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Only Daughter
The must-read psychological thriller for 2019.
In one moment, Kat Cavanaugh’s perfect world is shattered into tiny fragments. The flash of her daughter’s yellow dress, the blonde hair hanging across her precious face. Her own heart-broken sob…
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare when her only child’s body is found lifeless in an overgrown, abandoned quarry.
Desperate to find out what happened, Kat questions those closest to her as she tries to piece together the last days of Grace’s life. But as a darker side to her little girl begins to unravel, Kat wonders if she ever really knew Grace.
As Kat is drawn into a twisted game of lies, is she also in terrible danger? And will she be able to unlock her daughter’s final shocking secret?
Even if the truth is unthinkable…
This addictive and emotional psychological thriller from the million-copy-bestselling author of Silent Child will keep you gripped late into the night.
In one moment, Kat Cavanaugh’s perfect world is shattered into tiny fragments. The flash of her daughter’s yellow dress, the blonde hair hanging across her precious face. Her own heart-broken sob…
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare when her only child’s body is found lifeless in an overgrown, abandoned quarry.
Desperate to find out what happened, Kat questions those closest to her as she tries to piece together the last days of Grace’s life. But as a darker side to her little girl begins to unravel, Kat wonders if she ever really knew Grace.
As Kat is drawn into a twisted game of lies, is she also in terrible danger? And will she be able to unlock her daughter’s final shocking secret?
Even if the truth is unthinkable…
This addictive and emotional psychological thriller from the million-copy-bestselling author of Silent Child will keep you gripped late into the night.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2019
2126 people are currently reading
3063 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Denzil
46 books2,497 followersSarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 459 reviews
March 13, 2019
Wow, can't Sarah A. Denzil write a page turner! I couldn't put this one down until I was done.
This is the story of Kat, wife, mother, sociopath. Her teenage daughter has just been found dead at the bottom of a quarry, and the police are calling it a suicide. Only Kat seems to think her daughter didn't kill herself, everyone else seems resigned to the fact. So Kat decides to investigate on her own, and finds her daughter wasn't who she thought she was. As she uncovers more and more of her daughter's life Kat realises there's far more to the story than even she thought, and finds herself face to face with her own demons.
I just love this author's books, so consistently good. I always know when I pick one up that I'm in for a ride, with some shocks on the way. Only Daughter certainly didn't disappoint and I'm keenly awaiting the next offering from Ms Denzil. Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Kat, wife, mother, sociopath. Her teenage daughter has just been found dead at the bottom of a quarry, and the police are calling it a suicide. Only Kat seems to think her daughter didn't kill herself, everyone else seems resigned to the fact. So Kat decides to investigate on her own, and finds her daughter wasn't who she thought she was. As she uncovers more and more of her daughter's life Kat realises there's far more to the story than even she thought, and finds herself face to face with her own demons.
I just love this author's books, so consistently good. I always know when I pick one up that I'm in for a ride, with some shocks on the way. Only Daughter certainly didn't disappoint and I'm keenly awaiting the next offering from Ms Denzil. Recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2019
Well HOT DAMN! This book was dark, disturbing, and deliciously twisted!
Sarah A. Denzil has crafted a story that will blow your mind and destroy your heart. I just finish this and my heart is still racing. This was not the book I was expecting, it was SO much more! This book truly is every mother’s absolute worst nightmare, I honestly never thought it could get worse than a child’s suicide, but apparently it can.
Kat gets the call that no parent ever wants, her daughter Grace is dead. To make things worse Grace’s death has been ruled a suicide. Kat knows without a doubt that her daughter would not kill herself. So she takes it upon herself to investigate Grace’s death. But as the puzzle pieces began to fit and more and more things are revealed Kat realizes she didn’t really know her daughter at all. How well do you really know your child? Can the child that you held as an infant turn into a monster? And can they do it without you even noticing? *shutters*
Kat has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder a.k.a. a sociopath. however she has truly loved her daughter with all her heart, and has done everything in her power to give her child a stable home environment and to be a loving mother. Kat did not grow up in a stable environment and her mother has some pretty major issues of her own. I found Kat to be a sympathetic and relatable character. Not that I’m a sociopath, but I could completely empathize with her grief, sorrow, and need to find out the truth no matter what the cost. And The cost was pretty high Kat had to face many of her own demons throughout the investigation. All the characters in this book were vividly and cleverly drawn. The story was so dark and intense and completely riveting! Perfectly pace with twists and turns you won’t see coming. All I can say is pick this up and then buckle up because you are in for one crazy well worth it ride! Absolutely recommend!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
Sarah A. Denzil has crafted a story that will blow your mind and destroy your heart. I just finish this and my heart is still racing. This was not the book I was expecting, it was SO much more! This book truly is every mother’s absolute worst nightmare, I honestly never thought it could get worse than a child’s suicide, but apparently it can.
Kat gets the call that no parent ever wants, her daughter Grace is dead. To make things worse Grace’s death has been ruled a suicide. Kat knows without a doubt that her daughter would not kill herself. So she takes it upon herself to investigate Grace’s death. But as the puzzle pieces began to fit and more and more things are revealed Kat realizes she didn’t really know her daughter at all. How well do you really know your child? Can the child that you held as an infant turn into a monster? And can they do it without you even noticing? *shutters*
Kat has been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder a.k.a. a sociopath. however she has truly loved her daughter with all her heart, and has done everything in her power to give her child a stable home environment and to be a loving mother. Kat did not grow up in a stable environment and her mother has some pretty major issues of her own. I found Kat to be a sympathetic and relatable character. Not that I’m a sociopath, but I could completely empathize with her grief, sorrow, and need to find out the truth no matter what the cost. And The cost was pretty high Kat had to face many of her own demons throughout the investigation. All the characters in this book were vividly and cleverly drawn. The story was so dark and intense and completely riveting! Perfectly pace with twists and turns you won’t see coming. All I can say is pick this up and then buckle up because you are in for one crazy well worth it ride! Absolutely recommend!
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
February 23, 2019
Kat has been repeatedly told that she is a sociopath and incapable of love. She, however, knows beyond a doubt that she loves her only daughter with a passion, regardless of whether that love is natural or has been learned. When she told that her daughter, Grace, is dead Kat refuses to believe the news. When she is told that Grace committed suicide, Kat vows to find her killer!
WOW! Only Daughter is one heck of a roller coaster ride. From beginning to end, I had absolutely no clue who to suspect or how this book would end and that made for one very thrilling read!
Kat has a very dark history: an abusive mother, a very traumatic event that changed her teenage years and ultimately her life, an “accidental” pregnancy in order to snag a wealthy husband. You name it, and Kat has experienced it. The one constant in her life, the one person for whom she would move heaven and earth, is her daughter. Kat even sees a therapist in order to “obtain human emotions” so that she can be a better mother to Grace. So when she learns of Grace’s death, she knows in her mother’s heart that Grace did not commit suicide. However, the more Kat learns about Grace, the more she wishes she had learned nothing at all. Was Grace the child she knew and loved or the monster that her friends are making her appear to be.
Only Daughter is the story of every mother’s nightmare and as readers we live that nightmare through Kat – every emotion, every pain and each and every discovery she makes until the very climactic conclusion. This is a gripping, suspenseful tale full of intriguing twists that will grab you and not let go even after you have finished the book! The writing is tight, the characters are very well developed, from the snotty teens to obnoxious wealthy parents, every character is well drawn. I absolutely loved it and if you like thrillers, I think you will too!
Thank you to #Netgalley, @Bookouture and #SarahADenzil for my advance copy of #Only Daughter which will be available on March 13, 2019.
WOW! Only Daughter is one heck of a roller coaster ride. From beginning to end, I had absolutely no clue who to suspect or how this book would end and that made for one very thrilling read!
