A Mother Always Knows Summary, Characters and Themes
A Mother Always Knows by Sarah Strohmeyer is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into themes of family, trauma, and the long-lasting impact of secrets. The story centers around Stella, who, as a child, witnessed the brutal murder of her mother, Astraea, by a cult.
As an adult, she attempts to live a quiet life as an archivist, but the airing of a true crime episode about her mother’s murder forces her back into the world she has long tried to escape. The book takes the reader on a tense journey filled with revelations, betrayal, and a fight for survival as Stella uncovers the truth about her mother’s past and the dangerous cult that has haunted her family for years.
Summary
The story begins on June 21, 2003, when a young Astraea is left alone in the woods by her mother during a summer solstice celebration at a commune. She falls asleep under a honeysuckle bush, but wakes up to the sounds of a terrifying howl.
Despite her fear, she ventures further into the woods and discovers her mother’s body, face down in a stream with a fatal injury to her skull. As Astraea struggles to comprehend the events unfolding around her, a godlike figure named Cernunnos warns her to keep the incident a secret and takes her to a cave.
Left alone in the cave, Astraea is now truly isolated and terrified.
Fast forward to 2023, and Stella, now an adult, works as an archivist at the Cambridge Public Library. After a true crime episode about her mother’s murder airs, Stella’s identity is revealed, and her past resurfaces.
She had witnessed her mother’s murder years ago, and now, she fears the cult responsible for her mother’s death is coming after her. The cult, still active, is determined to silence anyone who knows the truth about what happened, and Stella has always lived in fear of them.
Stella’s life becomes even more complicated when she meets Ashleigh Retter, a teenager associated with a book-banning group called Young Souls Matter (YSM). Ashleigh’s interest in Stella grows when she notices her unusual footwear and connects her to the unsolved mystery of her mother’s death.
This sparks a series of conspiracy theories online, implicating Stella and her father, leading to online harassment and threats. The cult also sends Stella a chilling email warning her to remain silent.
Desperate for help, Stella reaches out to Trooper Oswald, a former detective who had worked on her mother’s case. She also begins receiving disturbing messages on the dark web, suggesting that the cult is still monitoring her and her family.
Matters escalate further when Stella is evicted from her apartment by her roommates, Logan and Mari, who can no longer live with her due to the online revelations. Forced out of her home, Stella finds refuge with a colleague named Figurina (Fig), though she knows that the threat from the cult still looms large.
Stella soon learns that her mother’s murderer may not be who she initially believed. As the investigation into the murder deepens, Stella starts to piece together the cult’s continued manipulation and control, particularly under the leadership of Radcliffe MacBeath.
A series of revelations point to a larger conspiracy involving her mother’s death, and Stella is forced to confront the disturbing truth about the events that transpired years ago.
Meanwhile, in a parallel storyline, Ben, a man connected to the commune, experiences a strange and unsettling day. While having lunch with his wife, Priti, he receives troubling news and isolates himself to handle the situation.
Priti, who has been struggling with the overprotectiveness of her husband due to a past trauma, becomes suspicious of Ben’s behavior. She uncovers a disturbing connection between Ben and an old murder mystery involving his family.
Ben had once been a suspect in the murder of a psychic named Rose Santos, whose death was somehow linked to his family and the commune.
As Priti continues to dig deeper into Ben’s past, she uncovers unsettling truths that shake her trust in him. She learns that Ben had a relationship with Rose, and after their breakup, he may have been involved in her murder.
This revelation sends Priti into a spiral of confusion and fear, especially when she discovers that Ben’s ex-wife, Charlotte, may be hiding crucial information about the case. Priti’s investigation into Ben’s past leads her to uncover disturbing connections between him and Radcliffe MacBeath, the leader of the cult that has plagued Stella’s life.
As Priti’s suspicions grow, she embarks on a journey into the Vermont wilderness with a local friend, Bogey. The two head to an old cabin, but the journey quickly takes a dark turn.
Bogey reveals unsettling details about Ben’s possible involvement in Rose’s murder and his violent past. The tension between Priti and Bogey escalates, and she realizes that she is in grave danger.
At the cabin, Bogey’s obsession with revenge against Ben becomes apparent, and Priti is forced to make a desperate move to save herself. She manages to escape, but the ordeal leaves her questioning everything about her husband and the people around her.
