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My Daughter’s Killer
A mother in mourning
Two years ago, Sarah’s husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret
Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn’t like the rest. She isn’t calling for help – she’s calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose
But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter’s killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over – and her family are in danger yet again.
Two years ago, Sarah’s husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret
Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn’t like the rest. She isn’t calling for help – she’s calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose
But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter’s killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over – and her family are in danger yet again.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 16, 2023
About the author
Jacqueline Grima
3 books20 followersJacqueline Grima has been writing since she was very young, her first experience of rejection when she submitted a short story to her namesake Jackie magazine in her teens. In 2015, after deciding to take her writing more seriously, Jacqueline embarked on a Creative Writing MA at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating with a distinction as well as the 2018 Janet Beer prize for outstanding contribution. Her work has since appeared in a variety of publications, both in print and online. Jacqueline writes in the living room of the home she shares with her expanding family and a greyhound called Nero. She spends a lot of time dreaming of having her own office. Her 'utterly gripping' thriller THE WEEKEND ALONE is out now in e-book, audiobook and paperback and her new novel My Daughter's Killer will be released in e-book in August 23 and in paperback in October.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 12, 2023
A mother in mourning: two years ago, Sarah's husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her mother, Claire, spends sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret: Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn't like the rest. She isn't calling for help - she's calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose: But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter's killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over - and her family are yet in danger yet again.
When Sarah met Drew, everything about him was lovely - until she married him, and he turned into a monster. Sarah was scared for her and her son's life's. Then the unthinkable happens and Claire is devastated. Claire starts working through her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women. She gets a call from someone telling her they know what happened that night.
This is a gripping domestic thriller. The story is told mostly by Claire and her husband Guy's perspectives. Drew has been convicted of murder and sent to prison. This is one twisted, fast paced read. I was pulled in straight away. The more I read, the more I needed to know. I couldn't put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #JacquelineGrima for my ARC of #MyDaughtersKiller in exchange for an honest review.
A woman with a secret: Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn't like the rest. She isn't calling for help - she's calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose: But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter's killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over - and her family are yet in danger yet again.
When Sarah met Drew, everything about him was lovely - until she married him, and he turned into a monster. Sarah was scared for her and her son's life's. Then the unthinkable happens and Claire is devastated. Claire starts working through her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women. She gets a call from someone telling her they know what happened that night.
This is a gripping domestic thriller. The story is told mostly by Claire and her husband Guy's perspectives. Drew has been convicted of murder and sent to prison. This is one twisted, fast paced read. I was pulled in straight away. The more I read, the more I needed to know. I couldn't put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #JacquelineGrima for my ARC of #MyDaughtersKiller in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2023
Sarah's husband has spent the last two years in prison for her murder. Her body was never found and now he has escaped and is out for those who locked him up, Sarah's family. A predictable but a good read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc.
December 15, 2023
Triggers - DV themes
A good read, although a little “jumpy” for lack of a better word. A smidge slow in places, and I don’t know that I enjoyed the “twist”. However, it was pretty pleasant to read, I enjoyed mom’s character and her personality. I enjoyed the way the author captured her love and drive from her child (and also her grandson), it was authentic. Plus, I loved the phone service that mom created. Not an “awful” book buy any means.
A good read, although a little “jumpy” for lack of a better word. A smidge slow in places, and I don’t know that I enjoyed the “twist”. However, it was pretty pleasant to read, I enjoyed mom’s character and her personality. I enjoyed the way the author captured her love and drive from her child (and also her grandson), it was authentic. Plus, I loved the phone service that mom created. Not an “awful” book buy any means.
September 18, 2023
Completely gripping and deserved of 10 stars out of 5!
Twisty and dark and full of horror (who hasn't heard footsteps behind them on a dark night in an isolated place and been terrified!) the characters are written to leap off the page and pull you into the story.
Absolutely loved it!
