“This is how we all die…. The first wheel of our lives slips off the pavement on the day we learn how to lie to ourselves. The second wheel goes when we discover that lying gives us something we need, even if only for a little while. And then we are destabilized. From there we fall and fall.” ~ From Motherless by Erin Healy

About this book: (from the publisher) A whispering voice at the back of my mind reminds me that I’ve been this way for some time. Dead, that is.

The dead have a very broad view of the living, of actions performed out of sight, of thoughts believed to be private. I would know. Losing both parents is a trial no child should endure, and Marina and Dylan have endured enough. They deserve the one thing I could never give them: a mother’s love.

A mother’s love, and the truth.

My children have believed a lie about me for years and years. After all this time I can still feel their hurt in my heart. But the tether holding me to them is frayed from years of neglect . . . and I have to find a way to make my confession before it snaps.

But when the truth comes out, what other beasts will I unleash?

“Why do we lie to the children?” someone asked me once.

“To protect them,” I answered.

How terrible it is that they need protection from me.

About the author: (from her website) Erin Healy is the bestselling co-author of Burn and Kiss (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning fiction editor for numerous bestselling authors. Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development, and she is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Academy of Christian Editors. Her novels include such thrilling stories as Never Let You Go, The Baker’s Wife, and Stranger Things. She lives with her family in Colorado.

Genre: Fiction/Christian/Suspense

If this book were a movie, I would rate it: PG

How I’d judge this cover to suit the story: Pretty good in terms of mood and ethereal atmosphere. But the image of the woman on the cover doesn’t match the physical description of the woman (Misty) in the book, who I’m sure it’s supposed to represent. I always find this a bit jarring, as if the cover artist never read the book.

Reminds me of…  the movie Ghost (am I dating myself?)

Will especially appeal to… readers of complex women’s fiction who appreciate a touch of the supernatural

Would I read another by this author? Erin Healy will always be a must-read author for me

This story matters because… it paints a vivid portrait of grace.

My take: Days after finishing it, I’m still thinking about this one. But that’s pretty typical for the way an Erin Healy novel affects me.

As usual, her prose is flawless, the characters multi-dimensional. The story is layered and complex, to the point that, yes, perhaps the narrative is a bit confusing. It’s the kind of story that you just have to hang on and trust to become clear. Which it does. But not immediately. And not all at once.

[Tweet “Another complex suspense from perennial fave Erin Healy. Motherless, book review.”]

Perhaps because it did take time to untangle all the threads, I found myself becoming a mite impatient for things to actually happen. But of course, the intricate set-up was necessary in order to achieve the pay-off.

This was one of those books that after finishing the last page, I flipped right back to the beginning to read the first few pages again with fresh understanding. And appreciation. In fact, I daresay this novel would be even better enjoyed a second time ’round.

While Motherless is not one of my favorite of Healy’s–it is a rather somber tale–I did enjoy it. Most of all, I liked the way it left me mulling the hope-filled possibilities.

Thanks to BookLook and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

After words: There was one minor character I especially liked. Lena. She’s a grandma, and she didn’t even really come into the story until the last few chapters, but I just loved the hope she introduced. What about you? Can you think of a book in which a minor character plays an important role–maybe even stealing the show?