After reading Greenwich Park and really enjoying it, I was looking forward to reading this and was not disappointed. This was a brilliant read, a real page turner with lots of twists that last until the end . Believable, and a great storyline.

I wish I had read this on holiday or whilst I could lie down and finish it in a day, as I kept staying up late reading it as I could not leave another chapter. I would recommend this book as it’s great,

If you've ever been a parent at nursery or school you will understand the "clique"
Tash makes friends of the back of a story but her friends are definitely not what they seem.
Great plot!

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that delves into the dark underbelly of the seemingly perfect lives of a group of mothers. Tash, an ex-journalist, is not only searching for a story to kickstart her freelance career but also yearning for new friends to navigate the challenges of motherhood.

Faulkner skillfully paints a vivid picture of the contrast between Tash's own modest life and the glamorous existence of the other mothers she encounters at her son's playgroup. The allure of their sophisticated and successful lives pulls Tash in, and she is quickly drawn into their circle, experiencing a taste of the life she has always dreamed of.

However, beneath the polished surface of these families lies a web of secrets waiting to unravel. Faulkner masterfully builds suspense, creating an atmosphere of unease and tension as it becomes clear that not everyone in the playgroup can be trusted. The author keeps readers guessing, skillfully planting red herrings and unexpected twists throughout the narrative.

The characters in The Other Mothers are complex and multifaceted, each hiding their own motivations and secrets. Tash's journey from outsider to insider is compelling, and readers will find themselves questioning who to trust right alongside her.

Faulkner's prose is engaging and immersive, capturing the intricacies of the characters' lives and the psychological dynamics at play. The pacing is spot-on, with the tension steadily rising until the explosive climax.

The Other Mothers is an addictive and suspenseful thriller that explores themes of identity, motherhood, and the dark side of human nature. Katherine Faulkner's skillful storytelling and well-drawn characters make this a book that is impossible to put down. Fans of domestic thrillers will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this unguessable and compelling tale.

I really enjoyed Other Mothers. Tash is a journalist and stumbles across a case that doesn't sit right with her. She becomes embroiled in trying to discover the truth about the young women's death.
The Other Mothers seemingly have it all and they invite her into their group but is it just a ploy to keep her from uncovering the real truth.
Lots of twists and turns and I like how it ended.

An interesting domestic thriller that explores the troubles of motherhood. I loved that there was loads of twists and you never knew who you could trust, I was left guessing until the very end. This would make a great summer read that hooks you in and doesn't let you go until all the secrets are revealed.

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

This is the first book by this author that I have read…but it won’t be my last.

It took me a while to get into, but once I did I couldn’t stop reading it. I loved the setting of the playgroup, the intertwining characters, the secrets and toxic friendships…definitely the sort of book that appeals to me.

Full of twists & turns and a really good, unexpected ending, I have already recommended this book to friends.

I really enjoyed this book , it was one of those, the more you keep reading the better it gets . I loved the characters , flaws and all and struggled to figure out who was doing what to who . The ending was really good , not what I was expecting at all . I would definitely recommend this book to my audience and can’t wait for the next from this author. 5 stars from me

Tash, a freelance journalist moves to a new area, with Tom her husband, and Finn their toddler. When Finn starts nursery, she becomes involved with other mothers who she regularly sees outside the nursery. However, although appearing friendly, she doesn’t fit in with the wealthy mothers with their expensive lifestyle, while her family are trying their best to keep up with bills.
As a journalist, she is investigating how Sophie, a young woman drowned in local wetlands, though the police consider the case closed. Tension increases as Tash comes nearer to the truth of what really happened, and becomes disturbed when she realises that someone is trying to stop her continuing with the story.
Chapters of the book are also graphically described by Sophie of events leading up to the incident, which gives broader depth to the story. Skilfully written, the plot keeps you absorbed in the action, though it does lack pace occasionally. The characters are mainly relatable and you feel empathy with their situation. Though there are darker sides to them and hidden secrets which are explored as the story unfolds.
As Tash becomes completely obsessed with her investigation into what happened to Sophie, the book becomes more complex, with unexpected twists and turns, along with a gripping storyline, which will keep readers turning the pages.

I enjoyed reading the author’s previous novel, Greenwich Park and was pleased to be accepted by Netgalley to read and review an early copy of this book.
From the start, this book had me well and truly hooked and immersed in the lives of Tash and Sophie. I don’t want to give away too much of the plotline, I want you to read this and discover the tangled lives of a group of mothers from London, I will give you a very brief overview to make you pre-order this book now!
A fresh and deftly paced thriller about murder, class, and motherhood in one of London’s toniest communities.

When a young nanny dies under mysterious circumstances near new mom Tash’s home, she is certain that this could be the story to relaunch her journalism career.

Meanwhile, she also needs to find a local playgroup for her son. Nearby is the gorgeous neighborhood filled with wealthy and friendly families, stunning houses, and lavish playdates. But when another young woman is found dead, it’s clear there’s much more to the community than meets the eye and the more Tash investigates, the more she’s led uncomfortably close to the mothers in her son’s playgroup.

