Reviews

The Good Daughter, by Karin Slaughter

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alayna_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

bethelizabethuk's review against another edition

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5.0

Two girls are forced into the woods at gunpoint. One runs for her life. One is left behind

28 years ago Charlotte and Samantha's lives are torn apart by a horrendous attack on their family. They suffer the loss of their mother and huge trauma. 28 years later they both struggle with the scars, physical and emotional. Being around each other is tough as it just serves to remind them of that day so they push each other away.

Charlotte is plunged into a living nightmare when violence strikes her hometown once again. It brings back memories she’d rather forget. The truth about that day 28 years ago threatens to surface but is Charlotte strong enough to face it.

I adore Karin Slaughter. She is one of my all-time favourite authors. The Sara Grant series was probably the series that got me hooked on crime novels. I am absolutely loving her stand-alone books at the moment though. Pretty Girls was an incredible read and The Good Daughter did not disappoint. I cannot wait to get my hands on Pieces of Her.

The opening chapter of this book packs Karin's usual punch. It pulls you in and makes it impossible to put down. I felt so many emotions and it absolutely broke my heart. I was not prepared for the tears. So glad I wasn’t reading in public. I also cried in the middle and at the end. I am not normally this emotional but it really tugs at the heartstrings.

I struggled with Sams character to start with but as I read on I definitely warmed to her. To be honest I actually ended up loving all of the main characters. The Good Daughter switches between the past and present so we gradually find out more about what happened on that horrendous day and why the girls are the way they are. The present-day then focuses on the family's relationship as well as the aftermath of the crime that Charlotte witnessed. I was also definitely not expecting a major twist. Definitely added to the drama.

Just a side note that there are some graphic scenes as well as rape so if that is a trigger for you I would probably skip this one.