This book was fast-paced and INTENSE!
One sister kidnapped, the other, traumatized.
Ten years later, a woman shows up claiming to be the missing Olivia… but is she really? Something isn’t right, according to Caitlin.

Is it her, or isn’t it? You’ll change your mind over and over until the end.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and a NetGalley for an early read!

Caitlin and Olivia are sisters. One night, as their parents are away, Olivia is abducted. Caitlin, the younger sister, is the only witness. But there is some doubt about her story of what happened. For years, the family wrestles with what happened to Olivia. Until she returns. Or does she?

At the same time, a parallel story is being told. How does this story interact with the sisters' story?

In a book filled with twists and turns, the reader is kept guessing. The characters are well-developed. The multiple plots are intriguing. I highly recommend this book

The deceit and betrayal within the pages of this book is thick! I spent the majority of the time I read this whispering to myself “no!”, “this can’t be happening”, or “what is going on?!?” As follow the story line of two separate ladies, it’s as if you are on two trains moving parallel to each other…you don’t know where you’re going, are they even parallel?

This is the first book I have read by this author but my goodness has she done it with this one! If you want to read a 5 star book about a dysfunctional family trying to recover from the trauma of a missing daughter, hold onto your seatbelts, the secrets within the characters of this book is so unexpected yet perfectly placed in the story, this one is a WILD ride!

Quite an interesting premise for a novel. I like the style of writing and the characters. I was really quite enjoying reading it and then unfortunately the publication expired in my gallery.

Thank you to Netgalley for the E ARC

A dark and thrilling suspense novel that deals with childhood trauma, full of twists and turns.
Caitlin’s perceived descent into madness is well written and frustrating at times but it all fell together well by the end.
Slow at times, I almost lost interest halfway through between the seemingly unconnected life story of the brother and sister but I needed to know what happened so continued.
A solid thriller, well written.

Book Review: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith

Genre : Psychological thriller
My rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

How well do you really know your family? This twisty psychological thriller will make you question everything!
Sixteen years ago, Olivia Arden disappeared without a trace. Now, a woman claiming to be her has returned—but something feels... off. Secrets, deception, and a past that refuses to stay buried make this a gripping read.

❤️ What I loved :

• Unpredictable twists & turns

• Complex family dynamics

• The slow unraveling of long-buried secrets

• The dual narrative with two completely different stories that kept me guessing how they would connect!

💭 What didn’t work for me :

• A bit slow in parts, then BAM—rushed ending

• I kind of guessed the final plot twist (the fault of having read too many thriller books! )

📚 Final Verdict: If you love family secrets, unreliable narrators, and a thriller that keeps you guessing, this one’s for you! Not perfect, but definitely a page-turner.

📢 Have you read this one? Let’s talk about that ending! 👇

Thank you @kensingtonbooks and @netgalley for this ARC

This story fell short for me, there were times when my attention was captured at least the premise of Olivia and Caitlin’s story line, but it drug on and through the middle. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how the alternative story line of Heath and Elinor fit in, it would have helped if it was clarified that these were two different time lines as well. The incestuous relationship was uncomfortable. The ending felt rushed as the two storylines collided about 75% through, at that point it was predictable and bit messy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

4.5 stars.

This book had such a spooky premise that was done brilliantly. Her sister returning 16 years later but not acting like her sister. The clues were there to put together but I absolutely didn't. I kept reading wondering what crazy thing would happen next. The twist at the end I didn't see coming at all! I had no idea. If you want a thriller will all the twists this one definitely delivered. I will be looking for more books from this author

This book had me guessing right until the end. I had many theories throughout and most of them were wrong! I really was able to connect with the FMC and felt so frustrated right alongside her throughout the events of the book. I would definitely recommend this book and will be looking for more by this author.

This psychological suspense novel delivers exactly what it promises—dark twists, gripping tension, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning. The premise is immediately compelling: a sister returns 16 years after being abducted, but nothing is as simple as it seems. The story taps into deep family trauma, unreliable memories, and buried secrets, making it a solid pick for fans of Freida McFadden and B.A. Paris. While the setup is familiar, the execution keeps it engaging, and the unsettling atmosphere lingers long after the final page. A thoroughly engrossing read for thriller lovers.

A great read, thanks for letting me try it! I did find one of the twists to be very obvious, but it was still compelling and intriguing!

I received an ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith is a thriller with a touch of old-school V.C. Andrews.

From the very beginning, Smith grabs your attention with colorful descriptions that set the scene for what promises to be a suspense-filled ride. After Olivia goes missing, Caitlin has what seems to be the perfect life until something happens that starts as a small crack before spidering into something much bigger and malevolent.

By the time that Caitlin realizes what has happened, she must think hard and tread carefully because one wrong step could not only end her life, but the lives of others.

This story was filled with so many twists and turns; I kept second-guessing myself! I definitely can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

“The Wrong Daughter” by Dandy Smith follows Caitlin, the younger sister of the missing Olivia - who was taken from her room at just 13 years old. Caitlin, a witness to this, is constantly overshadowed by the plaguing feeling she was somehow responsible for their inability to find Olivia since she was the only witness to her kidnapping. She lives her life in step with her parents wants and interests despite her own unhappiness to avoid further heartbreak and disappointment - that is until a woman claiming to be Olivia reappears into her life.

In The Wrong Daughter, we are also introduced to a plot line following a sibling pair, inappropriately close and isolated by an abusive uncle after their parents deaths. Inevitably these story lines intersect, twisting together in a way that can take you by surprise and leave you wondering to the end of the book.

