Silent Girl

Detective Nikki Gill #2

by M.L. Rose

Her blonde hair was carefully arranged, forming a halo around her head. The young woman’s eyes were open, the blue of her pupils just about visible, fading in the wintry morning light. She looked stunned as if she couldn’t believe this had happened to her.

When Detective Nikki Gill is called to the crime scene of Charlotte Winspear, she finds the woman’s body in a secluded woodland at the top of a hill, her feet encased in heels without a speck of mud. Charlotte disappeared from a college party in an exclusive Oxford manor house the night before, and Nikki’s instincts tell her she didn’t die at this spot. So why did the killer bring Charlotte here?

As Nikki builds a picture of the student, she digs into Charlotte’s home life and discovers a wild child who was threatening to damage her father, Jacob’s reputation as a powerful local businessman. And that’s not all she finds… Charlotte was having an affair with her married teacher.

But just as Nikki starts to connect the secrets in Charlotte’s life and her father’s past, Charlotte’s friend is attacked and left for dead. Someone is silencing the women one by one.

With the media frenzy surrounding Charlotte’s murder and the killer on the loose, Nikki feels the weight of pressure like never before. She’s edging towards the truth, but is she also about to put her own life in grave danger?

A gripping and twisty crime thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night. Fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Matt Brolly will love Silent Girl.

Genres: Crime

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and storm publishing and the author M.L.Rose for an early copy of her book to read.


This is book two,enjoyed reading the first book.another great crime read.Detective Nikki Gill investigates a case of a woman murdered Charlotte Winspear a student at college, was she murdered by someone she knew,as Charlotte has many secrets.Her friend was attacked was it the same person that killed Charlotte? Another gripping read from this author, looking forward to reading more of her books...enjoyable series.

This book will be reviewed on goodreads and waterstone's...

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clever, but oh so sad story. M.L. Rose is very good at setting up red herrings, then shooting them down! There is a very tragic back story behind this murder, and gradually it is revealed. It is also interesting to see life at Oxford and a bit about life is conducted there. My regret is that I haven’t read the first book in the series. Although this reads well as a standalone novel, to get the full experience reading the first book would have been good. So I hope to read book one and look forward to book three, as I would like to spend more time with Nikki and co. Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to read Silent Girl by M.L. Rose in about a day. It held my interest as the story included a good plot, strong storytelling by the author, and believable characters.

The story had some good twists, which is what you want in a good mystery book.

Silent Girl is a solid addition to the Detective Nikki Gill series and a gripping crime thriller I would recommend.

#SilentGirl #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

[Laura (kroosreadsandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has lots of twists and turns and left the reader guessing on what the ending would look like. There were a lot of characters in the book which took some time to iron out. I could have done less with the horrific images at points in the story

Thanks so much to netgalley and Storm Publishing for the arc. The opinions are my own.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Nikki Gill is called to a crime scene. The victim is at Oxford and is the daughter of a businessman who is breaking into politics. Nikki and her team have to find the killer, but this story has a lot of twists and turns someone will do anything to get what they want. Some parts in books quite sad but another brilliant read from this author

[June Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second book in the series of DI Nikki Gill, recently transferred to TVP from the Met.

A great start when the body of a young girl, found in a secluded area, becomes the focus of a murder enquiry, with Nikki once again heading up the investigation.

I appreciate that I am definitely the minority, but this book was poorly written. Inconsistencies, bad dialogue, errors (Junction 10 not 15 is Walsall exit on M6, just one to name), and mediocre characters did nothing to help the plot along. Author does love a bit of gait analysis though!

I read and reviewed the first book in this series, Stolen Souls, and thought it a good read, but again with lots of errors and a clunky dialogue. Sadly this book seems to be of the same vein.

A good plot, poorly executed. A thorough edit and revisit needed.

4/5 for plot
1/5 for delivery

2.5* overall.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm.

