The Mother: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist

Written by Anya Mora

Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya

This book will tear you apart.

A mother’s love is everything.

“A teenage boy from Port Rainier has been airlifted to Harbor Hill Hospital. Critical injuries.”

My heart crawls up my throat, and I grip the table. Lost for words. Tears fill my eyes. Ezra.

I already lost my husband to a tragic accident.
I can’t lose my son, too.

I call him again, not wanting to believe the worst. That he hasn’t picked up because he’s the boy in the helicopter.

I check back at the house. Ezra’s been in his room playing video games all night. His phone died. Relief washes through me. He’s okay. But the boy in the hospital is Ezra’s childhood friend Daniel. He was attacked out on the clay fields and left for dead.

The next day I go down to the basement to put on a load of laundry. Ezra’s clothes are in the machine.

Pulse quickening, my hands shake as I stretch the fabric of my son’s clothing, taking in the enormity of what I hold.

I know my stains. My newspaper column is filled with household advice. How to make your floorboards shine. How to treat a pesky stain.

This is no ordinary stain. It’s a bloodstain. A pair of dark denim blue jeans size 31x34, caked in orange clay and dark red blood.

Daniel was beaten to within an inch of his life out on the clay fields. Now he’s on life support.

I know my son can’t be responsible for this. But I can’t stop the nagging thoughts in the back of my mind . . . He’s been so distant ever since his father died.

How well do I really know my boy?

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Colleen Hoover and Keri Beevis.

Please note this is a revised edition of Secrets Mothers Keep.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vibrance Press
• Release date: Jul 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781624618161

Anya Mora

Anya Mora relies on her experience as a wife and mother to form her creative expression. She grew her family through birth and older-child adoption, and her writing captures a unique view on relationships and motherhood. Her novels, while leaning toward the dark, ultimately reflect light, courage, and her innate belief that love rewards the brave.

Reviews for The Mother

[Mule · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

He had great parents who taught him the value of telling the truth and doing the right thing and a great mom who saw him through everything

[Emily Hurst · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Book is good. 2 stars because it is absolutely not a psychological thriller.

[Brandi M Rubin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Story was OK. Characters predictable, and could have had more depth.

[Amelia Holloway · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was ok. The mother's obsession with her son is a bit creepy and the ending was a little anticlimactic.

[niki.christoff4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was okay. I was hoping for a bit more grit and detail and the ending seemed a lil rushed and while plausible- not really believable. The narrator however was great!

[Jessica Wilbourn · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Too much self-righteous preaching. Not every religious person does terrible things. Not every white kid is privileged and a bigot. No time for this kind of nonsense.

[Demas Nesterenko · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love this book. So many surprises. Well written, highly recommended.

[Margaret Williams · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting, didn’t know what to expect but it was good

[Debra Middleman · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I listen to fiction to escape all the division & fighting in the world and this book just made me tired.
Maybe the author was trying to make a point but I wasn't getting it.

[semi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read too far to quit. The book was ok, not sure if I would read another by this author. It was repetitive and the story dragged out. Wouldn’t really categorize it as thriller

[james kugler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good, the ending was sort of what I expected. But definitely help my attention would recommend.

[eliz1181 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The plot "twist" isn't really a twist. The story dragged a lot and the characters did not have any depth.

[Kristina Zetlmeisl · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wouldn’t recommend- Not much of a plot twist. Just okay.

[Meagan Haberlack · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Painfully politically driven and the twist was nothing of a twist.