Twisty and dark and full of horror (who hasn't heard footsteps behind them on a dark night in an isolated place and been terrified!) the characters are written to leap off the page and pull you into the story.
Absolutely loved it!
September 15, 2023
Absolutely love it. Never saw the ending coming and I just couldn't put it down
October 8, 2024
Infuriating and predictable
August 4, 2023
Drew was the perfect boyfriend who became the perfect husband, and slowly became the perfect coercive abuser and finally the perfect killer. Sarah had fallen for his looks, his charm, his attentiveness and in a few weeks they were off on a holiday to Las Vegas, where the whirlwind romance culminated in a whirlwind wedding. Her parents, Claire and Guy, and friends were shocked but “Love” explained everything, didn’t it, and Drew was such a lovely guy, always solicitous for her welfare, always by her side, and so kind and helpful. Sarah basked in his affection and failed to notice that her autonomy was eroding and then vanishing, the visits by her parents were being shorter and rarer, that Drew always had some reason why she couldn’t meet her friends. Classic coercive behaviour but she couldn’t see it, even when the physical abuse started and then escalated. The birth of her son, Dylan, changed the dynamic. She tried to leave him – and then she disappeared. The police found Drew in their flat, with traces of an attempt to clean up blood, a witness to an altercation, and Drew with no alibi. Despite failing to find her body, Drew was jailed for her murder, Claire set up a help and support line for vulnerable girls, and she and Guy shared the care of Dylan. And then Drew escaped and came after them and the family had to organise against the risk that he would find and kill them all.
This is a psychological thriller, with the narrative split fairly evenly between Sarah’s life with Drew and Claire’s life since the escape but with flashbacks. As a portrait of how a coercive and abusive relationship begins and operates, and the impact it has on the wider circle of affected people, it is text book (not in a boring way). The plot, seemingly straightforward at first, becomes more complicated as the story progresses, partly with the reveals that arise out of Claire’s flashbacks but also from the interaction between Claire and Drew as he closes in on her; helped by a mysterious woman who conveys his messages and threats. There is a major twist, followed by a minor twist, followed by an unguessable final twist (there is a very slight clue early on but I didn’t spot that until the end). It starts with Drew in jail, and why, and is a bit slow thereafter, but there is a lot of detail (see text book comment above). It picks up quite a bit in the middle section and gallops towards the end. It’s a 4 and a bit and, since I thought the same for the author’s previous book (which has some similarity in the background) but settled on 4, I’m giving this one the benefit of that spare fraction and rounding up.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
This is a psychological thriller, with the narrative split fairly evenly between Sarah’s life with Drew and Claire’s life since the escape but with flashbacks. As a portrait of how a coercive and abusive relationship begins and operates, and the impact it has on the wider circle of affected people, it is text book (not in a boring way). The plot, seemingly straightforward at first, becomes more complicated as the story progresses, partly with the reveals that arise out of Claire’s flashbacks but also from the interaction between Claire and Drew as he closes in on her; helped by a mysterious woman who conveys his messages and threats. There is a major twist, followed by a minor twist, followed by an unguessable final twist (there is a very slight clue early on but I didn’t spot that until the end). It starts with Drew in jail, and why, and is a bit slow thereafter, but there is a lot of detail (see text book comment above). It picks up quite a bit in the middle section and gallops towards the end. It’s a 4 and a bit and, since I thought the same for the author’s previous book (which has some similarity in the background) but settled on 4, I’m giving this one the benefit of that spare fraction and rounding up.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
August 5, 2023
Wow wow wow what a book!!! I loved every single word I read. What I really loved about My Daughters Killer is what it was different from so many of the other thrillers I’ve read and it wasn’t what I expected at all.
Sarah and Drew haven’t known each other for long however they both believe they are made for each other. Sarah and Drew quickly wed and start a new life together. To anyone looking in Drew and Sarah seem the perfect couple, Sarah’s the perfect wife, Drew’s the perfect husband and they have their new baby boy Dylan.
