mrsruthiewebb's review
3.0
This is the third book I’ve read my Michelle Frances and although it was ok, I was left disappointed. It’s described as a thriller but it really isn’t.
Kate’s daughter, Becky is killed in an accident. But it seems like it could have been deliberate. Becky was an aspiring journalist who may have found incriminating evidence as part of an article she was researching.
Her mother decides to follow up and see if she can piece together what happened.
Whilst the writing is fine, the plot didn’t grip me. For one, it was more of a crime/mystery than a thriller. And two, I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but, what’s the relevance of the swimming pool?! I’ll tell you.
It isn’t relevant at all.
I finished this book because it was easy to read but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
2.5
Kate’s daughter, Becky is killed in an accident. But it seems like it could have been deliberate. Becky was an aspiring journalist who may have found incriminating evidence as part of an article she was researching.
Her mother decides to follow up and see if she can piece together what happened.
Whilst the writing is fine, the plot didn’t grip me. For one, it was more of a crime/mystery than a thriller. And two, I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but, what’s the relevance of the swimming pool?! I’ll tell you.
It isn’t relevant at all.
I finished this book because it was easy to read but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
2.5
kba76's review
4.0
Sometimes it’s the people you least expect who cause the most upset.
Our main character, Kate, fell pregnant while still at school and having a child at fifteen meant certain aspects of her life didn’t quite go as she’d expected. When the story begins we’re seeing adult Kate about to introduce her graduate daughter, Becky, to a new boyfriend.
Very early on we’re told Becky is a trainee journalist, trying to investigate something she feels is a big news story. On the night she’s meant to meet mum’s boyfriend, Becky is killed.
We suspect the two events are connected, but the book focuses on Kate’s efforts to prove this. Before we know it we’re into major intrigue and highly suspicious behaviour.
The narrative is interspersed with past stories and events to flesh out the characters and help give us clues about what’s going on.
I was unsure about quite where this was going, and the storyline involving neighbour Iris and her holiday romance (which just happened to sort things out) was a bit far-fetched. However, Kate as a character was someone you couldn’t help warm to and knowing how her search resolved itself became something I was very keen to know.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication, and I definitely think I’ll get round to reading The Girlfriend which has been a book I intended to read and haven’t got round to yet.
Our main character, Kate, fell pregnant while still at school and having a child at fifteen meant certain aspects of her life didn’t quite go as she’d expected. When the story begins we’re seeing adult Kate about to introduce her graduate daughter, Becky, to a new boyfriend.
Very early on we’re told Becky is a trainee journalist, trying to investigate something she feels is a big news story. On the night she’s meant to meet mum’s boyfriend, Becky is killed.
We suspect the two events are connected, but the book focuses on Kate’s efforts to prove this. Before we know it we’re into major intrigue and highly suspicious behaviour.
The narrative is interspersed with past stories and events to flesh out the characters and help give us clues about what’s going on.
I was unsure about quite where this was going, and the storyline involving neighbour Iris and her holiday romance (which just happened to sort things out) was a bit far-fetched. However, Kate as a character was someone you couldn’t help warm to and knowing how her search resolved itself became something I was very keen to know.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication, and I definitely think I’ll get round to reading The Girlfriend which has been a book I intended to read and haven’t got round to yet.
bookworm_smanff's review
3.0
Very easy read. Women fiction/investigative type read. Think Erin Brokovich but much less sass and much more danger!
A good 'fight for justice' type story, before the bad guys get you. based on a mother and a daughter, telling the story from both points of view. Once present and one in the past.
Considering some of the topics in the story, I found it very emotionless. It didn't pull on my heartstrings. But not sure it was meant to. It wasn't written that way.
The characters and their working class life was portrayed well and factored quite a lot into the importance of them being the underdog throughout the book.
A good read - a fight for justice, a lovely surrogate grandmother neighbour and dangerous men out the stop you.
A good 'fight for justice' type story, before the bad guys get you. based on a mother and a daughter, telling the story from both points of view. Once present and one in the past.
Considering some of the topics in the story, I found it very emotionless. It didn't pull on my heartstrings. But not sure it was meant to. It wasn't written that way.
The characters and their working class life was portrayed well and factored quite a lot into the importance of them being the underdog throughout the book.
A good read - a fight for justice, a lovely surrogate grandmother neighbour and dangerous men out the stop you.
cl9244's review against another edition
4.0
This was not as good as her last books (the characters were less unhinged) but I still enjoyed it a lot.
sarah_faichney's review
4.0
I found this really refreshing and uplifting because the truth is that activists and changemakers really are just people who care enough to do something about it. "The Daughter" shows us that you don't need to be well-educated or wealthy. All it takes is motivation and tenacity. Anyone can change the world. I wish more people would try. This is not at all what I expected to be taking from this book when I first started it. I'm so glad I read it.
shelleyann01's review
4.0
This book starts off slowly, building up rich, shrewdly observed characterization, tension and momentum as it goes along. We are drawn first of all into the dynamics of family relationships, and none quite so powerful as the one a mother has with her daughter.
I'm not going to give a synopsis because sometimes reviewers can say too much, and I hate that. With this book you need to come across every scene to understand the power they have. The twists and turns will send you dizzy, and make you feel so many emotions that this book should come with a hazard warning. An engrossing wonderful book, I am in awe of this authors imagination and how she deftly weaves this tale.
Bottom Line: I thought this was a pretty great suspenseful book. The plot was cleverly thought out and the writing very believable.
Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Frances and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheDaughter #NetGalley
I'm not going to give a synopsis because sometimes reviewers can say too much, and I hate that. With this book you need to come across every scene to understand the power they have. The twists and turns will send you dizzy, and make you feel so many emotions that this book should come with a hazard warning. An engrossing wonderful book, I am in awe of this authors imagination and how she deftly weaves this tale.
Bottom Line: I thought this was a pretty great suspenseful book. The plot was cleverly thought out and the writing very believable.
Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Frances and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.
#TheDaughter #NetGalley
susieg's review
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fionayule's review
3.0
When Kates daughter Becky dies in a horrific Road Traffic accident, Kate believes that the company’s van lacks a safety feature. But what if Becky’s accident was not what it seemed? And Kate finds herself investigating something far more sinister?
I thought I would really enjoy this book, and for the first half of it my thinking was correct.
However, by the time I got past the middle of the book and I couldn’t help feeling that it was a bit rushed to get to the end.
This is a pity as Kate was a fantastic character but for me there were to many plot holes, far fetched coincidences, and the ending was far to convenient and quick for me. I also didn’t understand the photo on the cover which seemed to have very little bearing on the plot.
All in all though, despite this it’s a good 3 stars, not a definite recommend, but its worth reading.
I thought I would really enjoy this book, and for the first half of it my thinking was correct.
However, by the time I got past the middle of the book and I couldn’t help feeling that it was a bit rushed to get to the end.
This is a pity as Kate was a fantastic character but for me there were to many plot holes, far fetched coincidences, and the ending was far to convenient and quick for me. I also didn’t understand the photo on the cover which seemed to have very little bearing on the plot.
All in all though, despite this it’s a good 3 stars, not a definite recommend, but its worth reading.
cosiedupwithabook's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25