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Holidays & Homicide #4
Sweet Child Of Mine: A Thriller Novella
Sweet Child Of Mine is a Mother’s Day psychological thriller in which one woman’s worst nightmare comes true when her daughter goes missing just weeks before her first birthday.
Blair has everything she wants in Seaborough Bluff: a thriving surgical career, a devoted husband, and a daughter just weeks away from her first birthday. Then, in a single night, everything unravels.
Her baby is stolen from her crib—replaced by a chilling note:
We have your daughter. Await instructions. Do not call the police or she will die.
The demand is unthinkable. Blair must deliberately sabotage a patient’s surgery, trading another innocent life for her child’s. Bound by her oath and driven by maternal instinct, Blair realizes every choice is dragging her deeper into a nightmare with no clean way out.
When the operation ends, Blair learns her decision didn’t just cost one life. It fractures families, destroys futures, and unleashes a chain of accidents, betrayals, and irreversible losses that spread far beyond the operating room.
Over the course of two harrowing weeks, what began as an act of desperate love becomes the force that threatens to consume everyone she touches, including herself.
Each book in the Holidays & Homicide series can be read as a standalone.
Blair has everything she wants in Seaborough Bluff: a thriving surgical career, a devoted husband, and a daughter just weeks away from her first birthday. Then, in a single night, everything unravels.
Her baby is stolen from her crib—replaced by a chilling note:
We have your daughter. Await instructions. Do not call the police or she will die.
The demand is unthinkable. Blair must deliberately sabotage a patient’s surgery, trading another innocent life for her child’s. Bound by her oath and driven by maternal instinct, Blair realizes every choice is dragging her deeper into a nightmare with no clean way out.
When the operation ends, Blair learns her decision didn’t just cost one life. It fractures families, destroys futures, and unleashes a chain of accidents, betrayals, and irreversible losses that spread far beyond the operating room.
Over the course of two harrowing weeks, what began as an act of desperate love becomes the force that threatens to consume everyone she touches, including herself.
Each book in the Holidays & Homicide series can be read as a standalone.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Kristin Mulligan
6 books246 followersBased in Southern California, Kristin Mulligan writes stories that blur the line between heart-pounding suspense and heartwarming romance.
Her novella series, Holidays & Homicide, twists familiar holidays into dark, suspenseful tales. The series includes I’ll Be Alone for Christmas and A Christmas to Die For, two chilling Christmas stories steeped in secrets, mystery, and murder. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, is set around Valentine’s Day and explores obsession, terror, and a kidnapping that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The next installment, Sweet Child Of Mine, is her newest release. It’s a Mother’s Day nightmare about a woman forced to botch a patient’s surgery to get her daughter back. Each title stands alone and can be read in any order.
Her two romance novels are open-door and full of steam and spice. The Acts Of Life features sibling rivalry, secrets, and a jaw-dropping twist, while Grounded delivers laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and a swoony touch of forbidden love.
Fueled by a genre-hopping imagination and far too much cold brew, Kristin is also an exhausted boy mom to the fastest five-year-old you’ll ever meet. She works full-time, and when she’s not chasing her son around, she’s stealing quiet moments to catch her breath and write a few more words.
Her novella series, Holidays & Homicide, twists familiar holidays into dark, suspenseful tales. The series includes I’ll Be Alone for Christmas and A Christmas to Die For, two chilling Christmas stories steeped in secrets, mystery, and murder. Crazy Little Thing Called Love, is set around Valentine’s Day and explores obsession, terror, and a kidnapping that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The next installment, Sweet Child Of Mine, is her newest release. It’s a Mother’s Day nightmare about a woman forced to botch a patient’s surgery to get her daughter back. Each title stands alone and can be read in any order.
Her two romance novels are open-door and full of steam and spice. The Acts Of Life features sibling rivalry, secrets, and a jaw-dropping twist, while Grounded delivers laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and a swoony touch of forbidden love.
Fueled by a genre-hopping imagination and far too much cold brew, Kristin is also an exhausted boy mom to the fastest five-year-old you’ll ever meet. She works full-time, and when she’s not chasing her son around, she’s stealing quiet moments to catch her breath and write a few more words.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 14, 2026
Having enjoyed her holiday-themes novellas in the past, I turned to this latest in the series by Kristin Mulligan. She has a great way of spinning a great psychological tale, while building a strong story with well-placed characters. A baby goes missing and the ransom demand is something more than money. Dr. Blair Fox is pushed into a series of events that will soon come crashing down around her, as guilt and lies invade her space, all while her daughter is missing. Mulligan delivers an impactful Mother's Day thriller.
