Publication Date: March 2, 2026
Two women. Two explosive secrets. And both are worth killing for.
Mellie anxiously twists her wedding ring around her finger as she stares at the attic door. It’s the one place her mother-in-law could have hidden the secret that will undo her. Because all this time, Mellie has been lying to her dream husband about who she really is.
As she searches with shaking hands, she discovers something she never expected. Her mother-in-law has her own dark secret too. It’s been here in the attic the whole time. And it has the power to destroy everything.
As her mother-in-law climbs up the stairs, Mellie’s heart pounds as she realises her world is about to come crashing down. Both women have secrets worth killing for. But only one of them will make it out of this house alive.
An unputdownable and addictive thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Packed with twists, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, The Girl on the Train and Colleen Hoover’s Verity.
Mellie Winslow finally has the life she’s dreamed of, complete with a handsome husband and a secure future. The only drawback is her mother-in-law, Pauline.
Author Becca Day delivers a psychological twister highlighting a figure more destructive than the proverbial evil stepmother. The Mother Upstairs serves up a true nightmare for the new Mrs. Winslow in the form of her husband’s beloved mother—and the one who is about to reveal a dark secret that will destroy Mellie’s newfound happiness.
To add to the suspense, the newlyweds move into the family home to care for Pauline after a severe stroke. Now, seemingly unable to move or communicate, Pauline’s presence casts a shadow over what should be a joyful time.
Told from Mellie’s first-person perspective, flashbacks offer glimpses of her dreadful childhood. Exactly what secret Mellie is hiding takes a back seat as she stumbles upon Pauline’s diaries.
Secrets and lies lead to unexpected consequences impacting the entire Winslow household.
The Mother Upstairs delivers a chilling glimpse into what happens when dysfunctional family relationships are mixed with secrets.
Becca Day lives in the middle of the woods in Surrey with her husband, two daughters and cocker spaniel. She studied acting at Guildford College and went on to start her own Murder Mystery theatre troupe. It was this move that inspired her love of crime fiction, and when she sold the company she threw herself head first into crime writing. The Girl Beyond The Gate was an instant Amazon bestseller and her exploration of the dark side of families has continued into the rest of her novels. Aside from writing, she is also Head of Membership & Marketing at leading literary consultancy Jericho Writers.
