Anne Marie is a single mum, desperately struggling to keep her job as a waitress while her 16 year old son Dave’s behaviour deteriorates. Finally his attitude improves but she is horrified to discover why…
The Waitress is a psychological and crime thriller mixed with family drama.
I was completely absorbed by this book from the start. The premise is gripping but the plot stretched my credulity to beyond breaking point. I wanted to shout at Anne Marie and tell her to be a parent rather than letting Dave dictate their relationship. It is a really clever concept as readers will be considering how they would react to those same circumstances and how far we would be willing to go for our children.
Dave is being blackmailed after committing a terrible crime. Anne Marie does a lot of soul searching as she tries to do the right thing. It is a great moral dilemma. However I saw no redeeming qualities in Dave at all and felt frustrated that she doesn’t force him to take responsibility. There are repeated negative references to Dave’s dad and I kept expecting him to appear but he didn’t.
The writing style is engaging but I didn’t find the characters and their actions very credible. There didn’t seem to be much emotion and I think I would have liked to see Dave’s perspective. I liked the twist at the end although I had wondered earlier if that might happen, then dismissed my thoughts when the blackmailer is revealed.
The Waitress is an absorbing and engaging book with a great premise; suspend your disbelief and enjoy!
Secrets can be kept. If you’re willing to pay the price.
Anne Marie’s life isn’t easy. She’s a single mom in a dead-end waitressing job with a beater car and bills to pay. Adding to the pressure, her teenage son, Dave, is out of control, and no matter what she does, Anne Marie can’t seem to get through to him.
Then, out of the blue, Dave completely changes. He’s kind, he’s thoughtful, he helps out around the house and looks after his mom. Anne Marie can’t believe her luck.
Until she discovers the reason for her son’s sudden transformation – he’s done something really awful and he’s terrified he’ll be caught. Even worse, someone out there knows about it and they’re blackmailing him.
Anne Marie is desperate to protect her son and knows she has to somehow stop the blackmailer. But how?
As she considers her choices, Anne Marie realizes she may be taking the first steps on a path that will lead her straight to the gates of hell.
How far is she willing to go to save her only child?
Emily’s Bio
Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.
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