**Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my review**

I will be completely honest that I DNF'd this almost immediately. My review is based on the use of my racial identity as a throwaway diversity quota with ZERO effort put in by the author. If she couldn't be bothered to write a mixed character correctly, then I can't be bothered to read her work. I'm tired of authors using "mixed" or "biracial" or "multiracial" as a diversity box to tick and then describing the character in terms of which European features they have. This character, Ashley, who is a main character, is described as being "tall, mixed-race with curly blond hair" and "bright aqua eyes." MIXED WITH WHAT? There is no indication she is anything other than European. This has happened to me with authors of all non-mixed backgrounds and I'm so tired of it as a biracial reader. We aren't a quota for you to fill. We have unique lived experiences that stem from our background and the insistence that we have these insane physical qualities (almost ALWAYS some strange eye color never seen in real life) or we're essentially white is frustrating and tells me that we're just being used without any thought or attempt to understand that character. I struggle with how a story will be developed if the author put such low effort into character development.

Thank you to the publishers at St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this e-ARC of Daughter!

I went in blind reading Daughter, and I have to say that I was impressed! Daughter is told from the POV of Scarlet Murphy, as well as clips, letters, and newspapers articles. A senior attending a prestigious high school in Connecticut, Scarlet wants to go to college to produce films. One afternoon, as her best friend Taylor and her relax during a day off from school due to snow, two FBI agents show up at her door with unexpected news. Scarlet is the daughter of an infamous serial killer, and she had no prior knowledge of this fact.

Jeff Lake is dying of pancreatic cancer, and he’s willing to tell the FBI the names of the rest of his victims, but only to his daughter who he has not seen in 15 years. Wanting to help bring closure to the victim’s families, Scarlet agrees. Unfortunately, Scarlet doesn’t yet know the price she’ll pay for going head to head with her serial killer father.

I really enjoyed this novel. I wasn’t quite sure what kind of direction this would go in, but I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of focusing on the killer, which seems to be the case when it comes to the media, this book (and Scarlet) want to focus on the victims instead. I really loved that aspect. One thing that was hard to swallow though was a lot of Scarlet’s dialogue, especially while speaking with Lake. She didn’t come across as a 17 year old during those scenes, but rather a seasoned detective, so it was a little unbelievable. I really enjoyed Lake’s character though, and my favorite part was the addition of the articles sprinkled throughout the story!

Daughter releases March 8th! Preorder your copy today!

TW: Mentions of rape, murder, and necrophilia

Scarlett thought that she was a normal teenager. Sure her mother was way more controlling then others, and she felt that her mom was hiding some secrets from her. Little did she expect that that secret was going to be that her father is one of the most famous serial killers of her time. When the truth is reveled Scarlett is asked to come meet her father and play an epic game of cat and mouse in hopes that he will keep his promise to revel more names of girls who he murdered. Coming face to face with a past that you never knew you had, with a man whose only goal is to make you question everything you ever thought you knew, will Scarlett be able to hold on to who she is and still bring home some of the lost girls that her father took from their families?

If you like mystery and you like serial killers this book is for you. It is fast paced and Scarlett's interactions with her dad are just twisted enough that you can feel his evil coming out of the book. While I do wish there had been more interactions between her and her father, I appreciate that the author really shows Scarlett's struggle to figure out where her and her mother fit into the world now that they don't have to hide any longer. Honestly this has been my favorite murder/mystery book I have read all year and the twist at the end is just the perfect way to end such a twisted tale.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

