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The Foster Daughter
My daughter was murdered by my husband. Now I have a new little girl to look after. I have no idea who she is.
It’s been five years since my daughter was killed. It still hurts every day. I’ll never be over it but I am finally moving on with my life.
It’s pitch black when I wake up. I hear a child screaming outside. There’s a little girl in my back yard. She can’t be older than five. She has terrified blue eyes.
Somebody has left her here.
When nobody claims her, I take her in. After all, I’m a professional foster parent. I will look after her like she’s my own child.
But she won’t even tell me her name. I have no idea who I’ve brought into my house.
A tense and page-turning psychological thriller.
It’s been five years since my daughter was killed. It still hurts every day. I’ll never be over it but I am finally moving on with my life.
It’s pitch black when I wake up. I hear a child screaming outside. There’s a little girl in my back yard. She can’t be older than five. She has terrified blue eyes.
Somebody has left her here.
When nobody claims her, I take her in. After all, I’m a professional foster parent. I will look after her like she’s my own child.
But she won’t even tell me her name. I have no idea who I’ve brought into my house.
A tense and page-turning psychological thriller.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2024
1705 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
September 30, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️
When she finds a lost little girl, Kat decides to take her in. Who is she? And where did she come from?
I really enjoyed the mystery and the initial intrigue. The author did a great job really setting the story, the right amount of info to keep me guessing and the right amount of thrills to keep me on my toes.
I didn’t completely enjoy the ending, though. After those beginning thrills, it did become a little predictable and repetitive, and the ending felt a little rushed. I don’t feel like I really understood the reasoning behind the ‘mystery’, the motives, the endgame.
This was still an entertaining read, and it had a very nice and heart-warming happy ending that balanced out the darkness of the rest of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
TWs (spoilers):
- Child death (off page)
- Mentions of statutory rape
When she finds a lost little girl, Kat decides to take her in. Who is she? And where did she come from?
I really enjoyed the mystery and the initial intrigue. The author did a great job really setting the story, the right amount of info to keep me guessing and the right amount of thrills to keep me on my toes.
I didn’t completely enjoy the ending, though. After those beginning thrills, it did become a little predictable and repetitive, and the ending felt a little rushed. I don’t feel like I really understood the reasoning behind the ‘mystery’, the motives, the endgame.
This was still an entertaining read, and it had a very nice and heart-warming happy ending that balanced out the darkness of the rest of the book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
TWs (spoilers):
- Child death (off page)
- Mentions of statutory rape
December 12, 2024
This book took forever to get through. Too many people, too many plot points, just too much overall. I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because of the ending.
September 28, 2024
I throughly enjoyed resding this book. So much taking place but easy to keep up with the story. Love a happy ending. Great characters all so different was wonderful to read.
Thank to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book
Thank to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book
July 24, 2025
I could not put it down.. sat out on my garden in the dark grateful I have a kindle! The story was pretty fast paced, a lot squeezed in to a short time but, with a few diary events from the past, it kept me guessing. A whodunnit thriller with enough twists n turns to leave the reader unsure who was guilty and who had nothing to do with anything! The ending felt a little rushed but I liked the story and the thought that some fostered kids actually do get a decent foster home! A nice quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is really busy Psychological Thriller twisted in the dark secrets of the past.
There are a lot of characters to follow (and I am naturally bad at remembering names so by some point I lose track of who was who).
I loved the storyline and loved the mystery moments, it was such a twisted guessing game!
A lot of emotional sadness. Foster kids will always be a heavy topic as not always they will be treated well. It's like a lottery, you could be lucky or not. We had a chance to see what was happening behind closed doors in the foster family home.
What would you do if you found a screaming child in the middle of the night?
How would you handle the return to your childhood home when someone is ready to prove that things are not how you remember?
This is a busy thriller packed with constant suspense and neverending actions!
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for this copy!
The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is really busy Psychological Thriller twisted in the dark secrets of the past.
There are a lot of characters to follow (and I am naturally bad at remembering names so by some point I lose track of who was who).
I loved the storyline and loved the mystery moments, it was such a twisted guessing game!
A lot of emotional sadness. Foster kids will always be a heavy topic as not always they will be treated well. It's like a lottery, you could be lucky or not. We had a chance to see what was happening behind closed doors in the foster family home.
What would you do if you found a screaming child in the middle of the night?
How would you handle the return to your childhood home when someone is ready to prove that things are not how you remember?
This is a busy thriller packed with constant suspense and neverending actions!
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for this copy!
October 9, 2024
This was a great read with loads of twists!
Kat lives a reclusive life after her husband killed her daughter, but when her father dies, she has to return to the family home. Kat’s parents also fostered and so she has a huge family of foster siblings.
When Kat finds a small child hiding in her garden, she takes her in and cares for her. Nobody knows who the little girl is and nobody seems to be looking for her.
I loved the part of the story where Kat cares for and bonds with the little girl she names Holly and the plot was brilliant and kept me hooked.
I felt the ending was a bit messy and rushed and I found myself confused and having to go back and read bits again to understand the full picture.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sonya Bateman and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Kat lives a reclusive life after her husband killed her daughter, but when her father dies, she has to return to the family home. Kat’s parents also fostered and so she has a huge family of foster siblings.
When Kat finds a small child hiding in her garden, she takes her in and cares for her. Nobody knows who the little girl is and nobody seems to be looking for her.
I loved the part of the story where Kat cares for and bonds with the little girl she names Holly and the plot was brilliant and kept me hooked.
I felt the ending was a bit messy and rushed and I found myself confused and having to go back and read bits again to understand the full picture.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sonya Bateman and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 14, 2024
Initially, “The Foster Daughter” caught my attention with its intriguing premise and potential for depth. However, as I progressed through the chapters, I found the reading experience increasingly challenging. While the plot was well-structured, it leaned heavily on predictability, which diminished the suspense.
At times, the writing felt awkward, making transitions between chapters jarring. The “big reveal” lacked the surprise I had hoped for; I found myself thinking, “I saw that coming.” Despite this, the conclusion was satisfying and tied up the narrative threads effectively.
In summary, while the book has its flaws, it’s still an enjoyable read for those looking for a light story. Just don’t expect too many surprises along the way.
At times, the writing felt awkward, making transitions between chapters jarring. The “big reveal” lacked the surprise I had hoped for; I found myself thinking, “I saw that coming.” Despite this, the conclusion was satisfying and tied up the narrative threads effectively.
In summary, while the book has its flaws, it’s still an enjoyable read for those looking for a light story. Just don’t expect too many surprises along the way.
October 25, 2024
ARC Review
The Foster Daughter
By Sonya Bateman
Publish Date: Oct 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for sending me a copy to review.
This was the perfect psychological thriller that left me guessing who did it the whole time. I absolutely loved the story line and the suspense. It was full of twists and turns and the dark truth of some foster kids.
My one critique I felt the ending was very rushed I wanted more scenes from it. The heart warming ending was beautiful though.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
The Foster Daughter
By Sonya Bateman
Publish Date: Oct 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for sending me a copy to review.
This was the perfect psychological thriller that left me guessing who did it the whole time. I absolutely loved the story line and the suspense. It was full of twists and turns and the dark truth of some foster kids.
My one critique I felt the ending was very rushed I wanted more scenes from it. The heart warming ending was beautiful though.
I look forward to reading more by this author!
November 1, 2024
So many Twist and turns that I had no idea who did what until the last
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2024
3.75. A bit too fairytale of an ending, but otherwise quite good and kept me guessing!
January 27, 2025
Had me hooked fast paced and action packed
October 12, 2024
This was such a fast paced, exciting read. I literally couldn’t put it down. There were so many twists, so many characters, plus all the foster children then and now, that I had to keep taking a deep breath to keep up for fear of hyperventilating!
It’s been five years since Kat’s daughter Marisol was murdered. Her husband Tyler was convicted and sent to prison, but new evidence has come to light and he could be innocent.
Kat’s mum and dad were foster parents, but when her mum died, her dad had his licence revoked, so Kat took over. All the brothers and sisters were grown up and had left apart from Evie who ran away. Then there was Naomi, who hated everyone and everything, but especially Kat – the only ‘bio’ kid.
Kat’s dad Joe, a weatherman on TV, has also died and Kat has returned to her childhood home for the funeral. It’s just like she remembers, all the kids having a profile on the ‘Hearth Wall’.
But it’s not long before things start to take a sinister turn. Notes accusing her dad of stuff, threatening Kat, etc. Kat starts to suspect everyone. And then a child, around five years of age, is trapped in the holly bush in the garden, screaming. Kat manages to get her out, but there is no-one to take her in at the moment, so she offers. She still has her fostering licence. She calls the child Holly. Everyone says she looks just like Marisol.
Towards the end I became suspicious of one or two people (one turned out to be correct) but had no idea why. What would be their motive? And what about Joe? Please not another lovely dad turns into pedo scenario. By this point I had no idea, I just had to get to the end. And everything was turned on its head. A perfect example of how to keep the readers on their toes from start to finish. Brilliant!
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
It’s been five years since Kat’s daughter Marisol was murdered. Her husband Tyler was convicted and sent to prison, but new evidence has come to light and he could be innocent.
Kat’s mum and dad were foster parents, but when her mum died, her dad had his licence revoked, so Kat took over. All the brothers and sisters were grown up and had left apart from Evie who ran away. Then there was Naomi, who hated everyone and everything, but especially Kat – the only ‘bio’ kid.
Kat’s dad Joe, a weatherman on TV, has also died and Kat has returned to her childhood home for the funeral. It’s just like she remembers, all the kids having a profile on the ‘Hearth Wall’.
But it’s not long before things start to take a sinister turn. Notes accusing her dad of stuff, threatening Kat, etc. Kat starts to suspect everyone. And then a child, around five years of age, is trapped in the holly bush in the garden, screaming. Kat manages to get her out, but there is no-one to take her in at the moment, so she offers. She still has her fostering licence. She calls the child Holly. Everyone says she looks just like Marisol.
Towards the end I became suspicious of one or two people (one turned out to be correct) but had no idea why. What would be their motive? And what about Joe? Please not another lovely dad turns into pedo scenario. By this point I had no idea, I just had to get to the end. And everything was turned on its head. A perfect example of how to keep the readers on their toes from start to finish. Brilliant!
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
November 5, 2024
This is my first read by this author and I was looking forward to diving in as I love to find new thriller writers.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but was intrigued by the front cover and tag lines.
This was an exciting read and I raced through gathering all the information and loving all the twists and turns - some very strange goings on and a lot for our main character to deal with.
It did feel a little contrived, but I kind of enjoyed this and just went with it.
Being brought up with a lot of foster children around her, it seemed natural that Kat would be drawn to fostering herself - but I did wonder whether this would really happen given her other background.
But I liked that we saw the other side of things and learned about the trials of fostering.
There were a lot of characters here and I did get a little confused a couple of times - but in general they were well presented and developed over the course of the book.
I really couldn't work out who to trust though.
The writing style was gripping and I found, aside from the character confusion, that I was totally immersed on the whole.
I'd love to read more by this author as I'm sure that I just didn't gel with this theme - looking forward to adding more to my future tbr.....
I wasn't sure what to expect, but was intrigued by the front cover and tag lines.
This was an exciting read and I raced through gathering all the information and loving all the twists and turns - some very strange goings on and a lot for our main character to deal with.
It did feel a little contrived, but I kind of enjoyed this and just went with it.
Being brought up with a lot of foster children around her, it seemed natural that Kat would be drawn to fostering herself - but I did wonder whether this would really happen given her other background.
But I liked that we saw the other side of things and learned about the trials of fostering.
There were a lot of characters here and I did get a little confused a couple of times - but in general they were well presented and developed over the course of the book.
I really couldn't work out who to trust though.
The writing style was gripping and I found, aside from the character confusion, that I was totally immersed on the whole.
I'd love to read more by this author as I'm sure that I just didn't gel with this theme - looking forward to adding more to my future tbr.....
September 25, 2024
Kat was a bio child, and all her other siblings were fostered by her mum and dad.
Kat’s daughter was murdered by her husband, this makes Kat a recluse for five years.
When Kat goes back home after the death of her dad, strange things start happening, including a little girl she finds in her garden.
Kat is asked to foster her until her parents are found, and soon realises the child is deaf.
This psychological thriller had many twists to it, which kept me guessing right until the end.
There were a lot of characters, and I did get confused at times.
I did read this fairly quickly, as I wanted to know what was happening to Kat and the little girl she called Holly.
Having been a bio child with lots of fostered siblings, parts of this book resonated with me. I found it emotional at times, as well as a poignant read.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Kat’s daughter was murdered by her husband, this makes Kat a recluse for five years.
When Kat goes back home after the death of her dad, strange things start happening, including a little girl she finds in her garden.
Kat is asked to foster her until her parents are found, and soon realises the child is deaf.
This psychological thriller had many twists to it, which kept me guessing right until the end.
There were a lot of characters, and I did get confused at times.
I did read this fairly quickly, as I wanted to know what was happening to Kat and the little girl she called Holly.
Having been a bio child with lots of fostered siblings, parts of this book resonated with me. I found it emotional at times, as well as a poignant read.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours and Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 9, 2024
I've never read a book by Bateman before now so had no idea what awaited me between the covers...
The Foster Daughter is a fast paced, dark and extremely twisty thriller. I was immediately gripped from the opening chapters and it's literally been a fast paced binge this afternoon to the end and what other twists came with the penultimate pages...I had no idea what was coming and I'm still scraping my jaw off the floor as we speak!
It has a vast cast of eclectic characters, all of whom are hiding a secret or two of their own. The story is told in first person from the POV of Kat our MFC.
Hot on suspense, unpredictability and angst, Bateman thrills with an action packed, riveting popcorn thriller.
The Foster Daughter is a fast paced, dark and extremely twisty thriller. I was immediately gripped from the opening chapters and it's literally been a fast paced binge this afternoon to the end and what other twists came with the penultimate pages...I had no idea what was coming and I'm still scraping my jaw off the floor as we speak!
It has a vast cast of eclectic characters, all of whom are hiding a secret or two of their own. The story is told in first person from the POV of Kat our MFC.
Hot on suspense, unpredictability and angst, Bateman thrills with an action packed, riveting popcorn thriller.
October 15, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, omg! This was exciting, nerve wracking and I must admit occasionally I was feeling a bit jittery. This author knows how to tell a story, she also knows how to open up the plot. From the very beginning, I was hooked. I was fully invested in Kat and Holly. But at the same time, I needed to know this and know that, I needed answers. Sheesh as I got over one part of the book, the author then took me on more rollercoasters of twists.
By the way, this front cover is extremely chilling, fantastic.
By the way, this front cover is extremely chilling, fantastic.
October 10, 2024
This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I literally couldn’t put it down! From the murder of her daughter to the random appearance of “Holly” meant Kat had a lot to deal with and the reader was left with lots to figure out. The level of tension created by such good writing was always high and I really did feel like anything could happen. I will be telling all thriller lovers I know about this great read!
October 11, 2024
First, I want to thank Sonya Bateman, Joffe Books and Zooloo Book Tours for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
WOW!!! The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is an incredibly intense read from the very getgo. This book is fast paced, intense, mindblowing, heartbreaking, and will bring out so many emotions out of you with this read.
Being from Buffalo, NY I really loved how one of the scenes were in Syracuse.
WOW!!! The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is an incredibly intense read from the very getgo. This book is fast paced, intense, mindblowing, heartbreaking, and will bring out so many emotions out of you with this read.
Being from Buffalo, NY I really loved how one of the scenes were in Syracuse.
October 9, 2024
Here is my review for The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman
I really enjoyed this one and got into it straight away. It’s a fantastic psychological thriller and really keeps you guessing as to what is going on. Katrina lost her daughter five years ago, she was murdered by her father! Wasn’t she? Her ex-husband has now been released from prison a free man, all charges dropped as new evidence has been found. Also, Kat found a young girl, approx age five years similar looks to her daughter, stuck in a holly bush in the back garden of her father’s house in the early hours of the morning. She was staying there as her father had just died. She had to cut her out of the holly bush as she was well and truly stuck in there and there was no easy way to get her out. All this was the start of the book and had me completely hooked, it didn’t let me go until I had finished the book! What a read it was! It was like being on a roller coaster. It was that fast. It was an exciting and eventful book with lots going on and that’s the sort of book I enjoy reading. The author has written a really good book and it was really well plotted. I hope to read more from this author in the future.
Blurb :
I thought my husband killed my daughter.
He’s innocent.
I thought my father died of a stroke.
He was murdered.
I thought my sister was alive and living in Florida.
She’s been dead for ten years.
I thought my foster daughter was safe in my home.
She’s not.
Everything I thought I knew is a lie.
But I have to focus on the future, on the young girl I’m foste ring. I find her in my back yard in the middle of the night — she’s tiny, lost and terrified.
Someone left her here.
It’s all connected. The lies are piling up. I don’t know where this girl came from. She won’t tell me anything. Not even her name.
I have no idea who I’ve brought into my home . . .
I really enjoyed this one and got into it straight away. It’s a fantastic psychological thriller and really keeps you guessing as to what is going on. Katrina lost her daughter five years ago, she was murdered by her father! Wasn’t she? Her ex-husband has now been released from prison a free man, all charges dropped as new evidence has been found. Also, Kat found a young girl, approx age five years similar looks to her daughter, stuck in a holly bush in the back garden of her father’s house in the early hours of the morning. She was staying there as her father had just died. She had to cut her out of the holly bush as she was well and truly stuck in there and there was no easy way to get her out. All this was the start of the book and had me completely hooked, it didn’t let me go until I had finished the book! What a read it was! It was like being on a roller coaster. It was that fast. It was an exciting and eventful book with lots going on and that’s the sort of book I enjoy reading. The author has written a really good book and it was really well plotted. I hope to read more from this author in the future.
Blurb :
I thought my husband killed my daughter.
He’s innocent.
I thought my father died of a stroke.
He was murdered.
I thought my sister was alive and living in Florida.
She’s been dead for ten years.
I thought my foster daughter was safe in my home.
She’s not.
Everything I thought I knew is a lie.
But I have to focus on the future, on the young girl I’m foste ring. I find her in my back yard in the middle of the night — she’s tiny, lost and terrified.
Someone left her here.
It’s all connected. The lies are piling up. I don’t know where this girl came from. She won’t tell me anything. Not even her name.
I have no idea who I’ve brought into my home . . .
January 20, 2025
A woman whose child is murdered - a crime for which her ex husband is first convicted, and then inexplicably released - finds herself struggling with grief in its multiple forms when she returns to her now-empty parental home and all the memories it holds after her father has passed away.
Kat's guilt over neglecting her father after her own daughter's death doesn't help matters, but she has an unexpected resource to draw on. Her parents fostered dozens of children when she was younger, even though she was their only biological child. And having returned to her natal home, Kat now has the opportunity to reconnect with some of these foster siblings who still live in the surrounding locality.
But there are some very weird things happenings taking place too. Why is she receiving anonymous letters defaming her beloved father, who was such a popular and kind person?
Why has her ex been released when she remains convinced that he is their daughter's killer?
And strangest of all, who's the deaf little blue-eyed girl Kat finds abandoned and terrified in a corner of her father's garden?
This book takes a close look into the nature of found family, sibling relationships, and the US foster-care system, and weaves these themes into a suspenseful and gripping story. Hint: there's more than one foster daughter in the story! As someone who grew up with a procession of adoptees passing through my home when I was a child, that aspect of Bateman's storytelling had a particular resonance for me.
But I would recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in complex psychological suspense set in the context of family relationships wrt how foster families operate (rather than the more common domestic thriller themes involving couples). It gets 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Kat's guilt over neglecting her father after her own daughter's death doesn't help matters, but she has an unexpected resource to draw on. Her parents fostered dozens of children when she was younger, even though she was their only biological child. And having returned to her natal home, Kat now has the opportunity to reconnect with some of these foster siblings who still live in the surrounding locality.
But there are some very weird things happenings taking place too. Why is she receiving anonymous letters defaming her beloved father, who was such a popular and kind person?
Why has her ex been released when she remains convinced that he is their daughter's killer?
And strangest of all, who's the deaf little blue-eyed girl Kat finds abandoned and terrified in a corner of her father's garden?
This book takes a close look into the nature of found family, sibling relationships, and the US foster-care system, and weaves these themes into a suspenseful and gripping story. Hint: there's more than one foster daughter in the story! As someone who grew up with a procession of adoptees passing through my home when I was a child, that aspect of Bateman's storytelling had a particular resonance for me.
But I would recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in complex psychological suspense set in the context of family relationships wrt how foster families operate (rather than the more common domestic thriller themes involving couples). It gets 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
October 8, 2024
This is a very twisty, tense, psychological thriller. Kat has been a recluse for the last 5 years following the murder of her daughter at the hands of her husband. She even turns her back on the teenage foster child she had been hoping to adopt before the tragedy happens. When her father dies unexpectedly Kat has to return to her family home and all the memories it holds. Kat’s parents have fostered many children over the years and have a whole wall of photos and memories of the children they have looked after. Kat still keeps in touch with many of her foster “brothers and sisters” although there are a couple she never wants to see again.
On Kat’s first night in her family home she wakes up to hear a child crying. At first she thinks it is one of the nightmares she has suffered from since the death of her daughter but soon realises that there is a child in distress in the garden. And so she finds herself looking after five year old Holly, who is profoundly deaf. The way Sonya Bateman describes Kat’s relationship with Holly is one of the high points of the book for me.
Going through her father’s belongings Kat makes some discoveries which makes her question if she ever really knew her father at all. Then she starts receiving strange notes and Facebook messages. Kat suspects she knows who is responsible but is she correct? The question is who is doing this and why? Why does someone hate her family so much?
The end contains so many twists I actually read it twice as the first time was late at night and I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. It was just as exciting the second time.
On Kat’s first night in her family home she wakes up to hear a child crying. At first she thinks it is one of the nightmares she has suffered from since the death of her daughter but soon realises that there is a child in distress in the garden. And so she finds herself looking after five year old Holly, who is profoundly deaf. The way Sonya Bateman describes Kat’s relationship with Holly is one of the high points of the book for me.
Going through her father’s belongings Kat makes some discoveries which makes her question if she ever really knew her father at all. Then she starts receiving strange notes and Facebook messages. Kat suspects she knows who is responsible but is she correct? The question is who is doing this and why? Why does someone hate her family so much?
The end contains so many twists I actually read it twice as the first time was late at night and I wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. It was just as exciting the second time.
November 24, 2024
Kat has returned to her childhood home for her father’s funeral after he died suddenly live on TV. She has been left full of regrets as following the murder of her little girl Marisol she has avoided seeing anyone and found herself to be a recluse. Her first night in her old home she wakes to the screams of a little girl and finds that her life and everything she thought to be true will never be the same again.
I could not put this book down as I just kept wanting one more chapter to see what happens next and took every opportunity I could to disappear in to this story. The mystery surrounding Holly was a great supporting storyline. I felt like all the characters were really well developed and mostly their characteristics followed all the way through without changing the personality of the individual. I kept guessing right up to the reveal what the outcome would be and although I guessed one part I never would have guessed the rest. It was quite far fetched and took a lot of imagination stretching but for me it felt like the story was tied up well and did not disappoint.
I would recommend this book to others as I fully enjoyed the read. I would also be excited to read further books by Sonya Bateman as she captured the suspense and built the story in such a way that I was gripped right to the end.
I could not put this book down as I just kept wanting one more chapter to see what happens next and took every opportunity I could to disappear in to this story. The mystery surrounding Holly was a great supporting storyline. I felt like all the characters were really well developed and mostly their characteristics followed all the way through without changing the personality of the individual. I kept guessing right up to the reveal what the outcome would be and although I guessed one part I never would have guessed the rest. It was quite far fetched and took a lot of imagination stretching but for me it felt like the story was tied up well and did not disappoint.
I would recommend this book to others as I fully enjoyed the read. I would also be excited to read further books by Sonya Bateman as she captured the suspense and built the story in such a way that I was gripped right to the end.
March 6, 2025
Stars: 3.5
Main Characters: Katrina Gray Martin (aka Kat), Tyler Gray, Marisol, Lynette, Holly, Drew, and Alina Cruz
Synopsis:
Kat receives a troubling call while she is on a work trip—her husband has killed their daughter. This leads her to isolate herself from everyone for five years.
She is forced to return to her hometown when her father passes away, which she finds really strange because he was in great health for his age and super fit. Did someone kill him? Was this planned?
She can barely function as it is, when she finds a little girl in her backyard, who resembles her deceased daughter. This leads to even more questions and a trip down memory lane. Nothing seems to make sense especially when she begins receiving cryptic notes and finds out more about her dad's life. Kat finds herself trapped in a web of mystery where nothing is as it seems.
Review:
The beginning was engaging and had me hooked, and I was really interested in the storyline. However, as more characters were introduced, it became a bit confusing to follow.
The ending also felt rushed and included too many characters, making it overwhelming. That said, the story had plenty of twists, which kept it interesting.
Main Characters: Katrina Gray Martin (aka Kat), Tyler Gray, Marisol, Lynette, Holly, Drew, and Alina Cruz
Synopsis:
Kat receives a troubling call while she is on a work trip—her husband has killed their daughter. This leads her to isolate herself from everyone for five years.
She is forced to return to her hometown when her father passes away, which she finds really strange because he was in great health for his age and super fit. Did someone kill him? Was this planned?
She can barely function as it is, when she finds a little girl in her backyard, who resembles her deceased daughter. This leads to even more questions and a trip down memory lane. Nothing seems to make sense especially when she begins receiving cryptic notes and finds out more about her dad's life. Kat finds herself trapped in a web of mystery where nothing is as it seems.
Review:
The beginning was engaging and had me hooked, and I was really interested in the storyline. However, as more characters were introduced, it became a bit confusing to follow.
The ending also felt rushed and included too many characters, making it overwhelming. That said, the story had plenty of twists, which kept it interesting.
September 23, 2024
Kat's parents used to foster children. She has many brothers and sisters. A girl in their care disappeared, and as a result, they were not allowed to foster children any more.
Kat's husband killed her biological daughter, and her life fell apart. She lost her teenage foster daughter as a result of this.
Her father dies, and she returns home to attend his funeral, and on her first night home, a child is crying in her garden, stuck in a holly bush. The child is deaf, and the Social Services and the police cannot find her parents.
Strange things start happening, and Kat is being bombarded by cruel messages.
This book has a lot going on in it. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough so I could find out who this mysterious child was that turned up in Kat's life.
I did, however, find a flaw. Surely the child would have recognised her mother? Kat came into contact twice with the mother of the child, while the child was with her. Or did I miss something.
Anyway, I do recommend this book, full of twists, secrets and lies. Very engrossing to say the least.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this book.
Kat's husband killed her biological daughter, and her life fell apart. She lost her teenage foster daughter as a result of this.
Her father dies, and she returns home to attend his funeral, and on her first night home, a child is crying in her garden, stuck in a holly bush. The child is deaf, and the Social Services and the police cannot find her parents.
Strange things start happening, and Kat is being bombarded by cruel messages.
This book has a lot going on in it. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough so I could find out who this mysterious child was that turned up in Kat's life.
I did, however, find a flaw. Surely the child would have recognised her mother? Kat came into contact twice with the mother of the child, while the child was with her. Or did I miss something.
Anyway, I do recommend this book, full of twists, secrets and lies. Very engrossing to say the least.
Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this book.
October 17, 2024
The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is a gripping psychological thriller, filled with dark secrets from the past that keep you on edge throughout. The storyline was compelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and constant twists—it felt like a never-ending guessing game!
The book delves into the heavy emotional territory of foster care, highlighting the sad reality that not every foster child is treated well. It’s like a lottery—you might get lucky, or you might not. This novel gives readers a glimpse into the darker side of what happens behind closed doors in a foster home, which added depth and emotional weight to the suspense.
The story also poses some thought-provoking questions: What would you do if you found a screaming child in the middle of the night? How would you cope with returning to your childhood home, only to have someone challenge your memories?
This is a fast-paced thriller, packed with suspense and constant action. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy!
The book delves into the heavy emotional territory of foster care, highlighting the sad reality that not every foster child is treated well. It’s like a lottery—you might get lucky, or you might not. This novel gives readers a glimpse into the darker side of what happens behind closed doors in a foster home, which added depth and emotional weight to the suspense.
The story also poses some thought-provoking questions: What would you do if you found a screaming child in the middle of the night? How would you cope with returning to your childhood home, only to have someone challenge your memories?
This is a fast-paced thriller, packed with suspense and constant action. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy!
January 13, 2025
Fast-paced, brimming with suspense, and layered with unexpected twists.
The story kicks off with the murder of Kat's daughter (which is heartbreaking), and she finds out that it's her husband who has killed their daughter. Then, five years later, she watches her father die on TV and is brought back to the town she had left a long time ago. Here, things get complicated when a deaf and lost girl, Holly, is delivered to her home. Being listed as a foster parent, Kat takes her in and quickly bonds with her—mostly because she looks "quite like her daughter." But with Holly entering her life, other complications present themselves—like burglars at night, dead bodies in the shed, and old enemies on the horizon.
Overall, the book does not disappoint. The author masterfully captures the tangled emotions of grief, guilt, and suspicion, making Kat’s journey both relatable and heart-wrenching. If you’re a fan of dark, twisty stories with emotional depth and a good finale, this is a must-read.
The story kicks off with the murder of Kat's daughter (which is heartbreaking), and she finds out that it's her husband who has killed their daughter. Then, five years later, she watches her father die on TV and is brought back to the town she had left a long time ago. Here, things get complicated when a deaf and lost girl, Holly, is delivered to her home. Being listed as a foster parent, Kat takes her in and quickly bonds with her—mostly because she looks "quite like her daughter." But with Holly entering her life, other complications present themselves—like burglars at night, dead bodies in the shed, and old enemies on the horizon.
Overall, the book does not disappoint. The author masterfully captures the tangled emotions of grief, guilt, and suspicion, making Kat’s journey both relatable and heart-wrenching. If you’re a fan of dark, twisty stories with emotional depth and a good finale, this is a must-read.
September 28, 2024
When Kat's father dies she's forced to stop being a recluse following the death of her daughter and go back to her family home that was filled with foster siblings throughout her life. Strange things start happening, the strangest one is finding a little deaf girl in her garden. Kat finds the strength to tackle all the mysteries and get to the bottom of it.
This book is filled with characters and it is a little difficult to keep track but it's worth reading and has a totally unexpected conclusion.
I gained an insight into what life is like as a foster child and I'm humbled by the work that caring foster parents do for young people. Thank you to the author for that.
This was a fast paced, enjoyable read and I'd definitely read another book by this author. A strong four stars from me.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
This book is filled with characters and it is a little difficult to keep track but it's worth reading and has a totally unexpected conclusion.
I gained an insight into what life is like as a foster child and I'm humbled by the work that caring foster parents do for young people. Thank you to the author for that.
This was a fast paced, enjoyable read and I'd definitely read another book by this author. A strong four stars from me.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC.
October 5, 2024
The Foster Daughter
by Sonya Bateman
Pub Date: Oct 08 2024
The Foster Daughter was a fantastic read, great character development, fast paced and easy to follow. The author tied it up very well and literally kept me guessing until the end. I was hooked from the first page until the last page! I definitely recommend this book.
Synopsis: My daughter was murdered by my husband. Now I have a new little girl to look after. I have no idea who she is. It’s pitch black when I wake up. I hear a child screaming outside. There’s a little girl in my back yard. She can’t be older than five. She has terrified blue eyes. When nobody claims her, I take her in. After all, I’m a professional foster parent. I will look after her like she’s my own child.
Many thanks t0 #TheFosterDaughter #NetGalley and #SonyaBateman for providing me an E-ARC of this book.
by Sonya Bateman
Pub Date: Oct 08 2024
The Foster Daughter was a fantastic read, great character development, fast paced and easy to follow. The author tied it up very well and literally kept me guessing until the end. I was hooked from the first page until the last page! I definitely recommend this book.
Synopsis: My daughter was murdered by my husband. Now I have a new little girl to look after. I have no idea who she is. It’s pitch black when I wake up. I hear a child screaming outside. There’s a little girl in my back yard. She can’t be older than five. She has terrified blue eyes. When nobody claims her, I take her in. After all, I’m a professional foster parent. I will look after her like she’s my own child.
Many thanks t0 #TheFosterDaughter #NetGalley and #SonyaBateman for providing me an E-ARC of this book.
October 8, 2024
What A Brilliant Book
When Kat’s small daughter Marisol dies and her ex husband is in prison for her murder, Kat shuts herself away from everyone. Even her foster daughter Lynette until her father dies unexpectedly and she has to return to the family home which is full of memories of her childhood when her parents used to foster children. One night she is woken by a childs screams, she is caught in the garden hedge. Kat takes her in but neither the police nor social worker can find out where she has come from or who she is. At the same time someone starts sending Kat notes accusing her father of abusing children and it seems to be one of the foster children, but which one? This is a brilliant book with so many suspects I kept changing my mind about who was sending the notes. I certainly didn’t see the end coming.
When Kat’s small daughter Marisol dies and her ex husband is in prison for her murder, Kat shuts herself away from everyone. Even her foster daughter Lynette until her father dies unexpectedly and she has to return to the family home which is full of memories of her childhood when her parents used to foster children. One night she is woken by a childs screams, she is caught in the garden hedge. Kat takes her in but neither the police nor social worker can find out where she has come from or who she is. At the same time someone starts sending Kat notes accusing her father of abusing children and it seems to be one of the foster children, but which one? This is a brilliant book with so many suspects I kept changing my mind about who was sending the notes. I certainly didn’t see the end coming.
October 9, 2024
Kat's husband killed her biological daughter and Kat is struggling and isolating herself. One night she wakes up to screaming and finds a little girl in her backyard. Kat knows nothing about the child except that she needs to take care of her. There are many characters in the story and they are all very different. It has a lot happening in the plot but is simple to follow. I enjoyed how it all intricately weaves together. This is the first book I have read by this author but if this is anything to go by I will definitely be reading more. I loved Holly and I was desperate to discover more about the little girl and where she came from and what happened to her. I carried the book everywhere with me so I could keep reading and the ending was unpredictable but WOW! It's a super one. I think most of my questions were answered in the end and I feel satisfied now.
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