With some triggering themes including incest and grooming this book is not a cosy read however it is a very well written powerful psychological thriller that like a good 8/10 part series once started needs to be finished
It’s taut,emotive and will stay with you,very good read with strong characters

I could not put this book down.

Dandy Smith introduces us to Caitlin Arden, a twenty-something year 5 teacher who, sixteen years ago, watched in horror as her thirteen year-old sister Olivia was abducted from the family home by a masked man. Wracked by survivor’s guilt, Caitlin finds the only way to relate to her grief-stricken parents is to sacrifice her own dreams of travel and art and devote herself to being the dutiful daughter. When Olivia turns up out of the blue, Caitlin is convinced that Olivia is not all that she seems. Alone in her doubts about Olivia’s identity, Caitlin loses friends and family. Even her idyllic engagement is thrown into jeopardy.

With a sorceress’s flair, Dandy casts a glamour over each character so the reader is left wondering who to trust and desperate to unpick the evolving mystery. Each cast member is treated like a favoured child by the author. They have recognisable idiosyncrasies, desires and doubts. You will find something to love about all of them, even the bad ones.

If you value your manicure, read it with gloves on. It’s thrilling. The plotting gallops effortlessly though as hazardous as the Grand National. Dandy Smith proves herself an architectural whizz with story structure, but wields her pen like an artist. There are beautifully described scenes like her sister’s eyes blue as ‘glacial lakes and summer skies’ the fatally gothic Ledbury Hall where the library ‘smells of strong coffee, of leather and learning,’ and an 'Eastenders' worthy wedding catfight that will have you in stitches. The setting is the modern grandeur of Bath steeped in the laid-back beauty of Somerset with a lusty dose of the more dark and mysterious Yorkshire. It's immersive and cinematic writing.

If you’re a fan of strong contemporary female characters where sisters do it for themselves, then this book will grip you like a vice. It has all the rich psychological unpicking of Lisa Jewell or Ruth Ware. If you haven’t read ‘One Small Mistake’ and ‘The Perfect Match’ then rush out and get copies. A Dandy Smith novel is a wedding dress with a beautifully heart-shaped bloodstain. She is certainly an author to follow. Thanks to NetGalleyUK and Embla Books for the eARC.

This story is told in two different parts - Caitlin/Olivia and Elinor/Heath. I found this very frustrating because I couldn’t see the relevance of the Elinor/Heath storyline and it just didn’t make sense to me. It did make me keep reading though, because I just wanted to know why their story was in the book. Anyway, as all good books do, the story came together in a way that I didn’t predict at all! I loved Caitlin’s character, she was strong and stuck to her beliefs even when everyone was trying to make out that she was crazy.

Wow! This book was so good! It was my first Dandy Smith book, but won’t be my last.

There are two completely different stories being told in this book. One is about Elinor, and her brother Heath, who live in a gothic mansion. I can’t say much more about that one without giving too much away. The other story is about sisters Olivia and Caitlin. Olivia is abducted as a child, but when she returns Caitlin can’t shake something is off. Is this really her sister?

I love the relationship between Olivia and Caitlin. It’s vulnerable and raw. It is truly so well written.

I spent the book thinking there was no way these two plots could intersect, but when they did it made complete sense, and I loved it.

This is one of my favorite reads in a while. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I saw the cover, this book screamed to me as a 'read me'. Reading the outline drew me in and called for me to read the story of Caitlin and Olivia, the sister who was kidnapped and returned sixteen years later. If it had just been their story then I'd be recommending this book, but I didn't care for Elinor's story. It made me want to put it down as a DNF but I pushed on. I wished I hadn't because it just wasn't holding my attention the way it should have done.

This book is a roller-coaster ride. Nothing like I expected. Sixteen years ago, Caitlin's older sister, Olivia, was kidnapped from their home. When Olivia returns, Caitlin has doubts and concerns but no one believes her. What actually happened?