Daughter by Kate McLaughlin, 336 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2022. $19.
Language: R (180 swears, 76 “f”); Mature Content: R; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Scarlet (17yo) has learned how to get around her mother’s strict rules without caring much about why her mom is so paranoid – until two FBI agents show up at their door. Turns out, Scarlet’s father is a serial killer, so maybe her mom’s paranoia was warranted. As she meets her father and starts to see her mother in a new light, Scarlet also has to confront herself and decide who she wants to be.
The premise is interesting in a grisly way, but McLaughlin also addresses a lot of relationship conflicts. I loved the inner conflict that readers go through with Scarlet as she re-establishes her familial and personal identities, and the sympathy that is encouraged for strangers because you don’t know what they are going through – even if you think you know who they are. Please note that this book is not for everyone. I was enjoying the book and the language and sexual content still became more than I wanted to handle. The mature content rating is for underage drinking; persistent drug use; innuendo; mention of masturbation and orgasm; discussion of condoms and STIs; persistent discussions of sex, rape, and necrophilia; nudity; and sex. The violence rating is for mention of suicide and persistent discussions of murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I read this in one sitting.
It is not your average thriller; the murders have already been committed and the perpetrator caught, but this book focuses on the devastation of not just the victims and their families, but the family of the murderer. It was brilliant. It makes you think and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You learn the awful truth through Scarlet’s eyes, the daughter of the murderer, as she sorts through her feelings and what she feels is her responsibility to the victims and their families. I think the mom’s character was just as well done as Scarlet’s, and the friends and family made me want to get to know them more, just like Scarlet wants to. I also liked the romance, although it was (rightly so, I think) a subplot.

This author has definitely become one of my favorites.

Title: Daughter
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

Scarlet’s life is pretty average. Overly protective mom. Great friends. Cute boy she’s interested in. And a father she’s never known – until she does.

When the FBI show up at Scarlet’s door, she is shocked to learn her father is infamous serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. And now, he’s dying and will only give the names and locations of his remaining victims to the one person, the daughter he hasn’t seen since she was a baby.

Scarlet’s mother has tried to protect her from Lake’s horrifying legacy, but there’s no way they can escape the media firestorm that erupts when they come out of hiding. Or the people who blame Scarlet for her father’s choices. When trying to do the right thing puts her life in danger, Scarlet is faced with a choice – go back into hiding or make the world see her as more than a monster’s daughter.

I can’t imagine living your whole life not knowing who your father is, and suddenly finding out he’s an infamous serial killer, and your whole life is kind of a lie. Scarlet had moments of extreme selfishness and childish behavior, but for the most part, she was doing her best to be a good person. The way Lake tried to manipulate her and everyone else was creepy in the extreme, but she was smart enough to realize she was being manipulated.

It seems like every teenager in this book—so, most of the characters—drank, did drugs, and had sex indiscriminately. While I’m sure that’s true for some teenagers, it’s not for every teenager, so the generalization bothered me. And…the way people treated Scarlet and her mother was horrific. This story may be fiction, but that sort of behavior isn’t, and that just bothers me in general. All in all, I enjoyed this read.

Kate McLaughlin lives in Connecticut. Daughter is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 3/5).

This was exactly what I needed to get our of my reading slump. A fast paced thriller, Although it wasn’t so much about who the killer was, as it was what happens to the family after the killer is caught. It was refreshing and was a super fast read,

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

<b><i>HERE BE SOME MINOR SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT</b></i>

The first few chapters are where you'll decide to read or not. The setup is thrown at you instead of it being in the background. It starts slow with a party and gets better where the novel feels YA when it gets a little too Adult serial killer tale. Ultimately, the first few chapters are a means to an end that does the novel a disservice.

The last chapter is unnecessarily quick but would have bogged things down if any more detail was given. I wish this would have been reworked a little.

It's a very real teen reaction to be pissed with the non-serial killer parent since they kept that information for you, but I'm glad Scarlett had a conflicting opinion (understanding but angry) about it and that carries through the novel. But she should have been talking to a therapist or neutral third party. I know she's a few months shy of her 18th birthday, but come on, she needed to vent to someone other than her best friends.

<b>Narration</b>: Teenager 1st person

<b>Style Notes</b>:
- I wish the articles were separated better from the first-person narration.
- The first chapter could have been rewritten as an article. First, it would establish that articles are a part of the storytelling experience. Second, the narration shift from third to first wouldn't be as awkward.

<b>Verdict?</b>: I don't think I'd read it again but I would see the movie with Sam Claflin, Lily Collins, and Ben Affleck. (Book joke, I don't think there's a movie coming out.)

