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8 days and 17:46:38
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The Loyal Daughter
Not yet published
Expected 16 Feb 27Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 17:46:38
20 copies available
U.S. only
A daughter must decide whose life she will defend when a murder divides the Hmong community of Minneapolis and her father becomes the lead suspect in this gripping novel by the author of
The Quiet Librarian
.
His secret…her impossible choice.
Police detective Niki Vang always knew that her father kept secrets. He’d been troubled ever since he immigrated to the United States after surviving the “Secret War” in Laos in the 1970s. So when her father becomes entangled in a murder, Niki lies about her connection in order to work the case. But as the investigation deepens, it becomes clear why her father has worked so hard to keep the past buried. Could his secrets cost the investigation―and her family―everything?Kim Vang has never spoken about what happened to him in Laos. Fifty years before he’d survived a re-education camp run by a man called only “the demon.” But after the murder of someone very close to him, he’s certain the demon has found them again. When Niki becomes the lead detective on the case, Kim must keep her far from the demon’s reach―even as he seizes his chance to bring an evil man to justice at last.As the demon hunts, Niki and Kim must race against one another to bring him down, divided by the painful fact that neither can trust the other until they both tell the truth.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 16, 2027
About the author
Allen Eskens
12 books7,406 followersAllen Eskens is the USA Today-bestselling author of nine novels, including The Life We Bury and Nothing More Dangerous. His latest novel, THE QUIET LIBRARIAN, will publish on Feb. 18, 2025
He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, Nero, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 23 languages.
To learn more about Allen or his books, go to www.alleneskens.com.
He is the recipient of the Barry Award, Rosebud Award, Minnesota Book Award, and the Silver Falchion Award and has been a finalist for the Edgar Award, Thriller Award, Nero, and Anthony Award. His work had been published in 23 languages.
To learn more about Allen or his books, go to www.alleneskens.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I got this book from Netgalley, so I can read and review it before it's published. I have read all prior books by Eskens (except for The Quiet Librarian) and enjoyed the characters of Joe, Max, Boady, and Lila. I will admit and tell you that I had no clue this was available on NetGalley until I saw a Facebook post about it and nor did I know anything about it (that didn't matter).
For this book, it involves several storylines from several different characters’ point of view (that is how the chapters were titled). It mostly takes place in Minnesota and there was a lot of references to the Hmong culture, which I found really interesting.
Basically, somebody is murdered, and the chase for the person responsible is being investigated by Nikki Vang and her partner Matty Lopez, as well as Nikki's father Kim and his friend Asa. All through the book, I kept wondering, who is the loyal daughter as we got Nikki, but there was also another daughter named Mia. A lot of suspense and surprises kept me on the edge, and when they were revealed, I was not expecting it.
Oh, a recurring character from his prior books makes an appearance, and when I saw it, I almost dropped my Kindle in a yeah kind of way.
For this book, it involves several storylines from several different characters’ point of view (that is how the chapters were titled). It mostly takes place in Minnesota and there was a lot of references to the Hmong culture, which I found really interesting.
Basically, somebody is murdered, and the chase for the person responsible is being investigated by Nikki Vang and her partner Matty Lopez, as well as Nikki's father Kim and his friend Asa. All through the book, I kept wondering, who is the loyal daughter as we got Nikki, but there was also another daughter named Mia. A lot of suspense and surprises kept me on the edge, and when they were revealed, I was not expecting it.
Oh, a recurring character from his prior books makes an appearance, and when I saw it, I almost dropped my Kindle in a yeah kind of way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Loyal Daughter by Allen Eskers is so much ore than a typical murder mystery. I loved how the story weaves together family loyalty, buried secrets, and the lasting effects of the past. The mystery kept me guessing, but it was the emotional depth and complicated family relationships that really drew me in.
Eskers does a wonderful job of developing characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply human. I especially enjoyed how the past and present slowly came together, revealing just how much history can shape the choices we make. It's a thoughtful, suspenseful story with plenty of heart, and one I'd absolutely recommend to readers who enjoy a good mystery with substance.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this advanced copy.
Eskers does a wonderful job of developing characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply human. I especially enjoyed how the past and present slowly came together, revealing just how much history can shape the choices we make. It's a thoughtful, suspenseful story with plenty of heart, and one I'd absolutely recommend to readers who enjoy a good mystery with substance.
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Wow! Mr. Eskens always has a way to draw a person into a story that ensures that it will remain in ones memory for a long time past finishing it. His last book was amazing and this one is just as amazing.
In this story, Detective Nikki Vang is called into a murder and the man turns out to be someone very close to her. She is shocked and worried. Nikki does not wish to give too much away about the victim and she wants to talk to her father about what has happened. Her father came to the U.S. in the 1970's after he had worked for the Americans during the secret war in Laos. The victim also came here at that time. He has never spoken about what happened to him there. As things start to come out, Nikki has to distance herself somewhat from the investigation, while also worrying about her father, who knows who killed his close friend. He wants to deal with it before Nikki gets more involved.
This book dealt with things that went on during the Vietnam conflict and the reeducation camps that the communists used against those who fought against them. Nikki's father was in one. I found this book disturbing only in light of how much the Vietnam conflict played out in my teenage years. Working in social services, I interviewed a lot of "boat" people in the early 1980's who came from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Minnesota resettled many of them. I am not sure if anyone even remembers the pain of that time for Americans and certainly for those in South Vietnam, trying to keep their country free from the North and communism. Over 3 million Vietnamese died and 58,000 American soldiers.
Mr. Eskens did a great job showing the relationship of parents to children in the Hmong culture and the traditions of the culture while also showing the deep pain that still exists for those who were involved during those actions. Sometimes, our actions have to be viewed within the grey as things are not always black and white. I enjoyed how the characters in this book had to wrestle with that grey. I loved this book.
I would like to thank Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for gracing me with this early read.
In this story, Detective Nikki Vang is called into a murder and the man turns out to be someone very close to her. She is shocked and worried. Nikki does not wish to give too much away about the victim and she wants to talk to her father about what has happened. Her father came to the U.S. in the 1970's after he had worked for the Americans during the secret war in Laos. The victim also came here at that time. He has never spoken about what happened to him there. As things start to come out, Nikki has to distance herself somewhat from the investigation, while also worrying about her father, who knows who killed his close friend. He wants to deal with it before Nikki gets more involved.
This book dealt with things that went on during the Vietnam conflict and the reeducation camps that the communists used against those who fought against them. Nikki's father was in one. I found this book disturbing only in light of how much the Vietnam conflict played out in my teenage years. Working in social services, I interviewed a lot of "boat" people in the early 1980's who came from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Minnesota resettled many of them. I am not sure if anyone even remembers the pain of that time for Americans and certainly for those in South Vietnam, trying to keep their country free from the North and communism. Over 3 million Vietnamese died and 58,000 American soldiers.
Mr. Eskens did a great job showing the relationship of parents to children in the Hmong culture and the traditions of the culture while also showing the deep pain that still exists for those who were involved during those actions. Sometimes, our actions have to be viewed within the grey as things are not always black and white. I enjoyed how the characters in this book had to wrestle with that grey. I loved this book.
I would like to thank Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for gracing me with this early read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews