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Lizzie Snow #2
The Girls She Left Behind
Sure to thrill readers of Jenny Milchman, Linda Castillo, and Lisa Gardner, The Girls She Left Behind marks the return of ex–Boston homicide detective Lizzie Snow, the new sheriff’s deputy in Maine’s Great North Woods.
For Lizzie Snow, the ice and snow of her first punishing North Woods winter are dreadful enough. But near the small town of Bearkill a stubborn forest fire now rages out of control, and as embers swirl dangerously in the smoke-filled air, a teenage girl with a history of running away has dropped out of sight again. The locals and the law both think Tara Wylie is up to her old tricks—until her mother receives a terrifying text message.
Equally Henry Gemerle—a kidnapper and rapist who once held three girls prisoner for fifteen years—has escaped, and may be lurking in Bearkill. As the fire closes in, Lizzie teams up with her boss, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, and state cop Dylan Hudson to search for the missing girl and the wily fugitive. But they’re blocked by Tara’s mother, a frustrating teller of needless lies and keeper of dark, incomprehensible secrets.
Following a trail of grisly clues—a bloodstained motel room, a makeshift coffin in a shallow grave—Lizzie is drawn ever closer to the flames in her race to save an innocent and corner a monster. Someone else also wants to find Tara Wylie and Henry Gemerle, though, for reasons that have nothing to do with mercy or justice. And when they all meet, the inferno threatening Bearkill will pale in comparison to the hell that’s about to break loose.
For Lizzie Snow, the ice and snow of her first punishing North Woods winter are dreadful enough. But near the small town of Bearkill a stubborn forest fire now rages out of control, and as embers swirl dangerously in the smoke-filled air, a teenage girl with a history of running away has dropped out of sight again. The locals and the law both think Tara Wylie is up to her old tricks—until her mother receives a terrifying text message.
Equally Henry Gemerle—a kidnapper and rapist who once held three girls prisoner for fifteen years—has escaped, and may be lurking in Bearkill. As the fire closes in, Lizzie teams up with her boss, Sheriff Cody Chevrier, and state cop Dylan Hudson to search for the missing girl and the wily fugitive. But they’re blocked by Tara’s mother, a frustrating teller of needless lies and keeper of dark, incomprehensible secrets.
Following a trail of grisly clues—a bloodstained motel room, a makeshift coffin in a shallow grave—Lizzie is drawn ever closer to the flames in her race to save an innocent and corner a monster. Someone else also wants to find Tara Wylie and Henry Gemerle, though, for reasons that have nothing to do with mercy or justice. And when they all meet, the inferno threatening Bearkill will pale in comparison to the hell that’s about to break loose.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
257 people are currently reading
1377 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Graves
34 books794 followersSarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she's not writing Jake's adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
August 11, 2017
This is book two in the "Lizzie Snow" series. It worked out okay as a stand-alone but having a bit of background on Detective Lizzie Snow's past may have helped me understand a few things a bit more, but for the most part it was fine.
In the prologue (which takes place fifteen years ago) we meet Janie and Cam. Fifteen-year-old cousins living in New Haven, Connecticut. The girls spend a lot of time together. Janie is a good girl who always obeys her mother, does all of her homework on time, confesses all of her minor sins, and is tries her best to be perfect. Cam on the other hand, smokes cigarettes, drinks, and is always getting into some kind of trouble. Cam is also very good at persuading Janie to try things she never would have otherwise. Cam has no fear, which scares Janie sometimes.
One night that fearlessness gets both girls into serious trouble....
Fifteen years later, Lizzie Snow, a homicide detective has joined a police force in Bearkill, Maine to look for her missing niece. At the moment forest fires are out of control and there is a threat of evacuation. Now a local teen with a previous history of running away has gone missing. The mother of the missing teen is acting very strangely, she seems to be holding something back.
On top of that they are also searching for a man who has escaped from a mental institution, Henry Gemerle. Gemerle is a kidnapper and rapist. Is it possible he's connected to the missing teen?
Told from a few different perspectives, at first I had a bit of trouble following along. I wasn't always sure whose view I was reading, but eventually I caught on. The multiple story lines were all interesting and I was excited to find out how they were all related.
This book really made me think about what I would do in certain situations that came up. Would I put myself first at all costs? I'd like to think I would think of others first, but who's to say in the heat of the moment (an EXTREMELY scary moment) what I would do. I'm pretty sure that I'd have a difficult time keeping something so important to myself. I know this sounds cryptic but I don't want to give anything away.
"The Girls She Left Behind" was a compelling read with some very unique characters and some very clever twist and turns.
Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing and violent scenes. However, I don't feel like the author went overboard with too many graphic descriptions. All in all, this was a very intense and satisfying read. A story of dark secrets, murder, redemption, and revenge! I look forward to reading more from Sarah Graves
In the prologue (which takes place fifteen years ago) we meet Janie and Cam. Fifteen-year-old cousins living in New Haven, Connecticut. The girls spend a lot of time together. Janie is a good girl who always obeys her mother, does all of her homework on time, confesses all of her minor sins, and is tries her best to be perfect. Cam on the other hand, smokes cigarettes, drinks, and is always getting into some kind of trouble. Cam is also very good at persuading Janie to try things she never would have otherwise. Cam has no fear, which scares Janie sometimes.
One night that fearlessness gets both girls into serious trouble....
Fifteen years later, Lizzie Snow, a homicide detective has joined a police force in Bearkill, Maine to look for her missing niece. At the moment forest fires are out of control and there is a threat of evacuation. Now a local teen with a previous history of running away has gone missing. The mother of the missing teen is acting very strangely, she seems to be holding something back.
On top of that they are also searching for a man who has escaped from a mental institution, Henry Gemerle. Gemerle is a kidnapper and rapist. Is it possible he's connected to the missing teen?
Told from a few different perspectives, at first I had a bit of trouble following along. I wasn't always sure whose view I was reading, but eventually I caught on. The multiple story lines were all interesting and I was excited to find out how they were all related.
This book really made me think about what I would do in certain situations that came up. Would I put myself first at all costs? I'd like to think I would think of others first, but who's to say in the heat of the moment (an EXTREMELY scary moment) what I would do. I'm pretty sure that I'd have a difficult time keeping something so important to myself. I know this sounds cryptic but I don't want to give anything away.
"The Girls She Left Behind" was a compelling read with some very unique characters and some very clever twist and turns.
