Not Our Daughter
Chad Zunker
Reader Reviews
3.0
1 rating
Liz M.
Aug 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3-Star Review
This fast-paced suspense from Chad Zunker (author of Family Money and All He Has Left) delivers a gripping premise and plenty of tension, but it didn’t fully hit the emotional depth I was hoping for.
The story kicks off with a chilling mystery—a dying mother’s warning and a couple forced into hiding with a baby that isn’t theirs. Thirteen years later, their fragile world comes crashing down, sending them on a desperate run for survival. The cross-country chase elements were easily the strongest part. The constant danger, the FBI pursuit, and the looming threat of the real killer created a steady sense of urgency that kept me turning the pages.
However, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. Their choices sometimes felt frustrating or underdeveloped, and the emotional weight of their situation—especially the impact on their teenage daughter—could have been explored more deeply. While the twists were intriguing, a few felt predictable, and the ending, though satisfying, didn’t deliver the knockout punch I was hoping for.
Overall, this was an engaging and entertaining thriller with a strong premise and solid pacing, but it lacked the emotional intensity and unpredictability needed to elevate it beyond a good, middle-of-the-road read.
If you enjoy family-on-the-run thrillers with steady suspense and mystery, this is definitely worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to completely blow your mind.
This fast-paced suspense from Chad Zunker (author of Family Money and All He Has Left) delivers a gripping premise and plenty of tension, but it didn’t fully hit the emotional depth I was hoping for.
The story kicks off with a chilling mystery—a dying mother’s warning and a couple forced into hiding with a baby that isn’t theirs. Thirteen years later, their fragile world comes crashing down, sending them on a desperate run for survival. The cross-country chase elements were easily the strongest part. The constant danger, the FBI pursuit, and the looming threat of the real killer created a steady sense of urgency that kept me turning the pages.
However, I struggled to fully connect with the characters. Their choices sometimes felt frustrating or underdeveloped, and the emotional weight of their situation—especially the impact on their teenage daughter—could have been explored more deeply. While the twists were intriguing, a few felt predictable, and the ending, though satisfying, didn’t deliver the knockout punch I was hoping for.
Overall, this was an engaging and entertaining thriller with a strong premise and solid pacing, but it lacked the emotional intensity and unpredictability needed to elevate it beyond a good, middle-of-the-road read.
If you enjoy family-on-the-run thrillers with steady suspense and mystery, this is definitely worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to completely blow your mind.