Thank you so much to the authors, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for my gifted ALC.

Three cases of medical abuse. This book will have you thinking twice before using the phrase “mother knows best”.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳 takes us for a ride in which we get to explore the complexity that munchausen by proxy is. We get to learn a whole lot about the three specific families and how these mothers managed to fool so many people around them, including doctors.

As a mother myself, this book was so hard to get through. I cannot fathom making my kid believe they are sick. I cannot fathom wanting to fool doctors so they could perform unnecessary medical procedures that may result in the death of my child.

One of the biggest things I took from this book is just how highly mothers are perceived in society, which unfortunately can be a slippery slope. It is so incredibly hard to believe that a mother would purposely hurt their own child(ren). So many people that knew these families could see the red flags but refused to feed into the possibility that something may actually be terribly wrong.

I highly recommend this book to everyone; I think it is very informative and offers crucial information we should all be aware of.

I would like to thank the two authors of this book for doing the hard work that most would shy away from; your efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you both for putting the kids above workplace politics and beyond.

We must use our voices to defend those that cannot speak for themselves.

Excellent examination of an often misunderstood crime -- medical child abuse, otherwise known as MBP or Munchausen by proxy.

As a registered nurse and legal nurse consultant, I've long been fascinated by any crime that involves medical ethics, negligence, malpractice, or victimized patients. There's nothing quite so frightening, however, as an innocent child being deliberately harmed by a parent or guardian under the guise of them being brave and heroic for their care of a sick dependent. That devotion and attentiveness can have another side and this book tells the stories of three separate cases where mothers were actively harming their children through unnecessary medical care and procedures for conditions and diagnoses that did not actually exist. Heinous. Made worse by the difficulty in getting the perpetrator's loved ones and friends to accept that the primary care giver's presence and manipulations are making the child ill. Even more frustrating: the lack of cooperation by protective services and the courts in taking appropriate steps to remove the source and cause of the abuse.

The descriptions of events in the stories were very difficult for me to read. I was so impressed by Mike Weber, the detective who is probably one of the leading investigators into crimes against children and a dogged and faithful crusader in his efforts to protect and save the children who are being abused. He overcame so many discouraging setbacks to help get those sickened children away from the mothers who were actively trying to harm them. I love how the book named names of people in the system who did not actively prosecute and obtain justice for the victims. Shame on them.

I agree that there is an issue with MBP because of the attitude regarding the sanctity of motherhood. This, despite the fact that every day you can read news about mothers abusing and even outright murdering their children. So why is it so hard to accept that a mother could deliberately make her child sick to even the point of death while all the time being hailed as a great selfless, sacrificing saint.

At the heart of all of this is the question of why. What drives someone, almost always the mother, to make her child sick. To tell the lies and distort reality so much that their child receives unneeded medication and treatments or even invasive surgical procedures for conditions they do not have. It's definitely a complex issue as it's not that the mothers are mentally ill -- they know what they are doing. Is it the attention they receive? The respect and admiration of others? The drama? That's not been established and it is likely an amalgamation of many personal needs or issues.

Regardless of what makes a mom do this, it has to be caught. Everyone who is suspicious needs to take a stand and report. Despite the fact that MBP , or factitious disorder imposed on another, has existed in the literature for years, it needs greater attention and understanding so that this complex form of abuse can be identified and stopped.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, also the book's co-author, Andrea Dunlop, alludes to having dealt with MBP within her own immediate family as apparently a sister of hers was accused. Details of that were not given, but she references her true crime podcast for further information. I plan to check it out. I always enjoy the experience of listening while reading as it adds to my appreciation of the book.

This is the first nonfiction book I’ve read in a while and I really enjoyed it. I’ve always been fascinated by the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case and this book shows more stories of munchausen by proxy that are also super interesting. I love watching true crime shows but I don’t often read books like this and I thought it was educational and attention grabbing. Def recommend.

