What Kind of Mother

by Clay McLeod Chapman

After striking out on her own as a teen mom, Madi Price is forced to return to her hometown of Brandywine, Virginia, with her seventeen-year-old daughter. With nothing to her name, she scrapes together a living as a palm reader at the local farmers market.

It’s there that she connects with old high school flame Henry McCabe, now a reclusive local fisherman whose infant son, Skyler, went missing five years ago. Everyone in town is sure Skyler is dead, but when Madi reads Henry’s palm, she’s haunted by strange and disturbing visions that suggest otherwise. As she follows the thread of these visions, Madi discovers a terrifying nightmare waiting at the center of the labyrinth—and it’s coming for everyone she holds dear.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Gothic, Adult

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Books. Children's books. Comic books. Film.

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahhhh I’m so disappointed. The premise sounded so unique and interesting, and it started off soooo strong, part 1 set the story up so well and I was immediately invested in the characters and the town, and there were some genuinely creepy scenes. I was so sure that I would love this.. but then the twist!!! Dude what…. no thanks 😅 this is not my kind of horror book lmao, the twist felt so dumb and anti-climatic and just ruined everything I was loving about it? It’s not a problematic twist, it’s just dumb (in my opinion). And then the rest of the book was just mediocre for me because I didn’t care. So that’s a bummer.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book only a mother could love...

[JaymeO · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Parenting is just so exhausting.”

This Southern gothic folk horror novel requires readers to believe in the possibility of Tulpa.

Tulpa: A concept in Theosophy, mysticism, and the paranormal, of a materialized being or thought form, typically in human form that is created through spiritual practice and intense concentration.

Madi Price returns home to Brandywine, Virginia with her teenage daughter. Finding single parenthood daunting, she hopes to better care for her daughter in her hometown. She sets up a palm reading business, where she reads people in order to give them hope. But when reading an old boyfriend’s palm, she finds that she might actually have a real psychic ability. She is determined to help find his missing son and her visions will change everything.

McCleod Chapman explores themes of grief, motherhood/fatherhood, what it means to be a family, and parenting in this atmospheric and oppressive novel. Borrowing from Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Mother Goose nursery rhymes, this frightening yet heartwarming tale is filled with haunting sea imagery and terrifying supernatural beings. Working together, Madi and Henry create the “perfect” family recipe.

3.5/5 stars rounded down

Trigger warning: Suicide

Expected publication date: 9/12/23

Thank you to Quirk books for the ARC of What Kind of Mother in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay. I enjoyed many of Clay McLeod Chapman's other books, but this one just missed the mark. The first half drew me in, but then by the second half, it got confusing, weird, and just plain gross. I'm incredibly disappointed by where this book went. If I had to hear one more sentence about worms coming out of Skylar's face or his skin peeling off and him eating it... So help me.

The story just didn't make sense. The "peeler" reference was never explained. The "motherly instinct" that supposedly drove Maddy didn't make sense. You have a real daughter, but you decide to give up on her and embrace a weird crab child just because your baby daddy found Jesus and wanted to be in her life? What kind of weird temper tantrum is that?? And the descriptions of the supposed horror portions were bland, repetitive and more just gross than horrific.

Definitely not a fan and I don't understand how this book got such high reviews from people. Couldn't DNF simply because of my own pride, but it took ever ounce of self control I had to complete this.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ because I will never ever find another book like this and because of how many times I legit yelled what the fuck out loud while reading this.
Is salt-water gothic a genre? If it’s not, it now is.

[Mª Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me ha convencido nada. Me ha parecido un despropósito.

Dice la sinopsis:
Madi Price se ve obligada a regresar su ciudad natal en Virginia con su hija de diecisiete años. Se gana la vida leyendo manos en un mercadillo local, donde retoma el contacto con su antiguo novio Henry McCabe, un introvertido pescador, cuyo hijo, Skyler, desapareció hace cinco años.
Todo el mundo cree que Skyler está muerto, pero después de leerle la mano, a Madi la persiguen extrañas visiones que parecen indicar lo contrario. Siguiendo el hilo de esas visiones, descubre un monstruo aterrador que viene por todo lo que ella ama.