Kat has a very dark history: an abusive mother, a very traumatic event that changed her teenage years and ultimately her life, an “accidental” pregnancy in order to snag a wealthy husband. You name it, and Kat has experienced it. The one constant in her life, the one person for whom she would move heaven and earth, is her daughter. Kat even sees a therapist in order to “obtain human emotions” so that she can be a better mother to Grace. So when she learns of Grace’s death, she knows in her mother’s heart that Grace did not commit suicide. However, the more Kat learns about Grace, the more she wishes she had learned nothing at all. Was Grace the child she knew and loved or the monster that her friends are making her appear to be.
Only Daughter is the story of every mother’s nightmare and as readers we live that nightmare through Kat – every emotion, every pain and each and every discovery she makes until the very climactic conclusion. This is a gripping, suspenseful tale full of intriguing twists that will grab you and not let go even after you have finished the book! The writing is tight, the characters are very well developed, from the snotty teens to obnoxious wealthy parents, every character is well drawn. I absolutely loved it and if you like thrillers, I think you will too!
Thank you to #Netgalley, @Bookouture and #SarahADenzil for my advance copy of #Only Daughter which will be available on March 13, 2019.
March 8, 2019
So, here we have a story about a daughter, seemingly ‘normal’ who appears to have committed sucuide, there are no indications this was going to happen, nothing out of the ordinary....but Kat ( Mum ) doesn’t believe it, she delves, she searches and she uncovers secrets, bad things happened to her daughter....she wants revenge..
Fairly staple diet in a psychological thriller I guess
But hang on.....Kat isn’t any Mum wanting revenge, she is a sociopath who has killed before....and when she says revenge, revenge is what she means...
330 pages of pure storytelling magic in this dark, scary, brutally unique thriller, I say thriller as it thrilled all the way through and you never quite knew what to expect next
Mean, sometimes nasty often complex but very memorable characters and descriptive heaven went hand in hand with a ‘come here and join me in my quest’ narrative that drew me in and kept me there and didn’t let up until the final word
Certain books make you proud to be a reader, this is one
10/10 5 Stars
March 18, 2019
Ok, color me surprised but I did NOT come close guessing the end of Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil. I will admit I began this one thinking OK, the writing may be good so far and the story entertaining but I bet it’s going to be x did it and then I’ll be annoyed….haha nope.
What the author has done in Only Daughter is take readers into the mind of a sociopath in the protagonist, Kat. Kat is the mother of Grace, a teenager who was just found at the bottom of the quarry known to be a spot for suicides with a note in her pocket.
Grace was the one thing in Kat’s life that she had ever truly loved and cared for and she is determined no matter what the police or anyone else says that her daughter did not take her own life. As far as Kat is concerned there is a murderer on the loose and she will find them.
Oh this one was a fun read, I instantly felt Kat’s personality or perhaps I should say lack of a personality oozing off of each page. When danger comes along she stares it straight in the eye and doesn’t back down in a way most could never do. There’s suspicion and secrets all throughout to keep the pages turning quickly until that final twist that I dare readers to try to guess.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
What the author has done in Only Daughter is take readers into the mind of a sociopath in the protagonist, Kat. Kat is the mother of Grace, a teenager who was just found at the bottom of the quarry known to be a spot for suicides with a note in her pocket.
Grace was the one thing in Kat’s life that she had ever truly loved and cared for and she is determined no matter what the police or anyone else says that her daughter did not take her own life. As far as Kat is concerned there is a murderer on the loose and she will find them.
Oh this one was a fun read, I instantly felt Kat’s personality or perhaps I should say lack of a personality oozing off of each page. When danger comes along she stares it straight in the eye and doesn’t back down in a way most could never do. There’s suspicion and secrets all throughout to keep the pages turning quickly until that final twist that I dare readers to try to guess.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 11, 2019
How could Kat’s beautiful, sweet and innocent seventeen-year-old daughter be dead? It was a nightmare she desperately wanted to wake up from. But Grace’s body was lifeless; battered and bruised. What had happened? Kat needed answers – and she was determined to get them.
As Kat and her husband Charles waded through the grief, from the condolence messages to the funeral, Kat’s continual thought was that Grace must have been murdered. Her rage and disbelief fueled her desire for the answers she needed to find. But would she? Could she? And as Kat dug deeper into Grace’s life, her belief in her daughter’s innocence slowly began to shatter.
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil is my first by this author, and boy! What a read! A fast paced, gritty psychological thriller that was filled with tension, manipulation, lies, cruelty and hate – the race to the finish was an emotional, but satisfying one. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As Kat and her husband Charles waded through the grief, from the condolence messages to the funeral, Kat’s continual thought was that Grace must have been murdered. Her rage and disbelief fueled her desire for the answers she needed to find. But would she? Could she? And as Kat dug deeper into Grace’s life, her belief in her daughter’s innocence slowly began to shatter.
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil is my first by this author, and boy! What a read! A fast paced, gritty psychological thriller that was filled with tension, manipulation, lies, cruelty and hate – the race to the finish was an emotional, but satisfying one. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2019
I am a big fan of all of Sarah A Denzils so was eager to get into this new book. And it was fantastic as ever. She certainly knows how to get emotions flowing and reading this I was feeling many. I read this quickly, it is a book that will have you turning pages late into the night to find out what happens.
Kat has been told that her daughter Grace is dead. Not only that but there was a note in her pocket and she was found in a known suicide area and the police have ruled thatyhere was no foul play. Kat can,t accept this and goes about to find her daughters killer herself. She knew her daughter and Grace would not take her own life. But as she delves into Graces life she finds that she really didn't know her daughter at all.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Kat has been told that her daughter Grace is dead. Not only that but there was a note in her pocket and she was found in a known suicide area and the police have ruled thatyhere was no foul play. Kat can,t accept this and goes about to find her daughters killer herself. She knew her daughter and Grace would not take her own life. But as she delves into Graces life she finds that she really didn't know her daughter at all.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
March 24, 2019
So this was such a tangled web of psychological warfare and I loved every minute.
Picture the scene Kat's daughter Grace lies cold on the mortuary slab, a supposed victim of suicide.
But Kat doesn't and won't accept this apparent scenario and outcome.
Kat formally Katie Flack, a girl with a colourful past who has dragged herself up from her poor beginnings in life to her current station married to Charles who is himself old money.
In therapy, for years Kat has lived a life of personal improvement all for one person's benefit, Grace.
Who better than Kat: diagnosed sociopath and grieving mother to investigate her daughter's suspicious demise.
A mother with no conscience just a dogged determination to discover the truth whatever the cost
Her one attachment and stabling force removed and out of the equation.
So as Kat covertly investigates Grace's life and death she discovers in this process that she didn't know her daughter quite as well as she thought she did and with a mysterious adversary warning her away from the truth things soon start to escalate.
"Only daughter" apart from that first harrowing and traumatic opening scene was told completely from Kat's POV.
Kat was such an interesting individual to me: her unique thought process and atypical reactions begging the same old argument of nature versus nuture and in regards to her daughter Grace is it ultimately truth that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree itself.
Is Grace far more like her mother that Kat realised.
From the beginning, this managed to grip and enthral me, the mystery here kept me guessing until the very end.
I also found the dynamic between Kat and Charles curious and as the story progresses these two after colliding seemed to drift back towards each other almost cementing their alliance.
This was so much more than what it seemed and show-cased brilliantly how our underlying relationships growing up are the building blocks and foundations of our future selves.
Our early life experiences or lack of almost shaping and moulding us into what's to come.
This really does explore what contributes to our overall personalities.
So I suspected everyone here, absolutely no one was immune from my beady-eyed suspicion.
Some stuff I did guess, but others still crept up on me catching me unawares.
This was, in my opinion, a really well written and engaging read: one that I am happy to recommend.
This was a thought-provoking and suspenseful journey.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of "Only Daughter".
All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
March 20, 2019
EXCERPT: If you were here with me now, I'd say sorry for everything.
I know I've let you down, disappointed you, and it hurts. This is how it ends for me, isn't it? Alone with my thoughts, with my pain, all the regrets about who I am and how I acted coming back to haunt me. I let you down more than anyone else. Maybe one day you'll be able to forgive me, but I know I'll never forgive myself. . .
If you were here now, I'd apologize for everything.
But I wouldn't just say sorry; I'd warn you, too.
Because they're coming after you next. . .
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In one moment, Kat Cavanaugh’s perfect world is shattered into tiny fragments. The flash of her daughter’s yellow dress, the blonde hair hanging across her precious face. Her own heart-broken sob…
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare when her only child’s body is found lifeless in an overgrown, abandoned quarry.
Desperate to find out what happened, Kat questions those closest to her as she tries to piece together the last days of Grace’s life. But as a darker side to her little girl begins to unravel, Kat wonders if she ever really knew Grace.
As Kat is drawn into a twisted game of lies, is she also in terrible danger? And will she be able to unlock her daughter’s final shocking secret?
Even if the truth is unthinkable…
MY THOUGHTS: I blew hot and cold on Only Daughter as I read. I thought it started with promise, and there were moments, a few absolutely brilliant moments, during the book when I fist pumped the air, thinking yes, she's hit her stride! But, unfortunately, they didn't last.
I found it neither addictive, nor emotional. In fact, my lack of feeling was so noticeable that, several times, I wondered if I was the sociopath!
I found the characters hard to relate to, and never got fully involved in the storyline. Only one twist surprised me, and I pretty much had sussed out what was going on by a little over half way through the book. But that doesn't necessarily ruin a book for me. I have recently read a book where I knew what the outcome was, having previously read a later book in the series, and still rated it 5-stars because the journey was extremely enjoyable. And I think herein lies the problem with Only Daughter for me. The journey was, for the most part, pretty ordinary. I had the feeling that I had read it all before.
Beautiful cover art and those few brilliant moments raised this from 2.5 to 😐😐😐
THE AUTHOR: Sarah A. Denzil is a suspense writer from Derbyshire, England. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Only Daughter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I know I've let you down, disappointed you, and it hurts. This is how it ends for me, isn't it? Alone with my thoughts, with my pain, all the regrets about who I am and how I acted coming back to haunt me. I let you down more than anyone else. Maybe one day you'll be able to forgive me, but I know I'll never forgive myself. . .
If you were here now, I'd apologize for everything.
But I wouldn't just say sorry; I'd warn you, too.
Because they're coming after you next. . .
ABOUT THIS BOOK: In one moment, Kat Cavanaugh’s perfect world is shattered into tiny fragments. The flash of her daughter’s yellow dress, the blonde hair hanging across her precious face. Her own heart-broken sob…
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare when her only child’s body is found lifeless in an overgrown, abandoned quarry.
Desperate to find out what happened, Kat questions those closest to her as she tries to piece together the last days of Grace’s life. But as a darker side to her little girl begins to unravel, Kat wonders if she ever really knew Grace.
As Kat is drawn into a twisted game of lies, is she also in terrible danger? And will she be able to unlock her daughter’s final shocking secret?
Even if the truth is unthinkable…
MY THOUGHTS: I blew hot and cold on Only Daughter as I read. I thought it started with promise, and there were moments, a few absolutely brilliant moments, during the book when I fist pumped the air, thinking yes, she's hit her stride! But, unfortunately, they didn't last.
I found it neither addictive, nor emotional. In fact, my lack of feeling was so noticeable that, several times, I wondered if I was the sociopath!
I found the characters hard to relate to, and never got fully involved in the storyline. Only one twist surprised me, and I pretty much had sussed out what was going on by a little over half way through the book. But that doesn't necessarily ruin a book for me. I have recently read a book where I knew what the outcome was, having previously read a later book in the series, and still rated it 5-stars because the journey was extremely enjoyable. And I think herein lies the problem with Only Daughter for me. The journey was, for the most part, pretty ordinary. I had the feeling that I had read it all before.
Beautiful cover art and those few brilliant moments raised this from 2.5 to 😐😐😐
THE AUTHOR: Sarah A. Denzil is a suspense writer from Derbyshire, England. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Only Daughter for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 16, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil from NetGalley for my honest review.
A brilliantly written psychological thriller that I couldn't put down!
Grace, who is the daughter of Charles and Kat is a happy seventeen year old girl. Grace , coming from a wealthy family, attended private school and played violin for the school band.
Grace goes missing one day and turns up dead the next day. The coroner is calling it a suicide. Her mother, Kat, refuses to believe that her daughter would commit suicide. Grace was always a happy girl. Kat decides to investigate her daughter's life to try to find out what happened. There are so many secrets. Kat starts wondering if she really knew her daughter. She also has secrets from her past that she is hiding.
What really happened to Grace???
A brilliantly written psychological thriller that I couldn't put down!
Grace, who is the daughter of Charles and Kat is a happy seventeen year old girl. Grace , coming from a wealthy family, attended private school and played violin for the school band.
Grace goes missing one day and turns up dead the next day. The coroner is calling it a suicide. Her mother, Kat, refuses to believe that her daughter would commit suicide. Grace was always a happy girl. Kat decides to investigate her daughter's life to try to find out what happened. There are so many secrets. Kat starts wondering if she really knew her daughter. She also has secrets from her past that she is hiding.
What really happened to Grace???
September 25, 2021
A true noir. A book that takes you into the black soul of Kat, a mother who has just lost her 17-year-old daughter Grace, in a fact that the police classify as "suicide". In the course of the book we will discover many twists that in the end will make us discover an ending that at the beginning could not even be imagined. The plot is told in the first person by Kat and we live with her all the unfolding of the facts as they happen. Kat doesn't want to believe Grace committed suicide, even when they show her the unmistakable note she left. So she starts looking for clues in Grace's things and meanwhile she realizes that she didn't know her daughter at all. And while she delves into Grace's life, she is somehow also forced to delve into her own, both her current and hers when she was Grace's age, her dark past.
Kat "feels" that Grace could not have killed herself, even when she discovers more and more elements about the girl and knows her for what she really was, a young woman with many problems, sometimes bad, liar and who got into trouble, I mean, not quite the good girl Kat thought she was. Kat doesn't let appearances stop her and is strongly determined to get to the bottom of her investigation, even if this will force her to deal with so many unresolved stories from her past.
The book is very well written, both for the development of the plot and for the style, very simple and direct, engaging and enthralling, able to completely immerse the reader in the story. The first few pages are really enough to make us understand that we are not facing a suicide, but also to understand that the solution will not be trivial. The author is very good at putting together many elements and not letting us see how the story will end, until the final pages, when we will find the truth under our nose. Four stars.
Kat "feels" that Grace could not have killed herself, even when she discovers more and more elements about the girl and knows her for what she really was, a young woman with many problems, sometimes bad, liar and who got into trouble, I mean, not quite the good girl Kat thought she was. Kat doesn't let appearances stop her and is strongly determined to get to the bottom of her investigation, even if this will force her to deal with so many unresolved stories from her past.
The book is very well written, both for the development of the plot and for the style, very simple and direct, engaging and enthralling, able to completely immerse the reader in the story. The first few pages are really enough to make us understand that we are not facing a suicide, but also to understand that the solution will not be trivial. The author is very good at putting together many elements and not letting us see how the story will end, until the final pages, when we will find the truth under our nose. Four stars.
August 21, 2022
Audio - 4 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars
February 27, 2020
A thrilling, heart pounding novel with a stunning conclusion!
I remember the man who jumped from this cliff five months ago. He probably fell close to where I am now, landing with a crunch, breaking his neck. No one found him for a week. Will that be me?
A scream escapes from my throat, sharp like a dagger against my vocal chords. Help me! Desperate, rasping with all the air in my lungs, but what comes out is barely a whisper. My throat is raw. Fight harder. Scramble, pull yourself forward. Grasp the rock. My fingers dig into dirt and a sharp pain from my left wrist makes me dizzy. When I lift my head, the stars dance, and I know I’m beginning to lose consciousness. If I do, then this is over and I will die, and I’ll never be able to see you again and tell you I love you. And I’m sorry. My tights and dress are soaked through with blood, damp from hip to ankle.
My head is a heavy weight, swollen and foggy, interrupting my concentration, but I grit my teeth together so hard that my jaw starts up a dull throbbing. The smell here is of sweet blood mingled with the damp earth. It stinks of death, and I expect my life to begin flashing before my eyes like it does in the films. Your smile pops into my mind. Other people I love, too. That’s when I know I’m starting to give up, but I can’t, I have to keep going.
It’s here, the first ledge; I touch it with scratched fingertips. A cloud passes over the moon as I cry out in pain at my first attempt to pull myself up. Is my wrist broken? I can’t support my weight. Come on. A fingernail peels from my skin as I make a second attempt. My eyes roll back in my head as a wave of throbbing pain washes over me. My hands are slick and slippery, leaving my life’s blood all over the stones. When I grasp the first step, my fingers can’t find purchase, and before I know it I’m falling again, this time a mere few feet, and my head hits the cold surface of the quarry floor.
If you were here now, I’d apologise for everything.
But I wouldn’t just say sorry; I’d warn you, too.
Because they’re coming after you next…
********
The beautiful and intriguing cover of Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil caught my eye but it only hints at the electrifying story within!
The opening starts with a throat grabbing scene that kept me fully engrossed until the shocking, 'Wow! I never saw that coming' conclusion!
This is the first book I've read by Sarah A. Denzil and I'm kicking myself for not grabbing it up and delving into this book long ago! If time had permitted, I could have devoured this in one sitting!
I remember the man who jumped from this cliff five months ago. He probably fell close to where I am now, landing with a crunch, breaking his neck. No one found him for a week. Will that be me?
A scream escapes from my throat, sharp like a dagger against my vocal chords. Help me! Desperate, rasping with all the air in my lungs, but what comes out is barely a whisper. My throat is raw. Fight harder. Scramble, pull yourself forward. Grasp the rock. My fingers dig into dirt and a sharp pain from my left wrist makes me dizzy. When I lift my head, the stars dance, and I know I’m beginning to lose consciousness. If I do, then this is over and I will die, and I’ll never be able to see you again and tell you I love you. And I’m sorry. My tights and dress are soaked through with blood, damp from hip to ankle.
My head is a heavy weight, swollen and foggy, interrupting my concentration, but I grit my teeth together so hard that my jaw starts up a dull throbbing. The smell here is of sweet blood mingled with the damp earth. It stinks of death, and I expect my life to begin flashing before my eyes like it does in the films. Your smile pops into my mind. Other people I love, too. That’s when I know I’m starting to give up, but I can’t, I have to keep going.
It’s here, the first ledge; I touch it with scratched fingertips. A cloud passes over the moon as I cry out in pain at my first attempt to pull myself up. Is my wrist broken? I can’t support my weight. Come on. A fingernail peels from my skin as I make a second attempt. My eyes roll back in my head as a wave of throbbing pain washes over me. My hands are slick and slippery, leaving my life’s blood all over the stones. When I grasp the first step, my fingers can’t find purchase, and before I know it I’m falling again, this time a mere few feet, and my head hits the cold surface of the quarry floor.
If you were here now, I’d apologise for everything.
But I wouldn’t just say sorry; I’d warn you, too.
Because they’re coming after you next…
********
The beautiful and intriguing cover of Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil caught my eye but it only hints at the electrifying story within!
The opening starts with a throat grabbing scene that kept me fully engrossed until the shocking, 'Wow! I never saw that coming' conclusion!
This is the first book I've read by Sarah A. Denzil and I'm kicking myself for not grabbing it up and delving into this book long ago! If time had permitted, I could have devoured this in one sitting!
March 3, 2019
An absolutely chilling story with a crazy twist which had me cackling out loudly at the wicked mind of the author Sarah A. Denzil, a mind which could think of using the darkness residing in the depths of a human mind as the means of a wicked manipulation.
With thrillers abounding the literary scene, it takes a brilliant story to make me go Whoa, and this one filled me with a dark joy at the number of twists. A daughter's suicide and a mother's pain both form the arc of the plot, and as per the norm, the mother does not believe and investigates.
But what changed everything for me was the rushing cold fury and determination that filled the mother Kat's veins, someone who had been termed antisocial and unemotional by the therapist. It almost felt like a wounded lioness who was ready to take on the world to get to the truth!! I love such characters. The only niggle I had was there was a clear clue, and the main character acknowledged it, yet didn't investigate it.
Surprisingly, the darker the lanes of the book, the more I am filled with joy. And this book had different shades of darkness to make me dance in its shadows!!
With thrillers abounding the literary scene, it takes a brilliant story to make me go Whoa, and this one filled me with a dark joy at the number of twists. A daughter's suicide and a mother's pain both form the arc of the plot, and as per the norm, the mother does not believe and investigates.
But what changed everything for me was the rushing cold fury and determination that filled the mother Kat's veins, someone who had been termed antisocial and unemotional by the therapist. It almost felt like a wounded lioness who was ready to take on the world to get to the truth!! I love such characters. The only niggle I had was there was a clear clue, and the main character acknowledged it, yet didn't investigate it.
Surprisingly, the darker the lanes of the book, the more I am filled with joy. And this book had different shades of darkness to make me dance in its shadows!!
February 14, 2019
Wow, just wow! I have only just recently started reading this authors books and think this is the fourth one of hers I have read. They have all been gripping reads but none more so than this one.
Right from the very first page, I was hooked. I pretty much read nearly all this book in one go as that was how compelling it was. Kat is not an overly likeable character, but as a mother, I totally connected with her and what she was going through.
No parent wants to believe their child has taken their own life. I was fully behind Kat in wanting answers and believing there was more to her daughters death than first meets the eye. As the story goes on, along with Kat, we find out more about her daughter and who she actually was. It really makes you question how well we truly know our children.
Only Daughter is a highly addictive read with so many twists and turns. I absolutely loved it! It had me questioning everyone and everything and I loved how much it messed with my head. It’s one of those books you want to rush and tell your friends about so they can read it to so you can talk about it, as that’s how much it blew my mind. Brilliant!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Right from the very first page, I was hooked. I pretty much read nearly all this book in one go as that was how compelling it was. Kat is not an overly likeable character, but as a mother, I totally connected with her and what she was going through.
No parent wants to believe their child has taken their own life. I was fully behind Kat in wanting answers and believing there was more to her daughters death than first meets the eye. As the story goes on, along with Kat, we find out more about her daughter and who she actually was. It really makes you question how well we truly know our children.
Only Daughter is a highly addictive read with so many twists and turns. I absolutely loved it! It had me questioning everyone and everything and I loved how much it messed with my head. It’s one of those books you want to rush and tell your friends about so they can read it to so you can talk about it, as that’s how much it blew my mind. Brilliant!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
February 19, 2019
I confess I had a very hard time getting into this book. Following a mother's attempt to prove her daughter didn't commit suicide, it took a long time for the story to really get going and I didn't find the eventual twists particularly surprising. The mother is the main character, and perhaps the fact I felt no connection with her or the things she does led me to feel detached from the story. I can see it has been enjoyed by many other thriller fans though so don't let this put you off as I think if you connect with her character you would probably enjoy the book.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 13, 2019
When the body of Kat’s teenage daughter, Grace, is found in an abandoned quarry, police are quick to rule her death a suicide. After all, the quarry is a known suicide spot. But Kat refuses to believe her daughter would take her own life and is desperate to find out the truth about what happened to her. As she begins to piece together the last few days of her daughter’s life, Kat starts to realise she never really knew her daughter at all.
