
Book Description:
I glance over at Lou’s house as I pull onto my drive, surprised that it is still in darkness. Lou and the kids should have been home from school long ago. I should be preparing a delicious meal for my children as they tell me about their day. But Lou’s car is nowhere to be seen…
The night is drawing in and Lou has still not returned. I try not to panic, but deep down I know something is wrong. Lou is the most dependable friend. Our children are at the same school. We always help each other out, and she cares for my two like only a mother can.
As a storm rages outside and local news reports tell everyone to stay indoors, a feeling of deep dread starts to swell. Then the call comes. The police have found Lou’s car, with my children’s schoolbags still inside along with Lou’s phone. But they are nowhere to be seen.
Clutching my husband’s hands, willing our children to be found safe and sound, I try to silence the voice inside my head. I’ve not been honest. I’m being punished for what happened all those years ago.
And then I get Lou’s message and I know that if I want to see my children again, I need to tell the truth to everyone I love.
What I don’t yet know is that Lou has been keeping her own dark secret. And once the storm passes, nothing will ever be the same again.
A gripping and addictive psychological suspense about dark obsession, intense motherly love and how far we will go to protect those we love the most. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth.

My Thoughts
Excuse me for one moment while I pick my jaw up off of the floor!
Secrets, sure we all have them, like eating that last slice of pizza that no one was supposed to eat because it was being saved. But what if your secret was bigger, oh so much bigger and you were about to find out exactly how it would affect your life?
Lou is the perfect neighbor, self-confident, bright, full of energy and always wanting to spend time with the neighborhood kids and pick them up from school when she picks up her own kids. She’s the kind of woman we all want to be and envy. She’s perfect!
There’s a crazy strong storm brewing and Lou is going to pick up the kids after school again, thank goodness because they’ll be safe with her. It’s getting later and later, and the kids are not home yet, and no one can get ahold of Lou.
Three neighborhood women have been friends since childhood. They hide a secret no one can know. Lou’s car has been found, it’s now dark and one child has asthma, the rain is pouring, and the creek continues to rise. Are they safe, dry, in danger?
You can feel the tension mounting, where is Lou? And what is this text message they receive telling the women to “tell all and the children will be safe.” Can they believe it and what power does Lou have over these women?
All we care about is, are the children found safely?
Some absolutely astonishing revelations come to light in the twists and turn revealed in this suspenseful, psychological thriller!
So good, I recommend it to you if you like tension filled reads with an unforeseen ending.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Bio

Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a Master’s in Journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing…fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.
https://www.instagram.com/leahmercerauthor/
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Leah Mercer here: https://www.bookouture.com/leah-mercer
Buy Link:
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BQN7DCSZsocial
Audio:
UK: zpr.io/CBBavquf3nKR
US: zpr.io/N2wgSwFGRhRP
Listen to a sample here: https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-mother-next-door-by-leah-mercer-narrated-by-jasmine-blackborow
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by.