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The Silent Daughter
Secrets can kill and Danni Brooks knows that better than anyone.
When her husband and two of her three children perish in a devastating house fire, Danni is sure it is arson. She’s even more sure that her and her eldest daughter Mia were meant to die in the fire too. But they are just a normal family. Who would want them dead?
Mia doesn’t talk. She can’t. She is locked in her own world where no one, not even her mother can reach her.
Desperate for answers, and convinced the truth might help her to reach her daughter, Danni tries to piece together the events leading up to that murderous night and uncover the arsonist. But with so many lies to untangle, what is the truth?
Prepare to have your breath taken away by an unforgettable twist that will leave you reeling...
Kirsty Ferguson is back with a heart-stopping, page-turning and utterly gripping novel, perfect for all fans of B. A. Paris and Adele Parks.
When her husband and two of her three children perish in a devastating house fire, Danni is sure it is arson. She’s even more sure that her and her eldest daughter Mia were meant to die in the fire too. But they are just a normal family. Who would want them dead?
Mia doesn’t talk. She can’t. She is locked in her own world where no one, not even her mother can reach her.
Desperate for answers, and convinced the truth might help her to reach her daughter, Danni tries to piece together the events leading up to that murderous night and uncover the arsonist. But with so many lies to untangle, what is the truth?
Prepare to have your breath taken away by an unforgettable twist that will leave you reeling...
Kirsty Ferguson is back with a heart-stopping, page-turning and utterly gripping novel, perfect for all fans of B. A. Paris and Adele Parks.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2020
76 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Kirsty Ferguson
10 books95 followersKirsty Ferguson is a born and bred Australian author. She writes crime and thriller novels. Her stories centre around strong, capable, yet flawed women, with dark themes and undertones, designed to make you question what you think you know about the people you're closest to. Kirsty chooses to deconstruct and enthrall her readers with the secrets of an everyday person, the stories behind closed doors.
Kirsty grew up in a rural town, on a farm and likes to base her stories in isolated places, physically, mentally and emotionally. She has long been a lover of reading and writing, beginning her professional career in 2015. She can be found with a good book in hand, her to be read list never growing any smaller no matter how hard she tries.
Kirsty grew up in a rural town, on a farm and likes to base her stories in isolated places, physically, mentally and emotionally. She has long been a lover of reading and writing, beginning her professional career in 2015. She can be found with a good book in hand, her to be read list never growing any smaller no matter how hard she tries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 3, 2020
This is my first Kirsty Ferguson read and to be honest I just couldn't get to grips with it. It starts fairly lively but I struggled to follow the structure of the novel.
Danni is positive that the house fire that killed her husband and two of her three children was arson. She also thinks that herself and her eldest daughter Mia were meant to die in the fire too. But she can't understand who would want her family dead.
Danni wants answers but with so many lies it is difficult to untangle the truth.
Too many plot holes and hard to believe situations for me.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Danni is positive that the house fire that killed her husband and two of her three children was arson. She also thinks that herself and her eldest daughter Mia were meant to die in the fire too. But she can't understand who would want her family dead.
Danni wants answers but with so many lies it is difficult to untangle the truth.
Too many plot holes and hard to believe situations for me.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
The Silent Daughter is the latest standalone thriller from Kirsty Ferguson and is a graphic and rather brutal domestic drama. Danni Brooks wed her high school sweetheart, Joe, twenty years ago and they have three children together, Mia, Alexandra and Noah, who are everything to Danni. When she wakes in the middle of the night to the dog barking relentlessly she exits the house to check on him outside, leaving Joe and the kids to their peaceful slumber, but the door slams behind her and she is unable to get back in. As she tries to wake them to allow her back inside, she notices flames engulfing the upper part of the house exactly where her precious family are sleeping. Standing there in complete shock her terror is shattered by Mia, her oldest daughter, taking the initiative and smashing her bedroom window before jumping out. Sadly, her husband and two of her three children perish in the fire and as Mia and Danni try to come to terms with the tragedy the police confirm Danni's suspicion that the fire was arson. But who despises the family enough to try to murder them all in their sleep?
This is a compelling, mysterious and addictive read from start to finish and is in many ways a refreshingly original domestic thriller/drama, and I thought it was written in such a way that it captured my attention from the outset, held onto it throughout and spun a yarn filled with exciting developments and chilling, twisty surprises better than some similar books. You soon learn that you should take everything the entire cast utters with a rather large pinch of salt in a story simply overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayal and duplicity, and although the role-call of characters is quite limited this allows the author to give plenty of attention to detail creating an engaging, if mostly wholly detestable, cast in the process. It's a pacy, compulsive and difficult to put down and there are some great, unexpected developments and surprises throughout. I will reiterate that there is abuse throughout, which is not for the faint hearted, and some harrowing incidents and it very much charts the emotion of a mother and daughter in deep pain. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC.
