I struggled to get into this book. I found some parts unrealistic, and the storyline lagged in many places. The ending was a bit of a surprise, but it didn't feel like the best fit for the story.

I thought this was a really well-written book. Not too keen on the story though. The first half had me intrigued and wanting to know more, but I began to lose interest in the second half. It seemed to lose pace and drag on forever and, for me anyway, the story became totally unbelievable and silly. I didn’t find it gripping or thrilling, and Flora was really getting on my nerves! Worth a read, but nothing I could rave about. Great writing though, and for that reason I would read another of the author’s books.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy a well written domestic thriller, and this story of a mother trying to reclaim her son, even under false pretenses, fit the bill to a T! The story does ask to suspend disbelief, but I loved it!

Fourteen years ago, following a traumatic event, Phoebe lost custody of her son Charlie. Now she's back and hoping to reconnect with him despite the fact that she isn't supposed to have contact with him unless he initiates it.

The book follows both Phoebe and Charlie's POV, and also takes us back fourteen years to explain what happened to separate them.

This is a great debut novel for Sarah Clarke. The characters are likeable but also incredibly human. You can't help but feel deeply for them. The story keeps us riveted, and takes a turn I was not expecting. I am looking forward to more novels by this author.

An interesting story and not as expected. It kept me interested until the end, even though it wasn't always easy to find sympathy for the main character. However there were twists and turns and not as I expected it to be. An enjoyable read.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

The plot sounded so interesting but the mystery was flat and took so long to develop I had long since stopped caring. Not even an entertaining guilty pleasure

A strong debut from Clarke. An edge of your seat thriller with good writing, believable characters and an interesting plot that's woven in such a way as to keep the reader guessing right up until the big reveal at the end. In an already genre busy market this is sure to find its place.

Wow! Absolutely loved this novel! This was my first book by Sarah Clarke, but I am sure that it will not be my last. A Mother Never lies was a nail biting thrilled that kept you begging for more!

Absolutely loved the dual time line! This story goes back and forth between 1998 and 2019. You can feel the tension , guilt, remorse and tragedy throughout this novel.

Phoebe once had the perfect life, there wasn't anything she didn't have. With the perfect husband by her side and her little boy, her life was truly complete. Phoebe has a secret, some times telling the truth will do more damage than good. . Her life has since fallen apart. Now living with her parents in a run down house. She has been struggling. Its been 14 years since she had to give her son up for adoption.

Its been 14 years since Phoebe returned home after that fateful night. She is finally ready to face her past and fight for her son.

I do not want to spoil it for all of you future readers but I will say you will devour this novel in one sitting. The pace flows nicely and the ending gives you closure!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review A Mother Never Lies, prior to its release date.

A Mother Never Lies - Sarah Clarke
As life spirals out of control, Phoebe is left with no other choice but to have someone else raise her son and give him a life she simply could not.
14 years later, Phoebe returns to her home town and moves back in with her parents, hiding her true intentions. Find Charlie. To do so, she is breaking alot of rules, but he is almost 18 and those rules will no longer apply.
By a stroke of luck, Phoebe glances at a newspaper and knows in that moment that the boy in the photo is her son, who now goes by Ben. She plots her way into a chance meeting with him, and finds a way into his life by lying about who she is. She sees the pain she has caused in his life, but drags herself deeper and deeper into this new lie. Will Ben figure it out? Or will he forgive her when the time comes for him to know the truth?
As a debut novel, I just have to say wow. The characters were quite complex due to their tragic past and the residual aftermath. As much as you wanted to hate them and their selfish ways, it wasn't hard to understand where they were coming from. They're human and unfortunately, humans have a breaking point.
The twist was something I was definitely not expecting and I had to re-read the page to ensure I had read it correctly. I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with!
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Personally found the book hard to follow with the switching of dates and the ending was wildly too unbelievable and unrealistic given the storyline. The ending being a happy ending ruined the whole thriller for me, almost like condoning murder and stalking with a happy ending.

I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book but what a good read it turned out to be. It was well written with good characters which kept me involved in the storyline with a few twists and turns thrown in.

