There were red flags aplenty at the start of this book... it just made me want to keep going and find more.
I do love a good cult story, and this is one.
Mounting tension, words and deeds twisted... I was flying through the pages as the timeline counted down to the incident.
Abigail was a great character, and her struggle to be the good daughter, when she believed all that she was taught was evident.
This book hits sinister quite often.
A very enjoyable read

An action packed story, with a central protagonist that you'll come to love. A very close friend of mine grew up in, and was abused by, a religious community, very like the New American Baptist Church that's portrayed in this book. As an adult she's deeply traumatised by her experiences, and on reading the blurb I was cautious about whether this book would treat the community members as victims, or as merely thrilling entertainment.
I was incredibly pleased to find how well rounded, and empathetically, the women and children were treated by the author. It is very obvious that she has done her research into the psychological tactics that victims of these groups experience. It's abundantly clear that this is a world built by abusive men, in which women can only ever be submissive wives or doting mothers. The commune is at times both comforting, and smothering, as its members are emotional, physically, and sexually abused by a community built completely around control.
The biggest thing my friend struggles with as an adult, is feelings of shame relating to her childhood experiences. It's rare for books set in 'cults' to depict shame so eloquently, usually focusing instead on fear and physical abuse. This book very sensitively describes how shame is used to control and abuse, and it's clear the author understands it's role, and the psychological torment it can cause. Yes it's an engaging thriller, with a 'whodunnit' style thread, but more importantly for me it's a wonderful testament to the bravery and strength of 'cult' survivors.

The Good Daughter by Laure Van Rensburg.
Abigail has lived with the New America Baptist Church for as long as she can remember. But when she is the sole survivor from a fire that burns down her family home, suspicion points to her.
A good read. Likeable story and characters. Did find this slow. 3*.