What do you think?
Rate this book
Caitlin Bergman #2
Sins of the Mother
A SUSPENSE MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF 2020
August Norman returns with the second thrilling Caitlin Bergman novel, perfect for fans of Julia Keller, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Koryta.
Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire.
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.
But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.
At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.
August Norman returns with the second thrilling Caitlin Bergman novel, perfect for fans of Julia Keller, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Koryta.
Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire.
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.
But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.
At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.
- GenresMystery Thriller
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
17 people are currently reading
1460 people want to read
About the author
August Norman
2 books156 followersOriginally from central Indiana, thriller and mystery author August Norman has called Los Angeles home for two decades, writing for and/or appearing in movies, television, stage productions, web series, and even, commercial advertising. A lover and champion of crime fiction, August is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, the Sisters in Crime (National/LA), and regularly attends the Santa Barbara Writer’s Conference.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 4, 2022
This is a Mystery, and this is the second book in the Caitlin Bergman series. I found the beginning of this book hard to follow, and I have to say very confessing. Once, I was pulled into this book and got the storyline I could not put it down. I found this book to be very fast pace (maybe a little to fast pace), action packed, and suspenseful. The ending had little twist and fill of action. I overall enjoyed this book. I won a signed hard cover of this book from a Goodreads Giveaway, but this review is 100% my feelings about the book.
May 21, 2020
In 'Sins of the Mother', August Norman has not only crafted an exceptionally likeable protagonist in journalist Caitlin Bergman, whose toughness, charm and sense of humor win you over from the start, but has created an entire cast of magnetic characters. Even the villains have unlimited charisma. Unraveling the mysteries of a cult in the back woods of Oregon, and in the process hunting for the truth of Caitlin's parentage, is as heart warming as it is devastating, and as suspenseful as it is thrilling.
March 24, 2020
Sins of the Mother is smart, scrappy, and not afraid to punch you in the gut — just like its fierce heroine.
The story makes you feel claustrophobic despite being transported to the mountain wilderness of coastal Oregon, where take-no-nonsense journalist Caitlin Bergman faces down white supremacists and a cult waiting for the end of the world. But at the heart of this exceptional thriller are the complex relationships Bergman — one of fiction’s fiercest new heroines — must examine if she hopes to make it back to L.A. alive.
Norman provides an action-packed, emotional thrill ride that’ll leave you breathlessly waiting for the next Caitlin Bergman novel.
If you enjoy Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, especially My Sister’s Grave, you’ll love Caitlin Bergman and Sins of the Mother.
The story makes you feel claustrophobic despite being transported to the mountain wilderness of coastal Oregon, where take-no-nonsense journalist Caitlin Bergman faces down white supremacists and a cult waiting for the end of the world. But at the heart of this exceptional thriller are the complex relationships Bergman — one of fiction’s fiercest new heroines — must examine if she hopes to make it back to L.A. alive.
Norman provides an action-packed, emotional thrill ride that’ll leave you breathlessly waiting for the next Caitlin Bergman novel.
If you enjoy Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series, especially My Sister’s Grave, you’ll love Caitlin Bergman and Sins of the Mother.
November 6, 2020
Full disclosure: August and I are friends and former fellow board members of Mystery Writers of America in SoCal. I was given an advance copy of his second Caitlin Bergman novel for review. Here's my honest and informed quote to the publisher:
"Caitlin Bergman is one of the most intriguing and richly imagined heroines in thriller fiction. August Norman builds on his debut novel triumph with SINS OF THE MOTHER, as Caitlin uncovers decades-old secrets in an Oregon logging town and the cult that haunts it. Loaded with twists and emotional punches, Norman's vibrant and gripping story will make readers eager for more."
"Caitlin Bergman is one of the most intriguing and richly imagined heroines in thriller fiction. August Norman builds on his debut novel triumph with SINS OF THE MOTHER, as Caitlin uncovers decades-old secrets in an Oregon logging town and the cult that haunts it. Loaded with twists and emotional punches, Norman's vibrant and gripping story will make readers eager for more."
September 21, 2020
4.5/5!
Caitlin Bergman’s mother is dead. That’s what the award-winning journalist has been telling everyone for the past forty years. It’s easier to explain death than how Maya abandoned her as an infant and then fell off the map. A rural sheriff has reached out to Caitlin to invite her to coastal Oregon to identify a body believed to be the remains of her mother. Unfortunately, the body has been maimed to a level that makes it hard to identify. The investigation isn’t hopeless, as Caitlin is given access to the diary of her mother and learns about her life in a cult known as the Daughters of God. The very same cult whose property was the land on which the body was found and which has been accused of kidnapping a local teenage girl. What was Caitlin’s mother a part of? How did she end up dead?
I absolutely love a good cult-based story and August Norman has hit a homerun with SINS OF THE MOTHER!
Let’s start with the question everyone has for books in a series...can this one be read as a stand-alone? Most definitely! I did not read the first book in this series and never felt any gaps in the story as a result of this. I do believe there were a few hints to the events of the first book, but nothing that needed explaining past their mention.
August Norman has chosen to headline this series with the main character of Caitlin Bergman who is incredibly strong-willed, passionate, and filled with a desire to find the truth in any situation. She is a journalist interested in telling stories that help others and point out injustices in society that need to be fixed. Caitlin is the type of woman crime fiction needs more representation from. She is not meek or mild. She is strong and driven. Despite having a history with losing her mother, Norman does not use this element as a downfall to Caitlin’s character, but something that drives her to be better each and every day. Tying such a defining character aspect to this story’s main plot serves to truly highlight Caitlin’s personality and past all at the same time.