Talking specifically in regard to the brother/sister plot line, I think adding it wasn’t unnecessary as many critical reviews state, but generally underdeveloped. As the siblings story broadened and their inappropriate behavior toward each other was introduced it was more of a “wait what?” Moment then something truly impactful. It’s weird to say about incest, but if it matters to the story a controversial motif should be “go big or go home”- if they’re inappropriate relationship actually matters I want to know where it started, why It continued and how it all ties into the overall story. Instead we are left to our own conclusions about it’s relevancy- leaving the author defenseless in this critique.

Overall, I think this novel is strong and strange, offering a new perspective on a fairly common concept. My only other nitpick is that I felt the ending may have been a little rushed, given the slower pace of the beginning of the book- but I was overall satisfied.

Readers of V.C. Andrews may appreciate this novel.

Enjoyable from beginning to the end. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Will definitely recommend this to my book club!

You can’t work out where this going. This is one story you won’t forget and yet could be believable. Sisters Caitlin and Olivia have a happy life but then one is taken. Many years later she returns. How, why, where has she been?

The Wrong Daughter
by: Dandy Smith
Pub Date: Aug. 26, 2025

I cannot get enough of dark, mind-bending psychological thrillers! I was instantly hooked after the first chapter of The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith. This novel kept me on the edge of my seat and left my head spinning.

Caitlin (age 10) and Olivia (age 13) are enjoying a fun night at home without their parents when a masked man enters their home and kidnaps Olivia. Sixteen years later, Caitlin is still struggling with guilt and sadness over Olivia’s abduction when she receives a frantic call from her father saying Olivia has returned. In the beginning, Caitlin is overjoyed but strange things begin to happen that makes her question whether Olivia is her sister or an imposter?

A separate storyline follows Elinor Ledbury and her brother Heath. The siblings seem to have an extremely complex and dark relationship. They lost their parents at a young age and are living at Ledbury Hall with their abusive Uncle who serves as their legal guardian.

The alternating storylines created suspense and kept me engaged until the final pages of this captivating thriller. I could not put this book down because I had to know how the storylines were connected and if Olivia was truly Caitlin’s sister. I did not come close to figuring out the connection and the all the jaw dropping twists left me speechless.

I’d like to give special thanks to Kensington Publishing, NetGalley, and the author, Dandy Smith for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to give this author credit for writing such an unusual and creative thriller. I actually enjoyed the double storylines because they really had me wondering how they could possibly be connected. I want to be careful in my comments so as not to give anything away but I think I can safely say that I found all the characters to be extremely unlikable. The storyline of Caitie and Olivia was action-packed and intriguing although frustrating as Caitie had no support and seemed to flounder in her doubts about Olivia but overall, I enjoyed this storyline. But her parents, fiancé, best friend and Olivia were unbelievably horrible to her and her therapist extremely inappropriate. Of course, almost no one was who they seemed to be and everyone had secrets. The storyline of Heath and his sister was creepy and probably unnecessarily long but definitely added that creativity factor. The plot got a little too crazy for me towards the end and this is why I can’t rate it 5 stars. But overall, the book was an enjoyable read.

The Wrong Daughter is a suspense story set in England casting Catie as the lead character as she struggles with the haunting memory of her sister's abduction and disappearance 16 years earlier. Catie is a 26 year old woman who is has held back a lot in her life: never travelled, did not explore her true passion of art in college and has settled into the profession of a school teacher, all to appease her parents and to soften to blow of her sister, Olivia, being taken from their home by a masked intruder when she was just 10 years old. Catie's unfulfilling and predictable world is rocked when Olivia returns to the family home out of the blue on the anniversary of her disappearance. Olivia's return is at first welcomed by Catie, but quickly turns to suspicion: Is this really her sister?

Running parallel to Caite and Olivia's story is also the story of Elinor and Heath, brother and sister involved in an incestious relationship in a seculeded manor. Heath and Elinor, orphans at a young age, are kept alone in a large manor while their money is being controlled by their cruel uncle. The siblings are counting down the days until they are able to collect their inheritance and leave their uncle for good. Their relationship becomes strained as Heath begins to leave the manor for long periods of time, resulting in him getting involved with another young woman in town. In retaliation, Elinor also becomes romantically involved with another, leading her to realize the control her brother has over her and dream of leaving the only home she knows behind in search of love and freedom.

The first half of this book was painfully slow as Catie and Olivia reunite. There was not a lot of action until about 50% of the book was complete, when Catie starts seeing signs that Olivia may not be her sister. Once the suspicion begins, the story begins to pick up with many twists and turns as the reader begins to question Catie's sanity and also who Olivia really is. There was also a struggle to see how to the two different sibling relationships would connect: why are we reading about Catie and Olivia and then about Elinor and Heath. That connection is finally revealed at about the 75% mark.Once the two story lines become interwoven, there is a fast and furious pace to which the drama unfolds and Catie finally finds the answer she is looking for: what has really happened to her sister?

This was about a missing girl, Olivia, who comes back after 10 years but her sister, Caitlin, feels something is not right when she returns. I feel this difficult to rate really as for the first part, I felt like I was reading two different stories alongside each other but then when the two stories came together, the whole book changed. It seemed slightly disjointed but although I fore-sore a few twists I didn’t see it being exactly the way it was. It was a bit of a reflect-after-reading type book but still I enjoyed it! Kept me guessing and then thinking I suppose!

I was so graciously given an ARC of this title.

This is my first book from Dandy Smith and OMGGGG IT WAS SO GOOD!! I devoured this book. It kept my attention the entire time and had GREAT twists and turns.

FIVE STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