Member Reviews
Can a sociopath love?
Not usually.
Vaguely reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why, Only Daughter started off with a bang. The prologue is gripping, haunting, and a parent's worst nightmare all rolled into one.
Although police are convinced Kat's daughter, Grace, committed suicide by jumping into a quarry, Kat vehemently disagrees. An interesting twist about Kat? She's been diagnosed as having antisocial personality disorder...and following Grace's death...she's out for blood.
As Kat delved into her personal investigation, I was genuinely intrigued. While I thought her character, at times, seemed a little too "evil villain-esque," the concept of a parent having a severe, and potentially dangerous, behavioral disorder was a new spin for me...and one I enjoyed. I was very vested in seeing just where this story took me. And until approximately the 75% mark, it was a very fun ride. Unfortunately, it then fell a little flat. Most of the "twists" weren't overtly shocking, and the conclusion seemed more than a little mundane.
Regardless, this book is worth reading, if for no other reason than for our narrator, Kat--a very memorable character, indeed.
3.5 stars
**Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sarah Denzil for my advanced reader's copy!
When Kat Cavanaugh's only daughter is found dead, the police tell her it's suicide, however Kat is not convinced. She sets out on a voyage of discovery, tracing her daughter's footsteps in the weeks and months leading up to her death and discovers things she would rather not know, things which make her question everyone around her. Who can she trust? Are things really what they seem? How well did she really know her own daughter?
I was intrigued to know what had really happened to Kat's daughter, Grace, and what had led up to her death. The book was extremely readable and I definitely spent a few nights reading far longer than I should, to seer what was in store. There were definitely a lot of twists and turns along the way and it seemed very promising. Unfortunately, I was somewhat disappointed in the outcome and - without revealing the conclusion - the reality left me feeling a little cold. Having said that, the book itself was very well written and the ending didn't really detract from my enjoyment of it.
Wow, can't Sarah A. Denzil write a page turner! I couldn't put this one down until I was done.
This is the story of Kat, wife, mother, sociopath. Her teenage daughter has just been found dead at the bottom of a quarry, and the police are calling it a suicide. Only Kat seems to think her daughter didn't kill herself, everyone else seems resigned to the fact. So Kat decides to investigate on her own, and finds her daughter wasn't who she thought she was. As she uncovers more and more of her daughter's life Kat realises there's far more to the story than even she thought, and finds herself face to face with her own demons.
I just love this author's books, so consistently good. I always know when I pick one up that I'm in for a ride, with some shocks on the way. Only Daughter certainly didn't disappoint and I'm keenly awaiting the next offering from Ms Denzil. Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
How could Kat’s beautiful, sweet and innocent seventeen-year-old daughter be dead? It was a nightmare she desperately wanted to wake up from. But Grace’s body was lifeless; battered and bruised. What had happened? Kat needed answers – and she was determined to get them.
As Kat and her husband Charles waded through the grief, from the condolence messages to the funeral, Kat’s continual thought was that Grace must have been murdered. Her rage and disbelief fueled her desire for the answers she needed to find. But would she? Could she? And as Kat dug deeper into Grace’s life, her belief in her daughter’s innocence slowly began to shatter.
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil is my first by this author, and boy! What a read! A fast paced, gritty psychological thriller that was filled with tension, manipulation, lies, cruelty and hate – the race to the finish was an emotional, but satisfying one. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
I got 30% through this book and personally do not feel I can continue on. The premise is great but the story is very slow moving and it’s not keeping me hooked. So for that reason, I will not be able to finish it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was a very engaging and well written mystery. It centers around the apparent suicide of a high school girl named Grace and her mother's (who is a sociopath) quest to prove that she was murdered and punish whoever was responsible. The thing I liked about this book is that there were several people who could have been guilty so it kept me guessing through all of the twists and turns and discoveries about Grace's life, which forced her mother to understand her daughter wasn't exactly who she thought she was. The end was a surprise I didn't see coming, so it was a solid mystery with a solid ending. I would read more from this author.
I am a big fan of all of Sarah A Denzils so was eager to get into this new book. And it was fantastic as ever. She certainly knows how to get emotions flowing and reading this I was feeling many. I read this quickly, it is a book that will have you turning pages late into the night to find out what happens.
