Hush Little Baby

Written by Suzanne Redfearn

Narrated by Nola Zandry

If I stay, he will kill me. If I leave, he'll destroy Addie and Drew.

Jillian Kane appears to have it all - a successful career, a gorgeous home, a loving husband, and two wonderful children. The reality behind closed doors is something else entirely. For nine years, she has hid the bruises and the truth of her abusive marriage in order to protect Addie and Drew, knowing that if she left, Gordon would destroy her and destroy them.

When she flees in an act of desperation, her worst nightmare is realized and she finds herself on the run with her two young children, no money, and no plan. With Gordon in hot pursuit, there is only one inescapable certainty: No matter where she goes, he will find her. Kill her. And take her children.

A riveting page-turner, Hush Little Baby exposes the shame and terror of domestic violence as well as the disturbing role manipulation and sabotage can play in the high-stakes game of child custody. Suspenseful and unforgettably moving, it's a novel about the unbreakable bonds of family and the astounding, terrifying devotion of a mother's love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Nov 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781713556237

Suzanne Redfearn

Suzanne Redfearn is the award-winning author of three novels: Hush Little Baby, No Ordinary Life, and In an Instant. In addition to being an author, she’s also an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. She lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza and Beer. You can find her at her website, www.SuzanneRedfearn.com, on Facebook at SuzanneRedfearnAuthor, or on Twitter @SuzanneRedfearn.

Reviews for Hush Little Baby

[Mindy Schapiro Thomas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing. Had me on the edge many times and I found myself listening to it for hours at a time. I felt like it was like watching a great thriller. EPIC. Great reader too!

[Christine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a good read. It was well written. Of course Gordon made mad and I was happy with the ending. I didn’t give it a 5 star because it’s not a book I will think deeply about but one I don’t mind recommending

Overall I feel this book should be read. It can possibly help someone else with DV. But also read trigger warnings because it is heavy with some details.

[Sheri Edelman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It kept your attention as though you were right next to her.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jillian is a successful architect with a handsome husband and 2 beautiful kids. But, she is hiding the fact that her husband, Gordon-a cop, is abusive. When he threatens her, she decides to leave him. But, how? When he does the unimaginable, she knows that she has to take the children and run. She finds herself in WA state, but Gordon is on her trail. When something happens to one of the children, she knows that he will now find her. However, she doesn't know the things he will do to keep her from her children. How can she fight back? How can she be sure that Gordon will never hurt them again. The author does a great job of depicting the terror of a battered woman and mother. Heartbreaking story.

[icewineanne · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I began reading this book before Christmas. An unfortunate choice for this time of year. The subject matter, spousal abuse, is very depressing. The husband, Gordon, abuses his wife, Jillian, both physically and mentally on a regular basis. He is a police officer and she is a highly paid vice president of a large Architectural firm. While Jillian is powerful and poised at work, she is meek and self-doubting at home. She desperately tries to avoid behaving in any way that will incur the wrath of her husband, bringing about the violent abuse. She believes that if she reports the abuse or attempts to leave the relationship, her husband will literally kill her. Jillian spends much of the story, crying and blaming herself for the abuse and her situation.

And then in my personal life, the roof fell in. We had a bad ice storm in our city (Toronto) just before Christmas, and lost all of our power for 5 full days. Nothing worked, no appliances, no heat, no internet connection. The house was freezing, we lost all of our food in both the fridge and freezer. So much for Christmas dinner. Reading a book about spousal abuse did not help the situation. At this point I almost stopped reading this book, but because of all of the good reviews, I plodded on.

Would I have enjoyed this book if read under different circumstances, doubtful. I skimmed through much of the middle section. I found the main character, Jillian to be too weak, always crying, too passive given her high powered job and the strength of character that it would have taken to achieve her position. A weak two stars.

[jmbusa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Could not put it down! Loved it!

[creighley_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jillian Kane appears to,have it all: a loving husband, successful career, and two beautiful children. However, behind the doors of this lovely home there is another reality. For nine years she has hidden the bruises and abuse from those closest to her thinking it was to protect her children. She knows that her husband, Gordon, is going to kill her. In a moment of desperation, she flees with her two children. Now, she is a wanted criminal with him in hot pursuit to take his children from her. (It doesn't help that he's a police officer and uses those resources to track her.)

