Thank you to NetGalley, Carey Baldwin, and Bookouture Audio for the audiobook. This was a gripping psychological thriller, masterfully narrated by Elise Roth. Full of unexpected twists and turns, it kept me hooked from start to finish. A fantastic listen!

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, and was looking forward to all the twists and turns. But somewhere in the middle, it started to lose steam. Some plot points were predictable, while others caught me off guard. There were a few shocking twists, interesting reveals, and plenty of messy family drama to keep things moving.

It was entertaining and kept me interested, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was well done.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the free copy!

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the Early Listening Copy of Don't Trust Mother. This is my first Carey Baldwin book and I was pleased with the writing style. Where I do love a Phycological Thriller but some of the twist were just very unbelievable and somewhat predictable. I did enjoy the way the Narrator Elise Roth and her vocal styling and able to give the shabby characters personality.

Don’t Trust Mother by Carey Baldwin is a sharp, twist-packed thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. From the first chapter, Baldwin sets the tone for a tense, emotionally charged story where nothing—and no one—can be taken at face value. Just when you think you have it figured out, another layer peels back to reveal something even darker.

Baldwin’s writing is immersive and richly detailed, drawing readers into a world filled with secrets, lies, and psychological tension. The pacing is pitch-perfect, with just the right amount of suspense building in each chapter. The twists are not only shocking but cleverly executed, demanding the reader’s full attention to every subtle clue along the way.

This is the kind of thriller that keeps you up late reading “just one more chapter.” Don’t Trust Mother is a chilling, well-crafted psychological ride and a must-read for anyone who craves an unpredictable, gripping story. Carey Baldwin delivers once again.

Carey Baldwin is a new author to me and I mostly enjoyed this twisted tale. The premise was good and the book started well but lost it's way in the middle and there were parts which I found confusing.. There were plenty of twists; some were predictable but others caught me by surprise. I have to say that the characters were all quite unlikeable though

I enjoyed the narration by Elise Roth but would have liked a little more differentiation between the characters.

This audiobook took a little bit to snare me in but once it did, I couldn’t stop listening! This book is family drama to the highest level with twists and turns that have you questioning everything. Did I figure some of it out? Yes. That being said, there were twists that I DID NOT see coming.

My biggest gripe is that straight away, I wasn’t sure if I liked any of the characters. But as the book went on, I started to care about them more and more!

Also important to note is that I did really enjoy the narrator’s (voice actor’s?) voice and it made it overall an enjoyable listen.

This was.. okay? It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best thing I've ever read either.

Honestly I didn't connect to the characters much since the beginning, I found them a bit unlikeable (even the main character, Ivy).
Some of the stuff in this book felt a bit predictable but entertained me enough.
I 𝘥𝘪𝘥 enjoy the beginning (even though it was a bit slow, I'd have to say that was my favorite part if the book) but the rest was just kind of eh to me. I was quite excited to read this one, sad that I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

This was an arc so thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for it

I liked the ending of this one but the rest of it was just off for me. Ivy is way too sweet and trusting, I hated Clayton immediately. "Biomom" was back and forth about caring for IVY.
The dad was suddenly speaking in second person before his big moment and that was odd.
It was all just a little off.
But the ending was perfect!

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture audio and Carey Baldwin for the audio Arc of Don't Trust Mother.
Narrated by Elise Roth

This is the first book by Carey Baldwin that Ive read and the beginning started strong with Ivy trying to figure out whether the women who landed on her doorstep is her real Mother. What ensues leads to a twisty read and some unbelievable moments but overall an engaging read. Don't Trust Mother will leave you questioning who is lying, who's an unreliable narrator and who is double crossing who. The pacing of the book was medium but did feel a little juddery in the middle but picked up by the finale.

Elise Roth, which is also a new narrator for me kept the pacing and the individuality of the characters very well. I will be seeking out more from the narrator and the author.

3.5 for Storygraph. Rounded to 3 for Netgalley

Ivy has recently lost her dear mother and is struggling to come to terms, when out of nowhere, a lady called Sandra knocks on her door, telling Ivy she had been adopted and that she is her biological mother. At first, Ivy doesn’t know what to think and whether to believe this strange lady, but it seems there are many, many secrets in her family that are about to unravel…

Be prepared for web after web of mystery and lies. No character can be trusted. I had to give a good moment to take stock of all the different storylines and the turns they took, and just when I thought we were on track to land, there was more! It was like a thriller-soap opera, so if you like non-stop intrigue, drama and twists, you will enjoy this. Overall the story was startling, gratifying and just the right amount of melodramatic. 3,5 stars rounded up.

Elise Roth gave an engaging and convincing performance as the narrator. The POVs of Ivy and Sandra were clearly distinct and the accents were convincing for all the different characters.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC; all opinions are my own.

3.75 Audiobook. This was a NetGalley ARC thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio. I like this book and the narrator. I liked most of the characters and it did have a few twists. There was a big one that I saw coming so that was kinda disappointing.

Don't trust mother is a riveting psychological thriller that follows Ivy who is having a difficult time coming in terms with her mother's tragic death. Each day is a battle for her and through it all her husband, Clayton pushes her to take pills for her own good. Her father is a rich and reputed man cannot stand a tarnish on his name.

Then one day, out of the blues, a woman with same eyes and hair as Ivy informs her that she is her real mother and Patsy was just her adopted mother. Ivy has a half brother Dalton. Everything spirals out of control and Ivy unsure about it all feels the pressure of reality sinking in.

But something doesn't sit right.

The story was absolutely a page-tuner. Although there were times when story dips a little bit nonetheless it was engaging. There are several twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages till the end.

