Only Daughter by Anna Snoestrka – a review

I was given a copy of this via the publisher and as I mentioned in my Q and A with Anna I found this a very enjoyable book.

In 2003 Rebecca Winter goes missing and is never found, one theory being that she perished in a bush fire. 11 years later a young woman turns up desperate after being arrested and claims to be the missing Rebecca. She starts living Rebecca’s life and is welcomed with open arms by her parents and twin brothers. However the imposter soon becomes embroiled in trying to figure out what really happened to Rebecca and ends up in danger herself.

This was a really intriguing concept set in Australia. Can someone persuade a family that they are a missing person? The story is told from the two perspectives of young Rebecca and then the new person pretending to be Rebecca (we don’t get a name) The usual teen angst of a girl shoplifting and fancying boys is mixed with disturbing things happening such as blood in her bed and someone in her room at night. There is also then the account of the imposter and the lengths she will go to in order to not be found out, whilst also trying to find out what really happened to Rebecca.

I must confess that to me this had a bit of a dip in the middle, it starts off really well and I couldn’t put it down. Yet neither of the characters were particularly likeable. Fake Bec clearly lacks morals which does mean you lack empathy with her, yet there is still enough about her that you want to know what is going to happen.  Even though you care about the truth there is a certain detachment felt to both the main characters which made me run out of steam with it a bit. Yet this all changes in the last part of the story with things taking a really terrifying twist.

Overall this was a very interesting book, with a ending that will certainly keep you on your toes. To find out more about Anne read my q and a.