Status
Available
Genres
Description
"A hostile relationship with her sister and a complicated past with her father's second wife have kept Robin estranged from her family for many years. But when her father's new family is attacked in their house, with her father, his wife, and young daughter in critical condition in the hospital, she returns home to await their fate and hopefully mend fences. It looks like a random robbery gone awry, but as Robin spends more time with her family members, she learns they all had their secrets -- and one of those secrets may have put them all in horrible danger"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member flourgirl49
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
Show More
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. Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
This book follow Robin as she is forced to go back to a place she never thought she'd go back to, home. After her father and his wife (who just happens to be her former best friend) and his stepdaughter are shot in what appears to be a home invasion Robin must come home to help her dysfunctional
This book had my attention from start to finish. I really liked Robin and felt bad that she had to go back home to her family. Her sister Melanie has such a hatred for Robin and spends the book being an absolute bitch. While in the beginning I wasn't a big fan of Melanie she definitely grew on me throughout the book. The rest of Robin's family tended to baffle me with their behavior.
There is a mystery that is running throughout the book, who shot Robin's dad and his family. I have to say that while I didn't figure out who was behind it for a while I did eventually get it. There are definitely little clues that I felt were left throughout the book that can lead you to who did it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
Show More
family. It doesn't help that she hasn't spoken to many of them in years.This book had my attention from start to finish. I really liked Robin and felt bad that she had to go back home to her family. Her sister Melanie has such a hatred for Robin and spends the book being an absolute bitch. While in the beginning I wasn't a big fan of Melanie she definitely grew on me throughout the book. The rest of Robin's family tended to baffle me with their behavior.
There is a mystery that is running throughout the book, who shot Robin's dad and his family. I have to say that while I didn't figure out who was behind it for a while I did eventually get it. There are definitely little clues that I felt were left throughout the book that can lead you to who did it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member dianaleez
Joy Fielding's 'The Bad Daughter' was an interesting view of a dysfunctional family. Psychologist Robin is called home for a family emergency - her father, stepmother, and stepsister have been shot by an armed intruder and all three are in critical condition.
This is the family that Robin hasn't
The driving force of the plot, of course, is 'who done it?' Fielding excels at masking her villain's tracks and she succeeds here as well. Looking back, clues were thrown out, but weren't obvious and the suspense is sustained throughout the book.
As reader, I found it difficult to like the anxiety prone Robin and that weakened my enjoyment of the book.
This is the family that Robin hasn't
Show More
visited in over five years - since her mother's death from cancer and her father's marriage to her best friend. Add to that the perpetually angry sister awaiting her in the family home, and Robin is loath to go, to say the least.The driving force of the plot, of course, is 'who done it?' Fielding excels at masking her villain's tracks and she succeeds here as well. Looking back, clues were thrown out, but weren't obvious and the suspense is sustained throughout the book.
As reader, I found it difficult to like the anxiety prone Robin and that weakened my enjoyment of the book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member thebooklover2
Robin, a successful psychologist, receives a call from her older sister Melanie. Her father, his second wife and their daughter have been attacked in their home, and her father's life hangs in the balance. She leaves her practice and
her attorney boyfriend to see her family and try to piece
Joy Fieldings's complex characters with their toxic relationships made this psychological thriller a worthwhile read! The narrator was down to earth and a bit melodramatic at times, but at the same time both relatable and likable. There weren’t any big twists to the story (it became crystal clear who the villain was before the final explanation) but the overall journey to the truth was a satisfying one. I really enjoyed the book!
her attorney boyfriend to see her family and try to piece
Show More
together what happened.Joy Fieldings's complex characters with their toxic relationships made this psychological thriller a worthwhile read! The narrator was down to earth and a bit melodramatic at times, but at the same time both relatable and likable. There weren’t any big twists to the story (it became crystal clear who the villain was before the final explanation) but the overall journey to the truth was a satisfying one. I really enjoyed the book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member mpmills
Robin, a therapist, is called home by her sister, Melanie, when her father and his family are shot during a home invasion. The two sisters have always had a difficult relationship with Robin very aniexty prone and Melanie having a negative, toxic personality. Lots of twists and turns in the plot,
Show More
and the book kept me quessing who did it for quite awhile. I enjoyed this psychological thriller. Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
THE BAD DAUGHTER is the only book by Joy Fielding that I've read. From this one example of her writing, I would say that it is similar to that of Lisa Scottoline. If you like one, you'll probably like the other.
