First, I want to thank Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Kerry Wilkinson is back with another twisted psychological thriller in My Sons Girlfriend that you will want to put on your TBR list. This book is fast paced, addictive, and a binge worthy read.

This situation is every parent's worst nightmare come true! You get a call from your son saying it wasn't me. The next thing you find out that your son’s girlfriend is dead!! Did the son do it?! What happened to Ella? Kerry is an incredible storyteller and put some wicked twists and turns into this storyline.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #MySonsGirlfriend by #KerryWilkinson. What would you do if your son was accused of murder? This fast paced thriller sucked me in until the shocking ending. Jennifer receives a phone call in the middle of the night from her son and all he says is “it wasn’t me”. Soon after the police are at her door looking for Daniel because his girlfriend has been killed. Jennifer will stop at nothing to find her son and prove his innocence. But can she succeed in this?

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘My Son’s Girlfriend’ written by Kerry Wilkinson in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Late at night Jennifer Farley receives a phone call from her son Daniel who’s at her old university in Ashington who says ‘It wasn’t me’. Thirty minutes later there’s a knock at the door and two police officers tell her there’s been an incident with Daniel’s girlfriend Ella who’s been murdered by having a lamp cord tied around her neck. She was found on Daniel’s bed and as he’s disappeared the police think he’s responsible. Jennifer immediately drives to Daniel’s student flat as although people are saying he’s a killer she knows he’s not and as soon as she finds her son he’ll be needing her close by.

Kerry Wilkinson is a prolific writer of excellent thrillers and I always look forward to reading something by him as no two of his standalone novels are the same and I never know what to expect. ‘My Son’s Girlfriend’ doesn’t disappoint as it’s another action-packed thriller set in the present time and also twenty-four years earlier when Jennifer was at the same university. It has lots of suspense, drama and twists that from page one I was completely gripped and unable to stop reading. The characters are relatable and there are so many possible suspects it’s been difficult trying to decide which of them is most likely to be the killer. By the time I’d reached the conclusion I wasn’t expecting the final huge twist that was like a bolt out of the blue and left me open-mouthed in surprise. This has been a thoroughly enjoyable thriller that I can happily recommend.

Well this book hit the ground running, held me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end, exhausted but wholly satisfied. It also marks a welcome return to this author's best. His previous few books having not quite reached the heady heights of his earlier works...
So... we start with Jennifer receiving a midnight call from her son Dan who is away at uni. After her greeting, he speaks only one short sentence - "It wasn't me" - and then hangs up. Not long after, she is further disturbed by a knock at the door. The police. They are looking for Dan. It transpires that his girlfriend Ella is dead and Dan is missing... but is he another victim to them, or a suspect?
If this isn't shocking enough, and worrying, Jennifer's world is rocked further when she finds out exactly how Ella was killed. Some 20 years ago, Jennifer's best friend was also murdered, in exactly the same way, and since Dan is stying in the same city as Jennifer once lived, in the same place. A place that Jennifer hasn't returned to since. A place she now needs to go to to to try and work out what is happening and, more importantly, find Dan and clear his name...
I blooming loved this book. I whizzed through it, needing to know what in the heck was happening. Desperate for resolution. Hungry to discover the truth!
Told in the present day as Jennifer chases down the clues, reconnects with her past, with that past injected in the format of flashbacks to add colour and progress the present day narrative.
Characterisation has always been one of this author's strengths, especially his female ones and this book is no exception to that. I took to Jen from the off and felt for what she was going through.
Pacing is good and matches the narrative all the way through, and with absolutely no superfluous waffle or padding, the story gets on with itself very well indeed.
And when the truth all came out... well... phew, that's all I'm saying.
All in all, a return to first class form and a worthy addition to an already impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

As a mum, this is pretty much my worst nightmare. A phone call in the middle of the night and your child on the run, wanted for murder. Jen's son's girlfriend Ella has been found murdered in a way that devastatingly echoes horrors from Jen's own past. She rushes back to try and find Daniel, she ends up in a web of lies that all seem to be connected.

Well written with a great pace, I love that My Son's Girlfriend is a whodunnit that shies away from the police perspective. Instead Jen is completely blind, trying to piece together Daniels life before the murder and what brought the young couple very much in love, to the edge.

Some characters didn't really have a purpose which left me questioning why they were there in the first place and others were very clearly plot steps such as Daniel's Dad Andrew and Jen's university friend Natasha, but you could argue that was purposeful to give a sense of Jen's tunnel vision which is fully focused on her son. Caroline from HR also ruffled my feathers and I hope that Jen went back to work and submitted a GDPR complaint. You can take the girl out of HR, but you can't take HR out of the girl......

Was this a little far fetched? Yes it was, but that didn't stop me having a great time getting lost in the pages of My Son's Girlfriend.

Jennifer receives a distressing late-night call from her son: “Mom, I didn’t do it.” Just hours later, the police show up at her door looking for him, delivering tragic news—he's the prime suspect in his girlfriend’s murder.

