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The Buried Girl
When New York psychologist Will Hardy's wife is killed, he and his teenage daughter Bernadette move into Godwin Hall, a dusty, shut-up mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio.
Meanwhile, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl, convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades - including her own long-missing sister.
But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls? And what links the killings to the diary of a young woman written over a century earlier?
463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2018
123 people are currently reading
1734 people want to read
About the author
Richard Montanari
25 books885 followersRichard Montanari is the Top Ten Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rosary Girls, The Killing Room, The Stolen Ones and the upcoming thriller, The Doll Maker.
Series:
* Jack Paris
* Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne
Series:
* Jack Paris
* Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 31, 2019
The Buried Girl is an atmospheric thriller with the storyline spanning nearly two centuries. It blends a psychological thriller set in a small historical American town with a modern-day police procedural.
New York psychologist Will Hardy inherits an old mansion and after decides to begin their lives anew in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio. Meanwhile, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl, convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades. But how is Will's new home connected to the case of the missing girls? And how is Will himself connected to the case?
On the surface, The Buried Girl is a simple story but it’s much more complex underneath the surface. There are many storylines and characters to keep track of. One of the tracks is set 130 years in the past. Then, there is the story of Will Hardy in the present and there is also a series of unexplained killings in Abbeville to be solved. In the end, they all are connected to each other.
Richard Montanari has managed to weave the many threads of the story together like an expert craftsman. The writing was excellent; which created the tension and creepy atmosphere of a mystery set in a small town. Despite, the many subplots and characters, the story is surprisingly easy to follow and is quite a page-turner. The characters in this book are really well detailed, which was an added bonus.
A word of caution: This is not a typical fast-paced mystery or a police procedural. The pace of the book is on the slower side. The story gathers momentum around the halfway mark and the first quarter mostly covers the prologue and backstories. So, it requires you to be patient at the start. On the contrary, the ending feels a bit hurried. There are a few unanswered questions in the end with no clear answers for many of them. If you enjoy a slow burner, this story is just right for you.
Overall, this is a well-written mystery which will keep you hooked right till the end. If you like reading a good atmospheric thriller, you will enjoy this one. 3.5 stars rounded off to 4
s Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Richard Montanari sand Edelweiss for the ARC.
New York psychologist Will Hardy inherits an old mansion and after decides to begin their lives anew in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio. Meanwhile, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl, convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades. But how is Will's new home connected to the case of the missing girls? And how is Will himself connected to the case?
On the surface, The Buried Girl is a simple story but it’s much more complex underneath the surface. There are many storylines and characters to keep track of. One of the tracks is set 130 years in the past. Then, there is the story of Will Hardy in the present and there is also a series of unexplained killings in Abbeville to be solved. In the end, they all are connected to each other.
Richard Montanari has managed to weave the many threads of the story together like an expert craftsman. The writing was excellent; which created the tension and creepy atmosphere of a mystery set in a small town. Despite, the many subplots and characters, the story is surprisingly easy to follow and is quite a page-turner. The characters in this book are really well detailed, which was an added bonus.
A word of caution: This is not a typical fast-paced mystery or a police procedural. The pace of the book is on the slower side. The story gathers momentum around the halfway mark and the first quarter mostly covers the prologue and backstories. So, it requires you to be patient at the start. On the contrary, the ending feels a bit hurried. There are a few unanswered questions in the end with no clear answers for many of them. If you enjoy a slow burner, this story is just right for you.
Overall, this is a well-written mystery which will keep you hooked right till the end. If you like reading a good atmospheric thriller, you will enjoy this one. 3.5 stars rounded off to 4
s Many thanks to the publishers HarperCollins, the author Richard Montanari sand Edelweiss for the ARC.
January 21, 2019
This is a chilling psychological thriller with gothic elements from a favourite author of mine, Richard Montanari, who here moves in a different direction from his long running series. In the 19th century, Dr Rinus Van Laar, leaves Amsterdam to settle in Ohio in the US. In the present, 38 year old Dr Will Hardy is a forensic psychologist who has worked with the NYPD and as a consultant on TV and movies, and written a bestselling book. His wife, Amanda, a social worker is tragically murdered, and a traumatised and guilt ridden Will moves from NYC to a small village, Abbieville, in Ohio with his troubled griefstricken daughter, 15 year old Detta (Bernadette). An unexpected family inheritance, the shut down Godwin Hall, offers the possibility of healing and moving on. Will has never been to the village or his new home before so why does he keep experiencing past memories of the place? Incorporated within the narrative are details from a historical journal by Eva Claire Larson.
