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skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoy listening to this story and I continue to enjoy the main character. Some reviewers said the story was hard to follow, but I think it's easier when you are listening. I thought this story was much better than the last one and I'll listen again to the next one. Plus, these are free from the library ;-)
dovesfalling's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped, given the intriguing back cover blurb, this was still an interesting mystery.
The Girls She Left Behind is the first (I believe) in a series of novels about detective Lizzie Snow, a woman on a mission to find her missing niece, stuck out in the wilds of Bearkill, Maine, with a seductive ex-lover, townspeople with secrets of their own, and a deep, rivering grief for her murdered sister.
Graves sets up the series well, with a good cast of characters – including Lizzie’s newfound dog rescue, Rascal, a huge slobbering lump with lots of love to give.
However, the issue comes when the book switches perspectives – which it does a lot – with the first person perspective taken by a woman with a dark secret, and the third person all Lizzie’s. Since Lizzie IS supposed to be the main character, I found the transitions could be jarring at times. This has worked for me in other novels, so I believe it just needs a very deft hand and very distinctive voices. I think it was also confusing for me due to the often odd dialogue pacing (a character says something, new paragraph, the character is still talking – I thought a few times that the other person had spoken and then had to back-track to figure out who was saying what). So between that and the character perspectives changing chapter by chapter, I was thrown out of the story more than once.
I won’t discuss the plot because that would ruin the surprises – none THAT shocking to me, but they form the “raison d’etre” for the novel, so wouldn’t want to spoil. My biggest bone of contention is the potential in the plot. The moral dilemma at the heart of everything is fascinating, raw and terrifying. I found myself asking: what would I do? And I didn’t like the possible answers. Graves could have done so much more with this, and I hope she does in later works, because she definitely has talent.
All in all, a promising mystery. It would be improved by careful editing to weed out the confusing passages and dialogue changes, as well as a bigger focus on what I think is the biggest shocker of the tale.
While I didn’t enjoy this as much as I had hoped, given the intriguing back cover blurb, this was still an interesting mystery.
The Girls She Left Behind is the first (I believe) in a series of novels about detective Lizzie Snow, a woman on a mission to find her missing niece, stuck out in the wilds of Bearkill, Maine, with a seductive ex-lover, townspeople with secrets of their own, and a deep, rivering grief for her murdered sister.
Graves sets up the series well, with a good cast of characters – including Lizzie’s newfound dog rescue, Rascal, a huge slobbering lump with lots of love to give.
However, the issue comes when the book switches perspectives – which it does a lot – with the first person perspective taken by a woman with a dark secret, and the third person all Lizzie’s. Since Lizzie IS supposed to be the main character, I found the transitions could be jarring at times. This has worked for me in other novels, so I believe it just needs a very deft hand and very distinctive voices. I think it was also confusing for me due to the often odd dialogue pacing (a character says something, new paragraph, the character is still talking – I thought a few times that the other person had spoken and then had to back-track to figure out who was saying what). So between that and the character perspectives changing chapter by chapter, I was thrown out of the story more than once.
I won’t discuss the plot because that would ruin the surprises – none THAT shocking to me, but they form the “raison d’etre” for the novel, so wouldn’t want to spoil. My biggest bone of contention is the potential in the plot. The moral dilemma at the heart of everything is fascinating, raw and terrifying. I found myself asking: what would I do? And I didn’t like the possible answers. Graves could have done so much more with this, and I hope she does in later works, because she definitely has talent.
All in all, a promising mystery. It would be improved by careful editing to weed out the confusing passages and dialogue changes, as well as a bigger focus on what I think is the biggest shocker of the tale.
lbewley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves is the second book in A Lizzie Snow series. Elizabeth “Lizzie” Snow is a former Boston Homicide Detective who moved to Bearkill, Maine. Lizzie is now a deputy with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department (she is the liaison from the sheriff's department for the town). Lizzie gave up her dream job (as a detective) to look for her deceased sister’s (Cecily) daughter, Nicki who has been missing for eight years. There was a sighting of Nicki in the area (but it is a big wooded area in this part of Maine). The Girls She Left Behind starts fifteen years prior when a man kidnaps Jane Crimmins and her cousin, Cam. Jane manages to escape from the man, but she never tells anyone of what happened to her, her cousin, or the other girls in the basement.
