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.

Well I defiantly feel like I'm coming into my romance thriller era! I had to remind myself that this book will be a thriller before a romance, almost like the romance is sprinkled throughout but not the main component. If I had to complain about anything it would be that, I wanted more Sienna and Gavin BUT the suspense... the anticipation...the drama! I always find myself flipping through books to kinda see how things play out (hello anxiety) but with this I was so absorbed in the current page I didn't even spare a thought about what was next. That to me is the mark of an great book!!!!

I always go into a Mia Sheridan book knowing I'm going to get a well written story with characters that captivate me and bring me on a trip. Bad Mother was definitely that and then some. If you've read Mia before, this one may surprise you. And if you haven't read Ms Sheridan before, be prepared for an intense game of cat and mouse that will keep you glued to the pages and wondering where all the pieces are going to fall.

Bad Mother is an exciting, well paced crime fiction thriller that is set in Reno. Detective Sienna Walker has been transferred from her job in NY and joins the team in Reno where she once lived. She ran away from a past that included her ex, Gavin that hurt her only to return to a killer on the loose. Is it a coincidence or is her past coming back to haunt her?

I can tell you I was not expecting this story at all. While Netgalley had this classified as a romance, I would say it was a thriller with a small side of romance. I love those types of stories, but I think readers should be warned before beginning this book and expecting something different. With that said, this story was carefully crafted and full of twists and clues leading us each step of the way to find the pieces of the puzzles that eventually all come together in the end. I enjoyed how Ms Sheridan had a strong female main character in a male dominated field and had her being at the top of her game. She wasn't clueless, but smart, thorough and did her job well. When the clues left by the killer give hints to something she knows little about, she approaches Gavin to work with her team to catch a killer before he takes it any further. While Gavin and Sienna work together, they become closer, but are they closer to the killer or to each other?

Mia Sheridan created an exciting story that kept me glued to the pages every step of the way. All the small clues given to us were very well done. I was trying put the pieces together myself, but apparently I'm not that intelligent when it comes to poker. ;) I liked that we had another story within the story that help a past unfold and why the killer was taking lives. That story was heartbreaking, with a touch of evil. Was it all true?

Overall, this was a smartly written, compelling read that gets you into the mind of a killer, but also gives you a little side of hope.

Wow, this was an intense book. Fair warning, I don’t have triggers but I cringed during many parts of the book- not particularly due to extremely graphic descriptions but the author is very talented at weaving a tale that draws the reader in and makes us feel the pain of their characters. I don’t think this can be characterized as a romance- the romance is very very secondary to the suspense of this story. Similarly to a show like Criminal Minds, the author walks us through a series of clues to find the killer and while I wasn’t surprised at who it ended up being, the story kept me enthralled and interested. Well written, well plotted and exciting, I’m glad I read this story even if it wasn’t a typical romance. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for an early read!

This is from the same author as ARCHER’S VOICE but this has a very different vibe. Like I actually cannot believe these are the same authors. Categorized as a romantic suspense book, I would say this one is much more heavy on the THRILLER 🔪 than the romance.

The book follows Sienna - a police detective who has moved back to her home town of Reno. Something she said she would never do after the worst heartbreak of her life. Her first week on the job a serial killer strikes leaving notes and clues seemingly directed to her. In order to solve them, she has to work with her ex who is a champion poker player 😲 sounds good right! If you enjoy serial killer investigations and puzzles, consider this one.

I had many suspicions from the start that turned out to be true 👀 but that didn’t take away at all from the reading experience for me. I honestly stayed to figure out the answers to all the little puzzles the killer left for Sienna and Gavin. It was all so clever and well thought out. This is kind of a niche reference but it really reminded me of the PSYCH episodes that featured Yin Yang which were my ultimate favorite (if you like this show let’s be friends).

The element of romance was a nice addition that made me invested in Sienna and Gavin. It is a second chance romance with some INDIGO RIDGE vibes (policewoman moving back home) and I adored Gavin. But if you aren’t a romance person, I would still definitely read this!

Rating: 4.5/5

2.75/3 stars

It took me way too long to finish this one because the plot didn't fully grab me.
The romance was pretty dull, and the mystery plot, although not too predictable, it was good, albeit not great. I'll give the author a points because apparently it's the author's first thriller, and it was a lot better than I expected it.
Overall, the story was fast-paced and interesting, so I'll definitely recommend this if you wanna try.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were great, and the pace of the book was good. The story kept me guessing, and trying to second guess the plot, I was slightly right, but only just, and I liked being kept guessing. Good book, well worth a read.

