Sadness, Pain, Fear, Realisation and Change

I purchased this as it was on Special Offer from Audible. It was also a recommendation on Richard and Judy W.H Smith reading list.

This book is so beautifully written. The author's lovely use of language wraps itself around the events enriching the descriptive text. I felt the narrator was excellent due to her use of clear speech which aided the delivery of the story.
The story moves back and forth from the time of Naomi’s disappearance to one year later.
I find this way of story telling here refreshing as it was nice to see how life was becoming one year on compared to the difficult life the family were living when Naomi initially disappeared.
Jenny and her husband Ted are such busy people they do not see what is going on under their own roof. As the story develops it is increasingly evident what they missed and how their growing family needed them. They had devoted the bulk of their physical and emotional time to their patients.
It is interesting to see how Jenny's opinion and view of herself and her life compared to the views of her family as expressed by Ed and Ted one year on.
I think some of Jenny and Ted's actions portray them as cold distant people. I think they are in some respects especially in their professional lives. This may well be a coping mechanism to enable them to function and get on with the difficulties and horrors they faced on a daily basis. This attitude spilled into their personal lives and it took time to realise it following Naomi's disappearance. As the book develops it is increasingly evident that they do care and have deep love and consideration for their children.
I felt the ending was good and rounded things up nicely. Yes it is not a totally tidy ending but a sufficient one and gives the reader pause for thought.
I will look out for the next book by this author and would highly recommend it

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2 people found this helpful

Too much left unanswered

Too many back and forth in time. Takes a very long time to get into it. Reaction and behaviour of some characters left unexplained.
The story would have been so much better with insights from the other characters.
Seeing it all from one same lens makes it lengthy and one sided.
Some very good parts, especially on how we are, as humans, too quick to judge and come to our own conclusions based on our own perceptions. Just proof that a human justice system could never work.

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Enthralling

Would you listen to Daughter again? Why?

Yes - so much detail, I want to listen again knowing the ending to re-hear the story

Who was your favorite character and why?

Theo - the. Glue

What about Sophie Aldred’s performance did you like?

Absorbing

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, too tense. Needed to put it down for a break

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyable book - thought provoking & loved all the characters

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16 people found this helpful

Good first audible book

I enjoyed the characters and how the story flipped through time. Although I felt story was rushed at the end.

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2 people found this helpful

Modern life

Story of a dysfunctional family who think that if they are working on the day to day practicalities of life then everything else is OK. Father distant and absent, mother hard working, children uncommunicative. Everyone rubbing along until a shocking incident shakes everyone out of their complacency. Family unit disintegrates as each of them look outside the family to cope with a tragedy. Although the book is called Daughter it's actually about the mother, who does not come across as a very likeable character. I wanted to like her as a hardworking mum but couldn't as even when she realises the truth she can still only see it from her own perspective, wanting her own desired outcome.
Writing could do with heavier editing, use of identical similes on different occasions and identical character tics for different people jarred.
The reading was excellent and did not intrude on the story.
Overall I enjoyed it and looked forward to listening to it, but I'm not sure what the book was trying to say.

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2 people found this helpful

Good but overly descriptive

I liked this book but found all the wordy descriptions a bit annoying. It will keep you wanting to know what happened to the daughter.

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2 people found this helpful

I think this would be very difficult to listen to

If you have a 15yr old daughter. I'm not that blessed but the fear and anguish is palpable. A little unsure of the ending?

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4 people found this helpful

Exellent Book...Please read!!!

I had never heard of this author Jane Shemilt before but boy after reading this book im glad I did!
Don't want to give too much away but after reading this it will make you look at your family in a new light....
Sophie Aldred as narrator was perfect, she brought each character alive!
I'm looking forward to reading another one of Jane Shemilts books & hopefully after you take the chance too read this book, you will too!!!
.

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2 people found this helpful

Gripping

Was a good book, I wonder if there is going to be another! Really enjoyed it with a lot of twists :-)

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent!

Where does Daughter rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top

What did you like best about this story?

The twists of a normal family

What about Sophie Aldred’s performance did you like?

It was believable

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Must watch, not what you think!

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4 people found this helpful