I had the perfect life – a nice house, a loving husband, a beautiful little boy.
But in one devastating night, they were all ripped from me.
It's been fourteen years, and I’m finally ready to face the past.
I’m taking my son back.
He just can’t know who I am…or why we were torn apart.
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This was an absolute corker of a debut author.
I absolutely loved this author’s style of writing. I have just been approved for her new novel and I cant wait to read this in the New Year. This is a new auto-buy/request author.
This book really reminded of another one of my favourite authors, Linda G reen.
A lot happens in this book. There are lies, deceits, suspense, tension and love all wrapped into one novel.
The characters were very believable and I felt as though I knew them alll. The way Sarah Clarke describes everything in her writing, down to the coffee shop; - where I thought I had visited, just makes this book. The reader almost feels as though they are an outsider in this book, watching the story unfold.
I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone who loves a domestic thriller.

After losing her son 14 years ago, Phoebe is on a quest to get him back from his new family. ⁣
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This "thriller" wasn't overly thrilling for me. It was more a story of a broken family. It was an easy read and kept me intrigued throughout but it didn't wow me.

First off I've got to point out the cover, this is most definitely one that would grab my attention on a bookshelf!

Right, this book left me with a whole host of mixed feelings in all truth.

A story of adoption and the lives of the adopted child who is now 17, the adoptive family and the biological mother who was left with no choice.

The book felt like it was just fuelled on anger.. everyone was angry all the time. I'm not sure why but the emotion it left me with was being defensive.

The majority of the characters were unlikeable. At times I felt sorry for them but in the whole it ended up making me feel their anger which was more to do with the fact that I felt their reasons of anger and frustration were unjustified.

Personally I enjoyed the first half of the book far more than the second half, which seemed to drag and there were a few incidents which I just found completely implausible ie: the friendship with the older woman (Phoebe)

I can't say I either liked or disliked the book it's just not one I'd readily recommend.

Thanks to netgalley and HQ for the ARC.

Amazing book! Loved this story and highly recommend it! I look forward to more books by this author!

A Mother Never Lies by Sarah Clarke is a thriller read. The story in this one is told in different timelines dating between 1998 and a present time. This thriller is also told from different points of view involved in the story

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers but this pretending did not worked for me. I hope my next book by this author will suit me more. It was not so bad written and very attentive and so I do not give a bad vote.

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️. Looks like I’m in the minority when it comes to star ratings for this one. Let me start with saying that the beginning was really good. In fact, the first half was a solid 4-4.5 star for me but at about the halfway point I felt like it was starting to drag alittle and as much as I hate to say it like this, I feel like some of it was just dumb. I didn’t like the storyline of Phoebe pretending to be someone else to get close to her son. It just seemed odd to me at times, the way it was written. This 17 year old all of a sudden has this weird friendship with an older woman (of course he doesn’t realize she’s his biological mother). And the way some of it was written just kinda bored me. The author did do a good job when she threw in some dramatic parts and the ending wasn’t really disappointing, but it just wasn’t enough for me to be totally wowed by it. Overall, I didn’t love it, didn’t hate it and probably would not recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

To see other reviews I’ve left, please check out my Goodreads and Instagram pages:
*Goodreads - Cherihy808
*Instagram - bookworm_traveler808

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for my copy to review on netgalley. This is a fantastic debut and I raced through it this evening.

Gripping and addictive this is a psychological thriller that’s fast paced and thought provoking.

Sensitively written as the concept of care and adoption are explored .

Packed with tension and a sense of foreboding the reader knows there’s big reveals coming in all directions.

This had me hooked . Do people especially parents deserve a second chance? Can people change? Thought provoking and compelling

Published 27th August and I’ll definitely be keeping a eye on her future books!

An interesting plot, with a lot of angst and woe. Perhaps not the best book to pick if you want a thriller. Somehow, even after all the to and fro through the years, and all that angst, the book ended rather well.

I really enjoyed this title. I liked the twists and turns and the writing style is nice and smooth. The story flows well and kept my attention. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. I will be recommending this one to friends.

Thank you to negalley for the chance to read this.
This is a first read for this author and i would definitely read from her again. I enjoyed the story and how ot played out but i didnt see ome part coming. Definitely a good thriller type book to read, worth a try. I enjoyed it

Excellent thriller - please see the interview with Sarah on thillerwomen.co.uk. The story is full of intrigue and suspense and one that will tug at the heartstrings, and conscience of every mother.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. "A Mother Never Lies" by Sarah Clarke was different than I expected. I thought this was going to be a murder mystery, and there was a murder, but the reader almost felt that it was justified. The secrets that were kept from the secondary character that led to the major reveal really leads to a great discussion on adoption, mental health and PTSD. A good read

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy a good thriller and this sounded perfect. It didn't live up to my expectations as much as I thought it would. I didn't really like any of the characters, but I was still drawn to the story. I did like past and present POV's.

While I didn't fully enjoy this book, it was a decent read and I will try this author again.

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

The book was great, interesting characters, fast changing and twisting plot- exactly what I love! I would recommend this book to my friends and family!

A brilliant Debut Book
A great thriller
Full of twists
Definitely will read her next book
Thanks NetGalley

Phoebe is back in London after 14 years, after a horrific event. She is living with her parents in a dilapidated house. Apparently she had lost custody of her son all those years ago and she is trying to find him and reenter his life.
Ben/Charlie has no memory of his past. He lives with his adoptive parents and sister. He is a typically rebellious teen and has bad nightmares sometimes.
This book was so slow until more than halfway through, then we start to find out what actually happened. I did feel bad for Phoebe, but the whole story just dragged so much that I found myself skimming most of it. I didn't really care about any of the characters, the most interesting part, was finding out what actually happened all those years ago. I honestly empathized with Ben/Charlie, everyone failed him, which I suppose was the point of the story. I just wasn't enthralled with the book. This wasn't really a thriller, it was just a sad story that tried to redeem itself in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Things are not always what they seem. When you have the perfect life and lose it all in one night what would you do to get it all back. How long would you wait. How far would love take you. This book had me guessing until the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was initially on the fence about this book, but I did become hooked by the premise and the lingering mystery of what happened to Phoebe. The story is told in alternating timelines, and shifts between Phoebe’s and Ben’s perspectives. As the tension in the book grows, the truth is revealed at the climax; one that I did not see coming.
I can see this book being a good one for book clubs, as members could debate about the morality of Phoebe’s intentions. I found myself alternately sympathizing with her and shaking my head at her behavior. I also enjoyed reading from Charlie’s perspective and how being adopted and the lasting effects of trauma effected him.