This was my first book by Sarah Denzil. I will definitely look for more. The story's prologue introduces Grace at the end of her life. We know there is more than meets the eye, but the author does a great job of keeping us guessing until the end. Kat is a very unique character. I appreciated her strength. She isn't the most likeable character, but she seemed very real to me. Her journey to learn what happened to her daughter let her learn more about her. In some ways, it was more than most parents know about their children. The book was full of twists as Kat learned more. From the beginning, I wanted to know more. I enjoyed the story and would highly recommend. I received an advance copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

Loved it loved it loved it!
What a refreshing change from the usual “thriller with a twist you won’t see coming” it actually did have a twist, I didn’t see coming - but also was well written, heartbreaking at times and had some really shocking moments.
When Kats daughter Grace is found dead in a quarry, police are quick to assume suicide. There is a note, so it must be suicide - right?? Kat doesn’t think so and starts tirelessly trying to uncover what happened, even if it means discovering Grace was not the girl she thought she was! Absolute cracking read - I am sad I have finished it!

This was a very dark read, powerful, and compelling. When the Cavanaugh’s daughter is found dead and the police call it a suicide, Kat, the mother, is determined to prove them wrong. This one is twisty and some scenes take your breath away. I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.

‘Your daughter is dead.’ When Kat Cavanaugh hears the words every mother dreads, her perfect world shatters. It can’t be real. And then the police add the word ‘suicide’. But Kat refuses to believe them.

Even when they show her the familiar looping handwriting and smudged ink on the note her little girl left behind. She knows her bubbly, vivacious daughter would never take her own life. Kat’s determined to find out what really happened to Grace on the night she died, whatever it takes…

The second I read the description of this book, I knew this would be one that I really wanted to read. It's a fast paced read and the whole time I kept thinking how much of a nightmare this would be for any mother! I read the author's other book, Silent Child, and loved that one so I knew I'd love this one too.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #OnlyDaughter
Pub Date: 13 Mar 2019

Kat has been repeatedly told that she is a sociopath and incapable of love. She, however, knows beyond a doubt that she loves her only daughter with a passion, regardless of whether that love is natural or has been learned. When she told that her daughter, Grace, is dead Kat refuses to believe the news. When she is told that Grace committed suicide, Kat vows to find her killer!

WOW! Only Daughter is one heck of a roller coaster ride. From beginning to end, I had absolutely no clue who to suspect or how this book would end and that made for one very thrilling read!

Kat has a very dark history: an abusive mother, a very traumatic event that changed her teenage years and ultimately her life, an "accidental" pregnancy in order to snag a wealthy husband. You name it, and Kat has experienced it. The one constant in her life, the one person for whom she would move heaven and earth, is her daughter. Kat even sees a therapist in order to "obtain human emotions" so that she can be a better mother to Grace. So when she learns of Grace's death, she knows in her mother's heart that Grace did not commit suicide. However, the more Kat learns about Grace, the more she wishes she had learned nothing at all. Was Grace the child she knew and loved or the monster that her friends are making her appear to be.

Only Daughter is the story of every mother's nightmare and as readers we live that nightmare through Kat - every emotion, every pain and each and every discovery she makes until the very climactic conclusion. This is a gripping, suspenseful tale full of intriguing twists that will grab you and not let go even after you have finished the book! The writing is tight, the characters are very well developed, from the snotty teens to obnoxious wealthy parents, every character is well drawn. I absolutely loved it and if you like thrillers, I think you will too!

Thank you to #Netgalley, @Bookouture and #SarahADenzil for my advance copy of #Only Daughter which will be available on March 13, 2019.

This book gripped me from the first page and it didn't let go. It tells the story of Kat trying to find out what happened to her daughter when she supposedly committed suicide never believing for a second that she did. I loved the ongoing mystery of what happened of course but I also enjoyed the journey of self revelation that Kat took, not only as a mother but accepting what her life was before that.
It made me question how well we know our children at all, especially as it turned out Kat didn't know hers as much as she thought she did. It explores themes of nature vs nurture are you the way you are because you were born that way or do your parents make you act and feel the way you do. Nearly every character in this book was affected by the way their parents acted around them and treated them.
How far would you go to protect or discover things about someone you love is the main story line though and will you like what you find at the end.

