BOOK REVIEW: ‘Dear Daughter’ by Elizabeth Little

Elizabeth Little’s debut thriller Dear Daughter has been likened to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl, quite the comparison considering the success of the latter. There are certainly similarities in that the story is seen through the eyes of a subjective and flawed narrator, it is indeed a thriller which twists and turns until the very end, and it’s difficult to warm to the protagonist. Jane Jenkins has spent the last ten years in prison after being found guilty of the murder of her mother, a decision which has been overturned at the beginning of the novel. With the help of her lawyer Noah Washington, she seemingly intends to start a new life in Chicago. However it soon becomes clear that she has other ideas, namely finding out whether she or someone else killed her mother. Jane, a former ‘It Girl’, heads to South Dakota where she believes she will find the answers to the questions she has. But she gets more than she bargained for when she meets the colourful locals including a rugged cop by the name of Leo. Little’s narrative is fast-paced and engaging, cleverly interspersed with media reports and interview transcripts, making this a book you won’t be able to put down. However it is arguable whether that delivers in the final quarter of the novel. Yes, as mentioned previously, the story twists and turns until the final few pages but it’s not an entirely convincing conclusion to what is an incredibly promising idea. Rating… 3 stars. Read if… you like complex characters and aren't afraid of some dark reading. Don’t read if… you're bad at remembering names and like a solid ending. Don’t forget to check out our Between The Covers podcast where we’ll be discussing If You Were Me. We’d love to hear your thoughts and book suggestions so please do give us a shout via Facebook, Twitter or email on [email protected]