Mummy’s Little Secret was an explosive and fraught story with past traumas around every corner. This story broke me a little inside, call it the powerful narrative, the secrets that we try to keep locked away or the maternal instinct within me, wanting to protect those that are vulnerable. I’m going to try and do this review justice and explain exactly why this book altered me emotionally. The prose was flawless, the teasing of the plot was carried out like a highly trained string musician.

Mummy’s Little Secret is told over two timelines, two families, two main characters. Before and now. Jess’s family and Morag’s. Two completely different women, from different walks of life but one thing in common – they are mothers to five-year-old daughters. Grace and Daisy, two little girls full of life but Daisy utters four unforgettable words – She’s not my mum. Jess can’t forget it, what if this little girl has been abducted and held against her will. She would never forgive herself if she didn’t try to find out more. It’s the start of an obsessive journey that will end with regrettable consequences.

One word of advice? Go into this story with your mind completely open. Go into expecting a thrill and not being disappointed. The subject matter elicited a shiver of anticipation at several points, it was glorious. Reading this book landed me shin deep in domestic drama, a rollercoaster of familial ties that will gut the reader open.

Jess is a young mother. She wears her trauma on her sleeve. She is mother to five-year-old, Grace. She is also a recently bereaved mother of Luke, a baby boy that died during labour. The situation was further tainted when the epidural needle left Jess paralysed from the waist down. She’s on a cocktail of painkillers and anti-depressants to just get her through each day. Her marriage is struggling, life is very different, and she still hasn’t processed the death of her son.

Morag is an older mother to Daisy. She finds herself not trusting easily, they’ve moved several times in the last few years but hopes they can finally plant some roots in Northwood. She is suspicious of Jess’s interest in their family. Just what does she suspect them of?

Mummy’s Little Secret and M.A. Hunter took me by surprise. Jess’s character reminded me so much of myself. I too have suffered post-natal depression and struggled to find my place in a role that requires so much of myself. Her uncertainty and pain is something a lot of mothers can relate to but unlikely feel able to talk about. The opening of the novel sets the tone and the darkness quickly envelops every page and every word. The impending doom surrounds every character like an ominous fog…you know it’s there, but you cant see through it and it clouds your judgement.

Mummy’s Little Secret grips from the very first page, unyielding but with an undercurrent of tenderness. Hunter is always five steps ahead with the multi layered examination of blood ties and familial bonds.

There was intrigue from the start with this book. When a young girl whispers that the woman she is with is not her mummy, it certainly captures your attention. I raced through this book wanting to find out what the mystery was. A suspenseful read

Great read - had me turning the pages so I could quickly find out what happened next!
Jess & Morag meet by chance but Daisy, Morag's daughter says something that Jess cannot ignore.
The story tells then and now - but over a short period of both women and then the now includes the Police.
The story had me guessing - sometimes wrongly but a great read and also very descriptive of the characters which explains them and how they are thinking.
First book that I have read by M A Hunter, and I will be going back to read his previous books.

Having absolutely devoured the Missing Children Case Files series by this author, I was intrigued to check out this new standalone domestic suspense novel, and I wasn’t disappointed. Firstly, it’s so nice to see a disabled protagonist who’s very well written; Jess is still coming to terms with the disastrous day on which she became a statistic; the 1 in 100,000 women who suffers terrible side effects from an epidural during childbirth. Her son Luke was stillborn and a needle slip has left Jess paraplegic. Six months on, she’s struggling to come to terms with being in a wheelchair, dealing with pain and depression, unable to even process her grief over her son’s death yet. The book goes deep into Jess’s PoV, sharing her feelings on being pitied by friends, manhandled by well-meaning strangers, her frustrations and fears. It might make a few readers think differently about grabbing hold of a stranger’s wheelchair without asking permission, which can only be a good thing.

