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She Belonged to Them
Martina Monroe knows some cases leave scars that never heal.
After a year that nearly destroyed her life and threatened her family, she’s sworn off anything that could pull her back into danger.
That is, until a desperate and heartbroken father walks into her office. His twenty-three-year-old daughter, Lena, is missing. The police are stalled, and he believes time is running out.
Martina tries to hand the case to another investigator, but the father refuses to give up. When Martina finally agrees, she does so reluctantly, convinced Lena is simply on an extended holiday and that she'll find her safe and sound.
But as soon as Martina starts investigating, doubt creeps in. Following a thread of half-truths, quiet warnings, and doors that slam shut the moment she starts asking questions, she is quickly drawn to Red Rose County, where Lena was last seen alive. That’s where she meets retired FBI agent Val Costa.
Together, they uncover something far more disturbing than one missing woman, and that Lena wasn’t taken by chance.
She was chosen.
And she wasn’t the first, and she won’t be the last.
As the danger closes in, Martina and Val realize the killer isn’t just watching their moves, he’s anticipating them. And if they don’t stop him soon, they may be next on the list.
A dark, gripping crime thriller for fans of Karin Slaughter, Freida McFadden, and Lisa Jewell.
After a year that nearly destroyed her life and threatened her family, she’s sworn off anything that could pull her back into danger.
That is, until a desperate and heartbroken father walks into her office. His twenty-three-year-old daughter, Lena, is missing. The police are stalled, and he believes time is running out.
Martina tries to hand the case to another investigator, but the father refuses to give up. When Martina finally agrees, she does so reluctantly, convinced Lena is simply on an extended holiday and that she'll find her safe and sound.
But as soon as Martina starts investigating, doubt creeps in. Following a thread of half-truths, quiet warnings, and doors that slam shut the moment she starts asking questions, she is quickly drawn to Red Rose County, where Lena was last seen alive. That’s where she meets retired FBI agent Val Costa.
Together, they uncover something far more disturbing than one missing woman, and that Lena wasn’t taken by chance.
She was chosen.
And she wasn’t the first, and she won’t be the last.
As the danger closes in, Martina and Val realize the killer isn’t just watching their moves, he’s anticipating them. And if they don’t stop him soon, they may be next on the list.
A dark, gripping crime thriller for fans of Karin Slaughter, Freida McFadden, and Lisa Jewell.
292 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2026
47 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
H.K. Christie
83 books516 followersH. K. Christie watched horror films far too early in life. Inspired by the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, true crime podcasts, and a vivid imagination she now writes suspenseful thrillers. When not working on her latest novel, she can be found eating & drinking with friends, walking around the lakes, or playing with her favorite furry pal.
She is a native and current resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.
The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.
www.authorhkchristie.com
The MARTINA MONROE series featuring Private Investigator Martina Monroe and her unofficial partner, Detective August Hirsch of the Cold Case Squad, is a nail-bing crime thriller series full of suspense. If you like high-stakes games, jaw-dropping twists, and embattled seekers struggling to do right, then you’ll love the thrilling Martina Monroe series.
The SELENA BAILEY series is a collection of suspenseful stories detailing one young woman's turbulent path to becoming a top-notch, kick-ass private investigator. If you like thrilling twists, dark tension, and smart and driven women, then you’ll love this new dark thriller series. A Permanent Mark is a suspenseful murder mystery featuring a grown-up Selena Bailey.
www.authorhkchristie.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 19, 2026
**review to come**
Review of advance copy received from Author
AMAZING!
Wow… I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor after those twists!
Did I love this book? Absolutely. Did I want it to end? Not even a little.
She Belonged to Them is, without a doubt, the best installment in the series so far. I’m honestly still reeling as I write this. The storytelling is flawless, completely immersive in a way that pulls you straight into the heart of the action. Every emotion, every moment felt vivid and real, which is exactly what every reader hopes for.
Martina’s journey was gripping, and the addition of retired FBI agent Val Costa was brilliant. Their dynamic added so much depth and intensity to the story.
This book is dark, fast paced, and incredibly intense. The tension builds so perfectly that I found myself on edge the entire time, completely unable to put it down. It’s the kind of story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Truly an incredible read. Do yourself a favor and pick it up, you won’t regret it.
A huge thank you to H.K. Christie for having me on the ARC team. With every book, I fall more in love with your writing.
Highly recommend!
Wow… I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor after those twists!
Did I love this book? Absolutely. Did I want it to end? Not even a little.
She Belonged to Them is, without a doubt, the best installment in the series so far. I’m honestly still reeling as I write this. The storytelling is flawless, completely immersive in a way that pulls you straight into the heart of the action. Every emotion, every moment felt vivid and real, which is exactly what every reader hopes for.
Martina’s journey was gripping, and the addition of retired FBI agent Val Costa was brilliant. Their dynamic added so much depth and intensity to the story.
This book is dark, fast paced, and incredibly intense. The tension builds so perfectly that I found myself on edge the entire time, completely unable to put it down. It’s the kind of story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
Truly an incredible read. Do yourself a favor and pick it up, you won’t regret it.
A huge thank you to H.K. Christie for having me on the ARC team. With every book, I fall more in love with your writing.
Highly recommend!
