Mommy Don't

Such a heartbreaking story how could a mother be capable of such a unimaginable act?
Sherri Aikenhead has written a well researched difficult story and done so with such care and emotion.
The story shows how a small town its residents and a familys lives are changed forever after the death of a young girl with so much to look forward to as she grew into a young woman,she is forever remembered by all who cared and loved her as Bridgewaters Daughter.
Thanks to Nimbus Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a jarring yet informative read about a woman who reports her 12 year old daughter missing. She later turns out to be the person who had hurt her, shocking everyone. The author tells the story in a compelling way, with sensitivity. The book is sprinkled with photos, which I like.

This is the first true crime book written by journalist Sherri Aikenhead. She demonstrates her investigative and journalistic skills with thorough research into a horrific crime. The crime took place in a small town in Nova Scotia in 2008. The murder of a 12-year-old girl, the investigation, trial and the subsequent heartbreaking effects on the community, her extended family and friends are told in a detailed, straightforward manner. The author avoids dramatic fillers and speculation often used to make true crime stories more appealing to the reader. The amount of exhaustive research to describe a fifteen-year-old crime is admirable.

On January 28, 2008, a young mother, Penny Boudreau, went on TV to plead for help finding her 12-year-old daughter, Karissa. She stated that Karissa was a defiant, difficult child who ran away from her car parked outside Sobey's grocery store while Penny was inside shopping. They had been arguing while on the drive to the store. There was snow on the ground, and more to come, and Karissa was not dressed for the winter weather outside. The sympathetic community rallied around Penny, searching for the girl and raising money. The first theory was that Karissa had run away to return to her father's home, where she was happier. Karissa's diaries expressed discontent and stress while living with her mother and Vernon, Penny's new fiance. Penny was noticed to show a remarkable indifference to her daughter's absence, while Vernon, her new live-in boyfriend, became an emotional wreck and was drinking heavily.

Friends, family, numerous community members, and the police searched the woods and icy river for Karissa. All points bulletin with her photo alerted the rest of the province and its borders in case she had been abducted or was running away. Thirteen days later, Karissa's frozen body was discovered in a wooded area. Suspicion fell on Penny. Local police and the RCMP are described as doing an admirable and exhaustive investigation. Eventually, an undercover sting operation ( Mr. Big) was devised, targeting Vernon and Penny. Penny confessed in detail to the murder of her
daughter, and Vernon was absolved of any part in the crime.
The author states that in 50 years in Canada, only 25 cases involved a victim 12 years or older, where the mother was charged with the murder. The book follows the trial and how it impacted her extended family, Karissa's friends, the police, the legal team, and the entire community.
Thanks to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for the ARC. Publication date is set for May 9.

I can't really say this book was good, because the content was horrible, especially since it was true. How any parent can do this to their own child is disgusting. However, this story was well written and the author did a wonderful job transforming this despicable act into a gripping book.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own"

I can’t believe I’d never heard of this case before as I consider myself a true crime junkie. This was heartbreaking but at the same time just absolutely fascinating for someone interested in true crime

I'm originally from Nova Scotia so that's why this book caught my eye.

Twelve-year-old Karissa had recently moved in with her mother, Penny, and her mother's boyfriend, Vernon, after living with her father, Paul. Karissa didn't like living there and was acting like any twelve-year-old would. Penny had had enough and took her for a drive to have a heart-to-heart chat. Penny stopped in the grocery store to pick up some things and while she was there, Karissa took off. Because there was a snowstorm happening and Karissa wasn't dressed for the weather, Penny drove around looking for her. She eventually called the police to report her daughter missing.

But that's not happened. Penny was scared she was going to lose Vernon because of all the bickering so she murdered her own daughter to keep her man. So sad.

I hadn't heard about this case and it was interesting to read about it. I liked the writing style and the author obviously did a lot of research. It wasn't a happy story and it's crazy that Penny, despite pleading guilty to second degree murder in 2009, is already allowed out on supervised outings.

