Review: With Love from the Inside
Grace Bradshaw was convicted of killing her young son via Munchausen by Proxy and sentenced to death. She, along with her husband and young daughter Sophie, maintain her innocence. Her husband dies when Sophie is a senior in high school and, with her father gone, Sophie becomes convinced her mother is guilty and breaks off contact with her.
Sophie goes off to college and makes a life of her own. She lies to everyone about her past and marries a successful plastic surgeon. When her mother’s attorney tries to contact her, Sophie’s not sure she wants to hear what he has to say. Desperate to keep her past hidden from her husband, she agrees to meet with him and the two discover new evidence in her mother’s case. Will this new evidence help her mother or destroy Sophie’s current life?
WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE by Angela Pisel is a gut wrenching story of family and love told from a unique perspective. The point of view alternates between Grace and Sophie so readers feel how their tragic past impacted these two women. Grace has settled into a routine in prison, trying to make the best of her life there while Sophie has moved on with a new life. Keeping her past secret is important to Sophie and it proves to be a lot of work. When Grace’s attorney contacts Sophie, she’s not sure she wants to reconnect with her mother because she believes her horrific act impacted her life in awful ways. Still, Grace is her mother, so she feels a need to at least put the past behind her. New evidence makes her think she’s been wrong all these years.
I was hooked on WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE from the very start, wondering how Sophie could keep her past a secret and if Grace was really guilty. I found both women’s stories fascinating and there was enough tension in the story to make me eager to get back to it. I was jarred by the ending but, as I reflected on the book, I found it fitting. There’s a lot to think about in the book so I think it would make a great book club selection. Pick this book up if you enjoy books about mother-daughter relationships.
The audio version of WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE is read by Carol Mond and Andi Arndt and they both did a good job. However, given that the book is set in South Carolina, I do wish they would have used a narrator with a southern accent.
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House. I am an Indiebound Affliate.
I found this a fascinating read myself. Though she tried hard to isolate herself from her past
it was not possible for her to cut herself off completely. Sophie always felt herself in two worlds.
I’ve always avoided this topic (Munchausen by Proxy). The idea is beyond comprehension for me:( It sounds like this book was well written though.
I tend to avoid this topic, but you make this book sound fascinating!
I feel like Diane & Joanne about avoiding the topic!
Intriguing premise – I’ll add it to my “to read” list. Odd that the narrators didn’t have appropriate accents.
Even before you said that you were hooked, I was actually hooked. It sounds like a really good read.
I hadn’t heard of this one, but it sounds really interesting!
This sounds exactly like the kind of book I love. Will definitely keep an eye out for it.
I do love the sound of this one…I like mother/daughter issues, and I think this book would draw me in. Thanks for sharing!
First time I’ve heard about this book, it sounds good.
Wow, this one sounds really intense and emotional.
This sounds really good and I agree with you about the accent!
I’m glad you found this absorbing, Kathy. It sounds intense!
This sounds gripping and something that could be discussed in a book club.
This sounds like a must read, Kathy. One of my coworkers investigated a real life case of Munchausen by Proxy many years ago, and I remember what a challenge it was for her. In that case, the child was alive, thankfully.
I hadn’t heard of this one; sounds rough and intense but quite a read.
I read this one and thought it was very good. I had a feeling you’d like it!
This looks like an emotional read and I like the cover. Adding it to my list.