Mother May I | Thriller turned Mystery Novel

3.0/5 stars

Bree escaped her life in rural Georgia by marrying rich. She may have grown up poor, but she has everything she could ever want now. An amazing husband, two independent daughters, and a newborn son. It all is at risk when she sees a mysterious older woman watching her. That same woman happens to be the last person Bree sees right before her son was kidnapped. When Bree learns this woman is also a mother, she seeks to appeal to their shared connection and get her son back. 

This book was darker than I anticipated. It was for sure a page-turner, but the pacing felt very off. About 60% of the way through, we figure out most of the secrets and it switches from being a thriller to a detective/mystery novel. The resolution was somewhat satisfying, but I still had some questions after it. The lines between who was good and who was bad were murky, which could be seen as an attempt to make the story more realistic. I would grow frustrated with Bree as she wrestled with what she wanted to do and what she was willing to accept. It felt like there were no winners in this story. The book kept me entertained on a day filled with flight delays and travel, but I wouldn’t consider it my favorite thriller.