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The Foster Daughter

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A woman with dark circles under her eyes stands on your doorstep, clutching a little boy’s hand. Your heart stops. You let her into your home once before, and it nearly cost you everything…

When you first took Riley in as a teenager, you showed her what it was like to have a family, as you piled homemade spaghetti onto her plate and brushed the tangles from her long, black hair. You thought she was grateful.

Until she disappeared one night. It shook your sleepy hometown to its core, and you were never allowed to foster another child again.

Fifteen years later, the doorbell rings. It takes you a second, but then you spot the unmistakeable deep blue pools of her eyes. “I’m so sorry for everything. Please help us, we have nowhere else to go,” she begs. Her sweet little boy yawns, and your heart cracks open.

Riley won’t say much about where she’s been. You don’t press her. But you notice how she jumps at every knock at the door, and the strange way she watches you sometimes. Then one night you find out she argued viciously with an old school friend.

The same friend who is found dead the very next morning.

An icy fear settles inside you. Why did your foster daughter really come back? What secrets are about to be revealed—and just how far will she go to protect them?

An absolutely gripping and unputdownable psychological thriller, packed with twist after jaw-dropping twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and Lucinda Berry.

Readers love Laura

OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!?… The most heart-racing book I’ve read in a long time, if not ever!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page… I started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at approx 2am… and although I’m knackered today it was 1000000% worth it!!!Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOW!! Just wow!!Mind-blowing, jaw-dropping, gripping… Once you pick up the book you just can’t put it down… My jaw was locked open… Never did I imagine that ending.” Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OH. MY. GOD… Excellent… Increased my heart rate Kept me on my toes from the very beginning… The reveal at the end is a true bomb-drop.” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plot twists which hit you like a speeding train! Had me looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was there! Addictive!… Had me hooked… Kept me turning the pages with lightning speed… Plot twists landed like a bomb!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow! That was one suspenseful and thrilling read. I’m still at a loss for words One of the best psychological thrillers that I’ve readSensational.

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2024

329 people are currently reading
321 people want to read

About the author

Laura Wolfe

12 books333 followers
Laura Wolfe is a bestselling author of twisty, fast-paced psychological thrillers. Her books include a 2024 Silver Falchion Award Winner (PROM QUEEN) and a 2024 ITW Award Nominee (THE IN-LAWS). Laura loves animals and nature. When she's not working on her next book, you can find her hiking through the woods, doting on her rescue dog, or binge-watching true crime documentaries and calling it research. She enjoys living with her husband, son, and daughter in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Follow Laura on Amazon and never miss a new release!

www.LauraWolfeBooks.com
www.Facebook.com/LauraWolfeBooks
Instagram: @LWolfe.Writes
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-wolfe

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5 stars
114 (38%)
4 stars
131 (43%)
3 stars
48 (16%)
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3 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Nina (ninjasbooks).
1,601 reviews1,697 followers
September 26, 2024
This was an enjoyable read and above average psychological thriller. The author definitely knows what she’s doing with all those possible suspects that kept you guessing. I honestly couldn’t figure out what was going on, and was very surprised from the first twist that came on about halfway through. It made you see everything in a new light, and added to the mystery of it all. And then there was the different relationships where you couldn’t figure out who to trust. Everyone had their agenda, and it was not obvious what it could be.

If you love twisty thrillers with unexpected events, this is for you.

I didn’t love the ending unfortunately, it was a bit.. won’t say more to not spoil anything!


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my opinion
Profile Image for Tonya.
780 reviews185 followers
October 14, 2024
Secrets from the past come back to threaten the future in this unpredictable, twisty, intense thriller. The first twist totally caught me off guard, followed by countless other mind-bending events. The beginning started as a slow burn, but the action quickly escalated toward the surprising, gripping conclusion. The narration masterfully brought the characters to life while adding a layer of mystery and tension. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
828 reviews86 followers
October 4, 2024
This book is a masterful web of tantalizing twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From the outset, the author skillfully subverts expectations, drawing readers into a conspiracy of past secrets as we accompany Riley on her quest for the truth.

Set against a backdrop of richly detailed settings, the story immerses you in a world where every character harbors hidden motives and secrets waiting to be uncovered. Riley, the determined and relatable protagonist, navigates a labyrinth of deceit and half-truths, making her journey both emotional and thrilling. As she unravels the mystery, we become deeply invested in her discoveries and setbacks.

