The Devil's Daughter

by Danielle Steel

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two diametrically different sisters—one calculating and egotistical, the other honorable, kind, and compassionate—clash in this compelling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Graduating magna cum laude from MIT is the happiest day of Billie Banks’s life, although her family is not part of it. Her mother, who always supported her, died when Billie was seventeen. Since then, her father has been slowly drinking himself to death on the family farm in Iowa, and she and her younger sister, Mickie, have grown even more estranged.

Growing up, the siblings could not have been more different. Billie was shy, small, bookish, more like their mother; tall, blond Mickie was boldly sexual, craving attention, and lacking empathy for anyone, like their father. Despite Billie’s attempts to look after Mickie following their mother’s death, her sister consistently treated her with cruelty.

So when Mickie invites Billie to move in with her in Los Angeles, Billie is both wary and hopeful. Taking a leap of faith, she joins her sister on the West Coast. While Mickie lands a questionable modeling job and falls in with a fast crowd, Billie begins working at a pathology lab and starts dating a warm, supportive reporter at the Los Angeles Times.

But then the siblings’ difficult history once again rises to the surface. This gripping story of a sisterly bond strained to the breaking point by narcissism and temptation is an unforgettable tale of good and evil from Danielle Steel.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Medical, Book Club, Crime

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff]

This was an easy, quick read, but it wasn't one of my favorites. The story about two sisters with completely different lives had potential, but I found it very predictable and guessed where it was going early on. Some of their choices became frustrating as the story went on. It wasn't a bad book, and it kept me reading until the end.

[Lauren Vasquez]

The character development was so basic, I didn’t feel anything for any of them. It was a quick read but almost seemed like an amateur author not a DS.

[Tim]

Every 5 stories or so, Ms. Steel provides one a bit different and more interesting.

[Alex (Alex's Version)]

While not bad, it’s not great either. You could see the ending a mile away.

[Laura Often]

Oh wow. I mean I haven't read Danielle Steele in a long time but this was just bad. Like really really bad. Good on her for having such a successful writing career. I'm jealous.

[Amy]

I’ve read Danielle Steel books for years with my childhood friends, so there’s a lot of nostalgia there, but lately they’ve started to feel more like a chore than something I actually enjoy. *The Devil’s Daughter* was predictable, flat, and completely lackluster. Every plot point felt obvious, the characters lacked depth, and nothing about it kept me invested. Instead of comforting and classic, it just felt formulaic and forgettable. Unfortunately, this was more something to get through than genuinely enjoy.
I gave this 2 stars, generously 2/5

[Jaclyn]

What did I just read? Maybe I should wait awhile before writing this review so it’s not so scathing, but I’m too annoyed and want to get my thoughts down.

I finished this book feeling genuinely confused, especially by the extremely high ratings. First of all, a minor annoyance was that for a book that’s supposedly about two sisters, the choice to have the narration done by a man was an odd and disappointing decision. Secondly, based on the title and synopsis, I went in expecting a dark, twisted story centered on an evil sister. Instead, what I got was a selfish, narcissistic character who was described as evil…but never actually was. And to make it even more baffling, she barely played a meaningful role in the story at all!! I think she maybe had a few lines from her POV and the rest were from her bf’s or sister’s perspective. If anything, her boyfriend was the real villain, while she was just along for the ride. I was expecting something far more complex and intense…like Eve and Alexandra from Sidney Sheldon’s Master of the Game (IYKYK). That kind of layered, toxic, unforgettable sister relationship never materialized here. There was no suspense and hardly even a plot. I kept waiting for something to happen…some twist, some escalation, something…but it never came. By the 75% mark, I already knew I was going to be angry at the ending because the story had gone nowhere…and unfortunately, I was right. The ending was deeply unsatisfying. Overall, this book felt misleading from start to finish. The premise sounded way better than it actually was. Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it. What kept it from being a 1 ⭐️ is that I didn’t want to DNF it…I just kept wanting something to happen between the sisters.

[Lorraine Bishop]

I don’t hate many books. The storyline was fun. But I felt Nothing for any of the characters.

