Somebody's Daughter is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that plays out in one crazy night. We've all had those nights right? Okay, maybe not just like this, but a night where so many things happen and there are so many twists and turns that the day before seems like a lifetime ago?

The book opens on Michael and Angela, a fairly typical suburban couple. They've just finished dinner together, wine glasses still half-full on the table, and a promise hanging in the air of retreating to the bedroom when clean-up is complete.... when the doorbell rings. And it's Michael's ex-wife. And she tells him that their 10-year-old daughter, who he doesn't know about, has gone missing.

Wow! I can't even imagine being Angela in that moment.

Bell spins a interesting story, that takes through a life-changing childhood tragedy in Michael's past, his tumultuous relationship with his first wife, Erica and the jealousy and unrealized dreams that can hide beneath even the healthiest of relationships.

I really did enjoy this book. Although it does all unfold in one night, Bell includes enough flashbacks and jumps around a bit in time to keep the story from being too linear. The one character that was a bit of a problem for me was Erica's ex-boyfriend. I didn't find him to be completely believable, however part of that is that I don't feel his true motivations were revealed. He was a bit unhinged and I'm not sure why anyone would've acted that way in the same situation.

That said, if you enjoy a good mystery, check this one out. It will release July 10, although to me it seems less like a beach read, and more like a book to read on a balmy summer evening with a good glass of red.

Special thanks to Berkeley Publishing Group and Netgalley for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because the writing was strong.

I enjoyed Somebody's Daughter by David Bell to the point where I didn't want to stop reading, once I got hooked into the story - which was very early on! A 9-year-old girl, Felicity, is missing and her mother, Erica shows up on her now happily remarried ex-husband Michael's front doorstep one night with not only this news - but the news that she is HIS daughter! His current wife, Angela is as stunned as he is. Michael takes off into the night to help Erica try to find her daughter, because even if she's not his, she is somebody's daughter.

This book held my attention and was full of twists and turns, written through different viewpoints in alternating chapters. Each chapter (some quite short) ended with a cliffhanger, but they weren't all as thrilling as I would have hoped since they were in general immediately resolved by the next character. I was able to guess the "who" in the whodunit and the basic reasoning, but there was a lot of buildup to get to that point - my initial instincts were not correct, though, which is a good thing - I don't like being able to figure things out right off the bat!

While the book overall had plenty of twists, there weren't any huge shockers, and the resolution proceeded pretty much how I figured it would, which was fine but felt a little less "thrilling" than I had hoped for. I was a little thrown that one of the main characters played a huge part in the first half of the book, then became largely irrelevant and almost an afterthought towards the end, which I found odd.

Overall a pretty good read, fast paced but a tad bit on the long side. I'd definitely recommend for a beach read, plane trip, etc where you can sit and read the entire book in one sitting, keeping the momentum up!

Thank you to the author & publisher who provided a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Berkley Pub #Partner for the free copy in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I am a HUGE fan of David Bell, he is my number one recommended author, so when I received an ARC of his newest book I was freaking ecstatic.

Somebody's Daughter was fast paced, entrancing, and high addictive. I was racing through the pages, following everyone involved in this book, trying to figure out who to Felicity and why? What was the motive? Who was really the father? (Maury Povich flashbacks. haha) Why did Erica seem so shady? Is Felicity safe? This book made me ask a lot of questions.

This was a twisty turny ride. Once I thought I had it figured out, A curveball was thrown my way, and I had to rethink things. With David Bell Novels, things are never simple. The stories are always complex. He is a master manipulator of plots, and I have never been disappointed with any of his books. I can only look forward to his next book, and this one isn't even released yet!

I'm a huge fan of David Bell's. His books keep you riveted till the end. This one is no exception. Hooked me right from the start. The book begins with a knock at the door of Michael's home. When he opens the door he's surprised to see his ex-wife standing there. They haven't seen or spoken in 10 years but that's not the biggest surprise. Erica's daughter, and supposedly Michael's, is missing. So Michael sets off with Erica to help find her, leaving behind his wife Angela. The story takes place over the course of one evening. With alternating chapters between Michael, Angela, and a cop named Griffin. It's fast paced and will keep you reading. There was one storyline that was brought up , and I thought added an extra layer. But, at the end it was forgotten about! And they mentioned it a few times so I was really wondering if it was true or not. Maybe at that point it didn't make a difference but I thought it did. So that bothered me. The rest of the story was enjoyable and definitely keeps Bell in my 'must read' list.

