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Holly Jennings #1
Daddy's Home
One of mystery genres favorite authors writing under the psuedonym A.K. Alexander steps into the thriller genre with a daring and frightening novel. A serial killer of the worst kind is on the loose. The killer the police have dubbed "The Family Man," appears to be seeking out his "perfect family," preying upon single mothers and their children. He watches them...He takes them...and he plays out his role as the "the perfect father." Crime Scene Investigator Holly Jennings of the San Diego Police Department is determined to track him down and see that justice is served. With Holly being a single mother herself, this man's crimes are deeply personal to her, and turn more so when a friend and her daughter become the latest victims of "The Family Man." Along with tracking an evil killer, Holly is dealing with her own internal demons. She is raising her daughter Chloe alone after the death of her husband--a death she feels guilty for. To complicate her life further, Holly is doing her best to avoid possibly falling in love again with charming veterinarian Brendan O'Neil. As Holly delves deeper into solving the murders, she finds herself being sucked into a game of cat and mouse by "The Family Man," that may lead her down a dark path too horrible to bear. One that may cost her gravely-her family, her new found love, and even her life.
280 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2010
931 people are currently reading
2047 people want to read
About the author
A.K. Alexander
29 books165 followersA.K. Alexander writes gritty thrillers that will keep you looking over your shoulder. She explores the darker side of storytelling with daring, frightening, and suspenseful novels. These books are written for those readers who like to be thrilled and kept in the dark up as the suspense mounts with each turn of the page. Mingling her love of horses with a world of deceit, violence and desire, A.K. brings to life engaging murder mysteries.
Her gripping books are impossible to put down, featuring strong characters with complicated lives. A.K.’s books have appeared on The Wall Street Journal’s and Amazon’s Kindle bestseller lists.
A.K. Alexander is a pen name for Michele Scott. Under her own name, Michele writes contemporary fiction and mystery romance. To learn more about the author, visit her website at www.michelescott.com
Her gripping books are impossible to put down, featuring strong characters with complicated lives. A.K.’s books have appeared on The Wall Street Journal’s and Amazon’s Kindle bestseller lists.
A.K. Alexander is a pen name for Michele Scott. Under her own name, Michele writes contemporary fiction and mystery romance. To learn more about the author, visit her website at www.michelescott.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
January 30, 2023
There were so many parts to this book that were completely unexpected, I liked that it kept me on my toes!
Daddy’s Home follows Detective Holly Jennings on the hunt for a serial killer. The Family Man is targeting single mothers in his quest to have ‘the perfect family’. Can Holly catch him before more innocent people are killed?
This book was a whole lot darker than I had ever expected it to be. As a warning to any potential readers, a lot of triggering topics are brought up so please approach cautiously! I don’t want to give away some of the plot twists by stating what they were, but I don’t think I’ve ever read such a dark book before! That being said, I liked that this darkness came out of the blue and kept me on my toes. I also loved the hints of light that came through in the interactions between Holly and Brendan. There was a lovely message to their romance that warmed my heart.
I absolutely loved Holly’s strong, single mother character. It took me a little while to warm to her, but towards the end I truly admired her. She echoed the strength of so many single mothers that I know, with the added kick-ass detective aspect! I have definitely been left wanting to read more of this series to see what happens to Holly next. I loved the short chapters and swaps between multiple POV’s. I particularly loved being in the serial killers twisted mind. It added so much depth and darkness. Various characters are used in sporadic, one off POV chapters, but this wasn’t confusing as they always cropped up later on. If anything, I loved being able to get inside their head.
I would recommend this to any fans of dark thrillers but please be really cautious of possible triggers! I want to thank Tandem Collective, the publishers and A.K. Alexander for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
Daddy’s Home follows Detective Holly Jennings on the hunt for a serial killer. The Family Man is targeting single mothers in his quest to have ‘the perfect family’. Can Holly catch him before more innocent people are killed?
This book was a whole lot darker than I had ever expected it to be. As a warning to any potential readers, a lot of triggering topics are brought up so please approach cautiously! I don’t want to give away some of the plot twists by stating what they were, but I don’t think I’ve ever read such a dark book before! That being said, I liked that this darkness came out of the blue and kept me on my toes. I also loved the hints of light that came through in the interactions between Holly and Brendan. There was a lovely message to their romance that warmed my heart.
I absolutely loved Holly’s strong, single mother character. It took me a little while to warm to her, but towards the end I truly admired her. She echoed the strength of so many single mothers that I know, with the added kick-ass detective aspect! I have definitely been left wanting to read more of this series to see what happens to Holly next. I loved the short chapters and swaps between multiple POV’s. I particularly loved being in the serial killers twisted mind. It added so much depth and darkness. Various characters are used in sporadic, one off POV chapters, but this wasn’t confusing as they always cropped up later on. If anything, I loved being able to get inside their head.
I would recommend this to any fans of dark thrillers but please be really cautious of possible triggers! I want to thank Tandem Collective, the publishers and A.K. Alexander for sending me a copy of this book so I could give my personal thoughts.
