Wow! The Perfect Daughter is one complex, compelling novel, and a little hard to review. This story was truly unique, which is hard to achieve in my experience. At the center of the novel is a teenaged girl named Penny. Penny was abandoned as a young child, and subsequently adopted by Grace and her husband, already parents to two young sons (Jack and Ryan). Everyone is thrilled to add Penny to the family, but over time they begin noticing things amiss with Penny. Eventually, they discover that Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder. The family soon becomes familiar with Penny's alters Eve, Ruby, and Chloe, all distinct personalities.

As the story begins, Penny is being arrested at the scene of a violent murder, covered in the victim's blood and holding the murder weapon. It certainly looks like an open and shut case, but Penny is refusing to talk and her DID diagnosis complicates matters. Why would Penny commit such a seemingly senseless act? Did one of her alters take over? Or could someone else be involved somehow. Grace is determined to prove Penny innocent and never wavers in her support. Jack is trying to make sense of things by filming a documentary about life with Penny, but Ryan is certain Penny is guilty and refuses to communicate with her or help his mother prove her innocence. Grace hasn't had much luck with psychiatrists, but when Penny is institutionalized, she is assigned to Dr. Mitch McHugh, who has an open mind and is willing to consider alternative explanations. Grace and Dr. McHugh join forces to keep Penny out of prison.

This novel was a major page-turner for me. It's a complicated mystery, but author, D. J. Palmer is masterful at weaving the many strands together into a beautiful tapestry. Clearly, Palmer did a mountain of research into DID and presents a sympathetic picture of Penny and the impact of her disorder on her family. Penny (and her alters) is a complex character, and Grace is so sympathetic as she fights to save her daughter. The other POV in the novel is that of Jack as he develops his documentary. Best of all, for me, was the way everything came together in the end. Other readers may see the ending coming, but not me!!! I loved it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. D. J. Palmer has another winner with The Perfect Daughter, slated for publication on April 20, 2021.

D.J. Palmer goes the extra mile in describing a young girl with dissociative identity disorder (DID), the term used today to describe individuals with multiple personalities. The girl, Penny, was adopted at age 4 and shortly afterwards, her alters, Chloe, Eve, and Ruby began making their appearances. Now, at 17 and charged with the murder of her biological mother, Penny's family is desperate to find out if Penny is destined for a life in prison.
Penny's mother, Grace, and her two sons are faced with numerous challenges and are unable to find much hope in the prison system. Even with a well trained psychiatrist who is new to the area, there's suspicion that the DID diagnosis could be a manipulative defense.
The story line rings true and Palmer does a fantastic job drawing the reader in to the drama.
I received an advance Kindle copy in exchange for an honest review and I feel fortunate to have had this opportunity. The Perfect Daughter is a story that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Another amazing book by D.J. Palmer! Great character development and loved the way everything unfolded in this book. Talk about a turbulent ride! Kept me reading late into the night (lol). D.J. Palmer is my new favorite Mystery/Thriller author. Highly recommend!

Oh my goodness this book was SOOOO good. At first I was a little skeptical on how the other was going to show us Penny and her multiple personalities but the author did an amazing job!

I was on my toes the entire time reading this and literally was screaming at the twists. That's how you know it's a good book.

Probably one of my new favorites!

When Penny was four, Grace found her alone, abandoned in the park. Once they found her mother, she gave up her parental rights to avoid charges against her, and Grace adopted sweet little Penny into her family. Little did she know that in the teenage years, Penny would be on trial for killing her birth mother. There is one other thing too. Penny has multiple personalities, and you never know which you will get. Her new therapist at the state psychiatric hospital Mitch, sees primarily Eve, the strong willed and dark side of Penny. Penny doesn’t remember anything from that night, could one of her selves have killed Rachel?

Talk about an unexpected gem! I enjoyed The New Husband, it was a solid 4 star read, but damn this book! I was not at all expecting this book. I am fascinated by the idea of multiple personalities, so I was excited to read it, but the way Palmer wove the different personalities together was absolutely fantastic. It was like I could see and feel the shift from Eve to her other selves while she was sitting with Mitch. This thriller seriously has it all, amazing and compelling characters, unreliable narrators, mental health discussions, and a twist I didn’t expect! I don’t want to say too much but I promise you, this is a book you want to pick up when it comes out on April 20th!

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer is a thriller that delves into the complexities of multiple personality disorder. Teenage girl, Penny, is locked up in a psychiatric facility, owned by the state, to try to keep her out of jail. Penny is charged with the murder of a stranger, she was at the scene, covered in blood, with the murder weapon. Penny’s adoptive mom, Grace, knows her daughter is innocent. Penny came into their lives when she was abandoned in a park, and found by Grace and her son Jack. Penny’s past remained a mystery, but as she grew, her different, sometimes disturbing, personalities started to come through. Many doctors believed she was faking, in order to trick others into believing she was not responsible for the murder. But Grace persisted. When another psychiatrist in the facility discovers a ‘new’ alter, Grace finally hopes this will be the clue they need to unlock the truth of what really happened the night of the murder.

