While the book was off to a slow start, The Mother at Number 5 was very well written. The character connections and plot made for an easy read. The story contains a sensitive topic but the author handled it in a way that is not disturbing. There was a twist that I absolutely didn't expect and I loved it.

Thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture, and the author, #jillchilds, for the opportunity to read this #advancedlistenercopy.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Mother At Number 5' by Jill Childs.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Jill Childs, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 21st June 2023.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The Mistress', ' Long Lost Girl' and 'I Let Him In' which I also recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A completely unputdownable psychological thriller from the USA Today bestseller about family secrets, guilt and lies. If you love The Girl on the Train, The Housemaid or Lisa Jewell, you will gasp out loud at the shocking twists!' I am a huge fan of The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Jill Childs and if this is half as good as 'The Mistress', 'I Let Him In' and 'Long Lost Girl' it is guaranteed to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 58 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Majorca, Spain 🇪🇦 and Ilkley, Bradford, North Yorkshire 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Ros and Lotte. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

'The Mother At Number 5' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Jill discusses/includes r@p3 allegations, death of a child and child molestation.


OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!?!?! MIND BLOWN!!!!

Another fantastic book from Jill with vivid descriptions which put you right in the picture. It really felt like Ros and Lotte were talking directly to me from across the table over a cup of tea. The synopsis and cover suit the book perfectly.

The storyline is absolutely addictive and had me sucked in from the first page until the explosive ending. It is an action packed story about family, secrets, revenge, accusations, deceit, twists and much more. I couldn't stop listening to this book until early hours of the morning so if you pick this up I seriously advice you to clear your schedules!!! I would listen to it on the car, in the kitchen, on the school runs and every single chance I got to get lost in this page turning thriller. It is filled with suspense, secrets, family and a few humongous twists that I did not see coming. A huge well done to Jill on not just one but several bombshell!!! I would have never guessed either of the twists in a million years. Very rarely I am shocked by books having read so many but this absolutely had me a cracker and completely blew my mind. If you are fed up of guessing the ending by 50% then this one is for you!!! Ros is on a much needed family holiday in Majorca with her husband Adam and their daughters Bella and Sophie. When relaxing in the sun Ros gets talking to single mum Lotte who is enjoying some piece and quiet while her daughter Caitlyn who she has put in the Kids Club. They bump into each other a few more times and Ros agrees to have a girls night with Lotte. However, Ros has alot to drink and the morning after the night before she has no idea what happened, what she told Lotte or even if she did more than dance with men she met on the dancefloor! Soon enough their holiday comes to an end and Ros is looking forward to forgetting what she may have got up to and heading home. However, who does she bump into in the local cafe while having a meeting about the school but Lotte who just so happens to be Ros's new neighbour!!!! Lotte starts getting more and more involved in Ros's life and starts dropping hints that sound like threats. Is Lotte going to reveal what happened on their girls night out? What secrets is Ros hiding? Why does Adam think Ros is paranoid? Well, I can tell you now it's not anything like you are thinking!!! To find out you'll just have to grab your copy of this non stop thriller today!!! This book will keep you absolutely hooked and guessing throughout whilst on the edge of your seat whether your listening to it or reading it. The multi person narrative chapters are perfectly weaved together to slowly build up a picture but won't give anything away to allow you to guess too soon!! The ending was absolutely mind blowing me there was a never in a million years I would have guessed the bombshell that hit me in the last few pages !!! Another Huge Success by the extremely talented Jill Childs!!! It is so hard to talk about it without giving anything away so I will just say if you want a book with twists you will NEVER see coming this one is for you!!!

Do not start this until you have cleared your schedules as you won't be able to put it down!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Charlie Norfolk who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Charlie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Jill but also to listening to more books narrated by Charlie!