This is a compelling, mysterious and addictive read from start to finish and is in many ways a refreshingly original domestic thriller/drama, and I thought it was written in such a way that it captured my attention from the outset, held onto it throughout and spun a yarn filled with exciting developments and chilling, twisty surprises better than some similar books. You soon learn that you should take everything the entire cast utters with a rather large pinch of salt in a story simply overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayal and duplicity, and although the role-call of characters is quite limited this allows the author to give plenty of attention to detail creating an engaging, if mostly wholly detestable, cast in the process. It's a pacy, compulsive and difficult to put down and there are some great, unexpected developments and surprises throughout. I will reiterate that there is abuse throughout, which is not for the faint hearted, and some harrowing incidents and it very much charts the emotion of a mother and daughter in deep pain. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC.
November 11, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
When Danni Brooks husband and two of her thee children perished in a devastating house fire, Danni is sure that it's arson. She's also positive that herself and her eldest daughter, Mia were meant to die in the fire. But who would want them dead? Mia doesn't talk. She's locked in a place where no one can reach her. Danni is desperate for answers, convinced the truth will help reach her daughter.
Oh wow. This book is not what I was expecting at all. The characters were dysfunctional. There's so many lies to untangle. There's also quite a few plot holes. The story also includes lots of swearing, sex scenes and abuse.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #BoldworldBooks and the author #KirstyFerguson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Danni Brooks husband and two of her thee children perished in a devastating house fire, Danni is sure that it's arson. She's also positive that herself and her eldest daughter, Mia were meant to die in the fire. But who would want them dead? Mia doesn't talk. She's locked in a place where no one can reach her. Danni is desperate for answers, convinced the truth will help reach her daughter.
Oh wow. This book is not what I was expecting at all. The characters were dysfunctional. There's so many lies to untangle. There's also quite a few plot holes. The story also includes lots of swearing, sex scenes and abuse.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #BoldworldBooks and the author #KirstyFerguson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2020
It is really hard to review this book without spoilers. Most of the problems deal with a major twist and how it resulted in serious plot holes. The structure of the book is also very confusing, not only with multiple unnamed narrators, but also a nonlinear timeline. Again though, that's tied into the big twist at the end. What I can't understand is how no one has recognized all of the flaws up until this point. Not the author, editors, publisher, etc. Because the reveal at the end throws up numerous questions and errors that are not explained.
Essentially, the story is about Danni, a mother coming to grips with the house fire that killed her youngest two children and her husband. She can't understand why someone would target her family, and in such an evil way. So while her eldest daughter, Mia, grieves and refuses to connect with her, Danni retraces the events leading up to the fire as best she can, determined to find the one responsible for destroying her family.
So far, so good. We read about Danni's childhood with a brutally sadistic older sister who somehow abuses Danni continuously and no one cares or notices. Not the parents, teachers, classmates. Nor is it ever explained why her sister torments her, which is another unanswered question that will leave the readers frustrated. Oh, I guess she's just a sociopath, no big deal - no, that just doesn't cut it.
We also read about Mia's troubled secret relationship and another worrying situation with a classmate. When Danni discovers these, she believes that one of them must be responsible. And there's another unanswered question - the principal & guidance counselor's response to the classmate situation. I can't believe a single school would ever react this way, and it's never explained to the reader how or why they would do this and get away with it.
And here's the biggest issue, and it will spoil the surprise so please don't continue if you don't want to know.
SPOILERS BELOW
My issue is not with the truth about Mia, except for her flashback the night of the fire. Unless she died after getting out of the house, there could be no flashback. No, the issue is the flashbacks of Joanne and Christine. Christine's name is called out by another student. So if they knew her as Christine, they could not have known her as Danni, which is the only name she went by at school!. Otherwise, they would have called her name out as Danni. Then with Joanne's character, if she was always sleeping with all the boys, etc. she wouldn't have been the quiet girl Danni who Joe (the most popular guy school) didn't even know! He would have known her as the easy girl any guy could get with, and he sure wouldn't have dated her like he did.
And when she was older and going to the bars, she was already with Joe and pregnant. And Joe just never knew about any of that? In such a small town? And what on earth about that abortion?! When she had and kept 3 pregnancies! Any events that happened as 'Joanne' were real, so how is that supposed to be explained? And why would Joe have ever started dating Beth again (or ever, really) and have a child with her when she was so sadistic to Danni? You can't write that off as just a typical man wanting sex. Flashbacks in Joe's perspective show him truly loving Danni, despising Beth, and ending his cheating.
None of these scenarios make sense. The logistics of Joanne and Christine don't work and it's like the reader is supposed to be so amazed by the twist that they don't see the holes. I just don't get it, because if these flaws weren't there, this could have been a great story. But there is no way that readers won't end up thoroughly confused. And I did enjoy the style of writing, it was a definite page turner and that's why the disappointment was so great, because I was eagerly awaiting a conclusion that brought it all together and made sense. But all it brought was frustration.
Essentially, the story is about Danni, a mother coming to grips with the house fire that killed her youngest two children and her husband. She can't understand why someone would target her family, and in such an evil way. So while her eldest daughter, Mia, grieves and refuses to connect with her, Danni retraces the events leading up to the fire as best she can, determined to find the one responsible for destroying her family.
