The Perfect Daughter by @djpalmerauthor

Thriller Suspense

{ Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my review copy}

This one had me guessing the whole time! Grace will protect her daughter at all costs. Penny is found at the Murder of Racheal Boyd ( her birth mother) covered in blood. But Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder from trauma of her past. She doesn’t remember any thing or maybe one of her personality’s does? But how can they reach them, when protector Eve is here.

I loved Graces fight and will to believe her daughter at all costs. Fighting to find out all she can about what happened that night. There were lots of twist that kept me thinking. How can the weed through the truth and lies. I felt the truth of different therapist and Psychologist and how they have differing opinions about weather or not a person has DID and the real ness of the diagnosis or is it other things?
So many questions with this one, I loved that. So many things to see potentially going wrong!
4.5⭐️

I'm not sure when I read "Sybil: The True Story of a Woman Possessed by 16 Separate Personalities" by Flora Schreiber - sometime in the late 1970s, I suppose. It was the first time I'd ever heard the term "multiple personality" - an almost unbelievable disorder (I won't get into subsequent reports that the whole story was bogus - I have no way of verifying either side of that dispute). But the book certainly did make an impression on me, as well as spark interest in the subject. So it was, then, that I was delighted to be approved for a pre-release copy of this book to read and review (thanks to the publisher via NetGalley).

Of course, it's not a biography; rather, it's billed as a "thriller that explores the truth or lies behind a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder." And yeah, that got my attention. The drama begins when Grace Francone spots a little girl in a park, clearly alone and frightened. With no adults in sight, Grace calls the police, who take the child to the hospital. Grace and her pizzeria owner Arthur have two young sons, but Grace has long harbored a desire for a daughter. You guessed it: No one has claimed the girl from the park, and Grace manages to convince her family (and the proper authorities) to let the girl - now dubbed "Penny" - become their adopted daughter.

Everything seems fine - the brothers are way more delighted than I ever would have been to have a new sibling - until Penny's odd behavior results in a diagnosis of possible Dissociative Identity Disorder (a.k.a., the aforementioned multiple personalities). Even then, the family is perfectly understanding and accepting (mostly, it seems, because Grace insists that it be that way) until Grace gets a call saying her beloved Penny is in jail, charged with murder. Not only does she have ties to the victim, Penny is found covered in the victim's blood and holding the carving knife.

But no - just no, Grace insists. Now a widow (more on this comes to light as the story progresses), Grace turns into a ferocious feline - organizing with the precision of a drill sergeant a team who will do anything, and give up everything - to protect and defend her precious daughter, who ends up at a psychiatric facility at which she'll be evaluated to determine whether an insanity defense is a viable option. But that's not all bad; there, she meets a friendly psychiatrist she calls Dr. Mitch, who has mental issues of his own but has no problem confirming four "identities" - Penny, Eve, Chloe and Ruby - who inhabit the brain of the teenager they (mostly) know as Penny. What he cannot confirm, alas - at least not in a courtroom under oath, much to Grace's dispair - is that Penny really has DID, a detail that's critical to the defense.

So, Grace and her sister-in-law Annie set out to prove Penny's innocence despite warnings from Penny's attorney, the police, and Ryan, one of Grace's sons who seems to be harboring a few secrets of his own. From this point on, chapters shift between what Grace is doing, what the doctor is doing and progress reports on the film Grace's other son, Jack, is making about Penny's unusual life. I won't say it's all believable (far from it in several instances, in fact), and way-too-detailed and lengthy sections that made me feel more like I was being schooled on DID than entertained by a mind-gripping story (although I do give major kudos to the author for doing extensive research on the subject). Overall, though, it was captivating throughout, picking up steam toward the end as layers of fiction were peeled away to reveal an unexpected truth. All in all, quite enjoyable and definitely recommended.

A thriller centred around a teenager with a multiple personality disorder who is accused of murder....yes please! This is the kind of book I want to pick up. And this is the exact book I devoured. Holy moly folks, this book really was excellent! Definitely my favorite book by this author.

If you're a thriller fan, you'll enjoy this one. The ending was so unexpected I'm still thinking about it.

It started slowly but ended up at warp speed!

Penny Francone was found in a park when she was around four years old by her adoptive mother Grace. She did not say a word and looked so forlorn and lost that Grace’s heart just melted. She already had 2 sons - Jack and Ryan, but had always wanted a little girl. So after her birth mother, Rachel Boyd, agreed to give her up in exchange for avoiding a drug conviction and jumping through the hoops Grace and Arthur adopted the little girl whom they named Penny. Everything was fine until Penny reached adolescence and also made a new friend, Maria Descenza, who was a firebug. At that point the worried parents noticed some disturbing changes and eventually got a diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

Then, when she is 16, Penny is charged with murdering her birth mother. Someone called 911 and police found Penny covered in blood, clutching the murder weapon - a nasty big knife! She is sent to a secure psychiatric facility to await trial. Grace can’t believe her sweet daughter Penny could have done such a thing but she is up against her history with Maria and the fact that they came up with plans to kill people, including Rachel Boyd. Grace is convinced all that trouble is the work of Eve, one of Penny’s alters and sets about finding a lawyer and putting together a defence of insanity. A new doctor at the facility, Dr Mitch McHugh, gives Grace hope as he is at least open to the idea of DID although he needs a lot more time to reach a firm conclusion.

