The Perfect Daughter

The Perfect Daughter

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  • Create Date:2021-04-26 12:32:07
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:D.J. Palmer
  • ISBN:1250788145
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Danielle Berg

Thank you netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc and provide my honest review。 I’ll start with, I love the cover of this book。 It’s different than the common ones we normally see (the back of a woman or something similar), while still being relevant to the story, though not completely obvious the first 2/3rds of the book。 I love books that center on psychological issues or mental health issues, especially when researched and presented accurately, and this one delivers one o Thank you netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read this arc and provide my honest review。 I’ll start with, I love the cover of this book。 It’s different than the common ones we normally see (the back of a woman or something similar), while still being relevant to the story, though not completely obvious the first 2/3rds of the book。 I love books that center on psychological issues or mental health issues, especially when researched and presented accurately, and this one delivers one of my “favorite” disorders (favorite in that it’s interesting and intriguing, not favorite in that I’m glad people suffer from it)。 Nonetheless, I felt mostly connected to the handful of main characters, enough to care about the outcome and how the story would end。 There was also misdirection of course, which is to be expected of this genre but it didn’t go out of its way nor did it ruin the story in trying to be far fetched like some stories have been。 Overall, I would recommend this book to family and friends that are interested in psychological thrillers。 。。。more

Toni

DJ Palmer has found his niche writing strong mothers that will do anything to save their daughters。 He hooks you from the beginning and keeps you on your toes as the story unfolds。 This is a must read。

Cait (Luckycharmedlovesbooks)

Another great read from DJ Palmer! The Perfect Daughter was a fascinating read for me。 I really enjoyed the story of the Francone family and their relarionship with Penny, their adopted daughter/sister throughout her being accused of murder and the trial that occurs。 I would say I rate this book three and a half stars。 I enjoyed the story but felt as though there was a side story about the psychologist assisting Penny that wasn’t quite meshing with the rest of the story。 I also had a small bit o Another great read from DJ Palmer! The Perfect Daughter was a fascinating read for me。 I really enjoyed the story of the Francone family and their relarionship with Penny, their adopted daughter/sister throughout her being accused of murder and the trial that occurs。 I would say I rate this book three and a half stars。 I enjoyed the story but felt as though there was a side story about the psychologist assisting Penny that wasn’t quite meshing with the rest of the story。 I also had a small bit of trouble with figuring out whose point of view each chapter was from as they weren’t always clear from the first sentence of each。 Overall, a page turner that you’ll probably want to just sit and read in one day。 Thank you to Netgalley and St。 Martin Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion。 。。。more

Bookreporter。com Mystery & Thriller

Sometimes a mother’s love just isn’t enough。 When your adopted daughter who is perfect in your eyes is accused of the worst crime imaginable, you want to do everything you can to keep her from getting hurt, but it is out of your control。 Once the authorities learn that she allegedly suffers from multiple personalities, will that make things better or worse for her? All of these thoughts are going through Grace Francone’s mind in THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, D。J。 Palmer’s latest psychological thriller。G Sometimes a mother’s love just isn’t enough。 When your adopted daughter who is perfect in your eyes is accused of the worst crime imaginable, you want to do everything you can to keep her from getting hurt, but it is out of your control。 Once the authorities learn that she allegedly suffers from multiple personalities, will that make things better or worse for her? All of these thoughts are going through Grace Francone’s mind in THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, D。J。 Palmer’s latest psychological thriller。Grace is awakened by the flashing lights coming from the police squad car that is parked in front of her house。 Her mind quickly goes through different scenarios, none of which are good。 Her sons, Ryan and Jack, are away at college, and her 16-year-old daughter Penny is asleep in her room。 However, the reality is that Penny is not at home。 She took the family car and drove away。 The police officer informs Grace that she needs to come down to the station, where Penny is covered in blood and has been arrested for murder。 A dazed Grace grabs a change of clothes and a towel, and reaches out to the only attorney she knows, Greg Navarro。What alarms Grace the most is the name of the victim: Rachel Boyd, who is Penny’s birth mother。 Rachel abandoned Penny at the age of four in a public park before Grace found her and eventually made her part of the family。 Grace knows Penny is in big trouble, especially when she learns that Penny had been in touch with Rachel online and made threats against her。Penny is sent to a place called Edgewater, which is not much better than prison and houses mostly those who are criminally insane。 Her boys return from college for support, and Jack even decides to do a film on their ordeal。 They all realize that the doctors at Edgewater will soon learn about Penny’s alter egos --- Eve, the dominant protector; Chloe, the perfectionist who strives for straight As in school; and Ruby, who speaks with a British accent that includes full terminology most likely picked up from her reading of the Harry Potter series。 The doctor who initially sees Penny does not believe in dissociative disease of any kind, but thankfully he retires shortly thereafter。 His replacement, Dr。 Mitchell McHugh, is willing to keep an open mind, even though he is unsure about using Penny’s alters as an insanity defense once the trial begins。We get to learn a lot about Penny, even though Eve has pretty much taken over since her incarceration。 It’s no secret that her birth name is Isabella, but she prefers to be called Penny。 It also becomes apparent that Ryan does not care for Penny, which would be an understatement。 He blames her for not doing enough when his father died, and there is the story of a young Penny killing a cat with a rock --- even though it was mortally wounded, and she insisted she was just putting the animal out of its misery。 Everyone knows what killing small animals can lead to, and Ryan has a hard time believing that Penny could be innocent of the crime for which she has been arrested。Nevertheless, Penny is very forthcoming, and her defense team believes there may be proof that she did not commit the murder。 Once the trial begins, everything comes to light, and no one will be prepared for what happens when Penny is put on the stand。In a recent article, D。J。 Palmer discussed the “what if’ in every work of fiction and how it needs to be answered by the end of the story, typically with the term that Alfred Hitchcock made famous: the MacGuffin。 When they work well, great thrillers hit this mark perfectly and sometimes can take the reader’s breath away。 This is precisely what we have here with THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, which has an ending no one will see coming。 You cannot ask for anything more from a thriller!Reviewed by Ray Palen 。。。more

