I have mentioned before how much I love a juicy story about rich women behaving badly a la Ashley Audrain’s “The Whispers” or Disha Bose’s “Dirty Laundry”, which is exactly why I picked this one up. I went in hoping for antics worthy of a juicy episode of “Desperate Housewives,” but that’s not exactly what I got. While the story was interesting, it was missing something that I can’t quite put my finger on.

The story focuses on Tash, a new mom who is seeking a fresh start in both her personal and professional life. Tash was recently laid off from her job and is looking for freelance reporting opportunities when she begins to look into the death of a nanny. As Tash is befriended by a group of affluent mothers – one who was the employer of the girl who died – she starts to uncover a dark underbelly that leaves her questioning her own safety and the true intentions of those around her.

Faulkner has definitely created a tantalizing mystery. The death of the young nanny and the subsequent investigation created a sense of intrigue that drew me in from the very beginning. As Tash carries out her investigation, her desire for friendship and connection leads her to become entangled in the lives of a group of women who seem to have it all – but to what lengths will they go to ensure they never lose it? The author does an excellent job of highlighting the stark contrast between Tash’s own circumstances and the seemingly perfect lives of these women. This contrast creates a sense of longing and fascination tinged with a sense of danger that drives the narrative forward.

While I enjoyed Tash’s character, I had a hard time with the rest of the women. Aside from their jobs, I didn’t feel that there were enough character differences between the group of “other mothers,” and I had a really difficult time keeping them straight. I also felt all of the husbands were really similar. This lack of depth and character dynamics really hindered the story for me.

For the most part, the pacing of the novel is well done, with tension building steadily throughout. However, while the plot is intriguing, I found myself wanting more in terms of suspense and twists. The mystery, although well-crafted, lacked the intensity and jaw-dropping moments that I was hoping for. I think some of this has to do with the fact that all of the characters felt too similar. After a while, I didn’t really care who was allegedly sleeping with whom and who was covering up whose dirty deeds.

Despite this, “The Other Mothers” is a decent mystery that explores the complexities of motherhood and the desire for acceptance. Faulkner’s exploration of the dark underbelly of seemingly perfect lives is thought-provoking; I just wish it had been juicier. While the tension and plot could have been stronger, the book still manages to provide an entertaining and engaging reading experience.

Overall, This book will likely appeal to fans of mysteries, though if you are looking for a twisty psychological thriller, this may not be the book you are looking for. While it didn’t have the heightened tension and juiciness that I craved, it offers a compelling exploration of motherhood, friendship, and the lengths one will go to fit in. Overall, it was just an okay read for me.