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The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
A groundbreaking work of narrative nonfiction that investigates Munchausen by Proxy from the host and creator of the award-winning true crime podcast Nobody Should Believe Me.
No bond is more sacred than that between a mother and child. And no one is more sympathetic than a mother whose child faces a life-threatening illness. But what if the mother is the cause of the illness? What if the sympathy is the point?
Munchausen by proxy (MBP) has fascinated and horrified both professionals and the general public since this disturbing form of child abuse was first identified. But even as the public has been captivated by these tales of abuse and deception, there remains widespread misinformation and confusion about MBP. Are these mothers unfeeling psychopaths, or sick women who need help? And more important, how can we protect the children whose lives are at stake?
The Mother Next Door offers a groundbreaking look at MBP from an unlikely duo: a Seattle novelist whose own family was torn apart by it, and the Texas detective who has worked on more medical child abuse cases than anyone in the nation. Listeners ride along on three high-stakes MPB investigations; through riveting reporting and shocking stories from the family members, friends, and doctors caught in the blast zone of these unthinkable acts, a twisted portrait of motherhood and deceit is revealed.
With help from some of the top MBP experts in the world, Dunlop and Weber uncover the complex maze of psychological, systemic, and cultural issues that compound MBP and offer solutions for how we might find our way out.
No bond is more sacred than that between a mother and child. And no one is more sympathetic than a mother whose child faces a life-threatening illness. But what if the mother is the cause of the illness? What if the sympathy is the point?
Munchausen by proxy (MBP) has fascinated and horrified both professionals and the general public since this disturbing form of child abuse was first identified. But even as the public has been captivated by these tales of abuse and deception, there remains widespread misinformation and confusion about MBP. Are these mothers unfeeling psychopaths, or sick women who need help? And more important, how can we protect the children whose lives are at stake?
The Mother Next Door offers a groundbreaking look at MBP from an unlikely duo: a Seattle novelist whose own family was torn apart by it, and the Texas detective who has worked on more medical child abuse cases than anyone in the nation. Listeners ride along on three high-stakes MPB investigations; through riveting reporting and shocking stories from the family members, friends, and doctors caught in the blast zone of these unthinkable acts, a twisted portrait of motherhood and deceit is revealed.
With help from some of the top MBP experts in the world, Dunlop and Weber uncover the complex maze of psychological, systemic, and cultural issues that compound MBP and offer solutions for how we might find our way out.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
540 people are currently reading
25539 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Dunlop
8 books819 followersI'm the author of three novels and the mother of one small human. I write complex, suspenseful books about families with dark secrets and women trying to discover themselves in a world full of contradictory expectations. My stories are set in exciting and exotic locations such as French Riviera, New York City, and Buenos Aires which I hope will give readers an escapist thrill.
I love to hear from readers and aspiring authors. I have a background in book publishing as well as writing, and I share my advice and expertise in weekly videos which you can find on Instagram and here on Goodreads.
I love to hear from readers and aspiring authors. I have a background in book publishing as well as writing, and I share my advice and expertise in weekly videos which you can find on Instagram and here on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 791 reviews
April 11, 2025
Excellent non-fiction about mothers who harm their children. Haven’t read any other book on the topic, so it was very informative and important.
May 5, 2025
5 shocking, devastating and uncomfortable stars.
I will never forget listening to this book.
Munchausen By Proxy (MBP). Also know as medical child abuse. An abuse where a caregiver fakes or causes symptoms in someone under their care, most often a child. One of the most difficult forms of abuse to prove. Through three powerful cases, the authors shed light on the facts of this shocking and deeply disturbing crime.
This is a highly uncomfortable book to read. I found myself equally disturbed and fascinated by these cases. I cannot wrap my mind around how an adult could ever go to these lengths to cause harm to a child for the sake of sympathy and attention. The deliberate manipulation, deception and conniving mindset of these individuals is incomprehensible, especially since they most often present as a loving caregiver who is trying to help their child. It’s the deliberate deception that defines these people as criminals. These caregivers are seeking sympathy and attention at the cost of the child’s health and life.
One of the authors, Mike Weber, is a US law enforcement officer who is one of the most well known (and only) experts in MBP cases. I was amazed by him and his unrelenting determination to work toward bringing safety to these innocent children. He has spent countless (business and personal) hours dedicated to solving these crimes and saving children. His determination and lifelong dedication to protecting innocent children was a shining light throughout the darkness of these case details. I was appalled to learn about the ease with which several other high ranking law enforcement leaders and departments ignored the case details he presented. Since these cases are extremely hard to prove, many police departments brush off the details and close files well before proper research has been done because they know it’s most often a losing battle to prove a crime has been committed.
This is an important book. It teaches the reader many things about MBP. The writing was excellent. The three cases presented were well researched, well detailed and shared in a smooth, organized, impactful manner. Anyone who reads this will surely be greatly impacted. I highly recommend this to all readers who wish to learn more about MBP.
