Bizarre Psychological Thriller Fails to Live Up to Its Promising Premise

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Eleven years ago, Rebecca "Bec" Winter went missing during her summer break in Canbera.  After working her shift at the local McDonald's, the 16-year-old never came home.  She'd been experiencing some odd things, including the feeling of being watched, but Bec never thought much of it.  Then, she disappeared without a trace.

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to the infamous Bec Winter, a 24-year-old homeless woman seizes a chance to avoid police trouble by claiming to be the missing Bec.  Although the lead detective is suspicious of her admission, the imposter is soon living in Bec's home, wearing her clothes, and hanging out with her friends.  The more Bec's doppleganger learns about the woman she's replaced, however, the more worried she becomes.  It appears that Bec's tormentor is still at large.  Will the person who harmed Bec come for her replacement as well?

I love me a good psychological thriller.  You all know that.  When I heard about Only Daughter, a debut novel by Australian author Anna Snoekstra, I knew I wanted to give it a go.  The premise is intriguing, if not wholly original, so I picked it up.  What did I think?  Well ... the story has promise, it really does.  It just doesn't live up to its potential.  First of all, the characters are almost entirely unlikable, especially the two women at the center of the novel.  The plot is tense and suspenseful, true, but it also gets weird—just really bizarre—and far-fetched.  The big reveal seemed improbable, which made the ending unsatisfying for me.  I wanted to like this one, but overall, I just didn't.  Bummer.

(Readalikes:  Never Missing, Never Found by Amanda Panitch and The Stranger Game by Cylin Busby)

Grade:

If this were a movie, it would be rated:

for language, violence, sexual content, depictions of underage drinking, and disturbing subject matter

To the FTC, with love:  Another library fine find