The Wrong Mother

The first paragraph of The Wrong Mother by Charlotte Duckworth is voiced by an unidentified narrator. It describes trying to clean away a dead man’s blood, then forget what you have seen and done. The sense of dread created continues when two lonely women and newborn Jake are thrown together in a Norfolk village. At first it seems as if all three of them have reached a safe haven. Thirty-nine year old Faye is struggling to bond with Jake after leaving his abusive father, whom she met through a co-parenting app. Her sixty-four year old landlady Rachel misses her only son, who lives in Australia. The only thing Faye wants is to sleep. All Rachel wants is for Jake to think she’s his Granny. Warning bells ring for the reader when Rachel reveals that she had ‘bad experiences’ with her previous tenants.

Duckworth uses dual narration effectively to build up suspense. The women’s stories are told from their own points of view. Fiona obsesses about her past with Louis, Jake’s father. Rachel is more concerned with their futures, especially Jake’s. Unanswered questions worry the reader. Why does Rachel forbid Faye to open the back door, even when weeds grow under it? How can Louis track down the son he wanted so desperately? What will happen when the giant bonfire on the village green catches fire?

I’m not usually a fan of psychological thrillers, but I loved this one. The characters are convincing and relatable. I wasn’t able to predict the ending, but I enjoyed following the clues Duckworth drops so skilfully. I recommend The Wrong Mother as a compelling read which ticks the boxes for its genre but has many original elements, such as humour.

Many thanks to @NetGalley and @Quercus for giving me an advance copy in return for an honest review.