Breathtaking dissection of a marriage

Instantly intriguing, chilling

A modern Macbeth, with a compelling sense of place, good twists, and a tense, intense ending

A brilliant exploration of power and responsibility, jealously and vengeance, set against the fascinating backdrop of the world of neurosurgery

We couldn't put this down

Praise for Jane Shemilt

We absolutely loved this . . . It's difficult to believe that this accomplished book is a debut

Builds layer upon layer of tension in a novel you won't be able to put down

Utterly gripping. A tautly-coiled spring of suspicion and suspense which builds to a devastating ending

Thrilling

A dark and twisty tale

Well-written, taut and tense

Taut and thought-provoking

Gripping to the last page

Suspenseful, brooding

Clever

A wise book on parents and children

The main message is that is that it's best to acknowledge, rather than dismiss, children's feelings (...) and that parenting is not about perfection

This is a book to be read cover to cover, like a novel. Buy yourself two copies: one for reading and one for use in the kitchen

The main message is that is that it's best to acknowledge, rather than dismiss, children's feelings (...) and that parenting is not about perfection

[Segal] is a natural, fluent writer and, in this book, the reader will feel confident in her hands even as she explores a shattering episode in family life… Segal is brilliant at conveying the tedium and the trials of life in the ICU and beyond. In short, Mother Ship is simply compelling

Hopeful, harrowing…and darkly funny, Mother Ship has you laughing, crying and frantically turning the pages to discover how it all turns out

[Segal’s] words are a powerful, poetic and deeply affecting reminder of how precious are life, health and the everyday

Segal's moving memoir reveals not only what it takes to keep premature babies alive, but also what it means to be human and a mother

Mother Ship is a huge achievement for Segal, who has produced a memoir that promises to linger with you like a literary earworm… an extraordinary testament to the power of human survival

Vivid, fearless and inspiring… This is an intimate and electrifying memoir. It is a hymn to the sustaining power of women's friendships, and a loving celebration of the two small girls – and their mother – who defy the odds

A deeply moving, yet also witty and heart-warming account

[Segal] captures beautifully the complexities and contradictions of the human body

An ode to the companionship of the women on the neonatal ward in the darkest, most volatile days, it is moving but never mawkish

A song of praise to the beleaguered, indomitable NHS, with writing at such a pitch that it lingered with me all year

A heart-tugging account… this is one of the year’s most exquisitely written books