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The Perfect Daughter
Rain pounds the windscreen in the pitch-black evening. She knows this winding country road like the back of her hand, dodges the potholes with ease. But then she hears a crunch. A thud. She slams on the brakes.
Since Katie’s dad left it’s just been the two of us, but we’re a team – singing in the kitchen at cheesy pop songs, tackling her homework. My teenage daughter is everything to me.
But one night, as we’re curled up in front of the TV, the messages start. I keep my phone away from Katie so she can’t see the terrifying words: I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me…
I have no choice but to obey. Because if I go to the police, come clean about what I did to protect my girl, all the questions and prying eyes would soon discover Katie’s secret too. And that would tear her life apart.
So I drive where they tell me, do what they say, send the photo evidence they want. I feel sick when they ask me to cause someone harm, and it’s clear they know everything about our lives. I thought I was keeping a secret to keep my girl safe. But have I actually put her in even more danger?
An absolutely addictive thriller about how far a mother would go for her child, with a twist that will leave you gasping. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down.
Since Katie’s dad left it’s just been the two of us, but we’re a team – singing in the kitchen at cheesy pop songs, tackling her homework. My teenage daughter is everything to me.
But one night, as we’re curled up in front of the TV, the messages start. I keep my phone away from Katie so she can’t see the terrifying words: I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me…
I have no choice but to obey. Because if I go to the police, come clean about what I did to protect my girl, all the questions and prying eyes would soon discover Katie’s secret too. And that would tear her life apart.
So I drive where they tell me, do what they say, send the photo evidence they want. I feel sick when they ask me to cause someone harm, and it’s clear they know everything about our lives. I thought I was keeping a secret to keep my girl safe. But have I actually put her in even more danger?
An absolutely addictive thriller about how far a mother would go for her child, with a twist that will leave you gasping. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2021
286 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
72 books1,082 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 15, 2021
BLOG TOUR - 9/16/21
"I know what you did"
Rain, darkness, and windy county roads are not a good mix. But what if you know this road like the back of your hand? What if you are in a hurry? What if you hear a crunch? What if you hear a thud? What happens if you leave the scene?
Jen is driving to pick her daughter up from football practice. She is driving down a road she has driven countless times, but unfortunately this time does not go quite so well. In fact, it ends horrifically.
Jen needs to pick up her daughter, Katie, and reeling from her decision goes home to watch TV. Soon the messages begin "I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me…" Jen must do as she is asked, doesn't she? She has her daughter to think of after all. Her husband left and is living with another woman. Her daughter will soon be taking her exams and going to college. Plus, Katie has a secret as well. What happens if that secret comes out?
How long can Jen keep this up? How long could you live with what you did and the decision you made?
So obviously there is a BIG moral element in this book! The old can you live with the choice(s) you made? What are you willing to do to keep a secret?
This was a quick read with a twist or two thrown into the mix. The beginning sets the stage and the suspense mounts throughout the book. Even though we are privy to what Jen did and the choice she made, we do not know the identity of the person sending her the messages. Toward the end, I had my suspicions and got it right but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Fans of Wilkinson and quick entertaining reads will not be disappointed.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
"I know what you did"
Rain, darkness, and windy county roads are not a good mix. But what if you know this road like the back of your hand? What if you are in a hurry? What if you hear a crunch? What if you hear a thud? What happens if you leave the scene?
Jen is driving to pick her daughter up from football practice. She is driving down a road she has driven countless times, but unfortunately this time does not go quite so well. In fact, it ends horrifically.
Jen needs to pick up her daughter, Katie, and reeling from her decision goes home to watch TV. Soon the messages begin "I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me…" Jen must do as she is asked, doesn't she? She has her daughter to think of after all. Her husband left and is living with another woman. Her daughter will soon be taking her exams and going to college. Plus, Katie has a secret as well. What happens if that secret comes out?
How long can Jen keep this up? How long could you live with what you did and the decision you made?
So obviously there is a BIG moral element in this book! The old can you live with the choice(s) you made? What are you willing to do to keep a secret?
This was a quick read with a twist or two thrown into the mix. The beginning sets the stage and the suspense mounts throughout the book. Even though we are privy to what Jen did and the choice she made, we do not know the identity of the person sending her the messages. Toward the end, I had my suspicions and got it right but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Fans of Wilkinson and quick entertaining reads will not be disappointed.
3.5 stars
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 16, 2021
The Perfect Daughter by Kerry Wilkinson is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Jennifer is late picking up her daughter Katie. The rain is pounding, and it is pitch black. She hits something, or someone.
And so begins her nightmare. If she admits to what she did, she could end up in jail for the rest of her life. She can't leave her daughter. Katie is her world.
Jennifer starts to receive text messages from someone who says they know what she did, and they want her to do something for them to earn their silence.
If that isn't enough, she's trying to deal with an ex-husband and his girlfriend, and now her daughter is acting a little strange.
My Opinions:
I wish I had liked the main character. She bothered me from the beginning. I kept thinking that I should feel sorry for her, but I didn't. She was a selfish woman, always thinking of herself, and not as concerned about her daughter as she should have been. As well, her choices were just wrong.
I can't say I was surprised as to what happened. All the "twists" seemed inevitable to me.
On the plus side, the book kept my interest from start to finish, even when I was disappointed with the character and plot. It was also a very fast read. That abrupt ending was probably the best thing of the book, as it provided me with the opportunity to give it my own ending.
Overall, the book was good, just not great. I will continue to read Kerry's books, because he is a talented writer, and his books are always entertaining!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 14, 2021
The Perfect Daughter by Kerry Wilkinson.
Jen is on her way to pick up her daughter from the sports pitch on a dark wet evening and accidentally hits a woman with her car. She thinks that the woman is dead so she drives away without reporting this or getting help.
The next day she receives a text message from an anonymous caller saying that they know what she did.
Some twist and turns in this book but I had already guessed the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jen is on her way to pick up her daughter from the sports pitch on a dark wet evening and accidentally hits a woman with her car. She thinks that the woman is dead so she drives away without reporting this or getting help.
The next day she receives a text message from an anonymous caller saying that they know what she did.
Some twist and turns in this book but I had already guessed the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2021
Rain pounds on the windscreen in the pitch-black evening. She knows this winding country road like the back of her hand, dodges the potholes with ease. But then she hears a crunch. A thud. She slams on the brakes.
Since Katie's dad left it's just been the two of us. But one night, as we're curled up in front of the tv, the messages start. I keep my phone away from Katie so she can't see the terrifying words: I know what you did. Now you're going to do something for me....
Jennifer made the wrong decision in a split second and she has regretted it ever since. Guilt now consumes her every waking hour. She thought no one had seen her. But they had. And now she's being blackmailed by someone, but who?
Kerry know how to tell a great story that's easy to read but gripping at the same time. Jennifer suspects everyone of being the blackmailer. I did guess correctly quite early on who they were but that doesn't spoil a good story for me. I liked all the characters in this book, they were well developed and believable. This is a tense and thrilling read and I could not put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
Since Katie's dad left it's just been the two of us. But one night, as we're curled up in front of the tv, the messages start. I keep my phone away from Katie so she can't see the terrifying words: I know what you did. Now you're going to do something for me....
Jennifer made the wrong decision in a split second and she has regretted it ever since. Guilt now consumes her every waking hour. She thought no one had seen her. But they had. And now she's being blackmailed by someone, but who?
Kerry know how to tell a great story that's easy to read but gripping at the same time. Jennifer suspects everyone of being the blackmailer. I did guess correctly quite early on who they were but that doesn't spoil a good story for me. I liked all the characters in this book, they were well developed and believable. This is a tense and thrilling read and I could not put it down. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #KerryWilkinson for my ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2021
A psychological thriller by author Kerry Wilkinson. I enjoy reading Kerry Wilkinson books, they are addictive, good plots, not over complicated and generally enjoyable reads. This book had me gripped early on and I was enjoying it but I felt that it failed to maintain the same suspense throughout, leaving me fluctuating from a 3 to 4 star rating.
The book opens with a hit and run leaving two casualties fighting for their lives. Following the accident the story is fast paced, lots of twists and turns, blackmail and threats. Not the best novel by this author but still a good read.
I would like to thank both Net Gallery and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The book opens with a hit and run leaving two casualties fighting for their lives. Following the accident the story is fast paced, lots of twists and turns, blackmail and threats. Not the best novel by this author but still a good read.
I would like to thank both Net Gallery and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2021
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kerry Wilkinson's tension-filled thriller THE PERFECT DAUGHTER.
As a long time fan of Kerry Wilkinson's standalone thrillers, I was excited to dive into THE PERFECT DAUGHTER and I must say, the title puzzles me as it will other readers. And while Jennifer's daughter is anything but perfect, it would have been better off titled "I Know What You Did" as that is far more fitting with the whole story without giving anything away. But that aside, Kerry's ability to bring humour and wit into a psychological thriller that's filled with tension throughout, is something that keeps me coming back for more.
This description when Jennifer is at the supermarket over recycled shopping bags had me chuckling: "It doesn't help that today's plastic bags are thinner than Polly from three doors down after she had the gastric band fitted." But the witty descriptions don't stop there...the book, like his many others, are riddled with them.
The story begins not with a THEN scenario prologue as many others do, but rather the day before the incident. Jennifer is at the supermarket doing a shop, mentally chastising herself for forgetting the bags for life she always forgets and having to purchase more to bag her groceries with, when she sees 16 year old Josh Tanner using every inch of his 6' 4" size to tower and intimidate a much smaller and inevitably younger child. She calls him out on it and he just glares at her. That's when she sees his mother Sharon with her two year old toddler Frank sidle up to her own car with her groceries and upon noticing Jennifer looking at her, she glares back and yells what the hell is she looking at. Jennifer tells her what she saw and his mother turns to Josh who was now approaching the car "Is that right?" to which she just receives a shrug in answer. Not content with that, Sharon then tells Jennifer to keep her nose out of other people's business and drives off, leaving Jennifer wondering what the hell just happened.
But the real story doesn't begin there...it's the following night in the pouring rain on her way to pick up her daughter Katie from football practice that it happens. A text, a second text, then another causing Jennifer to take her eyes off the road for a mere two seconds and then THUMP! she hit something. Slamming on her brakes, she looks out into the dead of night through the pouring rain and sees nothing. She gets out thinking she hit a bin that was placed too close to the road and it's not until she is about to get back in the car that she sees a darkened form on the verge. She recognises her instantly as Sharon Tanner. She speaks to her and receives no response. What should she do? She should call an ambulance...but then she would be charged with dangerous driving...and what if Sharon's dead? She could end up in prison and what would happen to Katie? These thoughts and more flood her mind as she climbs back into her car and drives off to pick up Katie.
The next morning, the news had the village all agog. Did you hear about the hit and run last night on Green Road? Sharon Tanner and her little boy were hit! Jennifer is shocked. She never saw a child. Or even a buggy! What if she's killed them both? She should hand herself in...but isn't it too late? She left the scene of an accident. She'd be in even worse trouble. And so Jennifer's choice is made.
But then she receives the text...
"I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me...."
Someone saw her? But the road was dead. Nothing and no one was out there. Sharon and her son shouldn't have been either...but they were. And now things go from bad to worse as Jennifer finds herself at the mercy of a blackmailer. It begins with a small request followed by another before threats are made towards her daughter and then the blackmailer's final request. Which goes against everything she believes in. But then she also hit a woman and her child and left them to die on the side of the road... Jennifer knows whoever is blackmailing and threatening her has her over a barrel. She has no choice but to do their bidding.
As the mysterious texts continue, Jennifer wonders if she made the right decision. Certainly it's too late to own up now but as her life begins to erode piece by piece, she wonders is there anything she can salvage from the dire situation in which she finds herself before it's too late?
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is a fast paced addictive thriller that I read in a day as I pondered Jennifer's bad decisions and her predicament. The well-written plot is certainly compelling and tension-filled from start to finish though it does lag a little in the middle with Jennifer consumed with mainly thoughts about her and how her decisions affect her. She wasn't someone I was endeared to but I could understand her predicament should I ever find myself in the same situation...although I would like to think that I would do the right thing regardless of the outcome. Because it would be far worse in the long run if I didn't...as Jennifer is surely bound to find out.
