A mother always knows A novel

Review by Booklist Review

It's been 20 years since Stella O'Neill escaped the cult known as the Diviners and the Vermont commune where she was raised--and 20 years since her mother, Rosa's, murder. She hasn't truly been able to leave either event behind. When an influencer's viral post puts her in the cult's crosshairs, the guarded life she's painstakingly built comes crashing down around her. To protect herself, her father, and her stepmother, Stella goes on the run. She finds herself dodging cultists who want her back in the fold as well as a tech mogul who has his own ties to Rosa. As if that's not enough, Stella's long-denied ability to sense the dead has mysteries new and old literally dogging her footsteps. Do all roads lead to Radcliffe MacBeath, the powerful leader of the cult, or to someone else entirely? A rushed ending makes for an abrupt stop to a story full of twists and turns and may leave some readers confused, but Strohmeyer's (We Love to Entertain, 2023) roller coaster up until that sharp drop is an engaging ride.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

This overstuffed supernatural suspense novel from Strohmeyer (We Love to Entertain) follows mild-mannered 30-year-old Stella O'Neill, who works as a library archivist in Cambridge, Mass. Twenty years ago, Stella witnessed the murder of her mother, Rose, while the two were members of a cult called the Diviners in rural Vermont; ever since, she's attempted to keep a low profile. Those efforts get upended when, in 2023, a post about Rose's death goes viral and exposes Stella's current whereabouts. In recent years, the cult's "enforcement arm" (who call themselves the Facilitators) have become "the bullies of the internet," incessantly searching for slander against their leader, Radcliffe MacBeath, and tracking down former members who might be willing to spill their secrets. Knowing that either the Facilitators or Rose's killer will soon come after her, Stella heads to Vermont to confront Radcliffe. Gradually, in chapters that alternate between Stella's perspective and Rose's, Strohmeyer reveals the details of the latter's death. Despite the sturdy setup, Strohmeyer throws too much at the wall--a thread about paranormal powers is particularly goofy--and Rose's chapters are far more involving than Stella's. This disappoints. Agent: Hillary Jacobson, CAA. (July)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

Cults and childhood trauma lead to real suspense in this latest from Strohmeyer (We Love To Entertain). Stella O'Neill was 10 years old when her mother Rose was murdered in the woods near their cult compound. Years later, she only has vague memories of finding her mother dead and of the ominous figure who stashed her in a cave and then abandoned her. As an adult, Stella keeps her head down and her identity as the daughter of a murder victim under wraps. But when her past is revealed and her connection to the cult is making the rounds on social media again, Stella decides she's going to figure out what happened once and for all, or die trying. Also seeking answers is Priti, wife of Ben Winslow, who has a connection to Rose's life and death. Interspersed with their investigations are flashbacks of Rose's last days leading up to her death. The three storylines converge in the woods as the women come face to face with the murderer. VERDICT The suspenseful plot and pacing work well to keep readers engaged and turning pages quickly. Fans of Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will enjoy.--Jane Jorgenson

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