Abbieville Police Chief Ivy Lee Holgrove is the latest in a law enforcement career that runs in her family. Ivy is looking into the disappearance of Ohio girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who vanished without trace that go back years into the mists of time, characterised by elements of ritual and white ravens which she observes in the latest murder of a young girl in the present. Ivy and Will connect and a trusting relationship begins to build so she tells him about her thinking with regard to the missing and murdered girls. In the meantime, Will begins the task of renovating and repairing Godwin Hall and getting the requisite permits to open it up for paying guests. Detta has an almighty breakdown in Walmart but begins to emerge from her grief, albeit with the help of medication. She finds a volunteer position at the library and meets a beautiful boy, Billy, who she finds herself drawn to. He proves to be rather elusive, unforthcoming about his life, whilst Detta finds herself opening up about herself. As the Appleville festival opens, Will and Detta finds themselves in a danger rooted in a long gone past.
Montanari writes a terrifically atmospheric and compelling novel, tense and suspenseful, with multiple threads that slowly begin to connect, central to which is Godwin Hall and Pieter Bruegel sketches of the seven virtues and the seven vices. The well drawn characterisation is wonderful with all three main characters damaged, but beginning the process of recovering. Will and Ida prove to be a formidable team as they hunt down a horrifying killer and Detta and Ivy begin to form their own deep connection. I am not sure that there will be a sequel to this novel but I sincerely hope there is. This was a fantastic read which I recommend highly to those who love crime fiction and thrillers. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Abbieville Police Chief Ivy Lee Holgrove is the latest in a law enforcement career that runs in her family. Ivy is looking into the disappearance of Ohio girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who vanished without trace that go back years into the mists of time, characterised by elements of ritual and white ravens which she observes in the latest murder of a young girl in the present. Ivy and Will connect and a trusting relationship begins to build so she tells him about her thinking with regard to the missing and murdered girls. In the meantime, Will begins the task of renovating and repairing Godwin Hall and getting the requisite permits to open it up for paying guests. Detta has an almighty breakdown in Walmart but begins to emerge from her grief, albeit with the help of medication. She finds a volunteer position at the library and meets a beautiful boy, Billy, who she finds herself drawn to. He proves to be rather elusive, unforthcoming about his life, whilst Detta finds herself opening up about herself. As the Appleville festival opens, Will and Detta finds themselves in a danger rooted in a long gone past.
Montanari writes a terrifically atmospheric and compelling novel, tense and suspenseful, with multiple threads that slowly begin to connect, central to which is Godwin Hall and Pieter Bruegel sketches of the seven virtues and the seven vices. The well drawn characterisation is wonderful with all three main characters damaged, but beginning the process of recovering. Will and Ida prove to be a formidable team as they hunt down a horrifying killer and Detta and Ivy begin to form their own deep connection. I am not sure that there will be a sequel to this novel but I sincerely hope there is. This was a fantastic read which I recommend highly to those who love crime fiction and thrillers. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
February 10, 2019
Richard Montanari is one of those rare writers that I get so ridiculously excited about when I hear his latest book is about to be published, and The Buried Girl, his latest standalone, is even better than his previous novels; I never thought that was possible, but he just keeps getting better. Suffice to say Montanari is one of the best in the business, and a master of suspense. This captivating, gothic-tinged tale is as atmospheric as they come and has a cast of engaging characters to boot. I was blindsided time and again by the twists and turns, and the creep factor is here in abundance.
This is a real page-turner where the perpetrator is beautifully concealed right to the end of the story and there is action aplenty. An intricately plotted tale from a criminally underrated author it requires concentration to keep up with the multiple threads and characters, but it's never a chore. It is an intelligent and more profound thriller than most and that really appealed to me. I am certain this will satisfy his long-time fans but also gain him new readers in the process; in my opinion, neither will be disappointed. I look forward to the next novel.
Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC.
This is a real page-turner where the perpetrator is beautifully concealed right to the end of the story and there is action aplenty. An intricately plotted tale from a criminally underrated author it requires concentration to keep up with the multiple threads and characters, but it's never a chore. It is an intelligent and more profound thriller than most and that really appealed to me. I am certain this will satisfy his long-time fans but also gain him new readers in the process; in my opinion, neither will be disappointed. I look forward to the next novel.
Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC.
January 5, 2019
The Buried Girl is a standalone, intelligent psychological thriller from Richard Montanari, maintaining his trademark chills but telling a different story.
It was beautifully atmospheric, with some intriguing and highly engaging characters and as usual with this author a bit of a page turner.
