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Stevens & Windermere #6
The Forgotten Girls
They are the victims no one has ever cared about, until now. Agents Stevens and Windermere return in this new crime novel.
She was a forgotten girl, a runaway found murdered on the High Line train through the northern Rocky Mountains and, with little local interest, put into a dead file. But she was not alone. When Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere of the joint FBI-BCA violent crime force stumble upon the case, they discover a horror far greater than anyone expected—a string of murders on the High Line, all of them young women drifters whom no one would notice.
But someone has noticed now. Through the bleak midwinter and a frontier land of forbidding geography, Stevens and Windermere follow a frustratingly light trail of clues—and where it ends, even they will be shocked.
She was a forgotten girl, a runaway found murdered on the High Line train through the northern Rocky Mountains and, with little local interest, put into a dead file. But she was not alone. When Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere of the joint FBI-BCA violent crime force stumble upon the case, they discover a horror far greater than anyone expected—a string of murders on the High Line, all of them young women drifters whom no one would notice.
But someone has noticed now. Through the bleak midwinter and a frontier land of forbidding geography, Stevens and Windermere follow a frustratingly light trail of clues—and where it ends, even they will be shocked.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2017
68 people are currently reading
1015 people want to read
About the author
Owen Laukkanen
21 books551 followersOwen Laukkanen's debut thriller, THE PROFESSIONALS, was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in spring 2012. Its sequel, CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, will hit stores on March 21, 2013.
An alumnus of the University of British Columbia's Creative Writing BFA program, Laukkanen spent three years in the world of professional poker, traveling to high-stakes tournaments across the globe as a writer for www.PokerListings.com.
A commercial fisherman when he’s not writing, Laukkanen divides his time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
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March 27, 2017
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3.5 Stars
The Forgotten Girls is book six in a series by Owen Laukkanen that features agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere.
A string of murders on the High Line. All young women. All of them constantly moving from place to place never setting down roots. Someone thought that no one would notice or even care that these women were dead.
But someone has noticed.
Ash knew she was taking a chance. Her friends told her not to do it. Especially not alone. Bad things could happen.
"You don't ever surf trains on the High Line"
But for Ash, time was of the essence. It had to be a quick trip so that left her no choice but the hotshot, the High Line. Only now she realizes just how bad of an idea it was. She's stuck in the frigid cold and the train has stopped. Dead tired and cold, Ash sees a light not far away, under a bridge. A fire. Fire means warmth, plus maybe food or something warm to drink. But it's also dangerous. She is alone and the fire means there's probably other riders around. But Ash is tough and in all the years she has been riding she's never had a problem. She isn't worried.
Maybe she should be...
Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere of the joint FBI-BCA violent crime force have been working together for four years. They met by chance and since teaming up have worked cases including bank robberies, human trafficking, online predators and more.
Now their new case, a rash of killings on the High Line. The killer is picking women who are considered easily "forgotten" due to their way of living. These women often use the railway to get around. Someone is using this as well as the climate to their advantage. The harsh winter and the cold means the women aren't found right away. It also means evidence can be very hard to find. So someone definitely has a jump on Windermere and Stevens, but they won't let this stop them.
The book started off really strong. A very interesting and original plot. The author did a great job of describing the harsh, unforgiving climate. Told from multiple points of view. I enjoyed most of the viewpoints (the killers was especially interesting). I do wish I would have heard more from Stevens and Windermere as I had a hard time connecting with their characters. The story was suspenseful and thrilling and I was gripped and really wanted to see how it all played out. But I felt some parts were dragged out a little longer than necessary.
When I first requested this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series but the awesome cover really grabbed me. I was a bit worried that I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series. Though it works fine as a stand-alone as the detectives are working a new case, maybe having read previous books would have helped me connect with the characters more. It's hard to know for sure.
All that said, I did enjoy this book, just not as much as I had anticipated. But I have heard good things about other books in this series, and it sounds like Stevens and Windermere have some interesting cases. I can definitely see myself reading more from Owen Laukkanen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Owen Laukkanen, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 Stars
The Forgotten Girls is book six in a series by Owen Laukkanen that features agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere.
A string of murders on the High Line. All young women. All of them constantly moving from place to place never setting down roots. Someone thought that no one would notice or even care that these women were dead.
But someone has noticed.
Ash knew she was taking a chance. Her friends told her not to do it. Especially not alone. Bad things could happen.
"You don't ever surf trains on the High Line"
But for Ash, time was of the essence. It had to be a quick trip so that left her no choice but the hotshot, the High Line. Only now she realizes just how bad of an idea it was. She's stuck in the frigid cold and the train has stopped. Dead tired and cold, Ash sees a light not far away, under a bridge. A fire. Fire means warmth, plus maybe food or something warm to drink. But it's also dangerous. She is alone and the fire means there's probably other riders around. But Ash is tough and in all the years she has been riding she's never had a problem. She isn't worried.
Maybe she should be...
Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere of the joint FBI-BCA violent crime force have been working together for four years. They met by chance and since teaming up have worked cases including bank robberies, human trafficking, online predators and more.
Now their new case, a rash of killings on the High Line. The killer is picking women who are considered easily "forgotten" due to their way of living. These women often use the railway to get around. Someone is using this as well as the climate to their advantage. The harsh winter and the cold means the women aren't found right away. It also means evidence can be very hard to find. So someone definitely has a jump on Windermere and Stevens, but they won't let this stop them.
The book started off really strong. A very interesting and original plot. The author did a great job of describing the harsh, unforgiving climate. Told from multiple points of view. I enjoyed most of the viewpoints (the killers was especially interesting). I do wish I would have heard more from Stevens and Windermere as I had a hard time connecting with their characters. The story was suspenseful and thrilling and I was gripped and really wanted to see how it all played out. But I felt some parts were dragged out a little longer than necessary.
When I first requested this book, I didn't realize it was part of a series but the awesome cover really grabbed me. I was a bit worried that I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series. Though it works fine as a stand-alone as the detectives are working a new case, maybe having read previous books would have helped me connect with the characters more. It's hard to know for sure.
All that said, I did enjoy this book, just not as much as I had anticipated. But I have heard good things about other books in this series, and it sounds like Stevens and Windermere have some interesting cases. I can definitely see myself reading more from Owen Laukkanen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Owen Laukkanen, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 24, 2017
This is another excellent entry in Owen Laukkanen's series featuring Kirk Stevens of the Minnesota BCA and Carla Windermere of the F.B.I. This case finds the pair far from the comforts of home in Minnesota, working along the "High Line" of western Montana, Idaho and Washington in the middle of a brutally cold and snowy winter.
Over the space of several years, a number of women and girls have gone missing or have turned up dead along the route of what was, historically, the Great Northern Railroad and which Laukkanen fictionalizes as the Northwestern Railroad, running along the northern rim of the U.S., from Chicago to Seattle. The victims were mostly from the lower classes--Native Americans, waitresses, prostitutes, addicts and others--women that few people would miss and that a lot of people, including their friends and families, always assumed would come to a bad end.
No one sees a pattern here, though, until Stevens and Windermere begin tracking the case of a young "train hopper," one of a group of men and women who travel around the country by hopping rides on trains. Rumors have long spread among among female hoppers that bad things happen to women riding the High Line, and the conventional wisdom is that no woman should ever ride the High Line alone.
Stevens and Windermere come into the case when a photo surfaces on the phone of a Minnesota man showing the body of a young woman who has been attacked, killed and abandoned along the High Line. The two then learn that a girlfriend of the young victim is headed toward the site where the body was found, determined to smoke out the killer and ignoring all the warnings about riding the High Line by herself. Stevens and Windermere are soon hot on the trail of the young woman, and of the killer known as The Rider, hoping against all odds that they can smoke out the killer before another young woman falls into his clutches.
Complicating matters considerably is the fact that the story takes place in the dead of a brutal winter with freezing temperatures and one blizzard after another. For a while, Steven and Windermere find themselves trapped in a tiny town with no Internet or cell phone access, unable to move while the killer is closing in on another victim.
It's a riveting tale with a number of well-drawn and interesting characters. As always, it's fun to watch Stevens and Windermere work the case, and Laukkanen does a fantastic job setting the scene. His description of the snow storms and the freezing weather are especially vivid and even though I was reading the book outdoors on an eighty-five-degree day in the Arizona desert, I still felt like I ought to be making myself a large hot chocolate or at least pouring a tumbler of whisky to ward off the cold. All in all, another very good read.
Over the space of several years, a number of women and girls have gone missing or have turned up dead along the route of what was, historically, the Great Northern Railroad and which Laukkanen fictionalizes as the Northwestern Railroad, running along the northern rim of the U.S., from Chicago to Seattle. The victims were mostly from the lower classes--Native Americans, waitresses, prostitutes, addicts and others--women that few people would miss and that a lot of people, including their friends and families, always assumed would come to a bad end.
No one sees a pattern here, though, until Stevens and Windermere begin tracking the case of a young "train hopper," one of a group of men and women who travel around the country by hopping rides on trains. Rumors have long spread among among female hoppers that bad things happen to women riding the High Line, and the conventional wisdom is that no woman should ever ride the High Line alone.
Stevens and Windermere come into the case when a photo surfaces on the phone of a Minnesota man showing the body of a young woman who has been attacked, killed and abandoned along the High Line. The two then learn that a girlfriend of the young victim is headed toward the site where the body was found, determined to smoke out the killer and ignoring all the warnings about riding the High Line by herself. Stevens and Windermere are soon hot on the trail of the young woman, and of the killer known as The Rider, hoping against all odds that they can smoke out the killer before another young woman falls into his clutches.
Complicating matters considerably is the fact that the story takes place in the dead of a brutal winter with freezing temperatures and one blizzard after another. For a while, Steven and Windermere find themselves trapped in a tiny town with no Internet or cell phone access, unable to move while the killer is closing in on another victim.
It's a riveting tale with a number of well-drawn and interesting characters. As always, it's fun to watch Stevens and Windermere work the case, and Laukkanen does a fantastic job setting the scene. His description of the snow storms and the freezing weather are especially vivid and even though I was reading the book outdoors on an eighty-five-degree day in the Arizona desert, I still felt like I ought to be making myself a large hot chocolate or at least pouring a tumbler of whisky to ward off the cold. All in all, another very good read.
April 20, 2018
Received from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
He preys on women. Women who will not be missed. They are runaways, transients, prostitutes, etc. Women, who, once gone are forgotten. He hunts the forgotten girls.
This book opens with a teenager being found murdered. No one is quite sure of her name (her real name), where she comes from or why she was riding the rails. FBI agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere stumble upon the case after the murdered teen's picture is found on a cell phone. How did it get there? Why is a picture of the murder scene showing up on a young man's cell phone(A man who is not connected with the case.)? As the agents begin to investigate the case, they learn that there is someone else investigating the case as well. Another young teenage girl, Mila, who was a friend of the murdered teenager. Both (the agents and Mila) learn that there is a serial killer riding the High Line train killing women along the way. A killer who seems to blend in, and goes unseen. Riders of the rail have heard of his existence, but local police and the FBI do not know of his existence or his connection to over 25 murders, until the dead teens picture is seen.
We soon learn who the mysterious killing rider is. An ex-Ranger who knows how to survive over rough terrain. His hatred for women is palpable. Both Mila and the agents are tracking him down and both are getting closer and closer to his home base.....
I wont give away this rest. This book is number 6 in the Stevens and Windermere series but it read as a stand alone book for me. I liked the story. Through the telling of the story, the reader learns what is going on in the mind of the serial killer and sees not only the FBI's investigation, but Mila's attempts to hunt down her friend's killer as well.
More than halfway through the book, I thought they had him and the book should be over. I would have been fine with it ending there. But it didn't end, it kept going and isn't that the way of police/FBI investigations? Just when you think you've got 'em, they slip through your fingers...
As I said, I enjoyed this book but not enough to want to read this book's predecessors. I think this book is good for those who like serial killer, police/FBI procedural books but without a lot of lot of graphic violence. Yes, there is violence here but it is not told in a graphic manner that you will see in other books. An enjoyable read.
He preys on women. Women who will not be missed. They are runaways, transients, prostitutes, etc. Women, who, once gone are forgotten. He hunts the forgotten girls.
This book opens with a teenager being found murdered. No one is quite sure of her name (her real name), where she comes from or why she was riding the rails. FBI agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere stumble upon the case after the murdered teen's picture is found on a cell phone. How did it get there? Why is a picture of the murder scene showing up on a young man's cell phone(A man who is not connected with the case.)? As the agents begin to investigate the case, they learn that there is someone else investigating the case as well. Another young teenage girl, Mila, who was a friend of the murdered teenager. Both (the agents and Mila) learn that there is a serial killer riding the High Line train killing women along the way. A killer who seems to blend in, and goes unseen. Riders of the rail have heard of his existence, but local police and the FBI do not know of his existence or his connection to over 25 murders, until the dead teens picture is seen.
We soon learn who the mysterious killing rider is. An ex-Ranger who knows how to survive over rough terrain. His hatred for women is palpable. Both Mila and the agents are tracking him down and both are getting closer and closer to his home base.....
I wont give away this rest. This book is number 6 in the Stevens and Windermere series but it read as a stand alone book for me. I liked the story. Through the telling of the story, the reader learns what is going on in the mind of the serial killer and sees not only the FBI's investigation, but Mila's attempts to hunt down her friend's killer as well.
More than halfway through the book, I thought they had him and the book should be over. I would have been fine with it ending there. But it didn't end, it kept going and isn't that the way of police/FBI investigations? Just when you think you've got 'em, they slip through your fingers...
As I said, I enjoyed this book but not enough to want to read this book's predecessors. I think this book is good for those who like serial killer, police/FBI procedural books but without a lot of lot of graphic violence. Yes, there is violence here but it is not told in a graphic manner that you will see in other books. An enjoyable read.
February 20, 2017
I received an e-ARC of The Forgotten Girls from First to Read in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
The Forgotten Girls is the sixth entry in a series featuring Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agent Kirk Stevens and FBI agent Carla Windermere, who are part of a joint BCA-FBI task force that investigates violent crimes. This is my first book in the series and, though it can be read as a standalone, reading previous books may provide more insight into Stevens and Windermere. I found it hard to connect with either agent as they are not given much description.
Stevens and Windermere’s latest case has them racing across frozen landscapes to solve the murders of several young women; their bodies have been discarded like trash near the Northern Rocky Mountains. They initially come on board to look into the death of a young woman when a photo of her dead body is discovered on the cell phone of a Minnesota man. It is determined the victim was killed in Idaho, a place the man claims he’s never been. He also claims strange photos have been showing up his phone for awhile and that he had a cell phone stolen several months back. Apparently, someone has been using his stolen phone to take photos and the photos are being backed up to his cloud.
Once he is cleared, the investigation widens and takes them to a disturbing realization: this young woman may not be the only victim of the killer. There are rumors that a bogeyman trolls the Northwest and that he is responsible for many unsolved cases involving women. Some of the women are transients, prostitutes or runaways, forgotten women not a lot of people are looking for and not a lot of digging was done. Often, it is assumed the women are victims of the harsh environment, succumbing to the frigid elements. In the case of the young woman murdered in Idaho, she is a runaway and a train hopper. She’d been stowing away on trains to travel across the country. Her friend Mila, also a train hopper, is determined to find her killer and starts to track the killer via the rails as Stevens and Windermere also look for the killer - and for Mila. Things quickly escalate from an investigation to an all-out manhunt.
There is a lot good about The Forgotten Girls. It’s suspenseful with short chapters that really keep up the pace and tension. The descriptions of the blizzard conditions and frozen environment in the Northwest are excellent and you can’t help but feel chilled while reading. It is also told using multiple POVs: Stevens, Windermere, a colleague named Mathers, Mila and the killer. The killer’s POV was very disturbing and intriguing. The train hopper premise was unusual and interesting and the author did a good job of creating the train hopper environment.
The main issue I have is with the characters. There’s almost no descriptions of the main characters. From their behavior, I’m guessing Stevens is in his fifties and Windermere is in her early thirties. There’s one or two quick snippets about past cases and how they affected the two agents but nothing any deeper. It’s very hard to relate to either one. Stevens comes across as unremarkable while Windermere is sarcastic and abrasive. I really did not take to her. And - her use of “partner” at the end of almost every sentence she utters to Stevens drove me nuts.
Overall, The Forgotten Girls is a good serial killer thriller with excitement and a great setting. The writing is good and the premise interesting but, as a fan of character-driven novels, I just wish that more time was taken to flesh out the characters.