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a book about a seemingly happy family of four - hard working dad and mom with a small son and daughter. They appear to have it all. What really goes on in their lives is very different than what the world sees. Perfect husband and dad Gordon is a policeman who beats his wife and has come close to killing her. He uses strict discipline on his son and his son is having problems in school. His small daughter is not included in the violence yet, but as a reader you just know that will be next. Mom Jillian, isn't the perfect mom either, She is more involved with her job than with her children and can't really connect with them. The novel is the story is Jillian and how she fears for her life and the lives of her children and what she does to save them and what she learns along the way. The novel is riveting and scary and once you start - you can't put it down.

[mrsmommybooknerd7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is an intense page turner that will make you loose your breath and turn pages into the night! Intense (I know I said that already, but dang...it was), suspensful and terrfying at times! I am still a bit off balance after finishing this book! I don't even really think I can find the words to express how I am feeling in a clear way. This is one of those reads that you feel in your bones! A must read and a great book for book clubs! 4.5 stars

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Jillian had the perfect life. She had a handsome husband, who was a good father to their two children, Drew and Addie. Only Jillian did not have the perfect life. When the doors closed, Gordon was a monster. He abused Jillian. She and their children lived in fear. She knew it was only a matter of time before Gordon killed her. Thus she had no choice but to run for her life and her children's lives. IF she stops running, Gordon will find them.I absolutely loved this book. Although, it was difficult to read. This is due to the subject matter of abusive. Not just physical but also, emotional, and psychological abusive. No one...man or women or child should have to put with up with abusive. However, I was fighting along side of Jillian the whole time. The emotions and her acts that she displayed in this story really made her seem more like a real person then just a character in a book. I read the reading guide questions in the back of the book and there was one that really made me go that is a good question. It is "Had Addie not gotten sick, how do you think the story might have played out?" My answer to this question is...If Addie had not gotten sick than the ending to this book would have been different. I would like to say that if she had not gotten sick then there would be no happy ending. I can imagine how it would have ending differently and I would have still been ok with it but not as satisfied.

[loveatfirstbook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.I was so excited to receive Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn in the mail because guess what! She autographed it for me! Don’t you love when authors autograph their books for you? It’s just a fabulous added bonus!Originally I was iffy about reading Hush Little Baby because for some reason I had it in my head that it was a chick lit book. That is not the case at all!Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn is a thriller about a woman named Jill who has a seemingly perfect life. She has two amazing kids, a fabulous job that she is very good at, and a handsome husband named Gordon.For the full review, visit Love at First Book

[bookbliss2013 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

**Review written for an originally posted on my blog, Book Bliss. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.**Review:5 starsGeneral: This book is one that will continue to be a page turner and emotional journey no matter how many years go by or social issues change. From start to finish this book dealt with the gut wrenching topics that many novels only pretend to touch. Hush Little Baby dove in headfirst and in my opinion didn’t hold anything back. Not only did it touch upon an issue as terrible as domestic abuse, but it took it a step further to show the fights that occur once accusations are made and life changing decisions begin. Everything was well written and easy to fall into. I normally shy away from contemporary works as I feel they don’t emulate enough “fiction” this book was great that way because to be able to feel like Jillian, well that’s a place I wouldn’t want to be but was surprised to find was so easy to happen.My only fault with this book was it felt a little long. Overall the goal was to show this lifestyle from A to Z and I think it did a marvelous job. There were however some slice of life segments that felt too slow to match pace and emotional level with the rest. The book followed one woman on her journey from doormat to powerful in her own right.Characters: Jillian- I can’t say I loved Jillian but she was fantastic and so very real. I love reading about women drastically different or drastically similar from me, and Jillian was neither. I didn’t struggle to connect with her though. She was passionate and a true fighter from start to finish. She faced an issue and her actions and reactions were believable from the scenario I just couldn’t completely connect and was more interested in the overall topic than her.Gordon- Someone is going to throw something at me but I think Gordon IS the book. His character is so brilliantly written it would have me questioning any man of his stature if I was a little more paranoid. His “external” role of father and husband was perfect, everything someone would want. The villainous side- well I loved that part even more. He was evil, pure and simple and not in a comical way but in a way that truly gave him power and made the story turn.

