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The Silent Daughter
In the age of digital footprints, is it possible to disappear? And how long would it take to notice someone is missing?
When his wife May is taken into hospital after a serious fall during a competitive run, Chris Morrison does what anyone would do in a crisis: he phones his family. His son Mikey answers the call, but his daughter Ruth doesn't. She's always been distant, often working abroad for long stretches and communicating via social media.
As Chris gets increasingly frustrated by Ruth's lack of response, police investigations into May's fall force him to answer some challenging questions. Why wasn't May on the race route when she fell? Was she running after someone, or running from them?
A few uncomfortable certainties emerge: May and Mikey have been keeping things from Chris – and Ruth appears to have been lying to them all. But how many secrets can one family keep?
When Chris realises nobody has had direct contact with his daughter in nine months, he faces every parent's nightmare – is Ruth missing, or worse? And with his wife in a coma and his daughter missing, suspicions fall on the family – and Chris himself.
Having built a newspaper career investigating incidents and reporting the facts, Chris is well-versed in these kinds of situations. He knows what the outcome might be. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds when searching for traces of his daughter.
When his wife May is taken into hospital after a serious fall during a competitive run, Chris Morrison does what anyone would do in a crisis: he phones his family. His son Mikey answers the call, but his daughter Ruth doesn't. She's always been distant, often working abroad for long stretches and communicating via social media.
As Chris gets increasingly frustrated by Ruth's lack of response, police investigations into May's fall force him to answer some challenging questions. Why wasn't May on the race route when she fell? Was she running after someone, or running from them?
A few uncomfortable certainties emerge: May and Mikey have been keeping things from Chris – and Ruth appears to have been lying to them all. But how many secrets can one family keep?
When Chris realises nobody has had direct contact with his daughter in nine months, he faces every parent's nightmare – is Ruth missing, or worse? And with his wife in a coma and his daughter missing, suspicions fall on the family – and Chris himself.
Having built a newspaper career investigating incidents and reporting the facts, Chris is well-versed in these kinds of situations. He knows what the outcome might be. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds when searching for traces of his daughter.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2020
70 people are currently reading
916 people want to read
About the author
Emma Christie
6 books68 followersEmma Christie grew up in a book-filled house in Cumnock, an Ayrshire coal-mining town.
After quitting her law degree to study English literature and medieval history at Aberdeen University, she spent five years working as a news reporter with one of the UK's top-selling regional daily newspapers, The Press and Journal.
Throughout her journalism career, she secretly wanted to be every author she ever interviewed.
When she's not writing, Emma now works as a tour director and lecturer in history, culture and politics with a US travel company, leading educational journeys across Spain, France and Portugal.
She can often been found in Portobello, Edinburgh's captivating seaside community, but lives in Barcelona with her girlfriend, María Jose, and far too many plants.
THE SILENT DAUGHTER is her first novel. More at emmachristiewriter.com
After quitting her law degree to study English literature and medieval history at Aberdeen University, she spent five years working as a news reporter with one of the UK's top-selling regional daily newspapers, The Press and Journal.
Throughout her journalism career, she secretly wanted to be every author she ever interviewed.
When she's not writing, Emma now works as a tour director and lecturer in history, culture and politics with a US travel company, leading educational journeys across Spain, France and Portugal.
She can often been found in Portobello, Edinburgh's captivating seaside community, but lives in Barcelona with her girlfriend, María Jose, and far too many plants.
THE SILENT DAUGHTER is her first novel. More at emmachristiewriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
September 18, 2024
Damn. Got my ass again. Great author. Looking forward to reading her latest once it arrives. Please keep writing, Emma !!!!
June 26, 2021
Social media can give a distorted picture of a person's life.
This brilliant debut takes the premises of how well do we really know what someone is upto judging by their timeline.
It only becomes apparent when Chris Morris needs to get in contact with his daughter Ruth after her mother Maria is in a coma after a serious head injury from a fall.
Chris soon discovers that Ruth's online activities have all been inaccurate with random pictures being uploaded to create an illusion of numerous destinations visited - so where exactly is she?
There's so many intriguing mysteries as why was Maria running to cause the fall whilst Chris son Mickey also has secrets that come to light as worried father is desperate to find his daughter.
