The Adopted Daughter by J.J. Burgess - Book Review
Release: June 8, 2023
Format: Kindle
Publisher: Inkubator Books
Source: GoodReads
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: She says she’s his daughter. But what does she really want?
Alice and Richard are happily married and about to achieve their lifelong dream – giving up their jobs to sail around the Mediterranean on their own boat.
But shortly before they are due to leave, a young woman, Sally, appears on their doorstep and says she is Richard’s daughter, given up for adoption by his former lover.
After he gets over the shock, Richard is welcoming to Sally, but Alice is unsettled. Discovering that Richard is a father is a painful reminder of her own desire for a family and her inability to conceive.
But is this what makes her wary of Sally, or is her intuition trying to warn her that something much darker is happening here?
When one suspicious incident follows another, Alice starts to dig into who Sally really is and why she has suddenly come into their lives. What she finds is something she could never have imagined in her wildest nightmares…
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author J.J. Burgess : JJ Burgess has a degree in Business Economics and lives in Bristol, England. By day he is the director of a housewares company, by night he writes psychological thrillers that ask questions about the world we live in. When he isn’t writing, he is usually running through the woods around Bristol, thinking of new characters and dark plots.
A Twisty Thriller with a Satisfying Climax
J.J. Burgess's The Adopted Daughter is an engaging psychological thriller that kept me interested with its intriguing characters, unexpected revelations, and suspenseful moments. While the writing could have been more concise, the story has enough twists and turns to make it a memorable read.
What Works:
Alice is easily one of the book's biggest strengths. I thought the author did a good job of portraying her character. I was eager to see how she would overcome the increasingly complicated challenges she faced. Her actions and the situations she finds herself in kept me curious about what would happen next.
Sally and Richard are also interesting additions to the story. I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between the three characters. And their interactions add another layer of intrigue and tension to the narrative. The relationships are engaging enough to keep you wondering how everything will eventually unfold.
There were one or two major revelations that I genuinely didn't see coming, and they made the book considerably more memorable. The climax was especially satisfying, with the tension building to a point where I was quite literally on the edge of my seat. It was a rewarding conclusion that made the journey worthwhile.
What Falls Short:
My biggest issue was the overly descriptive writing. The author sometimes spends far too much time explaining things that don't necessarily contribute to the main plot. For instance, I felt an entire chapter dedicated to Igor's backstory was excessive and somewhat hindered the narrative's momentum.
Additionally, once the major revelations begin to unfold, the author tends to revisit certain scenes and dialogues from different perspectives. While this may provide additional context, I found the repetition unnecessary and felt it could have been handled more effectively.
That said, the book is still a relatively quick read, particularly if you're willing to skim through some of the more over explained passages.
Verdict:
Despite its descriptive writing and occasional repetition, I enjoyed The Adopted Daughter and would recommend it to readers looking for an entertaining thriller.
Perfect for:
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with unexpected twists, complicated relationships, and suspenseful conclusions.
The Adopted Daughter
by J.J. Burgess
Synopsis
"She says she’s his daughter. But what does she really want?
Alice and Richard are happily married and about to achieve their lifelong dream – giving up their jobs to sail around the Mediterranean on their own boat.
But shortly before they are due to leave, a young woman, Sally, appears on their doorstep and says she is Richard’s daughter, given up for adoption by his former lover.
After he gets over the shock, Richard is welcoming to Sally, but Alice is unsettled. Discovering that Richard is a father is a painful reminder of her own desire for a family and her inability to conceive.
But is this what makes her wary of Sally, or is her intuition trying to warn her that something much darker is happening here?
When one suspicious incident follows another, Alice starts to dig into who Sally really is and why she has suddenly come into their lives. What she finds is something she could never have imagined in her wildest nightmares…"
Release
June 8, 2023
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Inkubator Books
Source
GoodReads
About the Author
J.J. Burgess
JJ Burgess has a degree in Business Economics and lives in Bristol, England. By day he is the director of a housewares company, by night he writes psychological thrillers that ask questions about the world we live in. When he isn’t writing, he is usually running through the woods around Bristol, thinking of new characters and dark plots.
My Review
A Twisty Thriller with a Satisfying Climax
J.J. Burgess’s The Adopted Daughter is an engaging psychological thriller that kept me interested with its intriguing characters, unexpected revelations, and suspenseful moments. While the writing could have been more concise, the story has enough twists and turns to make it a memorable read.
What Works:
Alice is easily one of the book’s biggest strengths. I thought the author did a good job of portraying her character.
I was eager to see how she would overcome the increasingly complicated challenges she faced. Her actions and the situations she finds herself in kept me curious about what would happen next.
Sally and Richard are also interesting additions to the story. I particularly enjoyed the dynamics between the three characters. And their interactions add another layer of intrigue and tension to the narrative. The relationships are engaging enough to keep you wondering how everything will eventually unfold.
There were one or two major revelations that I genuinely didn’t see coming, and they made the book considerably more memorable. The climax was especially satisfying, with the tension building to a point where I was quite literally on the edge of my seat. It was a rewarding conclusion that made the journey worthwhile.
What Falls Short:
My biggest issue was the overly descriptive writing. The author sometimes spends far too much time explaining things that don’t necessarily contribute to the main plot. For instance, I felt an entire chapter dedicated to Igor’s backstory was excessive and somewhat hindered the narrative’s momentum.
Additionally, once the major revelations begin to unfold, the author tends to revisit certain scenes and dialogues from different perspectives. While this may provide additional context, I found the repetition unnecessary and felt it could have been handled more effectively.
That said, the book is still a relatively quick read, particularly if you’re willing to skim through some of the more over explained passages.
Verdict:
Despite its descriptive writing and occasional repetition, I enjoyed The Adopted Daughter and would recommend it to readers looking for an entertaining thriller.
Perfect for:
Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with unexpected twists, complicated relationships, and suspenseful conclusions.
