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.

Thank you for the opportunity to review the book.

This was a thoroughly gripping read that I couldn't put down. What a fab book

THE MOTHER'S SECRET BY KAREN CLARKE.
Release date set for the 16th of January 2025.
I really enjoyed this story.
I think i would go back to it and read it again in the future.
I think this is my first book by this author and i'll deffo be seeing what other ones she has out

My thanks to HQ Digital for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Mother’s Secret’ written by Karen Clarke in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Kate is an interior designer with her own business and when a possible new client calling herself Magda Trent asks her to visit on a late Friday afternoon to give a quote she doesn’t refuse even though her first baby is due within a couple of weeks. Before leaving home she has an argument with her husband Dan, inadvertently leaving her phone charging. Magda discloses something about Kate’s past that makes her want to return home and discuss it with her mother Helen but Magda has other plans and won’t let her leave. Dan and Helen set aside their differences so that they can search for Kate.

‘The Mother’s Secret’ is a thrilling psychological drama about a delusional woman called Magda who believes that Kate is the daughter that was stolen from her by Helen. The story is involving as only one the women can be Kate’s real mother and as the story progresses it becomes clear which one of them is lying. The story is told in alternate chapters by Kate and Dan and although a bit far-fetched at times it’s exciting nonetheless, and with plenty of intrigue, suspense and twists has kept me reading well beyond my bedtime. But then I reached the final ‘after’ chapter and it was such a huge and shocking twist that I had to go back and read it again to confirm that I wasn’t mistaken in what I thought it had said. An excellent ending to what has been a thoroughly enjoyable read.

From the very beginning, the tension in this thriller had me hooked and I couldn’t stop reading. Each chapter revealed more twists and turns, keeping me constantly guessing about who could be trusted. The ending was explosive, and one that fit perfectly!

I couldn’t put this book down, I raced through it and loved it

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc

This is a chilling story but in places is almost glacial as the descriptions are so detailed the pace is greatly reduced.
The idea of Kate being held against her will was well written although it was very obvious from the outset that her submission was due to actions take by Magda.
For me Kate and Magda were outstanding but the rest of the supporting characters lacked a bit of dimension.
Overall an OK read.

Enjoyed this book. There was lots of twists and turns which were fab. However I felt it could have been condensed a bit!