Two close knit families who live an across the street from each other in a well to do neighborhood . They all have secrets and regrets. This the second book I’ve read by this author. Nice, easy reads. Not too many characters which make it hard to keep up. Some good twists and I couldn’t figure out how the story would end. I would recommend this book to others.

While tense and interesting, this novel ultimately falls short on being good and gripping. The reasons for the murder were honestly just sad and I was kind of hoping for a little more action in that sense, but I still enjoyed reading this

I did not expect to be so enthralled by this book 🙌🏻🤯
There was never a dull moment, from beginning to end I was so invested to find out the next part of the story.
Strong plot points and characters. The author kept me guessing!
I highly recommend The Mother’s Phone Call.

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. First book by Victoria Jenkins and it won’t be my last.
Imagine two families ripped apart by greed and lies. An innocent man is sent to jail for a crime he didn’t commit, parents that commit adultery, and one parent who will do anything to save her child. Highly recommend.

Woah! As a mother, imagine finding your son crouched over the body of his best friend, Freya, who happens to be the daughter of your best friend and neighbour, after he phoned you and asked you to come and help him! What would you do?

Jo reluctantly calls 999 and tells them her son has killed someone. The implications are unthinkably huge; Jo's marriage to Rob is put under immense strain, her friendship with Freya's mum, Eve, is over. Her son, Toby, is in custody and can't understand why his mum didn't support him. Toby's twin sister, Alice, can't believe he is capable of killing anyone and resolves to prove his innocence and Freya's brother, Dylan is distraught and won't talk to Alice, despite them having grown up together. The characters are perfectly flawed and whether you love them or loathe them, you will be fully invested in finding out the truth.

The lives of the two families, previously seemingly perfect, are blown apart and when emotions run high, secrets come out!

Brilliantly written, fast paced, gripping and oh-so-twisty, this is a page-turner that you want want to put down.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Victoria Jenkins and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Name :- The Mother's Phone Call
Author :- Victoria Jenkins
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
Victoria Jenkins' The Mother's Phone Call is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the powerful and dangerous lengths a mother will go to protect her child, even when the unthinkable happens. In this emotionally charged novel, Jenkins crafts a heart-pounding narrative filled with moral dilemmas, betrayal, and a mother's love tested to its very limits.: The story begins with a mother receiving a call that will change her life forever. Her son has committed a horrific act—he's killed a young girl. As the chilling reality sets in, she is faced with a gut-wrenching choice: call for help and turn her son in, or hide the truth and risk everything. The novel follows her internal struggle as she decides how far she is willing to go to protect her son, even if it means sacrificing everything she once held dear. As the story unfolds, the mother reflects on the illusions of a perfect life and the harsh truths that emerge in the aftermath of tragedy.
Likes:
1 Gripping Suspense: Jenkins excels at creating tension throughout the novel. The internal conflict faced by the mother is palpable, and the suspense builds as the reader is left wondering how far she will go to protect her son. The stakes are high, and the emotional weight of the situation is felt in every scene.
2 Compelling Psychological Depth: The book offers an insightful exploration of guilt, denial, and the complexities of parental love. The mother's emotions and motivations are portrayed with depth, making her struggle relatable and heartbreaking. Jenkins does a great job of showing the psychological toll that such a crisis takes on a person.
Dislikes:
1 Pacing Issues: While the tension is constant, some sections of the book feel repetitive, especially as the mother reflects on past events. This can slow down the momentum of the story, making the middle portion of the book drag at times.
2 Predictable at Times: While the emotional conflict is compelling, certain plot elements can feel a bit predictable, especially for readers familiar with psychological thrillers. The twists and turns, though well-executed, might not be as surprising for seasoned fans of the genre.
Overall :- The Mother's Phone Call is a tense, emotionally charged thriller that keeps readers on edge as they witness the unraveling of a family in crisis. Victoria Jenkins skillfully explores themes of guilt, love, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. The novel's gripping suspense and moral dilemmas make it a compelling read, though some pacing issues and predictable plot points may hinder its impact for some readers. Overall, it's a thought-provoking thriller that will leave you questioning the boundaries of parental love and sacrifice. If you're a fan of psychological suspense with complex characters and tough moral choices, The Mother's Phone Call is a must-read.
My Rating :- 4/5

I love Victoria Jenkins all of her books are amazing and wow this was no exception it had a bit of everything murder, mystery and lies and deceit. As a parent this definitely pulls at your heart strings what would you do if your son called saying help me and you find your Friends daughter dead. I loved how well the characters were written and the story was unique and wrote very well. The was many twists and turns which kept me gripped from start to finish I found it hard to put down. I can’t wait to recommend this great book to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. I've read many books by Victoria Jenkins. The book kept me guessing until the very end.

It takes a lot,more than a lot, for a Mum to pick up the phone,call 999 and say ‘my son has murdered someone’……the someone being their neighbours daughter,a lifelong friend

But why has he? What has made this genial 18 year old with impeccable manners and well known kindness turn to murder? There has to be more to it,doesn’t there?…

As the days pass it seems there is more,much more to the 2 families lives and these ‘neighbours’ on their perfect street are not so perfect after all

Intriguing and fast paced this tale had all the unpredictability and suspense with a wide range of characters needed to make it an exciting psychological family led drama

With a very cringey but very funny opening garden party scene…..

Jo is a mother of 18-year old twins, and she'd do anything to protect her children, Toby and Alice. But so would her neighbor, Eve, protect her two, Dylan and Freya. The two families have grown up across the street from one another and the women are best friends. When Freya is discovered murdered in her house, and Toby is the only one there, the police arrest him. But Jo, despite appearances to the contrary, knows that Toby couldn't have done it. She sets out to learn the truth, even though it means abandoning everything she has ever believed about her neighbors and her own husband.

