Kat has returned to her childhood home for her father’s funeral after he died suddenly live on TV. She has been left full of regrets as following the murder of her little girl Marisol she has avoided seeing anyone and found herself to be a recluse. Her first night in her old home she wakes to the screams of a little girl and finds that her life and everything she thought to be true will never be the same again.

I could not put this book down as I just kept wanting one more chapter to see what happens next and took every opportunity I could to disappear in to this story. The mystery surrounding Holly was a great supporting storyline. I felt like all the characters were really well developed and mostly their characteristics followed all the way through without changing the personality of the individual. I kept guessing right up to the reveal what the outcome would be and although I guessed one part I never would have guessed the rest. It was quite far fetched and took a lot of imagination stretching but for me it felt like the story was tied up well and did not disappoint.

I would recommend this book to others as I fully enjoyed the read. I would also be excited to read further books by Sonya Bateman as she captured the suspense and built the story in such a way that I was gripped right to the end.

In "The Foster Daughter," Sonya Bateman presents a protagonist, Kat, who grapples with the enduring trauma of her daughter Marisol's murder, a tragedy that transpired five years prior at the hands of her husband, Tyler. Living in seclusion, Kat is compelled to confront her tumultuous past following the death of her father, which necessitates her return to her childhood home. While sifting through her father's possessions, she uncovers disturbing notes and messages that provoke her to reevaluate her family's history.

On her initial night back, Kat hears the piercing screams of a child and discovers a frightened five-year-old girl named Holly ensnared in a holly bush in her yard. With no one else available to care for the child, Kat, who is a trained foster parent, resolves to take Holly in despite the latter's enigmatic background. As Kat forges a bond with Holly, she becomes entangled in a labyrinth of suspense and emotional upheaval. The narrative delves into the stark realities of foster care, illustrating the often harsh treatment children may endure and emphasizing the unpredictability inherent in the foster care system. The relationship between Kat and Holly serves as a central theme, showcasing the potential for warmth and connection to flourish amidst dire circumstances. However, the plot thickens as Kat receives peculiar messages that challenge her perception of her father and the family's legacy, leading her to question the motives of those around her.

The novel is replete with unexpected twists, maintaining an exhilarating and rapid pace throughout. I was kept on edge as I pondered the true identities and intentions of various characters, culminating in a dramatic and unforeseen resolution. Although the conclusion may seem hurried and leave some queries unresolved, the intricate narrative structure and emotional resonance render "The Foster Daughter" a captivating psychological thriller that underscores the complexities of family dynamics, grief, and the relentless quest for truth.

Read about three quarters of the book but couldn’t finish it. I found the story boring and the characters confusing. It wasn’t a book for me.

ARC Review

The Foster Daughter
By Sonya Bateman
Publish Date: Oct 8, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for sending me a copy to review.

This was the perfect psychological thriller that left me guessing who did it the whole time. I absolutely loved the story line and the suspense. It was full of twists and turns and the dark truth of some foster kids.

My one critique I felt the ending was very rushed I wanted more scenes from it. The heart warming ending was beautiful though.

I look forward to reading more by this author!

I have mixed feelings about this novel. The writing was very good, but the plot was too over-the-top for me. I know that sometimes we have to suspend belief, but parts of this truly were unbelievable! Of course I had to read to the end to find out what happened, but I can’t say it’s a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.

This was a really good story that kept me reading. A great interweaving of characters. I was guessing towards the end as to who did what and which characters were involved in these situations. I was amazed by what the author came up with here and I was very surprised. The title of the book has so many meanings due to the different 'foster' situations that are occuring. I definitely recommend this story to those who love stories with twists.

i really tried with this book but it wasn't for me i am sorry. Thank you for the opportunity to review though

The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman was a book that caught my eye and I am so glad it did. I really enjoyed reading it especially as it was a busy Psychological Thriller with lots of twists and turns with lots of dark secrets of the past. But, all secrets have a way of coming out in the open and these secrets were no different! I loved all the characters within The Foster Daughter they fitted in well within the story. A great guessing game book that will have you guessing till the very end. Excellent!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my ARC.

The Foster Daughter by Sonya Bateman is a gripping psychological thriller, filled with dark secrets from the past that keep you on edge throughout. The storyline was compelling, and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and constant twists—it felt like a never-ending guessing game!

The book delves into the heavy emotional territory of foster care, highlighting the sad reality that not every foster child is treated well. It’s like a lottery—you might get lucky, or you might not. This novel gives readers a glimpse into the darker side of what happens behind closed doors in a foster home, which added depth and emotional weight to the suspense.

The story also poses some thought-provoking questions: What would you do if you found a screaming child in the middle of the night? How would you cope with returning to your childhood home, only to have someone challenge your memories?

