The Perfect Mother is the first Claire Allan novel I’ve read, and it completely pulled me in from the start. The pacing is sharp, the tension builds beautifully, and there’s an underlying unease that kept me turning the pages well past bedtime.

Claire's writing is vivid and immersive, with characters who feel real and layered. She balances suspense with emotional depth, making you care about what happens just as much as you want to solve the mystery.

A compelling thriller from an author I’ll definitely be reading again.

The Perfect Mother by Claire Allan was a great psychological thriller that I could not put down. I was hooked from the first few pages. Gripped me with the twists and turns throughout. 100% recommended you won’t be disappointed.

To be honest I wasn't terribly excited by this book at first. The way Alice and her husband blamed Mel 100% for the loss of their baby had me fuming. So much so that I wasn't sure that I would even finish the book. As a fan of Claire Allan I should have known better. She is the queen of red herrings and surprise twists and there was so much more to this story that I was really glad I continued on with it. A very good read indeed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

This was a good read that I finished in less than a day. It centers on Mel, who changed careers to become a birth doula when the unthinkable happened to a client named Alice, whom she also considered a good friend. Alice’s vitriol caused Mel to give up her career and flee to another part of the country, but that doesn’t stop anonymous threats from continuing to occur, making Mel fear for the safety of herself and her young family.

There were good twists in this book, and I thought the author did a great job of creating realistic red herrings. I liked Mel as a character, and felt like her parents were total jerks, but I’m not sure the author intended me to feel that way. While a lot of the narrative does take place in Mel’s head, I felt like her doubts and fears were realistic, and I could empathize with her. I had an inkling of the big twist at the end, but hadn’t entirely figured it out. The ending of the book was ok, but I wish it had tied up the loose ends a little more.

I originally dnf’d this, but decided to pick it back up after been in the mood for a thriller. Some things were easy to predict for me, but what I did not see coming was Sheila being Thomas’ mom! I also didn’t expect Alice to be the one to save the day! Mel calling her dad “daddy” was pretty cringy to me. Overall, it was good, but not great.

Claire Allan delivers a gripping psychological thriller with The Perfect Mother, a story that masterfully explores the fragile line between love, fear, and obsession. At the heart of the novel is Mel, a former doula haunted by a traumatic past and desperate to protect her family. The narrative is driven by emotional depth and guilt, capturing the relentless weight of motherhood and the lasting impact of loss and judgment. Mel’s internal struggle is raw and painfully real, making her a compelling anchor for the unfolding suspense. Allan builds psychological tension and paranoia with expert precision. From unsettling messages to eerie coincidences, the sense of unease steadily grows, creating an atmosphere where nothing—and no one—feels safe. Readers are pulled into Mel’s spiraling anxiety, unsure of who to trust as the truth slowly unravels. What truly sets this novel apart is its complex, realistic characters. Mel is flawed but deeply human, and the supporting cast is layered and believable, each grappling with their own secrets and motivations. Rather than relying on caricatures or clichés, Allan paints a nuanced portrait of people under pressure.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This was not my cup of tea. I can't even say I loved the idea. It wasn't a theme I enjoyed or that I will ever read again.

Tense, emotional, and utterly addictive. Claire Allan dives deep into the complexities of motherhood, friendship, and the devastating power of secrets. As the story unfolds, the suspense builds, and so does the sense that something is very, very wrong.

I love finding new authors on here, so selected this one strictly looking for someone new to read. THis was a wonderful find and cannot wait to read more from this author. Thanks so much for the gifted copy!

From the first page, this story had me utterly hooked. What begins as a heartfelt story about women supporting each other through the emotional journey of motherhood quickly spirals into a dark, unsettling tale of betrayal, obsession, and survival.
Mel's voice is intimate and raw—I felt her hope, her heartbreak, and her mounting terror as her life unraveled. Alice, once a kindred spirit, transforms into the perfect antagonist: complex, unrelenting, and heartbreakingly human. The author masterfully blurs the lines between sympathy and suspicion, keeping you second-guessing every motive.
The tale is a haunting exploration of grief, desperation, and what happens when motherhood becomes a battlefield.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Boldwood Books and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Title notwithstanding (can we please stop calling things "The Perfect...."? I've lost count of how many I've read now) I really enjoyed this book. Mel - a former hypnobirthing coach and doula - has been forced to give up her profession and move away, with husband Ed and daughter Tilly, after a birth went horribly wrong. Although it wasn't Mel's fault, Alice - the bereaved mother - believes otherwise and has orchestrated a vicious campaign against her. It makes it even harder that they were once good friends.

Moving to a new part of the country and renovating their new home seems like a fresh start for Mel, now pregnant again. But it's not that easy to leave Alice, or the rumours she has spread, behind. It's hard to trust anyone, including new neighbour Sheila, who seems keen to insert herself into their lives. How far will Alice go to get her revenge on Mel? Is her daughter safe... and what about the new baby?

It was a really compelling read, with some unpredictable twists and turns along the way.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

This was an excellent read. I enjoyed every second of this book
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read it

I liked this book. The twist was pretty good. I would read other books by this author. A page turner.

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!!