Robin's father married her best friend, Tara. Now Tara and Robin's father, along with
That's basically it, a simple who done it. If you really, really try, you can probably figure it out before the end of the book. I didn't really, really try, but the end still was not a surprise.
I won an advanced reader copy of this book through LibraryThing.com.
Robin's father married her best friend, Tara. Now Tara and Robin's father, along with
Show More
Tara's 12-year-old daughter, have been found shot and near death. And the mystery is: who did it?That's basically it, a simple who done it. If you really, really try, you can probably figure it out before the end of the book. I didn't really, really try, but the end still was not a surprise.
I won an advanced reader copy of this book through LibraryThing.com.
Show Less
LibraryThing member KellyReeder
I’ve read many Joy Fielding books and I have to say I was disappointed in this one. I found the main character and the plot unbelievable. I skipped a lot of unnecessary pages of Robin’s constant inner chatter and neediness which I found overwhelmed the plot line.
LibraryThing member susan0316
The Bad Daughter is my first book by Joy Fielding and I enjoyed it so much that I plan to order some of her earlier books. It was a real page turner with great characters and a suspenseful story line.
The main character is Robin, a psychologist who has been estranged from her family for many years
I thought that Robin was a very likeable character and I actually enjoyed her interactions with her sister despite the fact that Melanie always had a quick put down for her sister. I definitely enjoyed this book and thought it was a great suspense novel.
Thanks to librarything for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
The main character is Robin, a psychologist who has been estranged from her family for many years
Show More
since the death of her mother. She left home when her father, a real womanizer during his marriage, marries her best friend. So her estranged family consists of her dad, his wife and her 12 year old daughter from a previous marriage, her sister Melanie who lives next door with her grown autistic son. She is also engaged but feeling very unsure of her finance's love and commitment. When she gets a phone call from her sister that their father, his wife and daughter have all been shot, she races home to try to figure out what happened. As she tries to put together what happened, she uncovers lots of family secrets while she tries to get to the truth.I thought that Robin was a very likeable character and I actually enjoyed her interactions with her sister despite the fact that Melanie always had a quick put down for her sister. I definitely enjoyed this book and thought it was a great suspense novel.
Thanks to librarything for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Show Less
LibraryThing member busyreadin
One of the best Joy Fielding books in a while. A family drama with quite a twisted ending!
LibraryThing member 2LZ
Thank you librarything.com for sending me an advanced copy of The Bad Daughter by Joy Fielding In return for my honest review.
I don’t think that I was the target audience for this novel. I liked that it was a fast-paced, quick read, but the mystery felt too formulaic and the dialogue seemed
I don’t think that I was the target audience for this novel. I liked that it was a fast-paced, quick read, but the mystery felt too formulaic and the dialogue seemed
Show More
juvenile. Although the main character was a professional, a therapist, the way she thought and spoke did not feel realistic; she seemed child-like. I believe a younger audience might have appreciated this novel more than I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member Pat_Bunk_Malecki
The Bad Daughter
Author: Joy Fielding
You know the feeling you have when you reach the top of a hill on a roller coaster and the only way is DOWN? The Bad Daughter is going to be SOME RIDE from beginning to end. It’s a psychological suspense thriller. It’s a family with secrets, complex
The story begins with Robin, a psychologist living in L.A with her fiancé, Blake. She returns to her home in Red Bluff after receiving the tragic news that her father Greg Davis; his wife and Robin’s ex – best friend Tara Davis, were murdered in a” home invasion.” Tara’s 12 year old daughter, Cassidy, survived.
Robin stays with her sister and single mom, Melanie, and her Autistic son, Landon. Alec, Robin and Melanie’s brother, left Red Bluff and moved to San Francisco after being jilted by Tara. Alec becomes a suspect No. 1 after being spotted in Red Bluff at the time of the murder having every reason to hold a grudge. Blake, Robin’s attorney-fiancé arrives at Red Bluff only to become entangled in the family dysfunction between Robin, Melanie and Alec.
Town Sheriff, Prescott, however, isn’t finished unmasking suspects. Melanie’s son Landon, aggressive and unpredictable; Kenny, Landon’s friend, and Cassidy’s secret boyfriend. Then there are those who have everyone’s best interest in mind. Cassidy’s biological dad. He is out of jail; “found” the straight and narrow; former wife beater; wants Cassidy now that she may become an “orphan” and may need a “family”. Kenny the boyfriend wants to take care of her.
