THE PERFECT DAUGHTER : A NOVEL

Penny Francone, age sixteen, is a murderer. Her guilt is beyond doubt: She was found alone in the victim's apartment, covered in blood, holding the murder weapon. The victim's identity and secret relationship to Penny give her the perfect motive, sealing the deal. All the jury needs to decide now is where Penny will serve out her sentence. Will she be found not guilty by reason of insanity, as her lawyer intends to argue? Or will she get a life sentence in a maximum-security prison? For her mother, Grace, either fate will completely shatter their world. As Penny awaits trial in a state mental hospital, she is treated by Dr. Mitchell McHugh, a psychiatrist battling demons of his own. Grace's determination to understand the motive behind her daughter's terrible crime fuels Mitch's resolve to help the Francone family. Together, they set out in search of the truth about Penny but discover instead a shocking hidden history of secrets, lies, and betrayals that threatens to consume everyone involved. The perfect daughter, or is she fooling them all?