Publication Date: March 10, 2026
How far will she go to get her child back?
I walk through the beautiful house, my hand lingering on the handrail of the polished mahogany staircase. Looking around the grand hallway, I can’t believe my luck at being here. If Rosemary knew who I was, she’d never have invited me in.
Ten years ago, she adopted my daughter. Gave her the life I never could: safety, stability, a normal childhood.
All I wanted to do was catch a glimpse of my precious girl, to check she was happy. I would only have stayed for a moment. I would never have done anything.
But as I spot Faith’s rich auburn hair and whisper a hello, Rosemary tells me she’s mute. She hasn’t said a word in almost a year.
And I know I cannot leave this house. Behind closed doors this perfect family is hiding dark secrets, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my daughter…
A heart-pounding and absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you up into the early hours. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.
Although new mom Becky adores her infant son, she can’t help yearning for the daughter she gave away.
Author Wendy Clarke weaves in intense maternal emotion with psychological suspense in The Birth Mother. A sub-plot featuring a rash of murders adds extra drama.
The focus of the story centers on Becky discovering the identity of her daughter’s adoptive mother and the subsequent friendship. Her shock at discovering the young girl has been mute for a year galvanizes a series of events.
The author skillfully crafts unexpected twists that steadily increase the suspense. Rosemary, the other mother, projects an air of helplessness that leads readers to draw certain conclusions.
However, there is a reason why young Octavia (aka Faith) won’t speak. As the story unfolds and dark secrets emerge, details about Becky’s past are revealed. Past and present collide, leading to a well-crafted conclusion.
The Birth Mother illustrates how far a mother will go to protect her child.
Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.
Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