March 27, 2026
Combining drama, intrigue, and suspense, are some of the foundation pieces for this fast moving plot. Then add in two outstanding primary characters, each from a different series, and you have a heart-pounding, dynamic story. How brilliant of this author to write a story, combining two of her best ever protagonists from different series! Two strongwilled, determined and resilient women working together to solve the story’s case. Different members from each of their teams, also get involved in solving the story’s missing person case, which even enhanced the action and suspense. I hope Ms Christie creates more opportunities for Martina Monroe and Val Costa to join their incredible talent and skills in future books. They were able to come together, checking their ego at the door, and became an instant cohesive unit. It was impossible to put this book down. A must read! I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion. No one has asked me, or required me, to submit a review. It is my choice.
Review of advance copy
Y’all, Martina Monroe is done with danger… until a missing woman case pulls her right back in. What starts off feeling simple turns real fast—half-truths, slammed doors, and a case that just feels… off.
Then she meets retired FBI agent Val Costa 🔥 And LISTEN—their dynamic? Immediate respect, zero ego, all skill. From the moment Martina and Val meet, they just work. Sharp, intuitive, and completely in sync—it’s giving powerhouse duo energy and I ate it up.
The case itself is chilling—this isn’t random. These women are chosen, and the killer is always one step ahead 😳 You can feel the tension creeping in with every page.
Christie’s writing is tight, immersive, and quietly unsettling in that “something’s not right” kind of way—and it builds so well.
Creepy, smart, and impossible to put down. Yeah… I’m hooked.
Then she meets retired FBI agent Val Costa 🔥 And LISTEN—their dynamic? Immediate respect, zero ego, all skill. From the moment Martina and Val meet, they just work. Sharp, intuitive, and completely in sync—it’s giving powerhouse duo energy and I ate it up.
The case itself is chilling—this isn’t random. These women are chosen, and the killer is always one step ahead 😳 You can feel the tension creeping in with every page.
Christie’s writing is tight, immersive, and quietly unsettling in that “something’s not right” kind of way—and it builds so well.
Creepy, smart, and impossible to put down. Yeah… I’m hooked.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“She Belonged To Them” by H. K. Christie is such a fun, gripping read! I loved the crossover, seeing Martina team up with retired FBI agent Val Costa (she has her own separate series) added a whole new layer to the story. Even though Martina wasn’t supposed to take on new cases, she can’t turn down a desperate father, and what starts off as a seemingly simple search quickly spirals into something much darker and more dangerous.
This one is intense, fast-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The tension builds perfectly, and the stakes feel real from start to finish. Definitely a dark, thrilling ride I couldn’t put down!
This one is intense, fast-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The tension builds perfectly, and the stakes feel real from start to finish. Definitely a dark, thrilling ride I couldn’t put down!
March 27, 2026
Thank you so much H.K. for allowing me to be on your ARC team! H.K. does it again!! absolutely loved the mash up between Martina & Val!! The story is written fast paced, with being detailed so you can envision it all but not overly explained so you're still left guessing and it's a thrill to read! I feel like the ending is possibly a set up for maybe another book? Either way both of these characters in their usual style are superwoman! I absolutely love the strong female presence in all of her books, with intelligent and capable woman! this is written in as a series but personally I feel like it can still be read as a stand alone. 5 stars as usual! I can't wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Martina Monroe is not taking new cases for awhile...she needs to heal and regroup. Then a father insists only she can find his missing daughter. Nothing it seems but it does lead Martina and her assistant, step-daughter, Selena to Red Rose County and to retired FBI agent Val Costa. The deeper they dig the more things feel off...and then Martina is almost killed, more than once. When all is finally discovered it is way more disturbing than any of them could imagine.
(Thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy)
(Thanks to the author and publisher for an advance copy)
March 29, 2026
Martina is taking time off. After year fret with danger for her and her family she needed a break. But a man needs her help with his missing daughter. She reluctantly agrees to take the case and it leads her to Red Rose County where she meets Val Costa, a retired FBI agent. The two of them team up and discover this case goes much deeper than one missing person. They eventually realize the culprit is on to them and anticipating their moves. If they don’t catch him soon, they may be the next victim. A great mystery and wonderful crossover of two strong detectives.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I could not put this book down. In my opinion the best Martina Monroe book yet (and all 16 of them have been really good!)
Martina and Val Costa together are a dynamic duo. What starts out as a kidnapping investigation turns in to a nightmare. Read the whole series or read this as a stand a lone. You won’t regret it.
Martina and Val Costa together are a dynamic duo. What starts out as a kidnapping investigation turns in to a nightmare. Read the whole series or read this as a stand a lone. You won’t regret it.
March 22, 2026
If you haven’t read any of the Martina or Val books that’s okay but this one brings them together for a suspenseful twist. I loved to see how they met and interacted. I couldn’t put this book down. So many twists and turns. Just when they think they are safe, they aren’t. This is a must read in the series (and you can read it without reading the others)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another great book! I loved the crossover of Martina and Val and can’t wait for more from them. The twists in this one were insane and I truly couldn’t have predicted it. I’m definitely ready for the next one!
March 28, 2026
I’m still trying to catch my breath after reading this fast paced story. Kidnapping, murder, and a secret society combine to make this book 5++ stars. Loved it!
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Martina just wants to relax she has decided to stop working. Until a case comes to her, she can't refuse. This case requires extra help, Val Costa and her team get drawn in. Full of twists, tension building moments. Unexpected ending. Amazing characters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews