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Gorka dunja
Šapućem pitanje koje se nisam usudila da prevalim preko usana dvadeset tri godine.
„Tata, jesi li ti ubio mamu?“
Hana ima oca koji pati od demencije, brata TV zvezdu sa kojim više nije u kontaktu, i majku čija je nerazjašnjena smrt otvorila skrivene pukotine na površini naizgled običnog porodičnog života. Sada je odrasla žena, u istim godinama kao i njena majka kada je ubijena, i likom neobično podseća na nju.
Pokušavajući da pobegne od senke nasleđa i postupaka svojih roditelja, odlučuje da najzad otkrije šta se zaista dogodilo. Tada linije između majke i kćerke iznenada postaju zamagljene, a Hana rizikuje da izgubi sve u opasnoj igri koju je zaigrala.
„Uzbudljiv debitantski roman koji će vas ostaviti bez daha.“ – The Sunday Times
„Tata, jesi li ti ubio mamu?“
Hana ima oca koji pati od demencije, brata TV zvezdu sa kojim više nije u kontaktu, i majku čija je nerazjašnjena smrt otvorila skrivene pukotine na površini naizgled običnog porodičnog života. Sada je odrasla žena, u istim godinama kao i njena majka kada je ubijena, i likom neobično podseća na nju.
Pokušavajući da pobegne od senke nasleđa i postupaka svojih roditelja, odlučuje da najzad otkrije šta se zaista dogodilo. Tada linije između majke i kćerke iznenada postaju zamagljene, a Hana rizikuje da izgubi sve u opasnoj igri koju je zaigrala.
„Uzbudljiv debitantski roman koji će vas ostaviti bez daha.“ – The Sunday Times
286 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2022
40 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
May 22, 2022
A book that totally entranced me.
It’s not an unusual situation for a “good” book, but it was darn right clever getting to the conclusion.
Your the age your mother was when she was murdered. You have an enstranged brother.
Your father is going senile/dementia and you have ALL these questions with no one to answer them.
You just want to get to the bottom of….
“Dad, did you kill my mother.”
What an astonishing question to ask you’re Father?
Can she get answers from her enstranged celebrity older brother? Will he know the truth?
I sincerely loved this read. The way that the author put me a steering seat yet, I didn’t know whether the next instructions would be to turn left, right or proceed ahead.
Very well written with absolutely believable characters.
It’s not an unusual situation for a “good” book, but it was darn right clever getting to the conclusion.
Your the age your mother was when she was murdered. You have an enstranged brother.
Your father is going senile/dementia and you have ALL these questions with no one to answer them.
You just want to get to the bottom of….
“Dad, did you kill my mother.”
What an astonishing question to ask you’re Father?
Can she get answers from her enstranged celebrity older brother? Will he know the truth?
I sincerely loved this read. The way that the author put me a steering seat yet, I didn’t know whether the next instructions would be to turn left, right or proceed ahead.
Very well written with absolutely believable characters.
May 19, 2022
"Families can be murder"
Yep! This was just what the 'book doctor' ordered. A thumping good psychological thriller, which I whizzed through in a couple of days. A relatively small cast of characters and physical footprint, and a suspect list which had just about everyone's name on it at one time or another! The plot is really quite straightforward, however the outcome and the getting there, were a whole different ballgame and I really did need my wits about me to keep up with main protagonist Hannah's, often rambling train of thought.
..
Thirty-seven year old Hannah, has returned to her childhood home, ostensibly to care for her dementia and terminal cancer sufferer father Philip, who lives alone and has been hospitalised following a bad fall inside the house. However Hannah, who although she is genuinely concerned for her father's welfare, also has other more selfish motives for packing up her life in Brighton and moving back to her old childhood stamping ground, although it was still not an easy decision. Her mother, Jennifer died in the woods behind the house, when she was only fourteen and her older brother Reece eighteen and on the eve of going off to university. Jennifer's death was at first treated as suicide, but later Philip was, for a short period, under investigation and suspected of her murder. Although nothing was ever proved conclusively, the family was left fractured and Philip a broken man. Reece AKA Ryan, is now a successful actor and has been estranged from his family since the fateful night of his mother's death, which had left a teenaged Hannah feeling alone and abandoned, although her father had done his very best to cope with his daughter's emotional and physical needs.
Now, Hannah needs her father to answer a question which has plagued her every waking hour since that life-changing night. However Philip's mind is so far disconnected from reality, that to know whether his memories of what really happened are reliable or accurate is almost impossible. In some of his more lucid moments though, Hannah begins to get the idea that not everything about her mother's death and indeed her rather unconventional life, was quite as straightforward as she had thought, so when Philip is brought home to end his days and strange things begin to happen around the house, she decides that discovering the ultimate truth of those long ago events, which seem to be casting a long and very present shadow over her final few hours with Philip, is more important to her than she had ever believed possible.
She elicits the help of the original detective who was assigned to investigate her mother's death, even though Chris has since been invalided out of the police force. The suspects begin to line up in Hannah's very fractured mind, beginning with Reece, who is less than pleased to have been contacted by his errant sister. The net widens to include the next door neighbours and their son, who were like a second family to Hannah and Reece when they were growing up, with the two sets of parents ostensibly being firm and lasting friends. A wider sweep encompasses the photographer for whom Jennifer worked and who is still trading.
Hannah has no idea of the hornets nest she will be stirring up when she begins asking questions and her emotions are set to take another huge battering when she discovers that her mother was not the plaster saint she had built her up to be, when just about everything around Jennifer's life was a lie, even though Hannah and Reece appear to have such differing memories of the same events. As Hannah's life and grip on reality tumbles further and further out of control, her father's subsequent death, even though it is upsetting, somehow polarises her thoughts and inner reserves of strength, making her even more determined that closure for herself and the clearing of her parents' reputations, is her number one focus. However, she does woefully underestimate the vile hatred and loathing of her nemesis, and as she has her eyes set firmly on completely the wrong people, she almost loses her own life in calling them to account and bringing about personal retribution and justice.
..
This well structured, multi-layered, gripping and intense storyline, wasn't going to rock the world in the 'action packed' stakes, however the pace was steady enough to keep me guessing right until the end and the cloying air of suspicion with which Hannah cloaked everyone on her suspect list, made for an oppressively tense atmosphere. When writing, how author Liz Webb managed to keep a track of who was doing what to whom, how, where, why and when, was a complete mystery to me, as my poor little brain was constantly fuddled and tied up in knots. The lies, duplicity, double standards, and all those dirty little secrets, were so widespread and attributed to so many different individuals, all with their own agendas, that melding them together into such a highly textured and cohesive storyline, was wickedly clever, slick and polished, and pulled off to perfection. The physical footprint of the story was quite small, however the fluently written narrative and dialogue was crisp and visually descriptive, affording a real sense of time and place. The twists and double twists in the storyline just kept coming, right until the final scene and I simply couldn't avoid being tripped up by the many red herrings spread along the way to put me off the scent. Whilst my own suspect list did include one more name than Hannah's own, which really was an important factor when it came to the endgame, I couldn't conclusively have pointed the finger of accusation at any one individual until that time.
Liz also did a great job of exploring and examining family relationships and the emotional impact certain traumatic events, experienced and witnessed in childhood, can continue to have in adult years, without anyone really realising. In Hannah this hidden damage manifests itself openly and overtly and it is easy to observe the fragility and frailty of her troubled mind. However Reece plays his cards much closer to his chest, which can make him appear cold, calculating and very difficult to connect with. Altogether, a well defined cast of characters, some of whom were more fully developed than others, none of whom were particularly compelling, but all of whom played their parts to perfection.
I would never have pegged this book as a debut novel and I look forward to following Liz Webb's writing, hoping she already has another gripping storyline in the pipeline!
I would like to thank the teams at NetGalley, Allison & Busby, Helen Richardson PR, for my complimentary download of this book.
Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article which promotes this book or its author.
Yep! This was just what the 'book doctor' ordered. A thumping good psychological thriller, which I whizzed through in a couple of days. A relatively small cast of characters and physical footprint, and a suspect list which had just about everyone's name on it at one time or another! The plot is really quite straightforward, however the outcome and the getting there, were a whole different ballgame and I really did need my wits about me to keep up with main protagonist Hannah's, often rambling train of thought.
..
Thirty-seven year old Hannah, has returned to her childhood home, ostensibly to care for her dementia and terminal cancer sufferer father Philip, who lives alone and has been hospitalised following a bad fall inside the house. However Hannah, who although she is genuinely concerned for her father's welfare, also has other more selfish motives for packing up her life in Brighton and moving back to her old childhood stamping ground, although it was still not an easy decision. Her mother, Jennifer died in the woods behind the house, when she was only fourteen and her older brother Reece eighteen and on the eve of going off to university. Jennifer's death was at first treated as suicide, but later Philip was, for a short period, under investigation and suspected of her murder. Although nothing was ever proved conclusively, the family was left fractured and Philip a broken man. Reece AKA Ryan, is now a successful actor and has been estranged from his family since the fateful night of his mother's death, which had left a teenaged Hannah feeling alone and abandoned, although her father had done his very best to cope with his daughter's emotional and physical needs.
Now, Hannah needs her father to answer a question which has plagued her every waking hour since that life-changing night. However Philip's mind is so far disconnected from reality, that to know whether his memories of what really happened are reliable or accurate is almost impossible. In some of his more lucid moments though, Hannah begins to get the idea that not everything about her mother's death and indeed her rather unconventional life, was quite as straightforward as she had thought, so when Philip is brought home to end his days and strange things begin to happen around the house, she decides that discovering the ultimate truth of those long ago events, which seem to be casting a long and very present shadow over her final few hours with Philip, is more important to her than she had ever believed possible.
She elicits the help of the original detective who was assigned to investigate her mother's death, even though Chris has since been invalided out of the police force. The suspects begin to line up in Hannah's very fractured mind, beginning with Reece, who is less than pleased to have been contacted by his errant sister. The net widens to include the next door neighbours and their son, who were like a second family to Hannah and Reece when they were growing up, with the two sets of parents ostensibly being firm and lasting friends. A wider sweep encompasses the photographer for whom Jennifer worked and who is still trading.
Hannah has no idea of the hornets nest she will be stirring up when she begins asking questions and her emotions are set to take another huge battering when she discovers that her mother was not the plaster saint she had built her up to be, when just about everything around Jennifer's life was a lie, even though Hannah and Reece appear to have such differing memories of the same events. As Hannah's life and grip on reality tumbles further and further out of control, her father's subsequent death, even though it is upsetting, somehow polarises her thoughts and inner reserves of strength, making her even more determined that closure for herself and the clearing of her parents' reputations, is her number one focus. However, she does woefully underestimate the vile hatred and loathing of her nemesis, and as she has her eyes set firmly on completely the wrong people, she almost loses her own life in calling them to account and bringing about personal retribution and justice.
..
This well structured, multi-layered, gripping and intense storyline, wasn't going to rock the world in the 'action packed' stakes, however the pace was steady enough to keep me guessing right until the end and the cloying air of suspicion with which Hannah cloaked everyone on her suspect list, made for an oppressively tense atmosphere. When writing, how author Liz Webb managed to keep a track of who was doing what to whom, how, where, why and when, was a complete mystery to me, as my poor little brain was constantly fuddled and tied up in knots. The lies, duplicity, double standards, and all those dirty little secrets, were so widespread and attributed to so many different individuals, all with their own agendas, that melding them together into such a highly textured and cohesive storyline, was wickedly clever, slick and polished, and pulled off to perfection. The physical footprint of the story was quite small, however the fluently written narrative and dialogue was crisp and visually descriptive, affording a real sense of time and place. The twists and double twists in the storyline just kept coming, right until the final scene and I simply couldn't avoid being tripped up by the many red herrings spread along the way to put me off the scent. Whilst my own suspect list did include one more name than Hannah's own, which really was an important factor when it came to the endgame, I couldn't conclusively have pointed the finger of accusation at any one individual until that time.
