I honestly couldn’t get through the beginning of this book. There were too many triggers and it was not sensitive for me at the time that i started reading it. Being a mother in postpartum requires certain sensitivities and it was not for me.

Thank you to the publisher for the copy - all opinions are my own,

While this is the second book in the series, its safe to say you don't miss anything diving it without having read it. Although it was so good it just made me want to read the first one anyways!

Loved this story, give me cult vibes and missing girls with a journalist on the hunt for answers any day. I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in this mystery and will definitely be following this author going forward!

A bold and strong female protagonist who is also a journalist! If you love books about cults, you should definitely give this one a try!

4.5/5

After spending some more time thinking about Sins of the Mother by August Norman, I have decided to bring my rating up from a 4/5 to a 4.5/5. I did this same thing after a reread of book 1 to this series, Come and Get Me, and it clearly goes to show that Norman's writing really sticks with you. I knew after that first book that I would read everything he writes, and even though it took me a minute, I am so glad I finally read this one. It has a major cult aspect which is always hit or miss for me, but I loved the way it was done in this novel. I was completely engaged in the story, and I loved getting to know our main character Caitlin even better. Caitlin has got to be one of my favorite characters now, and she is just that strong heroine that I need in a novel. I love how this installment focused a lot on her mom and it ended up being a pretty wild ride.

And the audiobook!! The audio is narrated by Natasha Soudek and was actually a different narrator from the first book, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the switch. She was fine for Caitlin, but I HATED her accent for the British character. I think it might be the worst one I have ever heard besides my own, and I kinda hope she doesn't narrate the following books if there are more. I would suggest reading it since the audiobook wasn't that great in my opinion. However, I loved the cast of characters in Sins of the Mother, and I really liked the different viewpoints as well. I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel, and Norman's writing really pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Everything about this cult he created was utterly fascinating and terrifying, and if you are a fan of cults at all (fictional or real), this is gonna be a book you want to read. I still recommend starting with the first book because that is the kind of person I am, and I think it is a good idea anyway, so you have more of Caitlin's backstory. I really hope this series continues with Norman's next book, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

The main character (Caitlin) is strong, smart and seriously has issues. The characters are real and keep you wanting to learn more as the book goes on and even after it ends! It is fast paced and I enjoyed reading it. Look forward to more books by this author.

Buckle up, folks, this is going to be a bumpy ride! As a crime thriller, this book will draw you in and keep you guessing. Journey with Caitlin to identify her mother's remains, which leads her to open herself to the traumas of her past.

This is book 2, but I had never heard of the author. I did not find myself needing to circle back to Book 1, so I think it totally works as a standalone.

If you like to be thrilled and kept guessing, this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital review copy.

Did someone say "cult"? Sold!

The second in a series featuring intrepid journalist Caitlyn Bergman, Sins of the Mother finds the protagonist attempting to identifying her long-lost mother's disfigured body on the grounds of a women's doomsday cult. While there, she encounters a powerful white supremacist whose daughter was lost to the cult. Using clues found in a journal of the cult's spiritual leader, Caitlyn works to unravel the mystery that goes beyond a murder and forces her to confront the truth of the parent who abandoned her.

August Norman constructs this mystery with almost no dull moments and even adds some clever bits of humor to take the edge off the doom-and-gloom subject matter. I read this over four days. I'm sure it might have helped to have read the first book, Come and Get Me, but Sins of the Mother works fine as a standalone mystery.

This novel was densely packed with both action and thrills. What can be more entertaining than a storyline based on cults? I dare say, that is one of the most fascinating kind of stories.

I believe Norman has produced a very in-depth main character. Caitlin is a very strong, independent woman. She is driven to find truths in the stories, no matter the danger that comes her way.

This was a fantastic read that felt like it was based on actual events.

Caitlyn Bergman knows who her mother, Maya, was/is but never knew the identity of her biological father. She’s shocked to get a phone call from a sheriff in Oregon asking her to identify remains of a woman, possibly her mother, found in the woods. Viewing the body, there’s no way to tell for sure. They’ll have to wait for DNA results.

In the meantime, Caitlyn’s job as a journalist is less than satisfactory, so a few days off might be a good idea. It seems the dead woman belonged to what is viewed as a cult. All the members are women, their leader the only man. They live peacefully, are mostly disliked, but if a townswoman is in trouble, she knows the cult will take her in.

The sheriff has a key to a safe deposit box, but Caitlyn has to be present to open it. Inside is her mother’s journal detailing how she went from low level porn star and prostitute to a Daughter of God, who believes the world will come to a fiery end—and soon.

Also, a vote is on the ballot to decide if California should be divided into three states. The northern towns feel they aren’t being represented as it is now. Caitlyn talks her editor into letting her write about it as an excuse to stay in Oregon waiting for the DNA test results.

Larsen is a big name in town. Johnny, of the younger generation, is more into starting his own militia than running the family logging business. He only has three members, but they are heavily armed. He also thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his thirteen-year-old daughter and he’s going to get her back no matter who has to die.

