Author: D.J. Palmer
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Released: April 20^th, 2021
Received: NetGalley
Warning: Stalking, assault, mental health

D.J. Palmer’s newest novel, The Perfect Daughter, is one of those books that will make you rethink assumptions.

It was the happiest day of her life, the day Grace adopted Penny. She would never have guessed that, years later, she’d be sitting beside her daughter as Penny was charged with murder. All signs point to Penny’s guilt.

Yet Grace is convinced that there’s more going on than meets the eyes. She knows that there is something different about Penny. Something that might explain the motive, and give reason to provide more care for Penny.

“You think my daughter murdered someone?”

The Perfect Daughter was every bit the book I expected and hoped it would be. It was a daring thriller, throwing in lots of surprises and twists along the way. Penny’s situation is shockingly complex, even as Grace struggles to piece it all together.

I know that not everyone loves the core concept of Penny’s story, so I’m going to be blunt about it here (in case the book’s description didn’t give it away). The Perfect Daughter deals heavily with DID – Dissociate Identity Disorder. Coupled with that are the traumas of Penny’s past, and the dark journey Grace finds herself on while uncovering the truth.

It’s a plot that people will either love or hate, depending on their mood. I enjoyed it, though I did find myself wishing at times that there was another explanation for what was going on. But that’s neither here nor there.

What really got me is Grace’s side of the story. She really felt like a mother jumping through every hoop available in order to save her daughter. It was beautiful and powerful to see, and it was impossible to do anything but root for her.

Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.