Will and Detta, dealing with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, make a sudden move to Abbeville, a small town with a dark past that still lingers in the present time. Through an old diary and ongoing events this dark past starts to come to light.
The Buried Girl works on more than one level – as a portrait of grief and an attempt to readjust, the Father/Daughter relationship is beautifully done. Then we have a creepy, intense mystery element that is unpredictable and fascinating with a rich history and mythology that is utterly gripping.
I loved Will, Detta and Ivy – as a trio of characters they all brought depth to the storytelling. The small town vibe is classically excellent and I was riveted by the events unfolding on the page.
I hope this ends up being more than a standalone, plenty of life left yet even as one part concludes in edge of the seat fashion. I want to know what else is buried in Abbeville, I’m sure there is more to be said and I for one will wait hopefully to find that out.
Overall absolutely excellent. One of my favourite thriller writers working today.
Highly Recommended.
It was beautifully atmospheric, with some intriguing and highly engaging characters and as usual with this author a bit of a page turner.
Will and Detta, dealing with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy, make a sudden move to Abbeville, a small town with a dark past that still lingers in the present time. Through an old diary and ongoing events this dark past starts to come to light.
The Buried Girl works on more than one level – as a portrait of grief and an attempt to readjust, the Father/Daughter relationship is beautifully done. Then we have a creepy, intense mystery element that is unpredictable and fascinating with a rich history and mythology that is utterly gripping.
I loved Will, Detta and Ivy – as a trio of characters they all brought depth to the storytelling. The small town vibe is classically excellent and I was riveted by the events unfolding on the page.
I hope this ends up being more than a standalone, plenty of life left yet even as one part concludes in edge of the seat fashion. I want to know what else is buried in Abbeville, I’m sure there is more to be said and I for one will wait hopefully to find that out.
Overall absolutely excellent. One of my favourite thriller writers working today.
Highly Recommended.
July 7, 2025
My favorite kind of book is the kind that makes me discover a new author.
The Buried Girl by Richard Montanari really took me by surprise. I partly read and partly listened to the audiobook, and I had such a blast with it. When I was reading, I forgot to check how many percent I had finished (the good and bad thing about ebooks, right?). And when I was listening while working, the job went so much better – because I got totally caught up in the story and just breezed through my day.
This is exactly the kind of crime novel I love. I'm a big fan of cold cases, and trust me, these ones go *way* back. And they don’t stop either. It feels like Will and his daughter Detta, who’ve left New York hoping for a better future, have gone from a bad situation to something even worse. The loss of Will’s wife and Detta’s mother still hangs over them. A new beginning sounds like a good idea. And Abbeville seems like such a lovely place...
Meanwhile, Ivy – third-generation Ivy starts connecting a new murder to very old ones. Girls have been going missing for a long time, and she’s beginning to see a disturbing pattern.
I loved Will, Detta, and Ivy so much. I really hope this isn’t a standalone! And honestly, with the way it ended, I think there *could* be at least one more book set in Abbeville.
The Buried Girl was so good that I jumped straight into another one by the author, The Echo Man. Now I want to read everything he’s written!
The Buried Girl by Richard Montanari really took me by surprise. I partly read and partly listened to the audiobook, and I had such a blast with it. When I was reading, I forgot to check how many percent I had finished (the good and bad thing about ebooks, right?). And when I was listening while working, the job went so much better – because I got totally caught up in the story and just breezed through my day.
This is exactly the kind of crime novel I love. I'm a big fan of cold cases, and trust me, these ones go *way* back. And they don’t stop either. It feels like Will and his daughter Detta, who’ve left New York hoping for a better future, have gone from a bad situation to something even worse. The loss of Will’s wife and Detta’s mother still hangs over them. A new beginning sounds like a good idea. And Abbeville seems like such a lovely place...
Meanwhile, Ivy – third-generation Ivy starts connecting a new murder to very old ones. Girls have been going missing for a long time, and she’s beginning to see a disturbing pattern.
I loved Will, Detta, and Ivy so much. I really hope this isn’t a standalone! And honestly, with the way it ended, I think there *could* be at least one more book set in Abbeville.
The Buried Girl was so good that I jumped straight into another one by the author, The Echo Man. Now I want to read everything he’s written!
January 22, 2020
Richard Montanari never disappoints! "The Buried Girl" had it all. . . cryptic, mind-bending, thrilling, sentimentality (love and loss) and mystery.
Scott Brick (as always) is phenomenal as narrator - making an already great book an off the charts listening experience every time!