This novel was complex, it was so well written, it flowed beautifully. The explanation of Disassociative Identity Disorder (DID) was flawless, from the change between alters, to their very different characteristics. The line between the truth and lies was thin, and it held your attention from beginning to end. The twist at the end was shocking. The secrets and betrayal exposed felt like a punch in your gut, you can’t help but empathize with Grace and her family. The multilayered characters, were well-defined, there was an emotional bond that couldn’t be broken. The love between the family members was solid, even though Penny’s brother Ryan was a ticking time bomb. This is dark, addictive, complex and will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

This is the third book I’ve read by D.J. Palmer, I have enjoyed them all, but this one is my definite favorite. The author is so well versed with the portrayal of Penny and her mental health disorder, it was impressive. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a true psychological thriller that will shock you at the end.

I would like to thank Netgalley, St Martin’s Press, and D.J. Palmer for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Penny is found covered in blood at a murder scene. She had multiple personalities and remembers nothing. Her mother hires an attorney and fights for her daughter.

There are many interesting plot twists in this novel.

D.J. Palmer's two previous novels were wonderful psychological thrillers, and their newest book, "The Perfect Daughter" did not disappoint! Teenager Penny Francone has just been arrested for the murder of her birth mother. Rachel, only she has no memory of it whatsoever. Diagnosed several years earlier as having Dissociative Identity Disorder (or multiple personality disorder), Penny is awaiting trial in the state's psychiatric hospital, and her adoptive mother Grace, is set to prove that Penny didn't have any awareness of what she was doing due to her diagnosis., and an unawareness of the actions of her alter personalities. The new psychiatrist at the hospital, not necessarily committed to Penny's DID diagnosis begins working with her and through appearances of several of her alters during sessions, Penny's alters make several references that lead Dr. McHugh and Grace to believe that there may have been someone else there when Rachel was killed. Does Penny really have DID, or is she a highly skilled psychopath as the previous psychiatrist at the state hospital had suggested?

"The Perfect Daughter" is a fast-paced read- I had a hard time putting it down! And the ending will blow you away with its twists and turns! I look forward to more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. "The Perfect Daughter": is scheduled to be released on 4/20/21.

This book was one wild ride! Grace and Arthur were so very happy when Penny came into their lives. Penny was found abandoned. As Penny grew older she showed signs of multiple personalities. They took her to psychiatrists but the doctors didn't believe Penny. Penny is charged with the murder of a stranger and is put in a psychiatric hospital until trial. Can Grace and the Doctor find out what is going on with Penny and save her? This was such a great thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

The Perfect Daughter, the latest from D. J. Palmer, was not as good as his previous books, both of which I really enjoyed.

A very brief look at what this story is all about - Grace never dreamt she would visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a psychiatric hospital, charged with a shocking and brutal murder.

It was several days from the time I finished the book before I sat down to begin writing this review and I cannot remember how it ended. There is very little in my memory about this book. Was there a twist? I do not know and that leads me to the obvious conclusion that this story did not leave a lasting impact. And it also makes me feel like a terrible reviewer for not being able to share more with you, my fellow readers.

I do remember thinking that the story started off promising enough, but it just did not pull off the surprise and suspense I like in these types of books. In the beginning, I found myself wondering one thing – what really happened? Where was this story going to go? There was not much action and a couple storylines that I could not figure out why they were included. This book lacked the feel of a mystery but was still interesting because of the multiple personality aspect.

Loved this book. I couldn’t put the book down. Attention getter from the beginning to the end. Highly recommend. One of my favorite reads. I will be looking to read other books from this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the preview copy of The Perfect Daughter by D. J. Palmer.

In Palmer's latest thriller we meet Grace, the mother of Penny whom she found in a park abandoned as a little girl. Grace and her husband end up adopting Penny only to find a few years later that she suffers from Dissassociative Identity Disorder (DID) and has three alters. Penny is accused of murder - but does she even know she did it? Or did another alter do it or not "them" at all?

Many people really loved this book but I struggled to get through it. I felt it was very repetitive and super detailed into the disorder. Clearly the author had done a lot of research into it which is great but to me it came across as droning and difficult to get through. But we know everyone won't love the same books! 2.5 stars rounded to 3 stars

What a ride on the crazy town bus. Fresh plot. Loved the mental health aspect which the author seemed very knowledgeable about and wrote with kindness. I loved the moms character and the love she had for her child. Lots of great themes intertwined and all handled with care. The reveal was done at the end that I didn’t see coming and the loose ends were tidied up nicely.