Back in the commune, Rose, a key figure in the story, is determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of her best friend, Cerise. Rose suspects that Cerise was murdered by Cliff MacBeath to protect the commune’s reputation, and she plans to expose the truth.
As she tries to find Cerise’s body and gather evidence, she faces increasing dangers, including the commune’s enforcers, who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden.
Rose’s efforts to rescue her daughter from the commune’s grasp become more urgent as she navigates the dangerous, manipulative world of the cult. She knows that uncovering the truth about Cerise’s death is the key to exposing the commune’s corruption.
Meanwhile, Stella, who has unwittingly been linked to the commune through her mother’s past, begins to unravel the truth about the cult’s continued influence on her life. As she digs deeper, Stella uncovers connections between her mother, Rose, and the cult’s dark practices, leading to a chilling realization about the forces that have shaped her life.
The story culminates in a series of explosive revelations, as both Stella and Priti confront the twisted relationships and dark secrets that have shaped their lives. As they uncover the full extent of the conspiracy surrounding their families, they must face the horrifying truth about the men who have manipulated them and the cult that continues to control their fates.
In the end, A Mother Always Knows reveals the devastating consequences of long-buried secrets and the lengths to which people will go to protect the truth.
Characters
Stella (Astraea)
Stella, born as Astraea, is the protagonist of A Mother Always Knows, and her journey through the narrative is defined by the trauma she suffered as a young girl. At the age of ten, she witnessed the brutal murder of her mother in the woods, a tragic event that shapes much of her adult life.
Living under the shadow of her past, Stella has spent years trying to escape the memories and the dangers tied to her mother’s death. In 2023, she works as an archivist, but her quiet life is shattered when a true crime episode about her mother’s murder brings her back into the public eye.
Stella is a complex character who is at once vulnerable and resilient, constantly grappling with the fear of being found by the cult that once controlled her life. Her sense of self is tied to the need for secrecy, yet as she delves deeper into her mother’s murder, she is forced to confront the truth about herself and her past.
As the story progresses, she becomes entangled in a web of lies, conspiracy theories, and dangerous secrets, questioning the very nature of the people she once trusted, including her own family.
Ben Winslow
Ben Winslow is a key figure whose past is entwined with the mystery surrounding the deaths and secrets in A Mother Always Knows. He appears outwardly calm and composed, but underneath his exterior lies a man burdened by guilt, fear, and complicated relationships.
Ben is married to Priti, and their relationship is strained by the trauma of past events, including the death of his father and his own involvement in a chilling murder mystery. His connection to a past murder, involving a woman named Rose Santos, ties him to the dark forces that haunt the story.
As Priti uncovers unsettling details about Ben’s past, it becomes apparent that his calm demeanor hides a much darker side, potentially linked to the cult led by Cliff MacBeath. His association with both the occult and the mysterious deaths surrounding his family makes him a central figure in the unraveling conspiracy.
Ben’s role is crucial in the tension between what is hidden and what is revealed, with his personal history growing more suspicious as Priti digs deeper into his secrets.
Priti
Priti, Ben’s wife, serves as a central emotional anchor in A Mother Always Knows, navigating the complexities of her relationship with Ben while dealing with her own personal trauma. She is introduced as a woman dealing with her own struggles, including the emotional weight of past miscarriages and the recent discovery of her pregnancy.
Priti’s journey is marked by an increasing sense of unease, especially as she begins to uncover disturbing truths about Ben’s past. Her relationship with Ben, once rooted in love, is tested as her suspicions about his connection to violent events grow.
Throughout the narrative, Priti is forced to confront the possibility that the man she loves may not be who he appears to be. Her survival instincts are put to the test when she is forced to flee from a terrifying confrontation with a local friend, Bogey, who reveals shocking details about Ben’s violent past.
Priti’s emotional vulnerability, combined with her growing awareness of the darkness around her, makes her a pivotal character in the story’s exploration of deception, trust, and survival.
Rose Santos
Rose Santos is a deeply significant character in A Mother Always Knows, acting as a catalyst for many of the story’s central mysteries. As the mother of Astraea (later Stella), she is fiercely protective and concerned for her daughter’s safety.
Rose is portrayed as a woman driven by a need to uncover the truth, particularly regarding the suspicious death of her close friend, Cerise, within the commune. Her suspicion that Cerise’s death was orchestrated by the commune’s leader, Cliff MacBeath, sets her on a dangerous path of discovery.
