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Dear Mother: A Thriller
In a tense thriller set deep amid the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a young mother works to uncover the secrets of her family’s dark past, fearful of what their history may reveal.
After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire. The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger.
Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods. And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.
With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories—and incinerate everything she thought to be true.
After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire. The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger.
Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods. And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.
With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories—and incinerate everything she thought to be true.
253 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2026
310 people are currently reading
6985 people want to read
About the author
Rea Frey
16 books1,044 followersRea Frey is the #1 bestselling author of several suspense, thriller, and contemporary fiction novels.
Known as The Book Doula, Rea helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
Known as The Book Doula, Rea helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 14, 2026
This was a short read and fairly predictable. With the setting, the author really missed an opportunity to make this an atmospheric read. More of the setting was needed, since the setting was a huge part of the book. This felt very surface and while it kept my attention, it left a lot to be desired.
April 25, 2026
This engaging mystery/thriller weaves together family drama and buried secrets in a captivating dual-timeline story. Strong character development and a small-town mystery keep you guessing until the very end. Isabelle returns home after her mother’s passing, only to uncover a web of secrets that demand her attention. Her mother was accused of the horrific deaths of her foster siblings, and while she initially believed the rumours, her search reveals far more than she bargained for. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this one might be a great read for you.
November 29, 2025
Isabelle is an investigative journalist who returns home after her mother passes away. She hasn't been there in decades, because she could never shake the doubt that her mother was involved in the deaths of her foster siblings. Now she figures she can put some ghosts to death by clearing out the family home and ridding herself of lingering suspicions once and for all. Unfortunately, it won't be that easy, because evidence shows that her mother was murdered. Maybe the past isn't done with Isabelle after all.
The story is told in alternating narratives of Isabelle in the present and she and her foster siblings in the past, the night they perished in a fire. Unlike in many foster homes, these kids formed a strong bond, and they truly loved and cared for one another, even though they were together for just a few years. Isabelle was the only biological child, and she and Harper (the sibling she had been with the longest) were the only ones who survived that night. Her mother, Gail, was hard on all the kids, but Isabelle couldn't help but feel that she was treated differently as the biological child. And she never understood why she was the only sibling who hadn't been seriously sick in the time period before their deaths. She always believed Gail had something to do with it. Especially because this wasn't the first time she lost a foster sibling.
So there's the mystery of her siblings' deaths and her mother's death to deal with, and Isabelle tries her hardest to get answers. She's helped by her daughter's father, another investigative journalist who Isabelle keeps at arm's length because of the old 'I lose everyone I get close to' trope in stories like this. No matter that he's handsome and famous and successful, i.e., the perfect man, who totally worships her, she still treats him terribly and pushes him away. Ugh, you know she'll change her mind anyway, which of course, she does.
Now, I happened to know pretty early on who was responsible, and I think the author made it a little too obvious. Consider that the story is about the strength of family and the lengths we go to for those we love. Whether you figure it out or not, the story is compelling enough to keep you engaged until the end, where the hint of uneasiness in Isabelle hits just the right tone. Will it ever really be over for her?
The story is told in alternating narratives of Isabelle in the present and she and her foster siblings in the past, the night they perished in a fire. Unlike in many foster homes, these kids formed a strong bond, and they truly loved and cared for one another, even though they were together for just a few years. Isabelle was the only biological child, and she and Harper (the sibling she had been with the longest) were the only ones who survived that night. Her mother, Gail, was hard on all the kids, but Isabelle couldn't help but feel that she was treated differently as the biological child. And she never understood why she was the only sibling who hadn't been seriously sick in the time period before their deaths. She always believed Gail had something to do with it. Especially because this wasn't the first time she lost a foster sibling.
So there's the mystery of her siblings' deaths and her mother's death to deal with, and Isabelle tries her hardest to get answers. She's helped by her daughter's father, another investigative journalist who Isabelle keeps at arm's length because of the old 'I lose everyone I get close to' trope in stories like this. No matter that he's handsome and famous and successful, i.e., the perfect man, who totally worships her, she still treats him terribly and pushes him away. Ugh, you know she'll change her mind anyway, which of course, she does.
Now, I happened to know pretty early on who was responsible, and I think the author made it a little too obvious. Consider that the story is about the strength of family and the lengths we go to for those we love. Whether you figure it out or not, the story is compelling enough to keep you engaged until the end, where the hint of uneasiness in Isabelle hits just the right tone. Will it ever really be over for her?
March 27, 2026
Nobody does dark family-themed suspense quite like Rea Frey. Years after three of Isabelle Archer's foster siblings died in a fire, she returns to her childhood home to deal with the loss of her mother, but the trip raises questions she can't escape: Did Gail have something to do with the children's death? And is there more to her own death than Isabelle knows? This haunting and emotionally resonant thriller will stay with you for a long time.
April 1, 2026
DEAR MOTHER by Rea Frey
🎧 ALC review
narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
length: 8h 3m
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
thank you @brilliancepublishing for my gifted ALC
Isabelle returns to her hometown when her mother dies.. someone she hasn’t talked to in years. now she’s trying to solve her mother’s mysterious death.. as well as get some answers from her childhood. this book felt a bit like Darling Girls, one of my favorites, but I wanted more. More mystery, more suspense. The cover gives off immense creepy vibes, and I think there was a missed opportunity as making the story itself give off the same vibes.
what to expect:
•her mother just died
•is it possible her mother killed her former foster siblings?
•is there anybody in this town she can trust?
•a quick read you can easily binge in a few hours
•so many dead people 💀
🎧 ALC review
narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya
length: 8h 3m
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5)
thank you @brilliancepublishing for my gifted ALC
Isabelle returns to her hometown when her mother dies.. someone she hasn’t talked to in years. now she’s trying to solve her mother’s mysterious death.. as well as get some answers from her childhood. this book felt a bit like Darling Girls, one of my favorites, but I wanted more. More mystery, more suspense. The cover gives off immense creepy vibes, and I think there was a missed opportunity as making the story itself give off the same vibes.
what to expect:
•her mother just died
•is it possible her mother killed her former foster siblings?
•is there anybody in this town she can trust?
•a quick read you can easily binge in a few hours
•so many dead people 💀
March 28, 2026
4.25 Stars!
I really enjoyed this one!
The storyline intrigued me and the pacing was good! I enjoyed the dual timelines of past and present and getting the different siblings POVs during the past timeline.
It was just around 240 pages and had short chapters, so is a quick and easy read. I did guess who the killer was fairly early on, but it didn’t take my enjoyment out of the story or seeing how it unfolded.
This was my first by this author, but I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more!
Be sure to add this to your list if you enjoy cold case thrillers with small town settings!
I really enjoyed this one!
The storyline intrigued me and the pacing was good! I enjoyed the dual timelines of past and present and getting the different siblings POVs during the past timeline.
It was just around 240 pages and had short chapters, so is a quick and easy read. I did guess who the killer was fairly early on, but it didn’t take my enjoyment out of the story or seeing how it unfolded.
This was my first by this author, but I enjoyed her writing style and look forward to reading more!
Be sure to add this to your list if you enjoy cold case thrillers with small town settings!
January 13, 2026
I really enjoyed this. It’s a fast, twisty thriller that kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. The pace never slowed down, and there was always something new going on. I did manage to guess a couple of the twists, which knocked a star off for me, but it didn’t ruin the read at all. Overall, I really loved it and would still recommend it if you’re in the mood for a gripping, easy to read thriller.
Thank you NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for the early arc!
Thank you NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for the early arc!
November 28, 2025
I love reading stories about mothers. While my own is amazing, I know some are not. This author has the same interest in mothers who are off-kilter, cold-hearted, and heartless. There are many great elements in this book that pull the reader in and through it. Pretty predictable, though.
April 28, 2026
This story had me hooked from the start-hanging on the edge of my seat! I liked how the chapters went back between Now and Then and how the reader learns what was going on in the past until it merges with the present to finally reveal the mind-blowing conclusion. This was my first book by Rea Frey. I will definitely be checking out her previous books and looking forward to her next best seller! If you enjoy twisty, sometimes creepy, stories with characters that have secrets and layered personalities then this one is definitely for you. I highly recommend putting this one at the top of your TBR! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the second book I’ve read from this author— Don't Forget Me was a fantastic read... and I’m starting to notice some themes in her work: complex mother–daughter dynamics and mental illness.
The story follows Isabelle, a journalist who returns to her small hometown after learning that her estranged mother has died. She hasn’t set foot in her childhood home for twenty years, not since her foster siblings were killed in a fire that was officially ruled accidental. Still, Isabelle and most of the town always suspected her mother, Gail, had something to do with it. Now back home, Isabelle is determined to uncover what really happened all those years ago.
I usually try to avoid books that involve children. To be honest, every time a chapter focused on the kids and their internal dialogue, it was tough for me to get through. Those sections were some of the most honest and realistic in the book, but they were still difficult to read, and I often found myself skipping them.
The book blends emotional introspection with suspense in a way that works well. I appreciated that it doesn’t shy away from messy emotions or morally gray situations; it makes the journey feel more authentic and less polished. Frey’s writing remains smooth and easy to sink into. The dual timeline is clear, the twists are solid, and she creates atmosphere beautifully.
That said, the predictability held it back for me. Some dialogue felt off and repetitive, a few plot holes stood out, and the ending felt rushed. As the story went on, I found myself gradually losing some of the initial intrigue...Releases May 12, 2026.
Thank you, NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Isabelle, a journalist who returns to her small hometown after learning that her estranged mother has died. She hasn’t set foot in her childhood home for twenty years, not since her foster siblings were killed in a fire that was officially ruled accidental. Still, Isabelle and most of the town always suspected her mother, Gail, had something to do with it. Now back home, Isabelle is determined to uncover what really happened all those years ago.
I usually try to avoid books that involve children. To be honest, every time a chapter focused on the kids and their internal dialogue, it was tough for me to get through. Those sections were some of the most honest and realistic in the book, but they were still difficult to read, and I often found myself skipping them.
The book blends emotional introspection with suspense in a way that works well. I appreciated that it doesn’t shy away from messy emotions or morally gray situations; it makes the journey feel more authentic and less polished. Frey’s writing remains smooth and easy to sink into. The dual timeline is clear, the twists are solid, and she creates atmosphere beautifully.
That said, the predictability held it back for me. Some dialogue felt off and repetitive, a few plot holes stood out, and the ending felt rushed. As the story went on, I found myself gradually losing some of the initial intrigue...Releases May 12, 2026.
Thank you, NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2026
I absolutely devoured this one. I was completely hooked and stayed up way too late into the night just to finish it and it was worth every lost hour of sleep.
Set against the eerie, atmospheric backdrop of the Pacific Northwest forests, the story follows Isabelle Archer, an investigative journalist forced to confront the darkest corners of her past. The setting alone adds a constant sense of unease. Those woods feel alive with secrets, and the tension never really lets up.
What makes this book stand out is its emotional depth. Isabelle isn’t just chasing a story—she’s unraveling her own childhood trauma. The tragedy of the fire that killed her foster siblings is haunting enough, but the lingering suspicion surrounding her mother adds an even more chilling layer. The way the narrative slowly peels back the truth kept me completely engrossed.
The pacing is spot-on. Every new discovery raises the stakes, and just when you think you have things figured out, another twist pulls you deeper in. The connection between the past and present is handled so well—it feels both shocking and inevitable by the time everything comes together.
I also really appreciated the dynamic between Isabelle and her ex. Their partnership adds both tension and grounding, giving the story a human element amidst all the suspense and mystery.
By the end, I was completely blown away. The revelations are intense and emotionally charged, challenging everything Isabelle—and the reader—believes to be true.
If you love psychological thrillers with strong character development, dark family secrets, and a gripping, can’t-put-it-down plot, Dear Mother is a must-read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Set against the eerie, atmospheric backdrop of the Pacific Northwest forests, the story follows Isabelle Archer, an investigative journalist forced to confront the darkest corners of her past. The setting alone adds a constant sense of unease. Those woods feel alive with secrets, and the tension never really lets up.
What makes this book stand out is its emotional depth. Isabelle isn’t just chasing a story—she’s unraveling her own childhood trauma. The tragedy of the fire that killed her foster siblings is haunting enough, but the lingering suspicion surrounding her mother adds an even more chilling layer. The way the narrative slowly peels back the truth kept me completely engrossed.
The pacing is spot-on. Every new discovery raises the stakes, and just when you think you have things figured out, another twist pulls you deeper in. The connection between the past and present is handled so well—it feels both shocking and inevitable by the time everything comes together.
I also really appreciated the dynamic between Isabelle and her ex. Their partnership adds both tension and grounding, giving the story a human element amidst all the suspense and mystery.
By the end, I was completely blown away. The revelations are intense and emotionally charged, challenging everything Isabelle—and the reader—believes to be true.
If you love psychological thrillers with strong character development, dark family secrets, and a gripping, can’t-put-it-down plot, Dear Mother is a must-read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2026
A haunting, deeply unsettling thriller where the past refuses to stay buried, literally.
When whispers resurface that your mother may have murdered your foster siblings and buried them in your own backyard, it’s already chilling enough. But when she dies under suspicious circumstances on the anniversary of their deaths, there’s only one thing left to do, return home and start digging up the truth… in every sense of the word.
Told through multiple POVs and dual timelines, Isabelle’s childhood and past are gradually unearthed piece by piece. The short, sharp chapters make it impossible not to keep turning pages, and the relentless pacing ensures the tension never lets up, with revelations hitting one after another.
This psychological thriller dives into themes of guilt, trauma, maternal instinct, mental illness, and obsession. The audiobook, narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, adds an extra layer of intensity, perfectly capturing the eerie atmosphere and emotional weight of the story.
When whispers resurface that your mother may have murdered your foster siblings and buried them in your own backyard, it’s already chilling enough. But when she dies under suspicious circumstances on the anniversary of their deaths, there’s only one thing left to do, return home and start digging up the truth… in every sense of the word.
Told through multiple POVs and dual timelines, Isabelle’s childhood and past are gradually unearthed piece by piece. The short, sharp chapters make it impossible not to keep turning pages, and the relentless pacing ensures the tension never lets up, with revelations hitting one after another.
This psychological thriller dives into themes of guilt, trauma, maternal instinct, mental illness, and obsession. The audiobook, narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, adds an extra layer of intensity, perfectly capturing the eerie atmosphere and emotional weight of the story.
March 6, 2026
The first half of this book started out slow/flat to me but hang on! The second half was a page turner! I was a little disappointed in the first half but now understanding the build up to the second half it was worth the wait! I love how each chapter ended with a cliffhanger or had me asking questions. This was a 3 star but going up to a 4 star due to the second half of the book! I love Rea Frey’s writing and how all of her books aren’t the same stories over and over again.
Thank you Rea Frey, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC!
