The child you never knew knows all your secrets...

WOW! This is an intense and emotive read about an incredibly complex mother-daughter relationship in the wake of adoption. It's a psychological thriller with a difference in that you are taken on rollercoaster ride of emotions that leave you feeling as if you've endured the experience yourself. It evokes so many emotions from anger to disbelief to frustration to heartbreak over and over again. I'm not sure what I expected when I picked up this book...but it certainly wasn't this! Delaney has portrayed the circumstances and described the challenges faced with such expert precision and sensitivity because, let's face it, some of those challenges went way beyond the scope of normality.

Susie Jukes was twenty years old when she gave her baby daughter Sky up for adoption, a decision that has haunted her for fifteen years. Now thirty five, Susie is happily married to Gabe living in a beautiful farmhouse with converted outbuildings and a rescue dog. To complete this picture would be the longed-for addition of a child of their own. But sadly, Susie has been unable to successfully carry a pregnancy to term - the only blight on their otherwise perfect life.

So one day when Susie receives a private message on social media from someone called Anna Mulcahy claiming to be the daughter she had given up for adoption fifteen years ago, she is ecstatic. At last, she can get the chance to right the wrongs of the past and get to know the daughter she lost over a decade ago. Anna's descriptions of her home life are, by all accounts, far from happy and after meeting her, Susie begins to wonder whether Anna would be better off with her and Gabe.

But it's not as simple as that, apparently. Even talking about the circumstances surrounding the adoption now places Susie in contempt of court and not only that - Anna (or Sky) is only fifteen and is not yet the legal age of consent required by law that recognises her to make her own decisions. Therefore, she is still legally and technically in the custody of her adoptive parents...who sound anything but ideal. Things get even worse when Susie and Gabe are then served with a Child Abduction Warning Notice after Anna turned up at their place one day and stayed for two days, without the legal consent of her parents. But should Anna really be staying in a house that doesn't appear to have her best interests at heart, let alone safe?

All Susie wants is what's best for her daughter but she also wants to make up for lost time. But can she really do that after fifteen absent years? Who knows what has happened in that time. To all intents and purposes, Anna is literally a stranger and is no longer the sweet faced baby she once held to her breast. So is she being entirely truthful? Or is she manipulating that truth for her own purposes? She is, of course, just a teenager and therefore a product of an over-stretched and under-staffed system. And we all know what teenagers can be like.

But one thing is made clear the moment Anna steps into Susie and Gabe's life. Nothing will ever be the same again...

MY DARLING DAUGHTER is an intense and disconcerting read at times but with its fast pace and palpable tension this tale of domestic noir is bursting with twists and consequences I'm not sure some of the characters are even aware of. Sure, some of them were a little over the top but that merely added to the tension. It is so emotive you seriously will be tearing your hair out with this one in frustration and not knowing quite where it's going to go next.

The story unfolds through short snappy chapters - some even VERY short and snappy - and the alternating narratives of primarily Susie, Gabe and Anna/Sky. Some of which will have you shaking your head in disbelief - whether that be through suspension of belief or some of the behaviour and actions undertaken - you will be thoroughly entertained, that's for sure. There is a family dog, Sandy, and I’m happy to say he was not harmed during this novel, to spare you worrying.

This is the third psychological thriller by J.P. Delaney I have read and I'm never disappointed by his offerings. While his first "The Girl Before" wasn't my favourite it was unique in concept at the time, and "Playing Nice" was exceptional, this one is just as outstanding as the latter. I was thoroughly entertained throughout, as frustrated as I was, but I loved it.

Overall, the themes therein are tough and sensitive ones to say the least but I think Delaney handles them well. A thoroughly fantastic domestic noir and psychological thriller.

I would like to thank #JPDelaney, #NetGalley and #Quercus for an ARC of #MyDarlingDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

I whizzed through this book in one day because the storyline was so gripping but also the style of writing made for effortless reading. That is not to take anything away from this talented writer but to add to the accolades probably already received about how easy it is to get immersed in a JP Delaney book. The unique angle of a daughter seeking out her birth mother prior to coming of age and all the pitfalls and emotional baggage that entails is beautifully handled with an unbiased touch which could so easily have been heavy handed in other writer’s/editor’s hands. Well done for approaching a difficult subject matter with empathy on all sides.