Liz also did a great job of exploring and examining family relationships and the emotional impact certain traumatic events, experienced and witnessed in childhood, can continue to have in adult years, without anyone really realising. In Hannah this hidden damage manifests itself openly and overtly and it is easy to observe the fragility and frailty of her troubled mind. However Reece plays his cards much closer to his chest, which can make him appear cold, calculating and very difficult to connect with. Altogether, a well defined cast of characters, some of whom were more fully developed than others, none of whom were particularly compelling, but all of whom played their parts to perfection.
I would never have pegged this book as a debut novel and I look forward to following Liz Webb's writing, hoping she already has another gripping storyline in the pipeline!
I would like to thank the teams at NetGalley, Allison & Busby, Helen Richardson PR, for my complimentary download of this book.
Any thoughts or comments are my own personal opinion and I am in no way being monetarily compensated for this, or any other article which promotes this book or its author.
May 2, 2022
Hannah Davidson has a dementia-stricken father, an estranged TV star brother, and a mother whose death opened up hidden fault lines beneath the ordinary surface of their family life. At thirty seven, Hannah is losing her grip on both her drinking and her cache of shameful secrets. Now the spitting image of her mother Jen Davidson, and the same age as she was when she died, Hannah is determined to uncover exactly what had happened to her mum, but soon the boundaries between Hannah and her mother become fatally blurred.
What a gripping and creepy read. Hannah is caring for her father who has dementia. Hannah's mother had been murdered at the age of thirty seven. The same age Hannah is now. Her TV star brother, Reece, has written an autobiography. He blames his father for his mother's death.
It did take me a little while to get into the story as the pace was slow to begin with. Hannah wants to find out what really happened to her mother. The characters are flawed, believable, but not always likeable. The last 30% of the book was worth sticking with it for. This is a really good debut novel.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonBusby and the author #LizWebb for my ARC of #TheDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
What a gripping and creepy read. Hannah is caring for her father who has dementia. Hannah's mother had been murdered at the age of thirty seven. The same age Hannah is now. Her TV star brother, Reece, has written an autobiography. He blames his father for his mother's death.
It did take me a little while to get into the story as the pace was slow to begin with. Hannah wants to find out what really happened to her mother. The characters are flawed, believable, but not always likeable. The last 30% of the book was worth sticking with it for. This is a really good debut novel.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #AllisonBusby and the author #LizWebb for my ARC of #TheDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2022
What a book! I could not put it down and devoured it in a day!
Forget real-life responsibilities when you have a page-turner like this one!!
After reading lots of duds recently, I was so happy to pick up The Daughter by Liz Webb.
What a debut!
As mentioned, I could not put the book down and finished it within a day, and what a ride it was!
I loved the many-dimensional characters, the character development and the plot kept me engaged. It was a wild, fun ride with a dash of suspending belief in regards to the crazy weird actions of the daughter to move the story along. :) Still, loads of fun!
I did have a good guess about some of the future twists and developments in the book, but that did not spoil the enjoyment.
Overall, a solid 4 stars for this one from me.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
Forget real-life responsibilities when you have a page-turner like this one!!
After reading lots of duds recently, I was so happy to pick up The Daughter by Liz Webb.
What a debut!
As mentioned, I could not put the book down and finished it within a day, and what a ride it was!
I loved the many-dimensional characters, the character development and the plot kept me engaged. It was a wild, fun ride with a dash of suspending belief in regards to the crazy weird actions of the daughter to move the story along. :) Still, loads of fun!
I did have a good guess about some of the future twists and developments in the book, but that did not spoil the enjoyment.
Overall, a solid 4 stars for this one from me.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
May 22, 2022
A good test of whether you should read this book is how you felt about Rachel, the protagonist from The Girl on the Train. If you sympathised with her plight and thought her actions were reasonable, you’ll probably enjoy this - it’s actually a better book than TGOTT. Unfortunately, I was repelled by Hannah’s pathetic selfishness, stupidity and histrionics and didn’t enjoy being in her head for the whole story.
Hannah Davidson has never got over the unsolved murder of her glamorous mother Jen when she was fourteen. Now 37, she has moved back home to care for her father, Philip, who is dying of cancer and has advanced dementia. Her older brother Reece, a successful actor, wants nothing to do with his family. Drinking too much and blaming everyone but herself for the mess she’s made of her life, she becomes convinced that her father was the killer, and must face justice before he dies. Using her newfound resemblance to Jen and the clothes still in her closets, she determined to trick Philip into revealing the truth, but her increasingly unhinged behaviour unlocks past secrets that will threaten them all.
This was recommended by an author I admire, and I agree that it’s an accomplished first novel and psychological analysis of a woman stuck with the mind of a teenager by past trauma and parental incompetence, now having to deal with losing the father she adored. I just can’t stand these kinds of characters, so the first person present narration was torture for me.
The mystery was well done, with plenty of twists. I did guess how it would turn out - not that it was necessarily obvious, I just read too much Crime. I did like the ending and that Hannah does finally grow up after uncovering the truth. Please don’t be put off by my lukewarm review, which probably says more about me than the book, especially if you love psychological suspense, unreliable narrators and sordid family secrets.
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Daughter is available now.
Hannah Davidson has never got over the unsolved murder of her glamorous mother Jen when she was fourteen. Now 37, she has moved back home to care for her father, Philip, who is dying of cancer and has advanced dementia. Her older brother Reece, a successful actor, wants nothing to do with his family. Drinking too much and blaming everyone but herself for the mess she’s made of her life, she becomes convinced that her father was the killer, and must face justice before he dies. Using her newfound resemblance to Jen and the clothes still in her closets, she determined to trick Philip into revealing the truth, but her increasingly unhinged behaviour unlocks past secrets that will threaten them all.
