3.5 stars
The Wrong Daughter kept me engaged from the start — I was hooked, constantly trying to piece together who was telling the truth and what really happened. There were also some strange relationship dynamics that I honestly thought I misread, but I didn’t. Could have done without that….

However, the suspense was well-paced and had me turning the pages, eager to find out how it would all unfold. That said, the ending felt a bit rushed and wrapped up a little too conveniently for my taste. Still, it was an entertaining read overall, and I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast-paced thrillers.

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
2.5 stars (rounded up.)

So, I liked the synopsis (obviously,) but didn’t actually enjoy the novel very much.

There are two timelines running through this novel. In the beginning it’s hard to follow the separate stories and you wonder why the heck they’re in the same book. Then it starts to become predictable
(at least to me it did,) and by the time the stories tie together at the end, you’ve already figured it out.

The first timeline involves a kidnapping of Olivia witnessed by her younger sister, Caitlin. Caitlin grows up in the shadow of the lost sister, always trying to meet her parents standards and be the perfect daughter that was abducted but never manages to meet the expectations. 16 years later Olivia suddenly returns and Caitlin’s life is turned upside down. Again. Weird things start happening and Caitlin isn’t sure that Olivia is really even her sister…

Then there is Elinor and Health. “Siblings,” whose parents passed away and they were left the family mansion and money with their Uncle as the guarantor until they are of age. The uncle is a detestable human being. Elinor and Heath are extremely close. Too close. The progression of their timeline is so far-fetched.

The two timelines converge at the end and it was a dud. Anticlimactic. Disappointing.

Ultimately I feel like this novel wasn’t cohesive. It read as a jumbled outline of so many ideas that branched off in different directions. The pacing was slow, then somehow it was even slower and dragged on only to speed up at the end with events being thrown at us that just weren’t realistic.

This was not an enjoyable read for me but I do thank NetGalley for the advanced reader copy for the U.S. release, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Release: August 26, 2025
Author: Dandy Smith
Publisher: Kensington

Rating: 3.75 ★ 

Sixteen years ago, Caitlin’s older sister Olivia vanished without a trace from their shared bedroom while their parents were out for the evening. What was supposed to be an exciting milestone—staying home alone for the first time—turned into a night that would haunt Caitlin and her family forever. No one saw it coming; they lived in a quiet, trusting town where no one even locked their doors.
Now, after all those years of grief, guilt, and unanswered questions, a woman shows up claiming to be Olivia. The reunion should be joyful, but instead it stirs up buried doubts and painful memories. Caitlin isn’t sure if this is really her sister—or if her own memories of that night can be trusted.
As secrets unravel on both sides, the entire family is forced to confront the truth about what really happened. But trusting the wrong person could be dangerous, and the cost of choosing the wrong sister might be more than any of them can bear.
Dandy Smith delivers a gripping and twist-filled psychological thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. The Wrong Daughter opens with a chilling premise: after vanishing from her bedroom as a teenager, Olivia suddenly returns sixteen years later—only her sister Caitlin isn’t so sure it’s really her.
From the start, the story pulls you into a dark, emotional whirlwind. Told through multiple points of view, the book does a great job of weaving suspense and emotional depth, especially around themes like trauma, identity, and the complicated bonds between sisters. There’s an unsettling atmosphere throughout, and just when you think you’ve figured things out, the plot takes another sharp turn. Some twists I saw coming, but others truly shocked me in the best way.
While parts of the book felt a little slow or confusing at first—especially when trying to connect the dual storylines—it all pays off once the threads start coming together. The ending is bold, unexpected, and raises thought-provoking questions about memory, trust, and survival.
Though not every character or subplot was equally strong for me, the overall experience was intense and addictive. If you enjoy dark thrillers that mess with your head and keep you guessing until the very last page, this one is worth your time.

Favorite quote: 
“but I felt the razor blades that laced the space between us; one wrong move would illicit a thousand bloody cuts.”

A psychological thriller, The Wrong Daughter (2024) by Dandy Smith is a tense tale with plenty of twists. Two sisters, Olivia thirteen and Caitlin ten, are left at home as their parents go out one evening. Caitlin awakens in fright to witness Olivia’s abduction by a masked man. Sixteen years later, Caitlin has a new life as a school teacher, fiancé and online business operator. She then receives a shocking telephone call from her father to say Olivia has returned home. As the sisters reunite, Caitlin begins to see a masked stranger and begins to experience strange things that her family believes she is imagining. Caitlin is battling to keep her life under control, as Olivia takes over causing even more suspicion. With its building tension, a rising body count and not-so-surprising reveals make for an enjoyable three and a half stars read rating. With thanks to Embla Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

