Why did I take so long to read this ? Absolute page turner … Sky the daughter Susie gave up 15 years ago suddenly makes contact out of the blue - Susie and husband Gabe who live an idyllic existence in their luxurious farmhouse find themselves with their life being turned upside down . Is Sky the sweet girl she initially seems or does she have a different agenda … read this book you won’t be disappointed

As ever with a JP Delaney novel, I pick it up with delight and don’t want to break off. My Darling Daughter was no exception. It is very uncomfortable, and not necessarily one of my favourites- but it exposes facts to do with adoption that I had no idea about.

Another gripping thriller from JP Delaney. Singer Susie is contacted on social media by her daughter who was adopted 15 years before. Her popstar husband Gabe is struggling with the loss of his daughter from cancer. A devastating story of trauma, loss, identity, guilt, shame, consent, lies, parenting, adolescence, adoption, the care system, exploitation, anger and retribution seen from both parents and daughter.

What would you do if you are contacted out of the blue by the child you gave up for adoption 15 years earlier?

What would you do if that child inserts themselves into your life and makes some very serious accusations?

Susie is the mother who gave up her child and is now married to Gabe, a musician. They are experiencing the heartache of infertility when Anna reaches out to them.
What follows is a masterclass in manipulation (from both some of the characters and the author) as emotions run high, secrets are forced to be revealed and loyalties tested. Ideas around adoption and parental rights are explored, and this adds an extra depth to the story that I was not expecting.

It's a dark story and I am still not sure whether I actually enjoyed it, but I can definitely appreciate an author at the top of their game.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed My Darling Daughter and can recommend it to readers who enjoy a fast paced family drama. The storyline centres around an emotional reconnection between an adopted adolescent and her birth mother. At times the author presents us with some very unpleasant episodes of deception and defiance but then we find that it is all in relation to the deeply held insecurities of the daughter and the guilt felt by the birth mother.

It’s a very sensitively written account of how things haven’t worked out for this particular family and how troubled young people can react in a self destructive way.

My thanks to the author, JP Delaney, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review My Darling Daughter.

Susie gave up her daughter for adoption 15 years ago and it’s a constant regret for her, so when she gets a message on social media from someone claiming to be her daughter she welcomes her into her life wholeheartedly but is she making a mistake and will she come to regret it. With lots of twists and turns this psychological thriller takes us on quite an emotional rollercoaster.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Darling Daughter is the definition of creepy. Its plot hooks you from the first page and keeps you guessing. Getting to know the characters is like peeling back an onion they have so many layers that add multiple dimensions to the story.

An absolutely gripping thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

4.5 Stars from me

This book took me to another world - two very different ones in fact. One of the life style of the rich and famous, and one of a child who has rattled through some of the worst aspects of the care system.

Susie and Gabe live a seemingly charmed life, looking perfect from the outside - but is it? When the daughter that Susie gave up for adoption suddenly appears in their lives, Susie and Gabe invite her in with open arms - but were they right to be so trusting or is there more going on than meets the eye?

As would be expected from a J P Delaney novel, My Darling Daughter is a fast psychological thriller that will keep you invested in the characters and guessing at the plot.

A deeply disturbing thriller from Delaney which keeps you questioning everything until the last page.

A step away from his usual dystopian take yet still full of tension and characters you love to hate!

Full review to come.

Totally gripping read, Suzie and Gabe are a super cool couple who suddenly get reunited with Susies 15 year old daughter she had adopted…..everything seems perfect….then suddenly it’s not! Couldn’t put it down!

A great psychological thriller. An interesting insight into problems that can occur in some instances of adoption. Susie and Gabe are great characters who have had it tough in their younger years. A brilliant read.

Absolutely brilliant read. Great fast paced psychological thriller that has you sat on the edge of your seat right to the very end. This is one of those books that you can’t put down but you don’t want to finish it either!

Thoroughly gripping read, did not want to put it down. So many twists and turns I was kept guessing. Susie and Gabe are married. Sky, Susie's daughter who was adopted reaches out to Susie. Secrets are exposed.
Thanks to netgally for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Edge of seat stuff. Thoroughly enjoyed. So many secrets gradually get uncovered. Sometimes it seemed just a bit fantastical but I willingly held my disbelief. Can always rely on J P Delaney to deliver.

I was so interested to read this latest book as I love a well written thriller. I was not disappointed. I loved the interlacing of characters and the creation of such a twisty turny story

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Set your devices to do not disturb before picking this book up! Another disturbing, tense, enveloping read from one of my autobuy authors. If you haven't already read a JP Delaney book, you need to be. This was an addictive and at times disconcerting read. Susie's daughter that she gave up for adoption 15 years ago has contacted her via social media... Susie welcomes her into her life....but Susie's daughter is far from the "darling daughter" she was hoping to get to know. A fast paced, hypnotic read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐#jpdelaney #mydarlingdaughter #netgalley #goodreads #thestorygraph #litsy #tea_sipping_bookworm #thriller #greatreads #bookqueen #bookstagram #amazonaustralia

Another great book by JP Delaney. He is an auto buy author for me so to be approved for an arc of this was a delight. Another 5 star read that had me second guessing, as per usual with his books! Can’t recommend enough!

Susie is contacted by Anna, the daughter she gave up 15 years ago, and when she asks for help in her adoptive home Susie dives head on in to help her. Her husband Gabe is more reticent. Although he wants to help and knows Susie has wished to hear from Anna for years, he is worried about the legality of becoming involved, as well as the upheaval in his and Susie’s comfortable lives. He doesn’t know how right he is…

JP Delaney was in on my radar as I loved Playing Nice, and this book was just as twisty and dark as it’s predecessor! Highly recommended.

This is a newly discovered author for me. I cant wait to read his backlist if this is anything to go by. It was refreshing to see a different plot from what I have read before. The story was believable . I could see it happening in todays society. It is told by 3 main characters . Susie, Gabe and Anna,. It has short fast chapters that will have you turning the pages. I felt a connection with the characters wanting to see how it was going to be played out. I felt it handled some very sensitive subjects very well.