The plot is cleverly structured, weaving together multiple timelines and perspectives that gradually reveal the depth of the deception. The author’s knack for planting subtle clues ensures that each twist feels both surprising and earned. The challenge of figuring out who is deceitful adds to the excitement, with several surprising twists along the way—though I did manage to catch onto one.

The secondary characters are equally compelling, each adding their own layer of intrigue and complexity to the story. From the enigmatic neighbor with a shady past to the charming friend who might not be as trustworthy as they seem, each character is meticulously crafted with hidden secrets that slowly come to light. The dialogue is sharp, and the interactions between characters are loaded with tension and subtext, making every conversation a potential clue to the larger mystery.

The epilogue was satisfying but introduced a crafty twist that left me uncertain. If it was intended to set up a sequel, then I think it’s a smart move. However, if it’s meant to be the final resolution, I’m not as keen on it.

Overall, it’s a highly enjoyable and captivating story, perfect for those who love a good mystery filled with unexpected turns and richly developed characters. The clever interplay of hidden secrets and the gradual unveiling of each character’s true nature make this book an unputdownable read. A solid four stars! ✨

Thank you to the author and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC.

The publication date is Oct 11, 2024. If you enjoy twisty thrillers, add this one to your TBR.
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
310 reviews117 followers
October 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Foster Daughter by Laura Wolfe. This book was pretty well paced with many twists along the way. It was a captivating book. There were times when the main character would explain something that was very awkward and seemed to be a different writing style than the other parts of the book. The epilogue was a set up to perhaps a book 2? But then again, it would end up being similar to book 1. It was enjoyable and I would recommend it. A 4 star rating from me.
Profile Image for Stacey (Bookalorian).
1,456 reviews50 followers
October 29, 2024

The Foster Daughter by Laura Wolfe

What do you do when you are in trouble? Return to the one home that you remember was safe… The foster parents you ran away from… They open the door to a woman they vaguely recognize holding the hand of a little boy but within a week of allowing her to stay with them… Someone she knew has ended up dead…

I loved it. It's one of those books that has you so twisted up you don’t know if up is down or left is right. It chilled me to my bone not knowing what was going on or who was telling the truth. The audio was smashing too. The narrator was bang on and I listened to the whole thing in one sitting.

No one seems to be who you think they are and this book will give you whiplash, in the best way, with all the twists and turns. I literally gasped at the end. Did not see any of it coming.

One of the best books I’ve listened to lately.

5 stars
Profile Image for Jo Lee.
1,168 reviews22 followers
October 11, 2024
Happy publication day 🎉🥳

This was so damned good!! More twists and turns than you can imagine, and a complete masterclass in keeping you guessing and wanting more from the story. I guessed a couple but while I knew who, I didn’t know why. Excellent!!

I have to be clear though that I really didn’t enjoy the narration, I messed with the speed a lot, and no matter what I done the voice sounded robotic, computer generated almost. The sad thing is that I really didn’t want to stick with it but the story had me hooked, and technically I should’ve rated this title higher, but I had to be true to the overall audiobook.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ELC
176 reviews
October 14, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to my first audiobook on their platform.
Unfortunately the narrator spoiled this story with her disjointed speech pattern, she broke up so many sentences where there was no need and made it uncomfortable to listen to. I think this spoilt the overall plot of the book and maybe reading it would be better but I would say I think the main character “Riley” spent a lot of her time explaining things that were happening in an awkward way.
Profile Image for Vicki Willis.
1,055 reviews81 followers
January 3, 2026
This book had me on the edge of my seat! It was tense and suspenseful all the way through. I kept changing my mind on what was really going on. The twists were great! The very ending of the book wasn't my favorite part, but I would recommend this one if you are looking for a fast paced, exciting read.
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,246 reviews135 followers
October 11, 2024
Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m an avid reader of Laura Wolfe’s entertaining psychological thriller.
Her latest intriguing read is The Foster Daughter.
A praiseworthy and jaw dropping tale.
After an incident, Riley and her four year old son Noah arrive back to a town from her past.
Needing a place to stay she calls on her foster parents Wendy and George.
Fleeing fifteen years prior, Riley has some explaining to do.
Her arrival creates tension, suspense, secrets and mystery.
And that’s all I’m going to say…… except read this book.
A great plot with numerous twists and a cast of sly characters that leads to a clever ending and a smart epilogue.
I had an inkling about something and I was correct but there was so much more to the reveal than I expected.
Another clever book from a talented writer.
Profile Image for RoosBookReviews.
422 reviews14 followers
November 18, 2024
Riley comes back to her foster parents 15 years after running away. Only it isn't Riley, It's her secret sister.
While I really wanted to like the story it felt very obvious and far fetched. There is no way that a foster girl disappeared (and from a set of parents that already had known issues) and nobody thought anything about the brand new hastily installed concrete patio? Also fake Riley had zero street sense considering she had been living in the streets for most of her life.
It was an average thriller and to a newer thriller reader it would probably be fine but a more avid reader is going to stop the issues very quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoture Audio, and the author for my copy of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christina's Library.
1,307 reviews32 followers
July 5, 2025
I loved this book! It was a twisty edge of your seat ride the whole way through. The characters both lovable and hateable, the plot were engaging. I loved the bit of romance in this one as well as the shining mother's love. We all want to do better for our children than we had ourselves.
Profile Image for Sharon Rimmelzwaan.
1,457 reviews43 followers
October 16, 2024
There is nothing better than a psychological thriller that has so much suspense running throughout. The Foster Daughter is that book.

Laura Wolfe is an author whose books I do look forward to reading. When this one landed on my Kindle, I wasted no time in diving in. I was hooked right away. The characters are fully rounded, and I had no clue who to trust. The intricately crafted plot just kept throwing twists and turns that had my jaw dropping and me on the edge of my seat in expectation.

The fact that the action begins straight away makes it such a fast-paced read. I just couldn't stop flipping the pages. Well, not until I fell asleep anyway! That's the only reason I didn't finish on the same day. Tension, suspense, atmospheric, and deep. All this together makes it a book that ticks all my boxes for an excellent read.
Thanks to Bookouture Books and NetGalley for my review copy to write my honest review.
Profile Image for Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews.
1,310 reviews110 followers
October 17, 2024
First, I want to thank Laura Wolfe, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

DANG!!! Laura Wolf takes you on a wickedly twisted roller coaster ride in her latest psychological suspense novel The Foster Daughter! This is a book you will need to clear your schedule as it is so intense you will just want to binge read it. Oh and the book sucks you in quickly as it is fast paced and totally addictive. You are going to want to put this one on the must read list.

When I say there are wicked twists in this book I really mean there are some serious twists in this book. Some of the twists caught me off guard and I even said oh snap to! Laura was really good at throwing us off the path for a few things if not more.

Laura created a very storyline that was very creative and was thought of outside of the box. I really loved that. Her story was unlike any I had ever read before.
Profile Image for Amber Rothermel.
464 reviews5 followers
October 7, 2024

The beginning of this book felt very amateurish. I was pleased to see that as it went on, it did get a little bit better. It wasn’t particularly twisty, as you can guess the who and the why, but it started to get a bit suspenseful at the end. “Riley” was a decent character, but was pretty naive for someone on the run.

All in all, it was just ok to me.

I enjoyed the narrator and listened at 2x which was the perfect speed.
Profile Image for Paula Williams .
952 reviews28 followers
October 13, 2024
I flew through this gripping psychological suspense novel! I love it because I was invested in the storyline & Riley. She’s a strong protagonist that I was rooting for no matter her secrets. Yet, there were many secrets that other characters harbored and twists right until the very last page.
Profile Image for Rachel the Page-Turner.
676 reviews5 followers
September 8, 2024
This book was so suspenseful, and I can’t even tell you all about it! All you get is what we know from the synopsis: Wendy and George Eckhart fostered Riley for about a year when she was a teenager, along with many other troubled teens. Riley was able to leave the awful group home she was in and live in a real home environment - but something happened. She ran away, and was never seen again. The Eckharts, who had done so much for the community, lost their permission to foster children after that, and everyone always wondered what happened to Riley.

Fifteen years later, Riley shows up at the Eckharts’ door with her four-year-old son Noah. She apologizes profusely for scaring everyone and running away, but she had gotten caught up with an older man. He took to her Los Angeles, and turned her into a sex worker/drug addict. When she became pregnant with Noah, she got clean, and has tried to put the bad decisions she made behind her. She refuses to mess up and let her son become a member of the foster system, just like his mother.

