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The Daughters
My father said my mother killed herself. My sister says he’s lying.
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty.
Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman she doesn’t recognise. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly.
What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty.
Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman she doesn’t recognise. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly.
What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2022
1600 people are currently reading
842 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 18, 2022
The Daughters is a story of vengeance, loss and the power of family connection. Parts of the story really pulled me in, while other sections were disturbing to read. There are multiple trigger warnings including sexual abuse to a child and self harm just to name a few. I had a hard time connecting with the characters because they were so unlikable. This book shows that trusting the wrong person may be deadly. This is the second book I have read from Julia Crouch and I enjoyed The New Mother so much more. This was not bad by any means, and I will read future books by this author. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.
May 7, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
**TRIGGER WARNING** This story contains: racism, violence towards children, sexual assault, suicide and self harm.
Ever since Carys married Bill, she has tried to look after his daughters. Particularly sweet, troubled Lucy, who was only six when her mother died. Over the years, Carys has done everything she can think of to help Lucy. Now, she has found a therapist who specialises in cases like hers. His methods are unusual, but Carys is desperate. Sitting in the sunlit waiting room, Carys allows herself to hope. Then Lucy comes running out of the room, wailing, her eyes wild. Lucy says she saw her father kill someine.
Carys is the step-mother of Lucy and Sara. Lucy has been suffering and Carys takes her to a hypnotherapist, and Lucy's memories start to resurface.
Secrets. lies. twist, turns and a fast pace are all the things I like in a gripping read. There's also some dark themes which I'm not so keen on, but such is life unfortunately. There's lots going on in the book and it did take me a while to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #JuliaCrouch for my ARC of #TheDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
**TRIGGER WARNING** This story contains: racism, violence towards children, sexual assault, suicide and self harm.
Ever since Carys married Bill, she has tried to look after his daughters. Particularly sweet, troubled Lucy, who was only six when her mother died. Over the years, Carys has done everything she can think of to help Lucy. Now, she has found a therapist who specialises in cases like hers. His methods are unusual, but Carys is desperate. Sitting in the sunlit waiting room, Carys allows herself to hope. Then Lucy comes running out of the room, wailing, her eyes wild. Lucy says she saw her father kill someine.
Carys is the step-mother of Lucy and Sara. Lucy has been suffering and Carys takes her to a hypnotherapist, and Lucy's memories start to resurface.
Secrets. lies. twist, turns and a fast pace are all the things I like in a gripping read. There's also some dark themes which I'm not so keen on, but such is life unfortunately. There's lots going on in the book and it did take me a while to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #JuliaCrouch for my ARC of #TheDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2022
3 solid ⭐
Family drama to the max coming from six ways to Sunday.
TW ~ mental illness, suicide, self harm, death of a child, racism
Bill and Alice (deceased) have 2 daughters, Sara (30) and Lucy (18). Sara moved away and hasn't been back home in over a decade. Now a detective in Australia she has found new evidence that perhaps her mother did not kill herself after all. She takes a 6 month sabbatical and goes back to London to try to figure out what really happened to her mother.
Bill is now married to the much younger, Carys ~ in fact, she is just 5 years older than her estranged step~daughter, Sara. They have a lovely 5 year old daughter, Binnie. Carys does her best to be a great stepmom and wife, since Bill is still suffering from injuries from an accident. They run a construction business together and are in the process of digging for a new development when bones are discovered. Thus sets forth an investigation into who the remains belong to and who put them there.
There's lots of secrets and lies, as what we'd usually expect from our psychological thrillers.
For some reason this one took me quite a few days to get through ~ I didn't hate it, but it didn't grab me to want to quickly turn the pages in a day or two. Although written well enough, the characters were all unlikable and untrustworthy, except Nonna and Fig. For me it was predictable, but there were some times that it was all over the place making me second guess myself, but in the end it happened just as I'd first thought.
This is my first time with this author and I would try her work again.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Julia Crouch and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
Family drama to the max coming from six ways to Sunday.
TW ~ mental illness, suicide, self harm, death of a child, racism
Bill and Alice (deceased) have 2 daughters, Sara (30) and Lucy (18). Sara moved away and hasn't been back home in over a decade. Now a detective in Australia she has found new evidence that perhaps her mother did not kill herself after all. She takes a 6 month sabbatical and goes back to London to try to figure out what really happened to her mother.
Bill is now married to the much younger, Carys ~ in fact, she is just 5 years older than her estranged step~daughter, Sara. They have a lovely 5 year old daughter, Binnie. Carys does her best to be a great stepmom and wife, since Bill is still suffering from injuries from an accident. They run a construction business together and are in the process of digging for a new development when bones are discovered. Thus sets forth an investigation into who the remains belong to and who put them there.
There's lots of secrets and lies, as what we'd usually expect from our psychological thrillers.
For some reason this one took me quite a few days to get through ~ I didn't hate it, but it didn't grab me to want to quickly turn the pages in a day or two. Although written well enough, the characters were all unlikable and untrustworthy, except Nonna and Fig. For me it was predictable, but there were some times that it was all over the place making me second guess myself, but in the end it happened just as I'd first thought.
This is my first time with this author and I would try her work again.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Julia Crouch and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
More reviews here ➡ Heather Adores Books
April 23, 2022
"Fairies live under the hawthorn to guard it .... In Celtic mythology, it is one of the most sacred trees and symbolises love and protection."
