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Only Daughter
In this chilling psychological thriller, one woman's dark past becomes another's deadly future
In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.
She'd been enjoying her teenage summer working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.
Eleven years later she is replaced.
A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.
Soon the imposter is living Bec's life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends' names. Playing with her twin brothers.
But Bec's welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.
In 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter disappeared.
She'd been enjoying her teenage summer working at a fast-food restaurant, crushing on an older boy and shoplifting with her best friend. Mysteriously ominous things began to happen blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched though Bec remained oblivious of what was to come.
Eleven years later she is replaced.
A young woman, desperate after being arrested, claims to be the decade-missing Bec.
Soon the imposter is living Bec's life. Sleeping in her bed. Hugging her mother and father. Learning her best friends' names. Playing with her twin brothers.
But Bec's welcoming family and enthusiastic friends are not quite as they seem. As the imposter dodges the detective investigating her case, she begins to delve into the life of the real Bec Winter and soon realizes that whoever took Bec is still at large, and that she is in imminent danger.
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First published September 20, 2016
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About the author
Anna Snoekstra
13 books467 followersAnna Snoekstra was born in Canberra, Australia in 1988. She studied Creative Writing and Cinema at Melbourne University, followed by Screenwriting at RMIT University.
Anna's short films and music videos have screened around the world. She has written an array of published and award winning short fiction. Her debut novel ONLY DAUGHTER was published in September 2016 (Mira). Her second novel LITTLE SECRETS will be published November 2017 (Mira).
Anna's short films and music videos have screened around the world. She has written an array of published and award winning short fiction. Her debut novel ONLY DAUGHTER was published in September 2016 (Mira). Her second novel LITTLE SECRETS will be published November 2017 (Mira).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,313 reviews
February 24, 2017
3.5 stars
So this is one of those tricky books to review, because it runs so deep into extreme spoiler territory I’m afraid to use words. Or signs. Or even pictures. Maybe interpretive dance would be best. Really, the less you know the better, and I almost wish you couldn’t read the summary on the back of the dang book. There have been a multitude of girl-related psychological thrillers to flood our bookstores and kindles over the past few years, and most of them are part of a same basic plot with minor changes. Point being, it takes quite a bit for something to stand out from the masses. While I did have some issues (mainly toward the end) with this one, I’ll admit it stood out and drew me in to the point I was sneaking around the house because I HAD TO FINISH IT. This book’s main selling point is it’s compulsive readability. If you are looking for a book to grab you from the beginning and can read through quickly (as it is only 288 pages), you might want to pick this up. I think it would be a fantastic book for someone stuck in a reading slump.
When I first began reading this, I thought it was extremely well-done for a debut novel. The rights have already been sold for turning this into a film, so clearly this is and will continue to be a high demand book this season. We follow along, floating between past and present, while we slowly unravel both characters named “Bec”‘s story(ies?). I found myself equally drawn into both storylines, as the chapters were tight snippets that gave you just enough to want more. There is such a high level of suspense and tension throughout the story, and it was very well written. The author had me just were she wanted me until about 80% into the book, but I’ll get back to that in a minute. For some it was an issue, but I really thought the short length of the book and style of writing was perfect. I was hooked completely from beginning to end. The next paragraph will not contain actual spoilers, but may hint at a few things spoiler, so if you’d like to skip it this is your warning.
***********************************************
The ending is clearly where I had my issues with this book, and while they might not be warranted, as some people didn’t have an issue with it, I felt the ending just didn’t quite flow with the rest of the book. It just seemed to not quite fit with the rest of the story, not because of the who, but the why and how. It got a bit graphic toward the end in an unexpected way, and those who have issues with violence toward animals will want to steer clear of this book. I actually liked who she chose as the villains of the story and felt the ending had potential, so I’m really excited to read what the author comes out with next. I know some people were disappointed with the last few pages, but I felt neutral toward it and liked how she kept our modern day Bec anonymous.
***********************************************
Overall, I went into this book with low expectations due to many poor reviews I’d seen, so maybe that altered my experience, but I actually enjoyed this for the most part. I had to think on this one for a few days as I really was all over the place with my thoughts on this one. I’d say if the summary interests you, give it a try. It’s a fast read and a compelling read with extremely fast pacing and a suspenseful plot.
*In case you skipped the paragraph above, I’d like to warn those with triggers that there is a significant scene featuring the abuse of an animal that is pretty graphic. It’s not really a part you can skip over as it’s crucial to the conclusion, so just a fair warning to expect it.
*I’d like to thank Emer Flounders at MIRA for providing my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
So this is one of those tricky books to review, because it runs so deep into extreme spoiler territory I’m afraid to use words. Or signs. Or even pictures. Maybe interpretive dance would be best. Really, the less you know the better, and I almost wish you couldn’t read the summary on the back of the dang book. There have been a multitude of girl-related psychological thrillers to flood our bookstores and kindles over the past few years, and most of them are part of a same basic plot with minor changes. Point being, it takes quite a bit for something to stand out from the masses. While I did have some issues (mainly toward the end) with this one, I’ll admit it stood out and drew me in to the point I was sneaking around the house because I HAD TO FINISH IT. This book’s main selling point is it’s compulsive readability. If you are looking for a book to grab you from the beginning and can read through quickly (as it is only 288 pages), you might want to pick this up. I think it would be a fantastic book for someone stuck in a reading slump.
When I first began reading this, I thought it was extremely well-done for a debut novel. The rights have already been sold for turning this into a film, so clearly this is and will continue to be a high demand book this season. We follow along, floating between past and present, while we slowly unravel both characters named “Bec”‘s story(ies?). I found myself equally drawn into both storylines, as the chapters were tight snippets that gave you just enough to want more. There is such a high level of suspense and tension throughout the story, and it was very well written. The author had me just were she wanted me until about 80% into the book, but I’ll get back to that in a minute. For some it was an issue, but I really thought the short length of the book and style of writing was perfect. I was hooked completely from beginning to end. The next paragraph will not contain actual spoilers, but may hint at a few things spoiler, so if you’d like to skip it this is your warning.
***********************************************
The ending is clearly where I had my issues with this book, and while they might not be warranted, as some people didn’t have an issue with it, I felt the ending just didn’t quite flow with the rest of the book. It just seemed to not quite fit with the rest of the story, not because of the who, but the why and how. It got a bit graphic toward the end in an unexpected way, and those who have issues with violence toward animals will want to steer clear of this book. I actually liked who she chose as the villains of the story and felt the ending had potential, so I’m really excited to read what the author comes out with next. I know some people were disappointed with the last few pages, but I felt neutral toward it and liked how she kept our modern day Bec anonymous.
***********************************************
Overall, I went into this book with low expectations due to many poor reviews I’d seen, so maybe that altered my experience, but I actually enjoyed this for the most part. I had to think on this one for a few days as I really was all over the place with my thoughts on this one. I’d say if the summary interests you, give it a try. It’s a fast read and a compelling read with extremely fast pacing and a suspenseful plot.
*In case you skipped the paragraph above, I’d like to warn those with triggers that there is a significant scene featuring the abuse of an animal that is pretty graphic. It’s not really a part you can skip over as it’s crucial to the conclusion, so just a fair warning to expect it.
*I’d like to thank Emer Flounders at MIRA for providing my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 15, 2016
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
ONLY DAUGHTER is the debut psychological thriller by Anna Snoekstra.
A young woman steps out of her own troubled life and into the life of a woman who has been missing for the past eleven years.
I am having a bit of a hard time rating this book. I read it in just a few sittings, but I'm not sure how much of that was because I was enjoying it or because I wanted to get to the end. I didn't feel like I wanted to throw in the towel on this one but there were a few things that really affected my enjoyment of the book.
The premise of the book really intrigued me. A young woman on the run is arrested for shoplifting. Terrified of going to jail she tries everything she can to gain sympathy. She recalls a conversation she had with an old boyfriend while watching the news. Her boyfriend was marvelling at how much she looked like the girl from the news story that was on. The story was about Rebecca Winters, a girl who had been missing since 2003. Feeling like she has no other options she tells the officers....
"My name is Rebecca Winter. Eleven years ago I was abducted."
Suddenly everything changes. She meets the detective who has been in charge of trying to find her. She senses he feels a lot of guilt about not finding her (Rebecca) all these years, and she uses that guilt to her advantage.
She tells him she just wants to go home. She's "reunited" with the father, the mother and twin brothers. Though everyone seems happy she's home, something about the family doesn't seem right. She's not sure what it is but things feel very strange. She also wonders if she could also be in danger from the person or persons that abducted the real Rebecca.
The story is told from both Rebecca's perspectives, and alternates back and forth from 2003 and 2014.
I found the book interesting but I felt like it took me quite awhile to get into it. There were some good twists and turns but it didn't always flow well. Things that didn't seem relative to the story caused me some confusion. I felt there were many questions left unanswered. Also, I'm fine with things being a bit implausible at times as it is a fiction book, but some things felt a bit too unreal.
The story did start to pick up quite a bit but I was already about two-thirds done. However, I HAD to know what was going to happen.
In the end it all came together and I got what was happening but it felt like I spent much of the book in the dark and kind of confused.
******Warning******
I had a hard time with the animal cruelty in the book. I know the author was trying to make point about psychopathic behavior etc, but I feel like there were too many instances of it and there was way too much detail. I felt ill after reading some parts.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Anna Snoekstra for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
ONLY DAUGHTER is the debut psychological thriller by Anna Snoekstra.
A young woman steps out of her own troubled life and into the life of a woman who has been missing for the past eleven years.
I am having a bit of a hard time rating this book. I read it in just a few sittings, but I'm not sure how much of that was because I was enjoying it or because I wanted to get to the end. I didn't feel like I wanted to throw in the towel on this one but there were a few things that really affected my enjoyment of the book.
The premise of the book really intrigued me. A young woman on the run is arrested for shoplifting. Terrified of going to jail she tries everything she can to gain sympathy. She recalls a conversation she had with an old boyfriend while watching the news. Her boyfriend was marvelling at how much she looked like the girl from the news story that was on. The story was about Rebecca Winters, a girl who had been missing since 2003. Feeling like she has no other options she tells the officers....
"My name is Rebecca Winter. Eleven years ago I was abducted."
Suddenly everything changes. She meets the detective who has been in charge of trying to find her. She senses he feels a lot of guilt about not finding her (Rebecca) all these years, and she uses that guilt to her advantage.
She tells him she just wants to go home. She's "reunited" with the father, the mother and twin brothers. Though everyone seems happy she's home, something about the family doesn't seem right. She's not sure what it is but things feel very strange. She also wonders if she could also be in danger from the person or persons that abducted the real Rebecca.
The story is told from both Rebecca's perspectives, and alternates back and forth from 2003 and 2014.
I found the book interesting but I felt like it took me quite awhile to get into it. There were some good twists and turns but it didn't always flow well. Things that didn't seem relative to the story caused me some confusion. I felt there were many questions left unanswered. Also, I'm fine with things being a bit implausible at times as it is a fiction book, but some things felt a bit too unreal.
The story did start to pick up quite a bit but I was already about two-thirds done. However, I HAD to know what was going to happen.
In the end it all came together and I got what was happening but it felt like I spent much of the book in the dark and kind of confused.
******Warning******
I had a hard time with the animal cruelty in the book. I know the author was trying to make point about psychopathic behavior etc, but I feel like there were too many instances of it and there was way too much detail. I felt ill after reading some parts.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Anna Snoekstra for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2017
Stayed up late to finish this book then had all these seriously messed up characters in my head all night!!!
Our narrator is picked up for shoplifting. Desperate for a way out, her mind recalls a missing person post in which the girl looked remarkably like her. She announces she is “Rebecca Winter” missing for 11 years. Her first thought is to get through this and then escape from police first chance she gets but then she thinks a nice loving family is just what she needs right now and surely she can pull off being Bec as she had been missing for so long. But the family is not quite what the fake Bec expected and what did happen to the real Rebecca Winter?
The story unfolds in dual timelines; that of our fake Bec (we never get to know her real name) in 2014 and also the real Bec in the lead up to her disappearance in 2003. All we know is Bec disappeared after a shift at McDonalds and I loved the way the author teased her readers along as Bec goes to work and then home each day,
A couple of things I didn’t like were; you needed to suspend belief a lot with the police procedural and the ways fake Bec tried to get out of being identified. Also the author has added in current events of the time to give the story a sense of time and place however they come across as contrived and unnatural.
All that aside, I couldn’t stop reading and although clichéd I did actually stay up late (really late!) until I finished this book. The mystery had me intrigued and I read the book with a gripping sense of dread.
This is a debut and yes it needs a bit of polishing but there is so much potential and I’m excited to see what Snoekstra will come up with next.
I received my copy from Harlequin Aus via Netgalley and chose to write a review.
Our narrator is picked up for shoplifting. Desperate for a way out, her mind recalls a missing person post in which the girl looked remarkably like her. She announces she is “Rebecca Winter” missing for 11 years. Her first thought is to get through this and then escape from police first chance she gets but then she thinks a nice loving family is just what she needs right now and surely she can pull off being Bec as she had been missing for so long. But the family is not quite what the fake Bec expected and what did happen to the real Rebecca Winter?
The story unfolds in dual timelines; that of our fake Bec (we never get to know her real name) in 2014 and also the real Bec in the lead up to her disappearance in 2003. All we know is Bec disappeared after a shift at McDonalds and I loved the way the author teased her readers along as Bec goes to work and then home each day,
A couple of things I didn’t like were; you needed to suspend belief a lot with the police procedural and the ways fake Bec tried to get out of being identified. Also the author has added in current events of the time to give the story a sense of time and place however they come across as contrived and unnatural.
All that aside, I couldn’t stop reading and although clichéd I did actually stay up late (really late!) until I finished this book. The mystery had me intrigued and I read the book with a gripping sense of dread.
This is a debut and yes it needs a bit of polishing but there is so much potential and I’m excited to see what Snoekstra will come up with next.
I received my copy from Harlequin Aus via Netgalley and chose to write a review.
October 31, 2016
2.5 stars for Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra.
The idea for the plot was brilliant, unfortunately I think the execution of it left something to be desired. Parts of the book are well written, others not so well written. There were times I was tempted to put this book down and walk away from it, but my desire to find out what had happened to Bec over-rode that, and in the end I am glad I did finish it. There are a couple of really great twists but also some glaring holes in the plot and I think the author could have done a bit more research - her knowledge of police procedure leaves a lot to be desired.
The story is told through the eyes of Rebecca (Bec) Winter over two timelines - 2003 when the real one goes missing, and 2014 through the eyes of her impersonator.
The Winter household is not a happy one. There is something wrong, other than the fact that Bec feels displaced in her parents affections by her twin brothers. Strange things happen - blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched - which Bec can't explain. She is convinced there is a malevolent presence in her home. How right and how wrong she is!
Eleven years after she goes missing without a trace a young woman claiming to be Bec is reunited with her family, and soon she is living Bec's life. But no-one is quite what they seem and soon, as she delves into the real Bec's life, she realises that her own life might well be in danger.
Keep writing Anna Snoekstra. I think you have a lot of potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin (Australia) for providing a digital ARC of Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The idea for the plot was brilliant, unfortunately I think the execution of it left something to be desired. Parts of the book are well written, others not so well written. There were times I was tempted to put this book down and walk away from it, but my desire to find out what had happened to Bec over-rode that, and in the end I am glad I did finish it. There are a couple of really great twists but also some glaring holes in the plot and I think the author could have done a bit more research - her knowledge of police procedure leaves a lot to be desired.
The story is told through the eyes of Rebecca (Bec) Winter over two timelines - 2003 when the real one goes missing, and 2014 through the eyes of her impersonator.
The Winter household is not a happy one. There is something wrong, other than the fact that Bec feels displaced in her parents affections by her twin brothers. Strange things happen - blood in the bed, periods of blackouts, a feeling of being watched - which Bec can't explain. She is convinced there is a malevolent presence in her home. How right and how wrong she is!
Eleven years after she goes missing without a trace a young woman claiming to be Bec is reunited with her family, and soon she is living Bec's life. But no-one is quite what they seem and soon, as she delves into the real Bec's life, she realises that her own life might well be in danger.
Keep writing Anna Snoekstra. I think you have a lot of potential.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin (Australia) for providing a digital ARC of Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
June 27, 2018
4.25 stars!
I have been in a bit of a University-assignment-induced Reading slump lately, but now I have a few weeks to binge on as many books as I can! So I started with some neglected netgalley books I haven’t had a chance to get to yet.
I started Only Daughter, totally forgetting the premise and why I had requested it in the first place, and quickly got sucked into the plot and writing even before I remembered that Snoekstra is an AUSTRALIAN author! Yes! An Aussie thriller! Set in Canberra no less - I don’t live in our nations capital personally, but I love it and have family and friends there.
Our nameless protagonist is caught doing something naughty, and in desperation, pretends to be Rebecca, a missing girl from Canberra that she already knows she bears a striking resemblance to from seeing missing persons reports. She has been missing for years, so she thinks surely she will be able to pull off a bit of an act to ditch the cops and get away! But she soon finds herself in Canberra, and in Rebecca’s shoes, literally. Will they realise she isn’t who she says she is? And whoever took/killed Rebecca is not happy that she is suddenly back...
What a bloody great read! If it not for the occasional Aussie reference and setting, I would have thought I was reading some international best selling thriller from the States (Can you tell I have a soft spot for good American thrillers?). I got so completely sucked into the story. Yes unbelievable, but so good it didn’t even matter! And everything just falls into place I thought it was fantastic! I KINDA saw the twist, KINDA, but not really... so that’s mega points from me!
I really loved how it went back in forth in time between or pseudo Rebecca, and the events of real Rebecca. It felt like a web intricately trapping the climax and twist of the story.
The only let down for me was the ending. Not the twist, but the way it ended. I thought it was ok, but could have had a bit more oomph. It was slightly too abrupt for my liking.
Would I recommend Only Daughter?
Yup it ticked all of my boxes. Great writing, a bit of romance, lots of thrills, a killer mystery, and was so addictive I preferred it over sleep! Would have been a higher rating from me if it weren’t for the ending.
Many thanks to the author and publisher via netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have been in a bit of a University-assignment-induced Reading slump lately, but now I have a few weeks to binge on as many books as I can! So I started with some neglected netgalley books I haven’t had a chance to get to yet.
I started Only Daughter, totally forgetting the premise and why I had requested it in the first place, and quickly got sucked into the plot and writing even before I remembered that Snoekstra is an AUSTRALIAN author! Yes! An Aussie thriller! Set in Canberra no less - I don’t live in our nations capital personally, but I love it and have family and friends there.
Our nameless protagonist is caught doing something naughty, and in desperation, pretends to be Rebecca, a missing girl from Canberra that she already knows she bears a striking resemblance to from seeing missing persons reports. She has been missing for years, so she thinks surely she will be able to pull off a bit of an act to ditch the cops and get away! But she soon finds herself in Canberra, and in Rebecca’s shoes, literally. Will they realise she isn’t who she says she is? And whoever took/killed Rebecca is not happy that she is suddenly back...
What a bloody great read! If it not for the occasional Aussie reference and setting, I would have thought I was reading some international best selling thriller from the States (Can you tell I have a soft spot for good American thrillers?). I got so completely sucked into the story. Yes unbelievable, but so good it didn’t even matter! And everything just falls into place I thought it was fantastic! I KINDA saw the twist, KINDA, but not really... so that’s mega points from me!
I really loved how it went back in forth in time between or pseudo Rebecca, and the events of real Rebecca. It felt like a web intricately trapping the climax and twist of the story.
The only let down for me was the ending. Not the twist, but the way it ended. I thought it was ok, but could have had a bit more oomph. It was slightly too abrupt for my liking.
Would I recommend Only Daughter?
Yup it ticked all of my boxes. Great writing, a bit of romance, lots of thrills, a killer mystery, and was so addictive I preferred it over sleep! Would have been a higher rating from me if it weren’t for the ending.
Many thanks to the author and publisher via netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2017
In 2003, 16 year Rebecca (Bec) Winters went missing. She was a normal teenager, with a summer job at Maccas, a crush on an older male worker, a BFF called Lizzie and a seemingly happy homelife with her Mum and Dad and younger twin brothers. Some 11y later a women arrested by the police claims to be the missing girl. Somehow she manages to fool the police, Rebecca's parents and brothers and fake a DNA test, and then take Rebecca's place in her family home. But as she starts to find out more about Bec's life and family the more she feels something isn't right and the more she wants to find out the truth about Bec.
This is a very good debut novel. The plot is fantastic and the story works well being told in alternating chapters describing what happened to the real Bec in 2003 and the current day imposter in 2014. It's interesting that the author decided to let us know from the outset that the 2014 Bec was an imposter however I didn't really engage with either character or get a strong enough sense of their personalities to have a feel for how they were similar or different. I also felt the police procedural side of the story was relatively week with the police not really pushing the imposter to describe what she'd seen or heard during her supposed abduction. There did seem to be quite a few loose ends that didn't go anywhere and I thought the description of an incident of animal abuse could have more subtly handled. However, the twist at the end was very good and one I didn't see coming. I will definitely be looking out for this author's next book. 3.5★
This is a very good debut novel. The plot is fantastic and the story works well being told in alternating chapters describing what happened to the real Bec in 2003 and the current day imposter in 2014. It's interesting that the author decided to let us know from the outset that the 2014 Bec was an imposter however I didn't really engage with either character or get a strong enough sense of their personalities to have a feel for how they were similar or different. I also felt the police procedural side of the story was relatively week with the police not really pushing the imposter to describe what she'd seen or heard during her supposed abduction. There did seem to be quite a few loose ends that didn't go anywhere and I thought the description of an incident of animal abuse could have more subtly handled. However, the twist at the end was very good and one I didn't see coming. I will definitely be looking out for this author's next book. 3.5★
November 26, 2018
Good psychological thriller, I listened to the audio format. What a great debut, I will be looking out for more from this author. I also saw her speak at the BAD festival this year, she is someone to look out for.
Set in Canberra, a young woman disappears during a very hot summer, ten years later a woman turns up claiming to be the missing woman, Rebecca Winters. This woman was on the run from her own shady past, but what happened to Bec, and why has her family accepted her return, surely they can tell the similarities between both women aren't perfect? How did Bec disappear when she seemed to be enjoying her summer, working at MacDonalds and going to parties. The seemingly normal family seemed a little odd, I liked listening to the mother's story line, she was off and this was rather creepy.
The suspense was certainly there, I was looking forward to each session, and the narration was excellent.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Set in Canberra, a young woman disappears during a very hot summer, ten years later a woman turns up claiming to be the missing woman, Rebecca Winters. This woman was on the run from her own shady past, but what happened to Bec, and why has her family accepted her return, surely they can tell the similarities between both women aren't perfect? How did Bec disappear when she seemed to be enjoying her summer, working at MacDonalds and going to parties. The seemingly normal family seemed a little odd, I liked listening to the mother's story line, she was off and this was rather creepy.
The suspense was certainly there, I was looking forward to each session, and the narration was excellent.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
April 23, 2017
3★
A case of from the frying pan into the fire. A girl escaping whatever it was she’s done at home is on the road, hungry, is caught shoplifting, and so grabs at the opportunity to impersonate a girl who disappeared 11 years ago from her Canberra home.
Her resemblance to Rebecca Winter, the missing girl, is so pronounced that even her boyfriend had commented when they saw the notice on TV.
Unfortunately, it seems she may have let herself in for more than she bargained for.
This girl tells the story in first-person.
“. . . a photograph came up on the screen. She had my nose, my eyes, my copper-coloured hair. Even my freckles.
‘Rebecca Winter finished her late shift at McDonald’s, in the inner north Canberra suburb of Manuka, on the 17th of January 2003, ‘ a man said in a dramatic voice over the photograph, ‘ but somewhere between her bus stop and home she disappeared, never to be seen again.’
‘Holy sh*t, is that you? Peter said. . . do you think that’s your long lost twin or what?’”
As she gradually infiltrates the family and friends, she gets more and more brave, always trying to guard against saying the wrong thing, but also trying to figure out what really did happen to Rebecca Winter. She refers to the parents always as “the mother” or “the father” and the twin brothers by their names.
I really appreciate that there is never any confusion in the reader’s mind whose story this is. The tone of the two girls' stories varies, and the change of the point of view is very effective.
Flashbacks to 2003 are Rebecca’s, told in third person. Bec and Lizzie are best friends, and Lizzie is the hardest to convince that Rebecca has indeed returned from possibly succumbing to the intense, deadly Canberra bushfires of that season.
The 11-year gap between the disappearance and the 2014 time of this girl's story help us believe that she might fool doctors, detectives and friends, but it’s still a pretty big ask.
The ending at first seems like what we might have expected but then turns out to be something else again – always fun!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
A case of from the frying pan into the fire. A girl escaping whatever it was she’s done at home is on the road, hungry, is caught shoplifting, and so grabs at the opportunity to impersonate a girl who disappeared 11 years ago from her Canberra home.
Her resemblance to Rebecca Winter, the missing girl, is so pronounced that even her boyfriend had commented when they saw the notice on TV.
Unfortunately, it seems she may have let herself in for more than she bargained for.
This girl tells the story in first-person.
“. . . a photograph came up on the screen. She had my nose, my eyes, my copper-coloured hair. Even my freckles.
‘Rebecca Winter finished her late shift at McDonald’s, in the inner north Canberra suburb of Manuka, on the 17th of January 2003, ‘ a man said in a dramatic voice over the photograph, ‘ but somewhere between her bus stop and home she disappeared, never to be seen again.’
‘Holy sh*t, is that you? Peter said. . . do you think that’s your long lost twin or what?’”
As she gradually infiltrates the family and friends, she gets more and more brave, always trying to guard against saying the wrong thing, but also trying to figure out what really did happen to Rebecca Winter. She refers to the parents always as “the mother” or “the father” and the twin brothers by their names.
I really appreciate that there is never any confusion in the reader’s mind whose story this is. The tone of the two girls' stories varies, and the change of the point of view is very effective.
Flashbacks to 2003 are Rebecca’s, told in third person. Bec and Lizzie are best friends, and Lizzie is the hardest to convince that Rebecca has indeed returned from possibly succumbing to the intense, deadly Canberra bushfires of that season.
The 11-year gap between the disappearance and the 2014 time of this girl's story help us believe that she might fool doctors, detectives and friends, but it’s still a pretty big ask.
The ending at first seems like what we might have expected but then turns out to be something else again – always fun!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.
July 19, 2016
Only Daughter is a dark thriller with some twists!
In 2004, 16 year old Bec Winter goes missing. In 2014, a young woman who has an uncanny appearance to Bec, is arrested for shoplifting. In order to prevent the police from arresting her, she lies and says that she is the missing Bec Winter.
This imposter is quite intelligent and is able to elude the police from discovering that she is not really Bec. She comes across like a sociopath. She is reunited with Bec’s family, who wants to make up for lost time. The imposter soon realizes that something is off with her new family, but she can’t put her finger on the specifics. As she begins living as Bec, she slowly begins to uncover what happened to the real Bec.
Only Daughter was a gripping read; I was able to fly through it pretty quickly. There are some disturbing moments, especially towards the end. The book also unravels a bit at the end, and there are some unbelievable elements mixed in (I don’t think that the police really would have given up on the imposter’s story so easily). However, it is fun read and I was genuinely surprised by the ending.
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2016
Rebecca Winter was a typical 16-year-old, working at McDonald's, flirting with the boys and hanging with her best friend, Lizzie. Strange things start happening ... she feels that someone is watching her, following her. She feels a presence in her room in the middle of the night.
Eleven years ago she disappeared.
Today, she has been replaced.
A young woman, after being arrested for shoplifting, tells the police that she is Rebecca Winter.
And soon this woman is living Rebecca's life .... loving the family she's never had ... the mother, the father, the twin younger brothers. Learning the friends' names.
Her new family are not quite what she expected. As she dodges the investigator who doubts her story, she begins to look into why the real Rebecca disappeared.
And whoever knows the truth is a danger to this imposter.
This is an exceptional psychological thriller, full of twists and turns. The story is told two-fold, One is the real Rebecca Winter, telling the reader what had happened in the days before she disappeared. And then there is Rebecca today relating her story. As they start to dovetail, the reader realizes that everything they've known up to that point .... is not what it seems to be. The ending was totally unexpected.
Extremely well written, ONLY DAUGHTER is a debut novel by this author. Ms. Snoekstra is absolutely an author I will follow.
Many thanks to the author / Harlequin (Australia)/ Harlequin (UK) Limited/Mira - Mira UK / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Eleven years ago she disappeared.
Today, she has been replaced.
A young woman, after being arrested for shoplifting, tells the police that she is Rebecca Winter.
And soon this woman is living Rebecca's life .... loving the family she's never had ... the mother, the father, the twin younger brothers. Learning the friends' names.
Her new family are not quite what she expected. As she dodges the investigator who doubts her story, she begins to look into why the real Rebecca disappeared.
And whoever knows the truth is a danger to this imposter.
This is an exceptional psychological thriller, full of twists and turns. The story is told two-fold, One is the real Rebecca Winter, telling the reader what had happened in the days before she disappeared. And then there is Rebecca today relating her story. As they start to dovetail, the reader realizes that everything they've known up to that point .... is not what it seems to be. The ending was totally unexpected.
Extremely well written, ONLY DAUGHTER is a debut novel by this author. Ms. Snoekstra is absolutely an author I will follow.
Many thanks to the author / Harlequin (Australia)/ Harlequin (UK) Limited/Mira - Mira UK / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
July 31, 2016
http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2016/07...
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an ebook copy of Only Daughter By: Anna Snoekstra in exchange for an honest review.
WOW. While I can't say that Only Daughter is a perfect book, it is certainly a disturbing thriller. Which is just what I wanted to read! As soon as I started reading I was hooked. I read the whole thing during an INCREDIBLY busy weekend. I just had to keep reading this book though.
#DisturbingAndCaptivating
The writing is so well done and I just love the past and present POVs. The timing of the POV switches are perfect. Also, there are a lot of excellent twists and I didn't know which way the story was going to roll next. There really isn't anything bad that I could say about this one.
#TwistAndRoll
I have to say that I've never really been creeped out by a thriller novel. However, this one did that for me. The family in this book is just really odd and the author did a terrific job providing an eerie atmosphere. Just to be clear, this isn't SCARY at all, but the atmosphere may give you the heebie jeebies a little bit too.
#EerieVibes
Overall Only Daughter is just the kind of thriller that I've been in the mood for this summer! I loved it. The whole vibe of the book is well done, there's twists galore, and it's definitely a page turner. I would love to read more thrillers by Anna Snoekstra!
#MorePlease
I recommend Only Daughter for all thriller lovers!!
#CallingAllThrillerManiacs
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for providing an ebook copy of Only Daughter By: Anna Snoekstra in exchange for an honest review.
WOW. While I can't say that Only Daughter is a perfect book, it is certainly a disturbing thriller. Which is just what I wanted to read! As soon as I started reading I was hooked. I read the whole thing during an INCREDIBLY busy weekend. I just had to keep reading this book though.
#DisturbingAndCaptivating
The writing is so well done and I just love the past and present POVs. The timing of the POV switches are perfect. Also, there are a lot of excellent twists and I didn't know which way the story was going to roll next. There really isn't anything bad that I could say about this one.
#TwistAndRoll
I have to say that I've never really been creeped out by a thriller novel. However, this one did that for me. The family in this book is just really odd and the author did a terrific job providing an eerie atmosphere. Just to be clear, this isn't SCARY at all, but the atmosphere may give you the heebie jeebies a little bit too.
#EerieVibes
Overall Only Daughter is just the kind of thriller that I've been in the mood for this summer! I loved it. The whole vibe of the book is well done, there's twists galore, and it's definitely a page turner. I would love to read more thrillers by Anna Snoekstra!
#MorePlease
I recommend Only Daughter for all thriller lovers!!
#CallingAllThrillerManiacs
January 22, 2018
I’ve always been good at playing a part: the mysterious seductress for the sleazebag, the doe-eyed innocent for the protector.
The first sentence had me hooked. A girl who gets by through life by being who she needs to be or thinks people need her to be. But when she gets herself into a situation where playing a role doesn't get her off the hook, she does the next best thing and claims the identity of a missing girl - a girl missing for eleven years. Can't be that hard to pretend to be someone with a family and friends, right? She claims she was abducted and doesn't remember much. She knows she looks close enough to the real Rebecca Winter that she should be able to get off the hook and get away before anyone realizes the truth.
Alternating between present day from fake Bec's perspective and the past from 16 year old Rebecca's POV the week she went missing, the story keeps you hooked. I needed to know what happened to the real Rebecca, but was also intrigued by who this fake Bec is and why she felt the need to go to such drastic measures to not be identified.
The writing is especially good for a debut novel. I will definitely check out more from Snoekstra. It didn't bother me that we never learn the fake Bec's real name, as I don't really think it matters. However, I did have some issues with the ending. It just didn't particularly make sense. It doesn't all add up. I can't get into detail for fear of spoilers.
July 29, 2016
Nightmares are had by characters in this book, and I will be having nightmares after reading it!
Only Daughter is a fast paced paced, totally gripping psychological thriller. I went into this book slightly blind, which I think is the way to go with thrillers - the less you know the better. I was pleasantly surprised as to where the plot took me.
While I enjoyed all the twists and turns, many of which I did not see coming, and genuinely did not trust a single character for one minute, the last quarter or so of the book took quite a disturbing turn. Which is where the nightmares will be coming in! I feel compelled to warn readers that there is graphic violence, some against animals. If this is a trigger for you, you may want to skip this one.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I couldn't put it down, and definitely did not guess the ending.
Thank you Netgalley, Anna Snoekstra and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Only Daughter is a fast paced paced, totally gripping psychological thriller. I went into this book slightly blind, which I think is the way to go with thrillers - the less you know the better. I was pleasantly surprised as to where the plot took me.
While I enjoyed all the twists and turns, many of which I did not see coming, and genuinely did not trust a single character for one minute, the last quarter or so of the book took quite a disturbing turn. Which is where the nightmares will be coming in! I feel compelled to warn readers that there is graphic violence, some against animals. If this is a trigger for you, you may want to skip this one.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I couldn't put it down, and definitely did not guess the ending.
Thank you Netgalley, Anna Snoekstra and Harlequin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2017
3.25 stars!! I felt like this book dragged a bit and there was too much going on, too many suspects. Some of the scenes felt incomplete. The ending was pretty good though.
October 15, 2016
Have you ever wanted to be a tourist in someone else’s life? Just pretend to be someone else for a little while and escape your own everyday monotony? The main character in Only Daughter stumbled upon the perfect entryway for this situation and she thought it would solve all her problems. Only it just created more. Apparently, Only Daughter shares a similar plotline with many other novels, however the only similar one I have read is Sara Shepard's The Lying Game. Alternating time frames voiced by both the imposter and the missing girl slowly reveal what happened to a family's only daughter. I personally found it far-fetched that everyone involved in the missing girl's life accepted someone else and believed her identity so easily, even though many years had passed. I look at old photographs of family members and I would hope I couldn't be manipulated but I guess desperation and grief might make you believe just about anything to get some positive closure. Overall, I liked this debut and remained fairly engaged throughout. Although it didn't blow my mind, I would definitely pay the pricey $15 for a movie ticket when it comes to theaters. I think the plot line (and that ending) will play out very well on screen. If you enjoy the book-to-movie experience or if you have been keeping up with the influx of psychological thriller debuts, then check out Anna Snoekstra's Only Daughter.
Note: In an online interview with Anna Snoekstra found HERE, she was inspired to write this storyline after watching the Ingrid Bergman film Anastasia, about a woman who pretends to be the long-missing royal Anastasia Nikolaevna. I haven't yet watched this movie but I plan to!
Note: In an online interview with Anna Snoekstra found HERE, she was inspired to write this storyline after watching the Ingrid Bergman film Anastasia, about a woman who pretends to be the long-missing royal Anastasia Nikolaevna. I haven't yet watched this movie but I plan to!
February 23, 2020
“No quiero hablar del tema. No quiero contarles que ya nunca atraparán a quien fuese el responsable de la ausencia de su hermana. No quiero contarles que todo es culpa mía.”
¡Sorpresivo! Esa es la mejor manera de describirlo...
“Hija única” es un libro autoconclusivo que nos sumerge en una historia bastante adictiva y original, donde la protagonista hará lo imposible por cambiar de vida, aunque ello conlleve perder su propia identidad.
Al principio se hace bastante lento y hasta lo consideras previsible... sin embargo no pienses que es la realidad todo lo que lees.
La novela se desarrolla sobre dos líneas argumentales: En una nos trasladamos al pasado, once años atrás, en donde viviremos los últimos días de Rebecca. Narrada en tercera persona, seguiremos sus pasos y su entorno… Veremos lo que en un principio parecen los típicos problemas adolescentes, sin embargo, ahí es donde se esconden las claves sobre su fatídico final.
En la otra línea (en el presente), narrada en primera persona, nos encontraremos con una joven decidida a cambiar de vida cueste lo que cueste, así tenga que mentir.
Ambas tramas se irán alternando en cada capítulo. Nos encontramos con mucho diálogo en ambas tramas y con un buen ritmo, definitivamente la autora supo cómo manejar la tensión y la intriga.
Sobre el final, la narración aumenta su ritmo, y termina de una forma totalmente inesperada. Desde mi punto de vista estoy conforme con él sin embargo solo puedo decir que fue muy brusco, rápido y quedaron cosas por contar. Sin embargo, me ha gustado mucho y ha sido interesante conocer a esta autora.
100% recomendado
¡Sorpresivo! Esa es la mejor manera de describirlo...
“Hija única” es un libro autoconclusivo que nos sumerge en una historia bastante adictiva y original, donde la protagonista hará lo imposible por cambiar de vida, aunque ello conlleve perder su propia identidad.
Al principio se hace bastante lento y hasta lo consideras previsible... sin embargo no pienses que es la realidad todo lo que lees.
La novela se desarrolla sobre dos líneas argumentales: En una nos trasladamos al pasado, once años atrás, en donde viviremos los últimos días de Rebecca. Narrada en tercera persona, seguiremos sus pasos y su entorno… Veremos lo que en un principio parecen los típicos problemas adolescentes, sin embargo, ahí es donde se esconden las claves sobre su fatídico final.
En la otra línea (en el presente), narrada en primera persona, nos encontraremos con una joven decidida a cambiar de vida cueste lo que cueste, así tenga que mentir.
Ambas tramas se irán alternando en cada capítulo. Nos encontramos con mucho diálogo en ambas tramas y con un buen ritmo, definitivamente la autora supo cómo manejar la tensión y la intriga.
Sobre el final, la narración aumenta su ritmo, y termina de una forma totalmente inesperada. Desde mi punto de vista estoy conforme con él sin embargo solo puedo decir que fue muy brusco, rápido y quedaron cosas por contar. Sin embargo, me ha gustado mucho y ha sido interesante conocer a esta autora.
100% recomendado
November 26, 2016
“Only Daughter”, by Anna Snoekstra, is reminiscent of “The Good Girl” by Mary Kubica. Just as intense, nail-biting and addictive, “Daughter” is a creative whirlwind of drama and suspense.
In 2003, Bec Winter disappeared. Eleven years later, a young woman, desperate to escape prison and the mistakes of her own life, claims to be the missing girl. Soon, she is living Bec Winter’s life- living in her house, being loved by her family and embraced by her friends. As the new Bec tries to dodge questions from the vigilant detective, the new Bec begins to uncover family secrets and realizes her new life may not be as safe as she thought it was, and that she may now be in danger.
This novel is short and fast-paced, and the addictive storytelling makes it a very difficult novel to put down. The protagonist (never given her own name) is flawed and manipulative, and in fact is not that likable of a character at first. As soon as she is taken into “Bec’s” life, we see the dysfunction around her and the questions arise. The novel is suspenseful, and will definitely keep you guessing. Bec’s mom (called “the mom” in the novel) is a disturbed character, yet able to generate sympathy from the readers. There are many suspects in the novel, and it is difficult to pinpoint the final culprit- until the very end, when they are revealed in a terrifying way.
The ending of the novel is satisfying, as everything is given a tight and succinct conclusion, including what happened to the “real Bec”. The novel is a bit choppy, as it changes between two different time periods. There are some challenging plot points to follow also, as it seems that one part of the story carries on while you are reading about the other. There are some details that I filled in as I went along, and would’ve liked to have seen given a bit more detail (such as the incident with Lizzie’s father- a reader is expected to speculate as that plot point was barely touched on), however it did not take anything away from the novel’s overall storyline. It is easy enough however, to catch up and follow along.
Snoekstra is certainly a writing tour-de-force, and she is someone you will not soon forget. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this novel.
In 2003, Bec Winter disappeared. Eleven years later, a young woman, desperate to escape prison and the mistakes of her own life, claims to be the missing girl. Soon, she is living Bec Winter’s life- living in her house, being loved by her family and embraced by her friends. As the new Bec tries to dodge questions from the vigilant detective, the new Bec begins to uncover family secrets and realizes her new life may not be as safe as she thought it was, and that she may now be in danger.
This novel is short and fast-paced, and the addictive storytelling makes it a very difficult novel to put down. The protagonist (never given her own name) is flawed and manipulative, and in fact is not that likable of a character at first. As soon as she is taken into “Bec’s” life, we see the dysfunction around her and the questions arise. The novel is suspenseful, and will definitely keep you guessing. Bec’s mom (called “the mom” in the novel) is a disturbed character, yet able to generate sympathy from the readers. There are many suspects in the novel, and it is difficult to pinpoint the final culprit- until the very end, when they are revealed in a terrifying way.
The ending of the novel is satisfying, as everything is given a tight and succinct conclusion, including what happened to the “real Bec”. The novel is a bit choppy, as it changes between two different time periods. There are some challenging plot points to follow also, as it seems that one part of the story carries on while you are reading about the other. There are some details that I filled in as I went along, and would’ve liked to have seen given a bit more detail (such as the incident with Lizzie’s father- a reader is expected to speculate as that plot point was barely touched on), however it did not take anything away from the novel’s overall storyline. It is easy enough however, to catch up and follow along.
Snoekstra is certainly a writing tour-de-force, and she is someone you will not soon forget. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this novel.
October 17, 2017
Only Daughter, Anna Snoekstra's debut novel set in Canberra, is bound for Hollywood. Looking forward to the movie!
Australian writer Anna Snoekstra’s dark and twisty ONLY DAUGHTER is set in Canberra-"The perfect setting for a troubled teenage protagonist, permeated with a sense of looming danger," says the author in an online interview. Readers will agree it sets the tone for a sense of paranoia.
Rebecca (Bec) is a young woman who goes missing. Eleven years later a girl trying to escape getting arrested for shoplifting, claims to be her.
However, she is not aware of the dangers surrounding the real Rebecca.
The author, working the night shift at a Melbourne cinema, dared to dream. Now, her debut novel has caught the attention of Hollywood! (congrats!) Read More.
A runaway girl is trying to escape her past. Pretending to be a girl abducted. She even looks like her. She has watched the story on the news. She even recalls a story of a string of grisly murders at a place called Holden Valley Aged Care in Melbourne. Butchered grannies. (now this is a Halloween nightmare).
She had recalled the missing girl had finished her late night shift at McDonalds in 2003 in the inner north Canberra suburb, of Manuka. But somewhere between her bus stop and home she disappeared, never to be seen again.
A family portrait. Idyllic. Parents, two brothers.
The family takes her in. However, what she begins to uncover is a labyrinth of dark family evil secrets.
As the two narratives from 2003 to 2014—unfold, readers learn about the sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winters' disappearance from a Canberra suburb. Then of course eleven years later, another woman is caught stealing in a Sydney market and claims to be Rebecca (Bec).
What happened to the real Rebecca? How will she pull it off? DNA?
Imposter. A family. Brothers. Twins. Danger is lurking. Strange things begin happening. The investigation is re-opened.
What she had not intended was to fall victim to the same fate as the real Rebecca. Now she is desperate to learn what really happened to the original girl.
Is the real killer still out there, and coming for her? Creepy, horror, grisly, spine-tingling.
“She grieved for her, and she promised she would fix what she had broken. Promised she would not let them get away with it.” The trace of Bec left in her life was the like a deep scar.
A dark sense of foreboding - impending danger; you know something evil is around the corner.
At its heart, the novel the author mentions, “an allegory of our political climate and an investigation of how paranoia is fed and exploited.” In the midst of the Canberra Bushfire.
For me, I was excited to learn what happened to the real (original Bec), more so, than the imposter; however, both storylines were well done, in a mysterious creative approach.
Fans of Mark Edwards and Amy Gentry’s "Good as Gone" will enjoy the slight similarity of this intriguing dark psychological chilling thriller.
It’s near Halloween. The perfect time, to curl up with a good book and give yourself the spooks. This is one to bump up the "evil creep scary factor." Cleverly constructed, the author drags you into this wacky world, with an expansive cast of characters.
However, nothing can top my Jennifer Hillier "Halloween" fix. She is not coming out with a new release, this year, so will have to wait for her next-having read all her previous ones.
A special thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
Australian writer Anna Snoekstra’s dark and twisty ONLY DAUGHTER is set in Canberra-"The perfect setting for a troubled teenage protagonist, permeated with a sense of looming danger," says the author in an online interview. Readers will agree it sets the tone for a sense of paranoia.
Rebecca (Bec) is a young woman who goes missing. Eleven years later a girl trying to escape getting arrested for shoplifting, claims to be her.
However, she is not aware of the dangers surrounding the real Rebecca.
The author, working the night shift at a Melbourne cinema, dared to dream. Now, her debut novel has caught the attention of Hollywood! (congrats!) Read More.