Jess isn’t the only protagonist, though; we also spend plenty of time in the PoV of Morag, the woman who is the subject of little Daisy’s whispered confidence “She’s not my mum”. I found Morag a lot harder to like. She’s judgmental and officious, with a lot of mean thoughts towards Jess in particular which angered me. Curiously we get very little of her thoughts towards Daisy at all, though supposedly everything Morag does is to protect her.

There are a few chapters in third-person following the police investigation; the time frame does jump about a bit with ‘now and then’ headers on the chapters, the story eventually catching up to the action and revealing just what’s happened to have both Jess and Morag being questioned by police.

I found Jess’s backstory a lot more affecting than the crime itself, which was really nothing to do with her. What happened to Jess was cruel and unfair, and when thinking that, I realised what was bothering me about the story. Jess and her husband would have almost certainly sued the anaesthetist who admitted there was a needle slip, and be due a hefty payout - because even on the NHS, professionals have to carry indemnity insurance - and yet there’s no mention of any legal case at all. It took me less than a minute of googling to find a law firm who specialize in suing the NHS for epidural injuries on a no win no fee basis. Omitting any mention of it seems odd.

I liked the book, but I feel like we were short-changed a bit on Morag’s backstory in all the efforts to keep us in suspense. I think even more of an air of menace could have been generated if we’d been shown some of the family’s time on the run. All in all, this is a good effort but a few niggles mean I didn’t absolutely love it. I’ll give it four stars.

Jess is confined to a wheelchair and is now a paraplegic after an accident when she was giving birth to Luke who died in childbirth. She and Charlie are the parents of 4-year-old Grace. At the park one day, they meet an older woman with her daughter, Daisy, who is Grace’s age. The woman introduces herself as Morag and says she is married to Angus. Daisy comes over to Jess and whispers “She’s not my mum” which shocks Jess because the child looks so upset. Jess can’t let this go and becomes nearly obsessed with trying to find out more about this family.

Yep, Morag and Angus are hiding a huge secret and Jess is determined to find out what it is. So, let the cat and mouse game begin.

Lots of intrigue and hand-wringing on Jess’s part especially as she is already fighting depressing and other devils. In the beginning, I really wanted to tell Jess to stop her obsessing as the stress on Charlie was awful and I didn’t see how their marriage could outlast her actions. Morag is a wonderful woman that I would love to get to know personally. What a great friend she would be. As the book speeds toward the end, the truth opens up and the action hits a peak. Whew! That’s the breath-holding part of the book. I also enjoyed the sense of family here which made the story a good one.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Life for Jess fell apart six months ago when she lost her unborn baby & was left in a wheelchair after an epidural went wrong, Battling depression she struggles to make things the best she can for her daughter Grace. When at the park Grace plays with a girl of the same age. When the child whispers 'She's not my mum' Jess is taken aback- although Morag, the woman with her is kind & caring she seems to be very old to have such a small child. Jess soon becomes obsessed with this & is determined to try & find the truth. The story is told in two timelines Before- this is shared between Jess & Morag & Now which follows a police enquiry into a man's dead body & a traumatised witness.

I loved M.A.Hunter's Missing Children series so I was keen to read something else by him. I was not disappointed. This was a gripping page turner where my sympathies switched from Morag to Jess & back again. I was kept guessing & the ending did not disappoint. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- it was a cracker!

What an amazing book! From the very first comment “She’s not my mum”, I was addicted. What an opening to what continues to be a huge mystery and full of drama and action. I did not guess the ending. Absolutely brilliant.

Mummy’s Little Secret is a story that raises a lot of questions as you race through the pages. From page one, you’ll wonder why Daisy would whisper those words She’s not my mum to a strange lady in the park (Jess). You’ll wonder why Jess then takes it all so seriously, especially after the little girl’s mother, Morag, approaches too and tries to be friendly, going so far as to suggest Jess’s daughter Grace might enjoy a play-date with Daisy before school starts for both of them.

Then the story switches from Jess’s viewpoint to Morag’s, and you’ll wonder why Morag is so sensitive about Jess’s reaction to them in the park. And if you’re not convinced by then, the remaining chapters told in alternating viewpoints will have you hooked as they lay the foundations in a before – now – after set of scenarios.