Readers should be aware that there are some disturbing and violent scenes. However, I don't feel like the author went overboard with too many graphic descriptions. All in all, this was a very intense and satisfying read. A story of dark secrets, murder, redemption, and revenge! I look forward to reading more from Sarah Graves
January 14, 2016
I read Sarah Graves' first book in the Lizzie Snow series last year. I found it a bit messy and meandering, but liked Lizzie and the rural Maine setting enough to want to give her second book a try. And I'm glad I did. The Girls She Left Behind is MUCH better. It has a tight strong plot and was a real page turner. Two cousins are abducted in New Haven 15 years ago. A girl goes missing in today's Bearkill, Maine. The two events are connected, but the connection is complicated, twisted and clever. The story is told from many different points of view, so the reader often knows more than Lizzie, which works really well. I don't want to give anything away, but it's a mystery with all the right ingredients: many times over things are not as they seem, there are some pretty twisted characters, and the plot keeps going in unexpected directions. Like any fictional detective, Lizzie has her own issues, but they are by way of context and they don't overwhelm the plot. For those who are squeamish about violence, nasty things happen to some of the characters, but Graves does a good job avoiding graphic descriptions, which I really appreciate. Now I'm hooked on this series and I will happily read the next one. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.
October 10, 2016
Lizzie Snow is back in The Girls She Left Behind the sequel to Winter at the Door. This time, she has to find Tara Wylie a young girl that has gone missing. She has disappeared before so no one is worried at first, but then Tara's mother gets a Help Me text message from Tara and the timing couldn't be worse; kidnapper Henry Gemerle has escaped and he has previously held three girls captive for 15 years. Is he the one behind Tara's disappearance?
I read the first book in this series at the beginning of 2015 and loved and have been looking forward to reading the next book in series since then. Lizzie Snow is still searching for her missing niece, but she is thinking of moving from Bearkill back to Boston after everything that happened in Winter at the Door, but then Tara sends a help message to her mother and she has to put every thought about the future on hold to find the girl.
This is a page-turner from the start and I loved that, it's never a dull moment, though I did feel sometimes a bit frustrated by some people's inability, to tell the truth, but that's part of the story. I like that Lizzie's relationship with Dylan hasn't turned romantic and that Trey is still there a good friend and perhaps something more in the future. I especially like that this hasn't turned into a triangle drama. Lizzie's personal life is not the focus in this book, the missing girl is and that's something that I'm happy about. Of course, there are moments between Lizzie and Dylan and Lizzie and Trey. But they are not dominating the book. And, this is a series where I actually like both guys so it will be interesting to read future books to see what will happen. And, I'm very curious about Lizzie's niece that's missing, will she ever find her?
The case with the missing girl was was interesting and the story took turns that I didn't always expect and sometimes turns that I suspected. And, the ending is, well let's just say that like the first book is the ending packed with action.
You don't have to read the first book; Winter at the Door, to keep up with what is going on in this book. But the first book is really good so I recommend reading it if you get the chance.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
I read the first book in this series at the beginning of 2015 and loved and have been looking forward to reading the next book in series since then. Lizzie Snow is still searching for her missing niece, but she is thinking of moving from Bearkill back to Boston after everything that happened in Winter at the Door, but then Tara sends a help message to her mother and she has to put every thought about the future on hold to find the girl.
This is a page-turner from the start and I loved that, it's never a dull moment, though I did feel sometimes a bit frustrated by some people's inability, to tell the truth, but that's part of the story. I like that Lizzie's relationship with Dylan hasn't turned romantic and that Trey is still there a good friend and perhaps something more in the future. I especially like that this hasn't turned into a triangle drama. Lizzie's personal life is not the focus in this book, the missing girl is and that's something that I'm happy about. Of course, there are moments between Lizzie and Dylan and Lizzie and Trey. But they are not dominating the book. And, this is a series where I actually like both guys so it will be interesting to read future books to see what will happen. And, I'm very curious about Lizzie's niece that's missing, will she ever find her?
The case with the missing girl was was interesting and the story took turns that I didn't always expect and sometimes turns that I suspected. And, the ending is, well let's just say that like the first book is the ending packed with action.
You don't have to read the first book; Winter at the Door, to keep up with what is going on in this book. But the first book is really good so I recommend reading it if you get the chance.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
January 23, 2016
I received The Girls She Left Behind by Sarah Graves from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Bantam Books, and Sarah Graves for the opportunity.
The main character of Lizzie Snow tugged on my sleeve from the first book in the series, Winter at the Door. Lizzie enters the scene as a more-than-capable, self-driven, focused woman who previously worked for the Boston Police Department. She becomes a transplant to the piney woods of Bearskill, Maine to work in the local police department. Lizzie carries the weight of the death of her sister and the constant search for her missing niece. You don't have to read the first book in order to enjoy the second in the series.
The story begins with lies. Doesn't that always beckon in the bearer of danger and sinister acts? And two cousins, Cam and Janie, are no exceptions to the draw of untruths. They resemble one another in looks, but oh, there is a difference. Janie would say in reference to Cam, "She was dancing to the beat of some music I couldn't hear." And yet, Janie may hear the high pitch of notes unknown to others as well. The two cousins, inadvertently, set the tone of concentric circles forming like a pebble thrown into a brook.
Lizzie knows nothing of these two cousins, but she does know that there is a missing fourteen year old girl now in Bearkill. Although young Tara has run out before, her mother, Peg Wylie, reports that there is no sign of her this time. Lizzie begins her investigation, but something tells her that Peg is being plain deceitful about details. The more patterns of lies that Peg weaves, the more impossible it becomes to find the missing Tara.
Sarah Graves slowly shifts the introduction of the characters that intersperse her wickedly good storyline. How do these two elusive cousins figure into the plot? Don't take anything at face value. What appears on the surface may have tenacles far-reaching below. What transpires here will keep you turning pages and the ending is certainly not a let-down.
Ms. Graves has a winner in her main character of Lizzie Snow. I know that this fan base is rising now that there is a second book in the series. Keep 'em coming, Sarah Graves, keep 'em coming.
The main character of Lizzie Snow tugged on my sleeve from the first book in the series, Winter at the Door. Lizzie enters the scene as a more-than-capable, self-driven, focused woman who previously worked for the Boston Police Department. She becomes a transplant to the piney woods of Bearskill, Maine to work in the local police department. Lizzie carries the weight of the death of her sister and the constant search for her missing niece. You don't have to read the first book in order to enjoy the second in the series.
