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The Serial Killer's Family #2
The Serial Killer’s Daughter
Is murder in the blood?
In a sleepy Devon village, a young girl is taken from the streets. Local vet, Jenny, is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.
But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is.
And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…
But she’s not her father’s daughter.
Is she?
In a sleepy Devon village, a young girl is taken from the streets. Local vet, Jenny, is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here.
But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is.
And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…
But she’s not her father’s daughter.
Is she?
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 21, 2022
574 people are currently reading
7023 people want to read
About the author
Alice Hunter
7 books651 followersAfter completing a psychology degree, Alice Hunter became an interventions facilitator in a prison. There, she was part of a team offering rehabilitation programmes to men serving sentences for a wide range of offences, often working with prisoners who'd committed serious violent crimes. Previously, Alice had been a nurse, working in the NHS. She now puts her experiences to good use in fiction. The Serial Killer’s Wife, The Serial Killer’s Daughter and The Serial Killer’s Sister all draw heavily on her knowledge of psychology and the criminal mind.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 718 reviews
May 10, 2022
3.5 rounded down.
He is Paul Slater, the Painted Lady killer, she is the daughter, once Jane and now Jenny. Jenny is not in a good place she’s suffering from nightmares and is having blackouts. Her husband Mark is oblivious to her background and is afraid of what she’s hiding and she’s afraid too. She’s wondering if she too is disturbed? She is certainly behaving strangely and what what is worse it seems that someone knows about Jane.
In addition to the increasingly tense situation is that a local woman, Olivia Edwards is missing and Jenny believes Mark once had an affair with her.
The novel starts really well, the opening chapter is a really good hook pulling into the story.
The title is enticing (well to me anyway!) the premise is good and the alternating points of view between Jenny and Mark works well, raising multiple questions as it’s clear both are hiding things of significance. The novel is interspersed with extracts from the Paul Slater story and this adds an extra element filling you with questions as well as adding chills.
However, despite a number of very positive aspects to the story it feels inconsistent. For instance, the tension rises and then drops and little momentum is achieved in my opinion. There’s not a lot of pace, the story seems flat and an exciting when it’s ought to be a jaw dropper and sadly it doesn’t achieve that response in me. This is partly due to points being over explained and we divert to things that don’t add a great deal to the storytelling. It’s repetitive in places too.
Overall, it’s by no means a bad book, far from it. I like it but I don’t love it principally due to the execution. It ought to be a cracker but it doesn’t have much of a pop.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
He is Paul Slater, the Painted Lady killer, she is the daughter, once Jane and now Jenny. Jenny is not in a good place she’s suffering from nightmares and is having blackouts. Her husband Mark is oblivious to her background and is afraid of what she’s hiding and she’s afraid too. She’s wondering if she too is disturbed? She is certainly behaving strangely and what what is worse it seems that someone knows about Jane.
In addition to the increasingly tense situation is that a local woman, Olivia Edwards is missing and Jenny believes Mark once had an affair with her.
The novel starts really well, the opening chapter is a really good hook pulling into the story.
The title is enticing (well to me anyway!) the premise is good and the alternating points of view between Jenny and Mark works well, raising multiple questions as it’s clear both are hiding things of significance. The novel is interspersed with extracts from the Paul Slater story and this adds an extra element filling you with questions as well as adding chills.
However, despite a number of very positive aspects to the story it feels inconsistent. For instance, the tension rises and then drops and little momentum is achieved in my opinion. There’s not a lot of pace, the story seems flat and an exciting when it’s ought to be a jaw dropper and sadly it doesn’t achieve that response in me. This is partly due to points being over explained and we divert to things that don’t add a great deal to the storytelling. It’s repetitive in places too.
Overall, it’s by no means a bad book, far from it. I like it but I don’t love it principally due to the execution. It ought to be a cracker but it doesn’t have much of a pop.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 27, 2022
Sometimes, one might think that they had parents who were not the best, but imagine Jane Slater! She had the misfortune of having a father who was a serial killer and a mother who was a control freak. Breaking away from them wasn't easy but then dad, The Painted Lady Killer known for his penchant for placing these butterflies onto his victims, is sent to prison where he is to this day.
For Jane breaking away meant changing everything, especially er name which then became Jennifer. She went to veterinarian school and became a vet, married Mark and had two children far away from the clutches of her mother, Claire. Life seemed to have allowed her a measure of comfort but then she learns her husband had an affair with Olivia, a woman in their neighborhood.
Tensions increase as Olivia goes missing and eyes fall on Jane. Mysteriously, Jane also once again experiences blackouts and even more compelling is that she finds dead animal remains concealed in a black plastic bag on her porch. Jane doesn't know where to turn as even her husband seems to think Jane might have been up to something. When he later learns of her background which she had concealed, he removes the children and turns a blind eye to Jane's needs.
As more evidence comes into view, it looks more and more like Jane might have inherited the killer gene from her father. The author keeps the reader wondering as they realize that perhaps Jane is being framed. The question is by whom, and Jane struggles to deal with her blackouts and her being alone except for one friend. Is she the killer her father was or is there another killer out there operating in her father's stead?
There were a few plot holes in the story but overall it was a quick moving story part of a series.
Thank you to Alice Hunter, Avon, and NetGalley for a copy of this story to be published on July 21, 2022.
For Jane breaking away meant changing everything, especially er name which then became Jennifer. She went to veterinarian school and became a vet, married Mark and had two children far away from the clutches of her mother, Claire. Life seemed to have allowed her a measure of comfort but then she learns her husband had an affair with Olivia, a woman in their neighborhood.
Tensions increase as Olivia goes missing and eyes fall on Jane. Mysteriously, Jane also once again experiences blackouts and even more compelling is that she finds dead animal remains concealed in a black plastic bag on her porch. Jane doesn't know where to turn as even her husband seems to think Jane might have been up to something. When he later learns of her background which she had concealed, he removes the children and turns a blind eye to Jane's needs.
As more evidence comes into view, it looks more and more like Jane might have inherited the killer gene from her father. The author keeps the reader wondering as they realize that perhaps Jane is being framed. The question is by whom, and Jane struggles to deal with her blackouts and her being alone except for one friend. Is she the killer her father was or is there another killer out there operating in her father's stead?
There were a few plot holes in the story but overall it was a quick moving story part of a series.
Thank you to Alice Hunter, Avon, and NetGalley for a copy of this story to be published on July 21, 2022.
July 31, 2022
this was a gripping read yet a little
underwhelming - although twists are
desirable, here they felt off-balance
by its poorly developed characters
and their all of sudden relevance.
underwhelming - although twists are
desirable, here they felt off-balance
by its poorly developed characters
and their all of sudden relevance.
