The Perfect Daughter: A Novel

Description

Grace never dreamt she'd visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a decaying state psychiatric hospital, charged with the murder of a stranger. There was not much question of her daughter's guilt. Police had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and the victim's blood on her body and clothes. But they didn't have a motive. Grace blames herself, because that's what mothers do-they look at their choices and wonder, what if? But hindsight offers little more than the chance for regret. None of this was conceivable the day Penny came into her life. Then, it seemed like a miracle. Penny was found abandoned, with a mysterious past, and it felt like fate brought Penny to her, and her husband Arthur. But as she grew, Penny's actions grew more disturbing, and different "personalities" emerged. Arthur and Grace took Penny to different psychiatrists, many of whom believed she was putting on a show to help manage her trauma. But Grace didn't buy it. The personas were too real, too consistent. It had to be a severe multiple personality disorder. One determined psychiatrist, Dr. Mitch McHugh, helped discover someone new inside Penny-a young girl named Abigail. Is this the nameless girl who was abandoned in the park years ago? Mitch thinks Abigail is the key to Penny's past and to the murder. But as Grace and Mitch dig deeper, they uncover dark and shocking secrets that put all their lives in grave danger.

D.J. PALMER is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels, including Delirious and Desperate. After receiving his master's degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer before turning his attention to writing. He lives with his wife and two children in New Hampshire where he is currently at work on his next novel.

One of "10 Spring and Summer Thriller and Mystery Must-Reads--Ms. Career Girl Will keep readers in its grip. --Publishers Weekly What starts as a slow-burning thriller ends in a crescendo of intensity as D.J. Palmer's newest thriller, The Perfect Daughter, explores the often-terrifying intersection of mental health disorders and the criminal justice system...Full of twists and turns, readers will stay busy trying to guess just what is coming around the corner. But much like the poorly funded state psychiatric facility where a lot of the story takes place, there are some surprises that you will never be able to anticipate, and you better be on your toes and be ready for them!--The Nerd Daily Another pulse-pounding read...[The Perfect Daughter] was a cleverly plotted, multi-layered psychological thriller with an ending that will have you feel like you've just been punched in the gut without warning.--The Reading Beauty ...a journey that will shake you to the core.--Fran Lewis' Just Reviews