Christopher would never hurt anyone. Not intentionally. Even after everything that’s happened I still believe that…
Christopher Harris is a lonely boy. A boy who has never fitted in to his family. Who has always felt something was missing from his life.
Until one day, when he discovers a suitcase in his family’s attic. Inside the suitcase is a letter. Inside the letter is a secret about his mother that changes everything. What price would you pay for the perfect family?
Christopher finally has a chance at happiness. A happiness that he will do anything to protect…
My Review: I loved SE Lynes’ debut psychological thriller Valentina, so I was very excited to read her second novel Mother and my expectations were quite high because Valentina was simply brilliant. Mother is one of those books that has an underlying feeling of dread and tension running from page 1 until the end and with an unnamed narrator re-telling us Christopher’s story it was an extremely uncomfortable yet gripping story.
Christopher Harris (not Chris – Christopher) is an intense and extremely awkward teenager who has never felt comfortable within his family and always felt he was the odd-one out, discovers on the day he is leaving home to go to university that he is adopted and so begins his story to track down his birth mother and reclaim the love and happiness he feels he deserves at whatever cost.
Set in Leeds in the mid 70’s and also having The Yorkshire Ripper’s serial spree as a side story, Mother is a slow burner that gets under your skin. I will admit to not working out who the unnamed narrator was until the reveal (duh!). It’s uncomfortable, dark and disturbing – everything you need in a good psychological thriller.
‘About the Author: After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen. In Aberdeen, she worked as a reporter, researcher and finally a producer at the BBC before moving with her husband, Paul, and two young children to Rome.
In Rome, she began to write while her children attended nursery. After the birth of her third child and upon her return to the UK, she gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University.
She now combines writing with lecturing at Richmond Adult Community College and bringing up her three children. She lives in Teddington.
Her debut novel, VALENTINA, was published by Blackbird July 1st 2016.
