A slow burning, twisting thriller that had me doubting nearly everyone in the story. You know something bad is going to happen, but you’re not sure what and my whom.. I did guess part of the ending but the twist at the end was a surprise I didn’t expect. An enjoyable read.

Thank you Netgalley, Claire Allan and Boldwood Books for the eArc of The Perfect Mother.

This is the second book that I've read by Claire Allan and I find that again, I get drawn in and binged read this within a few days ( work got in the way!) I really like how Claire writes her character's, she builds them really well. I spent almost half the book trying to piece the foreshadowing together to figure out what direction the plot was going to the intention of the character's. The plot was medium paced and flowed very well which meant a very engrossing read.

Alice Croker narrated this book and I loved her voice.

4.25 stars for Storygraph, 4 stars for other review sites.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers, and author for an ARC of The Perfect Mother.


Another well written suspense thriller by Claire Allan. The level of suspicion on everyone in this book is so high that I started to doubt the main character herself. How it all clicks together, though, is great.
Could be triggering for some readers.

Highly recommend.

Mel - a doula - is now pregnant living in a new area after the loss of a clients child just about a year ago. The mother Alice had set out on a social media mission of tarnishing her reputation and ensuring that everyone knew is was Mel's fault for the loss of Jacob. which caused Mel to loose her business and start over.

Now Mel is living with her husband and young daughter Tilly, when things start going a little awry. Funeral flowers and being delivered to their house along with balloons and a teddy bear and a seemingly innocent neighbor steps into the role of adopted grandmother. Is someone trying to scare Mel or is there something more sinister going on?

This one felt like I have read it before but there were some twists, that left me a little surprised. As far as the kidnapping of a baby to replace the baby that died - this is the part that felt very familiar and I knew what was going on most of the book. there was some trying to bury the lead by placing suspicion on the husband for wanting to move to Australia but overall somewhat predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for review

I found The Perfect Mother to be an OK read. The main problem I found was I did not like any of the characters which made it very difficult for me to actually care what happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Mel is happily married and has a 3-year-old and another on the way. Mel decided to become a doula after a difficult delivery and meets Alice. Alice had put off motherhood and had refused prenatal care once pregnant. After Alice tragically loses her baby during birth, she blames Mel. Alice started a smear campaign blaming Mel and ultimately making her lose her job as a douka and was forced to move. That ending was insane!!

Meg is currently pregnant with her second child, a son. A year ago, Meg agreed to assist in the home birth of a woman named Alice and her husband Thomas. Sadly, Alice lost her baby-a son- and blamed Meg for it. Not only did she blame her, Alice did so publicly causing Meg to lose her business and also forcing Meg’s family to relocate, moving away from her parent.

Now Meg is receiving cruel and sadistic items such as a funeral flower arrangement with a card saying she doesn’t deserve to be a mother and her children should be dead.

Meg can’t make sense of this since meeting with Alice and making amends. Alice took to social media to share that the things she said about Meg was said during a time of deep grief and she no longer holds ill will toward her. So if Alice isn’t the one sending these awful gifts, who is?

Thank you NetGalley, Claire Allan, and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read the book in exchange for a review.

Claire Allan is one of those authors I know I can count on for a gripping domestic suspense - and The Perfect Mother definitely delivered on concept. The premise was chilling and unique: Mel, a doula, finds her life and career completely derailed after a birth ends in tragedy and the mother, Alice, turns the grief into full-blown blame and vengeance. It’s the kind of setup that gets under your skin quickly, especially as Mel tries to rebuild her life - only to realise the nightmare is far from over.

This one was an easy read that I flew through in a couple of sittings. I appreciated the short chapters and the psychological tension, even though it leaned more into emotional domestic drama than a full-blown thriller. The paranoia and gaslighting were well executed, and some of the twists were genuinely unsettling. It’s also a rare read that dives into the world of birth work - doulas, hypnobirthing, and unassisted labour - in a way that felt fresh and, at times, deeply uncomfortable.