This psychological thriller was so brilliantly additive.
The characters were so strongly written, especially Chris who's inital worry of his wife health instantly warmed me to him - he could have done without the added stress!
I was fully expecting the novel to head in one direction so was pleasantly surprised and shocked by the perfect conclusion.
This brilliant debut takes the premises of how well do we really know what someone is upto judging by their timeline.
It only becomes apparent when Chris Morris needs to get in contact with his daughter Ruth after her mother Maria is in a coma after a serious head injury from a fall.
Chris soon discovers that Ruth's online activities have all been inaccurate with random pictures being uploaded to create an illusion of numerous destinations visited - so where exactly is she?
There's so many intriguing mysteries as why was Maria running to cause the fall whilst Chris son Mickey also has secrets that come to light as worried father is desperate to find his daughter.
This psychological thriller was so brilliantly additive.
The characters were so strongly written, especially Chris who's inital worry of his wife health instantly warmed me to him - he could have done without the added stress!
I was fully expecting the novel to head in one direction so was pleasantly surprised and shocked by the perfect conclusion.
September 5, 2020
Wow! The Silent Daughter is an outstanding book full of suspense. I loved the sharp short chapters that helped me wiz through this book wanting answers to questions that husband, father Chris Morrision needed. It did make me wonder how many secrets can a family keep from each other?
Chris Morrison’s 58-year-old wife Maria a secondary school teacher is in a coma after serious head injuries in Edinburgh city centre. She had been taken to Edinburgh Royal infirmary.
What was Maria doing sprinting away from the starting line of a race? Where was she going? How did she fall and smash her head on some stones steps?
Was there a connection between her fall and the silent phones calls Maria had received?
My review is on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
There is much more of a nightmare unfolding for Chris Morrision, not only is his wife in a coma, but he can’t contact his daughter Ruth a freelance tour guide to let her know that her mother is hospital.
Chris realises that without being able to contact Ruth that she is missing. Mickey, Ruth’s brother is holding a secret about his sister from his father, Chris.
The Morrision family become very complicated to the extent of far too many family secrets are to be announced. I’m very impressed with the ending providing me with a big shock. I do love it when I can’t guess the ending. I have to congratulate author Emma Christie who cleverly plotted a page turning story, adding a smart twist at the end that was impossible to guess it.
I do hope that you buy this book that you all enjoy reading The Silent Daughter as much as what I did.
Chris Morrison’s 58-year-old wife Maria a secondary school teacher is in a coma after serious head injuries in Edinburgh city centre. She had been taken to Edinburgh Royal infirmary.
What was Maria doing sprinting away from the starting line of a race? Where was she going? How did she fall and smash her head on some stones steps?
Was there a connection between her fall and the silent phones calls Maria had received?
My review is on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
There is much more of a nightmare unfolding for Chris Morrision, not only is his wife in a coma, but he can’t contact his daughter Ruth a freelance tour guide to let her know that her mother is hospital.
Chris realises that without being able to contact Ruth that she is missing. Mickey, Ruth’s brother is holding a secret about his sister from his father, Chris.
The Morrision family become very complicated to the extent of far too many family secrets are to be announced. I’m very impressed with the ending providing me with a big shock. I do love it when I can’t guess the ending. I have to congratulate author Emma Christie who cleverly plotted a page turning story, adding a smart twist at the end that was impossible to guess it.
I do hope that you buy this book that you all enjoy reading The Silent Daughter as much as what I did.
September 2, 2020
Emma Christie is a debut author and “The Silent Daughter” is a timely psychological thriller that covers an emotional theme within an intriguing mystery. I was truly caught out at the ending, after being sent down quite a few rabbit holes on the journey and I thought the plot was cleverly executed with various twists to keep the reader guessing.
“Chris Morrison is facing his worst nightmare. His wife is in a coma. His daughter is missing and the only thing more unsettling than these two events . . . is what might connect them.”
The story has lies and deceit aplenty and just goes to show how detached a parent can be from their kids whatever their age. Can someone totally disappear in this day and age of social media and internet technology?
It did take me a while to attach myself to any of the characters but once I got to know them, their emotional connections to each other started to fall together and their feelings began to be understandable.
Set mostly in Edinburgh, a city I adore and know well, I loved the Old Town descriptions and I related to the areas mentioned, visualising the streets clearly.
The author has used her background as a newspaper crime reporter to write a story using a reporters’s view on how they’d investigate a potential scoop to help solve a personal mystery. Living in Spain and born in Scotland, her passion for both countries shone through, her writing is fresh, easy to follow and an author I believe has a future career in published fiction.
An intriguing, keep you guessing read that kept me turning the pages and a subject that was handled respectfully and with genuine emotion.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
“Chris Morrison is facing his worst nightmare. His wife is in a coma. His daughter is missing and the only thing more unsettling than these two events . . . is what might connect them.”
The story has lies and deceit aplenty and just goes to show how detached a parent can be from their kids whatever their age. Can someone totally disappear in this day and age of social media and internet technology?
It did take me a while to attach myself to any of the characters but once I got to know them, their emotional connections to each other started to fall together and their feelings began to be understandable.
Set mostly in Edinburgh, a city I adore and know well, I loved the Old Town descriptions and I related to the areas mentioned, visualising the streets clearly.
The author has used her background as a newspaper crime reporter to write a story using a reporters’s view on how they’d investigate a potential scoop to help solve a personal mystery. Living in Spain and born in Scotland, her passion for both countries shone through, her writing is fresh, easy to follow and an author I believe has a future career in published fiction.
An intriguing, keep you guessing read that kept me turning the pages and a subject that was handled respectfully and with genuine emotion.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
February 25, 2021
Huge letdown
I found this a bit of an anti climax all in all. Ok so the twist was not expected, but to be led down the garden path like that I rather hoped for a melodramatic conclusion,which simply was not worth the wait. Also, whoever did the editing should be ashamed. So many mistakes, words repeated twice in one sentence, not in the correct order, errors every six or seven pages. Character names were used too often, especially that of the protagonist, which was simply unnecessary.
I found this a bit of an anti climax all in all. Ok so the twist was not expected, but to be led down the garden path like that I rather hoped for a melodramatic conclusion,which simply was not worth the wait. Also, whoever did the editing should be ashamed. So many mistakes, words repeated twice in one sentence, not in the correct order, errors every six or seven pages. Character names were used too often, especially that of the protagonist, which was simply unnecessary.
October 28, 2023
A well crafted story line with several moments that had me thinking, however this wasn’t a book that I found myself reaching for in every spare moment.
September 3, 2020
Just when I thought the psychological thriller genre had lost its capacity to surprise me, something more true than ever in the digital age, and Emma Christie’s impressive debut did just that in a thoroughly compelling mystery of family secrets. Centred around a desperate father attempting to unravel the circumstances that have left his wife in a coma and his daughter missing, the novel is well-written and emotionally engaging.
When sixty-year-old former newspaper reporter, Chris Morrison, receives a phone call telling him that his wife, Maria, has fallen whilst running in Edinburgh’s Old Town and is in a coma he rushes to her side and attempts to make contact with his two adult children. Locally based Mikey responds immediately but twenty-eight-year-old tour guide and traveller Ruth, who has always been distant and is primarily contactable via her social media accounts, remains incommunicado and fails to acknowledge their repeated efforts. Struggling to believe that Maria’s accident was the result of a simple fall and confused as to why she was in the neighbourhood at all, the staggering discovery that the last time any of the family had actual contact with Ruth was verging on nine months ago knocks Chris sideways. Unable to believe that the disappearance of his daughter is unrelated to her mother’s accident, dogged Chris sets to work investigating on both fronts and getting the answers he needs despite fearing the worst and replaying his traumatic memories of fifteen years ago and Ruth’s suicide attempt.
Despite the chequered family history with Maria’s alcoholic brother in Spain, Mikey’s stroppy wife and Chris’ own slightly awkward relationship with his daughter, his wife and protecting his family mean everything to him. But the discovery that Mikey had lied to him and Maria was keeping secrets of her own feels like a betrayal and his tumultuous emotions are well-conveyed making him an incredibly sympathetic character. Beginning to wonder if Ruth actually left the country after the family last saw her takes Chris to the flat she owns in Portobello and one step closer to finding some answers, but whether he is prepared for them is another matter...
The narrative takes the form of interspersing the third person perspective of Chris as he goes about his investigations and attempts to process his revelations with short italicised excerpts written in the first person by whomever is behind Ruth’s vanishing. Whilst I came very close to identifying the truth behind the mystery of Ruth’s disappearance it was minor things not adding up that threw me off the scent each time and with red herrings aplenty The Silent Daughter made for an involving read. I found the story utterly compelling and admire the author’s bravery in tackling some emotive subjects and keeping the story entrenched in realistic territory, however my issues came with the final reveal and my instability to swallow the resolution. The difficulty of discussing the reveal without spoilers make explaining my reservations impossible but whilst the plot is excellent in theory, the chances of successfully and convincing executing are unlikely. The absence of clues in the story was also a disappointment and it took until the denouement for me to get a sense of Ruth and her character despite the novel being primarily about her.
Overall this is an intriguing and impressive read and a debut with originality to be proud of.
When sixty-year-old former newspaper reporter, Chris Morrison, receives a phone call telling him that his wife, Maria, has fallen whilst running in Edinburgh’s Old Town and is in a coma he rushes to her side and attempts to make contact with his two adult children. Locally based Mikey responds immediately but twenty-eight-year-old tour guide and traveller Ruth, who has always been distant and is primarily contactable via her social media accounts, remains incommunicado and fails to acknowledge their repeated efforts. Struggling to believe that Maria’s accident was the result of a simple fall and confused as to why she was in the neighbourhood at all, the staggering discovery that the last time any of the family had actual contact with Ruth was verging on nine months ago knocks Chris sideways. Unable to believe that the disappearance of his daughter is unrelated to her mother’s accident, dogged Chris sets to work investigating on both fronts and getting the answers he needs despite fearing the worst and replaying his traumatic memories of fifteen years ago and Ruth’s suicide attempt.
Despite the chequered family history with Maria’s alcoholic brother in Spain, Mikey’s stroppy wife and Chris’ own slightly awkward relationship with his daughter, his wife and protecting his family mean everything to him. But the discovery that Mikey had lied to him and Maria was keeping secrets of her own feels like a betrayal and his tumultuous emotions are well-conveyed making him an incredibly sympathetic character. Beginning to wonder if Ruth actually left the country after the family last saw her takes Chris to the flat she owns in Portobello and one step closer to finding some answers, but whether he is prepared for them is another matter...
The narrative takes the form of interspersing the third person perspective of Chris as he goes about his investigations and attempts to process his revelations with short italicised excerpts written in the first person by whomever is behind Ruth’s vanishing. Whilst I came very close to identifying the truth behind the mystery of Ruth’s disappearance it was minor things not adding up that threw me off the scent each time and with red herrings aplenty The Silent Daughter made for an involving read. I found the story utterly compelling and admire the author’s bravery in tackling some emotive subjects and keeping the story entrenched in realistic territory, however my issues came with the final reveal and my instability to swallow the resolution. The difficulty of discussing the reveal without spoilers make explaining my reservations impossible but whilst the plot is excellent in theory, the chances of successfully and convincing executing are unlikely. The absence of clues in the story was also a disappointment and it took until the denouement for me to get a sense of Ruth and her character despite the novel being primarily about her.
Overall this is an intriguing and impressive read and a debut with originality to be proud of.
October 3, 2021
Before I say anything about this book I feel I should make it clear upfront that someone accidentally spoiled the ending of this for me when I was around halfway through. I did have my suspicions that this was where it was heading but I have to admit knowing the big reveal did influence my reading of the second half, although I don't believe it changed my rating.
Anyway, recently I've been mostly avoiding these kinds of "domestic thrillers". Anything with "Wife", "Daughter" etc in the title or any mention in the blurb of family secrets and it's usually a hard pass. However, as this made the shortlist for both Bloody Scotland awards this year I thought I'd give it a go and overall I'd say it's an OK read.
It's well written and has an interesting plot but it never really gripped me. Yes I was curious about what happened but I can't really say that I cared or was invested in any of the characters. I liked how social media was integral to the plot and how there's no way of knowing the truth of someone's life from what they post. I didn't however particularly like any of the characters and never felt like we got to really know them. It all seemed a little bit flat and emotionless and at times their actions didn't make sense.
There are quite a few twists and turns in the story and I liked the investigative side to it. Despite someone spoiling it for me I did actually guess the biggest reveal (they didn't tell me the title of the book just the ending to a book they'd read and I figured it out). Even if I hadn't known it though I still think it would have been a bit of a let down.
Overall though while I didn't love this I think a lot of people will (there are many rave reviews). It's probably mostly a case of not my kind of read. If you like thrillers that centre on families and secrets it's definitely worth giving it a go.
Anyway, recently I've been mostly avoiding these kinds of "domestic thrillers". Anything with "Wife", "Daughter" etc in the title or any mention in the blurb of family secrets and it's usually a hard pass. However, as this made the shortlist for both Bloody Scotland awards this year I thought I'd give it a go and overall I'd say it's an OK read.
It's well written and has an interesting plot but it never really gripped me. Yes I was curious about what happened but I can't really say that I cared or was invested in any of the characters. I liked how social media was integral to the plot and how there's no way of knowing the truth of someone's life from what they post. I didn't however particularly like any of the characters and never felt like we got to really know them. It all seemed a little bit flat and emotionless and at times their actions didn't make sense.
There are quite a few twists and turns in the story and I liked the investigative side to it. Despite someone spoiling it for me I did actually guess the biggest reveal (they didn't tell me the title of the book just the ending to a book they'd read and I figured it out). Even if I hadn't known it though I still think it would have been a bit of a let down.
Overall though while I didn't love this I think a lot of people will (there are many rave reviews). It's probably mostly a case of not my kind of read. If you like thrillers that centre on families and secrets it's definitely worth giving it a go.
July 14, 2020
I SO enjoyed this book. A bad accident for a family member triggers an absolute family nightmare of secrets and lies. Brilliantly written with heart and tenderness (despite some parts of it that whilst reading, were outright dark) I had so many theories as to what had happened and went on a real rollercoaster AND I STILL DIDN'T GUESS.
April 10, 2022
Maria, a wife and mother, is left in a coma after falling on steps while running. Did she fall or was she pushed? Chris, her husband, tries to contact their two grown up children to let them know their mother is in hospital, but he can’t get in touch with their daughter, Ruth. Son Mikey seems to be holding back secrets. It’s a tangled web and it appears Ruth dropped off the face of the earth nine months ago. I enjoyed the way the family was portrayed, each keeping secrets, sometimes feeling they are protecting the others. As the truth comes out, we can see that their failure to communicate, to express their love for each other, from the past, has caused the current problems. It’s a nicely crafted story which I enjoyed very much.
October 29, 2020
Soon after Maria Morrison Hidalgo suffers a fall while running, husband Chris realises that their daughter has been missing for months without anyone even noticing. With her social media posts a misleading sham, how can he track the girl down, and find out what really happened to Maria? A relentless quest to unearth the secrets of his own family, leads to a surprising climax.
Read
February 7, 2021Not enough murder or mystery for my liking. But then I'd seen it recommended as a thriller/murder mystery book so maybe my dislike had more to do with my expectations rather than the book itself. Nevertheless I found the plot twist very transparent and didn't like the "happily ever after" ending that left a lot of questions unanswered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2021
I loved this brilliant psychological thriller by Emma Christie. Raced through its pages to try and work out what was going on and I could not have been more wrong! Such a fantastic and unexpected twist. If you love a good thriller with a gripping plot and an unexpected outcome, this one is definitely for you. A fantastic debut - looking forward to the author’s next book!
March 4, 2024
This book was a complete page turner right until the end. My only issue is that it didn’t feel satisfying at the end. I feel like after all the build up and lies etc that I needed someone carried away in cuffs after finding bodies in their house. I think the ending was well done for the subject matter and I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it. It just wasn’t the ending I needed to feel satisfied.
October 31, 2020
I was disappointed by the ending...although I loved the twist, it wasn't the twist I expect in this genre of book so overall left me feeling like it was all a bit of a cop out. Until the big twist though I was enjoying the book so can't really complain!
April 14, 2025
Very good, with an excellent twist, but spoiled by typos.
February 20, 2024
Couldn’t finish it, total garbage.
January 7, 2025
Pushed through this one hoping it would get better and that was a mistake
April 27, 2024
3.75 - this is the second book I have read by Emma Christie and have enjoyed them both. Each of her endings have been a surprise and quite unique from your average thriller which I enjoy as it’s different (some may not enjoy this as much as a traditional thriller ending). The writing was exciting and engaging, especially the sections written in first person from the suspect.
I have rated it lower than 4 purely because I felt like it was a little slow in the middle of the book and quite repetitive sometimes.
Overall a really good book and a surprising but interesting ending.
I have rated it lower than 4 purely because I felt like it was a little slow in the middle of the book and quite repetitive sometimes.
Overall a really good book and a surprising but interesting ending.
September 17, 2020
I found this book a real page-turner, confidently written and well paced. I didn't guess how the plot would turn out and I feel this book takes the 'thriller' into important new territory. Accomplished, original and gripping.
February 3, 2025
I bought this book ahead of a talk Emma Christie is giving at a local bookshop and I am so so glad that I did!
I devoured this book, could not stop thinking about it, and am so glad it had the ending that it did. Highly, highly recommend it.
I devoured this book, could not stop thinking about it, and am so glad it had the ending that it did. Highly, highly recommend it.
June 16, 2024
A great book which can give people an insiders perspective on how we know our own bodies.
September 16, 2025
Would be a higher rating but the ending was a disappointing twist very unexpected yet very unsatisfying considering the huge build up throughout the book
November 29, 2020
About 10 years ago I rode up the Telica Volcano with Emma Christie Writer and we became facebook friends! Over the past several years I have followed the journey that led to the publication of the Silent Daughter and after borrowing a friends UK address was able to buy it on Kindle. I just finished it and can say beyond a doubt it was one of the best debut thrillers I have read in a long time! Great story, complex characters and a phenomenal and realistic ending! Looking forward to the next book!
December 24, 2025
A very good storyline with a very surprising twist at the end x
September 28, 2021
The opening chapter of The Silent Daughter sees Chris Morrison living through dark times. His wife Marie has had an accident while running and is in a coma in hospital. Their son Mikey has arrived but he just can’t get a hold of their daughter Ruth and you get the impression that their relationship may be somewhat strained. Even more intriguingly, just when you are feeling sympathy for Chris, there is a hint about something dreadful which happened 15 years previously ‘That Day’, a suggestion that Chris was present at the scene of a violent act. So that was that, I was hooked!
Chris is convinced that Marie’s fall was no accident and with it seeming like no-one has seen or been in contact Ruth for almost 9 months, the police become involved. Chris is a journalist and being in that line of work, isn’t content to let the police get on and do their job. He just has to do his own digging too, helped by friend and colleague Sandy. I felt this really added to the story as the investigation was being carried out in part by someone really closely involved.
There were occasional chapters throughout the book from an unknown person who clearly knows Ruth well, and knows exactly what has happened to her. This really enhanced the mystery and made me very intrigued. Who was this person? What kind of a relationship did they have with Ruth? And what had they done to her? I tried to pick up on clues but all my theories were disproved. There came a point in the book when I realised the author had misled me in a very clever way, so clever that I had to go back and reread some sections in a completely different light.
I must just mention briefly that I loved the atmospheric setting of Edinburgh particularly its Old Town, and it was great to see Portobello get a few mentions too!
So how many secrets can one family keep? Rather a lot it seems. The final few chapters were very insightful and surprisingly moving as the author revealed what effect the secrets had on the family once in the open. The Silent Daughter is a very satisfying read, full of suspense, which kept me guessing throughout. Emma Christie has set the bar high with her debut and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
Chris is convinced that Marie’s fall was no accident and with it seeming like no-one has seen or been in contact Ruth for almost 9 months, the police become involved. Chris is a journalist and being in that line of work, isn’t content to let the police get on and do their job. He just has to do his own digging too, helped by friend and colleague Sandy. I felt this really added to the story as the investigation was being carried out in part by someone really closely involved.
There were occasional chapters throughout the book from an unknown person who clearly knows Ruth well, and knows exactly what has happened to her. This really enhanced the mystery and made me very intrigued. Who was this person? What kind of a relationship did they have with Ruth? And what had they done to her? I tried to pick up on clues but all my theories were disproved. There came a point in the book when I realised the author had misled me in a very clever way, so clever that I had to go back and reread some sections in a completely different light.
I must just mention briefly that I loved the atmospheric setting of Edinburgh particularly its Old Town, and it was great to see Portobello get a few mentions too!
So how many secrets can one family keep? Rather a lot it seems. The final few chapters were very insightful and surprisingly moving as the author revealed what effect the secrets had on the family once in the open. The Silent Daughter is a very satisfying read, full of suspense, which kept me guessing throughout. Emma Christie has set the bar high with her debut and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.
June 30, 2020
Chris’s life is turned upside down when his wife has an accident and ends up in a coma and his daughter goes missing. Are the two incidents connected?
What an amazing debut by Emma Christie! I know it sounds like a cliche when you say you couldn’t put a book down, but the statement was made for books like this.
As the story unfolded I got more and more drawn in, there was just so many twists and turns. Each time I thought I had a character figured out, their story went in a different direction. The main characters are so real and raw and tortured by their own demons, especially the protagonist Chris. He discovers he is so far removed from his family’s secrets and lies and with each discovery you wonder how much more one person can take.
This story deals with so many hard hitting situations like infant death, mental health and suicide and does so in such a respectful manner.
I loved that the story was set in Edinburgh too, the old cobbled streets and the dreary Scottish weather just added to the atmosphere.
I can’t recommend this book enough and I’m already getting excited to read more of Emma’s work in the future. Many thanks to Welbeck for the digital ARC.
What an amazing debut by Emma Christie! I know it sounds like a cliche when you say you couldn’t put a book down, but the statement was made for books like this.
As the story unfolded I got more and more drawn in, there was just so many twists and turns. Each time I thought I had a character figured out, their story went in a different direction. The main characters are so real and raw and tortured by their own demons, especially the protagonist Chris. He discovers he is so far removed from his family’s secrets and lies and with each discovery you wonder how much more one person can take.
This story deals with so many hard hitting situations like infant death, mental health and suicide and does so in such a respectful manner.
I loved that the story was set in Edinburgh too, the old cobbled streets and the dreary Scottish weather just added to the atmosphere.
I can’t recommend this book enough and I’m already getting excited to read more of Emma’s work in the future. Many thanks to Welbeck for the digital ARC.
October 5, 2020
Absolutely breathtaking thriller that I devoured in 48hrs.
Such vivid and unique imagery in the prose such as
" He did not want pieces of his wife stuck under his fingernails. But Christ, she’d always be there. On him, in him."
made this such a joy to read.
The narrative and suspense was so well crafted that I shifted my suspicions throughout, always thinking that this time - I had discovered the mystery. I never did.
I thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of the murderer's voice that was cleverly interwoven in the book and helped build the tension. I just needed to know who it was!
This book remains in your thoughts long after the last page. It is highly emotive.
Fantastic debut and Highly Recommended.
Such vivid and unique imagery in the prose such as
" He did not want pieces of his wife stuck under his fingernails. But Christ, she’d always be there. On him, in him."
made this such a joy to read.
The narrative and suspense was so well crafted that I shifted my suspicions throughout, always thinking that this time - I had discovered the mystery. I never did.
I thoroughly enjoyed the inclusion of the murderer's voice that was cleverly interwoven in the book and helped build the tension. I just needed to know who it was!
This book remains in your thoughts long after the last page. It is highly emotive.
Fantastic debut and Highly Recommended.
June 5, 2022
What a ridiculous transphobic book. Can’t believe I wasted my time on it.
May 18, 2025
„Milcząca córka” to doskonały thriller psychologiczny, spowity gęstą mgłą niedopowiedzeń. Ile sekretów i kłamstw może skrywać jedna rodzina?