In the before chapters, you’ll see Jess and Morag wallow in uncertainty and paranoia, constantly questioning the other woman’s actions, words and motives. Each woman carries a plethora of issues that have taken their toll on how they live their lives currently, not to mention their mental state. Jess lost a child and was left wheelchair-bound after an epidural during the birth hit a nerve. She’s struggling to cope with losing her child, her mobility, her job and her very essence. Morag has had to move frequently to keep her family safe, the why comes later, but she is clearly afraid of being found and is wary of everyone, but especially Jess. At times, the paranoia on the part of both women is off the scale, maybe even to the point of being beyond belief, however the explosive twist at the end more than makes up for it.

In the now chapters, you’ll see Detective Mike Ferry investigate a bloody murder. Here both women seem to be involved, one covered in blood at the scene of the crime, the other reporting a crime. So, who’s the victim here? There may be more than one.

In the after chapters, you see the impact of that murder on Jess and Morag’s lives. Will they be able to move forward, or does a life in prison await?

Mummy’s Little Secret is a pacy read, and you won’t want to stop until all those questions are answered. The plot builds to a tense ending, as suspicions escalate and the path to the truth is convoluted.

Thanks NetGalley for my copy of mummy’s little secret. A really good read that kept me intrigued right to the end. Well thought out plot and great character development.

I liked Mummy’s Little Secret, it is always good to read about mental health and Jess’s story was heartbreaking, I could feel her grief. The book was a good mystery story which left me guessing right till the end, and I liked the way it was written from both Jess’s viewpoint and Morag’s.

With its engrossing story line and excellent characters, this is a good psychological thriller that had me guessing until the end.

This absorbing and compelling story is told from the "before" and the "now" perspectives with the "before" being told by Jess and Morag and the "now" from the senior investigating officer, DI Mike Ferry. You would think this would be confusing but not in the slightest; what it does do is provide layers of mystery until it all comes together.

I haven't read anything by M.A. Hunter before but if this is anything to go by, I will certainly be looking out for more.

Thanks go to HarperCollins Publishers / One More Chapter and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

Absolutely enjoyed reading 'Mummy's Little Secret', which kept me guessing throughout with all the twists and turns. It is the first time that i have read books by M A Hunter and am looking forward to reading more. Recommended.

Am awaiting Amazon to publish my review.

‘Four little words can ruin a life.’

My thanks to HarperCollins One More Chapter for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Mummy’s Little Secret’ by M. A. Hunter in exchange for an honest review

Jess is in a local London park with her four-year-old daughter, Grace, where they meet Daisy and her mother Morag. Yet Jess is chilled when Daisy whispers four words to her: ‘She’s not my mum’. Jess becomes obsessed with unearthing Morag’s secrets. Her family and friends soon begin to question her increasingly odd behaviour. Meanwhile, Morag is clearly worried about someone…

The narrative switches between the viewpoints of Jess and Morag, in chapters designated as ‘Before’. These provide insights into both women’s thoughts. There are also chapters headed as ‘Now’ that focus on a police investigation into a crime. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Another aspect of the novel is that Jess is confined to a wheelchair. Again, I want to avoid spoilers though the cause of her paralysis is revealed in the course of the novel. This condition contributes to her state of mind and M. A. Hunter uses this to highlight attitudes experienced by those who are differently abled, such as being treated as invisible. My own experience of needing assistance with mobility, including a wheelchair for a period, not only made this aspect of the novel very relevant but I can also attest to these attitudes being a common experience.

Overall, I found this an engaging well paced mystery. I also felt that Hunter dealt with both Jess’ medical condition and mental health issues with sensitivity.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This is a really great and gripping novel - I loved it.

We meet Jess who has a little girl called Grace and they meet a fellow "mom" and daughter - Morag and Daisy at the park - the haunting words of "she is not my mum" spoken by Daisy to Jess really sets off the premise of this novel. Jess can not seem to get little Daisy's words out of her head - like many mums wouldn't - and decides to try and get to the bottom of these words.

