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Sally O'Brien
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Mother Be The Judge Kindle Edition

by Sally O'Brien (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 1,142 ratings
Two young girls have been murdered in the town of Elisworth and Detective Inspector Todd 'Todger' Turnbull is determined to find the killer before he strikes again.

Elsewhere Jocasta Brown suspects it could be her very own son who has committed the terrible crimes. When faced with the decision of how to deal with her situation Jocasta faces one of her biggest challenges as a mother.

Mother Be the Judge is a psychological thriller with a truly chilling protagonist.

As chilling as it is thought provoking, you don't want to miss this read.


Warning - this book contains scenes of a graphic nature covering the topic of rape and murder. Not suitable for children or people of a sensitive nature
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  1. Print length
    292 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    30 Jan. 2014
  5. File size
    698 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00I5S09RS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ VM Frost of Just Add Alcohol Productions
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 30 Jan. 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 698 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 292 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 1,142 ratings

About the author

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Sally O'Brien

Sally O'Brien

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
1,142 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a fantastic read with well-put-together descriptions and find it thought-provoking, particularly highlighting the depth of a mother's love. The storyline receives mixed reactions - while some praise its good premise, others find it predictable. Customers describe the book as dark and disturbing, with mixed opinions about character development and pacing. Customers find the graphic content too graphic for their liking.

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89 customers mention ‘Readability’78 positive11 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a page-turner that they couldn't put down.

"...This was really worth a read although the subject matter is awful!" Read more

"...However, I really enjoyed the book, it was original and tragically believable...." Read more

"A good read, forgot what the synopsis was as I downloaded the book a while ago, however, turned out to be a good intriguing read...." Read more

"...book is dark, disturbing and difficult to read in places, but it is satisfying as it really makes you think...." Read more

51 customers mention ‘Writing quality’38 positive13 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with descriptions that are very well put together and believable.

"Very well written with a realistic plot, you really felt the anguish of some of the characters in a story everyone hopes they never have to..." Read more

"...I cannot praise Sally enough for writing this book. She is a master of Crime writing and deserves a 5 star rating. Well done Sally...." Read more

"...But despite the subject matter not being to my taste, it was a quick easy read and the story flowed well...." Read more

"...There was no tension in the writing and little surprise in the ending." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Thought provoking’14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, showing the depth of a mother's love, and one customer mentions it provides insight into a very sick young mind.

"...She has been honest with the subject matter and challenges you to think, analyse, hate, sympathise and feel disgust with her characters...." Read more

"I liked this book as it is very thought provoking. As a mother I wondered if I could do what Jocasta did?..." Read more

"Very explicit sexual tones. Interesting thesis, unsure that it would take as long as it did for a mother to come to terms with facts." Read more

"...a fantastic plot, gives each character a personality, explores their thoughts and actions. I look forward to the next novel." Read more

52 customers mention ‘Storyline’34 positive18 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the storyline of the book, with some finding it very good and powerful, while others describe it as predictable and lacking intrigue.

"Very well written with a realistic plot, you really felt the anguish of some of the characters in a story everyone hopes they never have to..." Read more

"...a mother it does make you question the mothers actions and keeps you gripped to the end." Read more

"...This was really worth a read although the subject matter is awful!" Read more

"...A pity as the story was getting interesting but the errors throughout way too distracting for me. I did try sticking with it...." Read more

47 customers mention ‘Suspenseful’21 positive26 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the suspenseful elements of the book, with some finding it dark and disturbing, while others appreciate how it kept them enthralled until the last page.

"This is both heart breaking and disturbing. Jocasta's life revolves around her precious son...." Read more

"...Can't have been an easy subject to tackle. I thought the ending was so sad and it made the book for me." Read more

"...The ending surprised me which made up for the distasteful subject matter and...... spoiler alert.....the killer got what he deserved...." Read more

"...However, I really enjoyed the book, it was original and tragically believable...." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Character development’7 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them clearly defined while others say they lacked development.

"...Great descriptions make for very believable characters. Exciting storyline written very well to keep you engaged...." Read more

"...The characters were one dimensional and lacking any attractive qualities, it was hard to care about any of them...." Read more

"...The book conveyed the emotions of each character brilliantly" Read more

"...Although a fairly unlikable character it is hard not to sympathise with the plight of Jocasta...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Pace’4 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting it lacks momentum, while one customer finds it reasonably paced and another mentions finishing it in two days.