Kat has been told that her daughter Grace is dead. Not only that but there was a note in her pocket and she was found in a known suicide area and the police have ruled thatyhere was no foul play. Kat can,t accept this and goes about to find her daughters killer herself. She knew her daughter and Grace would not take her own life. But as she delves into Graces life she finds that she really didn't know her daughter at all.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
My first book by this author and she truely blew me away. While I was reading it, people were talking to me (well, they told me they had to repeat twice what they were saying before being able to catch my attention) without me noticing. I took the book with me to the hairdresser and normally I can't concentrate due to all the noise there, but with this story everything else was put on the back burner.
It's no surprise that the past influences you for the rest of your life. Sometimes it are heaps of happy memories and the sad or bad ones don't surface very often. For some people though it's impossible to find some good ones between all the misery.When this occurs, it's time to find professional help and to try and learn to live your life the best you can. Is this enough though?
This story is captivating from the very start. There is never a dull moment. The author keeps throwing possible suspects at you and you really don't know anymore if you are coming or going. I just love it.
This was a wonderful messing-with-your-head kind of book. I am definitely looking forward to more works of art by this author. 5 stars.
Thank you, Sarah A. Denzil, Bookouture and Netgalley.
Book received courtesy of publisher/author.
Title: Only Daughter
Author: Sarah A. Denzil
Genre:
Pages:341
Netgalley
The must-read psychological thriller for 2019.
In one moment, Kat Cavanaugh’s perfect world is shattered into tiny fragments. The flash of her daughter’s yellow dress, the blonde hair hanging across her precious face. Her own heart-broken sob…
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare when her only child’s body is found lifeless in an overgrown, abandoned quarry.
Desperate to find out what happened, Kat questions those closest to her as she tries to piece together the last days of Grace’s life. But as a darker side to her little girl begins to unravel, Kat wonders if she ever really knew Grace.
As Kat is drawn into a twisted game of lies, is she also in terrible danger? And will she be able to unlock her daughter’s final shocking secret?
Even if the truth is unthinkable…
My thoughts:
Rating: 4
Would I recommend it? yes
Would I read anything else by this author? yes
A story about a mother who will do anything to prove that her daughter didn't killer herself , and trying to find out who and why , as secrets come out you being to wounder if she did kill her self and if the mother just doesn't want to believe it, but then you start to wounder why would someone want Grace's dead and how was it connected to Kat and her past and Kat has a lot of secrets to hide.The story is chilling with a crazy twist and shows just how far people will go , with that said I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read and review it , exchange for my honest opinion .
Good heavens! What a twisted rollercoaster ride! My emotions have rung the full gambit, from depression; to anger, to revenge, always hoping it would come out right in the end! Katie Flack grew up in a poverty-stricken area, with an alcoholic spiteful Mother! Kate has been going through therapy for twelve years, in order to keep her sociopathic behavior under control. She was diagnosed as a child with this, due to acting out anger issues as a child. She deliberately gets pregnant by a wealthy single, an older man! Her way out of poverty, out of her Mother's house, and she took it! I saw many things coming; I did not see the ending at all! Very depressing in places, dark depression. This is a genuinely psychological thriller, very few are this troubled!
I highly recommend! Thank you!
carolintallahassee.com
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Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review.
This book is based around Kat the mother of Grace who was found dead in the local suicide spot, the police claim Grace committed suicide but Kat is unable to accept this. We follow Kat on her journey to discover what really happened to her daughter that fateful night. We learn that Kat is in therapy and has been for many years and her therapist claims she is a Sociopath and cant love however can this be true as Kat loves Grace more than anything in this world? I actually warmed fairly easily to the character of Kat so I was willing her on with her quest. The book had some nice twists and was very easy to read, I look forward to reading more from this author.
So, here we have a story about a daughter, seemingly ‘normal’ who appears to have committed sucuide, there are no indications this was going to happen, nothing out of the ordinary....but Kat ( Mum ) doesn’t believe it, she delves, she searches and she uncovers secrets, bad things happened to her daughter....she wants revenge..
Fairly staple diet in a psychological thriller I guess
But hang on.....Kat isn’t any Mum wanting revenge, she is a sociopath who has killed before....and when she says revenge, revenge is what she means...
330 pages of pure storytelling magic in this dark, scary, brutally unique thriller, I say thriller as it thrilled all the way through and you never quite knew what to expect next
Mean, sometimes nasty often complex but very memorable characters and descriptive heaven went hand in hand with a ‘come here and join me in my quest’ narrative that drew me in and kept me there and didn’t let up until the final word
Certain books make you proud to be a reader, this is one
10/10 5 Stars
This is the first time I have had the opportunity to read this author a d as always without knowing the author style you never know what to expect of what surprises are in store.