Fifteen years later three girls are rescued from the basement of the man’s house. Cam is one of the girls rescued. Henry Gemerle is the kidnapper, but he is found incompetent to stand trial. He is sentenced to a mental hospital. In Bearkill, fourteen-year-old Tara Wylie has disappeared. At first her mother, Peg believes that Tara just took off for a day again. Tara usually shows back up. This time Tara does not return and actually misses school (something she has never done before). Then Lizzie finds out that Henry has escaped from the mental asylum and may be in the area. Did Henry take Tara? Lizzie will have to work quickly to find Tara but she has the added difficulty of forest fires breaking out in the area. The might have to evacuate the area at any moment. Lizzie works with Dylan Hudson of the Maine State Police (and Lizzie’s ex-lover) to find Tara. But Lizzie thinks Peg is hiding something from her. Is Peg Wylie’s secret more important than her daughter’s life?
The Girls She Left Behind is a good book, but not as wonderful as the first book in the series. I had a little trouble getting into The Girls She Left Behind. The mystery and suspense are excellent (and the book does pick up the pace and get much better as you get further into the book). I am, though, tired of the relationship between Lizzie and her two (maybe) beaus (Dylan Hudson and Trey Washburn). (Spoiler Alert) The relationships really do not advance or change in the book. There is also no further progress on Lizzie's search for her missing niece. (Spoiler complete) I found that part of the book to be frustrating (and really unnecessary). I give The Girls She Left Behind 4.25 out of 5 stars (which means I liked it).
I received a complimentary copy of The Girls She Left Behind from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog for additional information: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-girls-she-left-behind.html
Fifteen years later three girls are rescued from the basement of the man’s house. Cam is one of the girls rescued. Henry Gemerle is the kidnapper, but he is found incompetent to stand trial. He is sentenced to a mental hospital. In Bearkill, fourteen-year-old Tara Wylie has disappeared. At first her mother, Peg believes that Tara just took off for a day again. Tara usually shows back up. This time Tara does not return and actually misses school (something she has never done before). Then Lizzie finds out that Henry has escaped from the mental asylum and may be in the area. Did Henry take Tara? Lizzie will have to work quickly to find Tara but she has the added difficulty of forest fires breaking out in the area. The might have to evacuate the area at any moment. Lizzie works with Dylan Hudson of the Maine State Police (and Lizzie’s ex-lover) to find Tara. But Lizzie thinks Peg is hiding something from her. Is Peg Wylie’s secret more important than her daughter’s life?
The Girls She Left Behind is a good book, but not as wonderful as the first book in the series. I had a little trouble getting into The Girls She Left Behind. The mystery and suspense are excellent (and the book does pick up the pace and get much better as you get further into the book). I am, though, tired of the relationship between Lizzie and her two (maybe) beaus (Dylan Hudson and Trey Washburn). (Spoiler Alert) The relationships really do not advance or change in the book. There is also no further progress on Lizzie's search for her missing niece. (Spoiler complete) I found that part of the book to be frustrating (and really unnecessary). I give The Girls She Left Behind 4.25 out of 5 stars (which means I liked it).
I received a complimentary copy of The Girls She Left Behind from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog for additional information: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-girls-she-left-behind.html
aspygirlsmom_1995's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah Graves returns with more mystery and suspense, following Winter At the Door (recommend reading prior to #2) to learn the background of Lizzie Snow. A homicide detective, who has left Boston for Bearkill, Maine-- with her second installment, THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND, she continues to look for her niece who went missing after her sister was found murdered.
New Haven, CT: As the book opens we meet two cousins, fifteen-years-old—often mistaken for sisters. Their mothers were sisters. One was the good girl (Janie), attending knitting classes, always agonizing over her sins, the other (Cam) wild one, very good at convincing her to do bad things.
Leaving the youth group, they are abducted by a sexual predator and imprisoned in a basement with two other girls. Jane manages to escape and tells no one—while believing Cam is dead. But is she? And what about the other girls?
Fifteen years later, nightmares. Terrified, traumatized, drugged. Three saved from basement prison. Someone left their cousin in the hands of a monster. Secrets. Now, what will she tell?
Lizzie Snow has a lot on her plate. She is dealing with a forest fire out of control and now a local teen has gone missing (plus her men). A fourteen-year-old along with her older boyfriend. Lizzie is working with Dylan, a murder cop—she knows all too well about missing girls: the found ones, and the ones; never found. However, in this town, if she were a teen--she probably would have run herself.
