Title: Mother Know Best
Author: Kira Peikoff
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: 10th September 2019
BLURB from Goodreads
A mother’s worst
nightmare, a chance at redemption, and a deadly secret that haunts a family
across the generations.
There’s only room for one mother in this family.
Claire Abrams’s dreams became a nightmare when she passed on a genetic mutation that killed her little boy. Now she wants a second chance to be a mother, and finds it in Robert Nash, a maverick fertility doctor who works under the radar with Jillian Hendricks, a cunning young scientist bent on making her mark—and seducing her boss.
Claire, Robert, and Jillian work together to create the world’s first baby with three genetic parents—an unprecedented feat that could eliminate inherited disease. But when word of their illegal experiment leaks to the wrong person, Robert escapes into hiding with the now-pregnant Claire, leaving Jillian to serve out a prison sentence that destroys her future.
Ten years later, a spunky girl named Abigail begins to understand that all is not right with the reclusive man and woman she knows as her parents. But the family’s problems are only beginning. Jillian, hardened by a decade of jealousy and loss, has returned—and nothing will stop her from reuniting with the man and daughter who should have been hers.
There’s only room for one mother in this family.
Claire Abrams’s dreams became a nightmare when she passed on a genetic mutation that killed her little boy. Now she wants a second chance to be a mother, and finds it in Robert Nash, a maverick fertility doctor who works under the radar with Jillian Hendricks, a cunning young scientist bent on making her mark—and seducing her boss.
Claire, Robert, and Jillian work together to create the world’s first baby with three genetic parents—an unprecedented feat that could eliminate inherited disease. But when word of their illegal experiment leaks to the wrong person, Robert escapes into hiding with the now-pregnant Claire, leaving Jillian to serve out a prison sentence that destroys her future.
Ten years later, a spunky girl named Abigail begins to understand that all is not right with the reclusive man and woman she knows as her parents. But the family’s problems are only beginning. Jillian, hardened by a decade of jealousy and loss, has returned—and nothing will stop her from reuniting with the man and daughter who should have been hers.
PURCHASE LINKS
REVIEW
It
was the cover of the book that originally caught my attention, the long red-haired
plait, coupled with the title “Mother Knows Best” just made me curious. Then I
read the blurb which had me even more curious! The genre is a bit different to
my usual ones that I read but something about this book just held my attention.
The
book begins by introducing Abby with her cool, glacier ice eyes, freckled nose
and shiny red hair. The redness of Abby’s hair upsets her mother Claire, even
more so since a stranger once made an offhand comment of, Are you sure she is
your daughter? Since then it has obviously played on Claire’s mind. Then Claire
goes on to describe their annual trip to the Natural History Museum. They go
every year as a way to remember Colton, who was Claire’s son who sadly died due
to a hereditary genetic condition. To be honest Claire has never really gotten
over the loss of her son Colton, who would have been twenty one. They don’t go
on outings to busy or crowded places normally, as Abby’s parents, Claire and
Michael have a secret that they don’t want any one to discover. If found out it
could mean prison for Claire and Michael, then who would care for Abby. Usually
Abby isn’t overly excited for the Natural History Museum but this year she can’t
seem to get there quick enough. When Abby reminds them of the school project
Map DNA and that she has spoken someone online who is related to them via the site,
both parents panic.