July 18, 2022
Alice Hunter’s second novel, The Serial Killer’s Daughter is similar in theme and title to her first standalone thriller. It begins with a jarring scene of a young girl torturing a butterfly. Jenny is a veterinarian in Devon who suffers blackouts, often awakening in muddy clothes on the floor, unaware of what she has done in the missing hours. Then she discovers bin bags with dead animals left on her doorstep and wonders if they could be connected to a missing local girl. She is struggling to cope and is afraid her secrets and hidden background may be discovered. The police come knocking and are interested in her night time activities. Her husband Mark becomes suspicious. The narrative draws you in as it alternates between Jenny and Mark’s perspectives of events in a suburban family neighbourhood. An unfolding gem of a tale with plenty of action and twists, making a four star rating. With thanks to Avon Books UK and the author, for an uncorrected advanced reader copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
July 15, 2022
3,5 stars rounded down
The Serial Killer's Family #2
In a sleepy Devon village, a young girl is taken from the streets, Local vet, Jenny, is horrified. This kind of thing doesn't happen here. But it's not the first time She's been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she's spent her whole life from running from who she really is. And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago....
This is a quick and easy book to read. The characters were well drawn, the plotline was intriguing, but it was a bit predictable. The story alternates between Jenny and her husband's perspectives. I also felt there was a few loose threads left hanging. There is some descriptions of animal abuse which might upset some readers. I did enjoy the book, I just didn't love it.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AliceHunter for my ARC of #TheSerialKillersDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
The Serial Killer's Family #2
In a sleepy Devon village, a young girl is taken from the streets, Local vet, Jenny, is horrified. This kind of thing doesn't happen here. But it's not the first time She's been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she's spent her whole life from running from who she really is. And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago....
This is a quick and easy book to read. The characters were well drawn, the plotline was intriguing, but it was a bit predictable. The story alternates between Jenny and her husband's perspectives. I also felt there was a few loose threads left hanging. There is some descriptions of animal abuse which might upset some readers. I did enjoy the book, I just didn't love it.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #AliceHunter for my ARC of #TheSerialKillersDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2022
4.5★s
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is the second novel by British author, Alice Hunter. When veterinarian Jenny Johnson wakes in the early hours of Wednesday morning on her kitchen floor, cold and dirty, her pyjamas stained with wet earth, mud embedded under her nails, she knows she has had another blackout, and wonders just what she has been doing out there. She manages to hide it from her family, although her husband, Mark knows something’s up.
More disturbing, though, is the black bin bag she spots near the front steps, containing the mutilated body of a cat, with an extra touch that has her immediately wondering who, from the life she’s tried so hard to leave behind, has found her.
After a busy day at her vet practice, Mark mentions the news that has rocked their village of Coleton Combe: Olivia Edwards is missing, believed abducted on her walk home from the local pub the previous evening.
He’s keeping to himself the worry that Jenny might be involved, because he has, once before, failed to contain her sleep-walking, and tracked her down to Olivia’s front garden, a rock in her hand. His affair with Olivia is still a sore point between them.
Between the police questioning everyone in the village, speculation and gossip amongst the school mums, villagers and clinic staff, and more bin bags with grisly contents, Jenny’s stress levels are sky high, a situation that results in more blackouts, more sleepwalking, more worry about what she might have done, especially when the situation begins to resemble something she has experienced before.
It gradually becomes clear that neither of Mark nor Jenny has been entirely honest about their past: Mark has failed to mention impulsive acts following excess alcohol intake; Jenny has refused to talk about her family, never mentioning her manipulative, controlling mother or her serial killer father.
Most of the story is told through a dual narrative carried by Mark and Jenny; additional facts are provided by recalled conversations between a father and daughter, and extracts from a true crime book and commentary from the anonymous author about interactions with the book’s subject.
The reader may initially wonder just how reliable a narrator Jenny is. Certainly, the second-guessing she engages in about her own actions has strong foundations, and her blackouts and nocturnal activity make her the ideal subject for gaslighting.
There are plenty of distractions, red herrings and lots of tension to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. The blurb is slightly misleading and the resolution needs some suspension of disbelief, but still an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is the second novel by British author, Alice Hunter. When veterinarian Jenny Johnson wakes in the early hours of Wednesday morning on her kitchen floor, cold and dirty, her pyjamas stained with wet earth, mud embedded under her nails, she knows she has had another blackout, and wonders just what she has been doing out there. She manages to hide it from her family, although her husband, Mark knows something’s up.
More disturbing, though, is the black bin bag she spots near the front steps, containing the mutilated body of a cat, with an extra touch that has her immediately wondering who, from the life she’s tried so hard to leave behind, has found her.
After a busy day at her vet practice, Mark mentions the news that has rocked their village of Coleton Combe: Olivia Edwards is missing, believed abducted on her walk home from the local pub the previous evening.
He’s keeping to himself the worry that Jenny might be involved, because he has, once before, failed to contain her sleep-walking, and tracked her down to Olivia’s front garden, a rock in her hand. His affair with Olivia is still a sore point between them.
Between the police questioning everyone in the village, speculation and gossip amongst the school mums, villagers and clinic staff, and more bin bags with grisly contents, Jenny’s stress levels are sky high, a situation that results in more blackouts, more sleepwalking, more worry about what she might have done, especially when the situation begins to resemble something she has experienced before.
It gradually becomes clear that neither of Mark nor Jenny has been entirely honest about their past: Mark has failed to mention impulsive acts following excess alcohol intake; Jenny has refused to talk about her family, never mentioning her manipulative, controlling mother or her serial killer father.
Most of the story is told through a dual narrative carried by Mark and Jenny; additional facts are provided by recalled conversations between a father and daughter, and extracts from a true crime book and commentary from the anonymous author about interactions with the book’s subject.
The reader may initially wonder just how reliable a narrator Jenny is. Certainly, the second-guessing she engages in about her own actions has strong foundations, and her blackouts and nocturnal activity make her the ideal subject for gaslighting.
There are plenty of distractions, red herrings and lots of tension to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. The blurb is slightly misleading and the resolution needs some suspension of disbelief, but still an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
October 3, 2022
2.5 stars
The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter is a psychological thriller, and the second in The Serial Killer's Family series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books 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)
Jen and Mark have had a few ups and downs in their marriage, mainly because of secrets, and the affair that Mark had a year ago with Olivia.
Now, Olivia is missing, apparently taken from the street after leaving the local pub.
Things are tense, and both Jen and Mark are starting to worry. Jen has night terrors, and black-outs. Then there are the dead animals that are showing up in garbage bags on their property.
Could Jen be responsible for everything that is going wrong? After all, her father is a serial killer....not that she has ever told Mark. Is she following in her fathers footsteps?
My Opinions:
I had a lot of problems with this book. First, I'm not sure how this can be part of a series....when the characters are different? Yes, they both dealt with serial killers, but a series? That is like saying King's It and Tolkein's The Hobbit are a series because they both have spiders in them.
Next, I didn't like ANY of the characters. I couldn't even feel sorry for Jenny/Jane. Then, there was the age old -- husband and wife keep secrets from one another, and their marriage suffers. Woman suffers from blackouts, so is automatically the perpetrator. She decides to find the culprit herself. Lots of suspects, but in the end, it was the obvious one. Everything was so predictable. Therefore, the twists and excitement didn't hit home for me.
