THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D. J. Palmer is a riveting psychological thriller that I couldn’t put down once I started it. I had read and enjoyed the author’s previous two thrillers, but I have to say this one is his best yet! This story has everything I enjoy in a thriller – fast pace, gripping suspense, unreliable narrators and lots of twists. Grace Francone is stunned when police arrest her sixteen-year-old daughter, Penny for the brutal murder of Penny’s birth mother. Grace and her husband, Arthur adopted Penny when she was just a child left abandoned in a park. They have always loved and protected her as they did their own sons, Jack and Ryan. Why would Penny commit such a heinous crime? Over the years, the family has witnessed in Penny what appears to be Dissociative Identity Disorder, thought to have stemmed from possible traumatic events in her childhood. But not everyone believes that her mental illness is real. Could Penny be faking the other identities to excuse her behavior? Now locked inside the Edgewater State Psychiatric Hospital until her trial, Penny’s only chance appears to lie in the hands of a caring psychiatrist that will do whatever it takes to discover the truth about Penny’s condition. His careful probing reveals dark secrets that could endanger everyone involved. The tension builds as the trial begins, soon to come to an explosive and shocking conclusion. I enjoyed this edgy and twisty thriller and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

I have been a fan of DJ Palmer since absolutely loving The New Husband, which I picked up after reading great reviews.

Now he's done it again! In The Perfect Daughter, 16-year-old Penny had been accused of murdering her birth mother. Found and adopted as a toddler by Grace Francone and her husband, Grace immediately felt a connection to this child and refuses to believe she is capable of such a thing. With the help of Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist at the facility Penny is being held at, she is determined to prove her daughter is innocent even though all the evidence points to otherwise. Found covered in blood, with the weapon...

Once again I was hooked from the start. I've always been intrigued by multiple personality disorders, or disassociative identity disorder (aka DID), so I was interested in this one immediately. Once again I left on the edge of my seat and as one would hope, never saw that ending coming!? Will absolutely be back for more!

I will probably always want to read whatever D.J. Palmer writes. What an author! The Perfect Daughter was a compelling read about a girl with Multiple Personality Disorder also known as Diassaociative Identity Order. This was a very interesting look at DIO which I don’t know much about and cannot even conceive of what it would be like to have a child with it. Or to have it myself.

Synopsis:

Penny Francone, age sixteen, is a murderer. Her guilt is beyond doubt: she was found alone in the victim’s apartment, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. The victim’s identity and her secret relationship to Penny give her the perfect motive, sealing the deal. All the jury needs to decide now is where Penny will serve out her sentence. Will she be found not guilty by reason of insanity, as her lawyer intends to argue? Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison?
Already reeling from tragedy after the sudden passing of her beloved husband a few years before, now Grace is on her knees, grateful that Massachusetts doesn’t allow the death penalty.

As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace’s determination to understand the why behind her daughter’s terrible crime fuels Mitch’s resolve to help the Francone family. Together, they set out in search of the truth about Penny, but discover instead a shocking hidden history of secrets, lies, and betrayals that threatens to consume them all.

The perfect daughter. Is she fooling them all?

WOW, you do not want to miss this book. When you get it, clear your schedule because you will want to spend the day reading! If you gravitate towards murder, personality disorders, thrillers, and mental hospitals, this is the book for you!

Coming out on April 20.

Wow! I read a lot of thrillers and I did not see the twists coming in this one.

I loved that this focused on Penny and having DID or multiple personalities. This is definitely a trope that I love and wish there were more books with.

This book was so fast paced and I loved that it was written from different perspectives. I could not put it down because I was so invested in finding out all of Pennys alters.

I definitely recommend this to people who love a fast paced, who done it, kind of story.

Wow! What a ride! I was completely not expecting that ending! A great thriller that slowly builds. One you’ll definitely enjoy!

Picture this........

In most mystery thrillers when a murder is committed, you have a finger span of suspects most likely to have motive and opportunity. Through the process of elimination, the guilty are spotlighted and they usually trip up and stumble along the way. Many become overconfident and let their guard down. Handcuffs, please.

In The Perfect Daughter that whole array of suspects is there........only they all reside inside the same person. Let's back up a moment, shall we?

Grace Francone and her husband, Arthur, own a pizzeria in Lynn, Massachusetts. They have two young sons, Ryan and Jack. Between the business and her family, Grace is kept on a tight schedule. She's in the local park with Ryan when it begins to rain. Out of the corner of her eye, Grace spots a little girl. There's no one else in the park. Grace calls the authorities and the little one is taken to the hospital. The child is confused and offers no clues to who she is. No one reports a missing child to her description. In time Grace convinces Arthur that they were destined to adopt this child. And so she becomes Penny, the daughter that they've always wanted. Perhaps........

By the time Penny is thirteen years old, she is diagnosed with possible DID (Disassociative Identity Disorder). Previously, it was known as multiple personalities. A definitive diagnosis is not always possible. But even with its challenges, Penny becomes part of the family.

But one fateful night, Grace receives a phone call. Penny has been charged with murder. She was covered in blood still holding the weapon. The entire family is torn apart. Grace, now a recent widow, believes that Penny is not capable of murder. But, oh my, one cannot deny the heavy evidence against her.

The majority of this story takes place in a psychiatric clinic where Penny is taken after the crime. The Perfect Daughter veers away from a police procedural. D.J. Palmer has done an indepth study of this condition as well as today's approach to mental illness. We'll see how physicians differ in diagnosing and treating mental illness. But how does one sort through so many alters to lock into what actually happened that night?

The Perfect Daughter contains a very clever and creative storyline. Not all the characters are likeable or, moreso, tolerable. And then there's the believability factor that leans in and whispers: "Are you really buyin' that?" The ending must be swallowed with a giant glass of Pinot Grigio. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda been far better without a trip into the high weeds. But alas, a 3.5 kicked up to 4 Stars. Mark it down for your TBR. It's worth the bumpy ride.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to D.J. Palmer for the opportunity.

This is one of the best thriller/suspense/mystery books I have read in a long time! The story has all the elements you expect in a thriller; an adopted girl named Penny convicted of murdering her birth mom, Rachel, who does not know herself if she is guilty or not because she had multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder). One brother Jack, who is helping her to find answers and prove she is an innocent. The other brother Ryan, who has never been happy she was taken as a 4 yr old last kid. A new psychologist named Mitch, who has his own demons, a son in rehab and does not agree multiple personalities exist. Her lawyer Greg, who helping her with her defense case and answer question. And her adopted mom, Grace is reacting how every good mom should to protect her daughter. There are also some secondary characters that a lot to the suspense of the book, Dr Ruth, Vince Rapino, and Darla (another inmate). The state of Massachusetts is also convinced of her guilt; the judge, the prosecution and those who knew Rachel.

Obviously things do not look good for Penny Francone. There is one twist and reveal after another to the ultimate climax you will not see coming! Just wow! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading suspense and thrillers. This is more than just a family domestic thriller. I have read one other DJ Palmer book, and do not recall the name, but this one I will remember for sure and sure hope the next book is just as great as this one. Again, highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, DJ Palmer and St Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I will definitely be buying this book at publishing.

Available: 4/20/21

Grace Francone and her son find a little girl abandoned and crying in a park near their home. She won’t tell her name, speak of how she came to be in that spot, or reveal who her parents are. The Francone family falls in love with her. When there is no hope of finding her parents, they give her the name Penny and foster her until they the day they are able to adopt her as their own.

Penny is a lovable little girl who fits perfectly into the Francone family. Life is good until she begins to display different personalities. One day she might be timid Penny and then suddenly she becomes a very strong willed Eve. She might be Chloe who is very studious or she might emerge as Ruby who is a free spirited British girl. These changes grow more and more disturbing as each of the new personalities emerges.

The Francones learn to cope with these changes until the day, when as a teenager, Penny is found holding a murder weapon and is covered in the blood of a murder victim. Penny is arrested and after a mental health evaluation, she is taken to the rather old and imposing psychiatric hospital where she is to stay until her case comes to trial.

Penny’s mother Grace works feverishly to prove that her daughter is innocent. She is encouraged when the new hospital psychiatrist takes an intense interest in Penny’s case. He is willing to try many unique approaches to find the real Penny while he explores the other personalities that reside in her psyche. His goal as he works with the multiple personalities is to find the personality who can reveal the truth behind the murder. When it is found that truth could prove to turn everything upside down.

