A cleverly-written story that keeps us guessing for a good long while!

Sienna Walker is back in Reno after leaving eleven years earlier with a broken heart. However, she doesn't have much time to dwell on the past when she's called to a murder scene on her first night. It's a murder that will bring her face to face with Gavin Decker, the one she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. It's a murder that is just the first loose thread that unravels some shocking secrets from the past; a history that is far too close to home.

This story was a great balance between suspense and romance. I loved the second chance that Sienna and Gavin had, and how they resolved what had happened to them in the past. Their unacknowledged feelings hovered beneath every interaction they had. I was engrossed in the murder story, and the puzzles and clues that needed to solved. And, the ending! There was pathos and symmetry and tears. Such a fantastic read!

Upon relocating to her hometown, Sienna Walker is assigned to a local murder case that makes her face the past. Though Gavin Decker now knows what was at stake so many years ago, he isn’t afraid to up the ante and make amends for the biggest mistake he made.

“And I wished… I wished I could have figured out a way to have it all without risking any of it.”

In this crime investigative, the narrative unfolds in third person allowing for a shifting point of view in the past and present. As clues continue to amass, the complexity of the killer’s motivations become evident pointing to his own trauma. With Sienna’s dedication and Gavin’s specific expertise, they band together in hopes of catching the killer and also coming full circle.

The pacing of this story was steady with certain chapters punctuating and elevating the tension. For me, those were the most intriguing, along with Gavin and Sienna revealing more about their past. The ending was appropriately bittersweet and the sacrifice strengthened a certain character arc.

Bad Mother is a story about revenge and second chances. This book would appeal to those seeking a crime investigate with a side of romance.

Mia Sheridan writes some amazing romance novels! And now I can say after reading Bad Mother, she writes some amazing mysteries! I could not put the pieces together until they were all give to me. I knew Gavin and his mother had to somehow be involved but was completely shocked when getting to the big reveal! Great read! Lots of puzzles/riddles to keep you guessing.

I love books from Mia Sheridan, her stories are unforgettable but this is the first time I have found a romantic thriller from her, and boy was this book brilliant. I don't read many romantic thrillers but I was hooked on this one from the start.

As soon as disgraced detective Sienna Walker returns to her home town she finds herself in the middle of a game of cat and mouse with a killer who seems to be more than familiar with her. I loved the romantic aspect of the story as Sienna was able to reconnect with her ex-fiance Gavin who is brought in to consult on the case. It really was more than creepy how personal this case became and much the killer knew about Sienna. The letters the killer left were chilling and the puzzles to be figured out were very cleverly done, leaving clues that were so frustrating.

It was impossible to figure out how this was going to end, and I have to say it was spectacular! What an amazing tangled web to be unravelled and my jaw dropped in shock more than once.

It was tough to put this book down I got so engrossed it despite the constant shivers and apprehension as to how it was going to turn out. Mia really keeps her audience on the edge of their seat with this book, and I think it would make a great movie. I really hope that Mia writes more like this as I am definitely a fan of this new direction she has taken.

This is a suspenseful thriller with a bit of romance. I think knowing it’s less romance than a suspense is important to understand going in. I knew, so I wasn’t disappointed that the romance is a small secondary storyline.
It’s a sinister and high stakes game and battle of the wits between a serial k!ller and police detectives Sienna and her new partner Kat.
Sienna had some “trouble” at her old police precinct, she transferred from NYC to Reno, Nevada which happens to be her hometown.
The k!ller leaves clues at the scenes and seems to be a step ahead of the police.
Then, Sienna’s childhood best friend/first love, Gavin gets involved in helping the police with the clues and it brings back past emotional pain for both, some intense chemistry and lingering attraction.
I liked the characters very much and I enjoyed the scenes between them. I felt I understood their connection, although I would have enjoyed more flashback scenes of their relationship in their youth to get the full emotional scope.
There are still a lot of feelings between the two and a very intense bond from their childhood.
The mystery in the story kept me intrigued and turning the pages fast. I was invested in this chilling, creepy game the serial k!ller was playing.
The story is fast paced until the final epic showdown, I felt it was a bit drawn out. I still really enjoyed this story. I love the author’s previous books and writing style.
I connected with the characters despite them not having a lot of deeper interactions or a lot of knowledge of their past relationship.
The end is bittersweet, there’s some very sad aspects and some hopeful.
I enjoyed this story, it was a nice change of pace for me.

Thank you Montlake and netgalley for this arc. It is e perfect crime thriller. Many points of view make the book really great. You can not put it down. I wish only for more romance part but can not have it all. I certenly reccomend the cat and mause thriller.

Sierra is returning to her home town of Reno after being fired from her job in the NYPD. She left behind a lot, people and memories when she left and coming back brings it all up to the surface. On her first day of the job she is called to a murder scene that turns out to lead to a serial killer targeting certain people and leaving a trail of clue like bread crumbs for her to figure out. The investigation will lead her into her past the the past of those she holds dear.

The intrigue of this novel was off the charts. I did not know where it was going or what was coming next. The puzzle of the murders was a rollercoaster and kept me focus on the story. Some parts dd seem a little too over the top and improbable, but over all this was a good read.

Whie this wasn't the typical "Mia Sheridan" read, this psychological thriller was full of twists and constantly kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. I was wholly invested in the story and the characters were lively and unique.

A serial killer is taunting detective Sienna. Can she sort through all the clues being left for her before she, herself, is in danger?

I enjoyed this psychological thriller so much more than I thought I would! The storyline had me invested right from the start and the clues involved in the mystery were a great addition. I had no way of predicting the amazing ending too - what a book! If you like good thrillers, make sure this one is on your list. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I liked that there was a small romantic element to the storyline too. This was my first book by Mia Sheridan but definitely won't be my last.

A GEM OF A THRILLER WITH A RIVETING CAT & MOUSE GAME

“Some people are monster magnets.”

The truth is always in plain sight if you know where to look.

Emotionally relentless, brilliantly complex, and rivetingly entertaining … Bad Mother pulls out all the stops in a genre-defining serial killer thriller with a heartbreaking side of love and romance that even makes the reader empathize with a terrifying villain, and sob like a baby at the end. Mia Sheridan’s fertile imagination delivers yet another spellbinding cat-and-mouse chiller steeped in mystery and romance with the power of hope and love at its core, especially the love of mothers and children, and the ability of love to transcend tragedy. Part procedural thriller, part second-chance romance, part path of revenge-salvation-redemption -- “love triumphs” fuels this journey of love lost and found. As much a whodunit as a whydunit with clues so intense, intricate, and deceptively twisted that the result is truly a Pandora’s Box of “reveals” that will have a reader guessing, second-guessing, and sobbing uncontrollably at the end, but rewarded with the most beautiful HEA. And that cover is absolutely DELISH.

As the new detective from New York, time is running out in this chilling game of wits between Det. Sienna Walker and a deviously sadistic serial killer in Reno … the last place that Sienna ever thought she would return. The case reunites her with former love -- “poker phenom” Gavin Decker and the drama of their trailer trash childhood. Somehow the killings are connected to them and each one hits closer and closer to home as the couples’ past history links to the present with mesmerizing and engrossing details. Despite an admirable survival of childhood and then professional success, Sienna still suffers with heartbreaking demons, but the couple’s reunion as soul mates and first loves gambling on a forever love made my heart swell. Gavin’s the only man who could make her believe in magic again with a swoony tie-in to swans mating for life. Spiraling tension grinds inexorably to a fast-paced and life-threatening conclusion that will have gamers and lovers of brainteasers enthralled.

The mysterious killer’s omniscient viewpoint is solidly enhanced by cryptic letters to Sienna with piecemeal clues about each murder that are needed to solve the case, and therein lies the rub. By end, clues twine deeper and tighter but only need reassembling to become crystal clear. The intricate page-turner kept me absorbed in one sitting and Ms. Sheridan nailed it with gotcha moments. Her enlightening optimism and faith in the power of love is unparalleled in fiction. While the sex meter is low, her trademark use of love and romance is high. You’ll come away thoroughly moved and satisfied by multiple relationships, and I bawled again uncontrollably at the uplifting epilogue. [Thanks to author, publisher Montlake and Netgalley for a copy of the book.]

Sienna is back in Reno after a mishap at her job in NYC. When she gets transferred to the Reno PD, almost immediately a serial killer strikes. A killer that seemingly has ties to her, and Gavin, her first and only love. Gavin is thrilled Sienna is back and hopes to make all the wrongs, right again. First they will have to survive a killer called Danny Boy.
This is romantic suspense, but I would say it is lighter on romance. The second chance between Gavin and Sienna was great and I am so happy they found their way back to one another but the book was a thriller first and foremost and it was a wild ride. I recommend this book to anyone that is a thriller reader and bought it for a friend even before I was done reading it. It is such a twisty thriller and I am so happy I couldn't see the twists coming and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
This book is so incredibly intense that I had to take breaks. It made me feel all sorts of emotions and not all of them great, but all of them heavy. Check trigger warnings before you read.
Thank you to Montlake, Mia Sheridan and Netgalley for an early copy.

5 stars!

I love Mia Sheridan's romances and I lover her thrillers so it's no surprise that I loved Bad Mother. It is the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and suspense and gives us an unputdownable psychological thriller.

Sienna Walker grew up and fell in love in Reno, Nevada but left when her heart was broken. She went on to become a successful detective and loves working with the NYPD. However, when her job is threatened, she is reassigned to the one place she vowed to never return. She takes a case that proves bigger than she expected and Sienna must work with the one man she never wanted to see again if she is going to solve the case.

I loved the way the story unfolds. Romance-wise we have a wonderful second chance romance and thriller-wise we have a murder mystery with clues that don’t quite add up. The romance is great. I felt the pain from the past and love the healing in the present. Sienna and Gavin never quite got over their first love and I felt that their connection which was still very much alive when they meet again. It's a slow burn romance that grows the more time they spend together, and add in the case and their feelings heighten as they must once again trust each other. It's beautiful when they allow themselves a second chance.

The mystery/thriller part of the story is so well written and dominates the story in the best way. It’s the case that brings Sienna and Gavin back together and one that is twisted and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you try to discover just what the killer wants us to know and why Sienna is specifically pulled into it. It’s clever and entertaining and unputdownable. I was sucked in from the moment it started and the case and murderer got under my skin and creeped me out. I felt Sienna and Gavin's fear but also their determination and I wanted to keep them safe . I was left guessing until the end when everything comes to light. I loved the way things were connected and how the past, present, and future are all so important.

Overall, it is fast paced and entertaining. The ending is a shocker but once you know who the killer is, all the clues come together and I loved it.

4 Stars!
Sienna Walker loves her job as a homicide detective, but suddenly finds herself at the center of controversy and in a complicated situation that has her leaving New York and going back to her hometown. She’d sworn Reno, Nevada was the last place she’d ever return to, but now she’s taking a position at the Reno Police Department. She’s working a new murder case with her new partner when she crosses paths with her childhood best friend. Gavin Decker broke her heart and she hasn’t seen him in eleven years. Now they are just two strangers who’d once been soulmates. She doesn’t have time for a walk down memory lane. She has a case to solve, and a serial killer to catch. He’s leaving letters and clues for them while playing a twisted game of cat and mouse. Soon everything is feeling more personal as the killer seems to be fixated on her. Will the past she worked so hard to leave behind finally catch up to her?

Bad Mother by Mia Sheridan is a unique, romantic suspense thriller full of mystery, intrigue and a serial killer that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s about destiny, first loves, unexpected connections and second chances. In typical Mia Sheridan fashion, this story will captivate you from start to finish.

Happy release day!

Bad Mother is a romantic thriller, I’d say more thriller than romance honestly, but totally captivating. The characters were well developed, the plot interesting and the ending satisfying. It was disturbing and creepy but also offered a little hope. This is the second book I’ve read from this author, the first being Archer’s Voice, and it was quite different. I love when an author so fluidly writes across genres.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story. The opinions above are my own and this is my honest review

4.5/5 stars

Mia Sheridan is one of my favorite authors. So I was beyond excited that she wrote another romantic suspense (her Where The Blame Lies duology is one of my favorites).

This book is about Sienna Walker. She's a detective who was transferred from her job in New York to Reno, Nevada.

This book is super creepy and disturbing. It features a serial killer. There was one part that I partially predicted. But overall this was such a thrilling and riveting read. And the romance was really good. I would definitely recommend this book!

Detective Sienna Walker just got transferred back to Reno where she grew up and never intended to return. Her past still haunts her, but she is thrust right into duty in the hunt for a murderer.

And it brings her into contact with her previous childhood best friend and first love, Gavin Decker. He is intelligent, charismatic, and completely shocked that she is back in town

Things did not end well for them over a decade ago and there are still secrets, hurt feelings, guilt, and anger. But there is also an undeniable connection, shared history, and a bond forged in challenging life circumstances.

And now it seems like they are being led on a chase and it could possibly be personal. Or the killer could just be playing with the new cop on the news.

This book is part murder mystery and part second-chance romance. There is a game of cat and mouse being played. Clues are left for them all to try to interpret to find the next piece of the puzzle. It is a race to outwit and outplay the other with the killer having a distinct advantage. It is raw, gritty, and keeps you guessing. There are twists, turns, and surprises. I liked Sienna, her new partner, Kat, and Gavin. They are all smart, intuitive, and help each other put complex clues together. It is heavier on the thriller aspect than the romance, but I still felt the connection between Sienna and Gavin.

Another fun, twisty and turny thriller from the best of the best... Mia Sheridan!! I absolutely adored this story from start to finish and could not put it down. The ending had me shook and I LOVED the epilogue! SO GOOD!

Wow!!!!! By this book author left me not only speechless but also so surprised. Bad Mother is full of suspense with tons of secrets, that's hidden in every corner - I loved it so much !

I haven't read in a long time book like Bad Mother. The criminal aspect with romantic suspense was unforgettable. I couldn't put this book down. From one page to another one author had lead me thru the web of lies and dramatic events. It this kind of story that You want to devour in 3 seconds, but from other side You want it to least forever.

The story line, the characters were perfectly matched, and Mia's is leaving me another millionth time with one big book hangover hidden in the corner.

Must read alert.

Wow! This was so much more than I expected. It's full of action and suspense. The characters are fantastic. I loved Gavin, and Sienna was complex. I was completely blown away by the big reveal! This author didn't disappoint. I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Mia Sheridan is one of my all-time favorite authors and I eagerly anticipate any new releases. Bad Mother is her latest romantic suspense novel, and it did not disappoint. The story follows Sienna Walker, a detective who is forced to return to her hometown of Reno, Nevada, and her ex-fiancé Gavin Decker, who now works as the head of security for a casino. When Sienna is assigned to a murder case, she and Gavin are thrown together, and their complicated past is brought to the surface.

“I haven’t been living, Sienna, not really,” he breathed between kisses. “Not until now.”

The suspense element in Bad Mother is incredibly well-crafted, and I was completely invested in the outcome of the murder case. While I had an inkling of who the killer might be, the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing until the very end. Sienna and Gavin's relationship is complicated, and I appreciated how the author slowly revealed their past and allowed them to work through their issues. Their chemistry is palpable, and I was rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

Sheridan's writing is as captivating as ever, and she effortlessly weaves together romance and suspense. The ending of the book is both heartbreaking and hopeful, and I found myself tearing up as I turned the final pages. Overall, Bad Mother is a must-read for fans of romantic suspense, and I can't wait to see what Mia Sheridan has in store for us next.