The story also serves as a perfect reminder as to the dangers of using your mobile phone when driving. It's an offence to do so and yet so many people still do it. Why? And Jennifer certainly was old enough to know better. Like me, she grew up in an era before they were a customary accessory so why even glance at her phone whilst driving in the dark with no street lights in the pouring rain? Your concentration is even more paramount in such circumstances and such a drop in that concentration - even for one second, or two in Jennifer's case - can be deadly...for you and anyone else.
Kerry's skillful writing will have you turning yourself inside out trying to pick up the clues that may be drip-fed along the way and identify Jennifer's mystery texter. There are a couple of massive clues that, while I noticed them, I didn't pick up on at the time...very unlike me. But when the final reveal came, I found I wasn't at all surprised as the culprit was on my list of possible suspects anyway. And the ending was something very different from what I expected.
While THE PERFECT DAUGHTER isn't my favourite of Kerry's thrillers, it is still a tense read that is as enjoyable as it is disturbing. When it comes down to it, Jennifer's life hinges on two seconds. What can happen in two seconds and how much can change in two seconds. With all the red herrings peppered throughout when all is revealed, you don't see it coming.
Overall, a tension-filled suspense-driven thriller unfolding through the guilt-ridden narrative of Jennifer caught up in a moral dilemma. There are some great twists making THE PERFECT DAUGHTER an intriguing read and a real page-turner.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
As a long time fan of Kerry Wilkinson's standalone thrillers, I was excited to dive into THE PERFECT DAUGHTER and I must say, the title puzzles me as it will other readers. And while Jennifer's daughter is anything but perfect, it would have been better off titled "I Know What You Did" as that is far more fitting with the whole story without giving anything away. But that aside, Kerry's ability to bring humour and wit into a psychological thriller that's filled with tension throughout, is something that keeps me coming back for more.
This description when Jennifer is at the supermarket over recycled shopping bags had me chuckling: "It doesn't help that today's plastic bags are thinner than Polly from three doors down after she had the gastric band fitted." But the witty descriptions don't stop there...the book, like his many others, are riddled with them.
The story begins not with a THEN scenario prologue as many others do, but rather the day before the incident. Jennifer is at the supermarket doing a shop, mentally chastising herself for forgetting the bags for life she always forgets and having to purchase more to bag her groceries with, when she sees 16 year old Josh Tanner using every inch of his 6' 4" size to tower and intimidate a much smaller and inevitably younger child. She calls him out on it and he just glares at her. That's when she sees his mother Sharon with her two year old toddler Frank sidle up to her own car with her groceries and upon noticing Jennifer looking at her, she glares back and yells what the hell is she looking at. Jennifer tells her what she saw and his mother turns to Josh who was now approaching the car "Is that right?" to which she just receives a shrug in answer. Not content with that, Sharon then tells Jennifer to keep her nose out of other people's business and drives off, leaving Jennifer wondering what the hell just happened.
But the real story doesn't begin there...it's the following night in the pouring rain on her way to pick up her daughter Katie from football practice that it happens. A text, a second text, then another causing Jennifer to take her eyes off the road for a mere two seconds and then THUMP! she hit something. Slamming on her brakes, she looks out into the dead of night through the pouring rain and sees nothing. She gets out thinking she hit a bin that was placed too close to the road and it's not until she is about to get back in the car that she sees a darkened form on the verge. She recognises her instantly as Sharon Tanner. She speaks to her and receives no response. What should she do? She should call an ambulance...but then she would be charged with dangerous driving...and what if Sharon's dead? She could end up in prison and what would happen to Katie? These thoughts and more flood her mind as she climbs back into her car and drives off to pick up Katie.
The next morning, the news had the village all agog. Did you hear about the hit and run last night on Green Road? Sharon Tanner and her little boy were hit! Jennifer is shocked. She never saw a child. Or even a buggy! What if she's killed them both? She should hand herself in...but isn't it too late? She left the scene of an accident. She'd be in even worse trouble. And so Jennifer's choice is made.
But then she receives the text...
"I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me...."
Someone saw her? But the road was dead. Nothing and no one was out there. Sharon and her son shouldn't have been either...but they were. And now things go from bad to worse as Jennifer finds herself at the mercy of a blackmailer. It begins with a small request followed by another before threats are made towards her daughter and then the blackmailer's final request. Which goes against everything she believes in. But then she also hit a woman and her child and left them to die on the side of the road... Jennifer knows whoever is blackmailing and threatening her has her over a barrel. She has no choice but to do their bidding.
As the mysterious texts continue, Jennifer wonders if she made the right decision. Certainly it's too late to own up now but as her life begins to erode piece by piece, she wonders is there anything she can salvage from the dire situation in which she finds herself before it's too late?
THE PERFECT DAUGHTER is a fast paced addictive thriller that I read in a day as I pondered Jennifer's bad decisions and her predicament. The well-written plot is certainly compelling and tension-filled from start to finish though it does lag a little in the middle with Jennifer consumed with mainly thoughts about her and how her decisions affect her. She wasn't someone I was endeared to but I could understand her predicament should I ever find myself in the same situation...although I would like to think that I would do the right thing regardless of the outcome. Because it would be far worse in the long run if I didn't...as Jennifer is surely bound to find out.
The story also serves as a perfect reminder as to the dangers of using your mobile phone when driving. It's an offence to do so and yet so many people still do it. Why? And Jennifer certainly was old enough to know better. Like me, she grew up in an era before they were a customary accessory so why even glance at her phone whilst driving in the dark with no street lights in the pouring rain? Your concentration is even more paramount in such circumstances and such a drop in that concentration - even for one second, or two in Jennifer's case - can be deadly...for you and anyone else.
Kerry's skillful writing will have you turning yourself inside out trying to pick up the clues that may be drip-fed along the way and identify Jennifer's mystery texter. There are a couple of massive clues that, while I noticed them, I didn't pick up on at the time...very unlike me. But when the final reveal came, I found I wasn't at all surprised as the culprit was on my list of possible suspects anyway. And the ending was something very different from what I expected.
While THE PERFECT DAUGHTER isn't my favourite of Kerry's thrillers, it is still a tense read that is as enjoyable as it is disturbing. When it comes down to it, Jennifer's life hinges on two seconds. What can happen in two seconds and how much can change in two seconds. With all the red herrings peppered throughout when all is revealed, you don't see it coming.
