The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer delves into the life of a teenage girl who has dissociative identity disorder (DID) after she is accused of murdering her biological mother. It is a compelling premise but, for me, it all felt a little too ambitious and hectic, and the development of Penny's multiple 'alters' seemed to detract from the crime at the crux of the storyline. While the novel certainly bolstered my knowledge of DID, and the concept of multiple personalities was intriguing and, quite obviously, meticulously researched, I did find that it all just felt a tad too zealous and overwhelming. That being said, I very much look forward to reading more from this talented author in the future. 3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC.

I am picturing this as a movie. Beautifully written. The way Penny and all her alters were explained in such detail grabs you.

I seem to be relatively alone in my feelings towards The Perfect Daughter out of reviews posted so far, but quite frankly I felt like this story was a convoluted mess. This is too bad, because it could have been a really interesting story that explores Disassociated Identity Disorder (DID). Instead the random changes in personality get hard to follow - like adding characters to a story that have minor relevance but not enough that you really want to see them resurface on a regular basis - the Chloe and Ruby personalities don't have a tremendous amount to contribute to the story. Even if I was to cast my feelings aside about Penny/Eve/Chloe/Ruby the rest of it is just messy and to make it even messier, is told from three points of view. Avenging mother Grace, who will neglect everyone and everything (including her business and two sons) in her often misguided pursuit to prove that Penny either didn't commit the murder she's accused of, or that one of her alter personalities did it and primary personality Penny is innocent. Dr. McHugh, Penny's psychiatrist in the state hospital she's remanded to while awaiting trial - who is dealing with his own son's drug addiction, his doubts about Penny's DID, and his desire to be a hero and reform the hospital. And last but not least, Penny's older brother Jack who's decided to seek fame by creating a film about his sister's trial and is kind-of (mostly) telling the story as a reflection. Palmer drops red herrings everywhere that are flimsy at best and that the reader can easily toss aside, but that Grace clings to like a tiny floatie in the ocean. The ending does have a twist to it, and if the whole entire story had been engaging, focused and quick-paced would have been way more exciting than it was by the time I slogged my way to the finish line. If you like things incredibly complicated and far removed from the way a real crime investigation would go, by all means read this - otherwise I would suggest Palmer's previous book, The New Husband, which to me was way better than his latest effort.

I enjoyed this one. I was sure of how it was going to end for most of the book, and suddenly Palmer added a twist. I was reading it at my parents' house and gasped at one point, causing my mom to be alarmed. I would say this is by far his best. I am going to school for Counseling and thought the representation of DID and the meds that are prescribed were very well researched. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. An incredible thriller. I love this author. Always knows how to add layers to the characters and the stories. What a brilliant way to a spotlight on mental illness. Highly recommend.

Grace was happily married and the Mother of two young sons when she found a little girl, alone and wet in the rain, in their local park. She was turned over to the police and put into foster care briefly until Grace was able to become her foster parent and eventually adoptive parent. Life went pretty smoothly for the family until Penny (the name given to the little girl by one of the boys since the child had no memories of the time leading up to being found in the park) was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Briefly, this meant that Penny had multiple personalities that came to the forefront when she needed them. Eve, tough and immovable, when a protector was needed, Claire, an artist and striver for personal perfection, Ruby, a British young woman, and Isabel, her birth name and the child who was found in the park. The novel begins with Grace being informed by the Police that Penny had been arrested for the violent murder of a woman who turned out to be Penny’s birth mother. The novel deals with her incarceration pending trial, the past, Penny’s therapy with the Psychoanalist at this Hospital and the trial itself. DID is, in itself, fascinating and Penny’s depths are equally capturing. The death of her adoptive father, the rebuilding of their family and the family business coupled with the forthcoming trial are absorbing. All in all, an excellent tale, well told. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

As usual D J Palmer hit it out of the park. I read this book in 2 days, couldn't put it down... But decided to give an accurate review I needed to read it a second time and savor the read. The book brings forward the cause and affect of mental illness in abused children. Multiple personalities explained in a way I have never read before. I found the story immersive and found the characters believable and was able to connect. I came away with a better understanding of the mental illness portrayed in this book. I found it fascinating but heartbreaking for all touched by it.

DJ Palmer's latest psychological thriller proves to be a brilliant and addictive read, the highlight of which for me was his impressive research into the mental health condition of Disassociative Identity Disorder, which might be more familiar to readers as Multiple Personality Disorder, that he illustrates with his character of Penny. Fragile teenager Penny Francone has been arrested for brutal and horrifying murder, covered in blood and with the murder weapon, in what appears to be a slam dunk of a case and placed in a locked ward at the Edgewater State Psychiatric Hospital. Penny is the adoptive daughter of Grace and Arthur, who have two sons, Jack and Ryan, a much wanted child after being found in mysterious circumstances, growing up in a loving and caring household.

Grace is doing what mothers so often do, feeling guilty, but she is the ultimate protective and determined mother, she believes her daughter is innocent, and nothing is going to stop her getting to the truth, aided by Dr Mitch McHugh, a man with issues of his own. However, this is going to bring danger, not to mention the fact that she faces a hostile public and threats to their livelihood. Are one of Penny's alters, such as Eve, Ruby or Chloe, responsible for the killing? Is Penny lying about her condition? Penny's unknown background includes a traumatic childhood with her drug addict mother as the reader is left reeling with twist after twist in this tale of deception, secrets, betrayal and lies.

