Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth

Motherthing, a psychological drama of sorts, questions reality, sanity, morals, motherhood and more, with Abby's mother-in-law at the core: dead, but refusing to leave the house. Abby and Ralph are ready to start a family and put the darkness from their respective childhoods to rest. The couple moves into his mother’s home as a support; she takes her life, their plans shift. The basement becomes consuming – he sees his dead mother, speaks to her, is losing himself to the fact. Abby won't believe it – can't let herself believe it.

As cruel in death as in life, readers see Abby mentally battle a woman whose spirit was always slowly sucking life from the pair in some form, and reckon with her shifting grasp on her own motherly aspirations, and the potential loss of those who offer that genuine maternal connection via her role as a caregiver.

Motherthing is bleak, darkly funny, gag-worthy at times, outright gross at others. The structure varies, the strength of the landing too. The high shocks and big laughs peek out often enough to keep you consumed, wondering: how far will she go? Abby will cling to her dreams by any means necessary, and similarly readers will cling to the pages of this domestic horror to see for themselves just how far that will be. 

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Atlantic Books, 6 Oct