"The Stepdaughter's Lie" by Teri Terry

 

I said it before and I'll say it again, Teri Terry is one of my all-time favorite authors. I have read and reviewed her other psychological thriller, which I loved. This is her second psychological thriller, and it is even better than the first.

"The Stepdaughter's Lie" by Teri Terry is a gripping psychological thriller following Rowan, a woman with a troubled past and present. She is married to Theo and lives with him and his 17-year-old daughter Ellie in a smart house. Unfortunately, her stepdaughter hates her and makes her life miserable. The plot thickens when Rowan finds out she is pregnant, and she is plunged into a whirlpool of confusing emotions. She starts to suffer from fainting spells, insomnia, and nightmares, and something seems off with her husband. When her past catches up with her, things start to go south.

I loved the book! The story is told from the first-person points of view of Rowan and Ellie, alternating between the two. I liked Rowan and rooted for her. Her character is easily the most interesting in the book—her dilemmas, her nightmares, and her mindset are all dealt with superbly by the author. I didn't like that she let herself be convinced to quit her job and didn't stand up for herself more. I loved that Rowan volunteered at a dog rescue center and the connection she had with one of the dogs there.

Ellie, I didn't like at first—she was childish and blamed Rowan for all her troubles—but over time, she grew on me. I loved the role reversal (wicked stepdaughter instead of wicked stepmother) and the build-up of suspense. I connected with Rowan and found myself tensing up when things seemed to take an ominous turn. Theo was a different kettle of fish altogether and not very likable either (like father, like daughter?). The lack of open communication between him and Rowan worked against them.

The tale is intricately plotted and there is more to it than my summary. The book explores issues of grief, abuse, religious fanaticism, abandonment issues, lies, manipulation, and gaslighting. It also details problems that can arise from smart home systems. I said it before and I'll say it again: I don't have a smart home and certainly won't get such a system. Too many loopholes for my peace of mind.

This is a gripping psychological read with characters that reach out and grab you. With a seamless blend of suspense, intrigue, and family drama, Teri Terry spins an absorbing tale I couldn't stop reading. I recommend the book to anyone looking for a surprisingly refreshing thriller. If you are into psychological thrillers that make you think and feature a masterful buildup of suspense, this is definitely a book for you!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Stepdaughter's Lie" by Teri Terry