The Bad Daughter
A Novel
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4.0 • 82 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller of family intrigue and dark secrets, from the author of Someone Is Watching and See Jane Run.
There was no shortage of words she could use to describe her father, almost none of them complimentary. Serves you damn right, she thought.
A voice mail from her estranged sister, Melanie, sends Robin’s heart racing and her mind spiraling in a full-blown panic attack. Melanie’s message is dire: Their father, his second wife, and his twelve-year-old stepdaughter have been shot—likely in a home invasion—and lie in the hospital in critical condition.
It’s been more than five years since Robin turned her back on her father when he married her best friend. Five years since she said goodbye to her hometown of Red Bluff, California, and became a therapist. More than two years since Robin and Melanie have spoken. Yet even with all that distance and time and acrimony, the past is always with Robin.
Now she must return to the family she left behind. As she attempts to mend fences while her father clings to life, Robin begins to wonder if there is more to the tragedy than a botched burglary attempt. It seems that everyone—Robin’s mercurial sister, her less-than-communicative nephew, her absent brother, and even Tara, her father’s wife—has something to hide. And someone may have put them all in grave danger.
New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding has written a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller of family intrigue and dark secrets. The Bad Daughter explores the deadly differences between the lies we want to believe and the truths we wish not to know.
Praise for The Bad Daughter
“So expert is [Joy] Fielding at seeding clues that readers will never see the final plot twist coming. The acutely portrayed family dynamics lend pathos and a certain schadenfreudian frisson to the proceedings. An author who knows her way around suburban angst.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Fielding, a sure hand at psychological suspense, amps up tension nicely here as the narrative reaches a high-energy conclusion.”—Booklist
“[Keeps] the reader turning the pages until the bombshell final shocker.”—Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Los Angeles therapist Robin Davis, the star of this suspenseful if workmanlike thriller from bestseller Fielding (She's Not There), hasn't been in touch with most of her family for years until someone shoots her father, autocratic property developer Greg Davis; Greg's much-younger second wife, Tara, who's also Robin's former best friend and her brother Alec's onetime fianc e; and Tara's 12-year-old daughter, Cassidy, in an apparently botched robbery at their house in Red Bluff, Calif. All are in critical condition at the local hospital, and upon returning home, Robin finds the situation worse than she could have imagined. Perpetually angry big sister Melanie, mother of an 18-year-old autistic son, has turned even more caustic; the townspeople regard the tragedy as the most riveting spectator sport outside of the annual rodeo; and Alec, the only relative to whom Robin remains attached, seems to be the sheriff's prime suspect. Though few of the characters transcend soap opera quality, Fielding throws in enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages until the bombshell final shocker.
Customer Reviews
Weak Characters
Just my preference but it gets frustrating when the main character is so weak that even though she thinks the proper response she can’t get it out of her mouth. It’s like she’s being stepped on over and over again and you just want to reach out and shake her. I prefer strong characters who stand up for themselves. This was my first book by this author so not sure if this type of character is her style. I hope not because the overall story was good and I’d like to read her again.
The Bad Daughter
I normally like Joy Fieldings novels…this one was interesting, however, there were some unbelievable areas that made me crazy.
1) I could not stand all the stupid “panic attacks” by a psychologist. This almost had me dumping the book immediately.
2) A doctor being so shallow and insecure when being constantly being berated by a sibling.
3) An educated,person not believing a 12 year old could be diabolical.
Other than that a good premise for a story
The Bad Daughter
This is one of the most boring & predictable stories I’ve ever read, filled with unnecessary detailed descriptions of subjects that had nothing to do with the characters! So disappointing!