Everyone has a reason to change the family dynamics, with the best reason all. Money.
Joy Fielding’s The Bad Daughter is a psychological suspense thriller. In my opinion, it was from beginning to end. The characters were well developed, each having significant roles throughout the story to the end. Each character assisted in developing the story towards the climax and ultimate conclusion.
It was a coaster ride from beginning to end and The Bad Daughter did not disappoint. If you love mystery, romance, family dynamics, and psychological suspense, this is a book that is hard to put down.
Author: Joy Fielding
You know the feeling you have when you reach the top of a hill on a roller coaster and the only way is DOWN? The Bad Daughter is going to be SOME RIDE from beginning to end. It’s a psychological suspense thriller. It’s a family with secrets, complex
Show More
relationships and tested friendships. Joy Fielding’s The Bad Daughter will not disappoint. The story begins with Robin, a psychologist living in L.A with her fiancé, Blake. She returns to her home in Red Bluff after receiving the tragic news that her father Greg Davis; his wife and Robin’s ex – best friend Tara Davis, were murdered in a” home invasion.” Tara’s 12 year old daughter, Cassidy, survived.
Robin stays with her sister and single mom, Melanie, and her Autistic son, Landon. Alec, Robin and Melanie’s brother, left Red Bluff and moved to San Francisco after being jilted by Tara. Alec becomes a suspect No. 1 after being spotted in Red Bluff at the time of the murder having every reason to hold a grudge. Blake, Robin’s attorney-fiancé arrives at Red Bluff only to become entangled in the family dysfunction between Robin, Melanie and Alec.
Town Sheriff, Prescott, however, isn’t finished unmasking suspects. Melanie’s son Landon, aggressive and unpredictable; Kenny, Landon’s friend, and Cassidy’s secret boyfriend. Then there are those who have everyone’s best interest in mind. Cassidy’s biological dad. He is out of jail; “found” the straight and narrow; former wife beater; wants Cassidy now that she may become an “orphan” and may need a “family”. Kenny the boyfriend wants to take care of her.
Everyone has a reason to change the family dynamics, with the best reason all. Money.
Joy Fielding’s The Bad Daughter is a psychological suspense thriller. In my opinion, it was from beginning to end. The characters were well developed, each having significant roles throughout the story to the end. Each character assisted in developing the story towards the climax and ultimate conclusion.
It was a coaster ride from beginning to end and The Bad Daughter did not disappoint. If you love mystery, romance, family dynamics, and psychological suspense, this is a book that is hard to put down.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mckait
The Bad Daughter: A Novel by Joy Fielding has compelling characters, including a very dysfunctional family. Two sisters and a brother whose relationship has been strained and mostly broken by surviving a philandering father and a mother who was a victim in many ways.
A tragedy calls them all home,
A tragedy calls them all home,
Show More
and it's what happens then that keeps you riveted to the story. There are so many possibilities in this story, it keeps you guessing. The ending will be a surprise to most readers, this is a book I would recommend Show Less
LibraryThing member chickey1981
As most of you know, most of the adult books I read are psychological thrillers. This was a fun entry. We focus on the main character, who is a psychologist who has her own anxiety to deal with. Her best friend growing up married the MC's father, which led to a falling out, but she's called back
Show More
home when her father, her best friend and their daughter are shot in a horrific incident. She realizes there is a lot more to what is going on than she thinks and every one in her family is a suspect. I liked the cat and mouse game and who it ended up being. Although I figured out the murderer well before the end, I was still into the story because of the interesting characters until the end! Show Less
LibraryThing member miss.mesmerized
Many years ago, Robin has left her hometown of Red Bluff and cut all connections with her family. It was when her father married her then best friend and her brother’s fiancée soon after their mother had died of cancer. She simply couldn’t forgive him. In L.A. she started a new life as a
Joy Fielding is one of the best-known contemporary thriller writers and “The Bad Daughter” can hold up to the expectations. A cleverly constructed plot, multifaceted characters who do not show their real face immediately and several leads that only lead you to dead ends make a round and sound story.
Setting the story in a dysfunctional family where there are many unsaid things buried under the surface and which can surprise you again and again with the characters’ unexpected yet credible behaviour was definitely a clever step. The fact that you do not really like all the characters just makes them more authentic and the story a lot livelier.
