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The Girl Who Lived
Ten years ago, four people were brutally murdered. One girl lived.
No one believes her story.
The police think she’s crazy.
Her therapist thinks she’s suicidal.
Everyone else thinks she’s a dangerous drunk.
They’re all right—but did she see the killer?
As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be—her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor’s guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister’s killer—and then discovers that she’s the one being hunted.
How can one woman uncover the truth when everyone’s a suspect—including herself?
From the mind of Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson comes a story with twists and turns that take the reader on a journey of light and dark, good and evil, to the edge of madness. The Girl Who Lived should come with a warning label: Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. Not since Girl on the Train and Gone Girl has a psychological thriller kept readers so addicted—and guessing right until the last page.
No one believes her story.
The police think she’s crazy.
Her therapist thinks she’s suicidal.
Everyone else thinks she’s a dangerous drunk.
They’re all right—but did she see the killer?
As the anniversary of the murders approaches, Faith Winters is released from the psychiatric hospital and yanked back to the last spot on earth she wants to be—her hometown where the slayings took place. Wracked by the lingering echoes of survivor’s guilt, Faith spirals into a black hole of alcoholism and wanton self-destruction. Finding no solace at the bottom of a bottle, Faith decides to track down her sister’s killer—and then discovers that she’s the one being hunted.
How can one woman uncover the truth when everyone’s a suspect—including herself?
From the mind of Wall Street Journal bestselling author Christopher Greyson comes a story with twists and turns that take the reader on a journey of light and dark, good and evil, to the edge of madness. The Girl Who Lived should come with a warning label: Once you start reading, you won’t be able to stop. Not since Girl on the Train and Gone Girl has a psychological thriller kept readers so addicted—and guessing right until the last page.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2017
27572 people are currently reading
38275 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Greyson
64 books1,076 followersMy name is Christopher Greyson, and I am a storyteller.
Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written over twenty novels.
My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write and it’s the best job I’ve ever had.
I love to hear from my readers. Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com, where you can become a preferred reader, download an exclusive Jack Stratton mystery, and receive advanced notifications of book releases and more! Please follow Detective Jack Stratton on Twitter @chris_greyson and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherG.... Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.
Sincerely,
Christopher Greyson
Since I was a little boy, I have dreamt of what mystery was around the next corner, or what quest lay over the hill. If I couldn’t find an adventure, one usually found me, and now I weave those tales into my stories. I am blessed to have written over twenty novels.
My love for tales of mystery and adventure began with my grandfather, a decorated World War I hero. I will never forget being introduced to his friend, a WWI pilot who flew across the skies at the same time as the feared, legendary Red Baron. My love of reading and storytelling eventually led me to write and it’s the best job I’ve ever had.
I love to hear from my readers. Please visit ChristopherGreyson.com, where you can become a preferred reader, download an exclusive Jack Stratton mystery, and receive advanced notifications of book releases and more! Please follow Detective Jack Stratton on Twitter @chris_greyson and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherG.... Thank you for reading my novels. I hope my stories have brightened your day.
Sincerely,
Christopher Greyson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,758 reviews
January 31, 2019
I think I need my “inner-rater” recalibrated. Many of the works I’m reading seem so majorly flawed, and yet the majority of readers appear to find them enjoyable and perfectly worthy of all the stars. The Girl Who Lived follows in that vein—an average mystery with a ridiculous ending and four and five star ratings that have left me shaking my head.
The plot is unique—to that I will concede. Faith is a twenty-two year old woman who has spent the past ten years in and out of mental hospitals after surviving a vicious attack that killed her best friend, her best friend’s mother, her own father and sister. Though local authorities have closed the case, convinced her father killed them all and then himself, Faith remembers another man—a man with the face of a rat—whom she believes committed all of the murders and then chased her into the woods. Now that she is finally out of the hospital (again) and in her own apartment, trying to tamp her rage and alcohol addiction, Rat Face is back—and he is stalking her. Is it Faith’s own fear manifesting as paranoia, or is the past finally catching up? That is the question that propels the rest of this book.
So not only is the plot reasonably unique, the writing is also solid. The tone in each scene is well-developed, the dialogue is believable and Faith’s character is intriguing and complex. So why three stars? It’s difficult without spoilers, but suffice it to say that for me, the end is cheap and cliche and feels like a betrayal of the trust between author and reader.
This would have been a four star read had I not had such a visceral reaction to the conclusion. As it stands, however, three stars feels generous.
The plot is unique—to that I will concede. Faith is a twenty-two year old woman who has spent the past ten years in and out of mental hospitals after surviving a vicious attack that killed her best friend, her best friend’s mother, her own father and sister. Though local authorities have closed the case, convinced her father killed them all and then himself, Faith remembers another man—a man with the face of a rat—whom she believes committed all of the murders and then chased her into the woods. Now that she is finally out of the hospital (again) and in her own apartment, trying to tamp her rage and alcohol addiction, Rat Face is back—and he is stalking her. Is it Faith’s own fear manifesting as paranoia, or is the past finally catching up? That is the question that propels the rest of this book.
So not only is the plot reasonably unique, the writing is also solid. The tone in each scene is well-developed, the dialogue is believable and Faith’s character is intriguing and complex. So why three stars? It’s difficult without spoilers, but suffice it to say that for me, the end is cheap and cliche and feels like a betrayal of the trust between author and reader.
This would have been a four star read had I not had such a visceral reaction to the conclusion. As it stands, however, three stars feels generous.
