I love true crime. Every story is interesting, and I'm happy that this story was produced. The writing was a little slow, but evenly paced.

This was a wild ride! People are nuts! This was my 1st book by Sherri Aikenhead and I will definitely be reading another book by this author!

Oof. As a criminal psychologist by trade and true crimeist by choice, this book hit hard. This is a true tale of a deranged mother and the author did a fantastic job of reporting both the facts and the feelings that Nova Scotians were sure to have been feeling as this story unfolded. Top notch. RIP Karissa Boudreau.

Very sad book! Was very well written. It is so said that a mother could take a man (or anyone) over her child or children. Poor Karissa didn’t get a chance to live her life and enjoy it because her mother rather be with a guy and not alone so she decided to end her daughter’s life instead of just letting her father have her.

This book was really well written and did justice to the story of Karissa Boudreaux, whose young life was cut short at the hands of her mother. If you like reading true crime, this is a great book to dive into!

I have been on a nonfiction kick recently and this one stood out for many reasons. I loved the honesty and emotion. I felt like I was in the moment with the author and I felt like the articulation of the circumstances were easy to understand which I appreciated with such a complex issue.

Aikenhead did a great job covering the information of the case, especially considering that this is a debut novel. As a reader, I can tell that the case was thoroughly researched and that the author took great care in keeping the reader interested the entire time. I also enjoy that the author didn't immediately dive in to portraying Penny as a bad person like some true crime novels like to do. I think the method of telling the originally reported story is crucial in true crime so that readers can understand certain areas in which the community and the police may have been mislead at first, and where the truth starts to come out. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who likes any of the classic true crime novels like Helter Skelter or In Cold Blood.

This is the true story of Penny and Karissa Boudreau. A mother and daughter. On January 29, 2008, a young mother pleads for her young daughter to be returned to her. Penny Boudreau is arrested for the murder of her only daughter. The nation is in shock. Sherri Aikenhead is a journalist that covered the trial. When she learns the details of the murder, she sets out to tell the whole tale, not just what is released in the trial. This is the true story of that event and all that Sherri finds.

This story is gut wrenching. We follow all the events that happen around Karissa’s disappearance, Penny’s cover up and the trial about Karissa’s murder. It is so sad and impactful to read about a murder that happened in small town Maritimes. This is story you need to know if you are interested in Canadian true crime.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Many thanks to the publishers and author, and of course, NG for the copy of this exchange for my review. I think this may be one of the few, if not the first, true crime book I’ve ever read (and I’ve read quite a few), that had a section of sources. I think I sat in bed every night just shaking my head in disbelief most of the time. Just when I thought it couldn’t get anymore shameful or gruesome, nope turn the page - it’s worse. I was appalled at this crime. Although there was a large part of me that wanted to finish this book, to seek the justice I was so certain had to occur, I had to put the book away after so many chapters; it was just too much to take in at one time. To know that the people of Nova Scotia could find peace which blossomed into forgiveness was just astounding. As a mother I really don’t know if I could have. There is a limit to compassion I think.

Such a heartbreaking read about 12 year old Karissa who was killed by her own mother.
This is the authors first book and it’s a really decent read. It was set out really well and gave us some plenty of information on the case. Just so shocking how a mother could do that to her own child.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Aikenhead shares Karissa Boudreau's story in this moving book. She achieves the goal, which is to share the victim's story without adding additional dramatization or attention to the one who has cut their life short. In this case, Karissa lost her life at the hands of her mother. Aikenhead walks the line of exploring Penny Boudreau's history and the facts of the case without providing excuses for her or trying to portray her as a monster. When we lack nuance in profiling criminals who do the unthinkable, we don't learn how to prevent further tragedies. This book did a wonderful job of profiling Karissa as a person - her personality and passions shone - and sharing the impact her loss had on her community and the remainder of her family.

There is something so traumatic about parents who hurt their children. The book was pretty well written in the sense that it almost felt like you were watching in from the outside and into the life. Karissa is entering her angsty years and constantly arguing with her mom and instead of dealing with it, her mother does the unthinkable and plays the victim card instead. Penny reports her daughter missing and is very nonchalant about it, which puts her under suspicion, like her boyfriend was showing more concern than she was.

I had never read anything by this author before, and I can’t say how surprised I was to find that this was her debut novel based on how well written and researched everything was! I’m picky when it comes to non-fiction, especially when it relates to victims of horrific crimes since it’s so easy for the writer to forget the human side of things… this book blew me away. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading anything else the author writes.

I received a free copy of, Mommy Don't, by Sherri Aikenhead, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mothers are suppose to love and protect their children not kill them. Twelve year old Karissa Boudreau was killed by her mother Penny Boudreau, in 2008 in Nova Scotia. Karissa was a normal 12 year old girl, going through typical tween angst, her mother murdered her and reported her missing. Such a heart breaking story, Karissa has her whole life ahead of her, and it was cut way too short. A good read on a horrible event.

This book was GOOD. I have always been obsessed with true crime and this one was so well written and the author did a wonderful job telling the truth without being over dramatic in the story telling!

Hats off to Sherri with this being her debut novel. I appreciate the amount of time and research she put into telling Karissa’s story. I have never heard of Karissa’s story before reading this book but it was crazy the amount of time and patience the police had to put into solving the murder. Thank you NetGalley for a free ARC e book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a heart wrenching read. The author is detailed in every aspect of this case and provides an extraordinary amount of context on the people, places and events surrounding Karissa’s life, death, and the subsequent investigation & trial of those accused. As a Canadian, it was fascinating to read about this case and the intricacies of the investigative tools used. Highly recommend if you’re a true crime fan, especially from Canada 🇨🇦

In "Mommy Don't" by Sherri Aikenhead, readers are exposed to a heartbreaking tragedy that is sure to tug at the heartstrings. The author has clearly done her research and has presented the details of the crime in a sensitive and compassionate way that does justice Karissa.
One of the major issues with the book, however, is its format. As a reviewer, I found myself struggling to read the book through the NetGalley shelf app, which made it difficult to enjoy the reading experience. It would have been much more convenient if the book was available in a format compatible with e-readers like Kindle.
That aside, the book is a well-written and informative account of a crime that I was not previously familiar with. Aikenhead does an excellent job of providing a detailed and nuanced understanding of the case, making it a must-read for true crime enthusiasts.
Overall, "Mommy Don't" is a well-researched and well-crafted true crime book that offers an important insight into a tragic case. Aikenhead's writing is clear and concise, allowing the reader to fully comprehend the events surrounding the case and the impact it had on the people involved.
In summary, "Mommy Don't" is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in true crime, Aikenhead's diligent research and thoughtful approach make this book a valuable addition to any true crime collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a tragic story. It's so sad to know that parents feel like their children are not wanted and take drastic measures rather than finding appropriate help.
Interesting true crime book on this case from Canada.