𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉.

It's the night of the Halloween block party in Hickory Hills, a quiet, idyllic neighborhood filled with loving families. The streets are lined with people in costume, each person playing a role; however, while some are just wearing a temporary mask, others are in costume daily. Mary is Queen Bee, Donna is the Desperate Divorcee, Naomi is the Fitness Fanatic, Janet is the Trophy Wife, Annette is the Spinster, and Stella is the Newcomer. While enjoying the revelry and the anonymity that come with Halloween, the women have no idea that in just a short time, their secrets will be exposed and their lives will change forever.

It starts with a missing teenage girl who doesn't come home after the party. Donna is frantic to find Shelby, and she calls Mary, whose daughter Grace has been Shelby's best friend since pre-school. Mary is shocked by Grace's blasé attitude toward the news and is dumbfounded when Grace casually says they're not friends anymore. Meanwhile, Stella finds out that her teenage son and Shelby were an item, and after what happened at his last school, is she wrong to question her son's possible involvement?

There was a depth to these characters that isn't always found in thrillers. All too often, neighborhood women are written as stereotypical; often vapid and devoid of the layers of personality that make up a living, breathing human being. The author says in her notes that all too often we pass judgment on others, especially women, without taking into account what they have experienced and the invisible baggage they are carrying around. Of course, as the title suggests, this book examines the love a mother has for her child, but once again, it's done in many shades of gray.

This was a sophisticated thriller that will make you think. Obviously the mystery of what happened to Shelby takes center stage, but I think you will be surprised by the all of the moving parts that contributed. Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early copy. At the time this review was written, this title was slated to publish October 3, 2024.

Wowza!! I just read the greatest thriller! Loving Mothers by Miranda Smith was a wild ride. It was full of twists and turns.

This was such a clever read ! I loved the pace of the book ! I was angry by the ending but devoured thus read ! Miranda is a great storyteller that left me wanting more ! This was a 4.5 star for me !

Every mother, whether she is the human or animal kind, fights for her children. 

How far would you go to deserve the label 'loving mother'?

Would you hide things to protect? Would you try to put the blame on someone else to keep your child from being accused? Would you forgive certain things to keep your family together? Or maybe all of the above? Or is maybe none of the above?

This is the kind of story I really like to read. Different families living on the same street and hang out with each other whilst their offspring are great friends too. But at the same time gossiping behind each other's back and doing their best to keep their dirty laundry behind closed doors which they of course not always succeed in. 

And then something horrendous happens blowing it all apart...

This is a great story to make you forget the world around you.  5 stars

Thank you