My thanks to Bookouture for a digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘A Killer’s Daughter’ by Jenna Kernan in exchange for an honest review. This is the first in a new series featuring forensic psychologist,
Dr Nadine Finch.

Two bodies are found floating in the shallows off Sarasota on the Florida coast. Dr. Finch is assigned to the case in order to provide a profile, though she is reluctant to take it. The reason is that hallmarks of the crime are terrifyingly familiar to her as they resemble murders committed by her mother, currently an inmate on death row. Is this a disturbing coincidence or is a copycat carrying on her mother’s legacy?

Following her mother’s arrest and conviction, Nadine had changed her surname and does not disclose details of her family to anyone. Now her anonymity is being threatened, triggering memories of her childhood. This need to protect herself clashes with her desire to see the murderer brought to justice before more victims are taken.
Complicating matters Nadine is partnered with the distractingly attractive Detective Clint Dempko.

Both Nadine Finch and Clint Dempko proved interesting, complex characters and I enjoyed their interaction. Aside from his other admirable qualities, Clint has an adorable boxer puppy named Molly whose doggy antics provided the novel with a few lighter moments.

‘A Killer’s Daughter’ proved a gritty police procedural that delivered on the thrills and kept me guessing as to whodunnit. We do get the occasional chapter from the viewpoint of the killer that provides insight into their motivation and teases the reader as to their identity.

I found this a promising start to this new series and I will certainly be looking forward to the next case for Dr. Finch and friends.

Enjoyable crime thriller, though there are better ones out there.

Some inconsistencies with the way the main character treated her friends and the lead detective. The almost instant relationship also was a bit cringe inducing.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

2.5 (rounded up to 3)

While I was scrolling through Netgalley mindlessly late one night (as one does) this cover caught my eye. It's got a mythical siren vibe to it, so I was instantly intrigued. Slap a title like A Killer's Daughter on there and you have me hooked. I don't even remember if I read the description or not before I hit the request button. I was excited for this read.

The main idea behind A Killer's Daughter was unique - a FBI forensic psychologist is investigating a series of murders that are eerily familiar to her because they have similar call signs to the murders her own mother committed. Said FBI agent, Nadine, doesn't trust anybody as she is unsure whether her unsub is messing with her on purpose or is simply inspired by her mother's serial killer tactics. This book is full of twists and turns with one body being discovered after another, and Kernan leaves the reader questioning who's the real killer and what is their true motive until the last few pages.

Unfortunately, I found the pace of this book to be too slow for my liking. I was also annoyed with how little Nadine trusted anyone, including those investigating the case with her. This made it hard to connect with her. Also, if you didn't want anyone to find out your real identity, wouldn't you change both your first and last name? That minor detail is something I literally could not let go of the entire time I was reading...

On a different note, I think this book would make a killer tv series - see what I did there? - as there were multiple times reading where it felt like I was watching a "filler" episode. There were parts where it was dull but I was also invested, so I couldn't stop watching - or, in this case, reading - because I wanted to find out who the killer was. The last few chapters was where it really ramped up and that's when I was glad I stuck it out.

Regardless of how the last 50ish pages kept me on my toes, I wish that energy had been throughout Nadine's story. For that reason, I'm giving it 3 leaves.

This book was a struggle. The premise sounded so promising and mysterious. I have been on a crime novel kick at the moment and have read so many good ones, but this just didn't really stack up to the others. There was an instalove feel, which is always annoying and usually reserved for YA. It was also extremely repetitive in the first half. I didn't find the main character relatable but instead, frustrating. This book just wasn't for me.

This book was full of twists and turns - had me on my toes until I finished. I have read a couple of Jenna Kernan’s books before, which led me to wanting to read this one. It wasn’t my favorite, but it was not bad! This is a new series from this author, and I plan to read the rest of the series!

A KILLER'S DAUGHTER
BY JENNA KERNAN

It was with much mixed feelings that I requested this novel. I kept going back and forth in my mind about whether I wanted to read a dark thriller at this time. I knew from the synopsis that the main character was a forensic psychologist with a serial killer for a mother. I almost became a psychiatrist so my interest in psychology and mother and daughter dynamics won out in the end. I never read other review's about a book that I have just read prior to writing my own first but I did make an exception with this one. I totally disagree with the many review's that state that this novel is slow to start out. Oh my goodness after reading the prologue I said to myself that my requesting this was a huge mistake and I wondered how on earth did I pick such a dark and gruesome thriller. I could have kicked myself because I wondered how I was going to get through reading this entire book when the opening pages were so creepy and descriptively gruesome. Don't get me wrong--every once in a while I love a great thriller and I love to be scared. Where this one differed was that it includes the graphic details where most and I have read hundred's somehow don't include such creepy and vivid descriptions of the murders.

