This one was just ok. The premise was interesting and the twist at the end was solid, but in between it DRAGGED for me and I had to make myself keep going. I wanted to root for the characters but they all felt two dimensional and parts of the plot seemed forced. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I will not be forgetting this book! This story was unlike anything I have ever read before! We meet a young adult named Penny who is being accused of murdering her birth mother. However, Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder meaning she has multiple personalities. I love psychology and this book taught me a lot about DID. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. It even had a plot twist at the end I didn't see coming. We follow the perspectives of Grace, Penny's adopted mother, Jack, Penny's adopted brother and the doctor who is trying to prove that Penny has DID. I loved everything about this book. 5 stars! I can honestly see this being my favorite book of 2021. Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Extra points go to this book for giving me something different to read about. I read so many books that sometimes I have trouble remembering one from another, unless I get that something "extra" and this book had it!

Take the usual murder mystery/legal drama and add in a girl with DID - multiple personalities. Suddenly, the story is elevated. We get to meet these personalities along the way. We also get the point of view of the mother, and the brother. What happened that night? Which personality murdered someone? Was it one of the personalities? How does Penny cope with this? How is the family going to handle this? I was tuned in through the whole ride..

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the advance read, which did not impact my review.

What a great book! I didn’t want to put it down!

On her way home from work with her youngest son, Grace comes across an abandoned little girl who is eventually adopted into their family. As a child Penny is bright, loving and fits right in with very few adjustment difficulties. Problems begin to surface as she enters her teen years and she is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

All seems well until one evening police show up at the door telling Grace they have arrested her daughter for the murder of her birth mother. She was found covered in blood, holding the murder weapon by the body, claiming to have no recollection of what happened.

As her defense is being put together, it is imperative to try to get the memories that are not Penny’s to surface. There are many twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the end.

Although fiction, the author has done a good job in representing what Dissociative Identity Disorder is and what a person dealing with this disorder experiences. I highly recommend this book. #netgalley #theperfectdaughter #amazon #goodreads

I find dissociative identity disorder fascinating to read about. The ability of the mind to protect itself by splintering into personality fragments is a mind-boggling feat, and while stories that address this happening are always painful to read because only horrific trauma produces this result, they also offer compelling glimpses into how our minds work. I must confess, I did not see the big reveal coming. It struck me at first as a little unlikely, but it grew on me over time. It made for a very dramatic finish, but in hindsight that seemed to fit with the overall tone of the rest of the book in a way that I ultimately think worked.

The interplay between the characters and the family dynamics were interesting to watch unravel. At times they felt a little overblown and overly dramatic, but that's par for the course in tale with this much trauma. I found the writing engaging and easy to follow, and watching the many faces of Eve (pun intended) roll across the pages made for a very entertaining and engaging read...

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting an advance read of this fascinating thriller. Like many many other readers and moviegoers, t can't resist the premise of someone leading a tortuous life of multiple personalities. It's a gripping, nightmarish idea and I've been hooked since the classic Joanne Woodward film, "The Three Faces Of Eve" and then on to Sally Field in "Sybil" and James Mcavoy in "Split".
"The Perfect Daughter" might easily be called, 'The Four Faces Of Penny' in its compelling story of an adopted teen girl afflicted with different personalities. She's about to stand trial for murder.......the horrific, knife-butchering murder of her birth mother.
Penny's distraught adopted mother Grace, who found Penny abandoned as a toddler, desperately pursues two different strategies to exonerate Penny, now incarcerated in a state mental hospital. With the help of the hospital's sympathetic doctor, she attempts to find out which, if any of Penny's separate alter personalities might have committed the murder......and thereby provide grounds for an insanity plea. Concurrently, Grace launches a reckless amateur investigation to hunt for some other potential suspect for the murder, including the victim's dangerous, violent ex boyfriend..
Now that's quite a setup for a thriller and this book does not disappoint.........with false leads, tantalizing clues and some startling vivid sequences, including sudden, terrifying attacks from one of the hospital's other inmates, a madwoman given to murderous rages. And while all this is going on, there's the added traumas of Grace dealing with an estranged son and the doctor's coping with his own son, a recovering drug addict.
Your heart will break for Penny and her three 'alters and I couldn't race through the pages fast enough to get to the revelations and her ultimate fate And again, in that regard, this book really delivers the goods, with a satisfying and stunning turn of events.......(I kept thinking this would make one hell of a movie with a guaranteed Academy Award nomination for whichever lucky actress plays Penny)
"The Perfect Daughter" will probably become one of this summer's most popular beach reads......because it's one of those, "I 'think I'll read just one more chapter 'before I stop' kind of books.
And naturally, you don't end up stopping till you finish.