A gripping story packed with tension, which throws the reader straight into the plot with a powerful opening and a mystery full of twists and shifting narratives. The dual timeline, where we see Jennifer’s past trauma interwoven with the present-day murder investigation involving her son Daniel, makes it impossible to put the book down for at least the first half.

I have to admit that, from the midpoint onward, some scenes pulled me out of the story due to their rushed execution and lack of emotional depth or relevance to the investigation. The involvement of secondary characters and their gradual introduction is a strong point, helping maintain the story’s pace. However, at times, I felt like these characters weren’t fully developed, appearing and disappearing too quickly. In some scenes, I even felt the same detachment toward Jennifer herself.

The final twist was quite good, though not as impactful as I had hoped. The resolution felt too easy, and I was expecting a final punch of action to leave a stronger impression.

Overall, it's an engaging story—perfect for a one-sitting read, getting through a reading slump, or simply enjoying an entertaining mystery.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kerri Wilkinson and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This book starts out with every mother's nightmare - a telephone call from a child. This one is especially disturbing when her son simply states, "I didn't do it." Then there is a dial tone. She is thinking didn't do what. She will soon learn that Dan's girlfriend, Ella, has been murdered. Her body was found on his bed. To make this tale even more disturbing for Jennifer, the memories of what happened 20 years ago are coming to the forefront of her mind. One of her best friends was murdered with a lamp cord around her neck, just like Ella. So, Jennifer does what any good mother would do, she hops in the car. This is not an easy trip for her because she has not been back to this college or this town since her friend died.

From there the mystery gets even more complex and Jennifer gets herself in some scary situations. But the mother in her will not allow her to quit looking for her son. There are some shady characters and shady dealings going on, which makes this even more dangerous for her and her son.

This was a great mystery which provided little clues all along, just enough to tickle your brain a little more. The story would switch from the present to past when Jennifer's friend was killed, so you could more fully understand everything. The ending was shocking, to the say the least. I must confess that I did not see that one coming.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Whew! Gripping, tense, shocking, and full of twists, My Son's Girlfriend shows one mother's determination to find her son and prove his innocence! My Son's Girlfriend had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages as Kerry Wilkinson threw in twist after twist in this tense and addictive book!

Jennifer receives a midnight call from her son, Dan, who is away at college. The call is brief and to the point. He informs her that it wasn't him. Jennifer then learns from the police that Dan's girlfriend, Ella, is dead and they are looking for her son. Desperate to locate her son and clear his name, Jennifer goes on a quest to get to the bottom of things. This is very personal to her not only because she needs to clear her son's name but also because Ella's murder is just like her Jennifer’s best friend’s murder twenty years ago. Holy Moly!

This book is a tense, suspenseful thriller full of dread, danger, twists, revelations, and suspense. I enjoyed how this book showed how far a parent is willing to go for their child. The pacing was spot on and added to the tense vibe that flowed throughout the book. As Jennifer searches for the truth, readers get glimpses into the past and what unfolded during that timeline. This book had a great mystery, and I had to know what was going to happen next! Just when I thought I had a handle on things, Kerry Wilkinson added another element to the story which intensified my interest and desire to know if Jennifer would be able to clear her son's name.

This was a twisty read and that ending was not unexpected, yet I didn't want to believe it would be the ending so was shocked when it did end like that. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more books from this author in the future.

This is a great thriller.
Jennifer’s son Dan is away at university and when she gets a call from him saying, ‘it wasn’t me’ she has no idea what he means as he hangs up straight away.
She then gets a visit from the Police asking if she’s seen him as his girlfriend has been found dead.
Jennifer heads up to try and find Dan but as it’s the same place she went to university and where sonething bad happened to her close friend, it brings back some bad memories.
Jennifer speaks to a few people who knew Dan and Ella and is led down a few wrong turns and meets a few dark characters.
This is a great thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

This story is a great thriller. I think when books have this topic we all find ourselves relating to a mother. What wpuld we do to either believe or protect our child or loved one.

Jennifer recieves a phone from her son. He utters just 3 words.later police arrive to tell her he's wanted for murder! Of his girlfriend. But Jennifer doesn't beleive it. She can't. So she has to delve into her own painful past to both locate and prove her sons innocence.
What ensues is a mother love spiring her on to find answers. That now seem to have links to her own hurtful past...

"It wasn't me..."

It's nearly midnight when Jennifer receives a phone call from her son Daniel, who normally only sends text messages so she knew something was up. Then he whispers those three words before the line goes dead. It wasn't him, what? What wasn't him?

Half an hour later there's a knock on the door as she's climbing the stairs to bed. Who is knocking at this late hour? Jennifer opens the door with the chain on to see two uniformed police officers there. This can't be good. And then they tell her what Daniel didn't. His girlfriend Ella was found dead and now they are searching for Daniel who is wanted for the crime.

Almost as soon as the police have gone, Jennifer wakes her sleeping husband and tells him what's just happened. And then makes a snap decision. She's driving up to see if she can locate their son. But Jennifer hasn't set foot in the place for over two decades, her own past buried deep up there. But little did Jennifer know that Ella was murdered in the exact same manner as her best friend all those years ago. But the killer was caught and sent to prison. So how can this be?

