Only a Mother

Get in the xigxag app
Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

This book is not purchasable in your country. Please select another book. Pre-order Buy Now £{{ price }} Send as a gift

Listen to a sample

What to expect

ONLY A MOTHER

Erica Wright lives a quiet, lonely life in her two-bed end of terrace. Her front door hasn't been graffitied in more than a year but that's soon about to change - her son, Craig, is being released from prison.

COULD BELIEVE HIM

Local journalist, Luke Harding is determined to warn the public. As the person who covered the arrest and trial all those years ago, he knows the kind of predator Craig really is.

COULD BURY THE TRUTH

When Luke's worst fears are realised after a woman is attacked days after Craig's release, he becomes obsessed with trying to prove that Craig was behind it.

COULD FORGIVE WHAT HE HAS DONE.

Erica is worried, too - but how can a mother turn her back on her son? And how far will she go to protect him?

(p) Orion Publishing Group 2018

Critics Review

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

A refreshing move forward from the sometimes exhausting twists and turns of some psychological thrillers, Only a Mother is nevertheless a real rollercoaster of a read, with an emotionally resonant ending that left me both moved and humbled by the strength of a mother’s love. I couldn’t put this book down

Charlotte Duckworth author of THE RIVAL

Tense, shocking and terrifyingly believable. Only A Mother turns the psychological thriller on its head, coming at the genre from a wholly original angle. The writing is sharp; the characters complex and compelling; the story skillfully plotted. A fantastic read.

Rebecca Tinnelly, author of NEVER GO THERE

An unsettling, consistently compelling thriller with a terrific sense of foreboding.

B.P Walter, author of A VERSION OF THE TRUTH

Elisabeth Carpenter skilfully portrays a mother’s love with unflinching honesty and tenderness. But is it misplaced? I recommend reading this tense and compelling thriller to find out.

Caroline England, author of MY HUSBAND'S LIES

An unsettling domestic psychological thriller … Tense and heartbreaking

The i newspaper

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

Totally gripping from start to finish. Observational. Intelligent. Beautifully constructed plot.

Amanda Robson

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.