The Review
Kat has two daughters; Jemima her biological 12 year old, and her adopted daughter Imogen, who is at that awkward/hormonal/angry with the world stage of 16. Kat and her husband have hidden the fact that Imogen is adopted because of her horrendous family history – her parents are serial killers.

Concerned that nature will take over, and Imogen will follow in her biological mother’s footsteps, Kat has always been watchful of her eldest child. When she goes missing, fears abound that perhaps biology really will win out.

This is a hard book to review, for fear of giving too much away. So, what I will say is that this is a great, pacey read with short chapters, which made it really hard to put down. The chapters vary from being told from Sally’s perspective (Imogen’s biological Mum who is languishing in prison), Imogen and Kat herself. This is a great way of ensuring the reader’s interest.

However, I do feel this perhaps hides a few sins with the storyline itself. It is so far-fetched, and some of the concerns of the main characters just don’t make enough sense to me to really feel what’s going on. Equally, the concerns were repeated so often that it just got a bit tedious. I got it – I didn’t need it over-explaining – I just didn’t feel it.

For me, the ending was a little too obvious, although I confess, it went further than I thought it would originally. That said, I’m not sure it’s a good thing because again, I just don’t believe that’s how it would have played out.

The Stars
I’m going to give this a four because I really did feel caught up in the story, and found it easy to read. It was enjoyable, and I love the whole idea behind it. I’ll definitely read other books by this author.

Crazy read with a crazy outcome. Great book! Gripping and really draws you in. Slow start for.me but overall amazing! I'll be recommending this one!

Kat's two daughters are well adjusted and smart - at least on the outside. But she's always worried about Imogen, the daughter she adopted. Because Imogen's parents were serial killers...and Kat's afraid that no amount of nurturing can change her essential nature...

This was an enjoyable read which kept my interest, and I liked the serial-killer-parents slant. At times it stretched credulity a bit too far for my liking but on the whole it was an entertaining read with an original premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who provided me with a free advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent read that hooked me right in from the first page. It was a page turner for sure and I can’t wait to read more from this author

This is such an interesting topic. Are serial killers born bad? Is it in their DNA? Is Nurture or nature true. I thought this book was going to be predictable but there were a few twists and turns to keep me interested. I did find it a bit slow in places though. The whole book is kind of an odd pace which meant I struggled to get into it but once I found my rhythm I enjoyed the story. I really liked Imogen and I wanted to know what would happen to her. This book really does show what a lack of communication can do.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Like Mother Like Daughter by Elle Croft is just what you need if you are craving suspense that will keep your heart pounding from start to finish. I love books like this one, that doesn't feature the same domestic thriller formula of husband vs. wife. Or a wife vs. best friend.

Take a thriller and turn it on its head, please! Like this book.

Take a peek:

If what they said was true, then the grotesque and the monstrous ran in her blood. It was imprinted within her very core, her DNA, a part of every cell in her body.

Kat's children are both smart and well-adjusted. On the outside.

Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally, but she struggles with one of her daughters more than the other.

Because Imogen's birth mother is a serial killer. And Imogen doesn't know.

They say you can't choose your family, but what if your family chooses you?

The best way to go into this book is to not know anything, just jump in and be confident you are in a for a wild ride! Highly recommended.

Read this right now, get it here.

Very enjoyable book. Had a unique storyline which kept me hooked from start to finish. I look forward to reading more by this author.

‘Like Mother Like Daughter’ is the latest book by Elle Croft.

If what they said was true, then the grotesque and the monstrous ran in her blood. It was imprinted within her very core, her DNA, a part of every cell in her body. Kat’s children are both smart and well-adjusted. On the outside. Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally, but she struggles with one of her daughters more than the other. Because Imogen’s birth mother is a serial killer. And Imogen doesn’t know.

I’ve read a books by Elle Croft before and they are always a gripping and thrilling story. So, if you enjoy suspenseful stories about dysfunctional relationships, then ‘Like Mother, Like Daughter’.

The story is about mother and adopted daughter, Kat and Imogen, they have a turbulent relationship. Imogen is known for a quick temper and when she’s sent home from schools for getting in a fight, Kat begins to wonder about her daughter and when Imogen disappears one day, Kat finds herself fearing the worst and having to face up to her past.

The story is seen through multiple narratives, from Kat and Imogen to a character called Sally who has quite a sinister past. Kat believes that Imogen is off in search of her real family hoping to get some answers but in doing so, will discover something that Kat has tried to keep hidden. She and her husband Dylan have a strong marriage and not being able to have children made them stronger and closer, even though they were fortunate to have a child after Imogen was adopted. Imogen never felt part of the family and always thought her younger sister Jemima was the favoured one so it made sense when she discovered that she was adopted. Now, she’s off on a journey of self discovery hoping to finally find her place in life and belong. The chapters from Sally are quite unsettling to read and feature child abuse and torture, she’s a delusional woman who thinks she was the perfect mother.