Book Review - Don’t Trust Mother by Carrie Baldwin
Narrated by Elise Roth

In Flagstaff, Arizona, Ivy and Clayton’s marriage appears okay on the outside, but something seems amiss right from the start. Why does Clayton seem so domineering and judgmental in spite of the fact that Ivy is in the midst of grieving her mother’s death following a car accident? Ivy’s bad dreams are becoming more frequent and Clayton keeps pushing the tranquilizers, but for what reason? Is there something else going on that Ivy is unaware of? ” This fast-paced right from the start as I grew increasingly intrigued as the plot slowly unfolded.

Enter Sandra Steele, a struggling single mom living in Texas. When she unexpectedly loses her job waiting tables at a country club, a plan is seemingly set in motion. Her sudden arrival at Ivy’s door in Arizona claiming to be her birth mother is just the beginning. Ivy is not adopted to her knowledge; her parents, Patsy and Richard, had always provided her with a comfortable and loving home, and have never given her any inclination that they were not her birth parents.

Just who is lying and who is telling the truth? It’s so hard to tell! The narrator, Elise Roth, did a beautiful job giving voice to both Ivy and Sandra as they struggle to navigate to the truth. There are just so many questions: Is Sandra really Ivy’s birth mother? There seem to be some holes in Sandra’s story.

There were times in which I needed to rewind the audio to listen again but after going back and replaying certain parts, I was certainly rewarded and everything seemed to fall into place. As the book neared the last few chapters, I had my theories, but the plot kept constantly changing and shifting and I ultimately did not see the many final twists coming at all!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Carey Baldwin, and Bookouture Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was gripping and kept me interested. I did guess some of the story but was still shocked by others parts! Narrator was fantastic as well! I will definitely read more from this author.

OMG Wow.......so the story started off a little slow, but sure led up to a faster paced climactic ending that you will never see coming! I have to say that everything I thought I knew or figured out turned out to be nowhere near what actually was happening. It kept me guessing until the end at which point my mind was blown! I was not that impressed at the beginning, but so glad I kept on listening it was worth the wait.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the audio ARC of Don't Trust Mother.

First, I wanna thank NetGalley & bookouture for the opportunity to listen to this book before release.

I’ll start off by saying this is very intense. It definitely kept my mind guessing and I definitely did not expect the end. I completely loved the characters except two, which I will not spoil. I did drop my jaw a couple times with the twists. I highly recommend this one. It’s fast pay straight to the point not confusing at all, and the narrator was great.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio arc.

Although this book kept me intrigued it was also a bit predictable. Of course not everything but just enough. It was fast paced and rather enjoyable.

Narration was pretty good as well. It wasn’t monotone and the tone use was good.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook.

We start with meeting Ivy who’s just lost her mother Patsy in a car crash. Then a lady called Sandra turns up claiming she is Ivy’s biological mother.

As Ivy tries to figure out the truth about her mother lots of things unfold. Who can she really trust? And who is telling the truth?

Don’t Trust Mother was not at all the book I was expecting - and honestly, that made the experience even better. I follow the author, Carey Baldwin, on social media and had seen posts teasing this release. Aside from the striking cover and the line “She says you’re her daughter. She’s lying…right?”, I went in pretty blind.

This isn’t a super dark thriller full of nonstop violence or shocking gore - it’s more of a “thriller-lite,” and that’s exactly what I needed. It served as a perfect palate cleanser while still delivering plenty of suspense, a strong plot, and twists that kept me guessing. I was constantly reworking my theories, which is always a sign of a compelling story.

The characters are mostly unlikable and deeply suspicious - so many bad decisions - but if you’re willing to suspend a bit of disbelief and go along for the ride, it’s well worth it. This was my first read by Carey Baldwin, and I’m excited to dive into more of her work.

One thing I really appreciated: the author doesn’t wait until the end to hit you with twists. She drops bombshells early on, and I found myself open-mouthed more than once in the first half alone.

Ivy, the main character, is sweet and naive, grieving the recent loss of her mother. Her father and husband treat her like she might break at any moment - and then a strange woman shows up on their doorstep, claiming to be Ivy’s real mother. That’s when everything spirals into a chaotic and wild unraveling. From questions surrounding her mother’s “accidental” death to shocking truths about Ivy’s adoption, nothing is quite what it seems. Nearly every character - Sandra, her father, her husband, the lawyer, her maid - is hiding something.

Poor Ivy! You want to protect her, yet she proves she’s stronger than she seems. As she starts digging for the truth, the story ramps up with secrets, dead bodies, mysterious “accidents,” gaslighting, and a growing sense of paranoia. The twists keep coming - each more shocking than the last - leading up to a final reveal. I loved watching Ivy rise to the occasion and come into her own. I also loved the way some familial stories were tied up.

I would definitely recommend this one.

Don't Trust Mother had me hooked from the very first chapter. Carey Baldwin delivers a gripping psychological thriller that weaves together family trauma, long-buried secrets, and a mother-daughter relationship that's anything but simple.

The story follows Harper, who returns home after years away, when her estranged mother is accused of murder. From the start, you know something isn't right, but every time I thought I had it figured out, another twist hit me sideways. One major spoiler: Harper starts uncovering that her mother's past is darker than she ever realized, including the shocking truth about Harper's father. The emotional weight behind these revelations gave the story more depth than expected.

The audiobook narration was well done, drawing me into the tension and heartbreak of the story. And while I loved the suspense, what stuck with me most was the emotional unraveling of Harper's identity. The character development was strong—Harper's arc, in particular, felt genuine and earned.

It wasn't quite a five-star read for me only because a few parts near the end felt slightly rushed, and I wanted more from the final confrontation. But overall, this was a tightly written, addictive listen that I couldn't stop thinking about after finishing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen early!