I can recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read this new author to me.

What a surprise this book was! I went into this read with the intentions of not reading any previous reviews , so I could I could give a fair and unbiased opinion.
The story was so much more then I could ever have expected . It was, for me very thought provoking and made me ask myself just what would I would do in the same situation.

The story begins with with a child that has been taken from his mother and adopted by another family , through no fault of his own, a mother that was driven to violence through a collection of events and a Grandmother that is an alcoholic that wants to do the right thing by her daughter as well as her Grandson, but sadly the drink has clouded her thought process.
So many twists and so much happens,, that from one page to the next I was seeing it through the eyes of each character. Right to the end I was asking myself ," what would I have done in the same situation " I couldn't put this book down , and just had to know what was going to happen to all the characters .

I would like to thank Netgalley, HQ pulishers and the Author for the ARC copy .

3.5 rounded up.

It’s November 2019 and Phoebe Taylor has returned to London after a fourteen year absence. She’s living with her parents in shabby decay in a once grand house. She’s struggling especially with the adoption years ago of her son Charlie who is now nearly eighteen. She once had it all, what went wrong? The storyline goes from May 1998 to 2019 and is told by Phoebe and by Charlie who is now called Ben Moreton.

First of all, this is an extremely promising debut. The characterisation is very good with the portrayal of Phoebe being particularly strong. You feel conflicted about her, swinging between sympathy, then dislike and then wanting to yell at her for a number of reasons and ask her what she thinks she’s doing?? Ben’s conflicted teenage emotions are also worth mentioning as he tries to make sense of his world and find a place in it. The relationships and accompanying emotions are effectively done too. There are some taut moments of tension and suspense which are good with all the betrayal, guilt, fears and some hatred coming to the fore. The ending has drama and some resolution.

However, at times it’s over wordy and detailed and thus the pace drops off which is a pity as I lose some concentration at this point.

Overall though, the positives heavily outweigh the negatives and I look forward to reading what Sarah Clarke comes up with next.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Wow. That was one of those books that you have to plow through no matter what other things need to be done - couldn’t put it down! Phoebe’s story is so heartbreaking. Her own parents so worthless and a rotten husband who cheats and lies. And poor Charlie, totally messed up by his parent’s actions. Just a really good story with great characters and one I won’t have a problem recommending!

Phoebe has everything, a lovely house, husband and son. One night it is all ripped from her and she looses everything. What happened in that fateful night and what are the dreams and panic attacks she keeps having and what is the obsession with schools. Told in the past and also 14 years later. Loved this book, could see it being turned into a tv adaptation. Will be looking out for more from Sarah Clarke.

Many thanks NetGalley for letting me read this book.

Apparently this is a debut novel for this author, and my first thought is WOW! She really knocked it out of the park! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time!! When Phoebe's 3 year old son is taken from her, she is devastated and feels like her life is over. Fast forward 14 years later when her son is a lost 18 and Phoebe wants to try to find her son even though he was adopted when he was little and has a whole new life. When she starts digging around, she gets more than she bargained for! What a suspenseful gripping novel! I can't wait til Sarah Clarke releases more suspenseful books like this!!
You will not be able to put this book down!!

Thank you NetGalley, HQ and Author for this wild thriller ebook!

A Mother Never Lies was just the thriller I needed!
The suspense building plot was crazy good. Along with the outstanding character development.
The story was was great and intriguing. I loved the Sarah Clarke's writing style. She knows how to hold her readers attention. She has a new fan here!
I really enjoyed this book and I can't thank y'all enough for the chance to read and review it!

It took me a while to get into this book, I thought it had dragged on, but I'm glad I didn't give up it had great twists.

Who can you trust? This novel really makes your question life and those around you! I really enjoyed this one, though I found it a little unbelievable in parts.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I was annoyed right away because should the social worker really be seeking out the birth mother?? I felt like the story was dragged out, parts were very unrealistic. I didn't think there was any suspense really. Honestly, it' was too slow and i couldn't get into it. Lots of people with anger issues. Kind of a surprise ending but took way too long to get there.