October 23, 2011
Read on my kindle. This is probably one of those books that without the self-publishing freedom of Kindle and other ebooks would likely never have been read. I know that the author had responded to previous criticism of poor editing by explaining that a previous version had been loaded in error, however this book is still littered with typos and could do with a good editing, both of which made it more difficult for me to wholly enjoy it. That said, it is a relatively fast-paced easy read thriller, with twists and turns that have stayed in my mind. I really liked the disturbing nature and relationships of the killer, and parts of the book will certainly stay in my mind.
It very much reminds me of Tess Gerritsen's romance books; the author may take this as a compliment, however these were not Gerritsen's best books. Keep writing, tighten up on style and develop your own sense of who you are as a writer (also get someone else to proofread) and you will be fine. I'm saying this as I can imagine this writer will look at all her reviews...
It very much reminds me of Tess Gerritsen's romance books; the author may take this as a compliment, however these were not Gerritsen's best books. Keep writing, tighten up on style and develop your own sense of who you are as a writer (also get someone else to proofread) and you will be fine. I'm saying this as I can imagine this writer will look at all her reviews...
May 9, 2012
I should know better than to start a book like this on a day when I have a million things to do. I was sucked right in and didn't want to put it down. Who needs clean clothes anyway, right? In all seriousness, I thoroughly enjoyed Daddy's Home. It has everything a reader could ask for in a thriller. It has suspense, a really creepy serial killer and a kick-ass cop. There is also a really sweet romance thrown in as well.
I thought Holly was a great character. Holly is a smart, competent and tough cop. She is also raising her daughter alone. Her husband was killed when she was pregnant with Chloe. Not only is she trying to raise her daughter, now she is trying to catch a brutal killer. I also loved Brendan. He was so sweet and a great relief to Holly. I loved that their relationship progressed along easily without a lot of angst.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot. It has some surprises that will keep you guessing. While you do know the name of the killer from the start ( or do you?), there is so much more to discover. I definitely recommend Daddy's Home. I know I'll be looking for more books by this author!
I thought Holly was a great character. Holly is a smart, competent and tough cop. She is also raising her daughter alone. Her husband was killed when she was pregnant with Chloe. Not only is she trying to raise her daughter, now she is trying to catch a brutal killer. I also loved Brendan. He was so sweet and a great relief to Holly. I loved that their relationship progressed along easily without a lot of angst.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot. It has some surprises that will keep you guessing. While you do know the name of the killer from the start ( or do you?), there is so much more to discover. I definitely recommend Daddy's Home. I know I'll be looking for more books by this author!
June 12, 2014
I should know better than to buy Amazon recommendations based on my reading habits. No disrespect to the author, but perhaps throw in a couple of plot twists? As for Amazon, clearly you don't understand my reading habits.
February 11, 2023
See my status updates for more thoughts. Thank you to Tandem UK and A K Alexander for the opportunity to read this.
Unfortunately, it ultimately wasn't for me. I didn't feel much empathy with the characters - and I actually found it too violent! But I am a bit of a wimp about violence, so don't let that put you off.
Ultimately, the ending wrapped things up quite neatly, but I don't feel like I want or need to read the next in the series: one was quite enough for me. Also (not terribly relevant), but I really don't like the cover of this book - it looks like you're reading smut!
If you like crime, villains you can really hate, twists and turns, a bit of mind games, and some screwed up sexual cravings, then give this a go. I know people who have enjoyed it, so this is only my opinion.
Unfortunately, it ultimately wasn't for me. I didn't feel much empathy with the characters - and I actually found it too violent! But I am a bit of a wimp about violence, so don't let that put you off.
Ultimately, the ending wrapped things up quite neatly, but I don't feel like I want or need to read the next in the series: one was quite enough for me. Also (not terribly relevant), but I really don't like the cover of this book - it looks like you're reading smut!
If you like crime, villains you can really hate, twists and turns, a bit of mind games, and some screwed up sexual cravings, then give this a go. I know people who have enjoyed it, so this is only my opinion.
February 10, 2015
Another new author (to me) that I wanted to try out.
Man grows up in a majorly dysfunctional family. Now that he is an adult, he wants the perfect family. He goes hunting for a single woman with a young child. But his view of being a good daddy is really warped... ending in the deaths of both mom and child. He becomes infatuated with the lead investigator who also happens to be single and has a young daughter. You can pretty much take it from there.
I gave it 3 stars. It kept me reading, but its not too scary or thrilling ... It was well written, but nothing came as a surprise. Common formula for writing a book.
Man grows up in a majorly dysfunctional family. Now that he is an adult, he wants the perfect family. He goes hunting for a single woman with a young child. But his view of being a good daddy is really warped... ending in the deaths of both mom and child. He becomes infatuated with the lead investigator who also happens to be single and has a young daughter. You can pretty much take it from there.
I gave it 3 stars. It kept me reading, but its not too scary or thrilling ... It was well written, but nothing came as a surprise. Common formula for writing a book.
November 3, 2016
Sooo I really enjoyed the first 75-80% of the book until...
