He Came Back For My Daughter

by Sonya Bateman

Please note this is a revised edition of Promises to Keep.

Twenty years ago he tried to kill me. I got away, but now he’s come back for my daughter.I was the one who got away. They called him the Singing Woods Killer, and for five long, horrifying months, he made the quiet suburban town of Dayfield, New York his hunting ground.

He killed four girls before me. I should’ve been the fifth.

I was sixteen when he dragged me into the woods. I remember his harsh breathing and heavy footsteps catching me, his weight falling on me. The broken branch I jammed into his throat.

It’s been twenty years, but this morning, I saw him again. Watching me. Taunting me.

He’s back for my daughter. My sweet soccer-loving girl who’s growing up so fast. She’s sixteen, just like I was. I won’t let him take her.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

Reviews

[Aimee Berg]

This book was positively a wild ride. Like what the heck. This family tree was like the Once Upon a Time family tree. Goodness.

Madeline Osborn reminded me of the girl in the horror movie who knows what she’s seeing, but everyone is gaslighting her and telling her she’s going crazy and she’s just been through a lot. Honestly, I was starting to believe she really was seeing Stewart, the man who kidnapped her when she was sixteen, but everyone was confirming he was dead so I was like uhhh?? Also her mom literally sucks, and I can’t believe Madeline had to go through being in a mental hospital alone, her dad killing himself after, Capgas syndrome on top of it, and giving birth to a baby. Poor dear. I wouldn’t blame her if she was crazy.

Honestly, I had Richard pinged as evil pretty early on. Homeboy wasn’t answering the phone and was gone for like whole days at a time when his daughter was literally kidnapped. Selma I didn’t figure that out though. I was like oh random old lady who runs the community center. Cool.

And then I find out she’s made this whole conspiracy and gotten her son, Richard to marry Madeline while her other son was in on the kidnapping plot when Madeline was sixteen, while her grandchild, who was also Madeline and Richard’s daughter together, has weird sex change surgeries done and is named Wendell of all things, and is part of a plot to ruin Madeline’s life because Madeline killed one of Selma’s sons who was literally trying to kill her. Yeah. Craziest book I’ve ever read honestly.

I think it was good that we didn’t see what was going on with Renata the whole time she was kidnapped because wondering what was going on made the suspense even worse.

All in all, this was a really good book with insane twists that will have you questioning everything. Ian I never doubted you and I’m happy you love Madeline still lol. Also I’m glad Carson and Madeline reunited, even thought what Madeline’s dad did to Carson is beyond messed up.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, while certainly a disturbing subject, also had some mean twists to it You’ll hardly see them coming, especially since they involve such disturbing elements that you will be shocked! All in all, it’s a decent book. I just hate it when the author adds some last action, that pisses me off-hence the 3 stars. But, I do like this author!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

He Came Back for My Daughter

This book is BIZARRE! You better take notes and make diagrams as you read because it’s super confusing!! I think the author goes in way too many directions. Some people might love that about it. I did not. I’d love to say more but then I’d spoil it for some.

[Lynn Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good read, loads of twists.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

There's 2 reasons it doesn't get 5 but I won't spoil anything in the book. It's very well written, I was able to figure some but not all out. The first third was a little confusing and slow but it picks up like crazy!! Couldn't put it down towards the end. The end is the other reason for 4* and not 5. Wasn't bad just also wasn't fully satisfying in my opinion. However I do recommend the book and the author!!

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, I wanted to give this three stars just to not be mean about the scoring but to be honest, it was just fine. There were far too many long descriptive sentences, and maybe that's some readers cup of tea, but not mine. If I've to go back two and three times to re -read a sentence because I forgot what it said then I don't want to read it.
* potential spoiler* The twist at the end was also too confusing to have a shock impact. Too much he's related her and she's related to me rubbish. Like delving into one big confusing family tree. In the end I just wanted to finished it. I didn't care enough to know who was who.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why is this book so highly rated? The writing is so amateur. Show, don't tell. I don't need to read about stupid tiny details like not minding about giving the waitress a large tip (why would you, you didn't even pay) or how kids aren't allowed to exit the car through the traffic side at school. Like, what?

And am I supposed to believe that a small town with just one store is busy enough for a rainforest cafe? 😩 How am I supposed to take a character seriously when they have never eaten an avocado before? Maybe you should have ordered the taco salad with the guacamole at the rainforest cafe, Maddie.