Now, what worked well. The writing was fine. The actual plot was okay. The story being told from both Jenny and Mark's points of view was really good.
However, I am probably in the minority (so don't take just my opinion), but I couldn't wait for this book to be over.
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 and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 29, 2022
I remember reading Hunter's first book, The Serial Killer's Wife- I listened to the entire audiobook in one day, which I have rarely managed to do. So when the Daughter book came on NetGalley too, I was ecstatic to get approved and see how it compared.
Whilst I really enjoyed it and was gripped throughout, the ending disappointed me as I saw the culprit coming from a mile off. I am rarely one to nail the perpetrator, and particularly from an early stage of the book, so this one didn't have the wow ending of the first book.
Nonetheless, it was a really enjoyable listen. I was thinking about it a lot, listening to it as much as possible, and it kept me engaged throughout. Which is no mean feat.
Whilst I really enjoyed it and was gripped throughout, the ending disappointed me as I saw the culprit coming from a mile off. I am rarely one to nail the perpetrator, and particularly from an early stage of the book, so this one didn't have the wow ending of the first book.
Nonetheless, it was a really enjoyable listen. I was thinking about it a lot, listening to it as much as possible, and it kept me engaged throughout. Which is no mean feat.
July 24, 2022
4.5★s
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is the second novel by British author, Alice Hunter. THe audio version is narrated by Heather Long and Ciaran Saward. When veterinarian Jenny Johnson wakes in the early hours of Wednesday morning on her kitchen floor, cold and dirty, her pyjamas stained with wet earth, mud embedded under her nails, she knows she has had another blackout, and wonders just what she has been doing out there. She manages to hide it from her family, although her husband, Mark knows something’s up.
More disturbing, though, is the black bin bag she spots near the front steps, containing the mutilated body of a cat, with an extra touch that has her immediately wondering who, from the life she’s tried so hard to leave behind, has found her.
After a busy day at her vet practice, Mark mentions the news that has rocked their village of Coleton Combe: Olivia Edwards is missing, believed abducted on her walk home from the local pub the previous evening.
He’s keeping to himself the worry that Jenny might be involved, because he has, once before, failed to contain her sleep-walking, and tracked her down to Olivia’s front garden, a rock in her hand. His affair with Olivia is still a sore point between them.
Between the police questioning everyone in the village, speculation and gossip amongst the school mums, villagers and clinic staff, and more bin bags with grisly contents, Jenny’s stress levels are sky high, a situation that results in more blackouts, more sleepwalking, more worry about what she might have done, especially when the situation begins to resemble something she has experienced before.
It gradually becomes clear that neither of Mark nor Jenny has been entirely honest about their past: Mark has failed to mention impulsive acts following excess alcohol intake; Jenny has refused to talk about her family, never mentioning her manipulative, controlling mother or her serial killer father.
Most of the story is told through a dual narrative carried by Mark and Jenny; additional facts are provided by recalled conversations between a father and daughter, and extracts from a true crime book and commentary from the anonymous author about interactions with the book’s subject.
The reader may initially wonder just how reliable a narrator Jenny is. Certainly, the second-guessing she engages in about her own actions has strong foundations, and her blackouts and nocturnal activity make her the ideal subject for gaslighting.
There are plenty of distractions, red herrings and lots of tension to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. The blurb is slightly misleading and the resolution needs some suspension of disbelief, but still an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
The Serial Killer’s Daughter is the second novel by British author, Alice Hunter. THe audio version is narrated by Heather Long and Ciaran Saward. When veterinarian Jenny Johnson wakes in the early hours of Wednesday morning on her kitchen floor, cold and dirty, her pyjamas stained with wet earth, mud embedded under her nails, she knows she has had another blackout, and wonders just what she has been doing out there. She manages to hide it from her family, although her husband, Mark knows something’s up.
More disturbing, though, is the black bin bag she spots near the front steps, containing the mutilated body of a cat, with an extra touch that has her immediately wondering who, from the life she’s tried so hard to leave behind, has found her.
After a busy day at her vet practice, Mark mentions the news that has rocked their village of Coleton Combe: Olivia Edwards is missing, believed abducted on her walk home from the local pub the previous evening.
He’s keeping to himself the worry that Jenny might be involved, because he has, once before, failed to contain her sleep-walking, and tracked her down to Olivia’s front garden, a rock in her hand. His affair with Olivia is still a sore point between them.
Between the police questioning everyone in the village, speculation and gossip amongst the school mums, villagers and clinic staff, and more bin bags with grisly contents, Jenny’s stress levels are sky high, a situation that results in more blackouts, more sleepwalking, more worry about what she might have done, especially when the situation begins to resemble something she has experienced before.
It gradually becomes clear that neither of Mark nor Jenny has been entirely honest about their past: Mark has failed to mention impulsive acts following excess alcohol intake; Jenny has refused to talk about her family, never mentioning her manipulative, controlling mother or her serial killer father.
Most of the story is told through a dual narrative carried by Mark and Jenny; additional facts are provided by recalled conversations between a father and daughter, and extracts from a true crime book and commentary from the anonymous author about interactions with the book’s subject.
The reader may initially wonder just how reliable a narrator Jenny is. Certainly, the second-guessing she engages in about her own actions has strong foundations, and her blackouts and nocturnal activity make her the ideal subject for gaslighting.
There are plenty of distractions, red herrings and lots of tension to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the nail-biting climax. The blurb is slightly misleading and the resolution needs some suspension of disbelief, but still an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Avon Books UK.
April 20, 2022
In a sleepy Devon village, a woman is taken from the streets. Local vet Jenny is horrified. This kind of thing doesn’t happen here. But it’s not the first time she’s been so close to a crime scene. The daughter of a prolific serial killer, she’s spent her whole life running from who she really is. And the crime is harrowingly similar to those her father committed all those years ago…
But she’s not her father’s daughter. Is she?
I loved the Serial Killers Wife and was very eager to read this next book. Alice Hunter has a wonderful way of bringing her characters to life and that with a very engaging plot makes this another winner in my eyes. A woman disappears and it just happens that this woman had had an affair with her husband, was she now a suspect? This really is the heart of the story and Jenny sets off to find out the truth about what happened. This is a fast paced book with a great storyline that had me gripped to the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending was also very satisfying and wrapped everything up nicely. As soon as I see another book by Alice I will purchasing it regardless of what it is about, I know she will not let me down. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of the book in return for an opinion that is purely mine.
But she’s not her father’s daughter. Is she?
I loved the Serial Killers Wife and was very eager to read this next book. Alice Hunter has a wonderful way of bringing her characters to life and that with a very engaging plot makes this another winner in my eyes. A woman disappears and it just happens that this woman had had an affair with her husband, was she now a suspect? This really is the heart of the story and Jenny sets off to find out the truth about what happened. This is a fast paced book with a great storyline that had me gripped to the pages and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The ending was also very satisfying and wrapped everything up nicely. As soon as I see another book by Alice I will purchasing it regardless of what it is about, I know she will not let me down. Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy of the book in return for an opinion that is purely mine.
