Engaging throughout but the ending left me feeling …

When Michael Frazier's ex-wife, Erica, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep, she drops a bombshell that threatens to rip his family apart. Her ten-year-old daughter is missing and Erica claims Michael is the father. Unsure whether this is the truth but unwilling to leave the girl's fate to chance, Michael has no choice but to leave with Erica.

What am I feeling? Let down, disappointed and incomplete. The book moved at a thrilling speed the whole time with these great little cliffhangers that had me reading just one more chapter. But the end was just blah! There wasn’t a “WOW!” moment and the answer to the biggest question asked during the telling of the story? I don’t feel readers are given that answer. I assume from the epilogue what the answer is, but I’m one of those readers that needs it in writing. Don’t make me guess, just give it to me straight.

Told over the course of one night from alternating viewpoints, the book is engaging and I think fans of Bell and mystery/thriller/suspense novels will enjoy this one. I read it in a day and would probably read it again.

I really enjoyed Bring Her Home so I jumped at the chance to read this! This book is about finding Felicity. The chapters are written in one of my favorite styles, multiple points of view. This works best for mysteries because the author can give just enough to make you want more then completely change pace with a new point of view. If done properly you will suspect everyone and nothing will be what it seems! This book is a page turner and it’s addictive fast paced plot makes it a quick read. Perfect summer suspense.

Somebody’s Daughter is the newest book written by David Bell, who also wrote Bring Her Home. This is a mystery/thriller about missing 10-year-old, Felicity. It begins when Michael Frazier’s ex-wife, Erica shows up on his doorstep. Michael lives a happy life with his wife Angela and they are desperately trying to have a baby of their own. However, their relationship will be tested after they hear what Erica has to say. She informs Michael that he is the father of Felicity and that Felicity was kidnapped. She needs Michael to help her find Felicity. Shocked and worried, Michael goes with her.

There are multiple storylines besides Micheal’s. His wife Angela is determined to discover the truth so this revelation doesn’t rip them apart. There is also Detective Griffin who knows what it is like to lose a child and will stop at nothing until Felicity is home safe. However, there are several twists and turns as the night goes on. Who is Felicity’s father? Is Erica telling the truth? And will they find her before it’s too late?

I was able to read this whole book on a plane flight. I was hooked from the very beginning. Every chapter ends with a twist to keep the reader engaged and wanting to turn the page. The chapters are usually pretty short and straight to the point. One sign of a good thriller is not knowing what is happening or who to trust. David Bell does this extremely well. I hate reading mysteries and knowing exactly what is going to happen. That was not the case here. There is always a sense of doubt.

The only issue I had is that I wasn’t really emotionally attached to the characters. I found them all interesting. However, I barely knew anything about Felicity. Erica was a struggle to read. However, I don’t want to spoil anything. I really enjoyed Angela. I felt all her reactions were genuine and realistic. She also truly cared about Michael. I also really appreciated the author discussing the emotional trauma of losing a child whether despite the age. He discusses child loss, miscarriage and even the trauma of dealing with infertility. Not many know how these things take a toll physically, mentally and emotionally.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy crime, mysteries, and thrillers. It will make the perfect summer read. It is quick and engaging. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Definitely check it out!

Somebody’s daughter has all the elements of a great page-turner except, contrary to what is promoted by the publisher’s blurb, it did not make my pulse race. This is a somewhat suspenseful story built around the disappearance of a 9 year old girl, Felicity, and questions about the identity of her biological father. There is a large cast of characters but none of them really captured my interest.

However, the author did employ a tried and true device which kept me turning the pages. The end of most chapters, especially early on, closed with a cliffhanger. These twists cast suspicion on yet another in a growing list of suspects and introduced lots of subplots – some of which get resolved and some just fade away. Just as I was starting to feel annoyed by this pattern, the plot settled into the main task of finding Felicity. The actual identity of the perpetrator remained a mystery until near the end which was another plus. For these two reasons, I bumped up my rating from two to three stars.



FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Books, and David Bell for the opportunity to read his latest book - loved it! I'm a big fan of David Bell and his books never fail to keep me engrossed.

Michael and Angela are happily married and trying to conceive a baby, which is adding a bit of stress into their lives. One evening, the doorbell rings and Michael's ex-wife, Erica, is standing there. Erica states that her daughter is missing - a daughter that she says is Michael's that he knew nothing about. Leaving Angela at home, he goes with Erica to talk to a teacher she thinks may know something.

That starts the ball of intrigue rolling. Soon the police are at Angela's door and she finds out things about Michael she didn't know. There are many people being drawn into finding the missing child, Felicity, and all seem to have their share of secrets.

This book is told in short chapters and from multiple points of view, including the police, and you start questioning everyone. I couldn't put this down until the last page! As with all of Bell's books, highly recommended!

For sure, this book held my attention all the way through. In fact, it latched on so tightly that our dinner got put on hold for a little over an hour while I plowed through to the final page. But that said, I really never really "connected" with any of the characters (more on that in a bit). Besides that, thoughts of same concept, different author kept niggling at the back of my brain as I turned the pages.

Here's the deal: Michael Frazier is living the good life with his second wife, Angela, in Cottonsville, Kentucky; that they're trying, so far unsuccessfully, to have a baby is frustrating, but they're hanging in there. His first marriage to a kooky sort named Erica didn't make it much past a year, and they went their separate ways.

Until now. Suddenly, Erica appears at Michael's door, begging him to help find her missing 9-year-old daughter Felicity. Why Michael, after all these years? Well, Erica tells him, because you're Felicity's father. To put it mildly, Michael is stunned - and questions whether it's even true. Nonetheless, he just can't find it in his heart not to help, even when Angela - who's just as stunned as Michael, if not more - tells him he should stay home and let the police handle things. But Erica insists she must take matters into her own hands because the police aren't taking her daughter's disappearance seriously (after all, it's been most of a day and they haven't found her).

So off he goes. It is at this early point, I must add, that I wrote Michael off. Sure, I "get" (well, sort of) his concern over a missing child that might be his and his reluctance to leave an ex-wife in the lurch even though he thinks she's nuts; on the other hand, I just can't work up sympathy for people who totally ignore common sense. But then, of course, there'd be no story. So there we are.

Everything and everyone moves along quickly from then on, bringing a few surprises as chapters follow the progress and setbacks of Michael and Erica, Angela, Michael's sister Lynn and their mother, and the two primary cops working the case. Little by little, readers learn that every character comes with issues - some more related to the child's disappearance than others - and broken trust becomes a common theme among them all.

Most important, though, is whether or not they'll find the child (and the kidnapper) in time to save her. That, in fact, overshadows all else, adding an edge-of-the-seat tension that doesn't quit till the end. Overall, it's quite an enjoyable ride, reinforcing what I already believe: Given excellent writing, it's not necessary to fall in love with the characters to be happy that you've read a book. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an advance review copy.

In one night Michael’s life gets turned upside down. His ex wife is banging at the door asking for help finding her missing daughter (who he didn’t even know existed), a daughter who he might very well be the father of.

This book was a good, quick read and I somewhat enjoyed it. However, two things held me back from really liking it. 1. I texted my friend when I was 22% finished with this kindle version and said I knew who did it.... and I was right. And 2. I thought the way the female cop was treated throughout the entire novel was absolutely insane and over the top. She recently broke up with her boyfriend and literally every one of her colleagues and superiors says or infers that she might be too emotional to work on a missing child case because she’s single and in her 30s. Get a grip.

This was a decent book but I don’t think I’d specifically recommend it. This is an honest review on a book I received free from #netgalley #somebodysdaughter

A nifty little thriller about Felicity, a missing girl, and her parents- Michael and Erica- and Michael's second wife Angela. Well, to be honest, it's not about Felicity, it's about secrets and lies. All three adults have things they are hiding from each other, all of which come out in the course of one night. There are some good twists in here and it is a very fast read. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. A plot driven novel good for travel.