Secrets and lies take center stage on a journey to discovering what happened to Alice, Bill's first wife. Carys marries Bill following Alice's apparent suicide, trying to be the perfect wife and stepmother to Bill's daughters, Lucy and Sara. With Lucy troubled since her mother's death, Carys arranges for Lucy to see a hypnotherapist to help work through her struggles. Lucy's sessions start to evoke intensely disturbing memories, possibly bringing light onto the mystery of Alice's disappearance. Did Alice actually commit suicide or was she murdered? Or is she alive after all?
I thought this was a great premise but I was quite disappointed with the execution. There was way too much going on, not to the point where it was confusing but instead seeming overdone with some side stories unnecessary. Most of the characters were bitter and unlikable and it was difficult to invest myself fully. Additionally, while I appreciate the inclusion of diversity, it felt too forced here.
On the other hand, other elements were more enjoyable. The connection to nature, trees specifically, added a layer of well placed metaphor and symbolism to the story. I loved the relationship and fierce love between Lucy and Sara, particularly at a time of deep loss. The deep look into memories was also thought provoking, arousing a curiosity to deepen my understanding of the validity of recalled memories.
"Trees have a permanence and a wisdom we can only dream of, that we can all learn from standing under them."
** Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available May 26, 2022. **
Secrets and lies take center stage on a journey to discovering what happened to Alice, Bill's first wife. Carys marries Bill following Alice's apparent suicide, trying to be the perfect wife and stepmother to Bill's daughters, Lucy and Sara. With Lucy troubled since her mother's death, Carys arranges for Lucy to see a hypnotherapist to help work through her struggles. Lucy's sessions start to evoke intensely disturbing memories, possibly bringing light onto the mystery of Alice's disappearance. Did Alice actually commit suicide or was she murdered? Or is she alive after all?
I thought this was a great premise but I was quite disappointed with the execution. There was way too much going on, not to the point where it was confusing but instead seeming overdone with some side stories unnecessary. Most of the characters were bitter and unlikable and it was difficult to invest myself fully. Additionally, while I appreciate the inclusion of diversity, it felt too forced here.
On the other hand, other elements were more enjoyable. The connection to nature, trees specifically, added a layer of well placed metaphor and symbolism to the story. I loved the relationship and fierce love between Lucy and Sara, particularly at a time of deep loss. The deep look into memories was also thought provoking, arousing a curiosity to deepen my understanding of the validity of recalled memories.
"Trees have a permanence and a wisdom we can only dream of, that we can all learn from standing under them."
** Special thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available May 26, 2022. **
April 17, 2022
Carys married Bill after his first wife, Alice, committed suicide. She is trying to be the best stepmom to Bill's daughters, Sara and Lucy. Lucy is unfortunately troubled and Carys thinks she has found the perfect person to help her, named Ajay, a hypnotherapist. When Lucy starts her therapy, memories begin to form and now she thinks her father, Bill, killed her mother Alice. What really happened to Alice? Was she murdered or did she really commit suicide?
There is a lot going on in this story. It is filled with many secrets and lies and I really didn't know what to believe. I think the less you know about the story before starting it, the more entertaining it will be. So I won't reveal too much. It was quite a twisty story, fast-paced and an easy read. I think many people will enjoy THE DAUGHTERS.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
There is a lot going on in this story. It is filled with many secrets and lies and I really didn't know what to believe. I think the less you know about the story before starting it, the more entertaining it will be. So I won't reveal too much. It was quite a twisty story, fast-paced and an easy read. I think many people will enjoy THE DAUGHTERS.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
April 18, 2022
My Review:
I want to start off by saying that this book starts off very slow but if you stick with it you are rewarded with a great ending. I also want to say that make sure you pay close attention to the first chapter as it spits out everyone’s name and how they are related. I had to read it a few times to get it all correctly. I did read a review on Goodreads that said exactly the same thing as me so it’s just not me that got confused. Once you get past the boring parts it does pick up and you move a lot quicker. I read this in only a few sittings as I wanted to know the truth of what happened. You know from the very beginning that everyone has something to hide and you have to figure out who’s telling the truth and who’s not. I also do want to say that I felt that this book was very wordy if that makes sense. For example, you don’t need that many words to describe a place, person or object. The author also uses words that I felt aren’t used in everyday conversations. In fact, I haven’t even heard of some of the words that were used in my life. I did have to google them and I don’t do that very often. All that is why I did knock this book down one heart. Otherwise, it was quite an enjoyable read once it got started. I really let myself go and got super immersed in the characters and the story line. I also loved the way this book ended. It came full circle in the end and was wrapped up neatly with a bow on top. The author left clues throughout the whole book on how it was going to end but I still was left guessing on who done it and why. To me endings are very important and most of the time the ending will affect how I rate the book. All in all, I will definitely be reading more of this authors works in the future.
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 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
I want to start off by saying that this book starts off very slow but if you stick with it you are rewarded with a great ending. I also want to say that make sure you pay close attention to the first chapter as it spits out everyone’s name and how they are related. I had to read it a few times to get it all correctly. I did read a review on Goodreads that said exactly the same thing as me so it’s just not me that got confused. Once you get past the boring parts it does pick up and you move a lot quicker. I read this in only a few sittings as I wanted to know the truth of what happened. You know from the very beginning that everyone has something to hide and you have to figure out who’s telling the truth and who’s not. I also do want to say that I felt that this book was very wordy if that makes sense. For example, you don’t need that many words to describe a place, person or object. The author also uses words that I felt aren’t used in everyday conversations. In fact, I haven’t even heard of some of the words that were used in my life. I did have to google them and I don’t do that very often. All that is why I did knock this book down one heart. Otherwise, it was quite an enjoyable read once it got started. I really let myself go and got super immersed in the characters and the story line. I also loved the way this book ended. It came full circle in the end and was wrapped up neatly with a bow on top. The author left clues throughout the whole book on how it was going to end but I still was left guessing on who done it and why. To me endings are very important and most of the time the ending will affect how I rate the book. All in all, I will definitely be reading more of this authors works in the future.
