Sometimes when you want something so badly and it lands in your hands - you see what you need to see and feel how you expect to feel to satisfy your fantasy.

I am struggling to put into words exactly how good this book is - For the first few chapters you need to have your wits about you but read carefully and listen to the unknown narrator telling us what they know of Christopher's story. As well as being a well researched social history of life in Leeds during the truly scary Ripper era, we see an awkward young man coming of age and gaining the acceptance he has craved all his life. A truly wonderful story which brought back many memories of growing up in those times, beautifully written, heart wrenching, with an undercurrent of unease which the writer ramped up to be downright chilling at times.

This book stole my heart, stole my breath and is now consuming my thoughts.

First Valentina, now Mother ... S.E. Lynes is fast becoming one of my very favourite authors, I almost wish I'd waited a few years to discover her and that there were more books already out there for me to read - I truly can't wait for her next one!!

I have no doubt that this will be in my top reads of 2017! 5 MASSIVE stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

This book grips you and wrings every wmoirion possible out of you . Christopher doesn't feel like he belongs in his family and we follow him on his search . Brilliantly writen with completely believable characters

I don't know where to start with this review; I finished Mother yesterday evening and am still reeling. I loved Valentina and was excited as to what would be next from this author, I was not disappointed in the slightest. I was hooked from the start as we are introduced via an anonymous narrator to Christopher; it's obvious from this that we should not expect a happy conclusion to the tale but there are no clues as to where we will end up. The story wound itself around my emotions like the rope that Christopher feels tightening and loosening inside himself.

I invested a lot of heart into Christopher and his desperation for a family and to be loved/accepted. How malleable he is broke my heart at times while also feeling an undercurrent of unease. There were surprises along the way and I never guessed where I was being taken as a reader. I could say a lot more about Christopher but wouldn't want to spoil anyone else's enjoyment. Suffice to say this book will remain on my mind for a long time and I can't wait to see what S.E Lynes has in store next!

Well, where do I start? After reading this author's debut novel, Valentina, earlier this year and loving it, I couldn't wait to see what she would deliver next! When I heard that she had written her second one, Mother, I knew I had to drop everything and read it straight away and I'm so glad I did!

Mother follows the story of eighteen year old Christopher who never felt he fit in within his family unit, always treated second best to his siblings so, when getting ready to pack to go off to university he finds a letter in a suitcase, everything falls into place. The journey that follows for Christopher is one of hope that he can finally find a place where he really belongs, and be happy but everything is not as it seems.

This book requires your FULL attention, I struggled to take in the first couple of chapters because I kept getting distracted by life around me and had to re-read them to ingest it fully and understand what was happening. I even took myself off somewhere quieter a couple of times to read in peace. Once I'd got it into my head what was happening I sailed through this amazing piece of writing, even though I hadn't got a clue where it was heading and each time I thought I'd figured it out, something else happened to blow my theory right out of the water.

Susie has once again written a piece of art, this book gave me goosebumps, made my heart race and my blood run cold at times, it is pure genius and I know I said this after Valentina but I'm saying it again, I can't wait to see what this brilliant author has in store for us next! A very easy five stars from me, I'd give it more if I could.

I would like to thank Bookouture for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon and Twitter on publication day.

The book was different and it was enjoying .But it was a bit too long to read . Christopher was Adopted when he was small . But he believed he was given away by Phyllis . It was a bit scary . And he became sufficient to be Phyliss son.

She did it again! After reading Valentina, it went immediately on my top ten reads of 2016. Needless, to say, I was super eager to read Mother! I started reading it late last night around 9:30 PM thinking I would read a few chapters and get some much needed rest. Well at 2:30AM, I finished the book and remembered, "I'll sleep when I'm dead."

Mother is just a non-stop nerve wrecker of a novel. Christopher has always felt out of place in his family, so when he discoverers a truth about him, it really comes as no surprise. We follow Christopher into his years at college (uni I think it's called) and see him change, grow, and become more obsessed.

The story is mostly told by an unknown narrator telling the story of how Christopher's longing for a mother turned deadly. It also ties in the Yorkshire Ripper, which adds to the suspense. I honestly had NO clue about the Yorkshire Ripper (and was admittedly confused with Jack the Ripper ha...so I got a history lesson as well). Christopher feels he is different, and with the murder victims stacking up, he questions his own sanity.

One thing that always makes me fully engaged into a book is if there are little similarities with things. Like for example, my husband's name is Ben and my mom's birthday is March 12.

I seriously think that [author:S.E. Lynes|15193229] is going to go very far! If you have not picked up either of her novels yet, do yourself a favor and get on it! I can not wait for the next one!

This is the story of an 18 year old boy who finds out he was adopted as he is heading off to University. He seeks out his biological parents and finds his mother. But the woman he chooses is not the woman who gave him life. An extraordinary book with many surprises. Thanks to NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Having enjoyed Susie's first book Valentina, I have been waiting patiently to get my hands on her latest book.
Was it worth the wait? You better believe it! I was so engrossed I raced through it and read it in one day.
Set in Northern England in the 1970's, early 80's in the Jack the Ripper era, this is a well written, well researched, psychological thriller with real characters and an outstanding plot.
I highly recommend it, and am looking forward to Susie's next one.

‘How much of what we believe is in fact lies we tell ourselves, and how much is truth?’

Christopher is a slightly socially awkward young man, eager to do well, who discovers at the age of eighteen that he’s adopted. He wants to find his real mother, to find a person who truly loves him, as he has never felt completely connected to the people who brought him up. He builds his birth mother up in his mind into an almost saintly figure, drifting away from his adoptive family. Once he attends Leeds university he finds excuses not to go back to visit them in the holidays.

This book is unusual in that it’s told from Christopher’s point of view through the words of another person. This person attempts to make it true, recreating his life story from what he has said himself. I found it utterly gripping. It went back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, covering the time when the Yorkshire Ripper was at large, and showing clearly the fear of female students at the time. The setting, the social history of the time and, of course, the developing character of Christopher, made this a thoroughly good and rather unusual read which I enjoyed hugely.

I received an advance review copy from Netgalley.