Somebody's daughter is missing when Erica shows up at her ex-husband's door, tells him the Felicity is his, and asks him to help find her. Of the many problems, other than a missing child, is Michael's current wife, Angela, who wonders what other secrets are lurking and how Erica could have gotten pregnant by Michael while they are having trouble conceiving. Then other people get involved in the hunt for Felicity. At one point, there were so many people running around looking for her it felt like a three ring circus. Despite a bit too many characters, the story was good and build to a somewhat expected ending that was both heart breaking and heart warming at the same time.

Solid 3 star read!

This is my first David Bell novel and I’ll definitely be back for more.

What I liked: The writing. The characters. I enjoyed the ending even though I knew exactly where it was heading... it didn’t take away from this well-written story.

What I didn’t like: It was pretty predictable, but I still enjoyed it.

This book felt like an episode of 24! I kept expecting Kieffer Sutherland to pop out.

This was a fast paced story and I found myself sneaking a chapter in whenever I could! I can’t wait to read another book from this author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A great page-turner for reading in the airport or on the beach. Short chapters ending with cliff-hangers and alternating perspectives will keep you reading. I like that there really were no "bad guys" -- just nuanced characters whose personal needs crashed with each other.

Somebody's Daughter gives us a day in the life of its secretive characters. Not just any old day, but a day when not only a little girl's disappearance but her very existence is turning everyone's world upside down. The whole story takes place over one day in the search for young Felicity, but there are years of secrets revealed little by little. David Bell never fails to impress me with his talent for creating intense situations, and this one was no different. From the time Erica rang Michael and Angela's doorbell, I was hooked. Everybody's hiding something, and as these wonderfully done characters race to find Felicity, not much remains hidden. Who is Felicity's father? Is she really even Felicity? Who knew about her and who didn't? And most of all, what does it all have to do with her disappearance? The more I read, the more I was drawn in and absolutely had to know the answers. All in all, Somebody's Daughter is another gripping read from this author. It's full of intensity, suspense, and deceit. This one is a perfect example of trust no one and suspect everyone, because they're all hiding something, be it past secrets or present.

Wow. To say I was blown away, satisfied and completely engrossed in this one would be a huge understatement, this book totally consumed me. The blurb is enticing enough but trust me my friends, it does not even come close to conveying just what a twisty, wild ride Somebody’s Daughter is. I know I say this every summer when Mr. Bell releases a new novel, but I’m saying it again anyway, this is my favorite of his books to date and his best yet.

Bell is the master of taking ordinary people and thrusting them into outrageous yet wholly believable situations. Michael is happily married to Angela, so when Erica shows up unexpectedly one night and drops a bomb, he’s shook. The revelation is the first of countless shocking announcements, I swear this one was so surprising I truly never knew what would happen next.

The pacing of this was relentless, short chapters, tons of mini cliffhangers and a super intense plot that made this unputdownable. I could go on and on about how much I loved this one, but I’ll end by urging you to read this, it’s outstanding.

Somebody’s Daughter in three words: Shocking, Compulsive and Quick.

Somebody's Daughter by David Bell Book Review
This book is kind of wild. Think about it. A woman (Erica) shows up on her ex-husband's doorstep saying, "My kid is missing. Oh, by the way, she's your kid. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Let's look for her".

Felicity Is Missing
Michael does the "right' thing and goes with her. How could he not? They've got a ton of history, she's a wildcard & what if this really is his kid? He can't just let Erica spiral while he stays cozied up in his home. Things get real tense when Michael's new wife, Angela, isn't really on board with this plan. Too bad, he heads out with Erica to find Felicity.