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 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 29, 2022
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Daughters' by Julia Crouch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Julia Crouch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 26th May 2022.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Mother' which I would also recommend!
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I am also a fan of Julia and if this is half as good as 'The New Mother' it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 47 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London, England, 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Sara and Carys. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'The Daughters' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Julia discusses/includes mental health, attempted suicide and the death of a child.
OMG!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! WHAT A BOOK!!! JUST WOW, WOW, WOW!!! MIND BLOWN!!! Congratulations Julia on yet another huge success!!
What an absolutely fantastically written book with vivid descriptions that make your heart raise and keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! The cover, synopsis and title suit the book perfectly!!
This book has a very realistic storyline and one which I was completely invested in. Once I picked it up I could not put it down so if you are about to read this then make sure you clear your schedules. If your not going to read it then a) why the heck not?!?! And b) definitely your loss!!! . It is absolutely filled with fanily, deception, love, tension, lies, suspense and a few shocks and twists thrown in!!! It was a complete minefield of twists and turns and I jist had no idea who to believe. I was definitely not expecting the twists or the ending so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Julia. I have read thousands of thrillers so it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you managed to completely blow my mind! The fact that Julia has done her research shines through. There is not much worse than a book filled with errors that have could easily have been avoided through research. I was completely intrigued by the hypnotherapy aspects as I've always wondered if it does work and if I would be willing to put complete trust in someone to delve that deep into my mind and even possibly place false memories. Being a vegan myself I enjoyed that veganism was mentioned throughout this book. This is the second book in which Julia mentions veganism so I'm wondering if she may be vegan herself. A genuine page turner that will keep you flipping the pages until you reach the explosive ending!!!
I was completely invested in both Carys and Sara who are both very realistic and strong women both with very different personalities. It was intriguing to watch how both their personalities and their relationship changed throughout the story. I wasn't sure what to think of Carys at first and struggled to trust her but she redeemed herself as I was reading more about her. My heart went out to Lucy who was struggling with her mental health while being bombarded with so many different scenarios. I also felt sorry for little Bonnie who was completely innocent in everything but suffered herself. I wanted to say something about the other characters but I don't want to give anything away so I think I will have to leave it at that. Nonna and Fig are both adorable additions and I can see how the breed can be easily confused with Labradoodles so I enjoyed doing my own but of research on Lagotto's and Labradoodles which was quite fun. Regardless of whether you love or hate the characters they all work perfectly well to make an unputdownable and explosive psychological thriller.
Congratulations Julia on one heck of a page turning psychological read!!! I absolutely loved reading this book and have already added all your previous books to my wish list. I look forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie which I can guarantee will be a sell out!! This is why you are in my favourite authour club!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an absolutely page turning, intense, heart racing psychological thriller that will get you addicted!!!
Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction, Psychological Literary Fiction and Women's Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shari Lapena, 'Gone Girl' and anyone and EVERYONE who loves a fast paced thriller.
329 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheDaughters #Bookouture #JuliaCrouch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@JuliaCrouch @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
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Review for 'The Daughters' by Julia Crouch.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Julia Crouch, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 26th May 2022.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The New Mother' which I would also recommend!
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I am also a fan of Julia and if this is half as good as 'The New Mother' it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn.' I am a huge fan of Lisa Jewell so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 47 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in London, England, 🏴 , UK 🇬🇧. I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book.
This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Sara and Carys. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.
'The Daughters' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Julia discusses/includes mental health, attempted suicide and the death of a child.
OMG!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! WHAT A BOOK!!! JUST WOW, WOW, WOW!!! MIND BLOWN!!! Congratulations Julia on yet another huge success!!
What an absolutely fantastically written book with vivid descriptions that make your heart raise and keeps you on the edge of your seat!!! The cover, synopsis and title suit the book perfectly!!
This book has a very realistic storyline and one which I was completely invested in. Once I picked it up I could not put it down so if you are about to read this then make sure you clear your schedules. If your not going to read it then a) why the heck not?!?! And b) definitely your loss!!! . It is absolutely filled with fanily, deception, love, tension, lies, suspense and a few shocks and twists thrown in!!! It was a complete minefield of twists and turns and I jist had no idea who to believe. I was definitely not expecting the twists or the ending so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Julia. I have read thousands of thrillers so it is getting harder and harder to shock me but you managed to completely blow my mind! The fact that Julia has done her research shines through. There is not much worse than a book filled with errors that have could easily have been avoided through research. I was completely intrigued by the hypnotherapy aspects as I've always wondered if it does work and if I would be willing to put complete trust in someone to delve that deep into my mind and even possibly place false memories. Being a vegan myself I enjoyed that veganism was mentioned throughout this book. This is the second book in which Julia mentions veganism so I'm wondering if she may be vegan herself. A genuine page turner that will keep you flipping the pages until you reach the explosive ending!!!
I was completely invested in both Carys and Sara who are both very realistic and strong women both with very different personalities. It was intriguing to watch how both their personalities and their relationship changed throughout the story. I wasn't sure what to think of Carys at first and struggled to trust her but she redeemed herself as I was reading more about her. My heart went out to Lucy who was struggling with her mental health while being bombarded with so many different scenarios. I also felt sorry for little Bonnie who was completely innocent in everything but suffered herself. I wanted to say something about the other characters but I don't want to give anything away so I think I will have to leave it at that. Nonna and Fig are both adorable additions and I can see how the breed can be easily confused with Labradoodles so I enjoyed doing my own but of research on Lagotto's and Labradoodles which was quite fun. Regardless of whether you love or hate the characters they all work perfectly well to make an unputdownable and explosive psychological thriller.
Congratulations Julia on one heck of a page turning psychological read!!! I absolutely loved reading this book and have already added all your previous books to my wish list. I look forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely LOVE to see this turned into a movie which I can guarantee will be a sell out!! This is why you are in my favourite authour club!!! Here's to your next success 🥂
Overall an absolutely page turning, intense, heart racing psychological thriller that will get you addicted!!!
Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction, Psychological Literary Fiction and Women's Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Shari Lapena, 'Gone Girl' and anyone and EVERYONE who loves a fast paced thriller.
329 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
#TheDaughters #Bookouture #JuliaCrouch #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour
@JuliaCrouch @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
https://kcmw86.wixsite.com/bookworm86
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
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May 22, 2022Wowzers! This was one jam packed story of nail biting suspense that didn't let up until I turned the last page!
May 23, 2022
**TRIGGER WARNING** This story contains: racism, violence towards children, sexual assault, suicide and self harm.
Secrets and lies abound in this tale that begins off very slow and keeps up the glacial pace for as long as I could bear it. That's if I could find them amidst all the other fluff.
I wanted to like THE DAUGHTERS. I loved Julia Crouch's previous thriller "The New Mother" and was looking forward to this one, but...I just couldn't. Yes, there are plenty of secrets. Yes, there are plenty of lies. But there is also plenty of fluff about eco-buildings and hummus and rice cake snacks for a five year old that just had me thinking that this book must be the love child of Greta Thunberg and Elon Musk.
I'm sorry, but I am not interested in vegan life or eco-buildings when I want to delve into the secrets surrounding the girls' mother, Bill's first wife Alice. Nothing I read in the first 20% or so reflected anything from the premise so I kind of felt robbed. And I certainly don't have the patience to wade through glacial fluff before getting to the thrilling part of the story. Life is far too short to read books that do not hold my interest. And this one didn't.
Many reviews promised the book does get better if I just stick with the boring bits and move past them, then it does pick up and the story moves a lot quicker. I'm sorry...but why? If there is nothing interesting to grab me in the beginning, what's to say I will enjoy the promise of what is to come? Of course it didn't help that I didn't like anyone. Lucy, Sara and definitely couldn't stand Carys. Didn't see enough of Bill or Binnie to form an opinion, but I felt for the poor girl being fed hummus and rice cakes. Just ewwww.
And then there was Lucy taking us on a journey to the cliff top, talking about fairies and celtic legends that live under hawthorn bushes. Seriously? Come on. This is supposed to be a thriller but I was bored to tears and honestly by that point, I didn't care what happened to any of the characters and Alice had been dead twelve years and nothing was happening to make me want to find out what actually happened.
After an exciting and twisted previous thriller with "The New Mother" , I had high hopes for THE DAUGHTERS. Sadly, it did not live up to expectation. And certainly not gripping in the slightest.
I would like to thank #JuliaCrouch, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Secrets and lies abound in this tale that begins off very slow and keeps up the glacial pace for as long as I could bear it. That's if I could find them amidst all the other fluff.
I wanted to like THE DAUGHTERS. I loved Julia Crouch's previous thriller "The New Mother" and was looking forward to this one, but...I just couldn't. Yes, there are plenty of secrets. Yes, there are plenty of lies. But there is also plenty of fluff about eco-buildings and hummus and rice cake snacks for a five year old that just had me thinking that this book must be the love child of Greta Thunberg and Elon Musk.
I'm sorry, but I am not interested in vegan life or eco-buildings when I want to delve into the secrets surrounding the girls' mother, Bill's first wife Alice. Nothing I read in the first 20% or so reflected anything from the premise so I kind of felt robbed. And I certainly don't have the patience to wade through glacial fluff before getting to the thrilling part of the story. Life is far too short to read books that do not hold my interest. And this one didn't.
Many reviews promised the book does get better if I just stick with the boring bits and move past them, then it does pick up and the story moves a lot quicker. I'm sorry...but why? If there is nothing interesting to grab me in the beginning, what's to say I will enjoy the promise of what is to come? Of course it didn't help that I didn't like anyone. Lucy, Sara and definitely couldn't stand Carys. Didn't see enough of Bill or Binnie to form an opinion, but I felt for the poor girl being fed hummus and rice cakes. Just ewwww.
And then there was Lucy taking us on a journey to the cliff top, talking about fairies and celtic legends that live under hawthorn bushes. Seriously? Come on. This is supposed to be a thriller but I was bored to tears and honestly by that point, I didn't care what happened to any of the characters and Alice had been dead twelve years and nothing was happening to make me want to find out what actually happened.
After an exciting and twisted previous thriller with "The New Mother" , I had high hopes for THE DAUGHTERS. Sadly, it did not live up to expectation. And certainly not gripping in the slightest.
