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The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter
From the USA Today and International Bestselling author of The Widow Next Door comes a demented page-turner.
If you knew your father’s darkest secret, would you turn him in?
What if his secret was connected to you?
Ruby Marlowe’s always been a daddy’s girl. Her mother died when she was two, and her single father has ensured she has everything she needs. However, everyone has dark secrets, and Ruby’s father is no exception…
When she's young, she doesn’t understand the weight of her father’s killing game. However, as she ages, she realizes her obsessive tendencies aren’t the only elements that separate her from her peers. After she begins to investigate her mother’s life and death, Ruby starts to believe there are some secrets even she doesn’t know about the serial killer she calls Daddy.
As her father’s killing grows rampant, the secrets get harder and harder to hide—and she fears it will all come crashing down. Will Ruby seek a different life for herself and betray the only person who has ever loved her, or will she get wrapped up in his sinister path?
A twisted page-turner that shines an eerie light on the father-daughter bond from the USA Today and International Bestseller L.A. Detwiler.
If you knew your father’s darkest secret, would you turn him in?
What if his secret was connected to you?
Ruby Marlowe’s always been a daddy’s girl. Her mother died when she was two, and her single father has ensured she has everything she needs. However, everyone has dark secrets, and Ruby’s father is no exception…
When she's young, she doesn’t understand the weight of her father’s killing game. However, as she ages, she realizes her obsessive tendencies aren’t the only elements that separate her from her peers. After she begins to investigate her mother’s life and death, Ruby starts to believe there are some secrets even she doesn’t know about the serial killer she calls Daddy.
As her father’s killing grows rampant, the secrets get harder and harder to hide—and she fears it will all come crashing down. Will Ruby seek a different life for herself and betray the only person who has ever loved her, or will she get wrapped up in his sinister path?
A twisted page-turner that shines an eerie light on the father-daughter bond from the USA Today and International Bestseller L.A. Detwiler.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2020
432 people are currently reading
2932 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Detwiler
29 books302 followersL.A. Detwiler is the USA TODAY Bestselling thriller author of The Widow Next Door with HarperCollins UK and several other chilling page-turners. Her novel The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter was awarded the bronze medal for thrillers by Readers' Favorite and also translated into Polish. Her novels are noted for their dark, emotional depth and realistic portrayals of haunting topics.
During her final year at Mount Aloysius College, she started writing her first fiction novel, Voice of Innocence, which was published in 2015. She has numerous sweet romances published under Lindsay Detwiler. She has also written articles that have appeared in several women’s publications and websites.
L.A. Detwiler is a high school business teacher and writer in her hometown of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. She taught high school English for ten years and also was an adjunct professor. She lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad. They have six cats and a Great Dane named Edmund (He appears in all of her current works; her late mastiff, Henry, is in the earlier novels). When she isn't training Edmund or writing, she is usually rewatching Outlander, drinking coffee, or buying makeup.
Connect with L.A. Detwiler on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok @ladetwiler
During her final year at Mount Aloysius College, she started writing her first fiction novel, Voice of Innocence, which was published in 2015. She has numerous sweet romances published under Lindsay Detwiler. She has also written articles that have appeared in several women’s publications and websites.
L.A. Detwiler is a high school business teacher and writer in her hometown of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. She taught high school English for ten years and also was an adjunct professor. She lives in her hometown with her husband, Chad. They have six cats and a Great Dane named Edmund (He appears in all of her current works; her late mastiff, Henry, is in the earlier novels). When she isn't training Edmund or writing, she is usually rewatching Outlander, drinking coffee, or buying makeup.
Connect with L.A. Detwiler on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok @ladetwiler
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 248 reviews
January 27, 2022
I happen to like most books that are written in the form of a diary. This since when I was about 10 years old and I am always on the lookout for good books in this genre.
This diary is... something else. I was immediately engrossed in the story because of the excellent way the author used the voice of a young girl. A girl 'with a condition' as her parents and teachers say. A weird girl, as her school mates say. But actually, a girl that just sees the world in a different way. Ruby loves simple things, and an orderly life, and she hates noise and unexpected happenings. So, lots of people could agree with her, you'd think. But then: Ruby knows of a secret her father has, a strange hobby, a hobby that gives her pleasure to look at because of all the beautiful colors and patterns.
We soon understand that this hobby is quite gruesome. And what's more gruesome, Ruby thinks she could help her father, make beautiful patterns just like he does. The older she gets, the more she understands, but not the way we would understand.
A great read and I would have loved to give it the full five stars, except that I thought the end not as good as the rest of the book and frankly, a bit rushed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this digital review copy.
This diary is... something else. I was immediately engrossed in the story because of the excellent way the author used the voice of a young girl. A girl 'with a condition' as her parents and teachers say. A weird girl, as her school mates say. But actually, a girl that just sees the world in a different way. Ruby loves simple things, and an orderly life, and she hates noise and unexpected happenings. So, lots of people could agree with her, you'd think. But then: Ruby knows of a secret her father has, a strange hobby, a hobby that gives her pleasure to look at because of all the beautiful colors and patterns.
We soon understand that this hobby is quite gruesome. And what's more gruesome, Ruby thinks she could help her father, make beautiful patterns just like he does. The older she gets, the more she understands, but not the way we would understand.
A great read and I would have loved to give it the full five stars, except that I thought the end not as good as the rest of the book and frankly, a bit rushed.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this digital review copy.
March 12, 2020
Ruby Marlowe is a daddy's girl. Her mother died when she was only two and has no real memory of her. But that's okay, because daddy is always there for her.
As a young child of 5, she discovers that her daddy has secrets ... secrets that run deep and dark. She calls it the killing game.
As she ages into a teenager, she knows why she's always been a little different from everyone else .. her daddy's blood runs through her veins.
(BOOK BLURB) As her father’s killing grows rampant, the secrets get harder and harder to hide—and she fears it will all come crashing down. Will Ruby seek a different life for herself and betray the only person who has ever loved her, or will she get wrapped up in his sinister path?
Ruby's story is told through the pages of her diary .. her thoughts, her actions. She becomes obsessed with the color red ... especially the way it takes shape on the garage floor. It's a fascinating look at a child raised by a serial killer.
Many thanks to the author / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 4, 2022
Serial killing is always dark but when a young child bears witness and thinks it's normal and comforting? That's just wildly disturbing. That's what you'll find here! I will write a real review once I catch up! With even more exclamation points!
Ok, it's later.
When Ruby was a child her daddy told her to stay out of the garage. So at the first opportunity, Ruby snoops in the garage. I mean, come on daddy! What were you thinking?! All you had to do was tell her to go in there and clean it and she would've stayed the heck away from all of that forever, hahaha.
But dad doesn’t think things through and Ruby ends up seeing something she doesn’t quite understand as well as a lot of red and because red is her favorite color she is entranced and she stays that way . . .
Ruby is given a diary to help express her feelings and that’s how this story is told. In the beginning, I think Ruby is around 7 or so and her POV is very stream of consciousness and gets a wee bit repetitive. But stick with it because the older she gets, the more interesting the story becomes. Or at least it did for me.
Parts of this book infuriated me. I’m not going to lie. There’s a section where adults talk about Ruby and the tragedy that is her family within hearing distance of Ruby and I just wanted them all to get murdered by the serial killer or by Ruby or by a random rabid cat who has had ENOUGH. Ugh. Despicable people.
Anyhow, this is an interesting and intimate look at how parents can make anything seem like the norm and how they can really mess you up. Ruby must not only maneuver and attempt to make sense of her dad’s strange proclivities but she also has to deal with all of the horrible kid and teen bullying BS when one is a little different from the rest.
It’s super dark and I think you’ll enjoy it if you’re looking for something a wee bit different than the standard serial killer novel.
3.5 Stars - that means I liked it!
Ok, it's later.
When Ruby was a child her daddy told her to stay out of the garage. So at the first opportunity, Ruby snoops in the garage. I mean, come on daddy! What were you thinking?! All you had to do was tell her to go in there and clean it and she would've stayed the heck away from all of that forever, hahaha.
But dad doesn’t think things through and Ruby ends up seeing something she doesn’t quite understand as well as a lot of red and because red is her favorite color she is entranced and she stays that way . . .
Ruby is given a diary to help express her feelings and that’s how this story is told. In the beginning, I think Ruby is around 7 or so and her POV is very stream of consciousness and gets a wee bit repetitive. But stick with it because the older she gets, the more interesting the story becomes. Or at least it did for me.
Parts of this book infuriated me. I’m not going to lie. There’s a section where adults talk about Ruby and the tragedy that is her family within hearing distance of Ruby and I just wanted them all to get murdered by the serial killer or by Ruby or by a random rabid cat who has had ENOUGH. Ugh. Despicable people.
Anyhow, this is an interesting and intimate look at how parents can make anything seem like the norm and how they can really mess you up. Ruby must not only maneuver and attempt to make sense of her dad’s strange proclivities but she also has to deal with all of the horrible kid and teen bullying BS when one is a little different from the rest.
It’s super dark and I think you’ll enjoy it if you’re looking for something a wee bit different than the standard serial killer novel.
3.5 Stars - that means I liked it!
March 11, 2020
I was sold on this book by the title alone, it IMMEDIATELY caught my attention, I mean how could it not?! This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before and it was absolutely CHILLING. I was both horrified and fascinated by the story, it was just so intriguing and I couldn’t help but wonder if the main character would follow in her fathers footsteps and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! There are definitely some trigger warnings here, the bullying is quite intense and just tore my heart apart. It’s just so sad that kids can be so brutal, especially when you see what it can lead to and the horrifying consequences it has. There’s quite a few twists here that I definitely was NOT expecting that legit had my jaw dropping. This is one hell of a story that you don’t want to miss out on!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and this in no way changes or affects my review.***
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and this in no way changes or affects my review.***
April 6, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter is written in the format of a diary written by a girl between the ages of 7 and 16, her father is an escalating serial killer that hides his true nature from everyone, including Ruby, his daughter.
Ruby is neurodivergent, though the specifics are never revealed, which makes the story even more interesting because we see everything through her eyes without any preconceived ideas about why she reacts the ways she does. She’s obsessive, doesn’t experience much empathy and struggles to build relationships with other people – we never know if that’s something she has in common with her father.
The book is very dark and not for the faint of heart, it contains a lot of graphic and gruesome imagery of murder and reads as a true crime novel from the perspective of an unreliable witness. I was expecting something YA as the protagonist is a child, but this most definitely isn’t for younger readers.
The story is a study on nature v. nurture, with a dash of mystery and a whole load of psychological suspense and horror. It was a bit blunt for my tastes and could have benefited from a more subtle approach to these things – leaving more for the reader to mull over at the end.
One of the main issues for me was that, as this book is written as Ruby’s diary, her dislike of everyone around her apart from her serial murderer daddy meant that none of the characters were likeable and her apathy was infectious in places.
