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sheabutta78's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
cosyupnread5's review
5.0
Another amazing book by Emily Shiner, I literally couldn't put this book down, the characters were so well developed, although I found Micah to be creepy and very needy, I also felt so sorry for him! And what an amazing twist!
marleereads's review
2.0
the writing style was not for me. i ended up skimming some of it until the ending because i got bored of it. the plot was pretty obvious from the start.
sony08's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Zoe is a mum of a three year old girl Anna, happily married to surgeon Ethan and quite frankly her life could not be any better.
Until there is a knock on the door and a thirteen year old Micah announces that his mum is missing, and Ethan is his dad. But credit to Zoe, she welcomes this boy into their home and convinces Ethan that they must look out for Micah and make sure he has a nice home.
But quickly things start to get weird. Little incidents and Micah calling Zoe mom within 24 hours, make Zoe feel on edge and like something just isn't right with the boy and she realises that she has invited into he life someone, she knows nothing about. And when Police tell her, Micah's mum is found dead, Zoe swear she will protect her family at all costs.
This is a quick page turner. A little predictable especially since perfect Ethan is so squeaky clean and clearly has emotional superiority and control over Zoe, even is she doesn't admit that to herself.
Anyone that like a quick read thriller, will enjoy this book and the ending I felt was also perfect.
emmavictoria22's review
5.0
Zoe & Ethan are a happily married couple who have a daughter, Anna.
One day a 13 year old boy called Micah turns up at their house claiming he is Ethan’s son from a previous relationship Ethan had with the boys mother, Rita.
Micah is worried because his mum has gone missing.
Zoe feels the need to take Micah under her wing and help him. But as days pass by she’s not so sure Micah is as innocent as he makes out. Rita is found dead. Who is responsible for her death.
A great thriller story, got fast faced as the story went on and I found myself guessing and wondering what was going to be the outcome. I enjoyed the short chapters so I could pick up and read a few here and there when on the go.
One day a 13 year old boy called Micah turns up at their house claiming he is Ethan’s son from a previous relationship Ethan had with the boys mother, Rita.
Micah is worried because his mum has gone missing.
Zoe feels the need to take Micah under her wing and help him. But as days pass by she’s not so sure Micah is as innocent as he makes out. Rita is found dead. Who is responsible for her death.
A great thriller story, got fast faced as the story went on and I found myself guessing and wondering what was going to be the outcome. I enjoyed the short chapters so I could pick up and read a few here and there when on the go.
traym1978's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sophwent's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
toni_mcgovern's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
judithdcollins's review
5.0
The queen of revenge plots, Emily Shiner (favorite author), returns following The Wife in the Photo and The Hotel with her sixteenth novel, THE BETTER MOTHER. Unsettling and darkly sublime, the author deftly explores twisted family dynamics and devastating secrets in suburbia.
Zoe (stay-at-home mom), Ethan (Dr.) Steele and their preschool daughter, Anna, are happy and a seemingly perfect family. What could go wrong? Then, her husband gets a late-night phone call. Wrong number, he says.
Then, a thirteen-year-old boy, Micah, shows up at their door. He says he is Ethan's son. He looks like him. He informs them his biological mother, Rita, is a drug addict and has gone missing. Zoe is compassionate and invites him into their home.
He soon begins to call her mom and constantly looks at her; she finds photos of herself on his computer before he moves into their home. Was he stalking her? Will she be a better mother than the one he has now?
Strange things begin happening, and she is not sure she likes him spending so much time with Anna.
Then, on the news, his mother, Rita, is found dead. Is Micah a killer? Who has she invited into their home? She finds clues. Ethan says they do not know what terrible things he has lived through.
Ethan can protect Micah, but the only one Zoe is protecting is Anna. She must get Micah out of their house and prove he killed Rita, his biological mother.
However, nothing is as it appears. What happened to Rita, and who is the murderer? Is Micah innocent? Will he be her savior or her killer?
Shiner keeps the reader in suspense throughout with a final jaw-dropping twist with an exploration of nature vs. nurture. A domestic suspense that peels back the veneer of suburban perfection to expose the decay beneath.
THE BETTER MOTHER entertains and chills! This twisty, addictively thrilling domestic suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending. I highly recommend Emily Shiner's books!
Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: Oct 22, 2023
Oct 2023 Must-Read Books
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Zoe (stay-at-home mom), Ethan (Dr.) Steele and their preschool daughter, Anna, are happy and a seemingly perfect family. What could go wrong? Then, her husband gets a late-night phone call. Wrong number, he says.
Then, a thirteen-year-old boy, Micah, shows up at their door. He says he is Ethan's son. He looks like him. He informs them his biological mother, Rita, is a drug addict and has gone missing. Zoe is compassionate and invites him into their home.
He soon begins to call her mom and constantly looks at her; she finds photos of herself on his computer before he moves into their home. Was he stalking her? Will she be a better mother than the one he has now?
Strange things begin happening, and she is not sure she likes him spending so much time with Anna.
Then, on the news, his mother, Rita, is found dead. Is Micah a killer? Who has she invited into their home? She finds clues. Ethan says they do not know what terrible things he has lived through.
Ethan can protect Micah, but the only one Zoe is protecting is Anna. She must get Micah out of their house and prove he killed Rita, his biological mother.
However, nothing is as it appears. What happened to Rita, and who is the murderer? Is Micah innocent? Will he be her savior or her killer?
Shiner keeps the reader in suspense throughout with a final jaw-dropping twist with an exploration of nature vs. nurture. A domestic suspense that peels back the veneer of suburban perfection to expose the decay beneath.
THE BETTER MOTHER entertains and chills! This twisty, addictively thrilling domestic suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending. I highly recommend Emily Shiner's books!
Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: Oct 22, 2023
Oct 2023 Must-Read Books
Oct Newsletter