The Good Daughter by J. A. Baker is a disconcerting and unputdownable psychological thriller loaded with layers of suspense. I was on pins and needles the entire time and quite unsettled in a good way. Isn't that what one hopes for in a thriller?

Told in alternating points of view of Penny and her mother, including chapters of "The House", Penny and her family moved to her father's ancestral home in Northern Yorkshire. Renovations were needed which involved a team of workers. Intuitive for a young girl, Penny sensed something amiss with a couple of the guys. Her fears turned into a nightmare when one night someone sat in her room, watching her sleep, before assaulting her. Fear no one would believe her and guilt weighed heavily throughout her life. The only other person who knew was her mother. As a juror on an assault case, Penny could have bowed out but when she saw who the perpetrator was, she stayed put and decided this was the only way to get this guy locked up for good. She sought justice. It was fascinating to spend time in the minds of the jurors, observing how they viewed the victim and the perpetrator throughout the trial.

Not only did Penny face her attacker (who didn't recognize her twenty years later) but she also cared for her mother whose personality was severely altered by dementia. Though she experienced severe trauma several times, the good daughter continued to care for and about others. Just not the Fairbridge family.

J. A. Baker is one of my auto-read authors. I love her originality, writing which beckons me into the story, and her skill with suspense and tension.

Penny Collins has always tried to be a good teenager, that is until one night she was raped when at home in her bed. The timeline of the story goes back and forward to the present day when Penny is facing her attacker in court. Will he finally be put behind bars for what he done?

Total rating 3 1/2 stars

The Good Daughter really pulled me in with its haunting exploration of trauma, guilt, and the complex bond between mother and daughter. Penny’s struggle to reconcile her past with her present was incredibly relatable, especially as she juggled caring for her fading mother while confronting the horrors of what happened years ago. The tension between wanting to protect her family’s reputation and seeking justice was so palpable throughout the book. Sitting on the jury where she’s forced to relive everything adds a layer of intensity and suspense that kept me turning the pages. The plot was gripping, and while I wish a few of the secondary characters had been fleshed out more, Penny’s journey was powerful enough to carry the story. Four stars for its emotional depth and well-executed twists—this book really stayed with me.

As a teenager, Penny made some mistakes that led her to be a fearful child. Life changed for her the moment she was attacked in her bed.

Only Penny’s mum knows about the attack and Penny has lived her life with no one to talk to.

When Penny has to do jury service, she is shocked to see her attacker in the dock, accused of rape. Can now be the time to finally get some justice for herself as well as the recent victim?

This was a dark and chilling read that was also full of suspense.

The first chapter is about Penny’s attack and that was extremely difficult to read. My heart went out to Penny as it’s an emotional story.

The story is told from two points of view. One is from Penny’s and we follow her through the jury service as well as her past. The other is from her mum’s point of view from living in the house where everything bad happened.

We watch Penny as she continuously unravels her past, trying to come to terms with things that happened to her. The author writes this well as it’s sympathetic and sensitive. I could feel Penny’s pain and frustration.

I found this story played on my mind a lot, even when I wasn’t reading it.

My thanks to Boldwood Books, the author, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book is incredible it is dark, twisty and full of atmosphere. I spent the whole time with my heart in my throat on the edge of my seat not knowing what to think or who to believe

WOW! So dark and so twisted. You never know who people are behind closed doors, but do you know who your parents are?! This was so action packed and kept the thrills on top level. I could not put this down. I was so addicted from the first chapter!

mind-bending psychological thriller that keeps you questioning everything. The story follows [protagonist’s name], whose life spirals out of control after [inciting incident]. As paranoia sets in, reality blurs, and the line between truth and deception vanishes.

I almost have a love/hate relationship with J.A. Bakers books. The Good Daughter is definitely one I loved. The writing is great and I learnt things about the courts system I didn’t know. I found the story to be quite unique and I don’t remember reading a book like this before.

The story starts horribly with a rape. Twenty years later, Penny, the victim, ends up on jury service. The accused is only the man who raped her. Penny realises she can finally get some justice. The story is also about her relationship with her mother, who though suffering from dementia, decides she wants to talk about the night Penny was attacked.

I enjoyed the story but took one star off as there were times when it seemed a bit drawn out.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read several books by JA Baker that I enjoyed, so I was excited to delve into his newest book.

The book definitely opens with a bang! Many reviews caution readers that the prologue contains a trigger warning. The statement is accurate; however, the author doesn't go into very much detail, so most readers shouldn't need to be concerned.

Like many psychological thrillers, this book alternates between the past and the present. In the present, it is told from the point of view of Penny. In the past, there are times when it is told from Connie's point of view and times when it is told from Penny's point of view.

The author does a decent job "confusing" the reader regarding the actions of different characters. He achieves this by describing events and not actually naming the characters involved in the events. At first, I found it frustrating, but then I realized that it was most likely purposeful.