Karissa was just a girl trying to make sense of her ever shifting world, between growing up and spending time around her dad, stepdad, two sets of grandparents, and her mom, as well as their significant others. That's a lot for a kid, not to mention the fact that she was almost thirteen and hitting those ever troublesome years filled with the ever changing mood swings, her world was not a steady one. After spending significant time with her dad, and her stepdad, Karissa decided to move in with her mom, and it doesn't even take three months before the events of this story unfolds into what is known as Nova Scotia's missing daughter infamous case. What Sherri Aikenhead unfolds next is a story so disturbing, so shocking, that it's hard to really understand the motive behind Penny's heinous actions. Very detailed storyline of facts and figures that move along at a pace that is easy to keep track of.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

First off, I want to brag on the author. Apparently, this is a debut, but you'd never guess it because it was so thorough and formatted so well. I appreciate their dedication to spreading the truth about this heartbreaking case. They did a fantastic job.

Karissa was a young girl like many others. The adolescent years are some of the most difficult of our girl lives. I know that people say "it's the best time of your life!" and it's easy to look back on it fondly, with the privilege of hindsight, but it's really emotional as you're living it. This kid just needed support and stability and none of these jokers would offer her that,

Karissa had nowhere to turn. Of the many adults in her life that loved her, none of them would offer her the stability she desperately needed because they were too busy shacking up and worrying about getting their groove on. Her uncle was her stepfather? She was happy with her father but he had someone shacking up too? It's disgusting. She should have come first to SOMEONE and they should be ashamed of themselves. I know it's beating a dead horse now but I don't care. People need to hear it. After you have kids, it's not all about you wanting to lay pipe. Grow up. This is not a diss on blended families, this one was just irresponsible.

After a car ride heart-to-heart with her mother Penny, Karissa goes missing. Penny says she came out of the store to an empty car, implying that Karissa either ran away or was abducted. The facts just didn't align with this so Penny and her lazy loser of a man were immediately under suspicion. Penny isn't behaving how one would expect a mother of a missing child to behave, but everyone reacts differently so they were trying to be fair. What follows is worse than anyone imagined.

This also covers the Mr. Big stings in Canada which I'd forgotten about. They're questionable at best but that's not my country to judge and it didn't seem any more abusive than other things I've heard but it is definitely entrapment. I guess modern problems require modern solutions in Canada so my judgement is unclear on that.

I know this review is long and spicy but seeing adults treat kids this way leaves me fuming. She really was a candle in the wind and I hope she is at peace.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and most of all the author for the chance to read and review and I hope people will check this book out when it's released next week!

Karissa's case is absolutely tragic. There were so many other options - like idk, one of her many family members that would have loved to have her - and yet her mother chose the worst one. This book felt well researched and very comprehensive. I would recommend to any of my fellow true crime readers as a way to do it right - respectfully, tastefully, and thoughtfully.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a tragic story. It's so sad to know that parents feel like their children are not wanted and take drastic measures rather than finding appropriate help.
Interesting true crime book on this case from Canada.

In "Mommy Don't" by Sherri Aikenhead, readers are exposed to a heartbreaking tragedy that is sure to tug at the heartstrings. The author has clearly done her research and has presented the details of the crime in a sensitive and compassionate way that does justice Karissa.
One of the major issues with the book, however, is its format. As a reviewer, I found myself struggling to read the book through the NetGalley shelf app, which made it difficult to enjoy the reading experience. It would have been much more convenient if the book was available in a format compatible with e-readers like Kindle.
That aside, the book is a well-written and informative account of a crime that I was not previously familiar with. Aikenhead does an excellent job of providing a detailed and nuanced understanding of the case, making it a must-read for true crime enthusiasts.
Overall, "Mommy Don't" is a well-researched and well-crafted true crime book that offers an important insight into a tragic case. Aikenhead's writing is clear and concise, allowing the reader to fully comprehend the events surrounding the case and the impact it had on the people involved.
In summary, "Mommy Don't" is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in true crime, Aikenhead's diligent research and thoughtful approach make this book a valuable addition to any true crime collection.

