Alison is a wife, mother of two, and author of the bestselling children’s book Moxie Saves Christmas. She lives in a lovely farmhouse in Vermont and spends one day every winter decorating the Christmas tree with her family. They make gingerbread and listen to Christmas carols and drink hot chocolate and laugh together. Christmas is Mark’s favorite holiday, as it is for their youngest daughter Olivia. Their teenager Izzy is skeptical of the holiday and would rather spend the day with her girlfriend, but Alison and Mark convince her to join in.

But decorating day is put on hold when Alison gets a phone call from Paul, her mother’s assistant. She’s barely spoken to her mother since she was able to be on her own. There had been an occasional phone call, a visit every few years. But otherwise, Alison had nothing to do with her mother’s life. Mavis Eldeen was an esteemed artist, wealthy and famous. But Alison had known her as a drunk and cruel mother. And now her mother was dying, and she wanted to spend her final weeks with Alison and her family, at their Vermont farmhouse.

Alison is slow to agree, but she does want to make some peace with her mother while she has a chance. She wants to try to understand her mother’s cruel remarks when she’d been a kid, the painful scars on her back, the mean-spirited pranks she had been subjected to. So she agrees. Paul takes over the planning, setting up the hospice nurse and providing all the paperwork, doctor’s orders, prescription information, everything Alison would need to care for her mother. They set up the guest room with a hospital bed and prepare for the arrival of Mavis.

Alison is worried at first, at how her mother would be around her husband and daughters. Would she be the same spiteful, abusive mother she had known as a kid? And if so, would she be able to protect her daughters from that? But as soon as Mavis shows up, she is generous and grateful, enjoying the ballet stories of Olivia, who is about to dance in her first Nutcracker performance. And when Izzy suggests video interviews with her grandmother, Mavis agrees to the interviews and encourages Izzy to make a documentary. Even Mark is charmed, playing cards with her.

At first, Alison is relieved that Mavis is being the mother from Alison’s good memories. But there are some unsettling events happening in the house too. A bunch of flies show up in Izzy’s room. Olivia starts having nightmares. And Alison feels unsettled, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And then her mother starts talking about a thing that happened when Alison was a kid, something that had happened when she had been alone in the woods. She had never told anyone about it. So how could her mother have known about it?

As the days go by, Alison tries to talk to her mother but her mother flips back and forth between the kind grandmother and the spiteful woman Alison had moved far away from. Sometimes it seemed like all Mavis cared about was the rock she had kept from her best friend. It was a special rock they had found on a trip to Mexico, beautiful with dark strands throughout. But for Alison, the rock seemed to make her crazy. Is the stress of dealing with her mother driving Alison crazy, or is there some dark magic that is seeping into their lives and putting them all in mortal danger?

My Darling Girl is a dark thriller about the demons that haunt us and the lengths we will go to trying to find safety and sanctuary. Author Jennifer McMahon is back to keep us all from a good night’s sleep with this twisted tale of family secrets, abuse, and dark magic.

This domestic thriller is a haunting good time, but it has some difficult moments to get through. Beside the child abuse, there is some animal abuse, talk of alcoholism, suicide, the painful reality of aging parents, and an overall chill that is hard to chase away without heavy blankets and a weapon stashed beside the bed. I love McMahon’s writing and her use of the supernatural, but there were moments of this book that may end up in my nightmares. This one is not for inexperienced thriller reader. It takes some work to get through. That being said, if you too ever wondered if your family member was possessed by evil, and you love a good horror movie, then My Darling Girl may just be the book you’ve been looking for.

Egalleys for My Darling Girl were provided by Gallery Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Allison O’Connor survived her childhood, and her mother, barely. Now she’s married, with two girls, and the successful author of a children’s book. She’s mostly put her past behind her, and then her mother’s caretaker calls and informs her that Mavis is dying of cancer. And she wants to spend her last days with her daughter and her family. So Allison- despite her fears and better judgment- moves Mavis into her house.

Her mother is at times sweet, and lovely, but her personality turns on a dime she into another person entirely. The person that Allison remembers from her childhood. Then strange, FREAKY, things start happening. Just what did Allison let into her house?

I won’t spoil anything for you, but suffice it to say bad things are about to happen. This is very much a character-driven story, that slowly ratchets up the tension and foreboding until readers are left gripping their Kindles in anticipation. And that ending- wow. I don’t even know what to say.

If you are looking for a creepy Halloween read- look no further.

Another home run for Jennifer McMahon!n! She has many talents--one is to take what seems like a benign plot and turn it into the scariest--keep you-up-all-night-long--horror--story. We meet an author famous for her children's books--she has what seems to be the perfect life in Vermont--a devoted husband and two daughters. The onion of her life is slowly peeled as we learn about her abusive childhood. Soon her mother is again part of her life and the abuse and bizarre behavior is back This story has amazing twists and a last line that made me gasp.

Allison's mother is dying.
She was toxic, abusive and probably drove her husband to suicide but she needs somewhere to spend her last days and Allison has decided to allow her to do so in her home, with her own husband and children.
perhaps searching for closure to their relationship, but in doing so she allows in much more than she bargained for.
This was a hard to put down thriller- no one believes Allison when she starts to think her mother is possessed by a demon(evil spirit?) and this was an excellent spooky season read!

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced reader copy (ARC)!

Jennifer McMahon has become one of my favorite authors to read, particularly this time of year when the leaves are beginning to turn + there's a bite to the air + an edge of mystery creeping in...or is that someone with a knife...

I received my ARC in April and I was so excited to get into it! And yet...I kept putting off actually reading it. 1. because I've grown more favorable to audiobooks in the last handful of years and 2. because the content was so hard for me to digest. A spine-tingling psychological thriller about a woman who, after taking in her dying, alcoholic mother, begins to suspect demonic possession is haunting her family. Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive to this, not because I feared my mother was possessed by a demon, but "My Darling Girl" is not for the faint of heart. Particularly those opening pages of Chapter One. CW: child abuse

Things I Loved:

1. The unraveling. McMahon does an excellent job at revealing juuuuust enough at the perfect time to keep you on your toes. Especially Allison's backstory + her journey as she moves more and more toward the edge of unreliable narrator.

2. Moxie. My Darling Girl could also be called: Moxie: The Dog Who Knew Something Wasn't Right About Mavis.

3. Loved to hate: the gaslighting. Because OMFG, can ANYONE believe Allison? By the end of the book, I was so sick of her Hallmark-channel-Christmas-loving husband that I nearly screamed and dropped my iPad in the tub just to try and drown the man. Because, ugh. Fuck off Mark.

Cross posted on Goodreads

Uneasy and extremely creepy, My Darling Girl is the story of a woman who survived major trauma at the hands of her mother when she was child. Now an adult, Ali agrees to take in her mom who is on her deathbed, so she can die in peace surrounded by Ali’s family.

The writing is superb. The story is chilling, with quite a few scenes causing goosebumps and the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end. I loved the pace of the book and the characters. While there are supernatural elements to the book, we also have a case of the unreliable heroine and when it comes to psychological thrillers, the unreliable heroine is among my favorite tropes.

Fans of Gillian Flynn will enjoy this tale with its underlying currents of supernatural horror and an ending that is quite unsettling!

Alison grew up in an abusive home with her mother that was very unpredictable. When her mom contacts her and tells her she is dying, Alison goes to her side. She decides to allow Mavis to come live with them for her final days even though it’s with lots of reservations. When she starts to suspect her mother may be possessed by a demon, Alison must find a way to protect her family while convincing them she isn’t insane.

This isn’t what I expected when I picked this book up at all. It was full of twists and turns. I don’t always love books about demonic possession but this one held my attention and presented it in such a way that it seemed believable.

My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon might occur over the winter holidays, but it is the perfect spooky read for October. The trace of otherworldliness existing at the fringes of Mavis' relationship with Allison is enough to give you goosebumps. Meanwhile, the lingering questions about Mavis' true identity will haunt you long after you finish it.

One of the reasons Ms. McMahon is one of my go-to authors is how well she leaves her stories unanswered. She is a queen of creating doubt within her readers. Most of her novels have elements of the supernatural in them. Except, you never know if they are truly supernatural in nature or a figment of an unreliable narrator's imagination. The doubt she creates sets Ms. McMahon's novels apart from her fellow writers.

In My Darling Girl, that doubt exists from the moment Mavis arrives at Allison's house. After all, Allison is the victim of childhood abuse, and she still seeks approval and love from her abuser. It would be easy to excuse what she sees as nothing more than PTSD. As her husband and friend suggest, the trauma of having her abuser in the house after all these years is a tremendous strain, and we know Allison never obtained the help she needs to heal from her past.

Yet, in Ms. McMahon fashion, Allison is a little too believable when it comes to her suspicions. The arguments she makes internally are good ones, convincing ones. You see what she sees, and what she sees is downright scary.

I love Ms. McMahon's novels, and My Darling Girl is no different. It has the right balance of creepy and sweet, surety and doubt, to leave you guessing. As for what the right answer is, that is up to each reader. But I would love to discuss it with you!

I don't read a lot of horror or paranormal suspense, so I went into My Darling Girl with some trepidation. But I really enjoyed this one!

While scary (and perfect for the Spooky Season), My Darling Girl was not overwhelmingly horrifying, which I appreciated. The mother-daughter themes were interesting and are something I'm seeing more in thrillers.

