The Lost Mother

By: Mary McGarry Morris

Narrated by: Judith Ivey

A husband deserted by his wife, two children abandoned by their mother, and a choice that may change everything. The author of Songs in Ordinary Time returns with her sixth novel, a haunting and powerful tour-de-force.

The place: rural Vermont. The time: the Great Depression. Henry Talcott's beautiful wife, Irene, has recently left him. He and their two young children, Thomas and Margaret, are spending the summer in a tent on the edge of Black Pond. It's a bittersweet idyll.

An itinerant butcher, Henry must often leave his children alone as he travels the country in search of work. He is devastated by the loss of his wife, and shamed by his inability to provide for his family. He hasn't yet told them why their mother left or if she'll ever return. For 11-year-old Thomas, who minds his sister while his father works, the long days throb with heat and more freedom than he has ever known.

Then their prosperous neighbor, Mrs. Phyllis Farley, begins to woo Thomas and Margaret as companions for her strange, housebound son. The children set out to find their mother, only to learn that she does not wish to be found. And Henry must weigh an unusual proposition, the consequences of which may cost him everything.

©2005 Mary McGarry Morris (P)2005 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Morris' nearly flawless prose is mesmerizing." (Booklist)
"Never one to shy away from the messy and bleak, Morris unflinchingly illuminates the bitter existence of neglected children and their inspiring resilience, once again proving herself a storyteller of great compassion, insight, and depth." (Publishers Weekly)

Strong children, sad life’s hard days but they still make you smile when you’re sad becaused

Amazing children Reid the adults their lives they were survived the heartache together. Good story.

Good Book Poor Read

I really enjoyed the story line in "The Lost Mother" but being a Vermonter by birth; the accent (faked or otherwise) grated on my ear! This is one story that I wished that I had read instead of listened to.

Best narrator ever!

Nicely written, captivating story.
The narrator really brought the characters alive.
A great listen. Highly recommend.

Good story but too much profanity

Really enjoyed the storyline. Very touching and I was hoping the children would find their happy ending. Narration was wonderful, the singing was a real treat . Three stars for the language. Sorry, but not a fan of that.

Totally captivated me.

What an excellent audiobook! The story grabs you from the beginning. You will be tempted to listen straight through in one sitting to learn the fate of these two Depression-era children. The reader is actress Judith Light and she gives a wonderful performance. She uses a different, distinct voice for each character. The author has written a wonderful story. Audible, please give us more books by Mary McGarry-Morris!