A hostile relationship with her sister and a complicated past with her fathers second wife have kept Robin estranged from her family for many years. When her fathers new family is attacked in their house, with her father, his wife and young daughter in critical condition in hospital, she returns to await their fate and hopefully mend some fences. Is this a robbery that's went awry or something a little more sinister?

This is a well written and fast paced book. The plot line was quite intresting, but I guessed where this one was going early on. The characters, some are likeable, others not so likeable, all seemed realistic to me. A dysfunctional family mystery that won't keep you guessing but don't let that put you off reading this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author Joy Fielding for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Robin is a therapist in LA who has panic attacks. What in her past or present is causing this alarming condition is the first question that assails me. Why don't the siblings get on together? Why is the family estranged? A home invasion occurs involving Robin's estranged, dysfunctional family and she breaks her silence and flies out to them. She hasn't seen them for 6 years. I found Robin a rather insecure, flaky character and didn't find it credible that it all dated back to a difficult childhood as I first suspected. It was just her nature and as personal issues were solved her personality seemed to strengthen. Indeed, her father was reputed to be an arrogant, unfaithful, selfish, bombastic, self-obsessed character with considerable wealth. Her sister, Melanie whom Robin actively disliked created the best entertainment. Her dry and sarcastic comments were a hoot but never seemed to amuse the intense, defensive Robin. There was some silly, juvenile rapport between Eric and Robin which was touching. You could tell they were soul-mates. Melanie is the stronger sister emotionally. She has a severely Autistic teenager with whom she's struggled to raise alone for many years. Cassidy - the 12 year old daughter of one of the victims isn't as sweet and innocent as she seems. I was surprised Robin with her vocational training was taken in by her. There were several suspects for the case but I systematically eliminated them, because the truth was withheld by one of them and justice almost failed. Tense trying to fid the right perpetrators. It was an interesting story with lots of facets including analysis of relationships. I enjoyed it but there was something missing. I expected more dramatic past situations to have caused so much trauma in a family. It was also hard to feel empathy for Robin. She was such a wet lettuce at times. Thank you to Netgalley & Zaffre Publishing.

I hate to give a bad review, but I just couldn't get into this book, I didn't connect with the characters and didn't enjoy it as a consequence.i don't like giving a bad review and hope others will enjoy it much more than I did.

This is my second Joy Fielding book and the second that I have really enjoyed... why have I not read her books sooner!

This is a story of one dysfunctional family! Robin Davis has not spoken to her family in 6 years... ever since her father married her best friend... yep.. told you it was dysfunctional!! Then she receives a call from her sister to say that her father, her best friend Tara and her daughter Cassidy have been shot in what appears to be a home invasion and are all clinging to life.

This is a story or family, of lies and secrets. I enjoyed the story, it was a quick and easy read. Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read in exchange for my honest opinions

I absolutely loved this. Very unnerving (in a good way!) I’ll definitely be recommending. Thank you.

I had not read any of Joy Fielding's books before, so was no so familiar with any style' that I was able to be certain of the perpetrators in this family murder saga. There were lots of possibilities throughout but - for me - not too early. I shall be reading more from this writer.

Having read one of the authors other books and loving it, I couldn't wait to read more. The Bad Daughter just sounded sooo good so was very much looking forward to reading it.

Admittedly to start with, I did struggle to get in to the book fully. Robin has a few issues and that's before she finds out about her family. Her head is all over the place and it took a while to settle in but when I got settled, I couldn't turn those pages quick enough!

Robin's home town is one of those small ones where everyone knows everyone as well as their business. There was no wonder she couldn't get away quick enough, especially when we get to meet her sister Melanie who is extremely unwelcoming and doesn't seem to have a soft bone in her body. Admittedly, having your best friend marry your father is probably another reason that will have you running for the hills. 

Even though Robin hasn't spoke to her family since she found out about Tara and her father, obviously as soon as she hears the shocking news that both them and Tara's child have been seriously hurt, she knows she has to go straight back.

Like Robin I couldn't believe that anyone would hurt a child. I wanted to know as much as her and the police as to who could be behind it. I was constantly second guessing each character that came into the story as to whether it was them or not but when the truth does come out, well there was no way I would have ever guessed it right. No way in this world.

The Bad Daughter, once settled into it, had me tearing through the pages to get some answers. It certainly doesn't disappoint when those answers are revealed. Definitely one to mess with your head!

I love Joy Fielding's novels but have to admit to being not so fond of this one. Which isn't to say I didn't enjoy aspects of it I did, the story is pretty compelling for the most part.