3.5 stars
The Forgotten Girls is the sixth entry in a series featuring Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agent Kirk Stevens and FBI agent Carla Windermere, who are part of a joint BCA-FBI task force that investigates violent crimes. This is my first book in the series and, though it can be read as a standalone, reading previous books may provide more insight into Stevens and Windermere. I found it hard to connect with either agent as they are not given much description.
Stevens and Windermere’s latest case has them racing across frozen landscapes to solve the murders of several young women; their bodies have been discarded like trash near the Northern Rocky Mountains. They initially come on board to look into the death of a young woman when a photo of her dead body is discovered on the cell phone of a Minnesota man. It is determined the victim was killed in Idaho, a place the man claims he’s never been. He also claims strange photos have been showing up his phone for awhile and that he had a cell phone stolen several months back. Apparently, someone has been using his stolen phone to take photos and the photos are being backed up to his cloud.
Once he is cleared, the investigation widens and takes them to a disturbing realization: this young woman may not be the only victim of the killer. There are rumors that a bogeyman trolls the Northwest and that he is responsible for many unsolved cases involving women. Some of the women are transients, prostitutes or runaways, forgotten women not a lot of people are looking for and not a lot of digging was done. Often, it is assumed the women are victims of the harsh environment, succumbing to the frigid elements. In the case of the young woman murdered in Idaho, she is a runaway and a train hopper. She’d been stowing away on trains to travel across the country. Her friend Mila, also a train hopper, is determined to find her killer and starts to track the killer via the rails as Stevens and Windermere also look for the killer - and for Mila. Things quickly escalate from an investigation to an all-out manhunt.
There is a lot good about The Forgotten Girls. It’s suspenseful with short chapters that really keep up the pace and tension. The descriptions of the blizzard conditions and frozen environment in the Northwest are excellent and you can’t help but feel chilled while reading. It is also told using multiple POVs: Stevens, Windermere, a colleague named Mathers, Mila and the killer. The killer’s POV was very disturbing and intriguing. The train hopper premise was unusual and interesting and the author did a good job of creating the train hopper environment.
The main issue I have is with the characters. There’s almost no descriptions of the main characters. From their behavior, I’m guessing Stevens is in his fifties and Windermere is in her early thirties. There’s one or two quick snippets about past cases and how they affected the two agents but nothing any deeper. It’s very hard to relate to either one. Stevens comes across as unremarkable while Windermere is sarcastic and abrasive. I really did not take to her. And - her use of “partner” at the end of almost every sentence she utters to Stevens drove me nuts.
Overall, The Forgotten Girls is a good serial killer thriller with excitement and a great setting. The writing is good and the premise interesting but, as a fan of character-driven novels, I just wish that more time was taken to flesh out the characters.
August 2, 2024
I thought this was a really good series, and I'm hoping for more. This one had a serial killer who was so good, most of his murders weren't even on anyone's radar. They were all in low-level jobs like waitressing, perhaps prostitutition, and often native American women and runaways. And it was in the extremely cold areas such as Montana, where people died of accidents regularly. Just getting a bit tipsy and getting lost can be the end.
He was right at home in these areas, and left no trails. He was only caught due to a bit of luck. And even then, he almost got away.
The main characters, Stevens & Windermere, are very likable and capable. They don't give up, which is what it took for this one.
He was right at home in these areas, and left no trails. He was only caught due to a bit of luck. And even then, he almost got away.
The main characters, Stevens & Windermere, are very likable and capable. They don't give up, which is what it took for this one.
March 13, 2017
"You don’t ever surf trains on the High Line."
The Forgotten Girls is a police/FBI suspense thriller.
A serial killer has been killing women for years. He uses the High Line train to pick his victims. His usual victims are women who nobody cares much for. They are either Native American Indians, prostitutes or runaways. He also takes advantage of the cold weather to hide his killings.
The novel starts with a runaway girl named Ash becoming one of his victims. Ash has made many friends with the people who use the trains as their transportation. Her friend Mila, who is another runaway, is devastated when she learns Ash has died. She can't believe it's an accident and she starts searching for clues in Ash's death. She soon learns there are whispers of a bogeyman who has been killing women for years. Mila knows she might die if she continues her search but she wants justice for her friend.
Two detectives are in charge of Ash's case. Agent Kirk Stevens and Agent Carla Windermere are part of the joint FBI/BCA violent crime force. They soon learn their current case might be related to other women found dead or going missing in the same area. Once they are sure they have a serial killer on their hands, the race to find him and save Mila begins.
I like the suspense The Forgotten Girls carried and there were a couple of scenes that had my heart beating fast. However, I thought the two detective characters to be too impersonal. I learned pretty much nothing about them. I'm not sure if there is more insight about them in the prior books but I wish I could have cared more for them in this one.
On the other hand, Mila's character had more depth. I really wanted her to find the killer but I was also thinking how dumb she was by thinking she could survive him. I was wishing her good luck because it was the only way to save herself from him.
The novel also provided us with the killer's POV. Those chapters were disturbing. He hated women and he enjoyed hurting them.
Overall, I thought the writing was good. I do want to read the next one in this series.
3/5 Fangs
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January 30, 2022I was able to launch into this series with book #6 and not miss a beat, but I'm not sure that's a good thing. I ended it not feeling as though I'd learned thing one about Stevens or Windermere. They are plot devices to keep things moving along, as opposed to characters around which a story is crafted.
This was fast-paced and both entertaining and satisfying from a plot standpoint. It's standard serial killer fare, balanced between the perspectives of the victims, the killer and the investigators. I'm feeling very over stories that feature the killer with equal billing because it just feels like filling space. I no longer care who they are, what their motives may be, or how they go about their crimes, but it's on me for having carried on reading this story, so I will not quantify my review on that basis.
This was fast-paced and both entertaining and satisfying from a plot standpoint. It's standard serial killer fare, balanced between the perspectives of the victims, the killer and the investigators. I'm feeling very over stories that feature the killer with equal billing because it just feels like filling space. I no longer care who they are, what their motives may be, or how they go about their crimes, but it's on me for having carried on reading this story, so I will not quantify my review on that basis.
March 31, 2017
Deep in the northern mountains of the United States, where winter is harsh and people are scarce, girls have been going missing for years. Many of them are Native American, some are prostitutes, some are runaways, some are small town barmaids, all are the kind of girls that could easily disappear without anyone noticing. Until now.
When FBI agents Windermere and Stevens get wind of the case, all they have is a dead girl, an unidentified runaway rail rider, and a gut feeling that there is something more to this than the one girl. Quickly, they find themselves chasing a serial killer, a failed Army Ranger who hates women, a loner who is an expert survivalist. And he’s about to give them a run for their money.
The premise of this book was enticing, but the cover was what really sold the deal for me. And who loves a good serial killer story? This girl does. Alas, the cover was the best part of the book.
The story is interesting, and it started off really well. Immediately, I was into it, drawn to the first girl who dies, wanting to know more about this serial killer who rides the rails trolling for victims. However, it wasn’t suspenseful enough for my taste, not gritty enough. The angst of the killer, the frustration of the agents, the fear of the victims, these are feelings that should have been palpable, but were not. After the first few chapters, it was easy enough to set aside at bedtime, and that isn’t what I expect from this kind of book.
The second thing is, it wasn’t really detailed or technical enough. Not enough FBI procedure, no focus on the serial killer’s motives, no profiler or psychologist involved. Ultimately, it was a soft approach, and while I’m sure there are plenty of readers who like that, I’m not one of them. Scare me. Thrill me. Disgust me. Make my heart race. Make me wonder what the hell is going on. Please.
For me, it was meh. Mo Hayder and Lincoln Child are more my speed.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
When FBI agents Windermere and Stevens get wind of the case, all they have is a dead girl, an unidentified runaway rail rider, and a gut feeling that there is something more to this than the one girl. Quickly, they find themselves chasing a serial killer, a failed Army Ranger who hates women, a loner who is an expert survivalist. And he’s about to give them a run for their money.
The premise of this book was enticing, but the cover was what really sold the deal for me. And who loves a good serial killer story? This girl does. Alas, the cover was the best part of the book.
The story is interesting, and it started off really well. Immediately, I was into it, drawn to the first girl who dies, wanting to know more about this serial killer who rides the rails trolling for victims. However, it wasn’t suspenseful enough for my taste, not gritty enough. The angst of the killer, the frustration of the agents, the fear of the victims, these are feelings that should have been palpable, but were not. After the first few chapters, it was easy enough to set aside at bedtime, and that isn’t what I expect from this kind of book.
