This was my third Karin Slaughter novel and my favourite by
far. I thought Pretty Girls and The Kept Woman were the author at her best, but
I was wrong; she’s surpassed herself with The Good Daughter.
How does she manage to paint a picture of a cruel, dark and
depraved world that none of us would want first-hand experience of, yet keep
you hanging on her every word? The horrific acts she describes with detail in
her books are sometimes uncomfortable to read, but you cannot possibly put down
her novels. The desperate urge to find out whether the good people in her
novels make it out of her narratives alive will spur you on until the last
page.
I was addicted to this book from the first paragraph and
read it obsessively for the first couple days. Then I couldn’t bear the thought
of it ending, so I read it slowly, drawing out the experience. It was an
unpredictable ride, full of many shocking twists and turns, and throughout,
Slaughter’s writing was flawless. The way she brings her characters to life on
the page is commendable.
In the first chapter, the reader is introduced to the Quinn
sisters and their mother, Gamma. They are likeable and intelligent females,
trying to make the best of a bad situation; vandals burnt down their home in
retaliation for the family patriarch, defence attorney Randy, helping to acquit
a man of criminal charges. In the same chapter, something truly horrifying
happens to the family.
I felt as though I were there with Charlie and Sam as the horrific
event plays out, on tenterhooks, scared for their safety. This is a credit to
Slaughter’s writing and excellent handling of character development and plot.
I don’t want to give anything away about the narrative, so
I’ll just say this. If you love a good thriller, pick up this book. You won’t
be sorry. If you’re drawn to psychological thrillers that explore the minds of
immoral characters, like I am, this novel is also for you.
Rating: 5 STARS!
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