I don’t think you can truly appreciate this story unless you commit yourself to giving it a chance. Jay Kerk had me believing that the main character was being gaslighted, held against her well and forced to deal with a myriad of depravities.

It wasn’t until more than halfway through when I came to the realization that as readers we were being taken along for a ride of epic proportions. Belle (main character) has got to be the best unreliable narrator I have ever read and like someone going mad (or in this case suffering from a manic episode), as a reader I felt myself doubting every scene and being so confused about the events occurring in the book.

Trapped Daughter was truly a splendidly written book about the trials of someone suffering from mental illness and the heartbreak of their loved ones at not being able to do much more than stand back and hope everything will be okay.

I have a hard time not finishing a book, and I thought perhaps this book might have a redeeming ending. Early on, you get the point that this is about a mentally ill woman who is being held "captive" by her father and his girlfriend for her own protection. I thought that maybe there would be insight into an alter ego. About 60% of the way in I realized the book was not going to go in a different direction. The book is filled with repetition to the point that I found myself skimming over the last half of the book.

This book takes your mind for a ride. What you think you know about the book from the back cover is shown to you that it is not. This book is sad to read but what is happening to Belle. The book reminds me a of a trainwreck, you want to look away but you just can't. Same with this book you want to put it down but you need to know how it will end. You really get into the mind of Belle and it can be frightening to be there. The imagination and self-doubt on puts on themselves can be incredible.


*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*

The Trapped Daughter was definitely a psychological thriller. There's a lot of twists and turns and the the main character second guesses herself as much as the reader does which made for an interesting story.

However this book kind of fell apart for me because I was able to predict the outcome from pretty early on in the story and I never questioned that. At points it seemed like the character and story line was reaching a little too much to fit the planned outcome.

I would normally be able to get over that for the sake of an interesting plot, which this certainly is. However the main character is entirely unlikable and not because she's clearly mentally ill. She comes off as selfish and downright rude and manipulative in such a way that doesn't drive the story or add to the plot. I can read a story with an unlikeable character if there's a purpose and it drives the story.

I can see why some people found this an interesting book - it just wasn't for me.

Thank you netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book in return for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to Author, Dr. Jay Kerk & Netgalley for sharing an ARC with me in return of my review.
It is clear that the author's medical background helped in creating this psychological thriller.
I was drawn in by the premise of The Trapped Daughter, although it was not at all what I expected, it was definitely a good read. I knew from the start what was going on but was intrigued to learn more as I turned each page. It felt repetitive, anxious, and unbelievable at times … but that’s exactly the point!!
The ending felt a bit rushed and clichéd, but also hopeful for those suffering from mental illness. I did enjoy entering the confused tortured mind of the trapped daughter and really felt her and her family’s frustrations, sadness & struggles.

The Trapped Daughter is a new book by Jay Kerk.

"Belle is being held prisoner by her father in his house. She has no phone and no connection to any of her friends. She is made to take medication to keep her sedated. She wants to leave but cannot. She's still reeling from the betrayal of her close friend, Gabe, who took credit for all of her ideas to become rich and famous. Can she ever escape?"

We learn quickly that Belle has had some kind of breakdown. Her reality has gaps and there are hints of what has happened. Like many thrillers this one goes back and forth from the present to the past so that we get the story.. There is some good writing and story potential here but it's lacking a bit. The story drags the ending just suddenly happens.

If you like a character that has a slippery grip on reality you may like this one.

is book was a bit different to my normal reads but I did enjoy it.
It gives you an insight into what someone with a psychological disorder may go through whilst building the story around her.
I really felt for Belle at times and also those around her, who were also trying to cope.
I enjoyed The Trapped Daughter, but as others have said, I wasn’t too keen on the ending.
Thanks to Jay Kerk Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Belle is in a beautiful mansion, but she is trapped by her father. She is allowed out of her room for meals and to take her daily medications but otherwise she just has her memories as company.
She blames,Gabe, her one-time boyfriend and partner in their music business. After all, he stole her music and took all the glory and now she is left with nothing while he is a huge star.
The reader can sympathize with Belle, she really seems to have been given a raw deal, but then clues start to surface that all is not what it at first seems.
I thank the publishers and author for my ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Mental illness, father who keeps his daughter trapped, what’s not to like right? Well turns out this book fell flat for me. I really, really loved it until the end. I wouldn’t really call this a mystery or thriller, it’s more of a get into your mind, make you really think and try to figure out the puzzle that is belle.

This was repetitive, which made the book super long. The ending was meh. Didn't explain much of anything and I would expect more of an explanation after the whirlwind we went through to get there.

𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕀 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕕
❶ Being in the mind of a character with perceived psychological issues was interesting.
➋ I liked the premise of the book: daughter trapped in captivity by her father who doesn’t believe her.
➌ It did keep me guessing until the end
.
𝕋𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔹𝕦𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕕 𝕄𝕖 𝕆𝕦𝕥
❶ Very unnecessarily long. The first half of the book could have been boiled down to 10%
➋ A lot of repetitive content around her dad not believing her
➌ The ending was meh
.
In summary: I think a lot of people will like this one because of the psychological aspect. I definitely feel like I’m in the minority here not really digging it.