Rose’s determination to protect Astraea from the cult-like influence of the commune leads her to seek help from Ben Winslow, an outsider with his own vendetta against MacBeath. Rose’s tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds illustrates her role as a strong, maternal figure who will go to great lengths to protect her child.
Her tragic journey is one of uncovering dark secrets and risking everything to expose the truth, even as the cult’s manipulative forces threaten to silence her.
Ashleigh Retter
Ashleigh Retter, a teenage character, represents the tension between old and new ideologies in A Mother Always Knows. She is part of a book-banning group called Young Souls Matter (YSM), which plays a significant role in the narrative’s exploration of censorship, control, and freedom of thought.
Ashleigh’s interactions with Stella are central to the plot, as she becomes the first to recognize Stella’s true identity and connection to the murder of her mother. Ashleigh is a curious character, with her initial judgment of Stella giving way to an unsettling realization about the deeper, darker connections between Stella’s past and the forces at play in their lives.
Her role as a teenager connected to a controversial group adds an element of generational tension and the power of ideology in shaping young minds, especially as she navigates the complexities of truth, deception, and power.
Cernunnos
Cernunnos, the godlike figure who appears to Astraea in the forest, is one of the more enigmatic characters in A Mother Always Knows. His appearance marks the pivotal moment in Astraea’s childhood when her mother’s death is revealed, and he acts as a harbinger of the secrets that Astraea must keep.
Cernunnos’ role is cryptic, and his warning to Astraea to keep quiet about her mother’s murder sets the stage for the ongoing mystery that defines Stella’s adult life. His presence in the story symbolizes the occult and supernatural forces at play, highlighting the cult-like nature of the commune and the control it exerts over its members.
Cernunnos represents the darker, more mystical elements of the narrative, serving as a reminder of the power of secrets and the dangers of defying those who hold control over others.
Rowan
Rowan, a former childhood acquaintance of Stella, plays a critical role in A Mother Always Knows as a representative of the dangerous past that Stella is trying to escape. He is a member of the cult that once held Stella and her mother captive, and his return to Stella’s life signals the growing threat she faces from the cult.
Despite his seemingly friendly demeanor, Rowan is revealed to be a tracker sent by the cult to bring Stella back into its fold. His persistent attempts to reconnect with Stella reflect the ongoing manipulation and control that the cult exerts over its former members.
Rowan’s presence in the story serves as a reminder of the persistent and dangerous nature of the cult, as well as the difficulty of breaking free from its influence. His interactions with Stella highlight the tension between her desire for freedom and the constant pull of her past.
Themes
The Burden of Secrets
The concept of hidden truths and the weight of keeping them secret is a recurring and significant theme in A Mother Always Knows. Stella’s life is shaped by the traumatic experience of witnessing her mother’s murder as a child, a memory she has been forced to conceal for years.
The struggle with secrecy is evident in how she attempts to move forward in life, even as her past resurfaces in dangerous and uncontrollable ways. Throughout the book, secrecy plays a pivotal role in shaping the decisions of many characters, from the involvement of cults to the buried sins of families.
Stella’s attempt to live under the radar while secretly grappling with the guilt of knowing too much highlights the emotional toll of carrying a dark past. The fear of what could happen if the truth is exposed, both to herself and to those around her, reflects how deeply this burden weighs on individuals who are forced into silence.
The theme of secrecy is not only limited to Stella’s experiences. The deaths of key characters and the manipulations within the cult serve as metaphors for how keeping dangerous secrets can have destructive consequences.
A Mother Always Knows explores how secrecy becomes a form of control, allowing those in power to dictate the lives of others and perpetuate cycles of violence and trauma. In particular, the secrets of the commune and its leader, Radcliffe MacBeath, unfold to reveal a tangled web of lies meant to maintain the status quo.
For the protagonists, coming to terms with the truth is not only a path to understanding their past but also a necessary step toward reclaiming their lives from the shadows of their history.
Manipulation and Control
A Mother Always Knows presents a powerful portrayal of how manipulation and control play out in the lives of the characters, particularly within the oppressive environment of the commune. Cernunnos, the godlike figure who appears to Astraea as a child, symbolizes the powerful forces that manipulate those who fall under the influence of the cult.
The members of the commune, led by Radcliffe MacBeath, use psychological tactics and exploitative relationships to maintain their control over followers. The theme of manipulation is especially potent in how the cult forces its members into submission, using fear and guilt to maintain loyalty.