The story begins with lies. Doesn't that always beckon in the bearer of danger and sinister acts? And two cousins, Cam and Janie, are no exceptions to the draw of untruths. They resemble one another in looks, but oh, there is a difference. Janie would say in reference to Cam, "She was dancing to the beat of some music I couldn't hear." And yet, Janie may hear the high pitch of notes unknown to others as well. The two cousins, inadvertently, set the tone of concentric circles forming like a pebble thrown into a brook.
Lizzie knows nothing of these two cousins, but she does know that there is a missing fourteen year old girl now in Bearkill. Although young Tara has run out before, her mother, Peg Wylie, reports that there is no sign of her this time. Lizzie begins her investigation, but something tells her that Peg is being plain deceitful about details. The more patterns of lies that Peg weaves, the more impossible it becomes to find the missing Tara.
Sarah Graves slowly shifts the introduction of the characters that intersperse her wickedly good storyline. How do these two elusive cousins figure into the plot? Don't take anything at face value. What appears on the surface may have tenacles far-reaching below. What transpires here will keep you turning pages and the ending is certainly not a let-down.
Ms. Graves has a winner in her main character of Lizzie Snow. I know that this fan base is rising now that there is a second book in the series. Keep 'em coming, Sarah Graves, keep 'em coming.
November 19, 2015
The Girls She Left Behind, by Sarah Graves, is the second book in her Lizzie Snow series. Ex-Boston homicide detective Lizzie Snow returns as the new sheriff's deputy in Maine's Great North Woods.
While experiencing her first grueling North Woods winter a stubborn forest fire is raging out of control in the small town of Bearkill and a teenage girl known for running away has disappeared again. Everyone thinks that Tara Wylie is up to her old tricks until her Mom receives a alarming text message.
Equally unsettling: a kidnapper and rapist has escaped and may be hiding in Bearkill.
The search is on for the devious convict and the missing girl. Hindered by lies and dark secrets Lizzie follows a trail of terrifying clues and is drawn closer to the raging inferno.
A fast-paced story with many twists and non-stop action.
While experiencing her first grueling North Woods winter a stubborn forest fire is raging out of control in the small town of Bearkill and a teenage girl known for running away has disappeared again. Everyone thinks that Tara Wylie is up to her old tricks until her Mom receives a alarming text message.
Equally unsettling: a kidnapper and rapist has escaped and may be hiding in Bearkill.
The search is on for the devious convict and the missing girl. Hindered by lies and dark secrets Lizzie follows a trail of terrifying clues and is drawn closer to the raging inferno.
A fast-paced story with many twists and non-stop action.
December 21, 2015
OMG this was a book and a half. This is thebook that I haven't been able to leave alone today until I actually finished it. When I had times when I had to set it aside, I kept thinking of it.
This would make one fantastic movie.
Two girls, cousins, teenagers, sneaked out of their houses and met up, they wanted to go to a party.
The girls were abducted.
Here lies the basis of the story as they were taken and put into some basement which held cages.
One of the girls managed to escape.
But who can get into the mind of a teenager.....
she didn't tell anyone because she was ashamed of what happened to her the time she was caught.
Then a recent up to date even happens which involved another teen and someone else's boyfriend. Its thought they ran off together.
This is all based around a small town, some people are who they are, some are not what they seem to be which you will discover as you read through.
This had my attention from page one right to the very end.
Very powerful book, love, revenge and utter danger.
*My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine via Net Galley for my advanced copy*
July 13, 2017
This second in a series by the author took place in the same sleepy town of Bearkill, nestled deep in the outskirts of Maine. Overall, it was well-written with non stop action from beginning to end.
The narrative kicked off with a short jaunt back in history; fifteen years to be exact. Janie and Cam are cousins and best of friends but that's where their similarities end. Cam exuded confidence and a zest for life - Janie the polar opposite. At Cam's insistence, the fifteen-year-olds attended a party in a public park. That's when their nightmares first took root. Only one of them would make it back home.
Present-day Bearkill finds fourteen-year-old old Tara with her grown up, eighteen-year-old boyfriend Aaron on a motorcycle joyride to visit one of his friends. When they arrived, she was aghast at the poor condition of the house and the appalling condition of the neighborhood. Their host was well well-suited to this environment. After what seemed like a lengthy visit, she decided it was time to leave. She'd had enough. Aaron was too preoccupied playing video games. So, Tara took it upon herself and left on her own. The master plan was to hitchhike back to Bearkill. Big mistake. She never made it.
Though not her case, Deputy Lizzie Snow made it her priority to find the missing teen. This sparked a manhunt which cascaded into a web of lies, deception, murder and grief. All this for a runaway teen. Two-thirds of the way through the narrative, I found myself pleading "find her already!". The storyline took many turns and just seemed to endlessly, drag on.
Then I became aware of something. Once I did, it stood out like a sore thumb. There were no other events in town that had any mention whatsoever such as a fight in the local bar, a domestic dispute, a speeding ticket or even a cat stuck up a tree. Nothing. Everyday life went AWOL. I hung on just to see the outcome.
I would recommend reading this (so far) two novel series, "only" in order. The main characters were sufficiently introduced to the reader in the first installment. In this second edition, apparently, the author assumed the reader had read the first in the series. Therefore, this novel would not suffice as a standalone.
The narrative kicked off with a short jaunt back in history; fifteen years to be exact. Janie and Cam are cousins and best of friends but that's where their similarities end. Cam exuded confidence and a zest for life - Janie the polar opposite. At Cam's insistence, the fifteen-year-olds attended a party in a public park. That's when their nightmares first took root. Only one of them would make it back home.
Present-day Bearkill finds fourteen-year-old old Tara with her grown up, eighteen-year-old boyfriend Aaron on a motorcycle joyride to visit one of his friends. When they arrived, she was aghast at the poor condition of the house and the appalling condition of the neighborhood. Their host was well well-suited to this environment. After what seemed like a lengthy visit, she decided it was time to leave. She'd had enough. Aaron was too preoccupied playing video games. So, Tara took it upon herself and left on her own. The master plan was to hitchhike back to Bearkill. Big mistake. She never made it.
Though not her case, Deputy Lizzie Snow made it her priority to find the missing teen. This sparked a manhunt which cascaded into a web of lies, deception, murder and grief. All this for a runaway teen. Two-thirds of the way through the narrative, I found myself pleading "find her already!". The storyline took many turns and just seemed to endlessly, drag on.