Overall, a tension-filled suspense-driven thriller unfolding through the guilt-ridden narrative of Jennifer caught up in a moral dilemma. There are some great twists making THE PERFECT DAUGHTER an intriguing read and a real page-turner.
I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePerfectDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 27, 2021
First, I don't understand the choice of this title.
Second, I really got the I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes here. Jen is on her way to get her daughter on a dark, rainy night when the unthinkable happens. She is faced with a choice that will change her life no matter what; drive away or turn herself in.
Choice made and now anonymous messages begin to filter in that they know exactly what she did.
The pace here was somewhat stagnant; I didn't really feel on the edge of my seat with this one. Just waiting for things to be revealed and the ending left a lot to be desired.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me the copy to read for review.
Second, I really got the I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes here. Jen is on her way to get her daughter on a dark, rainy night when the unthinkable happens. She is faced with a choice that will change her life no matter what; drive away or turn herself in.
Choice made and now anonymous messages begin to filter in that they know exactly what she did.
The pace here was somewhat stagnant; I didn't really feel on the edge of my seat with this one. Just waiting for things to be revealed and the ending left a lot to be desired.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me the copy to read for review.
September 15, 2021
Another great read from Kerry Wilkinson.
Jennifer is running late to pick her teenage daughter up. She’s driving down a country lane, the weather is awful and as she glances at her phone her car hits something.
Jennifer thinks she’s hit a wheelie bin so goes to check, but is not prepared to see a woman’s body in the ditch.
Panic sets in and Jennifer flees the scene.
Later that night messages on a community message say a woman has been the victim of a hit and run and is in a critical condition. It later materialises that her baby was also badly hurt.
Jennifer is devastated but can’t face a prison sentence if they were to die. The guilt is eating her up but she can’t bring herself to own up to what she did.
She then receives a text saying “I know what you did.”
This starts a blackmail campaign against her until the demands go too far.
This is a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Jennifer is running late to pick her teenage daughter up. She’s driving down a country lane, the weather is awful and as she glances at her phone her car hits something.
Jennifer thinks she’s hit a wheelie bin so goes to check, but is not prepared to see a woman’s body in the ditch.
Panic sets in and Jennifer flees the scene.
Later that night messages on a community message say a woman has been the victim of a hit and run and is in a critical condition. It later materialises that her baby was also badly hurt.
Jennifer is devastated but can’t face a prison sentence if they were to die. The guilt is eating her up but she can’t bring herself to own up to what she did.
She then receives a text saying “I know what you did.”
This starts a blackmail campaign against her until the demands go too far.
This is a gripping thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
February 22, 2022
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of The Perfect Daughter so I could provide an unbiased review.
I regret to say I did not care for this novel. I will list the problems.
Character development- flat, one dimensional. All unlikeable. I did not relate, nor was I engaged with the protagonist at all. She lacks integrity and moral fiber.
Plot - the storyline is tired, reminiscent of I Know What You Did Last Summer. The pacing is slow. Not suspenseful.
Climax- non existent. The supposed twist is flat.
Denouement - the ending is abrupt and VERY ambiguous and dissatisfying.
The title makes no sense.
'
I regret to say I did not care for this novel. I will list the problems.
Character development- flat, one dimensional. All unlikeable. I did not relate, nor was I engaged with the protagonist at all. She lacks integrity and moral fiber.
Plot - the storyline is tired, reminiscent of I Know What You Did Last Summer. The pacing is slow. Not suspenseful.
Climax- non existent. The supposed twist is flat.
Denouement - the ending is abrupt and VERY ambiguous and dissatisfying.
The title makes no sense.
'
November 10, 2021
This one’s just not for me
It took me weeks to finish this book. I love everything Kerry Wilkinson has written, just not this one.
I could not get into this story because of the viewpoint it was written from. I had no empathy for the main character because they were in the wrong 100%. Maybe if it had been from the daughter or her boyfriend’s POV it would have been different.
I started and stopped while reading this so many times and had to force myself to finish. I hate seeing unfinished books in my library. Disappointed a bit, but you can’t win them all.
It took me weeks to finish this book. I love everything Kerry Wilkinson has written, just not this one.
I could not get into this story because of the viewpoint it was written from. I had no empathy for the main character because they were in the wrong 100%. Maybe if it had been from the daughter or her boyfriend’s POV it would have been different.
I started and stopped while reading this so many times and had to force myself to finish. I hate seeing unfinished books in my library. Disappointed a bit, but you can’t win them all.
April 22, 2022
An accident while on the way to pick up her daughter, the story was nice in its premise but the twists and direction the book was going to take was predictable. So it left me wanting. An okay read.
August 15, 2021
Kerry Wilkinson could write a book about Boris Johnson’s hairstylist’s qualifications or an illustrated guide to Justin Trudeau’s sock collection and I’d read it! Wilkinson has the ability to write a five-star, fast-paced, tension filled, quick read that leaves you emotionally wrung out and psychologically exhausted.
Single mother, Jennifer Owen confronts the mother of a teen she witnesses bullying another teen in the grocery store parking lot. Despite knowing the mother from childhood, the incident doesn’t have the desired outcome. The following evening, on a dark and windy, rarely travelled country road on the way to pick up her daughter, Jennifer takes her eyes off the road for a few seconds to glance at her phone. Before she knows what’s happened, she’s aware she’s hit something…or someone. A quick investigation reveals it’s the same mother from the parking lot. She’s in the ditch. Her leg is at an odd angle. There’s blood. Did she hit her? What would you do - Drive off? Confess?
“I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me.”
When the mysterious texts start appearing, Jennifer wonders if she made the right choice. Then her life starts eroding. Piece by piece. Can she dig herself out of her predicament before it’s too late? Maybe someone should have reminded Jennifer of the saying, 'When you point on finger, there are three fingers pointing back at you.'
This five-star compelling thriller highlighting how far a mother will go to protect her child needs to be at the top of your list this Fall.
Publishes September 16,2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Single mother, Jennifer Owen confronts the mother of a teen she witnesses bullying another teen in the grocery store parking lot. Despite knowing the mother from childhood, the incident doesn’t have the desired outcome. The following evening, on a dark and windy, rarely travelled country road on the way to pick up her daughter, Jennifer takes her eyes off the road for a few seconds to glance at her phone. Before she knows what’s happened, she’s aware she’s hit something…or someone. A quick investigation reveals it’s the same mother from the parking lot. She’s in the ditch. Her leg is at an odd angle. There’s blood. Did she hit her? What would you do - Drive off? Confess?
“I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me.”
When the mysterious texts start appearing, Jennifer wonders if she made the right choice. Then her life starts eroding. Piece by piece. Can she dig herself out of her predicament before it’s too late? Maybe someone should have reminded Jennifer of the saying, 'When you point on finger, there are three fingers pointing back at you.'
This five-star compelling thriller highlighting how far a mother will go to protect her child needs to be at the top of your list this Fall.
Publishes September 16,2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 5, 2022
How far would you go to protect your child? How far would you go to protect your deepest and darkest secret? What if someone already knows? This book is fast paced, anxiety inducing and keeps the reader guessing until the end. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available now!
September 20, 2021
“I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me.” Everyone’s worst nightmare come true.
As single mother, Jennifer is struggling to keep things together, especially where her teen daughter is concerned. One day in a matter of seconds, everything in her world flips upside down and she has to deal with the ramifications of that-especially since someone clearly knows what really happened even though she was sure no one did. Now she has to deal with the fallout and the guilt that is making her fall apart as she keeps receiving texts that tell her that her secrets aren’t exactly secrets and if she doesn’t follow instructions, she won’t be the only one to suffer.
This is a well done edge of your seat thriller that you think for sure you have figured out until the last nerve wracking gut punch twist. Well done! Jennifer suspected everyone around her as the killer, and though I predicted who it would end up being, that didn’t end up affecting my enjoyment of it at all
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
As single mother, Jennifer is struggling to keep things together, especially where her teen daughter is concerned. One day in a matter of seconds, everything in her world flips upside down and she has to deal with the ramifications of that-especially since someone clearly knows what really happened even though she was sure no one did. Now she has to deal with the fallout and the guilt that is making her fall apart as she keeps receiving texts that tell her that her secrets aren’t exactly secrets and if she doesn’t follow instructions, she won’t be the only one to suffer.
This is a well done edge of your seat thriller that you think for sure you have figured out until the last nerve wracking gut punch twist. Well done! Jennifer suspected everyone around her as the killer, and though I predicted who it would end up being, that didn’t end up affecting my enjoyment of it at all
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
September 12, 2021
First, I want to thank Kerry Wilkinson, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.
OHH Kerry Wilkinson you never fail to disappoint me and one of the reasons you are one of my go to authors!! His latest The Perfect Daughter is another incredibly creative and twisted storyline that needs to be added to your tbr list!
One thing that I noticed about Kerry’s writing in The Perfect Daughter and totally appreciated is at times how comical could be. I actually found myself totally relating to some of the situations and that cracked me up. I liked seeing this side of him.
Kerry also incorporates many issues into his storylines that many of his readers can relate to.
I loved how much detail he put into many different scenes.
Kerry starts the book off with a terrible accident that leaves the whole community talking! I loved how Kerry incorporated the social media aspect into the storyline for this. It made the storyline more interesting.
The crazy part of the story is that someone knows what Jennifer did!! As the story goes on she gets some creepy texts from some anonymous person!! They not only freaked Jennifer out but me as well.
WOW!! Never did I see that climatic ending coming!! It totally shocked me with the incredible twists and turns leading up to it! WOW!! Just WOW!!
OHH Kerry Wilkinson you never fail to disappoint me and one of the reasons you are one of my go to authors!! His latest The Perfect Daughter is another incredibly creative and twisted storyline that needs to be added to your tbr list!
One thing that I noticed about Kerry’s writing in The Perfect Daughter and totally appreciated is at times how comical could be. I actually found myself totally relating to some of the situations and that cracked me up. I liked seeing this side of him.
Kerry also incorporates many issues into his storylines that many of his readers can relate to.
I loved how much detail he put into many different scenes.
Kerry starts the book off with a terrible accident that leaves the whole community talking! I loved how Kerry incorporated the social media aspect into the storyline for this. It made the storyline more interesting.
The crazy part of the story is that someone knows what Jennifer did!! As the story goes on she gets some creepy texts from some anonymous person!! They not only freaked Jennifer out but me as well.
WOW!! Never did I see that climatic ending coming!! It totally shocked me with the incredible twists and turns leading up to it! WOW!! Just WOW!!
September 2, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Kerry Wilkinson for my arc of The Perfect Daughter in exchange for an honest review.
Publishing: 16th September 2021
One night while driving to pick up her daughter from football practice, Jennifer hits something in the road, at first she thinks it’s a bin, but when she learns the terrible truth she makes the devastating choice to flee the scene.
It’s hard enough trying to act normal and when the messages start arriving it gets worse, ‘I know what you did’. Now she has blackmail to contend with as well. Would it just be easier to confess?
I didn’t enjoy this as much as previous books by this author. It didn’t lend the right amount of suspense and much of it felt unrealistic. Even the synopsis which describes a close relationship between mother and daughter and them ‘curled up in front of the tv the messages start’ but in reality Jennifer and Katie have the opposite of a close relationship with Katie locked in her room most of the time and monosyllabic most of the time.
Too much of the story was far fetched and disjointed for me to really enjoy this one. But based on previous books I’d definitely read anything else kerry writes in future.
Publishing: 16th September 2021
One night while driving to pick up her daughter from football practice, Jennifer hits something in the road, at first she thinks it’s a bin, but when she learns the terrible truth she makes the devastating choice to flee the scene.
It’s hard enough trying to act normal and when the messages start arriving it gets worse, ‘I know what you did’. Now she has blackmail to contend with as well. Would it just be easier to confess?
I didn’t enjoy this as much as previous books by this author. It didn’t lend the right amount of suspense and much of it felt unrealistic. Even the synopsis which describes a close relationship between mother and daughter and them ‘curled up in front of the tv the messages start’ but in reality Jennifer and Katie have the opposite of a close relationship with Katie locked in her room most of the time and monosyllabic most of the time.
Too much of the story was far fetched and disjointed for me to really enjoy this one. But based on previous books I’d definitely read anything else kerry writes in future.
August 11, 2021
" I know what you did. Now you’re going to do something for me...."
Can you imagine getting a message like this? Single mother, teenage daughter, let the fear seep in for a minute.
The Perfect Daughter, is an edge of your seat psychological thriller that you will never be able to prepare yourself for. Kerry Wilkinson is a force to be reckoned with and an author that will captivate you no matter what she publishes. Kerry Wilkinson, made me an instant fan and I will forever have her added to my auto-buy author list.
The Perfect Daughter, was addicting to say the least. The plot was compelling, I was instantly drawn in as the opening scene is a hit and run. Talk about getting off to a "killer" start .
I dont want to give away to much as I am sure this is going to be a fan favorite, what I can tell you is that you will not be disappointed! Five Stars!
Can you imagine getting a message like this? Single mother, teenage daughter, let the fear seep in for a minute.
The Perfect Daughter, is an edge of your seat psychological thriller that you will never be able to prepare yourself for. Kerry Wilkinson is a force to be reckoned with and an author that will captivate you no matter what she publishes. Kerry Wilkinson, made me an instant fan and I will forever have her added to my auto-buy author list.
The Perfect Daughter, was addicting to say the least. The plot was compelling, I was instantly drawn in as the opening scene is a hit and run. Talk about getting off to a "killer" start .
I dont want to give away to much as I am sure this is going to be a fan favorite, what I can tell you is that you will not be disappointed! Five Stars!
November 8, 2021
No shocking twist I'm afraid
Just a sudden ending that leaves unresolved issues. I turned a page expecting more, and thought 'what!?' Because that was it. Very unsatisfactory. Not that I had any sympathy with the main character. Pity because bought this because her others were good reads. Show you can't win 'em all.
Just a sudden ending that leaves unresolved issues. I turned a page expecting more, and thought 'what!?' Because that was it. Very unsatisfactory. Not that I had any sympathy with the main character. Pity because bought this because her others were good reads. Show you can't win 'em all.
August 14, 2021
I definitely didn’t see this ending coming! The main character annoyed me slightly but overall enjoyed it.
October 19, 2021
MY SYNOPSIS
One wet evening in early December whilst she is making her way along a isolated, winding country road that she knows like the back of her hand, our main character Jennifer is distracted for a couple of seconds and hits something on the dark road. When she gets out of the car and sees what she has hit, she knows deep down that she should help but she is also torn due to her feelings of fear and anxiety over what the consequences of her actions will be for both herself and her teenage daughter Katie. Jennifer had been on route to pick Katie up from football practice and she was already running late....
That same night whilst they are at home, Jennifer receives a text from a anonymous number containing the terrifying words, I know what you did and now you will do something for me....
If, Jennifer wants to keep her daughter safe then she has no choice but to obey. So she drives where they tell her, does what they say, sends the photo evidence they want. But when they ask her to cause someone harm,it becomes clear that they know everything about their lives. Jennifer thought she was keeping a secret to keep her daughter safe. But had she actually put her in even more danger?
An absolutely addictive thriller about how far a mother would go for her child, with a twist that will leave you gasping. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down.
The entire story is voiced from the perspective of Jennifer, a divorced, private tutor and not very likeable individual for various reasons. Actually, the vast majority of the characters were unlikable and untrustworthy from Gary, the apparently creepy, policeman,Josh,the local bully to Jennifer's ex husband Bryan and his bride to be Dawn. The problem was that,we only saw the various characters from Jennifer's perspective and there was the possibility that her views could have been influenced by her feelings of fear and paranoia. I can imagine that quite a few readers will be quick to label Katie a brat but I could fully understand her attitude and behaviour. She was seventeen years old and in the limbo period between being a child and a woman, studying for her exams and coping with the separation of her parents. We only learn about life through our mistakes and everyone makes them no matter what age they are, I know I have.
The question was, Who was terrorising Jennifer and why? What was their end game? How far will Jennifer be prepared to go to protect her secrets?
The Perfect Daughter is written in Kerry Wilkinson's trademark short,snappy chapters, many of which end in a way that causes the reader to have a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. It's a fast paced, gripping page turner that hooks you in from.quite early in the story, keeps you guessing and glued to your kindle. I love this author's thrillers and this latest addition to his catalogue was no exception. A captivating read and very highly recommended.
One wet evening in early December whilst she is making her way along a isolated, winding country road that she knows like the back of her hand, our main character Jennifer is distracted for a couple of seconds and hits something on the dark road. When she gets out of the car and sees what she has hit, she knows deep down that she should help but she is also torn due to her feelings of fear and anxiety over what the consequences of her actions will be for both herself and her teenage daughter Katie. Jennifer had been on route to pick Katie up from football practice and she was already running late....
That same night whilst they are at home, Jennifer receives a text from a anonymous number containing the terrifying words, I know what you did and now you will do something for me....
If, Jennifer wants to keep her daughter safe then she has no choice but to obey. So she drives where they tell her, does what they say, sends the photo evidence they want. But when they ask her to cause someone harm,it becomes clear that they know everything about their lives. Jennifer thought she was keeping a secret to keep her daughter safe. But had she actually put her in even more danger?
An absolutely addictive thriller about how far a mother would go for her child, with a twist that will leave you gasping. Fans of Shari Lapena, Lisa Jewell and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down.
The entire story is voiced from the perspective of Jennifer, a divorced, private tutor and not very likeable individual for various reasons. Actually, the vast majority of the characters were unlikable and untrustworthy from Gary, the apparently creepy, policeman,Josh,the local bully to Jennifer's ex husband Bryan and his bride to be Dawn. The problem was that,we only saw the various characters from Jennifer's perspective and there was the possibility that her views could have been influenced by her feelings of fear and paranoia. I can imagine that quite a few readers will be quick to label Katie a brat but I could fully understand her attitude and behaviour. She was seventeen years old and in the limbo period between being a child and a woman, studying for her exams and coping with the separation of her parents. We only learn about life through our mistakes and everyone makes them no matter what age they are, I know I have.
The question was, Who was terrorising Jennifer and why? What was their end game? How far will Jennifer be prepared to go to protect her secrets?