You know that click bait you see online - “you won’t believe what happens next!” That’s this book. Let’s be honest, the start is really quite slow but from the halfway point the puzzle pieces start to come together and by the time we get to the court case things are very interesting and move at lightning speed. Still, that slow start set the scene for what was to come and is necessary for the story. The author did a great job describing DID and it’s effects in a very sympathetic and compassionate manner. Was it all accurate? I have no idea but it certainly sounded plausible to me. I was very invested in the character of Penny/Eve/Ruby/Chloe, well the whole family really because they were so ordinary. They weren’t wealthy or intellectual or gorgeous. They were so very ordinary and I could really relate to them and their struggles. And I did find the whole story very interesting and in the end I enjoyed it a lot. Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and D.J. Palmer for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

A trigger warning for animal lovers, there is one nasty incident involving a cat

Perfect Daughter

Off hand I can’t remember a book I’ve read or at least retained about DID - Dissociative IdentifyDisorder but I did watch All My Children so I have some background on this mental health disorder.

D.J.Palmer did a fantastic job of researching Dissociative Identify Disorder as he was able to describe in great detail as each alter integrated into its host Penny Francone. Each alter was very important to this story and each held a piece of the puzzle, I think if this book was to be made into an audiobook it would be great to listen to.

Isabella was found at age 4 all alone in a playground, Grace came upon this little girl and did everything she could to give her a home and adopt her as the little girl she always wanted. The old saying, “find a Penny pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck” was just how Penny’s name came to be, especially since she didn’t respond to Isabella.

Fast forward years later, teenage years, Penny is arrested for murder but doesn’t remember a single thing about it. Was Penny there or was it her alter- Eve? Chloe? or Ruby? Instead of sitting in jail to await her trial, Penny is sent to Edgewater a psychiatric facility where she is assigned to a new Dr at the facility Mitch McHugh. Dr.McHugh is very talented in his field but upon reading the case notes on Penny, the Dr he predeceases has Penny as a psychotic sociopath. Grace, Pennys mom begs Dr.Hugh to examine Penny to make his own diagnosis, there’s no way Penny would survive in jail and she’s desperate or Penny’s defense to be by mental defect.

Mitch is determined to help Penny in every way he can but will be really be able to give her the diagnosis Grace so desperately longs for when he’s battling his own demons?

Mitch suffers from extreme depression and having a heroin addicted son only makes his depression worse. Feeingl like a failure, letting down his wife and son, how is Mitch going to be able to help Penny when he can’t even help himself?

D.J Palmer is a master at his craft, the way he researches every aspect of each character and weaves it into this book is nothing less then perfection. With shady guards, other dangerous patients, a murder investigation, abandonment, mental health disorders and drug addiction The Perfect Daughter kept me on the edge of my seat at all times. There was no sleep to be had reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review, I gave this book 5 stars.

Wow, i just finished this book and at the end the author says, “I hope I have exceeded your expectations.” Well, you certainly did! I was first interested in this book because my dad was a psychiatrist and I have an interest in mental illnesses so the multiple personalities drew me in. The story is one of a girl abandoned and taken in by a family with two older brothers. She is definitely a disruption. Problems arise linked to multiple personalities. There is drama, family dynamics, murder and a great climax. Bravo! A winner. #netGalley #DJPalmer #theperfectdaughter

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. The Perfect Daughter had me intrigued from page one. I love psychological thrillers and this was no exception. I love that D. J. Palmer explored DID, and I enjoyed this book as much as I did "Saving Meghan" as I enjoyed the medical aspects of both books. Anyone who is a fan of thrillers will like this good. Highly recommend!

The Perfect Daughter was quite the page turner! I liked the 2nd person (you) POV although that is not everyone's cup of tea. I loved the in depth view into DID as I haven't read many books with that topic. However I did find it to lull a little in the middle and less engaging but then it picked up speed again. Tense and fun to read!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this arc.

I love this Author. She can write no wrong.. Simply BRILLIANT. I highly recommend this unputdownable book. Run, do not walk, to get your hands on this!!!

Penny is believed to have DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder), when a murder is committed. All the evidence points towards her, but due to her condition, it’s not a simple case. Convinced of Penny’s innocence, her mother Grace hires an attorney and begins an investigation of her own unknowingly digging up some hidden secrets. As Grace tries to save her daughter from life in prison, her family and world fall apart around her.

I found this book fascinating as we read about all the stigma that surrounds mental disorders. The story is told from alternating POV and you begin to attempt to put the pieces together. I didn’t expect the ending and found myself intrigued with the transition between Penny’s personalities.

