Dear Mother - by Rea Frey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In a tense thriller set deep amid the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a determined mother works to uncover the secrets of her family's dark past, fearful of what their history may reveal.

After a childhood riddled with trauma and unanswered questions, Isabelle Archer vows to chase down the truth. So when her estranged mother dies, the investigative journalist returns to the one story that still haunts her.

Isabelle was thirteen when her three foster siblings died tragically in a fire. The blaze was ruled an accident, and despite the neglect, Isabelle never wanted to believe her mother was a killer. But twenty-five years later, the accusations linger.

Back in Cedarloch to settle the estate, Isabelle revisits her childhood home. A familiar dread permeates the surrounding woods. And when autopsy reports cast new suspicions, Isabelle unearths much more than just terrifying memories.

With help from her ex, Isabelle frantically digs for answers. What really happened the night of the fire? How did her mother die? And are the two somehow connected? What they find could poison long-held memories--and incinerate everything she thought to be true.

Review Quotes

"Having Gail as a mother was never easy, but when three of Isabelle Archer's foster siblings died in a fire, her life took an even darker turn. As the anniversary of the deaths approaches, Gail is found dead, and Isabelle must revisit her childhood home with a daughter of her own--and more questions than ever. Did Gail kill the children, and herself? Or is there more to this complicated mother's story? A haunting thriller that peels back layers of the past to expose secrets and sins, Dear Mother had me spellbound." --Tessa Wegert, author of In The Bones

"When her mother's death forces her to return home, investigative journalist Isabelle Archer uncovers new evidence about the shocking tragedy that destroyed her family years ago. Dear Mother is a compelling and thought provoking thriller about secrets that refuse to stay buried, and the chains that forever link us to the past. This is Rea Frey at her very best." --Wendy Walker, USA Today bestselling author of Blade

"This is Rea Frey at her absolute best, delivering a propulsive and emotional thriller in which every twist lands harder than the last. Just when you think you've solved the mystery, another revelation sends the truth spiraling in another direction. Dark, emotional, and intensely gripping, Dear Mother will haunt you long after the final page." --Lauren Nossett, award-winning author of The Professor

"Deeply unsettling and masterfully paced, Dear Mother explores the blurred lines between devotion and obsession. Frey expertly captures the suffocating weight of family history and the grisly things hidden in the name of love. This is a dark, twisty journey into a daughter's worst nightmare. Truly addictive." --Vanessa Lillie, USA Today bestselling author of The Bone Thief