Book Information: BirthRights, by Carly Rheilan

Purchase link: mybook.to/BirthRights
Genre:  Psychological Thriller Print length: 220 pages Age range: 18+ Trigger warnings: Mental illness. Suicide. Homicide. Swearing. Some sexual scenes Amazon Rating: 4.5 stars 

 

About Birthrights

Sometimes the perfect pregnancy is less than skin deep…

A young man watches as a heavily pregnant doctor is stabbed in the street. He sees the knife, swinging down into that rounded belly, again and again, deep to the hilt.

A few minutes later, the doctor has gone. Nobody believes what the man has seen. For Ana, the doctor, the incident is problematic. Back home, she peels off the damaged pretence of her pregnancy, a beautifully crafted garment, padded and slung across her abdomen. And she begins to realise that a story she has crafted with even greater care, is about to unravel.

 

Praise for Birthrights

***** “Haunting, thoughtful, tender exploration of some of life’s most profound challenges”  Malve von Hassell, author of Alina and The Struggle for Eden

***** “This thriller will both entertain you and open your eyes to real struggles going on worldwide today. It is a must-read without a doubt!” Tessa Talks Books and more, Vine Voice

***** “This is a book which explores life through cracks in reality. There are cracks in plaster, cracks under doors, cracks in truth and cracks in the heart. Light filtering through under a door both illuminates and obfuscates – but which is the truth?…. The novel of the year in my view.” Kerensa Jennings, Author of Seas of Snow


My Review

BirthRights is an intriguing novel that will resonate with readers, leaving them adrift in a sea of emotions. It's heartbreakingly sad at times, while also eliciting anger and frustration, among other things.
The story follows Ana, a psychiatrist who isn't exactly liked by some of her colleagues. They think she's a bit too unconventional in her methods and way of thinking. But, for the most part, Ana is respected, even if there are come colleagues who'd like to see her gone.
Ana is also pregnant. She's excited about becoming a mother, and she can't wait for the day she can hold her little bundle of joy in her arms. There's only one problem...
Ana's not actually pregnant. She wears a special suit to make it look like she is, and when she's attacked by a patient, and another patient witnesses it, that sets off a chain of events that will bring Ana's other secrets to light. Her mental health will be brought into question. What happens when Ana's perfectly crafted fake life comes crumbling down?
I don't want to spoil anything, but just know that this book does get a little intense at times. It's a thrilling read that, once it gets going, will have you breathlessly flipping the pages. It's a book that will keep you on your toes and make you think.
This book also reminded me a little of the French film Inside, but only in concept, really. That film is very violent and bloody and gory. BirthRights is just kind of sad.
I really enjoyed this one, and I would recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. 
4 stars!


 

About the Author

Carly Rheilan was born in Malta and lives in the UK. She was educated at Oxford University (which she hated and left) and then at Brunel (a fine small-town university where she stayed for a PhD). She is a psychiatric nurse and has worked many years in the NHS. She has done research in criminal justice and taught in universities. She has grown-up children of her own and has also fostered children with mental health problems. Her novels address issues at the edges of psychiatry, crime and personal trauma. When not working or writing, she spends time with her family, rages against the politics of her unequal country, campaigns for criminal justice reform, boxes very badly, and battles against acres of nettles in a community garden