Trigger warnings: this book is about a serial killer who kidnaps, tortures and rapes young women before killing them. Not for the faint of heart.

Adolescence is a difficult time for any teenager. Scarlett's major stressor is her mom. It's been just the two of them forever, and Scar gets that her mom wants to be protective of her, but her mom is over-the-top protective. Although Scar will be 18 soon, her mom still won't give Scar permission to do anything or go anywhere with people that she hasn't met and thoroughly checked out first. Talk about embarrassing! No wonder her friend's think her mom is weird and Scar lies to her mom to attend parties. She just wants to be a normal teen!

Scar finds out why her mother is the way she is when she arrives home to find two FBI agents with her mom, chatting with her like they're old friends. It's been years since they've seen each other, but they come with urgent news. Her mom can no longer hide the truth from Scarlett. That's when Scar is told that her entire life as she knows it is a lie. Even her name isn't real. She's not a normal teen, and she doesn't stand a chance of being one, especially not once this gets out. Her dad didn't leave them when she was a toddler, he was imprisoned for being one of America's most notorious serial killers. He kidnapped, tortured and killed fourteen young women, and authorities believe he killed many more unknown, unfound victims. Scar didn't think things could get any worse, but they do:

- a lot of people thought/think that her mother was involved in or knew about the killings,

- her father is dying. He says he will give the FBI information about his other victims, but he'll tell only one person, his daughter. She must decide if she's willing to meet this monster face-to-face.

Though the subject matter is reprehensible, it is also a reality in our world. The author does an outstanding job of giving voice to, and showing the deep impacts on, the family members of criminals. She also delves into the cold, calculating persona of psychopaths with finesse and her research is very apparent. The characters are vivid, realistic and memorable. This is an intense and fascinating read. It rates 5 stars from me and is one of the best books I've read this year.

My thanks to the author and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley. The book is scheduled to be published March 8, 2022. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

I really enjoyed this novel!

I was gripped from the start and it held my interest until I finished the very last page.
An excellent story filled with terrific characters.

I look forward to more from Kate McLaughlin!

Ahhh what to say about this book. I wanted to love it so much.... The premise is exactly the kind of thing I love. the daughter of a notorious serial killer who doesn't even know it until years later. Jeff Lake is dying and now he wants to see his daughter to reveal his other victims that were never confirmed or found, this can finally give the families of the victims closure.

Weirdly I found Scarlet's mom to be the most interesting character and I would totally read a book based on her experience finding out about her husband's crimes and the aftermath of everything that results from that and her going into hiding with her daughter.

My issue was with our main character, Scarlet. She seemed so one dimensional and very inconsistent personality wise. One minute she was a "likeable fun teen" and the next she's cursing and snapping at her mom or someone else. Obviously, the circumstances in the book would cause some inner turmoil and confusion but I just never felt it. It's like her characterization went too far and also not far enough and I found her to be completely unbelievable and frankly annoying to read. I also just have to say that the relationship between Scarlet and FBI agent's son, Luke felt weird and forced to me and kind of inappropriate.

Because of that I really didn't feel invested in the story at all. I also wanted more of the interaction with her father as those were the most interesting scenes to me. I really hate to say but this one just wasn't for me at all. I can see why people would love this book though, it just wasn't enough of what I was expecting based on the synopsis.

Daughter was a gripping and heartbreaking look at the often overlooked victims of violence.

Scarlet was living the life of an ordinary teenage girl, things seemed to be progressing with her crush and she had a close-knit group of friends. Her world was swiftly turned upside down when she learned that her father was an infamous serial killer who wanted to meet his daughter before his death. In exchange for the names of his remaining victims, Scarlet agreed to meet with her estranged father which led her down the path of learning more about the forgotten women.

Kate McLaughlin’s Daughter was moving and heartbreaking in a way I didn’t expect it to be. By shifting the focus away from the horrific crimes to the women affected, the author gave the victims a voice that was often neglected by the media. Daughter also put the surviving family members in the spotlight and explored how the actions of one man affected their daily lives and how the public perceived them. To be sure, this was a hard book to read at times, but it’s also a story that I’m happy I read.

