The Mother Next Door
Medicine, Deception, and Munchausen by Proxy
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The Mother Next Door
Buy Now for $19.76
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Narrated by:
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Andrea Dunlop
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Written by:
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Andrea Dunlop
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Mike Weber
About this listen
This program is read by the author.
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.
"I devoured this chilling yet critically important book in 48 hours, unable to believe what I was reading. Dunlop and Weber have written a powerful, unflinching deep dive into our country’s systemic failure to protect children from medical abuse."—Stephanie Wrobel, bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
©2025 Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber (P)2025 Macmillan AudioWhat the critics say
"I have been an admirer of Andrea Dunlop’s fiercely original work for years. Rarely is someone able to strike such a perfect balance of rigorous research, courageous fact-finding, and compelling narrative storytelling. I have no doubt that this book will be known as the canonical Munchausen by Proxy text."—Amanda Montell, New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Magical Overthinking and host of "Sounds Like a Cult"
"I was hooked from page one until the very end. A page-turning, jaw-dropping examination of MBP, our healthcare system, and the ways that perpetrators hide in plain sight."—Nora McInerny, bestselling author of Bad Vibes Only, and host of "Terrible, Thanks for Asking"
"A truly vital, groundbreaking, and riveting contribution to the literature on child abuse. This immensely readable book is the most important literary work since the MBP term was coined fifty years ago. The Mother Next Door shines like a beacon."—Marc D. Feldman, M.D., coauthor of Dying to be Ill: True Stories of Medical Deception
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!
Outstanding audiobook!
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Good read, but I still like the podcast better
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podcast is better
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