Audio rating: 5 stars. Andrea Dunlop, one of the authors, narrates this book. She was the perfect choice. She did an incredible job and greatly enhanced my connection. Highly recommend the audio!
I will never forget listening to this book.
Munchausen By Proxy (MBP). Also know as medical child abuse. An abuse where a caregiver fakes or causes symptoms in someone under their care, most often a child. One of the most difficult forms of abuse to prove. Through three powerful cases, the authors shed light on the facts of this shocking and deeply disturbing crime.
This is a highly uncomfortable book to read. I found myself equally disturbed and fascinated by these cases. I cannot wrap my mind around how an adult could ever go to these lengths to cause harm to a child for the sake of sympathy and attention. The deliberate manipulation, deception and conniving mindset of these individuals is incomprehensible, especially since they most often present as a loving caregiver who is trying to help their child. It’s the deliberate deception that defines these people as criminals. These caregivers are seeking sympathy and attention at the cost of the child’s health and life.
One of the authors, Mike Weber, is a US law enforcement officer who is one of the most well known (and only) experts in MBP cases. I was amazed by him and his unrelenting determination to work toward bringing safety to these innocent children. He has spent countless (business and personal) hours dedicated to solving these crimes and saving children. His determination and lifelong dedication to protecting innocent children was a shining light throughout the darkness of these case details. I was appalled to learn about the ease with which several other high ranking law enforcement leaders and departments ignored the case details he presented. Since these cases are extremely hard to prove, many police departments brush off the details and close files well before proper research has been done because they know it’s most often a losing battle to prove a crime has been committed.
This is an important book. It teaches the reader many things about MBP. The writing was excellent. The three cases presented were well researched, well detailed and shared in a smooth, organized, impactful manner. Anyone who reads this will surely be greatly impacted. I highly recommend this to all readers who wish to learn more about MBP.
Audio rating: 5 stars. Andrea Dunlop, one of the authors, narrates this book. She was the perfect choice. She did an incredible job and greatly enhanced my connection. Highly recommend the audio!
November 13, 2024
I received a free copy of, The Mother Next Door, by Andrea Dunlop, Mike Weber, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Munchausen by Proxy has always fascinated me, mothers are supposed to protect their children, not make them sick. This book has 3 mothers: Mary Welch, Hope Ybarra and, Brittan Phelps, mothers who were supposed to take care of their children, not make them sick. This was an interesting and horrifying read.
March 23, 2025
2 stars. I probably should have DNF’d this one. I thought this would be a book kind of exploring the biopsychosocial aspects of factitious disorder, and the legal complexity of investigating these types of crimes. That is not what this was. Instead, it’s a podcaster’s love letter to a detective, and a summary of three of his investigations from his POV. It’s problematic. The alleged crimes are awful, and I think the there are a couple of cases where the guilt of the parent is overwhelmingly obvious, but this is SO uncritical of police conduct, it’s absolutely ridiculous. At one point she writes about this cop literally lying about fake evidence during interrogations, and describes this as something he is so ethically torn about, and that he is just so committed to lying in a way that honors his commitment to the truth and integrity of his investigation LMAO. There’s a lot of weird stuff in here. A complete dismissal of physicians’ culpability in performing unnecessary, invasive procedures. A moment when she says a child’s autism test came back “negative” which is not a thing…The author also starts this book with a long personal story that involves her sister allegedly engaging in medical child abuse, but then never actually explains what happened. It’s just odd. I think I would have preferred to read a book by someone qualified (forensic psychiatrist or something), or a first hand account of someone who was actually victimized in this way. Not one I would recommend.
January 27, 2025
This book is a bit uncomfortable, in a good way. It has big "podcast" energy, sort of like a large format "Did you hear THIS crazy story?" townie bar conversation.
Andrea Dunlop is an author and podcaster, her sister was lost to her due to Munchausen by proxy. Because of her personal experience she created a podcast based on a famous case of MBP, Hope Ybarra, who pretended to have cancer 4 times and faked that her daughters had cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis. At first her family thought she was delusional. Then they discovered she was guilty of fraud, falsifying medical documentation.
Mike Weber was the sheriff/law enforcement on the Hope Ybarra case, he has made his career on several child abuse cases to varying results.
On one hand, this book is a good guidebook for those who want to know the patterns. On the other hand, it is also a good guidebook for how to work on this and pull it off. For me it felt like "eek this is none of my business" and I legitimately felt like a rubber necker... but I suppose there is a bit of that in all true crime genre.
It was an eye opener. I learned a lot. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around MBP is both a mental illness and a crime.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC. Book to be published February 4, 2025
Andrea Dunlop is an author and podcaster, her sister was lost to her due to Munchausen by proxy. Because of her personal experience she created a podcast based on a famous case of MBP, Hope Ybarra, who pretended to have cancer 4 times and faked that her daughters had cerebral palsy and cystic fibrosis. At first her family thought she was delusional. Then they discovered she was guilty of fraud, falsifying medical documentation.
