Gripping and Timely: Read Our Review of The Mother by Jane Caro

From Jane Caro AM, the Walkley Award-winning journalist, social commentator and author, comes a gripping domestic thriller with a moral dilemma at its core.

Recently widowed, Miriam Duffy is a respectable North Shore real estate agent and devoted mother and grandmother. She was thrilled when her younger daughter Ally married her true love, but as time goes by Miriam wonders whether all is well with Ally, as she moves to the country and gradually withdraws, finding excuses every time Miriam offers to visit. Their relationship has always had its ups and downs, and Miriam tries to give her daughter the distance she so clearly wants. But is all as it seems?

When the truth of her daughter’s situation is revealed, Miriam watches in disbelief as Ally and her children find themselves increasingly vulnerable and cut off from the world. As the situation escalates and the law proves incapable of protecting them, Miriam is faced with an unthinkable decision. But she will do anything for the people she loves most in the world. Wouldn’t you?

Jane Caro hardly needs an introduction, so extensive is her list of titles and achievements. The feminist writer, broadcaster, documentary maker and social commentator regularly appears on our TV screens and in newspapers. Her backlist consists of young adult fiction and non-fiction with a focus on women’s stories. She even just announced she is running for a seat in the Senate in the 2022 federal election. Amongst this busy schedule, she wrote her first novel for adults, The Mother, which, like her previous works, continues her dedication to speaking out about the domestic violence crisis that continues to affect so many Australian women and children.

Whilst this novel is entirely fictional, it reads as all too familiar, as Caro shines a spotlight on a case of domestic violence and coercive control. Our understanding of this form of violence and abuse has been growing thanks to the works of many, including Caro. The Mother highlights just how insidious and often invisible to outsiders coercive control can be and how devastating and traumatising the consequences can be for victims. The suburban middle-class Sydney setting will be familiar to many readers, emphasising the fact that domestic violence is not constrained by class, postcode or wealth.

While The Mother investigates serious societal issues, it is also a gripping thriller. Written in two parts, Caro builds suspense and intrigue throughout, as the question hangs over Miriam: how far would she go to protect her daughter and grandchildren? Miriam is a relatable protagonist, within whom many readers will see aspects of themselves. Her relationship with her daughter Ally is complicated and strained, yet their love and unconditional support for one another sits at the heart of The Mother.

The Mother is a confronting yet important read that tackles themes of domestic violence and coercive control which require greater public understanding. Caro once again demonstrates her brilliance as both a writer and social commentator, using this timely thriller to send a powerful message to readers.

Buy a copy of The Mother here.