I enjoyed Only Daughter, i couldn't say i loved it but it was an enjoyable read. I felt it dragged a little in the middle but picked up pace again towards the end.

Brilliantly written and characterised, this is highly recommended. I absolutely devoured it. Unsettling in places.

This story and author certainly deserve five stars. This story of a parents worst nightmare is intriguing and suspenseful, brilliantly written. I do think that the subject matter, as well as the ending, was very unsettling and morbid, almost. I'm glad I read it, but I can't recommend it for others.

A tense and well written novel.

The moment I read the blurb I knew this was something that I really wanted to read. The story itself is well executed and the characters are interesting and full of life.
I would recommend this for sure!

I found this book to be an excellent read, from a mothers view you can imagine the devastation of having to identify your child's body, there were plenty of twists, couldn't put it down, will look for more by this author.

This is an excellent novel. For a genre that is saturated this really stands out. A dealt twisty ride, I felt for Kat truly. I also loved the cover!

When Kat Cavanaugh hears the words every mother dreads, her perfect world shatters. She takes in the beautiful long blonde hair, torn yellow dress and chipped blue nail-varnish. It can’t be real.



Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great work

Only Daughter by Sarah Denzil
Genre: Thriller, Mystery & Suspense
BUG Rating: 4.5/5 - rounded up to 5

Overall:

I first expected this book was going to be a typical  procedural crime novel. I am not really sure why though to be honest. I thought it would focus on the detectives setting out to prove the beautiful, talented school girl, Grace, did not commit suicide. I couldn’t have been further from reality…The story is really about a determined mother, Kat, unable to accept her daughter would kill herself, willing to go to any lengths to find out what really happened. But, actually, this story is also way more than that. It’s about people - personalities, life experiences, things that make us who we are. Kat is branded by her therapist as a sociopath. Kat’s past is so troubled and damning, did that contribute to her personality disorder? Did her past make her a sociopath? Is she even really one? Sociopaths can’t love, yet she believes she loved her daughter, which is what is driving her to uncover the truth. This is my first read from Sarah Denzil, who has proved herself to be immensely talented and I will definitely be looking out for more reads by her. Only Daughter is truly haunting, thought provoking and a cliffhanger; a read full of surprises and suspense! You really need to read it!

full review will be up on my blog by end of the week

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my ARC of Only Daughter by Sarah Denzil. This is definitely a must read thriller! This is my first book by Sarah Denzil and won’t be my last. Kat’s world is completely turned upside down and she is left questioning whether or not she really knew her daughter. Kat knew her daughter to be happy and couldn’t believe she took her own life.

The twists and turns are what make this a thriller you don’t want to pass up on reading!

Thank you to Net Galley, Bookoture, and Sarah A. Denzil for this great read!

I want to start off by saying that this book is fantastic. As someone who reads many thrillers, it's not often that I read a book that surprises me...but this one kept me hooked until the very end!

This book is about Kat, a woman who has been diagnosed as a sociopath. Kat feels that the only person she has ever truly loved is her daughter, Grace, the one force in her life who helped her to be a better person.

When Grace is found dead, it is quickly decided by the police that she committed suicide, but Kat isn't so sure. She makes it her sole mission to find out what really happened to Grace, no matter what the cost. Did she ever really know her daughter?

This is the first book that I have read by Sarah A. Denzil. She did a fantastic job of developing the character of Kat, the narrator of this book, as well as the mystery of the story. This was a wonderful thriller and story that teaches us that no matter how highly we think of someone, everyone is flawed in their own way.

I highly recommend!!!

So, this story was addicting... Only Daughter incorporates every parent’s worst nightmare along with a ton of suspense that kept me white knuckling the book. I did not find any of the characters to be relatable or likable but it did not really subtract from it. Although the storyline is completely original, I was slightly reminded me of the Netflix show, Thirteen Reasons Why, except the story is unraveled through the Mother’s perspective rather than the teen’s. It is definitely worth the read if you want something that is hard to put down. It’s not a happy story, but it really hooks you in. Trigger warning for suicide themes and sexual assault. If you love a mystery then this should be on your To be Read list for this spring.

March 13th
Prologue:
Her only daughter died and she wants to know what happened.