Angela Johnson

Penny Francone has been arrested for murder。 It's not looking good。 She has the victim's blood literally on her hands, and her face, and through her hair。 It's as though she's painted herself with the blood。 She's also been arrested before, for a extremely ruthless and graphic hit list her and a friend concocted。 Her birth mother was on the list, and guess who the victim is? Like I said, it's not looking good。But even worse is that Penny has Disassociative Identity Disorder, she has multiple alt Penny Francone has been arrested for murder。 It's not looking good。 She has the victim's blood literally on her hands, and her face, and through her hair。 It's as though she's painted herself with the blood。 She's also been arrested before, for a extremely ruthless and graphic hit list her and a friend concocted。 Her birth mother was on the list, and guess who the victim is? Like I said, it's not looking good。But even worse is that Penny has Disassociative Identity Disorder, she has multiple alters that cause Penny to act completely different and result in memory loss so she can't remember, or won't, anything about the night her birth mother was murdered。 What unfolds is a twisting story involving all the faucets of one person, complicated looks into mental health and mental disorders。 We're constantly meeting new alters of Penny and the reader is trying to unravel the facts from the night in question along with Penny's mother, Grace, and her psychologist, Dr。 Mitch McHugh。I was kept guessing left and right, I couldn't anticipate which direction one of Penny's alters would lead us or where DJ Palmer's writing would take us。 Easily the best work I've read from DJ Palmer。 The dedication, care, and detail Palmer puts into the research for his books speaks volumes to his commitment to quality writing and entertainment。 He doesn't hear about something like DID and let his imagination run wild, instead he thoroughly investigates his subject matter and is sure to reflect all the nuances of it in his plot。 。。。more

Connie

Grace Francone has returned home to find her 16-year-old daughter, Penny, missing along with the car that had belonged to her now deceased father。 Then, police arrive to say Penny has been arrested for murdering a woman named Rachel Boyd, who is her birth mother。 Penny is covered in blood and is calling herself Eve。 She also says she doesn’t remember anything。Penny has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identify Disorder (DID) also known as multiple personalities。 Her personalities are Penny (hers Grace Francone has returned home to find her 16-year-old daughter, Penny, missing along with the car that had belonged to her now deceased father。 Then, police arrive to say Penny has been arrested for murdering a woman named Rachel Boyd, who is her birth mother。 Penny is covered in blood and is calling herself Eve。 She also says she doesn’t remember anything。Penny has been diagnosed with Dissociative Identify Disorder (DID) also known as multiple personalities。 Her personalities are Penny (herself); Eve, a dark personality; Chloe, a perfectionist; and Ruby, who speaks with a British accent。 Penny has been in trouble before with writing death threats。 Grace also has two sons, Ryan and Jack, both at college in Boston。 They love their sister and are worried about her。Grace’s attorney, Greg Navarro, gets Penny placed in a psychiatric hospital under the care of Dr。 Mitch McHugh。 She is now there for 18 months awaiting trial。 The hospital is very secure but also houses some dangerous criminals。Grace is willing to fight with every ounce of her being for her daughter。 Her love for Penny is perfectly written in the book。 Mitch has his own demons that he is fighting as well。 The story is very intense to the point that I had to take small breaks from reading it。 It is extremely educational though and I believe anyone wanting to learn more about this disorder would do well to read the book。 The ending knocked me for a loop, but I was happy with the way things worked out in the end。 If you are looking for a book to challenge and educate you, this is the one。 Enjoy!Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review。 。。。more