Tara had taken off several other times and always returns; however, this time, they are not so sure. To make matters worse, Henry, a kidnapper and rapist escaped from a locked hospital ward in Connecticut, who had held three girls’ prisoner for fifteen years --has escaped and may be in Bearkill.
Tara thought of calling home, but she would explain when she returned home. Someone traps, cages, preyed upon women, and brutalizes them.
Then there is Tara’s mother, a desperate text—the mother is hiding something—more lies. Lizzie is getting annoyed. What is Peg (Tara’s mom) the volunteer firefighter lying about?
"Secrets like Peg's were like acid. They ate through you. If you kept them, they ate right through your soul."
Someone else is looking for Tara and Henry. A victim of the monster, Jane (survivor) is also hiding a secret.
Who is the real monster?
From past to present. A box, a grave, a motel, a fire. The case fifteen years ago, combines with the present. Sexual crimes. How are the two events connected? Dark, complex, clever and twisted.
Revenge! As always, Sarah Graves keeps you in suspense with multi-level mystery, crossing into psycho-thriller, with many twists and turns.
We continue to learn more about Lizzie’s haunting past, and her present situation. From her ongoing search for her niece, her old partner, and of course always plenty of new crimes and drama in Bearkill. Graves definitely knows her way around the Great North Woods.
Hoping Lizzie finds her niece in the next installment and decides on her man.
JDCMustReadBooks
Sarah Graves returns with more mystery and suspense, following Winter At the Door (recommend reading prior to #2) to learn the background of Lizzie Snow. A homicide detective, who has left Boston for Bearkill, Maine-- with her second installment, THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND, she continues to look for her niece who went missing after her sister was found murdered.
New Haven, CT: As the book opens we meet two cousins, fifteen-years-old—often mistaken for sisters. Their mothers were sisters. One was the good girl (Janie), attending knitting classes, always agonizing over her sins, the other (Cam) wild one, very good at convincing her to do bad things.
Leaving the youth group, they are abducted by a sexual predator and imprisoned in a basement with two other girls. Jane manages to escape and tells no one—while believing Cam is dead. But is she? And what about the other girls?
Fifteen years later, nightmares. Terrified, traumatized, drugged. Three saved from basement prison. Someone left their cousin in the hands of a monster. Secrets. Now, what will she tell?
Lizzie Snow has a lot on her plate. She is dealing with a forest fire out of control and now a local teen has gone missing (plus her men). A fourteen-year-old along with her older boyfriend. Lizzie is working with Dylan, a murder cop—she knows all too well about missing girls: the found ones, and the ones; never found. However, in this town, if she were a teen--she probably would have run herself.
Tara had taken off several other times and always returns; however, this time, they are not so sure. To make matters worse, Henry, a kidnapper and rapist escaped from a locked hospital ward in Connecticut, who had held three girls’ prisoner for fifteen years --has escaped and may be in Bearkill.
Tara thought of calling home, but she would explain when she returned home. Someone traps, cages, preyed upon women, and brutalizes them.
Then there is Tara’s mother, a desperate text—the mother is hiding something—more lies. Lizzie is getting annoyed. What is Peg (Tara’s mom) the volunteer firefighter lying about?
"Secrets like Peg's were like acid. They ate through you. If you kept them, they ate right through your soul."
Someone else is looking for Tara and Henry. A victim of the monster, Jane (survivor) is also hiding a secret.
Who is the real monster?
From past to present. A box, a grave, a motel, a fire. The case fifteen years ago, combines with the present. Sexual crimes. How are the two events connected? Dark, complex, clever and twisted.
Revenge! As always, Sarah Graves keeps you in suspense with multi-level mystery, crossing into psycho-thriller, with many twists and turns.
We continue to learn more about Lizzie’s haunting past, and her present situation. From her ongoing search for her niece, her old partner, and of course always plenty of new crimes and drama in Bearkill. Graves definitely knows her way around the Great North Woods.
Hoping Lizzie finds her niece in the next installment and decides on her man.
JDCMustReadBooks
sarah_reading_party's review against another edition
4.0
Awesome, dark mystery! I adore the Lizzie Snow series. Some parts of the story were a little confusing, but that's partially because of all the twists and turns in the plot. It would be helpful to have read the first book in the series before reading this one, just for the background details, but the stories themselves are independent of one another.