The girlfriend / Michelle Frances.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A mother. A son. His girlfriend. And the lie they'll wish had never been told.

Laura has it all. A successful career, a long marriage to a rich husband, and a twenty-three year-old son, Daniel, who is kind, handsome, and talented. Then Daniel meets Cherry. Cherry is young, beautiful and smart but hasn't led Laura's golden life. And she wants it.

When tragedy strikes, a decision is made and a lie is told. A lie so terrible it changes their lives forever...

The Girlfriend is a taut and wickedly twisted debut psychological thriller--a novel of subtle sabotage, retaliation, jealousy and fear, which pivots on an unforgivable lie, and examines the mother-son-daughter-in-law relationship in a chilling new light.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

DEBUT Laura Cavendish is well-off, elitist, and distanced from her philandering husband. Her whole world revolves around her grown son, Daniel. When Daniel announces that he has a new love in his life-a gorgeous and ambitious woman named Cherry-Laura can't wait to meet her, if only to size her up. Not surprisingly, Laura doesn't think much of her son's new catch. A psychological roller-coaster ensues as two devious, unlikable women fight for -Daniel's attention. The writing jumps from one point of view to another at a moment's notice, often within the same scene. The head-hopping narrative can be unnecessarily distracting as the reader is volleyed back and forth. VERDICT Despite its flaws, this debut novel will appeal to fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers led by deliciously vile female characters.-Erin Entrada Kelly, Philadelphia © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Successful TV producer Laura Cavendish, the heroine of BBC development executive Frances's gripping debut, has poured her heart and soul into rearing her only child, Daniel, now a medical student who lives with her in London. The prospect of his moving to his own flat worries her. Laura grows even more anxious when she meets his new girlfriend, Cherry, who was born on the wrong side of the tracks and using any means necessary to claw her way out of poverty. The first encounter between the two most important women in Daniel's life does not go well. As Laura uncovers Cherry's lies and ruses, Cherry cunningly retaliates, until a rift results between mother and son. After a near-tragic accident, Laura is convinced that there's only way to save her son: she must eliminate Cherry. But Cherry is not going to go away quietly. The tension rises as the two women hurtle toward a final confrontation. Fans of psychological thrillers will eagerly look forward to Frances's next book. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Reminiscent of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (2012), BBC producer Frances' psychological thriller features a dangerous triangle formed by Daniel, a young doctor; his mother, Laura; and his new girlfriend, Cherry. Cherry is desperate to get away from her poor beginnings and hopes her new boyfriend will be the ticket out. Laura is neglected by her husband, overprotective of her son, and certain that Cherry is a gold digger. A trip to the family home in France highlights Cherry's strange behavior, which Daniel refuses to acknowledge. Cherry manages to manipulate events so that Laura appears interfering and paranoid. When David is injured in an accident, Laura lies, telling Cherry that he has died. Things between the women grow ever crueler and more malicious. Frances' use of flashbacks may jumble the plot for some readers, but all will relish the tension and surprise delivered by each development as they try to identify the villain and discover the truth right up to the shocking conclusion. Optioned for film, Frances' crime debut will please those who want to keep reading in the Flynn zone.--Alessio, Amy Copyright 2018 Booklist