Thank you NetGalley, D.J. Palmer and St. Martins Press for the ARC of “The Perfect Daughter” I loved “The New Husband” so I was thrilled to receive a copy of the author’s latest book!

Pub Day: April 20, 2021

Right from the start I was hooked. I was so interested in the main Character, Penny who is thought to have Dissociative Identify Disorder (DID). Penny was found abandoned in the park at the age of four by Grace, who eventually adopts her and brings her into the family.

Slowly, throughout the years we are introduced to Penny’s different alters; Chloe the perfectionist, Ruby the spunky Britain, and Eve the badass and protector. Many doctors have had difficulty confirming if Penny had DID with lack of evidence, and suggest it could just be anxiety and depression from her unknown past.

One night, Penny is found standing over a body, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon. She has no memory of doing it and is now spending time at Elmhurst Hospital trying to be treated until her trial. Throughout the story both her mother Grace and Dr. Mitch are trying to prove her innocence and find out what happened the night of the murder and in Penny’s past. Does Penny have DID or is she just a psychopath?

Each chapter is told from a different POV alternating between Grace, Dr. Mitch and Penny’s brother Jack. Every chapter left me on the edge of my seat and I had a hard time putting this book down! I never knew what to believe and was shocked at the ending!

I was so impressed with the research that went into creating a book about this topic. I highly recommend this psychological thriller!

2 STARS

I didn’t really like “The Last Husband,” but I decided to give “The Perfect Daughter” a try. I wasn’t a fan.

The plot was slow and boring to me. The characters were that interesting. And I just didn’t care how the book ended...sorry guys.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the my digital ARC. This book will be released on April 19, 2021.

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer is an interesting ride. Penny is a girl accused of murdering her birth mother. Penny says she wasn’t alone but Penny is never alone. She has multiple personalities and no one knows which one it was that night. Could Penny be right and another person was there? Her adoptive mother, Grace is determined to figure this out, even at the cost of all aspects of her life.
Multiple personality disorder is so interesting to read about and this book really showcased that. However, where the story veered off course for me was the brother’s perspective. I felt the side trips into his thoughts, while being good background info, were very jarring and did not flow with the rest. The best part was the suspense and how you were never quite sure of anything. I would definitely read another book by D.J. Palmer.

The Perfect Daughter is a fascinating mystery/thriller that dives into the world of mental illness, specifically dissociative identity disorder. Penny is the adoptive daughter of Grace, and has been accused of killing her birth mother Rachel. Penny has exhibited multiple personalities for several years - Evil Eve, Sweet Little Chloe, and British Ruby. Grace, her sons Jack and Ryan, Attorney Navarro, and Dr. Mitch all wonder if Penny is acting or if there is something in her past that her personalities may be protecting her from. Since I have read multiple novels with unreliable narrators, you have to wonder if what you're reading is the truth.

Although this is a slow burn, and things in the book happen rather slowly, it is still a very addicting read. I didn't expect the ending!

The one thing that distracted from the story, was the side plot with Dr. Mitch and his son Adam. I thought this was just added in to give some additional insight into addiction and depression, and how it is often difficult for us to put ourselves in someone else's shoes. (This is what dropped my rating from 5 stars to 4.)

