The first two-thirds of this book are intriguing and enjoyable and the plot trundles along in a most engaging manner. It has two well-drawn and relatable MCs, some interesting things to say about mental institutions and a rather vile, almost psychopathic villain. Then there's a change of POV - the villain tells her story and everything I thought I knew and felt about this story changed! I absolutely loved this shift in perspective and how the black and white of things became grey. My sympathies switched so quickly my head spun! I also really loved how the title of this book revealed its layers of meaning. Cleverly written and hugely entertaining with a satisfying twist near the end, this sad, shocking and ultimately hopeful novel is a great read.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Marianne is going home to look after her mum, home to a place that haunts her, home to a place with people she wants to leave behind but why?! A past that could destroy her current life in London.

The story jumps between past and present, giving me the history to Marianne’s worries and fears in the present. With the only person Marianne could truly be honest with was her ex, I feared she was playing with fire and would creating more problems to add to her plate. I wanted to drag her away back to her family.

I’ll admit, I found the first part hard. Possibly personal circumstances but I struggled. Having read and loved Erin Kelly’s He Said/She Said, I knew I had to carry on and I’m glad I did. Part 2 and beyond, I flew through. As Kelly started to weave her characters’ stories together, I became more invested in how this twisty turny tale would end.

This book has a lot of psychological abuse for its characters. Some subtle, others totally blatant. It was very unnerving. I felt tense running up to the climax but Kelly kept giving me more to give the extras to questions I didn’t know I had.

We Know You Know is a tense slow- burner of a thriller that gathers pace as it goes along. I need to read more from Erin Kelly – she’s got a knack for dark thrillers.

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

This is a slow burning novel, that keeps you gripped from the beginning, slowly building up to each plot point, and only releasing you by the end of the book. I haven't read much by this author in the past, but I will definitely do so now. Recommended for anyone who loves a solid read.

A book is sure to go on my list if it is an English mystery featuring an old asylum or workhouse. There are so many horror stories, based on true stories from the 19th century, a reader should never come across the same story twice. Stone Mothers is unique but it takes such a long time to start doing anything. I get frustrated with books that either start slow or throw you into the deep end with no idea what's happening. Either way, the resulting frustration is the same. I also think this book suffers from the overhype of praise on the front cover. It wasn't irresistible, I could put it down and there wasn't much in the way of psychological suspense. I really wanted to like this story because there seem to be a lot of positive reviews, I just didn't feel it.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

This wasn’t the book for me. It wasn’t what I hoped. Not what I expected. I couldn’t give it a chance. It’s not something I would read

I have had two attempts to read this book, and really wanted to like it, but for some reason I can't get on with it. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the place. It's a shame - I am a huge Erim kelly fan (The Burning has one of the best twists of all time in it!). Maybe third time lucky?

I found this novel very readable and I liked the menacing old asylum that looms throughout.

Helen's section was the most interesting by far and there was definitely scope for the whole novel to be from her point of view, giving more detail of her fascinating story! The way Helen's past shaped her future was well done and made for an interesting character.

I found the other narrative sections were not always as interesting or compelling, and I didn't find the characters of Marianne or Jesse very convincing. The final section from the point of view of yet another character, Honor, didn't really work for me, and neither did the over-the-top ending!

A good read overall but was let down by the slightly confused points of view and the somewhat unconvincing main characters.

An unusual premise created a slow-burn start to this novel, which will appeal to fans of suspense and domestic thrillers.

This was a bit of a slow burn and it felt like I took ages to get into it, but once I did I ended up really enjoying it!

Unfortunately I read this book a while ago and seem to have missed it when writing reviews. - sadly I cant remember enough detail to give a full review.
However, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC :-)

I struggled with this book to start with as I found it a little too slow paced and difficult to keep up with but I stuck with it and ended up really enjoying it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoyed Ms Kelly's The Poison Tree so was looking forward to reading Stone Mothers. The book is told by different viewpoints at varying points of time. The start was a slow build but it was unsettling all the same. Made worse perhaps because there is a old mental asylum near to where I grew up which has now been converted to overpriced housing!

Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.

Erin Kelly has to be one of my favourite contemporary authors with her innovative storylines and exceptionally well-drawn characters this novel is equally as good as all of the others.

Stone Mothers is set over four parts, and narrated by three women. Marianne is a 47 year old woman returning to her home town but the real story is what happened while she was still a teenager. The next section gives a different view on this time followed by a third women's view of what happened after... a unique contruct which works particularly well. .

Erin Kelly explores how women's emotions and their ambition are judged when they move off the path of the more traditional role expected by society.

Lots of secrets unravelling in this story. It held great promise but for me didn't deliver on its full potential. I liked the setting (Suffolk/Norfolk) and the old Victorian asylum. and the gradual unravelling of the story between the main characters. I am shocked at the 1950’s attitudes to mental health and of abortion. Not that I am naive but just that such attitudes and views existed. I liked the way the story switched between the 1950’s and the next few decades.

A gripping atmospheric thriller where the past catches up with the present. Marianne returns to her hometown to care for her ailing mother. Husband Sam surprises her by buying a flat in a converted Victorian asylum, the scene of a terrifying event in her youth. An ingenious plot that you won't be able to put down.

After enjoying HE SAID SHE SAID I was eager to pick up Stone Mothers, Which is a Victorian term for an Asylum.
However I'm sad to report that this book is not as good as what's gone before, the first 100 pages of this book are complete and utter garbage and I was so bored that considered putting this on the DNF(did not finish) shelf.
The story is told from 3 timelines and from 3 points of view 2018: Marianne ,1988: Marianne ,1958: Helen Morris and 2018 Honor which to be honest we could have just done without the last one.

The only saving grace for the book is the story told from Helens pov which is a truly heart felt story and an insightful read about Victorian mental hospitals I enjoyed the narrative of the three timelines and how Kelly brought them all together at the end.
The book is well written and the all the characters are well formed and fleshed out, the book is just to slow and alas I feel a lot of readers would give up after the long slow boring start.

However with all that being said I did enjoy the book in parts.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Just about worth your time and money.

Stone Mothers is hard to keep up with due to the constant change of narrative. I tried so hard to like it, but at times it becomes dull. This is a weird mix of narrative referring to the past & present with a chilling concoction of fear and intensity in the drama that will unfold within the pages.

Quite slow paced with a handful of twists and memories of the past that haunt the protagonist. Worth a read, but in all honesty, I have read better from this author.