The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward | Book Spotlight

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Title & Author: The Secret of the Brighton House by Cathy Hayward

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing 

Publication date: 1st November 2024

Blurb:

Joanne has always been told her mother died in childbirth, but she never questioned her dad’s love. When preparing for the birth of her much longed for baby Joanne unpacks a box of her own old baby clothes, she accidentally discovers a photo of her birth mum holding a newborn outside the Brighton House and realises she’s been lied to.

But why would her dad lie to her? And why did he move her so far away from Brighton? And why won't he talk to her now? With her questions stonewalled by her father, Joanne is terrified of what his silence means. But desperate to know what really happened to Grace, Joanne delves into the past and begins to uncover layers of secrets that threaten to destroy the very family she holds dear. What really happened to her mum? What could be so devastating that her dad has kept it from her for her whole life―and is she ready to find out?

Using Facebook, she meets her mum’s old friend Susie. Through her, and old redacted hospital records, she discovers that Grace suffered from post-partum psychosis. She had tried to kill baby Joanne and was incarcerated in an asylum outside of Brighton where she later died.

Joanne becomes concerned for her own mental health when she starts ‘seeing’ her birth mother, and her physical health when she starts bleeding and is hospitalised. But when Joanne’s baby arrived without issue, she brings the family and friends of her mother in Brighton together with those of her father and stepmother in Berwick together to begin a new chapter.

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The Secret of the Brighton House is award-winning author Cathy Hayward's second novel about a woman's struggle with the discovery that her mother tried to kill her when suffering with postpartum psychosis. Now pregnant with a much longer for baby herself, she worries about what this means for her. It is a powerful and captivating story of two women trying to find their places as mothers, wives and women, linked by a devastating secret.

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak | Book Review

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Title & Author: Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Sphere

Publication date: 23rd June 2022 

Blurb:

Mallory is delighted to have a new job looking after gorgeous four-year-old, Teddy. She's been sober for a year and a half and she's sure her new nannying role in the affluent suburbs will help keep her on the straight and narrow.

That is until Teddy starts to draw disturbing pictures of his imaginary friend, Anya. It is quite clear to Mallory and to Teddy's parents, even in his crude childlike style, that the woman Teddy is drawing in his pictures is dead.

Teddy's crayons are confiscated, and his paper locked away. But the drawings somehow keep coming, telling a frightening story of a woman murdered... and they're getting more sophisticated. But if Teddy isn't drawing the pictures anymore, who is? And what are they trying to tell Mallory about her new home?

Review:

I felt like I had a bit of FOMO with this book and I was super intrigued by the creepy drawings so I knew I had to add it to my October reads.

Mallory Quinn is a twenty-one-year old ex-addict who has been clean for eighteen months. She lands a job as a nanny for Caroline and Ted Maxwell through her sponsor who vouches for her.

The job entails looking after their five-year-old son Teddy during the summer before he starts school and Mallory lives in a renovated cabin in their grounds. Teddy has a tendency to draw unnerving pictures depicting some strange things and they get more and more detailed. Mallory knows there is no way a five-year-old is capable of drawing like this.

There are rumours that someone died in her cabin and Mallory is convinced that this woman is trying to contact her through Teddy.

I didn't know where this book was going to go. It is very much like a mystery with us following Mallory trying to piece together what the drawings mean. It went along at one pace for around 80% of the book then everything turned on its head for the last 20%. 

I love when I genuinely am surprised and don't guess the ending! The illustrations were absolutely fantastic and I love that there is a little interview at the end with the author and the two people who drew the illustrations too. It was a nice little behind the scenes glimpse.

Power Play by Chelsea Curto | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an eARC copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: Power Play by Chelsea Curto 

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 24th October 2024