The Other Mother - MIranda Rijks

 

Author: Miranda Rijks

Publisher: Inkubator Books

Publishing Date: 19th April 2023

Many thanks to ZooLoos BT and the publishing team for my spot on the tour and a digital copy of the book

Blurb 

Four-year-old Florrie is missing. Who has taken her, and what do they want?

When Jane is asked to pick up her friend’s daughter, Florrie, from school, she can’t imagine the horror that will unfold. Because someone pretending to be Jane has already collected Florrie. 

And now the little four-year-old is missing…

Things don’t get any easier when Jane starts receiving anonymous letters that include intimate details about her life. As a psychologist and agony aunt, she's used to getting letters asking for advice, but these are different. 

Are they somehow connected to the missing child?

Then, to her utter dismay, Jane finds incriminating evidence in her own home, evidence that is clearly linked to Florrie. She starts to doubt everyone around her, even her own family – could one of them be implicated in Florrie’s disappearance?

Under the unspeakable stress, her marriage crumbles, her children act out and her once-successful business falls apart. 

And that’s when Jane discovers a shocking secret that shatters her entire world.

In a heart-pounding race against time, Jane must find Florrie and uncover the truth. Can she save Florrie and her own family, or will she be too late to stop the unthinkable?

The Other Mother is an explosive psychological thriller that will grip readers till the very end.

My Thoughts 

I have read books from the author previously so was very excited to make a start on this one. 

The story starts straight away, which  I really like. We get some background information as to why Jane has to collect Florrie which helped set the scene. What was annoying was the schools less than  helpful approach or seriousness to the initial confusion and disappearance of Florrie. I felt it probable wasn't realistic enough to set the tone. 

But that didn't deter me from continuing reading as I wanted to know who was behind kidnapping Florrie and why. The POV is from Naomi, Jane and Carmen

Both women Jane and Naomi who is Florries' mother face many challenges. Not only is Naomi struggling with the disappearance of her child , but she is also pregnant and her partner Lorenzo who is away is blaming her. It was good to read a bit more about Jane and she wasn't lost in the story but her own demons from her dysfunction family come to light. And how the impact of Florrie going missing is affecting her professional work. We hear from Caramen several chapters in as Jane goes to her for her beauty treatments and she also seemingly provides some support for Jane and is one of her friends also. 

Also the story lines merge and there is more to these friendships and the relationships entangle and Jane realises some has committed identity fraud against her the story ramps up and soon enough we find out who is behind all this. 

I really enjoyed this book, fast paced and a fab page turner