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The Serial Killer's Daughter
Suzanne Tyler barely knew her father. But when she’s given a series of secret diaries and eight mysterious photographs of women from his possessions, she knows she won’t be able to rest until she knows the truth about him. To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.
But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death... So why did he have a picture of her? Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his diaries? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?
Chilling and utterly page-turning, The Serial Killer’s Daughter is a compelling thriller, perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Rachel Abbott, and Tom Bale.
But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death... So why did he have a picture of her? Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his diaries? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?
Chilling and utterly page-turning, The Serial Killer’s Daughter is a compelling thriller, perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Rachel Abbott, and Tom Bale.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
July 13, 2017
2.75 stars
This was a likable story that other readers will enjoy but it just wasn't entertaining enough and only a couple POVs genuinely interested me. Ultimately, I didn't connect with any of the characters and the way the flashback/ reminiscing scenes mixed into the text wasn't appealing.
The upside? This book is perfect for the reader looking for light suspense, light drama, and lower-grade intensity on the thrilling side. The British slang tossed in was a nice plus.
*NetGalley ARC provided by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
This was a likable story that other readers will enjoy but it just wasn't entertaining enough and only a couple POVs genuinely interested me. Ultimately, I didn't connect with any of the characters and the way the flashback/ reminiscing scenes mixed into the text wasn't appealing.
The upside? This book is perfect for the reader looking for light suspense, light drama, and lower-grade intensity on the thrilling side. The British slang tossed in was a nice plus.
*NetGalley ARC provided by Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2017
Suzanne Woods has not seen her Dad for 10 years. Her life changes forever when receives a visit from Rose Anderson, the woman who has been living with Suzanne's Father. Don, Suzanne's Dad, is dead and Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions. They include a series of intimate diaries and photographs of women. One of the pictures is of her friend Sophie, who died in a fire 10 years ago and Don had only met Sophie once. As Suzanne begins to dig into her Fathers life, just what will be uncovered in his journal.
What a roller coaster of a read this is. It's full of twists and turns. It's actually quite a hard book to review without giving away spoilers. It's also slow to start with but its worth while to keep going as its a gripping read once the action starts. It's also quite graphic so won't be for every reader.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Lesley Welsh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a roller coaster of a read this is. It's full of twists and turns. It's actually quite a hard book to review without giving away spoilers. It's also slow to start with but its worth while to keep going as its a gripping read once the action starts. It's also quite graphic so won't be for every reader.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Lesley Welsh for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2017
Suzanne grew up being raised by her mother having few memories of her father's visits over the years after he'd left them when Suzanne was very young. Don had stopped visiting Suzanne completely when her mother had decided to remarry until a weird visits when Suzanne was in her twenties and trying to become an artist.
Now however Suzanne's life is changed completely when she receives a visit from Rose Anderson, a woman who claims to have been her father's girlfriends and was with him in his last days. Rose insists that Suzanne should have her father's things which includes a multitude of handwritten notebooks detailing his life and what Suzanne finds within the pages would shock anyone.
The Serial Killer's Daughter by Lesley Welsh was one of those reads that left me slightly disappointed when finished. The book isn't bad but I personally felt it never really delivered on the promised twists and turns that were advertised within the pages. The story seemed to me to be a tad predictable other than a few details here and there.
On the other hand however even with the predictability there's a certain pull to reading about a serial killer and finishing it out to find out all of what he had done and just what would happen. Suzanne seemed to be a pretty strong character with what she's going through which had me curious was her toughness from her father? In the end this one turned out to just be an OK read for me, would have preferred a major twist or two I hadn't seen coming but the story was interesting enough.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Now however Suzanne's life is changed completely when she receives a visit from Rose Anderson, a woman who claims to have been her father's girlfriends and was with him in his last days. Rose insists that Suzanne should have her father's things which includes a multitude of handwritten notebooks detailing his life and what Suzanne finds within the pages would shock anyone.
The Serial Killer's Daughter by Lesley Welsh was one of those reads that left me slightly disappointed when finished. The book isn't bad but I personally felt it never really delivered on the promised twists and turns that were advertised within the pages. The story seemed to me to be a tad predictable other than a few details here and there.
On the other hand however even with the predictability there's a certain pull to reading about a serial killer and finishing it out to find out all of what he had done and just what would happen. Suzanne seemed to be a pretty strong character with what she's going through which had me curious was her toughness from her father? In the end this one turned out to just be an OK read for me, would have preferred a major twist or two I hadn't seen coming but the story was interesting enough.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
June 19, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
The title alone made this a must read for me, if you’ve been following me for more than a week it’s no secret that I have a sick fascination with serial killer novels. Then the blurb drew me in even deeper as I was intrigued by the idea of dead serial killer leaving a journal full of horrors behind. This book is definitely not as straightforward as I was expecting it to be and the author had some wicked twists up her sleeve that shook me up.
Welsh did such a fantastic job crafting such a horrendous character in Don, he is the personification of evil incarnate and a master manipulator. He’s vulgar, crass and disgusting yet he can turn on the charm when it suits him and that is what makes my blood run cold. Alternatively, Suzanne was someone I could sympathize with and I can’t imagine walking a day in her shoes.
This had a steady pacing with moments where you read about the backstory surrounding Don’s life, but also the women he came into contact with as well as Suzanne, and then faster paced, intense scenes that got my heart racing. The characterization was great and I’m always extremely interested in a killers motivations and life before they turned into a sadistic monster. Some of the past is revealed through excerpts from Don’s journal and they made my skin crawl they were so chilling. Since the plot wasn’t entirely what I had expected I’ll stop here and just say that it’s a great read for fans of this genre and had an explosive climax that was ultimately satisfying and terrifying.
The title alone made this a must read for me, if you’ve been following me for more than a week it’s no secret that I have a sick fascination with serial killer novels. Then the blurb drew me in even deeper as I was intrigued by the idea of dead serial killer leaving a journal full of horrors behind. This book is definitely not as straightforward as I was expecting it to be and the author had some wicked twists up her sleeve that shook me up.
Welsh did such a fantastic job crafting such a horrendous character in Don, he is the personification of evil incarnate and a master manipulator. He’s vulgar, crass and disgusting yet he can turn on the charm when it suits him and that is what makes my blood run cold. Alternatively, Suzanne was someone I could sympathize with and I can’t imagine walking a day in her shoes.
This had a steady pacing with moments where you read about the backstory surrounding Don’s life, but also the women he came into contact with as well as Suzanne, and then faster paced, intense scenes that got my heart racing. The characterization was great and I’m always extremely interested in a killers motivations and life before they turned into a sadistic monster. Some of the past is revealed through excerpts from Don’s journal and they made my skin crawl they were so chilling. Since the plot wasn’t entirely what I had expected I’ll stop here and just say that it’s a great read for fans of this genre and had an explosive climax that was ultimately satisfying and terrifying.