So far, so good. We read about Danni's childhood with a brutally sadistic older sister who somehow abuses Danni continuously and no one cares or notices. Not the parents, teachers, classmates. Nor is it ever explained why her sister torments her, which is another unanswered question that will leave the readers frustrated. Oh, I guess she's just a sociopath, no big deal - no, that just doesn't cut it.
We also read about Mia's troubled secret relationship and another worrying situation with a classmate. When Danni discovers these, she believes that one of them must be responsible. And there's another unanswered question - the principal & guidance counselor's response to the classmate situation. I can't believe a single school would ever react this way, and it's never explained to the reader how or why they would do this and get away with it.
And here's the biggest issue, and it will spoil the surprise so please don't continue if you don't want to know.
SPOILERS BELOW
My issue is not with the truth about Mia, except for her flashback the night of the fire. Unless she died after getting out of the house, there could be no flashback. No, the issue is the flashbacks of Joanne and Christine. Christine's name is called out by another student. So if they knew her as Christine, they could not have known her as Danni, which is the only name she went by at school!. Otherwise, they would have called her name out as Danni. Then with Joanne's character, if she was always sleeping with all the boys, etc. she wouldn't have been the quiet girl Danni who Joe (the most popular guy school) didn't even know! He would have known her as the easy girl any guy could get with, and he sure wouldn't have dated her like he did.
And when she was older and going to the bars, she was already with Joe and pregnant. And Joe just never knew about any of that? In such a small town? And what on earth about that abortion?! When she had and kept 3 pregnancies! Any events that happened as 'Joanne' were real, so how is that supposed to be explained? And why would Joe have ever started dating Beth again (or ever, really) and have a child with her when she was so sadistic to Danni? You can't write that off as just a typical man wanting sex. Flashbacks in Joe's perspective show him truly loving Danni, despising Beth, and ending his cheating.
None of these scenarios make sense. The logistics of Joanne and Christine don't work and it's like the reader is supposed to be so amazed by the twist that they don't see the holes. I just don't get it, because if these flaws weren't there, this could have been a great story. But there is no way that readers won't end up thoroughly confused. And I did enjoy the style of writing, it was a definite page turner and that's why the disappointment was so great, because I was eagerly awaiting a conclusion that brought it all together and made sense. But all it brought was frustration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2020
Danni is suffering a great loss. Her husband and her two young children have perished in a house fire. She is sure that she and her older daughter were meant to die with them .. but who hates them that much to want to wipe out an entire family?
Her 17-year-old daughter, Mia, is so traumatized she barely talks. Danni is desperate to know what really happened that night, but everyone around her seems to have a hidden agenda.
Danni was horribly abused and bullied when she was a child ... by her older sister. Danni's husband was once her sister's boyfriend .. you can imagine how well that went over! She hasn't spoken to her sister in 20 years. Would her sister, at this late date, still be angered enough to kill the family?
Mia is also a victim of bullying by another classmate. There is also a young man who follows Mia constantly, taking pictures of her. Mia wants nothing to do with either of them, but no matter how hard she tries to stay in the shadows, these two cause her untold misery. Could either of these young people go so far as to kill everyone in Dannie's family?
Eventually it comes out that her husband had been cheating on her .... with whom is the surprise. She keeps pushing him to leave his family, but he'd finding it harder than he thought. Did his lover get tired of waiting and decide to kill them all?
Well-written is story is told in segments from the past to today. Warning: There are a couple of chapters that leave the identity of the person 'speaking' unknown. It's suspenseful from the very first page. The characters are deftly drawn and the ending just took me totally by surprise. Never saw that coming! There are plenty of suspects to follow and wait for them to reveal their secrets and lies.
Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Merged review:
Danni is suffering a great loss. Her husband and her two young children have perished in a house fire. She is sure that she and her older daughter were meant to die with them .. but who hates them that much to want to wipe out an entire family?
Her 17-year-old daughter, Mia, is so traumatized she barely talks. Danni is desperate to know what really happened that night, but everyone around her seems to have a hidden agenda.
Danni was horribly abused and bullied when she was a child ... by her older sister. Danni's husband was once her sister's boyfriend .. you can imagine how well that went over! She hasn't spoken to her sister in 20 years. Would her sister, at this late date, still be angered enough to kill the family?
Mia is also a victim of bullying by another classmate. There is also a young man who follows Mia constantly, taking pictures of her. Mia wants nothing to do with either of them, but no matter how hard she tries to stay in the shadows, these two cause her untold misery. Could either of these young people go so far as to kill everyone in Dannie's family?
Eventually it comes out that her husband had been cheating on her .... with whom is the surprise. She keeps pushing him to leave his family, but he'd finding it harder than he thought. Did his lover get tired of waiting and decide to kill them all?
Well-written is story is told in segments from the past to today. Warning: There are a couple of chapters that leave the identity of the person 'speaking' unknown. It's suspenseful from the very first page. The characters are deftly drawn and the ending just took me totally by surprise. Never saw that coming! There are plenty of suspects to follow and wait for them to reveal their secrets and lies.