The ending was surprising perfection!

Just really enjoyed this and though some may think reading thrillers around the holidays is weird, this would make a perfect choice!

While this wasn't among my favorite Jennifer McMahon books, I do think it's a very solid entry, and it certainly delivered the chills I've come to expect from her work. I think this works more as a winter horror (obviously) than an autumnal/Halloween read, though.

One of McMahon's best! I've read many of her books, and have loved how she weaves in a little bit of supernatural into a very believable story. I couldn't put this one down, and will be recommending it!

I think creepy Christmas is almost creepier than creepy Halloween sometimes. We expect it at Halloween. It is more sinister at Christmas.

Do not be fooled. This one is a slow starter and my take some time to ramp up and bring the horror. It isn’t an in your face tale. But it has a great middle and ending. Just get past the slow build in the beginning.

First line: “Ali Alligator?” my mother whispered as she crept into my room, slipped under my heavy quilt, cuddled up next to me on my twin bed.

Summary: With Christmas on the horizon, Alison receives a phone call that her mother has cancer with only weeks left to live. Making the difficult decision to allow her mother to spend her last days with Alison and her family she wonders if they can heal the wounds of her childhood. As her mother moves in, Alison is reminded of the horrors her alcoholic and abusive mother put her through. But with each passing day Alison notices strange changes in the woman she knew. Who is or what is her mother? And can Alison stop whatever has taken hold in her house before it infects her family?

My Thoughts: This is one of those books that is perfect for this time of year. It’s a spooky Christmas story with a dark entity stalking our main character. There is a rising tension throughout the book leading up to the final chapter. Alison is plagued by her memories but keeps hoping for a better end but as a reader we know that this will never happen. Something has taken over Mavis. As the story continues you can see Alison’s fear and obsession taking over making conflict with others around her.

I loved/hated the relationship between Mavis and her granddaughter, Olivia. It was menacing. She is having her call her a strange name and keeping secrets from Alison. You instantly feel like something bad is on the horizon. As more is revealed about who Mavis really is and her back story the pieces start to fall into place. It is pretty easy to tell what a catalyst for the evil in the house is but it takes a while to dawn on Alison.

The story is more character driven as Alison deals with her past demons and her relationships. I never felt that I could completely trust her and her memories. But I got a shock in the last chapter that gave me chills! Such a fun read for either October or Christmas time.

This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, with no idea where you are going to end up! Thoroughly enjoyable, I really enjoyed the family drama aspect while incorporating the horror of genres past.

Alison’s mother has been diagnosed with cancer. She wants to spend her last days with Alison and her family. Alison eventually says yes, but with an extreme amount of hesitation. There is so much trauma from her childhood and her abusive mother, Alison is torn on what is the right thing to do. And can she actually trust her mother to be around her children?

Well! My October has started strong! This book kept me on my toes! Let me tell you! Now, it is not going to be for everyone. And I am not a huge “horror” reader. I would not necessarily classify this as horror…I mean it is but it isn’t. You will have to read this to find out. I have read every single one of this author’s books and I have loved them all. She always has a “borderline” horror feel to her reads. So to say she is suspenseful is an understatement.

When this story started out, I was afraid I could not read it. It has some triggers that set off some childhood issues. But, as the story unfolded…I could not put it down. And the ending…GEEZ! Not to mention…THE DEMON! You heard me! THE DEMON!

Need a story that will rock your world…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Nobody does creepy, atmospheric, ghostly stories quite like Jennifer McMahon.
Alison grew up with a crappy mom…but now mom wants to move in with Alison for her final days, and make amends. But mom is not like Alison remembers. Is it even her mom? Or has something inhabited her body?

Don't let the cute little title fool you. This book is the perfect way to start spooky season. I would label this as supernatural, horror, phycological thriller. It is not my first book by author McMahon. She is amazing at eerie novels. She has a way of taking a typical story and twisting it just-so.

Mavis is a dying woman with a single wish: that her daughter take her in and care for her in her last few days despite the fact she was a cruel and horrible mother. Even though every bone in Alison's body says no, she agrees to allow her mother to stay in her farmhouse with her and her family. This could prove to be a horrible mistake.

Alison must relive instances of her past to try and find out what is happening in the present and figure out how it may effect her and her family's future. The process of doing so may just drive her crazy, literally.

I hate to give to much away. This was sooooo good. I got swept up in it and found myself not wanting to put it down and get back to reality. McMahon does such a wonderful job developing characters and setting scenes it seems like I am there, a part of the story.

I should have seen the ending coming, but honestly didn't! It was one of those endings that leaves you satisfied but weirdly wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for allowing me an advanced digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 5 star read!

"My Darling Girl" is out today, October 3, 2023 here in the U.S. so get your copy now! A perfect fall read!

