A Good Mother

 

A Good Mother by Patricia Dixon-women's psychological thriller

There’s a real joy in opening one of Patricia's books. Always a stunning opening piece, almost poetic and evocative of what is to come to tempt and put the reader gently into things. Trish has a stunning talent with words and even into the prologue, I was so taken with the descriptions I sat and thought and then read again. “ Morning has broken. I know this before I open my eyes because outside the dawn chorus is in full throw. I picture pale sunrays illuminating the sky……. Stubborn beaks and wings spread wide. Joyful in the new day” How wonderful, how prosaic and a stunning use of the English language. 

There are three main female characters- Babs, Gina and Robin who all live in a small village. Gina is the youngest and having had a troubled childhood the other two took her under their wing when she was small and there is still a wonderful bond. Only Gina knows a secret about Robin's husband who is the vicar of the parish and not quite as godly as he would have everyone believe. His wife tries to have little to do with him due to his narcissistic traits, preferring to chat to her (long dead) friend in the graveyard and look after her daughter Willow, who has far more demons than most. Babs has a house full- her husband , grown up kids and then son's girlfriend. This is all taking place as lockdown occurs due to the pandemic- a time when no-one really knew what we were in for. Each of the women have both their own battles and more.

A book about the inner strength we all possess but don’t always realise until it's really needed. One line really got me-  about being in prison from her upbringing (Robin). To those who only in adulthood get this will truly understand the “ prison” that some unknowingly and unwittingly suffer. No, they don’t know because you don’t know what you don’t know- and then there is a massive dawn of realisation of what went before just as in Robin's and Babs’ journey. I felt for all the women but Willow especially so hindered by how her father treated her. 

A stunningly written and (and for some) evocative piece to perhaps make the reader stop and think of their own journey through life. Has it been your journey or that dictated by others so far? One life- live it.  A Powerful, dramatic, page turning, inspiring read. Wow, just wow. 

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