I don't like to read gratuitous violence or anything that is sadistic in nature while enjoying my thrillers. I wondered how on earth was I going to read the entire novel while visualizing such disturbing scenes in my mind within the first few pages. Dr. Nadine Finch who is the main character is a Forensic psychologist who mostly does evaluations not profiling but in this story she is unwittingly cast into profiling working in Sarasota, Florida. She has changed her last name after turning in her own mother named Arleen who is a convicted serial killer on death row in prison.

I found the lighter moments when she is assigned to work with the lead detective named Clint Dempko a much needed respite because there is an instant attraction between the two of them. As I got further into this creepy thriller I became less sensitive to the grisly descriptions which rivals with what I would classify the horror genre rather than thriller. I didn't find what I was hoping for with Nadine and her mother's relationship as her mother was truly an evil criminal who came across as grossly uneducated and not particularly interesting on a psychological level.

Usually I don't guess who the murderer is before the author decides to reveal it but it was plenty obvious to me in this case. What I did find interesting was the accuracy of this author's ability to depict the psychopathic tendencies that were attributed to the murderer. I thought that the supporting character's were interesting and overall I was impressed by how at the end of this book my mindset had changed regarding that I may be tempted to read the next installment in this series. Not only did I finish this I was surprised by how much I liked Nadine's supporting team members. I don't usually read series but I am willing to try out the next one when it is published. If there is as much graphic violence as this one then it will be my last. I would rate this a 4,5 star read and would recommend it to those that don't mind vivid descriptions or that like their thrillers to be on the hard core side.

Publication Date: February 11, 2021

Thank you to Net Galley, Jenna Kernan and Bookouture for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheKiller'sDaughter #JennaKernan #Bookouture #NetGalley

Nadine Finch used to be known by another name. She changed it so people wouldn’t associate her with her mother, who happens to be a serial killer. When people begin to turn up murdered, using her mother’s signature style, Nadine is scared that a copycat killer is around. Could the copycat be interested in hurting Nadine as well? It’s a race to find out before more people die.
A Killer’s Daughter is an interesting read. While I found the story to be fast paced, I found Nadine to be inconsistent in regards to how she treated her friend versus the detective. As the story progressed, it was intriguing to see how Nadine handled the darkness that she feared was inside her. I’m happy that this is going to be a series so we can see how Nadine flourishes in a position that she was made to do. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one in the series.

AKiller’s Daughter was a very interesting read, and it was certainly unique. In fact, I don’t think I’ve read a plot from the child of a serial killer’s perspective before. First, I want to talk a little about what just didn’t work for me personally.

The beginning of the novel started a bit quizzically. It felt very dark and I suddenly began to question just how the events were going to play out. I was confused at times to how all this was going to impact the protagonist, Dr Nadine Finch. There was a lot of repetition of past events, I’m sure it only need to be mentioned once for the reader to grasp the enormity of how these events had shaped her. I just don’t get fully on board with this type of filling up of words, which is what it felt like. Her nervous inner monologue about her colleagues finding out who she is related to really grated on my nerves too – really what would they say? Own it, move forward and those that have a problem with it can kiss your ass!

The other thing that didn’t ring true with how Nadine was already behaving was her very insta-attraction to the detective in charge of the homicide case. She is a woman that is very unsure of her place in the world, she doesn’t trust easily and struggles to even have a working/friendship relationship. So, I’m afraid her reaction towards him seemed very left field.

This is in no means a negative review just two things that didn’t sit well with me. The good stuff going on in the novel were VERY good. The novel quickly moved along at a pace that was exciting and intriguing. A Killer’s Daughter was just that, a story about a serial Killer’s Daughter. A new Serial Killer is seemingly recreating her mother’s murders. Are they sending a message for Nadine or someone else? The murders have an obvious meaning – Her mother Arleen Howler killed couples who were involved in illicit meetings, they were married and were cheating. Nadine is very worried that she has been sought out and dragged into the investigation, as she is called in to work with the Police Department as a profiler, which she seemingly has no experience in.

