Guilty Mothers Quotes

“politely before thanking her”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Carly had only ever wanted to be liked, to be special, to have her mother’s approval and to fit in with her peers. She wasn’t psychotic and she wasn’t evil, but ultimately she had taken three innocent lives. ‘Yes, Carly, I’m afraid they will.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“I’ve spent my entire life trying to please others, allowing people to mistreat, criticise or ignore me just to get their affection. I let fear of my mother govern every decision, and I always put myself last. That’s what she did to me.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Carly had seemed to be the most together person they’d spoken to, and the one least affected by her time in the spotlight. She’d recently lost her mum to natural causes and closed down a lucrative business. Kim could now see the link between all of those events, and the timing had been staring her in the face.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“know how many steps I need to do on the treadmill to work it off. Each piece I eat triggers a battle not to run to the bathroom and vomit it back up so the calories don’t register. I won’t because I’ve made progress, but controlling the actions is much easier than controlling the thoughts.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“You’re welcome, but I want you to promise me that you’ll now live it. I know it’s hard, but you deserve to be happy. Don’t continue to live in the prison he constructed.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“She is indeed, but she’s learning all of this right now, and as you can imagine, it’s a lot to take in. She’s gone from natural child to adopted to abducted in a very short period of time.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Haven’t you asked yourself why someone who had a lucrative career in hair and make-up is now beautifying the dead? You really think that’s an aspirational career choice?”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“After that I was angry. All those years of humiliation, of forcing me into pageants, the scolding, the claims of self-sacrifice for my happiness, the loneliness. Everything I endured… and I wasn’t even her daughter.’ ‘And”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Bryant, unless you can find me an eight-year-old who can actually perform these tricks, I suggest you use your little plastic wand to make yourself disappear.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Your mum loved all things pageant, and you were still trying to gain her approval?’ ‘Bang on, Inspector, and you have no idea how many therapy sessions I paid for to reach that conclusion.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“I’m sorry to say she was one of the least-popular moms on the circuit. Katie, bless her, was a sweetheart. Clearly embarrassed at times by her mother, but she wouldn’t say boo to a goose. She’d just hang her head in shame when Sheryl started on her antics.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Having a schizophrenic mother who was hellbent on killing both you and your twin brother was an exception and not the rule.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Every conversation left Kim feeling that the woman was one wrong question away from a meltdown. She was also certain there was something about Katie and her mother that they didn’t yet know.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Apparently they’re evolving to include inner beauty, personality, intelligence, but children shouldn’t be concerned about the size of their thighs or their stomachs. As a girl who was a chubby kid, I can tell you that such a huge focus on body image at a young age just isn’t healthy.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“And how easily had her links to the past been erased? There was a time when she’d had a job, colleagues, friends, a social life. She’d made a life with branches that reached out into the lives of other people, yet somehow Logan had amputated them, leaving her adrift, invisible, forgotten.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“One pageant had a child smoking a fake cigarette, another was dressed as a prostitute, another wore fake breasts. If you’re not horrified by these things, then there’s nothing I can tell you.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“You can’t make an omelette without cracking eggs. Some women need to be educated about their obligation to fight the system, not play into it.’ ‘Is it your obligation to put a brick through her window?”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“What, you think you’re a hero cos you have a female boss and you don’t make a fuss about it? Fuck, give the man a medal. Thanks for allowing the little woman to do her⁠—’ ‘I’m only saying that we’re not all bad,’ Bryant defended himself.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Just reading it was exhausting and not a little depressing. Spend too much time here and you’d grab a gun and shoot every man on the face of the earth.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“all spiralled because Andrea wanted Toyah to do well. She didn’t want her confidence battered due to not competing on the same level as the other girls. Luckily, we could afford it, but it was no cheap hobby. ‘What started as fun dress up with a bit of make-up and a sparkly dress turned into emails to organisers about rules and age ranges, arguments with dress designers who didn’t deliver. Over time, the fun aspect was replaced with rivalry and the desire to win. It took up more and more time.’ He paused. ‘Other things suffered.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“It’s okay, Toyah. They were good times for you and your mom. Cherish those memories. What made you stop doing the pageants?”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“She loved many aspects of her role, but her favourite was data analysis. Using numbers to paint a picture.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“He took control of the house and her debit card. Suddenly the cupboards were full of everything Logan liked to eat. The energy provider had been changed to get a better price and put in Logan’s name. She didn’t care. He had maxed out the credit cards to get cash should they need it.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Oh yeah, her own mother had been really disappointed every time she’d thwarted the woman’s attempts to kill her and her brother.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Abuse is rarely physical. It’s verbal, dismissive, with constant analysis and criticism, shouting and swearing, insults, disparaging jokes, steady prodding about weight, body type, denying embraces, disregarding, threatening, confining. The list goes on. She’ll use guilt trips and fear or obligation. She’ll gaslight and shame her daughter.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“They require excessive admiration. They have a sense of entitlement, an expectation of favourable treatment. They lack empathy and are unwilling or unable to recognise or identify with the feelings or needs of others. They are often arrogant and have the mindset “I am the best; I can’t be wrong, and you should be like me”.’ Sounded”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Debilitating,’ Judith answered. ‘Interesting word, meaning that she was unable to function normally. She’s an adult.’ ‘I’m going to assume you didn’t have a narcissistic parent, Inspector.’ Kim idly wondered if admitting to having a schizophrenic mother who had constantly tried to kill her and her twin would gain her entry to the club.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“Jeez, even Freud would have his work cut out with that one,’ she said.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers

“It wouldn’t be the first time a suspect had tried to feign mental health issues to avoid a life sentence.”
― Angela Marsons, Guilty Mothers