After reading some of the other reviews, I think it's important to remember that this book is a YA book. If that's generally not your thing...then you might not like it or it may seem "immature" to you. But it's not you that is the target audience.

With that being said, I think that this book fits right in with the young adult crowd. There are inferences of sex, drinking and drug use, but it wouldn't even be close to reality if that wasn't included, because let's face it...that's what kids (especially those that are almost 18) are doing these days!

As for the book itself, it almost read like a non-fiction book, which I actually appreciated! I really liked the fact that it was a unique story, with evolving characters, which all kept me interested from beginning to end.

I've never read anything by Kate McLaughlin before, but I am impressed with her writing. Sometimes, I have a tendency, to put off reading new authors because, let's get real, you have no way of knowing if it's actually going to be good or not, but I can tell you I was impressed and will seek out more books by this author!

Daughter was narrated by Justis Bolding, which was a first for me also, but she did a super impressive job! She seemed to fit Scarlet's character like a glove, which is always a beautiful thing!

Overall...I'm incredibly impressed with Daughter and look forward to reading more from Kate McLaughlin in the future!

I would like to thank Kate McLaughlin, RB Media, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Daughter which allowed me to contribute this honest and unbiased review!!

In Daughter, We follow Scarlet, a girl with a very overprotective mother, finds out that her dad is a serial killer. She makes a deal with her dad that she’ll see him if he tells her the names of the bodies that the police have yet to find.

A unique perspective for a book, but it is SO boring. It’s too ya for my tastes, even though in some cases it get’s really dark… my biggest issue was the story itself, after a certain point, there really isn’t that much to interest you to keep going because everything is so predictable. (The only reason i Kept going is because this is an old netgalley arc and i need to review it) Like ofcourse the first love interest turns out to be an ass, and ofcourse she finds a new Guy in the hot son of the FBI agent. Ofcourse her mom is overprotective bc she’s hiding something from her…

also the main character is so annoyingly stupid sometimes like she’s shocked over the ending? Girl your dad specifically told you that he is a fucked up person and you didn’t think that his legacy would be something fucking messed up?? ALSO HE TALKS TO HIS DAUGHTER IN DETAIL ABOUT HOW HE’D RAPE WOMEN, MURDER THEM AND ’GO BACK FOR SECONDS” HUH?!?!??! This is supposed to be YA?!?? Also as someone else said, the teen sex was so in detail and yucky.

This is my first complaining review in a long time, sorry not sorry I just needed to get my thoughts out!

I made it maybe halfway through before giving up on this one. it was slow and there was nothing exciting happening. I really tried and I may try to pick it back up to see how it ends but that's about it.

Wow, this was SUCH an intriguing plot! It’s categorized as a YA Thriller but it’s really so much more than that!

It’s a dark story that’s certainly disturbing but it’s complicated and equally captivating. I was truly absorbed from start to finish and felt like I was reading a real true crime story and had me constantly questioning what I would think of Scarlet and her mother if it was in fact a non fiction read.

The characters felt incredibly realistic and I totally connected to them. I loved reading that McLaughlin was inspired after watching ‘Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile’ and have always been curious how someone gets involved with a serial killer and the many different angles and perspectives that can follow.

I flew through this clever and extremely thought provoking story and I highly recommend it!

I was excited to get the arc for “Daughter” as it looked like it would be an interesting thriller. However, there were very little thrills and this story was the definition of telling, not showing. This was an alright book, but little seemed to go on in a book about a serial killer’s daughter other than her learning about her family and father’s sick crimes. It just ended with little excitement. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy for review.

As an audiobook it is well done and I found the narrator did a great job in tell the story. She had a good way of separating the characters with how she speaks. I can tell the book is well written, but I felt as I listen to the novel I just wanted more. The story had a good hook but I never felt it full took all the idea had to offer. I liked the main character but could see how at the start she could seem grating and the pace isn't the best either its moving almost too fast or we go to a snails pace.
I would read/ listen from this author again, but this book wasn't my favorite

Man, this was such a great book! I've loved her books from the various names that she's published under, and this book sounded really great, so of course I had to read it! I loved watching Scarlet deal with the fact that her father is a serial killer, and everything that comes from that!

Scarlet had no idea who her dad was. But when she finds out he's a serial killer-and that he's dying, and will only talk to her, to lead the authorities to bodies that they're sure that he caused, it's an awful situation. There's a lot of guilt, and anguish-she, and her mom, didn't do anything wrong, but they're connected to him, and it sucks.

Her interactions with him, boy, were they creepy. It was a bit like jockeying for power. His methods of intimidation were graphic and awful, and the one time when he brought up her mom...yeah. A death like his couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.

Between all of that and the media being told about it, there's a lot of drama in her life. I really enjoyed those times where she was able to get away, with Luke, and with her close friends, the ones that didn't react badly to the news. Or when she got to meet these family members that she didn't know existed. There was a great balance of horror and comfort in this book.

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait for whatever is next!

Such a riveting read. It did read like a coming of age story at times but i enjoyed it. It’s dark and disturbing at times as well. I really loved the character development. They felt so real.

I think somethings weren’t totally realistic and i wanted a little more from the end. But the serial killer aspect had me enthralled. Such an intriguing read.

I really enjoyed Daughter, It was more coming of age than I expected.

Scarlet's world is turned upside down when she discovers who her father actually is. I was completely hooked from the start and I liked the focus on the family of the serial killer rather than the killer himself. There's a lot about the way the public perceives serial killers and how cruel the media can be to their families.

Jeffery Lake was a monster and the author did a fantastic job of displaying this. His interactions with Scarlet were creepy and gross.

Justis Bolding's narration was fantastic. She did a great job bringing the story and characters to life.

Usually I am not very much into YA stories and I can't tell why I asked for an advanced audioversion of Daughter by Kate McLaughlin.
Anyway I am glad I listened to it! First of all Justis Bolding's narration is great!
But now about the story itself: What would you do if you found out that your father was a killer? Scarlet is 17 years old when the FBI comes to talk to her
They tell her that her father is in prison and dying. He has some important information for the FBI - but only if his daughter comes to visit him in prison. Otherwhise he will take his secret to his grave.

So Scarlet starts to question her whole life so far to come to a decision. No easy task and certainly worth to listen or read!

Thank you #NetGalley #RB Media, Recorded Books for this copy

This book is a game of cat and mouse and I really enjoyed seeing how it played out. The characters had a lot of depth to them and I liked the writing style. The father was super creepy and reminded me of Hannibal Lector from The Silence of the Lambs. I loved how that created the push and pull dynamic of his visits with his daughter. She was fascinating in her interactions with him and you could feel the tension in their meetings. The narrator Justis Bolding did a fantastic job bringing this story to life.

Wow! This book was great!! The writing was wonderful and the narration was really quite good. I loved this entire book. I really enjoyed watching the development and growth of both the mother and the daughter. I especially loved that the daughter refused to cow to her serial-killer father and took no shit from him, even though she was afraid of him and of not getting the names of his remaining victims. The best part of this book and what I wish would happen more when it comes to serial killers is that she refocused the story on the victims and took the spotlight off of the killer. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

#DaughterANovel #NetGalley

Scarlet lives an average life, even if her mom is strangely overprotective. Then one day, the FBI shows up at her doorstep. Scarlet is shocked to learn that her dad is actually renowned serial killer Jeffrey Robert Lake. He is dying and has said that he will only give the names and locations of additional victims to one person: his daughter. Scarlet’s mom has tried to protect her from her father’s legacy, but agreeing to meet with Lake will bring on the media scrutiny and threats from people who blame Scarlet for her dad’s choices. Still, Scarlet knows that she must meet with her dad to bring closure to other grieving families.

This dark YA book kept me hooked from beginning to end; I loved how the book focused on not just Scarlet and her dad but how everyone affected by Lake’s actions dealt with the repercussions of what he did. The characters were nuanced and realistic. Justis Bolding did an excellent job narrating the book. I think this book will have high crossover appeal to adults, too. I highly recommend checking out this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

This is a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, if you are sensitive to teens being teens, the swearing sex having kind (not a lot but enough it could bother some) you may just want to pass on this one. Just so you don’t get started and wind up giving a review based on that rather than the story.
Scarlet is a fairly average teen. She has some great friends, has a boy she is very interested in, and an overprotective mother. She also has a father she has never known, until now.
The FBI shows up at Scarlet’s door one day and she learns a great big whopper of a secret. Her father is an infamous serial killer! Jeffery Robert Lake. Now, he’s dying and has said he will only give the names and locations of the victims he hasn’t told anyone about to her.
Scarlet’s mother tried as hard as she could to protect her daughter but there isn’t anyway to avoid what’s about to happen: a media firestorm. There are people who automatically blame Scarlet for the things that her father has done.She wants to do the right thing, though, and meets him to try to get those names. Soon enough Scarlet bas to decide if she is going to go back into hiding or fight to be seen as more than the daughter of a vicious serial killer.
I did enjoy this book but about half the time I didn’t really like Scarlet much. It’s one of those stories you have to remind yourself a few times about how she would really act given her age and the situation she finds herself in. I also wasn’t really a fan of the love story bit. Sometimes I don’t think you really need one to write a good story but since it’s YA I suppose a love interest was kind of required. Still, I liked him. I just didn’t like them together. I think they’d have made great friends.
Still, in the end this is a well written story with a great plot that keeps your interest from start to finish as you learn along with Scarlet the horrors her father committed.