Soon things change after just short while Drew starts to show his true colours and it soon becomes clear that he’s a far from the perfect husband than you could ever imagine. It soon becomes clear to Sarah’s parents that Drew isn’t all that he seems and they get a hunch that something isn’t quite right however they cannot get Sarah to open up, and every time they or Sarah’s friends turn up at the house Drew always finds good reasons to turn them away.
Now Claire is grieving over the loss of her daughter, it’s been 2 years since Drew was jailed for her murder, but now he’s escaped from prison. Claire begins to fear for her own safety, her ex husbands and her grandson Dylan’s,. That same night Claire receives a phone call from a withheld number telling her they know where Sarah’s body is, but how can that be as when Drew was arrested for his wife’s murder the police searched everywhere and could not find any trace of Sarah’s missing body.
At the start of this book I thought I was in for a fairly straight forward read, but as the book progressed it became clear there was a lot more going on than any reader could have thought possible. There were 3 massive twists that I didn’t see coming which for me changed the whole course of the book, and once the first twist made its appearance I couldn’t put this book down. It was pure genius on the authors part.
This was the first book I’ve read by Jacqueline Grima and it certainly won’t be my last I’m looking forward to seeing what else she has written.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.
Sarah and Drew haven’t known each other for long however they both believe they are made for each other. Sarah and Drew quickly wed and start a new life together. To anyone looking in Drew and Sarah seem the perfect couple, Sarah’s the perfect wife, Drew’s the perfect husband and they have their new baby boy Dylan.
Soon things change after just short while Drew starts to show his true colours and it soon becomes clear that he’s a far from the perfect husband than you could ever imagine. It soon becomes clear to Sarah’s parents that Drew isn’t all that he seems and they get a hunch that something isn’t quite right however they cannot get Sarah to open up, and every time they or Sarah’s friends turn up at the house Drew always finds good reasons to turn them away.
Now Claire is grieving over the loss of her daughter, it’s been 2 years since Drew was jailed for her murder, but now he’s escaped from prison. Claire begins to fear for her own safety, her ex husbands and her grandson Dylan’s,. That same night Claire receives a phone call from a withheld number telling her they know where Sarah’s body is, but how can that be as when Drew was arrested for his wife’s murder the police searched everywhere and could not find any trace of Sarah’s missing body.
At the start of this book I thought I was in for a fairly straight forward read, but as the book progressed it became clear there was a lot more going on than any reader could have thought possible. There were 3 massive twists that I didn’t see coming which for me changed the whole course of the book, and once the first twist made its appearance I couldn’t put this book down. It was pure genius on the authors part.
This was the first book I’ve read by Jacqueline Grima and it certainly won’t be my last I’m looking forward to seeing what else she has written.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.
March 7, 2024
This is one domestic psychological thriller that consumed me from start to finish. It's an epic story, and I'm surprised I haven't seen it around much, totally underrated in my eyes. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great one to buddy read with @Yorkshire.bookworm and @northyorkshirereader
It's got great topics and a unique storyline to compare thoughts.
It's deep in plot, with intense tension building and extremely twisted. The novel is dark and full of deception. My shock emotions were constantly running high. I had many "nooo waayyy" episodes when my brain calculated what just transpired, and the book took a whole new turn in events. I love a twisted thriller, and this gave more than expected.
The story is rich in characters. They were beautifully crafted and absorbing in nature. It's narrated by Claire, a loving mum who's mourning her daughters death and then daughter Sarah, the pratogognist of this whole tale with an astounding beaten down life and a harrowing existence in a toxic relationship. Drew is the abuser of the tale, dark, and a horrid character that you can't help but despise. Then Guy, Sarah's father, a mysterious fellow with the most sinister of secrets of all.
The chapters alternate between "now" and "then" creating an intense history and explaining the journey of how their lives changed forever.