Scott Chelmow

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting an advance read of this fascinating thriller。 Like many many other readers and moviegoers, t can't resist the premise of someone leading a tortuous life of multiple personalities。 It's a gripping, nightmarish idea and I've been hooked since the classic Joanne Woodward film, "The Three Faces Of Eve" and then on to Sally Field in "Sybil" and James Mcavoy in "Split"。 "The Perfect Daughter" might easily be called, 'The Four Faces Of Penny' in its compelling stor Many thanks to NetGalley for granting an advance read of this fascinating thriller。 Like many many other readers and moviegoers, t can't resist the premise of someone leading a tortuous life of multiple personalities。 It's a gripping, nightmarish idea and I've been hooked since the classic Joanne Woodward film, "The Three Faces Of Eve" and then on to Sally Field in "Sybil" and James Mcavoy in "Split"。 "The Perfect Daughter" might easily be called, 'The Four Faces Of Penny' in its compelling story of an adopted teen girl afflicted with different personalities。 She's about to stand trial for murder。。。。。。。the horrific, knife-butchering murder of her birth mother。 Penny's distraught adopted mother Grace, who found Penny abandoned as a toddler, desperately pursues two different strategies to exonerate Penny, now incarcerated in a state mental hospital。 With the help of the hospital's sympathetic doctor, she attempts to find out which, if any of Penny's separate alter personalities might have committed the murder。。。。。。and thereby provide grounds for an insanity plea。 Concurrently, Grace launches a reckless amateur investigation to hunt for some other potential suspect for the murder, including the victim's dangerous, violent ex boyfriend。。 Now that's quite a setup for a thriller and this book does not disappoint。。。。。。。。。with false leads, tantalizing clues and some startling vivid sequences, including sudden, terrifying attacks from one of the hospital's other inmates, a madwoman given to murderous rages。 And while all this is going on, there's the added traumas of Grace dealing with an estranged son and the doctor's coping with his own son, a recovering drug addict。 Your heart will break for Penny and her three 'alters and I couldn't race through the pages fast enough to get to the revelations and her ultimate fate And again, in that regard, this book really delivers the goods, with a satisfying and stunning turn of events。。。。。。。(I kept thinking this would make one hell of a movie with a guaranteed Academy Award nomination for whichever lucky actress plays Penny) "The Perfect Daughter" will probably become one of this summer's most popular beach reads。。。。。。because it's one of those, "I 'think I'll read just one more chapter 'before I stop' kind of books。 And naturally, you don't end up stopping till you finish。 。。。more

Katie

Interesting idea but it didn't flow。 I read it quickly but I was hoping for more twists and turns。 I liked it fine。 I liked the idea of a thriller centered around dissociative identity disorder but I don't think it worked out quite right。 Interesting idea but it didn't flow。 I read it quickly but I was hoping for more twists and turns。 I liked it fine。 I liked the idea of a thriller centered around dissociative identity disorder but I don't think it worked out quite right。 。。。more

Melanie

Wow, this book was absolutely fascinating and gripping! I am a huge fan of psychology and books about children with psychological and/or mental health issues (does that make me strange?) so I was definitely invested and hooked by The Perfect Daughter! I have read DJ Palmer before and I am always impressed by his talented ability to write such intriguing books。 I learned so much while reading this book and gobbled up every word not only for the knowledge about a mysterious yet alluring illness, b Wow, this book was absolutely fascinating and gripping! I am a huge fan of psychology and books about children with psychological and/or mental health issues (does that make me strange?) so I was definitely invested and hooked by The Perfect Daughter! I have read DJ Palmer before and I am always impressed by his talented ability to write such intriguing books。 I learned so much while reading this book and gobbled up every word not only for the knowledge about a mysterious yet alluring illness, but also because I did not want to stop reading about Penny and her life。 I couldn’t stop guessing and kept getting completely thrown off track repeatedly。 My brain, my heart, and my mind had extensive aerobic workouts while reading this book! The author either performed extensive research or has had personal experiences to write this because there was so much detail and so many facts and pieces of data from the medical, legal, and every day living it sides of it。 I was incredibly impressed by all of it! Thrilling, fascinating, and surprising throughout THE ENTIRE BOOK!#netgalley #theperfectdaughter @stmartinspress @djpalmerauthor 。。。more

BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books)

This was a great story! I really enjoyed learning about D。I。D。 This is a disorder that I truly didn't know much about, and I liked the way the story focused on it。 It was a bit heartbreaking honestly。 Reading about the emotional struggles that the family goes through was hard。 The thriller aspect of the story was great as well! I loved the secrets, and the big reveals。 It was well thought out, and I did not know where the story was going to go until it happened!I highly recommend this for reader This was a great story! I really enjoyed learning about D。I。D。 This is a disorder that I truly didn't know much about, and I liked the way the story focused on it。 It was a bit heartbreaking honestly。 Reading about the emotional struggles that the family goes through was hard。 The thriller aspect of the story was great as well! I loved the secrets, and the big reveals。 It was well thought out, and I did not know where the story was going to go until it happened!I highly recommend this for readers that enjoy thrillers with a legal aspect。Content warning: Child abuse。I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free。 I am leaving my review voluntarily。 。。。more

Hanlie

What a fascinating subject! I've always been intrigued by books dealing with DID (Dissociative identity disorder) and there were some really interesting angles in this book like the fact that smell can trigger an alter to appear。 Grace Francine comes home to find her 16-year-old daughter not home and the car missing。 Then the police rock up to tell her that Penny was arrested for murder。 She was found covered in blood with her birth mom dead next to her。 She was stabbed 25 times。 Oh, and she is What a fascinating subject! I've always been intrigued by books dealing with DID (Dissociative identity disorder) and there were some really interesting angles in this book like the fact that smell can trigger an alter to appear。 Grace Francine comes home to find her 16-year-old daughter not home and the car missing。 Then the police rock up to tell her that Penny was arrested for murder。 She was found covered in blood with her birth mom dead next to her。 She was stabbed 25 times。 Oh, and she is calling herself Eve。 It looks like an open and shut case。。。。。but is it?"Are you ill。。。。。。or are you evil?" Does she have different personalities or is she faking it? What happened to her as a child? I had a few issues here and there with the story but nothing major and the ending was WOW! What a curveball! Thank you to NetGalley and St。 Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion 。。。more

Leah Arthur

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 This book was interesting, has a decent pace, and some good twists。 I’ve read one of Palmer’s other novels and the plot devices feels similar in that it was surprising but not too predictable too far in advance。 Minor spoilers at end, clearly marked。 For those who find it helpful- I would mention TW for: animal abuse, discussion of mental health / violence, childhood trauma However, I am not a fan of how various mental health diagnoses are treated / stigmatized。 The author frequently mentions “a This book was interesting, has a decent pace, and some good twists。 I’ve read one of Palmer’s other novels and the plot devices feels similar in that it was surprising but not too predictable too far in advance。 Minor spoilers at end, clearly marked。 For those who find it helpful- I would mention TW for: animal abuse, discussion of mental health / violence, childhood trauma However, I am not a fan of how various mental health diagnoses are treated / stigmatized。 The author frequently mentions “antisocial borderline personality disorder” which is not a real diagnosis but a mashup of two separate (and already highly stigmatized diagnoses)。 The use of dissociative identity disorder seems somewhat more researched but still seems excessive。 (I am a mental health professional trained in diagnoses, maybe this wouldn’t bother others but I was not impressed)。I found the mother to feel flat, not the whole book but enough of the time where it felt annoying。 This is a bummer as she commands most chapters of the book (switches POV chapter by chapter)。 Maybe I’m being unfair as I did read this slowly over the course of a month but these aspects really detract from the overall story。 *****spoiler below******Also, I thought it was only my ARC (thank you to St Martin’s Press), but it’s on the description in goodreads too so, but there is literally not a character named Abigail at all? Which makes me wonder if the storyboard had changed at some point and maybe wasn’t totally smoothed out by publication。 。。。more

GavShire

The author did a great job。 If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on Novel Star, just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top

Bedelia

Janie, Mary and Joseph! What a ride!