Dr. Blair Fox has made a name for herself as a surgeon and a new mother. She has it all, alongside her husband, but it comes crashing down one night when someone kidnaps their baby right from the crib. A call soon comes in with a ransom, but it is not money the mysterious voice wants. Rather, it is to ensure that one of Blair's patients the following day ends up brain dead, leaving the final choice to the family. After the operation goes south and the patient is left in a vegetative state, all that remains is for the family to make the heart-wrenching decision to pull the plug. Only then will Blair be reunited with her daughter. During those days, Blair learns a little more about the family and their chaos, only to leave her wondering if someone might be responsible for her daughter's disappearance. Mother's Day is around the bend and Blair wants her daughter back, but the guilt of all that has happened leaves a sour taste in her mouth, soon to be augmented by another chilling surprise. Kristin Mulligan delivers it all in this novella.
This is another great piece by Kristin Mulligan that mixes the wonders of a happy day with something dark. The narrative builds from an abduction to the lengths a mother will go to save her daughter and the turmoil of a grieving family. Mulligan adds swift chapters that advance the story to pave the way for something thrilling and devastating at the same time. Great build-up creates an ending the reader has been anticipating the entire reading experience.
Characters work well in this piece, as Kristin Mulligan creates them for the reader to enjoy. There is no doubt that Blair plays a strong protagonist, though she has her moments where second-guessing herself occurs with ease. I was committed to seeing how she would emerge through this short piece, while also trying to make sense of the horror that left her a shell of her former self. Others complement this core character and paint a picture that one would say negatively contrasts all that Mother's Day ought to be.
Surprises work well to keep the story edgy. Kirstin Mulligan works her magic with well-placed ideas to keep the story unpredictable. There is much in the story that works well, including the twists point towards revelation. I liked what Mulligan had to say and could not get enough of this story, slightly disappointed when it came to an end. I am eager to see what's next and how Mulligan will impress me again.
Kudos, Madam Mulligan, for a darker side to Mother's Day!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Dr. Blair Fox has made a name for herself as a surgeon and a new mother. She has it all, alongside her husband, but it comes crashing down one night when someone kidnaps their baby right from the crib. A call soon comes in with a ransom, but it is not money the mysterious voice wants. Rather, it is to ensure that one of Blair's patients the following day ends up brain dead, leaving the final choice to the family. After the operation goes south and the patient is left in a vegetative state, all that remains is for the family to make the heart-wrenching decision to pull the plug. Only then will Blair be reunited with her daughter. During those days, Blair learns a little more about the family and their chaos, only to leave her wondering if someone might be responsible for her daughter's disappearance. Mother's Day is around the bend and Blair wants her daughter back, but the guilt of all that has happened leaves a sour taste in her mouth, soon to be augmented by another chilling surprise. Kristin Mulligan delivers it all in this novella.
This is another great piece by Kristin Mulligan that mixes the wonders of a happy day with something dark. The narrative builds from an abduction to the lengths a mother will go to save her daughter and the turmoil of a grieving family. Mulligan adds swift chapters that advance the story to pave the way for something thrilling and devastating at the same time. Great build-up creates an ending the reader has been anticipating the entire reading experience.
Characters work well in this piece, as Kristin Mulligan creates them for the reader to enjoy. There is no doubt that Blair plays a strong protagonist, though she has her moments where second-guessing herself occurs with ease. I was committed to seeing how she would emerge through this short piece, while also trying to make sense of the horror that left her a shell of her former self. Others complement this core character and paint a picture that one would say negatively contrasts all that Mother's Day ought to be.
Surprises work well to keep the story edgy. Kirstin Mulligan works her magic with well-placed ideas to keep the story unpredictable. There is much in the story that works well, including the twists point towards revelation. I liked what Mulligan had to say and could not get enough of this story, slightly disappointed when it came to an end. I am eager to see what's next and how Mulligan will impress me again.
Kudos, Madam Mulligan, for a darker side to Mother's Day!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 6, 2026
Kristin NEVER misses when it comes to hooking me from the very first page and Sweet Child of Mine was no exception!! Her novellas are fast paced, gripping, and impossible to put down. This bingeable psychological thriller dives into a chilling question: how far does a mother’s love really go? I finished this in one sitting and still think about it. With a captivating mystery, heart pounding tension, and a twist I didn’t see coming, this is one I seriously can’t recommend enough for your next read! Do me a favor and add this to your TBR ASAP!
May 9, 2026
Blair had the perfect life… until someone stole her baby straight from the crib and left behind a note that would destroy everything.
To get her daughter back, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: save her patient, or sabotage the surgery and let someone die. What follows is a spiralling nightmare of guilt, betrayal, and devastation where every decision leaves more blood on Blair’s hands.
This was another fast-paced thriller that had me tearing through the pages. Every parent’s worst nightmare comes to life here, and it constantly asks the question: how far would you go to save your child?
