Title: Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
From the author of Stolen Things comes a twisty thriller that asks how tightly we are bound to our pasts, how much we can trust those around us, and how far a mother will go to protect her child.
Jillian Marsh is a survivor. She escaped her toxic upbringing at the hands of her religious zealot mother as a teenager, and after hitting rock bottom due to alcoholism in her twenties, she not only got sober, she built a successful marriage and medical career, even if she wasn’t able to make amends for all the mistakes she made during her drinking days. But nearly a decade later, things are once again going downhill for Jillian. Her wife, Rochelle, has left her while Jillian is pregnant with Rochelle’s biological child, and she feels constantly unsettled in her now-empty house—items missing from their usual place, burning candles she can’t remember lighting, the screen from her bedroom window removed. Even her mommies-to-be group isn’t the solace it once was. Bree, Camille, Maggie, and Jillian vowed to not only support one another in motherhood but in their sobriety, careers, and maintaining their independence after their babies are born . . . a sisterhood that begins to unravel when the secrets between the women come unwillingly to light.
As things in Jillian’s home begin to escalate, she’s forced to ask herself: Is one of her supposed friends not as trustworthy as she seems? Could Rochelle be gaslighting her in order to claim full custody of their daughter? Or, worst of all—is Jillian turning into her own mother, and imagining all of it in some sort of subconscious sabotage against her unborn child?
When the missing items turn into unambiguous threats, and as the circle of those she can trust continues to dwindle, Jillian knows only one thing for sure: she will do anything to protect her baby.
Review:
Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron is a thoroughly captivating psychological thriller.
Jillian Marsh is a successful ob-gyn who is weeks away from giving birth. While her professional life is on track, her personal life is a bit of a mess. She and her soon to be ex-wife Rochelle split up a several months ago due to Rochelle’s affair. Jillian has barely adjusted to living without the woman she loves when strange occurrences around the house leave her fearful and afraid for her sanity. Luckily, she has a group of friends whom she can count on to be there for her. As her suspicions grow about who is behind what is happening inside her own home, who can Jillian trust as her due date draws closer?
After a dysfunctional childhood and her battle with alcoholism, Jillian thought she has it all: a successful career, a loving marriage and a baby on the way. But when she is five months pregnant, Rochelle yanks the rug out from under her feet when she moves in with her lover. Now resigned to single parenthood, Jillian focuses on her career and her friendship with a group of women who are also pregnant and in recovery. But as the strange events continue, Jillian begins to look at the people in her life as she wonders which one of them is responsible. And why.
The tension grows as Jillian’s fears begin to spiral out of control. She is also facing finalizing her divorce and arranging custody arrangements. Rochelle is not exactly helping the situation and Jillian tries to keep a positive attitude. But Jillian grows more and more unsettled as the eerie incidents begin to escalate. With no one taking her seriously, are Jillian and her unborn baby safe from whomever is threatening her?
Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron is an extremely fast-paced domestic mystery. The storyline is engrossing and the characters are well-drawn. The first part of the story explains important backstory while the latter half is quite suspenseful. With shocking twists and stunning turns, R. H. Herron brings this brilliant thriller to a hair-raising, edge of the seat conclusion.