The characters were all very well developed, strong, realistic and each seemingly hiding their own secrets. My heart went out to Ros because who hasn't had a few too many too drink at some point in their lives and then left panicking the next day as you have no idea what you said or did!!! I know I certainly have nd for this reason don't drink as often or as much anymore!!! This makes me have all the more empathy for Ros as it's made even worse by the fact that Lotte knows what went on but refuses just to tell her and starts making her life hell. Lotte is definitely an intriguing character that you get to discover more about as you go through the pages. This is one of those books that it is so hard to say how you feel bout them after reading as opinions change throughout and I don't want to risk giving anything away so I am going to have to leave it there and leave you make your own minds up when you grab your copy!!! Regardless of how you feel about any of them Jill's evocative writing skills ensures each of them, along with everything else going on, leaps out of the pages at the reader!!


A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Jill on one of the most shocking twists I have ever read and an absolutely addictive book!! This is exactly why you are one of my favourite authors and here's to your next success 🥂!!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first three chapter of Jill's ''Gracie's Secret' which promises to be just as addictive as this book and is one I'm definitely looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall an addictive, page turning psychological thriller with bombshells you will never see coming!!!

Genres covered in this novel include Urban Fiction, British & Irish Literature, Domestic Thriller, Vigilante Justice, Romance Sagas, Psychological Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Thriller And Mystery Adventures, Noir Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary British & Irish Literature, Contemporary Urban Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Family Life Fiction, Women's Domestic Life Fiction, Suspense Thriller, Noir Fiction, Womens Psychological, Crime Thriller, Mystery ,Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction and Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lisa Jewell, Rachel Abbott, K.L Slater, Melinda Leigh, Carol Wyer, Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot, T.M Logan,The Housemaid, The Family Across The Street, The Family Upstairs, The Girl On The Train, The Housemaid', DK Hood, Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni, Rachel Caine, The Widow, The Housewarming. and anyone after an addictive, gripping, must read page turner.



341 pages/ 8 hours 52 minutes


This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback and £16 in Audible via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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This was my first book by the author, I didn't love or hate this. I found the story a slow burn and didn't excite me but stuck it out until the end and I'm glad I did. Overall I found the narrator only ok as it was hard to distinguish the points of view sometimes through out the story and didn't want to rece to finish it like other books.

Whilst on holiday in Majorca Roz makes a new friend by the pool - Lottie. She convinces Roz to take a break from the kids and they have a wild night out. When they return home Lottie mysteriously appears in their home town saying that Roz had inspired her to make the move with her little girl. Soon, more and more coincidences occur with some sinister inferences. It’s all very suspicious and a bit too convenient for Roz liking.

An amazing example of a psychological thriller. I was really on the edge of my seat the whole time, the plot was complex, but well thought out and clear, it all came together really well at the end with numerous twists and turns which I wouldn't have guessed. The characters were well written and realistic, overall this is just an excellent read and I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre.

The narrator is excellent. 4.25 rounded down.

A chilling and twisty read that will keep you interested from the second you start!
I loved that this book cast doubt from the beginning on what was going in and who the real villain was. It kept me glued to finding out where this was going to go, and unpicking my way through all the clues as the author revealed them.
A fantastic psychological thriller, that really gives you chills to read.

A slow burn thriller, where we follow two women that met on vacation and the dark secrets that are unraveled, after that. The story line is very engaging and there is always something happening. The actual action, stars somewhere in the middle. There are few good plot twists, but you can kind of figure them out before being revealed. The ending I actually really enjoyed. If you like light Thrillers, this is the book for you. But check the trigger warning, because there is one that some people may get triggered by.

I really enjoyed the intricacies that went on here, from Ros and Lotte's wary circling of each other, to the seemingly sickly-sweet, butter-wouldn't-melt Adam.

I did not see the twist at the end (the website debacle) coming, but I should have, the signs were there. As for the other twist, well, I had an inkling. Suffice to say, I love nothing more than well-executed retribution. Revenge is sweet, as it should be in many cases. And yes, this is one of them.

So keep that aconite handy. After all, do you ever really know someone?

4 sparkly, well-deserved stars.

"The Mother at Number Five" by Jill Childs is a gripping suspense novel that delves into the life of a vacationing mom who becomes entangled in a web of mystery and danger. What starts as a chance encounter with a stranger on the beach leads to unforeseen consequences, as the protagonist's world spirals into chaos.

After a night out with her newfound friend, the mom wakes up with no memory of the evening. Embarrassed and eager to move on, she assumes she won't cross paths with the enigmatic woman again. However, fate has other plans. When the same mom enrolls her child in the protagonist's children's class and moves into their neighborhood, suspicion arises. As the husband faces investigation and the protagonist's business crumbles, all signs point to the mysterious woman from that unforgettable night. Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle come together, revealing a heartbreaking past that intertwines with the vacationing family's lives.

While "The Mother at Number Five" is a captivating story with a strong sense of intrigue, it falls just shy of a perfect five-star rating. The frequent red herrings and occasional reliance on convenient plot devices hinder the reader's ability to fully connect with and empathize with the characters. Nonetheless, the audiobook version, expertly narrated, enhances the overall experience, and Childs demonstrates skillful pacing and seamless transitions between action sequences.

In conclusion, Jill Childs's "The Mother at Number Five" is a twist-filled suspense novel that will keep readers engaged. Although the story's use of red herrings and occasional reliance on convenient plot devices diminishes the emotional connection, the audiobook's stellar narration and the author's adept pacing make for an enjoyable read. If you're a fan of suspenseful tales with unexpected twists, this book is a worthy addition to your reading list.

A woman has a fun night out with another mom on vacation, and it ends up following her home...

The premise of this one was great, but unfortunately this is a pretty standard "revenge" set up as far as thrillers go. It required quite a bit of suspension of belief for the story to set up correctly, and it felt like the story took a while to get off the ground, and once it did, it seemed to take quite a long time to play out.

The audiobook narration was ok, but at times it was really hard to tell which perspective we were in because the voice/tone didn't change.

Overall, it was a pretty standard thriller, though I have to say the few twists at the end felt forced, unrealistic, and really ruined it all coming together for me there at the end.

Overall, I'd say this is 2.5 stars, so I'll round up to 3. It was just OK.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Charlie Norfolk superbly narrates this audiobook, it is a twisty psychological thriller written by Jill Childs telling the story of Ros, a woman from the north of England who befriends southerner, Lottie, on holiday in Majorca.

Lottie persuades Ros to come for a drunken night out towards the end of their respective holidays, and finds herself oversharing. No big deal - they won't see each other again right?! Wrong!... Ros gets home and discovers Lottie is her new neighbour! Ouch, that drunken night really comes back to bite Ros....

Great book, GREAT twist!! This is one to be devoured by all fans of psychological fiction.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

I can't wait for this audiobook to come out and for y'all to lose your minds. if you had doubts about preordering, don't. you're going to want to read this one. I raced through it this weekend. Such a smart idea. Twisty, warped, credible. Brilliantly plotted and compelling. Deserves to be such a hit.

The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs

Thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture, and the author, #jillchilds, for the opportunity to read this #advancedlistenercopy in exchange for my #honestreview. The Mother at Number 5 is out and available for purchase now.

It was just a fun night out on vacation to blow off steam…until she moved to her town and her neighborhood. Ros and Lottie met poolside during a summer vacation. Lottie invites Ros out for a childfree night during their summer vacation and afterwards Ros is convinced she revealed her biggest secrets to Lottie, secrets that could test her family apart. Lottie has her own secrets. Whose secrets will blow open?

What a twisty revenge story! This had a small portion towards the middle where the story was building and the main dilemma was being established where the action dipped slightly but overall solid action and twisty betrayals. This is a good vacation thriller read. Highly recommend!

TW: sexu@l abuse, kidnapping, child @buse, alcohol use, @ffairs

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ - 4.25/5

I rarely look at the summary of a book prior to deciding if I want to read it. I base it solely off of the cover art and the title of the book - this being said, I had zero idea of what I was getting into when starting this book. Between the author's writing and the narrator, I was hooked from very early on and could see that there were a few stories unfolding along the way. This book has you constantly questioning who is crazy and who isn’t. Be sure to grab this one available everywhere June 21, 2023!

