3.5 rounded up to 4. I did really enjoy this book but the beginning was slow for me and took a bit to get into. A couple of things were left unanswered for me as well. There were a couple of times I genuinely felt creeped out though and had my heart racing!

Daughter of Mine is unputdownable. The eerie undercurrent throughout the book was incredibly well done, making for a tense feeling and a desire to find out why from page one. The layering of information as the story progressed is so compelling, making the reader wonder what will be revealed next. And on top of it, there are twists upon twists. I love to be surprised by a book, and this book surprised me several times.

This is a must read for the mystery/thriller readers and those who love a domestic suspense.

I also listened to the audiobook version of this story which was well done. I listened at 1.75x speed (which is my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon Element for this advanced readers copy. (And sorry for my delay in returning the review.)

3.5 ⭐️’s
Miranda’s newest book is a slow burn of a story. When Hazel is called back to her childhood home after the death of her stepfather, she had no idea that she was inheriting the lakeside home. Her brothers are not happy and there’s quite a bit of tension. With no rain for far too long, a drought ensues and as the water level drops, old secrets are brought to life. Secrets that might just answer some questions about the long ago disappearance of Hazel’s mother. Secrets that might just put the whole family in danger. Will they be able to put their animosity aside long enough to put the pieces of the puzzle together OR is it already too late? This was a good read, but not my favorite from Miranda. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Whew! This one had me on the edge of my seat! I was going one way and this story was going another. Definitely a page-turner and I really enjoyed it.

This was my first Miranda book, and it did not disappoint! Small town vibes, dark secrets, and all the twists and turns. I am kicking myself for not reading a Miranda book sooner! I plan on reading her backlist now. (We’re also apparently neighbors here in NC ☺️.)
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Hazel Sharp’s mother is Mirror Lake’s most famous criminal. She disappeared after emptying the family’s bank account when Hazel was just a child. Hazel’s father, the town’s detective, has just passed away and left her the family house. While she stays at the home, she becomes convinced somebody is breaking in. As a drought causes the lake levels to plummet, two cars are discovered. Could they be linked to her mother’s disappearance? Hazel becomes determined to uncover the truth, but with deep-rooted loyalties and small-town secrets, the truth might get her killed.
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Trust no one in this book! There is so much going on between disappearances, suspicious break-ins, and a tangled web of small-town secrets. Miranda expertly leaves a trail of breadcrumbs that keeps the reader guessing and second guessing everyone and everything.
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Thank you @_simonelement and @netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Daughter of Mine - Megan Miranda
4.5/5⭐️
🎉Out Now!🎉

Rounded to 4.5 stars.

I had read my first Megan Miranda book almost 2 years ago, and was blown away by her ability to weave a suspenseful mystery I couldn’t put down, paired with complex characters and an atmospheric setting. Although I’ve meant to read more of her books, I haven’t gotten around to it just yet … until now.

Set against the backdrop of a drought gripping the area, Hazel Sharp is drawn back to her hometown for a memorial ceremony for her late father, detective Perry Holt. In a small town, everyone knew him, along with the history of her family, which played a major role in her leaving town a decade ago and not returning.

Naturally, just as I (a suburban girl to my bones) assume life in every small town in real life is, life in Mirror Lake is riddled with secrets and family drama. But what we learn through Hazel’s eyes is a convoluted story of family drama, secrets, and the complex nature of relationships between family members. And as we’re uncovering more about Hazel and the rest of the Sharp/Holt family’s past, the drought is uncovering more of Mirror Lake’s secrets. One of those secrets is what might have led to her mother’s disappearance when Hazel was younger.

I was intrigued with how the story unfolded, especially with each chapter starting with how many days it has been without rain and the current amount of precipitation adding an atmospheric element that almost becomes a character all its own. This was the kind of book that slowly became creepier over time, and made me start to question who Hazel really could trust in Mirror Lake.

