Neither horribly bad or amazingly good. Just an easy read which is what I was looking for (been reading a lot of history lately so needed something that didn't require me to engage my brain). Felt like another episode of CSI/Law & Order/Criminal Minds/whatever the latest crime drama is (I have no idea since I stopped watching TV five years ago).

Just once, when you have a whole group of people who want someone dead they should meet up and conspire so that all contribute to the murder. That would be an interesting read. You know, something like Ocean's Eleven but with murder instead of robbing a casino.

The characters were mediocre (Melanie was just so irritatingly annoying; I've known too many like her in my life) and the writing was okay. It was like watching a train wreck in action because the plot was so predictable. ( )

I would really rate this book 2.5 stars. This was a silly novel, start to finish. ( )

Robin hasn’t heard from her sister, Melanie, in years so when she received a phone message from her, she knew it couldn’t be good. Robin gets panic attacks fairly often and the news that her estranged best friend, Tara, had been shot and killed and that Tara’s 12-year-old daughter, Cassidy, and Robin’s father had also been shot and were in the hospital in critical condition sends Robin into a tail spin. Though Robin has no love for her father, she returns home. There she tries to piece together what actually had happened. Was this a home invasion or was this personal? Was her brother Alec involved somehow? After all, Alec and Tara had been engaged at one time and Alec and Robin’s father had stolen her affections away from his son and married Tara himself. Quite a good motive, wouldn’t you say? But that had happened years ago so why would Alec suddenly seek revenge?

Joy Fielding has been writing psychological suspense since the early ‘70s. I was quite a big fan of hers back then but somehow I got away from her work. When I saw this book being offered to book reviewers, I thought it was about time I tried one of her books again. And I’m glad I did!

Ms. Fielding knows how to weave together a good story and how to keep those pages turning for her readers. The main character, Robin, is down to earth and likeable. I also really liked Melanie, as obnoxious as she was. Her witty barbs were entertaining, though not to those they were directed to. And the ending was quite a surprise to me though I should have seen it coming. I remember thinking at several points, hmm, that’s odd, but I never took the thought any further. Even after I learned the big reveal, I didn’t quite believe it. Very surprising ending indeed! I think this may be more of a mystery rather than suspense book as I didn’t personally find it suspenseful. And it's not the kind of book that I'll long remember. But I definitely had to keep reading to find out what had really happened and found it enjoyable. I think I’m going to have to go back and read those books of this author’s that I’ve missed.

Recommended. ( )

I've read all of Joy Fielding's books, and this was one of the worst. It's filled with supremely irritating characters and dialogue that is simplistic at best (how many times did Robin say "Oh, God"?). Speaking of Robin, she must be the worst therapist ever, suffering from panic attacks and filled with self-doubt. I was able to determine who the killer was well before the end, and there are much better books dealing with virtually the same plot line. It's amazing to me how many stellar reviews this book has gotten, as I found it to be far below the quality of Fielding's earlier books. Very disappointing. ( )

The title gave this one away for me. This is a story about a botched murder attempt, the victims, and their families. Robin, a therapist living in Los Angeles, with her fiance, Blake, is having panic attacks. They only get worse when Robin's sister, Melanie, calls to tell her that their father has been shot and is clinging to life. It turns out that his new wife, Tara, and her 12 year-old daughter, Cassidy, have also been shot.
The novel tries to unravel the circumstances behind the shootings, and when the stories are pulled apart, family dynamics come into play.

#TheBadDaughter #JoyFielding ( )