Wendy welcomes her back with open arms, and she and George let Riley rent the apartment above their garage, which isn’t much, but is fine for now. Riley just needs to stay hidden; some of the things she got herself involved in may have put her in danger. The plan is going well until at a barbecue, a local news station shows up to do a story on the foster child lost for fifteen years coming back home. Now Riley is really scared about her past catching up with her…

This is all really a small part of the books; early on there is a huge twist that changes EVERYTHING for the reader. That twist is followed by many others, until the jaw-dropping ending and epilogue. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, everything would change again. If you love twisty (and twisted) psychological thrillers, this one is for you! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Laura Wolfe and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is alters to be released on October 11, 2024.)
Profile Image for Els .
2,270 reviews54 followers
August 29, 2024
As soon as you open the book, you dive straight into the action. I had the feeling I was going to enjoy this book a lot.

And I did indeed. There is a lot of speculation and finger pointing. Lies are being found out and vicious secrets are floating to the surface. Friendships are being rekindled and new ones are being formed. Pasts are being left behind and the foundation for a new life is being laid. 

The question is though : can you really leave the past behind? 

I loved the surprises the author had in store. When a story is well build and things I did not expect to happen, happen, this really puts a smile on my face. But I am in awe too. I admire the way the author manages to glue me to the book with amazing storytelling. 

Sleep is so overrated when you are immersed in an excellent story like this one. 5 stars

Thank you
Profile Image for Shauntelle (myglamorousreads).
641 reviews58 followers
December 7, 2024
What a twisty thriller with an unpredictable ending! There were many suspects that kept me guessing right up to the end. I kept changing my mind as the story progressed. With twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, the plot developed well and left me questioning everyone and everything. I really like Riley's character. Very unexpected twists that were well written within the context of the plot. And that ending and epilogue?! My jaw literally dropped. I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Tamika.
46 reviews5 followers
October 9, 2024
Future readers, just know that The Foster Daughter is all about deception and hides so many secrets, it is a little difficult for us to review it without spoiling it for you... but I'll do my best!

"I'd spent my entire adult life honing the craft of deception."

Riley, the teenage foster daughter of the Eckhart's, ran away and disappeared in the middle of the night. Years later, she shows back up at their door with her four year old son. Where was she? Why did she leave? Why did she come back? Nevertheless, she is welcomed home with open arms. Life begins to settle back into some normalcy.... until Rileys past begins to catch up with her.

This book didn't fluff around at the beginning and jumped straight into the action! We loooovvve that! Throughout the book there is a lot of speculation, secrets unfolding, realisations made, and lies being unraveling. This made for a super interesting and engaging read. This book has lots of shocking twists and I didn't expect the huge one that came at about halfway through! Towards the end though, it got a little bit more predictable but because it seemed that everyone could be a potential suspect, I was never really sure who it was.

As for the things I didn't enjoy.... The ending hmmm.... I don't think I was a fan of the ending. Yes, questions were answered and then it was wrapped up in a nice little bow but I felt like there could have just been something more. There was a little cliffhanger at the end that leaves room for a sequel.
Another thing I didn't understand is the book blurb - I picked up this book thinking that it was going to be from the perspective of the foster parents but was surprised that it is in the perspective of the daughter, Riley.
The narrator did a great job but I thought that she gave the foster mother, Wendy, a terrible accent that made me cringe at times.

All in all, this was a suspenseful read that still had me up late listening and crawling into bed at 2am. I enjoyed this story and after reading this book I'm definitely going to check out the authors other books!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio and author Laura Wolfe, for an advance copy of this audiobook. Catch You Later is available from October 11th, 2024!
Profile Image for Caitlin.
313 reviews8 followers
October 12, 2024
It was enjoyable with a twist that I wasn't necessarily expecting, but I also wasn't surprised. This book was filled with a bunch of shady characters that I couldn't really root for, and I wasn't really a fan of them, but they all had a bunch of secrets that were exposed as the book went on, adding another layer of excitement to the story.

Cody was an interesting choice for an assisting character. It was good that he was always there to help when he was needed, and I felt bad for him at the end. Harper was a whole different story. I don't think she was meant to be likeable at all, which is good because I was seriously not a fan of her. She had her moments, but most of the time, she was unbearable.

The whole thing with the ex-boss was ended a lot easier than I thought it would. I was expecting that to be a little more difficult, since it was built up to be one of the main characters major problems that she was trying to run away from. However, this was still an interesting problem to throw into the book to show a little bit of backstory for our main character.

The ending was also a little disappointing in the sense that there was so much build up throughout the book, but the ending was very short and only lasted a few pages, at most and then we get an epilogue. I feel like this would have been better if it was expanded on, and more information was given to give more background of the villains in this story and what happened to Riley and Pete. The ending also appears to elude to the possibility of a sequel with the introduction of another character that may bring our main character some trouble in the future. If this is the case, I may check out any follow ups.
Profile Image for Aurora Jay.
567 reviews40 followers
October 10, 2024
This was a super addictive, exciting popcorn thriller

Riley a foster runaway, returns home after 15 years. As she settles into her new life, her paranoia grows. She’s sure someone’s following her and afraid of her secrets being revealed

I can’t say much more than that, because this book is twisty! It’s also faced paced, exciting and addictive

I enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator was great with accents and it was a super easy listen/read

The ending was surprising and juicy but I hoped for a more solid conclusion. A couple of events were unresolved and a flashback would have been the cherry on top

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for access to this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Ana.
178 reviews2 followers
December 30, 2024
The foster daughter was a whirlwind of a mystery thriller. Riley returns to her foster home that she ran away from 15 years prior, leaving a trail of bad deeds and broken laws in her wake. Who can she truly trust, and who will reveal her secrets?

I can’t honestly say I knew where it was headed at any given point, I kept flip flopping between who I thought was responsible, and was actually surprised by who it ended up being!
Profile Image for Kristen.
804 reviews
October 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wild ride. I felt like I knew who was behind Riley’s disappearance as soon as it was discovered she had been missing for years. I loved that her sister pretended to be Riley as a way of discovering what happened to her. The foster parents were the perfect blend of creepy and they had me scared from the moment they entered the story. This was a great and fast paced thriller.
Profile Image for Nicky Mottram.
2,158 reviews20 followers
October 8, 2024
Audio version of this book 📕- A really enjoyable listen with lots of twists and turns that kept you guessing! The Narrator was really good , was easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture audio for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Claire.
1,111 reviews183 followers
October 19, 2024
Riley disappeared without a trace. No note, no sightings, nothing. But now she’s back in town to a mixed reception. But why? How? Only she knows!

Unlike the blurb, the story is told solely from Riley’s perspective. Getting reacquainted with those who knew her back in the day. She’s trying to start afresh with her four year old in tow. But why now? I had some many questions for this mums

As I got to know my main character, those around her started to give me the tingles. Especially when things start to go “bump in the night”, not literally. More strange innocuous things but they began to ramp up after one particular evening. My suspicious mind switched between those around Riley. I didn’t trust anyone. Who was hiding what and why? So so many questions!!

Wolfe’s standalone thriller had me hooked, I wanted to know why Riley did a runner and I wanted to know who was up to no good to keep secrets from being exposed. it’s the first book I read of Wolfe’s and I thoroughly enjoyed it – it won’t be the last my kindle will see of this author!
Profile Image for Amanda Varley.
144 reviews
September 30, 2024
When Riley Wakefield, who went missing as a teenager, returns to her foster mother's house with her young son, she is welcomed and celebrated despite the years of addiction and crime she has experienced. This is her chance for a fresh start. Except the past is still very much entwined with her new life, and as she reacquaints herself with her old friends and foster family, questions begin to form about what happened all those years ago before she ran away. She has certainly changed since then. But can the same be said for them? Can you ever truly hide from the past?

This book really is a tangle of teasing twists and turns that will truly surprise. Even in the early stages of the book, the author cleverly flips the narrative unexpectedly and as a reader, we become conspirators in the secrets of the past while we join Riley in her quest to discover the truth. Highly engaging and a great read.
Profile Image for Janalyn, the blind reviewer.
4,631 reviews142 followers
October 24, 2024
The Foster Daughter by Laura Wolf, when Riley shows up on Wendy and George’s door they find it hard to believe she’s back her ex-boyfriend Jake doesn’t believe it but soon there will be one person who knows the truth but is that someone Riley can trust. She’s already on the run from one murder due to self-defense. When she arrives back in Michigan she is hoping this will be the respite and a safe place for her and her son Noah to get their life straight and for her to get a career going with the people she came back hoping to depend on may not be all that dependable. It seems even her ex-best friend Harper reveals a side to her that isn’t so friendly. Everyone Riley thinks is in her corner may actually have her cornered and she may not live long enough to get out of it. I just want to say this book ended as if there could be a second book and if there is I am so down to read it. I really liked Riley and thoroughly enjoyed this book it has twist until the end I love a book that even after all is revealed there’s a final twist that makes you say OMG that happened with this book and I want to say the author doesn’t wait until the end of the book to throw the twist in because they start soon after the book begins. I really loved it and totally enjoyed it. I thought I had read a book by Laura Wolfe before but I was wrong but will definitely be on the lookout for her books in the future.#NetGalley, #Bookoucher, #LauraWolf, #TheFosterDaughter,
Profile Image for Laura Wolfe.
Author 12 books333 followers
September 10, 2024
Thank you for reading and reviewing THE FOSTER DAUGHTER. If you enjoyed it, I hope you'll check out some of my other books, too. I have eight psychological thrillers published with Bookouture!
Profile Image for Tina B..
155 reviews29 followers
October 12, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up to 5

Taken away from her heroin addict mother at age six, Riley Wakefield spent the rest of her childhood in the system, mainly living in rough and tumble group homes until she was placed with foster parents George and Wendy Eckhart as a teen. Living with them, Riley finally had a home. She had a boyfriend named Jacob. A best friend named Harper. A seemingly normal life. Yet, not long after her junior prom, Riley disappeared. Those closest to her thought she ran off to L.A. with a man she met at the mall. Everyone else, including the police, suspected foul play by either her friends or foster parents. But nothing was ever proven, and Riley wasn't seen again. Not until fifteen years later when she knocked on the Eckhart's door, holding the hand of her four-year-old son Noah.

The Eckhart's welcome Riley back into their home with open arms and minimal questions about where she's been. Jacob and Harper are the same way after reuniting with her too. Everyone just seems happy to have Riley back, and she's glad to be back. She's determined not to blow this fresh start like she has the others. However, it doesn't take long for her past to track her down and knock on her door. When the truth about what happened to Riley fifteen years ago tries to emerge, someone's murdered in order to keep it buried. What terrible secrets is Riley hiding to protect her new life with the Eckhart's? What will they do if they find out? Not to mention, someone's after Riley. But who?

A fast paced, immersive page turner, "The Foster Daughter" by Laura Wolfe is a whiplash-inducing thrill ride that constantly keeps you on your toes and finding excuses not to put it down -- not even when dinner has to be cooked (sorry, fam). It's so well written, it feels like it was plotted down to the punctuation. At the same time, it's so riveting that it feels like it's flying by the seat of its pants, taking you along on an exhilarating ride through countless twists and turns. The first big twist comes at 32% (for Kindle readers). It's a shocking jaw dropper -- and it's not the only one. The story never goes in the direction you expect. That's a big part of what makes reading it so addicting.

Written from Riley's first-person point-of-view, it doesn't take long to get pulled in and addicted to the story. Although Riley is likable and empathetic, the other characters raise your suspicions and -- at times -- the hairs on your arms. Riley shares a past with each of them. Plus, she has a past of her own. Between the two, it isn't easy to figure out what she's hiding, what they're keeping secret, and what the truth actually is. When it all comes out in the banger of an ending, you'll be surprised you didn't see it all along. Warning, though. The epilogue ends with a bit of a cliffhanger.

Thank you to Laura Wolfe and Bookouture for the complimentary eARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Nadene  (Totally Addicted to Reading).
1,518 reviews218 followers
October 31, 2024
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Laura Wolfe's "The Foster Daughter" is a riveting psychological thriller that weaves a complex tale shrouded in mystery and suspense. It's the kind of story that grips you, turning page after page, as you delve into the characters' motives and the secrets they conceal.

"The Foster Daughter" grips the reader from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very end. Readers planning to pick up "The Foster Daughter' should prepare for a suspenseful and twisty journey.

A web of secrets, lies, and assumptions drove the plot. As the story unfolded, secrets came to light, and the lies started to unravel. The burning question on everyone's mind: Who is the real villain?

As previously stated, this book leads the reader through a twisty journey, with the most significant twist unfolding early in the story. The revelation from this twist unleashed a plethora of complications. From that point on, the suspense intensified. The story presents multiple suspects, leaving it to the reader to deduce the who, the why, and the where.

Like many psychological thrillers I've had the pleasure of reading, the conclusion of "The Foster Daughter" left me feeling unsatisfied. While one might wish for a sequel, experience suggests it's unlikely, leaving the reader to devise their own theories.

Readers who enjoy twisty plots and delving into the depths of family secrets and complex characters, "The Foster Daughter" is a captivating read. This psychological thriller, packed with unexpected turns and complex relationships, promises a compelling journey for any reader fascinated by the subtle complexities of family ties and the secrets they hide.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
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