I would like to thank #JuliaCrouch, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheDaughters in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
April 29, 2022
The Daughters
Julia Crouch
The Daughters is a psychological thriller, that keeps you guessing until the very end. I felt this book started off slow with a great deal of information to unpack in the first few chapters. Especially when it comes to who is who. With that being said, once you get into the book it’s a page turner. It can be very dark and tense at times. I did enjoy the twists and turns, and not being able to have to it quite figured out. This is my first book by Julia Crouch, I would be interested in checking out her other books in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Julia Crouch
The Daughters is a psychological thriller, that keeps you guessing until the very end. I felt this book started off slow with a great deal of information to unpack in the first few chapters. Especially when it comes to who is who. With that being said, once you get into the book it’s a page turner. It can be very dark and tense at times. I did enjoy the twists and turns, and not being able to have to it quite figured out. This is my first book by Julia Crouch, I would be interested in checking out her other books in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
April 21, 2022
Mixed feelings about this one, interesting premise but too many melodramatic connections and coincidences to make it relatable to me. Others might enjoy it though
May 10, 2022
What In The Field Of Flowers?! 😳😯🤯
While this was indeed a thriller suspense, I will say I struggled at times while reading. I'm not sure if it's because of some of the subject matter, or perhaps my head just wasn't in the right space for it, but I feel it fell short for me unfortunately. You will find there's a whole lot to unravel and decipher at the beginning of the novel so be prepared for that.
Carys is Bill's second wife after Alice passed away. Lucy, the second youngest, lost her mom Alice when she was six, and has been struggling ever since. Carys has been doing her best to help and after a self-harm attempt by Lucy, Carys meets a specialist who can help Lucy with a specific type of therapy. Sara, the oldest daughter comes to visit and believes her father Bill has killed her & Lucy's mother. And soon Lucy suspects it too after repressed memories resurface. Could it be true? Is Carys in danger or is it all a simple misunderstanding?
I will happily admit that the writing was great, it flowed pretty well & I definitely enjoyed all the lies, the what happened, & the unveiling of secrets and mis-truths you get along the way. The ending was unexpected and quite shocking which I truly enjoyed. It had major potential but all the trigger warnings involved I think detoured me that made it a bit more difficult.
🔴 Trigger Warning: Self-harm, suicide, Sexual Assault, Violence
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: May 26, 2022
I give this 3 / 5 Lily's! 🪷
While this was indeed a thriller suspense, I will say I struggled at times while reading. I'm not sure if it's because of some of the subject matter, or perhaps my head just wasn't in the right space for it, but I feel it fell short for me unfortunately. You will find there's a whole lot to unravel and decipher at the beginning of the novel so be prepared for that.
Carys is Bill's second wife after Alice passed away. Lucy, the second youngest, lost her mom Alice when she was six, and has been struggling ever since. Carys has been doing her best to help and after a self-harm attempt by Lucy, Carys meets a specialist who can help Lucy with a specific type of therapy. Sara, the oldest daughter comes to visit and believes her father Bill has killed her & Lucy's mother. And soon Lucy suspects it too after repressed memories resurface. Could it be true? Is Carys in danger or is it all a simple misunderstanding?
I will happily admit that the writing was great, it flowed pretty well & I definitely enjoyed all the lies, the what happened, & the unveiling of secrets and mis-truths you get along the way. The ending was unexpected and quite shocking which I truly enjoyed. It had major potential but all the trigger warnings involved I think detoured me that made it a bit more difficult.
🔴 Trigger Warning: Self-harm, suicide, Sexual Assault, Violence
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.
Release Date: May 26, 2022
I give this 3 / 5 Lily's! 🪷
May 25, 2022
Bill and Carys are married; for Bill, this is his second marriage. His first wife, Alice committed suicide and their daughter Lucy starts to see a hypnotherapist named Ajay, found for her by Carys, as she was just six when her mother died and is still troubled. Lucy's sessions bring out all manner of hidden secrets and thoughts from her childhood. She believes she saw someone killed... but is it true, and if so, does she know who the killer is?
An extremely enjoyable read, the tale is dark and takes a look at issues such as mental illness, grief, and blended families. Tense and unpredictable with a good ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
An extremely enjoyable read, the tale is dark and takes a look at issues such as mental illness, grief, and blended families. Tense and unpredictable with a good ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
April 16, 2022
Thank you Netgalley, Julia Crouch, and Bookouture for my gifted copy!
Synopsis:
After her husband's first wive's death, Carys has done everything to be a worthy replacement, for him as well as for his daughters Sara and Lucy. But when Sara finds out that their mother's body was never found, she asks herself if Carys has something to do with the disappearance. And after Lucy tried to kill herself, it becomes obvious that the answer might just be in her surpressed memories...
My thoughts:
I literally had to read the first chapter three times - the names of almost every character, as well as their relations to one another, are thrown at the reader at once, and I found it really confusing to keep up. After that, though, I found this to be a quick and fun read where you don't know who to trust until you reach the very last page. The characters did lots of stuff that seemed untypical for them and therefore unrealistic to me, and the red herrings sometimes felt too deliberate. I finished the book in two sittings, though, and it kept me entertained throughout.
This was my second book by this author, and it is my favorite so far.
Synopsis:
After her husband's first wive's death, Carys has done everything to be a worthy replacement, for him as well as for his daughters Sara and Lucy. But when Sara finds out that their mother's body was never found, she asks herself if Carys has something to do with the disappearance. And after Lucy tried to kill herself, it becomes obvious that the answer might just be in her surpressed memories...