The book was atmospheric, with goading paranoia and delicious in descriptive language. Let's face it, we've all experienced them mysterious footsteps walking behind us in the dead of night. It gave me goosebumps.
This book isn't always the easiest of reads. It's fast-paced but can be a difficult one to digest at times. The events are brutally honest and raw. It's a very memorable book and comes with an extremely powerful feminist message. No one should ever have to suffer alone and in silence.
Overall I'd highly reccomended reading this one. This is my first read by this author, and I love it that much. I'm definitely going to seek out more! Bravo, @jacquelinegrimawriter 👏
Thank you for a marvellous read.
It's got great topics and a unique storyline to compare thoughts.
It's deep in plot, with intense tension building and extremely twisted. The novel is dark and full of deception. My shock emotions were constantly running high. I had many "nooo waayyy" episodes when my brain calculated what just transpired, and the book took a whole new turn in events. I love a twisted thriller, and this gave more than expected.
The story is rich in characters. They were beautifully crafted and absorbing in nature. It's narrated by Claire, a loving mum who's mourning her daughters death and then daughter Sarah, the pratogognist of this whole tale with an astounding beaten down life and a harrowing existence in a toxic relationship. Drew is the abuser of the tale, dark, and a horrid character that you can't help but despise. Then Guy, Sarah's father, a mysterious fellow with the most sinister of secrets of all.
The chapters alternate between "now" and "then" creating an intense history and explaining the journey of how their lives changed forever.
The book was atmospheric, with goading paranoia and delicious in descriptive language. Let's face it, we've all experienced them mysterious footsteps walking behind us in the dead of night. It gave me goosebumps.
This book isn't always the easiest of reads. It's fast-paced but can be a difficult one to digest at times. The events are brutally honest and raw. It's a very memorable book and comes with an extremely powerful feminist message. No one should ever have to suffer alone and in silence.
Overall I'd highly reccomended reading this one. This is my first read by this author, and I love it that much. I'm definitely going to seek out more! Bravo, @jacquelinegrimawriter 👏
Thank you for a marvellous read.
October 30, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
My Daughter's Killer" by Jacqueline Grima is a gripping domestic thriller that delves into the dark depths of domestic abuse, grief, and the pursuit of justice. The story revolves around Sarah, a victim of domestic violence, who goes missing, leaving her family devastated. Sarah's husband, Drew, is convicted of her murder, but her body is never found. Two years later, Sarah's mother, Claire, who runs a helpline for vulnerable women, receives a call from someone who claims to know what happened to Sarah. As Claire digs deeper into the mystery, she discovers that her daughter's killer has escaped from prison, putting her family in danger once again.
One of the strengths of the book is its simplicity, with a limited number of characters, making it an easy and engaging read. The exploration of the difficult topic of domestic abuse adds depth to the narrative, shedding light on the fear and trauma experienced by victims.
The novel's plot twists keep the readers on the edge of their seats. While the main twist I felt quite easy to spot the final unexpected twist adds a surprising element to the story.
The author's writing style is fast-paced and compelling, drawing readers in from the beginning and holding their attention until the very end. The tension builds steadily, making it difficult for readers to put the book down, as they become invested in the characters' fates and the resolution of the mystery.
In conclusion, "My Daughter's Killer" is a compelling domestic thriller that tackles sensitive themes with grace and suspense. Jacqueline Grima's storytelling keeps the readers engaged throughout, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gripping mysteries with strong emotional depth.
My Daughter's Killer" by Jacqueline Grima is a gripping domestic thriller that delves into the dark depths of domestic abuse, grief, and the pursuit of justice. The story revolves around Sarah, a victim of domestic violence, who goes missing, leaving her family devastated. Sarah's husband, Drew, is convicted of her murder, but her body is never found. Two years later, Sarah's mother, Claire, who runs a helpline for vulnerable women, receives a call from someone who claims to know what happened to Sarah. As Claire digs deeper into the mystery, she discovers that her daughter's killer has escaped from prison, putting her family in danger once again.
