My husband’s dead. They say my best friend did it.
I can’t believe it. Not Lisa. There’s no way she could have done something so terrible. I look around at her shaken family, her two devastated children and her shocked husband, as they watch the most important woman in their lives being arrested for murder…
I always thought Lisa was the perfect wife and mother. We’ve been best friends ever since I moved to Dragonfly Close. Her children call me Auntie Vic, we’re always chatting, laughing, and sipping her homemade lemonade in our back gardens. She would never do anything like this.
But then I remember the day I saw her at the coffee shop with Russell. That was the day I started watching her through the gap in my bedroom curtains and stole the key to her pristine house. I suspected she’d betrayed me, and maybe I was right.
I don’t believe she killed my husband, but now I can make sure she pays for what she did to me…
This was my first book by Sam Vickery, and I went into it expecting a straightforward, twisty popcorn thriller. Instead, I got a layered, emotionally charged story. There’s a murder mystery at the center of the story, but it’s just as much a domestic suspense and family drama, exploring topics such as control, generational neglect, motherhood, toxic marriages, and the lengths someone will go to protect the people they love. It’s also a character-driven, slow burn with a gradual unraveling of secrets, and for that reason, I highly recommend the audiobook, as both narrators keep you immersed and fully entertained from start to finish.
There are two morally grey, flawed protagonists (and neighbors), Lisa Grey and Victoria Fox, whose lives become increasingly entangled after Victoria’s husband (Russell) is killed in a hit-and-run. Neither is completely innocent nor entirely likeable, and I found myself constantly questioning their motives throughout. The story is told through dual POVs of Lisa and Victoria in the present day, with interspersed flashbacks to the past that slowly reveal the events leading up to Russell’s death. I really enjoyed how the flashbacks were woven to answer one question while creating two more, making it feel like a puzzle that I was slowly piecing together.
The novel has a propulsive start as DS McCormack arrives at Lisa’s home to arrest her for Russell’s murder. Watching Lisa being led away from her husband, Mike, and their kids, Jack and Holly, while everyone assumes there’s been a terrible mistake drew me in. What’s even more compelling is that Lisa doesn’t seem surprised, clearly indicating she knows much more than she’s letting on. From that point, DS McCormack is a relentless force in the investigation. His interrogations with Lisa (and eventually her lawyer) are INTENSE and continually raise the stakes as inconsistencies begin to surface.
As soon as the POV shifted to Victoria, my suspicions changed direction. Considering her husband had only recently been killed, I found it very suspicious that she seemed more concerned about Lisa’s arrest and well-being than grieving Russell. The author does an excellent job of keeping Victoria unpredictable. Through conversations with her emotionally distant mother and flashbacks to her marriage, I began to understand why she behaves the way she does. By the end, she ended up being the most fascinating character for me. There were several scenes where I had no idea what she would do next, and as someone who loves an unhinged FMC, it kept me completely engaged. There’s also a stark contrast between Victoria and Lisa, and I appreciated that the author depicted both of them as messy and complicated instead of making either the victim or villain.
The supporting cast is small, which I thought worked well for this mystery. Lisa’s husband, Mike, is unwavering in his support for Lisa and their family, providing a nice contrast to Victoria’s dysfunctional marriage and relationships. With the small cast, I found it easy to narrow down the suspects behind Russell’s murder. And I did actually guess the killer fairly early on, but there were still several smaller reveals, shifting dynamics, and unexpected confrontations that I didn’t see coming.
Themes of regret, jealousy, and comparing your life to someone else’s are woven throughout, particularly in Victoria’s POV. Watching her reflect on her relationship with Russell while also looking at Lisa’s seemingly perfect family with envy made her actions feel a little more understandable, even though I disagreed with them.
Although I think the story could have been tighter in places, particularly in Victoria’s inner monologues, which occasionally became repetitive, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The climax includes a dramatic confrontation and some heart-wrenching moments that made me sympathize with certain characters more. The epilogue, set one year later, delivers a few last-minute surprises that I wasn’t expecting, but after reflecting on the story, it all made perfect sense. The ending is left open-ended, which felt both realistic and a little unsettling.
Overall, I came away pleasantly surprised by this book. I was expecting a popcorn thriller, but it turned out to be a character-driven domestic suspense exploring moral choices and the lasting effects of neglect and control. I’d definitely read more from Sam Vickery, and I’d recommend adding this one to your TBR if you enjoy morally grey, complex characters, family drama, and murder mysteries with slow-burn suspense!
Narrator Performance
The Guilty Mother is read by seasoned narrators Charlie Albers and Hannah Curtis.