This was recommended by an author I admire, and I agree that it’s an accomplished first novel and psychological analysis of a woman stuck with the mind of a teenager by past trauma and parental incompetence, now having to deal with losing the father she adored. I just can’t stand these kinds of characters, so the first person present narration was torture for me.
The mystery was well done, with plenty of twists. I did guess how it would turn out - not that it was necessarily obvious, I just read too much Crime. I did like the ending and that Hannah does finally grow up after uncovering the truth. Please don’t be put off by my lukewarm review, which probably says more about me than the book, especially if you love psychological suspense, unreliable narrators and sordid family secrets.
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for the ARC. I am posting this honest review voluntarily. The Daughter is available now.
July 5, 2024
1,5 Sterne.
Tja, was soll ich nur sagen? Das Buch war kein Thriller, wie es beworben war. Keine Ahnung, was das war, aber garantiert kein Thriller. Es geht eher mehr in die Richtung von Familiendrama würde ich sagen und das ist überhaupt nicht mein Ding. Ich hatte nicht wirklich Spaß beim Lesen gehabt. Alle Charaktere waren einfach seltsam und nicht wirklich sympathisch. Der einzige Charakter, den ich mochte, war Chris. Die Protagonistin fand ich einfach nur nervig und kindisch, die ganze Zeit.
Die Story war recht langweilig. Einfach alleine durch den Klappentext weiß man, dass es nicht der Vater war und durch die wenigen Charaktere, gab es auch nur wenige Möglichkeiten, wer der Mörder war und somit war das recht vorhersehbar, aber teils auch unlogisch.
Ich habe es nur beendet, weil ich das Buch von meinem Bruder geschenkt bekommen habe und tja, meistens schenkt er mir echt gute Bücher, aber seine Schuld ist es ja auch nicht. Selbst er meinte, es klingt wie ein Psychothriller, der mir gefallen würde und es klang auch danach ... Meine Enttäuschung ist jedenfalls groß und ich weiß nicht, was ich jetzt mit dem Buch machen soll. Das ist nämlich auch mein erstes Buch mit Farbschnitt und das finde ich echt schön.
Tja, was soll ich nur sagen? Das Buch war kein Thriller, wie es beworben war. Keine Ahnung, was das war, aber garantiert kein Thriller. Es geht eher mehr in die Richtung von Familiendrama würde ich sagen und das ist überhaupt nicht mein Ding. Ich hatte nicht wirklich Spaß beim Lesen gehabt. Alle Charaktere waren einfach seltsam und nicht wirklich sympathisch. Der einzige Charakter, den ich mochte, war Chris. Die Protagonistin fand ich einfach nur nervig und kindisch, die ganze Zeit.
Die Story war recht langweilig. Einfach alleine durch den Klappentext weiß man, dass es nicht der Vater war und durch die wenigen Charaktere, gab es auch nur wenige Möglichkeiten, wer der Mörder war und somit war das recht vorhersehbar, aber teils auch unlogisch.
Ich habe es nur beendet, weil ich das Buch von meinem Bruder geschenkt bekommen habe und tja, meistens schenkt er mir echt gute Bücher, aber seine Schuld ist es ja auch nicht. Selbst er meinte, es klingt wie ein Psychothriller, der mir gefallen würde und es klang auch danach ... Meine Enttäuschung ist jedenfalls groß und ich weiß nicht, was ich jetzt mit dem Buch machen soll. Das ist nämlich auch mein erstes Buch mit Farbschnitt und das finde ich echt schön.
May 17, 2022
Oooo this was all the dysfunction wrapped up in intrigue and excitement. It hit the ground running, sucked me in for the duration, spitting me out at the end satisfied but exhausted!
Hannah has returned home to care for her dementia suffering father. She has a brother but they have been estranged for years. Her mother murdered when she was young. In fact, at the same age Hannah is now, pretty much. Hannah has had a it of a sad life, her brother has suffered too, but I'll leave you to discover the warts and all of that as the author intends... Suffice to say that the death of Hannah's mother has never been properly explained and she now realises that with her father declining rapidly, the chance of the whole truth coming out is swiftly passing on. A truth that Hannah really needs to hear...
I loved this book. Less is more going in though so I would be careful if you read many more reviews. What you do need to know is that it is a bit of a slow burn initially. The family is so dysfunctional that the author needs time to build up the layers of the past and the present. To describe the nature of the characters, build them, create them, divulge just enough to keep the reader intrigued. And then, once the foundations are laid and the building starting to take shape, out comes the wrecking ball and it becomes a fascinating outing watching it all crumble and fall... Leaving certain characters exposed and raw...
And what a motley crew of characters... There aren't many main ones but each has their part and each plays that part well. The extras do likewise, all have something to give. I can't say I really liked many of them, I am a big fan of dysfunctional families but, whew, this one really does excel and I wasn't fond of any of them. That said, they did elicit a certain amount of sympathy along the way and connections good or bad were definitely there.
As already mentioned pacing was slow initially but it did speed up towards the end. Slow is not always bad as long as you are not impatient and if what you are waiting for is worth it, and I have to say that, in my opinion, in this case, it most definitely was.
All in all a racking read from a new-to-me author - is this a debut ? If it is, then kudos to the author for the quality. Either way, I'm excited to see what she serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Hannah has returned home to care for her dementia suffering father. She has a brother but they have been estranged for years. Her mother murdered when she was young. In fact, at the same age Hannah is now, pretty much. Hannah has had a it of a sad life, her brother has suffered too, but I'll leave you to discover the warts and all of that as the author intends... Suffice to say that the death of Hannah's mother has never been properly explained and she now realises that with her father declining rapidly, the chance of the whole truth coming out is swiftly passing on. A truth that Hannah really needs to hear...
I loved this book. Less is more going in though so I would be careful if you read many more reviews. What you do need to know is that it is a bit of a slow burn initially. The family is so dysfunctional that the author needs time to build up the layers of the past and the present. To describe the nature of the characters, build them, create them, divulge just enough to keep the reader intrigued. And then, once the foundations are laid and the building starting to take shape, out comes the wrecking ball and it becomes a fascinating outing watching it all crumble and fall... Leaving certain characters exposed and raw...
