“Abigail is a proud member of the New America Baptist Church. Living miles away from the nearest town in South Carolina, she is safe from the depraved modern world.

She is a good daughter. A valued member of the community.

So when she is the sole survivor of a fire that burns her family’s home to the ground, it seems like a tragic accident.

Until a surprising discovery is made: before the fire, Abigail let a stranger in.

Who was the stranger? What started the fire? And was the outside world always the threat – or did danger lurk within the community’s walls?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Good Daughter by Laure Van Rensburg. The Good Daughter was published by Penguin Michael Joseph on 3rd August 2023 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow. I chose to read a free ARC of The Good Daughter but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to Jen at Penguin Michael Joseph for sending me a proof copy.

Laure Van Rensburg’s debut, Nobody But Us, was one of the most addictive, most thrilling books I read in 2022. Dark and intoxicating, this dangerous game of cat and mouse had me on the edge of my seat, totally wrapped up in the world the author created. So I was eagerly anticipating the next fictional offering from this clearly talented writer. Cue The Good Daughter. The Good Daughter is a very different beast to Nobody But Us but Van Rensburg’s superb style, razor sharp delivery and exquisitely written characters are all present.

The members of New America Baptist Church of Newhaven, South Carolina live a simple, God-fearing life far from the debauched and dangerous modern world. Seventeen year old Abigail Heywood is the Pastor’s daughter, and the sole survivor when a fire engulfs the Heywood family home. Unable to remember anything that happened in the weeks leading up to the fire, the close-knit community become increasingly suspicious of Abigail and her motives. After all, Abigail’s belief and commitment has been tested on several occasions when the church venture out, leaving the safe confines of their base to recruit new members. Who started the fire that killed Abigail’s parents? Can Abigail’s memory loss be trusted, or is she just an adept and accomplished liar….?

The Good Daughter is a stunning piece of psychological fiction. I was blown away by how utterly convincing, how truly immersive and how insanely addictive this book was. A definite contender for my top books of 2023 list, for sure! Van Rensburg’s writing is once again fully on point. The characters are sublime. The setting is drawn so vividly I felt I was living within the pages of the book. And the plot was all encompassing, shocks and surprises, twists and turns, all perfectly placed. A masterclass in how to write a psychological thriller. I loved absolutely everything about The Good Daughter. I have to admit that I do love a thriller that’s set around a cult and there’s no denying that that is what Abigail is living in. When, on one of her excursions to the city, she meets a podcaster called Summer, Abigail sees it as the perfect opportunity to recruit a new member. But Summer is already familiar with the New America Baptist Church and wants to talk to Abigail not about joining, but more generally about the church and its approaches. Before long a friendship is formed. The two young women couldn’t be more different but Summer wants to prove to Abigail that there is life beyond the strict rules of the church.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I adored The Good Daughter and will be recommending it to absolutely everyone. Van Rensburg’s prose is once again almost lyrical in tone and a thing of literary beauty. With two interweaving timelines at play, this assured follow-up marks the author as ‘one to watch’, without a doubt. In the past, the events leading up to the day of the fire are slowly revealed to the reader. And in the present, we watch as Abigail’s memories return at infrequent intervals and in unsettling flashes, building up a clear picture of what happened in the run-up to the fire. It was fascinating to watch such pious, self-labelled ‘good’ people turn on a member of their own community. I really felt for Abigail, who is one of the most beautifully written characters I have met in a long time. But Abigail’s friendship with Summer really steals the show. The smaller, more secondary characters were all well-written adding something to the storyline. There were several times when the male characters in the book made me want to break something, but it all adds to the overall tension of the novel. All in all, I loved The Good Daughter and I cannot wait to see what Van Rensburg has for us readers next. You’ll find me at the very front of the queue! Beautifully written, utterly captivating and hugely addictive. Full of foreboding, tension, uncertainty and mistrust. One of my favourites of the year. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free ARC of The Good Daughter. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Good Daughter by Laure Van Rensburg was published in the UK by Penguin Michael Joseph on 3rd August 2023 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Laure Van Rensburg is a French writer living in the UK and an Ink Academy alumna. Her stories have appeared in online magazines and anthologies such as Litro Magazine, Storgy Magazine, The Real Jazz Baby (2020 Best Anthology, Saboteur Awards 2020), and FIVE:2:ONE. She has also placed in competitions including 2018 & 2019 Bath Short Story Award.