*SPOILER ALERT*
...the whole bomb will go off with cellphone situation. It just didn't really make since to me. Sounded a little cheesy and far stretching for who the killer was throughout the book.
Climax/ending seemed a little rushed as well. But over all a pretty enjoyable read.
*SPOILER ALERT*
...the whole bomb will go off with cellphone situation. It just didn't really make since to me. Sounded a little cheesy and far stretching for who the killer was throughout the book.
Climax/ending seemed a little rushed as well. But over all a pretty enjoyable read.
February 22, 2023
It's no secret I love a dark thriller. Daddy's Home is super dark and has real gruesome elements that I love. I don't like to give too much away in terms of plot, but when The Family Man starts killing single mothers and her children in the search for the perfect family you know you're in for a hell of a ride.
There's twists and turns galore in this book with a cast of somewhat unlikeable characters. It took me a while to warm up to Detective Holly Jennings, who's taking the lead on finding out why families are being slaughtered, but I really grew to like her. She's ballsy and fiercely protective of her daughter.
I got so many red flags from Brendan her love interest though, he's incredibly toxic, verging on creepy, and those red flags were waving.
Overall, the second half of the book was much more fast-paced than the second half, which isn't a problem. As I get there, there needs to be a certain amount of setup, and I don't really need to like all of the characters in thrillers either but I do need to connect or care in some way and I don't think I really did. With multiple Povs, getting in the serial killer's mind was my favourite. I just wanted more of that. I would say this is a thriller to read when you want something very dark, but please be aware of trigger warnings. I flew through this book. It's very addictive and hard to put down, so I would recommend that I definitely want to read the second book in the series, too.
There's twists and turns galore in this book with a cast of somewhat unlikeable characters. It took me a while to warm up to Detective Holly Jennings, who's taking the lead on finding out why families are being slaughtered, but I really grew to like her. She's ballsy and fiercely protective of her daughter.
I got so many red flags from Brendan her love interest though, he's incredibly toxic, verging on creepy, and those red flags were waving.
Overall, the second half of the book was much more fast-paced than the second half, which isn't a problem. As I get there, there needs to be a certain amount of setup, and I don't really need to like all of the characters in thrillers either but I do need to connect or care in some way and I don't think I really did. With multiple Povs, getting in the serial killer's mind was my favourite. I just wanted more of that. I would say this is a thriller to read when you want something very dark, but please be aware of trigger warnings. I flew through this book. It's very addictive and hard to put down, so I would recommend that I definitely want to read the second book in the series, too.
November 11, 2023
This one was... interesting. Had a lot of what felt like lulls in the story, but I get it was trying its best to set up a partial romance.
November 24, 2011
The media call him “The Family Man”. He is in search of the “perfect” family and he stalks single moms and their kids trying to choose just the right ones so he can insert himself to be the “perfect” father. Perfect until the chosen mother and child don’t play along with his demented fantasy and then he kills and starts hunting again.
Holly Jennings, a Crime Scene Investigator for the San Diego Police Department has caught the case. She lost her husband in another police investigation that went horribly wrong. She deals daily with the guilt that it was her fault. This makes the case personal because she is now a single mom herself.
The case gets even more personal for her as a friend falls victim to “The Family Man.” Holly start to realize she has to tread carefully as she fits his profile. One false move could cost not only her own life but the lives of others she holds dear.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Talk about psychological suspense thrillers, this one blew me away! Think Criminal Minds more than CSI. Holly works her way into your heart and “The Family Man” speeds up your heart rate to record levels.
The author has written the book in such a way that you become invested in the characters quickly. They are so fully developed, both the “bad” characters and the “good” characters. Their back stories are interspersed so naturally you can almost see them drawn on the page.
While the moments with the killer can get gritty and graphic, the times with Holly as her new relationship grows can be serene and romantic. Then as we get more into the story and the “chase” is on your emotions will run the gambit. I challenge you to try and put this book down! You will not be able to do it! It is filled with plot twists, surprises and one unbelievably strong woman!
This author has definitely found her niche. I want more just like this one!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Holly Jennings, a Crime Scene Investigator for the San Diego Police Department has caught the case. She lost her husband in another police investigation that went horribly wrong. She deals daily with the guilt that it was her fault. This makes the case personal because she is now a single mom herself.
The case gets even more personal for her as a friend falls victim to “The Family Man.” Holly start to realize she has to tread carefully as she fits his profile. One false move could cost not only her own life but the lives of others she holds dear.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Talk about psychological suspense thrillers, this one blew me away! Think Criminal Minds more than CSI. Holly works her way into your heart and “The Family Man” speeds up your heart rate to record levels.
The author has written the book in such a way that you become invested in the characters quickly. They are so fully developed, both the “bad” characters and the “good” characters. Their back stories are interspersed so naturally you can almost see them drawn on the page.
While the moments with the killer can get gritty and graphic, the times with Holly as her new relationship grows can be serene and romantic. Then as we get more into the story and the “chase” is on your emotions will run the gambit. I challenge you to try and put this book down! You will not be able to do it! It is filled with plot twists, surprises and one unbelievably strong woman!