In addition to shining a light on Caitlin’s personal life, Norman gifts the reader an all out entertaining story surrounding a cult brimming with deception and mystery. I loved learning the origins of the Daughters of God and how they got to their modern day state of affairs. I felt like multiple members of the cult were represented and portrayed to give the reader a well-rounded view of the organization. As with most cult stories, there is an eccentric leader at the core and this one has quite a character!
SINS OF THE MOTHER is a fantastic read that feels like it was ripped from the screen. This is the fictional documentary mixed with crime fiction you didn’t realize you needed in your life!
A huge thank you to Books Forward PR and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!
Caitlin Bergman’s mother is dead. That’s what the award-winning journalist has been telling everyone for the past forty years. It’s easier to explain death than how Maya abandoned her as an infant and then fell off the map. A rural sheriff has reached out to Caitlin to invite her to coastal Oregon to identify a body believed to be the remains of her mother. Unfortunately, the body has been maimed to a level that makes it hard to identify. The investigation isn’t hopeless, as Caitlin is given access to the diary of her mother and learns about her life in a cult known as the Daughters of God. The very same cult whose property was the land on which the body was found and which has been accused of kidnapping a local teenage girl. What was Caitlin’s mother a part of? How did she end up dead?
I absolutely love a good cult-based story and August Norman has hit a homerun with SINS OF THE MOTHER!
Let’s start with the question everyone has for books in a series...can this one be read as a stand-alone? Most definitely! I did not read the first book in this series and never felt any gaps in the story as a result of this. I do believe there were a few hints to the events of the first book, but nothing that needed explaining past their mention.
August Norman has chosen to headline this series with the main character of Caitlin Bergman who is incredibly strong-willed, passionate, and filled with a desire to find the truth in any situation. She is a journalist interested in telling stories that help others and point out injustices in society that need to be fixed. Caitlin is the type of woman crime fiction needs more representation from. She is not meek or mild. She is strong and driven. Despite having a history with losing her mother, Norman does not use this element as a downfall to Caitlin’s character, but something that drives her to be better each and every day. Tying such a defining character aspect to this story’s main plot serves to truly highlight Caitlin’s personality and past all at the same time.
In addition to shining a light on Caitlin’s personal life, Norman gifts the reader an all out entertaining story surrounding a cult brimming with deception and mystery. I loved learning the origins of the Daughters of God and how they got to their modern day state of affairs. I felt like multiple members of the cult were represented and portrayed to give the reader a well-rounded view of the organization. As with most cult stories, there is an eccentric leader at the core and this one has quite a character!
SINS OF THE MOTHER is a fantastic read that feels like it was ripped from the screen. This is the fictional documentary mixed with crime fiction you didn’t realize you needed in your life!
A huge thank you to Books Forward PR and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!
June 22, 2020
I'm still on a novels-that-revolve-around-mother-daughter-relationships kick lately. This cover and blurb caught my attention, and I was thrilled to be approved.
Caitlin Bergman is a reporter trying to find her ground after the buyout of her paper. When she receives word that her estranged mother has died, she travels to Oregon to identify the body. This turns out to be more complicated than she expects, and as she waits for DNA results to conclusively prove her mother is the dead body, she unearths a layered web of deceit and mystery, centering on a cult, a group of white supremacists, and an accusation of kidnapping.
So, let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you're wary about picking it up because it's the second in the series, don't be. Unlike other series where you have to start at the beginning to get a solid understanding of a character, Norman does an excellent job of developing Caitlin Bergman without bogging down the narrative with veiled references to the debut. There are some, but you get a complete picture of who she is without needing to rely on previous texts--and I love her. She's smart, tough, and funny; I really appreciated her sarcasm and dark sense of humor. I thrive on sarcasm, and very rarely do I see a character with my own penchant for smart-ass retorts, so if you're like me, the kind of reader who won't be put off by jokes about murders and death, I think you'll love her, too.
As for the plot, Norman does a good job of weaving the voices and plot points into a well-paced unraveling mystery. The Daughters of God were an interesting cult focus, the diary entries were delightful, and the subplots of the missing thirteen year old girl and Caitlin's desire to find her biological father's identity were interesting pieces that rounded out the focus of Caitlin and her mother. I've said this before, but books highlighting complex mother/daughter relationships are so important, and Sins of the Mother doesn't shy away from gritty details. Prostitution, drugs, adoption, and a middle-aged narrator who is not married and doesn't have any children--this is not your average MC, which I found refreshing in a genre dominated by suburban housewives, intelligent serial killers, and grumpled detectives trying to save damsels in distress.
Overall, Sins of the Mother is a witty, gritty read with heart and punches. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a cultist story without tons of blood and gore or fans of Ozark or The Sinner.
Thank you to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
Caitlin Bergman is a reporter trying to find her ground after the buyout of her paper. When she receives word that her estranged mother has died, she travels to Oregon to identify the body. This turns out to be more complicated than she expects, and as she waits for DNA results to conclusively prove her mother is the dead body, she unearths a layered web of deceit and mystery, centering on a cult, a group of white supremacists, and an accusation of kidnapping.
So, let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you're wary about picking it up because it's the second in the series, don't be. Unlike other series where you have to start at the beginning to get a solid understanding of a character, Norman does an excellent job of developing Caitlin Bergman without bogging down the narrative with veiled references to the debut. There are some, but you get a complete picture of who she is without needing to rely on previous texts--and I love her. She's smart, tough, and funny; I really appreciated her sarcasm and dark sense of humor. I thrive on sarcasm, and very rarely do I see a character with my own penchant for smart-ass retorts, so if you're like me, the kind of reader who won't be put off by jokes about murders and death, I think you'll love her, too.