I’m learning that I am in a phase of life where Romantic Suspense is a tough sell for me. There’s something about the set-up in books like this that my ADHD brain has a hard time committing to. But Mia Sheridan is a trusted author and I knew that if anyone could get me through the points where my commitment usually struggles? It would be her.

And I wasn’t wrong. What I found, once I settled into this story, was a compelling, suspenseful thriller. As a lover of true crime, and someone who has a fascination with serial killers, this story kept my brain engaged and enthralled with the storyline. I found myself hungrily wanting to know what came next, and frantically working out the clues in my own brain. I was able to guess some connections, but not in the exact way that things played out. And while the ending was decidedly bittersweet (in some ways so sad), I was thrilled with the ride this story took me on.

I also enjoyed Sienna and Gavin’s love story, though it felt muted in the background of the crime/thriller aspect of the book. I didn’t feel it in the sort of emotional way I might have liked to, but I still loved their connection and the way their history entwined with their present and how sweetly Gavin brought Sienna back into his orbit. It was a nice balance to the gritty, cat & mouse game that was going on with the rest of the story.

In all, Mia Sheridan did not disappoint. This was a fantastic thrill ride and I’m happy to have taken it.

I really loved this book! I love all of Mia Sheridan's work. She write the most amazing books. This book was so different. It was very well written and had some great characters. I highly recommend this book

I LOVE MIA. I am such a sucker for her writting. Her brain works in such mysterious ways and I am so in love with all her book 10/10

For a romantic suspense novel this had a nice balance of both genres but I was personally more invested in the serial killer storyline of it. The build up of the story was great and reading from the killer's perspective was terrifying and a good addiction to the mystery. The climax of the book felt a bit dragged out and the romance fell flat for me but overall it was a good thriller debut by the author and I'm excited for what she does next.

I read several adult contemporary romance books from the author and so far I like it. Her stories is always creative and bring some awareness into some issue in our society.

I am excite saw her spreading her wings to write different genre but at same time i am worried too. Does she will deliver it well. And yes, she did. The suspense elements take majority of the plot. Actually it is good, easy to follow and intriguing enough with serial killers whom like playing game with our MC Det. Sienna. The twist is unpredictable and I enjoyed until last page. The romance part isnt as strong as her previous CR book but enough to become sweet blend addition into the story. With so much potential I cant wait to see more of this genre from her.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake Publishing for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 Stars - Just WOW!

I love a good mystery and this one definitely qualifies! The twists and turns had my head spinning. Normally I can guess what's gonna happen next ... not in this book! This is one of those books that you really have to pay attention to if you want to get the full effect. It amazes me how someone can write such complicated, twisted plot. So many times all I could say was WTF is going on here! I highly reommend it!

Gavin and Sienna grew up in the same run down trailer park in Reno, Nevada. Neither one of them had a dad, but at least Gavin had a great mother ... Sienna did not. When they were eighteen, Gavin left Sienna at the alter. Sienna flees her hometown for New York and works her way up to a dectective with the NYPD. But when Sienna won't play the mayor's game of turning her head for a crime, she has no choice but to leave. The only police department that will take her is Reno. Even though she vowed never to return, she decides to take the position and hopefully after a year, she'll be able to return to New York. Meanwhile, shortly after Sienna left, Gavin won the World Series of Poker and he became very rich. The first thing he did was buy his mom a house and get her out of that trailer park. After a few years of playing poker he gets into the casino security buisness. Sienna's first day on the job, there is a murder and they need to consult with someone who knows cards. When Gavin sees Sienna on a TV news conference, he knows that he still has feelings for Sienna. Gavin decides to seek her out and if he can help her in any way ... he will. The killer will take Sienna and her partner on a cat and mouse mystery and hopefully with Gavin's help, they'll catch the killer before he kills again.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as it’s been years since I’ve read anything by this author and it was always romance. But just this title alone pulled me in and once I started reading, I was lost to the story. I loved the various mysteries and their twisty clues that were layered throughout the book. However, it was the escape room elements that pushed this over into freaking awesomeness.

While there is romance reigniting between Sienna and Gavin, it isn’t the main focus of the story. It’s actually the perfect counterpoint to the murders and mysteries that keep popping up. I always try to figure the mystery out before the author gives it to me, but this time I was caught in a maze of wrong turns. I loved how she kept me guessing, looking around corners and psychoanalyzing every character.

I highly recommend this if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers laced with a bit of romance.

