This is a thriller set in Australia
It is very well written and had great character development.
This is a good thriller

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book started off great and gripped me, but unfortunately i found myself skipping through the end as it got a bit dull for me

This was a good solid read that keeps your attention throughout. You are kept in suspense about who the real bad guy is or isn't, and I will read more by Ms Croft in future.

Yikes, this is a good read!
A psychological thriller which will have you at the edge of your seat - very intense & well written.

Omg omg omg .......... this book was amazing I could not put it down I read every word on the edge of my seat I loved the story line, i loved the way the story just kept us guessing all the way threw I loved all the twists and turns and would defiantly recommend this book it was so believable and kept the reader engaged I love it

I absolutely loved this book!Thrillers are my favourite books to read. This was such a page Turner and I knew from the first chapter that I was going to love it. Loved the twist at the end which I did not see coming and that’s great for me as I read a lot of thrillers and some I can predict what is going to happen.
Highly recommend this book to everyone

I did not finish this book. I found the start intriguing but it soon turned dull and began to drag. I lost interest quickly and was no longer invested in the story. On a positive I did find the writing easy to read and the format user friendly.

The chills ... they are multiplying!

From the outset, ‘Like Mother Like Daughter’ had me hooked. Wow! What an electrifying roller coaster of chills, twists, and turns. I just love intense, psychological spine thrillers like this.

Kat and Dylan have two daughters, Imogen (adopted) and Jemima (biological.) One daughter seems to behave impeccably and the other seems troubled and is always in trouble. This raises the balance between how they’ve been raised... in other words is our behaviour determined more by genetic or environmental factors?

The plot mostly revolves around Kat, Imogen and Sally who tell their stories, both past and present, in alternate chapters. Each of them has a tale to tell so I was engrossed in how their lives intertwined. Jaw dropping happened so many times as their journeys unravelled.

Along the way, we meet Brad, who again has so many facets to his personality which left me reeling on many occasions.

I’m deliberately not wanting to give away too many spoilers, because Elle Croft weaves such a clever explosive tale. Each character will touch your emotions in so many ways. Just wait when you get to the finale ... electrifying!! I certainly will look out for this author again.

Galadriel.

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Wow! Where do I start? LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is a psychological thriller that is as perplexing as it is chilling. An addictive read that raises the age old adage of nature or nurture, posing the question is evil born or is it made? The adoption of the child of a serial killer and the fear that she may turn out like her mother is the basis for the multilayered domestic thriller where the twists are plenty and the tension is palpable. It is intense from the off that doesn't let up even as you turn the final page. But be warned...be prepared for one hell of a thrill ride!

Kat has always tried to treat both her daughters equally. But she struggles with sixteen year old Imogen more than twelve year old Jemima. Is it the moody adolescence rearing it ugly head...or is it something darker and more sinister running through her veins?

Because Imogen is the daughter of not one serial killer, but two.

Fifteen years ago, Kat and Dylan were struggling to fall pregnant when they decided the only option left was adoption. And the more they thought about it, the more they realised it was what they wanted. One day they got the call they'd been waiting for. They had a child for them...but the situation was complex. She was an 11 month old baby and she was the youngest child of serial killer couple Tim and Sally Sanders from the isolated farmed dubbed Satan's Ranch. Several couples that were ahead of them had already declined to go ahead but Kat and Dylan knew that this is what they signed up for - to give a child a stable and loving home. There was just one thing. The infant had a 5 year old brother who had been fostered together and usually in adoption cases it was preferable to keep siblings together. But in this case, no matter which way they looked at it, Kat and Dylan couldn't take the chance on the older child who had already been exposed to horrific abuse and more than likely carried the scars. For the baby's sake, she needed a fresh start.

And so Imogen Braidwood was born. Imagine Kat and Dylan's surprise when Kat fell pregnant a couple of years later and gave Imogen a baby sister in Jemima.

Now sixteen, Imogen has begin acting strangely. She's moody and distant with her parents and is suddenly caught fighting at school for which she is suspended because she won't reveal why. Kat wonders if it's just teenage angst or if it's the blood that runs through her veins? They have never told Imogen that she's adopted, wanting to protect her from the horrific nature of her biological parents' crimes. But have they done the right thing in keeping such a secret from her?