This author has definitely found her niche. I want more just like this one!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
May 2, 2012
Daddy's Home is a chilling psychological suspense thriller that will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. The storyline is well written, it's non-stop action has so many twists and turns that it keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. The author weaves an intriguing story that drew me in from the beginning, and as the plot picked up I felt like I became an investigator, I wanted to help Holly solve this case and bring the killer to justice. The author provides realistic, strong and complex characters that are a lot of fun to get to know. I loved how the author made Holly such a strong capable criminalist, I was intrigued by her ability to work the case, especially how she profiled the killer and was determined to get him. I also loved how the author infused romance into the story, it wasn't over the top and it provided a great balance for all the heart-palpitating suspense that was the majority of the story. As a big murder mystery suspense thriller fan, I thought that the author's attention to detail was masterful, she provides the reader with a gripping look into the sick mind of a psychopath, and her description of the workings of a police department's crime scene investigation was top notch.
Daddy's Home is one gripping suspenseful page-turner of a thriller that is a must read. If you are a fan of the suspense thriller genre, this book is guaranteed to give you goose bumps, it is that good.
Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of the book from the author and/or publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, author A.K. Alexander participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews. http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Daddy's Home is one gripping suspenseful page-turner of a thriller that is a must read. If you are a fan of the suspense thriller genre, this book is guaranteed to give you goose bumps, it is that good.
Disclaimer: I received a paperback copy of the book from the author and/or publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in association with Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours, author A.K. Alexander participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews. http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
October 12, 2023
The book was very anti climactic. Very boarding. It got interesting when he started stalking holly. But then the dog showdown and like 5 pages. It was a terrible mystery book. The writing was aweful. And the whole plot line where Gunter was fucking his sister was so random and very disturbing. And where were the trigger warnings. Like come on. Like really. I’m never going to get those hours I spent reading back. I was really interested in the book at first. I was expecting her to be dating the killer kinda like in the mindfcuk series. But now. And the way it was solved. It was like she forgot she was writing a mystery book and had to throw the clues in their last minute. I’m glad I got this book for free on stuff your kindle day. If I paid for this book I would demand my money back.
It was like she wanted to write an episode of criminal minds but got bored or realized writing a well written book was too hard and took a lot of planning and just half assed it. And the jumps from scene to scene were so choppy. Like there is a way to smoothly move to another scene. For a second with the way Gunter was describing himself and all the characters in general, i thought a male wrote this book.
It was like she wanted to write an episode of criminal minds but got bored or realized writing a well written book was too hard and took a lot of planning and just half assed it. And the jumps from scene to scene were so choppy. Like there is a way to smoothly move to another scene. For a second with the way Gunter was describing himself and all the characters in general, i thought a male wrote this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2012
This would be a good book for anyone who likes a good murder mystery with some romance thrown in. For me, I thought the author spent too much time on the romantic aspect of the book, but that’s because I’d rather read suspense than romance. I really liked Holly, and loved how dedicated she was to finding the killer. I liked Chad too, and even liked that I didn’t like Robb, at least in the beginning.
I thought the story line was different enough, I read a lot of mystery/thrillers but this had a serial killer like none I’ve ever read. There was plenty of action and mystery, and it kept me eager to read more.
My only complaint is that the ending was a little off. For me it just didn’t end right. This is the first book by this author, but I’d definitely read another from her.
I thought the story line was different enough, I read a lot of mystery/thrillers but this had a serial killer like none I’ve ever read. There was plenty of action and mystery, and it kept me eager to read more.
My only complaint is that the ending was a little off. For me it just didn’t end right. This is the first book by this author, but I’d definitely read another from her.
June 5, 2012
Read this book from the exceprt in Andrew Kaufman's book, The Lion The Lamb The Hunted. Excellent writing skills for A. K. Alexander. Held me in the story, edge seat reading. I really enjoyed it. The story line and relationships were well written. This could have really happened, it was believable. I have never read psycologiacal thrillers before this was the 2nd one in 2 days...Kaufamn was the first, I think I am hooked at least with these two authors anyway!
January 1, 2016
Story about a serial killer who picks out a perfect "family" to get to know, then when they don't stack-up to his liking he kills them.
What makes this story particularly shocking is the fact he kills young kids. DOn't think I jhave read this type of crime novel before.
His ideal family is a mother and a child, so a bit of a stalker book.
It was an OK read, a few red-herrings and false leads.
What makes this story particularly shocking is the fact he kills young kids. DOn't think I jhave read this type of crime novel before.
His ideal family is a mother and a child, so a bit of a stalker book.
It was an OK read, a few red-herrings and false leads.
September 2, 2014
This book sounded very interesting and I was pulled in from the beginning. The plot was there, the suspense, the intrigue, the danger, although many twists and turns started to get overwhelming towards the end. I feel the author is very talented and the story developed in a way that kept me wanting to read on. Subject warning, there is language in this book.
September 5, 2015
Good thriller.
