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Die gehorsame Tochter
Du wirst geliebt. Du bist sicher. Doch kennst du die Wahrheit?
Abigail ist ein Mitglied der New American Baptist Church. Da sie meilenweit von der nächsten Stadt in South Carolina entfernt lebt, ist sie vor der verderbten modernen Welt sicher. Sie ist eine gehorsame Tochter. Ein geschätztes Mitglied der Gemeinde. Als sie die einzige Überlebende eines Feuers ist, bei dem das Haus ihrer Familie bis auf die Grundmauern niederbrennt, scheint es sich um einen tragischen Unfall zu handeln. Bis überraschend herauskommt, dass Abigail vor dem Brand eine fremde Person ins Haus ließ. Wer war es? Was hat das Feuer ausgelöst? Und kam die Gefahr wirklich von außen?
»Ein starker, atemberaubender und berührender Thriller.« Chris Whitaker
Abigail ist ein Mitglied der New American Baptist Church. Da sie meilenweit von der nächsten Stadt in South Carolina entfernt lebt, ist sie vor der verderbten modernen Welt sicher. Sie ist eine gehorsame Tochter. Ein geschätztes Mitglied der Gemeinde. Als sie die einzige Überlebende eines Feuers ist, bei dem das Haus ihrer Familie bis auf die Grundmauern niederbrennt, scheint es sich um einen tragischen Unfall zu handeln. Bis überraschend herauskommt, dass Abigail vor dem Brand eine fremde Person ins Haus ließ. Wer war es? Was hat das Feuer ausgelöst? Und kam die Gefahr wirklich von außen?
»Ein starker, atemberaubender und berührender Thriller.« Chris Whitaker
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 3, 2023
24 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Laure Van Rensburg
3 books91 followersLaure Van Rensburg is a French writer living in the UK and an Ink Academy alumna. Her stories have appeared in online magazines and anthologies such as Litro Magazine, Storgy Magazine, The Real Jazz Baby (2020 Best Anthology, Saboteur Awards 2020), and FIVE:2:ONE. She has also placed in competitions including 2018 & 2019 Bath Short Story Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 3, 2023
3.5 rounded up
Focus: The New America Baptist Church, Newhaven Plantation, S. Carolina.
Abigail Heywood's family have been members of this strict church/cult for as long as she can remember. She’s an obedient daughter, a ‘good daughter’ living a demure life as is expected. When a house fire claims the lives of her mother and father, seventeen year old Abigail finds herself under increasing scrutiny of the group whose suspicions continue to grow. Abigail's story is told before and after the fire by Abigail herself and by mixed media inserts at random intervals. The audio files are especially illuminating as there’s fear and tension but for a long time we don’t know whether Abigail is traumatised and genuinely has no memory of the fire of if she’s an adept liar.
The novel starts slowly and I initially find it hard to get to grips with the slow burner storyline but once Abigail meets podcaster Summer Washington something seems to click and it starts to resemble a good psychological thriller. The storytelling grows increasingly powerful and it’s undoubtedly very well written both with empathy, sympathy and sensitivity. There are some excellent descriptions and images that convey life on the Plantation. You get insightful glimpses of the group and their adherence to the Bible, female modesty and subservience. The coercive male control and dominance of gender roles is clear to see as Abigail tries to tread the path the group ordains as internal conflict grows. The church is scrutinised and judged by those outside its parameters but what becomes increasingly obvious is that there are multiple secrets and a loose relationship with the truth. It’s disturbing and sinister in places which creates a mixture of emotions as you read. There is plenty of tension and several plot twists to keep you glued to the pages. It’s fascinating watching the changes in Abigail and her characterisation is excellent as is that of Summer. She is a catalyst of much and the storytelling here is strong, following an unpredictable path. It’s compelling and builds to a good end.
However, the fact remains it’s not easy to get into and I think that’s because of the authors use of non-linear timelines which causes repetition. There’s nothing especially new here as there are a stack of books on religious cults but what is also equally true is that this is one of the good ones. The plot revolves entirely around Abigail and this delivers an authentic and powerful tale.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Focus: The New America Baptist Church, Newhaven Plantation, S. Carolina.
Abigail Heywood's family have been members of this strict church/cult for as long as she can remember. She’s an obedient daughter, a ‘good daughter’ living a demure life as is expected. When a house fire claims the lives of her mother and father, seventeen year old Abigail finds herself under increasing scrutiny of the group whose suspicions continue to grow. Abigail's story is told before and after the fire by Abigail herself and by mixed media inserts at random intervals. The audio files are especially illuminating as there’s fear and tension but for a long time we don’t know whether Abigail is traumatised and genuinely has no memory of the fire of if she’s an adept liar.
The novel starts slowly and I initially find it hard to get to grips with the slow burner storyline but once Abigail meets podcaster Summer Washington something seems to click and it starts to resemble a good psychological thriller. The storytelling grows increasingly powerful and it’s undoubtedly very well written both with empathy, sympathy and sensitivity. There are some excellent descriptions and images that convey life on the Plantation. You get insightful glimpses of the group and their adherence to the Bible, female modesty and subservience. The coercive male control and dominance of gender roles is clear to see as Abigail tries to tread the path the group ordains as internal conflict grows. The church is scrutinised and judged by those outside its parameters but what becomes increasingly obvious is that there are multiple secrets and a loose relationship with the truth. It’s disturbing and sinister in places which creates a mixture of emotions as you read. There is plenty of tension and several plot twists to keep you glued to the pages. It’s fascinating watching the changes in Abigail and her characterisation is excellent as is that of Summer. She is a catalyst of much and the storytelling here is strong, following an unpredictable path. It’s compelling and builds to a good end.
However, the fact remains it’s not easy to get into and I think that’s because of the authors use of non-linear timelines which causes repetition. There’s nothing especially new here as there are a stack of books on religious cults but what is also equally true is that this is one of the good ones. The plot revolves entirely around Abigail and this delivers an authentic and powerful tale.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 15, 2023
How do I express adequately the brilliance of this novel? Whatever words I choose I know they won't suffice. But here goes...
The Good Daughter is a powerful psychological thriller that seamlessly blends literary style prose with the real-life terrors of living within a religious cult. Exploring the themes of Isolation, Betrayal, Family Secrets, Coercive Control, The Illusion of Safety, Religious Cults, Gender Roles and Murder. This is a compelling novel reminiscent in many ways of The Girls, Under The Banner Of Heaven and The Secret Lies Of Minnow Bly. It will satisfy readers of literary fiction as well as those thirsty for intricate thrillers.
The prose is beautiful, almost lyrical in its execution, and combined with the taut descriptive contrasts between Newhaven Plantation and the nearby modern world it evokes vivid imagery giving a clear sense of time and place.
Laure confidently builds up suspense around the horrific deaths of the Pastor and his family so that the reader is transfixed by what has happened. Abigail’s mental awakening is skilfully woven throughout the narrative so that it feels authentic, which helps create the sense of eeriness that pervades the writing.
The plot is meticulously planned and will keep readers turning pages, and the structure of the book is modern with excerpts of audio tapes esclalating the sense of tension.
However, Laure’s brilliant characterisations , especially those of Abigail and Summer are what makes the storyline deeply emotional. Both women shine so bright. And the glorious sense of atmosphere in the book makes it a mesmerising read.
It is easy to see how fluidly it would translate to screen.
To finish I will end with the stunning and unique opening of Chapter One. And hope that if my review doesn't entice you these words will.
"Death has brought flies and strangers to our house. The former buzz around among the charred remains of the front room. The latter have dragged out chairs from the kitchen to the backyard..."
The Good Daughter is a powerful psychological thriller that seamlessly blends literary style prose with the real-life terrors of living within a religious cult. Exploring the themes of Isolation, Betrayal, Family Secrets, Coercive Control, The Illusion of Safety, Religious Cults, Gender Roles and Murder. This is a compelling novel reminiscent in many ways of The Girls, Under The Banner Of Heaven and The Secret Lies Of Minnow Bly. It will satisfy readers of literary fiction as well as those thirsty for intricate thrillers.
The prose is beautiful, almost lyrical in its execution, and combined with the taut descriptive contrasts between Newhaven Plantation and the nearby modern world it evokes vivid imagery giving a clear sense of time and place.
Laure confidently builds up suspense around the horrific deaths of the Pastor and his family so that the reader is transfixed by what has happened. Abigail’s mental awakening is skilfully woven throughout the narrative so that it feels authentic, which helps create the sense of eeriness that pervades the writing.
The plot is meticulously planned and will keep readers turning pages, and the structure of the book is modern with excerpts of audio tapes esclalating the sense of tension.
However, Laure’s brilliant characterisations , especially those of Abigail and Summer are what makes the storyline deeply emotional. Both women shine so bright. And the glorious sense of atmosphere in the book makes it a mesmerising read.
It is easy to see how fluidly it would translate to screen.
To finish I will end with the stunning and unique opening of Chapter One. And hope that if my review doesn't entice you these words will.
"Death has brought flies and strangers to our house. The former buzz around among the charred remains of the front room. The latter have dragged out chairs from the kitchen to the backyard..."
March 4, 2024
3,5
Tämä oli erittäin kauniisti kirjoitettu sekä toteutettu kirja. Tykkäsin siitä, miten audiohaastattelut oltiin äänikirjaan tehty. Jännitys pysyi yllä melkein kirjan viimeisille sivuille asti, mutta lässähti yllättävän nopeasti. Ehkä pienellä muokkauksella tästä olisi saatu neljän tähden kirja.
Tämä oli erittäin kauniisti kirjoitettu sekä toteutettu kirja. Tykkäsin siitä, miten audiohaastattelut oltiin äänikirjaan tehty. Jännitys pysyi yllä melkein kirjan viimeisille sivuille asti, mutta lässähti yllättävän nopeasti. Ehkä pienellä muokkauksella tästä olisi saatu neljän tähden kirja.
June 10, 2024
Ein ruhiger Thriller, aber spannend.
October 26, 2023
2.5
Started strong but dragged on WAY too long - very long winded and I gave up caring
Started strong but dragged on WAY too long - very long winded and I gave up caring
September 1, 2023
The Good Daughter is an intense, sinister and captivating read.
The story is told in two parts. We are thrown into a memo relating to the wreckage of the house and then to present day. We are then taken back to Early June, to three weeks before the fire. Scattered throughout are news articles with comments and podcast excerpts alongside other forms of documentation. This provides alternate perspective and really ties you to the story with snippets of information.
