This was a really good thrill. It was good in multiple points of view, 1st person. It was well written, fast places, and a very intriguing page turner. The story was addicting and entertaining. I flew through the short chapters and the alternator between now and then. Then ending was a bit predictable, but not disappointing in the least. Overall, very well done.

A very good book, mixing storylines with biology and real life dilemmas. Lots going on, lots of decisions. The perfect read to keep you entertained, educated and wanting more.

4.5/5
I loved the twists in this book and it kept me engaged the entire way. A medical-based thriller with a girl Abigail born to three parents with modified genetics. She grows to learn about who her real parents are and how she came to be.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the preview.

Claire carries the gene for mitochondrial disease which caused her to lose her first child when he was 8 years old. Now her husband wants them to try for another baby. Claire teams up with a fertility specialist, Robert Nash, and his research assistant Jillian to conceive the world’s first baby with three parents. Nash is at the forefront of research that eliminates gene markers for deadly diseases. However, it is ethically very questionable and not yet legal. What follows is a lot of drama and suspense. I found the premise of the book interesting, but from the beginning of the book, I developed a strong dislike for Claire which affected my enjoyment of the book. I could never agree with her choices and decisions. There were also some events that just did not seem believable. The best developed character was Jillian. The ending of the book felt a bit rushed and too neatly tied up. Overall, it still is a good book that had me thinking about bioethics and made for interesting dinner conversations with my husband.

4 Stars - "Mother Knows Best" is a story about a mother who did everything to have healthy children and did her best to protect them, no matter how they were created! I went in blind and I suggest you do the same. This is not really a mystery, at least it wasn’t for me but it was a really good thriller! I enjoyed it so much! Told in multiple POV, 1st person. It’s a standalone novel; well-written, fast-paced, a page-turner with a satisfying ending, contains short chapters and alternates between Before and Now. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and hope you like it as well!
Thanks to Kira Peikoff, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.

I was looking forward to reading Mother Knows Best by Kira Peikoff because I was excited to read a medical thriller instead of the overdone familial thrillers that have been saturating the market lately. Unfortunately, not even halfway through the book, I realized that this was going to end up being just another procedural domestic thriller.

This is too bad because there is a unique and interesting premise at play here - Claire and Ethan tragically lost their son to a hereditary illness when he was far too young and they have been trying to have another child. Claire has done her research and found Dr. Nash - a renegade doctor that is pioneering the way for genetic manipulation of cells in order to edit out the transfer of DNA that could potentially prevent the passing on of terminal illnesses. Ethan is vehemently opposed to any genetic modification during IVF yet Claire is able to hide from him the fact that with the aid of Dr. Nash and his colleague Jillian, she is able to conceive a child by combining her DNA with that of Jillian's, resulting in a child that ends up having three biological parents. Whether or not this is something that is actually possible is beside the point; I'm not a scientist and I can suspend my disbelief because this idea creates so many interesting possibilities and moral ambiguities that are fascinating to consider. Once Ethan finds out the truth about how their daughter was conceived he alerts the authorities and a pregnant Claire finds herself out of options and on the run. What results is a hidden life with new identities to protect herself and her daughter. Everything has been going well in Claire's new life until her daughter Abby participates in a DNA mapping project at her elementary school and suddenly realizes that perhaps all isn't as it seems in her life.

That all sounds exciting, right?? Well, after the initial intrigue behind Abby's conception and her and Claire's new life, this story devolves into a paint by numbers domestic thriller. Who is stalking them and why? What will happen when Abby learns the truth about herself? Sadly, the answers are all too predictable. By the time I reached the end of this story, I was glad to be done with it; disappointing is an understatement. Perhaps if it hadn't been billed as a medical thriller, my expectations wouldn't have been so high.

I received this ARC as a courtesy from NetGalley & the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a tautly-written, fast-paced medical thriller with richly developed characters and an incredibly creative premise. The author mentions in her foreword that the book went through several rewrites, and it shows—the story grabbed me immediately and didn’t let go until the end. As a new mother myself, there was an extra layer of intensity as the main character, Claire, navigated her grief for her dead child and grappled with her desire to become a mother again. Especially in the beginning, this book evokes so much emotion as it explores the depth of love that a mother feels for her child. From there, the plot picks up and races ahead until I was left breathless at the end.

That said, the resolution of the novel was almost too quick for me. While satisfying, the final confrontation between the three parents of Abigail is very black and white—very much “bad guys vs good guys”—and not an exploration of the potential complexities of an utterly novel family dynamic, which is what I was hoping for. I would have enjoyed the villain being less villainous, as that would have allowed for in-depth consideration of the competing goals of all three parents. End result, the climax of this novel is less thought-provoking and more edge-of-your-seat thrilling. It just depends what you’re looking for!

All in all, the writing was excellent, the story gripping, and the characters believable. A great, quick read that grabbed me early and didn’t let go.

This book was not for me. I should have not judged the book by the cover and read the synopsis a little more closely and I would not have chosen to read this in the first place.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

There is science. There is suspense. There is drama. There is also an important element that makes this fiction seem closer to non-fiction.

Claire wants another baby and is willing to go to great lengths to make, I mean to have, one. Against her husband’s wishes, she goes to see fertility specialist Robert Nash. Using a top-secret plausible-in-real-life-sort-of technique, Claire becomes pregnant with Abby, who is considered a “frankenbaby” after Claire’s secret is uncovered. The story jumps back and forth from the POV of Claire, Abby, Nash, and Nash’s assistant Jillian. This technique lets us see each character’s perspective and motivation (be aware, not all of them are altruistic).

The mix of science and family dynamics was done perfectly, and the bad guys are eminently hateable. As I mentioned before, the procedure to create a baby using multiple people’s sperm/eggs seems within reach. This made the book dramatic without focusing on obviously fake science.

As the author shares the character’s flaws and desires, she illustrates the desire to have and protect a child in a poignant and accurate manner. She is adept at creating psychological suspense that appears real, not overly histrionic. Except for the science and the “three-parent creation”, each character’s emotions add to the plot and support the action. Abby behaves exactly the way a kid her age would, exploiting her computer savvy and using the Internet to find answers.

There were a couple of twists in the book, one that seemed obvious and another that was a shocker. I feel there is enough going on to get the reader hooked and wanting to get to the end to see how things turn out. Things get tied up kind of quickly in the end but it was satisfying. If the author continues with her science-backed plots I’ll definitely pick up her next novel.

The scientific aspect in the story was very well explained and very interesting, I liked the book immensely and will definitely look for more books by this author.

An interesting read, that raises a number of questions about what's right or wrong, and whether the end justifies the means. There's lots of questions - not just about if the characters were right to do what they did, and if a mother's love is more important than anything else. But what if you don't want to take a risk of having a child that might not be healthy - why not look into adoption, there are so many children out there that need homes. In the end, is the parent just trying to recreate the child that was lost? So yes, very thought provoking, but with no real answers, just more question really.

This book was a bit scary and hopeful at the same time. The things that can be done when genetically modifying DNA and the illnesses that can be eradicated can make us a world without genetic imperfections. The other side of the coin is also true that with genetic modifications when can make super humans which according to me will be wrong. This book explores genetic modifications to eliminate a specific disease and what can happen if 2 women's DNA are used to create one complete set of DNA with no abnormalities. I enjoyed reading this book and the roller coaster ride that it took me on. The only complaint about the book that I have is that whilst reading the book Abby sounded a lot older than the 10 years that she is in the book.
I would definitely recommend this book to readers of Psychological Thrillers.

Fast paced genetics thriller with a twist. Pitting grief, ambition, and ethics against one woman's desire to have a baby, Kira Peikoff spins a tale from the perspective of two loving parents, their daughter, and a woman whom mom and dad fear is hellbent on destroying their idyllic life. Claire and Ethan want a second child after having lost their son, Colton, due to a mitochondrial genetic defect. Robert and Jillian are the brilliant research partners striving to introduce the world to a concept designed to avoid that type of loss despite the ethical and legal obstacles facing them. Deception by several parties leads to the birth of a child who could make or break their careers while giving hope to parents such as Claire and Ethan.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Claire Abram’s dream turned into a nightmare when her beloved son, Colton, died at a young age due to a genetic DNA abnormality. Although her husband, Ethan, is desperate to try again for another child, Claire is reluctant to pass on the defective gene to another child. When Claire is introduced to cutting edge fertility Dr. Robert Nash and his protégé Jillian Hendricks, she finally sees a glimmer of hope. The pair have promised to help her and her husband have a child, without the genetic mutation that resulted in the death of her first son. Although the method is technically illegal, Claire is so desperate she goes against her husband’s coaxing and goes through with the procedure. When her beautiful daughter Abby is born, Claire all too quickly realizes that there was more involved in the fertility procedure than even she was told and now her life, and the life of her daughter, are at risk.
A scientific drama, “Mother Knows Best” by Kira Peikoff, takes the world genetic medication and turns it on its heels. A desperate mother, a savvy doctor, and his manipulative yet brilliant research student, is all it takes to make this novel a suspenseful tale of secrets and lies.
Claire is an easy character to like, as we see her struggles after the loss of her son, her mental breakdown and finally her fight to regain her sanity and protect her family. The story is told in alternate viewpoints from all of the female protagonists; Claire, Jillian and Abby, and is told in chronological order (which only deserves a mention because it is a process I have not seen in a while and I was starting to miss it!) .
Although thick with scientific language in parts, this story is addicting and entertaining. Each chapter flows seamlessly into the next, and not once does the plot slow down. The ending is expected and predictable, but not at all disappointing.
“Mother Knows Best” is a cutting-edge story, one that is almost futuristic in its scientific advancements (yet equally plausible) and as a result, terrifying.
A creative novel with a captivating plot and dark, damaged characters, “Mother Knows Best” is a powerful story that will draw you in right from page one, and will keep you guessing throughout.

Wow...
Thank you net galley & Kira Peikoff for the ARC.

The author kept me enthralled in this suspenseful tale of a mother attempting to protect her child and escaping the lies of her past. The story is told in excerpts/sequences of past, present and by each character, but seems to unfold much with Clair and Abby.
While there were moments that I felt could were lacking overall it was a great read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed this one as it is a medical thriller that envisions a world where one can change the DNA in an embryo to eliminate birth defects. Clair is devastated that her son died because of an abnormality, so she and her husband seek out a doctor and his assistant who can guarantee them this won't happen. But what does it mean when a child has three parents (2 eggs combined and the sperm from the father)? Daughter Abigail has no idea what her history is or why her mother is acting so strangely. Of course things unravel as the plot thickens, but it's a believable story that we may have to address in the future as we question the ethics of playing God with genetics.

This book was really well written. At first it seemed like it was going to be pretty predictable, but it totally wasn't. I really enjoyed it!

Claire wants a child so badly she is willing to put everything on the line. Her son Colton, died at the age of eight of mitochondrial disease. He inherited it from her DNA.
Then she hears of a new study where a hybrid egg, having two genetic mothers and one father could take care of any diseases.
The only thing is it is highly illegal. The ramifications would be a huge fine and imprisonment. Then any child would be under the stigma of being called all manners of derogatory names.
The decision is difficult. Will it be worth it?
Very interesting. I learned a lot about mitochondrial disease. The subject matter was researched and made the storyline excellent!
Recommended!

Mother Knows Best starts off kinda slow, but quickly speeds up until you're caught in the middle of the drama of running from the law and hiding yourself and your child.

"We do what we can to survive [and] we're stronger for it."

That pretty much sums up this psychological thriller that mixes science with a mysterious stalker and family drama.
After suffering the loss of her son due to a mitochondrial disease that she carries in her DNA, Claire will do anything to have another child--as long as it's healthy! As a mother who has lost a child, I understood Claire's pain and her grief and longing were so real to me. I might have done the same thing if I was in her position.
Anyway, she ends up having the world's first baby with DNA from 3 people and then she tells her husband and he's all "omg you broke laws and manipulated DNA and you're having a Frankenbaby" and he turns them all in and thus begins her run from the law.

Years later she's seen as an agoraphobic weirdo by her daughter Abbie who doesn't understand why her mom won't leave the house and go to her soccer games and why she's acting so weird about a DNA test her middle school class did. DUN DUN DUN!

You can guess a bit about what happens from here.

Mother Knows Best was an interesting read. I liked it, but I didn't find it fully believable. The science seemed believable enough because the author has a science degree and I know just the basics on DNA stuff anyways. I kept hearing Kendrick Lamar's DNA in my head the whole time I read this and that helped with my enjoyment of the book.

However, I couldn't help but think things worked a little too perfectly for the family. Like Abbie never needs to go to hospital or doctor or anything for the first 11 years of life? Or she does and they just never take her blood or anything? And Rob/Michael isn't angsty about not being one of the top doctor's in the world and is just fine being a woodworker?! Also, there was a random sex scene in the beginning that confused me because it didn't seem necessary, but whatever. The chapters alternate character's viewpoints which was fun, but a little hard to keep up with because they also bounce around in before and after timelines.

All in all, an intriguing science-y read that I'd rate 3.5 stars and recommend to people who need a little break from murder thrillers, but still, want that action.

A suspenseful, medical page turner that gets you hooked right in the first chapter. A definite recommendation! I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.