After loving Slaughter’s previous standalone novel, Pretty Girls, I was so excited to read The Good Daughter, and I bloody loved it, from beginning to end!
The stunning new standalone, with a chilling edge of psychological suspense, from No.1 bestselling author Karin Slaughter.
One ran. One stayed. But who is…the good daughter?
Twenty-eight years ago, Charlotte and Samantha Quinn’s childhoods were destroyed by a terrifying attack on their family home. It left their mother dead. It left their father – a notorious defence attorney – devastated. And it left the family consumed by secrets from that shocking night.
Twenty-eight years later, Charlie has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a lawyer. But when violence comes to their home town again, the case triggers memories she’s desperately tried to suppress. Because the shocking truth about the crime which destroyed her family won’t stay buried for ever…
Wow, what an opening! The Good Daughter has a fantastic prologue, one of the best I have come across – this novel owns the phrase “a gripping opening!” It was dangerous, murderous, thrilling and chilling.
After the brilliant prologue, the story starts 28 years later, and the plot that followed took me by complete surprise, I was not expecting any of what occurred, but I loved it all. I’m not going to tell you anything, because the blurb holds back, and so will I! You just need to know that everything connects, comes full circle in a very impressive fashion. And as things are connecting, you have your shocking moments, your tender moments, your moments of rage, a whirlwind of emotions surrounding a novel with family-ties at the heart of it.
This notion of ‘the good daughter’ is one I really enjoyed, because both of these sisters suffer trauma that will break anyone, and as they try to live their lives as adults, you can see how much the past haunts them. It’s almost impossible to lay blame on either sister for anything that occurs, because, damn, they’ve been through the wars!
One of the things I have come to love is Slaughter’s no holds barred writing style – it’s raw, it’s real, in a no fucks given fashion, Slaughter is going to thrill your socks off! The Good Daughter is part crime thriller, part legal thriller, part psychological thriller – the perfect blend for any crime fiction fan.
And, what a fantastic narrator Susie James is. I planned to read this novel, and just listen to parts when I was travelling, but after hearing James read the prologue, I knew I would be listening to all 15 hours of audio. I’m so picky about narrators, and easily find fault with them, but James was amazing. Whether you opt for the audio, the ebook or a print copy, you need this book in your life!
When I finished this novel, my immediate thought was Slaughter wins! Wins what, you ask? She wins everything, she wins at life, with an A+ in crime thriller writing! The Good Daughter wins, her previous novel, Pretty Girls, wins – and now I must go and read every book she has ever written!
This book is available to buy from: Amazon UK / Book Depository
Keeper of Pages 
YES! YES! You must! I couldn’t be happier that she’s won you over. I absolutely love her books! So obviously that means we’ll be buddy reading her next one 😉
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Put it on the list!! Poor Jewell is going to be relegated again 🙈😂
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I have a feeling we are never going to get around to that one at all 😂
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Amazing review, I love reading her novels too and I’m very excited to read this one soon!
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Thank you! Isn’t she just brilliant, I can’t wait to read her latest standalone, Pieces of Her!
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I have Pretty Girls in my ever increasing TBR but I’ll be adding this one too, on the strength of your great review 🙂
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Pretty Girls is incredible, you now have two amazing Slaughter books to read, and I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on them both!
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Looking forward to them 🙂
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Wow, what a review! I’ve had a copy of this one for some time, I need to get to it soon!!!
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You need to bump it up the list, it’s sooooo goooooood!!
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Yeah, she definitely knows how to write a story behind her thrillers. She really nails it! I enjoyed this one, too. Wonderful review, Janel! ♥️
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Thank you! 😊 Yes, she hits you with that emotion amongst the thrills! I think I’ll read Pieces of Her next, and then start on the series.
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Aaaaagh need to read this Janel, awesome review. However I need to read stuff in order 😂 so next on my list after Cop Town (which I read recently) is Pretty Girls! 🤗
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But The Good Daughter (and Pretty Girls) are standalone so it won’t disrupt the series? I plan to read her latest standalone next and then I’ll start the series 😊
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I know I’m a complete freak but I want to read them in publication order too. 🤣🤣🤣
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This was my first (and so far only) read from this author, but i agree. It was a pretty good story and a nice mix of crime/ thriller things.
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Oh you absolutely must read Pretty Girls!
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Wonderful review! I’m glad to hear this one was a winner for you as well.
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Absolutely loved it! I need more of her books in my life asap! 😂
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Same here!
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Yay! So glad you loved my favorite standalone by my fave author!! I can’t wait until you start her series! I’m in love with Will Trent, lol. So glad her next book is a series one!! Wonderful review!
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I need to read her standalone, Pieces of Her, and I just found out Cop Town is a standalone – I thought that was the first in the series. So I want to read that one too, then I’ll start the series 🙂
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I enjoyed Cop Town a lot more than I did Pieces of Her (I don’t know if you remember but Pieces of Her wasn’t bloody and gory enough, lol. It was SO different than any of her other books and freaked me out, LOL), Make sure you start with the Grant County series first, in case no one told you, since characters from that book overlap at a later date in the Will Trent series after Grant County ends. I can’t wait to hear what you think of them!
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Awesome review!
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Thank you! 😊
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You’re welcome 🙂
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