Jess is currently going through an awful personal time - wont give too much away - so she is plagued with anxiety and depression - I really enjoyed reading about Jess and felt that her personal circumstances were horrendous.

The novel centres around this storyline and Jess confides in her husband but he shuts her down swiftly. The chapters switch between Morag and Jess and I flew through this novel.

An amazing story which is incredibly moving and heartfelt. Great if you enjoy a pacey novel that has a dark undercurrent.

Thanks to NetGalley, M.A Hunter and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story that dealt with a lot of different topics. It is early on that Daisy walks up to Jess in the park to tell her the woman she is with is not her mother. Jess is dealing with a lot. A few months prior Jess was in car accident which caused her to go into labor. During delivery things go wrong and Luke is lost as well as her feeling in her legs. Jess now is in a wheelchair.
While the story started slowly, it really picked up to the point of not putting it down until the end.
Jess is tormented by Daisy's words and starts looking into if she has been taken.

Thank you to Netgalley for complimentary copy.

Mummy’s Little Secret is another fantastic book by M.A. Hunter. The story follows Jess and Morag throughout the before timeline then the reader is thrown into the present time where an unknown event has occurred.

I found both Jess and Morag to be very complex characters. I thought that I knew what was happening with them but there is so much below the surface that I didn’t see. My heart definitely broke for Jess and everything that she went through.

There were a lot of twists that I didn’t see coming and I thought the ending was a great way to finish the story.

Tension is flying throughout this whole book from the moment 4 year old Daisy whispers “she’s not my mom” to Jess until the finality in the “after”. The plot runs thick as the story unfolds in 3 separate points of view - Before the crime as told by Jess and Daisys mom, Morag, and after the crime seen in Detective Mike’s investigation. With so many secrets to uncover you’ll be dying to solve them all as you pour through these chapters.

Mummy’s Little Secret by M.A. Hunter is a fantastic character-driven psychological thriller!

Jess becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth after five-year-old Daisy whispers to her, “She’s not my mum.” Is Morag really Daisy’s mum? What secrets is she hiding? Is Jess just being paranoid in the aftermath of her own trauma?

I flew through this book because I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what was going on and I needed to know! The entire story takes place over the course of only one week, alternating between past and present and told from the POVs of Jess, Morag, and the detective assigned to the case. It was chock full of tension and suspense, and I was questioning everyone and everything! Jess and Morag were extremely well-developed characters, and the author gave you just enough to make you like and yet distrust both of them. I didn’t trust the husbands either, and at one point I even started to wonder about one of the children. I was feeling as paranoid as Jess and Morag! This book definitely kept me on my toes, and it left me feeling satisfied when all of my questions were answered by the end!

I highly recommend this compellingly addictive thriller!

Thank you so much HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, & NetGalley for the gifted eARC!

Everything changes in the lives of two women in northern London when Morag’s daughter whispers to Jess, “She is not my mum.” Jess just can’t let this go, but her history of depression makes her husband doubt her story. Morag can tell Jess knows something and tries to find out without spilling her secrets.

This story is told using multiple timelines and points-of-view. It begins in the past and is very clear that both Jess and Morag have experienced heartache and are keeping secrets. Some of the chapters flash forward and the reader learns about a murder but isn’t sure how it’s connected to Jess and Morag’s story. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the story, but the way this story unfolds delivers a unique take on the domestic thriller with truly unexpected plot twists. The characters and situations aren’t what they seem and I really enjoyed the ending. This is a fast-paced book and if you like really being surprised by a thriller, I recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Jess and her daughter are in a park, when another little girl comes running up to them and when she hears her mother, Morag calling for her, she whispers something to Jess that worries her and starts her on a journey for the truth. She learns that Morag's little girl Daisy is the same age as her daughter so they have something in common. Jess is obsessed with finding out the truth behind Daisy's comment to her, but is it really Jess that is delusional?
This book flows well and the ending is intriguing.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.