Description:

What if mother doesn’t know best…?

In a close-knit English village, Chrissy and Alice were once best friends. So were their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until the night Leo killed Robbie with a single, devastating punch. Now Leo has gone to prison, Chrissy has lost her pub, and Alice has been pouring her anger into a twisted project . . .

As Leo’s parole date approaches, the villagers are incensed and fearful about the prospect of his return. But when Chrissy arrives to collect Leo from prison, he isn’t there. The staff tell her he has already been released, but nobody knows where he’s gone.

As the village closes ranks, Chrissy realizes her former friends are suspects in her son’s disappearance, not the least of which is still-bitter Alice. Is Leo being punished for what happened that terrible night? Or do the answers lie further back, in a dark past none of them wants to revisit?

Adele’s Review:

This is the second novel by Helen Cooper reviewed by Bayside Book Reviews and both thrillers have earned five stars. My Darling Boy is another expertly written and plotted thriller, and this reviewer was drawn into the story from the first pages.

After Leo is imprisoned for two years for manslaughter of his best friend, Robbie, he and his mother, Chrissy, become pariahs in their town. Everyone is against them. No one acknowledges the extenuating circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Although the young men were arguing at the time, Robbie’s death was unintentional. The hatred that Leo and his mother suffer caused this reader to empathize. A lot. I wanted forgiveness, healing, and redemption.

As the story unfolds, secrets and lies are revealed that changes everything. My Darling Boy is a compelling story and a recommended read.

(The Couple In The Photo. Five Stars, December 5, 2023. https://wordpress.com/post/baysidebookreviews.com/2729)

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6743983049

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CWYB2C3B