There are a lot of books out there that revel in serial killers and horrific crimes against women; it’s important to read stories like Daughter that give victims back their voice.

This book was WOW!!!!!! MIND BLOWN, like everywhere!!!!! Being a true crime lover I really appreciate this book. We meet a young girl named Scarlet, and her mom Gina, they live in a nice neighborhood, Gina is one of those paranoid mothers, I mean my mom was one, so I understand what Scarlet goes through. But then when she finds out that she is a daughter of a serial killer, the biggest serial killer next to Ted Bundy???? That's where my mind blew up a little I had my eyes only for this book, my whole day was dedicated to this book. Not only was there is humor in the book, because kids will be kids, Scarlet is sarcastic and funny as hell at times, this book was also heartfelt, she goes into this world that she didnt know existed, and her dad wants to see her, Scarlet wants to do the right thing for sure, but she is out in this journey that not only brought her closer to her mom, but she finally finds herself, and family.

But I will leave it at this, Scarlets journey with her dad??? CRAZY! This book is very bing worthy, it was very fast paced because this author got to the point and very fast which I enjoyed because nothing was rushed. I really enjoyed this book, can't wait until it launches for everyone else to read. Thanks Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The whole interaction between Scarlet and her father is interesting. However, the book does make an important point when it comes to serial killers: the victims are rarely the ones remembered. That definitely needs to change. The victims should definitely be remembered for more than how they died and who killed them.

If you could overlook the unbelievable parts this book was great on suspense. Characters all felt relatable and I think the unknowing victim (Mom) was handled well. Liked and enjoyed reading this book however, a few days later it isn't super memorable.

Despite her mother’s strict ways, Scarlet has a pretty average teenage life. Until she finds out she’s the daughter of notorious serial killer, Jeff Lake. Lake is dying and has promised to reveal his victims’ locations. But only to his daughter.

All of you fascinated by serial killers, pick this book up immediately! This book was amazing. Even though I was expecting it to be a twisty thriller. It wasn’t. It was more of an intimate family drama, with a lot of crime history and psychological depth. Scarlet’s conversations with her father were interesting and kept me wanting more. The ending was also good and I liked that there was a little drama at the end.

“I can’t change Jeff Lake being my father. I have no choice but to be his daughter. I don’t have to be his puppet.”

Daughter comes out 3/8.

This is the second book I’ve read with the daughter of a serial killer and the second book I’ve read of McLaughlin. I think it’s a fun take on typical serial killer stories. The difference with this one is Scarlet doesn’t know who her father is for most of her childhood. So it comes as a complete shock when she learns the truth because she always thought her mother was just ridiculously overprotective. Scarlet loves her mother fiercely, even when she has resented the restrictions. Now we know she has a reason. Things are about to get even more complicated for Scarlet.

While I don’t agree with some decisions the adults in Scarlet’s life have made, I think she’s an incredibly strong teenager. I also think it’s sketchy that the FBI frames this as her choice when it doesn’t really give her much of a choice at all, especially once you get to know Scarlet. I imagine her time spent with her father will traumatize her in the months and years to come because there’s no way it wouldn’t. I don’t necessarily feel this is a thriller, but that in no way dampened my enjoyment of reading this book. McLaughlin has written a super fun read, with intense, multi-dimensional characters and a dramatic storyline that hooks the reader from the start. You’re definitely going to miss your bedtime reading this one. Thank you, St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books, for sending this along!

Scarlet is just living a normal life when one day an unexpected visit from the FBI flips her existence upside down. She finds out she is the daughter of a widely known serial killer, Jeffrey Lake. He is on his deathbed in prison and his dying wish is to see his daughter, who he hasn’t seen since she was a baby. Scarlet is reluctant, but her father has dangled a carrot. If she will come to see him, he will give her the names and locations of some of his victims. She feels a sense of responsibility to help the victims families and maybe bring some peace and closure to their lives, so she agrees. However, she soon questions her choice when she’s face to face with her father and is disturbed by his depravity. She must decide whether she can continue or if she needs to walk away.