And what a motley crew of characters... There aren't many main ones but each has their part and each plays that part well. The extras do likewise, all have something to give. I can't say I really liked many of them, I am a big fan of dysfunctional families but, whew, this one really does excel and I wasn't fond of any of them. That said, they did elicit a certain amount of sympathy along the way and connections good or bad were definitely there.
As already mentioned pacing was slow initially but it did speed up towards the end. Slow is not always bad as long as you are not impatient and if what you are waiting for is worth it, and I have to say that, in my opinion, in this case, it most definitely was.
All in all a racking read from a new-to-me author - is this a debut ? If it is, then kudos to the author for the quality. Either way, I'm excited to see what she serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 30, 2024
Es läuft etwas schleppend an und hat seine Längen. Insgesamt wird es dann aber schon spannend und man will es gegen Ende nicht aus der Hand legen.
Aber:
1. Ich finde, Marcus wird etwas viel Schuld aufgeladen. Er war zwar 18, aber eben gerade erst, und er wurde von einer Erwachsenen betrunken gemacht und verführt. Dass er sich da noch nicht mit Händen und Füßen gewehrt hat, sollte ihm nicht 23 Jahre später noch so zum Vorwurf gemacht werden, ohne es zumindest mal kurz auch von seiner Perspektive aus zu betrachten.
2. Im ersten Drittel gibt es kaum ein Kapitel, in dem micht glorifiziert wird, wie viel besser sie jetzt aussieht, seit sie dünn ist. "Straff und definiert" und "dünn und hager" fallen da in einem Atemzug. Muss heutzutage eigentlich auch nicht mehr sein.
Aber:
1. Ich finde, Marcus wird etwas viel Schuld aufgeladen. Er war zwar 18, aber eben gerade erst, und er wurde von einer Erwachsenen betrunken gemacht und verführt. Dass er sich da noch nicht mit Händen und Füßen gewehrt hat, sollte ihm nicht 23 Jahre später noch so zum Vorwurf gemacht werden, ohne es zumindest mal kurz auch von seiner Perspektive aus zu betrachten.
2. Im ersten Drittel gibt es kaum ein Kapitel, in dem micht glorifiziert wird, wie viel besser sie jetzt aussieht, seit sie dünn ist. "Straff und definiert" und "dünn und hager" fallen da in einem Atemzug. Muss heutzutage eigentlich auch nicht mehr sein.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2024
DNF ... bei Seite 220/414.
Für mich kann nichts an diesem Buch als Thriller bezeichnet werden, weil einfach nichts thriller-mäßiges passiert.
Ein Familiendrama vielleicht, aber mehr auch nicht.
Ich finde es langweilig und dazu den Hauptcharakter noch ziemlich unsympathisch und irgendwie nervig, so dass sie mir eigentlich echt egal ist.
Für mich kann nichts an diesem Buch als Thriller bezeichnet werden, weil einfach nichts thriller-mäßiges passiert.
Ein Familiendrama vielleicht, aber mehr auch nicht.
Ich finde es langweilig und dazu den Hauptcharakter noch ziemlich unsympathisch und irgendwie nervig, so dass sie mir eigentlich echt egal ist.
June 26, 2024
3,5/5
Ein spannendes Familiendrama mit einer unbequemen Protagonistin.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig in der Ich-Perspektive und alles wird sehr genau beschrieben.
Dadurch erschafft die Autorin eine dichte Atmosphäre.
Hannah als Protagonistin ist in ihrer Art schon liebenswert, allerdings hat sie ihre
Dämonen und kein Selbstbewusstsein, neigt aber trotzdem zu übertriebenen und
dramatischen Auftritten.
Ich habe mich ihr dennoch sehr nah gefühlt und gehofft, dass sie den Mord an
ihrer Mutter aufklären kann.
Auf dem Weg dorthin lässt sie keinen Stein auf dem anderen und entdeckt einige
Geheimnisse und Leichen im Keller.
Am spannendsten fand ich wie sich die Erinnerungen die Hannah als Kind hatte,
dann als völlig anders heraus stellten.
Kinder nehmen die Dinge anders wahr und mir hat es gefallen wie es hier benutzt wurde.
Zeitweise hatte Hannah enorme Selbstzweifel.
Der Titel passt meiner Meinung nach nicht so richtig. Man denkt es ist ein Haus das einsam im Wald steht. Das stimmt aber nicht so ganz, da es am Waldrand steht und es durchaus Nachbarn gibt. Es handelt sich hier also nicht um ein Kammerspiel.
Auch der Aspekt der Pflege wurde sehr unter den Tisch gekehrt. Es wurden keine Windeln gewechselt oder der Körper gewaschen, umgelagert usw. und oft hat Hannah ihre Aufsichtspflicht einfach abgegeben. Das fand ich leider sehr unrealistisch.
Schön fand ich wie die Autorin am Schluss das vertrocknete Image der Quitte aufgemöbelt hat. :-)
Ein spannendes Familiendrama mit einer unbequemen Protagonistin.
Der Schreibstil ist flüssig in der Ich-Perspektive und alles wird sehr genau beschrieben.
Dadurch erschafft die Autorin eine dichte Atmosphäre.
Hannah als Protagonistin ist in ihrer Art schon liebenswert, allerdings hat sie ihre
Dämonen und kein Selbstbewusstsein, neigt aber trotzdem zu übertriebenen und
dramatischen Auftritten.
Ich habe mich ihr dennoch sehr nah gefühlt und gehofft, dass sie den Mord an
ihrer Mutter aufklären kann.
Auf dem Weg dorthin lässt sie keinen Stein auf dem anderen und entdeckt einige
Geheimnisse und Leichen im Keller.
Am spannendsten fand ich wie sich die Erinnerungen die Hannah als Kind hatte,
dann als völlig anders heraus stellten.
Kinder nehmen die Dinge anders wahr und mir hat es gefallen wie es hier benutzt wurde.
Zeitweise hatte Hannah enorme Selbstzweifel.
Der Titel passt meiner Meinung nach nicht so richtig. Man denkt es ist ein Haus das einsam im Wald steht. Das stimmt aber nicht so ganz, da es am Waldrand steht und es durchaus Nachbarn gibt. Es handelt sich hier also nicht um ein Kammerspiel.
Auch der Aspekt der Pflege wurde sehr unter den Tisch gekehrt. Es wurden keine Windeln gewechselt oder der Körper gewaschen, umgelagert usw. und oft hat Hannah ihre Aufsichtspflicht einfach abgegeben. Das fand ich leider sehr unrealistisch.
Schön fand ich wie die Autorin am Schluss das vertrocknete Image der Quitte aufgemöbelt hat. :-)
May 31, 2024
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 wirklich gut geschrieben und es hat mir auch echt gefallen. Aber ich würde das Buch nicht als Thriller bezeichnen. Eher als einen sehr spannenden Roman - vom Stil her für jeden der : Girl on the Train oder Gone Girl mochte 😊
May 28, 2022
Goodness, so much dysfunction! Hannah Davidson, now 37, has returned to her family home to look after her dad who has dementia. She has a brother, Reece who is a TV star, but her mum died when she was young. Her dad often mentions things, his mind drifting in and out of lucidity, that concern Hannah. There are unanswered questions for Hannah surrounding her mum's death and Hannah is determined to get to the root of them.
This is a tense read and I really enjoyed Liz Webb's writing style and her portrayal of Hannah. Is Hannah doubting reality or imagining things, or is she correct in her suspicions? The Daughter owns a fantastic plot and it's a novel that all lovers of domestic psychological mystery/ thrillers need to read. Pretty good stuff, methinks!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Allison & Busby via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
This is a tense read and I really enjoyed Liz Webb's writing style and her portrayal of Hannah. Is Hannah doubting reality or imagining things, or is she correct in her suspicions? The Daughter owns a fantastic plot and it's a novel that all lovers of domestic psychological mystery/ thrillers need to read. Pretty good stuff, methinks!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Allison & Busby via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 30, 2024
Die Prämisse von dem Buch ist SO GEIL. Der Vater hat Demenz und evtl die Mutter umgebracht und jetzt verwechselt er ganz oft seine Tochter mit der Mutter - ihre Chance, herauszufinden, ob ers war! Slay VIAIN' Fand die ganze Story aber dann leider nur so mitti, den Plot Twist hab ich kommen sehen, und die Tochter war mir zu plakativ "kaputt". Sie frisst ständig Quitten, obwohl sie die eklig findet? Naja, schade.
July 29, 2024
3,5/ 5
February 15, 2022
Umph, this book! It is absolutely the best I’ve read in a long time. It’s weird, creepy, gripping, quite sad sometimes, you never know where it’s going to go from one chapter to the next. The main character 37 year old Hannah is a force to be reckoned with. She certainly has tenacity when it comes to getting to the truth, but then there’s always doubt. Told in the first person, Hannah does sometimes come across as an unreliable narrator. Not so much that she’s leading us, the reader, a merry dance but more does she know her own mind? and therefore unreliable.
Hannah has a strained relationship with her brother Reece, a successful and popular TV actor. As children they had a happy relationship and spent a lot of time together but since the death of their mother when Hannah was 14 she hardly sees her brother. Reece left for university shortly after his mothers death and has never returned home since, nor will he have anything to do with his father.
Hannah has returned to the family home to take care of her father whose advancing dementia is making it unsafe for him to live at home on his own. There are things her father says to her, even though his mind drifts in and out of lucidity, that concern Hannah. There are many unanswered questions surrounding her mothers death and Hannah is determined to get to the bottom of them.
It’s a tense read, I loved the writing and Hannah’s character. Gradually she unravels more and more secrets, but even Hannah often doubts reality. Could she be imagining things, is she right in her suspicions or is her constant digging really making matters worse? I did start to have my own suspicions which turned out to be right, but had absolutely no idea of the whys and the wherefores. Ooooh it’s just such a fantastic plot. You need to read it, I promise it’s just the best.
Hannah has a strained relationship with her brother Reece, a successful and popular TV actor. As children they had a happy relationship and spent a lot of time together but since the death of their mother when Hannah was 14 she hardly sees her brother. Reece left for university shortly after his mothers death and has never returned home since, nor will he have anything to do with his father.
Hannah has returned to the family home to take care of her father whose advancing dementia is making it unsafe for him to live at home on his own. There are things her father says to her, even though his mind drifts in and out of lucidity, that concern Hannah. There are many unanswered questions surrounding her mothers death and Hannah is determined to get to the bottom of them.
It’s a tense read, I loved the writing and Hannah’s character. Gradually she unravels more and more secrets, but even Hannah often doubts reality. Could she be imagining things, is she right in her suspicions or is her constant digging really making matters worse? I did start to have my own suspicions which turned out to be right, but had absolutely no idea of the whys and the wherefores. Ooooh it’s just such a fantastic plot. You need to read it, I promise it’s just the best.
May 30, 2025
Was für eine gute Story, die Geschichte macht süchtig und man kann das Buch einfach nicht weglegen.
Andauernd denkt man: so ist es gewesen und keine 10 Seiten weiter ist klar: doch nicht.
Super geschrieben, liest sich super weg, toller Plot.
5 Sterne 🌟
Andauernd denkt man: so ist es gewesen und keine 10 Seiten weiter ist klar: doch nicht.
Super geschrieben, liest sich super weg, toller Plot.
5 Sterne 🌟
December 31, 2024
Netter Thriller, ganz gut durchdacht.
June 7, 2025
3,75 - war gut
aber vieles war irgendwann sehr vorhersehbar (was aber manchmal ganz nett ist, wenn so naheliegend ist und kein extrem verwobenes Netz)
aber trotzdem war es gut zulesen
aber deshalb dann nicht ganz so spannend
aber vieles war irgendwann sehr vorhersehbar (was aber manchmal ganz nett ist, wenn so naheliegend ist und kein extrem verwobenes Netz)
aber trotzdem war es gut zulesen
aber deshalb dann nicht ganz so spannend
May 27, 2022
Fans of Mary Kubica and Jennifer Hillier would love this tense domestic thriller about family relationships, the unreliability of memory, and the power of secrets.