Then I became aware of something. Once I did, it stood out like a sore thumb. There were no other events in town that had any mention whatsoever such as a fight in the local bar, a domestic dispute, a speeding ticket or even a cat stuck up a tree. Nothing. Everyday life went AWOL. I hung on just to see the outcome.
I would recommend reading this (so far) two novel series, "only" in order. The main characters were sufficiently introduced to the reader in the first installment. In this second edition, apparently, the author assumed the reader had read the first in the series. Therefore, this novel would not suffice as a standalone.
January 3, 2016
My View:
We are all guilty of thinking; “This will never happen to me”, “yes I’ll be careful,” “We are going together mum, we will stick together, “We will be fine.” And it is all fine….until one time it isn’t! Compelling reading that is full of tension, plot twists and turns and behaviours/scenarios we know have actually happened, can happen again.
This is part two of the Lizzie Snow series yet can easily be read as a standalone. Coming to a movie theatre near you soon – I bet!
We are all guilty of thinking; “This will never happen to me”, “yes I’ll be careful,” “We are going together mum, we will stick together, “We will be fine.” And it is all fine….until one time it isn’t! Compelling reading that is full of tension, plot twists and turns and behaviours/scenarios we know have actually happened, can happen again.
This is part two of the Lizzie Snow series yet can easily be read as a standalone. Coming to a movie theatre near you soon – I bet!
December 12, 2015
When they were young teenagers, two girls, cousins, sneaked out of their respective houses to go party. Then a parent's worst nightmare, the girls are abducted. They are taken somewhere and thrown into a basement equipped with cages. They are not alone ..there are others. One of the cousins escapes and because she's ashamed of what he did to her, she tells no one.
Fifteen years later, she sees on the news that 3 girls have been rescued ... one of them is her cousin. The kidnapper is 'mentally unstable' and now resides in a mental health facility until he is able to go to court.
So begins a twisted tale of love, hate, jealousy, revenge.
Lizzie Snow is investigating the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl who's been gone for a couple of days. Since her 18-year-old boyfriend is also missing, it is assumed they have run away together. But Lizzie feels like the mother is hiding... something.
I loved this book! Lizzie is a strong, accept no BS woman. And she absolutely will not tolerate anyone lying to her. You can ask her partner, Dylan .... he lied and said he was separated from his wife .. he wasn't. And there is no more relationship there, although the attraction is still evident. Dylan seems to be like a good guy .. a lousy husband, but basically a good man.
In this fairly small town there are all kinds of secondary players. Some are exactly what you see ... some aren't quite so open.
And all through this highly suspenseful story rages a forest fire .... the ashes falling over everything .. some people are staying, some are evacuating. It is so well-described, I could almost smell the fire. And the fire plays a huge part of this story.
I almost could not bear to put this one down! The author is one that I will keep my eye on. She does have another series, cozies ... but it's her two psychological mysteries that are drawing me in.
My heart-felt thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The book will be available January 12, 2016
Fifteen years later, she sees on the news that 3 girls have been rescued ... one of them is her cousin. The kidnapper is 'mentally unstable' and now resides in a mental health facility until he is able to go to court.
So begins a twisted tale of love, hate, jealousy, revenge.
Lizzie Snow is investigating the disappearance of a 14-year-old girl who's been gone for a couple of days. Since her 18-year-old boyfriend is also missing, it is assumed they have run away together. But Lizzie feels like the mother is hiding... something.
I loved this book! Lizzie is a strong, accept no BS woman. And she absolutely will not tolerate anyone lying to her. You can ask her partner, Dylan .... he lied and said he was separated from his wife .. he wasn't. And there is no more relationship there, although the attraction is still evident. Dylan seems to be like a good guy .. a lousy husband, but basically a good man.
In this fairly small town there are all kinds of secondary players. Some are exactly what you see ... some aren't quite so open.
And all through this highly suspenseful story rages a forest fire .... the ashes falling over everything .. some people are staying, some are evacuating. It is so well-described, I could almost smell the fire. And the fire plays a huge part of this story.
I almost could not bear to put this one down! The author is one that I will keep my eye on. She does have another series, cozies ... but it's her two psychological mysteries that are drawing me in.
My heart-felt thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The book will be available January 12, 2016
June 13, 2018
It was just ok for me. 2.5 maybe---- I like police procedural / PI type books- I just cannot explain why I cannot 'warm up' to the Lizzie Snow series- this is the second book in the series and I did read the first one as well...... There were quite a few good reviews- so I guess if you pick up this series - you will have to judge for yourself....
January 17, 2016
I’m conflicted on what I think about The Girls She Left Behind (Lizzie Snow #2)
by Sarah Graves .The books blurb describes what sounds like a great story, and I was really excited to have received an ARC copy.
The overall story involves abuses towards multiple women over time, and how their lives are intertwined.
Unfortunately, I found I had multiple issues with the overall story.
• The way the story is being told, with multiple voice and perspectives, I just got lost
• The stories timeline, it felt like it was jumping around
• I lost respect for Jane, early in the story,
• The fire – it’s a background thread through most of the book but becomes important to the “action” in the final 15% of the book.
• The illusion that there was a romantic element, or relationship between Lizzy, Dylan, and Trey – this is an ongoing theme started in book one but has very little traction in this story.
• The thin thread of Lizzy looking for her niece – again a theme started in book 1, and touched on in this book, doesn’t add to the overall storyline, just adds clutter in my opinion.
• The relationship between the 4 main female characters – Jane, Cam, Peg, and Tara. They're all emotionally damaged, by events that have happened in their lives, and the way they tell or perceive their part of the story was very confusing.
• I felt the search for Tara took a back seat, for most of the book.
• The escape of Henry Gemerles, a thin, background thread, could have been used better in the overall storyline in my opinion.
• The constant head injuries that Cam has – it just seemed to over used
• The way other characters suffer extreme injuries but continue to live
•
The overall story had great promise, but the way it was carried out just didn’t work well for me, it didn’t hold my attention, it wasn’t suspenseful, but it was confusing at least for me.
My thanks to Netgalley who provided a copy of the book on behalf of Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Bantam for an honest review.
For me, this was a 2.75-star read which I’ll round up to 3 stars
by Sarah Graves .The books blurb describes what sounds like a great story, and I was really excited to have received an ARC copy.
The overall story involves abuses towards multiple women over time, and how their lives are intertwined.
Unfortunately, I found I had multiple issues with the overall story.
• The way the story is being told, with multiple voice and perspectives, I just got lost
• The stories timeline, it felt like it was jumping around
• I lost respect for Jane, early in the story,
• The fire – it’s a background thread through most of the book but becomes important to the “action” in the final 15% of the book.