One of the strengths of the book is its simplicity, with a limited number of characters, making it an easy and engaging read. The exploration of the difficult topic of domestic abuse adds depth to the narrative, shedding light on the fear and trauma experienced by victims.
The novel's plot twists keep the readers on the edge of their seats. While the main twist I felt quite easy to spot the final unexpected twist adds a surprising element to the story.
The author's writing style is fast-paced and compelling, drawing readers in from the beginning and holding their attention until the very end. The tension builds steadily, making it difficult for readers to put the book down, as they become invested in the characters' fates and the resolution of the mystery.
In conclusion, "My Daughter's Killer" is a compelling domestic thriller that tackles sensitive themes with grace and suspense. Jacqueline Grima's storytelling keeps the readers engaged throughout, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys gripping mysteries with strong emotional depth.
July 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of My Daughter’s Killer in exchange for a review.
I cannot deny that this was a gripping page-turner – BUT, for me, it was just unrealistic in the twists and turns. Certainly, I was surprised several times, and never bored, but it was too far into the realms of silly towards the end!
The story is told mainly through the eyes of Sarah, and her mum Claire – both in the present day and ‘before’.
In the past, we hear from Sarah about her wonderful and romantic new boyfriend, Drew, and how he surprises her and takes care of her. Quickly, however, this turns more sinister and controlling. After not too long, he has cut her off from her friends and family and become very abusive. I must warn that some of this was very difficult reading and really quite upsetting.
In the present day, Drew is in prison for Sarah’s murder and her mum, Claire, is now trying to help vulnerable young people like her daughter through a night time walking home helpline and volunteering at a shelter for homeless people.
But now Drew has escaped from prison and Claire – who is sharing custody of Sarah’s little boy Dylan with her ex-husband Guy – is terrified that he is going to come after her.
This was such a fast-paced thriller, with so many twists and turns to the story that my head was spinning! Definitely an exciting plot, and a tough subject matter to tackle – it really was terrifying reading what Sarah went through and imagining being in her situation and how horrendous it would be. But just a bit too far-fetched for a higher score from me - as in some parts just plain did not work for me, like I cannot believe the character would have done that based on what we knew about them!
I cannot deny that this was a gripping page-turner – BUT, for me, it was just unrealistic in the twists and turns. Certainly, I was surprised several times, and never bored, but it was too far into the realms of silly towards the end!
The story is told mainly through the eyes of Sarah, and her mum Claire – both in the present day and ‘before’.
In the past, we hear from Sarah about her wonderful and romantic new boyfriend, Drew, and how he surprises her and takes care of her. Quickly, however, this turns more sinister and controlling. After not too long, he has cut her off from her friends and family and become very abusive. I must warn that some of this was very difficult reading and really quite upsetting.
In the present day, Drew is in prison for Sarah’s murder and her mum, Claire, is now trying to help vulnerable young people like her daughter through a night time walking home helpline and volunteering at a shelter for homeless people.
But now Drew has escaped from prison and Claire – who is sharing custody of Sarah’s little boy Dylan with her ex-husband Guy – is terrified that he is going to come after her.
This was such a fast-paced thriller, with so many twists and turns to the story that my head was spinning! Definitely an exciting plot, and a tough subject matter to tackle – it really was terrifying reading what Sarah went through and imagining being in her situation and how horrendous it would be. But just a bit too far-fetched for a higher score from me - as in some parts just plain did not work for me, like I cannot believe the character would have done that based on what we knew about them!
September 3, 2023
This is my second book by this author, I loved My Daughter’s Killer and sped through the pages.
Sarah thought Drew was the perfect boyfriend, he treated her to posh restaurants and gifts, he was taking her to Las Vegas on holiday, what more could a girl wish for. The dream holiday turned their whirlwind romance into a whirlwind wedding.
When they returned home her parents, Claire & Guy were shocked as was her close girlfriend..