September 18, 2017
This is a very dark tale which is creepy and scary with a story that begins slowly and then builds and builds as we learn more but I very much enjoyed it. The characters are quite truly evil and self centred but this just adds to the tension and the strength of the story. It is exciting, full of intrigue and suspense that will keep you turning the pages. highly recommended. Thank you to Netgalley the author and publisher a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2017
Who doesn’t love a good serial killer? I do for one so when I saw the title of this book and read the description I knew I had to read it.
A serial killer in a novel is very much one that the reader has a love/hate relationship with. We love them because they give us thrills whilst hating what they do to their victims. Don was a new one on me. I don’t know if it’s because the author has written him as a very dark and disturbing character or it’s the way that she goes into details with the killings, either way I loathed him. I was shocked and appalled at everything he did. I didn’t have one ounce of compassion for this man.
Suzanne I felt truly sorry for. To be even associated to this monster is bad enough. Along with her, the reader learns of the true horrors of who her father really is and the terrible things he has done. I have to admit the author is quite raw in her descriptions and it made in part for some uncomfortable reading.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter I don’t think will be everyone’s cup of tea. It is a seriously dark and disturbing read. None of the characters are overly likeable but I don’t think they are supposed to be. Saying that though the author has made them intriguing enough so that the reader wants to learn more about them. As evil as Don is, he still fascinated me and even though I was horrified by his actions, I had to keep reading. Fans of serial killer reads are with out a doubt going to love it as it definitely has the shock factor.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
A serial killer in a novel is very much one that the reader has a love/hate relationship with. We love them because they give us thrills whilst hating what they do to their victims. Don was a new one on me. I don’t know if it’s because the author has written him as a very dark and disturbing character or it’s the way that she goes into details with the killings, either way I loathed him. I was shocked and appalled at everything he did. I didn’t have one ounce of compassion for this man.
Suzanne I felt truly sorry for. To be even associated to this monster is bad enough. Along with her, the reader learns of the true horrors of who her father really is and the terrible things he has done. I have to admit the author is quite raw in her descriptions and it made in part for some uncomfortable reading.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter I don’t think will be everyone’s cup of tea. It is a seriously dark and disturbing read. None of the characters are overly likeable but I don’t think they are supposed to be. Saying that though the author has made them intriguing enough so that the reader wants to learn more about them. As evil as Don is, he still fascinated me and even though I was horrified by his actions, I had to keep reading. Fans of serial killer reads are with out a doubt going to love it as it definitely has the shock factor.
My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
December 16, 2020
This is the second time reading this book, I couldn't really remember it from the first time. However, it was a while ago.
Suzanne Tyler is the daughter of Don Tyler, who has been secretly killing from the age of ten. When he has a heart attack and dies, his diaries are passed on to Suzanne by Rose, who was in love with Don before he died. Following this, Suzanne is kidnapped, a character who is quite main dies (very sad!) and from that point its huge twists right until the end.
This story was so interesting because of how much hatred Don had in the book, it was so obvious and wrote with so much emotion that I could almost seem to feel the anger coming from the words. He hated women, he even hated his own daughter. He loved Suzanne's mother, though it's hugely hinted that it's because she reminds him of his own abusive mother. There's parts of the story that are so shocking that I couldn't believe it and had to stop reading to let it sink in. Very good book.
Suzanne Tyler is the daughter of Don Tyler, who has been secretly killing from the age of ten. When he has a heart attack and dies, his diaries are passed on to Suzanne by Rose, who was in love with Don before he died. Following this, Suzanne is kidnapped, a character who is quite main dies (very sad!) and from that point its huge twists right until the end.
This story was so interesting because of how much hatred Don had in the book, it was so obvious and wrote with so much emotion that I could almost seem to feel the anger coming from the words. He hated women, he even hated his own daughter. He loved Suzanne's mother, though it's hugely hinted that it's because she reminds him of his own abusive mother. There's parts of the story that are so shocking that I couldn't believe it and had to stop reading to let it sink in. Very good book.
March 4, 2020
2.5 stars. I am grateful I got this book on sale at kindle as premise is interesting, but story and writing are ho-hum
July 27, 2017
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.]
Reading about Don’s twisted point of view and convictions about himself, others and the world about him, was fairly interesting. This kind of characters always feels like a train wreck to me: you know it’s going to be horrible, yet you keep on reading nonetheless, to see if the monster is truly so abject or if there’s anything else. I definitely won’t empathise with the guy (no kidding), but... yes, I find that interesting.
My major problem with this story, though, was the style itself, of a definite ‘tell-doesn’t-show’ kind, which kept throwing me out of the narrative at almost every page. In turn, I couldn’t empathise with the characters (whether ‘victims’, ‘criminal’ or ‘investigators’); this would have gone much better if their actions, their feelings, and whatever went through their heads, had been shown dynamically. However, I constantly felt that I was being given a recap, a textbook, telling me about them (I guess the flashbacks, or rather, where they were placed, contributed to that).
This diminished the tension created by the horrors described in Don’s notebooks and the investigation Suzanne embarked on, and didn’t contribute in making me warm up to ambiguous characters either, like ‘he’ (the man who follows Rose and Suzanne), for instance. So in general, I didn’t really care about them. I suppose I also expected something a little different, regarding the notebooks and the way Suzanne discovered the truth about her father—possibly something more psychological, and less along the lines the story followed in its second half.
Conclusion: 1.5 stars. Good basic idea, but I didn’t care much about the execution.
Reading about Don’s twisted point of view and convictions about himself, others and the world about him, was fairly interesting. This kind of characters always feels like a train wreck to me: you know it’s going to be horrible, yet you keep on reading nonetheless, to see if the monster is truly so abject or if there’s anything else. I definitely won’t empathise with the guy (no kidding), but... yes, I find that interesting.
My major problem with this story, though, was the style itself, of a definite ‘tell-doesn’t-show’ kind, which kept throwing me out of the narrative at almost every page. In turn, I couldn’t empathise with the characters (whether ‘victims’, ‘criminal’ or ‘investigators’); this would have gone much better if their actions, their feelings, and whatever went through their heads, had been shown dynamically. However, I constantly felt that I was being given a recap, a textbook, telling me about them (I guess the flashbacks, or rather, where they were placed, contributed to that).
This diminished the tension created by the horrors described in Don’s notebooks and the investigation Suzanne embarked on, and didn’t contribute in making me warm up to ambiguous characters either, like ‘he’ (the man who follows Rose and Suzanne), for instance. So in general, I didn’t really care about them. I suppose I also expected something a little different, regarding the notebooks and the way Suzanne discovered the truth about her father—possibly something more psychological, and less along the lines the story followed in its second half.
Conclusion: 1.5 stars. Good basic idea, but I didn’t care much about the execution.
June 18, 2017
You’re meant to know family the best, but what if the man you know as Dad isn’t the man you believe he is and then you discover that you’ve been shielded from his true nature and even then, no one actually knows the true extent of this man’s personality.
Don, he is a character and a half. He’s a smooth talker, ladies man but he can move from smoothie to bully without a breath. Suzanne has her dad on a metaphorical pedestal until his visit to her during her uni years, she only saw the smooth talker, loveable dad in Don. But then everything changes when she finds a photo of her best friend from that time in her late father’s possessions and she wants to know why. It becomes an itch she needs to scratch. And I don’t think she’s prepared for what she finds.
The writer has a great writing style, its uncomplicated but packed with intrigue – I wanted to know what was going to happen next to Suzanne and Don. The story has a fantastic climax and for a change, I got to see some of the aftermath to the climax, the “What happened next” to our antagonist!
I really wish I could tell Lesley that she’s written a brilliant twisted thriller that I have really enjoyed and I would have loved to have read more from her.
Huge thanks to Kim Nash of Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of The Serial Killer’s Daughter.
Don, he is a character and a half. He’s a smooth talker, ladies man but he can move from smoothie to bully without a breath. Suzanne has her dad on a metaphorical pedestal until his visit to her during her uni years, she only saw the smooth talker, loveable dad in Don. But then everything changes when she finds a photo of her best friend from that time in her late father’s possessions and she wants to know why. It becomes an itch she needs to scratch. And I don’t think she’s prepared for what she finds.
The writer has a great writing style, its uncomplicated but packed with intrigue – I wanted to know what was going to happen next to Suzanne and Don. The story has a fantastic climax and for a change, I got to see some of the aftermath to the climax, the “What happened next” to our antagonist!
I really wish I could tell Lesley that she’s written a brilliant twisted thriller that I have really enjoyed and I would have loved to have read more from her.
Huge thanks to Kim Nash of Bookouture and Netgalley for my copy of The Serial Killer’s Daughter.
July 5, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Oh my goodness what a dark and twisted read The Serial Killers Daughter by Lesley Welsh turned out to be. Gripping from the first page, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to its shocking conclusion. The author has given the reader a roller coaster of a thriller that’s for sure, but this crime thriller is also a gripping story of the psychology of evil and the lengths people will go to meet their own needs.
Suzanne’s estranged father Don passes away. His girlfriend Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions – including a series of intimate diaries and a mysterious collection of photographs of women, which leads Suzanne to start looking into her fathers past, what follows is a tense and a highly disturbing read. This novel does contain explicit scenes and language so definitely not one for the faint hearted but in the authors defence it’s in keeping with the plot and characters.
The author has created one of the most despicable and cold hearted psychopaths I’ve ever come across, they are the definition of evil, they made my skin crawl and my heart race, this is one book I wouldn’t recommend for a “bedtime read” unless you want nightmares. The constant sense of madness and evil bubbling away below the surface made this a highly compelling read.
I do have one small niggle I feel this book would have worked so much better with a different title, I would have enjoyed it slightly more if the mystery of Don could have been revealed without any preconceived ideas of the nature of the plot. On the positive side Lesley Welsh deftly manages to reveal Don’s secrets layer by layer, painting a chilling picture of the darkest corners of the human mind. The Serial Killers Daughter makes for a chilling yet engrossing read and if you like your crime thrillers dark, well they don’t come much darker than this one.
Oh my goodness what a dark and twisted read The Serial Killers Daughter by Lesley Welsh turned out to be. Gripping from the first page, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat all the way to its shocking conclusion. The author has given the reader a roller coaster of a thriller that’s for sure, but this crime thriller is also a gripping story of the psychology of evil and the lengths people will go to meet their own needs.
Suzanne’s estranged father Don passes away. His girlfriend Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions – including a series of intimate diaries and a mysterious collection of photographs of women, which leads Suzanne to start looking into her fathers past, what follows is a tense and a highly disturbing read. This novel does contain explicit scenes and language so definitely not one for the faint hearted but in the authors defence it’s in keeping with the plot and characters.
The author has created one of the most despicable and cold hearted psychopaths I’ve ever come across, they are the definition of evil, they made my skin crawl and my heart race, this is one book I wouldn’t recommend for a “bedtime read” unless you want nightmares. The constant sense of madness and evil bubbling away below the surface made this a highly compelling read.
I do have one small niggle I feel this book would have worked so much better with a different title, I would have enjoyed it slightly more if the mystery of Don could have been revealed without any preconceived ideas of the nature of the plot. On the positive side Lesley Welsh deftly manages to reveal Don’s secrets layer by layer, painting a chilling picture of the darkest corners of the human mind. The Serial Killers Daughter makes for a chilling yet engrossing read and if you like your crime thrillers dark, well they don’t come much darker than this one.
July 19, 2017
The reviews surfacing for this book had me so excited to read it, I had such high hopes but sadly, this turned out to be another ‘run-of-mill’ psychological thriller.
Usually I love an insight into the mind of a serial killer but here I did not enjoy reading the killer’s journal articles that featured in this novel. It felt too much like the entries were written to repulse [which they certainly did], rather than to add to the plot. Usually I look for the logic the serial killer uses to justify their actions but here I found none, except this man was just evil and killing for kicks. And if you read this story, you can fathom this information without needing the diary entries.
It didn’t help that I didn’t like any of the characters, and this, I believe, is a story where you need a connection to the main protagonist. There were certain times when the actions of the characters frustrated me, for example, if you’re in danger or believe you’re in danger or have previously been in danger – for goodness sake – lock your doors!
I read a lot of psychological thrillers, so maybe this was a case of ‘too much of the same’ – the title of the book takes away all of the mystery so perhaps a different title was needed or some unreliable narration to deter the reader away from knowing exactly where the plot was going and who was responsible for certain actions. I’ve read a few novels where the plot/certain information is purposely given away at the start of the book and sometimes this works really well but in this one, knowing what to expected diluted the plot twist and caused a lack of tension, suspense and thrill. Sadly, The Serial Killer’s Daughter was a miss for me.
*My thanks to the publisher (Bookouture) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
Usually I love an insight into the mind of a serial killer but here I did not enjoy reading the killer’s journal articles that featured in this novel. It felt too much like the entries were written to repulse [which they certainly did], rather than to add to the plot. Usually I look for the logic the serial killer uses to justify their actions but here I found none, except this man was just evil and killing for kicks. And if you read this story, you can fathom this information without needing the diary entries.