Thank you Rea Frey, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the ARC!
March 17, 2026
My goodness was that ending unsettling 💔
The pacing of this book was so good. I loved the transition of not only past
& present, but also multiple pov from the siblings. I did find it a bit predictable as far as the investigation and final reveal came about, but I still had a good time following along. I found Isabelle to be a very likable main character, and found myself rooting for her as she tried to solve these murders. Overall, I had a good time with this. A nice little atmospheric thriller.
Thank you to the author and Booksparks for the gifted ARC ❤️
The pacing of this book was so good. I loved the transition of not only past
& present, but also multiple pov from the siblings. I did find it a bit predictable as far as the investigation and final reveal came about, but I still had a good time following along. I found Isabelle to be a very likable main character, and found myself rooting for her as she tried to solve these murders. Overall, I had a good time with this. A nice little atmospheric thriller.
Thank you to the author and Booksparks for the gifted ARC ❤️
May 8, 2026
started out slow but ended with good twists!
I felt like I was a little bored for most of the book and could tell where it was going- but the end and the extent of the twists at the end kept my attention and overall I would rate this a 3.5 if I could. I’m being generous with the 4 stars- but I was pleasantly surprised at the ending and epilogue
I felt like I was a little bored for most of the book and could tell where it was going- but the end and the extent of the twists at the end kept my attention and overall I would rate this a 3.5 if I could. I’m being generous with the 4 stars- but I was pleasantly surprised at the ending and epilogue
February 1, 2026
I have loved everything that Rea Frey has written and this book does not disappoint. I love a good mystery/thriller with a twist but the many many twists and turns in this book kept me guessing until the end!!! I am really really hoping Rea will continue this story!!!
May 2, 2026
4-4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need to talk about the absolute audacity of Dear Mother because this book really said, what if your childhood trauma came back with a clipboard, new evidence, and a personal vendetta? And then it handed me emotional damage in surround sound and expected me to just… go about my day? No. I will not be okay.
Isabelle Archer is out here living her best “I escaped my hometown and my deeply suspicious mother” life, only to get dragged right back into Cedarloch when said mother dies under extremely sketchy circumstances. And immediately the vibes are off. The woods are looming, the townspeople are weird, and Isabelle is like, “Hey remember that time three of my foster siblings died in a fire and everyone kind of thought my mom did it?” And the town collectively goes, “Yeah… about that.” EXCUSE ME??
The whole setup is basically if Sharp Objects and The Lovely Bones had a baby and then raised it in a forest that absolutely has secrets buried under every tree. Isabelle was thirteen when that fire happened, and the book keeps threading us back into those memories with the foster siblings, which is honestly where I got the most emotionally wrecked. These kids felt real in that uncomfortable, “I am too attached and something bad is coming” way. You can feel the love, the tension, the instability, all of it simmering before everything goes to hell.
And the mother situation? Oh, we are in the trenches. Gail is not just a maybe-villain, she is a full psychological puzzle box. Isabelle’s feelings toward her are so messy I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. Because what do you do with a mother who might have destroyed your life… but also might not have? That constant push and pull between suspicion and grief is doing Olympic-level emotional gymnastics.
Now enter the investigation, because Isabelle is not built to let things go. She’s digging into her mother’s death, reopening the fire, dragging her ex Jack back into the chaos like, “Hey remember us? Anyway let’s solve multiple potential murders.” And I swear, every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the book just leaned in and whispered, “You thought.”
Let’s pause for the audiobook though, because Jennifer Jill Araya absolutely carried this thing on her back in heels. The way she delivers Isabelle’s anxiety, the tension, the unraveling… it hits harder. There’s this controlled urgency in her voice that makes every reveal feel sharper, like you’re right there spiraling with Isabelle instead of just listening to her story. I was fully sitting in silence after certain chapters like I had just been personally confronted.
The pacing is unhinged in a way that worked for me. This is a “just one more chapter” book that turns into accidentally finishing half the audiobook in one sitting because you physically cannot leave these people alone with their bad decisions. It’s fast, it’s twisty, and yes, some of those twists are a little predictable, but the book knows that and keeps layering just enough doubt to make you question yourself anyway.
Do all the twists land perfectly? No. Some of them feel like they showed up late to the party with a dramatic speech and everyone’s like… okay, but where were you earlier? And I did want the atmosphere to go harder, because creepy Pacific Northwest forest should have had me checking my windows at night. Instead it hovered more in “unsettling vibes” territory than full-blown dread.
But here’s why it still works, I cared. I cared about Isabelle figuring it out. I cared about what actually happened to those kids. I cared about the way trauma just sits in your bones and waits for the right moment to absolutely ruin your life again. This book understands that the real horror isn’t just what happened, it’s what it does to you after.
Also, Jack? Sir. You are either the greenest flag alive or the biggest red flag in disguise and I spent the entire book oscillating between “kiss him” and “interrogate him immediately.” That’s the kind of emotional instability I expect from a thriller.
By the end, I was fully that person staring into the void like… wow, okay, nothing is real, family is complicated, and I need to unpack this with snacks and possibly a therapist. Four stars. The kind where you immediately need someone else to read it so you can yell about it like it’s a shared trauma.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Mother Figure and At Least Three Perfectly Innocent Side Characters
Massive thanks to Brilliance Publishing, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for feeding my audiobook obsession and my need for chaotic family drama with both the ALC and ARC… you really said “here’s some emotional damage, enjoy.”
Isabelle Archer is out here living her best “I escaped my hometown and my deeply suspicious mother” life, only to get dragged right back into Cedarloch when said mother dies under extremely sketchy circumstances. And immediately the vibes are off. The woods are looming, the townspeople are weird, and Isabelle is like, “Hey remember that time three of my foster siblings died in a fire and everyone kind of thought my mom did it?” And the town collectively goes, “Yeah… about that.” EXCUSE ME??
The whole setup is basically if Sharp Objects and The Lovely Bones had a baby and then raised it in a forest that absolutely has secrets buried under every tree. Isabelle was thirteen when that fire happened, and the book keeps threading us back into those memories with the foster siblings, which is honestly where I got the most emotionally wrecked. These kids felt real in that uncomfortable, “I am too attached and something bad is coming” way. You can feel the love, the tension, the instability, all of it simmering before everything goes to hell.
And the mother situation? Oh, we are in the trenches. Gail is not just a maybe-villain, she is a full psychological puzzle box. Isabelle’s feelings toward her are so messy I wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. Because what do you do with a mother who might have destroyed your life… but also might not have? That constant push and pull between suspicion and grief is doing Olympic-level emotional gymnastics.
Now enter the investigation, because Isabelle is not built to let things go. She’s digging into her mother’s death, reopening the fire, dragging her ex Jack back into the chaos like, “Hey remember us? Anyway let’s solve multiple potential murders.” And I swear, every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the book just leaned in and whispered, “You thought.”
Let’s pause for the audiobook though, because Jennifer Jill Araya absolutely carried this thing on her back in heels. The way she delivers Isabelle’s anxiety, the tension, the unraveling… it hits harder. There’s this controlled urgency in her voice that makes every reveal feel sharper, like you’re right there spiraling with Isabelle instead of just listening to her story. I was fully sitting in silence after certain chapters like I had just been personally confronted.
The pacing is unhinged in a way that worked for me. This is a “just one more chapter” book that turns into accidentally finishing half the audiobook in one sitting because you physically cannot leave these people alone with their bad decisions. It’s fast, it’s twisty, and yes, some of those twists are a little predictable, but the book knows that and keeps layering just enough doubt to make you question yourself anyway.
