Christine, who lost an infant daughter many years prior, will do anything to protect her remaining child, Conor. When he comes home with Paris, the daughter of a wealthy couple whose house Christine cleans, both covered in blood, she doesn't know what to think. But she will do anything, along with her husband Ed, to protect him. When Paris' parents suddenly become best friends with Christine and Ed, it baffles Christine and the police as well. But the two couples agree to dispose of their children's soiled clothing, and stick to a story of innocence.

This book had a number of unexpected twists and the suspense remained high throughout, with a satisfying conclusion. I would definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Anna-Lou Weatherley does a fantastic job in writing this psychological thriller element that I was looking for. It had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the elements in this. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and enjoyed going on this journey with the characters.

Terrified teens, a murdered man, secrets, lies, and a mother wanting to protect her child set the stage for What Kind of Mother! I found this book to be gripping, fast paced, and intense at times! I had no idea going into this book that it was the eighth book of a series. It worked perfectly as a stand-alone for me.


Christine and her husband Ed are shocked when their son Conor and her employer's daughter, Paris, woke then up with news that they may have killed someone. How far will a mother go to protect her child? When Paris' parents arrive, all the parents talk about what should be done.

What seemed like a simple tale of a mother will do to protect her child, turns into much, much more. This book kept me on my toes as more twits and revelations came into play. I loved that there was never any down time in this book. Secrets, lies, power, deviance, corruption, and drugs come into play.

This book had a nice amount of tension, dread, danger, and shocking twists that kept me fully invested and turning the pages! Whew! What a ride! I had no idea where this book was going but enjoyed the ride, the investigation, and a mother's quest to save her child.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Holy Cow Anna-Lou Where have you been throughout all of my Literature era?! I have never heard of this Author, and after finishing this book I have no idea how no one is talking about this woman!

Right from the get go this book takes off with the action and pretty much never stops, it seems every chapter there is a "What!?", "How!?", "Who!?" kind of jaw dropping plot twist! I usually have some sense of what is about to happen, some guess as who did what, Whose blackmailing who, but I COULD NEVER imagined half of this crazy fast paced thriller, like who thinks of these things!?

It felt like I was dropping my jaw again, right after just picking it up off the floor from the last chapter! I was racing through the pages and still couldn't get through this story fast enough to satisfy my brain! Imagine my surprise when I come to Goodreads to see if everyone else felt the same way I did about this book, to find out it's a WHOLE SERIES!? I absolutely love thriller series, and I just about never read them out of order but when i requested this book netgalley didn't say anything about it being the 8th book in a series, but turns out it's perfectly okay It reads perfectly fine as a stand alone book. You would have never known you missed anything, usually is the case with detective series, one case tends to have nothing to do with the other cases, which is great because Now i just found a new author to look forward to and some more books to seek out!! I am going to start collecting those to read after I get through my Netgalley approvals! This is the first book I was approved for so hopefully this means many more great things to look forward to, but it's going to be pretty hard to get this one off my mind!

Give it a read You WILL NOT be disappointed. I will leave you with a quote from this book that will sure to have you intrigued enough to check it out!

"It all started with a lie - an unwitting lie at that - and then one had followed right after the other, multiplying like lemmings until they'd taken over completely and become something else entirely."

Not sure about you but that would have had me curious for more, and that title!?!
What kind of mother what!? I need to know more! And Boyyyy did I get the more i was asking for!!

Name :- What Kind Of Mother
Author :- Anna Lou Weatherley
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
What Kind of Mother is a chilling domestic thriller that explores the moral dilemmas of parenthood, the weight of secrets, and the terrifying lengths parents will go to protect their children. With an intricate plot and morally complex characters, the novel delivers a suspenseful and emotionally charged narrative.
What I like :-
1 Moral Complexity: The central question—how far would you go to protect your child?—is woven seamlessly into the plot, making readers question what they might do in the same situation.
2 Tense Atmosphere: From the moment Christine discovers Conor and Paris covered in blood, the story plunges into a web of lies and escalating tension. The uncertainty surrounding each character’s motivations keeps the reader hooked.
What I didn't like :-
1 Pacing Issues: While the beginning is gripping, the middle sections occasionally lag, as Christine’s inner monologue and repetitive tension slow the momentum.
2 Underdeveloped Detective Riley: Although integral to the plot, Riley feels somewhat one-dimensional, and his investigation could have been explored in greater depth.
Overall :- What Kind of Mother is a gripping, emotional thriller that effectively captures the raw desperation of parents protecting their children. With its intricate web of lies and suspense, it offers a thought-provoking look at the consequences of morality, guilt, and deceit. While not without its flaws.
My Rating: 4/5

This book is apparently part of a series, which I did not know. It can definitely be read as a stand alone, though. It was well written and I liked the character development. Lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I will definitely check out more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

I didn’t realize this was number eight in a series, but it did fine as a standalone book. It’s a dark twisty thriller with some really messed up characters! If you love thrillers, give this one a try.

Anna-Lou Weatherley delivers a gripping and twisted psychological thriller in What Kind of Mother. From the very first page, readers are plunged into a gripping mystery centered on a dead man and two teens who insist on their innocence, even as the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. The tension ramps up as the teens’ story unravels, leaving parents scrambling to protect their children while navigating the dark secrets that begin to surface.

What makes this novel so compelling is Weatherley’s ability to layer twists upon twists. Just when you think you’ve pieced together the truth, another shocking revelation emerges, keeping you hooked until the final page. The story dives deep into themes of family, loyalty, and the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones.

The characters—both the teens and the parents—are intricately developed, showcasing a mix of vulnerability, desperation, and resolve. Weatherley masterfully explores the dynamics between them, highlighting how even the most well-meaning actions can have devastating consequences.