This book is a book of revenge let’s leave this clear. I enjoy the reading but was very slow and in some parts made me a bit bored, it was a bit predictable those where the only down falls I liked the characters. I like the way the author create this story and how she weave the whole plot. I’ll will like to read more books of this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity of read this book I just reviewed The Mother at Number 5 by Jill Childs. #TheMotheratNumber5 #NetGalley

The Mother at Number 5, I think is not what I would have picked for the title of this book. However the story line was good and the narration went along well with it.
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While Adam and Ros are on vacation with their daughters Ros meets Lotte a single mom looking for a new friend. What Ros doesn't know is that her new friend has an agenda. A friendly invitation to have cocktails has turned into a night that Ros cannot remember. Thank goodness her vacation is almost over and she will not need to see Lotte again.
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Returning home and settling back to everyday life Ros drops her girls off at school to find Lotte there with her daughter Katelyn. Shocked to see her and even more shocked to find out she lives just a block away, but how? why? Ros thought her wild night would come back to haunt her, but that is not the only thing that will turn her life upside down. Lotte is out for revenge but on who?
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I was gifted the ALC from Netgalley and Jill Childs for my honest review. I have to say I am not sure I would call it a Thriller but more a suspense book waiting to see what is happening in the story and trying to figure out what is going to happen. In my opinion I am going with a 3.5 star rating. The story line does have a few triggers for those who are sensitive to sexual assault.

I enjoyed this book! The ending was really good and it was paced good.
*Special thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me a complimentary copy of the audio book for review*

I’d say about 3.5 stars for this one. I enjoyed this book but it’s not one I think will stick out as too memorable.
Spoilers!!
I felt like the twist with Diana being the one to sabotage Roz’ business seemed really weird honestly. I liked being able to piece together that Lottie was coming to sabotage Adam or Roz, but I was certain it was going to be related to her late husbands accident. The twist of it being Diana’s husband that was involved in the death of her sister though was fun. Also the twist with Sophie and Adam was disturbing of course but did tie together all the weird behavior. I just didn’t really feel like it added anything and could have done without.

3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ June 21, 2023
Page Count ~ 341
Audio length ~ 8 hours 52 minutes
Narrator ~ Charlie Norfolk
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ revenge, secrets, r@pe allegations, child molestation

Ros & Lotte are our main characters. They meet while on vacation, become neighbors and their young children attend school together.

Ros wonders what happened when she blacked out while drinking with Lotte. Did she say or do something to make Lotte track her down? I liked the flashbacks into Lotte's life that eventually tell us why she inserted herself into Ros's life.

Overall, not a particularly new plot, on the slower side with some predictability, but I'd give this author a go again.

Narration notes ~ she did a fine job, but why is there only 1 when there are 2 1st person characters?? She did not distinct her voice at all. And it was so slow that I had to listen at 3x.

3.5 stars!
Ros and Lotte meet each other by chance during their holiday - they plan and go out one evening for drinks where Ros ends up sharing something with Lotte which she has never spoken about to anyone else - but she doesn't know whether what she is remembering about the incident is right or was it all her imagination.
Upon returning home, Ros realizes that Lotte moves right next door to her - but why the sudden plan and how did Lotte decide to move there?
This was a really intriguing book to understand what was Lotte's hidden agenda behind moving next door to Ros, what happened in Lotte's past that she is seeking revenge?
The end was a bit abrupt, and it could have been better if there was any explanation given in the previous chapters.

thank you netgalley, Jill Childs & Bookouture Audio for approving the Audio ARC in exchange for honest review.

The premise of this book was good. But for a thriller it was very slow paced and I struggled for it keep my attention.

Rose meets Lottie while on vacation with her family. They have a girls night, Ros gets drunk and wakes up not sure what happened. She doesn't think she will ever see Lottie again. But then Lottie ends up moving to her neighborhood and enrolling her daughter in the same school where Ros's daughter goes. Ros is suspicious and starts to look into things.

We are at least halfway though the book before things start to happen. That's when my interest finally kicked in and the second half rolled along at a faster clip.

Secrets are revealed. Allegations are made. And lives are changed forever.

I liked getting both sides - Ros and Lottie. The narration was good and it was easy to distinguish who was who. This was a 3.5 for me and I would try this author again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.