The second thing is, it wasn’t really detailed or technical enough. Not enough FBI procedure, no focus on the serial killer’s motives, no profiler or psychologist involved. Ultimately, it was a soft approach, and while I’m sure there are plenty of readers who like that, I’m not one of them. Scare me. Thrill me. Disgust me. Make my heart race. Make me wonder what the hell is going on. Please.
For me, it was meh. Mo Hayder and Lincoln Child are more my speed.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
September 14, 2020
This was another great installment in the series, this one involving a sadistic rapist/killer who picks his prey from the female hobos who ride the rails as a lifestyle. Not only was it the typical cross-country manhunt the series is famous for, but it had an interesting twist in the teenage vigilante, a friend of one of the victims, who takes it upon herself to track down the killer.
This leads to a two-pronged chase where the friend is inadvertently passing along information to Stevens and Windermere that proves invaluable to tracking down the killer. The more intuitive approach of the friend in finding out who the killer is and where his home turf was, was a nice counterpoint to the more procedural and by-the-book approach taken by the leads.
Also, the last shoot-out was intense and had a different vibe than the other books in the series due to the fact he had taken hostages and no hesitation in killing them to make his point. This put a clock on any negotiation or rescue attempt that leant the sequence extra drama.
All in all, a worthwhile addition to the rest of the novels.
This leads to a two-pronged chase where the friend is inadvertently passing along information to Stevens and Windermere that proves invaluable to tracking down the killer. The more intuitive approach of the friend in finding out who the killer is and where his home turf was, was a nice counterpoint to the more procedural and by-the-book approach taken by the leads.
Also, the last shoot-out was intense and had a different vibe than the other books in the series due to the fact he had taken hostages and no hesitation in killing them to make his point. This put a clock on any negotiation or rescue attempt that leant the sequence extra drama.
All in all, a worthwhile addition to the rest of the novels.
December 8, 2019
The Forgotten Girls is a story that centers on a serial murderer who preys on women who operate on the fringes of society. This guy loves the hunt and savors the killing. But when a body turns up in northern Minnesota, FBI agents Stevens and Windermere find themselves trying to unravel the clues to the killer. Told in a methodical timeline, this book will leave you wondering what’s going to happen next. The tension builds as first a friend of a murder victim and then the FBI agents hunt their killer. Essentially, the killer becomes their prey. There’s a few plot twists to keep one wondering what’s ahead too. If you like thrillers that take you along for the ride, you’ll enjoy this book 📖.
March 18, 2017
How have I never heard of this author/series before? This is a dark, exhausting thriller about a serial killer. But it is carefully balanced by the character driven sides of the story. Both the main stars (FBI agents and partners) and the book specific characters (in this case a runaway, a waitress, a few others) are so likeable that you can balance the loathing you feel for the serial killer.
The book becomes unrelenting in the middle (seriously--forget putting the book down once the chase begins in earnest) and goes from terrifying to more terrifying. Without giving away too much, I will say I was so impressed that the author shows his skill in both remote and close up 'hunting' of the killer.
I don't really have the words to explain this; but often books like this are great at the tracking part (and here it is excellent--wear a sweater because you will feel the cold) keeping up the tension and keeping the attention of the reader as the agents get closer to their killer but then there is a let down in the actual arrest (it all sort of falls into place) or conversely the chase part is confusing/boring but the final confrontation is great. Not here. Here Laukkanen writes one beautifully and then segues right into the second with equal grace. Really the last time I was so impressed was Silence of the Lambs.
This was a great read made more poignant by the fact that it is based on real 'forgotten girls' who were targeted by a serial killer. An excellent book worthy of more than 5 stars.
The book becomes unrelenting in the middle (seriously--forget putting the book down once the chase begins in earnest) and goes from terrifying to more terrifying. Without giving away too much, I will say I was so impressed that the author shows his skill in both remote and close up 'hunting' of the killer.
I don't really have the words to explain this; but often books like this are great at the tracking part (and here it is excellent--wear a sweater because you will feel the cold) keeping up the tension and keeping the attention of the reader as the agents get closer to their killer but then there is a let down in the actual arrest (it all sort of falls into place) or conversely the chase part is confusing/boring but the final confrontation is great. Not here. Here Laukkanen writes one beautifully and then segues right into the second with equal grace. Really the last time I was so impressed was Silence of the Lambs.
This was a great read made more poignant by the fact that it is based on real 'forgotten girls' who were targeted by a serial killer. An excellent book worthy of more than 5 stars.
Read
February 7, 2017Danger on the High Line -- a serial killer is preying on women. He is the stuff of urban legend, a ghost. Riding the rails through the cold, snowy winter taking what he wants. FBI Agents Stevens and Windermere catch the case and head for the Rockies. The ghost is a survivalist and seems to disappear into thin air leaving no clues behind. But he's made a mistake: one victim lives.
This is the first novel in the series I've read and I definitely want to know the backstory of these agents. I could feel the cold and the isolated terrain. It was suspenseful and tense as Stevens and Windermere seek to track and capture this fugitive. Frustration with the weather and the vast territory as the net closes in on Hurley and the final events play out. I liked the characters and the writing style. I wish I had read these starting from #1 as I hate to come into the middle of a series, but definitely will look for more books by this author.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-book ARC to review.
This is the first novel in the series I've read and I definitely want to know the backstory of these agents. I could feel the cold and the isolated terrain. It was suspenseful and tense as Stevens and Windermere seek to track and capture this fugitive. Frustration with the weather and the vast territory as the net closes in on Hurley and the final events play out. I liked the characters and the writing style. I wish I had read these starting from #1 as I hate to come into the middle of a series, but definitely will look for more books by this author.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-book ARC to review.
November 11, 2016
For all my reviews, check out my blog Clues and Reviews
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
This book will be published on March 2017. Mark your calendars!
“You don’t ever surf the trains on Highline” is a common catchphrase used by drifters who hop the trains in the Northwestern railroad. The reasoning? There is something evil there. People just die, they disappear, they never show up to where they are headed. The evil comes in the form of a deadly serial killer; they call him the ghost rider. He never gets caught, he evades the elements and he preys on women who will not be missed. They are prostitutes, runaways, people who have been forgotten. They are his now; the forgotten girls.
The Forgotten Girls, by Owen Laukkanen,is the sixth novel in the Stevens and Windermere series. This police procedural follows these two agents as they discover a photo of the body of a murdered woman on a cell phone. Now, hot on the trail, they chase down lead after lead until they find themselves smack down in the middle of train riding subculture and completely wrapped up in the legend of “the ghost rider". Soon, they realize that it is not a legend or a ghost story; he is very much real and is responsible for up to 25 murders. As they go deeper into the investigation, they realize they are not the only one investigating. A young girl, Mila, is also seeking out the rider but for a completely different reason. Vengeance. As the two tales wrap around, the reader is taken on a gripping and thrilling ride.
I was initially worried that this novel would be difficult to follow; I didn’t realize that it was the sixth in the series. I have made this mistake before with other series and was unable to finish the book due to complete confusion. Do not worry my friends- this novel can completely be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much, I will be going back to track down the other five novels in this series. Owen Laukkanen is a fantastic writer and story developer. I was addicted from the first page.
Laukkanen used Canadian serial killer, Robert Pickton, as the background to The Forgotten Girls. This was especially interesting for me; I am Canadian so I remember this case very clearly. I am familiar with the places he speaks of in the novel and the terrain. It just made the novel even better for me. Laukkanen acknowledges this parallel during his author’s notes. I also loved Laukkanen’s use of the train and drifter subculture. It was completely different and so easy to become immersed in.
The novel is narrated as a police procedural normally is; the police case is highlighted with the insights by the officers involved. However, Laukkanen added several different perspectives. The reader gets glimpses and snippets into “the rider” as he prepares for the hunt and stalks his prey. This added a completely eerie element to the novel. He also gave Mila, the young vigilante, her own perspective. This gave so much variety and depth to the story. It was easy to connect with each character this way; I even found myself intrigued by “the rider” and his motivations.
I also loved the progression of this novel. As I was reading, I could feel the plot building and I was waiting for the plot to resolve itself. I had a pretty solid idea of where it was going to go- there weren't really many options. However, at that point, Laukkanen takes the reader on another journey and rebuilds the plot back up. I felt like just when the novel couldn’t be filled with any more tension, Laukkanen found a way to take it to the next level. I loved this.
