The Better Mother by Emily Shiner Published by Inkubator Books on October 22, 2023
Genres: Suspense, Thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher, ZooLoos Book Tours
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Zoe just wanted to help. Now she may have a killer in her home.
Zoe is happily married to Ethan until the day a 13-year-old boy shows up on their doorstep. He says his name is Micah and that Ethan is his father. Distressed because his mother is missing, Micah has come to them for help.
Ethan is wary – he didn’t know anything about Micah - but kind-hearted Zoe feels she can’t possibly turn her back on the boy. She welcomes him into their home and does her best to make him part of the family.
But there’s something off about Micah.
He lies constantly, creeps silently around the house and towers over Zoe, observing her every move. And his growing bond with Anna, Zoe’s young daughter, feels all wrong.
So when his mother's body is found and the police start looking for the murderer, Zoe realizes something terrible…
My Thoughts
Zoe, driven by her desire to be compassionate and caring, made a selfless decision to welcome her husband’s long-lost son into their home despite him being a stranger. Little did she know that this act of kindness would soon spiral into a web of danger and uncertainty. When the son’s mother is tragically found dead, Zoe’s worst fears come crashing down upon her as she questions whether she has unknowingly invited a murderer into her sanctuary. The unsettling discovery of the son’s involvement in peculiar and disturbing activities only fuels Zoe’s growing suspicion, leaving her torn between her commitment to her family and the possibility that she may have made an irreparable mistake.
As I delved into the pages of this book, I found myself helplessly ensnared in its gripping narrative. The words possess an irresistible allure, compelling me to devour every spare moment with this mesmerizing story. However, being an ardent lover of suspenseful thrillers, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment in the predictability that permeated the plot.
While the book undeniably provided an enjoyable and entertaining read, I yearned for a conclusion that would have caught me off guard. This twist would have defied all expectations and left me breathless with astonishment. Despite this minor setback, the book’s undeniable allure and captivating storytelling held me captive until the last page.
Thank you to Zoé from ZooLoo’s Book Tours and Inkubator Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
About Emily Shiner
Emily Shiner grew up in Western North Carolina, and after going to college in Charlotte, returned to her beloved mountains to write novels that keep you up at night. She lives with her husband, daughter, two dogs, menagerie of chickens, and tens of thousands of bees. When not writing, she’s reading, hiking, or drinking copious amounts of tea while daydreaming about fall.
