Share <Embed>

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Sally Hepworth

MOTHERINLAW INTERNATIONAL EDITION Paperback – 23 April 2019

by SALLY HEPWORTH (Author)

3,569 ratings

See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Amazon Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$4.99

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$32.75

$29.29

—

Paperback

"Please retry"

$11.00

—

Paperback, 23 April 2019

—

Mass Market Paperback

"Please retry"

—

Audio CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$30.36

—

A twisty, compelling new novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in death... From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. That was five years ago.Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.But the autopsy finds no cancer.The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spousesWith Lucy's secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans.Praise for Sally Hepworth: "With jaw-dropping discoveries, and realistic consequences, this novel is not to be missed. Perfect for lovers of Big Little Lies." --Library Journal, starred review "Hepworth deftly keeps the reader turning pages and looking for clues, all the while building multilayered characters and carefully doling out bits of their motivations." --Booklist

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Customers who bought this item also bought

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Product details

Publisher : MACMILLAN USA INTERNATIONAL ED (23 April 2019)
Language: : English
ISBN-10 : 1250225175
ISBN-13 : 978-1250225177
Dimensions : 15.49 x 2.54 x 23.37 cm

Customer Reviews:
3,569 ratings

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1

Customer reviews

5 star		59%
4 star		28%
3 star		9%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Write a customer review

Top reviews from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Well written family drama

Reviewed in Australia on 22 February 2019

Verified Purchase

Lucy’s mother died when she was thirteen, so when she marries Ollie Goodwin she’s hoping to develop a warm relationship with her mother in law Diana. Diana proves a pretty prickly customer, however, and by the time three children have arrived things are not good between them. One source of contention is money. Diana and cheerful husband Tom are wealthy and while Tom is happy to help out, Diana is firmly of the opinion that Ollie and his sister Nettie should rely on their own resources. This becomes a problem when Ollie wants to start a business and Nettie wants help with IVF.

The book is written in then and now sequences and through flashbacks we understand where Lucy and Diana are coming from. Diana didn’t have an easy time as a young woman and had to toughen up quickly. As is always the case, nature and nurture form character that in turn affects future generations. One excellent aspect of the novel is that the relationship between Lucy and Diana evolves after reaching a low point, becoming nurturing and even affectionate. The family faces various dramas but the big one comes with Diana’s death. It looks like euthanasia but is it? Certain things don’t add up and the police become involved.

The novel starts OK and improves as it goes along. I have a problem when a character says “I have done xyz” when people would normally say “I’ve ...”. While we’re being picky, I don’t think a woman of Diana’s vintage would say “There’s two pieces of advice ...”. She would say “There’re ...” or write it out in full: “There are ...”. Plural nouns need plural verbs. Yes I know “There’s” is used all the time now but not so much by older folk who learnt grammar. Good story though: well-plotted with well-realised characters who evoke an emotional response.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

carol cosham

so relatable

Reviewed in Australia on 7 February 2019

Verified Purchase

I've read all of Sally's books and like the previous ones, it was a joy to read. Firstly, being set in Victoria where I grew up, I could easily identify with the locations and the culture of the settings in which the story takes place. But more importantly, despite my relationship with my Mother-in-law always being pretty good, I know from my own experience, that it could occasionaly be a little tense, but that she always, always wanted her son and I only ever to be happy....and for that I am so grateful. Thank you Sally, for reminding me of that!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Christy Ditchburn

Compelling reading

Reviewed in Australia on 5 February 2019

Verified Purchase

Sally has once again produced a ripper read, a page turner that kept me guessing until the end.

I loved the story but even more, I loved how relatable this one was. The kids especially, behave exactly like me and the family interactions are the same too (IPad, NOW!). The Brighton and Sorrento houses are all too familiar(sadly not in my family).

Finally, I enjoyed seeing the mother in law relationship from both perspectives. As always, insightful and heartwarming.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

nharris

MUST READ

Reviewed in Australia on 19 March 2020

Verified Purchase

This book has stayed with me, and haunted me since I read it.
It really shows how we never really know someone's intentions, and how we judge (and MISJUDGE) people far too easily.
It has honestly given me a different outlook, and I spoke with my husband, and children about it, along with my usual book loving friends!!
I believe it is being made into a tv series/show, and I am so interested to see the interpretation.
I cannot recommend this book enough!!!

