Thank you for an arc of this book!

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this, but it definitely went places I didn’t expect haha.

Overall I did enjoy it, even if a lot of it just felt like it wouldn’t happen in real life, but It did keep me captivated throughout it.

The unbelievable things:
- Kate just constantly believing she wasn’t trying to keep her there and trying to justify Mary’s behaviour. When it was quite clear something else was going on. I understand being pregnant and not fully aware but still - you would’ve tried to leave before
- Dan full on not giving a shit 😂. Like I just didn’t believe it. I again understand that he was going through his emotions too, but when Kate didn’t come home surely that should be a massive red flag to him? And dismissing it when others were worried.

I never fully believed that Magda was her mum either, you could tell there was something unhinged about her even when she started telling Kate that she was her mum.

Yeah it was a good book but not one I would revisit and not one that will stick with me.

This book became a bit of a clanger for me. It was pretty obvious fairly quickly, where the plot would be headed. I found myself irritated by how reckless Kate behaves and struggled to see what Dan’s role was in the story and his marriage.

Kate, heavily pregnant, goes to spend a night away with a client, helping to offer design advice and hopefully secure some new business for her interiors company. However, despite being due in mere weeks, she leaves the house without her mobile, barely acknowledges her husband, and has very little information about this potential new client. As far as adulting goes, it felt pretty thoughtless, especially when it is portrayed how desperate Kate is for her baby.

Happily going along with everything her host tells her, Kate does not suspect that anything is wrong. Even when she seems to be sleepy all of the time and has made next to zero contact with people she knows, Kate convinces herself that it is for the greater good of this client. Yet, when this client shares some life-changing revelations, Kate continues to be a sucker for this version of events, naively failing to question anything about the situation she is in.

Even Dan, the husband, doesn’t show much interest. I was frustrated by how little he seems to care for Kate and there are plenty of suggestions that Dan is encouraging a fellow bandmember. Despite being happily married, Dan appears to enjoy Zoe’s attentions, weakly telling her that he is due to be a father soon – but hardly meaning it. When he starts to realise that Kate might not be alright, he still didn’t seem to be full of energy and I felt his lack lustre attitude to be very irritating.

The book follows how Kate questions who is her real mother. This of course parallels with her pending birth. The plot moved very slowly and felt as claustrophobic as the intense summer heat. I could not understand how Kate didn’t realise she was in a dangerous situation and thought the treatment and attitude towards such a pregnant woman to be very far from reality. I was irked by Kate’s actions and instead wanted her to put herself first, rather than this very odd client.

For me, I struggled to believe that someone so close to their due date would take such unnecessary risks. The characters were not very likeable and I struggled to be convinced by the switched baby story. Whilst the closing chapter was supposed to reveal the final truths, I don’t think it was very suspenseful and I couldn’t see how it tied in to the main plot. Instead, I would have preferred a faster paced, more realistic novel where the protagonist was more switched on, with a husband who was loyal and supportive.

Overall, this novel from Clarke really fell flat. I have read several books by this author in the past and this one really didn’t grab me like I had hoped. Far from being a thriller, it was a story of frustrations and reckless behaviour that, by the time I reached the end, I couldn’t really care who was the real mother.

With thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is fantastic. It’s very easy to read as once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down. It is jam packed with twists. This is a book I will be recommending to everyone.

It's been a little while since I've read a Karen Clarke book and I've missed them. This was everything I'd hoped it would be having read lots of Karen's books before. That ending though, so clever.

Fast paced and twisty. I raced through this great story as I couldnt put it down. A book that I 100% recommend for anyone who enjoys a gripping story

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

this story is a very addictive twisty story that makes you want to keep reading. Kate and Dan are expecting their first baby, but Dan has been so distant. Kate owns her own interior business, a woman asks Kate if she would go to her home and give her input Kate says yes on the day she is going she forgets her phone. when she gets there the woman so friendly but then she says I am your mother. it's a very gripping read so recommend.

I really enjoyed this thriller, it was tense and pacy and kept my attention throughout. I enjoyed the dual narration as it helped get into the mind of the characters. A really good thriller that I enjoyed immensely.

Aw I loved this what a brilliant read it was I loved everything about the story the characters the pace everything was great. It was tense read with such a creepy atmosphere throughout. Told from Kate and her husband, Dan’s perspective’s which I loved as I think it helped build up the suspense. The story was full of surprises I couldn’t put it down. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone it was a great read. Thank you to netgelley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

yep. couldnt put this one down until id finished. at one point i was peeking a few pages at a time which made is worse so i had to force myself to stop until i could give it proper time for chapter reading!
it was full of twists and turns which gradually ramped up my angst.
i originally thought it was going to be about the suprise baby and then something to do with the expectan mum and dad. then kate gets a phone call and leaves to help her client....
and then bam its all on its head and not what i thought. but that doesnt stop the pace or twists from ramping up.
being pregnant already feel out of control sometimes. to then be trapped or not knowing whats real or whats to happen next on top of no way to escape? no. no thankyou.
the characters all had me guessing for a while and im so glad i had enough time to just keep turning pages until i new what happened.
i cant quite believe ive never read anything from this author. this will change shortly.