Mike Weber was the sheriff/law enforcement on the Hope Ybarra case, he has made his career on several child abuse cases to varying results.
On one hand, this book is a good guidebook for those who want to know the patterns. On the other hand, it is also a good guidebook for how to work on this and pull it off. For me it felt like "eek this is none of my business" and I legitimately felt like a rubber necker... but I suppose there is a bit of that in all true crime genre.
It was an eye opener. I learned a lot. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around MBP is both a mental illness and a crime.
Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC. Book to be published February 4, 2025
November 24, 2024
3 cases of medical child abuse. Two authors. One baffling criminal deception: Munchausen by Proxy (MBP).
THE MOTHER NEXT DOOR is a compelling exploration of three mothers investigated for MBP. Many victims start with legitimate medical needs, often prematurity, that become exaggerated by their mother’s to the point of placing the child in grave danger.
The author’s passion for these perplexing cases was so evident; Andrea Dunlop’s sister was investigated for medical child abuse, and detective Mike Weber has spent his career devoted to helping vulnerable children avoid unnecessary medical procedures.
It was fascinating to learn about the legal barriers to prosecuting these cases that are anything but straightforward. When the perpetrator is a charming, successful mother, family members, medical professionals, and a jury can be duped.
While this is a deep dive into the legal system, the medical terms are presented in layman's terms. This narrative nonfiction is a bingeable story that sheds light on a little known crime with big consequences.
Read this if you:
-like to get into the legal weeds of criminal cases
-believe that mother doesn’t always know best
-have a heart for injustices against children
PUB DATE: February 4, 2025
RATING: 4/5
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THE MOTHER NEXT DOOR is a compelling exploration of three mothers investigated for MBP. Many victims start with legitimate medical needs, often prematurity, that become exaggerated by their mother’s to the point of placing the child in grave danger.
The author’s passion for these perplexing cases was so evident; Andrea Dunlop’s sister was investigated for medical child abuse, and detective Mike Weber has spent his career devoted to helping vulnerable children avoid unnecessary medical procedures.
It was fascinating to learn about the legal barriers to prosecuting these cases that are anything but straightforward. When the perpetrator is a charming, successful mother, family members, medical professionals, and a jury can be duped.
While this is a deep dive into the legal system, the medical terms are presented in layman's terms. This narrative nonfiction is a bingeable story that sheds light on a little known crime with big consequences.
Read this if you:
-like to get into the legal weeds of criminal cases
-believe that mother doesn’t always know best
-have a heart for injustices against children
PUB DATE: February 4, 2025
RATING: 4/5
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2025
This book was Amazing!
I learned soooo much about MBP (Munchausen By Proxy) that I ended up buying my own personal copy of the book, and marking it up with notes and hilighted passages galore!
The use of 3 case studies to explore the topic held my interest very easily, and illustrated so well the myriad of factors involved in this particular condition.
This book should be required reading for all medical personnel, but particularly for doctors, as they are on the front- lines in terms of their ability to be exposed to MBP 'in real life!"
However, that is not to say that we as community members cannot have a role as well- simply by "opening our eyes" (as the authors of the book encourage everyone to do!), we have the potential to identify, report, and hopefully end these instances of child abuse!
Read this book, educate yourself, and then possibly become a part of prevention- and solution!
I learned soooo much about MBP (Munchausen By Proxy) that I ended up buying my own personal copy of the book, and marking it up with notes and hilighted passages galore!
The use of 3 case studies to explore the topic held my interest very easily, and illustrated so well the myriad of factors involved in this particular condition.
This book should be required reading for all medical personnel, but particularly for doctors, as they are on the front- lines in terms of their ability to be exposed to MBP 'in real life!"
However, that is not to say that we as community members cannot have a role as well- simply by "opening our eyes" (as the authors of the book encourage everyone to do!), we have the potential to identify, report, and hopefully end these instances of child abuse!
Read this book, educate yourself, and then possibly become a part of prevention- and solution!
June 14, 2024
Holy cow, this book was so good. I love the podcast and grabbed the ARC immediately, then promptly inhaled it. Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber collaborate to tell three stories of Munchausen by proxy offenders: Hope Ybarra, Brittany Phillips, and Mary Welch. These women pretended their children had debilitating medical conditions for attention, and their stories are both fascinating and tragic. This book would be a lot better if it was fiction, because the harm caused to these women's children is appalling. However, it does increase visibility for child medical abuse, and I hope more professionals in the law and police will take this issue seriously. Weber worked in Tarrant County, Texas, where all these women lived; it's not that Tarrant County has a multitude of offenders, but that this issue is more common than we think. We need more people in power to recognize this to reduce harm to children everywhere.