Helpful

mel_mox

Awesome read

Reviewed in Australia on 18 April 2019

Verified Purchase

Loved this book. Sally writes so well and I love how her characters seem so real. Loved Diane the mother in law and Lucy the daughter in law.
The story was well written and loved how I was surprised with the ending. Which was great as I usually figure it out, but I didn’t with this one.
Looking forward to book no 6 now.

Helpful

a good read

Reviewed in Australia on 19 November 2020

Verified Purchase

The story does jump back and forth in time so you have to pay attention.
It's probably a typical mother-in-law story which is a bit sad really as mine was a nice lady.
Well worth a read though.

Helpful

Miss Shezza

A very satisfying story!

Reviewed in Australia on 10 March 2019

Verified Purchase

This was a great read and had me captivated from the first page...nothing was clear until nearly the end of the book, well done to Sally Hepworth, she's a master storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her books!

Helpful

Amazon Customer

Great characters

Reviewed in Australia on 26 July 2019

Verified Purchase

I could relate to this book so well particularly as I am a mother-in-law a few times over and have had to tread that very fine line to ensure family peace. It is so easy to misinterpret the words and actions of others and this was demonstrated so well in this book. Loved it.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Rachel D

Well written but disappointing.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 May 2019

Verified Purchase

This story is set in Australia and features a middle class rich family, headed by Tom and Diana Goodwin. They have 2 children, Ollie who is married to Lucy , and Nettie whose husband is Patrick. Diana runs a charity for pregnant refugees/immigrants. She is cold and distant with her family and more engaged with her charity’s work.
When Diana is found dead, the family comes under suspicion.
The author writes well but the story is too long and has a lot of unnecessary detail. It is more of a family story than a crime thriller. It is easy to guess who the perpetrator is and the ending is low key. I would probably buy another book by the author.

41 people found this helpful

Nicky Hudson

A really good read - give it a go

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2019

Verified Purchase

No spoilers and no details, but I loved this novel. I felt empathy for all of the characters. It’s a really good story- recommended

39 people found this helpful

Ms. T. L. Brown

Good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2019

Verified Purchase

Only towards the end did I start to realise who did it. Great writing on the complexities of relationships that we marry into. Was also good to read it from both sides as having this option meant I did not hate the mother in law as a person. Without her side of it one automatically would.

26 people found this helpful

KittyG26

Pretty silly

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2019

Verified Purchase

The author has obviously had some serious mother in law problems. Apparently they’re all pretty awful, but Lucy’s (the mother in law of the title) is one of the worst. The priggish Diana lives in a house big enough for 10 families but considers Lucy frivolous for wanting to buy an expensive wedding dress. Di’s philosophy is that you must never help a relative, as this might make the person weak and dependent. But it’s OK to help refugees. I did wonder, therefore, why she didn’t invite a few refugee families to live in her enormous mansion.

To further ram home what a horrible person Diana is, the author has her turning off her grandson’s baby monitor (didn’t want to make the baby weak and dependent) and being so neglectful when babysitting that her granddaughter ends up with a fractured skull. In the hospital Lucy attacks Diana, knocking her the floor so that she suffers a concussion. Later, one of the nurses tells Lucy that the staff consider her a “hero” for this action! Honestly, could you imagine any sensible person talking like this? Nurses must hate their mothers in law too.

It’s all pretty silly, with ridiculous cardboard cutout characters and a denouement that is beyond belief. A waste of time, in my view.

Just for the record, I adored my mother in law. She’s dead now, but was one of the kindest, nicest people I ever met. Just saying.

18 people found this helpful

Havi

Compare with yourself

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 May 2019

Verified Purchase

Very well written

25 people found this helpful

See all reviews

Follow the Author

Similar authors to follow

MOTHERINLAW INTERNATIONAL EDITION Paperback – 23 April 2019

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Customers who bought this item also bought

Product details

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Customer reviews

Review this product

Customer images

Top reviews from Australia

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries