My book club chose this book, way back when it was first being advertised. It was not mentioned anywhere that this was the 11th installment in a series.

I went into this book with an open mind and hoped that it would be that I hadn't read the previous books. I was hooked by the main mystery storyline, but I felt like I needed more backstory. I truly think I would have enjoyed this book more if I read the earlier books. It is still doable as a standalone, but it felt like I was missing information.

My reading journey ebbed and flowed, with some parts of the story dragging and others holding my attention.

When innkeeper Dorthe Hyllested is found murdered, the police are surprised and puzzled to discover a concealed nursery in her upstairs apartment. As far as her friends and family knew, the recently widowed Dorthe was childless—so who lived in this secret toy-strewn room? And more importantly, where is the child now? Detective Louise Rick has just taken on a challenging new job as head of the freshly created Mobile Task Unit, which is charged with solving the most difficult cases all over Denmark. With Dorthe’s murder as her first investigation and the clock ticking to find the missing child and Louise learns she must cobble together a brand-new, unproven team from a group of officers she’s never met. Worst of all, the case will necessitate collaborating with the Missing Persons Department—which will mean working closely with Louise’s former fiancé, Eik.

With no witnesses to Dorthe’s murder and no real leads, and an unproven and potentially untrustworthy team behind her, Louise finds herself grasping at unlikely connections—but the twisted story she begins to uncover turns out to be darker and more dangerous than she ever imagined. . I admit to never having heard of the author from Denmark, but love her writing, descriptions of Denmark, and her characterizations. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to yet another author that I will now be following!. .

A Mother's Love by Sarah Blaedel is the 11th installment in the Detective Louise Rick series. While this novel has a plot that is unique to this story, it would be beneficial to read all of the books in the series in order to understand the characters and references to things in earlier books.

When the body of Dorthe, a recently widowed innkeeper is found, Detective Louise Rick is called in to investigate. Upon searching the inn, a concealed nursery is revealed in which it is clear that a child was living there. But Dorthe is childless, so who is this child and where are they? Can Louise and her partner find the murderer and the missing child?

This was the first book by Sarah Blaedel that I have read, so while I understood the plot and the twists, I was missing out on some deeper character development that I am sure I would have gotten had I read the other books in the series. Overall, I think that this was a pretty good Scandinavian Noir police procedural that kept me engaged and interested in seeing how it all tied up at the end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Blaedel, and Dutton Books for this ARC!! Released on March 11th 2025.

2.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Dutton Books for the advanced reading copy!

I wanted to like this one, but just didn't. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't say I really enjoyed it. The start was soooo boring and I could not get into it at all. Switching to the audio, plus reading this for book club, is probably the only reason that I finished it.

There were lots of characters, and this felt confusing at times. There being so many storylines was both interesting and overwhelming -- I often felt like I had missed something throughout the story. While some twists and turns were surprising and interesting, this book overall felt like reporting facts rather than setting the scene/creating a story. The pacing as pretty slow and didn't have a lot of pizzaz, plus the ending left me unsatisfied.

Overall, I wouldn't say that this was terrible by any means, it just was not for me!

When I requested a copy of this book to review, I thought that the plot sounded very interesting, one thing I did not know however, was that this book is technically the 11th book in a series. That being said, it can technically be read as a standalone. The actual plot of the story is unique to the book, but there will be characters and references to things that happened in other books that did leave me a little confused. As for the storyline itself. There were plenty of plot twists to keep the story entertaining, but there was so much going on and I think some of them especially some of the stuff with the church at the end wasn't really necessary to the actual story.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback

Another in the series of Louis Rick...a Danish police procedural. She's grown on me, love the setting, and enjoyed following her work again

Had a lot of trouble getting into this book, had to DNF for now will probably come back to it later and try again. Usually love this Author so it must have just been bad timing on my part

he setting in Denmark gives this book an atmospheric feeling. There is a missing child, a gay man's suicide and a mysterious gay club financed by some wealthy people. This is all handed to the Traveling Squad-an investigative team sent to help local authorities. Definitely aa Nordic gritty story!

