A mother’s worst nightmare, a chance at redemption, and a deadly secret that haunts a family across the generations
There’s only room for one mother in this family.
Claire Abrams’s dreams became a nightmare when she passed on a genetic mutation that killed her little boy. Now she wants a second chance to be a mother, and finds it in Robert Nash, a maverick fertility doctor who works under the radar with Jillian Hendricks, a cunning young scientist bent on making her mark—and seducing her boss.
Claire, Robert, and Jillian work together to create the world’s first baby with three genetic parents—an unprecedented feat that could eliminate inherited disease. But when word of their illegal experiment leaks to the wrong person, Robert escapes into hiding with the now-pregnant Claire, leaving Jillian to serve out a prison sentence that destroys her future.
Ten years later, a spunky girl named Abigail begins to understand that all is not right with the reclusive man and woman she knows as her parents. But the family’s problems are only beginning. Jillian, hardened by a decade of jealousy and loss, has returned—and nothing will stop her from reuniting with the man and daughter who should have been hers.
Past, present, and future converge in this mesmerizing psychological thriller from critically acclaimed author Kira Peikoff.
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“Peikoff 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.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“The psychological thriller everyone will be talking about. Mother Knows Best is Kira Peikoff’s breakout novel…Don’t miss it!”
— Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author“A smart, pulse-pounding, and achingly human story of a family in the crosshairs of where ethics and science converge. A totally satisfying read.”
— Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author“[A] fascinating psychological thriller…Peikoff expertly exposes the dark side of contemporary medical science.”
— Publishers Weekly“Peikoff alternates the story between Abby and the events from years earlier while maintaining the suspense. She also can make complex scientific procedures comprehensible for even the nonscientist. Medical thriller fans of Michael Palmer and Robin Cook will want to check this out.”
— Library JournalBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Kira Peikoff is the author of Living Proof, No Time to Die, and Die Again Tomorrow. She has a degree in journalism from New York University and a master’s in bioethics from Columbia. By day, she is the editor-in-chief of LeapsMag.com, a digital magazine about innovation and ethics in the life sciences. She has also contributed articles to the science section of the New York Times, Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, and others. Peikoff lives in New Jersey with her husband and young son.
Jennifer Jill Araya has been trained as an opera singer and orchestral cellist, lending a musicality and depth of understanding to her narration that help bring her authors’ stories to life. When she’s not narrating, Jennifer can be found hiking, biking, running, or generally exploring her home city of Cincinnati with her husband, Arturo, and their two children.