Moving is never easy if you are going somewhere you don't know anyone. Not only does a move uproot your own life, but when you have children, you are anxious for them to adjust too and as soon as possible. 

When you come from a city, where almost nobody knows your name, and arrive in a close knit village, it's a huge adjustment. Everybody always seems to notice you and what you do even though you try to keep to yourself as much as possible. But if you want to fit in in this community, the only way seems to start and make friends. 

Thank God (add sarcasme ;) ) for your son who loves football, for him to be invited into the team and for you to become friends with the other parents...

They do seem all normal and kind enough, but boy oh boy, they do have things to hide. And there is someone who is keen to open pandora's box...

A truck load of characters were introduced, but the author had the excellent idea to give some info in the beginning of the book about them. I made a photo of it and kept it by my side so I could take a look form time to time until I knew everybody and their connections.

People do not show what they don't want the rest of the world to know. People do not hesitate to use knowledge to ridicule others or to force them to make certain decisions. It can all work out perfectly for them until it doesn't anymore...

A good story, maybe a bit confusing in the beginning due to the many characters you had to meet, but with a great outcome. 4 stars

Thank you

The story centers round a boys football team. Alex is still getting over the death of her husband. She makes a new friend in Patti, the local beauty salon owner. There's a lot going on in this book. There is a history of witchcraft and everyone seems to have secrets. It's also a bit far fetched in places. There's lots of characters to try and keep track of. The premise is a parent making a new start in a new town with her children following the death of her husband. I liked the insightful way the author described the insecurities of joining a new community and trying to fit in and the cliques and social groups involved. I found the, vast, cast of characters a little daunting at times and had to concentrate a little to keep up. The pace is slow throughout. The narrative was dark and took an interesting edge when secrets started to be revealed about people’s pasts but a lot of the drama also revolves around the local football team which didn’t hold my interest so well. Thanks to the author the publisher and author.

This was quite the Interesting story but I kept getting confused by who all the characters were. This then distracted me from the plot so the thrill/mystery was lost. Also the pacing was a bit slow. Sometimes a slow pace helps with the mystery but that wasn't the case with this book.

This was the first book I've read by the author Claire Seeber and it didn't disaapoint.
Looks of twists and turns that kept me interested.
At times the back story was a little far fetched and didn't always add to the overall story.
I enjoyed the narrator and the dark humour peppered throughout this book.

Interesting but too many characters that spoils the plot, because it ends up taking the main focus from the mystery.

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review. I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book but I wouldn’t necessarily read it again. The pacing sometimes felt slow and I didn’t always feel connected to the characters.

"The Parents" by Claire Seeber promises a gripping tale of secrets and lies lurking beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives in a small village. While the premise holds immense potential, the execution leaves much to be desired.

The novel starts with a poignant setup, exploring the challenges of a widow seeking a fresh start for her family in a new village. The initial portrayal of the seemingly flawless other parents and the protagonist's eagerness to fit in generates intrigue. However, as the story progresses, the plot becomes muddled, and the characters fail to fully engage the reader.

While the promise of a jaw-dropping twist is teased throughout the narrative, the revelation falls short of the anticipated impact. The plot twist, when it finally arrives, feels forced and fails to deliver the shock factor promised in the book's description. Instead of being a cleverly woven surprise, it comes across as contrived and unconvincing.

Despite its shortcomings, "The Parents" does have moments of intrigue that may appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers with a focus on community dynamics. However, for those expecting a narrative on par with works by authors like Lisa Jewell or Louise Candlish, "The Parents" may leave them wanting more.

I absolutely adored this book, another great read from Claire Seeber! New starts are needed sometimes, but ever wonder if you could turn back time and not make friends with those other mums? Too late, what's done is done and now to see how it pans out!

"The Parents" by Claire Seeber offers a suspenseful exploration of family dynamics and secrets. The author's writing style draws readers into the story, allowing them to glimpse the hidden tensions within the characters' lives. The pacing fluctuates, with moments of heightened tension followed by slower segments that may test reader engagement. The portrayal of complex relationships is a strong point, yet at times, the characters' motivations feel unclear and could benefit from further development. While the plot holds potential, it occasionally veers into predictable territory.

The resolution ties up loose ends but may leave some wanting more depth in the final revelations. Overall, "The Parents" is a decent read for those seeking a psychological thriller, but it falls short of delivering a consistently gripping experience.