• The illusion that there was a romantic element, or relationship between Lizzy, Dylan, and Trey – this is an ongoing theme started in book one but has very little traction in this story.
• The thin thread of Lizzy looking for her niece – again a theme started in book 1, and touched on in this book, doesn’t add to the overall storyline, just adds clutter in my opinion.
• The relationship between the 4 main female characters – Jane, Cam, Peg, and Tara. They're all emotionally damaged, by events that have happened in their lives, and the way they tell or perceive their part of the story was very confusing.
• I felt the search for Tara took a back seat, for most of the book.
• The escape of Henry Gemerles, a thin, background thread, could have been used better in the overall storyline in my opinion.
• The constant head injuries that Cam has – it just seemed to over used
• The way other characters suffer extreme injuries but continue to live
•
The overall story had great promise, but the way it was carried out just didn’t work well for me, it didn’t hold my attention, it wasn’t suspenseful, but it was confusing at least for me.
My thanks to Netgalley who provided a copy of the book on behalf of Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine – Bantam for an honest review.
For me, this was a 2.75-star read which I’ll round up to 3 stars
May 20, 2021
I wasn't in love with this story. I didn't find the character's actions to be in a logical vein of thought. I understand disturbing behavior shouldn't be logical, but there just wasn't a solid connection with me as a reader to the actions of Jane. I thought it was a little overdone with the added twist with Peggie in regards to Gemerle. And for the love of romance, enough with the volleying between Dylan and the Vet. Lizzie doesn't seem to be all that invested in Dylan and yet he still keeps his fingers in her emtions. I don't buy that. I would have thought the better story element would be for her to move past Dylan and try it with the Vet.
December 9, 2020
To violent... not my cup of tea. Got about 40% into it... better things I have lined up to read.
January 8, 2016
Sarah Graves certainly knows how to write a story that grabs you by the throat and won't turn you loose until you've read the last page. Once again, she uses her Maine North Woods setting to its best advantage. That forest fire that experts and volunteers alike battle throughout the book adds real tension to the story, and little inclusions like the definition of "North Woods chrome" bring verisimilitude and smiles.
In The Girls She Left Behind, almost half the story is told from the viewpoint of a young girl who managed to escape Henry Gemerle's clutches. At first the girl has my complete sympathy, but the more she talks, the more I see... and the more I wonder. It's a very clever and very well-done plot device. In fact this book is filled with women whose motivations readers will wonder about. Jane, the girl who escaped; Jane's cousin Cam; Tara Wylie, a young girl who made the wrong decisions on the wrong day; and Tara's mother Peg. Once in a while I would find myself looking up from this book and asking the air, "Do any of these women know how to tell the truth?" Yes, all the lies and evasions could be frustrating, but it certainly kept me on my toes.
Of all the characters in the book, my opinion of Sheriff Cody Chevrier continues to rise. He may be sheriff in a huge yet sparsely populated county in Maine, but he stays on top of all the crime stories he can because "you'd be surprised how many fugitives think Maine's a good place to vanish." Chevrier may not have the sense of humor of Walt Longmire, but he still reminds me of my favorite Wyoming sheriff.
Like Winter at the Door, Graves' second Lizzie Snow book has almost too much going on. The fire. The missing teenage girl. The escaped psycho. All these lying females flitting around. Lizzie's search for her missing niece. I'm definitely looking forward to the third book in this series, and I'm hoping for three things: (1) that there's a little less for Lizzie to deal with, (2) that she either finds her niece or the search is dropped because it really doesn't add that much to the books, and (3) that Lizzie makes up her mind between Trey and Dylan. Romantic triangles stink when they hang on too long.
Not read Winter at the Door and wondering if you need to? You don't. The Girls She Left Behind reads quite well as a standalone. Head on up to the Great North Woods with Sarah Graves and Lizzie Snow!
In The Girls She Left Behind, almost half the story is told from the viewpoint of a young girl who managed to escape Henry Gemerle's clutches. At first the girl has my complete sympathy, but the more she talks, the more I see... and the more I wonder. It's a very clever and very well-done plot device. In fact this book is filled with women whose motivations readers will wonder about. Jane, the girl who escaped; Jane's cousin Cam; Tara Wylie, a young girl who made the wrong decisions on the wrong day; and Tara's mother Peg. Once in a while I would find myself looking up from this book and asking the air, "Do any of these women know how to tell the truth?" Yes, all the lies and evasions could be frustrating, but it certainly kept me on my toes.
Of all the characters in the book, my opinion of Sheriff Cody Chevrier continues to rise. He may be sheriff in a huge yet sparsely populated county in Maine, but he stays on top of all the crime stories he can because "you'd be surprised how many fugitives think Maine's a good place to vanish." Chevrier may not have the sense of humor of Walt Longmire, but he still reminds me of my favorite Wyoming sheriff.
Like Winter at the Door, Graves' second Lizzie Snow book has almost too much going on. The fire. The missing teenage girl. The escaped psycho. All these lying females flitting around. Lizzie's search for her missing niece. I'm definitely looking forward to the third book in this series, and I'm hoping for three things: (1) that there's a little less for Lizzie to deal with, (2) that she either finds her niece or the search is dropped because it really doesn't add that much to the books, and (3) that Lizzie makes up her mind between Trey and Dylan. Romantic triangles stink when they hang on too long.
Not read Winter at the Door and wondering if you need to? You don't. The Girls She Left Behind reads quite well as a standalone. Head on up to the Great North Woods with Sarah Graves and Lizzie Snow!
December 27, 2016
I thought perhaps I had read the previous title in this series by Sarah Graves--Winter at the Door--and if my book list were computerized I could tell, but... The plot lines--kidnapped young women, a detective haunted by the kidnapping of relative--are familiar, the latter theme the basis of Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan series, and the book reminds me in some ways--tone, primarily--of Laura Lippman's stand-alone titles. Here, there's a very busy plot: a young woman, kidnapped 15 years earlier with her cousin, escaped but didn't tell authorities that her cousin and 2 others were held (just a little survivor's guilt); her kidnapper was eventually convicted and put in a mental hospital prison but now he's escaped; former Boston PD detective Lizzie Snow, trying to find her kidnapped 10-year-old niece, moves to Bearkill, Maine, following a possible sighting of her niece. Of course, Joan, from the first plot thread is also in Maine, and now a young girl from the area has disappeared. Also kidnapped? Lots happening and the plot moves at a brisk pace; involving series character; compelling, lots of plot twists and flashback's as Joan's kidnapping story is interspersed with present day events; complex style with multiple plot threads; disturbing, gritty, intense tone that builds to conclusion.
