I love thrillers and books that promise to expose "secrets" of the past. Today, I have a thriller to share that does just that. Learn about The Perfect Mother and author Desiree Moodie, read my thoughts on the book and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.
The perfect neighborhood. The perfect family. The perfect crime.
When Dawn Harrington moves to the quiet, picturesque town of Meadowbrook, she’s hoping for a fresh start. A place where no one knows her name. Where she can leave behind the whispers, the heartbreak, the gaping hole left by the son who vanished from a park nearly twenty years ago. But secrets have a way of following you.
A few blocks over, Evelyn Harper has spent years crafting the perfect life—an adoring husband, beautiful children, a home straight out of a magazine. But when she sees Dawn standing in her driveway, Evelyn feels the first stirrings of something she hasn’t felt in years.
Fear.
Because Dawn isn’t just any new neighbor. She’s a woman with a past. A past that collides violently with Evelyn’s own.
At first, Dawn and Evelyn circle each other warily—neighborly smiles masking something far more sinister. But as Dawn starts asking questions and Evelyn begins watching her every move, the game between them becomes something far more treacherous.
As their carefully built lives begin to crumble, one of them will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
The other will stop at nothing to keep it buried.
Because some lies can be forgiven. Others demand blood.
The Perfect Mother is a spellbinding psychological thriller about deception, obsession, and how far a mother will go for the truth. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn, and Shari Lapena, this is one twisted suburban nightmare you won’t soon forget.
The Perfect Mother Brings Some Twists and Turns to the Expected Storyline. While Evelyn's secret is easy enough to figure out pretty early on, the author still manages to weave some twists and turns throughout the story to keep it interesting and engaging. It did take a few chapters for me to fall into sync with the flow of the story and the shifts between time periods and points of view, but I enjoyed watching the full story unfold.
Enter the Giveaway
Book Title: THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie
Category: Adult Fiction (18 +),
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Twisted Thoughts Publishing
Release date: May 2025
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: The book has a few "f" words, one or two religious profanities and a few crude terms. There is no sex, but there is violence. Mature themes include pregnancy loss.
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About the Book
The perfect neighborhood. The perfect family. The perfect crime.
When Dawn Harrington moves to the quiet, picturesque town of Meadowbrook, she’s hoping for a fresh start. A place where no one knows her name. Where she can leave behind the whispers, the heartbreak, the gaping hole left by the son who vanished from a park nearly twenty years ago. But secrets have a way of following you.
A few blocks over, Evelyn Harper has spent years crafting the perfect life—an adoring husband, beautiful children, a home straight out of a magazine. But when she sees Dawn standing in her driveway, Evelyn feels the first stirrings of something she hasn’t felt in years.
Fear.
Because Dawn isn’t just any new neighbor. She’s a woman with a past. A past that collides violently with Evelyn’s own.
At first, Dawn and Evelyn circle each other warily—neighborly smiles masking something far more sinister. But as Dawn starts asking questions and Evelyn begins watching her every move, the game between them becomes something far more treacherous.
As their carefully built lives begin to crumble, one of them will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.
The other will stop at nothing to keep it buried.
Because some lies can be forgiven. Others demand blood.
The Perfect Mother is a spellbinding psychological thriller about deception, obsession, and how far a mother will go for the truth. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn, and Shari Lapena, this is one twisted suburban nightmare you won’t soon forget.
My Review
The Perfect Mother Brings Some Twists and Turns to the Expected Storyline. While Evelyn's secret is easy enough to figure out pretty early on, the author still manages to weave some twists and turns throughout the story to keep it interesting and engaging. It did take a few chapters for me to fall into sync with the flow of the story and the shifts between time periods and points of view, but I enjoyed watching the full story unfold.
Don't Expect to Love the Characters. I didn't find myself connecting well with any of the characters in the book, but they were fairly well-developed and complex enough to keep me interested in the outcomes. While the shifts in the points of view throughout the novel helped tell the stories of both women, there were times that the voices were very similar, and this made some sections seem a little confusing or feel overly long.
Would I Recommend The Perfect Mother by Desiree Moodie? If you are looking for an exciting page-turner--this isn't that type of psychological thriller. If you enjoy dramas that look at the impacts of events and trauma on lives, this is an interesting story. I didn't love the ending as presented in the novel and preferred the "alternate ending" provided, so be sure to read both endings! Overall, I enjoyed the book (especially with the alternate ending) and would read other books from the author.
Buy the Book
Meet the Author
Desiree Moodie has been writing since before she could talk — seriously. As a kid, she spent weekends scribbling on notebook paper and stapling the pages together into makeshift books.
Now, she crafts dark, twisty stories featuring morally complex characters and impossible-to-put-down plots. Her writing is influenced by her travels, old-school noir films, and pro-wrestling (yes, still). She loves difficult women, villains who might just have a point, and snappy dialogue.
When she's not writing, Desiree is watching reruns of Perry Mason, working on her Lauren Bacall impression, or pulling Tarot cards. She’s got a soft spot for readers who love clever, gritty stories with a little bite — so don’t be shy. Drop her a line (just not in all caps).
connect with the author:
website ~ X/twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ goodreads ~ bookbub
Now, she crafts dark, twisty stories featuring morally complex characters and impossible-to-put-down plots. Her writing is influenced by her travels, old-school noir films, and pro-wrestling (yes, still). She loves difficult women, villains who might just have a point, and snappy dialogue.
When she's not writing, Desiree is watching reruns of Perry Mason, working on her Lauren Bacall impression, or pulling Tarot cards. She’s got a soft spot for readers who love clever, gritty stories with a little bite — so don’t be shy. Drop her a line (just not in all caps).
connect with the author:
website ~ X/twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ pinterest ~ goodreads ~ bookbub
THE PERFECT MOTHER by Desiree Moodie Book Tour Giveaway
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