From billion-copy best-selling author Danielle Steel, The Devil’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of two very different one a beautiful sociopath; the other, an academic, who loves her no matter what.
Billie and Mickie Banks grew up on a small farm in the American Mid-West. As sisters, they couldn’t be more different. Billie, kind, loving and a gifted science graduate, longs for love. While hard-hearted Mickie, who has no interest in education or her sister, relies on her striking looks and charm, and has no regard for who she hurts to get everything and everyone she wants.
Determined to seek fame and fortune, Mickie moves to Los Angeles and becomes a model. She swiftly becomes involved with Alex Addison, a rich, smooth-talking, but unscrupulous surgeon. Billie, who has joined her sister in LA where work is more plentiful, becomes deeply suspicious of the mystery around Mickie’s new life and the person she’s involved with, but her concern and love for her sister is met with contempt.
But just as Mickie discovers the life of wealth and extravagance she’s always craved, a major scandal threatens to blow her seemingly perfect world apart. Is Alex a criminal or is he a genius? As Mickie risks a prison sentence, Billie must ask herself whether bad people can ever truly change.
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.
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.
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.
What really stayed with me was the relationship between the sisters. Billie and Mickie are complete opposites, and watching Billie repeatedly try to protect someone who keeps making dangerous choices was exhausting in a very real way. Billie’s loyalty felt human, but it was also painful to watch her care so deeply for someone who rarely returned that care.
Mickie, on the other hand, is deeply self-absorbed, and that never really changes. From beginning to end, she looks out for herself first. Even after what happens to Alex, her concern isn’t about the damage done or the people hurt. It’s about getting the attention off herself and moving on to the next situation that benefits her. Her involvement with the plastic surgeon and the revelations about his botched surgeries only highlighted how willing she was to ignore red flags as long as the lifestyle and attention suited her. It was frustrating, but also disturbingly realistic.
This is a slow, character-driven story, not a fast-paced one, but the emotional weight carries it. Some parts were predictable, but the consequences felt earned. Overall, it’s a dark, messy, and very human story about loyalty, ambition, and the painful reality that you can’t save someone who refuses to change.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.