January 22, 2016
A great Book.
The Girls she left behind begins 15 years ago in New Haven. Two cousins go off from a youth group meeting to go to a party when they leave they are taken by a sexual predator and taken to a basement where there are two other girls kept
Lizzie Snow is a sheriff deputy when a local girl goes missing she has taken off before but always comes home but Lizzie feels this is something different.
At the same time Maine has a major drought and fires are raging up.Lizzie begins the task of finding out what is going on.
I really enjoyed this book thought i haven't read the first one in the series but i will now.Recommended
Thank you Netgalley the publisher and Author for a chece to review this book.
The Girls she left behind begins 15 years ago in New Haven. Two cousins go off from a youth group meeting to go to a party when they leave they are taken by a sexual predator and taken to a basement where there are two other girls kept
Lizzie Snow is a sheriff deputy when a local girl goes missing she has taken off before but always comes home but Lizzie feels this is something different.
At the same time Maine has a major drought and fires are raging up.Lizzie begins the task of finding out what is going on.
I really enjoyed this book thought i haven't read the first one in the series but i will now.Recommended
Thank you Netgalley the publisher and Author for a chece to review this book.
December 29, 2015
In The Girls She Left Behind readers return to the stark and desolate Bearkill, Maine where former Boston homicide detective, Lizzie Snow, continues to search for her missing niece. Frustrated by the lack of in her niece’s case and by her complicated love life, Lizzie’s decided that it might be better if she heads back to Boston. But before she makes any decisions, Lizzie’s got a missing persons case to solve, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s not a case of a teen running away, but something much more sinister.
Having really enjoyed the first book in the series, Winter at the Door, I was really looking forward to the second installment (in fact, it is one of my most highly anticipated winter reads). The character of Lizzie Snow and her incongruous fit with the rural community of Bearkill immediately had me hooked. The personal issues Lizzie’s going through kept me as interested as the mystery. The second book was no different; however, I did find it more disturbing and darker than the first book and a big part of that is due to the type of case that Lizzie is investigating. There’s a missing teenage girl and an escaped serial rapist and murderer on the loose (call me crazy, but this is pretty terrifying). This is a setup that immediately ratchets up the suspense and gives The Girls She Left Behind a very disturbing tone, especially when readers diverge from Lizzie's perspective.
What also makes The Girls She Left Behind an engaging read is the sense of atmosphere that the author creates. The weather in both the previous book and the latest is used to add another level of suspense. Here, it’s forest fires that are complicating the efforts of Lizzie, her boss and her ex, Dylan, from rescuing a missing girl. The environment, like the villain of the mystery, is unforgiving. While this imagery isn’t necessarily original, it does evoke a certain atmosphere that ultimately enhances the reading experience, especially if you’re a fan of mysteries that are set in less urban locales.
I was less entranced this time round with Lizzie’s love triangle with the reliable good guy, Trey, and her ex-boyfriend, Dylan. I like the personal struggles that Lizzie has going on in her life as it gives the series something to balance out the mystery, but the back and forth was a bit tiresome in The Girls She Left Behind, especially since it didn’t seem to make any progress whatsoever from book one. For the next book, I’m really looking for the author to build some momentum in Lizzie’s relationships.
If you’re a fan of rural mysteries and not keen on a procedural tone than the Lizzie Snow series is for you. Slowly readers come to know it’s main investigator and at this point, I’m not ready to let go of Lizzie. Are there some holes in the overarching mystery, heck yes, but as this is a series, I’m willing to cut the book some slack and practice some patience in waiting for the next book to reveal more. I can only hope that the mystery of Lizzie’s missing niece moves to the forefront and that Lizzie makes some progression in her personal life. There’s nothing worse than a series that stagnates. At it is, this is only book two, and I’m enjoying the character and setting enough to hang on to see what’s next for Lizzie.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
Having really enjoyed the first book in the series, Winter at the Door, I was really looking forward to the second installment (in fact, it is one of my most highly anticipated winter reads). The character of Lizzie Snow and her incongruous fit with the rural community of Bearkill immediately had me hooked. The personal issues Lizzie’s going through kept me as interested as the mystery. The second book was no different; however, I did find it more disturbing and darker than the first book and a big part of that is due to the type of case that Lizzie is investigating. There’s a missing teenage girl and an escaped serial rapist and murderer on the loose (call me crazy, but this is pretty terrifying). This is a setup that immediately ratchets up the suspense and gives The Girls She Left Behind a very disturbing tone, especially when readers diverge from Lizzie's perspective.
What also makes The Girls She Left Behind an engaging read is the sense of atmosphere that the author creates. The weather in both the previous book and the latest is used to add another level of suspense. Here, it’s forest fires that are complicating the efforts of Lizzie, her boss and her ex, Dylan, from rescuing a missing girl. The environment, like the villain of the mystery, is unforgiving. While this imagery isn’t necessarily original, it does evoke a certain atmosphere that ultimately enhances the reading experience, especially if you’re a fan of mysteries that are set in less urban locales.
I was less entranced this time round with Lizzie’s love triangle with the reliable good guy, Trey, and her ex-boyfriend, Dylan. I like the personal struggles that Lizzie has going on in her life as it gives the series something to balance out the mystery, but the back and forth was a bit tiresome in The Girls She Left Behind, especially since it didn’t seem to make any progress whatsoever from book one. For the next book, I’m really looking for the author to build some momentum in Lizzie’s relationships.
If you’re a fan of rural mysteries and not keen on a procedural tone than the Lizzie Snow series is for you. Slowly readers come to know it’s main investigator and at this point, I’m not ready to let go of Lizzie. Are there some holes in the overarching mystery, heck yes, but as this is a series, I’m willing to cut the book some slack and practice some patience in waiting for the next book to reveal more. I can only hope that the mystery of Lizzie’s missing niece moves to the forefront and that Lizzie makes some progression in her personal life. There’s nothing worse than a series that stagnates. At it is, this is only book two, and I’m enjoying the character and setting enough to hang on to see what’s next for Lizzie.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
January 4, 2016
Secrets are like acid; they can eat through you. If you keep them, they eat right through your soul.
My husband and I are big fans of the reality show the North Woods that is set in Maine. Watching the show gives me a great visual of Lizzie Snow and the work she does in law enforcement. Looking for her niece that was taken from her sister that was murdered, is the driving force behind Lizzie Snows move from Boston to Maine. The second of the series also deals with the victimization of children. Tara Wylie has disappeared. She has before, but her mother claims that this is different, but she is hiding some secret. Lizzie soon discovers escapee Henry Gemerle—a kidnapper and rapist who once held three girls prisoner may be in the area. Has he taken Tara?
The narration in part is told from a victim of Gemerle; Jane Crimmins who survived the abduction but is hiding a terrible secret. It is thriller that all comes together that a monster of a terrible crime creates another monster that is more disturbing than the first. Where secrets collide but is it time to save Tara?
I enjoy the Lizzie Snow series - the backdrop of her search for her niece, chemistry between her old partner and the hold that he has on Lizzie. She cannot completely let him go. The tension mounts on each book.
A Special Thank You to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Bantam. and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
My husband and I are big fans of the reality show the North Woods that is set in Maine. Watching the show gives me a great visual of Lizzie Snow and the work she does in law enforcement. Looking for her niece that was taken from her sister that was murdered, is the driving force behind Lizzie Snows move from Boston to Maine. The second of the series also deals with the victimization of children. Tara Wylie has disappeared. She has before, but her mother claims that this is different, but she is hiding some secret. Lizzie soon discovers escapee Henry Gemerle—a kidnapper and rapist who once held three girls prisoner may be in the area. Has he taken Tara?
The narration in part is told from a victim of Gemerle; Jane Crimmins who survived the abduction but is hiding a terrible secret. It is thriller that all comes together that a monster of a terrible crime creates another monster that is more disturbing than the first. Where secrets collide but is it time to save Tara?
I enjoy the Lizzie Snow series - the backdrop of her search for her niece, chemistry between her old partner and the hold that he has on Lizzie. She cannot completely let him go. The tension mounts on each book.
A Special Thank You to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Bantam. and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
February 25, 2016
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
15 years after Janie was able to escape her abductor, her cousin Cam and two other young women were rescued. Terrified that her cousin would tell the authorities that Janie was also captured, as she has kept this a secret the whole time, Janie hatches an elaborate plan to solve her problems once and for all. A missing 14 year old girl brings Sheriff's deputy Lizzy Snow to start looking for answers. A confusing meeting with Janie, and her subsequent disappearance, takes Lizzie down a dizzying path of lies, eventually leading to the truth.
As the story is revealed, the intricate plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The Girls She Left Behind is plot driven, as I am certain that I know more about the crimes concerned and the setting than I do about the main character. Perhaps reading the previous book would have enlightened me, but I think that it is essential to the book for the main character to have some depth. I do not feel that I know enough about Lizzie Snow, which is a negative aspect for this book. The other negative is that the flashbacks were sometimes confusing, as the author would abruptly return to past events without any demarcation in time. On the strength of the plot alone, especially the twists, I would recommend this book to readers who are fans of mystery/thrillers.
15 years after Janie was able to escape her abductor, her cousin Cam and two other young women were rescued. Terrified that her cousin would tell the authorities that Janie was also captured, as she has kept this a secret the whole time, Janie hatches an elaborate plan to solve her problems once and for all. A missing 14 year old girl brings Sheriff's deputy Lizzy Snow to start looking for answers. A confusing meeting with Janie, and her subsequent disappearance, takes Lizzie down a dizzying path of lies, eventually leading to the truth.
As the story is revealed, the intricate plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The Girls She Left Behind is plot driven, as I am certain that I know more about the crimes concerned and the setting than I do about the main character. Perhaps reading the previous book would have enlightened me, but I think that it is essential to the book for the main character to have some depth. I do not feel that I know enough about Lizzie Snow, which is a negative aspect for this book. The other negative is that the flashbacks were sometimes confusing, as the author would abruptly return to past events without any demarcation in time. On the strength of the plot alone, especially the twists, I would recommend this book to readers who are fans of mystery/thrillers.
January 15, 2016
This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book even though I didn't read the first book in the series (I plan to buy it now though). There were some things I felt lost on, mainly the backstory of Lizzie's sister and niece, because of this. The story flowed along nicely and was believable. I liked the characters, although I wasn't really sure what was Jane's real motivation behind everything that she had done- I think there is more to that part of the story. Overall, very interesting read and I look forward to more of this series.
I really enjoyed this book even though I didn't read the first book in the series (I plan to buy it now though). There were some things I felt lost on, mainly the backstory of Lizzie's sister and niece, because of this. The story flowed along nicely and was believable. I liked the characters, although I wasn't really sure what was Jane's real motivation behind everything that she had done- I think there is more to that part of the story. Overall, very interesting read and I look forward to more of this series.
Read
October 6, 2023Triggers: long term abuse, rape, violence, people getting shot (multiple times), some very twisted and damaged people. Not for me.
September 4, 2024
The book was very interesting and it kept me reading. The only thing is, I don’t find it very believable because of people being hurt, but not saying anything to authorities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2018
Solid 3 1/2👍. Enjoyed it.
February 21, 2016
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
January 5, 2016
The Girls She Left Behind begins 15 years ago on the mean streets of New Haven, CT. Two young cousins, Jane and Cam, make a mistake that has far reaching consequences. Jane is a bit of a goody-two-shoes who is often led astray by her "wild child" cousin, Cam. The two sneak away from their youth group meeting to go to an outdoor party in the park. When they leave the party they are abducted by a sexual predator and imprisoned in a basement with two other girls. Jane manages to escape and tells no one, believing that Cam is dead. But is she? And what about the other girls?
In the present day, Lizzie Snow is settling into her new job as a deputy in Bearkill, ME, on the edge of The Great North Woods. We left Lizzie (Winter at the Door) in a blizzard, in the midst of one of the worst winters on record. Now the area is suffering from extreme drought and fighting widespread wildfires. Bearkill itself is threatened and local manpower is stretched to the limit. When a local girl goes missing, Lizzie is just about the only one available to search. The girl has gone missing before and showed up unharmed, and her mother is oddly unforthcoming. Lizzie has a bad feeling about this disappearance, though. Maybe it is her ongoing search for her lost niece that has her spooked, but Lizzie doesn't think so. Strange people and connections to the earlier New Haven case keep popping up as well.