As for the plot, Norman does a good job of weaving the voices and plot points into a well-paced unraveling mystery. The Daughters of God were an interesting cult focus, the diary entries were delightful, and the subplots of the missing thirteen year old girl and Caitlin's desire to find her biological father's identity were interesting pieces that rounded out the focus of Caitlin and her mother. I've said this before, but books highlighting complex mother/daughter relationships are so important, and Sins of the Mother doesn't shy away from gritty details. Prostitution, drugs, adoption, and a middle-aged narrator who is not married and doesn't have any children--this is not your average MC, which I found refreshing in a genre dominated by suburban housewives, intelligent serial killers, and grumpled detectives trying to save damsels in distress.
Overall, Sins of the Mother is a witty, gritty read with heart and punches. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a cultist story without tons of blood and gore or fans of Ozark or The Sinner.
Thank you to Crooked Lane and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
September 9, 2020
Sins of the Mother is the second book in the Caitlin Bergman series by talented author August Norman. The first book, Come and Get Me, introduced a heroine full of sarcasm, witty dialogue, and lots and lots of charm. I was really hoping Sins of the Mother continued on with the same character development of Caitlin that I have come to love. I am thrilled to say Caitlin Bergman is all that and more and the newest release by Norman.
Caitlin receives the news that her biological mother, Maya, is dead and she is asked to travel to coastal Oregon to identify the remains. Kind of hard to do when the body is faceless and missing anything remotely identifiable. All that is left is a diary written by her mother. The investigative journalist side of Caitlin delves deep into the diary and boy does it tell a massive tale about a cult obsessed with the end of the world. Throw in Johnny Lasen, a white supremacist, determined to make the Daughters of God pay for taking his daughter and Caitlin soon finds herself stuck in the middle while trying to find the truth about herself.
I can’t even express just how much I love Caitlin Bergman. She throws herself into situations that would make most people run for the hills. Caitlin takes everything head on dangerous or not often branding her signature sarcasm along the way. She is a badass and one of my favorite heroines in a book. Although she does not let people close, she does have a soft spot for Lakshmi Anjale (a character and new friend from the first book). Lakshmi also makes an appearance in this story as well.
The story is really well written and hooks you right from the start. The story slowly builds up to a finale that will blow you away. I loved getting to know the background of the Daughters of God and I will definitely admit to being fascinated by cults and how easily a leader can brainwash people into believing a facade. Norman really captures the essence of cults and the dedication of its members. It is quite eerie and really makes you think how easily one can be beckoned to join the ranks. I love how the two stories about Caitlin’s mother and Johnny Larsen's daughter converge into one central story and how Caitlin is in the center of it all literally fighting for her life every step of the way.
Sins of the Mother blends a heart pounding story ripped from the headlines with a mystery full of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning while gasping at the final reveal. If you have not started this series yet, you should probably go and get the first book and delve deep into Caitlin Bergman’s story. Another five star read from me!
Caitlin receives the news that her biological mother, Maya, is dead and she is asked to travel to coastal Oregon to identify the remains. Kind of hard to do when the body is faceless and missing anything remotely identifiable. All that is left is a diary written by her mother. The investigative journalist side of Caitlin delves deep into the diary and boy does it tell a massive tale about a cult obsessed with the end of the world. Throw in Johnny Lasen, a white supremacist, determined to make the Daughters of God pay for taking his daughter and Caitlin soon finds herself stuck in the middle while trying to find the truth about herself.
I can’t even express just how much I love Caitlin Bergman. She throws herself into situations that would make most people run for the hills. Caitlin takes everything head on dangerous or not often branding her signature sarcasm along the way. She is a badass and one of my favorite heroines in a book. Although she does not let people close, she does have a soft spot for Lakshmi Anjale (a character and new friend from the first book). Lakshmi also makes an appearance in this story as well.
The story is really well written and hooks you right from the start. The story slowly builds up to a finale that will blow you away. I loved getting to know the background of the Daughters of God and I will definitely admit to being fascinated by cults and how easily a leader can brainwash people into believing a facade. Norman really captures the essence of cults and the dedication of its members. It is quite eerie and really makes you think how easily one can be beckoned to join the ranks. I love how the two stories about Caitlin’s mother and Johnny Larsen's daughter converge into one central story and how Caitlin is in the center of it all literally fighting for her life every step of the way.
Sins of the Mother blends a heart pounding story ripped from the headlines with a mystery full of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning while gasping at the final reveal. If you have not started this series yet, you should probably go and get the first book and delve deep into Caitlin Bergman’s story. Another five star read from me!
June 24, 2021
4.5/5
After spending some more time thinking about Sins of the Mother by August Norman, I have decided to bring my rating up from a 4/5 to a 4.5/5. I did this same thing after a reread of book 1 to this series, Come and Get Me, and it clearly goes to show that Norman's writing really sticks with you. I knew after that first book that I would read everything he writes, and even though it took me a minute, I am so glad I finally read this one. It has a major cult aspect which is always hit or miss for me, but I loved the way it was done in this novel. I was completely engaged in the story, and I loved getting to know our main character Caitlin even better. Caitlin has got to be one of my favorite characters now, and she is just that strong heroine that I need in a novel. I love how this installment focused a lot on her mom and it ended up being a pretty wild ride.