[Lauren Niewold]

I really wanted to like this book. I haven’t read anything Danielle Steel, but I started to get annoyed before the halfway point because dialogue, character descriptions, and the differences between Billie and Mickie were recycled and regurgitated so many times, I felt like I was reading the same paragraphs over and over even though the page numbers were increasing. Then, Jason got gross by describing how he preferred Billie [to Mickie] while at the pool “in her faded blue bathing suit from high school, and her almost adolescent body”. I gagged and nearly threw the book. He’s 33. This was not the story I signed up for! Still… halfway to the end, I continue reading…

More of the same: themes of loneliness, my childhood sucked, I’m not like everyone else, narcissism, wild sex with graphically non-descriptive vocabulary (eventually it gets there), shopping.

Finally the big reveal and ending, and I realize this is not going to be like a psychological thriller. There will be no closure. I have questions, but all I get is a Lifetime ending with surprise Korean mob after reading the same lines for the past several hours. This could have been so much more.

[Heather Putnam]

3.5 - not my most favorite but I read it in one afternoon/evening. Like most Danielle Steel books, it was enjoyable but not life changing. This one had more spice then most of her other books.

[Barbara Dougherty Evans]

A good read. Recommend

A really quick read. Took me a day. I read non stop. I loved the character descriptions. Danielle does repeat herself quite a bit. The same information is given over and over again. The book could have probably been chopped to about half the size if the repetition were eliminated.

Overall a good read. I csn recommend.

[Nancy]

Overall the plot was good. The writing and/or editing was rather poor. The characters' descriptions and the nature of the sisters' relationship were repeated numerous times. One couple had sex every other page, it seemed. I'm not sure why this book is called "The Devil's Daughter." We barely met the sisters' father and, while troubled, he didn't seem evil or devilish. One of the sisters was incredibly narcissistic, but not devil's spawn. Thankfully, the book is fast-paced and I didn't suffer long.

[Beth Knipper]

the only good thing about this book was that it was less than 250 pages.

[Darci]

Very fast and easy read, but took a while to get to the point too. family drama mixed with some criminal activity, superrr predictable but it was a good one to get me out of my reading slump

[Denise Jo]

This was an easy quick read centering around sister's. I enjoy almost all of Danielle Steels books. Another winner.

[Suzi]

An evil and a good sister. Predictable but always fun to read the occasional Danielle Steel. This is not one of her best however.

[AnarchyReads]

I can appreciate the concept, the story itself, and the idea behind it, but I just felt it was a little repetitive. Perhaps the author's writing style also played a part in this. It's understandable why it has high reviews, it was more of a personal experience rather than a fault in the book itself.

[Debbie]

Evil Sister

Daniel Steel always knows how to hook me and she did it with this novel about two very different sisters. Mickie is the younger sister who is living in LA trying to model and make it big. Billie is the older sister just graduating MIT and trying hard to find a job in Boston where she wants to stay but its not working out. Then Mickie calls and invites her to LA to get a job there and pay half the rent. Although sceptical, she doesn't have another option. Things are going great and the sisters are really getting along and then Mickie meets Dr. Alexander Addison who will change her life and who Billie instantly doesn't trust. He is an anti-aging doctor giving women these incredible treatments that make them younger and he has his formula under lock and key. Billie ends up meeting a guy, that she gets close to. The sisters drift apart. Will they end up living separate lives?

[Jill]

This is my first book from Danielle Steel that I have listened/Read in years. I listened to the audio from Libby. I really did enjoy the storyline and Ms. Steel has always been a phenomenal storyteller. The characters & storyline definitely held my interest. These two sisters couldn’t be more different. As the reader, you just kind of sat back and was wondering where the story was gonna go. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions definitely had thriller aspects and it’s share of romance as well. It was like a cat and mouse game in some regards with wondering what was going to happen next. I will say that Mickie & Billie could not be more different in the sisters department. It makes me very fortunate for the relationship that I have with my sister. Recommend this book I look forward to looking into her books that I have not read or read ones I read in my early twenties.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom)]

The Devil’s Daughter is a heartbreaking, complex, and emotional story. This is actually my first Danielle Steel novel, and aside from being fast-paced, its premise and plot were surprisingly well-developed and thoughtfully crafted. I really appreciated how the author didn’t force any perfect bond between the sisters, one smart and cliché, the other stunning and ambitious. They’re two very different women who walked through life in their own ways, carrying their own scars, yet somehow managed to survive it all.