Mis impresiones

Este libro ha sido elegido uno de los 10 mejores libros de horror de 2023 por The New York Times. En la faja editorial dicen de su autor que es “el Richard Matheson del siglo XXI”. No voy a entrar en lo uno ni en lo otro, a mí no me ha gustado, pero, aunque yo no se lo vea, algo tendrá si está entre los diez mejores libros de horror seleccionados por The New York Times. Sí tengo claro que es del tipo de novela que si te la crees la vas a disfrutar mucho y si no es el caso te va a chirriar en todos los tonos posibles del espectro acústico. Me llamó la atención a priori la polarización de las calificaciones, tras haberlo leído lo entiendo perfectamente.

El autor nos dice que su novela se encuadra en el gótico sureño. No sé a qué gótico sureño se refiere. Al de William Faulkner, Cormac McCarthy o Tennessee Williams no, al de Michael McDowell tampoco. No tiene ninguno de los elementos representativos del género. Sí es verdad, que alguna cosilla sobre el monstruo me recordó otras de la saga Blackwater, lo que no fue precisamente en su favor. De hecho, mi principal problema con este libro ha sido ese monstruo. Con esas premisas de filiación, me hubiera podido creer un fantasma o similar, pero lo que acaba siendo me pareció que no tenía ni pies ni cabeza. Algo así hay que hacerlo verosímil para el lector. McDowell lo consigue, McLeod Chapman, al menos conmigo, no.

Está bien escrita. La trama se divide en cinco partes y un epílogo. Las narran en primera persona los dos protagonistas, Madi y Henry. Las dos primeras e incluso la tercera, sí me gustaron, me intrigaron y me engancharon. A finales de la tercera comienza el declive y la cuarta y la quinta no hay por dónde cogerlas.

La definición de los personajes es confusa. Las decisiones finales que toman no son coherentes con esta definición. Me dirán que han evolucionado. Creo que era eso lo que pretendía el autor, pero a mí esa evolución me ha resultado muy forzada.

El final en la línea de las dos últimas partes. No me lo he creído.

En conclusión. Una novela de terror, que suscita polarización entre los lectores a la hora de valorarla. A mí no me ha gustado, pero justo es recalcar lo anterior.

[Joyce · Rating 1 out of 5]

This woman is stupid.

*Review written at 89% of audiobook finished. I don’t even care. She’s an idiot. I’m finishing it, because I’m hoping they all die.

**ETA: DNF at 91%. I don’t care if they all die.

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up for Goodreads.
I read WHAT KIND OF MOTHER in one day. A Southern Gothic Folk Horror, ripe with gruesome descriptions. A rank-smelling, disturbing lump of a book that washed up on the shore of my sub-conscience to terrorize me.
I couldn't PEEL myself away! But I don't know what it is 🦀
Comps would be:
Wild Spaces by S. L. Coney
Maybe like an oceanic version of Victor LaValle's The Changeling
Vibes from Nick Cutter's Little Heaven...like similar body horror, scenes from The Deep
I feel like I've read some extreme parental/grief horrors like this before, but then again...this totally on its own. Clay went hard in the paint on this one and I might have thrown up in my mouth a few times.
Good fun!

[Sheena · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate when stories have no explanation especially when something weird is happening and NEEDS that. This made no sense and kind of all over the place. I’m so disappointed because because I loved Ghost Eaters but this one was not for me.

Like what the hell is a peeler? Why is the kid a crab??? How are we expected to just know this? Why did Madi just give up on her actual daughter?? Also I hate body horror however, this kind what just ridiculous. Crab body horror? Lmao goodbye.

Ugh.

[Pisces51 · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHAT KIND OF MOTHER [2023] By Clay McLeod Chapman
My Review 3.0 Stars Out Of 5.0 Stars

This novel was an assigned “group read with the author” on a horror book club last year. Unfortunately, (?) I was unable to obtain the novel on either of two digital libraries I haunt, nor could I justify the pricey tag on downloading a copy to read with the group. It is impossible not to recall the hoopla that surrounded this title and its author.

The New Year found me receiving a notification that it was available for rental and I hopped right to it. Reverently read it over a period of three nights. It would be a gross understatement to say that I was disappointed. It may be a good thing (or a bad thing) but I am not a reader who ordinarily pays any attention to hype and ceaseless chatter about a new release. Similarly, I pointedly avoid customer feedback and editorial reviews before I have read the book.

