The psychological thriller Darling Rose Gold works well as an intense look at a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship, a tale of manipulation and how one person’s devastating secrets and lies reverberate through a community and a family. Darling Rose Gold briskly moves with surprising twists as Wrobel delivers assured character studies ... Darling Rose Gold delves deep into the psyche of mother and daughter and what motivates each of them. Both are vividly sculpted as Wrobel shows Rose Gold’s lack of social skills and her difficulties at adjusting to independence from her mother, while Patty, who seems so likable, wants to regain control over her daughter.
... incendiary ... It’s an intense and unexpected departure from the story we’ve become so familiar with ... These two intensely flawed characters couldn’t be more unlikable, but Wrobel’s portrayal of them is compulsively readable ... Darling Rose Gold is a psychological thriller you’ll stay up all night reading, even if it means going to work bleary-eyed on two hours of sleep. If you think you know this story, rest assured…you have no idea what these women are truly capable of.
In Wrobel’s reimagining, Patty is a tough and somewhat comical maniac, akin to the more genial incarnations of the Riddler, as portrayed by Jim Carrey and Frank Gorshin ... What ensues—in alternating chapters narrated by Patty and Rose Gold—is a nasty cat-and-mouse game in which victim and victimizer keep changing places. Wrobel’s suspense novel has much the same campy feel as that 1960s cult psychodrama Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? ... The chapter-by-chapter choreography of this creeper is ingenious ... Darling Rose Gold is a maelstrom of a suspense story through which mental illness, maternal meshugas and vengeful rage swirl unchecked. Over-the-top is an adjective that barely does this tale justice; but, then again, the real-life story on which it’s based is even more distastefully baroque.
... compulsively readable ... Each woman displays Jekyll and Hyde-style personalities, and the reader is kept guessing about which one will emerge the stronger. This creepy psychological thriller is sure to be enjoyed by those who devoured Gone Girl, Girl on the Train and domestic thrillers from authors like Megan Abbott and JP Delaney.
Through it all, Wrobel keeps her plotting taut, her characters as believable as they are riveting, and her premise just 'ripped from the headlines' enough to keep you turning pages long past your bedtime ... Darling Rose Gold is a thriller in every regard, but it is also more heavily layered with family dynamics than your average suspense story. The premise is immediately eye-catching, but it is what Wrobel does with her characters that will make this book unputdownable for readers of all genres ... Those who enjoyed HBO’s documentary, Mommy Dead and Dearest, will gobble up this book in no time, and with good reason. Wrobel has penned a compelling and well-researched tale for lovers of women’s fiction, thrillers and true crime alike.
Wrobel’s debut explores a fresh premise in a story that does not shy away from dark and disturbing scenes. Patty and Rose Gold are complicated, well-developed characters whose motivations are subtle and difficult to foresee. This dynamic results in a story that leaves readers guessing to the end and should be a draw for fans of psychological thrillers.
Wrobel builds tension by tearing down and knocking away everything the audience believes they know, leaving a mountain of questions regarding Rose Gold's present-day life and her relationship with Patty. This thriller speeds toward its conclusion in true page-turner fashion, without feeling rushed ... A taut tale that will keep you guessing until the very end.
... diabolically plotted ... Propulsive pacing, a claustrophobic setting, and vividly sketched characters who are equal parts victim and villain conspire to create an anxious, unsettling narrative. Psychological suspense fans will be well satisfied.