"I gave up on this and packed it in at 27%. Too many mistakes, too little time, I'm afraid-one of those...." Read more

"Gripping storyline from beginning to end, finished it in 2 days. Will recommend it to my friends. Fantastic first book, look forward to the next." Read more

"It started off slow, but I stuck with it. When u was going to pack in I realised I was half way through, so read to the end...." Read more

"Whilst well written and reasonably paced there was something about the authors insight into the perpetrators mind that left the reader feeling a bit..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Graphic quality’0 positive5 negative

Customers find the graphic content of the book too graphic for their liking.

"...The characters were one dimensional and lacking any attractive qualities, it was hard to care about any of them...." Read more

"...faint hearted as the content is of a sickening nature and quite graphic in places." Read more

"Definitely worth reading...a dark crime/ thriller.... in parts very graphic and very upsetting.... but on the whole a good read.. although cant use..." Read more

"...I found it very hard to read some parts sickening as it is very graphic about what happens to the girls ." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • A. Douglas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Even when he reaches 18 and clearly isn't a good man, she makes excuses and defends him
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is both heart breaking and disturbing. Jocasta's life revolves around her precious son. She has no one else and has never really fit in socially. She no longer works and spends every penny she does get on her son. The clues appear from an early age that there is something not right about him and Jocasta blames herself or makes excuses to justify the things she learns about him. Even when he reaches 18 and clearly isn't a good man, she makes excuses and defends him.

    When the first little girl goes missing Jocasta knows her son is involved but she has spent her life protecting him and he hates her for it. He manipulates her into feeling everything is her fault. As much as she tries to deny in her head what she knows is true she can't forever. She is a good person and still tries to protect him at the end but either way she knows he needs to be punished and she is the one to do it.

    This was really worth a read although the subject matter is awful!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kerry Hunter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Very well written with a realistic plot, you really felt the anguish of some of the characters in a story everyone hopes they never have to experience. Would recommend this to all crime lovers.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars not great, but it's certainly original
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    It was okay, not great, but it's certainly original. Can't have been an easy subject to tackle. I thought the ending was so sad and it made the book for me.
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  • Mandyflyme
    5.0 out of 5 stars Different.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I downloaded this free book and read it in less than a day. Thrillers are not my preferred genre hence the 4 stars. However, I really enjoyed the book, it was original and tragically believable. I felt for the poor socially unacceptable and hopeless symbolically named Jocasta. Born after a rape and thrown into care often leads to sad cases. Her depression was not helped by her weight issues and her comfort in biscuits and junk food added to her depression. Often a vicious cycle. And then came along her son from her one encounter of 'love'. Oh dear!! Her meaning of life is this precious treasure. At the he age of 4 he accidentally killed a kitten. If only this had been the worst thing that he did. If only she had done the right things instead of being so downtrodden. However, I suspect that he would have still gone on to be the ugly and twisted thing that he became. Sometimes I was very frustrated with the mother but please read this book and then you can be the judge! UPDATE I have changed my rating to a 5 as I felt it unfair to minus one star just because it isn't my preferred genre. Xxx
    3 people found this helpful
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  • MRS EMMA L DAY
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy to read and a real thought provoked
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I had downloaded this book a while ago and began reading it yesterday not really knowing what it was about. I read the book in just over a day. Being a mother it does make you question the mothers actions and keeps you gripped to the end.
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  • Lynda Kelly
    2.0 out of 5 stars Hope To Revisit After A Proofreading Is Done
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I gave up on this and packed it in at 27%. Too many mistakes, too little time, I'm afraid-one of those. A pity as the story was getting interesting but the errors throughout way too distracting for me. I did try sticking with it.
    She spelled wont as want and babygros as babygrows THEN Adrian as Arian which was pretty terrible !! There were apostrophes missing as well, of course. Comes with the territory in any e-book, it seems. I'm pretty sure she probably meant Campbell's Electrics and not Cambells as well but could be wrong there.
    My biggest gripe were the lack of commas or them being wrongly placed. Such as "..found it hilarious bursting out into uncontrolled laughter" or "I'm not a criminal PC Judd" and "...Charmaine was taken out of class and her form teacher spoke to her privately Adrian"......makes for dodgy reading.
    I gave up when Ads was capitalised for no reason whatsoever mid-sentence. I'd seen enough by then. I did like the quotation used about new mothers and kept that to share with an impending first-time mum so thankyou for that.
    Hopefully one day the author will get a proper proofreading done and I can revisit it.
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  • Dippit Mag
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book to read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Wow what can I say. I almost put this book down about 4 times as it made me feel uncomfortable and a bit ashamed. It discusses things we don't want to talk about or think about.