April 15, 2020
4.5 stars— After reading “The Girl Who Lived” by Christoper Greyson I have one question... Why haven’t I heard of Christopher Greyson before now and why isn’t he a best selling author? This is the reason I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited is to find lesser known authors who write great books. That is how I found John Marrs, who is still one of my favorites. “The Girl Who Lived” is a very well written thriller that tells the story of Faith, the lone survivor of a brutal multiple killing. The authorities have closed the case despite Faith claiming she saw a murderer she nicknamed “Ratface” kill her sister as they approached the trailer where the horrible events took place. Local law enforcement closed the case as a triple murder-suicide with Faith’s father being the killer. This leads to many problems for Faith and she ends up being institutionalized. The story begins as Faith leaves this mental institution and returns home as an adult with this mystery still unsolved. Greyson writes from Faith’s perspective and does an outstanding job getting into the mind of a tortured survivor and how she both copes with and attempts to solve the murders of several family members. The book interjects some great suspects ( from law enforcement to relatives) and really gives the reader the view that everyone is a suspect. The result is a very fast paced, enjoyable mystery that I couldn’t put down. I really enjoyed Faith’s reaction to what was happening around her and how she didn’t trust anyone instead of the usual character you get in these types of novels where you scratch your head asking how they could be so stupid. The book is good from start to finish and never loses its break-neck pace. I strongly recommend this book, and end with the note that if Christopher Greyson’s other novels are this good, I know what I will be doing for the next few months.
January 19, 2018
Preposterous
An illogical twisted plot with an unlikable heroine, and one dimensional characters. There wasn’t a single character to empathize with and when the “truth” was revealed, I didn’t care or believe it.
An illogical twisted plot with an unlikable heroine, and one dimensional characters. There wasn’t a single character to empathize with and when the “truth” was revealed, I didn’t care or believe it.
November 5, 2017
She was just a child, but the nightmare she witnessed and survived was the end of the innocence of Faith Winters and only the beginning of ten years of living hell. Dark, mysterious and edgy, THE GIRL WHO LIVED by Christopher Greyson is a tale of guilt, deceit and borderline insanity for Faith, because as if surviving the deaths of her father, sister, best friend and best friend’s mother wasn’t horrific enough for a young teen, having her own mother profit at her expense and new found infamy could drive anyone to the edge. Ten years of institutions, doctors and drowning herself in alcohol to numb the pain, wouldn’t help, either. Faith knew she had to find who killed her family, if only to prove to herself that it wasn’t her.
It was when she moved back to her childhood town that she started seeing the Ratman, the man she saw all those years ago, the man she hid from under a log for four hours, the man no one believes exists. Hallucinations? Drunken illusions? Who can Faith trust? Who will believe in her? So far, she is alone, so far only the FBI agent says she will help, but she never does…leaving Faith lost in the vortex of the terror that resides in her mind, of the truth she knows is out there, if only someone would have her back…if only they would see her as more than THE GIRL WHO LIVED.
Christopher Greyson’s dark journey runs at breakneck speeds, so hang on for those sharp turns and beware of those who haunt the shadows, because people are dying and things are happening and they all point back to Faith and Faith has nowhere to hide when the secrets all around her start closing in...
I had to do a balancing act on the edge of my seat for this one! Wickedly twisted, terrifyingly dark, like running through a monster-filled maze alone, when the lights go out and that next turn is a dead end. Christopher Greyson has just made my “Authors to read when I want to be up all night,” list!
I received an ARC edition from Greyson Media. This is my voluntary review!
Publisher: Greyson Media; 1 edition (November 4, 2017)
Publication Date: November 4, 2017
Genre: Suspense | Thriller
Print Length: 329 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
It was when she moved back to her childhood town that she started seeing the Ratman, the man she saw all those years ago, the man she hid from under a log for four hours, the man no one believes exists. Hallucinations? Drunken illusions? Who can Faith trust? Who will believe in her? So far, she is alone, so far only the FBI agent says she will help, but she never does…leaving Faith lost in the vortex of the terror that resides in her mind, of the truth she knows is out there, if only someone would have her back…if only they would see her as more than THE GIRL WHO LIVED.
Christopher Greyson’s dark journey runs at breakneck speeds, so hang on for those sharp turns and beware of those who haunt the shadows, because people are dying and things are happening and they all point back to Faith and Faith has nowhere to hide when the secrets all around her start closing in...
I had to do a balancing act on the edge of my seat for this one! Wickedly twisted, terrifyingly dark, like running through a monster-filled maze alone, when the lights go out and that next turn is a dead end. Christopher Greyson has just made my “Authors to read when I want to be up all night,” list!
I received an ARC edition from Greyson Media. This is my voluntary review!
Publisher: Greyson Media; 1 edition (November 4, 2017)
Publication Date: November 4, 2017
Genre: Suspense | Thriller
Print Length: 329 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 12, 2018
Another book about a self absorbed drunk. Lots of paranoia. Sooo many characters who could have been suspects to the point of ridiculousness. It got to the point where it was just absurd. Huge EYE ROLL. Don’t waste your time. This book is like a circus with tooooo many clowns.
February 25, 2019
Bleh.
So I had a lot of issues with this story--well, let me rephrase. There were a lot of things about this story that I didn't like.