Sarah’s perfect life though soon becomes a nightmare, she feels like a prisoner in the flat which is their home. Drew seems to be able to know exactly what she is doing at any point of the day, her perfect husband has turned into a bully both mentally and physically abusing her, he takes her mobile phone from her and hides her keys leaving her trapped at home
The story unfolds and is told by Sarah, and her mother, both before Sarah is missing, presumed dead and afterwards. Drew is in prison for her murder, the pace picks up when he escapes.
It’s a very compelling read in places, the tension and suspense build, lots of twists along the way and a fabulous ending.
This is a 5 star psychological thriller which I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Net Galley and HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Sarah thought Drew was the perfect boyfriend, he treated her to posh restaurants and gifts, he was taking her to Las Vegas on holiday, what more could a girl wish for. The dream holiday turned their whirlwind romance into a whirlwind wedding.
When they returned home her parents, Claire & Guy were shocked as was her close girlfriend..
Sarah’s perfect life though soon becomes a nightmare, she feels like a prisoner in the flat which is their home. Drew seems to be able to know exactly what she is doing at any point of the day, her perfect husband has turned into a bully both mentally and physically abusing her, he takes her mobile phone from her and hides her keys leaving her trapped at home
The story unfolds and is told by Sarah, and her mother, both before Sarah is missing, presumed dead and afterwards. Drew is in prison for her murder, the pace picks up when he escapes.
It’s a very compelling read in places, the tension and suspense build, lots of twists along the way and a fabulous ending.
This is a 5 star psychological thriller which I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Net Galley and HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
August 20, 2023
I was thrilled when HQStories invited me to read My Daughter's Killer by Jacqueline Grima as I had recently read and enjoyed The Weekend Alone by the same author. Thank you so much for the ARC.
Claire's daughter, Sarah was killed by her husband two years ago but her body was never found. Now Claire runs a helpline helping vulnerable women when a caller rings in claiming to know where Sarah is. And news has just broke that Sarah's husband has escaped from prison. The family are in danger all over again.
I was completely consumed by this taut and twisty domestic thriller. It's full of tension and unexpected turns. The story unfolds over past and present timelines but it didn't lose its page and keep building tension. I'm not great at guessing the twists but I actually gasped at the twist in this one, my husband had to check I was OK 😂
This is a book I would highly recommend and one spoiler I will give is that nothing nasty happens to Boswell the dog 😁 I know I always worry about animals in thrillers.
Claire's daughter, Sarah was killed by her husband two years ago but her body was never found. Now Claire runs a helpline helping vulnerable women when a caller rings in claiming to know where Sarah is. And news has just broke that Sarah's husband has escaped from prison. The family are in danger all over again.
I was completely consumed by this taut and twisty domestic thriller. It's full of tension and unexpected turns. The story unfolds over past and present timelines but it didn't lose its page and keep building tension. I'm not great at guessing the twists but I actually gasped at the twist in this one, my husband had to check I was OK 😂
This is a book I would highly recommend and one spoiler I will give is that nothing nasty happens to Boswell the dog 😁 I know I always worry about animals in thrillers.
February 28, 2024
Fantastic book! You must read it!
I can’t believe how good this book was! I’m surprised I haven’t seen much about it! I read this book as a buddy read with and we just struggled to put it down!
This is a psychological domestic thriller with the narrative being split between Sarah then and Claire now. The plot is amazing with great tension being built and unbelievable twists! Almost all the way through I felt myself say “shut up”, “no way” out loud it was that good!
The book is very character rich and they are portrayed very well throughout the book helping you to paint the perfect picture of what they are like! At the start of the book I thought I was in for a pretty plain sailing story but the more you got into it the more it unfolded the more dark and deceptive it got!
At times it wasn’t the easiest of books to read because of the DV that was being described as it was raw and brutally honest!
It was a fast-paced very memorable book! It was my first read by Jaqueline Grima but it won’t be my last I am looking forward to seeing what else she has wrote!
