In the author's own words, it’s a story about love, grief, justice, and hope.

My Mother's Murder is a heartbreaking true story of one woman's search for the truth. This is an account of a daughter’s 35-year search for the details surrounding her mother’s death. Ever thought the pair had a turbulent relationship due to her upbringing. Gina understands her mother was a victim of circumstances and a different time. And still deserves to be remembered and have justice.

Such a brave lady, having the courage and tenacity to fight for justice. I only hope she can find some peace now her mother's killer has been brought to justice, even if she still does have so many unanswered questions. Understandably so....

It is so brilliant to see cold cases like this being brought back into the public eye, so hopefully, more victims and their families can find some closure and the perpetrators brought to justice even years later.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mirror Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gina has spent a lifetime .. 35 years .. trying to discover the truth about her mothers brutal murder.

this is an emotional and powerful read and one that almost broke me.

Neglect and abandonment along with some issues that could trigger emotions and feelings this is a book I will not forget.

The writing is brilliant and the story is told with sensitivity and truth. it will shock and is so worth the reading time..

Firstly thank you for my opportunity to read and review.
I connected to this on a personal and academic level .
Heartfelt and emotional this is an insight into the aftermath for a family after a murder.
But it’s also about the troubles ,poverty, chaos ,upheaval and abandonment children faced .
Incredibly written and articulated. As a reader you are waking in her shoes reliving her difficult moments .
It’s honest ,raw and very inspiring.

Gina McGavin’s My Mother’s Murder is a heartfelt account of grief and longing, anchored by the author’s deep devotion to her mother and her unwavering quest for justice. The emotional core of the story shines through, particularly in its portrayal of love and loss. However, portions of the book appear to be lifted from the author's earlier self-published work, and the lack of seamless editing between old and new material detracts from the overall coherence. While the narrative’s sincerity is compelling, the structural issues slightly dilute its impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Mother’s Murder is a deeply emotional and powerful account of a daughter’s decades-long search for the truth about her mother’s death. I typically hesitate to rate nonfiction memoirs the way I would fiction, as these are real, lived experiences—but I have to acknowledge how compellingly Gina McGavin tells her story. Her writing is vivid and immersive; I felt as though I were right there with her, witnessing events unfold in real time.

The story is undeniably heartbreaking. Unless you’ve gone through something similar, it’s hard to fully grasp the depth of pain and grief expressed here. Yet Gina manages to articulate her emotions with such clarity and honesty that readers can truly feel the weight of what she endured.

If you’re a fan of true crime or emotionally resonant nonfiction, this is a book worth reading at least once. It’s raw, moving, and unforgettable

This book explores abandonment, obsession, and a decades long chase for justice as Gina's search spans 35 years to find her mothers killer. Overall a raw, relentless and emotional read.

A Daughter’s Relentless Pursuit of the Truth

Heartbreaking yet relentless, My Mother’s Murder is Gina McGavin’s powerful journey through grief, suspicion, and the pursuit of long-buried truths. For 35 years, she questioned the official story behind her mother’s death peeling back layers of silence and family secrets. Co-written with Jane Hamilton, this memoir is both an emotional reckoning and a gripping investigation. A haunting and courageous read. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gina McGavin has written a really interesting and heartbreaking memoir about her life, the brutal murder of her mother, Mary McLaughlin, that nobody was brought to justice for the murder for over 35 years, and the impact that this had on Gina and her family.
It is an open and honest account which does not hide the fact that Gina's mother was not the best mother in the world (Mary had left Gina and her siblings when Gina was just a small child), although at the time of her death, Gina and Mary were working at their relationship and they were getting on well. The effect the murder had on Gina and her family cannot be underestimated, it brought division, suspicion and obvious distress.
Gina coped amazingly well with all of this, and she is an very stoic woman. To have broken the cycle of disfunctional relationships which continued down many generations of her family, and to be a good mother to her own children is an absolute credit to her.
Whilst this is at times a very sad memoir, there are real bright moments and the picture overall is one of great hope. Thank you Gina for sharing your story.

This is a terrific true crime book. It is focused so much on the victim and her family, without spending much time on the perpetrator, and I think this makes it very moving and appropriately weighted towards the life that was taken. It’s also a fascinating snapshot of the impact of generational poverty and trauma, although the author presents this in a way which is reflective and analytical rather than self pitying. The writing style is very sharp and tight, with every word adding value to the story, and without dwelling on the trauma. The author’s reflections on her upbringing and the circumstances of her mother’s life and death are insightful and intelligent. I really appreciated the opportunity to learn about this case from a human perspective and without salacious details. How it was solved was incredibly interesting, and I welcomed the detail about the final investigation and case resolution.