Are these women really her friends? Or is there another, more dangerous reason why she has been accepted into their exclusive world? Who, exactly, is investigating who?
The characters are all so well written, and I really felt part of the mum’s group that Tash became part of, and they way that they wouldn’t discuss Sophie and her past. The story was a real rollercoaster of twists and turns, that left me second guessing and wanting to read ‘just one more chapter’ throughout the book, culminating in an ending that was a truly shocking and unexpected ending. One that made me sit with the last page for a very long time.
I highly recommend this fast-paced psychological thriller to everyone. A perfect summer read to become immersed in by the pool or relaxing in the shade.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Having enjoyed Greenwich Park, I was very keen to read Katherine Faulkner's latest offering.
Tash is a new mother, and also trying to start a freelance career as a journalist. She has is approached by a grieving mother who wants her to investigate the death of her daughter Sophie. In the midst of this she is also making new Mum friends and becomes a part of a very privileged rich group of Mums. However, are they hiding things and what about all of their husbands? Who is to be trusted?
This was a great read - for many I think it would be 5 stars but it is 4 for me for a reason that I don't want to divulge, as it is a bit of a spoiler. I did read this in one day, as it was propulsive and the change in perspective and time between Tash and also Sophie ( the murdered daughter) was very effective. .

I buddy read Katherine's earlier book Greenwich Park with my daughter last year and we were both impressed by the author's writing. When the opportunity to read The Other Mothers came up for me via NetGalley I was keen to sign up - I wanted to see whether the author could keep up her excellent ability to hide clues amongst the general storytelling, one of the strengths of Greenwich Park for me. I'm delighted to say, she hasn't let me down in this book. In fact, I can confidently say that she has risen to the challenge I had silently set her, and excelled far further than I could have hoped.

The opening scenes of the book are set in a police station in Cornwall, with Tash explaining to officers how she met the other members of the group she is staying with. How these scenes could possibly link to a new development of flats near Tash's family home in London, her faltering career as a freelance journalist and her son Finn's playgroup were a mystery to me.

Like many new mums with a limited support network Tash struggles to find her feet integrating into the groups of expensively presented, highly polished women who are established regulars at the local playgroup - in her head Tash brands them "the ponytail mums". Imagine her delight when one of them invites her into their clique of coffee dates at the cafe across the road, safe in the knowledge that her son Finn is in good hands, making his own friends and growing in confidence without her. And that's just the start of it.

But while the playgroup is good for Finn, it quickly becomes clear that Tash's latest investigative report is upsetting some of the locals - and to her shock, actually involves the former nanny of one of the ponytail mums. She's soon in a worrying dilemma as to whether to keep looking into the case or, as the disturbing warnings suggest, she should steer well clear.

This is where the quality of Faulkner's writing comes in; all the clues point to there being connections to the playgroup parents, but which ones? Who should she be wary of? The more Tash digs, the more skeletons start rattling at cupboard doors and soon Tash has more to be worried about than just a newspaper article: she and her family are beginning to suffer in her search for the truth. Will she be able to set aside her quest to settle what she feels is a huge injustice in order to protect her family?

The more I read about the ponytail mums and their associated families, the more I felt uncomfortable. It just goes to show that the gloss and veneer of wealth and being part of the in-crowd, whilst seeming attractive from the outside, also has its downsides. I felt that the author perfectly captured the pressures there are on new mums to fit in, the feeling that certain people just know what to do and how to act so that they fit seamlessly into the role, while others are left floundering on the outside looking in, waiting for that golden ticket of invitation to the circle of acceptance. The secrets and hidden links are all there amongst the pages, woven so discreetly into the story that I only picked up on a couple of them.

With Tash getting closer to the truth every day, the big question is: as the group closes ranks, will she be included in their number or left on the outside looking in as she was in the beginning? Do they see her as one of them or an outsider with her less than desirable home and limited budget? I was glued to this book as the facts were gradually disclosed, the pacing absolutely pitch perfect.

I highly recommend this book - and if you missed out on Greenwich Park then I suggest you grab a copy of that one too!

My first read by this author and what a roller coaster of a story. Complex characters all inter acting with each other except Tash who joins their clique to find out things. A great read.
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Brilliant storyline about toxic friendships with a host of twists and turns along the way.

This was a real page turner read and I loved the sense of tension in the narrative. The characters were well rounded with their own sets of flaws and backstories. It was easy to identify with them all.

An excellent read.

Tash is a struggling journalist and mother. She starts to investigate the death of a young woman called Sophie at the request of her mother who believes she was murdered. At the same time, she is befriended by three mums from her son’s nursery. She really enjoys feeling connected, despite the money hashed is spending. As she looks into the case, she realises that Sophie was the nanny for one of her new friends and someone is warning her off. You get the viewpoint of Sophie as well which is slowly revealed alongside the investigation, I found the climax exciting but was less keen on Tash’s behaviour at the end. Not as good as her debut novel but worth a read. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC.

