Stone Mothers

By: Erin Kelly

Narrated by: Fenella Fudge, Jane McDowell, Polly Edsell

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

"Doubly excellent - truly fine psychological suspense, and plenty to think about, too, when your pulse has returned to normal." (Lee Child)

Erin Kelly, the masterful author of He Said/She Said, delivers another intense, irresistible audiobook of psychological suspense.

You can't keep the secret.
You can't tell the truth.
You can't escape the past....

Marianne was 17 when she fled her home in Nusstead - leaving behind her family, her boyfriend, Jesse, and the body they buried. Now, 30 years later, forced to return to in order to help care for her sick mother, she can feel the past closing around her. And Jesse, who never forgave her for leaving in the first place, is finally threatening to expose the truth.

Marianne will do anything to protect the life she's built, the husband and daughter who must never know what happened all those years ago. Even if it means turning to her worst enemy for help.... But Marianne may not know the whole story - and she isn't the only one with secrets they'd kill to keep.

©2019 ES Moylan Ltd. (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"The incomparable Erin Kelly has written another captivating, cleverly constructed contemporary novel." (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Paula Hawkins)

"A great read...a twisty, layered, nuanced story, filled with complexity and shadows." (Number-one New York Times best-selling author Ruth Ware)

Overdramatic narration

most over dramatic, distracting narration ever. so over the top and made it difficult to listen to.

Massive Potential But Ruined By Manic Narration

The instant I finished “He Said, She Said” I went looking for more Erin Kelly.
This author has exceptional talent, is powerfully descriptive, highly intelligent, and she either knows a lot about a lot of things or she researches her material better than just about anyone I’ve ever read.
That book was a knockout.
I binge-read it in a matter of two and a half sleepless nights, it was just that good.
So, my expectations were high here.
The story itself is definitely original, clever, creative, and probably ended beautifully but I’ll never know because I could not get past the narration.
At times I was constantly adjusting the volume in my earbuds because the narrator’s volume, inflection, and intensity were absolutely all over the place.
It is truly like this, one moment she is just performing the material at a normal volume and then, because a section becomes even slightly emotional or charged the volume goes screeching up to this pitch that was so excessive I just wanted to cry.
I wanted to love this story so badly.
I went back to the book 3 times and gave it hours to improve, or shift, anything but this bipolar and wildly unpredictable emotive craziness…
I couldn’t do it.
The first or main narrator has a lovely voice and her accents were alright too so I was sure this performance would be a good one. But time and time again, I felt like she was unnecessarily dramatic, emotionally over the top, it just wasn’t realistic.
It’s not true to life.
I was very disappointed.
She has a great voice( I barely made it to the second narrator so I can’t comment on the other two, just the primary ) so there was just no reason for this excessive level of drama.
It takes away from the credibility of the story, and it compromises the reader’s ability to really BELIEVE what’s happening.
There was such potential here.
It’s a very intriguing premise with interesting characters and a cool backstory, but I’ll never be able to finish the audio version.
This is one to buy in hard copy or physically read on your kindle or iPad or what have you.
This story could have been a phenomenal audiobook, but narration needs work.
It needs to be re recorded with less mania and more attention to authenticity.
I am a huge fan of Erin Kelly, she’s a fantastic author.
But buy “He Said, She Said” instead.
It’s a much better experience.
Hopefully in time, this one will get a do over.
It deserves another chance with the right performers, this just didn’t cut it.
Sorry, I absolutely can’t stand leaving negative reviews, especially when it relates to such a talented writer.
Read this book.
Don’t listen to it.