The Bad Daughter

A Novel

By: Joy Fielding

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller of family intrigue and dark secrets, from the author of Someone Is Watching and See Jane Run.

There was no shortage of words she could use to describe her father, and almost none of them complimentary. Serves you damn right, she thought. A voicemail from her estranged sister, Melanie, sends Robin’s heart racing and her mind spiraling in a full-blown panic attack. Melanie’s message is dire: Their father, his second wife, and his 12-year-old stepdaughter have been shot - likely in a home invasion - and lie in the hospital in critical condition.

It’s been more than five years since Robin turned her back on her father when he married her best friend. Five years since she said good-bye to her hometown of Red Bluff, California, and became a therapist. More than two years since Robin and Melanie have spoken. Yet even with all that distance and time and acrimony, the past is always with Robin.

Now, she must return to the family she left behind. As she attempts to mend fences while her father clings to life, Robin begins to wonder if there is more to the tragedy than a botched burglary attempt. It seems that everyone - Robin’s mercurial sister, her less-than-communicative nephew, her absent brother, and even Tara, her father’s wife - has something to hide. And someone may have put them all in grave danger.

New York Times best-selling author Joy Fielding has written a gripping edge-of-your-seat thriller of family intrigue and dark secrets. The Bad Daughter explores the deadly differences between the lies we want to believe and the truths we wish not to know.

Praise for The Bad Daughter:

“So expert is [Joy] Fielding at seeding clues that readers will never see the final plot twist coming. The acutely portrayed family dynamics lend pathos and a certain schadenfreudian frisson to the proceedings. An author who knows her way around suburban angst.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Fielding, a sure hand at psychological suspense, amps up tension nicely here as the narrative reaches a high-energy conclusion.” (Booklist)

“[Keeps] the reader turning the pages until the bombshell final shocker.” (Publishers Weekly)

©2018 Joy Fielding (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"So expert is [Joy] Fielding at seeding clues that readers will never see the final plot twist coming. The acutely portrayed family dynamics lend pathos and a certain schadenfreudian frisson to the proceedings. An author who knows her way around suburban angst." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Fielding, a sure hand at psychological suspense, amps up tension nicely here as the narrative reaches a high-energy conclusion." (Booklist)

"[Keeps] the reader turning the pages until the bombshell final shocker." (Publishers Weekly)

A really good book for all to read thank you

Good book. always kept me in suspense. Will recommended for all! great job!! Amazing Read

Who IS The Bad Daughter?

This book had twists and turns throughout , so the reader never knows what might come next.
There are actually three daughters in the story, all clearly a little bit bad but the real thing that keeps you from wanting to listen past bedtime and in the bathroom is which one turns out to be truly bad.
Well written and equally well narrated, The Bad Daughter is one of the best audio books I’ve heard in a long time!

Great book!

This is the best book I’ve read in quite a while and love the narration.

Wonderful story, couldn't put it down!!

Who was the real Bad Daughter, anyway? I guarantee, you'll be surprised when the truth is revealed!

slow going

struggled a bit. however the narrator was very good. the childs was well performed.

Enjoyable Beach Read

It's not hard to figure out the culprit. But it was a fun listen. It would have been nice to have both a male and female narrator.

No Mystery

The story had so much promise, but A quarter of the way into The book it becomes very clear Who did what and the mystery is over. Some of the characters were well written and somewhere just horrible clichés. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a good book.

Loved the ending

I enjoy suspense books and this book definitely kept me interested until the end. I like listening to Brittany Pressley. She does a great job narrating. I look forward to the next book narrated by her.

Just OK.

An enjoyable listen, but very predictable. I was hoping for a few more twists and turns.

Soap Opera Mystery

Definitely not a classic. If you appreciate a well written book this is likely not for you.