Fast Chapters, Tons of Secrets & Shady Ass Characters
First, I love David's nod to the wonderful Keri Russell show, Felicity. That is a nice touch. Another thing I really enjoy about David Bell's writing style is his quick chapters. It's easy to burn through several chapters & get a lot of information in a sitting. But, who does that? His storytelling moves so fast, that it's difficult to stop in the middle. The changing narrators, different points of view & cliffhanger chapters make Somebody's Daughter a great thrillride. I finished it in less than 24 hrs.

I also really appreciate a shady ass character. There are several in Somebody's Daughter. You know the type, the people you know you shouldn't trust, but you try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Later, you want to kick yourself. I love seeing these characters in literature because I know several shady ass people in reality!

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Somebody's Daughter is an enjoyable & tense thriller that moves fast. This is my first David Bell book & I'm looking forward to reading more! Even better, Somebody's Daughter makes my Summer Poolside Reading List.

Special thanks to David Bell,  Berkley Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review. 

Be sure to check out all the books on Sarah’s Summer Poolside Reading List!

Check out our review for David Bell's Bring Her Home.

This book just didn't do anything for me. Although it is a fiction book it's completely unbelievable. I'm just glad to be done with it.

You know when you get your favorite desert, and you want to slow down and savor it, but it’s just so good that you end up gobbling it all up in one sitting? Yeah. That’s how I am with certain author’s, and David Bell is one of them.

One night after a regular dinner at home with his wife, Michael gets a knock at the front door that changes everything. At the door is his ex-wife claiming their 9-year old daughter is missing, which is a horrible message to hear…even more so when you don’t even know you have a daughter to begin with. Most of my friends already know I’m a big fan of David Bell’s work, and I have to say that I feel like his style changed up a bit for this book, but in a good way! At times I felt I was reading something by Harlan Coben or Lynwood Barclay, since their books tend to have multiple storylines that tie together. Somebody’s Daughter read very much like that for me, and although the ending wrapped up a bit neatly, I still enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. And now I’m sad because I’m done….and I have to wait until Bell writes another “favorite desert” for us!

*Special Note: Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this one! I read a lot of thrillers and some of them tend to become predictable. But this one many twists and surprises. Great story line of a missing child and her mother reaching out to the father, who didn't know she existed, for help finding her. The father experienced the death of his young sister when he was a child, so he feels compelled to help find Felicity, even though he's not convinced she's his daughter. A lot of things are uncovered while on the search for this child and each discovery had me excited to read on.

if you like a good thriller I would recommend this one.

Michael and his wife Erica have a seemingly perfect life. The only thing missing is the family they have so far been unsuccessful in having. Then one night a knock on the door jeopardizes the very foundation of their marriage. A child is missing and Michael may be the father. Michael sets off with his ex-wife to try to get answers but with every lead more questions pop up.
This book was a roller coaster of suspense. Everyone is suspect because everyone seems to have something to hide. I could not put this down. I highly recommend this one!

Michael Frazier and his wife Angela are spending a quiet evening at home when Michael’s former wife, Erica, shows up, frantically claiming that her (and Michael’s) ten-year-old daughter Felicity has been kidnapped. Michael agrees to go with Erica, to help her search, though he is stunned to learn he may have a daughter he was never told about. As the evening progresses, he and Erica assault Felicity’s music teacher, wander randomly through town, and end up at Erica’s house. Meanwhile, the police investigation is uncovering various incriminating evidence, while Angela has gone to search for Michael with the help of Jake Little, Erica’s off-and-on boyfriend, who is another candidate for fatherhood of Felicity.

If that sounds like there’s a lot going on in this novel, there is. It has everything – a missing child, an erratic mother, a former husband who could be the father, family upsets and trauma, police involvement – and I loved it. David Bell has created an interesting and compelling story that easily held my attention and kept me second guessing throughout. While I expected – or suspected – part of the ending, I did not expect the identity of the person who had taken Felicity. This was an excellent read, and I will definitely be looking for more from David Bell in the future.