What an intriguing book cover! A simple scene with a dark house, and a woman’s silhouette in a lighted window. The only other sign of life are starlings circling at dusk. The tagline reads, “Would you trust her?” Having read this book, jumping at every pop and crack in my house, I can say “No, absolutely DO NOT trust her!” But who are we really talking about? The careful mother who loves her son? The new daughter in law who is trying her best? What about the women we meet from the past? This is a juicy and scary psychological thriller by a new author, Nina Manning. Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to share this book that I know will mesmerize you!
A gripping, psychological page-turner, perfect for fans of Sally Hepworth’s The Mother In Law,Lisa Jewell and K.L. Slater.
‘A page turner that I couldn’t put down!!!’ NetGalley Reviewer
‘I couldn’t put it down’ NetGalley reviewer
‘A very good read!’ NetGalley reviewer
JENA’S REVIEW
The Daughter In Law by Nina Manning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I give this book 5 Wows! Once you start this book, you’ll be drawn into a pleasant world that slowly and insidiously becomes more twisted, and you will be shaken by the horror that creeps ever closer.
The Daughter in Law is a psychological thriller. A psychological thriller focuses on characters, and their unstable emotional states. The genre generally features guilt, obsession, moral ambiguity, and complex and tortured relationships and author Nina Manning uses all these tools to create a book that will puzzle and then terrify you.
The book starts off pleasantly enough. We meet Annie a woman in her sixties who lives in a pretty beach cottage. She raised her son as a single mother. Ben was her world. Then Ben grows up, begins to break away from his mother, and he meets Daisy. They fall in love and when Daisy gets pregnant, they marry and settle into a quiet and caring life.
The sweet romance feeling of the book changes as the characters’ worrisome thoughts and odd comments begin to grow. What is Daisy’s terrible secret? Why is Ben a bit different? Can Annie continue to keep Ben in her “secret party of two”? Does Annie truly want the best for her unborn grandchild? Annie tells us, “When I feel unhinged, who knows what I’m capable of.” Creepy!
Annie and Daisy tell their stories in the first person, in alternating chapters. The immediacy of their thoughts draws the reader in to their confused minds. And then, along comes Grace, who shares her own odd story. Who is she?
The author adds to the psychological suspense through the details of the setting of the beach house and the action of the characters. The ocean and wind, the spartan furnishings of Annie’s house, the obsessive way Annie cooks and cleans, all contribute to our growing realization that something is dreadfully wrong.
Who is telling the truth? Who can we believe? The uncomfortable and eerie feelings and actions of the characters continue to build until the unexpected ending. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
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I began my career in the catering industry, working in all areas from being a tea shop waitress, to events management and marketing, to a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities. I still enjoy to cook and I have found I will often end up incorporating elements of cooking into my writing.
I have a degree in Psychology and I have thoroughly enjoyed writing in the psychological thriller/grip lit genre for my debut novel. After a few years of edits and changes and bringing three children into the world, in 2018 I signed with The Kate Nash Literary agency.
I am a voracious reader of many genres. I am the founding member of two book clubs and I love to write book reviews. I have recently started my own book podcast called Sniffing The Pages.
I’m a mum of three young children so when I’m not writing or reading I can usually be found scaling a soft play tower or romping in the woods with the family and our mad chocolate Labrador.
Nina’s Website – https://www.ninamanningauthor.com/
Nina’s Twitter Profile – https://twitter.com/ninamanning78
Nina’s Instagram Profile – https://www.instagram.com/ninamanning_author/
Nina’s Facebook Profile – https://www.facebook.com/ninamanningauthor1
I am a writer, blogger, book reviewer, and bon vivant and encourager. I have lived my entire life in Tropical Ohio. My goal is to make friends with everyone in the world. I wrote a fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli, that presents the problems and praises, and the love and laughter of family life and retirement. My passions are blogging, reading and reviewing, and writing. My life is a WIP.
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