I struggled to complete this book, which felt more like a Psychology University lesson on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) than a thriller.

There are so many things that just didn't work for me,
- Unlikable characters whom I didn't care about at all and who were just not interesting.
- In depth analysis of things, which didn't need 10 paras dedicated to them.
- Side plots that were unnecessary.
- Too much repetition.

I kept Reading in hopes of it getting better, but alas. Even the final plot twist didn't manage to surprise me.

I love a great thriller and this was just that! I am so exhausted right now because I couldn't put this book down last night. I was up till 2 am reading. I was hooked from the beginning and it kept me entertained with all of the twists. I highly recommend to anyone who loves thrillers.

I likened the authors last book to a Lifetime movie and I still kinda feel the same way about this one, although this one was a little meatier and I did like it a bit more. Sometimes I’m in the mood for a dramatic made for TV movie though and that’s exactly the kind of mood I was in when I started this one.

I thought the mental illness portrayed here was done in a really interesting and mindful way. The whole first half I was super into this aspect and loved learning about the psychological side of this. Care and research must have been used because I found it to be very detailed, so if you’re at all interested in DID then this may be for you. The pacing was pretty solid as well, I was definitely invested enough that I read it quickly and wanted to know how it would all come together. Did it end how I wanted it to? Mostly, it was a tiny bit ridiculous but there were so many strong aspects that I’ll let it slide. An enjoyable read for me and one I predict will be a fan favorite because I think it’s definitely a step up from the authors last book.

Wow!!! Super impressive, this superbly written thriller was compelling reading, edgy and gripping.

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer is a psychological thriller that explores the truth behind a horrific murder.

Thirteen years ago Grace Francone promised her son Jack a quick stop at the playground as it was beginning to rain. To her shock she came across a wailing child who was standing alone, rain-soaked and shivering. The child was around four, there were no parents in sight and after scanning the area it appeared deserted. Who would desert a child? Grace called the police, an ambulance soon arrived and Grace accompanied them to the hospital. Fast forward a few months later and the child was to be adopted by Grace and her family, a miracle daughter they called Penny!

As Penny grew older, some of her actions became disturbing as she developed different personalities known as dissociative identity disorder (DID).

Penny now a sixteen-year-old has been arrested for murder, she’s bathed in blood and holding the bloodstained murder weapon. Penny looks guilty beyond doubt but can’t remember a thing. Is she playing them along or is she innocent?

Grace believes her teenage daughter is innocent and is determined to prove it. Dr Mitchell McHugh a doctor at the state mental hospital where she is being held awaiting trial, helps Grace as they set out to find the truth.

The characters were lifelike and relatable. I found this story fascinating, it was an intriguing insight into a complex medical condition.

This book won’t disappoint, highly recommended read for thriller fans!

DJ Palmer does not disappoint! I have enjoyed all of his books so far, but this one is my favorite!

The Perfect Daughter is about Penny, an adopted teen that is suspected to have dissociative identity disorder and is suspected to have murdered her birth mother. Penny’s adoptive mother works with both Penny’s psychologist and lawyer to build a case for their plea of not guilty, due to her mental illness. Things are complicated even more as Penny has no memory of what happened that night- it’s suspected that another one of her alters took over, which explains why Penny cannot access the memory. Does Penny really have dissociative identity disorder? Or is Penny a brilliant psychopath?

As I said, this is my favorite of DJ Palmer’s books thus far. I couldn’t put it down! I was fascinated by Penny’s various alters and the triggers that caused her to switch between them. The pacing of this kept me on the edge of my seat, and little clues were given throughout that kept me trying to put together the pieces, but I was still surprised by the final verdict! A must read for thriller fans!! The Perfect Daughter will be published on April 20 - preorder now!!

My mind is still reeling after reading this one! I knew as soon as I read the blurb that this was going to be a good one, but I had no idea just how good. So many questions with very few answers throughout the entire book, kept me needing to turn the page. The twists and turns made sure that there was never a dull moment. And I definitely didn't see that ending coming....had my jaw on the floor.