Do all the twists land perfectly? No. Some of them feel like they showed up late to the party with a dramatic speech and everyone’s like… okay, but where were you earlier? And I did want the atmosphere to go harder, because creepy Pacific Northwest forest should have had me checking my windows at night. Instead it hovered more in “unsettling vibes” territory than full-blown dread.
But here’s why it still works, I cared. I cared about Isabelle figuring it out. I cared about what actually happened to those kids. I cared about the way trauma just sits in your bones and waits for the right moment to absolutely ruin your life again. This book understands that the real horror isn’t just what happened, it’s what it does to you after.
Also, Jack? Sir. You are either the greenest flag alive or the biggest red flag in disguise and I spent the entire book oscillating between “kiss him” and “interrogate him immediately.” That’s the kind of emotional instability I expect from a thriller.
By the end, I was fully that person staring into the void like… wow, okay, nothing is real, family is complicated, and I need to unpack this with snacks and possibly a therapist. Four stars. The kind where you immediately need someone else to read it so you can yell about it like it’s a shared trauma.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side-Eye Every Mother Figure and At Least Three Perfectly Innocent Side Characters
Massive thanks to Brilliance Publishing, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for feeding my audiobook obsession and my need for chaotic family drama with both the ALC and ARC… you really said “here’s some emotional damage, enjoy.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: Dear Mother: A Thriller
Author: Rea Frey
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
My Rating: 4 + Stars
Pages: 251
Story is told - Then and Now.
Then twenty--five years ago ~ We get a background on the foster children including Marcus who ran away before the fire happen.
Now, of course, is current.
Now ~ Story begins when the ‘The Cedarloch Sentinel’ reports on May 11, 2026 that Gail Archer dies under mysterious circumstances.
Isabelle Archer returns home to Cedarloch, Washington to settle her mother’s estate.
She hasn't been there in twenty-five, as she has always feared her mother - a foster mother was involved in the deaths of her foster siblings.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings Celia, Ben and Jude died tragically in a fire that was ruled an accident.
Now that Isabelle and her eight year old daughter Maisy returned they stay at the family farm where her foster sister Harper has managed. Harper has a daughter Ivy the same age as Maisy.
Since Isabelle is an investigative journalist and wants to know what happened that night.
When the autopsy reports comes in, Isabelle calls Jack Pearce her ex (they are still friends plus are co-parenting Maisy). Jack is an award winning journalist and although away on assignment he wants to help. Together they search as to what really happen that night.
This story was unputdownable!!!!
I read a lot of thrillers so my arm chair investigative skills were on high alert. I had my suspicions right away but then changed my mind!!
In the end I was correct but certainly didn’t have the details!
This was my fifth novel by Rea Frey I especially liked Don’t Forget me and Until I Find You.
About the Author~Rea Frey is the #1 bestselling author of several suspense, thriller, and contemporary fiction novels. She is also known as “The Book Doula” Ms. Frey helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
I always love reading the author’s notes. In this case ~ Acknowledgements” As she is thanks the many who helped her. She tells us she has always been obsessed with writing stories about mothers.
Her debut novel was “Not her Daughter” – and she hoped to write a sequel entitled “What happened to Emma Townsen" but it never happened. She mentioned her desire to her Thomas & Mercer editor Jessica Tribble White and “Dear Mother” began.
I did read “Not Her Daughter” seven years ago. At the end of my comments I said
“This story was a fast read but totally gave me sleepless nights.
I will give Rea Frey next novel another try- as she seems to be a good writer”
Yes, I did read another in fact this was my fifth Rea Frey novel! I especially liked Don’t Forget me and Until I Find You.
Now I can add this one!
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this great early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 28, 2026.
Author: Rea Frey
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
My Rating: 4 + Stars
Pages: 251
Story is told - Then and Now.
Then twenty--five years ago ~ We get a background on the foster children including Marcus who ran away before the fire happen.
Now, of course, is current.
Now ~ Story begins when the ‘The Cedarloch Sentinel’ reports on May 11, 2026 that Gail Archer dies under mysterious circumstances.
Isabelle Archer returns home to Cedarloch, Washington to settle her mother’s estate.
She hasn't been there in twenty-five, as she has always feared her mother - a foster mother was involved in the deaths of her foster siblings.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings Celia, Ben and Jude died tragically in a fire that was ruled an accident.
Now that Isabelle and her eight year old daughter Maisy returned they stay at the family farm where her foster sister Harper has managed. Harper has a daughter Ivy the same age as Maisy.
Since Isabelle is an investigative journalist and wants to know what happened that night.
When the autopsy reports comes in, Isabelle calls Jack Pearce her ex (they are still friends plus are co-parenting Maisy). Jack is an award winning journalist and although away on assignment he wants to help. Together they search as to what really happen that night.
This story was unputdownable!!!!
I read a lot of thrillers so my arm chair investigative skills were on high alert. I had my suspicions right away but then changed my mind!!
In the end I was correct but certainly didn’t have the details!
This was my fifth novel by Rea Frey I especially liked Don’t Forget me and Until I Find You.
About the Author~Rea Frey is the #1 bestselling author of several suspense, thriller, and contemporary fiction novels. She is also known as “The Book Doula” Ms. Frey helps other writers birth their books into the world. To learn more, visit reafrey.com
I always love reading the author’s notes. In this case ~ Acknowledgements” As she is thanks the many who helped her. She tells us she has always been obsessed with writing stories about mothers.
Her debut novel was “Not her Daughter” – and she hoped to write a sequel entitled “What happened to Emma Townsen" but it never happened. She mentioned her desire to her Thomas & Mercer editor Jessica Tribble White and “Dear Mother” began.
I did read “Not Her Daughter” seven years ago. At the end of my comments I said
“This story was a fast read but totally gave me sleepless nights.
I will give Rea Frey next novel another try- as she seems to be a good writer”
Yes, I did read another in fact this was my fifth Rea Frey novel! I especially liked Don’t Forget me and Until I Find You.
Now I can add this one!
Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this great early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 28, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4⭐️
BLURB:
Isabelle comes back to her hometown after her mother Gale, who she’s estranged from, dies suddenly. She plans to deal with the house and leave but soon finds things that don’t make sense. She begins investigating what really happened to her mother and the night of the fire that killed her foster siblings.
REVIEW:
If you like dual timeline thrillers that slowly unravel secrets, you may really love this one. And if you’re like me and you haven’t heard of Rea Frey before, it’s good to know that she’s written several character-driven thrillers. This one really showcases her straightforward and engaging writing style—a bit more intricate than a Freida McFadden-style popcorn thriller, but nothing overly complex either. The protagonist, Isabelle, has the classic “return to her hometown after many years away,”after being scarred by a traumatic event that estranged her from her mother. Now her mother’s suspicious death just before the 25th anniversary of that event unravels truths that don’t line up with what Isabelle remembers—and she needs the truth! Doesn’t that sound like a storyline that will have you intrigued and wanting to know more?! And to give it some substance, woven in are themes of maternal instincts, sibling bonds, unhealthy obsession, trauma clouding judgment, and grief.
Told across two timelines—a present timeline that follows Isabelle’s POV as she returns to her hometown and uncovers secrets, and a past timeline on the night of the bunker fire following Isabelle and her foster siblings as everything unfolds. It’s a really unique and effective structure that allows you to uncover truths exactly when Isabelle does—and in real time you see how her view of her mother starts to change.