Scott Brick (as always) is phenomenal as narrator - making an already great book an off the charts listening experience every time!
April 25, 2019
There were things I liked about this book, but I can’t see me reading anything else by this author. It was very confusing at times and parts left me totally lost. I liked the players, Ivy, Will and Detta but who the hell was Billy? The author never did tell you.
This was about murders that started 150 years ago and continued into today by a lunatic.
No romance and the F-bomb was used 19 times.
As to the narration: Love, love, love Scott Brick, even if he does need a little help with his women’s voices. His voice is great and he reads with wonderful emotion. I think he’s why I even finished this book.
February 17, 2020
Read for Popsugar Reading Challenge “book featuring a deadly sin”.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this review copy of The Buried Girl.
I typically avoid “serial killer” books for all the reasons exemplified by this book. It was overly convoluted and had way too many plot threads of the past and present spread out all over the place.
Our main character Will was given every job under the sun which made him like a cardboard cutout of a person instead of a sympathetic and relatable character. Ex-veteran? Check. Doctor of psychology? Check. Advisor on television shows? Check. Therapist to troubled youth? Check. NYU professor? Check. Parent? Check. Smoking hot wife with a complicated love story? Check. Orphaned as a child in two different tragedies? Check. And then on TOP of all that we’ve got another tragedy that sends him to the backwoods of Ohio where he (of course) inherits a mansion and IS asked by a local police officer to consult on a series of possibly connected murdered and missing teen girls.
And the murders of the local girls are all wrapped up in a old diary, rich local family, a white bird, Dutch art, seven deadly sins, apples and camera obscura. And since Will the center of every single crime committed in two different states of course the murderer has a connection to Will and his daughter Detta.
This was too over the top and lacked the gritty realistic plot I prefer. Three stars.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for this review copy of The Buried Girl.
I typically avoid “serial killer” books for all the reasons exemplified by this book. It was overly convoluted and had way too many plot threads of the past and present spread out all over the place.
Our main character Will was given every job under the sun which made him like a cardboard cutout of a person instead of a sympathetic and relatable character. Ex-veteran? Check. Doctor of psychology? Check. Advisor on television shows? Check. Therapist to troubled youth? Check. NYU professor? Check. Parent? Check. Smoking hot wife with a complicated love story? Check. Orphaned as a child in two different tragedies? Check. And then on TOP of all that we’ve got another tragedy that sends him to the backwoods of Ohio where he (of course) inherits a mansion and IS asked by a local police officer to consult on a series of possibly connected murdered and missing teen girls.
And the murders of the local girls are all wrapped up in a old diary, rich local family, a white bird, Dutch art, seven deadly sins, apples and camera obscura. And since Will the center of every single crime committed in two different states of course the murderer has a connection to Will and his daughter Detta.
This was too over the top and lacked the gritty realistic plot I prefer. Three stars.
November 5, 2019
I've read a few of Richard Montanari's Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne crime series, but this is completely different. An absolutely riveting mystery thriller which spans almost 200 years. The plot meanders along punctuated by acts of extreme violence as a grief stricken Will Hardy and his daughter Detta come to terms with the horrific murder of Will's wife Amanda.
They leave New York and move to Godwin Hall, a run down mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio. There, the Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. Ivy believes this teenager's death is just the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades - including that of her missing sister Delia.
Meanwhile, by means of a young serving girl's 150 year old diary we learn of the area's history and some strange events linked to the founding of Abbeville by a Dutch family which set up home and began farming in the area.
Gradually, the threads of this fascinating tale are drawn together until the book reaches a shattering climax as the murderous deeds of a madman are revealed.
They leave New York and move to Godwin Hall, a run down mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio. There, the Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. Ivy believes this teenager's death is just the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades - including that of her missing sister Delia.
Meanwhile, by means of a young serving girl's 150 year old diary we learn of the area's history and some strange events linked to the founding of Abbeville by a Dutch family which set up home and began farming in the area.
Gradually, the threads of this fascinating tale are drawn together until the book reaches a shattering climax as the murderous deeds of a madman are revealed.
August 10, 2019
Like all of his books that I've read so far it was a great book. I highly recommend this book.
January 31, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of The Buried Girl, a stand alone thriller set in New York and rural Ohio.
When forensic psychologist Will Hardy’s wife, Amanda, is killed in New York he decides to accept an unexpected inheritance and moves with his teenage daughter, Detta, to Godwin Hall in the village of Abbeville, Ohio where police Chief Ivy Holgrave is investigating a decades long series of murdered and missing teenage girls. With the killer becoming active again she enlists Will’s help.
