Mommy

Mommy #1

by Max Allan Collins

As violence and death erupt around her, young Jessica Ann begins to suspect that her loving mother will do anything--even murder--to keep her daughter at the top of her class

Genres: Horror, Mystery

265 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1977

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[Joshua Hair]

Quick and effective, Mommy presents us with a woman we should fear every bit as much as Annie Wilkes. We join Jessica Ann and her unhinged mother just as another “accident” has occurred. For the second time, poor Mommy has lost a rich husband. He’s barely in the ground before she starts hunting for number three. Mommy will do anything to take care of her Jessica Ann, and God have mercy on anyone who gets in her way. There’s not much time here to flesh characters out, but what we do get is very well done. The fear people have for Mommy is palpable to the reader throughout. I had a great time reading this and would suggest it to fans of D. A. Fowler’s “What’s Wrong With Valerie?”.

[Jim]

There isn't a lot of mystery in this book, but plenty of horror. Nothing supernatural, just a very realistic monster in human form, told from the POV of a young girl. It's well done, but I doubt I'll read it again.

The characters aren't very well fleshed out, but aren't bad. Their types are pretty standard & can be filled in easily by the reader. The plot was fairly obvious from the beginning, but the ending was in doubt until the very end.

A real plus with my edition was the inclusion of the short story this was based on at the end of the book. I'm going to mark it & try to read it in a few months. I skimmed through it, but had no real interest at this time. Still, it's very instructive how he did it.

[Jason Schmidt]

A very straight forward thriller, with one hell of a “mommy”. There are very few twists or turns…I kept thinking of “The Good Son” (the movie that stars Macaulay Culkin), but with the “The Good Son” now a “good” wife. Honestly, at the halfway point, you sort of sit there going, jeez, how hasn’t she been caught yet? A super fast read that reminded me quite a bit of a (slightly) more mature “Fear Street” novel, but one that I wouldn’t let my youngest daughter read (yet). It was fine, but felt like an 80’s slasher - one you take in, are entertained by, but ten minutes after, begin to forget.

[Anjali Sonkusare]

Loved Ginny & Georgia? Liked Georgia?
Well this book will make you question that.
When I watched that show first, I was okay with Georgia's character. But after this book, I was scared of Georgia for real.
I don't know if that show is based on this book, but I felt like this book is more like what Ginny's life would have been when she was a little girl.
And no, mommy doesn't think even once before killing anyone.
Loved this.
[FEELING SAD BECAUSE I CAN'T READ THE SECOND PART OF THIS BOOK. I FOUND THIS ONE IN A SECOND HAND BOOKSHOP.]

[Tim Field]

Mommy is a novel by Max Allan Collins based on his movie screenplay that was based on his short story - whew! I enjoyed reading the novel because I could make a movie in my mind and not have to deal with some of the bad acting from the actual film.
Mommy is a monster and the book provides suspense and some twisted scenes that show us just how awful she can be.
A quick read and a nice companion piece to the movie.

[Cynthia Rodrigues]

The writing was good and very graphic, and I enjoyed it. The element of horror was intensified as this was a very real person.

Towards the middle and the end, the plot got a little trite, but I still enjoyed this one.

[Mallory]

I rate Mommy by Max Allan Collins 5/5. It was a great book, with many life lessons and teaching moments in it. I recommend this book to you if you like horror and fiction books.

[Wen's Buzzing Reviews]

Oh gosh, I don't ever want to run into this mommy... Mommy gave me chills and I loved every moment of it.. I'm a mother myself and I want my children to have everything there wittle hearts content but I'm not going to be like Mommy and go on a killing rampage to do it. Only way I see myself killing anybody is to protect my sweet dear little ones..

[Nivi_pooh]

Grips and frightens and exhilarates.
Mommy Knows the best

[Sarah]

At 1st I didn't like it, I felt it was too predictable and not all that well written, but it drew me in and by the end, I was enjoying it.

[Avery]

Holy shit! That part at the dump, holy shit! I swear Mommy was dead, but no. It was the f***ing dog!

[Nyika Masga]

Mommy teaches you that the only way to truly show your child you love them is to kill every negative person in their life😂 #JustSaying #RealMomsKillForTheirKids #NotMuchActionTho