July 31, 2022
I had read The Serial Killer's Wife back in the spring of 2021 and while I openly admitted that it was not for me, I did promise to give the author another chance. Added to that I'm a sucker for a well done serial killer in the family novel.
Which this sadly was not (at least for me).
Let me start off by saying that you DO NOT have to have read The Serial Killer's Wife in order for this one to make sense as it would appear that the two books are not connected in any way. This is not a sequel to that book where the child is all grown up, this is merely the story of another person (this time the daughter) who has the misfortune of having a serial killer for a family member.
There were a few issues I had with this one, the first being Jenny's paranoia and constant blackouts. I get it. These are real issues that real people have to deal with, but this was just so constant and over the top that I quickly became bored. Perhaps instead of trying (and obviously failing) to deal with them on her own, Jenny should have sought help. She definitely made a lot of stupid mistakes throughout this novel (the biggest of which is hiding a crucial piece of evidence in the disappearance of Olivia inside of her own house nonetheless). Her husband Mark is just as bad harboring his own secrets, but of course instead of actually TALKING to his wife about various issues, he chooses to bury his head in the sand and avoid confrontation for most of the story, just to jump to the complete wrong conclusions when he does decide to finally do something.
Most of the background characters are also somewhat shady, which while it does provide the perfect red herrings for who is possibly responsible for what is going on (if it's not Jenny herself), it became tedious after awhile. Having one or two characters potentially up to something is one thing, but every single person you come across (aside from Mark and Jenny's two children of course, although I will touch more on that later).
The plot itself sort of plods along. At no point did I feel particularly glued to the pages, nor did I feel like this was the thriller it had promised to be. It was all sort of boring actually. Even the big reveal at the end was more of a what the heck moment than an oh heck moment. This could be in part due to the fact that I was never quite sure how old Jenny was supposed to be. I knew she had left home for university, and has been gone from her mother's house for 20 years (or longer), and married for around 11 years, which made the reveal kind of weird... without giving spoilers I can't really go into detail, just that it didn't make sense to me how it could have happened.
The final nail in the coffin for me was the absolutely unnecessary epilogue in which one of Jenny's children cruelly pulls the wings from a butterfly only to smash the poor thing into the table. This was supposedly to cause Jenny to wonder if the "serial killer gene" skipped a generation to "infect" her child, but due to the fact that there was a lot of talk about animal mutilations in this book just leads me to seriously wonder about the author herself.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Which this sadly was not (at least for me).
Let me start off by saying that you DO NOT have to have read The Serial Killer's Wife in order for this one to make sense as it would appear that the two books are not connected in any way. This is not a sequel to that book where the child is all grown up, this is merely the story of another person (this time the daughter) who has the misfortune of having a serial killer for a family member.
There were a few issues I had with this one, the first being Jenny's paranoia and constant blackouts. I get it. These are real issues that real people have to deal with, but this was just so constant and over the top that I quickly became bored. Perhaps instead of trying (and obviously failing) to deal with them on her own, Jenny should have sought help. She definitely made a lot of stupid mistakes throughout this novel (the biggest of which is hiding a crucial piece of evidence in the disappearance of Olivia inside of her own house nonetheless). Her husband Mark is just as bad harboring his own secrets, but of course instead of actually TALKING to his wife about various issues, he chooses to bury his head in the sand and avoid confrontation for most of the story, just to jump to the complete wrong conclusions when he does decide to finally do something.
Most of the background characters are also somewhat shady, which while it does provide the perfect red herrings for who is possibly responsible for what is going on (if it's not Jenny herself), it became tedious after awhile. Having one or two characters potentially up to something is one thing, but every single person you come across (aside from Mark and Jenny's two children of course, although I will touch more on that later).
The plot itself sort of plods along. At no point did I feel particularly glued to the pages, nor did I feel like this was the thriller it had promised to be. It was all sort of boring actually. Even the big reveal at the end was more of a what the heck moment than an oh heck moment. This could be in part due to the fact that I was never quite sure how old Jenny was supposed to be. I knew she had left home for university, and has been gone from her mother's house for 20 years (or longer), and married for around 11 years, which made the reveal kind of weird... without giving spoilers I can't really go into detail, just that it didn't make sense to me how it could have happened.
The final nail in the coffin for me was the absolutely unnecessary epilogue in which one of Jenny's children cruelly pulls the wings from a butterfly only to smash the poor thing into the table. This was supposedly to cause Jenny to wonder if the "serial killer gene" skipped a generation to "infect" her child, but due to the fact that there was a lot of talk about animal mutilations in this book just leads me to seriously wonder about the author herself.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
November 7, 2022
When you have enjoyed a debut novel so much, the next story is always approached with a mixture of excitement, anticipation and trepidation. Can the writer follow with a second story that is equally as thrilling? Will it be just as enjoyable or have you put too much expectation on the book? Alas for me, this read from Hunter felt nowhere near as good as the first novel and I thought it was the complete opposite in terms of suspense and excitement.
This is the second book of the series about being related to a serial killer. This novel is not connected with the previous story, instead exploring a new connection to a murderer. In this book, Jenny’s father is the serial killer and has been imprisoned for many years. However, Jenny has managed to keep her family connections a secret, starting all over with a successful job, husband and children. But, it is evident that Jenny has been traumatised by her childhood and she frequently suffers from ‘blackouts’. Happening at night, Jenny barely has any recollection of what she does whilst wandering around, pretty much sleepwalking, but doing other things too. Waking up in unusual places with dirty pyjamas, it doesn’t take long for Jenny to panic that she might be involved in a local woman’s disappearance. After all, with her father being a serial killer, surely she is guilty by association?
There’s a lot of ambiguity in this story as Jenny suspects many others around her, including her husband. She is paranoid she is being framed because of her family connections, but her sleepwalking does little to lighten her own suspicions – especially when she sees video footage of some of her night-time behaviours. At the same time, Hunt makes it clear that her marriage to Mark is not especially strong and there is a lot of deception between the two. With the local abduction adding to the tension, I found it difficult to understand whether this couple would ever reconcile their growing differences.
What was felt different to this story was the considerable lack of pace. In my opinion, not a lot happens apart from the abduction. There is a lot of thinking and deciding, but little action. Whereas the previous novel was pacy and left me breathless with information, this was far slower in plot development and caused my attention to wane. As a result, I think I was more focused on the characters surrounding Jenny, so that when final revelations were brought to light, I was hardly as surprised as I wanted to be.
To make this book more exciting, I think the plot would have benefitted from being more disjointed. Readers join Jenny after the blackout has finished and I think finding a way to incorporate these movements into the plot would have added further confusion to Jenny’s actions. Furthermore, there are small sections dedicated to Jenny’s father; I wanted to see these feature more to give a better understanding of Jenny’s childhood and how she may have been impacted by her father’s crimes.
