A Mother Like You

Ruby Speechley

Nov 2020 · Hera books Ltd

About this ebook

An unexpected pregnancy and a blackmailing ex shake up a woman’s seemingly perfect life in this domestic thriller by the author of Every Little Secret.

Kate Marshall lives an enviable life. Married to handsome, charming, James, owner of a successful company, she seems to have it all.

But falling pregnant at forty-five was never part of the plan. Especially as Kate’s hiding a devastating secret—one that she’s been running from for twenty years.

So when ex-boyfriend Paul comes back into her life, threatening to expose the truth about what Kate did, the clock is ticking. Can she keep her secrets and finally be the mother she always dreamed of—or will her past lies destroy her perfect life?

Perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Liane Moriarty and Jane Shemilt.

Praise for A Mother Like You 

“A beautifully paced psychological thriller. Twisty, engrossing, sensitive and dark. Excellent.” —Will Dean, author of Dark Pines

“An unspeakable secret, with lies and twists at every turn, Ruby’s breathtaking writing draws you in so tightly that you can’t let go until the very end.” —Deborah Masson, author of Hold Your Tongue

Ratings and reviews

Kate and James are happily married. They have a successful business that allows them to travel, to do the things they love to do. Finding out at age 45 that she's pregnant is not something she could have foreseen. Before they were married, they both decided that they would have no children. She can't keep this a secret for long. She's been hiding a secret from 10 years ago and the past is catching up to the present. An ex comes out of the woodwork, threatening to reveal her secret if she doesn't pay him a lot of money. Kate is not the only one with a secret .... James is also hiding something. Will their lies and secrets destroy their perfect life? Twists and turns abound in this novel about relationships, marriage, motherhood, pregnancy, and many lies and secrets. The plot is tightly woven with solid characters weaving through a perfect life that isn't so perfect. It's complex and holds the reader's attention from start to finish. The surprising ending was the icing on the cake. Many thanks to the author / Hera Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological drama. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Once again I find myself singing the praises of a book from Ruby Speechley. A Mother Like You is the third psychological thriller that she has written and is another outstanding read. I was completely gripped by this story, that is fraught with so much tension and kept me right on the edge of my seat. I found the plot intriguing and it is not often that you read a story featuring a middle aged woman who finds herself pregnant, which makes for a refreshing change. It is a complex tale that has many layers to it and I enjoyed them being peeled back and taking me by surprise as the story progressed. As always, Ruby Speechley’s writing is impeccable and her character’s are first class. She has you invested in them and each brings out different emotions within you. The plot is tightly woven, the pace is fast, the twists are compelling and the ending satisfying. A Mother Like You is a dark, addictive and emotionally charged read. It consumes you and takes you over until you have read that final page. Ruby Speechley is such an exciting voice in the psychological thriller genre and I am looking forward to reading what she comes up with next.

Great read couldn't put book down . Read book in 2 sittings

About the author

Ruby Speechley graduated from Sheffield Hallam university with an MA in Creative Writing. She is a Faber Academy alumna and prolific writer whose work has been longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction prize, Exeter Novel Prize, The Caledonia Novel Award, The Bath Novel Award, and has won the Retreat West First Chapter Competition and Best Opening Chapter at the Festival of Writing in York.