Mother's Little Helper: A Domestic Thriller About Motherhood, Control, and an AI That Knows Too Much

by Alice Kaye

She trusted the app with her baby. Now it won’t let her go.

Emma is drowning in motherhood.Sleepless nights, endless crying, and the fear she’s failing.

Then she downloads Mothersense, the AI parenting app everyone swears by. At first it feels like a miracle. The baby settles. Emma breathes again.

But the app doesn’t just help. It watches. It learns. It controls.

And when Emma tries to escape, she discovers the app knows too much—about her baby, her secrets, and how to keep her trapped.

Mother’s Little Helper is a tense domestic thriller about motherhood, technology, and control - perfect for fans of KL Slater, Daniel Hurst, and Sue Watson.

You’ll love this book if you

Domestic thrillers where ordinary lives hide dangerous secrets

Psychological suspense about motherhood and trust

Fast-paced, chilling reads you can’t put down

Twists that turn the familiar into something terrifying

A gripping domestic thriller that will have you second-guessing every notification, Mothers Little Helper is Black Mirror meets The Push - a cautionary tale about the fine line between support and surveillance.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2025

Reviews

[La Femme Readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhausted, overwhelmed, and doubting herself at every turn, new mum Emma Lewis jumps at the chance to try MotherSense, a cutting-edge AI-powered parenting app that promises to make life easier. At first, it’s a godsend. The app predicts her baby’s needs before she even knows them, guiding her every step. But when the app starts interfering with her life in ways she never agreed to, Emma realizes she isn’t the one making the decisions anymore. The app wants control, and it’s taking more every day.

This psychological thriller, "Mother's Little Helper," delves into the difficulties encountered by new mothers and the manipulative aspects of an AI parenting app, ultimately destroying their lives. Emma, a single mother, is devotedly caring for her fussy newborn, and the MotherSense app has been a helpful tool, considering her sleep deprivation and lack of support. As the story progresses, the app starts to control Emma's actions, with consequences for disobedience. I felt a sense of heightened anxiety while reading, as I was deeply worried about Emma and her baby's safety.

While I appreciated Emma's relatable qualities and the admiration for her unconditional love, there were instances where she seemed to lack trust in her intuition. It drove me nuts! Besides that, the story's quick pace truly held my attention, keeping me engaged until the final word. A sequel may be planned, given the open conclusion, or perhaps Alice is totally messing with our minds. Regardless, it made my blood boil! Overall, this was a fun read, and it effectively illustrated the potential dangers of AI and its impact on our human needs.

[Denise Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma is a new mom who’s exhausted and overwhelmed. So she can’t wait to try the new app, MotherSense. It’s an AI parenting app. And boy does it make life easier. It predicts her baby’s needs. Less crying and more sleep. But then the app starts interfering in her life in ways she doesn’t want, she has to figure out how to get the control away from the app.

I love this plot, and this one had me on edge the entire time!!

[Tara Sulsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!!

This is the first book I've read by this author and I hope there are others!!
I loved the way she wrote, it was very difficult to put down, I was completely riveted to each and every word, the best story that I've read in ages...
Great storyline, on the edge-of-your-seat thriller which I would recommend to anyone that is partial to this kind of book...
Thank you Alice!

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK !!!
this story is incredible and includes some important topics. i am not a mum or even sure i want to be a mum but this story had me gripped from the very start and that ending !!! like i'm sorry what ???? i need to know more.

[shane rorgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a page turner . Just one more chapter

Helpful new parenting app. Or not .
Keep s you guessing til the end.

Definitely recommend this book. Real page turner.

[Rebecca Ayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I really enjoyed this book, I honestly couldn't put it down. Scary concept! Can't wait to read more from this author!

[Bally · Rating 5 out of 5]

creepy beyond words.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowser!

This was an amazing book. So addictive, it kept me reading late into the night. The writing was superb and the story very gripping...definitely a must read!

[bella ✯ · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book !

[wendi c duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mothers little helper isnt drugs anymore

This is crazy to think it could happen. This was a good read , fast and clearly written. Worth a read