The Good Daughter

by J.A. Baker

Pre-Order the BRAND NEW psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Perfect Parents, J A Baker. She will have her day of reckoning...

As a teenager, Penny Collins always tried to be a good daughter. Until the night she was brutally attacked as she lay in her bed. The assault, from a man she knew all too well, traumatised Penny. Worse still, after her family refused to believe her initial fears about being watched, Penny told nobody, afraid her family would be convinced she was making the whole thing up...

Now, twenty years later, Penny cares for her elderly mother whose memory is fading daily. Still a good daughter, Penny tries not to think about the past, but her mother seems more insistent to talk about what happened that night...to drag up painful memories.

So when Penny comes face to face with her attacker again, she knows it’s time for her to take action and get answers for them all. This time he's in the dock where he belongs, accused of the same terrible crime. And Penny, a good daughter and now a good citizen, sits on the jury - his fate finally in her hands...

If only she can convince the others of his guilt...

Praise for J A

"Engaging characters, a chilling tale - Baker at her best!" Bestselling author Valerie Keogh

"A dark and twisting thrill ride that asks the how well do you really know your parents? It kept me hooked until the final page!" Bestselling author M.A. Hunter

"A dark and twisty thriller that keep you guessing at the truth, The Perfect Parents is an addictive read!" Bestselling author Alison Stockham

"This captivating pacy thriller sucks you in from the first page and spits you out at the last! I thought I’d worked it out, but no… the twists kept coming and the final reveal is a heartbreaker 💔" Bestselling author Ruby Speechley

"Intensely compelling, with so many twists I didn't see coming!' Bestselling author, Alex Stone

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2025

About the author

J. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.

When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost have a love/hate relationship with J.A. Bakers books. The Good Daughter is definitely one I loved. The writing is great and I learnt things about the courts system I didn’t know. I found the story to be quite unique and I don’t remember reading a book like this before.

The story starts horribly with a rape. Twenty years later, Penny, the victim, ends up on jury service. The accused is only the man who raped her. Penny realises she can finally get some justice. The story is also about her relationship with her mother, who though suffering from dementia, decides she wants to talk about the night Penny was attacked.

I enjoyed the story but took one star off as there were times when it seemed a bit drawn out.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Abbie Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warning: SA and house fire

The Good Daughter opens with a deeply unsettling sexual assault scene. It then alternates timelines between the tragic events of Penny's adolescence, and the present day where she is on the jury of her attacker's trial.

This was a dark and intense psychological thriller with a very satisfying ending!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intensely dark thriller, The Good Daughter definitely has triggers, but is well-written and seemingly well-researched. I enjoyed the court procedural feel while still feeling deeply invested in the characters. Again, just check the triggers.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. Could not put down ! So much so I took it to the gym to read while on the treadmill. Hooked from the start. Themes of sexual assault and thought the court parts well written.

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

This was such an interesting read. The book flips back and forth between mother and daughter as well as past and present. The story was very interesting and with the different aspects it makes you question things. I enjoyed it but make sure to check triggers as this does have hard topics.

[Eric WT · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 ☆

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was entertaining and the ending was good. I had a hard time putting this down! Although this is fast paced, the characters are really well developed. If you enjoy thrillers, I would recommend this! Special Thank You to JA Baker, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Daughter by J.A Baker is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the trauma of a brutal attack and it's lingering effects.

Penny Collins has spent the past twenty years trying to overcome a horrific assault in her room when she was a young teenager. Unable to heal her trauma, Penny has just buried the assault and not told anyone except her mother who didn't believe her at the time. But now Penny is called for jury duty and to her utter shock she recognizes the defendant. It is her attacker. She knows that she must tell the court that she has a conflict of interest but what if she doesn't? If she is on the jury, she could potentially help send her attacker to jail. She knows this man is guilty and what he is capable of, but should she try to influence the jury to find him guilty?

This book is definitely packed full of emotional depth and twists. The tension builds steadily and keeps you on edge as the dual timeline and dual POV help you uncover everything that really happened twenty years ago. This is definitely a thriller that I would recommend to readers who love an emotionally charged read!

Thank you to NetGalley, J.A Baker, and Boldwood Books for this ARC! Publication date is April 5th 2025.

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer: this is a longer review meant to offer contribution for other readers who want unbiased opinions since 90% of reviews I found are from ARCs

There will be a few things that I address in my review : the writing, the plot/ setting, and my overall opinion.
To begin, I would like to address the author’s writing style. I have not read anything from this author before, but I would assume that it is consistent throughout her books. I very much enjoyed it at the beginning, as it challenges your reading level and has vivid ornamentation that nowadays books are dumbing down. However, I lost this intrigue fairly quickly as it seemed to be too flowery. Pages would go on and on with this over exaggerated writing that either would seem repeated or unnecessary at times. It almost felt like the author had something to prove with their academic writing to include countless substitution words from a thesaurus. This being said, after I found a typo, my distrust in certain words or phrases being used correctly increased substantially. I don’t think I’ve personally ever seen a typo in books that I’ve caught onto myself. There would be certain words that not only were unnecessarily used, but often times used in a tense that, even when I researched it, seemed out of the ordinary. All in all, if you asked me to choose a modern book that was monotonous and simple to read versus a book as this, that challenges your reading comprehension and literacy, I would choose this any day.
Obviously, the author made a choice with how they wrote this story with the past and present storytelling. My qualm isn’t necessarily with this choice but with the lack of foundation required for this type of writing. In more detail, the present was only in one character’s perspective- perfect, great. The past perspective was written through two characters that was labeled as “house”.- ok, fine, but why? That wouldn’t be a problem if it was done effectively. It took me a second to even figure out I was reading in someone else’s viewpoint. (The problem could have been me which I would admit.) But since it wasn’t a set standard, there was no character name or title beforehand to know whose perspective it was, when it happened the first time it threw me off, causing me to have to look back seeing if it was a reader error, like skipping pages. This does not affect the plot so much as it affects how it is read.
This was a slow to medium paced book because of the writing and jumping into the past and present. I don’t have many issues with the plot. The story is what it is. I think it could’ve been more effective written differently. This could be such as: not starting with the intensity of the prologue which would change the “mystery“ of who it was to the mystery “what did the defendant do to her?”. It would change the pace and invoke more of that psychological thriller that the book is categorized as. Instead, the reader is playing a Whodunnit with so many characters that don’t end up being all that important and might actually do a disservice to our protagonist. Obviously, at the end of the day, it is the author’s choice.
I also think a small problem of the plot was lack of “world building“. The author doesn’t take the time to set the story in a specific year or location. This had my imagination all over the place trying to fixate on something relevant.
“Let’s see. It seems like a late 19th century country town without the twang or culture at first, but then a few lines sound British or is it remnants of a Southern accent? No, the reader said she was from the north making her sound less educated? That’s not right. OK so take them out of America and try to set it in a past Europe. Wait there’s an Xbox? Is this even British? Is this set in my real time?”
l never truly landed on any setting. I settled for some discombobulated world that was similar to mine, which is just a shame. The story deserved a true setting.
The plot felt really real - we don’t always get closure, revenge, or justice. I think the plot is very indicative and telling of how these criminal cases and the victims are treated from our society. The fact is that this isn’t even a thriller. Thrillers tend to be more exaggerative or usually unrealistic in nature. If you told me this was a true story, there’s very few parts that I wouldn’t believe. This contradicts a stereotypical thriller that is meant to have the reader questioning what is real and what isn’t. The fact is, our protagonist’s life was her true thriller/horror story. We were there as witness to her emotional and mental trauma since we already knew what had ultimately happened.
To conclude the longest review I’ve ever written, I wish more people knew about the reality of what the story is addressing. For this reason, I would recommend this book to do just that: tell a realistic story of a SA victim, how they are perceived, how they think, how they are treated if they do speak up, the imbalances of victim and predator, the injustices of the legal system, how quick society jumps at assumptions and ignores vulnerability, the behaviors of the wealthy that society ignores rather than holds to a higher standard, how the same childhood trauma is dealt with differently leading to different lifestyles, how people never are what they appear to be- I can go on and on. Despite if I recommended this book, despite if I even bought it and handed it to a person, insisting on them reading it to open their eyes or mind to something they might not be familiar with, I am afraid that the story telling and writing would instead ultimately lead to a DNF. I continued reading because of the different writing style, my genuine interest, and I simply don’t ever put a book down and not finish it. My mindset is that there’s something to learn from even the worst of things. This book doesn’t fall in that category, but it does fall within a category that isn’t necessarily adaptive to more readers. It’s a double edged sword since that’s what I like about it but also what I dislike about it.

[Stacy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is there no age of consent in England? Let's put aside for a moment Penny's abject stupidity and assume that we believe someone like her could grow into a somewhat functioning adult. Let's also assume that it's perfectly reasonable she ends up on the jury of the man who raped 14 year old Penny 30 years ago, when he is now on trial for raping a 15 year old girl. He claimed the sex was consensual.
I don't know exactly how old he was supposed to be back then, but 30 years later, he is definitely a grown fucking man and should not be having sex with any 15 year old girl, whether she "wanted it" or not.

[jennie Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

very slow

i’m surprised at all the good reviews this book has received. personally i thought it was really slow and I was waiting for something to happen . I did manage to finish it though. it wasn’t the worse but certainly wasn’t the best .

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a teenager, Penny Collins is attacked in her own bedroom. Now, twenty years later she has the chance of retribution.
A strong start that unfortunately lost momentum as it went along.

[Ashley Kanazawich · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Worse still, after her family refused to believe her initial fears about being watched, Penny told nobody, afraid her family would be convinced she was making the whole thing up…“

This book certainly encourages me to be the kind of parent that never causes my kids to feel like they can’t come to me for fear that I won’t believe them. The rage that I felt toward this girls parents is next level.

This story holds a very traumatic childhood story of assault and a second chance for justice in her adulthood. With such heavy content, I would have liked for more emotional depth. I like to really *feel* the books I read, and this book had such potential to deliver that, yet I remained dry eyed.

Don’t get me wrong, I felt for our protagonist and wanted her to get the ending she deserved after all those years. Though much of the book was taking place inside her own head, there was just something missing to form that deep heartfelt connection. Perhaps the hardened walls she had built around herself also shielded the reader from connecting as well.

The overall plot was very interesting and held me in suspense. I felt a great deal of anger when characters chose not to believe her or inadvertently belittled her experience, but I also felt frustrated when she didn’t allow herself to speak up. She frequently held conversations in her head that she wished she had the courage to speak out loud. She understood the importance of her roll in the second chance at convincing people of her attacker’s guilt and yet I felt like she played it too safe and held back when she should have rallied others around her.

The ending was a bit of a plot twist and certainly wrapped things up in a way you didn’t see coming.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this virtual book tour, Rachel’s Random Resources

[Patricia Raffauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good Daughter is a gripping psychological thriller that explores trauma, resilience, and the weight of justice. The story follows Penny, a woman who has spent decades trying to move past the horrors of her childhood. Now, 30 years later, she is married to Damien and has built a new life for herself—until fate forces her to confront the past once more.

As a child, Penny and her family moved into her father’s ancestral home, a place meant to be a fresh start but instead became the setting of their worst nightmares. The house was in dire need of renovations, but that was the least of their problems. Their neighbor, who believed the home rightfully belonged to him, soon began terrorizing Penny’s mother. What followed was a series of tragic, unthinkable events—many of which left permanent scars on Penny herself.

Time has passed, but the wounds have not fully healed. When Penny is called to serve as a juror, she recognizes the defendant immediately. She knows what he is capable of, and she is determined to sway the jury toward a guilty verdict. But should she? And more importantly, can she?

This novel is a page-turner packed with twists, emotional depth, and a constant sense of unease. The characters are richly developed, each carrying their own burdens of pain and survival. Penny, in particular, is a compelling protagonist—her struggle between justice and morality makes for a thought-provoking read. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on edge as they uncover the full truth of what happened all those years ago.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with deep emotional stakes, The Good Daughter is a must read. It’s a haunting tale that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley and J.A. Baker for an advanced copy of this book.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books by JA Baker that I enjoyed, so I was excited to delve into his newest book.

The book definitely opens with a bang! Many reviews caution readers that the prologue contains a trigger warning. The statement is accurate; however, the author doesn't go into very much detail, so most readers shouldn't need to be concerned.

Like many psychological thrillers, this book alternates between the past and the present. In the present, it is told from the point of view of Penny. In the past, there are times when it is told from Connie's point of view and times when it is told from Penny's point of view.

The author does a decent job "confusing" the reader regarding the actions of different characters. He achieves this by describing events and not actually naming the characters involved in the events. At first, I found it frustrating, but then I realized that it was most likely purposeful.

The Fairbridges are a horrid family that feel as though rules don't apply to them and they can do whatever they want. Their cruel, entitled actions have gone on way too long. When a member of the Fairbridge family ends up accused of rape and Penny finds herself on the jury, she decides to do everything she can to make the family pay. Something that really bothered me was the fact that the person who accused the Fairbridge family member of rape was under age, so the attorney asserting the sexual encounter was consensual should be a moot point. (The laws in America may be different than the laws in the country where this book takes place.)

I found the conclusion to be very anticlimactic, but still feel as though this book is worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

J. Baker’s The Good Daughter is a taut and emotionally charged psychological drama that grips from the first page and doesn’t let go. Centered on trauma, justice, and the long shadow of betrayal, this novel explores the quiet devastation of being silenced—and the powerful reckoning that comes when a woman takes her voice back.

Penny Collins has spent her life trying to be the “good daughter”—obedient, quiet, and dutiful—even after suffering a horrific assault as a teenager by someone she knew. The attack left invisible scars, compounded by the painful disbelief of her own family. Now, two decades later, as she cares for her aging mother, Penny is forced to confront the past she tried so hard to bury. Her mother, slipping in and out of lucidity, wants to talk about that night—and Penny can’t ignore the ghosts any longer.

But when Penny sees her attacker again, this time as the accused in a new assault case, fate delivers a bitter twist: she’s on the jury. What follows is a gripping, morally complex battle—not just for justice, but for the truth that Penny has carried alone for far too long.

Baker excels at character depth and emotional nuance. Penny is a beautifully crafted protagonist—vulnerable, yet fierce in her quiet determination. The novel masterfully balances courtroom drama with psychological introspection, making the reader feel every flicker of doubt, rage, and vindication.

The Good Daughter isn’t just a story of trauma—it’s one of resilience, justice, and the power of finally being heard. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with emotional weight, like those by Gillian Flynn or Claire Mackintosh, this is a story that lingers long after the final verdict.

[TheLisaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good Daughter by J. A. Baker is a haunting and emotionally charged psychological thriller that bravely delves into dark, difficult subject matter. With themes of sexual assault and trauma at its core, this novel is not for the faint of heart and absolutely warrants a content warning for sensitive readers. However, for those prepared to face its challenging themes, the story delivers a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of justice, memory, and the long shadow of abuse.

At the center of the novel is Penny, a character whose pain is palpable and whose determination is unwavering. Having survived a horrific attack in her youth, Penny finds herself—years later—on the jury for the trial of the man she believes destroyed her life. While this premise stretches the bounds of courtroom reality, it serves as a compelling framework for Penny’s deeply personal quest for justice—not only for herself but for others affected by the same predator.

Baker crafts a slow-burning narrative that suits the gravity of the subject matter, allowing space for psychological depth and character development. The use of multiple perspectives enriches the storytelling, providing a fuller view of the events and the emotional weight carried by each character. The layers unfold gradually, building suspense and emotional complexity with each chapter.

The Good Daughter is a well-constructed, emotionally intense novel that confronts trauma with unflinching honesty. J. A. Baker handles the subject with care and nuance, creating a story that is both unsettling and deeply human. It’s a story of survival, of reclaiming power, and ultimately, of seeking truth in a system that so often fails the vulnerable.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good Daughter by J. A. Baker is a disconcerting and unputdownable psychological thriller loaded with layers of suspense. I was on pins and needles the entire time and quite unsettled in a good way. Isn't that what one hopes for in a thriller?

Told in alternating points of view of Penny and her mother, including chapters of "The House", Penny and her family moved to her father's ancestral home in Northern Yorkshire. Renovations were needed which involved a team of workers. Intuitive for a young girl, Penny sensed something amiss with a couple of the guys. Her fears turned into a nightmare when one night someone sat in her room, watching her sleep, before assaulting her. Fear no one would believe her and guilt weighed heavily throughout her life. The only other person who knew was her mother. As a juror on an assault case, Penny could have bowed out but when she saw who the perpetrator was, she stayed put and decided this was the only way to get this guy locked up for good. She sought justice. It was fascinating to spend time in the minds of the jurors, observing how they viewed the victim and the perpetrator throughout the trial.

Not only did Penny face her attacker (who didn't recognize her twenty years later) but she also cared for her mother whose personality was severely altered by dementia. Though she experienced severe trauma several times, the good daughter continued to care for and about others. Just not the Fairbridge family.

J. A. Baker is one of my auto-read authors. I love her originality, writing which beckons me into the story, and her skill with suspense and tension.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐝...𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐀 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐀 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭.

Opening with a shocking, deeply unsettling sexual assault on a minor, THE GOOD DAUGHTER is the story of Penny, the good girl whom no one believed when she said someone was watching her. So after the assault, she told no one, fearful of not being believed.

Twenty years have passed, and Penny still tries hard to be good. She cares for her mother, who is being consumed by the ravages of Alzheimer's, and tries not to think about the past. But her mother is lost in two world, the present and the past, and when her mother inexplicably brings up some things that happened the night Penny was assaulted, she wonders if her mother knew more than she let on.

Penny's ethics are tested when she's called for jury duty and comes face-to-face with her attacker, accused of the very same crime. One look at his smug, arrogant face, and she knows she will do anything to sway her peers into finding him guilty. This good girl will have vengeance one way or another.

I found this to be a compelling read with a sympathetic main character that I absolutely rooted for and cheered on. She wasn't one of the unhinged, bloodthirsty MCs that are so popular right now, but she was someone real, whose pain could be felt through the pages. She most definitely was a victim, not just of a brutal crime, but of the justice system and the loved ones who fail these women and victimize them all over again. Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the early read. This book published April 5, 2025.

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good Daughter
by J A Baker
Pub Date: Apr 05 2025

The Good Daughter is a gripping psychological thriller that alternates between the past and the present. Full of dark, difficult subject matter, with themes of sexual assault and trauma at its core, a solid, emotionally intense novel that confronts trauma with ruthless honesty.

I liked the story, it was very engaging. Most of all I enjoyed the way the past-present storytelling was portrayed with present day following Penny, and the past following the story of the house. I highly recommend this 5 star read!

Synopsis: As a teenager, Penny Collins always tried to be a good daughter. Until the night she was brutally attacked as she lay in her bed. The assault, from a man she knew all too well, traumatised Penny. Worse still, after her family refused to believe her initial fears about being watched, Penny told nobody, afraid her family would be convinced she was making the whole thing up...So when Penny comes face to face with her attacker again, she knows it’s time for her to take action and get answers for them all. This time he's in the dock where he belongs, accused of the same terrible crime. And Penny, a good daughter and now a good citizen, sits on the jury - his fate finally in her hands...

Many thanks to #TheGoodDaughter #NetGalley and #BoldWoodBooks for providing me with an E-ARC of this fantastic psychological thriller!

[Nonagesimus Reads [Em] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little confused by this book when I started it, I was unsure of how everything was connected. The story did end up making sense, but it didn’t really live up to my expectations. Baker is a good writer, but this book felt like it was lacking depth and breadth to make real connections to the writing.

Penny is part of a jury who is supposed to decide the fate of a man who may or may not be guilty. Penny knows this man though and she isn’t even supposed to be on the jury since it would be a conflict of interest. This was my first issue with the book, that Penny would just be allowed to be on the jury since she didn’t say anything about the truth of the matter… but it just didn’t make sense to me. There’s also two different time periods being shared in the book and the way they connect isn’t revealed at first, but I found it jarring. It jut seemed like they never fit together well, and it made it difficult for me to want to keep up with the book. I just think my problem with the book is the way I found it hard to keep paying attention to the shift of POVs and time periods, causing me to feel a disconnect when I was reading the story. It all comes together to make sense, but I didn’t find myself feeling like I cared or the ending mattered. I’m unsure if I would read another book by this author.

Thank you to J A Baker, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[♥ mony ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

t.w: sexual assault, ptsd, trauma

firstly, thank you to netgalley, the publisher and j.a. baker for this advanced review copy in exchange for an honest opinion. all opinions are mine.

i really enjoyed this so much. the start of this book was graphic, painful to sit through and brought tears to my eyes. it was jarring, and it will be something i remember for a long time. it's an opening that will stay with me.

as a main character, penny is amazing. the way her trauma affects her is very well written and the vulnerability contrasts with her strength. the layers in this character are awesomely approached. i really love revenge arcs, especially when women take control over their lives and this book delivered that well. penny's emotional turmoil that no one will believe her, and the storyline with her mother was such a beautiful portrayal. the core of the story is that, yes, she needs to get justice but she also needs to share it with someone so close to her. someone who was meant to protect her.

another thing i really loved about this story was how the rapist's fate is in penny's hands now, just like hers was in his hands many years ago. and she didn't even have a choice.

i knocked off a star because at times, i felt the narrative could've been more crisp and it felt slightly too long and over detailed. apart from that, this was glorious.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penny Collins has been called to jury duty. She reluctantly arrives and to her surprise, she recognizes the man being prosecuted. Now Penny really wants to be chosen and she wants to stay through the whole trial as long as no one realizes who she is.

The story goes back and forth between the past and the present and from the points of view of Penny and her mother Connie. Penny is a very self aware, hesitant, smart girl who feels and notices when men are behaving in a particularly lascivious way towards her. When she complains about men behaving like that to her family, her parents just brush her off as dramatic, a liar, blame it on her overactive imagination and are very dismissive. So when she gets raped in the middle of the night at 14, she tells no one. They already have enough problems with their neighbor Douglas Fairbridge, who claims that the land her grandparents left her father belongs to him and he will go to any extent to get it.

Rapes, fires, death, dementia and a brother lost to drugs will all be redeemed by The Good Daughter!

The Good Daughter is about resilience, survival, strength and having a strong heart to endure it all and see justice being served, even when justice fails you.
💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books.

[Chrissie Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good Daughter is a slow-burning psychological thriller with a strong sense of unease woven throughout. J.A. Baker builds suspense gradually, dropping just enough breadcrumbs to keep you turning the pages while questioning every character’s motive.

I appreciated the moody, atmospheric writing—there’s a real sense of dread that lingers, especially in the quieter moments. The story explores fractured relationships and long-buried secrets in a way that feels authentic, even if it takes a while to pick up momentum.

That said, the pacing was a bit uneven for me. The first half moved slowly, and I found myself wanting more tension or twists earlier on. Some of the character decisions also felt a little forced at times, but nothing that pulled me entirely out of the story.

Overall, this is a solid read for fans of domestic suspense who don’t mind a slow build and prefer their thrillers with a steady unraveling rather than high-octane drama. Not my favorite of Baker’s work, but still engaging enough to keep me curious until the final pages.


*Thank you to NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for sending me a copy of this book and allowing me to read it. This review is left voluntarily and entirely my own opinion.*

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we first meet Penny she is a young teenager living in a remote farmhouse, a house which is filled with shadows and discontent. When Penny is brutally assaulted in her home by someone she recognises she is too scared to share this experience and carries it locked deep within her. Twenty years later and Penny has the opportunity to seek her own form of revenge but that in itself will have far reaching consequences.

Told in two distinct timeframes, we start to build up a picture of who Penny is, the memories she carries, and also the effect that living in this remote and quite austere house has had on her elderly mother who is now widowed and in the early stages of dementia. There’s a definite sense of the past being unpicked and with each revelation we begin to understand the overwhelming power of secrets. The two narratives merge quite seamlessly and I enjoyed the sympathetic depiction of Connie, Penny’s mother, who had her own demons to face.

