A.J. Campbell returns with her latest twisty and jaw-dropping domestic thriller, FIRST-TIME MOTHER —her best yet!

Sleepless nights can be more terrifying than anything from the horror shelves. A pulse-raising thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

About...

Annie and Max are married. Max has twins (17-year-old Jacob and Jasmine) who reside with them. Their mom is deceased. The couple also has a four-month-old new baby girl, Lola.

However, Lola is quite colicky, and Annie desperately needs sleep and help. Max is not a lot of help either and tells her she needs to hire a nanny or go to therapy.

She has not bonded as she should with her daughter and worries she is going insane or MAD.

Plus, they are undergoing significant home renovations, which are stressful and involve constant disruptions. Within days of Max's proposal, he had arranged for the contractors. Max is too busy with his business and the possible sale. Plus, the twins are there and do not seem to like her no matter how hard she tries.

Strange things happen: the lost keys, a fire, bad dreams, and she is losing blocks of time. Is it due to sleep deprivation or something more sinister?

Are the twins jealous, or is her husband trying to eliminate her? What about her sister? Then, Max hires a nanny, Zoe. She seems capable but makes Annie feel inadequate. Can she trust her?

Then, their worst nightmare.

The baby is missing, and everyone blames Annie. Is someone setting her up, and who has her baby girl?

Annie can trust no one. Not her husband, nanny, her sister, or her stepchildren. Annie has secrets and feels guilt, but why take her baby? What is the motive? Gaslighting?

What is going on? She must find her daughter.

My thoughts...

A.J. ramps up the suspense and suspicion from the first page and never lets up in FIRST-TIME MOTHER. A deviously twisted thriller.

You may think you know where the book is headed, but you will be incorrect. With clever plotting, twists, misdirection, red herrings, and surprises, readers will be glued to the pages to learn the motive. That ending ??!!! So clever.

You will love Annie and cheer for her if you have ever been a mother trying to do it all, a stepmom to two teens on top of it, working, and undergoing home renovations.

From revenge, obsession, trust, motherhood, blended family, lies, and plenty of dark secrets with characters you cannot trust— a well-written domestic psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. I would like to see perhaps a sequel to continue this saga.

Audiobook...

I had the privilege of reading the book and listening to the audiobook narrated by the mega-talented Tamsin Kennard (a favorite), elevating the story to new heights and making the characters come alive with emotion, drama, and suspense for a superior, engaging listening experience. This is a MUST-Listen audio!

Recs...

FIRST-TIME MOTHER is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Freida McFadden, Jenova Rose, Christina McDonald, K.L. Slater, Miranda Rijks, and Emily Shiner.

Interview and Blog Tour Stop...

Stay tuned for my upcoming #LitLiftMiniAuthorChat and Blog Tour Stop, where we go behind the scenes with the talented author, Amanda, and the book. (pub day, April 14)

Thanks to Bookouture and Hachette UK for a gifted advanced review and listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub date: April 14, 2025
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Well I thought I had this sussed but how wrong was I. Good chracters and a plot to keep you hooked. Annie is a new mother who is struggling and Max her husband is supportive but why is she having blackouts and tried all the time? The Narrator Tasmin Kennard does an excellent job with the characters so you know who's talking. Thanks to Bookoutre audio and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I was a bit confused while reading this one because despite the tagline the baby doesn’t go “missing” for 80% of the story. Instead, there’s an entirely different mystery afoot here.

Annie is a new mom struggling with postpartum: she loses time, is constantly tired, and can’t remember key events. And one afternoon after waking up from a nap, Annie’s life changes forever.

The audiobook was amazing, I loved the narrator and the way she was able to portray the helplessness and confusion of Annie, as well as execute an audiobook with multiple characters and make the story as un-confusing as possible.

In terms of story, I was enthralled at the very beginning and could not stop listening. The chapters are short which helped me get through the book quickly, and there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of a lot of the chapters, which made me want to keep reading. But as I continued, the story dragged on a bit too long and had some obvious loopholes, so I was ready to get to the end and see how everything would come together.

With that said, the true mystery in the beginning was shocking which I loved, and I loved the constant guessing as to who was the culprit, but the revelation wasn’t so much of an AHA moment as it was a “hmm okay” moment. It was a twist, but was it well executed? Hmm idk. Was it satisfying? Not really. But this is usually the way I feel about domestic thrillers. I have yet to find one that really wows me, so maybe this is just me!

