Blog Tour: Review of Picture of Innocence by Tess Stimson

by - May 10, 2019


Published by Avon, 18th April 2019

Get your copy here;


About the book:

My name is Lydia. I’m 12 years old. I’m not an evil person, but I did something bad.

My name is Maddie. I’d never hurt my son. But can I be sure if I don’t remember?

With three children under ten, Maddie is struggling. On the outside, she’s a happy young mother, running a charity as well as a household. But inside, she’s exhausted. She knows she’s lucky to have to have a support network around her. Not just her loving husband, but her family and friends too.

But is Maddie putting her trust in the right people? Because when tragedy strikes, she is certain someone has hurt her child – and everyone is a suspect, including Maddie herself…

THIS IS THE STORY OF EVERY MOTHER’S WORST FEAR. BUT IT’S NOT A STORY YOU KNOW… AND NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS.

About the author:

Tess Stimson is the British author of ten novels, including top-ten bestseller The Adultery Club, and two non-fiction books, which between them have been translated into dozens of languages. Her first "proper" job after graduating from St Hilda's College, Oxford (where she read English) was as a news trainee with ITN (Independent Television News). She reported and produced regional and world stories, travelling to hotspots and war-zones all over the globe.

In 2002, she was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of South Florida and moved to the US. She now lives and works in Vermont with her husband, Erik, their three children, and (at the last count) two cats, three fish, one gerbil and a large number of bats in the attic.

My thoughts:

Picture of Innocence has two stories intertwined, one following Maddie, a mother of 3 children and the other following Lydia, a 12 year old girl who suffered a disturbing childhood.

When tragedy strikes for Maddie's family, she is left questioning everything she knows. Who can she trust... can she even trust herself? As the reader you are pulled into this cycle of doubt and suspicion as Stimson takes you on a thrilling rollercoaster, with unexpected twists and turns throughout the story. Even when you think you've work out who not to trust, the final gruelling story that is revealed at the end is still shocking.

Alongside Maddie's devastating story, we learn about Lydia, a girl who has suffered terribly as a child. Lydia's story is a heart-breaking and emotionally dark one. Her story raises the age old question about nature vs nurture. How much of Lydia's current behaviour is down to the horrors she suffered as a child?

Picture of Innocence is a great read. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout, finding it incredibly hard to put it down as you get caught up in the thrilling chase to find the truth.

One warning would be that some of the subject matter is very dark and disturbing. If you find it difficult to read about child abuse then this book may not be for you. The story does go into some gruesome detail, particularly at start, although it does then refer to it in lesser detail throughout the book.

If you're okay to read about the subject matter, then it is a brilliant story that keeps you guessing.

Picture of Innocence is a haunting story that stays with you long after reading it.

I would give Picture of Innocence




If you've read Picture of Innocence, leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of it!

Chat soon beautifuls,



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