A runaway girl is trying to escape her past. Pretending to be a girl abducted. She even looks like her. She has watched the story on the news. She even recalls a story of a string of grisly murders at a place called Holden Valley Aged Care in Melbourne. Butchered grannies. (now this is a Halloween nightmare).
She had recalled the missing girl had finished her late night shift at McDonalds in 2003 in the inner north Canberra suburb, of Manuka. But somewhere between her bus stop and home she disappeared, never to be seen again.
A family portrait. Idyllic. Parents, two brothers.
The family takes her in. However, what she begins to uncover is a labyrinth of dark family evil secrets.
As the two narratives from 2003 to 2014—unfold, readers learn about the sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winters' disappearance from a Canberra suburb. Then of course eleven years later, another woman is caught stealing in a Sydney market and claims to be Rebecca (Bec).
What happened to the real Rebecca? How will she pull it off? DNA?
Imposter. A family. Brothers. Twins. Danger is lurking. Strange things begin happening. The investigation is re-opened.
What she had not intended was to fall victim to the same fate as the real Rebecca. Now she is desperate to learn what really happened to the original girl.
Is the real killer still out there, and coming for her? Creepy, horror, grisly, spine-tingling.
“She grieved for her, and she promised she would fix what she had broken. Promised she would not let them get away with it.” The trace of Bec left in her life was the like a deep scar.
A dark sense of foreboding - impending danger; you know something evil is around the corner.
At its heart, the novel the author mentions, “an allegory of our political climate and an investigation of how paranoia is fed and exploited.” In the midst of the Canberra Bushfire.
For me, I was excited to learn what happened to the real (original Bec), more so, than the imposter; however, both storylines were well done, in a mysterious creative approach.
Fans of Mark Edwards and Amy Gentry’s "Good as Gone" will enjoy the slight similarity of this intriguing dark psychological chilling thriller.
It’s near Halloween. The perfect time, to curl up with a good book and give yourself the spooks. This is one to bump up the "evil creep scary factor." Cleverly constructed, the author drags you into this wacky world, with an expansive cast of characters.
However, nothing can top my Jennifer Hillier "Halloween" fix. She is not coming out with a new release, this year, so will have to wait for her next-having read all her previous ones.
A special thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDCMustReadBooks
September 23, 2016
I have very mixed feelings on this book. Pros: it's a short read & very fast paced, with an intriguing plot. Cons: it's really lacking in suspense/tension/real content.
This really did not feel like a true psychological thriller to me. The premise certainly is, but the execution fell flat. To me, this is mostly a story profiling two young women, with a suspenseful, fairly hair-raising final 30ish pages. The vast majority of the book is spent flashing back and forth between the young woman who disappeared, and the woman who takes her place, with only the vague suggestion of suspense that might be to come. I just kept waiting for something gripping to happen, and it really didn't until the last 30ish pages.
The ending of this book was awesome, but the rest of it was a disappointment for me as a reader looking for a great crime story. This book has a great premise, and the author clearly has talent - the finale of the book proves that. To me, this book should have been taken a step further - even if the author wants to go for subtle hints at what's to come, the story still needs a bit more oomph. This would be a good one to get from the library to see if it's for you!
*note: if you like the plot of this book, check out GOOD AS GONE by Amy Gentry - a book published a few months ago that offers up a similar story with more emotional depth & fleshed-out characters.
This really did not feel like a true psychological thriller to me. The premise certainly is, but the execution fell flat. To me, this is mostly a story profiling two young women, with a suspenseful, fairly hair-raising final 30ish pages. The vast majority of the book is spent flashing back and forth between the young woman who disappeared, and the woman who takes her place, with only the vague suggestion of suspense that might be to come. I just kept waiting for something gripping to happen, and it really didn't until the last 30ish pages.
The ending of this book was awesome, but the rest of it was a disappointment for me as a reader looking for a great crime story. This book has a great premise, and the author clearly has talent - the finale of the book proves that. To me, this book should have been taken a step further - even if the author wants to go for subtle hints at what's to come, the story still needs a bit more oomph. This would be a good one to get from the library to see if it's for you!
*note: if you like the plot of this book, check out GOOD AS GONE by Amy Gentry - a book published a few months ago that offers up a similar story with more emotional depth & fleshed-out characters.
April 2, 2017
What can I say about Only Daughter By Anna Snoekstra did I like it yes & no it was a quick read for me & was a page turner BUT I think the author didn't do enough research into police procedural it was lacking something I couldn't put my finger on & thought the plot sounded promising but was a letdown.
The story is told between 2 POV's Bec in 2003 & Rebecca in 2014.
Rebecca Winter is a typical 16 year old girl working at Macca's, flirting with boys & hanging around with Lizzie, then things suddenly change she thinks someone is watching her has periods of blackouts& feeling of being watched. Her family were dysfunctional her mother doted on Paul & Andrew her identical brothers but did not have time for her.
Eleven years later a stranger turns up with a past of their own pretending to be Bec, she looks a lot like her even her brothers & friends are fooled, eventually the police want to interview her but she tries every trick in the book to cover her tracks they even want her to have a blood test but her father says no as he is the weak one who has a liking for the bottle.
As we o further into the life of Bec we find out she is harbouring secrets she doesn't want anyone to find out, this is where Lizzie comes into it she goes to Rebecca & tells her some home truth's which she doesn't want to hear.
What happens from here on is a lot of truth's come out about Becs family that are mind blowing I didn't see the ending coming but it could have been written a bit better in my opinion, another thing I thought it dragged a bit in the middle but didn't stop me reading just a little irk that annoyed me a bit.
The story is told between 2 POV's Bec in 2003 & Rebecca in 2014.
Rebecca Winter is a typical 16 year old girl working at Macca's, flirting with boys & hanging around with Lizzie, then things suddenly change she thinks someone is watching her has periods of blackouts& feeling of being watched. Her family were dysfunctional her mother doted on Paul & Andrew her identical brothers but did not have time for her.
Eleven years later a stranger turns up with a past of their own pretending to be Bec, she looks a lot like her even her brothers & friends are fooled, eventually the police want to interview her but she tries every trick in the book to cover her tracks they even want her to have a blood test but her father says no as he is the weak one who has a liking for the bottle.
As we o further into the life of Bec we find out she is harbouring secrets she doesn't want anyone to find out, this is where Lizzie comes into it she goes to Rebecca & tells her some home truth's which she doesn't want to hear.
What happens from here on is a lot of truth's come out about Becs family that are mind blowing I didn't see the ending coming but it could have been written a bit better in my opinion, another thing I thought it dragged a bit in the middle but didn't stop me reading just a little irk that annoyed me a bit.
November 2, 2017
Leitura fácil e obrigatória, suscita o interesse de início ao fim. Um thriller muito bem construído que nos mostra os segredos obscuros que a nossa própria família pode esconder. “A sua casa pode ser o lugar mais perigoso do mundo”.
September 11, 2016
Full review on www.novelgossip.com
I loved the premise of this book and thought it was a fairly original storyline, yes I’ve seen it done before but not exactly the same way. I enjoyed Good As Gone and had hoped this one would be similar as they seem to have quite a bit in common just based off the blurbs. Regrettably, this one missed the mark for me.
As I said previously, the basis for this book is fantastic! You have a decade long missing person, Bec who vanished without a trace. A young homeless woman who wants to avoid being arrested decides assuming Bec’s identity is her only way out of serving time in jail. The reader never does find out fake Bec’s real name which is one of several things that annoyed me, it’s irrelevant but still. So for clarification I’ll just say Fake Bec or Bec.
My first issue is the ease with which Fake Bec slips into Bec’s life. No one ever questions her enough to even find out where she’s been for the past ten years. Not even the police, much less her family. I hate when the cops are portrayed as incompetent fools and unfortunately that happens in this book. Fake Bec is never pushed into police questioning which is just far too unrealistic for me to let slide. Her family doesn’t ever ask where she’s been or what happened to her either. Everyone in this book is detached in a bothersome way.
I’ve said before how much I usually like flipping between past and present in thrillers. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I usually do with this one. I think it’s because both Bec and Fake Bec were both pretty flat and wooden characters for me. As much as I really wanted to sympathize with at least one of them, I just couldn’t. I should have been anxiously awaiting the inevitable moment where Fake Bec gets caught for impersonating Bec and I wasn’t at all. Overall excitement was lacking for me, which never happens to me when I’m reading a good thriller.
This had a plot with great potential that was untapped. I almost wish that someone else would take this premise and do more with it. There were aspects that could have been fantastic, especially when the twist is revealed. But it all felt very rushed in the end and instead of delving into more of the chilling psyche of the killer, things just…ended.
I loved the premise of this book and thought it was a fairly original storyline, yes I’ve seen it done before but not exactly the same way. I enjoyed Good As Gone and had hoped this one would be similar as they seem to have quite a bit in common just based off the blurbs. Regrettably, this one missed the mark for me.
As I said previously, the basis for this book is fantastic! You have a decade long missing person, Bec who vanished without a trace. A young homeless woman who wants to avoid being arrested decides assuming Bec’s identity is her only way out of serving time in jail. The reader never does find out fake Bec’s real name which is one of several things that annoyed me, it’s irrelevant but still. So for clarification I’ll just say Fake Bec or Bec.
My first issue is the ease with which Fake Bec slips into Bec’s life. No one ever questions her enough to even find out where she’s been for the past ten years. Not even the police, much less her family. I hate when the cops are portrayed as incompetent fools and unfortunately that happens in this book. Fake Bec is never pushed into police questioning which is just far too unrealistic for me to let slide. Her family doesn’t ever ask where she’s been or what happened to her either. Everyone in this book is detached in a bothersome way.
I’ve said before how much I usually like flipping between past and present in thrillers. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I usually do with this one. I think it’s because both Bec and Fake Bec were both pretty flat and wooden characters for me. As much as I really wanted to sympathize with at least one of them, I just couldn’t. I should have been anxiously awaiting the inevitable moment where Fake Bec gets caught for impersonating Bec and I wasn’t at all. Overall excitement was lacking for me, which never happens to me when I’m reading a good thriller.
This had a plot with great potential that was untapped. I almost wish that someone else would take this premise and do more with it. There were aspects that could have been fantastic, especially when the twist is revealed. But it all felt very rushed in the end and instead of delving into more of the chilling psyche of the killer, things just…ended.
February 18, 2017
What an intense read! Firstly, I have to say that I feel a bit cheated. The book that I received, the story finished about halfway through the book! I was SO surprised and confused - I thought it couldn't possibly be the end yet! The rest of the book was made up of huge "sneak peeks" at 4 different other books by different authors. I have never come across that before. A short excerpt from the next book by that author, maybe, but not four different other books like this - taking up literally half the book! While I'm on the subject of confusion ... this is an Aussie author, writing a story based in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and yet, "Mum" is "Mom". Incredibly jarring every single time I read it!. The author does write here on GR that those were editing decisions that happened after she had completed the manuscript. Such a shame, in my opinion.
Now, that's off my chest, onto the review of the actual story of Only Daughter.
Like I said before, this was intense! It was unique (I like that!). It starts with a bang - a young woman is arrested for shoplifting. She has an ace up her sleeve - she bears an uncanny resemblance to a missing girl. All she has to do is tell the authorities she is her ... and she is free. Free to take over someone else's life. Then, things start to go wrong, and she can't help but wonder, what actually happened to the missing girl ... and is she following the same fate?
I love that I didn't guess the ending!
Now, that's off my chest, onto the review of the actual story of Only Daughter.
Like I said before, this was intense! It was unique (I like that!). It starts with a bang - a young woman is arrested for shoplifting. She has an ace up her sleeve - she bears an uncanny resemblance to a missing girl. All she has to do is tell the authorities she is her ... and she is free. Free to take over someone else's life. Then, things start to go wrong, and she can't help but wonder, what actually happened to the missing girl ... and is she following the same fate?
I love that I didn't guess the ending!
August 23, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley
*Updated review*
Just when you think you have it all figure out, Snoekstra throws you a curveball that takes you on a wild ride.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the pacing. It is written in two distinct styles: the first from the perspective of Fake Bec living in the present, the other from the perspective of Lost Bec living in the past. These two timelines weave together almost seamlessly and I thought it was a fantastic way to dive into both characters psyche while pushing the story along. I was anxiously awaiting the next Lost Bec chapter so I could figure out what the hell happened to the poor girl.
Only Daughter is populated with some helpful souls and some absolutely horrendous assholes that each served the story in their own ways.
Sure it isn’t the perfect book, but all the bones of what make a thriller a great read are there and I can’t fault a book that had me guessing to the very end. The only thing I will say is that it would’ve been nice to have an extended epilogue because the ending does feel cut off at the knees – I have so many questions that will never be answered. Sigh.
*Original post*
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! This was insanely good - one of the better thrillers I've read. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, there would be a flash back and all of a sudden I was back to square one. Loved the characters, loved the pacing, loved the mystery and loved the end.
*Updated review*
Just when you think you have it all figure out, Snoekstra throws you a curveball that takes you on a wild ride.
What I really enjoyed about this book was the pacing. It is written in two distinct styles: the first from the perspective of Fake Bec living in the present, the other from the perspective of Lost Bec living in the past. These two timelines weave together almost seamlessly and I thought it was a fantastic way to dive into both characters psyche while pushing the story along. I was anxiously awaiting the next Lost Bec chapter so I could figure out what the hell happened to the poor girl.
Only Daughter is populated with some helpful souls and some absolutely horrendous assholes that each served the story in their own ways.
Sure it isn’t the perfect book, but all the bones of what make a thriller a great read are there and I can’t fault a book that had me guessing to the very end. The only thing I will say is that it would’ve been nice to have an extended epilogue because the ending does feel cut off at the knees – I have so many questions that will never be answered. Sigh.
*Original post*
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! This was insanely good - one of the better thrillers I've read. Just when I thought I knew what was going on, there would be a flash back and all of a sudden I was back to square one. Loved the characters, loved the pacing, loved the mystery and loved the end.
June 13, 2019
RATING: 1 STAR
2016; Mira/HarperCollins
In 2003, sixteen year old, Rebecca Winter vanishes after her shift at a fast food restaurant. Eleven years later, a Bec look alike in trouble, decides to use this to get out of her current situation. As the imposter tries to blend in she realizes that the people around her have their own secrets.
That is about as much as I can say without out giving away the end. This is a quick read as there is not much to this book. At times it reads like a first draft, waiting to be filled out. There are no suspenseful moments, and good ideas are not fleshed out. For any suspense reader the mystery unravels about 40% in and you kind of know where the story is going to end up...and at the same time you are hoping there will be a good twist. I would read another Snoekstra novel if a friend recommends a book.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2016; Mira/HarperCollins
In 2003, sixteen year old, Rebecca Winter vanishes after her shift at a fast food restaurant. Eleven years later, a Bec look alike in trouble, decides to use this to get out of her current situation. As the imposter tries to blend in she realizes that the people around her have their own secrets.
That is about as much as I can say without out giving away the end. This is a quick read as there is not much to this book. At times it reads like a first draft, waiting to be filled out. There are no suspenseful moments, and good ideas are not fleshed out. For any suspense reader the mystery unravels about 40% in and you kind of know where the story is going to end up...and at the same time you are hoping there will be a good twist. I would read another Snoekstra novel if a friend recommends a book.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
October 12, 2021
This was an entertaining enough little read. The concept is great; an unnamed young woman is on the verge of being charged with shoplifting when she claims to be a girl who vanished over ten years ago.
From the start we know that 'Bec' is not in fact the woman she is pretending to be, that was a little disappointing as there was no real tension or mystery in the first part, except of course as to what had really happened to the real Bec. That explanation and the ending are pretty good, I do feel like it could have been written with more thrill in it but it is a good story. This novel goes for that oh so popular tactic of shifting back and forth in time: From the 'present day' 2014 with the fake Bec to 2003, following the real Bec around the last days, before she vanished. The time traveling is not always a literary tactic I enjoy but it works well enough here.
Really pretty good ending, overall the ending is one of the better parts of the novel and good ending are tricky, so that was nice.
Now let me tell you what I think of the publishers, harlequinbooks.com.au
Not impressed!
While I am sure it is LEGAL to sell a novel which to all appearances is 370 or so pages long but which is ACTUALLY 250, I am sure they are not breaking any laws there, but the ethics of it are a different thing. I read fast, I expected this book to last a while. It took me less than 24 hours to finish and when I reached what was obviously the final scenes of the story I was bemused: I was only 2/3 of the way through the book.
The novel is only 250 pages long, then there are two pages of acknowledgments then there are well over a hundred pages of previews for other books. Not even by the same author, just any old thing the publisher wants to advertise. Do you see what they are doing there? making you, the reader, pay for their advertising when you purchase a book and I am not impressed. I would be furious if I had actually paid for the book, but luckily, it was a library one.
So my final take home message; decent short read with pretty fine ending, bad publisher though - don't buy it, loan it.
From the start we know that 'Bec' is not in fact the woman she is pretending to be, that was a little disappointing as there was no real tension or mystery in the first part, except of course as to what had really happened to the real Bec. That explanation and the ending are pretty good, I do feel like it could have been written with more thrill in it but it is a good story. This novel goes for that oh so popular tactic of shifting back and forth in time: From the 'present day' 2014 with the fake Bec to 2003, following the real Bec around the last days, before she vanished. The time traveling is not always a literary tactic I enjoy but it works well enough here.
Really pretty good ending, overall the ending is one of the better parts of the novel and good ending are tricky, so that was nice.
Now let me tell you what I think of the publishers, harlequinbooks.com.au
Not impressed!
While I am sure it is LEGAL to sell a novel which to all appearances is 370 or so pages long but which is ACTUALLY 250, I am sure they are not breaking any laws there, but the ethics of it are a different thing. I read fast, I expected this book to last a while. It took me less than 24 hours to finish and when I reached what was obviously the final scenes of the story I was bemused: I was only 2/3 of the way through the book.
The novel is only 250 pages long, then there are two pages of acknowledgments then there are well over a hundred pages of previews for other books. Not even by the same author, just any old thing the publisher wants to advertise. Do you see what they are doing there? making you, the reader, pay for their advertising when you purchase a book and I am not impressed. I would be furious if I had actually paid for the book, but luckily, it was a library one.
So my final take home message; decent short read with pretty fine ending, bad publisher though - don't buy it, loan it.
September 13, 2016
Do not read this review if you don’t want spoilers. I’m not a fan of reviews that give away a plot - and I myself have never written a spoiler review. However, I don’t think I can really explain WHY I feel the way I do about this novel without going into some detail.