That said, I didn’t fully connect with the characters. Mel’s choices were often frustrating (though maybe intentionally so), and I found her husband and parents fairly unlikeable, which made the story feel a bit isolating. The pacing dragged slightly in the middle, and the ending — while dramatic — wrapped up quickly with a few threads still left hanging.

Still, this is a compulsively readable story about grief, guilt, and obsession. I wouldn’t describe it as a twisty thriller in the traditional sense, but if you like slow-burn psychological fiction with an edge of menace, this is worth picking up. I’ve already mentioned it to a couple of people I know who are into this genre - it definitely sparks conversation.

The Perfect Mother
Claire Allen
Read and Reviewed: Jan 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A fast paced, grippy thriller from start to finish.

Mel, left her job as a teacher to follow a passion of hers and become a doula - a person there to support women when they are giving birth. Soon after, she has her reputation and business in ruins when a tragedy befalls one of her patients. (I dont want to go into too much details and spoil it guys so I'll say no more)

She moves house with her husband and little girl thinking being away from the area will help her and her family to move on and rebuild their lives. But little did she know the nightmare was far from over....

I thoroughly enjoyed this one guys.
I really enjoy psychological thrillers anyway and they are definately my go to genre. Always such easy and quick reads and not too taxing on the brain so an ideal choice of read at any stage.

I've read lots of Claire Allen books and they're always great - this one was no different.

It was fast paced, with grippy chapters and plenty of twists and turns throughout.

I flew through it in a couple of sittings. Some of the twists had me in shock at times 🫢

Defo one to read if thrillers are your thing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve always been a little skeptical about the idea of doulas, and this book didn’t exactly change my mind! The premise immediately intrigued me: unraveling who’s hiding the biggest secrets, who’s manipulating whom, and who can actually be trusted. While it leans more towards domestic drama than a traditional thriller, it delivers an emotionally charged narrative with some well-placed twists and a steady undercurrent of unease.

That said, it’s not a particularly suspenseful read. A lot of the story plays out inside Mel’s head as she wrestles with doubts and fears, which makes sense given her situation but can feel repetitive. The pacing starts strong, lags a bit in the middle, and picks up again towards the end, though the finale felt somewhat rushed with a few unresolved threads. There’s an unfortunate coincidence that plays into the climax, which might not work for everyone, but overall, the twists were effective, and the red herrings were well done.

Mel is a complex character, her anxieties and paranoia feel real, but some of her choices are frustrating. The real letdown, though, is the lack of support from her family, especially her husband, Ed. His insistence on uprooting their lives for Australia, despite Mel clearly being in distress, made him difficult to sympathize with. And don’t get me started on her parents, they were awful! I’m not sure if that was the author’s intention, but I found myself siding with Mel more than I expected.

Ultimately, this was a solid domestic noir with compelling themes of trust and deception. While it may not be the most intense thriller, it’s an easy, engaging read. If you enjoy psychological dramas that keep you second-guessing the characters’ motives, this one is worth checking out.

Thanks for the advanced reader copy from Netgalley!
Quick easy psychologically thriller book. It will not disappoint

Claire Allan’s The Perfect Mother is a creepy chiller that had me jumping out of my skin.

As a doula, Mel is passionate about helping women become mothers. Dedicated, kind-hearted and always willing to go the extra mile, when she meets Alice Monroe, Mel recognises a kindred spirit and vows to do everything she can to ensure that Alice’s dream of motherhood becomes a reality. However, when Alice’s dream turns into a nightmare, it is Mel who gets the blame. In one fell swoop, Mel loses everything: her job, her reputation and her business.

With Alice intent on ruining her, when Mel discovers she’s pregnant, she realises that she needs to put as much distance as possible between the two of them. Moving to the remote Derry countryside was meant to be a fresh start for Mel and her family. But that quickly proves not to be the case. Alice has tracked her down and when the messages begin coming, Mel’s worst fears are confirmed.

With her family and her safety in jeopardy, Mel needs to tread carefully because Alice is watching and waiting for the right moment to avenge herself and make her pay for destroying her life.

Claire Allan’s The Perfect Mother brilliantly blends menace, tension and foreboding in an unputdownable thriller that had me double-checking that I locked every single door and window in my house. A masterclass in domestic suspense, The Perfect Mother is a dark and twisted chiller guaranteed to give readers nightmares.

