Such a Good Mom - by Julia Spiro

About the Book

A murder close to home, the suspect closer still--her own husband

Book Synopsis

Bestselling author Julia Spiro's Such a Good Mom is a brilliant standalone mystery that's the perfect beach read. In the heat of summer, a murder on Martha's Vineyard rocks one new mom to the core, leaving her to search for answers.

With a healthy newborn baby, a devoted husband, a successful career, and a busy life on Martha's Vineyard, Brynn Nelson should be the happiest she's ever been. But Brynn is struggling. Her husband, Ross, grows more distant by the day, and the challenges and exhaustion of postpartum make Brynn feel like she's slowly losing pieces of herself to motherhood. Pieces that she might never get back.

But it's summer on the Vineyard, a beacon for wealthy visitors, and a place so beautiful that it seems immune to tragedy and crime. Except for locals, like Brynn, who know all too well that tragedy can strike at any point. And this time, it hits close to home when a friend of the family is found washed ashore. Dead. And Brynn's already hectic life is turned upside down when Ross is arrested for the crime.

Left reeling with more questions than answers, Brynn's only path forward is to find out who really killed Cecelia Buckley, even if it means it was her husband. She's not sure who she's able to trust anymore. And with the dizzying, endless cycle of sleepless nights, diapers, and bottles, Brynn's not even sure she can trust herself. She's not sure of anything anymore, but she won't stop until she finds the truth.

Bestselling author Julia Spiro is known for writing characters readers instantly connect to. With Such a Good Mom, Spiro brings the real and layered Martha's Vineyard to life through the eyes of a new mom trying to get her family out of the eye of the storm that is a murder investigation.

Review Quotes

Praise for Such a Good Mom

BOSTON.COM-ONE OF THE SPRING BOOK PICKS

"[Such a Good Mom will] get you excited for beach read season." -PureWow

"Such a Good Mom is a suspenseful, multilayered beach read with grit and meaning." -The Martha's Vineyard Times

"A standalone mystery that's likely going to be one of the best beach reads summer 2025 will see." -Vineyard Gazette

"[Such a Good Mom] shines in its sympathetic and honest characterization of a new mom going through the baby blues."--Booklist

"[Such a Good Mom] excels in portraying the social dichotomy that is life in an expensive resort town. . . Absorbing and satisfying." -First Clue

"With a plot that moves as swiftly as the currents off Martha's Vineyard, Such a Good Mom is a rollicking fun mystery that makes one point abundantly clear: the only thing harder than motherhood is knowing who to trust. A twisty ride that's not to be missed." -Jamie Day

"Powerfully emotional and intensely revealing, this layered mystery peels back the façade of Martha's Vineyard society. . . Clear your calendar and tell your friends-this cinematic and brilliantly relatable novel will not let you go." -Hank Phillippi Ryan

"A juicy peek into one of America's most exclusive summer communities, and a hug for any new mom in over her head. Written with unsparing honesty, insight, and the yummy details only an insider would know, Such a Good Mom is a rich, suspenseful exploration of marital trust, the myth of the "perfect" mom, and the costs of having it all." -Emma Brodie

Praise for Julia Spiro's Novels:

"The combined forces of lust, envy, conspiratorial scheming and townie resentment are churning just under the surface at all times." -Vineyard Gazette

"Spiro brings Martha's Vineyard to life with delicious precision. . . If the walls in these summer estates could talk, they would say, 'Trust no one.'" --Jessica Knoll

About the Author

JULIA SPIRO lives year-round on Martha's Vineyard with her partner, their son, and their two rescue dogs. She previously worked in the film industry for nearly a decade, before deciding to leave Hollywood to pursue her dream of writing books. Such a Good Mom is her third book.