A Mother’s Love by Sara Blaedel

The story begins with the murder of innkeeper Dorthe Hyllested. Shortly after, we learn that despite not known to have children, there is evidence that a little boy lived with her. Without spoilers, I’ll just say there is a lot going on in this mystery – murders, affairs, secrets… Who killed Dorthe? Who is this child? Where did he come from? And where is he now? Was her murder connected to the child? Was her husband’s death accidental as earlier determined or just coincidence? As the investigation unfolds, more questions and more secrets are uncovered.

For me, there were too many sub-plots making it longer story than it needed to be.
Despite not having read this series (I’ve only read one previous in the series), it didn’t seem that I missed anything – it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sara Blaedel and Penquin Group Dutton for an advanced copy of this book.

This story had me captivated from the start with a death that lead to the discovery of a hidden baby room! But where’s the baby? Who’s the baby? The detectives have their work cut out for them. Sara Blaedel really knows how to create characters and pull you so deep into a story you think that you feel like you’re a part of it. This book was amazing. A definite must read.

I find Nordic novels enthralling and was excited to discover another new author. This story is a police procedural, a murder mystery and had a plot that went in a direction I never would’ve guessed. It’s set in Denmark with Detective Louise Rick heading up a new Mobile Task Unit with team members she’s never met. Louise was knowledgeable but didn’t always have the best people skills. A recent broken engagement causes awkward situations when he’s working a related case that overlaps hers. She is unquestionably dedicated to her work which means her home life suffers. I disagreed with some of her choices in regards to her personal life. Her own experience with young children is limited and she sometimes came across cold and insensitive. When the team is assigned it's first case they’re in an unfamiliar town. There was travel to several cities I’ve never heard of. There’s been a murder at an Inn, no witnesses or suspects. The discovery of child’s room puts a sense of urgency in the investigation as no one knows who the child is. The team had a good mix of personalities and strengths. I enjoyed them and the many surprising turns the evidence revealed. Louise is very good at leading and interrogating witnesses and suspects. The local police department isn’t supportive and only wants the glory in front of the cameras. The case kept me changing theories and reevaluating my suspects constantly as the twists just kept piling up. It was a wonderfully described police procedural and an emotionally charged case. I will certainly watch for more books by this author and am happy to recommend this title.
Thanks to Penguin Random House (via NetGalley) for providing an Advance Reader Copy of “A Mother’s Love” by Sara Blaedel, publication expected 04/11/2025. These are my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given freely with no expectation of compensation.

I loved the characters in this one It captivated me right from the start. I love having to guess and in this one I was wrong.

This book was okay, I guess.

I can't comment on some things, as the book is originally in Scandinavian and there are always minutae that gets lost in translation.

The story itself though was corny, almost rediculous. One crazy plot twist after another. Also, the brothel reveal was not a surprise. The synopsis told that secret already.

Others may enjoy this book, but I didn't.

Thanks to Netgally for the ARC.

What an intricate and absorbing mystery. Could not put it down. Sometimes I think the translator of this series omits too much emotion and that bothered me initially when I began to read this title however I quickly got involved in the characters and the story line. A number of story lines, some complex emotions but privately and work wise and a look at the toll it takes on those around you if you’re not honest with yourself.

I liked this one. Bladel is a favorite author for me . I know I’m going to get a fast paced readable novel that always is engaging and keeps you guessing till the end
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

I would say that this is average Scandinavian crime fiction---with language that is sparse, straightforward, and yet somehow magnetic, and a landscape that is a character is its own right. I liked all of Blaedel's characters, especially Louise and Eik, and the creation of a travel unit team leaves the author with plenty of ideas and settings for future novels. Where I felt this book was lacking was the plot---just too far-fetched and implausible, and we never get to know the victim's motivations in order to understand them (thus, they are painted as "evil" which is a bit too wooden). All in all, I read this quickly but found myself groaning at the twists and turns ("and now there's a brothel? Come on!")

Louise Rick is a Danish police investigator who is assigned to a task force to solve the murder of a rural hotel owner. The case is perple ing because the victim, Dorthe seems to have no enemies. Louise uncovers a connection from Dorthe and her late husband Nils to a missing child lost in the crash of his parents' private plane. This connection unravels the mystery of the murder of the hotel owner, plus it uncovers a lurid sex ring aimed at homosexual, closeted men. Great read!!