WOW what an intriguing story!! After reading My Best Friend’s Secret, i absolutely had to give this author another go. It kept me on my toes with plenty of twists and turns. It was certainly a page-turner and i managed to devour it within 24 hours. Great characters, all totally believable. I really didn’t know or guess where this story was going and I even read the final chapter twice, it was that good.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my open and honest review. As always, my reviews will also be posted on Amazon, Goodreads and Waterstones and interaction on Facebook and instagram where possible.

There was so much suspense and tension throughout the story, it kept me hooked right until the end.

So scary. Pregnant and unsure of what is real. Kate is lured into a horrible situation. This psychological thriller will have you gripped from start to finish.

Someone knows the truth. OH WOW!!!!! A superb read.
Kate and Dan Burgess dealing with a surprise pregnancy and Kates mother Helen is thrilled.
Magda Trent calls Kate wanting some interior design work done at bluebell cottage in Lexminster wanting a qoute as soon as possible Kate takes an overnight bag with only a couple of weeks to go before the baby arrives she tells Dan she will be fine.
On her arrival Magda Trent drops a big bombshell to Kate, a mothers secret and its one twisted story. Can Dan and Helen get to save her in time before the baby arrives.
Like I said wow! this is a fantastic read right through leaving me with just one more chapter, I loved the whole mind-blowing twists and turns full of ginormous secrets.
Absolutely brilliant read.

What a fantastic read. Read this book in two sittings just couldn't put it down full of twists and turns and really couldn't work out how it would end. When Kate has an unexpected pregnancy her husband Dan is not sure it's what he wants but a situation occurs that is threatening for both Kate and her unborn baby and will Dan change his mind after the ordeal that Kate has faced. A well written thriller as you would expect from this author and I'm sure fans of Karen Clarke will,love it as much as I did

Kate is a heavily pregnant interior designer. she visits a new client, Magda. But Magda tells her she is her mother. Kate starts to feel unwell, but when she tries to leave, things don't quite go to plan.

This story is told from Kate and her husband Dan;s perspectives. The story could have been a bit shorter as everything id written about in great detail. The characters are well-developed, but I didn't really care for any of them. I couldn't believe that Kate left home without her mobile phone, especially as she is nine months pregnant. The younger generation almost have their phones glued to their hands. The plot was interesting enough.

Published 16th January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #KarenClarke for my ARC of #TheMothersSEcret in exchange for an honest review.

A suspenseful drama plotted with shocking unexpected twists to keep the reader on their toes. I love how Kate was unsure if she was losing her mind. Imagine being heavily pregnant with a stranger and no way to contact anyone or escape. It's the premises of nightmares. Although I didn't connect with any of the characters, the plot was intense and twisted enough to keep me eagerly reading.

The Mother’s Secret by Karen Clarke is an intense and suspenseful psychological thriller that explores the complex dynamics of family, secrets, and the uncertainty surrounding impending parenthood. Kate and her husband, Dan, are expecting their first child—a surprise that, while thrilling for Kate, has left Dan feeling overwhelmed and unprepared for fatherhood. Despite Kate's excitement, Dan struggles with his new role, and the strain in their relationship grows as he seeks solace in the attention of a flirtatious lead singer from his band.

Two weeks before Kate’s due date, she heads off for a night at a guesthouse she is designing, leaving both her mother, Helen, and Dan behind. When neither of them can get in touch with Kate, Helen reveals a dark secret from their past, one that shakes both of them to the core. This revelation leads them to question whether something terrible has happened to Kate and the baby, adding an unnerving layer of mystery and tension to the already fragile situation.

Clarke crafts a gripping story filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The emotional tension between the characters is palpable, and as the narrative unfolds, the suspense intensifies, making The Mother’s Secret a truly nail-biting read. The book effectively explores themes of trust, fear, and the impact of long-buried secrets on relationships. For anyone who enjoys a good thriller with unexpected twists and an unsettling atmosphere, this book is a highly recommended choice.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Firstly thank you for my early access in exchange for a review .
I’ve read and enjoyed her previous books .
This was a tangled web of lies,deceit and heights emotions.
For me personally the dual narrative took away the tension and thrill of what was happening .
Unpredictable and a nightmare situation for anyone one let alone being heavily pregnant.
Fast paced and will have you turning the pages

One of the best books I've read in a long time. I don't want to give any spoilers. I just enjoyed it all. Imagine being heavily pregnant and stuck at someone elses home, not being able to contact anyone yourself, starting to doubt things. This book was so gripping, highly recommended.