Name :- The Foster Daughter
Author :- Laura Wolfe
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
Laura Wolfe’s The Foster Daughter is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that delves into the complexities of trust, family, and the shadows of the past. With a plot that twists and turns, Wolfe masterfully keeps readers on edge, questioning every character’s motives until the very end. The story centers around Riley, a troubled foster daughter who vanished from the life of her foster mother fifteen years ago, only to return unexpectedly with a young son. Her sudden reappearance stirs a mix of emotions, particularly when mysterious events begin to unfold, including the death of an old school friend. The protagonist, who had cared deeply for Riley, finds herself pulled into a web of lies, half-truths, and secrets that threaten to destroy the fragile trust they are trying to rebuild. Wolfe's storytelling excels in creating a thick atmosphere of unease and tension. From the moment Riley re-enters her foster mother’s life, there is a sense that something is off, and this foreboding tone intensifies as Riley’s behavior becomes more erratic. Her reluctance to explain where she has been and her nervous reactions to seemingly innocent events lead the protagonist—and readers—to question her true intentions. The characters are deeply layered, especially the protagonist, who is both compassionate and torn by doubt as she navigates her relationship with Riley. This emotional complexity adds depth to the story, making it not just a thriller but also an exploration of the bonds that tie people together, even after years of separation.
Likes and Dislikes :-

Likes :-

1 Suspense and Mystery: The pacing is tight, with Wolfe expertly building suspense through small but significant details that keep the reader guessing. Each new revelation leads to more questions, creating a gripping narrative.

2 Emotional Core: The protagonist’s conflicting emotions about Riley’s return—her desire to help versus her growing suspicions—add depth to the story. This inner turmoil is something many readers can relate to, making the plot even more compelling.

3 Surprising Twists: Just when you think you have the mystery figured out, Wolfe introduces a new twist that keeps you on your toes, ensuring that the ending is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

Dislikes :-
None.

Overall Impression: The Foster Daughter is a tense and emotionally charged thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Laura Wolfe skillfully combines psychological suspense with a heartfelt story about family, trust, and the scars of the past. While there are moments where the pacing could have been tighter, the novel's twists and the emotional complexity of the characters make it a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers. Wolfe’s ability to keep readers guessing until the very end makes The Foster Daughter a satisfying and haunting mystery that lingers long after the final page.
My rating :- 5/5

The Foster Daughter immediately caught my attention with its intriguing title. As someone who works in foster care, I felt a strong connection to the book's description, which promised a compelling narrative. The story did not disappoint; it was well-written and filled with suspense, keeping me engaged from start to finish.

One of the standout features of the book was its detailed plot, which led me to consider various possibilities throughout the story. I loved Riley’s son Noah. The nosey neighbor also added significant depth and richness to the narrative. Their storylines were well-crafted and contributed meaningfully to the overall development of the story.

The ending of the book was particularly satisfying, though it left a slight cliffhanger that has me eagerly anticipating what might come next. Overall, The Foster Daughter is a compelling read that I highly recommend, especially for those interested in stories with intricate plots and well-developed characters.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a quick, easy, edge of your seat read. Starting out you think it's going to be rather predictable and all the way through you keep thinking you have it all figured out but with the turn of every page you find out otherwise. I love a book that will keep me guessing and this one did just that.

Does Riley really want to be a good person and start a new life for her and her son or is she just born to be a bad person? Are all bad people bad and all good people good? Who really is the good guy and bad guy here? I really thought I had this one all figured out early on but when my jaw dropped the first time, I knew I was in for quite a read. As people from Riley's past are introduced you start to form your thoughts and opinions on each of them and whether or not they are good people or bad people. Wendy and George were the foster parents and Wendy is just so nice but George seems a little off. Then there's creepy Cody who actually turned out to be one of my favorite characters and what's the deal with Harper and her mom? There are a few other characters along the way and as soon as you think you know them, go ahead and turn the page and see if you're right.

This was my first by this author but I definitely am going to look for more because this one was great.

This book was a real page-turner! The suspense starts building right from the moment Riley reappears on the doorstep with her little boy, bringing with her a flood of past memories and unresolved fears. The tension between the protagonist’s past experience with Riley and the present danger makes for a gripping read.

The mystery surrounding Riley’s return and the shocking events that follow, including the death of an old friend, kept me on edge throughout. The twists were unexpected and kept me guessing about Riley’s true motives and the secrets she’s hiding. If you enjoy intense psychological thrillers with plenty of twists, this one is a must-read!

I'm a huge Laura Wolfe fan and this book did not disappoint! Although I didn't really like any of the characters, I was consumed by the mystery and doubted every single person! The plot twists were unexpected and the writing was just phenomenal as always. I read it in one day. 5 stars!

I couldn't put this book down. I HAD to know what happened next. The opening had me pulled in, and just when you think its going to come together but you have more then half way to go through the book it hits you with a twist you didn't see coming. The writing style is fast paced and and keeps you hooked. The character development has you questioning everyone and even when the book ends, I hope there is a book two!

At first I thought the book was going in a very predictable, almost cliché direction but then I got a bomb dropped on my lap in form of the first major twist around 1/3 of the way into the novel! I did NOT see that twist coming and had to pick my jaw up from the floor.
From that moment on the book gripped me completely and I was hooked!

It was so hard to really know who to believe and who the bad guy was. And you are constantly reminded that just because you are a bad person with a rotten personality, it does not make you a criminal. And you can look like an angel while having skeletons in your closet.

All in all a fun book that I enjoyed, and has made me want to look more into Laura Wolfe's other books as well!