A superb, suspenseful psychological thriller. I enjoyed all the twists, turns and surprises. The plot is all cleverly intertwined around the parents at the playgroup. Eveyone has their secrets. One not to be missed.

Tash is a freelance journalist, though with a demanding two year old, Finn, she is juggling more balls than she thought possible. Her husband, Tom, is a doctor at a local hospital, working long hours. They both agree that a nursery would be good for their son. A place for Finn is secured at a much revered nursery, though Finn struggles to settle there, preferring to be with his mummy. When a popular mummy takes both Tash and Finn under her wing, matters soon improve. To her surprise Tash is then welcomed into the inner enclave of the yummy mummy clique. But are these women are all they appear to be?

This is the latest in a long line of dubious parenting books, but also a good one. The characterisation of school gate mums (or nursery gate in this case), families with secrets, dodgy parenting and troubled relationships is done well, a real treat. The pace is fast and revealing, though the ending a little “woolly”, a tidy up needed.

Sadly, after all the hard work and vision of the author, this arc was awful. The presentation of this author’s work did her no favours at all and would certainly put many reviewers off. Hopefully, after some serious editing and with the presentation issues resolved, this will move from a good 4* to an excellent 5* read.

Thank you NetGalley.

With The Other Mothers, Katherine Faulkner has taken an overused trope, namely the competitiveness of what I would call trophy motherhood - something that is particularly prevalent within a certain postcode bracket in cities like London - and elevated it far beyond what you normally see in this genre.

Natasha James is a journalist who is struggling to make the transition from full-time employment into full-time motherhood and part-time freelance work. Tash, as she is known, is finding it harrowing that her young son Finn refuses to adapt to kindergarten; and her husband Tom is a doctor, with a crazy schedule, so can only provide her with limited support.

To add to her woes, by going freelance, Tash finds that she has been effectively demoted from a star reporter to a freelancer whose calls aren't always answered by her former media colleagues. Unsure about how to go about re-establishing her relevance, she starts investigating the case of a young woman, Sophie, whose body is found in a nearby reservoir in what may or may not be a case of accidental drowning (as opposed to a suspicious death).

This happens after Sophie's mother approaches Tash, begging her to investigate. She is convinced that her daughter was murdered, but is unable to provide any proof or information to support this assertion.

Increasingly caught up in the case, Tash is dismayed to discover that Sophie actually worked as a nanny for one of the women in the 'yummy mummy' clique that she herself has recently been accepted into. Delighted to be hanging out with this well-heeled and popular trio of women, it takes a while before Tash starts questioning why they have chosen to include her in their social circle at all, since she would not otherwise be a natural candidate for their friendship.

Nor are the women willing to talk about Sophie at all, which Tash finds puzzling. There is clearly more to the story than meets the eye, and the book does an excellent job of taking the reader along for the suspenseful ride that the lead character unexpectedly finds herself taking.

Faulkner has written a marvellous book - intriguing, suspenseful, and highly enjoyable. She also provides an intelligent and nuanced take on issues of class and privilege. Her insightful observations about new motherhood, and how different people deal with this all too common - but nevertheless fraught - change in their circumstances lend the narrative greater depth and authenticity. This is definitely a writer to look out for.

I really enjoyed this one, the storyline was compelling and brilliantly written, at times you weren’t sure which characters you could trust. All the characters were well written with distinct traits. In the end it all boils down to, what would you do to protect the ones you love?

Wanted to reqd this and did try but the copy is annoying to read as all the I’s that chould be capitals are i,only a small error I know but very distracting when trying to settle into a story,alos there are rogue 1 and 0’s and other non capitals,all of it distracting,apologies but unable to read it when sent to reviewers like this

If you enjoyed Katherine Faulkners previous book, Greenwich Park, then you will love this one!
For me this started off as a pretty slow burner, but now after finishing the book I can see it was building up the characters, their personalities and friendships so she could lead us all down the path of each woman, to then to turn it all on its head!
Every mum can relate to Tash’s trials as a new mum, especially the early days of playgroups when your child refuses to let you leave. And there always seems to be a little clique of mothers who seem to find newly found parenthood a breeze.
Tash envies that group of mums and their endless play dates, posh coffees, lavish brunches and their friendships and would love to be included in their little clique.
But beware what you wish for because as with a lot of things in life, nothing is quite as it seems.
The story flicks between Tash and Sophie, the previous live in nanny for Claire, one of the other mothers, and Sophie’s chapters are all told under the headings of how many months, weeks, days and even hours and minutes before her death.
Sophie died whilst wild swimming in the local wetlands months before Tash becomes part of the mothers group and the topic of Sophie is not up for discussion within the group.
What Tash fails to tell the other mothers is that now she has become a freelance journalist she has been digging into Sophie’s death.
As all their lives become more entangled, old and new secrets and lies start to rise to the surface, alongside plot twist after plot twist, all leading to an ending that’s as shocking as it is unexpected!