Chris, w pewnym momencie zostaje z mnóstwem pytań i kłamstw na temat swojej rodziny. Okazuje się, że wcale nie byli ze sobą tak blisko jak myślał, a najgorszy jest teraz brak kontaktu. Rozpoczyna własne śledztwo, a z każdą chwilą odkrywa nowe, nieznane fakty dotyczące rodziny. Żona ulega wypadkowi, a na dodatek nie powinno jej być miejscu, w którym ją znaleźli. Z córką nie ma kontaktu, na jaw wychodzą dziwne fakty, o porzuceniu pracy oraz fikcyjnym życiu na zdjęciach zamieszczanych przez nią w sieci. W śledztwie pomaga mu przyjaciel oraz syn, który jak się okazuje, również nie jest z nim szczery.
Pióro autorki jest niezwykle przyjemne, dzięki czemu z lekkością zanurzamy się w trudne tematy. Całość przesycona jest gęstą atmosferą niewypowiedzianych słów, tajemnic z przeszłości i bólu, który osiadł głęboko w codzienności. Napięcie jak i sekrety mnożące się z każdą stroną oraz zwroty akcji utrzymują stale zainteresowanie czytelnika i dostarczają wielu emocji. Akcja niespiesznie parła na przód odsłaniając kolejne sekrety jak i skomplikowane relacje rodziny. Na jaw wychodzą zadawnione krzywdy, skrywane urazy. Wypadek, który może być również usiłowaniem zabójstwa. Fikcyjne życie, iluzja, porzucenie pracy oraz brak kontaktu. Skomplikowane relacje rodzinne, sekrety, tożsamość i poszukiwanie siebie. Przeszłość, która ma ogromny wpływ na teraźniejszość. To historia o zdesperowanym ojcu w obliczu strachu, zagrożenia, braku kontaktu. Zakończenie zaskakujące, kompletnie nie spodziewałam się, że ta historia będzie mieć taki finał. Autorka z niezwykłą lekkością i starannością, utkała sieć rodzinnych powiązań spowitych kłamstwami.
Jak wiele sekretów może skrywać jedna rodzina? O tym musicie przekonać się sami. Polecam Waszej uwadze ten thriller 💙
Chris, w pewnym momencie zostaje z mnóstwem pytań i kłamstw na temat swojej rodziny. Okazuje się, że wcale nie byli ze sobą tak blisko jak myślał, a najgorszy jest teraz brak kontaktu. Rozpoczyna własne śledztwo, a z każdą chwilą odkrywa nowe, nieznane fakty dotyczące rodziny. Żona ulega wypadkowi, a na dodatek nie powinno jej być miejscu, w którym ją znaleźli. Z córką nie ma kontaktu, na jaw wychodzą dziwne fakty, o porzuceniu pracy oraz fikcyjnym życiu na zdjęciach zamieszczanych przez nią w sieci. W śledztwie pomaga mu przyjaciel oraz syn, który jak się okazuje, również nie jest z nim szczery.
Pióro autorki jest niezwykle przyjemne, dzięki czemu z lekkością zanurzamy się w trudne tematy. Całość przesycona jest gęstą atmosferą niewypowiedzianych słów, tajemnic z przeszłości i bólu, który osiadł głęboko w codzienności. Napięcie jak i sekrety mnożące się z każdą stroną oraz zwroty akcji utrzymują stale zainteresowanie czytelnika i dostarczają wielu emocji. Akcja niespiesznie parła na przód odsłaniając kolejne sekrety jak i skomplikowane relacje rodziny. Na jaw wychodzą zadawnione krzywdy, skrywane urazy. Wypadek, który może być również usiłowaniem zabójstwa. Fikcyjne życie, iluzja, porzucenie pracy oraz brak kontaktu. Skomplikowane relacje rodzinne, sekrety, tożsamość i poszukiwanie siebie. Przeszłość, która ma ogromny wpływ na teraźniejszość. To historia o zdesperowanym ojcu w obliczu strachu, zagrożenia, braku kontaktu. Zakończenie zaskakujące, kompletnie nie spodziewałam się, że ta historia będzie mieć taki finał. Autorka z niezwykłą lekkością i starannością, utkała sieć rodzinnych powiązań spowitych kłamstwami.
Jak wiele sekretów może skrywać jedna rodzina? O tym musicie przekonać się sami. Polecam Waszej uwadze ten thriller 💙
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