If you are a fan of the police procedural, or just want a really gripping and enthralling read, then I think you have found the next book to add to your TBR list.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from G.P Putnam’s Sons, Owen Laukkanen and Netgalley; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
https://cluesandreviews.wordpress.com/
This book will be published on March 2017. Mark your calendars!
“You don’t ever surf the trains on Highline” is a common catchphrase used by drifters who hop the trains in the Northwestern railroad. The reasoning? There is something evil there. People just die, they disappear, they never show up to where they are headed. The evil comes in the form of a deadly serial killer; they call him the ghost rider. He never gets caught, he evades the elements and he preys on women who will not be missed. They are prostitutes, runaways, people who have been forgotten. They are his now; the forgotten girls.
The Forgotten Girls, by Owen Laukkanen,is the sixth novel in the Stevens and Windermere series. This police procedural follows these two agents as they discover a photo of the body of a murdered woman on a cell phone. Now, hot on the trail, they chase down lead after lead until they find themselves smack down in the middle of train riding subculture and completely wrapped up in the legend of “the ghost rider". Soon, they realize that it is not a legend or a ghost story; he is very much real and is responsible for up to 25 murders. As they go deeper into the investigation, they realize they are not the only one investigating. A young girl, Mila, is also seeking out the rider but for a completely different reason. Vengeance. As the two tales wrap around, the reader is taken on a gripping and thrilling ride.
I was initially worried that this novel would be difficult to follow; I didn’t realize that it was the sixth in the series. I have made this mistake before with other series and was unable to finish the book due to complete confusion. Do not worry my friends- this novel can completely be read as a standalone. I enjoyed it so much, I will be going back to track down the other five novels in this series. Owen Laukkanen is a fantastic writer and story developer. I was addicted from the first page.
Laukkanen used Canadian serial killer, Robert Pickton, as the background to The Forgotten Girls. This was especially interesting for me; I am Canadian so I remember this case very clearly. I am familiar with the places he speaks of in the novel and the terrain. It just made the novel even better for me. Laukkanen acknowledges this parallel during his author’s notes. I also loved Laukkanen’s use of the train and drifter subculture. It was completely different and so easy to become immersed in.
The novel is narrated as a police procedural normally is; the police case is highlighted with the insights by the officers involved. However, Laukkanen added several different perspectives. The reader gets glimpses and snippets into “the rider” as he prepares for the hunt and stalks his prey. This added a completely eerie element to the novel. He also gave Mila, the young vigilante, her own perspective. This gave so much variety and depth to the story. It was easy to connect with each character this way; I even found myself intrigued by “the rider” and his motivations.
I also loved the progression of this novel. As I was reading, I could feel the plot building and I was waiting for the plot to resolve itself. I had a pretty solid idea of where it was going to go- there weren't really many options. However, at that point, Laukkanen takes the reader on another journey and rebuilds the plot back up. I felt like just when the novel couldn’t be filled with any more tension, Laukkanen found a way to take it to the next level. I loved this.
If you are a fan of the police procedural, or just want a really gripping and enthralling read, then I think you have found the next book to add to your TBR list.
I voluntarily received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from G.P Putnam’s Sons, Owen Laukkanen and Netgalley; it was my pleasure to provide an honest review.
March 12, 2017
I didn’t realize this is book 6 already in the Windermere series. I was too awestruck by the cover and blurb when I decided to request this one. No fear though, this works perfectly as a standalone.
I can cut this story down into three distinctive parts easily. The first one is really setting the stage. I was nose diving into a whole unknown world to me, a world of people who ‘ride trains’ for what seems to be for years on end. Young men, but also girls, runaways. Two of these girls are Ash and Mila. They found each other and promised to travel together, but then crystal lured Mila into breaking that promise. Now one of them has ended up dead, the other torn with guilt and swearing revenge. But who did this? Are the rumours true that she heard?
“You don’t ever surf trains on the high line. You’ll either die from exposure during the winter season or the ghost rider will get you.”
The second part is where it gets really good. The FBI got their hands on a picture of the victim when someone finds it on the phone of her date but get this: the guy had nothing to do with it. So not only do they have to figure out how it got on his phone but they also have to trace back who killed a girl. The only lead they have is another picture of two girls, looking very alive I might add, and one of them has purple hair. A fast-paced game of cat and mouse ensues and had me turning the pages faster than before. Not only are the FBI looking for the girl who might know something more, they are also looking for a ruthless killer. The same girl is also looking for this guy. It’s bound to happen that they’ll all meet up at some point but will the FBI get there in time? Someone’s had a head start…
The third part is told from the viewpoint of the rider mostly and was extremely tense and breath-taking to read as I followed this guy’s steps trying to stay out of the hands of what seems like a whole cavalry coming after him. I swear that the story got better and better towards the end and this part was undoubtedly my favorite one and if I could rate only this part it would be a 4.5 stars. The meaning of cat and mouse certainly got to an all high here. The descriptions of his surroundings were also so vivid, I could just about imagine the stormy weather, the rocky scenery and dense territory as he tried to hide from the helicopters and search parties.
This book didn’t steal my heart in an instant. I had a hard time connecting to the FBI agents Stevens and Windermere at first and really missed their personal stories which were non-existent in this novel, but as the plot unfolded they grew on me and in the end I loved how gutsy Windermere turned out. She totally won me over.
I can cut this story down into three distinctive parts easily. The first one is really setting the stage. I was nose diving into a whole unknown world to me, a world of people who ‘ride trains’ for what seems to be for years on end. Young men, but also girls, runaways. Two of these girls are Ash and Mila. They found each other and promised to travel together, but then crystal lured Mila into breaking that promise. Now one of them has ended up dead, the other torn with guilt and swearing revenge. But who did this? Are the rumours true that she heard?
“You don’t ever surf trains on the high line. You’ll either die from exposure during the winter season or the ghost rider will get you.”
The second part is where it gets really good. The FBI got their hands on a picture of the victim when someone finds it on the phone of her date but get this: the guy had nothing to do with it. So not only do they have to figure out how it got on his phone but they also have to trace back who killed a girl. The only lead they have is another picture of two girls, looking very alive I might add, and one of them has purple hair. A fast-paced game of cat and mouse ensues and had me turning the pages faster than before. Not only are the FBI looking for the girl who might know something more, they are also looking for a ruthless killer. The same girl is also looking for this guy. It’s bound to happen that they’ll all meet up at some point but will the FBI get there in time? Someone’s had a head start…
The third part is told from the viewpoint of the rider mostly and was extremely tense and breath-taking to read as I followed this guy’s steps trying to stay out of the hands of what seems like a whole cavalry coming after him. I swear that the story got better and better towards the end and this part was undoubtedly my favorite one and if I could rate only this part it would be a 4.5 stars. The meaning of cat and mouse certainly got to an all high here. The descriptions of his surroundings were also so vivid, I could just about imagine the stormy weather, the rocky scenery and dense territory as he tried to hide from the helicopters and search parties.
This book didn’t steal my heart in an instant. I had a hard time connecting to the FBI agents Stevens and Windermere at first and really missed their personal stories which were non-existent in this novel, but as the plot unfolded they grew on me and in the end I loved how gutsy Windermere turned out. She totally won me over.
September 23, 2017
After reading a couple of European thrillers (and quite good ones) it was time to come home to the U.S. and specifically Minnesota. This state is home to three of my favorite authors (my favorites number in the dozens if not dozens of dozens but they are still favorites). John Sandford, PJ Tracy and the newest of the three, Owen Laukkanen.
Laukkanen's protagonist, Stevens and Windermere operate out of the FBI headquarters in Minneapolis, Stevens working for the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota state level comparable to the FBI and the former bailiwick of Sandford's Lucas Davenport ) but attached to the FBI with Windermere as his partner, and a good team they are.
The two work out of Minnesota and often 'out' is the operative word. In this instance they travel to Montana to investigate murders of women along the route of The High Line, the train tracks that cross the northern U.S. east to west and even wind up along the southern border of Canada. They enlist the help of two different local sheriff's departments in Montana to cobble together evidence that there is indeed a serial killer operating along the train route, often with reluctance by the sheriffs.
These two are the odd couple of law enforcement with Stevens being a married (faithfully) middle aged man and Windermere being a lovely black lady. They each bring unique skills that actually work quite well together and have over the course of their adventures, learned to rely on the abilities and instincts of the other.