August 6, 2025
While I have heard of munchausen before and had a vague idea what it was, I didn't know exactly how this syndrome worked but this book explains it all. And can I say I found the details between the pages of this one absolutely shocking?! We're not just talking about a parent saying their kid is sick. These mothers actually somehow convince doctors their kids are sick too! And then the poor kids get these weird medical procedures done on them, often installing stents or feeding tubes, while in reality the kid is perfectly normal!
How in the world does this even happen when doctors do so much gaslighting? People who have actual problems are brushed off by their doctors but mothers who lie to the doctors are believed??
There is something seriously wrong here!
But this book is about three mothers: Hope with her daughter Sophia, Brittany with her daughter Alyssa and Mary with her son Gabriel. All three were lying to everyone around them and abusing their children. For some reason I found the second case the most disturbing, probably because poor Alyssa was being starved.
All of these cases have things in common, premature babies, a mother who wants attention (could that be the reason?)....
The only thing I know for sure is this book stunned me. It's very well written and a page turner all right. I am still reeling from it as I try to understand how the doctors had believed this stuff...
Could it be some people are only happy when they are "complaining" and telling everyone their woes? Does it make them feel important? Special? Unique?? I don't know.
The first story about Hope does list a possible reason of why she did it, but we may never know. Perhaps they themselves don't know why.
A part of me also wonders about those bills. Doctors are expensive! How can these women be running up these huge bills, not only seeing doctors and specialists but having procedures done too! Surgery! Lots of tests. These kids have a medical record that looks like a phone book (if you are old enough to remember actual phone books, i.e. , the yellow pages).. why risk going into debt over fake medical conditions? It'll go to collection and then ruin the credit score. This can spiral out of control. And then what? I just don't get it! I guess I am too practical or something...
The story about Hope mentioned the bill side of it too. And the aftermath.
But all of these cases are crimes. It's just a lot of hard work to prove it. Which is what Mike was doing. Proving it... But Mike wanted justice for the kids. So he gathered the information to take it to court.
But it's still hard for me to believe that this Munchausen goes this far ... Surgery... Tons of pills. Leg braces. Special schools. Why??
I think there is still much we don't understand about this condition.
How in the world does this even happen when doctors do so much gaslighting? People who have actual problems are brushed off by their doctors but mothers who lie to the doctors are believed??
There is something seriously wrong here!
But this book is about three mothers: Hope with her daughter Sophia, Brittany with her daughter Alyssa and Mary with her son Gabriel. All three were lying to everyone around them and abusing their children. For some reason I found the second case the most disturbing, probably because poor Alyssa was being starved.
All of these cases have things in common, premature babies, a mother who wants attention (could that be the reason?)....
The only thing I know for sure is this book stunned me. It's very well written and a page turner all right. I am still reeling from it as I try to understand how the doctors had believed this stuff...
Could it be some people are only happy when they are "complaining" and telling everyone their woes? Does it make them feel important? Special? Unique?? I don't know.
The first story about Hope does list a possible reason of why she did it, but we may never know. Perhaps they themselves don't know why.
A part of me also wonders about those bills. Doctors are expensive! How can these women be running up these huge bills, not only seeing doctors and specialists but having procedures done too! Surgery! Lots of tests. These kids have a medical record that looks like a phone book (if you are old enough to remember actual phone books, i.e. , the yellow pages).. why risk going into debt over fake medical conditions? It'll go to collection and then ruin the credit score. This can spiral out of control. And then what? I just don't get it! I guess I am too practical or something...
The story about Hope mentioned the bill side of it too. And the aftermath.
But all of these cases are crimes. It's just a lot of hard work to prove it. Which is what Mike was doing. Proving it... But Mike wanted justice for the kids. So he gathered the information to take it to court.
But it's still hard for me to believe that this Munchausen goes this far ... Surgery... Tons of pills. Leg braces. Special schools. Why??
I think there is still much we don't understand about this condition.
April 8, 2025
The version I read was an ARC and may differ from the final version.
While I found the cases in this book to be fascinating, and I did enjoy the pacing, I could not give a higher rating for this one...
The author references things that happened in her own life and in her own family. However, she never actually explains what the events were that occurred. Every time they are referenced, it reads like the reader is just supposed to know already. An author should NEVER assume that a reader is already familiar with them or their previous works but it's very obvious that this author did exactly that.
There are times when I found the book to be a bit repetitive, going over the same evidence over and over.
I also felt like there were several instances where the author spends a lot of time talking about things that just didn't feel relevant to the cases.
At one point while talking about the Mary Welch case, the author says that Gabriel's test for autism came back "negative". This is not even remotely how tests for autism work. There is no negative or positive. It is a scored test where a psychologist reviews the responses and gives an overall score (a number) that tells the psychologist where on the spectrum a person falls. This alone cost major credibility points with me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!