[lainie911 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won this arc from goodreads. I loved this book. Well written and exciting, keeps one wondering what's going to happen next. A story about a women in a seemly perfect marriage to a cop. But it is anything but perfect. She is being abused and she is worried for her children so she must decide what to do. The tale is so realistic and vivid!

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Hush Little Baby is Suzanne Redfearn's debut novel. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors - sometimes until it's too late. Jillian Kane has what looks to a perfect life - a great job, the millionaire family - a boy and girl, and her husband Gordon, who's a cop and dotes on his children. Sounds like a perfect marriage....except it's not. Gordon is a controlling, cruel man who is mentally and physically abusive to Jillian. And after nine years of hiding it from the world, Jillian is fast reaching her breaking point - except no one believes her - she's done such a great job of hiding everything. "How easy it is to sabotage a life. For a year, he’s used my vanity and pride to my own demise. While I’ve covered up his abuse, his deceit, his lies, he took every opportunity to flaunt, exaggerate, and advertise every mistake of mine. Like a magic trick, the illusion is seamless and unchallenged, and without another explanation, it’s believed." Readfearn tackles the abuse issue realistically, with questions anyone would ask. Why would Jill cover it up? Why would she stay? That final catalyst is her children - but again, Redfearn raises questions - would Jill be better off to leave them with Gordon? Jill does decide to run. Without spoiling the storyline, I am quite glad Redfearn chose to not have this turn into a seamless getaway. And to not portray Jill as a perfect mother. Redfearn slows down the story down midway to provide a 'healing' time for Jill and her kids. Her location and the characters at this juncture, although idyllic, seemed a bit far-fetched to me. But the premise introduces and reinforces what is important in life and what will sustain us at the worst of times. The suspense is excellent, with Gordon seemingly one step ahead of Jill all the time. I was invested in her attempts to best her husband at his own game and quickly kept turning pages to see if she could. This isn't a new story, but Redfearn puts her own stamp on it and does it justice. Redfearn captures the angst and terror of her main character well. Redfearn's character is an architect, borrowing from her own life. (Although she is quick to point out in the author's notes, the similarities end there - here husband is "to a wonderful, kind, not-abusive-in-any-way man".)Redfearn has blended a sensitive and always timely issue with suspenseful storyline to create a very strong debut. I quite enjoyed Hush Little Baby. Fans of Joy Fielding and Jodi Piccoult would enjoy this new author.

[kitchenwitch04 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lately I have gotten back into the habit of reading suspense novels. My favorite kind are those that grab you by the throat the minute you open the cover and refuse to let go until you have read the last page. Hush Little Baby by Suzanne Redfearn is one of those books.Having recently read Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Lie Still by Julie Heaberlin, I was thinking that the chance of finding another book that would have me sitting on the edge of my seat, practically holding my breath was pretty close to nil. I am pleased to say I was wrong. Hush Little Baby is the type of book that you don't put down. It is a book that you stay up to finish even when you know you have to work in the morning. It is a book that makes your heart pound in your chest even though you know that you are reading a work of fiction. This, my friends is what separates a good suspense novel from a great one. Have you ever met someone before and felt jealous that their life seems so perfect? I mean, be honest for a minute....haven't we all felt like that at one time or another? What if that family that seems so perfect is actually the complete opposite of that? What if the loving husband & doting father is actually a manipulative and controlling monster? What about his pretty wife who is all smiles and adoring looks? Is she STILL smiling once the door is closed? What if the family that we see is actually a carefully constructed facade, perfectly portrayed with the skill of a well-seasoned actor? This book will make you question what you think you know about people. Domestic abuse is a hard topic to read about. It is not pleasant - it is not supposed to be. As I read Hush Little Baby, my stomach felt sick. I was thoroughly disgusted to think that there are people out there who have to live in fear every single day. I felt the despair and helplessness of Jillian as she took the abuse day in and day out, until one day she just couldn't take any more...I am not going to say anymore about this book except this... READ IT. And if you have to work in the morning prepare to be tired, because you won't want to put it down once you start. I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program in return for an honest reveiw. (less)

[lillyford · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hush Little Baby addresses the very relevant topic of marital sabotage. It is a page turner that puts a new twist on the story of abuse behind closed doors. Chilling and familiar, it's a story that lives beyond the last page.

[nikkijackson-281471 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read! Riveting from the first page to the last.