Books On Tour: In My Mother's Name

Some psychological thrillers are rollercoaster rides. They start slow and then pick up the pace, gradually turning into an exciting, page-turner of a read. Others are more like ivy. They creep and crawl, drawing readers in slowly with tendrils of information until they are completely entangled in the story. In My Mother’s Name belongs in the latter category, and it is one of the most stunning books I have read in a long time.

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When cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Adele finds a diary that belonged to her long-dead mother. What follows is Adele’s journey to discover the truth about her mother’s life as well as Adele’s history. As Adele visits the village of Reedstown and meets people who knew her mother as a teenager, Adele soon realizes that there is a lot more to her mother’s story than meets the eye.

The author does a fantastic job of keeping multiple character arcs moving forward while intertwining them with other characters’ stories. The writing styles also change: at times, the descriptions are very poetic and idyllic, while at others (specifically in diary entries and flashbacks) there is a rawness that comes across strongly. I also liked how the author used several innocuous things (a bird nesting in an attic, a smoky chimney, etc.) to illustrate how even minor events can have a significant impact on one’s life.

In the midst of it all, the character development is what struck me as the key to drawing me into the story. Each of the main characters (and even several of the secondary characters) are fully fleshed out and grow with the events of the plot. As more village secrets are revealed, I realized how my perception of the characters changed – but also how there were apparent signs in earlier events that hinted at each character’s role in the activities of 24 years prior.

I know that sounds a little muddled, but it actually isn’t within the course of the story. As I said, the author pulls the reader in slowly with the bits of information and then throws in twists that take the action in a different direction. In My Mother’s Name is certainly a page-turner, but not a high-velocity one. Be prepared to settle in for the long haul and allow the plot to wash over you as you follow Adele’s, and ultimately Marianne’s story. You will not be disappointed.

In My Mother’s Name by Laura Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not usually one to agree with taglines or blurbs because they often feel over-the-top, but this is one case where I can wholeheartedly say that it is 100% accurate. This book was an addictive, emotional, page-turner of a psychological thriller (that’s a mouthful). The characters are real and well-developed, and the author does a superb job of bringing the village of Reedstown with all of its blemishes, secrets, and tainted history to life. Adele is a protagonist who is easy to support as she journeys into the past to find the truth about her mother’s life and death. In My Mother’s Name is one book you do not want to skip over. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read a complimentary pre-release, digital ARC of this book.

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Author Bio

Laura Elliot is an Irish novelist who writes psychological thrillers and lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her novels are: The Wife Before Me, Guilty, Sleep Sister, The Betrayal, Fragile Lies, Stolen Child and The Prodigal Sister. She has worked as a journalist and magazine editor. In My Mother’s Name is her latest novel published by Bookouture.