The Mother Next Door describes 3 Munchausen by Proxy (MBP)/medical abuse cases that were investigated by one of the authors, Mike Weber. Andrea Dunlop, the other author and narrator of the audiobook, is a novelist and podcaster with a close relationship with the perpetrator of another case of MBP. I have not listened to Dunlop's podcast, so while I was passingly familiar with MBP, the cases were all new to me. I have to imagine that if you are a fan of the podcast, you are likely familiar with both the topic and the specific cases. I can't speak t how much information is repeated, but it seems as though even though the book is different format than the show, this may be a retread of the podcast - especially if you listen to the audiobook. Dunlop has a very podcast-y delivery, part journalist, part chatty confidant. It works really well for the book and is part of what had me hooked.

Of the three cases presented in the book, two are "ideal outcomes" where justice is served, while one is a more typical (according to the authors) negative outcome. While I was fascinated by the book, topic, and delivery, I can recognize that the authors have a motivating agenda: getting the reader to understand MBP and to raise awareness about this under-reported crime. While I really appreciated the straightforward presentation of the cases, I would have liked to see more research about the facts presented about MBP (for example, where are they getting the statistics that are included in the book?). (Also, to be fair, perhaps these are included in lengthy endnotes in the book that were not included in the audio.)

That said, I can certainly recommend this as a captivating, disturbing listen!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

This audiobook played out much like a well produced documentary. I felt like the author provided the information right from the start instead of dragging out boring historical information related to the three cases discussed. I enjoyed the authors perspective- as a victim of MBP, and felt little bias in the way the information was conveyed. Overall, a great resource and informative read!

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber
Rating: 3.5/5
Andrea Dunlop and Detective Mike Weber take readers on an unsettling journey into one of the most shocking medical and psychological conditions—Munchausen by Proxy. The Mother Next Door is a well-written mix of true crime, medical facts, and psychological insights, giving readers a closer look at how some people manipulate the healthcare system in dangerous ways and the harm it causes to innocent victims.

This book is both captivating and informative, skillfully combining real-life storytelling with expert knowledge. Dunlop’s writing style makes it easy to stay engaged, while Detective Weber’s crimes against children background, specifically medical abuse, adds valuable details that help explain this disturbing issue. The book also makes readers think about trust, the healthcare system, and how deception can hide in plain sight within everyday life.

With thorough research and thoughtful storytelling, The Mother Next Door is a must-read for true crime fans, psychology lovers, and anyone interested in understanding the darker side of human behavior. It’s an eye-opening and unforgettable book that stays with you long after you finish reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.


I did not know the stories behind Mary Welch, Hope Ybarra and, Brittan Phelps, mothers who were guilty of horrifying crime against their children.
The book seemed very well researched. I am true crime podcast addict, I found a full length book a bit long.

Wish there were more resources for children who are victims of their caregivers not providing CARE!

2.5

I found the individual cases interesting, and liked that it showed a lot of the bias and ignorance about medical child abuse.

I did not care that the author kept referring to her personal experience without actually describing her personal experience. It kind of felt like it was purposely vague to get people to listen to her podcast.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
by Andrea Dunlop; Mike Weber, narrated by Andrea Dunlop

Having seen Munchausen by Proxy due to family experiences, Andrea Dunlop has written this book with Mike Weber to highlight three high profile cases investigated by Mike Weber during his law enforcement career. Andrea knows Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy due to it taking place in her family. Mike didn't start out his career knowing he'd be fighting for the lives of children being victimized by those who should be their caretakers but once he got involved in this underserved area of crime, it's not something that he could sit by and allow to go unnoticed.

Mike Weber had already investigated claims of Medical Child Abuse (Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy) when he met Andrea Dunlop. As a writer and podcaster, Andrea has the skills to present the subject matter while Mike has the "in the trenches" real life, day to day, month to month, year to year, actual battle scars of fighting for the lives of children who need someone to even notice that their illnesses are not real. Mike needed an author and Mike had the first hand stories for this book and Andrea could be the one to write the book.