I liked the premise of this book but it didn't keep me as gripped as I thought it would. I often lost track of who was in which family too. Some good twists though but I felt it could have been more of a thriller.

"The Parents" by Claire Seeber started off with a great premise. Seeminly perfect families that are part of a local soccer club and the secrets they are hiding. I guess I got a little lost in the minutia of it all. I was having a little trouble keeping track of who belonged to which family and who's kid was who's. There were some twists that I enjoyed. Reading about life in a small British community is always entertaining for me.

Overall I enjoyed this author's writing and her characters were fun to read about, but I expected more of a thriller.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book for my honest review. This book is available now,

I don’t know how to feel about this book. I had to really force myself to finish it, but it was also entertaining in some ways? I found Patti to be the most likable character and pretty much the only reason I kept going. There was just SO much going on, it felt like the football stuff and Alex’s story could’ve been two different books. Overall, took me way too long to finish such a short book because I wasn’t invested.

Alex moves back to England following the death of her husband in America where they had been living with their two children. Struggling for money due to delays with the insurance payout, she ends up living in a small village with a strong history of witches, and a house which it transpires is known for being haunted.

Trying to fit in she offers to help out at the football club her son joins. It turns out that the parents are very cliquey, and include an ex professional footballer.

Alex knows she is hiding a secret but it turns out that many of the other villagers are too, and someone has decided to make sure those secrets are exposed.

An interesting read but not the psychological thriller I was expecting. This is more of a neighbourhood mystery and unfortunately the characters felt a little superficial and the story didn't draw me in as much as I'd hoped.

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.

I really struggled to get into this one as the story just seemed quite flat to me, I have read other books by this author which have een really good but this one wasn't for me.

I’m on the fence a bit about The Parents. While it was indeed full of juicy secrets, the ones the story concentrated on were not the most interesting. The story is told from two viewpoints, Patti and Alex. For the most part, Alex is generally likeable and the hints about her secret are intriguing. It’s also interesting to see the other characters from the perspective of a newcomer to a tight-knit village. On the other hand, I found Patti to be rather annoying. While she is made out to be kind and caring, although not without her own faults, I found her to be rather fake and too eager to be in with the people she regarded as important. Also, I feel like her secret was much more than local gossip and should have been dealt with with more care ask detail.

There are plenty of other secondary characters in The Parents, and you do come to grips with who’s who over time. Although I know there wouldn’t have been space to cover everyone equally, I would have liked to have seen some of these characters more developed. Their secrets were pretty interesting and would maybe even be worth of a full book.

I did think that The Parents was a good insight into small town life. While everything may seem idyllic on the outside (and the Kent setting was truly beautiful), quite often we see competition, pettiness and backstabbing.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It wasn't that it was a bad story, I just found it a bit flat. There was no build up of tension or excitement, I worked out the end quite early on so when it did arrive there was no surprise which kind of spoiled the book for me. It was a bit of an anticlimax. I think the fair thing to say is that it was a good story but not a great one.

This was an ok thriller, I thought it was about average, the plot kept me engaged but it didn’t wow me

Advertised as a psychological thriller, The Parents is more of a mystery with very little thrill. The characters gossip a lot which leads to very little character development. The synopsis of this book was really misleading and I simply cannot recommend this book.

An atmospheric mystery thriller set in a small British town with a haunting history.

Claire Seeber's The Parents follows the parents of a local soccer league in a town where witches used to be lynched and killed.

The saga kicks off when Alex, moves to the little town from the USA with her son, after the tragic death of her husband. With plenty of secrets to conceal, she hopes to keep a low profile until her late husband's estate is finalized.

There's no such luck in small towns where everyone knows everyone else. When her son joins the soccer team, she finds herself thrust into the messy lives of the other parents. Meanwhile, a gossip blog reveals the deepest secrets of the other parents. Who is behind the mystery blog and do they know her secrets?

Claire builds a world that walks the edges of a modern gothic novel without actually tipping over the edge. I wish it did, though. The author built such a mystic presence with the folklore, superstitions, and rituals in the little town but never actually dove into the supernatural. I, however, wanted more. I kept hoping the myths and legends would pay off and it left me a little disappointed in the end.

With a well-rounded cast of characters, the plot moves swiftly and keeps you engaged throughout. It's a decent story, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric mysteries without the spooky elements.

Final thoughts: If Claire Seeber ever writes a novel in this world, I'd pick it up for sure.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.