Whenever I see a major editing glitch, it throws me out of the story line. I realize this is only partly the authors fault. When Gail has her phone taken away from her, she can't get a call on it when it is in someone else's possession.

Michael and Angela have a good life except for desperately having a child. When Michael's ex-wife , Erica shows up at their door saying their daughter is missing, Michael is stunned as this is the first he heard of his having a child. He agrees to go with her and help question the man she thinks took her. Angela is left at home wondering what else she doesn't know which is compounded when the police come to question her. The story follows Michael's and Angela's separate paths as they search for the truth.

There are way too many characters in this book, the ending was just odd. There was no reason at all to think of the person who actually took her. Easily 50 pages could have been edited out in the middle, there were a lot of pages but they didn't drive the story.

I think with tighter editing this book could be better as the plot was good.

Somebody's Daughter is the latest thriller from David Bell. In Somebody's Daughter Mr Bell tells us the story in various voices. As the chapters end and start on another part of the story you hate to leave those characters, wanting more of that part of the action....every time. Somebody's Daughter is an edge of your seat page turner with the reader anxious to find out what exactly happened. I was given an early copy to review.

One night Michael's ex wife Erica unexpectedly shows up at his house in a panic. Her 9 year old daughter is missing and she is begging Michael to help. Michael doesn't understand why until Erica drops the bomb that her missing daughter is also HIS daughter! 

Married at a young age, Michael and Erica have been divorced for almost 10 years. Michael is happily remarried, and his wife Angela is left shocked and stunned wondering what is going on. Erica was known for being dramatic and Michael has no clue what to believe, but he's worried for this child's life. Through the course of one night many secrets are revealed and there are twists coming at you so fast you won't be able to put this one down. 

Almost every character has a secret in this book and you will start to suspect everyone at some point but I did not have the mystery figured out until the big reveal.

Somebody's Daughter is a thrilling psychological suspense that will keep you on your toes!

As soon as I started reading Somebody's Daughter, I was immediately caught up in the story. David Bell does a great job of pulling you into the mystery and family drama very quickly. The book jumps between different perspectives - our main character, Michael Frazier whose ex-wife shows up claiming not only is her daughter Felicity missing, but that she is Michael's; Michael's current wife Angela; and one of the detectives on the case.

This book takes so many different twists that you don't want to put it down because you want to find out what will happen next. I felt like we kept finding out more and more about Michael's family, including what happened to Michael's younger sister Robyn who died in a childhood accident. The secrets this family keeps from one another begin to reveal themselves and may cause Michael and Angela's marriage to unravel.

The different characters and perspectives helped move the book along quickly. I really enjoyed this story and all of the suspense of finding out what happened to Felicity.

Have heard good things about this author, but this book read more like a Lifetime movie for me than I would like. A lost daughter, and an ex-wife who is trying to get her ex-husband to assist her in the search. Takes place over 24 hours, people driving here and there, in and out of houses, the police...where the heck are they? Just not my cup of tea. Sentence structure, grammar, composition is good, so I'd like to read something else by this author before taking a pass on other of his works. Quick read but didn't take much concentration or emotional capacity to read this.
Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy for an honest review.