The story is well plotted with plenty of twists in the tale to keep the readers’ attention, the different perspectives give the story an interesting slant as one mother battles to keep her daughter safe. Like Elle’s previous books, this psychological story was a gripping tale that was cleverly weaved with clues and shocks throughout, coming together with a shocking conclusion that left the reader in shocked.

A dark and thrilling story about a mother’s love, ‘Like Mother Like Daughter’ begs the question, is blood thicker than water, Elle Croft certainly explores this theory in this tense drama.

You can buy ‘Like Mother Like Daughter’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

This psychological thriller will keep you up at night. Kept me guessing throughout the book. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 solid stars. Thank you Orion Publishing, Netgalley, and Elle Croft for this book in exchange for an honest review.

A domestic drama based psychological thriller, Like Mother, Like Daughter was a chilling and perplexing novel that had me completely engrossed from the outset. My first read from the pen of this fabulous author (although I have had The Guilty Wife on my Kindle for a while), I was hoping for great things here, and that's exactly what Elle Croft delivered.

This riveting story delves into issues surrounding family relationships, estrangement and misunderstanding in some depth. Some absorbing and morally perplexing dilemmas are in the balance in Like Mother, Like Daughter. Told in triple alternating narratives, this one had me in a moral quandary, as predicaments surrounding parentage, DNA, inheritance of family traits, infertility and adoption arose. Added to the melting pot are a full set of strained family relationships between mothers, daughters, sisters, siblings, spouses, and absent parents. I certainly found myself dwelling on many of the social themes and the rights and wrongs that the book raised.

Elle Croft has also included a bone-chilling look into the mind of a serial killer to this intense psychological and moral examination of the Braidwood family unit. This killer facet of the story was sometimes quite tense, but it was a crucial ingredient in the overall story, enabling this to be such a riveting, layered and complex drama. With plenty of twisty moments and written really beautifully, I can categorically say that you'll be missing out if you don't pick up a copy of Like Mother, Like Daughter.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Like Mother, Like Daughter was a psychological thriller that had its good moments but I found all the characters totally unlikeable which for me in this book I think I needed to be rooting for at least one.
Sally, Kat and Imogen take separate chapters which worked well for me as you got to know them and their thoughts better.
Sally is one mad woman, locked up for committing some horrendous crimes and has definately got a screw loose. Kat is mother to Imogen and feels she needs to watch her all the time due to her background, as Imogen is adopted and Kat feels the need to check history isn’t going to repeat itself and Imogen teenage daughter of Kat, trying to do the right thing but is letting teenage hormones take over her attitude.
This was an ok thriller, I guessed what was happening very near the start and although that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book the unlikeable characters did. I know I am going to be a minor in leaving an ok review.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down!! I absolutely loved it - I was riveted !! A page turner ! A must read! I love a good thriller and so few come along that gripped me as well as this one did. The character development was amazing and I loved how the story was told from several different perspectives . The theme of nature versus nurture that the story followed was intriguing to say the least. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good thriller.

If you enjoy twisty storylines you will love this book !!

Kat and Dylan have two daughters, Imogen and Jemima, but despite her best efforts Kat sees them both differently. Jemima can do no wrong and is the perfect child but Imogen is different and Kat finds it hard to trust her. What is the reason behind Kat’s reactions to her daughters ? Could it be that Imogen’s biological mother is a serial killer ?!

The story is told by mainly Kat, Imogen and Sally. We get to hear how events have shaped their lives and how they deal with the situations they find themselves in. This is a great twisty book that will get you hooked right from the start !! Just when you think you have it all worked out, think again !!

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

What a page turner! Like Mother, Like Daughter is completely unputdownable! I love how it’s told in first person perspective by both Kat and Sally. It really made me feel like I was in their heads. I really love Elle Croft’s writing style. There were twists and surprises throughout the book. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book and devoured it in less than a day! I highly recommend this one and I give it 5 stars for sure!!!

Huge thank you to Orion Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the incredible privilege of reading this book in advance!

What’s in our blood? What makes us who we are? The eternal nature VERSUS nurture concept. I am fascinated by the subject. The not-knowing is chilling, and when efficiently used, makes for absolute belter reads. Well, Elle Croft did her homework, worked hard, and delivers one of the strongest punches I’ve ever felt!

Kat and Dylan Braidwood have two daughters; a teenager, and a pre-teen. My idea of hell, but many people’s idea of the perfect family. Except the reality is far from it. Kat and Imogen have their issues, mother and daughter don’t seem to be able to reach each other. Jumping from one point of view to the other through each chapter, the author gives us perfect windows to experience first-hand what each woman is going through. Jittery, on edge Kat might appear over-protective and surrounded by walls of fear, but I couldn’t help empathize with her real quick. Tiny details here and there hinted that her behavior stemmed from the right place… As for Imogen, we have all been teenagers. I couldn’t figure her out at first, but instead of getting on my nerves like most humans her age, she intrigued me. I was enthralled by the dance Kat and Imogen were performing. There is a lot to say about mother and daughter relationships, and here, Elle Croft efficiently creates a double conversation. Their inability to connect, if seemingly normal at the beginning, shows signs of a deeper problem. Mother and daughter are shouting at each other in silence, each unable to understand what the other needs, as if they were speaking a different language. I knew I was in capable hands when all of this dawned on me and I was left heart-broken for both side!