Miss W Book Reviews

The Perfect Daughter by D。J。 Palmer is an absoutely fantastic thriller。I have read previous books by this author that were fantastic and this one does not disappoint。The characters were complex and well fleshed out。 The twists kept coming at you until the very end。 Highly recomend。

Pamela Mitchell

I have mixed feelings about this thought-provoking psychological thriller that explores a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder。 This is not a genre I normally read because I tend to get totally immersed in the books I read but "The Perfect Daughter" had twists, turns and surprises that kept me on my toes。 This is the first book I have read by D。J。 Palmer but I hope to read more by this gifted author。 I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am v I have mixed feelings about this thought-provoking psychological thriller that explores a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder。 This is not a genre I normally read because I tend to get totally immersed in the books I read but "The Perfect Daughter" had twists, turns and surprises that kept me on my toes。 This is the first book I have read by D。J。 Palmer but I hope to read more by this gifted author。 I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review。 。。。more

Melissa

Wow! The Perfect Daughter by D。J Palmer proved to be a brilliant, twisty, suspenseful psychological thriller。 With heavy themes of mental illness, specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), murder, corruption and the relationships between adoptees and their families, this book has everything to keep the reader intrigued from the start。 Found alone on a playground, 4 year old Isabella has no recollection of how she got to the playground, who her parents are or even what her name is。 In fa Wow! The Perfect Daughter by D。J Palmer proved to be a brilliant, twisty, suspenseful psychological thriller。 With heavy themes of mental illness, specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), murder, corruption and the relationships between adoptees and their families, this book has everything to keep the reader intrigued from the start。 Found alone on a playground, 4 year old Isabella has no recollection of how she got to the playground, who her parents are or even what her name is。 In fact, she doesn't even speak。 Adopted shortly after she was found, her new family names her Penny and begin to live life as if she had always been a part of it。 Fast forward a few years and things start to change。 Penny starts to portray herself in different ways, talking different, acting different。 Then there's the murder。 With Penny being found at the crime scene covered in blood, her family has to work diligently to prove what they believe is her innocence。 This book was very well written in a way that kept the reader engaged from the very beginning。 It seemed to be well researched and informative on the condition of DID。 Overall, it was a fantastic book! However, with such a heavy focus on mental health and some more detailed aspects of the murder, it may be sensitive content for some readers。 。。。more

Diana Rose

A really good thriller keeps you guessing till the very end。 With the thousands of thrillers I have read, three quarters I have solved half way through, even the best writers leave little bread crumbs of clues。@djpalmerauthor didnt do that。。I kid you not I was blown away with this ending。。there really is statistically only so many characters that a murder is committed by。。this I didnt see coming。The Perfect Daughter@djPalmerauthorPublisher @stmartinspress Marketing @netgalley Pub date 4/20/21。。g A really good thriller keeps you guessing till the very end。 With the thousands of thrillers I have read, three quarters I have solved half way through, even the best writers leave little bread crumbs of clues。@djpalmerauthor didnt do that。。I kid you not I was blown away with this ending。。there really is statistically only so many characters that a murder is committed by。。this I didnt see coming。The Perfect Daughter@djPalmerauthorPublisher @stmartinspress Marketing @netgalley Pub date 4/20/21。。go get this book!5💫💫💫💫💫I have liked his other books, I enjoyed Saving Megan, but this book took all the enjoyable elements of Law and Order。。the detective ( in this case the mom。。because the police did nothing), the psychologist。。the character Mitch I really loved as much as the Law and Order psych doctors, he was human with his own character ARC, flawed。。but desperately wanted to break through to Penny/Eve/Ruby/Chloe。。he was supportive and in the end I think he did more to solve this than anyone。 The author did a phenomenal job portraying DID in a sensitive light, caring for the character giving each individual personality their own moment to shine in the story as individuals just as important as the next。 Mental Health needs to be normalized, it isnt, and shouldnt be a taboo topic。 The brothers in the story loved their adopted sister, and they each had their own unique story as all family members do within a complex trauma。 And then you had the round of potential suspects。。the high school sweetheart of the murder victim, that suspiciously was back in the picture。 And the attorney。。the generous patron of the family restaurant, the brother Jack who is filming for a documentary。。why is he a reliable narrator? This has bumped up to my fave Thriller of 2021。 Bravo!!👏👏👏Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my ARC。 Go ask your indie bookstore to buy ! It is my fave book of 。。。more