This novel delves into the mind of a sadistic, chauvinistic killer who feels that it's his right to take what he wants. He's smart and is well trained as a survivalist to withstand the bone chilling cold of a Montana winter.
In a race against time and weather, Stevens and Windermere try to track down this ruthless killer before he can strike again.
Laukkanen is not above having a good guy (or girl) die in his books. That's like real life. The good guys don't always win. Stevens and Windermere do their best to even the score.
Laukkanen's protagonist, Stevens and Windermere operate out of the FBI headquarters in Minneapolis, Stevens working for the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota state level comparable to the FBI and the former bailiwick of Sandford's Lucas Davenport ) but attached to the FBI with Windermere as his partner, and a good team they are.
The two work out of Minnesota and often 'out' is the operative word. In this instance they travel to Montana to investigate murders of women along the route of The High Line, the train tracks that cross the northern U.S. east to west and even wind up along the southern border of Canada. They enlist the help of two different local sheriff's departments in Montana to cobble together evidence that there is indeed a serial killer operating along the train route, often with reluctance by the sheriffs.
These two are the odd couple of law enforcement with Stevens being a married (faithfully) middle aged man and Windermere being a lovely black lady. They each bring unique skills that actually work quite well together and have over the course of their adventures, learned to rely on the abilities and instincts of the other.
This novel delves into the mind of a sadistic, chauvinistic killer who feels that it's his right to take what he wants. He's smart and is well trained as a survivalist to withstand the bone chilling cold of a Montana winter.
In a race against time and weather, Stevens and Windermere try to track down this ruthless killer before he can strike again.
Laukkanen is not above having a good guy (or girl) die in his books. That's like real life. The good guys don't always win. Stevens and Windermere do their best to even the score.
March 13, 2017
Owen Laukkanen has developed a certain style with the Stevens and Windermere books. Sort of a cat and mouse game between an ordinary but intelligent criminal and one or more sets of police agencies or rival criminals. The Forgotten Girls is a bit of a departure from that formula, but Laukkanen proves he can write a straight up mystery thriller just as well as anyone.
Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere are a bit of an odd pairing, representing the Minnesota BCA and the FBI, but they complement each other well. They also make for an interesting pair to follow. The Forgotten Girls starts when a murdered girl falls in their laps courtesy of a picture uploaded from a stolen phone. Stevens and Windermere quickly discover that they are on the trail of a serial killer that no one knew existed because the murdered girls are people no one really missed and for whom no one tried very hard to find out what happened to them. Many of them were girls who stole rides on trains, making the murders even more difficult to connect.
Along with Stevens and Windermere, the killer is being hunted by a young woman named Mila, whose friend Ash was one of the victims. The two agents are also trying to find her hoping she can bring them one step closer to catching their man. Stevens and Windermere are frustrated both because they are perpetually one step behind the killer and by weather which keeps them snowed in and out of communication with the outside world. Gradually the noose tightens around their quarry, but how many more victims will he claim before they get him and will Mila be one of them?
Stevens and Windermere are an interesting pair. Stevens is more of a puzzle solver interested in criminal’s motivation and guessing what the next step will be. Windermere, while clever herself, is more comfortable with action. Gone is the awkward sexual tension between them from the first few books which was really more uncomfortable than interesting. In its place is a fierce loyalty to one another that both helps them function as a team and raises the stakes when one or both of them are in danger.
The Forgotten Girls is another solid entry in the Stevens and Windermere series. The chase builds throughout the novel and the climactic standoff is tense and exciting. Laukkanen cleverly uses the winter elements to convey both danger and frustration. They hamper the police investigation as well as offer danger to the victims and opportunity for the killer. Recommended read.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere are a bit of an odd pairing, representing the Minnesota BCA and the FBI, but they complement each other well. They also make for an interesting pair to follow. The Forgotten Girls starts when a murdered girl falls in their laps courtesy of a picture uploaded from a stolen phone. Stevens and Windermere quickly discover that they are on the trail of a serial killer that no one knew existed because the murdered girls are people no one really missed and for whom no one tried very hard to find out what happened to them. Many of them were girls who stole rides on trains, making the murders even more difficult to connect.
Along with Stevens and Windermere, the killer is being hunted by a young woman named Mila, whose friend Ash was one of the victims. The two agents are also trying to find her hoping she can bring them one step closer to catching their man. Stevens and Windermere are frustrated both because they are perpetually one step behind the killer and by weather which keeps them snowed in and out of communication with the outside world. Gradually the noose tightens around their quarry, but how many more victims will he claim before they get him and will Mila be one of them?
Stevens and Windermere are an interesting pair. Stevens is more of a puzzle solver interested in criminal’s motivation and guessing what the next step will be. Windermere, while clever herself, is more comfortable with action. Gone is the awkward sexual tension between them from the first few books which was really more uncomfortable than interesting. In its place is a fierce loyalty to one another that both helps them function as a team and raises the stakes when one or both of them are in danger.
The Forgotten Girls is another solid entry in the Stevens and Windermere series. The chase builds throughout the novel and the climactic standoff is tense and exciting. Laukkanen cleverly uses the winter elements to convey both danger and frustration. They hamper the police investigation as well as offer danger to the victims and opportunity for the killer. Recommended read.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
August 8, 2019
About halfway through this book, I was thinking I was going to give this one a mediocre rating. I'd read all the Stevens & Windermere novels thus far and just wasn't getting into this one. It seemed to get away from the spirit of Laukkanen's earlier works, where the criminals were usually amateurs that got themselves in way over their heads. But with the last 3 books, the bad guys became more ominous. And here we have a flat-out, vicious serial killer.
But a little over halfway into the book, it changes from investigation to manhunt and then Laukkanen feels more in his element. His pacing is just always so masterful and you don't want to stop reading. And he takes the truly horrifying and ensures you that everything is going to be OK, but you just don't know how as it doesn't seem likely.
At the end of the book, Laukkanen talks about what inspired him to write about a serial killer, a subject he states he avoided because it wasn't something he thought he could stomach. It's a very important story and it made me realize how original his premise is to delivering a story along the same lines.
After this book, I read that his publisher was not interested in another Stevens & Windermere novel. But I really hope he returns to these characters, because I for one am ready for more.
But a little over halfway into the book, it changes from investigation to manhunt and then Laukkanen feels more in his element. His pacing is just always so masterful and you don't want to stop reading. And he takes the truly horrifying and ensures you that everything is going to be OK, but you just don't know how as it doesn't seem likely.
At the end of the book, Laukkanen talks about what inspired him to write about a serial killer, a subject he states he avoided because it wasn't something he thought he could stomach. It's a very important story and it made me realize how original his premise is to delivering a story along the same lines.
After this book, I read that his publisher was not interested in another Stevens & Windermere novel. But I really hope he returns to these characters, because I for one am ready for more.
July 5, 2017
FBI agent Carla Windermere and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Kirk Stevens work together to find the killer of a young girl Ash. They learn that she was hopping the trains that run through the top of the US. They also learn that over 25 women have gone missing -- waitresses, call girls, the homeless -- mostly women who are not really missed. A serial killer appears to ride the rails and use the area as a killing ground. Windermere swears these women will no longer be forgotten. Mila, a friend of Ash, knows the route Ash was taking and she starts out on a trail to avenge her friend's killing.
This marks the second book I've read in this series and I liked this one as much as the first. The author paints a pretty picture of the snow lined scenery in Minnesota. The description of the killer and his methods of drawing women into his web is described very well. Dramatic ending.
This marks the second book I've read in this series and I liked this one as much as the first. The author paints a pretty picture of the snow lined scenery in Minnesota. The description of the killer and his methods of drawing women into his web is described very well. Dramatic ending.
January 26, 2018
Owen Laukkanen keeps up the quality in this, the sixth Stevens and Windermere novel. Clearly, he is one of the best thriller/police procedural authors around today. You can always count on his books being tightly plotted with complex characters while avoiding the often inane twists for twists' sake espoused by the many Harlan Coben wannabes. I highly recommend this series.
March 1, 2017
I really enjoyed Laukkanen's last novel, 'The Watcher in the Wall', and expected more of the same quality in this new mystery. I was disappointed however. The writing leaves much to be desired and the story is repetitive and somewhat banal.
Native American girls and runaways have been going missing on the High Line cross country train for years. There are tales of a bogey man type killer who is on the loose. No one takes this seriously though until Windermere and Stevens get wind of it. For years, though an urban legend, most folks thought that the killer would not be hunted because his prey were not important enough to warrant a second look. Who cares about Indians and poor foster kids?
Chapters dealing with Windermere and Steven's hunt for the killer are interspersed with chapters from the killer's perspective. He calls himself 'The Rider' because he rides the High Line looking for victims. He keeps a trophy case of totems that he takes from each of the girls he kills and the list of the dead is very long.
The story is nothing new to the genre. FBI agents hunt a serial killer. There is a warm-hearted woman who helps the girls riding the High Line and who knows everything that is happening on the trains. She is Native American and once was incarcerated for killing the husband who beat her mercilessly over and over. The heartless FBI agents who questioned her during one of her hospitalizations treated her like the beating was her fault. Their prejudice against Indians, along with their misogeny, made her bitter and distrustful of the feds.
I expected more from this writer and the series. Perhaps this book is just a glitch in an otherwise very readable series.
Native American girls and runaways have been going missing on the High Line cross country train for years. There are tales of a bogey man type killer who is on the loose. No one takes this seriously though until Windermere and Stevens get wind of it. For years, though an urban legend, most folks thought that the killer would not be hunted because his prey were not important enough to warrant a second look. Who cares about Indians and poor foster kids?
Chapters dealing with Windermere and Steven's hunt for the killer are interspersed with chapters from the killer's perspective. He calls himself 'The Rider' because he rides the High Line looking for victims. He keeps a trophy case of totems that he takes from each of the girls he kills and the list of the dead is very long.
The story is nothing new to the genre. FBI agents hunt a serial killer. There is a warm-hearted woman who helps the girls riding the High Line and who knows everything that is happening on the trains. She is Native American and once was incarcerated for killing the husband who beat her mercilessly over and over. The heartless FBI agents who questioned her during one of her hospitalizations treated her like the beating was her fault. Their prejudice against Indians, along with their misogeny, made her bitter and distrustful of the feds.
I expected more from this writer and the series. Perhaps this book is just a glitch in an otherwise very readable series.
March 8, 2017
First off a big thank you to Penguin Random House for this excellent opportunity to read this book before it's released in exchange for an honest review. I love this program. "The Forgotten Girls" is about a serial killer who prays on women who are either runaways, prostitutes, or otherwise neglected. No one to miss them. The forgotten. His vehicle? The trains running through the midwestern states. Two FBI agents stumble into a case of one woman who was not his typical mark. After some investigating it becomes clear they have a serial killer on their hands. This book is fast paced, told from the angle of the killer, the FBI agents, and the girls. A good read with a clutch ending. A solid three and a half stars.
March 29, 2018
This review may also be found on Books, Vertigo and Tea.
First of all, I want to admit that this was my first encounter with the Stevens & Windermere series, and it worked beautifully as a standalone. I enjoyed the detectives, even though I know it is probably more beneficial to follow them from book one. I am sure that an even stronger connection can be established.
Sixth in the series, The Forgotten Girls takes us on a journey to uncover a killer who is targeting young female drifters. When Kirk Stephens and Carla Windermere find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a young woman who was train-hopping in a last-ditch effort to return home, they uncover a larger set of crimes. A killer is claiming victims that have tragically flown under the radar. While working hard on a trail of vague clues, another young girl Mila, is also hunting down the unknown assailant. But her intentions are to avenge her friend, lost at the killer’s hands. As their paths come to an ultimate crossing point, will they find the answers they seek in time?
“You don’t ever surf trains on the high line.”
As with any mystery, dissecting the plot can is almost impossible. After all, the big pay off is that key revelation. And I have no intentions of spoiling it. But this one did work beautifully for me with only the minimal hiccups.
What worked..
Clear and precise navigation carried the story with incredible ease. The alternating POVs were an enhancement, in this case, adding a welcomed addition of depth. The author writes with an air of intelligence that speaks of research done and even feels familiar of real-life cases.
An original plot tackles relevant issues surrounding the dangers many transients face ranging from harsh environments to the more unseen, those who prey on isolated victims. It offers insight into a life many have little understanding of.
A fascinating approach to police procedure supplies the reader a refreshing and realistic glimpse into the struggles and challenges of tackling a difficult case and relying on a partner.
The atmospheric writing easily immerses the reader into the heart of the story.
A wonderful audio narrative from Edoardo Ballerini managed to keep me engaged and provide a steady pace.
Those small hiccups..
This was an initially uphill start that required a few chapters to really engage me. The connection with Stevens and Windermere took longer to establish than I would have liked. However, once it happened, I really enjoyed it.
The ending, while complete, felt excessively emotional and a touch overdone. But I am sure many will find gratification in it.
The end result was a worthwhile read that fostered a desire to explore this series further. Fans of crime fiction will likely find an appreciation for Laukkanen’s sophisticated and intricate style of writing that delivers a well-balanced plot and mystery.
*I would like to thank the publisher and Audiobook Jukebox for this copy. The above review is my own, unbiased and honest opinion.
Serves well with a nice cup of hot black tea (I favor Earl Grey) and a hint of warm milk to carry you through the descriptively cold world building.
First of all, I want to admit that this was my first encounter with the Stevens & Windermere series, and it worked beautifully as a standalone. I enjoyed the detectives, even though I know it is probably more beneficial to follow them from book one. I am sure that an even stronger connection can be established.
Sixth in the series, The Forgotten Girls takes us on a journey to uncover a killer who is targeting young female drifters. When Kirk Stephens and Carla Windermere find themselves at the center of a murder investigation involving a young woman who was train-hopping in a last-ditch effort to return home, they uncover a larger set of crimes. A killer is claiming victims that have tragically flown under the radar. While working hard on a trail of vague clues, another young girl Mila, is also hunting down the unknown assailant. But her intentions are to avenge her friend, lost at the killer’s hands. As their paths come to an ultimate crossing point, will they find the answers they seek in time?
“You don’t ever surf trains on the high line.”
As with any mystery, dissecting the plot can is almost impossible. After all, the big pay off is that key revelation. And I have no intentions of spoiling it. But this one did work beautifully for me with only the minimal hiccups.
What worked..
Clear and precise navigation carried the story with incredible ease. The alternating POVs were an enhancement, in this case, adding a welcomed addition of depth. The author writes with an air of intelligence that speaks of research done and even feels familiar of real-life cases.
An original plot tackles relevant issues surrounding the dangers many transients face ranging from harsh environments to the more unseen, those who prey on isolated victims. It offers insight into a life many have little understanding of.
A fascinating approach to police procedure supplies the reader a refreshing and realistic glimpse into the struggles and challenges of tackling a difficult case and relying on a partner.
The atmospheric writing easily immerses the reader into the heart of the story.
A wonderful audio narrative from Edoardo Ballerini managed to keep me engaged and provide a steady pace.
Those small hiccups..
This was an initially uphill start that required a few chapters to really engage me. The connection with Stevens and Windermere took longer to establish than I would have liked. However, once it happened, I really enjoyed it.
The ending, while complete, felt excessively emotional and a touch overdone. But I am sure many will find gratification in it.
The end result was a worthwhile read that fostered a desire to explore this series further. Fans of crime fiction will likely find an appreciation for Laukkanen’s sophisticated and intricate style of writing that delivers a well-balanced plot and mystery.
*I would like to thank the publisher and Audiobook Jukebox for this copy. The above review is my own, unbiased and honest opinion.
Serves well with a nice cup of hot black tea (I favor Earl Grey) and a hint of warm milk to carry you through the descriptively cold world building.
February 21, 2017
This book is my first encounter with both the series about police detectives Stevens and Windermere and the author, Owen Laukkanen - and both encounters were pleasant ones. Laukkanen develops his story effectively and without much bravado or twists and turns, and the pages practically turn themselves. My main objection - albeit a minor one (hence the 4 stars) - is that there are too few surprises along the way for the reader. There is tension and some nailbiting in several places, but no real "I-didn't-see-that-one-coming" moments.
The character description is not super deep, and although some of that has been taken care of in the first five books of the series, I didn't miss it all that much anyway. Laukkanen eases new readers into the series with references to past adventures here and there, but nothing that leaves newcomers to the series - such as myself - totally in the dark. The main protagonists are no superheroes who guess the villain's every next move, which is a huge plus in my book.
To summarize, I was well entertained by this book and will definitely look into the previous books in the series. I wish that Laukkanen would throw in a few more surprises along the way.
