Another 24 hours, another book I blew through, staying up irresponsibly late in the process! I had put off reading this one for a while, and now I am kicking myself. I think it's b/c I wasn't sure what to expect from the sci-fi elements and while I am a huge sci-fi fan, when I've wanted a domestic suspense/pure thriller read, I've gravitated toward other books rather than this one, just in case. Huge mistake!

So if you've been on the fence about this one because you're unsure how much sci-fi is in the thriller, I can firmly say: this is basically 95% domestic/psychological suspense and 5% near-future sci-fi premise. Much like the mitochondrial DNA in the book, the sci-fi of this is the secondary donor, not the primary parent lol. (I amuse myself)

I picked it up resolving to read just a few chapters to see how I felt. I read up to the 60% mark in one go, staying up WAY past my bedtime. I was fully engrossed. The book is multi-POV, first person in each one as you are immersed: Claire is an older mom with a tragic past (her first child died because she passed down a devastating genetic mutation) whose chapters alternate between past and present, Abby is her 11-year-old daughter in the present, and Jillian is a brilliant if... unbalanced post-doc.

In the past, Claire and her husband go to Dr. Rob Nash for IVF and behind her bioethicist husband's back, Claire asks for an experimental genetic procedure where the healthy mitochondrial DNA of another woman (Jillian) is used with the rest of Claire's DNA to create a healthy baby. Meanwhile, flashing 12 years in the future, her daughter Abby does one of those DNA matching things for a school project and discovers a "cousin" who insists on meeting her. In Claire's POV, we know it's Jillian, that things went down VERY badly in the past, and she's dangerous. In Abby's POV, she's frustrated with her weird, over-protective mom and goes behind her back to get in contact with her "cousin." So it's tense for the reader because WE know Abby is in danger. And we follow the narrative in the past of Claire going to Dr. Nash and Jillian and it builds up to Claire going on the run.

As I said, I was engrossed. I loved the deeply emotional, personal stakes of a woman terrified of passing on a deadly mutation to another child, and then things spiraling out of control with her husband, the authorities, Jillian. Jillian is a fairly stock sociopath, but I love that trope, so I'm not mad. I also LOVE "going on the run/hiding out" tension, which this has in spades.

My only quibbles, which are quibbles: in Abby's POV chapters she sometimes felt way older than 11. Particularly toward the end, she oscillates between a prenatural maturity and full-on goofy kidness. It was the kind of thing that made me squint a bit, kicking me out of the book for a microsecond, but nothing that ruined it. I think especially as a YA writer, there were moments where Abby felt closer to a young adult character, where she'd have made more sense as a 13, 14, or 15-year-old.

And then, man, would I have loved a bit more romantic tension. This quibble is 100% subjective, and only b/c "on the run and falling in love" is a FAVORITE of mine. It's more implied backstory here, and just would have loved a bit more in some of the flashbacks. But oh well!

Overall a super engrossing suspense read with a thread of near-future science that adding some great conflict/tension. Readers wary of sci-fi, don't be! This is firmly footed in thriller/suspense genre and the sci-fi elements are additive. In terms of recent readalikes, this reminded me of The Rumor by Kara Lesley, and in some ways of Shari Lapena, in that readers who enjoy that kind of domestic suspense would enjoy this.

3 Stars.

A Three Parent Baby? Does that sound just plain Crazy or is it the Future?

In “Mother Knows Best” I think you’ll find that perhaps it’s both!

When Claire’s first son passes away from Mitochondrial Disease she is devastated, especially as she carried the gene and passed it on to him. Desperate to get pregnant again, she finds a way to get what she wants. Hearing of experimental treatment that has not yet been approved, she approaches the doctor who is working a scientific procedure to create a Three Parent Baby! One who would only get healthy genes! Can you say Voila? Enter Abigail.

Years later, after her parents start acting strange, Abigail starts to suspect something is awry. When she “accidentally” discovers what it is, Abby is flummoxed. Who woulda thought? Once Abby discovers her parent’s secret, danger awaits and a game of cat and mouse begins.

“Mother Knows Best” takes genetic mutation and spins it on its head. It’s a character driven mystery that admittedly had me scratching mine at times. It started off brilliantly and definitely got my attention though somewhere down the line I felt like it lost its way a bit. This was my first read by Kira Peikoff and it most certainly won’t be my last.

This was a buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kira Peikoff for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 10.27.19.

This was such an amazing read that I couldn’t put it down. It went everywhere with me. To the doctors office, the dentist, the eye doctor. IT WENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE. I was so sad when it ended that I immediately went and bought more books from this author!

What did I just read??? Wow, I'm not sure how to feel about that.....it was DEFINITELY DIFFERENT!! It was an easy, quick read that took me only a couple of days to finish. The book centered around genetic engineering in humans. Mom Claire will do anything to protect her child (after losing a son earlier) and the 3rd person in the parent triangle, Jillian, has vowed to get revenge on the two people who took her daughter into hiding after she went to prison to pay for what they all did. The now 10-year-old girl, Abigail, feels that something is not right and wants some answers! Cue the drama in this psychological thriller!
Thanks to Kira Peikoff, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this crazy ride of a book!

Claire Abrams' world crashed when her mitochondrial DNA passed along a mutation that eventually killed her son, Colton, when he was eight. It devastated Claire and her husband, Ethan. But then Claire discovers Dr. Robert Nash, a fertility doctor who is working with his young research scientist, Jillian Nash, to create the first baby with three genetic parents. This allows Claire to have a healthy baby. The fact that it's currently illegal doesn't stop the trio, but eventually news of their feat leaks, and Claire goes into hiding, joined by Robert. Years later, young Abby lives a sheltered life with her parents, including a mom who barely wants to leave the house. And then there's Jillian, who served a prison sentence for her work on the experiment. She's determined to get credit for her science, and nothing will stop her.

"It is impossible to tell that my beautiful girl is the first of her kind. Even she doesn't know."

I found this book totally addictive. Yes, it's a little crazy at times, but it was a real page-turner, and it had me glued to the pages. I loved Abby, who gets her own turn at telling her story, and I even liked Claire, even if I questioned some of her decisions at times. As someone who has been through IVF, a lot of this story hit close to home, and I could understand and empathize with what was going on, even if the plotline was far more far-fetched than anything that has occurred in my own life. But the ultimate themes of family, searching for a place to belong, and the desire to have safe and healthy children--those are universal.

The book certainly raises some interesting ethical questions. It keeps the science fairly simple, so it's easy to follow along and understand. It makes you think, and with Ethan and Claire on two starkly opposing sides, it lets you put yourself in their shoes and wonder what you would do in a similar situation. The multiple narrators--including Abby, Claire, and Jillian--work well, too.

At the same time, much of the book is an adrenaline filled thriller, with crazy characters and wild situations. I figured out some of the pieces, but it always kept me guessing and interested. I was definitely fascinated and mesmerized, wondering what on earth was going to happen next.

"But someone out there will never give up searching. Someone who's long out of prison, whose name I can't bear to utter or think."

There were a few slightly crazy moments, and I think the ending wrapped up a little too easily, but I liked it, so all is well. This book was exactly what I needed--an addictive read with an interesting story that kept me interested. 4 stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, this is a good book, but I'm left disappointed. It started off great, I was fully absorbed, very eager to read it and find out what happened next, but then I noticed that stopped. It totally hit a wall, slowed down and I was bummed out. I would still recommend.

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Claire and her husband Ethan are still devastated over the loss of their son Colton from a condition caused by Claire's mitochondrial DNA. Though they have tried to heal from it they are not doing well. Ethan wants another child but Claire is afraid of giving birth to another child destined to die at a young age.. Even though Claire knows it is unfair she is afraid that she could not love a child that is not hers by blood as much. Then one day while on her support board Mito Moms someone mentioned something that makes Claire change her mind as she comes up with a plan to have a biological child after all. She decides to go to Robert Nash a Doctor working on creating a child with DNA from 3 people. She gives birth to a miraculous daughter named Abby.

This is a very well written psychological/medical thriller. It is a quick, easy read and goes along fairly predictable for awhile and then all of the sudden things get INSANE and I mean that in a good way!

What lengths would you go to have a perfectly healthy child? Would you step over the line, outside the law? Give up everything?

All Claire wants is a healthy baby. Having tragically lost one child to a genetic mitochondrial disorder she’s not taking any chances! She is fully prepared to do whatever it takes to see that her child is free of the insidious genetic disorder! Oh Claire, if only you realized...everything comes at a price!

Kira Peikoff writes a captivating and intriguing novel that will lock you right in for the entire journey. While I had most of the twists figured out early, it most certainly didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

Is it far-fetched...maybe. Or perhaps these futuristic elements are closer than we think!

This was my first read from this author but I will definitely be on the lookout for her next release!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kira Peikoff for an ARC to read and review.

The beginning started out strong. It eventually slowed down and I was a little disappointed, but it was still a good read. I definitely want to read more of Kira Peikoff!

This was definitely an "wtf did I just read?!" kind of book, but in a good way. It should be so over the top - a child that has 3 genetic parents, one who is an adamant anti-gene editing ethicist, one who has had a mental break and frequently imagines she sees her dead son, and one who is a vindictive, obsessive lab assistant. Plus the doctor who is the brains behind this crazy scheme. There are legal and ethical questions, slow burning and in-your-face suspense, and a couple of plot twists that will leave you with your jaw on the floor. It should be laughably ridiculous, but actually it was great fun. Maybe a bit over the top, but nonetheless and enjoyably mindless read that will give you a few things to think about—so maybe not so mindless after all.

The first half was excellent: suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling, science-y. The subject matter was interesting dinner-table talk and the writing style was easily consumed. Once I focused solely on this book (I read way too many at a time), I flew through it.

The second half went downhill quick, though: boring, predictable, characters-suddenly-have-no-backbone, overall-a-bit-lame. I ended up skimming the last quarter or so.

This is my first book by Kira Peikoff, so I will definitely be giving her another try.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for a free digital galley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story of a mother's anguish over the death of a child, a reclusive family trying to protect their child, medical advances and medical ethics, and revenge. The characters were well developed. While I sympathized with Claire I found her a bit annoying. Her first husband, a bit of a jerk, followed his ethical standards then got lost in the shuffle. Her new husband seemed to go along with Claire in protecting their daughter. Jillian, the lab assistant, was rather diabolical and not very nice. I felt sorry for Dr Nash. He was working on this great new discovery that could change medicine but he got involved with Claire and Jillian, which led to his downfall. The medical advance was one that could be extremely beneficial to humankind or could be used in unethical ways for personal gain. (Aren't they all?) I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't a thrill-a-minute type thriller but the characters and story were engaging and kept me reading late into the night. I found the author's style quite readable and look forward to reading more of her work. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to read and review.

You're desperate for a child after your son dies due to a genetic defect in mitochondrial DNA. What lengths would you go through and what would you endure to get a healthy baby? Claire is willing to do anything...

Claire finally talks her husband, Ethan, into IVF under the treatment of Dr. Robert Nash, a fertility specialist with one of the highest success rates. She, however, doesn't tell her husband about the secret agreement she enters into with Nash and his assistant and lover, Dr. Jillian Hendricks. The upshot: they obtain an egg from Claire, use Jillian's mitochondria along with the healthy nucleus from Claire, and fertilize it, reimplant it, and VOILA. Claire gets pregnant. The only problem is that genetic engineering is illegal and is banned in the USA. When Claire tells Ethan about having the procedure, he reports Nash and Hendricks, kicks Claire out, and she goes on the run -- to Nash. Eleven years later, Claire, Nash and the child, Abby, are living under false names. Guess who shows up to reclaim the daughter she feels is partly hers -- yes, Jillian. NO SPOILERS.

The science is real and written to be easily understood but believe me when I say that you will have to suspend a lot of disbelief with regard to the domestic drama in this book. It was a very fast read and a medical thriller is one of my favorite types of novels. My issue was that I didn't really care for the narrative style using 3 points of view. I also found the characters really hard to like and root for. In fact, I really didn't want the totally predicable ending I got, but c'est la vie. The stereotypical portrayal of good and evil is just too pat and the behavior exhibited by all of these unlikeable people put me off. As far as the topic of whether or not genetic manipulation is moral or ethical, I'll leave you to make your own conclusions. This subject would make for a lively book group discussion.

I've read all of this author's books because I like the genre and the science part but I've always come away with a disappointed feeling that I can't help but think is due to the wrap up and the way that I'm never sure that the characters got what they deserved. The crazy part of me always sort of roots for the one who is portrayed as not have any redeeming qualities when, in fact, there are usually some mitigating circumstances (or people) that conspired to bring them to that point. So, yes, I do think one of them got very short shrift. But, it's not my book and I'll leave that there.

Will I read another by this author? Yes. I can separate myself from some of the plot points and enjoy the science and I do love delving into those moral and ethical quandaries and questions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I can't wait to read more reviews and reactions to this novel. (less) [edit]

FIVE Thought Provoking and Suspenseful stars!

”The entire fifth-grade class participated in a genetic experiment through the company MapMyDNA. Each person spit into a tube and received a report of their inherited traits, like whether they had detached earlobes or could taste bitter flavors. We felt cornered into letting her participate. It was easier than answering the questions that would follow, but the test came and went without a hitch."

Or did it?

***********
Mother Knows Best by Kira Peikoff is a unique, original and thought provoking novel that I thoroughly enjoyed!
As is usually the case, I went into the story "blind" without re-reading the blurb so to say that "that is not what I was expecting" is an understatement! In a good way!
The characters, storyline, and pace of this book were very well put together. What impressed me most was how the fictional story blended seamlessly with the scientific research and process behind DNA manipulation. The information was technical, detailed, and informative without being overdone with scientific jargon that would lose the reader. For such a complex topic, Kira Peikoff did an outstanding job!
This is one of those books that I won't soon forget!

With thanks and appreciation to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Kira Peikoff for giving me this advanced digital copy to read and review.

Part science fiction and part thriller, this book started out fast and kept its quick pace throughout. Claire Abrams wants a baby without genetic weaknesses that killed her firstborn son, Colton. She turns to genetic researcher, Dr. Robert Nash, for help in having a child without the mitochondrial disorder that runs in her family. Together with his brilliant and devious lab assistant Jillian, Dr. Nash is able to impregnate Claire with a baby, but his unauthorized research is discovered, so he has to go into hiding. He takes Claire with him and leaves Jillian to face the repercussions. Fast forward eleven years and we have a very angry and vengeful Jillian, fresh out of prison. The book is told in first person, from the POV of various characters and flashes from the past to the present. The short chapters made it an easy book to read, even though books with so much sci-fi usually do not interest me. The psychological thriller part of this book grabbed me and kept me interested until the end, even though I had predicted what that end would be. Fans of trillers with a scientific bent will really enjoy this book!

Mother Knows Best is a well written medical + domestic thriller set in New York State about the lengths two very different women to achieve their heart’s desire using groundbreaking reproductive technology. It was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it, despite the very predictable plot twists and overly convenient ending. I had not come across this author before but would be open to reading more of her work.

Science journalist Claire has been hiding away in the country for eleven years, terrified of the day her nemesis, Jillian Hendricks, will come for her daughter, Abby, and reveal her dark secret - that Abby is the world’s first three-parent child. Conceived in an illegal experiment by IVF, Abby is the result of a new technique, designed to prevent the transmission of the damaged mitochondrial DNA that killed Claire’s first son, Colton, leaving her emotionally shattered and desperate for another baby, but only if it will be healthy. The reproductive specialist, Robert Nash, only wants to help carriers to safely become parents, but his manipulative assistant Jilly sees Abby’s birth as a route to fame, fortune and a relationship with a handsome doctor, so when her plan goes awry and she is left to take the fall, she plans her revenge...

Told in first person present by Claire and Jillian, both in the past and today, and 11 year old Abby now, this was both a strength of the narrative as we get to witness the same situation from three very different viewpoints, but meant I had very little sympathy for any of them as both adults are monstrously selfish, as well as reckless and idiotic - and Abby is not much better. Each does whatever she wants with no regard for the consequences for anyone else, then will blithely lie to get out of trouble.

The author has framed the medical discovery (which is real, although I don’t know how far the technology has been used to date in humans) as a breakthrough unreasonably stifled by conservative American moral concerns, thereby leading to unnecessary suffering. Personally, while I have sympathy for affected families, rules and close monitoring are there for a reason, and the way the trio go about creating Abby is unforgivable.

Of course it all turns out fine for the purposes of a (spoiler alert) happy ending but it does not excuse what they did and the outcome could’ve been very different. No one has a right to a baby especially not when the process is driven by such unethical reasons. I don’t think you need any knowledge of genetics or medicine - or even to understand what mitochondria are, to enjoy this, as the author does an excellent job of explaining the process without extraneous or boring details, but educating readers about medical developments which we are sure to hear more about in the future.

The build up of tension was very well done, as we doubt Claire’s sanity and wonder exactly how far the deranged Jilly will go when she finally turns up. I found many of the characters’ actions to be completely implausible, but if you suspend disbelief and go along for the ride, and are happy to accept the highly contrived ending, this is a good read. I was going to round my 3.5 down for the FPP but am feeling generous so 4 stars it is. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc which allowed me to give an honest review, and apologies for missing the publication deadline which was last week.

› Mother Knows Best begins with Claire visiting the Natural History Museum with husband, Michael, and daughter, Abby. Claire doesn't leave the house much, this is a special trip they take each year in memory of her son, Colton, who passed away before Abby was born. Colton died from a mitochondrial disease when he was eight years old. Abby didn't tell her parents that she had arranged to meet someone at the museum who she met through the online DNA sharing website. On the steps of the museum, Claire sees J, someone she's been hiding from for a long time. She and Michael quickly take Abby home without telling her why.

Using flashbacks and multiple perspectives we find out who J is, and what happened to make Claire so afraid of the outside. Abby will also do very sneaky things in an effort to figure out her mother's past, who J is, and why she shares DNA with a stranger. Claire shares the great lengths she took, with the help of Dr. Nash and his assistant Jillian, to create the world's first baby with three genetic parents.

› Likes 😻
• The controversial DNA science is interesting and would provide great discussions for book clubs reading this.
• This is a fast-paced, quick read with a unique plot.

› Dislikes
• The characters felt a little flat, I honestly can't pick a favourite.
• The synopsis provides too much information. It's listed as a Mystery/Thriller on Netgalley, but this is definitely not a mystery. It also didn't really feel like a thriller. It's more of a suspense...maybe sci-fi?
• The ending was rushed and left me feeling unsatisfied.

› Final Thoughts
• I really wanted to like Mother Knows Best. The cover is fantastic (the braid representing DNA strand is creative), and the story had so much potential but it just wasn't for me. However, there are many people who've LOVED this book, so who do I recommend this to? Well...if you like family secrets, lies, and stories about how far a mother will go for her child - then this is for you. If you want a mystery or an unexpected twist - this isn't for you. Sure there's science, but it's not a medical mystery or medical thriller. It's more of a suspense/family drama. If you're looking for a novel that will provoke discussion for a book club - then YUP this is a great choice!


Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mother Knows Best is a blisteringly-paced thriller that delves deep into questions about family and science, as well as exploring how far we’ll go to protect our nearest and dearest.

A scientist illegally edits human DNA to help a mother conceive a healthy baby. But those actions carry steep consequences and lead to a deadly secret that haunts a family across the generations.

KIra Peikoff brings her extensive scientific knowledge to the pages of this taut, smart, and compelling novel.

A totally unique read for me, this is a novel not to be missed!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I found Mother Knows Best to be pretty interesting although it was a little bit predictable in the suspense part for me. Claire's mitochondrial DNA carried a disease that killed her little boy. With her husband wanting them to have a child again, Claire is scared that her mitochondrial DNA will once again pass on to another child and she cannot bear to lose another child. She seeks out a certain fertility doctor who has done research and he, his research assistant and Claire attempt an illegal experiment that will create a child with three genetic parents. So basically this child has the DNA of 2 mothers and a father.  Those of us who regularly read thriller/suspense novels know that this will be trouble in the future.

The story is told from three different points of view - Claire, Jillian (the research assistant) and Abigail (she's the child) and is told in the present tense and the past.  Abigail gets one of those home DNA kits and you know that spells trouble.  Overall I really liked this book even though it was a little predictable for me. The book held my interest and was pretty quick to read. I think that I would give it 4 stars.

“MOTHER KNOWS BEST” BY Kira Peikoff

Claire Abrams is a journalist who carries a rare genetic mutation that is passed down to her offspring. The death of her son Colton 8 yo was so devastating for her that lead to her depression and desperation. The only way she can have a child is if there is a way to genetically alter her DNA. Through her support group, she found and connected with Dr. Robert Nash, a brilliant fertility IVF doctor and Jillian Hendricks, a Harvard trained researcher who were able to genetically manipulate DNA from 3 people, which is not only against the law but also highly unethical. Claire’s husband Nathan who is head of Ethics at Columbia discovered what happened and reported the crime which leads to criminal charges for the three. Jillian serves three years in prison, while pregnant Claire and Dr. Nash flee and hide with new identities. Abby, Claire’s daughter, grows up very healthy and have made it to her double digits surpassing Colton. One of Abby’s class assignment is to send their DNA swab sample. The results lead to more questions from Abby and the unfolding of the secrets Claire and Nash tried to hide from over a decade ago is now catching up to them. Jillian over the years has been planning her revenge and will not stop at nothing to get back what she felt was taken from her and the injustice she suffered through.

MOTHER KNOWS BEST is a fantastic and fast-paced read about a hot topic that is current and timely regarding designer DNA and the ethical questions on these scientific advancements. Besides the unique premise, the book is an amazing psychological thriller that focuses on moral dilemmas, ethical questions, and the cost people go through to get what they want. The story is told in alternating narratives between Claire, Jillian and Abby. Claire and Jillian’s narrative tells about the past and present viewpoints. The stories by both these women were told with such amazing passion and visceral emotion that will keep you turning the pages unable to put down for major cliffhangers between the story lines. Abby’s narrative tells of the lies and deception that is affecting the family dynamics and relationships of the characters connecting the women’s stories. I enjoyed the action pack sequence and some of the eye-opening and gasping surprises that Peikoff added to the story line. I was captivated from the beginning and did not let go until I devoured this book to the end. I highly enjoyed this read and recommend it highly!!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and objective review.