Let's start with the main character. Personally...and I guess I should stress the personally part of this because this is completely, 100% my opinion and I'm sure there are people out there who would disagree, but...Faith's character just never did much for me. She was too disoriented? I guess would be the best word? She never really seemed capable of stopping to think, even for a second, and because of that, she spends 90% of the story running this way and that way, drinking, and making decisions that are (at least to me) like the worst possible, stupidest, most impulsive decisions possible. It's hard to feel any sort of connection with her because she doesn't allow herself to connect to anyone and it's hard to root for her when she spends the entire book actively working against herself. I mean... On the one hand, yes, addiction is real and hard to beat, and tragedy/trauma leave their own unique scars on people and affect them differently, but...you just got out of a mental institution that you hated (and spent an entire year plotting on how to get out of) and your only stipulations of your freedom are to attend some AA/Survivor's meetings and not to drink...and the first night you're free (after being sober for a whole year) you go...take six shots at a bar? There didn't seem to be any "Oh no maybe I shouldn't do this" thought about it or struggle against it, either. And throughout the rest of the book, her actions reflect that sort of thought process (well, the lack thereof).
And then, thoughout the novel, it sort of felt like a pop up book--I'm trying to think of a pop culture example to compare it to, but basically, especially at the end of the novel, these characters were just popping up in every corner of the room like a soap opera "Don't trust him!" Then "he" enters the room: "No, don't trust him!" And then a third--"Don't trust either of them!" and so on and so forth.
The ending was a really big disappointment to me, essentially. Was it surprising? Yes. But it didn't...make sense to me. I don't think the antagonist's motivations were strong enough, and I don't think there was enough foreshadowing/build-up throughout the beginning of the novel for the ending to fit for me.
So I had a lot of issues with this story--well, let me rephrase. There were a lot of things about this story that I didn't like.
Let's start with the main character. Personally...and I guess I should stress the personally part of this because this is completely, 100% my opinion and I'm sure there are people out there who would disagree, but...Faith's character just never did much for me. She was too disoriented? I guess would be the best word? She never really seemed capable of stopping to think, even for a second, and because of that, she spends 90% of the story running this way and that way, drinking, and making decisions that are (at least to me) like the worst possible, stupidest, most impulsive decisions possible. It's hard to feel any sort of connection with her because she doesn't allow herself to connect to anyone and it's hard to root for her when she spends the entire book actively working against herself. I mean... On the one hand, yes, addiction is real and hard to beat, and tragedy/trauma leave their own unique scars on people and affect them differently, but...you just got out of a mental institution that you hated (and spent an entire year plotting on how to get out of) and your only stipulations of your freedom are to attend some AA/Survivor's meetings and not to drink...and the first night you're free (after being sober for a whole year) you go...take six shots at a bar? There didn't seem to be any "Oh no maybe I shouldn't do this" thought about it or struggle against it, either. And throughout the rest of the book, her actions reflect that sort of thought process (well, the lack thereof).
And then, thoughout the novel, it sort of felt like a pop up book--I'm trying to think of a pop culture example to compare it to, but basically, especially at the end of the novel, these characters were just popping up in every corner of the room like a soap opera "Don't trust him!" Then "he" enters the room: "No, don't trust him!" And then a third--"Don't trust either of them!" and so on and so forth.
The ending was a really big disappointment to me, essentially. Was it surprising? Yes. But it didn't...make sense to me. I don't think the antagonist's motivations were strong enough, and I don't think there was enough foreshadowing/build-up throughout the beginning of the novel for the ending to fit for me.
November 17, 2018
Reading The Girl Who Lived
is like watching a great psychological thriller movie because of how brilliantly Greyson's storytelling is. This is one of those books that readers will try to finish reading in one sitting because that is how interesting and exciting the story is. I wonder now on when will come the time for movie or tv producers to make this a movie or TV series of this excellent novel.
November 4, 2017
My first encounter with this author came via Jack of Hearts, a recent entry in his series featuring detective Jack Stratton. That one made a favorable impression - I look forward to the next one, hint, hint - and when I ran across this new standalone, I considered giving it a try. When I read the description, I was convinced that reading it would be a good idea - so even though it was just days before the release date, I requested, and was approved for, an advance copy (thank you).
In fact, it turned out to be a great idea; my concern that I might not get it finished on time vanished after a handful of chapters. NFL and college football games came and went unwatched, Lawrence Welk got recorded, and I even skipped at least one lunch because I couldn't bring myself to put it down. A 5-star rating? A no-brainer.
The book's title reflects the title of another book - one written by the mother of Faith Winters. Ten years earlier, Faith's beloved sister Kim and two others died violent deaths, reportedly at the hand of her father, who then committed suicide. Faith, who was present at the time, managed to hide out in the dark woods. She escaped certain death, yes, but she was left with deep psychological wounds. Faith's mother, a therapist, worked through her own grief by way of writing a tell-all book about the daughter - Faith - who survived.
Faith continued to bury her anguish by way of alcohol, temper tantrums and other behavioral no-nos, which in turn landed her in a psychiatric hospital. But now, close to the anniversary of the murders, she gets the okay for release - on the condition that she return to the hometown in which all the blood was shed and participate in group therapy programs. No matter what she tries, though, she's not able to shake off the trauma of her past - nor her belief that the father she loved did not commit the awful crimes. That's because she'd seen another person at the scene back then - an unknown man she calls "Rat Face."
But alas, no one - not even the police - believed her then, nor do they believe her now. Even when she spots him once again, everyone thinks it's all in her twisted mind. Everyone, that is, except Rat Face, who learns that Faith has spotted him again. Now, he - and possibly his partners in crime - must do whatever it takes to keep from being identified, including making sure that this time, they leave no witnesses. Several twists and turns lead to an exciting conclusion (I won't say it's totally satisfying, but the loose ends get pretty well tied up). In short? Very well done and highly recommended.