My thoughts:
I literally had to read the first chapter three times - the names of almost every character, as well as their relations to one another, are thrown at the reader at once, and I found it really confusing to keep up. After that, though, I found this to be a quick and fun read where you don't know who to trust until you reach the very last page. The characters did lots of stuff that seemed untypical for them and therefore unrealistic to me, and the red herrings sometimes felt too deliberate. I finished the book in two sittings, though, and it kept me entertained throughout.
This was my second book by this author, and it is my favorite so far.
January 7, 2024
Quick read, although the beginning was rather long-winded. I did not connect with the protagonists, especially Sara. Almost all the characters act suspiciously and are unlikeable in their own ways. A few twists were thrown in, but ultimately, my initial guess was correct.
Trigger warnings: the book deals with/mentions self-harm, depression, child and sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, drug misuse and alcohol.
Trigger warnings: the book deals with/mentions self-harm, depression, child and sexual abuse, suicidal thoughts, drug misuse and alcohol.
April 17, 2022
The Daughters By Julia Crouch.
My husband says his first wife’s dead.
His daughters say he killed her…
Omg. A brilliant read. Lots of twists. Read in one sitting. 5*.
My husband says his first wife’s dead.
His daughters say he killed her…
Omg. A brilliant read. Lots of twists. Read in one sitting. 5*.
May 15, 2022
The Daughters by Julia Crouch is a highly recommended thriller featuring a highly dysfunctional family.
First, lets look at the basics of this blended family. Carys has been married to Bill for 12 years, is 25 years younger than him, and the two have a daughter, Binnie. Bill's first wife Alice died by suicide. Bill and Alice had two daughters, Sara and Lucy. Lucy was only 6 when her mother died so Carys has been a step-mother to her while Sara, 5 years younger than Carys, has been off living in Australia during their marriage.
Now Sara is coming home for a long visit. She has evidence that her mother's body was never found and the casket was empty at her funeral. She blames Carys for controlling everyone since she and Bill married shortly after Alice's death and she's going to confront Carys. She also knows she needs to come back to help Lucy.
At the same time, Lucy has been suffering from various struggles with her mental and emotional health. Carys has tried to help her, so when she meets a hypnotherapist who is sure he can get to the root of Lucy's trauma, Carys takes Lucy to him without telling Bill. Lucy's sessions bring out all kinds of hidden secrets and thoughts from her childhood. She is sure she saw someone killed... and maybe more than one person. And she thinks she knows who the killer is.
There is a whole lot going on in the plot, so you have to pay attention while following all the various twists, turns, and new revelations. None of the characters are particularly likable and all of them have some aspersions cast their direction. You won't know who to believe or if anyone can be trusted, which is what makes The Daughters so entertaining. You have to set some disbelief aside as you sit back, enjoy reading, follow the clues left in the narrative, and see if you figured it all out by the end.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
First, lets look at the basics of this blended family. Carys has been married to Bill for 12 years, is 25 years younger than him, and the two have a daughter, Binnie. Bill's first wife Alice died by suicide. Bill and Alice had two daughters, Sara and Lucy. Lucy was only 6 when her mother died so Carys has been a step-mother to her while Sara, 5 years younger than Carys, has been off living in Australia during their marriage.
Now Sara is coming home for a long visit. She has evidence that her mother's body was never found and the casket was empty at her funeral. She blames Carys for controlling everyone since she and Bill married shortly after Alice's death and she's going to confront Carys. She also knows she needs to come back to help Lucy.
At the same time, Lucy has been suffering from various struggles with her mental and emotional health. Carys has tried to help her, so when she meets a hypnotherapist who is sure he can get to the root of Lucy's trauma, Carys takes Lucy to him without telling Bill. Lucy's sessions bring out all kinds of hidden secrets and thoughts from her childhood. She is sure she saw someone killed... and maybe more than one person. And she thinks she knows who the killer is.
There is a whole lot going on in the plot, so you have to pay attention while following all the various twists, turns, and new revelations. None of the characters are particularly likable and all of them have some aspersions cast their direction. You won't know who to believe or if anyone can be trusted, which is what makes The Daughters so entertaining. You have to set some disbelief aside as you sit back, enjoy reading, follow the clues left in the narrative, and see if you figured it all out by the end.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
May 11, 2022
The Daughters
by Julia Crouch
3 ⭐⭐⭐
Description :
My father said my mother killed herself. My sister says he’s lying.
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty. Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly. What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
💥MY REVIEW💥
The Daughters by Julia Crouch sounds like it would be an amazing read. Unfortunate for me I just could not get into it. The first half of the story went very slow and was really boring. It also had too many female characters which for me made it really hard to remember who was who . I also found all the characters to be unlikeable.
Readers should also beware that it is loaded with triggers. This story contains sexual assault,
racism, violence towards children, suicide and self harm.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free E -ARC copy of this book from netgalley prior to release. Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own.
by Julia Crouch
3 ⭐⭐⭐
Description :
My father said my mother killed herself. My sister says he’s lying.
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty. Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly. What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
💥MY REVIEW💥
The Daughters by Julia Crouch sounds like it would be an amazing read. Unfortunate for me I just could not get into it. The first half of the story went very slow and was really boring. It also had too many female characters which for me made it really hard to remember who was who . I also found all the characters to be unlikeable.
Readers should also beware that it is loaded with triggers. This story contains sexual assault,
racism, violence towards children, suicide and self harm.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free E -ARC copy of this book from netgalley prior to release. Many thanks to NetGalley ,the publisher and the author for the chance to read and review a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All opinions I have expressed are my own.
May 26, 2022
With a headline like “My husband’s says his first wife’s dead, and his daughters say he killed her” you know you are in for wild ride.
Bill’s new wife Carys is trying to be a great stepmom to his daughters. Lucy was six when her mother died. After trying for years she finds a therapist for Lucy. The therapist, Ajay suggest some unusual practices to help Lucy, but Carys is at her wits end.
During a session of hypnosis, Lucy starts to remember things! She has always been told her mother committed suicide, but is that the truth? Is the therapist really trying to help Lucy or giving her false memories? I admit I wondered. You will have to read to find out!
The secrets, twist and face paced novel will keep you turning the pages, to find out what really happened!
Bill’s new wife Carys is trying to be a great stepmom to his daughters. Lucy was six when her mother died. After trying for years she finds a therapist for Lucy. The therapist, Ajay suggest some unusual practices to help Lucy, but Carys is at her wits end.
During a session of hypnosis, Lucy starts to remember things! She has always been told her mother committed suicide, but is that the truth? Is the therapist really trying to help Lucy or giving her false memories? I admit I wondered. You will have to read to find out!
The secrets, twist and face paced novel will keep you turning the pages, to find out what really happened!
May 10, 2022
Rating :5
TRIGGER WARNING** This story contains: racism, violence towards children, sexual assault, suicide and self harm.
first book by this author, and I loved it , it
was slow at frist ,but man did it pick up, and every time I tried to put it down I just couldn't, it made me questioning every thing I thought I knew or was finding out about these characters. As well as made it hard for me to trust any of them.
May 28, 2022
I've always enjoyed Julia Crouch's books, I read and reviewed her previous novel, The New Mother in October last year. I was really happy to get a copy of The Daughters and started reading with a sense of anticipation.
Set in London, we are introduced to the two adult daughters of Bill and Alice in the opening pages. Sarah, the eldest, is living in Australia, whilst younger sister Lucy is based in London. Sarah watches via video link as her sister and father lay flowers, to remember the death of Alice. Also present is Carys, Bill's second wife, step-mother to Sarah and Lucy and mother to Binnie; Bill's newest daughter.
It is clear that Sarah is a unhappy, almost bitter woman. Still reeling from the unexpected death of her mother and totally against Cary's involvement in their lives. Alice was a much loved and respected family GP who took her own life. Sarah has uncovered details about the aftermath of Alice's death, things that were hidden from her Lucy, and she's going home. Determined to uncover the truth about Alice's death and find out just what really happened.
This is a twisty psychological thriller that takes one family and slowly and carefully dissects it. Each character is flawed, from the controlling nature of Bill, to Lucy's desperate self-harming behaviour and Carys' hidden past.
As the reader learns more about the circumstances of each character, their opinion of what may have gone on will change. The introduction of Ajay, a clinical hypnotist is really clever and explores the intricacies of the human brain, and how memories are made. As Lucy undergoes therapy, she makes some startling revelations that will rock the family to the core, but are these memories actually real? Is Lucy taking parts of different experiences and creating a whole new happening, and just how exactly is hypnotist Ajay connected to the case?
I enjoyed this story. The characters are, in the main, quite deplorable, yet are so skilfully created at the same time. It's a complex story, with many strands that are woven together cleverly, building up to the shocking conclusion. A real page turner.
Set in London, we are introduced to the two adult daughters of Bill and Alice in the opening pages. Sarah, the eldest, is living in Australia, whilst younger sister Lucy is based in London. Sarah watches via video link as her sister and father lay flowers, to remember the death of Alice. Also present is Carys, Bill's second wife, step-mother to Sarah and Lucy and mother to Binnie; Bill's newest daughter.
It is clear that Sarah is a unhappy, almost bitter woman. Still reeling from the unexpected death of her mother and totally against Cary's involvement in their lives. Alice was a much loved and respected family GP who took her own life. Sarah has uncovered details about the aftermath of Alice's death, things that were hidden from her Lucy, and she's going home. Determined to uncover the truth about Alice's death and find out just what really happened.
This is a twisty psychological thriller that takes one family and slowly and carefully dissects it. Each character is flawed, from the controlling nature of Bill, to Lucy's desperate self-harming behaviour and Carys' hidden past.
As the reader learns more about the circumstances of each character, their opinion of what may have gone on will change. The introduction of Ajay, a clinical hypnotist is really clever and explores the intricacies of the human brain, and how memories are made. As Lucy undergoes therapy, she makes some startling revelations that will rock the family to the core, but are these memories actually real? Is Lucy taking parts of different experiences and creating a whole new happening, and just how exactly is hypnotist Ajay connected to the case?
I enjoyed this story. The characters are, in the main, quite deplorable, yet are so skilfully created at the same time. It's a complex story, with many strands that are woven together cleverly, building up to the shocking conclusion. A real page turner.
April 19, 2022
I was intrigued by the synopsis of this being a story of daughters with a possible murderer in the family. Carys, their stepmother, was well-portrayed, as was Lucy, the daughter who has the most trauma and whose story shapes the narrative. Parts of the story are frightening and dark. I was a little disappointed with the ending because I wanted to be surprised, but still enjoyed the read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 25, 2022
Julia Crouch continues to surprise and delight with the domestic thriller - sure, she continues to throw everything and the kitchen sink into her plots, characters and stories and you have to leave any sense of believability at the door. But you know what, I’m on holiday and this was the perfect read for me - 4/5 - would recommend for those who like complex relationships, sisterly bonds and domestic thrillers with several twists in the tale.
July 26, 2022
Great plot with enough twists to keep us entertained. Characters that are flawed, but easily relatable.
The writing style was sometimes irritating. For example, I've never read a book where a house burned down and it was described in three lines as: "I woke up of the fire alarm. My first priority was to get my daughter out and my second priority to get the dog out. We all got out."
But other than that, I enjoyed it and it is very much worth a read.
The writing style was sometimes irritating. For example, I've never read a book where a house burned down and it was described in three lines as: "I woke up of the fire alarm. My first priority was to get my daughter out and my second priority to get the dog out. We all got out."
But other than that, I enjoyed it and it is very much worth a read.
April 17, 2022
The Daughters by Julia Crouch was an engaging book with solid characters and a good storyline. I was unsure who to trust while reading, but I enjoyed trying to sort out the actual truth and see what was going to happen next.
I would recommend this book, and I would read more from this author.
#TheDaughters #NetGalley @bookouture
I would recommend this book, and I would read more from this author.
#TheDaughters #NetGalley @bookouture
July 4, 2022
Oh my! What an amazing,wonderful, thrilling read! I was at the edge of my seat the while time I was reading this. Absolutely addictive and packed with twists. A must read.
August 7, 2022
Netgalley review to follow
September 2, 2023
2.75 ⭐️
Took a while to get into
TW/ Suicidal thoughts/attempts, cutting
Took a while to get into
TW/ Suicidal thoughts/attempts, cutting
April 14, 2022
Netgallery
I loved the twists. The second guessing from what chapter to the next. You think okay I've got this figured out and then the next chapter your like maybe I don't. An enjoyable read.
I liked the ending. It ended the way I thought it should.
I loved the twists. The second guessing from what chapter to the next. You think okay I've got this figured out and then the next chapter your like maybe I don't. An enjoyable read.
I liked the ending. It ended the way I thought it should.
October 29, 2025
📚The Daughters
✍🏻Julia Crouch
Blurb:
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty.
Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman she doesn’t recognise. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly.
What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
My Thoughts:
Bill and Alice (deceased) have 2 daughters, Sara (30) and Lucy (18). Sara moved away and hasn't been back home in over a decade. Now a detective in Australia she has found new evidence that perhaps her mother did not kill herself after all. She takes a 6 month sabbatical and goes back to London to try to figure out what really happened to her mother.
Bill is now married to the much younger, Carys ~ in fact, she is just 5 years older than her estranged step~daughter, Sara. They have a lovely 5 year old daughter, Binnie. Carys does her best to be a great stepmom and wife, since Bill is still suffering from injuries from an accident. They run a construction business together and are in the process of digging for a new development when bones are discovered. Thus sets forth an investigation into who the remains belong to and who put them there.
There's lots of secrets and lies, as what we'd usually expect from our psychological thrillers.
For some reason this one took me quite a few days to get through ~ I didn't hate it, but it didn't grab me to want to quickly turn the pages in a day or two. Although written well enough, the characters were all unlikable and untrustworthy, except Nonna and Fig. For me it was predictable, but there were some times that it was all over the place making me second guess myself, but in the end it happened just as I'd first thought.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Mental illness, suicide, self harm, death of a child, racism.
Thanks NetGalley, Bookouture, Author Julia Crouch for the complimentary ARC, In appreciation I am leaving my honest review.
#NetGalley
#Bookouture
#JuliaCrouch
#TheDaughters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Julia Crouch
Blurb:
The day of our mother’s funeral, my little sister Lucy and I clung to our father’s side. He promised he’d get us through it, and we believed him. But then I discovered that the coffin we wept over was empty.
Dad says he was trying to protect us – that he thought it would be easier to grieve if we didn’t know our mother’s body was never found.
His new wife says she just wants to help us move on from the past.
Then Lucy has a flash of memory that leaves her shaking. Our father. A woman she doesn’t recognise. A knife…
She insists she knows something about the day our mother died, but it’s buried too deep to see clearly.
What happened to our mother? I need to find the truth. But I have no idea who I can trust. And what if the answer puts my life in danger?
My Thoughts:
Bill and Alice (deceased) have 2 daughters, Sara (30) and Lucy (18). Sara moved away and hasn't been back home in over a decade. Now a detective in Australia she has found new evidence that perhaps her mother did not kill herself after all. She takes a 6 month sabbatical and goes back to London to try to figure out what really happened to her mother.
Bill is now married to the much younger, Carys ~ in fact, she is just 5 years older than her estranged step~daughter, Sara. They have a lovely 5 year old daughter, Binnie. Carys does her best to be a great stepmom and wife, since Bill is still suffering from injuries from an accident. They run a construction business together and are in the process of digging for a new development when bones are discovered. Thus sets forth an investigation into who the remains belong to and who put them there.
There's lots of secrets and lies, as what we'd usually expect from our psychological thrillers.
For some reason this one took me quite a few days to get through ~ I didn't hate it, but it didn't grab me to want to quickly turn the pages in a day or two. Although written well enough, the characters were all unlikable and untrustworthy, except Nonna and Fig. For me it was predictable, but there were some times that it was all over the place making me second guess myself, but in the end it happened just as I'd first thought.
⚠️Trigger Warnings: Mental illness, suicide, self harm, death of a child, racism.
Thanks NetGalley, Bookouture, Author Julia Crouch for the complimentary ARC, In appreciation I am leaving my honest review.
#NetGalley
#Bookouture
#JuliaCrouch
#TheDaughters
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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