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The Bad Mother by C.J. Parsons x-book

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The Bad Mother

Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Publish Date
27 August 2026
Run Time
10 hours 16 minutes
Format
x-book®
$13.95

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What to expect

‘Everything I want in a psychological thriller: dark, twisty and chilling’ Emma Babbington ‘A gripping drama’ My Weekly

**********

Natasha was plunged into every parent’s ultimate nightmare when her son was taken from hospital shortly after his birth. Worse still, in the vital twenty-four hours after Baby Justin went missing, the police focused on the wrong suspect. TV producer Chloe, greedy for a quick headline, broke the rules by revealing the suspect's identity. The mistake derailed the case, and her career.

Now Chloe has a chance at redemption. New evidence surrounding Justin’s abduction has come to light.

But for both Natasha and Chloe, revisiting the past means facing up to their own decisions. And unspeakable secrets…

**********

Praise for The Bad Mother

‘Twisty, compelling and emotionally charged. I was hooked’ Jen L Crow

‘An addictive read that packs an emotional punch, with twists that kept me guessing to the very last page’ Ryan Carter

‘Intense and packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing’ The Sun

‘Twisty and intense!’ Lorna Dounaeva

‘A torturous tale’ The Sunday Post

Critics Review

  • Praise for The Bad Mother‘Twisty, compelling and emotionally charged. I was hooked.’ Jen L Crow
  • ‘An addictive read that packs an emotional punch, with twists that kept me guessing to the very last page.’ Ryan Carter
  • ‘Twisty and intense!’ Lorna Dounaeva
  • ‘With a plot that tightens its grip until the very last page, THE BAD MOTHER is everything I want in a psychological thriller: dark, twisty and chilling – I couldn't put it down.’ Emma Babbington
See more reviews
  • 'This tortuous tale gives us every new mother's worst nightmare' The Sunday Post
  • ‘Intense and packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing’ The SunPraise for CJ Parsons‘A dark tale of celebrity life where fame and fortune cost the ultimate price. I was gripped.’ Louise Jensen, author of The Intruders
  • 'A chilling take on the world of social media influencers which feels scarily real: a great read.' Catherine Cooper, author of The Island
  • 'A unique thriller that sucks you in from the first page and doesn't let up. A riveting, brilliantly written book.' Diana Wilkinson, author of The Girl in Seat 2A
  • 'Highly original and totally addictive.' Lorna Dounaeva, author of The Wife’s Mistake
  • 'A timely and terrifying insight into the price of fame and what it means to be an influencer in the glittering, dangerous setting Parsons has created. So absorbing I read it in one day!' Sian Gilbert, author of She Started It
  • 'An engaging, original and incredibly timely novel about the dark side of fame. A total thrill ride from start to finish.' Rhiannon Barnsley, author of The Clique
  • 'A twisty, addictive page-turner that pulls you into a glitzy, glamorous world where nothing is as it seems and no-one can be trusted.' Dreda Say Mitchell, author of Geezer Girls
  • 'Plenty of tension'The Morning Star
  • 'Gripping'The Peterborough Telegraph

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Details

Author
C.J. Parsons
Narrator
Polly Maberly
Duration
10 hours 16 minutes
Release Date
27 August 2026
ISBN
9780008613983
Format
x-book®
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers
Genre
Psychological thriller, Crime and / or mystery fiction, Family life fiction / Stories about family, Thriller / suspense fiction

Synopsis

‘Everything I want in a psychological thriller: dark, twisty and chilling’ Emma Babbington ‘A gripping drama’ My Weekly ********** Natasha was plunged into every parent’s ultimate nightmare when her son was taken from hospital shortly after his birth. Worse still, in the vital twenty-four hours after Baby Justin went missing, the police focused on the wrong suspect. TV producer Chloe, greedy for a quick headline, broke the rules by revealing the suspect's identity. The mistake derailed the case, and her career. Now Chloe has a chance at redemption. New evidence surrounding Justin’s abduction has come to light. But for both Natasha and Chloe, revisiting the past means facing up to their own decisions. And unspeakable secrets… ********** Praise for The Bad Mother ‘Twisty, compelling and emotionally charged. I was hooked’ Jen L Crow ‘An addictive read that packs an emotional punch, with twists that kept me guessing to the very last page’ Ryan Carter ‘Intense and packed with twists and turns that will keep you guessing’ The Sun ‘Twisty and intense!’ Lorna Dounaeva ‘A torturous tale’ The Sunday Post

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