Enjoyed the story. Many characters to figure out. Did not see the end coming. I would read future books from this author

When the doorbell rings the last person Michael expected to see was his ex-wife Erica . Erica’s missing her 9 year old daughter Felicity who might be Michaels daughter and needs his help to find her.Michael then embarks on a journey with his ex-wife while his current wife Angela tries to solve the mystery herself revealing some deep-rooted secrets in Michael’s family

Somebody’s Daughter is a fast read by David Bell with lots of characters which sometimes seem confusing. There were some twists and turns but the ending felt a little rushed.Overall a quick read with a 3 star rating

I would like to thank Berkley Publishing Group & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Quite a page-turner! The author skillfully organizes the book so that the reader never wants to stop! A happily-married man answers the doorbell at his home one evening and encounters his ex-wife, who abruptly announces that her daughter has been kidnapped...and said daughter is his, although he never knew it. Curiosity, and his sense of decency, lead him to accompany her on quite an adventure. Meanwhile, his current wife, who is trying to get pregnant, teams up with the ex-wife's ex, who thinks the child is his. on a separate but parallel adventure. The resolution is a surprise that I did not see coming. Terrifically entertaining!

The characters were out of this world! A real page turner!!! The story ws so unique, I don't ever remember reading a book that moved me quite the way this one did. I will never forget it.


posted on amazon as barth gimbal

Michael’s ex wife shows up at his door and tells him the 9 year old daughter he didn’t know existed is missing. In a search for the truth and his daughter, Michael has to decide who to trust.

A very emotional book dealing with the loss of a sibling and the disapeareance of a little girl. Nicely written.

Michael's ex, Erica, shows on his doorstep one night, telling him that her daughter has been kidnapped and that he is the father. Not knowing what to do, he goes with her. This is a fast-moving books with so many twists and turns. In one plot line, Michael and Erica are investigating. In another, Michael's current wife, Angela, is doing some investigating of her own. And in another, the police investigation is shown. I read this book in one sitting. There was so much going on, I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of characters in the book, but for the most part it was easy to keep track of them. I did not expect the ending. I would have liked a little more clear info on what had happened in Detective Griffin's past. I also know that I would not have been as calm as Angela, and had some trouble believing that her character would be that calm.

4.5 for me. Though I think I should have rounded up.

David Bell has done it again with his latest book Somebody's Daughter.

Michael's ex wife shows up on his doorstep begging his help when her daughter goes missing. She tells Michael that Felicity is his daughter that he never knew about. Ho goes off to help Erica even though his wife is dead set against it.

Thus begins the tangle of secrets, lies, and how past relationships effect everyone.

The clock ticks as the police scramble to find Felicity safe Who would take Felicity, who's daughter is she really?

A fast paced thriller that wont disappoint you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read Somebody's Daughter

Somebody's Daughter by David Bell has an interesting premise with a lot of potential. I just don't think the author was able to fully realize that potential. It had an overly complicated plot with unlikable characters. My main gripe is that the dialogue seemed geared toward enhancing the mystery to the detriment of the story. Instead of answering simple questions, the characters would give vague answers so that other characters would be left in the dark. But I don't feel that in a situation involving a missing child, people would act like that. Not everyone can be guilty, so having everyone do this to build suspense left me annoyed.


In a tv show, a commercial break is almost always preceded by a twist or revelation. It's what keeps the audience glued to their seats and the channel. The author tried to do this after every chapter, but it didn't really work for me here. Mainly, because the next chapter would begin with the reveal of the withheld information. It just seemed to me that the answer was something that didn't need to be so vague in the first place. It left me feeling no sympathy for anyone.


Also, Erica seemed to just disappear. She was built up as an agent of chaos, and the main instigator of the plot, but in the end, she was treated as an afterthought. This was such a strange choice.


All in all, I cannot recommend this book. It had a lot of potential, but I don't think the author was up to the task.

A great suspenseful thriller that will have your mind racing in a hundred different directions as you try to piece together the parts of this puzzle and family dynamics. Michael, finds out his daughter he never knew existed is missing one evening after a knock on the door. But all may not be as it seems as Michael takes off with his ex in search of his possible daughter, while his current wife tries to unravel the mystery from her end. It really is a story where you don't know who is telling the truth, or who this mysterious daughter belongs to, let alone where she is. A great mystery/thriller that was very hard to put down!

Books by this author never fail to keep me in suspense and have me reading all night long. If you are looking for a stand alone mystery that is fast paced and you won’t guess until the end, this book or ANY book by this author is what you are looking for. Mystery. Intrigue. Warped relationships. Bet you can’t guess the end!