While I found the cases in this book to be fascinating, and I did enjoy the pacing, I could not give a higher rating for this one...
The author references things that happened in her own life and in her own family. However, she never actually explains what the events were that occurred. Every time they are referenced, it reads like the reader is just supposed to know already. An author should NEVER assume that a reader is already familiar with them or their previous works but it's very obvious that this author did exactly that.
There are times when I found the book to be a bit repetitive, going over the same evidence over and over.
I also felt like there were several instances where the author spends a lot of time talking about things that just didn't feel relevant to the cases.
At one point while talking about the Mary Welch case, the author says that Gabriel's test for autism came back "negative". This is not even remotely how tests for autism work. There is no negative or positive. It is a scored test where a psychologist reviews the responses and gives an overall score (a number) that tells the psychologist where on the spectrum a person falls. This alone cost major credibility points with me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this!
January 29, 2025
I really have a hard time giving stars to books based on real life crime, but since The Mother Next Door was a Netgalley audio arc, it’s necessary. The theme of this one is Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) where moms inflict illness on their children for the satisfaction of medical, familial, and community attention. It’s disturbing, uncomfortable, and makes the reader/human dislike these women.
This one is written by a podcast journalist whose sister was a MBP mom. Of the several stories, that was the one which felt very authentic. Given her own experience with that case, author Andrea Dunlop writes from experience and, as a bonus, she narrates the audio. This combo of having lived it, and now telling it in her own voice, is chilling.
The co-author, Mike Weber, is a police detective with far too much experience in this vastly horrible crime.
I hate that MBP exists, but I’d recommend this book if you are interested in some well done research detailing cases.
This one is written by a podcast journalist whose sister was a MBP mom. Of the several stories, that was the one which felt very authentic. Given her own experience with that case, author Andrea Dunlop writes from experience and, as a bonus, she narrates the audio. This combo of having lived it, and now telling it in her own voice, is chilling.
The co-author, Mike Weber, is a police detective with far too much experience in this vastly horrible crime.
I hate that MBP exists, but I’d recommend this book if you are interested in some well done research detailing cases.
March 30, 2025
2.75⭐️ very interesting, but lacking in the complete picture. This reads more like a long form podcast, which makes sense, but feels entirely uncritical of any systems involved in monitoring, investigating, or prosecuting medical abuse cases. The author has a personal connection to this issue, which she mentions frequently but never expands on, which felt a little half baked.
April 13, 2025
It’s great that there are audiobooks on Spotify, but I have a tendency to fall asleep as soon as I get home from work I’m so mentally exhausted that I use up my allotted hours. Then when I finally earn hours back I can’t remember what was going on because I was falling asleep. I really want to read this book too. It may take me all year. I guess I’m going to have to read it this weekend at work. I may be able to do that.
August 22, 2025
Interesting up to a point, but I wanted deep analysis more than I wanted a series of True Crimes, plus the co-author is a Texas cop and though I was trying to ignore that for the sake of the information, it just became more and more apparent that he wasn't someone I wanted to spend time with, even at the remove of text.
February 10, 2025
Andrea Dunlop, whose sister was twice investigated for Facetious Disorder (FD) more commonly known as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy abuse, is the perfect writer. Along with cowriter and child abuse investigator Mike Weber, take us deep inside three cases of mother’s causing harm to their children. Though certainly not the most horrific cases in the news, each of these mothers hurt their children in different, yet similar ways.
If you’re interested in FD, THE MOTHER NEXT DOOR is a good foray into the topic. If you work in mental health or are educated on FD like me, this book still offers insights into the law enforcement segment of stopping the abuse.
If you’re interested in FD, THE MOTHER NEXT DOOR is a good foray into the topic. If you work in mental health or are educated on FD like me, this book still offers insights into the law enforcement segment of stopping the abuse.
February 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥.
This was a very insightful book about Munchausen by Proxy and presents info about real cases, some of which I’ve never heard of and it just blew my mind.
The authors are extremely knowledgeable on the condition and how difficult it can be to hold those guilty of it accountable for their actions. It’s amazing to me how many of these cases there are and how many slip through the cracks. It’s truly terrifying.
My only gripe with this book is it’s doesn’t flow well, especially the first chunk of it. I just don’t know that we needed to hear as much about her family or maybe not as much I don’t know. Then learning about Mike although that seemed to flow a bit better. It just jumped around a lot in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if we would be focusing on one author or the other or other cases and the answer was all of the above. I might’ve had an easier time if I read this one rather than listening to it. The format / flow of this one wasn’t my jam. The content and information made up for it though.
I did learn a lot and got more insight into how those with Munchausen by Proxy are able to fool those around them and somehow get medical professionals to perform unnecessary surgeries and treatments.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copy of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥.
This was a very insightful book about Munchausen by Proxy and presents info about real cases, some of which I’ve never heard of and it just blew my mind.
