Jo Crow

Clara hat sich darauf eingelassen, an einer Dokumentation über ihre verschwundenen Eltern mitzuwirken. Wohl fühlt sie sich dabei nicht, denn dafür muss sie an den Ort zurückkehren, an dem alles geschah. Doch sie wird in ihrer Heimatstadt nicht gut aufgenommen, denn damals galt sie als Verdächtige und man hat nicht vergessen. Doch Clara hat keine Wahl, denn ihr kleiner Sohn James ist lebensgefährlich erkrankt und sie benötigt das Geld für eine Behandlung des Kleinen. Es ist eine Reise in die Vergangenheit
Wirklich überzeugt hat mich dieses Hörbuch nicht. Die Stimme von Romanie Marty empfand ich zwar als angenehm, doch die Geschichte konnte mich nicht packen. Es ist alles bis ins kleinste Detail beschrieben, so dass es Längen gibt. Das geschieht natürlich auf Kosten der Spannung.
Aber auch die Personen konnten mich nicht ganz überzeugen. Ich kann zwar verstehen, dass Clara alles für ihren kleinen Sohn tut – welche Mutter würde sich nicht so verhalten -, aber sie kam mir trotzdem nicht nahe. Jerry war mir auch nicht sympathisch, da er auf mich undurchsichtig wirkte. Aber auch Claras ehemalige Freundin Amanda war zwar nett, aber ich habe ihr gerade deshalb von Anfang an misstraut. Die ganze Zeit hatte ich nicht den Eindruck, dass jemand Clara wirklich zur Seite steht.
Clara ist kaum zurückgekehrt, als die Knochen ihrer Eltern gefunden werden. Detective Elkins ist immer noch überzeugt, dass Clara hinter den Morden steckt. Also muss Clara herauszufinden, was damals geschah, doch damit hat sie wohl in ein Wespennest gestochen, denn es passieren merkwürdige Dinge und alles entwickelt sich zu einem Alptraum.
Natürlich wollte auch ich wissen, was damals geschehen ist und wer als Täter in Frage kommt. Doch ich wurde nicht gefesselt und konnte zwischendurch immer wieder pausieren.
Ich wurde nicht gepackt, da die Spannung sich trotz der Geheimnisse in Grenzen hielt und mir manche Handlungen nicht als schlüssig erschienen.… (mais)

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published: November 17, 2020
Relay Publishing
General Fiction (Adult)/ Mystery & Thrillers

Jo Crow was a finance executive who wrote on her commute to and from work. She didn’t think she would ever share her work, thinking it was too dark for publishing. But she got some unsolicited advice from a publishing executive who changed that thought process. She quit her job and turned to writing full time. She has three books under her belt and many more stories to tell.

“Five, four, three, two, one.”

This is the first novel from Jo Crow that I have read, and it definitely won’t be the last. She is a talented woman. I enjoyed this book; the characters, the writing, the plot were all enjoyable. This is a fast-paced tale that will keep you turning pages as you try and figure out just what is going on and who is to blame.

Molly comes with a lot of baggage. And a lot of secrets, and a lot of emotional scars. She ran away from a situation, taking something that technically didn’t belong to her. And she spent a lot of time looking over her shoulder. Molly met Bryan and felt something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Security. Safety. Love. Bryan provided a safe and secure life for Molly and their son. Until pieces of Molly’s past come sneaking back to the present. It is only a matter of time before the whole truth is revealed, and the devastation may not leave anyone in its wake.

The character development in the novel is so well done. The story is crafted so intricately. Jo Crow writes a good thriller. As the story unfolds and the plot thickens, you genuinely find yourself not knowing who is right, who is wrong, and who is dangerous.

Jo Crow weaves a twisted tale the involves betrayal, deception, mental illness, and uncertainty. Every single issue was handled beautifully. Mental illness is a tricky thing to write about because it is crucial to represent mental illness with as much respect and care as possible and not misrepresent a character's negative traits simply because they have some mental illness. Jo Crow was very clever with how she wrote about Molly’s struggles.

Molly is such a strong, bold character. And despite all of the chaos she goes through, some of it because of her own doing, she remains diligently true to who she is. As her world starts to crumble, she is left to flounder on her own. When she starts to doubt everyone in her life, she struggles to find a stable place to think.

There are so many twists and turns along the way, and when you start to think you’ve figured it out, another piece falls into place, changing everything you thought you knew.

As her past quickly becomes her present, Molly is more determined than ever to make sure it doesn’t become her future.… (mais)

I think this is my favorite Jo Crow novel! It is the story of Laurie, a mom with OCD, who comes home one night to find her husband missing, and her young daughter, Fay, all alone. Ben is missing and the police aren't helping Laurie find him. Distraught and strapped for money, Laurie starts working at the bakery Ben owned, when Teddy - a friend from college - stops in. He views Laurie's photographs and suggests that Laurie might want to work for his sister, Marissa, an Instagram star. Laurie reluctantly agrees, and Marissa starts working her way into Fay's heart. Laurie is uncomfortable with the attention Fay is receiving online, and she also has a strained relationship with Marissa's assistant, Gretchen. In fact, the only person Laurie can confide in honestly is her friend, Kaity.
Laurie and Teddy become close, but Laurie feels guilty about Ben. Teddy had rescued Laurie years ago after a traumatic incident, and Laurie has always felt safe around him. Laurie has been seeing a therapist, Patrick, and working on her OCD, and making progress. Teddy, a school counselor, is trying to get Laurie to stop seeing Patrick, and reduce her meds.
However, nothing is as it seems on the surface. Ben's disappearance, the lack of police assistance, Gretchen's indifference, Teddy's care, and Marissa's kindness are all suspect.
There is something sinister going on and it will all come to a head - but will Laurie and Fay be able to come out of it safely? Will they be able to get their lives back to normal? Who is really their friend? Who is looking out for them?
Not sure why the title is A Perfect Mother. Yes, the story is about Laurie and her OCD and her trying to do the right things for Fay, but I am not sure it reflected the plot as well as another title may have.
#APerfectMother #JoCrow #Booksprout

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (mais)

A Mother's Sins by Jo Crow was an easy, quick read. It is about Sarah Cartwright, who seemingly has a perfect life. She is with a man who loves her completely, a sweet new baby, and a job she enjoys. But, she is hiding things about her past from Brad, her boyfriend. He wants to marry her, but she is holding back, afraid that if he knows the truth about her, he will leave her.
When Sarah returns to work as the campaign manager for an aspiring gubernatorial candidate, Bill, she finds that she has been replaced by Janette. Sarah doesn't trust Janette, but as time goes by, she lets Janette into her life more completely. As things start to go wrong around Sarah, she is reminded of times in her childhood that she wasn't perfect.
The book is told in 2 parts - now and then, and alternates between them. Sarah admits to things that happened when she was a teenager in the "THEN" scenarios, and you start to wonder about her. But, then there is a big reveal about halfway into the book, and then everything makes sense. There are lots of passages that lead you to believe one way, but I was hesitant to believe them because it just was too neat. After the reveal, I knew I was correct to not be fooled by where the author was trying to lead me.
There were a few things that I thought were suspect in this novel, but all in all, it was a solid book.
I was a bit surprised at the depth of forgiveness and caring at the end, but I am not sure how I would react if I were in that situation. I would hope that my heart would be as open.
I received a copy of this from Booksprout, but my opinions of the book are my own, and entirely voluntary.… (mais)