This book is dark. I'm just throwing out this warning. It took me awhile to get through, mostly because of how many different aspects there are to this novel. 

But the fact that I can't say that this book was unputdownable does NOT mean that it wasn't good. In fact, that book was really fantastic.

All the evidence points to Penny having murdered her birth mother, Rachel. She was found in Rachel's apartment with a knife in her hand and Rachel blood all over her. It should be an open and shut case, right?

Except Penny has DID, a disorder that causes her personality to be splintered. Could it have been one of Penny's alters that murdered Rachel? Or was there someone else in the apartment with Penny?

Or is Penny just really good at faking her disorder?

Penny's mother Grace is out to prove that Penny didn't do it. And she believes that none of her alters did either.

So who killed Rachel? Grace will stop at nothing to find out.

Thank you D.J. Palmer for another wonderful read.
Full of twists and turns, page turner at its best.
Story of a daughter mental illness and a mother who will go to no end to protect her daughter.
Love the characters.
Jaw dropping ending which I did not see coming.
Highly recommend
Thank you netgalley, the publisher and D.J. Palmer
4 stars

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer is a dramatic thriller with a complex storyline that keeps you guessing from page one. The book opens with a dramatic scene of a woman, Grace, opening the door to police officers and being notified her 16 year old daughter, Penny, was arrested for murder. She is told to bring a change of clothes as her daughter is covered in blood. This scene is interspersed with the knowledge that Penny murdered her birth mother and soon scandals are revealed that have you questioning if the faith Grace has in the innocence of her daughter is rational. You quickly are brought into the various identities that Penny has and found out more about Dissociative Identity Disorder.

The book is told from four points of view, Grace (the mother), Jack (the brother), Penny (the daughter) and Dr. Mitch (the doctor at the institution). You are given glimpses of flashbacks of their childhood and history via memories they share. You will also learn more about Penny’s alters (Eve, Chloe, and Ruby) and how how different identities help her cope with the trauma. All of the characters at times are painted as a sympathetic and you will wonder what is real and what has been manipulated.

The characters have flaws but are all seem to have redeeming characteristics.. You can not help but try to figure out who is the victim and who is at fault. Trust me though, you will be shocked when it is not at all what it seems. The excellent plotting and twists are masterful. The superb handling of mental illness and respect for those with differing abilities is handled with grace by Palmer. This is a book you will want to finish in a single day, so carve out some time. For those readers who loved Saving Meghan and The New Husband, you will be equally thrilled with this gripping and fully engrossing psychological thriller.

I was provided a complimentary advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

• R E V I E W •
.
.
The Perfect Daughter by @djpalmerauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
.
.
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC copy! Once I read the synopsis I wanted to read this.
.
.
From the start this was an intense psychological thriller. I was so intrigued by the daughter Penny who has DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder. It is difficult confirm due to lack of evidence to support the disease. Many know it as multiple personality disorder. Throughout the story we are introduced to her alters; Ruby, Chloe and Eve. It seems like Penny really has DID or just a psychopath.
.
.
Penny is charged with murder and cannot remember doing it. She has no memory and now is in Elmhurst Hospital being treated. Throughout the story both her mother Grace and Dr. Mitch are trying to prove her innocence. The story is told in mutuel POV from her mother Grace, Dr. Mitch and brother Jack.
.
.
I am fascinated by this topic and could tell the story was researched and showing how this condition truly is. There were many things that happened which made me question if Penny does have DID and was she the murderer. This is one of those books where I couldn’t stop reading.
.
.
I highly recommend this for a psychological thriller and insight to neurological disorders.
.
.
#books #bookpost #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookbooksbooks #bookblogger #book #bookstagrammer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #bookreview #bookreviews #review #arc #netgally #perfectdaughter #igbook #igbookstagram #read #reading #readingcommunity #readmorebooks #reviewer