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance copy of this thrilling read. This is book 2 in this new series featuring Detective Nikki Gill. It is based around Oxford. This is shaping up to be a very good series with lots of backstory about the main characters included as well as the current case being dealt with. I love that we are thrown straight into the action from the start. I look forward to carrying on reading this series and can't wait to see what comes next ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an engrossing story! Silent Girl mixes past and present explaining why characters take the actions they do. It's a story of a lack of love and respect among family members, that will lead to a string of crimes and murder. The story is fast-paced, easy to read, and well-written and got my attention from the beginning.
I thank Ms. Rose, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Silent Girl’ by ML Rose is the second Nikki Gill novel, and they are best read in order. This tale is told over dual timelines, and I welcomed the murderer's tragic backstory, which really does set the scene for what follows. Being set in Oxford we have an ideal backdrop for political shenanigans, the sometimes, dark world of the Oxford educational system in addition to the hectic private lives of Nikki and her team. The plot runs at a steady pace and there are a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing, and I felt the ending was a fitting climax. However, I do feel that the book needs to be polished, there are several inconsistencies and errors, that would benefit from a thorough edit.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent girl is a mystery novel by M.L Rose.
I really enjoyed this novel. It had a great story line that had a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end and a good cast of characters. A great novel that I highly recommend.
💖 Thank you to storm publishing, netgalley and the author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my approval to read and review this book.

Detective Inspector Nikki Gill has now been in Oxford several months and she is finding her feet within the team. Nikki is called out to a body of young woman found in the woods. Who is she? How did she end up here? Where did she die? What is her story? The story is full of plot twists and turns with a few red herrings thrown up along the way leading you to believe you know who the killer is. However, things don't go smoothly for Nikki and I found out I was completely wrong with my guess. It is well written with strong descriptions of characters and locations. The ending came as a surprise to me. I will be recommending this book.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second book in the Detective Nikki Gill series is as good, if not better, than the first. A female victim is found dead on the grounds of an Oxford manor where an exclusive party was held. Her name is Charlotte, and she was outspoken about her political beliefs which clashed with her ultra-conservative father, a prominent businessman. Nikki and her team discover that he’s quite ruthless as well, and they can understand why she was rebellious and unhappy at her family home. She lived with roommates and was enjoying university life until her time was tragically cut short. As the detectives delve into her life, they discover several suspects who each had a motive for silencing Charlotte. Nikki is ordered to tread lightly as usual, but she doesn’t care who she must take down to find justice for her victim.

Much like the first book in this series, this one was enjoyable and fast-paced. The crime is more complex than it seems at first and it’s not obvious who the perpetrator is. The characters actually talk like everyday people you know, and you can feel the camaraderie of the team that helps them through the darkest of situations. I am always happy to see a new release of a book by this author

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for offering me this ARC in exchange my honest review.

This book is a gripping and mysterious thriller that takes me on a wild ride. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seats. M.L. Rose does an excellent job of building the suspense and keeps the me guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed and the pacing is just right, with a perfect balance of action and lulls to build the tension that keeps the me hooked and wanting to know more. Conclusively, it is a must-read for fans of mystery and thriller genres. It is a page-turner that will keep you engrossed until the very end. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a crime and suspenseful read.

[Avidreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman is found murdered after a party in strange circumstances.

This was one of the books that makes me wonder if I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first one.
As a murder mystery, it is pretty solid and it had enough parts that were not obvious to keep me interested.

I love police procedural type books and this did not disappoint. I feel that there was enough suspense and action to keep you interested. I found that I felt that the author gave us enough misdirection to keep us on our toes, and described well what it is like to interact with people in a specific social circle.

I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next installment in the series.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Silent Girl, the second novel to feature DI Nikki Gill of Thames Valley Police.

A young woman’s body is found posed on a hillside outside Oxford. She has been strangled, but with no identification Nikki’s first task is to identify her and not without trouble they name her as Charlotte Winspear, an Oxford student and wild child with a budding politician as a father who doesn’t take kindly to her lifestyle and activities.

I thoroughly enjoyed Silent Girl, which is an absorbing read with plenty of twists, turns and misdirection. It also takes time to reflect on upbringing and the damage a parent can do. The novel is mostly told from the investigative point of view with some chapters flashing back to the events of Danny’s childhood. Who Danny is is not revealed until the last few chapters (and no, I didn’t guess) but these chapters are more illuminating than the usual backstory in crime fiction and worth a read.

The plot is interesting as the team need to focus on Charlotte’s life to get something to progress the investigation. There are no forensics so they need suspects. They end up with several possibles and each of them has enough shady behaviour to warrant suspicion. There seems to be a lot of chases as their suspects attempt to evade arrest - I was exhausted thinking about it! Gradually, however, they get to the truth, not fast enough to prevent a tense final showdown where everything is explained.

Chases aside there is plenty to occupy the reader. As I said there is plenty of shady behaviour, whether it’s Jacob Winspear’s machinations to get selected or the secrecy around the drinking club parties and what goes on at them and that’s before Charlotte’s murder and the death of her friend. It’s entertaining and I read it in one sitting.

Silent Girl is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Detective Nikki Gill investigates the murder of wild child heiress Charlotte "Lottie' Winspear who is found dead after the annual balls held by the not-so-secret Oxford drinking societies. Lottie was heavily involved in left-wing politics, much to the embarassment of her Tory counsellor father, Jacob.

Action seamlessly moves between Nikki and her team investigating the case, flashbacks to the unknown perpetrator, and Jacob's political machinations. Lots of twists and turns guessing who is who and while I did guess fairly early on who the perpertrator was, it was still a fun ride watching Nikki figure it all out.

While I haven't read the first book, it was easy enough to pick up on Nikki's backstory, especially her family background. There's also a side plot involving a growing attracting between Nikki and her former work nemesis Monty, as well as between her two detective constables. I don't mind these sub-plots, but two in the team seem a bit much, and I find this one is more of a tell than show between Nikki and Monty.

With its descriptions of Oxford and surroundings, as well as the well-paced plotting and action, I found this a thoroughly enjoyable read. The writing is engaging, the action moves at the pace you'd want in a crime novel. If you like reading Angela Marsons, this is the sort of series to get your teeth stuck into. I will definately be back for more of Nikki and her team.

Thanks to Storm and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the Detective Nikki Series from M.L. Rose. I did not read the first before and didn’t feel as though it impacted having read this first. There is likely more character development of Detective Nikki, her counterparts in the police force & those who immediately surround her, however there was plenty of character development in this that it wasn’t lacking. I actually really enjoyed the intertwined story lines. Along with the past & present telling of the stories of those involved.

The twists though I didn’t fully see coming. The woman’s own father was a disappointment. All the under handed political crap he was doing to move his career forward fully put his family at risk. That combined with his direct effect on his “step-children” and how that storyline crashes in to the main overarching crime solving story. I wasn’t expecting the twists and turns. When you think you have it figured out you don’t!

This book includes:
⭐ Multiple Story lines
⭐ Past & Present Storytelling
⭐ Overlapping Stories
⭐ Political gains & losses
⭐ Secret Socities of Oxford
⭐ The impact of addiction on children
⭐A murder that has multiple suspects including the woman’s father

overall I know this won’t be the only one I read! I plan to go back and read Book one now! I give it a 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley & @stormpublishing for the eARC of this for my honest review!

[Mackenzie Grier · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get into this book. I started reading it slowly, not a lot of excitement in the beginning when the investigation was just starting, and had to force myself to keep reading because the plot drew me in and I had to find out "whodunit". About halfway though, things started to escalate fast and I could not put the book down.

The author was great at drawing things out. When I thought we were finally going to be told who the culprit was, another twist would happen and the story kept going! I had a suspect from earlier in the story but in the last half there were twists and turns that had me doubting my suspected character and I kept changing my mind when other details came to light.

The flashback chapters into the murderer's backstory painted a shocking picture and had my jaw dropped a few times. They were heart-breaking and shocking, but definitely added essential details that were big clues later on.

Once I really got into the book and couldn't put it down, it played out just like one of my favourite British true crime shows, and made me love it even more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silent Girl, a Detective Inspector Nikki Gill novel by M. L. Rose takes our intrepid detective and her stalwart team back to Oxford University to investigate the death of a college student followed by a professor. I’m sure I’ve said something wrong in that sentence as pertains to Oxford, but the organization of that place is downright confusing. Rose does as good a job as anyone can explaining it, but that is neither here nor there. The story follows with additional deaths, secret societies that apparently actually exist in Oxford, and Detective Gill being captured again.