Overall, I thought this story was quite disappointing and the antithesis to Hunt’s debut novel. That was so much more enjoyable than this slow plodder that felt lacking in substance and pace. I hope the third book of the series is far more gripping.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book of the series about being related to a serial killer. This novel is not connected with the previous story, instead exploring a new connection to a murderer. In this book, Jenny’s father is the serial killer and has been imprisoned for many years. However, Jenny has managed to keep her family connections a secret, starting all over with a successful job, husband and children. But, it is evident that Jenny has been traumatised by her childhood and she frequently suffers from ‘blackouts’. Happening at night, Jenny barely has any recollection of what she does whilst wandering around, pretty much sleepwalking, but doing other things too. Waking up in unusual places with dirty pyjamas, it doesn’t take long for Jenny to panic that she might be involved in a local woman’s disappearance. After all, with her father being a serial killer, surely she is guilty by association?
There’s a lot of ambiguity in this story as Jenny suspects many others around her, including her husband. She is paranoid she is being framed because of her family connections, but her sleepwalking does little to lighten her own suspicions – especially when she sees video footage of some of her night-time behaviours. At the same time, Hunt makes it clear that her marriage to Mark is not especially strong and there is a lot of deception between the two. With the local abduction adding to the tension, I found it difficult to understand whether this couple would ever reconcile their growing differences.
What was felt different to this story was the considerable lack of pace. In my opinion, not a lot happens apart from the abduction. There is a lot of thinking and deciding, but little action. Whereas the previous novel was pacy and left me breathless with information, this was far slower in plot development and caused my attention to wane. As a result, I think I was more focused on the characters surrounding Jenny, so that when final revelations were brought to light, I was hardly as surprised as I wanted to be.
To make this book more exciting, I think the plot would have benefitted from being more disjointed. Readers join Jenny after the blackout has finished and I think finding a way to incorporate these movements into the plot would have added further confusion to Jenny’s actions. Furthermore, there are small sections dedicated to Jenny’s father; I wanted to see these feature more to give a better understanding of Jenny’s childhood and how she may have been impacted by her father’s crimes.
Overall, I thought this story was quite disappointing and the antithesis to Hunt’s debut novel. That was so much more enjoyable than this slow plodder that felt lacking in substance and pace. I hope the third book of the series is far more gripping.
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2024
In een slaperig dorpje in Engeland wordt een vrouw op gewelddadige wijze ontvoerd. Dorpsbewoner en lokale dierenarts Jenny is geschokt. Dit soort dingen gebeuren hier toch niet?
Maar het is niet de eerste keer dat Jenny geconfronteerd wordt met onheil. Ze is de dochter van een seriemoordenaar en is haar hele leven al op de vlucht voor wie ze werkelijk is. En de misdaad die nu is gepleegd, lijkt bizar veel op de gruwelijkheden die haar vader jaren geleden heeft begaan...
Maar ze is niet zoals haar vader. Of toch wel?
'De dochter van de serial killer' begint meteen met een interessante proloog en het is dan nog onduidelijk om wie het gaat.
Vervolgens lees je steeds hoofdstukken vanuit Jenny (de dochter van de seriemoordenaar) en Mark (haar partner). Er zitten ook een aantal hoofdstukken tussen vanuit een derde personage, maar wie dit is blijft ook een lange tijd onbekend.
Dan lees je over de ontvoering van een vrouw. Ze is zomaar verdwenen en niemand weet waar ze is en of ze überhaupt nog leeft. Ondertussen gebeuren er ook vreemde en nogal extreme dingen in het leven van Jenny. Ik vroeg mij af of dit iets met haar vader te maken had en wie er achter deze daden zat.
Dit verhaal wordt qua spanning goed opgebouwd. Er gebeuren telkens dingen en hierdoor blijft het ook spannend en mysterieus. Jenny vond ik ook een interessant personag en haar leer je steeds wat beter kennen.
Uiteindelijk volgt dan het plot en deze vond ik eigenlijk best oké. Het was niet super spectaculair, maar ik vond het wel goed in elkaar steken.
En dan volgt er nog een epiloog. Hierin wordt dan duidelijk wie degene is in de proloog en dit vond ik ook een interessante afsluiting. Tegelijkertijd was ik ook super benieuwd naar de verdere ontwikkelingen van dit personage.
Al met al is 'De dochter van de serial killer' dus zeker leuk om te lezen en dit verhaal staat ook nog eens op Kobo Plus! Snel op je e-reader zetten dus! :-)
Beoordeling: 3,5/4,0 ⭐️
Maar het is niet de eerste keer dat Jenny geconfronteerd wordt met onheil. Ze is de dochter van een seriemoordenaar en is haar hele leven al op de vlucht voor wie ze werkelijk is. En de misdaad die nu is gepleegd, lijkt bizar veel op de gruwelijkheden die haar vader jaren geleden heeft begaan...
Maar ze is niet zoals haar vader. Of toch wel?
'De dochter van de serial killer' begint meteen met een interessante proloog en het is dan nog onduidelijk om wie het gaat.
Vervolgens lees je steeds hoofdstukken vanuit Jenny (de dochter van de seriemoordenaar) en Mark (haar partner). Er zitten ook een aantal hoofdstukken tussen vanuit een derde personage, maar wie dit is blijft ook een lange tijd onbekend.
Dan lees je over de ontvoering van een vrouw. Ze is zomaar verdwenen en niemand weet waar ze is en of ze überhaupt nog leeft. Ondertussen gebeuren er ook vreemde en nogal extreme dingen in het leven van Jenny. Ik vroeg mij af of dit iets met haar vader te maken had en wie er achter deze daden zat.
Dit verhaal wordt qua spanning goed opgebouwd. Er gebeuren telkens dingen en hierdoor blijft het ook spannend en mysterieus. Jenny vond ik ook een interessant personag en haar leer je steeds wat beter kennen.
Uiteindelijk volgt dan het plot en deze vond ik eigenlijk best oké. Het was niet super spectaculair, maar ik vond het wel goed in elkaar steken.
En dan volgt er nog een epiloog. Hierin wordt dan duidelijk wie degene is in de proloog en dit vond ik ook een interessante afsluiting. Tegelijkertijd was ik ook super benieuwd naar de verdere ontwikkelingen van dit personage.
Al met al is 'De dochter van de serial killer' dus zeker leuk om te lezen en dit verhaal staat ook nog eens op Kobo Plus! Snel op je e-reader zetten dus! :-)
Beoordeling: 3,5/4,0 ⭐️
July 27, 2022
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC of this book.
After reading the first in this series, The Serial Killer’s Wife, last year I was eager to see how this story would follow on. Whilst this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone as enough of the previous book information is given to make you understand what happened previously.
Is murder in the blood? Are serial killer’s born or made? These are all questions that Jenny asks herself when a woman, connected to her husband, goes missing. Jenny suffers will blackouts and she has been experiencing them more and more recently so she can’t account for her whereabouts during those times.
Jenny is also hiding a secret from everyone, including her husband. Her father is currently serving life in prison as a prolific serial killer. Desperate to keep her childhood a secret Jenny escaped her control freak mother, changed her name and started a new life. However the disappearance of this woman seems very similar to her father’s murders and it’s starting to bring back some memories. Could Jenny be responsible?
I really enjoyed this story and listened to the audiobook over the course of a day. I was immediately drawn to Jenny and what she was going through. I honestly didn’t know whether I could trust her as a narrator or if she was truly innocent. Suffice to say there are lots of red herrings, misdirection’s and tension to keep the reader interested. Jenny herself makes some questionable choices, as does her husband.
Whilst I had figured out the final twist this didn’t take away the enjoyment at all. It was fun watching the breadcrumbs fall and seeing every thing come together.
After reading the first in this series, The Serial Killer’s Wife, last year I was eager to see how this story would follow on. Whilst this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone as enough of the previous book information is given to make you understand what happened previously.
Is murder in the blood? Are serial killer’s born or made? These are all questions that Jenny asks herself when a woman, connected to her husband, goes missing. Jenny suffers will blackouts and she has been experiencing them more and more recently so she can’t account for her whereabouts during those times.
Jenny is also hiding a secret from everyone, including her husband. Her father is currently serving life in prison as a prolific serial killer. Desperate to keep her childhood a secret Jenny escaped her control freak mother, changed her name and started a new life. However the disappearance of this woman seems very similar to her father’s murders and it’s starting to bring back some memories. Could Jenny be responsible?
I really enjoyed this story and listened to the audiobook over the course of a day. I was immediately drawn to Jenny and what she was going through. I honestly didn’t know whether I could trust her as a narrator or if she was truly innocent. Suffice to say there are lots of red herrings, misdirection’s and tension to keep the reader interested. Jenny herself makes some questionable choices, as does her husband.
Whilst I had figured out the final twist this didn’t take away the enjoyment at all. It was fun watching the breadcrumbs fall and seeing every thing come together.
July 1, 2022
After reading The Serial Killers Wife I could not wait to delve into her latest. A bit of of a slow burner but I just had to keep on reading. The plot was unbelievable in places but what the hell it was still a very entertaining read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
September 17, 2022
Audio - 4.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
July 5, 2022
I loved Alice Hunter's first book The Serial Killer's Wife and had very high expectations for this new book.
This story features the daughter of a serial killer (the clue is in the title) and the main character Jenny, has spent her life denying her past and trying to make amends for her father's crimes.
Suffering from black-outs and not able to account for her whereabouts during the nights, when a local women gets abducted all the evidence seems to point towards Jenny, especially when we discover she has personal reasons to wish this woman harm.
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me as I couldn't relate to the main character
or feel any sympathy towards her and her situation. The constant black-outs and paranoia began to annoy me and I felt these incidents were too repetitive.
This is purely my personal opinion, but this book lacked the surprises, twists and originality of the first book.
This story features the daughter of a serial killer (the clue is in the title) and the main character Jenny, has spent her life denying her past and trying to make amends for her father's crimes.
Suffering from black-outs and not able to account for her whereabouts during the nights, when a local women gets abducted all the evidence seems to point towards Jenny, especially when we discover she has personal reasons to wish this woman harm.
Unfortunately this book just didn't work for me as I couldn't relate to the main character
or feel any sympathy towards her and her situation. The constant black-outs and paranoia began to annoy me and I felt these incidents were too repetitive.
This is purely my personal opinion, but this book lacked the surprises, twists and originality of the first book.
May 5, 2022
I found this psychological thriller to be a very easy quick read, and should do well in the summer. I enjoyed the alternate story being told from the two different points of view and was easy to follow. I found the plot to be slow in places and failed to keep my engagement and fairly predictable. As others have mentioned, this book is part of a series, which I did not know on requesting this book but reads very well as a stand alone story.
On another note, the main character, Jenny is a vet, and fairly on in the story it mentions that she met her fellow business partner, another vet, at Plymouth University. As a member of the veterinary profession myself, it lacked authenticity for me as Plymouth does not do veterinary science! A small point but I believe accuracy is very important.
Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the e- review copy.
On another note, the main character, Jenny is a vet, and fairly on in the story it mentions that she met her fellow business partner, another vet, at Plymouth University. As a member of the veterinary profession myself, it lacked authenticity for me as Plymouth does not do veterinary science! A small point but I believe accuracy is very important.
Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the e- review copy.
August 16, 2024
OH MY GOSH
July 14, 2022
The Serial Killer’s Wife has been sitting on my TBR for a few months already, but I have not yet read it. I skipped straight to The Serial Killer’s Daughter. WOW! What a fabulous read. When you reach for this book, you are in for a treat. This is a remarkably gripping read that asks if a desire for killing can be inherited. This hair-raising tale will keep you hooked from start to finish with twists and turns that leaves you guessing all the time.
I cannot believe I have not read this author’s work before now. I love how she keeps you unsure, never knowing where this story is going to go. I could not get enough of this book. The characters are brilliant and you are given enough scenic details to transport you into the character’s world. I raced through this book and loved every second. It was a fabulous read. I cannot wait to dig into The Serial Killer’s Wife….
Jenny is a small-town veterinarian; she adores her family and will do anything for her children. Her marriage is strained after she found out about her husband's infidelity, but she is trying to move on and rebuild her trust. However, when Jenny starts receiving mutilated animals on her doorstep, and a local woman is reported missing Jenny finds her world whirling out of control. Jenny suffers from blackouts, the night a woman disappeared she was having a blackout. Is she responsible, is she torturing herself? Is her past catching up with her? Is Jenny a killer?
This book had my head spinning. I could not predict where this story was going to go. I changed my mind from page to page. I could not read this one fast enough. The author managed to keep me hooked from start to finish.
I loved Jenny. This woman worked so hard to put her past behind her, when everything starts falling apart my heart breaks for her. She is tortured by the unknown and her self-doubt is extremely moving. The author did a brilliant job in sharing this character’s emotions. I found myself sharing her horror at the thought of her involvement.
There is no doubt that I loved this book. I cannot wait to lose myself in the author’s other book very soon.
If you enjoy an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller you will not go wrong reaching for this book. It is gripping and full of twists that leave you wondering all the time. A brilliant read that I would highly recommend. Get a copy – you will not be disappointed
https://featzreviews.com
I cannot believe I have not read this author’s work before now. I love how she keeps you unsure, never knowing where this story is going to go. I could not get enough of this book. The characters are brilliant and you are given enough scenic details to transport you into the character’s world. I raced through this book and loved every second. It was a fabulous read. I cannot wait to dig into The Serial Killer’s Wife….
Jenny is a small-town veterinarian; she adores her family and will do anything for her children. Her marriage is strained after she found out about her husband's infidelity, but she is trying to move on and rebuild her trust. However, when Jenny starts receiving mutilated animals on her doorstep, and a local woman is reported missing Jenny finds her world whirling out of control. Jenny suffers from blackouts, the night a woman disappeared she was having a blackout. Is she responsible, is she torturing herself? Is her past catching up with her? Is Jenny a killer?
This book had my head spinning. I could not predict where this story was going to go. I changed my mind from page to page. I could not read this one fast enough. The author managed to keep me hooked from start to finish.
I loved Jenny. This woman worked so hard to put her past behind her, when everything starts falling apart my heart breaks for her. She is tortured by the unknown and her self-doubt is extremely moving. The author did a brilliant job in sharing this character’s emotions. I found myself sharing her horror at the thought of her involvement.
There is no doubt that I loved this book. I cannot wait to lose myself in the author’s other book very soon.
If you enjoy an edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller you will not go wrong reaching for this book. It is gripping and full of twists that leave you wondering all the time. A brilliant read that I would highly recommend. Get a copy – you will not be disappointed
https://featzreviews.com
August 14, 2022
The serial killer’s wife was a page turner for me so I was excited about this sequel.
I enjoyed the suspense and how the author has created a thrilling story with twists that hold up my interest at all times. Mostly because I really wanted to see for myself if my theory was right. And it was, and that’s a nice feeling.
Jenny is the daughter of a serial killer. She is trying everything to make her past stay there, in the past. But someone is not letting her go.
There are some similarities in a recent murder case that point out to a copycat of her father’s modus operandi. And that scares her more than anything.
It is twisted and gripping, a story that will make thriller readers enjoy it as a standalone, if not part of the series.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
I enjoyed the suspense and how the author has created a thrilling story with twists that hold up my interest at all times. Mostly because I really wanted to see for myself if my theory was right. And it was, and that’s a nice feeling.
Jenny is the daughter of a serial killer. She is trying everything to make her past stay there, in the past. But someone is not letting her go.
There are some similarities in a recent murder case that point out to a copycat of her father’s modus operandi. And that scares her more than anything.
It is twisted and gripping, a story that will make thriller readers enjoy it as a standalone, if not part of the series.
🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
May 7, 2022
A “whodunit” using the familiar plot twist of nighttime blackouts and subsequent memory loss. Is she a killer like her dad? Where did she go last night? Why are her shoes muddy?
Although well written, I had a problem with seemingly bizarre interruptions within the text. For example, in a scene between two characters a new, unrelated voice would suddenly pop up speaking in first person narrative. Who is this person? What are they talking about? Maybe a formatting change would help to set these interchanges apart for the reader.
At any rate, if you like mystery thrillers, not a bad read. I think this author has potential for more good books.
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review.
Although well written, I had a problem with seemingly bizarre interruptions within the text. For example, in a scene between two characters a new, unrelated voice would suddenly pop up speaking in first person narrative. Who is this person? What are they talking about? Maybe a formatting change would help to set these interchanges apart for the reader.
At any rate, if you like mystery thrillers, not a bad read. I think this author has potential for more good books.
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review.
April 23, 2022
This is my first book from the author, so I don't know any clues or relate information with the first book. First of all I like the MC who fighting so hard to find her happiness. With all her weakness and limited condition she active to do everything to prove her self as better one. Writtens from several POV and flip flop plots between nowdays and childhood memories, this story still easy to follow. The pace is fast and keep us sitting in edge. The twist and turn not really shocking but this still enjoyable read for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book.
May 15, 2022
A woman, hiding her identity and suffering from blackouts and night wanderings, wonders if she has anything to do with a missing woman, one who her husband cheated with. This is a fast reading and at times creepy story. There are descriptions of animal abuse that I found hard to read. Overall, it was just ok for me, I read it to the end as I wanted to see how it resolved. It left with some next possible novels, involving her husband and her daughter.
July 12, 2022
Hi! The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter is a psychological thriller that I definitely enjoyed and one that creeped me out a bit. It’s the second book in a series, the first one being The Serial Killer’s Wife. I would say it can be read as a standalone since despite having not read the first book, I was never lost in the story!
This read focuses a lot on the human mind. Insecurities, indecisiveness, doubt, fear, betrayal- they’re all emotions portrayed amazingly. Even love. I liked that this read revolved around a person balancing work, family, parenting AND her social life. And to add onto that, enough family trauma to fill an ocean. Scroll down for more!
Why you should read this book
-Now, our protagonist is a women in her 40’s and this read revolves around her, though it does have a few short chapters from two other perspectives. Her personality is pieced together so well and at a perfect pace! Her emotions were captured perfectly and I loved the ending she got.
-I loved the storyline. It captured the mind of a criminal, dark thoughts and doubts amazingly. It made so much sense when I read that the author has a psychology degree and worked with prisoners.
-The events never seemed rushed and the characters all had personalities that were made relatable to you! The book keeps you hooked to it, I just had to finish it in one sitting!
Criticisms
*I will say though- this read started a bit slowly with a large build-up. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it resulted in me piecing together the plot twist a little more than halfway through. I wasn’t aware as to how it would play out though so it’s safe to say I was still hooked to the read.
*I was also expecting more hidden secrets, something that would make the story play out differently since it was hinted at with a few characters.
All-in-all, I would give this read 4 stars. I would recommend it to you if you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers though please do look up the trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
purchase the book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bVh1di [this is an affiliate link]
This read focuses a lot on the human mind. Insecurities, indecisiveness, doubt, fear, betrayal- they’re all emotions portrayed amazingly. Even love. I liked that this read revolved around a person balancing work, family, parenting AND her social life. And to add onto that, enough family trauma to fill an ocean. Scroll down for more!
Why you should read this book
-Now, our protagonist is a women in her 40’s and this read revolves around her, though it does have a few short chapters from two other perspectives. Her personality is pieced together so well and at a perfect pace! Her emotions were captured perfectly and I loved the ending she got.
-I loved the storyline. It captured the mind of a criminal, dark thoughts and doubts amazingly. It made so much sense when I read that the author has a psychology degree and worked with prisoners.
-The events never seemed rushed and the characters all had personalities that were made relatable to you! The book keeps you hooked to it, I just had to finish it in one sitting!
Criticisms
*I will say though- this read started a bit slowly with a large build-up. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it resulted in me piecing together the plot twist a little more than halfway through. I wasn’t aware as to how it would play out though so it’s safe to say I was still hooked to the read.
*I was also expecting more hidden secrets, something that would make the story play out differently since it was hinted at with a few characters.
All-in-all, I would give this read 4 stars. I would recommend it to you if you enjoy dark, psychological thrillers though please do look up the trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
purchase the book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bVh1di [this is an affiliate link]
September 21, 2024
This is second book in the series, and i was surprised to find that it can be enjoyed as a standalone story. I actually found myself enjoying this book even more than the first one. The plot twists and turns kept me guessing, and I couldn't help but suspect every character in the village at some point.
Jenny, the main character, is incredibly complex, and despite her flaws, I found myself empathizing with her due to her traumatic background. Her struggles with severe blackouts and not knowing what she did during those times were truly frightening. I couldn't help wondering why she didn't seek medical help, even though I understand that the portrayal of her helplessness was crucial to the storyline.
On the other hand, Mark, Jenny's husband and the second main character, came across as weak and unlikable. While he may have been a good father, he was a terrible husband. I wished we could have learned more about his actions during his time at university. It feels like there's another book waiting to explore his backstory.
At times, the story felt a bit exaggerated, and some characters seemed to appear and disappear without fully addressing their roles in the plot, leaving many questions unanswered. However, I still found it to be a well-written and compelling read overall.
Jenny, the main character, is incredibly complex, and despite her flaws, I found myself empathizing with her due to her traumatic background. Her struggles with severe blackouts and not knowing what she did during those times were truly frightening. I couldn't help wondering why she didn't seek medical help, even though I understand that the portrayal of her helplessness was crucial to the storyline.
On the other hand, Mark, Jenny's husband and the second main character, came across as weak and unlikable. While he may have been a good father, he was a terrible husband. I wished we could have learned more about his actions during his time at university. It feels like there's another book waiting to explore his backstory.
At times, the story felt a bit exaggerated, and some characters seemed to appear and disappear without fully addressing their roles in the plot, leaving many questions unanswered. However, I still found it to be a well-written and compelling read overall.
July 21, 2022
Thank you to @netgallery, @avonbooksuk, @harpercollinsuk and @alicehunter_author for this advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Jenny lives in a lovely remote quiet village with her husband and two children. But Jenny isn’t who she says she is and has a secret which she has been hiding and running from practically her whole life.
Well this was an absolute page turner, I was gripped from start to finish. We all know villages within thriller books don’t stay quiet for long. This was no exception. The book was centred around the serial killer’s daughters life and what she has made of it after escaping her past, or so she thought. Jenny was a very likeable character even if you are shouting at her to communicate with her husband better.
The way Alice Hunter wrote the story was just amazing and very compelling. I was really rooting for Jenny but also felt she had her hand in the play of events. The story was written from three POV Jenny, Mark (Jenny’s) husband & young Jenny, this gave you a really insight to Jenny and her life both past and present.
This was my first book by Alice Hunter and I will definitely be picking up another of her books soon.
Jenny lives in a lovely remote quiet village with her husband and two children. But Jenny isn’t who she says she is and has a secret which she has been hiding and running from practically her whole life.
Well this was an absolute page turner, I was gripped from start to finish. We all know villages within thriller books don’t stay quiet for long. This was no exception. The book was centred around the serial killer’s daughters life and what she has made of it after escaping her past, or so she thought. Jenny was a very likeable character even if you are shouting at her to communicate with her husband better.
The way Alice Hunter wrote the story was just amazing and very compelling. I was really rooting for Jenny but also felt she had her hand in the play of events. The story was written from three POV Jenny, Mark (Jenny’s) husband & young Jenny, this gave you a really insight to Jenny and her life both past and present.
This was my first book by Alice Hunter and I will definitely be picking up another of her books soon.
July 19, 2022
I enjoyed a the Serial Killers Wife, so I was anticipating this one as well and it didn’t disappoint. A quick read, this psychological thriller kept me turning pages long after I should have been asleep.
Jenny is a wife and mother and the local vet. From the outside m everything looks good. But she suffers from night terrors and blackouts as a result of trauma from her childhood that she hasn’t told anyone, including her husband about. When a woman from their small town gets abducted one night, Jenny wonders if she had anything to do with it, and so does her husband when he discovers the blackouts. Jenny is left trying to put the pieces together and prove her innocence before she is charged with murder. Being the daughter of a serial killer, she wonders if maybe she is guilty when the crime is especially close to the type her father committed. But is she like her father?
The story is told from several POV and two timelines which I did like but there are several triggers within this story-the main one being animal cruelty.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Jenny is a wife and mother and the local vet. From the outside m everything looks good. But she suffers from night terrors and blackouts as a result of trauma from her childhood that she hasn’t told anyone, including her husband about. When a woman from their small town gets abducted one night, Jenny wonders if she had anything to do with it, and so does her husband when he discovers the blackouts. Jenny is left trying to put the pieces together and prove her innocence before she is charged with murder. Being the daughter of a serial killer, she wonders if maybe she is guilty when the crime is especially close to the type her father committed. But is she like her father?
The story is told from several POV and two timelines which I did like but there are several triggers within this story-the main one being animal cruelty.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
July 21, 2022
Jenny is married to Mark and mother to Ella, 8, and Alfie, 6. Mark works in IT and Jenny is a veterinarian. Jenny is hiding a dark past that compels her to go out at night and Mark doesn’t know what she does or where she goes. Actually, Jenny doesn’t remember what she does either.
One evening when Jenny returns from work, Mark tells her that a local woman, Olivia Edwards, is missing. She’s the woman that Mark had an affair with. Mark begin to wonder if Jenny was the person who took Olivia in revenge for her affair with him. Could Jenny have done that?
The story lets the reader know that Jenny is the daughter of a serial killer now in prison. She has since changed her name and told no one about her past. We question whether she could be like her father when her blackouts at night leave her with mud on her clothes. This story is well-written making us wonder if she is guilty of some horrible things. I really did not figure out the ending until faced with it. Well done and quite compelling. Enjoy, Readers!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
One evening when Jenny returns from work, Mark tells her that a local woman, Olivia Edwards, is missing. She’s the woman that Mark had an affair with. Mark begin to wonder if Jenny was the person who took Olivia in revenge for her affair with him. Could Jenny have done that?
The story lets the reader know that Jenny is the daughter of a serial killer now in prison. She has since changed her name and told no one about her past. We question whether she could be like her father when her blackouts at night leave her with mud on her clothes. This story is well-written making us wonder if she is guilty of some horrible things. I really did not figure out the ending until faced with it. Well done and quite compelling. Enjoy, Readers!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 7, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Here we meet Jen, who is married to Mark, and they have two children. Jen is a vet and has a lovely house, and all seems perfect. Except underneath it all, everything seems like it might fall apart at the seams. And when a local lady from their village goes missing, Jen is sure she has nothing to do with it. But can she be really sure?
This was a great book from this author. The chapters were short but packed, which is always welcome. The vibe from the book is creepy, atmospheric, and is quite perfect for the up and down emotion of the story. The characters were on point and relatable, even down to the coven of gossipy mums in the playground. Jen was a likeable character, and I wanted the best outcome for her as she’s had such a rough time, her husband on the other hand was suitably irritating for this story. There were some twists in this story, and the ending was satisfying. Highly recommended.
Here we meet Jen, who is married to Mark, and they have two children. Jen is a vet and has a lovely house, and all seems perfect. Except underneath it all, everything seems like it might fall apart at the seams. And when a local lady from their village goes missing, Jen is sure she has nothing to do with it. But can she be really sure?
This was a great book from this author. The chapters were short but packed, which is always welcome. The vibe from the book is creepy, atmospheric, and is quite perfect for the up and down emotion of the story. The characters were on point and relatable, even down to the coven of gossipy mums in the playground. Jen was a likeable character, and I wanted the best outcome for her as she’s had such a rough time, her husband on the other hand was suitably irritating for this story. There were some twists in this story, and the ending was satisfying. Highly recommended.
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