Isabelle is a complex character with “conditional love” for others (as she puts it)—so you may not find her the most likable, but you’ll respect her need to get to the truth, especially when she puts her safety and reputation at risk. Her relationship with Harper, her foster sister and best childhood friend, is quite layered. They reconnect quickly when Isabelle comes back, and even their daughters form an instant bond—but it almost feels too good to be true. On top of that, there are a lot of suspicious characters—and once Isabelle discovers some very revealing camera footage, you'll start looking at them from different angles and questioning their motives—only adding to the enjoyment and suspense!
What’s really great about this book is its pacing—there’s always something happening to move the story forward, and you’ll find it difficult to put down—so prepare for a binge read! Some of the big twists are predictable, but there are clever detours that will have you second-guessing what you think you know. Be prepared for over-the-top confrontational reveal scenes where you need to suspend your disbelief and may have a few eye-rolling moments, but you’ll still be fully entertained! And the epilogue will either really work for you or not—it’s unsettling and makes it feel like there’s more to the story to tell! If you’ve read Ashley Flowers’ books, you’ll definitely feel some similar vibes here and want to discuss it with others who’ve read the book!
BLURB:
Isabelle comes back to her hometown after her mother Gale, who she’s estranged from, dies suddenly. She plans to deal with the house and leave but soon finds things that don’t make sense. She begins investigating what really happened to her mother and the night of the fire that killed her foster siblings.
REVIEW:
If you like dual timeline thrillers that slowly unravel secrets, you may really love this one. And if you’re like me and you haven’t heard of Rea Frey before, it’s good to know that she’s written several character-driven thrillers. This one really showcases her straightforward and engaging writing style—a bit more intricate than a Freida McFadden-style popcorn thriller, but nothing overly complex either. The protagonist, Isabelle, has the classic “return to her hometown after many years away,”after being scarred by a traumatic event that estranged her from her mother. Now her mother’s suspicious death just before the 25th anniversary of that event unravels truths that don’t line up with what Isabelle remembers—and she needs the truth! Doesn’t that sound like a storyline that will have you intrigued and wanting to know more?! And to give it some substance, woven in are themes of maternal instincts, sibling bonds, unhealthy obsession, trauma clouding judgment, and grief.
Told across two timelines—a present timeline that follows Isabelle’s POV as she returns to her hometown and uncovers secrets, and a past timeline on the night of the bunker fire following Isabelle and her foster siblings as everything unfolds. It’s a really unique and effective structure that allows you to uncover truths exactly when Isabelle does—and in real time you see how her view of her mother starts to change.
Isabelle is a complex character with “conditional love” for others (as she puts it)—so you may not find her the most likable, but you’ll respect her need to get to the truth, especially when she puts her safety and reputation at risk. Her relationship with Harper, her foster sister and best childhood friend, is quite layered. They reconnect quickly when Isabelle comes back, and even their daughters form an instant bond—but it almost feels too good to be true. On top of that, there are a lot of suspicious characters—and once Isabelle discovers some very revealing camera footage, you'll start looking at them from different angles and questioning their motives—only adding to the enjoyment and suspense!
What’s really great about this book is its pacing—there’s always something happening to move the story forward, and you’ll find it difficult to put down—so prepare for a binge read! Some of the big twists are predictable, but there are clever detours that will have you second-guessing what you think you know. Be prepared for over-the-top confrontational reveal scenes where you need to suspend your disbelief and may have a few eye-rolling moments, but you’ll still be fully entertained! And the epilogue will either really work for you or not—it’s unsettling and makes it feel like there’s more to the story to tell! If you’ve read Ashley Flowers’ books, you’ll definitely feel some similar vibes here and want to discuss it with others who’ve read the book!
Review of advance copy
Thank you to BookSparks and the author for the invite to be a part of this book tour and the amazing PR box, and to Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the gifted ALC...this is my honest review.
🎧📖 Dear Mother 📖🎧
Author: Rea Frey
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Audiobook Pub: Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Jennifer Jill Araya
Length: 8 hours, 22 minutes
Publisher: Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer
MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)
Early Buzz Alert!! Just like with every other Rea Frey thriller I've read, Dear Mother captivated me from its very start and pulled me into its grips immediately. I absolutely flew through this unputdownable, one-sitting read and I loved every minute of it!
I'm a sucker for a cold case thriller, especially when the book's main character is somehow personally connected to it. Give me multiple POVs and dual timelines, like this book, and I'll be chomping at the bit to figure out what really happened as the mystery unfolds bit by bit! Frey is just so good at writing thrillers that can grab my interest and keep me hanging on until the very end.
After a childhood filled with trauma and unanswered questions, FMC/ investigative journalist Isabelle vows to chase down the truth. When her estranged mother dies, Isabelle returns to her hometown and finds herself unintentionally dredging up the past. She was just 13 when her 3 foster siblings died tragically in a fire ruled as accidental, but her mother was accused of being involved somehow -- though Isabelle never wanted to believe it. When her mother's autopsy reveals something suspicious, Isabelle's digging into the past unearths so much more than just terrifying memories.
I read this as a combo of the physical ARC and the ALC, and I loved them both! Jennifer Jill Araya always brings characters to life with such authenticity, and she was the perfect narrator for this book!
This was SUCH a great read! The only thing that stopped it from being a full 5⭐ rating for me was the fact that I guessed the villain right away. 🤷 But be assured there were plenty more twists I DIDN'T see coming in these pages! If you're a fan of cold case thrillers, remote settings in the woods, small town secrets & rumors, and twisty reads that have you second guessing everybody -- you're going to love Dear Mother! Be sure you grab a copy when it's released on April 28th!
#DearMother #ReaFrey #BookSparks #booktour #AmazonPublishing #Thomas&Mercer #BrillianceAudio #Netgalley #ARC #ALC #audiobooks #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #bookrecs #bookreviews #bookrecommendations
🎧📖 Dear Mother 📖🎧
Author: Rea Frey
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Audiobook Pub: Brilliance Audio
Narrator: Jennifer Jill Araya
Length: 8 hours, 22 minutes
Publisher: Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer
MY RATING: 4.75/5⭐
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)
Early Buzz Alert!! Just like with every other Rea Frey thriller I've read, Dear Mother captivated me from its very start and pulled me into its grips immediately. I absolutely flew through this unputdownable, one-sitting read and I loved every minute of it!
I'm a sucker for a cold case thriller, especially when the book's main character is somehow personally connected to it. Give me multiple POVs and dual timelines, like this book, and I'll be chomping at the bit to figure out what really happened as the mystery unfolds bit by bit! Frey is just so good at writing thrillers that can grab my interest and keep me hanging on until the very end.
After a childhood filled with trauma and unanswered questions, FMC/ investigative journalist Isabelle vows to chase down the truth. When her estranged mother dies, Isabelle returns to her hometown and finds herself unintentionally dredging up the past. She was just 13 when her 3 foster siblings died tragically in a fire ruled as accidental, but her mother was accused of being involved somehow -- though Isabelle never wanted to believe it. When her mother's autopsy reveals something suspicious, Isabelle's digging into the past unearths so much more than just terrifying memories.
I read this as a combo of the physical ARC and the ALC, and I loved them both! Jennifer Jill Araya always brings characters to life with such authenticity, and she was the perfect narrator for this book!
This was SUCH a great read! The only thing that stopped it from being a full 5⭐ rating for me was the fact that I guessed the villain right away. 🤷 But be assured there were plenty more twists I DIDN'T see coming in these pages! If you're a fan of cold case thrillers, remote settings in the woods, small town secrets & rumors, and twisty reads that have you second guessing everybody -- you're going to love Dear Mother! Be sure you grab a copy when it's released on April 28th!
