Publishers Weekly
07/15/2019
This fascinating psychological thriller from Peikoff (Living Proof) opens with Michael and Claire Burke driving from their home in Garrison, N.Y., with their daughter, fifth-grader Abby, to New York City to visit the Museum of Natural History, the favorite place of Claire’s son, Colton, whose death at age eight a decade earlier was caused by a genetic defect in his mitochondrial DNA. Flash back to the period after Colton’s death. Claire is terrified to have another child with the same defect, so she and her new husband, Michael, consult a fertility specialist who has been able to produce healthy fetuses by, contrary to federal law, replacing damaged mitochondrial genes. The doctor’s in vitro treatment results in Abby’s birth, though her parents have never told Abby how she was conceived. Now, Abby has a surprise for her parents, and when they arrive at the museum, Claire is devastated to see that the surprise is J, who lives in her mind “like a bloody knife deep underground.” Why Abby’s parents have kept her genetic history secret and why Claire fears the mysterious J will keep the reader turning the pages. Peikoff expertly exposes the dark side of contemporary medical science. Agent: Erica Silverman, Trident Media. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
The psychological thriller everyone will be talking about...Don't miss it!”
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times–bestselling and award-winning author of After Anna
“A story about female identity just as much as motherhood...Quite the page turner.”
—Cultured Vultures
"[A] propulsive, page-turning thriller...the pace hardly stops for a breath.”
—The Nerd Daily
“[A] fascinating psychological thriller...Peikoff expertly exposes the dark side of contemporary medical science.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Peikoff (Living Proof, 2012, etc.) deftly juggles past and present and multiple voices in short, punchy chapters that create a sense of urgency while exploring grief, motherhood, the bonds of family...An engaging and timely thriller that offers lots of food for thought.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“[Peikoff] can make complex scientific procedures comprehensible for even the non-scientist...Fans of Michael Palmer and Robin Cook will want to check this out.”
—Library Journal
“A true and compelling page-turner of a suspense thriller from cover to cover.”
—Midwest Book Review
“A fast-moving thriller...It will also make you wonder about how far a mother will go to protect her child, no matter how that child came to be hers.”
—Mystery Scene Magazine
“[Mother Knows Best] had me compulsively turning the pages to find out what happens next!...This novel does a terrific job of presenting controversies in bioethics in the easily accessible prose of a psychological thriller.”
—Criminal Element
“A compelling tale....Peikoff knows what she’s talking about as she weaves a believable yarn that includes gaslighting, manipulating (of cells and minds) and how a mother’s love can triumph.”
—NJ.com
“Kira Peikoff has crafted a smart, pulse-pounding, and achingly human story of a family in the cross hairs of where ethics and science converge. A totally satisfying read.”
—Andrew Gross, New York Times–bestselling author of Button Man
“A rocket-paced thriller that dives deep into questions about science, family, and how far we'll go to protect the people we love the most.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times–bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
“Mother Know Best is thought-provoking, nail-biting, and heartfelt...I couldn't put it down.”
—Meg Gardiner, award-winning author of UNSUB
“Timely, tense, and trailblazing...Peikoff's seamless prose, very human, voice, and whiplash pacing makes this psychological thriller one of the must-reads of 2019. Two mothers is one too many.”
—K. J. Howe, international bestselling author of The Freedom Broker
“Pekioff's work is always a joy to read. This is a smart, original and compelling thriller.”
—Peter James, #1 bestselling author of the Roy Grace series
“Kira Pekioff hasn't just done her research, she's spun it into a real-life bioelthical dilemma that could be coming soon to a doctor's office near you. Perfect for a book group—or to race through all by yourself...flat-out fantastic.”
—Brad Parks, international bestselling author of The Last Act
“A fast-paced, intriguing novel with terrific, believable characters...and will make for an enjoyable evening or two for readers of all genres.”
—Bookreporter.com
Kirkus Reviews
2019-07-28
A renowned fertility doctor and a brilliant researcher skirt the law to attempt a groundbreaking feat of genetic engineering.
Claire and Ethan Abrams were devastated when they lost their 8-year-old son, Colton, to mitochondrial disease, and Claire's grief took her to some very dark places. Three years after his death, Ethan convinced Claire to try in vitro fertilization, but Claire is hesitant since it was her genetics that caused Colton's condition. Enter Dr. Robert Nash. Claire has heard rumors of a breakthrough that replaces damaged mitochondrial DNA in an embryo, resulting in a (presumably) healthy child, but testing the procedure on a human would be illegal because it would result in a baby with three genetic parents. This doesn't stop Claire, and she sets up a meeting with Dr. Nash, who reluctantly consents to use her as his test subject, with a donation of healthy mitochondrial DNA from Jillian Hendricks, a cunning up-and-coming scientist. Claire is thrilled to get pregnant, but her joy is short lived when Ethan finds out what they've done and notifies the authorities, sending Claire and Nash on the run while leaving Jillian to pay the price. But that was then. Now Abigail, Claire's daughter, is in fifth grade, and Robert and Claire, who have since fallen in love, are living under assumed names, terrified that their secret will come out. After an incident on an outing with Abby, their quiet lives take an alarming turn. Claire keeps seeing a child that looks just like Colton, someone tries to break into their isolated home, and the inquisitive Abby, who has been researching her own genetic ties for a school project, is about to find how special she really is. Peikoff (Living Proof, 2012, etc.) deftly juggles past and present and multiple voices in short, punchy chapters that create a sense of urgency while exploring grief, motherhood, the bonds of family, and the complicated implications of genetic modification with a sure hand. Readers should also expect a few nifty twists along the way.
An engaging and timely thriller that offers lots of food for thought.