Thank you so much to Bookouture for the ARC <3

Wow!! On the run from stabbing her boss and stealing his money, Riley takes her son back to her former foster parents house for help. As she settles into life with her past friends, little tidbits pop up that make you wonder who Riley really is and what she is after. This book is great! So much suspense. So many twists. I never saw it coming until the end. Highly recommended.

Well this book is just one of those reads where you end up suspecting everyone and constantly changing your mind about what has happened and what secrets everyone is keeping. It’s an edge of your seat read about a young woman and her son who have to flee from a dangerous situation and end up returning to her previous foster home. The only place she ever felt safe now comes a place to hide and rebuild her life but as the new of her return spreads and the police on her tail what secrets is she hiding and is anyone who they say they are. Great characters and a great story what more could you ask for.

This was my first book by this author, and I was hooked from the first chapter.

At times, the descriptions were repetitive, but that didn't take away from the storyline.

The main character, "Riley", has led a troubled life, and it seems like no matter what she does, trouble follows her. She definitely makes some questionable decisions, leading me to scratch my head and scream, "What are you thinking??"

As secrets from the past begin to unfold, Riley begins to question who is telling the truth and who she can really trust.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

WOW this was a fun one - I finished it in one sitting! This read a lot like Freida McFadden with quick pacing and writing flow - every time I thought I had a character figured out, some other lie or secret would be revealed, putting me back at square one. The ending felt a little flat, but I'll admit I didn't see it coming and still enjoyed the plenty of twists along the way. Thanks for the ARC!

What a great concept! You see 'foster children' being done a lot in thrillers, but I've not found one with this angle before. Really enjoyed the tension and mystery in this book, I had to keep reading and finished it in 48 hours!

Berkley MI (Detroit)

This book was so suspenseful, and I can’t even tell you all about it! All you get is what we know from the synopsis: Wendy and George Eckhart fostered Riley for about a year when she was a teenager, along with many other troubled teens. Riley was able to leave the awful group home she was in and live in a real home environment - but something happened. She ran away, and was never seen again. The Eckharts, who had done so much for the community, lost their permission to foster children after that, and everyone always wondered what happened to Riley.

Fifteen years later, Riley shows up at the Eckharts’ door with her four-year-old son Noah. She apologizes profusely for scaring everyone and running away, but she had gotten caught up with an older man. He took to her Los Angeles, and turned her into a sex worker/drug addict. When she became pregnant with Noah, she got clean, and has tried to put the bad decisions she made behind her. She refuses to mess up and let her son become a member of the foster system, just like his mother.

Wendy welcomes her back with open arms, and she and George let Riley rent the apartment above their garage, which isn’t much, but is fine for now. Riley just needs to stay hidden; some of the things she got herself involved in may have put her in danger. The plan is going well until at a barbecue, a local news station shows up to do a story on the foster child lost for fifteen years coming back home. Now Riley is really scared about her past catching up with her…

This is all really a small part of the books; early on there is a huge twist that changes EVERYTHING for the reader. That twist is followed by many others, until the jaw-dropping ending and epilogue. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, everything would change again. If you love twisty (and twisted) psychological thrillers, this one is for you! 4.5 stars, rounded up.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Laura Wolfe and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is alters to be released on October 11, 2024.)

A solid 4 star book. The book opens with Riley in trouble with the law and with her boss. She grabs her little boy and heads back to the foster home she stayed at for a year while growing up. Her mother was addicted to drugs and Riley grew up in group homes, foster homes, finally landing at a foster home in Michigan that she liked.

This is a difficult book to review because so many things will give away the entire plot. Riley's previous foster parents are thrilled to see her. They thought she had run away from their home years ago. The foster parents let Riley stay in the garage apartment with her son Noah, while she gets back on her feet. They throw a big party so Riley can remember her old friends that she left behind. Then trouble brews. What secret is Riley hiding. What secret are the foster parents hiding. Everyone has a secret. Who will come out alive.

Definitely a very good thriller and it kept me entertained and hooked throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. I do recommend this book.

Wow this was a fast paced thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. Filled with twists I was kept guessing until the end which is good as I find predictable boring. The characters were well written and had me rooting for some of them. I've never read a book by this author before but now I want to find all I can by her.

Laura Wolfe has a way of drawing you into her books right from page one. They are always riveting and full of surprises.

Can you ever really outrun your past? That's exactly what Riley is trying to do. After years of doing whatever it takes to get by, her luck has run out. Now out of desperation she returns with her four year old son in tow to foster parents Wendy and George. At a backyard barbecue old friends are reunited, but the atmosphere is filled with tension. Soon lies and secrets will erupt. Each person has their own agenda and will stop at nothing to keep their deception from being discovered.

Filled with so many lies and twists, this book will keep you up turning the pages. I highly recommend this book and all Laura's others as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

What a twisty, heart-racing read! Just another great example of never being able to fully outrun your past.

Oh my gosh, this was SUCH a good book! I couldn't put it down! I told my husband to play video games so that I could finish reading it, haha! This book sucked me in from the beginning, and kept me gripped the entire time. So many twists and turns, I had no idea how it would end. I loved every moment of it, and I can't wait to read more from this author! I highly recommend, 100%!!

Twists, turns and more than one red herring! Themes of child abuse, stolen identity and the foster system. Rich, quirky characters, an idyllic setting and short chapters make this a propulsive read. This book would make a great Lifetime movie!

I really liked this one! There are lots of twist and turns and it really held my attention! If you are a fan of mysteries and thrillers, I think you will like this one!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! Publication day is 10/11.