Then one morning Kat discovers that Imogen's bed has not been slept in and her daughter missing. After ringing around her friends, she reports her missing to the police who assure her that most teenagers will usually be back before long. But Imogen isn't most teenagers...and when Kat discovers that her daughter had submitted a DNA test, she realises that the past has come back to haunt them and they must tell the police who Imogen really is.

As the police uncover an interesting aspect that may or may not be related to Imogen's disappearance, the further Kat delves the more she realises that her daughter could be in grave danger and she makes a split second decision to confront the object of her nightmares by visiting Sally Sanders in prison. Not the smartest move, I would say, as Sally is an expert in her field and prison only sharpens here wits. Needless to say, she comes out with more questions that answers. And she still is no closer to finding Imogen.

And then she receives a text from an unknown number...and her blood runs cold. It's then that Kat realises she must use her wits to save her daughter from the nightmares of her past...and bring her home again.

This is such a brilliant read that focuses on family, infertility, bloodlines, adoption, betrayal, secrets and so much more. It's a psychological thriller that explores the notion of the inheritance of genetics in the analysis of nature versus nurture. Exactly what is in our DNA? Is one born bad or is evil made?

Added to the strained family relationships at the centre of this story is the chilling look into the mind of a serial killer. There are times when this narrative can be rather tense and uncomfortable reading while early on I found myself sympathising with Sally as an abused young girl herself and, as horrific as her crimes were, I could see the logic in her reasoning at the time even if I didn't agree with it. It is a clever writer that draws you into the mind of the villain in which you find a warped sense of understanding there. It really is a moral minefield that raises the questions we have often thought ourselves.

The story unfolds through the eyes of the three main female characters upon which LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER focuses - Kat, Imogen and Sally. And each narrative is cleverly woven into the next as the secrets are gradually revealed.

Intense from start to finish, LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER is fast paced psychological thriller that presses all the right buttons and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. And then there is that ending...WOW! I did not see THAT coming! So twisted and so equally delicious!

This is my first Elle Croft and what an introduction it was! Do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of this intense domestic and psychological thriller. Perfect for fans of this genre who love a dark and delicious twist.

I would like to thank #ElleCroft, #Netgalley and #OrionPublishing for an ARC of #LikeMotherLikeDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

A really interesting immersive read but I really struggled with the characters

Kat was just awful....a truly vapid over emotional woman who couldn't actually do anything for herself and was all me me me me. Really would have loved to have seen a strong capable woman but Kat was the most fragile frustrating woman...I was constantly rolling my eyes at how useless she was.

Good job she was married to Saint Dylan who literally lived to look after her ...over his own daughters. Every sob, hiccup, breakdown there was Saint Dylan (often instantly or within seconds) leaving work for minor family disputes or breakdowns. Having to tip toe around Kat and then just discarded to wait on the sidelines when he wasn't needed. I have never met a person so attuned to someone else...to the point that he had no needs of his own....he literally just existed to provide emotional support for Kat. I just can't imagine asking someone to leave work over such a minor issue at school!

You would think Kat would have enjoyed life a bit more having such a perfect husband. Think I would enjoy having someone so attuned to me around!

I keep hoping we would see something of Dylan's personality other than Kat's emotional servant but that was literally his role.

My amazing parents fostered growing up. I know alot about adoption and fostering in the UK but nothing in Australia so that was very interesting.

However Immy...was not the poster child for adoption. She was so ungrateful. So very selfish...which I know teenagers can be...but almost all of the misunderstandings could have been solved by a few words. Maybe if Dylan wasn't just Kats emotional support he could have helped his daughter a little bit?!

Sally was a very interesting and evil character...I enjoyed reading her thoughts as she was so vile but still interesting.

The nature vs nurture was interesting but I can never get my head around why in cases like this, Immy doesn't see how wonderful it is that she has been chosen rather than just her birth parents didn't want her?! It certainly wasn't an advert for adoption which was a shame.