A very great audiobook and excellent story! Anytime there are serial killers involved I’m all game! Great characters and a satisfying ending!

I was provided a print and audio arc of this book via Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this awesome thriller! I loved it! I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator did a wonderful job with the different characters. Justis Bolding certainly made Lake extra creepy!

Scarlett is your typical 17 year old, she wants to hang out with friends, go to parties, date boys, make mistakes, and live her life. Her mom on the other hand is a bit overprotective and keeps her on a tight leash. We learn early on in the book why Gina, Scarlett's mom, has been so paranoid and protective, when two FBI agents knock on their door. Scarlett is thrown into a world she didn't know she was a part of when she finds out she is the daughter of a famed serial killer, who happens to be on his deathbed. His parting wish is to meet is estranged daughter in exchange for information on previously undisclosed victims.

If you are like me and you enjoy shows like Criminal Minds, crime documentary shows, and Unsolved Mysteries just to name a few, I think you will really enjoy this book. This reads a bit like a documentary, where you are learning about the killer and the people in his life. We learn about the people he charmed and fooled, those he hurt, the trial, and about the people he is still impacting in his final days. I really thought it was well done and enjoyed it!

I thought Scarlett had decent character development. There is some normal 17 year old teenage angst which is only magnified by the drama that ensues when she and her mother come out of hiding. Scarlett already deals with anxiety and she has to deal with that and the other emotions that come with the revelation that she has a serial killer for a father. Not only that but she has to deal with the repercussions of her mother's decision to hide away from the aftermath of her father's deeds and trial, reporters begin to follow her and people want to ask her questions about him and what he tells her when she visits. Fortunately Scarlett has a good support system and is quickly able to figure out who her real friends are. Scarlett very much has to deal with her father's antics as he comes to terms with is looming death, and has to cope with him wanting her to be his final prize and victim before he goes. The character of Jeff Lake was really creepy I thought the author did a good job weaving the coming of age story in with the thriller aspects. As Scarlett gets to know her father, she quickly has to get to know herself and figure out what to do with the knowledge she has quickly been given and figure out how to process it and what to do with it.

This is marked as YA, but it does have some mature themes. There is alcohol and drug use both recreational and prescription. There is sex but it is closed door and not very detailed, but it is mentioned.

Refreshing serial killer novel with a twist, when a daughter who finds out her father is a killer, turns the tables on him to extract information on other victims. Most serial killer true crime or in this case fiction, sensationalize the killer's character or law enforcement, who always seem to come in to save the day. Not in this well crafted novel, where the "Daughter" is the flawed heroine (in a sense). I could not put this down, this girl has strength and too often stories marginalize a young female character as vulnerable, impressionalble and weak, Scartlett's intuitiveness is shaped by her mother's unusual over protectiveness, basically establishing the boundaries to protect her daughter. Self-imposed WitSec by mom, is believable and not burdened by weak dialogue or overbearing macho male characters. This definitely needs to be optioned for film rights. Thank you! for the opportunity to engage in a new angle on serial killers, but also a look into how far a mother will go to protect her own.

This was a good YA mystery! I thought it was pretty fast paced and kept me entertained! Recommend if you're looking a mystery with a good story line!

As a sucker for anything Serial Killer, I knew I needed to read this one. I'm so glad I did.

They story was great and I loved Scarlet’s character so much. She was stronger than she thought she could be and turned the story on its head. She told a terrible situation and made the best of it in every way she could. She didn't let her "father" take advantage of her, held ger ground and helped the victims families along the way.

I think the author did a great job of piqueing intrigue with the murderer, yet steering the focus where it really should be. It also added so much more to what could have been just another series killer thriller. It's always a treat to get a different perspective.

This was a great introduction for me to this author and I can't wait to check out other works by her.

Review of Daughter by Kate McLaughlin

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a quick YA read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it. It was not anything overly special in my opinion though and I can’t point out any specific negatives. I will say I loved the main character.

Quick synopsis: Scarlett is a normal teenager living with an overprotective single mother. She had good friends, a crush, and a calm life. One day this changed forever when an FBI agent shows up on her doorstep. She is apparently the daughter of a notorious serial killer named Jeffrey Lake. He is dying of cancer and will reveal all of his victims’ names and locations in exchange for seeing and talking to his daughter. Scarlett is shattered but feels obligated to follow through to help.

Thank you for @netgalley for the listening copy.