Family is everything to Grace Francone. Her family interest is not only in her own family after they have adopted Penny but it must inevitably include Penny’s birth family. And as the book conveys, for a family, adoption most likely will change the family dynamics including both the sibling relationships and the parent child bonds.

The book explores Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) which is the presence of two or more distinctive personality states in one person. The author seems to have completed thorough research on the topic since he makes this disorder the focus of the book’s plot and ascertains through the story line that there are many different viewpoints in regard to such a diagnosis. While using this disorder as the book’s mainstay, Palmer writes several of the characters into the deep and dark abyss brought about by mental health issues and he leaves the characters there until he sees fit to release them.

The novel offers mystery and suspense and includes many small disclosures throughout as it ends with a rather unexpected twist. However, the surprise reveal at the conclusion comes quite quickly and maybe could have been more fully developed to make it more creditable.

The book offers much to appreciate including an interesting plot, unique characters, mental health concerns, and a bit of a mystery. You won’t want to miss this read. Will you be able to predict which of Penny’s personalities might have murdered her birth mother? Or will you assume the view that Penny is innocent? Is she the perfect daughter? The novel explores Penny’s many personalities while engaging in some sleuthing and brings a conclusion with all of the solutions.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the galley of the book.

First off,  I need to say,  this is the first book of D.J.Palmer I have ever read. My foray into thriller till now has just been with Jeffrey Archer and Sydney Sheldon. And what I like to read the most are romantic thrillers like books by Nora Roberts/J.D.Robb - books that have a magical element to it and strong character arcs. 

Coming to this book,  it is based on a character who has DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) or what is commonly called multiple personality disorder. Just because she is misunderstood by people,  she finds herself in a situation from which there is seemingly no way out. How/ whether she comes out of the situation forms the story. 

According to me,  the mark of a good book is that,  even when you are not reading it,  you are always thinking about it. I had to read this book in 3 sittings and I just couldn't wait to get back to it each time I had to step away from it. And I was thinking about the book consistently while i was reading it and even after i finished reading it. 

What made this book a most compelling read to me,  is not only that it had very definitive characters with their own secrets and a story which always kept us on our toes; the story itself is extremely chilling, not by manipulation of the circumstances surrounding the story,  but just by the people in the story,  who suffer through unspeakable chaos and pain,  through the manipulations and delusions of their own mind. 

By taking us through those minds and the nature of basic human emotions like jealousy and guilt, the book compels us to think about those non- typical people for whom life itself is a burden because of their greatest enemy - their minds. We're forced to think and understand them from their own shoes; it's not a pretty place to be even for a short amount of time. One can only imagine how difficult it is to live with it.

According to me,  this book is worth reading just to understand a different world and develop empathy for those marginalized, misunderstood people.

When Penny is found covered in blood at the scene of the crime, it isn't a far stretch to assume she is the murderer but there is so much more to the story. Like which one of Penny's identities committed the murder? Penny has multiple personality disorder and it will take her psychiatrist, mother, and family to find the truth about what happened.

Palmer, who also wrote Saving Meghan, has a history of writing about mental disorders and does a great job with it. I enjoyed the ins and outs of learning about multiple personality disorder in this book and the story kept me hooked the whole time. I could really tell through the writing each distinct personality of Penny's. I thought the story followed nicely and I did not expect how it all wrapped up.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Grace always wanted a daughter. She loved her two sons, but felt like something was missing. One day in the park, during a rainstorm, Grace and her son find a small girl, alone and drenched. They look for her parents but no one is around. The little girl enters the system and Grace feels it is a sign and convinces her husband to foster, then adopt the little girl. The son names her Penny because they found her, like a good luck charm.

But immediately, they realize something is off with Penny. She will not answer to her legal name, Isabella, and starts acting differently. One day, she is Ruby, a persona with a british accent, another day she is Chloe, a young girl who is a perfectionist. And then there is Eve, a difficult child who acts much older than her years.

One night the police show up at Grace's door - Penny has been arrested and will be charged with murder. She was found, in her birth mothers home, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon.

Did she do it, did one of her alternates do it? In the end, will she be found guilty?

The Perfect Daughter is a twising, turning story following the trial and the lessons learned from Penny's past. It is a fascinating story about how we all handle the difficulties in our life.

WOW!!! Just WOW!! I could not put down this book. I can usually figure out who is the villain but not this time. I was totally surprised. Don’t start reading this book if you don’t have a lot of time. I highly recommend this book. I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out a bit slow for me. But then as you get to know Eve, Chloe, Ruby and Penny, the intensity increased and I had a hard time putting this book down. There were so many hints along the way that came together well at the end in a jaw dropping fashion.

This book had a lot, murder, pyromania, multiple personalities, and everything that could potentially go with those scenarios.


Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc.

"The Perfect Daughter" by D.J. Palmer was an interesting read for me. While I enjoyed the elements of suspense, the focus on the medical condition: Dissociative Identity Disorder seemed to overwhelm the book at some points for me. Some moments I wanted the focus to back off on the medical jargon a bit so I could be more immersed with the story.

With that being said, it was an extremely well written book and one I think many will enjoy. I enjoyed getting to know Penny's several different personalities; however, I was not that into so much focus on being if the court would buy into her DID.

I would definitely read more from D.J. Palmer just one that was so focused on a particular medical condition.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of "The Perfect Daughter" by D.J. Palmer in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read other books by this author and loved them. But I did not care for this one. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and especially grew to dislike the mother. She’s completely neglected her life and other children. If I had to read about the pizzeria going under and her not caring again....it just didn’t work for me.
I do give credit to the surprise ending. They got me there. But nothing else worked for me. The book felt like it was written for a younger audience. The court scene where the judge called a recess and it actually says, “that means they take a break”? I had to suppress a major eye roll before continuing.
Thank you NetGalley for the early copy of The Perfect Daughter.

Very well developed characters and an extremely engaging story. Well thought out and very suspenseful story line that keeps the reader guessing until the final twist! This is the book to read this year! Highly recommended!

Great book! Couldn’t wait to read it, and it didn’t disappoint! Grabbed my attention within the first two chapters, and then I didn’t want to put it down. Excellent character development - I think that every reader will find a character to whom they relate. I enjoy books where there is character development, and then also a surprise, and this book provided both! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

What?!? I did not expect that. A truly thrilling ride from start to finish. Another excellent book by D.J Palmer. Will have you on the edge of your seat from the first paragraph. Well done.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc

Grace found Penny alone at a park at the age of four, abandoned and frightened, and from that moment on she claimed her as her own. No one knows what Penny suffered as a child with her birth mother, Rachel, but as a teen Penny reveals multiple personalities, or alters. Then one day Penny is found covered in blood in Rachel's home, and Rachel is lying dead at her side.

Grace will reveal how far she is willing to go to save this daughter that she chose that day on her playground. Her two sons watch from the sidelines, torn with their own feelings about Penny who has brought their family to this moment. One of the sons, Ryan, has a first person point of view that runs through the story as he occasionally looks at things in real time, and this provides an interesting viewpoint. The story moves fast and it is wonderful to see Grace's defense of her daughter, unwavering and strong. She enlists two others in her fight: Dr. Mitch McHugh, Penny's doctor at the facility she has been put in, and Navarro, a lawyer Grace met many years ago who is willing to help her fight for Penny's release. They don't see much of Penny while she is in Edgewater; it is her alter Eve, strong and tough, who protects Penny from the hardships of a mental asylum. Eve seems resigned to serving time in prison and Grace has to wonder, was it Penny acting as Eve who killed Rachel?

The book moves very fast and eventually we end up at the trial. Here there is a big revelation that I didn't see coming. It is a bit of a shock moment, but not totally unbelievable or far fetched. Looking back you can see the crumbs of clues that could have led you to this knowledge.

I really enjoyed reading The Perfect Daughter. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC. I gave this a strong 4 stars!

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer was a suspenseful thriller about a young girl diagnosed with multiple personalities who was found covered in blood, with a knife, standing over her birth mother's body. But the question is...is she really the killer?

Penny, who was found in a park and adopted by her parents, Grace and Arthur when she was four years old. Growing up, Penny had always been a different child and she was eventually diagnosed. There were several personalities that she exhibited...Ruby the British girl; Chloe the perfectionist; Eve the take charge, angry girl and possibly more? Grace is determined to prove that Penny was not responsible for the murder, As the case continues, even Penny's diagnosis comes into question...is she really even sick or just manipulative? This one had me staying up late at night to find out what would happen next! A thrilling novel that wrings every last big of emotion from you as you read through the trauma and trial that these characters must endure to get to the truth.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.