The Burning Girl

The Hollows Shorts #2

by Lisa Unger

From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger comes the second of three short stories about a psychic medium and the strange secrets she begins to uncover--for better or for worse.

Ten years after Eloise Montgomery discovers her psychic abilities, she is a full-fledged working psychic, with a partner and a business. Now, in The Burning Girl, she's discovering some disturbing things: secrets about her genealogy that are, perhaps, best left in the past; that her granddaughter Finley has powers of her own; and that not all of Eloise's visitors actually want to be helped. Some of them are just looking for trouble...

Writing with the same taut prose that earned her critical acclaim for her explosive thriller Beautiful Lies, Lisa Unger delivers a spellbinding story that will leave you wanting more.

Genres: Paranormal, Fiction, Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller, Audiobook, Novella

Audible Audio

First published November 25, 2014

About the author

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her upcoming release SERVED HIM RIGHT (March, 2026). With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.

Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

Reviews

[Delee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

THE BURNING GIRL is the second novella in the trilogy of short stories by Lisa Unger. It is also my least favorite of the three...but even my least favorite Lisa Unger...is still pretty darn good.



Ten years have past, and Eloise Montgomery is at a crossroads in her life- the strain of her "gift" is taking a toll, and her daughter Amanda has moved far away- distancing herself from her mother's abilities...but no amount of miles between them will change the fact that her own daughter- Finley- has powers of her own.



This was a little darker and a bit more unsettling than the first installment- and leaves things quite up in the air...So I was very glad that by the time I finished- I was able to slide right into #3...The Three Sisters.

Thank you NetGalley!

[Jülie ☼♄  · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series, wishing these books were longer!
This is book two in the Whispers trilogy and continues on where book one, "The Whispers" left off. The story just gets better and I'm now eagerly looking forward to the next.
These books are a prelude to Crazy Love You and should really be read first.
I highly recommend this series as a good compelling read.

5★s

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the trilogy.

Set ten years later, Eloise has come to terms with her psychic abilities and is working as an investigator.
But who is the ‘Burning Girl’ that keeps appearing...

This series is so good, spooky and riveting! Highly recommend!

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Unger ramps it up a notch in this, the second installment of her three part e-novella series The Whispers. After reading and loving the first part I was ready for more diving into this. It was better! I was immersed in the plot of this very quickly and drawn in by the creepy moments that are many in the book. This one gave me goosebumps.

Ten years after Eloise Montgomery discovers her psychic abilities, she is a full-fledged working psychic, with a partner and a business. Now, in The Burning Girl, she’s discovering some disturbing things: secrets about her genealogy that are, perhaps, best left in the past; that her granddaughter Finley has powers of her own; and that not all of Eloise’s visitors actually want to be helped. Some of them are just looking for trouble…

Eloise meets The Burning Girl, glad she did, because I don't want to. What does The Burning Girl want of her? As she begins to investigate, can she actually help? What will she uncover?.

With taut prose, developing characters and a really engaging plot The Burning Girl captured me totally from the first word to the last, I was fully engaged and on board. There feels like there is more of the ghostly supernatural element in this one, it has that creepy feel to a lot of it.

I am really enjoying this series and keen to read the third and final installment to see what it all leads to.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, many thanks.

Thanks so much for reading my review! If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.🐱

** “She needed books like others
need air to live” **

[M. Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nicely crafted novella that has some creepy moments. It's an enjoyable read if you like paranormal fiction, but it leaves you with quite a few open threads. I'm thinking part three;)

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part two of a trilogy and a very short story, but pretty entertaining. The audiobook narration is fantastic. On to part 3.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Pocket Books for an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

The Burning Girl is the 2nd novella in The Whispers trilogy by Lisa Unger. I very much enjoyed this installment of the character-driven series. The Burning Girl revolves around Eloise, Ray, Agatha, Miriam, and the mysterious Burning Girl. This novella takes place 10 years after the first. I am not sure why Ms. Unger chose to jump ahead so far in time. Eloise has clearly aged and has been through some difficult times. I would have liked to have followed Eloise and her daughter Amanda over this timeframe to see exactly how they ended up where they are 10 years later. Clearly, a lot has happened, and I do love the way this is made clearly evident by Eloise's thoughts and emotions. Despite the significant time gap, I found the storyline very intriguing, and it held my interest from page one all the way to the end.

I look forward to picking up the story again in the 3rd part of the trilogy, The Three Sisters, expected out in early January 2015. Normally it would irritate me to have to wait and get another book to finish the story, but in all fairness, Ms. Unger made it clear from the get go that this narrative spans 3 novellas; in addition, book two ends at a good place and does not feel like a traditional cliffhanger.

