St. Martin's Press
The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
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"Harrowing." ―Wall Street Journal • "Riveting." ―Seattle Times
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?
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781250284273
EAN:
1250284279
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
304
Authors:
Andrea Dunlop , Mike Weber
Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
Published Date: 2025-04-02
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This topic has always intrigued me and probably always will. I just don’t understand how mothers can do this to their children. I know it is a psychological type illness on the part of the mother, but it still shocks me that it happens more often than I realized. I’m glad there are people out there like Andrea and Mike who are doing what they can to fight it.
Great author. Love all her books!
The Mother Next Door by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber dives into real cases where mothers faked or even caused their children’s illnesses for attention.Andrea Dunlop teams up with detective Mike Weber to break down three jaw-dropping stories of deception, medical manipulation, and heartbreak. It’s not just gripping, it's infuriating! Heads up: it’s heavy stuff. But it’s also a wake-up call about how easily systems can be fooled and kids can fall through the cracks.
This book was absolutely fascinating—and disturbing in all the right ways. The Mother Next Door is a deep dive into a real-life medical mystery involving deception, manipulation, and the heartbreaking reality of Munchausen by Proxy. It’s one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’ve finished it.This true crime story follows the shocking case of mothers who appear to be devoted and loving, but behind the scenes, something much darker is going on. Through the lens of medicine, parenting, and trust, the book explores how they manipulated doctors, family, and even their own children in a complex web of lies. The authors, Andrea Dunlop and detective Mike Weber, give both the emotional , technical and clinical sides of the story, which adds a whole new level of insight.What I appreciated most was how readable it was. Even though it covers medical and psychological topics, it never felt too technical or hard to follow. It pulled me in like a thriller would, but I found myself saying, "Wow...this really happened". The emotional impact is heavy, but the authors do a good job of being respectful and informative.The pacing was off at parts, but still, the story is so compelling that it’s easy to look past that. If you're into true crime with a psychological edge or stories about complex family dynamics, read this! Haunting, thought-provoking, and impossible to forget.
Entertaining book about difficult topic. Realistic portrayal.