I found The Buried Girl to be compulsive reading although I’m not sure I got it all as even after re-reading the final chapters I’m still puzzling over the motive. Obviously I can’t discuss it in any detail so all I’ll say is that while I got all the salient points it didn’t all fit together in my mind. This may be down to the supernatural elements or the madness of the perpetrator’s thinking or maybe I’m a bit dense. Nevertheless this is actually a bit of a minor point as the journey to the conclusion is great and had me turning the pages feverishly (did I miss a vital clue in my rush to find out what was coming next?). The novel is a bit of a slow burner initially with the narrative switching between Will’s life in New York and Ivy’s investigation into the death of a teenager. It’s slow and steady and absolutely fascinating as the reader tries to work out how it all fits together. I found all the jumping about and apparent randomness a bit frustrating but never once thought about giving up as I was intrigued about the outcome. Mr Montanari certainly knows how to set a scene, maintain the tension and produce twist upon twist. It is cleverly done.
There isn’t much to say about the characters as the novel is all about the plot. Both Ivy and Will are decent, likeable, hardworking people who end up in a situation not of their making. Detta is more problematic as she is a teenager, brattish and overly mature by turn. Not so sure I found her convincing but her meltdown in Walmart is funny.
The Buried Girl is strange but compulsive so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
When forensic psychologist Will Hardy’s wife, Amanda, is killed in New York he decides to accept an unexpected inheritance and moves with his teenage daughter, Detta, to Godwin Hall in the village of Abbeville, Ohio where police Chief Ivy Holgrave is investigating a decades long series of murdered and missing teenage girls. With the killer becoming active again she enlists Will’s help.
I found The Buried Girl to be compulsive reading although I’m not sure I got it all as even after re-reading the final chapters I’m still puzzling over the motive. Obviously I can’t discuss it in any detail so all I’ll say is that while I got all the salient points it didn’t all fit together in my mind. This may be down to the supernatural elements or the madness of the perpetrator’s thinking or maybe I’m a bit dense. Nevertheless this is actually a bit of a minor point as the journey to the conclusion is great and had me turning the pages feverishly (did I miss a vital clue in my rush to find out what was coming next?). The novel is a bit of a slow burner initially with the narrative switching between Will’s life in New York and Ivy’s investigation into the death of a teenager. It’s slow and steady and absolutely fascinating as the reader tries to work out how it all fits together. I found all the jumping about and apparent randomness a bit frustrating but never once thought about giving up as I was intrigued about the outcome. Mr Montanari certainly knows how to set a scene, maintain the tension and produce twist upon twist. It is cleverly done.
There isn’t much to say about the characters as the novel is all about the plot. Both Ivy and Will are decent, likeable, hardworking people who end up in a situation not of their making. Detta is more problematic as she is a teenager, brattish and overly mature by turn. Not so sure I found her convincing but her meltdown in Walmart is funny.
The Buried Girl is strange but compulsive so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
February 25, 2019
This book caught my eye as I loved the synopsis and I read a lot of books from this genre, although I haven’t read any of the author, Richard Montanari’s books before.
“The Buried Girl” is a chilling psychological thriller with some added Gothic elements.
When the wife of a New York psychologist, Will Hardy, is murdered he moves into Godwin Hall, a dusty, shut-up mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio, with his teenage daughter, Bernadette.
At the same time, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. She is convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades, including her own long-missing sister.
But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls and why does he have past memories of Godwin Hall? Is the diary of a young woman, written over a century earlier, linked to the killings?
Richard Montanari writes a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel. Tense and suspenseful, the many threads of the story slowly begin to link together, central to which is Godwin Hall. Both the characterisation and the plot are superb with the three main characters damaged, but starting the process of recovery. I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this novel as it was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to lovers of thrillers and crime fiction.
{Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins UK/Witness Impulse for the free copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
“The Buried Girl” is a chilling psychological thriller with some added Gothic elements.
When the wife of a New York psychologist, Will Hardy, is murdered he moves into Godwin Hall, a dusty, shut-up mansion in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio, with his teenage daughter, Bernadette.
At the same time, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl. She is convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades, including her own long-missing sister.
But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls and why does he have past memories of Godwin Hall? Is the diary of a young woman, written over a century earlier, linked to the killings?
Richard Montanari writes a wonderfully atmospheric and compelling novel. Tense and suspenseful, the many threads of the story slowly begin to link together, central to which is Godwin Hall. Both the characterisation and the plot are superb with the three main characters damaged, but starting the process of recovery. I am hoping that there will be a sequel to this novel as it was a fantastic read which I highly recommend to lovers of thrillers and crime fiction.
{Thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins UK/Witness Impulse for the free copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.}
February 16, 2019
I found this book a bit confusing as there was a diary that kept being referred to from Eva Larsen, I believe she was a missing girl but it did note it was from her. Then we had we had the pieces from Chief Ivy Holgrave and Dr Will Hardy, it took a long time for these two to come together. Then Ivy and Will worked together on solving the missing girl case.
It took a very long time for me to get into the book and I think this worked against my enjoyment of this author's work which I usually enjoy unfortunately. It will not stop me reading his work though.
It took a very long time for me to get into the book and I think this worked against my enjoyment of this author's work which I usually enjoy unfortunately. It will not stop me reading his work though.
February 23, 2019
Disappointed
I have always loved this author. Felt let down by this book, slow and meandering. Not the pace I like.
I have always loved this author. Felt let down by this book, slow and meandering. Not the pace I like.
March 31, 2019
not going to finish this
January 5, 2020
Engrossing and totally gripping thriller/mystery from Montanari about a forensic psychologist, Will, and his daughter, Detta, who move to an inherited estate in Ohio after the brutal death of his wife in New York as a fresh start. The local police chief, Ivy, has been investigating the disappearance of many a young girl over several decades, including her own sister. The two paths meet and begin to unravel the mystery which may involve Will and Detta in ways they could not predict. The writing is top-notch as always and the story never lags from beginning to end. Montanari never disappoints and this is no exception. A highly underrated author who knows his audience and delivers the goods. 4.5 stars. Highly recommended.
March 25, 2020
(SPOILERS)
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3.5/5 (rounded down for goodreads)
I really like Richard Montanari as a rule, especially his Byrne and Balzano series, and I was surprised to find this stand alone on the shelf in the library as I had no idea he had another one out.
I enjoyed this, and I liked the way it all linked back, but it felt like it took a real long time to get going, with about 50 pages at the beginning leading to the death of our main characters wife, which would be fine (and does have a point down the line) but we know she dies from the blurb – it is a lot of reading, with a lot of day to day that almost seems like its padding for the sake of it.
Most of the real action (if you like) happened in the last 70 or so pages, up to then it was lot of piecing together. Really slowly.
I didn’t mind this, but it did seem like it too a really long time to get anywhere, and the whole thing, while wonderfully looped back to make a neat bow, essentially hinged on 3 or more generations of crazy people with zero reasoning as to why.
The art was important, I get that, but why did they inspire crazy, life long behaviours, and why, even though I grasp that being raised a certain way may cause a total belief in something, this seemed really far fetched.
The ties that bound everything really were intricate, and not immediately obvious, but I was left a tad frustrated that Ivy never got answers, that we never find out who Billy was (I mean we know Jakob was nuts but Detta? I don’t believe that) or if he was the same as the Boy that Jakob was with.
I don’t really DNF books, I feel like the work that goes into it really does deserve to be honoured once you start it (though in the case of the truly awful, put the book down!) but this could seriously have been about 100-150 pages shorter and would have probably been a better read. It would have made it more fluid, faster paced, and you would have still gotten all the essential details.
As such, for me, it was a little disappointing as a result.
******************************************
3.5/5 (rounded down for goodreads)
I really like Richard Montanari as a rule, especially his Byrne and Balzano series, and I was surprised to find this stand alone on the shelf in the library as I had no idea he had another one out.
I enjoyed this, and I liked the way it all linked back, but it felt like it took a real long time to get going, with about 50 pages at the beginning leading to the death of our main characters wife, which would be fine (and does have a point down the line) but we know she dies from the blurb – it is a lot of reading, with a lot of day to day that almost seems like its padding for the sake of it.
Most of the real action (if you like) happened in the last 70 or so pages, up to then it was lot of piecing together. Really slowly.
I didn’t mind this, but it did seem like it too a really long time to get anywhere, and the whole thing, while wonderfully looped back to make a neat bow, essentially hinged on 3 or more generations of crazy people with zero reasoning as to why.
The art was important, I get that, but why did they inspire crazy, life long behaviours, and why, even though I grasp that being raised a certain way may cause a total belief in something, this seemed really far fetched.
The ties that bound everything really were intricate, and not immediately obvious, but I was left a tad frustrated that Ivy never got answers, that we never find out who Billy was (I mean we know Jakob was nuts but Detta? I don’t believe that) or if he was the same as the Boy that Jakob was with.