Evil, unfit parents raised evil brother and sister. Their relationship, criminal activities. Suspenseful page turner with some romance. Read and find out if it's going to have a good, happy ending.
Evil, unfit parents raised evil brother and sister. Their relationship, criminal activities. Suspenseful page turner with some romance. Read and find out if it's going to have a good, happy ending.
April 16, 2019
The actual storyline is quite good .. but the writing is just missing the mark. Some inconsistencies, annoying poor edits and no real flow. Too much explained narratively with incessant questions by the main character. It just lacked cohesiveness for me.
May 6, 2012
I really enjoyed this book...great mystery with hints to make you think it might be someone else...liked the way it ended...and would like to read other books with Holly Jennings if they exist!
May 7, 2013
Gripping thriller but probably not one I should be reading as a mother/mother-to-be as it centers on a serial killer of mothers and children. Easy read that you don't want to put down.
June 13, 2013
Couldn't decide if it was a crime thriller or chick lit. Very predictable storyline
October 26, 2015
A captivating read
This book starts off good and gets even better. Once I started I couldn't put it down!!! A must read!
This book starts off good and gets even better. Once I started I couldn't put it down!!! A must read!
February 8, 2023
Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk for this copy of Daddy’s Home by @michelescottauthor as a part of their readalong. Also thank you to all of the other lovely bookstagrammers for the great conversation over the last week.
Description 🔖
A KILLER STALKS HIS PREY….
A calculating and deadly killer is in search for what he terms as his perfect family. Preying upon single mothers and their innocent children, the police have dubbed him “The Family Man.”
HE WATCHES THEM…HE TAKES THEM…
He plays out his role as the perfect father. When things don’t go so perfect in his insane fantasy world, the family man kills.
HOLLY JENNINGS IS ON THE CASE….
Crime Scene Investigator Holly Jennings of the San Diego Police Department is determined to track him down and see that justice is served. With Holly being a single mother herself, this man’s crimes are deeply personal to her, and turn more so when a friend and her daughter become the latest victims of “The Family Man.”
Along with tracking an evil killer, Holly is dealing with her own internal demons. She is raising her daughter Chloe alone after the death of her husband–a death she feels guilty for.
To complicate her life further, Holly is doing her best to avoid possibly falling in love again with charming veterinarian Brendan O’Neil. As Holly delves deeper into solving the murders, she finds herself being sucked into a game of cat and mouse by “The Family Man,” that may lead her down a dark path too horrible to bear. One that may cost her gravely-her family, her new found love, and even her life.
General Thoughts 🤔
Firstly, this book was a lot! Well at least the last third of the book was a lot. The beginning wasn’t as thrilling as I would have expected, however I appreciate that as the first book in a series, a certain amount of “set up” is required. Once the story got to the juicy bits, it all got a bit much and for me personally, it felt a little bit far fetched.
Having said that, I didn’t hate this book. I’ve discussed this with the other readers on the readalong. I’m in a weird in-between feelings place about it. I didn’t feel like I was 100% gripped by Daddy’s Home, however I did keep going back and I did quite enjoy the story.
Characters 👫👭👬
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, however that’s not a problem for me. I’ve said it before in other reviews; I’m happy to dislike all of the characters if it’s intentional from the author. The key for me connecting to the story and the characters is that I have to care about what they’re doing or going through. Unfortunately I didn’t care a great deal, but I wouldn’t say I was completely disconnected from them either.
I quite liked Holly. She was ballsy and fiercely protective of those that she loved and I admired her for that. The series is focused on her as a detective and I would like to read more about her.
A lot of readers seemed to have a thing against Brendan which I am still finding hilarious. He didn’t offend me too much, however I can see how he would give some people the ick. He was very full on with Holly and could come across as a bit creepy, but I wasn’t too bothered by him.
Writing Style ✍️
Overall, I enjoyed this author’s writing style and was able to easily engage with the story. I really liked the short chapters as I think it helped to maintain the pace of the story and move it along. There were a couple of things that I didn’t love about the writing though. Firstly, there were some pretty horrendous scenes in the book, but rather than them feeling genuine, it felt to me like they were included for shock value. Don’t get me wrong, it was shocking, but I’m not sure if it was necessary for the story to make sense. Secondly, some things were bizarre to me (and this may just be a personal thing). The pilot license and private plane coming in from nowhere was odd. For some reason, Holly adopting a dog was so sudden and not realistic and I don’t know what it added to the story overall.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I finished this book last night and like some other people I have spoken to, I had to take a bit of time out before writing my review. I didn’t hate this book but I didn’t love it either. In retrospect, there was something that kept me picking it up and reading the day’s pages, so I was obviously engaged and interested, however I didn’t feel like I was invested in the characters which has left me with a bit of an empty feeling. I would like to give Holly Jennings and this author more time so I’ll be adding the second book in the series to my TBR and seeing how I get on with it.
Description 🔖
A KILLER STALKS HIS PREY….
A calculating and deadly killer is in search for what he terms as his perfect family. Preying upon single mothers and their innocent children, the police have dubbed him “The Family Man.”
