Superb Psychological Suspense

A Mother Always Knows by Diane Jeffrey is a marvellous contemporary psychological crime suspense that hooked me in from the start.

The action is told through four alternating points of view and in two different time periods. This enables the reader to become totally invested in the characters. We care what happens to them.

All the characters were well drawn and were easy to empathise with. Diane Jeffrey has produced characters that are, on the whole, very likable – and those whom we don’t like, we were never meant to. Our responses were guided by the author’s pen.

Devon is the setting. Small villages should be safe but crime still happens, and people are powerless to stop it.

A particularly arrogant and despicable character is responsible for sexual crimes against two girls (that we hear of) within the tale. One is a physical assault, and the other is cyber-crime – even the police are unable to remove the indecent images. A character suffers for many months, and is only brought back from the brink by her loving family.

There is a mother’s dilemma – could her daughter be guilty of murder? And who could blame her if she was? The mother wrestles with her conscience and her desire to protect. There are questions she needs to ask – but doesn’t, for fear of the answers. I found it very easy to step into the mother’s shoes.

Diane Jeffrey is masterful at the psychological suspense. I always love her novels. She draws me in from the start. I read A Mother Always Knows in just over one sitting – as I had to pause for sleep!

This is a powerful, and at times, horrifying read as we are left wondering – how do we protect our young people from not only physical crime but cyber-crime too?

I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

A word of caution: there are sexual crimes that are disturbing and some readers may not like. If you, or someone you know, has been affected, please tell someone and seek help.

JULIA WILSON