And the audiobook!! The audio is narrated by Natasha Soudek and was actually a different narrator from the first book, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the switch. She was fine for Caitlin, but I HATED her accent for the British character. I think it might be the worst one I have ever heard besides my own, and I kinda hope she doesn't narrate the following books if there are more. I would suggest reading it since the audiobook wasn't that great in my opinion. However, I loved the cast of characters in Sins of the Mother, and I really liked the different viewpoints as well. I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel, and Norman's writing really pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Everything about this cult he created was utterly fascinating and terrifying, and if you are a fan of cults at all (fictional or real), this is gonna be a book you want to read. I still recommend starting with the first book because that is the kind of person I am, and I think it is a good idea anyway, so you have more of Caitlin's backstory. I really hope this series continues with Norman's next book, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
After spending some more time thinking about Sins of the Mother by August Norman, I have decided to bring my rating up from a 4/5 to a 4.5/5. I did this same thing after a reread of book 1 to this series, Come and Get Me, and it clearly goes to show that Norman's writing really sticks with you. I knew after that first book that I would read everything he writes, and even though it took me a minute, I am so glad I finally read this one. It has a major cult aspect which is always hit or miss for me, but I loved the way it was done in this novel. I was completely engaged in the story, and I loved getting to know our main character Caitlin even better. Caitlin has got to be one of my favorite characters now, and she is just that strong heroine that I need in a novel. I love how this installment focused a lot on her mom and it ended up being a pretty wild ride.
And the audiobook!! The audio is narrated by Natasha Soudek and was actually a different narrator from the first book, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed in the switch. She was fine for Caitlin, but I HATED her accent for the British character. I think it might be the worst one I have ever heard besides my own, and I kinda hope she doesn't narrate the following books if there are more. I would suggest reading it since the audiobook wasn't that great in my opinion. However, I loved the cast of characters in Sins of the Mother, and I really liked the different viewpoints as well. I also enjoyed the pacing of this novel, and Norman's writing really pulls you in and doesn't let you go. Everything about this cult he created was utterly fascinating and terrifying, and if you are a fan of cults at all (fictional or real), this is gonna be a book you want to read. I still recommend starting with the first book because that is the kind of person I am, and I think it is a good idea anyway, so you have more of Caitlin's backstory. I really hope this series continues with Norman's next book, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2020
⭐️Sins of The Morher⭐️
.
💫 August Norman💫
.
In this heart pounding, page turner, award winning journalist Caitlin Bergman learns that her mother is dead. However, she’s been telling people she’s been dead for forty years. Why would she tell everyone that her mother abandoned her never to be heard from again?
.
Caitlin heads to rural Oregon to identify the remains of a faceless body. What she doesn’t expect is a window into her mother’s life through her diary and she is shocked with what she finds. Her mother was part of a doomsday cult, who was fixated on the end of the world. Mixed in with all of this is a violent family that is searching for their teenage daughter in the cult.
.
I flew through this book needing the answers and was satisfied once I received them. In a town of corruption, kidnapping and a cult, set in the gorgeous backdrop in Oregon, Caitlin finds the answers she’s looking for and even more then that realizes the true meaning of family.
.
This book is available today! Happy Pub Day!
.
Huge thank you to @booksforwardpr and #penguinrandomhouse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#sept2020#booksforwardfriends#augustnorman#sinsofthemother
.
💫 August Norman💫
.
In this heart pounding, page turner, award winning journalist Caitlin Bergman learns that her mother is dead. However, she’s been telling people she’s been dead for forty years. Why would she tell everyone that her mother abandoned her never to be heard from again?
.
Caitlin heads to rural Oregon to identify the remains of a faceless body. What she doesn’t expect is a window into her mother’s life through her diary and she is shocked with what she finds. Her mother was part of a doomsday cult, who was fixated on the end of the world. Mixed in with all of this is a violent family that is searching for their teenage daughter in the cult.
.
I flew through this book needing the answers and was satisfied once I received them. In a town of corruption, kidnapping and a cult, set in the gorgeous backdrop in Oregon, Caitlin finds the answers she’s looking for and even more then that realizes the true meaning of family.
.
This book is available today! Happy Pub Day!
.
Huge thank you to @booksforwardpr and #penguinrandomhouse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#sept2020#booksforwardfriends#augustnorman#sinsofthemother
September 14, 2020
Thank you @booksforwardpr for sharing a copy of Sins Of The Mother by August Norman for an honest review. The second in the Caitlin Bergman series is published today.
Sins of The Mother is the second in a series but I didn’t feel like I missed anything by starting here. Caitlin gets a call that she’s needed to identify her mother, who she has never met. Being a journalist, she flies out anyway to see what she can learn about the mother who left her behind. What we get is a mystery surrounding a cult, missing girls, and a small town. Lots of action and content warnings for fire, anti-Semitic speech, abuse physical and sexual, and some drug use.
This one kept me guessing. Cults have always interested me and the Dayans in this book had a long and sorid past so there was that mystery unraveling as well as what happened to Mama Maya, Caitlin’s birth mother. Lots of action towards the end as well.
Sins of The Mother is the second in a series but I didn’t feel like I missed anything by starting here. Caitlin gets a call that she’s needed to identify her mother, who she has never met. Being a journalist, she flies out anyway to see what she can learn about the mother who left her behind. What we get is a mystery surrounding a cult, missing girls, and a small town. Lots of action and content warnings for fire, anti-Semitic speech, abuse physical and sexual, and some drug use.
This one kept me guessing. Cults have always interested me and the Dayans in this book had a long and sorid past so there was that mystery unraveling as well as what happened to Mama Maya, Caitlin’s birth mother. Lots of action towards the end as well.
October 7, 2020
Not only is this a thriller about cults and deep mother-daughter issues, but it also highlights a rough, true, and strong-willed Caitlin Bergman who kicks butt. It is also great to know that you do not have to read the first book to understand what is happening in this book. I could not put it down!
Merged review:
What an incredible book. The author is so gifted in painting scenes. From the first chapter I was hooked. Plus, cults have always fascinated me! There are so many lost souls out there in the world, I can see why people are drawn to cults.
After finishing this book, I discovered the author has another book about the same main character! I can not wait to get my hands on that one.
Merged review:
What an incredible book. The author is so gifted in painting scenes. From the first chapter I was hooked. Plus, cults have always fascinated me! There are so many lost souls out there in the world, I can see why people are drawn to cults.
After finishing this book, I discovered the author has another book about the same main character! I can not wait to get my hands on that one.
July 24, 2020
Great characters and a very deep plot make this book highly recommended. This second work by this author is a real winner. Five stars!
April 13, 2021
Did someone say "cult"? Sold!
The second in a series featuring intrepid journalist Caitlin Bergman, Sins of the Mother finds the protagonist attempting to identifying her long-lost mother's disfigured body on the grounds of a women's doomsday cult. While there, she encounters a powerful white supremacist whose daughter was lost to the cult. Using clues found in a journal of the cult's spiritual leader, Caitlin works to unravel the mystery that goes beyond a murder and forces her to confront the truth of the parent who abandoned her.
August Norman constructs this mystery with almost no dull moments and even adds some clever bits of humor to take the edge off the doom-and-gloom subject matter. I read this over four days. I'm sure it might have helped to have read the first book, Come and Get Me, but Sins of the Mother works perfectly well as a standalone mystery.
The second in a series featuring intrepid journalist Caitlin Bergman, Sins of the Mother finds the protagonist attempting to identifying her long-lost mother's disfigured body on the grounds of a women's doomsday cult. While there, she encounters a powerful white supremacist whose daughter was lost to the cult. Using clues found in a journal of the cult's spiritual leader, Caitlin works to unravel the mystery that goes beyond a murder and forces her to confront the truth of the parent who abandoned her.
August Norman constructs this mystery with almost no dull moments and even adds some clever bits of humor to take the edge off the doom-and-gloom subject matter. I read this over four days. I'm sure it might have helped to have read the first book, Come and Get Me, but Sins of the Mother works perfectly well as a standalone mystery.
September 29, 2020
Caitlin Bergman’s mother Maya is dead, or at least that is what the award winning journalist has told people for most of her life. Unfortunately for Caitlin, her mother abandoned her at a young age, essentially falling off the face of the Earth. Caitlin has always found it easier to lie about her mother rather than face her true feelings of abandonment and loss.
When a sheriff from a rural area in coastal Oregon contacts Caitlin to identify her mother’s body she is forced to face her past and uncover what drove her mother to disappear all those years ago. Maya’s body was discovered on land owned by a reclusive cult, The Daughter’s of God. Tragically, the body is left without a face making the identification even more problematic.
As Caitlin puts her investigative skills to use she locates her mother’s diary filled with end of the world proclamations and ramblings about life inside the elusive cult. Caitlin also discovers that the cult has been accused of kidnapping a local teen with ties to a white supremacist group. The involvement of the groups leader, Johnny Larsen forces Caitlin to race against time to find out all she can about the cult, her mother’s life, and role within the cult. Johnny wants his daughter back and promises to locate her by any means necessary. As Caitlin studies the diary she is hoping to find out more information about her biological father. Though she has a great relationship with her adoptive father she has always wanted to learn more about him and his relationship with her mother.
The most important question I had going in to this story was could it be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first in the series and I am happy to say that this book is easily read without reading the first book. The author does a great job of providing background on Caitlin as a character without bogging down the book with repeated references to the prior novel.
I absolutely loved Caitlin as the protagonist in this story. She is tough, sassy, smart, and funny, a refreshing character I easily connected with. I found that Norman did an excellent job weaving the plot while keeping the pace steady and engrossing. The diary entries were a great source of added insight used well to move the plot forward.
I am a fan of true crime and cult stories especially. This book read like a movie or documentary focusing on a cult that could easily be ripped from the headlines. August Norman did a phenomenal job crafting a mystery that was not cliched or over done. I found the conclusion of the book to be both unexpected and satisfying. Norman was able to tie the multiple plot lines together quite nicely.
If you are a fan of cult stories I think you will enjoy this book. Thank you to BooksForward PR and Crooked Lane books for an advanced copy of the digital book for my review.
Trigger warnings for: prostitution, rape, drug use
When a sheriff from a rural area in coastal Oregon contacts Caitlin to identify her mother’s body she is forced to face her past and uncover what drove her mother to disappear all those years ago. Maya’s body was discovered on land owned by a reclusive cult, The Daughter’s of God. Tragically, the body is left without a face making the identification even more problematic.
As Caitlin puts her investigative skills to use she locates her mother’s diary filled with end of the world proclamations and ramblings about life inside the elusive cult. Caitlin also discovers that the cult has been accused of kidnapping a local teen with ties to a white supremacist group. The involvement of the groups leader, Johnny Larsen forces Caitlin to race against time to find out all she can about the cult, her mother’s life, and role within the cult. Johnny wants his daughter back and promises to locate her by any means necessary. As Caitlin studies the diary she is hoping to find out more information about her biological father. Though she has a great relationship with her adoptive father she has always wanted to learn more about him and his relationship with her mother.
The most important question I had going in to this story was could it be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first in the series and I am happy to say that this book is easily read without reading the first book. The author does a great job of providing background on Caitlin as a character without bogging down the book with repeated references to the prior novel.
I absolutely loved Caitlin as the protagonist in this story. She is tough, sassy, smart, and funny, a refreshing character I easily connected with. I found that Norman did an excellent job weaving the plot while keeping the pace steady and engrossing. The diary entries were a great source of added insight used well to move the plot forward.
I am a fan of true crime and cult stories especially. This book read like a movie or documentary focusing on a cult that could easily be ripped from the headlines. August Norman did a phenomenal job crafting a mystery that was not cliched or over done. I found the conclusion of the book to be both unexpected and satisfying. Norman was able to tie the multiple plot lines together quite nicely.
If you are a fan of cult stories I think you will enjoy this book. Thank you to BooksForward PR and Crooked Lane books for an advanced copy of the digital book for my review.
Trigger warnings for: prostitution, rape, drug use
September 7, 2020
Sins of the Mother by August Norman is a clever mystery with a topical storyline. Although this newest release is the second mystery in the Caitlin Bergman series, it can be read as a standalone.
Caitlin Bergman is an investigative reporter who is notified that her birth mother Maya Aronson is dead. At the request of the Coos Bay County, Oregon sheriff, Caitlin travels to the small town to identify her mother. Unfortunately, they will have to rely on DNA testing to definitively answer the question of whether or not the deceased woman is Maya. But an unanticipated finding provides Caitlin with an unexpected glimpse into her mother's life after she joined the Daughters of God cult back in the '90s. At the time of her death, Maya still belonged to the cult.
As Caitlin decides to dig a little deeper into her mother's life and the cult, she crosses paths with white supremacist Johnny Larsen. His daughter Promise is in the cult's compound and he will go to any lengths to get her back. With Johnny and his friends hunting for her, will Caitlin unearth the truth about Maya and the cult she called family?
Caitlin loved and revered her adoptive father, but she always had questions about her birth father. Her resentment towards Maya has not abated and she still wants to know her birth father's identity. She is not at all happy she did not have the opportunity to confront Maya before her death. But her interest is piqued as she reads her mother's diary and she wants to talk to the Gods of Daughter's leader Desmond Pratten. With her protégé and friend Lakshimi Anjale's assistance, will Caitlin find the answers she is seeking?
Sins of the Mother is an intriguing mystery with a strong lead protagonist. Caitlin is not one to back down and she is quite tenacious as gathers information about Maya and the Gods of Daughter. Caitlin disregards her own safety as she is confronted with a situation that is fraught with danger. With a timely storyline, August Norman brings this well-written and compelling mystery to an unpredictable but satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans of the Caitlin Bergman series are sure to enjoy this newest installment.
Caitlin Bergman is an investigative reporter who is notified that her birth mother Maya Aronson is dead. At the request of the Coos Bay County, Oregon sheriff, Caitlin travels to the small town to identify her mother. Unfortunately, they will have to rely on DNA testing to definitively answer the question of whether or not the deceased woman is Maya. But an unanticipated finding provides Caitlin with an unexpected glimpse into her mother's life after she joined the Daughters of God cult back in the '90s. At the time of her death, Maya still belonged to the cult.
As Caitlin decides to dig a little deeper into her mother's life and the cult, she crosses paths with white supremacist Johnny Larsen. His daughter Promise is in the cult's compound and he will go to any lengths to get her back. With Johnny and his friends hunting for her, will Caitlin unearth the truth about Maya and the cult she called family?
Caitlin loved and revered her adoptive father, but she always had questions about her birth father. Her resentment towards Maya has not abated and she still wants to know her birth father's identity. She is not at all happy she did not have the opportunity to confront Maya before her death. But her interest is piqued as she reads her mother's diary and she wants to talk to the Gods of Daughter's leader Desmond Pratten. With her protégé and friend Lakshimi Anjale's assistance, will Caitlin find the answers she is seeking?
Sins of the Mother is an intriguing mystery with a strong lead protagonist. Caitlin is not one to back down and she is quite tenacious as gathers information about Maya and the Gods of Daughter. Caitlin disregards her own safety as she is confronted with a situation that is fraught with danger. With a timely storyline, August Norman brings this well-written and compelling mystery to an unpredictable but satisfying conclusion. Old and new fans of the Caitlin Bergman series are sure to enjoy this newest installment.
February 6, 2021
This mystery/thriller has great pacing, and got me hooked after the first few chapters. I also really loved the author's use of a journal from the past to help guide Caitlin through the action of the present day. I'm definitely hoping for a 3rd installment with this character!
October 19, 2020
“Sins of the Mother” is the second Caitlin Bergman book, and I admit I was a little biased going in: I really enjoyed the first book, “Come and Get Me,” and I love Caitlin Bergman as a character. She’s tough, smart, flawed and funny: the sort of person I’d want to meet at a dive bar to start trouble.
“Sins” finds Caitlin learning that her estranged birth mother appears to have been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and she travels to Oregon to identify the body and investigate the situation. What she learns takes her down a rabbit hole filled with dodgy characters and conspiracies: white nationalists, missing teenagers and a bizarre doomsday cult hidden in the mountains, as well as secrets from her own past that she might have preferred staying secret. This fast-paced thriller reads like an action movie, raising stakes and tension without veering into absurdity, and Caitlin remains a sympathetic and believable character throughout. An excellent sophomore effort by August Norman.
“Sins” finds Caitlin learning that her estranged birth mother appears to have been found dead under mysterious circumstances, and she travels to Oregon to identify the body and investigate the situation. What she learns takes her down a rabbit hole filled with dodgy characters and conspiracies: white nationalists, missing teenagers and a bizarre doomsday cult hidden in the mountains, as well as secrets from her own past that she might have preferred staying secret. This fast-paced thriller reads like an action movie, raising stakes and tension without veering into absurdity, and Caitlin remains a sympathetic and believable character throughout. An excellent sophomore effort by August Norman.
June 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The main character was a strong and determined woman who fought hard to find the truth. I like that the description of the characters was based on their personalities and not on their appearance. There are numerous women in the book but the author did waste time describing them with the exception of tall or hair colour. The storyline evolves nicely and answers any questions upon might have. It had suspense and action but also went deeper into things delving into families , relegion/cults and inner strength. While this might sound ,Ike a spiritual book it isn’t. It’s a fast paced suspense with as much violence as there is inner depth. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this exciting book.
September 4, 2020
Ok so this is book two about Caitlin Bergman, but as I haven't read book 1 yet.. I'd say this works well as a standalone.
Caitlin is called to Oregon to identify her mother's dead body-a mother who abandones her and joins a cult, The Dayans. She was left to be raised by a man who isn't her father. Caitlin finds that the cult is still alive and well- in a town run by a family of white supremacists.
This was an engaging story. I love reading about cults. I just find them so bizarre in the way they think and act.
I love how strong Caitlin is. She has such guts in regards to finding out the truth from the cult's leader, Desmond. He knows who her father is and she needs to find out- without risking her life.
Caitlin is called to Oregon to identify her mother's dead body-a mother who abandones her and joins a cult, The Dayans. She was left to be raised by a man who isn't her father. Caitlin finds that the cult is still alive and well- in a town run by a family of white supremacists.
This was an engaging story. I love reading about cults. I just find them so bizarre in the way they think and act.
I love how strong Caitlin is. She has such guts in regards to finding out the truth from the cult's leader, Desmond. He knows who her father is and she needs to find out- without risking her life.
September 4, 2020
A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, artful melding of stunning psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. An edgy mystery full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A superbly-written, unputdownable addition to the Caitlin Bergman thriller series!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
June 17, 2020
This is book 2 in the series and I highly recommend you read them in order to fully grasp who the main character is. Really enjoyed this second book and the story. Well-written and paced. Read from start to finish in one day. I look forward to the next in the series.
Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eARC.
Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eARC.
October 25, 2020
Another Enjoyable Read
To me, a good book leaves me missing the characters when I'm done. Like its predecessor, Sins of the Mother leaves me wanting to read it again just to get a little more of the badass, yet messy character that is Caitlin Bergman.
To me, a good book leaves me missing the characters when I'm done. Like its predecessor, Sins of the Mother leaves me wanting to read it again just to get a little more of the badass, yet messy character that is Caitlin Bergman.
July 26, 2020
Sins of the Mother: A Caitlin Bergman Novel
August Norman
Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020)
http://www.crookedlanebooks.com
13-digit ISBN number 978-1643854366
List Price $26.99
Suanne Schafer
suanneschafer.author@gmail.com
SuanneSchaferAuthor.com
August Norman continues the Caitlin Bergman series with book two, Sins of the Mother. If you’re a bit shy about picking up the second book in a series, excellent job developing Caitlin psyche further without getting bogged down referring back to book #1, Come and Get Me. Book #2 works well as a stand-alone novel.
Caitlin Bergman has told everyone that her mother is dead as, after giving Caitlin up for adoption, the woman dropped out of sight. When Caitlin receives word from a police department in Oregon that her mother has died, Caitlin travels to Oregon to identify the body. This turns out to be rather complicated as the tips of the corpse’s fingers have been amputated and all her teeth pulled. She gives a DNA sample to confirm the woman’s identity and while Caitlin awaits the final results, she uncovers a free-love cult, a small but politically powerful clan of white supremacists, the kidnapping of a teenager who’s the victim of parental sexual abuse, and a web of deceit that dates back many years and covers ground from LA to Oregon.
This story is written by a male from the first person female perspective, and Norman does a good job of doing so. Award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is tough, has a good sense of humor, laced with a bit of charm and humility. She’s beginning to learn that family is less about breeding and more about the people she surrounds herself with. The cult is well written and interesting, brining to mind the Jonestown Commune in Guyana with its mass suicide and the Branch Davidians.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
August Norman
Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020)
http://www.crookedlanebooks.com
13-digit ISBN number 978-1643854366
List Price $26.99
Suanne Schafer
suanneschafer.author@gmail.com
SuanneSchaferAuthor.com
August Norman continues the Caitlin Bergman series with book two, Sins of the Mother. If you’re a bit shy about picking up the second book in a series, excellent job developing Caitlin psyche further without getting bogged down referring back to book #1, Come and Get Me. Book #2 works well as a stand-alone novel.
Caitlin Bergman has told everyone that her mother is dead as, after giving Caitlin up for adoption, the woman dropped out of sight. When Caitlin receives word from a police department in Oregon that her mother has died, Caitlin travels to Oregon to identify the body. This turns out to be rather complicated as the tips of the corpse’s fingers have been amputated and all her teeth pulled. She gives a DNA sample to confirm the woman’s identity and while Caitlin awaits the final results, she uncovers a free-love cult, a small but politically powerful clan of white supremacists, the kidnapping of a teenager who’s the victim of parental sexual abuse, and a web of deceit that dates back many years and covers ground from LA to Oregon.
This story is written by a male from the first person female perspective, and Norman does a good job of doing so. Award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman is tough, has a good sense of humor, laced with a bit of charm and humility. She’s beginning to learn that family is less about breeding and more about the people she surrounds herself with. The cult is well written and interesting, brining to mind the Jonestown Commune in Guyana with its mass suicide and the Branch Davidians.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
July 4, 2020
A very well done book. I read it in one sitting. It grabs you right away and you have to know what happens.
Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire.
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.
But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.
At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.
Caitlin went in search of her mother...but what she found may set the world on fire.
Caitlin Bergman's mother is dead. That's what the award-winning journalist has told everyone for the past forty years. Easier to lie than explain how Maya abandoned her only daughter before dropping off the map forever.
But when a rural sheriff invites Caitlin to the woods of coastal Oregon to identify her mother's remains, Caitlin drops everything to face the woman she's spent a lifetime hating. Unfortunately, the body--abandoned on the land of a reclusive cult, the Daughters of God--was left faceless. Instead, Caitlin finds the diary of a woman obsessed with the end of the world, one that hints the cult's spiritual leader knows the identity of Caitlin's real father. She's not the only one looking for clues in her mother's writing. Johnny Larsen, a violent white supremacist whose family runs the county, thinks the Daughters of God kidnapped his teen-aged daughter--and will do anything to get her back.
At the top of a hill, an army of women wait for the end of days. In the town below, the Larsens plot to purify their county. Caught in the middle, Caitlin must decide which is more important--learning the truth about her past, or saving Mama Maya's chosen daughters from the end of the world.
September 8, 2020
When award-winning journalist Caitlin Bergman gets a request to drop everything and fly to Oregon to identify remains believed to be those of her mother, she’s unsure she wants to make the effort. After a lifetime of hating the woman, why bother? It won’t change anything. Or will it? When the investigator in Caitlin forces her to pack a bag and get on the plane, there’s no turning back. Maybe she’ll find the answers she’s been hoping for her entire life. Maybe even the name of her biological father. But what she finds in the rural coastal town is more than a little disturbing. The dead woman has no face. There’s no way for Caitlin to identify the physical body as her mother. But the contents of the woman’s diary—an obsessive diatribe on her end-of the-world beliefs—make it clear that Caitlin is the daughter of whoever penned the apocalyptic predictions. Beneath the façade of this quaint coastal village lies as many secrets as there are trees in the woods. Between the true-believer members of the Daughters of God cult and a sadistic white supremacist looking for revenge, Caitlin has her work cut out for her in trying to uncover her personal truth and save the world from the end-of days. “Sins of the Mother,” the second book in the Caitlin Bergman series, is a well-crafted, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave the reader eagerly awaiting book three. I received an advanced reader’s copy for review purposes from NetGalley.
August 16, 2020
If you are interested in fiction concerning cults, then 2020 is most definitely a stellar year with the releases of both Todd Keisling’s stunning Devil's Creek and James Brodgen’s excellent Bone Harvest. While both those novels are traditional horror stories, August Norman’s fiendishly well-plotted Sins of the Mother is more of a thriller and does not contain anything of a supernatural nature. However, do not let that fact put you off, as there was much to enjoy in this intense journalistic driven page-turner.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
September 6, 2020
Caitlin Bergman has been through a lot in her life- and has kept moving forward. She's a journalist and a good one. She's also tough. The one thing she didn't expect was to get a call from Oregon telling her that her mother, who she's never known, is dead and that her DNA will help cement the identification. The other thing she didn't expect was the Daughters of God, a cult where her mother had evidently been all those years. This being a thriller, you know there will be more to the story and there is but no spoilers from me. She still wants to know who her father was and she's got to deal with Johnny Larssen, a white supremicist whose tentacles reach everywhere. This is the second in the series but Norman does a good jog of providing background info so it's fine as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the arc. A fast paced read with good characters- and I want to know what's ahead for her.
September 9, 2020
Reporter Caitlin Bergman gets a call from a sheriff claiming that her birth mother has been found dead in a remote part of Oregon. Caitlin travels to Coos County but is not able to identify the remains. A safe deposit key leads them to a box containing ID and a diary detailing Maya Aronson's life with a cult, the Daughters of God. At the same time, white supremacist Johnny Anders is determined to get his 13-year daughter Promise out of the group's clutches at any cost. With the help of NPR intern and friend Lakshmi and a former member of the group, Caitlin devises a plan to save both her mother (now called Magda) and Promise before it is too late.
This was a gripping story about cult members waiting for the apocalypse as raging wildfires race towards their complex.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
This was a gripping story about cult members waiting for the apocalypse as raging wildfires race towards their complex.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
September 22, 2020
I really wish I could say that I enjoyed this books but it so was not for me. First off I have to say that I didn’t know that this book was the second in a series. I’m not entirely sure that reading the first book would have helped me enjoy this book more…i really don’t know. Honestly for me the story just seemed all over the place and it was very hard to connect with the main character. She wasn’t likable at all. Not saying you have to like every book character to enjoy a book but ya know. Again I did not know that this was book 2 and if I had known that sooner I would have probably taken the time to read the first one. Anyway just because I didn’t like the books doesn’t mean that others won’t love it. But next time ill make sure that to check if the book is part of a series or a stand alone.
Thank you so much to Books Forward and the publisher for sending me a digital copy!
*I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a honest review*
Thank you so much to Books Forward and the publisher for sending me a digital copy!
*I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a honest review*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews