The Perfect Daughter was definitely a title that will throw you off the trail just like the psychological thriller itself. I second guessed myself throughout the crazy plot twists and complicated, in-depth character descriptions and actions on how this was going to play out. I was floored and shocked at the end because D.J. Palmer masterfully wound everything up and wrote so many incriminating details about the different people involved.

This was much better not knowing much about it. What I will say is that the mental illness that Penny was experiencing and her family and doctors trying to help her were extremely vivid as they second guessed if she really killed her biological mother. Her adopted mother Grace and some of the family never stopped fighting for Penny even when the initial evidence convinced everyone else that she did it. Was Penny perfect? You will have to read it to see.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and D.J. Palmer for allowing to read this book for an honest review.

This is my second D.J. Palmer and I can't pinpoint what it is but I enjoy them but never love them. The Perfect Daughter was a super interesting look at dissociated identity disorder, murder, and the steps a family will go to find the truth. But there were too many loose ends, too many random side storylines, and not enough unpredictable twists for me to give it more than 3 stars.

Pros
- Penny and all of her alters were so interesting to not only get to know but help piece together the murder
- the family loyalty felt realistic, knowing a family will do what they can when one needs help
- the portrayal of mental illness (although I do not identify as having a mental illness so waiting to see if that rep is correct)

Cons
- way too long and too much medical jargon. Sometimes it got so overwhelming I felt like I was reading a medical text
- the ending was predictable - not at the start but by the middle I 100% knew what the ending would be
- random side plot lines that I don't think added to the story (Mitch and his son, Jack and his film, Ryan's random behavior). I wanted more twists and surprises

Overall, this was a decent thriller.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy to review

The Perfect Daughter was one wild roller coaster ride, D.J. Palmer can spin a tale and have you looping back to the beginning to find where it all went wrong. In The Perfect Daughter, you meet what seems like the perfect family. However, it begins to unravel and it all revolves around Penny. Penny is diagnosed with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and sends the happy little family spinning to adjust to Penny's multiple personalities. Penny's issues started when she was a little girl when her childhood was abusive and choatic. Then she was found by the Francone family and life changed. Penny never spoke about her life before she was found in the park at the age of 4. So at the age of 12, other personalities began to appear. When the book starts off Grace is home waiting for Penny to come home except the police arrive instead to inform her, Penny is at the police station charged with murder. So did she or didn't she or maybe even one of her other personalities? The mystery begins.....
I'm a suspense junky and DJ Palmer always gives me the fix I need.

After reading The New Husband last year I knew I had to get my hands on this one, and, boy I was not disappointed. From the very beginning I was hooked, glued, and stuck in the pages!

This story was had my mind going the entire time. It has twists and turns, switching ideas between characters that will have you calculating in your mind what could have happened, what did happen, and why just as a psychological thriller should!

- I loved how there were multiple POVs telling the story along with Penny/Eve’s multiple personality hosts.
- I loved that the story kept me guessing throughout the book, and just when I thought I figured it out, BAM there’s the twist and I’m floored and have to go bad to the drawing board.
- I loved how the author gave the narrative of Dissociative identity disorder (DID) to better understand what our main character, family, and doctor was going through and the switch between the different personalities.
- I also loved the courtroom trial and how the writer described the scenes. It felt as though I was right there witnessing the outcomes!

Loved this one and recommend if you enjoy a great Psychological Thriller!

WOW!!! My mind is completely blown. This book will have your head spinning and will have you second guessing yourself. I love books like this that make you think and try to figure out how it is going to turn out. What a ride this book took me on. Don’t don’t want to miss this. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this mind twisting novel.

I thought this was an engaging book and I found the story interesting. However, I didn't love the ending. I was mostly ok with the who did what and how. I even thought the pieces overall came together well. The main issue I had was with how the pieces were exposed. It just seemed a little too unrealistic, convenient, and maybe even rushed. Aside from the last 5% or so, the rest of the book was excellent.

I enjoyed Palmer's writing style and the story kept me wanting to come back to it. I had thoughts about how it might turn out and I was wrong. This is the opposite of the previous book I read by this author where the reader knew exactly what was going on and the MC didn't have a clue. I much prefer this type of story and generally liked our MCs.

I read the Kindle and listened to the audio version narrated by Dan Bittner & January LaVoy. I thought the narrators did an excellent job and I ended up listening to more of the story than I read on the Kindle. The narrators suited the MCs perfectly.