I can’t believe how good this book was! I’m surprised I haven’t seen much about it! I read this book as a buddy read with and we just struggled to put it down!
This is a psychological domestic thriller with the narrative being split between Sarah then and Claire now. The plot is amazing with great tension being built and unbelievable twists! Almost all the way through I felt myself say “shut up”, “no way” out loud it was that good!
The book is very character rich and they are portrayed very well throughout the book helping you to paint the perfect picture of what they are like! At the start of the book I thought I was in for a pretty plain sailing story but the more you got into it the more it unfolded the more dark and deceptive it got!
At times it wasn’t the easiest of books to read because of the DV that was being described as it was raw and brutally honest!
It was a fast-paced very memorable book! It was my first read by Jaqueline Grima but it won’t be my last I am looking forward to seeing what else she has wrote!
May 10, 2024
I enjoyed the audiobook and it was incredible. I loved nearly every second of it. The only complaint I have is the twist at the end. It became a little over the top for me. I feel a few twist could have been left out and it should have ended at the boat without the "accomplice" there. Just a standoff between the villian and the two main characters. Then it kept going and just became a little silly. It was a well written and good "silly" though, just not what I'd expected. I still thoroughly enjoyed it though.
The narrator was incredibly good too and really brought the story to life. A few times I felt I was actually there with the characters and felt the fear and adrenaline they felt. The publisher/author couldn't have picked a better audiobook narrator. 10 stars for Elaine Claxton! I will be looking for other book read by her.
The narrator was incredibly good too and really brought the story to life. A few times I felt I was actually there with the characters and felt the fear and adrenaline they felt. The publisher/author couldn't have picked a better audiobook narrator. 10 stars for Elaine Claxton! I will be looking for other book read by her.
July 21, 2023
If you think this is going to be a run of the mill thriller, think again! Sarah has met, and very quickly married the perfect man, Drew. He inundates her with gifts and affection so she thinks he is the most wonderful man ever. Not long into the marriage he actually changes and becomes mean, keeping her away from her family and friends but always making her think it is her decision. There then comes the fateful night when Sarah is killed by her husband.
The story is told mainly from the perspective of Sarah’ mum Claire and dad Guy. How they dealt with the news that their daughter was dead and even seeing the murder scene. Drew is convicted of murder and goes to prison.
There are some wonderful plot twists and it was certainly a page turner for me.
The story is told mainly from the perspective of Sarah’ mum Claire and dad Guy. How they dealt with the news that their daughter was dead and even seeing the murder scene. Drew is convicted of murder and goes to prison.
There are some wonderful plot twists and it was certainly a page turner for me.
July 26, 2023
I received this arc through an invitation from the publishers.
Two years ago, Sarah’s husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret
Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn’t like the rest. She isn’t calling for help – she’s calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose
But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter’s killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over – and her family are in danger yet again.
Lots of twists and turns along the way including one massive one that I was not expecting.
What a fantastic story i could not put this down and stayed up into the night to finish it.
4 stars
Two years ago, Sarah’s husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret
Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn’t like the rest. She isn’t calling for help – she’s calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose
But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter’s killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over – and her family are in danger yet again.
Lots of twists and turns along the way including one massive one that I was not expecting.
What a fantastic story i could not put this down and stayed up into the night to finish it.
4 stars
December 16, 2023
How far would you go for your child even after they have married and left home.. This is a story of coercion, of abuse, serious abuse. Sarah has married, after a whirlwind romance, the man she thinks is the love of her life only to find he is an abuser.She cuts herself off from her friends and family to please her husband and to cover up the signs of Bois abuse. The abuse increases after the birth of her son leading her to plan her escape but the plan has fatal consequences.
The story unfolds raising many moral questions along the way reaching a very violent and surprising conclusion.
A good read which has the power to distrurb
The story unfolds raising many moral questions along the way reaching a very violent and surprising conclusion.
