'My daughter has always had a thing about lifts. There’s something about the thrill of pressing a button and seeing the lift doors close which excites her imagination. It terrifies me. Every time she walks in, I imagine it’s the last time I’ll see her. What if she hits the button before I get there? What if the lift doors close and I can’t get her out? It drives me nuts. There are eight floors in the Sears building, nine if you count the basement, and the lift is fast: more like a fairground ride, really. It does top to bottom in twelve seconds. I’ve timed it. Taking the stairs, I’ve done it in forty-two. That leaves a gap of thirty seconds. You’d be surprised what can happen in that time. I was.'
An estranged father’s weekend with his beloved five-year-old daughter turns into a nightmare when she gets into the lift of a city centre tower block and goes down without him. She vanishes without a trace. It sets off a race against time, and a nationwide manhunt, to find her. As the police investigation closes in, suspicion falls on those closest to her - with devastating consequences. Daddy Dearest is a terrifying story of love, obsession and psychological meltdown.
Wow! What a roller-coaster ride for the mind this book was! I was contacted by the author to read and review this book and I am so glad he reached out! This what just what I needed. I haven't read a good psychological thriller in awhile. "Daddy Dearest" by Paul Southern was my first read by this author and it certainly won't be my last!
This was written from the father's point of view and I loved this character. He's sarcastic and crude. He has OCD so he has a bit of crazy in him. He is a divorced, single father who loves his little girl fiercely. After his daughter takes the elevator without him and goes missing without a trace an investigation to her disappearance is launched. We, the reader, start to climb into the mind of the father and learn secrets of other neighbors that live in the building and could be potential suspects.
I can't really get into a deep review of this book without giving away spoilers. There are so many little tidbits and revelations that make up the overall "what happened" of the plot. There were times that the main character went off into stories of the past that left me wondering what this had to do with the main story, but it really helped me understand more about the main character and why he was the way he was. Side note- we never learn the main character's name which has an air of mystery in itself. It kept me on my toes and was a very entertaining read.
Excellent writing by the author. This was my first book by Paul Southern but it won't be my last! This story was intriguing and unique. A complete stirring of every emotion. The plot twists were expertly places throughout my read and building the main character was perfection. Bravo!
A 4 star read for me! Thanks again to author Paul Southern for allowing me and ecopy to read and give my honest review!
Happy Reading!
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