices and felt that each narrator brought their A-game. Alana Kerr Collins had the perfect Irish accent – it wasn’t overdone or hard to understand her and Christina Traister did a great American accent. To me, these ladies were spot on with their pacing and intonation, making the characters come alive and they managed to infuse just the right amount of tension and emotion into their voices as needed. I’ve listened to quite a few of Caroline Mitchell’s books on audio and I always enjoy listening to them – they translate well on audio and to me, that’s important because I know they will keep my attention fixated on the story!