Only Daughter is an immensely gripping read. The kind you get stuck into and find yourself looking up from the pages hours later to find it’s gone dark outside and your cup of tea went cold ages ago. Despite Kat being one of those characters I couldn’t quite put my finger on, her search for the truth behind her daughter’s death was immensely engrossing. No matter how you feel about Kat, it isn’t hard to imagine that as a mother you never want to admit that you failed your child somehow, that it’s near impossible to accept that your child chose to leave this life behind and you’d do just about anything to find answers.
But Kat isn’t your typical mother. There’s a dark secret lurking in her past, one that is alluded to quite often but not revealed until later on. Kat doesn’t come from a particularly nice background and her journey to where she ended up now isn’t a conventional one. More than that though, she was once diagnosed as a sociopath and who even knows what they are capable of.
As to what really happened in the quarry, I had one aspect of it figured out but I couldn’t see the whole picture and there are plenty of twists and turns to go through before the reader gets to the reveal. Just like Kat, I ended up questioning everything and everyone. Especially when more and more things about her daughter are uncovered and you begin to wonder what kind of girl Grace actually was.
Only Daughter is a twisted tale of lies, deceit and revenge. A story that has a rather emotional beginning but soon turns into a tense and compelling psychological thriller. It is an utterly addictive page-turner so make you sure you have plenty of time to read when you tackle this one because you will not want to put it down!
Only Daughter is an immensely gripping read. The kind you get stuck into and find yourself looking up from the pages hours later to find it’s gone dark outside and your cup of tea went cold ages ago. Despite Kat being one of those characters I couldn’t quite put my finger on, her search for the truth behind her daughter’s death was immensely engrossing. No matter how you feel about Kat, it isn’t hard to imagine that as a mother you never want to admit that you failed your child somehow, that it’s near impossible to accept that your child chose to leave this life behind and you’d do just about anything to find answers.
But Kat isn’t your typical mother. There’s a dark secret lurking in her past, one that is alluded to quite often but not revealed until later on. Kat doesn’t come from a particularly nice background and her journey to where she ended up now isn’t a conventional one. More than that though, she was once diagnosed as a sociopath and who even knows what they are capable of.
As to what really happened in the quarry, I had one aspect of it figured out but I couldn’t see the whole picture and there are plenty of twists and turns to go through before the reader gets to the reveal. Just like Kat, I ended up questioning everything and everyone. Especially when more and more things about her daughter are uncovered and you begin to wonder what kind of girl Grace actually was.
Only Daughter is a twisted tale of lies, deceit and revenge. A story that has a rather emotional beginning but soon turns into a tense and compelling psychological thriller. It is an utterly addictive page-turner so make you sure you have plenty of time to read when you tackle this one because you will not want to put it down!
March 13, 2019
Can a sociopath love?
Not usually.
Vaguely reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why, Only Daughter started off with a bang. The prologue is gripping, haunting, and a parent's worst nightmare all rolled into one.
Although police are convinced Kat's daughter, Grace, committed suicide by jumping into a quarry, Kat vehemently disagrees. An interesting twist about Kat? She's been diagnosed as having antisocial personality disorder...and following Grace's death...she's out for blood.
As Kat delved into her personal investigation, I was genuinely intrigued. While I thought her character, at times, seemed a little too "evil villain-esque," the concept of a parent having a severe, and potentially dangerous, behavioral disorder was a new spin for me...and one I enjoyed. I was very vested in seeing just where this story took me. And until approximately the 75% mark, it was a very fun ride. Unfortunately, it then fell a little flat. Most of the "twists" weren't overtly shocking, and the conclusion seemed more than a little mundane.
Regardless, this book is worth reading, if for no other reason than for our narrator, Kat--a very memorable character, indeed.
3.5 stars
**Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sarah Denzil for my advanced reader's copy!
Publication date: March 13, 2019
Review posted on Goodreads: March 11, 2019
Not usually.
Vaguely reminiscent of Thirteen Reasons Why, Only Daughter started off with a bang. The prologue is gripping, haunting, and a parent's worst nightmare all rolled into one.
Although police are convinced Kat's daughter, Grace, committed suicide by jumping into a quarry, Kat vehemently disagrees. An interesting twist about Kat? She's been diagnosed as having antisocial personality disorder...and following Grace's death...she's out for blood.
As Kat delved into her personal investigation, I was genuinely intrigued. While I thought her character, at times, seemed a little too "evil villain-esque," the concept of a parent having a severe, and potentially dangerous, behavioral disorder was a new spin for me...and one I enjoyed. I was very vested in seeing just where this story took me. And until approximately the 75% mark, it was a very fun ride. Unfortunately, it then fell a little flat. Most of the "twists" weren't overtly shocking, and the conclusion seemed more than a little mundane.
Regardless, this book is worth reading, if for no other reason than for our narrator, Kat--a very memorable character, indeed.
3.5 stars
**Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sarah Denzil for my advanced reader's copy!
Publication date: March 13, 2019
Review posted on Goodreads: March 11, 2019
February 28, 2019
I seem to be reading a few books about dead teenagers at the moment-it’s certainly not been my intention but it just seems to have fallen that way! I have read (and loved!) this author’s other books and so was desperate to read her latest book no matter what it was about! Sarah A Denzil wrote one of my favourite books of 2017, Silent Child, so I’ve been looking forward to this book ever since then! And it was completely worth every month of the wait!
The first few pages really throw the reader into a nightmarish scenario where a young girl is desperately trying to climb her way out of a quarry that’s a well known local suicide spot. And she seems to be winning until we later find out that Grace has been found dead. Her mother Kat is devastated as she thought she knew her daughter and that suicide was the furthest thing from her mind. But the note produced by the police seems genuine so it’s left to Kat to try to prove that she knows her daughter better than anyone else and that this was no suicide.
I really loved this book. It gripped me from the first few pages and didn’t let go once. Kat was a complex character, perfectly brought to life as her background and relationships were slowly unraveled. As she becomes more determined to prove that her daughter was murdered, I was mentally cheering her on to find out the truth about what Grace was hiding and why. Their mother/daughter relationship was a complex one, defined by Kat’s past, and I was incredibly moved by the feelings of maternal guilt that Kat had to go through and that many of us will recognise.
There were plenty of twists to keep you on your toes throughout Only Daughter and a few shocks as well. I will freely admit to having no idea what had happened to Grace or why, so I loved it when the big reveal brought everything together. This is a book that will grab you by the throat and squeeze slowly until you are begging to be put out of your misery and find out who was involved but more importantly why. And I loved the ending which was just perfect for me. This really is a book that deserves your complete attention especially if you’ve never read a book by Sarah A Denzil before. I can guarantee that the minute you finish it you will be searching out her previous books.
Highly recommended by me.
The first few pages really throw the reader into a nightmarish scenario where a young girl is desperately trying to climb her way out of a quarry that’s a well known local suicide spot. And she seems to be winning until we later find out that Grace has been found dead. Her mother Kat is devastated as she thought she knew her daughter and that suicide was the furthest thing from her mind. But the note produced by the police seems genuine so it’s left to Kat to try to prove that she knows her daughter better than anyone else and that this was no suicide.
