Finding Margaret: Solving the mystery of my birth mother

by Andrew Pierce

Finding Margaret is the moving story of journalist and broadcaster Andrew Pierce's search for his birth mother. As he was approaching fifty, Pierce decided that it was finally time to track down his biological mother. He knew that he had lived in a Roman Catholic orphanage in Cheltenham for more than two years and was adopted at the age of three by a family who loved and nurtured him. As his career in journalism flourished and despite feeling like he was betraying the adoptive parents who loved him so much, Pierce began to tentatively search for his birth mother, only to find that she had done everything she could to ensure he would never find her.

When he finally managed to meet her, the mystery only deepened, leading him to Ireland in search of the man who may or may not have been his father. During his search, Pierce also realises the extent of the mistreatment he suffered at the orphanage and attempts to forge a relationship with the woman who gave him away.

This candid book is a heartwarming page turner that takes the reader on an extraordinary journey. Full of amusing and arresting anecdotes, at its heart lies the inspirational story of one man's extensive search for his birth mother and what happened when he finally found her.

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely choose to read authobiographies or memoirs, however, I was tempted this time after watching a short interview with the Author some months ago, in which he discussed his memoir. Much of his early career was not of interest to me, on the other hand, this part gives a solid background regarding his career choice and some skills which he used to track down his birth mother.
Mr Pierce was lucky to have been raised by a family who loved him but it is evident that Margaret's evasiveness hurt him a lot and in many ways. As a reader, I am in no position to judge Margaret, but, just as Mr Pierce, I am perplexed why after five decades she denied him explanation and, at least, some warmth. A lot can be down to her need to protect her family and, most probably, her ability to forget ever having Andrew. It all sounds complicated but the psychological analysis provided by the author sounds plausible to me.
A memoir that takes you back to the times when having a child out of wedlock was a shame, when women were left alone with their pregnancies, and when child care homes were merely buildings designed to keep children and where they more often than not suffered physical and mental abuse.
*Many thanks to Andrew Pierce, WF Howes Ltd, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

[Dem · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and thought provoking novel. I have huge empathy for women who were forced to give up their babies back in the day and also for the women who were forced to keep secrets, only for their lives to once again blown apart when due to DNA they now face that dreaded knock on the door and equally heart-breaking is the the adoptee who just wants and needs closure on where they came from.

I really enjoyed Andrew Pierce's story but felt the book was very repetitive and the ending left me with a lot of questions.

[Hshen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and thought it was OK. Parts of the story kept getting repeated and it got tiring - whoever edited it could have done a much better job! Other parts of the book seemed unnecessary and irrelevant to the purpose of the book eg. histories about town/townsfolk; it felt like the book was trying to straddle another genre of writing which ultimately made the tone feel off-kilter.

The story of his journey to find his mum was interesting in parts, and sometimes touching, and also heart-breaking; and I stayed on to hear the 'end' but I felt it was altogether too self-indulgent for my taste.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not my usual reading material - was recommended by my sister. Written by Andrew Pierce the journalist it tells of his search to find his birth mother. A wonderful insight into his intense thoughts and feelings throughout the journey. Some very poignant and outright sad moments of a little boy in an orphanage. Also some very damning evidence against the nuns of Nazareth Houses in many countries. Completely tragic how young, already vulnerable young children were abused.
Definitely worth reading but strap in for an emotional ride

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but sad, and unfortunately repetitive

This is fundamentally a sad book about an illegitimate baby, the author, being abandoned in a children's home. His quest for information on his birth family is only partially answered. I found a lot of the book was repetitive, as if it was expected that someone would pick it up half way through and had to be reminded of the facts.

[Toni Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story but a little repetitive

I like Andrew Pierce on the TV and found his story fascinating and moving. However this book becomes a little tedious due to its repetitiveness unfortunately.

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories of adoption never fail to pull at my heartstrings, for both mother and child, not matter how successful the adoption turned out to be.

Andrew Pierce's story in some respects is a familiar one. He knew he was adopted, felt somewhat out of step within his adoptive family but had such love for his adoptive parents he didn't want to hurt them by so much as thinking about, let alone looking for his mother, but the pull was strong.

Margaret, Andrew's birth mother, didn't want to be found. She didn't want to be found when she gave up her baby, and one feels that she didn't really want to be found many years later. She certainly didn't want her family to know she had been found.

The book tells the story but because it is obviously articles written for his career as a journalist, it doesn't always hang together particularly well and there are many repetitive pieces that pull the reader out of the moment. There are promises of a follow-up for this successful journalist which will hopefully put some flesh on the bones of Margaret for Andrew, and his readers.

[mrs angela joan firkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving book

Couldn't put it down! Thank God Andrew Pierces adopted parents and their children were so loving, accepting and supportive!!!
Being born myself in 1963, I can understand the change in cultural norms between then and now but even so, as a Mom and Grandmother myself, I can't understand why Margaret didn't acknowledge Andrew to her family at the end of her life. I can't imagine how incredibly painful that must feel for Andrew and other people who have been treated exactly the same by their birth parents. I have always liked Andrew but this book has deepened my respect for him.