Hats off to Sherri with this being her debut novel. I appreciate the amount of time and research she put into telling Karissa’s story. I have never heard of Karissa’s story before reading this book but it was crazy the amount of time and patience the police had to put into solving the murder. Thank you NetGalley for a free ARC e book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a heart wrenching read. The author is detailed in every aspect of this case and provides an extraordinary amount of context on the people, places and events surrounding Karissa’s life, death, and the subsequent investigation & trial of those accused. As a Canadian, it was fascinating to read about this case and the intricacies of the investigative tools used. Highly recommend if you’re a true crime fan, especially from Canada 🇨🇦

This book was GOOD. I have always been obsessed with true crime and this one was so well written and the author did a wonderful job telling the truth without being over dramatic in the story telling!

There is something so traumatic about parents who hurt their children. The book was pretty well written in the sense that it almost felt like you were watching in from the outside and into the life. Karissa is entering her angsty years and constantly arguing with her mom and instead of dealing with it, her mother does the unthinkable and plays the victim card instead. Penny reports her daughter missing and is very nonchalant about it, which puts her under suspicion, like her boyfriend was showing more concern than she was.

Aikenhead shares Karissa Boudreau's story in this moving book. She achieves the goal, which is to share the victim's story without adding additional dramatization or attention to the one who has cut their life short. In this case, Karissa lost her life at the hands of her mother. Aikenhead walks the line of exploring Penny Boudreau's history and the facts of the case without providing excuses for her or trying to portray her as a monster. When we lack nuance in profiling criminals who do the unthinkable, we don't learn how to prevent further tragedies. This book did a wonderful job of profiling Karissa as a person - her personality and passions shone - and sharing the impact her loss had on her community and the remainder of her family.

Such a heartbreaking read about 12 year old Karissa who was killed by her own mother.
This is the authors first book and it’s a really decent read. It was set out really well and gave us some plenty of information on the case. Just so shocking how a mother could do that to her own child.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Many thanks to the publishers and author, and of course, NG for the copy of this exchange for my review. I think this may be one of the few, if not the first, true crime book I’ve ever read (and I’ve read quite a few), that had a section of sources. I think I sat in bed every night just shaking my head in disbelief most of the time. Just when I thought it couldn’t get anymore shameful or gruesome, nope turn the page - it’s worse. I was appalled at this crime. Although there was a large part of me that wanted to finish this book, to seek the justice I was so certain had to occur, I had to put the book away after so many chapters; it was just too much to take in at one time. To know that the people of Nova Scotia could find peace which blossomed into forgiveness was just astounding. As a mother I really don’t know if I could have. There is a limit to compassion I think.

This story is gut wrenching. We follow all the events that happen around Karissa’s disappearance, Penny’s cover up and the trial about Karissa’s murder. It is so sad and impactful to read about a murder that happened in small town Maritimes. This is story you need to know if you are interested in Canadian true crime.

I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

Aikenhead did a great job covering the information of the case, especially considering that this is a debut novel. As a reader, I can tell that the case was thoroughly researched and that the author took great care in keeping the reader interested the entire time. I also enjoy that the author didn't immediately dive in to portraying Penny as a bad person like some true crime novels like to do. I think the method of telling the originally reported story is crucial in true crime so that readers can understand certain areas in which the community and the police may have been mislead at first, and where the truth starts to come out. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who likes any of the classic true crime novels like Helter Skelter or In Cold Blood.

I have been on a nonfiction kick recently and this one stood out for many reasons. I loved the honesty and emotion. I felt like I was in the moment with the author and I felt like the articulation of the circumstances were easy to understand which I appreciated with such a complex issue.

This book was really well written and did justice to the story of Karissa Boudreaux, whose young life was cut short at the hands of her mother. If you like reading true crime, this is a great book to dive into!

Very sad book! Was very well written. It is so said that a mother could take a man (or anyone) over her child or children. Poor Karissa didn’t get a chance to live her life and enjoy it because her mother rather be with a guy and not alone so she decided to end her daughter’s life instead of just letting her father have her.