It is hard to do an unlikable character well, but Webb makes of the protagonist Hannah an unraveling, but determined and sympathetic woman. Her senile, unwell father and her unconventional brother as well as the neighbors are suspects in Hannah's investigation, which starts off slow and rambling, much like her situation in life, but is soon beset by explosive twists.
I enjoyed Hannah's dark, ironic voice, and without spoiling the plot, can say that the story kept me engaged and turning pages over the weekend. If you like thrillers with a deft handling of relationships, of times past and present, and a complex, layered plot, this is for you.
It is hard to do an unlikable character well, but Webb makes of the protagonist Hannah an unraveling, but determined and sympathetic woman. Her senile, unwell father and her unconventional brother as well as the neighbors are suspects in Hannah's investigation, which starts off slow and rambling, much like her situation in life, but is soon beset by explosive twists.
I enjoyed Hannah's dark, ironic voice, and without spoiling the plot, can say that the story kept me engaged and turning pages over the weekend. If you like thrillers with a deft handling of relationships, of times past and present, and a complex, layered plot, this is for you.
May 20, 2022
The Daughter is based on Hannah's search for the truth about her Mother's death. When the story starts, Hannah is amidst a midlife crisis; her life is in chaos; she's drinking too much and has an emotional eating disorder. Her mind is running circles, and she's suspicious and paranoid that her family members could have partaken in her Mother's murder.
Liz Webb has created a fantastic thriller with a deep plot that doesn't fail to keep the reader engaged. The story unfolds greatly, and I was absorbed in this due to the compelling suspense and the tense atmosphere. The characters are created brilliantly, and I felt emotionally drawn to Hannah. As a reader, I was swept along with Hannah's quest for answers and was eager for a solution, as much as she was.
I expect this read to be a great success, and I recommend this to all fans of this genre. As a debut, this author's writing style is exceptional. I will be picking up future works without hesitation.
Thank you, Netgalley and Allison & Busby, for a gifted copy of this book, for an honest and voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
Liz Webb has created a fantastic thriller with a deep plot that doesn't fail to keep the reader engaged. The story unfolds greatly, and I was absorbed in this due to the compelling suspense and the tense atmosphere. The characters are created brilliantly, and I felt emotionally drawn to Hannah. As a reader, I was swept along with Hannah's quest for answers and was eager for a solution, as much as she was.
I expect this read to be a great success, and I recommend this to all fans of this genre. As a debut, this author's writing style is exceptional. I will be picking up future works without hesitation.
Thank you, Netgalley and Allison & Busby, for a gifted copy of this book, for an honest and voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
April 18, 2022
Rating: 4.1/5
While I was reading "The Daughter" I had to go away and check that I was correct in my understanding that this was Liz Webb's first novel. It is ... but the level of craft displayed by the author belies that fact. This impressive debut exhibits a level of accomplishment that many far more experienced writers would be justly proud of.
I will say that if you like your reading material to start with a bang and then tear along at a rip-roaring pace until the final page, then this may well not be the book for you. That isn't to say that there isn't excitement, intrigue and suspense, because there certainly is - but it develops over time and is presented in a considered fashion that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.
There are a number of facets to "The Daughter" and it doesn't sit easily in one specific genre. There are certainly significant aspects of family / domestic drama, but there is also a pervading element of mystery and even murder mystery. However, the central structure of the story shares much in common with Shakespearian tragedy, with a fatally flawed central character at its heart. Liz Webb has also created credible storylines, with realistic and relatable (if not always likeable) characters and - if that weren't already praiseworthy enough - there is also poignant social commentary and some astute dark humour into the bargain.
This book deserves to do well and I will certainly be watching out for more from Liz Webb.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
While I was reading "The Daughter" I had to go away and check that I was correct in my understanding that this was Liz Webb's first novel. It is ... but the level of craft displayed by the author belies that fact. This impressive debut exhibits a level of accomplishment that many far more experienced writers would be justly proud of.
I will say that if you like your reading material to start with a bang and then tear along at a rip-roaring pace until the final page, then this may well not be the book for you. That isn't to say that there isn't excitement, intrigue and suspense, because there certainly is - but it develops over time and is presented in a considered fashion that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.
There are a number of facets to "The Daughter" and it doesn't sit easily in one specific genre. There are certainly significant aspects of family / domestic drama, but there is also a pervading element of mystery and even murder mystery. However, the central structure of the story shares much in common with Shakespearian tragedy, with a fatally flawed central character at its heart. Liz Webb has also created credible storylines, with realistic and relatable (if not always likeable) characters and - if that weren't already praiseworthy enough - there is also poignant social commentary and some astute dark humour into the bargain.
This book deserves to do well and I will certainly be watching out for more from Liz Webb.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
February 22, 2023
I lean in and whisper the question I have never let myself utter in twenty-three years.
"Dad, did you murder Mum?"
Hannah Davidson has a dementia-stricken father, an estranged TV star brother, and a mother whose death opened up hidden fault lines beneath the surface of their ordinary family life.
Now the same age that Jen Davidson was when she was killed, Hannah realises she bears an uncanny resemblance to her glamorous mother, and when her father begins to confuse them she is seriously unnerved.
Determined to uncover exactly what happened to her mum, Hannah begins to exploit her arresting likeness, but soon the boundaries between Hannah and her mother become fatally blurred.
This is a wonderful read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.
"Dad, did you murder Mum?"
Hannah Davidson has a dementia-stricken father, an estranged TV star brother, and a mother whose death opened up hidden fault lines beneath the surface of their ordinary family life.
Now the same age that Jen Davidson was when she was killed, Hannah realises she bears an uncanny resemblance to her glamorous mother, and when her father begins to confuse them she is seriously unnerved.