Opening with a death you are gripped into the questions immediately, wondering how, what, when and why. I found the beginning a little slow to start but was quickly drawn in by the questions and the need to discover what happens.
Told from Abigail’s perspective, you really feel apart of the goings on. Her path is authentic, her thoughts feel real although extremely intense.
Abigail meets Summer, who is creating a podcast about the New American Baptist Church, and wants to interview her. Both characters are really brought to life and the ‘modern’ friendship that begins to develop from this was interesting to follow, especially alongside an unexpected revelation.
The narrative really makes you feel an array of emotions and the primary one I found was anger. The level of control and coercion is unbelievable. Feeling emotion alongside Abigail as her memories begin to reappear is intense but also gripping, I couldn’t stop reading!
The focus of the cult was an intense read, although informative. You can tell how much research Laure Van Rensburg has done into the topic! I learnt a lot about the true isolation and illusions that those within are exposed to.
Laure Van Rensburg’s writing is, once again completely captivating and descriptive. It’s easy to picture the Newhaven plantation and all the goings on in vivid detail. The contrast was striking between the contemporary world and it really exaggerates how ostracised the characters are from society.
The story is told in two parts. We are thrown into a memo relating to the wreckage of the house and then to present day. We are then taken back to Early June, to three weeks before the fire. Scattered throughout are news articles with comments and podcast excerpts alongside other forms of documentation. This provides alternate perspective and really ties you to the story with snippets of information.
Opening with a death you are gripped into the questions immediately, wondering how, what, when and why. I found the beginning a little slow to start but was quickly drawn in by the questions and the need to discover what happens.
Told from Abigail’s perspective, you really feel apart of the goings on. Her path is authentic, her thoughts feel real although extremely intense.
Abigail meets Summer, who is creating a podcast about the New American Baptist Church, and wants to interview her. Both characters are really brought to life and the ‘modern’ friendship that begins to develop from this was interesting to follow, especially alongside an unexpected revelation.
The narrative really makes you feel an array of emotions and the primary one I found was anger. The level of control and coercion is unbelievable. Feeling emotion alongside Abigail as her memories begin to reappear is intense but also gripping, I couldn’t stop reading!
The focus of the cult was an intense read, although informative. You can tell how much research Laure Van Rensburg has done into the topic! I learnt a lot about the true isolation and illusions that those within are exposed to.
Laure Van Rensburg’s writing is, once again completely captivating and descriptive. It’s easy to picture the Newhaven plantation and all the goings on in vivid detail. The contrast was striking between the contemporary world and it really exaggerates how ostracised the characters are from society.
September 27, 2023
Review to follow
February 18, 2024
2.5 ⭐, luettu suomeksi, mutta ei löytynyt vielä täältä. 😅
August 1, 2023
The Good Daughter opens with the aftermath of a fire at the house of a pastor and his wife, killing them and giving their daughter Abigail amnesia. As the novel progresses and Abigail’s memories return, the story takes some surprising twists and turns. I had to take a break from reading halfway through (life got in the way), and when I picked it back up, I fell straight back into the action, and I was gripped again. I’ve enjoyed this so much that I’ve already recommended it to friends.
Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the advance digital copy of #TheGoodDaughter.
Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the advance digital copy of #TheGoodDaughter.
April 18, 2023
17 year old Abigail and her family have been devout members of the New America Baptist Church for as long as she can remember. Every day is the same, she plays the role of the good daughter; obedient, modest, quiet.
Until her life goes up in the smoke — a fire burns down her family home, taking her parents with it and she is left alone. But was she the victim, or the villain in this? An innocent bystander or a masterful liar? Or is nothing so simple.
"Turns out that this is where you go after you die - a body bag."
Dark, compelling and powerful — this searing thriller delves into the twisted world of religious coercion and cult mentalities, and the ripples of death and decay that they can send out into the world.
This story was slow, drawn-out and quiet. It did take me a while to get into but soon the mystery and horrific circumstances become very intriguing — Abigail telling us her story through her own words before and after the fire— her voice was interspersed with podcasts, audio files, emails, news stories and media clippings to create a non-linear, interactive and deeply detailed style of storytelling that at times was a little repetitive and disjointed but made you notice all the little details that really pushed us forwards.
Although there was a strong cast of distinct characters who ranged from interesting to downright evil, the enigmatic and elusive podcast creator Summer was clearly a catalyst in Abigail’s life and this story. their dynamic was electrifying, their relationship a mystery — and only ever hearing Abigail’s version of their relationship made it that much more difficult to figure out exactly.
Abigail as a narrator was definitely interesting; she’d been through a twisted religious cult, been a victim of outdated and abusive gendered laws — but as we only hear from her we are following her on this journey and trying to figure out if she’s just a victim, or a masterful liar. She jumps and changes, from a brainwashed self-righteous girl, to a survivor, to a suspect — and all of them so clearly still her in some way. Of course there’s some times it’s clear who is good and who is bad — but what about the times those lines get blurred, in between victims and villains?
The discomfort was palpable and intense, entirely anxiety-inducing as were not sure who to trust. Full of twists, secrets, lies and plots — this is A disturbing journey behind the closed doors of a dangerous cult, into the monster that walk around in plain sight.
Until her life goes up in the smoke — a fire burns down her family home, taking her parents with it and she is left alone. But was she the victim, or the villain in this? An innocent bystander or a masterful liar? Or is nothing so simple.
"Turns out that this is where you go after you die - a body bag."
Dark, compelling and powerful — this searing thriller delves into the twisted world of religious coercion and cult mentalities, and the ripples of death and decay that they can send out into the world.
This story was slow, drawn-out and quiet. It did take me a while to get into but soon the mystery and horrific circumstances become very intriguing — Abigail telling us her story through her own words before and after the fire— her voice was interspersed with podcasts, audio files, emails, news stories and media clippings to create a non-linear, interactive and deeply detailed style of storytelling that at times was a little repetitive and disjointed but made you notice all the little details that really pushed us forwards.
Although there was a strong cast of distinct characters who ranged from interesting to downright evil, the enigmatic and elusive podcast creator Summer was clearly a catalyst in Abigail’s life and this story. their dynamic was electrifying, their relationship a mystery — and only ever hearing Abigail’s version of their relationship made it that much more difficult to figure out exactly.
Abigail as a narrator was definitely interesting; she’d been through a twisted religious cult, been a victim of outdated and abusive gendered laws — but as we only hear from her we are following her on this journey and trying to figure out if she’s just a victim, or a masterful liar. She jumps and changes, from a brainwashed self-righteous girl, to a survivor, to a suspect — and all of them so clearly still her in some way. Of course there’s some times it’s clear who is good and who is bad — but what about the times those lines get blurred, in between victims and villains?
The discomfort was palpable and intense, entirely anxiety-inducing as were not sure who to trust. Full of twists, secrets, lies and plots — this is A disturbing journey behind the closed doors of a dangerous cult, into the monster that walk around in plain sight.
April 7, 2024
3.5 pyöristettynä 4. Alku nihkeä, mutta loppuakohden tempaisi hyvin mukaansa. Kerronnan heitteleminen nykyhetken, menneisyyden ja äänitallenteiden välillä häiritsi hetkittäin. Kokonaisuus kuitenkin hyvä 👍
August 22, 2023
The good daughter respects her father’s command.
The good daughter dresses modestly.
The good daughter must do as she’s told.
But sometimes daughters must be bad to survive.
With a tagline like that, I had to read this book, and I was delighted when it was picked as the Squadpod Book Club book for August. We’d read Laure van Rensburg’s debut, Nobody But Us for our book club last year and I was a big fan, so I couldn’t wait to read this one.
Newhaven, South Carolina. Home to the controversial New America Baptist Church and a refuge from the immoral modern world for its members. Abigail is proud to be one of them. The 17-year-old is committed to being a good daughter and spreading the church’s teachings to lost souls. One night a fire ravages her family home and Abigail is the sole survivor. It seems like a tragic accident, but as Abigail’s memories of that night and the weeks leading up to it fail to return, members of the congregation become increasingly suspicious. Did an outsider break in and start the fire? Or was this good daughter involved in her parent’s death?
“They all keep staring at me, waiting for me to talk, but I ain't got no words for them. No answers to their questions. The fire's left me with nothing but charred memories, no shapes. It burned all my feelings and left me numb with questions of my own.”
Laure van Rensburg has lived up to the hype of her debut with The Good Daughter. There’s no ‘sophomore syndrome’ in sight as she once again delivers a darkly atmospheric, suspenseful and unputdownable thriller that I quickly devoured. A story of dark secrets, fractured people, indoctrination and trauma, it captures the many shades of evil that can be hidden behind a guise of love. Well-written, shrewdly choreographed, and told with empathy and sensitivity, the intricately woven plot contains a complex maze of twists and turns that keeps you guessing. I was in van Rensburg’s thrall, on the edge of my seat as she slowly untangled the knots to reveal the shocking truth, leading to a jaw-dropping finale I’m still not over.
Seamlessly moving between dual timelines, we follow the aftermath of the fire as Abigail desperately tries to remember what happened that night and in the weeks leading up to her parents’ death, but she is haunted by nightmares and distorted fragments of memory slowly return to her, ramping up the tension with each new revelation. Also included are audio files and other media that hint at something dark and sinister yet to come while also helping us slowly piece the story together. Van Rensburg’s evocative storytelling and richly drawn characters offer us a glimpse of life inside the cult that feels authentic. There are clear gender roles taken from their warped view of the bible and that we see in the coercive control, dominance and abusiveness of the men alongside the subjugation and compliance of the women. Abigail has been raised in this since she was a young child and sees nothing wrong with the rules she follows. She idolises her father, who, quite frankly, is an abusive asshole. I wanted to reach into the book and rescue her from the life she’s been brainwashed into accepting. But thankfully there was hope on the horizon. Summer comes into Abigail’s life when she agrees to secretly be interviewed for her podcast and the young woman becomes a catalyst for change as she opens her eyes to some of the lies she’s been told, creating an inner conflict and rage that leapt from the page. It is powerful stuff that really makes you feel for Abigail as her world is turned upside down and makes you wonder if she could have been involved in the fire after all…
“My head is full of screams, deafening echoes hitting the walls of a cave; they mingle with roars from the fire, but there's something else underneath them, scratching to get out.
But I can never see past that shattered mirror, the pieces only allowing me to catch a glimpse, a detail, never enough for a full picture, for anything to make much sense.
Always a red fire. So much red. A red that burns.”
There’s a sinister cloud of mistrust that lingers over these pages, and never more so than when surrounding most of the cult’s members. Again, there is a clear divide between genders with the women seeming more mysterious and meek, while the men are controlling and violent. Abigail’s father is a real piece of work who made me so angry that I wanted to reach into the book and book and give him a taste of the abuse he dolled out. I was furious with her mother for not only standing idly by, but encouraging her daughter to accept the abuse as something she deserves. While it was obvious she had secrets that made her feel she owed him something, nothing excuses allowing your child to be abused and my heart broke for Abigail being so let down by both parents.
A first-rate thriller with Handmaid’s Tale vibes, The Good Daughter is a powerful, mesmerising and addictive read that would make a perfect series. READ IT NOW!
The good daughter dresses modestly.
The good daughter must do as she’s told.
But sometimes daughters must be bad to survive.
With a tagline like that, I had to read this book, and I was delighted when it was picked as the Squadpod Book Club book for August. We’d read Laure van Rensburg’s debut, Nobody But Us for our book club last year and I was a big fan, so I couldn’t wait to read this one.
Newhaven, South Carolina. Home to the controversial New America Baptist Church and a refuge from the immoral modern world for its members. Abigail is proud to be one of them. The 17-year-old is committed to being a good daughter and spreading the church’s teachings to lost souls. One night a fire ravages her family home and Abigail is the sole survivor. It seems like a tragic accident, but as Abigail’s memories of that night and the weeks leading up to it fail to return, members of the congregation become increasingly suspicious. Did an outsider break in and start the fire? Or was this good daughter involved in her parent’s death?
“They all keep staring at me, waiting for me to talk, but I ain't got no words for them. No answers to their questions. The fire's left me with nothing but charred memories, no shapes. It burned all my feelings and left me numb with questions of my own.”
Laure van Rensburg has lived up to the hype of her debut with The Good Daughter. There’s no ‘sophomore syndrome’ in sight as she once again delivers a darkly atmospheric, suspenseful and unputdownable thriller that I quickly devoured. A story of dark secrets, fractured people, indoctrination and trauma, it captures the many shades of evil that can be hidden behind a guise of love. Well-written, shrewdly choreographed, and told with empathy and sensitivity, the intricately woven plot contains a complex maze of twists and turns that keeps you guessing. I was in van Rensburg’s thrall, on the edge of my seat as she slowly untangled the knots to reveal the shocking truth, leading to a jaw-dropping finale I’m still not over.
Seamlessly moving between dual timelines, we follow the aftermath of the fire as Abigail desperately tries to remember what happened that night and in the weeks leading up to her parents’ death, but she is haunted by nightmares and distorted fragments of memory slowly return to her, ramping up the tension with each new revelation. Also included are audio files and other media that hint at something dark and sinister yet to come while also helping us slowly piece the story together. Van Rensburg’s evocative storytelling and richly drawn characters offer us a glimpse of life inside the cult that feels authentic. There are clear gender roles taken from their warped view of the bible and that we see in the coercive control, dominance and abusiveness of the men alongside the subjugation and compliance of the women. Abigail has been raised in this since she was a young child and sees nothing wrong with the rules she follows. She idolises her father, who, quite frankly, is an abusive asshole. I wanted to reach into the book and rescue her from the life she’s been brainwashed into accepting. But thankfully there was hope on the horizon. Summer comes into Abigail’s life when she agrees to secretly be interviewed for her podcast and the young woman becomes a catalyst for change as she opens her eyes to some of the lies she’s been told, creating an inner conflict and rage that leapt from the page. It is powerful stuff that really makes you feel for Abigail as her world is turned upside down and makes you wonder if she could have been involved in the fire after all…
“My head is full of screams, deafening echoes hitting the walls of a cave; they mingle with roars from the fire, but there's something else underneath them, scratching to get out.
But I can never see past that shattered mirror, the pieces only allowing me to catch a glimpse, a detail, never enough for a full picture, for anything to make much sense.
Always a red fire. So much red. A red that burns.”
There’s a sinister cloud of mistrust that lingers over these pages, and never more so than when surrounding most of the cult’s members. Again, there is a clear divide between genders with the women seeming more mysterious and meek, while the men are controlling and violent. Abigail’s father is a real piece of work who made me so angry that I wanted to reach into the book and book and give him a taste of the abuse he dolled out. I was furious with her mother for not only standing idly by, but encouraging her daughter to accept the abuse as something she deserves. While it was obvious she had secrets that made her feel she owed him something, nothing excuses allowing your child to be abused and my heart broke for Abigail being so let down by both parents.
A first-rate thriller with Handmaid’s Tale vibes, The Good Daughter is a powerful, mesmerising and addictive read that would make a perfect series. READ IT NOW!
December 1, 2023
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
Laure Van Rensburg’s debut, Nobody But Us, was one of the most addictive, most thrilling books I read in 2022. Dark and intoxicating, this dangerous game of cat and mouse had me on the edge of my seat, totally wrapped up in the world the author created. So I was eagerly anticipating the next fictional offering from this clearly talented writer. Cue The Good Daughter. The Good Daughter is a very different beast to Nobody But Us but Van Rensburg’s superb style, razor sharp delivery and exquisitely written characters are all present.
The members of New America Baptist Church of Newhaven, South Carolina live a simple, God-fearing life far from the debauched and dangerous modern world. Seventeen year old Abigail Heywood is the Pastor’s daughter, and the sole survivor when a fire engulfs the Heywood family home. Unable to remember anything that happened in the weeks leading up to the fire, the close-knit community become increasingly suspicious of Abigail and her motives. After all, Abigail’s belief and commitment has been tested on several occasions when the church venture out, leaving the safe confines of their base to recruit new members. Who started the fire that killed Abigail’s parents? Can Abigail’s memory loss be trusted, or is she just an adept and accomplished liar….?
The Good Daughter is a stunning piece of psychological fiction. I was blown away by how utterly convincing, how truly immersive and how insanely addictive this book was. A definite contender for my top books of 2023 list, for sure! Van Rensburg’s writing is once again fully on point. The characters are sublime. The setting is drawn so vividly I felt I was living within the pages of the book. And the plot was all encompassing, shocks and surprises, twists and turns, all perfectly placed. A masterclass in how to write a psychological thriller. I loved absolutely everything about The Good Daughter. I have to admit that I do love a thriller that’s set around a cult and there’s no denying that that is what Abigail is living in. When, on one of her excursions to the city, she meets a podcaster called Summer, Abigail sees it as the perfect opportunity to recruit a new member. But Summer is already familiar with the New America Baptist Church and wants to talk to Abigail not about joining, but more generally about the church and its approaches. Before long a friendship is formed. The two young women couldn’t be more different but Summer wants to prove to Abigail that there is life beyond the strict rules of the church.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I adored The Good Daughter and will be recommending it to absolutely everyone. Van Rensburg’s prose is once again almost lyrical in tone and a thing of literary beauty. With two interweaving timelines at play, this assured follow-up marks the author as ‘one to watch’, without a doubt. In the past, the events leading up to the day of the fire are slowly revealed to the reader. And in the present, we watch as Abigail’s memories return at infrequent intervals and in unsettling flashes, building up a clear picture of what happened in the run-up to the fire. It was fascinating to watch such pious, self-labelled ‘good’ people turn on a member of their own community. I really felt for Abigail, who is one of the most beautifully written characters I have met in a long time. But Abigail’s friendship with Summer really steals the show. The smaller, more secondary characters were all well-written adding something to the storyline. There were several times when the male characters in the book made me want to break something, but it all adds to the overall tension of the novel. All in all, I loved The Good Daughter and I cannot wait to see what Van Rensburg has for us readers next. You’ll find me at the very front of the queue! Beautifully written, utterly captivating and hugely addictive. Full of foreboding, tension, uncertainty and mistrust. One of my favourites of the year. Highly recommended.
Laure Van Rensburg’s debut, Nobody But Us, was one of the most addictive, most thrilling books I read in 2022. Dark and intoxicating, this dangerous game of cat and mouse had me on the edge of my seat, totally wrapped up in the world the author created. So I was eagerly anticipating the next fictional offering from this clearly talented writer. Cue The Good Daughter. The Good Daughter is a very different beast to Nobody But Us but Van Rensburg’s superb style, razor sharp delivery and exquisitely written characters are all present.
The members of New America Baptist Church of Newhaven, South Carolina live a simple, God-fearing life far from the debauched and dangerous modern world. Seventeen year old Abigail Heywood is the Pastor’s daughter, and the sole survivor when a fire engulfs the Heywood family home. Unable to remember anything that happened in the weeks leading up to the fire, the close-knit community become increasingly suspicious of Abigail and her motives. After all, Abigail’s belief and commitment has been tested on several occasions when the church venture out, leaving the safe confines of their base to recruit new members. Who started the fire that killed Abigail’s parents? Can Abigail’s memory loss be trusted, or is she just an adept and accomplished liar….?
The Good Daughter is a stunning piece of psychological fiction. I was blown away by how utterly convincing, how truly immersive and how insanely addictive this book was. A definite contender for my top books of 2023 list, for sure! Van Rensburg’s writing is once again fully on point. The characters are sublime. The setting is drawn so vividly I felt I was living within the pages of the book. And the plot was all encompassing, shocks and surprises, twists and turns, all perfectly placed. A masterclass in how to write a psychological thriller. I loved absolutely everything about The Good Daughter. I have to admit that I do love a thriller that’s set around a cult and there’s no denying that that is what Abigail is living in. When, on one of her excursions to the city, she meets a podcaster called Summer, Abigail sees it as the perfect opportunity to recruit a new member. But Summer is already familiar with the New America Baptist Church and wants to talk to Abigail not about joining, but more generally about the church and its approaches. Before long a friendship is formed. The two young women couldn’t be more different but Summer wants to prove to Abigail that there is life beyond the strict rules of the church.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I adored The Good Daughter and will be recommending it to absolutely everyone. Van Rensburg’s prose is once again almost lyrical in tone and a thing of literary beauty. With two interweaving timelines at play, this assured follow-up marks the author as ‘one to watch’, without a doubt. In the past, the events leading up to the day of the fire are slowly revealed to the reader. And in the present, we watch as Abigail’s memories return at infrequent intervals and in unsettling flashes, building up a clear picture of what happened in the run-up to the fire. It was fascinating to watch such pious, self-labelled ‘good’ people turn on a member of their own community. I really felt for Abigail, who is one of the most beautifully written characters I have met in a long time. But Abigail’s friendship with Summer really steals the show. The smaller, more secondary characters were all well-written adding something to the storyline. There were several times when the male characters in the book made me want to break something, but it all adds to the overall tension of the novel. All in all, I loved The Good Daughter and I cannot wait to see what Van Rensburg has for us readers next. You’ll find me at the very front of the queue! Beautifully written, utterly captivating and hugely addictive. Full of foreboding, tension, uncertainty and mistrust. One of my favourites of the year. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2024
Bekommt viel zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit
Abigail Heywood ist in Newhaven Plantation in der Gemeinde der New America Baptist Church aufgewachsen. Als gute Tochter weiß sie, was sich gehört und da Newhaven auf einer kleinen Insel liegt, kommt sie auch nicht mit der Versuchung in Verbindung. Sie weiß, dass sie als Frau einem Mann zu dienen hat und für Heim und Kinder zuständig ist. Doch als sie gemeinsam mit ihrem Vater, der Pastor Heywood, in die kleine Stadt fährt, trifft sie auf eine junge Frau.