A good read which has the power to distrurb
August 3, 2023
I just couldn’t put this book down it gripped me from the first page Sarah met this lovely man until she married him then everything changed he was so controlling she was scared for her own life and that of her son’s until the unthinkable happens her mum Claire is devastated and starts working to help vulnerable women get home safely. Then she gets a call from someone who says she knows what happened to her daughter.
It’s the first book I’ve read of this author I can’t wait to read her other books.
It’s the first book I’ve read of this author I can’t wait to read her other books.
July 24, 2023
I have not read anything quite like like this before. It's an excellent addictive and gripping psychological thriller with an unexpected conclusion!
Both Sarah [the victim] and Claire [her mother] tell their before and after stories. Written with empathy I found it very sad and compelling. It's very hard hitting in places.
However without revealing too much, the killer is still at large and the suspense is unbearable!
Highly recommended.
Both Sarah [the victim] and Claire [her mother] tell their before and after stories. Written with empathy I found it very sad and compelling. It's very hard hitting in places.
However without revealing too much, the killer is still at large and the suspense is unbearable!
Highly recommended.
August 19, 2023
I really wanted to thoroughly enjoy this book, and I did up to a point. It was well written and intriguing but I felt the plot went just too far over the top. It was too unbelievable, especially the revelation about Keeley. This is when it all got a bit too silly for me. Definitely worth a read though and I’m sure it will be a massive success. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the electronic copy.
August 9, 2023
What an intriguing, plot twisting story.
Sarah has a great future ahead of her and loving parents to support her, until she meets Drew.
Drew turns their lives upside down, but he doesn’t always get his own way!
This book really had me guessing throughout, with no hope of knowing what the outcome would be.
A brilliant psychological thriller!
Sarah has a great future ahead of her and loving parents to support her, until she meets Drew.
Drew turns their lives upside down, but he doesn’t always get his own way!
This book really had me guessing throughout, with no hope of knowing what the outcome would be.
A brilliant psychological thriller!
August 10, 2023
Well this book is not just another run of the mill psychological thriller, it has a plot with many twists- some that you may not see coming! Although it deals with many sensitive subjects I thoroughly enjoyed the tension and suspense that built up with each chapter. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the chance to review 'My Daughter's Killer'. Highly recommended.
August 25, 2023
The alternating of the chapters between characters and timelines was done very well and it moved the plot along nicely. I felt the use of the tension of the women walking home in their own & feeling they were in danger was a brilliant touch. On the negative side the story ended up being too unbelievable for me to love it but it’s an easy read and entertaining.
June 30, 2023
A suspenseful, twisty psychological thriller with a powerful feminist message. This book had me absolutely gripped, and there were so many surprises I didn't see coming! Jacqueline Grima really knows how to unfurl a story!
July 30, 2023
A great domestic thriller that builds the tension with each chapter and has some great little twists to it. I fling this book hard to put down and read it in just over a day. It’s a gripping, pacy read. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
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August 17, 2023A well written gripping thriller. Very well plotted which keeps you reading to the end with plenty of twists with a ending that you don't see coming. Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for letting me read this ARC
April 10, 2024
DANG!
What a hidden gem! This is a psychological thriller. The twist were excellent. Zero clue what was coming. I love when I fall into an author I’ve never read before and the first book is a banger.
What a hidden gem! This is a psychological thriller. The twist were excellent. Zero clue what was coming. I love when I fall into an author I’ve never read before and the first book is a banger.
March 3, 2025
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I think every woman needs to read this. It is full of red flags. Are there good men in the world? Yes, I married one, but the dangers to women are real, and they need to know what to look for.
June 15, 2025
What a page turner!
I was so shocked at all the twists at the end of the story. This was an amazing thriller, and what happened at the end shocked me! I didn't see the twists coming!
I was so shocked at all the twists at the end of the story. This was an amazing thriller, and what happened at the end shocked me! I didn't see the twists coming!
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