The Other Mothers

My favorite kind of psychological thriller is one I like to think of as “mom noir”—something elevated but easily devoured, and of course, dark in all the right ways that tackles the emotional realities of motherhood. For me, Katherine Faulkner is queen of this category.

Faulkner returns to this niche genre with her brilliant sophomore novel, The Other Mothers. It presents a delicious combination of treacherous secrets and enviable lives among a group of upper-class moms whose perfection unravels after Tash, a new addition to their playgroup and a struggling journalist, realizes things aren’t quite what they seem. The setting, it’s worth noting, is deftly drawn: beautifully decorated homes in lush London neighborhoods, elegant social gatherings with good-looking couples, mid-day meet-ups in posh coffee shops—the outward perfection is a tension in itself, especially contrasted with Tash’s much less privileged lifestyle of endless bills and a cramped apartment, as she does her best to fit in with “the other mothers.”

I could not part with this book until I’d finished its final page. Faulkner builds suspense steadily with smart, addictive writing that will satisfy even the most discerning suspense reader—there is never a dull page, and every twist and turn feels believable and well-crafted. It’s a rare treat to encounter a novel that delivers on so many levels—I can’t recommend this one enough!

When a young nanny is found dead in mysterious circumstances, new mom, Tash, is intrigued. She has been searching for a story to launch her career as a freelance journalist. But she has also been searching for something else—new friends to help her navigate motherhood.

She sees them at her son’s new playgroup. The other mothers. A group of sleek, sophisticated women who live in a neighborhood of tree-lined avenues and stunning houses. The sort of mothers Tash herself would like to be. When the mothers welcome her into their circle, Tash discovers the kind of life she has always dreamt of—their elegant London townhouses a far cry from her cramped basement flat and endless bills. She is quickly swept up into their wealthy world via coffees, cocktails, and playdates.

But when another young woman is found dead, it’s clear there’s much more to the community than meets the eye. The more Tash investigates, the more she’s led uncomfortably close to the other mothers. Are these women really her friends? Or is there another, more dangerous reason why she has been so quickly accepted into their exclusive world? Who, exactly, is investigating who?