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Like Mother, Like Daughter
If what they said was true, then the grotesque and the monstrous ran in her blood. It was imprinted within her very core, her DNA, a part of every cell in her body.
Kat's children are both smart and well-adjusted. On the outside.
Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally, but she struggles with one of her daughters more than the other.
Because Imogen's birth mother is a serial killer. And Imogen doesn't know.
They say you can't choose your family, but what if your family chooses you?
Kat's children are both smart and well-adjusted. On the outside.
Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally, but she struggles with one of her daughters more than the other.
Because Imogen's birth mother is a serial killer. And Imogen doesn't know.
They say you can't choose your family, but what if your family chooses you?
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 23, 2020
241 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Elle Croft
8 books142 followersElle Croft was born in South Africa, grew up in Australia and now lives in London, where she works as a social media manager. Her debut novel, The Guilty Wife, is a top 10 Kindle Bestseller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
July 9, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 9 July 2020
I could not put this book down!! I absolutely loved it - I was riveted !! A page turner ! A must read! I love a good thriller and so few come along that gripped me as well as this one did. The character development was amazing and I loved how the story was told from several different perspectives . The theme of nature versus nurture that the story followed was intriguing to say the least. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good thriller.
February 2, 2020
Like Mother, Like Daughter....amazing! If you have not read a book by this author why not? You like twisty stories that continue to surprise you? Elle Croft is the perfect writer for you. Guilty Wife and The Other Sister are both fantastic reads and Like Mother, Like Daughter did not disappoint. It is a book that you won’t want to put down, needing to know where it was going to take you next. Absolutely fantastic book.
It is hard to say too much about the story without spoiling it. It is best to go into this book pretty much blind. What I will say is that we hear the story from the points of view of 3 women... Imogen, who is 16 and struggling to fit in with her family, Kat, Imogen’s adoptive mother who is terrified that Imogen will be like her birth mother, and Sally, the birth mother who is a serial killer. We see how each of these women deal with the situation that they are in.
When you think you know what will happen guess again! Elle Croft is so good at the plot twist, seriously, this story will rock you, right up to the very last page. Oh, and it is set in Australia, South Australia for something different. I cannot recommend it more.
Thanks so much Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy to read.
It is hard to say too much about the story without spoiling it. It is best to go into this book pretty much blind. What I will say is that we hear the story from the points of view of 3 women... Imogen, who is 16 and struggling to fit in with her family, Kat, Imogen’s adoptive mother who is terrified that Imogen will be like her birth mother, and Sally, the birth mother who is a serial killer. We see how each of these women deal with the situation that they are in.
When you think you know what will happen guess again! Elle Croft is so good at the plot twist, seriously, this story will rock you, right up to the very last page. Oh, and it is set in Australia, South Australia for something different. I cannot recommend it more.
Thanks so much Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy to read.
July 9, 2020
I could not put this book down!! I absolutely loved it - I was riveted !! A page turner ! A must read! I love a good thriller and so few come along that gripped me as well as this one did. The character development was amazing and I loved how the story was told from several different perspectives . The theme of nature versus nurture that the story followed was intriguing to say the least. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good thriller.
October 23, 2020
Well another book goes down the drain by Elle Croft & i won,t be pursuing any more i had read The Guilty Wife & was not impressed, this was a little better but not by much. The prose is told by 3 POV
Kat Braidwood had two daughters one she had trouble with the other the apple of her eye, its when Kat is called to Imogen,s school by the principal that she has been in a fight but will not tell anybody why? She tells her mother she was trying to help but the principal suspends her.
But when Imogen looks into her DNA she discovers her mother isn't her real mother, but when she disappears Kat finds out things about Imogen she knew nothing about. I found this novel very slow to the point of going forward a bit to see if it improves, alas it didn't.
July 2, 2020
Kat has always tried to treat her Imogen and Jemima equally. But she struggles with one of her daughters more than the other. Because Imogens birth mother is a serial killer.
Thisnis quite an addictive read. It's toldmfrom Kat, Imogen and Sally's points of view. Kat has always worries that Imogen would turn out just like her parents. Kat and Dylan had adopted Imogen when she was just eighteen months. Her birth parents are serial killers. Imogen does not know that she's adopted. A story that examines nurture over nature. I don't want to say too much about the storyline. There's a few good twists. This is an easy book to read. The pace is steady in this page turning read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Elle Croft for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thisnis quite an addictive read. It's toldmfrom Kat, Imogen and Sally's points of view. Kat has always worries that Imogen would turn out just like her parents. Kat and Dylan had adopted Imogen when she was just eighteen months. Her birth parents are serial killers. Imogen does not know that she's adopted. A story that examines nurture over nature. I don't want to say too much about the storyline. There's a few good twists. This is an easy book to read. The pace is steady in this page turning read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Elle Croft for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
So many things have, and could have, happened in this novel, but the most chilling thought running like a -minus 100 degrees chill down my spine, was after I closed it, looked at the title again and got gobsmacked.
The chills were all mine and the twists, the authors. She got me good and solid.
This psychological thriller kept me at the edge of sanity from the very first moment when Sally is introduced into the story, and then the other mother Kat, and her two lovely daughters, Immogene and Jemima.
Alternating chapters told the stories of these four female characters in a picturesque tale of love, aspirations, and dreams gone very very wrong.
An excellent escape to a place we ourselves would never want to visit ever, neither psychologically, mentally, or physically.
So if this genre rocks your boat, this one is absolutely for you.
