Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly Review


Stone Mothers was my first novel by the author. It was one of my highly anticipated reads of 2019. After reading the synopsis, it looked very promising and I was anxious to read it but I ended up thinking it was more of a slow burn. The secrets unfolds very slowly. 

I also thought the book could have been better divided in smaller chapters instead of four lengthy chunks. The reader has to read about 100 pages of Marianne's present day situation before the reader gets a glimpse of what happened in 1988 - which is referenced to "Something Bad" in the present day passages. From a story that relies so much on past events, I feel like the author should have switched more between the past and present. I think it would have kept my interest growing even more.

I was close to giving up and then came Part three. This part was the most interesting since it gives the reader some more context about some of the characters. The ending was clever and satisfying and I thought it was worth the read just to experience the ending. 

What peaked my interest about Stone Mothers was the stigmas attached to mental illness and poverty and the fact that an old mental hospital was now turned into flats. I wonder how someone could be drawn to living there after all the history. 

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy. As always, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions. 

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Here's a quick synopsis:
You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past...

Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.

Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help... But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep.You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past...

Marianne was seventeen when she fled her home in Nusstead – leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, thirty years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.

Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help... But Marianne may not know the whole story – and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep. (Reference : Goodreads)

Happy reading,

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