Such a gripping novel that left me thinking for a long time after reading it. Due to the themes of the book, I had to take a few breaks while reading before I could come back to it but even during those breaks I kept thinking about it. It had me wanting to come back to it, which is a good sign for a book. The characters I feel could have been developed a little more as I found it a little hard to connect with them, but it did not take too much away from the plot itself. All in all a solid read that will stick with me for some time.

A promising start with an intriguing premise, but the characters never really developed enough for me to care about them and the plot was a bit too farfetched.

A twisty and emotional thriller that hooked me in and caught my attention at every turn of the page! I really had so many suspicions but was totally wrong!! It will definitely keep you guessing!!


Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I suspect this series is quite a good Danish murder mystery series; unfortunately I picked up this one and did not start at the beginning. While the mystery of a murdered woman and a missing child is solid, there’s a lot of characters and little background on them, since author has had many books previous to this one to develop these characters. To enjoy this one, for me, I’d have to read other books starting at number one.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sara Blaedel, often hailed as Denmark's Queen of Crime, delivers yet another gripping narrative in "A Mother's Love", a novel that delicately balances suspense, emotion, and human vulnerability. In this work, Blaedel ventures into the haunting intersections of familial bonds and dark secrets, crafting a story that lingers long after the last page is turned.

Dorthe Hyllested thought to be a childless innkeeper is found murdered with a room filled with children's clothes and toys. To confront her family's hidden past, the narrative becomes a labyrinth of buried truths, confronting readers with the lengths to which people will go to protect those they love—or themselves. Blaedel’s ability to intertwine the personal and the mysterious sets this book apart, as it becomes not just a quest for answers but a profound exploration of identity and sacrifice.

Dorthe Hyllested's journey is both heart-wrenching and empowering. Her evolution from a woman burdened by familial resentment to someone who embraces her role as a seeker of truth feels authentic and deeply relatable.

Blaedel’s prose is precise and evocative, painting vivid scenes of Denmark's landscapes while immersing readers in the tense, claustrophobic atmosphere of unresolved family dynamics. Themes of betrayal, loyalty, and redemption weave seamlessly through the narrative, offering not just a suspenseful mystery but a resonant meditation on the complexity of human relationships.

The pacing of "A Mother's Love" is exquisitely calibrated. Blaedel knows when to let the emotional weight of a moment sink in and when to quicken the pace with a startling revelation. While the twists and turns are plentiful, the heart of the novel remains firmly rooted in its characters—flawed, real, and achingly human.

Blaedel's "A Mother's Love" is a poignant and chilling exploration of the ties that bind us, for better or worse. Fans of psychological suspense and emotionally rich storytelling will find this novel to be a deeply satisfying read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. Innkeeper Dorothe is found murdered and Louise is hired to find out what happened. This book was a highly anticipated read for me and I really enjoyed it.

Sara Blaedel delivers a gripping and emotionally charged thriller in A Mother’s Love, a novel that taps into every parent’s worst nightmare. From the very first pages, the story takes off with an intense and unsettling premise, refusing to let go until the final moments.

Blaedel’s writing is both sharp and immersive, drawing readers into a world where suspense and raw emotion collide. She masterfully balances intricate storytelling with deeply human characters, making the fear and desperation feel all too real. The pacing is relentless—just when you think you can take a breath, another shocking turn pulls you deeper into the mystery.

This novel is not just a thriller; it’s an exploration of the powerful, sometimes painful, bonds of motherhood. Blaedel crafts a narrative that is both haunting and deeply affecting, ensuring that A Mother’s Love lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.

If this book is any indication of her storytelling prowess, I am eager to dive into more of her work. Fans of psychological thrillers and emotionally gripping mysteries will not be disappointed.