In fact, it turned out to be a great idea; my concern that I might not get it finished on time vanished after a handful of chapters. NFL and college football games came and went unwatched, Lawrence Welk got recorded, and I even skipped at least one lunch because I couldn't bring myself to put it down. A 5-star rating? A no-brainer.
The book's title reflects the title of another book - one written by the mother of Faith Winters. Ten years earlier, Faith's beloved sister Kim and two others died violent deaths, reportedly at the hand of her father, who then committed suicide. Faith, who was present at the time, managed to hide out in the dark woods. She escaped certain death, yes, but she was left with deep psychological wounds. Faith's mother, a therapist, worked through her own grief by way of writing a tell-all book about the daughter - Faith - who survived.
Faith continued to bury her anguish by way of alcohol, temper tantrums and other behavioral no-nos, which in turn landed her in a psychiatric hospital. But now, close to the anniversary of the murders, she gets the okay for release - on the condition that she return to the hometown in which all the blood was shed and participate in group therapy programs. No matter what she tries, though, she's not able to shake off the trauma of her past - nor her belief that the father she loved did not commit the awful crimes. That's because she'd seen another person at the scene back then - an unknown man she calls "Rat Face."
But alas, no one - not even the police - believed her then, nor do they believe her now. Even when she spots him once again, everyone thinks it's all in her twisted mind. Everyone, that is, except Rat Face, who learns that Faith has spotted him again. Now, he - and possibly his partners in crime - must do whatever it takes to keep from being identified, including making sure that this time, they leave no witnesses. Several twists and turns lead to an exciting conclusion (I won't say it's totally satisfying, but the loose ends get pretty well tied up). In short? Very well done and highly recommended.
January 19, 2018
For all my reviews, visit my blog at http://ladyjbookishnook.blogspot.com
The Girl Who Lived is my first read by author, Christopher Greyson. I was hooked at chapter one. The author was able to grab my attention from the beginning and keep it until the end. I could not put this book down and finished it in one day which is super-fast for me. The cover art for this book was amazing!
I totally loved the main character, Faith Winters. She is a young girl who comes with many flaws but because of that it makes her story real and believable. I was rooting for her throughout the book as she dealt with survivor’s guilt, anger, mental illness, thoughts of suicide, and alcoholism.
I love books with lots of twists and turns and this one did not disappoint. The author had me guessing clear up to the end. And WOW! What an ending! I thought I had it all figured out then NO…back to square one again. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves psychological thrillers and a good whodunit mystery. Five out of five stars for The Girl Who Lived!!!
Thank you Christopher Greyson, Greyson Media Associates, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book to read.
September 18, 2020
5, brilliantly crafted with a surprisingly emotional ending stars!!
Ah yes, the elusive 5th star in the mystery/thriller genre rating system. At least for me, when you read so many thrillers back to back it's pretty easy to see the formula for writing. That's certainly not to say that I myself could do that, I definitely can not. My only point is, at a certain point it becomes par for the course instead of really taking you by surprise. So when something new, something rich and exciting comes along it makes it even more fun. That's the case with The Girl Who Lived.
Who is the girl who lived? Her name is Faith Winters and she bore witness to the brutal slaying of her sister, best friend, her best friends mother and her beloved father on her 13th birthday. Barely surviving the encounter herself Faith spirals into a pit of depression, alcoholism and unrelenting anguish. After local police close the case coming to a conclusion that Faith knows is wrong, her survivors guilt leads her down a path that eventually leads to her incarceration.
Like paper clips to a magnet, they were drawn back to the same spot, helpless in the grip of instinct, unable to go in any other direction.
Upon Faiths release from prison, she's forced to return to the one place that has haunted her for a decade - her home town. As she works to try once again to dig herself out of the grave through court mandated AA meetings, survivors groups and "family" time with her mother, her past comes back to haunt her. Faith doesn't remember the whole truth, but she knows without a shadow of a doubt that what the police say happened is wrong. When she sees a man she's deems "Rat Face" who she remember from the night of the slayings in town, it sends her into a frenzy to uncover the truth about her loved ones murders - no matter what the cost.
Hush, little girl, rest your head. Hush, little girl, stay in bed. The sun and your friends are fast asleep. Now’s not a time to cry and weep. For in your dreams, there we’ll be. Hurry now, and follow me.
Wowewow could I not put this book down. I read it in one sitting and couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages as the words played out in my head like a movie. Greyson did such a phenomenal job threading the needle of the unreliable narrator trope while simultaneously creating a character in Faith that you couldn't help but root for. From the start your heart breaks and bleeds for Faith's story and what she has endured from such a young age but you can't help but want to shake her out of her self-induced stooper. While Faith's character had the most dimension and the most layers to her personality and her story, each character brought with them their own perspectives and view on a true tragedy and added a continued depth to the story that kept me questioning from page one.
As I've mentioned before, it can't be said that it's difficult to "pull one over" on me because despite the fact that I spend the entire book questioning everything, I'm still generally wrong. There's the excitement of being genuinely surprised by a books final twists - and boy does this book have them in spades. Then there's the delight in being surprised by the level of depth that a story has once you finish it. For me, the true meaning of a story can't be fully realized until you've seen how an author chooses to end it. It's always seemed so much harder to end a story than to start it so I'm always tickled when an author knocks it out of the park, and The Girl Who Lived did the damn thing. There's so much emotion in Faith's story, so much sadness and pain in her life that I think the book would've been remiss to ignore in the ending. I found myself a soft blubbering mess when I got to the last chapter of the book and Greyson did an incredible job of not only tying up all loose ends, but truly giving Faith's story the grace it deserved.