The opening of this book had my skin tingling as I read it. Such powerful and emotional imagery that just hits you full on like a freight train.
I fell in love with how this book was written. It was such an interesting tale of betrayal and not one that I Jve seen before.
Kat was such an interesting character who seemed so flawed and also so unloving. At first I couldn't stand her thinking her nothing more than an abuser. I felt for her but hated what she was like.
Midway through I found that I didn't hate her anymore and started to sympathize more with her and found that she was barely holding it together.
After a while the grudging respect I had turned into like and I started to care for the character and really wanted something better for Kat.
The story was so strong and emotional with one of the best openings that I have read. What a surprise to find this gem of a read. Can't wait for more books by her.
# only Daughter # Netgalley
Brilliant book, I was hooked on the first chapter,kat who married into money to escape her own cruel mother and a council estate upbringing. She tried to escape the past, when kat and Charles are informed their daughter graces death. Kay is convinced someone killed her and sets about to find out who killed her. It’s really full of twists and turns especially when she’s contantly reminded of her past. With such a unexpected twist of a ending. It’s definitely one to read, I definitely recommend this book
Omg, Sarah A Denzil is my new favorite author!!! What didn’t I like about the Only Daughter!!! I absolutely loved the plot of this book. It’s about a strong willed mother who will not believe that her only daughter committed suicide. She is on a mission to find out what happened and to come to terms with her daughters death. This character was one of my favorites in this book. I also liked there were so many twists and surprises throughout the whole book. I would have never guessed the ending of this book. All of this made this book an easy and fast read and I will gladly give it 5 Stars.
The Only Daughter was a great read. It took me a few chapters to get into but after that I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I had to know the ending and it was very satisfying. It kept me guessing and every time I was wrong but I feel that’s what make a great book. It was dark with lots twist and I would definitely recommend this book to others.
Another great read from one of my favourite authors. A gripping and compelling read. A really good psychological thriller. Kat discovers that her daughter Grace has committed suicide and she was two months pregnant. Kat cannot accept what she has been told. The case has been closed but Kat knows her daughter so sets out to find out exactly what happened to her only daughter. Kat has had a very troubled upbringing, a mother who she dispices and a very dark side that she has hidden for so long. Kat will now do whatever it takes in order to find out the truth. This was an intriguing read, reading it in one sitting and up into the wee hours. I loved this book and you never really know those you love.
I would like the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for giving an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this novel, here is my honest review.
I battled with how many stars to give this one. I really liked the story, the dialogue was sharp and realistic, the storyline almost perfect and the twist was a complete surprise to me. All great components of a psychological thriller. I found this was hampered significantly by the style it was written in, There was so much 'telling' and not enough action. It felt like a lazy way to tell the story. I found myself skipping over large parts of Kat's rambling about her life and feelings. It would have been more powerful if some of it was in dialogue format or in a scene with some action. Maybe some more throwbacks to life with her mother or scenes with her and Grace her daughter and Charles her husband. i would have liked to see the private detective get a bigger role, he appeared to help near the end but it felt like an add on to save the scene. Some more scenes where her parenting could come into question would have helped round Kat out as a character and give us a buffer from all her internal thoughts on who she was and is.
So, back to my stars. The story deserves a 4 star but because of the style I have dropped it to 3. I never wanted to not finish it and really liked the twist and the reveal of what Kat would do how she would evolve.
Only Daughter was a gripping and compelling thriller. After Kat discovers that her daughter, Grace has commit suicide, she is unable to accept the facts that seem to show that she had taken her own life. Kat believes that she knew her daughter, and that she wouldn't do that. Throughout the story, Kat finds out that Grace may not be the person she thought she was, and that events from her own past may be connected to her daughter's suicide. This is my second book by Sarah Denzil and it didn't disappoint! I anticipate that this book will be a top thriller of 2019!
WoW What a brilliant book "Only Daughter" by Sarah A. Denzil. This wonderful book had me hooked and gripped me from the first few pages. Plus, Kept me guessing right till the end few chapters. What a fantastic ending it had - Very Clever Sarah!
This is my third book I have read by this author and this has been her best so far.
If you love a good Psychological thriller, that will have you gripped from the very first few pages this is a book and author for you!
Highly Recommend this book. Just Brilliant.
5 star read.
Thank you to Sarah A. Denzil, Bookouture, and Netgalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.