A Mother’s Love follows Louise as she starts a new assignment leading a travel unit for the police. She’s assigned a case for a murdered woman. As she arrives the case quickly escalated as it appears the murdered woman had taken in a missing child. But how did she end up with this child and where is he now.
This was more of a slow burn and started out a bit slow. However things picked up in the second half and I was invested in the missing child, murder, and back story of the co workers boy. I did have a hard time in the beginning keeping all the different characters straight. There was a lot going on with the plot, but the author did a great job tying it all together at the end. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
I devoured this book.
It was amazing, addictive, and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

An innkeeper is murdered in a quiet tourist town.

Detective Louise Rick is ready to lead the newly created travel unit of the Danish National Police, and is frustrated when she discovers that the selection of the new team has not been as vigorous a selection as she had been promised it would be. Worse still, the first case she and her team of two are assigned is that of murdered innkeeper Dorthe Hyllested in the town of Tåsinge, which seems to have come their way due more to a lack of local resources than anything else. Still Louise is determined to get solid results quickly; given the budgetary woes from which the police are suffering she wants to make certain that her team is viewed as worthy of continuation. She is also still reeling from the end of her relationship with a colleague, Eik, who announced during the recent trip they took together with one another's children that he wasn't ready to get married after all. As she and her team begin their investigation they find more questions than answers: a hidden room in the owners' wing that appears to have been occupied by a young boy, yet the innkeeper had no children; two recent deaths, Dorothe's husband from an accidental fall and the housekeeper's son from illness; a wad of cash; and a cabin hidden nearby rumored to have been used for inn guests looking for discreet adventures. Louise finds herself working with not only an unproven team of relative strangers but also her ex-partner, whose specialty is in missing children. In the absence of witnesses or leads can Louise and the travel unit find a path to solving the murder?
Author Sara Blædel is one of Denmark's most popular authors and the Louise Rick novels are one of her bestselling series. A Mother's Love is one of the later releases within the series, but it is not necessary to have read its predecessors in order to read and enjoy this one (I had not and was able to easily read it as a standalone). Louise is a strong lead character, a smart and dedicated investigator who is not afraid to push back against the police brass when needed, even as in her personal life she struggles to be a good mother to her foster son and deals with the implosion of her relationship with Eik. She is surrounded by friends and colleagues, as well as people involved with the case at hand, who are equally well-drawn and nuanced. The plot unspools steadily, with twists appearing just when the reader thought they knew where things were headed, and Blædel keeps the suspense going until the very end. Some of the themes are dark, but those who enjoy books by Karin Slaughter, Lars Kepler and Lisa Gardner should definitely give this book a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for allowing me access to an early copy of this intriguing and addictive read.

How far would a mother go to protect her child? Is mother's revenge justified? Sara Blaedel, touches on this and other difficult topics in her latest crime fiction read.

💭 I really enjoyed this slow burn police procedural. Despite its steady pace and quiet backdrop of a small town in Denmark, there are several storylines that inevitably cross over and intertwine. The first twist came with a search for a young child, presumed dead two years ago, whose trace reappeared in the middle of unrelated murder investigation.

When detective Louise Rick began unraveling the mystery, so much more came to light. The story's focus shifted to the issue of hate crimes and the minority population trying to find their place in a society. Louise is hardened by her job, some may even see her as callous and abrasive. On the other hand, her journalist friend Camilla Lind, is more empathetic and emotionally involved in victim's lives. This duo balances each other perfectly in the book. Even though this novel is a stand-alone, Louise Rick is a character from a long-running detective series, and now I am so curious to read that backlist!

⚖️ My favorite part about this novel is its characters. I can't wait to learn their backstories and life experiences from the previous books. This read was emotional and touched deeply on mother's grief and the small town's prejudice and secrets. Great, immersive crime fiction read.

Im sure this book will be a hit among other readers, but it was just not for me. I also wasn't aware that the mc is part of a series, so maybe that's why Im feeling like I didn't get answers to the past relationship among Camilla, Louise, Eik, and Steph.

The first 20% of the book i felt bombarded with meeting characters and found it hard to keep track of who was who and how they fit. Then, there were a lot of side stories that were meant to all tie together, but the number of characters involved just made it confusing for me to follow (probably my own comprehension skills tbh).