Absolutely LOVED this THRILLING, Page-turning, Suspenseful, TWISTY read!

New mother and ex journalist, Tash is looking for a story when one comes right into her lap. The mother of a murder victim enlists Tash into finding what really happened to her Sophie Blake. Sophie’s death had seemed suspicious by ruled as an accident by a force that didn’t bother to investigate.

Tash delves into Sophies life and discovers that she was a live-in Nanny to one of her new friends of her child’s playgroup. As Sophie becomes entangled with her new group of friends, pretending to be more that who she is, have more money than she does, she discovers many secrets. Secrets that carry a death sentence. So many suspects, her friends, her own husband maybe, lies, betrayal and more murder ensues. Sophie uncovers what she thinks is the truth and puts her own life in danger. Who would kill to keep their secrets?

So many twists and a truly SHOCKING ending. I absolutely LOVED this fast read!

Thank you to NetaGalley and Gallery Books for this awesome ARC in exchange for my review!

THE OTHER MOTHERS by Katherine Faulkner is an exciting psychological thriller which will have wide appeal. With multiple narrators and multiple timeframes, Faulkner expertly builds suspense around the death of a nanny named Sophie Blake. She was judged to have drowned, but her mother doesn't believe that and convinces Tash Carpenter, a freelance journalist and Mum to toddler Finn, to investigate. Tash's inquiries seem to lead to some of her much richer playdate Mums (Claire, Laura, and Nicole ) and their families. With flashbacks to Sophie's reaction to these same women, the menace really builds. Faulkner sets the mystery in present day London and explores questions of affluence, privilege, and social class as well as fidelity and marriage vows. Much darker than a cozy mystery, this often-scary, twisty novel is full of unexpected pairings, anonymous threats, and secrets. A LibraryReads selection for December, THE OTHER MOTHERS also received starred reviews from both Kirkus ("Faulkner is a pro at ever-so-gradually ratcheting up the tension") and Publishers Weekly ("This one grips from start to shocking finish").

This was disappointing. The pace was slow so it made it difficult to stay with the story. I had a hard time with many of the characters and did not find them likable.

Books like this haven't been working great for me this year, but The Other Mothers is the exception. Faulkner does not miss and I think mothers and non mothers alike will not be able to put this down.

This is an excellent book, but, I did find at times I got a little lost. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and a long, winding story.
Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

What did I just read!?!?

Tash is not like the other mothers. She's not glamorous or rich, yet the other mothers seem to take her under their wing. When Tash starts to investigate the death of a local nanny, she realizes she friends may really be her frenemies.

This book had all sorts of twists and turns. It's short chapters told from two different perspectives kept the story moving and thrilling. This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout it's entirety. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama and real houseswives vibe of the other mothers. Just when I thought I had it figured out I was all wrong. This one is defintely worth picking up!

Thank you Netgalley, Katherine Faulkner, and Galley Books for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a ride! When a young nanny dies the official cause of death can't be determined but Sophie's mother doesn't believe her daughter's death was an accident.

Tash is a free-lance journalist trying to make some money while raising a two-year old with her husband who is a doctor and gone long hours. She has enrolled her son in a new playgroup but she is struggling to make friends and have some balance in her life. When Sophie's mom approaches her to investigate her daughter's death Tash fantasizes about this being the story to reinvigorate her sagging career. Sophia had worked at this playgroup so she figured she had an in, then to out that she nannied for one of the mothers.

Set in upscale London, a lot of the book centers on Tash trying to fit in with women who a very wealthy and spend money freely. Tash can not afford to be part of their group but she so wants to belong that she gets herself in financial trouble.

Their are two POV's, Tash but also chapters from the past told by Sophie. It was a little weird hearing from a woman we know is dead, but we get most of the backstory from her. Right up to a minute before she dies.

All of the characters are suspects at some point in the book. Faulkner does an excellent job of keeping the suspense going, knowing that Tash is in danger and wishing she would just stop her investigation! It really is a great thriller, one you won't want to put down until you are done.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Katherine Faulkner does it again! I really enjoyed this group of moms that all had secrets. It is one of those books you do not want to put down. There are a lot of characters, so you really have to pay attention. The POVs are setup cleverly. There is a death at the beginning and that person's past POV leading up to her death is sprinkled throughout the book. Loved it! Highly recommend.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller a lot! A journalist investigates the death of a nanny that seems suspicious even though a coroner declared it an accident. The further she digs into the mystery, the more connections she finds between the mothers, as well as their husbands, of children in her son's playgroup. This is the type of book in which it's not clear who can be trusted. As I really wanted to know how it all tied together in the end, it turned out to be a page-turner.

If I could design my perfect book, The Other Mothers would check all the boxes. A thriller/mystery, possible murder, an investigation, a cliquey group of rich mothers, a new-ish mom just trying to figure it all out, infidelity, suspense, dual timelines, and potentially unreliable narrators. This book truly has it all!

Admittedly it took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I did, I was completely hooked. The dual timelines/narrators added a great layer of depth and suspense to the plot and I may have whiplash from how quickly I kept changing my mind about what happened to Sophie. How everything played out was excited and totally kept me guessing. I also didn't really guess very accurately which is always a huge plus for me! The red herrings threw me off and it was so fun to see how Faulkner tied everything together.

I'm generally a huge fan of books about early motherhood and toxic female friendships so The Other Mothers was a win for me in that regard. I loved that these rich, successful women who had so much help also struggled with the challenges that come with young children - it felt relatable while also highly entertaining. However, the story isn't only about this so I think it will definitely appeal to a broader audience who may not be experiencing these aspects of life. The thriller/mystery/suspense aspect of the novel was just right and Faulkner executed it all wonderfully.

I listened to this novel on audio and really enjoyed the narrators. There were two narrators which I always appreciate and they were equally excellent. They added a level of entertainment to the story without going overboard. It was very well acted and their voices were on point. I will say the voice for Nicole wasn't my favorite as the American accent was mediocre at best, but it was maybe 2 minutes of the entire novel so it was more humorous than anything else!

All in all, this book was fantastic and I highly recommend. After reading and loving Greenwich Park last year, it's safe to say that Faulkner is an autoread author for me and I'm excited to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to Gallery and Libro.fm for the copy. Get this one today!

Tash isn't like the "other mothers" but they take pity on her when her son has some separation anxiety at daycare. Soon they're inviting her to coffee dates, spa days, and their homes.

There are two problems:
The first - Tash doesn't have the kind of money they have, and she is quickly running out of cash for expensive coffee, pastries, and clothes.
The second - it's looking like all of Tash's new friends might know something about the death of a young woman she is investigating for one of her freelance stories. Who is lying and why?

It was hard at first to keep up with all of the characters since there was so much drama! This was an intricate story with multiple moms, kids and husbands but after a while the story picks up a rhythm. There are a lot of twists and turns with an unexpected ending that will keep you guessing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance reader's copy.

Tash is a reporter who is asked by a deceased girls mother to investigate her daughters death. Her daughters name is Sophie and she was a nanny for Claire and Jess but she was found dead The couple or apart of a super rich exclusive sect whose kids all go to the same nursery and surprising no one all the toddlers are two, the exact same age as Finn Tash’ss son. Tash infiltrates the friend group but seems more interested in snooping around their house keeping Up with the Joneses and critiquing her new friends to investigate Sophie‘s death. The first half of the book of them have a get together‘s drinking something they call play dates. This was a book that ended way better than it started it also had really good surprises towards the end but throughout the narrative I kept thinking why would this woman bring her two-year-old baby to investigate a possible murderer? If you like thrillers then you may very well enjoy this book I would be lying if I said I did not but there were many things I questioned throughout the book that made no sense but having said that I would still recommend this book to any thriller fans especially those who like books with the rich and affluent doing wrong this is definitely that type of book. I want to thank Gallery books Ann net galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

3.5 Stars

Keep you friends close and your enemies closer.

Tash is a mom to an adorable 3 year old who is having a hard time leaving her for school. She sees a posh mom group with their perfect appearances and well adjusted children and envies them. They eventually bring her into their fold. Secrets are as bold as the coffee they share and Tash soon learns the price is high to be friends with this group. She is trying to make a go as a freelance journalist but finds herself looking into the murder of a local nanny. She is caught up in a web of lies. Be careful what you wish for.

There are so many twists and turns that you might just get whiplash. A definite slow burn for me, especially at the beginning. Once I carved out time to read it moved faster. Characters were self centered, entitled and I found it difficult to relate to. Dads behaving badly and moms not wanting to let go of their posh lifestyle. I can understand Tash’s want/need to fit in and her concern for her son, but not at the cost of her family. Far fetched, definitely but it’s like watching your favorite guilty pleasure, you just can’t look away. The ending was somewhat of a letdown. Dual time line and story line which made the story move faster. I had a hard time remembering the backstory of the characters/couples, and I’m not sure why. I will definitely read this author again and plan to go back and read her first book. I did enjoy her writing style. This author knows how to spin a story. I recommend this book if you love twists and turns, this story will definitely keep you guessing! I love the cover art, it really captures to feel of the book.

Thanks to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

When a young nanny dies near Tash’s home, she is certain the story would reboot her journalism career. Suddenly being accepted to her sons play group, Tash finds herself questioning their motive. Is she digging into nanny’s death that should be kept a closed case? All evidence has Tash looking closer at her new “friends”. Who’s investigating who?
This read has alternating POV and timelines. The dead nanny Sophie and Tash, a new mom hoping to boost her career. Fast paced because of the back and forth chapters.
Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for The Other Mothers ARC read in exchange for my review.

The Other Mothers is an interesting story, and I mostly enjoyed it. It took me a while to be able to keep track of all the characters, and the timeline jumped around a little too much. I enjoyed the last half of the book much more than the beginning. I felt like the story conclusion was very well done. Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance reader copy of this book.