Obviously, a modicum of research could have saved me a chunk of reading time and a great deal of puzzlement and figuratively scratching my head. I was not surprised at all to read on Amazon Reviews that an often-observed initial response from readers is a resounding “WT---”?

As Hannibal Lector said “All righty then” …ostensibly WHAT KIND OF MOTHER is about Madi Price, who was recently forced to relocate back to her old stomping grounds in Brandywine, Virginia to facilitate the reuniting of her 17-year-old teenage daughter Kendra with her birth father. Madi’s history is a sad and unfortunate one but essentially just another kid with hard knocks. She left her family’s house and home town when she was but a teenager herself, pregnant with no family support, no money, and no biological father to say “I do” (or even “I did it”). It is inferred that Madi and her child were together until her daughter was 17 years old. The birth father had a crisis of conscious and stepped up to bat at that late date. This serendipitous turn of events for Madi’s teen daughter meant a return to Brandywine with the kid’s father waiting with open arms, a step-mother, half-siblings, and a nice home.

This heartwarming reunion between biological dad who had a casual and meaningless one night stand with Madi in high school left Madi feeling for all the world as though she had “lost” her daughter. She had visitation rights, but without two nickels to rub together she somehow manages to scrape together enough “reading palms” at the local farmer’s market to rent a rickety hovel of a hotel room.

It has also been justifiably deemed “a disturbing slow-burn tale” by some while others say it is “perfectly paced.” I would know since I plodded through the pages patiently waiting for the author to drop a clue where the story was really headed.

It is not long before Madi collides with her old high school flame Henry, the love of her young life before he had told her goodbye because he had fallen in love with another girl. Madi had done the sensible thing in retaliation, namely hop in the sack with Donny the most handsome, popular, and insufferable jerk in school.

The haunted, reclusive visage of Henry is a welcome sight to the troubled Madi. She learns that Henry is now a scruffy hermit who earns his living as a fisherman in the Chesapeake Bay area. Henry presents as a more tragic victim of life’s hard knocks than Madi. He had married Grace, the girl he had abandoned Madi for in high school. The pair had a son named Skyler who Henry and Grace both adored. The child disappeared when he was only 8 months old, and Grace hanged herself in the tortured aftermath. Henry is still searching for his little boy five years down the road, tacking up flyers with Skyler’s picture all over the town.

Many of the local townspeople find Henry’s tale of the take pretty damn suspicious, but the missing child case went cold, and no remains were ever located. Henry is in essence a free man with respect to the judicial system, but chained and with an anchor dropped to imprison him in the past. Madi was reading Henry’s palm in a New York Second, and though she had posited no beliefs of possessing any genuine paranormal gifts or “second sight” before taking his left hand in hers, there was a positively remarkable flood of visions assaulting Madi’s senses.

“I take his hand and there’s a sudden rush of water all around me, everything going wet in seconds, a flood rising up from his hand into mine like the high tide and I swear I see a— duck blind.”

The vision persisted in Madi’s mind after their hands were separated. There were details of the river and structures on the water. This was still fairly early in the story and I will admit that I became intrigued with her seemingly damned real visions of the water and the river elements. My rating of 3.0 Stars is solely based upon the narrative to this point.

The haunted couple continue to search for the child, and Henry has new posters showing age progression to Skyler’s appearance if he were still alive after missing for five years. My brain was trying to get a thought into my mainstream consciousness that it would be impossible to find a child alive in the river! But I kept on reading with a puzzled expression.

The novel is broken up into POVs of both main protagonists and there are six sections which alternate their respective points of view. One would think that as you turned the pages a reader would glean more about what had gone on in the past, and what was presently happening. But I swear that after I passed the point of Madi and Henry searching for the missing Skyler, the plot became more confusing----no, cluttered would be a better word. The narrative became so disjointed that I was not making any lucid sense out of what I was trudging through. The words that were coming out of (especially) Madi’s mouth made no sense.

In the final analysis of my own reading experience and observations the two main characters of Madi and Henry were suffering from a shared delusional disorder known as Folie a deux. Both of them saw, held, and nurtured “Skyler,” Henry’s long-lost son.

