Book Review: The Mother-in-Law

The Mother-in-Law is a riveting read exploring complex relationships. A key concept the book presents is that women tend to have a more fraught relationship with their mother-in-law than do men. The author, Sally Hepworth, attributes this to the intensity of emotion women invest. A character says, "Sons-in-law and fathers-in-law don't care enough to have issues.... We have issues because we care too much." We desire their approval and affection, but often struggle to gain either.

With the police on her doorstep, Lucy seems to anticipate why they are there. How does she already know? Is it because she played a role? Sure enough, they proclaim that her mother-in-law is dead. But it is a conflicting crime scene. Although they discovered a suicide note (in a desk drawer, not near the body), evidence indicates suffocation. Who would have wanted to kill Diana? She was a philanthropist, working to give immigrants a chance in a world set on pushing them aside. Many people thought she was wonderful. But what kind of relationship did she have with her daughter-in-law? Why was she so cold? She had money, yet refused to assist her own children.

The book offers endless twists and turns. Everyone is hiding something. As the narrative progresses, it attempts to warm the cold Diana by weeding out her true motivations and philosophies. I read the book in two sittings, staying up well past my bedtime. Although I enjoyed it, I prefer The Good Sister. This one was sometimes a stretch to believe. Characters held too tightly to their individual perspectives and none were endearing. The author cast them with sharp lines. Still, it was a wild ride and quite engaging. The end was satisfying, if a bit too tidy. Apart from a few minor expletives, it was a clean read.