The chills were all mine and the twists, the authors. She got me good and solid.
This psychological thriller kept me at the edge of sanity from the very first moment when Sally is introduced into the story, and then the other mother Kat, and her two lovely daughters, Immogene and Jemima.
Alternating chapters told the stories of these four female characters in a picturesque tale of love, aspirations, and dreams gone very very wrong.
An excellent escape to a place we ourselves would never want to visit ever, neither psychologically, mentally, or physically.
So if this genre rocks your boat, this one is absolutely for you.
February 21, 2020
This was such a good read. From start to finish it had me hooked. It was told from the point of view of Kat, Imogen, Sally and one chapter for Jemima. I found all the characters to be really interesting which you don’t find in a lot of books. They all added something significant to the story. It was really well written and I really liked reading how the story played out. It had so many twists and turns and I thought the ending was really good and I wouldn’t of guessed the ending so that was well thought out. I can’t wait to read more books from Elle Croft as this was excellent.
October 20, 2020
This was a gripping psychological thriller told from 3 POV’s Mum Kat, daughter Imogen and serial killer Sally Sanders Imogen’s biological mother who is incarcerated in a maximum-security prison for her part in what the media dubbed Satan’s Ranch.
Fifteen years prior Sally and her husband Tim carried out a reign of terror behind closed doors there own children their victims.
Imogen now with a new identity and no idea she was adopted and who she used to be is living as Imogen Braidwood with mum Kat, dad Dylan and younger sister Jemima.
Then one morning kat discovers Imogen is not in her bed she’s missing presumed a runaway.
And as events start to unfold further and with the police and kat digging deeper into the past and present an alternate scenario start to emerge one that fills Kat with pure dread for her daughter.
This was fast-paced and well written a real page-turner that easily kept my attention.
It’s full of twists and turns and that finish was superb and though I did suspect I still enjoyed this a lot.
I can definitely recommend this and if you like your psychological thrillers this one was very good, thumbs up from me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Like mother like daughter
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 29, 2020
A story told by three separate women Kat, Imogen and Sally.
Kat is worried when her teenage daughter Imogen starts to behave badly and then she goes missing. Kat then finds out that her daughter has recently had a DNA test done that would have shown that she was not her biological child.
A psychological thriller with twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Kat is worried when her teenage daughter Imogen starts to behave badly and then she goes missing. Kat then finds out that her daughter has recently had a DNA test done that would have shown that she was not her biological child.
A psychological thriller with twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2020
Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally. Butnshenstruggles withnone of her daughters more than the other. Because Imogens birth mother is a serial killer.
Thisnis quite an addictive read. It's told from Kat, Imogen and Sally's points of view. Kat has always worried that Imogen would turn out just like her parents. Kat and Dylan had adopted Imogen when she was just eighteen months. Her birth parents are serial killers. Imogen does not know that she was adopted. A story that examines nurture over nature. I don't want to say too much about the storyline. There's a few good twists. This is an easy book to read. The pacemis steady in this page turning read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Elle Croft for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thisnis quite an addictive read. It's told from Kat, Imogen and Sally's points of view. Kat has always worried that Imogen would turn out just like her parents. Kat and Dylan had adopted Imogen when she was just eighteen months. Her birth parents are serial killers. Imogen does not know that she was adopted. A story that examines nurture over nature. I don't want to say too much about the storyline. There's a few good twists. This is an easy book to read. The pacemis steady in this page turning read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Elle Croft for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Elle Croft is a perplexing novel that turns up the chill factor. A domestic based psychological thriller, Elle Croft’s latest splits open a fragile family unit, revealing a tangled web of complex relations and a troubled past. Riveting, puzzling and divisive, Like Mother, Like Daughter will be sure to get under your skin.
Like Mother, Like Daughter is a story of DNA, bloodlines, inheritance, the past and family. Following the lives of a mother, father and their two daughters, Croft’s novel examines family relationships, connections, estrangement and misunderstanding. It is also about keeping the past buried. Issues of nature versus nurture, true parentage and trauma all have a part to play in this addictive new thriller offering from Elle Croft.
Like Mother, Like Daughter was a book that made me abandon my current early nights, in favour of an extra hour or two of essential reading. Once you start reading Elle Croft’s latest, you will find it incredibly hard to put this one down. The easy pace, the intriguing storyline, the patchwork characters and the debatable scenarios raised in this book ensures that Like Mother, Like Daughter will remain your central concern.
I was fairly certain when I went into this book that I had read another Elle Croft novel previous to this new release. However, a solid interrogation of my packed full bookshelves revealed that I had a previous title penned by the author, The Guilty Wife, sitting on shelves waiting for some much needed attention. Once I closed Like Mother, Like Daughter, I did resolve to read The Guilty Wife in the near future. Back to Croft’s latest. This is a book I enjoyed from start to finish, it was gripping read.
There are some really interesting and morally perplexing issues at stake in Like Mother Like Daughter. Via multiple alternating narratives, this one placed me in a moral minefield. There are issues of DNA, parentage, bloodlines, inheritance of family traits, infertility and adoption. Added to the mix are a series of strained family relationships between mothers, daughters, sisters, spouses, siblings and absent parents. This one will test you in all respects, in terms of the social themes and the lines of right versus wrong.
Added to this intense focus on the psychological and the moral bounds of a strained family unit is a chilling look into the mind of a serial killer. Croft balances this aspect of the narrative within the focal storyline. There are times when this serial killer element of the story can be quite uncomfortable and tense, but it is an integral component of the overall story arc. I valued the way in which Croft was able to interrogate this element of her novel and how the accompanying character dynamics play out for the audience.