The Fairbridges are a horrid family that feel as though rules don't apply to them and they can do whatever they want. Their cruel, entitled actions have gone on way too long. When a member of the Fairbridge family ends up accused of rape and Penny finds herself on the jury, she decides to do everything she can to make the family pay. Something that really bothered me was the fact that the person who accused the Fairbridge family member of rape was under age, so the attorney asserting the sexual encounter was consensual should be a moot point. (The laws in America may be different than the laws in the country where this book takes place.)

I found the conclusion to be very anticlimactic, but still feel as though this book is worth a read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

A well paced and plotted book that tells the story of a woman on Jury Duty who is determined to see the accused pay for his crimes. There are flashbacks to teenage years and tragic events that shape current storylines. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The good daughter by J A Baker was captivating and emotional from beginning to end. It deals with heavy but important topics with characters that go through trauma at a young age that follows them into adulthood. Although Penny is a fictional character, it was still devastating to read about the things she went through and not being believed like many victims of SA. It was disappointing to read about Lisa’s and Cheryl’s character siding with Cameron, the perpetrator, and blaming Melanie, the victim, even with all the evidence and the age of the victim. The ending was wrapped up nicely and was surprising.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: SA and house fire

The Good Daughter opens with a deeply unsettling sexual assault scene. It then alternates timelines between the tragic events of Penny's adolescence, and the present day where she is on the jury of her attacker's trial.

This was a dark and intense psychological thriller with a very satisfying ending!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This is a well written thriller that deals with difficult issues. I really felt for Penny and her story was well written and realistic. I enjoyed the read on the whole. Thanks for the chance to review.

*check triggers* The first chapter of this story is hard to read.
This story goes back and forth between a mother and her daughter through different timelines (past/present) and details the horrific events of Penny's childhood attack and the years after leading up to her ultimate showdown with him again. Penny's internal struggle to be a good daughter, both in adolescence and in adulthood, was well written. The author was able to easily adapt between the thoughts of a teenager, a mother who is also struggling, and an adult who has dealt with childhood trauma.
Though it was well written, after a bombshell of a first chapter, I felt the book was a little slow for me. I could not connect with Penny's husband - I can't put my finger on exactly why, but he didn't quite fit in. I think with a little deeper character development for some of the side characters, (the husband, the friend, etc), this would have been a 5 star read for me.
It did pick up towards the end and I enjoyed the ending. I would read another book from this author for sure.

This book was good. The only thing about it that I didn't enjoy was the almost flowery way of the writing. Sometimes I'd just get a little lost in the descriptions and the comparisons between one thing and another. Also, at times there were words that I just didn't know what they were (this could just be my lack of knowledge) so I'd have to stop and look them up before going forward, these things pulled me out of the story often. However, at the root of the book the story was quite good.
When a young girl is assaulted in her own home at the age of 14 her whole life changes. She keeps this to herself for years, even from her loving husband. One day she is called for jury duty and I bet you can guess who the defendant winds up being. I won't give the book away but it's good. I did get hooked and kept trying to guess what was going to happen. I didn't see the end coming and, honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about it so still thinking it over.
All in all, this book is worth reading.

This is the first J.A. Baker books I read. I can say with 100% certainty I will be reading more of her work! This story is definitely on the more bone chilling end. The twist and turns in this book had on the end of my seat. Hard to put down for sure!

I was drawn to this book by the intriguing description. Penny had been wronged in her youth and now has the chance for revenge, by being on a Jury. A great plot. This is a suspenseful read with superb descriptive writing. . I was desperate to know the outcome, which certainly didn't disappoint.

I found this book to be a bit slow and I struggled to stay engaged. I kept reading as I wanted to know what happened. around the 80% mark is when I really got engaged and sucked in.
The premise of this book is amazing but I just felt like it missed the mark for me.
I did enjoy the writing style and multiple view points.

Thank you NetGalley for this E ARC and ability to read this story.

A dark and twisted thriller that will keep you guessing.

📓Brief Description (Spoiler-Free):
- Penny Collin’s was brutally attacked as a child and no one believed her.
- Now, 20 years later, her aging mother is eager to discuss the horrific night.
- Penny ends up on the jury for her attacker and is determined to get justice.

❤️ What I Loved:
- I enjoyed the way the past-present storytelling was portrayed with present day following Penny, and the past following “the house”
- I thought the concept of being a juror for someone who harmed you in the past was engaging.

🤔 What I Would Change:
- While the story was engaging, there were moments I felt the pacing was uneven which pulled me out of the story.
- I appreciated the overall storyline, though I would have liked a bit more complexities.

📚 Recommended For:
- Fans of Freida McFadden, A. R. Torre
- Readers who enjoy thrillers and court-cases.

💭Final Thoughts & Rating:
- I’m so appreciative of NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

An emotional and tense read that keeps you turning the pages to find out what will happen. Very good!