[Deborah Bye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Read

I am adopted and like Andrew I didn't want to upset my mum and dad by finding my birth mother.
After my mum died I had counselling and stuff came up read adoption. I traced my birth mum myself as Social Service's were totally inept. I found her and she eventually agreed to meet after she'd told her daughter! For 2 years it was fine, but like Margaret she had conveniently forgotten who my birth father was?!
Then out of the blue she cut all ties with me and ignored all my efforts to contact her......
Andrews book has helped me enormously as I now realise I'm not alone in being rejected twice. Thank you Andrew

[Sean Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really moving emotional autobiography

This book truly moved me, and I struggle to read this book. Why? As it happened to me when I went out to find my long lost Irish family. I have to say that it was very moving experience as I felt the author emotions as I took went through what he did.
The book itself is well written and I enjoyed reading it and regonise the places in Ireland as my mother side of the family came from there.
Overall a great read of a book. God bless.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy read, fascinating and moving in parts but very repetitive and ultimately extremely frustrating. Andrew was in close contact with some of his possible father’s family and mentioned a DNA test. I read on hurriedly. Surely he would not go to such lengths investigating the Coffey family history and describing them in great detail without revealing if he was actually related? But that’s exactly what he did! Irritating.

[Pamela Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like watching Andrew on TV. I read the extracts from this book in the Daily Mail and wanted to read the whole story. I would like to know how he gets on with DNA tests and if he contacts Margaret's four children from her marriage to Patrick Lennon. They must surely know about him now that the book is in the public domain. I hope he finds out who his father was. I believe he has added a new chapter to the paperback version of his book - perhaps a lot more is explained there.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in one day. Couldn’t put it down. Genuinely moving. It explores the complex issues around the search for a birth parent in a sensitive and gripping way.

I found the writing style a little prosaic and it could have done with some firmer copy editing but I enjoyed it very much. I hope DNA leads Andrew to discover his bio father and experience some closure.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a big reader however I read this book and just could not put it down . I was from Walcot in Swindon so i resonated with everything Andrew said about the area. I really felt for him in the during his search for Margaret and all the twists and turns , then finally finding her . I won’t give to much away but it is a must read. I was glued to his story all the way through .

Julie Rose

[Rachel Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was very readable, although there was some needless repetition. it was fascinating learning about his mother and her seeming denial of the past. I would have liked to have a bit more information in the postscript about how his half siblings took learning about his existence and also the results of any DNa tests which would surely answer a few of his questions

[miss l d milbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

I read this over a weekend. Andrew comes across as a very balanced person despite the rejection he must have felt from his birth mother. How I wished all the way through reading, he would find answers to his questions.

[MISS R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable Read!

Well written account of being an adopted child. An in depth look at the whys, the maybes, the facts and the hurt, confusion, love, determination and everything in between. Couldn’t put this book down 📕 ❤️

[Ms Angeline M Titterton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, very moving and sad at times but well written. One can learn such a lot from reading. It opens one eyes to what happens in places such as these and how unmarried mothers and their children suffered.

[Michele Eckersley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew’s book shows that all searches don’t end like ‘Long Lost Family’

Quite a sad book, Andrew’s mom being more scared of the church, than putting his mind at rest, I hope book 2 finding his dad, has a happier ending

[Adrienne Cullen-Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. I couldn't put it down. Beautifully written and heartbreaking in parts. I enjoyed his journey to his birth mother but at the end of it I felt she had never been honest with him. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in finding their birth parents.

[Susan B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Andrew's search for his birth Mother especially as I have also searched and found my birth parents. Therefore I understood a lot of what he has been through. Things don't always work out the way we may like them to.

[NATALIE PRICE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put in down.

This is such a heart wrenching but utterly enthralling story. I read it within 2 days, very compelling reading indeed.

[Christine Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very interesting book on how he found his birth mother

[Mr David Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique memoir that reads more like a thriller with so many twists and turns. It's also an emotional rollercoaster, laced with charm and wit.

[Anna FEATHERSTONE · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. I couldn’t put it down. It’s beautifully written and tells an amazing story with so many coincidences. One of my favourites ever

[Emily Buckler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikely read for me but interesting. Conservative, Christian, adopted and gay and the conflicting experiences this mix created.

[Lisa Rackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic but heartbreaking story

[Helen Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Andrew Pearce but I like him even more after this book he is so compassionate and never judgmental about his birth mother .

[Vespasian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book as i like Andrew Pierce, and that i was also adopted in the 60's thinking it would be an interesting read. It was quite interesting but found he repeated himself a lot and i wanted him to go into more of the how he found his mother, i know you need some back history of his life, but there were somethings that didnt need to be put in the book, I know the search it took to find my birth mother and this was what i was hoping for more of. Never less not a bad book and he is still a brilliant person. (Lynne)