Crime books are not usually my cup of tea, but this one exceeded my expectations and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved all the glimpses into the luxury lifestyle of Mickie: glamour, wealth, and all the shiny things but I also enjoyed the contrast of the quieter, more ordinary side of Billie's life. That balance made the story feel grounded. It’s a fascinating read that offers plenty of life and family lessons without feeling preachy.

What I enjoyed:
• The luxury lifestyle of Mickie
• The mundanity and groundedness of Billie’s
• The warmth of a newfound family

What didn’t sit right:
• The third-person narrative (felt a bit distant at times)
• The tragic ending of a dear friend
• Their father’s lack of care and emotional presence

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐️
• Characters: 4⭐️
• Writing: 4⭐️
• Message: 4⭐️
• Overall: 4⭐️

To sum it up, this is a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys emotional, character-driven stories about sibling rivalry and family dynamics. It’s quick, straightforward, and genuinely a page-turner. Huge thanks to Pan MacMillan Australia and author Danielle Steel for my copy, this does not change my views or opinions about the book.

~JaNnA~

[Angela Stillson]

Pretty quick read. Not my favorite Danielle Steel book but I definitely found it interesting.

[Doris Kinsley]

Feeling Conflicted

As I read this book, I kept thinking "Danielle Steel didn't write this book" as it was so far from her usual books. The storyline was interesting but the sexual references were far more graphic than in previous books. It was a bit far fetched and predictable.

I'll continue to read Ms. Steel's books but hope the next one is more like the genre I have read in the past.

[Katrina (Catching up on Reviews)]

Billie, a brilliant MIT graduate, moves to Los Angeles to reconnect with her estranged sister Mickie after a difficult family history. As their lives unfold in very different directions, old tensions resurface and test their complicated relationship. I found this book to be a bit underwhelming.

[Mlweck]

please pay me to read this next time

This is one of the worst books I’ve read in a long time? Vapid characters and no plot twist. I kept hoping because I spent money on this, but it never came through. Never again will I read anything by this author.

[Amber]

3/5
It’s been years since I’ve read a Danielle Steele and either I’ve forgotten about her writing style or all the other authors have levelled up😂
Don’t get me wrong I found the plot so fun and scandalous but the narration style was odd. Everything was summarised immediately and scenes moved on so quickly.
There was no build up or anticipation, just breakfast, lunch and dinner served all at once 😂

It was giving serious rookie author vibes over the multi bestselling author that she is ??

[Julie Simmons]

Another solid story from Danielle Steel about two sisters who couldn't be more different. Billie, 22, is well educated, loving, and grounded, while Mickie, 19, is self-centered, morally bankrupt, and incapable of caring for others. The ending was not predictable. Until the very last chapter, I was wondering how it would work out between the two sisters, and whether there would be an epiphany for Mickie and an eleventh-hour reconciliation between the two. You'll have to read the book to find out. This book is also filled with intrigue and revelations that will keep the reader interested and speculating until the very end.

[Lynn Schollins]

Reads a bit like a YA story. Super repetitive. The book explores two very different sisters navigating their fractured family history. One sister is beautiful, calculating and egotistical and the other one is sweet and compassionate. The book is about they’re strained bond and good and evil.

[Krystal]

Easy to digest, no thinking involved. Can space out for a while - come back - and have missed no major info. No real character development, pretty superficial plot. If you're going to read it, is good during a taxing work week 🤷‍♀️

[Brandy Lemire]

3.5 stars! I liked this book better than some of her most recent ones. This was a good read overall

[paige (ptsungirl)]

A shockingly good read by the end! Seemingly without consequences, and a bit underwhelming in the end. but I ended up liking it in the end.