Having grown up and run and biked all over Tarrant County, I recognized many of the places that are mentioned in this book although these three cases take place after I'd moved elsewhere. But knowing this area so well, it really sinks in that these things do happen right where we live, possibly right next door, possibly to the kid in our neighborhoods. In one of the cases, the person slowly killing her child seemed to have the best of reputations and everyone was shocked of find she was causing her child's debilitating illnesses. In another case, just about everyone knew the mother was up to no good and no one was surprised by what she was doing to her child. The difference in the cases were glaring but the similarities are there, too, and maybe some of these cases can be caught sooner in the future. Care must be taken to do things in the right way though, so lives are not ruined by false accusations. I'm not at all familiar with MBP first hand or even second hand, I've only read about it in the news and a few books. Children need to be protected and I know the job is difficult. I'm not the one to say how the job can be done differently or better. Thank goodness for people such as Mike Weber because he's a trail blazer of the best kind and for authors who shine a light on the situation.

This book is narrated by Andrea and because it's her book and some of this is her story (we get bits of her family story, barely enough to understand what might have gone on in her family) Andrea is able to give the narration the inflection the story is meant to convey. As an author, podcaster, and video presenter, she has the speaking abilities to narrate her own book. This mental illness/type of child abuse, should not be ignored, when catching it might be the only way of saving a child. The stories here are heartbreaking and even with the one that doesn't work out as well as the others, a spotlight on the situation may have helped to save a life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow! This book is both equal parts fascinating and disturbing! Being an ER nurse for the last seventeen years has introduced me to a lot of terrible things, nothing more terrible than Munchausen by Proxy! The thought that a parent can injury their own child for their own personal gain is unimaginable to me.

The three stories covered in this book are told in a really interesting way. I found myself compulsively listening, trying to better understand why these types of things happen. The author narrates the book in a fast paced and engaging way. I’m glad to see more attention being given to MBP! Hopefully the more people who know about it, the less likely parents are to get away with it.

If you are a reader who is interested in true crime, healthcare, and mental health then I definitely recommend reading this book.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for the book #TheMotherNextDoor by #AndreaDunlapAndMikeWeber. This book is a journey about kids being abused by the adults they trust, Munchausen by proxy. These are people who somehow convince others that their child is sick or needs procedures that they don’t need. Andrea and Mike tell personal stories of accounts that have happened, some good outcomes, some bad. How can we protect these innocent children?

I really have a hard time giving stars to books based on real life crime, but since The Mother Next Door was a Netgalley audio arc, it’s necessary. The theme of this one is Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) where moms inflict illness on their children for the satisfaction of medical, familial, and community attention. It’s disturbing, uncomfortable, and makes the reader/human dislike these women.

This one is written by a podcast journalist whose sister was a MBP mom. Of the several stories, that was the one which felt very authentic. Given her own experience with that case, author Andrea Dunlop writes from experience and, as a bonus, she narrates the audio. This combo of having lived it, and now telling it in her own voice, is chilling.

The co-author, Mike Weber, is a police detective with far too much experience in this vastly horrible crime.

I hate that MBP exists, but I’d recommend this book if you are interested in some well done research detailing cases.

As a mother, this was a tough listen, but I knew what I was in for when I started this audiobook,

This is read like a documentary, getting details of three separate cases of MBP. They were all heartbreaking and infuriating to listen to. If you’re looking for a true crime story definitely check this one out.

4⭐️

Thanks to MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

#MacAudio2025

While I hesitate to use the word "enjoy" to describe my experience of listening to such a dark book, I definitely appreciate Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber's willingness to not only investigate these cases, but to bring them to light. Rather than a cold recitation of statistics, The Mother Next Door paints pictures of three very different families who are united by one of the most horrific things that a family could experience: Munchausen by proxy or medical child abuse. Using these stories as the foundation, the authors are able to provide some of the more clinical information and context that is key to understanding this disorder. While I typically dislike nonfiction audiobooks narrated by the author (except for memoirs of course), Andrea Dunlop does an excellent job, likely due to her work on her podcast, Nobody Should Believe Me. Her narration makes the book compulsively listenable, despite the heavy subject matter. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my eALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy is a fascinating tale of three cases of medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen by Proxy (MBP). As told by Andrea Dunlop, who herself has a case of MBP in her family, and Mike Weber, a detective who investigated the three cases, this book gives a vivid portrait of the often devastating impact of MBP on children by the hands of the mothers and the fallout it can create in families.

Dunlop narrates this audiobook in what feels like a fast-paced podcast deep dive. Thoroughly researched and highly compelling, the cases of Hope Ybarra, Brittany Phillips, and Mary Welch are discussed, with inside knowledge provided by detective Mike Weber. The stories are told in such a way where it is easy to imagine scenes playing out between mother, medical providers, and child. For the majority of these cases, providers are unaware of the harm being done to the children and the mothers are instead seen as champions for their children. I think this is an important topic to shed light on, as it seems to be much more common than previously thought and is a difficult form of child abuse to prosecute.

As a mother, I find this topic highly fascinating and highly disturbing. I had not previously heard of the three cases mentioned, but as a psychotherapist, I am privy to the diagnosis of factitious disorder imposed on another. Although this is not something I have worked with professionally, it is one of those disorders that pique my interest. Looking at the cover you would assume this is a work of fiction, but it is not. It also reads like fiction, which makes it all the more frustrating to hear how cases are handled and how there really aren’t many resources for families struggling with suspected MBP. I found it especially interesting to hear how providers are not reporting these cases to Child Protective Services, but simply charting the suspicion in their notes and moving on.

Although I have not listened to the author’s podcast Nobody Should Believe Me, or read the fictionalized book based on her own experiences titled We Came Here to Forget, I am definitely planning to check these out! I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in true crime-esque books and podcasts!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the authors Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber for this ALC of The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy in exchange for an honest review!

Truly horrifying. The Mother Next Door follows three real-life cases of Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) as viewed through the lens of Andrea Dunlop—novelist and podcaster personally touched by MBP—and Mike Weber—Texas detective with countless child abuse cases under his belt. Told with rigorous research and a riveting storyline that makes non-fiction feel like fiction, The Mother Next Door is like watching a train wreck in slow motion; it's impossible to look away. I have never interacted with any of Dunlop's work but I find her narrative voice refreshing and I really enjoyed—is enjoyed the right word?—reading through this. Each co-author—Dunlop and Weber—bring their unique experience with MBP to the table to tell this story and pull back the curtain on medical child abuse. These cases and these stories will have readers thinking 'wtf'. Dunlop knocked it out of the park with her narration.

Thank you Macmillan for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Available Feb. 04 2025

Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber deliver a harrowing and thought-provoking exploration of Munchausen by proxy in The Mother Next Door. This chilling and emotionally charged book offers an eye-opening look at a deeply troubling disorder, emphasizing how it can hide in plain sight—perhaps even behind the picket fence of the seemingly perfect family next door.

The narrative is a rollercoaster, immersing readers in the complex dynamics of families affected by Munchausen by proxy. Through real-life accounts and vivid storytelling, Dunlop and Weber unravel the disturbing psychology of perpetrators and the devastating consequences for their children. The book not only captures the emotional toll on the victims but also sheds light on the systemic failures in the medical and social services fields, where red flags are often missed.

What sets this book apart is its ability to balance gripping storytelling with a call to action. It doesn’t just tell a story—it demands awareness and reform, urging readers to consider how society and the medical community can do more to protect vulnerable children. The authors’ compassionate yet unflinching approach keeps the pages turning while leaving readers deeply unsettled and introspective.

Verdict:
The Mother Next Door is a powerful, unsettling, and essential read for anyone interested in true crime, psychology, or child advocacy. It’s a stark reminder that these cases could be happening closer than we think and a call for vigilance and systemic change. Highly recommended for readers who appreciate stories that inform, provoke, and linger long after the last page.

As a fan of the Nobody Should Believe Me podcast, I was eager to read The Mother Next Door, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. It offers a fresh perspective on MBP, revealing both the sad realities and the intriguing cases Mike Weber had to investigate. As a mother, I find it hard to fathom how anyone could deliberately make their child ill. I’m grateful for those shining a light on this issue and raising awareness. This is a book that everyone should read, as it may help identify signs in someone they know.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC!