Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
The Mother Next Door is difficult to read as it's nonfiction about Munchausen By Proxy (MBP) - mothers who knowingly and purposefully inflict medical abuse on their young children. The authors have very personal connections to this horrific subject; author Andrea Dunlop suspects her sister of MBP and Mike Weber is a respected law enforcement MBP expert. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ms. Dunlop.
While the subject is appalling, this book is compelling. The majority of its content are detailed reviews of three specific and egregious cases of MBP in which Mike Weber was an investigator. I was shocked by the behaviors of these mothers, the blind faith of medical professionals who accepted their lies as facts which extended the medical abuse of vulnerable children, and the barriers faced by attorneys, law enforcement, and others when attempting to intervene.
I hope The Mother Next Door will educate more people about the warning signs of MBP and the importance of taking action on suspicions. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for early access to the audiobook; all opinions are my own.
While the subject is appalling, this book is compelling. The majority of its content are detailed reviews of three specific and egregious cases of MBP in which Mike Weber was an investigator. I was shocked by the behaviors of these mothers, the blind faith of medical professionals who accepted their lies as facts which extended the medical abuse of vulnerable children, and the barriers faced by attorneys, law enforcement, and others when attempting to intervene.
I hope The Mother Next Door will educate more people about the warning signs of MBP and the importance of taking action on suspicions. Thank you to Macmillan Audio for early access to the audiobook; all opinions are my own.