Her father called her Spitfire.
If you can't tell already, I loved it. If you're a fan of mystery/thriller novels and you're looking for one to shake things up, that breaks up the formulaic monotony the genre can sometimes fall into, this is the book for you. The emotional depth of not just the story, but it's individual characters had me teetering on the edge of my seat as I raced to finish this book.
Ah yes, the elusive 5th star in the mystery/thriller genre rating system. At least for me, when you read so many thrillers back to back it's pretty easy to see the formula for writing. That's certainly not to say that I myself could do that, I definitely can not. My only point is, at a certain point it becomes par for the course instead of really taking you by surprise. So when something new, something rich and exciting comes along it makes it even more fun. That's the case with The Girl Who Lived.
Who is the girl who lived? Her name is Faith Winters and she bore witness to the brutal slaying of her sister, best friend, her best friends mother and her beloved father on her 13th birthday. Barely surviving the encounter herself Faith spirals into a pit of depression, alcoholism and unrelenting anguish. After local police close the case coming to a conclusion that Faith knows is wrong, her survivors guilt leads her down a path that eventually leads to her incarceration.
Like paper clips to a magnet, they were drawn back to the same spot, helpless in the grip of instinct, unable to go in any other direction.
Upon Faiths release from prison, she's forced to return to the one place that has haunted her for a decade - her home town. As she works to try once again to dig herself out of the grave through court mandated AA meetings, survivors groups and "family" time with her mother, her past comes back to haunt her. Faith doesn't remember the whole truth, but she knows without a shadow of a doubt that what the police say happened is wrong. When she sees a man she's deems "Rat Face" who she remember from the night of the slayings in town, it sends her into a frenzy to uncover the truth about her loved ones murders - no matter what the cost.
Hush, little girl, rest your head. Hush, little girl, stay in bed. The sun and your friends are fast asleep. Now’s not a time to cry and weep. For in your dreams, there we’ll be. Hurry now, and follow me.
Wowewow could I not put this book down. I read it in one sitting and couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages as the words played out in my head like a movie. Greyson did such a phenomenal job threading the needle of the unreliable narrator trope while simultaneously creating a character in Faith that you couldn't help but root for. From the start your heart breaks and bleeds for Faith's story and what she has endured from such a young age but you can't help but want to shake her out of her self-induced stooper. While Faith's character had the most dimension and the most layers to her personality and her story, each character brought with them their own perspectives and view on a true tragedy and added a continued depth to the story that kept me questioning from page one.
As I've mentioned before, it can't be said that it's difficult to "pull one over" on me because despite the fact that I spend the entire book questioning everything, I'm still generally wrong. There's the excitement of being genuinely surprised by a books final twists - and boy does this book have them in spades. Then there's the delight in being surprised by the level of depth that a story has once you finish it. For me, the true meaning of a story can't be fully realized until you've seen how an author chooses to end it. It's always seemed so much harder to end a story than to start it so I'm always tickled when an author knocks it out of the park, and The Girl Who Lived did the damn thing. There's so much emotion in Faith's story, so much sadness and pain in her life that I think the book would've been remiss to ignore in the ending. I found myself a soft blubbering mess when I got to the last chapter of the book and Greyson did an incredible job of not only tying up all loose ends, but truly giving Faith's story the grace it deserved.
Her father called her Spitfire.
If you can't tell already, I loved it. If you're a fan of mystery/thriller novels and you're looking for one to shake things up, that breaks up the formulaic monotony the genre can sometimes fall into, this is the book for you. The emotional depth of not just the story, but it's individual characters had me teetering on the edge of my seat as I raced to finish this book.
December 5, 2017
Tis the season to be merry and bright and I just gulped a page turning stunner that you best be putting under your tree. Holy Smokes! An unreliable narrator, a cast of compelling characters that make for interesting suspects and I couldn't have predicted the ending even if I had been privy to the first drafts. I have so many questions and I wish I had the author's coordinates because I would probably need to call him, but that would probably just end up with me breathing heavily because my heart is still racing. So darn good!
November 11, 2017
the ending made me regret bothering to read it
October 11, 2018
Faith Winters and her sister, Kim, were going to their parents’ cabin to celebrate Faith’s 13th birthday. It was going to be a very special day and Faith was excited. But when they arrived at the cabin, something didn’t seem right. As they approached, the door opened and someone grabbed Kim. Kim screamed for Faith to run…���..
Ten years had gone by and Faith had never fully recovered from the horror she experienced that day. Faith’s sister, father, best friend and her best friend’s mother were all found murdered. But now, after being treated in a psychiatric hospital, Faith is being released. But she is determined to seek justice for the victims, and to find the murderer.
The Girl Who Lived is a first rate, fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages! Twists and turns abound as you reach the final, unexpected conclusion. Thank you to author Christopher Greyson, Greyson Media LLC, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this suspenseful book!
Ten years had gone by and Faith had never fully recovered from the horror she experienced that day. Faith’s sister, father, best friend and her best friend’s mother were all found murdered. But now, after being treated in a psychiatric hospital, Faith is being released. But she is determined to seek justice for the victims, and to find the murderer.
The Girl Who Lived is a first rate, fast paced psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages! Twists and turns abound as you reach the final, unexpected conclusion. Thank you to author Christopher Greyson, Greyson Media LLC, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this suspenseful book!
