I think this is my favorite Jo Crow novel! It is the story of Laurie, a mom with OCD, who comes home one night to find her husband missing, and her young daughter, Fay, all alone. Ben is missing and the police aren't helping Laurie find him. Distraught and strapped for money, Laurie starts working at the bakery Ben owned, when Teddy - a friend from college - stops in. He views Laurie's photographs and suggests that Laurie might want to work for his sister, Marissa, an Instagram star. Laurie reluctantly agrees, and Marissa starts working her way into Fay's heart. Laurie is uncomfortable with the attention Fay is receiving online, and she also has a strained relationship with Marissa's assistant, Gretchen. In fact, the only person Laurie can confide in honestly is her friend, Kaity.
Laurie and Teddy become close, but Laurie feels guilty about Ben. Teddy had rescued Laurie years ago after a traumatic incident, and Laurie has always felt safe around him. Laurie has been seeing a therapist, Patrick, and working on her OCD, and making progress. Teddy, a school counselor, is trying to get Laurie to stop seeing Patrick, and reduce her meds.
However, nothing is as it seems on the surface. Ben's disappearance, the lack of police assistance, Gretchen's indifference, Teddy's care, and Marissa's kindness are all suspect.
There is something sinister going on and it will all come to a head - but will Laurie and Fay be able to come out of it safely? Will they be able to get their lives back to normal? Who is really their friend? Who is looking out for them?
Not sure why the title is A Perfect Mother. Yes, the story is about Laurie and her OCD and her trying to do the right things for Fay, but I am not sure it reflected the plot as well as another title may have.
#APerfectMother #JoCrow #Booksprout

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ( )