This is complex, edgy, and multilayered storytelling, with stellar characterisations, particularly that of a Penny with her complicated and stressful mental health issues, and which explores with skill the legal processes and medical issues within the form of a tense and suspenseful psychological thriller. Highly recommended! Many thanks to St Martin's Press for an ARC.

I did not see that coming! Such a great twist in this suspenseful drama. Every time I read a drama like this, I’m always trying to figure out the twist. This twist never even crossed my mind and I count that as a win for the author.

This is the second D J Palmer book I have read, and I enjoyed it. This is a book about Eve who has DID, a personality disorder Eve is arrested for the murder of her birth mother. What is going on? Did she do it?
As you read the book, we are told the story from different points of views. Grace the mother, Jacob, the brother, and Mitch the doctor with a few other views, such as Eve’s personalities are thrown in.
I do like a book that is told through different viewpoints. As you read the story the truth is slowing revealed. Or is it?
The writing is particularly good, and the story moves at a fast pace – It is hard to put down because you want to find out what is going on. I recommend the book. Thank you, Net Galley, for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Great read! I enjoy this author's work, so I was anxious to read this latest offering. It did not disappoint! Started out with a shocking murder and it was off to the races. The author explained the personality disorder the murder suspect suffered from, but it's done in an interesting way, not dry or overly technical. Intrigue and a sense of foreboding carried me forward and couldn't read fast enough to get to the court scenes and the answers I was looking for. Enjoyed this book! Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Just a solid three stars from me for this new book from DJ Palmer. A character with multiple personality disorder made for interesting reading. It is obviously well-researched and offers insight into this rare and controversial mental disorder, but I found it slow moving and not capable of holding my attention. I was anxious for the end to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Just finished The Perfect Daughter. Loved it!!! Never saw the ending coming. Another home run by DJ Palmer.

An interesting read that starts with Grace returning home to discover her 16 year old daughter missing. The police officers show up at her home to tell Grace her daughter has been arrested for a homicide. Grace can't believe her daughter is capable of such a horrendous crime and sets out to prove Penny is innocent.

The writing pulled me into the story almost immediately. The characters are well developed and believable. It was easy for me believe in the daughter's diagnosis as multiple personality disorder. I worked for many years in psychiatric hospitals. The disorder is real The mystery did not sensationalize the disorder but carefully brought out the alters in Penny's personality and described their function. I was blown away by the ending I never saw coming. The story deserves a strong four star rating.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from St Martin's Press through NetGalley.The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
#ThePerfectDaughter #NetGalley

This book was pretty good, but just a solid three stars from me. It is obviously well-researched, and goes into great detail about both psychological and legal matters. I know there are many readers who enjoy that, but I found myself getting impatient, and just wanted to get to the ending for everything to be sorted out. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC for review.

Wow! As a member of Mr. Palmer’s Facebook group, I was able to download an early copy from Net Galley. Publishing in April 2021. Third time's definitely the charm for this author and he's only gotten better. This one had me guessing until the end and I was floored by the outcome - didn't see it coming. I loved the characterization of Dr. Mitch and how he grew with his son. Highly recommend. Thank you to #St.Martin’sPress and #NetGalley #ThePerfectDaughter #PublishDateApril04/2021.

As usual D.J. Palmer always delivers. You can most certainly tell how much research he puts into his writing. Every disease, procedure and process is so accurately described that I have to remind myself that this isn't a true story eventhough it could be. My only problem with this book this time around is that I figured out who was responsible for the mess at the very beginning. I was hoping that I was incorrect and that it would take a detour at the end but it didn't. Nonetheless this was a great thriller read and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

The New Husband was one of my top thrillers last year, so I had very high hopes for this one. It was just okay to me. I thought the story itself was compelling, but a lot of the details just weren’t believable. Too many red herrings. It just read more as an amateur thriller. I really only connected with one character (Jack) and thought the parallel with Mitch and his son wasn’t necessary. Too ambitious.

I was tapped to be one of the first to read this thriller because I’m on this author’s top reviewers list on NetGalley. So thank you to his publicist at St. Martin’s and to Netgalley. I'm thrilled beyond belief.

I loved this book. Thank you DJ for a couple of sleepless nights where I laid in bed and tried to figure out who did it? I didn’t come close, but that’s what I always hope for in a thriller of this magnitude.

Palmer gets right into the story in the first few lines in chapter one. Grace learns her teen daughter, Penny, has been arrested for murder and was found with blood all over her.

In the psychiatric hospital, it’s revealed that Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also called Multiple Personality Disorder. Her mother already knows. When Penny, Cloe, etc., has sessions with her doctor, he never knows which one of her personalities will show up, at least until he gets to know her better.

Palmer writes the type of thrillers I most like to read. Get into the thick of it at the very beginning, no prolonged description or backstory, cast suspicion on most of the characters in the book, rip away the mask of the perpetrator at the end and make you think the story could actually happen.

I don’t know how he’s going to top this title with his next and I can’t wait to see him try. Highly recommend and it looks like I'm not the only one who gave it five stars. #stmartinspress #djpalmerauthor

WOAH! This is just one amazing novel!
Be prepared as you open up the first page, that it will have you sitting on the edge of your chair for the entire book!
It is a psychological mystery/thriller with so many personalities (people) coming forth from the main character named Penny that you will wonder exactly what could be happening!
Is this real? Trust me- it could be!
Her mom and brothers cannot fathom what has caused Penny to be as she is, but they will get to the bottom of it, hopefully before more tragedy occurs. Her brother Ryan is even filming his sisters world.
This is definitely not for the squeamish, but it is so well written, thought out and and an adventure you will surely enjoy!
Ten stars!!