Penny, Chloe, Ruby or Eve?
One girl.
Four personalities.
Who killed Rachel?

I am a huge fan of Palmer’s very psychological themes, and keep finding myself drawn to requesting his books. I liked Saving Megan, but The New Husband didn’t work for me (please see my review if you would like to know why). I debated whether to read his latest thriller, The Perfect Daughter, but eventually decided to give it a shot. I just can’t resist a book about a girl with DID!

This book has a very slow start, and the writing comes off as very clinical. It is almost as if Palmer decided he wanted to write a book about DID and fit the story to the diagnosis, instead of the other way around. It is very heavy on the psychology. While I felt that the plot was a little too convenient and unrealistic (ie. finding a four year old girl abandoned in the park whose mother willingly gives her up for adoption), by the half way mark, I was hooked on the mystery of the murder. I understand why Palmer included Mitch’s son’s backstory, but found that it was not crucial to furthering the plot. Additionally, Jack’s chapters speaking directly to Penny for his movie adaptation of her story were not necessary either. I did guess the first twist, but it may be because I have read many books about this disorder (or the book description on Goodreads that contains spoilers 😱). Palmer got me on the second twist, but unfortunately I found that it was not very believable. Regardless, I did actually enjoy reading this book. Grace is a hero of a mother, and it is easy to root for her plight to exonerate her daughter.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read this book prior to its publication in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Daughter was quite the page turner! It kept me guessing all the way to the end. I always figure out the twists and turns before they happen. Though I had a few of these pegged it was still quite the surprise ending for me! I always enjoy DJ Palmer's books because I can never quite figure it all out. I loved the in depth view into DID as I haven't read many books with that topic. However I did find it to lull a little in the middle as I felt it was reading too much like a textbook and less like a thriller. All in all it did bounce back for me and I enjoyed it. I will definitely seek out more by this author in the future as I am never disappointed.

A compulsive thriller and murder mystery. Grace Francone adopted an abandoned child in a park years ago. Never would she have expected the kind of toll it would take on her natural family as Penny begins to exhibit multiple personalities. Penny is accused of murdering her birth mother and put in a state-run psychiatric hospital. What happens next is a fascinating portrait of personality disorder, a mother desperate to find answers, and a growing set of suspects.

I was hooked on this book from the very beginning: an unsolved murder and the main suspects having multiple personalities makes for a very enticing story. The ending has a twist that I don’t think any reader can foresee. Definitely a book I’ll recommend to my friends.

Thank you NetGalley, D.J. Palmer and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Wowser! This was a thrill ride of a book. As a mom, there were times that it was difficult to read and process.

The Perfect Daughter is the latest story from D. J. Palmer. I always enjoy this author's books but The Perfect Daughter is outstanding. The Perfect Daughter has both medical and courtroom drama. I seriously wish I could give this one more than 5 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

Well I sure didn't see that coming! I love a good story that I just can't figure it out even when I think I have! Absolutely love a story that has me guessing and shocked in the end! This is DJ Palmer's best yet!
Not only did the suspense keep me on the edge but reading about DID was fascinating! DJ Palmer kept it real and opened up the struggles of this mental illness while also dealing with depression and drug addiction in a very respectful way.

This book, sadly, just wasn't for me. I found the exploration of DID really interesting, and have read about/watched tv shows exploring the condition before. Penny's character and alters were really interesting to read about, I just wish we had more from her perspective - we are only given one chapter towards the end that gives us insight into what she's experiencing, but I wanted more.

While I did find the mystery intriguing, which kept me reading to the end, I was frequently frustrated with the way it was written - very repetitive, and way too much time was spent on the characters discussing and theorising based on no evidence. I really struggle to enjoy a book when characters are making presumptions that lead them down the wrong path - I felt quite powerless as a reader, having to follow the plot constantly thinking "why are they doing this?" "why haven't they thought of that?" The reveals at the end took quite a leap of faith, and there had been no clues leading up to it, so it felt out-of-left-field and convenient; characters revealed they were hiding or 'hadn't thought of' relevant information that we were only given right at the end.

Additional small gripes - when Penny's British alter Ruby was speaking, she used words and phrases that didn't sound right, which was pretty disappointing as a British reader. There were also multiple spelling and grammar mistakes throughout the book, but hopefully these will be corrected for the final published copies.

I can see why a lot of people would enjoy it, and I probably would still reccomend it to friends who would enjoy this specific kind of story. Overall, just not for me!

#ThePerfectDaughter was the first book I’ve read by #DJPalmer and I was not disappointed! The plot concept was super interesting and the twist at the end was quite the shock! I highly recommend getting yourself a copy of it on April 20th!

The Perfect Daughter is a great thriller and I definitely think it did a great job of looking a mental illness in a nuanced way. I also loved that the characters weren't all just good or evil but that there was some real depth and complexity there--it made the storyline go from standard to something fresh and kept me hooked! I think this is definitely a title to watch and definitely recommend.