Before I dive into my thoughts on Good Bad Mother by Anya Mora, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC. This book captured my interest immediately with its promise of high-stakes tension and dark secrets. A desperate mother would stop at nothing to reclaim her baby—doesn’t that sound like the makings of a thrilling read?
Set against the backdrop of the eerie and isolated Cutters Island, Good Bad Mother introduces us to Amelia, a woman seemingly living the dream in a perfect neighborhood with a perfect family. But beneath that glossy surface lies a disturbing reality that unravels when she wakes to find her baby missing, her husband absent, and her home engulfed in flames. The multi-timeline narrative builds suspense, hinting at secrets that could shatter the illusion of her life.
As I turned the pages, I found myself deeply invested in Amelia’s internal struggles. I empathized with her plight, but I also felt a sense of frustration with her approach. She seemed so caught up in fear of the husband who clearly raises red flags that it became hard to root for her. A character promised to be heroic eventually ended up feeling passive, which made the impending crisis feel less immediate and more like a chore.
Ah, and then there’s the husband—easily deserving an award for the most loathsome male character. His hypocritical and manipulative nature left me craving a comeuppance that never quite arrived, dampening what may have been a satisfying catharsis in the story. On a brighter note, Tabitha, Amelia’s loyal friend, felt like a breath of fresh air. She brought warmth and vitality to an otherwise strained narrative, which I absolutely needed at times.
Mora’s writing style shines through with its atmospheric, tense prose, and I appreciated the book’s pacing; there were no dragging moments. The alternating timelines succeeded in peeling back layers of both past and present, maintaining my engagement throughout. Yet, when I reached the climax, I found myself underwhelmed. For a novel that hints at high-stakes drama, I yearned for a level of desperation or urgency that simply wasn’t there. Moreover, the ending felt rushed and somewhat convenient, leaving me unsatisfied.
While Good Bad Mother boasts an intriguing setting and strong build-up, it ultimately didn’t deliver the punch I had hoped for. This could certainly be an entertaining entry-point for those new to psychological thrillers. For seasoned readers, though, it may come off as predictable and frustratingly lacking in depth.
In conclusion, if you enjoy atmospheric thrillers with well-intentioned characters facing turmoil, this book might resonate with you, even if it doesn’t quite hit the mark for seasoned readers like myself. All in all, Good Bad Mother earns a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5), a decent read that showcases a talented author, yet leaves room for more impactful storytelling.