Too much, and not enough

The ending happened too fast, and I wanted to more conclusions to all the different story lines.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Whoa!

I did not see that coming! In this novel written by Kirsty Ferguson, and really well narrated by Josie Taylor, there are many dark and unredeeming characters set in a small town in what we assume is Australia. I enjoyed the story, but it is dark.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

good story

I really enjoyed the story but I got confused with all the different story lines.... untill the end.... WOW!!!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Depressing.. and Overly Ambitious

Having read a couple of Kristy Ferguson novels, I can confidently conclude that she is a misanthropist - quite clearly despising her fellow man and expressing zero confidence in the resilience of the human spirit. This book is dark traumatic experience after dark traumatic experience: alcoholic/prostitute moms; psychopath sisters; high-schools full of stalkers; cartoonishly evil bullies; Hollywood cliché predatory "bitch-sluts"; and pedophile teachers.. even the admirable husband is a disinterested philanderer who is into incest porn. The plot includes myriad abuses, psychological torture, rape, murder, and the curiously nonchalant killing of children.
("Where are the Police?" I asked myself dozens of times).
To that excessively black atmosphere Ferguson adds multiple plotlines in multiple timeframes.. jumping around from grim story thread to grim story thread with semi-masochistic relish. She isn't a good enough writer to pull off a plot this complex.

Fortunately, Josie Taylor's narration is excellent.. almost (but not quite) saving the story. Yes, her Aussie/Kiwi accent is occasionally overwhelming - but the overall timbre and cadence are pleasant and comfortable (I was able to listen to her for hours at a time). Taylor's emotive tone furthermore demonstrates a real buy-in to the text (she is clearly invested) and her voice-acting is creditable. I would listen to more from this reader anyday.

Taken altogether, this overly-jaundiced tale merits a pedestrian 5 stars out of 10. If you can tolerate the shocking bleakness, 'The Silent Daughter' is worth a download.. *if* - as I did - you can get it for free

..but save your Credit for something more worthy if they ask for it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Disturbing

I found it confusing. The story jumped around too much. There was alot of unnecessary swearing. I liked the narrator.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Good book . Abruptly Ended and too many story lines

It was a very good story and very well narrated. It Ended so abruptly and left the reader feeling there should be a conclusive Prologue. Very unsatisfactory ending. I really hate endings like this ; it makes you feel it was a waste to listen to the entirety of the story.

So many different unnecessary characters and story lines. I enjoyed the book but glad it was an included in my Audibles that I didn’t pay for

I would however, buy another audible book by Kirsty Ferguson. She’s a good writer just need to stop adding so many different intangible story lines and shorten the narrative.
All said I enjoyed the book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

wow

great characters loved this story the end was shocking
worth the read I think if you are a fan or reading Kirsty s book for the first time you will enjoyed this book thourally

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Nope

Bleak. Harmful portrayals of trauma survivors. I figured out the ending early on. Bit of junk food for the brain I guess.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Dark & terrible

What an awful book! There is not one person in the book with any redeeming qualities. Everyone is terrible. There are different storylines brought in with no conclusion to them. I cannot find one good thing to say about this book. I only listened to it as I was on a road trip and kept thinking it would get better.

Do not waste your time on this book. This was included in my membership. I have never listened to a book by Kirsty Ferguson and am not inspired to listen anything written by her again.

Just awful.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Trigger warning.

There should have been a trigger warning for this book. For those who have DID it certainly isn’t uplifting.
Way too much sex. Waste of time.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!