#DearMother #ReaFrey #BookSparks #booktour #AmazonPublishing #Thomas&Mercer #BrillianceAudio #Netgalley #ARC #ALC #audiobooks #thrillerreads #thrillerlover #bookrecs #bookreviews #bookrecommendations
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dear Mother by Rea Frey is one of those thrillers that pulls you into a dark family mystery and keeps you thinking about it long after you finish. Set in the eerie forests of the Pacific Northwest, the atmosphere alone gave me a constant feeling of unease.
The story follows Isabelle, an investigative journalist who returns to her hometown after the death of her estranged mother. Isabelle has been haunted for decades by a tragic fire that killed three of her foster siblings when she was thirteen. Even though it was ruled an accident, she has always suspected something darker may have happened. When new information surfaces after her mother’s death, Isabelle realizes the past might not be finished with her yet.
What really drew me in was the emotional complexity of the story. Isabelle’s feelings toward her mother—love mixed with suspicion and fear—felt incredibly real. The bond she shared with her foster siblings also added a lot of heart to the story and made the mystery feel even more personal.
The novel moves between past and present timelines, slowly revealing what happened the night of the fire while Isabelle investigates her mother’s death. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and how each piece of the puzzle added to the tension.
I’ll admit I suspected the culprit fairly early on, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The suspense and emotional weight of the story kept me fully invested, and the final chapters had me feeling anxious, unsettled, and eager to see how everything would come together.
Overall, this was a gripping, atmospheric read about family secrets, complicated mother-daughter relationships, and the way the past refuses to stay buried. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong emotional themes and plenty of tension, this one is definitely worth picking up.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.)
The story follows Isabelle, an investigative journalist who returns to her hometown after the death of her estranged mother. Isabelle has been haunted for decades by a tragic fire that killed three of her foster siblings when she was thirteen. Even though it was ruled an accident, she has always suspected something darker may have happened. When new information surfaces after her mother’s death, Isabelle realizes the past might not be finished with her yet.
What really drew me in was the emotional complexity of the story. Isabelle’s feelings toward her mother—love mixed with suspicion and fear—felt incredibly real. The bond she shared with her foster siblings also added a lot of heart to the story and made the mystery feel even more personal.
The novel moves between past and present timelines, slowly revealing what happened the night of the fire while Isabelle investigates her mother’s death. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives and how each piece of the puzzle added to the tension.
I’ll admit I suspected the culprit fairly early on, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The suspense and emotional weight of the story kept me fully invested, and the final chapters had me feeling anxious, unsettled, and eager to see how everything would come together.
Overall, this was a gripping, atmospheric read about family secrets, complicated mother-daughter relationships, and the way the past refuses to stay buried. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with strong emotional themes and plenty of tension, this one is definitely worth picking up.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
EEEEK! A dark and twisted murder mystery that I couldn’t put down, Dear Mother packed a punch into just 236 pages. Haunting, fast-paced, and emotionally charged, the brilliant character work equaled the twisty plotting every step of the way. You see, I felt as if I got to know this small cast all the way down to their bones. Fully fleshed out and imbued with personality, it was a true shock to my system when the villain was finally revealed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that if I’d had a chance to puzzle it out, I would’ve come up with the answer to this jaw-dropping twist due to the fact that it worked like a charm. The thing is, though, that I was so riveted by the sense of foreboding and emotional tension that I raced through the pages far too fast to think ahead in this creepy tale.
So what was it about this captivating yet deeply unsettling novel that had me tied up in knots? Well, on top of the dark family secrets, disturbing buried truths, and well-hidden lies, the dysfunctional family at the root of this story was exceptionally well-drawn. With a mother who gave me the shivers despite never showing up on the page and the sweet dash of low-key romance that made me smile, the poignant hit of family drama was easily on par with the ever-present suspense. Not only that, but the interwoven dual timelines and multiple POVs explored love, obsession, trauma, and family with a deft hand. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, this is a book you need to read if you’re looking for something that will leave you covered in chills by the end. Order a copy right now! Rating of 5 stars.
P.S. My dear Ms. Frey, all I want now is a sequel! Please say that it’s so?!? I need to know what happens next to these characters!
SYNOPSIS:
After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire. The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger.
Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods. And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.
With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories―and incinerate everything she thought to be true.
Thank you Rea Frey and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 28, 2026
Content warning: fire/fire injury, child death, mention of: poisoning, death of a parent, molestation, murder
So what was it about this captivating yet deeply unsettling novel that had me tied up in knots? Well, on top of the dark family secrets, disturbing buried truths, and well-hidden lies, the dysfunctional family at the root of this story was exceptionally well-drawn. With a mother who gave me the shivers despite never showing up on the page and the sweet dash of low-key romance that made me smile, the poignant hit of family drama was easily on par with the ever-present suspense. Not only that, but the interwoven dual timelines and multiple POVs explored love, obsession, trauma, and family with a deft hand. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, this is a book you need to read if you’re looking for something that will leave you covered in chills by the end. Order a copy right now! Rating of 5 stars.
P.S. My dear Ms. Frey, all I want now is a sequel! Please say that it’s so?!? I need to know what happens next to these characters!
SYNOPSIS:
After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her.
Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire. The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger.
Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods. And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.
With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories―and incinerate everything she thought to be true.
Thank you Rea Frey and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: April 28, 2026
Content warning: fire/fire injury, child death, mention of: poisoning, death of a parent, molestation, murder
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
tt: @theaarontodd | ig: @aarontoddreads
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
Dear Mother x Rea Frey
⭐ Star Rating: 4.25
🔪 AT Intensity: 1.5
Rea Frey builds the novel around a familiar setup: a woman returning home after her estranged mother’s death to revisit a childhood tragedy. What gives the story weight is the lingering grief underneath it all.
The novel follows Isabelle Archer, an investigative journalist haunted by a fire that killed three of her foster siblings twenty-five years earlier. The deaths were ruled accidental, though suspicion has always surrounded Isabelle’s mother. Frey moves between past and present timelines, slowly revealing what happened inside that house while also exploring how trauma reshapes memory over time.
What I appreciated most is that the book never tries too hard to be shocking. This is not a brutal or especially dark thriller, despite the subject matter. Instead, it leans into atmosphere, family tension, and the quiet dread of returning to a place filled with painful memories. The characters do the heavy lifting in this story! The Pacific Northwest setting helps tremendously there. Cold forests, isolated roads, and homes that seem permanently trapped in the past give the novel a constant feeling of unease. I loved the trail between the homes, and the unease I felt every time a character would walk into the woods…
Aside from the characters, the pacing is the novel’s strongest quality. The chapters are short, the reveals come steadily, and the entire thing is incredibly easy to binge. I did figure out parts of the mystery fairly early, which kept it from reaching a full five stars for me, but I was still invested because the emotional side of the story remained strong throughout. There was one twist I didn’t see coming, and that was a really pleasant surprise. Once the twists start, it’s a rapid and satisfying unraveling.
Dear Mother is not trying to reinvent the thriller genre. What it does well is tell an emotionally grounded mystery with enough atmosphere and momentum to keep you turning pages. Sometimes that is more than enough.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early read!
📖 Aaron Reads | Book Review
Dear Mother x Rea Frey
⭐ Star Rating: 4.25
🔪 AT Intensity: 1.5
Rea Frey builds the novel around a familiar setup: a woman returning home after her estranged mother’s death to revisit a childhood tragedy. What gives the story weight is the lingering grief underneath it all.
