I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Girl in the Ground by Stacy Green Also by this author: The Girls in the Snow , One Perfect Grave, Lost Angels, The Trapped Ones
Series: Nikki Hunt #4
Also in this series: The Girls in the Snow , One Perfect Grave, Lost Angels, The Trapped Ones
Published by Bookouture on 1st December 2021
Genres: Contemporary, Crime, Suspense, Thriller
Pages: 266
Format: eARC
Source: from Netgalley
Goodreads
Amazon Kindle
She was beautiful: shiny blond hair, crystal blue eyes and the widest smile Nikki had ever seen. She thought back to what she had seen in the ground, the dirt that caked the white bones. All that remained of her now was the silver locket that was still around her neck…
When construction workers unearth a girl’s skeleton in Stillwater, Minnesota, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is called to the scene by her boyfriend Rory. Nikki knows instantly that the girl was murdered, but she is shocked when Rory immediately recognizes her. The victim was his childhood sweetheart, Becky, and he was the last person to see her before she went missing twenty-four years ago.
With the love of her life now a potential suspect, Nikki is forced to take a step back from the case. But then her colleague Liam finds lies in Rory’s statement – it appears that Becky may have been carrying Rory’s child when she was killed. Despite this, Nikki still thinks he could be innocent, and knows she must find the real killer herself if Rory stands any chance of walking free.
When Nikki finds a potential link to two pregnant girls who were found murdered years before it’s clear that this is the most twisted killer that she has ever faced. And then another girl goes missing from Stillwater. Can Nikki unearth the truth and protect the man she loves? And will she find the missing girl in time to save her life?
A dark and twisty crime thriller that will make you hold your breath as you race towards the end. The Girl in the Ground is an unputdownable new mystery for fans of Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Willow Rose.
Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour. I really enjoyed the first 3 books in this series and I have been eagerly awaiting this instalment. While this is the 4th book in the series this can be read as a standalone.
Nikki has returned from a leave of absence due to the circumstances of the end of the last book. Understandably Nikki feels a bit rusty but I think she returned stronger and more determined than ever.
I found Rory quite irritating in this book. I can see why he was distrustful but I don’t think he helped himself. I was sad not to see more of Courtney. I felt she didn’t get enough air time in this book. I really liked seeing more of Rory’s parents. I think it was good to get a bit more background on them.
The book has a very fast-moving plot. I easily read this book in only a few days. It’s so hard to put down as there’s always something happening that makes you want to keep reading.
Stacy does an excellent job of keeping up the suspense and the mystery. I was on edge for so much of this book. This was an excellent addition to an already brilliant series. I can’t wait to see what Stacy brings us next!
About Stacy Green
Stacy Green is the author of the Lucy Kendall thriller series and the Delta Crossroads mystery trilogy. ALL GOOD DEEDS (Lucy Kendall #1) won a bronze medal for mystery and thriller at the 2015 IPPY Awards. TIN GOD (Delta Crossroads #1) was runner-up for best mystery/thriller at the 2013 Kindle Book Awards. Stacy has a love of thrillers and crime fiction, and she is always looking for the next dark and twisted novel to enjoy. She started her career in journalism before becoming a stay at home mother and rediscovering her love of writing. She lives in Iowa with her husband and daughter and their three spoiled fur babies.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
@stacygreen26 Thanks so much!
I found Rory irritating also. He was not doing himself a favor at all.
Very good review.
Mine won’t be posted until the 3rd because of Bookouture tour.