Overall:
This was a character driven story with many supporting characters. Katie was not a detective she was mother, yet she was determined to find the truth about her daughter. Katie knew Grace differently than her friends from school. At home Grace was a good daughter.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve a read a story where one of the parents takes a personal interest in solving their own child’s murder, while detectives close the case with different answers.
The truth is usually ugly yet necessary when needing answers. Katie had the drive and money to solve this case. Along the way Katie was scrutinized, threatened, and blamed for trying to find the truth. She made accusations herself and fell short many times. Even when those accusations didn’t lead to Grace’s truth they led to a truth.

The Only Daughter had many variables. The execution of information kept the reader engaged with truths and lies. Every resolution seemed plausible. Katie had a good truth detector.

Story:
While most would be grieving, Katie was backpedaling with confusing doubts of denial. She replayed in her mind the way she changed because of Grace. Her life with Grace was better, she was healing and reforming herself. Without Grace she feared she would resort to her old ways, no longer needing to be good.

The entire time I’m reading I’m dissecting the meaningful words used to describe Katie and Grace. I like the way Katie analyzed the supporting characters as if she was a detective with the talent to determine a persons motives or behavior.

I wasn’t sure what to make of this story from the beginning. It seemed cut and dry, but then as Katie’s character continued to develop her backstory it shedded light on her mental state of mind. I got to hand it to her she was a remarkable character. It’s easy to get swayed by her passion to find out who Grace was.

Katie was a complex character that grew up poor. Her current life of wealth and opulence had brought about new issues of concern. She was neglected by her mother growing up. She learned to take care of herself. Being married to a wealthy man made life easier for her. She focused on her daughter by providing a lifestyle she never had, yet that still didn’t factor into keeping her safe from harm.

Katie wasn’t proud of her upbringing of violence. She thought being neglected by her mother and being poor contributed to her violent behavior. When the opportunity presented itself to marry a wealthy man she didn’t hesitate. Being married to Charles allowed her to offer her daughter a life without violence. Instead she learned that Grace wasn’t the daughter she had raised. Apparently, money was never the factor.

Playing devils advocate to both sides sways me in either direction. Both have logical explanations.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. I chose this book because I didn't know the author. Obviously I read it in English.

The book starts with a 17-year- old girl, Grace's last minutes of life. From her words we find out that she fell (was pushed?) in a quarry and with all her strength left, she tries to save her life. More over we find out that her mother might be in danger.

The tale is in first person and given to Grace's mother, Kat, who doesn't believe that her only daughter killed herself like the police says. Kas has herself a particular past.

I like the mystery behind Kat's past and that we know that there is something wrong in Grace's death.

In this book there is the millennium dilemma that all parents have. Be strict with their children or give them freedom to make mistakes? I personally don't have kids and I don't know how I will educate them nowadays, I know that my parents weren't so strict that I couldn't breathe, but they gave me an education that very few have today.

Then this book talks about psychic disorders, in fact Kat believes she is a sociopath. I don't know whether Kat is really a sociopath or not, I don't know if sociopaths are only anti-social or are violent, too (I don't think so, I think there is a difference even if small, between not having feelings for other people and being violent because you don't have a soul - those people should be psychopath, no?),  but I like what Kat thinks about herself.

I like that we find out little by little about the characters, I mean Grace's friends, Grace herself, her mother and father.

I wonder if what Kat's believes (about being a sociopath) is a misdiagnose. I don't know, I'm about half way through the book and from her behavior I don't believe she is. Maybe she's a little bit quarrelsome but I believe she has emotions.

I should have understood that was that "person" from Kat's past, I thought there was something strange in Kat's recollection of what happened in the past. But I did believe that Kat hurt that "person" and not that she didn't remember well.

I liked the book, it's a bit slower than the books that I usually read, but I like the narration give to one person and how little by little we find out about Kat's past. I know, it seems absurd, but I think the slowness  is there because Kat repeats herself quite a bit, telling things that she's already said before and because it isn't a book that you can't keep it down, it's a linear tale. Nevertheless I liked the plot, about how Kat finds out who she really is and that sometimes it's nurture against nature that influences a certain behavior

More over I liked the style. Short chapters and well structured.