Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

 

Maeve started her life in a cult although to her it was just normal.  When she fled, it was to prevent another child from abuse but it exposed the cult and brought it down.  The main thing Maeve regretted was losing track of her best friend and cousin, Andrea.  Maeve was lucky enough to be adopted quickly and grew up in a middle class life.  These days, she is in New York City, using her education to work in the publishing industry as an editor.

Periodically she tried to find Andrea.  When she used one of the DNA companies, Andrea found her and they got together.  Andrea has done well.  She is an entrepreneur who is running a multimillion dollar company and she and her husband have just bought a mansion in upstate New York.  Maeve is embarrassed as her job is low paying, she lives in a tiny apartment and her main romantic interest is a guy she has just been sleeping with no strings attached.  

Andrea asks her to come up for a weekend.  Maeve agrees and rides up with Andrea's right hand help, Emily.  The company specializes in lifelike dolls and support for mothers from conception to grieving if necessary.  Maeve is a bit put off but glad to be back in Andrea's life.  When she returns to find that she has lost her job followed by a personal loss, she moves in with Andrea.  At first she is glad but as time goes on she suspects that things aren't as good as they see.

Anne Heltzel is known for her horror writing.  Like Maeve, she works in the publishing industry and like Andrea has moved to upstate New York in an old mansion.  In this book, the horror builds slowly as the reader tries to determine if Maeve is just unlucky or if there is malign purpose behind her issues.  The truth about the original cult is slowly revealed.  I listened to this novel and the narrator did a great job bringing the book to life.  This book is recommended for horror readers.