I liked the family dynamics portrayed here, especially the relationship between Robin and Melanie the two sisters, plus the small town vibe was beautifully atmospheric.

The mystery element though let it down I felt. The "bad guy" was so blatantly obvious from so early on that it just irritated me that the other characters were so blind to it ESPECIALLY Robin who is a therapist, although the reasons why she didn't pick up on it are addressed in the finale, they were just stupid reasons so none of it rang true at all.

Ultimately I think this is one of those books which would have actually worked better without the crime elements - an exploration of how a fractured family might put itself back together after a tragedy, which makes up some elements of this - those were done in excellent style. The other stuff just didn't work for me at all. I think perhaps the reader was supposed to be chilled by the ultimate resolution but because of the way it was set up for this reader it just didn't work at all. The same theme has been explored in other novels and much better.

Not awful at all by any means but just not for me this time. Look forward to the next novel.

Oh my god you have to read this book it's brilliant. I love reading books by Joy Fielding and this book did not let me down.
This book if full of tension right from the start and it just keeps getting better and better. The ending is so amazing with a twist that you could not see coming.
A family brought together by shootings in their family, can the sisters leave their differences in the past and come to together at this sad time?
I loved the relationship between the sisters Robin and Melanie. There is a lot of history between the sisters, and when their father, stepmom and step sister are shot the sisters who have not spoken for many years. have to put their differences aside to find out who shot their family.
Melanie is jealous of Robin because Robin is a therapist and got her degree at uni. She has her own practise, where as Melanie has a son. She had him when she was young. He is autistic and she has stayed in Red Bluff to bring him up.
Robin goes back home to see her dad and wants to use this time to rebuild her relationship with her sister.
I do not want to give to much of the story away but makes you think how well do we know our families and what are they capable of. Do you really know who you can trust in your family?
A family full of secrets and the book is just brilliant you never know what is coming next and the killer is a brilliant twist you will not see coming.
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars it's brilliant

I was hooked from the start! Robin returns home, after five years with no contact, as her family have been brutally attacked. Her father lies in a coma and she moves back in with her sister, Melanie, and autistic nephew, Landon.
You didn’t know where this book was going everyone seemed to have a motive for the attacks. The main character Melanie struggles to find her place in the chaos and doesn’t know who to trust.
This is my second Joy Fielding book and certainly won’t be the last, highly recommend it.
#TheBadDaughter #NetGalley

Excellent story line and great main characters. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zaffre for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Estranged therapist Robin is called back to Red Bluff by her sister as her father, his wife and her daughter have all been shot in what looks like a home invasion gone wrong. Robin who has not been back to Red Bluff for over 6 years, heads back to the life she left behind.
The pace is nice, the characters extremely believable. I loved the relationship between Melanie and Robin, and the conversations they have, which take the reader on a journey into the past, and explain why there are such hostilities.
Sadly, because so much fiction is now based on the "Shocking twist", I have now started looking for twists, even when they may not be there. The twist is good, and also believable, and I patted myself on the back for discovering it before it actually came to light.
All in all, it was a well written, interesting, detailed book, that I found difficult to put down, and am now a little sad it has finished. Both signs of an excellent read

I have become a big Joy Fielding fan over the last year or so (I know I’m a bit late to the party but I got there in the end!) And its only a few weeks ago that I finished The fabulous She’s Not There so I was thrilled to get an early netgalley copy of her next book The Bad Daughter. I have to admit to not loving it as much as She’s Not There but that’s probably because I’ve now read so many of this author’s books now that I was able to spot who was responsible, and why, a lot quicker than I would normally. That doesn’t mean to say I didn’t enjoy the twists and turns of the ensuring plot just that I was probably able to just kick back and enjoy it for what it was-a fast pace murder mystery full of possible suspects with dubious alibis and more red herrings than the fish counter at Tesco!

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffe and Joy Fielding for the ARC of ‘The Bad Daughter’ in return for my honest and unbiased review.

The novel is based around Robin who is returning to her home town after an absence of five years. Her father and his new wife (previously her best friend and engaged to Robin’s brother, Alec) have been shot and her best friend’s daughter has also been shot. They are all close to death.

Her relationship with her sister Melanie is cleverly portrayed. The whole issues relating to paranoia and family conflict are additive reading. I found this well written and compulsive reading.

No five star rating as there seemed gaps in the plot, although not huge and maybe just my interpretation.

Recommended.