Joshilyn Jackson’s “Mother May I” is a pulse-pounding domestic suspense novel that explores the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. With a sharp #MeToo edge, this chilling and thought-provoking tale delves into power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make—ones that can transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

Plot Summary:

Bree Cabbat, having grown up poor in rural Georgia, now enjoys a life of privilege. She’s married into wealth, has two talented daughters, a baby boy, and a gorgeous home. But one morning, an old gray-haired woman dressed in black appears outside her bedroom window. Bree dismisses it as a trick of the light, but when her infant son, Robert, vanishes from his car seat, she realizes the threat is real. The mysterious woman demands revenge on one of Bree’s husband’s colleagues, threatening Robert’s life. Caught in a devil’s bargain, Bree must make a fateful choice—one that comes with a devastating price.

What Works:

Tension and Suspense: Jackson skillfully builds tension from the outset. The urgency to save Robert keeps readers turning pages, breathless with anticipation.

Complex Characters: Bree is a relatable protagonist—a mother torn between love and desperation. Her internal struggle resonates, and readers will empathize with her choices.

Sharp Writing: The prose is efficient and gritty, propelling the story forward. Every sentence serves a purpose, maintaining the breakneck pace.

Exploration of Themes: Jackson delves into class, race, and sexual abuse, grounding the thriller in real-world issues. The #MeToo undertones add depth.

Emotional Impact: The raw emotions—loss, betrayal, and redemption—hit hard. Bree’s determination to protect her family is palpable.

Verdict:

“Mother May I” stands out in the crowded thriller genre. It’s a literary beach read for thinking (and feeling) readers—a rollercoaster of suspense that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go until the final page. Joshilyn Jackson’s storytelling prowess shines, making this novel a must-read for anyone seeking a gripping domestic thriller.

Having loved Joshilyn Jackson's previous book, I was very excited to read Mother May I.

Mother May I is a gripping thriller that explores the themes of motherhood, privilege and justice.
The main character, Bree Cabbat, is a wealthy lawyer who has to face a mysterious kidnapper who threatens to harm her baby son unless she follows his instructions.

The book is fast-paced, suspenseful and full of twists and turns that keep the reader hooked until the end.

This is a fast paced heart pounding thriller
The writing is good and the characters are well developed
The author tackles some hard issues well

Mother May I is a tense and engaging thriller that puts a mother to the test as her young son is kidnapped. The kidnapper says she only has to do one thing to get her son back and Bree is willing to do absolutely anything. Things aren't as they seem though as the plan takes a horrible turn and Bree is left with the realisation that the kidnapper has not been honest with her. It's a race against time to get her son back; can she figure out who and why they have her son, or is she doomed to lose him?

This is one of those novels that really caught me. It's a chilling and taut novel that is vividly painted and is full of twists and turns. Parts of it felt slightly unbelievable but never enough to jar me out of events, and it's written in a way that kept me turning the pages, desperate to find out what happens. There's a solid cast of characters here as well. Bree is a strong if desperate woman and the secondary characters she surrounds herself with are vividly painted. Even the kidnapper comes to life as you find out what caused this snowball effect of action and reaction.

All in all, a well written thriller that really kept my attention. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.

I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

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

A thriller I really enjoyed! Dark and twisty and gripping. Incredibly tense and found myself wishing that Bree would just think carefully before doing things. Thank you for the chance to read and review this book.

This was a great read and definitely kept me hooked throughout.


I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own

Bree came from the wrong side of the tracks but used her love of acting to reinvent herself and ultimately married well. She only turned her back for 1 second and he was gone, this story is about how far a mother would go to save her baby, how Bree reacts to the set of instructions left will ultimately determine his fate. How far is she willing to go, learning about her husbands misdeeds along the way and no amount of money will make this right.
It starts off really strong and the investigative style is engaging but there are too many sub plots going on which made it confusing and stalled momentum for me, it was also a little far fetched in places.

Thank you to Netgalley UK, William Morrow and Joshilyn Jackson for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have read by this author, and it will not be the last, such an enjoyable read

A great family drama. Really enjoyed getting to know the character of bree and following her story. Tense and engaging storytelling that kept me interested

An ok read though an unrealistic storyline that ruined it a bit for me. A story off 2 mothers who would do everything and anything to protect their children.

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson.
Someone has taken Bree's baby...If you ever want to see your baby again, GO HOME. Tell no one. Do not call the police. Do not call your husband. Be at your house by 5:15 PM. Or he’s gone for good...'Revenge doesn't wait for permission. To get her son back alive, Bree must complete one small but critical task. It seems harmless enough, but this one action comes with a devastating price. And now Bree finds herself complicit in a terrible crime, caught up in a tangled web of secrets that threatens to destroy the perfect life she has built.
A really enjoyable read. Gripping and dark. I loved the cover. This is my first book by this author but it won't be the last. 5*.

A thrilling, heartbreaking, suspenseful read right from the start. This isn’t my usual genre, but I loved Joshilyn Jackson’s previous works and Mother May I did not disappoint.

Bree thinks she sees a witchy type woman out of the corner of her eye one night, but dismisses it as a foolish fear. The story that unfolds is not about witchcraft, but is about revenge, loss, love and family. I loved it.

This book was dark, the stuff of nightmares, but so very gripping. I honestly couldn’t put it down. A great, albeit harrowing read.

Some seriously dark themes and heart stopping moments and a really good read.
The book preyed on any mother’s nightmare of their baby being snatched from under their nose and being in danger. The sense of loss, panic and horror were really well written and portrayed. The historic aspect to the story was also sensitively and well written and very believable. The theme of the strength of motherhood and the lengths a mother would go to to exact revenge for her child was also expertly done. I found the story compelling and fast paced and I did not guess the directions it would take so they are all strong positives for me. I didn’t particularly enjoy or fully understand the American world of college and nor did that aspect grab me but the general premise about young people doing regrettable things under the influences was fairly graspable.
A recommended read overall.

I don’t know what this was but it was very jumbled and odd and just all round bizarre. For me it didn’t hit the mark but it may be different for other people

I really enjoyed this book! Harrowing storyline, but absolutely gripping! My only criticism would be at times I felt frustrated as the story seemed to drag a little.
However as the story evolved it more than made up for it. Brilliant ending!

I didn’t feel this story at all. I hated the relationship and even the main character annoys me like no other. I will still need more by the author because I loved other stories by her but this one was just too flat for me

Although there is a really good storyline to this book, I did find it somewhat repetitive. I liked the twist just before the actual ending but I think that’s where the story should of finished.

3.5 stars.