What ensues is basically Jennifer trying to locate Daniel in a town that has changed somewhat but largely stayed the same in the years since she left. She has no idea where he would go or where to start looking. And some of her decisions were questionable to say the least. Jennifer has no idea of the can of worms she is opening or what she is dealing with - largely drug dealing, stolen cars and all kinds of nefarious things. What on earth had Daniel gotten himself mixed up in?

The reveal wasn't too much of a surprise to me though it may well be to the rest of the characters in the book but for me it made perfect sense. No one else just seemed to join the dots.

The story unfolds in the past and present through Jennifer's third person narrative. None of the characters are very likeable. The pace is somewhat slow and I felt bogged down in a lot of wordiness. I have read and enjoyed many of the author's thrillers but this one was lacking his usual dry humour and wit that has become something of a trademark.

I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MySonsGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Jennifer receives a phone call from her son saying "It wasn't me." before he hangs up again. Not long after that the police arrive at her door looking for her son. The police inform her that Daniel's girlfriend, Ella, is dead, But Jen is determined to find him first. Daniel is at University in Ashington. Jen drives all night to get there while her husband Andrew stays at home in case Daniel turns up. Jen and Andrew met twenty-four years ago in Ashington. Jen didn't have the best experience there. She had vowed never to return.

The story has a dual timeline - the past, twenty-four years ago and the present day. A mother's love is unconditional, and Jen goes above and beyond to find her son and prove his innocence. I enjoyed trying to work out if Daniel was guilty, or if it was one of the other characters we met along the way. This is a steady=paced, well-written book with characters that are relatable. I enjoyed how the plot unfolded, revealing what had happen to Jen while she was at Uni, and how the story ended. I would have liked a little more on what the Dad was doing while Jen was away.

Published 24th February 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #MySonsGirlfriend in exchange for an honest review.

Kerry Wilkinson has quickly become a favorite of mine for psychological thrillers! My Son's Girlfriend is right up there with his previous books which build tension and hold secrets keeping you engaged all the way through!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Clever unusual plot. When her son calls her with the message “I didn't do it “a pandoras box of events plunges Jennifer back to the town she said she'd never return to and memories that still haunt her.

Solid 3.5 stars. Jennifer gets a call in the middle of the night from her college aged son Daniel saying he did not do it. The police then show up at her door and tell her that her son’s girlfriend has been murdered. Jennifer heads to the college town to find her son and face old demons. A tragic event 24 years prior has kept her away. She begins her search to find Daniel and the truth of what happened to Ella.

This book was slow to start and dragged in places. It finally came together about 2/3 of the way and the last 1/3 was unputdownable! Did not see the twists in the last chapter! Overall a good read. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review this ARC!

Imagine the police showing up at your door during the middle of the night informing you that your son’s girlfriend has been killed. More shockingly, just a few moments before, you receive a call from your son saying, “It wasn’t me.”

That’s what’s going on with Jennifer and her son Daniel. His girlfriend Ella is dead, and the police are looking for him. Jen is determined to find him first. She would do anything for him, even if she has to face something from her past along the way. How far would Jennifer go for Dan? And where is he? Nothing is going to stop her search for her son, while determinedly proving his innocence.

Come along for the ride while Jen goes to the college town where Dan should be. This is all while facing something from her past just might cause her to take some questionable risks. In this fast-paced book, following Jen was indeed a wild ride, and I couldn’t tap my Kindle screen fast enough.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

“Is that you, darling?' A second of silence before her son replies. 'It wasn't me.’”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Pub Date: 2/24/2025

It’s almost midnight when Jennifer sees her son’s name flash up on her phone. He off at college, at her Alma mater, and usually she’s happy when he calls, but this time she knows something is wrong…. And 30 minutes later the police are at her door letting her know her sons girlfriend is dead, and her son is missing.

When Jennifer hears how Ella died, her blood runs cold. Because Jennifer’s best friend was murdered twenty years ago the same way. In the same place. Jennifer hasn’t been back since… but now, she has no choice.

This was such a fast read, and my first Kerry Wilkinson book. It alternated POVs, with a special one at the end, also going between timelines, which are two of my favorite things for a book. It kept me on my toes and I genuinely didn’t know how anything would play out.

I loved how Jennifer and Daniel had their own communication style, as only they knew clues when they were talking to each other. I also appreciated how Ella’s family was open with Jennifer and didn’t just outcast her with her son as a suspect.

I wouldve loved to have a chapter or so from Jennifer’s husband to get his perspective of the events and also some other individuals, but overall happy with the main 2 and the last chapter!

Thank you to Kerry Wilkinson, NetGalley, and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

It is a well written novel, with punchy dialogue that rings true, and the descriptive writing brings the scenes to life.
A book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well.

When her son Daniel sends an urgent message to his mum 'I didn't kill her' then is on the run his mum Jennifer's aim is to try and find him and get the truth.
A fast paced book with many twists and turns that will keep you wanting to read on. Yet another great book from this author.