The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer

The Perfect Daughter is a thriller that explores the truth or lies behind a teenage girl's multiple personality disorder, from D.J. Palmer, the author of The New Husband.

Meet Ruby, who speaks with a British accent.

Then there’s Chloe, a perfectionist who strives for straight A’s in school.

And along comes Eve, who is spiteful and vicious.

All of them live inside Penny…
Or do they?

Penny Francone, age 16, is a murderer. Her guilt is beyond doubt: She was found alone in the victim’s apartment, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. The victim’s identity and her secret relationship to Penny give Penny the perfect motive, sealing the deal. All the jury needs to decide now is where Penny will serve out her sentence. Will she be found not guilty by reason of insanity, as her lawyer intends to argue? Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison?

Already reeling from tragedy after the sudden passing of her beloved husband a few years before, now Grace is on her knees, grateful that Massachusetts doesn't allow the death penalty.

As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace’s determination to understand the why behind her daughter’s terrible crime fuels Mitch’s resolve to help the Francone family. Together, they set out in search of the truth about Penny, but discover instead a shocking hidden history of secrets, lies, and betrayals that threatens to consume them all.

The perfect daughter. Is she fooling them all? 

Audiobook, Unabridged

Dan Bittner (Narrator),

January LaVoy (Narrator)

11 hours, 42 minutes

Published April 20th 2021 

by Macmillan Audio

4/5 stars

I was happy to listen to the audio of The Perfect Daughter.  Wanting just one more chapter (pun intended) as I tried to solve the mystery before it was revealed. Suffice to say I didn't.

The Perfect Daughter was an entertaining read, it had a nice mix of both likeable and unlikable characters, the pacing was good, the story line unique and well executed.  Though a few times I had to suspend by belief but not enough to spoil this read.  I liked how the ending played out.

But what stood out for me was educational lesson of DID  (Dissociative Identity Disorder, which at one time was Multiple Personality Disorder). Definitely the author did the research and wove a mysterious story around that.

D. J. Palmer is a new to me author, I hope to read more of his books and check out his backlist.

My thanks to MacMIllan Audio (via Netgalley) for a e-audiobook in exchange for honest review.