BUT I’m definitely going to give this author another try because I did love the twists, the constant guessing, and the style of writing. And I feel like this one just had the wrong tagline and led the reader to be a bit confused.

First-Time Mother by AJ Campbell is a chilling psychological thriller that delves into the unraveling mind of a new mother desperate to protect her baby. Campbell captures the vulnerability of postpartum life with eerie precision—blackouts, doubt, and growing suspicion.

What follows is a gripping, twist-filled ride where reality blurs with paranoia. Is it a breakdown, or something more sinister? The tension is expertly maintained, and Tamsin Kennard’s narration adds emotional depth to every moment.

Thank you to NetGalley, AJ Campbell, and Bookouture Audio for the audio ARC of First-Time Mother.

I waited most of the book for a missing baby. The tagline under the First-Time Mother title legit mentioned a missing baby and everyone suspecting the new mum. The new mum was a doting mother and loved her miserable, colicky baby. She was merely struggling with what seemed like sleep deprivation and some post-partum concerns. The storyline was just hard to follow.

First-Time Mother
by AJ Campbell

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fast paced thriller with lots of twists! The premise was good, I just found myself not really connecting with the characters or caring about the outcome…

For me, A.J. Campbell's First Time Mother was both my first book by this author and my first Advanced Listener's Copy. I went in with excitement, and to be honest? It did not disappoint me.

Just looking at the cover, I assumed I was in for a dramatic kidnapping narrative with a mother under suspicion. However, the story twist turns out to be a multi-layered murder mystery, and I found that unexpected change to be quite effective. The beginning was slow for me. I almost DNF'd it, but I chose to power through. About 30% in, the pace picked up, and I found myself engrossed throughout, playing detective all the while to try and figure out who did it. What immediately stood out was how genuine and relatable the postpartum experience felt. Campbell's depiction of "mom brain" was spot on, and the conflict between the main heroine and her stepchildren gave a whole new element to the emotional trip. It gave the story a realistic and authentic sense while still keeping the audience on the edge of their seat.

And how about that reveal? It truly took me off guard (something I appreciate in a good mystery).

All things considered, I'm giving this one a strong three stars. It was emotionally charged, compelling, and full of unexpected turns.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for this read!

I really enjoy AJ Campbell's books and this was no exception. They are always full of twists and turns that always surprise me in the end. I felt terrible for the FMC which kept me wanting to know how things ended for her. The narration matched the book well and was easy to listen to.

Thank you Net Galley, AJ Campbell and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
First-Time Mother is expected to be released on April 14, 2025.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book. The cover and title lured me in immediately and I listened to it over two days. As a mother myself, I was really interested in the premise. The beginning of the book was a bit of a slow pace for me but right around the middle I found myself listening to it at every opportunity. There was a new twist every chapter and every theory I had changed constantly. I was always on the edge of my seat. The ending was a nonstop rollercoaster I did not want to get off of.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book and it just shows EVERYONE has a secret.

This was an ARC read, thank you for the copy. It started off really slow for me and I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the story. Honestly, I nearly DNF’d it.

But I’m glad I stuck with it because the second half really picked up. It got twisty, fun, and way more engaging. Loads of surprises that kept me turning the pages. Overall, a bit of a slow burn but worth it in the end. Solid 3.5 stars!

I am a big fan of AJ Campbell’s thrillers. I can totally rely on them for a great story which keeps me guessing and hooks me in from page 1.

First Time Mother opens with a scene which hooked me from the start. Annie lives with her partner, Max, and four month old baby Lola. Plus there are 17 year old twins from Max’s first marriage and builders on site. It's all very stressful. Max’s business is in the process of being sold and Annie overhears a huge row between Max and his partners - including her sister. Being a first time Mum is hard work and Annie is tired, excessively tired. She experiences black-outs, makes mistakes - a lot of mistakes. Her family are worried about her and Annie starts to doubt herself. What is she capable of?

Compelling, twisting, a domestic thriller which is delightfully domestic, this really kept me on my toes and entertained all the way through. Suffice to say I had absolutely no idea who was behind it all! AJ Campbell did a fabulous job of throwing doubt on almost everyone in the book apart from the baby!

I very much enjoyed the narration. This is a great book to listen to and a fabulous story to entertain me whilst I was preparing dinner! I found myself making excuses to do more cooking so I could listen to more!

Many thanks to Bookoutre Audio and Netgalley for my copy of this audiobook.

What a rollarcoaster of twists and turns! I devoured this audiobook in one sitting. If you like psychological thrillers with multiple plot twists and shocking surprises, this is the book for you! I absolutely loved the narrator as well!

First-Time Mother by AJ Campbell was a fast-paced psychological thriller about a new mother whose baby goes missing. This thriller has twists and turns you won’t see coming and keeps you interested until the very end.

This as my first time reading a novel by AJ Campbell and I throughly enjoyed it. It won’t be my last!

I listened to the audiobook and the narration was good. I applaud the narrator’s work!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this alc.

I BINGED this thriller ! It was fast paced, filled with suspense and twists. As soon as I thought I had it figured all out, my jaw dropped to the floor with more twists!!!

My heart went out to Annie in this one because as a sleep deprived first time momma, you just want to do the best you can. And to know her own family was keeping secrets?!!! But she trusted her gut, and knew something wasn’t right!

This was an easy 5 star psychological thriller for me!

Sometimes I struggle with accents in audiobooks, but Tasmin did an incredible job sucking me into the story and her kid and male voices were also so good

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I was wondering the entire time who is going crazy as there are so many point of views. The end was supper surprising and I did not see it coming.
I did however went back and read the synopsis many times as I was about 70% in the and the baby was not missing, so got a bit confused. But it later came into fruition.

First Time Mother by A.J. Campbell was a double first for me- my very first Advanced Listener's Copy (ALC) and my first read by this author! I was excited going in and I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint.
From the cover, I was expecting a dramatic kidnapping tale with a mother under suspicion, but surprise- it's actually a twisty murder mystery! And I loved that unexpected turn. The suspense kept me on my toes the entire time. What stood out to me most was Campbell's sensitive and realistic portrayal of postpartum struggles. The depiction of "mom brain" felt especially authentic, and the protagonist's complicated dynamics with her stepchildren added depth to her character and emotional journey. These elements grounded the story in real-life challenges while maintaining a strong suspenseful thread throughout.
The story moved at a great pace- I was completely hooked! I kept trying to piece the puzzle together and figure out the killer, and I was genuinely shocked by the reveal. love when a mystery keeps me guessing right till the end!
Overall I'd give this one a solid 4/5. It was gripping, emotional and full of surprises.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook early- I had such a great time with it!

AJ Campbell's "First Time Mother" is a gripping psychological thriller that plunges readers into a new mother's worst nightmare. The premise of something being a miss with the new mother and a protagonist whose unreliable memory makes her question her own culpability creates immediate suspense. There are plenty of shocking twists and a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy domestic suspense with a healthy dose of "who can you trust?", this could be your next must-read. Prepare for a potentially unsettling and addictive story.

This started of slow and I wasnt sure about how it was going to go. About quarter way it got really interesting and then the last quarter was amazing - what a twist it really worked well. I completely enjoyed it and it kept me completely captivated.

The narration worked really well.

I was completely blindsided with that TWIST. My jaw was seriously on the floor when the reveal happened. I kept theorizing throughout the entire story but I never came close to the truth. I was enthralled from start to finish and I could not put it down. I honestly thought this story was gonna go differently based on the blurb of this book especially with “ my daughter is missing and everyone think it’s my fault “. That is very misleading but I’m not mad at this book. I like the way this story turned out, I just think that the blurb could have been worded differently. Other than that, I loved everything else.

I definitely recommend this book !

Thank you to the author,Bookouture, and NetGalley for this audiobook.

I received this audiobook as an ALC by NetGalley and all I can say is what an incredible thriller! The narrator kept the excitement of unexpected twists and turns, along with the feeling of being on the edge of your seat, can make for an unforgettable listening experience. It's the kind of story that keeps you guessing then leaves you thinking about it long after you've finished. If you enjoyed this one, you might want to explore other works by the same author or in the same genre to recapture that adrenaline rush. First-time Mother is a must listen!