I recommend The Whispers triology for all mystery fans who like or do not mind a paranormal slant.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Things are starting to get stranger in this second installment of The Whispers series. A new layer to the story is introduced, and it's pretty freaky. In an awesome way. The story delves deeper into characters' emotions, and the toll that certain 'gifts' can take on a person. The main character is likeable, and the secondary characters are surprisingly well-developed. I'm excited to read the last installment.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burning Girl by Lisa Unger is a 2014 Pocket Star publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This second book in the Whispers trilogy picks up ten years later as Eloise Montgomery is now a famous psychic who sees dead people. The story is sad because Eloise is still grieving for the husband and child she lost, while the “gift” she has drains all her energy, has put distance between herself and her surviving daughter, and people either depend on her too strongly or she is considered a quack and a pariah, often regarded with suspicion.

But, when she sees a young girl who gives off an odor like someone who emerged from a fire, she is especially troubled, and unsettling revelations begin to emerge about Eloise's background as she discovers her granddaughter may have inherited her special gift.

This second book was just bit off kilter for me compared to the first book, but still very absorbing and chilling. I did not really care for Ray that much, and of course I feel Eloise has been robbed of a peaceful, happy life after having suffered so much. But, there is a third installment and hopefully Eloise will find some kind relief, maybe some answers to her questions, and perhaps a bit more than mere contentment in her life, but even that would be an improvement. Overall I think this book is a bridge to the third and final book, and has set the stage for what is sure to be a compelling read. 4 stars

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars out of 5

This is part 2 of The Whispers Trilogy.

Eloise Montgomery has her gift of foresight and has developed a business with sheriff, now retired, Ray Muldune. Their business has helped law enforcement and private citizens to find missing persons. Eloise and Ray have also begun a romantic relationship. Agatha is a new character who helps Eloise learn to deal with her gift and the spirits who visit such as the burning girl. In this installment, Ray and Eloise are working on a case of a missing wife while Eloise is trying to deal with the burning girl - a very angry spirit.

What I enjoyed in this novella is the characters - Eloise, Ray, Agatha and Eloise's daughter and granddaughter, and how each of them deal with 'the gift' which is also a curse. What I did not enjoy was the big jump ahead in time from the previous novella. Fourteen years have passed and while it's easy to follow the story, as I stated earlier, I like the characters and want to be more invested in them. But then, it wouldn't be a novella/ short story trilogy anymore but a full length novel. Conundrum, right? I recommend to those who enjoy a bit of mystery/paranormal story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Pocket Books for an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am usually not one to jump right into books with psychics or about the subject, however, I have found that I absolutely love this short story series!!

The Burning Girl is book #2 of The Whispers series, and finds Eloise Montgomery, several years after discovering the whispers and her "psychic abilities". I fell in love with reading about this family after the first story, so I was slightly disappointed to read about so much lapsed time since the first book, almost twenty years! Disappointment aside, for a short story, Lisa Unger quickly delivered a great mysterious short story, leaving nothing out!

It's hard to find a good short story, but I believe Lisa Unger has mastered the ability to write them! I love this series and can't wait to read the last of this short story series, The Three Sisters!

For a more in depth review, please visit my blog Chorley Chronicals!!

[Victoria (RedsCat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Burning Girl is the second in the The Whispers short story trilogy. It's 10 years later in Eloise Montgomery's life.

Lisa Unger has created such a nice character in Eloise - and I mean that in every sense of the good way of being nice. She is giving and kind and thoughtful. And she's "different". Not by choice but by happenstance. And dang it, I felt so much concern for her. Every bit she gives takes away takes something from her.

I'm anxiously awaiting the third and final installment. I really wish there would be more.

Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Next in the Hollows stories, Whispers was first and this one takes place 10 year later. Eloise is still learning how to use he special skills and has found out more about her family background. When her own young grand-daughter shows evidence of the same skills, Eloise must prepare herself for the talk with her own daughter who tries to distance herself from Eloise and her abilities.

Good, entertaining series.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.95 If you like stories about psychics and/or mediums, you will like this. Some of the deaths are painful to hear about and not all the crimes Eloise assists with have a happy ending. This part two of the series audio book is well narrated.

[Corrine-The Book Broad (❁´◡`❁) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Bookschatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Burning Girl is the second instalment of an e-novella in three parts, which follows the life of psychic Eloise Montgomery, one of the pivotal characters in the "Jones Cooper" Series ("Fragile" and "Darkness, My Old Friend").

The story picks up ten years on from The Whispers, and although Eloise Montgomery has become accustomed to her abilities there is much more to be learnt about the entities who contact her and about her own family.

Once again this is a very flowing, quick and captivating read, however I felt that this story was rather insipid and too incomplete, and therefore I did not find it as satisfying as the previous offering.