    I hate plot spoilers so I won't talk about it. Sally O'Brien has definitely written a 5 star book. She has been honest with the subject matter and challenges you to think, analyse, hate, sympathise and feel disgust with her characters. Although it is set in a fictional suburb of London. This novel could be any town or city world wide.

    I cannot praise Sally enough for writing this book. She is a master of Crime writing and deserves a 5 star rating. Well done Sally. I may have to toughen up but I will read your novels.
    One person found this helpful
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  • MRS DA
    3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Although the story moved along at a good pace I found the novel very disappointing. The characters were one dimensional and lacking any attractive qualities, it was hard to care about any of them. So many were described as extremely ugly or ugly and fat. There was no tension in the writing and little surprise in the ending.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Barbara Tsipouras
    5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing
    Reviewed in Germany on 11 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A very disturbing book about insane mother love and the wicked paedophilic monster of a son with great insight in both their minds.
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  • 🐭 Miki101.Micha
    4.0 out of 5 stars A real-life Greek drama... or - the deadly sins ...
    Reviewed in Italy on 1 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    ... of her father reborn in her son.
    Jocasta Brown herself was born as the fruit of violence. So the mother rejected her because she did not want to see permanently in her daughter the face of the abuser. The girl grew up without much love and - not being properly a beauty - did not find that feeling for a very long time. When she went to Mykonos in Greece to find herself a lover, she found one - as long as she invested not only her body, but her money, too. And she came back to England, but not alone. A boy had been conceived, and with him came all the joy a mother could wish for! And for years and years Adrian Brown - the spitting image of his mother - could not do anything wrong in her eyes. Only that the genes of Jocaste's brutal unknown father together with the removal of Adrian's testicles at the age of 10 because of a serious malfunction produced a deathly combination. The young boy develloped very soon certain appetites for very young girls he really should not have had. But his mother in her blissful ignorance did not see the tragedy arise - until it was too late. When Adrian became legally an adult, he mostly ignored his mother. Secretly he gave her animal names. And his insane desire grew and grew - until he couldn't control himself anymore...
    But his mother decided to ignore all the signs of her boy's madness, together with his criminal caracter. But at the very end she knows - it was HER fault, hers alone. And for the first time she does not do what her precious boy wants her to do...

    This book is a real thriller, slowly but surely the tension arises. And often I was torn between the horror of the boy's nature and actions and a certain understanding for the unloved mother. Who first let the wrong things happen and then only wanted to put those things right. But it was much too late to save the situation which had grown far over her head. Jocaste Brown is a character, I will not easily forget. The really talented author Sally O'Brien is sometimes overdoing it a bit on the feelings and the animalesque dumbness of that woman. For that I give only 4 stars. No-one can be so deaf, dumb and blind - I often thought to myself. But I couldn't stop reading, I absolutely had to know! And now I know...
    And bought the second thriller called "Dead Sweet", too. Where the same D.I. Turnbull as in this book is investigating. I hope for the best...
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  • CrochetMama
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read!
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 September 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of those books that's really super good but you're afraid to tell anyone about because you're afraid they'll think you're weird. The alternating viewpoints of mother and son, all the conflict and tension- I can't pinpoint one thing that makes this book good, but it is extremely well written and the ending is not something I saw coming- it was truly a twisty road. The subject matter isn't something anyone likes to talk about but I think the author handles the issues brought up in the book in a way that is both sensitive and thought-provoking and really points out the truth in the phrase "love is blind". This is a creepy book- but not one to be passed by if you want a good read.
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  • Everlasting thirst for knowledge
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nasty story
    Reviewed in Germany on 31 August 2014
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    It's a truly gruelling story, difficult to cope with, but well written. I couldn't say I enjoyed reading it, but I suppose this book gives some insight.
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  • SurfCityGal
    4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting
    Reviewed in the United States on 13 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I would have given it 5 stars but the beginning was hard to read through. Very disturbing subject matter. It was very well written and after she became a mother the book took off.
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