In the end, I was unable to correctly guess the final turn of events and I definitely did not anticipate the twist I was issued with near the close of this novel. Croft is quite the manipulator, toying with her readers for the entire length of Like Mother, Like Daughter. I wonder how many other readers of this novel will fall under Croft’s spell?
Questions of birth, the past, family legacies, trauma and criminal intent circulate around Like Mother, Like Daughter. A novel comprising of plenty of grey areas and moral uncertainty, thriller fans will appreciate the chance to get lost in Elle Croft’s latest.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Elle Croft is a perplexing novel that turns up the chill factor. A domestic based psychological thriller, Elle Croft’s latest splits open a fragile family unit, revealing a tangled web of complex relations and a troubled past. Riveting, puzzling and divisive, Like Mother, Like Daughter will be sure to get under your skin.
Like Mother, Like Daughter is a story of DNA, bloodlines, inheritance, the past and family. Following the lives of a mother, father and their two daughters, Croft’s novel examines family relationships, connections, estrangement and misunderstanding. It is also about keeping the past buried. Issues of nature versus nurture, true parentage and trauma all have a part to play in this addictive new thriller offering from Elle Croft.
Like Mother, Like Daughter was a book that made me abandon my current early nights, in favour of an extra hour or two of essential reading. Once you start reading Elle Croft’s latest, you will find it incredibly hard to put this one down. The easy pace, the intriguing storyline, the patchwork characters and the debatable scenarios raised in this book ensures that Like Mother, Like Daughter will remain your central concern.
I was fairly certain when I went into this book that I had read another Elle Croft novel previous to this new release. However, a solid interrogation of my packed full bookshelves revealed that I had a previous title penned by the author, The Guilty Wife, sitting on shelves waiting for some much needed attention. Once I closed Like Mother, Like Daughter, I did resolve to read The Guilty Wife in the near future. Back to Croft’s latest. This is a book I enjoyed from start to finish, it was gripping read.
There are some really interesting and morally perplexing issues at stake in Like Mother Like Daughter. Via multiple alternating narratives, this one placed me in a moral minefield. There are issues of DNA, parentage, bloodlines, inheritance of family traits, infertility and adoption. Added to the mix are a series of strained family relationships between mothers, daughters, sisters, spouses, siblings and absent parents. This one will test you in all respects, in terms of the social themes and the lines of right versus wrong.
Added to this intense focus on the psychological and the moral bounds of a strained family unit is a chilling look into the mind of a serial killer. Croft balances this aspect of the narrative within the focal storyline. There are times when this serial killer element of the story can be quite uncomfortable and tense, but it is an integral component of the overall story arc. I valued the way in which Croft was able to interrogate this element of her novel and how the accompanying character dynamics play out for the audience.
In the end, I was unable to correctly guess the final turn of events and I definitely did not anticipate the twist I was issued with near the close of this novel. Croft is quite the manipulator, toying with her readers for the entire length of Like Mother, Like Daughter. I wonder how many other readers of this novel will fall under Croft’s spell?
Questions of birth, the past, family legacies, trauma and criminal intent circulate around Like Mother, Like Daughter. A novel comprising of plenty of grey areas and moral uncertainty, thriller fans will appreciate the chance to get lost in Elle Croft’s latest.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
February 29, 2020
It looks as though I'm in the minority here, but while this isn't a bad book, it's not quite my thing. The character development felt told rather than shown, and the emotional climax didn't grab me in the way I assume was intended. For me, the plot felt rushed, and a few of the twists were so contrived they took me right out of the moment. I realize thrillers have to be at least a little contrived to work, but there's a fine line, and this book put more than a few toes across it. Throw in the dramatic death scene and occasionally cringy dialogue and I wasn't able to finish the book. I got about 90% of the way through and decided it was time to move on.
So, not my cup of tea, but it's certainly not badly written and I'm open to reading something else by this author.
So, not my cup of tea, but it's certainly not badly written and I'm open to reading something else by this author.
April 20, 2020
Like Mother Like Daughter was one of those page turner reads, where the pace is pretty perfect and the story unfolding extremely intriguing.
The premise on which it rests- adoption of the child of a killer and thereafter being concerned she might turn out like her mother- allows for a layered domestic drama which Elle Croft manages well, plenty of twisty moments and written beautifully.
The 3 way narrative keeps things moving, there's a healthy dose of unpredictability and overall it's a read in one sitting piece of literary entertainment.
Recommended.
The premise on which it rests- adoption of the child of a killer and thereafter being concerned she might turn out like her mother- allows for a layered domestic drama which Elle Croft manages well, plenty of twisty moments and written beautifully.
The 3 way narrative keeps things moving, there's a healthy dose of unpredictability and overall it's a read in one sitting piece of literary entertainment.
Recommended.
June 25, 2020
If you like your psychological thrillers full of tension, drama, secrets and twists then you will absolutely LOVE Like Mother, Like Daughter.
Narrated by three characters, Like Mother, Like Daughter tells the story of three women. Sally, a very sick and twisty serial killer currently serving life in prison; Imogen, a sixteen year old girl who doesn't feel like she fits in with her family and Kat, Imogen's "mother" who watches her teenage daughter like a hawk for reasons that become clear throughout the book.
This is a story that examines nature vs nuture when Imogen, a troubled and potentially aggressive teenager goes missing after contacting a DNA website and discovering her family have kept the truth from her all her life.
I don't want to give much away about this book, but I can tell you that I was absolutely HOOKED and gripped throughout. Like Mother, Like Daughter is a chilling read, especially reading Sally the Serial Killer's chapters... that women is batsh*t crazy. My heart broke reading Imogen's version of events as a confused, hormonal teenager trying to fit in but feeling left out and different and Kat, the worried and concerned mother who perhaps overlooks the truth because she is so worried about her daughters past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
Narrated by three characters, Like Mother, Like Daughter tells the story of three women. Sally, a very sick and twisty serial killer currently serving life in prison; Imogen, a sixteen year old girl who doesn't feel like she fits in with her family and Kat, Imogen's "mother" who watches her teenage daughter like a hawk for reasons that become clear throughout the book.
This is a story that examines nature vs nuture when Imogen, a troubled and potentially aggressive teenager goes missing after contacting a DNA website and discovering her family have kept the truth from her all her life.
I don't want to give much away about this book, but I can tell you that I was absolutely HOOKED and gripped throughout. Like Mother, Like Daughter is a chilling read, especially reading Sally the Serial Killer's chapters... that women is batsh*t crazy. My heart broke reading Imogen's version of events as a confused, hormonal teenager trying to fit in but feeling left out and different and Kat, the worried and concerned mother who perhaps overlooks the truth because she is so worried about her daughters past.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.
August 3, 2021
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
Wow! Where do I start? LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is a psychological thriller that is as perplexing as it is chilling. An addictive read that raises the age old adage of nature or nurture, posing the question is evil born or is it made? The adoption of the child of a serial killer and the fear that she may turn out like her mother is the basis for the multilayered domestic thriller where the twists are plenty and the tension is palpable. It is intense from the off that doesn't let up even as you turn the final page. But be warned...be prepared for one hell of a thrill ride!
Kat has always tried to treat both her daughters equally. But she struggles with sixteen year old Imogen more than twelve year old Jemima. Is it the moody adolescence rearing it ugly head...or is it something darker and more sinister running through her veins?
Because Imogen is the daughter of not one serial killer, but two.
Fifteen years ago, Kat and Dylan were struggling to fall pregnant when they decided the only option left was adoption. And the more they thought about it, the more they realised it was what they wanted. One day they got the call they'd been waiting for. They had a child for them...but the situation was complex. She was an 11 month old baby and she was the youngest child of serial killer couple Tim and Sally Sanders from the isolated farmed dubbed Satan's Ranch. Several couples that were ahead of them had already declined to go ahead but Kat and Dylan knew that this is what they signed up for - to give a child a stable and loving home. There was just one thing. The infant had a 5 year old brother who had been fostered together and usually in adoption cases it was preferable to keep siblings together. But in this case, no matter which way they looked at it, Kat and Dylan couldn't take the chance on the older child who had already been exposed to horrific abuse and more than likely carried the scars. For the baby's sake, she needed a fresh start.
And so Imogen Braidwood was born. Imagine Kat and Dylan's surprise when Kat fell pregnant a couple of years later and gave Imogen a baby sister in Jemima.
Now sixteen, Imogen has begin acting strangely. She's moody and distant with her parents and is suddenly caught fighting at school for which she is suspended because she won't reveal why. Kat wonders if it's just teenage angst or if it's the blood that runs through her veins? They have never told Imogen that she's adopted, wanting to protect her from the horrific nature of her biological parents' crimes. But have they done the right thing in keeping such a secret from her?
Then one morning Kat discovers that Imogen's bed has not been slept in and her daughter missing. After ringing around her friends, she reports her missing to the police who assure her that most teenagers will usually be back before long. But Imogen isn't most teenagers...and when Kat discovers that her daughter had submitted a DNA test, she realises that the past has come back to haunt them and they must tell the police who Imogen really is.
As the police uncover an interesting aspect that may or may not be related to Imogen's disappearance, the further Kat delves the more she realises that her daughter could be in grave danger and she makes a split second decision to confront the object of her nightmares by visiting Sally Sanders in prison. Not the smartest move, I would say, as Sally is an expert in her field and prison only sharpens here wits. Needless to say, she comes out with more questions that answers. And she still is no closer to finding Imogen.
And then she receives a text from an unknown number...and her blood runs cold. It's then that Kat realises she must use her wits to save her daughter from the nightmares of her past...and bring her home again.
This is such a brilliant read that focuses on family, infertility, bloodlines, adoption, betrayal, secrets and so much more. It's a psychological thriller that explores the notion of the inheritance of genetics in the analysis of nature versus nurture. Exactly what is in our DNA? Is one born bad or is evil made?
Added to the strained family relationships at the centre of this story is the chilling look into the mind of a serial killer. There are times when this narrative can be rather tense and uncomfortable reading while early on I found myself sympathising with Sally as an abused young girl herself and, as horrific as her crimes were, I could see the logic in her reasoning at the time even if I didn't agree with it. It is a clever writer that draws you into the mind of the villain in which you find a warped sense of understanding there. It really is a moral minefield that raises the questions we have often thought ourselves.
The story unfolds through the eyes of the three main female characters upon which LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER focuses - Kat, Imogen and Sally. And each narrative is cleverly woven into the next as the secrets are gradually revealed.
Intense from start to finish, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is fast paced psychological thriller that presses all the right buttons and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. And then there is that ending...WOW! I did not see THAT coming! So twisted and so equally delicious!
This is my first Elle Croft and what an introduction it was! Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this intense domestic and psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of this genre who love a dark and delicious twist.
I would like to thank #ElleCroft, #Netgalley and #OrionPublishing for an ARC of #LikeMotherLikeDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Wow! Where do I start? LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is a psychological thriller that is as perplexing as it is chilling. An addictive read that raises the age old adage of nature or nurture, posing the question is evil born or is it made? The adoption of the child of a serial killer and the fear that she may turn out like her mother is the basis for the multilayered domestic thriller where the twists are plenty and the tension is palpable. It is intense from the off that doesn't let up even as you turn the final page. But be warned...be prepared for one hell of a thrill ride!
Kat has always tried to treat both her daughters equally. But she struggles with sixteen year old Imogen more than twelve year old Jemima. Is it the moody adolescence rearing it ugly head...or is it something darker and more sinister running through her veins?
Because Imogen is the daughter of not one serial killer, but two.
Fifteen years ago, Kat and Dylan were struggling to fall pregnant when they decided the only option left was adoption. And the more they thought about it, the more they realised it was what they wanted. One day they got the call they'd been waiting for. They had a child for them...but the situation was complex. She was an 11 month old baby and she was the youngest child of serial killer couple Tim and Sally Sanders from the isolated farmed dubbed Satan's Ranch. Several couples that were ahead of them had already declined to go ahead but Kat and Dylan knew that this is what they signed up for - to give a child a stable and loving home. There was just one thing. The infant had a 5 year old brother who had been fostered together and usually in adoption cases it was preferable to keep siblings together. But in this case, no matter which way they looked at it, Kat and Dylan couldn't take the chance on the older child who had already been exposed to horrific abuse and more than likely carried the scars. For the baby's sake, she needed a fresh start.
And so Imogen Braidwood was born. Imagine Kat and Dylan's surprise when Kat fell pregnant a couple of years later and gave Imogen a baby sister in Jemima.
Now sixteen, Imogen has begin acting strangely. She's moody and distant with her parents and is suddenly caught fighting at school for which she is suspended because she won't reveal why. Kat wonders if it's just teenage angst or if it's the blood that runs through her veins? They have never told Imogen that she's adopted, wanting to protect her from the horrific nature of her biological parents' crimes. But have they done the right thing in keeping such a secret from her?
Then one morning Kat discovers that Imogen's bed has not been slept in and her daughter missing. After ringing around her friends, she reports her missing to the police who assure her that most teenagers will usually be back before long. But Imogen isn't most teenagers...and when Kat discovers that her daughter had submitted a DNA test, she realises that the past has come back to haunt them and they must tell the police who Imogen really is.
As the police uncover an interesting aspect that may or may not be related to Imogen's disappearance, the further Kat delves the more she realises that her daughter could be in grave danger and she makes a split second decision to confront the object of her nightmares by visiting Sally Sanders in prison. Not the smartest move, I would say, as Sally is an expert in her field and prison only sharpens here wits. Needless to say, she comes out with more questions that answers. And she still is no closer to finding Imogen.
And then she receives a text from an unknown number...and her blood runs cold. It's then that Kat realises she must use her wits to save her daughter from the nightmares of her past...and bring her home again.
This is such a brilliant read that focuses on family, infertility, bloodlines, adoption, betrayal, secrets and so much more. It's a psychological thriller that explores the notion of the inheritance of genetics in the analysis of nature versus nurture. Exactly what is in our DNA? Is one born bad or is evil made?
Added to the strained family relationships at the centre of this story is the chilling look into the mind of a serial killer. There are times when this narrative can be rather tense and uncomfortable reading while early on I found myself sympathising with Sally as an abused young girl herself and, as horrific as her crimes were, I could see the logic in her reasoning at the time even if I didn't agree with it. It is a clever writer that draws you into the mind of the villain in which you find a warped sense of understanding there. It really is a moral minefield that raises the questions we have often thought ourselves.
The story unfolds through the eyes of the three main female characters upon which LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER focuses - Kat, Imogen and Sally. And each narrative is cleverly woven into the next as the secrets are gradually revealed.
Intense from start to finish, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is fast paced psychological thriller that presses all the right buttons and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. And then there is that ending...WOW! I did not see THAT coming! So twisted and so equally delicious!
This is my first Elle Croft and what an introduction it was! Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this intense domestic and psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of this genre who love a dark and delicious twist.
I would like to thank #ElleCroft, #Netgalley and #OrionPublishing for an ARC of #LikeMotherLikeDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 17, 2020
I loved the idea of this book but sadly it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
The characters were just too unlikeable - I think the only one I enjoyed reading was sally and she’s a serial killer.....
Kat was annoying. From the very first chapter I instantly disliked her. she’s on her way to her daughters school after an incident (her daughter has hit another child) and her reaction is WAY over the top. She phoned her husband breathless and begging him to come home...nope. She overreacts to everything and irritated me. Sally was an interesting character. Not nice but interesting. Imogen was a typical teenager and was too indecisive for my liking.
The ending wasn’t expected but by the time I got to the ending I’d had enough of the characters and just wanted to be finished...not a terrible book but just not for me.
*i received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange of an honest review *
The characters were just too unlikeable - I think the only one I enjoyed reading was sally and she’s a serial killer.....
Kat was annoying. From the very first chapter I instantly disliked her. she’s on her way to her daughters school after an incident (her daughter has hit another child) and her reaction is WAY over the top. She phoned her husband breathless and begging him to come home...nope. She overreacts to everything and irritated me. Sally was an interesting character. Not nice but interesting. Imogen was a typical teenager and was too indecisive for my liking.
The ending wasn’t expected but by the time I got to the ending I’d had enough of the characters and just wanted to be finished...not a terrible book but just not for me.
*i received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange of an honest review *
May 19, 2020
Kat and Dylan have two daughters. Jemima and Imogen. Kat tries to treat the girls equally despite the fact that one of them was adopted.
The story is told from the perspective of 3 woman, Kat, Imogen and Imogen's birth mother Sally who is currently residing in a womans correctional institution after committing the most horrific crimes.
This is my 2nd Elle Croft to read and I honestly cant get enough!
This book is an original and thrilling page-Turner with an ending you wont see coming! Just when you think you have it figured out and it's just like any other psychological thriller out there she floors you with an epic twist! I highly recommend this and other Elle Croft books.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review this book.
The story is told from the perspective of 3 woman, Kat, Imogen and Imogen's birth mother Sally who is currently residing in a womans correctional institution after committing the most horrific crimes.
This is my 2nd Elle Croft to read and I honestly cant get enough!
This book is an original and thrilling page-Turner with an ending you wont see coming! Just when you think you have it figured out and it's just like any other psychological thriller out there she floors you with an epic twist! I highly recommend this and other Elle Croft books.
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to review this book.
March 4, 2020
I really like this book. Its witty and engaging, and I was left absolutely floored by the ending. The clues were there, but the reader is really cleverly led down the 'I know how this is going to end' path.
December 31, 2020
Like Mother, Like Daughter is my last book for 2020 and what a page turner it was! The story is told from 3 perspectives - Kat, Imogen and Sally and I found I could not put the book down. Lots of twists and turns throughout and the twist at the end left me shaking my head! Wow! Can’t wait to read other books by this amazing author!
February 26, 2021
Where does evil come from - nature or nurture? This book poses the question and then drives off the cliff. Intense from the get go, this one doesn't let up even as the last sentence echoes. Do yourself a favor and read this book, but don't expect answers.
June 4, 2020
Sadly I just didnt connect with this one. It wasn't a book I felt I could overly invest in.
The characters just aren't likeable, it all just felt implausible and the twist at the end, whilst I didnt see it coming was just awful.
Just a bit bleurgh for me.
1.5*
The characters just aren't likeable, it all just felt implausible and the twist at the end, whilst I didnt see it coming was just awful.
Just a bit bleurgh for me.
1.5*
April 5, 2020
Long and rather drawn out, saw the ending but fell a little flat
July 6, 2020
What’s in our blood? What makes us who we are? The eternal nature VERSUS nurture concept. I am fascinated by the subject. The not-knowing is chilling, and when efficiently used, makes for absolute belter reads. Well, Elle Croft did her homework, worked hard, and delivers one of the strongest punches I’ve ever felt!
Kat and Dylan Braidwood have two daughters; a teenager, and a pre-teen. My idea of hell, but many people’s idea of the perfect family. Except the reality is far from it. Kat and Imogen have their issues, mother and daughter don’t seem to be able to reach each other. Jumping from one point of view to the other through each chapter, the author gives us perfect windows to experience first-hand what each woman is going through. Jittery, on edge Kat might appear over-protective and surrounded by walls of fear, but I couldn’t help empathize with her real quick. Tiny details here and there hinted that her behavior stemmed from the right place… As for Imogen, we have all been teenagers. I couldn’t figure her out at first, but instead of getting on my nerves like most humans her age, she intrigued me. I was enthralled by the dance Kat and Imogen were performing. There is a lot to say about mother and daughter relationships, and here, Elle Croft efficiently creates a double conversation. Their inability to connect, if seemingly normal at the beginning, shows signs of a deeper problem. Mother and daughter are shouting at each other in silence, each unable to understand what the other needs, as if they were speaking a different language. I knew I was in capable hands when all of this dawned on me and I was left heart-broken for both side!
And then… It only takes one night to send a family to hell. Or had they always been standing at its threshold?
When Imogen disappears, everything turns dark. Despite not being her daughter’s best friend, Kat knows something is wrong. The police might believe Imogen ran away, but they don’t know half of the story. And WHAT A STORY.
Apart from Kat and Imogen, a third voice, cold and devoid of feelings, can be heard. Sally Sanders. I had no idea what her link to the story would be but her interventions unnerved me. From the jail she is rotting in, Sally tell the tale of her life, while Kat’s is unravelling behind her eyes. If Sally’s narration goes straight from the past to the present, we get to know Kat and Dylan through the hardships their couple went through before they became parents. The pieces are cut sharply, and the reader might cut themselves putting them together. I know my heart grew heavy as the chapters kept on rolling!! Horror and pain blended together as I was left open-mouthed and catching my breath!
Like Mother Like Daughter is an intensely emotive and disturbing read. It explores the heart of families; love, memories, adoption, the need to belong. Elle Croft left me reeling and bruised, wondering if poison ran in someone’s blood and could be passed on the next generation, or if a body could, by a weird mix of chemicals or chromosomes, create its own venom. Are blood ties stronger than anything? I don’t believe it and Elle Croft… Oh, that twisted mind!!! Elle poured her heart and her darkness in equal measures in Like Mother Like Daughter. You can feel it in the density of the chapters, in the pure love oozing from the pages. Kat loves both her daughters; her biological one, and her adopted one. One might assume that Kat and Imogen’s struggles come down to that distinction, but it would be simplifying something so much stronger, and so much more terrible. If there is a gap between them, a dark mouth widening as it feeds from painful, frightening external factors, we are far from any regular fractured relationship.
I know, what you are reading might not make much sense, but every word is what I felt at some point during my reading! The problem is I can’t share the details! What I can tell you is that you might know what you’re getting into, but you don’t. And the feeling is exquisite.
Elle Croft polished and cared for her idea with such expertise that her story gave me the chills. The genius twists kept me on edge and won’t be forgotten anytime soon!
Like Mother Like Daughter had me reeled in and begging for more, scarifying sleeping hours to share two families’ darkest hours. Elle Croft’s skillful pen and mind have wrought a devilish plot that is scariest than the worst serial killer. The monster hidden in the pages of the novel is the silence.
Kat and Dylan Braidwood have two daughters; a teenager, and a pre-teen. My idea of hell, but many people’s idea of the perfect family. Except the reality is far from it. Kat and Imogen have their issues, mother and daughter don’t seem to be able to reach each other. Jumping from one point of view to the other through each chapter, the author gives us perfect windows to experience first-hand what each woman is going through. Jittery, on edge Kat might appear over-protective and surrounded by walls of fear, but I couldn’t help empathize with her real quick. Tiny details here and there hinted that her behavior stemmed from the right place… As for Imogen, we have all been teenagers. I couldn’t figure her out at first, but instead of getting on my nerves like most humans her age, she intrigued me. I was enthralled by the dance Kat and Imogen were performing. There is a lot to say about mother and daughter relationships, and here, Elle Croft efficiently creates a double conversation. Their inability to connect, if seemingly normal at the beginning, shows signs of a deeper problem. Mother and daughter are shouting at each other in silence, each unable to understand what the other needs, as if they were speaking a different language. I knew I was in capable hands when all of this dawned on me and I was left heart-broken for both side!
And then… It only takes one night to send a family to hell. Or had they always been standing at its threshold?
When Imogen disappears, everything turns dark. Despite not being her daughter’s best friend, Kat knows something is wrong. The police might believe Imogen ran away, but they don’t know half of the story. And WHAT A STORY.
Apart from Kat and Imogen, a third voice, cold and devoid of feelings, can be heard. Sally Sanders. I had no idea what her link to the story would be but her interventions unnerved me. From the jail she is rotting in, Sally tell the tale of her life, while Kat’s is unravelling behind her eyes. If Sally’s narration goes straight from the past to the present, we get to know Kat and Dylan through the hardships their couple went through before they became parents. The pieces are cut sharply, and the reader might cut themselves putting them together. I know my heart grew heavy as the chapters kept on rolling!! Horror and pain blended together as I was left open-mouthed and catching my breath!
Like Mother Like Daughter is an intensely emotive and disturbing read. It explores the heart of families; love, memories, adoption, the need to belong. Elle Croft left me reeling and bruised, wondering if poison ran in someone’s blood and could be passed on the next generation, or if a body could, by a weird mix of chemicals or chromosomes, create its own venom. Are blood ties stronger than anything? I don’t believe it and Elle Croft… Oh, that twisted mind!!! Elle poured her heart and her darkness in equal measures in Like Mother Like Daughter. You can feel it in the density of the chapters, in the pure love oozing from the pages. Kat loves both her daughters; her biological one, and her adopted one. One might assume that Kat and Imogen’s struggles come down to that distinction, but it would be simplifying something so much stronger, and so much more terrible. If there is a gap between them, a dark mouth widening as it feeds from painful, frightening external factors, we are far from any regular fractured relationship.
I know, what you are reading might not make much sense, but every word is what I felt at some point during my reading! The problem is I can’t share the details! What I can tell you is that you might know what you’re getting into, but you don’t. And the feeling is exquisite.
Elle Croft polished and cared for her idea with such expertise that her story gave me the chills. The genius twists kept me on edge and won’t be forgotten anytime soon!
Like Mother Like Daughter had me reeled in and begging for more, scarifying sleeping hours to share two families’ darkest hours. Elle Croft’s skillful pen and mind have wrought a devilish plot that is scariest than the worst serial killer. The monster hidden in the pages of the novel is the silence.
July 7, 2020
I have loooooved every Elle Croft book I have read - so when I was able to get a copy of Like Mother, Like Daughter, I jumped at the chance!! It did not disappoint!!
This is a chilling story about Kat, a mother of two daughters. Only one of which is her biological child. The oldest, Imogen, was adopted at 18 months old. Her birth parents were serial killers, her mother serving a life sentence in jail. Kat has spent her whole life trying to hide the truth from Imogen, afraid of what it might do to her if she ever found out. Then one day, she does.
This was such a good read with a focus on family ties, buried secrets, infertility, strained relationships and so so so much more. I loved it. Like Mother Like Daughter explores the possibility of what you can inherit from your family. What is in your DNA.
The reason I did choose to knock off 1 star is because the story itself, while fantastic, was really quite simple. I knew very early on more or less what the outcome would be at the end of the day, but that didn't take away from the thrill of the ride. There were a few twists thrown in at the end that I hadn't seen coming but they weren't ginormous enough to throw me off-kilter.
Someone else I follow on Goodreads reviewed this book and mentioned that she has fallen under Croft's spell. I can completely agree. Hands up. I'll read anything this author comes up with.
This is a chilling story about Kat, a mother of two daughters. Only one of which is her biological child. The oldest, Imogen, was adopted at 18 months old. Her birth parents were serial killers, her mother serving a life sentence in jail. Kat has spent her whole life trying to hide the truth from Imogen, afraid of what it might do to her if she ever found out. Then one day, she does.
This was such a good read with a focus on family ties, buried secrets, infertility, strained relationships and so so so much more. I loved it. Like Mother Like Daughter explores the possibility of what you can inherit from your family. What is in your DNA.
The reason I did choose to knock off 1 star is because the story itself, while fantastic, was really quite simple. I knew very early on more or less what the outcome would be at the end of the day, but that didn't take away from the thrill of the ride. There were a few twists thrown in at the end that I hadn't seen coming but they weren't ginormous enough to throw me off-kilter.
Someone else I follow on Goodreads reviewed this book and mentioned that she has fallen under Croft's spell. I can completely agree. Hands up. I'll read anything this author comes up with.
July 4, 2020
Utterly gripping, intense and edge of your seat stuff!
We meet Kat and Dylan Braidwood and their two daughters Imogen and Jemima. We also meet Sally Sanders - all of whom are inexplicably linked.
We read the story through the eyes of Kat, Imogen and Sally and my gosh it’s a rollercoaster of a ride. Imogen is adopted, she doesn’t know the story of her birth mother - Sally, who is a serial killer with an evil twist! Imogen knows she has always been treated differently to her younger sister and she is about to find out why.
Throughout the book we get to learn more about the Braidwoods and the Sanders. The chapters told from Sally's perspective are just brilliant, a little sadistic but profoundly fascinating and I could have read a whole book on that side of the story alone.
When Imogen goes missing, the plot twists and turns quicker than a rollercoaster ride and she finds herself and her adoptive family, including Jemima in danger. I wasn’t prepared for the ending, but it is one of the best I have read in a long long time and I hope some day we get to go back and see what happens to Imogen, Jemima and Sally!
We meet Kat and Dylan Braidwood and their two daughters Imogen and Jemima. We also meet Sally Sanders - all of whom are inexplicably linked.
We read the story through the eyes of Kat, Imogen and Sally and my gosh it’s a rollercoaster of a ride. Imogen is adopted, she doesn’t know the story of her birth mother - Sally, who is a serial killer with an evil twist! Imogen knows she has always been treated differently to her younger sister and she is about to find out why.
Throughout the book we get to learn more about the Braidwoods and the Sanders. The chapters told from Sally's perspective are just brilliant, a little sadistic but profoundly fascinating and I could have read a whole book on that side of the story alone.
When Imogen goes missing, the plot twists and turns quicker than a rollercoaster ride and she finds herself and her adoptive family, including Jemima in danger. I wasn’t prepared for the ending, but it is one of the best I have read in a long long time and I hope some day we get to go back and see what happens to Imogen, Jemima and Sally!
August 8, 2020
My thoughts about this brilliantly written, nail biting,twisted,psychological thriller,was just mindblowing. What I liked about this outstanding thriller, was that the story tells three different points views, of the three main characters,was just fantastic,had me turning the pages to find out the mystery, between the 3 characters, was fantastic.The characters were brilliantly written,the characters I liked were all 3 of them,a daughter who is 16 years old imogen,A mother who is a serial killer Sally who is a birth mother to imogen, and imogen’s adoptive mother Kat,who is scared, that what if imogen, will turn out like her mother, was fantastic. Author Elle Croft writing style, is just incredible,loved how she manages to bring the best of of the 3 main characters, and the storyline together, is just remarkable,what an explosive ending, that I did not see it coming.Highly recommended. A fast tensed moving psychological, mystery thriller,that will give you chills,I would like to say thank you to author Elle Croft, for giving me a gifted copy, to read and review, this outstanding thriller. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💥💥💥💥💥
May 25, 2021
This was my second attempt at a book by this author, and it was much better than my first.
This story held a few twists and unexpected revelations that kept me reading & guessing for almost the entire length! Quite enjoyable from that perspective.
Can’t say I particularly liked the main character, though she did feel human and relatable.
I’m not a fan of the structure here though - different narrator for each chapter, some chapters from the past and also some from the killer’s perspective. That’s a lot. Feels messy and unnecessarily lengthy that way.
Would still recommend if you like thrillers with a psych element.
This story held a few twists and unexpected revelations that kept me reading & guessing for almost the entire length! Quite enjoyable from that perspective.
Can’t say I particularly liked the main character, though she did feel human and relatable.
I’m not a fan of the structure here though - different narrator for each chapter, some chapters from the past and also some from the killer’s perspective. That’s a lot. Feels messy and unnecessarily lengthy that way.
Would still recommend if you like thrillers with a psych element.
May 12, 2024
A mixed bag of a book.
The first half of this book is a total snooze fest. So much so, I almost DNF’d it! However, the second half (particularly the final quarter) pulled me in and kept me reading until late into the night!
The first half of this book is a total snooze fest. So much so, I almost DNF’d it! However, the second half (particularly the final quarter) pulled me in and kept me reading until late into the night!
June 17, 2025
The book starts off slow but picks up about a quarter of the way in and from there, it doesn’t let go. The plot twist completely caught me off guard, and the ending made me rethink everything I thought I knew about the characters. It’s a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing.
June 22, 2020
Awesome Read
I wish I hadn’t been sick or if have read this one cover to cover without leaving my chair except for coffee...
Twists that will leave you saying ..No Way!
The ending will leave your jaw hanging!
I wish I hadn’t been sick or if have read this one cover to cover without leaving my chair except for coffee...
Twists that will leave you saying ..No Way!
The ending will leave your jaw hanging!
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