First-Time Mother

De: AJ Campbell

Narrado por: Tamsin Kennard

My family say I’m unwell. They think I can’t care for my baby. But they’re lying. Who can I really trust?

My delicate newborn, Lola, is just perfect. She’s made our family complete. My wonderful husband Max has his own children. He doesn’t like to talk about his first wife – and I knew it would be hard, becoming a stepmother. But now I have a child of my own. I can forget about the past.

My stepchildren say they love their new little sister, and Max is so happy. But accidents keep happening around the house. My family look at me pityingly. I know what they’re thinking. She can’t cope. But why can’t I shake the feeling something else is going on?

Then one day I go to check on Lola and what I see changes everything…

Because my baby isn't there. And my first thought is…

Is this payback for what I’ve done?

An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller perfect for fans of Frieda McFadden, Jeneva Rose and The Girl in Seat 2A. Prepare to stay up all night listening!

©2025 AJ Campbell (P)2025 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Not this author's best book.....

Did the publisher and editor read this book????

CHECK THE COVER:
This book is NOT about a missing baby.

Instead, this is a "Who murdered my sister?" book.

It's also a book about a crazed first-time mother allegedly suffering from post-partum depression and memory lapses.

The author's character development was flawed.
1) Characters spotlighted in the early portion of the book were not further developed in the latter portion. (Did the author forget about them?)
2) A random character was a pivotal character at the end of the book. (Huh?)

The book was also very, very long-winded.

This 8-hour audiobook easily could have been a 6-hour audiobook.

The narration by Tamsin Kennard was 10-star, as always.

Unexpected Twist!

First-Time Mother is a gripping thriller that twists and turns in ways I did not expect! Just when I thought I had "cracked the code" I found myself sorely mistaken! Annie is a first-time mother (hence the title), and she and her daughter Lola share a home with Annie's husband, Max, and his two children - twins - from a previous marriage. As we get to know Annie, we find out that she is a bit overwhelmed in new motherhood and could use some support. Although Max tries to be helpful in hiring help and encouraging support, Annie is left feeling off. Is she drinking? Is something off with her hormones? Is someone poisoning her? While Max navigates selling his company, with whom Annie's sister is a part of, issues start to arise. Annie begins to suspect someone in her family is lying to her.

I do think the cover is a bit misleading with the baby carriage and the headline "My baby is missing. Everyone thinks it's my fault." This is not really the premise of the book and Lola really only plays a minor role in the plotline of the book. There is a greater focus on domestic issues within marriage versus new motherhood.

The narration by Tamsin Kennard was superb! She does a great job at differentiating voices and sounds believable as a new mom. This is a great listen if you're looking for a fun and fast paced thriller that will keep you surprised until the end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, the author AJ Campbell, and the narrator Tamsin Kennard for an ALC of First-Time Mother!