HE WATCHES THEM…HE TAKES THEM…
He plays out his role as the perfect father. When things don’t go so perfect in his insane fantasy world, the family man kills.
HOLLY JENNINGS IS ON THE CASE….
Crime Scene Investigator Holly Jennings of the San Diego Police Department is determined to track him down and see that justice is served. With Holly being a single mother herself, this man’s crimes are deeply personal to her, and turn more so when a friend and her daughter become the latest victims of “The Family Man.”
Along with tracking an evil killer, Holly is dealing with her own internal demons. She is raising her daughter Chloe alone after the death of her husband–a death she feels guilty for.
To complicate her life further, Holly is doing her best to avoid possibly falling in love again with charming veterinarian Brendan O’Neil. As Holly delves deeper into solving the murders, she finds herself being sucked into a game of cat and mouse by “The Family Man,” that may lead her down a dark path too horrible to bear. One that may cost her gravely-her family, her new found love, and even her life.
General Thoughts 🤔
Firstly, this book was a lot! Well at least the last third of the book was a lot. The beginning wasn’t as thrilling as I would have expected, however I appreciate that as the first book in a series, a certain amount of “set up” is required. Once the story got to the juicy bits, it all got a bit much and for me personally, it felt a little bit far fetched.
Having said that, I didn’t hate this book. I’ve discussed this with the other readers on the readalong. I’m in a weird in-between feelings place about it. I didn’t feel like I was 100% gripped by Daddy’s Home, however I did keep going back and I did quite enjoy the story.
Characters 👫👭👬
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, however that’s not a problem for me. I’ve said it before in other reviews; I’m happy to dislike all of the characters if it’s intentional from the author. The key for me connecting to the story and the characters is that I have to care about what they’re doing or going through. Unfortunately I didn’t care a great deal, but I wouldn’t say I was completely disconnected from them either.
I quite liked Holly. She was ballsy and fiercely protective of those that she loved and I admired her for that. The series is focused on her as a detective and I would like to read more about her.
A lot of readers seemed to have a thing against Brendan which I am still finding hilarious. He didn’t offend me too much, however I can see how he would give some people the ick. He was very full on with Holly and could come across as a bit creepy, but I wasn’t too bothered by him.
Writing Style ✍️
Overall, I enjoyed this author’s writing style and was able to easily engage with the story. I really liked the short chapters as I think it helped to maintain the pace of the story and move it along. There were a couple of things that I didn’t love about the writing though. Firstly, there were some pretty horrendous scenes in the book, but rather than them feeling genuine, it felt to me like they were included for shock value. Don’t get me wrong, it was shocking, but I’m not sure if it was necessary for the story to make sense. Secondly, some things were bizarre to me (and this may just be a personal thing). The pilot license and private plane coming in from nowhere was odd. For some reason, Holly adopting a dog was so sudden and not realistic and I don’t know what it added to the story overall.
Conclusion & Scoring 🎖
I finished this book last night and like some other people I have spoken to, I had to take a bit of time out before writing my review. I didn’t hate this book but I didn’t love it either. In retrospect, there was something that kept me picking it up and reading the day’s pages, so I was obviously engaged and interested, however I didn’t feel like I was invested in the characters which has left me with a bit of an empty feeling. I would like to give Holly Jennings and this author more time so I’ll be adding the second book in the series to my TBR and seeing how I get on with it.
February 3, 2023
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this one, which is a shame because I was on a readalong for it!
The premise of this book is excellent - a serial killer who is preying on single mothers by infiltrating into their families as a father figure then murdering them. However, the execution wasn't good. The writing feels clunky and badly paced. The last few pages rush through a very action-packed, dramatic ending which felt underwhelming.
The main character doesn't do any investigating - she waits until the killer sends her a photo of him and then turns up at her house and she still doesn't clock who he is at first!! Similarly, her dad is supposed to be a retired FBI agent but his memory is so poor that he can't remember anything at all about the very similar case that he himself worked on??
Including a psychic always feels like a cop-out to me, especially when this psychic just straight up said everything correctly and yet the plot didn't go anywhere with it.
Finally, I couldn't believe that this book is written by a woman! It is full of sexist language and attitudes - every other page, Holly is being judged for being a woman by other characters, who make comments which are completely unacceptable in a workplace. But there are also just misogynistic viewpoints included by the author, which felt so unnecessary and drastically lowered my enjoyment of the book. Also, one of the characters says 'that's gay' as an insult?? In a book that's been (re)published in 2020? Could have just changed it?
Overall, I am disappointed by this book, which is frustrating because it sounded so good and I was kindly sent a free copy to read by Tandem as part of the readalong.
The premise of this book is excellent - a serial killer who is preying on single mothers by infiltrating into their families as a father figure then murdering them. However, the execution wasn't good. The writing feels clunky and badly paced. The last few pages rush through a very action-packed, dramatic ending which felt underwhelming.
