Genre Fiction
![Jacquelyn Mitchard - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000APMT54.jpg)
The Good Son: A Novel
"Rich and complex, The Good Son is a compelling novel about the aftermath of a crime in a small, close-knit community."-Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling author
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes the gripping, emotionally charged novel of a mother who must help her son after he is convicted of a devastating crime.
What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow.
Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he's released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda's mother, once Thea's good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter's memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away.
Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover-especially about the night Belinda died?
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Mitchard comes the gripping, emotionally charged novel of a mother who must help her son after he is convicted of a devastating crime.
What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow.
Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he's released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda's mother, once Thea's good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter's memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea's own family turn away.
Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover-especially about the night Belinda died?
Editorial Reviews
The Good Son
"Rich and complex, The Good Son is a compelling novel about the aftermath of a crime in a small, close-knit community."
-Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This novel, about a family and a community wracked by grief, regret, and rage over the murder of a teenage girl, is gripping, heart-rending, and quietly devastating."
--Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"The Good Son is very good indeed. This artfully-written novel begins by asking deep family questions about how we can accept the worst about those we love-and then, unexpectedly, turns into a galloping thriller. A remarkable book."
-Scott Turow, New York Times bestselling author
"Rooted in compassion and curiosity, The Good Son is an engrossing story about forgiveness, redemption, and unconditional love."
-Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice and Remember.
"Tender, poignant and impossible to put down... I was hooked from the very first sentence."-Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee
"Not since THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN has Mitchard so profoundly examined the layered motherhood narrative. THE GOOD SON is timely, gripping, suspenseful, and resonant. Mitchard's best yet by far."
--Karin Slaughter, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Propulsive, complex and deeply moving, THE GOOD SON may well be Mitchard's finest work yet. I loved this book!"
– Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter and The Wicked Sister
"An engaging journey through redemption, forgiveness, and a mother's devotion."--Library Journal
"An emotionally intense drama of guilt, forgiveness, and motherhood."-Kirkus
The Deep End of the Ocean, #1 New York Times Bestseller
"A wrenching first novel.…wonderfully written."-The New York Times Book Review
"A bold, brilliant, powerhouse of a novel. I read it in one sitting, unable to walk away until I'd come to the startling and unexpected end." -Kristin Hannah, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Four Winds
NoTime ...
"Rich and complex, The Good Son is a compelling novel about the aftermath of a crime in a small, close-knit community."
-Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"This novel, about a family and a community wracked by grief, regret, and rage over the murder of a teenage girl, is gripping, heart-rending, and quietly devastating."
--Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"The Good Son is very good indeed. This artfully-written novel begins by asking deep family questions about how we can accept the worst about those we love-and then, unexpectedly, turns into a galloping thriller. A remarkable book."
-Scott Turow, New York Times bestselling author
"Rooted in compassion and curiosity, The Good Son is an engrossing story about forgiveness, redemption, and unconditional love."
-Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice and Remember.
"Tender, poignant and impossible to put down... I was hooked from the very first sentence."-Jean Kwok, New York Times bestselling author of Searching for Sylvie Lee
"Not since THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN has Mitchard so profoundly examined the layered motherhood narrative. THE GOOD SON is timely, gripping, suspenseful, and resonant. Mitchard's best yet by far."
--Karin Slaughter, New York Times Bestselling Author
"Propulsive, complex and deeply moving, THE GOOD SON may well be Mitchard's finest work yet. I loved this book!"
– Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King's Daughter and The Wicked Sister
"An engaging journey through redemption, forgiveness, and a mother's devotion."--Library Journal
"An emotionally intense drama of guilt, forgiveness, and motherhood."-Kirkus
The Deep End of the Ocean, #1 New York Times Bestseller
"A wrenching first novel.…wonderfully written."-The New York Times Book Review
"A bold, brilliant, powerhouse of a novel. I read it in one sitting, unable to walk away until I'd come to the startling and unexpected end." -Kristin Hannah, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Four Winds
NoTime ...
Readers Top Reviews
S. Corman
This novel begins with the son, Stefan, leaving prison after serving his time for murdering his girlfriend, Belinda. The book tells of how a family has to cope with their ex convict son's difficulties reentering society and how he himself has to deal with restarting his life. Interesting? Definitely. But there is so much more to this book. We meet some of the neighbors whose lives are interrupted by the constant presence of the protesting group founded by Jill, the mother of the dead girl. There are the journalists who also are ever present. There are the extended family members, some of whom still can't come to terms with the ex con in their midst. And of course, the people who can't accept that Stefan gets to live his life, while Belinda is in the ground, dead. Add into this mix the creepy guy stalker, in the hoodie, who constantly harasses Thea, the mom, with phone calls, breaking into their home, and showing up wherever Thea happens to be. This is one hell of a page turner. And you will never be able to predict the ending. I highly recommend, "The Good Son".
Susan J. Rockefeller
I loved this book. It was an easy,welcome read. I am not sure when I figured out what happened, but that did not take anything away from the story/writing. I was excited to keep reading and genuinely sad when it ended-a true sign of an excellent book for mr. Thank you!
Dayna D GarvinJJ Flo
My interest started to fall away as the son seemed way too amenable to change than what I have lived through or seen. How I wish my son would have been so amenable to turning over a new leaf and developing a program to help victims and their families. It’s too good to be true. How nice to have a friend, with money to help facilitate the project. Title should be more like The Son with Managed Change.
Laurel-Rain Snow
What do you do when the person you love best becomes unrecognizable to you? For Thea Demetriou, the answer is both simple and agonizing: you keep loving him somehow. Stefan was just seventeen when he went to prison for the drug-fueled murder of his girlfriend, Belinda. Three years later, he’s released to a world that refuses to let him move on. Belinda’s mother, once Thea’s good friend, galvanizes the community to rally against him to protest in her daughter’s memory. The media paints Stefan as a symbol of white privilege and indifferent justice. Neighbors, employers, even some members of Thea’s own family turn away. Meanwhile Thea struggles to understand her son. At times, he is still the sweet boy he has always been; at others, he is a young man tormented by guilt and almost broken by his time in prison. But as his efforts to make amends meet escalating resistance and threats, Thea suspects more forces are at play than just community outrage. And if there is so much she never knew about her own son, what other secrets has she yet to uncover—especially about the night Belinda died? My Thoughts: After Thea’s son is convicted and sent to prison, I was catapulted into the terrifying world she faces in The Good Son. Even after he has served his prison sentence and been released, Thea struggles to understand how the son she raised and loved could have done what he was accused and convicted of. There are so many unanswered questions. But Stefan tries to move on and starts a community group that focuses on amends and healing. Meanwhile, an unknown caller stalks Thea, hinting at secrets she has and offering to give her information. But she constantly evades Thea. A thin stalker with a terrifying aura also haunts the family. Belinda’s mother, who was once Thea’s friend, has organized a group of protestors who are always there, in front of Thea’s home, showing up at events, and making the family’s life a living hell. Just when Thea has begun to sort out the stalkers and question the messages, something totally unexpected happens that changes everything she believes. I was suspicious about several characters and kept waiting for the reveal that could bring all the answers. When it happened, it was stunning and turned all their lives upside down. A 5 star read.