Well written, with a dramatic and intriguing storyline The Good Daughter made for uncomfortable reading at times however, there was more than enough drama to keep me turning the pages of this intriguing psychological suspense story.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny Collins has tried to forget the rape she endured as a teenager. Now as an adult, she is called for jury duty and the accused is her attacker...
The Good Daughter is a psychological thriller with an added layer of courtroom drama.
TRIGGER WARNING: this book begins with a rape and the court case also concerns another rape.
The book is written in two timelines: the present day to show Penny's experience of the being a juror and dealing with her mum's dementia, and the past where her mum Connie is unhappy about their living conditons and an unpleasant neighbour.
Penny is called up for jury service and recognises the defendant straight away as the man who attacked her years ago. She is determined to see justice even though her presence jeopardises the case itself. Can she convince the other jurors of his guilt so he is convicted at last?
The tone of this book is very dark and foreboding as events in both timelines progress. There are some big emotional issues which are sensitively but overtly depicted and the author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of the plot. However, this does slow down the pace of the book whilst giving us insight into the characters.
The Good Daughter is a tense yet slow burning novel about revenge and being haunted by the past.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager, Penny made some mistakes that led her to be a fearful child. Life changed for her the moment she was attacked in her bed.

Only Penny’s mum knows about the attack and Penny has lived her life with no one to talk to.

When Penny has to do jury service, she is shocked to see her attacker in the dock, accused of rape. Can now be the time to finally get some justice for herself as well as the recent victim?

This was a dark and chilling read that was also full of suspense.

The first chapter is about Penny’s attack and that was extremely difficult to read. My heart went out to Penny as it’s an emotional story.

The story is told from two points of view. One is from Penny’s and we follow her through the jury service as well as her past. The other is from her mum’s point of view from living in the house where everything bad happened.

We watch Penny as she continuously unravels her past, trying to come to terms with things that happened to her. The author writes this well as it’s sympathetic and sensitive. I could feel Penny pain and frustration.

I found this story played on my mind a lot, even when I wasn’t reading it.

My thanks to Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penny Collins is a loving daughter. She is married with one young child and looks after her widowed mother, Connie, who lives next door and is living with dementia. We pick up Penny’s story when she has been called for jury service. Told in dual timelines, twenty years apart, this is a harrowing story of sexual abuse and its effects on the abused. A slow burner with a good amount of detailed background to the main story, well written and good plot.

Briefly, heading off to court Penny is shocked to find herself called for a case where a man is charged with the rape of a teenager. To her absolute horror she recognises the man as the same person who raped her as a 14 year old. Does she disclose her involvement or does she see it as the time he gets his comeuppance?

The narrative around Penny’s and her mother’s earlier life, and how and why Penny now plots to bring the accused down, is quite sad and I really felt for Penny. It’s also interesting to see how courts and juries deal with young victims, despite the nature of the crime the accused seems to have the upper hand. It’s a dark story and a compelling read with a shocking climax and will certainly make you think.

[sarah ☕️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark and twisted thriller that will keep you guessing.

📓Brief Description (Spoiler-Free):
- Penny Collin’s was brutally attacked as a child and no one believed her.
- Now, 20 years later, her aging mother is eager to discuss the horrific night.
- Penny ends up on the jury for her attacker and is determined to get justice.

❤️ What I Loved:
- I enjoyed the way the past-present storytelling was portrayed with present day following Penny, and the past following “the house”
- I thought the concept of being a juror for someone who harmed you in the past was engaging.

🤔 What I Would Change:
- While the story was engaging, there were moments I felt the pacing was uneven which pulled me out of the story.
- I appreciated the overall storyline, though I would have liked a bit more complexities.

📚 Recommended For:
- Fans of Freida McFadden, A. R. Torre
- Readers who enjoy thrillers and court-cases.

💭Final Thoughts & Rating:
- I’m so appreciative of NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hits hard. There are some difficult topics, but I am so glad they were approached and in a very realistic way. The author really gave your the feel that the victim had and we saw the aftermath of it, especially without her family being a support system. It was heartbreaking and then we saw the twists start to take hold. The author threw the different perspectives and timeframes at us, really giving us a feel for events. We also got to see between Penny and the mother, whom I really did not care for.
Then the ultimate twist and Penny is able to get revenge, or at least attempt to, and in a perfectly legal way. Oh what he must have felt when he looked up and saw her in the jury. Oh how she must have felt to have his fate in her hands. I could get the sense for all of this from the detailed and brilliant writing of the author. I found this book so engaging. It did, again have tough topics, but ones we need to talk about to help those going through it and to show how important it is to believe victims and fight for justice. Great read.