February 8, 2018
This was an addictive read that I finished in one sitting! I was on the edge of my seat with this story and the plot was gripping! I love cold cases and this was a fantastic crime thriller.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. To find this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
February 18, 2018
I don't know why I even bother to finish books that are so unbelievable that I find myself rolling my eyes. NO WAY! I did not like this book. I do seem to be the only one though, so, if you read it and enjoy it, never mind me.
June 11, 2019
This is a really great book and I enjoyed reading it quite a lot. It was hard to put down! My only critique is that there were way too many plot twists and the author really overdid it. If you read it you’ll know what I mean. Other than that I enjoyed the book.
February 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
A real page-turner, good fun to read.
Generally speaking, I'm not a mad fan of the suspense / crime genre, but I'm always happy to give any book a try, especially if it's got some good reviews.
I commenced reading The Girl Who Lived with the expectation that it would comply with the standard genre formula, but offer a gripping, fast-paced read. It didn't disappoint. Yes, it was marginally formulaic, but I had a lot of fun reading it!
It starts in an institution for people with severe mental health problems; and that's where we first meet Faith; a twenty-something year old girl with a seriously troubled past. It transpires that her sister and father were murdered in front of her, as was her friend and her mother. The only thing Faith remembers clearly is 'Rat Face', a nasty-looking, thin faced man who was there at the time.
On her release, Faith swears to stay off the booze, and not go looking for revenge - both promises that she fails to keep. She starts to see Rat Face everywhere, and worse still, he's pursuing her...
Let's start with what was good about this book. I liked Faith a lot. She's brittle, aggressive and completely unapologetic; and I like that the author didn't soften her up or dumb her down. Why should a protagonist have to be likeable, anyway? This made the trauma that she'd suffered feel far more authentic.
It was a well-crafted, well-paced read too. At no point was I bored, and I kept those pages turning, keen to find out what was going to happen next. I also didn't guess the final ending, which is always a good thing.
However, I had some minor issues with the final pages (and this is so often the problem for me, when reading books like this!). I found it very over-sensationalised and too twisty-turny to comprehend. In short, my disbelief can only be suspended so far, and with this book, it snapped quite a way before the end.
There were a few other points where I felt this too - that certain scenarios just didn't feel credible. But I am fully prepared to admit that this is due to me questioning things too much, and other readers may be far happier to go along for the ride without over-thinking it all!
To conclude? It's a good example of a book of this genre, done in an entertaining, engaging way. If you're in love with this style of book, it's definitely one to add to the list.
A real page-turner, good fun to read.
Generally speaking, I'm not a mad fan of the suspense / crime genre, but I'm always happy to give any book a try, especially if it's got some good reviews.
I commenced reading The Girl Who Lived with the expectation that it would comply with the standard genre formula, but offer a gripping, fast-paced read. It didn't disappoint. Yes, it was marginally formulaic, but I had a lot of fun reading it!
It starts in an institution for people with severe mental health problems; and that's where we first meet Faith; a twenty-something year old girl with a seriously troubled past. It transpires that her sister and father were murdered in front of her, as was her friend and her mother. The only thing Faith remembers clearly is 'Rat Face', a nasty-looking, thin faced man who was there at the time.
On her release, Faith swears to stay off the booze, and not go looking for revenge - both promises that she fails to keep. She starts to see Rat Face everywhere, and worse still, he's pursuing her...
Let's start with what was good about this book. I liked Faith a lot. She's brittle, aggressive and completely unapologetic; and I like that the author didn't soften her up or dumb her down. Why should a protagonist have to be likeable, anyway? This made the trauma that she'd suffered feel far more authentic.
It was a well-crafted, well-paced read too. At no point was I bored, and I kept those pages turning, keen to find out what was going to happen next. I also didn't guess the final ending, which is always a good thing.
However, I had some minor issues with the final pages (and this is so often the problem for me, when reading books like this!). I found it very over-sensationalised and too twisty-turny to comprehend. In short, my disbelief can only be suspended so far, and with this book, it snapped quite a way before the end.
There were a few other points where I felt this too - that certain scenarios just didn't feel credible. But I am fully prepared to admit that this is due to me questioning things too much, and other readers may be far happier to go along for the ride without over-thinking it all!
To conclude? It's a good example of a book of this genre, done in an entertaining, engaging way. If you're in love with this style of book, it's definitely one to add to the list.
June 2, 2020
5 stars of course!!!!!
That was an amazing thriller!!
Suspense, suspense, suspense!!!
Those are the good thriller, where the reader is chocked in every chapter more and more!! But the end is the real SURPRISE!! In this book I laughed, I cried, I was chocked, I was happy, I was sad, I was angry omg all my feelings got expressed!
The author omg the author!!! It is just a wonderful work like how Christopher Greyson transfer purely the chock that Faith has everytime she discovers something crazy!
It is one of my favorite books!
That was an amazing thriller!!
Suspense, suspense, suspense!!!
Those are the good thriller, where the reader is chocked in every chapter more and more!! But the end is the real SURPRISE!! In this book I laughed, I cried, I was chocked, I was happy, I was sad, I was angry omg all my feelings got expressed!
The author omg the author!!! It is just a wonderful work like how Christopher Greyson transfer purely the chock that Faith has everytime she discovers something crazy!
It is one of my favorite books!
May 5, 2018
This is remarkably fast-paced and a really easy read. The case is undoubtedly intriguing, but for me the book suffered from some hard to believe situations and some really stilted dialogue. I'm certainly an outlier in those opinions, as it's gotten very high reviews on Good Reads. Three stars from me still means I enjoyed it, but not quite enough to give it a four. It does keep you guessing!
