Member Reviews

The Daughter begins with Lauren Wingfield driving to university to pick up her daughter, Evie, for the Christmas break. Except Evie isn’t there. Evie isn’t answering her phone, her messages are unread, her emails bounce back. Where is Evie?

The Daughter didn’t disappoint. I wanted to solve the mystery so badly but I’ve learned it’s just easier to read on because I won’t guess what’s coming. And I didn’t with this one, either, the twists just kept punching me in the face.
The suspense is brilliantly executed in this tale of a parent’s worst nightmare. T.M Logan’s books get better and better. Every time I pick up a new one, I think it’s the best yet. I love the flashbacks, the multiple POV, the twists. Such a great writer!

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited to read the next T.M. Logan thriller. Scary, terrifying and deeply horrifying, I was not disappointed.

Lauren arrives to collect her daughter Evie after her first term at a London University. When she arrives another student is in Evie's room and has no idea who Evie even is. So begins every parent's worst nightmare. Despite frantic searching there is no sign of Evie and Lauren soon discovers her daughter hasn't been there for a number of weeks.

Fairly early on I thought I had worked out the overall premise of the plot however I should have know better. T.M. Logan is a master at suspense, red herrings, twists, turns and blind alleys and there are no shortage of these in this storyline. Most definitely 'unputdownable' I found my speed of reading and heart rate increasing as the pace rapidly picked up. There are no wasted pages, no padding out, every paragraph is relevant and adds to the sinister realism of the situation. My favourite character is Lucas, Evie's 12 year old brother. I loved how his character developed as the awful events unfolded.

One of my criteria for a five star read is 'Will I remember, in some detail, the characters, plot, twists and feelings I had when reading simply by seeing the book's cover?' The answer in this case is a resounding yes!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for this advanced reader copy in return for my unbiased and honest review

Was this review helpful?

It is hard to let go when your child goes off to university and begins a life of independence. Then you can't wait to see them at the end of the first term, so when Lauren goes to collect Evie and finds she is no longer there panic sets it. The search for Evie is tense and the belief of her mother that Evie has not disappeared from choice is thwarted by police who are not concerned. This is fast moving with twists and turns galore. Would make an excellent film.
Many thanks to Netgalley/T.M. Logan/Bonnier Books UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Lauren can't wait to see her daughter again, to pick her up from university at the end of her first term. But when she arrives at her hall and knocks on the door to her room, a stranger opens it.
At first, Lauren thinks she must have the wrong room, or the wrong floor. Maybe even the wrong building.
But she soon realises the truth: Evie's not there. She hasn't been there for weeks. So where is she?

What a great read. I’ve read a few of T M Logan’s books but this one seems to be the best, so far. Great pacing of the story. Good character development and a few twists and turns along the way. Very readable.

Was this review helpful?

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all T M Logan's books. The fact that he only publishes one book a year I think is a key to his success as all his books are very cleverly constructed with deeply thought out plots to keep the reader gripped and guessing until the last page. If you have read and enjoyed any of T M Logan's books you will certainly love this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Was this review helpful?

When Lauren goes to pick her daughter Evie up from university for the Christmas holidays she finds another student in her room and no sign of Evie.
Lauren starts a hunt for her daughter and takes her son Lucas along with her. Is Evie in danger and has Lauren now placed herself and the rest of her family at risk.

This was a really tense and suspenseful thriller. You could really feel Lauren’s desperation as she searched for her daughter. There were numerous twists along the way which kept me guessing until the end.

Another great read from T.M Logan, I’m hoping this one will be made into another TV series as it would be great.

Was this review helpful?

This gripped me right from the beginning when Lauren arrives at her daughter’s university to pick her up for Christmas, only to find she’s vanished without a trace. You can feel her sheer panic, that sickening dread in the pit of her stomach, as she realises something is terribly wrong. The opening chapters were intense, making me race through the pages, desperate to uncover what had happened.
However, after that strong start, the pace noticeably slows. The investigation feels drawn out, with Lauren making the same discoveries multiple times in slightly different ways. It started to drag, and I found myself willing the story to pick up again. Some of the twists were intriguing, but others felt predictable or rehashed from similar thrillers.
By the time I reached the final act, the story had veered into the implausible. What started as a gripping mystery became increasingly over the top, losing the emotional weight that made the beginning so compelling. Instead of feeling the heart-pounding fear and urgency, I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the extreme turns the plot took. It just didn’t feel believable anymore, which dulled the impact.
That said, it wasn’t a bad read—it kept me entertained enough to finish—but I was left underwhelmed. The promise of the opening wasn’t fully realised, and the resolution didn’t pack the emotional punch I’d hoped for. A decent thriller, but not one that will stay with me for long.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely love this authors books
And this one didn’t disappoint
Had me hooked from the first page to the last
A great page turner
Thanks NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

This book took me back to all the things I loved about TM Logan’s older work. This had everything, and I can’t think of anything I disliked about it!

I had a great time reading this, the pace was just right. I never got bored and we were always moving on to the next thing in her quest to find her daughter. I really felt for the characters and really wanted this to end well for them. We even got to know the daughter a bit through flashbacks to her POV before she went missing.

This was a really intriguing mystery with similar vibes by the end to the movie Taken. There were some plot twists near the end that I absolutely did NOT see coming and I loved, and I really enjoyed the ending. This is not your usual family drama slow paced mystery, and I would recommend this to everyone.

Was this review helpful?

So Good!!!
Brilliant thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next.
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

Imagine going to collect your daughter from university for the holidays, only to find she’s not in her room, someone else is there who doesn’t know her.