Jene

The Perfect Daughter by D。J。 Palmer was a thriller that kept me questioning what I thought I knew till the very end。 The narrators on this audiobook were so good and gave such life to the characters。 I really liked hearing from the different points of view on this one and think it really enhances the story。 A quick, enjoyable listen! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review。

Angie Simmonds

D。J。 Palmer just does not disappoint!Penny is a girl facing a murder charge, but is it Penny who killed her birth mother Rachel or is it one of her alters; Eve, Chloe or even Ruby is a possibility? Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID, what we remember as Multiple Personality Disorder。 Penny remembers nothing about that night she was found covered in blood with the murder weapon in her hand。But convincing the jury that Penny is innocent when the clues point to her guilt is going to be D。J。 Palmer just does not disappoint!Penny is a girl facing a murder charge, but is it Penny who killed her birth mother Rachel or is it one of her alters; Eve, Chloe or even Ruby is a possibility? Penny has Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID, what we remember as Multiple Personality Disorder。 Penny remembers nothing about that night she was found covered in blood with the murder weapon in her hand。But convincing the jury that Penny is innocent when the clues point to her guilt is going to be an uphill task for her attorney Greg Navarro, her doctor Mitch and her mother Grace, who will stop at nothing to prove her daughter's innocence。Interesting, thrilling, intriguing, The Perfect Daughter is that great mix in a thriller that you know will only end with a great twist。 。。。more

Norma

Holy Shooty Balls! Compulsive, brisk, & action-packed!THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D。 J。 PALMER is a fabulous, compelling, and haunting psychological thriller that was absolutely unputdownable。 Once I started reading this one I was hooked and so absorbed in this storyline that I was swiping those pages as fast as I possibly could。D。 J。 PALMER delivers an intense, twisty, well-written and impressive story here that is told in several points of view。 The characters were complex, relatable, and well-dev Holy Shooty Balls! Compulsive, brisk, & action-packed!THE PERFECT DAUGHTER by D。 J。 PALMER is a fabulous, compelling, and haunting psychological thriller that was absolutely unputdownable。 Once I started reading this one I was hooked and so absorbed in this storyline that I was swiping those pages as fast as I possibly could。D。 J。 PALMER delivers an intense, twisty, well-written and impressive story here that is told in several points of view。 The characters were complex, relatable, and well-developed。 I felt so much emotion and compassion for some of them to the point where my heart hurt。 The suspense at times had my heart-pounding and on the edge of my seat。 The ending was jaw-dropping, unexpected and totally surprised me。 The epilogue was fantastic and so touching to read。 The storyline kept me completely hooked all the way through making this book almost impossible to put down。 Would highly recommend it!Thank you so much to NetGalley, St。 Martin’s Press, and D。 J。 Palmer for my review copy。 。。。more

Carol Custer

This book started out with a very intriguing premise that kept my attention。 The characters are interesting and there was obviously a lot of research done on the topic of different identities which was fascinating。The middle of the book really slowed down for me and felt like nothing much was happening。 There were a few rather unrealistic scenes (Grace and Annie as 'investigators') that I found hard to believe。 Then towards the end, everything speeded up - almost too much so。 I did guess the end This book started out with a very intriguing premise that kept my attention。 The characters are interesting and there was obviously a lot of research done on the topic of different identities which was fascinating。The middle of the book really slowed down for me and felt like nothing much was happening。 There were a few rather unrealistic scenes (Grace and Annie as 'investigators') that I found hard to believe。 Then towards the end, everything speeded up - almost too much so。 I did guess the ending shortly before it was revealed but it seemed a bit contrived。 The whole thing of Jack talking throughout the book about the movie he's going to make seemed unnecessary - even distracting。 I couldn't see the purpose of it。I went into the book thinking it would be a 5 star and it didn't quite make it - - but it's still a good book! 。。。more

Karen R

4。5 rounded up。 A compulsive thriller and murder mystery。 Grace Francone adopted an abandoned child in a park years ago。 Never would she have expected the kind of toll it would take on her natural family as Penny begins to exhibit multiple personalities。 Penny is accused of murdering her birth mother and put in a state-run psychiatric hospital。 What happens next is a fascinating portrait of personality disorder, a mother desperate to find answers, and a growing set of suspects。

