The Other Mothers-Books On Tour (Review)-Crime Thriller-Available Now

What could have been a “run-of-the-mill” crime investigation was made much more interesting by a few wise choices of the author.

First was the initial victim. While a child victim is nothing new (no spoiler, really), the manner and location of the crime was interesting and unique. It opened up a wide avenue of investigation with lots of minute details that wouldn’t be present in another setting.

Another effective decision was to cast multiple suspicions on multiple characters from the onset of the investigation. Aside from the sheer number of suspects provided by the location, there were mysterious phone calls, odd reactions, whispered suspicions, and flat out lies.

All of which, of course, made Jo’s job more difficult. But yay for making it engaging for the reader!

I still like Jo as a detective. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her personal life playing a factor – to me I didn’t feel like it was quite true. I don’t know whether that was because it was unrelatable to me (not usually a factor) or the whole idea that it had all happened only two weeks prior.

I think maybe the latter. I’m not sure someone would be cleared that quickly from that type of trauma, even without the added issue (again, no spoiler – if you’ve read the previous books, you know what I’m talking about).

In that regard, Jo’s reactions sort of fit, because it was all just beyond the realm of reality for me. At least, that’s what I’m going with.

And to be honest, that’s splitting hairs, because I am a fan of this series, and this may be my favorite entry so far.

Not because I’m a fan of murder, but because there was a psych thriller vibe to it that I found enhanced the crime procedural plot. I thought the triumvirate of Karen, Gia, and Molly was fascinating – and totally accurate to volunteer moms at schools.

I’ve certainly dealt with enough of them to know!

The author also did a great job of hinting at possible motives and suspects without hitting the reader over the head (for example – the same two people are often tied together at crimes. Coincidence? Something more? I’m not telling).

I appreciate that because it makes it more entertaining. Kind of amounts to questioning the questioners and the questioned.

I’m probably not making sense, but this book does. It was a great read that I finished in one sitting, and I definitely recommend picking it up.

Oh, and one more thing. I’ve been obsessed with Kintsugi art for over a year, ever since reading about it in another book. I love the concept, and I totally got how the author used the moms’ talents (art, jewelry) and their mediums as a metaphor for their lives.

Now THAT is all I am saying.  

Author Bio:

M.M. Chouinard’s first fiction story was published in her local paper when she was eight, and she fell in love with Agatha Christie novels not long after. While pursuing a Ph.D in psychology and helping to found the first U.S. research university of the new millennium, the stories kept rattling around inside her skull, demanding to come out. For sanity’s sake, she released them. She’s currently at work on her next novel.