Title: Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever returns with an even more addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—an unforgettable tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.
Revenge doesn’t wait for permission.
Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected that fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of.
Until the day she awakens and sees someone peering into her bedroom window—an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.
Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daughters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.
The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It’s her child.
To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small—but critical—task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price.
Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family—but what if the cost tears their world apart?
Review:
Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is an absolutely riveting domestic mystery.
Bree Cabbat and her husband Trey are happily married with three children. Their daughters Anna-Claire and Peyton are in their early teens and their son, Robert, is three months old. Bree is exhausted so when she wakes to see a “witch” peering in the bedroom window, she and Trey decide she was dreaming. However, later that day, she sees the woman again at her children’s school. Trying to put the sighting out of her mind, she and Peyton settle in to watch Anna-Claire rehearse for the upcoming theater production. After a distracted few minutues, Bree is shocked to discover that Robert is missing. Frantic with worry, she continues to wait for a ransom note that never arrives. Instead, Bree must perform a task that culminates in a way she does not expect. With the assistance of childhood friend and former police officer, Marshall Chase, they attempt to find out where the kidnapper is holding Robert.
The reason for Robert’s kidnapping is not clear at first. But Bree is in communication with the kidnapper and she gradually begins to understand the motive for what is happening. She and Marshall do not trust the kidnapper to keep their word so they are intent on finding out the person’s identity. With an increasing sense of urgency, they hope to find the kidnapper and Robert sooner rather than later. Once Bree and Marshall understand the reason Robert has been taken has something to do with Trey’s past, they must wait for him to return home for answers. In the meantime, they make a discovery that might just lead them to where Robert is being held. But with time running out, will Bree and Marshall locate him before it is too late?
Mother May I is a suspenseful mystery that is incredibly fast-paced. Bree’s fear for Robert ring true as does her need to right a wrong. Trey is wealthy which gives him a false sense of security. Marshall is loyal friend whose police contacts and background prove to be invaluable. With a stunning turn of events, Joshilyn Jackson brings this tense domestic mystery to an unanticipated but satisfying conclusion.
