This was very hard to read on audio. Because by the time I got around to reading this, it was past the pub date and I got the audiobook.

I enjoyed it enough. It was entertaining enough. But it wasn’t memorable. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I could read the physical book. The letters and flashbacks and timeline of the present got very hard to follow on audio. It would be the quickest reference to the letters and I might have missed it and was like wait- what’s happening?

Plus the letters and the cards and all that stuff, just not easy for audio. But I won’t deduct my rating because the story itself was still entertaining, just not easy to follow.

3.5 Oh, The Past Stars
I have been a Mia Sheridan fan for years. Her romance books have been strong with intriguing plots. When I saw this book, I wasn't surprised that she would take on more of a suspense book and the idea of a serial killer out there pulled me in.

I am used to this author’s work being romance books. This one fell flat because it was just too predictable. Romantic suspense is either a huge hit or miss for me, and this one was more of a miss. Although the serial killer aspect is intriguing, I will prefer to stick to her romance books instead.

I'm a sucker for first love, second chances. But this book is so much more than an old love story. The mystery itself was gripping. As the story unfolds there is a lot revealed and the story is always continually moving. The ending was pulse-racing, edge of your seat action. Very well developed plot with great writing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Mia Sheridan for a copy of "Bad Mother" in exchange of an honest review.

Another amazing Mia Sheridan book filled with suspense and romance!
I loved Sienna and Gavin’s story!
The story keep me wants more!!

The game is a foot, and the stakes? Terminal.

Sheridan proves a master of puzzles and craftsmanship in this cleverly laid mystery, each piece carefully crafted and each clue hidden in plain sight. Each detail was woven intricately, infused with emotion and genius, to create a romantic thriller that packed all the gasps, chills, and thrills.

The start was a bit of a slower hook for me, but I wound up loving the way Sheridan shaped the game and set out their clues, paired with Danny Boy’s storytelling and the blend of fact and fiction; a series of twists I didn’t see coming. What started as intrigue swiftly became obsession as more pieces of the puzzle were unravelled and the stakes escalated. And, while the romance wasn’t a hero piece, I didn’t mind at all. The mystery of it all, and the insight into the mind and motive of a killer was thrilling enough to keep those pages turning, and turn they did!

Childhood trauma, a chilling game of hide and seek, and the deliverance of judgment and vengeance culminate in this dark and twisted tale that lived on after the final words were uttered. If crime podcasts and mental games are your thing, then Mia Sheridan’s latest hit is ready for you!

I received an advanced copy thanks to Montlake and Netgalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Mia Sheridan has quickly become one of my top 5 favorite romantic thriller writers (maybe because she's already one of my top 3 favorite romance writers and has held that spot for years?) but I always do my best to try and remain unbiased in my reviews. She really knocks this genre out of the park though. I am so happy that she can straddle both genres so effortlessly!
Bad Mother was a quick and compulsive read, but also managed to have all of the elements that make a thriller exciting and surprising. I enjoyed every minute of it. I also didn't see the full scope of the end coming at all! Highly enjoyed. I'll definitely be reading it again. 😊

Genius!! Sienna and Gavin’s story was a real page turner.

Mia Sheridan is an outstanding storyteller and this second chance romance / thriller was 
so well written, the story jumps straight in from the first page and doesn't let up until the very end.
A must read!!

I loved this book. It has the right amount of mystery and romance. It kept your attention until the end I also really like the characters .

3.5 rounded to 3.

It took me a bit to get into this. I switched between my kindle and audio and definitely preferred the audio. I liked the premise and of course, I suspected everyone. I even enjoyed the twist. There were just a couple of things that really bugged me with the storyline and that's why I rounded down.

Title: Bad Mother
Author: Mia Sheridan
Status: Available on KU (US) as Read & Listen

Vibes: Oof. (Check Triggers)

Brain Dump: I don’t read a lot in this genre so I don’t have much to compare to, but I will say this one kept me engaged all the way through, I actually finished in a day (primarily 🎧) which hasn’t been happening lately. This one brought a lot of conflicting emotions out, particularly as a mother myself. I enjoyed it, and the fact that I’m still stewing and feeling a little bereft this morning I’d say I enjoyed it more than I even realized when I finished last night.

Final thoughts: I can’t really say much about my reactions to this one without revealing spoilers, but I would say its worth the read if this a genre you enjoy.