Kurze Zeit später brennt ein Haus der NABC ab, zwei Opfer sind in dem Haus, der Pastor und seine Frau. Abigail hingegen ist weitestgehend unverletzt, kann sich aber an nichts mehr erinnern, weder aus der Nacht des Brandes noch an die Zeit zuvor. Was geschah hier wirklich?
Mich sprach der Klappentext unheimlich an und dann habe ich viel zu lange gezögert, dieses Buch zu lesen, was ich im Nachhinein wirklich bedaure, denn es ist wirklich absolut fesselnd und spannend.
Lauren van rensburg schreibt sehr bildlich und direkt und versetzt ihren Leser somit gleich mitten ins Geschehen. Ihren Thriller hat sie auf verschiedenen Zeitebenen und mit eingebauten Auszügen aus diversen Interviews aufgebaut. Wir beginnen in der Gegenwart kurz nach dem Brand und reisen dann sechs Wochen in der Zeit zurück bis kurz vor den Brand.
Gerade durch dieses hin- und herspringen durch die Zeiten eröffnen sich nur nach und nach die Wahrheiten für den Leser, man kann hier unheimlich viel miträtseln und vermuten und für mich war es wirklich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite an absolut fesselnd. Zwar finden wir in diesem Buch keine klassischen Ermittlungen, dafür verfolgen wir intensiv, wie in der Sekte auf der Insel gehandelt wird, was absolut erschreckend und beängstigend ist.
Die New America Baptist Church ist eine Sekte, auch wenn sie sich selbst nicht so sehen, sondern als eine Gemeinschaft, die nach den Regeln Jesu und der Bibel handelt. Was und wie aber in dieser Sekte gehandelt wird, gleicht einer wahren Gehirnwäsche, hier herrscht das Patriarchat, Frauen haben dem Mann zu gehorschen und ihnen Kinder zu gebähren, widerspricht eine, wirdohne zu zögern auf ganz grausame Weise Folter eingesetzt.
All diese Ereignisse erlebt der Leser in der Ich-Perspektive aus der Sicht der Protagonistin Abigail. Ich war hier hoch emotional, gefangen zwischen endloser Wut und Fassungslosigkeit, wie geschickt einem das Wort im Munde verdreht wird und wer hier in Wirklichkeit Zuflucht auf der Insel fand.
Das Setting, diese einsame Insel mit ihren Bewohnern, wurde für mich absolut greifbar, ich spürte die Hitze des Sommers und konnte beinahe am eigenen Leib spüren, wie sehr Abigail hier leidet.
Abigail fand ich großartig charakterisiert, sie ist gerade einmal siebzehn Jahre alt und erst als sie Summer kennenlernt, beginnt sie selbst ihre Augen zu öffnen, sieht was auf der Insel wirklich geschieht und versucht, sich selbst zu finden. Doch das wird hier auf der Insel beinahe unmöglich, denn eine gehorsame Tochter stellt nichts in Frage, stellt sich nicht zur Schau, gehorscht und dient. Ihre Entwicklung und was wirklich hinter ihrer Geschichte steckt, war wirklich berührend und schockierend.
Die Nebencharaktere waren so unheimlich glaubhaft, sie haben mich wirklich beeindruckt mit ihren Handlungen, auch wenn es nicht immer im positiven Sinne gemeint ist. Für mich ist es fast schon unvorstellbar, dass es so ein Leben geben kann und doch weiß man, dass es diese Sekten gibt.
Mein Fazit: Dieses Buch habe ich an nur einem Tag förmlich inhaliert, denn für mich war es von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite einfach nur spannend, emotional und berührend. Ich habe die Handlung mit einer Mischung aus Fassungslosigkeit, Angst und Abscheu, aber auch Faszination verfolgt und bin auch jetzt beim Finden von Worten für meine Rezension wieder völlig gefangen von der Geschichte. Für mich war es die Überraschung des Jahres, denn mit einer solchen Geschichte habe ich wirklich nicht gerechnet. Ganz großes Kino und absolut lesenswert.
Abigail Heywood ist in Newhaven Plantation in der Gemeinde der New America Baptist Church aufgewachsen. Als gute Tochter weiß sie, was sich gehört und da Newhaven auf einer kleinen Insel liegt, kommt sie auch nicht mit der Versuchung in Verbindung. Sie weiß, dass sie als Frau einem Mann zu dienen hat und für Heim und Kinder zuständig ist. Doch als sie gemeinsam mit ihrem Vater, der Pastor Heywood, in die kleine Stadt fährt, trifft sie auf eine junge Frau.
Kurze Zeit später brennt ein Haus der NABC ab, zwei Opfer sind in dem Haus, der Pastor und seine Frau. Abigail hingegen ist weitestgehend unverletzt, kann sich aber an nichts mehr erinnern, weder aus der Nacht des Brandes noch an die Zeit zuvor. Was geschah hier wirklich?
Mich sprach der Klappentext unheimlich an und dann habe ich viel zu lange gezögert, dieses Buch zu lesen, was ich im Nachhinein wirklich bedaure, denn es ist wirklich absolut fesselnd und spannend.
Lauren van rensburg schreibt sehr bildlich und direkt und versetzt ihren Leser somit gleich mitten ins Geschehen. Ihren Thriller hat sie auf verschiedenen Zeitebenen und mit eingebauten Auszügen aus diversen Interviews aufgebaut. Wir beginnen in der Gegenwart kurz nach dem Brand und reisen dann sechs Wochen in der Zeit zurück bis kurz vor den Brand.
Gerade durch dieses hin- und herspringen durch die Zeiten eröffnen sich nur nach und nach die Wahrheiten für den Leser, man kann hier unheimlich viel miträtseln und vermuten und für mich war es wirklich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite an absolut fesselnd. Zwar finden wir in diesem Buch keine klassischen Ermittlungen, dafür verfolgen wir intensiv, wie in der Sekte auf der Insel gehandelt wird, was absolut erschreckend und beängstigend ist.
Die New America Baptist Church ist eine Sekte, auch wenn sie sich selbst nicht so sehen, sondern als eine Gemeinschaft, die nach den Regeln Jesu und der Bibel handelt. Was und wie aber in dieser Sekte gehandelt wird, gleicht einer wahren Gehirnwäsche, hier herrscht das Patriarchat, Frauen haben dem Mann zu gehorschen und ihnen Kinder zu gebähren, widerspricht eine, wirdohne zu zögern auf ganz grausame Weise Folter eingesetzt.
All diese Ereignisse erlebt der Leser in der Ich-Perspektive aus der Sicht der Protagonistin Abigail. Ich war hier hoch emotional, gefangen zwischen endloser Wut und Fassungslosigkeit, wie geschickt einem das Wort im Munde verdreht wird und wer hier in Wirklichkeit Zuflucht auf der Insel fand.
Das Setting, diese einsame Insel mit ihren Bewohnern, wurde für mich absolut greifbar, ich spürte die Hitze des Sommers und konnte beinahe am eigenen Leib spüren, wie sehr Abigail hier leidet.
Abigail fand ich großartig charakterisiert, sie ist gerade einmal siebzehn Jahre alt und erst als sie Summer kennenlernt, beginnt sie selbst ihre Augen zu öffnen, sieht was auf der Insel wirklich geschieht und versucht, sich selbst zu finden. Doch das wird hier auf der Insel beinahe unmöglich, denn eine gehorsame Tochter stellt nichts in Frage, stellt sich nicht zur Schau, gehorscht und dient. Ihre Entwicklung und was wirklich hinter ihrer Geschichte steckt, war wirklich berührend und schockierend.
Die Nebencharaktere waren so unheimlich glaubhaft, sie haben mich wirklich beeindruckt mit ihren Handlungen, auch wenn es nicht immer im positiven Sinne gemeint ist. Für mich ist es fast schon unvorstellbar, dass es so ein Leben geben kann und doch weiß man, dass es diese Sekten gibt.
Mein Fazit: Dieses Buch habe ich an nur einem Tag förmlich inhaliert, denn für mich war es von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite einfach nur spannend, emotional und berührend. Ich habe die Handlung mit einer Mischung aus Fassungslosigkeit, Angst und Abscheu, aber auch Faszination verfolgt und bin auch jetzt beim Finden von Worten für meine Rezension wieder völlig gefangen von der Geschichte. Für mich war es die Überraschung des Jahres, denn mit einer solchen Geschichte habe ich wirklich nicht gerechnet. Ganz großes Kino und absolut lesenswert.
August 29, 2023
Seventeen-year-old Abigail Heywood is a member of the ultra-orthodox New America Baptist Church. She is proud to be living her life as God intended in the community of Newhaven, South Carolina, away from the sinners of the outside world. But then she meets Summer, a pod-cast host who seems very interested in the way the New America Baptist Church runs its operation out on the old Newhaven Plantation estate. Abigail is convinced that her way of life is pure and worthy, and she is excited to be given the chance to persuade Summer to see the advantages it offers, but events do not go quite as she anticipates.
When a fire rips through her home in Newhaven, killing her parents, Abigail cannot remember the events of the days leading up to the tragedy. As she struggles to make sense of flashes that come back to her, she begins to realise that being a good daughter is not as easy as she thought and life here might not be the haven it pretends to be.
The Good Daughter is Laure Van Rensburg's follow up to her brilliant debut Nobody But Us. Van Rensburg chooses a very different setting and story for her second novel, but it is every bit as compelling at the first, and in some ways it explores many of the same themes.
The story follows two tense timelines which intertwine - one lays out the events of the days that lead up to the fire that kills Abigail's mother and preacher father, and the second follows the fall-out after the apparent tragedy. As the action moves back and forth from past to present, the flow is also broken up by transcripts of incomplete interviews about aspects of the Newhaven community (with host and subjects only identified as male or female), and disturbing letters that pass back and forth between the New America Baptist Church elders about Abigail.
With perfectly pitched pace, tension, and glorious sense of menace Van Rensburg tells the story of the darkness that lies at the heart of the Newhaven community, and how the arrival of Summer on the scene is the catalyst for Abigail to not only question her beliefs, but rebel against the strictures placed on her as a young woman - with violent results. The story twists and turns, keeping you guessing about the true nature of many of the characters, before the parallel timelines collide in a beautifully conceived double climax of breath-taking proportions.
As in Van Rensburg's debut, this is very much a story about control, abuse of power, submission, gaslighting, and dark intent hidden beneath a benign exterior. She delves deep into the concepts of blind faith, strict religious beliefs, and traditional gender roles, channelling the consequences of hatred and injustice into a story that fills you with a real sense of fear. My heart was in my mouth for almost all of this book, as Abigail's fate lays in the balance, and the way Van Rensburg threads more than one mystery to be solved amongst the drama is an absolute masterclass in story telling. There is another side to this tale which explores themes of family, protection, and the lengths people go to to shield those they love too. And if all this was not impressive enough, she also asks some very timely, and discomfiting, questions about the relationship between the rise in extremist churches in the US and the alarming spread of incel culture amongst disaffected males. Thought-provoking and scary stuff indeed.
I absolutely consumed this book. It is one of the best thrillers I have read all year, with real power and complexity in a story that holds you fast from beginning to end. I cannot wait for book three.
When a fire rips through her home in Newhaven, killing her parents, Abigail cannot remember the events of the days leading up to the tragedy. As she struggles to make sense of flashes that come back to her, she begins to realise that being a good daughter is not as easy as she thought and life here might not be the haven it pretends to be.
The Good Daughter is Laure Van Rensburg's follow up to her brilliant debut Nobody But Us. Van Rensburg chooses a very different setting and story for her second novel, but it is every bit as compelling at the first, and in some ways it explores many of the same themes.
The story follows two tense timelines which intertwine - one lays out the events of the days that lead up to the fire that kills Abigail's mother and preacher father, and the second follows the fall-out after the apparent tragedy. As the action moves back and forth from past to present, the flow is also broken up by transcripts of incomplete interviews about aspects of the Newhaven community (with host and subjects only identified as male or female), and disturbing letters that pass back and forth between the New America Baptist Church elders about Abigail.
With perfectly pitched pace, tension, and glorious sense of menace Van Rensburg tells the story of the darkness that lies at the heart of the Newhaven community, and how the arrival of Summer on the scene is the catalyst for Abigail to not only question her beliefs, but rebel against the strictures placed on her as a young woman - with violent results. The story twists and turns, keeping you guessing about the true nature of many of the characters, before the parallel timelines collide in a beautifully conceived double climax of breath-taking proportions.
As in Van Rensburg's debut, this is very much a story about control, abuse of power, submission, gaslighting, and dark intent hidden beneath a benign exterior. She delves deep into the concepts of blind faith, strict religious beliefs, and traditional gender roles, channelling the consequences of hatred and injustice into a story that fills you with a real sense of fear. My heart was in my mouth for almost all of this book, as Abigail's fate lays in the balance, and the way Van Rensburg threads more than one mystery to be solved amongst the drama is an absolute masterclass in story telling. There is another side to this tale which explores themes of family, protection, and the lengths people go to to shield those they love too. And if all this was not impressive enough, she also asks some very timely, and discomfiting, questions about the relationship between the rise in extremist churches in the US and the alarming spread of incel culture amongst disaffected males. Thought-provoking and scary stuff indeed.
I absolutely consumed this book. It is one of the best thrillers I have read all year, with real power and complexity in a story that holds you fast from beginning to end. I cannot wait for book three.
April 7, 2023
Pastor Heywood and his wife died in a fire in their cottage. Their daughter, Abigail, escaped but has post-traumatic amnesia. Or is she lying to hide guilt? All were members of a cult, the New America Baptist Church, living in its branch on Newhaven Plantation in South Carolina, where Pastor Heywood was the unchallengeable leader. Abigail’s loss of memory extends back over the last few months so she not only can’t remember the fire but also many of the preceding events. What she can remember is that they came to Newhaven eleven years ago, when she was about six, and that her Daddy had become Pastor after the previous one died after a fall downstairs, possibly pushed by his wife who suffers from dementia (or was possessed by a demon?). She only knows they used to live in Chicago because her mother sometimes refers to it, but her memories include only a few flashes of minor domestic incidents from that time. The cult is a patriarchy using biblical edicts to ensure that women are subject to the will of either their husband or their father and rarely allowed away from Newhaven, and then only to Parkerville, the nearest town, and always chaperoned. But Abigail is rebellious and this brings her into conflict with Daddy, leading up to the fire, and with all of the membership afterwards. Can she resolve those two gaps in her memory? And who is Summer, a mysterious woman claiming to be researching Faith for a podcast? Is she connected to the warning letters that the Pastor has been receiving?
Troubled girl wants to escape cult is a common trope, the variation here being that Abigail is the most unreliable of narrators, so we don’t know to what extent we are seeing the true picture. The story is told mostly from her perspective, with interpolations of transcripts made from fire damaged recordings recovered from a phone found in the cottage; presumably made by Summer, but only identified as [Voice A], and some Twitter type stuff providing information about the local population’s view of the cult. These two fill in some background, but are mostly ambiguous. The rest of the text is well written, even quite lyrical in places with the Southern drawl and idiom. The Abigail sections cover the three months or so up to the fire (of which she has essentially no memory), and the present where she is trying to recall the previous events. The timeline is a bit erratic, but I don’t mind that (some readers might). The final resolution is not all that surprising, and does tie up all the main threads. However, it seems to me that the autopsy and the police investigation are both faulty. That affects the plot and costs at least half a star.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
Troubled girl wants to escape cult is a common trope, the variation here being that Abigail is the most unreliable of narrators, so we don’t know to what extent we are seeing the true picture. The story is told mostly from her perspective, with interpolations of transcripts made from fire damaged recordings recovered from a phone found in the cottage; presumably made by Summer, but only identified as [Voice A], and some Twitter type stuff providing information about the local population’s view of the cult. These two fill in some background, but are mostly ambiguous. The rest of the text is well written, even quite lyrical in places with the Southern drawl and idiom. The Abigail sections cover the three months or so up to the fire (of which she has essentially no memory), and the present where she is trying to recall the previous events. The timeline is a bit erratic, but I don’t mind that (some readers might). The final resolution is not all that surprising, and does tie up all the main threads. However, it seems to me that the autopsy and the police investigation are both faulty. That affects the plot and costs at least half a star.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
January 16, 2026
Synopsis:
Abigail is a seventeen-year-old girl living in a secluded religious community in South Carolina. While doing outreach in a nearby city, she is attacked by a group of men and then saved by the podcaster Summer, who wants to interview her about her life. In an attempt to convert her new acquaintance, Abigail obliges. Soon she learns that the people she expected to protect her are not on her side and she thinks back to her time in Chicago, before her mother sought refuge at the New American Baptist church…
I really liked the premise of the book - a teenager brainwashed by a cult-like community, alienated from the modern world and being kept in line by conditioning her to be an obedient mother and wife. Although this is a work of fiction, it was terrifying to read about . I am sure that somewhere this is a reality for some women.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is quite similar in the way its women protagonists are subjugated and mistreated.
Some people might think it’s far-fetched for the author to paint scenarios in which .
I think the book should serve as a stark warning to women not to be naïve and easily led by “trad wife” fantasies - and that even so-called “good men” are capable of doing bad things.
What a realistic description it was, that any criticism of a man’s behaviour was dismissed as “feminism” in that system, so I think the author did a good job of disarming common incel arguments.
“The Good Daughter” probably has a plot similar to many other books, but I got moderate enjoyment out of it. Sometimes the plot felt over-the-top cliché with a noticable lack of nuance, though.
Apart from the political message - that I very much agreed with - the action part itself was quite slow and nothing much happened. There were a few plot holes as well that were never explained and just fizzled out. I am not sure that “thriller” is an apt description for the book, either.
If you’re feeling the tickles of feminist fury and want a book to confirm your negative emotions about man-kind, this is my recommendation for you. It will definitely scratch that itch.
Abigail is a seventeen-year-old girl living in a secluded religious community in South Carolina. While doing outreach in a nearby city, she is attacked by a group of men and then saved by the podcaster Summer, who wants to interview her about her life. In an attempt to convert her new acquaintance, Abigail obliges. Soon she learns that the people she expected to protect her are not on her side and she thinks back to her time in Chicago, before her mother sought refuge at the New American Baptist church…
I really liked the premise of the book - a teenager brainwashed by a cult-like community, alienated from the modern world and being kept in line by conditioning her to be an obedient mother and wife. Although this is a work of fiction, it was terrifying to read about . I am sure that somewhere this is a reality for some women.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is quite similar in the way its women protagonists are subjugated and mistreated.
Some people might think it’s far-fetched for the author to paint scenarios in which .
I think the book should serve as a stark warning to women not to be naïve and easily led by “trad wife” fantasies - and that even so-called “good men” are capable of doing bad things.
What a realistic description it was, that any criticism of a man’s behaviour was dismissed as “feminism” in that system, so I think the author did a good job of disarming common incel arguments.
“The Good Daughter” probably has a plot similar to many other books, but I got moderate enjoyment out of it. Sometimes the plot felt over-the-top cliché with a noticable lack of nuance, though.
Apart from the political message - that I very much agreed with - the action part itself was quite slow and nothing much happened. There were a few plot holes as well that were never explained and just fizzled out. I am not sure that “thriller” is an apt description for the book, either.
If you’re feeling the tickles of feminist fury and want a book to confirm your negative emotions about man-kind, this is my recommendation for you. It will definitely scratch that itch.