I’m absolutely loving these mystery thriller stories this author has been writing recently. The story does fall within the romantic suspense genre but I would say it’s light on the romance side, heavy on the suspense. A real rollercoaster ride, Bad Mother had me gripped and I loved it.

What starts out as a somewhat unusual murder investigation, turns into a terrific game of cat and mouse. Unless a book begins with the identity of the killer being deliberately revealed, I much prefer not knowing who they are until near the end. The plot here is action packed, so cleverly written and thought out, so unpredictable, with lots of twists and surprises, that despite the clues left behind, there was no way I could foresee what was coming. It’s wonderful complexity made sure I had no idea who the serial killer was until Ms Sheridan began to reveal them to us. The anticipation had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what bombshell was about to be dropped next and I loved it. Not for the faint of heart, the author does not shy away from the gruesome details.

Cleverly executed, I loved everything about this book, especially its creativity. It’s brutal, tragic and surprisingly emotional at times. Such a talented author, I hope Ms Sheridan continues to write more wonderful stories in this genre in the future.

this was such an amazing book! i'm so thankful to netgalley for letting me read this one early! it was so much fun and intriguing!! what a fun, fun, fun read!!!!

I loved Mia Sheridan's Where the Blame Lies series, so I was excited to check out her newest suspenseful read. Note that this one was really heavily into suspense, with a sprinkle of romance, whereas her other books were more romance heavy.

Bad Mother tells the story of Sienna Walker, who is nearly fired from the NYPD. She gets a second chance by returning home to Reno, Nevada to work on the police force there. This was the last place she ever imagined she'd go back to, given it is where her complicated familial past and broken engagement occurred. Her first case on the job, a serial killer, drudges up elements of her past, including her ex-fiance. It is through this case that Sienna is forced to confront her past.

I really enjoyed the first 60-75% of the story, but then I started to get a little antsy. Some of the story went a bit over the top, and I walked away feeling a little underwhelmed by the ending (none of it was a huge shock). Still, Sheridan is a strong writer, and the incorporation of the letters and other clues along the way was very clever. I did a combination of reading & listening to the audiobook for this. The audiobook was excellent-- I loved the two narrators! Thank you to Montlake & Brilliance Audio for my gifted copies.

Rated 3.5 Stars

I saw it coming especially the ending but I still found Bad Mother to be an enjoyable read. There were things however that took away from overall enjoyment like the stating of the obvious, certain terms that were and I didn't really feel the connection between the hero and heroine. It was a decent read but not by fave by this author.

As far as serial killer thrillers and romantic suspense goes, this one fits the bill and had me engaged from the first to the last page. Sienna Walker is back in Reno and her job in law enforcement has her hot on the trails of a murderer who leaves clues that are pieces to a bigger puzzle. What is the common denominator? Much to Sienna's extreme reluctance, she might also have to involve Gavin Decker with her investigation. There's a complicated history between Sienna and Gavin, but there's also multiple other layers of the story to unravel regarding their pasts. I was intrigued by the murder scenes and how this was all going to come together as Sienna worked to make sense of everything. While I was able to make accurate guesses on some aspects, there was still a lot to discover and I was on the edge about several things - whodunit, Sienna's possible second chance at love, Gavin and his family's past as well as eyeing all of the characters with suspicion in case they were the culprit. An entertaining and intricate story that had me guessing to the end, but still also gave the kind of ending that was justified for each of the characters involved.

Bad Mother is a thriller from Mia Sheridan. First thing I need to say- Mia Sheridan has written a lot of romances and romantic thrillers in the past. Montlake has this categorized as Romance on NetGalley - it’s not. At least, while there is a romance, it’s a subplot to the thriller plot, not the main event. That’s okay, but was not what I was expecting based on the categorization on NetGalley.

What it actually is though is a suspenseful thriller, a cat and mouse game from a possible serial killer who enjoys toying with Detective Sienna Walker as she and her partner race to discover what’s going on before more people die. It genuinely kept me guessing who the bad guy was. While I did have some suspicions around certain characters, I had no idea how it was going to play out and certainly couldn’t have guessed how it was going to end.

It felt like a cop show or movie. Sienna is the new cop in town after getting in some trouble as a NYC detective. She’s sent back home to Reno where she has to readjust to life in the city with a lot of bad memories for her, including those around her ex-fiance Gavin. Gavin broke her heart years before so it’s difficult for her when the clues on the case force her to work side by side with him.

Overall a compelling and compulsive read!