Watching Blair make this impossible decision, whilst knowing her choice comes with devastating consequences, made this such a tense read. The guilt, pressure, and desperation practically seeped off the pages.
That said, this one felt very different from the previous books in the series. Instead of the usual bloody chaos and carnage, this leans much more into psychological tension and emotional fallout. I still enjoyed it, but I definitely missed some of the absolute unhinged madness from the earlier books.
To get her daughter back, she’s forced to make an impossible choice: save her patient, or sabotage the surgery and let someone die. What follows is a spiralling nightmare of guilt, betrayal, and devastation where every decision leaves more blood on Blair’s hands.
This was another fast-paced thriller that had me tearing through the pages. Every parent’s worst nightmare comes to life here, and it constantly asks the question: how far would you go to save your child?
Watching Blair make this impossible decision, whilst knowing her choice comes with devastating consequences, made this such a tense read. The guilt, pressure, and desperation practically seeped off the pages.
That said, this one felt very different from the previous books in the series. Instead of the usual bloody chaos and carnage, this leans much more into psychological tension and emotional fallout. I still enjoyed it, but I definitely missed some of the absolute unhinged madness from the earlier books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Child Of Mine leans less on gore and shock value, instead diving into psychological tension and the kind of fear that lingers long after the final page. It’s a slow burn in the best way, building dread with each chapter until it becomes almost unbearable.
At its core, this story is rooted in something very real: a mother’s worst nightmare. Writing it was both intriguing and unsettling, forcing me to sit with fears I think many parents quietly carry. That emotional honesty is what makes this one hit differently—because, truly, how far would you go to protect your child… and get answers?
If you’re looking for something intense, gripping, and deeply unsettling without relying on graphic horror, this is it: a haunting, thought-provoking thriller that stays with you—and an easy five-star read for fans of psychological suspense.
And remember! This series is a standalone and can be read in any order. You do not have to pick up the others in order to follow this one <3
At its core, this story is rooted in something very real: a mother’s worst nightmare. Writing it was both intriguing and unsettling, forcing me to sit with fears I think many parents quietly carry. That emotional honesty is what makes this one hit differently—because, truly, how far would you go to protect your child… and get answers?
If you’re looking for something intense, gripping, and deeply unsettling without relying on graphic horror, this is it: a haunting, thought-provoking thriller that stays with you—and an easy five-star read for fans of psychological suspense.
And remember! This series is a standalone and can be read in any order. You do not have to pick up the others in order to follow this one <3
May 1, 2026
“Because the most dangerous place in the world is between a mother and her child, and at the end of the day, I’m no different from her.”
When she released this book this week I immediately downloaded it & knew it would be my next read! And then I binged this! I couldn’t put it down. Kristin Mulligan always has me hooked from the get go, and never lets go! I was reading as fast as I could. I needed the answers!
I loved it! And then that ending? Chills!! Full body chills.
When she released this book this week I immediately downloaded it & knew it would be my next read! And then I binged this! I couldn’t put it down. Kristin Mulligan always has me hooked from the get go, and never lets go! I was reading as fast as I could. I needed the answers!
I loved it! And then that ending? Chills!! Full body chills.
May 5, 2026
Sweet Child of Mine by Kristin Mulligan was a perfectly executed psychological thriller novella just in time for Mother’s Day. The suspense was timed so well, keeping me hooked without feeling overdone, and I feel like everything came together really nicely in the end. I actually love how it wrapped up…it was satisfying, sharp, and made the whole story feel complete. A solid 4.5-star read for me!
May 16, 2026
Solid 3.5 ⭐️but i liked it better than my other 3 stare, so i went with a 4. This book proves that nothing stands between a mother and their child and that you would literally do anything, even kill for your babies! 2nd by this author & both were good! Quick easy reads you can breeze through that keep you wondering how it will end. This one has a twist that ties it together nicely and makes everything click, but won’t leave your jaw on the floor.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Psychological fear at its finest.
Mulligan’s latest Holidays & Homicide novella is a chilling examination of how far mothers will go to protect their own. It’s haunting and terrifyingly plausible in all the worst ways.
The perfect Mother’s Day nightmare. 🍼
Mulligan’s latest Holidays & Homicide novella is a chilling examination of how far mothers will go to protect their own. It’s haunting and terrifyingly plausible in all the worst ways.
The perfect Mother’s Day nightmare. 🍼
May 12, 2026
If Kristin writes it, I read it. The thrill started from page one. I was not expecting the ending and was pissed the entire book blaming someone who wasn’t responsible!
May 18, 2026
Had to finish this in one day. Lots of twists and turns
May 28, 2026
Pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go. I love a one-sitting quick read full of suspense
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews