Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda Published by S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books on April 9, 2024
Genres: Psychological Fiction, Psychological Thrillers
Pages: 352
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Bookshop.org
When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.
My Thoughts
I just finished Daughter of Mine by Megan Miranda, and she is now on my favorite author list. I have found this reading very rich in characterization, the lakeside setting, and plotting a complex mystery in every scene until the end.
It focuses on Hazel, who returns to Mirror Lake after losing her dad. The trip back home to her childhood memories is not just a literal experience but also an emotional one because it opens up old secrets, just as hidden as the secret the lake’s receding drought gives away.
Hazel starts doubting the truth she believed in her teenage ages. She is just one of the numerous characters subjected to this interrogation, and the reader assumes she may be guilty of an unspecified act until much later in the text. This suspense aspect forces readers to keep guessing and re-guessing what transpired.
In weaving together various flashbacks and backstories, Miranda shows her expertise as a writer. She does that without interfering with the modern-day mysteries that make up the story’s substance. As a result, such a smooth combination of yesterday and today gives personality to the characters, making them come alive for the reader.
However, if you are looking for an intriguing read categorized under murder mysteries and crime stories, you will love this book.
Thank you to Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
About Megan Miranda
Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger; The Last House Guest, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick; The Girl from Widow Hills; Such a Quiet Place; and The Last to Vanish. She has also written several books for young adults. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.
