I found this book quite hard going. I'm usually a fan of multi timeline stories but maybe there were just too many timelines going backwards and forwards. I did finish the book, although I guessed the twist quite early on.

Absolutely fantastic! The author has managed to write about two different families and span three different time periods in this book, creating one fabulous story.

Sometimes at first I did feel a little lost with the different characters and the time periods but I soon got on board with who each character was and how they were connected. While I could guess certain things were about to happen, I wasn't always right as there were many twists and turns and even when I was - I felt more proud of myself rather than disappointed for guessing a twist, as it really was an intricately written story.

A gripping, emotional, at times heart-breaking mystery which I'd highly recommend. I haven't come across this author before but will certainly look out for her name in the future!

I absolutely loved the story and devoured it in two sittings, it was always one more chapter!

It's told over different timelines and totally draws the reader in. It opens in 1969, with a New Year's Eve party at Yew Tree Manor. The Hilton family are getting ready for the party of the year. Tempers are frayed and their little daughter Alice disappears after going out to play in the snow. Her brother claims that local farmhand, Bobby James who lives at the Vicarage with his dad and sister is to blame as he was the last person to see her.

In the past we read about Tessa James, the midwife would help anyone in distress, even taking them to the safety of her secret place at home. When she's made the scapegoat for the local doctor's mistake the family realise their lives will never be the same again. This bring true heartache and grief to the family (and to the reader).

In the present day, Willow James is working as an Architect on the new development at Yew Tree. She feels that her boss and Leo Hilton are keeping secrets from her and she decides to delve into the past on the quiet as she feels that some things aren't quite right.. When another child goes missing Willow finds herself instrumental to finding her rather than letting history repeat itself...

I found the interwoven and intertwined stories fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking with plenty of intrigue and mystery. So highly recommend. It's one of my favourite reads this year.

One of the best books I’ve read this year! Emily Gunnis has woven 3 timelines about 2 families and a mystery that has been unsolved for over 40 years. Beautifully crafted with strong female characters who you will love and one character that you will find yourself hating with a passion, The Midwife’s Secret is a gripping and emotional mystery.
If you love Kate Moreton then Emily Gunnis is the author for you. This is the third book of hers that I’ve read and each one just keeps getting better! I adored every single page!

If you enjoy books with multiple timelines, then this is the book for you! Three to be precise. The book follows two families over 60 or so years - the James' and the Hiltons. It begins with the tragic death of Evelyn Hilton, which midwife Tessa James becomes unwittingly embroiled in. Forward on 20 years and there's the disappearance of a child rocks the James family. To the present day, where a housing development is due to have the James and Hiltons family homes demolished.

I liked this book but I did find it a bit confusing trying to keep track of everyone, who they were and where they stood in the history of everything. There's a family tree at the beginning of the book but it's hard to look when you're reading an ebook. I would have liked to have learned a little bit more about Tessa too I think. She left the story really early. I did really enjoy the book though, it really kept my attention, and it was one of those 'one more chapter' books!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Struggled with this one whilst I quite enjoyed it I did not really like it if that makes sense. I am sure if I tried this at a different time I would have enjoyed this more.

Blockbuster of a book spanning generations . The lives of two families are intricately entwined by their shared history. This book has so many elements; pathos, tragedy, heartbreak,intrigue, mystery social history . Starting with the midwife who devoted her life to helping other women , falsely set up by a cowardly doctorto face conviction for murder, we see history apparently repeat itself with false accusations when 2 children go missing in similar circumstances decades on, both seemingly linked to the old vicarage, where the eponymous midwife lived all those years ago. I was totally engrossed in this story from start to finish. Spellbindingly good!

The Midwifes Secret by Emily Gunnis

A good book , that keeps your interest from the beginning. It tells the story over several generations as timeslip chapters which can be a little confusing at times , but the author easily captured my interest in the two families at war with each other and the secret the midwife held.
Great characters , some you could feel akin too , and others not so much !

I found this book quite confusing as the characters are very interlinked. I realised the biggest twist quite early on and nothing really surprised me.

The book is set over 3 timelines with two families. I do like stories with shifts in time and this was no exception. I just found it confusing keeping all the characters apart,

It’s a well written book and the pace is good. All in all, I enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time, a tale of a midwife and the family and history that intertwined her life moving through the decades. Atmospheric and gripping this novel will keep you entertained until the final chapter, I especially loved the timeliness changes throughout and I definitely recommend it.

Wow, I loved this book!! I love books that change between different timelines and this one is just incredible. A real page Turner and I couldn’t put it down. A few twists and turns that caught you off guard and suspenseful in places. Absolutely loved it

What an absolutely fascinating book. I couldn’t believe the beginning of the book was so recent. I really thought it was back in Victorian times. A little girl goes missing and the wrong person is blamed and then many years later another little girl goes missing in the same house. It’s really very cleverly crafted and I started reading faster so that they could manage to find her in time. So many family problems but a very powerful read.

This was an interesting, and quite honestly heartbreaking, read, but I must say, I found it difficult reading as it was written from several people's viewpoints, spanning multiple generations, so you constantly had to be thinking about how they were all connected, and how what was happening to one, affected the others etc. I wouldn't say it's a bad book to read, it's just not a relaxing read as it takes some thinking whilst reading it

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Having read a previous book by this author I was really looking forward to this book, and I wasn't disappointed, a great story and brilliant characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a good read that had a good story and a dual timeline which always adds depth to a story in my opinion. It had twists, unpredictability and heartbreak

This author is incredibly devious. She writes across several timelines so you’re reading almost three books in one and just want to read one more chapter of each story. By the time you’re reaching the climax as all of the storylines interlink you decide you may as well finish the book. Hence I went to bed at 2am!
This is a multi generation story about a conflict between two families that live in close proximity. The Hilton’s own the Manor House and the James have rented the vicarage from them.
The main two timelines are 1969 where six year old Alice Hilton goes missing, never to be seen again, and Bobby James is the last person to see her. In the present day Willow James an architect is helping Leo Hilton to sell the properties to build a housing estate.
You also have the earlier storyline of the midwife of the title who is Willows great great grandmother whose life was dedicated to the poor and pregnant.
The story was stunning and heartbreaking. It was clearly well researched bringing the timelines and the environment of the characters vividly to lifesaver well as their suffering.
I can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
#NetGalley #TheMidwifesSecret

Found the connections between the generations very confusing. Had to keep reminding myself. Story was ok but felt that the midwife’s secret was a very small part of the actual story. Didn’t wow me but didn’t dislike either.

Thank you for my copy of this book to review.

I have heard of this author but have not read anything previously by her. I thought the blurb sounded really intriguing and I wasn’t disappointed.

I love stories that are set over different timelines and narrated by different characters so this really appealed to me, and I enjoyed the mystery element too. I will admit that I didn’t find this an easy read, I really had to concentrate on the date and character of each chapter, and how they were connected to each other. It was well written, flowed nicely and kept my interest.

I have already recommended this book to others and I will go back and look at the authors previous books now.

Set over a few different timelines and narrated by different characters,this book was a breeze to read (in a good way).
But close attention needs to be paid to the characters and all the very many ways they connect to each other. Almost made my head hurt. 😄

Fast paced,and packing a punch,it's quite the journey to discovering what happened to missing Alice.
Plenty of secrets and lies to keep you turning pages

Wow! A real heart pounder! I loved this book! It was thrilling, it had intrigue, suspense, and lots of heart pounding moments! Lots of twists and turns!! Definitely some jaw dropping moments! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth the thrill!