For the first part of the book, it seems like two separate stories. Both filled with grief and loss, one story darker than the other. As the stories merge, the psychological thrill-ride takes off. The plot is well thought out. Sanity is questioned and chaos ensues.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The twists and turns are great but not all of the personalities worked for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Embla Books for an early copy.

This book was amazing! Fast paced with lots of twists and turns along the way! A fab thriller ! Couldn't put it down, highly recommend.

"The Wrong Daughter" is the first book I've read by Dandy Smith, and I found it to be excellently written, keeping me eagerly wanting to know more. The story is primarily told through the perspective of Caitlin Arden, who receives a call from her father in the middle of the night, informing her that her sister has returned. As a young girl, Caitlin witnessed her sister Olivia being taken by a masked intruder. The guilt from that traumatic event shapes Caitlin's decisions as she grows into adulthood.

While everyone is ecstatic about Olivia's return, Caitlin starts to question whether it's too good to be true. Intertwined with the main narrative is another saga of family drama, narrated by Elinor Ledbury. This adds depth to the overall story, creating a tale of mystery and betrayal.

The fast-paced nature of the story kept me entertained, constantly guessing what would be revealed next. Dandy Smith skillfully weaves two separate storylines together, creating a compelling narrative. I look forward to reading more books by Dandy Smith, hoping to enjoy them as much as I did this one.

I want to express my gratitude to Embla Books, Dandy Smith, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

This book is 300 pages of a binge-worthy ride. It's a fast read but with some great twists and an unexpected conclusion! It's a little Criminal Minds and a little Law and Order written from multiple points of view. This is a short review because I don't want to give anything away. I will list trigger warnings below, before the description that may contain spoilers. The ending isn't all roses and butterflies. It is unexpected. All I can say is that this is a psychological thriller that I would recommend if this is your genre!

Trigger warnings:
Murder
Incest- not graphic, but spoken of
Grooming- obviously
Kidnapping
Description
The phone starts vibrating in my hand. It's my father. He never calls. Pulse racing, I sit up in bed and answer. 'Caitlin,' he says. 'You need to come to the house. Right now. It's Olivia. She's back.'

On the night when Caitlin and Olivia's parents leave them to go to a dinner party both girls are full of excitement about finally being old enough to stay home alone.

What they don't see is the figure watching them through the open window. Who, after the girls have fallen asleep, will turn the handle of the unlocked back door.

When their parents return, they will find Olivia's bed empty. Their eldest daughter gone. Never to return. Until now.

But is the woman who claims to be Olivia all she seems? Is everything Caitlin said she saw that night the whole truth?

Their family have dreamed of this moment, but both sisters are keeping more than one secret. What price will they all pay if they end up believing the wrong daughter?

The absolutely gripping and page-turning new psychological thriller from bestselling author Dandy Smith, with a killer twist you won't see coming.
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I received this book from NetGalley and Embla books for this review. I was under no obligation to give a positive review. All opinions are on my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

WOW!! This book was fantastic. What a thrilling mind bending novel with twists and turns all the way throughout. Once I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. So if you read the blurb you know there are two sisters, Olivia the older one and Caitlin three years younger. They are very close to each other and then one night when their parents are away a masked man comes into their room and kidnaps Olivia. Sixteen years later she returns but Caitlin starts to feel she is not her sister. Also there is another storyline going on about a sister and her older brother who live in a major estate. Their parents have died and their Uncle is their guardian till Heath, the brother is old enough to get the estate. As we get towards the end of the book we see how their story coverages with Olivia. I do not want to go further with my review because I do not want to give away any spoilers but this is a MUST read book if you like psychological thrillers with twists and turns and a truly fantastic major twist at the end which I never saw coming. I want to thank Net galley and the publisher for this ARC I received for a honest review. Thank you net galley. I look forward to another book from this author. I gave it five stars but if I could I would give it more. Just awesome. Read in one day!!!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

This is the second book I’ve read by Dandy Smith and it didn’t disappoint. I liked how the book was split into two different narratives - one with Caitlin and Olivia and one with Heath and Elinor. Both very different but equally as intriguing and they had to be connected I thought as I read the book.

Caitlin and Olivia were sisters that had been left home alone while their parents went out one summers night. They had a great time and picnicked in a field by their home. Later that evening Cailtin was woken up by a noise and went to investigate- she saw her big sister Olivia being led away by a man in a mask. Caitlin was frozen with fear and shock and was hysterical by the time her parents came home. Despite a large police investigation Olivia was never found and there was no trace of the man in the mask.

Years later when Caitlin was an adult her father called to ask her to come home immediately- Olivia had returned. Despite her joy about seeing her sister again Caitlin had so many questions to ask Olivia and wasn’t convinced by some of the answers.

Running alongside this were Heath and Elinor who lived in their family stately home - their Uncle Robert was their guardian. He only tended to come home at weekends so the brother and sister were left to their own devices the majority of the time. They had an extremely close relationship and Heath was Elinor’s protector and she barely left the house.

I really enjoyed this book and the narrative about both siblings. I couldn’t work out what the connection was and desperately wanted Olivia and Caitlin to be happy to have each other again. A fab book and one I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

I love a book that has me asking questions and this book did exactly that, it really had me hooked right until the very end

The phone starts vibrating in my hand. It's my father. He never calls. Pulse racing, I sit up in bed and answer. 'Caitlin,' he says. 'You need to come to the house. Right now. It's Olivia. She's back.'

On the night when Caitlin and Olivia's parents leave them to go to a dinner party both girls are full of excitement about finally being old enough to stay home alone.

What they don't see is the figure watching them through the open window. Who, after the girls have fallen asleep, will turn the handle of the unlocked back door.

When their parents return, they will find Olivia's bed empty. Their eldest daughter gone. Never to return. Until now.

But is the woman who claims to be Olivia all she seems? Is everything Caitlin said she saw that night the whole truth?

Their family have dreamed of this moment, but both sisters are keeping more than one secret. What price will they all pay if they end up believing the wrong daughter?


Thank you Netgalley and the publishers Embla Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I could not put this down I needed to know if it was olivia who had returned or an imposter. Very fast paced which I loved

4 stars

This book started out strong for me and I was quite interested in the plot. I felt for Caitlin and was rooting for her to solve the mystery around her missing sister. I wasn’t quite sure where the dual point of views was going, but assumed there would be a connection with Olivia's disappearance. But, then things just got weird. I was not expecting the turn of Heath and Olivia, living together in a mansion of deceit, betrayal and murder. I was hoping for a different outcome, but it was a fun read.

For a totally engrossing wild ride from beginning to end, Dandy Smith’s, “The Wrong Daughter,” will keep you turning pages late into the night questioning your thoughts on who is who and what is what in this multi-narrative, multi-plot, and multi-point-of-view family sagas that will converge around a child kidnapping mystery where the girl returns years later.

Granted the leggy blonde modelesque beauty certainly appears to be Olivia, the 13-year-old who was marched out of her house by an unknown masked man who was holding a knife to her neck. However, she could be an imposter, right—a person who is falsifying DNA tests with authorities somehow, couldn’t she? This woman’s memory about some past experiences and relationships seem very fuzzy or nonexistent. Why?

This now returned Olivia seems suspicious to her younger sister, Caitlin, whose warning radar and hackles prickled immediately upon Olivia’s sudden reappearance. However, their parents are ecstatic because their long lost beloved daughter is back. They are rejoicing at this great blessing.

As Caitlin, Olivia and their family and friends reconnect during these early days of
being back together, Caitlin is plagued with the anxiety that the masked who kidnapped her sister is still around and secretly stalking her. Of course, no one believes her. They all think she’s jealous as well when she suspects that the woman who returned is a fake.