The mystery is enough to keep one on tenterhooks. You know who the killer is rather soon, but not who they are in the story. Confusing? Yes. Fodder for a twist and “killer” reveal (see what I did there…)? Also yes. A satisfying read? You bet.

I do have a gripe with this book, two actually. One is with this book in particular, the other is really about something with books that have strong female leads in general. As far as with this book, specifically, is going to the well of her brother’s death. This was resolved in the first book, and while I wouldn’t expect her to be over her grief, pulling in so many similarities in the very next book feels unnatural and unnecessary. Maybe something in a later book to reopen the wound, but not so close on the heels of the debut book.

My gripe about these types of books in general is that the female lead always gets caught and has to wait for her team or love interest to bail her out. Why? Why can’t the heroine either scape and take down the criminal on her own or come in with her team/a partner to back them up? I can’t imagine real-life officers make these mistakes so frequently.

That being said, I did really enjoy the book, though you might want to read the first one to understand the brother situation.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Netgalley & Storm Publishing for an eARC ♥️

"Silent Girl" is a bone-chilling crime thriller that will freeze your blood. From the opening scene, the atmosphere is heavy with dread, like a winter's fog that clings to your skin. Charlotte Winspear's lifeless body, arranged with a macabre precision, seems to whisper a haunting warning: "this is only the beginning".

As Detective Nikki Gill investigates, the truth unfolds like a cadaverous finger pointing at the darkest corners of human nature. The Oxford manor house, a bastion of privilege and power, conceals rotting secrets that threaten to consume everyone in their grasp.

With each page, the tension tightens like a noose, squeezing the air from your lungs. You'll feel the cold sweat of fear trickling down your spine as Nikki uncovers a web of deceit and corruption that leads to the highest echelons of society. And when another woman falls prey, the sense of urgency becomes a frantic scream in your mind.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in this series, set in Oxford. Nikki is the main investigator and is called out when a young woman is found dead. There is also the story of a young boy, living in poverty first with a drug addicted mother and later in foster care where he is abused. I was trying to guess who he became which added an extra dimension to the book. On the whole, I enjoyed this book , plenty to think about and shortish chapters which meant I read it quickly. The plot is intricate and believable.
Although this reads fine as a stand alone, it would be helpful to have read the first book in the series because this gives you more insight into Nikki's own situation . There is also more descriptio of other characters (her daughter, her ex, mother and other police detectives) in that book which was a bit thin on the ground in this book and the background does need explaining here.
A good read, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Winspear was the daughter of a rich Conservative aiming to become an MP. She did not agree with her father's politics & it was probably a good thing when she went to live at her Oxford college. When she is found at the top of a hill in high heels without a speck of mud DI Nikki Gill knows that this is not the scene of the crime. On investigation it seems she was at an exclusive Oxford Drinking Society party at a very large house. Details as to her movements seem to be sketchy & trying to uncover anything at Oxford University is never straightforward!

This is the second in the series. I really enjoyed the first one. I was really fascinated with the insight into the Colleges system in Oxford. The story was twisty with lots of dead ends. I'm not great at guessing whodunnit & this was no exception! I like Nikki & her team & look forward to meeting them again. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Pat Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book featuring Detective Nikki Gill. I enjoyed the first book and this one did not disappoint. A body of a young woman is found in the woods but Nikki soon realises that she has not been killed there as she was wearing high heels that had no trace of mud. Nikki discovers that the young woman was Charlotte Winspear. She was a student at the College and her father is a wealthy businessman and an aspiring politician with views that Charlotte does not agree with. Charlotte was a wild party girl and when her boyfriend disappears he becomes the main suspect. Nikki and her team soon realise that Charlotte had a lot of hidden secrets and was having an affair with a married college tutor. The book is told in dual timelines and is full of suspense, red herrings and twists and turns. A recommended read and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book,

[Maryann Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of Silent Girl by M.L. Rose; the publication date was February 26, 2024. I recommend that you get it as soon as possible if you enjoy a good suspense-filled story that will keep you turning the pages late into the night. It is the second book in Rose's Detective Nikki Gill series, and I hope that there will be many more.
DI Nikki Gill has recently left London following a personal tragedy, as well as being weary and frustrated by the ugliness and violence. She has only been serving in her new position for six months when she is notified that a young woman has been strangled, and while left in a posed position, there is no phone or identification with the body. As Nikki tells her team, the first forty-eight hours are critical to the success of solving the crime. Lo and behold the name of the victim is released on social media, despite the police department's efforts to keep it quiet. The victim is Charlotte Winspear, a beautiful twenty one year old college student, and the daughter of Beatrice and Jacob. Jacob is a wealthy and privileged man campaigning to become a member of Parliment. Charlotte's views lean toward communism, and she is outspoken and a bit radical in her beliefs, much to her father's disappointment and chagrin. The list of suspects include former boyfriends, her instructor and tutors, her flatmates, her dad- an extensive list for Nikki and her team to investigate.
Silent Girl is a fast-paced paced thriller full of suspense and many twists and turns. The characters are believable and relatable; the storyline is very well crafted; it is indeed a very satisfying read. 4 stars.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the Nikki Gill series, this is pretty solid, enjoyable police procedural.

Nikki and her team are called in to investigate the murder of a young woman. When her identity is revealed as a socialist and campaigner, who is the daughter of a prominent conservative MP. Could her father have been responsible for her death?

The story is told I’m two viewpoints, from the current day investigation and flashbacks into the murderer’s history. There are also a number of red herrings before the murderer is revealed.

There is a good balance between the investigation and the private lives of Nikki and her team. It would be nice if in future books we could know a little more about the team.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my review

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, which touches on the darker side of life at Oxford University, drew me in immediately. Though the novel is part of a series, the story reads well as a stand-alone. I really liked the main character, Nikki Gill, and her determination to discover the truth in spite of personal peril. The dual timelines, though confusing at first, enriched the narrative and eventually connected to the tragic events that unfolded.

The suspense builds steadily, keeping readers on the edge of their seats right up to the shocking (and sad) conclusion. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys police procedurals, a touch of academia, family secrets, and surprising conclusions.

Thank you @stormbooks_co and @netgalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing read. Its definitely a well written thriller/ mystery/ police procedural.... but it's also so much more. The characters have depth and dimension. I loved the storyline about the Oxford students and the world of the elite in itsself! Usually in these stories, someone is murdered but they're almost irrelevant so I loved that this really explores that side to it aswell. The main character is original and makes intelligent choices without being too predictable and the twists and turns kept me guessing throughout. I dont think I've read this series before but will definitely be looking out for it now

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silent Girl
by M.L. Rose
Pub Date: 26 Feb 2024

Many thanks to #SilentGirl #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for an E-ARC of author M.L. Rose's book: Silent Girl, Detective Nikki Gill Book 2.

The story had some great twists and turns, it was a totally addictive crime thriller and a solid addition to the Detective Nikki Gill series which I highly recommend!

Short Synopsis:

Her blonde hair was carefully arranged, forming a halo around her head. The young woman’s eyes were open, the blue of her pupils just about visible, fading in the wintry morning light. She looked stunned: as if she couldn’t believe this had happened to her.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the DI Nikki Gill series is a complex and suspenseful police procedural. Finding a young woman's body without identification means that Nikki and her team's first job is establishing who she is. Forensics are scarce, and the investigation has political implications and unwelcome media interest, which add to the complexities. The crimes are disturbing, and the story has many poignant events. I like the realistic team dynamic, the political Oxford setting and the detective's determination and drive to get justice for the victims.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an eARC of this book for my honest review.

This is my first time reading anything by this author. I did not read book 1. I hadn't realized at the time that Silent Girl was book 2 in the series. I think if I read the first book my opinion may be different. Though I feel this genre is not for me. I enjoy Thriller/Mystery, but Silent Girl felt more like a Murder Mystery.

I found it to be boring. I was losing interest. I read the first 30 chapters and then started to skim read to the end. I really wanted to finish it. This one was just not for me.

I gave it a 2.5 stars but rounded it up to a 3. It was just okay for me.