Lucinda Berry, bestselling author of The Perfect Child and The Secrets of Us, returns with another dark psychological thriller, Under Her Care. Set in a small Alabama town simmering with secrets and suspicion, this story digs deep into the disturbing intersection of motherhood, mental health, and murder. As always, Berry draws from her background as a former clinical psychologist, blending her understanding of trauma and psychology with the intensity of crime fiction.
The story opens with a shocking crime: the mayor’s wife is found brutally murdered beneath a railroad bridge. Standing beside her body is fourteen-year-old Mason Hill, the autistic son of Genevieve Hill, a former Miss USA. When the town rushes to judgment, labeling Mason as the obvious killer, local autism expert Casey Walker is brought in to consult. As Casey delves deeper into the Hill family, she realizes that nothing is as simple as it appears. Beneath Genevieve’s glossy exterior and her fierce maternal devotion lies a web of secrets, manipulation, and danger. And when a second murder occurs, Casey’s world unravels in ways she never could have foreseen.
Lucinda Berry’s strength has always been her ability to weave psychology into her thrillers, creating characters that feel both damaged and real. Under Her Care is no exception. The novel explores how parental love can become twisted when driven by fear, shame, and denial. Genevieve is both sympathetic and infuriating a mother who will do anything to protect her son, even when her choices have devastating consequences.
However, not all readers were impressed with this execution. Some felt the book lacked the precision and power of Berry’s earlier works. Reviewer Lit with Leigh, who has long praised Berry’s writing, called this novel “off the rails,” criticizing its heavy-handed narration and unnecessary details. The dialogue occasionally feels forced, and some characters, particularly Casey Walker, come across as more symbolic than human. As Leigh noted, “Casey was clearly there to act as a mouthpiece for autism awareness,” rather than as a believable consultant in a murder case.
Others, like Nina from NinjasBooks, had a more positive experience, calling it “fast-paced and impossible to put down.” She praised the alternating perspectives and the slow, unsettling reveal of the truth behind the Hill family’s dysfunction. The story’s tension builds steadily, and while the final chapters feel a bit rushed, the shocking ending stays true to Berry’s signature emotional punch.
Still, the book’s treatment of autism has sparked meaningful criticism. Nisi Reads, an autistic reviewer, expressed disappointment in how the story handles representation. From the use of “person-first” language (“kids with autism”) to the stereotypical portrayal of Mason’s traits such as his fixation on trains the depiction feels outdated and at times insensitive. The novel also references controversial behavioral therapies like ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), which many in the autistic community now view as harmful. For some readers, these missteps overshadowed the suspense and emotional complexity of the story.
Despite these flaws, Under Her Care remains a haunting exploration of what happens when love turns obsessive and when good intentions cross into moral darkness. It asks difficult questions: How far will a mother go to protect her child? And what happens when our understanding of innocence collides with the harsh realities of human behavior?
Final Thoughts:
Under Her Care is a tense, emotionally charged thriller that blends psychology, crime, and family drama into a darkly compelling read. While it may not reach the heights of Berry’s strongest novels, it still showcases her talent for delving into the human mind’s most fragile corners. Whether you love it or question its approach, this book will leave you thinking long after you close the final page.
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