Determined to uncover exactly what happened to her mum, Hannah begins to exploit her arresting likeness, but soon the boundaries between Hannah and her mother become fatally blurred.
This is a wonderful read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.
May 18, 2022
A compelling read!
This book has it all a broken family , lies , secrets and murder all wrapped up into a gripping story .
Hannah. Is back in the family home caring for her father , he has dementia, and Hannah herself as more than a few issues to resolve.
Her mother was murdered and the killer was never found , she is estranged from her brother and this heady mix left me reading late into the night.
The pace isn’t quick but quick enough to keep your interest and the writing is of a high calibre.
The characters aren’t amiable , they all have their faults just as all humans do , but I can’t say I like any off them , although I felt sympathy for Hannah and her brother and their characters did improve as we learnt more about them .
This book is a essentially a murder mystery , but just labelling as such sells it short and I think the author as written an absorbing tale. I’m looking forward to reading more from Liz Webb.
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby.
This book has it all a broken family , lies , secrets and murder all wrapped up into a gripping story .
Hannah. Is back in the family home caring for her father , he has dementia, and Hannah herself as more than a few issues to resolve.
Her mother was murdered and the killer was never found , she is estranged from her brother and this heady mix left me reading late into the night.
The pace isn’t quick but quick enough to keep your interest and the writing is of a high calibre.
The characters aren’t amiable , they all have their faults just as all humans do , but I can’t say I like any off them , although I felt sympathy for Hannah and her brother and their characters did improve as we learnt more about them .
This book is a essentially a murder mystery , but just labelling as such sells it short and I think the author as written an absorbing tale. I’m looking forward to reading more from Liz Webb.
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby.
April 22, 2022
Liz Webb’s The Daughter is a wonderfully dark and razor-sharp exploration of a woman’s relationship with her dying father, her estranged brother and a secret that has long festered in the family. Hannah (the daughter) is the protagonist and it is through her damaged eyes that we see the unfortunate (and often comical) events unfold as she tries to make sense of what happened to her family. The distinctive sarcastic narrative drives this story on and we cannot help but root for Hannah. For me, it is Webb’s beautifully evocative descriptions of siblings jousting for position that really bring this book to another level. I too learned morse code with my brothers! I played in the woods as they did but of course, my childhood did not end as Hannah’s... I really can’t praise this triumph of a book enough. Five stars feels a little stingy.
January 19, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the book. I liked the idea that Hannah; a woman who is the same age as her mother on her death, decides now is the time to embarks on a journey to discover what really happened to her mum. Her dad has dementia and and keeps apologising to Hannah, for what we are not sure. Hannah looks exactly like Jen, her mother when she died so her father thinks he is speaking with his deceased wife. Will Hannah find the truth about what happened all those years ago? The book although not really fast paced, I felt was fast enough to hold my attention. I very much enjoyed it, I would look to read more from this author.
I enjoyed the book. I liked the idea that Hannah; a woman who is the same age as her mother on her death, decides now is the time to embarks on a journey to discover what really happened to her mum. Her dad has dementia and and keeps apologising to Hannah, for what we are not sure. Hannah looks exactly like Jen, her mother when she died so her father thinks he is speaking with his deceased wife. Will Hannah find the truth about what happened all those years ago? The book although not really fast paced, I felt was fast enough to hold my attention. I very much enjoyed it, I would look to read more from this author.
May 27, 2022
Hannah Davidson is caring for her father who has dementia her dad keeps thinking Hannah is her mum because she’s the same age as her mum was when she died and Hannah looks just like her and he keeps apologising to her
Hannah’s mum Jennifer was murdered and her estranged tv star brother Reece Who is releasing a autobiography and he doesn’t have anything to do with our father because he blames him for her death and Hannah looks into her mother death to see if their dad is responsible or not she won’t stop until she finds out the truth
Really enjoyed this book I couldn’t put it down
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby
I just reviewed The Daughter by Liz Webb. #TheDaughter #NetGalley
Hannah’s mum Jennifer was murdered and her estranged tv star brother Reece Who is releasing a autobiography and he doesn’t have anything to do with our father because he blames him for her death and Hannah looks into her mother death to see if their dad is responsible or not she won’t stop until she finds out the truth
Really enjoyed this book I couldn’t put it down
Thank you NetGalley and Allison & Busby
I just reviewed The Daughter by Liz Webb. #TheDaughter #NetGalley
April 30, 2022
They say that character is destiny and that's certainly true for Hannah, the protagonist of this gripping thriller. Her unique voice - sometimes exasperated, sometimes hilarious, sometimes furiously baffled - guides us through a story which is full of the hidden darkness which can live in families. It elevates the book above the level of your average mystery because I cared about Hannah - she's an individual whose actions aren't predictable but are real and idiosyncratic. We're engaged as much by her as the creepy, fascinating conundrum at the heart of her family history.
Absolutely loved it - would definitely recommend.
Absolutely loved it - would definitely recommend.
May 17, 2022
What a treat this book was. A proper whodunnit (and why) with a brilliant set of deeply flawed characters to boot. The characterisation in the book is exceptional. I particularly love the protagonist, whose search for her mothers killer leads her to take more and more extreme action but however misguided she is, she always has heart.
July 28, 2024
Story sehr weit hergeholt, Plottwist aus der gleichen Entfernung erkennbar. Protagonistin schwankt unbeständig zwischen mädchenhafter Hysterie und unglaubwürdiger Abgeklärtheit, ist insgesamt unsympathisch melodramatisch und verhält sich immer wieder over the top. Es wird mit vielen Drinks geworfen. Kein Buch mit Mehrwert.
May 20, 2022
compelling and enthralling
I hope to read much more from Liz Webb, The Daughter is a great book. Well written and easily readable and enjoyable too. I was rooting for Hannah from the start, she is a really great program because she’s so real
I hope to read much more from Liz Webb, The Daughter is a great book. Well written and easily readable and enjoyable too. I was rooting for Hannah from the start, she is a really great program because she’s so real
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