I’m seriously beginning to question myself. Where have I been living? Under a rock, obviously. I just read my first Megan Miranda book last week and I absolutely loved it! Daughter of Mine is one of those books I’m going to be thinking about for a very long time. I honestly can’t tell you the last time I had a book impress upon me so much that I dreamt about it! Yeah, it’s that good.

The Good:
Can I just say everything? From the characters, to that way the story unfolded, to the feelings I was left with after each chapter, I loved it all. Hazel was a fantastic MC. Everything about her felt honest, raw and real. She’s the type of character you connect with right away, and you are biting your nails the whole way through, hoping they survive. I was constantly questioning everything. Who can I trust? Who’s telling the truth? How obvious is too obvious? Maybe the obvious is the truth? So many thoughts, but I didn’t see the ending playing out the way it did. I was caught off guard, but I loved it.

The Bad:
Nope, got nothing for you.

The Mentionable:
Like most thrillers, trigger warnings abound: Lanuage, alcohol consumption, drug use, overdose, drowning, child abandonment, someone falls to their death, gun violence, loss of parents, heart attack, theft, sociopathic tendencies, breaking and entering, close door sex scenes, infidelity, bike accident, murder, and bullying.

If you are a thriller fan then you definitely need to check this one out. If you’re not a thriller fan, well now’s the time to become one! Grab yourself a copy on release day, April 9th.

Huge thank you to Simon and Schusterfor the gifted eArc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this story drew me in from the first chapter and i had to know what was going to happen. it’s an intense thriller that also focuses on family dynamics within a small town. the main character never really knows who can be trusted which keeps you guessing the whole time. i did feel like the ending was a bit rushed, but overall this was a great time!

cw: suicide, substance abuse

For a Megan Miranda novel this is really fast paced. The story follows Hazel returning home after her fathers death.

Upon returning home Hazel begins to uncover why her father left the house to her and not her brothers.

I really enjoyed this one I’m not a huge Megan Miranda fan (I enjoy her books but usually find them to be a little slow) but the synopsis of this book sounded really good. I was hooked from the first page and read the book in about 24 hours.

I rated it as 4 stars because I found the ending to be slightly rushed. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the arc.

SECRETS!!!

in Daughter of Mine, Megan Miranda weaves a slow, complex tale fraught with misdirection and deception.

Out of the blue, Hazel Sharp's mother disappeared one day, wiping out her husband's bank accounts and leaving Hazel a hasty note stating that she hoped that one day Hazel would forgive her.

Years later, Hazel is shocked to find that her stepfather left the family home to her alone, disinheriting his own sons.

On top of that, Hazel's childhood best friend, Jamie, disappears - also leaving behind a young daughter. The body count in the small resort town of Mirror Lake starts to mount while Hazel conducts her own investigation into her stepfather's motives for leaving her the family home.

Hazel's childhood crush and neighbour, Nico, helps her sort through the clues. (I enjoyed all the yearning chemistry between these two characters!)

Despite all the masterful misdirection by the author, I did suspect the actual culprit in this slow sizzle thriller, but I couldn't figure out the motive.

Those last few action packed chapters sped by - a marked departure from the relentlessly slow build up throughout the first three quarters of the novel. I didn't want to put this book down and stayed up until four in the morning to finish it!

Nothing made sense - until the end, when everything fell horrifyingly into place.

I'm rating this one a 5 out of 5 well-deserved stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Well done!

Megan, you did it again! You blew me away! This book had me on a rollercoaster and honestly this one also had me a bit scared! The ending shocked me the most and I almost cried!!! I LOVE IT!! I cannot wait to get a physical copy to add to my shelf!
Thank you so much to netgalley and publisher for the chance to read this absolute masterpiece of a book!

I was fortunate to receive an e-arc of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster.

What an incredibly gripping novel. While the beginning was a little slow I reached a point where I couldn't put it down and needed to know what would happen next. 

