Daughter of mine is a small time thriller laced with exhaustive summer heat and telling weather.

Hazel has returned to mirror lake for her late father’s celebration of life. Although she has two brothers you get the sense that she is on her own with no remaining family. She seems to be an outcast on the outside of town, uninformed of the comings and goings.

Her brothers are pretty unlikable characters and aren’t very friendly or inclusive with her, though we find out the reason for that later on.

But the recent passing of her father isn’t all that’s going on. A never ending drought is causing the surrounding lake waters to get lower and lower each day, and secrets are starting to be revealed.

What starts out as one sunken car, turns into two and connections from the past start to be made. On top of that her sister in law seems to have gone missing, though nobody will take Hazels concerns seriously. Family tensions rise and Hazel begins to wonder if everything she’s believed over the last decade+ has been a lie.

This is very much a slow burn with small revelations being dropped over a span of time, which eventually lead to connecting the dots.

The atmosphere is very small town secrets and cover ups and the heatwave is palpable leaving the reader to wait for the inevitable storm to arrive.

I liked Hazels character, but i didn’t really connect with the majority of the plot. This could be due to having a general dislike for the towns characters or hoping for the pace to pick up speed and intensity that never seemed to arrive.

What I did like: The cover is stunning, as are all Megan Miranda’s books which seem to have a colour scheme that I find especially aesthetically pleasing.

I liked Hazels determination and drive to find out answers even though everyone tried to shut her out along the way.

I liked how each chapter was divided by the “days without rain” count, adding to the weather atmospheric portion of the book.

I’m a fan of Megan Miranda in general, although this is not my favourite of her books. I did read it in one sitting so if you are looking for an easy to read palette cleanser this could be the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an early copy of this book!

Thanks @netgalley and @simonandschuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoy @meganlmiranda’s mysteries, and I was excited to read this one. While I found the book a bit slower and repetitive at the beginning, I was hooked by the middle. There was a lot to this mystery, and I was not expecting that ending. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books, especially for the second half of this novel. Check it out when it’s released in April 2024. #avivaandfriendsrecos

Through distorted, or deliberately disrupted memories, Hazel tries to return home after the death of her father. Her welcome is less than warm, and fills her with more questions. Miranda is able to create both doubt and belief as she reveals Hazels past and relationships with the other characters. The only person I fully trusted to be genuine was Skyler, her six-year old niece. The house, and the village itself, took on a unique role in creating suspense and intrigue. I was left wondering if the villagers knew the truth, or were just banding together to protect their own. Despite her living there for so long Hazel did not truly seem to belong, adding to the mistrust. Quite different from the last thriller I read, Daughter of Mine is truly a thriller that is defined by the mood it creates. Despite not always liking them, Miranda creates characters I was truly invested in and I find myself rooting for family.

This is my favorite Megan Miranda book!! I always enjoy her novels but this one hooked me immediately!

I can't review it without giving too much away but if you are looking for a fast-paced, eerie thriller than this is for you!

Is this a murder mystery, a disappearance story, a cover-up? I couldn't stop reading to find out.

This one had me guessing throughout as Miranda weaved the sinister and eerie plot.

My first five star read of 2024!

A must read!

Another enjoyable slow-burn mystery full of rich character development and an expertly laid out twisty plot. Always love the back-stories the author weaves in pulling you into the character’s lives before picking up the pace and bringing you back to the mystery / suspense. This was one of my favourite books from this author, highly recommend.

To start, this is a really great book. Miranda pulled me in so quick & it never really let up for me. It has some Gothic overtones, with the secrets & family drama, but yet completely modern & accessible. Like reading a contemporary V.C. Andrews novel, but a far better one!

Hazel is a good narrator to follow around. There’s a slight twist about her character that reveals itself at the right time, that had me intrigued. I had my suspicions about the ending & I was pleased to not get everything correct.

I think this is maybe the fourth book of Miranda’s I’ve read & I find her to be consistently talented. Her thrillers have good pacing & plenty of surprises along the way to keep readers entertained. This is absolutely a recommendable book for me!

4.5 ⭐️

Oh how I love Megan Miranda and her writing! This one is hard to review without giving anything away as some major plot points are revealed early on. However, if you are looking for a fast paced thriller with complex characters that you don’t know how to feel about, this is the one for you. There were so many things going on yet never too much to overpower the story. I was glued to my seat reading this trying to figure out what would be revealed next. Even if you have the twist somewhat figured out, she adds in a few more elements that still make it feel like a shock.

Yet another winner from Megan Miranda 👏🏼

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this eARC!

ARC: Megan Miranda does it again!

As a long-time fan of Miranda's work, I was very excited to read Daughter of Mine. As per usual, Megan did not disappoint! I devoured this story in one sitting.

From the very beginning of the novel, I was absolutely hooked. The air of mystery and eeriness that is a signature of Miranda's writing sets in early. I found myself quickly invested in Hazel's world and history, falling captive to the lure and appeal of Mirror Lake.

The plot moves quickly and is filled twists and turns that left me unable to stop reading. Just when I thought I could predict the ending, Miranda integrated a plot twist I did not see coming.

I'd recommend Daughter of Mine to any mystery and/or thriller fans. 10/10 stars!