Can a murderer get off because she has multiple personalities? That is what is hoped when 16 year old Penny Francone is accused of murder. Penny is the sweet adopted daughter, but one of her personalities, Eve, is a vicious uncaring person. Can she be the murderer, or is it all a big hoax to get away with a crime?
This mystery flows well and has a surprise ending.
I thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great suspenseful psychological thriller by D.J. Palmer. I had enjoyed his first book, SAving Meghan, but was very disappointed in his second book, The New Husband, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The Perfect Daughter was very good - he obviously did a lot of research on DID and it made the book really interesting. There were several good twists and surprises. I highly recommend this if you are a fan of psychological thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This compelling and addictive psychological thriller follows a beautiful, close-knit family who are struggling with the shocking arrest of their 17 year old daughter Penny, who has been charged with first degree murder.
Penny though, has Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and while all evidence points to Penny as the murderer, she has no recollection of what she has been accused of, nor the motive. Her mother Grace is convinced Penny didn’t commit this horrific crime and with the help of Mitch (Penny’s psychiatrist) they do everything they can to find out the truth about what happened that night...
This fabulous book had me flipping those pages, I simply could not put it down. With strong, believable characters, exciting intrigue and suspense, and incredible writing, this makes a fantastic and thrilling read!!
I applaud the author for their obvious thorough research into the mental health condition that is DID. It was so well described and realistically interwoven into Penny’s character. This is a fabulous read that I highly recommend for any psychological thriller lover!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this gift arc in exchange for an honest review.

Holy Cow! 😳🤯 The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer was awesome . Once I started I could not put it down. I ended up reading well into the night because I needed to find out how it ended. I was a psychology major in college ( along with Education) so this book was right up my alley . I have always found abnormal psychology so interesting and I ended up learning so much about D.I.D or dissociative identity disorder. The character development for Penny and her many personalities was impeccable, the details were amazing. I also love that it takes place in Massachusetts, it always improves the story when your familiar with the places that are described. This wild ride is a must read for 2021! The ending 🤯🤯 let me just say I did NOT see that coming!!!

The Perfect Daughter hits shelves April 20th !

Synopsis:
Penny was found abandoned in the park by Grace when she was only 4 years old with no memories to how she got there or where she came from. Grace had always wanted a daughter and convinces her husband to adopt Penny. As Penny gets older, she starts developing different personalities, each with a different name and different mannerisms and identifying quirks. Chloe is a perfectionist, obsessed with grades and being perfect. Ruby is fun and easygoing as well as British. Eve is dark and the protector of the group. When Penny is accused of the brutal murder of her birth mother Rachel, Grace will stop at nothing to prove her daughters innocence even if it means tearing her family apart. With the help of Dr. Mitch, attorney Navarro, and her family Grace must race against time to uncover clues before the trial. But what happens when Penny is put on the stand will be something none of them saw coming.

I recently read both of this author's previous books and enjoyed them very much. I thought that I would enjoy this one quite a bit too...except I didn't. It's tough to get into a book when you don't care for any of the characters. I can't remember the last time I read I book where I wasn't pulling for someone, anyone, to overcome their challenges. Here we have a young girl who is accused of murdering her birth mother in cold blood. The problem is that she has no memory of her guilt or innocence because she suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. Think Sybil. Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to care if she is guilty or innocent or if she winds up in prison or not. If she doesn't care, why should we? The primary personality she takes on in the book (to "protect herself") is Eve. You couldn't like Eve if you tried, yet her mother will do anything to prove her innocence including ignoring issues with her other children and putting herself in jeopardy. Hopefully this author does better next time.

I read other books by this author and found all of them were suspenseful, great reads. I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review The Perfect Daughter. I love a good thrill ride, and this one did not disappoint. The story gripped me from the start and didn’t let go. I really enjoy reading stories that touch on mental issues, and Penny and her alters where complex and it was quite interesting to get into the mind and see how each one was a completely different person. If you love a good suspense read, be sure to pick this one up.

Wow! Well this book had it all!

When Grace's teenaged daughter is arrested for murdering her biological mother, she embarks on a journey to find the truth no matter what.

There are SO many twists (and decoys) in this book, from Penny, the teenaged daughter's alternate personalities, the strange behavior of Grace's young adult son, Penny's past, her biological mom's past, etc. This book is fast-paced, has lots of action, and will keep you guessing until the end.

I am not sure how believable suspense novels actually should be, but this seemed to cross the threshold into ridiculous at times. I feel horrible saying that! It was a clever idea, and I did NOT guess who committed the crime. I am giving 3 stars for a good idea, keeping my attention, but had to take away some because it was just a little far-fetched at times.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!