A review by minimicropup
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A fun, fast read that felt popcorn thriller without being too over-the-top. 
 
Energy: Precarious. Watchful. Headstrong.  
 
๐Ÿ• Howls: Tricks the reader in a way that kills mind-movies if you make them. World-building was mostly name-dropping NYC neighbourhoods and I got tired of Googling them after a while. Does that thing where people often tell the characters everything or let them in restricted areas because they're insistent. 
 
๐Ÿฉ Tail Wags: Mix of amateur and professional sleuthing that didnโ€™t feel contrived or silly. The intrigue and mysteries. Epistolary clues. Being kept in the dark but not in a frustrating way (usually).  
 
Scene: ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ Set in Prospect Park, Brooklyn and other NYC neighbourhoods
Perspectives (2): A โ€˜fixerโ€™ employed by a law firm aims to protect their adult daughter against the dangers of the world. A university student trying to figure out what happened to their mother finds out she was more complex than she thought. Chapters often end with legal documents, therapy notes, or journal entries. 
Timeline: Days leading up to and just after Katrina goes missing (2020s). Litigation case notes from 2024. Journal entries from 1990s. 
๐Ÿ”ฅ Fuel: Interlocking mysteries. Revelatory backstories. Tension and intrigue.  
๐Ÿ“– Cred Rating: Suspended disbelief plausible
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Burned chicken. Distant saxophone. Coffee shop. Text pings. Laptop sleuthing. Brownstones. Dorm room. 
  • Direct, easy to follow writing style
  • First person narratives
  • Bittersweet mother-daughter character study with popcorn thriller plot
  • Mysterious threats, on the runโ€ฆbut from who?
  • Dual investigations with mother investigating daughter and vice versa
  • Journal entry and case file snippets
  • Tangled web of lies, secrets, and intrigue
  • Sneaky plots (kinda tricking the reader) 
  • Red herrings and multiple suspects
  • Touch of coming-of-age reluctant hero
  • Shattered illusions family drama
 
Content Heads-Up: Medical harm/side effects (in pregnancy). Parental abandonment (as toddler). Car accident (fatal). Stalking. Loss of romantic partner. Blackmail, threats. Divorce/separation. Sexual and physical harassment of minors. Corruption (pharmaceutical). Seizures (off page mention; medication). Adult/minor relationship, grooming. Drugging. Rape.
 
Rep: American. Cisgender. Heterosexual. Ambiguous and dark brown skin tones. 
 
๐Ÿ“š Format: Library Hardcover
 
My musings ๐Ÿ’– powered by puppy snuggles ๐Ÿถ
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