The novel follows Isabelle Archer, an investigative journalist haunted by a fire that killed three of her foster siblings twenty-five years earlier. The deaths were ruled accidental, though suspicion has always surrounded Isabelle’s mother. Frey moves between past and present timelines, slowly revealing what happened inside that house while also exploring how trauma reshapes memory over time.
What I appreciated most is that the book never tries too hard to be shocking. This is not a brutal or especially dark thriller, despite the subject matter. Instead, it leans into atmosphere, family tension, and the quiet dread of returning to a place filled with painful memories. The characters do the heavy lifting in this story! The Pacific Northwest setting helps tremendously there. Cold forests, isolated roads, and homes that seem permanently trapped in the past give the novel a constant feeling of unease. I loved the trail between the homes, and the unease I felt every time a character would walk into the woods…
Aside from the characters, the pacing is the novel’s strongest quality. The chapters are short, the reveals come steadily, and the entire thing is incredibly easy to binge. I did figure out parts of the mystery fairly early, which kept it from reaching a full five stars for me, but I was still invested because the emotional side of the story remained strong throughout. There was one twist I didn’t see coming, and that was a really pleasant surprise. Once the twists start, it’s a rapid and satisfying unraveling.
Dear Mother is not trying to reinvent the thriller genre. What it does well is tell an emotionally grounded mystery with enough atmosphere and momentum to keep you turning pages. Sometimes that is more than enough.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early read!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
OMG! Kudos to Rea Frey, the Author of “Dear Mother” for writing such a captivating, exhilarating, horrific and unique thriller. The Genres for this book are: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, and Fiction. I couldn’t put this book down, and chewed my nails, while I was reading this. If there was a drip of water, or a creak in my house, I jumped out of my seat. The author vividly and visually describes the landscape, plot and dark and dramatic characters in this well written story. The characters are complex, complicated, flawed, and dysfunctional. Even those that are unalived are suspect. There are dark secrets, betrayals, tragedy, threats, danger and death. There are many questions that have to be answered.
One of the female protagonists, Isabelle Archer, vows to unlock the dark family secrets after her mother’s death. Isabelle arrives with her young daughter to the original family home, where there has been much tragedy and darkness. She is determined to find out the truth at any cost. Isabelle was very young when several of her foster siblings died in a suspenseful fire. Before that, those children were all getting sick. Isabelle remained friends with her foster sister, Harper. Both Isabelle and Harper have daughters. Isabelle seeks the help of her ex-husband, who is a journalist, with many connections. Isabelle, also a journalist has suspected that her mother was responsible for these deaths.
As secrets are revealed, and new clues surface, everyone seems to be a suspect. Each time, I was sure I had figured out what happened, I was wrong. I was totally thrown by the conclusion! What a send-off!! I would love to see another book to follow this. I highly recommend this memorable and powerful thriller.
One of the female protagonists, Isabelle Archer, vows to unlock the dark family secrets after her mother’s death. Isabelle arrives with her young daughter to the original family home, where there has been much tragedy and darkness. She is determined to find out the truth at any cost. Isabelle was very young when several of her foster siblings died in a suspenseful fire. Before that, those children were all getting sick. Isabelle remained friends with her foster sister, Harper. Both Isabelle and Harper have daughters. Isabelle seeks the help of her ex-husband, who is a journalist, with many connections. Isabelle, also a journalist has suspected that her mother was responsible for these deaths.
As secrets are revealed, and new clues surface, everyone seems to be a suspect. Each time, I was sure I had figured out what happened, I was wrong. I was totally thrown by the conclusion! What a send-off!! I would love to see another book to follow this. I highly recommend this memorable and powerful thriller.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a really good story. I started reading it and ended up switching to the audiobook, and I was hooked from the very first page.
We follow Isabelle, who returns to the town she grew up in after the death of her estranged mother. As she goes back to her childhood home, the past begins to reappear. After being gone for 25 years, she’s forced to confront painful memories, including a tragic fire that took the lives of her three foster siblings.
The story is told in dual timelines (which I love), slowly revealing what happened in the past as it connects to the present. This book is packed with surprises, and many twists I didn’t see coming. With every chapter, the story became more unsettling in the best way, and I kept wanting to know the truth about Isabelle’s past and her siblings. Something wasn’t adding up with Isabelle’s sister. She gave me the creeps, but I don’t want to say much because you need to read or listen and find out what truly happens…
This was a gripping mystery/thriller filled with family drama and lots of buried secrets. It kept me second-guessing everything, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist hit. The ending completely caught me off guard. Honestly, I didn’t see that coming. I was like, the story is going to repeat again…
Now let’s talk about the audiobook. The narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, did an amazing job bringing the story to life. She perfectly captured the eerie tone and the emotional tension, making the experience even more immersive.
I definitely recommend this one if you are in the mood for a gripping thriller with small-town vibes and lots of secrets. You need to add this one to your TBR!
Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy!
Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary ALC!
We follow Isabelle, who returns to the town she grew up in after the death of her estranged mother. As she goes back to her childhood home, the past begins to reappear. After being gone for 25 years, she’s forced to confront painful memories, including a tragic fire that took the lives of her three foster siblings.
The story is told in dual timelines (which I love), slowly revealing what happened in the past as it connects to the present. This book is packed with surprises, and many twists I didn’t see coming. With every chapter, the story became more unsettling in the best way, and I kept wanting to know the truth about Isabelle’s past and her siblings. Something wasn’t adding up with Isabelle’s sister. She gave me the creeps, but I don’t want to say much because you need to read or listen and find out what truly happens…
This was a gripping mystery/thriller filled with family drama and lots of buried secrets. It kept me second-guessing everything, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist hit. The ending completely caught me off guard. Honestly, I didn’t see that coming. I was like, the story is going to repeat again…
Now let’s talk about the audiobook. The narrator, Jennifer Jill Araya, did an amazing job bringing the story to life. She perfectly captured the eerie tone and the emotional tension, making the experience even more immersive.
I definitely recommend this one if you are in the mood for a gripping thriller with small-town vibes and lots of secrets. You need to add this one to your TBR!
Thank you so much to Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy!
Thank you so much to Brilliance Publishing for the complimentary ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Isabelle Archer is many things at once: an investigative journalist trained to chase truth, a mother trying to protect her own child, and a daughter shaped by a childhood that never offered safety or simplicity. Raised in a home full of foster siblings, her past is marked by one child who vanished and three more lost in a devastating fire—an “accident” that never sat right. Illness, fear, and whispered theories trailed the family, all tightly controlled by her mother, Gail, whose grip on the narrative was as suffocating as it was unwavering. When Gail dies, Isabelle returns home expecting paperwork and closure. Instead, she finds autopsy results that crack open the past. What follows is a reckoning—across dual timelines and shifting POVs—that forces Isabelle to relive what she survived and confront what may have been deliberately hidden all along.
This is the kind of book you fall into fast and don’t surface from easily. Rea Frey doesn’t sanitize motherhood, mental illness, or abuse; she leans into the discomfort and lets the mess breathe. The emotional tension is sharp, the atmosphere heavy, and the mystery unfolds with quiet control rather than cheap shock tactics. Isabelle’s love for her mother exists right alongside fear and suspicion, which makes her feel achingly real. The structure is clean, the twists land, and the emotional stakes never feel manufactured. Frey remains an auto-read for me because she understands how to braid psychology and suspense without losing the human core. Dear Mother is proof that family secrets don’t fade—they ferment, and when they finally surface, they demand to be faced.
