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!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This was a really intriguing book. Fast paced, easy to read. The book surprised me with the twists.

I'm sorry I tried to like this but it was just so boring and the protagonist and dual povs were a snoozefest. I understand it's trying to talk about important issues like rape culture but it does it quite poor in my opinion

The Good Daughter is a gripping psychological thriller that explores trauma, resilience, and the weight of justice. The story follows Penny, a woman who has spent decades trying to move past the horrors of her childhood. Now, 30 years later, she is married to Damien and has built a new life for herself—until fate forces her to confront the past once more.

As a child, Penny and her family moved into her father’s ancestral home, a place meant to be a fresh start but instead became the setting of their worst nightmares. The house was in dire need of renovations, but that was the least of their problems. Their neighbor, who believed the home rightfully belonged to him, soon began terrorizing Penny’s mother. What followed was a series of tragic, unthinkable events—many of which left permanent scars on Penny herself.

Time has passed, but the wounds have not fully healed. When Penny is called to serve as a juror, she recognizes the defendant immediately. She knows what he is capable of, and she is determined to sway the jury toward a guilty verdict. But should she? And more importantly, can she?

This novel is a page-turner packed with twists, emotional depth, and a constant sense of unease. The characters are richly developed, each carrying their own burdens of pain and survival. Penny, in particular, is a compelling protagonist—her struggle between justice and morality makes for a thought-provoking read. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on edge as they uncover the full truth of what happened all those years ago.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with deep emotional stakes, The Good Daughter is a must read. It’s a haunting tale that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to Netgalley and J.A. Baker for an advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book, I like the way the author went from the present to then what had happened in the past, to link it all.
When 14yr old Penny is sexually assaulted by a man in her own home, she wants revenge, but doesn't know how!! As Penny tries to get on with her life with Damien her husband, she gets a summons to do jury service. When chosen for a rape case Penny realises she knows the defendant., but who is it?
Will she let the courts know it's a conflict of interest???? Great read would recommend

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Boldwood Books for approving my request to read this book.

If you are thinking of reading this book definitely checked the trigger warnings first as there is some very uncomfortable subject matter contained in it.

The Good Daughter is an emotional psychological thriller that quickly had me absorbed within the pages.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints and timelines and switches between the two very well but the main focus is on Penny who is called upon to serve jury duty in a rape case.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to more from this author.

The Good Daughter was a gripping thriller. I was so interested after reading the first page and that didn’t change throughout the book. It can be a trigger for some, but just showing how brave someone can be was good.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Penny is about to serve on a jury. To her shock the defendant is someone she knows, someone who assaulted her when she was just a young girl. As she wrestles with doing what is right and seeking his punishment, the book journeys through the trial.
I like the way this book flip flops from the present day to events of the past. We get to know Penny well, as well as her mother Connie.
This book dealt with some really quite difficult situations. It was gentle and kind and explained things well, but a word of caution of such things would upset you. Whilst dealing with these issues the book was enjoyable. It was an easy read, with the details revealed at a steady pace. One to curl up and read in one sitting!

First time reading this author, I was very impressed, very fast paced book and easy to read. I would advise checking trigger warnings as there is talks of SA but will definitely be reading more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Good Daughter is an emotionally charged, trauma filled thriller with some very heavy storylines (check trigger warnings). The story revolves around Penny who, after 20 years, is still dealing with the aftermath of multiple life altering, traumatic events following her family’s move into her late grandparent’s farmhouse. In the present day, Penny receives jury duty and is picked as a jury member for a rape trial. Told in alternating timelines and points of view, we learn more details of her story and how it connects and is intertwined with her current set of events. It makes you really question whether justice is ever truly served. While there were some interesting chapters, this book felt a little slow in many parts and repetitive in others, but was, overall, a decent read. Thank you to J A Baker, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Dark and lost of twists just like I love them. Definitely`a page turner. Loved every page of it. A must for 2025.

If you’re looking for a gripping read, I can’t recommend "The Good Daughter" by J.A. Baker highly enough! This chilling tale kept me hooked until the final page, with twists that just kept coming. The writing is precise and fast-moving, making it impossible to put down. Each chapter revealed unexpected plot twists that left me on the edge of my seat! If you crave suspense and intricate storytelling, this book is a must-read. Trust me when I say, you won’t regret diving into this fantastic story.