Even though I am not sure if I really find the solution 100 percent convincing, I liked the novel. It is not an absolutely fast-paced and nerve-wrecking thriller, but the looming danger of the perpetrator still being around surely was responsible some goose bumps.
Show More
therapist and was about to marry Blake. Now, she needs to go back because her father has been fatally wounded, his wife shot dead and the twelve-year-old daughter seriously injured by some gunmen who entered the house at night. Her sister Melanie isn’t very keen on welcoming her back, Robin had always been their mother’s favourite. But now the two have to get along somehow and help the police find the murderer. But they soon figure out that things aren’t that easy and when Melanie’s son and their brother Alec come under suspicion, things are complicated while the real criminal is running free...Joy Fielding is one of the best-known contemporary thriller writers and “The Bad Daughter” can hold up to the expectations. A cleverly constructed plot, multifaceted characters who do not show their real face immediately and several leads that only lead you to dead ends make a round and sound story.
Setting the story in a dysfunctional family where there are many unsaid things buried under the surface and which can surprise you again and again with the characters’ unexpected yet credible behaviour was definitely a clever step. The fact that you do not really like all the characters just makes them more authentic and the story a lot livelier.
Even though I am not sure if I really find the solution 100 percent convincing, I liked the novel. It is not an absolutely fast-paced and nerve-wrecking thriller, but the looming danger of the perpetrator still being around surely was responsible some goose bumps.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mnm123
I received this book in exchange for a review. I truly love Joy Fielding's books, they always have a twist that is so unexpected. The bad daughter is full of mystery and plot twists that will keep you guessing to the very end. Robin the main character has many skeletons that rear their ugly heads
Show More
during this book. The terrible attack on her father has brought many emotions boiling to the surface. I was glued to this book all the way to the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member debkrenzer
This was another mesmerizing suspense by Joy Fielding. I have read several of her books and have never been disappointed. The same goes for this one.
There are so many suspects and I fell for all the traps.
A great read that kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and Net
There are so many suspects and I fell for all the traps.
A great read that kept me guessing until the end.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and Net
Show More
Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mrsmommybooknerd
The Bad Daughter is a book that will leave you reeling. Fielding really got into my head with this one. I was completely enthralled and left guessing around many corners. It was well drawn out and had some unsettling moments that left me breathless. If you love domestic suspense and characters that
Show More
are flawed, real and compelling then this is the book for you. You may also want to clear your schedule because you may have a hard time pulling it down. Show Less
LibraryThing member Kappadeemom
Robin, who is a therapist, is working with a patient when she gets the news that her dad, stepmom and stepsister have been shot in a home invasion. She goes back to her hometown where she meets up with her sister but they have had a long-time contemptuous relationship. Lots of old memories come up
This is a great quick read that I couldn't put down. Joy Fielding is always one of my favorite authors and this one didn't disappoint.
Show More
as they try to figure out what happened to their family. There are also a lot of gossipy biddies in this novel, which made me laugh a few times. This is a great quick read that I couldn't put down. Joy Fielding is always one of my favorite authors and this one didn't disappoint.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ouroborosangel
Unfortunately, this story was entirely predictable.
LibraryThing member hubblegal
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,
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.
Show More
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.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SallyElizabethMurphy
I would really rate this book 2.5 stars. This was a silly novel, start to finish.
LibraryThing member MM_Jones
Joy Fielding, the author of almost thirty novels, is sure to please her fans with her latest effort, The Bad Daughter. The story features a horrible crime, a dysfunctional family and a wide assortment of believable lies. A real page turner, pure entertainment. It makes good use of the setting,
The main character is LA Therapist Robin Davis. Her inner dialogue is repetitive enough to be annoying as a plot device, but totally missing when it comes to the grand revealing. My overall conclusion is the author loves the drama of soap operas and doesn't really care for women.
I received an early reviewer copy of the novel courtesy of Library Thing.
Show More
incorporating many details without coming off like a Wikipedia selection. The main character is LA Therapist Robin Davis. Her inner dialogue is repetitive enough to be annoying as a plot device, but totally missing when it comes to the grand revealing. My overall conclusion is the author loves the drama of soap operas and doesn't really care for women.
I received an early reviewer copy of the novel courtesy of Library Thing.
Show Less
LibraryThing member rmarcin
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
The novel tries to unravel the circumstances behind the shootings, and when the stories are pulled apart, family dynamics come into play.
#TheBadDaughter #JoyFielding
Show More
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
Show Less
Awards
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2018)