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review]
The character description is not super deep, and although some of that has been taken care of in the first five books of the series, I didn't miss it all that much anyway. Laukkanen eases new readers into the series with references to past adventures here and there, but nothing that leaves newcomers to the series - such as myself - totally in the dark. The main protagonists are no superheroes who guess the villain's every next move, which is a huge plus in my book.
To summarize, I was well entertained by this book and will definitely look into the previous books in the series. I wish that Laukkanen would throw in a few more surprises along the way.
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review]
December 25, 2017
In Owen Laukkanen's The Forgotten Girls, the sixth installment in the Stevens and Windermere thriller series, this novel will give you goosebumps and feel cold all over by the end of the novel. It all started when someone found a photo of a dead girl's body in their phone's Cloud System. And that had sent FBI Agents Kirk Stevens and Carla Windermere on a hunt of a brutal and ruthless serial killer. When they received the call about another dead body of a girl found in the cold of winter, they've found a startling connection of who the two previous dead bodies were connected: the North Line train system heading to the west coast. And from there, both Stevens and Windermere head to Missoula, Montana, and look for clues there. While Mila Scott, a friend of the victim's decided to track down the ghost rider, she wanted nothing, but to seek vengeance for her friend's murder. With the help of the local law enforcement in Montana, they learn more about the connection and how one recent victim survived the attack, but also the cold elements as well. When they get caught up to Mila, they learn more about the killer's identity and background and were on the move to make tracks as well. As he had thought they were onto him, he headed north to Canada. In the end, it lead to a deadly home invasion and a chilling standoff to take him down and send him packing behinds bars in the end.
March 19, 2017
I have read all 5 of the previous books by this author and was so excited to read this new story. I must say I loved all of the previous books and read them all super fast but I had a really hard time with this book. There was a disconnect for me with the two main FBI agents in this book. In all the other books there was a real chemistry with them but this book had none of that which was very disappointing for me. Also the story just didn't flow for me at all. I still love this author but this book for me was rather disappointing.
November 1, 2016
When Mila says goodbye to Ash as she hops a train, she worries about the so-called ghost rider. Does he really exist or is he just another version of the bogeyman? Oh, he exists, and he has a special hatred for women. But the victims are less than pillars of virtue, so their deaths are seen as comeuppance of a sort. Stevens and Windermere beg to differ. When they discover what's going on, they begin a headlong race against time to catch the killer.
February 7, 2017
This was a great run away thriller. It's part of a series but it IS stand alone readable. However it lacked an emotional connection with the two FBI characters. But it was still do able. Now the chapters switched between the prey, the hunter and the FBI - loved that! I couldn't get enough. Definite page turner. Loved the connection the author built for the prey!
March 28, 2017
I'd give 'The Forgotten Girls' a solid 3.5 stars.... What began as a 3 escalated a bit due to the excitement at the end- a satisfying conclusion.
I like Owen Laukkanen's writing, in general, but I have a couple problems with it. The first is that he sometimes gets a little too simplistic in his technique and, unless the story line is really propulsive, the reading can become a little slow. The second is that there always seems to be a logical flaw somewhere that ends up bugging me throughout the book. I won't divulge where it is in this one and it really didn't have a big effect, but it bothered me anyway.
That being said, The Forgotten Girls is a good serial-killer thriller that can open readers' eyes as to how these psychos can get away with multiple murders and why it takes so long to catch them. The victim population in this story is one I really had no idea existed: young females who catch free rides (it's called surfing) on freight trains as they traverse the northern tier of the country. In this novel, the killer had been active for years but due to the nature of the crimes, the 'invisibility' of the victims, and the brutal winter weather he'd been able to do his work without a problem. That is, until some smart law enforcers began connecting the dots.
Windermere, Stevens, and Mathers are pulled into action and we hear both their narrative as well as that of the killer throughout the book. The writing is OK, the dialogue is pretty good, the pace drags a bit in the middle, but the ending makes up for any real or imagined deficiencies.
Owen Laukkanen is rapidly becoming a solid 'go-to' guy for thrillers, and his characters are one of the major reasons. The lead, Windermere, is not only a female (a bit of an oddity in this genre) but also beautiful and black (even rarer). Stevens is the 'local' guy who's consistent, dependable, physical, and instinctive, while Mathers stays back at the ranch and does more of the analytical work (while pining for Windermere). They're a likable, effective ensemble.
I like Owen Laukkanen's writing, in general, but I have a couple problems with it. The first is that he sometimes gets a little too simplistic in his technique and, unless the story line is really propulsive, the reading can become a little slow. The second is that there always seems to be a logical flaw somewhere that ends up bugging me throughout the book. I won't divulge where it is in this one and it really didn't have a big effect, but it bothered me anyway.
That being said, The Forgotten Girls is a good serial-killer thriller that can open readers' eyes as to how these psychos can get away with multiple murders and why it takes so long to catch them. The victim population in this story is one I really had no idea existed: young females who catch free rides (it's called surfing) on freight trains as they traverse the northern tier of the country. In this novel, the killer had been active for years but due to the nature of the crimes, the 'invisibility' of the victims, and the brutal winter weather he'd been able to do his work without a problem. That is, until some smart law enforcers began connecting the dots.
Windermere, Stevens, and Mathers are pulled into action and we hear both their narrative as well as that of the killer throughout the book. The writing is OK, the dialogue is pretty good, the pace drags a bit in the middle, but the ending makes up for any real or imagined deficiencies.
Owen Laukkanen is rapidly becoming a solid 'go-to' guy for thrillers, and his characters are one of the major reasons. The lead, Windermere, is not only a female (a bit of an oddity in this genre) but also beautiful and black (even rarer). Stevens is the 'local' guy who's consistent, dependable, physical, and instinctive, while Mathers stays back at the ranch and does more of the analytical work (while pining for Windermere). They're a likable, effective ensemble.
February 10, 2017
Thank you to First to Read for an eARC of this book.
A body is found dead, frozen in the snow. A runaway, forgotten by society. Pictures of her, both dead and alive, show up on a phone, the owner swearing he knows nothing of them. As they move through this case, FBI agents Windermere and Stevens begin to see that there are more, many more. Women that society turned their back on- that no one would miss. The forgotten girls.
Mila, grief stricken after learning of her friend Ash's death, sets out on her own crusade. She's going to recharge, and then she is going to find the one they call the Ghost Rider.... somehow she is going to avenge Ash.
It's a race against nature and man to try to put a stop to a twisted serial killer that got away for far too long.
I first learned about this series about three years ago when book three was offered on First to read. I had no idea I was jumping into the middle of a series, but as with most of these books, you can pick them up and get the gist of it. I do recommend reading them in order, each one is brilliant and brings to bear a different aspect of the characters. You can find out about all the books in the series here. As always, I adored the play between characters. I especially liked that he worked a bit more with Windermere's boyfriend Mathers, as we know more about Stevens' family. I was a little disappointed that they weren't even really mentioned in this book though. Told in several different POV'S you get a good read on the victim, Mila, the agents and our villain.
As far as the adult content goes, there is a lot. Language, drug use, sexual content, and violence. This book is not meant for young teens, I give it an eight.
A body is found dead, frozen in the snow. A runaway, forgotten by society. Pictures of her, both dead and alive, show up on a phone, the owner swearing he knows nothing of them. As they move through this case, FBI agents Windermere and Stevens begin to see that there are more, many more. Women that society turned their back on- that no one would miss. The forgotten girls.
Mila, grief stricken after learning of her friend Ash's death, sets out on her own crusade. She's going to recharge, and then she is going to find the one they call the Ghost Rider.... somehow she is going to avenge Ash.
It's a race against nature and man to try to put a stop to a twisted serial killer that got away for far too long.
I first learned about this series about three years ago when book three was offered on First to read. I had no idea I was jumping into the middle of a series, but as with most of these books, you can pick them up and get the gist of it. I do recommend reading them in order, each one is brilliant and brings to bear a different aspect of the characters. You can find out about all the books in the series here. As always, I adored the play between characters. I especially liked that he worked a bit more with Windermere's boyfriend Mathers, as we know more about Stevens' family. I was a little disappointed that they weren't even really mentioned in this book though. Told in several different POV'S you get a good read on the victim, Mila, the agents and our villain.
As far as the adult content goes, there is a lot. Language, drug use, sexual content, and violence. This book is not meant for young teens, I give it an eight.
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