Denise

Penny Isabella Francone, 16-years-old, languishes at Edgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane while awaiting trial for the murder of her birth mother, Rachel Boyd。 Believing that her adopted daughter has Dissociative Identity Disorder, Grace and her attorney, Greg Navarro, are frantically trying to get Penny acquitted by reason of insanity。 They are fortunate in that a new psychiatrist at the facility, Dr。 Mitchell McHugh, has willing to examine and treat Penny in hopes of finding info Penny Isabella Francone, 16-years-old, languishes at Edgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane while awaiting trial for the murder of her birth mother, Rachel Boyd。 Believing that her adopted daughter has Dissociative Identity Disorder, Grace and her attorney, Greg Navarro, are frantically trying to get Penny acquitted by reason of insanity。 They are fortunate in that a new psychiatrist at the facility, Dr。 Mitchell McHugh, has willing to examine and treat Penny in hopes of finding information that will prove that Penny dd not commit the heinous crime。 NO SPOILERS。I see that I am in the minority with my rating of this novel。 I had so many issues with the whole premise from the outset -- the most difficult hurdle being the fact that DID is such a rare condition and is so often misrepresented in literature and film。 Though it is true that females are more likely to have the condition, I just didn't buy into the whole story as I should have。 I couldn't stand Grace and honestly do not believe that she could possibly have been as involved in the whole situation as she was considering the crime and the incarceration。 The book was far too long and extremely repetitive with way too much inane detail that didn't add a thing to the narrative。 I guess all I can say is that it didn't work for me and I didn't enjoy it。 Sorry! And that ending -- oh come on。 I like a good twist now and then, but this came out of nowhere and it was totally unbelievable considering all that had gone on。 I do appreciate and thank NetGalley and St。 Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review。 。。。more

Hailey Fish

I loved this entire book! It was thrilling, gripping, edge of your seat and chilling book。

Lori Boyd

3。5 stars rounded up to 4。 I found this book on the dry side, predictable, and some parts read more like a case study than a thriller。 Grace wants to raise a daughter, after having 2 sons。 She comes across an abandoned little girl in a playground and talks her husband into adopting。 They name her Penny。。。。but then there is Ruby, Chloe and hardened Eve。 This book delves into Dissociative Identity Disorder, which was just in the news today with a popular actress coming out to talk about her diagno 3。5 stars rounded up to 4。 I found this book on the dry side, predictable, and some parts read more like a case study than a thriller。 Grace wants to raise a daughter, after having 2 sons。 She comes across an abandoned little girl in a playground and talks her husband into adopting。 They name her Penny。。。。but then there is Ruby, Chloe and hardened Eve。 This book delves into Dissociative Identity Disorder, which was just in the news today with a popular actress coming out to talk about her diagnosis。 After Penny’s biological mom is found brutally murdered, and Penny found covered in blood, she is sent to a local psychiatric hospital for evaluation and to await trail。 I found Grace selfish to a point, willing to fight for her daughter but at what cost to the rest of the family。 On a whole, the book is OK just not as much a thriller as I would have liked。 But, it’s a good vacation read that others might find unputdownable! Thanks to Mr。 Palmer, St。 Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC。 Opinion is mine alone。 。。。more

Laurence

When I read the synopsis at the beginning of the year, I knew I had to read this! I love thrillers that revolve around a family。 This wasn’t perfect, there were a lot of predictable “plot twists” that made me roll my eyes, but it still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat。

Kelly Parker

Reading this book made me think that I should probably read some nonfiction about DID, former known as multiple personalities, because the novels I read featuring this disorder all seem so contrived and over the top。 Maybe it’s actually these books that have it right, with each different “alter” seeming more like a cliche of a personality, and I’m the one who doesn’t have a clue? Anyhow。。。Throughout most of the story, I was thinking I’d give it three stars。 It was entertaining enough, even thoug Reading this book made me think that I should probably read some nonfiction about DID, former known as multiple personalities, because the novels I read featuring this disorder all seem so contrived and over the top。 Maybe it’s actually these books that have it right, with each different “alter” seeming more like a cliche of a personality, and I’m the one who doesn’t have a clue? Anyhow。。。Throughout most of the story, I was thinking I’d give it three stars。 It was entertaining enough, even though there were things that bugged me, like: 1。 see above 2。 the way characters would give long, Scooby Doo explanations that were unnecessary, I assume as a way for the author to over explain things to us dense readers However, the last quarter of the book, specifically the courtroom part, got so preposterous that I had no choice but to drop a star。 I mean, it was baaad。 I don’t want to give any spoilers, so you’ll just have to take my word for it。 Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this ARC of #theperfectdaughter in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Michelle McFarland

REVIEW COMING SOON。。。

Ray Palen

Sometimes, a mother’s love just isn’t enough。 When your adopted daughter who is perfect in your eyes is accused of the worst crime possible you want to do everything you can to keep her from pain, but it is out of your control。 Once the authorities learn your daughter suffers, allegedly, from multiple personalities will that make things better or worse for her? All these things are experienced by Grace Francone in THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, the latest psychological thriller from an author who has bee Sometimes, a mother’s love just isn’t enough。 When your adopted daughter who is perfect in your eyes is accused of the worst crime possible you want to do everything you can to keep her from pain, but it is out of your control。 Once the authorities learn your daughter suffers, allegedly, from multiple personalities will that make things better or worse for her? All these things are experienced by Grace Francone in THE PERFECT DAUGHTER, the latest psychological thriller from an author who has been making a name for himself in the subgenre of domestic thrillers, D。J。 Palmer。Grace is awakened by the flashing lights coming from the police squad car that is parked in front of her house。 Her mind quickly goes through scenarios, none of them good。 Her two sons, Ryan and Jack, are away at College, and her sixteen-year-old daughter Penny is asleep in her room。 The reality is that Penny is not at home。 She took the family car and went out。 The police officer informs Grace that she needs to come down to the station where Penny is covered in blood having been arrested for murder。 A dazed Grace grabs a change of clothes and a towel and reaches out to the only attorney she knows, Greg Navarro, who meets her at the police station。What alarmed Grace the most was the name of the victim in this case --- Rachel Boyd --- who was Penny’s birth mother。 The same birth mother who abandoned her in a public park at the age of four when Grace and her family found her and eventually made her part of their family。 Grace runs a pizzeria restaurant named Big Frank’s after her late father-in-law。 It was also the place that her late husband, Arthur, passed away at years earlier。 Her attention is now fully on Penny who she knows is in big trouble, especially when she learns that she had been in touch with Rachel on-line and made threats against her。Penny is sent to a place called Edgewater that is not much better than prison and houses mostly those who are criminally insane。 Her boys return from college for support and Jack even decides to do a film on the whole ordeal。 They all realize that the doctors at Edgewater will soon learn about Penny’s alter egos --- Eve, the dominant protector alter; Chloe, the perfectionist who strives for straight A’s in school; and Ruby who speaks witha British accent that includes full terminology most likely picked up from her reading of the Harry Potter series。 The initial doctor who sees Penny does not believe in Dissociative Disease of any kind, but thankfully he retires shortly thereafter。 His replacement, Dr。 Mitch McHugh, is willing to look at the entire situation even though he is unsure about using Penny’s alters as an insanity defense once the trial begins。We get to learn a lot about Penny, even though her alter Eve had pretty much taken over since she was incarcerated。 It’s no secret that her birth name was Isabella, but she has preferred to be known as Penny。 It also becomes apparent that Ryan does not care for Penny。 In fact, that would be an understatement。 He blames Penny for not doing enough when his father died, and he also got hit with a rock one time by Penny。 There is also a story about a young Penny killing a cat with a rock --- even though it was mortally wounded, and she insisted she was just putting it out of its’ misery。 Everyone knows where killing small animals leads to and Ryan has a hard time believing Penny could be innocent of this crime she has been arrested for。Dr。 Mitch tries an experiment with ammonia whereby the smell shakes Penny and brings her back instead of them having to deal with the stalwart Eve。 Penny is very forthcoming, and her defense team of Grace, Greg Navarro, and Dr。 Mitch begin to see some opportunities where there may be proof that Penny did not commit this murder and that there may have been another person there。 Against Greg’s legal advice, Grace insists that Penny be put on the stand when things get to trial to see how that impacts the judge and jury。Grace continues to do her own investigating into Rachel’s background and is alarmed to learn that she was part of a pair of twins, the other not surviving at birth。 The eerie part was that the twin sister was named Chloe。 Once the trial begins, everything comes to light, and no one will be prepared for the direction things will turn once Penny is on the stand。 In a recent article, D。J。 Palmer discussed the ‘What If’ in every work of fiction and how that ‘What If’ needs to be answered by the end of the story, typically with the term Alfred Hitchcock made famous --- the MacGuffin。 Great thrillers, when they work well, hit this mark perfectly and sometimes can take the readers breath away。 That is what we have here with THE PERFECT DAUGHTER which has an ending no one will see coming and you cannot ask for any more out of a thriller!Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter 。。。more