The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner was an enjoyable mystery/ thriller for the fall season. The book opens with the murder of a young nanny and our main character, Tash, is quickly wrapped up in the idea that she can perhaps figure out what happened to jumpstart her budding career as a journalist, However, she's also a new mom and needs "other mothers" in her circle to navigate these new mom waters but she's finding it hard to also determine who she can trust.
I do say the title alone made me untrusting of just about every other mother in this book and I think I have Neil Gaiman and Coraline's Other Mother to thank for trying to sew buttons onto her eyes. Nevertheless, everything seemed a little too picture perfect and elite for the world Tash is welcomed into, to be as pure as it seems from the outside.
It is so often those with the fakest smiles and money to burn who have the most to lose if secrets are revealed. I think if you are interested in diving into the world beyond the playdate and the diaper bags, this may be a good book to get swept into.

A young mother gets caught up in an elite social group where secrets center on a dead nanny. As the mother fights to keep up with the other women and to establish her career, she’s drawn into the secrets while holding a few of her own. Author Katherine Faulkner keeps readers guessing until the final pages in her latest novel The Other Mothers.

Natasha “Tash” Carpenter starts every day fighting with her toddler son, Finn. Once a rising journalist, Tash put her career on hold to have Finn, and she and her husband couldn’t be happier with him. Now, though, Finn is old enough to go to preschool, but he hates it. The morning battles are exhausting and leave Tash begging and pleading with her son to be happy about being with other kids; Finn is having none of it.

What’s worse, all of the leads Tash has for freelancing jobs are either nonexistent or offer busy work. She misses the excitement of a new story and the camaraderie with her publication team. Being a mom is wonderful, but it’s also lonely.

When a group of mothers whose children go to the same London preschool extend an offer of friendship, Tash feels like she’s hit the jackpot. Claire, Nichole, and Laura seem so put together. Tash wishes she had their couture wardrobes, high-end coffee runs, and spa days with fancy lunches and lots of gossip. It may be hard for Tash to keep up financially, but she’s grateful that the mothers are willing to socialize outside of preschool hours so Finn can get to know some of his classmates better.

Soon enough, though, Tash realizes the ties that Claire has to a recent sensational headline. A young woman, Sophie, was found dead a few years earlier in what seemed to be an accident. The facts of the incident have never sat well with Tash, though; there are enough missing pieces in Sophie’s case to make Tash wonder whether she can revive the story and get to the truth. Then she finds out Sophie used to be the nanny for Claire’s children, and all of a sudden her interest in her new friend group rises dramatically.

Tash does everything she can to stay in step with the women who have taken her in, but she also finds herself maxing out her budget. The more she digs into Sophie’s life, too, the more she finds she can’t think about anything else. Other freelance stories start to suffer as Tash tries to figure out the details behind Sophie’s death, but she can’t let it go. Then someone else dies, and Tash realizes she may be out of her depth. Why would Sophie cause such a problem after dying? And did Claire know her better than she’s letting on?

Author Katherine Faulkner splits her narrative between Tash in the present day and Sophie in the weeks leading up to her death. The effect is a slow burn that mystery lovers will find tantalizing in the best way. Between the subsequent reveals each woman shares as well as the expertly-placed red herrings, Faulkner does a fantastic job keeping readers engaged until the big reveal at the end.

The book does suffer a little from a dragging middle portion. For a while, the story feels like it’s treading water as certain story elements drift into place. Also, at times Nichole and Laura seem interchangeable. Claire’s relationship with Sophie makes her stand out, but the other two friends are often relegated to background scenery.

Those who stick with the book through the second third of it will be rewarded with a series of compelling twists and turns all the way to the end. Unlike some mysteries that tie everything up in a nice neat package, Faulkner chooses a hint of ambivalence. In the hands of a less skilled author, the ambivalence would have felt like a lack of commitment to anything, but Faulkner uses it to show her characters’ lives will continue beyond the last page.

Readers wanting a mystery that delves into the messiness of every-day life and how it can cloud a person’s judgment even as they follow their compulsions will enjoy this one.

I tried this one twice and couldn’t get into it- it felt like I’d read this before and just didn’t grab me. A meek main character and a group of moms with nefarious intentions…. Been there done that.

3.5- I love a good, twisty novel and this was that. It felt a bit slow in the first half and had a few too many characters to keep track of. The guilty culprit remains a mystery and keeps the reader guessing throughout. It was a tangled web and the end was satisfying, but it took patience to get there.

Thank you Gallery Books and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I read Katherine Faulkner's debut novel and enjoyed it. I was excited to get an early copy of this book. It has the same posh, high-class vibes that the first book did. I found the beginning of the book to be a little slow, but once I was 25% in, I was hooked. I flew through the last 50% of the book. I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating point of view from Tash and Sophie. The mystery aspect of the book was probable. I could see the storyline being confusing if you weren't fully invested in the book, but I enjoyed the big reveal at the end. Overall, I would highly recommend this domestic thriller to any mystery lover.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4