I enjoyed this book for it’s shock factor and the gruesome scenes, as well as the diary format which is something I always get a kick out of!
The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter is written in the format of a diary written by a girl between the ages of 7 and 16, her father is an escalating serial killer that hides his true nature from everyone, including Ruby, his daughter.
Ruby is neurodivergent, though the specifics are never revealed, which makes the story even more interesting because we see everything through her eyes without any preconceived ideas about why she reacts the ways she does. She’s obsessive, doesn’t experience much empathy and struggles to build relationships with other people – we never know if that’s something she has in common with her father.
The book is very dark and not for the faint of heart, it contains a lot of graphic and gruesome imagery of murder and reads as a true crime novel from the perspective of an unreliable witness. I was expecting something YA as the protagonist is a child, but this most definitely isn’t for younger readers.
The story is a study on nature v. nurture, with a dash of mystery and a whole load of psychological suspense and horror. It was a bit blunt for my tastes and could have benefited from a more subtle approach to these things – leaving more for the reader to mull over at the end.
One of the main issues for me was that, as this book is written as Ruby’s diary, her dislike of everyone around her apart from her serial murderer daddy meant that none of the characters were likeable and her apathy was infectious in places.
I enjoyed this book for it’s shock factor and the gruesome scenes, as well as the diary format which is something I always get a kick out of!
January 25, 2021
Young Ruby Marlowe is being raised by her single father after her mother's passing. She idolizes him, he is her hero. She'll do anything to protect him. Especially once she finds out about his killing game. As the title states, Ruby's dad is a serial killer and she found a way to watch him create, as she puts it, his "beautiful masterpieces."
She writes extensively about her daddy's killing game and how beautiful it is, but fully realizing what's happening. We follow her from this point through age 16 as she writes her diary entries about her life, her obsession with her dad, and his killing game. Will she grow up to turn him in, or follow in her idol's footsteps and play the killing game too?
This book is extremely dark, chilling, and at times difficult to read. Ruby has some developmental disabilities and is brutally bullied both physically and emotionally. They call her the "r" word among other things. So if this is troubling for you, please be aware.
I liked the way it was written and how we watch Ruby grow in life and her thoughts. Seeing it all from her diary entries really added to the story and helped really develop the characters. If you like dark and disturbing reads, this is for you, just beware of the triggers previously discussed.
She writes extensively about her daddy's killing game and how beautiful it is, but fully realizing what's happening. We follow her from this point through age 16 as she writes her diary entries about her life, her obsession with her dad, and his killing game. Will she grow up to turn him in, or follow in her idol's footsteps and play the killing game too?
This book is extremely dark, chilling, and at times difficult to read. Ruby has some developmental disabilities and is brutally bullied both physically and emotionally. They call her the "r" word among other things. So if this is troubling for you, please be aware.
I liked the way it was written and how we watch Ruby grow in life and her thoughts. Seeing it all from her diary entries really added to the story and helped really develop the characters. If you like dark and disturbing reads, this is for you, just beware of the triggers previously discussed.
March 16, 2020
The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter presents a unique perspective of a character raised by a serial killer. I liked this book a lot, my only gripe is that this felt repetitive and slow at the start. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to see the characters and how they developed. While a few more things about this book bothered me, I'm glad I picked this up, because this gave me so much to think about! The tone of this book is dark & creepy; it gets really suspenseful towards the end and has the ability to make you squirm uncomfortably.
Ruby Marlowe is a lonesome girl who's only friend in the world is her daddy. Raised by a single parent, Ruby comes to worship her father and admire him to a great extent. Unknown to her father, Ruby has witnessed him kill and dismember many women in his garage. Ruby's fascination with her dad and the 'garage game' that he plays mounts over the years as she secretly watches him murder many women. Unlike everyone else, Ruby's fascination with the color red leaves her wishing for her dad to play the 'garage game' more often. As she grows up, she must decide if she wants a different life for herself and betray the only person who has ever loved her, or will she get wrapped up in his sinister path?
It took me a long time to finish this book because the early chapters of Ruby's diary entries were repetitive and there was not much new information being revealed. I also found it very hard to reconcile with the fact that Ruby had such a great vocabulary at such a young age. A child, even a well-read one, using terms like 'belligerent' don't make the entries feel genuine. But aside from these, the premise of the book was very good. I found myself turning the pages despite everything. If you can get past the first few chapters, this is one very good book!
Thank You, NetGalley & L.A. Detwiler for an arc!
Ruby Marlowe is a lonesome girl who's only friend in the world is her daddy. Raised by a single parent, Ruby comes to worship her father and admire him to a great extent. Unknown to her father, Ruby has witnessed him kill and dismember many women in his garage. Ruby's fascination with her dad and the 'garage game' that he plays mounts over the years as she secretly watches him murder many women. Unlike everyone else, Ruby's fascination with the color red leaves her wishing for her dad to play the 'garage game' more often. As she grows up, she must decide if she wants a different life for herself and betray the only person who has ever loved her, or will she get wrapped up in his sinister path?
It took me a long time to finish this book because the early chapters of Ruby's diary entries were repetitive and there was not much new information being revealed. I also found it very hard to reconcile with the fact that Ruby had such a great vocabulary at such a young age. A child, even a well-read one, using terms like 'belligerent' don't make the entries feel genuine. But aside from these, the premise of the book was very good. I found myself turning the pages despite everything. If you can get past the first few chapters, this is one very good book!
Thank You, NetGalley & L.A. Detwiler for an arc!
