"Daughter of Mine" by Megan Miranda is a captivating exploration of motherhood, identity, and the secrets that can shape—and sometimes fracture—families. The story centers around a mother grappling with her daughter's unexpected behavior and the complex layers of their relationship.

Miranda's prose is both lyrical and haunting, effectively capturing the emotional turmoil of her characters. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, allowing readers to gain insight into the motivations and fears of each character. This layered approach adds depth to the story, making it not only a psychological thriller but also a poignant family drama.

Themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for truth resonate throughout the book, and the suspense builds steadily as secrets from the past begin to surface. Miranda expertly balances the tension with moments of tenderness, creating a rich emotional landscape.

Overall, "Daughter of Mine" is a thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone who has navigated the complexities of family dynamics. Megan Miranda delivers a compelling story that lingers long after the final page, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.

An intriguing and well plotted thriller featuring a small town, past mysteries, and a draught that will bring the past back.
Gripping and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I haven't been this genuinely spooked by a book in ages! I found myself reading late into the night, so unsettled I kept expecting someone to be lurking in my house.

The story unfolds during a severe drought, which has lowered the water levels in Mirror Lake, revealing long-hidden secrets. The funeral of Perry Holt is the focal point, with his two sons, both police officers, and his estranged daughter returning for the event. The discovery of a car in the lake triggers a series of revelations about the town's buried secrets.

The author masterfully creates an eerie atmosphere, revealing secrets like pieces of a puzzle, building tension with a sense of looming dread. The exploration of family dynamics adds depth, with new information coming to light gradually.

While the final twist might not be the most shocking, the real draw is the suspenseful journey. The reader uncovers clues alongside the characters, amplifying the feeling of anxiety. For a gripping, suspenseful mystery that keeps you on edge, this book is a must-read. I appreciated how the story was crafted and the way it all came together.

I really enjoyed this overall. I enjoyed the mystery and I didn't guess the culprit until quite late in the story which was nice. I'm a character driven reader but I enjoyed the plot more in this than the characters. I didn't particularly like or dislike any of the characters really and got a little annoyed with the miscommunication between the sister and one of the brothers. I also got frustrated with the "how many days without rain" plus the "amount of precipitation" at the beginning of every chapter (but this is a minor thing and bothered me more when I was just listening to the audio). I started this just on audio as I was traveling, but then switched to immersive between the audio and e-arc. I found it much more enjoyable when immersive reading. The mystery was good as it was quite unique in that the mystery was 3 fold in that there was the missing people, the weird things from the lake, and the mystery of the mother and were the memories reliable etc. There were a couple of spooky ish moments but it was more of a mystery to me overall. I would recommend this to anyone who likes a thriller/mystery that isn't gory or paranormal.

My first Megan Miranda, but surely not my last. I am HOOKED, I am SHOOKED. And I am going to need a lot more Megan Miranda in the future because this was gooooood!

4 ⭐
I unfortunately didn't download this one before the archive date but as so intrigued I purchased for kindle and am so pleased I did!

I found the setting of this book similar to the small town vibes of other Megan Miranda books I have read. I enjoyed the mystery and the way everything came together in the end.
My favourite by this author so far.

“Daughter of Mine" by Megan Miranda is a beautifully written thriller that captivated me from start to finish. As my first book by this author, it certainly won't be my last. The narrative is gripping, keeping me guessing at every turn, and the character development is impressive. Despite the numerous characters, I never felt lost, thanks to Miranda's skillful writing.

Hazel Sharp, the protagonist, is particularly well-crafted, and I found myself deeply engaged in her journey throughout the story. The ending was especially satisfying, tying up the mystery in a compelling way.

This book had been on my to-read list for a while, and I’m glad I finally picked it up. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC! After absolutely loving Megan Miranda’s last novel I was so excited when the publisher contacted me and asked if I wanted to read this eARC in exchange for an honest opinion and review.

This was compulsively readable with constant twists and turns. I loved the complicated family dynamics and the setting by the lake. Megan Miranda really knows how to set a scene and immerse you in it. The ending made me cry which I was not expecting but wow it got me. There were also some really creepy scenes so that was a bonus!

I was constantly guessing where the plot was going, who was being shady and who to trust which is exactly what I want when reading a thriller. I mentioned the lake setting but we all know I love a small town mystery/thriller and the author did and excellent job of portraying how gossip and rumours make their way around small towns and how everyone knows everyone. In short this is a contender for favourite book of the year!

This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author and I’ve given all but one four or five stars so I’m excited to read more of her backlist and future releases! This was released on 9th April so you can grab it now and I suggest you do because I 100% recommend this for thriller lovers everywhere!

I think this is my favourite by this author so far. An intricate tale of family, small town life, loss, betrayal and mystery.

A gripping read that really keeps you guessing. So many potential suspects, will the long buried truth finally come out?

“All these sons, covering up for the sins of their fathers. Keeping their secrets, without even asking for the truth. All these things they didn't truly want to know. Daughters, though. Daughters are different.”

Hazel inherits her childhood home in Mirror Lake after her father passes away. Arriving back to her hometown to organise her fathers funeral, she’s confronted by past demons.

That’s not the only revelation, her father has excluded both her brothers from the house inheritance. With the lack of rain and drought conditions, the lake has started to recede and not one but two cars are found submerged. This all brings back memories of her missing mother … who she though had left and abandoned her family … but had she?

