Only a mother…

Erica Wright hasn’t needed to scrub ‘MURDERER’ off her house in over a year. Life is almost quiet again. Then her son, Craig, is released from prison, and she knows the quiet is going to be broken.

Could believe him

Erica has always believed Craig was innocent – despite the lies she told for him years ago – but when he arrives home, she notices the changes in him. She doesn’t recognise her son anymore.

Could bury the truth

So, when another girl goes missing, she starts to question everything. But how can a mother turn her back on her son? And, if she won’t, then how far will she go to protect him?

Could forgive what he has done

Praise

‘Only A Mother is brilliantly observed, both tender and heart-breaking, without once flinching from harsh realities. Taking on a traumatic subject, combining realism with drama, is an incredibly difficult task but Carpenter handles it with breath-taking skill. Highly recommended, this is exactly the subject matter that book clubs have been waiting for.’
Helen Fields, author of Perfect Silence

‘Only A Mother is a deeply moving, compelling story with strong, relatable characters that leap from the page in true Carpenter style.’
Sam Carrington, author of One Little Lie

‘Powerful storytelling…the people, and the feelings, have a convincing reality that makes you care.’
Karen Robinson, The Times Crime Club, December Picks

‘An unsettling domestic psychological thriller…Tense and heartbreaking.’
I newspaper

‘A great page-turner with a satisfying conclusion!’
Lisa Hylton, Evening Telegraph