That's just the first 10% of the book. This type of writing is the worst.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have never been torn about how many stars to give a book. This one is crazy. I think reading it I was trying more on figuring out what was going on in the moment to even attempt to guess the ending. The characters were not rememberable, and I feel like you need a family tree, excel spreadsheet, and a glass of whiskey to read this book. I still don't know who was who, and when was when. Just confusing is the best way to rate this book.

[PRISCILLA WADE MCWHORTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME

This was a shocking read. I mean...when the truths came out, yes, more than one, my mouth dropped open. Let's not forget the whole.. "Where's the girl?" I just wanted to shake the memories out of her momma, lol. That would have driven me crazy. The ending will rip your heart out.
Thanks for another great read, Sonya.

[karin whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one stumped me until the the final page .Twists and twisted as it is, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Fast paced, great characters, and a very twisted story line A kidnapped victum escapes her capture and after twenty years, he's back....but for her daughter! My only problem being too many characters. But still an enjoyable read.

[Cynthia Locke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Wow! I absolutely love how this author can surprise me . That doesn't happen very often, as I am a voracious reader. The first book was great, and so is this one. I thought I'd read every plot line there was.....nope. I forced a great career for her. And, I like being surprised!

[Sharon Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this one, I wasn't even sure I was going to bother to finish it. Still, I persevered, and it got pretty interesting in the middle. I was even thinking that it might be a 5-Star read. Then, it went completely off the rails and became --- weird and bizarre. It was also too much. Way too much.

[Gena Webb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little convoluted but enjoyable

Tons of characters who are a challenge to keep up with. Also tons of twists and turns, most fairly predictable. The novel brings a whole new meaning to the term “long game”. Overall, a good, short read even though the ending wasn’t great. Absolutely kept me engaged and I read it in one sitting.

[michelle henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprises

Once again she has wrote another page turner that you will want to stay up and read to the end and boy oh boy was I surprised I even cried a little can't tell you why you half to read for yourself and oh please let there be another book you will understand when you read it

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agree with other reviews that a family tree and excel sheet are required to fully grasp the plot. Only three stars because I can suspend reality for only so long in thriller books.

I would have rated higher if the twist involving her *daughter* was a "I was in post-partum haze" rather than a forced transition (and back?).

[Barbara Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not thrilled

I really hate giving a book low rating but this was truly a twisted wreck. Confusing. Hard to comprehend the wisdom of it all and the fact that after all the turmoil, hard to believe sequences there was no closure.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daughter

Hard to put down once I got started reading and I read who,e book today. I guessed one person correctly around 30% in and another at 90% but the rest were a surprise. Loved the ending. Will check out more of her books.

[Brittany Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had me hooked from the very beginning. I cannot believe the amount of twists and turns. Every other page I was changing my mind on who it could be. I'll be thinking about this book for a while!

[Deepa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read a book by Sonya Bateman and loved it. I was really excited to dig into this my second Sonya Bateman.
I read this and was so disgusted that I have to write about it.
If you don't like books about paedophilia, incest and all those absolutely gross topics then I would recommend you give this a miss.

[Caroljane Azaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not very good at writing reviews, but I have to say that this book really was one that you can't put down. It started out a little normal but then really grabbed my attention, sat up all night once I go t into the story. Highly recommend if you like suspense.

[Cherie Williams Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

What a roller coaster... Who did it? Who did what? OMG, so many theories, I thought I had it figured out 10 different times in 10 different ways and all the way up to the last page.... Just WOW

[valerie gosling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling

Nitty gritty storey unfolds slowly keeping you guessing and keeping you turning the pages marvellous characters first-class plot.some not so nice characters

[Kaelyn Bohstedt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending was hard to keep track of, liked it up until then

[Sheila Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

My God, this book was just brilliant, all the twists and turns. I was fascinated with it! Can't wait to read more by this Author.

[Dianna ♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!! Talk about twists and turns!!

[Samantha Tobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

multiple twist endings and I genuinely didn't really know where it was going! Great book!

[Hannah Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only guessed one of the twists. The others I didn't see coming! So so good!!!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never saw it coming. This was such a good book and it kept me guessing til the end.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! And I don’t say that that often these days. This one had more twists than most Some I figured out and others I did not. This one kept me glued to the iPad

[Karen Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story!

Twisted for sure, A page turner that keeps you hooked from the beginning. It was so shocking and I loved it!