Many thanks to the author / Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 23, 2020
When a house fire takes the lives of Danni Brooks’ husband and 2 of her three children, it leaves nothing but devastation in its wake. Danni and her daughter Mia are left picking up the pieces after the tragedy they have gone through. When the fire is determined to be arson, Danni sets out on a quest to find the culprit behind it all before her last remaining child is taken from her as well. But with secrets and lies weaved through the pages, the truth isn’t always that simple.
The story starts out nice and slow and before you know it you are thrown right into the thick of things as the story starts to intensify. I wouldn’t necessarily say my attention was captured right from the beginning, but then a certain point hits and I found myself flipping through the pages in order to find out the truth. There is something to say about a slow burn that can easily flip the switch in a heartbeat and captivate you all the way through with an unreliable narrator, secrets, lies and half-truths aplenty.
The SIlent Daughter is rather dark in nature, raw and unfiltered. There are a lot of scenes of abuse and they are definitely not for the faint of heart. Kirsty Fergusen hits her readers hard with the emotional impact abuse can take on a person, but also shows how one can also endure through heartache and pain.
The story starts out nice and slow and before you know it you are thrown right into the thick of things as the story starts to intensify. I wouldn’t necessarily say my attention was captured right from the beginning, but then a certain point hits and I found myself flipping through the pages in order to find out the truth. There is something to say about a slow burn that can easily flip the switch in a heartbeat and captivate you all the way through with an unreliable narrator, secrets, lies and half-truths aplenty.
The SIlent Daughter is rather dark in nature, raw and unfiltered. There are a lot of scenes of abuse and they are definitely not for the faint of heart. Kirsty Fergusen hits her readers hard with the emotional impact abuse can take on a person, but also shows how one can also endure through heartache and pain.
November 15, 2020
📚 Read For? Rachel's Random Resources Blog Tour #NetgalleyNovember #30DaysReviewChallenge Day 15
📚 Series? No.
📚 Genre? Mystery/Thriller
⚠ Content Warnings: Arson. Stalking. Death in the family. Physical and emotional abuse. Bullying.
⚠ Book Tags : Mental health.
⚠ This Book In Emojis: 🔥🏡🔥😲😲😲😲😲
Suprisingly Twisty, Surprisingly Good
If you've been reading my blog posts or watching my Booktube videos, you might have noticed that I've been addicted to reading thrillers in the past few months. So, when I was given the chance to jump on to this tour, I felt so excited.
I was so happy that I made the decision, because, boy, did I enjoy this book!
The Silent Daughter is a story revolving around Danni, who lost her house, her husband, and her two kids in a fire. She is left with her daughter, Mia, who has been pretty silent since the incident. However, Danni strictly believes that somebody deliberately planned on burning the house. The thing is, who is it?
As we try to unravel the culprit for Danni losing most of her family, the book brings up to different timelines. There was alternating present and past narratives, but the stories were mixed up in terms of a linear form. At first, it can be a little confusing because there is also an unnamed character telling her story between every few chapters. But this pacing made the book much more interesting. Watching the story unfold is so nerve wracking - you don't have to worry about dull moments!
If you're not into dark themes, this book might not be for you. It has graphic sexual content, vulgar words, and check on the content warnings mentioned above.
Overall, I had a great time with my first Kirsty Ferguson book. Her writing style fits my tastes
and I hope to read her future works.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Thrill: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Bonus:
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 ☁
Much thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Booktube ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
📚 Series? No.
📚 Genre? Mystery/Thriller
⚠ Content Warnings: Arson. Stalking. Death in the family. Physical and emotional abuse. Bullying.
⚠ Book Tags : Mental health.
⚠ This Book In Emojis: 🔥🏡🔥😲😲😲😲😲
Suprisingly Twisty, Surprisingly Good
If you've been reading my blog posts or watching my Booktube videos, you might have noticed that I've been addicted to reading thrillers in the past few months. So, when I was given the chance to jump on to this tour, I felt so excited.
I was so happy that I made the decision, because, boy, did I enjoy this book!
The Silent Daughter is a story revolving around Danni, who lost her house, her husband, and her two kids in a fire. She is left with her daughter, Mia, who has been pretty silent since the incident. However, Danni strictly believes that somebody deliberately planned on burning the house. The thing is, who is it?
As we try to unravel the culprit for Danni losing most of her family, the book brings up to different timelines. There was alternating present and past narratives, but the stories were mixed up in terms of a linear form. At first, it can be a little confusing because there is also an unnamed character telling her story between every few chapters. But this pacing made the book much more interesting. Watching the story unfold is so nerve wracking - you don't have to worry about dull moments!
If you're not into dark themes, this book might not be for you. It has graphic sexual content, vulgar words, and check on the content warnings mentioned above.
