In 1956 Ivy is sent to St Margaret’s by her parents. She is pregnant and unmarried so a disgrace to her family. Ivy wants the father of her child to come and get her but she is not to have the happy ending.
Sixty years latter Samantha Harper is journalist and is given a letter by her grandmother which opens her interest in St Margaret’s which is about to be demolished.
What happened to Ivy and why are people not willing to talk about what happened at St Margaret’s?
The story is written from both POV of Ivy and Samantha.
I liked how the story unfolded and I did not see some of the twists coming. I don’t think it lives up to the tag line of one of ‘ the most gripping, heart wrenching page-turner of the year’ but it is very good made even more so by the fact that pregnant young girls in the fifties were badly mistreated. I would definately read other books by this author.

Based on a subject I have read about previously but then set in Ireland, this book is a fictional account based around one particular home for unmarried mothers during the 1950's. The plot skips between accounts of the present day journalist who uncovers the story, and that of various people, children and a mother, who were involved in the home. Later in the book we hear the accounts of other people, mainly those overseeing the treatment of these abused girls. I felt that these over complicated the flow of the book and the detailed accounts of their deaths was unnecessary and too gruesome and long winded. It was a good story without these extra voices joining in. A sad subject but compelling reading.

I’m speechless ,this was a thought provoking book which keeps you gripped and leaves you thinking about it even after you’ve finished it.
It’s not a subject I know a lot about, but I found it heart breaking that in the 50’s till the 70’s unmarried mothers were sent away to give birth & have their babies adopted, but what saddened me was that when these girls needed love and support,they were treated so coldly and expected to work hard. It seems crazy that they sent them away to avoid stigma when nowadays it is commonplace to see unmarried mothers, it’s as if back then it was a different world.
If you are after a story that is beautifully written, with strong characters this is the perfect book that long after reading will stay in you’re thoughts.
Thank you to netgalley for letting me review

1950s England - a teenage girl gets pregnant. Her stepfather insists that, to avoid shaming the family, she go to a mother-and-baby home until the baby is born. However, to pay for her stay there, she must remain and work for 3 years after the baby (which is adopted) is born.
2017 - a television personality retires; a young journalist comes across some letters.
Gradually, the links between the stories unfold, and along the way, the horrors of the treatment of unmarried mothers in the home run by Catholic nuns are revealed.
Although not apparent at the beginning, this is actually a crime mystery, woven into the stories of women over the past 60 years. This book is a graphic illustration of how attitudes towards unmarried mothers have changes, from getting pregnant outside marriage being a 'mortal sin' (according to the nuns) to it now being more common than within marriage.
The characters are generally well drawn (least convincing is Elvira - who was meant to be oxygen-deprived at birth, but does not appear to have suffered any ill effects).

An interesting exploration of 20th century social history within the parameters of a crime novel - worth a read.

I was completely absorbed in this well written, though at times harrowing story that moves between a Magdalene Laundry type home for unmarried mothers in the 1950s and the present day. Connections between characters are gradually revealed with some surprising twists and turns that lead to an unexpected denouement at the end. I found it hard to put this book down- it's a real page turner!

I really enjoyed this book and it's subject matter is very topical.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the ARC.

I enjoyed most of the book, but the last quarter is a little far fetched. I also found the main character, Sam, selfish and unlikable. I would like to add a comment to the Author, a sixty year old (grandmother or not) is not the ancient person you have depicted her to be! the character did not ring true.

Wow - what a harrowing and heart wrenching novel, even more so because, whilst this may be fictional, the events that happened at the Catholic mother and baby homes have been proven to be true. Lots of action that is gripping, intriguing and upsetting all at the same time. I enjoyed, if that is the right word, seeing the links between all the characters and how Sam finally got to the truth in the most heart breaking way. A sad tale but expertly writing and a thoroughly gripping read.

This novel had me gripped. I almost read it in one sitting which to me is a sign of a good book.

The pace is perfect, it brings you in introducing different characters and time lines and keeps moving between them. Not confusingly so in that you have no idea what is going on; it dips between them in a well organised way.

The author also catches the mood of the time with the Magdalene Laundries in that it wasn’t just the religious institutions that kept them open, it suited many people in society to keep them. At times it is harrowing to read.

Living in Ireland we all know that there are woman and children who are still missing, or had their lives affect by the laundries

Definitely recommend, easy four stars.