It didn’t help that I didn’t like any of the characters, and this, I believe, is a story where you need a connection to the main protagonist. There were certain times when the actions of the characters frustrated me, for example, if you’re in danger or believe you’re in danger or have previously been in danger – for goodness sake – lock your doors!
I read a lot of psychological thrillers, so maybe this was a case of ‘too much of the same’ – the title of the book takes away all of the mystery so perhaps a different title was needed or some unreliable narration to deter the reader away from knowing exactly where the plot was going and who was responsible for certain actions. I’ve read a few novels where the plot/certain information is purposely given away at the start of the book and sometimes this works really well but in this one, knowing what to expected diluted the plot twist and caused a lack of tension, suspense and thrill. Sadly, The Serial Killer’s Daughter was a miss for me.
*My thanks to the publisher (Bookouture) for granting me access to a digital copy of this book via Netgalley*
June 22, 2017
Suzanne is the main character here being the 'daughter' and she is certainly a character that is in turmoil. She receives a visit from Rose Anderson who had been living with Suzanne's father. Suzanne was nothing but relieved when she received the news that her Father Don was dead. Having not seen her Father for years she felt unconcerned about her non-relationship until Rose gives her the possessions that belonged to him.
Suzanne discovers a number of diaries and notebooks which are about to make her question everything she had ever known about Don. It's hard to review this without giving spoilers away so on that front I'll say no more about the storyline as it's more interesting to let it unfold as you read. Initially I found this a little hard going, however it picked up pace a few chapters in and once it got going it held my attention.
The story certainly doesn't hold back in terms of how sickening some things were and it certainly holds a dark and evil edge. For that alone it makes for pretty interesting reading, however it may not be to everybody's taste. There were a few twists and the story certainly picked up pace and the second half was a lot more engaging than the first half. That aside, it was a solid read and one that I enjoyed, it certainly felt very different to what I have been reading of late.
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Suzanne discovers a number of diaries and notebooks which are about to make her question everything she had ever known about Don. It's hard to review this without giving spoilers away so on that front I'll say no more about the storyline as it's more interesting to let it unfold as you read. Initially I found this a little hard going, however it picked up pace a few chapters in and once it got going it held my attention.
The story certainly doesn't hold back in terms of how sickening some things were and it certainly holds a dark and evil edge. For that alone it makes for pretty interesting reading, however it may not be to everybody's taste. There were a few twists and the story certainly picked up pace and the second half was a lot more engaging than the first half. That aside, it was a solid read and one that I enjoyed, it certainly felt very different to what I have been reading of late.
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July 2, 2020
This started off really well and I got a little more than halfway through but I just can’t go on. You really don’t care about anyone or anything about this story. The characters just keep getting worse. I judged a book by its cover. My mistake.
January 4, 2018
It makes me worry that something that depraved came out of a sane author's head. I almost put the book down because it was too intense and too immoral to read Don's thoughts and words.
June 20, 2017
Have you ever put down a book with a sense of relief? Not because it was a painful read, but because the darkness were so thick you felt the oxygen was starting to lack for you to breathe properly and you were starting to forget what the sun looks like? This is what happened to me with The Serial Daughter's Killer!
Openings play an important part in how I welcome a book. Lesley Welsh had the book welcome me, not the other way around, with a cold and compelling start. This is when I knew I would not be able to leave this book alone. There was something in the mysterious and freezing scene that gripped me with its claws and I gave in, immersing myself right away.
Tonight it is my turn.
Suzanne had a cosy and comfortable life. Not so exciting, one of those suburban lives many people settle in. A marriage with ups and downs, a loving mother, and the heart and soul of an artist, she was living a simple existence.
That was before her father came back into the picture. I love complicated families and I am no stranger to heavy father/daughter relationships, but gosh this one was special! I felt right from the start but I could never have imagined the twisted and harrowing experience I was about to get in!
There's something weird in getting a dead person's belongings when you weren't close to them and hear about their death five months later! Weird and exciting. It is bound to tickle your curiosity. It worked on me! Who wouldn't open a box containing their father's last proof of existence on this Earth? Except some things are better left in boxes! Those boxes buried in the garden. Better, burned on a cold night! Or sent to space!!
As those boxes make their appearances, we get memories and feelings from the past, and I couldn't help drawing the blurred figure of her father in my head, slowly coming alive as I turned the pages and learned more. There was something off about him. I couldn't help but sensing a sick feeling from the pages (even when reading on a Kindle!). We all carry examples of fathers, good or bad, but I couldn't put this one in a category. There were contradictory emotions coming from him, or from his memory of him from his daughter that threw me off. I think Twisted, is the box he belonged to, and I quickly realized it was even more complicated than this when Suzanne came across pictures and notebooks filled with women... and what had happened to them.
I should immediately warn you I believe the author's characterization of Suzanne's father is so powerful you feel his presence everywhere, like an ominous shadow you can't see but know deep down in your heart that is following you. Don Tyler is one of the strongest and most captivating protagonists I have ever encountered in a story. I often wished I could put him in a glass cage and observe him, have a clear view of his mind and what the hell could bring such a man to act the way he did. Then I wanted to dissect him to find where and when his genes or brain wires had gone wrong! And I scared myself with those crazy thoughts that were triggered by this man's actions. Scarcely had I felt so strongly about a serial killer to the point I wanted to spill his guts and see how rotten he was!!! His death never takes away the influence he seemed to have on people, starting by Suzanne's mother, or the woman he was living with, Rose. Alive victims of a monster.
Suzanne, just like I would have, needs answers, which I felt was totally natural. After all, don't we all want to know where we come from, no matter how difficult to truth is to handle?
But then things took a turn I hadn't seen coming and I was felt shaking my head in disbelief, having thought I had a good idea of where the story was leading me. In fact, I was completely, utterly, and absolutely lost. And frightened. Things did not add up, I couldn't make sense of the events unfolding before my very eyes, I could not fathom the reasons behind the actions, I could only feel Suzanne's helplessness and try to keep my heartbeat to stop going too fast! What had started as a slow and horrendous series of discoveries and raised questions turned into a thrilling chase and a frightening nightmare. The kind you wake up from covered in sweat and holding the sheet for dear life!
This book is like an old dirt road, full of bumps, twists, holes that send you up and down with the car, giving you waves of nausea with every turn of the steering wheel! You look into a peephole and you're sucked into the most obscure scenes, and when you think it can't get worse, you get a surprise. I'll leave you to imagine whether they're good or bad...
Suzanne is very easy to warm to. There's an honesty in her heart, and it only takes a short while for the reader to take her side. I loved the balance between all characters, the author giving you just enough to know them without stripping them of some sort of fog, of mystery, that makes you wonder who they truly are and makes them so human. No one is an open book, and Lesley Welsh's sharp pen turned words into multi-dimensional characters you can feel for, be angry with, or want to help. There are no bad and good boys and girls. Just people with their flaws and sides, and your heart and mind work together, emotions evolving as the story uses its characters in a clever and intense way that reminds you the world is grey.
This is not only the story of a man. It is the narration of what hell on Earth can do to so many people. I loved … Can the word “love” be a part of this review? I am not sure. I relished in the way every action of a single man had consequences on so many lives, and that with details, glimpses, and snippets, I was able to imagine it all, without needing to fully dive into every life touched by the devil. The author masterfully created a web of lies, blood, and horror, and birthed the awful spider which fed on them.
The Serial Killer's Daughter is a riveting, haunting and twisted family tale, a nightmare written so gorgeously you don't need to close your eyes to feel it, to live it.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2017
I really enjoyed The Serial Killer's Daughter by Lesley Welsh.
I sort of wish the book had a different title... I feel like I would have enjoyed it slightly more by going in blind to the fact that, well... her dad is a serial killer! That fact is not revealed initially... Sure, dad is weird, raunchy, even creepy and clearly has secrets, but there are all kinds of dirty deeds that could have been hidden... I might have even been a little surprised to find that he was a serial killer - if it weren't for the title, I was thinking along the lines of sexual predator.
But... that aside. I loved this book. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next and I love all of the flaws that the characters have. How they've been fooled or duped by the serial killer's daughter's dad... and how some of them loved him anyway!!
So there's Suzanne, trying to revive her long lost love of creating art... when out of the blue, she gets a phone call from Rose Anderson - the live in companion of her estranged dad, Don. Rose has a trunk of some of her dad's items - namely his "life story" hand written into dozens of notebooks and she wants Suzanne to have them along with some pictures. One of the pictures is of her friend Sophie who had died in a fire in their shared art studio ten years ago. Why does he have that? Someone else wants those journals, too. But who? Why?
And so starts the roller coaster of the book. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Each chapter seemed to have a little mini cliff hanger at the end, and it didn't pick that story line back up right away in the next chapter. That left a lot to my wild imagination until I eventually made it to the chapter that picked up where it had left off.
I am normally a slow reader and to say I devoured this book is a little bit of an understatement. That is a huge indication of my interest level and how well it kept my attention. What a great book!
The ending was left open in such a way that it would be a great book for a sequel...
As a side note, I was very sorry to hear of Lesley Welsh's passing. She's a great story writer and am glad she has left us the legacy of her writing. Thank you Lesley Welsh, Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I sort of wish the book had a different title... I feel like I would have enjoyed it slightly more by going in blind to the fact that, well... her dad is a serial killer! That fact is not revealed initially... Sure, dad is weird, raunchy, even creepy and clearly has secrets, but there are all kinds of dirty deeds that could have been hidden... I might have even been a little surprised to find that he was a serial killer - if it weren't for the title, I was thinking along the lines of sexual predator.
But... that aside. I loved this book. It kept me wondering what was going to happen next and I love all of the flaws that the characters have. How they've been fooled or duped by the serial killer's daughter's dad... and how some of them loved him anyway!!
So there's Suzanne, trying to revive her long lost love of creating art... when out of the blue, she gets a phone call from Rose Anderson - the live in companion of her estranged dad, Don. Rose has a trunk of some of her dad's items - namely his "life story" hand written into dozens of notebooks and she wants Suzanne to have them along with some pictures. One of the pictures is of her friend Sophie who had died in a fire in their shared art studio ten years ago. Why does he have that? Someone else wants those journals, too. But who? Why?
And so starts the roller coaster of the book. I was hooked and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Each chapter seemed to have a little mini cliff hanger at the end, and it didn't pick that story line back up right away in the next chapter. That left a lot to my wild imagination until I eventually made it to the chapter that picked up where it had left off.
I am normally a slow reader and to say I devoured this book is a little bit of an understatement. That is a huge indication of my interest level and how well it kept my attention. What a great book!
The ending was left open in such a way that it would be a great book for a sequel...
As a side note, I was very sorry to hear of Lesley Welsh's passing. She's a great story writer and am glad she has left us the legacy of her writing. Thank you Lesley Welsh, Bookouture and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2017
Excellent book, really kept me gripped with a few unexpected turns throughout.
June 8, 2017
Well, I must admit I’ve never asked myself the question “what would I do if I found out my dad was a serial killer?” but that’s exactly the situation Suzanne finds herself in.
Suzanne’s life changes when she receives a visit from Rose, who’s been living with Suzanne’s estranged father for the past two years. Rose brings news of Don’s death and wants his daughter to have his possessions. These include diaries and photographs of various women. One of whom is Sophie, Suzanne’s friend who died years ago in a fire. But as far as Suzanne knows, her father only met Sophie once. So why does he have a picture of her? Who are all these other women? And what secrets are hidden in the diaries?
Despite her mother’s misgivings, Suzanne sets out to investigate her father’s dark past. Wouldn’t we all? I probably would. Too curious for my own good. But things quickly take a turn for the worst.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is one gripping and absorbing psychological thriller, with a few twists along the way. I really enjoyed this author’s writing although her brain must have been a truly scary place to have come up with someone like Don. And don’t even get me started on those diary chapters! Those could very well be some of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read.
There’s only one word for Don. Monster. Pure and simple. An evil mastermind who made my skin crawl. He’s a manipulator, a narcissist, a liar, a charmer when he wants to be and amazingly capable of somehow always shifting the blame onto someone else. Lesley Welsh did an excellent job of getting into a serial killer’s head.
A truly absorbing read for anyone who likes the psychological thriller genre!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review honestly.
Suzanne’s life changes when she receives a visit from Rose, who’s been living with Suzanne’s estranged father for the past two years. Rose brings news of Don’s death and wants his daughter to have his possessions. These include diaries and photographs of various women. One of whom is Sophie, Suzanne’s friend who died years ago in a fire. But as far as Suzanne knows, her father only met Sophie once. So why does he have a picture of her? Who are all these other women? And what secrets are hidden in the diaries?
Despite her mother’s misgivings, Suzanne sets out to investigate her father’s dark past. Wouldn’t we all? I probably would. Too curious for my own good. But things quickly take a turn for the worst.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is one gripping and absorbing psychological thriller, with a few twists along the way. I really enjoyed this author’s writing although her brain must have been a truly scary place to have come up with someone like Don. And don’t even get me started on those diary chapters! Those could very well be some of the most disturbing things I’ve ever read.