There are a zillion quotes and clips about this book but the one which caught my eye as being the closest to a true assessment was one by Caroline Kepnes. It also dovetails nicely with a shared delusion, one which both parties are vested:

“A good old-fashioned salty summer scare about the beautiful, terrifying power of belief.”

Finally, and I imagine anyone who reads this will pick up on the fact that I really did not like it at all. There were a couple of observations I made. In Chapman’s own words he considers this novel as “southern gothic folk horror.” It has since been acclaimed a “masterpiece” and has been crowned as “literary horror” by the critics. “Literary” ……. The buzz description is articulate as hell:
“Combining supernatural horror with domestic suspense into a visceral exploration of parental grief.”

The most troubling to me is that the stunningly beautiful “buzz description” is being bandied about along with labeling this novel “literary horror.” Not to mention Richard Chizmar’s crowning Chapman the 21st century’s Richard Matheson.

It is my opinion that Mr. Clay McCleod Chapman’s written works are an “acquired taste.” One could deploy a culinary corollary and state that not all diners who enjoy fine seafood like to eat hardshell Blue Crabs, molting or otherwise. Personally, Chapman’s prose is not for me, and I will never look at crabs the same way again.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“We don’t talk about our problems. We hold them tight, until they weigh us down. We’d rather drown in our insecurities than share them.”

Clay McLeod Chapman describes his novel What Kind of Mother as a southern gothic folk horror. When I decided to read this, I may have missed that this had body horror elements to it; it may have come as a surprise when the story shifted in that direction, but to be fair and objective, I won't allow it to diminish my overall view of the story.

At 35, Madi is Brandywine's one and only palm reader - an outsider in her own hometown, a place she vowed never to return my own - 'swore up and down nothing could drag me back to this hellhole.' But, as fate would intervene, she does return to the quiet town along the Chesapeake Bay with her 17-year-old daughter, Kendra, only to reconnect with her old high school ex, Henry McCabe, 'the boy that got away', and whose infant son, Skyler, went missing five years ago. When Henry requests her psychic abilities to assist him in finding out where his son could be, Madi starts to see startling visions that make her feel that there may be some other disturbing secrets about the real truth of his son's disappearance.

“They need to see it with their own eyes. Hold it with their hands. We all understand the river. It’s fed our families for generations. It’s our home. That’s what I see.

The water always gives back. That’s a future these folks can trust…and I’m their redneck oracle.”

I liked how the story was built up - Madi reacquainting herself with people of her past - trying to reassure herself and her daughter that she doesn't mind that her daughter is spending time with her real father, once he discovered Jesus and wanted to be a part of his life - while at the same time, rekindling the feelings she had for Henry and trying to understand with disturbing alarm the mystery behind what really happened to his son. With an engaging and intriguing touch, the writing drew the mystery lover that I am in - and wanted to know what would happen - till I didn't.

As I mentioned earlier, I was unprepared for the story having horror elements to it; so I was caught by surprise when it shifted to some eerie, suspenseful and disbelieving details that questioned my own sanity of the possibility of it really happening. But, it steadily grew on me, much like Madi's own train of thought slowly began to process what she was caught up in and how to proceed and to do what's right - even when her own mind was grappling with the verity of what she was witnessing.

“A make-believe boy still needs someone to believe in him. What happens to an imaginary friend if the person who thought him up in the first place suddenly stops believing?”

It's a different spin of the monsters that delve in the sea and the creatures that amass it. It creeps up on you like a surprise waiting to be found - if you have the strength to face it. Chapman writes with the intent to literally make the reader squirm - I know I did! It was horrifying and unsettling, and at the same time, quite sad. I knew in my heart that there was no escape from what Madi and Henry had been drawn into - it's a strange type of happy ending that makes you question your own self if their sacrifice of commitment as parents was worth it or not.

I do feel that the title could have been worded differently, as the narrative does focus on both parents' perspectives of their past and present. It's not just a harrowing glimpse into motherhood, but the harrowing desperation of a grieving father and how his belief in his son's future is what leads him to make certain questionable actions that affect his entire frame of mind. It's a heart-breaking and deep look at parenthood and how parents cope with loss and the love for their children and the regrets they have for not being there enough for them and then the sacrifices they make in order to be there for them.