June 24, 2024
Abigail ist in einer streng konservativen, isoliert lebenden Baptistengemeinde aufgewachsen, man könnte sie auch als Sekte bezeichnen. Dort werden traditionelle Werte gepflegt: Die Männer sind die Ernährer der Familie, geben auch sonst den Ton an, die Frauen kennen nur die Rolle als Ehefrau und Mutter. Eine Berufstätigkeit von Frauen wird abgelehnt, Abtreibung und Homosexualität sind streng verpönt. Abigail hat nie gegen dieses Leben rebelliert, sie kennt es ja nicht anders.
Ihre Welt gerät in dem Thriller "Die gehorsame Tochter" von Laure van Rensburg ins Wanken, als ihre Eltern beim Brand des Wohnhauses ums Leben kommen. Abigail ist die einzige Überlebende, die drei Jüngeren Geschwister waren zum Zeitpunkt des Unglücks im Haupthaus der Gemeinde. Doch war es ein Unglück? Abigail kann sich an nichts erinnern, hat einen Blackout, der mehrere Wochen zurückgeht. Sie wirkt wie versteinert, kann ihrer Trauer keinen Ausdruck geben. Und dann sind da noch die Flashbacks und Alpträume, in denen Feuer, Blut und ein Messer eine Rolle spielen...
Ist Abigail Zeugin eines Verbrechens gewesen - oder hat sie selbst etwas mit dem Tod der Eltern zu tun? Und welche Rolle spielt Summer, die junge Frau, die ein so ganz anderes Leben als Abigail führt, aber immer wieder Kontakt zu ihr sucht, um für einen Podcast über ihre Glaubensgemeinschaft zu sprechen?
Die Autorin spielt in diesem in den amerikanischen Südstaaten angelegten Thriller mit Suspense und Hinweisen, die in die eine wie auch in die andere Richtung gehen können. Zusammen mit Abigail, die in ihrer Gemeinschaft zunehmend in Isolation gerät, suchen die Leser*innen nach der Wahrheit, die nur ganz langsam ans Licht kommt. Es gibt sowohl äußere Dramatik als auch inneren Aufruhr, während Abigail längst vergessen geglaubten Erinnerungen auf die Spur kommt.
"Die gehorsame Tochter" ist ein spannender Thriller, setzt sich aber auch mit Misogynie und Religion als Mittel der Unterdrückung gerade von Frauen auseinander. Dabei wird auch deutlich, wie sehr das Leben in einer streng reglementierten Gemeinschaft Individuen verbiegen oder brechen kann.
Ihre Welt gerät in dem Thriller "Die gehorsame Tochter" von Laure van Rensburg ins Wanken, als ihre Eltern beim Brand des Wohnhauses ums Leben kommen. Abigail ist die einzige Überlebende, die drei Jüngeren Geschwister waren zum Zeitpunkt des Unglücks im Haupthaus der Gemeinde. Doch war es ein Unglück? Abigail kann sich an nichts erinnern, hat einen Blackout, der mehrere Wochen zurückgeht. Sie wirkt wie versteinert, kann ihrer Trauer keinen Ausdruck geben. Und dann sind da noch die Flashbacks und Alpträume, in denen Feuer, Blut und ein Messer eine Rolle spielen...
Ist Abigail Zeugin eines Verbrechens gewesen - oder hat sie selbst etwas mit dem Tod der Eltern zu tun? Und welche Rolle spielt Summer, die junge Frau, die ein so ganz anderes Leben als Abigail führt, aber immer wieder Kontakt zu ihr sucht, um für einen Podcast über ihre Glaubensgemeinschaft zu sprechen?
Die Autorin spielt in diesem in den amerikanischen Südstaaten angelegten Thriller mit Suspense und Hinweisen, die in die eine wie auch in die andere Richtung gehen können. Zusammen mit Abigail, die in ihrer Gemeinschaft zunehmend in Isolation gerät, suchen die Leser*innen nach der Wahrheit, die nur ganz langsam ans Licht kommt. Es gibt sowohl äußere Dramatik als auch inneren Aufruhr, während Abigail längst vergessen geglaubten Erinnerungen auf die Spur kommt.
"Die gehorsame Tochter" ist ein spannender Thriller, setzt sich aber auch mit Misogynie und Religion als Mittel der Unterdrückung gerade von Frauen auseinander. Dabei wird auch deutlich, wie sehr das Leben in einer streng reglementierten Gemeinschaft Individuen verbiegen oder brechen kann.
July 24, 2023
Abigail Heywood's family are leading lights in the New America Baptist Church in South Carolina. Until, that is, the charismatic Pastor Heywood and his wife Genevieve die a horrible death in a mysterious fire that sweeps through their home.
Their four children are spared, but Abigail - who was also present at the scene, unlike the three younger children - is irrevocably damaged by the experience. Not least because she appears to remember very little of what actually happened on that day as well as in the weeks leading up to the event.
The story is told in a series of segments set before and after the fire, along with some mixed media inputs in the form of voice recordings etc. The latter provide supplementary information and insights into what is taking place.
Despite an initially slow start, the tension builds quickly, and there is a sense of foreboding as the narrative unfolds. The reader is aware that there are many things taking place beneath the surface of this community. But what exactly is happening here? And what is the pastor's daughter's role here?
After all, Abigail has always taken great pride in being the obedient daughter held up as an example in the scriptures. Her faith in her father and her community's way of life has been absolute.
Living according to the strictures of a church that seems more like a cult (and bears more than a passing resemblance to the Westboro Baptist Church, with its extreme views), she has looked down on the depraved city-dwellers who are in such desperate need of Salvation - and has even tried to do her bit by attempting to recruit Summer, an investigative podcaster sceptical to their cause.
Van Rensburg does a brilliant job of bringing alive the contradictions and the corruption that lie at the heart of this so-called religious institution. And her portrayal of both Abigail and Summer bring them vividly to life in the reader's mind. This book is intelligent, well-written and highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Their four children are spared, but Abigail - who was also present at the scene, unlike the three younger children - is irrevocably damaged by the experience. Not least because she appears to remember very little of what actually happened on that day as well as in the weeks leading up to the event.
The story is told in a series of segments set before and after the fire, along with some mixed media inputs in the form of voice recordings etc. The latter provide supplementary information and insights into what is taking place.
Despite an initially slow start, the tension builds quickly, and there is a sense of foreboding as the narrative unfolds. The reader is aware that there are many things taking place beneath the surface of this community. But what exactly is happening here? And what is the pastor's daughter's role here?
After all, Abigail has always taken great pride in being the obedient daughter held up as an example in the scriptures. Her faith in her father and her community's way of life has been absolute.
Living according to the strictures of a church that seems more like a cult (and bears more than a passing resemblance to the Westboro Baptist Church, with its extreme views), she has looked down on the depraved city-dwellers who are in such desperate need of Salvation - and has even tried to do her bit by attempting to recruit Summer, an investigative podcaster sceptical to their cause.
Van Rensburg does a brilliant job of bringing alive the contradictions and the corruption that lie at the heart of this so-called religious institution. And her portrayal of both Abigail and Summer bring them vividly to life in the reader's mind. This book is intelligent, well-written and highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 31, 2024
I was drawn to this thriller set in North Carolina of an isolated community that calls themselves the New America Baptist Church. A cult? It sounded like the Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City.
The pastor’s daughter Abigail is eighteen and obedient. She believes in the values her father (she calls him Daddy) teaches their congregation and that the outside world is flawed, tainted and evil. They do go out at times to the town to buy items or pick up new members to escort the their haven which is an island of sorts because of the water levels.
They preach being modest in living and dressing and traditional roles for men and women. Men being the leader of family and decision maker and women being the ones to be the homemakers and nurturers. Chief is that women should want children and it is part of their role in the community.
The story jumps between the past and present as well as portions of voice recordings which was confusing. Where Abigail does not remember alot (unreliable narrator) but her house has burned down with her parents and they passed away.
Her father sounded toxic as he likes to kick the back of her knee randomly and he did not believe her when she told them she was sexually assaulted, instead telling her that she provoked the guy.
The atmosphere feel like oppressive with the house and the woods being described as beautiful but creepy and like an entity. This could have been a good thriller with female rage being described as fire and the commentary on women acting out being labelled as witches or possessed. The way religion is used to justify what was wrong was scary. In particular, Abigail's father focuses on LGBTQ+, feminism, abortion and planned parenthood as all that is wrong with the world and women.
The simple lifestyle and gender roles can provide a structure for some to thrive but on the flip side, it is abused because the men in the community use the internet to reach out to lonely men on forums and an Incel is allowed into the community. The way Abigail's father uses the patriarchy teachings to victim blame her has been heard so many times.
But at times the writing made me pause and there were grammar errors.
The pastor’s daughter Abigail is eighteen and obedient. She believes in the values her father (she calls him Daddy) teaches their congregation and that the outside world is flawed, tainted and evil. They do go out at times to the town to buy items or pick up new members to escort the their haven which is an island of sorts because of the water levels.
They preach being modest in living and dressing and traditional roles for men and women. Men being the leader of family and decision maker and women being the ones to be the homemakers and nurturers. Chief is that women should want children and it is part of their role in the community.
The story jumps between the past and present as well as portions of voice recordings which was confusing. Where Abigail does not remember alot (unreliable narrator) but her house has burned down with her parents and they passed away.
Her father sounded toxic as he likes to kick the back of her knee randomly and he did not believe her when she told them she was sexually assaulted, instead telling her that she provoked the guy.
The atmosphere feel like oppressive with the house and the woods being described as beautiful but creepy and like an entity. This could have been a good thriller with female rage being described as fire and the commentary on women acting out being labelled as witches or possessed. The way religion is used to justify what was wrong was scary. In particular, Abigail's father focuses on LGBTQ+, feminism, abortion and planned parenthood as all that is wrong with the world and women.
The simple lifestyle and gender roles can provide a structure for some to thrive but on the flip side, it is abused because the men in the community use the internet to reach out to lonely men on forums and an Incel is allowed into the community. The way Abigail's father uses the patriarchy teachings to victim blame her has been heard so many times.
But at times the writing made me pause and there were grammar errors.
July 28, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy of The Good Daughter, a stand-alone thriller set in South Carolina.
Abigail, a member of the New America Baptist Church, is the sole survivor of a fire that killed her parents. She was seen letting someone into the house before the fire, so is she survivor, victim or perpetrator?
The Good Daughter is the powerful tale of a young woman living in a fundamentalist environment. I was disappointed that the mystery of the fire is more a catalyst for the examination of her life than the centre of the novel. I like a good investigation therefore the novel did not really hold my attention or interest and I struggled to get through it.
Having said that I would strongly recommend the novel to readers who like a slow burning, character driven psychological thriller as it is strong in these categories. The novel paints a good picture of life in a fundamentalist, patriarchal closed community, where the preacher lays down the law with the usual tropes of subservient women and a biblical interpretation of morality. It is offensive to my liberal outlook, but highly believable. Abigail meets podcaster Summer by chance and that puts doubts in her mind about her way of life, except … After the fire Abigail can remember nothing of the preceding weeks so the narrative switches between the events leading up to the fire and the events afterwards. These are all told from her perspective so the insertion of newspaper articles, letters and fragmentary recordings offer a different perspective and hint that there is more at play than the rather naive Abigail knows or suspects.
All the twists and resolutions come in the final quarter of the novel. The pace goes from languorous to frantic as secrets and memories come tumbling out, agendas are revealed and it’s twist upon twist.
The Good Daughter is not for me due to its focus, but it is a strong novel.
Abigail, a member of the New America Baptist Church, is the sole survivor of a fire that killed her parents. She was seen letting someone into the house before the fire, so is she survivor, victim or perpetrator?
The Good Daughter is the powerful tale of a young woman living in a fundamentalist environment. I was disappointed that the mystery of the fire is more a catalyst for the examination of her life than the centre of the novel. I like a good investigation therefore the novel did not really hold my attention or interest and I struggled to get through it.
Having said that I would strongly recommend the novel to readers who like a slow burning, character driven psychological thriller as it is strong in these categories. The novel paints a good picture of life in a fundamentalist, patriarchal closed community, where the preacher lays down the law with the usual tropes of subservient women and a biblical interpretation of morality. It is offensive to my liberal outlook, but highly believable. Abigail meets podcaster Summer by chance and that puts doubts in her mind about her way of life, except … After the fire Abigail can remember nothing of the preceding weeks so the narrative switches between the events leading up to the fire and the events afterwards. These are all told from her perspective so the insertion of newspaper articles, letters and fragmentary recordings offer a different perspective and hint that there is more at play than the rather naive Abigail knows or suspects.
All the twists and resolutions come in the final quarter of the novel. The pace goes from languorous to frantic as secrets and memories come tumbling out, agendas are revealed and it’s twist upon twist.
The Good Daughter is not for me due to its focus, but it is a strong novel.
March 12, 2023
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely adored the author’s debut novel, so was super excited to read. While this was an atmospheric and a sensitively observed story of the American Christian Baptist Church, unfortunately the plot itself failed to engaged me. The opening 10% was an absolutely, gripping start. I loved how the story opened with the news article, emails and the excerpts of the podcast that run throughout the novel. unfortunately I felt really lost and the plot itself became repetitive and there was very little suspense. At times this felt more like a literary read than a thriller read, even though a horrific crime has occurred at the beginning.
Pastor Heywood’s house has been burned down and his family have died. Except for Abigail who survives although she has no recollection of events. In the present narrative we see her being interviewed by detectives, and she spends much of this plot line “trying” to remember and my goodness, this gets so repetitive and ultimately nothing much happens in the first half. In the past narrative we follow Abigail and see her life which is governed by her extremely religious father, who is merciless and controlling. Enter Summer, a young urban woman who wants to interview Abigail and gradually Abigail starts to question her beliefs and the way they live…
This wasn’t a bad read, by any means. But for me personally the topic and themes covered just weren’t anything new. And in terms of suspense-wise not even happened and I felt the story just didn’t grip me. It also felt more YA at times than an adult book. Nonetheless it is clear the author has done her research and she does write compassionately. I look forward seeing what she writes in the future, but for my taste this book just didn’t click with me.
Pastor Heywood’s house has been burned down and his family have died. Except for Abigail who survives although she has no recollection of events. In the present narrative we see her being interviewed by detectives, and she spends much of this plot line “trying” to remember and my goodness, this gets so repetitive and ultimately nothing much happens in the first half. In the past narrative we follow Abigail and see her life which is governed by her extremely religious father, who is merciless and controlling. Enter Summer, a young urban woman who wants to interview Abigail and gradually Abigail starts to question her beliefs and the way they live…
This wasn’t a bad read, by any means. But for me personally the topic and themes covered just weren’t anything new. And in terms of suspense-wise not even happened and I felt the story just didn’t grip me. It also felt more YA at times than an adult book. Nonetheless it is clear the author has done her research and she does write compassionately. I look forward seeing what she writes in the future, but for my taste this book just didn’t click with me.
January 27, 2025
Stilistisch schwierig und inhaltlich ein Klischee
**** Worum geht es? ****
Nach einem tragischen Brand ist Abigail die einzige Überlebende, doch sie kann sich an nichts erinnern – auch nicht an die Wochen vor dem Unglück. Was ist in der Zeit passiert, und welche Rolle spielt ihre Mitgliedschaft in der New American Baptist Church dabei?
**** Mein Eindruck ****
Die Überschrift trifft es auf den Punkt: Leider konnte ich mich mit dem Stil der Autorin nicht anfreunden, und der Inhalt rund um das Thema religiöse Sekte und eingeschworene Gemeinschaft bot keine Überraschungen. Die Geschichte wird auf zwei Zeitebenen erzählt – vor und nach dem tragischen Ereignis – was es mir erschwerte, der Chronologie zu folgen. Was war wann - Juni, "heute"? Mein Kopf beschäftigte sich mehr mit dieser Frage als mit dem Inhalt selbst. Warum? Der Beginn des Buches war zu abgehackt und zusammenhangslos. Für manche Leser*innen mag dies ein spannendes Rätsel sein, für mich funktioniert dieser Stil leider nicht, besonders wenn er konsequent fortgeführt wird. Ich persönlich lese solche Texte nicht gerne. Auch das Thema Religion wird stark fokussiert und beinahe ausgenutzt, einschließlich altbekannter Klischees. Spannung konnte ich leider keine finden. Abigail selbst konnte mich anfangs emotional nicht mitreißen, und im weiteren Verlauf wurde sie mir als Figur zunehmend unwichtig. Diese Kombination aus Problemen führte bei mir zu keiner Lesefreude, auch wenn ich mir bewusst bin, dass dies sehr subjektiv ist. Einige Leser*innen werden diese Geschichte sicher lieben, aber meine anfängliche Vorfreude, die der Klappentext geweckt hatte, verflog schnell.
**** Empfehlung? ****
Wer sich für das Thema Sekten interessiert, der auf unvollständig ausformulierte Passagen zugunsten der Erzählung und weniger Spannung steht, wird mit dieser Geschichte vielleicht etwas anfangen können.
**** Worum geht es? ****
Nach einem tragischen Brand ist Abigail die einzige Überlebende, doch sie kann sich an nichts erinnern – auch nicht an die Wochen vor dem Unglück. Was ist in der Zeit passiert, und welche Rolle spielt ihre Mitgliedschaft in der New American Baptist Church dabei?
**** Mein Eindruck ****
Die Überschrift trifft es auf den Punkt: Leider konnte ich mich mit dem Stil der Autorin nicht anfreunden, und der Inhalt rund um das Thema religiöse Sekte und eingeschworene Gemeinschaft bot keine Überraschungen. Die Geschichte wird auf zwei Zeitebenen erzählt – vor und nach dem tragischen Ereignis – was es mir erschwerte, der Chronologie zu folgen. Was war wann - Juni, "heute"? Mein Kopf beschäftigte sich mehr mit dieser Frage als mit dem Inhalt selbst. Warum? Der Beginn des Buches war zu abgehackt und zusammenhangslos. Für manche Leser*innen mag dies ein spannendes Rätsel sein, für mich funktioniert dieser Stil leider nicht, besonders wenn er konsequent fortgeführt wird. Ich persönlich lese solche Texte nicht gerne. Auch das Thema Religion wird stark fokussiert und beinahe ausgenutzt, einschließlich altbekannter Klischees. Spannung konnte ich leider keine finden. Abigail selbst konnte mich anfangs emotional nicht mitreißen, und im weiteren Verlauf wurde sie mir als Figur zunehmend unwichtig. Diese Kombination aus Problemen führte bei mir zu keiner Lesefreude, auch wenn ich mir bewusst bin, dass dies sehr subjektiv ist. Einige Leser*innen werden diese Geschichte sicher lieben, aber meine anfängliche Vorfreude, die der Klappentext geweckt hatte, verflog schnell.
**** Empfehlung? ****
Wer sich für das Thema Sekten interessiert, der auf unvollständig ausformulierte Passagen zugunsten der Erzählung und weniger Spannung steht, wird mit dieser Geschichte vielleicht etwas anfangen können.
March 10, 2024
The Good Daughter by Laure van Rensburg starts as a slow burner, challenging the reader to engage with the storyline. However, the narrative takes a captivating turn when Abigail encounters podcaster Summer Washington, transforming into a compelling psychological thriller. The storytelling becomes increasingly powerful, displaying empathy, sympathy, and sensitivity. The novel is praised for its excellent descriptions and vivid imagery portraying life on the Plantation.
The exploration of the New America Baptist Church community unfolds with insightful glimpses into their adherence to the Bible, gender roles, and internal conflicts. The coercive male control and dominance within the group become evident as Abigail navigates the ordained path. The scrutiny of the church from outsiders reveals multiple secrets and a loose relationship with the truth, creating a disturbing and sinister atmosphere.
The novel's emotional depth is complemented by tension, plot twists, and the portrayal of Abigail's character evolution. The relationship between Abigail and Summer is highlighted as catalysts for change, with strong characterizations. The storytelling follows an unpredictable path, building to a compelling and satisfying conclusion.
Set in South Carolina, the juxtaposition between Newhaven Plantation and the modern world is beautifully depicted, creating a clear sense of time and place. The dual timeline, including excerpts from news articles and podcasts, adds depth to the narrative, keeping readers connected to the story.
Overall, The Good Daughter is commended for its well-executed prose, engaging storytelling, and vivid portrayal of complex themes within a unique community.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review an arc copy
The exploration of the New America Baptist Church community unfolds with insightful glimpses into their adherence to the Bible, gender roles, and internal conflicts. The coercive male control and dominance within the group become evident as Abigail navigates the ordained path. The scrutiny of the church from outsiders reveals multiple secrets and a loose relationship with the truth, creating a disturbing and sinister atmosphere.
The novel's emotional depth is complemented by tension, plot twists, and the portrayal of Abigail's character evolution. The relationship between Abigail and Summer is highlighted as catalysts for change, with strong characterizations. The storytelling follows an unpredictable path, building to a compelling and satisfying conclusion.
Set in South Carolina, the juxtaposition between Newhaven Plantation and the modern world is beautifully depicted, creating a clear sense of time and place. The dual timeline, including excerpts from news articles and podcasts, adds depth to the narrative, keeping readers connected to the story.
Overall, The Good Daughter is commended for its well-executed prose, engaging storytelling, and vivid portrayal of complex themes within a unique community.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to review an arc copy
October 22, 2023
I’m a big fan of Laure Van Rensburg’s writing. Her latest novel, The Good Daughter, is a cult story, but it felt very fresh, compared to other cult thrillers I’ve read recently. I was hooked by Laure’s writing which immediately grabbed my attention and kept me turning the pages.
Her novel is set in the south of America, and Laure writes her character’s voices so, so well. We meet Abigail, who is a member of a small Christian community in the middle of nowhere in Southern California. We’re thrown headfirst into the story, when Abigail is rushed to hospital, after surviving a horrific fire, which killed the rest of her family. I wanted to know exactly what had happened during Abigail’s last moments in her family home, and what, indeed, was the cause of the fire.
Laure Van Rensburg brilliantly keeps the tension turning up a notch as she tells the story, both in the present day, and in the three weeks leading up to the fire. We see the events unfold through Abigail’s eyes. When Abigail is living in the Christian community, I could see just how frightened she was of her father, Pastor John Heywood. John is her step-father, and Abigail also has twin siblings who are her half-sisters. You can see just what trouble stepping just one foot out of line will bring you in this family, and how scared Abigail, and even her mother, Genevieve, is of Pastor John. I really did not like Pastor John as I was reading this book, and to me it felt as though Abigail, and the rest of her family were trapped, and he was their jailor. The rules the family, and the rest of the congregation live by, are very backward; the man is the head of the household, and they strictly follow the teachings of the Bible. They also aren’t allowed to mix with anyone outside of the community.
Abigail meets another young girl, of a similar age to her, called Summer. This is when things really begin to change for Abigail as she is utterly entranced by Summer, and you begin to see Abigail really thinking for herself and I loved how Laure Van Rensburg developed her character here. Summer comes from a world Abigail has no knowledge of, and Abigail finds herself being drawn to Summer, like a moth to a flame.
The novel races towards the night the fire takes place and there are some devastating reveals, but it does make for a very satisfactory ending. The Good Daughter is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year. I highly recommend it.
Her novel is set in the south of America, and Laure writes her character’s voices so, so well. We meet Abigail, who is a member of a small Christian community in the middle of nowhere in Southern California. We’re thrown headfirst into the story, when Abigail is rushed to hospital, after surviving a horrific fire, which killed the rest of her family. I wanted to know exactly what had happened during Abigail’s last moments in her family home, and what, indeed, was the cause of the fire.
Laure Van Rensburg brilliantly keeps the tension turning up a notch as she tells the story, both in the present day, and in the three weeks leading up to the fire. We see the events unfold through Abigail’s eyes. When Abigail is living in the Christian community, I could see just how frightened she was of her father, Pastor John Heywood. John is her step-father, and Abigail also has twin siblings who are her half-sisters. You can see just what trouble stepping just one foot out of line will bring you in this family, and how scared Abigail, and even her mother, Genevieve, is of Pastor John. I really did not like Pastor John as I was reading this book, and to me it felt as though Abigail, and the rest of her family were trapped, and he was their jailor. The rules the family, and the rest of the congregation live by, are very backward; the man is the head of the household, and they strictly follow the teachings of the Bible. They also aren’t allowed to mix with anyone outside of the community.
Abigail meets another young girl, of a similar age to her, called Summer. This is when things really begin to change for Abigail as she is utterly entranced by Summer, and you begin to see Abigail really thinking for herself and I loved how Laure Van Rensburg developed her character here. Summer comes from a world Abigail has no knowledge of, and Abigail finds herself being drawn to Summer, like a moth to a flame.
The novel races towards the night the fire takes place and there are some devastating reveals, but it does make for a very satisfactory ending. The Good Daughter is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year. I highly recommend it.
September 17, 2023
Abigail is a proud member of the New America Baptist Church. Living miles away from the nearest town in South Carolina, she is safe from the depraved modern world.
She is a good daughter. A valued member of the community.
So when she is the sole survivor of a fire that burns her family's home to the ground, it seems like a tragic accident.
Until a surprising discovery is made: before the fire, Abigail let a stranger in.
Who was the stranger? What started the fire? And was the outside world always the threat - or did danger lurk within the community's walls?
‘Under his guidance. Have a blessed day.’
The tension is wound taught like a bow string in this book. The community gives me the creeps, much in a Handmaids Tale type way, yet I couldn’t look away.
‘Seriously, this place is so repressed I’m surprised no one here has lost the plot and gone on a killing spree.’
In a closed religious community where women have to submit to their husbands. Men’s word is law, and especially Abigail’s fathers word, the pastor. There is extreme control, gas lighting, abuse and fear.
Daddy, Pastor Heywood, really is one of the most unpleasant characters I have ever read. I liked Abigail, it was interesting to see her mind open up to the world around her, to see the fight develop in her.
Laure Van Rensburg really is a master of her craft, this book is gripping, SO SO tense and I just loved it!
‘Under his guidance. Have a blessed day.’
The tension is wound taught like a bow string in this book. The community gives me the creeps, much in a Handmaids Tale type way, yet I couldn’t look away.
‘Seriously, this place is so repressed I’m surprised no one here has lost the plot and gone on a killing spree.’
In a closed religious community where women have to submit to their husbands. Men’s word is law, and especially Abigail’s fathers word, the pastor. There is extreme control, gas lighting, abuse and fear.
Daddy, Pastor Heywood, really is one of the most unpleasant characters I have ever read. I liked Abigail, it was interesting to see her mind open up to the world around her, to see the fight develop in her.
Laure Van Rensburg really is a master of her craft, this book is gripping, SO SO tense and I just loved it!
April 23, 2023
When is murder self-defence?
Abigail's parents – Genevieve and Pastor John Heywood – were found dead after their house caught fire. Abigail and her young siblings escaped the fire. However, the police and the congregation suspect that Abigail started the fire. Why would she do such a terrible thing?
Newhaven Plantation is the home to the South Carolina congregation of the New American Baptist Church. The congregation all live under stringent rules and virtually never leave the property. The boys' upbringing is to shoot, work the fields and accept that they are far superior to women. Girls' upbringing is to believe that their job is to keep house for their husbands and children.
Life, as she knows it, changes for Abigail when a girl appears and announces that she is her sister.
A brutal storyline is the only way I can describe this novel. I found it difficult to read because of the storyline. I know that I live in cloud-cuckoo-land where there are no cults, and everyone has a chance to for education and the freedom to choose their future partners—knowing that places like this still exist under the grid that distresses me.
Laure van Rensburg authors a compelling story. The characters are well-drawn and believable, which left me hating the leaders and sympathising with the women and children.
Rony
Elite Reviews received a copy of the book to review.
Abigail's parents – Genevieve and Pastor John Heywood – were found dead after their house caught fire. Abigail and her young siblings escaped the fire. However, the police and the congregation suspect that Abigail started the fire. Why would she do such a terrible thing?
Newhaven Plantation is the home to the South Carolina congregation of the New American Baptist Church. The congregation all live under stringent rules and virtually never leave the property. The boys' upbringing is to shoot, work the fields and accept that they are far superior to women. Girls' upbringing is to believe that their job is to keep house for their husbands and children.
Life, as she knows it, changes for Abigail when a girl appears and announces that she is her sister.
A brutal storyline is the only way I can describe this novel. I found it difficult to read because of the storyline. I know that I live in cloud-cuckoo-land where there are no cults, and everyone has a chance to for education and the freedom to choose their future partners—knowing that places like this still exist under the grid that distresses me.
Laure van Rensburg authors a compelling story. The characters are well-drawn and believable, which left me hating the leaders and sympathising with the women and children.
Rony
Elite Reviews received a copy of the book to review.
August 28, 2023
The Good Daughter starts with Abigail speechless and confused after the fire that took away her mum and dad. The police want answers but Abigail is unable to provide them as she, herself, can not remember. To discover the truth, we need to go back to the weeks building up to that day.
Having been brought up in a religious cult, Abigail has been taught what is expected from women - to cook, to clean, to be a mother, to obey your husband... etc... you get the gist. At the back of Abigail's mind she knows things aren't right, but what is right? Her daddy is the Pastor at the Newhaven plantation, he wants what's best for her surely?!
Her trips to town for supplies allows her to meet Summer, who is creating a podcast on the New America Baptist Church and whilst at first Abigail reels off the answers her daddy has grilled into her; she begins to stumble on her words...
Fast forward to the present day and the community rallies around Abigail, hiding her from the outside world. Is it for her benefit or do they know something?
With snippets of the recordings for the podcast, news articles and emails from the new Pastor throughout the story, we begin to unravel the truth but even when you feel close to piecing it together, you know Abigail holds that final piece and without her you don't have the answer.
From the contrast of the community to the outside world, the unease as a man enters the room and the vivid detail of everything from the food to the setting, this book came alive in my mind in ultra HD.
The Good Daughter is a plot that oozes with tension from the very beginning to the final page and much like a fire it spits out some absolute scorchers!!
Having been brought up in a religious cult, Abigail has been taught what is expected from women - to cook, to clean, to be a mother, to obey your husband... etc... you get the gist. At the back of Abigail's mind she knows things aren't right, but what is right? Her daddy is the Pastor at the Newhaven plantation, he wants what's best for her surely?!
Her trips to town for supplies allows her to meet Summer, who is creating a podcast on the New America Baptist Church and whilst at first Abigail reels off the answers her daddy has grilled into her; she begins to stumble on her words...
Fast forward to the present day and the community rallies around Abigail, hiding her from the outside world. Is it for her benefit or do they know something?
With snippets of the recordings for the podcast, news articles and emails from the new Pastor throughout the story, we begin to unravel the truth but even when you feel close to piecing it together, you know Abigail holds that final piece and without her you don't have the answer.
From the contrast of the community to the outside world, the unease as a man enters the room and the vivid detail of everything from the food to the setting, this book came alive in my mind in ultra HD.
The Good Daughter is a plot that oozes with tension from the very beginning to the final page and much like a fire it spits out some absolute scorchers!!
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