I really loved this book. It gripped me from the first few pages and didn’t let go once. Kat was a complex character, perfectly brought to life as her background and relationships were slowly unraveled. As she becomes more determined to prove that her daughter was murdered, I was mentally cheering her on to find out the truth about what Grace was hiding and why. Their mother/daughter relationship was a complex one, defined by Kat’s past, and I was incredibly moved by the feelings of maternal guilt that Kat had to go through and that many of us will recognise.
There were plenty of twists to keep you on your toes throughout Only Daughter and a few shocks as well. I will freely admit to having no idea what had happened to Grace or why, so I loved it when the big reveal brought everything together. This is a book that will grab you by the throat and squeeze slowly until you are begging to be put out of your misery and find out who was involved but more importantly why. And I loved the ending which was just perfect for me. This really is a book that deserves your complete attention especially if you’ve never read a book by Sarah A Denzil before. I can guarantee that the minute you finish it you will be searching out her previous books.
Highly recommended by me.
September 9, 2019
Kiedy socjopatyczna matka żegna swoją ukochaną córkę, to nie ma już nic do stracenia… Sarah A. Denzil, autorka bestsellerowego „Milczącego dziecka”, serwuje czytelnikom thriller psychologiczny pełen zakrętów i tajemnic – „Jedyne dziecko”.
„Nikt nie pojmuje tego, że Grace była jedyną osobą, dzięki której chciałam być dobra; bo widzicie, ja tylko udaję, że jestem rzetelnym członkiem społeczeństwa. Wystawiam na czas kosze na śmieci, uśmiecham się do ludzi wyprowadzających psy i stosuję się do przepisów drogowych, ale robię to wszystko wyłącznie po to, żeby nie ściągać na siebie uwagi.”
Tragiczna śmierć nastolatki, traumy przeszłości i socjopatyczna główna bohaterka, która pragnie zemsty – to idealny przepis na doskonały thriller psychologiczny, który Sarah A. Denzil zrealizowała perfekcyjnie. Autorka świetnie sportretowała wewnętrzne rozterki kogoś, kto nie do końca jest taki jak powinien być, kto nie przeżywa emocji tak, jak inni wokół niego. A jednocześnie obserwujemy taką osobę doprowadzoną do granic, do krawędzi, do ostateczności. Teraz, gdy nie ma już nic do stracenia, to do czego może być zdolna?
„Jedyne dziecko” to skomplikowany dreszczowiec, w którym Sarah A. Denzil snuje opowieść o żałobie, o zemście, o rozpaczy, ale dzięki wyjątkowej bohaterce i jej socjopatycznym skłonnościom całość nabiera ostrego posmaku. Autorka mogła popuścić wodze wyobraźni, wcielić się w skórę kogoś, dla którego nie istnieją hamulce moralne, wyjść poza utarte schematy bohaterów gatunku. Całość – chociaż niewyobrażalna i nieprawdopodobna – to świetny kawał thrillera psychologicznego, który nie pozwala się czytelnikowi nudzić i skręca w najmniej oczekiwanych kierunkach.
„Nikt nie pojmuje tego, że Grace była jedyną osobą, dzięki której chciałam być dobra; bo widzicie, ja tylko udaję, że jestem rzetelnym członkiem społeczeństwa. Wystawiam na czas kosze na śmieci, uśmiecham się do ludzi wyprowadzających psy i stosuję się do przepisów drogowych, ale robię to wszystko wyłącznie po to, żeby nie ściągać na siebie uwagi.”
Tragiczna śmierć nastolatki, traumy przeszłości i socjopatyczna główna bohaterka, która pragnie zemsty – to idealny przepis na doskonały thriller psychologiczny, który Sarah A. Denzil zrealizowała perfekcyjnie. Autorka świetnie sportretowała wewnętrzne rozterki kogoś, kto nie do końca jest taki jak powinien być, kto nie przeżywa emocji tak, jak inni wokół niego. A jednocześnie obserwujemy taką osobę doprowadzoną do granic, do krawędzi, do ostateczności. Teraz, gdy nie ma już nic do stracenia, to do czego może być zdolna?
„Jedyne dziecko” to skomplikowany dreszczowiec, w którym Sarah A. Denzil snuje opowieść o żałobie, o zemście, o rozpaczy, ale dzięki wyjątkowej bohaterce i jej socjopatycznym skłonnościom całość nabiera ostrego posmaku. Autorka mogła popuścić wodze wyobraźni, wcielić się w skórę kogoś, dla którego nie istnieją hamulce moralne, wyjść poza utarte schematy bohaterów gatunku. Całość – chociaż niewyobrażalna i nieprawdopodobna – to świetny kawał thrillera psychologicznego, który nie pozwala się czytelnikowi nudzić i skręca w najmniej oczekiwanych kierunkach.
March 3, 2019
3,5 stars
I am not sure how to rate this book. I had problems to get into the story at the beginning and I actually disliked the ending, but I couldn't put it down and read almost in one sitting.
The beginning was very depressed: it seemed to be a grieving drama about a mother whose seventeen year old daughter committed suicide. But did she really? At least it was what police felt confident about. But not her mother. Why a happy teen with excellent conditions for the future would have killed herself leaving a bland and impersonal suicide note? Because police had no evidence that could prove the opposite, the case was closed. But not for her mother, who decided to investigate on her own.
It was a point when the story started to be VERY interesting. Yes, because Kat Cavanaugh, a grieving mother, was not a person it appeared to be. She had a HISTORY and she had SECRETS. Actually Grace was also not a person her mother believed Grace to be. While investigation on her own she learned a different side of her daughter. Well, it is not everything: there were other characters that turned out to be not who they seemed to be.
The ending I found to be all over the place, over-dramatic and overdone. I believe that you can HATE someone that much, but I don't believe that someone would go THAT far
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unexpected turns and an exaggerated outcome you shouldn't miss it.
***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am not sure how to rate this book. I had problems to get into the story at the beginning and I actually disliked the ending, but I couldn't put it down and read almost in one sitting.
The beginning was very depressed: it seemed to be a grieving drama about a mother whose seventeen year old daughter committed suicide. But did she really? At least it was what police felt confident about. But not her mother. Why a happy teen with excellent conditions for the future would have killed herself leaving a bland and impersonal suicide note? Because police had no evidence that could prove the opposite, the case was closed. But not for her mother, who decided to investigate on her own.
It was a point when the story started to be VERY interesting. Yes, because Kat Cavanaugh, a grieving mother, was not a person it appeared to be. She had a HISTORY and she had SECRETS. Actually Grace was also not a person her mother believed Grace to be. While investigation on her own she learned a different side of her daughter. Well, it is not everything: there were other characters that turned out to be not who they seemed to be.
The ending I found to be all over the place, over-dramatic and overdone. I believe that you can HATE someone that much, but I don't believe that someone would go THAT far
If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unexpected turns and an exaggerated outcome you shouldn't miss it.
***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2019
Po lekturze "Jedynego dziecka" jednak wstrzymam się z przystąpieniem do fanclubu Denzil. Fabuła jej najnowszej powieści właściwie niczym nowym nie zaskakuje i mimo, że lubię w thrillerach psychologicznych podobne wątki (dot. rodziców, którzy po śmierci córki dowiadują się, że wcale nie była ona słodkim misiaczkiem, za jakiego ją mieli), mam nawet swoich faworytów wśród tego typu powieści, to autorce "Jedynego dziecka" nie do końca udało się mnie zaciekawić i sprawić, bym z zainteresowaniem wracała wieczorem do lektury jej książki.Plusem była dla mnie na pewno kreacja głównej bohaterki, która zarówno irytuje, jak i wzbudza współczucie, z pewnością nie jest więc czytelnikowi obojętna. Co do wad tej powieści - środek jest niezwykle rozwlekły, a rozdziały "na siłę" kończone tak, by zaciekawić, mimo że autorka nie spuszcza na nas żadnej fabularnej "bomby". Nie lubię takich zabiegów, powodują u mnie przewlekły ból oczu, powodowany ich wywracaniem. Ostatnie sto stron trochę ratuje całość, w końcu zaczyna się coś dziać i mimo, że zaskoczeń nadal brak, to jednak czyta się to całkiem nieźle.
Lubię Sarah Denzil za "Morderczynię", "Jedyne dziecko" niezupełnie do mnie trafiło, nad czym ubolewam, bo spodziewałam się petardy. Na półce mam jeszcze jedno "dziecko" pióra Denzil, tym razem milczące, może ono sprawi, że całkowicie przekonam się do autorki?
Lubię Sarah Denzil za "Morderczynię", "Jedyne dziecko" niezupełnie do mnie trafiło, nad czym ubolewam, bo spodziewałam się petardy. Na półce mam jeszcze jedno "dziecko" pióra Denzil, tym razem milczące, może ono sprawi, że całkowicie przekonam się do autorki?
April 8, 2019
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil.
Intense, deeply disturbing and impossible to set aside once the reading starts. This book took me on a roller coaster ride I couldn't stop.
Grace, a 17 year old daughter, is desperately trying to climb back to the land of the living but fails. The police determine it was suicide , but the mother, Kat, refuses to believe it and sets out to prove her daughter was murdered.
This story takes us into the mind of a woman under the worse stress imaginable. Kat goes over the line more times than I can count and continues without remorse to find the truth behind her daughter's death. To do that Kat has to go back to her own past in order to see her present in clearer terms.
This was so much more of a book than I thought possible. The profound sequence of events didn't just border on the fanatical; it passed it. This author takes mystery to a new level. Be prepared.
Intense, deeply disturbing and impossible to set aside once the reading starts. This book took me on a roller coaster ride I couldn't stop.
Grace, a 17 year old daughter, is desperately trying to climb back to the land of the living but fails. The police determine it was suicide , but the mother, Kat, refuses to believe it and sets out to prove her daughter was murdered.
This story takes us into the mind of a woman under the worse stress imaginable. Kat goes over the line more times than I can count and continues without remorse to find the truth behind her daughter's death. To do that Kat has to go back to her own past in order to see her present in clearer terms.
This was so much more of a book than I thought possible. The profound sequence of events didn't just border on the fanatical; it passed it. This author takes mystery to a new level. Be prepared.
May 13, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel
grace commits suicide
grace is 2 months pregnant
grace is also a bully
wow what a journey of discovery....gripping novel...one that i couldnt put down...dont want to give any spoilers but this is well worth a read, expect the unexpected...
an author to keep an eye out for
grace commits suicide
grace is 2 months pregnant
grace is also a bully
wow what a journey of discovery....gripping novel...one that i couldnt put down...dont want to give any spoilers but this is well worth a read, expect the unexpected...
an author to keep an eye out for
February 25, 2019
First, I want to thank Sarah A. Denzil, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you with this review.
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil is an extremely gripping and emotional Psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Words can’t describe what an incredible Psychological Thriller writer Sarah A. Denzil is. Her prologue alone blew me away with Grace’s extreme details and descriptions of how she is laying there in the middle of nowhere left for dead and dying! Not to mention the remorse of how everything she felt was wrong. It was the best prologue I had ever read before in this genre! After reading that prologue, I needed to know what happened to Grace and I would not put my book down til I found out what happened to her.
Kudos to the cover graphic artist who did the cover for this book. I thought it was beautiful and really liked the heart charm necklace and the blue backdrop. However, there was no significance to the heart necklace mentioned in the story to tie in with the cover. I would have liked to seen that pay a part of it.
This book does cover some difficult subjects that may be triggers for some readers. Those topics include: Suicide, cyber bullying, drug abuse, inappropriate teacher/student relationship, teenage pregnancy, infidelity, etc.
This is one book that must be made into a NetFlix original!! It has so many great aspects to be a big smash hit on so many levels!
Only Daughter by Sarah A. Denzil is an extremely gripping and emotional Psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Words can’t describe what an incredible Psychological Thriller writer Sarah A. Denzil is. Her prologue alone blew me away with Grace’s extreme details and descriptions of how she is laying there in the middle of nowhere left for dead and dying! Not to mention the remorse of how everything she felt was wrong. It was the best prologue I had ever read before in this genre! After reading that prologue, I needed to know what happened to Grace and I would not put my book down til I found out what happened to her.
Kudos to the cover graphic artist who did the cover for this book. I thought it was beautiful and really liked the heart charm necklace and the blue backdrop. However, there was no significance to the heart necklace mentioned in the story to tie in with the cover. I would have liked to seen that pay a part of it.
This book does cover some difficult subjects that may be triggers for some readers. Those topics include: Suicide, cyber bullying, drug abuse, inappropriate teacher/student relationship, teenage pregnancy, infidelity, etc.
This is one book that must be made into a NetFlix original!! It has so many great aspects to be a big smash hit on so many levels!
May 21, 2020
Kat experiences every mother’s worst nightmare - her 17-year-old daughter is found dead at the bottom of a quarry. The police says it was a suicide but Kat refuses to believe it because she knows her daughter would never take her own life. So what happened?
This story was too depressing and gloomy for my taste. Its written in 1st person and I didn't enjoy it. The main character, Kat, was a gold-digger who got pregnant just so that her older, wealthier husband would marry her. Naturally she has some dark secrets of her own that come to haunt her and cause trouble. I had a lot of trouble connecting to Kat and her problems.
It was okay story but I just didn't enjoy it. If you enjoyed it and want something similar, try The Night Olivia Fell), Reconstructing Amelia.
This story was too depressing and gloomy for my taste. Its written in 1st person and I didn't enjoy it. The main character, Kat, was a gold-digger who got pregnant just so that her older, wealthier husband would marry her. Naturally she has some dark secrets of her own that come to haunt her and cause trouble. I had a lot of trouble connecting to Kat and her problems.
It was okay story but I just didn't enjoy it. If you enjoyed it and want something similar, try The Night Olivia Fell), Reconstructing Amelia.
March 6, 2019
When you've been told you are a sociopath who cannot feel love, empathy or remorse, what do you do with all of your overwhelming emotions when your daughter is dead? Or worse, when you are told she committed suicide?
Kat Cavanaugh is a woman with a past. She is a woman with many secrets. But she put all that behind her when her daughter Grace was born and she vowed to be a better person for her. And Kat found herself with an emotion she didn't think she was capable of - love.
Having grown up on a council estate, Katie Flack was no stranger to police as a teenager. She regularly got into "scraps" with others, always fighting, shoplifting and running with a bad crowd. Of course it didn't help that she had a mother who constantly belittled her and told her everything that happened to her was her own doing. Until one day, something happened to change Katie's life forever. She took a life. And from then on the events, and the people, surrounding that time in her past haunted her. So Katie ran. Rain from her past, from the estate and from her mother who to this day calls her a murderer. After all, the child psychologists diagnosed her with Antisocial Personality Disorder. She's a sociopath. How can a 13 year old child come back from that?
But then Katie meets Charles whilst waistressing for an event and she becomes Kat. He makes her feel special. But is she really? Can she really escape her past and move on to a better future? Or has what she's done, where she's come from, shaped who she is today?
Then there's Grace. Beautiful, sweet Grace. With honey blonde hair and infectious laugh. The light of Kat's life. Grace, who had it all. A wealthy family with a beautiful mansion, parents who love her unconditionally, a prestigious school where she is popular and an accomplished violinist in the school orchestra. So why would she want to kill herself?
Kat refuses to believe that her sweet Grace would do such a thing. Grace knew how much she was loved. She could come to her about anything. But she wouldn't do this!
So unable to accept the coroner's findings, nor that the police investigated thoroughly enough, Kat decides to draw on that inner Katie Flack from her past and take matters into her own hands. She would seek out the truth. She would show everyone that they were wrong. She would find who killed her daughter. But in doing so Kat soon discovers that Grace wasn't the perfect daughter or the perfect person she thought she was. Grace, it seems, was as adept at keeping secrets as her mother. And the more Kat delves into Grace's life, the more she begins to wonder - was Grace like her?
ONLY DAUGHTER is a compelling, dark and twisted journey through the eyes of a mother who has lost her child, refusing to believe that she took her own life. I wouldn't say it was fast paced, because at the beginning I did find it a little slow - going through the motions of grief, the funeral and the confusion that seemed to be Kat's mind. But when it start to pick up the reader begins a rollercoaster ride as Kat uncovers the secrets of Grace's life. And as we begin to gain a little insight into Kat's own secrets.
The Prologue really gets you in and has you hooked from the beginning, as throughout the entire journey you find yourself question who are "they"? It is obvious that this opening is through Grace's eyes. And it throws up all sorts of questions we find ourselves asking as we keep turning the pages long after she's dead.
There are a lot of twists throughout ONLY DAUGHTER and several shocks. I admit I had no idea what happened to Grace or why, and even when I thought I did, something else would happen to change my mind. I can't even begin to tell you how this book messes with your head as you take the dark journey with Kat and the darkness that is her mind. How can years of therapy be a success if this is how she is playing it?
As the author takes you an on emotional journey of a mother desperate to find out the truth about her daughter's death, I have to say I did not completely warm up to Kat. She came across cold and unfeeling at times, but then I remind myself she was diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and would not be a person someone would naturally warm to. Throughout the book, Kat constantly reiterates her sociopathy. She even questions her therapist of her ability to love. And yet, she loved her daughter with every fibre of her being. But sociopaths cannot love, surely?
ONLY DAUGHTER is a book that will grab you by the throat and squeeze the life out of you as it takes your breath away. The big reveal towards the end brought it all into focus as everything began to make sense. And just when you thought it was over...it wasn't. The ending that changed places was appropriate, I thought. And it leaves you wondering - is Kat a sociopath at all?
I really do recommend this book. It may seem slow and a little depressing at first - especially if you can't warm to Kat - but it will surprise and shock you in the end. It is a very good read, despite its start and sometimes unlikeable lead. It takes you to some dark places you never thought you would go but the journey is worth it in the end.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OnlyDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Kat Cavanaugh is a woman with a past. She is a woman with many secrets. But she put all that behind her when her daughter Grace was born and she vowed to be a better person for her. And Kat found herself with an emotion she didn't think she was capable of - love.
Having grown up on a council estate, Katie Flack was no stranger to police as a teenager. She regularly got into "scraps" with others, always fighting, shoplifting and running with a bad crowd. Of course it didn't help that she had a mother who constantly belittled her and told her everything that happened to her was her own doing. Until one day, something happened to change Katie's life forever. She took a life. And from then on the events, and the people, surrounding that time in her past haunted her. So Katie ran. Rain from her past, from the estate and from her mother who to this day calls her a murderer. After all, the child psychologists diagnosed her with Antisocial Personality Disorder. She's a sociopath. How can a 13 year old child come back from that?
But then Katie meets Charles whilst waistressing for an event and she becomes Kat. He makes her feel special. But is she really? Can she really escape her past and move on to a better future? Or has what she's done, where she's come from, shaped who she is today?
Then there's Grace. Beautiful, sweet Grace. With honey blonde hair and infectious laugh. The light of Kat's life. Grace, who had it all. A wealthy family with a beautiful mansion, parents who love her unconditionally, a prestigious school where she is popular and an accomplished violinist in the school orchestra. So why would she want to kill herself?
Kat refuses to believe that her sweet Grace would do such a thing. Grace knew how much she was loved. She could come to her about anything. But she wouldn't do this!
So unable to accept the coroner's findings, nor that the police investigated thoroughly enough, Kat decides to draw on that inner Katie Flack from her past and take matters into her own hands. She would seek out the truth. She would show everyone that they were wrong. She would find who killed her daughter. But in doing so Kat soon discovers that Grace wasn't the perfect daughter or the perfect person she thought she was. Grace, it seems, was as adept at keeping secrets as her mother. And the more Kat delves into Grace's life, the more she begins to wonder - was Grace like her?
ONLY DAUGHTER is a compelling, dark and twisted journey through the eyes of a mother who has lost her child, refusing to believe that she took her own life. I wouldn't say it was fast paced, because at the beginning I did find it a little slow - going through the motions of grief, the funeral and the confusion that seemed to be Kat's mind. But when it start to pick up the reader begins a rollercoaster ride as Kat uncovers the secrets of Grace's life. And as we begin to gain a little insight into Kat's own secrets.
The Prologue really gets you in and has you hooked from the beginning, as throughout the entire journey you find yourself question who are "they"? It is obvious that this opening is through Grace's eyes. And it throws up all sorts of questions we find ourselves asking as we keep turning the pages long after she's dead.
There are a lot of twists throughout ONLY DAUGHTER and several shocks. I admit I had no idea what happened to Grace or why, and even when I thought I did, something else would happen to change my mind. I can't even begin to tell you how this book messes with your head as you take the dark journey with Kat and the darkness that is her mind. How can years of therapy be a success if this is how she is playing it?
As the author takes you an on emotional journey of a mother desperate to find out the truth about her daughter's death, I have to say I did not completely warm up to Kat. She came across cold and unfeeling at times, but then I remind myself she was diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and would not be a person someone would naturally warm to. Throughout the book, Kat constantly reiterates her sociopathy. She even questions her therapist of her ability to love. And yet, she loved her daughter with every fibre of her being. But sociopaths cannot love, surely?
ONLY DAUGHTER is a book that will grab you by the throat and squeeze the life out of you as it takes your breath away. The big reveal towards the end brought it all into focus as everything began to make sense. And just when you thought it was over...it wasn't. The ending that changed places was appropriate, I thought. And it leaves you wondering - is Kat a sociopath at all?
I really do recommend this book. It may seem slow and a little depressing at first - especially if you can't warm to Kat - but it will surprise and shock you in the end. It is a very good read, despite its start and sometimes unlikeable lead. It takes you to some dark places you never thought you would go but the journey is worth it in the end.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #OnlyDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
March 12, 2019
This is a really good book which had me hooked from the first few pages.
Kat his heartbroken when she is told her daughter’s body has been found in the quarry, and will not believe that she committed suicide.
Kat had a difficult childhood and tried not to let her daughter, Grace, know what she was like.
As she kept some of her life hidden from her daughter she wonders if this made her withdraw from her and questions their relationship whilst dealing with her grief.
The police are unwilling to investigate Grace’s death so Kat starts to dig around into Grace’s past and is surprised what she finds out.
This is a great mystery thriller as the reader is enveloped into the story and I couldn’t wait to find out if there was more to Grace’s death than meets the eye.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Kat his heartbroken when she is told her daughter’s body has been found in the quarry, and will not believe that she committed suicide.
Kat had a difficult childhood and tried not to let her daughter, Grace, know what she was like.
As she kept some of her life hidden from her daughter she wonders if this made her withdraw from her and questions their relationship whilst dealing with her grief.
The police are unwilling to investigate Grace’s death so Kat starts to dig around into Grace’s past and is surprised what she finds out.
This is a great mystery thriller as the reader is enveloped into the story and I couldn’t wait to find out if there was more to Grace’s death than meets the eye.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
April 27, 2019
This was a psychological thriller, but so much more at the same time. There were some real layers to this book and I was enthralled the entire time.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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