The Girls She Left Behind is a very dark look into the effects of sexual crimes on the victims. Secrets and revenge play a part in those effects and lead to a pulse-pounding conclusion. The Lizzie Snow Series is one that I greatly enjoy, but it is by no means cozy or light reading. I highly recommend The Girls She Left Behind for thriller and suspense fans. Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4 STARS
In the present day, Lizzie Snow is settling into her new job as a deputy in Bearkill, ME, on the edge of The Great North Woods. We left Lizzie (Winter at the Door) in a blizzard, in the midst of one of the worst winters on record. Now the area is suffering from extreme drought and fighting widespread wildfires. Bearkill itself is threatened and local manpower is stretched to the limit. When a local girl goes missing, Lizzie is just about the only one available to search. The girl has gone missing before and showed up unharmed, and her mother is oddly unforthcoming. Lizzie has a bad feeling about this disappearance, though. Maybe it is her ongoing search for her lost niece that has her spooked, but Lizzie doesn't think so. Strange people and connections to the earlier New Haven case keep popping up as well.
The Girls She Left Behind is a very dark look into the effects of sexual crimes on the victims. Secrets and revenge play a part in those effects and lead to a pulse-pounding conclusion. The Lizzie Snow Series is one that I greatly enjoy, but it is by no means cozy or light reading. I highly recommend The Girls She Left Behind for thriller and suspense fans. Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.
RATING- 4 STARS
January 9, 2016
Review: THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND by Sarah Graves (Lizzie Snow #2)
I have read and very much enjoyed Sarah Graves' HOME REPAIR IS HOMICIDE series. Those are delightfully comfy (and educational) cozy mysteries. Her Lizzie Snow series is a story of a different stripe altogether. This is serious New England noir. Lizzie Snow is a tough detective, formerly working homicide and violent crimes in Boston. She moved to Maine's most northern county because her former lover-detective partner, Dylan Hudson (now with the Maine State Police), intermittently reports sightings passed on to him. Lizzie' s sister was murdered nine years ago, and her one-year-old daughter disappeared.
Now Lizzie is a sheriff's deputy for Arostook County, Maine, stationed in the "outpost" of Bearkill, a tiny economically-struggling rural community. Investigating a fourteen-year-old girl's disappearance leads into a fugitive escape, a vicious narcissist who had imprisoned three young women for fifteen years in his Connecticut residence. Also interfering are personal and family secrets, lies and deception, and Stockholm Syndrome. THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND turned me inside out and left me hungry for the next in the Lizzie Snow series.
I have read and very much enjoyed Sarah Graves' HOME REPAIR IS HOMICIDE series. Those are delightfully comfy (and educational) cozy mysteries. Her Lizzie Snow series is a story of a different stripe altogether. This is serious New England noir. Lizzie Snow is a tough detective, formerly working homicide and violent crimes in Boston. She moved to Maine's most northern county because her former lover-detective partner, Dylan Hudson (now with the Maine State Police), intermittently reports sightings passed on to him. Lizzie' s sister was murdered nine years ago, and her one-year-old daughter disappeared.
Now Lizzie is a sheriff's deputy for Arostook County, Maine, stationed in the "outpost" of Bearkill, a tiny economically-struggling rural community. Investigating a fourteen-year-old girl's disappearance leads into a fugitive escape, a vicious narcissist who had imprisoned three young women for fifteen years in his Connecticut residence. Also interfering are personal and family secrets, lies and deception, and Stockholm Syndrome. THE GIRLS SHE LEFT BEHIND turned me inside out and left me hungry for the next in the Lizzie Snow series.
September 22, 2015
I received an ARC for this courtesy of Netgalley. This is a solid 3.5 suspense/mystery that, overall, I found well-written, engaging, and unpredictable. It is a psychological thriller and really gets at the full range of reaction to trauma. The ending had surprises in store. Lizzie, Jane, Peg and Cam were all complex and interesting women.
Where did the book struggle? I found the love triangle tiresome and uninteresting. The flawed bad boy, the solid nice guy. It was forced. The side story about Lizzie's niece felt tacked on and relied too much on 'tell' instead of show. I had to take the author'so word for it that this was a big deal it seemed like a distraction from the main plot, a contrivance to justify getting Lizzie to Maine. I see that there is a book prior to this that may set the stage for that.
It was a quick read, fun and suspenseful, so I'd say any fan of a good suspenseful mystery should check it out.
Where did the book struggle? I found the love triangle tiresome and uninteresting. The flawed bad boy, the solid nice guy. It was forced. The side story about Lizzie's niece felt tacked on and relied too much on 'tell' instead of show. I had to take the author'so word for it that this was a big deal it seemed like a distraction from the main plot, a contrivance to justify getting Lizzie to Maine. I see that there is a book prior to this that may set the stage for that.
It was a quick read, fun and suspenseful, so I'd say any fan of a good suspenseful mystery should check it out.
October 14, 2015
This was my second Lizzie Snow mystery and I really enjoyed both of them. In this book we again meet Lizzie Snow, a transplanted Boston detective, working for the Bearkill, Maine sheriff's office. She's still not sure she's planning to stick around, but thankfully her big city detective skills come in handy when a teenage girl goes missing and it seems there might be a tie in to a kidnapper and rapist who held 3 girls captive for 15 years in Connecticut who is up for his day in court. On top of that the town is fighting a forest fire which hampers their search for the girl and might be hiding evidence of something more sinister. The love triangle between Lizzie, Dylan (her former colleague from Boston, now working for the Maine State Police) and handsome, Bearkill vet Trey, continues in this second installment, but takes a backseat more than in book one. The author does a superb job of slowly building suspense, dropping clues and not giving anything away until the very end.
December 16, 2015
Lizzie Snow has joined a rural police force to look for her missing niece. Now she is investigating a missing teen whose mother will not allow her to issue an Amber alert because her daughter usually comes home in a day or two but Lizzie's knows that the mother is not telling her all that she knows. An escapee from the mental facility that was housing him before his trial has been thought to be heading to her area but why there and why now. Are these 2 events related. Then a mysterious woman shows up claiming to know something about the missing teen but cannot relate this information to them because she is hysterical which leads to her admittance to the hospital. How does she tie in with the disappearance. And all the while wild fires are burning and the town may need to be evacuated at any minute. Great read, page turner!! I would like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this ARC.
December 24, 2015
This was a really good book. I could not put it down. There were so many twists going on what with the missing teenager, the three girls that had been rescued, a forest fire threatening the town and an escaped maniac. And, that's just the major things going on. There are other little things and lots of secrets coming out. I definitely enjoyed reading this one and highly recommend it! Start this one early in the day - don't wait until bedtime!
A huge thanks to Random House for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
A huge thanks to Random House for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
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