Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro (2025)
First and foremost, I should point out that while there is a domestic murder mystery to unravel here, this book primarily functions as a deep dive into the agonies of a new mom's Postpartum depression. (Not to mention her severe mid-life crisis, in which current realities don't match up to her hopes and dreams of a valued, rewarding future.
Brynn Nelson seems blessed in many ways.......a year round resident of beautiful Martha's Vineyard, success as a romance novelist, a new healthy baby boy, and a hard working husband who's part of the island's most prominent family-owned construction business. But the round the clock demands of motherhood have left her overwhelmed and exhausted, with severe, crushing doubts about her ability to become a loving mom to her infant. As if all that isn't enough of a burden, police arrest her husband Ross as the suspected murderer of a popular young girl befriended by his family.
Despite mounting, conclusive evidence against Ross, Brynn attempts to untangle all of the long hidden secrets, suspects and clues that might lead her to find out what exactly happened.....and why. As enticing as I'm sure that sounds to fans of domestic thrillers, the mystery takes a back-of-the-bus seat to pages and pages of Brynn's constant mental crisis. In that particular area, the book does incisively detail the inner turmoil of Postpartum. But the when the actual mystery's surprises and revelations finally arrive, it's feels perfunctory and laborious, served up with little or no sense of danger and suspense.
For its constant attention and empathy toward Brynn's motherhood ordeal, I'm generously giving 'Such A Good Mom' 3 stars (***).. But I would not recommend this book for those who'd come looking for a full fledged domestic puzzler with lead characters put in dire jeopardy. There's drama aplenty here, but not the kind of melodrama mystery readers would find satisfying.
Brynn Nelson seems blessed in many ways.......a year round resident of beautiful Martha's Vineyard, success as a romance novelist, a new healthy baby boy, and a hard working husband who's part of the island's most prominent family-owned construction business. But the round the clock demands of motherhood have left her overwhelmed and exhausted, with severe, crushing doubts about her ability to become a loving mom to her infant. As if all that isn't enough of a burden, police arrest her husband Ross as the suspected murderer of a popular young girl befriended by his family.
Despite mounting, conclusive evidence against Ross, Brynn attempts to untangle all of the long hidden secrets, suspects and clues that might lead her to find out what exactly happened.....and why. As enticing as I'm sure that sounds to fans of domestic thrillers, the mystery takes a back-of-the-bus seat to pages and pages of Brynn's constant mental crisis. In that particular area, the book does incisively detail the inner turmoil of Postpartum. But the when the actual mystery's surprises and revelations finally arrive, it's feels perfunctory and laborious, served up with little or no sense of danger and suspense.
For its constant attention and empathy toward Brynn's motherhood ordeal, I'm generously giving 'Such A Good Mom' 3 stars (***).. But I would not recommend this book for those who'd come looking for a full fledged domestic puzzler with lead characters put in dire jeopardy. There's drama aplenty here, but not the kind of melodrama mystery readers would find satisfying.
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