The Marsh King's Daughter

Synopsis

***PERFECT FOR FANS OF WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING AND SOON TO BE MAJOR FILM STARRING DAISY RIDLEY***

You'd recognise my mother's name if I told it to you. You'd wonder, briefly, where is she now? And didn't she have a daughter while she was missing?

And whatever happened to the little girl?

Helena's home is like anyone else's, with a husband, two daughters and a job she enjoys. But no one knows the truth about her dark and twisted childhood.

Born into captivity and brought up in an isolated cabin until she was twelve, Helena was raised by her terrified, broken mother and the man who held them both prisoner - Helena's own father.

Now with news that he has escaped from prison, Helena instinctively knows that her father is coming for her and if she wants to keep her family safe, she must find him - before he finds her. Even if that means returning to the darkest parts of her past, the scariest place imaginable, home.

An unforgettable, read-in-one-sitting thriller packed with gripping suspense.
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'If you only read one thriller this year, make it this' CLARE MACKINTOSH

'Emotionally and intellectually thrilling, tremendously exciting' SUNDAY EXPRESS

'Unlike anything else I've read. Haunting and unputdownable' LAURA MARSHALL, number one bestselling author of Friend Request

'Sensationally good, I loved this book' LEE CHILD

'Gorgeously written eerie suspense' KARIN SLAUGHTER

'SO GOOD' LAURA MARSHALL

'You won't be able to stop turning the pages' MEGAN ABBOTT

'A wonderful book... Mesmerising' ALEX MARWOOD

'A nail-biter' COSMOPOLITAN

'A knockout' SARAH HILARY

'I was absolutely gripped' GILLY MACMILLAN

'Eerie and breathtaking, terrific and terrifying' TÉA OBREHT

'Original and exciting, with a thrilling ending' MARK EDWARDS

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Summary

Chapter 1:

The Marsh King's Daughter begins with a woman named Helena Pelletier reflecting on her past. She remembers her childhood living in the marshes of northern Michigan, where her parents secluded her and her two younger sisters, Iris and Mary, from the rest of the world. Helena recalls how her father, Jacob, taught them how to hunt, trap, and survive in the wilderness. However, she also remembers the dark side of her father, who had kidnapped and imprisoned her mother when she was a teenager.

Chapter 2:

In this chapter, we see a flashback of when Helena was a young teenager. She reflects on her relationship with her father and how he made her and her sisters believe that they were living in a normal environment. However, Helena starts to question her reality when she stumbles upon a newspaper article about her father being a dangerous fugitive. This discovery terrifies her, and she begins to see her father in a different light.

Chapter 3:

Jacob Pelletier's trial begins, and the media descends upon the small town. Helena is called to testify against her father, but she is conflicted as she still has feelings of loyalty and love towards him. Her testimony is crucial in ensuring her father's conviction, and she struggles with the weight of her decision.

Chapter 4:

The trial comes to an end, and Jacob Pelletier is sentenced to life in prison. However, Helena learns that her father has escaped. She is horrified and realizes that the only person who can track him down is her. She must confront her darkest fears and use the skills her father has taught her to find and capture him.

Chapter 5:

Helena narrates her journey into the wilderness to track her father. She reflects on the survival skills that her father had taught her and uses them to navigate through the harsh terrain. As she gets closer to him, she is both terrified and determined to bring him to justice.

Chapter 6:

Helena finally finds her father and confronts him. She remembers the abuse and manipulation that she and her sisters endured, and she is determined to end the reign of the "Marsh King." A tense and dangerous standoff occurs between the two, and Helena's survival instincts are put to the test.

Chapter 7:

As Helena's hunt for her father continues, she reflects on her mother's story and how she was separated from the girls. She also remembers her mother's bravery and determination to escape from Jacob. This gives Helena the strength to continue her pursuit.

Chapter 8:

Helena finally corners her father, who is now injured and unable to escape. She realizes that this may be her only chance to end his reign of terror and protect her family. With the help of her mother's spirit, she overpowers her father and brings him to justice, ending her family's nightmare.

Chapter 9:

In the aftermath of the showdown, Helena continues to struggle with her conflicting emotions towards her father. She also reconnects with her mother and begins to heal from the trauma and abuse she endured. Helena also finds solace in knowing that she has finally brought justice to her family.

Chapter 10:

We fast forward to the present, where Helena's husband and two daughters are living a happy and normal life. Helena reflects on her past and how it has shaped her into the strong and resilient woman she is today. She also acknowledges the dark legacy of her father but chooses to focus on the light that her mother had instilled in her. The novel ends with Helena embracing her new life and moving on from the horrors of her past.