I loved the different dynamics of the characters relationships. They added a more real world feel of a small town to the story for me. 

The date, time and precipitation at the beginning of each chapter added such a nice touch to the overall plot and really backed up the main storyline in such a subtle way.

One minor detail at the end felt a little lacking to me so 4.75⭐️

Certain authors, like Megan Miranda, have a permanent spot on my reading list. Her forte lies in crafting fast-paced mystery thrillers, making her a go-to for easy reads. When I received notice of her new, upcoming book, I started it right away. Is this one on your list?💁🏻‍♀️

Daughter of Mine follows the story of Hazel Sharpe as she returns to her hometown for her adopted father’s funeral, triggering memories and unearthing secrets of her mother’s disappearance. When Hazel was young, her mother disappeared one night, leaving behind a cryptic note for her daughter. Hazel knew only what she was told. That her mother was a thief and con-woman and didn’t think twice to leave Hazel behind to save herself. As Hazel returns home many years later, the memories and secrets come to the surface. What really happened to her mother? Did she just leave or was there another reason?🤔

While appreciating the stunning cover, I must admit that this one unfolded as a slow paced and predictable mystery. Despite figuring out the plot midway, it was a great companion on a delayed flight, for which I’m grateful. Although not a personal favourite, this author is widely loved and I encourage you to pick it up when it publishes in April. Grateful for the opportunity to read it, even if it didn’t become a personal favourite. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @simonschusterca for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publication on April 9, 2024!

.

@tolovetoread #tolovetoread #read #reader #reading #readersofig #readthisbook #book #books #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish #booklife #bookreviewer #bibliophile #bookishcanadians #booksofig #booksof2024 #bookthoughts #bookaddict #readtheclassics
#bookrecommendations
#simonandschustercanada

.

I always enjoy Megan Miranda. I found this book to have a slow start. But by the end I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't put it down. You will definitely be suspecting everyone in this small town. Megan will have you changing your guess every chapter!

Hazel Sharp returns to her small hometown after her father dies and what she finds waiting for her is nothing but secrets to unravel about her family’s dark past.

I always enjoy Megan Miranda’s books and was super pumped when I got this newest book as an ARC — I thoroughly enjoyed this book—I was sucked into this dark and twisted mystery— the information is revealed at a good pace and everything fits together like a perfect puzzle. Full of well-built suspense — I couldn`t stop reading — and finished it over one day. Everyone is suspect and no one is safe!

This book is a quick, high-tension read, a well-executed mystery--highly recommended!!

Many thanks to NetGalley Simon & Schuster Canada, and S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for this ARC. This is my honest review

Daughter of mine is a small time thriller laced with exhaustive summer heat and telling weather.

Hazel has returned to mirror lake for her late father’s celebration of life. Although she has two brothers you get the sense that she is on her own with no remaining family. She seems to be an outcast on the outside of town, uninformed of the comings and goings.

Her brothers are pretty unlikable characters and aren’t very friendly or inclusive with her, though we find out the reason for that later on.

But the recent passing of her father isn’t all that’s going on. A never ending drought is causing the surrounding lake waters to get lower and lower each day, and secrets are starting to be revealed.

What starts out as one sunken car, turns into two and connections from the past start to be made. On top of that her sister in law seems to have gone missing, though nobody will take Hazels concerns seriously. Family tensions rise and Hazel begins to wonder if everything she’s believed over the last decade+ has been a lie.

This is very much a slow burn with small revelations being dropped over a span of time, which eventually lead to connecting the dots.

The atmosphere is very small town secrets and cover ups and the heatwave is palpable leaving the reader to wait for the inevitable storm to arrive.

I liked Hazels character, but i didn’t really connect with the majority of the plot. This could be due to having a general dislike for the towns characters or hoping for the pace to pick up speed and intensity that never seemed to arrive.

What I did like: The cover is stunning, as are all Megan Miranda’s books which seem to have a colour scheme that I find especially aesthetically pleasing.