Overall it was an interesting quick read but I really needed Kat to be more likeable or understand even one of her thoughts to truly connect with the story.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one, Had a well written plot and kept me engaged from page one, the characters were well thought out and relatable, I didn’t guess the twist, and was reading well into the night. Can't wait to see what the author brings out next, would recommend for sure.

A thrilling read that had me hooked right from the start.
the plot was wonderful and loaded with suspense. The author kept us on our toes right until the end with the various twists and turns thrown in to the already complex storyline.

Well written with the perfect level of suspense to captivate you. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

This was a gripping psychological thriller told from 3 POV’s Mum Kat, daughter Imogen and serial killer Sally Sanders Imogen’s biological mother who is incarcerated in a maximum-security prison for her part in what the media dubbed Satan’s Ranch.

Fifteen years prior Sally and her husband Tim carried out a reign of terror behind closed doors there own children their victims.
Imogen now with a new identity and no idea she was adopted and who she used to be is living as Imogen Braidwood with mum Kat, dad Dylan and younger sister Jemima.

Then one morning kat discovers Imogen is not in her bed she’s missing presumed a runaway.
And as events start to unfold further and with the police and kat digging deeper into the past and present an alternate scenario start to emerge one that fills Kat with pure dread for her daughter.

This was fast-paced and well written a real page-turner that easily kept my attention.
It’s full of twists and turns and that finish was superb and though I did suspect I still enjoyed this a lot.
I can definitely recommend this and if you like your psychological thrillers this one was very good, thumbs up from me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Like mother like daughter

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
This book is one of my favourite books of this year. Grippy, twisty and totally addictive. Well-written with great characters and a fabulous plot. Recommended

On my gosh! The storyline was unique and had me hooked, the twist at the end was so unexpected I didn't have a clue what was coming.
I really am looking forward to reading more books by Elle Croft.
Thank you netgalley

I loved this storyline!! I knew something was wrong..... I just never guessed what it was until I was mid way through! What you think is a simple storyline isn't. Brilliantly written and fast paced! Loved reading this and it still had me glued up until the very end.

Loved this one! Such a clever concept for a book! I was hooked from the start and loved it, such a great thriller :)

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
This is a deeply disturbing psychological crime thriller by Elle Croft and is set in Australia. Like Mother, Like Daughter is full of twists and turns, and the storyline centres on one family of four, the Braidwoods. Mother Kat and husband Dylan and the two daughters Imogen and Jemima. When Imogen disappears the story becomes very convoluted and it appears that Imogen was adopted as a baby and her parents were notorious throughout Australia for the neglect and abuse and murders of their children, only three children survived.
It is a very complex theme and it again raises the issue of nature against nurture.
Highly recommended

The Review
Kat has two daughters; Jemima her biological 12 year old, and her adopted daughter Imogen, who is at that awkward/hormonal/angry with the world stage of 16. Kat and her husband have hidden the fact that Imogen is adopted because of her horrendous family history – her parents are serial killers.

Concerned that nature will take over, and Imogen will follow in her biological mother’s footsteps, Kat has always been watchful of her eldest child. When she goes missing, fears abound that perhaps biology really will win out.

This is a hard book to review, for fear of giving too much away. So, what I will say is that this is a great, pacey read with short chapters, which made it really hard to put down. The chapters vary from being told from Sally’s perspective (Imogen’s biological Mum who is languishing in prison), Imogen and Kat herself. This is a great way of ensuring the reader’s interest.

However, I do feel this perhaps hides a few sins with the storyline itself. It is so far-fetched, and some of the concerns of the main characters just don’t make enough sense to me to really feel what’s going on. Equally, the concerns were repeated so often that it just got a bit tedious. I got it – I didn’t need it over-explaining – I just didn’t feel it.

For me, the ending was a little too obvious, although I confess, it went further than I thought it would originally. That said, I’m not sure it’s a good thing because again, I just don’t believe that’s how it would have played out.

The Stars
I’m going to give this a four because I really did feel caught up in the story, and found it easy to read. It was enjoyable, and I love the whole idea behind it. I’ll definitely read other books by this author.