The main character doesn't do any investigating - she waits until the killer sends her a photo of him and then turns up at her house and she still doesn't clock who he is at first!! Similarly, her dad is supposed to be a retired FBI agent but his memory is so poor that he can't remember anything at all about the very similar case that he himself worked on??
Including a psychic always feels like a cop-out to me, especially when this psychic just straight up said everything correctly and yet the plot didn't go anywhere with it.
Finally, I couldn't believe that this book is written by a woman! It is full of sexist language and attitudes - every other page, Holly is being judged for being a woman by other characters, who make comments which are completely unacceptable in a workplace. But there are also just misogynistic viewpoints included by the author, which felt so unnecessary and drastically lowered my enjoyment of the book. Also, one of the characters says 'that's gay' as an insult?? In a book that's been (re)published in 2020? Could have just changed it?
Overall, I am disappointed by this book, which is frustrating because it sounded so good and I was kindly sent a free copy to read by Tandem as part of the readalong.
October 10, 2023
No Spoilers:
I truly thought this book was written by AI- and not a well trained one. I saw potential in the storyline and enjoy dark themes, but overall “Daddy’s Home” fell flat.
I got this book from “Stuff your kindle day” and if it wasn’t free and I wasn’t trying to hit a goal, I wouldn’t have finished it.
Spoilers:
These are things I’m thinking after finishing this book.
Why was I supposed to care about any of the characters? Why was the douchey coworker douchey? What’s up with Brooke? What was with the psychic scene? Why were there so many unnecessary descriptions of how “beautiful and blonde” the children all were (from the POV of Gunter, it makes sense. From the POV of literally all the characters PLUS the completely unnecessary and unrealistic UTI scene (which had NO EFFECT on the story) it felt like the author wanted an excuse to cater to pedos). Same with the completely rushed/nonsensical SA scenes. She’s a cop. She thought it was a good idea to offer him a blowjob and chomp while he was piloting?? Why did Brendan or the husband have any significance?? Has the author ever listened to a woman speak?? How tf did the missing sister just happen to walk in? How tf did Darla get in?? Why did any of their backstory matter?? I’d also be a serial killer if my name was Gunther.
In summary, the book felt both uneventful and rushed. Little direction and railroaded. I would not recommend.
I truly thought this book was written by AI- and not a well trained one. I saw potential in the storyline and enjoy dark themes, but overall “Daddy’s Home” fell flat.
I got this book from “Stuff your kindle day” and if it wasn’t free and I wasn’t trying to hit a goal, I wouldn’t have finished it.
Spoilers:
These are things I’m thinking after finishing this book.
Why was I supposed to care about any of the characters? Why was the douchey coworker douchey? What’s up with Brooke? What was with the psychic scene? Why were there so many unnecessary descriptions of how “beautiful and blonde” the children all were (from the POV of Gunter, it makes sense. From the POV of literally all the characters PLUS the completely unnecessary and unrealistic UTI scene (which had NO EFFECT on the story) it felt like the author wanted an excuse to cater to pedos). Same with the completely rushed/nonsensical SA scenes. She’s a cop. She thought it was a good idea to offer him a blowjob and chomp while he was piloting?? Why did Brendan or the husband have any significance?? Has the author ever listened to a woman speak?? How tf did the missing sister just happen to walk in? How tf did Darla get in?? Why did any of their backstory matter?? I’d also be a serial killer if my name was Gunther.
In summary, the book felt both uneventful and rushed. Little direction and railroaded. I would not recommend.
May 23, 2017
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaways.
I don't know what bothered me so much about this book but from the day I got it, I could just not pick it up to read it. I found it very disturbing as I read it and again cannot tell you why but the fact it reached me so much tells me that it is a 5 star read.
When I began to read, I thought it no different than a thousand average mystery/thrillers I have read. But the author took it to places I did not see coming and added a few interesting twists.
I liked our main character very much. Holly is a strong female character who knows how to take action. She is smart and resourceful. She took intelligent actions that women should not discount as unpleasant in life or death situations. The author made her very well rounded, bringing in other aspects of her personality to make her more believable. I really look forward to reading more books in the series.
The book is very well written. I have read more graphic books that did not agitate me as much as this one did. As much as I was enjoying where the story was going, I would sometimes have to put the book down because I was too unsettled to continue reading right then.
The plot was well crafted and there were a few surprises. I look forward to seeing where this character goes in future volumes.
I don't know what bothered me so much about this book but from the day I got it, I could just not pick it up to read it. I found it very disturbing as I read it and again cannot tell you why but the fact it reached me so much tells me that it is a 5 star read.
When I began to read, I thought it no different than a thousand average mystery/thrillers I have read. But the author took it to places I did not see coming and added a few interesting twists.
I liked our main character very much. Holly is a strong female character who knows how to take action. She is smart and resourceful. She took intelligent actions that women should not discount as unpleasant in life or death situations. The author made her very well rounded, bringing in other aspects of her personality to make her more believable. I really look forward to reading more books in the series.
The book is very well written. I have read more graphic books that did not agitate me as much as this one did. As much as I was enjoying where the story was going, I would sometimes have to put the book down because I was too unsettled to continue reading right then.
