Dang. This was one suspenseful book!! The pace was wonderful and the outcome clever, but this is not a romantic suspense book. It’s totally a psychological thriller with some major chemistry between the leads. The romance definitely takes the back seat to the serial killer storyline.

I loved how smart Sienna and her partner Kat are, and add Sienna’s childhood love to the mix and they really figure out a lot of very obscure clues. I loved the cat and mouse game that the killer played with them. And the stories he told were sad enough that you felt a little sorry for him. When it all wrapped up, it was such an amazing full-circle story.

Man, I don’t read a lot of suspenseful books, but this one is amazing. Totally recommend.

4 1/2 Stars

I'm definitely a fan of Ms. Sheridan's psych thrillers and Bad Mother did not disappoint.

Sienna Walker has recently returned to her hometown and joined their police department as a detective. Almost immediately, a body is found and it's the beginning of a string of murders that all tie to a serial killer. But this killer is even more frightening when it appears that the clues he's leaving seem to connect to Sienna in some way.

Throughout the course of her investigation, Sienna is forced to face her own past, including her ex-fiancee who she still has feelings for as well as other loved ones who she left years ago. In addition, the killer is writing a note with each murder and leaving information that seems to give clues as to who he is. Is he toying with them or does he really want to be discovered? If so, why?

This was such a fun and twisty read. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I'm going to keep this quick and simple. There are already a ton of reviews that mirror my thoughts, so I won't rehash all of the same things others are saying.

The characters... I thoroughly enjoyed and connected with the characters in this book. I was in-like with them and rooting for them in every aspect.

The plot... Intriguing with a few twists and a splash of romance. This book has the perfect balance of mystery and romance. It wasn't too heavy in the wrong places.

I will say, I found the ending a bit too drawn out for me. That scene lasted way too long and was way too involved for me. The ending would have had the same result with the big scene cut down by about half.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was for sure a definite page-turner.

I have just developed an uncanny obsession with Mia Sheridan. Not only do we share the same last name but we also seem to both appreciate a great thriller. Mia, the author, me, the reader.

This is a relationship that's destined to work out.

Bad Mother

Gosh, what a title. If this doesn't give you the chills just repeating it in your head...

I was instantly captivated by just the cover alone. Once I read the synopsis I knew that I was going to love this book and I wasn't wrong!

Bad Mother is a book that will play games with your head from start to finish and once the big twist is revealed you will feel as though you have gut punched (in the best way possible)

The characters were multi-dimensional and extremely "real", the plot was well thought out and not rushed. I was engaged throughout without any "lulls".

As I stated before, I have become a huge fan of Mia Sheridan, and I believe you will be too!

Due out March 28th, you do not want to miss this one!

Teaser

From New York Times bestselling author Mia Sheridan comes the twisted story of one detective’s pursuit of a serial killer who’s taunting her…and the familiar connection between them that’s haunting her.

When Sienna Walker is nearly fired from the NYPD, the last thing she expects is a second chance in the one place she vowed never to return to. But she can’t afford to turn down the job offer, even if a painful familial past and a broken engagement hardly make Reno, Nevada, home sweet home.

It’s made even less sweet by Sienna’s first case—a serial killer with a curious fixation on her. Along with his victims, the killer leaves perplexing clues and chilling journal entries addressed to Sienna detailing the murders he claims his mother committed. The case continues to get personal when her ex-fiancé is called out by the killer as well. Whoever’s behind the diabolical murders, Sienna can only be sure of one thing…it’s someone close to home.

As the twisted truth forces Sienna to face her complicated feelings, she learns that no matter how far you run from your past, it always catches up to you in the end.

It was an amazing book that I could not put it down until I was done. Si has avoided her home town ever since she got her heart shredded by the one person she loved more than anyone else. Now Si is back and working as a detective and her first day starts off with a murder and continues to have more bodies appear. Clues are connecting to her and Gavin, which is a cause of concern. Gavin see Si’s return as a chance at what he always wanted. He has always loved Si with all of his heart and now that she is back in town he is determined to win her back. What he didn’t expect was being involved with solving the murders. Is anyone he loves safe and will he be able to win Si back? I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea what to expect from Bad Mother by Mia Sheridan, since it sounded very different from Archer's Voice, the only other book I had read by this author. I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised by this fast-paced, thoroughly engaging thriller. I was immediately hooked by the main character, Sienna, and I wanted to know more about her back-story. The love interest, Gavin, had the perfect amount of appeal, and the spice level for this novel is fairly tame (one encounter). Sierra's colleagues are interesting, and add depth to the story. Honestly, I hope that Ms. Sheridan has plans to write a series with Sierra and Kat solving crimes with Gavin's help, since I am not finished with them. The clues that the murderer left had me puzzling right along with the detectives, and the twist was a complete surprise! The ending of the book was just the right amount of terrifying and heartbreaking.

Readers of Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliott will love Bad Mother as much as I did. Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the digital ARC of Bad Mother. The opinions in this review are my own.

Yeah, I finished it in one day. What can I say? It was great.

I don't know if this is Mia's first suspense novel, but she's good at it. Sierra comes back to Reno after 11 years. She's a detective who's been let go from her job at the NYPD.

She's immediately put on the case of a woman who's been murdered and left with the beginning of a story. From the killer. It also brings her back to the last person she would want to see.

It was thrilling y'all. Of course I didn't guess who it was or what the connection was. Well, one clue did pop into my head like 2 pages before I found out I was right. A detective I am not. 🤣

But I'm excited to read more mysteries from Mia!

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake Books for my #gifted copy

I love the letter from the killer in this one. Sienna, her new partner and her ex have to try to piece things from the letters together and try to figure out who he is. This is what kept me invested in the story and the race to find him before he kills anyone else and how any of it was connected to Sienna. The mystery was the best part for me, the romance was nice but not my favorite.

I really enjoy these more suspense/thriller driven books by this author! Romantic suspense is a hard genre to write and capture successfully but I think she's done it!

Not quite a police procedural but close, Sienna has just been transferred to the Reno PD after a "situation" in New York forced her to flee. Unfortunately for her, Reno holds lots of memories, some good, most bad, including her ex, Gavin. She jumps right in when a body is found under an overpass with some very strange clues. As more bodies and clues are found it seems that the killer is telling a story, possibly his story, leading Sienna to his ultimate finale. It's up to Sienna and her partner, Kat, to put the pieces together before his fatal reveal. In the midst of all the clues is a second chance romance between Sienna and Gavin that felt a tiny bit over-dramatized but I enjoyed it just the same.

Pros: good plot, good pacing, clues and story telling gave that "creep" factor while stimulating your mind to put it all together and figure it out. I had my suspicions but didn't put it all together till the final 1/3 so I call that a suspense success! All woman investigating crew at Renu PD for a girl power win, yes!

Cons: some of the author's word choices seem old fashion, like she's trying to be different but just comes off weird to me, to the point it's a little distracting and therefore detracts from the story. For me this type of story is less about fanciful writing and more about the plot twist.

Overall enjoyed it and hope the author continues to write more in this genre!

Sienna's back in Reno, she's being chased by a serial killer, and she's coping with seeing Gavin, her first love again. This is romantic suspense that's heavy on the crime and light on the romance. Sienna is a detective who seems to be followed by trouble and she's walked into a pile of it here, This is fast paced and entertaining albeit far fetched. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

Sienna Walker never imagined returning to her hometown of Reno, NV, but with her position with the NYPD under scrutiny, a change of scenery seems to be just what her career needs. And while Reno hasn't been home for a long time, at least she can count on not running into the boy who once shattered her heart there...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bad Mother was an exciting and suspenseful thriller with a tiny bit of romance thrown in! Police officer Sienna hunts for a serial killer, and reunites with her old flame Gavin in the process. But when the killers web starts to get closer and closer, will Sienna uncover his identity in time?

This book was such an enjoyable and engaging read! I loved Sienna, she was a strong and brilliant woman who loves her job with a passion. With her painful childhood and her broken heart left in the past in Reno, she never thought she would return to such a painful chapter of her life...

Gavin found great success in playing professional poker, but the happiness he once had with Sienna has always eluded him. So the moment she returns, he vows to give her a reason to stay... with him...

I really enjoyed the plot of this book. On the hunt for a serial killer, every clue counts, and Sienna and Gavin soon learn that the victims of this killer may be more personal than they could have ever known...

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

Sienna is a detective who gets pushed out of New York City because of not following orders from the mayor. After moving back to Reno where she grew up she is confronted with a past relationship and a serial killer. Although this is marketed as a romance my opinion is that its mostly a thriller with a little romance thrown in. I'm not mad about it because I thoroughly enjoyed the thrill from beginning to end.

thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thriller

This book snuck up on me. For some reason, I had a hard time starting this novel, but once I committed to it, I was rewarded in the best way.

Sienna Walker has returned to her hometown of Reno, NV. She transferred from the NYPD after a scandal that almost ruined her career. She gets handed a murder case on her first day. The clues the killer leaves force Sienna to connect with the person that caused her to leave Reno in the first place - Gavin Decker. What at first, seems to be random coincidence quickly turns to calculated planning. Why does the killer seem to be targeting the clues towards Sienna? How can he know about her past and her relationship with Gavin?

All of the clues lead us through an intricately woven mystery. The plot and pacing of the novel are fantastic. I was engaged and engrossed in the characters and story. I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out. The ending was climactic and tied all the storylines together very well.