This book was gripping. The story was tense and at times disturbing, but it left me wanting to continue to read on. It’s tagged as YA, but it has pretty heavy themes and content. Overall, great read!

Thank you to NetGalley + Wednesday Books for the ARC!

CONTENT WARNING: mention of marijuana use, mention of rape, mention of murder, mention of necrophilia, violence

I had previously read This is What Unbreakable Looks Like, so I kind of expected a bumpy ride. McLaughlin doesn’t hold back — her first book is about sex trafficking, and this one explores the weight of being the child of a serial killer. However, instead of glamorizing the story, like we see so often in the news, it focuses on the effects one person’s crimes can have on a wide range of other people.

Scarlet is basically the epitome of an American teenager, except that her mom is way more overprotective of her than most mothers are. To the point where Scarlet is feeling suffocated. But even with all of that, I loved how it always showcases Scarlet’s sweet and empathetic side. She has a good relationship with her mother, and understands that something is causing her mother to be so worried, but just doesn’t know what it is.

When the FBI arrives, Scarlet’s entire world is turned upside down. She discovers that she isn’t who she thought she was all along, and that her father is a literal monster. He’s a serial killer, and not all of his victims have been found. And he’ll only release the names to Scarlet. Forcing her into the worst dilemma of her life:

“What will be worse—facing Lake, or living with all those unknown dead girls?”

Scarlet is forced to make the difficult choice, of facing her father to help the families of additional girls get closure, or avoiding him and having to live with knowing that she could have done more to help law enforcement and the families of the missing girls. What she doesn’t expect is how much this bombshell is going to change her life from the outside.

The story was written fairly simply, and from Scarlet’s POV. This allows us to get insight into not just what is happening around her, but what she’s thinking and feeling. I liked her personality, and it’s easy to empathize with her situation, as things go from bad to worse. There are some good parts too, as Scarlet tries to maintain a sense of normality in her life. And I love how she approaches the situations that arise.

One of the things that I loved the most about this story is the way that anxiety is addressed. Scarlet struggles with anxiety, and while there is quite a bit of alcohol and marijuana use throughout the story, it’s made clear that Scarlet uses it as a form of self-medication. But what I found especially well-done was the way that the topic of using medication as a form of treatment is approached. I would have liked to see some additional coping skills mentioned, but this line particularly stood out to me, as well as the fact that Scarlet doesn’t automatically turn to her medication for every stressor:

“Mom has always said that my anxiety is no different from having asthma or some other condition I’d have to take drugs to treat, and I know she’s right.”

This story really made me think about the weight people carry of decisions that fall on their shoulders, even if the consequences they are paying aren’t for their own actions, but those of someone else. In Scarlet’s case, she faces blowback from events that happened before she was born. But she approaches it with grace and strength, and it was interesting to see how much she changed over the course of the book. This is one of those reads that will stick with me for a long time. While it centers Scarlet, it also makes a strong effort to center the innocent victims of the crimes that they end up being best known for. It wasn’t always an easy read, but it was absolutely worthwhile in this fast-moving and thought-provoking story.

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I had such high hopes. A great idea and an amazing prologue had me riding high and so sure that I would enjoy this. Unfortunately, Daughter’s writing style just wasn’t my cup of tea, so my predictions fell a little flat.
Overall, I really love the concept for this novel. An estranged daughter is drawn into the media spectacle of her famous serial killer father, pulling her and her mother out of hiding and thrusting them into the limelight of his bloody and brutal legacy. And the prologue! Told from the perspective of a trespassing neighbor whose dog happened to discover one of the father’s dump sites. No matter what I think of the rest of the book, the set up was fantastic!
My issue with Daughter is that the writing style was just too basic. I expected drama, careful introspection, moral dilemmas; but I received none of that. The narrative was incredibly straightforward, and Scarlet just felt way too surface level what you see is what you get. I wanted some kind of flourish in the language or the character development. Something to cause suspense and make this novel feel less like a textbook and more like the captivating story I knew it could be.