The Fourth Daughter

A Novel

By: Lyn Liao Butler

Narrated by: Elaine Kao, Christina Ho, Austin Ku, Nancy Wu, Dana Wing Lau

In Taiwan, the bond between grandmother and granddaughter opens up a healing world for them both in an inspiring family saga about the comfort of food, untold histories, and indomitable mother love.

Chef Liv Kuo’s star is on the rise…until a traumatic incident leaves her emotionally unable to venture outside her Manhattan apartment. But an unexpected reason to break free comes from Ah-Ma, Liv’s beloved grandmother in Taiwan. Ah-Ma needs Liv’s help in finding her fourth daughter, taken from her when the girl was an infant. After all these years, it seems impossible. It’s also a mystery: Ah-Ma’s fourth daughter is an aunt Liv never even knew existed.

After landing in Taiwan, Liv hears the heartbreaking story of her grandmother’s plight in a country once under martial law, of choices made for her, and of the hopeful search for a lost girl that has endured for more than sixty years. Like the enriching food and traditions that bind Liv and Ah-Ma, their journey for answers brings them together.

And it’s a quest that turns up both a precious old cookbook and a tale of fatal betrayal that shakes everything Liv believed about her family—revelations that could also give her the courage to face the trauma she left behind.

©2025 by Lyn Liao Butler. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Original, deftly crafted, emotionally compelling…Skillfully defined characters, unexpected plot developments, and author Butler’s distinctive kind of storytelling style, raises this cogent novel of family relationships, tragedies, and reconciliations to an impressive level of literary excellence. Recommended as a prize pick…”—Midwest Book Review

“Lyn Liao Butler has woven a stunning tale of love, loss, and the unbreakable ties of family. The Fourth Daughter is a novel that doesn’t flinch from the complexities of truth or the pain of what has been lost—but it also celebrates the resilience of love and the hope that binds generations together. With vivid storytelling and deep emotional resonance, Butler takes us from modern-day New York to the Taiwan of the past, exploring identity, sacrifice, and the power of finding our way home. A rich, wise, and unforgettable novel.”—Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

“A beautiful multigenerational story that asks if we can ever truly regain the things we have loved and lost, The Fourth Daughter is a wonderfully transportive novel of family, identity, acceptance, and healing—and a sensory delight for foodies and would-be travelers. Lyn Liao Butler has found the perfect recipe for a satisfying read.”—Jessica Strawser, USA Today bestselling author of The Last Caretaker

Pretty good

Liked story and performance was good
Little bit of history intertwined in the story line

Heartwarming

I don’t like the prompt to review, I need time to process the story, I liked it and I think I will think of it from time to time, the pov from a mother is what will stay with me

The History

I love the way both the history and story telling was woven together. Really touching and eye opening.

Great rainy weekend listen

Interesting characters, storylines and Taiwanese history. Plus grandmothers, granddaughters and bringing the family together with food.

Best book of the year

This was the best book I’ve read all year - maybe even ever. The narrators were so good too. Great story but also a glimpse into what Taiwan and her people have been through in the last century. Highly recommend!