If all that’s not enough to deal with, California is on fire, and it’s headed to Oregon.

This is book two in the thriller series. Book one, Come and Get Me, was reviewed here. Caitlyn is a strong woman, adopted and raised by her cop dad. Her job as a journalist often puts her into dangerous situations, but she’s able to think on her feet and get herself out of most situations. Her sidekick, Lakshmi, of Indian heritage raised in England, now transplanted to Koreatown, California, make a nice foil for Caitlyn. Lakshmi can be rather needy where Caitlyn is distant. Based on the ending of this book, I suspect that will change in future stories. As with all thrillers, the pace will leave readers breathless.

Well hot damn. This one hell of a crime thriller that was done really well. The writing was both atmospheric and immersive. There were lots of twists and turns along the way. Our journalist Caitlin Bergman was literally a forced to be reckoned with, and I was rooting for her the whole time. Such a great book!

Caitlin Bergman’s mother Maya is dead, or at least that is what the award winning journalist has told people for most of her life. Unfortunately for Caitlin, her mother abandoned her at a young age, essentially falling off the face of the Earth. Caitlin has always found it easier to lie about her mother rather than face her true feelings of abandonment and loss.

When a sheriff from a rural area in coastal Oregon contacts Caitlin to identify her mother’s body she is forced to face her past and uncover what drove her mother to disappear all those years ago. Maya’s body was discovered on land owned by a reclusive cult, The Daughter’s of God. Tragically, the body is left without a face making the identification even more problematic.

As Caitlin puts her investigative skills to use she locates her mother’s diary filled with end of the world proclamations and ramblings about life inside the elusive cult. Caitlin also discovers that the cult has been accused of kidnapping a local teen with ties to a white supremacist group. The involvement of the groups leader, Johnny Larsen forces Caitlin to race against time to find out all she can about the cult, her mother’s life, and role within the cult. Johnny wants his daughter back and promises to locate her by any means necessary. As Caitlin studies the diary she is hoping to find out more information about her biological father. Though she has a great relationship with her adoptive father she has always wanted to learn more about him and his relationship with her mother.

The most important question I had going in to this story was could it be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first in the series and I am happy to say that this book is easily read without reading the first book. The author does a great job of providing background on Caitlin as a character without bogging down the book with repeated references to the prior novel.

I absolutely loved Caitlin as the protagonist in this story. She is tough, sassy, smart, and funny, a refreshing character I easily connected with. I found that Norman did an excellent job weaving the plot while keeping the pace steady and engrossing. The diary entries were a great source of added insight used well to move the plot forward.

I am a fan of true crime and cult stories especially. This book read like a movie or documentary focusing on a cult that could easily be ripped from the headlines. August Norman did a phenomenal job crafting a mystery that was not cliched or over done. I found the conclusion of the book to be both unexpected and satisfying. Norman was able to tie the multiple plot lines together quite nicely.

If you are a fan of cult stories I think you will enjoy this book. Thank you to BooksForward PR and Crooked Lane books for an advanced copy of the digital book for my review.

Trigger warnings for: prostitution, rape, drug use

I really wish I could say that I enjoyed this books but it so was not for me. First off I have to say that I didn’t know that this book was the second in a series. I’m not entirely sure that reading the first book would have helped me enjoy this book more…i really don’t know. Honestly for me the story just seemed all over the place and it was very hard to connect with the main character. She wasn’t likable at all. Not saying you have to like every book character to enjoy a book but ya know, Again I did not know that this was book 2 and if I had known that sooner I would have probably taken the time to read the first one. Anyway just because I didn’t like the books doesn’t mean that others won’t love it. But next time ill make sure that to check if the book is part of a series or a stand alone.

Thank you so much to Books Forward and the publisher for sending me a digital copy!

*I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a honest review*

4.5/5!

Caitlin Bergman’s mother is dead. That’s what the award-winning journalist has been telling everyone for the past forty years. It’s easier to explain death than how Maya abandoned her as an infant and then fell off the map. A rural sheriff has reached out to Caitlin to invite her to coastal Oregon to identify a body believed to be the remains of her mother. Unfortunately, the body has been maimed to a level that makes it hard to identify. The investigation isn’t hopeless, as Caitlin is given access to the diary of her mother and learns about her life in a cult known as the Daughters of God. The very same cult whose property was the land on which the body was found and which has been accused of kidnapping a local teenage girl. What was Caitlin’s mother a part of? How did she end up dead?

I absolutely love a good cult-based story and August Norman has hit a homerun with SINS OF THE MOTHER!

Let’s start with the question everyone has for books in a series...can this one be read as a stand-alone? Most definitely! I did not read the first book in this series and never felt any gaps in the story as a result of this. I do believe there were a few hints to the events of the first book, but nothing that needed explaining past their mention.

August Norman has chosen to headline this series with the main character of Caitlin Bergman who is incredibly strong-willed, passionate, and filled with a desire to find the truth in any situation. She is a journalist interested in telling stories that help others and point out injustices in society that need to be fixed. Caitlin is the type of woman crime fiction needs more representation from. She is not meek or mild. She is strong and driven. Despite having a history with losing her mother, Norman does not use this element as a downfall to Caitlin’s character, but something that drives her to be better each and every day. Tying such a defining character aspect to this story’s main plot serves to truly highlight Caitlin’s personality and past all at the same time.

