Review for The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Synopsis
'I don't know how to tell you what I did.' The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle - her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her family - described a woman who embraced life. But they didn't know everything. Because the unaddressed letter reveals a terrible secret...and a legacy of guilt that changes everything they thought they knew about the woman who delivered their children. A legacy that will irrevocably change their own lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - forever.

The Midwifes Confession is my first book by Diane Chamberlain, despite being tempted by her previous books I’d never actually picked one up. However upon reading the intriguing sounding synopsis and seeing the Jodi Picoult guarantee (Picoult being my favourite author) I knew I just had to give this book a shot.

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into the story. It takes a few chapters for Chamberlain to set the story up and despite being intrigued to where she was taking us I was a little bored at the beginning. However I picked this up again the next day and as soon as I hit around the 150 page mark I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Seriously, I read the rest of The Midwifes Confession right then and there in one sitting. And me struggling with the beginning was totally worth getting through for the rest of this amazing book.

As soon as we start delving in to Noelle’s mysterious past and find out how events link in with the other women in this story The Midwifes Confession quickly becomes a riveting mystery that can indeed stand proudly next to Jodi Picoult’s finest work. There’s definitely a lot of similarity between the authors with their epic family sagas. If you enjoy novels about families going through real life heart wrenching problems with plenty of twists and turns along the way this is the book for you. Diane Chamberlain definitely has a little something to offer everybody with motherhood and lifelong female friendships that will appeal to women, the teen angst and relationship drama that’s going on with their daughters Grace and Jenny which teens will identify with and there’s even a fast paced plot with a hearty dollop of mystery to satisfy male readers.

Whilst I loved all of these aspects about the book I think what I enjoyed most was the emotion that Diane Chamberlain writes with. The chapters are told alternately between each character and whilst reading from each woman’s point of view I could really connect with them and feel what they were going through. Diane Chamberlain explores human nature and why certain thoughts and feelings can lead people to do the most unspeakable things. Diane perfectly maps out each characters thought process making them feel very vivid and human.

This book kept me on my toes right up till the very end with a shocking twist that completely surprised me. Chamberlain weaves a lifetimes worth of lies, hurt and betrayal all surrounding one woman’s actions who has ultimately had an epic affect on every character mentioned in this story. Even though Noelle is dead and gone in this book she still remains a very potent character and I loved getting inside her head and uncovering her secrets.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Midwifes Confession and am already on the lookout for more of Diane’s novels. If you’re looking for a book that will make you think and keep you up late reading The Midwifes Confession is the book for you and Diane Chamberlain an author to watch.
My Rating 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis taken from Amazon

Thanks go to Mira for sending this book for review