Albers narrates all of Lisa Grey’s first-person chapters. From the opening scene, where Lisa is arrested in front of her husband and children before being taken away by DS McCormack, Albers’s delivery immediately establishes Lisa as a strong-willed woman and an unreliable narrator. You can hear both resignation and determination in Lisa’s voice, making it feel as though she had been expecting this moment. Throughout the investigation, Albers does a fantastic job conveying Lisa’s intelligence and quick thinking, particularly during her inner monologues as she considers how best to respond during questioning. The interrogation scenes between Lisa, DS McCormack, and her lawyer, Sandy, are some of the most intense moments. Albers really conveys how Lisa tries to present a calm exterior while experiencing emotional turmoil beneath the surface—and I could feel all of her tension. As Victoria becomes more involved with Lisa’s family, the exchanges between the two women become increasingly uncomfortable, and Albers subtly adjusts Lisa’s tone to reflect her growing distrust and frustration.
Albers also does a great job giving the supporting characters distinct voices, particularly DS McCormack, who sounds ruthless and determined to crack Lisa. Another highlight is how Albers narrates the heartfelt conversations between Lisa and her daughter, Holly, towards the end of the story. She conveys the unconditional love and protectiveness Lisa has for her daughter so convincingly that those scenes are quite emotional—so be sure to have tissues on hand. The epilogue is another highlight, as Albers shifts her performance to reveal a different side of Lisa during the last-minute revelations. Her execution of the final scenes captures Lisa’s acceptance of everything that’s happened and makes for a gripping ending that keeps you invested until the very last words!
Curtis narrates all of Victoria Fox’s first-person chapters. In Victoria’s early chapters after learning Lisa has been arrested, Curtis adds just enough uncertainty to Victoria’s voice to make you question her intentions. You can really hear how Victoria is more concerned with Lisa and her family than grieving her own husband, and I was immediately suspicious of her. The emotional range Curtis brings to Victoria’s inner monologues is impressive. As Victoria reflects on the final days of her marriage, the secrets she’s uncovered, and weighs her options, Curtis gradually adds more tension to the performance, and you can begin to hear cracks in Victoria’s carefully controlled exterior.
The flashback scenes between Victoria and Russell are especially compelling, with Curtis emphasizing the manipulation and emotional strain Victoria was experiencing, which made me understand her far more than I expected to. Although Victoria is cold, calculating, and morally grey, Curtis brings enough vulnerability to the performance that I found myself sympathizing with her at times, even though I disagreed with her decisions. As Victoria becomes increasingly consumed with revenge, Curtis gradually intensifies her portrayal until Victoria sounds borderline unhinged and dangerous. The final confrontation between Lisa and Victoria is one of Curtis’s strongest scenes. As shocking revelations unfold, you can hear Victoria’s confidence unravel, and her raw emotion—including one particularly powerful scream—brilliantly showcases Curtis’s acting ability. By the end, I understood Victoria’s motivations more than I think I would have from reading a physical copy, and that’s a real testament to Curtis’s performance.
If you’re looking for a slow-burn domestic thriller, or enjoy audiobooks with dual narration where both narrators completely immerse you in the lives of their characters, then don’t hesitate to add this audiobook to your listening list!
Narrator Performance
The Guilty Mother is read by seasoned narrators Charlie Albers and Hannah Curtis.
Albers narrates all of Lisa Grey’s first-person chapters. From the opening scene, where Lisa is arrested in front of her husband and children before being taken away by DS McCormack, Albers’s delivery immediately establishes Lisa as a strong-willed woman and an unreliable narrator. You can hear both resignation and determination in Lisa’s voice, making it feel as though she had been expecting this moment. Throughout the investigation, Albers does a fantastic job conveying Lisa’s intelligence and quick thinking, particularly during her inner monologues as she considers how best to respond during questioning. The interrogation scenes between Lisa, DS McCormack, and her lawyer, Sandy, are some of the most intense moments. Albers really conveys how Lisa tries to present a calm exterior while experiencing emotional turmoil beneath the surface—and I could feel all of her tension. As Victoria becomes more involved with Lisa’s family, the exchanges between the two women become increasingly uncomfortable, and Albers subtly adjusts Lisa’s tone to reflect her growing distrust and frustration.
Albers also does a great job giving the supporting characters distinct voices, particularly DS McCormack, who sounds ruthless and determined to crack Lisa. Another highlight is how Albers narrates the heartfelt conversations between Lisa and her daughter, Holly, towards the end of the story. She conveys the unconditional love and protectiveness Lisa has for her daughter so convincingly that those scenes are quite emotional—so be sure to have tissues on hand. The epilogue is another highlight, as Albers shifts her performance to reveal a different side of Lisa during the last-minute revelations. Her execution of the final scenes captures Lisa’s acceptance of everything that’s happened and makes for a gripping ending that keeps you invested until the very last words!