In addition to shining a light on Caitlin’s personal life, Norman gifts the reader an all out entertaining story surrounding a cult brimming with deception and mystery. I loved learning the origins of the Daughters of God and how they got to their modern day state of affairs. I felt like multiple members of the cult were represented and portrayed to give the reader a well-rounded view of the organization. As with most cult stories, there is an eccentric leader at the core and this one has quite a character!

SINS OF THE MOTHER is a fantastic read that feels like it was ripped from the screen. This is the fictional documentary mixed with crime fiction you didn’t realize you needed in your life!

A huge thank you to Books Forward PR and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!

#sinsofthemother is my first read by August Norman and I enjoyed the story he unfolded introducing us to journalist Caitlin Bergman and her complicated family history spun by the darker side of cults.

There were a lot of subplots in the story which worked fairly well to weave together cult life (the good, bad, and kinda silly) practices, the political aspects of it, and of course the "bigger" picture of why - hint hint, its always the same motive it seems.

The characters were spunky and it read vibes of more to come (series?!) for Caitlin and her journalist friends. The X factor in this book was the little quips and banter from the characters - it made for a fun read even though the topic was murder mystery and cults!

This was an outstanding book! I was so invested in Caitlyns journey, it felt truly personal to me. There are some jarring mentions of various trigger/content warnings such as abuse both mental and sexual/physical and some anti-semetic language that could be hard to read through, but i feel the author did so as profoundly and respectfully as possible to move this story along. Great writing and wonderful character development made this story so seamless to slip into even though its the second in the series! I am eager to read book one and any additional!

Thank you Books Forward for the chance to read this title and review it!

Thank you @booksforwardpr for sharing a copy of Sins Of The Mother by August Norman for an honest review. The second in the Caitlin Bergman series is published today.

Sins of The Mother is the second in a series but I didn’t feel like I missed anything by starting here. Caitlin gets a call that she’s needed to identify her mother, who she has never met. Being a journalist, she flies out anyway to see what she can learn about the mother who left her behind. What we get is a mystery surrounding a cult, missing girls, and a small town. Lots of action and content warnings for fire, anti-Semitic speech, abuse physical and sexual, and some drug use.

This one kept me guessing. Cults have always interested me and the Dayans in this book had a long and sorid past so there was that mystery unraveling as well as what happened to Mama Maya, Caitlin’s birth mother. Lots of action towards the end as well.

Action thriller/mystery? Cults? Two of my favorite things to read about combined into one book? Sign me up.

This book grasped my attention from beginning to end and I flew through it! I loved that this was a seemingly normal small town with the exception of the nearby cult and the secrets of the townspeople as well. There wasn’t a clear line of good vs. evil which I liked, because just like the main character Caitlin, I was cautious of both sides. I do wish that more of these characters were fleshed out more to understand their motives, but overall this was a really fast paced, gripping read!

Reporter Caitlin Bergman gets a call from a sheriff claiming that her birth mother has been found dead in a remote part of Oregon. Caitlin travels to Coos County but is not able to identify the remains. A safe deposit key leads them to a box containing ID and a diary detailing Maya Aronson's life with a cult, the Daughters of God. At the same time, white supremacist Johnny Anders is determined to get his 13-year daughter Promise out of the group's clutches at any cost. With the help of NPR intern and friend Lakshmi and a former member of the group, Caitlin devises a plan to save both her mother (now called Magda) and Promise before it is too late.

This was a gripping story about cult members waiting for the apocalypse as raging wildfires race towards their complex.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

⭐️Sins of The Morher⭐️
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💫 August Norman💫
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In this heart pounding, page turner, award winning journalist Caitlin Bergman learns that her mother is dead. However, she’s been telling people she’s been dead for forty years. Why would she tell everyone that her mother abandoned her never to be heard from again?
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Caitlin heads to rural Oregon to identify the remains of a faceless body. What she doesn’t expect is a window into her mother’s life through her diary and she is shocked with what she finds. Her mother was part of a doomsday cult, who was fixated on the end of the world. Mixed in with all of this is a violent family that is searching for their teenage daughter in the cult.
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I flew through this book needing the answers and was satisfied once I received them. In a town of corruption, kidnapping and a cult, set in the gorgeous backdrop in Oregon, Caitlin finds the answers she’s looking for and even more then that realizes the true meaning of family.
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This book is available today! Happy Pub Day!
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Huge thank you to @booksforwardpr and #penguinrandomhouse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#sept2020#booksforwardfriends#augustnorman#sinsofthemother

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on Sept 8, 2020

Sins of the Mother was a action packed read, one that kept me turning the pages. I was surprised how much I actually ended up liking the book, for me it was a little slow in the beginning but once it picked up the pace then it pulled me in. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review, all opinions expressed here are my own.