A Daughter’s Secret

by Josephine Cox, Gilly Middleton (primary_contributor)

Don't miss the brand new epic family drama from the nation’s favourite storyteller… Will a dark shadow destroy her family? As a servant below stairs at the big house, Rose hopes to run her own teashop one day, and to keep the dream alive, carefully saves a few shillings each week.

On a visit home to see her mother and her headstrong sister, Daisy, Rose is shocked to discover that their mother’s savings have disappeared, and their belongings have ended up in the pawn shop.

Discovering that a poisonous influence has taken root in their happy family, Rose feels powerless to stop it. Can she save them from disaster, before they lose everything?

400 pages, Paperback

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josephine Cox has once again delivered a captivating tale with A Daughter’s Secret. From the very first page, I was drawn into the lives of Rose and Daisy, two sisters facing hardships that test their resilience and family bonds. Cox’s storytelling is as vivid and engaging as ever, painting a rich picture of early 20th-century life and the struggles her characters endure.

Rose, a servant below stairs at a grand household, dreams of one day running her own teashop and carefully saves each shilling she can. When she returns home, she discovers that her family’s savings have vanished and her sister Daisy is hiding secrets that threaten to unravel them all. The story follows Rose as she navigates these challenges, balancing her own ambitions with the need to protect her family from disaster.

The characters are well-drawn and relatable. Rose’s determination and sense of responsibility make her an especially compelling protagonist, while Daisy’s impulsive nature and the menacing presence of their unscrupulous uncle add tension and complexity to the story. There are moments of heartbreak, suspense, and triumph, and although the ending feels somewhat rushed compared to the slow-building drama of the opening, it provides a satisfying resolution to Rose’s journey.

Fans of Josephine Cox will recognize her signature style—family drama, hardship, love, and perseverance woven together in an engaging narrative. Even if you haven’t read her previous works, A Daughter’s Secret is a thoroughly enjoyable read that immerses you in the lives of its characters and keeps you turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and HarperFiction for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a servant below stairs at the big house, Rose hopes to run her own tea shop one day, and to keep the dream alive, carefully saves a few shillings each week. On a visit home to see her mother and her headstrong sister, Daisy, Rose is shocked to discover that their mother's savings have disappeared, and their belongings have ended up in the pawn shop. Discovering that a poisonous influence has taken root in their happy family, Rose feels powerless to stop it. Can she save them from disaster, before they lose everything?

This is a story about a family and the hardships they had to endure in the 1900s. I liked Rose and her mother, but Daisy needed a good hard kick up the backside. When their mother died, Rose became responsible for her mother's debts. As if their luck wasn't bad enough already. Most of the characters are likeable. I enjoyed reading Rose's story. Will she ever get her tea shop, or is it just a dream?

Published 28th August 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #JosephineCox for my ARC of ADaughtersSecret in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made a mistake in getting this book in that I had forgotten that Josephine Cox had passed away in 2020.
I don’t usually read books that keep an authors name but in no way could they have authored it.

So I gave this a try - and I did finish it - but it isn’t a Josephine Cox book at all. It may be in her style but hasn’t the gritty authenticity that she had.
I do realise that many authors have ghost writers.

This is the story of sisters Rose and Daisy and their mother. There is also a bulky of an uncle with unscrupulous morals. He bullies Louisa -the mother - out of all the money her husband had left her and leaves her impoverished and unwell.

Rose is a cook in a large household, Daisy more flighty and struggles to keep any job. Her actions lose both of them their jobs and they then find they are indebted to their landlord and forced to work for him.

Rose does find love and contentment towards the end of the book - the last few chapters were so rushed after the slowness of the beginning.

So although I wanted to know what happened - and was disappointed in the end - this will be my last ‘new’ Josephine Cox book

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we meet Louisa Farlowe and her daughters, Rose and Daisy. Rose works in service, while Louisa is a milliner with her own little shop and Daisy, more flighty than her older sister, struggles to hold down a job. The family are keeping their heads above water until a figure from Louisa's past starts making demands. What follows is a tale of struggle and survival. This story was so good for a time, and had so much potential. There was a big secret that the familiy's predator held over Louisa, it's revelation was a blink and you miss it moment. The last few chapters felt rushed and the ending was so abrupt I wondered had I missed something.

[Sue Sykes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this storyline and loved the main characters Rose and Daisy, and how their life changes with the sad demise of their mother. After everything goes wrong Rose and Daisy and they end up working for nothing to pay the passed on debts, for Rose she meets Gerald and again their lives change. All in all it’s a lovely story with great characters but I did feel the ending was so quick and it left me a little disappointed.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperCollins for the early read

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars
On the whole this was a good book, I love Family Saga books. Rose's family go through a lot in this book. Daisy was young and impulsive, Rose was the older, more sensible sister. If you enjoy family sagas and upstairs/downstairs type books, then give this a try.
I was tempted to give this 5 stars, but I felt the ending was rushed and ended quite abruptly.
I borrowed this ebook from the library (borrowbox)

[Nancy McLeod · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK but not great. Sort of a Harlquin romance type of novel. Set in pre WWI times in England, Rise works as a cook in a home. She longs to set up her own tea room and escape from her present life. She has a younger sister Daisy and a widowed Mom Louisa who runs a small shop. Louisa dies of TB and Daisy goes to live with Rose.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a good Josephine Cox read. This one had me engaged from the beginning. This is a storyline about a family and the hardships they endure. Really loveable characters and then some despicable characters. It moves at a steady pace. There are a few twists along the way. It was an engaging read and a bit different from my usual genre.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the death of their mother Rose and Daisy have to work to pay off her debts.
A story about family and the hardship of growing up the 1900’s with some likeable characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josephine Cox has delivered another lovely book. Whenever I receive one of her novels as a gift, I know I'll be captivated from the very beginning. Her stories are engaging and vividly imagined, highlighting the struggles and heartaches of her characters.

[Oonagh Considine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a bit boring in the middle but the last 150 pages you were hooked!

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this couldn’t put it down I think there will be a sequel to this 🤔here’s hoping 🤞5*

[Anne Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

brill

A lovely story with many twists and turns. It was very suspenseful in places, emotional and lots more besides. Brilliant author

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and easy to read story.

[Carol G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read had me guessing to the end

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

More twists and turns than on the stairs upstairs and downstairs!

[Dianne Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice easy read .. I didn't love it but it was ok for a summer read..

[JULIE DANIEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, Easy to read