Written with a deliciously rich atmospheric vibe and a sense of chilling unease, I couldn’t put it down. Told in four parts, we get a real sense of all the main players - including the lies, betrayals and long held family secrets.

A totally compelling mystery/thriller with added family drama to make it dynamic and one of my favourite Megan Miranda books to date! Highly recommended.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for an advanced e-book 💌
4.5 stars rated up.

A great read
A slow burner of a story
But it will keep you guessing right till the end
Thanks NetGalley

Daughter of Mine is an entertaining twisty thriller with well rounded characters and a nicely paced plot. This small town novel focuses on the tensions in Hazel's family after the death of her father and the mysteries in the family’s past.
The reader is easily propelled forward by the unfolding events and the author is a proponent of frequent dramatic cliffhangers at the end of her chapters to ratchet up the tension and sense of unease. I found the ending a little abrupt but apart from that this was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

I was lucky to receive an Arc copy of this book and I enjoyed the read.

Set in a small town where everyone knows everyone and will do anything to keep secrets comes a story of murder and jealousy.

Imagine returning to your childhood home where there the last memory you have is your mum leaving and never returning

Imagine returning to someone becoming missing

Imagine knowing you are not safe in your own home because you are being watched.

Remember

The past is not over
The secrets are so close to you

However

Someone will do anything to stop the truth coming out
The truth is shocking and will rock you

Nothing will ever be the same again.

This is the 2nd book I have read by this author and have enjoyed both. She is definitely an author I will read from again.

An author that I do find a hit/miss for me but when her books are hits, they do suck you in and Daughter of Mine was one of those titles. The book starts with a funeral and a car being dragged from the lake that had been there for years. Hazel's dad has died and she is returning home to Mirror Lake. A place she left years ago and never looked back as she has felt like she doesn't fit in. Especially since her ex-best friend married the one brother who hates her and constantly reminds her that she isn't family and the other brother who doesn't like to rock the boat. Hazel has left the old family home and her brothers aren't too happy about it, one is already filing to contest her Dad's will. During the clean-up, some old photos are found in the attic and then a second car is found in the lake. The two cars though as we learn relate to Hazel's family one of them being her mother's car -the same one in which her mother disappeared and vanished from her life when she was a teenager. What happened to her mum? Did her mum truly up and leave her or did someone close to her want her to believe that was the truth, that she was unwanted by even her mother? What other secrets and dark skeletons are lying around in this house that Hazel has just inherited? Find out in Megan Miranda's newest release "Daughter of Mine". A small-town past/present thriller.

I enjoyed this, although found it a little flowery in its descriptions. I had hoped for more action from the outset so it took me a long time to get into it and I almost DNF'd. It's definitely a very slow burn.

Interesting premise, I needed this to grip me more though. The family relationships add a good dynamic.

Liked the southern small town community vibe, but just didn’t love this as much as I wanted to.

This gave big midnight is the darkest hour vibes but better! Really liked this, will definitely check out more from this author. It was twisty and fast paced.

Some things should stay buried, perhaps. But on the other hand, how can you not go looking for answers, when some of them are coming to the surface anyway? Meet Hazel Sharp, returning to her childhood home and all the secrets it hides during a draught. Daughter of Mine is something of a rollercoaster, but I had good fun with it. Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hazel Sharp is at her father's funeral but everyone's attention is split between celebrating the local detective's life and following updates on the recovery of a car from the local lake. A recent draught means that as the level of the lake drops, old secrets thought long-buried come to the surface. What role did Hazel's father play in hiding these secrets? And how will Hazel begin to unravel the truth from all the twisted strands of lies in a town where everyone knows one another, is related to one another, and has their own priorities? Add a strong dose of family dispute, paranoia, and the ever growing pressure of the drought, and you have a solid thriller. Hazel is undeniably our focus as we follow her diving back into her home town. I enjoyed how her character was built up, her independence and her focus, especially once her backstory gets revealed. Hazel is someone who wants to get things done and I very much liked that she was proactive for much of the narrative, rather than purely reacting to things. The characters around her are given some depth as well and there were one or two key moments where I was intrigued by what Miranda was setting up with them.

I have seen Megan Miranda's name quite a few times, splashed across enticing covers and intriguing plots, but this is my first time reading actually reading one of her thrillers. From the beginning, I enjoyed the atmosphere she was building up with the drought, how it symbolised the growing pressure and danger of the whole situation. As I said above, Hazel is also a solid main character for a thriller and her expertise in house renovation also comes in useful. (I love it when a character's knowledge is actually relevant and not just filler.) There are some twists and plot lines which Miranda reveals at just the right time to keep you hooked and I enjoyed how it all came together. The end did feel a little too abrupt to me, but then thrillers do somehow need to end and you'd rather have it end on some sense of resolution. One thing that stuck with me was one of the supporting characters, who I just couldn't figure out. They felt like potential danger to me, as if Miranda was setting something up there, and I just felt that more could have happened there. However, I am fully on board with reading future Megan Miranda books, as I am sure to have a great time.

Daughter of Mine is a pressure-cooker of a thriller, all about uncovering the past in order to attempt a future. I can't wait to read more by Megan Miranda in the future.

this was my first megan miranda novel and i really enjoyed this!! i didn’t love it but i was definitely hooked and plan to read more!!

I have read a few books by Megan Miranda and enjoyed them and Daughter of Mine is no exception. It wasn't particularly fast paced but I still felt myself not wanting to put it down and read just one more part. It had enough twists to keep the story moving and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for my ARC.