Overall, I had a great time with my first Kirsty Ferguson book. Her writing style fits my tastes
and I hope to read her future works.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Thrill: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Bonus:
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4/5 ☁
Much thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Booktube ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
May 15, 2022
This story was a little hard to follow with a couple of characters that pop up through out the book with no explanation as to who they are. Of course at the end, it is all explained. Even with that, I found the story quite unbelievable. No way could somebody have multiple personalities and be married that long with nobody knowing anything. I guessed most of the plot before the ending. This story could have been so much better if it wasn't all over the place and unbelievable.
November 12, 2020
3.5- This was a thriller that intrigued me from the start, and held my attention. The more we found out the more I was convinced who was responsible however the twists kept coming. The final twist was brilliant and surprising and one I did not see coming at all. I thought the plot was great, and loved the flashbacks that appeared throughout, and the fact that we did not know who they were referring to until the end. Would recommend this and will be looking out for more by this author!
October 22, 2020
Finished reading: October 21st 2020
DNF at 23% (77 pages)
"That was how she felt. Alone, adrift in a sea of people who looked like her, but she could never seem to find a way in with them."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 24, 2022
Makes no sense whatsoever. I’m so glad one other person detailed why it didn’t because I felt like I was going mad. Other call them plot holes. No, they’re huge glaring canyons that make the whole thing nonsensical and I can’t believe it was noticed.
Spoilers:
Dani has split personality disorder. She is also Joanne and Christine, whose stories are told in flashback. But Joanne has such a distinctive storyline in high school, it does not fit with Dani’s at all. Why would Jo stay with someone known to sleep with the whole school, after she was pregnant as well?? And Christine was called Christine by other students. How? How?? This made me so angry 😂 but at the same time I enjoyed it until the end hence the two stars.
Oh and the whole, Mia isn’t there fight club nonsense was so unnecessary and also didn’t make sense because of her flashback. Anyway another reader already said all this but I just wanted to reiterate. Absolutely mental.
Spoilers:
Dani has split personality disorder. She is also Joanne and Christine, whose stories are told in flashback. But Joanne has such a distinctive storyline in high school, it does not fit with Dani’s at all. Why would Jo stay with someone known to sleep with the whole school, after she was pregnant as well?? And Christine was called Christine by other students. How? How?? This made me so angry 😂 but at the same time I enjoyed it until the end hence the two stars.
Oh and the whole, Mia isn’t there fight club nonsense was so unnecessary and also didn’t make sense because of her flashback. Anyway another reader already said all this but I just wanted to reiterate. Absolutely mental.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2022
Audiobook
The plot, and back and forth from different points of view is intriguing but the biggest take away is abuse being ignored, causing untold mental illness is awful, even from own family
The plot, and back and forth from different points of view is intriguing but the biggest take away is abuse being ignored, causing untold mental illness is awful, even from own family
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2020
Where to start to review The Silent Daughter by Kirsty Ferguson? I have just finished this story and I'm still trying to digest everything I've read. At the heart of the tale is a family drama that revolves around our main character Danni Brooks. And, when I started to learn about Danni's childhood, I couldn't help but feel a strong emotional connection. As a mother I just wanted to reach into the pages and scoop her up to protect her.
The story bounces around from past and present narrative, from numerous characters. And, I must admit there were times that I needed to be more focused to understand where in time I was.
But, what interested me in all this jumping around were the chapters from two unknown characters, they were nameless but I still felt drawn into their storyline. Wondering how they are linked to the main story. My mind went into overdrive trying to solve the mystery of their identities.
There are a few aspects to this storyline that may be tough for some people to read. But, it gave the characters depth and made us want to know more.
The Silent Daughter is definitely a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing as to what the outcome will be. The intertwining storylines are weaved to perfection culminating in an unforgettable conclusion.
The story bounces around from past and present narrative, from numerous characters. And, I must admit there were times that I needed to be more focused to understand where in time I was.
But, what interested me in all this jumping around were the chapters from two unknown characters, they were nameless but I still felt drawn into their storyline. Wondering how they are linked to the main story. My mind went into overdrive trying to solve the mystery of their identities.
There are a few aspects to this storyline that may be tough for some people to read. But, it gave the characters depth and made us want to know more.
The Silent Daughter is definitely a gripping thriller that will keep you guessing as to what the outcome will be. The intertwining storylines are weaved to perfection culminating in an unforgettable conclusion.
December 10, 2020
A twisted plot written by the author when Danni's husband and two of her kids were killed in a fire, suspected to be arson. Only she and the eldest daughter, Mia, were the sole survivors but Mia didn't speak. She was locked in shock and terror.
A dysfunctional family with lies abounding it was the core of the book. The story was steady paced as slowly the truth unfurled. There was the theme of abuse and infidelity written it, but at times, it got to me and forced me to skim read. The story had dual timelines but not written with clarity. I kept being taken unawares. The premise was good but needed a sharper way of telling me the story.
Overall it was an okay read.
A dysfunctional family with lies abounding it was the core of the book. The story was steady paced as slowly the truth unfurled. There was the theme of abuse and infidelity written it, but at times, it got to me and forced me to skim read. The story had dual timelines but not written with clarity. I kept being taken unawares. The premise was good but needed a sharper way of telling me the story.