There’s only one word for Don. Monster. Pure and simple. An evil mastermind who made my skin crawl. He’s a manipulator, a narcissist, a liar, a charmer when he wants to be and amazingly capable of somehow always shifting the blame onto someone else. Lesley Welsh did an excellent job of getting into a serial killer’s head.
A truly absorbing read for anyone who likes the psychological thriller genre!
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy, which I chose to review honestly.
May 30, 2017
Finished reading: May 29th 2017
"She remembered her mother telling her that discerning the truth in Don's lies was like unravelling knotted string."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 15, 2017
First of all I have to say...That cover! After seeing that I couldn't wait to read The Serial Killer's Daughter which is exactly what it says on the title….A dark and warped story about Suzanne Tyler who’s life changes the day she meets Rose Anderson and is given a series of secret diaries and eight photographs of women. One of the photo’s is her friend Sophie who died in a fire 10 years ago. The big question is why did her Dad Don have that photo when he only met her once. We follow Suzanne on a twisted rollercoaster ride to find out the truth.And when I say twisted I mean twisted! There are descriptions in this story that made me cringe. But Don wouldn't be the bad guy if that didn't happen, he is one very evil character.
But I did feel sorry for Suzanne she is a strong character. Imagine finding out that your dad was a serial killer that is the unthinkable.
For me this is a slow burner and not your normal fast paced read that I normally read but kept my attention until the end wanting to know the truth about Sophie.
This isn't for the fainthearted with it being jam packed full of disturbing scenes.
Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader's copy and inviting me to take part in this special blog tour.
But I did feel sorry for Suzanne she is a strong character. Imagine finding out that your dad was a serial killer that is the unthinkable.
For me this is a slow burner and not your normal fast paced read that I normally read but kept my attention until the end wanting to know the truth about Sophie.
This isn't for the fainthearted with it being jam packed full of disturbing scenes.
Thank you to Bookouture for an advanced reader's copy and inviting me to take part in this special blog tour.
May 18, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Serial Killer's Daughter.
Suzanne Woods hasn't seen her dad, Don Tyler, for 10 years and the last time left a nasty taste in her mouth so she isn't too bothered when Rose Anderson, Don's latest girlfriend, phones her to tell he is dead. She is, however, interested in his diaries when she learns she might have half siblings. As she investigates she realises how nasty her father was - the hint's in the title - but what she doesn't know is that other people are also interested in the diaries.
I enjoyed The Serial Killer's Daughter. It is a bit slow to start and didn't initially hold my attention well but as the action ramps up it becomes riveting, especially the dénouement which crackles with tension. I would warn those who like a bit of realism in their reading that this is not the novel for you. Don Tyler appears to have been killing with impunity for 30+ years which is fairly unbelievable given his violent temper.
This is a difficult novel to review without issuing spoilers so all I will say is that Don Tyler's casual, remorseless approach to his "craft" is sickening but his ability to evade capture by passing off his crimes as accidents or suicide tests my credulity.
The Serial Killer's Daughter has an interesting premise and turns into a tense read by the end so I can recommend it as a good read.
Suzanne Woods hasn't seen her dad, Don Tyler, for 10 years and the last time left a nasty taste in her mouth so she isn't too bothered when Rose Anderson, Don's latest girlfriend, phones her to tell he is dead. She is, however, interested in his diaries when she learns she might have half siblings. As she investigates she realises how nasty her father was - the hint's in the title - but what she doesn't know is that other people are also interested in the diaries.
I enjoyed The Serial Killer's Daughter. It is a bit slow to start and didn't initially hold my attention well but as the action ramps up it becomes riveting, especially the dénouement which crackles with tension. I would warn those who like a bit of realism in their reading that this is not the novel for you. Don Tyler appears to have been killing with impunity for 30+ years which is fairly unbelievable given his violent temper.
This is a difficult novel to review without issuing spoilers so all I will say is that Don Tyler's casual, remorseless approach to his "craft" is sickening but his ability to evade capture by passing off his crimes as accidents or suicide tests my credulity.
The Serial Killer's Daughter has an interesting premise and turns into a tense read by the end so I can recommend it as a good read.
September 10, 2017
what a novel! You know when you start reading a book but you ‘kind of’ know what to expect…? Maybe a variation on the theme of judging a book by it’s cover…? (Although I have to say that I love the cover of this one and if anything, it caught my attention and made me want to read it even more.) I was so totally, completely, absolutely wrong in my assumptions. This book packs one heck of a punch and I really enjoyed it, a lot more than I initially thought I would.
Don Tyler, Suzanne’s estranged father, is probably one of the most evil, manipulative and sinister characters I have ever met (in a fictional sense of course). The classic horror/noir novel, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis is mentioned within the plot but I was drawing similarities between Don and Patrick Bateman waaay before then. And if you’ve read American Psycho you may now have some idea why I was so surprised by this book! The plot does contain some pretty hefty sexual content (which I do like to avoid reading about….normally) but it worked and was key to the storyline. Without certain aspects then Don, just wouldn’t be….well, Don! I felt uncomfortable, of course, but that’s what I believe the author was trying to do. I should add that The Serial Killer’s Daughter is by no means as graphic as American Psycho so don’t let that put you off. But I did feel there were similarities between the two.
I liked Suzanne. I liked how normal she was despite being the daughter of a serial killer. But my favourite character was Joan, Suzanne’s mother. Ex-hippy now happily settled with a nice, normal, stable man but still able to control her ruthless, immoral, psychopathic beast of an ex. Now that’s girl power, lol!
Would I recommend this book? I would. It’s dark, edgy and unexpected. I love a book where the body count is high and it certainly is in this one thanks to Don’s ‘talents’. All in all, a great read which I heartily recommend to all serial killer thriller fans. In fact, I would go as far as saying that this is one fans of the serial killer thriller should not miss!
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of The Serial Killer’s Daughter. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Don Tyler, Suzanne’s estranged father, is probably one of the most evil, manipulative and sinister characters I have ever met (in a fictional sense of course). The classic horror/noir novel, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis is mentioned within the plot but I was drawing similarities between Don and Patrick Bateman waaay before then. And if you’ve read American Psycho you may now have some idea why I was so surprised by this book! The plot does contain some pretty hefty sexual content (which I do like to avoid reading about….normally) but it worked and was key to the storyline. Without certain aspects then Don, just wouldn’t be….well, Don! I felt uncomfortable, of course, but that’s what I believe the author was trying to do. I should add that The Serial Killer’s Daughter is by no means as graphic as American Psycho so don’t let that put you off. But I did feel there were similarities between the two.
I liked Suzanne. I liked how normal she was despite being the daughter of a serial killer. But my favourite character was Joan, Suzanne’s mother. Ex-hippy now happily settled with a nice, normal, stable man but still able to control her ruthless, immoral, psychopathic beast of an ex. Now that’s girl power, lol!
Would I recommend this book? I would. It’s dark, edgy and unexpected. I love a book where the body count is high and it certainly is in this one thanks to Don’s ‘talents’. All in all, a great read which I heartily recommend to all serial killer thriller fans. In fact, I would go as far as saying that this is one fans of the serial killer thriller should not miss!
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of The Serial Killer’s Daughter. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 18, 2017
Woah! Don Tyler is one scary dude. He is definitely one I would not like to meet in a dark alley. Actually, he is not one I would like to meet in broad daylight even, anywhere. I can truthfully say that this book scared the crap out of me. This guy was relentless. Heartless and hell bent to get whatever and whoever he wanted. I finished reading this book about 2:30 in the morning. I HAD to start another book, just to get this guy out of my mind. There was no way I was sleeping with him still on my mind.
Definitely a great read and if your into creepy, scary, a book that should be right up your alley.
Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Kudos to the author, you are one sick woman! HA!!
Definitely a great read and if your into creepy, scary, a book that should be right up your alley.
Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Kudos to the author, you are one sick woman! HA!!
June 22, 2022
The book was well written and I enjoyed the different POVs. I will say that although I don't tend to balk at language, Don's words were quite disturbing (as they were meant to be). Definitely a horrific man and terrifying that there are people out there that think the same way he does.
August 12, 2017
I do love me a good serial killer book and this is one of them!!
Suzanne has settled into her life, it's not exactly where she wanted to be but she's comfortable until she receives a phone call from Rose Anderson, someone she doesn't know but who has been living with her estranged father for years. She agrees to meet Rose to collect the belongings Rose says she has for her, thus starts the descent into the despicable mind of Don.
Manipulative, cruel, heartless and sociopathic, he's just the kind of father you don't want to have, reading through his diaries and seeing the pictures he kept, it gives me chills just thinking about it.
We have a lovely steady build up and we meet a well mixed cast of characters who bounce of each other well, the diaries are cruel and crudely written but explain, as much as they can, his state of mind.
It's a well written story and I would LOVE to read a sequel to see where everything goes after this but, alas, that will not be the case as the author passed away in April of this year. It is now left to our own imagination as to how it all ends up.
Really good read, highly recommended.
*Huge thanks to Lesley Welsh, Bookouture and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
Suzanne has settled into her life, it's not exactly where she wanted to be but she's comfortable until she receives a phone call from Rose Anderson, someone she doesn't know but who has been living with her estranged father for years. She agrees to meet Rose to collect the belongings Rose says she has for her, thus starts the descent into the despicable mind of Don.
Manipulative, cruel, heartless and sociopathic, he's just the kind of father you don't want to have, reading through his diaries and seeing the pictures he kept, it gives me chills just thinking about it.
We have a lovely steady build up and we meet a well mixed cast of characters who bounce of each other well, the diaries are cruel and crudely written but explain, as much as they can, his state of mind.
It's a well written story and I would LOVE to read a sequel to see where everything goes after this but, alas, that will not be the case as the author passed away in April of this year. It is now left to our own imagination as to how it all ends up.
Really good read, highly recommended.
*Huge thanks to Lesley Welsh, Bookouture and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*
January 6, 2018
School teacher Suzanne has settled nicely into life, it’s not quite where she envisioned to be, but she’s comfortable and content until she receives a phone call from Rose Anderson, someone she doesn’t know but who claims to have been living with her estranged father for years. Suzanne reluctantly agrees to meet Rose to collect her father’s belongings (consisting of a pile of old photographs and a bunch of journals), thus starting the tumble-down the rabbit hole into the despicable mind of Don Tyler.
Manipulative, cruel and a classic narcissistic sociopathic, Don is just the kind of father you don’t want to have. He has no qualms about murdering anyone who gets in the way of him getting what he wants. Controlling and clever, as Suzanne reads more and more into Don’s account of his life and the atrocities he committed, the more relieved she is that he is dead and gone. The problem is, some very nasty people are also after the diaries and will go to any lengths to get their hands on them.
I’ve had The Serial Killer’s Daughter on my tbr list for what feels like forever. Being a little obsessed with the subject matter I had to get my hands on the book as soon as possible, however once I had it, it lay unread for a while, me thinking that the title and blurb of the book told me everything I needed to know. So, after her Dad dies she reads his diary and discovers he was a serial killer, end of. Well, how utterly WRONG was I?
This well crafted novel starts off innocuously enough, reeling the reader slowly into Suzanne’s life and the dysfunctional yet not entirely unusual relationship she had with her father. With every chapter that passes another layer of this twisted story is peeled back as the reader goes deeper and deeper into the dark mind of Don Tyler. His language is foul, his thoughts are abhorrent, and his actions are heinous, but the most bone chilling aspect of Don Tyler’s personality is his ability to switch to being charming and charismatic when it suits him, helping him slide seamlessly out of any unforseen sticky situations.
Alternating between the flashbacks in Don’s diary and Suzanne’s efforts in the present day to escape the characters so desperate to keep Don’s secrets buried, the story really picks up pace about halfway through when an unexpected twist turns the whole book on its head. From that point I couldn’t put the it down and flew through the intriguing prose effortlessly and desperately, eager to discover what Don had done next.
The author certainly doesn’t hold back in terms of disturbing events and the novel has such a dark and ominous vibe to it. For that alone it makes for pretty interesting reading, however it may not be to everybody’s taste and certainly not for the faint hearted or easily offended. Don Tyler draws strong similarities with Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, so much so that it is even mentioned in the novel (Don just doesn’t have as much class). And, like American Psycho, sex features heavily throughout The Serial Killer’s Daughter. I’m not a fan of sexual content myself, however it was in context, relevent to the storyline and key to Don’s character.
I love any type of book, TV programme or film with a strong female lead, and that’s exactly what we have here with Suzanne Tyler and also her Mum, Joan, who raised Suzanne on her own and had the ability to see off Don Tyler’s violence time and time again. I was unsure about Suzanne to begin with as she did seem like a bit of a wallflower, but as her character develops the reader sees how she holds the same tenacity as her mother and the same razor-sharp cunning her manipulative father held.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is one thrilling, chilling, blood spilling ride I would recommend to anyone who takes pleasure from the darker things in life.
As a side note, I was very sorry to hear of the sad passing of Lesley Welsh in April of last year, just prior to publication. Although there will not be a sequel showing the aftermath of such an explosive novel, she has left us with this great story that will be enjoyed for years to come, and have readers like me lying awake after midnight, unable to sleep, shuddering at the thought of the monsters who walk among us.
I received a free review copy of The Serial Killer’s Daughter. Thanks to the author Lesley Welsh and publisher Bookouture.
Manipulative, cruel and a classic narcissistic sociopathic, Don is just the kind of father you don’t want to have. He has no qualms about murdering anyone who gets in the way of him getting what he wants. Controlling and clever, as Suzanne reads more and more into Don’s account of his life and the atrocities he committed, the more relieved she is that he is dead and gone. The problem is, some very nasty people are also after the diaries and will go to any lengths to get their hands on them.
I’ve had The Serial Killer’s Daughter on my tbr list for what feels like forever. Being a little obsessed with the subject matter I had to get my hands on the book as soon as possible, however once I had it, it lay unread for a while, me thinking that the title and blurb of the book told me everything I needed to know. So, after her Dad dies she reads his diary and discovers he was a serial killer, end of. Well, how utterly WRONG was I?
This well crafted novel starts off innocuously enough, reeling the reader slowly into Suzanne’s life and the dysfunctional yet not entirely unusual relationship she had with her father. With every chapter that passes another layer of this twisted story is peeled back as the reader goes deeper and deeper into the dark mind of Don Tyler. His language is foul, his thoughts are abhorrent, and his actions are heinous, but the most bone chilling aspect of Don Tyler’s personality is his ability to switch to being charming and charismatic when it suits him, helping him slide seamlessly out of any unforseen sticky situations.
Alternating between the flashbacks in Don’s diary and Suzanne’s efforts in the present day to escape the characters so desperate to keep Don’s secrets buried, the story really picks up pace about halfway through when an unexpected twist turns the whole book on its head. From that point I couldn’t put the it down and flew through the intriguing prose effortlessly and desperately, eager to discover what Don had done next.
The author certainly doesn’t hold back in terms of disturbing events and the novel has such a dark and ominous vibe to it. For that alone it makes for pretty interesting reading, however it may not be to everybody’s taste and certainly not for the faint hearted or easily offended. Don Tyler draws strong similarities with Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, so much so that it is even mentioned in the novel (Don just doesn’t have as much class). And, like American Psycho, sex features heavily throughout The Serial Killer’s Daughter. I’m not a fan of sexual content myself, however it was in context, relevent to the storyline and key to Don’s character.
I love any type of book, TV programme or film with a strong female lead, and that’s exactly what we have here with Suzanne Tyler and also her Mum, Joan, who raised Suzanne on her own and had the ability to see off Don Tyler’s violence time and time again. I was unsure about Suzanne to begin with as she did seem like a bit of a wallflower, but as her character develops the reader sees how she holds the same tenacity as her mother and the same razor-sharp cunning her manipulative father held.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is one thrilling, chilling, blood spilling ride I would recommend to anyone who takes pleasure from the darker things in life.
As a side note, I was very sorry to hear of the sad passing of Lesley Welsh in April of last year, just prior to publication. Although there will not be a sequel showing the aftermath of such an explosive novel, she has left us with this great story that will be enjoyed for years to come, and have readers like me lying awake after midnight, unable to sleep, shuddering at the thought of the monsters who walk among us.
I received a free review copy of The Serial Killer’s Daughter. Thanks to the author Lesley Welsh and publisher Bookouture.
May 17, 2017
A compelling novel with more twists than a roller coaster I couldn't put it down. It is quite graphic in its description and may not be for the fainthearted but I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.
June 20, 2017
From the first time I saw this cover I had chills up my spine. What is revealed inside continued to do just that!
There are some human beings in this world who have absolutely no redeeming features and Don is such a creature. The twisted way his mind and actions dominate this story makes it an addictive read.
Right at the outset it becomes clear that this is going to be a gruesome tale .. the title kinda gives it away. I can’t imagine how Suzanne felt when she finally realises what her estranged father was. After meeting Rose who had lived with Don she gives Suzanne a collection of photos and his secret diaries.
Then begins the unfurling of the crimes, all the photos are of women, one of which is Sophie .. Suzanne’s friend who had mysteriously perished in a fire. Why did her father have that picture?
This requires a fairly strong stomach due to the graphic scenes depicted and the language is course and to the point but entirely fitting for the content of the story.
If you want a roller coaster ride with the tension building then this is a fine example. I’m not sure I actually liked any of the characters .. I felt sorry for a few of them after being mixed up with Don but my hatred of him and his cruel twisted mind overruled all other emotions!
A well written, page turner that I’m glad I had a chance to read. My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley. I read and reviewed The Serial Killer’s Daughter voluntarily.
There are some human beings in this world who have absolutely no redeeming features and Don is such a creature. The twisted way his mind and actions dominate this story makes it an addictive read.
Right at the outset it becomes clear that this is going to be a gruesome tale .. the title kinda gives it away. I can’t imagine how Suzanne felt when she finally realises what her estranged father was. After meeting Rose who had lived with Don she gives Suzanne a collection of photos and his secret diaries.
Then begins the unfurling of the crimes, all the photos are of women, one of which is Sophie .. Suzanne’s friend who had mysteriously perished in a fire. Why did her father have that picture?
This requires a fairly strong stomach due to the graphic scenes depicted and the language is course and to the point but entirely fitting for the content of the story.
If you want a roller coaster ride with the tension building then this is a fine example. I’m not sure I actually liked any of the characters .. I felt sorry for a few of them after being mixed up with Don but my hatred of him and his cruel twisted mind overruled all other emotions!
A well written, page turner that I’m glad I had a chance to read. My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley. I read and reviewed The Serial Killer’s Daughter voluntarily.
June 12, 2017
The serial killers daughter by Lesley Welsh.
Charmer, liar, father… Killer.
Suzanne’s life changes forever the day she receives a visit from Rose Anderson, the woman who has been living with her estranged father, Don.
Don is dead, but Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions – including a series of intimate diaries and a mysterious collection of photographs of women.
To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.
But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death... So why did he have a picture of her?
Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his journals? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. What a page Turner. Chilling too. Don't was so creepy. Gave me chills. 5*. Netgalley and bookouture.
Charmer, liar, father… Killer.
Suzanne’s life changes forever the day she receives a visit from Rose Anderson, the woman who has been living with her estranged father, Don.
Don is dead, but Rose wants Suzanne to have his possessions – including a series of intimate diaries and a mysterious collection of photographs of women.
To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.
But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death... So why did he have a picture of her?
Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his journals? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. What a page Turner. Chilling too. Don't was so creepy. Gave me chills. 5*. Netgalley and bookouture.
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