Hopefully all will become clear in the final part, "The Three Sisters".



This item also contains a preview of Crazy Love You, which will be released after http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MZAS04G/. Crazy Love You is set in New York and in the Hollows (just like the Whispers Trilogy), and it will feature Eloise Montgomery and Jones Cooper, along side the two protagonists Ian and Priss.

[Arc provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley]

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Burning Girl" is the second in The Whispers series, taking place ten years after "The Whispers".

Eloise is now a professional psychic and her daughter Amanda and her new family live across the country. Eloise's daughter is married with two children, but has moved away, unable to deal with her mother's visions. Eloise has learned to use her visions when she can, but now she has a vision that she can't get rid of...the Burning Girl. This girl is full of rage and a danger to Eloise...and now her granddaughter is having visions.

In this novella, we are introduced to two new characters, Agatha and Ray.Eloise has a partner, Agatha, her mentor that tries to protect her in the spirit world. Eloise is in business with the local cop Ray, who opened a private investigation business, and uses the help of Eloise to assist with solving the crimes, based on her gift. He also is a regular in her life.

Agatha sparks questions in Eloise, questions of who Eloise received her talents from and now she is curious and starts her genealogical search. What she finds answers her questions, but what she was not prepared for was her granddaughter Finley having the same visions.

This second book in the planned trilogy let me down. It was not as satisfying as the first. Too many questions left unanswered. Maybe that was the point, to deal with these unanswered questions in the last book. I felt the ten years span from the first novella to the second novella, left a gap...I would have liked to have known a little more about what happened between the first book and the second. I feel this information is lacking and would have enriched the story.

I want to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Pocket Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley

Release date: November 25 th

A good follow up to "Whispers", "the burning girl" takes place ten years after the events of the first short story.

A thing that you won't find in these stories is any resemblance to the TV series "Ghost whisperer"...just in case someone thinks about that ~which may...or may not, have happened to me~

There's no talking with ghosts in this series. No semblance of an HEA in the end of an episode.

In fact, this short, manages to be even darker and sadder than the first short.

Eloise still hasn't managed to let go of her pain, and the whole business of occasionally being able to help people through her visions, sits like a heavy burden on her shoulders.

She has a friend to whom she can turn to, and someone who likes her, but she has become estranged from her daughter, and all the visions she keeps having just keep draining her.

And then a child appears. An angry girl, the burning girl...

I was really invested in this storyline!

It was creepy, and scary, and I was looking forward in seeing what was going to happen!
Which I guess was naive of me, because these stories are not that type....
You know...the type that gets solved with a pretty bow on top?
o_O

Despite that, I am still looking forward in reading the third short story ( The Three Sisters) that will be released in January.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

In "The Burning Girl," Eloise discovers some disturbing secrets about her family history-- and the fact that her granddaughter has powers of her own. Moreover, while she's learning these secrets, Eloise is also learning that not all of her visitors are looking for help. Some of them just seem to be inclined to be troublemakers.

As in "The Whispers," Unger continues to tell the story of Eloise and how she's managed to cope with the deaths of her husband and eldest daughter. Ten years have passed, and although she's learned to use her gift to help others and to keep herself focused, part of her is still shut away from others. Part of this is due to the fact that she shuns the spotlight. She wants to use her gift to benefit those who truly need her, not as some public relations stunt to bring herself fame and money. However, other reasons for her closing herself off could very well be that she hasn't recovered enough from her loved ones' deaths... and she's not willing to share this often misunderstood part of her life in a deep relationship with anyone else.

Eloise is a good person, and I've really enjoyed getting to know her in these short stories. The paranormal aspects are well done and work to increase both tension and understanding. With the possibility that her granddaughter has inherited her own powers, I look forward to reading the next short story in this series.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed First at Brunner's Bookshelf

I got this email from Netgalley offering two novellas from Lisa Unger. The premise for these two books was to not judge a book by its cover so there wasn't one when these came available on Netgalley for request. I really liked this idea. I must admit that a really good cover can make me want to read a book or on the flip side make me avoid a book at all costs no matter how interesting it might sound. I threw my name in for these and was fortunate enough to be selected to review this and the other book.

I was intrigued by the idea of a psychic who is finding out dark secrets about her past while trying to figure out the mystery behind the burning girl she keeps seeing. I didn't realize it at the time I started this but this is the second book in the Whispers series. I read these two a little out of sequence but to be honest I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything. This book reads like a single story and I didn't feel like there was stuff in this book that I would only know if I read the first one.

I will be reading the first part of this series because I was lucky enough to be granted these from the publisher for a fair review through NetGalley. I think I will stop just there. This one isn't really mu cup of tea. Still I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. Short review for a short story.

[Carmen Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was sitting on my porch listening to the rain when I decided to start the Burning Girl. Four hours later my husband peeks out asking if I am going to come in anytime soon. I was shocked how much time went by. This is a credit to Lisa Unger and her smooth, fluid, and enthralling style of writing. Seriously?How I have never read a Lisa Unger book before?

In The Burning Girl I was introduced to Eloise who has psychic abilites. She is a kind hearted sweet lady who tries to help every spirit/ghost that seeks her out but sometimes it just isn't that easy. The Burning Girl is young and full of rage. Together with her Private Investigator friend they uncover what truly happened to this girl who is surround by and is literally on fire.

This book had everything I love in a story. Fantastic writing, smart dialogues, believable characters, mystery, ghosts, and a quick pace that never leaves me bored. I am impatient reader and cannot stand it when a story line is drug out to the point where I start skipping and skimming to get to the conclusion. Lisa Unger had me hanging on every word. As soon as I finished this story I went to her website and Amazon where I quickly purchased 4 of her books. If you have yet read anything by Unger, start with The Whispers and the read The Burning Girl.

[Jann Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first I have read anything by Lisa Unger, but won't be the last! I didn't realize that The Burning Girl was a short story, as I didn't pay attention to the title page and just jumped right in. It is also the second of three stories that span a thirty year period.

Unger uses her words well. If a reader is new to this trilogy, Unger manages to give background without retelling everything relating to Eloise from the first story, The Whispers. Her characters ring true, and even if you are skeptical about psychics, you will enjoy Unger's storytelling abilities.

I also enjoyed the fact that things weren't necessarily tied up in tidy packages by the end of the story. In fact, when I turned the page and realized there was no more to The Burning Girl, I said, "What?" and flipped back in case I had missed something. I like how Eloise handled the variety of situations that cropped up in this story.

I would recommend this to other readers. It might be good to being with The Whispers; since these are stories, they move quickly.

Sometimes, you just have to let go.

[Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling · Rating 5 out of 5]

My View:
The perfect accompaniment to Crazy Love You.

In the last few day I have read the short The Whispers, followed by the novel Crazy Love You and now the second short story, The Burning Girl; I can see how the series of shorts and the book all fit together perfectly and each book enriches the reading experience of the other. If I had realised the importance of the short stories to the novel I would have read the two short stories first.

The Burning Girl – we learn so much more about Eloise and her “gift” and her life and some details about the Burning Girl that are only hinted at in the novel. This is an exciting read. I still hope that Eloise’s story becomes a novel in its own right – there is the potential for so much more to be told here. Loved it.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The potential is there, I'm just waiting for it to show up. I've heard she's a great crime/mystery writer so maybe I should've started with one of those. This is Unger doing somewhat mystery, somewhat paranormal. The second installment in three, short novellas that lead up to Crazy Love You. I'm confused by how this one just ended the storyline of The Burning Girl without explanation to what was going on. Maybe it will be picked up in the third? Since they are short, I will continue on to The Three Sisters. Hopefully, it will redeem the first two novellas and make me want to read more Unger.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a little disappointed with this one 10 years has passed and you don't find out anything about the burning girl or what happened to the baby

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Burning Girl by Lisa Unger
2h narrated by January LaVoy, 60 pages
The Whispers #2

Genre: Fantasy > Paranormal; Mystery, Short Stories, Thriller > Mystery Thriller; Novella, Suspense

Featuring: Adult Children, I See Dead People, Psychic

Rating as a movie: PG-13 for adult content and off-camera violence

My rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️👻

My thoughts: This continues about 10 years after the first novella. It was okay. Overall it felt incomplete to me, like a transition story without resolution.

Recommend to others?: If you start you might as well finish.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
As with The Whispers, this is a well-written book by a great writer, but I don't care for the psychic/paranormal storyline. If I would have realized the way these books were headed I wouldn't have chosen to review them. If you like that sort of thing, these are great books.


I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Jennice Mckillop · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3 star read. A bit disappointing after the 1st in the trilogy. The burning girl in the story is petulant & unclear in her motive. The Schaefer character is petulant & controlling & abusive. Nick, the husband/Father character is overly protective & non effective. Eloise’s love interest is a kind man & saves the book from being dark & useless.
A novella of no consequence. Nothing happening to make this meaningful except for a hint that Eloise’s granddaughter also has the gift.
There lies the only reason I’ll read the 3rd book.

[Cecily Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella but I am having a harder time getting into them because they end before I get a chance to really care about the characters. This story reminds me a bit of a Lisa McMann or Lois Duncan story but still looking forward to finishing the story off. meh

[Wonda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3...I can NOT believe how these shorts feel like full length novels, but in a good way!! Just leaves me wanting more...Definitely worth the quick read!