Overall it was an okay read.
October 17, 2020
The author has said that she wanted to bring to light the mental health issues in women and it is a very good endeavour . But the book mainly concentrates on abuse and the erotic scenes all through the book are nauseating. To give the final twist, she has compromised on the plot leaving glaring holes. All the characters seem to be dysfunctional. I couldn't understand how further psychiatrist evaluation and follow up for a girl in care would be totally ignored. Specifying the other plot holes would spoil the suspense for other readers. 2.5 stars
April 23, 2021
This was a disturbing read. I didn't enjoy it.
There are multiple graphic descriptions of abuse, sexual and bullying.
For me, the story felt repetitive. Too dark and depressing.
The switch between timelines was at times confusing.
The ending came quickly and left a lot of loose ends.
There are multiple graphic descriptions of abuse, sexual and bullying.
For me, the story felt repetitive. Too dark and depressing.
The switch between timelines was at times confusing.
The ending came quickly and left a lot of loose ends.
November 10, 2020
The Silent Daughter is such a complex, beautifully plotted and expertly delivered narrative - it left me spinning. I'm finding it difficult to discuss the actual story line in much detail as the beauty of this story is that there are so many aspects of the narrative that it would be too easy to give a spoiler .. and I want you all to enjoy it in it's entirety with no spoilers as I did. It will leave you stunned and in tears and absolutely emotionally drained.
With backstory seamlessly woven with current and ongoing events, this had me gripped from the start. You'll need to keep on your toes as nothing is exactly as it seems and WOW! ... that ending and the massive twist will floor you - it certainly did me.
It was like a fascinating jigsaw where some of the pieces were just out of my reach and where I'd jammed some of them into the wrong place and had to reconsider my options. Breathless and totally invested, I was stunned when I reached the end and I'm sure you will be too.
On occasion I was nearly in tears and without giving too much away, the tragedy of this story is that similar things happen all over the world.
5***** without a doubt.
With backstory seamlessly woven with current and ongoing events, this had me gripped from the start. You'll need to keep on your toes as nothing is exactly as it seems and WOW! ... that ending and the massive twist will floor you - it certainly did me.
It was like a fascinating jigsaw where some of the pieces were just out of my reach and where I'd jammed some of them into the wrong place and had to reconsider my options. Breathless and totally invested, I was stunned when I reached the end and I'm sure you will be too.
On occasion I was nearly in tears and without giving too much away, the tragedy of this story is that similar things happen all over the world.
5***** without a doubt.
November 9, 2022
I wasn’t sure I could listen to the narrator of this book but I got used to her. Glad I persevered too. A lot going on all the time and you needed to concentrate to keep up! But not read this author before so not sure if all her books are like this. Overall a really good book with a surprise at the end that you wouldn’t think.
July 13, 2022
After seeing the overall rating, I was prepared to be disappointed in this book. I actually liked the storyline and liked the way the loose ends came together at the end.
March 1, 2023
Original. Heartbreaking.
March 19, 2022
3.5 ⭐ a good read and interesting story but a little disappointed with the ending.
March 5, 2022
SUPER thrilling ride throughout. Well written, great characterization wrapped up in a suspenseful story line & leading to a shocking finale. Enjoyed fully & RECOMMEND totally!!
April 15, 2022
I'm sorry. This is a harsh rating. It was just so repetitive, where the same line was repeated on the next page, slightly altered. We all knew where it was going when conveniently it was added that Dany was "losing time" and blacking out, right?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
I read and loved Kirsty’s previous book which is called ‘Never Ever Tell’. Since I read that one, I have been (im)patiently waiting for her next book. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because Kirsty’s new book is called ‘The Silent Daughter’ and it was released on 10th November 2020. Overall I did enjoy reading ‘The Silent Daughter’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I didn’t like many, if any, of the characters. I guess I have been reading too much crime fiction, which leaves me believing nobody and suspecting everybody. There were just certain little details about particular characters that set off little alarm bells for me or made me wonder what they were hiding. I didn’t warm to the characters but that wasn’t a bad thing as it meant that I didn’t favour one character over another.
It didn’t take me long to get into the story and then oh boy, I just couldn’t put the book down for very long. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I feared that if I put the book to one side for any length of time then I might miss a vital bit of evidence or gossip. To say that reading ‘The Silent Daughter’ became addictive seems like a huge understatement. If I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book and my desperation to find out what happened and just who was telling the truth grew and grew. Then I soon got to the end of ‘The Silent Daughter’ and I had to bid farewell to the characters.
