REVIEW: She Says She's my Daughter by Lauren North

She Says She's My Daughter by Lauren North

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 27th July 2023

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Published: 20th July 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘I don’t know who you are or why you’ve come here,’ I say, jabbing my finger at her, shaking as much as my voice. ‘But you are not my daughter. You are not Abigail.’

Fourteen years ago, our family holiday ended in tragedy when my darling four-year-old girl was snatched from us on the beach. Not a day goes by when I don’t picture her wide brown eyes, and the freckles dusting her cheeks. I only looked away for a second, and I have never forgiven myself.

Today, a seventeen-year-old girl has walked into a police station near our house. She says she’s my daughter. Abigail is back. I can’t believe it. After years of grieving, my family is finally complete again.

This should be the happiest moment of my life, but something doesn’t feel quite right. As hard as I try, I don’t know the teenager in front of me. Then holes appear in Abigail’s story, her accent starts to slip, and I catch her faking tears for the journalists outside – and I’m more certain than ever that she is not my daughter. That she is a stranger. And that we cannot trust her…

But if this mysterious girl isn’t Abigail, then who is she – and what does she want with my family?

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller with a twist that will blow you away. If you are a fan of K.L. Slater, Shari Lapena or B.A. Paris, you will be hooked!

MY THOUGHTS:

"I don't know who you are...but you are not my daughter!?"

I love missing person thrillers, especially those where a child has disappeared some years before. Added to that, I have enjoyed Lauren North's previous thrillers I've read - "The Perfect Betrayal" and "My Word Against His" -  so I was eager to dive into this one!

Fourteen years ago, a family holiday ended in tragedy when four year old Abigail disappeared whilst playing with her six year old brother Daniel on the beach. For fourteen years, the family have watched and waited for anything that might lead them to the truth about what happened to Abigail. Apart from one vague sighting of a man pushing a girl with red shoes (like those Abigail was wearing) too big for her pushchair, it seems she just disappeared into the ether.

Now a 17 year old girl walks into Bethnal Green Police Station claiming to be the missing girl. After a thorough questioning by police, it is deemed she must be telling the truth. The girl has not wavered in her account and she appears believable. The next step is to contact the Wick family in Essex.

Sarah returns home from a busy day at the studio to find a police car in her drive. Her first thought is "No, not again", fearing something has happened to one of her two remaining children Daniel and Rebecca. Instead the police begin to question her about Abigail; any distinguishing marks she may have had. Once they are satisfied they reveal the purpose of their visit. A girl has walked into a London police station claiming to be Abigail. She has nowhere to go so her husband Michael offers for her to stay with them. But Sarah is wary. Why now? After fourteen years, where has she been and why now? But she agrees on the condition they organise a DNA test to be undertaken the following day, the results taking seventy two hours.

The moment Abi arrives at their home in Essex, Rebecca is overwhelmed with excitement and embraces her new-found sister. Daniel smiles his encouragement. Michael is in awe. But Sarah...she refuses to believe that this girl is her daughter, despite what she says. 

And then the DNA results come back. The evidence is irrefutable. And then Sarah's how world implodes.

The whole way through this book I was of one of either two mindsets. For me, they were the only outcomes that could have been. They are the only two scenarios that made any sense. Not the story that Abi gave, which had an element of truth to it, but not all of it. So how did that incorporate into the actual truth? Of course, one of my theories proved to be correct but the ending gave us something more. And there were plenty of red herrings to keep us looking in other directions but I refused to be fooled. And yet, I was.

The story unfolds through the alternating narratives of Sarah and Abi, with the addition of an anonymous narrative, moving between then and now. It is fast paced with short snappy chapters that keep it moving steadily along.

There is so much I could say about this book but I'd then risk revealing some spoilers. However, I will say this is a good solid read. It was compelling and addictive and keeps you guessing right up until the end. The hallmarks of a gripping thriller. The ending left the reader with no doubt but also a promise of what is to come.

My biggest gripe with the book has to be with Sarah. I couldn't connect with her and she was so detached and unlikeable. I wanted to slap her so many times. Why couldn't she just enjoy the moment with the rest of her family? Why is she so skeptical and morose? I guess I could understand why in a way but she was just so morose and depressing. I'm surprised the family was even still together. Why is it in these stories the families are always depicted as broken from the moment that defined the end of their unity? Why couldn't they draw on the strength from each other and become closer? Instead Sarah and Michael are practically separated but still under the same roof.

Overall, this is an entertaining thriller that I read in one sitting that had plenty of twists and complexities to keep us enthralled.

I would like to thank #LaurenNorth, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #SheSaysShesMyDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

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