I liked Hazels determination and drive to find out answers even though everyone tried to shut her out along the way.

I liked how each chapter was divided by the “days without rain” count, adding to the weather atmospheric portion of the book.

I’m a fan of Megan Miranda in general, although this is not my favourite of her books. I did read it in one sitting so if you are looking for an easy to read palette cleanser this could be the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an early copy of this book!

Thanks @netgalley and @simonandschuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoy @meganlmiranda’s mysteries, and I was excited to read this one. While I found the book a bit slower and repetitive at the beginning, I was hooked by the middle. There was a lot to this mystery, and I was not expecting that ending. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books, especially for the second half of this novel. Check it out when it’s released in April 2024. #avivaandfriendsrecos

Through distorted, or deliberately disrupted memories, Hazel tries to return home after the death of her father. Her welcome is less than warm, and fills her with more questions. Miranda is able to create both doubt and belief as she reveals Hazels past and relationships with the other characters. The only person I fully trusted to be genuine was Skyler, her six-year old niece. The house, and the village itself, took on a unique role in creating suspense and intrigue. I was left wondering if the villagers knew the truth, or were just banding together to protect their own. Despite her living there for so long Hazel did not truly seem to belong, adding to the mistrust. Quite different from the last thriller I read, Daughter of Mine is truly a thriller that is defined by the mood it creates. Despite not always liking them, Miranda creates characters I was truly invested in and I find myself rooting for family.

This is my favorite Megan Miranda book!! I always enjoy her novels but this one hooked me immediately!

I can't review it without giving too much away but if you are looking for a fast-paced, eerie thriller than this is for you!

Is this a murder mystery, a disappearance story, a cover-up? I couldn't stop reading to find out.

This one had me guessing throughout as Miranda weaved the sinister and eerie plot.

My first five star read of 2024!

A must read!

Another enjoyable slow-burn mystery full of rich character development and an expertly laid out twisty plot. Always love the back-stories the author weaves in pulling you into the character’s lives before picking up the pace and bringing you back to the mystery / suspense. This was one of my favourite books from this author, highly recommend.

To start, this is a really great book. Miranda pulled me in so quick & it never really let up for me. It has some Gothic overtones, with the secrets & family drama, but yet completely modern & accessible. Like reading a contemporary V.C. Andrews novel, but a far better one!

Hazel is a good narrator to follow around. There’s a slight twist about her character that reveals itself at the right time, that had me intrigued. I had my suspicions about the ending & I was pleased to not get everything correct.

I think this is maybe the fourth book of Miranda’s I’ve read & I find her to be consistently talented. Her thrillers have good pacing & plenty of surprises along the way to keep readers entertained. This is absolutely a recommendable book for me!

4.5 ⭐️

Oh how I love Megan Miranda and her writing! This one is hard to review without giving anything away as some major plot points are revealed early on. However, if you are looking for a fast paced thriller with complex characters that you don’t know how to feel about, this is the one for you. There were so many things going on yet never too much to overpower the story. I was glued to my seat reading this trying to figure out what would be revealed next. Even if you have the twist somewhat figured out, she adds in a few more elements that still make it feel like a shock.

Yet another winner from Megan Miranda 👏🏼

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC!

ARC: Megan Miranda does it again!

As a long-time fan of Miranda's work, I was very excited to read Daughter of Mine. As per usual, Megan did not disappoint! I devoured this story in one sitting.

From the very beginning of the novel, I was absolutely hooked. The air of mystery and eeriness that is a signature of Miranda's writing sets in early. I found myself quickly invested in Hazel's world and history, falling captive to the lure and appeal of Mirror Lake.

The plot moves quickly and is filled twists and turns that left me unable to stop reading. Just when I thought I could predict the ending, Miranda integrated a plot twist I did not see coming.

I'd recommend Daughter of Mine to any mystery and/or thriller fans. 10/10 stars!