I found ‘The Silent Daughter’ to be really well written. Kirsty certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into the story. Then she takes you on one hell of a fast paced, unpredictable and at times scary rollercoaster ride. Kirsty weaves quite a lot of twists and turns to the story. I thought that I had fathomed out who had done what only to realise that I had the wrong end of the stick and Kirsty sent me down another path entirely. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that’s thanks to Kirsty’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Silent Daughter’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Kirsty’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I have to say that I didn’t like many, if any, of the characters. I guess I have been reading too much crime fiction, which leaves me believing nobody and suspecting everybody. There were just certain little details about particular characters that set off little alarm bells for me or made me wonder what they were hiding. I didn’t warm to the characters but that wasn’t a bad thing as it meant that I didn’t favour one character over another.
It didn’t take me long to get into the story and then oh boy, I just couldn’t put the book down for very long. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I feared that if I put the book to one side for any length of time then I might miss a vital bit of evidence or gossip. To say that reading ‘The Silent Daughter’ became addictive seems like a huge understatement. If I wasn’t reading the book, I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book to one side then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book and my desperation to find out what happened and just who was telling the truth grew and grew. Then I soon got to the end of ‘The Silent Daughter’ and I had to bid farewell to the characters.
I found ‘The Silent Daughter’ to be really well written. Kirsty certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into the story. Then she takes you on one hell of a fast paced, unpredictable and at times scary rollercoaster ride. Kirsty weaves quite a lot of twists and turns to the story. I thought that I had fathomed out who had done what only to realise that I had the wrong end of the stick and Kirsty sent me down another path entirely. I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that’s thanks to Kirsty’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Silent Daughter’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Kirsty’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
January 1, 2021
It's one of those stupid accidents, everyone does it. A mistake, but one with devastating consequences. Now the only person Danni has left is treating her with utter disdain. Is it grief or is there more to the story?
It's a very dark domestic thriller and perhaps one that will make people uncomfortable about a few home truths there are in it. The first being that sisterly love is a concept romanticised by the media, society and most definitely social media. Why? Because it sounds so much better, the cotton candy fluffy supportive love between sisters, as opposed to the destructive, violent, jealous and often hidden hatred that lurks just beneath the surface. Then again sometimes it doesn't even bother lurking.
Kudos to Ferguson for that, even if the storyline is merely in the fictional context of this story- it is still refreshing to read the reality of what a sisterly relationship can look like when it doesn't conform to the norm. When movies, books and people tell you that the person closest to you in the family unit should be your biggest supporter and confidante, and instead is your most vicious enemy intent on harming you. It happens - it's very real.
This is a dark, sinister read with graphic scenes at times and characters who are quite unforgiving when it comes to emotional distress and harming each other. It's not escapism and it doesn't try to be. Ferguson wants you to wonder about the the stories and gossip you hear, perhaps this will make you look at someone from a different perspective.
*I received a courtesy copy*
It's a very dark domestic thriller and perhaps one that will make people uncomfortable about a few home truths there are in it. The first being that sisterly love is a concept romanticised by the media, society and most definitely social media. Why? Because it sounds so much better, the cotton candy fluffy supportive love between sisters, as opposed to the destructive, violent, jealous and often hidden hatred that lurks just beneath the surface. Then again sometimes it doesn't even bother lurking.
Kudos to Ferguson for that, even if the storyline is merely in the fictional context of this story- it is still refreshing to read the reality of what a sisterly relationship can look like when it doesn't conform to the norm. When movies, books and people tell you that the person closest to you in the family unit should be your biggest supporter and confidante, and instead is your most vicious enemy intent on harming you. It happens - it's very real.
This is a dark, sinister read with graphic scenes at times and characters who are quite unforgiving when it comes to emotional distress and harming each other. It's not escapism and it doesn't try to be. Ferguson wants you to wonder about the the stories and gossip you hear, perhaps this will make you look at someone from a different perspective.
*I received a courtesy copy*
November 11, 2020
I want to preface my review that this book contains many triggers death, suicide fire, rape, abuse, mental illness.
The story revolves around the main character mostly in her adult life but we get flashbacks into her childhood as she silently suffering through a mental illness that the main character wasn't even aware that she suffered from until the very end of the book. I also found that there were some side stories in the novel that I'm not sure that they needed to be included because they had no relevance to the main plot.
I found the story to be a little confusing as it went back and forth to past she present of Danni, the main characters life, until almost the end where it really came into view what was going on and the rest of the story came into focus and made sense.
Danni a mother of three finds herself locked out of her farmhouse watching her house burn to the ground with her family image inside. Luckily her eldest daughter escaped. The reminder of the book is watching Danni with her daughter trying to cope and mourn the loss of her family. Her older sister who was quite abusive to her in her childhood is back in the picture tormenting Danni and blackmailing her for insurance money from the fire. The only issue is the fire was ruled an arson. As we have flashbacks to Danni's childhood we learn that it wasn't the best and ultimately disvover that Danni has been silently dealing with a mental illness that even herself wasn't aware of.
The story revolves around the main character mostly in her adult life but we get flashbacks into her childhood as she silently suffering through a mental illness that the main character wasn't even aware that she suffered from until the very end of the book. I also found that there were some side stories in the novel that I'm not sure that they needed to be included because they had no relevance to the main plot.