February 19, 2020
I will rate The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter by L.A. Detwiler a 5/5 stars. The reason behind this rating is because this book is definitely unlike anything I have ever read before. This book was dark and twisted, yet I didn't want to put it down. The book is told completely in first person through the POV of Ruby as she writes in her diary. Her diary entries begin when she is seven years old and go on through her teenage years. She lives alone with her father on their secluded property. Ruby isn't like other children her age (developmental delay) and experiences numerous difficulties in school. #TriggerWarning This book may be difficult for some to read as there is quite an extensive amount of bullying within it. One night she discovers that her father has left her alone at the house while she was supposed to be sleeping. When he comes home, she peers out of her bedroom window to see that he brought a woman into the "dangerous" garage that he has forbidden her to ever go in. The small family of two never has any guests outside of her father's mother, whom Ruby dislikes. Curious, she sneaks out of the house and goes behind the garage where she peeks into a hole in the wall of it. She watches with fascination as her father creates wonderful masterpieces of "art" with the lady he has laid out on a table. That night she becomes obsessed with watching her father create pretty red puddles on the garage floor. As she grows older, she comes to discover that her daddy has a dark secret and that the ladies he takes into the garage at night aren't really sleeping as she previously thought. Ruby doesn't tell her father's secret and vows to protect him and his "killing game" at all costs.
What I enjoyed about this book:
I liked the fact that it was different from my normal read. I enjoyed being inside of Ruby's head, even though she was confused about what was going on sometimes. The author was definitely able to keep my interest as I was wondering if Ruby was going to grow up to be a serial killer just like her father. The killings, gore and apparent fetishes didn't bother me at all. They only made the story more interesting as this book was most definitely different than any other read that is currently out on the market.
What I didn't enjoy about this book:
I really despised the bullying. It was awful. I hate that Ruby had to endure all of the pain that she was going through just because she was a little different.
If you want to read a book that will shock you and keep you wondering, I would recommend you give this book a chance, if you can handle delving into a dark mind frame.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange of an honest review. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
What I enjoyed about this book:
I liked the fact that it was different from my normal read. I enjoyed being inside of Ruby's head, even though she was confused about what was going on sometimes. The author was definitely able to keep my interest as I was wondering if Ruby was going to grow up to be a serial killer just like her father. The killings, gore and apparent fetishes didn't bother me at all. They only made the story more interesting as this book was most definitely different than any other read that is currently out on the market.
What I didn't enjoy about this book:
I really despised the bullying. It was awful. I hate that Ruby had to endure all of the pain that she was going through just because she was a little different.
If you want to read a book that will shock you and keep you wondering, I would recommend you give this book a chance, if you can handle delving into a dark mind frame.
Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange of an honest review. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
March 13, 2020
Rather a unique thriller that flows quickly. Ruby is a daddy's girl and wants to be around him all the tiime, even to the point of watching daddy with the girls in the barn through a hole in the wall. Written in diary form it holds your attention to see what this does to Ruby as she continues to observes through her childhood.
July 2, 2020
The Diary of A Serial Killer's Daughter by L.A. Detwiler
This was written from the daughters point of view in her diaries entries from the time she was young till about 16. Very interesting and disturbing, a little slow paced for me but it did hold my interest and I wanted to know what was going to happen with Ruby and her father. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this and leave my opinion.
This was written from the daughters point of view in her diaries entries from the time she was young till about 16. Very interesting and disturbing, a little slow paced for me but it did hold my interest and I wanted to know what was going to happen with Ruby and her father. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this and leave my opinion.
July 12, 2020
The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter by L.A. is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ruby Marlowe keeps a diary, and as she grows into her teenage years, a number of things became evident. She has no friends because they live outside of town. She is considered weird, treated differently, and bullied. But she has her diary, and her poetry, and her daddy. She loves the colour red.
Ruby's mother died when she was two, and her father is her whole world. She discovers what he does in their garage, but keeps his secret. She wonders what really happened to her mother, and discovers some unsettling things. She wonders if she should tell somebody about the women who her father takes into the garage. She wonders if, perhaps, she is a little like her father.
Eventually Ruby wonders if she is ready to live her own life, instead of one spent protecting her fathers secrets. But a secret of her own changes everything.
My Opinions:
This book grabbed my attention immediately. The title said it all, and the first few pages ensured I wasn't putting it down any time soon. It is a dark tale, and I loved every minute of it!
The whole story is told from the pages of Ruby's diary. It started when she was 7 and ended at age 17 (with a few years missed here and there). I loved the idea of this. I also think the wording in the first couple years was a little too advanced for a 7 year old. However, it did make for good reading. I loved her poems.
This one isn't for the faint of heart. It's vivid in it's gruesomeness. Lots of blood. That part didn't bother me. The bullying did -- it was brutal.
Thinking of monsters/serial killers, the book looked into whether they are born with the tendancy, or grew into the tendancy because of outside influences (nature/nurture).
Overall, this was a well-written, dark, disturbing story. I absolutely loved it. It's going to stick with me for a while.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 9, 2020
I will admit that this one started out a bit slowly for me. A good portion of the beginning was written from the POV of a seven year old. It got repetitive and, to be honest, seven year olds just aren’t all that interesting.
However, once our girl started growing up, I was invested.
This is definitely a dark tale. While I’m not sure I liked any of the characters, we really aren’t meant to. But it’s a good look at the inner workings of a psychopath!
Once it got going, this was a very good story!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
However, once our girl started growing up, I was invested.
This is definitely a dark tale. While I’m not sure I liked any of the characters, we really aren’t meant to. But it’s a good look at the inner workings of a psychopath!
Once it got going, this was a very good story!
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
August 7, 2021
Wow, that was dark... very dark. And I couldn't stop listening to it.
Ruby Marlowe is 5 years when she discovers what her father is doing in the garage with those women. But she doesn't fully understand it for years yet. She writes about it in her diary which tells us the story. She is a Daddy's girl, her mother dying when she was very young. She has always been different and has never quite fit in at school. As she gets older she starts to wonder if it is a case of like father, like daughter.
It is a tough read at times, seeing this through the eyes of a little girl. A clever story.
Ruby Marlowe is 5 years when she discovers what her father is doing in the garage with those women. But she doesn't fully understand it for years yet. She writes about it in her diary which tells us the story. She is a Daddy's girl, her mother dying when she was very young. She has always been different and has never quite fit in at school. As she gets older she starts to wonder if it is a case of like father, like daughter.
It is a tough read at times, seeing this through the eyes of a little girl. A clever story.
March 13, 2020
"We'll believe what we want to...People will believe the story we sell to them, even if it clearly isn't true."
Ruby Marlowe knows all about secrets. She's grown up keeping them -- from age 7 she realizes that something about her father is not normal and very scary. He doesn't know that she's watching him very carefully and learning a lot about what he is doing although she has no way of understanding why he's doing it. But Ruby loves her daddy and he has always taken care of her. It's been the two of them, alone in their isolated house by the fields and the woods. The two of them, alone, don't need anyone else. But Ruby is growing up and her being "different" is making things hard. Daddy has taught his daughter well. NO SPOILERS.
This is some sick stuff here. Told in diary format, Ruby details her thoughts and feelings about her life as the daughter of a serial killer who's driven by a darkness that engulfs Ruby as well. I don't really care for the style, especially the entries Ruby makes at an age where most children can't express themselves very well or write at that level. It's definitely twisted and sad and awful and I couldn't help but wonder how the family avoided any protective services intervention. It was an extremely fast read and I found myself unable to put this horror story down, hoping that somehow Ruby would be able to be saved. Nothing about this was predictable, which was different for me, but I can't say I enjoyed it. I also can't say I liked any of the characters but I did feel quite sorry for Ruby growing up as she did, keeping herself to herself, and also being privy to her father's secret life. That father-daughter bond was unbreakable since all they had was each other.
I am not sure what type of psycho chiller thriller fan would like this with its very dark subject matter. Be warned! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Ruby Marlowe knows all about secrets. She's grown up keeping them -- from age 7 she realizes that something about her father is not normal and very scary. He doesn't know that she's watching him very carefully and learning a lot about what he is doing although she has no way of understanding why he's doing it. But Ruby loves her daddy and he has always taken care of her. It's been the two of them, alone in their isolated house by the fields and the woods. The two of them, alone, don't need anyone else. But Ruby is growing up and her being "different" is making things hard. Daddy has taught his daughter well. NO SPOILERS.
This is some sick stuff here. Told in diary format, Ruby details her thoughts and feelings about her life as the daughter of a serial killer who's driven by a darkness that engulfs Ruby as well. I don't really care for the style, especially the entries Ruby makes at an age where most children can't express themselves very well or write at that level. It's definitely twisted and sad and awful and I couldn't help but wonder how the family avoided any protective services intervention. It was an extremely fast read and I found myself unable to put this horror story down, hoping that somehow Ruby would be able to be saved. Nothing about this was predictable, which was different for me, but I can't say I enjoyed it. I also can't say I liked any of the characters but I did feel quite sorry for Ruby growing up as she did, keeping herself to herself, and also being privy to her father's secret life. That father-daughter bond was unbreakable since all they had was each other.
I am not sure what type of psycho chiller thriller fan would like this with its very dark subject matter. Be warned! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book ARC to read and review.
April 1, 2020
FASCINATING!
Little Ruby Marlowe’s life came alive in my hands. With each diary entry I was pulled into her very limited, very dark world.
The apple of her father’s eye, Ruby is a very different little girl. She’s a loner because she had to be. It’s her job after all to protect her daddy’s terribly secrets. After all, “we all have our obsessions. Daddy and mine happen to be death these days” ...
This book was expertly and brilliantly written. As Ruby ages, so too does her account of her troubled relationship with her father.
I found it truly captivating to watch Ruby grow from a sweet, naive child into a dark and disturbed young woman.
This story asks us to examine and consider ... how monsters are made. Is it nature or is it nurture?
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Xpressobooktours for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review.
#TheDiaryOfASerialKilleraDaughterAChillingDarkThriller
Little Ruby Marlowe’s life came alive in my hands. With each diary entry I was pulled into her very limited, very dark world.
The apple of her father’s eye, Ruby is a very different little girl. She’s a loner because she had to be. It’s her job after all to protect her daddy’s terribly secrets. After all, “we all have our obsessions. Daddy and mine happen to be death these days” ...
This book was expertly and brilliantly written. As Ruby ages, so too does her account of her troubled relationship with her father.
I found it truly captivating to watch Ruby grow from a sweet, naive child into a dark and disturbed young woman.
This story asks us to examine and consider ... how monsters are made. Is it nature or is it nurture?
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Xpressobooktours for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read and review.
#TheDiaryOfASerialKilleraDaughterAChillingDarkThriller
March 2, 2020
I was in the mood for a mystery read and the title of this book stood out to me being from the serial killer's child's POV. Other than the title, I didn't have any idea what the book was about. The Diary of a Serial Killer's Daughter is written in diary format and follows the life of Ruby Marlowe. Ruby loves her father so much and would never betray his trust or break his rules. One day Ruby hears her father coming home and heading towards his shed, she is curious to see what happens in her father's shed as this is his happy place where she is forbidden to enter. At the back of the shed is a little hole in the wall, where Ruby can peek through. What she sees is a woman lying on a table and the color red everywhere, dripping on the floor. Red is her favorite color and watching her dad becomes her obsession as she over the years watches her dad kill the woman and play with them. Her diary is her only friend and so she writes about her life which in turn is detailing her father's crimes. As Ruby gets older she soon learns that what her dad is doing is wrong and that he is, in fact, a bad guy and as she ages into her teen years, Ruby must decide whether to turn in her father or become an accomplice to his murders and let him continue killing. As this was written in diary format and a childish narrator, in parts was slow to read but as the book went along it kept you wondering what actions Ruby was going to take.
March 14, 2020
I love thriller so much I chose this book because of the title! This book was told in a diary format from the POV of Ruby, the killer's daughter. It was fun to be in Ruby head but it's freaking dark and disturbing. I mean you know how dark and twisted it is from the title itself. Ruby describing all her father killing game. He don't even know that she knows what he did asdfghjkl
I love Ruby and her father relationship! He love her in his own way. Ruby love her father so much he wanted to protect her father's secret.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for The Diary of A Serial Killer's Daughter ARC!
I love Ruby and her father relationship! He love her in his own way. Ruby love her father so much he wanted to protect her father's secret.
Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for The Diary of A Serial Killer's Daughter ARC!
February 20, 2020
This book was nothing like I thought it was going to be. I don't want to put any spoilers in because I'm sure it will appeal to some readers, but it wasn't what I was expecting and therefore, I really didn't care for it.
July 12, 2020
I received an advance readers e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story is really disturbing. Dark and chilling. I have mixed emotions with this. I almost stop reading it because it is really not my cup of tea, but I also wanted to know what will happen to Ruby and her Daddy’s “garage game”.
The story is told in a diary format of an introvert girl who loves the color red and number 7. The diary started when she was 7 years old until she’s 16 years old. She loves her Daddy so much. Too much up to the point that she worshipped him. The first time she witnessed the “garage game” she became obsessed with it.
Thoughts? It is disturbing, dark and somehow dirty. Too much goriness you’ll have to pause reading for the mean time to breathe. The author’s writing is light though the story is too heavy for me that’s why I still enjoy reading it. What I don’t like about the story is that, for me, it would be much better if the reason/s why Ruby’s Daddy do all those “garage game” are explained. To let the readers know where the rage is coming from aside that he has darkness inside him. For me it will be better if there’s a history for that behavior. But I still want to read other works of the author since I find her writing enjoyable and her story plots interesting.
This story is really disturbing. Dark and chilling. I have mixed emotions with this. I almost stop reading it because it is really not my cup of tea, but I also wanted to know what will happen to Ruby and her Daddy’s “garage game”.
The story is told in a diary format of an introvert girl who loves the color red and number 7. The diary started when she was 7 years old until she’s 16 years old. She loves her Daddy so much. Too much up to the point that she worshipped him. The first time she witnessed the “garage game” she became obsessed with it.
Thoughts? It is disturbing, dark and somehow dirty. Too much goriness you’ll have to pause reading for the mean time to breathe. The author’s writing is light though the story is too heavy for me that’s why I still enjoy reading it. What I don’t like about the story is that, for me, it would be much better if the reason/s why Ruby’s Daddy do all those “garage game” are explained. To let the readers know where the rage is coming from aside that he has darkness inside him. For me it will be better if there’s a history for that behavior. But I still want to read other works of the author since I find her writing enjoyable and her story plots interesting.
July 27, 2020
This is my first book by this talented author, I assure you it won’t be my last! Excellent story telling with believable characters. I highly recommend this thriller.
March 30, 2021
This book was interesting, the whole book is just in all diary form. I've never read a book like that. I liked it. It was nice to read the POV of someone other than the victim. We, as a society, never think of how the actions of a serial killer effect they're children or other family members. I like learning about serial killers, why they do it and what they are thinking. I like this book and i think L.A. Detwiler is a brilliant writer. i'll be looking into more of her books.
February 9, 2025
Never read the point of view from a serial killer's daughter. Very interesting
April 16, 2020
What I Loved:
This entire book is written as diary entries from the perspective of the daughter of a serial killer. I really liked the changes made as the daughter grows. Her sentence structure changes, her view on the world, and her vocabulary, all evolve as she grows.
How I Felt:
I was somewhat disturbed by this book, and yet I could not stop reading it. That doesn’t happen to me often. I’ll DNF a book if I find the subject matter to be too much for me, but in this case, I just couldn’t put it down. It was a well-written and extremely intriguing story. I’m putting my CONTENT WARNINGS at the end of my thoughts, so please read them before deciding if this is a book for you.
The story starts when Ruby is 6 years old. She’s just gotten her diary and discovers how much she enjoys writing in it. She shares all of her thoughts and secrets with her diary and we, the readers, begin to see that Ruby views the world differently than many people. I think that she may have had some OCD and autistic tendencies. She repeats words a lot, always in threes, and she likes the number 7 for things. Schedule is extremely important to her, and she is bothered by loud noise, among other things. Her diary entries begin to discuss the game her daddy plays in the garage, where there is always red, red, red.
Ruby continues to sneak outside to the garage to spy on her dad and his game. As she gets older, she begins to reveal more and more details about the game. She begins to write poetry, and as she ages, that poetry improves but also becomes darker. She feels the need to protect her daddy from getting caught. She cleans up any mistakes he makes and worries constantly about keeping the secret. The story takes a hard, raw look at a nature versus nurture situation. At one point, Ruby discusses two paths leading to two very different lives, and I thought this was an impactful section, really making me think.
The writing was very well-done. I don’t want to take anything away from the author’s amazing ability to tell a story. This was a hard read, but it had nothing to do with the writing. The content is rough. I wasn’t affected by Ruby’s father being a serial killer, I was affected by the way this impact’s Ruby’s life. Her father cares for Ruby so deeply, and protects her so fiercely, I kind of looked up to him! And yet, he has this other side, that we only see through Ruby’s eyes, as a murderer, but she views him with only love and devotion. It was so emotionally draining as I went on this roller-coaster ride through the book.
The other topic that was difficult to read was Ruby’s bullying. She is picked on all the way through school, and it is hard to read. I was so, extremely upset with the vicious actions of these children. It was horrifying. I hated the teacher’s blind eyes and appreciated her father’s anger and actions towards the school.
The mixed emotions this book drew out of me was amazing, and it is part of why I gave it 5 stars. I was extremely drawn into this story, and clearly emotionally invested. A writer having the ability to create that type of bond between a reader and a story deserves some praise!
Overall, I found The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter to be a fascinating, heartbreaking story that I couldn’t stop reading. The character development was phenomenal, and the story and writing style were unique.
Content Warnings:
This book is, of course, about murder and a serial killer. However, please take a moment to read these other topics before deciding if this is a book for you. There are references to suicide and parental neglect. There are unfounded accusations of father-daughter sexual abuse. There is extensive discussion and descriptions of murder, body mutilation, strangulation, bullying, bullying in the form of physical violence, and some child abuse.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter to readers that enjoy crime fiction and insight into a killer’s mind.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review will post on my blog on 4/23/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
This entire book is written as diary entries from the perspective of the daughter of a serial killer. I really liked the changes made as the daughter grows. Her sentence structure changes, her view on the world, and her vocabulary, all evolve as she grows.
How I Felt:
I was somewhat disturbed by this book, and yet I could not stop reading it. That doesn’t happen to me often. I’ll DNF a book if I find the subject matter to be too much for me, but in this case, I just couldn’t put it down. It was a well-written and extremely intriguing story. I’m putting my CONTENT WARNINGS at the end of my thoughts, so please read them before deciding if this is a book for you.
The story starts when Ruby is 6 years old. She’s just gotten her diary and discovers how much she enjoys writing in it. She shares all of her thoughts and secrets with her diary and we, the readers, begin to see that Ruby views the world differently than many people. I think that she may have had some OCD and autistic tendencies. She repeats words a lot, always in threes, and she likes the number 7 for things. Schedule is extremely important to her, and she is bothered by loud noise, among other things. Her diary entries begin to discuss the game her daddy plays in the garage, where there is always red, red, red.
Ruby continues to sneak outside to the garage to spy on her dad and his game. As she gets older, she begins to reveal more and more details about the game. She begins to write poetry, and as she ages, that poetry improves but also becomes darker. She feels the need to protect her daddy from getting caught. She cleans up any mistakes he makes and worries constantly about keeping the secret. The story takes a hard, raw look at a nature versus nurture situation. At one point, Ruby discusses two paths leading to two very different lives, and I thought this was an impactful section, really making me think.
The writing was very well-done. I don’t want to take anything away from the author’s amazing ability to tell a story. This was a hard read, but it had nothing to do with the writing. The content is rough. I wasn’t affected by Ruby’s father being a serial killer, I was affected by the way this impact’s Ruby’s life. Her father cares for Ruby so deeply, and protects her so fiercely, I kind of looked up to him! And yet, he has this other side, that we only see through Ruby’s eyes, as a murderer, but she views him with only love and devotion. It was so emotionally draining as I went on this roller-coaster ride through the book.
The other topic that was difficult to read was Ruby’s bullying. She is picked on all the way through school, and it is hard to read. I was so, extremely upset with the vicious actions of these children. It was horrifying. I hated the teacher’s blind eyes and appreciated her father’s anger and actions towards the school.
The mixed emotions this book drew out of me was amazing, and it is part of why I gave it 5 stars. I was extremely drawn into this story, and clearly emotionally invested. A writer having the ability to create that type of bond between a reader and a story deserves some praise!
Overall, I found The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter to be a fascinating, heartbreaking story that I couldn’t stop reading. The character development was phenomenal, and the story and writing style were unique.
Content Warnings:
This book is, of course, about murder and a serial killer. However, please take a moment to read these other topics before deciding if this is a book for you. There are references to suicide and parental neglect. There are unfounded accusations of father-daughter sexual abuse. There is extensive discussion and descriptions of murder, body mutilation, strangulation, bullying, bullying in the form of physical violence, and some child abuse.
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter to readers that enjoy crime fiction and insight into a killer’s mind.
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review will post on my blog on 4/23/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
April 6, 2020
The Diary of a Serial Killer’s Daughter 4/5: This was actually a disturbing story. I felt really bad for Ruby, for her to witness at such a young age her father’s indiscretions. I thought the author did an amazing job at showing how behavior is formed from a young age to adolescent. Her obsession with her father began at such a young age, partly because of her mother’s sudden decease. It felt like she was always seeking her Father's validation. I found that odd considering he never harmed or threatened to harm Ruby. I think it was from fear of him and the power he had over his victims. I did find some of Ruby’s diary entries repetitive with no new evidence revealed. Also, she was very smart in her 10-year old entries, not sure I completely believed that. I enjoyed her teenager entries the most because she fully understood what her father was doing at that point.
You know, having witnessed your father kill multiple woman from the comfort of your garage will do it.
Ruby inherits this dark and twisted urge to follow in his footsteps and make him proud. You sort of know where the story is going but are secretly hoping it doesn’t. There are a lot of dark twists towards the end that leave you with anticipation whether the FBI are closing in on him. I loved the ending! I had a feeling it was going to happen, but wanted to see how Detwiler played it out. She didn’t fail!
You know, having witnessed your father kill multiple woman from the comfort of your garage will do it.
Ruby inherits this dark and twisted urge to follow in his footsteps and make him proud. You sort of know where the story is going but are secretly hoping it doesn’t. There are a lot of dark twists towards the end that leave you with anticipation whether the FBI are closing in on him. I loved the ending! I had a feeling it was going to happen, but wanted to see how Detwiler played it out. She didn’t fail!
December 12, 2020
This story is dark ... darker than anything I have ever read. Be warned.
According to the blurbs Ms. Detwiler has put out on Facebook, she wanted to explore the dynamics involved in being related to a serial killer. And, man-oh-man, did she accomplish that in spades. This book is written in diary form from the perspective of a daughter, beginning when she was a young girl on through when she was a teenager. Ruby, the young girl in the story, discovered her father went out in the middle of the night and she wondered why. She discovered a peephole in the garage ... the garage her father warned her to stay away from because it was dangerous. She always took "Daddy" at his word, staying away from the garage until she couldn't. She used the peephole to spy on "Daddy." What she discovered surprised her and mystified her all at the same time. In the end, she wanted to protect herself, wanted to understand "Daddy's" proclivities, wanted to protect him at all costs fearing she would lose him. This tale takes you on a journey you are not soon to forget. I am still "digesting" the story and how close to the truth it may really be.
Be warned, again, though ... it is a very, very dark tale.
According to the blurbs Ms. Detwiler has put out on Facebook, she wanted to explore the dynamics involved in being related to a serial killer. And, man-oh-man, did she accomplish that in spades. This book is written in diary form from the perspective of a daughter, beginning when she was a young girl on through when she was a teenager. Ruby, the young girl in the story, discovered her father went out in the middle of the night and she wondered why. She discovered a peephole in the garage ... the garage her father warned her to stay away from because it was dangerous. She always took "Daddy" at his word, staying away from the garage until she couldn't. She used the peephole to spy on "Daddy." What she discovered surprised her and mystified her all at the same time. In the end, she wanted to protect herself, wanted to understand "Daddy's" proclivities, wanted to protect him at all costs fearing she would lose him. This tale takes you on a journey you are not soon to forget. I am still "digesting" the story and how close to the truth it may really be.
Be warned, again, though ... it is a very, very dark tale.
April 1, 2020
I was given a copy by the author, but I want to make it clear that my rating was not effected by that.
This book is exactly as the title describes. Follow Ruby as she discovers her fathers secrets.
This book is honestly like nothing I have ever read. There is a lot of dark subject matter, and the twists and turns had me almost biting my nails in anticipation. Ruby's story is one that will stick with me.
This book is exactly as the title describes. Follow Ruby as she discovers her fathers secrets.
This book is honestly like nothing I have ever read. There is a lot of dark subject matter, and the twists and turns had me almost biting my nails in anticipation. Ruby's story is one that will stick with me.
May 26, 2020
Ruby Marlowe - naive, bullied, Daddy's girl, poetry writer and, as the title suggests, her revered father has a dark secret! Told almost entirely through Ruby's thoughts via her diary, we follow her from a 7-year old to a 16-year old and the various stages - curiosity, realisation and acceptance and all the dilemmas she faces.
It's a captivating read. Slow paced at times but it's a page swiper as you need to find out the next phase of Ruby's life. It is dark and disturbing at times and definitely elements of the brilliant Dexter mixed it. Occasionally we have the odd light moment and I did "predict" a couple of things ahead of time but ultimately this isn't an easy read. Its shocking and at times, incredibly sad and I daresay that there are parts (albeit deeply hidden) of Ruby in all of us. Its certainly wont be to everyone's tastes but it will remain with me for a long time! Stay safe 😉
It's a captivating read. Slow paced at times but it's a page swiper as you need to find out the next phase of Ruby's life. It is dark and disturbing at times and definitely elements of the brilliant Dexter mixed it. Occasionally we have the odd light moment and I did "predict" a couple of things ahead of time but ultimately this isn't an easy read. Its shocking and at times, incredibly sad and I daresay that there are parts (albeit deeply hidden) of Ruby in all of us. Its certainly wont be to everyone's tastes but it will remain with me for a long time! Stay safe 😉
February 28, 2020
Wow what did I just read??!! The story of a young girl told through her diary as she discovers her dad is a serial killer. Of course she doesn't know this at first but the older she gets the more she understands. Am I totally messed up for loving her relationship with her dad? Despite what he done to others they had a great bond, something I've not experience in my real life.. wow do I wish a serial killer was my dad??😂 I felt so sorry for Ruby, especially during the epilogue. This book was great, weird, horrifying, interesting, unique and worth a read. Towards the end I did find it quite repetitive and got slightly bored but I had to know the outcome. Would her dad be caught? Would Ruby follow in his footsteps?
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book to review!
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book to review!
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