Title: Only Daughter
Author: Anna Snoekstra
First published September 20, 2016
288 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780778319443 (ISBN10: 077831944X)
Rating: 3.68
Overview
Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In the summer of 2003, sixteen-year-old Rebecca Winter vanished without a trace.
Now, more than a decade later, a young woman shows up claiming to be Bec. Desperate to escape arrest, she assumes Bec’s identity and begins living her life.
But as she discovers more about Bec’s past, she realizes that her life is in grave danger. With the help of a detective, she must uncover the truth about what happened to Bec before it’s too late.
Full of twists and turns, Only Daughter is a chilling tale of deception and revenge that will leave you guessing until the very end.
About the Author
Anna Snoekstra, born in Canberra, Australia in 1988, pursued her passion for writing and film at Melbourne University where she studied Creative Writing and Cinema. She went on to study Screenwriting at RMIT University.
Anna’s creativity has been showcased globally through her short films and music videos. She has also penned several award-winning short fiction stories.
Her debut novel, ONLY DAUGHTER, was released in September 2016 by Mira, and her second novel, LITTLE SECRETS, is set to be published in November 2017 by the same publisher.
Editoral Review
Only Daughter by Anna Snoekstra is a suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Published on September 20, 2016, the book is a perfect fit for fans of psychological and mystery genres.
Snoekstra’s style and themes are intriguing as she delves into the mind of a young woman, Rebecca Winter, who disappeared when she was just a teenager. The author sets Rebecca’s story up as a parallel to the life of another girl, a con artist, who looks remarkably like her.
The story is set in the present-day world, but the fictions of the characters are rooted in the 1990s, a time when Rebecca vanished. The plot of the book is riveting and unpredictable, with the author keeping readers guessing about the identity of the mysterious imposter.
The main character, Rebecca, is portrayed as troubled and vulnerable, as readers learn about her tragic past. Snoekstra does an excellent job of developing her characters, making them feel relatable and realistic.
The setting of the book, Melbourne, Australia, adds a unique flavor to the story, which might be unfamiliar to North American readers. The book is significant in its exploration of themes around identity, trauma, and the influence of past experiences on our present selves.
It also highlights how societal issues such as teenage runaways and parental neglect can affect individuals and communities, which is timely and relevant. However, one of the weaknesses of the book is its pacing, which can be slow at times.
Additionally, some readers might find the identity mystery too predictable or familiar, as similar themes have been used in other works before. Nevertheless, overall, the quality of writing in Only Daughter is strong, with Snoekstra’s prose being both evocative and engaging.
The story’s structure is well thought out, and the book has a satisfying conclusion that ties up all of the loose ends, making sense of the clues the author drops throughout the narrative. For readers interested in similar works, Only Daughter can be compared to Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides.
With its suspenseful plot and nuanced characters, it is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. In conclusion, Only Daughter is an excellent read that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.
With its strong writing and a compelling story, it is sure to delight fans of the genre. The book receives a score of four out of five stars, and it is highly recommended for anyone looking for an enthralling psychological thriller.
