Her Mother's Name: A domestic thriller with a shocking twist

by Daniel Craparo

For fans of The Last Thing He Told Me and First Lie Wins

Laura Keane has spent fifteen years being the perfect mother.

She bakes cookies for the school fundraiser. She waves to her neighbors. She drives her daughter Ellie to soccer practice. She also keeps a go-bag in her closet, with fake IDs and enough cash to disappear within the hour.

Because Laura Keane is not who the world thinks she is.

Fifteen years ago, a young woman was murdered. And someone made a choice that changed everything — a choice born out of desperation, grief, and a fierce, complicated love.

Now Ellie is sixteen, fearless, and fighting battles her mother can't control. When Ellie publicly exposes a classmate's crime, she draws the attention of a powerful family with unlimited resources and zero conscience. They start digging into Laura's past. And what they'll find could destroy everything — the life she built, the daughter she raised, and the secret buried in a mountain clearing that she visits once a year.

Now she faces an impossible choice: Save her daughter, or save the secret that made them a family.

Her Mother's Name is a heart-pounding, emotionally-charged thriller about the lies we tell to survive, the identities we take on to protect the ones we love, and the terrifying question at the center of every relationship: How well do we really know the most important people in our lives?

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2026

About the author

Daniel Craparo is a writer based in New York, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. Twenty years after starting his first novel, he finally finished it—and hasn’t stopped writing since. His work blends dark storytelling with sharp cultural commentary, often exploring the lines between truth, identity, and manipulation.

Reviews

[Rosio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fast paced thriller that had me saying what after every chapter 🤯 if you need a good short book with lots of twists, this is a good story.

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a well written thriller. The writer makes it as you are watching everything unfold. I started to follow this author, I definitely want to see what else he writes.

[Miss 80's Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little back story....I read Daniel's first novel "How To Lose A Daughter" last year and was thoroughly impressed with his writing and storytelling style. And then when I got the email for this book I just had a feeling I was going to enjoy it.

"Her Mother's Name" is an emotional story about identity and the bond between mothers and daughters, and as a mother myself, I felt such a strong personal connection to the main character. The way she would do anything for her daughter really resonated with me and added an extra layer of depth to the story.

Told across two timelines, 15 years earlier and present day, and through multiple points of view, the story flows seamlessly. The short chapters and fast pace made this so easy to fly through, and the twists absolutely got me. I genuinely thought I had things figured out, and I was completely wrong. There were multiple moments where I found myself reacting out loud. Which is always a sign of a great book to me!

While I wouldn't necessarily call it "suspenseful" it definitely kept me locked in. There's a lot packed into just over 200 pages. If I had one small critique, it's that I wouldn't have minded a bit more depth in certain areas. But at the same time, it's refreshing to read something that doesn't feel overly drawn out.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, engaging, and emotionally driven. Read that I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. Definitely one I'd recommend checking out.

4.5 ⭐
Thank you to Daniel Craparo for this advanced reader, copy in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one pulled me in quick and kept me hooked the whole time.

This book gives that perfect life on the outside, something’s not right underneath vibe, and I was immediately invested. Following Laura as her past starts creeping back in had me constantly questioning what was really going on.

I loved how this unfolded. It’s very much a piece-by-piece kind of story where secrets are revealed at just the right pace to keep you hooked. The writing is super immersive and keeps you right on the edge of your seat. It was hard to put down and so easy to get lost in.

If you like twisty domestic thrillers with hidden secrets, layered characters, and that constant underlying tension, this is definitely one to pick up.

[Chasity Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. It was fun following Daniel in his writing process. Her Mother’s Name is classified as a suspense novel, however there wasn’t much true suspense in my opinion. Yes the book kept me curious but did not have me on the edge of my seat. I still have questions that were not answered by the ending. And it did leave me a little confused on the ending and why Laura decided to go that route. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to give away any spoilers. This book was a really fast paced read. The writing was easy to follow and kept me engaged. I also really liked that the chapters were short. I hate a 20 page chapter 🤣. Short chapters are great because it’s easy to read throughout the day while doing other tasks.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others!

Thank you Daniel Craparo for the ARC!

[Holly Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Finished it within 24 hours good… it was so intriguing. Multiple POVs, flawed & wonderful FMC. An endearing story about the family you choose while also being a crazy thriller with plot twists! Such a fun read.

[Kaela Libbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

I absolutely loved this book. it was a pleasure to get to be an ARC reader. The story line had me constantly guessing. Didn't see the ending coming. The book was easy to read yet hard to put down.

[Stephanie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author. I’m so grateful for the opportunity because I had this book read in two days.

The book is a fast read with an easy flow. The story is based on several women throughout the book and shows great examples of what women will do for their friends and family.

I’m not sure if there will be more books including Ivy but I can see this storyline continue in a small series where she helps more women. Maybe Ellie will join in.

[Loretta Crespo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Her Mother's Name by Daniel Craparo . I'm so glad he sent this to me ! If you like suspense with lots of twists , this is for you. The story is told in two different timelines and it's the kind of story that doesn't drag . It really kept my interest .You keep wanting to find out more . I didn't see the twists coming!
There were several times when I had to put the book down and ask myself what just happened!?Omg!!

I think it was very well written. It was a fun read. Definitely put this on your TBR list.

[Brandy Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this from the author himself, and I knew by the end of chapter one that I wasn’t getting anything else done.

I absolutely loved this book!

The short chapters in this one are quick but packed with intensity, and every single chapter pulls you in immediately without feeling overwhelming. The way each one ends on just enough of a cliffhanger had me constantly saying “just one more chapter”… over and over again.

This story is told through multiple points of view and shifts between past and present timelines, but it never feels confusing or unnecessary. Every perspective adds something important, and it all comes together in a way that truly builds the bigger picture.

I literally did not want to put this book down. I actually had to make myself stop reading just to go to sleep, and I already knew I was picking it right back up the next day to finish it.

Did I guess one of the major twists toward the end? Yes. Did that take away from the experience? Absolutely not! If anything, it made the buildup even more satisfying.

This is one of those books that reminds me why psychological thrillers are my favorite genre. Highly recommend! Just clear your schedule before you start; you’re not putting this one down.

Thank you Daniel for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!!! 🫶🏽

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated Her Mother’s Name 4.75 stars, and honestly, I flew through it. This is one of those thrillers that completely pulls you in and doesn’t let go. I was hooked from the start and found myself thinking about it whenever I had to put it down.

Laura Keane is the definition of a devoted mother on the surface, but the tension between who she is and who she used to be drives the entire story in such a compelling way. The pacing is sharp, the stakes feel real, and the emotional weight behind her choices adds so much depth. It’s not just suspenseful, it’s layered with love, fear, and the messy complexity of doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.

Ellie’s storyline adds another level of urgency that kept me turning pages. Watching everything unravel as past and present collide was both thrilling and heartbreaking.

My only selfish wish is that there had been an epilogue. I was so invested in these characters that I just wanted a little more time with them at the end, a bit more closure after everything they went through.

Overall, this was a gripping, emotional read that I’d absolutely recommend if you love books with strong character dynamics and high stakes.

[Foxee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Mother’s Name by Daniel Craparo is a standout psychological thriller that thrives on mood, tension, and the quiet dread of buried truths. From the very first chapters, Craparo builds an atmosphere so thick and immersive that the setting feels alive—watchful, heavy, and impossible to shake.
What impressed me most was the pacing. This is a true slow-burn mystery, one that rewards patience with steadily rising tension and a sense of unease that never loosens its grip. The themes of identity, inherited trauma, and the weight of family history are handled with a level of nuance that lingers long after the final page.
It’s rare to find a thriller that blends such emotional depth with a compelling, “just one more chapter” pull. If you’re drawn to stories about hidden pasts, complicated family ties, and richly atmospheric writing, this one deserves a place at the top of your list. I’m grateful to have read an early copy, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves suspense that seeps under your skin.

[Samantha Barrier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the thriller I’ve been waiting for. Intrigue, deception, multiple povs that slowly reveal the truth and have you holding onto the edge of your seat waiting for more.

A fight for justice within a system set up to fail those who need justice the most. Found family bonds that are forged together within trauma and a need to be seen, a need to be believed.

A girl who carries the spirit and heart of people who have lied to her, but did so for noble reasons, and protected her at any cost.

When the truth unravels, what will be the cost?

I definitely enjoyed this thrilling page turner and the way the author wove a story you thought you had figured out several times.

While I found the ending satisfying, I would still love to see more from the characters and how they piece together a life after the truth shatters everything they had known. I’d love to untangle more of these complicated mother/ daughter and victim/recuser relationships.