Curtis narrates all of Victoria Fox’s first-person chapters. In Victoria’s early chapters after learning Lisa has been arrested, Curtis adds just enough uncertainty to Victoria’s voice to make you question her intentions. You can really hear how Victoria is more concerned with Lisa and her family than grieving her own husband, and I was immediately suspicious of her. The emotional range Curtis brings to Victoria’s inner monologues is impressive. As Victoria reflects on the final days of her marriage, the secrets she’s uncovered, and weighs her options, Curtis gradually adds more tension to the performance, and you can begin to hear cracks in Victoria’s carefully controlled exterior.
The flashback scenes between Victoria and Russell are especially compelling, with Curtis emphasizing the manipulation and emotional strain Victoria was experiencing, which made me understand her far more than I expected to. Although Victoria is cold, calculating, and morally grey, Curtis brings enough vulnerability to the performance that I found myself sympathizing with her at times, even though I disagreed with her decisions. As Victoria becomes increasingly consumed with revenge, Curtis gradually intensifies her portrayal until Victoria sounds borderline unhinged and dangerous. The final confrontation between Lisa and Victoria is one of Curtis’s strongest scenes. As shocking revelations unfold, you can hear Victoria’s confidence unravel, and her raw emotion—including one particularly powerful scream—brilliantly showcases Curtis’s acting ability. By the end, I understood Victoria’s motivations more than I think I would have from reading a physical copy, and that’s a real testament to Curtis’s performance.
If you’re looking for a slow-burn domestic thriller, or enjoy audiobooks with dual narration where both narrators completely immerse you in the lives of their characters, then don’t hesitate to add this audiobook to your listening list!
The Guilty Mother is read by seasoned narrators Charlie Albers and Hannah Curtis.
Albers narrates all of Lisa Grey’s first-person chapters. From the opening scene, where Lisa is arrested in front of her husband and children before being taken away by DS McCormack, Albers’s delivery immediately establishes Lisa as a strong-willed woman and an unreliable narrator. You can hear both resignation and determination in Lisa’s voice, making it feel as though she had been expecting this moment. Throughout the investigation, Albers does a fantastic job conveying Lisa’s intelligence and quick thinking, particularly during her inner monologues as she considers how best to respond during questioning. The interrogation scenes between Lisa, DS McCormack, and her lawyer, Sandy, are some of the most intense moments. Albers really conveys how Lisa tries to present a calm exterior while experiencing emotional turmoil beneath the surface—and I could feel all of her tension. As Victoria becomes more involved with Lisa’s family, the exchanges between the two women become increasingly uncomfortable, and Albers subtly adjusts Lisa’s tone to reflect her growing distrust and frustration.
Albers also does a great job giving the supporting characters distinct voices, particularly DS McCormack, who sounds ruthless and determined to crack Lisa. Another highlight is how Albers narrates the heartfelt conversations between Lisa and her daughter, Holly, towards the end of the story. She conveys the unconditional love and protectiveness Lisa has for her daughter so convincingly that those scenes are quite emotional—so be sure to have tissues on hand. The epilogue is another highlight, as Albers shifts her performance to reveal a different side of Lisa during the last-minute revelations. Her execution of the final scenes captures Lisa’s acceptance of everything that’s happened and makes for a gripping ending that keeps you invested until the very last words!
Curtis narrates all of Victoria Fox’s first-person chapters. In Victoria’s early chapters after learning Lisa has been arrested, Curtis adds just enough uncertainty to Victoria’s voice to make you question her intentions. You can really hear how Victoria is more concerned with Lisa and her family than grieving her own husband, and I was immediately suspicious of her. The emotional range Curtis brings to Victoria’s inner monologues is impressive. As Victoria reflects on the final days of her marriage, the secrets she’s uncovered, and weighs her options, Curtis gradually adds more tension to the performance, and you can begin to hear cracks in Victoria’s carefully controlled exterior.
The flashback scenes between Victoria and Russell are especially compelling, with Curtis emphasizing the manipulation and emotional strain Victoria was experiencing, which made me understand her far more than I expected to. Although Victoria is cold, calculating, and morally grey, Curtis brings enough vulnerability to the performance that I found myself sympathizing with her at times, even though I disagreed with her decisions. As Victoria becomes increasingly consumed with revenge, Curtis gradually intensifies her portrayal until Victoria sounds borderline unhinged and dangerous. The final confrontation between Lisa and Victoria is one of Curtis’s strongest scenes. As shocking revelations unfold, you can hear Victoria’s confidence unravel, and her raw emotion—including one particularly powerful scream—brilliantly showcases Curtis’s acting ability. By the end, I understood Victoria’s motivations more than I think I would have from reading a physical copy, and that’s a real testament to Curtis’s performance.
If you’re looking for a slow-burn domestic thriller, or enjoy audiobooks with dual narration where both narrators completely immerse you in the lives of their characters, then don’t hesitate to add this audiobook to your listening list!