Making this story even more fascinating, yet thoroughly mind-bending is the complementary tale also twinning throughout this kidnapping drama. It’s also a family drama, but of a very different sort. This one centers on a the dysfunctional heirs of a wealthy estate. Eventually, dear readers, the threads of these seemingly unrelated tales will converge into a weirdly satisfying conclusion. Upon completion of this tale, a passage from a work by Victorian literary writer Oscar Wilde came to mind. It is below.

“…Yet each man kills the thing he loves,
By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word,
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!

Some kill their love when they are young,
And some when they are old;
Some strangle with the hands of Lust,
Some with the hands of Gold:
The kindest use a knife, because
The dead so soon grow cold.

Some love too little, some too long,
Some sell, and others buy;
Some do the deed with many tears,
And some without a sigh:
For each man kills the thing he loves,
Yet each man does not die…”

Excerpted from the Poem,
“The Ballad of Reading Gaol,”
By Oscar Wilde


JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Dandy Smith, and Publisher Embla Books, an Imprint of Bonnier Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Omg what an addictive page turner this was it sucked me in from chapter one and I could not put it down. This was a very dark thriller told from multiple perspectives which I loved as it helped build the suspense. It was a very thrilling rollercoaster of a read which I can’t wait to recommend to everyone. Fantastic thriller I will be looking out for this authors other books. Thanks to netgallery and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Embla Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is kind of like a car accident, it's kinda f***ed up but you can't look away, or in this case, stop reading.

Caitlin and Olivia are two sisters who grew up together, until one night when their parents are out, a man in a Venetian mask abducts Olivia.
From that night onwards, Caitlins' life is changed forever. Growing up with the guilt of blaming herself for her sisters' abduction and constantly living in Olivias' shadow in the eyes of her parents.

Fast forward 16 years, Caitlin is an adult, she has a job as a school teacher (Olivia's chosen profession), an adoring fiancee and a home to call their own. Despite the many years since the abduction, she still thinks about her missing sister every single day.

One morning Caitlin receives a call from her father which is extremely unusual. She is told Olivia has returned.
Is this strange woman claiming to be Olivia really Caitlins' long-lost sister? Why has she returned now after so long??

Caitlins' life begins to spiral as her suspicions against her so-called sister mount and she begins to question her sanity and so does everyone else she loves. Is Caitlin in as much danger as she fears? Why is the man in the mask following her? Is he really there or is she imagining it? Who can she trust??

While we follow Caitlin for the majority of the book, there is another plot. One that tells the story of Heath and Elinor. These are the parts I found the hardest to read at times. Heath and Elinor have an unconventional brother-sister relationship, fueled by love, jealousy and desire. However uncomfortable these parts may be, they are necessary for the story. Readers definitely need to keep that in mind when struggling to read about Heath and Elinor.

Although I usually quite dislike the "unreliable narrator trope", The Wrong Daughter was engaging and kept me wanting more and pushing through. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Dandy Smith.

The Wring Daughter is a page turner. Once I got sucked in it was hard to put the book down. A little predictable but still a very likable book. I kept questioning the two storylines and what they had to do with each other. I kept trying to guess what the relation was, I can tell you i NEVER guessed that being the relation and was floored.

OMG! WHAT IN THE WORLD! This book is so good and addictive def worth the read 5 star rating for sure!

Multiple POV which is what i like in books so this was perfect. Twists and turns with the surprises are awesome!
When i thought i had this figured out.... nope def was incorrect!! Could not have been more off the grid!
The characters are all believable and the dialogue is perfect. The pace of the book makes you just want to not put it down.
Please note,,,, this book examines families, grief, obsession and love. The writing is awesome and the ending was beautiful! This one will stay with me for a while. Want to read more by this author will be an author i pick up without even reading the synopsis!

Thanks to NetGalley for this read!