Ten years ago, Faith Winters ran and hid from an attacker. That's the only thing that saved her from suffering the same fate of four others: her older sister, her father, her best friend, and her best friend's mother. In only one night, her life is destroyed and her family is cut in half, with only her mother and her remaining. The killer has never been caught, and Faith has spent the years back and forth from mental hospitals. As the ten year anniversary approaches, she's released back into the town where it all began. Still determined to find the killer but waylaid by her own fractured mind and addiction to alcohol, she finds herself in plenty of perilous situations. In her world, no one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect. But can she find the killer before she's found first... or locked back up?
Recommended to fans of thrillers who don't mind some suspension of disbelief and lots of action. The ending is explosive.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Greyson Media Associates, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Ten years ago, Faith Winters ran and hid from an attacker. That's the only thing that saved her from suffering the same fate of four others: her older sister, her father, her best friend, and her best friend's mother. In only one night, her life is destroyed and her family is cut in half, with only her mother and her remaining. The killer has never been caught, and Faith has spent the years back and forth from mental hospitals. As the ten year anniversary approaches, she's released back into the town where it all began. Still determined to find the killer but waylaid by her own fractured mind and addiction to alcohol, she finds herself in plenty of perilous situations. In her world, no one can be trusted and everyone is a suspect. But can she find the killer before she's found first... or locked back up?
Recommended to fans of thrillers who don't mind some suspension of disbelief and lots of action. The ending is explosive.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Greyson Media Associates, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
October 26, 2017
Greyson is a master of weaving suspense and keeping the reader guessing as to who is to blame. Faith Winters is an addict, a survivor, and a women who wonders why she lives. Having spent years in a psychiatric hospital she finally gets to step into freedom. Question is can she revisit Marshfield the place of murder and the killer that was never caught! Danger is chasing Faith and she cannot decide who is friend and who is the monster. Can six shots of whisky decide her fate? "A copy of this book was provided by author via Netgalley with no requirement for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
September 1, 2018
This book. Was so. Terrible. So boring, this could have been a 50 page short story. How this got over 4 stars I’ll never know.
November 9, 2017
Wow... just when you think you have it all worked out... plot twist! This book sucked me in.. so much happening. Faith is a survivor.. and she wasn't coping well with it. Drinking too much, medication and bad decisions. Thanks to Netgalley and Greyson Media Associates for a copy of this book to read and review
January 12, 2022
Omg!!!!! Soooo good. Did not see the end coming. An amazing thriller!
August 23, 2020
This books is actually great. I love it.
I feel really sympathize with Faith. What she experience is so horrible and it should be understandable knowing what she went through. IT IS HORRIBLE. It is just sad that no one believed in her.
I love Faith's resilience. She really push through, even though she is scared and no one believed in her. I love everything about her. I understand her doubts with the people she encounter. It is indeed hard to trust when you are being hunted.
The ending is definitely a shocking revelation. LIKE WHAT????!!!! Why??? It's just a dumb reason to do those horrible things. Just because of Love and Money. Faith doesn't deserve any of it. But I am glad of the ending. Thank goodness.
Definitely recommended. This book spook me but I love the thrill!!!!
I feel really sympathize with Faith. What she experience is so horrible and it should be understandable knowing what she went through. IT IS HORRIBLE. It is just sad that no one believed in her.
I love Faith's resilience. She really push through, even though she is scared and no one believed in her. I love everything about her. I understand her doubts with the people she encounter. It is indeed hard to trust when you are being hunted.
The ending is definitely a shocking revelation. LIKE WHAT????!!!! Why??? It's just a dumb reason to do those horrible things. Just because of Love and Money. Faith doesn't deserve any of it. But I am glad of the ending. Thank goodness.
Definitely recommended. This book spook me but I love the thrill!!!!
January 31, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Fast pace and main character Faith is the bomb!
All characters are suspicious and I couldn't guess who the killer was till end. And one small twist was good surprise.
I was gonna give 4 star, but I love the last chapter. Made my heart warm. So add 0.5 star and round up to 5.
All characters are suspicious and I couldn't guess who the killer was till end. And one small twist was good surprise.
I was gonna give 4 star, but I love the last chapter. Made my heart warm. So add 0.5 star and round up to 5.
November 11, 2017
We all deal with grief in different ways. Some of us survive a tragedy and move on with our lives. Some of us do not.
Ten years ago, when she was 13, Faith Winters watched the brutal killing of 4 people she knew and loved. And for 10 years she’s been in and out of trouble with the law and committed to psychiatric institutions because of it. As the 10th anniversary of the murders approaches, she is released from her most recent psychiatric incarceration and sent back to a world where no one believes anything she says. They see her as the sole victim who survived a massacre, never as her own person.
Faith has always maintained that the man who was accused of the crime – her father – was innocent. No one believed her back then and no one does today.
Faith’s goal now is to find the real killer.
Thrown back into a world where she is an outcast, a felon, and considered delusional, Faith must weave and bob through court-ordered therapy sessions, parole meetings and a deal with a mother who profited in the worst possible way from the tragedy of the past.
When we first meet Faith, I will admit, she was a totally unsympathetic character for me. The chip on her shoulder had to weigh 5oo pounds and her I hate the world mentality was off-putting. As the story progressed I grew less annoyed with her and began to see her more as a single-minded, multifaceted young woman who, even though the judicial and mental health systems had failed her, never the less stuck to her internal motivation of proving her father innocent at all costs – even her own life. The people surrounding her are all suspects, their behaviors, their words, even the way they treat her are untrustworthy and make Faith feel she is truly on her own – and she is.