I will look forward to reading more of Palmer's work in the future.

I saw quite a few people raving about this book so I was quite excited to read it. However, I was left disappointed. For some weird reason, the author found it necessary to explain everything. I guess he wanted to make sure I would understand stuff that may have been important later on but it was really annoying.

The characters were something out of a Lifetime movie. It felt cheesy. There were some thugs threatening Grace throughout the story and everytime there was an interaction between them, I rolled my eyes. There was one scene in particular which irritated the heck out of me. There was a very stupid attempt to get DNA from someone Grace suspected of murder. The only reason I didn't DNF this book immediately was because I insist on finishing a book whenever I start it. Don't get me started on the ridiculous twist and the side story of the psychiatrist that was not pertinent to the main story at all.

The one redeeming factor was how much research the author did on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). It showed in this book. However, based on this book, there's a strong possibility I would not read any more of his writing.

This book should be read by adults. There were some scenes of child abuse and domestic abuse which may be triggers for some.

I was hooked from the beginning -- a very bloody murder, multiple personalities, an adopted sibling, and a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. The Perfect Daughter is a great page turner with all of its twists and turns.

Holy smokes!! This is one very well written super creepy psychological thrilled that will pull you in from the start. Reading the blurb I recalled reading “Sybil” by Flora Rheta Schreiber years ago and wondering if this could possibly be as gripping, dark and twisty. Well trust me, it surpassed the creepy scary factor by miles. Arthur and Grace adopted Penny and envisioned a lovely wonderful life together. That ideal couldn’t be further from the truth. Grace is mourning the loss of her beloved husband trying to get through life. Then at the age of 16 Grace is found covered in blood with a knife in her hands having just murdered someone. While awaiting their decision as to where Penny will spend the rest of her natural life she is for her guilt is a foregone conclusion based on the evidence and her secret relationship with the victim, Penny has a lot of questions and starts to investigate to find out what really happened. While in therapy Penny is
diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID). Is she really guilty? Is she truly guilty, legally insane and the more she Grace and her psychiatrist dig in the more danger they discover themselves to be in. The author has clearly done a great deal of research on DID and mental health issues for this twisted dark novel. A job well done. If you’re looking for a good book to sink your teeth into that will leave you questioning everything this is the one for you. Read with all the lights on!!

Oh my goodness, "The Perfect Daughter" was a wild ride. Penny, a girl adopted by a lovely family following her abandonment in the park, grows into a teen with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), fighting a murder trial of her birth mother, after being found in the center of the murder scene. A very interesting psychological read, with lots of insight, uncovering of the past as well as spending time with Penny's different personas. Loved the honest exploration of unconditional love, despite a family falling apart, and the deep sadness and destruction of this disorder. A wonderful mystery with unexpected turns in the plot. Thank you to the author D.J. Parmer, publisher and NetGalley for the early reader copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Grace's 16-year-old adopted daughter Penny is under arrest for murder after being found covered in blood standing over a body. But that's not the strangest part - she'll only answer to Eve. Turns out Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) and has had several "alters" for years. Did one of them killed the victim - who happens to be Penny's birth mother - or is someone framing Penny for the murder? Penny gets locked up in a psychiatric hospital where a new doctor, Mitch McHugh, is Grace's only hope that someone may be able to unlock the alters to find out the truth.

There was a lot I liked in the story:
👍How Penny came to live with Grace and her family
👍The different alters and the roles they play in Penny's life
👍The dynamic between Grace and her sister-in-law who will stop at nothing to free Penny

I was less into:
👎The multiple POVs - Grace's made sense as did Dr. McHugh's but a third perspective, from Grace's son Jack who wants to make a film about the case, was pointless
👎The subplot with her older son, Ryan, was unnecessary
👎I liked getting some of Mitch's backstory but it didn't need its own epilogue
👎Some of the characters' actions (I'm looking at you, Grace!) were unbelievable

I didn't guess the twist until it was almost revealed and I'm still on the fence about how I feel about it. But I'm tough on thrillers so the fact that even though it was far-fetched I didn't hate it is saying something.

If you're looking for a face-paced and different twist on a typical thriller, give this one a try!

Thanks St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the copy to review.

I liked it, but would have preferred a story without a mental health condition at the center. I also struggled with the twist at the end because it required a significant suspension of disbelief. Those things aside, I really enjoyed the suspense & enjoyed the different perspectives. Thank you so much netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for this e-Arc!

I was really excited to get started on this book. I had read D.J. Palmer's previous book, The New Husband and found it very thrilling. . Again we find ourselves with a family thriller/murder mystery. I loved the extra angle of the accused having a mental disability that is hard to prove. the characters were rich and flawed, and the mystery kept me on edge. I didn't guess the twist until a chapter before it happened, and that is unusual for me. I found myself on the edge of my seat until that last pages, which I finished way too late at night. I had to know the ending, and you will too!

This was a truly great, thrilling, awe inspiring read!! What I thought was going to be the possible ending was not how it ended and that puzzlement drew me in even more!! As a mother you feel for Grace and how she is torn between her children and what to do, and Penny is such a well developed character throughout the whole book. This book gives so much insight into those facing mental health issues that can't be seen just by looking at them and that can be so masked it is past the understanding to most that aren't professionals or living through it and experiencing it firsthand. The whole idea behind the book was brought to life and crafted in such an artistic way while adding the heart beating thrill I found it to be highly impressive!! D.J. Palmer has a skill way with words and I was intrigued from beginning to end!! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this and review with my honest opinions. I look forward to more great reads from D.J. Palmer!

Just WOW! Told from multiple viewpoints the main event and all the chaos that follows it will keep you turning pages. Sort of reminiscent of The 3 Faces of Eve with the multiple personality disorder being explored. Each person's viewpoint is easy to follow and understand. Many twists and turns and you'll not see what's coming at the end until the very last minute. No spoilers, read the jacket cover. It's a great book, read and enjoy.
I was provided and advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This was an interesting read about a teenager with DID who has been accused of murder. The book seemed very well researched and at times for me read like non-fiction.

Grace is determined, as Penny’s Mom, to devote her life to making sure her daughter doesn’t go to jail. She is certain that Penny did not commit murder, but did one of her alters? The Doctors and legal system think Penny may be faking her DID and may actually be a psychopath.

I did appreciate the effort Palmer put in to writing about DID without sensationalism but I did wish for more perspective from Penny herself, I felt like she was an exhibit vs a character and I would have loved to feel more connected to her.

There were so many times in this book that I was going completely down the wrong path, lots of false leads which was fun! I did have to suspend disbelief over some events at the end as it most definitely veered away from the non fiction angle and landed in fiction but I also did enjoy how the action picked up at that point.

As a Mom, Grace drove me a bit crazy lol! But 🤷🏼‍♀️ I still appreciated her tenacity! I’m not sure I felt all of the different POVs were needed and I did have some unanswered questions and moments of ‘what happened with that?’ but all in all I really enjoyed the read!

My first read was by this author and what a journey it was. A lot of mystery, some suspense and danger, and a total twist of who done it at the end. All in all an enjoyable read.

Wow what a ride. D.J. Palmer has done it again with an amazing group of characters. I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait for the next one. I think this is one of my favorites. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

No one ever expects for their daughter to end up in a state psychiatric hospital, much less being accused of murdering someone. That is exactly where Grace found herself. Her daughter Penny had been charged with murder and all signs and evidence pointed to a guilty verdict. To add to the complexity of the situation, Penny, has a personality disorder and you never quite know which of her alters you’ll be dealing with.

Dr. Mitch McHugh takes on Penny’s case and begins working with her while she resides in the facility, pre-trial. He is out to see if he can confirm her diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and find out what happened that fateful night that someone ended up dead. He begins to slowly unravel Penny and her alters, uncovering insight after insight that leads him to his next clue. Theories and beliefs shift like the wind and it’s hard to feel like the truth will be found.

I will stop there because I don’t want to spoil anything. This was a really good, fast paced, story. I was really engaged in the plot and felt connected to the characters. The story felt like a rollercoaster ride up until the climax. Definitely worth the read, especially if this genre/trope is your cup of tea.

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press + NetGalley for the ARC.

Grace Falcone finds a four-year-old girl abandoned in the park one day. She is the mother of two sons and this is the daughter she wants to raise. After a couple of years it becomes apparent that the girl is quite disturbed, possibly has DID, and then the police show up at her house one night telling her Penny has been arrested for the murder of her birth mother. I don't want to give anything away but I enjoyed the book. I thought the characters were well developed including all of Penny's alters. I just couldn't warm up to Grace. I understood that she was trying to protect her daughter but in her pursuit of having a daughter she risked a lot. Some of her actions had me shaking my head or really I wanted to shake her. It was a good read but I didn't feel excitement to get to the end and find out the true story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this.