The mystery/thriller genre seems to be a new avenue for Sheridan - one she should definitely continue. I loved this mystery/thriller and all the strong female characters. Kudos!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC of this novel

4.5 STARS

It's no secret that Mia is one of my favorite authors. I love how versatile she is as I have enjoyed any genre she has tried. Either it is a contemporary romance, a romantic suspense/ thriller, a retelling with historical fiction/romance elements. I just love her writing style and how she's wooing me with her words one book per time.

This book was no exception, as it captured my attention from the get go. Sienna is a detective who returns to the place she grew up and had so many memories, both good ones and bad ones. They're getting a murder case with some notes from the killer and clues he leaves behind for them to find. It's cat and mouse game for him and he's the mastermind behind everything. Add salt on the wound as she gets to meet her childhood friend and ex, Gavin.

I really enjoyed this book and especially whenever they would find a note or they would connect the dots on the serial killer's game. It was definitely fascinating and I loved these moments. I loved how this book once again verified for me that evil is made, not born. I enjoyed getting into this headspace and even though it was a bit predictable to me, it kept me guessing and ultimately for me the biggest win is Mia's writing and how much I enjoy it. It made me feel emotions I didn't expect for everyone responsible for the current situation. And I firmly believe that behind someone's actions there's always a catalyst of events leading up to the reason behind everything.

Sadly this time the romance didn't win me, as I don't particularily like second chance and it felt a bit of like an insta love trope, but at the same time not because there was past between them? Anyway, I definitely enjoyed more the mystery / thriller aspect that was the main focus of the book, so that's what mattered mainly to me.

If you like escape rooms and riddles, you're gonna enjoy this one. I love how until the last moment it kept me on my toes and I definitely appreciated the romantic part of the book, even though it wasn't the main focus of the book. If you like thrillers and romance this is a great combination of both.

Wow. That was a wild ride. I absolutely love Mia’s writing and romance stories, so I was immediately intrigued when I saw the blurb was different from the usual books I read from her.

Sienna Walker finds herself back in a place she ran from when she was younger, after Gavin Decker broke her heart. Her first case is serial killer that not only wants her attention, but Gavin’s. Now, she’s forced to work with the man who wrecked her and the more they are around each other, the more past feelings come to light.

This psychological thriller left me constantly on edge and refusing to put the book down till I learned the truth. Mia perfectly balanced the romantic aspects with the suspenseful storyline. Sienna and Gavin’s relationship plays a big role into the unfolding of the case and it keeps the story interesting. Not only was I anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the killer, but I wanted to know what went wrong between the couple and how their new forced proximity would unfold.

Overall, Mia wrote a storyline I wouldn’t have expected from her, but definitely did not disappoint me as a lover of her romance books. Everything was perfectly balanced and the connection between the characters brings another level to the suspense. I loved trying to come up with my own theories and put together clues just like the characters were. The ending was absolutely mindblowing and I would have never expected how it all panned out.

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a huge fan of Archer’s Voice, and I had no idea that Mia could write such an amazing thriller since I’ve always seen her as a romance author. I loved the characters and their relationships with each other — I’m always a fan of the second chance romance (aka Sienna and Gavin) but wow, the DETAILS in this book blew me away. Putting together the puzzle pieces of the crimes in this story were so impressive and I found myself wondering so many times how the author came up with such detailed writing! I was super impressed. The twists were perfection and I never saw them coming! Mia hit it out of the park with this one! Bravo!

A thrilling story of past and present colliding when Sienna returns home to Reno, the town she left behind along with her broken heart to try and salvage her career as a detective. Before she has even settled in a body is found and the crimes seem to involve a loose connection to her ex, Gavin. Seeking to apprehend this killer she enlists him and things get even more complicated. The killer seems to have only just begun and is playing a game with them, all of them it seems. The past never stays there and sometimes you may even be held accountable for it. I truly enjoyed it and could not put it down!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as it’s been years since I’ve read anything by this author and that was always romance. But just this title alone pulled me in and once I started reading, I was lost to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one was a DNF for me. I didn’t enjoy the writing style, and I found myself unable to get into the story. I don’t think this was a bad book at all, it was just not for me

What a ride this book was from start to finish! It was very different from the previous books by Mia Sheridan that I have read before. I would consider this book to be a thriller with a splash of romance. But I did really enjoy the thriller aspect of it, in fact the romance could’ve been taken out and it still would’ve been a solid book.

I enjoyed the twists and turns that the story takes. With the FMC moving back to her hometown Reno, NV after being “forced” out of the NYPD. Reno does not have happy memories for her but she’s desperate to make the best of it. She makes forms new friendships and even rekindles some old ones.

I liked how her and the MMC backstories were slowly revealed throughout the entire book even up until the very end.

Solid read by Mia Sheridan and I would recommend if you are looking for an intriguing thriller.