The characters and the relationships between them were another draw to me. Relationships are hard to maintain long-term, and that’s doubly true for family bonds—no one knows how to push your buttons faster and more effectively than family, right? And the dynamic that has developed within the Sharp/Holt family is even more complicated than most, further made difficult by events in the distant past and the way Hazel’s physical absence from the town hasn’t allowed for a healthy resolution.

Overall, I found myself pulled into the story quickly and really struggled to figure out who the bad guy was. I thought I had them pegged, but then new information was revealed and there was someone else to think of. I found myself fascinated by both timelines, as information was revealed in the present as well as in Mirror Lake’s past. I think the author did lean a little *too* hard on pushing one character as a villain, regardless of whether they were or not, but I enjoyed how everything wrapped up and the way that the epilogue was done in a realistic way, rather than tying everything up in a neat bow.

The drought, the secrets, the suspense, the mystery, the tension.... this book had all this and much much more.

No rain has led the waters to recede in Mirror Lake, North Carolina. Hazel Sharp has returned to Mirror Lake to attend her father Perry Holt's Celebration of Life. During his Celebration of Life, a car is discovered in the receding waters of the lake. Perry's sons Caden and Gage are called to the scene to investiage the car. It appears the car has been under water for some time and is missing license plates. Who did this car belong to and how long has it been there?

Hazel decides to stay a few days in town at her childhood home and soon learns her father left her the house in his will. Tensions emerge as the siblings discuss the will and sort through their Dad's belongings. Hazel's mother disappeared mysteriously when she was just 14. Many people had theories as to where he mother went or why she left but nobody has heard from her since. As Hazel uncovers more family secrets, I was left on the edge of my seat. So many twists and turns and suspense as Hazel tries to figure out who to trust with the information she is discovering.

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good mystery where I can't predict what is going to happen. The characters were well developed and relatable. There were moments I was really scared for Hazel and the pages couldn't turn fast enough. If you love a great Mytery Thriller, this book is for you!

My thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. This is my honest review of Daughter of Mine.

4.25 stars
Daughter of Mine, by Megan Miranda, is an absolutely entertaining, enthralling thriller that you will not want to put down. This mystery is clever and complex enough to keep the reader invested in the plot with its many layers, twist and turns, while also being understandable and easily readable.

This story is told during a drought in a small town in North Carolina. In fact, the number of days without rain is notated with at the top of each chapter. This is important because due to the low lake levels, cars begin to rise to the surface. Cars that formerly belonged to people who were believed to have left town.

Our story starts with Hazel, who after a decade has reluctantly returned to her home town for the memorial service of her step-father, the revered town detective. But her brothers are less than thrilled to see her after the scandal that occurred, involving her mother when Hazel a teenager, and the strange will her step-father left behind. There are many suspects in this novel, many unlikeable characters. There are people with secrets and dark pasts, and many questions that arise even as more are answered. This story is fraught with tension and an almost ominous sense that is palpable. As the mystery slowly unfolds, more and more elements are revealed and the outcome is definitely not what I expected.

The plot did slow a bit in towards the latter half, constantly playing a cat and mouse game that was a bit drawn out. Nevertheless, Daughter of Mine is a chillingly creepy story that is enticing, immensely atmospheric and ultimately a hauntingly interesting thriller that is pure entertainment.

Wow! Megan Miranda does it again, she never disappoints! This was a wild ride and I didn't see some of those twists coming! I will always read any book that she writes! I can't wait to see what she writes next!

This story is told in first person by Hazel. This one immediately pulled me in, and I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the atmosphere of the lake community setting where not one, but two vehicles are found abandoned in a lake. Every time someone went swimming or boating, I was waiting on the edge of my seat to see if something else was going to be found in the murky depths.

Hazel has returned to Mirror Lake, North Carolina upon the death of her father, Detective Perry Holt. Surprising the whole family, he has left their home to stepdaughter Hazel instead of his biological sons, Gage and Caden. This makes for an interesting family tension, especially since Hazel has been living in Charlotte, concentrating on her business, only visiting for holidays and other family events.