Happy Reading!

This novel started slow for me but really ended on a bang!

It took me a while to get invested in these characters and the storyline. McMahon paints a bleak picture of a childhood riddled with abuse and trauma that was occasionally tough to read. Determined to break the cycle, but also to put her relationship with her mother in a healthier spot, Alison agrees to let her ill mother stay with her during her final weeks. When Mavis arrives at her daughter's house, Alison questions her memories and even her current experiences when her entire family seems besotted with Mavis. Is Alison a reliable narrator? Or is Mavis the ultimate manipulator? Or something worse?

There were SO MANY red flags with this book and I can't give it a higher rating because there were countless times where I was yelling at Alison through the pages. As a mother, some of her decisions were absolutely baffling and infuriating and I really struggled to empathize with her as she made bad choice after bad choice.

Overall, this story is dark and kept me at the edge of my seat. There were some great twists and the writing was superb. The ending, while not totally unpredictable, was fantastic and I closed the last page with a smile on my face - nicely done!

This book was one of those fun novels that gives you creepy, spooky season vibes but takes place during the holidays so it's perfect for anytime from September through January!

I suspect this one is going to be wildly popular and while I really enjoyed it, but it didn't totally blow my socks off. Ultimately, I do recommend it and I'm looking forward to more by McMahon.

3.5 rounded down.

Thank you to Gallery and NetGalley for the copy.

Jennifer McMahon returns following The Children on the Hill with one of her best, MY DARLING GIRL —a chilling, gripping psychological thriller. A woman agrees to bring her estranged alcoholic and abusive mother into her home. She soon wonders who this woman is in this sinister, twisty, dark, and emotional holiday family drama of suspense and horror.

Set in Vermont, in December and soon to be Christmas. Mark and Alison O'Conner are married and live in an older, historically renovated farmhouse with two children.

Alison is a popular children's author-illustrator of the Moxie series, named after their six-year-old Lab. Her husband Mark is all about Christmas and loves the decorating and festive holiday season— Allison, not so much.

We learn that Alison (Ali Alligator) grew up with an abusive alcoholic mother to her and her brother Ben. Now, her mother is dying of cancer and wants to make amends during her final days and requests to come and live with Allison and her family.

Her brother thinks she is nuts for even considering it. She worries about bringing her mom into their home around the children. But this time, maybe it will help heal their past wounds, so she agrees.

Her mom is well off financially and can afford private care. She has had an assistant, Paul, for the last 15 years who handles her mom's personal and business life, her travel, gallery and museum events, and sales of her artwork. He lives in a carriage house on her mom's property in Woodstock and was always by her side.

At first, her mom is pleasant to everyone, but whenever she is around Alison, she turns into someone different. Sinister and evil begin happening, and she wonders if she is devil-possessed.

She begins reading all these books about how to break the spells and cure her mom. However, this leads Alison to do weird things, and she is a bundle of nerves, trying to protect her family from the terrifying monster when she has a book due and cannot get it together.

Soon, her family thinks she is the crazy one because Mavis acts differently around everyone else. The girls think she is a wonderful grandmother. But then she is afraid her mother is demon-possessed, and she will pass it down to her. Her brother wants nothing to do with Mavis.

All the while, Mark is involved in the holiday festivities, Izzy is interested in making a film, Mavis is manipulative and scary, and Alison's life has turned into a nightmare.

When she thinks she has solved the problem by protecting her family, the author gives you a final shocking twist!

Told from Alison's POV, alternating between the present and her childhood, MY DARLING GIRL is a heart-breaking, character-driven family drama and a suspenseful, creepy psychological thriller. The author explores both complex mother-daughter relationships and childhood trauma.

No one does atmospheric, spine-chilling, horror, mystery, suspense, evil, and haunting mixed with dark humor better than Jennifer McMahon! Even though I am not a huge horror, supernatural, demon-possessed fan, I enjoy the author's writing and storylines, and MY DARLING GIRL was both emotional and scary.

MY DARLING GIRL would make a perfect Halloween read, even though it is centered around Christmas. I highly recommend this one to fans of this genre and the author. I read in two sittings, and it was challenging to put down. Great characterization!

Thanks to Gallery Books/Scout Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 3, 2023
Oct 2023 Must Read Books

Rating: 2.25 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2/5
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 1/5
-Writing: 4/5
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary
-Horror: 1/5
-Mystery: 1/5
-Thriller: 3/5
-Contemporary : 3/5
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Meh

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

I have never been so disappointed in any one of Jennifer's books like I did this on. WOW. Just... fucking wow. The main character is so.... horribly written. I understand where Jennifer was coming from. I understood what she wanted to do but how she wrote it was so poorly done. Everything was so badly placed. Besides that the story was good, had good potential to be better but uhm that ending had me.