In this book, Faith survives one event after another that probably would have felled a lesser willed person. Even though she states frequently that she’d like nothing more than to die, her will to live and survive each event is strong.
By the final chapters of the book, I was rooting for her to not only find the real killer but to finally believe life was worth living.
I was given an arc of this novel from Netgalley for an honest opinion and I can truthfully say The Girl Who Lived is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of terror, harsh emotion, and redemption. Well worth the read!
Ten years ago, when she was 13, Faith Winters watched the brutal killing of 4 people she knew and loved. And for 10 years she’s been in and out of trouble with the law and committed to psychiatric institutions because of it. As the 10th anniversary of the murders approaches, she is released from her most recent psychiatric incarceration and sent back to a world where no one believes anything she says. They see her as the sole victim who survived a massacre, never as her own person.
Faith has always maintained that the man who was accused of the crime – her father – was innocent. No one believed her back then and no one does today.
Faith’s goal now is to find the real killer.
Thrown back into a world where she is an outcast, a felon, and considered delusional, Faith must weave and bob through court-ordered therapy sessions, parole meetings and a deal with a mother who profited in the worst possible way from the tragedy of the past.
When we first meet Faith, I will admit, she was a totally unsympathetic character for me. The chip on her shoulder had to weigh 5oo pounds and her I hate the world mentality was off-putting. As the story progressed I grew less annoyed with her and began to see her more as a single-minded, multifaceted young woman who, even though the judicial and mental health systems had failed her, never the less stuck to her internal motivation of proving her father innocent at all costs – even her own life. The people surrounding her are all suspects, their behaviors, their words, even the way they treat her are untrustworthy and make Faith feel she is truly on her own – and she is.
In this book, Faith survives one event after another that probably would have felled a lesser willed person. Even though she states frequently that she’d like nothing more than to die, her will to live and survive each event is strong.
By the final chapters of the book, I was rooting for her to not only find the real killer but to finally believe life was worth living.
I was given an arc of this novel from Netgalley for an honest opinion and I can truthfully say The Girl Who Lived is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of terror, harsh emotion, and redemption. Well worth the read!
August 3, 2020
I received an advanced copy of The Girl Who Lived.
I am a huge fan of the Jack Stratton Series, by Christopher Greyson, so I was excited to receive The Girl Who Lived. I like mystery, suspense, thrillers, and psychological thrillers in general. This book definitely fits into those categories.
Although the writing style is Christopher Greyson it is a departure from the Jack Stratton Series. The Girl Who Lived is a bit darker, it deals with survivors guilt and addictions that manifest themselves after a horrendous crime and the aftermath. The main character, Faith, feels she is a broken person. She is alive, but not living. I think anyone reading this book that can relate to her anxiety, despair, and emptiness will appreciate her struggle. But you don't need to be a survivor to get wrapped up in the suspense.
I was totally surprised by the ending. I didn't see it coming. But all of the puzzle pieces start to fall into place as you look back.
I thought the first two chapters were a bit slow, but you really want to hang in there. I think those first few chapters explain where Faith is and why. Then the story starts picking up... and then I could not put down the book. I was reading from about 12:30am to 6:30am. I was going to read just until I fell asleep. But it is morning, I just finished the book, my eyes are dry and bloodshot and it is time to feed the dog breakfast.
I am a huge fan of the Jack Stratton Series, by Christopher Greyson, so I was excited to receive The Girl Who Lived. I like mystery, suspense, thrillers, and psychological thrillers in general. This book definitely fits into those categories.
Although the writing style is Christopher Greyson it is a departure from the Jack Stratton Series. The Girl Who Lived is a bit darker, it deals with survivors guilt and addictions that manifest themselves after a horrendous crime and the aftermath. The main character, Faith, feels she is a broken person. She is alive, but not living. I think anyone reading this book that can relate to her anxiety, despair, and emptiness will appreciate her struggle. But you don't need to be a survivor to get wrapped up in the suspense.
I was totally surprised by the ending. I didn't see it coming. But all of the puzzle pieces start to fall into place as you look back.
I thought the first two chapters were a bit slow, but you really want to hang in there. I think those first few chapters explain where Faith is and why. Then the story starts picking up... and then I could not put down the book. I was reading from about 12:30am to 6:30am. I was going to read just until I fell asleep. But it is morning, I just finished the book, my eyes are dry and bloodshot and it is time to feed the dog breakfast.
November 7, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I must say that this book started out slow for me and it took me time to warm up to the main character. This book is about Faith, the lone survivor of a brutal murdering spree and her quest for justice. It depicts her battles with depression and mental illness as well. I found it hard to relate to her at first and also hard to like her, but she grew on me as the story went on and I became more engaged with her and the story. In the end, I really enjoyed the book and I was actually surprised by the ending (and I usually can see the twist a mile away) so that was really fun. Definitely recommend!
February 22, 2019
This is a book about addiction first and foremost. Yes, having a close family member who struggles daily with addictions and makes bad choices has biased me and made me NOT want to read about what I live with everyday. Also, I dislike stories where the plot is based purely on one person continuing to walk foolishly into imbecilic situations, each of which gets them further into trouble. I found this book extremely frustrating and would not recommend it.
March 27, 2023
Took me quite some time to finish this. The girl left behind was the only one of four (or five) people killed to survive. I couldn’t relate to anything as to being in a mental institution or addiction etc None the less, there were interesting bits where the survivor hoped to hunt down the killer. I got a tad lost as to the characters but that’s me. The ending was a surprise to me so that was cool.
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