I do love reading a book that has me thinking there’s no way out of this dilemma/ drama and My Darling Daughter certainly had plenty of those moments. Nothing quite as it seemed and occasionally this was disappointing as it made me question my decisions on who I liked and who to disliked.
I’m close to giving five stars but I think four probably fairer overall but I can’t say why or I will give the plot away.
Thoroughly good read.

Slightly uncomfortable reading for people who have been adopted. If it were not for that, I would have enjoyed this book more. Putting that aside, I thought it was well written and a clever idea, with some good twists.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending, but that's probably just me, although having made some damning yet interesting observations about adoption, I thought rounding it off as it was, to be unlikely and somewhat contrary to the cautionary tale that this book had been until that point.

This was such a disappointment. I’ve loved the other books and was hopeful for this one. Unfortunately it just didn’t do anything for me at all. Please get back to your usual style of writing. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I adore J.P Delaney and their books have always been a real 'win' for me - however I was left disappointed with this one.

The more the book went on, the less interested I became. The more the book went on, the more the stars got removed. It started off strong, and I really thought it would be a solid 5*, but by the end it was all just too much and so the rating went down to 3*.

I think there was too many themes and too many 'points' Delaney was trying to make with this book, that it all just became a bit much and a bit far fetched by the end.
It felt like a book of two halves - the beginning had me gripped, the later had me just rolling my eyes with the over-the-top changes to the plot. Was all too far fetched and unbelievable.

Not quite as good as his other ones. No sting in the tail at the end. I found this quite different to the other books this author has written. Good for a change but please go back to your normal style for the next one !
7/10

My Darling Daughter by JP Delaney was a roller coaster ride and I really enjoyed it......So sit tight and open your kindle or book but hold on! This book was an excellent psychological thriller,

Susie had to give up her baby girl for adoption 15 years ago. Years Later and now a teenager, Anna contacts her birth mother on social media. However, their reunion is far from perfect. Concerned with Anna’s dubious family life and her strange ways, Susie and her husband Gabe gear up to be there for her as her support system. Sadly things are not that simple and Anna has other ideas!

WoW this was so good!

I highly recommend this book especially as it was a new author to me.

Big Thank you to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘My Darling Daughter’ by JP Delaney.

Excellent example of a domestic thriller.

It always starts with secrets right? Well this is no different and they start to unravel the characters lives and this leads to real tension.

Really enjoyed this book, easy reading.

‘The child you never knew
knows all your secrets . . .’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Quercus Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘My Darling Daughter’ by JP Delaney.

I have read a number of Delaney’s thrillers and have found them all gripping page-turners. His latest continued this trend.

In the novel Susie Jukes is contacted on social media by Anna, the child she had given up for adoption fifteen years ago. However, when they meet up Susie is alarmed by Anna’s account of life with her adoptive parents. When they appear to overreact to Anna having met with Susie, she becomes convinced that Anna needs her help. No further details to avoid spoilers.

I found this an engaging domestic thriller. I especially admired Susie’s patience with respect to Anna’s increasingly erratic behaviour. It was the kind of novel that once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down.

OK, I found this one quite a difficult read.

Themes of abuse, neglect, violence, adoption and pregnancy loss. I don't know whether it was the overall theme of this book or the characters that didn't do it for me.

It wasn't as suspenseful as previous books my the author that I've loved, and I spent most of my time reading worrying about what would happen to Sky.
Maybe it was a little too real for me!

This is the second book I read from this author and once again I’ve really enjoyed it. This book was a fast past thriller with some good twists and well developed characters.. The pace of the story never slowed down and the short chapters made me kept reading until the end. I would definitely recommend this book for psychological thriller fans.