I don’t really DNF books, I feel like the work that goes into it really does deserve to be honoured once you start it (though in the case of the truly awful, put the book down!) but this could seriously have been about 100-150 pages shorter and would have probably been a better read. It would have made it more fluid, faster paced, and you would have still gotten all the essential details.
As such, for me, it was a little disappointing as a result.
September 23, 2024
This is my first book by Mr. Montanari. It was a nice, good showing. There were elements that I enjoyed a lot. Enough good things that I would read another book by Mr. Montanari.
Detective Ivy is one of the good elements. She had a good head on her shoulders that showed her intelligence. She was not one of those take a backseat cop. She did lead the investigation. Here is where I did lose some of the interest in the story and that was with the main character and murder investigation as a whole. Will was fine but neither he or his daughter really did anything for me. I was not invested in them one hundred percent. Therefore, because of this, the story lost some excitement for me. At times I even found myself going through the motions of reading but not really comprehending what I was reading.
Yet, I still finished this book pretty fast. As I stated previously, I would read another book from this author.
Detective Ivy is one of the good elements. She had a good head on her shoulders that showed her intelligence. She was not one of those take a backseat cop. She did lead the investigation. Here is where I did lose some of the interest in the story and that was with the main character and murder investigation as a whole. Will was fine but neither he or his daughter really did anything for me. I was not invested in them one hundred percent. Therefore, because of this, the story lost some excitement for me. At times I even found myself going through the motions of reading but not really comprehending what I was reading.
Yet, I still finished this book pretty fast. As I stated previously, I would read another book from this author.
May 13, 2019
I actually didn't get into this story very much. It wasn't very captivating. What I did enjoy about it though was the skilled and professional voice of Scott Brick who reads this novel for the listener. I found out that he's recorded over 800 books and if you listen to him you will realize why. Very well presented.
March 26, 2019
Absolutely horrible. I kept going just hoping it would get better and it absolutely does not. I had to stop... and I don't often stop. Seriously just don't.
October 18, 2019
Beautiful writing. Great mystery.
February 10, 2023
Had to go ahead and DNF this at the 50 percent mark. Even though I've read other books I've enjoyed from this author and I enjoyed the audiobook performance this story and characters were doing absolutely nothing for me.
The back cover copy of the book spoils a major event that doesn't take place until almost 20 percent into the book for starters. Then after that the story changes quite a bit as the setting changes and more characters are thrown into the mix. And for the next 30 percent it felt like very little was happening and the main character was doing almost nothing that was of interest to me. Also the historical flashbacks didn't work for me at all and just muddied the plot. I was expecting a detective thriller, and honestly there was very little detecting and less thrilling.
I'm going to stick to this author's Byrne and Balzano detective books going forward because I enjoy those. This standalone is a complete miss.
The back cover copy of the book spoils a major event that doesn't take place until almost 20 percent into the book for starters. Then after that the story changes quite a bit as the setting changes and more characters are thrown into the mix. And for the next 30 percent it felt like very little was happening and the main character was doing almost nothing that was of interest to me. Also the historical flashbacks didn't work for me at all and just muddied the plot. I was expecting a detective thriller, and honestly there was very little detecting and less thrilling.
I'm going to stick to this author's Byrne and Balzano detective books going forward because I enjoy those. This standalone is a complete miss.
February 9, 2019
After NYC psychologist Will Hardy's wife is brutally murdered at the hands of one of his patients, he and his daughter Bernadette leave the for the Ohio countryside to a run down house that was left unexpectedly to Hardy in a family inheritance. He befriends Police Chief Ivy Lee Holgrove who enlists Will's help unraveling clues in a current case of numerous missing girls and a rash of unexplained deaths which appear to be suicides. This e-book is a stand alone thriller with deep historic and ritualistic roots. Perhaps this will have a follow up and eventually be released in print form.
March 26, 2024
This book started well and slowly but surely deteriorated. The plot became thick and convoluted and there are more characters than a cheap soapie, none of which are particularly relatable. Such a confusing and boring book 📕 🙈
August 1, 2024
Slow start, but once it picks up, *chefs kiss
March 28, 2019
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest and thoughtful review.
This was a new to me author that I had the opportunity to read, and definitely one that I will continue to look for!
From the book's haunting cover design to the intriguing synopsis, I was completely hooked. This was such a chilling mystery, accented with gothic elements, that was delivered in an especially intelligent and thought-provoking way. Intensely atmospheric in its descriptiveness, the mood was greatly enhanced to ratchet up the creep factor and sense of foreboding. Once Will and his daughter made the move to Ohio, the community was incredibly welcoming and often overwhelmingly helpful; however, the net of trepidation had already been cast over the reader early on, so you could never get too comfortable with the direction you thought the story may be going. Although the narrative was intricately plotted and densely packed, featuring various points of view, characters, crimes, and family dramas across multiple time frames, it was surprisingly easy to keep track of and quite a page-turner! The pacing was deft and really set the stage for creating this mounting tension; slowing down just enough to provide the richly historical and deeply rooted ritualistic background and then ramping up as the investigation began to shed light on the nature of the crimes and who was involved.
The trust and respect that was built between Ivy and Will were fascinating to read, and hopefully, this connection will lead to more stories following their profiling efforts and criminal investigation procedures. They make a great team and I would love to see more of them together.
The author's writing was captivating, strong, and very well done, particularly with regards to the reveal, which was not expected and will keep you guessing until the very end!
Overall, this complex and vastly multi-layered read was immensely satisfying and highly recommended!
Thank you to the author and Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for providing me a free book in exchange for my honest and thoughtful opinion. This review and more special features can be found on That's What She's Reading Blog at thatswhatshesreading.com.
September 22, 2019
Will Hardy is a forensic psychologist from New York. I've Holgrave is a small town cop from Abbeville. How do the lives of these two people living miles apart intertwine to bring us a very haunting and atmospheric story?
Granted at the start of this book I did wonder how all the characters and their stories were linked. You have got Will and Detta, his daughter in New York. Ivy digging into a centuries old mystery of disappearing teenage girls. We have journal excerpts dating back to the 1800s of Eva Larsen. Then a story of the Van Lasts hailing from Holland. It was all very confusing, yet the writing was so poetic and beautiful, I felt completely drawn into and invested into each of the characters storyline. Because of this I found it very difficult to put the book down.
It may not be your run-of-the-mill fast paced gritty thriller, or full of grotesque murders (though there are quite detailed descriptions of dead corpses) But, what we do have is an excellent story of mystery and murder. Montanari really knows how to set a scene and build up tension. It gave me goosebumps whilst reading this story. The drip feeding of information was enough to keep me hooked throughout.
Each character is built up well, delving into their past and giving us an insight into how they develop into who they are in the present. There is an added mysterious inanimate character in this story, Godwin Hall. A centuries old mansion steeped in history and mystery surrounding it.
I really enjoyed this book, a dark and mysterious story eluding in sinister goings on around a small town. I wanted to know more as it was a very captivating read.
Thank you to Sphere, Little Brown UK Publishers for my gifted copy in exchange of an honest review.
Granted at the start of this book I did wonder how all the characters and their stories were linked. You have got Will and Detta, his daughter in New York. Ivy digging into a centuries old mystery of disappearing teenage girls. We have journal excerpts dating back to the 1800s of Eva Larsen. Then a story of the Van Lasts hailing from Holland. It was all very confusing, yet the writing was so poetic and beautiful, I felt completely drawn into and invested into each of the characters storyline. Because of this I found it very difficult to put the book down.
It may not be your run-of-the-mill fast paced gritty thriller, or full of grotesque murders (though there are quite detailed descriptions of dead corpses) But, what we do have is an excellent story of mystery and murder. Montanari really knows how to set a scene and build up tension. It gave me goosebumps whilst reading this story. The drip feeding of information was enough to keep me hooked throughout.
Each character is built up well, delving into their past and giving us an insight into how they develop into who they are in the present. There is an added mysterious inanimate character in this story, Godwin Hall. A centuries old mansion steeped in history and mystery surrounding it.
I really enjoyed this book, a dark and mysterious story eluding in sinister goings on around a small town. I wanted to know more as it was a very captivating read.
Thank you to Sphere, Little Brown UK Publishers for my gifted copy in exchange of an honest review.
July 29, 2019
Not a chilling psychological thriller
This story had the potential to be gripping but it just seemed lack something. It took a while to get going and by the middle of the story you want to find out what happens but the ending was just tame. This felt like a really good first/second draft of the story but in my option there needed to be more polish done to it before it was really ready.
This story had the potential to be gripping but it just seemed lack something. It took a while to get going and by the middle of the story you want to find out what happens but the ending was just tame. This felt like a really good first/second draft of the story but in my option there needed to be more polish done to it before it was really ready.
Read
March 18, 2019Loved it. Another great thriller from one of my favourite authors!
March 22, 2019
This had the potential to be much more. I found the style a bit odd, not what I'd expect from Montanari.
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