This is a fast-paced thriller, packed with suspense and constant action. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing me with a copy!

This is a good read that keeps you on your toes. Great twists and turns! First time reading a book by this author but I will look into more of her books.

This was a quick, engaging read. It’s your standard domestic thriller really, but the protagonist is well-developed and likeable and the plot is complex enough to hold your attention but not so complex as to become confusing.

A respectable three stars.

This story was very fast paced & kept my attention the whole way through! I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author!!!

In The Foster Daughter, a mother still reeling from the murder of her daughter by her husband tries to rebuild her life. Five years later, just as she's beginning to move forward, her world is upended once again. One pitch-black night, she wakes to a child screaming outside. In her backyard, she finds a terrified little girl, no older than five, with striking blue eyes—and no one to claim her.

As a professional foster parent, she takes the girl in, despite knowing nothing about her, not even her name. But something isn’t right. The child’s silence and fearful behaviour raise unsettling questions. Who is this mysterious girl? What happened to her? And why was she left in the yard?

This emotional thriller explores foster care's dark and often hidden world, where children's fates can be a gamble. The story provides a raw, heartbreaking look at the complexities of fostering, touching on the profound sadness and uncertainty that comes with it.

The Foster Daughter is a fast-paced, suspense-filled book that keeps readers hooked with constant twists and non-stop action. It asks tough questions: What would you do if you found a child alone at night? And how would you handle confronting the painful memories of your past when someone is ready to challenge them?

Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, this book offers an intense journey into the emotional depth of grief, family, and the secrets that bind us.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview

This was a great read with loads of twists!

Kat lives a reclusive life after her husband killed her daughter, but when her father dies, she has to return to the family home. Kat’s parents also fostered and so she has a huge family of foster siblings.

When Kat finds a small child hiding in her garden, she takes her in and cares for her. Nobody knows who the little girl is and nobody seems to be looking for her.

I loved the part of the story where Kat cares for and bonds with the little girl she names Holly and the plot was brilliant and kept me hooked.

I felt the ending was a bit messy and rushed and I found myself confused and having to go back and read bits again to understand the full picture.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sonya Bateman and Joffe for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I've never read a book by Bateman before now so had no idea what awaited me between the covers...

The Foster Daughter is a fast paced, dark and extremely twisty thriller. I was immediately gripped from the opening chapters and it's literally been a fast paced binge this afternoon to the end and what other twists came with the penultimate pages...I had no idea what was coming and I'm still scraping my jaw off the floor as we speak!

It has a vast cast of eclectic characters, all of whom are hiding a secret or two of their own. The story is told in first person from the POV of Kat our MFC.

Hot on suspense, unpredictability and angst, Bateman thrills with an action packed, riveting popcorn thriller.

Kat's husband killed her biological daughter and Kat is struggling and isolating herself. One night she wakes up to screaming and finds a little girl in her backyard. Kat knows nothing about the child except that she needs to take care of her. There are many characters in the story and they are all very different. It has a lot happening in the plot but is simple to follow. I enjoyed how it all intricately weaves together. This is the first book I have read by this author but if this is anything to go by I will definitely be reading more. I loved Holly and I was desperate to discover more about the little girl and where she came from and what happened to her. I carried the book everywhere with me so I could keep reading and the ending was unpredictable but WOW! It's a super one. I think most of my questions were answered in the end and I feel satisfied now.

This book had me gripped right away, there was so many tension and suspense that kept building right until the end.

The Foster Daughter
by Sonya Bateman
Pub Date: Oct 08 2024

The Foster Daughter was a fantastic read, great character development, fast paced and easy to follow. The author tied it up very well and literally kept me guessing until the end. I was hooked from the first page until the last page! I definitely recommend this book.

Synopsis: My daughter was murdered by my husband. Now I have a new little girl to look after. I have no idea who she is. It’s pitch black when I wake up. I hear a child screaming outside. There’s a little girl in my back yard. She can’t be older than five. She has terrified blue eyes. When nobody claims her, I take her in. After all, I’m a professional foster parent. I will look after her like she’s my own child.

Many thanks t0 #TheFosterDaughter #NetGalley and #SonyaBateman for providing me an E-ARC of this book.

Loved loved loved this book. Definitely checks the suspense boxes. I can’t describe them too much because it will give it away, but definitely an ending I didn’t expect. I did have some thoughts on a few of the factors on the ending but didn’t have it figured out.

Very good book, definitely worth a read. Thank you for NetGalley for the copy.

Really gripping fast paced book, with plenty of twists and turns throughout. New to this author and would definitely like to read more. Kept me on the edge of my seat guessing throughout!