Thank you #Net Galley for the ARC
I enjoy Mia mysteries as they always have a twisty dark side...with a smidgen of romance. Bad Mother fit the bill.....Slow start but once we get Sienna diving deeper into the serial detective mystery and quit lollygagging around with her old NYC life that frankly really didn't matter much to the overall story, the book got better. Some of the random trips down memory lane were long winded and some scenes/chapters lost connectivity when transitioning. The twist was good. The clues were such that the reader could try to solve alongside with the characters which was fun.

I really enjoyed Bad Mother. I loved the games the serial killer played, they kept me on the edge of my seat.

The plot twist 🤯 my mind, although I probably should have figured it out.

There were definitely triggers in this book so if you have triggers I’d do some research before picking this one up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake for a copy of Bad Mother in exchange of an honest review.

I keep going back and forth with my rating. 3 or 4, 3 or 4. I think I will settle on 4 since I really did enjoy the book once I switched to audio. I did get an ebook ARC of this from NetGalley but for some reason just couldn't get into it until I switched to audio. I think this one leaned more toward suspense than it did romance which was perfectly fine with me. Even though I did find some parts of it predictable I still did not have it all quite figured out. Overall an enjoyable read for me.

Bad Mother is a well-crafted crime thriller by Mia Sheridan that follows Detective Sienna Walker as she is forced to confront her past after returning to her hometown of Reno, Nevada. With a serial killer on the loose, Sienna must work with her ex-boyfriend, Gavin, to catch the perpetrator before more lives are lost. The story is fast-paced and full of twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the end. The character development is strong, and Sienna's strength and intelligence as a female detective in a male-dominated field are refreshing. The clues left by the killer are well-placed, and the story within the story adds depth and complexity to the plot. While the romantic elements are somewhat subtle, the book is an enjoyable read that showcases Sheridan's versatility as a writer. Bad Mother is a compelling, page-turning read that will satisfy fans of crime thrillers.

Tropes: thriller, suspense, serial killer, dual timeline

This is my first suspenseful book by Mia Sheridan and I loved it! This story pulls you in from the beginning and I could not put it down! Her writing is perfect and it kept me guessing who the killer was.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Sienna and Gavin and the history they shared. The way this story unfolds as you are reading it is compelling. I am not going to give anything else away. Go into this book blind and read Bad Mother.

Thank you Montlake and and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

This was so good and reminded me of the Will Trent series by Karin Slaughter! I loved the backstory within the character and the journals that were left and the pacing was fantastic. I cannot wait to read this one again and more from this author!

A cleverly-written story that keeps us guessing for a good long while!

Sienna Walker is back in Reno after leaving eleven years earlier with a broken heart. However, she doesn't have much time to dwell on the past when she's called to a murder scene on her first night. It's a murder that will bring her face to face with Gavin Decker, the one she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. It's a murder that is just the first loose thread that unravels some shocking secrets from the past; a history that is far too close to home.

This story was a great balance between suspense and romance. I loved the second chance that Sienna and Gavin had, and how they resolved what had happened to them in the past. Their unacknowledged feelings hovered beneath every interaction they had. I was engrossed in the murder story, and the puzzles and clues that needed to solved. And, the ending! There was pathos and symmetry and tears. Such a fantastic read!

Upon relocating to her hometown, Sienna Walker is assigned to a local murder case that makes her face the past. Though Gavin Decker now knows what was at stake so many years ago, he isn’t afraid to up the ante and make amends for the biggest mistake he made.

“And I wished… I wished I could have figured out a way to have it all without risking any of it.”

In this crime investigative, the narrative unfolds in third person allowing for a shifting point of view in the past and present. As clues continue to amass, the complexity of the killer’s motivations become evident pointing to his own trauma. With Sienna’s dedication and Gavin’s specific expertise, they band together in hopes of catching the killer and also coming full circle.

The pacing of this story was steady with certain chapters punctuating and elevating the tension. For me, those were the most intriguing, along with Gavin and Sienna revealing more about their past. The ending was appropriately bittersweet and the sacrifice strengthened a certain character arc.

Bad Mother is a story about revenge and second chances. This book would appeal to those seeking a crime investigate with a side of romance.

Mia Sheridan writes some amazing romance novels! And now I can say after reading Bad Mother, she writes some amazing mysteries! I could not put the pieces together until they were all give to me. I knew Gavin and his mother had to somehow be involved but was completely shocked when getting to the big reveal! Great read! Lots of puzzles/riddles to keep you guessing.