On the outskirts of the terrifying deep, Madi and Henry's thoughts and feelings explore the lengths they both went through to provide happiness for their children. That inherent belief that whatever decisions they made for them were the right ones - and they would fight for that one chance to keep them close to them forever. In Henry's reflections, especially, there was such a wistful sadness to it, a deep sense of longing that made me wish that things could have turned out differently - that this wasn't what their happiness would entail to.

“A future they can believe in. Happiness is at hand, so just go on and reach out for it. Grab it. It’s yours. Isn’t that what we all want, deep down? A future we can all hold on to?

To touch?
Lord knows I do.”

There were two points I really enjoyed that I do want to point out. I liked how the story began. As a palm reader who gives people happiness and hope by reading their hands, the story begins with the narrator asking us to give us their hand - the symbolism of holding hands - the clutches of our past and future played a figurative and literal part to the story - damning Madi to a life she did not expect and could not escape. And even though, I may not have anticipated the many moments of body horror chills, I can't deny that the author did write it well - with atmospheric details that had an almost lyrical yet sleepy tone to his words that captured the uneasy violence that belie in the sea - both it's haunting appearance and it's inhabitants that lurk in it's dark depths.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I read???

I understand why people don't like this book. I understand why people dnf it. This book is weird. I don't even understand what I just read or how I'm going to review it.

What Kind Of Mother is on the surface a Southern Gothic tale of grief. The first half of this book is a slow build. I almost dnf it because I felt like nothing was happening but I'm glad I stuck with it because you really need that slow build for the second half to hit. The second half switches genres...we are suddenly in a full on Horror novel. I'm not going to tell you anything about this book because the best way to read this is blind. What Kind Of Mother is the second book I've read recently that really goes apeshit in the second half and I think I love books like this.

Even as I'm writing this I don't know what star rating I'm going to give this because while I did enjoy the wild twist I also don't know how to feel about this book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Clay McLeod Chapman because I really like how he builds atmosphere.

I'm not going to recommend this book to anyone in particular but if you like weird books...Maybe give it a try.

[маја · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is how balkan mothers feel about their firstborn sons who grow up to be stupid, annoying and unable to wash their own underwear and feed themselves

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC through the library where I work! The publisher describes the story as “Nicolas Sparks gone wrong,” which is an interesting concept. The story starts out light and airy with its gossipy beach town setting but turns very dark as it moves along. There’s a mystery going on that gets weirder and more unsettling the deeper you go, and my favorite element of all was the body horror!

A few things I didn’t vibe with first, just to get them out of the way:

The first major section of the book is a bit of a mixed bag, as the author has to establish a false sense of genre and there’s some stuff that you the reader have to endure, like repetitive flirty banter between the two main characters. Once you make it past this and the story develops further, it gets a lot creepier and more interesting.

One of the biggest reasons I don’t read romances, aside from the fact that they’re not my thing, is that the relationships always give off this magical, unique, “We aren’t like OTHER COUPLES!” energy that just annoys me. Unfortunately, even in horror you still run into this. And I acknowledge that it’s just a personal pet peeve. I can’t relate to the specific theme of a mother’s love or connecting heart and soul to a child either, so that always tends to hold me back a little from being truly invested in stories like this.

Another thing in many books that frustrates me is when the protagonist does everything except demand an explanation from the other character. You can give me pages and pages of the narrator justifying to herself why she is making these choices but I will still believe that the best course of action would have been to grab the other person by the face and say “Tell me what the fuck is going on here RIGHT NOW.” I would’ve ripped that stupid guitar out of Henry’s hands and smashed it against the wall like John Belushi in “Animal House.” (Give me an actual break with that shit!)

I almost DNF’d this book a little over the halfway point, to be honest, because I’m so sick of reading about controlling, frustrating men. It’s unfortunately something that’s a constant in horror, though, so as much as I despise it I have to suffer through it as a sort of necessary evil in these books. Some of Henry’s behavior didn’t make sense to me either, especially throughout the later part of the story. He sort of contradicted himself. But he was also…dealing with a LOT? So… I don’t know.

I enjoyed Ghost Eaters but I liked this one more. (Definitely a more likable protagonist here!) I realize I’ve spent most of this review complaining, but I did enjoy this read for the most part. It was one of those books where you could practically taste the ocean, see the neon, and hear the wailing of something otherworldly. The parts that were frightening were impressive in how bizarre and surprising they felt, (some genuine WTF moments), and even if I found myself a bit confused here and there those weren’t the times that I felt annoyed. I will absolutely keep reading this author but I’ll need to keep in mind that he tends to focus on PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS.

One last note: that epilogue didn’t really add anything and wasn’t necessary. I’d better end this horribly long review now, as I’m in the mood for Red Lobster! (Lol, but seriously I do want seafood.)

TW: lots of talking about miscarriage, suicide, graphic child death, brief animal violence

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sometimes, the things we think we’re only thinking suddenly creep out, finding their way outside our mind."

CMC is back with a new terrifying tale that'll make you scared to get back into the water.

If you think you know Clay, you better think again. He comes at you hard with this book. It reaches out from the depths and grips you by the throat. Not letting go as you gasp for breath. It knows that you are seconds away from death but it never lets up. It stares at you as the light leaves your eyes and when you are on your last breath, it lets go. That panicked feeling is this book. It's mesmerizing.

[Frank Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow...where do I begin?!

I just finished this, so still trying to digest what I just read....it was a strange story, that's for certain. I feel like the first part was so promising, and I thought this would be a 5 Star read, and couldn't turn the pages quickly enough, but then came part 2, then part 3, etc. and it just continued to get weirder and sillier, to me. Never expected it to go in the direction that it went, so I'll give Chapman credit for originality, but overall it was big miss for me, sadly.

[Amalia (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay que admitir que la historia es rara de narices pero a mí me ha gustado y como amante del género del terror la he disfrutado un montón.
.
I have to admit that the story is weird as hell but I liked it and as a lover of the horror genre I enjoyed it a lot.

[Emily Nevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars because one scene did creep me out (you know the one) but this was a poor excuse for paranormal/thriller

There are some books where missing information gives the reader creative liberty to imagine how/why something occurs. Stephen King’s The Mist is a great example because we are never told how or why the mist came about, and the ending is vague, yet the story still made sense.

What Kind of Mother was unfortunately NOT one of these books. Despite having such an interesting premise, it lacked important information necessary for the reader to know what’s going on.

Not until 90% through does the reader learn HOW any of this came to be, yet we don’t know WHY Madi or Henry are so drawn to Skylar or the reasoning for their later actions.

There’s not a single likable character in this book either. Paired with how much boring backstory, and repetitive writing style the book contains made reading this dreadful. I don’t care about Skylar’s grandparents. I don’t care that Madi is a fake psychic. And I REALLY don’t care how hot it is in the South. I live here!

This book should’ve been titled What Kind of Father because what kind of father constantly daydreams about his child’s body being devoured by marine life?

It feels like everything about this book irritated me and I am so relieved to have finished it.

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Review in the June 2023 issue of Library Journal

Three Words That Describe this Book: body horror, psychological horror, viscerally terrifying

At StokerCon Emily Hughes called it "Old Bay Gothic" and I am going to agree.

Reader beware, you may not want to eat crabs for a while after this book. Having fun writing this review, but also the book is more serious than it will appear at first.

Draft Review:

Madi is a palm reader in Brandywine, VA, deeply rooted in the Chesapeake Bay region. Having fled as a pregnant teenager, Madi returns so her 16 year-old daughter can connect with her birth father. While working at the local farmer’s market, Madi sees her high school boyfriend, Henry, a man who carries a heavy burden of grief. He has spent the last 5 years searching for his kidnaped infant while mourning the suicide of his wife. When Henry, still a person of interest in these cases, gives his palm to Madi, she experiences disturbing images of the water and the boy, visions that have physical manifestations. Chapman immediately introduces suspense, hooking readers with Madi’s engaging but increasingly unstable narration, confidently and deliberately steering the tone from uneasy to weird to absolute terror with a twist no one will see coming. A disorienting, immersive, and thought provoking contemplation of hope, grief, and guilt that traps readers in a net of visceral and palpable Horror from which they cannot look away no matter how much detritus bursts forth. But beware, readers may never look at a crab the same way again.

Verdict: With his 4th standout Horror novel, Chapman is becoming a not-to-miss author in the genre. Suggest this one to a varied audience of Horror fans from those who enjoy intense psychological tales like The Pallbearers Club by Tremblay, body horror like Frankenstein in Baghdad by Saadawi, and parental horror like Baby Teeth by Stage, but don’t forget fans of the pulp classic, Clickers series first written by Gonzales.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! The story is really entertaining and kept my attention the whole time. I read it in 3 sittings! The characters are great and you really get attached to them quickly. The mystery was a surprise to me, i never saw it coming. i was having a good time, just reading away and bam! surprise! it's good, you'll have to read it to find out! can't wait to see what this author writes next.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t have a damn clue what went on in this book. It started out pretty good, then about halfway in it just got so weird it was ludicrous.

[Mikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) - Sea swamp version

The amount of "MOMMY momMmY mOOMmmyyy" made the audio version very nearly unbearable

I'm really enjoying parts of this book. I feel like it has very strong character development. And I can tell how much time the author has spent into building his characters background and giving the reader a full picture of them. Therefore, they are very easy to connect. Connect to and root for.

What's not working for me? Is this book has a very strong romance subplot and that's not A critique on the book that's just a personal Thing is, I'm not a romance fan And I'm finding a good portion of this book to be unenjoyable for that reason. However, I can definitely see many other people enjoying it a lot for that same exact reason.

Part 1 is definitely is more of a missing person thriller story (i.e. a Megan Miranda book) than a horror

The author sets up scenes really well. Everything flows.

The second half of the book is really interesting and definitely more horror-esque.

This is SUCH A WEIRD ONE.

Is this Tinkerbell's origin story...dear lord.

The last 50 pages are a FEVER DREAM (similar to ghost eaters)

I don't Like not knowing what happened to the main character Madie.

I read this book in a single day. In a single sitting, it is now the next day and I've got to say the more I think about this book, the more I like it.
The second half of the book is far superior. Makes the book worth it. A solid 4 star read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so unlike anything I have read by Clay before, and yet entirely Clay. Where to start?! I was sucked into the river of this novel very quickly, and savored it's tender horrors. I loved it so much. It's weird in the way I like, and so so so disgusting. Like, I wanted to gag while reading it in parts (a compliment.) It infuriated me and entranced me. If you are looking for some bone chilling, unforgettable nightmare inducing horror, this is the one. If you are looking for some Body Horror this is your new book. Grief horror? Clay McLeod Chapman has you covered. This did trigger some of my deep parental fears too, so shew. This book was wonderful and sickening!!!

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was 100% a blind read. The cover was cool with the crib and a definitely assumed this was a murder mystery. What a twist! A bit slow at times, but the plot flowed nicely until the end. A mother's love literally knows no boundaries. The supernatural aspects were very freaky tbh, but also, children are scary. Not bad!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

POSSIBLE TRIGGERS: SUICIDE/ SOME GOREY VIOLENVCE/ LOSS OF A CHILD
“The story is one that will have you pacing the room, reconsidering your own sanity, and questioning that stubborn instinct to nurture.”
I'm a huge fan of Gothic horror...bet some of you thought the only thing I ever read are M/M romances:) My friendly librarian & best friend handed me this and said, "you have GOT to read this." Thanks to her I spend an enjoyable day and half the night listening to every squeak, creek and bump...and loving every freaky minute of it!

This is a very dark, creepy, and disturbing book, so of course I couldn’t put it down. It's been a long time since I have read a book that made me feel that I was physically THERE. Madi hasn't had the best life and is trying to start over back in her hometown, with her teenage daughter. It was this daughter's impending birth that made pregnant, teenager Madi escape the town seventeen years ago. She sets up shop reading palms and reading clients and telling them what they want to hear. Then she reconnects with an old flame, Henry. Henry's son Skyler had disappeared a few years prior when he was just a baby. Madi realizes that she is having visions of Skyler and thinks that she may be able to find him.

As a dark fantasy thriller this was already great. So, the romance between the two former lovers wasn't really necessary but is again connected over Madi's visions and Skyler’s potential presence. I couldn't help thinking that these two emotionally, mentally damaged characters were falling into something emotionally unhealthy. Can't say much more about the romance.

Now about the horror elements. Be aware that there is SO much really nasty body horror. How you will take this really does depend on your tolerance. I didn't find it disturbing or super gory, but I read some really weird stuff...but this may be way too much for some readers. Some of the descriptions are graphic and could be nightmare producing. However, it’s also incredibly creative in the direction it takes and what it means for the characters...but still it's definitely freaky and unsettling. There were the moments that the story unfolded in a new way that explored parental devotion and inability to either seek or accept closure. This part will stay with you for a long time.

Overall, this book is brutal, but most true horror fans will love it. If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this author, now may be the time. But be warned: you aren’t going to ever see crabs the same way after reading this. I strongly advise anyone that has any triggers whatsoever to pay very close attention to the trigger warnings. Otherwise...it's a story that is worth every minute of your time to read it.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it was all going so well until the end. Although I'd found the first part of the book awfully boring-I'd got to page 100 and wondered when the action was actually going to pick up, but I persevered because I've enjoyed CMC's work previously. It ultimately just left me with a bad taste in the mouth.

Although the writing was beautiful, very descriptive, but beautiful, the ending just wasn't what I was expecting. It just felt a little convoluted, like a fever dream but felt a little forced and stiff. Things confused me-like if Henry and Madi had imagined the child into being, then why did Grace do what she did? Maybe I entirely missed the point, but it left me feeling very confused.

It won't put me off reading more of CMC's work in the future but the ending was just plain weird.

[Gatorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, what could have been with this bizarre tale. It had me hooked until the last 70 pages when it all just fell apart. Starts out as what appears to be the story of the mystery behind the disappearance of an 8-month-old child, with many suspecting either the deceased mom or surviving dad were somehow involved. Can't really say more without giving away the twist of the story but suffice to say that the mystery is explained in a rather unusual but fascinating manner, which had me looking forward to where it would go from there. Unfortunately, it collapsed under its own weight. Main characters suddenly start behaving in completely inconsistent, unbelievable ways, and what was once fascinating just becomes silly and over-the-top. Even accounting for the supernatural aspect, it just didn't fly. A shame, because there was a ton of potential as to where the book could have gone, but Chapman couldn't finish what he started. Oh well. Maybe next time.

[Gareth Is Haunted · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book from Clay McLeod Chapman was not what I expected.
It starts with the feel of a Southern murder mystery and as the plot unravels, so did my preconceptions of where this novel was heading. Think murder mystery, creature feature, psychological horror and more, then you might have a slight idea of what this book contains.
Clay McLeod Chapman's writing spirited me away into this book's world, I could smell the river and feel the intense heat. His writing is amazing and left me wanting to read a few more pages during every sitting. I can say the same for the characters and the ease with which the writing pulled me into their thoughts and stories.
I'm not one for detailing the plot in my reviews, so you'll just have to read this to find out. What I can tell you is that this was an astounding read and one which I would highly recommend.

[Syn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stellar writing, I don't always pay a ton of attention to dialogue but for some reason when reading this I felt that Chapman really writes dialogue insanely well. The story is told in parts where you gain more insight into the backstory as you travel deeper into the waters of insanity which is where this book leads its characters.

The premise of the book is about a child that went missing years ago. The father still believes he's out there somewhere. This is a story about the power of belief and what it can create, the good, the bad, and the beyond.

A beautifully dark and disturbing story, a sad and emotional tide that ebbs and flows as you venture deeper into the pages of 'What Kind of Mother'. Will the waters close over your head? Maybe...

[Neil McRobert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a WTF book. In the best possible way. It’s cold and cruel and crazy and shocking in the sheer insanity of its internal logic. It contains scenes if overt body horror and a single paragraph that may rank as the most upsettingly raw and profoundly human moment of horror in this year’s fiction.

Clay McLeod Chapman is on the up. This, his fourth horror novel in as many years, shows his willingness to try new things, to stretch the boundaries of his own imagination, and his ability the ground the most extraordinary of genre ideas in authentic human drama. It may stretch credulity in parts, but if you are up for a genuinely surreal (and very fast paced) read, WHAT KIND OF MOTHER will show you horrors you genuinely won’t see coming.