This was going to actually be a 2.5 star read because the first half of the book was fairly boring. It started off strong then tapered off but then picked back up in the end and I found myself fully invested. I will be completely honest, if it wasn’t for the audiobook, this probably would have been a DNF.

This audiobook is narrated by EJ Lavery; Karla Serrato; Reena Dutt

A cult mystery with some horror mixed in. I thought knew where this story is going and who the villains were… and i was so wrong. The twist at the end were incredible! I loved that there were multiple ‘villains’ but some that completely surprised me in the end.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The plot grabbed me from the get-g0 - I mean, cults are always interesting to me - but the lack of character development and the writing was pretty juvenile at times.

This is a gripping and emotionally layered mystery that explores the fierce bond between mother and child. With sharp writing and unexpected twists, Strohmeyer weaves a compelling tale of secrets, guilt, and maternal instinct. A captivating read that keeps you turning pages until the very end.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Stella O'Neill is living under an assumed name and no one knows that she used to live in a "diviners" commune in Vermont as a child. After her mother Rose was found murdered on the commune's property and three days later 10 year old Astria (Stella) was found in a cave. Now years later Stella is a librarian and her identity has been personal information has been released by a true crime podcast and now the media and the cult leader Radcliffe MacBeath are after her. The cult wants her back due to her ability to feel the dead and for the fact Stella may have witnessed her own mother's death and knows who the killer is. This was a very fast paced audiobook that will have you on the edge off your seat until the very end. The book is told by 3 different point of views and time lines. I would like to thank both NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for letting me listen to an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Ooooh I love a good thriller about a cult and this one delivered with the icky leader. I enjoyed the murder mystery and was SO SURE I had it figured our early on, and then became more and more sure as the book went on - only to be so so wrong (aside from one detail)! I do think the ending felt very rushed and thrown together but aside from that, I thought it was great!

A Mother Always Knows is a slow burn thriller with a mysterious cult, a cold case murder, and a cast of really interesting characters – some who tried to do the right thing for the wrong reasons, some totally innocent and some very bad. You will have fun getting to know the characters and trying to decide who is actually evil. It is told in two time frames. The first time frame is 2003 right before Rose is murdered and it is told by Rose and by her 10 yo daughter, Stella. The second is in 2023 and is told by a grown-up Stella. I loved learning about the cult. Strohmeyer did a terrific job explaining how vulnerable people would fall for the cult’s twisted form of enlightenment and then how it was so easy for it all to go wrong. There is a hint of supernaturalism which definitely made the story work. More of a sixth sense type of thing than anything else. The audio narration was fabulous!

Very nearly DNF'd this.

Non-Christian cult. New age dowsing. Feet that can sense the dead. Killer poodles. *Everyone* under the spell of or getting paid off by the cult leader so no justice is ever possible. Abide or die.

This plot could really have been a hilarious spoof, but it was 100% serious and I nearly sprained my eyes from rolling them. I don't know at what point I quit caring what happened, I just felt compelled to finish the book to see if it ever got better. It did not.

The pace is medium, the characters are flat and most are unlikable, and the mystery was all over the place. The author did a great job of making a soap opera of the suspects, flip-flopping the FMC's trust back and forth enough to give the reader whiplash. Dissociation while listening to the audiobook was inevitable.

This book had an intriguing premise. I did like it and thought it was easy to listen to. If you've read other books with cults and enjoyed them I think you'll like this one.

Many thanks for my gifted ALC copy.

A Mother Always Knows presents an intriguing premise with a blend of mystery, family secrets, and supernatural elements. Stella O'Neill’s background—growing up in a Vermont commune and witnessing her mother’s murder—is compelling, and the plot about her needing to confront her past while on the run adds suspense. However, at times the story feels a bit slow, especially with detailed descriptions of the commune and spiritual practices that don’t always serve the pacing. The supernatural gift adds an interesting twist, but it occasionally feels underdeveloped or inconsistent. The characters, including the charismatic guru Radcliffe MacBeath, are intriguing but sometimes lack depth, making it harder to fully invest in their journeys. Overall, a decent read with some engaging moments, but it falls slightly short of being truly gripping. Fans of spiritual mysteries might enjoy it, but readers looking for a tightly woven thriller may find it a bit uneven.

A Mother Always Knows had it all. It was a thriller about cults, murder, a deity, mystical power. There was a lot to take in and to suspend disbelief but that is what books are for! Lots of twists. Very different than any other book I have read. If you are looking for cult type books this is for you. I enjoyed the narrator. I give this a 3.5.

This book was fine, but it wasn't earth shattering. I LOVE a good cult story, so this one got a star just for that because this cult was giving all the vibes. The characters were decent, though some of them fell a little flat, and a few plot points felt very forced to me. One of the twists at the end was just too much, and I couldn't suspend my disbelief on that one, but overall it was an ok mystery. If you're looking for cultish vibes, and you don't care too much if the story is realistic, then this will be a fun read for you!