A Proper Mother

'Scarily good.' Guardian, Crime and thrillers of the month

Isobel Shirlaw

$22.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Point Blank
03 June 2025

Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945); Thriller & suspense; Domestic violence; Trauma & shock

Sometimes it's your own child you're most afraid of...

'Scarily good.' Guardian, Crime and thrillers of the month

'I devoured this truly superb and extraordinary book... A must-read that will haunt me for a long time!' Kathryn Croft, author of The Girl With No Past

Ever since an ominous palm-reading on her honeymoon, Frankie has suspected that her youngest son, Michael, is different. From an early age he sees things no one else can. As he grows up – academically gifted, a musical prodigy and with an unshakeable religious faith – his mother can no longer deny there is something strange about him, or that it frightens her.

It is only when Frankie learns Michael is sliding into drugs and violence that she realises she can't keep ignoring the past. But by confronting her destructive marriage and her own responsibility for all that has gone wrong, she begins to see there is something darker at play.

'Captivating and intriguing.' C. L. Jennison, author of What's Mine is Yours

By: Isobel Shirlaw
Imprint: Point Blank
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm, Spine: 23mm
ISBN: 9780861546992
ISBN 10: 0861546997
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 03 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Isobel Shirlaw has written for The Times Literary Supplement, The Daily Telegraph, the i and The Catholic Herald in the UK and for The Daily Star and New Age (Bangladesh). She won the Fresher Poetry Prize in 2019 and was shortlisted in Poetry London’s pamphlet prize in 2023. She has worked for The Daily Telegraph, the British High Commission, Bangladesh, and for several UK-based charities including Refuge. She lives in Berkshire with her family.

Reviews for A Proper Mother: 'Scarily good.' Guardian, Crime and thrillers of the month

'I devoured this truly superb and extraordinary book. A modern tragedy with such a rich tapestry and characters that got under my skin. I can't praise this book highly enough - it's a must-read that will haunt me for a long time!' Kathryn Croft, author of The Girl With No Past 'Told through a series of beautifully descriptive vignettes within a back-and-forth timeline, Frankie’s honest and emotive tale of a challenging marriage and motherhood is both captivating and intriguing, and is sure to resonate with readers who have experienced difficult family dynamics.' C. L. Jennison, author of What's Mine is Yours