The Better Mother - a dark, pulse-pounding psychological thriller.

Savannah Mitchell is 34 years old. After a bad break-up, she has a short fling with charming Max, who had recently broken up with his girlfriend, Madison. When Savannah learns she is pregnant, she contacts Max, hoping for amicable co-parenting. However, Max has reconciled with Madison, who is overjoyed about the baby and quickly assumes the role of co-mother. Initially, Madison appears sweet and helpful, bringing groceries and more to Savannah, but she has an ulterior motive. Savannah is immediately wary but has no idea who she is up against. A major red flag goes up when Madison announces on social media that she and Max are expecting "our baby." When Savannah prevents Madison from attending a doctor's appointment, you can feel her seethe. I almost expected her to say Glenn Close's iconic line from the film Fatal Attraction, "I'm not going to be ignored."

In her incredible debut novel, The Better Mother, author Jennifer van der Kleut has masterfully created more tension and suspense than I've experienced in a long time. The craziness escalates as Madison is relentless in her pursuit of motherhood. She will stop at nothing to ensure she has created enough havoc for Savannah, positioning herself as the one best suited to raise the baby. Madison is pure evil! Meanwhile, poor Savannah is not only striving to prepare properly for the baby's arrival but is also trying to excel in her new marketing job. The brilliance of this book lies in its ability to remain believable amid all the chaos. It's a heart-pounding, stay-up-all-night read, if you can handle it.

Many thanks to the author and Crooked Lane Books for the advance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars.

Psychological Thriller.

Publication Date: February 10, 2026.

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