Shaken - by Jill Amber Chafin (Paperback)

About the Book

A young mother's desperate choice leads to an unthinkable mistake in this gripping domestic thriller, exploring guilt, motherhood, and the fragile threads of connection that bind and break us.

Book Synopsis

"Shocking" Valerie Taylor, author of A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery

"Gripping" Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son

"Unforgettable" Lisa Towles, award winning author of Salt Island

When Sally unexpectedly becomes a mother at twenty, she tries her best to build a stable life for her son, Morgan. But the sleepless nights, overwhelming isolation, and relentless cries wear her down until she breaks, and in a moment of desperation, she does the unthinkable: she shakes her baby. Consumed by guilt and fear, Sally buries her actions beneath a facade of normalcy, but the cracks are beginning to show.

Enter Alyssa, the teenage babysitter, who is left in charge the night after the incident. As Morgan's condition deteriorates, Sally's partner, Charles, grows increasingly concerned. A series of alarming doctors' visits spiral into a nightmare when authorities are alerted and fingers start pointing at Alyssa. Will Sally come forward and risk losing everything, or will she try to maintain the illusion of being a perfect mother-even if it means someone else takes the blame?

Shaken explores the intense, often unspoken, struggles of new motherhood and the complexities of human fallibility, raising an unsettling question: Does one irreversible mistake define you forever?

Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Jewell, and Freida McFadden.

Review Quotes

"A shocking story about two young women accused of the unthinkable. Chafin's bold debut will keep you Shaken." Valerie Taylor, author of A Whale of a Murder: A Venus Bixby Mystery

"Jill Amber Chafin's gripping debut about shaken baby syndrome is domestic fiction with all the twists and turns of a fast-paced thriller. At its heart, Shaken is a complex story about the nuances of love, grief, loneliness, and the moments of fear or rage that can change lives. I predict many animated book club discussions about the choices the characters make throughout this novel." Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us

"A fantastic debut! Chafin understands the complexity and nuances of the human condition, of the psychological impacts of guilt and grief, and she weaves them into memorable characters with an unforgettable story." Lisa Towles, award winning author of Codex, Terror Bay, and the Amazon Kindle #1 Bestseller Salt Island

"Jill Amber Chafin's debut novel Shaken is a deeply harrowing story about the impossible challenges facing American parents during a time of economic hardship and a lack of social support. Both heartbreaking and riveting, Shaken sticks with you long after the last line and announces Chafin as a tour de force novelist with a keen eye for the emotional gut punch." Michael Keenan Gutierrez, author of The Trench Angel and The Swill

"Shaken is a raw, unflinching look at the highs and lows of motherhood, exposing the unspoken taboos with piercing honesty. It's a story that lingers long after the final page." Caitlin Weaver, bestselling author of Such a Good Family and Things We Never Say