Victoria Jenkins has spun a masterful tale about families and neighbors who are like family. The suspense grows throughout the book, and though it seems that Freya must have died at the hands of one of her family members, it isn't clear until the very end who would have killed her and why.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

When Jo receives a message from her son telling her he needs her help, she finds him next door with the neighbours’ daughter lying on his lap, her skull smashed in. She immediately calls the police and tells them her son has murdered Freya. Then we are taken back to learn about the relationship of the neighbours - the children and the parents.
I liked this book, along with the uncovering of secrets, but I was annoyed throughout that Jo assumed her son had murdered Freya and not found her in that state - it spoke volumes to me about the mother and son relationship which was not explored at all. I do not know how their relationship could ever have moved on due to Jo’s immediate reaction.
Overall, a good read.

This was my first book by this author and i enjoyed it. I do love stories based on motherhood, friendships and conflict with the neighbours and this had all three. The story was quite intense and i was intrigued throughout as to who did it!! I liked the characters and it was so well written that i never knew who to trust. There were many twists throughout which completely shocked me with its ending. I will definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to Bookouture 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.

The Mother’s Phone Call was the first book by Victoria Jenkins I’ve read. I was told by another reader to go into the story blind by not reading the blurb. I did just that. As I write this review, I’ve still not read the blurb (feels strange). The story was easy to follow. The main characters (two families-married couple with two children each). They were neighbors and close friends. They were all keeping secrets. Secrets that would eventually result in death and life changing situations. This was an easy read. I would rate this 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ It kept my attention and I wanted to keep reading.

I enjoyed this story which was a mix of family drama crossed with psychological thriller and it had me hooked from the first page.

Lots of twists and turns and secrets and lies embedded within the pages of this story told from multiple points of view

I have read a few books by this author that I only found last year and look forward to seeing what they write next.

How far would you go to protect your children? Jo and Eve are neighbors, and their families are the best of friends. At least, they thought they were...

When Eve's daughter, Freya, is killed in their home, Jo's son, Toby, becomes the primary and only suspect.

Alice, Toby's sister, feels it in her soul that her brother is innocent and she will do whatever it takes to prove it. In the process, lie upon lie is uncovered between both families, leaving Alice questioning who she can trust. It seems multiple people had a motive to kill Freya, but will the truth come out before it's too late?

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

I am so happy and proud to say that I received this book from NetGalley. As an ARC reader, I am given the honor of reading books before they are published to create a review of the book gifted. Victoria Jenkins is a new author to me. I have never read any of her books and I am so sorry that I haven’t until now! She is a phenomenal writer. Oh my goodness, reading this book gave me such goosebumps. I wasn’t sure how I would’ve reacted as a mother either if my son were in the same predicament. Would I have used the right words when I called the police? Would I have made it worse for my son by speaking into the phone? Those questions and so many more were floating through my head as I was enthralled by this novel. This book was fantastically written, and I was hooked from the very beginning – meaning the front cover! I was intrigued with the characters and couldn’t put the book down because of the well-written story line. Victoria is such a dynamic author that she easily kept the story interesting without adding unnecessary plot points. It was a great read from start to finish! An easy recommendation from me to you…you will love this new thriller from Victoria Jenkins!

I am so happy and proud to say that I received this book from NetGalley. As an ARC reader, I am given the honor of reading books before they are published to create a review of the book gifted. Victoria Jenkins is a new author to me. I have never read any of her books and I am so sorry that I haven’t until now! She is a phenomenal writer. Oh my goodness, reading this book gave me such goosebumps. I wasn’t sure how I would’ve reacted as a mother either if my son were in the same predicament. Would I have used the right words when I called the police? Would I have made it worse for my son by speaking into the phone? Those questions and so many more were floating through my head as I was enthralled by this novel. This book was fantastically written, and I was hooked from the very beginning – meaning the front cover! I was intrigued with the characters and couldn’t put the book down because of the well-written story line. Victoria is such a dynamic author that she easily kept the story interesting without adding unnecessary plot points. It was a great read from start to finish! An easy recommendation from me to you…you will love this new thriller from Victoria Jenkins!

You never know how much a phone call can change your life. When Jo’s son calls her with an emergency, she’s there for him but she can only do so much.

As the truth comes out, the reader is taken on a twisty ride that kept my attention through the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Jenkins, and Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts with a mother getting a phonecall from their child saying “Hello, I need help….. I killed someone”
Jo, Rob, live with their twins 18-year-old twins, Toby and Alice. Across the road is Eve, Chris, and their grown children, Dylan and Freya. The families have known each other for years and the kids have grown up together, and on the surface their lives are a bit too good to be true.
At a specific party you start to see the fractures in the relationships between the parents and children.

not long after the party Jo gets a call from her son, who she thought was at home. He tells her to come over to Freya’s house as somethings happened. Jo quickly runs over, and sees Freya dead on the floor with Toby standing over her, covered in blood and upset. Jo makes the difficult choice to call the police, which results in toby being arrested.

You get to see each characters version of the truth and quickly realise nothing is as it seems.

Thank you to Bookouture, Victoria Jenkins and NetGalley for the ARC

When Jo receives a distressing phone call from her son asking for her help, Jo runs to him and is shocked to find him standing over a dead body. She instantly thinks the worst and must do what she feels is right, call the police and report what she has discovered.

This is a great thriller about family dynamics and emotional relationships between friends. It seems that nothing is as it seems. Jo must battle with her decision to turn her son in while her family struggles to help him.

I enjoyed this book but found it quite predictable at times and quite slow. It’s more about relationships than it is a thriller. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookature for the eARC.