The authors are extremely knowledgeable on the condition and how difficult it can be to hold those guilty of it accountable for their actions. It’s amazing to me how many of these cases there are and how many slip through the cracks. It’s truly terrifying.
My only gripe with this book is it’s doesn’t flow well, especially the first chunk of it. I just don’t know that we needed to hear as much about her family or maybe not as much I don’t know. Then learning about Mike although that seemed to flow a bit better. It just jumped around a lot in the beginning. I wasn’t sure if we would be focusing on one author or the other or other cases and the answer was all of the above. I might’ve had an easier time if I read this one rather than listening to it. The format / flow of this one wasn’t my jam. The content and information made up for it though.
I did learn a lot and got more insight into how those with Munchausen by Proxy are able to fool those around them and somehow get medical professionals to perform unnecessary surgeries and treatments.
June 27, 2025
Medical Child Abuse or Munchausen by Proxy is a very strange crime to try to understand. I find narratives about this topic intriguing and puzzling in equal measure. The take in this work of narrative nonfiction is compelling in that it focuses on how cases of suspected medical child abuse are investigated, charges laid, and cases argued in court. This was a new to me angle on the topic which matched my interest in procedural criminal narratives. Illuminating in terms of how widespread this issue is.
June 23, 2025
The Good: the research here is well-told; the three instances of MBP do what the author hopes they will in terms of propulsive narrative, without the overly gruesome voyeurism of true crime (mostly - minor exceptions for the second case but I do believe they go to important use).
The Bad: Mike seems like a man with good intentions, but it’s still copaganda. It’s extremely carceral, it plays jump rope with the idea of politicizing children (and gets it wrong about every time) and ends on an incredibly preachy note that’s both out of place and unconvincing.
Additionally, this woman (so I’m told in the text) has a podcast. I’ve never heard of it, I didn’t pick this book up as a listener of it - so the entire framing device of this book as hitting close to home because of her experience with her sister…both the introductory and conclusive portions of the book….ARE NOT EXPLAINED AT ALL girl WHY DID YOU DO THAT???
The baffling: yeah that’s right there’s a baffling that isn’t that part about her sister and it’s this - the author reads this book herself and she shouldn’t have. The “bag” and “flag” as “beg” and “fleg” are..something, and something I can overlook. Mispronouncing the name of one of the victims you wrote about over halfway through the chapter about him??? (His name is Gabriel, until he’s once - randomly - Gabrielle) is beyond understanding.
The Bad: Mike seems like a man with good intentions, but it’s still copaganda. It’s extremely carceral, it plays jump rope with the idea of politicizing children (and gets it wrong about every time) and ends on an incredibly preachy note that’s both out of place and unconvincing.
Additionally, this woman (so I’m told in the text) has a podcast. I’ve never heard of it, I didn’t pick this book up as a listener of it - so the entire framing device of this book as hitting close to home because of her experience with her sister…both the introductory and conclusive portions of the book….ARE NOT EXPLAINED AT ALL girl WHY DID YOU DO THAT???
The baffling: yeah that’s right there’s a baffling that isn’t that part about her sister and it’s this - the author reads this book herself and she shouldn’t have. The “bag” and “flag” as “beg” and “fleg” are..something, and something I can overlook. Mispronouncing the name of one of the victims you wrote about over halfway through the chapter about him??? (His name is Gabriel, until he’s once - randomly - Gabrielle) is beyond understanding.
October 28, 2024
I am a "First Reads" winner. Thank you to the publisher and author.
Putting aside the subject matter of 'TMND,' I found Dunlop's writing, pacing, and narrative style absorbing to a degree that kept me interested in what might happen next. Good stuff.
One question that wasn't completely answered, for me, was the WHY and WHAT that drives certain moms to do the horrendous things laid out in 'TMND' - what the heck drives them to do the things they do especially if they're aware of the lies? And there seemed to be a second, personal storyline from the author's own life that was woven into the book, bubbling just beneath the surface - I'm curious to know more.
Overall, though, 'TMND' is a worthy read.
Putting aside the subject matter of 'TMND,' I found Dunlop's writing, pacing, and narrative style absorbing to a degree that kept me interested in what might happen next. Good stuff.
One question that wasn't completely answered, for me, was the WHY and WHAT that drives certain moms to do the horrendous things laid out in 'TMND' - what the heck drives them to do the things they do especially if they're aware of the lies? And there seemed to be a second, personal storyline from the author's own life that was woven into the book, bubbling just beneath the surface - I'm curious to know more.
Overall, though, 'TMND' is a worthy read.
March 3, 2025
Wow. This book follows 3 different cases on medical child abuse and let me just say… it is SUPER informative, definitely infuriating and a difficult read at times, but so well written.
August 15, 2025
OK, wow. This was crazy, and I listened with my jaw dropped most of the time. Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) is a disease that I really only know of through the case with Gypsy Rose, so this was quite an eye-opening book to say the least. Dunlop partners with a Texas detective to do a deep dive into three cases of MBP. She also narrates the audio. This one captivated me from the start, and I have to warn you it is disturbing, dark, horrifying, all of the above. What these mothers did, and tried to continue to do, there are no words for. Equally disturbing is how long it took to get them away from their kids, despite so much evidence otherwise. All that to say this is also a deep dive into MBP and how it affects the person, the child, the family members, society, and how hard it is to treat.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC to review.
Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC to review.
February 7, 2025
This is such a tough book to rate! I should begin by noting that Andrea Dunlop writes beautifully. I have listened to some episodes of her podcast and she also speaks very well, even when she is in conversation with guests and speaking off the cuff (she uses very few filler words and verbal crutches, which I always admire in people).
I think the major problem I had with this book is that it simultaneously reveals too much (or too repetitively) and not enough. Dunlop has personal experience with Munchausen by proxy (or medical child abuse). She and the rest of her family suspect her sister of committing medical child abuse against her children, and the family is fractured as a result. I think that Dunlop has addressed this on her podcast but I haven't heard those episodes, so it was a bit strange to read a book framed around that personal experience with no details provided other than the fact that her sister was not prosecuted and was ultimately reunited with her children. I suppose it's on me to go listen to those episodes, but I felt that if she had addressed this elsewhere, why not explain the situation here?
I also found it strange that Dunlop kept insisting that few people are very familiar with MBP. Surely most people have heard of this, no? They might not be as knowledgeable as Dunlop and Mike Weber, her coauthor, but Dunlop often gives the impression that most people are blissfully unaware of this form of child abuse. I just find that hard to believe.
Overall, this was very interesting and readable. I found the first two stories to be compelling and heartbreaking. I found the third story in this collection (that of Mary Welch and her son) to be a bit of an outlier. It seemed less cut and dried than the first two. I would be interested to know what others thought of that case.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about MBP, and how it is treated within the justice system. Just know that this is very specifically how it is treated in a small part of the United States, so it's quite narrow in its scope.
I think the major problem I had with this book is that it simultaneously reveals too much (or too repetitively) and not enough. Dunlop has personal experience with Munchausen by proxy (or medical child abuse). She and the rest of her family suspect her sister of committing medical child abuse against her children, and the family is fractured as a result. I think that Dunlop has addressed this on her podcast but I haven't heard those episodes, so it was a bit strange to read a book framed around that personal experience with no details provided other than the fact that her sister was not prosecuted and was ultimately reunited with her children. I suppose it's on me to go listen to those episodes, but I felt that if she had addressed this elsewhere, why not explain the situation here?
I also found it strange that Dunlop kept insisting that few people are very familiar with MBP. Surely most people have heard of this, no? They might not be as knowledgeable as Dunlop and Mike Weber, her coauthor, but Dunlop often gives the impression that most people are blissfully unaware of this form of child abuse. I just find that hard to believe.
Overall, this was very interesting and readable. I found the first two stories to be compelling and heartbreaking. I found the third story in this collection (that of Mary Welch and her son) to be a bit of an outlier. It seemed less cut and dried than the first two. I would be interested to know what others thought of that case.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about MBP, and how it is treated within the justice system. Just know that this is very specifically how it is treated in a small part of the United States, so it's quite narrow in its scope.
July 14, 2025
This true crime story was riveting and shocking about three cases of mothers who were accused of medically harming their children and the web of lies they told. The author did a great job of explaining Munchausen by Proxy and all the details behind this alarming behavior. It was an eye opening read into this world of deceit and the lengths these mothers would go to harm their kids. I definitely have a new appreciation for the detectives who investigate this crime. If you enjoy reading true crime or want to learn more about Munchausen by Proxy, make sure you add this one to your TBR!
I received a physical copy from publisher St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for my gifted copy and the opportunity to preview this book.
I received a physical copy from publisher St. Martin’s Press. Thank you for my gifted copy and the opportunity to preview this book.
March 6, 2025
I’m kind of fascinated by stories of Munchausen by proxy so I had high hopes for it. But I didn’t like the way this was written. The author kept referring to her experience but never explained it so I felt I was missing something. Her obvious personal feelings about the cases were a distraction. I wish it had been written in a more objective way since they were other victims stories.
August 24, 2025
It feels a bit redundant if you've listened to the podcast, which I highly recommend, and I feel is more well rounded- this book focuses a bit too much focus on Mike Weber and the police aspect for my taste. I'd be more interested in seeing the book tackling root issues- why do people do this, what are the long-term ramifications, treatment strategies, etc.
June 25, 2025
Couldn’t stop reading!! Well told and informative, both on the criminal process of prosecuting someone for MBP, and on the clinical and psychological effects of it. My only critique is that I wish the author had shared more about her own personal experience with Munchausen by proxy, because she does make several references to it.
December 30, 2024
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC of The Mother Next Door.
This book was a page turner. It followed stories of 3 women and their families as they were being charged with endangering their own children.
Based on Munchausen by Proxy, these moms would all tell their doctors what was wrong with their kids. These conditions ranged from Gerd issues to brain issues and everything in between. This would cause the kids to undergo major unneeded surgical procedures.
Mike was an investigator for child abuse cases, and Andrea had her own personal experience with this syndrome. Although I do wish she would have gone into more detail about her own situation, the book itself was very well written and sometimes extremely hard to read. These kids should not have had to suffer at the expense of their mom wanting attention. In most cases, the rest of the family didn't even know.
One mom went as far as to say that she had cancer to get all the attention as well as her child having major (unnecessary) procedures. Although a couple of these stories ended with prison sentences for the mom, not all cases end in favor of the child.
Mike did a great job trying to give details to everyone involved to try and take these cases to court. Even if the outcomes weren't what he hoped for.
Very well written and descriptive book! 4.5 🌟
This book was a page turner. It followed stories of 3 women and their families as they were being charged with endangering their own children.
Based on Munchausen by Proxy, these moms would all tell their doctors what was wrong with their kids. These conditions ranged from Gerd issues to brain issues and everything in between. This would cause the kids to undergo major unneeded surgical procedures.
Mike was an investigator for child abuse cases, and Andrea had her own personal experience with this syndrome. Although I do wish she would have gone into more detail about her own situation, the book itself was very well written and sometimes extremely hard to read. These kids should not have had to suffer at the expense of their mom wanting attention. In most cases, the rest of the family didn't even know.
One mom went as far as to say that she had cancer to get all the attention as well as her child having major (unnecessary) procedures. Although a couple of these stories ended with prison sentences for the mom, not all cases end in favor of the child.
Mike did a great job trying to give details to everyone involved to try and take these cases to court. Even if the outcomes weren't what he hoped for.
Very well written and descriptive book! 4.5 🌟
January 31, 2025
4.5 stars. I don’t know that I know enough powerful adjectives to describe this book. It’s accessible, spelling everything out in a clean and concise manner, while being absolutely heart-wrenching and anger inducing.
I, like many people I’m sure, know about MBP from the highly sensationalized accounts that hit the mainstream. This book pulls back the curtain on it and centers the story back where it should be (and always should be): the children who suffer at the hands of caregivers who want more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Dunlop & Mike Weber, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I, like many people I’m sure, know about MBP from the highly sensationalized accounts that hit the mainstream. This book pulls back the curtain on it and centers the story back where it should be (and always should be): the children who suffer at the hands of caregivers who want more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Dunlop & Mike Weber, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2025
Fascinating, yet heartbreaking. This has similar vibes to one of my favorite podcasts, Scamanda. So if you are a fan of that, I encourage you to read/listen to this book. This is read by the author, who I first heard discuss it on another favorite podcast, Armchair Expert. We all have to be more aware and cognizant of medical child abuse in order to prevent children from falling victim to their mothers, most usually. My heart was in pieces while listening and I’m glad this opened my eyes and ears to what is happening.
February 11, 2025
**Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy**
This is an incredibly well researched book on Munchausen by Proxy and how it slips through the cracks of our medical and political systems. It is also an easy, organized read; I was glued to the pages and wanted more information on EVERYTHING.
It is remarkable how well researched this novel is. Dunlop and Weber present each case comprehensively, from the perpetrators, to the victims, to the medical and justice system. MBP has been in the public's view for a while, but there are few publicized stories and those out there are pretty sensationalized. This book eschews that and systematically dives into the ways that MBP manifests and slips through the cracks.
For me, a non fiction book succeeds when I learn something new and I learned a LOT. I really enjoyed learning about how pediatrics works, and specifically, how perpetrators of MBP manipulate doctors and family members. I also really appreciated the formatting of the novel with the three distinct stories, but with references being made to the others throughout. It made following the behavior patterns and catching similarities much easier.
tldr; holy shit
This is an incredibly well researched book on Munchausen by Proxy and how it slips through the cracks of our medical and political systems. It is also an easy, organized read; I was glued to the pages and wanted more information on EVERYTHING.
It is remarkable how well researched this novel is. Dunlop and Weber present each case comprehensively, from the perpetrators, to the victims, to the medical and justice system. MBP has been in the public's view for a while, but there are few publicized stories and those out there are pretty sensationalized. This book eschews that and systematically dives into the ways that MBP manifests and slips through the cracks.
For me, a non fiction book succeeds when I learn something new and I learned a LOT. I really enjoyed learning about how pediatrics works, and specifically, how perpetrators of MBP manipulate doctors and family members. I also really appreciated the formatting of the novel with the three distinct stories, but with references being made to the others throughout. It made following the behavior patterns and catching similarities much easier.
tldr; holy shit
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