This isn’t a Gypsy Rose story this is three other mothers who use Munchausen but Proxy on their children. It’s a devastating yet well written true crime non fiction.

There’s some overlap with the authors life but there’s few details.

This was so great. I know a fair amount about MCA and MBP, and I have read a lot of true crime, but the depth and nuance of this book is really well done. Dunlop traces three different cases of medical child abuse (alongside detective Mike Weber, who investigated them all) and each reveals different angles of the crime-- how it manifests, how it's spotted, how it's investigated, how it's prosecuted (or not). It's easily the most in-depth look at a crime that gets a lot of publicity but very little actual thoughtfulness. Super good.

I'm a fan of Andrea Dunlop’s fiction, so I was really intrigued to pick up The Mother Next Door knowing it was nonfiction—and even more so because the author’s own family has been affected by Munchausen by proxy. The stories in this book are fascinating, disturbing, and honestly hard to shake. Dunlop does a great job of exploring the psychology behind MBP without being sensational, and the real-life cases she shares are deeply compelling. It’s the kind of book that stays with you and makes you think about how complex and hidden this kind of abuse can be. Very different from her novels, but just as well written.

First and Foremost Thank You St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this very eye opening and interesting read. It has taken me months to get thru this book. I work in a Criminal Defense Office and some of the stories of the insane things these mothers did made it hard for me to read for periods of time. I was not to familiar with MBP Munchausen by Proxy so learning what the 3 mothers Brittan Phelps, Mary Welch and Hope Ybarra did to their children was definitely shocking. With one of the Author's (Dunlop) Sister being investigated for MBP I felt the stories in paces got convoluted with no real back story. I was very impressed with Mike Weber (2nd author) and his work in Tarrant County Texas as a lead Detective with extensive knowledge and research of MBP case. I didn't to much care for the political aspects in the beginning of the book but was able to carry on without harboring any ill feelings towards the authors.

This book really opened my eyes to how insanely sick and twisted some peoples minds have to be to inflict such pain and torture on a child for their own attention.

The writing is done very well, you can tell hours had gone into research and preservation of the information. It gives a very well done podcast vibe

I love true crime and The Mother Next Door was a compelling well-written story of the three investigations into Munchausen by proxy, the affliction whereby a mother purposefully harms her child(ren) for attention. The stories are told through the lens of one of the most experienced investigators who has worked on Munchausen by proxy cases. The author has a personal connection to the condition; she believes that her sister has it and has abused her own children, although that has never been established in Court. I found the personal connection to really work here and add to, as opposed to detract from the story. I flew through this book and highly recommend it. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free arc. All opinions are honestly and my own.

The subject matter is so shocking yet you can't help but continue turning the pages when reading the mother next door.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

I think this hit too close to home. Mothers that harm their children for personal gain, for attention, for money, for pleasure…did we even know that was possible growing up? Did we know the women we were supposed to trust the most could hurt us the worst? Munchausen by Proxy Sounds almost absurd but when you read about these three women and what they did to their children because they could put on such a mask of nurturing, or innocence, it stuns you. It makes you feel sick to your stomach and cold to your core. A very important book to educate yourself, whether you’re a victim or a concerned citizen or just enjoy true crime and have a strong stomach.

This book was very informative! I had no idea humans could do this to other humans. Can’t wait to read more of their books in the future

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This true crime book is absolutely captivating. The author’s meticulous research and storytelling skills bring this case to life in a way that is both chilling and compelling. The details are thorough without feeling overwhelming, and the pacing kept me hooked from start to finish. The depth of the investigation and the way the narrative unfolded was truly impressive.

I couldn’t put this book down, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys well-researched, gripping true crime stories.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for my eARC of The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I've heard about Munchausen by Proxy, but the cases discussed in this book were new to me. As a mother myself, it baffles me how someone could hurt their own child, though I know it's a mental health condition.

I appreciated the way Dunlop and Weber discussed the cases and though this was a heart-wrenching read, it is an important one because it explains the complexities of MBP.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press.

"A groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction that investigates Munchausen by Proxy from the host and creator of the award-winning true crime podcast Nobody Should Believe Me."

Thank you for the chance to read and review The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop. Wow! The depths of deception that is shared in this book by the offenders is deeply disturbing. As someone who works in the Mental Health field I am reading this book and trying to balance my immediate bias towards the mothers with understanding their deep mental instability and need for help with my horror towards their actions. It was a fascinating read and I greatly enjoyed to opportunity.

This book was depressing but well thought out. The deception the mom pulled off to hurt her children and her family was Monday blowing!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to review this book. I am fascinated by Munchausen by Proxy and try to find anything I can about this horrific form of child abuse. As a listener of Andrea Dunlop's podcast, I was excited to read this and learn about new (to me) cases. Instead, this book reads like the podcast on paper. The same three cases, the same vague comments about her sister perpetuating this type of crime (but no details on her sister's stort). I admire the authors for their work in educating the public about this insidious behavior. I just wanted more from the book. I'd recommend it to anyone unfamiliar with the podcast as it may be new information to them.

This book is sooo important. At first I was unsure if this would be something I was truly interested in but I think this is one of the most important true crime books ever written.
They brought light to such an important issue and I hope it gets the spotlight it deserves. I had so many thoughts and tears!

The mother next door offered multiple stories about women who have MBP and abuse their children. I liked the incorporation of the author's own family into the storytelling. Well done and good on audio.

“As she began to explain the terminology to the court, the judge cut her off and said he knew what Munchausen by proxy was. But another witness in court that day would later tell Mike that from her vantage point on the witness stand, she’d observed Judge Mumford google “Munchausen by proxy” from his laptop on the bench.”

The Mother Next Door
Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy
By Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber

QUICK SUMMARY 🖊️
This book follows three very different cases but all with one glaringly similarity. The title should say it all.

FINAL THOUGHTS 💭
I had to sit with this book for so long before writing this. Because how do you explain that you rated a book that at its core is about child abuse? We all have heard of Gypsy Rose at this point but it’s not often to hear of other cases for many reasons but one is how do you prove a parent is hurting their child? This book goes into depth to explain three different cases and the challenges faced to bring these parents to justice. I honestly couldn’t put this book down because of the disbelief and utter disgust I felt while reading.
The authors did a fantastic job explaining these stories and bringing to light this very real and serious problem.

This book gave me a good look at Munchausen by Proxy as I came in not knowing too about this. I was completely fascinated by the stories and it gives you a better look at this! However, there is still so much to learn and understand..

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for my honest review!

The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber is a fascinating true story told in a very unique fashion. Andrea, a Seattle novel writer who experienced Munchausen by proxy in her own family and Mike, the Texas detective who has worked on more medical child abuse cases then anyone else in the nation.

The two explore, with help from other experts, how complex Munchausen by Proxy is. They look at the cultural and systemic issues that make it so hard to detect and the psychological issues that make it so hard to escape it.

They focus on 3 main cases of Munchausen by proxy: Hope Ybarra, Brittany Phillips and Mary Welch. All three women pretended their children were gravely ill. Although the details in this book are hard to read at times, I think it is important to read. I hope the more people that read this book, the more are aware of things to look for and hopefully more children can be helped.

Special thanks to Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber for sharing your stories. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

I think it's a really interesting read on the different ways MBP can manifest, but I think I would have liked a little more meat on the bones as far as tying the stories together or something just to unify it all. As it stands it feels a little bit like three separate seasons of No One Should Believe Me, which is a great podcast and I do appreciate the work done on it and here, it's just I would have liked a little bit more.