The Perfect Daughter is written in Kerry Wilkinson's trademark short,snappy chapters, many of which end in a way that causes the reader to have a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. It's a fast paced, gripping page turner that hooks you in from.quite early in the story, keeps you guessing and glued to your kindle. I love this author's thrillers and this latest addition to his catalogue was no exception. A captivating read and very highly recommended.
December 25, 2021
Jennifer confronts Sharon about the bullying behaviour of her son. Sharon retorts that she should worry about her own daughter Katie. Shortly afterwards, there is a terrible accident and Jennifer will do anything to protect herself and her daughter. Even give in to blackmail...
The Perfect Daughter is a psychological thriller revolving around the lengths a person will go to to hide the truth.
Jennifer's life has been upended following the ending of her marriage and she is focussed on avoiding his ex and new love. A bit tricky in a small village! She is putting extra energy into her relationship with her daughter but Katie is getting ready to spread her wings and there is tension over her boyfriend. Jennifer's mindset is crucial to understanding her fears and subsequent behaviour.
Author Kerry Wilkinson is great at making his readers think 'what if'. A simple accident and a split second decision. Whether you agree or not with how Jennifer deals with the situation, it is an intriguing read.
I suspected everyone of being the blackmailer! There are so many other characters behaving oddly although this could be Jennifer's perception based on her own guilt. The book is written in the first person viewpoint of Jennifer so we are aware of all her emotional wranglings as she struggles to adjust to her own actions and their consequences.
The Perfect Daughter is enjoyable and full of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
The Perfect Daughter is a psychological thriller revolving around the lengths a person will go to to hide the truth.
Jennifer's life has been upended following the ending of her marriage and she is focussed on avoiding his ex and new love. A bit tricky in a small village! She is putting extra energy into her relationship with her daughter but Katie is getting ready to spread her wings and there is tension over her boyfriend. Jennifer's mindset is crucial to understanding her fears and subsequent behaviour.
Author Kerry Wilkinson is great at making his readers think 'what if'. A simple accident and a split second decision. Whether you agree or not with how Jennifer deals with the situation, it is an intriguing read.
I suspected everyone of being the blackmailer! There are so many other characters behaving oddly although this could be Jennifer's perception based on her own guilt. The book is written in the first person viewpoint of Jennifer so we are aware of all her emotional wranglings as she struggles to adjust to her own actions and their consequences.
The Perfect Daughter is enjoyable and full of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
November 8, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.
This author always provides a great psychological thriller with a great plot and interesting characters. In this book, Jen is driving to pick up her daughter from football practice and is distracted for one moment by a text and hits something, she gets out and discovers it is a woman she knows, a woman whom she had an altercation with in a parking lot earlier about the woman's son bullying another boy. most people ould have checked the person and called for help, Jen gets freaked out and drives away, hiding the fact that she hit anyone at all. As Jen deals with her guilt, she keeps thinking she should come forward but then she gets a text from an anonymous person who says they know what she did and then the news comes that it was not just a woman but a baby as well.
As the story progesses, Jen is tormented by the annoymous source and asked for larger and larrger acts on their behalf to prove herself as she tries to figure out who knows about her inicident and deal with her grief and guilt. This was not as fast paced as some of the author's other works, but still a good read with a few twists added in.
This author always provides a great psychological thriller with a great plot and interesting characters. In this book, Jen is driving to pick up her daughter from football practice and is distracted for one moment by a text and hits something, she gets out and discovers it is a woman she knows, a woman whom she had an altercation with in a parking lot earlier about the woman's son bullying another boy. most people ould have checked the person and called for help, Jen gets freaked out and drives away, hiding the fact that she hit anyone at all. As Jen deals with her guilt, she keeps thinking she should come forward but then she gets a text from an anonymous person who says they know what she did and then the news comes that it was not just a woman but a baby as well.
As the story progesses, Jen is tormented by the annoymous source and asked for larger and larrger acts on their behalf to prove herself as she tries to figure out who knows about her inicident and deal with her grief and guilt. This was not as fast paced as some of the author's other works, but still a good read with a few twists added in.
December 23, 2021
Jennifer was driving to pick up her daughter from football. She is late & Katie has already tested twice. It's a stinking night with rain & spray & as she is briefly distracted she hears a thump. She stops & goes back to discover a woman in the ditch- she recognises her as someone she had a rather public row with. Scared that someone might think it was deliberate she drives off. However she soon starts getting texts saying, "I know what you did" After that her behaviour gets more & more erratic. From the blurb & the title we have this picture of a very close mother & daughter relationship- one I didn't see in the book. I suppose that concept was supposedly an explanation of why Jennifer was so keen to avoid the consequences of her actions.
Maybe it was the fact I couldn't get my head round how someone could do what she did in the first place, but I found it very difficult to feel any sympathy or connection to any of the characters. I am a fan of Kerry Wilkinson & have enjoyed some of her previous books. Sadly I didn't think this was up to her usual standard. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
Maybe it was the fact I couldn't get my head round how someone could do what she did in the first place, but I found it very difficult to feel any sympathy or connection to any of the characters. I am a fan of Kerry Wilkinson & have enjoyed some of her previous books. Sadly I didn't think this was up to her usual standard. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
April 3, 2022
A split second is all it takes sometimes to change a life forever.
Leaving a choice to take the right or wrong road.
A clunk under the car on a wet and miserable night was the moment Jennifer knew her life would change.
After discovering she had hit a woman and her child she had to make choices.
The guilt, fear and irrational behaviour behaviour that may trip her up.
Arguing in a public car park with the victim the day before makes her very uneasy.
A text message alerts her that someone knows what she did.
They pursue her and trigger fear with blackmail.
Leading her to follow actions so uncharacteristic and getting her even more tangled.
Although she thought it was certain nobody or camera saw her commit a hit and run, she starts to piece together the clues of the identity of her blackmailer.
Not sure I’d say it was a mother’s love that motivated the outcomes of her actions as the blurb indicates but I think her reactions seemed very realistic and relatable.
I wonder how many would have thought…… could I get away with this.
A domestic drama that I enjoyed, a slow burn that I didn’t guess the outcome completely so would recommend this to the crime buffs out there.
Leaving a choice to take the right or wrong road.
A clunk under the car on a wet and miserable night was the moment Jennifer knew her life would change.
After discovering she had hit a woman and her child she had to make choices.
The guilt, fear and irrational behaviour behaviour that may trip her up.
