Sometimes when you want something so badly and it lands in your hands - you see what you need to see and feel how you expect to feel to satisfy your fantasy. I am struggling to put into words exactly how good this book is - For the first few chapters you need to have your wits about you but read carefully and listen to the unknown narrator telling us what they know of Christopher's story. As well as being a well researched social history of life in Leeds during the truly scary Ripper era, we see an awkward young man coming of age and gaining the acceptance he has craved all his life. A truly wonderful story which brought back many memories of growing up in those times, which the writer ramped up to be downright chilling at times. This book stole my heart, stole my breath and is now consuming my thoughts. First Valentina, now Mother ... S.E. Lynes is fast becoming one of my very favourite authors, I almost wish I'd waited a few years to discover her and that there were more books already out there for me to read - I truly can't wait for her next one!! My very top read of 2017! Five MASSIVE stars.

Having attended Leeds University at almost exactly the same time as the main character of the book - Christopher Harris - and with family based in and around Liverpool, I felt very much at home with people and places in this story. That was probably the only comforting aspect. With three female housemates, we went through the often unspoken terror of wandering the streets of Leeds but not in that carefree way of privileged students, rather looking over our shoulders at where the 'Yorkshire Ripper' might spring out next. This book took me right back to that time, that place. As a fan of the TV show 'Long Lost Family,' the plot centering on adoption records I also found intriguing. I have to say though that I did get a little lost towards the middle of the book when a second narrative became more prominent. The denouement seemed forced to me and overly complex - possibly with one layer too many or too late? The storytelling was compelling though and kept me on the edge of my bed, checking regularly that the bedroom windows were closed.