If you need a quick read with carefully woven lies that will leave you reeling, this is the one.

[BookboundandBlushed · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) Fast-paced, emotional, and full of surprises

Her Mother’s Name was such a gripping read for me. It’s fast-paced, emotionally heavy in the best way, and it tackles some difficult real-life issues with care while still keeping the tension high.

One of my favorite parts was the dual timeline / dual perspective. The story moves between past and present, and the transitions were smooth and easy to follow, I never felt confused or mixed up about where I was in the timeline, which can be hard to pull off in thrillers.

The writing itself is really strong. I could clearly picture the scenes as I read, and it gave the book that “movie in my head” feeling that makes it hard to put down. And while the emotional stakes are high, it still delivered a few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, which made it even more satisfying.

Overall, this was a great thriller, tense, heartfelt, and well written and I’d absolutely recommend it if you like stories about secrets, identity, and a mother who will do anything to protect her child.

Sonya
BookboundandBlushed

[Lizzy Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Daniel Craparo for allowing me to be an arc reader for my voluntary honest review!

This book had me from the very beginning, the story line is incredible! I absolutely love your writing style, you really know how to catch a reader and tell a story. I love the switch up of timelines and the strong women you have portrayed in this book, I really hope there is a part two but honestly it ends in such a way that is comfortable and very hero like! It speaks to the maternal instinct and self sacrificing while playing the line of guilt and honoring at the same time. The more sensitive topics in this story, it really resonates with how broken our system feels and how often a victim continues to be a victim in our society while the attacker remains high and mighty especially if they have collateral. I genuinely really enjoyed this book and I am so glad I was able to find your work through socials!

[Rhonda Mumby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Her Mother's Name as an ARC read from the author, and I am so glad he asked me to read this thriller!

As I've come to expect with Daniel's writing, his scenes just flow from one to the next, like watching the story unfold in a movie. This keeps the plot moving along and builds the suspense as we get closer to finding out the answers we are desperately awaiting!

This story goes back and forth between present day and 15 years prior, with the only link being Laura Keane, a social worker from a women's shelter who starts out in Buffalo, NY and relocates to Westminster, CO. But when events of the present day have a negative effect on her family, the consequences may affect more than just Laura and this deeply-held secret she's kept for 15 years.

Just when Laura thinks she's outsmarted Patricia Hartley and her criminal family, Patricia presents her with a situation of mutually assured destruction, trying to force Laura's compliance. So the question becomes, can Laura outmaneuver the Hartleys and dole out the justice they deserve while still keeping her secrets and keeping her daughter safe?

A richly-layered, well-written suspense with some really great plot twists!

[Heather Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Mother’s Name by Daniel Craparo is the kind of thriller that grips you from the first few pages and never lets go. I received an advance reader copy and I’m so glad I did, because this one deserves attention when it publishes on April 22.

The story follows Laura Keane, a woman living a carefully constructed life with her sixteen-year-old daughter Ellie — until a choice Ellie makes begins unraveling secrets Laura has spent fifteen years burying.

This book hooked me within the first few pages and kept me hooked until the very end. I also love the dual timeline where we alternate between present day and 15 years before.

If you love Mary Kubica or Alice Feeney, this is absolutely in that wheelhouse. One of the best books I’ve read in 2026 (and I’ve read about 70 so far).

Highly recommend! 4.5 ⭐️

[Marilena EchoHawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’d rate this 4 stars. While it’s categorized as a suspense thriller, it didn’t quite have that intense, edge-of-your-seat feeling I usually expect from the genre. That said, it’s still a well-written and enjoyable story.
The premise is interesting, and I stayed engaged throughout, even if it never fully felt gripping or high-stakes. The pacing is steady, and the writing flows nicely, but overall it felt more subdued than thrilling.
I’m glad I read it, it’s a solid story, and the author does a great job keeping you hooked . It’s definitely worth picking up if you enjoy quieter, more low-key suspense.

[Natascha Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a thriller this good since I finished the only one left. This will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time wanting more.

We follow Laura, who will do anything to protect the innocent.

We follow Ellie, a fierce friend that will do anything to protect her friends even from the golden boy from grape.

We follow Ivy who just wants a place in the world.

This fast paced thriller will have you wanting more and wondering who done it and what's happening just when you think you know what's happening something else happens. Get ready for the ride of your life and enjoy this fast pace, thriller.

[Jordan Eddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the pleasure of reading this book as an ARC!

I was also given the pleasure of seeing first hand how the author was putting the book together. Seeing All the early edits and revisions really made me appreciate this book so much more! Thrillers are usually my jam and I really do enjoy the mental play of trying to figure out the twists and who people could be within the book. This book delivered on so many level. Showing the charter development of Laura giving so many prospectives of who she is and who she was along with Ivy. The friendship and growth between those two women was amazing and made for a killer ending!

[Jill Hurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I received it as an ARC from the author and Book Funnel. The book was a quick read. The chapters were short. The chapters flowed well. I DID NOT expect Gigi to be who Gigi was….shook. The book kept you interested. I had to make myself put it down sometimes because I just wanted to know what was going to happen. I had to re-read the ending too because it was a hard ending….like sad…Will there be another one to see what happens to Ellie in her life after what happened.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in ONE day… like could not put it down.

From the very beginning, I was hooked and completely invested in the story. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, and I kept telling myself “just one more”… yeah, that didn’t happen 😅

The tension, the mystery, and the way everything unfolds kept me on edge the entire time. It’s one of those books where you have to know what happens next.

If you love fast-paced reads that grab your attention and don’t let go, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Marissa Castellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author had me hooked within the first few pages. I just couldn’t put it down. I wanted to keep reading to get to the end and figure out if my already made up theory was right.

I loved the storyline. The multiple POVs going back and forth between the present and past made it that much better. The angst to get to the ending to find out what truly happened 15 years ago and what happens with the present story when everything unfolds. I did guess one of the major plot twists but throughout reading Daniel had me questioning whether I was right or not and I just couldn’t put it down.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the blessing to get an ARC copy directly from author of this book. Let me tell you! It’s supposed to be a fast pace thriller and let me say it doesn’t disappoint! Once I started reading I could not put it down! I would love to summarize the book but not sure how I can without spoiling it. So far this is my first 5 star read of the year! I am so excited to see what else Daniel has in store for us!

[Denise Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

A great short story of survival and revenge. The story of 3 women and a baby. All brave. All strong. Add in another strong, brave woman. Our FMC works a women's center, helping those who need help the most. She befriends women, both with nowhere to go and no hope to give. She allows them into her home and helps heal them, while pregnant. Stop there, no spoilers. The book is in two time periods, present and 15 years prior. There are 4 POV.

[Jaclyn Berentsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great good. I definitely enjoyed and wanted to continue reading. I love that the book was short and easy to read but also that the chapters were short. Great character development, great story, great ending. Allows for a second but also can be a stand alone. I feel like I wasn’t left hanging and got the understanding of both time frames. Only complaint is I truly struggle with the back and forth time frames. I do think they were both great but I have to remember the story of each one as the time frames change and flip back every chapter so it had moments of confusion. In the end great read and great story. Thank you for the ARC!

[Meaghan Mutispaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 5 star read for me. I was not expecting the plot twist AT ALL. I read this in less than 24 hours because I just could not put it down. If you are into thrillers this is a MUST READ. I loved the short chapters and how the book goes from last to present breaking down the story as you go. GREAT JOB!

[Nancy Lozano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was absolutely hooked from the very first page! This fast-paced thriller kept me guessing as secrets were peeled back layer by layer. Following Laura- a strong FMC with a deep, hidden past-as her life unravels after an incident involving her daughter’s best friend. Packed with plot twists and complex characters, this is a must read!

[Jessica Corley · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review
A powerful and emotionally resonant story that stays with you long after the final page. The pacing is fast, making it difficult to put down, yet it never sacrifices depth or character development. I found myself completely immersed from beginning to end and I wasn’t ready for it to be over.
At its core, this book explores survival and what people are willing to endure when pushed to their limits. The story beautifully captures the strength it takes to keep going, even in the darkest moments. What stood out most was the emphasis on connection: how having someone beside you can make all the difference.
The characters felt raw and real, and their journeys were both heartbreaking and inspiring. This is the kind of story that reminds you of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of not facing life alone.
A moving and compelling read that I would absolutely recommend.

[Susan Heun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book and it kept me hooked all the way through. I did not see the ending coming, and it was a total shock to me. You won’t want to put this book down. I’m so grateful I was lucky enough to get picked as one of the early readers.