Arguing in a public car park with the victim the day before makes her very uneasy.
A text message alerts her that someone knows what she did.
They pursue her and trigger fear with blackmail.
Leading her to follow actions so uncharacteristic and getting her even more tangled.
Although she thought it was certain nobody or camera saw her commit a hit and run, she starts to piece together the clues of the identity of her blackmailer.
Not sure I’d say it was a mother’s love that motivated the outcomes of her actions as the blurb indicates but I think her reactions seemed very realistic and relatable.
I wonder how many would have thought…… could I get away with this.
A domestic drama that I enjoyed, a slow burn that I didn’t guess the outcome completely so would recommend this to the crime buffs out there.
November 2, 2021
It is safe to say that Jennifer has a very bad day to kick off the plot…and things just get steadily worse from there. As often happens, the blurb gives away part of the story, so I don’t need to recap it. But I thought it was mostly plausible. The author did a great job of portraying Jennifer’s desperation as one thing after another just rains down on her. One thing that struck me about this book is that it clipped along on the surface, which was good for the pace. It added to the frantic nature of Jennifer’s life over the few days this covered. I thought that Jennifer’s daughter Katie wasn’t very deep either. She seemed like a typical teen for most of the story, so when there were revelations near the end, they didn’t exactly seem realistic. The ending was very abrupt – I wish that some of the tension from earlier in the book had made it to the end. Still a good read. For more details, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.
December 15, 2021
The story is told from the perspective of Jennifer. A divorced mother, devoted to her teenage daughter Katie. Jen is in a supermarket car park when she sees a boy bullying a smaller boy. She intervenes but when his mother appears, who Jen knows, an argument follows. Jen is driving to collect Katie from a football practice. It is dark and raining and when Jen is distracted she feels the car hit something on the road. On investigation she realises it is the same woman who she had the argument with. Jen knows she should call the police and ambulance but decides to get back in the car and drive away. The same evening a text message arrives and it is obvious that someone saw what she did and starts blackmailing her. Jen knows that her secret must not be revealed so she follows the instructions but when she realises that Katie is also keeping a secret things become desperate. I don’t think that this was one of the best books by Kerry Wilkinson but us still an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 12, 2021
It was the cover that appealed to me first with this book, but having read a couple of Kerry's books in the past and enjoyed them, I was in high hopes that it'd be the same again especially as the blurb sounded really good.
I thought the storyline was a great one and had plenty of mystery and intrigued to keep me turning those pages pretty quickly to begin with. I wish I could say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story right to the very end but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I think with this kind of story there was plenty of potential for twists/red herrings but sadly that didn’t happen and so in my opinion I thought the story became somewhat flat in places and also some of the reactions of the main character just weren’t believable at all.
I also thought there were some loose ends left unfinished within the story, so I felt somewhat unfulfilled in that regard. Perhaps that was the authors intention though, to let us the readers come to our own conclusions.
I thought the storyline was a great one and had plenty of mystery and intrigued to keep me turning those pages pretty quickly to begin with. I wish I could say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story right to the very end but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I think with this kind of story there was plenty of potential for twists/red herrings but sadly that didn’t happen and so in my opinion I thought the story became somewhat flat in places and also some of the reactions of the main character just weren’t believable at all.
I also thought there were some loose ends left unfinished within the story, so I felt somewhat unfulfilled in that regard. Perhaps that was the authors intention though, to let us the readers come to our own conclusions.
December 13, 2021
How far would you go to protect your deepest, darkest secret?
Jennifer didn't mean for this to happen. The sky was dark, the rain was coming down hard, and she was running late to pick up Katie. Someone knows what she did; Now they're texting her anonymously and making demands. She doesn't have a choice but to complete these horrible tasks, does she? If she doesn't, they will tell everyone what she did, and that's worse...isn't it? How far will she go to protect herself and her daughter from the truth coming out?
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I was a little bummed to see that the prediction I made early on was correct, as I found it was a little obvious with the way events took place. I did find myself wanting to read more and longing to see what would happen next. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Jennifer didn't mean for this to happen. The sky was dark, the rain was coming down hard, and she was running late to pick up Katie. Someone knows what she did; Now they're texting her anonymously and making demands. She doesn't have a choice but to complete these horrible tasks, does she? If she doesn't, they will tell everyone what she did, and that's worse...isn't it? How far will she go to protect herself and her daughter from the truth coming out?
Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. I was a little bummed to see that the prediction I made early on was correct, as I found it was a little obvious with the way events took place. I did find myself wanting to read more and longing to see what would happen next. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys thrillers!
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
June 21, 2022
My Review:
Wow!!!!! What a book this was. It had me hooked from the first page to the very last page. I couldn’t put this one down. This author is no stranger to me. I have read a few of his books and they have all been great. It is very easy to get lost in them and to forget to do anything else while reading them. This one tops the cake for me though. A mother who is trying to look out for herself and her daughter. That I can relate to. I know I would do anything to protect my family. It starts with an accident and messages but ends up being so much more. I was shocked by the time the ending came. I couldn’t believe it. I was also very sad to see the story end. I am so happy I picked this one up and I can’t wait to read more of this authors books.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Wow!!!!! What a book this was. It had me hooked from the first page to the very last page. I couldn’t put this one down. This author is no stranger to me. I have read a few of his books and they have all been great. It is very easy to get lost in them and to forget to do anything else while reading them. This one tops the cake for me though. A mother who is trying to look out for herself and her daughter. That I can relate to. I know I would do anything to protect my family. It starts with an accident and messages but ends up being so much more. I was shocked by the time the ending came. I couldn’t believe it. I was also very sad to see the story end. I am so happy I picked this one up and I can’t wait to read more of this authors books.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 5, 2021
gripping!
I couldn’t even tell who the blackmailer was from the beginning, normally I’d have a good understanding but not this time!
This book had me hooked from page 1 well I should say chapter 1 :-)
Kerry is such an amazing writer ! Once again fabulous book, loved every page. And what an ending!
I couldn’t even tell who the blackmailer was from the beginning, normally I’d have a good understanding but not this time!
This book had me hooked from page 1 well I should say chapter 1 :-)
Kerry is such an amazing writer ! Once again fabulous book, loved every page. And what an ending!
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