Stella, now an adult, has lived with the knowledge of her mother’s involvement in such a system, where her mother’s death was but one example of the high price of questioning authority.
This theme is also apparent in the way certain characters manipulate others for personal gain. In the case of Ben and his involvement with the psychic Rose Santos, his manipulative behavior towards those around him complicates Priti’s perception of their relationship.
The characters are trapped in cycles of control, often not realizing the extent to which they are being influenced or manipulated until it’s too late. The novel paints a bleak picture of how easy it is to be controlled when those in power wield enough influence over one’s beliefs, emotions, and fears.
The manipulation at play often transcends the boundaries of cults and institutions, highlighting how individuals in personal relationships also exploit one another for control. In a world where information is power, the question becomes who gets to decide the truth, and what happens to those who dare to challenge the narrative.
The Influence of the Past
The past casts a long shadow over the characters in A Mother Always Knows, shaping their present lives in profound and often destructive ways. For Stella, her memories of her mother’s death are not only a source of pain but also a significant part of her identity.
Her attempts to distance herself from her past are repeatedly thwarted by the resurfacing of her mother’s murder, forcing her to confront the dark memories she’s tried to suppress. This theme of the past’s influence extends beyond Stella’s story to the lives of other characters, like Ben, whose past relationships with women involved in the occult continuously haunt his current life.
The characters’ pasts dictate their emotional and psychological states, often revealing the roots of their fears and desires.
The past is also a major driving force in the broader narrative of A Mother Always Knows, where events and decisions from years ago unravel to expose hidden truths about the cult and the complex relationships between the families. For Stella, her investigation into her mother’s death brings her face to face with the trauma she’s carried for so long, while Priti’s discovery about her husband’s involvement with the occult forces her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about her family.
The past, in this context, is not something that can be ignored or left behind but is always alive, informing the decisions of the present and ultimately determining the future. The theme illustrates how unresolved past traumas can continue to influence people’s choices, even when they think they have moved beyond them.
The Power of Female Relationships
In A Mother Always Knows, the relationships between women—whether through family, friendship, or shared trauma—play a crucial role in shaping the narrative. Stella’s bond with her mother is the foundation of the book’s emotional depth, as she struggles with the conflicting feelings of loss, love, and betrayal.
As Stella uncovers more about the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death, she grapples with the way her mother’s actions, even in death, continue to shape her life. This bond between mother and daughter is complex and often difficult, yet it’s the emotional driving force that propels Stella toward discovering the truth.
The relationship between Priti and her friend, Figurina, offers a different yet equally important aspect of female connection. Figurina provides support and strength to Priti as she faces her own personal crises, from her marriage to the unfolding mystery involving Ben.
These female relationships serve as a source of solace, strength, and wisdom, showing that women, when they support each other, can endure even the darkest of circumstances.
Additionally, the power of female solidarity is evident in the way Stella finds herself supported by other women who share her pain and her resolve to expose the truth. As women band together, whether intentionally or by circumstance, they provide each other with the tools to overcome the men and systems that seek to dominate and control them.
This theme highlights how women’s shared experiences, especially those rooted in trauma and survival, can create an unspoken bond that is often stronger than any external force or authority.
The Corrupting Influence of Power
A Mother Always Knows portrays the corrupting influence of power through the figure of Radcliffe MacBeath and his leadership within the commune. His control over his followers, including manipulating them into committing heinous acts and maintaining a tightly controlled environment, underscores the dangers of unchecked power.
MacBeath’s ability to maintain dominance and manipulate those around him reveals how power can corrupt individuals, particularly when they believe their actions are justified by a higher cause or belief. His control over the commune is a direct result of his ability to exploit and manipulate his followers, instilling fear and blind obedience to his will.
This theme is also explored through the personal lives of characters like Ben, whose desire for control over his family and his past leads him into morally questionable situations. The theme of power also touches upon the societal structures in the book, where systems of authority—such as the cult and its leadership—exploit individuals for personal gain.
The destructive nature of power is a key element in the novel, showing how individuals and organizations can manipulate those around them by positioning themselves as the ultimate authority, ultimately leading to corruption, betrayal, and violence. Power, in A Mother Always Knows, serves as both a tool for survival and a destructive force, capable of shaping destinies for better or worse.