A Killer’s Daughter trucks on towards the end at a very suspenseful rate. Some shocks and twists hit you like a brick and I loved how things came together at the end.

This was an excellent debut novel by an author who I think will go very far. The plot line, a daughter of a female serial killer becomes a forensic psychologist, is very interesting and reminds me of the television program The Prodigal Son, where the son of a serial killer is a profiler. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really look forward to the next book in the series.

This is a brand new series from this author.

This book is full of suspense and thrills.

This was full of twists and turns that it had me on the edge of my seat until it finished.

I am definately going to read more from this author.

A Killer's Daughter is the first book in the Nadine Finch series. This series gets off to an explosive start, and kept the tension right through to the end of the book. I really liked Nadine as a character, as the title suggests, she is the daughter of a serial killer. The most enjoyable parts of this book for me were the interactions between Nadine and her mother.
The storyline kept me guessing right to the end, and I had no clue who the killer was.
I will be really looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a premise - the daughter of a serial killer, a forensic psychologist who notices that a new string of crimes are too eerily similar to her mother’s murders and gets involved in the investigation.. Unfortunately, the writing is not strong enough to carry the plot. The characters are one-dimensional and remain for the most part a puzzle to the reader, the dialogue is wooden and there are a few too many improbable plot twists.

A Killer's Daughter by Jenna Kernan is the first instalment in the FBI Agent and forensic psychologist Dr Nadine Finch series, set in Florida.

A young couple's slain bodies are found floating in shallow water off the Florida coast and have a cord tied around their wrists binding them together. Nadine is horrified as when her supervisor asks her to work on the case, it brings back unpleasant and unwanted memories. Nadine's own mother carried out similar slayings when Nadine was a child and is now on death row. Nadine must work on the case with the charismatic Detective Clint Demko who is new to the area, using her profiling talents. She was previously known as Nadine Howler but it seems that she isn't the only one with a hidden past...

In A Killer's Daughter, I thought I had the perpetrator all figured out early on but I was wrong! This riveting and compulsive read certainly contained plenty of action and protagonist Nadine's backstory was cleverly woven into the main plot. There was gore, romance and oodles of tension and I flew through all of the twists, concealment and suspicion in record time. When it was the moment for the big reveal I was taken aback! I'm eagerly looking forward to the second book in this promising series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Hallebloodylujah! I am always crying out for women to be seen as more than victims and in this case one woman is Arleen an adultery hating, psychopathic serial killer and the other is her daughter Agent Nadine Finch nee Howler.

Arleen is in prison so when bodies turn up with what looks to be her MO written all over them, it seems a copycat is taunting Nadine. Having changed her name and kept people at a distance to keep her past secret who can she now trust?

Working as a forensic psychologist alongside new Detective Clint Demko their partnership has a rocky foundation when Nadine finds out why he had to leave his old station.

This book had me completely on edge and the more paranoid Nadine became so did I. With the discovery of more people in Nadine’s life having strange commonalities I suspected everyone.

The chemistry between Nadine and Demko sizzled every time they appeared together and as more details emerged I really hoped that he was the good cop I so wanted him to be.

This has a gritty plot and fascinating characters with complex back stories including a really likeable protagonist. I can’t wait to see where the author takes them on book two.

The premise was eerie where the blurb pulled me in. A forensic profiler who was a serial killer’s daughter. And I loved author Jenna Kernan for making it completely pro women. Her mother was the serial killer. Don’t ya love that? Nature too has proved women are deadlier… 😂

Being a crime thriller, there were dead bodies and detectives. Where it varied was that the MO of the killer was similar to her mother’s. The investigation started slowly, building up its pitch as Nadine gained confidence.

What could I say about Nadine? The author developed her character with a lot of TLC where her vulnerability spoke to me. One part of me kept wondering how she found herself in the police force with such a background. That made me motor on.

The mystery and the darkness in the plotline slowly turned its screws into me. How could I stop reading? There were a few graphic sections along with hint of romance. Twists with its shocks kept me twirling. Book 1 in the series, the ending was unexpected. Quite explosive.

A fun mid-afternoon read.

OMG, what a book! I love a crime novel with a profiler so this was right up my street.

I loved Dr Nadine Finch. She is clever, brave and stronger than she knows. She is an excellent profiler and I'm super excited for more books! Nadine has been cautious and guarded for a very long time and it was really lovely to see her grow throughout the book.

Jenna did an excellent job of keeping you hooked. I had no inkling as to who the killer was. Jenna managed to really keep it a secret right up until the reveal. I was shocked, surprised and horrified by the way this book unravelled.

At first, I was suspicious of everyone like Nadine but there were some really great side characters in this book. I loved Juliette and I hope we get to see more of her in the coming books. I also LOVED Molly. My parents had boxers when I was growing up and one was called Molly so I really had a soft spot for that naughty pup.

This was an excellent start to what I am sure is going to be a fantastic series!

This story feels like Criminal Minds in a book, and I love it!

In this book, we follow Dr. Nadine Finch, daughter of a serial killer keeping everyone at arms length to make sure no-one discovers her secret. Then one day, in her job as Forensic Psychologist, a double homicide pulls her back to her childhood. Unsure who to trust, Nadine must work to catch the killer & work out what is going on.

This book was absolutely gripping and kept the tension page after page. I think I suspected every single character at some point in the book, yet still managed to be shocked by the conclusion! This book took a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting at all, and really explored Nadine's feelings around her family, her fears of becoming like her mother, and her unwillingness to let other people in. The ending of this book had a real sense of found family which I am really excited to see continue in the next books in this series!

Uputdownable. Thrilling from start to finish. A heady, addictive, heart pounding stunner of a read. A standout book - I absolutely cannot wait for more in this series and more by this author. Five brilliant stars.

A Killer's Daughter is the first instalment in the FBI Agent and forensic psychologist Dr Nadine Finch series, set in Florida. The prologue opens with the thoughts of an unnamed, unidentified killer who claims to have been doing the world a big ol' favour by ridding it of unfaithful couples for the past few decades with impunity and seemingly getting away with it. The killer sits awaiting the philandering lovers as their better halves sit at home with no idea of their partners' betrayal. The Intracoastal Waterway spanning thousands of miles along the Gulf of Mexico is not only the perfect location for adulterers to steal a sunset alongside their side piece but it it's also the perfect place to dispose of their bodies with minimum fuss or muss. Slicing arteries over and over she mutilates them before removing the wedding and engagement rings and binding the two bodies together with rope. The next morning the 6:00 am breaking news blares from the television with the disturbing story of two bodies found in the water at Sarasota's Bayfront Park. For Nadine Finch, the news hits a little too close to home and she tries to put into the back of her mind but when she is called in to help profile and identify the killer responsible for the couple's slayings the details seem almost identical...; Identical to the serial killings Nadine's mother carried out when she was a mere child and to which she was imprisoned for on death row. Detective Clint Demko joins with Nadine having been recommended her by colleagues but Nadine is doubtful of her own talents.

That is plain to see from the beginning. Barely have they started looking into the first couple when two more bodies show up and Nadine realises she must visit her mother in jail to demand answers despite having not visited or spoken to her in years. She is the only one who can shed light on this apparent copycat. But her mother isn't interested in helping the police or her daughter and remains a sadistic, evil woman who still gets a kick out of hearing of torture and death. When Nadine's home is eventually targeted and she is creeping ever closer to an accurate profile of the perpetrator, can the disturbed killer be stopped before more couples are taken out? This is a riveting, compulsive and original read with so much action and intrigue and a backstory to protagonist Nadine that is cleverly woven into the main plot. It's pacy, well written and twistier than an S-link, and I found that Kernan was impressive at managing to pull the wool over your eyes and equally so at steering you away from the real answer until the shocking reveals at the end. I find criminal profiling fascinating and it was interesting to see exactly how it can help solve a complicated multiple murder case when other methods of investigating have not done the trick. It's a captivating, utterly gripping and thoroughly entertaining opening instalment, and I hope there are many more to follow. The trauma Nadine has been through and how it has lead her to her current job will be intriguing to watch develop. Highly recommended.

A unique premise, and characters that make you want more! I'm glad that A Killer's Daughter is advertised as Nadine Finch Book 1, because this is a world that i would like to come back and visit. While I don't want to say to much in fear of spoilers, with a twisting (and twisted) plot, and gripping pace, I will be adding Jenna Kernan to my to buy list in future.

And I am hoping that the secondary characters come back next time!