It is a story about female relationships, motherhood and obsession. It was more an emotional read for me than a thriller.

The story is about two women, Mel and Alice. Alice employed Mel, who was a former teacher who switched her career to Hypno-birthing and helping women through their birthing journey (a move her mother did not understand nor supported. - I am with her mother on this) as her doula to help her on her free/unassisted birthing journey. Unfortunately things did not go as planned and Alice lost her baby.

Alice then turned around and viciously blamed Mel for the loss of her baby, raised a mob of haters online against Mel, this had a damaging impact on Mel's business, her family and her peace of mind. Mel who is now pregnant with her second child, her husband and young daughter moved out of the small town to another community to get away from the negativity and judgemental looks & talks.

Despite the move, the hate online and anonymous threats did not stop. I couldn't wait to get to the end of the story even though I could predict it.

I learnt about Hypno-birthing and Free/unassisted birthing, I went down the rabbit hole to read more about the pros and cons. I could not help my silent screams at Mel for ignoring her gut instincts when Alice signed out of Ante natal class and not insisting Alice visit the Hospital when she was several days beyond her due date, choosing to take Alice's word that she was fine.

A huge thanks to the book publishers and @netgalley for an advanced readers' copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine.

I rate the book a 7/10.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it.

A story of friendship, mistrust, loss and heartache.

A story of a couple who lost their baby at birth and instead of grieving to heal instead allowed the grief to overtake their lives in a revengeful way.

After being completely ruined, your career shattered into pieces Mel decides to confront the issue and has high hopes after meeting with her old friend to clear the air.

But is she being foolish? Can she trust her friend after everything?

You must read this story!

Special thank you to NetGalley, Claire Allan And Boldwood Books for an ARC of this twisty thriller! I loved the story line and the characters. The story itself is full of suspense and will keep the reader engaged. A definite page turner. I would recommend to others.

3.5-3.75 stars
The main character was a doula and unfortunately during the birth of a client the baby died. This started to wreak havoc on her business and life which followed her after she moved. Now that she is pregnant she is worried about what will happen to her baby.

The Perfect Mother by Claire Allen is a page turning psychological thriller.

The problem with being a doula is that not everyone gets their happily ever after. What happens when it's your job to bring life into the world and through no fault of your own that doesn't happen. The parents needs someone to blame, and their target is set on you.

Mel has been a doula in Carrickfergus. Her and her client Alice became more than clients, more like best friends. When Alice's birth doesn't go as expected she needs someone to blame, so she starts slandering Mel's name. But Alice realizes that slandering Mel's name isn't enough, but just how far is she willing to go?

Thank you to Claire Allen for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

"The Perfect Mother" by Claire Allan is a gripping psychological thriller that effectively keeps readers engaged with its compelling narrative and well-developed characters.

One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its suspenseful storytelling. From the very beginning, the tension builds, making it difficult to put the book down. The plot unfolds with a series of unexpected twists that keep readers guessing until the very end.

The protagonist, Mel, is a deeply complex and relatable character. Her role as a dedicated doula and hypnobirthing coach adds a unique and refreshing perspective to the psychological thriller genre. Her emotional struggles and resilience make her a character readers can connect with, adding depth to the story.

The setting, particularly Mel’s move to the Derry countryside, is well-described and enhances the novel’s atmospheric tension. The contrast between the peaceful surroundings and the lurking danger amplifies the story’s psychological intensity.

Another highlight is the way the novel explores themes of motherhood, trust, and personal redemption. It delves into the complexities of maternal instincts, questioning how far one would go to protect their loved ones.

The pacing of the book is another strong point. It maintains a steady rhythm, gradually increasing the suspense while keeping the reader engaged. Even when certain plot points may seem predictable, the final twist is a satisfying surprise that adds to the overall impact of the novel.

Overall, "The Perfect Mother" is an absorbing and well-crafted thriller that blends emotional depth with psychological tension, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.

A quick read although I didnt particularly like any of the characters. In spite of that it was a good story which I enjoyed
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review