Many Thanks to the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book before being published in exchange for an honest review.
I have read a few books by JP Delaney and this one is the one I liked the less.
Susie Jones married to a well known music producer Gabe is contacted on social media by Anna, the daughter she gave in adoption 15 years ago.
They meet and her adoptive parents seem to overreact. Susie wants to believe that Anna needs help.
During the few months that Susie meets up with Anna, she stays in her house for a few days, there is always the strangeness of Anna’s behaviour. She tries to even blame Gabe of touching her inappropriately.
Anna keeps feeling guilty because she abandoned her daughter so she tries to help her as much as she can, until she realises that there are secrets that Susie has been hiding.
I didn´t like Susie and couldn´t connect with Anna as I could see that Susie was hiding something and not behaving properly. Why Anna wouldn´t see that Susie was doing everything to ruin her marriage even destroy the house?
It is an ok psychological thriller. Hopefully, next Delaney’s book will be better.

Loved it. Really well fleshed out characters and a gripping storyline.
When Sky, her adopted daughter turns up out of the blue, Susie is over the moon. It’s what she always wanted but things don’t turn out quite as she hoped and things from her and husband Gabe’s past come to the fore.

If ever there was a book 'too modern' with so much emphasis on social media - this was it, I, too, found it difficult to read and just didn’t enjoy it.

The characters were slightly unbelievable and I failed to finish it.

Thanks to Net Galley and Quercus books for the chance to read and review the book.

My Darling Daughter - JP Delaney ARC
Publication Date: 15th September

“The child you never knew
knows all your secrets . . .

Out of the blue, Susie Jukes is contacted on social media by Anna, the girl she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago.”

I’ve read a few JP Delaney books and have enjoyed them all. Much like his other books I found it a really face paced and quick read, there were some twists that I didn’t see coming. I found the themes were really interesting but I did think there were a little too many topics that it felt a bit forced.
I did enjoy reading this book and found it was really gripping.

Thanks @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

Started and finished in one reading, what a gripping book this was.
Singer Susie Jukes and her ex Boyband husband have an enviable life. Both have successful careers but also both have secrets from each other and the world. When Susie is contacted by the daughter she gave up for adoption 15 years ago the secrets begin to seep out and the works around the happy couple is dangerously tested.
The story tells a grim tale of failed care and adoption and the depths of mental health issues that are left untreated and unresolved. The author has obviously done lots of research and it is interesting to read a story that is not all about a happy process.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whenever you feel like a good fast read you can never go wrong with JP Delaney! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's also a story that makes you think.
You can see a lot of research went into writing this book and I found it fascinating! It gives you a lot of insight into British social services and how adoption orders work. In a lot of cases it is to the benefit of the child but not always. It was also fascinating to learn about the Life Letters.

What do you do if your adopted child suddenly reaches out to you? For Suzy, this was like a dream come true. She's been tormented with the memories of a child that she had to give up and suddenly out of the blue, she sees this child in the crowd at one of her concerts. Just like that Sky steps back into their lives. Will this be a joyful reunion or will it put a strain on Susie and Gabe's marriage? How do you suddenly play mother to a 15-year-old if you don't really know her?

"Someday the bells will start ringing for you. Someday the world will start singing for you. Someday in the future, you will find your past"

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Having read this authors work before, I was expecting great things. However, I found the story to be quite unbelievable and lost its way for quite a lot of the book. The twists were purely for shock factor and didn’t make sense. There wasn’t a single likeable character either!

The child you never knew

knows all your secrets….

Out of the blue, Susie Jukes receives a message on social media from a girl called Anna who claims to be the daughter she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago. Anna isn’t happy at home and Susie and her husband Gabe begin to think something’s amiss. Susie is convinced Anna needs her help. Who is telling the truth and what secrets have been kept hidden and are ready to be exposed?

A psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, My Darling Daughter is a deliciously dark and twisty domestic noir with plenty of truly terrifying moments.

Dealing with some very difficult topics, Delaney’s book is an interesting exploration of the world of adoption and what can happen when the support networks aren’t there for the child and adults involved. Some elements of this book were hard to read but the secrets that are revealed throughout the book makes it hard to feel sorry for any of the characters.

Told from multiple points of view, the author delivers a truly gripping story that you won’t want to put down. The short and snappy chapters jumping from one character’s perspective to the next adds to the increasing sense of tension and suspense in the story.

Thoroughly engaging, My Darling Daughter is packed full of family drama- go check it out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for the arc. My Darling Daughter is out now..