The
book then goes back to the past to tell us the story of how Abby’s birth came
about. Originally Claire was married to Colton’s father Ethan, after losing
Colton they decide to try for another baby via IVF. Though Ethan disagrees with
the genetic research and experiments that Dr Robert Nash does, he eventually
gives in to Claire choosing him to help them. Though unbeknownst to Ethan a
deal is struck between, Dr Robert Nash, Jillian Hendricks his scientific
researcher and mum to be Claire. What the trio decide to do is unheard of, in
fact some would say should never be done, no matter what the circumstance. Dr
Nash creates a child using the genetics of one father, Ethan and two mothers,
Claire and Gillian. Dr Nash and Jillian remove the hereditary part of the gene from
which Colton died. Ethan is totally oblivious to the genetic engineering that
is happening. Ethan simply thinks that eggs are being tested and the best one
is being used in the IVF. Everything seems to be going well with Claire’s
pregnancy until, Ethan finds Claire secretly messaging Dr Nash and jumps to the
wrong conclusion thinking his wife has been having an affair with him. Which
isn’t true as Dr Nash and Jillian Hendricks are in a relationship, though
Jillian see’s more of a future in it than the Dr does. Claire ends up telling
Ethan the whole truth about the experimental genetic experiment and being in the
medical field he reports what has happened. In a panic as she flees from her
home, Claire calls Dr Nash to warn him and Jillian but they are arrested. A
date for the trial is set and things don’t look good for the scientific
geniuses. When Claire becomes ill, once again she calls on Dr Nash and after
some squabbling with Jillian he goes to Claire’s aid. Time goes on in the
hideaway home that Claire and Dr Nash are in and just as he should return for
his court date Claire goes into labour so he stays with her. Leaving Jillian Hendricks
to take to the stand in court alone. Jillian is sent to prison, though she vows
she will find Claire, Dr Nash and the baby the three of them created.
There
comes a point in the book that Michael and Claire have to explain and reveal
the details of the experimental genetic procedure to Abby. They had always
planned on telling the unique child but perhaps when she was much older
herself. Things take a drastic turn for the worse and Abby ends up reaching and
receiving help from an unlikely source.
Jillian
is the “evil genius” character in the book that I guess you could say causes
all the trouble and strife. It is her scientific ambition and the way she urges
on Dr Nash that is a decisive factor within the genetic engineering done. Then
you also kind of feel sorry for her, she loves Dr Nash and though she agrees he
should go help Claire, she truly trusts he will return to her and they will
continue with their relationship until the trial. Jillian expects them to stand
united in court, to end up being lauded as the first geniuses to come up with
the techniques of ruling out hereditary conditions. Jillian is even expecting
Dr Nash to come rushing into the court to rescue her at the last minute, but
instead he stays hidden away with Claire and their genetically engineered baby.
Jillian see’s Claire as having everything. In her mind Claire has taken both
her man and their baby! I think Claire and Jillian were both desperate, and
slightly flawed by life characters. In other circumstances they perhaps could
even have been friends.
As
a woman that has lost a child via late term miscarriage, I felt I could to an
extent identify with Claire and Ethan’s desperation for another child, yet at
the same time being afraid it could all happen again. The way they couldn’t
bear thinking about losing another child. Would I have gone as far with all the
genetic engineering behind the back of the father, I don’t think so. Though
unless you are in that exact position how can you really know? I think perhaps
if Claire had been honest with Ethan he may have eventually come around to the
idea of the genetic engineering and interference as he looked at it.
The
book is revealed with alternating sections of past that covers creating Abby,
and the present with Claire and Michael worried as to who this relative is that
Abby has contacted, could it be that Jillian is back for revenge? All this
makes for a thrilling read and keeps you on the edge of your seat. All the
careful secrecy, staying hidden away and it’s a school project that brings their
secret out into the open. However just when you think it’s all over, there’s
another super twist in the whole genetic engineering experiment revealed, as
well as the past and present coming crashing together. This book really kept
you guessing right to the end. I had a couple of times I wondered if I would
read all way to the end of the book but after the first third of it, I really
didn’t want to put it down. It’s also one of those books where you wonder if it’s
ever really happened. Is there already an “Abby” out there some-where. The book
also had me thinking about any possible side effects or problems the genetically
engineered children would or could suffer in their future lives.
My
immediate thoughts upon finishing this book were that I found this book to be such an interesting look at genetics and what can
happen when someone is so desperate for a healthy child that ethical lines
become blurred. I loved the brilliant twist in part four.
A lot of people/characters in the book eventually end up having to rethink their stance on the ethics and practices of genetic engineering. It is extremely easy to judge and make a decision when there are no parental emotions involved.
A lot of people/characters in the book eventually end up having to rethink their stance on the ethics and practices of genetic engineering. It is extremely easy to judge and make a decision when there are no parental emotions involved.
So
to sum up if you like a thought provoking read, then this one should be on your
“to read” list.
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