The plot was well crafted and there were a few surprises. I look forward to seeing where this character goes in future volumes.
March 19, 2023
They call him the "Family Man". A killer who preys on single mothers and their children. He's hunting for a family to call his own but when they don't meet his unrealistic expectations, he kills them. CSI Holly Jenkins is on the case. With her being a single mother herself, this case is personal to her and she is determined to track this twisted killer down. Will this be a hunt that costs her gravely?
Review: ☆☆☆☆
I must admit, as a single mum myself, i was a bit wary of this book. However I couldn't put it down! I loved the different POV and being able to actually get inside the killers head to fully figure him out. It's rare that a book allows you to be fully involved in both the investigation and killers process. It is quite a graphic read and it contains a lot of trigger warnings, so please check these out beforehand if your sensitive to some topics. The only reason I knocked 1 star off is due to the ending feeling slightly rushed compared to the build up and the issue with the psychic 🔮
Review: ☆☆☆☆
I must admit, as a single mum myself, i was a bit wary of this book. However I couldn't put it down! I loved the different POV and being able to actually get inside the killers head to fully figure him out. It's rare that a book allows you to be fully involved in both the investigation and killers process. It is quite a graphic read and it contains a lot of trigger warnings, so please check these out beforehand if your sensitive to some topics. The only reason I knocked 1 star off is due to the ending feeling slightly rushed compared to the build up and the issue with the psychic 🔮
February 12, 2024
A Thriller in Every Sense of the Word
Very believable, follows the typical “thriller” format, except that the reader is aware of who the killer is from the beginning. A few things were predictable, but there were plenty of other twists and turns throughout the book that surprised me. Strong, independent female lead. Some disturbing content but not too descriptive, so hopefully not too triggering for those sensitive to such topics. Pretty well written, save for a few oddly worded phrases and descriptions, but SO MANY TYPOS, which is the main reason for my 4-star review. An extra word in a sentence, no space between two words (more than once), a hyphen in the middle of a one-syllable word, and even a character calling her own daughter by another child’s name. This book would have been a full star better had they taken a little time to edit and polish. Excited to read more books by this author/featuring this main character, but hopefully they use a more competent editor next time.
Very believable, follows the typical “thriller” format, except that the reader is aware of who the killer is from the beginning. A few things were predictable, but there were plenty of other twists and turns throughout the book that surprised me. Strong, independent female lead. Some disturbing content but not too descriptive, so hopefully not too triggering for those sensitive to such topics. Pretty well written, save for a few oddly worded phrases and descriptions, but SO MANY TYPOS, which is the main reason for my 4-star review. An extra word in a sentence, no space between two words (more than once), a hyphen in the middle of a one-syllable word, and even a character calling her own daughter by another child’s name. This book would have been a full star better had they taken a little time to edit and polish. Excited to read more books by this author/featuring this main character, but hopefully they use a more competent editor next time.
February 5, 2023
This is a dark thriller which tells the story from almost every character’s point of view, including the killer!
It was interesting seeing inside the mind of the antagonist of this tale. Being given an insight into why he believes what he seems to think are truths and behaves the way he does helps the story to progress and gives us the way in which his identity will be revealed.
Seeing a lot of our protagonist Holly’s private life helps us to understand her a little and also why those she works with might be a little more protective of her. It will be interesting to see how she develops in the next few books!
I did enjoy this book greatly, the only frustration I had was that I signed up to a readalong for it and had to read it therefore at a much slower pace than I wanted to …… until tonight, I just couldn’t help myself and finished it 2 days early. The reading had taken me to a place in the story where I just wasn’t going to put it down again!
It was interesting seeing inside the mind of the antagonist of this tale. Being given an insight into why he believes what he seems to think are truths and behaves the way he does helps the story to progress and gives us the way in which his identity will be revealed.
Seeing a lot of our protagonist Holly’s private life helps us to understand her a little and also why those she works with might be a little more protective of her. It will be interesting to see how she develops in the next few books!
I did enjoy this book greatly, the only frustration I had was that I signed up to a readalong for it and had to read it therefore at a much slower pace than I wanted to …… until tonight, I just couldn’t help myself and finished it 2 days early. The reading had taken me to a place in the story where I just wasn’t going to put it down again!
February 9, 2023
Dark and thrilling! This is one of those books that takes you completely unawares. The multiple POVs work beautifully, taking us into the minds of: single mother and sparky police officer Holly; her new love interest Brendan - single dad and veterinarian; a psychotic serial killer, and his twisted lover. Such a melée of characters. The plot brings us some surprising twists with difficult subject matter, but our focus is the strength and brilliance of Holly. I cannot wait to explore the rest of the series to see how her character develops. She personifies the mighty strength of single mothers. Every time I thought I was getting closer to the truth, this book surprised me. Superbly entertaining. It was such fun reading it as part of a 100+ TandemCollectiveUk readalong. #Daddy'sHome #daddyshomereadalong #akalexander #TandemCollectiveUk #tandemreadalong
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