Read this if…your life has been overwhelming lately and you need to feel better about your circumstances by comparing yourself to someone who has it a lot worse.

Trigger warning: This review and the book have themes including stillbirth, postpartum depression, drug abuse, and domestic violence.

Let me introduce you to a character I have nicknamed “Hot Mess Jess.” Jess has a lot on her plate. Just 6 months prior, she got into a car accident that triggered her labor and resulted in the death of her unborn son and left her paralyzed from the waist down. Understandably, she’s having a rough time dealing with the loss of her baby and her mobility. One day while at the park with her daughter, Jess is approached by a little girl who tells her the woman she’s with isn’t her mother. Jess is concerned, but everyone she tells about the strange encounter just tells her she’s being paranoid. So Jess starts doing her own digging into this woman. Fast forward a week and Jess is the prime suspect in a murder committed at this woman’s house.

I liked how this novel was set up. The chapters alternate between Jess and Morag (the mystery woman) from the time they meet up until the murder. At the same time, readers are presented with chapters in the present from the lead detective’s POV. This really kept me reading to try and see how this chance meeting at a park could result in so much chaos.

That being said, Hot Mess Jess was just too much. Her character was so depressing and even with giving her the empathy she deserved, I found her to be unlikable. The twists and turns were there, but didn’t really surprise me. And I hated how it ended. So, it wasn’t a terrible read, but it could’ve been better in a lot of ways.

Title: Mummy's Little Secret
Author: M.A. Hunter
Publisher: Harper/Collins UK, One More Chapter
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Mummy's Little Secret" by M.A. Hunter

My Opinion:

'Mummy's Little Secret' was some gripping psychological thriller that will keep one turning the pages to see what was coming next. What will happen when Jess [who was wheelchair bound] meets Daisy, and she whispers, 'She's not my Mum?' Jess had taken her daughter, Grace, to the part, and they had met Daisy. With all that Jess has gone through, will she get anyone to believe what this child has told her? Her husband Charlie... well, I will leave that to you to read how that went. What will happen when Jess tries to find out more about Morag, Dasiy's mom? Why does Jess become obsessed with all of this?

Interestingly, both of these ladies had issues with secrets, sympathies, and complexes that they both had, making this story even more intriguing to find out what was going on in the world. The reader will see that both Jess and Marag had problems, and as the story continues, there will be twists and turns all over the place, more like a rollercoaster ride. The characters were well-developed and defined. Some were even more interesting such as...Gwen, Sharon, Tommy, and Charlie, to name a few.

'Mummy's Little Secret' is an excellent read where family secrets drive the story, and who was this person stalking the Morag's family? To find out all the answers to these questions, pick up 'Mummy's Little Secret' and see how well this author brings it all out to the reader, and in the end, definitely pleased at the way the story turned out.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, for giving me the chance to share my unbiased opinion.

I received this advanced copy from the publisher and I have never read anything by M.A. Hunter so I didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised! The book hooks you from the very beginning with the "She's not my mummy" words... I enjoyed how the story is structure between the 2 characters and the present time. Once you get to the last 20% of book, you simply cannot put it down!! everything starts unfolding and you just need to know what's going to happen.

I really enjoyed it.

When Jess meets five-year-old Daisy and her mum, Morag, in a local London park, they seem a perfectly happy and loving pair. Until Daisy whispers four little words that send ice seeping down Jess’s spine…

She’s not my mum.

,This was the first book I have read by this author and although I have mixed feelings about it, it wouldn't stop me seeking out further work by them as I have read some good reviews. The premise of the book was good but there were too many holes in the plot, it is slow paced and too similar to other psychological thrillers I have read lately.

I liked the way it was written with the two different points of view and I am sure it will appeal to many readers of psychological thrillers.

Jess with her daughter Grace meets Daisy and her mother Morag in the park; but when Daisy whispers to Jess that Morag is not her mother - and honestly Morag looks a little old to be a mother of such a young girl - Jess suspects something is very wrong and she can't get that idea out of her head.

Jess has many troubles on her own, yet still tries to interfere into Morag's family and constantly investigates about the truth about Daisy. Is she abducted?

In the meanwhile Jess's health and marriage slowly fall to pieces. Confined to a wheel chair, battling depression and the loss of her baby she is struggling to even function.

You can never be sure who is what they say they are and who plays the person they think you want them to be.

Obviously I've read too many thrillers, so this one has been a little slow paced and too predictable for my taste.

All in all a good read.

This is such a brilliant, twisty book. As soon as I started it, I knew I was going to enjoy this one. It was brooding and at times quite dark but, that just added to my enjoyment. I really thought this book was going to go slow halfway through but, the pace kept going right until the end. And at the end, thank goodness it had a happy ending. This book needs more than five stars but unfortunately that’s all I can give it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

When Jess meets five year old Daisy and her mum, Morag, in a local London park they seem perfectly happy and loving pair. Until Daisy whispers four little words that send ice seeping down Jess's spine - She's not my mum.

When Jess and her daughter Grace meet Morag and Daisy at the park, Daisy whispers to Jess that Morag is not her mother. Jess can't get Daisy's comment out of her head and soon becomes obsessed in finding out the truth. But what Jess doesn't realise is that she is opening a can of worms that should have remained tightly closed, because the secret Morag keeps will end up with someone being dead.

This is a tense and character driven read. There's a lot more to this story than we are first led to believe. The story is told in alternate chapters in the before format from Jess and Morag's perspectives and the now through DI Mike Ferry who is the SIO. Both Jess and Morag are fighting their own demons. The pace is fast and the plotline is gripping. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter for my ARC of #MummysLittleSecret in exchange for an honest review.

Told in past and present (well, one week's difference) and by Morag, Jess, and DI Mike Ferry, this is a story of secrets surrounding little Daisy, who told Jess that Morag isn't her mother. This is a twisty little thriller with an interesting twist in Jess' use of of a wheelchair and the paranoia that both women exhibit. Jess' mental health is at issue but is she imagining things? And what about the body? No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's nicely crafted and told- and it kept me guessing.

Loved this dark and twisted thriller. When Jess meets a little girl in the park who approaches her looking scared and says the woman claiming to be her mum isn’t, she is thrown into a dark twisted story in which her sanity and family are all thrown in turmoil. I won’t spoil it but this book does not disappoint.

Four little words whispered by a small child change the course of so many lives!
Jess is in the park with her daughter Grace when a little girl, Daisy runs up to her and whispered the four words that will forever change her life,“She’s not my mum!” Morag appears to be a loving mum, albeit a bit old for such a young child but those words frighten Jess and she becomes obsessed with the family. Jess has her own issues dealing with a tragic loss and ending up in a wheelchair only 6 short months ago. Navigating her new world both physically and mentally is taking it’s toll on her.
The story is told from 2 different timelines, Before, alternating between Morag and Jess and Now, with DI Mike Ferry in the aftermath of a crime where a body has been found. Both women are fighting their own demons and are unsure of each other’s motives. The mystery of the victim is kept secret for most of the book until an explosive ending! What secrets are these women holding onto? Can they trust each other?
A thoroughly enjoyable read until the last page! Highly Recommend! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

First off let me express my appreciation to NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter, for an early release of this book. The opinions expressed below are strictly my own.

Throughout reading this book, I was struck by the fact that neither of the 2 main women acted like nor thought like women. The whole scenario just seemed out of kilter. AHA!! I learn in the end that the author is a man. Well, that explains a lot. Presumably it also explains his very poor opinion about both the medical expertise and policework which took up so much of the story.

The book had a fairly decent premise with the idea of the child abduction, but most of the clues and actions of the characters simply didn’t make sense. There were lots of holes in the plot.

On the plus side there was plenty of suspense to keep me turning pages.

I’m glad so many people have enjoyed this novel. I’m sorry to be a naysayer.

This book is told from three peoples point of view, Jess and Morag in the first person and the police in the third person. It hops backwards and forwards from past to present before reaching its finale. It starts off with a little girl coming over to Jess in the park and telling her that Morag is not her mum. What follows is a blend of really not knowing who is who and who is telling the truth. Jess got on my nerves a bit with her dogged pursuit for the truth and Morag was paranoid. However, as I said it all slots into place at the end. As the saying goes, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

The ending wasn’t that much of a surprise but it did pull everything together.

As I found it a bit hard work, I’ve only given it three stars, I’m not, personally keen on books that switch back and forth, as I myself lose the momentum, but that’s only my point of view.

My thanks to the author, and Netgalley for the ARC.

I first discovered M.A.Hunters work through the Missing Children Case Files series. It is a fantastic series that had me eagerly awaiting each instalment. I will admit when I started reading Mummy’s Little Secret, I felt for a few moments that it was slipping back into the Case Files domain. “She’s not my mum”. But how wrong I was, and gladly so. This book introduces us to Jess, whose life has been recently completely torn apart. She meets Morag, and her daughter Daisy in the park when Jess brings her own daughter there to play. But Daisy utters the words in a fearful whisper to Jess. These four words send Jess into a spiral.

Already struggling with life day to day, Jess suddenly finds herself becoming paranoid, and fighting to get to the bottom of this mystery. Jess’s family and friends fear she is becoming increasingly paranoid and off her medication, becoming a danger to herself and others.

Then the police become involved.

The story is told in two storylines, making it even more enjoyable to read, really building up the drame. The then and now storylines keep you guessing, working alongside the police trying to figure out just who did it….before it becomes a frantic race at the end to save those who most need saving. Every time you think you have it figured there is another twist and turn. M.A. Hunter excels at keeping you guessing to the end, and writing absolutely impossible to put down books, keeping you reading until the small hours of the morning!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

It didn’t take me long to finish this well-written book because it’s the kind of story with the kind of characters that really takes you in from the beginning. All characters in this book, from little Daisy to her ‘mother’ Morag to wounded but strong Jess and her family, were drawn very clearly. And although Morag isn’t very likable in the beginning, once it’s clear why she does what she does, you can feel nothing but sympathy for her. You can feel the tension mounting and I especially liked the chapter describing the barbecue party where you can almost feel the tension yourself.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

What a story!! Jess is a character that you can't decide whether she is speaking the truth or is having delusions, Morag is definitely dodgy but how extreme. This story keeps on giving

She’s not my Mum”. These are the whispered words that wheelchair-bound Jess hears from a little girl at the park playing with her daughter Grace. The young girl’s mother, Moag, comes up and introduces herself, but those four little words are stuck in Jess’s mind and make her suspicious of everything Moag says and does. The story is told from the two women’s points of view and labeled Before and After. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I realized I was wrong, and kept doubting myself until the very end! Satisfying read!

Phew! Just finished this book in two days. I found it fast moving, lots of slippery turns and I wanted to finish it as quickly as I could. Will you believe Morag or will you believe Jess? I love psychological thrillers and this was one of the better ones. I admire anyone who can write a good novel that grips peoples interest

A chance encounter in the park leaves Jess reeling and determined to establish the truth. She believes four year old Daisy when she secretly tells her that the woman she is with us not her mother. There is something off about Morag and she looks too old to be Daisy’s mother. The trouble is no one will believe Jess when she tells them what happened. They all believe that Jess who is now in a wheelchair after the tragic loss of her new born and is on ante depressants is paranoid.
Jess decides to investigate with fatal consequences
For the most part this was a very readable and gripping book, my one quibble was the use of a Scottish accent in the text which I found annoying!

Great thriller that kept me guessing right to the end! Daisy whispers four words to Jess in the park "She's not my mum" which raises her concerns but everyone else thinks she's being paranoid as she recently had an accident which resulted in her losing her baby and her mobility.

I read this book very quickly thanks to such an engaging talented author! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Great characters, setting and storyline. Would highly recommend.