Hazel stays in the family home during her visits, which sits on the shores of the lake with a dock and swimming platform. There was a creepy and suspenseful, someone has been in the house or someone is watching me, feeling to a majority of the storyline. I made the mistake of reading this while my husband was away and every time the neighbor’s motion sensor light came on, I was jumping in my seat. Deer. It was deer.

The main issue that I had with the story was that I thought the perpetrator was a little predictable. Don’t get me wrong, there was still a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, but I felt like there was a lack of potential suspects other than the obvious.

Recommended for the suspenseful, creepy lake atmosphere that I found reminiscent of Stillhouse Lake.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon Element, and Marysue Rucci Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

A very good read! I enjoyed it from start to finish. Good twists and turns and kept me interested. Recommend!

I'm a big fan of Megan Miranda and Daughter of Mine did not disappoint. Between the building suspense and the descriptive heat, this is a slow burn that had me sweating all the way to the satisfying ending.

After reading and loving The Only Survivor, I knew I need to try more of Megan Miranda’s books. So why not try her upcoming thriller as my second book by her. I can now say that she is one of my auto read author.

This book gave me a creepy vibe, full of family secrets and cover ups. I was hooked to this slow burn and I couldn’t get enough of the eerie atmospheric read! The high tension will keep you flipping the pages late into the night! There were so many times where I thought I knew how it was going to end and I was fooled so many times!

****Many thanks to S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for the gifted ARC in turn for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was really looking forward to this book. I have been a fan of all of Megan Miranda's previous books. I am glad I ended up enjoying this one as well. The extra level added of these dynamic family relationships added quite a bit to the store. The pace was a bit slowly than what I am used to from Megan Miranda's books but I don't think it took away from the overall enjoyment I had.

Hazel inherits her childhood home in Mirror Lake. She is drawn back into the town and the friends she left behind. There is a drought and the water level is dropping in the lake when a car is discovered. Secrets emerge including the possible answer to her mother's disappearance. Twisty and a page turner.

Hazel returns home for her father's funeral and is told that he has left her the family home, not her two brothers. While there her young niece discovers a submerged vehicle in the lake behind their home, the second vehicle in a short time. And now we're off and running in true Megan Miranda fashion. As the mystery of the past is revealed, the mysteries of the present unfold and you'll be looking in all directions for the truth.

My skin crawled for most of my reading this book. There were lies all around Mirror Lake, which was frustrating because it only shine back what could be seen right in front of you.
Most of the characters in the book creeped me out. I kept yelling at Hazel to get back in her car and keep driving.
I zeroed in on who was responsible for the last round of mystery before it was revealed.
Even Nico turned out to be a disappointment.
My advice for Hazel would be to zoom out and don’t look back.

I am a Megan Miranda fan but some are better than others. This one is a winner. Intriguing family backstory, good characters, interesting setting. I devoured it, and really enjoyed it!

"Daughter of Mine" is one of the latest books by Megan Miranda, I already cannot wait for her next book to be written and mass published. Miranda is a very talented story teller, every character described so well and a plot that will keep you guessing until the very end. "Daughter of Mine" should be put on your own bucket list of new books to read soon, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you so much @MarysueRucciBooks for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 09 April 2024)

SYNOPSIS | Hazel returns to Mirror Lake for her father's funeral and learns that she is the sole beneficiary of his home, her two brothers however are less than thrilled by this revelation. Whilst she is visiting, a drought has caused the lakes to recede causing a once submerged car to be visible.

WHAT I LIKED:
- small revelations throughout
- family drama + almost claustrophobic small-town vibes
- tension-filled ominous atmosphere that built throughout the story

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- exceptionally slow pacing (especially at the beginning)
- Hazel is the primary narrator and sadly she is kind of forgettable
- I thought the drought would be more pivotal to the story considering how much it is referenced