Only Daughter has a lot of things going for it - in the beginning. It’s definitely a thriller / mystery novel and the creepy level is high. The characters are laid out well and the story seems to be circling around some major plot twists. I could easily see this novel being a 4 or 5 star - I was loving it! But by the last few chapters I was really over this novel and my high rating fell right through the floor.
So - what makes you go from loving a novel to really wanting to toss it in the Did Not Finish pile? Good question.
First off, the characters that seemed to have so much going on just fell flat. They never really developed. All these mysterious people and all their hidden secrets and weird goings on just fizzled. The characters never evolved past the first quarter of the book. The creepy brothers stayed the creepy brothers. The “good girl” stayed just that. The weirdo mom was not much more than a side character filling the role of weirdo mom.
Secondly, the points that should have been twisty and huge ah-ha moments were not delivered well. I think some of that goes to the fact that the end of the novel just seemed rushed. The tension builds and builds with Who killed Becky? There’s a body hidden in the garage! Becky is actually NOT dead!! These huge reveals were crammed into about 3 chapters and just lacked all shock value. It was almost like the author had a list of “To Do Plot Points” to get checked off and only 50 pages to work with.
I can kind of forgive iffy characters and some disappointing plot delivery. However - what really killed this book for me is it committed the fatal sin of a suspense thriller. You can guess who did it from the word go. The author never manages to fool you or trick you into thinking there really are a line of suspects. She gives us plenty of opportunity - the brothers, the boyfriend, the best friend Becky was fighting with, the best friends creepy dad. But it’s a huge opportunity missed that the author never gives us enough reason to really doubt it’s the brothers.
As a reader of lots of thrillers and crime fiction - I’m pretty used to the seedy characters, violence, and shock that makes these novels successful. I’m not into horror but I’ve got a pretty good tolerance. However, what really had me nearly walking away from Only Daughter was the descriptive animal torture. I was done - so done- at that point in the book. I knew there was no way this was going down as a positive review.
For me personally, I just don’t handle it well. And my spoiler review is truly meant as a bit of a red flag to anyone who may find that offensive - as I did. I know PLENTY of you will tell me to man up about it. Point taken. But whatever, it just did me in and there was no going back. When the boys tortured and ruthlessly killed the family cat I was mad. I felt that the point could have been made without describing the act so graphically. And for that matter I didn’t need any description on the sounds of the dogs screams that they were mutilating either. Thanks for those images that will never leave my brain.
Overall this book started out really good. But I think the author just didn't quite get there. There were many attempts throw the reader off the plot but they were unsuccessful. The characters were underdeveloped. There were so many allusions to “other worldly” goings on - paranormal explanations of strange things but they kind of just disappeared - seemingly just forgotten about plot points. The last few chapters were a huge disappointment - the way the big reveals were just ho -hum laid out was a massive let down. An entire novel spent trying to figure out what happened to missing Becky was wasted when the author so passively delivered the HUGE fact that Becky was alive.
In the end - I’m really sad to say that Only Daughter is one to skip.
Only Daughter has a lot of things going for it - in the beginning. It’s definitely a thriller / mystery novel and the creepy level is high. The characters are laid out well and the story seems to be circling around some major plot twists. I could easily see this novel being a 4 or 5 star - I was loving it! But by the last few chapters I was really over this novel and my high rating fell right through the floor.
So - what makes you go from loving a novel to really wanting to toss it in the Did Not Finish pile? Good question.
First off, the characters that seemed to have so much going on just fell flat. They never really developed. All these mysterious people and all their hidden secrets and weird goings on just fizzled. The characters never evolved past the first quarter of the book. The creepy brothers stayed the creepy brothers. The “good girl” stayed just that. The weirdo mom was not much more than a side character filling the role of weirdo mom.
Secondly, the points that should have been twisty and huge ah-ha moments were not delivered well. I think some of that goes to the fact that the end of the novel just seemed rushed. The tension builds and builds with Who killed Becky? There’s a body hidden in the garage! Becky is actually NOT dead!! These huge reveals were crammed into about 3 chapters and just lacked all shock value. It was almost like the author had a list of “To Do Plot Points” to get checked off and only 50 pages to work with.
I can kind of forgive iffy characters and some disappointing plot delivery. However - what really killed this book for me is it committed the fatal sin of a suspense thriller. You can guess who did it from the word go. The author never manages to fool you or trick you into thinking there really are a line of suspects. She gives us plenty of opportunity - the brothers, the boyfriend, the best friend Becky was fighting with, the best friends creepy dad. But it’s a huge opportunity missed that the author never gives us enough reason to really doubt it’s the brothers.
As a reader of lots of thrillers and crime fiction - I’m pretty used to the seedy characters, violence, and shock that makes these novels successful. I’m not into horror but I’ve got a pretty good tolerance. However, what really had me nearly walking away from Only Daughter was the descriptive animal torture. I was done - so done- at that point in the book. I knew there was no way this was going down as a positive review.
For me personally, I just don’t handle it well. And my spoiler review is truly meant as a bit of a red flag to anyone who may find that offensive - as I did. I know PLENTY of you will tell me to man up about it. Point taken. But whatever, it just did me in and there was no going back. When the boys tortured and ruthlessly killed the family cat I was mad. I felt that the point could have been made without describing the act so graphically. And for that matter I didn’t need any description on the sounds of the dogs screams that they were mutilating either. Thanks for those images that will never leave my brain.
Overall this book started out really good. But I think the author just didn't quite get there. There were many attempts throw the reader off the plot but they were unsuccessful. The characters were underdeveloped. There were so many allusions to “other worldly” goings on - paranormal explanations of strange things but they kind of just disappeared - seemingly just forgotten about plot points. The last few chapters were a huge disappointment - the way the big reveals were just ho -hum laid out was a massive let down. An entire novel spent trying to figure out what happened to missing Becky was wasted when the author so passively delivered the HUGE fact that Becky was alive.
In the end - I’m really sad to say that Only Daughter is one to skip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2016
Only Daughter is a fast and intriguing read, the kind of twisty turny thriller that keeps you turning the pages to see whats what. In this case a girl trying to get herself out of hot water finds herself in a true “Out of the frying pan into the fire” moment as she infiltrates a family that is not her own.
It was an interesting concept – the author cleverly tells us not much about this girl, the fake “Bec” – we don’t know her name or anything useful. The story is all centred around the real Bec still missing. As the imposter and the actual girl tell the story the different threads start to come together. In that sense it works really well.
There is a sense of menace throughout the read – Becs family are definitely odd – the fake Bec is not exactly a picture of normality herself. It keeps things interesting for sure as she starts to look into her counterparts disappearance. At the same time we hear from the real girl in past days leading up to when she went missing and a dark picture starts to emerge.
Only Daughter is not perfect – some suspension of disbelief is required especially in the ultimate fast and sudden resolution – but it is a page turner that keeps you immersed throughout. Things do take an even darker turn in the final parts of the novel with some violence that may disturb – the whole story has an underlying creepiness to it that I found kept me on edge, this is what I liked most about it.
If you love a good psychological thriller then Only Daughter is definitely worth a punt – cleverly twisty and not hugely predictable, I read it in two sittings and muchly enjoyed it.
It was an interesting concept – the author cleverly tells us not much about this girl, the fake “Bec” – we don’t know her name or anything useful. The story is all centred around the real Bec still missing. As the imposter and the actual girl tell the story the different threads start to come together. In that sense it works really well.
There is a sense of menace throughout the read – Becs family are definitely odd – the fake Bec is not exactly a picture of normality herself. It keeps things interesting for sure as she starts to look into her counterparts disappearance. At the same time we hear from the real girl in past days leading up to when she went missing and a dark picture starts to emerge.
Only Daughter is not perfect – some suspension of disbelief is required especially in the ultimate fast and sudden resolution – but it is a page turner that keeps you immersed throughout. Things do take an even darker turn in the final parts of the novel with some violence that may disturb – the whole story has an underlying creepiness to it that I found kept me on edge, this is what I liked most about it.
If you love a good psychological thriller then Only Daughter is definitely worth a punt – cleverly twisty and not hugely predictable, I read it in two sittings and muchly enjoyed it.
July 9, 2019
A must buy, must read. Loved reading Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra so much that I am now following Anna Snoekstra on Goodreads. The police take a girl to the station for shoplifting. A selfish idea comes into her head, she knows that she looks just like a girl who went missing. She tells the police a naughty big lie. My name is Rebecca Winter. Eleven years ago, I was abducted. Rebecca is taken home to her parents house, they appear to be pleased that their only daughter is safely back home with her twin brothers. How far can this selfish girl keep on pretending to be Rebecca? The twist in Only Daughter had me glued to every page. Be sure of brilliant twist to close this excellent page turning novel. I highly recommend reading Only Daughter.
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April 6, 2017
The story is dark, the kind that sucks you in to a swirl of uncomfortable feeling. Disturbing and gave me chills. Still, I couldn't stop reading it though, as I was eager to find out what happened to the real Bec. And I didn't feel comfortable with any of the characters (they are seriously messed up!), except maybe Lizzie - the rest, I wouldn't ever wanna cross path with them. This not-so-nice girl was pretending to be Bec Winter, the girl who disappeared more than a decade ago and came back, only to find out that being Bec might not be living in the ideal and pretty world that she hoped for. I finished reading this in basically 1 sit.
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