This happens to Lauren when she goes to collect her daughter, Evie. She can’t find her in the room, she’s checked all the other rooms, you can feel her worry as she continues looking.

With help from staff, she eventually realises that no one has seen or spoken to Evie for weeks. Where is Evie? Has she been kidnapped, or gone off with friends? Lauren’s gut tells her that her daughter is in trouble, but the police won’t listen.

I found this to be a highly charged story that was also emotive. I couldn’t help but think back to when my daughter was at university and how I would have felt.

My heart went out to Lauren and I was cheering her on the whole time.

This is a fast paced thriller with many twists and turns that kept me guessing.

With secrets being revealed that have been hidden for many years, prepare yourself for a fast ride!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Another great book by TM Logan!

The story is fast paced and a lot is going on, a lot of suspense and action. This definitely helps keep the attention high at all times. There are a couple of great twists too, but unfortunately I was able to guess one of the main ones, which took away some of the enjoyment you have when discovering you have been fooled.
For me, it felt a bit short on the characters. I struggled to form a connection with them and as a consequence, although I wanted to find out how things were going to end, I really didn't care about them so I was not rooting for anything in particular.

However, this is a strong thriller that I will recommend!

Was this review helpful?

Oh my!! This is a real nail biting, heart thumping thriller that just gets more intense as the story progresses. This was a very fast paced story that I flew through quickly as I was so eager to see how things turned out. With a number of twists - and one really big one towards the end - I couldn't read quickly enough. I heartily recommend this to all who love a gripping and intense thriller. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Ohh absolutely loved this one! I’ve not read all of T M Logan’s books (yet!) but this is the best so far!!

This book won’t give you a moment to catch your breath as it twists and turns, right from the opening pages. As excited mum, Lauren, turns up to pick her daughter Evie up from uni for the Christmas, she’s faced with uncertainty. Where is Evie? She isn’t in the room Lauren thought was hers at university. Has she changed rooms? Is she staying somewhere else? What has happened?

We follow Lauren as she pieces everything together to try and find Evie, with lots of surprises on route.

You won’t want to put this one down and will keep telling yourself, just one more chapter, until there are no chapters left!!

I don’t want to say anymore, to give the plot away, just read it! You won’t regret it!!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!

I always enjoy a good missing person’s mystery, especially when it follows a civilian rather than a detective. It started out well but I gradually lost interest in it. At some times you need to suspend your belief about what is happening. As a result, my interest gradually waned as the story progressed.

That said, I appreciated the fast-paced nature of the book and the intensity of the ending. While it wasn’t a bad read, it simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve read all of T M Logan’s books, so was pleased to receive this ARC. This book does not disappoint, following the story of Lauren a mother collecting her daughter from university only to find her not there, and that’s where the story begins. Such a rollercoaster of a read.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a fan of T M Logan since I read his first book, and this book has made me love him even more. There was an incredible plot and twists and mysteries, it was impossible to put down, and had me making guesses until the end. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone

Was this review helpful?

I do like this author's books, they always have an intriguing twist in them. This one, for me, was spectacular and the twists just kept coming and coming.

Most mothers dread when their children go off to Uni, often it is the first time there is any distance or time apart. So when Lauren goes to pick up her daughter Evie from Uni she is shocked to find she is not there. Not only that but there doesn't seem to be any sign of her being there. Her phone has been turned off, no emails being delivered, no updates on social media and what Lauren thought she knew about Evie, is very different. She starts to discover things about her daughter.

Oh. My. Goodness! This has to be my new favourite book by this author. The tension and suspense ramp up at a fast rate of knots over this book. When it starts, Lauren begins to worry as you would expect, it doesn't take long before she realises that there is more going on than she originally thought. She asks questions and is given some answers but this is only the very start. She meets resistance as she can only get so many answers.

There are a few characters in this story, not a huge amount, but enough to keep the flow and the plots to gradually emerge. As Lauren gets to know a little more she finds that there might be something more serious going on. She has a younger son who won't be left at home or with a relative, and in some ways, this adds more to the story as you get his ideas and input.

The danger is ever-present in the background when you get further along in the book and the threats increase. This is when it goes from a crime mystery to a thriller. It becomes more intense and the twists increase with several bombshells being dropped.

This is a fabulously intense thriller and as I mentioned earlier, it is my new favourite by this author. If you are a fan of family drama and intrigue within the crime thriller genre then this is one that you really should have on your radar. Brilliantly twisted, dangerously twisted and it is one I would definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This book has given me a whole new set of worries about my student children.
Mum Lauren goes to pick up her daughter from university for Christmas to find that she’s missing. Not only that, she’s dropped out of university, her phone is out of action and emails are undeliverable.
There follows the usual page-turning ride from TM Logan as Lauren and her 12 year old son try to track down missing Evie, encountering all sorts of dreadful people along the way. Lauren has secrets too though, could these be related to Evie’s disappearance?
Gripping stuff. Read in one day so no housework completed! Logan is a must-read author for me for the plot twists and pace of books.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This brilliant book is a tense, twisty thriller which caused a major gasp from me at one point (not saying when to avoid a spoiler!). When Lauren goes to collect her daughter Evie from university at Christmas, she is dismayed to find she has left without a trace. Lauren, her son Lucas, and new found friend Ruth set off to find what has happened to Evie, regardless of the lack of information and with no regard for danger.
I always love Tim Logan’s books, but this one goes right to the top of the pile. Exciting, dangerous, topical and unpredictable - an excellent must-read.

Was this review helpful?