Caitlin and Olivia, ages 10 and 13, are left home alone for the first time while their parents go out. A man comes into the house after the girls have gone to bed and takes Olivia away at knifepoint. Caitlin witnesses the abduction but is too frightened to do anything. The story then jumps forward sixteen years and suddenly Olivia returns. Everyone is overjoyed of course, but Caitlin has struggled with so much guilt for not calling the police the night of the abduction that she has so many questions to ask and be answered - but no one else seems to want to ask these questions. Caitlin has also been catching glimpses of a man in the same mask that the kidnapper wore when he took Olivia. No one else sees him and they don’t believe her. Is she seeking attention? Is she telling the truth? Is she imagining things? Is it really Olivia? A lot of questions indeed! There is also another storyline involved, centering on a young woman named Elinor, living alone with her brother in a huge house. Both siblings are under the thumb of a very cruel uncle who controls their estate and finances. How do the two storylines intersect. The story really gripped me to see how it would all turn out. Parts were very creepy, dark and very unsettling. However, I was still fascinated to see where it would end. The book is a quick read. I give the book 4.5 stars out of 5, which I’ll round up to 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on August 26, 2025.

This book had me gripped. There was a lot going on but I liked the different POVs. I thought things got taken a bit too far towards the end but it was still enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

The Wrong Daughter is a chilling, emotionally charged rollercoaster that grabs you from the first page and never lets go. If you’re a fan of Freida McFadden or B.A. Paris, this one deserves a spot at the top of your TBR.

The story begins with a nightmare scenario: a young girl vanishes from her bed while home alone with her sister. Sixteen years later, she suddenly reappears—but is she really who she says she is? From that premise alone, I was hooked. But what unfolds is so much deeper and darker than I expected.

Told with eerie precision and emotional depth, this psychological suspense digs into trauma, guilt, memory, and sisterhood in a way that feels both raw and haunting. Caitlin is a deeply compelling narrator—torn between hope and dread as her long-lost sister walks back into her life, opening wounds that never truly healed.

The twists in this novel are masterfully executed. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another layer would peel back and leave me stunned. The pacing is perfect, the writing is razor-sharp, and the ending? Absolutely jaw-dropping.

This is the kind of book that lingers. You’ll want to talk about it. You’ll definitely need to breathe after it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a book! A daughter goes missing and the remaining daughter tries to live a "normal" life. One her parents would agree with then the other daughter returns..... But does she. This book will take you on a wild ride all the way until the last page.

SYNOPSIS:
-Sixteen years ago, Caitlin’s sister Olivia was kidnapped while they were home alone. Caitlin was ten, Olivia was thirteen. Olivia never came back.
-Now Caitlin is an adult, engaged, and still haunted by that night. Then one day, out of nowhere, Olivia returns with no explanation of where she’s been or what happened.
-At the same time, we also follow Elinor, a young girl living with her brother in isolation, forced to endure their cruel uncle.
-The two stories weave together into a dark, twisty mystery about family, secrets, and betrayal.
⸻
MY THOUGHTS:
-The dual POVs kept me hooked. Elinor perspective was heartbreaking but compelling, while Caítlin’s storyline added depth and tension.
-Fact-paced. & addictive to read.
-The writing is sharp and immersive. I felt like I was right there in the house when Olivia disappeared, and later in the claustrophobic isolation of Elinor’s world.
-Some very dark topics, so definitely check out trigger warnings.
-It’s not just a mystery, it’s also about grief, guilt, and what happens when the past never really lets go.
-The ending landed perfectly for me. No dragging, no loose threads, just a satisfying conclusion that tied the two stories together in a smart way.
-Totally engrossing. This is the kind of book you can lose an entire afternoon to without realizing it.
⸻
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A chilling, fast‑paced mystery with two equally gripping storylines that collide in all the right ways. Beautifully written and impossible to put down.
⸻
THANKS: Thanks to Kensington Publishing | Kensington and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on August 26, 2025.

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith is a twisty, emotionally charged thriller that had me questioning everything from the very first chapter. The writing is sharp and layered, and Smith does a fantastic job creating a moody atmosphere that pulls you in and keeps you slightly off balance, in the best way.

The story is driven by deep emotional undercurrents, especially around motherhood, grief, and identity. The characters are complex and believable, each carrying the weight of their past in ways that affect every decision they make. I was especially drawn to the subtle tension in their relationships, the kind that builds slowly and steadily until it bursts.

Smith masterfully balances character development with a steady drip of suspense. Just when I thought I had something figured out, another detail would surface and make me second-guess everything. The pacing was strong, with enough twists to keep me hooked without feeling overdone.

This is one of those stories that makes you think about how far people will go for love, for truth, and for redemption. A dark, emotionally engaging thriller that’s well worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The book starts around the anniversary of Caitlin’s sister Olivia being kidnapped at knifepoint 16 years ago when Caitlin was just 10, and her sister 3 years older. This has clearly changed the trajectory of the entire family’s lives – as nothing has been seen of Olivia since that night.

Then, intertwined within the chapters about Caitlin, is a story from the point of view of Elinor. She is an orphan, living with her older brother in a remote hall in the middle of the countryside, where their Uncle comes to visit them at weekends. Clearly these stories are going to have to merge at some point – otherwise it would be a very strange book!

It twists and turns hugely – in both timelines – and I was wondering for almost the entire book how and when it would be explained how they meet up! I have to say some of it was pretty far fetched, and the double / triple crossing quite confusing – but that didn’t stop me enjoying the book.

It explores Caitie’s relationships – with family / friends / boyfriend – and how easily external factors can influence these – I have to say I felt very sorry for her quite often during the storyline and was rooting for her throughout.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for my review copy – be it advanced or not!!

This book was one of those terrifying reads like seeing an accident coming but you can’t look away. There was so much going on between two different people. I felt for the main character Catie. What a life she has lived. I don’t want to give details and spoil the book but when you read it (which you definitely should) you will see what I mean. I would love to give this 4.5 stars but unfortunately that isn’t an option. Over all this was a fast paced book and kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading even when at the vets. Haha

Thank you to netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read an early release of this title.

Some stories cling to us, and The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith might be one such tale. Set in a quiet town, where Caitlin Arden, overshadowed for eighteen years by her sister Olivia's kidnapping, this psychological thriller hurtles down the rabbit hole of buried secrets and guilt.

The book builds slowly into a shattering end that left my heart in my mouth. It is a book about sisters, about the love that clings even when that, in turn, is a burning hurt. Smith's writing has a quiet intensity, and the pacing is cautious, occasionally staying too long on Caitlin's inner difficulties. But it shows her grief so well that it didn't bother me. The mix of Caitlin's present with a darker history, create a sense of dread that builds slowly, like the tension in What Lies Between Us.

The core of the book is the beautiful and heartfelt examination of sisterhood. The relationship of Olivia and Caitlin, preserved in fine flashes of sunflower fields and shared laughter, hit me deeply, stirring memories of my own family moments. It’s raw, more gripping than the family ties in A Flicker in the Dark, which feel less central. Smith captures how sisters can reflect and contrast each other, their love a kind of magic that outlasts pain. That emotional pull carried me through, even when some twists, especially around Olivia, felt a bit too staged, almost too dramatic for the story’s truth.

Compared to None of This Is True, which keeps its surprises more grounded, this novel sometimes leans too far into theatrics. Not only that, but I wished the supporting characters, like Caitlin’s friend Florence, had some depth. They felt like sketches next to Caitlin’s vivid grief.

Not imperfect, but compelling and strong. If you love psychological thrillers with emotional weight, like All the Dangerous Things, but with a darker, more intimate edge, this will speak to you. This book is for those shaken to the core by the power of family, the sharp pang of loss, or the need to venture out into the darkness in the name of discovery.

2.75*
There’s a lot going on in here. It’s complex, intertwined. Usually just the way I like them.

However, the connection to anything was completely missing here for me. Not the sisters, parents, nothing.

There was a lot of downtime that just didn’t offer much of anything to the story in the grand scheme of things. I think the story could easily have been 200 pages shorter and more succinctly express the layers of humanity.

While the story wanted to be good and eventually came together I was easily 60% + before I started sitting up to take notice. Too far imo. The only reason I hung in was because it was an arc, otherwise I would’ve checked out around 30%

Recommend-not from my perspective. It just didn’t deliver for me.

With thanks to NetGalley and KensingtonPublishing for the advance reading copy.

And the TWISTS KEEP COMING!

While I didn't love all of the POVs (that sister/brother relationship was NOT my thing, and gave me the ick), the other characters made this an interesting thriller to keep you on your toes!

This book had me gripped from the start. The older sister was abducted within the first few pages. The rest of the book was full of twists and turns, which worked really well. I felt close to the character of Caitlin, unable to fully trust other characters, and frustrated/upset on her behalf at the way the people closest to her treated her and dismissed her so easily.

I read the parts featuring two other characters with interest, knowing they had to be linked somehow, but curious to know exactly how.

Although I was keen to get to the end and see all the pieces fit together, I was also a little sad to finish reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to this title. WOW is my reaction to this book. I was on the edge of my seat and read most of it in one day. There were a few things i guessed but overall it was really good. For the second story like, i thought it was a little flowers in the attic-ish but things didn’t get to progress to that point. Would recommend this book!

I really wanted to like this book, but it was hard to finish. The incest aspect of it was very offputting. Aside from that, I felt like a lot of the book was all over the place, and hard to follow at points. Overall, the concept was a bit much, and very unbelievable.

I don't like chapters that split focus or story plots. I gave this one a try but it just lost me at a certain point. DNF for me.

This book was fantastic. I loved every minute of it. I am so thankful I had the pleasure of reading it. I will be recommending to everyone!