This is the kind of book you fall into fast and don’t surface from easily. Rea Frey doesn’t sanitize motherhood, mental illness, or abuse; she leans into the discomfort and lets the mess breathe. The emotional tension is sharp, the atmosphere heavy, and the mystery unfolds with quiet control rather than cheap shock tactics. Isabelle’s love for her mother exists right alongside fear and suspicion, which makes her feel achingly real. The structure is clean, the twists land, and the emotional stakes never feel manufactured. Frey remains an auto-read for me because she understands how to braid psychology and suspense without losing the human core. Dear Mother is proof that family secrets don’t fade—they ferment, and when they finally surface, they demand to be faced.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars – A VERY Powerful, Emotional, AND TRULY Unforgettable Read
I am truly honored to have received the incredible once in a life time opportunity to read and review Dear Mother by Rea Frey before its official release date. Getting an early look at this story felt so special — and after I finished it, I can say with true confidence that this book deserves every bit of the praise it’s going to receive.
Dear Mother is a raw, emotional, and beautifully written. Rea Frey has such a powerful way of capturing the complexity of motherhood — the love, the sacrifice, the guilt, the fear, and all of the impossible choices that can define a woman’s life. The characters felt so deeply real, flawed in the most human ways, and completely unforgettable. I found myself thinking about them often long after I put the book down.
This story was tugging at my heart from the very first chapter. It’s layered, thought-provoking, and filled with those special moments that made me pause and reflect. Rea Frey doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, and that honesty is what makes this book so impactful. It’s the kind of story that sparks up conversations and stays with you forever.
If you love an emotionally gripping fiction type of book that explores family dynamics and the depth of a mother’s love, this is a must-read for you. I feel so beyond grateful to have experienced this amazing story early — and I cannot wait for everyone else to get their hands on it.
Thank you so much Rea for the special opportunity to read this beautiful, powerful story before release. What an absolute privilege.🥺🫶🏼✨
I am truly honored to have received the incredible once in a life time opportunity to read and review Dear Mother by Rea Frey before its official release date. Getting an early look at this story felt so special — and after I finished it, I can say with true confidence that this book deserves every bit of the praise it’s going to receive.
Dear Mother is a raw, emotional, and beautifully written. Rea Frey has such a powerful way of capturing the complexity of motherhood — the love, the sacrifice, the guilt, the fear, and all of the impossible choices that can define a woman’s life. The characters felt so deeply real, flawed in the most human ways, and completely unforgettable. I found myself thinking about them often long after I put the book down.
This story was tugging at my heart from the very first chapter. It’s layered, thought-provoking, and filled with those special moments that made me pause and reflect. Rea Frey doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, and that honesty is what makes this book so impactful. It’s the kind of story that sparks up conversations and stays with you forever.
If you love an emotionally gripping fiction type of book that explores family dynamics and the depth of a mother’s love, this is a must-read for you. I feel so beyond grateful to have experienced this amazing story early — and I cannot wait for everyone else to get their hands on it.
Thank you so much Rea for the special opportunity to read this beautiful, powerful story before release. What an absolute privilege.🥺🫶🏼✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Was she or wasn't she?
Did she or didn't she?
Gail was either the best of all foster mothers or she was the worst.
Her biological daughter Isabelle needs to know, but Gail is dead.
Here's what I really liked about this new title from Rea Frey:
🔖We get a story with Past and Present narratives. The chapters from the past are sprinkled in just perfectly to reveal bread crumbs corresponding with the present events.
🕵Isabelle Archer's work as an investigative journalist helps her to step into a role of a detective. She does not believe Gail committed suicide. The thallium in her autopsy has Isabelle's spidey senses tingling. She has done a piece on the poison and knows there must have been foul play.
🧒Isabelle's daughter Maisy is our reminder that mothers want to protect their children. Isabelle's partner Jack also has the best interests of their daughter in mind. They make a good team.
🥨For a relatively short book, Rea Frey throws some zingers at the reader. Even the Epilogue will have you twisted up in knots. I also loved the NW setting. We just spent about a week near Portland and on the Victoria peninsula enjoying the flora and fauna.
In the Acknowledgments the author indicates that this book was born out a germ of an idea after finishing Not Her Daughter. That was my first Rea Frey read and I heartily recommend it.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Did she or didn't she?
Gail was either the best of all foster mothers or she was the worst.
Her biological daughter Isabelle needs to know, but Gail is dead.
Here's what I really liked about this new title from Rea Frey:
🔖We get a story with Past and Present narratives. The chapters from the past are sprinkled in just perfectly to reveal bread crumbs corresponding with the present events.
🕵Isabelle Archer's work as an investigative journalist helps her to step into a role of a detective. She does not believe Gail committed suicide. The thallium in her autopsy has Isabelle's spidey senses tingling. She has done a piece on the poison and knows there must have been foul play.
🧒Isabelle's daughter Maisy is our reminder that mothers want to protect their children. Isabelle's partner Jack also has the best interests of their daughter in mind. They make a good team.
🥨For a relatively short book, Rea Frey throws some zingers at the reader. Even the Epilogue will have you twisted up in knots. I also loved the NW setting. We just spent about a week near Portland and on the Victoria peninsula enjoying the flora and fauna.
In the Acknowledgments the author indicates that this book was born out a germ of an idea after finishing Not Her Daughter. That was my first Rea Frey read and I heartily recommend it.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dear Mother is one of those thrillers that sticks with you more for the emotional impact than the twists. While there is a mystery at the center of the story, the real focus is on family, especially the complicated bond between mothers and daughters, and the idea that family can be so much more than blood.
Isabelle returns home after her estranged mother dies, still haunted by a fire from her childhood that killed three foster children her mother had taken in. Even though the fire was ruled an accident, Isabelle has never believed that was the full truth. As she starts digging into the past, old wounds resurface and long-buried emotions come rushing back.
What really worked for me was how Rea Frey portrayed family relationships. Isabelle’s bond with her foster siblings felt genuine and deep, showing how quickly chosen family can become just as important, if not more so, than biological ties. Those relationships give the story its heart and explain why Isabelle cannot let the past stay buried.
The mother and daughter relationship is messy, painful, and very real. Isabelle loves her mother but also resents her, and that push and pull felt incredibly authentic. The book does a great job of showing how daughters struggle with the versions of their mothers they remember versus the truth they are afraid to face.
Some of the mystery elements felt familiar, and a few twists were easy to see coming, but the emotional weight of the story kept me invested. If you enjoy thrillers that lean heavily into family drama and psychological tension, this one is worth picking up.
Isabelle returns home after her estranged mother dies, still haunted by a fire from her childhood that killed three foster children her mother had taken in. Even though the fire was ruled an accident, Isabelle has never believed that was the full truth. As she starts digging into the past, old wounds resurface and long-buried emotions come rushing back.
What really worked for me was how Rea Frey portrayed family relationships. Isabelle’s bond with her foster siblings felt genuine and deep, showing how quickly chosen family can become just as important, if not more so, than biological ties. Those relationships give the story its heart and explain why Isabelle cannot let the past stay buried.
The mother and daughter relationship is messy, painful, and very real. Isabelle loves her mother but also resents her, and that push and pull felt incredibly authentic. The book does a great job of showing how daughters struggle with the versions of their mothers they remember versus the truth they are afraid to face.
Some of the mystery elements felt familiar, and a few twists were easy to see coming, but the emotional weight of the story kept me invested. If you enjoy thrillers that lean heavily into family drama and psychological tension, this one is worth picking up.
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