Somebody's Daughter
A man must save the life of a little girl who may be his own flesh and blood in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense from the USA Today bestselling author of Kill All Your Darlings.
When Michael Frazier’s ex-wife, Erica, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep, she drops a bombshell that threatens to rip his family apart: Her ten-year-old daughter is missing—and Michael is the father. Unsure whether this is the truth but unwilling to leave the girl’s fate to chance, Michael has no choice but to follow the elusive trail of the child he has always wanted but never knew he had.
Over the course of one night, lies that span a decade come bubbling to the surface, putting Michael, his wife, and his whole family in jeopardy. And as the window for a little girl’s safe return closes, Michael will have to decide who can be trusted and who is hiding the truth....
When Michael Frazier’s ex-wife, Erica, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep, she drops a bombshell that threatens to rip his family apart: Her ten-year-old daughter is missing—and Michael is the father. Unsure whether this is the truth but unwilling to leave the girl’s fate to chance, Michael has no choice but to follow the elusive trail of the child he has always wanted but never knew he had.
Over the course of one night, lies that span a decade come bubbling to the surface, putting Michael, his wife, and his whole family in jeopardy. And as the window for a little girl’s safe return closes, Michael will have to decide who can be trusted and who is hiding the truth....
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Community Reviews
Somebody's Daughter moves at a relentless pace from the moment the story opens on a quiet, otherwise uneventful evening at 8:16 p.m. Michael Frazier and his wife, Angela, are shocked to find his ex-wife, Erica, on their doorstep, claiming that her nine-year-old daughter, Felicity, has been kidnapped. She begs Michael to help search for the girl, announcing that Michael is the child's father. Angela has been under the impression that neither Michael nor any member of his family has remained in touch with Erica during the decade since their divorce. and is stunned that Erica would turn up making such a claim. Michael knows that he and Erica continued their physical relationship right up to the point that their relationship broke up, so Erica could be telling the truth. If she is, and the child he has never known is missing, he can't refuse Erica's desperate plea. Promising that he will be back soon, he leaves with Erica. And leaves Angela with myriad questions.
Throughout the night, the police search for the child, as do Michael and Erica. Angela also gets involved in the hunt, unable to simply sit at home and do nothing. In the process, her mother-in-law, Gail, reveals details about Erica's life in the years since Michael ended their marriage, and Erica's menacing former boyfriend arrives on the scene.
Detective Erin Griffin and her partner, Jim Twitchell, are assigned to the case. Griffin is recently divorced. She also miscarried a child. Her intuition inspires her to follow clues that other members of the police force discount. In particular, her misogynistic colleagues accuse her of being overly emotional and relating too deeply to the case. She is appropriately outraged and offended -- but undeterred.
As the long night wears on, Angela learns truths about Michael and his family that bring into question everything and everyone she has trusted. Michael's family is revealed to be more deeply and profoundly troubled by the death many years ago of his younger sister, Robyn. Erica's struggles as a single mother and her behavior in reaction to those challenges is revealed to have been deeply troubling on occasion.
Bell has crafted an intense, compelling mystery in which virtually every character is a suspect -- for good reason. The deeply flawed characters are empathetic and believable. He injects clues to Felicity's fate at deftly-timed intervals and, in due course, eliminates suspects as the tension gradually builds to a shocking conclusion. Somebody's Daughter is simply un-put-down-able because as the story progresses it is apparent that Bell could opt to resolve the story in many different ways. The conclusion he ultimately provides is well-reasoned and, overall, emotionally satisfying, if a bit rushed and lacking complete resolution of all details.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Throughout the night, the police search for the child, as do Michael and Erica. Angela also gets involved in the hunt, unable to simply sit at home and do nothing. In the process, her mother-in-law, Gail, reveals details about Erica's life in the years since Michael ended their marriage, and Erica's menacing former boyfriend arrives on the scene.
Detective Erin Griffin and her partner, Jim Twitchell, are assigned to the case. Griffin is recently divorced. She also miscarried a child. Her intuition inspires her to follow clues that other members of the police force discount. In particular, her misogynistic colleagues accuse her of being overly emotional and relating too deeply to the case. She is appropriately outraged and offended -- but undeterred.
As the long night wears on, Angela learns truths about Michael and his family that bring into question everything and everyone she has trusted. Michael's family is revealed to be more deeply and profoundly troubled by the death many years ago of his younger sister, Robyn. Erica's struggles as a single mother and her behavior in reaction to those challenges is revealed to have been deeply troubling on occasion.
Bell has crafted an intense, compelling mystery in which virtually every character is a suspect -- for good reason. The deeply flawed characters are empathetic and believable. He injects clues to Felicity's fate at deftly-timed intervals and, in due course, eliminates suspects as the tension gradually builds to a shocking conclusion. Somebody's Daughter is simply un-put-down-able because as the story progresses it is apparent that Bell could opt to resolve the story in many different ways. The conclusion he ultimately provides is well-reasoned and, overall, emotionally satisfying, if a bit rushed and lacking complete resolution of all details.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
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