Reviews

My Darling Daughter by JP Delaney
I give this book 4.25 stars

Out of the blue, Susie Jukes is contacted on social media by Anna, the girl she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago.
But is Anna's behaviour simply what you'd expect from someone recovering from a traumatic childhood? Or are there other secrets at play here ……..

A well told sinister domestic thriller tackling adoption and exploring several other deep subject matters. Each short chapter is told from either Gabe,Susie or Anna/Skye’s perspective and this works brilliantly as the story unfolds. I love the way this author writes,how he builds up the tension,inserts facts and information and delivers the twists and turns which make this such a compulsive page turner.I don’t want to say too much but there’s a lot more to this book than you might expect!
With thanks to Netgalley, JP Delaney and Quercia Books for my chance to read and review this book

piperkitty's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

My Darling Daughter
after giving up for adoption at a young age Gabriel and Suise Are shocked to discover a letter from their daughter. So a letter is brought back to the would be maybe daughter. Unfortunately I had developed some complications and has not given birth to another child so this is a major getting her life and does cause a lot of trauma. Throughout reading this book I unfortunately did not feel a lot for it the characters in stick out of me as having much emotion and it felt more like informative book than something from the imagination.

quaintrelle_chantelle's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This was an easy to read, twisty little psychological thriller. While I enjoyed the suspense & pace of the story, it did contain some pretty serious issues within. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea & I could see why some people might find the ending a bit disappointing, but I found it was the kind of book I needed to break my reading rut

sharada_mohan's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Rating 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Well, that was one of the best and most well researched psychological thrillers I’ve read!

I had read The Girl Before by this author years ago and loved it. So when I saw his new one, I just had to grab it.

Thanks NetGalley and Quercus Books for the ARC. Apologies for the delay with the review.

Synopsis -

Susie gave up her baby girl for adoption 15 years ago. Now a teenager, Anna contacts her birth mother on social media. But their reunion is far from perfect. Concerned with Anna’s dubious family life and her strange ways, Susie and her husband Gabe gear up to be there for her as her support system. Unfortunately, things are not as simple as they seem.

Review -

I loved how natural and utterly human every character Delaney pictures in this book is. Susie, Gabe and Anna are all flawed. None of their pasts have been easy - the trauma and damage as a result, are like a shadow to their personalities.

The multi POV approach and short punchy chapters worked so well. We have the narratives of all of the three and this helped understand each of them, knowing their deepest thoughts and hidden secrets they are running away from.

Furthermore, it’s how a 15 year old girl cast in a sinister role that steals the show here. Delving deep into the psychological aspects of a teenager who’s been adopted, the author explores the struggles of adoptive parents and adoptee with attachment disorder, as well as the kind of distress and anguish, the birth mother might go through under the circumstances.

Although there is not much action, what shocked me the most was the amount of evil and mind games at play here. By mid-way, the plot’s complexity increases, as multiple threads are conjoined cleverly, making it an all-consuming read until the very last moment.

I appreciated the author’s notes that outline his insights behind the adoption theme, the data that was gathered via research and interviews along with the imagination and creation of these characters.

Highly recommend this gripping and suspenseful read to psychological thriller fans!

sarah_21's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

chantalsbookstuff's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Well this book covered so much in a short time. It was more than the synopsis gave. We get to know Susie who gave up her daughter for adoption and the consequences that now haunt her and husband Gabe. 15 year old Anna is having trouble at her adoptive home and contacts Susie for help.

Delaney's writing really captured these characters. They are all so different and at times can feel the emotions right off the pages. With some difficult topics it still makes for a very twisted entertaining story. You get real feelings of sympathy for adoptive children and especially when it doesn't work out like its meant to. I did get a little frustrated that a 15 year old can be so conniving and get away with things.

A new author to me, and one that I will be checking out for other reads.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

aimless's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

More...