What Kind of Mother is a rollercoaster of suspense, perfect for fans of complex psychological thrillers that keep you guessing. With its relentless twists and emotionally charged narrative, this book proves that in Weatherley’s world, nothing is ever as it seems.

Wow I loved this so much I didn’t want it to end but had to know how it was going to end so was on the edge of my seat throughout. It was my first book by Anna-Lou Weatherley and it definitely won’t be my last. I usually don’t like detective books as I find sometime it drags out but wow I was so impressed by this. It was a gripping read which I found really difficult to put down and I can’t wait to recommend it to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book.

This book is an absolute page-turner! Anna-Lou Weatherley has written a psychological thriller that’s packed with tension, emotion, and jaw-dropping twists. The dynamic between the two mothers is intense and filled with moral dilemmas that kept me hooked.

The suspense builds perfectly, and I couldn’t stop wondering who to trust—or if anyone was telling the truth. The twists hit hard, and the emotional depth made it impossible to put down.

If you love thrillers with real heart and shocking secrets, What Kind of Mother is a must-read. Highly recommend! 🔥📖✨

Detective Dan Riley #8

A good mother will do all that she can to love an protect her child, even id she wouldn't morally do them. But not all mothers are doing just for their child, they are doing it to save face, hoping it will work out in their favour. But not every mother is a good mother.

How far would you go to protect your family, even if they might be responsible for someone's death?

This is one twisted story that's filled with secrets, lies, and red herrings. Detective Dan Riley and his team are4 back, doing what they do bet, solving intricate crimes.

Published 8th January 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #AnnaLouWeatherly for my ARC of #WhatKindOfMother in exchange fpr an honest review.

This is my first book by Anna-Lou Weatherley and I absolutely loved it!! This wasn’t the first book with DCI Dan Riley, so I’m very glad that it was also a wonderful standalone novel. I will however be adding the others to my ‘to be read’ list! I most definitely recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eARC

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ed and Christine are struggling financially amd still mourning the loss of their yoing daughter many years ago it are basically happy with their teenage son Conor. One night Conor and his girlfriend, Paris. are inconsolable thinking that they murdered someone after a night at the club. Ed and Christine band together with Paris’ parents to cover it up but they really may not be on the same team

I really like this author and this series. I think the books are very dependable reads. This one was good but a little too far fetched to be a 5 star. Regardless, I read it in two days and overall enjoyed it and will definitely be reading her next novel.

I was immediately drawn to What Kind of Mother by its title—I needed to know what this mother did! Marketed as a psychological thriller, the book absolutely delivers on suspense, twists, and a gripping storyline.

The story’s two mothers kept me on edge throughout. One was relatable in how she handled herself, while the other left me feeling frustrated, which only heightened the tension. The dynamic between them felt like a rollercoaster: sometimes I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, and other times I wanted to reach into the book and shake someone!

The book’s pacing was another standout. It starts with a bang and doesn’t let up, keeping me fully invested until the very end. Some of the subtopics hit close to home, adding an extra layer of emotional depth to the suspense. While the teenage characters, particularly Paris, were relatable, I wished we had heard more from them—maybe there’s room for a sequel?

The ending was absolutely perfect, tying the story together in a way that left my jaw on the floor. This book will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy seeing the bad guys get what’s coming to them, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing.

Highly recommended for readers who love fast-paced, emotionally charged suspense that keeps you hooked from start to finish!

Anna-Lou Weatherley is always at the top of my favouite authors, I have never read a book of hers that I did not enjoy and she is one of those authors whose books you can recollect a long time after, well for me anyway.

This is book eight in the series and they just keep getting better and better with DCI Dan Riley again at the forefront of another case. As the books progress we learn more about him and if I was in trouble I would be very happy to have him on my side.. We are introduced to the Levinsons, a family that are well off and well respected in their community. their daughter Paris soon falls on troubled times, felt to be involved in the death of a local drug dealer but are things really as they seem? The Levinsons will not have their reputation tarnished and will do anything to keep this, they are determined to keep their dirty laundry from prying eyes. How far as a mother would you go to protect your child, a long way it seems in this scenario.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes, secrets and lies, cheating and as I said reputations on the line. I was thoroughly invested in this story and raced through the book in record time, not wanting to put it down. If you are looking for an excellent book to escape from daily life then I am sure this will do so for you, I think this is the best book yet in the series. If you are going to take this on I would still suggest beginning ta the first book, as always character development can be everything and this is the case with this authors latest work. Loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

What Kind of Mother is an emotionally charged and suspenseful story that left me absolutely captivated. Anna-Lou Weatherley masterfully combines a gripping mystery with a heartfelt exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and forgiveness. The characters felt so real, especially the mothers at the heart of the story, each grappling with impossible choices. The twists kept me guessing, but it was the raw emotion that truly stuck with me. If you’re looking for a thriller that tugs at your heartstrings, this one is unforgettable.

This book is part of a series however I haven't read anything by this author before so this was a standalone for me, it definitely didn't hinder me reading it but has made me want to read the rest of the series. I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting

I usually know within the first couple of chapters how much I’m going to enjoy a book but I knew within the first 2 pages that this was one I was going to struggle to put down. There are not enough words for how much I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining, clever and the narrative was stunningly intelligent. I couldn’t put it down I was captivated.

I do love a good Detective Dan Riley story. Anna-Lou never disappoints. I was hooked to this one, needing to read more and more to find out who was a murderer, and what strange goings on in the Levinson household. Gripping, well written 10/10!

I hadn't realised this was part of a series.
Bit of a slow start for me and as the storyline progressed i found it a little far fetched.
A few twists but really it wasn't for me.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.