I found the story to be a little confusing as it went back and forth to past she present of Danni, the main characters life, until almost the end where it really came into view what was going on and the rest of the story came into focus and made sense.
Danni a mother of three finds herself locked out of her farmhouse watching her house burn to the ground with her family image inside. Luckily her eldest daughter escaped. The reminder of the book is watching Danni with her daughter trying to cope and mourn the loss of her family. Her older sister who was quite abusive to her in her childhood is back in the picture tormenting Danni and blackmailing her for insurance money from the fire. The only issue is the fire was ruled an arson. As we have flashbacks to Danni's childhood we learn that it wasn't the best and ultimately disvover that Danni has been silently dealing with a mental illness that even herself wasn't aware of.
November 14, 2020
Trigger warning - rape, abuse, and mental illness
Danni Brooks wakes up in the middle of the night, heads outside to see what the dog is barking at and essentially get locked out - next thing she sees her house go up in flames with her husband and three children inside! Mia her oldest manages to get out by smashing her bedroom window and from here the story revolves around the fire investigation.
The book is told from Danni's view from her past during her childhood suffering bullying and abuse from her older sister Beth to the present dealing with the aftermath of the fire and trying to coax her daughter Mia into not falling into a pit of darkness. There are several points of view from other characters that you begin to wonder who they are and how they relate to Danni, and once all is releveled I was not expecting that twist not only that we were thrown with another twist right at the very end!!
I really enjoyed this book and it was a 5 star read for me as once I started it I could no put it down = one word of warning the bullying, rape and abuse is very central theme but very essential to tell Danni's tale.
5 stars
Danni Brooks wakes up in the middle of the night, heads outside to see what the dog is barking at and essentially get locked out - next thing she sees her house go up in flames with her husband and three children inside! Mia her oldest manages to get out by smashing her bedroom window and from here the story revolves around the fire investigation.
The book is told from Danni's view from her past during her childhood suffering bullying and abuse from her older sister Beth to the present dealing with the aftermath of the fire and trying to coax her daughter Mia into not falling into a pit of darkness. There are several points of view from other characters that you begin to wonder who they are and how they relate to Danni, and once all is releveled I was not expecting that twist not only that we were thrown with another twist right at the very end!!
I really enjoyed this book and it was a 5 star read for me as once I started it I could no put it down = one word of warning the bullying, rape and abuse is very central theme but very essential to tell Danni's tale.
5 stars
February 19, 2021
A compelling and heartbreaking tale shrouded in mystery and deceit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each chapter delves into the life of a character. Following their family and school life, the influence of those around them and ultimately how that shapes the path their future lies upon.
Some of the characters are left unnamed, this at times was a bit confusing but their stories and individual traits were so well written that I was hooked to find out more.
I think ultimately the power of this particular story comes once you’ve finished the book. I’m not one for spoilers so I won’t tell you what happens other than there is an unexpected twist at the end.
The end of this book leaves open just as many questions as the rest of the book created. So, my initial reaction was ‘what? It ends there?’ But as I mentioned, the ending is one that stays with you and makes you reconsider what you simply read and accepted.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Each chapter delves into the life of a character. Following their family and school life, the influence of those around them and ultimately how that shapes the path their future lies upon.
Some of the characters are left unnamed, this at times was a bit confusing but their stories and individual traits were so well written that I was hooked to find out more.
I think ultimately the power of this particular story comes once you’ve finished the book. I’m not one for spoilers so I won’t tell you what happens other than there is an unexpected twist at the end.
The end of this book leaves open just as many questions as the rest of the book created. So, my initial reaction was ‘what? It ends there?’ But as I mentioned, the ending is one that stays with you and makes you reconsider what you simply read and accepted.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2021
When a house fire (arson suspected) kills Danni's husband and two of their three children she feels guilt for surviving it and struggles to care for her 17 year old remaining daughter - who now doesn’t speak. This story jumps back and forth between Danni's early life and her abusive older sister, to a foster family, her marriage and dealing with the insurers post-fire.
There are several implausible parts - for example when Danni meets an acquaintance who offers to help arrange the funeral for Danni’s deceased family members -seriously! Even more unbelievable than Danni accepting this offer, she decides not to attend the funeral! The book also includes sex scenes which are abusive and don’t really add anything to the story. Overall, disappointing.
There are several implausible parts - for example when Danni meets an acquaintance who offers to help arrange the funeral for Danni’s deceased family members -seriously! Even more unbelievable than Danni accepting this offer, she decides not to attend the funeral! The book also includes sex scenes which are abusive and don’t really add anything to the story. Overall, disappointing.
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February 18, 2022OMG!!! if you want to talk and circles that turns to spiral and zig zag; "Honey, this is for you". Don't get me wrong I love Kristy Ferguson but her plot area always about mental problems and domestic kinda expecting the sequence of it all. I loved SPLIT and still love it though this story doesn't justify it. It just didn't....there were so much holes, flaws, scratches blah blah blah... avid readers and fanatic of audible like those but, it has to have a solid foundation and a vengeful ending. This story didn't commit to that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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