Motherthing by Hogarth, Ainslie
Ainslie Hogarth
Books

Motherthing -- Ainslie Hogarth - Paperback


A darkly funny take on mothers and daughters, about a woman who must take drastic measures to save her husband and herself from the vengeful ghost of her mother-in-law

Ainslie Hogarth's new novel is a stunner. Like Mona Awad's Bunny or Otessa Moshfegh's Eileen, Motherthing is a fabulous, frightening story built from fine, fine prose.--Laird Hunt, author of Zorrie

When Ralph and Abby Lamb move in with Ralph's mother, Laura, Abby hopes it's just what she and her mother-in-law need to finally connect. After a traumatic childhood, Abby is desperate for a mother figure, especially now that she and Ralph are trying to become parents themselves. Abby just has so much love to give--to Ralph, to Laura, and to Mrs. Bondy, her favorite resident at the long-term care home where she works. But Laura isn't interested in bonding with her daughter-in-law. She's venomous and cruel, especially to Abby, and life with her is hellish.

When Laura takes her own life, her ghost haunts Abby and Ralph in very different ways: Ralph is plunged into depression, and Abby is terrorized by a force intent on destroying everything she loves. To make matters worse, Mrs. Bondy's daughter is threatening to move Mrs. Bondy from the home, leaving Abby totally alone. With everything on the line, Abby comes up with a chilling plan that will allow her to keep Mrs. Bondy, rescue Ralph from his tortured mind, and break Laura's hold on the family for good. All it requires is a little ingenuity, a lot of determination, and a unique recipe for chicken à la king...

A VINTAGE BOOKS ORIGINAL

Author: Ainslie Hogarth
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 09/27/2022
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.20w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780593467022

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 06/27/2022
Booklist 08/01/2022 pg. 42
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2022
Library Journal 09/09/2022 pg. 1
Shelf Awareness 09/30/2022