I am a great fan of this authors work. What he brings to his books are twisted darkness, complex characters and in my opinion must read status. Belle has been imprisoned in her father's mansion, or has she? This book had me constantly holding my breath and changing my mind. A real page turner, a rollercoaster of a ride into mental illness. Beware nothing is what it seems in this book. Who is telling the truth?? Another masterclass in storytelling.
Thanks to Jay Keri Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I wanted to like this book but ultimately this was less physiological thriller and more mental illness. Jay Kerk is a talented writer and I did truly feel trapped in Belle's head.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Jay Kerk has a flair for writing stories that portray the natural tendencies of people concerning sensitive issues. They are honest, brutal and raw, that’s what makes them such an interesting read.

Alternating between past and present, Belle narrates her story. With every chapter, she showcases her relationship with Gabe. And through this narration, the reader can hear her desperation, her anguish and her most of all her pain.

She lost her friends to Gabe; she lost Gabe to fame and money. Her mother is not alive, and her father is not listening to her. For her four walls are closing down on her and she has no way to escape it.

Similar to Kerk’s earlier books, this book, too, highlights mental health issues and taking care of the loved ones.

The book is an emotional ride wrapped in suspense. With every chapter, you move towards unravelling a secret, yet as you go ahead, you will figure out the end. The purpose of the book is not to reach the ending (to solve a mystery) but to take you on a journey.

Slow and subtly, Kerk has shown love and patience towards our loved ones can move mountains.

The book’s ending brings hope and gives the food for thought for the readers.

My rating for the book is 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Jay Kerk, for the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

The Trapped Daughter had me anxious and intrigued all throughout the story. I had so many theories on how it was going to end - and none of my guesses were correct!
In my opinion, I felt the story gave the reader an opportunity to really feel what someone with a psychological disorder goes through as far as manic/depressive or borderline personality disorder. I was, however, left wondering at the end what the true diagnosis was.
You could empathize with the highs and lows and confusion and paranoia of the main character, Belle, as well as the caretakers, Robert, her father, and Marie, her stepmother. As hard as it is to deal with oneself in Belle's situation, it was equally hard and tough to watch the people who love someone try to help and cope with mental illness.
Overall, though, I was disappointed that I couldn't seem to find a good storyline connection with a fitting ending. From wondering about "Gabe" and the various ways he was involved in Belle's life to his reality, I felt a Hitchcock ending when I was finished.
I enjoyed The Trapped Daughter, but I wish it would have had a more clear ending and more character development about Belle's mother, as I perceived her character was the person whom Belle had inherited her condition.




I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Trapped Daughter by Jay Kerk

This book touches on a subject closer to more people than not. Mental illness. A first person narrative follows the complex character Belle, who is absolutely a unreliable character.

"Have you ever been trapped somewhere? I have."

The story is filled with obsession, darkness, insecurities and twisted thinking.

Belle believes she's being held captive by her father, who is insisting that she takes her medications and she will get better. But Belle believes that she's being drugged to keep her complacent with being kept in the house.

The story dives deep into the way Belle's mind works and how her mental illness affects the way she thinks.

Thank you the Author Jay Kerk and #netgalley and #booksirens for the free copy of this book.

⭐⭐⭐.5

What a great read! Thoroughly enjoyable, Definitely hard to put down.

Belle is in prison. Actually, her father, Richard, has her in his mansion and allows Belle onto the grounds.. However, she cannot leave.

Belle is not a child. She attended university and worked as a consultant to a band that utilized alternative ideas which rocketed them to stardom. Belle has been in love with Gabe, the band's lead and featured singer. And Belle still is in love with Gabe. However, he rejected her. He told her that it was a business relationship and that they were friends... .Now, Belle is out for revenge.

But what REALLY happened? Belle is very unstable and hides the fact she is not taking her meds. The questions to this unclear situation are what keeps the reader going!!

A full-on fast read. HIGHLY recommend!

Many Thanks to Jay Kerk Books and NetGalley for the chance to review and enjoy this book!

Belle is being held captive by her father who claims that it is for her own good, all the while insisting that Gabe, the love of Belle's life, doesn't exist.
But Belle is determined to escape and prove her father wrong.

The story follows Belle in the present and is interspersed with her reminiscing about her past with Gabe.
The opening chapter got me intrigued, and I was curious to find out who was right, Belle or her father?
However, it became clear quite early on what was going on. I kept hoping for the big twist, but unfortunately, it didn't come.
I found the story slow and uneventful and the ending felt anti-climatic.
I think the premise was really good, but its potential wasn't fully exploited.
Still, 2 stars constitutes an average read and even though the book wasn't entirely to my liking, I'm sure it will find its fans.

I love psychological thriller and I've been reading a lot lately. I think what makes a good and captivating psychological thriller is the writing which so important in building the suspense and keep the readers engaged throughout the story.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I could understand the repetition usage of words to frame the mindset of the protagonist and honestly it is what psychological thriller is about. However, it did not work in this book. I kept waiting for something to happen but did not. I did not finish this book as it did not hold my interest.

***Thank you Jay Kerk Books and NetGalley for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review.***

I simply could not put this book down! From the moment I picked it up, I found myself needing to know if the narrator was reliable or not. I had my suspicions and just needed to be proved right (it’s not a competition, girl!)

The Trapped Daughter by Jay Kerk was an exciting read overall. Repetition was used quite cleverly to frame Belle’s state of mind as she spiraled during her confinement. This might just be one of the few times I didn’t mind repetitive phrases. I guess they just have to have a purpose.

Diversity meter:
Mental illness

The trapped daughter is a surprise that you think would not happen to anyone.Beware! Things happen when lest expected!!?