A Mother's Love by Sara Blaedel is a good novel that delves into the complex and powerful bond between a mother and her child. It was a pretty fast read for me. The characters are fairly well-developed, and the emotional depth of the narrative is interesting. The author's descriptions and engaging writing style kept me engrossed in the story for the most part.

This is a moving read that resonates long after the final page is turned. I would recommend A Mother's Love to anyone looking for a heartwarming story.

#AMothersLove #NetGalley @DuttonBooks

This is the first book I have read from this author. It won’t be the last. It is a suspense/mystery/? The story is captivating. The characters are a little “out there” but hold the story together. I like trying to figure out what will happen next and who-done it. With this book, I was wrong every time. It’s a police story but also it’s about the criminals. The police department has decided to create a “super” team to handle big cases that might take a little longer to solve. The head of this department is a woman named Louise. The very first case assigned to this elite team is a doozy! There’s so much more to the origin of the team, Louise and this strange case. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy for my honest review.

Another intriguing, absorbing addition to the Louise Rick series as the intense detective takes on a new case and a new position within the department. A well written police procedural with enough twists and turn to keep you guessing until the very end. There is a dark undertow to this storyline that permeates the search for a murderer and an investigation that brings to light secrets best left hidden. It begs the question, “Do we really know anyone?”

I would put this one on your 2025 reading list.

I enjoyed this book! It’s been a while since I read the last installment of the Louise Rick series, but the author was skilled at weaving the important events of the last book into this one. The mystery was satisfyingly twisty and the character work excellent as usual. I enjoyed the parallel investigations/ lives of all the characters such as Louise, Camilla, Jonas, Melvin, and Eik, although as usual an air of melancholy hangs around the characters and events in the book. It could have been slightly shorter, as I felt the mystery of the case was unnecessarily prolonged at the very end. 3.5 stars rounded up/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for letting me read an ARC of this book.

I really believe that Sara Blaedel has gotten her people mixed up. I this story the person who was the most interesting was Camilla, she was the one who was empathetic, needed to talk to people, following their leads. Louise Rick a the other hand kept arresting people who were not guilty. Also she kept away from Eik and wanted nothing to do with him. Everything went with Camilla in regards to finding out who the murder was. She was there also when they found the boy after he was hanged but it flopped. I know the story goes both ways when Sara tells the story but Camilla does it right.

Detective Louise Rick is back with a really good one!


As I have come to expect from Sara Blaedel, this one has so many hairpin twists and turns and red herrings galore!


An innkeeper has been found murdered. Viciously! And that is not the oddest thing Louise finds. A secret room, a secret cabin, a plane crash and a missing child. All of that.


Because of the missing child, Louise is also working with her ex. And a new team of investigators.


There are so many subplots going on that I raced through this just to see if I was correct. I was not.


There is a reason Blaedel is number one. She’s that good.


NetGalley/ Dutton March 11, 2025

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?! Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, a great who done it and a few twists and turns. The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

#AMother'sLove #NetGalley
Best of 2025.
Sara Blaedel’s A Mother's Love delivers a compelling mix of mystery, suspense, and emotional drama, bringing to life an intricately woven tale centered around the murder of innkeeper Dorthe Hyllested and the secrets she kept. When Dorthe is found dead, a hidden nursery is discovered in her apartment, shocking her friends and family, who believed her to be childless. The urgent questions of who lived in the concealed room and where the missing child might be set the stage for an intense investigation. Detective Louise Rick, recently appointed as the head of Denmark’s new Mobile Task Unit, takes on this baffling case as her first assignment. Faced with the challenges of assembling an untested team while under pressure to solve a high-profile crime, Louise must also deal with the complications of working alongside her ex-fiancé, Eik, from the Missing Persons Department. Their unresolved past adds another layer of tension to an already complicated case. As Louise digs deeper, she encounters a sinister link to the cabin behind the inn, where suspicious activity involving frequent visitors raises questions. With few leads and no witnesses, she must rely on her instincts and cobble together connections to unravel a dark and dangerous mystery that’s far more twisted than anyone could have imagined. Blaedel's storytelling shines in A Mother's Love through her intricate character development and the personal stakes she creates for Louise. The combination of a perplexing mystery, emotionally charged relationships, and a new team dynamic makes this book a gripping read. Louise's vulnerability and determination to succeed in her new role while grappling with her past provide a deeply human element to the investigation, elevating the suspense and emotional engagement.
I loved it so much.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for giving me an advance copy.

I just finished the best thriller. A Mother's Love by Sara Blaedel was a great read that kept me turning the pages until the conclusion.