And then… It only takes one night to send a family to hell. Or had they always been standing at its threshold?

When Imogen disappears, everything turns dark. Despite not being her daughter’s best friend, Kat knows something is wrong. The police might believe Imogen ran away, but they don’t know half of the story. And WHAT A STORY.

Apart from Kat and Imogen, a third voice, cold and devoid of feelings, can be heard. Sally Sanders. I had no idea what her link to the story would be but her interventions unnerved me. From the jail she is rotting in, Sally tell the tale of her life, while Kat’s is unravelling behind her eyes. If Sally’s narration goes straight from the past to the present, we get to know Kat and Dylan through the hardships their couple went through before they became parents. The pieces are cut sharply, and the reader might cut themselves putting them together. I know my heart grew heavy as the chapters kept on rolling!! Horror and pain blended together as I was left open-mouthed and catching my breath!

Like Mother Like Daughter is an intensely emotive and disturbing read. It explores the heart of families; love, memories, adoption, the need to belong. Elle Croft left me reeling and bruised, wondering if poison ran in someone’s blood and could be passed on the next generation, or if a body could, by a weird mix of chemicals or chromosomes, create its own venom. Are blood ties stronger than anything? I don’t believe it and Elle Croft… Oh, that twisted mind!!! Elle poured her heart and her darkness in equal measures in Like Mother Like Daughter. You can feel it in the density of the chapters, in the pure love oozing from the pages. Kat loves both her daughters; her biological one, and her adopted one. One might assume that Kat and Imogen’s struggles come down to that distinction, but it would be simplifying something so much stronger, and so much more terrible. If there is a gap between them, a dark mouth widening as it feeds from painful, frightening external factors, we are far from any regular fractured relationship.

I know, what you are reading might not make much sense, but every word is what I felt at some point during my reading! The problem is I can’t share the details! What I can tell you is that you might know what you’re getting into, but you don’t. And the feeling is exquisite.

Elle Croft polished and cared for her idea with such expertise that her story gave me the chills. The genius twists kept me on edge and won’t be forgotten anytime soon!

Like Mother Like Daughter had me reeled in and begging for more, scarifying sleeping hours to share two families’ darkest hours. Elle Croft’s skillful pen and mind have wrought a devilish plot that is scariest than the worst serial killer. The monster hidden in the pages of the novel is the silence.

Whipped through this book. A great book with a killer twist at the end.
Kat and Dylan are desperate for a family. Unable to conceive they go down the route of adoption and are lucky enough to adopt. Imogen. A child who was brought into the world on Satan’s Ranch to killer parents.
After Imogen goes missing the couple are forced to tell people about Imogen’s start in life. Is it connected.
The story is told by the three women. Imogen the daughter. Kat the adoptive mother and Sally the birth mother.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Utterly gripping, intense and edge of your seat stuff!

We meet Kat and Dylan Braidwood and their two daughters Imogen and Jemima. We also meet Sally Sanders - all of whom are inexplicably linked.

We read the story through the eyes of Kat, Imogen and Sally and my gosh it’s a rollercoaster of a ride. Imogen is adopted, she doesn’t know the story of her birth mother - Sally, who is a serial killer with an evil twist! Imogen knows she has always been treated differently to her younger sister and she is about to find out why.

Throughout the book we get to learn more about the Braidwoods and the Sanders. The chapters told from Sally's perspective are just brilliant, a little sadistic but profoundly fascinating and I could have read a whole book on that side of the story alone.

When Imogen goes missing, the plot twists and turns quicker than a rollercoaster ride and she finds herself and her adoptive family, including Jemima in danger. I wasn’t prepared for the ending, but it is one of the best I have read in a long long time and I hope some day we get to go back and see what happens to Imogen, Jemima and Sally!

A books that I couldn't put it down. It's fast paced and gripping and after struggling to read in lockdown I finished this in 2 days. Great thriller and I enjoyed Elle's style of writing

This has such an intriguing premise but unfortunately I felt the execution fell flat in several places.

The pacing wasn't quite right and I felt it difficult to follow the characters now and then. I'd go from being so interested and burning through the pages, to barely wanting to pick it back up.

It had a few good twists in (some a bit predictable, but enjoyable all the same), an interesting premise, and a reasonable ending. And I think endings are one of the hardest things to execute well in thrillers.

Overall a mostly interesting, page-turning thriller.

Kat has always tried to treat Imogen and Jemima equally. Butnshenstruggles withnone of her daughters more than the other. Because Imogens birth mother is a serial killer.

Thisnis quite an addictive read. It's told from Kat, Imogen and Sally's points of view. Kat has always worried that Imogen would turn out just like her parents. Kat and Dylan had adopted Imogen when she was just eighteen months. Her birth parents are serial killers. Imogen does not know that she was adopted. A story that examines nurture over nature. I don't want to say too much about the storyline. There's a few good twists. This is an easy book to read. The pacemis steady in this page turning read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Elle Croft for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.